Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
12 Days of Kindness: She lost her son to overdose, now she's spreading awareness of the opioid crisis:
Terry Jenkins lost her son Matthew to overdose last year. Despite struggling with the pain from losing her son, Terry has continued to be an active member of the community by spreading a message of hope through the work she does with Northern Initiative for Social Action’s (NISA) warm line program. Terry has found the strength to speak out about her experience and spread awareness about the opioid crisis in Sudbury. Today, we are at NISA to recognize Terry with an act of kindness and meet her Jessie and granddaughter Maelin. Check back at 7 a.m. for today's episode of 12 Days of Kindness.
Crime Stoppers offering $1,000 reward for tips that lead to locating Branden Bodson-Gratton:
Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers is convinced someone has information on the location of Branden Bodson-Gratton. The organization has guaranteed a minimum $1,000 reward for tips received before midnight on Sunday, Dec. 23 if the information leads to finding Branden (reward money will be divided if many successful tips are received). Police, and search and rescue teams are following up on a potential sighting of missing man Branden Bodson-Gratton, who has been missing since Dec. 3. On Dec. 15, police received a tip from a Vale employee who spotted a man walking on the train tracks in the area near Elm Street and the Lasalle extension. "Security ... called in a possible sighting of someone walking the tracks," said Branden's mother, Diane Gratton, Monday morning. "They got video but it's very far and grainy. They're following single prints on the tracks to find out who that person was, if it's my son or not because it's not validated right now." Police are also checking security footage from businesses in the area, helicopters are scanning the area and the ground search is ongoing. Full story can be found here.
Police seeking information on fatal Highway 17 collision:
The Ontario Provincial Police Sudbury detachment is requesting the assistance of the public in relation to a fatal collision that occurred on Highway 17 on Dec. 16. At around 3:20 p.m. on Dec. 16, members of the Sudbury OPP and Technical Collision Investigations (TCI) as well as the Markstay-Warren Fire Department, the Greater Sudbury Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to a head on collision, on Highway 17 in the Municipality of Markstay-Warren. The collision occurred on Highway 17 between Wahnapitae and Markstay, west of Kukagami Lake Road. he police investigation has revealed that two vehicles were involved. One of the drivers died at the scene while the other was transported to hospital with serious injuries. The OPP is appealing to the public for assistance. If you have any information regarding the collision or any vehicle driver behaviour in the area around the time of the collision please immediately contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 or their nearest police authority.
City parking ban lifted for part of Holiday season:
Meeting this week, city councillors approved a motion from Mayor Brian Bigger to allow overnight parking on city streets during the Holidays. That means residents can leave their cars out overnight on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. The overnight parking kicked in Dec. 1 ands runs until March 31. Normally, parking is banned any roadway, highway, laneway or side street within the city between midnight and 7 a.m., seven days a week. The ban ensures that city crews are able to clear snow from roadways and sidewalks during winter months. City crews aggressively enforce the bylaw, which could net motorists a $75 ticket and the possibility their vehicle will be towed to make room for plows.
NEO Kids Foundation the charity of choice for 2019 dragon boat festival:
The Sudbury Dragon Boat Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2019, having raised more than $1.7 million for nine local charitable capital campaigns. The 2019 event, set for July 13 in Bell Park, will be supporting the NEO Kids Foundation's capital campaign. Chris Gavard, co-chair of the dragon boat festival, said it's a worthy cause that will improve medical services for children in this part of the province. “We want to help the NEO Kids Foundation achieve the ultimate goal of building a permanent child and youth oriented centre for NEO Kids in Northeastern Ontario,” he said, speaking at a Dec. 17 press conference. NEO Kids Foundation executive director Patricia Mills said the foundation is “thrilled” to have been chosen as the charity of choice for the 2019 dragon boat festival. Past causes supported by the festival, which exclusively donates to local capital campaigns, include Maison McCulloch Hospice, the Sam Bruno PET Scan Fund, Northern Water Sports Centre, Meals on Wheels, Independent Living Resource Centre, Sudbury Food Bank, Alzheimer Society and the MS Society.
Wolves can't hook Steelheads, eight-game win streak ends:
The Sudbury Wolves' eight-game winning streak came to an Sunday in Mississauga when they fell to the Steelheads, 3-1. The Pack sits just one point behind the Niagara IceDogs, who lead the Central Division. In his first start since Oct. 25, Goalie Jake McGrath's impressive 38 saves weren't enough to keep the team in the game, especially when the Wolves' offence was having trouble getting going. After a scoreless first period, Blake Murray put Sudbury on the board first, giving the team a 1-0 lead. Three minutes later, Mississauga tied it up and didn't look back. Michael Little, Alan Lyszczarczyk and Ryan McLeod scored for Mississauga. A scoreless third period, the Wolves offence stymied, saw the game end 3-1. The Wolves now break for Christmas. They’ll be back at Sudbury Arena on Dec. 28 to face off against the North Bay Battalion at 7:05 p.m. The Wolves will also be looking to set a new franchise record for most wins in a row at home with 13.
Five rebound from Saturday night loss to defeat Hurricanes:
The Sudbury Five didn't have to wait long to bounce back from a hard-fought 120-117 loss to the London Lightning on Saturday night at the Sudbury Community Arena. The team was right back on home court Sunday afternoon to take on the Halifax Hurricanes and got back to their winning ways, knocking off the visitors by a score of 120-110. Braylon Rayson had a great game Sunday after a tough night shooting on Saturday against the Lightning when he managed just eight points. Rayson led the way offensively against the Hurricanes, dropping 34 points, including hitting five three-pointers. The Sudbury boys got a solid balance of scoring against Halifax, with five players scoring in double figures to back up Rayson's 34 points, which led all scorers in the game. With the win, the Five improved their record to 7-3 and remain atop the Central Division and second overall in the league. The team heads out east this week for a pair of games against the St. John's Edge on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Edge sit third in the Central Division with a record of 4-5. The Five will then return home for a Friday night game against the Island Storm.
Tuesday Weather:
Mainly sunny for Tuesday but it's going to be brisk out there. Tuesday's high is only expected to reach -7, feeling like -13 with the wind chill. Partly cloudy into evening with a 30 per cent chance of flurries overnight. Low will be sitting at -7, feeling like -14 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.