Impaired Driving & Firearm Charges After Collision Near Hwy 17/519 Junction

Impaired driving and other charges have been laid after a collision on Highway 17, near the Dubreuilville turnoff.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers responded to the single vehicle collision near the junction of Highway 17 and 519 shortly after midnight last Thursday, December 7th, with the officers determining the driver had consumed alcoholic beverages, leading to the arrest of a 52-year-old Thunder Bay man on charges of: operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs; operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus); unauthorized possession of a firearm; and transport firearm in a careless manner.

He was released from custody with a January court date, though a 90-day Administrative Driver's License Suspension was issued and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.

Superior East OPP remind drivers "no amount of alcohol or drug is acceptable to consume and drive", and "if you believe a driver is impaired, please call 9-1-1 or contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122".

Chapleau Council Approves New Truck Purchase, Generator Project Scope Change

Chapleau Town Council's approved a couple new expenses.

Mayor Ryan Bignucolo says Council was asked in Monday's meeting to approve the purchase of a new pickup truck.

Bignucolo says Council also approved a "scope change" for generator projects for the Civic Centre and Recreation Arena.

Mayor Bignucolo also presented firefighter Michael Fortin with a pin recognizing 25 years service.

Jory Kettles Wins MVFA Cash Draw Early Bird

Wawa's firefighters are congratulating the winner of the first draw in an annual fundraising campaign.

Jory Kettles won Saturday night's $1000 "Early Bird" draw in the Michipicoten Volunteer Firefighters Association annual cash draw, with the ticket put back in for the remaining draws.

Executive Committee President William Moore warns tickets are going fast, possibly even before the next draw.

Tickets are available throughout the community, including through firefighters.

The next $1000 draw will be held on Valentine's Day, with the final three $1000 draws - and the $10,000 grand prize draw - to be made March 3rd, at the Wawa Ice Fishing Derby.

Impaired Driving Charge After Wawa Traffic Complaint

An impaired driving charge has been laid after a traffic complaint in Wawa.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say a concerned citizen called in the report of a possible impaired driver on Broadway Avenue shortly after 4 o'clock last Monday, December 4th - officers located the suspect vehicle, with investigation revealing the driver was impaired by an unspecified drug, leading to the Wawa 47-year-old's arrest on a charge of operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs.

They were released from custody with a January court date, though a 90-day Administrative Driver's License Suspension was issued and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.

Local police remind drivers "no amount of alcohol or drug is acceptable to consume and drive", and "if you believe a driver is impaired, please call 9-1-1 or contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122".

APH Reports 114th COVID-19 Death, Cases in North Algoma & Area

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting its 114th since the pandemic began - it doesn't say where - it last reported a death four weeks ago.

The health unit's also reporting 75 new cases over the last week - 38 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, 22 in Central and East Algoma, ten in the Elliot Lake area, and five in North Algoma (which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations) - though known "high risk active" cases are down to 100, with 24 in hospital, three in ICUs.

An outbreak has been declared for the Lady Dunn Health Centre's long-term care area: in response, general visitors are not allowed for the area though essential caregivers can still visit between 10 am and noon or 1 pm and 3 pm, and there are no changes to Acute Care visitation, though masking is now in effect throughout the facility for all visitors.

Local MP Hughes Calls for Action on Food Insecurity

Local MP Carol Hughes is calling for action on food insecurity.

Speaking in the House of Commons recently, the Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing New Democrat warned that food "availability, adequacy, and accessibility" are "compromised" in her riding and across Canada, "jeopardizing our citizens' fundamental right to nutrition", a problem she noted has been growing in Ontario for years.

Hughes further noted that the most affected include "41.7% of First Nations on-reserve households, followed by single mothers at a distressing 41%" while "one-third of food bank users are children".

She urged her fellow MPs to "affirm our commitment to a society where every citizen lives in dignity, free from the spectre of food insecurity" by implementing a National School Lunch Program and a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income, and cracking down on "corporate greed".

RSVP Deadline for Chapleau Pentecostal Church Christmas Banquet

Time's running out for those interested in attending a special seasonal event.

Chapleau Pentecostal Church is set to hold its Christmas Banquet tomorrow night, which is open to the public for free or by donation, though it does ask people reserve seats by calling 705-951-2828 no later than today.

The banquet starts at 6 o'clock Wednesday night.

Wawa Council Holding Back to Back Meetings | UPDATED: Meetings Postponed

UPDATE: Wawa Municipal Council won't be meeting tonight after all.

While a Committee of the Whole meeting and a regular Council meeting were set to be held this evening, the Municipality's announced they've been postponed to Thursday, December 14th, still to be held at 6:30 pm in Council Chambers.

Items on the committee of the whole agenda had included monthly reports from department heads and reports on the Wawa Community Improvement Plan, Vallee Park Bridge, short-term rentals, amendment to the 2024-27 draft capital budget, the 2024 schedule of fees, and results from the 2022-23 predator control hunt, while the regular meeting agenda had a resolution authorizing the predator control hunt for another season.

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

First up is a Committee of the Whole meeting, which includes monthly reports from department heads and reports on the Wawa Community Improvement Plan, results from the 2022-23 predator control hunt, Vallee Park Bridge, short-term rentals, amendment to the 2024-27 draft capital budget, and the 2024 schedule of fees.

Tonight's regular meeting is set to include a resolution authorizing the predator control hunt for another season.

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.

Chapleau Council to Consider Some 2024 Rates, Recognize Firefighter

Chapleau Town Council will consider setting some key fees and other rates tonight.

Included on the agenda for tonight's regular meeting are by-laws covering the 2024 Refuse Collection, Water, and Sewage Service rates, as well as remuneration rates for members of Council, and fees and charges for municipal services.

The agenda also includes resolutions for: a scope change to the generator projects for the Civic Centre and Recreation Arena; the 2024 Council meeting and municipal office closing schedules; a request for purchase of a new truck; and a long service award recognizing 25 years service by firefighter Michael Fortin.

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.

COVID-19 Outbreak Declared at LDHC Long-Term Care

A COVID-19 outbreak's been declared for the Lady Dunn Health Centre's Long-Term Care home.

While the Wawa hospital only says the outbreak's in the long-term care area, Algoma Public Health shows it as "facility wide".

CEO Kadean Ogilvie explains that has prompted visitor restrictions for the long-term care area.

Ogilvie emphasizes there are no changes to Acute Care visitation, though masking is now in effect throughout the facility for all visitors.

Fill A Sleigh Event Raises Support for Wawa Christmas Hampers

An annual effort to support children in the Wawa area this holiday season came to a close over the weekend.

Josee McCoy - manager of Wawa's Red Apple store - explains Saturday's "Fill a Sleigh Day" with local emergency services was quite successful.

Wawa firefighters, police, and paramedics participated in the event, and Superior East Ontario Provincial Police Constable Ashley Nickle says they're "very happy" with the donations received.

The Christmas Hampers are going out this week.

Wawa's 5th Annual Ice Candle Celebration Day Nears

Time is running out for those hoping to participate in Wawa's fifth annual Ice Candle Celebration Day.

Wawa Cemetery Committee vice chair Claude Samson explains the event, set to be held Boxing Day.

Samson notes there's a couple ways to order ice candles for the event, mainly stemming from a mailout form sent out earlier this month.

Samson adds that the order deadline's been extended to this Friday, December 15th.

Wawa's St. Augustine Touts Return of Archery Program

A Wawa school's brought back a popular sport for the community: archery.

St. Augustine French Immersion Catholic School says five staff members participated in a training session for the National Archery in School Program last month, after more than three years of effort to bring that program back to the region, helped this year by the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board.

The school says the equipment investment was "made possible by the generous support" of the Rotary Club of Wawa and the HSCDSB's Indigenous Board Action Plan, with classes already underway, through the school's physical education classes - it even expects students to participate in provincial competitions by the spring.

LDHC Foundation Thanks Community for Giving Tuesday Support, Wish Campaign Continues

Wawa's Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation is thanking the community for its support over a one-day fundraising initiative.

The Foundation says it raised over $15,000 for the purchase of capital equipment at the local hospital through the recent "Giving Tuesday" campaign, far above the over $11,000 raised the previous year.

While Giving Tuesday is over, the Foundation is in the midst of another fundraising campaign, the annual holiday season Wish Campaign, which Chair Susan Switzer says aims to help with a variety of equipment purchases.

Switzer reminds donors can use the flyer that was mailed out last month to donate, with donors to be put on stars that are added to a tree in the hospital's lobby.

PHSD Reports 230th COVID-19 Death, New Cases

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its 230th - the 201st in Greater Sudbury - it last reported a death December 1st.

The health unit's also reporting 50 new cases since Wednesday - 25 in Greater Sudbury, seven in the broader Sudbury District, eighteen in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up to 134, including two 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 50 in hospital.

Superior East OPP Investigating Wawa Infant Death

Local police are investigating the death of an infant in Wawa.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers were called to Wawa's Lady Dunn Health Centre shortly after 6:45 pm last Saturday night, after an infant with no vital signs was brought in by family members - a post-mortem took place in Toronto on Tuesday, though police say "the investigation is in its early stages and no further details can be released at this time", only promising "further information will be provided when it becomes available".

The OPP's Superior East Crime Unit and Forensic Identification Services are leading the investigation under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner-Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.

Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to call Superior East OPP or Crime Stoppers.

Election for Michipicoten FN Community Trust

A local election's being held tomorrow: for the Michipicoten First Nation Community Trust.

Nominations will open tomorrow morning, from 9 am to 11 am, followed by voting from noon to 6 pm in the MFN 10-plex Common Room.

All Michipicoten First Nation band members are encouraged to participate, but reminded you have to be at least 18 to vote - with applicable ID - and potential trustees must be at least 25, and present.

The Trust was established through a settlement agreement on land claims, to ensure the management of compensation.

MVFA Annual Cash Draw's Early Bird Draw Near

A lucky supporter of Wawa's firefighters will be $1000 richer tomorrow.

Michipicoten Volunteer Firefighters' Association Executive Committee President William Moore explains the association's annual cash draw has a few prizes, including one set to be given away this weekend.

While ticket sales have halted until the draw is made, Moore says they'll go back on sale after - though winning tickets are also entered in for the subsequent draws - and he emphasizes the draw supports the firefighters with equipment purchases.

Wawa Goose Seniors Club & Wawa Legion Hosting Holiday Events

Wawa will be feeling very festive this weekend, with a couple seasonal events tomorrow.

The Wawa Seniors Goose Club will host its annual Christmas Bazaar - featuring a silent auction, a white elephant sale, and a bake sale - running from noon to 3 pm Saturday, supporting the Senior Centre.

Those wanting to drop off bake sale items can do so until 11 a-m Saturday.

Meanwhile, Wawa's Royal Canadian Legion presents "Joan's Annual Cookie Walk" from 11 am to 1 pm Saturday, at the Legion Hall.

CORRECTION: While this story originally said St. Paul's Anglican Church was hosting a bake sale and mini bazaar December 9th, the event will actually be held the following Saturday, December 16th, from 1 pm to 3 pm.

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