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| Jan Beazley |
There's a new lawyer involved in the Thea Gliddy murder case. David Bruzzese is taking over after her previous lawyer, Chris Watkins stepped aside due to a conflict of interest. Bruzzese says he now has to get up to speed. The change of lawyers means the preliminary hearing scheduled for Monday needed to be postponed.
For the second time this year Chris Watkins is off a case because of a conflict of interest. Watkins is no longer the defense lawyer for Thea Gliddy, because he once represented the person whose death she is being charged with. As a result, Gliddy's preliminary hearing that was originally scheduled for Monday has been postponed. The new date is expected to be decided at a hearing set for April 26th.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is sounding the alarms over layoffs at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. OP-SEU Spokesperson Len Mason says the layoffs violate the terms of their agreement and will be challenged. Dean Dr. Roger Strasser says the moves were made to offset budget shortfalls. The school says they are eliminating 21 staff positions and 3 management jobs. Staff could choose to bump others from their jobs depending on their seniority. The layoffs affect staff members at campuses at Lakehead and Laurentian University.
The sun is certainly shining on over 500 public servants in Thunder Bay who made more than 100 thousand dollars thanks to your provincial tax dollars. The province's so called Sunshine list is out and it shows over 200 of the top public money makers in the city last year worked at Lakehead University and 100 within the City of Thunder Bay, including Police Inspector Dan Taddeo who made a 140 thousand dollars while under suspension. Health care workers earned a good bulk of the money as well. Ron Saddington the former CEO at the Regional Health Sciences Centre made over 400 thousand dollars while Tracey Buckler the top gun at St. Joseph's Care group collected over 300 thousand dollars. A link to the list is here
The City of Thunder Bay will benefit from the province's eight billion dollar investment in a new transit line across Toronto. Premier Dalton McGuinty says cars for the light rail line will be built in our Bombardier plant. Meanwhile, the Union Rep for workers at the Bombardier plant in Thunder Bay isn't happy with the plan. Paul Pugh says Toronto Mayor Rob Ford stong armed this deal. Pugh adds the new deal will take work away from Bombardier a reduction from the original contract. Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says he's looking into how this will impact the Bombardier plant.
First Nations residents looking for job experience need look no further than the Matawa First Nations Office. The building is now home to a job resource centre. Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy says its for both young and old. The resource centre will provide financial assistance to those residents looking to expand their options. Child care will be on site. Classes will be held to teach residents how to prepare for a job interview and write a resume.
Thunder Bay has another lottery winner. 53 year old Joseph Veltri won 50-thousand dollars playing instant KENO scratch tickets.
Thunder Bay's sub-culture of homeless street kids is a serious problem according to local experts. A 3 month study for the Children's Aid Society paints a picture of youth who are addicted to substances and have no place to go according to Executive Director Rob Richardson. The report makes 5 recommendations to help ease the problem
A handful of home energy evaluators are without work in Thunder Bay because of the Federal election. The evaluators are in Limbo because the Home Energy Retrofit program is set to expire Thursday and can't be reinstated until a government is formed. EcoSuperior's Ellen Mortfield says hopefully the next government will keep the program going because it brings back 2 dollars for every one invested by the government in tax revenues and other spending. Mortfield says EcoSuperior has handed out 3 million dollars in grants through the program since 2007.
The Thunder Bay Expressway has become a popular place for speeders now that the snow is off the roads. OPP nabbed three people for speeding in the 90 km zone. Police are still finding people driving and using their cellphones.
The trial of a Thunder Bay OPP officer will now take place year later than originally scheduled. Sgt. Darryl Storey is charged with criminal negligence causing death in connection with the death of an 18 year old woman in a traffic accident in 2008. He was driving an unmarked cruiser at the time. The trial will now take place in June of next year.
The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service has unveiled a new summer student employment program. Youth, aged 14 to 17, will spend 8-weeks working alongside police officers in several NAN communities. Sioux Lookout, Pickle Lake and Sandy Lake First Nation are among the participating communities. Applications can be picked up at local Band offices until April 20th.
Hot off the silver screen release of the alien comedy "Paul"; Fort Frances residents are claiming they've seen a UFO. Some residents are talking about a strange object that appeared in the night sky over Fort Frances Tuesday night. Sandra Allan, who took photographs, says it hovered in the south in an area over the AbitibiBowater mill for nearly half an hour before it disappeared. Some resident in Couchiching also reported seeing the object.
The Progressive Conservative Critic for Northern Affairs says the Provincial Budget is 300-pages of nothing for Northern Ontario. Randy Hillier says there's no mention of anything of importance including help for the forestry sector. Hillier points out the only announcement was one that was already made; 10-million dollars extra for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.
The NDP feel the provincial budget leaves Northern Families in the dust. Kenora Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton says not even a political compass can get the McGuinty government headed in the right direction. Hampton says the Liberals cut funding for important ministries like Natural Resources, Aboriginal Affairs and Municipal Affairs and Housing.
An 18 year old girl is a hero to a couple of city police officers. It comes after she grabbed a knife from her 18 year old guy friend who flashed it in front of the officers. Police spokesperson Chris Adams admits the girl did risk injury to herself and such action isn't recommended. The incident took place at May and Leith Street's Monday afternoon.
You can have your two cents heard Wednesday night at a public meeting put on by the City of Thunder Bay. The City is collecting input on the services provided by Thunder Bay and HAGI transit services. The first meeting is from six until 8 Wednesday in City Hall's lobby.
The Chief of Police isn't being drawn into a war of words with the Mayor. Chief Bob Herman released a statement today saying it would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation. Herman also said in the statement that he is taking the necessary actions to maintain his integrity and that of the office of the Chief of Police. Herman declined an interview. Herman has filed a formal complaint against Hobbs with the Civilian Police Commission in regards to his conduct at the Police Services Board meetings.
A Thunder Bay man has succumbed to injuries sustained in a single vehicle crash on Umex Mine Road in Pickle Lake. OPP say the incident occurred on March 16th and involved a tractor trailer unit, carrying a bulldozer and large metal conatainer. Police say the tractor trailer unit slid into an intersection and jacknifed while striking a snow bank. The driver was transported to Thunder Bay Hospital with serious injuries. Police say the man, 58-year-old Thomas Dufault, was released from Hospital on March 24th, but later died.
Thunder Bay Superior North has a green party candidate in place. At first it was released that Lynn Palmer would carry the green colours; but Palmer has since decided to walk away from the nomination because of personal commitments. The new candidate is Scot Kyle.
A woman was robbed on Hodder Avenue Monday morning. Thunder Bay police say a man carrying a knife approached her in a parking lot just before 10:30 in the morning. The 20 year old suspect fled with the victim's purse. Police describe the man as 5 foot 8, wearing a grey hoodie, blue jeans and large sunglasses.
One city councillor is fed up with the negativity that surrounds the waterfront project. Aldo Ruberto spoke with our newsroom today and says some people in Thunder Bay are failing to see the big picture. The project is over budget, but by condensing it, it will bring in millions of dollars in tax revenue to the city sooner and will also create jobs and other spin offs sooner rather than later. Ruberto says a small group of nay sayers seem to dominate the spot light and are surrounding good news stories in Thunder Bay with a cloud of negativity.
It's a mixed bag for Thunder Bay's elementary schools. The Fraser Institute ranks half of them at above or at the provincial average; the other half falls below. Spokesperson Michael Thomas says the rankings alert officials that something needs to be done. Vance Chapman school saw it's rankings slide from already below the provincial average at 3.7 to 1.7. Claude E. Garton also saw their marks decline this year. St. Francis, St. Paul and St. Thomas Aquinas all scored marks higher than the provincial average.
The Green Party has announced its Candidate for Thunder Bay Rainy River. Former Research Scientist Ed Shields will be representing the Greens and says with science based jobs in our future Parliament is in need of someone with his expertise. Shields says Thunder Bay has great potential for jobs in the bio technology industry.
