Here are some of the stories that had our attention in October 2014:
10. Ebola prepared
An Ebola outbreak in Africa left the local hospital with no choice but to have a triage nurse gowned and protected with a Plexiglass face shield in the highly unlikely event that a patient showed up with symptoms. The measures were mandated by the province.
9. Zero hope
Cliffs Natural Resources new CEO Lourenco Goncalves told national media that the Ring of Fire has zero hope of being developed in his lifetime. It was a complete 180 from the view the company took when it was the perceived front-runner to develop the region first just a little more than a year ago before suspending all work in the area and closing its Thunder Bay office.
8. Ottawa shooter
NDP MP John Rafferty was in a caucus meeting when he and his colleagues were rushed to a safe room after gunshots were heard in the Centre Block of Parliament Hill. Gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau killed Cpl. Nathan Cirillo at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before he was shot and killed by Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers.
7. One year
October marked one year since the James Street Sing Bridge caught fire and was closed to vehicle traffic. CN and the city have battled over the 1906 agreement that says the company must maintain the bridge in perpetuity. The matter is still not resolved while train traffic on the bridge resumed within days.
6. Hells Angels
Police raided the Hells Angels clubhouse on Simpson Street, saying it's a mistake to think the biker gang completely left Thunder Bay after a 2006 raid. The club doesn't have enough members to have a complete chapter in the city but there are four full-patch members taking orders from a chapter in Hamilton police say.
5. Plane capsizes
No one was injured after a float plane crashed into Lake Superior. A gust of wind caused a wing to hit the water, flipping the plane over near the shoreline shortly after take off. The Coast Guard was first on scene and able to rescue the pilot and lone occupant of the plane.
4. Long lines
The city blamed last-minute voters for delaying results by nearly two hours on election night. Some polls stayed open until 8:30 p.m. to try and accommodate everyone in line. Many councillors say the frustration has led them to support electronic voting in the next election. A report is expected in the new year.
3. Hobbs again
Mayor Keith Hobbs was one of 11 incumbents to win in the municipal election. Shelby Ch'ng was the only new-comer, taking Northwood from Mark Bentz. Former at-large councillor Frank Pullia returned as Ken Boshcoff was unsuccessful in his mayoral bid. The new term for council started at the beginning of December.
2. Tenth murder
The city's tenth homicide, Rene Sortolovo was murdered in his Marks Street home during an alleged robbery attempt. The 51-year-old had been in the city since the 90s after moving from El Salvador. A 17-year-old female and Jeffrey Luke Achneepineskum, 22, were arrested a couple of days after the incident and charged with second-degree murder.
1. Student killed
Daniel Levac became the city's ninth homicide victim after he was stabbed outside of Silver City. The 20-year-old Dennis Franklin Cromarty student's death shocked the school as some headed home in mourning. Shane Patrick Ashpanaquestcum, 19, remains in custody charged with second-degree murder in the incident.
Our Look Back series looks at some of the top stories of 2014 one month at a time. Join us Sunday when we take a look at the top stories of November.
