PHU Reports 35th COVID-19 Death, More Cases for APH & TBDHU

Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in a neighbouring region.

The Porcupine Health Unit's 35th death related to the illness, it comes just days after the health unit's 34th - the health unit's also confirmed 79 new cases since Friday, leaving it with 740 known "active" cases, two outside its district.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's added 231 cases in the Thunder Bay area since Friday, plus seven in unspecified First Nation communities, and six in unspecified district communities, leaving it with 355 "active", including 47 in hospital, eight in ICUs.

Algoma Public Health's added 23 in the Sault Ste. Marie area and eight in Central and East Algoma - while reducing the number reported in North Algoma by one - leaving it with 582 known "active" cases plus four "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma", with seventeen cases in hospital, plus one non-resident case.

Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it's holding "appointment only" vaccination clinics at the Chapleau and District Family Health Team tomorrow and Thursday.

APH Reports 23rd COVID-19 Death, PHSD 63rd

Two more COVID-19 deaths have been confirmed in the region.

Algoma Public Health's giving no further details about its 23rd death linked to the illness, reported Saturday, four days after its 22nd.

The health unit reported 121 new cases over the weekend: 92 in the Sault Ste. Marie area; fourteen in Central and East Algoma; nine in the Elliot Lake area; and six in North Algoma, which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, Michipicoten First Nation, and Missinabie Cree First Nation.

It currently has 588 known "active" cases plus four "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" with eighteen cases in hospital, plus one non-resident case, with outbreaks recently declared at the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Extendicare Van Daele in the Sault, Thessalon's Algoma Manor, and the Light Haven retirement home in Bruce Mines.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has confirmed its 63rd COVID-19 death - the 59th in Greater Sudbury and the fifth death of the last week - while reporting 130 new cases in Greater Sudbury, five in the Sudbury District, and nine in the Manitoulin District, leaving it with 983 known "active" cases, ten in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.

Local Gas Tax Funding Announced

Local communities are getting some provincial support for infrastructure.

The Ontario government's confirmed it's providing $375.6-million through the Gas Tax program - including $120.4-million in "one-time additional funding" to make up for lower gas sales due to COVID-19 - with the funds meant to help 107 municipalities across the province operate and expand public transit.

Locally, Wawa will receive $25,843 - down slightly from last year - while Chapleau will get $18,693, which is up slightly from last year.

This comes more than a month after the government announced 2022 grants under the Ontario Critical Infrastructure Fund (OCIF), with Chapleau's nearly doubling to $271,130 and Wawa's similarly jumping to $485,736, while Dubreuilville's is up to $149,696, White River's to $221,937, and Manitouwadge's to $368,195.

SIU Investigating Death After Police Called to Chapleau Residence

Ontario's police watchdog is looking into a death in Chapleau.

The Special Investigations Unit says preliminary information suggests OPP officers responded to a Chapleau residence Thursday evening over a call about a person in distress, though an officer's attempts to make contact with the person yielded no response - Tactical Response Unit officers ended up entering the residence early Friday morning, finding the person deceased.

As the SIU's mandate is to look into incidents involving police where someone is seriously injured or dies, three SIU investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case, with the SIU urging anyone with information - particularly photos or video - to contact their lead investigator by phoning 1-800-787-8529 or go to the SIU's website.

PHSD & PHU Report New COVID-19 Deaths, More Cases for APH & TBDHU

Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in Greater Sudbury.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is giving no more details about its 62nd death linked to the illness, which is the fourth this week, coming just a day after two other deaths were reported.

The health unit's also reporting 66 new cases in Greater Sudbury, eight in the Sudbury District, and four in the Manitoulin District, though the number of known "active" cases is down to 965, including ten in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.

PHSD is holding an "appointment-only" COVID-19 vaccination clinics at its Chapleau office in Chapleau today.

The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reporting its 34th COVID-related death - the second this week - while reporting fourteen new cases in the Timmins area, eight in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area, six in the James and Hudson Bay region, three in the Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, and Fauquier-Strickland area, two in the Hearst and Hornepayne area, and another outside its district - it has 823 "active", including two outside its district.

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health's added 35 cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area, nine in Central and East Algoma, one in the Elliot Lake area, and three in North Algoma, which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, Michipicoten First Nation, and Missinabie Cree First Nation.

That leaves it with 576 known "active" cases - plus four "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" - sixteen cases are in hospital, plus one "non-resident" case.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's added 71 cases in the Thunder Bay area, five in unspecified district communities, and another in an unspecified First Nation community, leaving it with 330 "active", thirteen in hospital, two in ICUs.

LDHCF Thanks Community for Wish Campaign Support

The Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation's thanking the community for supporting its annual holiday fundraising campaign.

The Foundation says the recent "Wish campaign" - which wrapped up earlier this month - raised a total of $48,905.

Ahead of the campaign, Foundation Vice-Chair Lorraine Pihelgas emphasized donations stay in the community, supporting the purchase of equipment the hospital has identified as its greatest need - in this case its "Meditech expansion".

Though the Wish Campaign is now over, the Foundation reminds donations are accepted any time of year.

5 Candidates for Vacant Wawa Council Seat

Five people are vying for a vacant seat on Wawa Municipal Council - including a former councillor.

As yesterday was the deadline for applications, the Municipality's released the names of the candidates: Angela Calaiezzi; Mary Harbocian; Matthew Morrison; Melanie Pilon; and Micheal Reid.

The municipal website also has a photo of each candidate, along with their submitted letter of interest for the position, all highlighting their ties to the community, some noting past experience on Council - Morrison was a councillor from September 2015 to January 2017 - or involvement in other municipal affairs in Wawa or elsewhere, as well as community involvement or work experience.

Municipal Clerk Cathy Cyr says plans are for the candidates to make their case to Council in a special meeting later this month.

After that, Council will publicly vote on the candidates, to determine their appointee - if no candidate gets the backing of a majority of Council, the candidate with the fewest votes would be dropped from contention, continuing until there are two candidates left - as there are four sitting members of Council, it is possible it could deadlock at that point, in which case the appointee would be determined by lot or pulling a name from a hat, per the Municipal Election Act.

The special meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 25th, at 6:30 pm - though Council Chambers will not be open to the public, the meeting will be broadcast live on the Municipality's YouTube channel.

Premier Ford Unveils Plan to Ease Ontario's COVID-19 Restrictions

Ontario will start gradually easing COVID-19 restrictions at the end of the month.

Saying "We can be confident that the worst is behind us as we look to cautiously ease public health measures," Premier Doug Ford announced "we are now in a position to cautiously and gradually ease public health measures", unveiling a three-step plan to do so.

Starting January 31st - four days later than originally expected - social gathering limits will rise to ten people indoors or 25 outdoors, while indoor capacity limits will be maintained at or increased to 50% for: indoor dining, gyms and other non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, retailers, shopping malls, cinemas, meeting and event spaces, recreational amenities, and religious services, though enhanced proof of vaccination and other requirements will still apply in existing settings.

The next step's set to start February 21st, increasing social gathering limits to 25 people indoors and 100 outdoors, removing capacity limits for indoor public settings where proof of vaccination's required - including restaurants and indoor sports and recreational facilities - permitting 50% spectator capacity at sporting events, concert venues, and theatres, limiting capacity in most indoor settings that do not require proof of vaccination to the number that can be maintained with two metres physical distancing, and allowing 25% capacity for remaining "higher-risk" indoor settings where proof of vaccination's required, like nightclubs and wedding receptions in meeting or event spaces where there's dancing.

Most remaining measures will lift March 14th, ending capacity limits in all indoor public settings and for religious services, while increasing social gathering limits to 50 people indoors or no limit outdoors.

This comes as Ford's deputy premier and Health Minister, Christine Elliott, forecast a peak in the Omicron-driven wave of COVID-19 cases later this month, with the pace of cases being admitted to hospital slowing and the average length of stay in hospitals and I-C-Us for COVID-19 patients stabilizing.

PHSD Reports 60th & 61st COVID-19 Deaths, Rising Cases for APH

Two more COVID-19 deaths have been confirmed in Greater Sudbury.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is giving no more details about the deaths, which bring the health unit's death toll since the pandemic began to 61 - the health unit reported its 59th death linked to the illness on Monday.

The health unit's also reporting 144 new cases in Greater Sudbury, 27 in the Manitoulin District, and eight in the Sudbury District, leaving it with 993 known "active" cases, including eight in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.

PHSD is holding "appointment-only" COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the Chapleau Family Health Team today, at the health unit's office in Chapleau tomorrow, and at the Gogama Community Centre tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health's added 59 cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area, eleven in Central and East Algoma, and one in North Algoma, which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, Michipicoten First Nation, and Missinabie Cree First Nation.

That leaves it with 586 known "active" cases - plus four "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" - thirteen cases are in hospital, plus one "non-resident" case.

Bruce Mines Man Killed in Highway 17 Collision With Snow Plow South of Wawa

A Bruce Mines man has been identified as the person killed in a collision on Highway 17 south of Wawa.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the "serious" collision near the Sand River around 3:50 Tuesday afternoon, with investigation revealing a northbound SUV struck a northbound plow truck.

The driver of the SUV, identified as 76-year-old Douglas Hunt of Bruce Mines, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigation's ongoing with assistance from the North East Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement - TIME - Team, including a Technical Collision Investigator and a Reconstructionist.

OPP Investigating Fatal Highway 17 Collision South of Wawa

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a fatal collision that closed Highway 17 near Agawa Bay.

Superior East OPP have confirmed to JJAM FM News that the collision - reported publicly late Tuesday afternoon - involved two vehicles: a snowplow and a passenger vehicle, with at least one fatality.

No further details have been given, except that Technical Traffic Collision investigators were on scene last night.

APH Reports 22nd COVID-19 Death, More Cases for PHSD

Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.

Algoma Public Health's giving no details about its 22nd death linked to the illness, which comes just six days after its 21st.

The health unit's also reporting 29 new cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area, three in Central and East Algoma, three in the Elliot Lake area, and nine in North Algoma - which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, Michipicoten First Nation, and Missinabie Cree First Nation - though the number "active" has dropped to 560, including thirteen in hospital - up two from the previous day - plus a "non-resident case temporarily in Algoma", also in hospital.

It's also showing a newly declared outbreak at the March of Dimes congregate care facility in Sault Ste. Marie, joining outbreaks at the Ontario Finnish Resthome, Pathways Retirement Residence, Extendicare Maple View, Davey Home, Ken Brown Recovery Home, Sault Area Hospital's Emergency Department, and District of Sault Ste. Marie Paramedic Services.

Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts has added 79 cases in Greater Sudbury, nine in the Sudbury District, and six in the Manitoulin District, though the number "active" is down to 910, including eight in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.

PHSD is holding "appointment-only" COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the Chapleau Family Health Team tomorrow, at the health unit's office in Chapleau Friday, and at the Gogama Community Centre today and tomorrow.

Serious Collision Closes Hwy 17 South of Wawa

Highway 17 is closed from Wawa south to Sault Ste. Marie, after a “serious collision” in the Agawa Bay area.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say the collision is blocking the highway, preventing traffic from travelling through the area - an ambulance and Wawa Fire Department trucks have been seen heading in that direction.

There’s no estimated time for reopening the highway, though Superior East OPP do expect it will take several hours.

Chapleau Council Delays Filling Vacant Seat Amid Conflict of Interest Questions

The appointment of a new Chapleau councillor has been delayed amid questions about conflicts of interest involving half the sitting councillors.

Prompted by the resignation of deputy mayor Rick Smith in late October, the Township had accepted expressions of interest to fill the seat - but Mayor Michael Levesque says the decision was not made in last night's meeting as planned.

Apologizing to the candidates for the delay, Mayor Levesque says he's now written to the Township's integrity commissioner to confirm how to proceed - emphasizing this must be resolved before a decision's made or Council and the Township may face legal issues - with hopes that it may be resolved in time for a decision to be made in the next meeting, on January 31st.

Chapleau Mayor Levesque Not Seeking 3rd Term

Chapleau's mayor will not seek re-election.

Mayor Michael Levesque announced during Monday's Council meeting that he won't be running for a third term, later telling JJAM FM News that he believes "eight years is enough" and he doesn't want to follow the example of long-running mayors like Mississauga's Hazel McCallion, who held that role for 36 years.

Though he isn't running again, Levesque says he is "a teacher by trade and by inclination", and would like to serve that function by writing a series of articles on municipal government and what candidates should know - including about budgets.

Mayor Levesque says he does still plan to serve out the remainder of his term on Council, which ends this November, after the October election.

Auction Planned After Bid for Harte Gold

The owner of White River's gold mine will go up for auction amid competing buyout offers, just over a month after entering in creditor protection.

An Ontario Superior Court judge had approved a "sale and investment solicitation process" with a subscription agreement with a numbered company - that is a wholly-owned but indirect subsidiary of Australian company Silver Lake Resources Limited - serving as a "stalking horse bid" to establish baseline consideration for Harte's business and assets.

Harte says a qualified bid other than that "stalking horse bid" was received by the submission deadline of last Friday, prompting a decision to conduct an auction tomorrow to determine the successful bid - once that bid's chosen, Harte Gold will apply to the court for an order approving it.

The Toronto-based miner filed for creditor protection in early December, amid a continued cash crunch, though it has continued operations at its Sugar Zone Mine in White River, which entered commercial production in 2019.

PHSD Reports 59th COVID-19 Death, More Cases for APH

Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is giving no details about its 59th death linked to the illness except that it was in Greater Sudbury - this comes five days after it last reported a COVID-related death.

The health unit's also reported 283 cases in Greater Sudbury since Friday, plus 26 in the Sudbury District and ten in the Manitoulin District, leaving it with 948 "active", including five in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.

It is holding "appointment-only" COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the Chapleau Family Health Team today and Thursday - and at the PHSD office in Chapleau Friday - and at the Gogama Community Centre tomorrow and Thursday.

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health's crossed the 3000 case milestone, reporting 26 more in the Sault Ste. Marie area, seven in Central and East Algoma, three in the Elliot Lake area, and three in North Algoma, which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, Michipicoten First Nation, and Missinabie Cree First Nation.

It has reported 3030 cases since the pandemic began, with 602 currently "active", eleven in hospital plus a "non-resident case temporarily in Algoma", also in hospital.

Wawa Teen Charged With Uttering Threats and Assaulting Police Officer

A Wawa teen's facing charges of uttering threats and assaulting police officers.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers responded to a "threats occurrence" involving two youth in Wawa around 1:04 pm last Wednesday, January 12th, with investigation leading to the arrest of a seventeen-year-old on three counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, one count of assault a peace officer with a weapon, two of assault with intent to resist arrest, and one of disarming a peace officer.

They've been released from custody, with a February date at Wawa's Ontario Court of Justice.

Porcupine Health Unit Sees 33rd COVID-19 Death, More Cases for APH & TBDHU

Another COVID-19 death's been reported in a neighbouring region.

The Porcupine Health Unit's giving no details about its 33rd death related to the illness, which comes just four days after its 32nd.

The health unit's also reporting 99 cases since Friday, including 20 over the last day: seven in the Timmins area, six in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area, three in the Hearst and Hornepayne area, three in the James and Hudson Bay region, and another in the Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, and Fauquier-Strickland area - that leaves it with 906 known "active" cases, one outside its district.

It's also warning of potential "high-risk" exposure on an Ontario Northland train from Timmins to Cochrane last Thursday, January 13th, and the Polar Bear Express from Cochrane to Moosonee the same day.

Algoma Public Health's added 59 cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area and another in Central and East Algoma, leaving it with 568 "active", including eleven in hospital, plus a "non-resident case temporarily in Algoma", also in hospital.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's added 171 in the Thunder Bay area since Friday plus eight in unspecified First Nation commuinities and five in unspecified district communities - it has 290 "active" including sixteen in hospital, two in ICUs.

Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts has announced it is holding "appointment-only" COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the Chapleau Family Health Team Tuesday and Thursday, and at the PHSD office in Chapleau Friday.

"Appointment only" clinics will also be held at the Gogama Community Centre Wednesday and Thursday.

APH & PHSD Report New COVID-19 Cases Over Weekend

More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.

Algoma Public Health's added 69 in the Sault Ste. Marie area since Friday, plus sixteen in Central and East Algoma, one in the Elliot Lake area, and nine in North Algoma, which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, Michipicoten First Nation, and Missinabie Cree First Nation.

Despite that, known "active" cases are down to 547, with eleven in hospital, plus a "non-resident case temporarily in Algoma", also in hospital.

Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts added 195 in Greater Sudbury, six in the Sudbury District, and eight in the Manitoulin District, leaving it with 1082 "active", including eighteen in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.