Wawa Goose Nest Hosting Bundle Up Market, Festival of Lights Launching

Wawa's getting into the festive season this weekend.

Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White explains a special downtown tradition happening Saturday and Sunday.

Calling it a great chance to get unique, local gifts for the holidays, White encourages everyone to come out for each market - as they'll have different vendors in each - noting a special incentive.

White adds the markets will also see the launch of the annual Festival of Lights decoration contest.

The "Bundle Up! Markets" will be held from 10 am to noon and 2 pm to 4 pm Saturday and 10 am to noon Sunday, at the Goose Nest Market in downtown Wawa.

White also reminds registration's open for floats in this year's Santa Claus Parade, which will be held Friday, December 15th.

Wawa's Community Christmas Party Near

A special Christmas party's happening in Wawa this weekend.

Pauline Dawson of the Superior Children's Centre explains the Community Christmas is a nice chance for families to make memories.

Dawson notes there'll also be a snack provided by the Legion Ladies Auxiliary and some prizes.

Free to attend - though children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult - the Community Christmas Party runs from noon to 3 pm Sunday afternoon, at Wawa's Legion Hall.

MVFA Annual Cash Draw Returns

Wawa's firefighters are reminding an annual campaign is back - with a week before an upcoming draw.

Michipicoten Volunteer Firefighters' Association Executive Committee President William Moore explains tickets are now available for the annual cash draw, which supports local fire services.

Moore reminds tickets are available in the community - particularly through firefighters - with the $1000 "Early Bird" draw to be held December 9th - tickets will be available until Thursday, December 7th - with another $1000 draw on Valentine's Day and three more $1000 draws, along with the $10,000 grand prize draw, at the Wawa Ice Fishing Derby.

Time Almost Up for Split The Pot Lottery

Time's running out to get tickets for the big draw in a province-wide lottery involving Wawa's hospital foundation.

Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation Chair Susan Switzer explains the foundation's part of the province-wide "Split the Pot Lottery", noting people can get tickets online to support the local hospital.

After a series of early bird draws over the last five weeks, the grand prize draw will be made tomorrow - tickets must be purchased by 11:59 pm tonight at splitthepot.ca

CPKC Holiday Train to Roll Through Region

A mobile event supporting food banks "rolls" through the region tonight.

CPKC spokesperson Terry Cunha explains the annual Holiday Train is a longtime tradition.

Cunha says the train provides a little free entertainment when it stops.

Canadian rock supergroup Anyway Gang will be performing on the "Canadian Train", which is scheduled to stop in Cartier at 10:30 am this morning, in Chapleau at 4 pm this afternoon, and White River at 8:45 pm, before continuing to Mobert, Heron Bay, Marathon, and further west tomorrow.

Impaired & Suspended Driving Charges After Driver Found Passed Out Near Chapleau

Impaired and suspended driving charges have been laid was found passed out near Chapleau - and impaired a couple hours later.

Ontario Provincial Police say members of the Superior East, Sault Ste. Marie, and East Algoma detachments responded to an overdue person report involving a person driving a company pickup truck from Wawa to Chapleau - via Highway 101 - around 8:30 pm Monday night, with members of the Ministry of Transportation finding the truck on Highway 129 south of Hinkler Lake Road (in Martel Township) shortly after 11 pm - the driver was passed out and disoriented when awakened, and while the MTO advised him to wait for the OPP, he instead decided to continue southbound on 129.

Shortly after 1:30 the next morning, East Algoma OPP found the vehicle parked at Seymour Lake Road in Sturgeon Township - about 80 kilometres north of Thessalon - arresting the driver after they determined alcohol had been consumed - the 44-year-old from Batchawana Bay was taken to the Blind River detachment for further testing, then charged with operation while impaired - Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus) and driving while under suspension, while the truck was impounded for seven days.

Indigenous Ingenuity Exhibit Begins Tenure in Chapleau

A travelling exhibit about "Indigenous Ingenuity" is in Chapleau for the next week.

Presented by Indigenous Tourism Ontario and Science North, "Indigenous Ingenuity: Timeless Inventions" presents attendees with what it touts as "a clever and novel mix of science and culture intended to stir a sense of pride among First Nation, Inuit, and Metis communities".

Today until next Wednesday, December 6th, the one-of-a-kind free exhibition will be set up at the Chapleau Community Hall, open 10 am to 7 pm today and tomorrow, and 10 am to 6 pm Saturday through Wednesday.

PHSD Reports 228th COVID-19 Death, 7th of November

Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its 228th COVID-related death - the 199th in Greater Sudbury, though COVID only contributed to but was not the underlying cause of death - it's the health unit's seventh COVID death this month, six of which have been in Greater Sudbury, the other in the Manitoulin District - the last was reported more than a week ago.

The health unit's also reporting 28 new cases since Monday - 23 in Greater Sudbury, four in the broader Sudbury District, one in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up slightly, to 123, including three in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).

The number in hospital is up to 79, though the number in ICUs is down to three.

Spousal Assault Charge Over White River Domestic Dispute

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 1 o'clock Sunday morning, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a White River 42-year-old on a charge of spousal assault and seven counts of fail to comply with probation 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.

Superior East OPP Lay Charges Over Chapleau Domestic Dispute

Criminal charges have been laid after a domestic dispute in Chapleau.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to a disturbance on Martin Road shortly after 1 am last Wednesday, November 22nd, with investigation revealing an individual violated their release conditions by communicating with someone while on conditions not to, leading to a Chelmsford 48-year-old's arrest on charges of breach of recognizance and two counts of fail to comply with probation order.

They were released from custody, with a January court date in Chapleau.

Wawa's St. Augustine Thanks Alamos Gold's Island Gold Mine for Support

A Wawa school's thanking a local miner for help with new playground equipment.

St. Augustine French Immersion Catholic School notes it built an additional play area for its Kindergarten students last year, and "with the generosity of Alamos Gold, Island Gold Mine", "invested in exploratory toys and tools to spark the interest and curiosity of our youngest learners, while enjoying the outdoors", noting they'll help the students "develop their knowledge and skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics" both inside and outside the classroom, with the students building "creative and critical thinking skills, problem-solving, and safety awareness while learning in a fun and engaging environment".

OPP Recover Firearms Taken in Marathon BnE

Ontario Provincial Police have recovered firearms taken in a Marathon break-and-enter.

Marathon OPP say they were able to recover four firearms that were stolen from a Marathon residence November 16th or 17th, with three people arrested in connection to the incident: a 33-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman - both from Marathon - and a 14-year-old, who can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act - they've been charged with break and enter with intent to steal a firearm, and break, enter dwelling house to commit indictable offence.

ADSB Approves Capital Projects for 2023-24 School YEar

The local English public school board's approved nearly $66-million in capital projects for this school year.

Approved by trustees Tuesday, the list of capital projects includes a lighting upgrade at Hornepayne JK to Grade 12, along with other upgrades or renovations for various schools, totalling over $15-million, but the main project is the building of a new Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 school in Blind River, at about $50.5-million for the project, which has been approved by the Ministry of Education.

OPP Warn of Scams Relating to Robinson Huron Treaty Settlement

Ontario Provincial Police are warning of scams relating to the Robinson Huron Treaty settlement.

Manitoulin OPP say they've received an alert from the Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Fund about beneficiaries receiving letters with the fund's logo - and those of the Government of Canada and Province of Ontario - requesting personal and banking information to confirm the individual's eligibility for settlement funds, promising the money will be sent either by direct deposit or cheque once that information's received.

Police emphasize that settlement payments have not started, and the litigation fund and governments will not ask for financial information by mail, email, or text message.

COVID-19 Cases Surge for APH

COVID-19 cases are continuing to surge in the region.

Algoma Public Health's reporting 137 new cases over the last week - 57 in Central and East Algoma, 54 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, and 26 in the Elliot Lake area - with known "high risk active" cases skrocketing to 161 - the highest since early November 2022 - with eighteen in hospital, one in an ICU.

The health unit's COVID-related death toll's also up six, to 113, with APH explaining the latest figure update includes a "data cleaning initiative from the Ministry of Health to reconcile COVID-19 cases resulting in deaths, which occurred between 2022-2023" and "no additional deaths occurred since last week's update.

Rotary Club of Wawa Thanks Community for Supporting Online Auction

The Rotary Club of Wawa is thanking the community for supporting their recent "Rotary Online Auction", which wrapped up over the weekend.

Committee Chair Bill Devries says he's "quite pleased" with how the auction went, though he acknowledges a dip in bids.

Devries admits he's "not necessarily overall pleased", with corporate donations "way down".

Per the auction page, the initiative - the Rotary Club's largest annual fundraiser - has raised about $9400 - 94 percent of its $10,000 fundraising target - which will go to a variety of causes in the community.

Devries notes there are still some winning bidders who've yet to get their items, but assures the Rotary Club's working to make arrangements with them.

Multiple Charges Stem From Festive RIDE Near Chapleau

A few charges have been laid in Chapleau amid the ongoing Festive RIDE campaign.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were conducting Festive RIDE on Highway 101 at Esher Healey Road (about 30 kilometres west of Chapleau) around 2 o'clock last Tuesday afternoon, with multiple vehicles stopped and checked.

Two Mandatory Alcohol Screening tests were conducted, with four individuals charged: a Wawa 34-year-old with charges of driving motor vehicle with open container of liquor, driving vehicle with cannabis readily available, and having care or control of vehicle with cannabis in open original packaging; a Sudbury 37-year-old charged with driving driving motor vehicle with liquor readily available, drive vehicle with cannabis in open baggage, and drive vehicle with cannabis readily available; and two Sudbury residents, a 44-year-old and a 48-year-old, both charged with having liquor in an open container in an unauthorized place.

Local police remind drivers not to get behind the wheel impaired, planning ahead before going out, arranging a designated driver, calling a taxi, or staying overnight - they also encourage anyone who suspects a driver impaired by alcohol, drugs, or even fatigue to call 9-1-1 or the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Dubreuilville Volleyball Team Recognized for Winning Co-Ed Category in Regional Tournament

A Dubreuilville volleyball team's being recognized for strong performances at a regional tournament.

Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says the co-ed team of Grade 6 to 8 students from Dubreuilville's École St-Joseph competed in a regional elementary school volleyball tournament at Wawa's École St-Joseph last week, winning all nine of their games to claim 1st place in the co-ed category.

PHSD Reports New COVID-19 Cases, Fewer Active

More COVID-19 cases are being reported in the region - but there are fewer active.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 34 new cases since Friday - 23 in Greater Sudbury, six in the broader Sudbury District, five in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases dipped to 118, two in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).

The health unit only updates hospitalization figures Wednesday, but last showed 61 in hospital, five in ICUs.

LDHCF Seeking Support on Giving Tuesday

With the holiday season here, residents of the Wawa area are being asked to help support the local hospital through a special one-day initiative.

Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation Chair Susan Switzer notes today is "Giving Tuesday", a response to "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday".

Switzer says the Foundation's been "so fortunate" to see support from Northern Lights Ford.

Switzer notes the Foundation's hoping to surpass last year - which saw "a little over $11,000" raised on Giving Tuesday - with donations able to be made through the hospital website - for more information, call the Foundation at 705-856-2335, extension 3147.

This comes amid - but is not part of - the Foundation's holiday season mailout Wish Campaign, which was launched a week ago.

The Foundation's also part of the ongoing Split the Pot Lottery - which involves 21 other hospital foundations - there's a deadline of midnight Thursday night for the growing grand prize draw - tickets for that are available at splitthepot.ca.