Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Casino opponent moves to delay LPAT hearing:
The long-delayed case management conference to deal with planning appeals opposed to the Kingsway Entertainment District is set for Thursday, just as the legal battle to stop the project is expanding. Sudbury businessman Tom Fortin, the main public face for the anti-KED movement, is applying to Ontario Superior Court to have the city council decision approving the project quashed. Fortin's lawyer, Gordon Petch, will ask the Local Planning Appeals Tribunal to delay Thursday's conference until the higher court decides on his motion. The Superior Court motion argues city council was biased – or fettered in legal terms – when it approved the KED, an argument the LPAT has ruled is beyond their jurisdiction. Fortin's motion to the court argues the city decided it wanted to build a new arena and casino on the Kingsway before the public meetings on the issue were held, and in the process ignored its downtown master plan. The motion accuses city council of acting in bad faith, making a biased decision based on “procedural irregularities.” In rejecting the arguments for the LPAT proceeding, members of the tribunal suggested Superior Court was the proper venue to deal with the issue. In an interview Tuesday, Fortin said he and supporters decided to move ahead with the higher court application after the argument of bias was removed from the LPAT appeal a few weeks ago.Get the full story here.
Azilda man arrested after a dangerous high-speed flight from the Island:
A 23-year-old Azilda man was arrested by Manitoulin Ontario Provincial Police on Aug. 2, following a dangerous high-speed flight from Manitoulin Island to Greater Sudbury. The pursuit began around 9:10 a.m. last Friday morning when police responded to a call for service regarding a robbery at a cottage on the Ketchancookem Trail in Mindemoya. The Azilda man, who was on a court-imposed recognizance, had been staying at a nearby resort where he departed that morning without his surety, the person tasked by the court with insuring the man complied with the stipulations of his recognizance. Police believe the man committed the robbery, then managed to gain entry into a cottage on Ketchancookem Trail not long after, where at knife-point he demanded the keys to the occupant's vehicle. He then left the scene in the stolen vehicle, police said, and began travelling down Hwy 540 at a "high rate of speed and (in a) careless manner," as described in a press release. More on this story here.
Two motorcycle riders taken to hospital after two separate collisions:
A pair of motorcyclists were transported to hospital on Aug. 4 after a pair of separate collisions on Sudbury area highways. On Aug. 4 at around 2:05 p.m., Nipissing West (Sudbury) Detachment of the OPP, Sudbury EMS and the Sudbury Fire Department responded to a single vehicle collision involving a motorcycle on the eastbound lanes of Highway 17, just west of Highway 144, in the City of Greater Sudbury. Investigation revealed the eastbound motorcycle gradually left the roadway and struck a rock cut. The 63-year-old male driver from Nairn Centre, and lone occupant, was transported to hospital with critical injuries. Less than half an hour later, at approximately 2:30 p.m., officers from the Sudbury Detachment of the OPP, the Sudbury Emergency Medical Services and the Sudbury Fire Department responded to another motorcycle collision on Highway 144, Onaping Falls. Investigation revealed a group of motorcycles were travelling northbound on Highway 144 when one of the motorcycles went off the roadway and struck a guard rail. The lone driver, a 48-year-old man from Timmins, was transported to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. Investigation is continuing on both collisions.
Here are the walls getting an Up Here mural makeover this year:
Up Here 5 is just two weeks away, and muralists start painting next week. Festival organizers already announced that RISK will paint the defunct former hospital on Paris Street. Now they've revealed the three other walls that will be painted as part of Up Here's fifth edition, which runs Aug. 16-18. Laura Peturson will be putting her stamp on 159 Louis St., facing Notre Dame. Matti Lehtelä will put his craft to work at the TD Parking Lot, Massachusetts Lane. TRAV MSK will be at work at Old City Hall, 83 Cedar St. Learn more about these artists and Up Here 2019's murals here.
Hey, want to be in a movie? Casting call open for downtown filming:
If you've ever wanted to be in a movie, there's an open casting call for the film “Country at Heart,” which is currently filming in the Nickel City. Cast North is looking for background actors for scenes to be filmed in Greater Sudbury between today (Aug. 6) and Aug. 24. In particular, a large group is needed for a nighttime festival scene to be filmed Aug. 24. The production is looking for background performers between the ages of 16 and 80, both males and females. Both union and non-union performers can apply. Performers cannot have any visible hand or neck tattoos, facial piercings or unnatural hair colours. Minimal facial hair is fine, but no large bushy beards. The film is set in the fall, when it comes to wardrobe. "No experience necessary. This is a paid opportunity." Those interested should send a current photo with contact phone number to [email protected], using the subject line: Available Dates.
No foul play suspected in Restoule River drowning death:
On Aug. 3, at approximately 12:25 a.m., officers from the Noelville Detachment of the OPP with the assistance of the Sudbury Emergency Medical Services EMS responded to a report of a possible drowning in the Restoule River, off of Keso Bay Road in Dokis First Nation. The victim, 27-year-old Brandon Loonskin, from Toronto, was pronounced dead at the scene. The OPP has concluded their investigation and foul play is not suspected.
Sudbury’s mining expertise, regreening success story attract Latin American delegations:
Battery-powered mining equipment and Sudbury’s regreening efforts are attracting groups from Latin America to visit the Nickel City in August. Sudbury’s growing mining expertise in the development and use of battery-powered electric vehicles (BEV) has attracted the interest of managers and engineers from Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer. Representatives from Chile’s state-run mining company, arrive in Sudbury on Aug. 5 to begin a five-day tour of operations and suppliers in Sudbury and Kirkland Lake. The Aug 5-9 visit is organized by Sudbury and Area Mining Supply and Services Association (SAMSSA). The main thrust of Codelco visit to learn as much as they can about battery electric vehicles in underground mines. They’ll be meeting with local manufacturers of BEVs and with the mine operations people who employ them in ore production. Full story can be found here.
Wednesday Weather:
Mainly sunny day for Wednesday. It's going to be a warm one out there today with the high sitting at 27, feeling like 32. Increasing cloudiness early in the evening with 60 per cent chance of showers late in the evening and overnight. There is a risk of a thunderstorm Wednesday night. Overnight low will be around 13. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
