Stay up to date with what’s happening in your community.
Chapleau Town Council's moving forward with a pair of service delivery reviews.
In their meeting Monday night, Council awarded contracts for the reviews, with Mayor Michael Levesque explaining that a southern Ontario company will look into municipal energy consumption, expected to take six weeks.
Mayor Levesque notes the other review will look at the municipal airport.
Both reviews will result in reports for Council, who will decide how to move forward on the recommendations.
Chapleau has a new - but familiar - public works boss.
Mayor Michael Levesque explains the superintendent role has been filled just over a month after the search began.
Mayor Levesque calls Raymond "a good addition" to the Township's staff, congratulating him for the expanded role.
Chapleau's Leisure and Cultural Services Director since last summer, Raymond has been filling in as Public Works Superintendent since the role was vacated.
Wawa's COVID-19 assessment centre is visiting Michipicoten First Nation right now.
The Lady Dunn Health Centre has set up the COVID-19 assessment centre at the MFN health clinic, open to those who have any symptom of COVID-19, are concerned they have been exposed, are at risk of exposure through their employment, or are an MFN staff member working on reserve.
To book an appointment, call 705-987-3270.
It's open from 3 to 7 today.
Two hikers are safe after getting lost in Lake Superior Provincial Park.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say the pair started hiking from the Frater Road on Sunday, but after several hours realized they were lost - they were able to get a weak cell phone signal and place a call to police around 9:20 that night.
The Northeast Region OPP Emergency Response Team responded, finding the pair near Agawa Bay around 4 o'clock this morning - they were returned to their vehicle in good health.
Wawa Municipal Council will hold a special meeting later this week, to discuss a pair of items.
Included on the agenda is a by-law for a provincial funding agreement, which would support the "School Zone Project".
Also on the agenda is an "in-camera" item, a legal issue about a sale of land.
The teleconference-based meeting will be held Thursday at noon, and - except for the "in-camera" portion - will be livestreamed on the Municipality's YouTube page.
Another case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Greater Sudbury.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts says its 67th case is a man in his 60s who is self-isolating after he was tested Friday - it's unknown how he was exposed, as he has no history of travel or contact with a known case.
This comes just days after the health unit reports two other Greater Sudbury cases, its first new cases since May 14th.
These three are the health unit's only active cases.
Meanwhile, the neighbouring Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reported its 90th case - a woman in her 20s in the Thunder Bay area, who had close contact with a confirmed case - leaving six active cases, three of whom are in hospital.
The Porcupine Health Unit's confirmed its 67th case, a woman in her 70s who was tested in Timmins on Sunday and is currently in self-isolation at home.
She's the second case reported in that region after more than a month without any new cases - they're the only active cases at this time.
Algoma Public Health also has two active cases, both reported in the last ten days, though it warns the cases are from "unknown exposure", evidence of community spread in the Sault Ste. Marie, central, and east Algoma areas - it's also considered "likely" in other parts of Algoma, including the North, where no cases have been confirmed so far.
A Chapleau man's facing multiple charges after a dispute in town.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers responded to a neighbour dispute on Mill Road around 11:05 Saturday morning, leading to the arrest of a 61-year-old on charges of assault, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, and theft under $5000.
He's been released from custody, with a future Chapleau court date.
Newmont's keeping health and safety measures implemented amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
While it acknowledges the province is reopening and no cases have been reported among Newmont's workforce - with "remarkable improvements" for "host communities" over the past month - a notice from the company to employees emphasizes "this is not the time to drop our guard or relax our position", continuing to commit to the measures.
That includes enforcing a six-foot physical distancing requirement, remote and hybrid working schedules, capacity limits for rooms and vehicles, increased sanitizing and cleaning, personal protective equipment requirements, and site screening.
Algoma Public Health's continuing to monitor two COVID-19 cases in the region.
The health unit says it still has two active cases, after reporting its 24th confirmed case on Friday.
It's still unclear how that person was exposed - considered evidence of ongoing community spread in Sault Ste. Marie and area - though the health unit says close contacts have been notified, while the FJ Davey Home says it has implemented "suspect outbreak" measures.
The Sault long term care home says the person tested positive "as part of ongoing, proactive staff surveillance testing", adding all other initial lab results have been negative, though some results are pending.
Meanwhile, the neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's confirmed its first case since May 10th, a male in his 20s who is a resident of the health unit's area but was tested elsewhere, meaning no concern for exposure in the region - health units are required to report all residents who've tested positive, even if the person is in a different region at the time.
This is the 65th case for the health unit, and the only active one at this time.
Chapleau's flushing its water mains this week.
A notice on the Township's website notes it is flushing hydrants in different zones over the next four days, from midnight to 8 am each day.
Flushing's already started in the first zone - southwest of the CPR line - with the area northeast of the CPR line and north of Birch next, then the area south of Birch, ending with the area north of the river on Thursday.
The flushing's meant to help clean the mains and ensure efficient operation of fire hydrants, and people in those zones are asked not to use their water during the flushing, including turning off bleeder lines.
As colouration will be a problem, the Township suggests flushing your own lines through a garden hose or laundry tub before you use any water after the flushing.
Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing residents are being praised for efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a message to the House of Commons, local New Democrat Carol Hughes praised her constituents for meeting challenging times "with their usual can-do spirit, some ingenuity, and a lot of determination".
Hughes added that she's proud to represent the "big-hearted people" of the region, highlighting "everyone providing essential services and doing their part amid exceptional circumstances".
Another COVID-19 case has been confirmed in Algoma.
Algoma Public Health is giving few details about its 24th confirmed case, except that it's unknown how the person was exposed, considered evidence of ongoing community spread in Sault Ste. Marie and area - close contacts have been notified.
It also links the case to the FJ Davey Home, which has confirmed that a person tested positive "as part of ongoing, proactive staff surveillance testing", adding all other initial lab results have been negative, though some results are pending.
The Sault long term care home has also implemented "suspect outbreak" measures.
This is the second active case for the health unit, which has confirmed three new cases in the nine days, after more than two weeks without any confirmed cases.
Ontario's police watchdog has cleared a local OPP officer over the use of force in a White River arrest.
Special Investigations Unit Director Joseph Martino says an investigation found the use of an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield - or ARWEN - was "reasonably necessary" in the December 10th, 2019, incident, which saw police called to a White River address following complaints from a woman that a 33-year-old man had threatened to kill her and her daughter.
While officers maintained containment around the residence, the man refused to come out until the following morning, when an "interaction ensued", resulting in the man being struck several times by rounds discharged by the weapon - he was taken to hospital and treated for a fractured right arm.
Martino says investigation found the man had used beer cases to protect against a conducted energy weapon, leading to the use of the "ARWEN", though he was seen "smashing" his arm against a door frame when trying to get back into the house before he was apprehended.
As Martino's determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe a criminal offence was committed by the officer, the SIU has closed its investigation.
A Manitouwadge man is dead after his canoe capsized on Manitouwadge Lake Thursday afternoon.
Manitouwadge Ontario Provincial Police say family members noticed the canoe had capsized, and asked nearby Sea Dooers to check on the canoer - he was located underwater and brought back to shore, with CPR performed until paramedics arrived, though he was pronounced dead shortly after.
He's been identified as 61-year-old Paul Wielgosch of Manitouwadge.
A young Wawa man is facing charges after a confrontation with police.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they attended a Wawa residence late Wednesday night to speak with a person about an unrelated call for service, but officers found the person "extremely agitated and confrontational", leading to a brief physical altercation, though no injuries.
The 23-year-old was arrested and charged with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm and two counts of assault a peace officer, but was released from custody with a future Wawa court date.
Wawa's Catholic church is reopening this weekend - but with restrictions.
A notice from St. Monica's Church says it will resume weekend masses Saturday night, though anyone who feels sick or has elevated temperature, cough, or other symptoms is asked to refrain from attending mass.
Anyone who does attend must wear a mask and sanitize hands when entering the building, with no handshaking or contact while there.
Only the choir will sing during mass while collection will be done at the entrance and communion will be single file and not obligatory.
There is a limit of only 40 attendees.
The church emphasizes the guidelines are meant to safeguard the community.
Today's the last chance for Wawa residents to get a building or fire permit for a week.
The Municipality warns the Building Department will be closed next week, with no municipal building permits, fire permits, inspections, or similar services happening during that time.
It is expected to reopen June 29th.
Time's almost up for nominations in Chapleau's annual volunteer awards.
Mayor Michael Levesque reminds community members can submit as many nominations as they'd like - up to today's 4 o'clock deadline.
While the award won't be presented at Canada Day ceremonies this year - as they've been cancelled - Mayor Levesque notes there are plans for some form of presentation, likely to be an online video.
The submission form and details can be found on the Township's website.
Wawa's COVID-19 assessment centre will visit Michipicoten First Nation next week.
The Lady Dunn Health Centre says the COVID-19 assessment centre will be set up at the MFN health clinic Monday, June 22nd, from 3 to 7 pm, open to those who have any symptom of COVID-19, are concerned they have been exposed, are at risk of exposure through their employment, or are an MFN staff member working on reserve.
To book an appointment ahead of time, call 705-856-2244, extension 244 or 246, or - on Monday - call 705-987-3270.
A Chapleau resident's facing an assault charge after a domestic dispute.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to an incident at a Chapleau residence early Wednesday evening, leading to the arrest of a 35-year-old on a charge of spousal assault.
They've been released from custody, with a future Chapleau court date.
