Transit Fees & Water Pollution Plant On Tap For Council

City transit fees could be going up this April.  Council will vote on proposed rate changes Monday.  A monthly adult pass could go up by about 4 dollars, while a family day pass could increase by 3 dollars as well.  Meanwhile, City Councillors will vote Monday on putting over a million dollars into improvements at the Atlantic Avenue Water Pollution Control Plant.  The upgrades will help prevent future floods at the facility.  Mayor Keith Hobbs says he'll be supporting the move.  Some of the upgrades include better drainage and filtering processes.

Hammarskjold High Closed Monday

There's no school for Hammarskjold students on Monday.  The school is closed because of poor air quality.  Staff sanded lockers creating paint dust that has traces of lead.   Over the weekend, the school will be cleaned to ensure that all paint dust is eliminated.  Environmental testing will take place to ensure the building is clean.

Complex Hosts Swim Meet

The Canada Games Complex is preparing to host the Regional Swimming Championships.     Swimmers from across the northwest are here this weekend to participate in a meet which is divided into four sessions. It starts at 5 o'clock this afternoon and wraps up Sunday morning.

Achneepineskum Appointed Acting A.L.

Sam Achneepineskum will take on the acting position of Aboriginal Liason Officer while the City searches for a permanent replacement for outgoing Anna Gibbon.  Achneepineskum comes to the City from Nishnawbe Aski Nation where he was the Residential Schools Program Coordinator.  Gibbon is leaving the position since she was appointed an Ontario Justice of the Peace. 

Service Ontario Cuts In Region

A handful of Service Ontario counters in our area have been deemed "low-volume" by the provincial government. The union representing Ontario Public Service workers says sites in Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, Ignace and Atikokan could see their hours reduced in the coming months. Sevice Ontario helps with birth certificates, driver's licences, health cards and other government identification.

Property Taxes Could Increase

Property taxes could be going up 2.6 percent.  The extra 4 million dollars tacked onto the 159 million dollar budget will go towards emergency services and infrastructure.  Councillor Ken Boshcoff hopes some cuts will be made to the budget. Water rates could be going up if the draft budget is approved.  The average household could see a 7 percent increase in their sewer and water bills.   Council will embark on a series of budget meetings this week and will attempt to ratify the budget on March 4th.

Careless Smoking Cause Of Fire

Thunder Bay's Fire Department say the cause of Thursday's house fire on Riverside Drive is careless smoking.  Spokesperson Anthony Stokaluk says they're not sure what type of material it was but they do know the blaze could have been prevented by placing the item in a metal trash can outside.  The house was badly damaged yesterday and no one was hurt.

Thunderwolves Hockey Back At Home

The Lakehead University men's hockey team are back at home against division rivals Waterloo this weekend. Tonight, the team will be auctioning off their jersey's in support of cancer care. Puck drop is set between the 4th place Thunderwolves and 7th place Warriors is tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Fort William Gardens. Meanwhile, the men's and women's basketball teams are on the road this weekend in Guelph for a pair of games against the Gryphons.

Elks Central Canada Tournament Underway

The annual Elks Central Canada hockey tournament is taking place this weekend at the Tournament Centre and Delaney. Teams will be competing for championships in six divisions from Pee Wee all the way up to midget with championship games set for Sunday.