Council Waits To Repair Pools

City Council is holding off on repairs at the Heath Park Pool.  City Staff will be studying what needs to be done to fix the pools and how the City can help pay for those repairs.  Facilities General Manager Michael Smith says area outdoor pools need plenty of work up to half a million dollars.  The outdoor pools are expected to open this summer without the repairs.

2013 Budget Ratified

The 2013 City budget is in the books.  Property taxes will go up 2.6 percent this year. City Councillor Rebecca Johnson feels the tax increase is too much.  She adds its one of the only budget meetings during her time on Council that went extremely fast.  The 6:30 meeting wrapped up by 7:20 p.m.

2013 Scout's Canada Awards

City Hall was the location for the 2013 Scout's Canada Award Ceremony.  Chief Scout's Award recipients include Declan Biloski, Cassandra Burdick, Marshall Clark, Brady Lysmo, Autumn Mielke and Kevin Skomoroh.  Queen's Venturer Awards went to Paul Bielski, Colton Burdick, Nathan and Timothy Ehn, Allan and Andrew McCutcheon and Tara Rooney.  The Medal of the Maple for Distinguished Youth Service went to Nathan and Timothy Ehn.

House Search Turns Up Drugs

Thunder Bay Police are charging a 54 year old man with a variety of offences after they searched a West Frederica Street home.  Police seized money, 27 Oxycodone tablets, morphine and Ritalin.

The man is charged with proceeds of crime, and drug trafficking.

Board Budget Process Begins

It's that time of year again as public school board trustees get down to the business of budget deliberations.   Director of Education Cathi Siemieiuk says there shouldn't be anything controversial like school closures on the horizon, but that all depends on how much government money comes their way.   They won't find that out until next month.  Tuesday evening trustees will set up a budget committee to begin the review.

More Info Comes To Light In 2009 Murder

City Police are charging a second person in connection to the 2009 death of Edgar Marion.  They say that 23 year old Samantha Drake is facing Accessory to Murder after the fact in connection with Marion's death.  Staff Sergeant Derek West says the investigation continued over the years and new information came to light just recently.   His remains were found in a burned out car in the Shuniah Mines.  Another person is already charged with Marion's murder.

Snow Coming To The Region

Travellers headed West will want to use caution when driving. A snowstorm is expected to move in from North Dakota and is expected to bring as much as 10 centimetres of snow to Fort Frances, Rainy River and Emo. The system is expected to hit later tonight and taper off by tomorrow.

L.U. Creates Mining Centre Of Excellence

Lakehead University is officially launching its Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Mining and Exploration. It's designed to encourage and support research, education and outreach activities regarding the nature and impacts of mineral resource exploration and extraction particularly in Northern Ontario. The Centre's three pillars will include mining and exploration, environmental impact and will collaborate with First Nation, Metis and local communities within the region.

N.A.N. Addresses FASD

N.A.N. Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says the government's inaction over the issue of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder will cause irreversible damage to future generations. Fiddler says that FASD is an issue faced by all N.A.N. communities, and that it is unacceptable that the region's children most affected by it are ignored. He also states that the only N.A.N. children who receive proper care for FASD are those in foster care or involved in the criminal justice system.

Pigeon River Border Update

Border officials are releasing their latest statistics. Officials at Pigeon River saw a 3.5% increase in travellers and a 6% increase in vehicle traffic compared to January of last year. Officials also processed almost 600 commercial drivers.  They continue to remain alert for smuggled goods passing through Pigeon River. As of the latest release, only four of just over 1000 vehicle inspections yielded smuggled goods, including an All Terrain Vehicle worth $4,500. Three people were also barred from immigration at the Pigeon River border due to invalid paperwork and criminal records.

Three Car Crash

One person is recovering in hospital following a three car collision on highway 11-17 Sunday night. The accident happened near highway 527.  Firefighters from the Shuniah and Pass Lake departments help to extricate the victim.

Thunderwolves Ranked 7th At Nationals

The Lakehead University men's basketball team will take on the Cape Breton Capers to begin the national championship tournament on Friday. It's the 4th straight appearance for Lakehead who are ranked 7th heading into the tournament while Cape Breton is ranked 2nd. Tip-off is at noon eastern in Ottawa.

Crime Of The Week

Thunder Bay and District Crimestoppers are looking for information about a break and enter to a shed and the theft of a quad runner. Sometime between February 11th and February 20th, a garage located on the 700 block of Kelly Street was broken into through a small window. A green 2007 Articat 700 model R.A. was stolen with a plow on the front. It has the licence plate 43X H0 and is valued at $7,000. Anyone who has information on this crime is asked to call Crimestoppers at 623-TIPS.