Everyday, for 12 days, tbnewswatch.com will be taking a look back at the news stories that had our attention throughout 2012. Here are some of the top stories published in April.
MP Bruce Hyer left the NDP to sit in the House as an independent after being snubbed for a position in the opposition’s shadow cabinet. He cited a dysfunctional parliament as his main reason for sitting without a party. Hyer said he was frustrated by parties putting politics over constituents.
Local couple Louis and Jo-Anne Chikoski cashed in their $50 million winning Lotto Max ticket in Toronto on April 2. Rumours flew around the city when it was announced that a winning ticket for the March 23 draw was sold in the city. The Chikoskis didn’t know what they had planned for the money. Antonio (Tony) and Karen Biscardi won $1.079 million in Lotto 6/49 later in the month.
Canadian Blood Services closed its doors in Thunder Bay April 12, leaving 28 employees out of work and local donors with nowhere to go. Members of city council met with officials at CBS to try and convince the clinic to stay open. There were also rallies held in the hopes that officials with the CBS would change their minds. Those efforts were unsuccessful.
The city signed off on a $690,000 land deal with Resolve Group, the private developers at Prince Arthur's Landing. The Winnipeg group is dropping a $65 million investment on 2.3 acres of prime waterfront real estate for the controversial project.
A man believed to be the brains of a local drug trafficking group was sentenced to nearly a decade in jail. Kyle Truong, 36, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and forcible confinement to incidents that took place in 2009, including a man having his finger cut off and a woman having her tooth pulled.
Hopes that a proposed events centre would end up near the Thunder Bay International Airport were dashed as a consultant for the city said Innova Park and the downtown north core were really the only two contenders. The north core has since been chosen as the preferred site.
The fate of Municipal Golf Course appeared to be sealed as city council voted 8-3 in favour of closing it forever at the end of the season. A seven-member committee has since been set up to re-examine the issue, giving the course one more season.
A major barn fire in Oliver Paipoonge killed more than 120 cows. Smoke could be seen for miles around as fire consumed the barn, killing what was believed to be one of the largest herds of red Holsteins in Canada.
The roller coaster at Chippewa Park hit the end of the line after nearly 45 years. A city engineering report said the coaster had reached the end of its life despite significant upgrades over the past few years.
One man was found dead following an early morning house fire on the city’s south side. Fire fighters arrived on scene after a passerby noticed smoke coming from the Victoria Ave. home. A 39-year-old man was found dead in the front room.
