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One person is dead after a single vehicle collision near Agawa Bay.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the collision on Highway 17 in Asselin Township - about 50 kilometres south of Wawa - around 8:55 Tuesday morning, with the driver of a sedan pronounced dead at the scene.
The Northeast Region Traffic Incident and Enforcement - TIME - team is assisting with the investigation, which is still ongoing, though the highway has since reopened fully.
Tougher COVID-19 measures are now in effect for Greater Sudbury, as Public Health Sudbury and Districts has rolled the city back to Step 3 of the province's reopening plan.
PHSD Medical Officer of Health Dr. Penny Sutcliffe announced earlier this week that - in order to address "rapidly rising" case counts - Greater Sudbury businesses and organizations need to reinstate capacity limits and related physical distancing requirements, strengthen masking requirements at indoor and outdoor organized public events, and require proof of vaccination for anyone twelve or older actively participating in organized sports, not just coaches or officials.
The restrictions - which took effect at midnight - do not apply for the rest of the health unit's region, such as Chapleau.
This comes as the health unit's reporting 32 new cases in Greater Sudbury and another in the Manitoulin District, bringing its total to 3155, with 263 "active": four in the western part of the Sudbury District, two in the Manitoulin District; and the remaining 257 in Greater Sudbury.
The health unit's also reporting 46 more cases confirmed or presumed to be variants of concern, bringing that total to 1749.
It's holding an "appointment only" vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office today.
Another COVID-19 death has been confirmed in the region.
Citing "respect for the family", Algoma Public Health's giving no details about the ninth death linked to the illness in its area, simply saying this "highlights the seriousness of this virus", asking "every Algoma resident to continue doing their part to protect our community members, including getting fully vaccinated against COVID-19".
This comes less than three weeks after the health unit confirmed its eighth COVID death.
The health unit's also reporting ten new cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area, bringing the health unit's total to 593, with 63 "active", including one in hospital.
Tougher COVID-19 measures will hit Greater Sudbury tomorrow.
Acknowledging "rapidly rising" case counts in the city, Public Health Sudbury and Districts' Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, has announced businesses and organizations in Greater Sudbury (but not the rest of its coverage area) will need to reinstate capacity limits and related physical distancing requirements, strengthened masking requirements at indoor and outdoor organized public events, and requiring proof of vaccination for anyone twelve or older actively participating in organized sports, not just coaches or officials.
Sutcliffe acknowledges "no one wants to hear this news" but emphasizes "we need to turn back the clock and protect people and the health system" by implementing these "circuit-breaker" protections aiming to "interrupt chains of transmission within the community and protect local businesses and workers by - we hope - avoiding any need for more drastic measures", noting the recent surge isn't driven by any single setting or setting, requiring broader measures to address the widespread transmission, which is especially prevalent among those age 18 to 39, for whom vaccination rates are low and case rates high.
Even before announcing new figures on Monday, PHSD was reporting its highest amount of "active" cases since April 2020, and had the highest rate of active cases of any health unit in Ontario.
Monday's figures show the health unit's 33rd COVID-19-related death - no further details are given except that it's in Greater Sudbury, like all other COVID-related deaths reported by the health unit.
The figures also show 121 new cases in Greater Sudbury since Friday - and another in the Sudbury District - bringing the health unit's total to 3122, with 257 "active": one in the Manitoulin District; one in the northern part of the Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations; four in the western part of the Sudbury District; and the remaining 251 in Greater Sudbury.
The health unit also notes 103 more cases confirmed or presumed to be variants of concern, bringing that total to 1703.
PHSD's holding an "appointment only" vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office tomorrow.
Algoma Public Health - meanwhile - is reporting thirteen new cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area, bringing the health unit's total to 583, with 68 "active", including two in hospital.
It's also warning of potential "low-risk" exposure for those who attended Friday's Soo Greyhounds game at GFL Memorial Gardens in the Sault.
Several COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the region over the weekend.
Algoma Public Health added four in the Sault Ste. Marie area Sunday, bringing the health unit to 570, with 62 "active", including two in hospital.
Meanwhile, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit added seven in the Thunder Bay area and another seven in unspecified First Nation communities - bringing it to 3452 total, with 25 "active", including three in hospital, one in an ICU - while the Porcupine Health Unit is reporting one in the Timmins area, though its total has jumped 2236, with eight "active".
Assault and other charges have been laid after a domestic dispute in Chapleau.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers responded to an incident on Planer Road on the morning of October 30th, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a 26-year-old from Chapleau on charges of criminal harassment - repeatedly communicate, assault with a weapon - spousal, and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.
They've been released from custody with a future court date.
Two Wawa residents are facing assault charges from a domestic dispute over the weekend.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers were called to the incident on Second Avenue early Friday night, with investigation revealing two individuals assaulted each other during a physical altercation, leading to the arrest of a 28-year-old from Wawa on charges of assault with a weapon and fail to comply with probation order, while a 27-year-old from Wawa's been charged with spousal assault and fail to comply with probation order.
The elder was remanded into custody while the younger has been released with a December court date.
A Chapleau man's facing a break and enter charge over an incident in town.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say the incident occurred at a Pine Street address around 10:42 last Tuesday morning, with investigation leading to the arrest of a 29-year-old Chapleau man on a charge of break, enter a dwelling house with intent to commit indictable offence.
He's been released from custody, with a December court date in Chapleau.
Algoma's Children's Aid Society is continuing to deal with a cyberattack that has prevented email access.
The CAS announced Friday that it was made aware the day before of an "attempted cyberattack", prompting the organization to shut down its email system as "a precaution" while the IT department worked to safely get email access functioning.
It emphasizes that its services are still open, urging people to call 24/7 if you have any concerns about a child or youth.
Several COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the region over the weekend.
Algoma Public Health's added ten in the Sault Ste. Marie area, bringing the health unit to 566, with 58 "active", including two in hospital.
It's also warning of multiple "low-risk" public exposures: at the 11 am October 31st service at Bethel Bible Church in Sault Ste. Marie; at the Soo Greyhounds game at GFL Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie last Wednesday, November 3rd; and on a pair of Air Canada flights from Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie November 4th.
Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts added 37 cases in Greater Sudbury and another in the western part of the Sudbury District, bringing the health unit to 3000 cases since the pandemic began, with 223 currently "active".
It also reported another confirmed or presumed to be a variant of concern, totalling 1600.
Good news for skiers in Chapleau: registration starts tonight.
The Chapleau Ski Club says "early bird" registration will be held at the chalet from 6 to 8 tonight, and again from 6 to 8 tomorrow night.
Prospective members are asked to bring proof of COVID-19 vaccination, if available.
Anyone looking for more information is encouraged to check the club's Facebook page.
One man's been taken to hospital in Thunder Bay after a van collided with a tractor-trailer east of Marathon yesterday.
Marathon/Manitouwadge OPP say officers responded to the collision on Highway 17 near Rouse Lake - about 20 kilometres east of the town - shortly before 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon, with investigation determining the van had crossed the center line into the opposite lane, colliding with the tractor-trailer.
The van's driver - identified as a 62-year-old Marathon man - was taken to hospital and later transferred to Thunder Bay for treatment of "major injuries", while the tractor-trailer's driver was released after being treated for minor injuries at the local hospital.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's added three in the Sault Ste. Marie area, bringing the health unit to 556, though the number "active" actually stayed at 49, including two in hospital.
Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts added 26 in the Sudbury District and two in the Sudbury District - bringing the health unit to 2962, with 203 "active" - with 24 more confirmed or presumed to be variants of concern, bringing that total to 1599.
It's also warning of potential high-risk exposure for those who attended a Halloween party held Saturday night at a residence on Worthington Crescent in Greater Sudbury.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's added one case in an unspecified Thunder Bay District community and another in an unspecified First Nation community - bringing it to 3438, with 23 "active", including one in a hospital ICU - while the Porcupine Health Unit added two in the Timmins area, bringing it to 2232, with eleven "active".
As Remembrance Day approaches, Wawa's Royal Canadian Legion Branch 429 is reminding anyone who wants to order a wreath to do so quickly.
Larry Harvey notes details are in the recent poppy campaign letter, which should have arrived in the mail.
Harvey reminds Legionnaires will attend the annual church service at the Pentecostal Church this Sunday, before proceeding to Hawk Junction for its wreath-laying ceremony.
After being cancelled last year, Wawa's Remembrance Day ceremony will be held at the arena this year, though there will not be a parade or an event at the cenotaph - those attending will need to wear a mask and provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination.
A local health unit's now offering COVID-19 vaccine booster doses for certain people.
Following a provincal government decision to expand eligibility, Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it is now offering booster doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to: individuals 70 and older; health care workers and designated essential caregivers in congregate settings such as long-term care or retirement home staff; individuals who received a complete series of the Oxford-AstraZeneca or Janssen vaccines; and First Nation, Inuit, and Métis adults and their non-Indigenous household members.
In order to be eligible, it must have been at least six months since receiving the last dose in a full series of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Algoma Public Health’s confirmed it is also expanding eligibility along those lines starting Monday, November 8th.
Get ready to gain some sleep this weekend.
Daylight Saving Time is ending, meaning it's time to "fall back", setting clocks back an hour at 2 o'clock Sunday morning.
If you're planning to head to sleep earlier Saturday night, it's recommended you set your clock back before going to bed.
The Wawa Volunteer Fire Department's also recommending using this time to ensure smoke or carbon monoxide alarms are in good working condition, replacing batteries.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's added three in the Sault Ste. Marie area - all stemming from close contact with a known case - bringing the health unit to 553, though the number "active" actually dropped to 49, including two in hospital.
Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts added 23 in Greater Sudbury and two in the Sudbury District - bringing the health unit to 2934, with 190 "active" - with 18 more confirmed or presumed to be variants of concern, bringing that total to 1575.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's added one in North Algoma and four in the Sault Ste. Marie area, bringing the health unit to 550, with 54 "active", including two in hospital.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts has added 22 in Greater Sudbury - bringing the health unit to 2909, with 188 "active" - while reporting 14 more confirmed or presumed to be variants of concern, bringing that total to 1557.
Meanwhile, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit added one in an unspecified district community and another in an unspecified First Nation community - bringing its total to 3428, with fifteen "active", including one in a hospital ICU - while the Porcupine Health Unit added one in the Timmins area, bringing the health unit to 2225, with three "active".
Wawa Municipal Council's set to hold a pair of meetings tonight.
First up is a Corporate Planning Committee meeting, which will include discussion about the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre's reopening plan, a Wawa Curling Club request regarding hours for the bar, and draft terms of reference for a proposed Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee - that committee was recommended as part of plans for the Municipality to cut ties with the Economic Development Corporation of Wawa, along with creating a new combined Tourism and Economic Development position within the Municipality's staff.
Council will follow up on that recommendation in tonight's regular meeting, which also includes a resolution to adopt an updated MMCC reopening plan.
It also includes give "in-camera" items: a personnel issue relating to proposed organizational changes from the same report that recommended making economic development an internal position; a personnel issue relating to a contract review and/or performance appraisal; and three legal issues, including one relating to an offer to purchase land in the industrial park, and another about the ADSAB apportionment model - the report that recommended organizational changes also suggested the Municipality push for peer review of the model, believing Wawa's levy is "too high" due to the way the Power Dam Compensatory Grant is used in calculations.
The meetings will be held back-to-back, starting at 6:30 tonight - they are open to the public but proof of full COVID-19 vaccination is required, though they'll also be broadcast through the Municipality's YouTube channel.
Wawa's food bank is thanking the local Ford dealership and the community for their support in a recent campaign.
Wynter Krell of Northern Lights Ford explains the "Northern Lights Ford Scares Hunger" campaign was quite successful.
Wawa Community Food Bank Coordinator Margaret Chapman describes the delivery as "like Christmas morning" with everyone excited, noting how important the donations are this year.
Chapman notes use of the food bank has been "steady" amid the COVID-19 pandemic, providing roughly 35 households - 40 to 75 individuals - a week with support, though she emphasizes it's more of a "supplement" to help individuals get by.
She also says this community is "wonderful" and "always steps up", including with ongoing donations at John's Your Independent Grocer and the food bank's drop box, and commends the nine volunteers who run the local food bank.
