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

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 23 since Wednesday - seventeen in Greater Sudbury, three in the broader Sudbury District, and three in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up slightly, to 133 - 20 in hospital, one in an ICU.

There are two cases still "active" in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations), down slightly from Wednesday's four.

The health unit's also reduced its COVID-related death toll, removing a death in Greater Sudbury in which it was unclear whether COVID was the cause or merely contributed - such a death was reported last Monday.

Wawa Council Updated on Limited Predator Control Hunt

Wawa Municipal Council received an update on the ongoing limited predator control hunt in town.

During this week's Committee of the Whole meeting, Charlie Todesco outlined some details of the effort for new councillors, noting that it has been running for five winters, with a small group of hunters occasionally watching three locations - the Tamarack Street snow dump, the Michipicoten Golf Course, and Wawa Creek, behind the Township garage - in order to address the local predators, particularly coyotes, who had even attacked pets in previous years.

The hunters do not use bait and must follow time and firearm restrictions, with signage posted in the areas they'd be watching, as Todesco emphasized "safety is the foremost concern".

Todesco explained that the 2021-22 season saw a six predator hunts conducted - totalling nineteen hours, all at the golf course - with two predator sightings and two killed, but he pointed out constraints from the severe weather conditions and a related increase in snow removal efforts, as well as reduced hunter participation, noting they're also limited by the number of tags they are issued as the MNRF says they can't be deemed "agents" of the Municipality.

While Council's already given approval for this season's hunt - approval is given yearly - Todesco did request assistance with access to the golf course, as it is owned by the Municipality, with municipal staff saying they'd look into it.

Early Bird Deadline Arrives for Wawa Ice Fishing Derby

Time's almost up for early birds to register for Wawa's annual ice fishing derby.

Noting there's five Early Bird draws of $1000 each, Derby Chair Scott Popert reminds there are a few ways to register in time.

Popert notes there is a slight change for this year's derby, compared to last year.

The annual Wawa Ice Fishing Derby will be held March 3rd through 5th.

LDHC Foundation Thanks Community for Supporting Wish Campaign

The Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation's thanking the community for supporting its annual holiday fundraising campaign.

Foundation Chair Susan Switzer says the "Wish campaign" went quite well.

While Switzer says this leaves the Foundation about $60,000 shy of its $240,000 commitment to the "One for the Dunn" campaign, Foundation Vice-Chair Lorraine Pihelgas notes another fundraiser's already been launched to help.

As for the "One for the Dunn" campaign, Switzer reminds that's a major project including the meditech expansion.

The Foundation also reminds donations are accepted any time of year, supporting the local hospital.

APH Reports New COVID-19 Cases, Including in North Algoma

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting nineteen since Tuesday - ten in the Sault Ste. Marie area, five in the Elliot Lake area, two in North Algoma (which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations), the other two are unclear - pushing "high risk active" cases up slightly, to 65, with seventeen in hospital.

Meanwhile, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting 168 cases over the last week - it no longer breaks that down by region nor reports "active" case counts but does show 48 in hospital, one in an ICU.

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

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting sixteen since Monday - twelve in Greater Sudbury, three in the broader Sudbury District, and another in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases are down slightly, to 131 - twenty in hospital, one in an ICU - with four "active" in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations), up slightly from Monday.

The health unit's holding an appointment only vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office today - 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.

Meanwhile, the neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reporting 63 cases over the last week - slightly below the previous week - it no longer breaks that down by region nor reports "active" case counts, but does show eighteen in hospital, up from the previous report.

Wawa Council Approves 2023 Capital Budget

Wawa Municipal Council's approved the Municipality's 2023 capital budget - in principle.

The approval was given in last night's regular meeting, just weeks after the budget was presented ahead of the holidays - the presentation can be found on the Municipality's YouTube channel and website - it outlines projects not just for this year but through 2026, with a total of $1,626,000 in new recommended projects for this year, for a total of $5,019,716 when combined with previous commitments, all intended to align with the municipal strategic plan, regulatory requirements, and infrastructure needs.

Before approving the resolution, Council was provided with a report further outlining priorities in the Capital Budget - including the urgency of each item - while Councillor Joseph Opato questioned the decision to purchase a "rolloff truck" for the landfill, though he was assured by Treasurer Manuela Batovanja that municipal staff very much focus on savings and value for money in budget preparations.

With the Capital Budget now approved, plans are for the Operating Budget to be presented February 7th, so it can come up for Council approval March 7th.

Potential MMCC Canteen Operator Found Despite No Response to RFP

It seems someone has stepped forward to run the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre's canteen.

In their Committee of the Whole meeting last night, Wawa Municipal Council was told that there were no applications under the Request for Proposals released just before Christmas, though Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson noted he was approached afterward by a "local member of our business community" who was interested in operating the canteen, with a proposal expected this week - Patterson noted the individual he would not name has a history of being able to operate "this type of franchise".

Council agreed to Patterson's request for more time to receive that proposal and hammer out a legal agreement for the next Council meeting, which will be held January 24th.

Patterson was also asked whether the kitchen was available for tournaments, and replied that did not happen last weekend but a couple volunteers would run the canteen this coming weekend.

Wawa Council Takes Step Toward BIA Dissolution

Wawa Municipal Council's taken a first step toward disbanding the Wawa BIA.

Following discussions last month - after the BIA's board passed a resolution recommending the Business Improvement Area be dissolved due to a shrinking business community and especially volunteer base, which has made it difficult for the organization to form a board and meet quorum for its meetings - Council last night gave only first reading to a by-law that would dissolve the BIA.

It's an unusual move for Council, as - for the last several years - it has opted to give by-laws first, second, and third reading at the same time to quickly pass them, though CAO/Clerk Maury O'Neill explained this would introduce it to the floor and give opportunity for public comment before the second reading, which could see more Council debate, then the third reading - if passed - would confirm the by-law, dissolving the BIA.

$21m In Federal and Provincial Funding for Huron Central Railway

The Huron Central Railway's getting federal and provincial support for infrastructure.

Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra's announced up to $10.5-million under the National Trade Corridors Fund, with Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano announcing a matching contribution from the Ontario government, while the Huron Central Railway will put in the same amount.

The funds are meant for the rehabilitation of key rail infrastructure to improve the usable life of the track, as well as support the railway in "sustaining operations as a viable freight service between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury", which the federal government says will "increase the fluidity and reliability of rail service for northern Ontario while reducing the travel time of railcare traffic", with spinoff benefits such as "increasing carload volumes in commodity sectors, relieving ongoing supply chain congestion, and improving the reliability of rail service in Northern Ontario".

APH Reports New COVID-19 Cases, Including in North Algoma

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting 27 since Thursday - eighteen in the Sault Ste. Marie area, six in the Elliot Lake area, two in North Algoma (which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations), and one in Central and East Algoma - though "high risk active" cases are down slightly, to 61, with sixteen in hospital, one in an ICU.

The neighbouring Public Health Sudbury and District is holding an appointment only COVID-19 vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office Thursday - 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.

PHSD Reports 197th COVID-19 Death, New Cases

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting is 197th - the 171st in Greater Sudbury - it last reported a death a week ago.

The health unit's also reporting 21 new cases since Friday - sixteen in Greater Sudbury, three in the broader Sudbury District, and two in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases are down slightly, to 133 - 26 in hospital, three in ICUs - with three cases still "active" in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations), down slightly from Friday's four.

PHSD's holding an appointment vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office Thursday - 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.

Wawa Council to Consider 2023 Capital Budget, Dissolving BIA, Future of MMCC Canteen

Wawa Municipal Council will consider approving the 2023 capital budget and dissolving the BIA in back-to-back meetings tonight.

First up is a Committee of the Whole meeting including a presentation by Charlie Todesco on predator control, a follow-up on last month's discussion about the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre canteen, a memo on the dissolution of the Wawa BIA (Business Improvement Area), a report on the capital budget presented last month, and a memo on appointments to committees and boards.

That'll be followed by a regular Council meeting, which includes a resolution to accept the draft capital budget presented ahead of the holidays - it outlined over $5-million in proposed projects, including $1.6-million in newly recommended "high priority" projects - along with a resolution to appoint a member for the Algoma Public Health board, and by-laws re-establishing several municipal committees (Heritage, Cemetery, Age-Friendly, Public Library Board, and Economic Development and Tourism).

There's also a single "in-camera" item: a legal issue relating to marina divestiture.

The meetings will be held back-to-back, starting at 6:30 pm tonight, in Council Chambers - they'll also be livestreamed through the Municipality's YouTube channel.

PHSD Announces Chapleau COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it's holding the "appointment only" clinic at its Chapleau office Thursday, offering a first or second dose for those six months to five years old, or first, second, and booster doses for those over five - 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.

Assault & Mischief Charges After Dubreuilville Domestic Dispute

Charges have been laid after a Dubreuilville domestic dispute.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers responded to a reported dispute early last Monday morning, with investigation leading to the arrest of a Dubreuilville 51-year-old on charges of spousal assault with a weapon and domestic mischief.

Their identity is being withheld due to the domestic nature of the incident, to protect the victim's identity.

They've been released from custody, set to appear in court in Wawa next month.

Superior East OPP Report A Few Charges Over Festive RIDE Campaign

A few charges were laid locally over the holiday season.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police tell JJAM FM News that officers with the detachment conducted 211 RIDE events or checks during the annual Festive RIDE campaign - which ran from November 17th to January 2nd - with three drivers charged with a total of five impaired-related offences while a single "Warn Range" suspension was issued.

North East Region OPP (which includes Superior East) saw 68 drivers charged with a total of 113 impaired-related offences - plus 22 "Warn Range" suspensions and a "Zero Tolerance" suspension - while OPP across the province charged 812 drivers with a total of 1258 impaired driving offences and issued 208 "Warn Range" suspensions and 21 "Zero Tolerance" suspensions.

Chapleau Looking for Volunteer Committee/Board Members

The Township of Chapleau's looking for volunteers to sit on a few committees.

As committees of Council share the same term as Council, a new term is underway, requiring Council to fill those committees - that's prompted a call for volunteers: seven for the Economic Development Committee; five for Leisure and Cultural Services; five for Protection to Persons and Property, and Property Standards; and six for Public Works - Maintenance and Operations.

Those interested should submit a letter of intent outlining interests and experience, by emailing cao@chapleau.ca by noon on March 30th.

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