NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

Deal scotches school closings

October 7, 2019 | 0 Comments

The Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Ontario government reached a last-minute tentative contract deal on Sunday night, Oct. 6, preventing wide-scale public and Catholic school closings across the province that had been expected on Monday, Oct. 7. Both Thames Valley District School Board and London District Catholic School Board had warned that all…

Potential school closings Monday, Oct. 7

October 4, 2019 | 0 Comments

Both Thames Valley District School Board and London District Catholic School Board have warned that all schools will be closed to students on Monday, Oct. 7, unless weekend talks with the Canadian Union of Public Employees results in a breakthrough. CUPE has announced school custodians and support staff will go on strike as of Monday…

Warning comes with 2020 Bayham capital budget

October 2, 2019 | 0 Comments

Bayham councillors on Tuesday night, Oct. 1, unanimously approved in principle the municipality’s capital projects budget for 2020. That will allow Bayham to issue tenders for next year’s work almost immediately, in an effort to get the lowest possible prices from contractors. However, Administrator Paul Shipway and Treasurer Lorne James warned hard times could be…

East Elgin Concrete wins Port Bruce harbour contract

September 23, 2019 | 0 Comments

Malahide councillors on Monday, Sept. 23, awarded a contract for improvements to the entrance to Port Bruce Harbour to East Elgin Concrete Forming of Tillsonburg, which had the lowest of three bids at $1,926,600. Development and Community Services Director Gene DiMeo told councillors work was expected to start in about a week. An east breakwall…

Federal all-candidates forums on Wednesday, Sept. 25 in Aylmer, Oct. 2 in St. Thomas

September 20, 2019 | 0 Comments

The Aylmer Express will host two all-candidates meeting to give the public the opportunity to directly question candidates in Elgin-Middlesex-London riding for the Oct. 21 federal election. The first will be at Aylmer Old Town Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 25, starting at 7 p.m. The second will be held at Memorial Arena’s auditorium in St.…

Mennill seeks new tack on amalgamation

September 20, 2019 | 0 Comments

Malahide Mayor David Mennill is looking for a detour route to still reach his goal of having the township and Aylmer councillors sit down as a group to see if a potential merger between the two communities is worth looking into. Aylmer councillors continue to balk, saying again and again they want more information first,…

Lift bridge project 14 months instead of six

September 13, 2019 | 0 Comments

Central Elgin Mayor Sally Martyn said she was shocked when she learned via a news report that planned rehabilitation of the King George VI Lift Bridge in Port Stanley by Elgin County would take 14 months, including all of next summer, rather than six months beginning later this year. She wasn’t happy the news had…

Go-ahead for Port Bruce harbour work

September 10, 2019 | 0 Comments

Malahide Administrator Michelle Casavecchia Somers told township councillors Thursday, Sept. 5, that the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans had finally issued a permit allowing the municipality to embark on extensive rehabilitation to the harbour in Port Bruce. The work must be completed by winter, so Malahide councillors will hold a special session on Monday,…

Silly walking at Port Stanley library

September 10, 2019 | 0 Comments

Harper Veliofski, 5, showed how she’d walk to school in a silly fashion during a Kids Club session at Port Stanley library on Monday night, Sept. 9. The club, for youngsters in Grades 1 through 5, meets every Monday night starting at 6 p.m. The theme for this session was, “The Silly Side of School.”…

Feds giving $2.5-million to Port Bruce bridge

September 3, 2019 | 0 Comments

Elgin County announced late Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 3, that the federal government would contribute $2.5-million in infrastructure funding toward a permanent replacement for the collapsed Imperial Road Bridge in Port Bruce. The Ontario government had previously agreed to give $1,666,500. With those contributions, the estimated cost to Elgin County taxpayers for the $5.2-million bridge will…

CCCA issues wind flood warning for Port Bruce

September 3, 2019 | 0 Comments

Catfish Creek Conservation Authority is warning Port Bruce residents that winds might push waves up onto shore in the area of Port Bruce Provincial Park and the Waneeta Beach private cottage enclave. Residents were urged to stay alert to conditions, and to keep children and pets away from flood-prone areas. The warning remains in effect…

Driver nabbed with beer, pot

September 3, 2019 | 0 Comments

A Malahide man, 46, faces both marijuana and alcohol-related charges after being stopped driving a 2009 Jeep near John and Talbot streets in Aylmer on Thursday, Aug. 29, at 8:58 p.m. Aylmer Poice Chief Zvonko Horvat reported an officer detected the smell of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle, and the man then failed…