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Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Emergency funds will tide Sudbury over for up to eight months:
The city of Greater Sudbury got some positive news on Aug. 12, as it was announced that they will be receiving $12.7 million as part of the $1.6 billion in emergency funding announced by the province on Wednesday. Ontario's 444 municipalities will share in the first round of the funding under the Safe Restart Agreement, which will help them continue to deliver critical services such as public transit and shelters. In Greater Sudbury, the funds will be used to offset the expenses and revenue losses incurred due to COVID-19, and mayor Brian Bigger says that the more than $12 million that the city will be receiving should cover them for at least the next six to eight months. "The intention was clearly to offset COVID-related expenses and our latest update had us projecting a deficit of about $6.1 million directly related to COVID," said Greater Sudbury mayor Brian Bigger. "The intent is to cover us for the next six to eight months and bring us into about March of next year." The city will be able to carry forward some of the funding into next year and offset some of the losses that they may experience due to COVID-19 in 2021. A large portion of the funds will be used to offset significant revenue losses from both transit and leisure services. Revenue losses through reduced ridership on the city's GOVA transit system are projected to hit almost $4 million by the end of the year. More on this story here.
English Catholic board unveils its pandemic back-to-school plan:
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board unveiled its pandemic back-to-school plans today, plans that are much like those released by the public Rainbow District School Board earlier this week. Teachers and support staff will be required to wear both a medical mask and eye protection (such as a face shield) during the school day, which will be provided by the board. Students in grades 4 to 8 will be required to wear non-medical face coverings in hallways and classrooms, and where physical distancing will be difficult. Non-medical masks will be provided for students in Kindergarten to Grade 3, and while not mandatory, wearing them will be encouraged. Students will be taught the proper way to put on and remove a mask. Outdoors times, like recess, will provide an opportunity for students to get a break from wearing a mask. Outdoor play structures, however, will be closed. Find the full story here.
Sudbury one step closer to supervised drug use sites:
A new report published by Public Health Sudbury and Districts has concluded that Greater Sudbury would benefit from supervised consumption services to address the growing and significant health impacts of substance use in the city. The feasibility study, which was completed between April 2019 and June 2020 by the Community Drug Strategy for the City of Greater Sudbury, is the second step towards implementing supervised consumptions services (SCS) in the area. Over the course of the year, researchers completed surveys, focus groups and secondary data analysis involving people who use drugs, community members, and stakeholders and partners. It was determined that almost 90 per cent of potential clients indicated that they would use SCS if they were available, and roughly 60 per cent of community respondents believed that these services would be helpful in Sudbury. More on this story here.
Sudbury man faces child porn charges:
Multiple computers and storage devices were seized from a Sudbury home and a 31-year-old man was arrested Aug. 11 and charged with several counts of child pornography, said Greater Sudbury Police Service. In late 2019, the Greater Sudbury Police Service Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit received two separate investigations from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Each investigation found that a person in Greater Sudbury was distributing child abuse material online. The ICE Unit continued each investigation by executing several court orders in an effort to identify the offender, said police. Members of patrol operations assisted in the investigation by providing vital information to the lead investigator. On Aug. 11, officers executed a search warrant at a Sudbury residence. Multiple computers and computer storage devices were seized as evidence. Based on the investigations and further information gathered at the scene, the suspect was arrested and charged with three counts of possession of child pornography, two counts of distribution of child pornography and two counts of accessing child pornography. The man attended bail court on Aug. 12 to answer to the charges. His name will not be released in order to protect the identity of child victims, said police.
Search continues for missing Constance Richards:
The Ontario Provincial Police continue to search for missing Sudbury woman Constance Richards, who was last seen Aug. 4. Since then, police located her vehicle near a sand pit off Fox Lake Road, 10 kilometres southwest of Cartier. Witnesses told police they had seen her driving erratically before she disappeared. An OPP helicopter and a canine unit is searching the area, alongside volunteer search and rescue members from the area, said OPP Const. Michelle Coulombe. So far, there has been no indication as to her whereabouts. The area contains dense bush, Coulombe said. Richards is described as white, 5-4 (163 cm), 120 pounds (54.4 kg), with a thin build, long brown hair, and brown eyes. If anyone has any information, contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit information online at www.p3tips.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
Video: Reducing the impact of senior isolation, one ice cream cone at a time:
While social distancing helps to keep our older loved ones safe during the pandemic, isolation from family and friends can amplify the feelings of loneliness many seniors already experience. Home Instead Senior Care decided to spread a little joy and help reduce the impact of isolation. Watch the video (https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/video-reducing-the-impact-of-senior-isolation-one-ice-cream-cone-at-a-time-2633881) as they treated the residents and staff at Red Oak Villa to some cool treats on August 12. Home Instead provides senior care services at home and gives back to the community through a variety of initiatives including its Be a Santa to a Senior program.
Essential Worker of the Day: EACOM Timber employee Eric Trottier:
Sudbury.com recognized Eric Trottier as Thursday's Essential Worker of the Day. Trottier is a crew leader at EACOM Timber Corporations. "Eric has been working non stop and doing a lot of overtime throughout the pandemic," Renée Trottier wrote. "He has been working so hard and putting in long hours. We are just so very proud of him and all the hard work he has been doing during these hard times."
Friday Weather:
Mainly sunny today as we head into the weekend. A few clouds this afternoon with the high sitting at 28. Partly cloudy this evening. Overnight low will be 14. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
