Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Teen with kill list at CND pleads guilty to uttering threats:
Zachary Pilon, 19, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to using social media to threaten the lives of 40 people at College Notre Dame last March. Pilon made a brief appearance to enter his plea, accompanied by his parents. He will return to court on Jan. 22 to set a date for sentencing. His lawyer, Glenn Sanberg, said the sentencing should take about two hours. Pilon was arrested March 20 after he posted on social media his plans to harm other students at his school. An Instagram post, Pilon had posted a threatening message: “Friday March 22nd, everyone will finally know my name ... Look out CND.” The post included a list of dozens of names titled "CND KILL LIST". He was released on bail March 21 and charged with criminal harassment and uttering threats. His bail carries strict conditions, including a curfew and no contact with all of the people he named in his list.
Rotating teachers' strikes have hit Greater Sudbury, and more are on the horizon:
As the latest in a series of rotating strikes by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) hit Greater Sudbury schools Wednesday, other education unions in the province are also ramping up strike action. All classes at both French boards and high school classes with the Rainbow board were cancelled Wednesday. OSSTF members also walked off the job across the province one day last month. “Everybody was at different points as far as their negotiation timelines ... now everything is coming to a head,” said Eric Laberge, president of OSSTF District 3, who spent Jan. 15 visiting his members on the picket lines in the Sudbury area. “Inevitably that's probably going to lead to more disruption province-wide, probably more pressure being applied to the government to come to the table, be reasonable with their demands, and come to a negotiated settlement.” The AEFO (Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens, representing French-language teachers) announced this week that it will start engaging in “work to rule,” as several other education unions are already doing. The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is holding a one-day strike Monday, Jan. 20, in the Toronto, York Region and Ottawa-Carleton areas. The next major job action that impacts Greater Sudbury will be on Tuesday, Jan. 21, when the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) will hold a province-wide one-day strike. The OSSTF joins OECTA on the picket lines Jan. 21 in nine school boards, although not in the Greater Sudbury area. More on this story here.
City to write off $500K in rents from social housing units:
Since Greater Sudbury took over running the city's social housing last year, they also have to deal with problem tenants who don't pay their rent. Next week, city council will be asked to write off $502,240 in uncollectable rents from the Greater Sudbury Housing Corp., which the city took direct control of in 2018. Under provincial rules, uncollectable rents have to be written off at the end of each year. With 1,848 housing units, the city is the single biggest landlord in Greater Sudbury. Accounts that are older than six months, with no payments made and no payment agreement in place, are earmarked for write-offs, says a staff report headed to city council June 20. The number and amounts of unpaid rents has surged in recent years, the report said, in part because some residents have lost subsidies and are paying market rents. Another cause is “the significant delays to obtain orders for evictions from the Landlord and Tenant Board.” Full story can be found here.
David Case takes the witness stand: Former track coach denies allegations of sexual assault:
Former Sudbury track coach David Case, 57, took the witness stand Wednesday, on day three of a trial where he is facing five charges, including sexual assault and assault. Case's attorney, Nicholas Xynnis, questioned him about the testimony of a woman, who cannot be named under a publication ban, who says Case sexually assaulted her while she was an athlete under his training. David Case is on trial on five charges involving the woman, who can't be named because of a publication ban. Those charges include sexual assault on a bus when the woman was just 15, sex attacks in a dorm room and a local hotel room when she was 16 and physical attacks after they were secretly married shorty after she turned 18. Get the full story here.
Former journalist's child porn case adjourned until April 17:
Former reporter Callam Rodya's child pornography case will return to court April 17 to potentially set a date for a plea. His matter was before the court Wednesday morning, a week after he was expected to plead guilty on Jan. 7. However, that didn't happen, and his case was adjourned to Jan. 15. Rodya is charged with three counts of possession of child pornography, three counts of accessing child pornography, three counts of making available child pornography and one count of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).
Getting a 'grip' on self-defense at Sudbury BJJ:
In an age of bear spray and tasers, one gym is taking a hands-on approach to the topic of self-defence, with a series designed to utilize leverage over physical strength. On Saturday, the Sudbury Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai Academy hosted the most recent in a long line of free Women Empowered Self-Defense seminars as an introduction to their year-round program. This and past events are offered every six months at Gracie Jui Jitsu certified training centres worldwide, in accordance with the schedule dictated by the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu head office said Steve Joncas, owner and head instructor of Sudbury BJJ. He said an average of 5,000 women across the globe are introduced to martial arts every time the class is hosted. More on this story here.
Wanted Wednesday: Man with drug and assault charges allegedly failed to show up for court:
The Greater Sudbury Police Service has an outstanding warrant for the arrest of 35-year-old Emanuel Makonen Taitt. It is alleged that on the Nov. 19, Emanuel Makonen Taitt failed to comply with court-ordered conditions. Taitt does have some serious charges before the courts that include human trafficking, drugs, assaults and sexual offences. He believed to be in Ontario. Emanuel Makonen Taitt is wanted for fail to attend court. He's described as 6-3, 254 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. If you know this person and where he is presently located, you are urged to call the Crime Stoppers tip line toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS or locally at 705-222-TIPS (8477). You must call this number to be eligible for a cash reward. Tips can also be submitted online at www.sudburycrimestoppers.com.
Thursday Weather:
Periods of light snow to start the day, ending late in the afternoon then cloudy. Thursday's high will be -11, feeling like -20 with the wind chill. Skies clearing this evening with the low dropping all the way down to -29, feeling like -34 overnight. The frigid temperatures will bring a risk of frostbite. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
