Youth Curfew heavily discussed

City staff are creating a report on whether a youth curfew is feasible.
Councillor Andrew Foulds describes the proposed youth curfew as "using an elephant gun to swat mosquitoes".  Foulds feels it's not an effective tool, and it's a waste of our police resource. Meanwhile, Councillor Mark Bentz says a feasibility report on a youth curfew doesn't mean that they're going through with it; they just want to gauge the community's support.  Finally, Councillor Ian Angus feels the Crime Prevention Council should be in charge of whether or not to put a curfew in place.  Mayor Keith Hobbs reiterated he never said the curfew wouldn't be discussed with youth.

Adoption fees going into 2011 budget

The higher adoption fees for dogs and cats in the City will be included for consideration in the 2011 budget.  General Manager Mark Smith says if their adoption rate declines because of the increased cost to adopt they will consider lowering the fees. The increase needs to be approved in the budget process, and if passed will run for a trial period.  Many councillors felt the city needs to look at other ways of keeping animals from being put down.  Mayor Keith Hobbs feels the higher fees will prevent seniors and poor people from owning animals.

Credit Union set for Golf Links and Oliver

A credit union is setting up shop on the corner of Golf Links and Oliver Road. Administration asked council to hold off on approving the rezoning of a piece of property to include banks. General Manager Mark Smith says they're not against the bank, they just want to hold off until a community improvement plan is put in place in that area. Council approved the rezoning and will allow the credit union to operate in that area.

Port Improvement plan passed

The Port of Thunder Bay will soon be able to offer incentives to businesses looking to relocate to Thunder Bay. Council approved a community improvement plan for the Port of Thunder Bay at it's meeting Monday night.  General Manager Mark Smith says the move will enable the city to grant back planning and building application fees. 

Names released in Murder Suicide

Thunder Bay police have released the names of the Oliver Paipoonge couple involved in a murder suicide.  69 year old's Joseph and Antoinette Lavoie were found in their Oliver Road home by emergency personnel just after one o'clock Sunday.  Antoinette died as a result of a single gun shot wound, and Joseph of a self inflected gun shot.  Police say there is a history of domestic abuse between the couple.

Klooterhuis calls deaths tragedy for community

City police say an apparent murder suicide in Murillo remains under investigation.   Residents of the village are wondering if there was something they could have done to have prevented it.  Mayor Lucy Kloosterhuis says it's a big tragedy. Police discovered the bodies of a 69 year old man and woman in a home on Oliver Road.

Annual Report celebrates students

The Annual Report from Lakehead University is showing off the accomplishments of it's students.  President Brian Stevenson says it's  putting the spotlight where he says it belongs by telling the community the kind of students LU has.  The report shows there were 82 hundred students enrolled at the institution's two campuses last year.   

Stevenson wants to recruit students early

Lakehead University will be focusing on attracting more Aboriginal students. President Brian Stevenson says he's looking at starting the recruitment process early. He says the goal would be to cut the drop out rate by promoting the institution to students in elementary school.

It was a busy weekend for City police

Thunder Bay police are looking for a second suspect after an armed robbery.  Officers responded after the Shell on Arthur Street was robbed last night just after 8 o'clock.  A 22 year was arrested but a second man is still missing and could be armed with a knife.  Police had to deal with another armed robbery of a Mac's Mart, this time the thief was armed with a stick.  The man entered the Mac's Mart on North May street around 2:30 yesterday morning and made off with some cash and cigarettes.  Police also had to deal with a stabbing over the weekend.  A woman stabbed a man during a domestic altercation and is facing assault charges.  The man received minor injuries.

Fire burns through home outside of the city.

No one was hurt in a house fire on the city's outskirts.  Thunder Bay Fire and rescue responded to the blaze just after 7 o'clock yesterday morning and put out the fire that caused extensive damage to the home.  Officials believe the fire was related to the home's fire place.

Double death in Oliver-Paipoonge

A tragedy in the community of Murillo where police are investigating an apparent  murder suicide.  They say that the bodies of a 69 year old man and woman were found in a home on the 4 thousand block of Oliver Road.  The discovery was made when police entered the home at around 1 o'clock Sunday afternoon.   The names of the victims are not being released until relatives are told.   Police say they'll have more details in the coming days.

Curfew vote Monday

Mayor Keith Hobbs idea for a youth curfew to help combat crime will be facing its first test at Monday night’s Council meeting as a motion for a feasibility report is put to a vote.

Hobbs says a curfew could help address social issues by helping to identify kids who would benefit from intervention and that it would need to be enforced with a lot of discretion by police.

The new Mayor feels a curfew would protect young people from being the victims of crime in addition to preventing them from being perpetrators.

Current River Ward Councilor Andrew Foulds isn’t in favour of the curfew and says the statistics he's seen don't point to youth as being a huge source of crime in the city.

Foulds says he believes that there are better ways to address the issues of young people.

If the motion is passed, a report on the curfew would be presented to Council by April 21.

Annual Salvation Army Christmas dinner

The Salvation Army's Annual Christmas Dinner is happening at noon today at the Salvation Army Booth Centre on Cumberland Street North. Major Mervyn Halvorsen says the dinner is for anyone who is feeling lonely or isn't able to put on a dinner of their own. In addition to Christmas dinner, there will be some gifts for kids. Around 300 are expected to attend; dinner is being cooked and served by the staff of the Valhalla Inn.

Hyer consults students

Bruce Hyer is enlisting the help of some unlikely new policy advisors. The Thunder Bay-Superior North MP is asking high school students in his riding to submit ideas for legislation. A panel of judges will pick the best entries in the Create Your Canada contest which will then be introduced in the House of Commons. Hyer says it's important to find creative ways to involve young people in the political process. The contest ends June 25th.

Wharton Road fire

Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue are putting out the remains of a home fire on 160 Wharton Road. District Chief Joe Grzelewski says while there's no danger of the fire spreading, they'll be there for a while. Grzelewski says as far as he knows there were no injuries.

Another Mac's robbery

Police say a man armed with a stick robbed the Mac's Mart on May Street around 2:30 this morning and left with a small amount of money and some cigarettes. The suspect is described as Native Canadian, about six feet tall and wearing a black leather jacket with a picture of a bulldog on the back and red and white stripes on the sleeves. No one was injured in the incident.

Fredrica fire

City firefighters responded to a fire in an apartment on West Fredrica last night. Oil from a deep fryer caught on fire. Firefighters put the out the flames when they arrived . The building had to be aired out because of the smoke. There were no injuries. Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue says it's never a good idea to leave a stove unattended when cooking.

Man stabbed during domestic dispute

Police have a woman in custody after a domestic dispute at a north side apartment block. A man was stabbed with a knife during the incident. His injury is non life threatening. The woman appeared in bail court this morning facing a charge of assault with a weapon.

Injured workers confront Gravelle

Injured workers advocates in Thunder Bay are getting a promise from Michael Gravelle. The group protested in front of the MPP's office demanding better treatment from the Workers Safety and Insurance Board. Gravelle says he hears their plea.  The injured workers want the WSIB to index their benefits to inflation.

New Fire Truck on the way

Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Service is buying a new Pumper Rescue Fire Truck. The five hundred thirty thousand dollar truck is coming from Carl Thibault Fire Trucks. Administration is recommending council approve the purchase at it's Monday night meeting.