Posts by Rob Perry

COVID-19: STEGH worker diagnosed; third Elgin resident dies

Southwestern Public Health has reported a third death attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic in Elgin and St. Thomas, and also the health unit and St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital jointly announced Tuesday, April 14, that a health care worker at the hospital tested positive for the virus on Monday, April 13. The health unit and…

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Conservation authorities issue flood alerts

Catfish Creek, Kettle Creek and Long Point Regional conservation authorities have all issued alerts about potential lakeshore flooding for Monday afternoon, April 13. That’s in response to a gale storm warning for the Lake Erie Western Basin. The alerts cautioned that strong winds from the south and west on Monday could result in waves three…

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Elgin has 13 confirmed COVID-19 cases

On Saturday morning, April 11, Southwestern Public Health was reporting 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin and St. Thomas. Dutton Dunwich remained a hotspot for the county, with five cases, followed by St. Thomas with four. Aylmer, Central Elgin, Southwold and West Elgin are reported to each have one case.  

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Elgin farmers salute hospital workers

St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital staff members, many in protective gear, waved to a passing parade of Elgin County tractors as local farmers saluted the health care workers on Wednesday night, April 8. The procession was organized by Malahide farmer Glen Debrabandere. (AE/Rob Perry)

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Sunny weather suits Springwater syrup festival

Cheery visitors to the annual Springwater Maple Syrup Festival returned after a tractor-drawn wagon ride through the woods on Saturday, March 7. Conservation Areas Supervisor Dusty Underhill credited clear, sunny weather for helping the festival get off to a busy start. It continues on full weekends through March, and the week of March Break. (AE/Rob…

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Big crowd out for Polar Bear Dip in Port Stanley

Young members of London FC (Football Club) sprinted into the chilly waters of Lake Erie during the annual Polar Bear Dip to benefit Childcan, a London-based charity serving children with cancer and their families. The event involved 38 teams and 266 participants, and raised nearly $100,00, double the goal. The team which raised the most…

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Vienna flood warning

The Long Point Region Conservation Authority has issued a flood warning effective today, Monday, Jan. 13, for Big Otter Creek in Vienna. Watercourse levels across LPRCA remain high and are running swiftly, the authority reported.  In many cases watercourses are still exceeding their banks and flooding low-lying areas.  Most watercourses appear to have peaked and…

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Susana Peters, 62, dies in crash

Susana Peters, 62, of Bayham died in a two-vehicle crash on John Wise Line between Imperial Road and Rogers Road on Monday, Dec. 23, at 5:20 p.m. Elgin Ontario Provincial Police Constable Adam Crewdson said Ms. Peters was a passenger in a westbound vehicle. An eastbound vehicle crossed over into the westbound lane, resulting in…

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Springfield, New Sarum public schools saved from closing

Thames Valley District School Board trustees voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday night, Nov. 26, to rescind decisions made in 2017 to close New Sarum and Springfield elementary schools. They also voted unanimously to make the building of a new elementary school in Belmont, to replace ageing South Dorchester and Westminster Central, one of their two top…

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Big, big band for Aylmer Kinsmen Santa Parade

The massive Burlington Teen Tour Band, which bills itself as the largest youth marching band in Canada, made a big impression on spectators during the 75th annual Aylmer Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, Nov. 23. “Best parade ever,” commented one spectator afterward. More pictures will be in the Nov. 27 edition of The Aylmer…

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