NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

Hundreds cycle in 3 Port Tour

August 18, 2014 | 2 Comments

Bicyclists participating in the fourth annual 3 Port Tour Classic Century Ride passed Lake Erie as they approached lunch at the picnic pavilion in Port Bruce, Saturday, Aug. 16. Gusty winds created some challenges, especially for bicyclists heading up a steep hill on Dexter Line leaving Port Bruce, but otherwise weather was ideal for the…

Straffordville Watermelon Fest on Saturday, Aug. 23

August 15, 2014 | 0 Comments

Despite rumours to the contrary, the 17th annual Straffordville Watermelon Fest will be held on Saturday, Aug. 23, with most activities still free to the public. Pauline Schram, one of the organizers, said that with the Straffordville Community Centre closed for emergency repairs, Bayham council had provided a 40 by 80 foot tent to house…

Art in the Parking Lot

August 14, 2014 | 0 Comments

Bo Mercer, left, and Evan Flikkema of Belmont library’s summer reading club poured paint onto a block of ice in the branch’s parking lot, Tuesday, Aug. 12. They and other youngsters used salt to start ice melting, then added paint to pick out the cracks and crevices that formed . This year the Belmont club…

High-speed chase

August 14, 2014 | 0 Comments

St. Thomas and London police have issued a warrant for the arrest of a 48-year-old man wanted in connection with the high-speed pursuit of a suspected impaired driver, and the ramming of a police cruiser, on Wednesday, Aug. 13, starting at 1:40 p.m. St. Thomas Police Sergeant Jeff Pallister said London Police tried to stop a…

Public kept in dark on Terrace Lodge

August 12, 2014 | 2 Comments

Elgin County officials didn’t make public an incident at Terrace Lodge in 2011 that involved “pranks” on residents and resulted in the firing of two employees, supposedly to avoid marring the reputation of the long-term care home and its staff. That’s what Malahide Mayor David Mennill revealed to his township councillors at a meeting Thursday,…

Motorcyclists collide

August 11, 2014 | 0 Comments

Two motorcyclists were sent to hospital to be treated for injuries after they collided in Central Elgin, on Dexter Line between Imperial Road and Harding Smith Line, Sunday, Aug. 10, at 2:56 p.m. OPP Const. Liz Melvin said a St. Thomas man, 53, was driving west on a 2013 Kawasaki on Dexter Line and somehow collided with…

Midway thrills at Aylmer Fair

August 8, 2014 | 0 Comments

Several children braved the Full Tilt midway ride at the 168th Aylmer Fair on Friday, Aug. 8. Children 12 and under were admitted to the Fair for free that day until 6 p.m. The annual institution in Aylmer continued into the evening that day as well as all day and evening Saturday, Aug. 9, and…

Best dressed at pet show

August 8, 2014 | 0 Comments

Brooklyn Reiter, 12, and her Black Labrador Retriever named Tucker (dressed as a ballerina) won first place in the best dressed dog category of the Aylmer Fair pet show on Friday afternoon, Aug. 8. The 168th Aylmer Fair featured numerous attractions including a full midway, agricultural, craft food and other competitions, children’s activities, demolition derbies,…

“Serious” crash closes Sunset Road

August 7, 2014 | 0 Comments

Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police closed Sunset Road by Roberts Line north of Port Stanley after a “serious” two-vehicle crash that occurred between a large tractor and a motorcycle at about 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7. Middlesex County OPP Constable Laurie Houghton said both riders of the motorcycle were transported to area hospitals, one…

Ed Ketchabaw running for re-election

August 5, 2014 | 0 Comments

Ed Ketchabaw is seeking re-election as Bayham’s Ward 3 councillor in the Oct. 27 municipal election. Cr. Ketchabaw, who lives on the family farm north of Straffordville with his wife Sheri and two sons, aged 14 and 12, was first elected to council in 2006 and was acclaimed in 2010. He filed his nomination with…

Aylmer Fair opens Friday

August 5, 2014 | 0 Comments

Aylmer Fair Board President Scott Lewis gets a smooch from a pair of camels that will be among the exotic and farmyard animals on display at the three-day exposition Friday, Aug. 8, through Sunday, Aug. 10. Other features include demolition derbies, agricultural and homecrafts exhibits, a horse pull, livestock and horse shows and the Midway.

Fireworks over Port Burwell

August 4, 2014 | 0 Comments

Fireworks shot off the East Pier of Port Burwell’s harbour illuminated a huge crowd that came out to see the pyrotechnics. The display capped off the village’s annual Tub Daze celebration.