News

Central Elgin councillors on Tuesday, Oct. 14, accepted with regrets the resignation of Ward 4 Councillor Russ Matthews. He informed council in a letter that, as of Oct. 1, he no longer owned or rented land in Central Elgin, disqualifying him from office. Councillors decided to take no action to fill the vacancy before the…

Fifteen teachers and support staff at Springfield Public School, led by Principal Jennifer Burns, right, dressed up as chickens and danced to the Chicken Dance song during an assembly at the school on Friday, Oct. 10. The staff challenged the pupils to raise $500 or more for the Terry Fox Foundation and if they reached…

Friends Madeleine Krahn, left, and Alexandra Couto, both 11, participated in the 36th annual Ontario Police College Tornado Fun Run on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Between 700 and 800 runners, walkers, cyclists, rollerbladers and skateboarders were expected to take part and raise an estimated $15,000 for The Sunshine Foundation (which will receive 75 percent) and the…

Deputy Chief Chris McQuiggan, left, of Bayham Volunteer Fire Department and Captain Greg Coles, right, outfitted Straffordville Public School Kindergartener Logan Staley, middle, in a “bunker suit” and helmet during a fire safety presentation, Tuesday, Oct. 7. Deputy Chief McQuiggan is holding “Sparky,” a puppet used to help teach safety lessons.

Teri Stafford chaperoned her daughter Scarlet to Junior Kindergarten class at McGregor Public School in Aylmer on Wednesday morning, Oct. 8 for International Walk to School Day. Davenport Public School also celebrated Walk to School Day that is held each October to raise awareness about the benefits of walking or using other forms of active…

Yarmouth Natural Heritage Area has received a $42,500 grant from the Estate of Dorothy Fay Palmer. The grant was announced by Catfish Creek Conservation Authority officials on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Located on Sparta Line east of Sparta, the money would be used to plant new trees, attract native wildlife species and enhance the wetlands at…

Summers Corners Public School Grade 6 pupil Lexi Lewis was able to hold a corn snake at the Slimy or Scaly exhibit and learning station during the Carolinian Forest Festival at Jaffa Environmental Education Centre on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Jointly hosted by the education centre, Catfish Creek Conservation Authority and the Thames Valley District School…

Over 120 residents attended the first-ever Aylmer Express all-candidates meeting Monday night for the municipal election in Central Elgin. They grilled candidates on questions including rising taxes, costly fire trucks, the narrowing of Centennial Avenue and, if elected, would councillors “stand up” to staff in making decisions.

Announced within St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital’s Atrium on Tuesday morning, Bob McCaig and his wife Janet Taylor-McCaig donated a total of $1-million to hospitals serving Elgin County and St. Thomas residents. Residing just west of St. Thomas, the couple shared a jovial moment at the podium after something Mr. McCaig said during his remarks.…