Superior East OPP Remind Record Checks Now Online Only

Local police are reminding that OPP record checks have moved online.

A reminder from Superior East Ontario Provincial Police notes that it can no longer receive or process requests for police record checks - which can be required for employment, adoption, international travel, volunteer work, and more - and that the process is now "fully online" instead, with people only required to come in if fingerprints are required or if they are under the age of 16 years old, and even then they will be notified during the application process.

Those without access to a computer or the Internet are advised to go to their local library or the local employment office (for Wawa, Dubreuilville, and White River residents, the Regional Employment Help Centre or for Chapleau residents, the Employment Ontario office).

LDHC Foundation Touts Successful End to One for the Dunn Campaign

The Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation's thanking the community for supporting a now completed years-long fundraising campaign.

Foundation Chair Susan Switzer explains the "One for the Dunn" campaign was launched two-and-a-half years ago, to raise funds for the "MediTech Expanse Program", so the Wawa hospital could join other Northern Ontario hospitals in a digital record-keeping initiative under the philosophy of "one person, one record, one system".

Switzer says the Lady Dunn Health Centre itself took care of upgrading its computer equipment while the Foundation purchased "peripheral equipment".

Switzer says they've "run out of adjectives" to describe the "overwhelming" support for the "One for the Dunn" campaign.

Switzer adds that the Foundation looks forward to doing more community events now, with new Foundation Coordinator Alisha Allin noting the return of the popular Trivia Night at the Legion tonight - fourteen teams had registered by yesterday's deadline - while an Alamos Gold-sponsored High Tea will be held October 1st - tickets are available by calling or emailing the Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation.

Wawa Fire Chief Challenges Residents to be "Saved by the Beep"

Wawa's Fire Chief is challenging residents to be "Saved by the Beep".

Fire Chief Kevin Sabourin explains a special challenge has been launched, directly calling on people to check their smoke alarms.

Reminding smoke alarms normally last only ten years - and batteries do need to be replaced from time-to-time to ensure they're working - Sabourin emphasizes the alarms are required by law.

While he notes smoke alarms are important to ensure you have early warning to get out of your home in case of a fire, Chief Sabourin also reminds everyone to prepare a home fire or family escape plan, to ensure everyone knows what to do in case of a fire.

Test Your Smoke Alarm Day is next Thursday, September 28th.

PHSD Reports Rising COVID-19 Cases

More COVID-19 cases are being reported in the region.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 24 since Monday - 21 in Greater Sudbury, two in the broader Sudbury District, another in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up to 107, including one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).

The health unit's also reporting a rise in cases in hospital - up to thirteen - though there are no longer any in ICUs.

HSCDSB Reports Higher Than Expected Enrolment

Enrolment's higher than expected at the local English Catholic school board.

The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board says it has seen a "substantial increase in enrolment", with about 180 more students than projected in June - 115 more elementary students, for a total of 3738, and 65 more secondary students, for a total of 770 - prompting the board to create 13.2 new full-time equivalent teaching positions - on top of 13 added last school year - while developing new infrastructure to build seven new classrooms.

Chapleau High School Student Starts Term as ADSB Student Trustee

A Chapleau student's started a new term as one of the Algoma District School Board's student trustees.

Chapleau High School Grade 11 student Casey Bouvier's one of three new student trustees for the new school year, noted to be a "hard-working student who has demonstrated collaboration and commitment to completing tasks" and touted as "dependable, organized, and reliable", pointing out her involvement in the Student Senate since Grade 9, as well as the Bon Soo Olympics, and volunteering at the Chapleau Ski Club and Chapleau Arena.

The board says she's identified several priorities for her term: making sure the voices of all students are heard and recognized, including those of different racial backgrounds, identities, religions, and beliefs; helping her peers build confidence to find their voices without fear of being criticized for their views and opinions; and prioritizing student involvement in school and board-wide events, wanting to ensure students feel safe and welcomed by and in school communities.

Bouvier's joined by two other new student trustees from Superior Heights Collegiate and Vocational School in Sault Ste. Marie: Grade 12 student Andrew Vair and Grade 12 student Desirae Schell-Migwans, who is Indigenous Student Trustee.

ADSB Reports Higher Than Expected Enrolment for 2023-24

Enrolment's once again higher than expected at the local English public school board.

Noting they've seen "a steady increase" in enrolment over the past several years, the Algoma District School Board says the number of students enrolled in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 this month is up by 272 from the director's March report - which had expected 6743, requiring 296 classes and 296 full-time equivalent teaching staff - which was already up by 119 students from last September.

Likewise, there are 103 more secondary students than the 3536 expected - more than double the amount last fall's enrolment had exceeded forecasts.

Wawa Firefighter Captain Dave Jennings Honoured for Longtime Service

A Wawa firefighter was honoured for longtime service at last night's Council meeting.

Wawa Volunteer Fire Department Captain David "Dave" Jennings was presented with a medal and certificate recognizing 25 years with the local fire department, the last fifteen of which he's spent as a captain.

Mayor Melanie Pilon lauded his service as a firefighter and also throughout the community.

Municipality of Wawa to Run MMCC Canteen for 2023-24 Ice Season

The Municipality of Wawa will run the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre canteen over the coming ice season.

While a request for proposals (RFP) process was launched, Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson told Wawa Municipal Council last night that no proposals were received, so - per Council's direction back in June - municipal staff will run the canteen, to ensure it operates.

Council was also apprised of a recommendation to amend the Municipality's Ice Cancellation Policy, told there were "a lot of" short-notice cancellations last season - with Patterson noting that has an operational as well as financial impact, as short notice makes it hard to sell the ice time to another user group - with a staff memo recommending requiring at least 24 hours notice for cancellations - at least seven days to avoid a penalty - with more time needed for tournaments, though some exceptions would be built in to a revised policy, such as for major winter storms - while it did not come to a vote, Council was in favour of the change, with Councillor Joe Opato saying it "should've been done years ago" and Councillor Mitch Hatfield noting such requirements shouldn't be a problem, based on her time involved with hockey.

Ice preparation work's already underway for the coming season.

Wawa Council Votes to Keep Downtown Drill Rig

Wawa's downtown drill rig will stay.

Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson had warned Wawa Municipal Council about safety concerns raised over the angle of the large piece of equipment.

A structural engineer was called in to look at the issue, confirming the rig is leaning - not a problem with the ground - with a few options considered in response, including doing nothing - nixed by the engineer due to the public safety concerns - removing the mast of the rig, removing the entire rig, or repair work aimed at addressing the problem.

Patterson had recommended "scrapping" the rig, noting the cost for repairs, the need for continued maintenance, that it could be auctioned for scrap, and that it could potentially be replaced by some other monument which would be more likely to receive other government funding, though he emphasized it was fundamentally a politcal decision, only noting that the engineer report required "something" to be done by winter.

The issue came back up in last night's Committee of the Whole meeting, first with Andy Stevens making a delegation to Council in which he lamented that an engineer had been brought in, playing down the safety concerns, and recommending efforts to preserve the rig - while Council response had previously been mixed on the future of the drill rig, it shifted to all councillors speaking in favour of keeping the rig, except Mayor Melanie Pilon, who reiterated a warning that nostalgia can be both a strength and weakness, emphasizing the health and safety concerns and warning of liability if nothing is done.

In the end, Council agreed to direct staff to take efforts to meet the engineer's report and keep the rig in place, with Patterson set to explore options that can be done for the winter, and put work on the rig into next year's capital budget - which is set to be presented in draft form next week, in a special meeting on Tuesday, September 26th.

Hawk Junction Former Teacher Appointed Local ADSB Trustee

A new local trustee's been appointed for the local English public school board.

The Algoma District School Board's appointed Susan Johnson to fill the seat for its Northern area, which includes Michipicoten (Wawa), Chapleau, and Hornepayne, left vacant after the death of longtime trustee Russell Reid in June.

A resident of Hawk Junction, Johnson's noted to be a former educator - having been a teacher of Grades 1, 2, and 8 for over thirty years, first with the Michipicoten School Board, then ADSB after amalgamation - as well as a director on the board of the Alzheimer Society of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District from 2018 to 2021.

Johnson will serve out the remainder of the term, which ends in mid-November 2026.

Impaired Driving & Flight From Police Charges After Attempted Chapleau Traffic Stop

Impaired driving and flight from police charges have been laid after an attempted traffic stop in Chapleau.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers observed a motor vehicle travelling in an unsafe manner on Broomhead Road shortly after 3 o'clock Sunday morning - noting a "near collision" - the driver initially refused to stop for police, but eventually did so, with subsequent investigation revealing the 66-year-old from Gores Landing had consumed alcoholic beverages, leading to charges of operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus) and flight from peace officer.

He's been released from custody, with a November court date.

Impaired Driving Charge After Tip Near White River

Impaired driving charges have been laid after a possible impaired driver was reported near White River.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say a concerned motorist called in the tip about a driver on Highway 17 south of White River shortly after 5 o'clock Sunday evening, with police locating and stopping the vehicle, finding the driver had consumed alcoholic beverages.

The 31-year-old from Hamilton was arrested and charged with operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs and operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus).

He's been released from custody with an October court date.

ADSB Looks to Fill Local Seat After Death of Longtime Wawa Trustee

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 longtime North Algoma trustee Russell Reid in June, the Algoma District School Board's trustees opted to accept applications for prospective candidates they could appoint a replacement to fill the vacancy, for the trustee representing the Michipicoten - or Wawa - Chapleau and Hornepayne areas - they're set to receive a candidate presentation in their meeting tonight, with a single guest shown for the item, though the board is not saying whether plans are to confirm them tonight, only that a release is expected after the meeting.

Whoever ends up appointed would serve out the remainder of the term, which ends in November 2026.

PHSD Reports New COVID-19 Cases, Including in Northern Sudbury District

COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the region.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 39 new cases since Friday - 36 in Greater Sudbury, two in the broader Sudbury District, another in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up to 97, including a new case in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).

The health unit only updates hospitalization figures on Wednesdays, but last showed seven in hospital, two in ICUs.

Wawa Council Considering Future of Drill Rig, Receiving Multiple Delegations

Wawa Municipal Council's holding a pair of meetings tonight.

First up is a Committee of the Whole meeting, which includes presentation of Fire Department years of service awards, and delegations from Algoma Public Health on its programs and services and from Andy Stevens on the Drill Rig Monument - Council will follow up on discussion about the future of the downtown drill rig during the meeting, and will also discuss highway corridor maintenance at the Tourist Information Centre and RFP results for the arena canteen, a revision to the deputy mayor rotation schedule, and Mayor Melanie Pilon's report on the recent Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference.

That'll be followed by tonight's regular Council meeting, which includes a resolution to accept the staff recommendation to remove the drill rig monument - something that may change, depending on discussion in the earlier meeting.

There are also three "in-camera" items, all legal issues: one relating to the sale of property; another about a potential land purchase; and the other about a statement of claim from litigation or potential litigation.

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.

PHSD Reports Rising COVID-19 Cases, None in Norhtern Sudbury District

More COVID-19 cases are being reported in the region.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting sixteen since Wednesday - all in Greater Sudbury - pushing known "active" cases up to 89, though there are no longer any active cases in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).

The health unit only updates hospitalization figures on Wednesdays, but last showed seven in hospital, two in ICUs.

OMNRF Collecting Data About Lake Superior Fish

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources is keeping an eye on fish.

Fisheries Management Biologist Steve Chong - with the Upper Great Lakes Management Unit, out of Sault Ste. Marie - explains Ministry officials were at last month's Wawa Salmon Derby to collect some data about the fish caught.

Chong adds they were also collecting tissue samples, stomachs, and other things that would indicate age, health, or diet of the fish, with the information to be used for "a number of" different things.

Chong says officials also took samples at other Ontario derbies, with similar efforts happening in the US, as part of a cross-border effort focusing on Lake Superior under the "Coordinated Science and Monitoring Initiative", which rotates between the Great Lakes each year.

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