McGregor Public School Grade 4 pupil Emma Cyr attempted lawn bowling during an afternoon of lessons for her and her classmates put on by Aylmer Lawn Bowling Club on Friday afternoon, June 16.

Grace Gillet of host Belmont Minor Soccer’s Hub Under 16 girls soccer team fought to keep the ball during a game against London Oakridge on Thursday night, June 15. Belmont squeaked in a winner, 3-2.

Canada 150 is being celebrated Saturday, June 17, with a bonfire at the Aylmer Fairgrounds. Aylmer Optimist Club is holding a barbecue, while Aylmer Valu-Mart is offering S’mores kits. The event continues until 10 p.m.

Youngsters bounced back and forth on an inflatable amusement that was one of the attractions at Springfield’s annual Family Fun Day, Saturday, June 17. Events at Malahide Community Place continue through the early- and mid-afternoon, followed by a spaghetti dinner for the village fire station from 5 to 7 p.m., and a “Tween Dance” for children in Grades 6, 7 and 8 after that.

Several Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police officers responded to what was first thought as a break-in in progress at a residence near Quaker Road and Dexter Line on Wednesday afternoon, June 14.

Some officers were seen with their assault-style firearms drawn and body armour on in the area at about 7 p.m.

The break-in was first reported at about 3:30 p.m. and the investigation later determined the suspect or suspects broke into the home sometime between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Three unspecified firearms, ammunition and jewellery was reported stolen.

Police officers set up a containment area at Dexter Line and Quaker Road to assist the Emergency Response Team and the canine unit and the roads in the are were closed briefly.

No suspects were located.

The investigation continues and the OPP have requested anyone with information on the incident to contact them.

Belmont’s only grocery store will close permanently on Saturday, Aug. 5.

“My wife [Cindy] and I are the franchisees and we were notified by the company [Sobeys] that the Belmont store will be closing,” Tony Vandevyvere said.

That notification came on Monday, June 5.

The couple also operate the Dorchester Foodland location.

“It will be going dark,” Mr. Vandevyvere said. “That [Aug. 5] will be the last day of business.”

Belmont Foodland has 26 employees, five full-time and 21 part-time.

Port Bruce was the place to be on Sunday morning, June 11 for the 29th annual Aylmer Optimist Catfish Derby. A total of 203 children between the ages of 4 and 15 registered for the derby with 18 catfish being caught. The largest catfish at 15 pounds and three ounces was brought in by Lucas Devree. Aylmer Optimist Club volunteer Dennis Heffren said 30 more children participated in this year’s derby over the 2016 event.

Lauren Koolen, 10, left, her mom Colleen Koolen and grandmother Dianne Bartley walked their fair share of laps along the East Elgin Secondary School track during the second annual Aylmer Kinsmen 1,000 Km Journey on Saturday afternoon, June 10. Event organizer Andy Beck said less people attended this year’s Journey but was almost certain the 1,000 km goal would be reached as over half of the necessary 2,500 laps had been recorded at the half way mark of the evening. This year, the Journey raised money for the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation cancer clinic, the mental health unit there along with “the community’s greatest needs.”

Volunteer Carl Baghaw, left, helped Joey Luth, 11, right, buckle up while Joey’s sister Kara, 9, waited with a smile before they took off in a Cessna Cardinal single engine aircraft piloted by Ian Basson during the annual COPA for Kids event at St. Thomas Municipal Airport on Saturday morning, June 10. The members of COPA Flight 75 (the St. Thomas and area chapter of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association) gave free airplane rides to children and youth between the ages of 8 and 17 that morning along with a free hotdog. The event provided an introduction for youth into the world of general aviation. Between 100 and 150 children and youth were expected to get a free airplane or the rare helicopter ride that day.

Owen Kerr, front (black shirt), of the Royal LePage U-7 team fought for the ball against Brynn Jacques (green shirt) during their first game of the East Elgin Youth Soccer season at the Columbus Park pitches south of Aylmer on Thursday evening, June 8. Also pictured were Brynn’s teammates Madeline DeKeyzer, left, Linda Bergen and Aron Wall. Royal LePage won 5-2.