Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Impact of casino gambling isn't as good — nor as bad — as you might think:
Greater Sudbury has been told many things about casino gambling in the past few years — from a casino will be an economic drain and a driver of social ills to a casino will be a big boon for tourism and a new source of jobs and revenue. So, what are taxpayers to believe? Opponents and proponents have offered either doomsday scenarios or gold-at-the-end-of-the-rainbow visions of what expanded casino gambling in the city will mean. Sudbury.com wanted to know, too. So we tracked down the best academics we could find who specialize in casinos and their impacts. You can find a summarized version of what the experts in the field have to say about casinos, gambling and what they mean for communities. Full story here.
City's religious leaders band together to oppose Kingsway casino:
A group of more than 50 religious leaders from Greater Sudbury have banded together in opposition to building a casino on the Kingsway. A letter from the group was released Sunday evening, urging city council to oppose the relocation of the casino due to the social costs. The letter states that building a casino on the Kingsway will have negative effects on some of Sudbury's most vulnerable citizens, including people living in poverty and seniors on fixed incomes. The letter was released in advance of the rezoning application public meetings being held this week as the city moves forward with its plans for the Kingsway Entertainment District. You can read the letter in full here.
Interpaving to plead guilty in charges stemming from 2015 pedestrian death:
Interpaving Limited will be pleading guilty Wednesday to charges stemming from the 2015 death of pedestrian Cecile Paquette. Charges were laid by the Ministry of Labour under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The case against the contractor and the City of Greater Sudbury got underway Monday morning in a downtown courtroom, but was adjourned to Wednesday. In September 2015, 58-year-old Cecile Paquette was run over and killed by a grader while trying to cross at the intersection of Elgin Street and Beech Street. Interpaving had been contracted by the City of Greater Sudbury to do construction work in the area. The city is also facing Occupational Health and Safety charges in the case. The charges against the city will be proceeding to trail Wednesday.
Police nab eight people for stunt driving over eight day period:
Greater Sudbury Police Services issued provincial offences notices for stunt driving to eight people between March 16 and March 24. Stunt is defined as driving speeds in excess of 50 km/hour over the posted speed limit or making aggressive driving actions. Over the course of eight days, drivers ranging in age from 21-years-old to 79-years-old were all charged with stunt driving. In each instance the driver received an automatic seven-day driver’s licence suspension and the associated vehicle involved in the incident was towed and impounded for seven days. Each of the eight drivers are scheduled to appear in Provincial Offences Court to answer to their charge(s). Find the full story here.
Watch a Sudbury man troll a CRA phone scammer:
It’s income tax season and unfortunately with that comes a spike in phone scam calls. Greater Sudbury Police Service is reminding the public to be wary of anyone who calls claiming to work for the CRA. The scam begins with a threatening phone call or voicemail indicating that a lawsuit has been filed due to unpaid income taxes and if the individual does not comply, an arrest warrant will be issued. The tactic has many Sudburians falling victim. Sudbury.com has a reported case, and it's thanks to one Sudbury man who took it upon himself to troll one of the scammers and record how the scam unfolds. Norm Cardinal received a recorded message from someone posing as a CRA representative who said he needed to call them back to discuss resolution or he’d be arrested. That's when he decided to give the scammers a taste of their own medicine. Cardinal recorded the entire conversation, which lasted close to 50-minutes, and shared it on Facebook in hopes of exposing the scam and saving others from becoming victims. You can check out video of Caridnal's phone call here.
Police: Dangerous dirt biker likely the same person who sped through Santa Claus parade:
A dirt bike observed being driven dangerously in the Donovan area of Greater Sudbury is likely the same vehicle which sped through the closed Santa Claus Parade route in November, Greater Sudbury Police said in a news release Monday. While on routine patrol March 24, officers observed the dirt bike at the intersection of Mabel Avenue and Melvin Avenue. After seeing the officers, the driver of the dirt bike sped off, disobeying stop signs, and driving dangerously. The officers did not pursue the dirt bike for public safety reasons. Images of the dirt bike and driver were obtained. Officers believe this is the same dirt bike involved in the incident at the Santa Claus Parade. Anyone with information is asked to contact Greater Sudbury Police at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-TIPS, online at www.sudburycrimestoppers.com or by texting TIPSUD and the information to CRIMES (274637).
Tuesday Weather:
Mainly cloudy skies overhead today with a chance of some snow flurries this morning. Snow should end in the morning and turn to rain by the afternoon. Tuesday's high will be 3. Cloudy this evening with a 60 per cent chance of showers and the low falling to zero. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
