By Matt Harris

Today  marks the start of rail saftey week, an effort to reduce the number of train related accidents.

Constable Cynthia Stotz is with the CN Police and says more than a third of car train collisions are caused when drivers think they have time to beat a train across the tracks.

Stotz says that there were 70 fatalities from train incidents in 2011.

By Matt Harris
College Boreal is celebrating an enrollment milestone.

The 2012 registration for the Continuing Education program for mature students reached an all time high of 4 000.

The enrollment numbers are 15% higher than last year.

By Stew Kernan

The Rainbow District Animal Shelter is urging pet owners to do the right thing if they can no longer look after an animal.

There have been a number of cases recently of animals being abandoned because the owners didn’t think there were any other options.

Shelter manager Richard Paquette says there are options…such as trying to give the animal away or bring it into the shelter.

Paquette is hoping the city will go ahead with a “Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic” to help people deal with the costs of pet ownership.

By Stew Kernan

A stop work order has been lifted at the Lockerby Mine.

Production at First Nickel’s operations was shut down early last week because of problems with the Number Two Shaft.

The Ministry of Labour issued the stop-work order after deficiencies were discovered during a random inspection.

The stop work order was lifted last night.

By Stew Kernan

Rainbow District Animal Control now says a box of puppies was not abandoned after all.

A woman came in Friday night and said she found the eight puppies on the side of Lee Valley Road between Espanola and Massey.

Officer Richard Paquette says he has since learned that the woman was actually the owner, but couldn’t afford the nearly 1-thousand dollar bill to surrender the puppies.

Paquette gives the woman credit for not abandoning the puppies and says she has owned up to her responsibilities.

No action will be taken against the woman.

By Stew Kernan

The stories were flying at a Celebration of Life for Jerry Toppazini who passed away last Saturday.

Friends and family gathered yesterday at the Beef n Bird to remember the local hockey legend.

Toppazini spent 12 years in the NHL before returning to Sudbury to coach the Wolves in 1975.

Former NHL’er and Sudbury Wolves head coach Mike Foligno played for Toppazini and says he was a demanding but good coach and was all about giving back to the community.

Former Wolves co-owner Joe Drago says Toppazini was always so strong and full of life…qualities that were very evident during his time as a coach.

Toppazini died after a short illness…he was 80.

By Stew Kernan

Making threatening and obscene phone calls has led to the arrest of a 30-year old man.

Sudbury Police say over the past 12 days, they have received complaints from four different residents about receiving disturbing phone calls and voice mail messages.

The suspect is alleged to have explained in great detail how he was going to sexually assault them, or members of their family including children.

Than man arrested is facing four counts of criminal harassment and 2 counts of uttering threats.

Police say the suspect knew some of the victims, but was a stranger to the others.

By Stew Kernan

A man wanted by Sudbury Police for dangerous driving has been arrested in Hamilton.

Eric Cardinal was wanted for an incident that took place back on April 5th…officers tried to pull over a vehicle that was traveling at a high rate of speed on Bruce Street, but the driver refused to stop.

At one point two pedestrians had to jump out of the way of the speeding vehicle to avoid being hit.

The car was later found abandoned and an investigation led to the arrest of a woman who is alleged to have been a passenger in the vehicle.

An arrest warrant was then issued for Cardinal who was arrested in Hamilton on Saturday and was returned to Sudbury yesterday.

Charges include possession of stolen property, dangerous driving, flight from police, uttering threats to cause death and theft of a motor vehicle.

By Stew Kernan

A 52-year old man has been arrested after a downtown assault.

Police say yesterday afternoon around 1:30 they were called to Hnatyshyn Park after reports of a fight.

When they arrived they saw one man hit another with what looked like a bottle.

The 44-year old victim suffered minor injuries, but didn’t need treatment.

The suspect has been charged with with assault with a weapon, weapons dangerous and carrying a concealed weapon.

By Matt Harris

A sink hole has caused the closure of a highway in the area.

Highway 535 south of Saint Charles is expected to be shut down for one week as crews work to repair the road.

No detour is available during the road closure.