Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Saturday morning.
Man, 60, facing sexual assault, voyeurism, child pornography charges
Greater Sudbury Police have arrested a 60-year-old Greater Sudury man who is facing a string of sexual offences, including possessing child pornography, making child pornography, sexual assault, voyeurism and more. The man is believed to have committed “numerous historical sexual violence-related offences against individuals under the age of 18,” reads a GSPS release. He has been charged with numerous offences, including sexual assault, voyeurism, making available or making child pornography and uttering threats, among other charges. The 60-year-old was held in police custody overnight and attended bail court on April 10 to answer to the charges. A publication ban has been issued in relation to this investigation, therefore no further details can be provided.
Arson triple homicide: Witness recalls more details with help
Fern Bolduc, prosecution witness in the arson triple homicide trial of Liam Stinson, seemed to remember more details on April 11, allowed to see the transcript from his police interview in order to refresh his memory. In his April 10 testimony, Bolduc did not say much other than “I don’t recall.” Ongoing since March 18, Stinson is on trial for his alleged role in an April 11, 2021, arson that killed three people, including Stinsons estranged partner, Jamie-Lynn Rose, as well as Guy “Popcorn” Henri and Jasmine Somers. Continuing testimony on the third anniversary of the fire, Bolduc recalled more about the night of the fatal fire, saying that evening he saw Stinson speak to the person who testified April 9 to starting the fire. Bolduc said he overhead them saying “something about going to do something,” and said he assumed “when I seen gas cans that they (Stinson, Witnesses 1 and 2) were up to something.”
Rehabilitation crews return to work on the Bridge of Nations
The traffic bottleneck at the Bridge of Nations on Paris Street in Sudbury has resumed, with construction crews returning to rehabilitate its southbound lanes. Rehabilitation of the bridge’s northbound lanes were mostly completed last year, city Project Services acting manager Stephen Holmes told Sudbury.com this week, noting that a similar construction process can be expected along the southbound lanes this year. Earlier this week, crews put in barriers to divert the bridge’s four lanes of traffic to its two northbound lanes, putting zipper merge signs in place on both sides. As with last year’s bridge rehabilitation efforts, motorists’ use of the zipper merge will be crucial in mitigating traffic congestion, Holmes said. “Not only does it benefit the time people have to wait in line, it increases safety, it increases the speed of traffic,” he said, adding that it might also reduce occurrences of road rage, “because there’s a sense of equity if everyone is waiting in two lanes instead of somebody getting ahead.”
Fire season underway as fire confirmed in northeastern Ontario
Fire officials have confirmed one of the first forest fires of the 2024 fire season for northeastern Ontario. Hearst 1 was confirmed Thursday afternoon. It measures 0.4 of a hectare and is located about 4 km southeast of Hallébourg, Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services for the Northeast Fire Region said in an update. (The province's Forest Fire Information Map indicates other fires started after April 1 but are already out, including Wawa 1 and 2, and Sault 1.) Meanwhile, the fire hazard is mostly moderate in areas of the region located south of Timmins and Wawa, and mostly low in areas south and east of North Bay and Parry Sound, the AFFES said. The forest service reminded the public that Ontario’s Outdoor Burning Regulations are now in effect for the Northeast Fire Region with the start of the fire season April 1.
Greater Sudbury Cubs are going to the NOJHL final
The Greater Sudbury Cubs are going to the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League final. It took the team five games to defeat the powerhouse Blind River Beavers, a team that has led the NOJHL for much of the season and at times seemed like a lock to make it to the final. But alas, for the Beavers and their fans, the Cubs had other ideas. On Thursday night at the Blind River Community Arena, the Cubs won 3-1, taking the best-of-seven series West Division final 4-1 and moving onto the league championship, which will be against either the Timmins Rock or the Powassan Voodoos. The Cubs got off to a good start in the game. Cameron Walker slipped a Beavers’ defender at 6:37 and chipped a deflected puck up over goaltender Noah Tegelaar to make it 1-0 Greater Sudbury.
Pack playoffs: Wolves drop Game 1 to Troops
Fans in North Bay were in for some entertaining back and forth action as they took in Game 1 of Round 2 of the OHL playoff series between Northern Ontario rivals the Sudbury Wolves and the North Bay Battalion. Coach Ken MacKenzie went with Marcus Vandenberg in goal for the Wolves while Mike McIvor was in net for North Bay. Andrew LeBlanc got the scoring started for North Bay with his first goal of the playoffs 6:33 into the opening period to give the Troops an early 1-0 lead over Sudbury. Both Sudbury and North Bay had plenty of scoring chances in the period, but both Vandenberg and McIvor stood tall in goal for their respective teams, and the score remained 1-0 for the Battalion after the first period of play. Just over one minute into the second period, Wolves Captain David Goyette scored on the power play, his fifth goal of the playoffs to tie the score 1-1.
