Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
12 Days of Kindness: It's been a bad year for this mom, we help turn it around:
It's the seventh day of Sudbury.com's 12 Days of Kindness supported by @homeENERGY. Jaime Dallaire reached out to us with a nomination that touched our hearts. She's watched her mom struggle through a difficult year faced with very serious health challenges but also, losing both her husband and mother in the same year. Although she is now in remission from throat and tongue cancer, Robin Dallaire experienced many dark days living on her own. Jaime's wish for her mom was a very simple one. To share some warmth and let her mom know just how much she is loved. Check back with Sudbury.com at 7 a.m. for today's AOK.
Sudburians asked to check their property for missing man Branden Bodson-Gratton:
Greater Sudbury Police issued the following update in this case Dec. 13: "The Greater Sudbury Police Service continues to ask for the public’s assistance in locating 25-year old, Branden Bodson-Gratton. There is a concern for his well-being due to a medical condition and the prolonged period of time that he has not been in contact with is family and friends. "We are asking that all community members check their property for Branden as he may have taken shelter. If you see him, please contact police immediately. "Branden is described as being 5’10’’ tall, weighing around 155 lbs. with short brown hair and hazel eyes. We do not have any clothing descriptors at this time. "We ask that you contact Police if you have information relevant to his whereabouts. All of the information and tips provided thus far have been followed up on and have not led Officers to his location. Anyone with information is asked to contact Police at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers at 705- 222-TIPS, online at www.sudburycrimestoppers.com."
A sister's request: 'Show your love to Renée' by changing your Facebook profile pic to Renée Sweeney:
Renée Sweeney's closest living relative, her younger sister, Kim Sweeney, hasn't said much publicly since the Dec. 11 arrest of a suspect in Renée's murder. Greater Sudbury Police Chief Paul Pederson spoke on Kim's behalf at the Dec. 11 press conference where Robert Steven Wright's arrest for first degree murder in the nearly 21-year-old case was announced. "I've had the opportunity to speak personally with Kim. As you can imagine, she's overwhelmed with a variety of emotions," said Pederson. "She's asked me to extend her most sincere appreciation to everyone in the Greater Sudbury Police, especially the lead investigator, Sgt. Bob Weston for all the work and contact and the support over the years. Also to the community for all their help and support. At this time she is asking everyone to respect her privacy. Kim said 'today was not about her, it's about her sister, Renée'." Kim did, however, made a request on her Facebook page Dec. 12. “I would like to ask all of you to show your love to Renée and make her your temporary profile picture,” she said. “Let's please honour her.” Several of her Facebook friends have done just that, as has Kim herself.
Flood forces evacuation of Copper Cliff seniors residence:
Fifty residents of a Copper Cliff seniors complex had to be evacuated after a watermain break flooded the basement and forced the heating and electrical systems to be shut off. Greater Sudbury Fire Services responded to an alarm call from The Walford on the Park on Godfrey Drive at around 1:30 a.m. on December 13, Assistant Deputy Fire Chief Jesse O'Shell told Sudbury.com as the evacuation was underway. When fire crews arrived they discovered water flooding the basement of the facility. The intrusion of water necessitated shutting off the heating and electrical systems, O'Shell said, which in turn necessitated evacuating the residents of The Walford. The families of residents were contacted and about 20 of them will be staying with family. Firefighters, paramedics and residence staff assisted with loading the remaining 30 residents onto Sudbury Transit buses before they were transported to the Quality Inn in downtown Sudbury. The evacuation is expected to last at least 24 hours, but Greater Sudbury Fire Services say staff at Walford on the Park and paramedics are prepared, should restoration of heat and power require more time than one day. O'Shell said all residents have been accounted for and no injuries have been reported as a result of damage to the watermain.
Wolves part ways with VP of marketing in restructuring move:
Sudbury Wolves Sports and Entertainment has parted ways with their vice-president of marketing and development, Andrew Dale. Dale was appointed to the position in October, 2016 and was charged with overseeing sales, marketing, communications and development. Miranda Swain, formerly the Wolves' office manager has taken on part of Dale's duties and is now listed as the Wolves' marketing manager on sudburywolves.com. Swain confirmed on Thursday morning that Dale is no longer with the company, but didn't go into great detail about the nature of the decision. "There was some restructuring done, he (Dale) is not here anymore," said Swain. "I'm now marketing manager for SWSE. It hasn't all totally been worked out yet."
U by Kotex Sleek tampons recalled in Canada and the U.S., company says:
Kimberly-Clark is recalling regular absorbency U by Kotex Sleek tampons in Canada and the United States after reports of the tampons coming apart upon removal. The American company says that in some case, tampon users sought medical attention "to remove tampon pieces left in the body." In a news release posted online Tuesday, Kimberly-Clark says there also have been a small number of reports of infections, irritation and injury, but did not specify how many. The company is advising people to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as vaginal injury, irritation, urogenital infections, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting. Specific lot numbers can be used to identify whether products are part of the recall, which can be found at the bottom of the packaging. A full list of the recalled lot numbers is available on the Kimberly-Clark website.
Council says 'cluck no': City's backyard chicken plan fails to leave the nest:
Increased bylaw costs and fears they would attract bears and coyotes helped sink a proposal to allow backyard chicken coops in Greater Sudbury. While the idea had some support on council, the specter of even more bears coming to town to eat chicken feed – and chickens – posed too much of a risk for some councillors. A staff report on the idea said approving the plan would increase bylaw control costs, as inspections and complaints would take up significant time. Ward 4 Coun. Geoff McCausland, at his first meeting since being elected in October, supported the idea. He proposed eliminating inspections of the coops to save on bylaw costs. Every other bylaw is complaint-driven, he said, and chicken coops should be the same. “I don't believe chickens should take priority,” McCausland said. With roughly 250 illegal coops already operating, he said the city receives very few complaints. Ward 5 Coun. Bob Kirwan, also a supporter, opposed imposing a one-hectare requirement for someone to have a coop, arguing almost no one would qualify. “We should make it reasonable,” Kirwan said. But Ward 3 Coun. Gerry Montpellier said it appears to him that no one who has experience with chickens was consulted during this process. It's not a good idea to have hens in residential areas, he said, for a number of reasons. Find more on this story here.
Friday Weather:
Periods of snow to start the day, ending in the morning then mainly cloudy with 40 per cent chance of drizzle. Skies clearing late in the afternoon with a high of 1. A few clouds tonight with a low of -4, feeling like -8 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.