Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Sudbury drug bust turns up $50K in cocaine, results in 3 arrests:
A drug bust in Greater Sudbury this week turned up more than $50,000 worth of cocaine and resulted in the arrests of three people — two of them from Toronto — and a warrant being requested for the arrest of a fourth person. The drug trafficking ring has been under investigation by the Greater Sudbury Police Service Integrated Crime Team (ICT) working in collaboration with the Ontario Provincial Police Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) since January. The three individuals were arrested Wednesday after a traffic stop on Regent Street. Officers found 524 grams of cocaine (that's more than half a kilogram) with a value of $52,451, in addition to $350 in Canadian currency. A 33-year-old woman from Greater Sudbury has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking. She was released from police custody with a promise to appear in court April 8. A 31-year-old woman from Toronto is facing two charges of trafficking a scheduled substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime, four counts of driving while prohibited and breach of probation. A 35-year-old man from Toronto was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and breach of recognizance. An arrest warrant has also been requested for a 45-year-old Greater Sudbury man in relation to this investigation. He is wanted for two counts of trafficking a scheduled substance.
Sexual assault case against well-known hair stylist adjourned to March 11:
The sexual assault charge against Sudbury hair stylist Frank Marasco, 75, has been remanded until March 11. His lawyer, Toronto-based Michael Lacy, is still waiting for disclosure. Marasco was arrested and charged on Nov. 28. He is the former owner of A Touch of Class in Sudbury's South End.
COVID-19 risk low, but Public Health Sudbury says it’s ready in case:
Greater Sudbury’s medical officer of health says her agency is co-ordinating with local and provincial partners and counterparts in preparation for any local outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. And Canada’s top doctor has said while the risk for Canadians remains low, the global risk to contract the virus is constantly evolving. Canadians and Canadian health agencies must be prepared, said Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer. Even if the risk is low, the health unit must be ready for a range of possible outbreak scenarios, said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, the medical officer of health for Public Health Sudbury and Districts. Get the full story here.
Sports Hall of Famer Jack Porter passes away:
Sudbury Kinsmen Sports Hall of Famer Jack Porter has died. He was 86. Porter died peacefully on Feb. 25 at Health Sciences North, surrounded by his family, according to his obituary. Few names are as synonymous with the early success of the Voyageurs as coach Jack Porter, the man who guided the team for more than a decade in the formative years of the 1960s. Born in Sudbury, the only boy in a family of six children, Porter and his siblings were constantly involved athletically, enjoying seasonal pursuits at Bell Park — hockey in the winter, paddling in the summer — among a host of other activities. Full story here.
Gélinas Tory home care bill ‘tinkers and meddles’ but doesn’t fix the system:
The Ontario government has introduced new legislation that it says will help fix the province’s outdated home and community care system. Health Minister Christine Elliott addressed the new bill on Tuesday to reporters, saying the current system was designed 30 years ago and doesn’t reflect the realities of today. She said the government’s intention is to make the system more flexible. If passed, the bill would bring the home-care system under the new Ontario Health Team model and do away with service maximums, which currently limit the amount of services a person can receive. The current system of delivering home care through contracts and limiting the delivery of community services to non-profit corporations would continue. In a release to media, Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas called the current home care system “disastrous,” but said the government’s proposed legislation doesn’t seem to do much to fix it. “Doug Ford’s cuts and consolidations in health care have done nothing to fix hallway medicine and to get patients the care they need whether that’s in hospital, in long-term care, or at home,” she said. “Now, we’re given a bill that takes Ontario’s disastrous home care system, and tinkers and meddles a little, instead of fixing the system.” Gélinas, who is her party’s health critic, said the NDP still have to fully review the bill, adding that successive Ontario governments have failed to fix the system. Get the full story here.
Show us your snow sculptures and get into the spirit ahead of Capreol Winter Carnival:
Residents can enjoy some winter fun and family friendly activities this weekend at the Capreol Winter Carnival set for Feb. 28 to March 1. In the weeks leading up to the carnival, Capreol families were invited to the get into the spirit by creating a snow sculpture in their front yard. Entries submitted prior to the Feb. 25th registration deadline will be judged by the Citizens on Patrol program with prizes awarded by the Capreol Community Action Network. Send us a photo on our Facebook page or email [email protected] to have your creation added to our photo gallery. Check out the photo gallery here.
Sudbury Wolves clinch playoff spot after beating North Bay in overtime:
Former North Bay Battalion captain Brad Chenier was all over the scoresheet Wednesday night, capping his night by setting up Macauley Carson for the one-time game-winner in overtime to give the Sudbury Wolves a 4-3 win on the road over North Bay. Chenier had a busy night against his former team, scoring two goals, assisting on the game-winner and also taking two separate trips to the penalty box. Alex Christopoulos, the Battalion’s most dangerous forward of late, matched Chenier in the scoring department with two goals of his own to push his goal-scoring streak to three games, while Luke Moncada added his team-leading 33rd goal to round out the North Bay scoring.
Still time to get your tickets for this Saturday’s African Cabaret:
For 20 years, the sights and sounds of African culture have come alive in Greater Sudbury and this Saturday will make it 21 years of African Cabaret. The doors at MacDonald-Cartier Secondary School open at 6 p.m. on Feb. 29. The cabaret promises traditional homemade food and great dance music. Your ticket purchase also gets you a one-of-a-kind Congo-inspired necklace to make that memories last. Montreal band Naxx Mwa Ndaya will perform, sharing Congolese songs sure to make you groove, followed by a fashion show featuring items in vibrant African colours. In partnership with Northern Lights Festival Boreal, every ticket sold comes with a 10 per cent discount to the BLOOM 2 Festival, March 6-7. Ticket information can be found here.
Friday Weather:
Mainly cloudy Friday with 60 per cent chance of flurries. Today's high will be -12, feeling like -27 with the wind chill this morning and -19 in the afternoon. Mainly cloudy tonight with a 40 per cent chance of flurries early in the evening. Overnight low will be -20, feeling like -26 with the wind chill. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.