Seven of the 12 jurors in Michael Rafferty's murder trial have been selected today.
31-year-old Michael Rafferty, was formally arraigned today and pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and kidnapping in the death of Victoria Stafford in April of 2009.
A pool of 116 people have been broken down into five groups for interviews. They are being asked a series of questions to determine whether or not they are a suitable juror.
The process will continue Thursday.
A jury of 12 people and two alternates are needed for the trial, which could begin on Monday.
The Oxford County Library System is updating its status.
It now has a Facebook page.
CEO of Oxford's Libraries, Lisa Miettenen says with the advent of e-readers and e-books, there's no doubt the Library has turned the page into the 21st Century. "We've been offering up gadget clinics at a number of our branches, where people can go and get help in using these devices. I believe Facebook will be an effective way to let Oxford County residents know that these and other services are being offered." That includes their free March break programming for kids.
You can "Like" Oxford County Public Library by clicking here.
A major shift is about to take place that will hopefully cut down on the abuse of prescription painkillers.
Pharmacies will now be dispensing Oxyneo, instead of OxyContin.
The Oxyneo pill is designed to be harder to crush, and tuns to a gel when you add it to water. This essentially make the pill impossible to snort or inject for abusers.
Woodstock Deputy Police Chief Darryl Longworth says Oxyneo will cut down on people abusing prescription painkillers, but there are concerns about what fewer pills on the street will mean in the short-term. "The fear we have, and the fear people have across the province both in law enforcement and the medical field are the implications of the immediate withdrawl affects that some of these abusers are going to be faced with when they don't have the ability to get ahold of the OxyContin anymore."
Longworth says the hope is, those people will seek professional help to get clean, rather than turning to other drugs.
Three of the 12 jurors in Michael Rafferty's murder trial have been selected so far today.
31-year-old Michael Rafferty, was formally arraigned today and pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and kidnapping in the death of Victoria Stafford in April of 2009.
A pool of 116 people have been broken down into five groups for interviews. They are being asked a series of questions to determine whether or not they are a suitable juror.
So far three women have been selected.
The process will continue today and Thursday. A jury of 12 people and two alternates are needed for the trial, which could begin on Monday.
Heart FM News takes an inside look at Hillside Kennels, outside of Woodstock, where 3-months after a raid of a property where 42 dogs were seized, 30 dogs are still waiting for adoption, or to be returned to their owner.
Michael Rafferty has pleaded not guilty in a London courtroom.
31 year-old Rafferty was formally arraigned this morning on charges of first-degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and kidnapping in death of 8 year-old Victoria Stafford.
Victoria disappeared on April 8, 2009 after leaving her Woodstock school. In July, her body was found in a remote area near Mount Forest.
Rafferty's co-accused, Terri-Lynne McClintic pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in April of 2010 and is currently serving a life sentence in prison.
Crown and defence lawyers are starting to select a 12 member jury with two alternates today. After 447 people were called upon, the number was whittled down to 116 yesterday. Those people were divided into five groups today and over the next two days will answer a series of questions from the lawyers before the final jury is selected.
It is expected that opening arguments in the trial will begin Monday morning.
Buses are cancelled in Oxford County this morning.
This includes buses that run from the county into London.
Buses for the Thames Valley District School Board, London District Catholic School Board and Service de transport Francobus have been cancelled.
East Oxford Public School and Zorra Highland Park Public School are closed in Oxford County due to the bus cancellations.
Waterloo Region buses are also cancelled which includes buses that transport students from East-Zorra Tavistock. Buses travelling into Stratford are running.
John Knox Christian School have cancelled buses and the school is closed today.
The LDCSB have postponed their gymnastics meet until Friday that was to be held in London today.
Over two days, the number has gone from 447 to 116 after the first stage of the jury selection in the Michael Rafferty trial.
Rafferty was charged with first degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and kidnapping after 8 year-old Victoria Stafford disappeared outside of her Woodstock school in April 2009. Victoria's remains were discovered in a remote area near Mount Forest three months later.
His co-accused, Terri-Lynne McClintic, is already facing a life sentence after pleading guilty in April 2010.
The remaining 116 people will be asked a series of questions by the Crown and Defence lawyers starting today as they select 12 jury members and two alternates.
It is expected that opening arguments in the trial will begin Monday morning.
Commuters could face some slick conditions on Wednesday morning, as a messy storm carrying freezing rain is set to hit the region.
Oxford, Brant, Perth, London-Middlesex and other areas are under a freezing rain warning with the system due to arrive overnight.
Environment Canada is calling for a sustained period of freezing rain, saying in its warning, "Freezing rain and some snow will begin spreading into Ontario overnight tonight. Ground temperatures are well below freezing and will combine with cold easterly winds to set the stage for freezing rain lasting 4 to 6 hours as the main precipitation band moves from west to east through the area Wednesday morning."
The freezing rain could lead to ice accumulation on roads and other surfaces, making for slick and potentially dangerous conditions.
Tune into John & Liz in the morning for full details on how the storm, and morning commute is shaping up.
That's what Hillside Kennels of Oxford County has been doing, on top of their usual collection of stray animals.
The dogs are part of the group of 42 that were removed from a property near Eastwood back in November.
Hillside Co-Owner Tracey Gibson says the dogs are doing better today. "The dogs are doing great, they've all gained weight. We had to take some of their collars off, because they were getting a little tight from the weight gain. They are all friendly dogs. Obviously some of them don't like being stuck in a cage. But there's nothing we can do about that."
That's because charges haven't been filed yet by the OSPCA. The dogs can't go back to the owner, and they can't be adopted until the case goes to court.
Until then, Gibson says they have an immediate need for food.
You can either drop it off at 786007 Township Road 6, or call (519) 469-3247.
Woodstock Mayor Pat Sobeski discusses an upcoming report on controlling methadone clinics in the city, ongoing budget deliberations and the naming of a new road.
The face of Dundas Street is going to look dramatically different later this year.
Heart FM has your first look at renderings of the new Transit Terminal that will be built in 2012.
As City Engineer Harold DeHaan explains, the project will wipe out the former Swiss Chalet building at Dundas and York St. "We'll be abandoning the road there, right beside Swiss Chalet, tearing down the building. We'll be building an island for the buses to come off of Dundas, circle there, park there. So there's no crossing the street for people that want to transfer from one bus to another. We'll be putting some signal lights on Dundas to help the buses turn in there, and some pedestrian signals to help people cross the road there."
The plans include a very small building for an office and washrooms for the drivers. An indoor public area has been ruled out of the plans. Still, there are a number of bus shelters, and room for 8 buses to park.
The total cost of the project is expected to hit 1.3-million dollars.
63 potential jurors have emerged from Day 1 of screening for the upcoming trail of Michael Rafferty.
Rafferty, who has been behind bars for nearly 3 years, faces charges of first degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault against 8-year-old Tori Stafford in April of 2009.
Some 224 men and women were screened on Monday with 63 moving on to the next stage later this week.
The selection of those potential jurors will continue today.
Rafferty's Lawyer, Dirk Derstine spoke with media briefly outside the London courthouse and says his client's state of mind is unchanged knowing he may be going to trial as soon as Monday. "You can only imagine if you were facing a case of this nature, of this magnitude and you were coming up to your trial day how you would feel and he is no different than anybody else."
Derstine says potential jurors selected still have appear before a jury panel, and will be asked a series of questions. The crown and defence will have to decide whether they are acceptable or not.
The trial for 31 year old Michael Thomas Rafferty may begin as soon as Monday March 5th.
Jury selection began today at the London courthouse for Rafferty who faces charges of first degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and kidnapping of 8 year old Tori Stafford.
More than 100 of the potential jurors appeared before Superior Court Justice Thomas Heeney this morning - each providing reasons why they could or could not act as a juror on the case.
Many explained to Heeney they would experience financial hardship if they were to partake in the trial that is expected to last well into June, while others provided medical reasons and were excused from Jury duty.
Dirk Derstine, one of the 3 Defence Counsel representing Rafferty, spoke to a swarm of reporters outside the courthouse prior to a court recess late this morning
"We want jurors who can independently and impartially assess the evidence in a proper way, so if somebody can't do it for one reason or another, then they probably shouldn't be jurors. It will be harder than usual to find a jury, but I'm, confident that will be able to find a fit and proper jury".
Jury selection continued this afternoon and will continue again tomorrow
Thirty-four men and women have been asked to return on Wednesday for the next stage of the jury selection.
Three people are facing charges after a chase in Woodstock Sunday afternoon.
Police were called around 1:30 in the afternoon to suspicious activity behind a Main St. business.
Police arrived, finding three suspects attempting to steal some metal products. Police also say the vehicle they were using, was a stolen Hyundai Elantra from Woodstock.
Two of the suspects fled, one of them was able to steal a Chevy Colorado from the Macs Milk parking lot at Dundas and Van Ave.
A chase ensued, through Woodstock, and out into the County.
OPP assisted, and the chase came to an end in the Village of Washington, where a spike belt flattened the tires of the getaway vehicle.
27-year-old David Levesque of Cambridge is charged with flight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, theft, assault with a weapon, and others.
19-year-old city residents Deidre Varga and Michael Silver are facing charges of theft and possession of stolen property.
The investigation will begin this morning when federal investigators arrive at the scene of a deadly Via Rail train derailment west of Toronto.
Three Via engineers, including a trainee, were killed yesterday when the Toronto-bound train left the tracks in Burlington while carrying 75 passengers from Niagara Falls.
Thirty-two passengers and another Via Rail employee were injured.
The deadly crash in Burlington will affect planned service leaving Woodstock today.
VIA Rail says Toronto-bound passengers on the Windsor-London route will be taking a bus instead.
Incoming traffic from Toronto will still be travelling by VIA train.
There's no timeline as to when full service will be restored.
Passengers can check on the status of their train by calling 1-888-VIA-RAIL (888-842-7245).
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor of East-Zorra-Tavistock are hoping to see light at the end of the tunnel for 80 long-term beds that are slated to move out of Tavistock's Bonnie Brae facility.
Don McKay and Maureen Ralph are meeting with Minister of Health Deb Mathews Monday morning while attending the ROMA/OGRA Conference in Toronto.
McKay says there will be a strong provincial presence at the conference with several other key players and he says they hope to get that message out there that Tavistock needs those long-term care beds to stay
"I don't think we'll get there by just doing nothing. We need to enable the private sector to do what they are willing, so let's make sure we get out of the way. We just need to not get caught in the Ministry approving that and then not approving something coming back".
McKay says they don't want to lose any beds in Tavistock or Oxford County over the 5 year time frame, but he says there may some give and take over the short term to get the results they want - to replace and upgrade their long-term care facilities.
Jury selection will begin in London tomorrow for the man accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering 8 year old Tori Stafford.
Pre-trial motions have been underway since January 16th where a publication ban has remained in place.
Once the jury is selected Superior Court Justice Thomas Heeney says he will allow the Jury to visit Mount Forest - the place where Tori's remains were found months after she disappeared from her Woodstock school in April of 2009.
Heeney will also allow the Crown and defence lawyers to ask jurors if they have been impacted by pre-trial publicity in the case.
The jury selection process is expected to take a few days.
An investigation is underway (2:40pm) into a crash that claimed two lives in Zorra Township this morning.
Oxford O.P.P. Constable Stacey Culbert says a straight axle feed truck and a pick-up truck collided before 10 o'clock this morning just north of Road #88 on the 37th Line .
Embro and Uniondale Firefighters and Perth County EMS were on scene, but the driver of the pick-up truck was pronounced dead at the scene.
The passenger from the pick up truck was transported to Stratford General Hospital with life threatening injuries where he died.
The driver of the feed truck was transported to hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released.
O.P.P.say both the north and southbound lanes of the the 37th Line between Road #88 and Road #92, will remain closed until late this afternoon.
Members from the O.P.P. Technical Traffic Collision investigators remain on scene.
Investigators are looking to speak with anyone who may have witnessed this collision and have not spoken to police.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oxford County OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
Tim Horton's roll up the win contest is off to a good start in its first week in Woodstock.
A Courtland woman rolled up her coffee cup last night at the Norwich Ave location and discovered she's won one of the 40 Toyota Hybrids available in the contest.
The woman's name has not been announced.
It's at least the 3rd straight year Oxford County has produced a roll up the rim grand prize winner. The east-end Dundas St. location in Woodstock won last year, and it was downtown Ingersoll rolling up a winner in 2010.
Ingersoll's Golf Club is hosting a job fair today.
They're looking to fill full and part time positions on the greens, servers, cooks and pro shop staff.
The job fair runs from 12 noon until 4pm located at 51 Holcroft St West in Ingersoll.
The club, was purchased by 42-year-old BrokerLink Insurance manager Darren DeDobbelaer in December after experiencing A declining membership, operational deficits and increased competition.
Ingersoll Golf and Country Club was formed in 1952 and currently has 265 members.
Umbrellas are of more use than shovels today as a large snowfall has failed to materialize over a big swath of southern Ontario.
Snowfall warnings have been cancelled in areas from Sarnia through to Belleville, including Oxford County.
Environment Canada had forecast up to 15 centimetres, and warned of a messy morning commute, but there was more rain and freezing rain than snow along that path.
Woodstock is part of the Safe Community Club in Canada.
The city has been announced as the 62nd designated city to be a "Safe Community".
The process began nearly a year ago, when interested stakeholders agreed, Woodstock should try to become a "Safe Community."
Toyota provided seed money of 25-thousand dollars and Woodstock's Police and Fire Chiefs took the lead roles as co-chairs of the committee.
Rod Freeman believes it will benefit the city in more ways than one. "Chief Tegler and I hope that Woodstock will be able to promote itself provincially and on a wide-spread basis as being a designated safe community, and hopefully that will make it inviting for businesses to locate to our community. And also for good, law-abiding families to come and reside in Woodstock and make this a healthier and happier community."
The committee has targeted three problem areas where citizens need to work to prevent injuries and deaths: falls, motor vehicle collisions and during sports and recreation.
There will be awareness campaigns around these issues in the months ahead.
Woodstock's Mayor is concerned the city could eventually lose out on their prized slot machine revenue.
The Ontario Government recently put Ontario's Horse Racing industry on notice that they are looking to claw back the 20 per cent slot revenue that the industry gets from the slots.
Pat Sobeski told city council during budget deliberations on Thursday night, he wouldn't be surprised to see the province come asking cities for their 5 per cent as well. "Certainly the government has indicated they are targeting it. It would be naive for me to say 'Oh, our portion won't be touched.'"
Woodstock collects around 1.2-million dollars a year. That money is currently earmarked to go to the Woodstock Hospital, the YMCA, Community Grants and road projects.
Sobeski says council needs to start thinking about how they would make up that shortfall.
Electro Motive workers in London are taking the deal.
The 465 workers overwhelmingly ratified a severance agreement today by 95 per cent.
The workers will get three weeks pay for each year worked at the train plant, plus a $1,500 signing bonus as well as future retraining opportunities.
As CAW Local 27 Recording Secretary Jim Kennedy tells Heart FM, the CAW will see the workers through to the next stage of their lives. "Part of our deal is an Action Centre, so we'll establish an Action Centre here at the local and we'll be running programs for the workers. Second career opportunities, that kind of thing. We have workshops tomorrow already scheduled for financial planning."
The CAW had promised to continue to block the plant until a deal was reached.
Following the ratification this afternoon, the site of the ongoing strike for the last 2-months had cleared out. (On right)
Oxford County will collect 1.58 per cent more in taxes this year.
The 2012 budget was passed last night, after councillors had lengthy discussions about a number of cuts and additions.
Council is asking staff to cut $250,000 from a consulting and training budget of 7.5-million. Staff will report back on where they can find those savings.
Added into the budget, is $137,000 to purchase a new ambulance.
Warden Don McKay says while the budget has been passed, new pressures on the budget can crop up at anytime, affecting future taxation.
A growing Princeton-area business is the latest recipient of a 250-thousand dollar federal loan.
Sedium Master is the latest Sandplains project.
Sedium grows green roofs and walls for a wide range of clientele according to President Greg Magda. "Corporate clients, homeowners, basically everybody and anybody that's got an interest in greening the environment. We've got a lot of clientele from national accounts to Mr. and Mrs. Jones the backyard gardener."
The new funding will help Sedium grow more inventory, and hire one full-time, two part-time and four seasonal workers.
Oxford MP Dave MacKenzie says this is a prototypical Sandplains project. "The Magda family did grow tobacco, so this is a natural transition. They're doing a great job and what they're doing is not only good for the local economy, but also the environment."
Among the benefits: Green roofs produce more oxygen, help absorb rain water that would otherwise find its way into the sewer system, and some green roofs even produce fruits and vegetables.
So far, 11-million dollars has been dolled out through the Sandplains Fund, creating around 250-jobs in the region.
General Manager of the Oxford Small Business Support Centre, Lance Pickering, says the beauty of these low interest loans, is they will continue to benefit local companies in the future. "All that money is going to come back in the form of interest and principle. So the money just keeps coming in, and we just keep lending it back out."
A Kitchener firefighter from Innerkip is being hailed a hero in Florida.
Nick Dorken happened to be at the scene of a firey crash in Ft. Myers, where a driver lost control of his car, jumped a curb and slammed into a light pole.
The vehicle burst into flames, and Dorken, who is on vacation, was able to pull the man from his burning wreckage.
The victim got away with minor burns, cuts and bruises.
A report on NBC-2 in Ft. Myers accounts the crash:
Family, friends and a community as a whole are mourning the sudden passing of an Ingersoll high school student.
15 year-old Nick Seguin suffered a head injury while skiing in Collingwood over the weekend. He succumbed to his injuries Monday at the Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto.
Seguin was a skilled skier; he was a certified ski instructor at Cobble Hills where he was also a member of their racing team.
Seguin, a grade 10 student at IDCI, is survived by his father, mother and two younger brothers.
A 45 year-old Barrie firefighter was also killed on the hills of Blue Mountain when he lost control and struck a tree Friday afternoon.
County council has passed its budget for 2012 at a 1.58% increase.
A number of factors included a lengthy discussion over how to decipher a multi residential tax ratio where rental properties are being converted to condos for lower tax rates.
Tillsonburg Mayor John Lessif raised concerns over the matter and expressed concern about the impact on the economy and business in both the commercial, residential and large industrial sectors.
Woodstock Mayor Pat Sobeski says he’s afraid of the “double implication” and impact on the city.
Warden Don McKay says planning and development are also factors to consider.
Tillsonburg Mayor John Lessif suggested to council to add $100,000 to Oxford Tourism.
Other Council Members agreed the suggestion is a good idea and will ask Oxford Tourism Specialist Cathy Bingham to develop a business plan and present it to council at a future meeting.
Lessif says the money will not have an effect on the over all County levy of just under $50,000,000.
Oxford Emergency Services Manager Joe Pember has suggested to purchase a new ambulance at $137,000 in the 2012 budget year and forward the same amount to reserves for future purchases due to aging emergency vehicles.
It wasn't like taking candy from a baby when it came to stealing from Foodland.
Woodstock Police say on Tuesday, store security spotted a man hiding some candy in his coat.
He was arrested by security outside the store, but the suspect put up a struggle and broke free. He was re-arrested nearby on Kent St., where police arrived to help in the arrest.
25-year-old Leo Belmore is charged with theft, assault with intent to resist arrest, escaping lawful custody and uttering threats to cause bodily harm.
Woodstock Police are reporting more victims to a couple of on-going scams.
There's been numerous calls to local residents from someone claiming to be with Microsoft, claiming they have to remotely access your computer to fix it.
A local woman recently fell for this scam, and the suspects that conned their way into her computer, could have obtained key financial information.
Police are reminding people not to give out personal information or computer log-ins over the phone. They say if you receive a call claiming your computer is infected with a virus, it is a scam.
There's also a "Mystery Shopper Scam" making the rounds. It involves the victim receiving a cheque and assignment to purchase items from retailers. They are then asked to send funds to Western Union account numbers. The initial cheque turns out to be false, and the victim is out the money they sent.
A Woodstock man is facing charges after a woman was robbed at an ATM.
Monday night, just before 8 o'clock, police say a woman was using a bank machine at the Bank of Montreal on Dundas St. when she was approached by a man demanding money.
She put up a struggle, but the man made with with some cash. The woman received minor injuries, but refused treatment.
On Tuesday, police arrested 29-year-old Richard Addley Jr. of Woodstock. He's been charged with Robbery with Violence and Breach of Probation.
Posted about three months ago by The Canadian Press
Honda is recalling 2,790 Honda Odyssey vans in Canada as part of a larger recall because the rear doors can fall on people unexpectedly _ and have on at least two occasions in the U.S.
The problem affects minivans from the 2008 and 2009 model years that have power lift gates.
The carmaker is recalling nearly 46,000 Odyssey minivans in the United States.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website that gas can leak out of the struts that support the lift gates and the doors could close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury.
Honda says the problem has caused two minor injuries and that the company will replace both power liftgate struts for free.
The company says it will send letters to van owners next month with instructions about the recall.
The pending closure of Tavistock's Bonnie Brae Retirement Home has reached the floor of the Ontario Legislature.
Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman presented a petition on Tuesday, during politicians first day back, signed by hundreds of local residents.
The petition calls for the 80 beds that are closing in Tavistock in 2014, to be kept in Oxford County. The operator of Bonnie Brae is closing the facility in 2014, with plans to move those beds to a facility in London.
Hardeman explains why this is an issue for the province. "To let the Director and the Minister know the community support to keep the beds in Oxford. I've met with the Minister, the Director and Executive Director of the LHIN to put forward the people's position. It's important to put these petitions in the legislature so the whole Ministry actually knows the position of the people."
Hardeman says ideally, he would like to see another long term care home operator submit a proposal to assume the 80 beds at a new facility, somewhere in the County. Hardeman says he will keep the issue in the forefront, and will bring more petitions forward in the future.
Health Canada says consumers should get rid of two toy sets sold in Canada because they contain excessive amounts of lead -- the Pizza Playset and the Fishing Game.
Both items were manufactured (by Ningbo Ftz Zhengbao International Trading Company Ltd.) in China.
Health Canada says children can end up with harmful amounts of lead in their systems if they chew, suck on or swallow toys with lead that exceeds allowable limits.
Serious health effects can include anemia, vomiting, diarrhea, serious brain injury, convulsions, coma, as well as effects related to the liver, kidneys, heart and immune system.
In extreme cases, lead poisoning can result in death.
Police continue to hammer home the message against distracted driving.
35 total charges were laid in Oxford County in an OPP blitz last week against drivers not paying attention to the road.
31 distracted driving charges were laid, along with 4 careless driving charges that police say were distraction related.
Unless you're cellphone is hands-free, police are urging drivers, to pull over to send a text or make a call.
The fine for distracted driving is $155, but if the case is serious enough, it can fall under careless driving where fines escalate and demerit points are issued.
About 40-45 full and part time jobs are up for grabs in the friendly city.
Sportchek is holding a 2-day job fair that began at the Woodstock Community Complex this (Tues) morning.
The company is looking to hire a Department Sales Manager, Service Shop Technicians, full and part time sales associates, cashiers and everything in between.
Sportchek is setting up shop on Norwich Ave in the city's south end with an anticipated opening sometime in March.
The job fair will run until 6 o'clock tonight and again on Wednesday from 10AM until 6PM.
Theatre Woodstock is celebrating some award wins in this year's Western Ontario Theatre Festival.
Winners were announced on Sunday, and Woodstock's production of "Proof" this month, won three awards and two specially created awards.
"Proof" won technical awards for "Best Sound Design" and "Best Visual Production".
Tony Harding won "Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role".
Dominique Kamras won a special acting award, and the entire troupe was given a special award by the WODL adjudicator.
Producer Bonnie Hartley hopes the wins will help boost future attendance at Theatre Woodstock. "This show, sadly, didn't have as many people seeing it as the first two shows of the season. Part of that was the time of year, February, and because it was a drama, it maybe doesn't have the same appeal. But certainly, Theatre Woodstock does amazing work, and we always have, so this is hopefully a reminder to people to come out and see other shows. We have two more coming up this season."
The awards come from a pool of over 30 productions in the region.
The awards ceremony will take place on March 17th in Sarnia.
Transportation is the focus of new work ahead in Woodstock this year.
The city's capital budget plans have been tabled, showing 14.3-million dollars in total spending.
That includes 3.3-million for road resurfacing, and a new downtown transit terminal are among the big ticket items.
But thanks to some accounting magic, the city may actually only borrow 900-thousand dollars to finance all that new work.
City CAO David Creery says the new downtown transit terminal will be paid for entirely without hitting property taxes. "We're showing it being fully funded by external sources...ranging from provincial dedicated gas tax to federal gas tax to historical transit grant funding and other one-time provincial grants."
City Council still has to pass the budget at a future meeting.
But as Creery points out, there are other concerns that are not being addressed in the capital budget. "Replacement of aging facilities. We've also identified Lions Pool being 65-years-old, Civic Centre Arena at 45-years-old, they're starting to reach ages that we should be looking at facilities to replace them."
Creery says those issues will be addressed as the city undertakes a new strategic plan in the next year.
The list of roads slated for reconsruction:
Bowerhill Road - Mill St. to City Limits
Victoria St. North - Canterbury to Edward
Victoria St. South - Devonshire to Grant
Lyndale Crescent - Sprucedale to Dunvegan
George St. - Wellington to Huron
Cromwell St. - Bellgrave to Clarke
Pittock Park Road - Hwy 59 to Frederick
Marshall Crescent
Riddell St. - Ingersoll to Hunter
Banks, schools and provincial government offices are closed and public transportation in many cities is running on a holiday schedule.
All L-C-B-O and Beer stores are also shut, as are public libraries.
It's set to be a great day for outdoor activities though -- Environment Canada predicts sun and clear skies with above-zero temperatures for most of the province, including Oxford County.
A former nightlife hot spot in Woodstock is being redeveloped.
The new owner of the former "Zoo" property, beside the VIA Station on Henry St. spoke with Heart FM this week to talk about the plans for the property.
Brea Smith says it will be called "Station III", featuring three different functions in the same business.
It will feature a Classic Grille and Bar with Portuguese fare, an "Entertainment Lounge" to host evening events, like dinner theatre.
And Smith says it will also operate as a "Professional Lounge".
Smith says the plans are still in the early stages, but she expects to open it in the next year.
Smith would not comment on the dollar figure of the investment at this time.
Posted about three months ago by Canadian Press and Ashley DeGroote
Demonstrators at a rally in Toronto have called for an inquiry into the crash that killed migrant workers near Stratford earlier this month.
Ten workers, most of them from Peru, died after their van went through a stop sign and was hit by a truck. The truck driver was also killed.
The demonstrators marched from the chief coroner's office in downtown Toronto to the Ministry of Labour last week, demanding action to protect migrant farm workers' rights.
The Norwich Merchants tied up their Niagara Junior C semi final series at one game a piece with a 2-1 win over the Simcoe Storm. Game 3 of the series goes Wednesday in Norwich, game time is 7:30.
The Public Works Department has requested county council approve a water/wastewater connection from the Highway 401 Ingersoll Service Centre to the newly constructed sewage forcemain in Ingersoll.
Director Rob Walton says the sewage pumping station infrastructure is already in place.
"The infrastructure along Clarke Road and County Road 6 in the 401 corridor is already in place for this to happen, so the design was already contemplated and already built into everything we did."
Council approved the project that's expected to be completed in the spring.
Walton says so far 14 of the 23 service centres have been redeveloped so far - including the Woodstock Service Centre, with the remaining sites being redeveloped as exisiting leases expire.
The 'Christians of Woodstock' has formed its first ever interdenominational conference.
Montreal's Executive Director of Christian Direction Dr. Glenn Smith is the keynote speaker that's hosted by the Inner Presbyterian Church.
Program Director for Woodstock's Youth Unlimited Dave Steenburg, explains its vision:
"the motivation behind it is the sense that there really is one mission. It doesn't matter what church you go to or what denomination you belong to".
"There's one mission - it's transforming the community. It's bring hope where there is no hope. Shining light where light has been hard to find. That's what the church is called to do".
On Friday night Tim Hicks shared his story about being rescued from alcoholism and Linda Jacklyn shared her story of drug addiction.
The cost of today's conference is $20 that includes a hot brunch.
Youth 18 and under are half price.
For tickets call Dave Steenburg at 519-537-8080, or purchase tickets directly at the Christian Armoury, the Little Book Shoppe, Open Sky Bike Co-op, Red Thistle, the UPS Store, and Arlene's Caribbean Cuisine.
Two men were hospitalized in a fight in downtown Woodstock this morning.
Police were called at close to 2AM after a fight broke out at a downtown establishment.
A 29-year-old man had been hit over the head with a bottle of beer and a glass of beer. The fight moved outside as friends of the victim held the suspect until police arrived.
The victim was taken to Woodstock Hospital for treatment of head injuries. He was treated and released.
19-year-old Zach Redmond is charged with assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace.
Redmond suffered injuries of his own while he was being held by the victims' friends, and had to be treated in hospital.
The City Engineer says there's nothing wrong with $9000 hydro bills at Cowan Park's Complex, and the Woodstock Police Budget tabled at a 4.4% increase, despite no major upgrades.
The fight or a fair severance deal for over 450 workers is taking longer than expected.
Talks between the CAW Local 27, and Caterpillar have been extended.
A vote was expected to be taken today on a package, but language issues in the deal are still being worked on.
Talks are expected to continue on Sunday, with a vote now planned for Tuesday.
The agreement would provide some temporary financial relief for the over 450 workers who have lost their jobs in the closure of London's Electro Motive Plant.
The Woodstock Soccer Club is requesting another 75-thousand dollars from the city this year, to help offset operational costs at the new Cowan Park facility.
The Soccer Club raised some alarm this week by writing a letter to city council, saying based on their $8000-$9000 hydro bills, there may be a "serious fault with the design of the mechanical components".
City engineer Harold DeHann says the city will make some minor tweeks to the building, but there's nothing seriously wrong. "We are looking into it, we found there's some systems that weren't being operated properly, or being maintained properly. So that's been correct. There's nothing major wrong with the building, it's a good, solid building."
By comparison, DeHaan says the Community Complex in Woodstock budgets around 22-thousand dollars per month for Hydro. But he says that accounts for the ice pads and a larger facility. He believes the current hydro bills at the Cowan Park building aren't out of the ordinary.
The building is owned by the city, but operated by the soccer club.
502-dollars a year, or 41-dollars a month for the average house hold.
That's how much money the 2012 police budget will cost city residents. The budget was unveiled on Thursday before Woodstock City Council.
The projected police budget is 12.2-million dollars, which is up from last year 4.4 per cent.
Chief Rod Freeman believes this number isn't unreasonable for 24 hour police services. Freeman added, "Police responded to over 16 thousand calls in 2011, that indicates to me that we are providing a very trusting service."
Most of the budget goes to salary and benefits, which is decided by an arbitrator.
The project budget doesn't increase the number of officers, nor will any new vehicles be purchased in the upcoming year.
Council voted to defer passing the budget to February 22.
Ontario Provincial Police have been called in to investigate ORNGE, the province's troubled air ambulance service.
Police investigators are looking into possible criminal activities on the part of the air ambulance service.
Government officials who were sent in to look at ORNGE's books have asked police to probe some "financial irregularities.''
Here's what Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman has to say about the scandal today. "All I can say: it's about time. This has been coming out in dribs and drabs for a number of months now. It's become quite obvious that things have been happening there that just aren't appropriate with government dollars."
Health Minister Deb Matthews cleaned house at the agency last month, turfing the entire board of directors. She replaced CEO Chris Mazza, who was paid $1.4 million a year.
The City may have to come to the rescue of the new Cowan Park Complex once again.
A late addition to the city council agenda this week is a letter from the Woodstock Soccer Club, who are operating the facility.
They're asking for 75-thousand dollars this year to help with operational costs, that include some jaw-dropping hydro bills.
December's hydro bill was over 9100-dollars, January's wasn't much better at 8100-dollars.
The city's Engineering Office is working with the Soccer Club to try and get to the bottom of the excessive bills, but in its note to council, the Soccer Club fears there may be a "serious fault with the design of the mechanical components of the facility."
Keep tuned to Heart FM for reaction to this story.
Power tools and gasoline are the target of thieves in the Thamesford area.
Oxford OPP say they are investigating a rash of break-ins of out buildings and sheds between February 8th and 10th.
In total, 8 sheds have been hit with a number of items being taken. Police believe the suspect or suspects are using a vehicle to get from home to home and in one case, used a garage door opener that was left in an unlocked vehicle.
A contractor's trailer was also broken into at a home under construction on Road #68 where all of the power tools in the trailer and home were stolen.
Police are reminding the public to lock their doors and keep a watchful eye out for suspicious activity and when in doubt, call and have Police check it out (Crime Stoppers 1-888-222-TIPS).
With a wintery mix on the way for southern Ontario, Environment Canada has issued a freezing rain warning.
In its warning, the weather agency says, "A low pressure system over Oklahoma will head towards Southern Ontario tonight. Precipitation will begin in southwestern regions overnight and likely start as freezing rain or snow then change to rain by early Thursday morning."
The forecast calls for a low of -3 tonight with a mix of freezing rain and snow.
At some point on Thursday morning, that mix will change to rain, and by the afternoon, we'll hit a high of plus 6.
Highway 19 has now been re-opened (5:19PM), after a crash that claimed one life.
Oxford OPP say around 9:30 this morning, after a cube van collided head-on with a transport truck.
So far in the investigation - OPP Constable Stacey Culbert says all that can be released at this point is the driver who died at the scene is that of an adult male. "It's a sad time. Somebody has lost their life today and we're just trying to do due diligence here and make sure the investigation is done and complete."
Culbert says the investigation continues to determine how it happened.
It's being called a "profoundly gloomy" outlook on Ontario's financial situation.
The former TD Bank economist Don Drummond has released his 362 point plan that he says must be followed for Ontario to prevent plunging into a debt crisis like Greece.
Among the measures affecting the majority of Ontarians are: bigger class sizes, higher electricity and water bills and making seniors pay for prescription drugs.
Drummond says the province needs to cut program spending by 16.2% for every man, woman and child.
Among the measures in the report:
HEALTH
-Cap growth of health-care spending at 2.5 per cent each year to 2017-18
-Increase the use of home-based care
-Make the portion of pharmaceutical costs paid for by seniors rise more sharply as income increases
-No increase in total compensation for Ontario's doctors, the best paid in the country
EDUCATION
-Cap growth in primary and secondary education spending at one per cent each year to 2017-18
-Cap growth in post-secondary education spending at 1.5 per cent each year to 2017-18
-Cancel the full-day kindergarten program, or delay full implementation from 2014-15 to 2017-18
-Increase the average class size from 22 to 24 in Grades 9 to 12 and from 24.5 to 26 in Grades 4 to 8
-Set the cap in class size at 23 in primary grades and eliminate the other requirement that 90 per cent of classes must be 20 or fewer
OTHER
-Cap growth in social services spending at 0.5 per cent each year to 2017-18
-Decrease program spending in all other areas by 2.4 per cent each year to 2017-18
-Higher water bills to recover the full cost of water and wastewater services
-Begin charging for parking at GO Transit parking lots
-Eliminate the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit "as quickly as possible''
-Consider having security providers take over police officers' "non-core'' duties
-Close one of the two casinos in Niagara Falls and one of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation's two head offices
Discount retailer Target is partnering with Starbucks to bring coffee shops into its new Canadian stores.
Starbucks will be opening in the majority of its up to 135 Target stores.
Target plans to open its first Canadian stores in 2013, however, the Woodstock Zellers is not one of those chosen locations, and faces an uncertain future.
The discount retailer also has a deal with Sobey's to supply grocery items in its stores.
In today's edition: One person pronounced dead after a head-on collision on Highway 19 this morning, and the uncertain future of horse racing in Ontario.
5 people are facing charges after a drug bust in Woodstock.
The Woodstock Police Criminal Intelligence and Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a search warrant at a James St. address overnight.
Facing charges for possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking are Woodstock residents: 37-year-old Linda James, 20-year-old Justin Morris, a 17-year-old young offender, and 19-year-old Brodie Walsh of Brantford.
19-year-old Matt Deboer of Woodstock is also charged with drug possession.
Police seized crack cocaine, marijuana and cash worth 3-thousand dollars.
One life has been taken after a horrific crash this morning in Southwest Oxford.
Oxford OPP, Southwest Oxford Fire crews, and Oxford EMS are currently at the scene on Airport Road and highway 19 just north of Coyles Country Store.
OPP Constable Stacey Culbert tells Heart FM Police are at the very early stages in the investigation
" we can't speculate as to how the crash has occurred, however we do have a serious fatal collision here today. The report came in to Oxford OPP at about 9:30 this morning. We have a van and a tractor trailer unit involved. We do know at this point the tractor trailer was southbound and the van was northbound when the collision occurred."
Culbert says says traffic is being re-routed with road closures in effect at highway 19 and Prouse Road and at highway 19 and Airport Road.
The closures will remain in effect for at least 4 hours.
Ontario's horse racing industry is feeling the heat as the province looks to find ways to eliminate the deficit.
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan made a comment earlier this week, that the province could repeal a horse racing "subsidy".
Horse racing gets a 20 per cent share of slot machine revenues at their racetracks, which amounts to $345-million per year.
General Manager of the Ontario Harness Horse Association Brian Tropea fears what losing that money would mean for the industry. "It would be a devastating blow to the industry, as a matter of fact, I predict it would be the end of horse racing as we know it."
Tropea believes by just making the suggestion, Duncan has caused enough uncertainty to affect the industry. He says people are making decisions now about whether to breed their mares in Ontario to produce offspring that wouldn't be ready to race for another 3-years by the time they are born and trained.
Tropea tells Heart FM that would mean the loss of thousands of jobs and economic impact. "There's 65,000 direct and in-direct jobs. Going back to the "subsidy" comment, if horse racing goes away, Dwight Duncan is truly going to understand what "subsidizing" horse racing means. Because these people will not be able to find jobs and he's truly going to be subsidizing them."
Tropea takes issue with Duncan calling the slot revenues a "subsidy" for horse racing. He says that money was designated to help rural Ontario when the deal was first struck 12-years-ago to pair live horse racing with slot machines.
There are 17 race tracks in the province with slot machines, including the Woodstock Raceway.
Duncan made the comment this week, as the province awaits today's release of the Drummond Report. The report by former T-D Bank economist Don Drummond will offer 362 recommendations on how the province can reduce costs.
Woodstock is on the verge of implementing a by-law to crack down on false alarm calls.
The Woodstock Fire Department responds to an average of 250 false alarms every year, the majority from industrial and institutional facilities.
As Woodstock Mayor Pat Sobeski explains, a by-law has been drafted to begin cracking down on the repeat offenders. "When it's a fire false alarm, three vehicles go out automatically. And so there's an expense to that, especially if it's going to the same place on a false alarm. So over a 12-month period, companies will be allowed two false alarms."
Then they'll receive a notice that if they don't correct their alarm issues, they will be fined 600-dollars for a third offense. The fines even escalate to 900 and 1200-dollars for a fourth and fifth offense.
The Ministry of Transportation estimates it costs fire departments 410-dollars per hour per vehicle in responding to an incident.
City Council can approve the false alarm by-law on Thursday night.
Woodstock Mayor Pat Sobeski talks about upcoming budget presentations,
a new False Alarm By-Law, and the city is not likely to join pooled insurance with the County.
A truck driver escaped any injuries after colliding with a train in Ingersoll Monday night.
OPP say around 8PM, a CN train was reversing slowly at the Thomas Street crossing when a transport truck hit the train.
There was minimal damage to the enclosed car carrier, however the trailer being hauled by the truck had to be towed from the scene.
There were no injuries reported and no charges were laid.
Police say there are no lights or gate at the crossing.
Police remind motorists to slow down at all railroad crossings with special exception to those in rural/remote area where emergency lights are not present.
Ingersoll Town Council may have a case of CAT-scratch fever.
They're catching heat from the CAW Local 88 and Oxford Regional Labour Council, who are demanding council not approve the purchase of a Caterpillar-built back hoe.
The tender for a new back-hoe with snowblade came in with CAT holding the lowest bid at 89-thousand dollars.
This, as union officials are still seething over Caterpillar's closure of London's Electro Motive Plant this month, putting over 450 CAW workers out of a job, including 16 from Ingersoll.
However, council's purchasing by-law mandates the town take the lowest bid on a project, as long as it meets all the specifications.
After hearing presentations from the local union, and mindful of a CAT representative watching from the gallery, council opted to defer making a decision.
They'll revisit the issue at next month's meeting.
Ingersoll's Town Council will be faced with a challenge during their regular town hall meeting by members of CAW Local 88 tonight.
Chair Mike Van Boekel and President Dan Borthwick got word of the possibility of the town purchasing equipment manufactured by Caterpillar - a company they want nothing to do with
"there's 16 people directly related to that plant that are now out of a job and probably a few others from the spin-offs, so even though it's in London it's already in your backyard immediately".
The recommendation came from the Public Works Department who was recommending the lowest bid from Toromont CAT for the supply of a 2012 Caterpillar Backhoe Loader.
Van Boekel and Borthwick say they will strongly demand that the recommendation be defeated.
Van Boekel says the CAW would rather see the town purchase a John Deere back hoe loader despite the added $2300.00 expense.
CAW Local 88 says the town of Ingersoll needs to send a clear message that they need to support Canadian Jobs and the citizens of the Town Of Ingersoll - many who lost their jobs through the closing of London's Electro Motive Diesel Plant weeks ago.
A final severance deal may be reached before weeks end between CAW workers of London's Electro Motive and Caterpillar.
Local 27 Union President Tim Carrie says the two sides will meet Thursday at the Marconi Club in London's east end for a possible vote on a deal.
Caterpillar have been in discussions with Union Officials over outstanding grievances and have agreed to bargain a closure deal Wednesday.
Carrie says details on the deal will not be discussed until member approval.
Nearly 500 unionized members of Electro Diesel were locked out midnight on New Year's Eve after rejecting an offer by Caterpillar that would cut wages in half and affect benefits and pensions.
Woodstock's Public Library is adapting to the change taking place in the world of on-line reading.
With the growing popularity of e-readers, the Library has been able to tap into that market, and actually grow their attendance.
Library CEO Gary Baumbach says attendance was up 27% last year, from 286-thousand to over 363-thousand visits. That's an average of over 1000 visits a day.
Baumbach explains why he thinks the Library is still popular in the electronic age. "We find in a virtual world people like to be alone with their devices, together. People don't like to be alone, alone. People are looking for that shared experience and the building itself is just so beautiful. It's just a really nice environment to read, to explore, to whatever."
Baumbach says good customer service is also important. The Library continues to expand its programming, including a drop-in program that teaches new users how to use their e-readers to upload content from the Library. "We have a product called Overdrive. It allows you to download books onto their various readers. It's been really popular. We work with our customers so that they learn what's required to do it, and to maximize the benefit of our collections. We see those collections expanding in the future, but at this point, we've got content and people are coming to us."
More details on the Library and its programs can be found here.
PC Leader Tim Hudak didn't have much of a problem regaining voter confidence at their party's convention in Niagara Falls over the week-end.
Hudak managed to gain nearly 78% of the vote of the more than 1200 ballots cast.
Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman says it was a positive convention with a near record turnout and, he says, now it's time to keep the momentum going and put the pressure on
" jobs in the economy are the number one issues in the province of Ontario and the present Government though they have been talking the game about trying getting the deficit under control and creating jobs; but in fact their spending has gone up dramatically since the election and there seems to be no end in sight to how they can spend money, but not create an economy and encourage investment".
Hardeman says Hudak 'does' have the potential to become Premier - providing he comes out with the direction and the leadership that will take the PC's out of the challenge they presently face in Ontario.
The Fusion Youth Centre is up for a prestigious provincial award.
They are a finalist for a "People's Choice" Award through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
They've been nominated for the Professional Recording Studio that the Youth are using to create their own music.
Youth Centre Manager Jason Smith says "within that People's Choice Award, out of the 4,500 organizations that were eligible for that award, 18 were nominated; we were one of those organizations to be nominated within that award. We're pretty excited; we're actually going to go to the on-line voting system that they have set up for that and whoever garners the most actually wins that award".
People can vote in this on-line contest once per hour from now until the end of the month.
And they're encouraging everyone to cast as many votes as they can all month long.
Place your vote for the Fusion Youth Centre by clicking here.
Posted about three months ago by The Canadian Press
Singer Whitney Houston is dead at the age of 48.
Beverly Hills police say her body was found yesterday afternoon in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton hotel.
Detectives are investigating, but police say there were no obvious signs of any criminal intent.
Houston died just hours before her mentor and music executive Clive Davis was to hold his annual pre-Grammy concert and dinner.
And her death is sure to cast a heavy pall on today's Grammy Awards, a music industry showcase where she once reigned.
She won multiple Grammys including album and record of the year.
Houston reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behaviour and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown.
Among her hits were ``How Will I Know,'' ''Saving All My Love for You`` and ''I Will Always Love You.``
Her success carried her beyond music to movies like ``The Bodyguard.''
The Reverand Al Sharpton says he'll call for a national prayer Sunday morning during a service at Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles.
He says ``The morning of the Grammys, the world should pause and pray for the memory of a gifted songbird.''
It appears the city of Woodstock has not been rid of coyotes.
Woodstock Police say they've received reports of a coyote seen running in the northeast end of the city early Saturday morning.
There there were 3 more sightings believed to be the same animal that were spotted near Lansdowne and Springbank, Cardinal and Oriole and again at Seagrave and Housers Lane.
Police warn the public not approach the stray animals who have unpredictable behaviour.
Police say February is mating season for the dog-like animals making them more visible.
If you see a coyote in your area you're asked to call Woodstock Police.
Posted about three months ago by Adam J. Nyp & Blair Wilson
An impressive milestone has been reached in the battle against Polio.
Rotarians worldwide have raised more than 1-billion dollars to try and eradicate the disease that's still prevalent in a handful of countries.
Local Rotarian, Peter Stam says many people are surprised to find out local efforts are still being made on this front
"some people are totally surprised that polio is still around in the world. They have no idea because it's really not that relevant in Canada that we are still trying to raise money for polio".
Stam says in a today's world, Polio is only a plane ride away from resurfacing in Canada, thus the need to eradicate the disease for good.
Money raised through Rotary goes towards the purchase of vaccines that cost 65-cents per dose.
Woodstock's Transit may be getting a new lead hand.
City Engineer Harold DeHaan presented his proposed 2012 Revenue budget
that would include a Transit Supervisor.
If approved by city council, the position would come with a cost of $44,000 for the 2012 budget and $ 95,000 for 2013.
DeHaan says the new position will be responsible for employee scheduling, organizing Para Transit routes, maintaining the fleet, MTO paperwork and personnel issues
among others
"...budget issues, you know making sure the right supplies are there...It's kind of broken up between a number of people right now and it would all be housed into one.
To be honest it reflects the structure that's in the rest of the other departments right now also where a Superintendent looks over the Supervisors who look over the union personnel".
An emergency road closure remains in place at the railway crossing on Norwich Avenue and Wilson Street this morning.
Both north and southbound lanes are closed due to a broken crossing arm that was hit by a driver overnight.
Woodstock Police Staff Sgt. Sweezey says Canadian National Railway advises the crossing will remain closed until at least 2 o'clock this afternoon, then at that point, city crews will move in and remove any build up of snow, so you can expect delays in that area.
Again, that's the Wilson street railway crossing closed in both directions until 2pm.
A CN Representative has been called in to assess the damage.
The one year anniversary of Woodstock's Victoria Street fire and explosion is fast approaching, but still no word on on a cause of the horrific fire that claimed the lives of 73 year old Margaret Gillett and 79 year old Bill Watmough.
Woodstock Fire Chief Scott Tegler says he has recently spoken with the lead investigator in the case, but the fire/explosion remains a big question mark in many people minds.
Tegler says the Ontario Fire Marshall's lengthy investigation is not unusual in cases such as the 168 Victoria Street fire
" This is a higher profile situation that occurred, but for any other fire that we investigate of significant nature where we have to call the (OFM) Ontario Fire Marshall in it's not uncommon for their investigation report to take well over a year before we see it".
Tegler says the Woodstock Fire Department would like to see some answers as well, but they respect the OFM's due diligence in their investigation as they eliminate all potential yes, no or maybe's before coming to a determination.
The Royal Road Ravens celebrated their official rededication ceremony on Friday.
The new school merged students from Princess Anne and Victory Memorial to a school of close to 400.
The renovations cost close to 6-million dollars. Some of the new features included a new gym, more class rooms, and a general arts room.
The celebration featured the primary choir singing the song "We can make a difference", which received a huge applause from the crowd.
Principal Anne Marie Luce said, "We have extremly strong parental support and I was overwhelmed by the response by people being here with us today."
She added "It just speaks to how important the school is in the community."
Director of Education for the Thames Valley District School Board, Bill Tucker was in attendance, and he thanked the school community and town of Ingersoll for all their support.
Tucker engaged the students by asking them how the school has improved and some of the responses included: new friends, air conditioning and as a joke...better teachers.
That was one of the songs preformed by the junior choir at Friday's rededication ceremony at Harrisfield public school.
The school merged Harris Heights, Victory Memorial, and Westfield public schools into one school with over 450 students this year.
There is a new gym, stage, activity room, and learning support room.
The junior choir sang two songs, and there was a video presentation which featured John Lennon's hit song Imagine which was a big hit with the crowd.
Also in attendance was Thames Valley District School Board Director of Education Bill Tucker who called the event "A real reflection of Ingersoll and the commitment of education."
Tucker also engaged the students by showing them a secret hand symbol which represented a Falcon, which is the school's mascot.
Woodstock Police are investigating an attempted robbery at the J&P Variety on Ingersoll Ave.
Around 10 p.m. Thursday, two males entered the store and approached the female clerk. One male threw a backpack onto the counter and demanded cash while pointing a knife at the clerk. She screamed, alerting a male employee who was working in the back. When he entered the store front, the two suspects fled on foot.
They were last seen running west across Riddell Street and witnesses did report seeing two males getting into a vehicle similar to a Chrysler Intrepid.
Police are now looking for two white males, approximately 18-20 years old, 5'7" to 5'8" with thin builds, roughly 160 lbs.
The first male was wearing a grey hoodie, a red and black lumber jacket, black pants, black shoes with green laces and white soles.
The second had on a bright blue ski jacket, white or grey hoodie, black pants and black shoes with white soles.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call Woodstock Police at 519-537-2323 or Crime Stoppers at 519-421-TIPS/800-222-TIPS.
The early flow sheet on the Woodstock Art Gallery is a pleasant surprise for city councillors.
Budget deliberations continued on Thursday night, with council learning the new Art Gallery's operating expenses are balancing out with new revenues coming in the door.
Acting Curator Patricia Deadman says the larger class sizes are paying off. "Class sizes have doubled and tripled in some cases. They've been full. And our numbers will increase, as we had to cancel some summer programs (during the move to the new building), so you'll see a significant increase this coming summer."
Revenues are up 55-thousand dollars, while operating expenses are up 60-thousand at the Art Gallery.
Woodstock Mayor Pat Sobeski seemed to change his tone on the outlook of the new Gallery. "I think we have a realistic expense line to deal with, and we're also seeing growing revenues. So it's a budget, as far as I'm concerned, is trending in the right direction."
However, not all councillors are happy with what the city is now investing on the Cultural side. Councillor Paul Plant still feels the city's cultural assets need to make more money. "Look at what we're spending on culture compared to other areas, and what that comparable service is outside of the community. Stratford supports their Art Gallery with 40-thousand dollars of taxpayer money, that's considerably less that we do. I'm not saying we should be at 40...but I'm saying we have to get that blend between revenue and tax dollars...it has to be more balanced than it is now."
New Cultural Director for the city, Karen Houston, made a request for two new part-time staff. A Custodian to split time between the Museum and Art Gallery, and an Installation Officer for putting up and taking down new exhibits at the Art Gallery.
Houston says with the Gallery has averaged 70 visitors per day, and there's a lot to clean at the new Gallery. "Lots of glass, lots of chrome, definitely more bathrooms than they've had in the past. These are things that all need more cleaning."
When the United Way of Oxford arrived at the Quality Hotel & Suites Thursday night to announce their 2011 campaign total, they never expected the surprise that awaited them.
Executive Director Kelly Gilson, along with the assistance of Campaign Chair Steve Halyk and Board of Directors President Sharon Dykstra, revealed that $1,083,30.00 was raised in the 2011 campaign; coming in just shy of their $1.1 million goal.
Little did they know that Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) wanted to ensure their goal was reached.
Ricardo DeSouza, General Manager of TMMC Woodstock and United Way Board Member, says when the senior management learned of the gap between the campaign goal and total raised, they wanted to eliminate it; “when the gap was identified to our Toyota members today when it came in, our senior management made it happen. This really exemplifies the Toyota commitment to our community. They really closed the gap”.
After the reveal, members from TMMC stepped up placing pieces of paper over the original totals to show a new total of $1,100,000.
Gilson said she “so didn't see that coming! We've worked with so many through the Fall to get to 1.1 (million dollars) and we really were so close and we were celebrating that because it was a tough year and close was great. But then to have TMMC step up to actual ensure we hit goal was such a great surprise this evening”.
Halyk, who has acted as the Campaign Chair for two years said his time as Chair has been great and he has had an unbelievable amount of support. He said the experience has been “heartwarming”.
According to Gilson, volunteers have already started allocating the dollars, meeting with Member Agencies and reviewing applications. She says they are also working on some other community initiatives.
Through the night, awards were handed out to a number of businesses, organizations and individuals to recognize them for efforts in helping the United Way of Oxford reach their goal. Here is a full list of the winners from the 2011 Campaign Touchdown Celebration:
Three men from the GTA have been busted with counterfeit money in Woodstock.
One of the men tried to purchase a gift card at Wal-Mart Wednesday afternoon with a phony 100-dollar bill.
The man was told the transaction couldn't be made and he left the store.
The store manager called police, and they arrived, seizing $3000 in Canadian currency, $1000 in counterfeit American bills, and gift cards believed to have been purchased at other stores as part of the scheme.
Michael Jana and Denis Oppong of Brampton, and Kejel Campbell of Mississauga are facing charges of possessing and uttering counterfeit money, and possession of property obtained by crime.
They've been arrested in connection with a rash of vandalism at two schools in the town.
The custodian at St. Joseph's called police Wednesday morning, after showing up for work to find the doors, windows and playground plastered with permanent marker.
Similar graffiti was also found on Glendale High School.
There were a total of 25 tags.
OPP say their investigation led to the arrest of three teens, aged 14, 16 and 17.
They were charged with Mischief Under $5000, and released from custody with a future court date.
Some encouraging news, as at least one of the survivors of this week's horrific collision in Perth County is improving in hospital.
Ten migrant farm workers and a truck driver were killed Monday in Hampstead, when a van carrying the workers drove through a stop sign and into the path of the truck.
35-year-old Juan Ariza is now in fari condition in a London Hospital, along with fellow survivor 38-year-old Javier Alba-Medina.
26-year-old Edgar Sulla-Puma, was airlifted from the crash site to Hamilton General Hospital, and police said Wednesday he was in critical condition. The hospital says today his family doesn't want further updates released publicly.
Union groups, Sociologists and media outlets have been writing about the "plight of migrant workers" this week.
It's in response to the crash this week that killed 10 local migrant workers in Perth County.
However, one Oxford County farmer, who utilizes migrant workers from Jamaica is taking issue with those snap judgments. Gary Godley of Otterville says these workers are part of the "farm family".
"They're part of our family when they're here. I feel badly for the families of these people, and also the farm families who had these people working for them."
The workers were killed Monday when their van ran a stop sign in Perth County, and were struck violently by a flatbed truck. They were leaving a job where they had spent the day vaccinating 16-thousand chickens.
Godley says some groups have been too quick to suggest these workers face difficult working conditions that may have led to their demise. "We have to treat our people with respect, and within the rules of the land and the law. Why would we want to do anything other than that? It's too bad when something tragic like this happens, some people want to put their spin on it."
Posted about three months ago by The Canadian Press
Home-brewed coffee lovers, take note: close to a million Tassimo coffee makers are being recalled in Canada after reports of the brewers spraying hot liquid, coffee grounds or tea leaves onto people.
Some 900,000 Tassimo coffee makers are being recalled in Canada and about 835,000 are being recalled in the U.S.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says there have been 140 reports of problems with the Tassimo single-cup brewers dousing people, including 37 cases involving second-degree burns.
In one incident, a 10-year-old girl from the U.S. was hospitalized with second-degree burns to her face and neck.
The commission also says the coffee maker's "T-disc" (the plastic disc that holds the coffee or tea) can burst while brewing and spray hot liquid.
It says a 2-year-old girl in Canada suffered second-degree burns to her face.
Some four million packages of Tassimo espresso T-discs are also being recalled, and about half of those were sold in Canada.
They were manufactured by Kraft Foods Global Inc., in Illinois, and were recalled after 21 reports of problems.
The brewers were made by California-based BSH Home Appliances Corp. that carry the Bosch and Tassimo Professional brand names.
Consumers can contact the company at 1-866-918-8763 for more information or visit their website by clicking here.
$500 in funding was awarded to the Domestic Abused Services of Oxford (DASO).
The money was divvied up between several organizing agencies that was raised through a 2011 Sex Offender Registration Conference. in conjunction with the Woodstock Police Service, The OPP, and the Niagara Regional Police Departments.
DASO Executive Director Rhonda Hendel says the money will go towards services and programs for sexual assault victims.
Hendel says the statistics are all too alarming
"it's the same everywhere. It's probably more than what a lot of people realize. Most sexual assaults go unreported depending on the community. An estimated between 70 and 90 percent go unreported. It's often a shame that someone lives with for a very long time feel that they brought it upon themselves that they shouldn't have been where they were or they shouldn't of been acting the way they were when it is not their fault".
Hendel says the services and programs are offered to Oxford County women 16 years of age and over.
When it comes to passing the 2012 budget, County Councillors have bought themselves some more time.
Council sidestepped passing the budget this afternoon, giving themselves an extra two-weeks for any last-minute ideas on how to lower the proposed increase.
It stands at a 2.68% increase, which would add an extra 26-dollars onto the average home assessed at 203-thousand dollars.
Posted about three months ago by Adam J. Nyp & Liz Wismer
Woodstock Police are looking for a lone male suspect after a robbery at the Mac's Milk Store on Devonshire Ave.
According to police, the man walked into the store early this morning and handed a note to the clerk stating he had a weapon. An undisclosed amount of cash was handed over before he fled on foot in a westerly direction from the area.
Police, along with the Canine Unit searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.
He is described as being 17 to 20 years old, young looking with a medium build, wearing a black hoodie, black toque, dark pants, white socks, black shoes and black gloves with red on top. He's pictured in a still from the store's surveillance on the right.
The investigation is continuing and any additional information should be reported to Woodstock Police at 519-537-2323 or Crime Stoppers at 519-421-TIPS/1-888-222-TIPS (8477).
New numbers from last year's Census shows Oxford County is starting to fall behind in population growth.
While Canada grew at a rate of 5.9 per cent from 2006 to 2011, three local municipalities actually lost more residents than they gained over that period.
South-West-Oxford (-0.6%), Zorra (-0.8%), and East-Zorra-Tavistock (-2.3%) now have fewer people.
But SWOX Mayor David Mayberry says that's not entirely unexpected. "The reality is, we're seeing continually smaller families, and that's maybe more-so true with farm families than it used to be."
The Mayors say they're not overly concerned, as new homes have been built in their townships this past year, boosting tax flows. There's just fewer people living in those homes. EZT's Don McKay tells Heart FM "The business that we're in of local government is based on property assessment, so as long as the property is still there...how many that are in it isn't as much of a concern."
McKay says where the lower population is making an impact is in the school system, where several County schools have been closed over the past few years.
Posted about three months ago by The Canadian Press & Blair Wilson
OPP say the driver of a van who failed to obey a stop sign caused a crash near Stratford that killed 11 people.
Police add he also did not have the proper license for the type of van he was driving.
Investigators say the van was broadsided by a truck at an intersection in what they call a "classic T-bone'' collision.
Ten migrant workers from Peru in the van and the truck driver died. They have been identified as:
David Armando Blancas-Hernandez, 45
Jose Mercedes Valdiviezeo-Taboa, 49
Cesar Augusto Sanchez-Palacios, 53
Enrique Arturo Leon, 47
Corsino Jaramillo, 47
Mario Abril, 48
Oscar Compomanes-Corzo, age unknown
Juan Castillo, age unknown
Elvio Bravo-Suncion, age unknown
Fernando Correa, age unknown
Blancas-Hernandez has been identified as the driver. He did have a valid Ontario Drivers License, but did not have the "Class F" license required to drive the 15-passenger van.
Three others from the van remain in hospital. No condition was given on their status.
Woodstock's Fire Chief has a new proposal for members of city council to digest.
Scott Tegler is suggesting the city invest in a new Emergency Management position.
Tegler says if the position is approved within the 2012 budget, that person would be responsible for the continuity of operations relating to explosions, tornadoes or similar emergency situations
"We all depend on computer system a lot and if we get those knocked out for any period of time - it's amazing - our vehicles are affected by computers, our operations are solely on computers, our files, and every other organization depends on that so much, so it's our mission to make sure that the corporation has planned out every little event that could occur so that we have back up plans that we will be able to absorb those unfortunate events that do happen".
Tegler says the fire department and other emergency services within the city want to be fully prepared for a catastrophic event and to ensure a safer community.
Population growth in Canada and Ontario is outpacing Woodstock and the rest of Oxford County.
New numbers from the 2011 census have been released today, showing Woodstock with the highest rate of population increase in the County, at 5.4 per cent.
However, that's slightly behind the national average of 5.9 per cent. Ontario's was 5.7%.
The rest of Oxford County grew at a much slower rate: Ingersoll and Tillsonburg grew at a 3.3 and 3.2 per cent since 2006.
South-West-Oxford, Zorra and East Zorra Tavistock actually lost more people than gained in the last 5-years.
Woodstock Police are looking for a lone male suspect after a robbery at the Mac's Milk Store on Devonshire Ave.
According to police, the man walked into the store early this morning and handed a note to the clerk stating he had a weapon. An undisclosed amount of cash was handed over before he fled on foot in a westerly direction from the area.
Police, along with the Canine Unit searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.
He is described as being 17 to 20 years old, young looking with a medium build, wearing a black hoodie, black toque, dark pants, white socks, black shoes and black gloves with red on top.
The investigation is continuing and any additional information should be reported to Woodstock Police at 519-537-2323 or Crime Stoppers at 519-421-TIPS/1-888-222-TIPS (8477).
Oxford County Warden Don McKay talks about the 2012 budget, a new garbage survey, and how traffic changes in Tavistock hope to prevent a similar tragedy that happened in Perth County this week.
Around 175 employees at the Schneider Foods poultry processing plant in Ayr found out they'll be out of a job.
Tuesday afternoon, Maple Leaf Foods announced that the plant would be closing and work from the Ayr facility would be moved to locations in Mississauga and Brantford.
Maple Leaf suggested 75 jobs would be added to the plant in Mississauga, however the Brantford location had sufficient staff to support the added workload they would absorb.
The plant, originally built in 1969, will close its doors for good on May 18th.
That's a lesson both a driver and a cyclist should have remembered.
Police say a driver and a cyclist are charged after a teenager drove his bike into the pathway of a car while travelling southbound along Huron street in Woodstock Tuesday.
The bike crossed Knightsbridge Road at about 1:30 when a stopped vehicle began to pull out.
The 19 year old cyclist was hit and was taken to Woodstock Hospital with minor injuries, treated and released.
Police charged the driver and cyclist under the Highway Traffic Act.
Woodstock Police would like to remind the motoring public to be aware of bikes on the roads, especially with the mild winter that we are experiencing.
Police also remind cyclists to travel on the road with the flow of traffic and to be cautious with the vehicles on the road.
We have learned the identity of one of the 11 crash victims in Perth County.
38-year-old Christopher Fulton was the driver of a flat bed truck that collided with a van carrying migrant workers, just north of Shakespeare.
The 10 other victims, many reportedly from Peru, have been taken to the coroner's office in Toronto for identification.
Officials are also having difficulty reaching next of kin, and so the identities of the victims cannot yet be released.
But aside from all that perished in the horrific crash, OPP Constable Kees Wijnands says it's a miracle that three people actually survived. "Considering the crash that we saw there, the impact and the carnage that was out there...it's a miracle that these people are still living."
Those who survived are in hospitals in London, Stratford and Hamilton with varying degrees of injuries.
The collision between the van and a flatbed truck happened just before 4:45 Monday afternoon at Perth Road 107 and Line 47.
Volunteer Firefighters from the Shakespeare Station were the first on the scene. Their Fire Chief, Bill Hunter says the firefighters spoke with victim services last night. "No one ever expects to see that much carnage. It was definitely a terrible scene. I've never seen that much damage in a motor vehicle collision before."
A fund is being set up through CIBC that will go to the victims' families and Victim Services of Perth County. Although details are still preliminary, as authorities try to identify the victims, and notify their families, some of which live in Canada, some in South America.
Ten migrant workers from Peru who died in a horrific crash in southwestern Ontario spent the day vaccinating chickens before the collision.
Albert Burgers owns the farm where they were working Monday before the crash between their van and a flatbed truck in Hampstead, northeast of Stratford. The truck driver also died in the collision.
Burgers says the workers vaccinated more than 16,000 chickens on his farm Monday.
He says some of them had been with the crew for more than 10 years.
The crash scene was cleared by this morning and investigators are trying to determine what caused the collision.
One person from the van was taken to a Hamilton hospital with life-threatening injuries while two others were taken hospital in Stratford with serious injuries.
Posted about three months ago by Adam J. Nyp & Liz Wismer
A crash between a flatbed truck and a van carrying migrant workers has claimed 11 lives, and has left three with injuries.
The collision happened around 4:45 this afternoon, at Perth Road 107 and Line 47, in the Hamlet of Hampstead, just north of Shakespeare.
According to reports from the scene, the van ran a stop sign at the intersection and was broad-sided by the "Speedy Transport" truck. The truck rolled, pushing the van into the side of a house.
OPP say 10 of the 13 occupants in the van were killed, which was filled with migrant workers. The other three were taken to hospitals in Stratford and Hamilton.
The driver of the flatbed truck was also killed in the crash.
The identities of the victims are being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next-of-kin, which police say could take some time.
The investigation is continuing and further details will be forthcoming as they become available.
This is deadliest crash in Ontario since 1999, when dense fog caused a multi-vehicle pile-up on the 401 near Windsor claiming 8 lives.
Premiere Dalton McGuinty released a statement of sympathy on behalf of the province of Ontario Monday night, sending condolences to the families who lost a loved one. McGuinty also sent prayers to the three survivors who were hospitalized and thanked the emergency crews and investigators who worked on the scene.
The city of London has set a record temperature today.
The mercury has soared to 7.3
The previous record was set back in 1946 on this day where the mercury hit 6.7 degrees.
Here in Woodstock & Oxford County we're sitting also sitting at 7 degrees (3:30pm), but those spring like temperatures are not going to last.
Environment Canada is calling for a chance of flurries in the morning on Tuesday with a night tim low of minus 11 with Wednesday calling for a high minus 1.
Local Members of Woodstock's CAW are reacting to the latest developments of London's Caterpillar workers.
Local 636 President Ross Gerrie says members continue to worry what will happen to their own positions in manufacturing.
Gerrie says their greatest support has to continue to come from the general public to get help get their message across
"The politicians listen to people and people are mad, our members are mad, our union is mad and everyone in the community are mad as far as I can see - they're mad at what Caterpillar did. People are fed up. People are very discouraged. I think a public outcry is what's needed for the politicians to do something".
Gerrie says local 636 have grave concerns of what the province and the federal governments are letting major corporations do.
Gerrie says he would like to see a guarantee that corporations are going to commit themselves to stay for awhile.
It was a record setting year for the Oxford Alzheimers Society.
The Walk for Memories events in Woodstock, Ingersoll and Tillsonburg raised a combined $103,415, raising the bar for another record setting year.
Executive Director of the local branch, Shelley Green says that total makes the local walks one of the best in the country. "Our Walk for Memories is the most successful per capita, in the Alzheimer movement in all of Canada. We are 3rd only to Ottawa and Toronto (total funds raised) in the province, and they of course have huge population bases to draw from. Our county is so generous, and has so stood behind our organization for so many years and we're very, very thankful."
The most recent walk, in Tillsonburg, raised close to 23-thousand dollars. While Ingersoll's total was up a whopping 30 per cent this year, to just under 13-thousand dollars.
Woodstock's total came in at $67,666.
All of that money will stay in Oxford County to help local citizens afflicted with memory loss and dementia. There are over 1800 residents in Oxford living with Alzheimers Disease.
Several remain on the picket line this morning on Oxford Street East awaiting a final word by Parent Company Caterpillar.
The plant announced its close to workers on Friday morning and that had CAW National President Ken Lewenza fuming calling for action from all levels of Government
"we want a public inquiry from the beginning of the sale to the day of closure because it will recognize that this greedy, unethical, disrespectful, immoral company had no desire to get a collective a agreement and make a contribution to this community and the families that are negatively affected".
Talks of a severance deal between the CAW and Caterpillar are scheduled for Tuesday.
Meanwhile Progress Rail Services, a subsidiary of Caterpillar, held a job fair in Muncie Indiana where more than 4 thousand people lined up for a job.
The company canceled the job fair early not expecting such a massive turnout.
Several media were also turned away from the job fair by local Police including a CTV crew from London.
A program designed to help men, women and youth free themselves of addictions, anger and turmoil has made its way to Woodstock.
Celebrate Recovery, a group that originally began at Innerkip's Presbyterian Church 5 years ago, has now set up shop at 24 light street.
Outreach Coordinator Shelley Donelle says the program is based on AA's guiding principals where people gather to share their experiences, hopes and strengths with one another through a 12 step program
"there is a lot of hurt in the world around us. There really is a healing power that we can tap into and open our hearts to that will absolutely heal and transform our lives, so, if anyone is listening (reading) and they themselves are hurting and are ready to take a recovery journey that will lead them to a better place; we will be here at 24 light street".
Celebrate Recovery meetings take place each week at 7pm.
The group also offers a program entitled "The Landing" that is designed specifically for youth between the ages of 13 and 18.
A Superior Court Judge has agreed to allow jury members to visit the place where 8 year old Victoria Stafford was found.
Justice Thomas Heeney granted Lain Mackinnon, a lawyer representing several
media outlets, to release this information to the public on Friday in a London Court.
Pre-trial motions began in mid-January in the case of Michael Rafferty who faces charges of kidnapping, first degree murder and sexual assault causing bodily harm against Stafford.
Evidence against Rafferty remains under a publication ban imposed by Heeney.
The jury will be taken to a Concession Road in Arthur Township where Tori's remains were found July 19th, 2009.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin February 27th.
The co-accused, Terri-Lynne McClintic, plead guilty for her involvement and is currently serving a life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.
Posted about three months ago by Adam J. Nyp & Rob Ross
"Bottom line...they just want to pay as little as they can for quality work. They don't give a shit about people, just money."
Roy Andrigo is out of a job today, after working for London's Electro Motive as an Electrician for the last 17-years.
Andrigo is one of 450 workers to find out the news today that his job is headed state-side, as parent company Caterpillar announced the closure of the London train plant.
The company had asked the employees to take a 50 per cent pay cut at the start of the year, leading to an extended lockout.
London Mayor Joe Fontana showed up to speak to the workers this afternoon outside of the plant. "I really feel for them. I'm disappointed, I'm disgusted, I'm ticked off. They've given their blood, sweat and tears to this company and the ones before it that have made a lot of money. They produce a great product and it's shameful, it's despicable how Caterpillar has treated these employees."
The jobs are believed to be headed to Muncie, Indiana at another Caterpillar outfit where workers are willing to work for half of what the Electro Motive workers were getting. Fontana questioned why the federal government didn't get involved before it was too late. "I'm sure Obama...you know...he's proud of his industry, he's proud of his workers. Where the hell is Stephen Harper in speaking up for Canadian workers?"
There's no timeline for the plants closing date, but for workers like Brandy Damm, the damage is already done. "For the last 6-weeks we've had no income from here, so that's half of our income gone."
CAW President Ken Lewenza calls the closure of London's Electro Motive Plant "callous", but says it didn't come as a total surprise.
Lewenza says Caterpillar had no intention of keeping the plant open and was trying to provoke a crisis "from day one'" by trying to force the workers to take major pay cuts. The company had asked employees to take a 50 per cent pay cut to help keep the plant open.
450 workers were then locked out to start the New Year when CAW members rejected the proposal.
Caterpillar subsidiary Progress Rail Services says the cost structure at the plant was unsustainable. This, as the company recorded a record $1.54-Billion profit in the 4th quarter of 2011.
Oxford OPP are investigating a rash of break and enters in East Zorra Tavistock.
Police say over the past month, they have received numerous reports of break and enters, thefts and property damage occurring in the area during both day and night.
Thefts from rural businesses with property damage have been reported in five separate cases with vacant properties also being a target.
The public is reminded to be vigilant and notify police of any suspicious behaviour. If residents notice a unfamiliar vehicle in a neighbour's driveway when they are not home or vehicles travelling aimlessly up and down roads, call police.
The public should try to get descriptions, licence plate numbers and direction of travel as this information is important for police if the suspect is still in the area.
Anyone with information on these or any other incidents can call Oxford OPP or Crime Stoppers at 888-222-TIPS (8477).
The Ontario government has announced a heavy blow for the region. They say Caterpillar Inc. has announced the closure of the Electro-Motive plant in London.
There's no timeline on when the shut-down will happen.
Some 450 workers have been locked out of the plant since January 1st after they were asked to take major concessions to their wages and benfits.
Heart FM will have more details and reaction to this story as it develops.
The 2012 Woodstock City Budget has been tabled at a 2.7% increase.
Without any changes, that would cost the average homeowner about an extra 24-dollars.
Factoring in an increase in assessment, the average home valued at 203-thousand dollars would see an increase of 1.38%.
City Chief Administrative Officer David Creery talked about the pressures driving up the budget. "There's a number of pressures that the city is facing with respect to the budget...police and fire costs are representing a significant portion of the increased costs for 2012. There are a number of other cost pressures though: benefits costs, OMERS pension plans as well as staffing pressures."
City Council will now begin a department-by-department review of the city's operations.
Councillor Paul Plant is interested to see what recent changes mean for the bottom line. "There's been fairly dramatic changes with the Community Services Department, and splitting the cultural assets off into a Cultural Department. I think we have to look at what the costs are there, and what kind of savings, if any can be made, or what revenue can be generated."
Budget deliberations are continuing next week with meetings on Tuesday and Thursday.
Oxford County may be ahead of most communities when it comes to battling oxy abuse.
That's the opinion of OPP Constable Michelle Murphy, member of the Oxford County Drug Task Force. Murphy says local physicians are now engaged in trying to stem the trafficking of painkillers like oxycontin.
She says those doctors can help prevent abusers and traffickers from "double doctoring". "We do have doctors that sit on the Drug Task Force, and we've done presentations to the doctors in Oxford County, so they are aware. They know about the problems within the community. Double doctoring is a big problem across North America because we do have such serious issues with prescription painkiller abuse and addiction."
A Tillsonburg man was charged with 16-counts of double doctoring this week, for allegedly visiting multiple doctors to fill out multiple prescriptions. More charges in future cases could help reduce the number of pills being sold out on the street. Murphy says they need tips from the public to advance these cases. "We need people to be aware and make those reports."
Tips can be called anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1800-222-TIPS.
Oxford County's seniors may have some new ways to get active later this year.
New funding is available through the Oxford Community Foundation in support of senior amateur sports.
The OCF has been given the task of administering the money, which became available through a special fund from the 2001 Summer Games hosted by London and surrounding areas.
OCF Executive Director Keith Hudson says there is 17-thousand dollars up for grabs this year. "There's just a lot of amateur sports out there. And they (OCF Board) just felt one of the priority groups the community is looking at right now with the Master Aging Plan, is those that are seniors. Therefore, this year, the board decided they would grant the money towards senior amateur sports."
Details on how to apply for the funding can be found here.
Woodstock's Chilly Charlie has a respectable accuracy rate when it comes to his predictions on Ground Hog Day.
We'll see if his prediction of an early spring holds true.
Charlie arrived to the Ground Hog Day festivities at South Gate Centre shortly after 8 am this morning, escorted by Police Constable Steve McEwen.
The not so talkative Charlie allowed McEwen to announce his prediction, which of course was an early spring as he did not see his shadow.
Shubenacadie Sam and Wiarton Willie are in agreeance with Charlie. Punxsutawney Phil however did see his shadow and has said there is six more weeks of winter.
According to event hosts, Chilly Charlie has a 100% accuracy in the nearly 10 years that he has been making his predictions.
Wiarton Willie, Punxsutawney Phil and Woodstock's very own Chilly Charlie will make their predictions later this morning.
Groundhogs across North America will emerge from their burrows to predict an early spring or another six weeks of winter.
With cloudy conditions in the forecast, Charlie will more then likely not see his shadow, indicating an early spring according to folklore.
Festivities are taking place at South Gate Centre this morning in celebration of Groundhog Day. Breakfast is being served from 7:30 - 9 a.m.; $6 at the door, children 12 and under are $3.
Heart FM's Dan Henry will broadcast Chilly Charlie's prediction live this morning at 8:15 a.m.
A court injunction has been dismissed against the CAW.
However, workers have given up their blockade of a train in Ingersoll for good.
CAW Local 27 Plant Chair Bob Scott says the union called off the picket yesterday afternoon, in advance of today's court hearing.
But Scott explains the reason for standing down. "The CAW does not want to affect the customers. When this is all said and done, we do not want to lose business over something that we've done."
Scott says there are 6 other locomotives as part of the same contract, that are headed to Brazil.
Despite the movement in this battle, the stalemate between the CAW and Caterpillar over the lockout at London's Electro Motive plant.
A 54-year-old retired business man from London is the winner of the autographed Justin Bieber car.
Heart FM's John Harada spoke with Allan Komenda today about his big win.
Komenda put in a last minute bid for the signed 2012 Hyundai Genesis from the Stratford dealership. The winning bid was 40-thousand dollars, but Komenda has offered to double it to 80-thousand.
He tells Heart FM about his plans for the vehicle. "I was going to use this as a catalyst to help out some of the other charities that I help out and open it up for other people too. Number two, it is a prestigious type of car and so I said well, you know what, I'm going to take a shot at it, and I did, and I got it."
The money will be used to refurbish the skatepark in Stratford.
The Owner of the Hyundai dealership that sold the signed 2012 Genesis, Frank Sandola says the promotion created a lot of buzz, but he expect to see more bids from the US. "What Allan's paid for the car is definitely what the car is worth with the signature as well. We can't forget there, this is for the skatepark for the kids and it's going to a good cause and Allan's just made it so much nicer."
A Tillsonburg man is facing a host of charges for "double doctoring".
That is the deliberate use of multiple physicians to gain prescriptions to medication.
37-year-old Richard Sage of Lisgar Avenue in Tillsonburg was arrested back in December.
He was in court today to answer to 16 counts of Double Doctoring.
Police are also urging physicians to be aware of this kind of activity, as the medication, usually painkillers are sold out on the street to addicts.
That's the rule in Ingersoll over the next couple of weeks, as the County replaces a water pump at the Canterbury Water Treatment Facility.
The work begins today, and is expected to wrap up by the 13th. The work will change the water flow, stirring up some sediment in the underground pipes.
That could lead to some funny looking water (reddish-brown or yellow), but the County insists it's still safe, and you simply have to run cold water to flush out the discolouration.
Water Specialist Deb Goudreau says the new pump won't be the end of water issues in Ingersoll. "This won't solve all of the problems. The long term solution is to really get rid of those old water mains that are in the Ingersoll distribution system. There is about 22km of those mains, so they can't be replaced overnight. It's a multi-year program we're undertaking to do that."
The town of Tillsonburg is starting the month of February on the right foot.
They've launched an impressive new website in an effort to build community development and the town's image.
CAO Kelly Coulter says the website will also act as a multi function tool in attracting a variety of visitors
"Primarily we wanted to create a tool that spoke to all demographic groups. Our vision was to ensure our that it was accessible for visually impaired or hearing impaired, but also that it was interactive for the youth population in the community".
Coulter says the redesign was also done to attract visitors that wish to relocate into their community.
More information can be found by visiting here herhere
A major shift is about to take place that will hopefully cut down on the abuse of prescription painkillers.
Electro Motive workers in London are taking the deal.
A growing Princeton-area business is the latest recipient of a 250-thousand dollar federal loan.
About 40-45 full and part time jobs are up for grabs in the friendly city.
One life has been taken after a horrific crash this morning in Southwest Oxford.
Woodstock's Public Library is adapting to the change taking place in the world of on-line reading.
PC Leader Tim Hudak didn't have much of a problem regaining voter confidence at their party's convention in Niagara Falls over the week-end.
The one year anniversary of Woodstock's Victoria Street fire and explosion is fast approaching, but still no word on on a cause of the horrific fire that claimed the lives of 73 year old Margaret Gillett and 79 year old Bill Watmough..jpeg)
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was raised in the 2011 campaign; coming in just shy of their $1.1 million goal.(1).JPG)
Gilson said she “so didn't see that coming! We've worked with so many through the Fall to get to 1.1 (million dollars) and we really were so close and we were celebrating that because it was a tough year and close was great. But then to have TMMC step up to actual ensure we hit goal was such a great surprise this evening”.
$500 in funding was awarded to the Domestic Abused Services of Oxford (DASO).
Several remain on the picket line this morning on Oxford Street East awaiting a final word by Parent Company Caterpillar.
A 54-year-old retired business man from London is the winner of the autographed Justin Bieber car.
