Wawa Public Library Marking Final Days of Canadian Library Month

The Wawa Public Library's marking the final days of a month-long celebration.

While Ontario Public Library Week's ended, Canadian Library Month continues to the end of this week, and Wawa Public Library CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell reminds there's still an initiative promoting library cards, as they let you do "so much".

Jarrell also highlights an ongoing colouring contest for the kids.

Colouring sheets can be picked up at the library, but must be brought back by Friday to be entered into the contest.

Wawa Council to Hold Special Meeting on Strategic Plan Priorities

Wawa Municipal Council's looking at refreshing its strategic plan next week.

A special meeting's been called for Monday, October 27th, with the sole item on the agenda being "Wawa Strategic Plan refresh - 2026 priorities" - a similar meeting was held earlier this month.

Open to the public, the meeting starts at 9 that morning at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre lounge.

Those with questions can call Clerk Maury O'Neill at 705-856-2244, extension 223.

Respiratory Outbreak Declared at Chapleau's Bignucolo Residence

A respiratory outbreak's been declared at Chapleau's long-term care home.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts declared the outbreak at the Bignucolo Residence on Wednesday, with Chapleau Health Services encouraging everyone to "observe and follow all infection control measures, such as wearing your masks and handwashing" and "please do not visit the hospital at this time, if not necessary".

Wawa Council Approves Electronic Voting Again for 2028

Wawa's sticking with electronic voting next year.

In their meeting this week, Wawa Municipal Council passed a by-law authorizing the use of "alternative voting methods" - specifically internet and telephone - for the 2026 school board and municipal election.

Council had discussed it earlier in the month, with councillors agreeing it was the best option - noted to be the least costly method and likely to produce better turnout than physical, as it's more accessible - though they did emphasize the importance of maintaining the opportunity for assistance in voting, as in past elections.

The Municipality swapped from vote-by-mail to electronic voting for the 2018 election and stuck with electronic in 2022.

Wawa Curling Club Offering Training Session

Wawa curlers are being offered a special opportunity for training late this month.

The Wawa Curling Club's sponsoring a training session with two instructors from the Soo Curling Leagues, Robert and Jeanne MacLeod, to be held Saturday, November 1st.

There are limited spaces - youth in Grade 5 or over can sign up at their school at no cost, while adults can can sign up for $10 by emailing wawamenscurling@gmail.com.

NAPS Charges 2 in Chapleau Drug Bust

Two people are facing drug trafficking charges after a bust in Chapleau.

Nishnawbe Aski Police say the NAPS Intelligence Unit and Emergency Response Team - along with the OPP Chapleau detachment - executed a search warrant at a Chapleau residence last Thursday, finding and seizing "a quantity of suspected cocaine, fentanyl, and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking", with the estimated street value of the drugs totalling $10,000.

One person was arrested at the residence and another nearby, without incident.

The two - identified only as a 32-year-old female and a 36-year-old male, both from Chapleau - have been charged with possession of cocaine and fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, and released with conditions and future court dates.

Wesdome Presents The Blanket Exercise Workshop

Local residents are being offered a chance to join in "an evening of learning, reflection, and reconciliation" tonight.

Wesdome Eagle River's presenting "The Blanket Exercise", a reconciliation workshop using Indigenous metholodogies to build understanding about the shared history of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada, with participants learning about pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization, and resistance, as they step onto blankets representing the land and into the roles of Indigenous peoples.

Pre-registration is required by emailing chelsea.ogilvie@wesdome.com or calling 705-561-4555.

The event runs from 6 pm to 8:30 pm tonight, at the Michipicoten First Nation Elder's Complex.

Wawa Council Holding Pair of Meetings

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

That includes a Committee of the Whole meeting featuring a delegation from Renewable Power Partners, monthly reports from department heads, and discussion about the Asset Management Plan.

That'll be followed a regular Council meeting, which includes resolutions about automated speed enforcement and an accessible and effective alcohol container return system in Ontario, as well as a by-law affirming plans to use internet and telephone voting in the 2026 municipal election, like in the last two municipal elections, in 2018 and 2022.

The meetings will be held back-to-back, starting at 6:30 pm tonight in the main level boardroom of Town Hall - they'll also be livestreamed through the Municipality's YouTube channel.

OMNR Investigating Moose Shooting Near Searchmont

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources wants to know who shot a moose near Searchmont.

The Ministry says Conservation Officers discovered a skinned and quartered adult moose hidden behind some tall grass on the north side of Leonard Lake Road in Gaudette Township - north of Sault Ste. Marie - on September 29th, with evidence suggesting a full-size pickup truck backed into the area and dumped the moose from the vehicle bed, leaving the entire animal to spoil.

Anyone with information about this is asked to call the Ministry's TIPS line - toll free - at 1-877-847-7667 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

NAPS Lifts Brunswick House Shelter-In-Place Advisory

Nishnawbe-Aski Police have lifted the shelter-in-place advisory issued for Brunswick House First Nation, saying they "believe there is no ongoing threat to public safety"

The advisory was issued Sunday, October 12th, after a shooting in the community - it continued until it was lifted Thursday, October 16th, and even prompted cancellation of school buses earlier in the week.

The initial incident saw police respond to a disturbance at a residence, with officers finding an injured male whose exact status is unclear but the injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

NAPS warns "a police presence may remain in the area" as they're still investigating and searching for a male suspect, initially reported to be a "young male", but no further details have been given.

New Indigenous System Navigator Service Launched at LDHC & SSCHS

A new service has been launched at local hospitals.

Maamwesying North Shore Community Health Services Northern Clinic's partnered with Services de Sante de Chapleau Health Services and Wawa's Lady Dunn Health Centre to launch a new "Indigenous System Navigator" service, with a coordinator embedded at the hospitals.

Edith Mercieca, Director of Home and Community Support Services for Maamwesying outlines the new service.

Mercieca explains the process is based on self-identification and consent.

Mercieca praises the navigator embedded in the hospitals.

While new to this area, the service has been operating at Maamwesying partner hospitals since 2010, including Sault Area Hospital, the North Shore Health Network, and Health Sciences North.

Wawa Library Marking It Red/Read for Dyslexia

The Wawa Public Library will be "marking it read" for dyslexia to end the week.

While the library's been celebrating Canada Library Month, CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell notes October's also Dyslexia Month, with a special event tomorrow.

Jarrell encourages people to come in, see, and ask questions about the collection, with a special social to be held Friday afternoon, from 1 pm to 3 pm.

The library's also preparing for next week's Ontario Public Library Week - which will include the return of "Coffee and Culture with Johanna" on Wednesday, October 22nd, and a Music Night with Graham Murray Sears and Alex Charbonneau next Thursday, October 23rd - while a few month-long initiatives continue: a draw for those who come in and show their library card, or get one; a colouring contest; and used book and DVD sales supporting the Alzheimer's Society.

NAPS Investigating Shooting in Brunswick House First Nation

Police are continuing to investigate a shooting in Brunswick House First Nation.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police initially announced a shelter-in-place advisory on Sunday, saying NAPS and the OPP were investigating "an incident involving a possible armed and dangerous individual" at large in the community after a disturbance late that afternoon, which left a male injured - the extent of those injuries are unclear, but NAPS says they are not believed to be life-threatening.

The advisory continued into Monday, with school buses cancelled for Brunswick House students on Tuesday, as police continued to search for the suspect, described only as a "young male".

Under the advisory, members of the community are urged to shelter-in-place, locking all doors and windows, closing curtains or blind, and not approaching or engaging with suspects, while those driving in the area - which is not encouraged - are urged to head directly to your destination, avoiding unnecessary stops, not to pick up hitchhikers, and to ensure the vehicle's locked.

Wawa Curling Registration Event Continues

Registration for Wawa's curlers is continuing tonight.

Men's Curling Club President Jim Hoffmann notes a special event is happening again.

Hoffmann says the season begins the first week of November.

Hoffmann notes a few other ways to curl.

Experienced curlers, amateurs, and entirely new curlers are welcome, with teams or individuals - including those interested in being a spare - encouraged to register.

Anyone looking for more information can contact Anya Switzer at 404-561-1723 about the Mixed League, Danette Mathias at 705-852-0296 for the Ladies League, or Jim Hoffmann at 705-852-1274 for the Men's League.

The registration event runs from 6:30 pm to 8 pm tonight at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre - the curling season begins the first week of November.

Wawa's Winter Overnight Parking By-Law Set to Take Effect

Wawa residents are reminded the town's winter parking by-law is set to take force.

The Municipality's warning its winter overnight parking by-law - intended to help with snow clearing efforts - takes effect for the season on Wednesday, October 15th, barring parking any vehicle, trailer, or vessel on a street or boulevard between 1 am and 8 am.

Any vehicle, trailer, or vessel found breaking the rules can be removed, with the owner fined and charged for the removal cost and daily storage fees, which will need to be paid in full before the item's released.

Chapleau residents have a little longer, as the town's winter parking by-law takes effect November 1st.

Woodland Cemetery Cleanup Looms

The Municipality of Wawa's set to clean up Woodland Cemetery.

A notice from the Municipality warns that "all flowers, monument toppers, wreaths, decorations, candles, and any other material placed on burial plots" need to be removed from cemetery plots by Wednesday, October 15th.

A single wreath or flower arrangement's allowed on a plot for special occasions - such as Easter, Remembrance Day, or Christmas - as long as they're removed within 30 days of being placed, otherwise they'll be considered abandoned and may be disposed of by staff.

PHSD Confirms West Nile in Greater Sudbury Area Horse

A local health unit's warning about the dangers of West Nile virus as another case has been detected - this time in a horse.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it has received confirmation a horse in the Greater Sudbury area tested positive - it last saw a horse test positive in 2024, though it has seen two American crows test positive for West Nile over the last three months.

The last human case in its area was in 2023.

Still, the health unit emphasizes "although the overall risk of a person becoming infected is low, late summer and early fall are typically the time of greatest risk for contracting West Nile virus as mosquitoes can carry higher levels of the virus at this time of year", urging precautions such as wearing Health Canada-approved insect repellent and light-coloured, long-sleeved clothing, ensuring there are no holes or tears in screen doors and windows of your home, and removing - or weekly changing - of standing water around your home.

Algoma Public Health has also reported two wild birds in North Algoma - one in Wawa - tested positive for West Nile in the last two months.

ONDP Leader Stiles Still in Sault Ste. Marie

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles is visiting the Sault for another day.

After stopping in Sault Ste. Marie Tuesday - meeting with and touring the Sault Downtown Association, visiting CUPW and OPSEU picket lines, meeting with Sault Area Hospital's CEO, and attending an anti-Bill 33 community organizing meeting tonight - Stiles is staying in the city today to attend a labour council meeting, and visit the Sault Ste. Marie Soup Kitchen Community Centre.

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