News Headlines

Elgin County councillors on Tuesday, Oct. 27, abandoned their plan to abandon the 107-year-old Edison Drive Bridge. Now, instead of installing a new access road to serve properties north of the bridge, previously seen as the cheapest alternative until environmental studies threw in some complications, they want to replace the existing structure with a “modular…

Conservative candidate Karen Vecchio, middle, was greeted by her former employer and retiring Elgin-Middlesex-London MP Joe Preston, left, and her campaign manager Brian Clements as she arrived at her victory party at Boston Pizza in St. Thomas at about 10:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 19 after she was declared the winner of the federal election for…

Central Elgin councillors, at a special meeting on Friday morning, Oct. 16, gave the green light to a proposed small-scale wind-power project for the south end of the municipality. Andreas Schneider says his proposed Fairview Community Wind Park involving 17 landowners would be a financial boon to them and keep out “big wind” corporations such…

Central Elgin councillors will hold a special meeting this Friday morning, Oct. 16, at 9 a.m. to consider a small-scale windpower project proposed by Andreas Schneider. He told councillors Tuesday night, Oct. 13, that the project would return more revenue to landowners than a large-scale development, use smaller windmills and effectively “lock out” big corporations…

“Did you not get the memo that you lost the last election?” asked Councillor Ted McDonald of former mayor Jack Couckuyt at the Monday, Oct. 5 council meeting. Cr. McDonald tore into Mr. Counckuyt after his presentation to council in support of building a new downtown library. While mayor, Mr. Couckuyt failed to get enough…

About 50 local residents gathered outside the municipal office in Straffordville before the Thursday, Oct. 1 Bayham council meeting to show their opposition of the sale of nearby Community Centre to Straffordville Evangelical Mennonite Church. A “citizens group” had collected 577 signatures on a petition stating they opposed the sale of the hall and one…

Aylmer Express President and Publisher John Hueston, left, moderated a federal election all-candidates meeting at Aylmer Old Town Hall Theatre on Monday evening, Sept. 28. The gallery was packed full of local residents who listened to the candidates vying to become the next member of parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London answer questions posed to them from the…

Local emergency services representatives, including Central Elgin Fire Chief Don Crocker, third from left, and Aylmer Police Chief Andre Reymer, right, carried placards at they led off  the annual “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” event at St. Thomas Pinafore Park on Sunday, Sept. 27. Men were challenged to complete a mile’s walk in high…

Over 300 attendees danced or simply enjoyed the music, food and atmosphere of the Oktoberfest party held at the Aylmer German Canadian Club’s Saxonia Hall on Saturday night, Sept. 19. “Polka King” and three-time Grammy Award winning musician Walter Ostanek and his band performed all of his hits and dance favourites in front of the…