APH Offering 4th Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine for Some Groups

Algoma Public Health's now offering fourth doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for certain groups.

As the provincial government's expanded eligibility to those 60 and older, as well as First Nation, Métis, and Inuit individuals - and their non-Indigenous household members 18 and older - the local health unit says it will offer the second booster dose at an interval of five months or 140 days after the previous dose.

It will be using Moderna's Spikevax for the new dose if recipients are 30 or older, or the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Comirnaty, for those under the age of 30.

PHSD Reports 131st COVID-19 Death, More Cases for APH

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its 131st death from the illness - the 118th in Greater Sudbury and the 95th in which COVID was the underlying cause of death - it last reported a death in its previous update, on Monday.

The health unit's also reporting 135 new cases since Monday - 123 in Greater Sudbury, seven in the Sudbury District, and five in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 382 known "active" cases - three in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 45 cases in hospital, three in ICUs.

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health's added 62 cases - 50 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, six in Central and East Algoma, five 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 426 "active", 21 in hospital, four in ICUs.

Wawa Resident Faces Spousal Assault & Forcible Confinement Charges Over Domestic Dispute

A Wawa resident's facing assault and other charges over a domestic dispute last weekend.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the incident on Broadway Avenue around 11:50 am last Saturday, April 2nd, with investigation leading to the arrest of a 25-year-old on charges of domestic mischief, forcible confinement, and two counts of spousal assault.

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

New Brunswickers Charged After Possible Impaired Driver Call in White River

A pair of New Brunswickers are facing charges after local police were warned of a possible impaired driver on Highway 17.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were notified about the possible impaired driver operating a four door sedan in White River around 5:56 pm last Tuesday, March 29th - the vehicle was located, with further investigation revealing the driver was impaired and discovering a small amount of suspected methamphetamine in the vehicle.

That led to the arrest of the driver - a 26-year-old from Maple Glen, New Brunswick - on charges of operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs and possession of a schedule I substance - methamphetamine, while a passenger - a 23-year-old from Wheaton Settlement, New Brunswick - is also charged with possession of a schedule I substance - methamphetamine.

Both were released from custody, with a May court date in Wawa's Ontario Court of Justice.

Assault Charge for Wawa Resident Over MFN Domestic Dispute

An assault charge has been laid over a domestic dispute on Michipicoten First Nation.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the incident around 1 pm last Wednesday, March 30th, with investigation leading to the arrest of a 46-year-old from Wawa on a charge of spousal assault.

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

APH Reports 2 COVID-19 Deaths Caught by "Data Cleaning Initiative"

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting that "a data cleaning initiative determined two additional COVID-19 deaths in Algoma" - one in 2021, the other in 2022 - bringing the health unit's COVID-related death to 46, just a day after it reported two other deaths - no further details have been given about the latest deaths.

The health unit's also reporting 48 new cases - 35 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, seven in Central and East Algoma, and six in the Elliot Lake area - leaving it with 409 known "active" cases - plus another "non-resident case temporarily in Algoma" - with twenty local cases in hospital, four in ICUs - both substantially higher than the previous report, on Monday.

Wawa Fire Chief & Deputy Chief Recognized for Longtime Service

A couple Wawa firefighters were honoured for longtime service at this week's Council meeting.

Wawa Volunteer Fire Department Deputy Chief Pierre Gauthier was recognized for 20 years with the local firefighters - he's been deputy chief since 2020 - while Chief Kevin Sabourin was recognized for 30 years service - he's been chief since 2008.

Mayor Pat Tait presented a certificate to Gauthier while Sabourin presented him with a medal - Tait also made the presentation to Sabourin.

Municipality of Wawa Assures Drinking Water Safe Despite Elevated Chlorine Levels

The Municipality of Wawa's assuring drinking water is safe after an incident at the local water treatment plant resulted in elevated chlorine levels.

A release from the Municipality - in collaboration with Algoma Public Health - says the entire community serviced by municipal drinking water - including Michipicoten River Village - is affected, but emphasizes - while the water may smell or taste different - a health hazard does not exist and the water is still safe for drinking and bathing.

It further assures the Municipality's "working diligently to decrease chlorine levels to ensure they return to a level in which smell and/or taste will no longer be an issue", including by flushing water from the distribution system as needed and monitoring levels, promising to notify the community promptly if levels reach a point where they pose a risk to health, though that is not expected at this time.

It also suggests reducing your total showering or bathing time to avoid irritation - particularly minimizing direct prolonged contact with eyes - and advises that you can remove chlorine from drinking water by flushing your taps, running water through a filter with activated charcoal, consider boiling it and letting it cool to aid in chlorine evaporation - drinking throughout the day - or filling a jug in the morning, letting it sit in the open air or in a refrigerator, as chlorine will evaporate in the open air, then drink throughout the day.

The Municipality will be posting updates through its Facebook page - and contacting local media - though the office can also be contacted at 705-856-2244, extension 251, during regular business hours.

Wawa Council Has Busy Back-to-Back Meetings Ahead

Wawa Municipal Council's set to hear a few presentations in a pair of meetings tonight.

First up is a Corporate Planning Committee meeting, which includes presentations of Fire Department Years of Service Awards, as well as a delegation from Algoma Power, and another from Watson & Associates Economists, which will discuss the ten-year financial plan.

The meeting will also include discussion about a land acknowledgement - Councillor Melanie Pilon raised the prospect in the last meeting - as well as a Municipal Forest Fire Management Agreement, Corporate Accessibility Policy, draft Discipline Policy, a memo on Michipicoten Golf Club debt expense, a memo on a draft by-law for an Economic Development/Tourism Committee, and terms of reference for a five-year tourism plan.

That'll be followed by a regular meeting, which includes a resolution to write down the golf club's debt expense and by-laws to adopt a Corporate Accessibility Policy and authorize the sale of municipal land on Brock Avenue, while purchasing an eight-foot laneway in the area.

There's also three "in-camera" items, all legal issues: two relate to requests to purchase property, the other about an offer to donate property.

Once again open for the public to attend in person - though still livestreamed on the Municipality's YouTube channel - the meetings will be held back-to-back, starting at 6:30 pm tonight.

APH & PHSD Each Report 2 COVID-19 Deaths

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting two, eleven days after it last reported a COVID-19-related death - this brings its death toll since the pandemic began to 44, 24 of those in 2022.

The health unit's also reporting 154 new cases since Friday: 125 in the Sault Ste. Marie area; 21 in Central and East Algoma; three in the Elliot Lake area; and five in North Algoma, which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations - that leaves the health unit with 404 known "active" cases - plus a "non-resident case temporarily in Algoma" - with fourteen local cases in hospital, one in an ICU.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is also reporting two deaths - both in which the illness was the underlying cause of death - bringing its death toll to 130, 117 in Greater Sudbury.

It's also reporting 144 new cases since Friday - 123 in Greater Sudbury, eight in the Sudbury District, and thirteen in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 333 "active" - including two in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations - with 30 cases in hospital, three in ICUs.

TBDHU Reports 84th COVID-19 Death, PHU Sees New Cases

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

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's giving no details about its 84th death, which comes five days after it reported its 83rd.

It's also reporting 71 cases since Friday - 55 in the Thunder Bay area, nine in unspecified First Nation communities, and seven in unspecified district communities - though the number of known "active" cases is down to 108, including 25 in hospital, nine in ICUs.

Meanwhile, the Porcupine Health Unit's added 106 cases since Friday - 58 in the James and Hudson Bay region, 20 in the Timmins area, twelve in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area, seven in the Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, and Fauquier-Strickland area, five in the Hearst and Hornepayne area, and another out of the region - leaving it with 216 "active", eight in hospital.

PHSD Reports 128th 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 128th death from the illness: figures show it was the 115th in Greater Sudbury but it's unknown whether COVID-19 was the underlying cause of death or just contributed to it.

The death was reported Friday, two days after the health unit last reported a death.

The health unit also added 110 cases in Greater Sudbury, six in the Sudbury District, and eleven in the Manitoulin District, leaving it with 350 "active" - including seven in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations - with 33 in hospital, two in ICUs.

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health added 33 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, six in Central and East Algoma, four in the Elliot Lake area, and one in North Algoma - which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations - leaving it with 421 known "active" cases - plus three "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" - with twelve local cases in hospital, four in ICUs.

APH, TBDHU & PHU Report New COVID-19 Cases

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

Algoma Public Health's added 55 - 40 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, twelve in Central and East Algoma, three in the Elliot Lake area - leaving it with 444 "active" - plus three "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" - with thirteen cases in hospital, four in ICUs.

The neighbouring Thunder Bay District Health Unit's added 60 - 43 in the Thunder Bay area, ten in unspecified First Nation communities, and seven in unspecified district communities - leaving it with 113 "active", 25 in hospital, eight in ICUs.

The Porcupine Health Unit's added 31 - 20 in the James and Hudson Bay region, seven in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area, three in the Timmins area, and another in the Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, and Fauquier-Strickland area - leaving it with 200 "active", seven in hospital.

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 Michael Levesque on Rec Centre Washroom Upgrades

Daniel Walker/JJAM FM News

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.

Mayor Michael Levesque on Transit Tender Situation

Daniel Walker/JJAM FM News

The next scheduled Chapleau Council meeting is April 11th.