Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
'I’m still very numb with shock': Renée Sweeney's sister issues statement:
Kim Sweeney, the younger sister of Renée Sweeney, has issued a statement through Greater Sudbury Police in the wake of the arrest earlier this week of Robert Steven Wright in her sister's murder. Renée Sweeney was stabbed to death while working at a video store in the city's South End nearly 21 years ago, on Jan. 27, 1998. Police said that Kim Sweeney is not ready to speak directly to the media at this time, and when she is ready to do so, the police service will facilitate that on her behalf. You can read Kim Sweeney's statement here.
Ground search underway for Branden Bodson-Gratton, who's been missing for 11 days now:
With Branden Bodson-Gratton having been missing for 11 days, Greater Sudbury Police conducted a ground search on Friday, Dec. 14. The police service's search and rescue team, its tactical unit, along with members of North Shore Search and Rescue, conducted a ground search west of Frood Road along Elm Street and Pine Street. They were checking “any hazardous terrain in the area” as well as residential and business properties, including outbuildings and sheds. “We ask that all community members across Greater Sudbury check their property, as Branden may have taken shelter,” a press release said. “If you see him, please contact police immediately. We ask that you contact police if you have information relevant to his whereabouts.” Anyone with information is asked to contact Greater Sudbury Police at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-TIPS (8477) or www.sudburycrimestoppers.com.
Five forecast calling for Lightning and Hurricanes in Sudbury this weekend:
The Sudbury Five return home this weekend for two games at the Sudbury Community Arena. Saturday, the Five play host to the London Lightning. The Lightning are in second place in the Central division, trailing the first place Five by four points in the early stages of the season. The defending champion Lightning are led by 2018 Playoff MVP Garrett Williamson. Saturday’s game will also be a special one for the Lightning as they play their first game under new Head Coach Elliott Etherington. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Sunday, the Five welcome the Halifax Hurricanes to the Sudbury Community Arena for the first and only time this season. The Hurricanes are enjoying a strong start to the season, recently ranked second in week four of the National Basketball League’s Power Rankings, just in front of the third ranked Five. Game time is 2:05 p.m.
Former teacher guilty of sex crimes with student to be sentenced in new year:
A Greater Sudbury teacher who sexually abused a former student will be sentenced sometime in the new year. Damir Bulic, 46, appeared in court on Dec. 14 after being convicted of four counts of performing an indecent act and one count of invite to sexual touching. All offences involved the same boy and happened between Sept. 1, 2010 and Sept. 30, 2011. The Crown is seeking a jail sentence of anywhere between 18 months and three and a half years. Bulic's defence attorneys, Breese Davies and Owen Goddard, are asking a sentence of nine to 12 months, and that it be served at St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre, where he would be able to get the psychiatric help he needs. Bulic is suffering from serious depression and anxiety, and has been hospitalized twice for concerns he might try to commit suicide, his lawyers argued.
If you get a call about the city conducting carbon monoxide testing, it's a scam:
Residents are advised that the City of Greater Sudbury and Greater Sudbury Fire Services are not conducting carbon monoxide or smoke alarm testing. A call centre identifying itself as Carbon Monoxide of Canada has been contacting residents by telephone with the message that the City of Greater Sudbury requires entry to their homes for smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector testing. This message is false. Greater Sudbury Fire Services does not contact residents by telephone to request entry to private homes for carbon monoxide or smoke alarm testing and is not affiliated with Carbon Monoxide of Canada. Residents may report telephone scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or www.antifraudcentre.ca.
Municipal budgets too complex: Lakehead prof:
A new study released by the Fraser Institute shows Greater Sudbury is on the high end of Ontario cities when it comes to spending on government administration. A report released Wednesday by Livio Di Matteo, professor of economics at Lakehead University, looked at how much municipalities in Ontario spend on non-frontline staff. Di Matteo said frontline workers would include police, fire, snowplowing and road workers – basically city staff who deliver services to residents. Everyone else would be classified as “general government spending” – people who work to support the administration. They break down into three categories: governance, corporate management and program support. What he found was that Thunder Bay had the highest spending on non-frontline staff over the last seven years, spending $250 out of every $100,000 in tax assessment. On the low end was Vaughn, which spent about $40 out of $100,000. Greater Sudbury ranked third highest, at about $145 per $100,000 in tax revenue, out of the 28 cities in the report. By comparison, Sault Ste. Marie was second highest at about $180, while North Bay was 10th in the survey, coming in at around $90. Timmins had the lowest in the North, at around $60. Full story can be found here.
