Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Hooligans Motorcycle Club member charged after police search unlicensed bar:
Greater Sudbury Police and the OPP executed a search warrant at an unlicensed after-hours bar run by the the Hooligans Motorcycle Club early Thursday morning. Just before 3 a.m. Thursday morning, members of the Greater Sudbury Police Service Tactical Unit and Integrated Crime Team assisted by members of the OPP - Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau and Biker Enforcement Unit executed search warrant at an unlicensed, after-hours bar on the Kingsway run by the Hooligans Motorcycle Club. As a result, a 45-year-old member of the Hooligans Motorcycle Club was charged with Unlawfully Keeping Liquor for Sale while nine people were issued Provincial Offence Notices for purchasing liquor from other than authorized persons under the Liquor Licence Act (L.L.A.). The club member was given a summons to appear in court on Feb. 3 and the nine individuals received tickets with a fine of $125 each. A large quantity of alcohol was found inside the building and was seized as a result of the search warrant. During a search of one of the individuals inside, officers located 17g of cocaine. The 42-year-old man was charged with Possession of a Schedule I Substance.
Environment Canada calling for significant snowfall to hit Sudbury:
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Greater Sudbury and vicinity. Significant snowfall amounts are expected Saturday through Sunday morning. An approaching low pressure system will bring snowfall to Northeastern and Eastern Ontario starting Saturday morning. Total snowfall amounts of 15 to 25 cm are expected. Strong winds up to 50 km/h will create areas of local blowing snow on Saturday afternoon. The snow will ease to light flurries Sunday morning. Visibility will be reduced in areas of blowing snow, which can make travel hazardous. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions.
Judge reserves decision in sexual assault case against former track coach:
March 13 will be the day former Sudbury track coach David Case finds out the decision whether he's guilty of sexual assault and assault. Case, 57, faces five charges stemming from alleged events that began more than 30 years ago. The victim, who cannot be identified due to a publication ban, alleges Case sexually assaulted her on a bus when she was 15 years old, sexually attacked her in a dorm room and a hotel room when she was 16 years old, as well as further physical attacks after they were secretly married shortly after she turned 18. The trial stretched out over three days, with Judge Alex Kurke reserving his decision following final submissions Thursday afternoon.
Sudbury resident wins $100,000 in LOTTO MAX draw:
Saying “yes” to ENCORE paid off for Michelle Rose-Savara of Sudbury. Michelle matched the last six of seven ENCORE numbers in exact order in the Jan. 7 LOTTO MAX draw to win $100,000. This is a first time win for the married mother of three. “I scanned my ticket on the OLG Lottery App and thought it was a joke,” Michelle said, while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up her cheque. Michelle plans to pay bills and invest the remainder of her prize. “It feels amazing, like a dream come true,” she said. The winning ticket was purchased at Mobil on LaSalle Boulevard in Sudbury.
City could save $4M a year closing old arenas, reducing parkland, KPMG report states:
A review of core city services has concluded the city could save $4 million a year in operating costs in a relatively short period of time, but some of the top 10 ideas KPMG identified in its report are sure to be controversial. The biggest source of potential savings – $1 million annually – could be realized within two years, the report said, but will be the hardest to implement. KPMG said that no detailed review of how many facilities the city has, compared to how many are needed, has taken place since amalgamation two decades ago. “Our review identified facilities with low utilization and cost recovery percentages, including two arenas, four community halls/centres and two pools,” the report said. “Through rationalization of facilities, the city can focus its operational maintenance spend and capital investments to providing modern, up-to-date, multi-use facilities without a significant impact on the taxation levy.” Full story here.
Shove off, winter: Bloom 2 brings the promise of spring (and some pretty cool bands):
Organizers of the second annual Bloom Festival, March 6-7 in downtown Sudbury, unveiled yet more of what promises to be an eclectic lineup. Bloom — a springtime celebration brought to you by the minds at Northern Lights Festival Boréal — already announced Indigenous deejay crew A Tribe Called Red is returning to the Nickel City to headline the March event. “The Bloom team is proud to present a diverse roster of performers guaranteed to heat up the late winter with world, indie, folk, electronic, rock, hip-hop and beyond,” organizers said in a festival. Tickets are currently available at NLFB.ca/Tickets and at outlets around Sudbury, including Jett Landry Music, Old Rock Coffee, and A&J Home Hardware. Check out the Bloom 2 lineup here.
Mountain of Mittens: Sudbury Five fans asked to buy mittens for kids in need:
Are you ready to help build Sudbury's Mountain of Mittens? This winter you can help Mountain of Mittens, an event funded by All Nations Church and sponsored by Maslack Supply, to help provide children in Sudbury with warm mittens. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase children's mittens for three dollars from All Nations Church members during the Jan. 19 Sudbury Five basketball game. During half time, fans can throw their purchased mittens onto the court, helping to build the Mountain of Mittens, along with the chance to win prizes. At the conclusion of the game all mittens thrown onto the court will be collected and distributed to local schools and organizations to support children in need. Already this year, staff at Maslack have delivered more than 4,000 pairs of mittens to more than 40 schools in Greater Sudbury. After the Mountain of Mittens event, an additional 1,000 pairs of mittens will also be supplied to local schools and organizations.
Lively Ski Hill is now open for the season:
The Lively Ski Hill opened for the season Wednesday evening. The ski hill is open Wednesday and Friday evenings from 6 to 9:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 4:30 p.m. More information about operating hours and ongoing snow conditions at both the Lively and Adanac ski hills can be found on the city’s website, GreaterSudbury.com/Ski. Operating hours are dependent on weather conditions and may change without notice. The Lively Ski Hill has opened as early as Dec. 27 and as late as Jan. 17.
Friday Weather:
Sunshine is expected to return today, but it's still going to be chilly. Friday's high will only get up to -13, feeling like -19 with the wind chill this afternoon. Mainly cloudy this evening with snow expected by Saturday morning. Overnight low will be -15, feeling like -23. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
