Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Wednesday morning.
Murder at Travelodge Hotel was a double homicide
Greater Sudbury Police are investigating a double murder that happened at the Travelodge Hotel early Tuesday morning. Shortly after 2 a.m. this morning, Dec. 20, officers were dispatched to a hotel on Paris Street at Walford Road (the Travelodge) in relation to a weapons complaint, as there were reports of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers located two men who had sustained what are believed to be gunshot wounds. A 27-year-old man was transported to the hospital by City of Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services. Unfortunately, he was pronounced deceased by medical professionals. The second man — who has not yet been identified — was pronounced deceased on scene.
Police actively searching for man missing since last night
Greater Sudbury Police are actively searching for a 51-year-old man missing since approximately 9 p.m. on Dec. 19. There is concern for his well-being. Mark Giambattista is described as 5-10 inches tall, 175 pounds with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a short beard. He was last seen wearing a thin puffy grey jacket, navy blue shoes and a grey baseball cap with a Columbia Sportswear logo in black. Giambattista is believed to be operating a 2017 dark blue Ram, half ton four-wheel-drive pick up truck with a six-foot box. The vehicle has black rims and a red ‘Performance Group’ decal in the back window. The licence plate on the truck is AV27539. He may be in the Southend or Highway 17 bypass area. Police are asking that the community call 705-675-9171 with any information.
Punishing winter storm expected to hit the region by the weekend
Looks like a white Christmas for Sudbury as a significant winter storm is expected to hit late this week into the holiday weekend. Snow is expected to begin Thursday for areas near Lake Superior before reaching James Bay on Friday. This begins the multi-day lake effect snow event that is expected into the weekend in the wake of the system for locations east of Lake Superior, like Sudbury. While there is high confidence in a high impact winter storm, states the alert, details regarding wind speeds and specific snowfall amounts remain highly uncertain at this time. Please monitor your local forecast and the latest alerts for your area. The Ministry of transportation suggests travellers consider altering plans through the holiday weekend as travel conditions may become dangerous. Extensive utility outages are possible. Bitterly cold wind chill values are expected Friday into the weekend.
New Sudbury residential fire claims life of family dog
A late afternoon fire on Caribou Crescent in New Sudbury on Dec. 19 claimed the life of a family’s dog. Deputy Fire Chief Jesse Oshell said Greater Sudbury Fire Services received a call for service at around 4 p.m. on Monday. A family returning home from an outing encountered a wall of smoke when they opened the door to their home. Except for the family’s dog, no other member of the household was present. Three stations were dispatched to fight the fire. “The good news is we were able to quickly enter the home and fortunately everyone was out,” Oshell said. “We were able to quickly contain the fire (to the basement) and gain control.” Unfortunately, in searching the home, firefighters encountered the family dog in distress from smoke inhalation.
Pursuit: Sophie Tremblay headed to World University Games
When it comes to nordic skiing, Sophie Tremblay is not all that fussy. Sure, there is a unique excitement that comes part and parcel of a sprint race setting – though there remains a very special feeling that comes with crossing the finish line after being out on a 20- to 30-kilometre course or more. And when it comes to having a style preference, be it classic or skating, well, that could easily come down to the day and time of the question. “It changes every week depending on whether I am having good workouts with either,” said Tremblay recently. “I wouldn’t say that there is one that is more of my specialty. I like them both equally.” The 20-year-old Laurentian University student athlete is excited to have qualified for the Team Canada delegation that will be competing at the FISU (Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire) World University Games, being held in in Lake Placid, New York, from Jan. 12 to Jan. 23.
Hospital ‘following up’ on linen supply challenges
Health Sciences North (HSN) has responded to a complaint from a member of the public who alleged there was a shortage of linens at the hospital last week. The complainant said some patients felt cold and could not get blankets, and suggested the problem was felt especially by patients in the emergency room. HSN said the complaint is being investigated. The issue of linen supply is one that has been simmering for the past five years. It was in 2017 that HSN decided to contract out its linen and bedding laundry service to a company in Hamilton, Ontario — Mohawk Hospital Services Inc. and its associated company, Mohawk Medbuy.
Mainly sunny and a high of -9 today
Expect a mainly sunny day for your Wednesday with a high of -9. The wind will be westerly at 20 km/h before becoming light early in the morning. Expect a -21 wind chill this morning and a -14 wind chill this afternoon. The UV index today is one, or low. Tonight, expect cloudy periods with a 60-per-cent chance of flurries and an overnight low of -11.
