NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

EECAP, food bank giving out more than getting in donations

August 23, 2024 | 0 Comments

The need among local families for food and financial assistance is outpacing what East Elgin Community Assistance Program is receiving in donations, Chairman Peter Ungar told Aylmer councillors on Wednesday, Aug. 14. “I’m not here for money,” he assured council members, but did seek their support in a push for a “living wage” in Ontario.…

Owner of lost bull found

August 23, 2024 | 0 Comments

Elgin OPP reported on Monday, Aug. 26, that the owner of a lost bull in Central Elgin had been found. Police investigated a report of a bull running at large on Belmont Road near Ferguson Line on Saturday, Aug. 17, at about 7 p.m. Assisted by members of the public, officers corralled the bull and…

Big crowd at Aylmer Fair

August 14, 2024 | 0 Comments

The 176th Aylmer Fair last weekend, enjoying mild weather and no rain, recorded an attendance of more than 11,000 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That’s up – way up – from 7,000 last year. “Amazing,” Fair President Randy Laur said on Monday, “It was better than I ever expected. “I haven’t seen crowds here that…

Aylmer Fair opens Friday, Aug. 9

August 7, 2024 | 0 Comments

President Randy Laur says this year, the 176th edition of the Aylmer Fair, promises as always, an opportunity to gather together, socialize and take in all the attractions, including cattle shows, demolition derbies, arts and crafts competitions, flower shows, farm produce contests, a variety of foods, a petting zoo with pony rides and, for the…

MP Karen Vecchio won’t seek re-election

July 31, 2024 | 0 Comments

Elgin-Middlesex-London Member of Parliament Karen Vecchio is preparing to leave office and is considering other avenues of community service after 10 years on Parliament Hill. MP Vecchio, who was raised on a turkey and hog farm in Sparta, has advised Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, and Leader of the…

Legend Rubber cleaning up after fire

July 31, 2024 | 0 Comments

  Legend Rubber of Bayham hopes to be back in production by the end of this week after a major fire in the early-morning hours of Monday, July 29. The company manufactures rubber livestock mats for use in beef cattle and dairy barns. Chief Marketing Officer Brendan Church said the company was grateful to Bayham…

Aylmer Fire Department marks 150th anniversary

July 24, 2024 | 0 Comments

Retired volunteer firefighters attended the 150th anniversary open  house of the Aylmer Fire Department on Saturday, July 20. Standing in front of a recently-restored 1942 firetruck that had at one time been in town service were, from left, Barry Shipp, Wayne Gavey, Steve Gray, Jim Laur, Jim Thompson, Lew Underhill, Tom Miskelly, Bob Sproul, Gerry Freeman,…

Crane asks for 2,500 more trees

July 24, 2024 | 0 Comments

Jim Crane addressed Southwold councillors “from the bottom of my heart” as he asked for 2,500 trees to be planted on former conservation land gifted by his uncle that ended up in private hands with a new home on it. He was speaking at the July 8 council meeting, about the former Crane Conservation Area…

Body of missing swimmer, 14, found

July 17, 2024 | 0 Comments

The body of a London boy, 14,  reported missing in the waters of Lake Erie off Port Stanley’s Main Beach on Sunday afternoon, July 14, was discovered on Tuesday, July 16.  Elgin Ontario Provincial Police Constable Brett Phair said at 1 p.m. Sunday, two individuals, a 44-year-old and a 17-year-old were seen struggling in the…

Restaurant rezoning denied

July 17, 2024 | 0 Comments

Aylmer council members, after hearing opposition from residential neighbours, denied a rezoning to allow an unnamed restaurant with a drive-through lane on the back half of The Bargain Shop property at 154 Talbot St. W. They also promised neighbours they would investigate if 4 a.m. trash bin pickups at TBS and nearby McDonald’s restaurant can…

Motorist killed in Central Elgin crash

July 14, 2024 | 0 Comments

A St. Thomas resident, 23, died in a single-car crash on Roberts Line near Centennial Road in Central Elgin on Friday, July 12, at about 6:50 p.m. Elgin Ontario Provincial Police Constable Brett Phair said the identify of the driver, the only occupant of the vehicle, would not be released “out of respect for the…

Straffordville’s Gerry Taylor accepts Medal of Honor for Civil War ancestor

July 10, 2024 | 0 Comments

Gerry Taylor of Straffordville travelled to Washington, D.C., last week, where on behalf of his ancestor Philip G. Shadrach he received a Medal of Honour, the highest military honour of the United States of America, from President Joe Biden. Private Shadrach enlisted to fight for the Union in the USA’s Civil War and was saluted…