Top 10 news stories

Thunder Bay’s new mayor certainly made a splash in his first year in office.

Never afraid to speak his mind, the first-time mayor had plenty to say over the past 12 months, at times finding himself in hot water and on the outside looking in.

Collectively Hobbs had to be our No. 1 news story of 2011. Here’s a list of the top 10 stories, as chosen by Thunder Bay Source editor Leith Dunick, with input from news editors throughout the city.

1. Keith Hobbs got himself in plenty of trouble in Year 1 at Thunder Bay’s helm, finding himself booted off the police services board for leaking confidential information to a suspended police officer. Hobbs, as a result of a news conference that accused then police chief Robert Herman of intercepting private phone calls, was sued by Herman for $700,000, a suit that disappeared when he made a public apology. Hobbs also went on record calling for the legalization of marijuana and was allegedly threatened by an Edmonton resident after making pro First Nations statements.

2. The tragic search for missing Webequie First Nations teen Jordan Wabasse came to a close on May 10, when his body was found floating in the Kaministiquia River. Searchers spent months combing the banks of the river for clues, after the transplanted youngster disappeared on Feb. 7. Foul play was ruled out by police, though community elders have questioned the verdict publically.

3. Mac’s proved convenient for more than just consumers. Armed robbers took a liking to the 24-hour stores, targeting them nearly 30 times in 2011. Company officials met several times with local police, beefing up security through extra lights, added fencing and the hiring of security guards.

4. After years of hype, Prince Arthur’s Landing, or at least a portion of it, was opened to the public on Dec. 16. Featuring controversial public art, including the $904,000 beacons, a skate pad, restaurant space and plenty more, thousands turned out to enjoy the fruits of the $60-million project.

5. Forest fires sent thick clouds of smoke throughout Northwestern Ontario this past summer and sent residents of several communities scrambling to find temporary shelter outside the danger zone. Thousands of evacuees were sent to live in communities far and wide, including hundreds here in Thunder Bay.

6. A wind storm in July made a mess of the Thunder Bay International Airport, ripping a portion of the corrugated metal roof off the 16-year-old facility. The crumpled roof whipped through the air and crash-landed on several cars, causing damage to about 18 vehicles in the long-term lot.

7. Tragedy struck the town of Terrace Bay in October, when an explosion ripped through the recently reopened Terrace Bay Pulp mill, killing 28-year-old Terrance Berthelot. A cause has yet to be publicly released in the incident.

8. The city ducked a potentially expensive lawsuit when it reached an agreement with Horizon Wind Inc. over turbine placements on the NorWester mountain range. Thunder Bay was facing a $126-million suit, after councillors voted in 2010 not to approve all the locations the two sides had agreed to originally.

9. Newly re-elected MPs Bruce Hyer and John Rafferty got a national spanking from interim NDP Leader Nicole Turmel after refusing to bow to party wishes and voting with the Conservatives to abolish the national long-gun registry.

10. Global Sticks opened in May to much fanfare, only to shutter its doors in November after failing to acquire a consistent supply of white birch and cash flows dried up. The company was given nearly $6 million by the province to move from China to Northwestern Ontario.