Evidence of the Green Energy Act continues to surface in here Oxford County.

Roscoe Electric, located on Bell Street in Ingersoll, is taking advantage of Government legislation that will boost investment in renewable energy projects and increase conservation, create green jobs and economic growth to Ontario.

Electrical Contractor Rodney Lava installed a 10 kilowatt solar system on his roof of his business and says he's ready to also help those interested in renewable energy

"we'll install a solar system on your farm, on your commercial building or on your home".

"you can get a contract from the Ontario Power Authority and you purchase a maintenence contract from Scott or myself and we look after it".

"the system monitors itself and sends us a message when there is a problem - the benefit again? - it comes from money".

Ideal Supply Sales Manager John Newman, who has partnered with Rosco Electric, explains how the system is monitored:

"it generates hydro from the system - it goes down through an inverter, there's a generator transformed into AC power from DC - it come back from a panel out through a meter that runs in reverse - back onto the grid and that's how it is metered".

The 10 kilowatt solar system is the first of its kind to be installed in Ingersoll, with an anticipated increase in demand sooner rather than later.

The building of a new school at an Ingersoll Park is far from a done deal.

That's according to Mayor Paul Holbrough, who says he's received a strong public backlash over the proposal over the last week.  There's an agreement between the town and the Thames Valley School Board to sell them half of Garnet Elliot Park for a brand new school.

Holbrough says Ingersoll residents will get a chance to make their voices heard at an April 12th zoning meeting.  "Over the last 4-5 days I've received many, many e-mails and tried to be as open and transparent as I could be in responding.  And as I said to them at the meeting last night, it's still an open, public process that everyone will have their opportunity to express their concerns."

Woodstock Police are looking to catch up with a suspect who tried to pass off a counterfeit 100-dollar bill.

Police were called twice on Saturday, after a suspect in a dark grey Toyota Camry tried to pay with a fake bill at a gas bar, and at Wal-Mart, but was turned away.

The suspect is described as a non-white male, 5-foot-10, slim with black hair pulled back.  He was wearing a grey lumber style jacket and dark pants.

City Police on Sunday, also issued a warning to three youths who were playing on CN tracks, trying to place a shopping cart on the tracks.

Police say the public should stay off the tracks.

Ingersoll Council was presented with a petition last night.

Around 40 residents showed up in protest of the town's sell-off of half of Garnet Elliot Park to the Thames Valley School Board.

A new school will be built on the parkland, replacing three other schools slated for closure.

Steve Caskey is one of those contesting the sale of the parkland.  "It would be very disapointing.  The loss of a greenspace like this in a time when greenspace is valued a lot is a step backwards.  We hope they do change it."

Council called for a public forum on the issue that will take place on April 12th.

An Ontario Provincial Police officer has been rushed to hospital in London by air ambulance after being shot.

It happened in the small community 80 kilometers outside of London.

CTV are reporting The male officer was shot in what is described as a close-range gunfight with a man on a rural road.

At least 20 shots were exchanged.

A male suspect was also injured and taken to hospital in London.

There will be a press conference starting at 4pm with Juliano Fantino

PC members met over the weekend in Ottawa to gameplan for the 2011 Election.

Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman was on hand for what he describes as one of the best conventions the Conservatives have had.

He says everyone was upbeat and looking forward to the election, rather than fearing another lopsided loss.

Hardeman thinks you would be hard pressed to find anyone at the convention to say there isn't a possibility, the PC can't win at the next election.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak received a rousing show of support at a party convention.

Hudak drew several standing ovations during his speech on Saturday, in which he said the PC party is ``very, very well positioned to win and win big in 2011.'

Hudak says the party wants to reach out to younger voters as it rebuilds in advance of next year's election.

It's a day for Women to be recognized.

Today is International Women's Day all over the world, but here in Oxford County the CAW Hall was filled with women celebrating themselves.

Women’s Counsellor Advocate at Ingamo Family Homes, Phyl McCrum says it is a day for women's advancement and also women's work to achieve equality.  McCrum says Women's Abuse is very common here in Oxford County and says they are not seeing the end of it.

She told Heart FM News events like this are critical for breaking down isolation, building solidarity and information is power.

McCrum expected around 100 guests, but quickly ran out of gift bags as attendance for the event was much higher.

International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike.

Some positive news out of the auto industry, CAMI automotive in Ingersoll has plans to hire.

President of CAW Local 88 Dan Borthwick says a hiring pool has been put in place with the need for increased production of both the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain.

It's also to supplement the hiring recalls on April 6th, which will recall 128 members.

"And then there is some internal hiring that will be done through the GM hiring process and the salary staff...and once that is exhausted they would go to the hiring pool" says Borthwick.

He says this is great news for our membership, the community of Ingersoll and the people that have the potential to be hired.

If you are interested in applying you can visit this link for the application.

http://www.identifythebest.com/CAMIWS/home_quickmatch.asp?RequisitionID=5262

What a comeback by the Thamesford Trojans!
Trailing their Jr. D playoff series 3-games-to-1 headed into the weekend, the Trojans stormed back with 3-straight wins, including a 6-0 clincher on home ice last night.
Thamesford will now take on Tavistock in the 2nd round.

The Niagara West Jr. C Final is tied 1-1 this morning.
Tyler Norrie scored in overtime, giving the Simcoe Storm a 5-4 win over Norwich.
Game 3 is Tuesday in Simcoe.

Expansion plans at Fanshawe College has the city thinking about building new baseball diamonds.

Should the Fanshawe project go forward, one of the Community Complex diamonds will be forced to close.

However, Director of Recreation for the city, Bob McFarland says ball players need not worry.  "If the 2nd phase of the expansion of Fanshawe took place, in subsequent years, 2011-2013, we would anticipate that we would actually have a replacement on stream....before losing that rear diamond."

McFarland says both complex diamonds will be available to the city's leagues for the upcoming 2010 season.

The Fanshawe project is contingent on a request for 11-million dollars from the federal government.

Women of Oxford County will be celebrating  Monday March 8th.

The day will symbolize International Women's Day.

Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike.

Here in Oxford County the IWD committee will be holding a special event at the CAW Hall in honour of all women.  The committee will be offering a free bowl of chili, goody bags and free activities.

Marcie Cousins, representing the Women's Emergency Shelter, tells Heart FM the significance of the day.  "Celebrating women, whether it be your mom, your sister or your daughter, and giving that International celebration to all women in our community."

The event gets underway at 11:30 this morning at 126 Beale Street.

For more information contact the Ingamo Family Homes at 421-0383 ext. 223.

Woodstock will continue to reap the rewards of the federal gas tax fund.

The program has been extended to 2014, giving the city over 1-million dollars a year.

The money must be used for a project that will have benefits to the environment.

The Children's Aid Society of Oxford brought their new building plans to city council this week.

The 3-storey office building would be located where the former Chrysler dealership was on Wilson at Peel in Woodstock.

Council approved the Official Plan, but didn't approve the zoning to reconsider the orientation of the building.  The CAS doesn't want the building to front Wilson St. because of traffic concerns with children.

Director Bruce Burbank says "we hope the city will support our plan - they have pledged their support for us to remain in the city -hopefully we can work out the details and get moving forward".

The Oxford CAS has applied for federal stimulus money to help support the project.