Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Sudbury.com's 12 Days of Kindness kicks off today:
Sudbury.com is back for a third season of surprises and we're kicking it off with a community hero. With 72 new cases diagnosed each and every day, breast cancer is still the most common cancer among Canadian women. But real progress is being made with mortality rates steadily dropping as detection rates and treatment options have improved. While having a mammogram will never be a woman’s favourite things to do, there is a small army of women out there working to create awareness, promote screening and support research. One of the women leading the charge in our community is a tireless volunteer who makes great use of her time by giving it to others. Check back with Sudbury.com later this morning for our first day of kindness of the 2018 holiday season.
City budget was $2.4M in the red in 2018:
For the third year in a row, Greater Sudbury is reporting a significant budget deficit on its more than $500 million operating budget. At the first formal meeting of the new term Dec. 11, councillors will hear the city spent $2.4 million more than forecast in 2018. That follows deficits of $2.45 million in 2017 and $1.8 million in 2016. The city ran a small surplus in 2015, the year taxes were frozen and city staff found $6 million in savings, to fulfill a campaign promise by Mayor Brian Bigger. As in past years, two of the biggest contributors to the red ink are winter control and Sudbury Transit, largely a result of bad weather and unexpected costs. Transit costs are $915,000 higher than expected, including bus parts totalling $645,000 more than i expected,s “due to the rise in material prices beyond the rate of inflation, continued component and farebox failures, as well as damage repairs,” says a report headed to city council. “Over expenditure in diesel fuel costs of $310,000 due to increased commodity pricing” added to the deficit. The winter roads budget was over by $1.25 million, an amount reduced to $860,000 mainly thanks to lower than expected salary costs. More on this story can be found here.
Eight puppies looking for their forever home this holiday season:
The Ontario SPCA Sudbury & District Animal Centre has eight bounding, adorable puppies from Northern Ontario that are ready to find loving homes this week as part of the centre’s iAdopt for the Holidays campaign. The eight-week-old puppies will be available for adoption on Thursday when the Sudbury & District Animal Centre opens at 11 a.m. Potential adopters will be invited to meet the puppies in the order in which they arrive at the centre. The puppies are vaccinated, microchipped, come with a gift of one month of pet insurance and will be spayed and neutered. The puppies were born only days after their mother, Dixie, arrived in Sudbury from a community near the Manitoba border as part of a transfer of close to 50 dogs in need of new homes. To bring awareness, attention and action to Northern dog overpopulation, the Ontario SPCA declared 2018 the Year of the Northern Dog.
Sudbury Five gearing up for double header on home court:
For the first time in team history, the Sudbury Five prepare to open their first double header weekend as they host the Saint John Riptide on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. and the Windsor Express on Sunday for a matinee match-up at 2:05 p.m. Thursday the Five welcome the Riptide to the Sudbury Arena for the first time this season. The Riptide are looking for their first win with newly acquired forward Walter Pitchford. Pitchford was traded from the Five earlier this week to the Riptide in exchange for the rights to guard Alex Johnson. Thursday’s game will also represent the first time that the Five take on an opponent from the Atlantic Division. The Five will be looking to continue their early season success against the struggling Riptide, who have yet to win this season. The Five hit the court once again on Sunday as they meet the Windsor Express for the fourth time this season. The Five are coming off a big come from behind victory 116-112 at home against the Express this past Saturday.
Wanted Wednesday: 24-year-old man wanted after assaulting and robbing victim in August:
Greater Sudbury Police have an outstanding warrant for the arrest of Kenneth Holmes. It's alleged that on the Aug. 8, Kenneth Holmes assaulted another person and took money from the victim, committing the offence of robbery. Holmes also uttered threats during the offence. At the time of the incident Holmes was on court-ordered conditions. His whereabouts are unknown at this time. Kenneth Holmes is 24-years-old, and is described as 6-1 tall, 175 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes. He is wanted for robbery, utter threats to cause death, and breach of probation. If you know this person and where he is presently located, you are urged to call the Crime Stoppers tip line toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS or locally at 705-222-TIPS (8477). You must call this number to be eligible for a cash reward. Tips can also be submitted online at www.sudburycrimestoppers.com.
Vale and Glencore sign joint study for Sudbury project:
Sudbury's two major mining companies are jointly studying if they can access nearby resources from an active mine, northeast of the city, to extend its operating life. Vale and Glencore announced on Dec. 4 they have initiated a feasibility study to explore the possibility of mining resources from the existing workings of Glencore’s Nickel Rim South Mine. The study will examine the economic and technical aspects of using the existing shaft and infrastructure at the mine, as well as additional underground infrastructure, to potentially jointly develop and mine deposits in close proximity to each other. This includes Vale’s Victor property and a shared deposit which exists adjacent to the boundary between each company’s properties. More on this story can be found here.
Are you on the bus? Protesters to bring worries about HSN to Queen's Park:
The Sudbury chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) is looking to fill a bus to Queen's Park where they will be submitting a petition to Premier Doug Ford to bring attention to what they say is a crisis that is mounting in Sudbury's health care system. A coach bus has been rented through donations, and between 50 to 55 people are needed to fill it. The bus will be departing from the Paris and York Street parking lot at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 10, returning between 8 and 9 p.m. Ontario Health Coalition Sudbury chapter chair Dot Klein says that Sudbury's Health Sciences North is in crisis, and care in the city is in jeopardy. A petition is being circulated by the OHC Sudbury Chapter and will be taken to Queen's Park on Dec. 10. Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas and Sudbury MPP Jamie West will meet with those making the bus ride south and take the thousands of signatures that have been collected into the legislature. Question period will begin and Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliot will be asked questions, which will be led by health care critic Gélinas. All signatures need to be collected by Dec. 9, and there are currently more than 2,000 signatures, though Klein is hopeful to have upwards of 3,000 by the time she heads to Queen's Park. Everyone and anyone is welcome on the bus. If numbers are great enough, a second bus will be rented for the trip.
Packaged kale salad recalled due to possible Listeria contamination, CFIA says:
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says one of Eat Smart's packaged salads has been recalled due to possible Listeria contamination. The agency says the 156-gram packages of Salad Shake Ups – Sweet Kale, with best before date of Dec. 3, should be thrown out or returned to the store where it was purchased. The CFIA says the recalled product has been distributed nationally, but there have been no reported illnesses associated with consuming it. It adds that it is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. Food contaminated with Listeria may not look or smell spoiled, but can cause death in severe cases of illness. The CFIA says symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. It says infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, but the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth.
Thursday Weather:
Flurries expected this morning then mainly cloudy with 40 per cent chance of flurries into the afternoon. Thursday's high will be around -3, feeling like -13 with the wind chill. Partly cloudy into the evening with temperatures plummeting overnight. Thursday evening low will be -22, feeling like -30 and there is a risk of frostbite. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
