Chapleau Moving Forward With Municipal Accommodation Tax

Chapleau's struck a deal regarding administration of its "Municipal Accommodation Tax".

Mayor Michael Levesque reminds the tax approved by Council in May is a surcharge for hotels, bed and breakfasts, or AirBnB-style rentals.

Levesque notes the funds would not go directly into the Township's general coffers.

Emphasizing the Township will administer the tax, Mayor Levesque explains Council's now approved an agreement with the Superior East Community Futures Development Corporation for administration of the funds meant for a regional tourist association.

The tax is set to take effect November 1st.

North Algoma Seniors Expo & Active Living Fair Returns to Wawa

Wawa seniors are being encouraged to learn more about services in the community, as the annual "North Algoma Seniors Expo and Active Living Fair" returns.

Alzheimer Society First Link Coordinator Chris Rask explains a key feature is the expo itself.

Wawa Family Health Team Geriatric Program Coordinator Jolene Binda says it's helpful to let seniors know about options in town.

Binda notes there's also a free lunch - catered by Judy Page-Moore - and a couple presentations.

Rask adds there's also some "active living demonstrations".

Open to anyone - particularly seniors - the free event runs from 10 am to 3 pm at Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre.

JJAM FM's broadcasting live from the event from 10 am to 2 pm.

The North Algoma Seniors Expo and Active Living Fair's hosted by the Wawa Goose Seniors' Centre and Wawa Seniors-At-Risk Committee in partnership with the Older Adult Centres' Association of Ontario, with funding support from the Government of Ontario.

APH Warns of Increased Opioid-Related ER Visits

Algoma Public Health's warning anyone using "street drugs" to take extra precautions amid an increase in suspected opioid-related Emergency Department visits in Algoma.

Emphasizing "substance use and opioid poisoning does not discriminate", the health unit's urging anyone who uses drugs to carry naloxone and always have someone with them when they use, starting with a low dose and increasing slowly - never mixing substances, even alcohol - and calling 9-1-1 immediately if you suspect opioid poisoning.

The health unit also asks members of the community "continue their support for residents at risk of opioid poisonings and their loved ones".

PHSD Rolling Out Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine

A variant-targeting COVID-19 vaccine's now available through a local health unit.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts says Moderna's bivalent mRNA vaccine - which offers protection against the original strain and the Omicron variant - is now available for certain groups: those 70 or older; residents of long-term care or retirement homes, elder care lodges, or other congregate settings with assisted living and health services; First Nation, Inuit, and Metis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members; pregnant individuals; health care workers; and - at clinical discretion - moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals as young as 12.

That aligns with the provincial government's guidance announced Monday, and - in line with that - the health unit notes eligibility will expand to all adults eighteen and older on September 26th.

To be eligible, individuals must have received their primary - normally two dose - series of COVID-19 vaccine at least - the number of booster doses does not matter - and it must be at least six months since the last vaccine dose.

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

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 69 since Friday - 61 in Greater Sudbury, three in the Sudbury District, and five in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" are down to 229 - with 56 in hospital, two in ICUs - while the number "active" in the northern Sudbury District is up from Friday's two to three.

Chapleau Council to Discuss Plans for Municipal Accommodation Tax

Chapleau Town Council's set to consider plans for its municipal accommodation tax.

That's a key part of tonight's regular meeting, with the Economic Development Officer to deliver an update on the tax, while a by-law up for consideration would see the Superior East Community Futures Development Corporation administer it.

Council will also consider a by-law to allow for deferral of assessment-related tax increases for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities, along with resolutions to award the Monk Street Paving contract and to approve scope changes relating to the Water and Waste Water Condition Assessment.

There's also a single "in-camera" item, "concerning personal matters about an identifiable individual".

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

PHSD Reports New COVID-19 Cases, Reduces Death Toll

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 72 since Wednesday - 64 in Greater Sudbury, four in the Sudbury District, and four in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up to 280, with the number in hospital skyrocketing from 50 to 63, including two in ICUs.

The health unit's also reduced its COVID-related death toll, apparently removing the death reported Wednesday in Greater Sudbury - that brings the health unit's death toll back to 169.

PHSD Warns of West Nile After Greater Sudbury Crow Tests Positive

A local health unit's warning about the dangers of West Nile virus as a bird has tested positive in Greater Sudbury.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it has received confirmation an American Crow tested positive, but noted the virus hasn't been detected in mosquitoes in the region since 2018 and there have been no human cases in the region this year.

Still, the health unit emphasizes the bird testing positive "reminds us that although the overall risk of a person becoming infected is low, the virus is still present", urging precautions such as wearing Health Canada-approved insect repellent and light-coloured, long-sleeved clothing, ensuring there are no holes or tears in screen doors and windows of your home, and removing - or weekly changing - of standing water around your home.

Registration Deadline for CHADWIC Home Charity Golf Tournament

Time's running out for golfers to sign up for a golf tournament supporting Wawa's women's shelter.

As today's the registration deadline, CHADWIC Home Community Outreach Worker Pam Carruthers explains the best ball tournament for teams of three is supported by a few sponsors.

Carruthers reminds notes the charity tournament supports youth programs, violence prevention programming, and other services offered by CHADWIC Home, which supports not just Wawa but also Chapleau, Hornepayne, and many other communities in this part of the Algoma District.

Anyone wanting to register can contact CHADWIC Home at 705-856-2848 by the end of today - the tournament will be held Saturday, September 17th.

Wawa Fall Fair Arrives, But Different Venue Than Expected

Wawa is welcoming fall this weekend with the return of the fall fair.

Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White explains there will be a number of attractions to check out as part of the annual celebrations.

While plans were for the event to be held at the Goose Nest Market in downtown Wawa, organizers announced Thursday that "potential rain and wind on Saturday" has prompted the decision to move the fair to its former home of the Curling Rink at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre, noting "while it's not the location that we would prefer, it is a safe option for inclement weather".

The Wawa Fall Fair runs from 11 am to 4 pm Saturday - details can be found through the Wawa Recreation Facebook or Instagram pages.

JJAM FM will be live-on-location for the fair from 11 am to 3 pm Saturday.

Wawa Holding Household Hazardous Waste Day

The Municipality of Wawa's inviting residents to bring in hazardous waste during a special collection event tomorrow.

Infrastructure Services Assistant Director Becca Weatherall explains a variety of items will be accepted.

More details about accepted and not accepted items is on the municipal website.

Wawa's Household Hazardous Waste Day runs from 9 am to 1 pm Saturday, at the Public Works Garage on Magpie Road.

APH Reports 2 COVID-19 Deaths

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting two deaths - bringing its COVID-related death toll to 63, 42 this year alone - it last reported a death a week ago.

The health unit's also reporting 24 cases since Tuesday - seventeen in the Sault Ste. Marie area, five in the Elliot Lake area, and two in Central and East Algoma - with known "high risk active" cases up to 105, including 22 in hospital, two in ICUs.

Wawa Fall Fair Changes Venue

Wawa's fall fair is shifting venues.

Citing "potential rain and wind on Saturday" - as well as "the lack of enough tents to cover every vendor, and the logistics of preparing for a change of location", organizers say the decision's been made to move the event from the planned location of the Goose Nest Market in downtown Wawa to the Curling Rink at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre, adding "while it's not the location that we would prefer, it is a safe option for inclement weather".

The event was held in the Curling Rink for several years before moving to the Goose Nest Market amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

PHSD Reports 170th COVID-19 Death

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting a death in Greater Sudbury - the 148th in the city, and the 170th for the health unit, which last reported a death September 2nd - it's currently unknown whether COVID was the underlying cause of death or simply contributed to it.

The health unit's also reporting 37 new cases since Tuesday - 33 in Greater Sudbury, one in the Sudbury District, and three in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up to 274, with the number in hospital skyrocketing from 39 to 50, including two in ICUs.

It's holding an "appointment only" vaccination clinics at its Chapleau office today, though it's for those at least six years old - 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.

APH & PHSD Report New COVID-19 Cases, 1 in North Algoma, None in Northern Sudbury District

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting 49 since Thursday - 35 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, nine in Central and East Algoma, four 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 known "high risk active" cases are down to 98, with 21 in hospital, two in ICUs.

The health unit has eight "active" outbreaks at the moment, all in Sault Ste. Marie: three at Extendicare Maple View, two at Sault Area Hospital, one at Algoma Manor, one at the Ontario Finnish Resthome, and another at FJ Davey Home.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 107 cases since Friday - 99 in Greater Sudbury, two in the Sudbury District, and six in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases are down to 256, including 39 in hospital, two in ICUs - it's now longer showing any "active" in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).

It has 21 "active" outbreaks, one in Espanola, the others in Greater Sudbury.

The health unit's holding "appointment only" clinics at its Chapleau office today and tomorrow, though it notes they're only for those at least six years old - 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.

Back to School for Local Students

It's back to school time, with students returning to classrooms for a new year.

Dr. Tarmo Poldmaa - Principal of Wawa's Sir James Dunn Public School - explains students should be ready for the return to class.

Poldmaa says staff are looking forward to "a normal opening" and a normal year after more than two years impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, noting pandemic-related restrictions - like masking requirements - have been lifted.

Chapleau Elementary and Second School Vice Principal Lisi Bernier says elementary students start in class today.

Bernier also notes the breakfast club will return in the future, but that isn't available today, as secondary students will be in the cafeteria.

Bernier says secondary students will then find their first period class, with a normal schedule the rest of the week.

Superior East OPP Safety Reminders for Back to School Season

Local police are issuing a few safety reminders as kids return to school.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police Constable Ashley Nickle urges parents and students to talk to each other about being safe going to and from school.

Constable Nickle also urges drivers to follow the rules of the road, especially through residential areas and school zones.

That increased traffic also includes school buses, and Constable Nickle reminds drivers to follow rules near buses.

Constable Nickle notes a first time offence can still mean a fine of $400 to $2000, and any school bus driver or witness can report a vehicle that failed to stop.

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