Zwig promises no delays on study release

The environmental study on the Nor'Wester wind farm will be released next month. City council says it will not approve the location of the turbines until that study is made public. Horizon Wind president Anthony Zwig says he has no intention of delaying the release, adding the company is working to finish up the provincial process and will release the study as soon as they can. Zwig stopped short of saying he was surprised by councils decision

Local mill appears destined for scrap heap

A local union boss is disappointed with the latest developments involving the former Abitibi Mission Mill. The company has found a scrap dealer in the States to buy the mill. Marvin Pupeza of the Canadian Paperworkers Union says its a sad day. He says it wasn't long ago they were working with a potential buyer, but it fell apart. Pupeza adds that a new collective agreement was even worked out with the members, but now it appears the mill will be bulldozed. When it closed there were 430 employees.

OLG announces latest slots cash

The latest payment to the city of Thunder Bay from the provincial government gambling casino is 572 thousand dollars. The money represents 5 per cent of the slot machine revenue from the facility. It was the cash collected during January, February and March.

Backhoe accident sends man to hospital

One man is injured following an accident involving a backhoe. City police spokesperson Chris Adams says it took place at a private residence on Koivu Road Tuesday around noon and sent a 30 year old man to hospital after the machine rolled on him. Police, fire and paramedics responded. While the mans injury is reported as serious it isn't considered life threatening.

Five local nominees in film awards

Thunder Bay is fairing well for the 2010 Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards. Organizer Dennis Landry says 5 of the 24 nominees are from Thunder Bay. He says its no surprise to him because we have an interesting diverse film community.  The local nominees are:  Dave Clement is up for two awards for his work on the film “The Healing Lens” in the Best Film Editor and Best Cinematography categories. Heather K. Dahlstrom is nominee in the Best Film category for “The Healing Lens”.  Two local finalists are nominated in the Best Screenwriter category. Kris Ketonen who collaborated with Lee Chambers on the script “The Sum of Random Chance” and Ryan La Via for his script titled “Psyche”.
Thunder Bay also has a local finalist in a music category. Chris Dorota is nominated in the Best Engineer category for his work on Jean-Paul De Roover’s album “Windows and Doors”.   The awards will be handed out May first in Sudbury.

Westgate students form living green ribbon

High school students in the city are promoting organ and tissue donations. At Westgate Collegiate students formed a human green ribbon. Lisa Cashin of the local Kidney Foundation says the campaign in Thunder Bay appears to be working. She says 38 per cent of the population here has consented to donate their organs at the time of death. Cashin says while that rate is high for the province, she believes it could be better.

Woman hurt in ATV accident

One woman is in hospital with undetermined injuries after flipping her ATV. The accident happened yesterday night when the 37 year old was towing a log up a hill. The ATV rolled on top of her and the woman was taken to the Health Sciences Centre by Air Ambulance with non life threatening injuries.

Wind farm location decision now in limbo

Horizon Wind is now in the drivers seat. City councillors have voted to postpone a final decision on a location for the proposed Nor'Western wind farm. It will not come until Horizon releases an environmental assessment report. City Planning Manager Mark Smith doesn't expect the process to drag on.   He believes the company will release the report "sooner rather than later".   Horizons' Anthony Zwig has said he will make it public in his own time.

Subdivision expansion given preliminary approval

The River Terrace subdivision extension is one step away from being a done deal.  After over 4 and a half hours of  discussion councillors approved the plans by Art Lannon to add the 71 lots.    It came in spite of the pleas of environmentalists like Christy Radbourne who were concerned about the trees that were to be cut down to make way for the new lots.    Radbourne believes councillors had their minds made up prior to the vote.

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 voice 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 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.

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.

Mayor's 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.

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.