Woman charged in murder case

A person is now charged in connection with the first murder of 2010. City police say that 28 year old Thea Debra Gliddy of Thunder Bay is facing a charge of second degree murder. The body of 39 year old Randy Lawrence Cromarty was discovered in a room of the Inntowner Hotel on Wednesday morning. Detective Sgt. Don Lewis says Gliddy was taken into custody that afternoon when she returned to the area.
Police say Gliddy and Cromarty knew each other. Lewis says that while Cromarty died of a vicious assault a firearm was not involved.  Giddy is due back in court June 23rd.

City e-mail working again

The city's e-mail server is back up and running after being down for about 40 hours this week. City Tech Manager Jean Suffak  says about 15 hundred city staff who use e-mail were affected from the Mayor's Office to those who work on Front Street. Suffak says the issues were solved with the help of contracted tech support. She says some overtime was required to fix the problem.

Westgate students team up with MADD

Students at Westgate Collegiate can't say they haven't been told. Their peers staged a noon hour demonstration to highlight the ripple effects of drinking and driving. Teacher Shannon McQuilter-Viau says it's no coincidence it took place just before graduation, typically a time when some students celebrate with alcohol.   The demonstration was done with the help of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Pictured: Student Rory Lalonde wears a pair of goggles meant to simulate the visual effects of being drunk.

Police probing hit and run

City police are asking for your help in locating a driver involved in a hit and run accident. Sgt. Glenn Porter says it took place at the corner of Albany and Egan Wednesday night at around 7:30.  He says a pick up truck was going north on Egan and failed to stop at the intersection and collided with an east bound car.  Porter says a passenger in the car was treated and released from hospital. They are looking for a blue Ford pick-up truck with some significant front end damage.

Horizon Wind announces release of environment report

The next phase of the proposed Nor'Wester View wind farm project is underway. Horizon Wind Inc. has announced the release of it's environmental report, and now there will be a 2 month period where the public can review the draft findings. The company's Nhung Nguyen  says they went over and above what was required in putting together the document.  As an example, she sited the noise study.  Nguyen says under the province's Green Energy Act they weren't required to include that, however because there was considerable public interest in that aspect, they did it anyway.  The first of two public meetings on the report takes place August 4th at the Blake Community Hall in the Municipality of Neebing.  The following day there will be a meeting at the Lakehead Labour Centre in Thunder Bay.  The entire 700 page report can be found by clicking here.

Employing the North's youth

Keeping our young people in the north.  That's the goal of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund's co-op and internship programs.  Minister of Northern Development Michael Gravelle says employers find it beneficial to hire the region's youth.  The NOHFC provides money to businesses employing northern youth.  Over 300 Northern youth are getting on-site job experience through internship and co-op placements.

Thunder Bay now has bike lanes

The City of Thunder Bay now has a series of bike lanes for those people who want to cycle to their destination. A grand opening of the bike lane from Court Street to Boulevard Lake was held yesterday. Active Tranportation Coordinator Adam Krupper says the lanes will benefit the city's tourism industry, since outdoors enthusiasts can bike to various city sights. Bike lanes will also be marked on Walsh Street and parts of Syndicate.

Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit gets big time funding

The province is pumping almost half a million dollars into the Asset Forfeiture Unit. The OPP unit partners with forces across the province including Thunder Bay and focuses on identifying, seizing and managing the proceeds of crime. MPP Bill Mauro says funding this unit will help improve police services everywhere, because the money seized will be put back into the police services to help reduce and prevent crime. The funding totals 494, 162 dollars.

Deer tick tests positive for Lyme Disease

A first for Thunder Bay, as the District Health Unit is reporting a tick found recently has tested positive for Lyme Disease. They say it was found on a dog in the city limits. Medical Officer of Health, Henry Kurban, says it's the first positive test for the disease since the Unit started monitoring and testing ticks in 2005. He says it was submitted last week.  Kurban says with the warmer spring, the tick population in the district has appeared earlier that usual. He encourages people to prevent coming into contact with ticks to reduce the risk of a bite. That includes:
• Staying clear of areas with tall grass; they are common areas to find ticks.
• Wear light coloured clothing to make it easier to see ticks.
• Cover up by tucking pants into socks and wearing long sleeves.
• Check for ticks before going indoors; don’t forget your pets.
• Use insect repellants with DEET; follow the manufacturer’s instructions.