2 Wawa Councillors File Papers for Re-Election Bids

A pair of Wawa councillors are looking to continue in the role.

Cathy Cannon and Mitch Hatfield have filed nomination papers for the fall election - Hatfield was elected in 2018, while Cannon was appointed to fill a vacancy in October.

This means there are now five people running for Wawa's four Council seats, as Leah Isosaari, Robert Reeves, and Sue Smith had already filed bids.

There's also a single candidate for mayor at this time - current councillor Melanie Pilon - while longtime English Public School Board trustee Russell Reid is up for re-election.

Dubreuilville has four people in the running for its four Council seats - current councillors Luc Lévesque and Hélène Perth and first-time candidates Krystel Lévesque and Julila Hemphill - while current Mayor Beverly Nantel and longtime French Language Separate School Board trustee Roger Lemoyne are running for re-election.

Chapleau's far quieter, with its website showing only a single candidate has filed so far: local businessman Ryan Bignucolo, running for mayor.

Candidates are considered unofficial until certification, which happens after the nomination deadline - prospective candidates have less than two weeks left, as the deadline's 2 pm Friday, August 19th.

Wawa Region Forest Fire Reported, But Already Out

A new forest fire was reported in the region in recent days.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources' Aviation, Forest Fire, and Emergency Services says one new "wildland fire" was confirmed by late Friday afternoon: "Wawa 4", which was a tenth of a hectare in size - east of Beaton Lake and Highway 631 - though it was called out over the weekend.

Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Prepared For New Legislative Session

MPPs are returning to Queen's Park, two months after the June election.

Local New Democrat Michael Mantha - who is starting his fourth term representing Algoma-Manitoulin - says the priority at this point is health care, emphasizing it must be addressed quickly, too.

Mantha accuses the PC government of being "MIA" since the election - even after health care was a priority for all parties in the campaign) - calling for them to "step up" but also vowing to work with them to address issues like "almost absent" primary care in many Algoma-Manitoulin communities.

The NDP's Mines, Natural Resources, and Tourism Critic - and Deputy Whip - Mantha also notes another key item that needs to be addressed: infrastructure.

The Algoma-Manitoulin MPP also notes the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference is coming up, offering the chance to hear about common issues facing municipalities across the province, such as a need for alternate revenue streams.

This also comes as the NDP are preparing for a March leadership race, and Mantha isn't ruling out a bid for the job.

While the Ontario Legislature officially convenes today, the Speech from the Throne outlining the Progressive Conservative government's plans for its second term will be delivered tomorrow.

PHSD Reports COVID-19 Deaths in Greater Sudbury & Sudbury District

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting two new deaths in which COVID was the underlying cause of death - the 142nd death in Greater Sudbury and the 14th in the broader Sudbury District - bringing the health unit's COVID-related death toll to 163 - it last reported deaths on Wednesday.

It's also reporting 87 new cases since Wednesday - 75 in Greater Sudbury, four in the Sudbury District, and eight in the Manitoulin District - pushing the number of known "active" cases up to 201 - one in the northern Sudbury District (Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 49 cases in hospital, three in ICUs.

Wawa Councillor Launches Mayoral Bid, 3 New Candidates for Dubreuilville Council

A couple local election races are heating up.

Current councillor Melanie Pilon's confirmed to JJAM FM News that she has filed papers to run for mayor, making her the first candidate in the running - current Mayor Pat Tait's said he is not running - Pilon has been a councillor since February, and is set to serve as deputy mayor in September and October, as Wawa Council rotates the role.

Pilon has yet to be added to the municipal website's list of candidates, which include three people running for Wawa's four Council seats: Leah Isosaari; Sue Smith; and Robert Reeves, while Russell Reid runs for re-election as English Public School Board trustee.

Meanwhile, Dubreuilville has three more candidates for councillor: Luc Lévesque, who was appointed to fill a mid-term vacancy and was a councillor from 2003 to 2014; and Krystel Lévesque and Julila Hemphill, who are both running for the first time.

That means four people are now in the running for Dubreuilville's four Council seats, after current councillor Hélène Perth filed for her re-election bid, while incumbent mayor Beverly Nantel and longtime French Language Separate School Board trustee Roger Lemoyne are also running for re-election.

Chapleau's website still shows only a single candidate to file, Ryan Bignucolo in his third bid for mayor.

Candidates are considered "unofficial" until certification, which happens after the nomination deadline - that's only two weeks away, at 2 pm on Friday, August 19th.

APH Reports New COVID-19 Cases

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting 28 since Tuesday - 24 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, three in Central and East Algoma, another in the Elliot Lake area - though known "high risk active" cases are down to 109, with seven in hospital, three in ICUs - both up from Tuesday.

Chapleau Implementing Can Recycling

Chapleau's implementing a can recycling program later this month.

The Township says - starting August 16th - cans - including food and beverage cans - will be collected every Tuesday, though they must be rinsed with labels removed and put in a plastic container without a lid, placed at curbside by 8 am Tuesday morning.

Person Found Deceased in Montreal River

Police are investigating after a person was found dead in Montreal River.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police Constable Ashley Nickle explains police were notified over the weekend.

Noting the identity of the deceased has not been confirmed - a post-mortem is expected - Nickle says she cannot disclose any more information as it is an "active, ongoing" investigation, with assistance from the Sault Ste. Marie OPP Crime Unit.

Local Project Receiving Support to Improve High-Speed Internet Access

The Ontario government's touting agreements to improve high-speed internet access in the province - including locally.

As part of efforts to bring high-speed internet access "to every corner of the province" by the end of 2025, Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma's announced agreements with eight internet service providers to bring access to as many as 339 municipalities, covering up to 266,000 "unserved and underserved" homes and businesses.

That includes a $150.2-million agreement with Community Network Partners to provide access for up to 9397 homes or businesses in 40 communities across the North, including Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and Hornepayne, though the government says the municipalities to benefit from each project is "subject to change based on final agreements".

Winners Announced for Wawa Library Scavenger Hunt

The Wawa Public Library's congratulating a few local families who've claimed prizes in the recent Family Photo Scavenger Hunt.

It's commending the three participating teams: first prize winners Team Cresswell, Team MacLary in second, and Team Crawford in third - with hopes to see even more participate next year.

"Summer reading fun" is continuing at the library, with the Summer Reading Bingo Challenge still underway, along with the TD Summer Reading Club.

PHSD Reports 2 COVID-19 Deaths

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is giving few details about the two new deaths in Greater Sudbury - except that COVID contributed to but was not the underlying cause of death in one case, and it's unknown in the other.

This brings the health unit's COVID-related death toll to 161, 141 in Greater Sudbury - it last reported deaths on Friday.

It's also reporting 31 new cases since Tuesday - 26 in Greater Sudbury, five in the Manitoulin District - though the number of known "active" cases is down to 189 - one in the northern Sudbury District (Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 50 cases in hospital, three in ICUs.

Meanwhile, the neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's added 33 cases since Friday - it no longer breaks that down by region or reports "active" case counts, but shows six in hospital.

APH & PHSD Report New COVID-19 Cases

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting 65 since Thursday - 57 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, five in Central and East Algoma, and three in the Elliot Lake area - though known "high risk active" cases are down to 117, with six in hospital, two in ICUs, also down from Thursday.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has added 99 cases since Friday - 81 in Greater Sudbury, three in the broader Sudbury District, and fifteen in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases are down to 192 - one in the northern Sudbury District (Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 50 in hospital, two in ICUs.

Ride for ARVC Set to Arrive in Wawa

An Ontario father's passing through Canada on cross-country "Ride for ARVC", a genetically-inherited heart condition.

Adam Hoerdt explains ARVC has had a profound effect on his life.

While Hoerdt says the ride's about raising awareness and speaking with people impacted by ARVC, he says there's more to it.

Hoerdt asks everyone to "spread the word" about ARVC to change the system across the country, but also check out the website at www.arvcfamilysupport.ca, and donate to help the cause.

He's expected to arrive in Wawa late today - wearing red as he rides in from White River - and will be staying at the Mystic Isle Motel tomorrow, if people wish to meet with the team and get a t-shirt.

PHSD Reports 4 COVID-19 Deaths in Greater Sudbury

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is giving few details about the four new deaths - all in Greater Sudbury - except that two had COVID as the underlying cause of death, though it contributed to the other two deaths.

This brings the health unit's COVID-related death toll to 159, 139 in Greater Sudbury - it last reported a death on Wednesday, though that was in the Sudbury District.

It's also reporting 82 cases since Wednesday - 49 in Greater Sudbury, four in the broader Sudbury District, and 29 in the Manitoulin District - though the number of known "active" cases is down to 241 - one in the northern Sudbury District (Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 53 cases in hospital, two in ICUs.

APH & PHU Report New COVID-19 Cases

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting 31 cases since Tuesday - 28 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, two in Central and East Algoma, and another in the Elliot Lake area - with known "high risk active" cases up to 130, with seven in hospital, two in ICUs - both down from Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Porcupine Health Unit's added nine cases since Wednesday - it no longer breaks that down by region or reports "active" case counts, but does show five in hospital.

3rd Candidate Joins Race for Wawa Council

The field of prospective Wawa councillors is continuing to grow.

Robert Reeves has filed to become a councillor, making him only the third person in the running for one of four seats, after Leah Isosaari filed last month and Sue Smith filed yesterday.

It's still slow for other positions, with no-one in the running for mayor - current Mayor Pat Tait has said he's not running - and only one school board trustee candidate, longtime English Public School Board trustee Russell Reid up for re-election.

Chapleau's even quieter, with a single candidate filing so far - local businessman Ryan Bignucolo, running for mayor - while Dubreuilville has only seen three people file: current Mayor Beverly Nantel, current Councillor Hélène Perth, and longtime French Language Separate School Board trustee Roger Lemoyne have all filed for re-election.

Prospective candidates only have three weeks left to file: the deadline's 2 pm Friday, August 19th - candidates are considered unofficial until certification, which happens after the deadline.

2nd Wawa Council Candidate Files

The field of prospective Wawa councillors has doubled - just three weeks before nomination deadline.

Sue Smith has filed to become a councillor, making her only the second person to do so for the fall municipal election, after Leah Isosaari.

It's been slow for other positions, with no-one in the running for mayor - current Mayor Pat Tait has said he's not running - and only one school board trustee candidate, longtime English Public School Board trustee Russell Reid up for re-election.

Chapleau's even quieter, with a single candidate filing so far - local businessman Ryan Bignucolo running for mayor - while Dubreuilville has only seen three people file: current Mayor Beverly Nantel, current Councillor Hélène Perth, and longtime French Language Separate School Board trustee Roger Lemoyne have all filed for re-election.

Prospective candidates only have three weeks left to file: the deadline's 2 pm Friday, August 19th.

OPP Watching for Drivers to "Move Over" for Emergency Vehicles Over Civic Holiday Weekend

Ontario Provincial Police will be watching this long weekend for drivers who don't "move over" for emergency vehicles.

Given the increase of traffic for the Civic Holiday, Superior East OPP Constable Ashley Nickle says officers will be enforcing the 2003 "Move Over" law.

Reminding penalties include fines from $490-$2000 and three demerit points, Nickle notes that the law's meant to protect emergency services, as - since 1989 - five OPP officers have died while performing their duties on the side of the road, either in their vehicles or outside of them.

Constable Nickle adds officers will still be watching for the "Big Four".

Nickle urges everyone to stay safe, reminding officers will not just patrol local roads, but trails and waterways, as well.

Submission Deadline for Wawa Library's Family Photo Scavenger Hunt

Time's running out for families to submit pictures for the Wawa Public Library's "Family Photo Scavenger Hunt".

Head Librarian and CEO Suzie Jarrell reminds the "summer reading fun" was a popular event last year.

While the scavenger hunt officially ended Wednesday, the deadline for entries is 4 o'clock this afternoon - prizes will be awarded on Wednesday, August 3rd.

PHSD Reports 155th COVID-19 Death, 13th in Sudbury District

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is giving few details about its 155th death, the 13th in the broader Sudbury District, and the 112th death in which COVID was the underlying cause.

It's also reporting 71 cases since Monday - 55 in Greater Sudbury, seven in the broader Sudbury District, and nine in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 267 known "active" cases - up from Monday - including 54 in hospital, one in an ICU, both down from Monday.

One of the "active" cases is in the northern Sudbury District - down from the two reported Monday - it doesn't specify community, but the region includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.