Council hears River Terrace plans from Art Lannon

The developer of the River Terrace area says he is willing to address residents concerns.   Art Lannon laid out his plan for a proposed expansion of the subdivision.   He says he wants to add 71 lots to what he has right now.   Lannon has an agreement to purchase the 13 and a half hectare property from Lakehead University.  He says that in order to ease the concerns residents have about the loss of trees, he would plant a six metre buffer of trees to make up for what will be lost.

River Terrace residents state their case

The residents of the River Terrace area of the city don't want an expansion of their subdivision .  One by one opponents pleaded with city councillors not to approve the proposal.   As part of the plan, the developer will be removing the trees that separate the area from the Health Sciences Centre.  They think the trees that are removed will do away with the buffer they have against the hospital noise.  In addition Lakehead University students and faculty voiced disapproval since the land in question is in the process of being purchased from the institution.

OPP constable resigns, avoids hearing

There will be no police act hearing for a Nipigon OPP officer. Constable Lynn MacKay was to have had the disciplinary hearing this week in connection with a marijuana seizure in 2007. Sgt. Shelley Garr says MacKay faced a charge of discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act. Garr says the hearing was cancelled on April 16th when MacKay officially resigned from the OPP. MacKay was a 17 year veteran of the force.

Locals take part in the Boston Marathon

Michael Wood of Dryden is the top northwestern Ontario finisher in this years Boston Marathon. Wood is one of at least 18 runners from the northwest who ran in the famous event. Wood ended with a time of 2 hours 45 minutes and 23 seconds. Wood says it was his best time ever.  Jim Keyes is the top Thunder Bay finisher. He clocked in with a time of 2 hours 57 minutes and 33 seconds. Drydens' Christine Smith was the top female finisher from the northwest with a time of  3 hours, 25 minutes and 3 seconds.  Sixteen people from Thunder Bay were entered this year.  Here are the results for the regional competitors:
Men: Michael Wood-2:45:23, Jim Keyes-2:57:33, Scott Douglas-3:07:11, Michael Tassotto-3:05:37, Peter Lovis-3:13:57, Rory Cava-3:25:19, Dan Tipple-3:32:35, Claudio Pietrobelli-3:34:06.  Women:  Christine Smith-3:25:03,  Isabel Pacheco-3:25:30, Betty Annela-3:34:00, Christine Bociurko-3:40:33, Donna Ostrom-3:43:59, Monique Welbourne-3:51:38.

Council chamber access restricted

The public is being restricted on when they can enter the city council chamber before an evening meeting. City spokesperson Sheelagh Hendrick says the doors to the meeting room will be closed between 4:30 and 5:45. She says there isn't any staff available to monitor the room during that time. Hendrick wouldn't say if the decision is related to the wind farm debate last week when opponents occupied the chamber.

No injury in bus incident

A pedestrian isn't hurt after what was originally a report of a person being hit by a city transit bus.   The incident took place this afternoon just before 1pm on Red River Road at Regent Street.   Police, fire and paramedic crews responded but police say the victim did not require treatment.   

Union official delivers hospital closure warning

Major hospital health issues are being discussed in Thunder Bay this week. The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions is meeting for three days. President Michael Hurley says one major topic is the provinces plan to tender some services like knee replacements. He says smaller northern hospitals will be defenseless because of it and could close because they won't be able to compete with bigger hospitals like the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre to deliver services. About 200 delegates are attending the gathering.

Mayors race is getting crowded

The race for Mayor is now a three headed battle. Jeff Irwin has thrown his name into the ring along with incumbent Lynn Peterson and former police association president Keith Hobbs. Irwin says seeing the massive amount of opposition to the proposed Horizon Wind farm led him to run for the position. He says council is clearly failing to listen to the people and a change is needed.

New Tanning Legislation could impact local business

Tanning Salons in Thunder Bay could soon be facing new regulations. A Bill outlawing tanning services for people under 19 years old passed first reading in Queens park last week to protect teens from UV exposure. Owner of Ozone Terry Gallant says he thinks profiling skin types is a safer way to approach tanning instead of age. Gallant says people under the age of 19 make up about 5 percent of his clientele.

Chamber gives out business awards

There are over a dozen business award winners in the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce awards gala at the Valhalla Inn. The winners are:
Members:
Commitment to Quality-Exquisite Gold & Gems, TBayTel
Secondary Entrepreneurial Spirit Award-Marian Harkof
Small Business Excellence Award-Kuch Stephenson Gibson Malo
Large Business Excellence Award-RBC Royal Bank
Not For Profit Excellence Award-Dilico Anishinabek Family Centre
New Business Excellence Award-Porter Airlines Ltd.
Customer Service Award-Quality Market
Looking Good Member-Janzen's Pharmacy
Quality of Life Award-Wardop Engineering Ltd.
Environmental Stewardship Award-City of Thunder Bay Facilities and Fleet Dept.
Non-Members:
Business Excellence Award-Intercity Auto Centre
New Business Excellence Award-JustParts.com
Customer Service Award-Coles Book Shop
Pictured: Kuch, Stephenson, Gibson, Malo receive Small Business Excellence Award sponsored by
Magic 99.9 and the Giant 105.3

               
                          

River Terrace residents concerned

Controversy appears to be brewing over a planned expansion of the River Terrace subdivision near the Health Sciences Centre. Councillor Larry Hebert says residents have concerns about losing some trees as their buffer zone against noise. Residents will ask councillors Monday to turn down the developers request.

Supporters of wind farm get together

Support for the proposed Nor'Wester wind farm is beginning to show through. A group of them gathered for a luncheon recently.  One of them was Phil Fralick of Lakehead University.  He says he supports it because climate change is a reality here on earth and we have to start doing things that will start mitigating the problems of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  About a hundred supporters of the wind farm gathered for a Friday luncheon.

Wind blows down tree on Finlayson St.

High winds are responsible for this downed tree at the rear of 222 Finlayson Street. No one was hurt in the incident. Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson says wind gusts were measured at the Thunder Bay Airport at 67 kilometres per hour.

Wind farm back before Council

The Big Thunder Wind Park may get some debate at City Hall Monday evening. Councillors could decide not to approve the location of the wind turbines until the Environmental Assessment is released. The CEO of Horizon Wind Anthony Zwig says he's not sure about the process that is taking place, but says his company will continue with its own plans and release the assessment when he feels its appropriate.   Councillors could  also vote to make a location decision May 17th.

House fire keep Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue Busy

The Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue dealt with a two alarm fire on Rona Street. Crews were called just before 11 o'clock for a house fire just off of Hodder. People were in the house but luckily no one was hurt.

Wind snaps a tree on Huron Ave.

No one is injured after high winds snapped a tree on some power lines at 1037 Huron Avenue. The incident took place just after 10 am Friday morning. Fire and hydro crews were at the scene.  The winds are forecast to reach up to 60 km/hr.

Bachelors of Hope fundraiser another success

The 12th annual Bachelors for Hope Auction was another success. Over 63 thousand dollars was raised brining the 12 year total to just under 600 thousand dollars raised for breast cancer research.

Shippam falls short of the North Pole

Thunder Bays' Dale Shippam is safe after quite an adventure near the North Pole. Shippam is a heart transplant patient who tried to ski to the Pole with his doctor Heather Ross. However, wife Peggy Shippam says they came up short. She says a moving arctic ice floe proved too dangerous.   She says eventually a helicopter rescued them from their camp and the high winds and minus 40 degree temperatures.

Federal Saguenay first "saltie" of the season

The Federal Saguenay is the first ocean going ship of the season in the the Port of Thunder Bay this year. It arrived Thursday morning and had a difficult time docking at the Viterra grain elevator. Heavy Fog made visibility very low and the ship ended up brushing a grain storage container causing minimal damage. Before heading out to Belgium, it loaded up with some canary and flax seed.

NAPS graduates nine officers

Nine constables will join the ranks of the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service at a ceremony on Friday afternoon.  The graduates are:   Hector Vecchio, Gabriella Balog, Shannon Dyck, Mackenzie Schussler, Troy Wlodarek, Mark Lefavre, Dwaine Howe, Bryan Halcro and Jim Andrew.   Constable Halcro is scheduled to deliver the valedictorian address and be presented with the award for Outstanding Achievement.