Impaired Driving Charges Over Single Vehicle Collision Near Wawa

Impaired driving charges have been laid after a single vehicle collision near Wawa.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the collision on Highway 17 in Lendrum Township around 11:34 Friday night, with officers determining the driver was impaired by alcohol, leading to charges of operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs and operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus) for a 23-year-old from Beachburg in eastern Ontario.

They've been released from custody with a March date in Wawa's Ontario Court of Justice.

Chapleau Resident Charged After Domestic Dispute

A Chapleau resident's been charged after a domestic dispute last week.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the incident on Monk Street around 3:50 last Wednesday afternoon, with officers determining one of the individuals involved wa breaching court-ordered conditions, leading to the 40-year-old's arrest on a charge of fail to comply with probation order.

They've been released from custody with a March date in Chapleau's Ontario Court of Justice.

Assault & Other Charges Laid Over Wawa Incident

Assault and other charges have been laid against a Wawa man over an incident last week.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to an assault on Mission Road around 5:22 last Thursday evening, arresting a 47-year-old on charges of assault, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, causing a disturbance, forcible entry, assault with intent to resist arrest, failure to comply with undertaking, and failure to comply with release order.

He was remanded into custody, pending a bail hearing.

APH Reports New COVID-19 Cases, Local Vaccination Clinics Planned

Algoma Public Health's reporting more COVID-19 cases.

The health unit's added 47 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, ten in Central and East Algoma, another in the Elliot Lake area, and four in North Algoma - which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, Michipicoten First Nation, and the Missinabie Cree First Nation - though the number of known "active" cases is down slightly, to 547 - plus two "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" - with seventeen cases in hospital.

Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reminding it's holding "appointment only" vaccination clinics at the Chapleau and District Family Health Team today and at the health unit's Chapleau office tomorrow.

A "no appointment" clinic will be held at Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre from 1 to 4 today, while an "appointment only" clinic will be held for five to eleven year olds in White River through the Northern Neighbours Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic tomorrow.

Hamper Fund Offering Free Eggs and Potatoes

8:45 am Update: Truck has been delayed, now expected to arrive around 11:30 am.

Free eggs and potatoes are being offered in Wawa today.

The Wawa Christmas Hamper Fund says they're receiving skids of the food items through contacts of the group, with plans to hand them out free to the public, in flats of 30 eggs and ten pound bags of red and white potatoes.

They'll be handed out at the MNR Fire Garage on Mission Road from 10 am to 4 pm today, with people told to drive by and wait as the items are loaded into their vehicle, though you must wear a facemask.

While there is no charge, donations to the Wawa Christmas Hamper Fund are welcomed.

APH & PHSD Report New COVID-19 Cases, Local Vaccination Clinics Planned

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

Algoma Public Health's added 37 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, three in Central and East Algoma, two in the Elliot Lake area, and three in North Algoma - which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, Michipicoten First Nation, and the Missinabie Cree First Nation - though the number of known "active" cases is down slightly, to 556 - plus two "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" - with nineteen in hospital, plus one "non-resident" case.

Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts has added 180 in Greater Sudbury since Friday, plus 30 in the Manitoulin District and seventeen in the Sudbury District, though the number "active" is down to 597, including fourteen in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.

The health unit notes it's holding "appointment only" vaccination clinics at the Chapleau and District Family Health Team tomorrow and at the health unit's Chapleau office Thursday.

A "no appointment" clinic will be held at Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre from 1 to 4 tomorrow, while an "appointment only" clinic will be held for five to eleven year olds in White River through the Northern Neighbours Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic on Thursday.

Wawa Council's 2022 Operating Budget Meeting Delayed A Week

Wawa Municipal Council's delaying plans to take a look at this year's operating budget.

While a special meeting was planned for tomorrow, that's been delayed a week, to Tuesday, February 15th.

Like most Council meetings, it will be held at 6:30 that night, and - while Council Chambers is still closed to the public - it will be livestreamed on the Municipality's YouTube channel.

APH Reports New COVID-19 Cases, More in Neighbouring Regions

Algoma Public Health's added 28 cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area, three in Central and East Algoma, and another in North Algoma - which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, Michipicoten First Nation, and Missinabie Cree First Nation - leaving it with 557 known "active" cases - plus two "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" - with eighteen cases in hospital, plus one non-resident case.

The neighbouring Thunder Bay District Health Unit's added 134 in the Thunder Bay area since Friday, plus seven in unspecified First Nation communities and five in unspecified district communities, leaving it with 283 "active", including 49 in hospital, ten in ICUs.

The Porcupine Health Unit's added 96 cases since Friday - seven in the last day, including three in the Timmins area, two in the Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, and Fauquier-Strickland area, one in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area, and another in the James and Hudson Bay region - leaving it with 365 "active", including 23 in hospital, one in an ICU.

New Chapleau Councillor to be Sworn In

Chapleau Town Council will welcome a new colleague tonight.

A special meeting's scheduled for the swearing-in of Jason Rioux, who was chosen last week to fill the vacancy left after the resignation of Deputy Mayor Rick Smith in October - Rioux will serve out the remainder of the term, which ends in mid-November.

Council will also discuss a couple items relating to covering the duties of the CAO - as it prepares to launch a search for a new top administrator - and will discuss a Human Resources Service Review.

Held in Civic Centre Council Chambers, the meeting starts at 6:30 tonight.

PHSD Reports 6 COVID-19 Deaths, More Cases for APH

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting six more COVID-19 deaths.

All in Greater Sudbury, they bring the health unit's death toll since the pandemic began to 92 - it also reported six deaths on Wednesday.

The health unit's also reporting 114 new cases in Greater Sudbury, eighteen in the Sudbury District, and ten in the Manitoulin District, leaving it with 623 known "active" cases, including twelve in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health's added 87 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, fifteen in Central and East Algoma, and four in North Algoma - which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, Michipicoten First Nation, and Missinabie Cree First Nation - leaving it with 558 known "active" cases - plus two "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" - with nineteen cases in hospital, plus one non-resident case.

Tickets Running Out Ahead of MVFA Cash Draw's Valentine's Draw

Time and tickets are running out ahead of a draw supporting Wawa's firefighters.

The Michipicoten Volunteer Firefighters' Association is preparing for its annual cash draw's Valentine's Day draw - the second of its $1000 draws held during the fundraiser - and President Kyle Ouellet says tickets are nearly gone.

Ouellet notes that all tickets sold will be entered in the draw - including the Early Bird Draw-winning ticket held by Kim Shorey - with funds raised by the cash draw supporting training and equipment for the firefighters.

The Valentine's Day Draw will be held next Monday, February 14th.

Deadline Nears for 25th Chapleau Derby Contest As 24th Derby Nears

Organizers are reminding time's almost up for a couple contests ahead of this year's Chapleau Pike Ice Fishing Derby.

As next year will be the 25th derby, the Rotary Club of Chapleau launched the contests, as explained by Jocelynne Bernier.

Bernier notes entries - and virtual registrations - can be emailed to chapleauderbyregistration@hotmail.com.

Both contests - and virtual registration - run until Friday, February 11th, the day before the derby.

APH Reports 27th COVID-19 Death, More Cases in Neighbouring Regions

Algoma Public Health's reporting another death linked to COVID-19.

The health unit's 27th COVID-19 death, it comes just a week after it reported two others.

It's also reporting 45 cases in Sault Ste. Marie, seven in Central and East Algoma, two in the Elliot Lake area, and another in North Algoma - which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, Michipicoten First Nation, and Missinabie Cree First Nation - though the health unit's number of known "active" cases is down slightly, to 568, plus two "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma", with eighteen cases in hospital - up by one - plus one "non-resident case temporarily in Algoma".

The neighbouring Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting 147 in the Thunder Bay area, ten in unspecified First Nation communities, and six in unspecified district communities, leaving it with 317 "active", including 57 in hospital, eight in ICUs.

The Porcupine Health Unit's added eight in the Timmins area, seven in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area, four in the James and Hudson Bay region, three in the Hearst and Hornepayne area, and two in the Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, and Fauquier-Strickland area, leaving it with 323 "active".

Chapleau Council Passes Various By-Laws, But Tables Remuneration & Expenses

Chapleau Town Council's approved some updated, consolidated, and new by-laws.

Mayor Michael Levesque explains there were a variety of items addressed in the by-laws passed earlier this week.

Levesque notes another by-law was put off for a second time, however.

Council also accepted a recommendation from the Fire Chief, to add Christian Porter to the Fire Department Auxiliary, and Mayor Levesque notes the Township has now launched a revamped website at chapleau.ca, encouraging everyone to take a look.

Ventilation Upgrades Planned for Local English Catholic Elementary Schools

Ventilation upgrades are planned for a trio of local schools.

The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board's allocated over $5-million for upgrades to six elementary schools, and another $700-thousand in general maintenance of its schools in general.

While most of the upgrade funds are directed to extensive upgrades to a trio of schools in Blind River and Elliot Lake, $520,000 has been allotted for improvements to the ventilation system for Wawa's St. Augustine French Immersion, $720,000 for ventilation and barrier-free upgrades at Chapleau's Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School, and $600,000 for ventilation and barrier-free upgrades at White River's St. Basil Catholic School.

Family Dispute Leads to Assault, Weapon & Other Charges

A local family dispute's led to assault, weapon, and other charges.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the incident on Michipicoten First Nation around 4:55 Tuesday afternoon, with investigation leading to the arrest of a 23-year-old Wawa woman on charges of possession of weapon for dangerous purpose, assault with a weapon, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, and mischief.

She's been released from custody, with a March date in Wawa's Ontario Court of Justice.

Chapleau Area RIDE Check Leads to Impaired Driving Charges

Impaired driving charges have been laid after a vehicle was stopped at a RIDE checkpoint near Chapleau.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say the RIDE check was located on Highway 667 in Nimitz Township around 12:19 Saturday afternoon, with officers determining a 38-year-old driver from Dresden, Ontario, was impaired by alcohol, leading to charges of operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs and operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus).

He's been released with a March date in Chapleau's Ontario Court of Justice.

Wawa Resident Charged With Prohibited & Dangerous Driving

A Wawa resident's been charged with driving while prohibited and dangerous operation after a traffic stop in town.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers conducting general patrol in Wawa observed a vehicle "travelling in a dangerous manner" around 11:46 Thursday night, leading to the stop on Churchill Avenue.

Subsequent investigation led to charges of operation while prohibited, dangerous operation, and two counts of fail to comply with probation order, though the 38-year-old's been released from custody with a March date in Wawa's Ontario Court of Justice.

SSM Woman Charged Over Wawa Incident

A Sault Ste. Marie woman's facing a public intoxication and assault charge after an incident in Wawa.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to a disturbance call on Mission Road around 1:51 Tuesday morning, with officers determining one of the involved parties was intoxicated in a public place.

During the interaction, an officer was assaulted, leading to the arrest of the 37-year-old on charges of assaulting a peace officer and being intoxicated in a public place, though she's been released with a March date at Wawa's Ontario Court of Justice.

Melanie Pilon Sworn-In As New Wawa Councillor

Wawa has a new councillor.

Melanie Pilon was officially sworn-in as a councillor last night - filling the seat declared vacant after councillor Pat Tait was appointed mayor in December, following the resignation of Mayor Ron Rody - with Pilon taking her oath of office, later thanking a number of people.

Pilon also highlighted Dubreuilville Mayor Bev Nantel and Michipicoten First Nation Chief Pat Tangie as "two very strong women in politics", with Chief Tangie speaking after, calling it "heartwarming" to see an Indigenous woman on Council, adding she sees "more than ever a real opportunity" for the two communities to work more closely together, further remarking on the number of women in attendance (three of the now-five Council members are women, as were all staff members physically attending the meeting).

With Pilon sworn-in as a councillor, she joined Council for last night's back-to-back meetings - she'll serve for the roughly nine-and-a-half-month remainder of Council's term, as the municipal election - which was discussed in last night's meetings - is scheduled for October 24th, with Council's term ending in mid-November.