NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

Two vehicle crash takes out hydro pole in Aylmer

March 24, 2014 | 0 Comments

A two vehicle crash involved a hydro pole and street light at the intersection of Talbot Street West and Caverly Road in Aylmer on Monday at about 7:30 a.m. A silver Dodge 1500 pickup truck struck the hydro pole and sustained substantial damage to the front driver side. The second vehicle, a grey Ford Focus,…

Aylmer Shoppers Drug Mart to be sold

March 21, 2014 | 2 Comments

The Shoppers Drug Mart in Aylmer will be sold as a result of the Loblaw takeover of the pharmacy chain. A merger of two large retail chains was approved by the federal Competition Bureau effective March 28. As part of the Competition Bureau approval, Loblaw is required to sell 18 stores including Shoppers Drug Marts…

Tundra swans have arrived

March 21, 2014 | 0 Comments

The first migratory tundra swans of 2014 were seen at Aylmer Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, March 19. The tundra swans usually arrive much earlier in March but were delayed due to the frozen water on the ponds at the wildlife management area located northeast of Aylmer off Hacienda Road. Elgin Stewardship Council volunteers who…

Measles found in St. Thomas

March 21, 2014 | 0 Comments

Elgin St. Thomas Public Health issued an advisory on Friday, March 21 about someone with the measles potentially transmitting the virus to other individuals. Anyone who was present at Dr. Scott Barrett’s office at 107 Edward Street in St. Thomas on Tuesday, March 18 between 2-5 p.m. were encouraged to visit the health unit at…

Meteor passes over Aylmer

March 21, 2014 | 0 Comments

A basketball-sized meteor passed over the Aylmer area on the evening of Tuesday, March 18. The event was tracked by a network of cameras set up by Western University’s Physics and Astronomy Department. The image seen at left was captured by a camera installed on the roof of Aylmer’s Arthur Oslach. The meteor created a…

Catfish Creek floods areas west of Port Bruce

March 20, 2014 | 0 Comments

A home on the south side of Rush Creek Line west of Port Bruce was surrounded by water on Thursday, March 20 after Catfish Creek flooded over its banks at an area commonly known as Cedar Bend. The residents had left the evening before anticipating their property would be flooded the next day. A farm…

Distracted driving fines increased

March 19, 2014 | 0 Comments

Getting caught using any electronic hand-held device or display screens while driving is going to cost a lot more. Beginning March 18, the distracted driving fine of $155 increased to $280 (a $225 fine plus a $50 victim fine surcharge and $5 court cost) as of that day. A distracted driving ticket does not include…

4.41 percent levy increase for Bayham

March 19, 2014 | 0 Comments

Bayham councillors approved the 2014 budget which included a 4.41 levy increase on Tuesday, March 18. Treasurer David Aristone noted that with assessment growth over the past year adding $91,863 in taxation, the overall increase for 2014 for taxpayers was 1.5 percent. Mayor Paul Ens voted against the approval of the budget because of his…

Consolidated courthouse officially opened

March 19, 2014 | 0 Comments

The completion of construction on the consolidated Elgin County Courthouse in St. Thomas was celebrated with an official ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, March 18. The celebration, emceed by former Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Steve Peters who was credited as the driving force behind the project, included a time capsule insertion. A steel cylinder containing several City…

Aylmer levy increase of 0.64 percent approved

March 19, 2014 | 0 Comments

Aylmer’s finance committee, made up of all councillors, approved the draft 2014 budget and a 0.64-percent levy increase on Monday, March 17. That is up from the 0.24-percent levy increase which resulted from savings the committee approved at their March 10 meeting. The draft budget will be on the agenda for the April 7 council…

Flood watch issued

March 19, 2014 | 0 Comments

Catfish Creek Conservation Authority issued a flood watch at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 19. The weather forecast included rain and rising temperatures which were expected to cause the remaining snow to continue to melt resulting in water levels in the creek to rise. Flooding in low-lying areas near Catfish Creek and its tributaries was…

No hope seen on OPP billing change

March 18, 2014 | 0 Comments

Ontario Minister of Public Safety Medeleine Meilleur seems ready to stick with a proposed new method for billing communities for Ontario Provincial Police patrols, despite an outcry from many municipalities. At a Malahide council meeting March 13, Mayor David Mennill, one of three township representatives to attend a recent Ontario Good Roads Association gathering in…