The Herald Serving Thamesville, Dresden & Bothwell

The Herald Serving Thamesville, Dresden and Bothwell Established in 1886

Vol. 135, Issue 29 • Wednesday, July 21, 2021

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CK Tree debate likely to drag on

GETTING A PEEK AT THE COMPETITION

Alex Kurial Local Journalism Initiative

A survey of tree cover in Chatham-Kent won’t be done for some time.

It’s key in helping Chatham-Kent Council decide whether there should be a controversial tree cutting bylaw.

The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority was set to conduct a digital survey of the county’s trees, an undertaking that occurs around every four years. Chatham-Kent has one of the lowest percentage of tree coverage in the province, believed to be around just three to four per cent.

The exact number is especially impactful this year as the data is set to be an essential piece of evidence when council debates adopting a tree cutting bylaw.

Council placed a moratorium on tree cutting in the municipality after Councillor Aaron Hall suggested it may be time to have a bylaw to regulate tree cutting. Environmental groups voiced concern about acres of woodlots being clear cut by farmers to gain acreage.

SEE TREE SURVEY PG 2

Teen troubles in CK Colby disappointed in youth vax rates Alex Kurial Local Journalism Initiative

Marie Claire Auger peeks out from behind Blissfulmarieanne to check on Natasha Day, in front hidden behind her horse April Bandit in the fourth race of the Ontario Women’s Driving Championship at Dresden Raceway Sunday. Day captured the crown over two days of racing in Dresden and Hanover.

Heather Wright Photo

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Chatham-Kent has some catching up to do getting COVID-19 shots to its teens.

“I’m disappointed, to be quite frank about it,” says Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby. “We are 13 percentage points behind the province and I like to see Chatham-Kent leading rather than playing catch up.”

The federal government gave approval for teens between 12 and 17 to get the Pfizer vaccine in May. As of Monday, 49 per cent of this age group in Chatham-Kent had their first dose and 18 per cent were fully vaccinated. This is well below the provincial mark where 62.5 per cent of all 12-17 year-olds received the first shot and 31.6 per cent are fully vaccinated..

With a return to school about a month and a half away it’s even more crucial for kids to be vvaccinated.

“Children, for all variants that have been prescribed of the COVID-19 virus, tend to have milder infection syndrome than older people who have much higher rates of morbidity and mortality,” says Colby.

SEE TEEN PG 2

The Herald

Page 2

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Tree survey of Chatham-Kent by conservation authority hasn’t started yet CON’T FROM PG 1 “Any consideration by council as to how they’re going to manage woodlots in the future, council and all stakeholders would want to know what type of tree cover we have right now and has it gone up, down, or stayed the same since the last time the analysis was done,” says Chatham-Kent CAO Don Shropshire.

But the survey hit a roadblock when the software needed to aerially count the trees was delayed.

Shropshire says the program just arrived three weeks ago.

He says it could be several more weeks before the numbers are in it’s not clear at press time exactly how long it would be.

A temporary tree cutting bylaw enacted at the end of April is set to expire Aug. 24. Council is due to receive an update in August, partly focusing on the results of a public consultation survey, but it’s unclear if the conservation authority’s analysis will be ready by then.

Councillor Aaron Hall, who

introduced the temporary bylaw, says the tree cover analysis is an important piece of the puzzle but not a sole deciding factor. “The direction and the motion wasn’t hinging on that. I understand it’s related and it’s a piece that would help us have a fulsome view of it all… It’d be great to have that information.”

Other pieces include letters from the public, a virtual meeting, investigations into best practices for woodlot preservation and an incentive program as well as a public survey that recently concluded.

But with just two meetings left before the bylaw expires, if council decides potential missing information, such as the tree cover analysis, is needed to make a decision another temporary bylaw could be on the table.

“I think that’s an option we could look at if we don’t have everything in place… That could be something that we could do to bide a little more time,” says Hall, though he adds “I’m anticipating that we’ll

be able to get that information before then.”

Meantime accusations continue to swirl the survey council will use to deliberate is bias. “Those concerns were expressed by people that were… on the side of protecting private property rights and not wanting to have restrictions on how they manage their woodlots and also other people that had an environmental orientation where they were wanting to protect woodlots and preserve them,” says Shropshire.

“The direction we received from council was to go out and consult to determine if there was going to be a municipal bylaw that would restrict the management of woodlots… what type of incentives should be considered so that a property owner with a woodlot would not have to bear the entire cost of protecting the woodlot.

If it’s a public benefit it’s a public cost,” says the CAO. Hall says the criticism shows the survey worked. “I know some

Cash available again for downtown patios The Herald Staff

Small business people setting up outdoor spaces for patios or display can still get help from Chatham-Kent.

As provincial COVID-19 restrictions tightened, restaurants and eating establishments were shut down. Many turned to takeout service and outdoor venues for people to eat. But, there were set up costs. So CK set aside money for grants. The local program

CON’T FROM PG 1 “But that doesn’t mean there is no morbidity or mortality in children.

Certainly in Israel there have been several large school based outbreaks among unvaccinated children.”

Even if they don’t get sick themselves children can still transmit the virus which could wreak havoc on the unvaccinated population.

Pharmaceutical companies continue testing in hopes of approving vaccines for kids under 12. Colby says this “would really plug a large hole in the hull which is a source of tremendous leakage. We need to get them vaccinated too.”

Vaccine uptake in Chatham-Kent’s adult population is more in line with Ontario averages. There’s 76 per cent of local residents who’ve received one dose and 61 per cent with two.

Provincially 80.1 per cent (9,680,022) of adults have their first shot and 63.1 per cent (7,623,393) are fully dosed.

But Colby notes the eagerness for first doses has stalled a bit. Chatham has hovered in the mid to high 60,000 first dose range for several weeks now.

“I don’t know whether they think the pandemic is over or whether they’re not really at risk for severe disease – neither of which is true. We need to make sure that we get those people vaccinated,” he says of the holdouts.

“I’m very concerned. We’ve made it very easy for everybody to come in.

You don’t need an appointment at all, you just walk right into the Bradley Centre and you can get your first dose

at any time.”

Colby wants Chatham-Kent to avoid the fate of areas like Grey-Bruce, where Delta variant cases have recently skyrocketed.

“With the Delta variant looming I really didn’t think there would be any lack of motivation for people to be vaccinated. But maybe that word will still get out,” says Colby. “When Grey Bruce had their huge surge in cases the demand for vaccine went sky high as a result.”

“I would rather see that vaccine applied in a preventative than remedial capacity.”

There’s also the risk of overwhelming the health care system again at a time when hospitals are finally recovering from previous COVID-19 waves.

“If you have a large number of people infected it means that the health care system has to deal with a larger number... Our hospitals are not overcrowded at the moment and we do not want to see that happening,” says Colby.

“This is really a snowball effect of benefit for society and I just can’t emphasize this enough: it’s time.

“If you’ve been wondering whether or not to get vaccinated, we look at the success rates, the fact that almost all cases that are being reported across Ontario are in unvaccinated people.

We need to look at that and say it’s time. I need to make that positive choice and get vaccinated.”

The Independent

The tree cutting on Spence Line south of Thamesville sparked renewed calls for regulation of tree cutting in Chatham-Kent Shropshire says the National Heritage Implementation Strategy adopted by Chatham-Kent in 2014 will also be up for discussion. “If it’s working that sets them (council) on a certain course. If there’s concerns about the changes over the last four years then council will have to consider different actions,” he says.

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had expired but council reinstated it June 28.

The municipality will give business owners up to 50 per cent of their cost to create a patio or outdoor cafe for construction cost up to $10,000.

The money flows to property owners once construction is complete and the municipal guidelines have been followed.

Only businesses in downtown areas can apply for the funding.

Teen vaccination is behind in CK

people were concerned that it was kind of misleading or biased. But it was from both sides of the spectrum so to me that just means that it was absolutely not.”

“If we were overwhelmingly getting comments and feedback from one side then I’m sure everybody would take a closer look and be like what’s going on here, what’s wrong with this. But when you’re hearing it from both sides I think that’s a way to spark engagement and to get people’s genuine views out there,” he says.

“One thing I’ve found with this whole issue is there’s a wide spectrum of views, but no matter where people land on the spectrum there’s a lot of passion with the people that are interested in this,” says Hall. “I’m happy with the amount of engagement and responses from the public to take part in this process. That’s what we needed and that was a big element of the motion to ensure that the public had the opportunity to have their say.”

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THE HERALD

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Page 3

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These farmers on Base Line outside of Dresden were taking advantage of a break in the rain to harvest some wheat.

Chatham-Kent had the second largest wheat harvest in Ontario in 2020, behind Huron County. There were 127,100 acres of wheat planted and over 11 million bushels of wheat was harvested. Farmers are worried about this year’s crop because the rain is reducing the quality of this year’s yield.

Alex Kurial/Local Journalism Initiative Photo

Head foundation says consultant was needed to get funding Heather Wright The Herald Michael Grail says the Children’s Treatment Foundation of ChathamKent spent $80,000 on a political consulting firm to help board members convince the province a new center was needed.

And Grail says it was “100 per cent” worth it.

The foundation’s name was linked to Carly Luis in a recent Toronto Star investigation which connects the dots between different organizations and the decisions Premier Doug Ford made while leading the province through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Star found links between the premier, Conservative lobbyists and groups like the construction industry and big box stores, who received exemptions from a lot of the rules small businesses faced.

Luis worked for StrategyCorp - a well known consulting firm in the halls of the provincial legislature and lists the centre’s foundation as one of her clients. (All lobbyists have to divulge who they represent.)

Luis - who now is the health minister’s communications officer - is seen as a Conservative insider.

Grail - who himself ran to be the Conservative’s candidate in the 2018 federal election - says the treatment centre went to StrategyCorp in 2018, when the Liberals were still in power.

At that time, the company assigned a consultant who had close ties to the Liberals to help navigate the political system. When the Conservatives were elected, the company turned to Luis to guide the foundation.

The goal was not a back room shady deal as the name lobbyist might project, but to figure out how best to present the case for a new treatment center in the community.

In 2011, the executive director of the children’s treatment centre wrote in her annual report the provincial regional office of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services had recognized the

need for a new building in ChathamKent. Which, at the time, had over 23,000 visits from children in need.

While the need was recognized, there would be no funding for ChathamKent. There were plenty of other communities with needs as well, says Grail, adding there wasn’t a formal process in place for capital projects for treatment centres.

Grail says the province didn’t turn down the request, it just deferred it.

And by 2018, it had been deferred again although the centre had been told it was at the top of the que.

But the need for services kept growing. Grail and his family noticed that his son, Carson, was still getting treatment, just not as often. Without a lot of room, and more children in need, the centre was doing everything it could to reach as many children as possible.

Grail says an executive committee of both the centre and the foundation decided in March 2018 it was time to get some help.

They contracted StrategyCorp and began working on how to bring attention to the much needed project.

Grail says the consultants knew people on both the political side and the management side and how to reach them. The firm helped shape the advocacy materials used to reach both the public and the politicians and to help “devise tactics for us to navigate the system.

“None of us (on the board) had the necessary skills to be able to go at this capital campaign and understand the intricacies of what we were getting ourselves into with asking for 100% funding from the government,” says Grail.

“You want to be doing the right things and you don’t want to miss step along the way...you want someone who has done their due diligence, who has the expertise to be able to walk you through all of these different steps and actions that you need to go through.”

Grail says the local MPP’s were behind the project but the board

needed a “road map” to reach the rest of the party and bureaucrats.

StrategyCorp had the contacts to give that advice.

“It’s all about strategy. And unfortunately, politics plays a really big role,” Grail says.

The chair of the foundation would like to see a clearer process for children treatment centres to apply for capital funding.

“Could the government provide an actual process in playbooks so that everyone can play by the same rules and engage the exact same way so that the people with the truest needs in the most demands that are required, those are the people that are going to work their way up to the top and not do it through who you know,” says Grail.

And he says as the board worked over the years to convince the powers that be there was a need, Grail says they learned to keep all political parties in the loop.

“We’ve really just been playing nice in the sandbox with all parties,” he says adding that was particularly the case during the provincial election.

“We were advocating to all three parties. The NDP is included, because we didn’t know who was going to get into power. And we didn’t want to lose any steam from what we believed we had gained while the Liberals were the party in power, because they had told us that we were moved up on the queue, and that we were the next priority in southwestern Ontario.”

In the 2021 budget, ten years after the need was first recognized, the province set aside money for the new centre.

Grail is hoping construction will start in 2021 and take about 18 months.

Grail says that while the board always believe the need would be met, he thinks hiring StrategyCorp was necessary. “Was it worth it? I would say absolutely it was. We couldn’t be where we are today. Without the help of experts who have guided us, obviously, positively, because we were we were successful in the budget.”

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The Herald

Page 4

The struggle to get services It would be easy to condemn the Children’s Treatment Foundation of Chatham-Kent for spending donation money on consultants; but sadly charities, particular in areas outside of the Greater Toronto Area, may have to do a lot more of this in the future to be noticed.

The foundation’s name appeared in a Toronto Star story outlining the lobbyists with Conservative history vying for favour during the pandemic. There were a lot of them. Among the list was the foundation.

It wasn’t looking for a pandemic favour, it was simply trying to get a treatment centre built for thousands of children with special needs. The children’s treatment foundation had done what it could to present the case and had caught the ear of the regional bureaucrats, but there was no system in place to ask for funding from the province for a capital project. They would either wing it or get some professionals to help them. They did the later.

It would be nice to think people in power would be presented with a need, see the need and act on the need. Sadly, that doesn’t seem to happen.

The system of meeting needs of Ontarians, whether it be for special needs children, seniors in long term care or people lying in the hospital, is broken.

It is so complex people have to be hired - not just as lobbyists but also at the agencies looking for funding and takes so long it is a wonder anything is ever built in Ontario. Even now, the children’s treatment foundation has a promise of $24 million in funding but it will still likely take at least a year to get through government hoops to get to a point where building begins. You see this with the rebuilding of the Sydenham Campus of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, too. The money is indisputably needed, however it takes forever to jump through the regulatory hoops to get anywhere.

The president of the children’s treatment foundation says the government should have a road map - clear bench marks to explain what the government needs to approve new services and expansions. We agree. And it needs to be streamlined so an entire generation of people isn’t left behind.

Instead, people trying to obtain services have to spend money donated to pay for services to convince government to give us the services we need, paid for with the taxes extracted from us. And that’s sickening.

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Editorial Our Story

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Towns and cities grow and change, but maps survive forever. The Dresden Virtual History Group recently found this handdrawn map of Dresden in 1953. Notice the rail line which follows the curve of the Sydenham River and the location of the high school which is now the home to Dresden Area Central School.

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THE HERALD

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Page 5

Drainage Act changes should speed up simple projects Heather Wright The Herald

It will be easier for Ontario farmers to make minor changes to drains on their property.

The Drainage Act regulates every farm drain in Ontario - about 45,000 kilometers in all. Chatham-Kent has about 4,100 municipal drains about 4,000 kilometres in all. There are about 550 maintenance projects and 45 capital construction projects each year.

The act is one of the oldest pieces of legislation in Ontario. It first passed in 1859 and has only been updated once, in 1975.

Over the past year, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has been considering changes. They were passed in June.

Tim Brook OMAFRA’s Drainage Program Coordinator says the big change will be for farmers looking to make changes to a drain on their property. Until now, even the smallest changes went through a 180 process.

Brook says it can now move ahead more quickly for projects “on one

property, only benefiting one farmer, and it won’t affect other properties in a negative way.”

“So, an example of that might be, where a farmer purchases a larger combine or something. And the existing road access crossing over the drain or from field to field is not wide enough to safely accommodate this larger piece of equipment. And so rather than going through the previous, larger improvement process, this minor improvement process is a more timely and cost effective way for these sort of one property specific projects or requirements,” says Brook.

The farmer would simply download a form from OMFRA’s website, explain the project and the municipality could approve it if it fits the minor project guidelines.

There will also be some changes to larger projects which affect multiple farmers.

Brook says in the old process, completing a major drain project with multiple farms affected could take a year or two. The changes passed in June give a 180-day requirement “from

the time the engineer is appointed to getting that report in that design into council.”

Brook adds the new regulations will make it easier for the contractors to make changes when necessary. They’ll be able to add 33 per cent more to the cost of the project without returning to council for approval. Brook says while that’s a lot of extra cash, it’s in line with other parts of the act which give 33 per cent as a benchmark for seeking council approval for cost overruns.

“Now it says you have to hold a special meeting to make sure everyone is on board with that extra (33 per cent) cost…So if you’re 10 or 20 per cent more, it’s in that range where really the municipality can move forward.” The landowners foot the entire bill for the drains, although municipalities have the option to spread that payment which can be tens of thousands of dollars per landowner – over a number of years.

The province hopes the changes will move work forward more quickly.

About $100 million a year is invested privately in drain works in Ontario.

Bothwell woman admits to breaking into abandoned properties Alex Kurial Local Journalism Initiative

A Bothwell woman has plead guilty to a pair of break and enters in DawnEuphemia that went awry.

Heidi DeHoog, 40, appeared in Sarnia Court last week to confess her crimes. Her targets were abandoned properties, her timeframe was the dead of night. But on both occasions factors beyond DeHoog’s control led to her downfall.

The first incident was Feb. 2 this year at a farmhouse long absent of any life. OPP officers were patrolling Cairo Road at 1:30 am when they came across a parked car. A check of the license plate found it didn’t match the VIN number.

Investigating further police found a pair of tracks, easily detectable in the fresh snow, that led past a gate down a long laneway to the deserted property.

Arriving at the backdoor there was noise and conversation detected from upstairs.

An order was given to come out and eventually DeHoog obliged, albeit

“reluctantly,” says Crown Attorney Meaghan Jones during a reading of the facts. She told officers there was another man inside and he soon followed. Both were arrested for break and enter.

Antiques were the target and several were found on the pair. Old bottles, cans and even a handwritten letter were among the items recovered.

A search of the vehicle found drug paraphernalia and trace amounts of methamphetamine along with break and enter tools including a night vision scope. No further charges were laid against DeHoog over these items though.

DeHoog was released on bail conditions that she must live at a house on West Bothwell Road and observe a curfew. But just two months later she was back to her late night capers.

In the early hours of April 22 police were called to check a suspicious vehicle on Bentpath Line. They arrived to find it empty, but the engine block was still warm.

The search for the driver began at the nearby property. The terrain consisted

of a building with smashed windows and numerous tractor trailers scattered throughout the grounds. Police heard someone running among the trailers and through the building, but in the darkness could not get a fix.

Heightened senses were needed. So the OPP Canine Unit was called in. Just before 5 am the responding dog officer managed to track her down inside the building and bring the drawn out search to a close.

The time of her capture meant DeHoog was in obvious breach of her 10 pm to 6 am curfew.

It’s now up to Justice Deborah Austin to determine what DeHoog’s punishment will be. The case was adjourned to Sept. 16 so a pre-sentence report could be prepared to aid her decision.

“We would find it very helpful to understand a bit more about how Ms. DeHoog came to be in this place,” says Jones.

Potential sentences could range from a suspended sentence to a conditional discharge.

- The Independent

Ontario chiefs looking for power to fire or suspend officers without pay Bird Bouchard Local Journalism Initiative

Ontario’s police chiefs are calling for significant changes to the province’s officer discipline system, a move that would give police services greater ability to fire or suspend officers without pay.

Saying Ontario’s discipline system “simply no longer instills public trust,” the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police is urging the provincial government to make “substantive” changes that would include granting chiefs more power to stop paying officers accused of serious misconduct — or in extreme cases, fire them.

“We need to find a happy medium, but one thing’s for certain: it needs to change,” said Chatham-Kent Police

Chief Gary Conn, president of the OACP. Ontario’s police discipline system all but guarantees a police officer suspended from duty will receive a full paycheque, even while facing serious criminal charges.

Under Ontario’s Police Services Act, police chiefs can only cut off pay to a suspended officer if they are convicted of a crime and sentenced to jail time.

Ontario is now the only Canadian province where suspended officers continue to collect their paycheques unless sentenced to jail.

For example, Chatham-Kent police officer Robert Mugridge received nearly $400,000 in salary while under suspension for more than three years.

He did not resign until 2018.

“The current and proposed police

discipline system puts officers, senior managers and the public through unnecessarily procedurally laden processes that take far too long to complete, does not meet normal labour law standards, does not protect subject officers and witnesses from pointless public exposure to intimate and personal details, and is far too costly at the provincial and/or municipal level,” said Conn. “We can and must do better.”

The OACP’s resolution calls for disciplinary action to be taken swiftly. allowing officers to file a grieance to be adjudicated by an independent arbitrator.

Conn said for more serious penalties, including termination, an arbitration process would happen automatically.

- The Ridgetown Independent News

Progressively Forward

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The Herald

Page 6

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Road work to be included in Bothwell bridge rehab The Herald Staff

When the Bothwell Bridge over the Thames River is rehabilitated, some of the road leading up to it will be improved as well.

The bridge - formally known as the Clachan Road Bridge - was built in 1958. About 700 vehicles cross it daily that’s considered light use. Up to 50 per cent of that is truck traffic.

GM BluePlan Engineering has been

looking at the bridge and planning the rehabilitation since Feb. 2020. In July of 2020, the steel coatings of the bridge were tested and confirmed to contain lead. Lead is commonly found in a large number of coatings in older bridges.

In December of 2020, the municipal engineers determined some of Clachan Road needed work as well near the bridge. They asked the engineering firm to include it into the project.

“Adding this work to the bridge project is the most efficient way of completing this section of road work as the road work and asphalt are already part of the bridge rehabilitation project,” wrote staff in a report to council.

Councillors approved a $52,000 contract for the planning of the work including a plan to manage the lead paint on the bridge. It’s not clear when the bridge rehabilitation may start.

Landowners association formed to fight tree bylaw Heather Wright The Herald

Brian Wright says there is no need for a tree cutting bylaw.

The Bothwell-area farmer and woodlot owner is the spokesperson for a new group opposing a bylaw which would limit what farmers could do with historic woodlots on their properties.

Wright says the Chatham-Kent Landowners’ Association was formed after Chatham-Kent council temporarily banned clear cutting in the municipality.

The ban is in place until late August as council tries to decide if it should implement some rules around tree cutting which could include fines, fees to landowners who want to remove tress and incentives to keep trees on their property.

Currently, forested areas are zoned farm land which allows the owner to clear cut without any regulations. In the last year, a number of bushes in east Kent have come down, to the concern of environmentalist who say ChathamKent has only three or four per cent forest cover.

Wright says the temporary tree cutting ban came up without notification of landowners and impacts the farm community the most.

“We would like to see absolutely no bylaw at all and go back to the natural heritage strategy that was imposed in 2014,” he told The Herald, saying more trees had been planted under the strategy.

Wright says some of the environmental goals will reduce farm income.

“What some of these groups want is they’re asking for a 10 per cent (tree) cover. That’s asking us to restrict our income; we would never asked anybody to restrict their income by 10 per cent. And we don’t think it’s fair that they should ask us. We follow regulations by the province and whatever regulations we have to with everything to do with our farm operations.”

Wright says he has no plans to remove his bush and instead uses it to augment his income. He says sustainable harvesting of the trees can help pay the taxes on the land.

Jeff D. Bogaerts, the president of the Ontario Landowners Association agrees “the private property owner has the right to control their own land and the government interfering is not correct.

“They have that right. It’s a historical right.

“If it’s a 200 year old oak and it’s going to be used for furniture, then why would you not be able to cut that because that’s a very valuable tree,” said Bogaerts.

He added he was not in favour of clear cutting trees for housing development.

Bogaerts says the new ChathamKent group is not part of the Ontario association, however it is providing assistance to Wright as he gets started.

Wright told The Herald he has “more than 100 members” and anticipates that 1,700 of the Kent Federation of

Agriculture’s 1,800 membership agree with the new association.

He plans to lobby councillors leading up to a vote on whether or not to impose a tree cutting bylaw.

Part of that effort will include showing councillors data of the tree cover that was in the region before settlers arrived. Wright believes historically the area didn’t have a lot of trees “it was a lot of grasslands and it was wet.”

The trees, he says, only flourished after farm drainage was put in.

The municipality says 65 per cent of the area was forest before settlers arrived. The Forestry Journal says 90 per cent of southern Ontario was covered by trees at that time.

Chatham-Kent and Essex County are the only regions in Ontario without a tree bylaw.

Wright believes implementing one here will mean “there will probably be no reforestation” by farmers. He believes that is what happened in nearby Lambton, which has a woodlot bylaw.

Lambton’s tree cover is now 10 per cent.

The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority recently reported the most successful year planting new trees, with over 79,000 trees being planted either by farmers themselves or by the conservation authority on private land.

In Essex, the conservation authority says the tree cover has increased from three per cent in 1983 to six per cent now.

The authority has planted more than six million trees in that time frame.

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CK councillors want opioid possession decriminalized Bird Bouchard Local Journalism Initiative

In an effort to help combat the opioid issue, Chatham-Kent councillors are showing their support by lobbying for the decriminalization of drug possession for personal use by joining the ‘Big City Mayors’ call for action.

Elected officials were expected to consider a notice put forward by Chatham Councillor Amy Finn last week, urging the federal government to approach the opioid scourge with the same urgency brought to the COVID-19 pandemic. Finn withdrew the motion to ask councillors to support Ontario’s Big City Mayors call.

“I am writing on behalf of the Chatham-Kent Drug Awareness Council (CKDAC) to request your support in ending the poisoning crisis and the toll it is taking on our communities,” read a letter to the council. “We recognize the Municipality of Chatham-Kent has

brought significant progress in some areas to respond to the overdose crisis, but there is still a long way to go.”

The detailed motion calls for the government to step up prevention, harm reduction and treatment programs, along with decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use.

The majority of council members expressed being on board with the motion. “It’s a big problem,” said Finn regarding the opioid crisis. “All you have to do is read the police briefs every morning.”

Councillor Brock McGregor said he thought it was a significant step to take in efforts to address the issue.

“There has been a significant movement in Canada and in Ontario towards decriminalization,” said McGregor. “Changing the overall focus of how we address the issue has been a success in places like Vancouver and Toronto. As we see in our community, we’re seeing the issue here as well. I

think that’s why we made the decision on the board of health and why Councillor Finn brought it to council as well.”

Council approved the motion as well as a request that Community Human Services provide a presentation to council regarding the opioid crisis in Chatham-Kent.

Councillor Michael Bondy said he had concerns that decriminalization would eventually lead to the legalization and worried about the potential for mixed messaging when traffickers are charged.

However, Councillor Marjorie Crew said drug possession and drug trafficking are not the same and believes more awareness is needed.

Finn, a retired police officer, said too much of the police’s time is being spent on the issue. She added that it could easily be resolved by getting people the help they need instead of putting them in jail.

-The Ridgetown Independent News

Equip your team with the essential skills they need to be confident in their job. abcactivatelearning.ca

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Adult Learning, Literacy & Essential Skills program.

THE HERALD

More visitors for hospital patients Alex Kurial Local Journalism Initiative

People staying in the hospital can now have more visitors as COVID-19 restrictions loosen.

It’s a much needed morale boost for patients at ChathamKent Health Alliance as expanded visitor rules kick in.

Patients can now have two essential care partners on their visitor list, though they must come at separate times.

Critically ill and palliative care patients can have two visitors at a time and end of life patients can have more. Outpatients can also bring a support person along if desired.

“Very recently we opened up to outdoor visiting, not only for our long-stay patients but for our outpatients as well,” says Chatham-Kent Health Alliance President and CEO Lori Marshall. The new outdoor visiting area allows for patients to have two extra visitors in addition to their essential care partners.

Overall though, future visits to see family and friends in the hospital will likely have a different feel to them, even as reopening ramps up across the province.

“I think that we will still not be returning to open access to the hospital as we all experienced in

the past,” says Marshall.

“It will still be a much more controlled environment with identifying who patients and visitors are who are important to them and facilitating that visitation.”

Marshall also says people won’t be wandering into the hospital for awhile if they’re not coming to visit someone.

“We won’t be, certainly in the near term, open for people to be able to come in and go to Tim Hortons for example.”

She says people coming to visit are welcome to get food at the hospital as long as they don’t eat it in patients’ rooms.

The Dresden Lawn Bowling Club, Westover Treatment Centre, Camp Kenesserie, Camp Vincent, the Dresden Community Splash Pad, and the IODE Catherine McVean Chapter in Dresden were among the dozens of groups

sharing $325,000 this year.

Westover used the money to redesign classrooms at the Thamesville facility. The Dresden Lawn Bowling Club used its grant to offset operating costs and continue to offer lawn bowling classes in the region.

A number of local organizations have received funding from the ChathamKent Community Foundation and South Kent Wind’s Community Fund.

34 year-old man arrested in East Kent drug bust The Herald Staff Chatham-Kent Police recovered about $26,000 in drugs, guns and a stolen ATV in a drug bust in East Kent.

On July 15, the Intelligence Section and the Critical Incident Response Team went to a home on McDonald Line in Chatham-Kent in the Duart

area on a search warrant. They found three people inside and arrested them.

Officers searched the property and found drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamines. $2,100 in cash, two rifles, $2,700 in contraband cigarettes and two pellet guns.

They also recovered a stolen

ATV on the property. Police believe the drugs were worth about $26,000.

A 34 year-old Chatham-Kent man faces 18 charges including two counts of possession of drugs for trafficking, possession of a firearm, seven counts of failing to follow bail orders.

COVID-19 cash from feds and province leads to CK surplus The Herald Staff Chatham-Kent ended 2020 in the black, thanks to funding from the federal and provincial governments to deal with the costs of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a report to council, Steve Brown, the director of budget and performance services, says CK ended the year with a $3.77 million surplus - about 1.1 per cent of the total budget.

The bulk of the surplus was $3.7 million in grants.

The Chatham-Kent Police

Board also saved $526,240 in 2020, mainly because of staff vacancies, says Brown. Half of that money is returned to the police service reserves.

The municipal cash is being put in several different areas including $1 million to the Disaster Mitigation fund, $500,000 to the Bloomfield Business Park capital reserve to help pay back the $7.36 million left to pay for the construction of the business park.

Another $1.5 million was placed into a Strategic Development fund which is “for

the future needs of council.”

Brown’s report also shows where the biggest losses occurred during the pandemic.

The municipality lost $3.4 million in revenue from the Gateway Casino.

The office of mayor and council also went over budget by $104,830 as did Planning Services and Culture - to the tune of $506,000.

The Community Human Services budget was stretched the furthest with a $1,175,085 budget overage.

Chatham-Kent’s cultural institutions reopening to public The Herald Staff

Museums and galleries are opening their doors again in Chatham-Kent.

Under the province’s reopening framework, the cultural hubs are now able to welcome visitors again after months of being closed.

The Chatham-Kent Museum will open July 28 with an exhibit called A Taste of Science. It is a food literacy exhibit which shows what role science plays in delaying the decay of food

and keeping food nutritious and safe for us to eat. It also features artifacts from local museums.

The CK Museum will be open from 11 am to 4 pm and officials are asking people to book their visits in advance.

And the Thames Art Gallery is reopening Wednesday.

Admission will be free but you will have to register to visit.

There are several exhibits on display including 120 works from the art gallery’s own collection which are seldom displayed.

Ken Houston memorial pace AT THE RACES Sunday July 25 Post Time 1:00 pm

BEER,

BURGERS

The Independent

Several local organizations get community cash The Herald Staff

Page 7

“This is also an opportunity to examine the role the collection has to play in preserving and advancing the cultural values of CK. With so many significant changes this past year, the collection presents an excellent opportunity to take pride in our roots and reflect on how we as a community would like to see the future unfold. The exhibition is not definitive by any means but rather about opening doors and reflecting on our evolving world-views” says Curator Phil Vanderwall.

Former NHL players will be in attendance.

To pre-register include the number of people in your party, their names & phone numbers.

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The Herald

Page 8

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Chatham-Kent housing sales at an all time high say real estate officials

Bird Bouchard Local Journalism Initiative

A record number of homes were again sold in Chatham-Kent in June.

According to the Chatham-Kent Association of Realtors, 192 units were sold in June, a 42.2 percent increase compared to June 2020.

That total set a new record for the month of June and was also the highest for any month in history.

On the flip side of the equation, the average selling price of local

homes continued to rise. In June, the average price was $413,862, an increase of 26.4 percent from last year.

Home sales in June were 31 percent above the five-year average and 43.1 percent above the 10-year average for the month.

The year-to-date average price is $405,533, rising 38.5 percent from the first six months of 2020.

Home sales also totalled 922 units for the first six months of 2021, an increase of 60.6 percent from the same period in 2020.

“While many other markets in Ontario are experiencing a cool down from the breakneck pace of activity earlier this year, sales activity in the Chatham-Kent region shows no signs of slowing down,” Chatham-Kent Association of Realtors president Laura Tourangeau said in a statement.

The dollar value for all homes sold in June totalled $79.5 million, a 79.9 percent difference for the same month last year.

According to the Chatham-Kent Association of Realtors, this is the

largest dollar value for homes sold for any month in history.

“Market conditions remain historically tight, and the number of listings available for sale is still trending at record lows, which is going to keep upward pressure on prices until we see any meaningful reversal of these trends,” Tourangeau said.

The number of new listings grew by 28.5 percent, with 234 new residential listings in June 2021.

However, the number of active listings in June was the lowest it’s

been in three decades.

There were 159 active residential listings on the market at the end of June, a 19.3 percent decrease from the end of June in 2020.

Months of inventory numbered 0.8 at the end of June, down from the 1.5 months recorded at the end of June 2020 and below the long-run average of 3.7 months for this time of year. The number of months of inventory is the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity.

What’s in a CK building name: money Juno nominated Christian artists headed to Dresden Pam Wright name-change deals made in ChathamLocal Journalism Initiative

Some of Chatham-Kent’s most significant assets could have new names in the future.

Chatham-Kent council is moving towards a naming rights sponsorship strategy that would see corporate sponsors pay for the right to have their business or title listed as part of the name, whether it is a building, or other asset such as a park or athletic field.

The municipality has six properties for consideration so far, including the Capitol Theatre, the Thames Campus Arena, Chatham-Kent Memorial Arena, Kingston Park, the skateboard park on Grand Avenue and the Chatham-Kent Public Library main branch in Chatham.

Council approved the second phase of the strategy at a recent meeting following a presentation from Dan Cimoroni, owner of The Naming Rights Company (NRC).

Contracted by the municipality, the NRC would earn a commission on any

Kent.

The move has proved to be lucrative for other municipalities. In Leamington, Nature Fresh Farms is paying nearly $1 million for a 15-year naming agreement with the town’s recreation centre.

Some C-K councillors expressed concerns about the proposal.

Mary Claire Latimer, a member of the library board, wanted to ensure money raised from naming rights would be used to benefit the library system.

Cathy Hoffman, general manager of corporate services for Chatham-Kent, assured council that any naming right changes would be discussed thoroughly with the facility’s stakeholders.

Cimoroni said all costs associated with changing existing signs would be borne by the organization purchasing the rights. He said names changes wouldn’t necessarily see a complete change, the sponsorship name could be added on as “funded by” or “powered by” and would be approved by council.

Juno nominated and Gospel Music Association winning Sky Terminal is coming to Dresden Christian Concerts stage on the Civic Holiday weekend.

The group was expected last year, however the pandemic caused this vent to be postponed last year.

This is the second all-ages event held by Dresden Christian Concerts. The first one in

2019 resulted in a record crowd.

Dresden Christian Concerts rebranded this year to fit its new location at Total Grain Systems/Sydenham Electric(1233 North Street in Dresden –the former Mid-County Ford).

The 2021 season began June 27 and continues every Sunday to the Labour Day weekend.

All evenings start at 6:30p.m

2-STREAM Recycling Guide 2-Stream recycling means you separate paper products from all other recyclables. Use two containers, black box for fibres (e.g. beverage cartons, paper & boxboard) and blue box for all other acceptable recyclables. Place all excess paper including small amounts of shredded paper in an un-tied plastic/paper grocery bag in or beside your fibre recycling box.

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Fibre Products In Black Box ONLY

- The Chatham Voice

Food, Beverage & Liquid Containers In Blue Box ONLY

Paper Beverage Cartons:

Glass Bottles and Jars:

includes milk, juice & Tetra Pak cartons, drink boxes, paper hot beverage paper cups.

DO NOT recycle foil pouches (i.e. Koolaid Jammers), aluminum foil lined containers (e.g. wine), etc.

Please remove food and rinse.

DO NOT recycle broken glass, drinking glasses, dishes, cups, other ceramics, window glass, light bulbs, mirrors, pottery, glass pots & pans.

Aluminum/Steel Cans Plus Empty Aerosol/Paint Cans:

Household Paper/Newspaper, Catalogues, Books, and Telephone Books:

Please remove food and rinse.

DO NOT recycle coat hangers, pots, needles, batteries and hazardous waste.

includes mail, white & coloured paper, envelopes, hard (remove the cover) and soft cover books, glossy publications, inserts/flyers.

DO NOT recycle waxed, foil, laminated or gift wrap paper, or fast food waxed soft drink cups.

Wheatley firefighter were once again checking buildings for hydrogen sulfide gas Monday after another detector sounded.

Submitted Photo

The Herald Staff

Fifty-two Wheatley residents are once again out of their home after hydrogen sulfide was detected in a building downtown.

Thirteen businesses in the Erie St. North area are also affected.

Chatham-Kent fire officials say police, paramedics, Enbridge Gas and Entegrus are all on the scene as are officials from the municipality to help with housing.

Hydrogen sulfide gas is highly toxic, corrosive and extremely flammable, crews will remained on scene to monitor gas levels and maintain the safety of the community. In June, residents

were forced from their homes for nearly two weeks when the gas was first detected.

When the residents returned home, many installed alarms to make sure they knew when the gas returned.

It’s suspected the leak is being caused by an abandoned oil well beneath one of the buildings.

The Provincial Hazmat Team from Windsor Fire Rescue was on scene, surveying and testing the area to confirm the presence of Hydrogen Sulphide with samples of gas recovered for laboratory analysis.

Requests for assistance to a number of Provincial Ministry Partners has been made.

Pie plates, trays/baking pans and take-out food containers. Please remove/rinse food and flatten.

Paper Egg Cartons and Boxboard:

Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Tubs:

such as cereal, tissue, detergent, cracker and shoe boxes.

Remove liners and flatten.

Now accepting more plastic household rigid containers and tubs with numbers 1 through 7 on the bottom of the container, including clamshells and cleaning product containers.

5

Cardboard Boxes: Break down, flatten and tie in bundles no larger than 75 cm x 75 cm x 20 cm (30” x 30” x 8”) and place beside black box.

Please remove food residue and liners from pizza boxes.

Wheatley residents evacuated again

Aluminum Foil Containers and Foil:

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DO NOT recycle toys, Styrofoam™, plastic wrap and bags, flowertrays, used oil containers, and unmarked plastics.

Note: Additional recycling boxes are available free of charge at all municipal centres.

Blue or Black Box Bloopers The following materials DO NOT belong in your Blue or Black Boxes:

Styrofoam™ Containers (foam containers like coffee cups, egg cartons and protective foam packaging)

Plastic Plant Pots and Trays

Foil pouches (i.e. Koolaid Jammers) Aluminum foil lined containers (i.e. wine), etc.

Waxed Boxboard (frozen food packaging, ice cream containers, etc.)

Shredded Paper Place in an un-tied plastic/paper grocery bag in or beside your fibre recycling box.

Space provided through a partnership between industry and Ontario municipalities and waste diversion programs.

Sports THE HERALD

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Day wins first women’s championship

Natasha Day claimed the crown in the inaugural OLG Ontario Women’s Driving Championship held last weekend at Hanover Raceway and Dresden Raceway.

“It’s an honour just to be part of such a great event but to win it is pretty awesome,” said Day. Day notched two wins on the final day to win the event with 58 points while Marie Claude Auger was second with 53 points and Julie Walker was third with 50 points. Marielle Enberg and Pam Forgie tied for fourth with 46 as Brittany Kennedy was sixth with 37 points, Maggie Jones one back with 36 points and Andrea Leon finished with 34 points The proceeds of Saturday’s event at Hanover went to Cervical Cancer while Dresden’s returns went to Harness the Hope for Breast Cancer survivors.

Natasha Day, seen here in first place in the fourth race on board Blissfulannemarie, won the first Ontario Women’s Driving Championship Sunday in Dresden.

Competitor Maggie Jones was recently diagnosed with cancer but delayed her first chemo treatment to drive in the event.

“Maggie wanted to make sure she took part especially knowing what

Local NHLers protected from Krachen The Herald Staff A trio of NHL players from north and east Chatham-Kent have been protected by their respective clubs and saved from being gobbled up by the Seattle Kraken in the league’s expansion draft Wednesday .

Rearguard TJ Brodie of Dresden was protected by the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Travis Konecny of Clachan and Bo Horvat, with historic family

Page 9

ties to Bothwell, were protected the Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks, respectively.

Brodie had 16 points and was a plus 28 in 63 regular season and playoff games in his first season in Toronto, Konecny registered 11 goals and 34 points in 50 games for the Flyers while Horvat put up 19 goals and 39 points in 56 games in a COVIDravaged season for Vancouver.

Neither the Flyers nor Canucks made the playoffs.

the proceeds were going to and everything she is going through.

We have so much respect for her, and she understands that we are here to support her through it.” added Day.

Matt Liberty scattered three hits over four innings of work Sunday to lead the Port Lambton Pirates to an 11-0 romp over Wyoming in Western Counties Senior Baseball League action.

Barry Wright The Herald

Cyclist Nick Wammes will be among a sea of more than 11,000 athletes from all corners of the globe gathered Friday morning at Japan’s National stadium in Tokyo for the opening ceremonies for the 2020 Summer Olympics. The Games were cancelled last year over COVID-19 concerns and rescheduled for this year.

The 21 year-old from Bothwell is

Port Lambton had opened the season with an 8-1 triumph in Petrolia Saturday.

According to the league schedule, the Dresden Bulls open league play this Saturday in Petrolia against the Raiders.

Game time is 1 pm.

Morpeth product signs CFL deal with Hamilton The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed defensive tackle Austin Fordham-Miller.

Fordham-Miller spent four years at London’s Western University from 201720, capturing the Vanier Cup national championship in 2017. He also helped the Mustangs reach the Vanier Cup final again in 2018 and the Ontario University Athletics final in 2019. Most recently, the

6-3, 270-pound native of Morpeth played nine games in 2019-20 for the Mustangs, recording 26 total tackles, with 5.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback sack. He went undrafted at the CFL draft in early May. The Tabbies 2021 training camp is ongoing in the Steel City until the end of next week.

Hamilton’s first league game will be Aug. 5 at Winnipeg.

Ontario College athletics announce Return to Play plan this fall The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has announced plans for its 2021 fall season that it will impact several local athletes.

The plan includes soccer, baseball, women’s softball, rugby, cross-country and golf.

Teams will play in regional pools to cut down on travel and overnight stays. Most sports include London’s Fanshawe College,

Heather Wright Photo

pm with the highlight on the card being the Ken Houston Memorial Pace. The race is in honour of the Dresden former NHL player who died in 2018.

Bothwell’s Wammes ready for Olympic moment in the sun

Dresden pitcher leads Pirates to senior ball shutout The Herald Staff

Kristy Dustin of Harness the Hope was pleased with the event, saying she was “thankful” for those who took part. “It was such an amazing day.”

Racing continues this Sunday at 1

St. Clair College in Windsor and Sarnia’s Lambton College in southern Ontario pools.

Individual schedules were expected to be released this week. Plans for the winter season, including basketball, will be announced later in the summer.

All collegiate sports in Ontario were shut down over COVID concerns in March 2020.

ready and excited to compete but does not want to be overwhelmed by the enormity of the event.

“It’s iconic and the biggest event of my career,” he said in a recent interview with The Herald before winging his way to the Pacific Rim. “But at the end of the day, it’s just another race. It’s a massive stage and we all know that, but the easier (mentally) we can make it for ourselves, the better and the better we’ll perform.

Wammes will compete in

the men’s keirin and sprint competitions in Tokyo. He cracked the top 10 in sprint events at both the Pan American Games and Pan American Championships in 2019.

Meantime, Chatham-born women’s basketball star Miranda Ayim was named co-flag bearer for Canada on Monday before the team left for the Olympics.

“I was absolutely floored and immediately humbled,” Ayim said of her selection.

The Herald

Page 10

Classifieds

Classified Deadline: Friday @ 12 noon

Notice

Coming Events

Transit for Seniors in Bothwell First Wednesday of every month.

12noon pickup time at the Bothwell Senior Center (TownHall).

5pm Return time to bothwell.

Group rate - 5 to 7 people, $10 round trip. Must pre-register.

Bothwell to Chatham only. Additional stops/pick ups in Chatham $1 extra. Upon return to Bothwell, adVANtage will drop seniors off at their homes. If you have questions, call Chris (519) 354-6221 ext.275.

Dresden Christian Concerts The Dresden & District Christian Ministerial Association will be hosting live music on at 6:30pm Sunday’s during the summer at 1233 North St., Dresden (The former Mid-County Ford). The line up’s include: July 25 - Mercy with a message from Rev. Barry Kentner | Aug 1 - Sky Terminal (Special Allages event) with a message from Pastor Nichelle Howarth | Aug 8 NEW! Talent Night with a message

by Edwin Taylor | Aug 15 - NEW! Caribbean Night with Infrared and a message from Pastor Ira Simpson | Aug 22 - Jeff & Tim with a message from Rev. Terry Clyne | Aug 29 - Derrick Drover with a message from Rev. Rob Elka | Sept 5 - The Chapelaired with a message from Rev. Andy Cornell. Organizers are working within Pandemic protocols. For more info call Colin Paterson 519-350-1003.

Notice Bothwell Car Show - Cancelled for August 6-7, 2021. See you August 5 - 6, 2022.

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Coming Event SUMMER IN THE COUNTRY JAMBOREE - Summer is here, and we are having a Country Jamboree. There will be live music, handmade/homemade vendors, food, classic cars, antique tractors, Indegenous Dancers, Indian tacos, prizes, face painting, Dancing. Did I mention lots of food, Fun and grand time for all! On Saturday, July 25th, we will be having the grand opening for Dough & Batter Bakehouse. The bakehouse will have cotton candy, doughnuts, ice cream sandwiches, candy apples, Italian sodas and more.

This is a community event that will take place at The Knotted Willow Farm. 14559 Talbot Trail.

The fun starts at 3pm Saturday, July 24th, as well as Sunday, July 25th. We ask that everyone respect the social distancing rules. All are welcome. THIS IS A FREE EVENT.

Coming Event BROSTED CHICKEN DINNER - The Ridgetown Knights of Columbus are hosting a broasted chicken dinner on Sunday, August 22 at St. Michael’s Parish Hall as a curb-side pick up only. Cutoff to purchase tickets is August 15. Contact Renecmartens@live. ca for more info and to purchase tickets.

Notice

CHATHAM BLOOD DONOR CLINICS - August 13th from 12:30 - 7:30 pm at The Spirit & Life Centre (St. Joe’s Site). 184 Wellington St. W., Chatham | or August 16th from 9am - 12noon at the Catham Canadian Polish Club, 281 Inshes Ave, Chatham. To book your appointment to donate blood visit www.blood.ca or call 1-888-2366283

Bothwell Legion BR. 252 The Bothwell Legion will be open Monday- Friday at 3pm and Saturday at 12noon. Weekly meat draws have started again in Saturdays and Catch the Ace is running again. All welcome.

Coming Events Bothwell-Thamesville Firefighters Association 50/50 - The Bothwell-Thamesville Firefighters Association is excited to announce the launch of their 50/50 Lottery. Each year at the Bothwell Opti0fest Carshow the BothwellThamesville Firefighters Associations hold a 50/50 draw. Due to covid restrictions the 2021 Bothwell Opti-fest Car Show has bee canceled so to carry on the tradition we’ve went online for this year. 200 tickets for $40, 60 tickets for $20, and 5 tickets for $10.

Draw date: Saturday, October 116 to purchase tickets go to www. smokealarmssavelives.ca

Notice Dresden Legion Br. 113 - The Dresden Legion is open Tuesday, Fridays and Saturdays from 3-8 pm. There are still COVID protocols in place. The patio will remain open as well. Thank you everyone for doing their part.

Coming Event ACTIVE LIFESTYLE SUMMER FARMERS’ MARKET - Check out all the participating produce, food and artisan vendors at the Active Lifestyle Centre (20 Merritt Ave, Wallaceburg) on August 7 & 11 from 8am - 12noon.

Coming Event RIDGETOWN COVID-19 POP UP VACCINE CLINIC - On July 22nd from 9am - 5pm. Appointments will be accepted by the weekend.

Call for an appointment 519-3540070 ext. 614. Walk-ins are also welcome at the Chatham-Kent Family Health Team, Ridgetown (20129 Erie St. South, Ridgetown)

Notice Outdoor pools are BACK!! - Outdoor pools have reopened and that all Recreation swims are FREE!! Registration is required!

You can register online at www. chatham-kent.ca/recreationswimming or call 519-360-1998 to book starting June 25! Registration opens one week in advance.

Word Classifieds: $10.00 incl tax for up to 40 words Call: 519-692-3825 or email: heraldclassifieds@outlook.com

Death Notices July 10 - July 16, 2021

SATURDAY, July 10 KOKE: Cookie Age 78, of Chatham

SUNDAY, July 11 MARTIN: Judy Age 58, of Chatham

McKinlay Funeral Home - Chatham

LANE: Joseph Age 76, of Chatham

SMITH: Barbra Age 87, of Chatham

McKinlay Funeral Home - Ridgetown

WILLIAMS: Lloyd Age 85, of Chatham

McKinlay Funeral Home - Chatham

McKinaly Funeral Home - Chatham

HOLLY: Lola Age 91, of Chatham

BLACKBURN: Mary Ellen Age 89, of Chatham Alexander & Houle Funeral Home

Alexander & Houle Funeral Home

Monday, July 12

Coming Event

Wednesday, July 14

DREAMER - Join DREAMER for this COVID-safe, socially distanced drive-in concert in support of Diabetes Canada! This tribute to the legendary ‘70s rock band features a seven-piece group of multi-instrumentalists hand-picked for their incredible expertise in capturing the often intricate arrangements of Supertramp’s material. this benefit is Wednesday, September 29 at Centennial Park in Pain Court (7052 Pain Court Line | Under the Water Tower) Doors open at 6:30 pm concert starts at 7:30 pm. For tickets & info call 1-800-516-5810

KLEYN: Janet Age 72, of Chatham

BOOK SALE - IODE Ridgetown book sale on Saturday July 24 from 9am-3pm at the Ridgetown Legion (75 Main St).

McKinlay Funeral Home - Chatham

THURSDAY, July 15

McKinlay Funeral Home - Ridgetown

SUTCLIFFE: Ken Age 74, of Chatham

Coming Event

LEPATOUREL: Eileen Age 93, of Thamesville

LEATHERDALE: Joan Age 78, of Ridgetown

SUMMER READING - The CKPL Adult Summer Reading Program tailors to your busy life! Step 1.

Pick up a loyalty card on your next visit to your local CKPL Branch.

Step 2. Bring the loyalty card with you on every visit you make to the library and have it punched by staff. Step 3. Once the card has 10 punches, print your name, first and last with your phone number on the back and place it in the ballot box in your local CKPL Branch!

ART IN THE PARK 2021 - Art in the Park is back to help support local artists, vendors and crafters!

Come to Tecumseh Park (500 William N. Chatham on September 25 from 9am - 6pm.

Blenheim Community Funeral Home

DDELANGHE: George Age 94, of Ridgetown

Indoor Pools are BACK!! - reopening of INDOOR POOLS on July 26!! Pre-registration for both outdoor and indoor pools will still be required but zones have been removed. Participants will be asked to physical distance while in the pool/facility. Oh, and SLIDES will be open! Registration for indoor pools will open Wednesday July 21 and will continue to open one week in advance.

Coming Event

SMITH: Mary Ellen Age 84, of Blenheim

McKinlay Funeral Home - Chatham

Notice

YARD SALES - Bothwell Town Wide Yard Sale August 2, 2021

NADEAU: Theresa Age 86, of Chatham Life Transitions

McKinlay Funeral Home - Chatham

Notice

Coming Event

Notice Highgate legion br. 335 - The Highgate Legion is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 2-6pm. All Welcome.

Coming Event

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Friday, July 16 CANNIFF: Mark Age 63, of Chatham

McKinlay Funeral Home - Chatham

Kendrick Funeral Home

GILBERT: Jean Age 89, of Ridgetown

McKinlay Funeral Home - Chatham

Tuesday, July 13

McCALLUM: Penny Age 66, of Merlin

Blenheim Community Funeral Home

HUSTON: Vaughn Harry Age 69, of Chatham

John C. Badder Funeral Home - Thamesville

HEDDEN: James Patrick Age 71, of Dresden Badder Funeral Home - Dresden

Life Transitions

For detailed information, please refer to the funeral home website listing.

Coming Event DOWNTOWN WALLACEBURG FARMERS’ MARKET - Stop by the bi-weekly farmers’ market hosted by the BIA at 603 James St., Wallaceburg. August 14, 28 September 11 & 25

Notice Chatham-Kent Crafters!! - Come and register for your July Crafternoon: To Go! A large paper rose! Registration begins today, Monday, July 19 at 9:30 am. Kits are limited and registration is a must. Call 519.354.2940, text 519.401.7174 or email cklibrary@ chatham-kent.ca to request your kit today. This craft is geared for ages 13+. Video instructions will be posted next week, where Julie will demonstrate how this lovely flower comes together.

ADVERTISING POLICY The publisher of this newspaper, The Herald ~ serving Thamesville, Dresden and Bothwell, reserves the right to clarify or refuse any advertisement based on its sole discretion. The publisher reserves the right to reject, discontinue or omit any advertisement without notice or penalty to either party. Liability for errors or non-insertion is limited to the amount paid for the cost of space occupied by the error. Claims of errors must be made prior to the next publication date.

THE HERALD

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Word Classifieds: $10.00 incl tax for up to 40 words Mail: P.O. Box 3 London Road Thamesville, ON N0P 2K0 Call: 519-692-3825 or email: heraldclassifieds@outlook.com

Page 11

Classifieds

Classified Deadline: Friday @ 12 noon

NOTICE:

Indoor and outdoor services are permitted with capacity limited to permit physical distancing of 2 metres Please check with your church to determine if your services are cancelled, or if they are available through some other means such as livestream or Facebook Live

Wabash

Community of Christ Pastor Jacomina Malott 519-692-3375

Find us on Facebook for Digital Services

St. Andrew’s United Church - Cairo

Dresden Community Church

Sunday Worship Online See our Youtube Channel Rev. Jim Breen

Sunday Worship Online

jbreen@brktel.on.ca

• Find us on Facebook •

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

North Dresden Baptist Church

Louisville Baptist Church

pccweb.ca/standrewsdresden

519-683-4892 ndbaptistchurch@gmail.com

Sunday Morning Worship

(across from Dresden Foodland)

519-683-6541

519-683-2442 Sunday Worship Online See our Youtube Channel

Pastor Chris Quiring Pastor Nichelle Howarth Rev. Linda McFadden

www.dresdencommunitychurch.com

Rev. Andy Cornell • Find us on Facebook •

• Find us on Facebook •

Sunday Worship Online Pastor: Gord Tetley • Find us on Facebook •

Rev. Gord Tetley

lvbchurch@gmail.com 519-358-5439 • Find us on Facebook •

Bothwell-Wabash United Church

Pastor: Rev. Annalee Kerr Office: 178 Elm St., 519-695-2921

directory

Temporarily No In-Church Services Online Services Available at www.wabashunited.org Everyone Always Welcome.

Newbury Gospel Hall

Thamesville United Church

Sunday - Remembrance Meeting • 10:00 am Sunday - Gospel Meeting • 11:00am Tuesday - Zoom Bible Study • 8:00 pm

Rev. Grace Lee Worship Leader

Music Director: Dan Lankhof

Contact Doug at number below for more information.

Everyone warmly welcomed at Corner of Walnut Drive and Longwoods Road, East of Peter Road, Bothwell For information call Doug at 519-351-6323

Bothwell Baptist Church

Join us for one of our two services: 9:30 am Facebook LIVE Service on Bothwell Church Family Page 11:00 am Church Worship Service Covid Protocols Apply

Business & Service Directory Audit • Tax • Advisory • Bookkeeping Baker Tilly Chatham

62 Keil Drive South Chatham, ON, Canada, N7M 3G8 D: +1 519.351.2024

Baker Tilly Dresden

347 St. George Street North Dresden, ON, Canada, N0P IM0 D: +1 519.683.4481

RUN YOUR AD HERE IN THE DIRECTORY FOR ONLY $10* PER WEEK TAXES EXTRA

Call for Your Appointment

519-354-2442

CALL FOR DETAILS

CALL 519-692-3825

The Herald Serving Thamesville, Dresden and Bothwell

bakertilly.ca

Get Ready for Camping & Boating Season!

YOUR AD

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STEEL ROOFING SYSTEMS | FIBREGLASS SHINGLES EAVESTROUGHS | GUTTER GUARD

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • FARM ED PUMFREY • WWW.RUROOFING.COM

PEST MANAGEMENT Residential Farm Elevator (Established 1978) THAMESVILLE

519-692-4232 1-800-736-9747

Sellen Grain Services Ltd.

www.sgspestmanagement.ca

qp quad printing COLOUR PRINTING & COPYING

• Commercial Printing for Small or Large Quantities • Business Cards • Stationery Supplies • Envelopes • Business Forms • Rubber Stamps • Fax Service • Deposit Books and More

Ph: 519-695-2303 • 348 Main Street, Bothwell, ON

RUN YOUR BUSINESS CARD SIZED AD HERE IN THE DIRECTORY FOR AS LOW AS $10 PER WK - CONTACT BARRY @ 519-312-7222

The Herald

Page 12

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Colby says COVID-19’s Delta variant very concerning for Chatham-Kent Bird Bouchard Local Journalism Initiative

It’s a whole new ballgame in Chatham-Kent.

According to CK Public Health, two new cases of COVID-19 were reported on July 15 along keeping the number of active cases at nine. However, Dr. David Colby, Chatham-Kent’s Medical officer of Health, said four of the active cases were confirmed as the Delta variant.

It came as the province opened

up more of Ontario’s economy, allowing indoor dining, while gyms and other indoor attractions such as casinos will reopen.

While Colby agrees with the province moving into Step 3 of the reopening plan, he says he still has a concern with the Delta variant’s arrival.

“The numbers would indicate that we are ready for Step 3, but it’s my job to worry about things that can happen. I’m very concerned about the Delta and its potential for explosive expansion of num-

bers,” said Colby. “The best way to insulate ourselves from that is to get vaccinated.

Colby said the Delta variant is 67 percent more contagious than what we have been dealing with in previous variants.

He added it is important people understand that even though restaurants are opening up, we can’t have lineups and crowds of people gathered together.

The region’s top doctor also highlighted the fact that while restrictions are coming off, it is based on

the presumption that vaccination rates will continue.

“We must not look back on that and continue moving to get as many people vaccinated as possible, or else our progress will be jeopardized.”

In Chatham-Kent, 75 percent of adults 18+ have received one dose while 55 percent have received two.

Colby said the vaccination rates show that we are ready for the next step in reopening, but to curb the Delta variant from spreading, more

people need to get vaccinated.

He added there is still a focus on getting more young people vaccinated.

“For our youth aged 12 to 17, 48 percent have had one dose, 9 percent have had two doses,” said Colby. “We’re a little concerned about that one, I don’t want to be negative, but that’s almost 15 points behind the provincial average, so we have some catching up to do.”

- The Ridgetown Independent News

Developers, CK council explore the idea of city hall in the Chatham mall Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative

The Municipality of ChathamKent is delving into future possibilities related to the Downtown Chatham Centre.

In a unanimous vote at the June 28 meeting, council approved a motion from Chatham Councillor Brock McGregor for administration to examine a variety of options related the relocation and redevelopment of municipal assets, which could potentially see services shift to the DCC. As reported in The Chatham Voice, a group of local entrepreneurs have purchased the mall and are actively welcoming

BLENHEIM

ideas as to how the building can be used.

There seems to be some urgency to the request to look at the space for city hall. McGregor’s motion to discuss the idea normally would wait two weeks but by a vote of 12 to 5 council agreed to deal wit the issue on the same night as he brought it forward. East Kent Councillor Steve Pinsonneault disagreed with the push.

“I don’t know what the rush is,” Pinsonneault told council. “This should be held over to the next meeting and then voted on.”

McGregor says speeding up the report is part of an opportunity to build on the momentum of the redevelopment of downtown Chatham.

BOTHWELL

McGregor pointed out the municipality will have no financial obligation or commitments tied to the report.

The idea, he said, is to compile the data as quickly as possible “in the spirit of transparency and due diligence.

“As we know the investment group has already reached out with interest,” McGregor explained, adding the tighter timeline allows greater opportunity for input with the municipality.

It’s not the first time ChathamKent has considered moving into the nearly vacant mall. The idea was floated under Mayor Randy Hope back in 2017.

At the time, administration prepared a report detailing several

CHATHAM

options, including fixing the current Civic Centre.

The building needs millions of dollars worth of upgrades including a costly new HVAC system.

Last December, it was reported the municipal civic centre is in need of serious renovations that would cost taxpayers in the neighbourhood of $18 million. The HVAC system alone will cost $9 million.

The mall fell into the possession of BDO Canada last fall due to bankruptcy, with its assets valued at $19.1 million.

Ideas for the Downtown Chatham Centre are also being accepted on the letstalkchathamkent.ca webpage.

DRESDEN

ERIEAU

CK Council is exploring the idea of moving city hall to the mall.

HIGHGATE

So Much to See So Much to Do See You in CK! MITCHELL’S BAY

RIDGETOWN

Chatham-Kent Tourism

THAMESVILLE

TILBURY

WALLACEBURG

WHEATLEY

PAIN COURT

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