Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Temperatures jump nearly 50 degrees in a week in Sudbury:
What a difference a week makes. Greater Sudbury is expected to see temperatures as high as 6 degrees Celsius on Thursday, Jan. 11. That's an increase of nearly 50 degrees Celsius compared to last Thursday when temperatures were -43 with the wind chill. Sudbury finally broke out of its deep freeze over the weekend, after a string of extreme cold weather alerts and its coldest week on record since 2014. Temperatures have been on a steady climb since Sunday and are expected to break the freezing mark this evening and continue to increase overnight and up to plus 5 by the morning. After record-level cold weather for a week straight, Sudbury could flirt with a record high on Thursday. According to Environment Canada, the warmest day on record in Sudbury for Jan. 11 is 6.1 degrees Celsius, which was recorded in 1975.
Council refuses to back councillors' motion for public harassment investigation:
City council held a closed-door meeting for more than an hour Tuesday – in the midst of their public meeting — to decide how to deal with a motion related to the investigation of two city councillors. At issue was the investigation of Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini and Ward 3 Coun. Gerry Montpellier, who are accused of harassing former fire chief Trevor Bain during the fire optimization process in late winter/early spring last year. Montpellier and Vagnini had a motion on the floor Tuesday calling for the investigation into the allegations to be held in public. Vagnini moved that councillors go into a closed-door session, to allow them to discuss matters that involved personnel – ironically moving behind closed doors to discuss a motion calling for a public inquiry. The motion was eventually defeated 7-6. Vagnini and Montpellier are scheduled to be interviewed by the investigator Jan. 15.
Wanted Wednesday: He allegedly assaulted someone downtown:
The Greater Sudbury Police Service has an outstanding warrant for the arrest of Julien Mongita-Boteta. It is alleged that on Dec. 21, 2017, Julien Mongita-Boteta assaulted another individual at an establishment in the downtown area. He is known to reside in the Sudbury downtown area and is wanted for assault. He is described as 5-9, about 160 lbs with black hair and dark 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 (8477) or locally at 705-222-TIPS. You must call this number to be eligible for a cash reward. Tips can also be submitted online at www.sudburycrimestoppers.com or by texting “TIPSUD” and the information to “CRIMES” (274637).
Shoppers have until Sunday to visit Sudbury Sears before it closes for good:
Sudbury Sears remains open for business, after the corporation closed many of its stores Monday evening. There are only 32 Sears locations where customers can continue shopping in the iconic Canadian store. The retail chain has been in business for 65 years. Long-time patrons expressed sadness about the upcoming departure of the department store, saying it was one of the last stations of an era that seems to be going by. Inside the store, even the mannequins are up for sale. When asked, the store manager refused to comment on what the closure will mean for Sears employees. Approximately 12,000 jobs were lost across Canada: 5,443 of those were in Ontario, and 18 full-time as well as 85 part-time jobs (as of September) will end locally in Sudbury. Shoppers have until Sunday, January 14 to make a last visit to the New Sudbury Centre Sears. More here.
Wolves trade Sokolov to Colts:
The Sudbury Wolves have traded forward Dmitry Sokolov to the Barrie Colts in exchange for 18-year-old centre Alexei Lipanov, and conditionally Owen Sound's third round pick in 2022. Sokolov was the Wolves' first pick in the 2015 Import Draft and recorded 98 goals and 64 assists for 162 points in his 167 regular season games as a member of the Wolves. The Omsk, Russia native also netted six goals and added three assists in six playoff games last year. Alexei Lipanov joins the Wolves from Barrie, where he amassed 11 goals and 18 assists in 35 games. The Moscow, Russia native is a third round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Neither player will have to travel far to suit up with their new teams as the Wolves will be in Barrie to take on the Colts on Thursday, Jan. 11 at the Barrie Molson Centre.
"Hold the sugar, hold the cream, Tim Hortons don't be mean," protesters chant:
Protesters rallied outside Tim Hortons locations across Ontario Wednesday to show support for employees after some franchisees made benefits and break cuts after a minimum wage increase — but many gatherers stopped short of committing to a boycott. Some, but not all, of the chain's franchisees have said employees will have to cover a larger share of their dental and health-care benefits as well as take unpaid breaks in order to offset the added costs of the province's hourly minimum wage rate increase to $14 an hour on Jan. 1. But labour groups who gathered outside stores in cities including Toronto, Ottawa and Coburg, Ont. Wednesday describe the company as "wildly profitable" and argue Tim Hortons and its parent company can afford to pay employees at the new rate without taking away previous perks.
Meet the Sudbury sculptor who's leaving his mark on communities across Ontario:
Unless something catastrophic happens, the bronze statue of Stompin' Tom Connors in front of the Sudbury Arena will be around for generations, long after copies of this article turn to dust or are lost in cyberspace. “They're still finding old Greek bronzes in the ocean that are from 500 BC,” said the statue's creator, Tyler Fauvelle of Lively, who's become known for his bronze sculptures of mostly Canadian historic figures over the past decade. “They're extremely old pieces. What's unique about bronze is it lasts forever.” The very permanence of bronze statues has caused Fauvelle's somewhat rarified art form to hit the news a lot lately. Read more here.
Thursday weather:
Periods of rain expected today with the temperature holding steady near 6. Rain changing to snow overnight with around 2 cm falling. Overnight low will drop to -11. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
