Local Family Honour In Louisiana

A Thunder Bay family are now honourary citizens of Thibidaux, Louisiana.   Andrea Weiss says it was to recognize them for billeting two of their baseball players while  they played with the Border Cats.   For two years the Weiss's hosted Philip Lyons and Tyler Duplantis and they were invited to the community for a visit.  She says out of the blue they were given the citizenry recognition.

Ice Cover Nearly Unprecidented

An environmental scientist from Michigan says the Great Lakes haven't been this frozen over since 1994.  George Leshkavich of the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab says, while it's nothing to be concerned about there will be both positive and negative affects to the ice cover adding,  the situation is likely going to affect shipping on the Great Lakes when the locks open on March 25th and may also mean a cooler summer.

No Concerns Expressed From Horizon

It's business as usual for Horizon Wind and its plans to build the Big Thunder Wind Park.   Spokesperson Kathleen MacKenzie says that a judicial review filed by the Fort William First Nation against two government ministries has no direct effect on the company or its wind turbine project. While not publicly expressing any concern,  MacKenzie says company officials don't believe the review will affect any ministry actions against their application.

City Jobless Rate Up

The latest figures from Stats Canada says the unemployment rate in the country  for the month of February stood steady at 7 per cent.  Thunder Bay's jobless rate for last month stood at 5.8 per cent up from 5.7 per cent.  

Remember The Time

It's a sure sign spring is coming. Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday. It means you will have to push your clock ahead an hour when you go to bed Saturday night. Cell phones, laptops, computers will automatically update. However, don't forget to change your oven, microwave, automatic timer light or car clocks.  The Thunder Bay Fire Service also encourages you to change the batteries in your smoke alarm.

Government Building Still Closed

For the third day in a row the provincial government building on James Street is closed. There was a water main break earlier this week that has caused problems for crews. As result the building remains closed and government business will have to wait until Monday at the earliest. 

New Trial Date To Be Set For Vantroba

A new trial date is going to be set for a city man who is charged in connection with a dog attack on a child in Tarbutt Park in 2012.   Frank Vantroba appeared in court yesterday to answer to why he didn't show up for his trial this week.  He told the court that it was because he was confused about the starting date.   The process will start again March 26th when Vantroba's new court date will be determined.