Superior East OPP Lay Several Charges Over Labour Day Long Weekend

Local police were kept busy over the Labour Day long weekend.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers were out patrolling highways, trails, and waterways, focusing on the "Big Four" - impaired, aggressive, and inattentive driving, as well as lack of seatbelt use - laying 117 speeding charges and 15 more for other Highway Traffic Act violations, three Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act charges, a hazardous moving violation charge, and a Liquor Licence Act charge.
Police encourage road users to avoid risks and comply with all traffic laws.

Note: this story has been updated to correct the number of speeding charges laid. Superior East OPP initially reported 17, though a correction issued later reported 117.

Highway 17 Temporarily Closed as OPP Respond to Train Car Fire West of White River

Highway 17 was closed in the White River area early this morning, as emergency services responded to a reported train derailment and fire west of White River.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say the highway was closed as a precaution around 3:15 this morning while the situation was assessed, with Superior East and Marathon OPP officers quickly discovering that a train car carrying wood products was on fire, though the train was still on the rails.
Railway crews were able to relocate the majority of the unaffected cars, while the White River Fire Department and Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry fire crews helped extinguish the fire.
No injuries have been reported.

Superior East OPP Respond to 2 White River Altercations

Two out-of-towners are facing charges after separate altercations in White River.
The first incident occurred outside a White River business around 11 o'clock Monday morning: Superior East Ontario Provincial Police observed two people engaged in a verbal dispute and separated them before arresting a 22-year-old from Hamilton on a charge of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.
Police also responded to an altercation on Elgin Street around 3:30 Tuesday afternoon - both people involved declined assault chargess, though one, a 27-year-old from Thunder Bay, was found to be breaching court-ordered release conditions, resulting in two charges of fail to comply with probation order.
Both have been released from custody with future Wawa court dates.

Chapleau Preparing to Close Splash Pad

Another sign of fall: Chapleau's preparing to close its splash pad for the season.
The Township says the pad will be closed for winter as of next Monday, September 14th.
It's been open with restrictions since mid-June, as the provincial government allowed water recreational facilities to reopen under "Stage 2" of the province's COVID-19 recovery plan.

Superior East OPP Urge Driver Safety Amid Return to School

Local police are issuing a few safety reminders as kids return to school.
Noting this return to school comes after a roughly six month hiatus, Superior East OPP Constable Trevor Tremblay emphasizes an important point for drivers.

Cst. Trevor Tremblay Reminds About Buses Amid Back to School

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Constable Tremblay reminds there will also be many young students walking to school - especially on Churchill, Magpie, and toward Sir James Dunn - and that means another thing drivers haven't seen in months.

Cst. Trevor Tremblay Urges Drivers to Respect Crossing Guards

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Drivers are also encouraged to watch for crossing guards and give bicyclists lots of room, with cyclists reminded to wear their helmets.

Wawa Reopening Municipal Offices and Restarting Transit

After months closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wawa's reopening its municipal offices - and restarting transit.
As of today, the municipal offices to the public during usual hours, though visitors need to wear masks, sanitize their hands, and sign-in at the front lobby for contact tracing purposes, while those who are sick or aren't feeling well are asked to stay home.
The Wawa Public Library's also open under similar conditions.
Transit service is running again from 8:45 am to 2:45 pm weekdays, though with reduced seating capacity - again, users are asked to wear a mask and wash hands prior to getting on the bus, and to refrain from using it if sick.
Any monthly pass that was still valid after March 24th is extended to September 30th, while a 10-day pass valid after March 24th is extended until the end of the year.

OPP Investigating Fatal ATV Collision North of Sault Ste. Marie

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a fatal ATV collision north of the Sault.
Sault Ste. Marie OPP say they responded to the collision on Havilland Shores Road in Goulais Township around 8 o'clock Saturday night, with the driver of the ATV pronounced dead at the scene.
He's been identified as 33-year-old Jesse Miezlaiskis of Goulais River.
The OPP Technical Collision Investigation team is investigating.

Superior East OPP Remind Drivers to Stay Safe Over Labour Day Weekend

Ontario Provincial Police are hitting the roads for the long weekend.
Superior East OPP Constable Trevor Tremblay reminds drivers to be careful about distracted driving.

Superior East OPP Cst. Trevor Tremblay on Distracted Driving

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Constable Tremblay adds officers will also be watching for the other "Big Four", including lack of seatbelts and aggressive driving.

SE OPP Cst. Tremblay on Seatbelts and Aggressive Driving

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Noting the Superior East detachment "nearly doubled" its year-to-date impaired driving charges between July 15th and August 15th, Tremblay reminds drivers not to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs, adding they can be charged for impaired driving while using "anything with a motor", including a lawn tractor or e-bike.
OPP will also be watching trails and lakes and rivers.

APH Reports 29th COVID-19 Case

Algoma Public Health's reporting its 29th case of COVID-19.
The health unit's giving few details, though F-J Davey Home in Sault Ste. Marie's confirmed the positive test stems from staff surveillance, and it has put the home into a "presumptive outbreak" at this time.
It's the health unit's second case in less than a week, though the other - a staff member at the Sault's Ontario Finnish Resthome - is now considered "resolved".
Public Health Sudbury and Districts still shows one "active" case, while the Porcupine and Thunder Bay District health units show none.

Vehicle Stolen From Thessalon Recovered Near Chapleau

A stolen vehicle's been recovered west of Chapleau.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they received information around 3:20 Monday afternoon about a vehicle that had been reported stolen from Thessalon earlier that day
The vehicle was located on Highway 101 about 20 kilometres west of Chapleau, with the lone occupant surrendering to police without incident.
The 34-year-old Ingersoll woman's facing multiple charges: possession of property obtained by crime over and under $5000; mischief - destroy or damage property; possession of break-in instruments; failure to comply with undertaking; possession of a schedule I substance - heroin; possession of a schedule I substance - methamphetamine; deface plate; and two counts of breach of recognizance.
She's been remanded into custody, pending a bail hearing.

Wawa Removing Lion's Beach Dock Early Amid Repeated Vandalism

Wawa's removing the Lion's Beach dock early, amid "constant vandalism over the past month".
The Municipality of Wawa says the dock is being removed for the season today - weeks ahead of the normal time - with a release explaining "staff made the difficult decision based on the issues encountered over the past month", having replaced several pins and re-bolted sections of the dock throughout August - it further emphasizes that "each incidence of missing hardware created an unsafe condition that opens the Municipality to further liability should any user be injured".
It notes staff are investigating a "hardware upgrade to ensure this does not happen" next summer, though nothing is specified.
This comes just weeks after the Municipality was forced to close the washrooms at Lion's Beach due to repeated vandalism - they were later reopened, but the Municipal release says that vandalism "has become a near-daily occurrence" and "staff are unable to keep pace with the amount of issues at the park".
While vandalism had caused the beach house to close in August 2016, no major problems had been reported since, until this summer.

Algoma Public Health Reports 28th COVID-19 Case After 1 Month of No Cases

After more than a month without an active case, Algoma Public Health's confirmed its 28th case of COVID-19.
APH says the person's self-isolating after they were tested on Thursday, and that their exposure is "unknown", considered evidence of community spread in Sault Ste. Marie and area, where all but five of Algoma's cases have been reported.
It also points to the Ontario Finnish Resthome Association, which says COVID-19 has been confirmed in a staff member of their MKK building, adding the MKK team's "working closely" with the health unit to take "heightened preventive actions", though they emphasize the risk of exposure to residents and staff is "low" and no outbreak has been declared at this time.
The health unit's notified close contacts while residents of the facility are monitored for symptoms - with symptomatic residents tested immediately - and staff are tested regularly.
APH further emphasizes all Algoma residents must continue practicing physical distancing - as any close contact could be a possible exposure - while masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces, though they should also be worn wherever physical distancing can't be maintained.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts and the Thunder Bay District Health Unit still have one "active" case each, while the Porcupine Health Unit has none, after their ninth COVID-19-related death over the weekend.

Hamilton Man Charged in Wawa Theft of Gas

Charges have been laid against a Hamilton man in a theft of gas in Wawa.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers responded to the incident on Pinewood Drive around 6 o'clock Sunday morning, finding the vehicle in White River about an hour later.
A 26-year-old from Hamilton was arrested on charges of theft under $5000 an driving while under suspension, but released from custody with a future Wawa court date.

Suspected Drugs Seized After Traffic Stop Near White River

Suspected drugs have been seized after a traffic stop near White River.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were responding to a traffic complaint on Highway 17 late Sunday afternoon when they stopped the vehicle north of White River, with subsequent investigation revealing suspected hydromorphone, alprazolam, and other unidentified pills.
That led to the arrest of a 54-year-old and a 21-year-old - both from Winnipeg - on charges of possession of a schedule I substance - opioid (other than heroin) - for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a schedule IV substance for the purpose of trafficking. Both have been released from custody, scheduled to appear in Marathon court at a later date.

White River Speeding Stop Leads to Other Charge

A stop for speeding near White River has led to another charge.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say a member of the OPP's Northwest Region Emergency Response Team was travelling on Highway 17 around 5 o'clock Saturday night when they noticed a vehicle speeding near White River.
They initiated a traffic stop, with subsequent investigation revealing two people who are not permitted to be together, which led to the arrest of a 24-year-old from Cambridge on a charge of "failure to comply with release order - other than to attend court".
They've been released from custody, with an October Wawa court date.

Porcupine Health Unit Reports 9th COVID-19 Death

Another COVID-19-related death has been confirmed in the region.
The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit is reporting its ninth death related to the illness, a man in his 70s who was admitted to Timmins and District Hospital after testing positive on July 19th.
It emphasizes his case was not related to an institutional outbreak, with no further information being provided to the public.
He was the sole remaining active case for the health unit, which has reported 73 since the pandemic began.
Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts still has one "active" case - its 94th, reported more than a week ago - while the neighbouring Thunder Bay District Health Unit also has one, its 103rd case.
Algoma Public Health hasn't had an active case in weeks.

Wawa Preparing to Reopen Municipal Offices

Wawa's preparing to reopen its municipal offices - and restart transit.
The Municipality says as of Tuesday, September 8th, it will reopen the municipal offices to the public, though visitors will need to wear masks, sanitize their hands, and sign-in at the front lobby for contact tracing purposes - those who are sick or aren't feeling well are asked to stay home.
The Wawa Public Library's also opening under similar conditions.
In addition, the Municipality's reopening Council meetings to in-person attendance, but limited to eight people - those planning on attending are asked to call ahead so they can be screened, though meetings will still be streamed on the Municipality's YouTube page.
Meanwhile, plans are to restart transit service that same day, running 8:45 to 2:45 weekdays with reduced seating capacity and increased steps for cleaning and sanitizing the bus - again, users are asked to wear a mask and wash hands prior to getting on the bus, and to refrain from using it if sick.
Good news for frequent riders: any monthly pass that was still valid after March 24th is extended to September 30th, while a 10-day pass valid after March 24th is extended until the end of the year.

Chapleau Council Approves Repairs for Refuse Truck

Chapleau Council approved thousands of dollars in repairs to the local garbage truck.
During their meeting this week, Council authorized a purchase order of more than $29,000 for repairs by Cervus Equipment Peterbilt - something Mayor Michael Levesque says comes after the Township noticed "a lot of repairs" were needed for the refuse truck over recent months.

Mayor Michael Levesque on Refuse Truck Repairs

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Levesque notes - while the truck's out of service - the Township's needed to rent a truck from Toronto at the cost of $7500 a month, but says that was the closest and cheapest option available.
The mayor also says it isn't "feasible" to simply replace the truck at this time, as it is only in its sixth year out of a ten-year life expectancy, and a replacement would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Virtual LDHC Palliative Care Program Memorial Butterfly Release Arrives

Wawa's hospital is asking the community to help honour those who've passed with a special celebration. The Lady Dunn Health Centre's Palliative Care Program is holding its second "Memorial Butterfly Release", taking the event virtual, by asking residents of Wawa - and Dubreuilville, White River, and surrounding area - to put butterflies in their windows today. Wawa Family Health Team Nurse Practitioner Tricia Provost notes an template's printed in a recent edition of the Algoma News.

Tricia Provost on Memorial Butterfly Release Butterflies

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Provost also encourages everyone to post pictures of their butterflies on social media, with the hashtag #LDHCbutterflyrelease

Chapleau Man Charged Over Domestic Dispute

A Chapleau man's been charged over a domestic dispute earlier this week.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were called about an incident on Adele Street around 5 o'clock Monday night, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a 57-year-old Chapleau man on a charge of "uttering threats - cause death or bodily harm - spousal".
He has been released from custody, with a future Chapleau court date.