News Headlines
Aylmer man flourishes in quilting
Aylmer’s Len Adams was a rare masculine figure in a sea of women at the April 10 Quilts in Bloom Show hosted by the Shedden Agricultural Society at the Southwold Keystone Complex recently. Mr. Adams has combined his background in information technology with an understanding of woodworking to establish a satisfying business in retirement as…
Read More“Old School” Cerna scoffs at employee incentives
Malahide Councillor Rick Cerna, apologizing along the way to what he considered an excellent township staff, still couldn’t contain himself when he learned of new incentives being proposed to help with the recruitment and retention of municipal employees there. But Deputy Mayor Mark Widner, at that council meeting Thursday, April 2, supported the changes, observing…
Read MorePlanning furor in Southwold
Over 200 Shedden and area residents attended a special Southwold council session on Monday, March 30, to protest a rezoning to allow development of up to 161 residential units on a 10-acre property at 9210 Union Road …but as Mayor Grant Jones admitted candidly, it was too late. Residents, some of whom threatened to toss…
Read MoreElderly fraud victims tell their story
After losing about $85,000 to identity theft in 2025, pensioners Joe and Sadie Smith, of St. Thomas, are nearly broke and struggling to keep their home. “I am so embarrassed,” said Mr. Smith, his voice cracking with emotion as he described the dreadful experience at a fraud prevention session hosted by Elgin-St. Thomas-London South MP Andrew…
Read MoreCouckuyt blasts social media
Aylmer Mayor Jack Couckuyt lashed out this week at social media users who sparked what Aylmer Police Chief Kyle Johnstone calls a “wild fire” of frightening online innuendo about gun violence. The community leaders were referring to social media chatter about a fake threat of gun violence at East Elgin Secondary School on March 2.…
Read MoreShooting threat at EESS a hoax
A claim that surfaced online at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, March 1, about students supposedly planning to shoot up East Elgin Secondary School the next day was investigated by Aylmer Police and found to be nothing but a fake. Still, the usually crowded parking on streets around the school was much lighter through Monday,…
Read MoreJohn Hueston, partner purchase Eganville Leader
Aylmer Express owner John Hueston and his partner Ray Stanton, owner of London Publishing Corp. have purchased The Eganville Leader from Gerald Tracey, its owner/publisher. Mr. Hueston said The Leader is one of the best and most successful newspapers in the country. From a population of about 1,500, they sell 5,000 newspapers a week. Mr.…
Read More“Mayor Joe” lauded by chamber members
Guests and members at the St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce’s annual Lunch With The Mayors bid a fond – albeit premature – farewell to Mayor Joe Preston, Wednesday, Feb. 11. at the Memorial Centre in St. Thomas. After eight years on the job, Mayor Preston announced Feb. 10 that he will not run for office in the October 2026 municipal election. About 220 Chamber of Commerce guests expressed their gratitude for Mayor…
Read MoreWarm memories made building igloo
Abe Knelsen of St. Thomas and sons Lucas, 10, and Sam, 12, recently took advantage of frigid temperatures to build a creatively colourful igloo in their front yard. Abe, a realtor, said he and his wife Elissa have lived in their home for 13 years, with both sons growing up there. “I don’t think you…
Read More“St. Thomas Sally” predicts six more weeks of winter
After consulting with St. Thomas Sally, the mural groundhog, Mayor Joe Preston announced Monday, Feb. 2, that there would be six more weeks of winter. The third annual Groundhog Day ceremony attracted a dozen spectators for the 7:30 a.m. prognostication. It was held at Westlake Evan Park beside the St. Thomas Library. (AE/contributed by Brian Wilsdon)
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