Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Downtown losing 305 parking spots, so city looks to private sector to build garage:
With the big projects removing hundreds of downtown parking spaces, Greater Sudbury is looking to see if someone in the private sector is interesting in picking up the slack. Late last week, the city issued what's called a request for expression of interest in building a parking structure. The tender will gauge how much interest there is in building an operating a parking facility downtown. The deadline is Aug. 30. The tender was issued after a motion from Ward 10 Coun. Fern Cormier, who was responding to a staff report that said a parking facility estimated at $8 million-$12 million would be needed to replace lost spots, and to accommodate demand for new ones. The report said the current construction of the Place des Arts removed one city parking lot with 59 spaces, and more spaces will go when the Elgin Street Greenway is completed, as well as The Junction. The Junction includes a new convention centre, art gallery and library, which will require parking while taking out two more downtown parking lots with a total of 246 spots. That's 305 spots being removed in total — an 18.6-per-cent reduction that leaves a total of 1,332 spots downtown. More on this story here.
Public asked to help ID man wanted in voyeurism incident:
Greater Sudbury Police have released security camera footage of a man wanted in a voyeurism case from last December. In a news release, police said the incident took place shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 6, 2018. “A man entered a women’s clothing store in the New Sudbury Shopping Centre,” the release said. “The man proceeded towards an occupied change room where he bent down and placed his cellphone under the door. The 15-year old girl using the change room saw the cellphone and immediately confronted the man, causing him to flee on foot.” He is described as white man between 45-50 years old, about 5-foot-7 with a slim build and short dark hair with some grey and balding on the top/back of his head. Anyone with information regarding the identity of the man captured in the security footage is asked to contact Det.-Const. Kidder at 705-675-9171, ext. 2307, or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-8477.
Teen who allegedly posted high school kill list to Instagram was back in court Wednesday:
The court proceedings for a teen who allegedly made a violent threat to Collège Notre Dame earlier this year have been adjourned to Aug. 7. Zachary Pilon, who is being represented by Sudbury lawyer Glenn Sandberg, was arrested March 20 after he allegedly posted on social media in March his plans to commit violence against the students at his school. A post had circulated on Instagram warning that, on “Friday March 22nd, everyone will finally know my name… Look out CND.” He was charged with criminal harassment and uttering threats, and released on bail March 21 with a strict set of bail conditions. Pilon's matter was briefly dealt with in court July 24. Court heard a Crown pre-trial (also known as a resolution meeting) is to be held between the Crown attorney and Pilon's lawyer. That could mean several things, including the defendant wishes to plead guilty, the Crown wishes to consider diversion or dropping charges, or that the defendant's lawyer wishes to have one of his bail conditions changed.
EcoLife owner told to "step on the gas" as he tries to get his affairs in order:
EcoLife Home Improvements owner David Murray was back in court once again on July 24, for what was a very brief appearance. Murray is facing 20 counts of fraud over $5,000 and three counts of fraud under $5,000. Additionally, Murray was also charged for theft under $5,000 and trafficking stolen property on April 23. The two matters were being heard before the court separately until July 10, when it was decided that the matters would be dealt with together. Murray had retained the services of lawyer George Fournier for the theft charges, but not for the more than 20 charges of fraud. Some complications have evidently arisen. When Murray made his first appearance for the fraud charges on July 3, he requested time to apply for legal aid, and was granted an adjournment until July 24. Both Murray and Fournier were in court Wednesday, with Fournier informing the judge that he was acting as counsel only on the theft and trafficking of stolen goods charges. Fournier did however act as agent for Murray on his remaining matters, explaining that Murray was still in the process of applying for legal aid to retain duty counsel to speak to all of his matters at the same time. Murray was granted a two-week adjournment, but was advised by the judge to "step on the gas" in moving matters forward. Murray is scheduled to be back in court on Aug. 7 at 1:30 p.m.
OPP warning the public as homicide suspects could be headed to Ontario:
The OPP are issuing a public safety warning in relation to the suspects in a British Columbia homicide of a young couple along with another death. The last confirmed sighting of the suspects, Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky, was in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. It would appear the suspects are heading in an easterly direction. The suspects are to be considered dangerous. Police have reason to believe they were recently in the Gillam, Manitoba area. If you see them, do not approach them and any person with information regarding this missing person investigation should immediately contact 911 or the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122.
Driver charged after two commercial vehicles collide on Highway 69:
On July 22 at approximately 8:10 a.m., officers from the Sudbury Detachment of the OPP, Sudbury EMS and the Sudbury Fire Department, responded to a two vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 69, Provincial Government Offices Road and Pioneer Road in the city of Greater Sudbury. Investigation revealed a southbound dump truck failed to stop for the red light striking a 5-ton truck entering the intersection from Provincial Government Offices The driver of the 5-ton truck was transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the dump truck was not injured. As a result of the investigation, a 31 year-old from Noëlville, has been charged with failure to stop at a red light. The Ministry of the Environment was called to assist. One northbound lane was closed at this location while workers completed the clean-up of a diesel spill.
Eat delicious burgers and help support NEO Kids? Where do we sign up?!
More than 30 local restaurants will soon be competing in Greater Sudbury's first Burger Wars. For the entire month of August, residents are encouraged to try burgers from participating establishments to determine which restaurant is worthy of the Burger Wars title. Who will be outflanked? You decide by casting your vote online at SudburyBurgerWars.com. Some specialty burgers that are in the running include a Lamb Burger available at the Apollo, Fionn McCool's Surf and Turf burger, The Nutty Burger from the Hourglass and a Hawaiian Burger from La Casa Mexicana. One of the event organizers Mitch Speigel said the idea for Burger Wars was "recycled" from a similar competition in Nova Scotia and PEI. "I thought to myself, why not reborrow the concept for Sudbury?" Speigel said during a press conference held at the Northern Water Sports Centre on July 23. $1 from each chosen burger sold will be donated to the NEO Kids Foundation. Burger Wars begins Aug. 1. Find out what restaurants are participating here.
Proving popular: Run of YES Theatre's Mamma Mia! extended … yet again:
Due to popular demand, YES Theatre has extended the run of its production “Mamma Mia!” by another week to Aug. 4. The production's run had already been extended by a week, and was supposed to close July 28. “We have broken all previous box office records with this production!” said a press release from the theatre company. “Thank you Sudbury for the overwhelming support! Another eight performances will happen July 30-August 4! Don’t miss the hottest ticket of the year!” Tickets to YES Theatre are available online, in person at One Sky (125 Durham St.), or by phone at 705-222-1759 (also One Sky) Tuesday-Friday from 12-5 p.m.
Thursday Weather:
A mix of sun and cloud for Thursday with a 40 per cent chance of showers in the afternoon. There is a risk of a thunderstorm today. Thursday's high will be 28, feeling like 31 with the humidity. Partly cloudy this evening with 40 per cent chance of showers early in the evening and risk of a thunderstorm. Skies clearing overnight with the low sitting at 17. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
