Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Dangerous offender about to be released, police warn:
A Sudbury man who was declared a dangerous offender in 2017 because of a history of sex crimes involving children is about to be released into the community, Greater Sudbury Police Service said Friday. In a warning to the community, police said Michael Tomasik, 39, has served his sentence for “various offences pertaining to children and use of the internet. “The Greater Sudbury Police Service is working in partnership with the local parole office to ensure the successful reintegration of an offender into the community,” the release said. Tomasik will live in the New Sudbury area and remain under the supervision of the local federal parole office and police. He is subject to conditions that prevent his access to young people and certain public places. His day-to-day activities will be monitored and he must reside at a designated location having limited access to the community at large, the release said. Michael Tomasik will be residing in the New Sudbury area. He is white, about 6-foot-2 and weighs around 275 lbs. with short grey hair.
Why the OPP issued an Amber Alert Thursday when there was no abduction:
A late-night decision by the Ontario Provincial Police to override the abduction criteria for issuing an Amber Alert is credited with locating a vulnerable grandfather and his two toddler grandsons who went missing from Newmarket about 1:45 p.m. on July 10 while driving around trying to find a parking spot. About 15 hours later and more than 70 kilometres from where the trio were last seen near Southlake Regional Health Centre, Toronto Police Service officers saw the blue Pontiac Montana van driven by Leo Easton, 70, with brothers Harrison, 2, and Keegan Larocque, 4, aboard, on Lakeshore Boulevard in Toronto and stopped the vehicle. York Regional Police said Easton dropped his wife off at a nearby plaza near Davis Drive and Lundy's Lane and never returned. Toronto police found Easton and the young brothers about 4:30 a.m. July 11 in good health and took them to a nearby fast-food restaurant for a bite to eat, according to media reports. The family was reunited a short time later. A request from York Regional Police for an Amber Alert to help locate the family was initially denied, as alerts are broadcasted only when a child under 18 years of age is abducted. However, as “tireless” efforts by York police investigators and frontline officers failed to locate Easton, the OPP made a “human decision under the extreme circumstances,” said Stacey Whaley, who manages the alert program for the provincial force.
'Charismatic, thoughtful, caring, full of life': Family member pays tribute to fallen Sudbury officer:
Lesley Robb recalls the first time she ever saw her nephew Christopher Labreche wear his police uniform. “He was a blue-eyed, curly-haired rascal and I think my fondest memory of him was the day I first saw him in his uniform as a police officer and I said to myself, ‘my sweet little nephew has grown up.,” Robb said fighting off tears in an interview with BayToday. On Wednesday, Lesley and a huge throng of supporters gathered at the All Nations Church in Sudbury to say good-bye to Labreche. The 37-year-old Sudbury police officer died in a two-vehicle collision on July 4 about six kilometres south of the French River. Labreche was off duty at the time of the fatal crash. Full story can be found here.
Food, family fun, music and even pro wrestling: Italian Festival runs July 11-14:
The 47th annual Italian Festival returns to the Caruso Club July 11-14, with food and family-friendly fun. On Saturday, July 13 the Caruso Club plays host to kids' activities starting at 12 p.m. and the A Taste of Italy! Dinner starting at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 14 starting at 12 p.m. there will be family bocce games, more kids' activities, the Societa Caruso Paesan Cook Off (best sausage maker), the Pasta Fest starting at 4:30 p.m., and the Festival of the Stars Variety Show starting at 7:30 p.m. There will also be a variety of live entertainment throughout the weekend, with bands including The Suicide Drifters, JoPo & the Rize, Lina Sanchioni and Sylvio Ferrucci, BSD Jazz Trio, Coro Caruso and Chicks with Picks. For further information, phone the Caruso Club at 705-675-1357.
Sudbury Dragon Boat Festival celebrates 20 years July 13:
The Sudbury Dragon Boat Festival, which runs Saturday, July 13 in Bell Park, celebrates a big milestone this year. The festival first ran in 2000, meaning 2019 marks the 20th annual dragon boat festival here in Greater Sudbury. Thirty-seven teams of 22 paddlers registered this year — that adds up to more than 800 people. The 2019 dragon boat festival will likely bring in up to $50,000, said the festival's co-chair Chris Gavard. The funds will help the NEO Kids Foundation achieve its goal of building a permanent child and youth centre in Sudbury. Over the years, the festival has brought in $1.7 million for nine different charitable causes.
Update: No Junior Spartans game this weekend:
The Sudbury Junior Spartans in conjunction with the Ontario Provincial Football League and the Orangeville Outlaws have announced that this Saturday’s game scheduled for 1 p.m. at James Jerome Field has been cancelled. The Orangeville Outlaws have forfeited the game due to player number issues therefore giving the Junior Spartans the win. The Junior Spartans finish the regular season with a 6-2 record, including one overtime loss to give them first in the North Division and second overall. They will now take the week to prepare of their first home playoff game on Saturday July 20 at 4 p.m. This will be a double-header Spartans weekend as the Men’s team will wrap up their regular season on July 20 at 7 p.m.
Power will go out in Coniston on Sunday:
Hydro One will be interrupting transmission of power to Coniston Transmission Station on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Greater Sudbury Hydro said in a news release. “This loss of supply will consequently affect all 919 Greater Sudbury Hydro customers in Coniston,” the release said. “Greater Sudbury Hydro will maximize the opportunity of this planned interruption to complete some work in the area.”
Celebrating Sudbury's best above-ground resource:
The 35th annual Sudbury Blueberry Festival is just around the corner, which means loads of blueberry-themed activities, entertainment and treats for the whole family to enjoy during the week-long event. This year's festivities will include many old favourites, such as the 33rd annual Blueberry Breakfast and 30th annual Blueberry Garden Party, as well as a few new changes, such as the introduction of 'Baby Bear' at the Monique Legault Studio. Once again, the Blueberry Festival will be hosting a raffle over the course of the festival, ballots for which will be provided at each event held across the city. For the second year in a row, the prize will be a Sudbury Passport to the Arts valued at more than $1,800, featuring 13 exclusive offers to festivals, plays, workshops, one restaurant and more. The festival kicks off on July 14, check out the full schedule of events here.
