NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

Aylmer budget reduced to 0.24% levy increase

March 4, 2014 | 0 Comments

A 7.39-percent levy increase for Aylmer in the draft 2014 budget was cut to 0.24 percent during a finance committee meeting held Monday, March 3. In all, $346,565 in cuts was approved, reducing the proposed levy from $5,318,642 to $4,972,077. The total levy in 2013 was $4,952,625.

Impaired charge against Aylmer man

March 4, 2014 | 0 Comments

An Aylmer man, 62, was charged with impaired driving after being arrested in the parking lot of a Liquor Control Board of Ontario store in St. Thomas Monday, March 3, at 9 p.m. The man failed a roadside sobriety test and was subsequently charged with having a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit for a…

OPP accused of racial profiling

March 3, 2014 | 2 Comments

A complaint filed over the Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police collecting DNA evidence from migrant workers during a sexual assault investigation last fall has resulted is being scrutinized by the Office of Independent Police Review Director. Justice for Migrant Workers filed a formal complaint with the OIPRD on Dec. 12. Elgin OPP officers and the…

Car fire quickly contained west of Aylmer

February 28, 2014 | 0 Comments

A silver Saturn Ion caught on fire in the parking lot at Elgin Auto just west of Aylmer on Friday, Feb. 28. Malahide Fire Chief Paul Groeneveld said firefighters were called to the scene at about 8 a.m. The cause of the fire was undetermined and 10 firefighters were on scene for an hour.

Malahide powerless to speed Complex review

February 21, 2014 | 0 Comments

Malahide Mayor David Mennill told township councillors Thursday, Feb. 20, they were helpless when it came to how quickly a much-delayed operational review of East Elgin Community Complex would be completed. He suggested trying a stiffly-worded letter to LeisurePlan International, the consultant doing the work, if the review wasn’t in by the end of February. LeisurePlan was hired even…

Aylmer medical marijuana plant near approval

February 20, 2014 | 0 Comments

The developers of a medical marijuana growing operation have taken possession of 250 Elm Street in Aylmer and are awaiting the approval of their cultivation license by Health Canada. WeedMD Rx Inc. Chief Executive Officer Bruce Scully said the start up of the project is a $3-million investment and when operational will employ 15 workers…

Bayham state of emergency still in place

February 20, 2014 | 0 Comments

A state of emergency remained in place in Bayham on Thursday, Feb. 20 as the location and condition of a leaking natural gas well northwest of Port Burwell had yet to be determined. In a media release issued at 11:10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20 after the Bayham Control Group met earlier that morning, Bayham…

Bayham man charged in rollover east of Aylmer

February 20, 2014 | 0 Comments

A Bayham man, 50, was arrested and charged with impaired driving and other offences after the vehicle he was travelling in rolled over on Heritage Line just south of Highway 3 (Talbot Line) just before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police Constable Troy Carlson said the man was travelling east…

Central Elgin’s mayor won’t seek re-election

February 19, 2014 | 0 Comments

Central Elgin Mayor Bill Walters announced he would not be seeking re-election this autumn during a luncheon in St. Thomas, Wednesday, Feb. 19. He said four years was long enough to serve, and he wanted to devote his time to family and business commitments. He was proudest in his term as mayor of the year he…

Flood watch issued in region

February 19, 2014 | 0 Comments

Catfish Creek Conservation Authority upgraded its warning about the possibility of flooding in the watershed early Thursday morning. CCCA Water Management Technician Peter Dragunas issued a “flood watch” at 7:45 a.m. on Feb. 20 which is a step closer to an official warning. “This is an assessment that a high probability exists for flooding of…

McGregor holds its own Winter Games

February 18, 2014 | 0 Comments

Grade 3 pupil Daniel Brannigan, left, wound up for a shot on net while McGregor Public School classmates Nolan Wiebe, Grade 4, and Bianca Giesbrecht, grade 3, watched, Friday, Feb. 14. McGregor spent the afternoon putting on its version of the Winter Olympics, with a variety of modified events and hot chocolate to stay warm.

Gas well leaking hydrogen sulphide northwest of Port Burwell

February 14, 2014 | 0 Comments

Bayham on Thursday night, Feb. 13, stated that a historic gas well northwest of Port Burwell was leaking potentially dangerous hydrogen sulphide gas, and a state of emergency has been declared as a precaution. The gas was heavier than air and could be fatal close to the source. Public works employees and firefighters went door to…