NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

Elgin woman 106th COVID-19 death

December 13, 2021 | 0 Comments

An Elgin woman in her 80s has become the 106th COVID-19 related death in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford since the pandemic began, Southwestern Public Health announced on Monday, Dec. 13. The health unit also reported that the rate of ongoing cases of COVIDd-19 in its area had reached triple digits at 106.4 per 100,000…

Straffordville greets Santa’s arrival

December 11, 2021 | 0 Comments

Santa might have been a little warm in his traditional suit as he waved to spectators on the route of the annual Straffordville Santa Claus Parade on Saturday morning, Dec. 11. The weather was sunny for the event, and the temperature a near-balmy 14C. (AE/Rob Perry)

Under 9 AMHA action at EECC

December 11, 2021 | 0 Comments

No. 11 Keely Walcarius of host Aylmer Minor Hockey’s Under 9 Rep team kept the puck away from a Cayuga player during a game at East Elgin Community Complex on Friday night, Dec. 10. Action is continuous at this age group, and no official scores are kept. (AE/Rob Perry)

Stranded man rescued from Port Bruce pier-updated

December 11, 2021 | 1 Comment

A member of Malahide Fire Service’s technical rescue team, left, and a man who had been stranded at the end of the Port Bruce pier were pulled back to safety by fellow firefighters and Ontario Provincial Police officers on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 11., and he was turned over to Elgin County paramedics. Malahide Fire Chief…

“Very significant” outbreak at St. Thomas shelter

December 10, 2021 | 1 Comment

Southwestern Public Health’s board was told at a meeting Friday, Dec. 10, about a “very significant” outbreak of COVID-19 at a homeless shelter in St. Thomas. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joyce Lock said the outbreak was consuming a great deal of time and effort for the health unit and other community agencies, and just…

Public health doctors urge limiting indoor gatherings, working from home

December 9, 2021 | 0 Comments

The medical officers of health for Southwestern Public Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit and Huron-Perth Public Health issued joint, strongly-worded recommendations on Thursday, Dec. 9, urging restricting any indoor holiday gatherings to no more than 10 participants and only including those who are double-vaccinated, as well as working from home, if possible, in response to increasing…

Southwestern records 30 new COVID-19 cases

December 9, 2021 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health was reporting 30 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Thursday, Dec. 9, up from 20 on Wednesday. Despite that, the number of ongoing cases being tracked by the health unit remains at 199. Ten Southwestern-area residents are hospitalized with COVID-19, five of them in intensive care…

Still more deaths from COVID-19 in Southwestern area

December 8, 2021 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health announced on Wednesday, Dec. 8, the COVID-19 related deaths of a St. Thomas man in his 50s and an Oxford man in his 70s. That brings the total number of such deaths so far this month to seven, with six of the fatalities from Elgin and St. Thomas. The death toll since…

Mary French new Elgin County Warden

December 7, 2021 | 0 Comments

Aylmer Mayor Mary French was appointed as the Warden of Elgin for the next year after an election held by county councillors on Tuesday night, Dec. 7. She defeated two rivals for the office, the incumbent Warden, Deputy Mayor Tom Marks of Central Elgin, and Mayor Bob Purcell of Dutton Dunwich, in two rounds of…

Two more COVID-19 deaths in Elgin

December 7, 2021 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health on Tuesday, Dec. 7, announced the COVID-19-related deaths of two more Elgin residents, a woman in her 50s and a man in his 60s. That brings the number Elgin deaths in the last week to five. The total number of Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford residents who have died of the virus since…

Elgin man in his 70s latest COVID0-related death

December 6, 2021 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health announced on Monday, Dec. 6, that an Elgin man in his 70s had become the 101st death related to COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford since the pandemic began. The health unit also reported 85 new cases of the virus had been confirmed in its area over the weekend, or an…

Child found safe, but nine puppies perish in fire

December 4, 2021 | 0 Comments

A young child was finally found safe at a neighbour’s house after Bayham firefighters conducted a search of a garage and workshop on fire at 55304 Light Line on Friday, Dec. 3, at about 7:45 a.m. Fire Chief Harry Baranik said firefighters on arrival could see smoke rising from the roof at the rear of…