Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
This should come as no surprise: Snow plow budget blown by $2.4M:
Considering the severe winter we're just emerging from, it's no surprise Greater Sudbury again exceeded its budget for snow removal. A report headed to the city's operations committee says the winter control budget for 2018 came it at $19.94 million, almost $2.4 million more than forecast. The biggest culprits were the salt/sanding/plowing budget, which was $8.9 million, about $1.85 million more than forecast, and the winter ditch clearing/spring cleanup budget, which was more than $500,000 higher than the $1.9 million forecast. How much snow are we talking? So far, about 342 centimetres — or 133 per cent — of the average annual snowfall. In November and December alone, snowfall amounts were 234 per cent and 100 per cent higher than normal.
Education minister: Students need to focus on learning, not cell phones:
Get ready for a fight, parents, because the Ontario government is moving ahead with plans to ban cellphones from classrooms, beginning next school year. Education Minister Lisa Thompson confirmed a report from the Canadian Press today, saying a gov't survey found 97% of respondents supported some form of cellphone ban. Saying phones are a cause of classroom distraction, Thompson said they will no longer be allowed in classrooms unless required for education purposes, health and medical needs, or to support special needs. And just so Ontario's students don't feel left out, In France, students are also forbidden from using their phones in the classroom or even during breaks. The government of Emmanuel Macron ordered a phone “detox” for all pupils under the age of 15.
Missing man's remains have been found:
Jason Bettiol was found deceased by West Nipissing Police on Tuesday afternoon, Greater Sudbury Police tweeted. "There is no foul play suspected," police said. "Our condolences go out to his family and friends. We ask that you respect his family’s privacy during this difficult time. The Greater Sudbury Police Service and Jason’s family would like to thank the public and media for their assistance."
Truckers are routinely blowing this red light, and the OPP has had enough:
The Sudbury OPP have a message for truckers: They're not going to put up with semis blowing the red light at the intersection of Hwy 69 and Pioneer Road / Provincial Government Offices road. On a daily basis operators of commercial motor vehicles are failing to stop for the red light. Police say that the drivers of these vehicles blow their horns to warn traffic as they drive through the red light. Expect to see officers at this location protecting the public and enforcing the law. Failing to stop at a red light will cost you a $325 fine and earn you three demerit points. The blitz will be convenient for police as the intersection is right by the Sudbury OPP detachment.
Roadside Wanup moose appears to be in good health, MNRF says:
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Foresty (MNRF) has been able to get a biologist out to take a look at moose that has been hanging out near a waterway on the side of Estaire Road, out off of Highway 69. Sudbury.com visited the area on Monday and spoke with several residents who thought the animal might be in distress or injured because it had spent at least a week (and by some accounts two weeks) barely moving from a small area off Estaire Road. Food left out for the moose was ignored, leading some to speculate on the animals health and welfare. However, the MNRF biologist who visited the moose late in the day on Monday said the moose appears to be fine. MNRF spokesperson Jolanta Kowalski said the biologist reported the animal to be exhibiting normal behaviour for this time of the season, with no signs of hair loss or any injury. Kowalski said during the winter moose limit their movements both to conserve energy against the cold and to avoid detection from predators, such as wolves. "Residents are reminded to respect wildlife and not disturb it,"Kowalski said. "It may not need assistance and you could be doing more harm than good." The ministry will continue to monitor the situation should the animal require assistance.
He spent 1,647 days in solitary, now Adam Capay faces a sexual assault charge:
Adam Capay, who was released from custody 42 days ago after spending more than four-and-a-half years in administrative segregation at the Thunder Bay District Jail and the Kenora Jail, has been arrested. Capay, 26, of Lac Seul First Nation was arrested on Mar. 5 in Sioux Lookout, Ont. and charged with sexual assault with a weapon and mischief. On Jan. 28, Justice John Fregeau ordered a stay of the first-degree murder charge Capay was facing for his role in the stabbing death of inmate Sherman Quisses, 35, at the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre in June 2012. For 1,647 days, Capay was held in administrative segregation at the Thunder Bay District Jail and Kenora Jail, which involved being kept in a Plexiglas cell for 23-hours a day, with the lights on 24-hours a day, no access to television or radio, telephones, and requiring a correctional officer to flush the toilet. Counsel for Capay requested a hearing to stay the charge last spring and Fregeau ruled Capay’s rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms were violated. Full story here.
JoPo & The RiZe newest single honours Sudbury's bitter winters ... and tough northern girls:
Nickel City band JoPo & The RiZe released their newest single 'Northurn Gurl' Tuesday, as a tribute to all Canadians forced to endure the bitter cold of our winter months. JoPo said she was feeling a bit of the winter blues this past January, so she decided to write a humourous love song about her hometown. "After writing it, I laughed so hard I thought a funny video was in order, something hilarious, eventful, satisfying - something all Canadians could look forward to during this crazy snowy dark winter," she said. The music video was filmed the week of Feb. 24, at which point the city was hit with freezing rain, snow and ice pellets in one of the worst storms of the season. Filming in the hail, high winds and snow squalls may have made for an eventful day, but authentically captured "the true essence of what being a northerner is all about," said a press release. Check out the song and video here.
Strides for Wellness: Which local college will win the Golden Sneaker Trophy?
Looking to get themselves and their students moving, Greater Sudbury's two colleges are having an amazing race! Cambrian College said in a press release it has issued a friendly challenge to its colleagues at Collège Boréal to see whose employees and students can walk across Canada first. That’s 14,810,000 steps. The presidents of the two local colleges, Bill Best of Cambrian College and Daniel Giroux of Collège Boréal, have launched Strides for Wellness, a collaborative effort that aims to promote healthy living and personal wellness. Equipped with pedometers, both colleges will start in Vancouver and make their way to St. Johns. Students and staff are asked to submit their daily steps and updates will be posted on the college’s social media platforms weekly. The first college to walk across Canada will win the Golden Sneaker Trophy. Besides benefiting us physically, exercise has been shown to improve mental health as well.
Kapuskasing couple were killed upon impact after their helicopter crashed:
After spending a week searching for them, the commander leading the search and rescue to find Nicole and Jody Blais said the Kapuskasing couple died upon impact when the helicopter they were piloting from Sudbury to Fauquier crashed in the bush en route to their destination. The couple were last seen March 4 and were found March 11. The crash site was spotted by a Canadian Forces C130 Hercules spotted the crash site from the air. They crashed only 35 nautical miles from their destination, in a heavily wooded area, the helicopter burying itself in the deep snow. Crews had flown over the same spot six or seven times before spotting crash site.
Wednesday Weather:
Freezing rain expected this morning, changing to snow then to drizzle in the afternoon. Wednesday's high will get above the freezing mark, hitting plus-2. Drizzle changing to rain expected in the evening with some fog patches. Overnight low will be sitting around zero and rising to 4 by the morning. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
