Written by Blair R. Wilson
 

Ingersoll's Pipe Band continues to celebrate their 100 year Anniversary today.

A parade will walk from the band hall to memorial Park beginning at 1:30 this afternoon - followed by the band Tattoo.

Ingersoll's Pipe Band is receiving a $30,000 grant from Ontario's Trillium Foundation in recognition of its 100 year milestone.

The OTF says the funds will help purchase uniforms, promote artistic and cultural activities for all ages and abilities. 

Campers at Pittock Conservation area this long weekend will have to find another way to cool off.

The beach at Pittock has been posted by public health.

Weekly water testing has come back with high e-coli, making the water unsafe.

Swimming in bacteria-infested water can lead to eye-ear and throat infections, and can also cause stomach problems if you swallow it.

Two other beaches also remain posted: Lake Lisgar in Tillsonburg and Park Haven Lake in Innerkip.

Three Oxford beaches are safe, Lake Sunova in Lakeside, Spring Lake in Mount Elgin and Trout Lake in Innerkip.

A group of five teenage BMXers are being credited for assisting police in a purse snatching.

As you heard on Heart FM two weeks ago, a woman had her purse grabbed in the Dairy Queen Parking lot in Woodstock.

The perp was followed by a group of bikers, including 13-year-old Devin Darnbrough, 15-year-old Jordan Merrylees, 16-year-old Lucas Murray, 13-year-old Darren Tirva and 19-year-old Travis Stokes who say they directed police to make the arrest.

Woodstock Deputy Police Chief Darryl Longworth thanked the youth today for their crime fighting efforts.  "I know sometimes you get a bum rap for being responsible for all the bad things in the city.  But I know it's only a small portion of young people that are involved in things like that, and the majority are guys like yourself who are willing to help out when needed, so I thank you."

The investigating officer bought the boys an ice cream for their efforts that afternoon, and they got a double dip today, as police gave them all another coupon for a free cone. 

15-year-old Jordan Merrylees says it goes to show having BMXers downtown isn't a bad thing.  "We're always seen as a nuisance, but really we're just trying to ride our bikes and have fun."

Darnbrough hopes the story will help people realize the value in having the BMXers downtown.  "We see a lot more than most citizens because we're downtown most of the time.  People just don't understand that we can be a help to the community."

Charged in the case is 25-year-old Daniel Fournier.

Demolition is taking place as some old buildings are coming down in behind the city's Public Works Yard.

The former industrial lands were acquired by the city this year, as Public Works looks to expand.

50-thousand dollars is being spend this year, getting rid of old concrete and buildings on the lands in preparation for future expansion.

City Engineer David Creery says they'll soon be asking the public what waste services they want the city to offer.  "Once we come through the Master Planning exercise, we'll have a better understanding of what kind of services we need to develop here in terms of depots.  How much land do we set aside for depots and how do we properly lay it out so it functions.  Nobody likes the big long line ups at our hazardous waste or electronic waste depots days...so we want to take a Master Plan approach."

Nelson Simard is hoping the 3rd time's a charm.

The Woodstock photographer has filed his nomination papers to run for city council in the fall election.

This will be the 3rd time for Simard, who finished just one place out of the 2006 race, finishing 700 votes behind Jim Northcott for the last seat.  But this time around, Simard believes the timing is right.  "Both on a professional level, I am mostly semi-retired, although I am still active in the business, I have more time on my hands than ever before.  And seeing there's two vacant seats available, I'm hoping the community will choose me to fill one of them."

He is also the current Vice-Chair of the Woodstock Police Services Board, where Simard says he draws boardroom experience.

Simard joins Bill Bess and incumbent Jim Northcott in running for council in the October 25th election.

Woodstock is getting another 300-thousand dollars from slot machine revenue.
 

This week, the city received $305,770 from the OLG for hosting the slots at the Woodstock Raceway.

That's 5 per cent of the total revenue for the quarter of April to June.

Since the slots opened in 2001, Woodstock has taken in 8.5-million dollars.

The money is usually disbursed through the city's community grants program.

Paul Holbrough's now infamous trip to a South Carolina strip club, has more than just the Warden answering scalding questions.
 

Ingersoll's Deputy Mayor Fred Freeman is trying to alleviate the pressure on himself, and 10 other friends that were on the same vacation.

Freeman tells Heart FM that Holbrough went to the Crazy Horse Gentleman's Club alone...and that also means the 790-dollar bill that was paid by the Warden's corporate credit card, was Holbrough's tab alone.  "There were two other town officials on that golf trip, as well as other friends of mine, who are being painted with the same brush.  None of our group were with him at that club.  Those are his charges and his alone."

"I have received numerous e-mails, calls and text messages, suggesting and questioning our involvement.  This is a small town and a lot of people know who was on that trip, and we all have families.  It's just not fair people are assuming we had a part in this."

Holbrough is unavailable to confirm the information, as he is currently out of the country, on another vacation in England.