Here are the stories we believe packed to most punch in September 2011
1. An indoor riding arena was ripped to shreds by a high winds causing $200,000 in damage.
The stable is home to the Thunder Bay Therapeutic Riding Association. Fundraisers were held to replace the 50-foot by 100-foot arena.
The microburst ripped through Murillo, downing trees, hydro poles and a $120,000 solar panel.
2. A 28-year-old man received almost a decade in jail time for his involvement in kidnappings and assaults including cutting off people’s fingers.
Steven Leeson was believed to be second in command of a criminal group.
3. Port Arthur Stadium was awarded second place in Baseball Canada’s favourite ballpark contest. The 60-year-old stadium lost to London’s Labbatt Park.
4. Thunder Bay police and firefighters took a moment of silence to remember the thousands that died a decade ago on Sept. 11, 2001.
The ceremony took place at Boulevard Lake.
5. Employees at Confederation College went back to work after a three-week strike. 230 local Ontario Public Service Employees Union members walked off the job Sept. 1 as part of a province-wide strike of college support workers.
6. Mayor Keith Hobbs thought it was time to re-examine the legalization of marijuana.
While not a municipal issue, Hobbs made the comments about marijuana to Toronto indie band Hollerado when they were in Thunder Bay as part of their Meet the Mayors Tour.
He told the band that taxing marijuana and putting the revenue into social programming should be considered.
7. The Thunder Bay District Social Services Board cut nine jobs as part of its re-organization strategy to improve service delivery.
CAO Melissa Harrison said the organization wanted to make it easier for people to access services.
8. Officials with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation called on the province to conduct an inquiry into the deaths of seven First Nations youth who died while attending school in Thunder Bay.
The call followed a decision by coroner Dr. David Eden who found that an inquest into the death of 15-year-old Reggie Bushie couldn’t proceed until First Nations were properly represented on the Ontario jury roll.
9. Andrea Horwath and Tim Hudak found a lot of common ground at a Northern leader’s debate in Thunder Bay.
It was the first time provincial leaders came to debate northern issues during a provincial election.
Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty didn’t participate.
10. Another dispute between Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation officials and a junior mining company threatened to explode. Leaders of the community called God’s Lake Resources’ alleged exploration of their traditional territory reckless. Six leaders from the remote community were jailed in 2008 for refusing another company to continue exploration on their land.
