Yesterday afternoon City Police received a complaint by a male who’d stopped by a Beverley Street residence – and while there was assaulted, held at gunpoint and robbed by another male. The police tactical team surrounded the home and around 5:30 arrested 19 year old Cody Quesnel of no fixed address – on numerous weapons charges. A search of the home turned up the gun. The suspect was wanted on a list of earlier charges including threatening death or bodily harm.

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Sault Major Hockey Association news release…

Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. (Feb. 9, 2012) – Players from the Sault Major Hockey Association, including several Ontario Hockey League prospects, battled it out this week for bragging rights in the 2012 SMHA Skills Competition.

Teams from all Sault Major Hockey leagues, from AAA to CC, were represented. The competition included the following categories: puck handling, fastest skater, accuracy shooting, hardest shot, shootout, and shootout goalies.

Several hundred people attended both the bantam and midget events, which were held at the Rankin Arena. “I’m not sure who had more fun – the players, spectators or volunteers,” said SMHA president Adam Caughill. “The winners got to take home bragging rights, and the fans got to see some exciting competitions.”

Meanwhile, organizers collected dried and canned foods from those in attendance, which were given to the local Soup Kitchen, along with used hockey equipment, which will be sent to underprivileged kids in Coral Harbour, Nunavut.

Bantam-aged players competed Monday night, while the midgets battled it out Wednesday. Each event was divided into an A category, featuring players from the AAA and AA divisions, and a B category, which featured BB and CC skaters.

The results from both competitions are:

Puck Handling
Midget A: Anthony Stefano (Soo North Stars)
Midget B: Josh Miskiw (Soo Sabres)

Bantam A: Matthew Caruso (Soo Thunder)
Bantam B: Michael Trunzo (Dionisi Stars)

Fastest Skater
Midget A: Luke MacDonald (Cambrian Nissan)
Midget B: Justin Elwgren (Soo Sabres)

Bantam A: Nicolas Sicoly (Soo Thunder)
Bantam B: Christopher Moskal (Dionisi Stars)

Shootout
Midget A: Jaron Rowe (Root River Rangers)
Midget B: Matt White (Stitch King Steel)

Bantam A: Nicolas Sicoly (Soo Thunder)
Bantam B: Anthony Lamantea (Mrs. B’s Bruins)

Shootout Goalie
Midget A: Will Duma (Cambrian Nissan)
Midget B: Mike Pelland (Soo Sabres)

Bantam A: Tie – Mario Culina (Soo Thunder) and Josh Dewling (New York Fries)
Bantam B: Tie – Joel Soltys (Mrs. B’s Bruins), William Gyde (Premiere Landscaping Predators) and Rory Irwin (Dionisi Stars)

Accuracy Shooting
Midget A: Ryan Vendramin (Soo North Stars) [4/4]
Midget B: Max Carter (Cutting Edge) [3/10]

Bantam A: Matthew Caruso (Soo Thunder) [4/5]
Bantam B: Nicklas Sarlo (Servicemaster Flyers) [4/9]

Hardest Shot
Midget A: Michael Caruso (Soo North Stars) [89 mph]
Midget B: Dan Nardo (Cutting Edge) [75 mph]

Bantam A: Cole Lussier (Soo Thunder) [79 mph]
Bantam B: Josh Dose (Mrs. B’s Bruins)

Best Shootout Move
Midget: Matt White (Stitch King Steel)
Bantam: Blake Speers (Soo Thunder)

The Sault and area housing market continues to be a growth market—that from the president of the Sault Ste. Marie Real Estate Board Linda Brauner. Both the average single family residential sale price and total sales increased in 2011 compared to the year before as the local real estate board covers a large area from Wawa to the north to Elliot Lake in the east. The average sale price increased by 11% and is now at over 152-thousand dollars while total sales increased by 4%. The total sales value in single family residential sales jumped 15% to over 223-million dollars.

Orazietti news release…

Province Listening as Sault Residents Provide Input to Ontario Budget

Sault Ste. Marie – Sault Ste. Marie residents are contributing to the 2012 pre-budget consultation and provided input on Wednesday evening through a telephone town hall session, which combined the use of audio conferencing and web technology, said David Orazietti MPP.

“Our government is committed to reaching out to hear the concerns of Sault residents, and this week’s virtual town hall pre-budget consultation provided important feedback that will help in drafting the upcoming budget,” said Orazietti. “Dwight Duncan, Ontario’s Minister of Finance, answered a number of questions from residents in our community and also received feedback on various initiatives.”

Constituents were able to speak live with Finance Minister Dwight Duncan to share their views. A number of excellent questions were posed by constituents, ranging from energy to health care, and jobs. The feedback received will be considered in the development of the 2012 budget. Well over 7,000 residents participated in the virtual town hall.

In previous years, consultations took place in person in various communities to engage Ontarians in advance of the provincial budget. The use of technology makes pre-budget consultations available and accessible to far more Ontarians.

“Ontario, like many other jurisdictions, faces significant economic and financial pressures, but our government remains committed to protecting our investments in key areas such as health and education, the most important public services on which Ontario families rely,” said Orazietti. “We have set a clear goal of eliminating the province’s deficit by 2017-2018, and it will take the efforts of all Ontarians to balance the budget and strengthen our economy.”

The Sault Ste Marie Ratepayers Association is conducting a survey – on public feelings on the proposed Grotto for Bellevue Park. The link to the survey is http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NKCPP62

City Council is to revisit the controversial issue at their next meeting, February 21st.

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Algoma University is presenting a lecture tonight – part of the Peter McGregor series – dealing with poverty. Journalist and author Kathy Dobson will be the guest speaker – with the lecture titled “Poverty and Transformative Social Change’ She’ll talk about her childhood days growing up poor in a tough Montreal neighbourhood. The lecture starts at 7 and is free.

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The local “Freedom 55 Financial” network, comprised of Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life – has contributed $50,000 towards Sault College’s ‘Inspiring Growth Campaign’.

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City Police arrested 33 year old Stephen O’Leary of Pawating Place yesterday – charging him with possession of property obtained by crime – for attempting to pawn two stolen guitars back in October.

23 year old Joshua Maitland of Harris Street was charged with driving a vehicle bearing stolen licence plates.

52 year old Jack Fuller of Albert Street was charged with shoplifting at the Churchilll Plaza Metro store. 28 year old Edward Petts of Gore Street was charged with stealing at Zellers-Station Mall.

Otherwise there were breakins reported to homes on Elmwood Avenue, Gillies Street, Raymond Street and Brien Avenue. With items such as jewellery, cash, computers and cigarettes stolen. There was an attempted breakin on Cathcart Street.

There were a couple attempted car thefts. A snow plow was stolen from St George’s Avenue, gas was reported stolen from a Great Northern Road business and an iPhone was stolen from a vehicle on Crystal Place.

And two males – aged 49 and 32 were charged with domestic assault.

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Hughes news release…

Future retirees and parliament need the straight goods

Ottawa – People need to know if the government has already decided to raise the age of eligibility for Old Age Security, especially those collecting CPP Disability benefits, according to Carol Hughes.

Hughes, the MP for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing, was demanding this of the government today in question period. Having relayed the circumstance of a constituent who will suffer a significant income gap if OAS is pushed back two years, Hughes pointed out that there are many Canadians who need to know exactly what the government is planning to do. Hughes used the individual’s own figures to illustrate the impending problem for people who will share the circumstance of this individual.

“He receives about $1,000 a month in CPP disability, but this will be slashed when he turns 65 when OAS is supposed to kick in,” said Hughes. “If he has to wait until he’s 67, he’ll lose close to $600 a month for two full years and he’s not alone.”

Hughes concluded with the question that is on many pre-retirement Canadian’s minds. “Is the government going to raise OAS from 65 to 67?”

Hughes points out the contradiction on the government’s part who have been encouraging more Canadians to make plans for their retirement while holding back important information about the future of OAS that will help inform this planning for most people.

“I think this government needs to come clean about their plan,” Hughes continued on the subject outside the chamber. “The Parliamentary Budget Officer tells us there is no looming crisis and the government did not produce a promised report on the subject in 2007. Ultimately the government is not transparent or being helpful on this issue.”

City news release…

(Sault Ste. Marie, ON) The 2011 Census figures, released by Statistics Canada, report an increase in population for Sault Ste. Marie. Census data indicates a 0.3% increase in population from 74,948 in 2006 to 75,141 in 2011.

“This is a reflection of our growing local economy,” says Mayor Debbie Amaroso. “Employment opportunities and programs, such as those administered through our Local Immigration Partnership continue to attract new residents to Sault Ste. Marie.”

Community growth in Sault Ste. Marie over the past 5 years is the result of net positive migration which exceeds natural loss of deaths over births.

“The Sault’s attempts in attracting and retaining new residents are beginning to show positive outcomes. We can only hope with the continued development of our ‘Welcoming Community’ strategy that our population will steadily increase,” says Danny Krmpotich, Coordinator, Local Immigration Partnership.

Without sustained immigration levels or substantial increases in fertility, Canada’s population growth will continue to decrease. Visit the Statistics Canada website www.statscan.gc.ca for population information and comparisons.