NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

Chickens delight pupils in Springfield

October 10, 2014 | 0 Comments

Fifteen teachers and support staff at Springfield Public School, led by Principal Jennifer Burns, right, dressed up as chickens and danced to the Chicken Dance song during an assembly at the school on Friday, Oct. 10. The staff challenged the pupils to raise $500 or more for the Terry Fox Foundation and if they reached…

Packed house for Bayham all-candidates meeting

October 10, 2014 | 0 Comments

Well over 200 interested citizens filled Vienna Community Centre for the Aylmer Express-sponsored Bayham all-candidates meeting on Thursday night, Oct. 9. All of the candidates in the Oct. 27 municipal election answered a series of questions from those attending the almost two and a half hour event. Although other topics were broached, the HMCS Ojibwa…

Tornado Fun Run supports Sunshine kids

October 9, 2014 | 0 Comments

Friends Madeleine Krahn, left, and Alexandra Couto, both 11, participated in the 36th annual Ontario Police College Tornado Fun Run on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Between 700 and 800 runners, walkers, cyclists, rollerbladers and skateboarders were expected to take part and raise an estimated $15,000 for The Sunshine Foundation (which will receive 75 percent) and the…

Learning fire safety at Straffordville PS

October 8, 2014 | 0 Comments

Deputy Chief Chris McQuiggan, left, of Bayham Volunteer Fire Department and Captain Greg Coles, right, outfitted Straffordville Public School Kindergartener Logan Staley, middle, in a “bunker suit” and helmet during a fire safety presentation, Tuesday, Oct. 7. Deputy Chief McQuiggan is holding “Sparky,” a puppet used to help teach safety lessons.

McGregor celebrates Walk to School Day

October 8, 2014 | 0 Comments

Teri Stafford chaperoned her daughter Scarlet to Junior Kindergarten class at McGregor Public School in Aylmer on Wednesday morning, Oct. 8 for International Walk to School Day. Davenport Public School also celebrated Walk to School Day that is held each October to raise awareness about the benefits of walking or using other forms of active…

Yarmouth Heritage Area receives Palmer grant

October 7, 2014 | 2 Comments

Yarmouth Natural Heritage Area has received a $42,500 grant from the Estate of Dorothy Fay Palmer. The grant was announced by Catfish Creek Conservation Authority officials on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Located on Sparta Line east of Sparta, the money would be used to plant new trees, attract native wildlife species and enhance the wetlands at…

Forest Festival a fun learning experience

October 7, 2014 | 0 Comments

Summers Corners Public School Grade 6 pupil Lexi Lewis was able to hold a corn snake at the Slimy or Scaly exhibit and learning station during the Carolinian Forest Festival at Jaffa Environmental Education Centre on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Jointly hosted by the education centre, Catfish Creek Conservation Authority and the Thames Valley District School…

Fire trucks, taxes and standing up to staff

October 7, 2014 | 0 Comments

Over 120 residents attended the first-ever Aylmer Express all-candidates meeting Monday night for the municipal election in Central Elgin. They grilled candidates on questions including rising taxes, costly fire trucks, the narrowing of Centennial Avenue and, if elected, would councillors “stand up” to staff in making decisions.

McCaigs donate $1-million to area hospitals

October 7, 2014 | 0 Comments

Announced within St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital’s Atrium on Tuesday morning, Bob McCaig and his wife Janet Taylor-McCaig donated a total of $1-million to hospitals serving Elgin County and St. Thomas residents. Residing just west of St. Thomas, the couple shared a jovial moment at the podium after something Mr. McCaig said during his remarks.…

Oversize load stops traffic in Aylmer

October 6, 2014 | 0 Comments

An oversized load made its way through Aylmer westbound along Talbot Street on Monday morning, Oct. 6 starting just after 8 a.m. Along with an Ontario Provincial Police escort in front and behind, several utility trucks with workers were with the convoy to make sure the tall portable building on the flatbed truck didn’t interfere…

Goodwill’s Used Cars celebrates 40th anniversary

October 4, 2014 | 0 Comments

Goodwill’s Used Cars located on Talbot Street East in Aylmer celebrated its 40th anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 4 with an open house that included a charity barbecue, free cotton candy and popcorn, a family photo booth and a Farmtown Canada petting zoo with wagon rides. Children could also enjoy two bouncy castles and a super slide. Those a…

Scarecrows take over Sparta

October 4, 2014 | 0 Comments

Sparta’s first ever Scarecrow Festival attracted visitors from throughout the region to the village on Saturday, Oct. 4. The day-long festival included a scarecrow contest, some of the entries seen here which were mostly made by Sparta Public School pupils, several harvest-themed vendors, arts and crafts vendors, live music, pumpkins, pies and more. Event organizers…