City rec trails to get a facelift

Thunder Bays recreational trail system is getting 1.4 million dollars worth of improvements. Councillors have voted to approve the spending for those upgrades. Parks Manager Paul Fayrick assured councillors the upgrades will be done as effeciently as possible.  He says improvements will be done in sections with each section taking two days to complete. The contract has been awarded to Bruno's Contracting

City turns to new voting machines

Don't look for any changes to the way votes are counted in the upcoming municipal elections. City Clerk John Hannam says that the city has entered into an agreement with Dominion Voting to provide new voting machines. He says that the new machines will offer a wide range of different capabilities including the ability to help people with disabilities vote and it will allow people to vote from any poll in the city something which could not take place in other elections. Hannam's comments follow a presentation by three citizens who wanted the city to go back to a hand counting system from the current electronic system. Hannam countered by saying hand counting is the most innaccurate form of voting that exists because it's open to all kinds of human error.

Tournament organizers plead for a break

City administration is considering several requests by organizers of the World Junior Baseball championships.  They asked the city to allow them to collect 15 per cent of the concession revenues that would normally go into city coffers.   They're also asking the city to waive rental fees for Port Arthur Stadium and the cost of lighting for the tournament if it runs a deficit.  There was also a request to open another entrance to Baseball Central to take the pressure off the only existing entrance off of Central Avenue.  Administration says it will have an answer back in two weeks.

Girl's hockey team recognized by city

The Thunder Bay Queens Midget AA Team were recognized at Monday night's city council meeting. The team was honoured for winning gold at the Ontario Women's Hockey Association Provincials in Mississauga and for winning gold at the Esso Cup National Tournament in Regina. Also recognized at Monday's meeting were plasma donor Bert Harding and keyboard virtuoso Conner Curran.

Northwest residents still live risky lifestyles

Residents of Northwestern Ontario still live a lifestyle that poses a cancer risk. The latest report card from Cancer Care Ontario indicates we smoke more than the provincial average and are more overweight as well. Michael Power of the Regional Cancer Centre says even cutting down on smoking would help reduce rates considerably. He says there is also concern not enough of us are getting cancer screened for colon or prostate cancer. The report card also shows the local Centre is doing a good job in cancer radiation treatment.

Children hurt at Fort William Historial Park

A 4 year old girl is in hospital with a severe trauma after an incident at Fort William Historical Park this morning. Don Stokes of Superior North EMS says the girl was one of several children who were injured in the accident that took place around 11:30.   He says six children were hurt  in the accident that involved work horses and a wagon.  Three were treated for minor injuries at the scene and released, three others were taken to hospital for more serious injuries including the girl. Marty Mascarin with the Historical Park says that the students were part of a program run by the Park along with the Lakehead Public School Board.  He say they're not certain as to exactly what happened to cause the accident or how the children got hurt.  He says normally the students ride in the wagon while it is pulled by the horses, however he can't say if this was the case in this incident.

10am drinking in honour of Fifa World Cup

Starting June 11th, you'll be able to crack open a cold one an hour earlier at your favourite drinking establishment. The province is allowing licensed bars and restaurants to serve alcoholic beverages earlier in the day during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Minister of Consumer Services Sophia Aggelontitis says the change in drinking hours will help accomodate the delayed game times. The games are being telecast from South Africa with some games starting as early as 7:30 am ET.

Low to moderate fire hazard

Rainfall over the weekend in much of Northwestern Ontario has helped ease the forest fire hazard.  Ministry of Natural Resources Information Officer Debbie McLean says the current hazard is listed as low to moderate. McLean adds the forest fire hazard still remains high in the Quetico Park area where three fires are still burning.
Meanwhile, 100 fire crews from B.C. are staying in Thunder Bay before flying out to help battle blazes burning in Northeastern Ontario.

Multiple stab wounds cause of death

A post mortem has revealed that Randy Lawrence Cromarty died as a result of multiple stab wounds. The 39 year old was the victim of the City's first homocide. 28 year old Thea Debra Gliddy is facing a charge of second degree murder. Gliddy is due back in court June 23rd.

Labour peace at George Jeffery

The 20 or so professional therapists at the George Jeffery Children's Centre now have a new contract. The two year deal gives them a total wage increase of 4 per cent along with improved benefits.  Suzanne Pulice, of the Canadian Auto Workers union  says it's a good deal, but still falls short,  adding other therapists at similar centre's in Northwestern Ontario make slightly more.  The  highest paid therapist at the Centre will get over 75 thousand dollars a year at the end of the contract.

OPP go back to the basics in cold case file

The OPP will be using billboards and bus ads to try to solve a 44 year old cold case. Detective Sgt. John Horne is hoping the compelling murder cases of Doreen Hardy and Jane Bernard will spark some interest and some tips. The two were last seen getting into a car on Cumberland Street in August of 1966. Witnesses gave police a description of the driver and Horne believes that someone knows who this person was. The women's bodies were located in Shuniah Townhip just yards from each other. Both of them had been strangled. There is also a 50 thousand dollar reward being offered in the case.

Stolen vehicle found near Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay OPP recovered a stolen vehicle after responded to an accident over the weekend. The single vehicle accident happened on highway 17 just west of Raith at around 9:30 Saturday morning. When officers arrived they discovered the vehicle had been reported stolen in Winnipeg and the 19 year old driver was arrested.

Smoking restrictions in City parks take effect

Starting Tuesday children's play areas in city parks will be smoke free. The bylaw means smokers will have to remain at least ten metres away from playground equipment, public beaches and entrances to recreational facilities. Thunder Bay is the 6th community in Ontario to regulate smoking in public parks. Vancouver has outlawed smoking in all city parks and beaches effective this September.

Combined Forces Crime Unit make another drug bust

Over ten thousand dollars worth of drugs are off the streets thanks to the Combined Forces Organized Crime Unit. Officers searched a house in Neebing Friday and found a large quantity of prescription pills and other drugs as well as 17 firearms and cash. Officers were looking for two people who weren't home at the time when they searched the house. No arrests have been made.