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Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day

100921_michelle-romaniuk-pileated-woodpecker crop
Sudbury.com reader Michelle Romaniuk snapped this image of a pileated woodpecker who appears to be in mid-peck. Sudbury.com welcomes submissions of local photography for publication with our morning greeting. Send yours to [email protected].

Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to get you started on this Wednesday morning.

Vale reports 35 of 39 stranded miners are now on surface

Vale reported that 35 of the 39 miners stranded underground since Sunday have now returned to the surface at Totten Mine, as of late yesterday afternoon, two more since Sudbury.com reported 33 had surfaced by 11:26 a.m. All 35 exited the mine through a secondary egress ladder system after the primary exit was rendered inoperable due to damage to the shaft on Sunday morning. The 39 miners headed to several refuge stations between 900 metres and 1,200 metres below ground, meaning some had to climb considerable distances — in some instances 2,500 feet — to reach a point where they could be transported to the surface. In a release from the company, Vale states that communication and support to employees was provided throughout the ascent by a team of 58 responders from Vale's Mine Rescue team and Ontario Mine Rescue, who are overseeing the extraction effort. Both immediate on-site medical support was available to all employees upon reaching the service, as well as Vale’s Critical Incident Stress Management team offering mental health support. Vale is reporting that the employees that have surfaced are “healthy and eager to return home to family”.

Read the full story here.

OPP arrest Sudbury police constable on charges of resisting a police officer, trespassing

A Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) police officer is facing charges of resisting a peace officer, trespassing and the possibility of Ontario Police Act charges as the result of an incident that occurred in Espanola on the weekend. GSPS said the allegations against the officer are from an incident that could be "dishonourable and discouraging." Ontario Provincial Police said that on Sunday, Sept. 26 Manitoulin detachment officers responded to a call at the Espanola Recreational Centre for a complaint of individuals who were alleged to be trespassing. Police said the individuals had been on the property earlier in the day and had been requested to leave. Police said the individuals had returned to the public arena a short time later. The OPP said Melisa Rancourt, 47, of Espanola was arrested and is charged with resisting a peace officer, and entering a premises when entry has been prohibited, contrary to the Trespass to Property Act (TPA). Rancourt is a Sudbury police officer, as confirmed to Sudbury.com by GSPS on Tuesday in a statement reacting to the officer's arrest. Police Chief Paul Pedersen said while the actions haven’t been proven, the allegations, if true, are “dishonourable and discouraging.”

Read the full story here.

Northern Ontario doctor under fire for his ‘disgraceful’ stance on COVID-19 response

A Northern Ontario doctor who practises medicine in the Englehart, Kirkland Lake and Nipigon areas has come under fire from the College of Physicians and Surgeons on Ontario (CSPO) for allegedly spreading misinformation online about COVID-19,about the vaccinations and about public health measures. The CSPO has ordered Dr. Patrick Brian Phillips to appear before a disciplinary tribunal for "committing an act of professional misconduct". Details of the allegations were posted in a five-page notice of hearing on the CPSO website: "It is alleged that Dr. Phillips engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct and failed to maintain the standard of practice of the profession in relation to his communications, including communications on social media and other digital platforms, regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and related issues," said the notice. Sudbury.com tried to get a comment from Phillips, but was advised he would not be answering any messages until sometime next month. As for what is alleged, the college has not released it’s evidence, but Sudbury.com was able to locate several statements from Phillips’ social media accounts claiming vaccine mandates are “medical tyranny” and that health-care professionals who abide by them and encourage people to be vaccinated against COVID-19 are committing assault.

Read the full story here.

Three arrested in massive $8M drug bust in West Nipissing

The Ontario Provincial Police are reporting they took down a major drug operation in West Nipissing in a Sept. 15 raid on two properties that resulted in the seizure of some $8 million worth of illegal drugs. The operation broke up what seems to have been an extensive grow operation, with officers seizing cannabis in various stages of production, as well as drug paraphernalia, packing materials and residential and financial documents. Also seized was a firearm with ammunition, two crossbows, and various “consumable products” containing cannabis, as well as cocaine and methamphetamine tablets. Police also seized $700,000 in Canadian currency. Three people were charged with various offences in the raid: A 33-year-old West Nipissing man, and two residents of River Valley, a 48-year-old and a 41-year-old.

Read the full story here.

Social media influencers tapped to promote Nickel City as part of COVID recovery

The City of Greater Sudbury is enlisting travel bloggers and social media influencers to help spread the word about what the region has to offer. “It’s always the goal of marketing to have other people say good things about you because it holds much more weight than when you toot your own horn,” tourism and culture manager Meredith Armstrong said of the influencers. Although the city has worked with the Travel Media Association of Canada for several years, they’ve only recently begun pursuing social media influencers to help get their messages out. The city has facilitated approximately seven travel writers/bloggers to visit Greater Sudbury so far this year at a cost of approximately $3,000 per trip, for a total of a little more than $21,000. Plus, Armstrong said economic development staff members spend quite a bit of time working with travel writers before they arrive in order to help draft an itinerary that fits the focus of their writing, be it family travel, couples or whatever other bend their writing might have. This eclectic range of voices and audiences is helping get Greater Sudbury’s name out there, Armstrong said, adding that every little bit helps, particularly during the pandemic. 

Read the full story here.

Mostly sunny today with a high of 15

It’s going to be mostly sunny today in the region, with fog patches dissipating in the morning, but some increasing cloudiness toward the noon hour. Today’s high is 15 with a UV index of three, or moderate. This evening will stay cloudy, but will clear toward midnight, but fog patches will develop around the same time. Overnight low is three with a risk of frost.

Current Weather

Light Snow

Light Snow

-1.0°C

Pressure
101.6 falling
Visibility
32.2 km
Dewpoint
-5.3 °C
Humidity
73%
Wind
SW 19 km/h

Radar Satellite


Hourly Forecast

Today
11 AM
-1°C
Chance of flurries
Today
12 PM
0°C
Chance of flurries
Today
1 PM
0°C
Chance of flurries
Today
2 PM
1°C
Chance of flurries
Today
3 PM
1°C
Chance of flurries
Today
4 PM
0°C
Chance of flurries
Today
5 PM
0°C
Chance of flurries
Today
6 PM
-1°C
Chance of flurries
Today
7 PM
-2°C
Chance of flurries
Today
8 PM
-3°C
Chance of flurries
Today
9 PM
-4°C
Cloudy
Today
10 PM
-4°C
Cloudy

7 Day Forecast

Chance of flurries

Today

1 °C

Mainly cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. Wind southwest 30 km/h. High plus 1. Wind chill minus 9 this morning. UV index 3 or moderate.


Chance of flurries

Tonight

-9 °C

Cloudy. 30 percent chance of flurries early this evening. Wind southwest 20 km/h becoming light this evening. Low minus 9. Wind chill minus 7 this evening and minus 12 overnight.


Overcast

Friday

3 °C

Overcast. Wind up to 15 km/h. High plus 3. Wind chill minus 14 in the morning. UV index 1 or low.


Clear

Friday night

-6 °C

Clear. Low minus 6.


Chance of flurries

Saturday

4 °C

Cloudy with 30 percent chance of flurries. High plus 4.


Chance of flurries

Saturday night

-4 °C

Cloudy with 30 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 4.


Sunny

Sunday

6 °C

Sunny. High 6.


Cloudy periods

Sunday night

-4 °C

Cloudy periods. Low minus 4.


Cloudy

Monday

4 °C

Cloudy. High plus 4.


Chance of flurries

Monday night

-2 °C

Cloudy with 40 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 2.


Chance of flurries

Tuesday

5 °C

Cloudy with 40 percent chance of flurries. High plus 5.


Chance of flurries

Tuesday night

-6 °C

Cloudy periods with 40 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 6.


Chance of flurries

Wednesday

5 °C

A mix of sun and cloud with 40 percent chance of flurries. High plus 5.


Yesterday

Low
0 °C
High
0 °C
Precipitation
0.3 mm

Normals

Low
-7.4 °C
High
2.9 °C
Average
-2.3 °C

Sunrise and Sunset

Sunrise
7:10 AM
Sunset
7:49 PM

Record Values

Type Year Value
Max 1993 15.3 C
Min 1959 -18.3 C
Rainfall 1977 34.3 mm
Snowfall 1971 11.7 cm
Precipitation 1977 34.3 mm
Snow On Ground 1959 99.0 cm

Based on Environment Canada data