OPP release deceased's name

OPP have released the name of the 56 year old Auburn, Michigan man killed in a motorcycle accident on Sunday. Richard Harbin lost control on wet pavement east of Thunder Bay and was pronounced dead at the scene. The 56 year old woman who was a passenger on the bike was transported to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre for her injuries.

Mary J L Black will be open in 8 months

In 8 months time, the new Mary J L Black library will be open to the public. A ground breaking ceremony was held on Monday morning, and Chief Librarian Gina La Force says the project went over budget by a million dollars but notes it will be well worth it.  New play structures are being made for the kids in the neighbourhood, and a new parking lot will have to be configured for the site.  Thunder Bay Rainy River MP John Rafferty was in attendance and vowed to look for extra federal funding for the project.

The Great Canadian Rendezvous is on

There will be plenty of action at Fort William Historical park as it hosts it's annual Great Canadian Rendezvous. The Fort's Chris Ficek says it takes place for ten days with a few key attractions including a classic rock night Wednesday and music by Trooper during the great Canadian Barbeque Thursday. Ficek says there will also be re-enactors from across North America, camping outside the walls of the fort who will be taking part in a number of different events including Sunday's Fort Under Siege.

So far not so good, for the Thunder Bay Port Authority

It could be a tough year for the Thunder Bay Port Authority. Overall the Port has seen a drop of 12 percent so far this year mainly due to a decrease in grain shipments. CEO Tim Heney says wet weather on the prairies have led to a huge decrease in grain shipments. Heney says increases in coal and potash have helped lessen the blow.

Positive Lyme disease Deer Tick found

Another lyme disease positive tick has been turned in to the local health unit. The tick was plucked off of a human who picked up the tick within the city limits.  This is the second positive test for Lyme disease in a tick since the health unit started monitoring and testing in 2005.  It's the first positive tick found on a human in Thunder Bay.

One man is dead after a motorcycle accident

A motorcycle accident has claimed the life one man and left a woman in hospital. Nipigon and Schreiber OPP responded to the accident yesterday just after 3:30 and say it appears the driver lost control on wet pavement. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and the passenger was taken to the Health Sciences Centre with undetermined injuries.

Three arrested after seperate assaults

Three people are in police custody after separate assaults yesterday. Thunder Bay Police say at 4:30 in the morning a man was assaulted with a knife on the North side and suffered minor injuries. Then at 11 a man was threatened with a knife on the south side and near noon another man was assaulted with a hockey stick. Two men and one woman are facing charges.

Sharp shares Lord Stanley's Mug

Thunder Bay hockey fans now have their Stanley Cup "fix".   They lined up around the Fort William Gardens to get a chance to get their picture taken with the cup and Patrick Sharp of the champion Chicago Blackhawks.   Sharp brought the cup to his hometown to share with everyone.  He then took hockey's Holy Grail with him for some private time with family and friends.  A city official estimates the crowd at between 2500 to 3000.

Accident sends child to hospital

A young child is not hurt seriously after a traffic accident on Copenhagen Road. Police say the vehicle appeared to have lost control on the road at around 2:30 Friday afternoon. The child was taken to the Health Sciences Centre for treatment.

Looking Sharp, Patrick set to display the cup

It's Stanley Cup madness at the Fort William Gardens Saturday. Patrick Sharp of the champion Chicago Blackhawks is displaying the Cup at the Gardens from 11 to 1 so you can get your picture taken with it.  There will however be no autographs allowed.  That's being down so as many people can get a chance to see the cup.

City takes sky pics of waterfront project

The city now has a birds eye view of the waterfront development. On Thursday city waterfront officials took too the sky on a fire truck's aerial platform to take these photos of the work that's taken place so far at Prince Arthur's Landing.

Bells for peace

The bond with Thunder Bay's Japanese sister city of Gifu is a bit stronger now. Both communities rang their bells at the same time Friday to symbolize peace. The bell ringing took place at 11 a.m. Pictured: Local students Eiji Moller and Emma-Lee Taniwa join Councillor Joe Virdiramo in ringing the bell in front of City Hall.

Remote areas to get high speed internet

More homes in the remote northwest will be getting high speed internet. Federal Public Safety Minister Vic Toews made the announcement in Thunder Bay. He says the project will be completed by the end of next year by three companies. TBay Tel, Spectrum Telecom Group, and Galaxy Broadband Communications. There are about 45 hundred households that will benefit. The over 8 million dollar cost is being split between the federal and provincial governments, the feds spending 5 and a half million and the province the other 2.8 million.

More HST bashing by Horwath

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath was in Thunder Bay again today to talk about the negative effects of the HST. Horwath delivered a speech at the Roach's Taxi Stand to discuss the impact of the harmonized sales tax on the community's small businesses and families.

Blues Festival set to go

One of the city's biggest crowd draws takes place this weekend. The annual Thunder Bay Blues Festival is on at Marina Park. Organizer Bob Halverson says there will be no issues with the waterfront construction thats taking place. He's encouraging people to take the free shuttle bus from the Community Auditorium. It will be leaving every 15 minutes while the festival gates are open. Gates open on Friday at 4:30 and Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m.

Tick program working

The District Health Unit says it's pleased with the response to it's tick and lyme disease program. Spokesperson Anita LaPointe says only one tick has been found to have the disease out of the hundreds the public have left for testing. She says in all of last year 218 ticks were submitted and so far this year 465 have been dropped off. LaPointe expects those numbers to increase in the fall.

Stamp this loan: PAID IN FULL

You the city taxpayer have finally paid off the loan the city took out in 2000 to support the Regional Health Science's Centre.  That 35 million dollar debenture will be officially paid off on Saturday. City Manager Tim Commisso says what this will do for next years tax increase is not known.  He says the 3 and a half million dollars amounts to 1 per cent of the current operating budget.  He says it's too early to talk about any tax reduction.
The interest over the life of the loan was 10 million dollars

FedNor comes through for the Worlds

Organizers of the World Junior Baseball Championships can breath a bit easier now. The Harper government has come through with some support for the event. The FedNor grant amounts to 75 thousand dollars and will be used towards marketing efforts. The championships are being held from July 23rd until August 3.

Gilbert gives GG choice a thumbs up

Lakehead University President Fred Gilbert calls it an interesting choice. Gilbert is reacting to the appointment of David Johnston as the next Governor General. Gilbert says he knows Johnston,  which makes the choice personal for him.  Gilbert says Johnson has a background in law along with a great inquiring mind and will serve us well as Governor General.  Johnston begins his new job in the fall

Robichaud defends herself

The new president of the Regional Health Sciences Centre insists the controversy surrounding her will not cause a distraction for her new job. Andree Robichaud is leaving her health executive position in New Brunswick under a political storm. She's even been accused of poor management.  She calls that interesting since it was only brought up when she announced her resignation.  Robichaud hopes people will judge her on her own merits when she get here in October.