Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Justice needs time to 'digest' evidence in bail hearing for Robert Steven Wright:
Superior Court Justice Edward Gareau said he owes it to Renée Sweeney's family and the City of Greater Sudbury as a whole not to rush his decision in whether or not to grant bail for Robert Steven Wright. The bail hearing will continue March 27 at 10 a.m. Gareau said he needs time to reflect on the evidence and submissions, as well as the case law provided, and that he need to “digest it all in as thorough and thoughtful way as possible.” That was the outcome following three days of testimony and evidence in how Greater Sudbury Police Service arrested Wright and charged him with first-degree murder in the 1998 brutal stabbing of Sweeney. For the better part of Day 3, the Crown and defence argued their cases against releasing Wright into the responsibility of his surety. All of the details revealed throughout the three-day bail hearing are under a publication ban.
Red light cameras get the green light from council:
An attempt to delay a decision bringing red light cameras to Greater Sudbury went down to defeat Wednesday at the city's finance and administration committee. Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann introduced the motion to delay the cameras, not because she opposes them, but rather she wanted to wait until the city could roll out an integrated photo radar and red light camera program. Landry-Altmann said if they adopt the cameras now, they could miss out on what other provinces do, combining both to make a bigger impact on safety. “I'm not against the program,” she said. “I just want one that is more comprehensive.” Approved in principle in January 2018, the current proposal would see red light cameras installed at three intersections — Paris Street at Cedar Street, Regent Street at Algonquin Road and Municipal Road 80 at Dominion Drive – and at another three still to be determined. The cameras only take pictures of the rear license plate of a vehicle – photos from the front would raise privacy concerns — and no demerit points are issued. The fines are $325, of which $265 goes to the city, and $60 to the province for the victim surcharge fine. Costs for operating the cameras is about $500,000 a year, and estimating for one ticket a day, would result in revenue of $580,000, an amount that would decline as drivers get used to the cameras.
Have your say on Sudbury pot shop:
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 Marcus 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.
Police raid cannabis dispensary in Capreol:
Greater Sudbury Police have charged two people for operating an illegal cannabis dispensary in Capreol, following a raid Wednesday. "Cannabis Compliance/Enforcement officers from the Criminal Investigative Division attended the Capreol Medical Cannabis Center located at 12b Young St. in Capreol to conduct a compliance check," police said in the release. "Upon entering the aforementioned retail establishment, a 28-year-old male salesperson was in the process of selling various strands of cannabis to two young males." The two plainclothes officers stopped the transaction and arrested the male salesperson for possession of cannabis for the purpose of sale, under the new Federal Cannabis Act. Not long after the first arrest, the 34-year-old female owner of the storefront arrived and she faces the same charge. Anyone with information about illegal cannabis or CBD product distributors is encouraged to contact the Greater Sudbury Police Service Criminal Investigations Division 705-675-9171 or Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477 / 705-222-8477.
City advising residents not to move snow onto roadways:
The city of Greater Sudbury is asking residents not to move snow onto or across roadways. Moving snow or ice onto or across any roadway in Greater Sudbury is a violation of the city’s fouling by-law 2011-219. The by-law applies to anyone clearing snow, including residents, tenants and companies employed to clear driveways during the winter months. "Placing snow onto or transporting snow across a road or sidewalk not only creates an uneven surface and a hazard for drivers and pedestrians, but also removes surface treatments such as sand or salt the city has set down," said a city news release. Violations of the by-law can result in a fine of $260 under the Provincial Offences Act. For the full by-law, visit www.greatersudbury.ca/bylaws. To report a violation, call 311 or email [email protected].
Priest-turned-dad tells the tragic tale of the son who was once his daughter:
In 2016, Adam Prashaw died at the age of 22. The young man sadly drowned after suffering an epileptic seizure while in a hot tub. His father, Rick Prashaw, former Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle's legislative assistant from 2011 to 2015, used to be another kind of father, too. He's a former Roman Catholic priest, having served at St. Andrew the Apostle Church here in Sudbury from 1984 to 1991, when he left the priesthood. Rick has written a book called “Soar, Adam, Soar” that's both a biography and an autobiography of a father and the son who was once his daughter — Adam was a transgender man. Full story can be found here.
Missing, but not forgotten: Siblings still searching for long-lost sister:
A group of six siblings in their sixties and seventies are still hoping to find their long-lost sister. The eldest of the siblings, Ron Conway, first spoke to Sudbury.com about their story in 2018 in the hopes that someone might have some information about his birth sister, a tiny toddler whose siblings knew her as Brenda. Conway said he's since learned a bit more about her adoption. Brenda, whose last name at birth was Conway or Deslaurier, was born in August 1956 in Sudbury, the daughter of Mary Madge Conway and Bill Deslaurier. Her adoption was finalized May 29, 1958, through the Children's Aid Society (CAS) in Sudbury, when she was 21 months old. She'd now be 62 years old. Brenda's six birth siblings, who all have the same birth mother (Madge), are Winston Deslaurier, Linda (Larocque) Rahn, Julie (Larocque) Griffin, Jerry Larocque, Robert Conway and Ron Conway. It was only about nine years ago that the whole sibling group (minus Brenda) met in person. More on this story can be found here.
Friday Weather:
A mix of sun and cloud today with a high of -3. It will be feeling like -14 with the wind chill this morning, but closer to -5 by afternoon. Partly cloudy this evening with a 60 per cent chance of flurries overnight. Low will dip down to -8, feeling like -13. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
