Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
'Highlife' pot shop location off The Kingsway in Sudbury open to public comment:
If you're for or against a cannabis shop in the Silver Hills area of Greater Sudbury, you have until March 6 to provide feeback on the proposed location. The store, listed under the name Highlife on the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario website, would be located at 1299 March Drive. It is one of 14 proposed locations currently undergoing public notice. It would be located in the former Town Shoes storefront, and operated by Anton Lucic. Lucic was one of two Northern Ontario licence winners announced in the cannabis lottery held in January. There is no information online about Anton Lucic. Ontario's first retail cannabis stores are slated to open April 1. Until then, recreational cannabis can only be legally sold through the province's government-operated website.
Second day of bail hearing concludes for accused Sweeney killer:
The second day of a three-day Superior Court bail hearing for accused murderer Robert Steven Wright continued on Wednesday afternoon in Sudbury. Wright is charged with first-degree murder in the 1998 death of Renée Sweeney. The courtroom in Sudbury was packed once again on Day Two, as family members of both Wright and Sweeney filled the benches on either side of the room, Sweeney's family seated behind Crown attorneys Jody Ostapiw and Robert Parsons, while Wright's family members took up much of the seating behind defense lawyers Berk Keaney and Michael Venturi. Wright was seated behind his defence lawyers and wore a white dress shirt, black slacks and black sneakers. His face, clad with glasses and a full beard, remained mostly expressionless throughout the duration of the proceedings. It was Venturi who asked most of the questions today, conducting his cross examination of the case's lead investigator. Evidence presented throughout Venturi's questioning can not be presented due to a publication ban. For the second day in a row, it was the case's lead investigator who was the lone witness to take the stand. Day Three of the bail hearing will deal with a proposed surety for Wright. Venturi will again lead the questioning on Day Three, with the Crown being given opportunity for cross examination. Proceedings are slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, with the Crown and defence to make their closing statements sometime in the afternoon.
KED uncertainty has council looking at other sites for art gallery, library:
Ward 10 Coun. Fern Cormier won plenty of support Tuesday for his plan to have city staff look for other downtown sites to host a new art gallery and library. Meeting Tuesday, the finance and administration committee easily approved Cormier's motion to have staff look at land around Shaughnessy Street the city has been purchasing in recent years to see whether a suitable location could be found. The original plan was to build the $42-million art gallery/library and a $65-million convention centre on the Elgin Street land currently home to Sudbury Arena. But that was assuming the arena was moving to the Kingsway Entertainment District alongside a new casino and hotel. But with the legal fight underway, it's unclear when – or if – the arena will be available for the project. Cormier has said the uncertainty is harming efforts to attract funding from upper levels of government, as well as private-sector partners. Ward 4 Coun. Geoff McCausland agreed, saying it was a good time to ask for funding because of this year's federal election. “It's prime time to be shovel ready, if ever there was one,” McCausland said. Mayor Brian Bigger said council's commitment to the project dates before the KED, and having a firm location to attract funds from government and the private sector is key. “I'm totally in support of councillor Cormier's motion.” The motion passed easily, with a report recommending a new location – assuming the KED fight has not been resolved – due in June.
Sam Roberts Band to headline NLFB this July:
The six-time Juno Award winning Sam Roberts Band has been announced as one of the headliners at this year's Northern Lights Festival Boréal, which runs July 5-7 in Bell Park. The band have released several hit albums, including double platinum certified “We Were Born In A Flame,” platinum certified “Chemical City” and gold certified “Love at the End of the World.” Juno winner William Prince is also being announced as part of the roster. Local performers are also on the bill, including Sudbury singer-songwriter Kevin Closs, who won the festival’s prestigious Jackie Washington Award in 2002 and the (Sudbury) Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts Exceptional Achievement Award in 2016. Singer-songwriter Jennifer Holub is also bringing her killer vocals to NLFB once again. Advance pass pricing is in effect for a limited time at NLFB.ca, and local outlets including: A&J Home Hardware (Bouchard St.), Jett Landry Music (Lasalle Blvd.), and Old Rock Coffee (Minto St.).
Make sure measles shots up to date, Public Health Agency says in wake of B.C. outbreak:
Canada's top doctor is urging Canadians who haven't been vaccinated against measles to get their shots in the wake of a B.C. outbreak of the disease and the always present danger of cases being imported into the country by travellers. Dr. Teresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said measles is a "serious and highly contagious disease" and that getting inoculated is the best way to avoid getting sick — and transmitting it to others who may be unprotected. Tam's comments Tuesday come in the wake of a cluster of nine cases of measles in Vancouver that began in recent weeks after an unvaccinated Canadian child contracted the disease on a family trip to Vietnam. Fortunately, Sudbury has a higher-than-average rate of vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella. At 99 per cent coverage for people up to age 17, the city is five percentage points above the Ontario average.
You're going to pay 7.4% more for water and sewer this year:
While not approving the entire $588-million budget Tuesday, city council did passes a 7.4-per-cent increase in water and waster water rates. It's the third year in a row councillors have approved the increase, part of a 10-year plan to have the city's 48,000 water customers bear the burden of maintaining the system. The 10-year plans are demanded by the province, which requires cities to detail how they are going to make local water works pay for themselves. The size of the increases are largely a result of years of local politicians not preparing to fund the long-term maintenance of the system. This year, the increase will add about $7 to the average water bill. Increases over the past three years translate to around $20 more a year the average user spends.
Sault crane company operator's social media posts crudely attack blacks, Muslims, women and LGBTQ persons:
Algoma Steel Inc. has issued a strongly worded denunciation of controversial social media posts written by one of its contractors, Dave Selvers of Sault-based Millennium Crane Rentals. In a tweet posted Tuesday, "Mr. Selver’s stated views are in direct conflict with our company’s core values. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment free from violence, discrimination or harassment of any kind. This extends to our business partners." Selvers online presence became widely known Sunday by the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, which published an article about Selvers' blog and Facebook posts, which crudely attack liberal politicians, women, blacks, Muslims, media outlets (including SooToday) and LGBTQ+ persons.
Thursday Weather:
Flurries expected today with periods of freezing drizzle early in the morning. Temperature will hold steady at around -2 for most of the day, feeling like -9 with the wind chill. Partly cloudy this evening with a 40 per cent chance of flurries. Low will drop to -8 tonight, feeling like -18. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
