Marina To Open Thursday

The city run marina is set to open to local boaters  on Thursday.   Parks Manager Paul Fayrick says inspite of some ice that's still in the habour he's confident there will be some activity.  He says the serious boaters will start getting active early with the majority putting their boats in next month.  Fayrick doesn't expect the condo and hotel construction to pose any problems this year. About 260 boaters have space rented in the marina

Horwath Pledges HST Break

NDP leader Andrea Horwath is continuing her northern Ontario election swing.  Today she went to a home on University Drive in Thunder Bay to make her hydro announcement.   She says under an NDP government the HST would be eliminated from all hydro bills starting in 2016 saying the average family will gain about 120 dollars a year on their household budget.   As for the other leaders....The PC's Tim Hudak is in southern Ontario campaigning in  the Niagara Region with Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne on the hustings in the Toronto area.

Citizens Speak Out Against Events Centre

The seeds of discontent are being sown over the proposed events centre.   About a hundred disgruntled citizens turned out last night at the Mary J-L Black library to tell the city that the proposed arena is too expensive.  Some like Maryann Baarts-Matson don't like the proposed south side down town location. Kim Coreau called for a plebiscite on the issue while John Salamon spoke against the 106 million dollar cost.   Also making an appearance was Mayor Keith Hobbs and Councillor Joe Virdiramo.

Mulcair Visits City

NDP leader Thomas Mulcair is travelling the country promoting a party petition that speaks against unfair fees and consumer ripoffs. In Thunder Bay he stopped at the home of a local anti-poverty activist and said that getting out of the cycle of poverty isn't easy and requires action by the federal government especially when it comes to getting back into the funding of social housing. Mulcair says action has to be taken on rules that make it tough for many to get ahead in life.

Minor Damage At Silver City

City fire officials believe the cold weather could be responsible for a water problem at the Silver City theatre complex this afternoon.  Kelly Patterson of the Thunder Bay Fire Service says the problem is minor though,  and involved the sprinkler system malfunctioning and sending water pouring onto the floor.  The problem occured at the south exit of the building.  The damage not enough to effect business operations.

Friendship Centre Pleads For Support

The head of the Indian Friendship Centre plans to tackle opposition to a proposed youth centre on High Street head on.  Bernice Dubec told councillors she doesn't believe there will be an increase in vandalism in the neighbourhood as a result of the new facility.   Meantime the councillor for the area, Paul Pugh, came out in full support of the project saying it will be a community building in a residential area.  
Officials are asking city councillors to support the proposed 9.8 million dollar centre.  The issue will be back before councillors in the new year.

Humperdinck Cancels Again In Thunder Bay

Health issues have forced British crooner Engelbert Humperdinck to scrub his Thunder Bay appearance at the Community Auditorium. He was scheduled to sing Saturday night, but  Humperdinck's Facebook page says he called off the performance  because of "a trapped nerve in his neck." His website, www.engelbert.com , says his Thunder Bay show is postoned.

Lyceum Building Causing City Headaches

The city is facing a decision on what to do with the derelict Lyceum building on Cumberland Street.   City Manager Tim Commisso says the ever elusive owner needs to fix it up or else it may have to be demolished.   He says the problems include a leaking roof and the accumulation of water.  Commisso says a decision on the structure could come in less than a month.

Police Probing Second Murder Of 2013

Thunder Bay police are probing another murder in the city.  Spokesperson Chris Adams says they found a woman with injuries on Lake Street at around 3:30 this morning. He says she later died of those injuries.  The woman's name and age won't be released until they can formally identify her.   This would be Thunder Bay's second murder of 2013

Fire Guts City Home

Two people are said to be safe after a late morning south side house fire. It broke out just before 11 o'clock at 848 Minnesota Street.  Eyewitness Chris Davidson was passing by in his vehicle when he noticed the fire and called 9-11.  He says two men were standing outside the home as thick smoke was pouring out.  He says they appeared ok and their pet cat was rescued..   The cause of the fire is not known.

Greenstone Ready For Boom Says Mayor

The mayor of Greenstone can't contain himself these days.  Ron Beaulieu believes the economy of the community is about to get red hot with the Ring of Fire mining project.  So hot, says Beaulieu,  he's expecting a population explosion.  He believes some wards could triple in size as the result of the mining boom.   Beaulieu says the challenge  now is to make preparations to make sure there are the services in place to handle such growth. 

Hudak Slams Conversion Decision

Tim Hudak says he supports the city in its efforts to keep the Mission Island generating station open.  The Ontario Conservative Leader says it was the first concern of Mayor Keith Hobbs when the two of them met today.  Hudak says it was a "boneheaded" decision by the Liberal government to stop the conversion to natural gas.  He believes the Liberals are simply using the savings from the closure here to help pay for the cancellation of the gas plants in southern Ontario. 

Health Minister Gives Cash To Hospital

Ontario's Health Minister is giving the Health Sciences Centre 300 thousand dollars for bariatric care and an unknown amount to the company Regen Med. The program will allow 100 patients with severe obesity to be treated in a medical/behavioural program at the local hospital. Deb Matthews toured the local hospital this afternoon alongside MPP's Bill Mauro and Michael Gravelle.

Three Hurt In Accident

Police say charges are pending after three people were sent to hospital following a two vehicle collision at the intersection of Secord Street and Dufferin just after 10:00 o'clock this morning.It's alleged that a car on Dufferin drove into the intersection before it was safe to do so and struck a van that was southbound on Secord Street. The two female occupants of the van were taken by ambulance to hospital with minor injuries. The male driver of the car was also taken to hospital by a friend to be checked out.

Save The ELA Is The Message

A scientist from Winnipeg is on a mission to save the Experimental Lakes Area near Kenora. During a visit to Thunder Bay, Diane Orihel said she believes there is enough support for her cause to change the Harper government's decision to end the program. She says municipalities across the northwest have been sending formal requests to Ottawa not to shut the ELA down. Orihel says it's frustrating for other scientists like her to make sense of the move.

Save Our Lighthouses

The fate of 10 local lighthouses is up in the air.  Diane Berube is championing a "Save Our Lighthouses" campaign and says pretty much every lighthouse in the area has been put on the Federal Government's surplus list.  Berube says any lighthouses that are in poor shape and on the surplus list could be removed or sold to anyone interested.  Some of the lighthouses in question include, Welcome, Thunder Bay Main, Angus, Trowbridge, #10, Battle, Slate and Lamb.  An information session is being held at the Waverley Library at 7 pm on October 11th.