Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — The gift that keeps on giving will benefit seven of nine groups that applied for special community endowment funding. A citizen committee recommended $25,000 from the town’s Terrence Haight assistance fund go to projects for kids, mental health, GAP, Ryde Co-op and $1,000 for something called Safe Quiet Lakes. […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Human remains found by a hiker here yesterday are being investigated by multiple police units. Provincial police are asking the public’s help with the mysterious case. They say that on Wednesday, May 19, shortly before 3 p.m., they got a 911 call after a hiker discovered the remains while […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — Gravenhurst firefighters rushed to brush and grass fires Sunday and Monday highlighting the ‘high’ forest fire rating that local fire chiefs announced this week. They say in a joint release that due to drying conditions in the district and little rain in the forecast, the Muskoka Association of Fire […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — If getting back to normal means no cases in Muskoka and 51 in Simcoe, then we’re there today. By all accounts that’s where the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is at as of Wednesday, May 19 — as these are the kinds of numbers we reported a year […]

GRAVENHURST — As hopes are up for a healthier summer, so too are flags flying at full mast thanks to local Lions. The club’s annual Canadian flag program is under way and the maple leafs fluttering in the breeze are a welcome return and brightening the main street. This signature project of the service organization […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Gravenhurst had Muskoka’s only 2 COVID cases today. They were among 42 reported by the health unit this afternoon, which also 10 active cases remain at Muskoka Shores LTC in Gravenhurst: 5 residents and 5 staff as of an outbreak declared April 23. The latest cases were: Gravenhurst man, […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — After going outside to hire a new fire chief, the Town of Gravenhurst has stayed in-house with the hiring of a popular new CAO. Scott Lucas, director of community growth and development, will return to the job Nov. 1 after a previously brief stint as acting CAO. The town […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — If life’s a beach — it’s not this weekend. Not even with 50 per cent of local adults 18+ now vaccinated, says Simcoe-Muskoka’s medical officer of health. And a regional goal of 75 per cent by July 1. Dr. Charles Gardner warned sun- and water-worshippers today not to let […]

MUSKOKA — Police were busy with six drug- and alcohol-driving charges over the weekend. Yesterday afternoon, May 16 at 1:30 p.m., police got a tip from a member of the public about the driver of a vehicle at a fast food restaurant on Muskoka Road 118 in Bracebridge. The driver and passenger were reportedly intermittently […]

MUSKOKA — A months-long drug investigation has ended with a Bracebridge woman and three other people charged after raids at homes in Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Toronto and Mississauga that netted police cocaine, heroin and $40,000 in cash. Provincial police say that in early 2021 the Muskoka Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) began investigating suspected drug trafficking […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — As vaccines open to all Ontarians 18+ tomorrow, Simcoe-Muskoka is reporting almost 40 per cent of its adult population has received one shot and close to 4 per cent a second shot. This as they report 141 cases over the weekend — 6 of them in Muskoka. That starts […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Customers in Orillia and Muskoka can rest assured when they shop at some local businesses that staff have been screened for COVID-19. If your favourite shop has taken part in a new chamber of commerce initiative. As of today small- and medium-sized workplaces can screen employees to help stop […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com PORT CARLING — If you were looking for a dump truck or big piece of construction equipment anywhere in west Muskoka yesterday, good luck. Try Hwy. 118 through Port Carling. That’s where more than 120 of them were on parade through the Muskoka Lakes town in a salute to Jim Brown […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com PORT CARLING — Expect a huge traffic jam here at noon Saturday. Friends of Jim Brown are rolling through town in drive-by convoy of “about 200” trucks, antique cars and commercial vehicles to pay tribute to a “great community guy.” Brown, 66, who died at home in his sleep April 29, […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Three young Muskoka women are under investigation after testing positive in latest reporting by the health unit, which says young adults (18-34 years) have had the highest rates of infection since February. Two are from Bracebridge, one is from Muskoka Lakes. And all, aged 18-34, were reported yesterday. The […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Ontario’s extended lockdown announcement today comes as two girls in Gravenhurst and Bracebridge and a young man and woman in Muskoka Lakes are among 58 new cases in Simcoe-Muskoka. Premier Doug Ford said this afternoon that to “save the summer” the stay-at-home order will remain in effect until June […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Three Bracebridge residents are among 72 COVID cases, as most Canadian health officials, the federal government and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau roll up their sleeves in support of AstraZeneca. And as local pharmacies are awaiting shipments soon of Pfizer and Moderna doses to jab “hundreds” on waiting lists. Today’s […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — As Ontario pauses first doses of AstraZeneca, 4 new Muskoka COVID cases today are in addition to an outbreak of 10 cases at one accommodation site in the district, says the health unit. Dr. Charles Gardner wouldn’t say where the outbreak is, only that “I can confirm that it […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — All that take-out food means you’ll have to get up early to take out the trash. The District of Muskoka, which is struggling with waste management, says it is overwhelmed with your stay-at-home collections. But that’s not good enough to at least one resident in Gravenhurst. Laurie Dixon writes […]

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — As the province gets ready to extend the stay-at-home order to June 2, provincial police in south Muskoka report 16 people have been charged this month with violating the Emergency Measures and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA). The OPP say they have been involved with several investigations in May, including […]