No students injured in school scare

Police are investigating a strange incident from this morning at a local elementary school. A grey car was seen driving on the lawn at C.D. Howe school and then drove down a public path. The students had just entered the school prior to the incident. No one was injured. 

Horwath provides platform sneak peek

The Ontario NDP is offering a sneak peak on what it plans to do to help Northern Ontario in advance to this October's Provincial Election.  Leader Andrea Horwath says her Party will also have a specific platform on how it plans to help Northern Ontario take full advantage of its assets.  Horwath adds the Liberals have already crippled families by adding 8-percent to home heating bills and filling up at the gas pumps.

More cold weather on the way

It looks as if Old Man Winter isn't done with us yet.  Despite warmer than normal temperatures over the last couple of days, the thermometer is going to be dipping later this week.  Our Meterologist Bill Laidlaw says it will be unusually cold for this time of year.  Laidlaw says there is also the slight chance of some snow flurries by the weekend, as a Colorado low moves through the upper mid-west.

PM visit possible Monday

More details are expected to come out later today or tomorrow on a possible visit to the city by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. One local Conservative party official says there are final details being worked out and that nothing has been confirmed as of yet.  Meantime the Prime Minister along with Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and NDP leader Jack Layton are preparing for tonight's televised debates.

Police report second murder of 2011

A 63 year old Thunder Bay man is in custody this morning after what police say was the murder of his wife.  They say they went to an apartment building at 540 Oliver road where the body of a 61 year old woman was found.  Police Spokesperson Chris Adams says officers were dispatched after the man turned himself in at the Balmoral station at around 11 o'clock last night.  Adams says not many details can be released at this time but says it appears to be domestic in nature.  He is to appear in court this morning on a second degree murder charge.  No names are being released.

Thunder Bay gets green

The City of Thunder Bay is getting ready for spring.  The City recently was awarded over 7 thousand dollars for pruning equipment from the TD Green Streets program. Spokesperson Reena Viehbeck says they'll also use the funds to train volunteers on how to prune city trees.  The City was one of 23 communities chosen for the green program.  The volunteers will start work on the City's urban forest in May.

Horizon Wind settlement ratified

Thunder Bay City Council has ratified the Horizon Wind settlement. Councillor Joe Virdiramo caused a bit of confusion last week as to which way he voted and took the time this week to clarify how he was voting and why. Virdiramo didn't put up his hand at last week's meeting meaning he voted against the settlement. Virdiramo says it would be irresponsible to open the city up to such a pricey lawsuit. Meanwhile, Norwester Escarpment Protection Committee Spokesperson Mike Payne says they're ready to take their fight to the provincial level. The final vote was 8 to 4.

Slew of contracts awarded

The City of Thunder Bay went on a spending spree at Monday night's meeting.  A series of contracts were awarded for a variety of projects.  A four million dollar asphalt resurfacing contract is going to Taranis Contracting.  2.2 million will be used to replace a sewer and watermain project.  Taranis Contracting had the lowest bid for repairing the James Street Bridge with the contract coming in at 1.5 million dollars.  The latest waterfront contracts came in at 350 thousand and 4.6 million respectively.

Cultural plan released

The City's Cultural Plan continues to grow and change.  A draft plan was presented to council Monday night.  From now until May 9th the public and council are encouraged to review the plan and comment on what they would like to see changed.  The plan recommends including cultural diversity in public places.  It also suggests fostering the city's youth entrepreneurs.

LRCA facing funding shortfall

The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority is facing a funding shortfall.  The LRCA is short on cash because of changes to the Ministry of Natural Resources funding.  The group wants City Council to petition the government to provide more money for their initiatives.  The Conservation Authority is also applying for funding from another provincial infrastructure program.

More deputations on wind farm

Thunder Bay residents who are against the Horizon Wind Farm project made another plea to City Council to scrap the settlement with the company.  Three deputations on the ongoing issue were made Monday night.  Representatives from the Loch Lomond Ski area are concerned turbine parts won't fit on the Loch Lomond Road.  Another deputation made mention that Horizon Wind's renewable energy application to the Ministry of Environment was returned because it was incomplete. Council is expected to ratify the settlement agreement Monday evening.

Drug strategy presented to council

Being an addict is not a crime. That's what JP Levesque from the Drug Strategy Committee had to say to members of council. Thunder Bay's City Council spent over an hour listening and talking about the drug strategy. The committee brought the city up to speed on what they think should be done to improve the quality of life for those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol.  Council approved the strategy Monday night.  Administration will review the strategy and come back in July with recommendations.

Wilson talks forest tenure

Thunder Bay's Chamber of Commerce President isn't pleased with the Provincial Government's review of Bill 151.  Harold Wilson was in Toronto on Monday for the provincial hearings on forest tenure.  Wilson is disappointed with how the hearings and forest tenure bill were handled.  Wilson urged the committee to limit the forest management corporations and conduct a review in five years time.

Strat Plan takes shape

Thunder Bay City Council wants to hear from you.  A series of public consultation sessions on the Strategic Plan start Wednesday night.  The strategic plan guides the city's priorities for the next four years.  Wednesday night's meeting is at the DaVinci Centre from 6:30 until 9.  Thursday's is at the Italian Cultural Centre.

L-U Student Union to hold new vote

Officials at the Lakehead University Student Union are to hold new student elections. Spokesperson Chris Vaillant  says it's because the last election was ruled invalid by the LUSU board after a person was caught on a surveillance video stuffing a ballot box.  The new election will be held in September.

First "saltie" on its way

The first ocean going ship of the season is on its way to port.  Shipping official William Hyrb says the Aragonborg is to  arrive around 5 a.m Tuesday and will dock at Canada Malting. He says the Dutch ship is brand new,  only being delivered last year.  A welcoming ceremony will take place in the afternoon.

Election signs vandalized

Campaign workers for two local candidates are replacing damaged election signs. Signs for Richard Harvey and Bruce Hyer on North Court Street were vandalized sometime overnight. Hyer's spokesperson Maurice Grinstead says it's part of the campaign and he doesn't worry about it. The signs have been replaced. A spokesperson for the Harvey camp won't speculate on who may be responsible. The manager for the Yves Fricot campaign says they are dealing with similar problems throughout the city and doesn't know who is responsible for the vandalism.

No overspending for elected councillors

It appears the current city councillors have no worries over their election expenses.  Figures from the City Clerk's office show that all of them were well within what they were allowed to spend during last year's civic campaign. That goes from almost 13 hundred dollars for Mark Bentz to 12 thousand dollars for  Paul Pugh.   The deadline for submitting election costs was March 25th.  Only Mayor Keith Hobbs asked for an extension, which he's allowed to do, so he has until June to submit his expenses.

RFDA launches spring food drives

The Regional Food Distribution Association is gearing up for two major food drives. Executive Director Volker Kromm says the RFDA will be getting help from both Superstore and Canada Post. Kromm says most of the food collected during Holiday drives has been exhausted and the need for more food is rising. Superstore will be donating food through its Spring into Action food drive and Canada Post will be collecting food curbside across the region Saturday.

France plays leading role in Ivory Coast: prof

France is quickly becoming one of the biggest players on the international stage. Lakehead University Political Science Expert Laure Paquette says with French Special Forces Soldiers capturing the Ivory Coast, France  has become interventionist. Paquette says the biggest question is how the new leaders of the Ivory Coast will treat the former government leaders now that strongman Laurent Gbagbo has been arrested.