Dubreuilville Man Facing Impaired Driving Charges After Highway 101 Crash

Impaired operation charges have been laid after a collision east of Wawa.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to a collision on Highway 101 - near Highway 547 - shortly after 9 o'clock Thursday night, with subsequent investigation determining the driver had consumed alcoholic beverages, leading to the arrest of a 35-year-old from Dubreuilville on charges of operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs and operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus).

They've been released from custody with a court date later this month.

PHSD Reports New COVID-19 Cases

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting three in Greater Sudbury since Friday, though known "active" cases were down slightly, to eighteen - the health unit only updates hospitalization figures on Wednesdays, but last showed six in hospital, one in an ICU.

The health unit notes it has one COVID-19 vaccination clinic planned in Chapleau this month - on Wednesday, August 16th - offering the primary series for those at least six months old, or booster doses by recommendation only.

OPP Searching for Missing Man Last Seen in Wawa

Ontario Provincial Police are searching for a missing man believed to be in the Wawa area.

Superior East OPP say "Jim" was reported missing by family Thursday, July 27th, but was last seen in Wawa Tuesday, July 25th - he's believed to still be in the Wawa area, but also has ties to Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins.

The 66-year-old's described as a white male, five feet ten inches tall, weighing about 170 pounds, with white shoulder length hair, white beard, and brown eyes - he also wears glasses, and was last seen wearing a blue tank top and blue jeans, navy blue baseball hat, and green rain jacket.

Anyone who has seen him since Tuesday, July 25th or who knows of his whereabouts is urged to call police at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, which is 1-800-222-8477.

41st Annual Wawa Salmon Derby Nears

Preparations are ramping up for the annual Wawa Salmon Derby.

The 41st annual event's set to be held August 18th through the 20th - with the "pre-fishing contest" running August 12th to 16th - and organizer Brad Buck notes there are tickets left, available a few ways.

Buck touts the $3000 prize for the biggest salmon of the derby - sponsored by Red Pine Exploration - plus other prizes for the biggest lake trout, the biggest fish of the day, and more.

Wawa Launches Fire Services Survey

Wawa residents are being encouraged to have their say about local fire services.

Fire Chief Kevin Sabourin explains the Municipality's launched a survey to get feedback on fire services that are available or potentially available for Wawa.

Sabourin notes the survey's intended to inform a broader review.

Sabourin encourages any Wawa resident to fill out the survey, noting participants can be anonymous or they can fill out details to be entered into a draw to win prizes of $250, $100, or $50, along with smoke detectors.

The survey can be found through the municipal website, with paper copies available at the Municipal Office, the Wawa Public Library, and the Wawa Seniors Goose Club - they must be completed by Friday, August 18th.

Arrest After Tractor-Trailer Flips on Highway 17 North of Wawa

An arrest has been made after a transport truck flipped just north of Wawa earlier this week.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police Constable Ashley Nickle explains the incident happened early Tuesday morning.

The highway was closed for about six hours as emergency services attended the scene while a heavy tow removed the vehicle and two occupants were taken to hospital, treated for minor injuries, and released.

Constable Nickle says that has led to an arrest.

PHSD & PHU Report New COVID-19 Cases, More Hospitalizations for TBDHU

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its six since Monday - four in Greater Sudbury, two in the Manitoulin District - bringing known "active" cases up to sixteen, with six in hospital, one in an ICU.

The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reporting two cases over the last week - it no longer breaks that down by region nor reports "active" case counts and shows none in hospital.

The nearby Thunder Bay District Health Unit has stopped reporting case counts, but does show 24 in hospital, one in an ICU, both up from last week's report.

Conservative Leader Poilievre Visiting SSM

Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre is visiting Sault Ste. Marie today.

Poilievre's will hold a rally for supporters at 12 noon at the Machine Shop, expected to comment on the Liberal goverment's policies, including its handling of inflation, grocery prices, carbon taxes, and crime.

It's part of a broader tour of Northern Ontario, with past stops in Kenora, Thunder Bay, Timmins, and Kapuskasing, as well as Sudbury later today and North Bay tomorrow.

Forest Fire Near White River Now Out, Along With Small Fire in Chapleau District

A couple forest fires in the region are now out.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says "Chapleau 15" - confirmed early Tuesday evening, located about five kilometres north of the east end of Cow River, or 25 kilometres northeast of Batchawana River Provincial Park - was called out on Wednesday, after growing to 0.2-hectares in size.

Meanwhile, the "Wawa 3" fire reported near White River on May 27th has also been called out - it had grown to 6678.1 hectares in size before it was declared "being held" June 10th and under control June 28th.

The Ministry did confirm four more fires in the Northeast since its Tuesday report - two in the Cochrane district, two in the Sudbury district - leaving the Northeast with 33 active and 44 in the Northwest.

The fire hazard's mostly low to moderate around Sault Ste. Marie, Greater Sudbury, Kirkland Lake and south, or high to extreme around Timmins, Cochrane, Hearst, and north.

Chapleau Resident Arrested for Threats Twice in 12 Hours

A Chapleau resident's facing multiple charges over two incidents in as many days.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were called to a disturbance on Lansdowne Street shortly before 9 o'clock Monday night, resulting in the arrest of a 51-year-old man on charges of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm and mischief - interfere with any person in the lawful use, enjoyment, or operation of property.

He was released from custody with an August court date, but - about 12 hours after the first incident - officers were notified that the accused had breached release conditions by returning to the victim's property, leading to his arrest on another charge of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm and two counts of failure to comply with undertaking - he was released again, still set to appear in court in August.

Assault & Sexual Assault Charges After Wawa Domestic Dispute

Assault and sexual assault charges have been laid after a domestic dispute in Wawa.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were called to a disturbance on Klondike Street shortly after 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon, with subsequent investigation resulting in the arrest of a 46-year-old Wawa resident on charges of sexual assault, spousal assault, and spousal assault causing bodily harm.

The accused - who will not be identified due to the domestic nature of the incident, to protect the victim - was released from custody with an August court date.

APH Reports 105th COVID-19 Death

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting its 105th since the pandemic began - it doesn't say where - it last reported a death two months ago.

The health unit's also reporting four new cases over the last week - one in the Sault Ste. Marie area, one in Central and East Algoma, and two in the Elliot Lake area - though known "high risk active" cases were cut in half, to five, one in hospital.

Assault & Forcible Confinement Charges in Wawa Domestic Dispute

Assault and forcible confinement charges have been laid over a Wawa domestic dispute.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the incident on First Avenue shortly before 8 o'clock Thursday night, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a 25-year-old from Wawa on charges of spousal assault, assault causing bodily harm - choke, suffocate, or strangle, and forcible confinement.

The accused - who will not be identified due to the domestic nature of the incident, to protect the victim - was released from custody with an August court date.

Small Forest Fire Reported in Chapleau District

A small forest fire's been confirmed in the region.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says "Chapleau 15" - confirmed early Tuesday evening - is located about five kilometres north of the east end of Cow River, or 25 kilometres northeast of Batchawana River Provincial Park - it was 0.1-hectares in size when the Ministry's report was issued, but was considered "not under control", though a crew was working on suppressing the blaze.

It's one of three active fires in the Chapleau district - along with the 3916.9 hectare "Chapleau 3" and the 1229 hectare "Chapleau 6", both of which are considered "under control" - with 28 others active across the Northeast - including the 6678.1 hectare "Wawa 3" near White River, also considered "under control" - and there are 46 active in the Northwest.

The fire hazard's mostly moderate to high for this region.

Assault & Threat Charges Over Hornepayne Domestic Dispute

Assault and threat charges have been laid over a Hornepayne domestic dispute.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the incident shortly before 10 o'clock last Wednesday night, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a 69-year-old from Hornepayne on charges of spousal assault and uttering threats to damage property.

The accused - who will not be identified due to the domestic nature of the incident, to protect the victim - was released from custody with an August court date.

Minor Injuries After Tractor-Trailer Flips on Highway 17 North of Wawa

Local police are reporting only "minor injuries" after a transport truck flipped, blocking Highway 17 north of Wawa.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were notified just after 5 o'clock this morning, finding a single vehicle - a tractor-trailer - on its side about 10 kilometres north of the Highway 101 turnoff, blocking the highway toward Dubreuilville and White River, though it reopened around 11:30 am this morning.

Two occupants were taken to hospital, treated for minor injuries, and released.

The collision's under investigation.

Wawa Public Library Photo Scavenger Hunt Deadline, Summer Reading Fun Continues

Time's running out for families to submit pictures for the Wawa Public Library's "Family Photo Scavenger Hunt".

While the scavenger hunt officially ended Monday, the deadline for entries is 4 o'clock this afternoon - prizes will be awarded later this week.

Though that initiative's ending, Head Librarian and CEO Sue Jarrell reminds the Bingo Reading Summer Challenge continues to 4 pm August 25th, to encourage literacy among the family.

Jarrell notes there'll be other activities at the library through the coming weeks, including an Escape Room planned for August 18 to 20th.

Chapleau Council Approves 2023 Budget, Hires New CAO

Chapleau Town Council's approved this year's budget.

In a recent special meeting, Council adopted the 2023 budget, which Mayor Ryan Bignucolo says was revised from the version presented in May.

While the version presented in May included a nearly 10% increase, Mayor Bignucolo says that was reduced to 5.5% in the version approved by Council - and he assures there are no major cuts to services.

Mayor Bignucolo has some more good news.

The Township hired Lynne Duguay as interim CAO last month, a month into the search for a new top administrator.

PHSD Reports 219th COVID-19 Death

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its 191st in Greater Sudbury - bringing the health unit's COVID-related death toll to 219 - though it notes the death actually occurred in February, adding it's currently under investigation.

The health unit last recorded a death last week, while another that happened in January was reclassified as a COVID death.

It's also reporting four new cases since Friday - three in Greater Sudbury, one in the Manitoulin District - with known "active" cases up slightly, to thirteen - the health unit now only updates hospitalization figures on Wednesdays, but last showed two in hospital.

Multiple Charges After Disturbance At White Lake Provincial Park

Multiple charges have been laid after a disturbance at White Lake Provincial Park.

Marathon OPP say they were called to the park by wardens regarding a possible impaired driver, who'd been driving erratically throughout the park before colliding with a tree - the driver then threatened the wardens before leaving on foot.

Subsequent investigation - with the Anishinabek Police Service - led to the arrest of a man with no fixed address on charges of: operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs; operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus); uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm; resist peace officer; and failure to comply with release order other than to attend court.

His driver's licence was also suspended for 90 days and the vehicle impounded for seven.