Council Has Pin Questions

City Council needs more information about a proposed plan to create a new city pin.  Council wants more input on creating the pin and has asked staff to come back with the issue at a March council meeting.  The new designs for the pin will not replace the City's official logo.

Budget Schedule Compromise?

City Council is going to try to find a compromise.  Staff brought Councillors a new 5 day budget meeting schedule, but Councillor Trevor Giertuga would have to miss most of the meetings up until ratification because of his holidays.  Staff will now go back to the drawing board and try to find a new schedule that will allow all 13 members of council to attend most of the meetings.

City Staff To Meet Over Vacant Lot

A client of Re/Max First Choice Realty is interested in buying a piece of vacant land from the City.  Broker Vince Mirabelli told City Council Monday night that someone wants to build a single family home on the lot located at 931 10th Avenue.  The land isn't currently for sale but City Staff plan to meet with the interested party.  The area is not developed and doesn't have city services.

Fundraising Goal May Be Too High

It appears that the city's Disaster Relief Committee's 5 million dollar fundraising goal may be too high.   Chair Wayne Fletcher says the target was originally set in June and was only a guess.  However,  Fletcher says it doesn't mean they will raise enough money to cover 100 per cent of everyone's claim.  He won't release the new fundraising objective just yet,  saying that will come shortly.  

Mac's Most Wanted

Mac's Convenience Stores is out with a most wanted robbery video on YouTube.  Spokesperson Sean Sportun says they've compiled a video with security camera footage of four unsolved robberies of their stores in Thunder Bay in 2012.

Training Facility Proposed Near Upsala

The Department of National Defence wants to build a new range and training area near Upsala.  The weapons marksmanship facility would be used by members of the Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Navy Reserve.  The proposed project includes 15 firing lanes, administration buildings and a rappel tower.  A Federal Environmental Organization is looking into whether an assessment of the project is required and anyone with concerns can comment up until February 7th.

Terranorth Fined 115 K.

A Sudbury construction company is pleading guilty to a charge laid in connection with a fatal industrial accident outside of Thunder Bay in 2011.  A spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour says Terranorth Construction has been fined 115 thousand dollars following the accident at the McKenzie River Bridge when a platform lift tipped over killing a 24 year old employee.  There is also a 25 per cent victim surcharge.

NAN & City Police Head For Mediation

The City's Police Service and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation will be going before a mediator March 4th.  The two sides will try to find a resolution to NAN's complaint that a spoof Thunder Bay Police e-mail entitled "Fresh Breath Killer Captured" was made public.  If the two can't reach an agreement the complaint will go before the Ontario Human Right's Tribunal for a hearing.

Renco Foods To Open In Centennial Square

Renco Foods is going to open a grocery store in the former Quality Market location in Centennial Square.  A spokesperson for the grocery chain says that they are opening in the near future but don't have an exact date yet.  Quality Market closed its doors in the fall.

Waterfront Work To Start Next Month

The next step in the waterfront condominium project takes place this week. One of the developers,  Gisele MacDonald says they will be going to city hall to begin the construction process tomorrow as they apply for a foundation building permit to start work on the parking garage.   MacDonald says work will get underway in early February with the entire condo development expected to be complete by June of next year.

Salvation Army Cleans Up After Accident

The Salvation Army is asking its customers to be patient after a car crashed into their building.  Earlier in the month, a car lost control and smashed into their store front window damaging the glass and foundation.  The Salvation Army says the cold weather is making shopping and everyday operations cumbersome.  The organization is hoping the incident won't have a negative impact on donations or store sales.

Shelter Gets Big $$$

A huge cash injection for Thunder Bay's Shelter House, in fact it's one of the largest single cash donations in the history of the homeless facility.   The shelter received 200 thousand dollars from Northwood Park Church.   Shelter boss Patty Hajdu says the money is being set aside  for future building projects.  The church was able to raise the money  through the sale of their building.

Storm Generates Accidents, No Fatalities

Thunder Bay O.P.P. say there were no fatalities from a Winter storm over the weekend. Police say they responded to 43 motor vehicle collisions between January 18th and January 20th. Officials say on Saturday there were 16 tractor trailer units that had either been involved in a collision on Highway 17, or driven off the road into the ditch.  Most of them near Upsala.

Crime Of The Week

City police and CrimeStoppes are looking for assistance in helping to solve the following crime. Sometime between November 2nd and November 5th  someone went onto a property on Flet Road and stole a green Yamaha Grizzly 600  A.T.V. They used 2x4's from the camp to help load the all-terrain vehicle. Anyone with information about who may may be responsible for this theft is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.