Council moves foward with Urban Forest Master Plan

The city's trees are getting some big time attention from City Council.  The Urban Forestry Master Plan first report was given approval at Monday night's meeting and Councillor Aldo Ruberto says the city can and should look at Urban Forestry as a way to make the intercity area more attractive because Memorial is "ugly."  The consultant who handled the report says Thunder Bay's Urban Forest is pretty good but there is ways it can be improved.

City calls for length restrictions on Dawson Road

Its another step in the right director according to residents of the Dawson Road area.  Over 2 thousand residents have signed a petition calling for a ban on transport traffic on the Road and Council voted unanimously on a resolution that calls for a length restriction.  Mayor Hobbs says these trucks should be using the Shabaqua extension and something has to be done to remove them from Dawson.  A draft bylaw will now be created and will then go to the province for approval. 

Jury selection complete

The jury in the Andre Wareham murder trial is now selected.   The ten women and two men will be given their instructions by Justice Platana tomorrow morning followed by the opening statements from the prosecution and the defense.  The 34 year old Wareham is charged with 2nd degree murder in the death of 29 year old William Atkins in January of 2009.

Researcher urges polar bear policies

The provincial government is being urged to protect the Cree in the Hudson Bay area from polar bears.  Lakehead University researcher Henry Lemelin says climate change could be a threat to First Nations there if more bears are forced off disappearing ice floes.  Lemelin has three suggestions...restitution for people if they, or their property are harmed by polar bears, money to tranquilize and relocate the bears and a polar bear safety program to help them manage the bears properly.

School board starts budget process

It's budget time for the Lakehead Public School Board. Spokesperson Kathy Pozihun says it's a procedure that could go into the summer before it's signed sealed and delivered to the government .   Pozihun says this year there will be  input allowed through a public meeting and by e-mail .  She says the process can even be followed on Twitter.  Last year the board approved total spending of 137 million dollars. 

Police make fraud arrest

Thunder Bay Police have arrested a 35 year old man after a couple complaints from people buying stuff on Kijiji.  Officials say two people complained after not receiving their purchases and didn't have their money returned. Officers say the two victims made the purchases without seeing the items which is risky.  The suspect is facing several fraud charges. 

Murder trial getting underway

Jury selection is underway for a Thunder Bay murder trial. 34 year old Andre Wareham is charged with second degree murder in the death of 29 year old William Atkins January 14th of 2009. Atkins died after what police say was an altercation in the common area of a Finlayson Street apartment complex. Selection got underway in front of Justice Terrance Platana after Wareham formally pleaded not guilty to the charge. Rob Kozak and Elaine Burton represent the prosecution while Steven Hinkson is Wareham's Lawyer. Two weeks have been set aside for the trial

Fire and Rescue deal with 2 fires Sunday

A family of six is safe after a candle caught their Wiley Street home's upstairs bedroom on fire.  Everyone made it out of the house safely Sunday.  Fire damage is limited to that bedroom and could cost up to 40-thousand dollars.  The Fire department also responded to an apartment blaze on Valley Street.  Officials say the fire started in the kitchen of one of the units and was out by the time crews arrived.  No one was hurt.

Dominion Curling Results

The Northern Ontario Dominion Curling Championships saw Thunder Bay's Joe Scharf, Jeff Currie and Mike Assad lose their draws.  The playdowns started Sunday in Sault Ste. Marie.  The trio are back in action this afternoon at 2.

T.Bay breaks weather record

Thunder Bay broke a warm weather record Sunday.  Our Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says we reached a high of 4.8 degrees point seven degrees warmer than the record set in 1998.  Laidlaw adds cold air is moving in and we can expect colder temperatures for at least a week.

College welcomes Trudeau

Margaret Trudeau is paying a visit to Confederation College on Wednesday.  She'll be speaking to students about living with her bi-polar condition.  Margaret is the former wife of Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.