Here's a look back at this year's top 10 news stories from July, as composed by tbnewswatch.com editor Leith Dunick:
1. Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs vehemently denied charges of extortion laid against them in connected to embattled lawyer Alexander (Sandy) Zaitzeff. The 65-year-old mayor and his 53-year-old wife Marissa, along with 46-year-old Mary Voss, were charged with extortion after being accused of attempting to force Zaitzeff to buy a house for Voss after video of Zaitzeff and Hobbs surfaced in late 2016.
2. Thunder Bay police quickly ruled a pair of deaths on Carl Avenue as a double slaying. Robert Lloyd Gray, 50, and Kory Lee Campbell, 22, were found dead in their north-side residence. Later that month two suspects were arrested in Sioux Lookout, including convicted murderer Garnet Loon and 19-year-old Kailee Loon.
3. Barbara Kenter, the woman struck in the stomach by a trailer hitch while walking with her sister, died at the age of 34. Brayden Bushby was later charged with second-degree murder, accused of tossing the trailer hitch while riding in an automobile driving down Cameron Street on the evening of Jan. 28.
4. Senator Murray Sinclair was appointed by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission to oversee their investigation into the Thunder Bay Police Services Board. Sinclair, a retired judge, was to look at the board’s oversight and public confidence in its ability to deliver policing services. The call came two months after First Nations leaders announced they wanted an inquiry of the board and its response following the deaths of several young teens in the Thunder bay area.
5. Thunder Bay celebrated Canada’s 150th birthday with a party for the ages, thousands taking part in activities that culminated with a huge fireworks show at Marina Park. Not even inclement weather slowed down the celebration, which also featured fun and games at Fort William Historical Park.
6. The Thunder Bay Blues Festival brought another all-Canadian lineup to Prince Arthur’s Landing, led by Amanda Marshall, the Barenaked Ladies and the legendary Randy Bachman, an integral part of both The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
7. After trash service was delayed when a garbage truck was taken off the road as part of the city’s optimization process, the municipality decided to temporarily reinstate the truck to reduce the struggles.
8. Michael Gravelle, who was sidelined for several months while battling depression, announced on July 28 that he plans to seek re-election again for the Liberals in Thunder Bay-Superior North, a seat he’s held since 1995. July also marked Gravelle’s return to Queen’s Park after more than five months on the political sidelines.
9. The public learned the mental health wing at St. Joseph’s Hospital could face delays that pushed back its completion date to year’s end. The project was expected to be done by October, but the contractor faced delays acquiring materials needed to finish the east wing addition.
10. Fort William Historical Park’s Karnival on the Kam, a first-year event, was deemed a huge success by organizers, who brought in a variety of attractions, including one of the largest fireworks displays yet seen in the Thunder Bay area.
