Hyer Denounces Office Closure

MP Bruce Hyer is adding his voice to the list of people condemning the closure of the Veterans Affairs office in Thunder Bay.  The closure is part of the Harper government's budget cutting measures.   Hyer says the office serves a wide area from the Manitoba border to Blind River and calls it a slap in the face to veterans.

Caution: Construction Ahead

Construction and repairs highlights Monday night's City Council meeting. Councillors will be making a decision on more than 4-and-a-half million dollars in spending. Bay City Contractors is in line for more than 1-million dollars for repairing sidewalks, installing traffic and street lights. Makkinga contracting stands to receive more than 1-and-a-half million dollars to replace existing sewer and watermains, while Taranis Contracting is poised to get more than 2-million dollars to reconstruct the street outside the new courthouse.

Activists To Gather At Park

Climate change activists will be rallying in Thunder Bay Saturday. The group of environmentalists, called 350.org,  are not pleased with the Harper Government's recent cheerleading for the oil and gas industry while gutting environmental legislation. People will be gathering in Hillcrest Park to raise awareness on the issue.

Tbaytel Cell Service Still Swamped

Frustrated Tbaytel cell phone users can expect better service soon. That's according to Don Campbell, President and C.E.O. of the city-owned telephone company.  The end of of June is when he anticipates service to restore back to normal. Campbell says dropped calls, missed messages and difficulties sending and receiving texts are the result of two issues: the conversion to Rogers technology and the high volumes of data being used by customers.

Warm Winter Causes Tree Problems

City Hall is being inundated with calls from people who's coniferous trees are yellowing. City Forest Shelley Vescio says it's because of the erratic weather we've got over the winter and spring. Vescio says the problem is widespread and has been reported in the Dorion and Pickle Lake areas by the Ministry of Natural Resources as well.

Accused Gets High Powered Help

One of Canada's leading criminal lawyers is in Thunder Bay today.  Edward Greenspan is at a bail hearing representing John Tsekouras  who is charged in connection with a police drug sweep in the city last month.  Among other things, the 38 year old Tsekouras is charged with being a director of a criminal organization. Greenspan is arguing for his client's release.

Sturgeon Fishery Improving

There's some good new regarding the Sturgeon fishery in Lake of the Woods and Rainy River. Fisheries officials in Ontario and Minnesota says short-term goals established several years ago have been reached. Tom Mosindy of the Ministry of Natural Resources says there's still work to do.  He says the long term goal is to have the male fish living until they are 40 and females living to 70 years.  Mosindy says they now have males as old as 30 years and females at least 50.  There's also a goal to have up to 15 per cent of the sturgeon  population 80 inches or longer.

Flag Raised For Communty Living

A flag is flying outside City Hall which commemorates Community Living Month in Ontario.  It was raised during a ceremony on Friday which was attended by various Community Living Thunder Bay clients.

Battle Of The Atlantic Ceremony On Sunday

Members of the Royal Canadian Navy will pay tribute to those involved in the Battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War.  Commander of the HMCS Griffon Pete Flemming says Thunder Bay played a role in the critical fight.  A 40 minute service will be held at the Anchorage at Prince Arthur's Landing on Sunday.

16 Year Old Trashes Truck

A 16 year old boy is in trouble with the law this morning. The young man took his father's truck out for a spin in the area of the Balsam Pits. Police say he flipped the truck onto its roof and hit a guard rail. He's been charged with drunk driving, and driving without a licence. The truck is severely damaged and is considered a write off.