Here are the stories that kept us reading in September:
10. The races return
Stock car racing returned to the city for the first time in 11 years as engines roared at the Mosquito Speedway on Sept. 13-14. Thousands of people flocked to the Nolalu race track on both days to take in the action, generating talk of hosting regular events once again.
9. Build saved
Habitat for Humanity’s annual home build was rescued at the last minute with two anonymous donations. Earlier that week the organization had publicly announced they would likely have to postpone the build on Hodder Avenue due to a shortage of funds before receiving the unexpected $75,000.
8. Major drug bust
City police executed a major drug bust, seizing five firearms and quantities of crack cocaine and ecstasy after a traffic stop and searching homes on Rosslyn Road and Bethune Street on Sept. 16-17. Police said the ring was being run by members of the B.C. based 856 gang. Five individuals from B.C. and Alberta face a number of charges.
7. A new candidate emerges
Former city hall reporter Shane Judge officially entered his name into the mix in the city’s mayoral race on Sept. 9. Judge said his main objection in running was to try to halt the proposed event centre project and instead focusing on local business and addressing social issues.
6. Costco rumours
It was learned the city could soon be home to a Costco store. The box-store chain confirmed they were looking at property in both the Innova Park and Thunder Bay International Airport areas. Mayor Keith Hobbs had been working for the past number of years to try to lure the retail giant to Thunder Bay.
5. Six year sentence
Ashley Riel Shabogomik, 32, was sentenced to six years in prison on Sept. 22 for the October 2011 fatal hit and run that killed 60-year-old Joyce Ryan. Shabogomik was driving a stolen truck at the time of the crash before fleeing. He was arrested a year after the crash. Shabogomik received credit for 585 days served.
4. Ring of Fire tension
Frustration from Cliff’s Natural Resources over the lack of progress with the Ring of Fire grew with the news that the company was looking at selling their holdings in the heavily hyped mining hotbed. The company had pulled out of the area last year. Fellow Ring of Fire stakeholder KWG confirmed they were interested in Cliff’s holdings.
3. Homicide no. 8
The discovery of the body of William Darryl Wapoose in Chapples Park on Sept. 3 sparked the police’s eighth homicide investigation of 2014, the most in any year since stats were first recorded 30 years ago. Police set up tip lines but as of late December no suspects had been identified.
2. Event centre green light
By an 11-1 margin, city council gave the proposed event centre project the green light to proceed to phase four at their Sept. 29 meeting. In this phase the city will apply to the federal and provincial governments each for a third of the project’s total cost, with answers expected in March 2015
1. Strike ends
After eight weeks the strike at the city’s Bombardier plant finally came to an end. The nearly 900 workers ratified the new three-year deal on Sept. 12, settling the labour dispute. Both sides said they made compromises to reach an agreement.
