Chapleau Mayor Flags Rising Costs After Council Approves Road Sand & Salt Contracts

Chapleau Town Council's approved more expensive contracts relating to roads in the winter.

In their recent meeting, Council approved a more than $27,600 contract for hauling and mixing of winter sand and a more than $19,500 contract for road salt - but Mayor Michael Levesque notes the cost is much higher than past years.

Levesque also noted "accelerating" costs posing issues for planned paving of Monk Street, with plans for a "double sheet" there, given the "wear and tear" from heavy truck traffic.

Council also discussed a tender for storm and sanitary sewers, but Levesque says only a single bid was received and it was incomplete, so another call for tenders will be issued, in hopes the project could still be done by the fall.

Longtime ADSB Trustee Seeking Re-Election

A long-time school board trustee's looking to stay in the role.

Wawa's Russell Reid has filed nomination papers to represent North Algoma and Chapleau on the Algoma District School Board, which he's done since 1994 - he's the only candidate in the running at this time, and only the second person to file for Wawa's municipal election, after Leah Isosaari, who's running for councillor.

Prospective candidates have less than four weeks to file: the deadline's 2 pm August 19th.

TBDHU Reports 100th COVID-19 Death, APH & PHU Report Rising Cases

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

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's giving no details about its 100th COVID-related death - reported in its latest weekly update, a week after it reported its 99th - the health unit is also reporting 142 new cases over the last week, leaving it with 105 known "active" cases, 23 in hospital, one in an ICU.

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health's added 31 cases since Tuesday - 24 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, five in Central and East Algoma, and two in the Elliot Lake area - with "high risk active" cases jumping to 102, including seven in hospital, three in ICUs.

The Porcupine Health Unit's added 42 - it no longer breaks that down by region nor reports "active" case counts, but does show two in hospital, one in an ICU.

LDHC Memorial Butterfly Release Returns

Wawa's hospital is set to honour those who've passed with a special celebration.

The Lady Dunn Health Centre's Palliative Care Program is holding its annual Memorial Butterfly Release this afternoon, and Wawa Family Health Team Geriatric Program Coordinator Jolene Binda explains the purpose of the event

Binda notes the event has been well received in the past.

The live butterflies will be sold at the event, which starts at 1:30 pm and ends at 3 pm, in the Lady Dunn Health Centre's Long Term Care Garden.

Chapleau Council Holding July Meeting

Chapleau Town Council will consider a by-law for off-road vehicles in a meeting tonight.

Delayed from its original July 11th date, tonight's regular meeting includes the much-discussed by-law, as well as purchase orders for hauling and mixing of winter sand and provision of road salt, a scope change for Monk Street paving, and the contract for GIS modernization.

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

PHSD Reports New COVID-19 Cases, Including in Northern Sudbury District

More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region - including in the northern Sudbury District.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has added 127 since Monday - 105 in Greater Sudbury, fifteen in the broader Sudbury District, and seven in the Manitoulin District - with known "active" cases skyrocketing to 253, including 41 in hospital, one in an ICU.

The "active" cases include three in the northern Sudbury District - up from the two reported on Monday - the community isn't specified, but the region includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.

Meanwhile, the neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's added 32 cases since Monday - it no longer breaks that down by region nor reports "active" case counts, but does show four in hospital, one in an ICU.

Sault Ste. Marie Brick Store Closing, But Owner Assures Wawa Store Staying Open

Sault Ste. Marie's Brick store is closing - but its owner assures Wawa's store is "business as usual".

Owner Larry Horychun has confirmed to JJAM FM News that the furniture store is planning to close its doors.

It's expected to start clearance sales this Friday - its answering machine says the store's closed today and tomorrow to prepare for a blowout sale - before fully closing by the end of September.

It originally opened in the Market Mall in the early 2000s, moved to a standalone location on White Oak Drive for a few years, but moved back to the Market Mall - SaultOnline is reporting the store couldn't reach a new lease agreement with the mall.

Horychun also owns Wawa's The Brick store, but says plans are "business as usual" here, emphasizing he's still committed to the furniture store, as well as his M&M Express store that opened late last year, and the cell phone business, both of which are located adjacent to the Brick location, in a building that's also its warehouse.

Wawa Public Library Launching Family Photo Scavenger Hunt

The Wawa Public Library's encouraging families to take some photos in a special scavenger hunt.

CEO and Head Librarian Suzie Jarrell explains the "summer reading fun" organized by the library includes the popular event from last year.

Jarrell notes the library's Bingo Reading Summer Challenge is also underway - for children and for adults - while a Story Walk has been set up around the Town Hall building, the TD Summer Reading Club is underway, and in-house programming is also happening at the local library.

The Wawa Public Library's Family Photo Scavenger Hunt launches today, and continues to next Wednesday, July 27th, though participants will have until 4 pm on Friday, July 29th, to submit their entries.

Small Forest Fire Reported in Chapleau Region

A new forest fire's been reported in the Chapleau region.

Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire, and Emergency Services says four new "wildland fires" were reported by late Tuesday afternoon, including "Chapleau 10", which was not yet under control at a tenth of a hectare in size, about four kilometres southwest of Rush Lake.

Fires were also reported in the Hearst, North Bay, and Timmins regions, though all were smaller than a hectare in size.

The fire hazard for the Northeast is mainly high to extreme - including in areas south of Wawa and near Timmins - though most of the Wawa sector is a low to moderate hazard.

APH Reports 60th COVID-19 Death, More Cases

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

Algoma Public Health's giving no further details about its 60th COVID-related death - the 39th this year - reported three weeks after its last COVID death.

The health unit's also reporting 54 cases since Thursday - 35 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, ten in Central and East Algoma, and nine in the Elliot Lake area - leaving it with 87 known "high risk active" cases, with six in hospital, two in ICUs.

While Public Health Sudbury and Districts won't be updating figures until late this afternoon, the health unit's holding an "appointment only" vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office today - North Algoma's already moved to booking appointments instead of holding clinics.

PHSD Reports COVID-19 Cases, Still Some Active in Northern Sudbury District

More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region - with a couple still active in the northern Sudbury District.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts reported 87 since Friday - 77 in Greater Sudbury, one in the broader Sudbury District, and nine in the Manitoulin District - with known "active" cases up to 167, including 30 in hospital.

The "active" cases include two in the northern Sudbury District - the community isn't specified, but the region includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations - down from the five reported in Friday's update.

The health unit's holding an "appointment only" clinic at its Chapleau office tomorrow - book through the provincial system or call the health unit.

North Algoma's moved to appointments rather than 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.

Heat Warnings in Chapleau Area

Caution is being urged amid heat warnings in the region.

Environment Canada's issued heat warnings for parts of the Chapleau, Missinaibi Lake, Foleyet, and Gogama areas, warning hot and humid conditions are expected to continue - with humidex values up to 36 today - before cooling tomorrow.

It notes that could mean air quality problems, with Public Health Sudbury and Districts warning older adults, young children, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses, and alcohol or drug users are particularly at risk, emphasizing the need to drink plenty of liquids, stay in the shade, and take breaks from the heat.

COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Planned for Chapleau

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it's holding an "appointment only" clinic at its Chapleau office Wednesday - book through the provincial system or call the health unit.

North Algoma's moved to appointments rather than 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.

Local Candidates Few One Month from Municipal Election Nomination Deadline

Prospective town council members and school board trustees are being reminded time is running out to file their papers.

Nominations for municipal elections across Ontario are open until 2 pm on August 19th, and Wawa Clerk Cathy Cyr notes it's a simple process: obtain the forms from the municipal office or website, fill them out, then bring them in - and pay the required fee.

Cyr reminds there are a few basic requirements to run.

So far, only a single candidate has filed in Wawa - a prospective councillor - while Chapleau also has only one - a prospective mayor - and Dubreuilville has three: one for mayor, one for councillor, the other for school board.

PHSD Reports New COVID-19 Cases, Some Still Active in Northern Sudbury District

More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region - with a few still active in the northern Sudbury District.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts reported 64 new cases in its latest update - 51 in Greater Sudbury, six in the broader Sudbury District, and seven in the Manitoulin District - with known "active" cases skyrocketing to 160, including 23 in hospital.

The "active" cases include five in the northern Sudbury District - the community isn't specified, but the region includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations - down from the eight reported in the Wednesday update.

APH & PHU Report New COVID-19 Cases

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

Algoma Public Health's added 21 since Tuesday - twelve in the Sault Ste. Marie area, six in Central and East Algoma, three in the Elliot Lake area - pushing the number of known "active" cases up to 77, including eight in hospital, three in an ICU.

The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's added 21 since Wednesday - it no longer breaks that down by region nor reports "active" case counts, but does show a growing seventeen in hospital, two in ICUs.

LDHC Memorial Butterfly Release to Return Soon

Wawa's hospital is looking to continue a tradition started ahead of the pandemic, to honour those who've passed.

Wawa Family Health Team Geriatric Program Coordinator Jolene Binda explains the Memorial Butterfly Release will be held next week.

While past years have required ordering ahead of time, this year will instead see the live butterflies sold at the event, which will be held next Friday, July 22nd, at 1:30 pm in the Lady Dunn Health Centre Long-Term Care Garden.

Dubreuilville Councillor Seeking Re-Election

A Dubreuilville councillor is seeking re-election.

Hélène Perth has filed her nomination papers - she's been on Council since 2014, with a stint as mayor from 2006 to 2010 and a previous Council term from 1985 to 1988.

Perth's the only person running for a Council seat so far and only the third person to file for this fall's election in Dubreuilville, after French Language Separate School Board trustee Roger Lemoyne and incumbent mayor Beverly Nantel - both of whom are running for re-election.

Nominations have also been quiet in other communities in the region - in Wawa, only one candidate has filed, Leah Isosaari for councillor, while Chapleau also has only one candidate, Ryan Bignucolo for mayor.

Candidates have until August 19th to file their nomination for the October election.

Herbicide Spraying Planned for Nearby Forests

Herbicide spraying's set to start soon for some local forests.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says spraying for the Pineland and Spanish forests will start "on or about" August 1st, with spraying for the White River, Pic, and Nagagami Forests "on or about" August 5th, and for the Missinabi Forest "on or about" August 15th.

It has not made an announcement for the Algoma Forest.

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