Here are the stories that had received the most attention in Week 5 of 2015:
5 Man accused of murder in cinema stabbing out on bail
The man accused of murder following a vicious stabbing in front of a movie theatre in 2014 remains out on bail while the case proceeds through the courts.
Shane Patrick Ashpanaquestcum, who faces a charge of second-degree murder in the death of 20-year-old Daniel Randall Levac, was not present at the Thunder Bay Courthouse on Tuesday. He was instead represented by lawyer George Joseph, who told the court that Ashpanaquestcum had been previously granted bail in a contested hearing.
Joseph, who is also representing suspects in at least three other homicide cases, asked the court for a lengthy adjournment so he could review evidence to move forward with the defence.
4 Sandy Beach camp owners say kicking them out will cost taxpayers $3.8M
The city’s decision to evict Sandy Beach camp owners and demolish 26 camps and homes will cost taxpayers at least $3.8 million over the next 13 years.
Representatives of the Sandy Beach Leaseholders say they’ve appealed to the city to allow them to buy up the publicly owned land, which city officials say cannot be properly serviced with potable water and thus must be vacated.
Elsie Hutsul, the organization’s treasurer, on Wednesday said the city’s planned eviction is wasteful management of taxpayer dollars.
And totally unnecessary, she added.
“The bottom line is we don’t want to sell these camps, but we’re being put into a position where we have to,” Hutsul said.
“We’re being forced by the city. Because of that it’s impacting the taxpayers.”
The group attempted to present their case before council at Tuesday night’s budget public-input session, but was quickly rebuffed and their deputation cancelled.
3 Vandals again strike southside eatery
For the second time in six months, Craig Napper arrived at his south-side restaurant to find the windows smashed.
The owner and chef of the Blue Door Bistro found two large rocks inside his South Syndicate Avenue restaurant around 7:15 a.m. Thursday. Fortunately, no items were stolen.
In July of last year, the windows were smashed and items including food and alcohol were stolen.
Together the two incidents have cost the business about $12,000 and Napper doesn’t know why it keeps happening to his bistro.
“We don’t know where it’s coming from,” he said. “We hear in the past 20 years, because there was a restaurant here before, nobody had a problem here at all. No broken glass or anything in that period.
“We’re looking at $12,000 in a matter of six to eight months.”
2 In a battle between a truck and a tree, the tree usually wins.
That was the lesson a male driver learned the hard way Saturday afternoon when he smashed his truck into a tree on Clarkson Street.
Emergency crews were called to the scene, directly across the street from Hammarskjold High School and St. Pius X School, at about 4 p.m. and found the single-vehicle with significant front end damage and debris scattered across the sidewalk.
The man was taken to hospital by ambulance and was said to be suffering from a head wound.
1 Victim, accused both taken to hospital after stabbing at north side hotel
A man is in hospital with serious injuries after a stabbing at a north side hotel.
A release from the Thunder Bay Police Service says officers were called to the Shoreline Hotel at about 7 p.m. Saturday evening where they found a 51-year-old man suffering from "serious but non-life threatening injuries."
The accused in the incident, a 49-year-old man, was also taken to hospital.
In the release police officials said those present at the scene helped subdue the alleged assailant while waiting for officers to arrive.
Social Story of the Week:
Victim, accused both taken to hospital after stabbing at north side hotel. ?#tbay?
