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A Wawa resident's facing a harassment charge.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the reported harassment on Superior Avenue in Wawa shortly before 9 o'clock Friday night, leading to the arrest of a 26-year-old on charges of criminal harassment - repeatedly communicate and fail to comply with probation order.
He was released from custody, set to appear in court next month.
A local health unit's warning about the dangers of West Nile virus as a Manitoulin Island mosquito's tested positive.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it has received confirmation the mosquito - detected through routine surveillance - tested positive for the virus, the health unit's first time since 2018.
It warns "late summer is typically the time of greatest risk for contracting West Nile", as "mosquitoes can carry higher levels of the virus at this time, and this is when people might not be as careful about protecting themselves from mosquito bites", urging precautions such as wearing Health Canada-approved insect repellent and light-coloured, long-sleeved clothing, ensuring there are no holes or tears in screen doors and windows of your home, and removing - or weekly changing - of standing water around your home.
An assault charge has been laid after a Wawa domestic dispute.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the incident at a Broadway Avenue business shortly before 1 am Saturday, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a 54-year-old from London 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 September court date.
Multiple failure to comply charges have been laid after two domestic incidents involving the same Wawa resident.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the first incident - on Ontario Street - shortly before 11 o'clock Friday night, leading to the arrest of a 63-year-old on two counts of failure to comply with undertaking.
They were released from custody with a September court date, but - shortly after 2 o'clock Sunday morning - Superior East OPP were notified the accused had breached their release conditions by returning to the Ontario Street residence, leading to their arrest on four more counts of failure to comply with undertaking.
They were released again, with a September court date.
The accused will not be identified due to the domestic nature of the incident, to protect the victim.
Preparations are ramping up for White River's annual Winnie's Hometown Festival - with people encouraged to submit some things ahead of the festival.
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's also calling on all kid comedians.
Simpson encourages joke and poem entries to be submitted today, but suggests they'll still be accepted until the 35th annual Winnie's Hometown Festival arrives this Friday - it'll run through Sunday.
Wawa Municipal Council's holding its sole meetings of the month tonight.
First up is a Committee of the Whole meeting, which includes delegations from Municipal Government Wayfinders on the Wawa Strategic Plan update and from Economic Development Assistant Jessie Labonte on a Wawa Housing Action Plan.
It'll also include monthly reports from department heads and discussion about a draft succession planning policy.
That'll be followed by tonight's regular Council meeting, which includes resolutions regarding a financial analysis and review involving the Algoma District Services Administration Board and approving the Wawa Housing Action Plan, as well as by-laws to adopt the Succession Planning Policy and a policy on Firefighter Protocol for Funeral Service.
There are also three "in-camera" items: a legal issue relating to an application under the section of the Municipal Act relating to cancellation, reduction, or refunding of taxes; a legal issue regarding an offer to purchase land; and a Council Orientation Training Refresher.
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.
An assault charge has been laid after a domestic dispute in Hornepayne.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to an assault-in-progress shortly after 10 o'clock Friday night, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a 32-year-old on charges of spousal assault and failure to comply with undertaking.
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.
COVID-19 cases are surging in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 21 since Friday - nineteen in Greater Sudbury, two in the eastern Sudbury District - pushing known "active" cases up to 55 - the health unit only updates hospitalization figures on Wednesdays, but last showed twenty in hospital, one in an ICU.
The health unit is holding a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Chapleau tomorrow - the sole planned for this month - offering the primary series for those at least six months old, or booster doses by recommendation only.
Charges have been laid after a disturbance at a Wawa business.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were called to a Mission Road business shortly before 11 o'clock Thursday night, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a Wawa 35-year-old on two counts of fail to comply with undertaking.
They've been released from custody with a September court date.
Chapleau officially has a new top administrator.
The Township of Chapleau's announced the appointment of Judith Meyntz as Chief Administrative officer, noting she "brings 19 years of government experience, specializing in Senior Management at the Provincial and Municipal levels", has a diploma in Business Management and certification as an Accredited Ontario Municipal Clerk, registered to receive the Certified Municipal Officer designation, and "brings decades of volunteer commitment within her previous community, including Municipal Police Service Board, Community School Councils - Chair of the Board, Road Association - Executive Committee, Block Parent Association, and a local teen mentoring not-for-profit organization".
Mayor Ryan Bignucolo had revealed the news when discussing the newly passed municipal budget last month.
The Township hired Lynne Duguay as interim CAO in June, a month into the search for a replacement for Denis Duguay, who was hired in late September after a nearly eight month search for someone to fill the role - the Township had spent much of the preceding two years searching, with Duguay's predecessor serving roughly three months, from October 2021 until the end of January 2022, after a search that was started in October 2020.
While Meyntz says she plans to introduce herself while making visits around town over the coming weeks, appointments can also be made by calling the municipal office.
Assault and other charges have been laid after a domestic dispute near Chapleau early this month.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to a disturbance near Honey Lake - south of Chapleau - shortly after 10 o'clock the morning of August 1st, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a 31-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie on charges of: spousal assault; spousal assault causing bodily harm; spousal assault with a weapon; domestic mischief; and spousal uttering threats to cause death or 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 a future court date.
Time's running out for Wawa residents to have their say on local fire services.
Fire Chief Kevin Sabourin reminds the Municipality has a survey asking for feedback on fire services.
Sabourin notes the survey informs a broader service review - and there's another incentive.
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 this Friday, August 18th.
Anglers are out on the water for the chance at some prizes for the upcoming Wawa Salmon Derby.
While the 41st annual derby isn't until next weekend, the five-day "pre-fishing" contest is underway, and Derby Chair Brad Buck notes participants can reel in a nice prize.
It's open to anyone registered for the derby, and Buck notes there are tickets left, available a few ways.
The Wawa Salmon Derby runs Friday, August 18th to Sunday the 20th.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region - including this area.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting ten since Wednesday: nine in Greater Sudbury, the other in the northern Sudbury District - it doesn't specify, but that area includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.
That leaves the health unit with 49 "active" cases.
The health unit only updates hospitalization figures late Wednesday afternoon, but last showed twenty in hospital, one in an ICU.
Wawa's library is encouraging people to sign up for a special fundraiser this weekend.
Wawa Public Library CEO and Head Librarian Suzie Jarrell explains they'll be setting up an "escape room".
Emphasizing it's meant to be a lot of fun - and hoping to see a great response for their "first escape room" - Jarrell reminds it is a fundraiser.
Jarrell encourages people to sign up for their time slot as soon as they can - before they run out - noting it's $20 for a four person team.
The Stranger Things Escape Room will be set up in the Municipal Conference Area - the former police station - Friday, August 18th through Sunday the 20th.
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.
