NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

Springfield PS places second in battery challenge

June 20, 2017 | 0 Comments

The pupils and staff at Springfield Public School celebrated finishing second in the Ontario School Battery Recycling Challenge during an assembly on Tuesday afternoon, June 20. Raw Materials sales coordinator Sarah Lacharity, left, accepted a $1,000 donation for Sick Kids Foundation of Toronto from Springfield PS’s prize money. Making the presentation were pupils Tess McCallum,…

Canada 150 bonfire at Fairgrounds

June 17, 2017 | 0 Comments

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.

Family Fun Day in Springfield

June 17, 2017 | 0 Comments

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…

Firearms stolen in break-in south of Sparta

June 15, 2017 | 0 Comments

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…

Belmont Foodland closing for good Aug. 5

June 13, 2017 | 0 Comments

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…

Port Bruce swells with catfish seekers

June 12, 2017 | 0 Comments

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…

Taking part in the Journey

June 11, 2017 | 1 Comment

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…

Kids taking off during free airplane rides

June 10, 2017 | 1 Comment

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…

Sounds of spring at Immanuel Christian

June 7, 2017 | 0 Comments

Dawson Banman, left, and Jonah Guenther were part of the trumpet contingent during the Immanuel Christian School Grade 7-8 Band Concert on Wednesday morning, June 7. The band played a selection of traditional and popular songs in front of their schoolmates and some parents and grandparents.

Bike Rodeo at McGregor PS

June 6, 2017 | 0 Comments

Grade 1 pupil Ryan Fischer, left, received instructions from East Elgin Secondary School Grade 12 Leadership Class student Janessa Friesen during the annual Aylmer Optimist Club Bike Rodeo held at McGregor Public School on Tuesday morning, June 6. Over 500 McGregor PS and Assumption Catholic Elementary School Kindergarten to Grade 4 pupils participated in the Optimist…

Dancing under the sky at EESS prom

June 3, 2017 | 0 Comments

Participants in the first East Elgin Secondary School prom ever held outside of and independent from EESS danced under the sky at Quai Du Vin Estate Winery north of Sparta, Saturday night, June 3. The winery is hosting at least three proms this spring. Prom-goers had dinner under a tent, followed by dancing. Sydney Bond…

Slurping spaghetti at EdisonFest

June 3, 2017 | 0 Comments

Gryphon Ketchabaw, 10, of Vienna chowed down on pasta as he joined 15 other youngsters in a spaghetti-eating contest, one of the games at Vienna’s annual EdisonFest in Memorial Park on Saturday, June 3. On Sunday, June 4, the celebration will continue, this time for Canada 150, with a church service, cross-cut sawing competitions, music,…