APH & PHSD Issue Holiday Celebration Warnings Amid COVID-19

Local health units are urging everyone to celebrate the holidays differently this year and "do your part to keep our communities safe".

Algoma Public Health's calling on residents to consider how plans can be modified to reduce the spread of COVID-19, with Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Loo emphasizing "the safest way to celebrate in-person is with only the people you live with", adding "celebrate virtually with everyone else".

Loo does say you can drop off gifts or holiday treats, but "keep it brief, and stay two metres apart".

Public Health Sudbury and Districts also warns against "non-essential" travel, urging virtual gatherings with everyone who is not in your household.

Wawa's St. Monica's Parish Restricting Christmas Eve Service Attendance

Wawa's Catholic church is tightening its own restrictions for the holidays.

As the province continues to see record high COVID-19 case numbers, St. Monica's Parish warns its Christmas Eve masses will be restricted to parishioners and guests who've pre-registered for those services.

The notice adds "we pray that by this time next year, the COVID-19 pandemic will have been controlled and once again we can welcome everyone to our Christmas Eve services", ending "enjoy the Christmas season - and just as important - everyone stay safe".

More COVID-19 Cases in Timmins & Thunder Bay, Recoveries in Sudbury & Algoma

More cases have been confirmed in the region.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting fifteen more cases in Thunder Bay - including eight at a long-term care home where there's been twelve COVID-19-related deaths - with another case in an unspecified First Nation community.

That brings the health unit's total to 483, 109 of which are "active".

Meanwhile, the Porcupine Health Unit's issued a warning of potential exposure on an Air Canada flight mid-afternoon December 12th, as the health unit's confirmed its 119th case - a Timmins resident exposed by international travel - leaving it with three "active" cases.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has confirmed another recovery, leaving it with ten "active", while Algoma Public Health no longer has any "active" cases.

Wawa's Festival of Lights Wrapping Up

With Christmas a week away, Wawa residents are being encouraged to get out and enjoy some of the decorations up for the holiday season - and vote for the best-looking houses.

Reminding tonight's the last night for the Festival of Lights, Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White encourages everyone to vote for their favourites, noting there are prizes on the line.

Stacey White Highlights Festival of Lights Prizes
Daniel Walker/JJAM FM News

Maps of the participating homes and businesses are available, while participants are reminded to turn on their Christmas lights from 6 to 9 tonight.

More COVID-19 Cases in Thunder Bay & Sudbury

More cases have been confirmed in the region.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is reporting ten more cases in Thunder Bay, bringing the health unit to a total of 467 cases - 101 of which are "active" - while Public Health Sudbury and Districts has confirmed its three more cases in Greater Sudbury - bringing that health unit's total cases to 250, with eleven "active", while Algoma Public Health only has one, and the Porcupine Health Unit two.

Chapleau Child Care Centre Holding Christmas Light Parade

The Chapleau Child Care Centre's looking to light up the community with some Christmas spirit tonight.

The EarlyON Child and Family Centre's hosting a "Christmas Light Parade", encouraging everyone to join or to show Christmas spirit by turning on outside lights and Christmas displays - and they're also collecting non-perishable food items for the local food bank.

The parade leaves the EarlyON Centre parking lot at 6:30.

Single Charge After Wawa Traffic Stop

A Wawa man's facing a single charge after an early morning traffic stop in town.

Superior East OPP say officers patrolling around 3 o'clock Saturday morning stopped a vehicle on Third Avenue, with investigation revealing the driver was on conditions not to operate a motor vehicle, leading to the 29-year-old's arrest on a charge of failure to comply with undertaking.

He's been released with a January court date.

Wawa Council to Hold Special Meeting on Capital Budget

It turns out Wawa Municipal Council's meeting another time before the end of the year - tonight.

While Tuesday's Corporate Planning and regular Council meetings were scheduled to be the last of 2020, a special meeting's been called for 6:30 tonight, though there's only one item on the agenda: the 2021 Capital Budget.

The meeting will be broadcast on the Municipality of Wawa's YouTube channel, starting at 6:30 tonight.

Wawa Doctors, Family Health Team Named APH "Amplifier Champions"

Wawa's family health team and a pair of doctors are being honoured by the local health unit.

Algoma Public Health's announced its annual Public Health Champions, with the Wawa Family Health Team and Doctors Sean Robinson and Jamileh Shaffaf among those chosen as "Amplifier Champion", for sharing "credible information in order to increase awareness, motivate people to follow public health recommendations, and combat misinformation" - other recipients of that honour include Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Christian Provenzano and Dr. Cathy Groh of the Elliot Lake Family Health Team.

A-P-H has also named Leila Macumber of Serpent River First Nation "Health Protection Champion", Algoma University's Student Success and Advancement Teams as "Mental Health and Wellness Champion", and the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA and the Town of Blind River "Re-Open Safely Champions".

Chapleau Continues CAO Recruitment Efforts

Chapleau's continuing recruitment efforts for a new top administrator.

Mayor Michael Levesque says the Township's again nearing the end of a call for applicants, set to close in early January.

Mayor Michael Levesque Updates CAO Recruitment Efforts
Daniel Walker/JJAM FM News

Mayor Levesque appears optimistic, noting "a good number of applications" have already been received - at least some of them "qualified".

Two People Charged With Breaching Conditions in Wawa

Two people are facing charges for breaching court-ordered conditions.

Superior East OPP say officers responded late Monday night to a report of two individuals breaching conditions not to be with one another, leading to the arrest of a Wawa 27-year-old on two counts of "failure to comply with release order - other than to attend court" and a 26-year-old on one count of the charge.

They've been released from custody, with January court dates.

Charge Stemming From Chapleau Well-Being Check

A well-being check's led to a charge in Chapleau.

Superior East OPP say officers performing the check at a Chapleau residence around 8:40 Sunday morning observed a person inside the home despite being prohibited by the courts from being there.

The 35-year-old from Chapleau was arrested on a charge of failure to comply with release order - other than to attend court - though they've been released from custody with a February court date.

Thunder Bay Sees More COVID-19 Cases, Another in Marathon

Nine more cases have been confirmed in Thunder Bay.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit says all of the cases stem from close contact with a known case, bringing it to a total of 448 reported cases, 103 currently active.

While the health unit doesn't name the community where a case is located, it seems the one reported in an unspecified "district community" yesterday is in Marathon, as the Marathon Family Health Team is reporting the seventeenth case in that town.

It also says eight of those are now considered "resolved", with only nine "active" in that town, and it's also reporting the way cases were exposed - nearly all stem from close contact with a known case, but one stems from travel, and three are unknown at this time.

Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts has confirmed its 247th case - once again in Greater Sudbury - though its number "active" has dropped to eight, while Algoma Public Health only has one, and the Porcupine Health Unit two.

Chapleau Council Approves Water & Sewer Fee Increase

Chapleau Town Council has approved increases to rates for water and sewage services and garbage collection.

Mayor Michael Levesque says Council discussed the rates in their meeting this week.

Mayor Michael Levesque Outlines Fee Increase for 2021
Daniel Walker/JJAM FM News

As the 2021 budget isn't finalized, it's not known how tax rates may change next year.

Council - meanwhile - confirmed an agreement for chlorination and dechlorination upgrades to the water and waste water treatment plant, which are expected to be complete by the spring, to meet provincial government regulations on waste water.

Sir James Dunn Students Giving Back to Frontline Workers

Some Wawa students are giving back to frontline workers today.

Sir James Dunn Public School Principal Tarmo Poldmaa explains students are presenting specially-made Christmas cards - and a Tim Hortons gift card - to more than 200 frontline workers.

Tarmo Poldmaa on SJD Giving Back To Frontline Workers
Daniel Walker/JJAM FM News

Poldmaa says it's meant as a message of appreciation during a "very different" holiday season after a long year, and it will still be some time before the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

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