Funding to Offset Court Security Costs
February 3rd, 2012 by sudbury.newsroom
By Stew Kernan
The province has come through with funding to help cover the cost of court security and prisoner transportation expenses.
The $1.4-million commitment over three years was made this afternoon by M-P-P Rick Bartolucci.
Police Chief Frank Elsner says the money will help ensure the safety of the courts including judges, witnesses, those attending court and other justice sector partners.
Bartolucci says this helps ease the burden that was downloaded by the previous government.
Church Robbery And Assault Person Of Interest
February 3rd, 2012 by sudbury.newsroom
By Stew Kernan
Police are asking the public for help in identifying a person caught on video near the scene of a local church robbery.
On January 21st an 85 year old woman was violently shoved and had her purse stolen while in the foyer of the Ukrainian Church downtown.
The person was captured on a near-by surveillance camera and police want to know if the person has any information about the assault and robbery.
If you have any information call Sudbury Police Sgt. Richard Clark at 705-675-9171 ex-6624.
LU Holding Memorial For 4 Students Killed In Two Recent Collisions
February 3rd, 2012 by sudbury.newsroom
By Angela Gemmill
Laurentian University will remember four vibrant lives, cut short by two fatal car accident a month ago.
The school will hold a Celebration of Life memorial today in Fraser Auditorium at 2pm for Hilary Afelskie, Keegan Melville and Zabrina Rekowski, who died January 2nd in a collision on Highway 17 at Hagar.
Jessica Chamberland, who was a student at the Laurentian’s Barrie campus, will also be remembered at the service.
She also died January 2nd in a collision on Highway 69, near Parry Sound.
Many family and friends from out-of-town have traveled to Sudbury to attend the service for the deceased students.
LU is also providing a webcast of the memorial here: http://videostream.laurentian.ca
A reception will follow in Alumni Hall.
Jump in Local Unemployment Rate After 6-Month Steady Decline
February 3rd, 2012 by sudbury.newsroom
By Angela Gemmill
Last fall Greater Sudbury had been on a steady decline for its unemployment rate, but hit a tiny snag in December and an even bigger bump in January.
Statistics Canada is reporting our local jobless rate jumped to 6.4 percent last month from 5.7 percent in December.
Our city’s rate had been as low at 5.6 percent (November 2011).
Across Canada, just 23-hundred jobs were added to the economy to inch the national unemployment up a tenth-of-a-percentage-point to 7.6 percent.
Alleged Impaired Driver To Blame For Lorne Street Collision
February 3rd, 2012 by sudbury.newsroom
By Angela Gemmill
No one was injured, but a 38-year-old woman faces Impaired Driving charges following a collision on Lorne Street yesterday, just before noon.
Officers say the driver failed a roadside screening and then blew twice over the legal limit at Greater Sudbury Police headquarters.
She is also charged with Blowing Over 80, Failing to Remain at the Scene and Operating an Unsafe Vehicle.
M-Ps in HOC Pay Tribute To Victim Of Coleman Mine Tragedy
February 3rd, 2012 by sudbury.newsroom
By Angela Gemmill
M-P’s from all political stripes stood up in the House of Commons in Ottawa to applaud and honour the victim of Sunday’s mining tragedy at Vale’s Coleman Mine in Levack.
Prior to Question Period Thursday, Nickel Belt M-P Claude Gravelle made a statement about the death of Stephen Perry and how the entire community of Sudbury is mourning the loss.
Gravelle is a former miner who worked at Coleman Mine and says he knows first hand, the dangers of working underground.
Following his tribute, all Members of Parliament present stood up, applauded and honoured Perry.
Gravelle offered prayers, condolences and sympathies to the Perry family on behalf of Nickel Belt, Sudbury, St John’s East and St John’s South-Mount Pearl.
(Picture: Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle)
Snowmobile Crash Leads To Charges
February 2nd, 2012 by sudbury.newsroom
By Stew Kernan
A 23-year old man who crashed his snow machine is now facing charges.
Police say the man lost control of his snow machine Wednesday night on Whitewater Lake in Azilda and hit a rock while traveling at a high speed.
The police investigation has resulted in charges including careless operation of a snow machine, operating with expired validation and no insurance.
The man was taken to hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Devon Kershaw Wins Bronze Medal
February 2nd, 2012 by sudbury.newsroom
By Stew Kernan
Sudbury’s Devon Kershaw won a broze medal today at a World Cup Cross Country Ski meet in Moscow.
The 29-year old finished just .6 seconds back of the gold medal winner from Sweden.
Kershaw, had the fastest qualifying time Thursday…only the second time in his career that he’s done that.
He raced at the front of the pack in each of the opening three rounds and was leading in the final heading into the final straightaway.
Kershaw also won a bronze last week in Estonia.
Sudbury’s Devon Kershaw after today’s bronze medal win.
Local Connection To Province Wide Child Porn Bust
February 2nd, 2012 by sudbury.newsroom
By Stew Kernan
A Sudbury connection to a major province-wide child pornography sweep.
In total, officers from 24 forces arrested 60 men who are now facing a total of more than 200 charges that include Internet child luring, possession, accessing and making child pornography.
They include 47-year old Laurent Labre, 42-year old Samuel Labbe and 35-year old Carlo Pilote….all of Sudbury.
Also facing charges is 64-year old Wayne Clarke of Elliot Lake.
It’s the largest such bust in Ontario history and police say 22 victims were identified during the probe with more arrests expected.
CUPE Launches LTC “3.5-Hr Minimum Care” Campaign In Sudbury
February 2nd, 2012 by sudbury.newsroom
By Angela Gemmill
Seniors living in long term care homes need to be treated with dignity.
That’s why the Canadian Union of Public Employees is calling on the McGuinty Liberal government to set a minimum standard of ‘hands-on’ care by health care workers at 3.5-hours per day throughout all long-term care homes in Ontario.
Personal Support Worker, Sharon Crowe gets emotional when she speaks about the assembly-line duties she’s must perform due to lack of time.
She says she must feed six people within a 45-minute time-frame and then give half-hour baths to these elderly patients who are only bathed twice a week.
Crowe says there is only enough time to do physical care and the residents miss out on emotional care, unless they have family or friends who visit regularly.
Registered Practical Nurse, Susan Schmidt, says much of the staff at long-term care homes can’t give each patient the time or attention they deserve.
She says workers have a long list of duties to perform and not enough time to complete everything, so there are many health care workers who complain of burn-out.
Schmidt says the McGuinty Liberals promised to enact a legislated standard-of-care almost a decade ago, but haven’t followed through.
Over the next three weeks representatives from CUPE will travel to different Ontario communities calling on the province to legislate a minimum care standard and hire more long-term-care workers.
Sudbury was the first stop on the union’s ten-city tour.
Statistics show the province spends $155.30 a day on LTC residents, one of the lowest rates across Canada, higher only than PEI and New Brunswick.