NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

Gale and flood warnings for shoreline

October 31, 2019 | 0 Comments

Catfish Creek Conservation Authority has issued a gale warning and Long Point Region Conservation Authority a flood warning for Lake Erie shorelines within their jurisdictions. CCCA early on Thursday, Oct. 31, warned that winds were expected to increase throughout the day to 74 kilometres per hour early this evening before dropping slightly to 65 kilometres…

Two motorists critically injured in head-on crash

October 29, 2019 | 0 Comments

Two male drivers are in hospital in London with life-threatening injuries after a head-on crash on Imperial Road north of Mapleton Line Tuesday, Oct. 29, at about 7:34 a.m. Malahide Fire Chief Brent Smith said a pickup truck and a sports-utility vehicle were involved. The pickup was on fire when firefighters arrived at the scene,…

Round-dancing at East Elgin Community Complex

October 26, 2019 | 0 Comments

About 180 members of the Southwestern Ontario Square Dancing Association took over Imperial Hall at East Elgin Community Complex for their 60th annual gathering on Saturday, Oct. 26. in this picture, members are “round-dancing,” a form of cued ballroom dancing using a caller. EECC previously hosted the group’s 50th and 55th gatherings. (AE/Rob Perry)

“Sound of Silence” at Coffee House

October 25, 2019 | 0 Comments

Teachers Trevor Hiepleh, left, and Kristen Hill played “The Sound of Silence” by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel during the first “Coffee House” talent showcase of the new school year at East Elgin Secondary School on Thursday, Nov. 24. Coffee Houses are a fundraiser for EESS’s Performing Arts Council, and the next will be on…

High winds send waves crashing onto Port Bruce beach

October 23, 2019 | 0 Comments

High winds from the southwest sent two to three metre high waves crashing onto the end of the Port Bruce pier and adjacent beach on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 23. Catfish Creek Conservation Area had earlier in the day warned of winds of up to 55 kilometres per hour, which could potentially push lake water into…

Aylmer Police costing heading to Malahide

October 23, 2019 | 0 Comments

Aylmer councillors on Monday, Oct. 21, unanimously approved in principle a cost estimate prepared by town Police Chief Zvonko Horvat to extend patrols out into Malahide Township, replacing Elgin Ontario Provincial Police. The costing will now be sent to the township council for its consideration. Malahide requested a pricing from Aylmer several years ago. The…

TVDSB defers decision on rescinding closings of Springfield, New Sarum public schools

October 22, 2019 | 0 Comments

Thames Valley District School Board trustees, at a meeting Tuesday, Oct. 21, voted to defer consideration of a proposed rescinding of motions adopted by TVDSB in 2017 to close New Sarum and Springfield public schools. The meeting was attended by area elected officials, including Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek, along with concerned parents from both those…

Vecchio wins second term as MP

October 22, 2019 | 0 Comments

A federal election was held on Monday, Oct. 21 in Canada. With nearly half of all votes, Conservative candidate Karen Vecchio will sit for a second term as the Elgin-Middlesex-London Member of Parliament. Nationally, the Liberals will stay in power, winning enough seats to form a minority government. As of Tuesday morning, preliminary results for…

Whipping cancer

October 18, 2019 | 0 Comments

Teacher Kristian Rose grinned after getting a whipped-cream pie in the face from a pupil during a celebration at Springfield Public School on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Pupils had raised $1,762 at a Terry Fox Run on Sept. 26, almost triple the original goal of $600, and in return teachers volunteered to be on the receiving…

“Voices muzzled” as TVDSB rejects public delegations over school closures

October 17, 2019 | 0 Comments

Thames Valley District School Board has told mayors, parents and even an MPP who’s also a Cabinet minister they won’t be allowed to speak during a board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 22, where Elgin-St. Thomas trustees Meagan Ruddock and Bruce Smith will try to overturn previous decisions to close elementary schools in Springfield and New Sarum.…

Seeking to rescind closings of Springfield, New Sarum schools

October 16, 2019 | 0 Comments

Elgin-St. Thomas trustees Meagan Ruddock and Bruce Smith are mounting an effort to rescind previous decisions by Thames Valley District School Board to close elementary schools in Springfield and New Sarum, if and when a large new elementary school is built in Belmont. Those decisions were made in 2017, but whether or not the province…

Five exotic animals die in fire

October 16, 2019 | 0 Comments

Five animals, an alpaca, two pot-bellied pigs and two New Guinea singing dogs were lost in a fire at Educational Animal Displays on Woolleyville Line in Malahide on Sunday, Oct. 13. Owner Velma Sheppard said a neighbour rescued a camel from the burning barn, which was destroyed in the blaze. Two other buildings, in the…