Hernandez Verdict Postponed Again

The verdict in the Christian Hernandez case is still another month away.    The 28 year old is charged in connection with the 2010 city traffic death of 45 year old pedestrian Richard Carmichael.   Hernandez faces two impaired driving related charges along with failing to remain at the scene of an accident following a death.  The judge in the case was supposed to deliver the verdict today, but that has now been moved to June 19th.

Green Praises Letter Of Intent

A top player in the local event centre project says the process is unfolding as it should.   Gary Green of the entertainment consortium Thunder Bay Live, says the signing of a letter of intent with the city is a key development, but only a small part of a bigger picture.  He says it's now up to his group to come back with a plan that will help to leverage funding from the provincial and federal governments. An update on the project will be presented at an open house May 27th at the Italian Cultural Centre.

Gambee Case Back June 10th

A court date has yet to be set for the former chair of the Christmas Cheer fund. Linda Gambee's trial date is expected to be decided on June 10th. She is charged with defrauding the Christmas Cheer fund of about 22-thousand dollars.

Superintendent's Daughter Charged

A Red Lake OPP officer is in some hot water. The Ontario Provincial Police say they were conducting a RIDE Check stop on the weekend.  They pulled over a vehicle and discovered the driver had been drinking.
Constable Caitlyn Van Straalen, a 6-year member of the police force and the daughter of OPP superintendent Ron Van Straalen, is charged.  The OPP say she will be restricted to non-operational duties until her first court appearance on June 5th.

Fort Frances To Run Tourism Centre

Ontario's former tourist centre in Fort Frances will be reopening, for at least year anyway.  The town will operate the centre on a one-year lease with the province.  Mayor Roy Avis says they're also receiving some money through Ontario Sunset Country Travel Association to help operate the facility.   The provincial government had stopped running the centre due to budget cuts.

Youth Centre Requests Funding

The Thunder Bay Youth Centre is looking for more funding. The Centre has been operating as a pilot project in the Victoriaville Mall for the past year. The centre wants to keep their current location, but need more money to operate it.

Water Delivery Phased Out

City council is eliminating water delivery in the city come July 31st. With the resolution, residents who use well water will have to pay private haulers to deliver their water. Councillor Trevor Giertuga is against the decision, suggesting that the city should continue delivery to residents who need water. Council has asked for a report in a year’s time to see the impact that privatization of delivery has on residents.

College Looks To Cheaper Housing

Confederation College President Jim Madder wants more affordable on-campus housing for its students. At city council on Monday night, Madder says improved housing would improve student life on campus. Madder adds that the four building project would cost around 35 million dollars.

Karate Expo This Weekend

Martial Arts enthusiasts in the city are pumped about the first ever Isshinryu Karate Expo to be held here.   It's being held at the West Thunder Community Centre starting on Friday and running until Sunday.  There will be participants from  Canada, Germany and the United States.    The weekend will include seminars, instruction and testing .

Improvement For Chapples Park

Three local sports organizations are calling on city council for a revitalization of Chapples Park: Soccer Northwest says potential developments could see a new indoor soccer facility created, along with several new all-weather fields created in the park. The Thunder Bay Chill say that conditions are not adequate for their PDL team. President Tony Colistro says there are many issues with their current home field, including drainage and lighting problems. The Thunder Bay Community Tennis Centre are also looking to build indoor facilities to accommodate their growing membership. The city will look at the feasibility of these projects in 2015.

Ideas Brought To Council

City council listened to several presentations on Monday night: The revitalization of Chapples Park was discussed, including the construction of an indoor tennis facility, a new indoor soccer field, along with several all-weather fields. Confederation College President Jim Madder proposed his idea to build four building for student housing on campus, which would cost around 35 million dollars. The city is also discontinuing delivery of water to residents with water tanks; nearly 200 people will now have to rely on private haulers to get water to their homes.

Indoor Tennis Courts Considered

The Thunder Bay Community Tennis Centre is looking to build indoor tennis facilities. Tennis Centre pro Jamie Grieve told city council on Monday night that the centre needs indoor courts. Grieve adds that Confederation College holds two tennis courts, but won’t use them any longer once the facility’s use becomes exhausted.

Another Step for Event Centre

The City of Thunder Bay is another step closer to seeing a new event centre built.   A letter of intent between the city and Thunder Bay Live is now in place.  If all the conditions are met, including financial help from the provincial and federal governments, the new arena complex could be built by the fall of 2017.  Blurry eyed councillors voted to accept the agreement just after one o'clock this morning.

Candidate Forum Planned

The Lakehead Social Planning Council and the Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring an educational forum for prospective municipal election candidates.  It's taking place on Saturday May 24th at the Lake Superior Art Gallery.   This forum is targeted to people across Northwestern Ontario who are considering running for the positions of Municipal Councillor, School Board Trustee or to become a member of a Local Service Board.

Marina To Open Thursday

The city run marina is set to open to local boaters  on Thursday.   Parks Manager Paul Fayrick says inspite of some ice that's still in the habour he's confident there will be some activity.  He says the serious boaters will start getting active early with the majority putting their boats in next month.  Fayrick doesn't expect the condo and hotel construction to pose any problems this year. About 260 boaters have space rented in the marina

Hudak Makes Energy Promises

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak is promising to bring in lower energy rates if elected premier. Hudak is out with a five-point plant that includes ending subsidies for wind and solar projects and a restructuring of Ontario hydro agencies. Hudak also want to import more energy from outside the province and spend more to strength existing nuclear, natural gas and hydro sources in the province.   It follows on the heels of NDP leader Andrea Horwath's promise to axe the HST on hydro bill starting in 2016.   Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne's budget promised hydro price breaks for poorer families and industrial electricity customers.  

Kenora Death Probed

A death in the North End of Kenora is being investigated.  The OPP say they were called at 7:00 this morning to the report of a deceased man. The investigation is being assisted by the Kenora Crime Unit and the Forensic Identification Unit.  The man's identity won't be released until the next of kin have been notified.

NAN Demands Inquiry

 Members from the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Women's Council are in Ottawa today. They're taking part in a ceremony to honour missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada. They were on Parliament hill for a ceremony that began yesterday and wraps up tonight. They were joined by NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, representatives of women’s organizations, First Nation and other political leaders at a press conference this morning

Police Awards Being Given Out

It's a special evening for several local law enforcement agencies.  The Kiwanis Club of Westfort is handing out its annual police appreciation awards.   The recipients this year are, Normand Roy of the RCMP, Carol Michtics of the OPP, Jeff Saunders of the city police and Jackie George of the Nishnawbe Aski Police.

Letter Carrier Duties Change

You may notice some changes to the way your mail is being delivered in Thunder Bay.   Starting today,  John Caines of Canada Post says the letter carrier making those deliveries has more responsibilities including sorting their mail along the route.   He says the carriers are now driving vehicles and performing several duties like delivering and collecting mail and parcels.  Caines says it will enable letter carriers to stay on the road longer.

Evacuation Complete

Thunder Bay is now hosting close to 600 evacuees from the James Bay community of Kashechewan.   It follows a state of emergency called by First Nation officials due to flooding from the Albany River.   City Deputy Fire Chief Dave Paxton says no further evacuees are being accepted The evacuees, mostly the elderly and the young, are being housed in a couple of city hotels.

Horwath Pledges HST Break

NDP leader Andrea Horwath is continuing her northern Ontario election swing.  Today she went to a home on University Drive in Thunder Bay to make her hydro announcement.   She says under an NDP government the HST would be eliminated from all hydro bills starting in 2016 saying the average family will gain about 120 dollars a year on their household budget.   As for the other leaders....The PC's Tim Hudak is in southern Ontario campaigning in  the Niagara Region with Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne on the hustings in the Toronto area.

Crime Of The Week

Crime Stoppers and the OPP are asking for your help in solving an arson that occurred in Stirling Township on Stewart Lake Road. Around April 13th or 14th, someone set fire to a mobile home trailer that had been vacant since December of 2013.  No one was injured.  The trailer was valued at more than $4,000.  Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip at www.tipsubmit.com.

Horwath Visits City

Provincial NDP candidate Andrew Foulds' campaign office is now open. Many supporters were on hand for the opening, including provincial NDP leader Andrea Horwath, who says northerners are ready for change adding that residents in the region are frustrated with the current government. Foulds is running against Liberal incumbent Mines Minister Michael Gravelle, and PC candidate Derek Parks in the Thunder Bay-Superior North riding.

Kashechewan Evacuees Arrive

Up to 160 evacuees from Kashechewan First Nation are expected in the city after the community re-declared a state of emergency due to potential flooding of the Albany River. The state of emergency was lifted last week after water levels had receded. A state of emergency was called for the second time in a week on Saturday, after flooding in the community became a possibility. Thunder Bay has agreed to host 600 evacuees if requested by the province.

College Student Wins Award

A Thunder Bay student is a winner at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition. Confederation College's Tyler Brown won gold in Aircraft Maintenance. He now moves onto the National Competition in Toronto in June.

City Adds To Women's Exhibit

Thunder Bay's Archives division is looking to build its online exhibit for Women's History Month. The archives division is accepting nominations of women to be included in the exhibit until July 1st. New biographies will be added by the archives division to the online exhibit during Women's History Month, which is in October.

UMD Helps Local Football Players

Coaching staff from the University of Minnesota-Duluth football team are in the city this weekend. They're putting on a clinic today and tomorrow at the Lakehead University hangar for coaches and players of the Thunder Bay Minor Football Association. Two sessions are being held, one for 8-13 year old players, and another for 14-18 year old players.

Man Sentenced In Child Luring Case

A 27-year-old man is serving 12 months in jail, and 3 months of probation after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a police sting operation in February. Matthew Lovering was charged with child luring and failing to comply with a court order, after undercover detectives responded to an online ad on Kijiji. The ad asked for young boys between the ages of 6 and 13 to model for photographs.

Waterfront Event Centre Rally

A rally in support of the waterfront event centre is happening today. The Citizens for a Waterfront Event Centre Committee are putting on a rally to show City Council and other residents that a majority of the public supports a potential event centre. The rally gets under way at 1 o'clock today, and will feature several guest speakers including Mayor Keith Hobbs.

$212,000 In Drugs Seized

City Police and the OPP seized a sizeable amount of drugs. 8.5 kilograms of marijuana, 7.4 kilograms of cocaine and 100 grams of Ecstasy, worth a street value of close to 215-thousand dollars, were seized from a south side home yesterday afternoon. Police have charged a 27-year-old local man with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Foulds Kicks Off Campaign

Provincial NDP candidate Andrew Foulds is starting his election campaign. Foulds, a high school teacher and city councillor, says his attention is on the election. Foulds is up against incumbent Mines Minister Michael Gravelle, and Conservative candidate Derek Parks for the Thunder Bay-Superior North riding.

Hwy 17 Closed Near Ignace

Highway 17 is closed 20 km east of Ignace. OPP say it's due to a transport that is fully engulfed in flames.

Army Vets Remembered

Local Afghanistan War veterans who lost their lives in the war are being remembered during the National Day of Honour at Waverly Park today. Many service members were on hand, including Afghanistan veteran Corporal Robin Rickards. Rickards served three tours of duty in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and says it's important to remember those lost in the war. Rickards says that days like the National Day of Honour keep the sacrifice these soldiers made in the front of mind. Nearly 300 people were on hand for the ceremonies to remember Corporal Anthony Boneca, Private Robert Costall, and Private Josh Klukie.

Chiefs Meet On Education Act

Delegates with the Chiefs of Ontario developed an alternative proposal to First Nations Education. They reject the Federal Government's Bill C-33. They now plan to move forward with a confederacy of nationss meeting on the issue on May 14th in Ottawa.

Funeral Arrangements Set

The funeral arrangements for K9 Unit Constable Joseph Prevett are made.  His police funeral will be held on Thursday with a march from 1805 East Arthur Street to the St. Patrick's Cathedral. A mass will be held at the Cathedral and a formal reception at the main ballroom of the Valhalla Inn.  500 police officers from across North America are expected to attend.

Flooding Recedes

Thunder Bay is on stand down mode as a state of emergency in the far north has eased. Residents from Kashechewan and Fort Albany First Nations are terminating their states of emergency now that the flooding in the James Bay area has receded. Our city was asked to look at the possibility of hosting some 600 evacuees.  The emergency has been downgraded and flooding in the communities has stabilized.

Post Mortem Results Not Being Released

The Criminal Investigations Branch, and Coroner's Office continue to urge the mother of a dead baby to seek medical help. The police investigation is continuing and the results of a post-mortem exam is not being released at this time. The scene where the baby's body was found is no longer blocked off by police.

Fort Frances Moving On

The town of Fort Frances is accepting a decision from Resolute to close down the idled pulp and paper mill for good. Mayor Roy Avis says the news is disappointing, but the focus now is working on new initiatives to offset the economic loss. Avis adds knowing the company's directive after years of lay-offs and temporary shut-downs, it allowed them to focus their attention elsewhere.

Run For Women Registration Tomorrow

The Thunder Bay Run For Women is going into it's 34th year. Organizer Gordie Garriock says the rain in the forecast this past week didn't help with pre-registration. Garriock says you can register Saturday starting at 9 at St. Ignatius School. The 5K Run/Walk for Women is held at Boulevard Lake.

Safer Environment For Gay Students

An effort to make the learning environment of students who identify as being gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or trans-gender safer. About 80 gathered in Fort Frances for a regional conference Wednesday. Human rights-consultant Chris D'Sousa says having school administrators and teachers on hand is encouraging. D'Sousa encourages students work with their teachers in promoting dignity and human rights within their schools.

Moose Tag Numbers Unknown

There's growing frustration among tourist camp owners on the upcoming moose hunting season. Jacqui Haukeness is the President of the Kenora District Camp Owners and says they are in the dark on how many tags outfitters will receive. Most Wildlife Management Units saw major drops in tag numbers and Haukeness says it will be a tremendous blow to the tourist industry if the same holds true for camp owners.

National Day Of Honour

Thunder Bay's Royal Canadian Legion is hosting a National Day of Honour today at the Afghanistan Monument in Waverly Park. The event pays tribute to those soldiers who took part in Canada's mission in Afghanistan. Thunder Bay Rainy River MP John Rafferty says its great to see a local ceremony but notes the Federal day in Ottawa came under fire from former military officials and the National Legion. The event at 1 will honour three local soldiers killed in combat Corporal Anthony Boneca, Private Robert Costall and Private Josh Klukie.