Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Ten new confirmed COVID-19 cases reported by Sudbury Public Health:
Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) reported 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the jurisdiction of the local health unit on Jan. 6. The PHSD website said seven of the new cases are reported as being in the Greater Sudbury area, while the other three cases are in the Manitoulin district. The latest information from PHSD reveals there are now 32 active cases being monitored by public health officials in the PHSD jurisdiction. It means the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases since the local case tracking began back in March 2020 is 304 cases. Of that number, PHSD reports that 272 cases have been resolved. Of the 10 new cases that were listed Wednesday, nine were categorized as "information pending or missing" with respect to how the cases may have occurred. The one remaining case was listed as "No known epidemiological link". Information on the gender or ages of the new cases was not revealed.
Police say Sudbury man locked partner in apartment, set unit on fire:
A Sudbury woman is safe after Greater Sudbury Police officers rescued her from an apartment her partner locked her in and then set on fire early this morning. Shortly before 1 a.m. on Jan. 6, officers were called to what they called an “intimate partner violence incident” involving a 31-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman. When officers arrived on scene, they could see smoke coming from the front window of a unit within the building and could hear a woman yelling for help. Fearing for her safety, officers entered the unit where the woman was trapped. Once inside, officers could hear the woman screaming from inside of a room that had been barricaded from the outside, preventing her from being able to get out. The officers entered the room, found the woman and escorted her out of the building to safety. Greater Sudbury Fire Services arrived on scene and quickly extinguished the fire, as well as Sudbury Paramedic Services, who treated officers and the woman for smoke inhalation on scene. More on this story here.
Council asking for community input on homelessness:
Greater Sudbury city council is asking residents to share comments and feedback about homelessness in the community, including potential improvements in services, concerns and local needs. “Getting feedback from service providers and residents, including those with lived experience is critical and a key part of Council's commitment to create a healthier community," said Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger. “I look forward to receiving this valuable feedback from the public as we work together to ensure we are meeting the needs of our most vulnerable." The survey is available online at overtoyou.greatersudbury.ca. Paper copies are available at local shelters and warming stations or by calling 311. Paper copies will also be available at all libraries and Citizen Services Centres once on-site access resumes following the province-wide shutdown. The deadline to submit feedback is Jan. 30, 2021. For more information click here.
‘No decisions’ on Adanac, Lively hills as some northern ski facilities ban southern Ont. residents:
The City of Greater Sudbury says no decisions have been made on requiring proof of residency to use the city’s two municipally owned ski hills this month. All ski hills in Ontario have been shut down due to the COVID-19 provincial lockdown, which started on Dec. 26. Currently, the lockdown is due to be lifted in Northern Ontario on Jan. 9, meaning ski hills in this area of the province will be allowed to reopen. The lockdown will remain in place in the rest of the province for another two weeks, as will ski hill closures in southern Ontario. Two Northern Ontario ski hills — Laurentian Ski Hill in North Bay and Boogie Mountain Ski Hill in Espanola — announced this week they will only allow skiers from the surrounding region to use their facilities while the lockdown continues in southern Ontario. They will require proof of residency before selling patrons lift tickets, essentially banning people from southern parts of the province from using their facilities, at least for a few weeks. Sudbury.com reached out to the City of Greater Sudbury to ask what the city’s plans are for its ski hills once they open. A spokesperson for the city said in an emailed statement no decisions have been made at this time with regard to requiring proof of residency to ski. “The city is awaiting updates from the province with respect to the lockdown and any further restrictions,” the statement said. In terms of when the two local ski hills will open, the statement said in the case of Adanac Ski Hill, that depends on further direction from the province.
City rolling out 311 Live Web Chat portal to help improve customer service:
The City of Greater Sudbury is rolling out the first phase of a new online portal aimed at enhancing customer service with 311 Live Web Chat. In the first phase of the Customer Service Portal rollout, 311 Live Web Chat will offer a new, instant channel for residents who prefer online service, while improving accessibility. The portal also includes a searchable database with information about some of the city’s most popular requests for municipal service. “We are very excited to be launching the new 311 Live Web Chat as part of council's strategic goal of service excellence and the city's Customer Service Strategy," said Mayor Brian Bigger. "This is one of the many ways the city is evolving to better serve and meet the needs of our residents." In addition to existing 311 telephone and [email protected] email options, 311 Live Web Chat is available Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. After-hours service for urgent requests related to public works, animal control and COVID-19 regulations will remain by calling 311 at any time. Full story here.
Manitoulin public transit group trialling on-demand service:
A co-operative aiming to bring low-cost public transit to Manitoulin Island is partnering with a Montréal-based tech firm on a pilot project offering on-demand passenger bus service to riders. The deal, inked last fall by United Manitoulin Islands Transit (UMIT) and Blaise Transit, means that UMIT will implement Blaise’s rideshare software in early 2021 for riders travelling between Dooganing (South Bay), a community within Wiikwemkoong First Nation territory, to other areas of Wiikwemkoong, Manitowaning, and the rest of Manitoulin Island via UMIT’s fixed-route bus line. “United Manitoulin Islands Transit (UMIT) has been inspired working with the innovation and creative transit solutions offered at Blaise,” Joahnna Berti, UMIT’s executive director, said in a news release. “We are excited about the opportunity to pilot an on-demand transit system in Wiikwemkoong that will connect passengers to UMIT’s fixed-route service and the wider community on Manitoulin Island. “We envision a completely new way of thinking about human travel that will connect our residents with vital services and contribute to revitalizing our local economy.” Launched in August, the new bus service makes two runs a day around the north and central parts of the island, which is situated in the upper end of Lake Huron. It’s currently being funded through a Community Transportation Grant, but other sources of funding are being explored. More on this story here.
OPP say man involved in Jan. 2 collision near Espanola was under influence of drugs:
A 31-year-old man from Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation Reserve is accused of driving while under the influence of drugs after a collision on Highway 6 Jan. 2. Emergency services responded to the collision south of Espanola at 5:39 p.m. Jan. 2. Upon speaking to the driver, police determined he was under the influence of a drug. The driver was arrested and brought for further investigation to the Espanola OPP detachment. A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) investigation was completed and as a result, the accused was charged with: Operation While Impaired - Alcohol and Drugs, Dangerous Operation, Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking- Other Drugs and Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance - Opioid (Other Than Heroin). The accused was released on an Undertaking and is scheduled to appear in Espanola court March 1. He was also issued a 90-day Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension (ADLS) and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.
Thursday Weather:
Cloudy today with some chilly temperatures rolling in tonight. Thursday's high will be -5, feeling like -19 in the morning. Partly cloudy this evening with the low dropping all the way to -11. It's going to feel like -21 with the wind chill overnight. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
