Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Nobody realistically expected COVID to end soon — save for some overly optimistic politicians and anti-vaxxers. But with daily numbers riding roller-coasters coast to coast, 16 cases in Simcoe-Muskoka today — up 3 from yesterday — come as Ontario also saw an increase to 677 from 463. Seven more […]
PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — Riding hospitals will receive more than $16 million from the province to cover past, present and future costs related to daily COVID operations. Funding that will put Muskoka’s two hospitals on “solid financial footing moving forward,” says it retiring president and CEO, Natalie Bubela. Funding includes $8,432,300 for the West Parry Sound […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — As vaccine passport opens doors today, Simcoe-Muskoka is reporting 18 new COVID cases and 30 new variants since yesterday. Four of the positive tests come from Muskoka: Bracebridge woman, 45-64, with close contact, who reported yesterday with a first episode Sunday Huntsville man, 35-44, is under investigation, after also […]
MUSKOKA — A Gravenhurst hunter who pleaded guilty to hunting wild turkey without a licence has been fined $2,000. Paul Girard also pleaded guilty to an additional count of hunting turkey without a licence, two counts of transporting illegally obtained wildlife and two counts of using a firearm to hunt turkey that is not permitted […]
LETTER TO EDITOR: I read that Gravenhurst leaders say they are re-active rather than proactive. Are they responsive to complaints? Not in my opinion. I have complained year over year regarding the dangerous situation at the intersection of Main Street and Muskoka Rd. S. The height of the shrubbery on the town boulevard prevents drivers […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — After a federal election that was about the pandemic, government management and the people’s response, 17 new COVID cases today in Simcoe-Muskoka is a reflection of more of the same. Just 1 of Tuesday’s cases was in Muskoka, a Huntsville man aged 45-64, who is under investigation after reporting […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — It will be four more years of local Conservative federal representation by Scott Aitchison as the MP easily won re-election last night. The incumbent as expected won back his seat, while Justin Trudeau and the Liberals won national re-election in unofficial results that saw little change — and […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — As masked voters lined up to cast ballots today, the pandemic, vaccines, choice and change were on most people’s minds at polling stations. This as 8 Muskoka residents over the weekend tested COVID positive among 59 regional cases the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is reporting. Monday the […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — Voters lined up early today as polls opened for the federal election. At the Gravenhurst Legion dozens snaked around the building onto Veterans’ Way. Within an hour it was easy to walk in the back door and vote. With more than 21,000 votes already cast in advance polls […]
TARA COLLUM | Contributing columnist I recently read an article by an NPR reporter who caught a breakthrough COVID case after being vaccinated. While the case was mild, in that he didn’t need to be hospitalized, he was sick for five days and lost his sense of taste. His personal experience showed me the importance of […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — A young woman and older man in Muskoka are among 25 new regional COVID cases Friday, as weekly cases ended at just under half what they a week ago. The Gravenhurst man, aged 65-74, had close contact before reporting yesterday, but with a first episode last Saturday, Sept. 11. […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — COVID’s last mile is fraught with twists and turns at every border. As Alberta Premier Jason Kenney flip-flops on vaccine passports and Quebec orders health care workers to be fully vaccinated or be suspended, a rise in local cases shows no one is immune. Simcoe reports 26 cases and […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Noisy motorcycles — and trucks — that roar through town like freight trains don’t catch the ear of the OPP like this. A constant bane on this community, disturbingly-loud mufflers are a civil annoyance not held in check by responsible police and bylaw peace services. Police in other towns […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — With 100 per cent of local COVID cases now Delta variants, the health unit is reporting 30 more cases today. Three are from Bracebridge, aged 18-34, two men and one woman. All are under investigation after reporting yesterday with first episodes the day before. And 19 of the 30 […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Forget the political divide across the country, the real divide is in vaccines. It’s pitting Canadian friends, neighbours and families. And the threat has Ontario worried about fake vaccine exemption print-outs, which come as the province will require some public certification proof a week tomorrow; and it has Alberta […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Two weeks after a fatal fire left a mom of five dead, police and the Ontario Fire Marshal have yet to say what happened. The mayor says he is committed to inspections of apartments to prevent another “tragedy.” The town’s chief building official says they and the bylaw department […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Five Muskoka COVID cases reported over the weekend are among 74 for the region. The health unit says that since Friday its three-day total includes the following cases in its north end: Bracebridge woman, 35-44, under investigation after reporting Sept. 11, with a first report Sept. 10 Huntsville boy, […]
RUSTY DRAPER | Contributing columnist Well, it’s hard to believe, but here we are officially into September, the month that says goodbye to summer and ushers in my favourite season of the year. The only disappointment that shatters me a tad, is the knowledge that autumn is the precursor of what comes next. I never did […]
TARA COLLUM | Contributing columnist There wasn’t a cloud in the sky Sept. 11, 2001. I made it all the way to school before I heard one word about it. A girl asked me if I was following the news, about planes attacking the World Trade Centre towers in New York City. I thought her […]
BRACEBRIDGE — A 24-year-old woman is dead after an off-road dirt bike accident this afternoon. Provincial police and the OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigation (TTCI) unit are on scene investigating after the accident Saturday, Sept. 11 just before 12:30 p.m. They say officers responded to the single vehicle collision involving the off-road vehicle on a […]