Westfort incident ends peacefully

A 37 year old man is in police custody following an incident in Westfort Friday afternoon.   Police say they were called before 3 o'clock about a man who may have been in distress and may have had a weapon.  This drew in the Emergency Task Unit who then managed to get the man to surrender peacefully.   He was taken to the Health Sciences Centre for an assessment. They say firearms were located in the home. 

Dawson Road debate could be put off

It looks like Dawson road traffic may not be discussed Monday night after all.  A motion to create a community safety zone on Dawson Road to protect residents from fast moving transport truck traffic is on the agenda but a new motion is being put forward asking discussion to be put off until April the 16th.  No word on why the move is being made but council originally decided to call for a length restriction on vehicles on the road which was shot down by the Ministry of Transportation.

Power is staying in town

Michael Power is staying in Thunder Bay.  His resignation from the Health Sciences Centre and the Regional Research Institute was announced yesterday and Power says he will be opening an office her that will include a support staff.  Our newsroom has been told as many as 7 people could be hired for the Elekta office and Power says it should be up and running by this fall.  Power says his 16 years at the hospital were nothing short of great and is proud of what the Cancer Centre has accomplished during that time.  His resignation takes effect in May. 

Ice Edge Holdings back in the Coyotes sage

Ice Edge Holdings has been reborn and could be in line to run an AHL team, just not in Thunder Bay.  CEO Anthony LeBlanc said via Twitter, Ice Edge has discussed a plan B with the City of Glendale if the Phoenix Coyotes are relocated.  LeBlanc went on to say his priority is to see the Coyotes remain in the desert.  Possible locations for the Coyotes if they do move are Seattle, Quebec City or Saskatoon.  Quebec City is thought to be the front runner with a new 18 thousand seat arena in the works.  LeBlanc said during Thursday night's Dudley Hewitt Cup Dinner that they remain committed to bringing a professional team to Thunder Bay.

Time to vote for the worst road in Thunder Bay

Sick and tired of the state of a local road or fed up with endless pot holes? Here's your chance to take some action and cast your vote in the Annual Ontario Worst Roads campaign. Spokesperson Korey Kennedy says the campaign is extremely effective.  He says 90 per cent of roads nominated to the annual list are repaired or are slated for repair.   You can now vote for the worst road and nominations will be accepted until April 24th. (To vote go to www.worstroads.ca)

Rickford says FedNor is safe

Conservative MP Greg Rickford is defending the federal budget from area critics who say it will result in the demise of FedNor. Rickford says nothing could be farther from the truth.  He says the regional development program  remains in good shape and reports to the contrary are "disappointing".  Rickford says the budget is designed to draw a balance between keeping the deficit in check and jobs growth.

MP says budget on the wrong track

The federal budget is getting the thumbs down from NDP MP John Rafferty. Rafferty says he's disappointed that the government has increased the amount of goods you can bring back duty free from the United States. He's also critical about what he says is a 10 per cent reduction in money for FedNor and a loss of public service jobs.  Rafferty calls the budget a disappointment for the people of northern Ontario.

KI wins mining dispute

The Ontario government has settled a dispute over mineral exploration near a northwestern First Nation by buying the land. Toronto-based God's Lake Resources agreed to surrender its mining lease and claims near the KI First Nation.  As a result of the $3.5-million sale, God's Lake Resources does not own any mineral exploration interests

Arson arrest made

Police are hoping they have put an end to a series of arsons in the city with the arrest of a 17 year old youth.  He's been charged with three counts of arson and damaging property.  It's in connection with two fires on Regina Avenue and one on John Street Road a couple weekends back.   He is still in custody and has a court day this morning.