NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

CCCA issues “flood watch”

March 17, 2015 | 0 Comments

Catfish Creek Conservation Authority Water Management Technician Peter Dragunas issued a “flood watch” on Tuesday morning, March 17. “This is an assessment that a significant probability exists for flooding of low-lying flood prone areas within the watershed,” he wrote in the statement. “Due to the recent precipitation, increased snow melt, recent warming and migration of…

Anger expressed at public meeting on Ojibwa loan default

March 16, 2015 | 2 Comments

Some local residents expressed anger and frustration during the public information session held by Bayham officials at Vienna Community Centre on Monday night, March 16 to provide details on how the municipality was dealing with paying for a $6-million bank loan the Elgin Military Museum had defaulted on for transporting the Ojibwa submarine from Halifax to…

Showing off talent at New Sarum PS

March 13, 2015 | 0 Comments

Kendra Hulst, left, Michael Golding, Alyse Fish, Bridget Taylor, Taylor Goodhue and Heather Dennis lip-synched to High School Musical during a talent show for Grades 1 through 8 at New Sarum Public School, Friday, March 13.

Aylmer budget lands at 0.74% levy increase

March 13, 2015 | 0 Comments

After an almost three and a half hour final session on Thursday, March 12, members of the Aylmer Finance Committee found savings in the 2015 budget to reduce the over six-percent levy increase starting point to 0.74-percent. The committee, made up of all members of council, went through the budget line by line and removed…

Bayham responsible for $6-million Ojibwa loan

March 13, 2015 | 7 Comments

Bayham taxpayers could be on the hook for the entire $6-million loan given to the Elgin Military Museum to pay for the HMCS Ojibwa submarine project. Bayham officials issued a media release announcing the development in the late evening of Thursday, March 12 after councillors met behind closed doors to discuss the situation. The Elgin…

Musical variety at EESS Coffee House

March 12, 2015 | 0 Comments

Classical guitarist Stephanie Nesbitt held the attention of a captive audience of keen listeners during the Coffee House program at East Elgin Secondary School on Wednesday evening, March 11. Coffee House provides EESS students with an opportunity to perform in public with proceeds going towards the school’s music program. Performances can range from a cappella singing,…

Malahide tax levy to rise 6.46 percent

March 10, 2015 | 3 Comments

Malahide councillors meeting as budget committee Wednesday, March 4, recommended that they formally adopt a 2015 township budget calling for a 6.46-percent increase in the municipal property tax levy. For an average residential home, that means paying an additional $103.86 to Malahide in property tax this year. Malahide plans $11,846,920 in spending this year. Of…

Ice breaking starts in Port Bruce

March 10, 2015 | 1 Comment

Dave Reimer of Erie Draglines started breaking the ice near the mouth of Catfish Creek in Port Bruce on Tuesday afternoon, March 10. The drag line had been left in Port Bruce by the company in the days leading up to the ice breaking which was being done as a preventative measure before the spring…

Packed house enjoys Splash ‘n Boots

March 7, 2015 | 0 Comments

Juno-nominated children’s entertainers Splash’N Boots performed at Aylmer Old Town Hall Theatre in front of a packed audience on Saturday afternoon, March 7. The show had been sold out in advance for the pair’s fifth appearance in Aylmer in recent years. Splash’N Boots, otherwise known as married couple Nick Adams and Taes Leavitt, were nominated for…

Full lanes for Big Bro/Big Sis bowling at Cy’s

March 7, 2015 | 0 Comments

All eight lanes were full during the Bowl for Kids fundraising event for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of St. Thomas-Elgin at Cy’s Bowling Lanes and Lounge in Aylmer on Saturday afternoon, March 7. In its fifth year, organizers of Bowl for Kids aimed to raise $6,000 or more that day, $1,000 more than the year before.…

Maple Syrup Fest begins at Springwater

March 7, 2015 | 0 Comments

Maia Gutowski, 5, of St. Thomas poured some sweetness onto her flapjack in the pancake house during day one of the Maple Syrup Festival at Springwater Conservation Area on Saturday morning, March 7. Running annually for well over 40 years, the Maple Syrup Festival continues at Springwater each weekend (Saturday and Sunday) in March and…

Winter Carnival at Port Burwell PS

March 6, 2015 | 0 Comments

Pupils Aidan Thiessen, left, Michael Suderman and Peter Woelke played soccer with a big ball during the annual Winter Carnival at Port Burwell Public School, Friday, March 6. The event had been postponed because of bitter cold this winter, but went ahead finally under sunny skies.