NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

Over 300 attend Saxonia Oktoberfest party

September 20, 2015 | 0 Comments

Over 300 attendees danced or simply enjoyed the music, food and atmosphere of the Oktoberfest party held at the Aylmer German Canadian Club’s Saxonia Hall on Saturday night, Sept. 19. “Polka King” and three-time Grammy Award winning musician Walter Ostanek and his band performed all of his hits and dance favourites in front of the…

Polka King Walter Ostanek performs in Aylmer

September 20, 2015 | 0 Comments

“Polka King” and three-time Grammy Award winning musician Walter Ostanek and his band performed in front of over 300 attendees of the Oktoberfest celebration held at the Aylmer German Canadian Club’s Saxonia Hall on Saturday night, Sept. 19. The event coincided with the official opening of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. The dance party included a…

Doors Open “catching” on

September 19, 2015 | 0 Comments

Cameron Bolohan, 11, of Byron nabbed a grasshopper (perched on his arm) while he was trying to capture Monarch and other species of butterflies with his net at Hawk Cliff just east of Port Stanley on Saturday morning, Sept. 19 during Doors Open Port Stanley-Sparta. Hawk Cliff was just one of several locations local residents and tourists…

Fire destroys abandoned barn just west of Aylmer

September 14, 2015 | 0 Comments

Malahide Fire Chief Brent Smith said a controlled burn that was allowed by a permit issued to the property owner turned into a fully engulfed fire in an abandoned barn behind the house located at 496 Talbot Street just west of Aylmer on Monday morning, Sept. 14. The abandoned barn was on the south side…

Hundreds dine at Port Bruce Fish Fry

September 12, 2015 | 0 Comments

An estimated 350 diners ate 500 pounds of fried perch during an annual fundraising dinner put on by the Port Bruce Ratepayers Association at the community pavilion, Saturday night, Sept. 12. Organizers hoped to raise $2,000 to put toward community projects.

Welcome to the first day of school

September 9, 2015 | 0 Comments

Immanuel Christian School Principal Keith Cameron addressed the crowd gathered for the annual “Back to School Chapel” assembly at his school on Tuesday morning, Sept. 8. A special welcome was extended to the new families who have decided to send their children to the school this year. Principal Keith Cameron said his school now has…

Breakwater opens in Port Stanley

September 6, 2015 | 0 Comments

Central Elgin Mayor David Marr, middle, along with his wife Sandy, left, and Joan Sutherland gathered at the end of the newly refurbished breakwater at Port Stanley harbour that local residents and dignitaries celebrated the grand reopening of on Saturday morning, Sept. 5. Mrs. Sutherland’s late husband Orton was the last lighthouse keeper in Port Stanley…

Crowds throng Watermelon Fest

August 29, 2015 | 0 Comments

Straffordville’s 18th annual Watermelon Fest was a hit on Saturday, Aug. 29. Big crowds turned out through the day for free watermelon and cotton candy, children’s rides, enterntainment and seed-spitting and watermelon-eating competitions.

Watermelon Fest Saturday, Aug. 29

August 26, 2015 | 0 Comments

The 18th annual Straffordville Watermelon Fest, offering mostly free events to the public and aimed at family fun, will be held again this year in the park around Straffordville Community Centre, Saturday, Aug. 29, organizer Rose Gardner said. Events include a decorated-bicycle parade, seed-spitting and watermelon-eating contests, entertainment, crafters, a car show and, after dusk,…

“Real Estate” opens at Port Stanley Festival Theatre

August 26, 2015 | 0 Comments

Actor Bruce Davies gave a painful foot rub to Jamie Williams during a rehearsal for “Real Estate,” a new play opening at Port Stanley Festival Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 26, and continuing through Saturday, Sept. 19. The romantic comedy tells the story of a home owner with writer’s block who stands in the way of…

Crash north of Mount Salem sends one to hospital

August 25, 2015 | 0 Comments

A two-vehicle crash north of Mount Salem at the intersection of Springfield Road and John Wise Line sent one of the drivers to a local hospital on the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 25. Emergency personnel were called to the scene at about 6:30 a.m. The intersection was closed to traffic for more than an hour…

Police presence on Elk Street not a murder

August 24, 2015 | 0 Comments

An Aylmer Police spokesman confirmed that a police presence at a property on the south side of Elk Street near Queen Street was not a murder investigation. Police had recovered a stolen Dodge Ram pickup truck there that had not yet been reported stolen from Dorchester. The investigation continued in relation to further stolen property…