HUNTSVILLE — Pandemic fears are heightening ongoing efforts here to control short-term rentals like Airbnb. Town officials say today that in response to the province’s April 3 update of essential services, the Town of Huntsville has issued a Letter for Short-Term Accommodations with restrictions for any booking after April 4. Reports out of Toronto say some condo residents […]
ORILLIA — A driver who recently had her snow tires changed has been charged with unsafe operation of her vehicle after a tire came off and hit another vehicle on Hwy. 11 late yesterday afternoon. Provincial police at Orillia said today that they have charged a female driver with operate unsafe vehicle after the wheel […]
BRACEBRIDGE — A 19-year-old resident here faces two pornography charges. Provincial police said today that on Tuesday the Muskoka Crime Unit, the OPP’s child sexual exploitation unit and the Bracebridge detachment arrested and charged the Bracebridge man following a child pornography investigation. They say that on April 14 officers from the OPP’s child sexual exploitation […]
PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — An overnight snow dump has the MNRF warning about rising water levels and dangers around melting ice. This morning, April 15, it issued a “Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety” advisory. It indicates high flows, melting ice or other factors could be dangerous for such users as boaters, anglers and swimmers but […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — If you see more personalized masks around Muskoka this week, they may be the handiwork of a virtual sewing bee. Barb McCabe and Pam McDivitt are just two of about 50 sewers across town who have produced almost 1,000 colouful cloth facial covers to combat “the spread of this […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — Rotarians here are practising what they preach — Service Before Self. Their Rotary Youth Centre, on Wellington Street, is one of two COVID-19 assessment centres in Muskoka. And on March 21 the Bracebridge service club started a special Rotary Cares Covid-19 Assistance Fund Program to support working families in […]
KAWARTHA — A Norland man is in hospital in serious condition after his UTV left the road and hit a tree. Provincial police said today City of Kawartha Lakes OPP and emergency services were called to a serious collision on Hiltons Point Road shortly after 7 p.m. A utility terrain vehicle (UTV) left the roadway and […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com BRACEBRIDGE — They said stay at home. So Dave Ramer and Michelle Harbridge got married in their driveway Tuesday. Then again in Hespeler four hours later. The next day, Wednesday, April 8, the essential workers were back on the job — he as a paramedic with Muskoka Paramedic Services and she […]
HUNTSVILLE — Five people are without a home to stay in place today after a fire forced from their apartment. The Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department said this afternoon that they responded to a report of a structure fire on Meadow Park Drive in Huntsville at 9 a.m. Responding firefighters encountered heavy smoke and flames […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — Construction companies scrambled this week to make sure Easter eggs are available this weekend for those affected by the coronavirus. In just five days the Muskoka Home Builders Association (MBA) raised more than $80,000 to help. The Relief Effort delivered $24,000 to four local food banks Wednesday to […]
HUNTSVILLE — Another targeted traffic stop here yesterday has led to the arrest of a man and woman and the seizure of $5,700 in cocaine, $994 in cash and trafficking charges. On April 9 Muskoka Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) and members of the Huntsville OPP detachment conducted pulled over a vehicle on West Street. […]
DWIGHT — A double takedown yesterday has led to two Huntsville residents being arrested and charged with cocaine trafficking and possession of a replica handgun modified to appear as a real firearm. Provincial police say Thursday, April 9, the Muskoka Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) with the OPP’s SWAT team and canine unit used a drug […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com PORT CARLING — More on that commercial “diesel fuel” spill in Henshaw Lake — which took place Monday — prompting a drinking water warning from the province. An Ontario Environment Ministry spokesperson told MuskokaTODAY.com today that on April 6 a local resident notified the ministry about a “hydrocarbon sheen on the water […]
MUSKOKA — Muskoka’s hospitals “will struggle with the patient surge that is anticipated” as COVID-19 continues to hit the community hard. In a frank blog this week, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare CEO Natalie Bubela says “as a smaller community hospital, we have limited personnel and limited space.” She says “health care practitioners fill many roles in […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — There was no ‘Quiet Zone’ or signs indicating such so this afternoon on Kelly Drive. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway — for a few minutes after 2 p.m. Sirens wailed as eight emergency vehicles — led by a Gravenhurst Fire Department pumper truck, four OPP vehicles and three Muskoka […]
MUSKOKA LAKES TOWNSHIP — Residents on Henshaw Lake are warned not to use private water sources due to the threat from a fuel spill. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) sent out the advisory today, April 9, advising the public of a “small diesel fuel spill” into Henshaw Lake. They say private drinking water […]
Now, it’s not about what’s closed, but what’s open. Here are a few more updates. Let us know if you know of any others. The Town of Gravenhurst announced today, April 8, that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the necessary, but unfortunate, cancellation of various spring/summer programs it offers at this time of year. […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — Two Gravenhurst women in their 60s are the latest Muskoka residents to come down with COVID-19. One was community-acquired and the other contracted the coronavirus through travel to an unknown destination. That makes them the 11th and 12th victims in the latest count reported to the Simcoe Muskoka District […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Essential workers and front-line staff are getting a lot of love. Even the odd tip at the grocery store. David Rechtsman left $50 in the trunk of his car today — as a “thank you” for YIG store employees — when a busy staff member loaded his car trunk […]
GRAVENHURST — Mayor Paul Kelly thanks residents and visitors for self-distancing and urges everyone to celebrate Easter at home alone. The Easter Bunny has been declared an essential service worker now and will find you. See his fifth COVID-19 YouTube video address at: Mayor Paul Kelly, Community COVID-19 Video Update for Wednesday April 8, 2020.