Municipal Golf Course To Be Closed

The axe has fallen on Municipal Golf Course. City councillors have voted in favour of dispensing with the city's second oldest golf course. In the Councillors voted 8-3 in favour of closing Municipal golf course at the end of the season.  Councillors Joe Virdaramo, Andrew Foulds and Ian Angus were the only three councillors who voted to keep the 9 hole golf course on the city's books. Municipal has been losing an average of $100,000 annually. Council will decided what to do with the parcel of land located outside city limits in the Fall once they've heard a final report issued by Director of Golf Operations, Tom Forsythe.

NOACC Makes Stand

Members of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce are pumped after their Annual General Meeting on the weekend.   The Sioux Lookout gathering produced a number of resolutions they hope will end up being dealt with at Queen's Park.  They include a demand for a protection of the industrial wood fibre supply in the region, the continued twinning of the Trans Canada Highway and support for the research in Northwestern Ontario for a nuclear waste disposal site. 

Health Unit Begins Courtesy Campaign

Dave Pinner

The District Health Unit is asking drivers in the city to pay special attention to cyclists they encounter on the street. Spokesperson Marita Campbell says a new campaign wants drivers to remember that cyclists are people too. Campbell hopes it helps to improve the relationship between motorists and cyclists in our city.

Hydro Rates Up

Electricity rates for Thunder Bay Hydro Customers are going up as of tomorrow.  However spokesperson Eileen Dias says distribution rates will be going down which may mean virtually no rate hike for the typical consumer.  Meantime, May first also brings with the new summer use schedule meaning that the highest prices for electricity are in the mid afternoon.

Old Fort Scoping Out The Sky

Fort William Historical Park is expanding its view of the universe. The popular tourist attraction is building an observatory with a telescope which spokesperson Marty Mascarin says will be ready by the summer.The project is being done in partnership with the local Astronomical Society.

Memorial Walk Out Of The Darkness

The Out of the Darkness Memorial Walk is back for another year.  Spokesperson Margaret Hajdinjak says the event is meant to reduce the stigma attached to depression and suicide.  The 3.5 km walk around the Confederation College campus is taking place this Sunday.

Accident Claims One Life

A thirty one year old Northwestern Ontario man is dead following a motorcycle accident over the weekend. Police say he was the only person on the motorbike when it left the road on Highway 622, fourteen kilometres north of Atikokan, on Saturday night. The victim is identified as Brian McDonald of Atikokan.

Small Condo Fire Sunday

No one was injured during a weekend condo fire.  Crews were called to North Algoma Street around noon yesterday and quickly put out the small blaze.  Officials say it appears to have started in the laundry room.