By David Lacasse

The summer started off very well for 35 kids in Sudbury this afternoon.

They were presented with mountain bikes, part of the ‘Earn a Bike’ program that is presented annually by the Greater Sudbury Police and Tim Hortons.

The children had to do 30 hours or more of volunteer work in the city.

The bikes were given, along with helmets and locks.

By Angela Gemmill

The Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Treatment Program at the Sudbury Regional Hospital is marking 20-years of existence.

The program has expanded from a small service for sexual assault victims to anyone who has experienced any form of violence.

Coordinator Nancy Horan says they offer medical treatment after an assault, forensic documentation, (photos and body maps to help police in investigations) and they offer trauma counselling.

She says victims of sex assaults or domestic violence may not realize the program offers a 24-hour service, with an on-call nurse, reporting to the hospital within 45 minutes of the request.

Services are tailored to the needs or wants of the client or patient.

As part of its community educational component, program volunteers will be at Bell Park tomorrow for Canada Day providing information to its high risk group…15-24 year olds.

(Registered Nurse Monique Kvaltin & Coordinator Nancy Horan, both of the DV/SAT Program)

By Angela Gemmill

Callers to our newsroom alerted us to a robbery at In Motion in the Montrose Mall around 11 this morning.

Greater Sudbury Police say three men assaulted the clerk at the health food store and then took the cash register.

Two suspects were caught with the help of the K9 unit.

The other remains at large, but investigators do know who they’re looking for.

Witnesses also provided investigators with valuable information, including the path the suspect took following the robbery.

The clerk did not require medical attention.

By Angela Gemmill

If you plan to travel this long holiday weekend, expect to see extra police officers.

OPP will be highly visible on highways, waterways and along ATV trails, ready to charge anyone not following rules.

Over the Canada Day weekend last year in Northeastern Ontario, five people were killed and 22 others injured in motor vehicle collisions, one person was hurt on the water and two injured from all terrain vehicles.

Police will be watching for aggressive, impaired or distracted drivers.

Officers hope those who head out boating will wear life-jackets or at least have enough for everyone on-board.

By David Lacasse

A new bylaw approved by Sudbury City Council allows all-terrain vehicles on rural residential roads.

A curfew was highly debated and was close to being shortened by 2 hours, but that motion failed.

Instead ATV users will have between 7am and 11pm to use their vehicles outside the original city limits.

Ward 2 Councillor Jacques Barbeau says this bylaw will be on a two year trial basis and there will be bi-annual reports compiled to address any major concerns.

Barbeau says many ATV users in the community wanted the change and he didn’t hear very much opposition on the issue.

By Angela Gemmill

The Sudbury Foodbank has another 25-grand to add to its capitol campaign for a new warehouse.

The agency was presented the money from the Keg Steakhouse and Bar last night after winning the ‘Thanks A Million Community Give Back program, for the Northeast region.

The contest involved online voting daily for deserving entries.

The Sudbury Foodbank plans to renovate a building on Webbwood Drive, near Lorne Street for the new warehouse to store food donations.

(Reg Ruffo with Sudbury Food Bank and Evelyn Hoffman, General Manager of The Keg in Sudbury)

By Stew Kernan

United Steel Workers Local 6500 plans to go ahead and do it’s own investigation into the deaths of two miners at the Stobie Mine.

The union was hoping to work with Vale on a joint investigation, but Local 6500 president Rick Bertrand says the two sides couldn’t agree on how the investigation should be handled.

Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram were killed when a run of muck fell on them June 8th.

The Ministry of Labour is still investigating with a stop work order for the number 7 ore pass still in effect.

By Stew Kernan

Vale has re-started it’s number 2 furnace and is ramping up production at it’s Copper Cliff Smelter Complex.

The furnace had to be rebuilt after a wall collapse and matte leak back in February.

It’s estimated shutting down the furnace resulted in a loss of 12,200 metric tonnes of finished nickel or 4% of total nickel production planned for 2011.

By Stew Kernan

The future of hockey in Northern Ontario will be up for discussion this summer.

The Northern Ontario Hockey Association is holding a 3-day summit in August to identify and address key concerns facing the organization.

Summit committee member Bob Allen says the four main areas of concern include player development, coaching, officiating and parents.

Among those taking part…former Sudbury Wolves Coach and G-M and now assistant coach with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks Mike Foligno, current NHL’ers Andrew Brunette and Andrew Dejardins, former NHL’ers Brian Savage, Drew Bannister and Craig Duncanson and NHL referee Stephen Walkom.The summit will be held here in Sudbury August 5th to the 7th.

By Stew Kernan

The Sudbury Wolves picked a Swedish goalie in today’s CHL Import Draft.

Johan Mattsson was taken with the 19th pick.

The 19 year old led the Swedish Superelite Junior U20 League in goaltending and has been invited to the evaluation camp for Sweden’s World Junior Team.

Mattsson was a 7th round pick of the Chicago BlackHawks in last weekend’s NHL Draft.

Wolves CHL Import pick Johan Mattsson of Sweden.

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UPDATE:

Wolves also select Czech forward Jiri Sekac with the 57th pick in CHL Import Draft.