Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Fire Truck In Mishap

No one is hurt after a city fire truck was rear ended at an accident scene this morning.  It happened on highway 61 between Arthur Street and the airport road just before 10:30.  Deputy Fire Chief Dave Paxton says that Pumper Six was stopped at the time attending to another traffic mishap.  Damage to the fire truck was cosmetic, but there was substantially more damage to the car that struck it.

MTO Denies Service Level Slip

The Ministry of Transportation denies service levels of Highway 502 have been downgraded this winter. It makes that claim in a letter to the Rainy River District School Board in response to Iron Range Bus Lines decision not to travel Highway 502 this winter due to the state of the road.  The Ministry does state it's spoken with Transfield Services who've deployed a grader to reduce snowpack on the highway.

Jaws Of Life Used On High St.

Two people are hurt after two vans collided on High Street at Hillcrest Park around 9 o'clock this morning.   Jerry Hogan of the Thunder Bay Fire Service says both had to be removed from one of the vehicles with the jaws of life.  Hogan says the two complained of chest pains and were taken to the hospital while the driver of the other van wasn't hurt seriously.  

Slippery Roads


There were no injuries following a pair of accidents this morning on Oliver Road near both Twin City Crossroads and Townline Road. Police are again reminding motorists to be on alert for black ice and slippery road conditions during this current deep freeze.

Imagine The Gardens



Tonight is your chance to have your say about the future use of the Fort William Gardens.  An open house is being held tonight at the Gardens which will include a presentation on possible uses of the facility.  The public meeting is part of the City's future use assessment of the building which is expected to be complete by March 4th.

Airport Headaches


Officials at Toronto's Pearson International Airport are warning it won't be a normal travel day today due to fallout from Tuesday's extensive delays and cancellations caused by freezing temperatures.  For the second straight day Air Canada cancelled its two early morning flights from Thunder Bay to Toronto today.  WestJet and Porter are not showing any delays or cancellations this morning.  

School Bus Accidents


The School Board's Transportation Manager says three of their school buses were involved in minor fender benders this morning.  Dave Carroll says it's cold outside and cars are sliding into buses.  The three incidents this morning happened in the Westfort and Current River areas, while another occurred in the parking lot of Hammarskjold High School.  Carroll says no one was injured.

Arrest Made


City Police are charging a 26 year old man with a robbery at Mac's Convenience Store on Simpson Street. On Sunday the Mac's store was held up by a man with a syringe. The accused appeared in court today.


McKinnon Seeking Re-Election


Red River Ward constituents will see Brian McKinnon's name on the ballot in this fall's municipal election.  In announcing he's running for re-election, McKinnon said he has unfinished business to deal with in the next term.

City Film Project Needs Cash



A City film project that aims to build a greater understanding between the aboriginal population and the broader community is in need of more money. City Clerk John Hannam says they set a goal of 45 thousand dollars and they're still six thousand short. Hannam says if they don't get the 6 thousand raised before the film premier in February they will still go ahead with it.