Marathon OPP Catch Stolen Vehicle Spotted Near Wawa

Charges have been laid after a stolen vehicle noticed in the Wawa area was intercepted near Marathon.

Ontario Provincial Police say they were notified of a vehicle taken from a business in the Greater Toronto Area spotted travelling through the Wawa area around 1:15 pm Wednesday afternoon, with a tire deflation device - a spikebelt - used to bring it to a stop on Highway 17 at mile marker 848 in Pik Township.

The driver and passenger were arrested, with the driver - a 25-year-old from Etobicoke - charged with possession of stolen property over $5000 and held in custody, though the passenger was released unconditionally.

Police ask anyone with information call the OPP or Crime Stoppers.

Extended Deadline Nears for LDHCF's Seedlings for Support

Time's almost up for a fundraising campaign supporting the Wawa hospital.

While the "Seedlings for Support" campaign was extended, it is set to wrap up this Saturday, so Foundation Intern Thea Desgagne reminds it's easy to place an order.

The "drive-by pickup" of the seedlings will be Sunday, June 5th, at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre.

Funds raised support the hospital's Medi-Tech expansion.

Early Voting Still Option in Wawa Ahead of Ontario Election Day

With the Ontario election date days away, advance polls are closed - but early votes can still be cast in Wawa.

As Elections Ontario's set up a satellite office at 3 Maple Street in Wawa, special ballots can be cast there until 6 pm Wednesday, the day before Election Day.

Jo Langham - manager of media and public engagement - reminds voters to check Elections Ontario's website to ensure they're on the voters list - you are if you received a voter card - and to bring ID to vote.

Elections Ontario is still accepting applications for election officials to work on Election Day - the deadline is tomorrow, with applications available on the agency's website.

Election Day is this Thursday, June 2nd, with polls open from 9 am to 9 pm - polls will be located at Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre, Chapleau's Municipal Office, Dubreuilville's Municipal Complex and Social Centre, and White River's Mountain View Complex.

Nominations Nearing Close for Chapleau Volunteer Award

Time's running out to nominate Chapleau residents for the local volunteer award.

As nominations have been open for weeks, Mayor Michael Levesque reminds the annual "Buddy" Swanson Volunteer Recognition Award is meant to show thanks for certain residents.

Nomination forms can be found at the Civic Centre or the Municipal website, and must be submitted by 4 pm this Friday, June 3rd.

PHSD Reports 150th COVID-19 Death, APH Reports New Cases

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

In its latest update, Public Health Sudbury and Districts reported its 132nd COVID-related death in Greater Sudbury, the health unit's 150th, just two days after it reported its 149th, on Wednesday.

The health unit also reported 31 new cases - 22 in Greater Sudbury, four in the Sudbury District, and five in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 131 known "active" cases - one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 35 cases in hospital, four in ICUs.

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health added eleven new cases - eight in the Sault Ste. Marie area, two in Central and East Algoma, and one in the Elliot Lake area - though the number "active" cases is down to 77, with twelve in hospital, two in ICUs.

TBDHU & PHU Report COVID-19 Deaths, APH Sees New Cases

More COVID-19 deaths have been confirmed in neighbouring regions.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's giving no details about its 92nd death linked to the illness, which comes two weeks after its 91st.

The health unit's also reporting 112 cases since Wednesday - 91 in the Thunder Bay area, fifteen in unspecified First Nation communities, and six in unspecified district communities - leaving it with 217 known "active" cases, 32 in hospital, three in I-C-Us.

Meanwhile, the Porcupine Health Unit's reporting its 64th COVID-19 death - the 33rd this year - just over two weeks after its 63rd death.

It's also reported 31 cases since Wednesday, but no longer breaks that down by region or reports "active" case counts, but it does show eight in hospital.

Algoma Public Health's added ten cases - eight in the Sault Ste. Marie area and two in the Elliot Lake area - leaving 76 "active" - plus one "non-resident case temporarily in Algoma" - with sixteen in hospital, one in an ICU.

Sault Ste. Marie Roman Catholic Diocese Bishop Visiting Region

The Wawa area's receiving a special visit, from the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie.

Bishop Thomas Dowd explains part of his trip to this region is because he's new to the area - originally from Montreal, he was only appointed bishop of the diocese covering North Bay through White River a year and a half ago.

The bishop notes he's visited many places in the last few days - including some local schools, a local mine, and generally viewing the environment - and celebrated confirmations, sensing happiness about the ability to gather after pandemic restrictions.

He also commends the friendliness.

Bishop Dowd - who arrived in the area last Saturday - will wrap up his visit by attending a First Communion in White River on Sunday.

Algoma-Manitoulin Candidates Make Their Pitch in 2022 Ontario Election

Listen to four of the six candidates for Algoma-Manitoulin in discussion with JJAM FM’s Daniel Walker.

Efforts were made to reach out to the other two candidates, Maria Legault (Green Party) and Frederick Weening (Ontario Party), but they did not respond and so arrangements could not be made for interviews.

Advance Polling Set to End for 2022 Ontario Election

With the Ontario election date less than a week away, options to vote early are running out.

Advance polls are set to end today or tomorrow (depending on location), with a few locations in the area, including Wawa's satellite office at 3 Maple Street, Chapleau's Municipal Office, Dubreuilville's Municipal Complex and Social Centre, and White River's Mountain View Complex.

Noting you can search for the nearest location through the Elections Ontario website, Jo Langham - manager of media and public engagement - reminds there's a helpful change for advance polls this election.

Langham also reminds that today is the deadline to apply to vote by mail - you can do so through Elections Ontario's website, but the ballot must be received by the elections agency by 6 pm on Election Day, Thursday, June 2nd.

You'll also be able to cast ballots at the Wawa satellite office until Wednesday, June 1st.

Registration Underway for Wawa's Canada Day Goose Nest Market

Organizers for Wawa's Goose Nest Markets are calling for vendors for their Canada Day event.

Noting they like to have registrations about a month ahead of time, Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White explains there's a little time left for the Canada Day market.

White says there are already at least 20 vendors registered, with more treats planned.

The Goose Nest Markets opened for the season just ahead of Mother's Day, with a Youth Goose Nest Market to be held next Saturday, June 4th.

Walk for Alzheimers Coming This Weekend

Wawa residents are being encouraged to strap on their shoes and get walking to support the local Alzheimer Society.

This Sunday will see the annual IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimers, with local funds to support the Alzheimer Society of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District, which supports North Algoma - including Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, Chapleau and neighbouring First Nation communities - with its FIRST Link direct referral program, family support and counselling, the Minds in Motion physical activity program, a Resource Lending Library, the Project Lifesaver program to help with lost individuals, and other education, training, and awareness support.

You can register at walkforalzheimers.ca, with the event to be held in Wawa Sunday - at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre outdoor track - with registration at noon and the walk and celebration at 1 pm.

Chapleau's Clean-Up Week Ending

Chapleau's "Clean-Up Week" is wraps up this weekend.

As part of the week, the Township's Public Works Department is only picking up yard waste that is properly bagged or bundled and set out on the curbside, though residents can also use the landfill free of charge this week, during regular hours.

Touting this is an opportunity to "work together to...make this a more clean and prettier town", Mayor Michael Levesque notes there's also a special cleanup event tomorrow.

To coincide with Clean-Up Week, the Township's also kicked off its Spring Street Cleaning Program, with sweeping happening between midnight and 8 am, weather permitting - signs will be posted to further detail plans.

PHSD Reports 149th COVID-19 Death, APH Sees New Cases

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting the 131st in the city, the health unit's 149th - it last reported a death on Friday.

The health unit's also reporting twenty new cases - seventeen in Greater Sudbury, one in the Sudbury District, and two in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 155 "active" - two in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 38 hospital, two in ICUs.

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

North Algoma - on the other hand - has shifted to booking appointments for vaccination rather than holding clinics: in Wawa, call the local Algoma Public Health office; in Dubreuilville, the Dubreuilville Medical Centre; in White River, the Northern Neighbours Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.

Algoma Public Health's added ten cases - six in the Sault Ste. Marie area, two in Central and East Algoma, and two in the Elliot Lake area - though the number of known "active" cases is down to 75 - plus one "non-resident case temporarily in Algoma" - with fifteen cases in hospital, one in an ICU, both down from the day before.

It has eight "active" outbreaks, one at Elliot Lake's St. Joseph's General Hospital, the rest in the Sault, including Algoma Manor, Extendicare Maple View, FJ Davey Home, Great Northern Retirement Home, Ontario Finnish Resthome, and Sault Area Hospital.

Chapleau Clean-Up Week Underway

It's "Clean-Up Week" in Chapleau.

This week, the Township's Public Works Department will only be picking up yard waste - like grass clippings, leaves, shrubs, hedges, branches, and small trees - so long as they're properly bagged and set out on the curbside - "woody" material must also be cut into four-foot lengths and bundled with twine.

The Township recommends raking debris from the shoulder of the roadway, trimming grass, hedges, and trees that are overgrowing the sidewalk, sweeping off the pavement and sidewalk, and cleaning up all unwanted rubbish, debris, or trash that's accumulated on your property.

Residents can also use the landfill free of charge this week - during regular hours - though there are some restrictions on what's accepted, with the Township noting it'll be holding a collection event for certain hazardous waste on June 18th.

Mayor Michael Levesque touts this week.

Mayor Levesque also notes an event to cleanup the Peace Park will be held Saturday, starting at 9 am.

To coincide with Clean-Up Week, the Township's also kicking off its Spring Street Cleaning Program, with sweeping to happen between midnight and 8 am, weather permitting - signs will be posted to further detail plans.

APH & PHSD Report New COVID-19 Cases Over Long Weekend, Fewer "Active"

More new COVID-19 cases were reported in the region over the long weekend - but "active" case counts are down.

Algoma Public Health's added twenty cases since Friday - fourteen in the Sault Ste. Marie area, three in Central and East Algoma, and three in the Elliot Lake area - though the number of known "active" cases is down to 80, with seventeen in hospital, two in ICUs.

Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts added 57 since Friday - 43 in Greater Sudbury, eight in the Sudbury District, and six in the Manitoulin District - though the number "active" is down to 152, one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).

It won't update hospital figures until later today - it last reported 35 hospital, one in an ICU.

The health unit's holding "appointment only" clinics at its Chapleau office today and tomorrow.

North Algoma - on the other hand - has shifted to booking appointments for vaccination rather than holding clinics: in Wawa, call the local Algoma Public Health office; in Dubreuilville, the Dubreuilville Medical Centre; in White River, the Northern Neighbours Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.

More Ontario Election Advance Polls Launching in Region

Early voting options are expanding today, as Ontario Election Day is just over a week away.

Though advance polls have already opened in some communities - including at Wawa's satellite office at 3 Maple Street, Chapleau's Municipal Office, Manitouwadge's Recreation Centre, and Hornepayne's Legion Hall - more are opening today, including at Dubreuilville's Municipal Complex and Social Centre and White River's Mountain View Complex.

As there are more than a dozen places in the riding to vote in advance, Jo Langham - manager of media and public engagement for Elections Ontario - notes there's a helpful change for advance polls this election.

Langham also reminds there's still a little time to apply on the website to vote by mail - the deadline's this Friday, though she recommends applying as early as possible, so you can receive and send off your ballot in time to reach Elections Ontario by 6 pm on the June 2nd Election Day.

COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Planned for Chapleau

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it's holding "appointment only" clinics at its Chapleau office tomorrow and Thursday.

North Algoma - on the other hand - has shifted to booking appointments for vaccination rather than holding clinics: in Wawa, call the local Algoma Public Health office; in Dubreuilville, the Dubreuilville Medical Centre; in White River, the Northern Neighbours Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.

Wawa's Legion Golf Tournament Returning After 2 Years Away

A sign of the coming summer season is approaching: Wawa's annual Legion Golf Tournament.

After two years without one of the local Legion's largest fundraisers, organizer Larry Harvey of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 429 outlines the basic details of the event.

Harvey notes there is also a hole in one prize of $2500 cash, sponsored by Programmed Insurance Brokers.

Anyone wanting to register is asked to contact Harvey by June 8th, so arrangements can be made for the tournament on June 11th.

Wawa Council Approves Site Plan Control By-Law

Wawa Municipal Council's approved an updated by-law covering development.

C-A-O Maury O'Neill explains the Site Plan Control by-law allows Council to dictate certain conditions for development of some properties.

O'Neill emphasizes that the new by-law isn't a major change from the by-law in place in Wawa since 1991 - still allowing Council to monitor how development proceeds - but includes some changes mandated by provincial legislation.

The by-law was passed in Council's most recent meeting.

PHSD Reports 148th COVID-19 Death, APH Sees New Cases

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

In its latest update, Public Health Sudbury and Districts reported its 130th COVID-related death in Greater Sudbury, the health unit's 148th, just two days after it reported its 147th, which was reported in the previous update.

The health unit also reported 54 new cases - 42 in Greater Sudbury, nine in the Sudbury District, and three in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 210 known "active" cases - three in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 35 cases in hospital, one in an ICU.

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health added twelve new cases - nine in the Sault Ste. Marie area, two in the Elliot Lake area, and another in North Algoma (which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations) - though the number "active" cases is down to 127, with fourteen in hospital, two in ICUs.