Numerous Charges After Collision North of Sault Ste. Marie

Numerous charges have been laid after a single vehicle collision north of Sault Ste. Marie.

Ontario Provincial Police say they were responding to a stolen vehicle occurrence at the Searchmont Community Centre and Fire Hall early the morning of July 17th when police were notified the vehicle had been found in a ditch on Highway 532 - officers attended the scene and determined the driver was impaired, taking them back to the Sault detachment for further testing.

Investigation revealed the driver was the same person involved in a police pursuit the day before - after multiple people called in complaints of a vehicle driving erratically, speeding, and failing to stop in construction zones on Highway 17 between Huron Shores and Goulais River - and that the driver had provided officers with someone else's driver's licence, as the driver was actually prohibited from driving.

The 21-year-old from London's been charged with theft over $5000 of a motor vehicle, possession of property obtained by crime under and over $5000, identity theft, personation with intent to avoid arrest, obstruct justice, public mischief, operation while impaired by alcohol and drugs, flight from peace officer, operation while prohibited under the criminal code, fail to comply with probation order, two counts of failure to comply with release order, and three of dangerous operation.

OPP Investigating Fatal Goulais River Collision

Ontario Provincial Police are continuing to investigate a fatal collision in Goulais River.

Sault Ste. Marie OPP say the two-vehicle collision happened on Highway 17 - near Old Highway 17 Road - on July 20th, with a 72-year-old driver from the Sault taken to hospital with serious injuries, later dying from those injuries.

The OPP's North East Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement (T.I.M.E.) team are assisting with the investigation.

Strongman Talk #2 - Aug. 6, 2025

In the second Strongman Talk of the season, JJAM FM’s Rick Labbe speaks with Martin Bergeron about the 12 events of Dubreuilville Sans Pitié/No Mercy’s main competition…

Strongman Talk can be heard at 8:40 am every Wednesday in the lead-up to Dubreuilville Sans Pitié/No Mercy, which is set to be held September 5th to 7th.

Edit: Dubreuilville Sans Pitié/No Mercy has been rescheduled to September 19th to 21st.

11yo Dead After Ejection From Off-Road Vehicle Near Capreol

A pre-teen's died after being ejected from an off-road vehicle over the weekend.

Greater Sudbury Police say they responded to the single vehicle collision north of Capreol around 12:20 pm Monday afternoon, finding that two individuals were riding in a side-by-side when the driver lost control, and the 11-year-old passenger was ejected.

While the youth was airlifted to hospital, they were pronounced deceased - the youth's name and other information will not be released, out of respect for the family's wishes.

­The Greater Sudbury Police Integrated Traffic Safety Unit's continuing to investigate.

Swimmer Dies After Being Struck By Boat in Sudbury Lake

A swimmer struck by a boat in Sudbury last Friday has died.

Greater Sudbury Police say the 52-year-old woman - who had been in hospital since the incident late Friday morning - succumbed to her injuries and died in hospital on Saturday.

Police are still investigating the incident, which saw the woman struck by a passing vessel in open water on Lake Nepahwin around 11 o'clock Friday morning.

Wawa Resident Facing Firearm & Drug Trafficking Charges

A Wawa resident's facing firearm and drug trafficking charges after an incident last week.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to an assault on Ontario Street in Wawa after 9:30 pm the night of July 27th, with witnesses reporting two individuals engaged in a verbal argument that turned physical, leading to one individual pointing a firearm at the other.

Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of a Wawa 30-year-old on charges of assault with a weapon, pointing a firearm, possession of weapon for dangerous purpose, possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking - one count for methamphetamine, one for cocaine - and four counts of fail to comply with probation order.

The accused was held for a bail hearing and remanded into custody.

Northeast Superior Mayors Seek Ontario Government Meeting on Highway Closures

Wawa - and neighbouring communities - are calling for the Ontario government to meet with them about highway closures.

A release from the Northeast Superior Mayors Group - which represents Wawa, Chapleau, Dubreuilville, White River, Hornepayne, and Manitouwadge - says they've formally written Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria, requesting a meeting to address protocols for highway closures, discuss upgrading and maintaining alternate routes to avoid isolation of communities during extreme weather, warning extended highway closures after heavy rains and flooding impact healthcare access, business, delivery of essential goods, and emergency services, placing residents at risk.

Wawa Mayor Melanie Pilon explains the group wants the province to "expedite the reopening of highways after weather events and to implement a fulsome preventative maintenance strategy to keep our highways open year-round", emphasizing "road closures in the North are no longer just a winter issue, and the safety and the well-being of our communities depend on a more proactive approach".

This comes after Wawa saw two multi-day closures of Highway 17 due to washouts in the Gargantua area in the last two weeks.

Strongman Talk #1 - July 30, 2025

For the first Strongman Talk of the season, JJAM FM’s Rick Labbe speaks with Martin Bergeron about the upcoming Dubreuilville Sans Pitié/No Mercy…

Strongman Talk can be heard at 8:40 am every Wednesday in the lead-up to Dubreuilville Sans Pitié/No Mercy, which is set to be held September 5th to 7th.

Edit: Dubreuilville Sans Pitié/No Mercy has been rescheduled to September 19th to 21st.

Organizers Thank Community for Supporting William G. Rose Golf Tournament

Organizers are thanking the community for supporting a local golf tournament.

The 17th annual William G. Rose Memorial Golf Tournament was held in Wawa last Friday, and organizer Danette Mathias says it was "a huge success", thanking those who supported the tournament.

A record 171 golfers participated in the tournament, with four teams going home winners: for the Men's Division, Eden Leadbetter, Max Simon, and Anders Morden with a score of 30; for the Ladies, Linda Paddock, Brenda Pelletier, and Amanda Huff with a score of 38; for the Mixed Division, Jeff Amos, Donna Korytko, and Christian Crosset with a score of 31; and for the Seniors, Ray Baronette, Betty McGie, and John Scott with a score of 33.

Named in honour of former Michipicoten Police Chief William G. Rose, the tournament raises funds for two bursaries for local students going into the law enforcement or emergency services field.

FONOM Pushes 2+1 Model for Trans-Canada Highway

A group of Northeastern Ontario municipal leaders are proposing an upgrade to key sections of the Trans-Canada Highway.

The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities is spearheading a proposal to upgrade Highways 11 and 17 to the "2+1 model", which is prominent on European highways, featuring alternating passing lanes with a crash-rated median barrier, which FONOM argues is "a cost-effective and safer alternative to full highway twinning...particularly suited to long-distance routes with moderate traffic volumes, such as those in Northern Ontario".

FONOM - which represents about 110 cities, towns, and municipalities across the Northeast - is proposing a two-phase approach, starting by rolling out the 2+1 expansion on Highway 11 from North Bay to Cochrane and Highway 17 from Renfrew to Sudbury, with the second phase including Highway 11 from Cochrane to Nipigon, Highway 11/17 from Thunder Bay to Kenora, and Highway 17 from Sault Ste. Marie to Sudbury - it does not outline plans for the "2+1 model" to be used on Highway 17 north of west of the Sault, such as to Wawa, White River, or beyond.

Noting this comes as the federal government's looking for "nation-building" projects of national interest, FONOM President Danny Whalen calls it "a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in infrastructure that promotes enhanced trade between the east and west within Canada", arguing it'd reduce head-on collisions and improve traffic flow, support Canada's busiest trucking corridors and reduce operational costs, strengthen Canada's internal trade routes and national resilience, and echo the original nation-building spirit of the Trans-Canada Highway, which was first funded during the Great Depression.

This also comes amid an alternate bid for the future of the Trans-Canada Highway in Northeastern Ontario, as Chapleau Town Council recently backed a rerouting of the highway from Sudbury to Chapleau to White River, which Mayor Ryan Bignucolo called "important".

Mayor Bignucolo says he believes the rerouting is "much needed", citing current use of the Sultan Industrial Road.

Wawa Municipal Council passed a resolution in April 2024 rejecting the rerouting, arguing it'd take "considerable" time and resources "with little to no financial benefit" for the province, while harming communities that would be bypassed by the rerouting.

LDHC Palliative Care Program Memorial Butterfly Release Nears

Wawa's hospital is continuing a tradition started ahead of the pandemic, to honour those who've passed.

Registered Nurse Troy Dereski explains the upcoming Lady Dunn Health Centre Palliative Care Program Memorial Butterfly Release.

In addition to releasing the butterflies, Dereski notes it will be an afternoon of celebration, music, refreshments, and kids activities.

Butterflies can be reserved for $20 each in the hospital lobby between 1 pm and 3 pm tomorrow or Tuesday, or at the event, though there are limited tickets so purchasing ahead of time is strongly encouraged.

The Memorial Butterfly Release will be held next Wednesday, July 30th, from 1 pm to 3 pm in the hospital's Long-Term Care Garden.

PHSD Reports 1st Measles Infection In 11 Years

A local health unit's reporting its first measles infection in more than a decade.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts says an infant too young to have been vaccinated was infected - the first case in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts since 2014 - with the health unit directly notifying individuals who are known to have been exposed to measles.

It emphasizes that the disease is spreading across North American "at levels not seen in three decades", urging "everyone protect themselves by ensuring they have had 2 doses of vaccine", as "measles can spread very quickly among people who are not fully immunized, and it can cause severe illness in some people".

Measles symptoms include fever, runny nose and cough, red and water eyes, and a red rash starting on the face and spreading down the body, but could lead to serious complications such as lung infections, swelling of the brain, seizures, middle ear infections, and in rare cases, death, while those who are Pregnant may also experience premature labour, stillbirth, or miscarriage.

The neighbouring Algoma Public Health has reported over 150 cases since early May, though hasn't reported new cases in recent weeks.

Wawa Library Hosting Author/Performer

Wawa's library is hosting an author for a special performance today.

Wawa Public Library CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell outlines the planned visit.

Steinberg's debut book, "Goosefeather", looks at "how cultures make sense of the places that shape them", telling personal stories from 18 countries, including rural France to California and the rice fields of Japan.

The event starts at 2 o'clock this afternoon.

PHSD Confirms West Nile in Greater Sudbury Crow

A local health unit's warning about the dangers of West Nile virus as a bird's tested positive in the Greater Sudbury area.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it has received confirmation an American Crow tested positive - it last saw a bird test positive last year, with the last human case in its area in 2023, though the health unit emphasizes the bird testing positive reminds that "although the overall risk of a person becoming infected is low, the virus is still present", urging precautions such as wearing Health Canada-approved insect repellent and light-coloured, long-sleeved clothing, ensuring there are no holes or tears in screen doors and windows of your home, and removing - or weekly changing - of standing water around your home.

Hwy 17 Still Closed South of Wawa Due to Flooding

Highway 17 remains closed south of Wawa due to flooding after Tuesday's substantial rainfall.

The highway was closed between Wawa and Batchewana Bay late Wednesday morning, due to flooding, though that was changed to Wawa to Montreal River - Ontario Provincial Police have suggested on social media that the closure could take "a few days" for repairs, though Ontario's Ministry of Transportation has not confirmed that timeline to JJAM FM News.

OPP Charge 2 After CMV Stop in Marathon Area

More than a dozen charges have been laid after a traffic stop in the Marathon area.

Marathon OPP say a commercial motor vehicle - a tractor trailer hauling a livestock trailer - was stopped on Highway 17, with officers then observing the driver and passenger attempting to switch seats.

An 18-year-old from Southgate Township - in southern Ontario - was charged with failing to surrender completed daily inspection report and daily log, drive commercial motor vehicle without required inspection, with airbrake with no endorsement, with improper licence, and with no ELD, as well as fail to surrender proof of insurance.

A 41-year-old from Dundalk - in Southgate Township - was charged with failing to accurately complete daily inspection report, smoke in forest area while walking or working, and hold lighted tobacco in prohibited place, while an unspecified commercial motor vehicle operating company has been charged with failing to ensure daily inspection is conducted properly, permit operation of vehicles with air brakes - no endorsement on licence, permit person with improper licence to drive commercial motor vehicle, fail to equip commercial motor vehicle with required ELD information packet, and fail to equip commercial motor vehicle with ELD as required.

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