Stay up to date with what’s happening in your community.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting two since Friday - both in Greater Sudbury - pushing known "active" cases up slightly, to twelve.
The health unit now only updates hospitalization figures on Wednesdays, but last showed three cases in hospital.
A Wawa man's facing numerous charges after a collision on Mission Road.
Superior East OPP say they responded to the two-vehicle collision around 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon, finding the suspect vehicle had fled the scene prior to officers arriving, though it was located a short time later, near a snowmobile trail off Highway 101.
According to police, officers determined while interacting with the driver that he'd consumed alcoholic beverages, with further investigation revealing he was prohibited from operating a motor vehicle, had taken the vehicle without consent - and that there was a firearm and ammunition in the vehicle.
As a result, the 25-year-old was arrested on 21 charges: operation while Impaired - alcohol and drugs; operation while Impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus); Dangerous Operation Causing Bodily Harm; Fail to Stop at Accident Resulting in Bodily Harm; Flight from Peace Officer; Take Motor Vehicle Without Consent; Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm; Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Firearm; Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose; Possession of a Firearm, Prohibited or Restricted Weapon Obtained by Crime; Possession of Firearm knowing Serial Number has been Tampered With; Fail to Comply With Probation Order; three counts of Operation while Prohibited; two of Careless Storage of Firearm or Ammunition; two of Transport Firearm or Ammunition in a Careless Manner; and two of Possession of Firearm or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order.
He was remanded into custody, pending a bail hearing.
Dozens of forest fires continue to burn across Northern Ontario.
That includes the "Chapleau 3" fire - two kilometres south of October Lake and 2.5 kilometres west of Vichaw Lake - which is still listed as "not under control", though it has not grown above 3916 hectares in two weeks days - travel and access restrictions remain in place near the fire - as well as "Chapleau 6" - located 2.5 kilometres west of Morin Lake and one kilometre east of Bolkow Lake - which is also not under control, but has stayed about the same size for about as long, though its mapped size did increase by ten hectares, to 1239, in recent days.
Smoke from fires has prompted Environment Canada to issue special air quality statements for many parts of the North, including the Chapleau area.
Other fires of note include the 300 hectare "Cochrane 11" - just west of Fort Albany, causing the evacuation of the remote First Nation community - the 18,400 hectare "Cochrane 7" northeast of Lake Abitibi, a nearly 5900 hectare fire in the Sudbury district and another 1370 hectares in size.
The fire hazard is high to extreme for much of the north, faling to moderate to low in the White River area and further north and west - the Restricted Fire Zone suspending fire permits and banning open air burning remains in place for the entire fire region of Ontario.
Chapleau's unveiled its new "Welcome Guide".
The nineteen-page guide outlining local sites, services, clubs, and more is now available digitally on the Township's website, or in physical form at other places in the community.
Chapleau Town Council's set to meet tonight.
Included on tonight's agenda are resolutions: confirming the agreement for CAO/Clerk services from Lynne Duguay, who started a week ago; allowing the local Legion to extend its outdoor patio on Canada Day; awarding the tender for the Civic Centre Heating Controls Project; and accepting a staff recommendation to rent a street sweeper.
There's also two "in-camera" items: one relating to CAO recruitment, the other about the Chapleau PUC.
The meeting will be held at 6:30 pm tonight, in Civic Centre Council Chambers.
Wawa residents are being challenged to get active over the next few days, as ParticipACTION's annual "Community Challenge" nears an end.
Wawa Family Health Team dietician Justine Glover explains the initiative - which has been running all month - is meant to encourage physical activity.
Glover encourages community members to log "move minutes" through the ParticipACTION app or website, noting the challenge ends this Friday, June 30th - as of Sunday afternoon, Wawa was the 7th most active community in Ontario, but wasn't in the Top 20 for Canada.
Wawa's Ecole publique l'Escalade is inviting the community out for a "garage and craft sale" this weekend.
Noted to include toys, books, clothing, puzzles, and more, the event's set to run from 9 am to 12 noon on Sunday.
The school's also hosting a barbecue and talent show next Wednesday, June 28th, at 5 pm.
A colourful event is set to encourage fitness in Wawa this weekend.
Organizer Pauline Dawson explains Wawa's EarlyON Child and Family Centre and the Superior Children Centre are hosting a "Family Color Run" on Sunday.
Dawson notes there's a difference to this year's event.
Dawson encourages all families to join in the Family Color Run, which runs from 11 am to 2 pm tomorrow, at the Wawa Beachfront.
Local MP Carol Hughes talked up Algoma in the House of Commons.
Speaking recently, Hughes urged Canadians to come to Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing, touting events and features of the region.
Hughes also highlighted White River's annual Winnie's Hometown Festival, among other events across the region, emphasizing the one-minute time limit for Member's Statements meant she could only give a small sampling of events happening this summer.
Time's almost up for Wawa residents wanting their say on a "refresh" of the Municipality's Strategic Plan.
CAO/Clerk Maury O'Neill explains everyone's encouraged to participate in the process.
O'Neill notes there are a few options.
The survey's open until midnight, with O'Neill expecting the "engagement process" on the Strategic Plan to end with a draft report in August, leading to adoption of the updated plan in September.
Hawk Junction will be bustling with excitement tomorrow.
A penny sale supporting the Hawk Junction Cemetery will be held from 10 am to 2 pm at the Hawk Junction Community Hall - hosted by the Friends of Pine Grove - while the annual Hawk Junction Local Services Board Horseshoe Pitch will be held at the Hawk Junction Community Centre, with registration at 11 am and competition at 12 noon.
A Wawa student's being honoured for her reliability, smile, and perseverance while facing challenges.
Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says Ecole secondaire Saint Joseph Grade 12 student Delaney Schumacher is "highly appreciated by her peers and school staff", displaying "excellent time-management skills and maximizes her participation in school as well as community activities".
It further notes she's "always in a good mood" and has demonstrated "exemplary behaviour", actively participating in school activities and showing her leadership qualities and team spirit as a member of the school's basketball, volleyball, and soccer teams, as well as competing at the OFSAA provincial cross-country running competition and accumulating over 250 hours of volunteer community service, supporting organizations such as the Wawa Rotary Club, Wawa Figure Skating Club, and the Wawa Minor Hockey Association, even receiving the latter's Volunteer of the Year award in 2022, while qualifying for the provincial figure skating championships for the past four years, getting her invited to participate in this year's provincial figure skating development camp.
A remote First Nation on the James Bay coast has been evacuated amid a fast-spreading forest fire.
Fort Albany First Nation declared a state of emergency Wednesday, after a small wildfire that started around noon grew in size, less than two kilometres from the isolated community of about 700 people.
Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says water bombers and helicopters are fighting the 300-hectare fire, noting it rapidly increased in "intensity" and is not under control.
It's one of several fires burning in the northeast - including a nearly 12,000 hectare blaze northeast of Lake Abitibi and a trio of fires north of Massey - though there is some good news locally, as travel and access restrictions imposed near the "Wawa 3" fire east of White River have now been lifted - that fire, located south of Trent Lake and Round Lake, and five kilometres northwest of Duffy Lake, has been held at 6678 hectares in size for nearly two weeks.
Such restrictions remain around the "Chapleau 3" fire - two kilometres south of October Lake and 2.5 kilometres west of Vichaw Lake - as it remains listed as "not under control", though it has not grown above 3916 hectares in ten days, while "Chapleau 6" - located 2.5 kilometres west of Morin Lake and one kilometre east of Bolkow Lake - is still not under control, but has not grown beyond 1229 hectares in size in just as long.
The fire hazard is extreme for much of the north, with some areas of high hazard, and the Restricted Fire Zone suspending fire permits and banning open air burning remains in place for the entire fire region of Ontario.
Anglers, volunteers, and anyone interested is being encouraged to attend a major meeting tonight.
The Wawa Ice Fishing Derby's annual general meeting will be held at 7 o'clock, at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre - organizers emphasize everyone's welcome to "come be a part of the largest ice fishing derby in Northern Ontario".
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting two over the last week - one in the Elliot Lake area, the other in Central and East Algoma - though known "high risk active" dropped to four, all in hospital, one in an ICU.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting four since Monday - three in Greater Sudbury, another in the western Sudbury District - with known "active" cases up slightly, to eleven, including three in hospital.
The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit shows a jump of 38 cases over the last week - up from the previous week - leaving it with one in hospital.
Another arrest's been revealed in an April 2022 fatal shooting on Manitoulin Island - months after the arrest was made.
Manitoulin OPP say a 38-year-old from North York was arrested on a charge of first-degree murder in mid-March and remains in custody, though he was set to appear in court last week.
He's the sixth person arrested in connection to the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Brandan Brooks of Toronto in M'Chigeeng First Nation - the others are also from the Toronto area, and face charges including first degree murder, possession of weapon for dangerous purpose, possession of a schedule I substance - cocaine, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, public mischief, and other firearm-related charges.
A major meeting's coming up for Wawa's hospital.
The Lady Dunn Health Centre board of directors is set to hold its annual general meeting tonight, at 7 pm.
While members of the general public are welcome to attend, anyone wishing to do so must call 705-856-2335, extension 3210 by the end of the day.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is warning of an increase in overdoses in its region.
The health unit says the Community Drug Strategy's received reports of an increase in "suspected drug poisonings" and unexpected reactions from the use of substances in Sudbury and districts, and - while it can't confirm the substances involved - calls this an "important reminder" that street drugs could be cut or mixed with substances such as benzos, xylazine, fentanyl, or carfentanil, and more toxic substances may be circulating locally.
It particularly flags increased reports of "carfentanil crystals" that appear to be causing increased disorientation, sedation, and overdose.
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 911.
Two people are dead and another in hospital after a shooting on Manitoulin Island.
Ontario Provincial Police say Wikwemikong Tribal Police, UCCM Anishnaabe Police, and Manitoulin OPP responded to a shooting in Wikwemikong Unceded Territory shortly after 11 o'clock Sunday night, finding three people had sustained gunshot wounds and the suspect had fled the scene - two of those wounded have died as a result of those injuries, while the other remains in hospital.
A shelter-in-place order was initiated, but lifted shortly after 7 o'clock Monday morning.
Three people have been arrested: a 19-year-old from Toronto facing two counts of first-degree murder, two charges of trafficking in a schedule I substance, and another of possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5000 while a 54-year-old and a 33-year-old from Wikwemikong Unceded Territory have been charged with two counts of accessory after the fact to murder, two counts of trafficking in a schedule I substance, and a charge of possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Investigators believe this was an isolated incident and there are no longer concerns for public safety, though OPP are appealing to "anyone who may have observed suspicious activity related to this case" to call the OPP or Crime Stoppers.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting three since Friday - all in Greater Sudbury - with known "active" cases dropping to eight, just over half of the fourteen reported Friday.
The health unit now only updates hospitalization figures on Wednesdays.
