NEWS

Sparta’s first ever Scarecrow Festival attracted visitors from throughout the region to the village on Saturday, Oct. 4. The day-long festival included a scarecrow contest, some of the entries seen here which were mostly made by Sparta Public School pupils, several harvest-themed vendors, arts and crafts vendors, live music, pumpkins, pies and more. Event organizers…

About 15 members of the Aylmer and District Horticultural Society volunteered their time and effort to rejuvenate the rock garden within Balmoral Park in Aylmer on Saturday, Oct. 4. The plants were donated by Riverbend Farms which recently closed and by society members who spent all morning and part of the afternoon digging and planting…

Kelly DeJong, left, Adma Bergsma, Dean Rollins, Dylan Vandersleen, Luke Schuurman, Dyllon Bergen, Jake Bergen and Sue Dykxhoorn were about to embark on a 30-kilometre bicycle trek from Immanuel Christian School along rural roads southwest of Aylmer for the Ride for Refuge on Saturday morning, Oct. 4. Over 20 cyclists of varying experience participated in…

Malahide’s cost for Ontario Provincial Police patrols will increase to $973,000 next year, up from $892,000 this year. Mayor David Mennill reported at a township council meeting Thursday, Oct. 2, that Malahide representatives had attended a billing briefing by OPP in St. Thomas that morning. The OPP was changing how it billed municipalities in an…

The Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police has asked for the public’s assistance in finding a suspect believed to be involved in a break-in to a Mount Salem home on Wednesday evening, Oct. 1. Police responded to a report of a break-in in progress at a Calton Line residence just east of Mount Salem at 9:16…

Summers Corners Public School pupils participated in the annual Terry Fox Run and Walk on Tuesday, Sept. 30. The runners and walkers included, from left, Landon Underhill, Izabel Thiessen, Lisa Miller, Robert Miller, Leedell Springer, Ambria Heynen, Alexa Loewen, Mickayla Firby and Ryder Jensen. The children and school staff hoped to raise $800 or more…

Those running for mayor and deputy mayor in Aylmer in the Oct. 27 municipal election were sharply divided at the Aylmer Express-sponsored all-candidates meeting on Monday night, Sept. 29 when it came to whether they thought the town was “open for business.” Most candidates, especially those not currently on council, agreed more had to be…

A fire at a garage in Orwell closed Highway 3 (Talbot Line) for part of Sunday morning, Sept. 27. Malahide Fire Chief Paul Groeneveld said no one was injured and minimal damage was caused by the blaze which firefighters extinguished quickly. By 10:45 a.m., most firefighters had taken off most of their gear and were…

Officers with the Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police Property Crimes Unit on Friday, Sept. 19 arrested and charged a 62-year-old London man with numerous property-related offences after a three month investigation into several thefts around Elgin County. Elgin OPP Constable Troy Carlson said the investigation stemmed from the recovery of a stolen 18-foot enclosed utility…

The first draft of the 2015 budget for the East Elgin Community Complex included staff recommendations that would shave about $120,000 from the estimated 2014 deficit. Members of the EECC Ad Hoc Committee discussed the draft 2015 budget at their Wednesday night, Sept. 24 meeting. The forecasted deficit for 2014 was $588,964 while the 2015…

McGregor Public School teacher Penny Hilliker had a bucket of ice water poured over her shoulders by volunteer Peter Martens after pupils at the Aylmer school participated in their annual Terry Fox Run and Walk on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 24. Both Ms. Hilliker and Principal Charlotte Wall agreed to a “bucket challenge” if their pupils…