Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Tuesday morning.
The challenges of helping get homeless people off the street
The City of Greater Sudbury has made a concerted effort to tackle the local homelessness crisis, but the fact some of the people seeking housing end up back on the streets illustrates the challenges and complexities of the issue. Ray Landry, co-ordinator of housing services of the Homelessness Network told Sudbury.com that this cycle of housing back to homelessness has much to do with the challenges of transitioning someone away from the life skills one must acquire to survive homelessness to the very different like skills one requires to be housed. For those who have been homeless, particularly for long periods of time, there are certain behaviors or choices that do not fit well with societal norms for tenancy. Sometimes, proper management of a home was forgotten, or never taught. In other cases, the survival skills needed to manage homelessness are undesirable by the landlord or neighbours, and can often include undiagnosed or untreated mental health issues, as well as substance use disorders and the transactional relationships that develop through substance purchasing. When someone who is homeless or in precarious housing (unstable housing) would like to find a place, their name is added to the co-ordinated access list (or by-name list) maintained by the City of Greater Sudbury.
Former Sudbury city councillor Doug Craig has died
Former Greater Sudbury city councillor Doug Craig passed away Feb. 8 at the age of 82. Craig’s obituary said he was a high school teacher and vice-principal for 24 years with the Sudbury Board of Education. As well, he was a dedicated city councillor in Greater Sudbury for 19 years, and was the longest serving member in the city’s history, having never lost an election, his obituary said. Craig last served on council in 2014, when he did not run for re-election in Ward 9. In a November 2014 Sudbury.com story, written on the occasion of his last meeting as councillor, Craig said he had “enjoyed every moment” of his time in municipal politics. “Doug was a confident, intelligent, and caring person with a passion for people and community service,” said his obituary.
US aircraft circling near Manitoulin in wake of UFO incident
New information indicates that the unidentified flying balloon shot down by fighter jets over Lake Huron on the weekend was near Manitoulin Island. As of 10 a.m. Monday, a United States Coast Guard HC-130 Super Hercules aircraft was flying a pattern in Canadian airspace over a section of Lake Huron about 20 kilometres south of Providence Bay. The HC130, flight number C2006, is known as a long-range surveillance plane. This follows significant social media postings by American news outlets indicating that at least four large white surveillance balloons, believe to have originated in China, have been shot down in recent days in different parts of North America. US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told ABC News that the latest of several surveillance balloons was shot down Sunday over Lake Huron, by United States Air Force and Air National Guard aircraft.
Former Rainbow board teacher accused of having sex with student
A teacher formerly employed by the Rainbow District School Board is accused of having sex with one of his students. The allegations against Trevor James German are outlined in a notice of hearing document on the Ontario College of Teachers website. That hearing, which has yet to be scheduled by the Ontario College of Teachers, will determine if German is guilty of professional misconduct. The notice of hearing document, issued Jan. 17, 2020, said German is accused of abusing a student psychologically and sexually, and having “committed acts that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional.” The female student German is alleged to have abused was in his class in the 2017-2018 academic year. German is alleged to have engaged in an “inappropriate personal relationship” with that student during the 2017-18 academic year, including meeting with her alone at the school, in parks, giving her his phone number and address, engaging in personal communications, driving her in his car, hugging the student, and putting his arm around her.
GSPS officers arrest Windsor men for loaded handgun
Two men from Windsor are facing firearms and weapons charges after an incident in downtown Sudbury on Saturday. At around 10:45 p.m. on Feb. 11, Greater Sudbury Police officers were dispatched to the area of Elgin Street and Grey Street after reports two men had approached a third person and pulled a knife on them. “When officers arrived on scene, community members in the area indicated that the two men were leaving in a vehicle,” GSPS reported Monday. “Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and located the two men inside. Upon speaking with the driver, officers noticed signs of impairment. “Officers attempted to use an approved screening device, however the man refused, and he was placed under arrest for Fail to Comply with Demand.” A search of police databases helped officers determine one of the two men was not only breaching a release order but he was a suspended driver as well, GSPS said in a news release. “Upon searching the vehicle, officers located a loaded handgun,” the police service reported.
Let’s eat! There’s nothing like having a meal in a snow globe
Inspired by the Trestle Brewery in Parry Sound, the Daventry Kitchen & Bar in Sudbury has been offering patrons an outdoor winter dining experience for a month and a half now. Just after Christmas, the restaurant erected three ice globes on the patio of the South End establishment for patrons to enjoy. In Muskoka, they call them Ice Caves but here in Sudbury, we refer to them as snow globes. Each globe offers buffalo plaid table cloths, blankets, heaters and soft LED lighting for an ambient winter white glow. Carly Hamill, an assistant manager at the Daventry, said even on frigid days the response has been overwhelming. “In just two days, we saw 117 reservations. We needed help answering phones as everyone was so excited to get into those globes for their next dining experience,” she said.
Sunny and above-zero high today
Expect a sunny day with a high of 3 today. There is a -16 wind chill expected this morning. The wind will be southerly at 20 km/h early in the afternoon. The UV index today is two, or low. Tonight, the mercury will dip to zero and clouds will roll in. There is a 60-per-cent chance of rain or snow as well.
