Thursday, February 2, 2012

Grann undergoes more questioning

It's the second day on the stand for the Thunder Bay Police officer who is charged with falsifying records in the Ontario Sex Offender Registry.   Prosecutor Marc Huneault spent the morning and part of the afternoon grilling Toni Grann on how she kept her records.  Grann kept her composure on the stand during the cross examination.    On Wednesday Huneault indicated he would complete his questioning sometime today. 

Cindy's Ashes have been returned

Radio reports have reunited a family with an urn of remains.  Police say the Urn was found at Dutchak's Recycling and after the story hit the airwaves, family members went to  Balmoral Station to pick up Cindy's Ashes.  Officials say the remains are human and were misplaced. 

16th year for Bearskin Airlines Hope Classic

It's the 16th year for the Bearskin Airlines Hope Classic.  Chair Sue Childs says there are 59 teams taking part in the bonspiel that will take place February 17th to the 19th at the Fort William Curling Club.  Since it's inception over 2-million dollars has been raised for the Linda Buchan Centre for cancer care.

Pedestrian appeared to be drunk: police

Police say alcohol may have been a factor in a car-pedestrian accident on Cumberland Street  last night.  They say the victim, a 33 year old woman, appeared to be drunk at the time and ran into oncoming traffic and was struck by a car.  Police say she was taken to the Health Sciences Centre, but her injuries were not serious. No chanrges have been laid.

Thunderhawks in Dryden today

The first year Confederation College Thunderhawks Women's Hockey team is making an appearance in Dryden this afternoon.  The Thunder Bay based team is practising at the Memorial Arena from 1 until 2 .  Coach Marshall Erickson says it will give local residents a chance to learn more about their program.  The club signed Dryden's Kyley Engstrom this week.

Dryden to hold by-election

A by-election will be held to replace Dryden Councilor Mike Wood.  Council made the decision last night and Mayor Craig Nuttall says it was the right decision.  Six potential candidates were in Council Chambers when Council made the decision.

Terrace Bay Pulp owes millions

Terrace Bay Pulp owes millions of dollars to businesses across the Country and in the United States.  That figure is from the CCAA monitor Ernst and Young who released a list of the Mill's outstanding debts recently.  The company filed for CCAA bankruptcy protection last week.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Pedestrian struck by car

City police are investigating a car-pedestrian accident which sent one person to hospital.   They say it took place at around 6:40 pm Wednesday at the intersection of Cumberland and River.  They say paramedics stabilized the victim and then took her to the Health Science's Centre with unknown injuries. 

City couple win$ big

A Thunder Bay couple are almost one million dollars richer thanks to a recent lottery win. Allan and Darlene Maki won 983 thousand dollars in the January 21st. Lottario draw. The couple has been married for 37 years and plan to share their winnings with their family, pay off some bills, take a vacation and put away the rest in their savings.

Grann grilled over record keeping

The trial of city police officer Toni Grann is continuing. In cross examination Wednesday, prosecutor Marc Huneault got Grann to admit that on two occasions, that as the administrator of the local file in the Ontario Sex Offender Registry, she didn't force the convicted offenders to update their file in person as required by the law. In her defense Grann told Huneault that in one case the person was confined to a wheelchair and so she used existing information on file about the person. In earlier testimony, Grann portrayed a system she felt was not organized on various levels. Grann is charged with Breach of Trust in connection with falsified records in the registry.

Hyer to hold Budget Meetings

MP Bruce Hyer wants to know what his constituents want in the upcoming Federal Budget.  Hyer says he's planning on holding information meetings in the area with NDP finance critic Peter Julien.  Hyer says the meeting in Thunder Bay will take place next Friday at the Prince Arthur Hotel from 7:30 to 9pm.

Transit City could be coming back to life

A looming legal battle at Toronto City Hall could have major implications for Thunder Bay.  A recent statement from a Toronto legal firm said Mayor Rob Ford didn't have the authority to kill the transit city light rail plan.  MPP Bill Mauro says the report has reopened the debate that could see Toronto Council go back to the original plan that saw lots of work for the Bombardier plant.

"I wasn't hiding anything"

Toni Grann (Left) leaves courthouse
City Police officer Toni Grann took the stand in her Breach of Trust trial.  Grann is charged with falsifying records in the Ontario Sex Offender Registry.   On the stand this morning Grann painted a picture of a system that she felt wasn't organized on various levels.  She sited an example of how she got so busy that she had to make deals with some uniformed officers to get verifying addresses of some local sex offenders.   She told the court  "I wasn't hiding anything."   Under cross examination she says she did not have all convicted sex offenders come to the police station to register even though it was required by law.

LUSU holds rally

Over 200 people will be taking part in a rally at Lakehead University today.  Student Union President Mike Snoddon says it's a call for increased funding and participation from the Federal Government.  The LU rally is part of the Federation of Student's National Day of Action.

Toni Grann to take stand today

City Police Constable Toni Grann will take the stand today.  Her London, Ontario Lawyer Clay Powell says she's been waiting to tell her side of the story for over two years.  The Crown rested its case yesterday. Grann is facing 11 charges of Breach of Trust in connection with falsified local records in the Ontario Sex Offender Registry.

NWO needs its own weather rodent

It's Ground Hog Day Thursday and our meteorologist wants Northwestern Ontario to get its own prognostic rodent.  Bill Laidlaw says the region can no longer depend on Southern Ontario's Wiarton Willie.  Laidlaw says we're going to have a late start to Spring but the rest of Winter will be warmer than normal.

Ignace has Mayoral vacancy

Ignace Council is accepting the resignation of Mayor Lee Kennard with regret.  Municipal officials say they haven't had a chance to sit down with Council and discuss the options of filling the vacancy.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Budget takes centre stage at City Hall

The Budget process is underway at City Hall. An overview of the budget was given to council Monday night that came complete with a 2.67 percent tax increase. City Manager Tim Commisso says costs need to be controlled to make a good budget. He said extensive meetings have been held to go over the costs for every department. More Budget meetings will be held next week.

Kaszycki speaks out

Some critics are surprised that as the McGuinty government's Ring of Fire coordinator, Christine Kaszycki hasn't visited camps in the mining zone. Kaszycki defends the decision saying there have been other priorities which included getting to know the communities affected by the massive development.  Kaszycki says as a geologist by trade she has visited many exploration sites.

Medical stop at Thunder Bay airport

An Air Canada flight from Winnipeg to Toronto made an unscheduled stop at the Thunder Bay airport this morning at around 10 o'clock. Manager Scott McFadden says it was due to a medical emergency.  McFadden says the patient on the Airbus A-319 was taken to the Health Science's Centre.