Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Friday morning.
Police exploring every avenue in search for missing Sudbury councillor
Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) said today every possible course of action is being taken in the bid to find missing Sudbury city councilor Michael Vagnini. Det. Staff Sgt. Barry Ornella of the GSPS Major Crimes Unit spoke to reporters at an information session held at the GSPS headquarters Thursday morning to advise the media and the community of the importance of keeping an eye out for Vagnini's missing pickup truck, a black 2021 Ram 1500 with a broken taillight. He added that police will welcome any tidbit of information people might have that would help them find Vagnini. Ornella said police were able to confirm that Vagnini was last seen in the late afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 27 around 5:40 p.m. Police said a home video surveillance camera captured Vagnini’s truck traveling westbound that day on McCharles Lake Road in Walden. Ornella said police are confident the video shows Vagnini’s vehicle.
Provincial funds sought for struggling School Nutrition Program
The Student Nutrition Program Sudbury-Manitoulin is struggling to make ends meet, and might have to scale down its programming next school year, unless more funding comes in. One-time funding from the province of $30,000 filled the gap last school year, and a $127,000 injection from the province (from a total pool of $5 million) is filling the gap this school year. Next school year will be a challenge unless funding boosts persist. Student Nutrition Sudbury-Manitoulin manager Angele Young, of Sudbury Better Beginnings Better Futures, walked provincial MPPs through their $500,000 request during a Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs pre-budget consultation in Sudbury on Tuesday. It’s been several years since they received a grant increase, she said, since which time food prices have skyrocketed and the number of meals delivered more than doubled after 2019.
Sudbury researcher predicts late 2024 construction for bio-mining innovation centre
A Canadian expert in the field of bio-mining hopes to break ground on a Centre for Mine Waste Technologies in Sudbury by the end of this year. Nadia Mykytczuk, president of MIRARCO Mining Innovation, said she’s following an “aggressive timeline” in seeking to construct a $38-million innovation centre when she spoke before the provincial standing committee on finance and economic affairs in Sudbury, Jan.30, as part of the government’s 2024 pre-budget public hearings. Mykytczuk brings to the table an environmentally friendly and zero-waste solution to extract valuable minerals from mine waste. She works in a specialized field of research, concerning the bioleaching process, that has the potential to crack up a huge untapped opportunity in mining: to extract millions of dollars of valuable minerals left behind in waste piles of rock, known as tailings, at abandoned mine sites while cleaning up environmental legacy issues. These minerals can’t be extracted using traditional processing methods but can be cost-effectively separated using biological means.
City grants $170K for affordable student housing project
It’s a tough rental housing market out there, and students with a fixed income are having a tough time finding accommodations. This, Laurentian University associate professor Krishna Challagulla said, is why he bought 176 Larch St. in downtown Sudbury in December. The three-storey building currently houses The Gory Hole (a horror movie-themed retail store) on the main floor. Challagulla is currently having the second floor renovated to accommodate two residential units, and three units created on the third floor. Currently office space, the residential units will include a total of 10 bedrooms, which he’s going to offer as affordable housing for students. Just what, exactly, “affordable” means when it comes to rent has yet to be determined, but his goal is to keep prices low, but allow him to remain in the fiscal black so it’s sustainable.
Mining supply export forum coming to Sudbury
Northern Ontario mining suppliers looking to expand their export capabilities are being invited to a one-day forum in Sudbury this February. Export Forum 24, taking place on Thursday, Feb. 8 at the city's Northbury Hotel & Conference Centre, is focused on domestic and international market trends in mining. The one-day event is aimed at helping mining service and supply companies expand their reach in 10 key markets, including Ontario, Mexico, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Chile, Nevada, Quebec, Peru, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.The day will include an appearance by Torri Turner, an industry advisor with Microsoft, who will deliver the keynote address ‘Robotics, Automation and the 21st Century Miner.’ That will be followed by a series of concurrent breakout sessions, which will provide an overview of significant players, projects, forecasted needs, and special considerations to doing business in the related mining jurisdiction.
Wanted: Tips sought on location of accused
Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of John Markell on an outstanding warrant. Greater Sudbury Police allege that in December, 2023 (no specific date was given), Markell pointed a firearm at a person while intoxicated. Police said Markell was in possession of “a number of firearms” at the time of the offence. He was under court-ordered conditions at the time of the alleged offence, and has several charges before the court. Markell, 45, is described as standing 6-0 and weighing 175 lbs, with brown hair and blue eyes. He is believed to be in the city. Police advise the public to avoid Markell as he is considered dangerous.
