Speeding Stop Near Chapleau Leads to Drug Charges

A speeding stop near Chapleau has resulted in drug trafficking charges.

Superior East OPP say an officer conducting traffic enforcement on Highway 101 west of town shortly after 10 Friday morning observed a vehicle travelling nearly 120 kilometres an hour in a posted 80 km/h zone.

The officer stopped the vehicle, and - while speaking with the driver - detected the odour of cannabis, leading to a search of the vehicle, which yielded about $10,000 in cash, prohibited weapons, and a quantity of suspected cocaine - the total value of the seizure's estimated around $18,000.

Four people were arrested: a 21-year-old from Trent Hills, a 20-year-old from Markham, a 21-year-old from Markham, and a 21-year-old from Scarborough.

Charges laid include trafficking in schedule I substance - cocaine; possession of a schedule I substance - cocaine - for the purpose of trafficking; obstruct or resist peace officer; carrying concealed weapon; unauthorized possession of weapon; personation with intent to avoid arrest, prosecution or obstruct justice; and failure to comply with release order.

The Trent Hills man's staying in custody for a bail hearing, while the other three have been released with a February Chapleau court date.

MMCC Extending Holiday Closure Due to Provincewide Lockdown

The Municipality of Wawa has confirmed the provincewide COVID-19 shutdown means the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre is taking an extended holiday break.

As planned, the facility will close at 12 noon on Thursday, December 24th - Christmas Eve Day - but now it will stay closed until 6 am Monday, January 11th.

Updates will be provided if those plans change.

Wawa Municipal Website Photo Contest Extended

Wawa photographers have extra time to get their pictures on the municipal website.

As part of the redesign of its website, the municipality's launched a photo contest in search of fifteen to twenty high-resolution photos of the community in all four seasons - last Friday was the deadline, but that's now been extended to January 8th.

To submit a photo, email info@wawa.cc with "Photo Contest" in the subject line.

PHSD Issues COVID-19 Exposure Warning, Confirms New Cases

More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the Sudbury area.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting one new case in Greater Sudbury and another in an unspecified Sudbury District community, bringing the health unit's total to 254, ten currently "active".

It's also warning of a potential "low-risk" public exposure on an Ontario Northland bus that left Toronto Tuesday, December 15th around 2 o'clock that afternoon, scheduled to arrive in Sudbury around 7:15 that evening - anyone who was on board is advised to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and self-isolate immediately if any develop, seeking testing.

This comes as restrictions have loosened for the health unit, which is back in the "Green-Prevent" category, the lowest level of the province's tiered restrictions framework.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit - which remains in the "Orange-Restrict" category - has reported five more cases - two at a Thunder Bay long-term care home where there's been thirteen deaths - though 21 more cases are now considered "resolved", so the health unit only has 89 "active".

The Porcupine Health Unit still has four "active", while Algoma Public Health has none - both regions are still in the "Green-Prevent" category.

Deceased Identified in Fatal Tractor-Trailer Collision South of Wawa

Ontario Provincial Police have identified the tractor-trailer driver killed in Friday's single-vehicle collision with a rock cut near Wawa.

Superior East OPP say 55-year-old William Magnusson of Libau, Manitoba, was pronounced dead at the scene of the late morning crash, along Highway 17 about ten kilometres south of town.

A passenger - who has not been publicly identified - was taken to hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries before they were released.

The OPP's North East Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement - TIME - are still investigating the crash.

OPP Investigating Fatal Tractor-Trailer Collision With Rock Cut South of Wawa

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a fatal single-vehicle collision south of Wawa.

Superior East OPP say a tractor-trailer struck a rock cut along Highway 17 about ten kilometres south of town around 11:30 Friday morning, with the driver pronounced dead at the scene - their name is being withheld at this time.

A passenger was also taken to hospital with unknown injuries.

OPP North East Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement are investigating.

More COVID-19 Cases & Death Reported in Region

Another COVID-19 death's been reported at a Thunder Bay long-term care home.

Southbridge Roseview's website now shows 13 residents have died from the virus, while the Thunder Bay District Health Unit's total is now up to 15.

The health unit - meanwhile - reported twenty-six cases over the weekend - one in an unspecified First Nation community, the rest in Thunder Bay, including ten at Southbridge Roseview, which currently has 13 "active" resident cases and 14 staff cases.

That brings the health unit's total to 503, including 103 "active".

It has also declared outbreaks at two Thunder Bay long-term care homes, though it has declared an end to outbreaks at Marathon's Holy Saviour Catholic School an a Geraldton long-term care home.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts reported two more cases late Friday - bringing its total to 252 - though it also reported four more recoveries over the weekend, leaving it with only eight "active".

This comes as the provincial government's announced restrictions are loosening for that health unit, which is returning to the "Green-Prevent' category, the lowest of the province's tiered restrictions framework.

The Porcupine Health Unit's reporting two more cases - both in the James Bay/Hudson Bay area - bringing its total to 121, five of which are "active".

Algoma Public Health - which last reported a case over a week ago - no longer has any "active" cases.

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.

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".

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