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Last chance to book transportation to Wawa's annual seniors expo.
Alzheimer Society First Link Coordinator Chris Rask explains organizers are arranging free transportation for those who need it.
While the North Algoma Seniors Expo and Active Living Fair isn't until next Wednesday, September 13th - from 10 am to 3 pm at the Community Centre - anyone who needs to book transportation's asked to call the Wawa Goose Seniors Centre so by 4 o'clock today.
Local police are issuing a few safety reminders as kids ready to return to school.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police Constable Ashley Nickle asks everyone to "be a little more careful" as kids return to school, with a special message for parents.
Constable Nickle also has advice for kids walking to and from school.
Constable Nickle also reminds drivers to give themselves more time to get where they're going and be prepared for more vehicle and pedestrian traffic, particularly school buses.
Constable Nickle notes a first time offence can still mean a fine of $400 to $2000 - or worse, the possibility of injuring a child - and any school bus driver or witness can report a vehicle that failed to stop.
The Municipality of Wawa's also reminding of the newly declared "Community Safety Zones" around all schools in Wawa - marked by signs on each end - which means increased - doubled - fines for traffic violations such as speeding.
It's back to school time.
Noting classes will begin for most students - there's a staggered start for Junior Kindergarten - Dr. Tarmo Poldmaa - Principal of Wawa's Sir James Dunn Public School - has some advice.
While supply lists are usually given out at the end of the last school year, Poldmaa says staff have posted lists on the school's Facebook page - and he reminds the school nutrition program isn't expected to start quite yet.
Poldmaa also expects a start of the year assembly within a week, and a "welcome back" barbecue later this month.
Saying she's very excited to start the school year - welcoming new students and families - Chapleau Elementary and Secondary School Principal Nicolle Schuurman notes the first day will look a bit different, depending on grade.
Grade 9 to 12 students are asked to report to the main office to obtain their timetables, locks, and locker info, followed by an assembly at 8:45 am, though she also notes timetables were posted on Edsby last Friday.
Schuurman reminds of a few things to bring.
Schuurman also notes Native Second Language will be offered for Grades 1 through 8, with more info to be sent home, though families interested are encouraged to contact the school office.
Local police are issuing a few safety reminders as kids ready to return to school.
While classes won't begin for local schools until tomorrow, Constable Ashley Nickle says Superior East Ontario Provincial Police are asking everyone to "be a little more careful" as kids return to school, with a special message for parents.
Constable Nickle also has advice for kids walking to and from school.
Constable Nickle also reminds drivers to give themselves more time to get where they're going and be prepared for more vehicle and pedestrian traffic, particularly school buses.
Constable Nickle notes a first time offence can still mean a fine of $400 to $2000 - or worse, the possibility of injuring a child - and any school bus driver or witness can report a vehicle that failed to stop.
As schools prepare to open, Chapleau's reminding drivers not to park in an important area for buses.
Acknowledging that Riverside Drive's often used to access the Michael Levesque trails, the Township of Chapleau reminds it's also the access point for school bus drop off and pick up, with the roundabout at the end of the road used as a waiting area for the buses to position themselves accordingly - but that's being hindered by parked vehicles.
It reminds that a municipal by-law restricts public access to Riverside Drive from Minto Street to the easterly limit of Riverside on Monday to Friday from September 1st to June 30th, though - to allow access to the trails - they're specifically restricting access when the buses are in use: from 8 am to 9 am and 2:45 pm and 3:30 pm.
Organizers are reminding Wawa's annual seniors expo is almost here - and time's running out to book transportation.
Alzheimer Society First Link Coordinator Chris Rask explains the annual event is basically a public education initiative.
Rask notes free transportation's being offered for those in Wawa, Michipicoten First Nation, Hawk Junction, Dubreuilville, and even White River - but it must be booked by tomorrow, by calling the Wawa Goose Seniors Centre at 705-856-7394.
The North Algoma Seniors Expo and Active Living Fair will be held the following Wednesday, September 13th, from 10 am to 3 pm at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre.
Straight off the Labour Day long weekend, Wawa Municipal Council is holding a meeting tonight.
The regular Council meeting will quickly move into closed session with an "in-camera" item - a Council orientation training refresher - before returning to the open session, considering resolutions: approving the purchase of an accessible electric van and a charging station; amending a funding application for airport terminal renovations; and adopting and endorsing the updated Wawa Strategic Plan.
There are also by-laws to confirm permission for a mural on Broadway Avenue and to adopt a new procurement policy.
It won't be the sole meeting of the week, with a special meeting to be held Thursday.
Tonight's meeting starts at 6:30 pm in Council Chambers - it'll also be livestreamed through the Municipality's YouTube channel.
Time's running out to give input on a proposed plan to address housing needs in Wawa.
Economic Development Assistant Jessie Labonte explains the draft Wawa Housing Action Plan was written to tackle the issue, which was identified as a priority in Wawa's Strategic Plan.
Labonte says the plan includes five specific goals and strategies to achieve them, with the public able to find the draft plan on the municipal website or at Town Hall, where comments can be dropped off for Labonte - they can also be emailed - by 4 pm this Friday.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting ten since Wednesday - eight in Greater Sudbury, two in the Sudbury District, at least one in the eastern district - though known "active" cases are down slightly, to 64.
The health unit only updates hospitalization figures Wednesdays, but last showed 26 in hospital, one in an ICU.
Ontario Provincial Police are hitting the roads for the long weekend.
As increased traffic's expected - especially as it's the final long weekend of the summer - Superior East OPP Constable Ashley Nickle says officers will be focusing on the "Big Four" driving offences over the Labour Day weekend.
Constable Nickle notes that plans are for officers to be out and about.
OPP have already reported 239 fatalities on OPP-patrolled roads this year - nearly half attributed to the "Big Four", with a total of 946 deaths attributed to those factors over the last five years - so Constable Nickle encourages drivers to drive sober, ignore distractions, stay calm, and always buckle up, emphasizing "the life you save could be your own".
As school's set to start next week, Constable Nickle also reminds parents to talk with their kids about safely travelling to and from school, and drivers to prepare for increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Wawa residents are being encouraged to get creative ahead of the annual fall fair.
Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White explains there's a colouring contest ahead of the event, with pages now out.
White says entries for the colouring contest will be displayed during the fair - and she notes there's also a baking contest, with three categories.
The Wawa Fall Fair will be held Saturday, September 9th, from 11 am to 3 pm in the Curling Rink at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre.
Wawa's mayor is feeling like "a bit of a celebrity" after the recent Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference.
Mayor Melanie Pilon says she was "absolutely honoured" to promote AMO's "Healthy Democracy Project" - with a video airing at the conference just before Premier Doug Ford spoke - noting the project's something "very near and dear" to her heart.
Mayor Pilon says the conference also included some good news, as Premier Ford announced the $1.2-billion "Building Faster Fund" to support municipalities for housing.
While Pilon says Wawa had no delegations to ministers, the mayor says she did speak with some.
Mayor Pilon also emphasizes the importance of Wawa getting out and having a presence at such events to network with officials and colleagues, noting she met with the Northern Ontario Women's Caucus, which is made up of the region's female mayors.
A pair of Northern Ontario health units could soon be one.
The Boards of Health for the Porcupine and Timiskaming health units have decided to take steps towards a voluntary merger, with Porcupine Health Unit Medical Officer of Health and CEO Dr. Lianne Catton saying there have been "several reports over many years" recommending the merger, though "recent events including the COVID-19 pandemic have confirmed the benefits of a merger to increase staff capacity to deliver public health programming and to respond to surges and emergencies" while Timiskaming Health Unit's Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Glenn Corneil, says "the merger will strengthen local public health programs and services while increasing efficiencies", promising "programs and services will continue as-is in local health unit offices in both regions during the merger process."
The move still requires government approval, though this comes after Health Minister - and Deputy Premier - Sylvia Jones announced one-time funding for local public health agencies to "voluntarily merge to streamline and reinvest back into expanding programs and services".
Organizers are reminding Wawa's annual seniors expo is almost here - and time's running out to book transportation.
Alzheimer Society First Link Coordinator Chris Rask explains organizers are arranging free transportation for those who need it.
While the North Algoma Seniors Expo and Active Living Fair isn't until Wednesday, September 13th - from 10 am to 3 pm at the Community Centre - anyone who needs to book transportation's asked to do so by this Wednesday, September 6th.
Organizers of Wawa's annual President's Choice Children's Charity Barbecue are thanking the community for its support.
Organizer Cassidy Michalcewicz says the event held at John's Your Independent Grocer in Wawa earlier today was quite successful.
Michalcewicz emphasizes the funds support a good cause.
Funds raised through the event are noted to stay local.
COVID-19 cases are surging in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting fifteen since Monday - eleven in Greater Sudbury, three in the western and eastern Sudbury District, another in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up to 66, with 26 in hospital, one in an ICU.
The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reporting ten cases over the last week - the same as the previous week - it no longer breaks that down by region nor reports "active" case counts and shows none in hospital.
JJAM FM and John's Your Independent Grocer in Wawa are inviting everyone mark the end of August - and the coming long weekend - with a barbecue helping a great cause.
Noting she hopes to see everyone who can make it, organizer Cassidy Michalcewicz encourages people to attend the annual "PC Children's Charity Barbecue" being held today.
Michalcewicz emphasizes the funds support a good cause.
The barbecue runs from 11 am to 1 pm at John's Your Independent Grocer in Wawa, and will be broadcast live here on JJAM FM.
An assault charge has been laid over a White River domestic dispute.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the incident on Winnipeg Street shortly after 8 o'clock Sunday night, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a White River 24-year-old on a charge of spousal assault with a weapon.
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 October court date.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting eight over the last week - half of the previous week - with five in the Sault Ste. Marie area and three in the Elliot Lake area, though known "high risk active" cases are a third of what they were a week ago, only nine, with one in hospital.
Numerous charges have been laid after an impaired driver call near Chapleau.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the report of a possible impaired driver on Highway 101 shortly after 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon, but - when officers located the suspect vehicle - the driver initially refused to stop for police, though officers were eventually able to conduct a traffic stop, where investigation revealed the driver had consumed alcoholic beverage.
That led to the arrest of a 41-year-old from Thompson, Manitoba, on charges of: operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs; dangerous operation; uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm; faily to comply with probation order; drive motor vehicle - perform stunt - excessive speed; fail to stop for police; use centre lane improperly; and litter highway.
They've been released from custody, set to appear in court next month.
