Dryden Youth Centre Gets The Axe

An 11th hour attempt to save the Dryden Youth Centre has failed. Council has officially closed the doors on the Youth Centre. Shayne MacKinnon made a passionate plea last night to save the facility. Mayor Craig Nuttall held the deciding vote and says the City can no longer afford to run the Centre.

Financial Challenges Remain In Dryden

A report from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing shows that Dryden is still facing high challenges in four out of seven key financial indicators. Ministry reps addressed Council last night and stated they still have concerns but realize that the City is taking steps to fix the problem. Chief Administrative Officer Andre Larabie says all of the concerns of the Ministry will be addressed.   He says a recovery plan is being put together for council's consideration. The report indicated Dryden doesn't have the ability right now to cover payments or unexpected costs on short notice as well as meet short-term capital obligations.

Dogs Go South

Thunder Bay's Humane Society is teaming up with their parent organization to transfer 9 long term resident dogs from the region to Southern Ontario. Board President Judy Decicco says the dogs will have a better chance of being adopted with the larger population in the south's urban centres.  The Southern Ontario Humane Societies are actually experiencing a shortage of dogs up for adoption.  Dogs from Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie are also moving to the greater Toronto area. The dogs will be leaving our shelter on Rosslyn Road on Thursday morning and will arrive in Newmarket the following day.

Bus-Pedestrian Collision Still Being Probed

Thunder Bay police are still investigating last weeks collision that saw a bus strike a 72 year old woman.    Sgt. Glen Porter says while no charges have been laid he believes it may be heading in that direction, but did not provide specifics.  He says his team of traffic investigators has amazed him with the information they have been able to uncover in the case. Porter wasn't able to give an update on the victim, Audrey Kahkonen who was last listed in critical condition.

Highway 11 Due For 2014 Facelift

The Province says that more construction on Highway 11 in northwestern Ontario is scheduled to begin in spring 2014. Over 27 kilometres of the highway between Geraldton and Jellicoe will be repaved.   Aecon Construction has received a 10 and a half million dollar contract as part of the government's initiative to introduce a new three-part plan that will help create jobs and boost economic growth. The project will open up 100 new jobs for Ontario workers.

Police Budget Approved

The Police Services Board is approving a 36.5 million dollar budget for 2014. Police Chief JP Levesque says its a 3.5 percent increase over last years and it's due to salaries. Other increases on the capital side of the budget include new voice recognition software for dictating officers notes, upgrades to the 911 system and a new police dog. Levesque will bring the budget to City Council for approval in February.

Hobbs Gives State Of The City Address

Mayor Keith Hobbs is reiterating the city's importance in the mining industry. Hobbs addressed the withdrawal of Cliffs Natural Resources from the Ring of Fire during his state of the city address Monday He said that the regions mining potential should not be overshadowed by one company. Hobbs adds that work still needs to be done on transportation infrastructure and consultations with First Nations communities.

Dugmore Memorial Okayed

A memorial will be placed at the end of Pier Two on Prince Arthur's Landing honoring Katherine Dugmore who passed away in March.  Community Services General Manager Greg Alexander says the estimated cost would fall between ten and fifteen thousand dollars but believes that companies may offer their work free of charge.

New Regulations For Vulnerable Occupancies

Thunder Bay's Fire Service is talking to the hospital, old age homes and all other organizations that are deemed vulnerable occupancies. Fire Chief John Hay says they want those building owners to know how they'll be impacted by new Ontario regulations which will require more scrutiny and changing habits.

Santa Bus Brings Tonnes Of Food

Over 2 thousand pounds of food is going to the Thunder Bay Food Bank. The goods were collected through the Amalgamated Transit Union's Santa Bus Food Drive.

Another Child Porn Bust

City police are announcing another kiddie porn bust.   Detective Constable Chris Dunnill says that in early October they discovered that a man was using an Internet  file sharing network to trade child pornography. Dunnill says that lead to a search of a South Cumberland Street apartment in late November. That's where a computer was seized.    Facing three child pornography related charges is 42 year old Terrance Roe of Thunder Bay.

LHIN To Be Reviewed

Regional health authorities will be get a review in the new year. A provincial legislative committee intends to hold public meetings in late January and February to review the Local Health System Integration Act. It include a meeting in Thunder Bay on February 3rd. The 7-year-old act led to the creation of 14 Local Health Integration Networks, including one for the Northwest, to oversee the planning, integration and funding of local health.

Man Killed On Highway 17

It was a tough day on area roads Sunday.  A single vehicle accident on Highway 17 claimed the life of  55-year old  John Lackey from the Barrie area.  OPP say yesterday afternoon around 3 o'clock a pickup truck rolled over, one kilometre west of Finmark Road, that resulted in the highway being reduced to one lane.   Meanwhile, a two-vehicle collision on Highway 61 near Mount Forest Boulevard sent four people to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The male driver of the Nissan truck was charged with Unsafe Lane Change contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.

No Injuries In NWO Derailment

Trains are moving again on the CP rail line in northwestern Ontario. A train derailment about 10-kilometres east of Ignace forced the closure of the national line early Saturday morning. 14-grain cars left the track and there was damage to a small section of the track. Repairs were made and the investigation concluded and service was back to normal yesterday afternoon. No one was injured.

Seatbelts Save Lives

"Seat belts save lives"  is the theme of a high school campaign this week.   Judi Marton of the Health Unit says a crumpled car wreck, whose victims survived a collision,  is being taken to several schools this week. Marton says the initiative is a partnership between the Health Unit, the regional hospital and a local car dealership.

OPP Commish To Retire

OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis is set to retire from the force. He made his announcement recently saying he'll end his 35 year police career on March 28th of 2014.   A search for Lewis's replacement will begin immediately.

Food Bank Use Up

The demand for food banks is growing in Ontario. The Ontario Association of Food Banks finds 375-thousand people now relying on food banks every month.  Executive Director Bill Laidlaw says there were 16-thousand new users identified this year. Laidlaw says food bank use this year has been greatest in rural areas and communities hit hard by plant closures.

Bell Let's Talk Clara's Ride Coming In June

Six time Olympian Clara Hughes is cycling across Canada raising mental health awareness.  Mary Deacon is Chair with the Let's Talk initiative and says events will kick off soon with Bell Let's Talk Day which over the past few years has raised 62-million dollars.  Clara's trip begins in Toronto on March 14th and will be in Thunder Bay in June.

Christmas Cheer Hamper Pick Up

It's almost time to pick up your Christmas Cheer hampers. If you live on the south side of the City Tuesday is your chance to pick it up, while the north ward will pick up their hampers on Wednesday. Hampers can be picked up at the CLE from 9 in the morning till 7 at night.

City Council Preview

City Council is set to clear up some administrative duties during the last meeting of 2013. Deputy Chief of Superior North EMS Ernie Kadikoff says they're asking council to approve the spending of their new ambulance for Armstrong. The Provincial Government provided 165-thousand dollars towards the vehicle. Meanwhile, A permanent memorial for Katherine Dugmore will be discussed at council tonight. Dugmore was the city's Project Manager for the waterfront development before passing away in March to cancer. The memorial would be placed at the Viewing Circle entrance at the end of Pier Two. Also up for discussion tonight, the city's Community and Cultural Funding grants are expected to remain consistent with last years. Council will review a submission tonight passing two point three million dollars in funding. Finally, an application to have the Sister Leila Greco Apartments included in the cities Charitable Tax Rebate program should be looked at favorably according to councillor Brian McKinnon. If approved the apartments would receive a full tax rebate.