Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — With health officials on both sides of the Atlantic urging a “call for arms” and citing the “grave threat” of Omicron 96 local cases is the new norm. A half dozen of today’s cases are in Muskoka. And by all accounts they are most likely Omicron. No wonder Ontario’s […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — With 211 regional cases over the weekend — 14 in Muskoka — the floodgates are reopen again. In Canada and around the world COVID is going to get much worse before Christmas, experts say. And soon you’ll definitely know people who have been expected. You won’t be able to […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — A daily drop in COVID cases today may be significant or insignificant. Depends on whose numbers you’re counting — as we’ve often reported in the past. The health unit said cases fell to 86 from 106; Public Health Ontario said the drop was just a few to 103. Confused? […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — More than two dozen Muskoka COVID cases Tuesday shows the variance of the variants. Yesterday the health unit reported 4 cases. Today’s cases are among 106 across the region — including 7 “highly suggestive” of being the new “concerning” Omicron variant of concern (VOC). Dr. Charles Gardner said this […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE MUSKOKA — After showing up in Toronto and York, Omicron has moved north to Simcoe. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) says today it is investigating a household cluster in Simcoe County with seven confirmed COVID-19 cases that have a strong probability of being the Omicron variant of concern. They […]
MUSKOKA LAKES — Police have charged a Muskoka Lakes man with allegedly assaulting two OPP officers during an investigation. They say that on Nov. 23, at 8:05 a.m., when officers responded to a disturbance on Burgess Avenue in Muskoka Lakes. The OPP say that while they were attempting to de-escalate the situation, two officers were […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — With 25 per cent of kids in the region now vaccinated, the health unit is now opening its doors and booking booster shots for residents at 70+. Starting at 8 a.m. on Dec. 13, individuals aged 50 years and older will also be eligible for the booster and can […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — With almost 100 COVID cases regionally today and the Omicron variant on the rise, residents are being asked to keep to themselves inside this month. Not a bad idea considering the weather. However, 4 cases Tuesday in Muskoka (92 in Simcoe) are hardly cause to celebrate after a dozen […]
HUNTSVILLE — Two people are dead and five others are suffering suspected drug overdoses that have police investigating incidents Thursday to Saturday. They say the Muskoka Crime Unit and the Muskoka Community Street Crime Unit are working under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) following the fatalities between Dec. 2 and 6. […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — With Ontario the most affected Omicron provinces, Simcoe-Muskoka reports 236 Delta cases over the weekend. Twelve of them are in Muskoka: Gravenhurst woman, 35-44, under investigation, reported Dec. 5, first episode Dec. 3 Bracebridge woman, 35-44, under investigation, reported Dec. 4, first episode Dec. 3 Gravenhurst woman, 35-44, under […]
LOIS COOPER | MuskokaTODAY.com I am heartened by comments on the probability of the return of the Northlander from John Cooper (no relation): “Chances are somewhere between very slim, to none!” He appears to have both feet on the ground. With my 10 years experience running the Train Station in Gravenhurst from 1992-2002 (very successfully) here […]
RUSTY DRAPER | Contributing columnist The following might qualify as a hyperbole. (Much like most of my stories.) Growing up in Gravenhurst there always seemed to be a great deal of friction between my hometown and Bracebridge, just 10 miles north. I don’t know when or why these ill feelings germinated, but I’m sure it […]
TARA COLLUM | Contributing columnist At the start of last January, Bracebridge’s five-day boil water advisory was called “the most extraordinary water incident” in the history of Muskoka. Last weekend Gravenhurst had a water incident of its own, first when the district issued first a do-not-use advisory, which was soon downgraded to a boil water […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE MUSKOKA — With Simcoe-Muskoka one of the most affected COVID regions, its medical officer of health is order tougher local measures. After closing Spruce Glen elementary school this week — and with 106 cases today — Dr. Charles Gardner says “dramatic increases” over the past six weeks mean he is willing […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKKOA — With 1,031 Ontario cases today (106 regionally) — and an Omicron variant in York — 8 more cases in Muskoka may pale by comparison. But as reported yesterday by MuskokaTODAY.com, by Christmas those numbers are on track to more than double. Especially with Omicron being more transmissible than Delta. […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Ontario’s latest flip-flop on electric vehicles indicates some real intent as to its return of the Northlander. A few days after seven northereastern Ontario mayors made tracks for Toronto early one morning last week to meet with transportation minister Caroline Mulroney at Union Station to continue their pressure for […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Omicron is real. It’s scary. And it’s here to stay — long-term. So people age 50+ will be rushing Dec. 13 at 8 a.m. to begin booking appointments for booster shots. That’s the group of people taking COVID and vaccines most seriously. With Omicron spreading fast — including Durham […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BALA — Residents here are always first to see Santa sailing over the Moon River each December on his motorized sleigh as the season of Christmas parades begins. But this year, the biggest elf is coming down from his sleigh for a drive-by unlike never before. Courtesy, of course, of COVID. […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — While there are “no” Omicron cases in Simcoe-Muskoka yet, will current vaccines stop them “if and when” they arrive? “We don’t know,” says Dr. Charles Gardner. “It’s still too early to tell,” he said when asked this afternoon. His “best advice” is to keep wearing masks inside and outside […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — A manufacturing business with 25 employees is news enough. But an expansion of 12,000 square feet is bigger news amid the pandemic. Embertech Industrial, a metal fabricator here on Barron Drive, is adding to its existing 5,000 square feet. And a $363,000 Ontario regional growth program grant announced last […]