Wawa Receiving Federal Support for Airport

The Wawa Airport's getting federal support to recover from the pandemic.

Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu - who's the minister responsible for FedNor - has announced more than $5.8-million in financial support for seven Northeastern Ontario airports, supporting nine initiatives to "mitigate the financial pressures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic", expected to help create or maintain 23 jobs and restore five more full-time positions.

That funding includes $332,264 for the Municipality of Wawa, as well as $140,325 for the Town of Hearst, and support for airports in Timmins, Kirkland Lake, Gore Bay, Moosonee, and Earlton-Timiskaming.

PHSD Reports 127th COVID-19 Death, More Cases for APH

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is giving few details about its 127th death from the illness, though figures show it was the fifth in the broader Sudbury District and the 33rd where COVID-19 contributed but was not the underlying cause of death - it last reported deaths on Monday, when it last updated figures.

The health unit's also reporting 108 cases since Monday - 98 in Greater Sudbury, five in the Sudbury District, and five in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 314 known "active" cases, 34 in hospital, three in ICUs - all up from Monday's report.

It's holding an "appointment only" vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office today.

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health's added 57 cases - 41 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, seven in the Elliot Lake area, six in Central and East Algoma, and three in North Algoma, which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations - leaving it with 448 "active", plus four "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma".

It did not update its hospitalization figures, though Tuesday's update showed nineteen cases in hospital, five in ICUs.

MHS Student New ADSB Student Trustee

A local student will serve as one of the Algoma District School Board's student trustees next school year.

The board says Teagan Britten - a Grade 11 student at Michipicoten High School - is one of three student trustees appointed for the 2022-2023 school year, noting she's taken on a leadership role at the school over the past two years, as a "pivotal" member of its student senate and a key coordinator of the senate-led Mental Health Week, and she's been involved in extra curriculars in her home community of White River as a figure skater, and has volunteered in Wawa and White River while holding two part-time jobs and "maintaining a strong academic standing".

It adds she'd like to focus efforts on helping address student stress levels, and "hopes to use her voice to advocate for additional course options" at the school.

Also appointed as student trustees are Ava Engel of Korah Collegiate and Vocational School in Sault Ste. Marie and Neveah Pine of White Pines Collegiate and Vocational School in the Sault - Pine's the next Indigenous Student Trustee and Chair of the board's Northern Indigenous Youth Council.

APH & PHU Report New COVID-19 Cases

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

Algoma Public Health's added 37: 31 in the Sault Ste. Marie area; five in Central and East Algoma; and another in North Algoma, which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations - despite that, the number of known "active" cases is down to 434 - plus five "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" - with nineteen local cases in hospital, five in ICUs, both up from the day before.

The Porcupine Health Unit's added eleven cases - five in the James and Hudson Bay region, four in the Timmins area, one in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area, and another in the Kapuskasing, Opasatika Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, and Fauquier-Strickland area - though the number "active" is down to 187, eight in hospital.

Chapleau Council Approves Plans for Delayed Upgrade of Rec Centre Washrooms

Chapleau Town Council's moving forward on delayed plans to upgrade the Recreation Centre washrooms.

Mayor Michael Levesque says Council's approved plans to move forward with the work soon.

Mayor Levesque expects the work to be done by July - noting the upcoming high school reunion - but notes there would still be other washrooms available, so activities could still continue in the building while the work's ongoing.

"Very Successful" Wawa Curling Open Bonspiel

The recent "Wawa Curling Open Bonspiel" is being regarded as "very successful".

Sponsored by Wawa Curling Leagues, the event held last weekend consisted of twelve teams, with three divisions: Team Fahrer was champion for the first, with Team Terris as runnerup; Team Corley topped the second, followed by Team Stoycheff; and Team McCoy won the third, with Team Hoffmann as runnerup.

Organizers thank participants for their enthusiasm, local business who supported the event, the many individuals who helped organize it for making the bonspiel "flow so smoothly", the North of 17 for coffee and muffins, and "Pat Harron and her gang" for a roast beef and chicken meal.

Chapleau Council Delays Decision on Specialized Transit Bus Tender

Chapleau's putting off a decision on a tender for its specialized transit bus.

While Council previously put out a request for tenders, only one was received as part of that process, which is required by law as the current contract's expired, extended amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Michael Levesque says a decision was not made this week, however.

The next scheduled Chapleau Council meeting is April 11th.

Chapleau CAO Recruitment Efforts May Be Nearing End

Chapleau could soon have a new top administrator.

Mayor Michael Levesque says recruitment efforts could be nearing an end.

Mayor Levesque expects "we'll know where we stand" in the next Chapleau Town Council meeting, which will be held April 11th.

COVID-Disrupted Wawa Curling Season Closes

Wawa's COVID-disrupted curling season has come to a close.

In the Men's League, Team Tom Terris ended the regular season atop the six-team standings, followed by Tom Fahrer's team, but Fahrer's team claimed victory in the playoffs, with Terris' team the runnerup.

While the Mixed League had a few new players and two new teams - including an all-Hawk Junction team - for a total of eight, it saw the same result: Tom Terris' team claimed victory in the regular season followed by Tom Fahrer's, who ended up winning in the playoffs, ahead of Terris' team.

It was very different for the Ladies League: Denise Bussineau's team finished atop the ten-team standings for the regular season, followed by Stephanie McGregor's, while Wendy Bonitzke's team claimed victory in the playoffs, with Danette Mathias' team the runnerup.

Though regular bonspiels were cancelled this year - amid uncertainty from COVID guidelines - a "Wawa Open Curling Bonspiel" was held last weekend, Wawa's first curling social in three years.

Longtime CSC Nouvelon Trustee & President Dies

The local French Catholic school board's in mourning after the death of a longtime trustee.

Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says Greater Sudbury Wards 7 to 12 trustee Andre Bidal died Monday, March 28th, though it is giving no further details.

Bidal had been a trustee since 2000 - serving as the board's vice president from 2004 to 2006 and 2010 to 2013, and was president in 2007, 2008, and 2013 to 2021 - and had received a provincial appreciation award in 2018, and was recently presented with the Catholic Education Award of Excellence by the Franco-Ontarian Association of Catholic School Boards, recognizing his long service as a school board trustee.

In Bidal's honour, the board's lowering flags to half mast at its head office and all its schools, including Wawa's École Saint-Joseph, Chapleau's École Sacré-Coeur, and Dubreuilville's École St-Joseph.

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

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting three - all deaths where the illness was the "underlying cause" - two are in Greater Sudbury, it's unclear where the third happened - this brings the health unit's death toll since the pandemic began to 126.

It's also added 118 cases since Friday - 101 in Greater Sudbury, nine in the Sudbury District, and eight in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 338 known "active" cases, 32 in hospital, two in ICUs.

Meanwhile, the Porcupine Health Unit's reporting its 50th death linked to the illness - nearly three weeks after it last reported such a death - while reporting 49 new cases since Friday, nine over the last day - five in the Timmins area, one in the Hearst and Hornepayne area, another in the James and Hudson Bay region, and two out of the region - though the number of known "active" cases is down to 218, including four in hospital.

Algoma Public Health's added 131 since Friday - 105 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, thirteen in the Elliot Lake area, ten in Central and East Algoma, and three in North Algoma - leaving it with 454 "active" - plus four "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" - with seventeen local cases in hospital, four in ICUs.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's added 66 since Friday - 55 in the Thunder Bay area, six in unspecified district communities, and five in unspecified First Nation communities - though the number of "active" cases is down to 119, including 25 in hospital, six in ICUs.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is holding "appointment only" COVID-19 vaccination clinics at its Chapleau office today and Thursday.

Algoma Public Health - meanwhile - is moving North Algoma toward booking appointments for vaccination rather than holding clinics, though "walk-in" clinics will be held at Wawa's MMCC April 13th and the health unit's Wawa office April 26th.

Local COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Planned

A couple COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be held in Chapleau this week.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is holding "appointment only" clinics at its Chapleau office tomorrow and Thursday.

Algoma Public Health - meanwhile - is moving toward booking appointments for vaccination in North Algoma rather than focusing on clinics in the region, though "walk-in" clinics will be held at Wawa's MMCC on April 13th and the health unit's Wawa office April 26th.

Hearst Driver Dead After Hwy 17 Collision at Sawpit Bay

A Hearst driver's dead after a collision north of Pancake Bay Provincial Park.

Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Provincial Police say they - and Sault Paramedic Services and Batchewana Fire Rescue - responded to the collision on Highway 17 at Sawpit Bay around 8 o'clock Sunday night, with investigation determining a southbound car crossed the centre line, colliding head on with a northbound SUV.

The car's driver and sole occupant - identified as 25-year-old Clovis Vallieres of Hearst - was pronounced dead at the scene.

The SUV driver was taken to a Sault Ste. Marie hospital with what's described as "non-life-threatening injuries".

The OPP's North East Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement - TIME - Team and Technical Collision Investigators are still investigating.

Wawa Imposes Half-Load Restriction for Some Local Roads

Wawa drivers are being warned of some weight restrictions on local roads.

A notice from the Municipality says - as of today - a half load restriction is in effect for the Tremblay Flats, Harbour, High Falls, and Steep Hill roads.

It does not mention when that restriction will end.

Anyone needing more information can call the Municipality's Infrastructure Services Department.

Chapleau Council to Discuss Transit Tender, Rec Centre Washroom Upgrades

Chapleau Town Council will a few items in their last regular meeting of the month.

That includes resolutions relating to Recreation Centre washroom upgrades, finalizing the tender for the specialized transit bus, and the purchase of a truck for Public Works.

There's also a pair of "in-camera" items: an item relating to solicitor-client privilege about operation of the specialized transit bus; and another item relating to CAO recruitment.

The meeting will be held in Civic Centre Council Chambers at 6:30 pm tonight.

Sudbury Man Charged in White River BnE

A Sudbury man's been charged over a break-and-enter incident in White River.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the incident on Lisgar Street shortly before 3 o'clock Thursday morning, with officers finding the accused inside the building, leading to a charge of "break, enter a place - commit indictable offence".

He's been released from custody, with a June date at Wawa's Ontario Court of Justice.

APH & PHSD Report Rising COVID-19 Cases

Rising COVID-19 cases are being reported across the region.

In its most recent update, Algoma Public Health added 43 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, five in Central and East Algoma, five in the Elliot Lake area, and two in North Algoma - which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations - leaving it with 443 known "active" cases - plus six "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" - with seventeen local cases in hospital, three in ICUs.

Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts added 104 in Greater Sudbury, sixteen in the Sudbury District, and eight in the Manitoulin District, leaving it with 338 "active" - including nine in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations - with 28 in hospital, two in ICUs.

APH, PHU & TBDHU Report New COVID-19 Cases

More COVID-19 cases are being reported across the region.

Algoma Public Health's added 66 cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area, six in the Elliot Lake area, and another in Central and East Algoma, leaving it with 437 known "active" cases - plus six "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" - with nineteen local cases in hospital - up from the day before - three in ICUs, down from the day before.

The neighbouring Thunder Bay District Health Unit's added 54 cases since Wednesday - 47 in the Thunder Bay area, five in unspecified First Nation communities, and two in unspecified district communities - though the number of "active" cases is down to 121, including 26 in hospital, five in ICUs.

The Porcupine Health Unit's added 24 - ten in the Timmins area, six in the James and Hudson Bay region, three in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area, three in the Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, and Fauquier-Strickland area, and two out of the region - leaving it with 232 "active", eight in hospital.

Former CSC Nouvelon President Receives Major Honour

A longtime president of the local French Catholic school board's received a major honour.

Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says current trustee Andre Bidal's was presented the Catholic Education Award of Excellence by the Franco-Ontarian Association of Catholic School Boards, recognizing his long service as a school board trustee.

Representing part of Greater Sudbury, Bidal's been a trustee since 2000, serving as the board's vice-president from 2004 to 2006 and 2010 to 2013, and as president in 2007 and 2008 and from 2013 to 2021, even receiving a provincial appreciation award in 2018.

APH Reports 42nd COVID-19 Death, PHSD Reports 123rd

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

Algoma Public Health's giving no further details about its 42nd death from the illness, which comes just five days after its 41st - more than half of the health unit's COVID-19-related deaths have been reported since the start of 2022.

It's also reporting 43 new cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area, three in Central and East Algoma, three in the Elliot Lake area, and another in North Algoma - which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations - leaving it with 403 known "active" cases - plus four "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" - with fifteen local cases in hospital, four in ICUs.

Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its 123rd COVID-19 death - the 112th in Greater Sudbury and the 32nd in which the illness contributed to but was not the underlying cause of death.

It's also reporting 86 new cases in Greater Sudbury, seven in the Sudbury District, and eight in the Manitoulin District, leaving it with 290 "active" - including nine in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations - with 34 cases in hospital, one in an ICU.

The health unit's holding an "appointment only" vaccination clinic at is Chapleau office today, while White River's Northern Neighbours Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic's holding one for five to eleven-year-olds, and a "walk-in" clinic's being held at Dubreuilville's Eddy K. Lefrancois Recreation Centre from 1 pm to 3 pm this afternoon.