Wawa Council Holding Back-to-Back Meetings

Wawa Municipal Council's holding back-to-back meetings tonight.

First up is a Committee of the Whole meeting, which includes discussion about changes to the oath of office due to the new King, Charles III, plus a draft policy on citizen complaints, the first quarter financial report, and a report on the Municipality's engineer of record.

That'll be followed by tonight's regular Council meeting, which includes resolutions supporting the Wawa Public Library's plan for drag storytime in June, authorizing plans to submit a funding application for the Inclusive Community Grants program, accepting a staff recommendation to discontinue "bands of assessment" for a graduated tax rate in the commercial class - starting next year - and a staff recommendation to pursue an accessible electric van and charging infrastructure to replace the existing Wawa Transit gas-powered minibus.

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 None for Northern Sudbury District

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting eighteen since Wednesday - fourteen in Greater Sudbury, one in the broader Sudbury District, and three in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up slightly, to 66, with eighteen in hospital, four in ICUs.

There have not been any "active" cases listed for the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) in three weeks.

AOD Open House Coming

Wawa residents - particularly former Algoma Ore Division workers - are being encouraged to "save the date" for the upcoming "AOD Open House".

Organizer Andy Stevens explains the whole community is invited to the event next week, marking a major anniversary.

Stevens says it's an opportunity to socialize - maybe reminisce about the days when AOD was open - and to educate people about its historic impact on this community.

The AOD Open House will be held Tuesday, April 18th, from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre - transit service to the event will be free, simply contact Wawa Transit as normal.

Wawa Fire Department Holding Open House for Potential Recruits

The Wawa Fire Department's encouraging residents to "meet the team" as it looks to recruit new members.

Fire Chief Kevin Sabourin explains an open house is being held tonight.

Sabourin explains a few new recruits are needed.

Sabourin outlines the main requirements for potential firefighters.

Anyone who can't make tonight's open house can contact Chief Sabourin - the open house runs from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm this evening, at the fire hall.

PHSD & APH Report New COVID-19 Cases

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting four since Tuesday - one in Greater Sudbury, two in the broader Sudbury District, and another in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up slightly, to 64, with fifteen in hospital, four in ICUs.

Algoma Public Health's reporting 25 new cases over the last week, down from the previous week, but shows slightly more in total - thirteen in Central and East Algoma, eleven in the Sault Ste. Marie area, and three in the Elliot Lake area - though known "high risk active" cases are down to 30, with eleven in hospital, one in an ICU.

The Porcupine Health Unit's reporting thirteen cases over the last week - the same as the previous two - though there is some improvement: it no longer shows any in hospital.

PHSD Reports 211th COVID-19 Death

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its 144th in Greater Sudbury, bringing the health unit's COVID-related death toll to 211 - it last reported a death at the end of March.

The health unit's also reporting 32 new cases since Wednesday - 26 in Greater Sudbury, six in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases have dropped to 63, with thirteen in hospital, two in ICUs.

TVO to Air Documentary on Local Train 185

A train travelling through the region will get a special spotlight this weekend.

TVO will air "TRIPPING Train 185" tomorrow night, a three-hour documentary following Train 185 on its journey from Sudbury to Chapleau and then to White River, and executive producer Mitch Azaria explains the producers for the "TRIPPING" series had always wanted to feature a train in the series, finding Train 185 the perfect choice.

Azaria says he hopes viewers get a few things out of it, including the beauty of the trip, the constant "play-like" interaction of passengers and crew, and also the importance of the train.

The TVO Original "TRIPPING Train 185" airs from 7 pm to 10 pm Friday night on TVO, and will stream online afterward.

Impaired Driving & Other Charges in Wawa

Impaired driving and other charges have been laid against a Wawa resident.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to a traffic complaint about a possible impaired driver on Broadway Avenue around 9 o'clock yesterday morning - after locating the vehicle, police determined the driver was impaired, leading to the 48-year-old's arrest on charges of: operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs; drive motor vehicle, no plates; drive motor vehicle, no licence; and operate a motor vehicle without insurance.

They've been released from custody, set to appear in Wawa's Ontario Court of Justice next month.

Superior East OPP Watching for Seatbelt Rule Compliance Over Easter Weekend

Local police will be watching for proper seatbelt use over the coming long weekend.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police Constable Ashley Nickle explains the local detachment is focusing on seatbelt law enforcement and education to keep our roads safer.

Emphasizing seatbelts should be worn by only one person each, closely or firmly against the body - with lapbelts across the hips and a shoulder belt, if available, over the shoulder and across the chest - Nickle reminds there are consequences for not doing so.

Constable Nickle urges everyone to "buckle up every trip, everytime" - even short trips in town, as seatbelts greatly increase the chance of survival in a collision - and reminds Superior East OPP will be patrolling roads in all detachment areas, when not involved in investigations or responding to calls for service.

The Easter Long Weekend Seatbelt Campaign runs from Good Friday, April 7th, through Easter Monday, April 10th.

PHSD & PHU Post New COVID-19 Cases

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 22 since Monday - all in Greater Sudbury - pushing known "active" cases up to 88, with fifteen in hospital, two in ICUs.

The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reporting thirteen cases over the last week - the same as the previous week - it no longer breaks that down by region nor reports "active" case counts, but does show three currently in hospital, the same as the last several weeks.

Municipality of Wawa Completes 5 Year Tourism Plan

Wawa has a new plan to help with tourism.

The Municipality's announced the completion of a Five-Year Tourism Plan, prepared by consulting firm Bannikin Travel and Tourism.

Speaking to JJAM FM's Town Talk recently, Wawa's Community Services and Tourism Director, Alex Patterson, explained the plan - backed by government funding - is an update to a 2002 plan.

Patterson acknowledged some challenges identified in the process, including the community's online presence and the condition of the downtown, noting the plan outlines general goals to help with tourism across all four seasons, but also some specific actions to achieve those goals.

The plan's now available to read on the Municipality's website.

APH Reports 99th & 100th COVID-19 Deaths, New Cases

A local health unit's reached a grim COVID-19-related milestone.

Algoma Public Health's reporting two COVID-19 deaths, bringing its total to 100, at least fourteen so far this year - it last reported a death three weeks ago.

It's also reporting 34 new cases over the last week, down from the previous week - sixteen in the Sault Ste. Marie area, nine in Central and East Algoma, eight in the Elliot Lake area, and one 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 42 - less than half of what was reported a week ago - but cases in hospital have jumped to seventeen, with three in ICUs.

Environment Canada Expects Freezing Rain Ahead of Easter

Easter may be near, but winter's still holding on.

Environment Canada's issued a special weather statement for Wawa north through Dubreuilville, White River, and Pukaskwa Park, south through Agawa and Lake Superior Park, and east through Chapleau and Gogama, warning 5 to 10 centimetres of snow and ice pellets are expected to start tonight, "likely transitioning" into freezing rain tomorrow morning, then later rain.

It's even more likely further south, with a freezing rain warning for Searchmont, Montreal River Harbour, and Batchawana Bay, expecting up to 5 millimetres tonight, making roads dangerous to travel and "isolated power outages...likely".

The Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority's also issued a flood outlook statement applying until Monday, as it expects five to ten millimetres of freezing rain and 20 to 40 millimetres of rain, combined with melting snow amid warmer temperatures.

Lawsuit Filed Over Fatal Hwy 17 Ambulance-Snowplow Collision

The family of a White River woman killed in a fatal ambulance-snowplow collision last winter is suing the ambulance driver and the ambulance service.

A $1-million lawsuit's been launched by the family of Connie Halverson, a 68-year-old who was travelling in the ambulance as a patient when it collided with a snowplow near the Dubreuilville turnoff on Highway 17 on February 20, 2022.

The suit alleges the collision was the result of negligence by the paramedic (who has been charged with careless driving causing death and careless driving causing bodily harm) and that Halverson was not properly secured, further alleging the Algoma District Services Administration Board (which oversees the paramedic service) is liable for the negligence of their employee and, as owner of the ambulance, is liable for the injuries suffered by Halverson (documents filed call them "horrific and catastrophic", noting a fatal skull fracture) and for other damages, alleging her husband "has changed since his wife’s death and is filled with deep sorrow, anguish, emptiness, grief and heartbreak", with similar claims of shock and trauma for her children, grandchildren, and siblings.

The claims have yet to be tested in court, and neither of the defendants have filed a statement of defence at this time.

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

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting eighteen since Friday - seventeen in Greater Sudbury and another in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases are down to 77, with eleven in hospital, one in an ICU.

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

The health unit's holding an "appointment only" COVID-19 vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office tomorrow.

Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha Responds to Ousting From ONDP Caucus

Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha's vowing to continue serving the people of the region after he was removed from the Ontario NDP caucus amid a workplace misconduct investigation.

NDP Leader Marit Stiles announced his removal Saturday, saying only an independent third-party investigation was ongoing - Mantha did not comment initially, but has now issued a short statement saying "as a lifelong believer in safe workplaces, I have been and remain fully committed to participating in the independent process now underway", adding he's "continue to serve the people of Algoma-Manitoulin", but will not be commenting further.

Mantha's been the NDP MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin since 2011, most recently serving as deputy whip and critic for mining, natural resources, and the Ring of Fire until last Wednesday, when he was reduced to simply critic for mining.

His removal came amid reports he had not attended his regular legislative duties this year - not participating in debate or a vote in the Legislature since the Christmas break began in early December, even though it resumed sitting February 21st - with party staff saying only that he was on personal leave.­

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