Posts by Rob Perry

Natural gas leak fixed at Assumption school in Aylmer

Aylmer Police and town firefighters blocked off an area around Assumption Catholic School on South Street East Thursday morning, July 13, after construction workers inadvertently breached a natural gas main. Some homes downwind of the leak were reportedly evacuated temporarily. Police announced later that the leak was repaired by 10:40 a.m., and that everyone could…

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Four Aylmer residents charged in Outlaws drug, guns busts

Four Aylmer residents were among a dozen charged in the region for alleged drug and firearms crimes connected to the Outlaws motorcycle gang after an investigation that started with town police spread to other communities and the “Biker Enforcement Unit” of the Ontario Provincial Police. One of the four Aylmer residents was identified by police…

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Missing 16-year-old found safe

Elgin Ontario Provincial Police reported late Monday afternoon, July 3, that a 16-year-old girl who had been reported missing earlier that day had been found safe.      

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Opiod deaths up 500 percent in 10 years

The number of deaths related to opioid abuse in St. Thomas, Elgin and Oxford rose from 4.2 per 100,000 of population in 2011 to 21.9 in 2021, and that doesn’t include the latest numbers from 2022 and 2023. That was one of the grim facts confronted by Southwestern Public Health Board members during a presentation…

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Smoky haze covers area

A smoky haze descended on Aylmer and area on Tuesday afternoon, June 27, as smoke from forest fires in Northeast Ontario drifted south. On Wednesday, June 28, Southwestern Public Health issued a special advisory, warning that the air quality index for the region was expected to reach 10 or higher. The health unit recommended everyone…

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A night at the Lawn Bowling Club

Corrie Hooghiem rolled her bowl during a regular game night at Aylmer Lawn Bowling Club on Thursday, June 22. Games are played every Monday and Thursday starting about 6:45 p.m., and newcomers are always welcome to try the sport. (AE/Rob Perry)  

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Family Fun Day in Springfield

Jennifer McDaniel of Aylmer holds Eddie, a week-and-a-half old Nigerian dwarf goat, at a petting zoo that was one of the attractions at Springfield Family Fun Day at Malahide Community Place on Saturday, June 17. Sunny weather brought out crowds early in the day. More coverage in the June 21 edition of The Aylmer Express.…

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Fire ban lifted

Fire chiefs from across Elgin County and St. Thomas announced Wednesday, June 14, that a ban on outdoor fires has been lifted following rain across the region.  

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Cat-killing dogs sought

Elgin Ontario Provincial Police are seeking the owner of two dogs allegedly responsible for the deaths of two cats in separate incidents in Sparta recently. Constable Brett Phair of Elgin OPP said one dog was possibly an Akita breed with white and fluffy fur and the other possibly a Burmese Mountain dog with longer, brown…

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Air quality warning issued

Southwestern Public Health is warning local residents that air quality would continue to worsen through Thursday because of smoke from ongoing forest fires in Northeastern Ontario and Quebec drifting into the region. Environment Canada first issued an advisory for Oxford County on June 5 and Elgin County on June 6. As of 1 p.m. Wednesday,…

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