News

Conflict looms over church service

Aylmer Police are warning a town church (Aylmer Church of God, though police won’t identify the institution by name) that members could face charges if they gather for a service this Sunday, April 26, as they did last Sunday, April 19, even if they’re only sitting in their vehicles with windows rolled up in the…

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Driver identified in fatal crash and fire

Daniel Sjoerdsma, 20, of Norwich has been identified as the driver who died in a fiery single-car crash on Imperial Road north of Calton late on Friday, April 17. Elgin Ontario Provincial Police released the man’s identity on Thursday, April 23, following a post-mortem examination. Const. Adam Crewdson previously reported that Mr. Sjoerdsma had been…

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Second institutional outbreak

Southwestern Public Health on Thursday, April 23, reported its second “institutional outbreak” in Elgin and St. Thomas. The first was a single case involving one resident at Beattie Manor, a retirement resident in West Elgin. The most recent was again a single case, this time at Caressant Care-Bonnie Place in St. Thomas, and involved one…

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St. Thomas woman, 72, dies from COVID-19

Southwestern Public Health on Wednesday, April 22, reported that a fourth person had died as a result of COVID-19 in its jurisdiction, which is Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford. The woman was 72, and had been admitted to St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital before her death. The health unit stated she had caught COVID-19 through…

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COVID-19 update for Monday, April 20

Southwestern Public Health is currently reporting, as of Monday morning, April 20, 18 ongoing cases of confirmed COVID-19 in Elgin and St. Thomas, and 10 more in Oxford. St. Thomas has seven cases, Dutton Dunwich four, Central Elgin and West Elgin two each and Aylmer, Bayham and Malahide, one each. So far in the Southwestern…

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Fatal crash on Imperial Road

Malahide Fire Service is reporting that one person died in a fiery single-vehicle crash on Imperial Road north of Calton Line late Friday, April 17. Chief Brent Smith said firefighters arriving on the scene at 11:35 p.m. found a vehicle, which had left the road and hit a tree, fully involved in flames. They had…

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COVID-19: 18 ongoing cases in Elgin

Southwestern Public Health, on Thursday morning, April 16, was reporting 18 ongoing cases of COVID-19 in St. Thomas and Elgin. St. Thomas had seven cases, Dutton Dunwich four, Central Elgin three, and Aylmer, Malahide, Southwold and West Elgin, one each. So far this year, 41 cumulative cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed by medical testing…

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Charged in traffic death

Elgin Ontario Provincial Police have charged an Aylmer man, 67, with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death in relation to a fatal car crash on John Wise Line on December 23, 2019. The crash killed Susana Peters, 62, of Bayham. Elgin OPP Constable Adam Crewdson said the Aylmer man’s eastbound vehicle had crossed…

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STEGH opens assessment centre

St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital announced on Wednesday, April 15, that it had opened a COVID-19 assessment centre, but only for patients referred for testing by a physician or Southwestern Public Health. Melissa Beilhartz, on behalf of the hospital, stressed that the centre would not be open to anyone else. “Patients who arrive at the…

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COVID-19: STEGH worker diagnosed; third Elgin resident dies

Southwestern Public Health has reported a third death attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic in Elgin and St. Thomas, and also the health unit and St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital jointly announced Tuesday, April 14, that a health care worker at the hospital tested positive for the virus on Monday, April 13. The health unit and…

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