Golf Debate October 15th

The City is going to discuss the future of Municipal Golf Course at it's October 15th meeting.  A lively debate is expected from councillors for and against keeping the course.  A committee will be created to look at the current operation of the golf course and will report back to council in July 2013.

Conservatory Gets Netting

City Council is going to keep the Centennial Botanical Conservatory open.  They voted to install 76-thousand dollars worth of netting that will help protect falling glass in the area of the tropical display house.  Councillor Rebecca Johnson was one of several who were against the netting and calls buying the nets a band aid solution.  Meanwhile, Councillor Brian McKinnon called opening the conservatory with netting is another "Elliot Lake" waiting to happen.  Council also asked administration to find money in the 2013 budget to rebuild the greenhouses and come up with a plan for the future use of the conservatory.

Highway 17 Back Open

Highway 17 has been re-opened following a single motor vehicle collision west of the steele river bridge in Schreiber.  The highway was closed to one lane for three and a half hours.  A transport rolled off the highway.  OPP are reporting minor injuries.

Salvation Army Building Won't Last

The Salvation Army is telling the City their facility is aging and probably won't last another 10 years.  Major Merv Halvorsen spoke to councilors last night and says there are many upgrades needed.  Halvorsen says they aren't asking for any money right now they just want to let the City know there is a huge need. The Salvation Army is toying with the idea of building a new facility on their current site or renovating another building in the City.

City Voting Van Gets Award

The City's mobile voting van is getting an award.  The Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario presented the accolade to City Clerk John Hannam at last night's meeting.  The van was used in the 2010 municipal election.

MNR Fire Thunder Bay

Ministry of Natural Resources crews are reporting one small fire on Monday.  They say it was human caused and located on an island on Flower Lake.  There are no problems anticipated with this fire.  The fire hazard is currently listed as low.

Dryer Cause of Victor Street Home Fire

Thunder Bay's Fire Department says a dryer is the cause of a fire at Victor Street Saturday night. Fire Prevention Captain Eric Nordlund says the dryer had an electrical malfunction. The owner put some laundry in the dryer and left his house. When he and his dog got back to the home they found it on fire. No one was hurt and all of the contents of the home were destroyed.

Mining Project Continues Environment Phase

The environmental assessment process for a proposed copper mine near Marathon hits Thunder Bay Tuesday. A Joint Review Panel is holding an information session in the city in the evening.   Panel spokesperson Lucille Jamault  says the panel's secretariat will give any interested groups the information they need on how to participate in the process.   She says the session takes place at the Victoria Inn starting at 7 o'clock.

SIU Probes Prisoner Death

The province's Special Investigations Unit is probing the circumstances surrounding the death of a prisoner who was in OPP custody in Kenora. The 42 year old woman died in a weekend traffic accident on Highway 11-17. The SIU's Monica Hudon  says they are looking for witnesses specifically the driver of a dark pick up truck who may have seen what happened.  Hudon says there are three SIU investigators in Kenora looking into the tragedy.

Litt Remembers "Sam The Record Man"

A retail giant in the Canadian record industry is dead. Sam Sniderman, the founder of Sam The Record Man, was 92. John Litt managed a Sam The Record Man store in Thunder Bay and says Sniderman was one of a kind, calling him warm hearted and jovial. He recalls the winter when Sniderman was going to come to Thunder Bay to perform with the symphony orchestra at Selkirk High School, but his plane was forced to turn back because of bad weather. Litt says Sniderman changed the way records were marketed in the country.

Early A.M. Hodder Avenue Fire

Firefighters are speculating about a possible mattress fire that forced residents on Hodder Avenue to wakeup early this morning. The fire was called in just after 5:30 a.m. this morning to the townhouses on the 600 block. Four units were initially called but the fire was later downgraded after firefighters were able to inspect the scene. No one is reported to be hurt. 

Victor Street Fire Investigated

A fire on the 14-hundred block of Victor Street is now being investigated. Five units and 24 firefighters were called to the residence on Saturday night after the tenant came home to find heavy smoke in the basement. No one was injured but the residence did suffer heavy smoke and fire damge.

Search Continues For Missing 24 Year Old Boater

O.P.P. Underwater Search and Rescue are now being called in to look for a missing boater. Two men were operating a 14 foot boat on Gun Lake South of Minaki when they were ejected Saturday night because of waves. Witnesses were able to save a 23 year old Winnipeg man but his 24 year old companion is still missing. Provincial Police say neither of the two men were wearing their lifejackets at the time. The search is scheduled to continue today.

Woman Prisoner Dies Near Kenora

A 42 year old woman is dead following a collision on the Trans-Canada Highway. She was a prisoner being transferred by Ontario Provincial Police and died early Sunday morning when their vehicle was hit by a transport on Highway 17-A just outside of Kenora. The two officers in the vehicle were also taken to hospital, treated and released but the female prisoner died in the collision. The province's Special Investigation Unit is now being called in to examine the case, as is protocol when any prisoner's dies while in custody. The intersection of Highway 17-A and 658 was closed until 8:00 o'clock last night but has now fully re-opened.

Miles With The Giant

Gilbert Kiptoo crossed the finish line in first place for the second year in a row as crowds cheered him on at the Miles With the Giant marathon. This year's runs started and finished in the Marina Park and both the marathon and half-marathon are Boston certified. Barry Streib, organizer of the event, says this really puts Thunder Bay on the map and will help to make the event bigger each year. Over 900 runners registered this year.

Foul Play Not Suspected

An autopsy has been completed on 15-year-old Regina Kakekespan. Provincial Police are saying that foul play is not suspected, but the investigation is ongoing. Police say her body was found on Monday in a wooded area behind a church on First Avenue North in Sioux Lookout. The cause of death has not been released.

Police Board Says Sorry

The Police Services Board is issuing an open letter about the internal police email that went public earlier this month which some Aboriginals feel was offensive.  Board Chair Joe Virdiramo is hoping the letter helps to soothe relations between the two groups.  He says they are apologizing to the First Nation community and telling them what the police service board is doing to diversify. Virdiramo says the letter is not being released in hopes area First Nations drop their human rights complaint.

ONWA Releasing Prostitution Report

The Ontario Native Women's Association is releasing a report on Thunder Bay's prostitution trade. ONWA Spokesperson Lana Ray says they spoke to 27 aboriginal sex trade workers.  Ray says many of the women said they would like to see a sex trade worker transition house.  It would help them feel more comfortable and safe when trying to leave the industry.  The prostitution report is expected to come out in October.

Conservatory Debate Monday Night

Thunder Bay City Council is going to have a lot on their minds Monday night as they discuss the future of the Botanical Conservatory.  Several groups have come out in support of the building including the Canadian Union of Public Employees.  CUPE Spokesperson Marie Dean says she just wants visitors and workers at the conservatory to be safe.  CUPE doesn't want the City to lose the 48 year old building.  Meanwhile, Councillor Brian McKinnon says he might support keeping the facility open but only if repairs are made and it's deemed safe.

Public School Garden Tour

Five city public schools are showing off their food gardens Saturday.  Parents and educators are being given a bus tour of all the gardens according to organizer Erin Beagle. She says it's part of a growing trend.  The tour begins at 9 o'clock at Agnew H. Johnson school and wraps up at noon.