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A drug trafficking charge has been laid in Hornepayne.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were notified of "a drug-related occurrence" in Hornepayne late the morning of September 9th, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a Hornepayne 33-year-old on a charge of "traffick in Schedule I substance - cocaine".
The accused was released from custody with an October court date.
It's official: Northern Ontario is losing a federal riding, with major changes for this area.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada's confirmed that a redrawing of Canada's federal electoral map came into effect by proclamation last Friday.
That means a new seat for Ontario - for a total of 122 - but substantial changes to many current boundaries, the most significant being the reduction of Northern Ontario's ridings from the current ten to only nine, with the current Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing riding to be divided up among its surrounding ridings: the Highway 17 corridor - including Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the north shore of Lake Huron to Elliot Lake - will merge with the Sault Ste. Marie riding to create "Sault Ste. Marie-Algoma"; the Chapleau area will be annexed into the new "Kapuskasing-Timmins-Mushkegowuk"; and Manitoulin Island and the Massey, Webbwood, and Espanola area will join "Sudbury East-Manitoulin-Nickel Belt".
Northern Ontario New Democrats have decried the changes, with Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing M-P Carol Hughes emphasizing the negative impact for the region, as it means "less representation for Northern Ontarians, more challenges for MPs to represent their riding, and a reduced voice in Parliament".
While the new boundaries have been confirmed, the districts won't take effect until April 22nd, 2024, so any general or by-election called before that time would use the current boundaries, including Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing.
Tickets are running out for an upcoming fundraiser for the Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation.
Coordinator Alisha Allin explains the event coming this weekend.
Allin adds the event will also launch another fundraising campaign.
A post on Facebook warns few tickets are left for this weekend's event, urging those interested to reach out soon.
More COVID-19 cases are being reported in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 37 since Monday - 34 in Greater Sudbury, three in the broader Sudbury District - pushing known "active" cases back up to 98, 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, to fifteen, including two in ICUs.
Local police have charged a Hornepayne resident with driving while suspended.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers conducting general patrol in Hornepayne the afternoon of September 17th observed an off-road vehicle being driven by a known suspended driver, leading to a traffic stop and the arrest of the 33-year-old on two counts of driving while under suspension.
The accused was released from custody with a November court date, while the off-road vehicle was impounded for seven days.
A criminal charge has been laid after a possible impaired driver was reported near Wawa.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say a concerned citizen called in the tip about a possible impaired driver on Highway 101 about 30 kilometres east of Wawa shortly before 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, with police locating and stopping the vehicle, determining the driver had consumed alcoholic beverages, though the driver refused to provide police with a breath sample, leading to the 34-year-old Blind River man's arrest on a charge of Failure or Refusal to Comply With Demand.
He was released from custody with a November court date, though his vehicle's been impounded for seven days and a 90-day Administrative Driver's License Suspension was issued.
A surge in COVID-19 cases is being reported in the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting 49 new cases over the last week - nearly five times the previous week's ten - with 42 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, five in Central and East Algoma, and two in the Elliot Lake area - with "high risk active" cases more than tripling to 55, including three in hospital.
The Municipality of Wawa's seeking public input, as Council considers capital plans for the next four years.
In a special meeting last night, staff presented Council with a draft 2024 Capital Budget, touted as the Municipality's first "true" multi-year budget, outlining plans not just for 2024 but through 2027, intended to align with the municipality's strategic, asset management, and other plans, as well as infrastructure needs but under principles of "sustainable", "affordable", and "necessary".
In total, it proposes a total of about $3.3-million in projects for 2024 - $427,000 coming from taxation, $1,031,000 from reserves, and more than $1,840,000 from grants or other sources - with a further $3,090,000 planned for 2025, $3,462,000 for 2026, and $3,174,000 for 2027.
Continuing projects mentioned include the Liquefied Natural Gas project, the 5-Year Tourism Plan, Cemetery expansion, and Landfill expansion, though key projects outlined for 2024 include: a Town Hall redesign study; a municipal Organizational Review; computer hardware upgrades; two phases of renovations at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre, including lobby redesign, some flooring, gym and dance renovations, an outdoor sign, and HVAC replacement; structural repairs for the Drill Rig, followed by beautification; new tourism billboards; Fire Hall renovation design and drawing, followed in 2025 or 2026 by the actual renovation or expansion; a new asphalt hot box for the Infrastructure Services Department, along with sidewalk replacement and ongoing pavement preservation; Airport equipment; and a Water Distribution upgrade; though items mentioned for future years include: renovations of the Tourist Information Centre interior; work on the M-M-C-C roof; a new Fire Department pumper truck; a Sand and Salt Dome for Infrastructure Services; and a Water Tower upgrade.
Other items considered "subject to funding" include potential replacement of the Cenotaph; the Marina washroom; "Phase 2" of the Waterfront; work at the Goose Nest and at Vallee Park, including a new bridge; and work at the Airport Terminal Building, including a sand and salt dome.
The presentation can be viewed on the Municipality's YouTube channel - with the slide show to be posted on the Municipality's website - plans are to accept public input until October 25th, then bring the capital budget up for Council approval November 7th, and - once that's confirmed - present the draft operating budget November 14th, so it can come up for Council approval December 12th.
A Chapleau graduate's been honored for excellent academic standing.
The Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says Ecole secondaire catholique Trillium graduate Marianne Fournier is the recipient of the Governor General's Academic Medal for the 2022-23 academic year, recognizing that she had the highest average at the completion of her secondary school studies.
Fournier is now pursuing studies in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Ottawa.
Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha's pushing the provincial government to address potential closures of Northern emergency rooms.
Speaking in Question Period Tuesday, the independent MPP noted the Manitoulin Health Centre announced last week it might have to close one of its ERs for days throughout October due to a doctor shortage, with other hospitals - like Thessalon's - also facing closure threats due to staffing issues "for months on end".
Mantha called it "unacceptable", emphasizing "this government cannot continue to allow rural hospitals to go short staffed", calling for the P-C government to act now to avoid closures happening in rural and Northern communities, pointing out the Ontario Medical Association estimated last year that the North needed 364 new physicians to maintain adequate levels of care, with Mantha adding "overburdened doctors in the North are burning out and closing down their practices to move elsewhere".
Wawa Municipal Council's getting an early look at capital plans for next year and beyond.
A special meeting's being held tonight, with the main item on the agenda being presentation of the draft capital budget, though there's also a resolution relating to awarding the Community Improvement Plan proposal, and a by-law confirming a memorandum of understanding with Michipicoten First Nation for the marina divestiture.
Open to the public, the meeting starts at 6:30 pm tonight in Council Chambers, also broadcast on the Municipality of Wawa's YouTube channel.
Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its 192nd in Greater Sudbury, bringing the health unit's COVID-related death toll to 220 - it last reported a death more than two weeks ago, on September 8th.
It's also reporting 25 new cases since Friday - 23 in Greater Sudbury, one in the broader Sudbury District, another in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases dropped to 81, the lowest in nearly two weeks.
The health unit only updates hospitalization figures on Wednesdays, but last showed thirteen in hospital.
Authorities are searching for a federal offender known to frequent Sault Ste. Marie.
The Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (ROPE) Squad says a Canada-wide warrant's been issued for Andrew Swan, who's breached his statutory release while serving a four-year, four-month, and one-day sentence for sexual interference.
The 58-year-old's described as a Caucasian male, 5'8" (173 cm) tall, weighing 204 pounds (93 kilograms), with grey hair and blue eyes.
He's known to frequent the Sault Ste. Marie, Barrie, Bracebridge, Brampton, and Kitchener areas.
Anyone who knows his whereabouts is urged to call police or Crime Stoppers.
Some local schools are marking an important cultural day today.
The Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon notes students at its schools - including in Wawa, Dubreuilville, and Chapleau - will mark the provincial Franco-Ontarian day with "a multitude of dynamic activities in their schools and communities, planned to honour the strength of their francophone community".
Locally, that includes students from Chapleau's École Sacré-Cœur parading through the community at 1:30 pm this afternoon, to join others in the Francophone community at Town Hall at 2 o'clock, when a flag raising ceremony will be held.
The Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation's touting a new hire to help with its efforts.
Foundation Chair Susan Switzer says the organization's happy to introduce the new figure.
Alisha Allin explains her involvement.
While the Foundation recently wrapped up its "One for the Dunn" campaign after a successful two-and-a-half years, Allin notes the next six weeks are full of activities and events, starting with last Friday's Trivia Night, followed by another event next weekend.
Allin adds the event will also see the unveiling of an original painting from Darlene Jordan, which Jordan has donated to the Foundation - it will be selling tickets for a draw to be held November 21st, just before the Foundation launches its annual holiday Wish campaign.
More COVID-19 cases are being reported in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting fifteen since Wednesday - all in Greater Sudbury - though - for the first time in nearly three weeks - known "active" cases dropped to 103, including one 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 thirteen in hospital.
Chapleau Town Council won't be meeting again this month.
The regular Council meeting that was scheduled for tonight has been cancelled, with Council now set to next meet next Monday, October 2nd.
No explanation's been given for the cancellation.
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).
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'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.
