Chapleau Students Honoured for Participating in Speaking Competition

Some Chapleau students are being highlighted for participating in a recent public speaking competition.

Highlighting teachers Miss Charron and Mister Lambruschini for their work organizing - along with the local Royal Canadian Legion - Chapleau Public School Principal Nicole Schuurmann commends the ten brave students who spoke in the event.

Schuurmann also thanks the three judges, including Mayor Ryan Bignucolo, who says he quite enjoyed the event, particularly noting the variety of topics discussed.

Schuurmann echoes Mayor Bignucolo's optimism.

Bignucolo adds a couple plaques were also presented.

Mayor Bignucolo says he plans to put it up in the office.

The two students who won are heading to regional competition in Sault Ste. Marie this weekend, and - from there - could end up on the way to the provincial competition.

Public Info Session for Wawa's Water & Wastewater Master Plan

Wawa residents are being encouraged to learn more about a key plan being developed for the municipality.

A special information session will be held tonight for the Municipality of Wawa's Water and Wastewater Master Plan.

Rebecca Weatherall - Assistant Director of Infrastructure Services - recently explained to JJAM FM's Town Talk that the plan aims to ensure current and future water and wastewater infrastructure needs are met, looking at the system's capacity and the community's ability to grow.

Meant to present results and recommendations from work completed to date - and obtain feedback - the final public information centre will be held at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre Lounge tonight, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, with a presentation beginning at 6:45 pm.

APH Reports 2 COVID-19 Deaths, New Cases

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting two in which COVID was the underlying cause of death, bringing the health unit's death toll to 95 - it also reported two deaths in its last update, a week ago.

It's also reporting 64 new cases over the last week, up from the previous week - 38 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, sixteen in the Elliot Lake area, and ten in Central and East Algoma - pushing known "high risk active" cases up slightly, to 79, with seven in hospital, two in ICUs.

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

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting fifty since Friday - forty in Greater Sudbury, five in the broader Sudbury District, and five in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases are down slightly, to 192 - including two in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 62 in hospital, two in ICUs.

The health unit is holding an "appointment only" COVID vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office today, for those as young as six months.

Wawa Ice Fishing Derby Nears, Pre-Fishing Ban Set to Begin

With the annual Wawa Ice Fishing Derby nearly here, organizers are reminding participants to stay off the lakes ahead of the event.

Derby Chair Scott Popert reminds rules prohibit fishing on the Wawa, Hawk, and Manitowik Lakes in the days leading up to the derby.

Popert notes there are still tickets remaining, and touts prizes for the top six fish on each of the three derby lakes or the $35,000 registration prize.

Registration for the derby runs from 10 am to 10 pm Friday, with fishing on Saturday and Sunday.

Chapleau Council Approves Return of Drag Races, Some Issues to Resolve

Drag races will be returning to Chapleau this summer.

Mayor Ryan Bignucolo says Chapleau Town Council gave the go-ahead for the CRDC-run event in their recent meeting.

Bignucolo notes there are still some things to be worked out.

Mayor Bignucolo is quite positive about this move.

While a first edition of the "Gold Rush Nationals Drag Race" was held in 2019, the Township and CRDC were unable to reach a new agreement for a second edition before pandemic restrictions hit in early 2020, and it hasn't been held since.

Wawa & Chapleau Remind of Pending Property Tax Bill Deadline

Local municipalities are reminding of a nearing deadline: the first property tax bill of the year.

Both the Municipality of Wawa and Township of Chapleau are reminding the first instalment is due tomorrow, with late payments subject to late payment charges - in Chapleau's case, that's a 1.25% penalty, with an additional 1.25% per month per instalment on overdue accounts.

PHSD Again Reports 203rd COVID-19 Death, New Case in Northern Sudbury District

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting is 203rd - the 176th in Greater Sudbury - it last reported a death more than a week ago.

The health unit's also reporting 51 new cases since Wednesday - 45 in Greater Sudbury, three in the broader Sudbury District, and three in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases are down slightly, to 198 - one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 51 cases in hospital, one in an ICU.

An "appointment only" COVID vaccination clinic will be held at its Chapleau office tomorrow, for those as young as six months.

Chapleau Council Approves Proposal for Municipal Facility Feasibility Studies & Bridge Inspection Contract

Chapleau Town Council's approved plans for a study of municipal facilities.

Mayor Ryan Bignucolo explains Council received a delegation from industrial building construction firm Toromont and its subsidiary, Cimco, and approved a proposal for feasibility studies.

The funding comes from the Community Buildings Retrofit Initiative through the Green Municipal Fund, which is a program of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, with funding from the federal government.

Mayor Bignucolo also says Council's approved a contract for an engineering firm to inspect all four of the Township's bridges.

By law, the inspections must be done every two years.

6th Dubreuilville Magpie Winter Pike Derby Nears

Organizers are getting ready for Dubreuilville's annual winter pike derby.

Dubreuilville Magpie Rod and Gun Club Vice President Roger Gamache says the sixth annual event has a number of prizes, including one requiring you to register soon.

Gamache notes the derby has a maximum of 250 participants.

The 6th Dubreuilville Magpie Winter Pike Derby will be held March 11th.

Wawa's Gear For Ukraine Campaign Marks Milestone in Invasion

A Wawa resident's renewing calls to support Ukrainians as we mark a year into the devastating invasion by Russia.

"Gear for Ukraine" organizer Jana Strouhalova says she's reached out to the Municipality of Wawa, MPP Michael Mantha, MP Carol Hughes, and local mines to support her clothing donation drive.

Strouhalova notes two packages have already gone out, meant for smaller rural communities where there may not be running water, emphasizing the effect it has.

While the initial focus was hats and mitts, Strouhalova says they're particularly in need of underwear and socks - for kids and adults - with donation boxes at the Thrift Barn and Circle K.

Wawa & Chapleau Receiving Slightly Different Gas Tax Funds in 2023

Local communities are getting some provincial support for infrastructure.

The Ontario government's confirmed it's providing a total of $379.5-million through the Gas Tax program - including $80-million in "one-time additional funding" to make up for lower gas sales due to COVID-19 - with the funds meant to help 107 municipalities across the province operate and expand public transit.

Locally, Wawa will receive $25,877 - $34 more than last year - while Chapleau will get $18,585, down $108 from last year.

This comes two months after the government announced 2023 grants under the Ontario Critical Infrastructure Fund, with Chapleau's dropping nearly $41,000 to $230,461 and Wawa's plummeting almost $73,000 to $412,876, while Dubreuilville's is up over $22,000 to $172,150 and White River's jumped about $32,000, to $255,228.

PHSD & PHU Report New COVID-19 Cases

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting nineteen since Tuesday - fourteen in Greater Sudbury, four in the broader Sudbury District, and one in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up to 199 - including one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 46 cases in hospitals across the region, three in ICUs.

The health unit is holding an "appointment only" COVID vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office today, for those at least twelve years old - another "appointment only" clinic will be held for those as young as six months next Tuesday, February 28th.

Meanwhile, the neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reporting ten cases over the last week - less than half of the previous week - it no longer breaks that down by region nor reports "active" case counts, and has not updated its hospitalization figures.

Wawa Council Rejects Wawa Ice Fishing Derby Request for Greater Fee Waiver

Wawa Municipal Council's rejected a request to waive arena rental fees for the Wawa Ice Fishing Derby.

Council was told in their February 7th meeting that the fee waiver policy passed last year - by the previous Council - no longer allows for a waiver for events like the derby but staff used discretion to waive $1500 - the maximum that would've been allowed under the policy - as that's about half of the cost for renting the MMCC arena for three days, the derby committee asked the remaining $1500 be waived.

The request came to a resolution last night, though Councillor Cathy Cannon - who'd previously voiced support for the waiver, given how the derby supports the community both by bringing people to town but also through donations to local causes - declared a potential indirect pecuniary interest, and so was required to leave Council Chambers during last night's debate and subsequent vote.

Much of the discussion focused on attempting to clarify the purpose of the resolution, with staff explaining if Council voted in favour then the full $3000 rental costs would be waived for the derby, but if they voted against then the derby would only be able to get the $1500 waiver already offered by staff.

Mayor Melanie Pilon stated she still believes in the original intent of the policy, warning of the precedent that would be set by waiving the entire fees for the derby - asking "where do you draw the line?" as other groups could similarly apply - and stated that financial statements for the derby provided to the Municipality showed a profit of several thousand dollars so they should be able to afford the rental cost.

Still confused by the intent of the resolution, Councillor Jim Hoffmann said he was in favour of only offering the $1500 waiver - not the full $3000 - while Councillor Mitch Hatfield passionately spoke in favour of the derby, warning that Council could drive it away if the full waiver wasn't granted, though Hoffmann noted that with about 1300 participants, it'd cost each of them less than $1.50 to make up the $1500.

The resolution was subsequently defeated, with Hatfield the sole vote in favour while Pilon, Hoffmann, and Councillor Joseph Opato voted against - that means the derby will not receive the $3000 waiver, but will still get the $1500 waiver offered by staff.

A second resolution that would've amended the waiver of fees policy to build in a $3000 waiver for the derby was subsequently rejected in a vote along the same lines.

PHSD Reports New COVID-19 Cases, None Active in Northern Sudbury District

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 94 since Friday - 86 in Greater Sudbury, three in the broader Sudbury District, and five in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up to 194 - for the first time in more than a week, there are no longer any "active" cases listed for the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).

While the health unit shows 42 cases in hospital - two in ICUs - it notes there was no updated data from Health Sciences North.

The health unit is holding an "appointment only" COVID vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office tomorrow, for those at least twelve years old - another "appointment only" clinic will be held for those as young as six months next Tuesday, February 28th.

APH Reports 2 COVID-19 Deaths, Toll Now 93

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting two in which COVID was the underlying cause of death, bringing the health unit's death toll to 93 - it last reported a death a week ago.

It's also reporting 58 new cases over the last week, down from the previous week - 41 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, seven in Central and East Algoma, seven in the Elliot Lake area, and three 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 72, with four in hospital, two in ICUs.

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