NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

Free swimming at Aylmer pool

July 24, 2016 | 0 Comments

Samantha Wiebe, 6, left, helped her sister Stephanie, 2, navigate towards their mother Tina (not pictured) during a free public swimming session at the Aylmer outdoor pool complex on Saturday afternoon, July 23. Several Aylmer area residents took advantage of the free swimming to help cool off during the sweltering heat and humidity that day.

Family Flowers fire sends two firefighters to hospital

July 22, 2016 | 0 Comments

A fire at Family Flowers east of St. Thomas on Friday afternoon, July 22 resulted in two Central Elgin volunteer firefighters being taken to St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital by ambulance as a precaution as they were showing symptoms of heat exhaustion. “They will be fine,” Acting Central Elgin Fire Chief Murray Decorte said. While no cause or…

Power out in Aylmer area for four hours

July 22, 2016 | 0 Comments

An over four hour power outage that started at about 11:30 a.m. on Friday, July 22 affected an estimated 11,000 electricity customers in the Aylmer region. Tim Stafford of Hydro One confirmed a failed cross arm on a twin pole structure near Lyons north of Aylmer caused the power outage. He said 4,100 rural Hydro…

Cooling off in Port Bruce

July 22, 2016 | 0 Comments

Isaac Richard, 18 months, of Sparta was playing in the sand near the water of Lake Erie on the Port Bruce Provincial Park beach on Friday afternoon, July 22. His mother Miriam was nearby soaking in the sun and surf. She said Isaac didn’t like the water that much at his young age. Ms. Richard said…

Rabid bat in St. Thomas

July 22, 2016 | 0 Comments

Elgin St. Thomas Public Health is warning residents to stay away from bats after a rabid one was found in St. Thomas, a first for 2016. Rabies is spread through the saliva of infected animals from a bite, lick or scratch, causing inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Although human cases were rare in…

One tough balloon

July 22, 2016 | 0 Comments

Faith Abell, 7, left, and Khanan Hernandez, 8, right, struggled to burst a water balloon over the head of teen volunteer Leah Moore during a Summer Reading Club session at Springfield library on Thursday, July 21. The balloons used that day proved tough–but in the end not impossible–to break. Children are encouraged to read books…

Wacky Wigs at Aylmer Old Town Hall Library

July 21, 2016 | 0 Comments

Ryker Graham, 5, left, and his brother Preston, 9, right, were joined by their cousin Madison, 3, for the TD Summer Reading Club’s Wacky Wigs activity at Aylmer Old Town Hall Theatre on Thursday afternoon, July 21. The Aylmer Library staff had the craft session moved upstairs where there was more room for the several children…

Racing around at Vacation Bible School

July 21, 2016 | 0 Comments

Aron Wall, front, was among several youngsters who participated in a timed game that had them compete in teams to pick up the most balls and sponges and put them in a bucket during the Bethel United Reformed Church Vacation Bible School on Thursday morning, July 21. The theme of the week-long Vacation Bible School…

Summer day camp at the Complex

July 21, 2016 | 0 Comments

Aylmer’s Sophie Stirling, 8, left, blew on the rock she was painting which brought smiles to the faces of camp counsellor Lauren Jewell and events and programs assistant Lindsay Ward while Nolan Shackelton, 6, of Springfield continued to paint his own rock during the East Elgin Community Complex Summer Day Camp on Thursday morning, July…

OPP quote for Aylmer could take over a year

July 19, 2016 | 0 Comments

While an Ontario Provincial Police analyst called the new process “streamlined,” Aylmer’s request to get a quote for OPP service to potentially replace the town’s own municipal police force could take more than a year. Sergeant Kevin Hummel, a “Deployed Contract Analyst” with the OPP’s Municipal Policing Bureau, led a presentation on the OPP costing…

Smoky climax to Rotten Ride

July 16, 2016 | 0 Comments

Smoke drifted upward from where a rider was doing a “burn-out” with his motorcycle at host DG Custom Cycle on College Line in Malahide on Saturday afternoon, July 16. A total of 375 riders had just completed the 11th annual “Rotten Ride” put on by the business with help from 50 volunteers and Aylmer Optimist…

Full park for Bandshell Bible school play

July 15, 2016 | 0 Comments

Actors from an annual week-long vacation Bible School at Bradley Street Church of God put on “Gold Rush,” a comedy, at the Bandshell at Palmer Park in Aylmer on Friday night, July 15. The park was packed with spectators.