Michipicoten First Nation Election Candidates Set

Candidates are set for the upcoming Michipicoten First Nation elections.

Four people are in the running for chief: current Chief Pat Tangie; current councillor Sandra Donney Fraser; Trevor Chenier;and Chad Edgar.

There are 21 candidates for six councillor positions, including Chenier, Donney Fraser, and Edgar, as well as current councillors Irene Armstrong, Donald Humphries, Christine Lewis, Linda Peterson, and Evelyn Stone, plus Kenna DuFresne, Jim St. Germaine, Laura Panhuyzen, Janet Demary, Connie DeLuca, Jeannette Lapham, Mitchell Simon, Anais Tangie, Dan Beaupre, Denise Churchill, John-Paul Chalykoff, Daniel Perrault, and William P. Swanson, Sr.

The election will be held March 25th.

Wawa Council to Hold Back-to-Back Meetings

Wawa Municipal Council will consider management of water and wastewater tonight.

That's one of the topics of tonight's Committee of the Whole meeting, which includes a delegation presenting a draft water and wastewater management plan, plus an update on MMCC canteen operations, and discussion about: the 2023 schedule of fees; accessibility status; the purchase of a diesel engine for a landfill compactor; the marina advisory committee; and monthly reports from department heads.

That'll be followed by a regular Council meeting, which includes resolutions to approve the Water Rate Study and resulting Financial Plan and to appoint members of the Marina Advisory Committee, which is backed by a by-law.

There's also a single "in-camera" item: a legal issue relating to an offer to purchase property.

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 Reports New COVID-19 Cases, Still Quiet in Northern Sudbury District

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 39 since Friday - 34 in Greater Sudbury, four in the broader Sudbury District, and another in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases are down slightly, to 109, with 22 in hospital.

There have been no "active" cases listed for the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) in a week.

The health unit's holding an appointment only vaccination clinic for those at least 12 years old 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.

Charge Laid Over Threats That Forced Wawa Schools Lockdown

A Wawa man's been charged over threats that forced local schools to lockdown on Friday.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police Constable Ashley Nickle says they responded to threats reported by a third party around 1:20 pm Friday afternoon.

Constable Nickle says all of the schools were locked down as precaution, as the man's location was unclear when the threats were reported.

A 30-year-old Wawa man's been charged with a single count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, but was released from custody, with a March court date.

PHSD Reports 2 COVID-19 Deaths As New Highly Transmissible Variant Detected

A highly transmissible COVID-19 variant's been detected in the region.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts says the new Omicron subvariant, XBB - including XBB.1.5 - has been found in its service area, noting it may be the most transmissible variant detected to date and projections for this week are that it will make up over 20% of all strains detected in Ontario.

In response, the health unit's urging everyone continue practicing personal protective measures, particularly staying up-to-date with vaccinations, getting the bivalent booster when eligible - it will hold an “appointment only” vaccination clinic for those at least twelve years old at its Chapleau office this Thursday.

This comes as Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting two COVID-19 deaths in Greater Sudbury - one in which it was the underlying cause, another in which it contributed but was not the underlying cause - bringing its death toll to 199 - 173 in the city - it last reported a death Wednesday.

The health unit's also reporting 28 new cases since Wednesday - 25 in Greater Sudbury, two in the broader Sudbury District, and one in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases stayed at 112 - nineteen in hospital, one in an ICU.

There are no longer any "active" cases listed for the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).

PHSD Reports New COVID-19 Death, Still No Cases in Northern Sudbury District

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 ten days ago, though it later removed one of the deaths reported in Greater Sudbury.

The health unit's also reporting 25 new cases since Monday - 21 in Greater Sudbury, one in the broader Sudbury District, and three in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases are down slightly, to 112 - 22 in hospital, three in ICUs.

There are no longer any "active" listed for the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).

Mischief Charge Over White River Domestic Dispute

A mischief charge has been laid after a White River domestic dispute.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers responded to a reported dispute on Ontario Street Sunday morning, with investigation leading to the arrest of a 72-year-old from White River on a charge of 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.

Drug Trafficking & Firearm Charges in Marathon

Two Marathon residents are facing firearm and drug-related charges.

Marathon OPP say officers executed a search warrant at a Marathon residence Tuesday night, seizing an unspecified amount of suspected illicit substances such as cocaine, crystal meth, oxycodone, suboxone, and psilocybin, along with drug trafficking-associated items and Canadian currency.

Arrested are a 34-year-old and a 36-year-old, each facing eleven charges including: possession of weapon for dangerous purpose; careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device, or ammunition; and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

They've been remanded into custody.

PHSD Warns of Increased Overdoses in Greater Sudbury

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is warning of an increase in overdoses in its region.

The health unit says it has received reports of "an increase in overdoses from the use of substances" in the City of Greater Sudbury, adding that - while it can't confirm the substance that caused the overdoses - it's an "important reminder" that street drugs could be cut or mixed with substances such as benzos, fentanyl, or carfentanil, and more toxic substances may be circulating locally.

PHSD recommends avoiding using drugs when you're alone - but not using it at the same time as an accompanying friend - to avoid mixing drugs or alcohol, to carry a naloxone kit, and - in the case of a suspected overdose - call 9-1-1.

APH Reports 87th COVID-19 Death, New Cases in North Algoma

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

Algoma Public Health's giving few details about its 87th COVID death - except that it was the underlying cause - the health unit last reported a death nearly a month ago.

It's also reporting 33 new cases since Thursday (but shows 35 more in the regional breakdown as two reported Thursday were previously unattributed) - 28 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, three in Central and East Algoma, two in the Elliot Lake area, and two 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 slightly, to 62, with twelve in hospital, two in ICUs.

PHSD Reports New COVID-19 Cases, No Longer Any Active in Northern Sudbury District

More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region - but not locally.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 41 since Friday - one in the Manitoulin District, the rest in Greater Sudbury - with known "active" cases down to 121, with 22 in hospital.

The health unit's no longer showing any "active" cases in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).

Chapleau Council to Hold 1st 2023 Meeting

Chapleau Town Council's set to hold its first meeting of 2023.

Included on tonight's agenda is a delegation from Chapleau Public Utility manager Jason Rioux, by-laws to set an interim tax levy and adopt an Emergency Management Program and Response Plan, and resolutions to: permit cannabis retail stores; appoint a board member for Public Health Sudbury and Districts; approve the 2023 schedule of fees; and authorize purchase orders for LED streetlights and a telescopic loading chute for the trackless.

There are also three "in-camera" items about identifiable individuals such as municipal or local board employees.

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

PHSD Reminds Parents to Keep Kids Up-to-Date on Immunizations

A local health unit's reminding parents to keep their kids up to date on immunizations for preventable diseases.

Acknowledging the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted regular programming - such as student immunizations - Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it will be sending out reminder letters to all secondary school students lacking up-to-date immunization regards, to remind Ontario's Immunization of School Pupils Act requires students under age 18 to have up-to-date records to attend school in person.

The health unit notes there are about 4200 students in secondary schools across its service area - which includes Chapleau - emphasizing a lack of vaccine protection can lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases, like the meningitis outbreak seen in Toronto last summer.

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.

Cart (0)