Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Zachary Pilon sentenced to three years probation for making threatening Instagram posts:
Sudbury teen Zachary Pilon was handed a suspended sentence and three years probation on Jan. 4, nearly two years after his arrest in 2019. Pilon pleaded guilty to uttering threats in connection to Instagram posts made in March 2019 that included a kill list with the names of 39 Collège Notre Dame students. His own name was included on that list. His post on social media sent the school into lockdown on March 20, 2019. An Instagram post he made warned that, on “Friday March 22nd, everyone will finally know my name… Look out CND.” On Jan 4, 2021, Superior Court Justice Amanda Camara heard sentencing submissions from the Assistant Crown Attorney Kaely Whillans and Pilon's defence lawyer, Glenn Sandberg. The crown was seeking six months custody for Pilon, with a mandatory four months of house arrest, followed by two years probation with conditions similar to those that were imposed as part of his bail on March 21, 2019. Sandberg said there must be consequences for his client's actions, but insisted that a criminal record could create havoc on the life of a young person such as Pilon, who is currently 19 years old. Instead, Sandberg recommended a conditional discharge, which would result in no criminal record for Pilon, and three years of probation along with at least 100 hours of community service. Pilon spoke briefly during final submissions on Monday, taking full responsibility for his actions. "What I did was childish, inappropriate, idiotic," said Pilon. "Whatever you see fit as my consequences I will take." Full story here.
Call for mistrial means no sentencing for David Case:
Former Sudbury track coach David Case was to be sentenced Monday on sexual assault and assault charges, but as the judge was ready to hand down his sentence, the defence called for a mistrial. The case has now been adjourned for the time being to set a date for arguments on the defence's mistrial motion. Case, 58, was convicted in March of one count of sexual assault, one count of assault causing bodily harm and one count of assault against a girl he coached in the 1980s and early 1990s. She was 15 when she first met Case, and she secretly married him in 1985 when she turned 18. Defence lawyer Nicholas Xynnis was seeking three years of probation. The Crown is seeking a five-year prison sentence, that Case be listed on the Sex Offender Information Registry for 20 years, as well as a 10-year weapons ban and to not have contact with the victim.
Ontario reports 3,270 new COVID cases Monday:
Public Health Ontario has reported 3,270 new cases of COVID-19 on Jan. 4. The province reported 29 deaths in Monday's update. Of those, 14 were residents of long-term care homes. Two of the deaths reported today were individuals between 40 and 59 years old, 12 were between 60 and 79 years old, and 15 were over the age of 80. Since Sunday, 70 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19, and 15 COVID patients have been admitted to intensive care units. Get the full breakdown on the latest COVID-19 numbers here.
OPP nab drugged driver on Hwy. 17 on New Year’s Eve:
A 30-year-old man from Warren was arrested New Year’s Eve after allegedly driving while under the influence of drugs on Highway 17 in Greater Sudbury. The Nipissing West OPP say they received the complaint about a possible impaired driver just before 11 p.m. Dec. 31. Officers subsequently located and stopped the vehicle. Police say their investigation revealed the driver was under the influence of a drug, and was arrested. A small quantity of drugs suspected to be cocaine were seized. The driver was transported to the North Bay OPP Detachment for further testing by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). More on this story here.
The language of the pandemic: 2020 unprecedented for the use of the word 'unprecedented':
Among other things, 2020 featured an unprecedented use of the word 'unprecedented.' When this pandemic is looked upon with the eyes of those long past, those who are analyzing what it has meant to the world and the way it once worked, there will be a language to it. Words and terms that previous to the COVID-19 pandemic you may never have known, unless you are an epidemiologist. In fact, the awareness of what an epidemiologist is – but not just that, to know individual epidemiologists by name – is a definitive result of the mess of 2020. Last year introduced words and phrases like flatten the curve into the vernacular, along with the likes of projections, models, immunocompromised, comorbidities, asymptomatic carrier and shelter in place. Find out what else has become common in our lexicon due to COVID-19 here.
Let’s eat! For Pizzeria Roma founder Roberto Ferrucci, pizza is more than just a labour of love:
Well folks, we still can’t dine out, so one more week of takeout. It may come in a square box, but the shape of heaven is round. There have been many arguments over who has the best pizza in Sudbury. Favourites? Speedy delivery? Location? Quantity? Consistency? Sauce? Cheese? Oh, my! What does make the perfect pizza? Shouldn’t it be about the pie? So many say it starts with the fundamentals: great crust, fresh ingredients and love. Some trek to New York for thin crust, others seek out deep dish in Chicago. So stylistically different you can spend years searching for nirvana. After all that still it may remain elusive, or last just one bite. An amazing variety of parameters result in the ultimate expression of pizza pleasure: chains and franchises, independents and artisanal; it is a worthy quest. Let us share the newest one in the mix, Pizzeria Roma in Sudbury. Add it to your repertoire and give it a chance to be on your speed dial. Roberto Ferrucci is no novice, having started learning the art of the pizza at his uncle’s side in New York. Read our latest 'Let's Eat' feature here.
Tuesday Weather:
Cloudy today with 60 per cent chance of flurries and risk of freezing drizzle. Mild January day on tap with the high sitting at -1. It's going to feel like -6 with the wind chill today. Mainly cloudy into the evening with 40 per cent chance of flurries and risk of freezing drizzle. Overnight low will be -5, feeling like -10 with the wind. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
