Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Special Weather Statement issued for Greater Sudbury
A Special Weather Statement has been issued for Greater Sudbury, in advance of the slippery conditions expected Monday. Periods of rain will begin Monday afternoon, changing briefly to freezing rain, then to snow Monday night, as temperatures fall below zero. Roads and sidewalks may become icy as the precipitation of the day meets the cold front of the evening.
Steven Del Duca wins Ontario Liberal leadership
Ontario Liberals crowned former cabinet minister Steven Del Duca as their new party leader Saturday. Del Duca had enough delegates to win on the first ballot, but looking forward, the new leader's task will be a monumental one, he acknowledged. Read the full story here.
Azilda man's body recovered by divers in the Kawarthas
The body of a young Azilda man was recovered from Kawartha Lakes Sunday, after perishing in a snowmobile-related incident the evening before. On March 7 at 5:15 p.m. members of the Peterborough County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and emergency crews responded to reports of a missing male in Kawartha Lakes. According to police, eye-witness accounts said the individual had been riding in a toboggan being pulled behind a snowmobile, when he fell through the ice. Read the full story here.
GSPS search for suspect of early-morning gas station robbery
The Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) is in the process of investigating a robbery that took place at a gas station in the Southend early Sunday morning. Between 3-4 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, an unknown suspect wearing dark clothing and a mask entered the Canadian Tire Gas Bar (2259 Regent St.) and brandished a weapon, demanding money from the on-duty clerk. Read the full story here.
Two residents unaccounted for in Elliot Lake fire
Two residents are unaccounted for following a fire that began Saturday morning and eventually engulfed a bungalow in the Town of Elliot Lake. On March 7, at 5:14 a.m., the Elliot Lake Fire Department received a call regarding an active structure fire at 4 Hart Road. They responded shortly thereafter, said Fire Chief John Thomas, at which point the fire had taken over so much of the building that crews were unable to gain entry. Read the full story here.
Health Unit holding COVID-19 planning session Monday
Public Health Sudbury and Districts will be hosting a six-hour planning session on Monday, March 9 in order to coordinate a response to potential community spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). The health unit has invited a number of stakeholders and community partners to the session, including agencies from across the city of Greater Sudbury and the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts to participate in a face-to-face workshop. Read the full story here.
Photos: Record number of Sudburians participate in 7th annual Polar Plunge
Upwards of 100 Sudburians participated in Sudbury's 7th annual Polar Plunge Saturday, March 7, raising more than $23,000 for Special Olympics Ontario. Among the record number of plungers that day was Greater Sudbury Police Chief Paul Pedersen, dressed this year, as Star Trek's Jean-Luc Picard. He was followed into the water that morning by Justice Andrew Buttazzoni, who raised more than $6,000 in pledges to beat retired Sgt. Joanne Pendrak as the top fundraiser to date. Find the full photo gallery here.
Tim Hortons Roll Up The Rim goes digital due to the coronavirus
Tim Hortons says it is getting rid of Roll Up The Rim cups due to the novel coronavirus and is moving much of the annual contest to its app. The coffee-and-doughnut chain is removing all of the contest's paper cups over health concerns around staff handling items recently gripped and sipped by customers returning them for prizes. Read the full story here.
Wolves' Purboo earns third career shutout in epic 8-0 final
Wolves' Christian Purboo secured his third OHL career shutout at Sudbury Arena Sunday, March 8, giving Nickel City the backing it needed to enact their revenge against the Kingston Frotenacs. It had been nearly five months since the wolfpack was defeated by two points in Kingston, but the boys in blue were ready and waiting. Sudbury scored their first point less than five minutes into play and never looked back, delivering seven more over the course of the 60-minute affair, to finish with an 8-0 final in their favour. Read the full game report here.
Fifteen medals for Sudbury Special Olympians in Thunder Bay
A local grouping of eleven athletes did Sudbury proud last week, taking part in the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Thunder Bay. Spread out between four different disciplines, the contingent from the nickel city would combine to gather no less than 15 medals, with every single one of the men and women shining through at the bi-annual event. Read the full story here.
Five crush division-leading London Lightning
The Sudbury Five picked up a win at Sudbury Arena Saturday, March 7, in their first of two back-to-back games against the division-leading London Lightning. Coming off a two-game skid coupled with recently losing towering forwards Marlon Johnson and Carl Lewis III to other leagues, meant the Nickel City looked pretty vulnerable taking the court. But it would take more than a short-staff to stop the super-guard tandem of Sudbury's Braylon Rayson and Jaylen Bland. Read the full game report here.
Sun, cloud and periods of rain Monday
Mix of sun and cloud Monday with periods of rain beginning in the afternoon. Southwest wind, reaching 20 km/h in the afternoon, may bring a slight chill to the daytime high of plus 6. Increased cloudiness overnight and continued periods of rain. Temperatures near a low of zero overnight.
