Monday, December 19, 2011

City Council Highlights

City Lawmakers are putting 3 hundred and 18 thousand dollars towards a new Hazardous Materials Truck. Fire and Rescue is in need of the new vehicle, the 318-thousand dollars was the lowest bid for the vehicle. Meanwhile, City Council is allowing the public library to use their surplus funds from the Mary J L Black Library towards other projects. 112-thousand dollars is being used towards upgrading other library buildings and updating their collection of books and resources.

Hobbs' State of the City Address

Mayor Keith Hobbs is promising financial accountability and transparency in his State of the City Address. Hobbs highlighted the City's plan to save four and a half million dollars over the next three years.  Thunder Bay is undergoing the CityLean program that eliminates municipal corporate waste. 

Assault victim's condition remains serious

There is a slight improvement in the condition of a 52 year old man who is in hospital as the result of a weekend assault at the Victoria Inn.   Police say he remains in serious condition.  The person who is charged in connection with the incident is a 33 year old man from Summer Beaver.  Police say the two were known to each other.

Temporary mill closure at Resolute FP

Less than a week before Christmas, Resolute Forest Products is announcing a temporary mill closure for its Thunder Bay operations.   A spokesperson says the kraft mill will be closed beginning this week and last until January second.  Market conditions are sited for the decision.

Fatal train accident in Fort Frances

A Fort Frances man is dead after being hit by a train on the weekend.   OPP say the incident took place at the CN railyard in Fort Frances when a pedestrian was struck by the freight train around 2 a.m Sunday morning.  Dead is 28 year old Justin Degagne.  Police say the incident did not involve foul play. 

Strasser to receive to honour

The Founding Dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine is getting Australia's highest civilian honour. Roger Strasser will be receiving the Order of Australia at a special ceremony Tuesday in Sudbury. It's for the work he's done for medical education in that country.

Last council meeting of 2011

The final council meeting of 2011 doesn't contain too much that looks controversial tonight.   It includes the Mayor's state of the city address, a look at what to do with the 100 thousand dollar surplus from the Mary J-L Black Library construction and choosing the replacement for city solicitor Rosalie Evans who is taking a one year sabbatical.

Police release accident pic

Thunder Bay Police are releasing an amazing picture of a vehicle that was involved in an alleged drunk driving accident over the weekend.  Police Spokesperson Chris Adams hopes it will send a message to party goers.  The 21 year old woman lost control of her car on Arthur Street causing it to flip several times and trap her inside. The woman survived with virtually no injuries.

Federal NDP Leadership Candidate pays visit

One of the candidates looking to become the new leader of the Federal New Democrats has wrapped up a tour of Northwestern Ontario. Northern Quebec MP Romeo Saganash stopped in Kenora and Fort Frances over the weekend to outline his campaign and garner support from party faithful. Saganash says he's now visited every part of Canada, making him one of few candidates to do so.

OFIA challenging caribou protection

The Ontario Forest Industry Association is challenging caribou protection measures. The group is upset that the Provincial Environmental Commissioner has stated that the regulations won't impact the Northern Ontario forest industry. Spokesperson Scott Jackson says the measures will cause dramatic reductions in available wood supply across the North. The areas outlined as caribou management zones supply wood fibre to mills in Dryden, Fort Frances, Kenora, Thunder Bay, Terrace Bay and Timmins.

Highway is open

Highway 17 near Ignace is back open to traffic Monday morning.  Sections of the Trans Canada were closed yesterday due to a Transport going into a ditch.  The road was closed to both lanes and reopened to one lane while crews cleared the area and removed the truck.

Child playing with lighter causes fire

A child playing with a lighter is the cause of a fire on Prescott Crescent. The fire was kept to a second floor bedroom and minimal amount of structural damage is reported. However, heavy smoke damage was significant enough to keep the family from returning to their home.

Fire guts Brock Street home

Thunder Bay Fire was kept busy last night with a massive fire that gutted an older two storey home on Brock Street. Platoon Chief Dave Nelson says it was hard to supress the fire and the house is now considered a right off. Two firefighters were trapped when fire broke through the main floor burning their fire hose and leaving the two stranded in heavy smoke. They were able to escape through a kitchen window. The cause of the fire is believed to be electrical heaters being used to heat the home.

Man on the Street: Waterfront

The new look Thunder Bay waterfront is now open to the public. The 60 million dollar facelift includes two new buildings and a skating rink. We asked people what they thought: