Stay up to date with what’s happening in your community.
Wawa's Iris Place is cooking up a special fundraiser.
Clubhouse/Peer Support Worker Michelle Richardson explains the drop-in centre for individuals living with mental health and/or addiction issues has a special guest helping.
Richardson says orders can be called in to Iris Place until 4:30 pm Wednesday, November 8th, with the food pickup scheduled for November 10th.
Regional COVID-19 cases continue to hit levels unseen in months.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 56 new cases since Wednesday - 53 in Greater Sudbury, one in the eastern Sudbury District, two in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up to 176, the highest since early March.
The health unit only updates hospitalization figures on Wednesdays, but last showed 58, including six in ICUs.
As Remembrance Day approaches, the Royal Canadian Legion's launched its annual poppy campaign.
Jim Apsey - Poppy Campaign Chairman for Chapleau's Legion Branch 5 - says the campaign's a way to remember Canadian veterans and the fallen.
Aside from poppies - found throughout the community - Apsey notes people can also order wreaths to be placed during the annual ceremony at the cenotaph, with various sizes available for businesses, organizations, or individuals, and an order deadline of November 9th.
Wawa's Branch 429 is also accepting wreath orders, noting the annual ceremony in Hawk Junction will be held November 5th.
A couple campaigns supporting the Wawa Food Bank are in their final days.
As the annual "Let's Scare Hunger Together" campaign is set to wrap up, Kelly Moore-McKenzie of Northern Lights Ford reminds it's gathering items a few ways.
Wawa Public Library CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell says the library's also been gathering support for the food bank this month.
Both campaigns end tomorrow.
As Remembrance Day approaches, the Royal Canadian Legion's launched its annual poppy campaign.
Jim Apsey - Poppy Campaign Chairman for Chapleau's Legion Branch 5 - says the campaign's a way to remember Canadian veterans and the fallen.
Larry Harvey - Poppy Campaign Chairman for Wawa's Legion Branch 429 - explains funds raised through donations and wreath sales support a few things, particularly veterans.
Harvey adds the funds also support youth education projects.
Aside from poppies - found throughout the community - wreath orders are also accepted - both Harvey and Apsey urge everyone to get them in early, with Harvey noting the annual ceremony in Hawk Junction will be held November 5th.
A Wawa car dealership's going on the road to help "scare hunger" this weekend.
Now in the final days of its annual "Let's Scare Hunger Together" campaign, Northern Lights Ford will be setting up a table at John's Your Independent Grocer Saturday, to collect non-perishable food items for the Wawa Community Food Bank.
Kelly Moore-McKenzie of Northern Lights Ford says there are a few items that are especially wanted, gearing more toward healthier foods, as much as possible.
Food Bank volunteer Dyanne Smart emphasizes support is needed, as the organization faces changes stemming from food price inflation.
Smart does thank everyone who supports the Food Bank, saying every little bit helps.
The food drive will be at John's from 10 am to noon tomorrow, though donations can also be dropped off at Northern Lights Ford up to Tuesday, October 31st, with a weekly draw for a $25 gift card for donors.
COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 40 since Monday - 36 in Greater Sudbury, four in the broader Sudbury District - pushing known "active" cases back up to 155, including 58 in hospital, six in ICUs.
A COVID-19 outbreak's been declared at Sault Area Hospital - just weeks after another ended.
Algoma Public Health's showing an outbreak in the 3A surgical unit was declared yesterday, exactly two weeks after another outbreak in the same unit was declared over, after eleven days.
This comes two weeks after the hospital reinstated mandatory masking for all health care workers and members of the public when entering Sault Area Hospital or its community-based locations.
It's one of only two outbreaks reported by the health unit, the other in the 2nd floor of Extendicare Van Daele, which was declared October 13th.
Chapleau Town Council's moving forward with a couple initiatives.
Mayor Ryan Bignucolo explains - in their meeting this week - Council approved a funding agreement that will see some closed circuit (CCTV) cameras put up around town.
Mayor Bignucolo adds Council's also looking at offering garbage pickup outside of town, taking advantage of new equipment.
Mayor Bignucolo notes the garbage pickup will require an agreement with the Township, with set fees for the service.
Only hours are left to provide input on the Municipality of Wawa's proposed capital budget.
Treasurer Manuela Batovanja explains the draft Capital Budget nearly a month ago covers not just next year, but several, making it the Municipality's first "true multi-year budget".
Batovanja outlines the size of the capital budget.
Continuing projects mentioned include the Cemetery and Landfill expansions, though key projects outlined for 2024 include: a Town Hall redesign study; two phases of renovations at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre; structural repairs for the Drill Rig, followed by beautification; Fire Hall renovation design and drawing; and sidewalk replacement and ongoing pavement preservation.
The presentation can be viewed on the Municipality's YouTube channel - with the slide show on the Municipality's website - plans are to accept public input until the end of today, so the capital budget can be brought up for Council approval November 7th.
The draft operating budget will be presented after that.
Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting its 106th since the pandemic began (it doesn't say where) - it last reported a death five months ago, in late July.
The health unit's also reporting 54 new cases over the last week - 45 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, five in the Elliot Lake area, three in Central and East Algoma, and another in North Algoma (which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations), the first in three weeks - more than doubling known "high risk active" cases to 59, with six in hospital, one in an ICU.
A collaboration agreement's been signed by Sudbury's hospital and an organization offering Indigenous health services in Northeastern Ontario.
Maamwesying North Shore Community Health Services - as a core partner of the Maamwesying Ontario Health Team - has signed the agreement with Health Sciences North, intended to transform health care for Indigenous peoples "by embracing their unique cultural knowledge, traditional practices, medicines, and improving access and awareness of Indigenous Health Services available in the North East Region".
The Maamwesying Ontario Health Team was announced last October, to integrate health care services for clients in communities including the Michipicoten, Brunswick House, Chapleau Cree, and Chapleau Ojibwe First Nations, as well as the urban Indigenous population in Sault Ste. Marie.
A mischief charge has been laid after a Wawa domestic dispute.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to a disturbance on Broadway Avenue shortly before 9 o'clock Saturday morning, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a Wawa 33-year-old on charges of mischief under $5000 and failure to comply with release order.
The accused - who will not be identified due to the domestic nature of the incident, to protect the victim - was remanded into custody, pending a bail hearing.
Some local communities will receive a little less from the provincial government next year - but one will get a little more.
The Ontario government's unveiled next year's Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund rates, noting that - like recent years - a total of $500-million will be spread among 390 municipalities.
That includes a total of $1,482,500 for the Municipality of Wawa - down $54,500 from the 2023 allocation, which was already a decrease of more than $50,000 from the previous year - while Dubreuilville's will drop $21,500 - to $292,900 - and Chapleau will see a smaller decrease of $10,500, to $1,351,600.
Better news for the Township of White River, which will receive $523,300, a $28,900 increase from this year, which was already nearly $20,000 more than 2022.
Two teens are dead and three more people injured after a collision on Highway 17 between Massey and Espanola.
Manitoulin Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the two-vehicle collision on Highway 17 in Sables-Spanish Rivers Township shortly before 1 o'clock this morning, finding a pickup truck had collided head-on with a commercial motor vehicle.
A 19-year-old from Espanola was pronounced dead at the scene while a 17-year-old also from Espanola was taken to hospital, but died from their injuries - three other people were taken to hospital with unspecified injuries.
This comes just days after a similar fatal collision in that area: a 78-year-old from White River was killed in a collision also involving a commercial vehicle on Highway 17 in Sables-Spanish Rivers Township around midnight Friday morning.
Five people are dead - including three children - blamed by Sault Police on intimate partner violence.
Sault Ste. Marie Police say they responded to a call of someone breaking into a residence in the 200 block of Tancred street around 10:20 last night, finding a 41-year-old killed by a gunshot wound, though the shooter had fled the scene before officers arrived.
Ten minutes later, police responded to a call of someone with a firearm at a residence in the 200 block of Second Line East, arriving to find a 45-year-old injured with a gunshot wound - they were taken to hospital - and, inside the residence, three dead children - ages six, seven, and twelve.
Police say the 44-year-old shooter was also found dead, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
While the investigation's ongoing, police say the incidents are connected and not "random acts of violence" - with "no ongoing risk to public safety" - adding they're instead the result of intimate partner violence - as such, investigators will not be releasing the names of the victims or the accused.
A statement from Police Chief Hugh Stevenson says the "community is once again faced with the tragic and unnecessary loss of life", adding "the grief the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims are facing is unimaginable" and "our hearts go out to them.", further urging "everyone to please watch out for each other. If you are struggling, or if you see someone you know struggling, please make use of the mental health supports available in our community."
Mayor Matthew Shoemaker similarly asks people to "look out for one another and offer support during this incredibly challenging time", emphasizing "there are no words to adequately address such a tremendous loss", calling it an "unspeakable tragedy" and "inconceivable act of violence".
The Algoma District School Board's also issued a statement, saying its community "is heartbroken and mourns the loss", noting the children were students with the board, so counsellors and support staff have been put in place "at schools impacted by this tragedy".
More COVID-19 cases are being reported in the region - but there are fewer active.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 28 since Friday - 26 in Greater Sudbury, two in the broader Sudbury District - though known "active" cases dropped to 143.
The health unit only updates hospitalization figures on Wednesdays, but last showed 41, including two in ICUs.
The Wawa Public Library's "marking it red" for dyslexia today.
CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell notes October's Dyslexia Month, and the local library will show off what it has to help those with dyslexia.
Jarrell encourages people to come in between 1 pm and 3 pm to see and ask questions about the collection, including how it was obtained and how they plan to enlarge it.
The library's "Food For Fines" campaign is also continuing the rest of the month - accepting non-perishable food items for the Wawa Food Bank in exchange for a coupon covering library fines - while a DVD sale supports the Alzheimer's Society, and people who use their library card get entered into draws in honour of Canadian Library Month - there will be a draw for kids and another for adults early next month.
Chapleau Town Council's set to talk about budget variance, the museum, commercial garbage pickup, and more tonight.
Included on the agenda for tonight's regular meeting are reports on 2023 budget variance and 2023 museum statistics, discussion about the 2024 Ontario Ice Fishing Challenge, commercial garbage pickup outside Chapleau, and the procedural by-law.
There are a pair of "in-camera" items: a human resources matter and an update on a legal matter.
The meeting will be held at 6:30 pm tonight in Civic Centre Council Chambers - details on accessing it electronically can be found on the Township's website.
A Wawa car dealership is looking to "scare hunger" this month.
Northern Lights Ford's annual "Let's Scare Hunger Together" campaign is nearing its final days, and Kelly Moore-McKenzie reminds there's an additional incentive for supporting the Wawa Community Food Bank.
Moore-McKenzie adds Northern Lights Ford will also be at John's Your Independent Grocer to collect donations this Saturday, October 18th, from 10 am to noon.
The "Let's Scare Hunger Together" campaign continues to the end of October.
