By Stew Kernan

It’s almost that time of year when students will be out looking for summer jobs.

Before that happens, employers have to know if they will be able to afford those positions.

That’s why Sudbury M-P Glenn Thibeault held an information session today for employers and organizations on how to apply for funding under the Canada Summer Jobs Program.

The deadline for applications is February 29th.

Students will be able to see what’s available when the job postings begin to go up in early May.

Sudbury M-P Glenn Thibeault.

What started out as a noise complaint ended up as a drug bust for Greater Sudbury Police.

Around 3 o’clock this morning, police responded to a call on Pine Street and found a man crawling out a side window.

When confronted by police, it became obvious he was drunk.

Police later discovered he was under two court orders…one that he was not to consume alcohol.

When he was arrested and searched, the suspect was found to carrying 6 ounces of a white powder, believed to be cocaine.

By Angela Gemmill

Greater Sudbury City Council’s Finance Committee has approved the 2012 municipal budget.

Ratepayers will be forking out an extra 2.8% on taxes this year.

For a typical bungalow, assessed at $186,000, that will mean between $56-$71 on a tax bill, depending on location in the city.

The total budget works out to 486-million dollars-gross.

This includes the Greater Sudbury Police operating budget, the Sudbury & District Health Unit and the Nickel District Conservation Authority.

After hearing the province was providing 2.5-million dollars less in Ontario Municipal Partnership Funds this year, the city was forced to find other savings.

The city pulled $1.5-million from the Reserve Funds, found a further $700,000 from the Operating Budget and introduced an attrition policy for vacant positions.

Kett says over the next year the city will have to find another $1.5-million to return to the Reserves.

Finance Chair Councillor Terry Kett says they didn’t want to cut from the Capitol budget.

He says this area is where the municipality wanted to keep a top-level of funding without making cuts to roadwork, water/sewar upgrades or sidewalk improvements.

The city’s Capitol Budget was approved at $96-million with 40% of that dedicated to road work, like Errington Avenue, Garson-Coniston Road, Niemi Road and Lasalle East.

The city also plans to put money into a biosolids management facility, physician recruitment and upgrades for fire services and 9-1-1 communications.

There is also a rebate of up to $275 for elderly home-owners over the age of 65 who are eligible for social assistance.

Greater Sudbury City Council is expected to rubber-stamp the budget at its meeting Tuesday, February 28th.

Kett warns that it will be even harder to keep the tax increase down in the municipal budgets over the next few years.

The city expects more and more OMPF cuts from the Province of Ontario as it tries to reduce the massive provincial debt.

By David Lacasse

The Ontario Hockey League announced on Tuesday that Michael Sgarbossa of the Sudbury Wolves has been named the OHL Player of the Week.

In three games, Sgarbossa scored 4 goals and added 4 assists and is currently riding a 13-game point streak.

The San Jose Sharks draft pick sits tied in 2nd in Ontario Hockey League scoring with 80 points. (40G – 40A)

Sgarbossa began his week scoring a goal and two assists as second star of a 5-3 win over the Sault Ste. Marie

Greyhounds last Wednesday night before contributing an assist despite a 5-2 loss to the Niagara IceDogs on Friday. 

He finished the week on Sunday matching a season-high with four points, recording his second hat-trick of the season and adding an assist as first star of a 5-4 overtime loss to the Brampton Battalion.

Over the weekend, Greater Sudbury Police Rural Squad were out doing snow machine patrols on area trails.

Officers conducted checks on trails during ‘The Big Deal Poker Run’ and stopped a total of 786 sleds.

50 offence notices were issued on the 18th during the charity event, mostly for equipment and registration type offences.

Also on the 18th, officers encountered 2 sleds that when directed to stop, decided to run from officers.

One sled eventually drove off the groomed trail and couldn’t re-enter the trail system and came to a stop where police spoke with the 31 year-old operator.

The second machine, driven by a 21 year-old then returned to the area and was also dealt with by officers.

Both operators were issued numerous offence notices by officers.

During the four days, officers stopped over a thousand sleds issuing 83 offence notices.

By David Lacasse

A 43 year-old woman is facing stunt driving charges after being stopped on Skead Road yesterday afternoon.

Police were doing Laser radar enforcement when a white coloured Subaru was observed going 113 km/h in a 60 zone.

She’s been charged with Stunt Driving and her vehicle was impounded for 7 days.

By Stew Kernan

It looks like the Greater Sudbury Taxpayers Association is ready to take on city council in court.

The association issued an ultimatum yesterday…scrap the Healthy Community Initiative Funds or face a lawsuit.

The fund sees $50,000 made available to each councilor to spend in their wards.

However, the association is concerned there is structure or accountability on how the $600,000 can be spent.

A lawyer hired by the group says the so called “Slush Fund” calls into question the city’s ethical and conflict of interest guidelines.

By Stew Kernan

A tragic end to the Family Day long weekend.

75 year-old Judith McColeman from Sudbury, was killed following a crash on Highway 400 south of Parry Sound yesterday morning.

Her 75 year-old husband was taken to hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries.

OPP say the vehicle crossed the centre line, went through a ditch and hit a rock cut head-on.

Police are investigating, but say the roads were bare and weather conditions were ideal.

Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing 17-year old girl.

Jasmine Somers hasn’t been seen since February 2nd and is believed to be in the Sudbury or Warren areas.

Somers is described as 5-feet-2 inches tall, 110 pounds with long brown hair and blue eyes….with her left eye being a glass eye.

She often wears a red winter jacket with a fur trimmed hood.

Anyone with information is asked to call Police or Crime Stoppers.

17-year old Jasmine Somers has been missing since February 2nd.

Tracy Horgan’s rink from the Idywylde dropped to 2-3 at the Scotties tournament of Hearts event in Red Deer, Alberta.

The Sudbury foursome fell 10-3 to Saskatchewan last night.

They’re back on the pebbled ice at 3:30 this afternoon against Team Canada.