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Anglers will start hitting the water this weekend for the chance at some prizes for the upcoming Wawa Salmon Derby.
While the 41st annual derby isn't for another week, the five-day "pre-fishing" contest starts tomorrow, and Derby Chair Brad Buck notes participants can reel in a nice prize.
Buck reminds the "pre-fish" - which runs through Wednesday, August 16th - is open to anyone registered for the derby, which runs August 18th to 20th.
A couple forest fires were confirmed in the Wawa district over the last day - but one's already out.
Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says "Wawa 29" was reported Wednesday night - about 22.6 kilometres northeast of Marathon - but it was called out by Thursday morning, while "Wawa 30" was confirmed Thursday - located about 5.7 kilometres southwest of Pan Lake Fen Provincial Park and 15.2 kilometres west of Highway 614 - it was a tenth of a hectare in size, but was not yet under control, though a FireRanger crew's working on suppressing the fire.
It was the sole wildfire out of 34 active in the Northeast to be considered "not under control", while the Northwest - which saw three new fires - had 52 active, eight "not under control".
The fire hazard's mostly low to moderate with pockets of high hazard, including around Pukaskwa National Park, Biscotasi Lake Provincial Park, Cochrane, Kirkland Lake, and from Espanola to Greater Sudbury.
One local First Nation's wrapping up an important event while another starts one.
Michipicoten First Nation's 25th Annual Youth and Elders Gathering - which started last Saturday - wraps up today, with a few events planned.
At the same time, Chapleau Cree First Nation's 28th annual Pow-Wow begins today with a St. John's Residential School ceremony, registration, and social night tonight, and continuing through Sunday.
COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting eight since Tuesday - seven in Greater Sudbury, another in the western Sudbury District - bringing known "active" cases up to 43, with cases in hospital nearly tripling to 20, with one in an ICU.
The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reporting five cases over the last week - down slightly from the previous week - it no longer breaks that down by region nor reports "active" case counts and shows none in hospital.
A small forest fire's already out after being confirmed in the Wawa district Wednesday.
Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says "Wawa 28" was reported at a tenth of a hectare in size - located about 21.4 kilometres east of Highway 614 and 34.1 kilometres north of Highway 17 - but was called out Wednesday afternoon.
There were still 36 active wildfires in the Northeast - nine "under control", 27 "being observed" - while the Northwest added three new fires, leaving it with 53 active, nine "not under control".
The fire hazard's mostly moderate to high for the Northeast, and mainly low for the Northwest.
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a fatal collision east of Marathon.
Marathon OPP say emergency services responded to the collision involving a commercial motor vehicle and a passenger vehicle on Highway 17 in Lecours Township just before 1 o'clock Monday afternoon - the driver of the passenger vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene while the driver of the commercial vehicle was taken to hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.
The investigation is ongoing, involving the OPP North West Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement (TIME) team and OPP Technical Collision Re-Constructionists.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting ten over the last week - seven in the Sault Ste. Marie area, three in the Elliot Lake area - though known "high risk active" cases are down slightly, to fourteen.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting nineteen since Friday - eighteen in Greater Sudbury, another in the western Sudbury District - bringing known "active" cases up to 35 - the health unit only updates hospitalization figures late Wednesday afternoon, but last showed seven in hospital, one in an ICU.
A few forest fires have been confirmed in the region.
Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says "Wawa 26", located about 18 kilometres north of Marathon and 2.5 kilometres northeast of North Skipper Lake, was confirmed Monday night and reached 0.3 hectares in size by Tuesday night but was not yet under control, with two FireRanger crews working on suppressing it.
Also confirmed Monday night was "Wawa 27" - located about 15.5 kilometres east of Marathon and 1.8 kilometres north of Highway 17 - which was under control at 0.1 hectares in size by Tuesday night with one FireRanger crew working on suppression.
There's also "Chapleau 17" is located about 23.4 kilometres southwest of Foleyet and 1.1 kilometres north of Highway 101 - it was confirmed Monday night and under control at 0.2 hectares in size by Tuesday night, with a FireRanger crew working on suppressing the fire.
There are 45 active wildland fires in Northeastern Ontario and another 52 in the Northwest, with a total of fifteen "not under control".
The fire hazard's mostly moderate to high for the Northeast, and low to high for the Northwest.
Multiple charges have been laid after a break-in at a Wawa business.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers were notified of a break-and-enter to a Pinewood Drive business shortly after 1 o'clock last Wednesday afternoon, told the incident saw damage to an exterior door while items were taken from inside.
Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of a 34-year-old from Montreal, who has been charged with break, enter a place, mischief under $5000, and two counts of theft under $5000.
The accused remains in custody.
Drug and suspended driving charges have been laid after a traffic stop in Wawa.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers conducting general patrol around 11 o'clock last night stopped a vehicle on George Street, with subsequent investigation revealing the driver's licence was suspended while a search of the vehicle uncovered a small amount of suspected cocaine.
The 27-year-old Wawa man's been charged with driving while under suspension and possession of a Schedule I substance - cocaine - but released from custody with a court date next month.
Threats charges have been laid after a disturbance in Wawa.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers responded to a threats occurrence on Hillcrest Avenue shortly after 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon, leading to the arrest of a 35-year-old Wawa woman on two charges of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.
She's been released from custody, set to appear in court next month.
The local English public school board's looking to fill a local seat after the death of a longtime trustee.
Following the sudden passing of Russell Reid - who died at the age of 64 on June 26th, "after a brief battle with cancer" - the Algoma District School Board's trustees have opted to appoint a replacement to fill the vacancy, for the trustee representing the Michipicoten - or Wawa - Chapleau and Hornepayne areas.
Applicants must be Canadian citizens at least 18 years of age, a resident of the region, a public school elector, not legally prohibited from voting, and not disqualified by any legislation from holding school board office - for example, employees of any school board are disqualified.
Prospective trustees are asked to submit a resume - including past accomplishments, community involvement, and related experience - plus a letter of intent outlining the reasons they wish to serve on the Board - and how they feel they can contribute to its overall effectiveness - as well as names and contact information of three references from the community.
The applications must be sent to ADSB Director of Education and Secretary to the Board, Lucia Reece, by emailing acetil@adsb.on.ca by 4 pm Monday, August 28th - the application packages will then be reviewed by the Board members, who will welcome brief presentations from the remaining applicants during a September 11th trustee meeting, aiming to have the new trustee sworn-in at the September 19th regular board meeting.
Russell Reid had been the local trustee since 1994, including two years as Board chair and five years as vice chair.
Michipicoten First Nation's welcoming band members and others to the community, as the 25th Annual Youth and Elders Gathering continues.
Continuing to Friday, August 11th, it's set to include sunrise or water ceremonies, elder sharing circles, crafts, traditional teachings, voyageur canoe rides, medicine walks, and much more.
A slight surge in COVID-19 cases has been reported in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting thirteen new cases since Wednesday - one in the western Sudbury District, the rest in Greater Sudbury - with known "active" cases up to 27 - the health unit now only updates hospitalization figures on Wednesdays, but last showed seven in hospital, one in an ICU.
Preparations are ramping up for White River's annual Winnie's Hometown Festival - with some things for people to do beforehand.
Given the festival's links to the original bear, festival coordinator Nicole Simpson notes organizers are encouraging people to make homemade bears.
Simpson notes there's also a poem writing contest.
Simpson encourages joke and poem entries to be submitted by next Tuesday, August 15th, but suggests they'll still be accepted until the 35th annual Winnie's Hometown Festival arrives August 18th, running to the 20th.
Simpson encourages joke and poem entries to be submitted by next Tuesday, August 15th, but suggests they'll still be accepted until the 35th annual Winnie's Hometown Festival arrives August 18th, running to the 20th.
Police will be watching this long weekend for drivers who don't "move over" for emergency vehicles.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police Constable Ashley Nickle says holiday weekends see more traffic, which means more roadside emergency vehicles, making it more important to follow Ontario's "Move Over" law.
Constable Nickle notes failure to follow that law can result in fines from $490-$2000 and three demerit points.
Emphasizing "unnecessary loss of life in a motor vehicle collision is devastating for everyone involved", Staff Sergeant Kevin Fellinger - the detachment commander for the Superior East OPP - flags an increase in fatal collisions across the province.
Staff Sergeant Fellinger notes officers will be watching for the "Big Four" - speeding and other aggressive driving behaviours, alcohol or drug-impaired driving, inattentive or distracted driving, and lack of proper seatbelt use - as they patrol this weekend
Local police will also be patrolling trails and waterways, in addition to the roads.
Michipicoten First Nation is welcoming band members and others to the community over the next week, with the 25th Annual Youth and Elders Gathering.
Set to include special guests Turtle Concepts and Miss World Canada Emma Morrison - along with crafts, sweat lodges, dance, live music, feast, traditional teachings, voyageur canoe rides, medicine walks, and much more - the Youth and Elders Gathering begins tomorrow morning with a sunrise ceremony, followed by breakfast and then opening remarks, with festivities continuing to next Friday, August 11th.
Time's running out for residents of the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts to have their say about their local health unit's priorities.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts has launched an online survey to inform its next Strategic Plan, which would identify priorities and approaches for how the agency delivers services.
Residents - including those in the Chapleau area - have until 4:30 pm this afternoon to fill out the survey, which can be found through PHSD's website.
An assault charge has been laid over a Hornepayne incident.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to a verbal domestic dispute early Wednesday evening, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a 32-year-old from Hornepayne on a charge of spousal assault.
The accused - who will not be identified due to the domestic nature of the incident, to protect the victim - was released from custody with a future court date.
A quadriplegic man's hand-cycling through the Wawa area on a cross Canada trek.
Kevin Mills - who sustained a spinal cord injury in 2009, leaving him quadriplegic - explains the cross-country journey, dubbed "Pedalling Possibilities".
Saying he believes Canadians are "amazing" - meeting many kind and positive people on the journey - Mills notes there are a few ways people can show support.
Mills also encourages people to get out, active and moving.
Mills emphasizes hopes this will help accessibility.
Mills and the "Pedalling Possibilities" crew reached the Agawa Rock area yesterday, and should soon be passing by Wawa.
