HAGI agreement extended

Thunder Bay City Council continues its relationship with the independent living organization HAGI. HAGI will continue to transport people with disabilities.  The new agreement with the City starts in the New Year and expires at the end of 2013.

EA report approved for Golf Links Road project

Thunder Bay City Council is now up to date on improvements proposed for Golf Links Road. Council approved the environmental assessment for the 18 million dollar project last night.  Councillor Ken Boshcoff notes the route could use less traffic lights since in the past council has said they want to improve traffic travel time. Project Manager Kathy Bemben says during the environmental assessment some area residents expressed concerns about noise levels from traffic on the improved roadway.

Deputation ends in report

The City of Thunder Bay is asking for more information on local improvement projects for Moore Avenue.  A concerned citizen was against the project and told council that the residents are paying for the work so they should get final say.  Council decided to get administration to provide a report on Moore avenue and the surrounding streets.  The rest of the local improvement projects for 2011 were approved.  Marcinyshyn is upset with the quality of previous work done to the avenue's curbs, sidewalks and gutters.

Council meeting off to rough start

Although Mayor Keith Hobbs spoke out against closed door meetings during the election campaign; Thunder Bay city council's first official meeting was delayed because of a closed session.  The meeting started almost two hours late because of  a meeting behind closed doors.  Councillor Brian McKinnon called the meeting to order around 8:15 and said they didn't want to be behind closed doors but the discussions were needed.  McKinnon says it was necessary and had to be done.

Mascot now has a name...name....name

The name of the mascot for the Ontario Special Winter Olympics is Echo.   Grade 4 Gorham and Ware student Kylii Saarinen won the "name the mascot" contest.  Officials say there were hundreds of entries.  As well games organizers say that two new sponsors came on board with donations of 5 thousand dollars each.   One was the Thunder Bay Foundation, the other was the Keg Spirit Foundation.

Ford still talks tough on nixing streetcars

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says he's moving ahead with his plan that would eventually see him tear up the streetcar contract with Bombardier.  Ford met Tuesday morning with Premier McGuinty and says he's going ahead with a subway plan for the city, not the streetcars that our Bombardier plant in Thunder Bay would build. The mayor says Toronto city council doesn't have to vote to kill the plan because there was no vote to set it up in the first place.

Operation Red Nose does it's job

Operation Red Nose is proving to be a hit in Thunder Bay in it's sophomore year.   Organizer Karen Wood says so far about 100 rides have been logged by volunteers.   Wood says that's about par with last year. She says in total last year there were almost 290 rides given out.  Eight nights are left  in this years campaign.  Wood says they have over 100 volunteers helping out.

Hupka back as Catholic board chair

The Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board is heading into the next year with Bob Hupka as it's chair. Hupka says the major challenge for the board will be dealing with the reality of fewer students through declining enrollment. Hupka would also like to see improved student scores on provincial tests.  Eleanor Ashe has been elected as board vice-chair. 

Special Olympics hurting for cash

Organizers of the Ontario Special Olympics are concerned.  Games Manager Julie Tilbury says some critical funding is needed for an important component of next months games, getting  the 270 thousand dollars needed to fly the athletes and coaches here. She says they're trying to secure funding from the McGuinty government.

South side restaurant robbed at knife point

Another armed robbery on the city's south side.  City Police are looking for one man after he robbed the Arthur Street Subway at Knife point just after 10:30 last night.  No one was hurt in the incident.