Serving Lake Erie’s North Shore
Wishing our American friends a Happy 4th of July. Friday July 4, 2014
INSIDE Parking Notes Municipality of Central Elgin
OPP Marine Unit Back In Service
Central Elgin has introduced a new method of paying for parking in the vicinity of Port Stanley Main Beach, PAY-BY-PLATE. STORY PAGE 2
War of 1812 Report July 1814: A party of about 200 U.S. Infantry and 80 Horsemen were reported at Port Talbot, where they did a great deal of injury to the crops of the settlement. STORY PAGE 2
Sun and fun filled CanFest Weekend in Port Stanley This year the CanFest Celebrations in Port Stanley continued from Friday June 27 through to Canada Day July 1st. STORY PAGE 3
Above: The O.P.P. vessel still ablaze 6:30 am with firefighters hampered by the difficult location along the west breakwater. LEB Photo
Andrew Hibbert What could possibly posses someone to steal a Provincial Police boat set it on fire and believe they could get away with it. Port Stanley is a small village where everyone knows almost everyone else and there are walkers out in the very early morning. The Elgin County O.P.P. said the safety of the public was put in jeopardy by this brazen act of theft and arson.
Port Burwell Report Restaurateurs and their staff were literally run off their feet, serving Ojibwa tour groups on June 21. STORY PAGE 3
Sparta 200th Plaque Unveiled On Saturday June 28th the 200th Anniversary Committee met to unveil a new plaque, located on the main street, to commemorate Sparta’s 200th Anniversary. STORY PAGE 4
LOOK AHEAD Community Events
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Classifieds & Service Directory Page 7 Business Roladex
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Around 2:45 am Wednesday June 25th, someone stole the Provincial Police 24-ft patrol boat from Stan’s Marina in Port Stanley. The boat was moved from the marina, under the lift bridge, to the outer harbour, where it was set ablaze beside the west breakwater. Fire and police were alerted by a person out walking the beach around 5:30 am. After the incident Communications Officer Constable Troy Carlson said the boat was completely destroyed by the fire. He added, with a holiday weekend approaching, the crime could not have
Left: What was left of the craft after the fire was extinguished. Photo courtesy of the O.P.P. The next nearest Auxiliary Coast Guard Unit would be the Long Point area in Norfolk County, a long run to this area. Central Elgin Fire Rescue has a small inflatable vessel, which is limited to a 1km range from Shore. come at a worse time. “Something like this certainly will have an impact on public safety,” said Carlson. “Generally, there’s an auxiliary Coast Guard unit that’s stationed in Port Stanley, however there isn’t one this year. The next nearest rescue craft would have been in Port Burwell but there isn’t one there this year. Basically, our Elgin OPP marine unit is responsible for keeping the waterways safe between Port Glasgow in the west to Port Burwell east. That’s 70 kilometres of shoreline. Having that vessel out of service jeopardizes public safety.”
"This is a senseless act which risks the safety of the public," Carlson said. Towards the end of last week, with the investigation in its early stages, Carlson said officers were going doorto-door in neighbourhoods near the Marina to ask if anyone had seen or heard anything. Those who were at the scene of the fire were also questioned. The Elgin County OPP Marine Unit was to be back in service for the long weekend after receiving a loaner vessel from the OPP’s training fleet in Orillia. Continued On Page 5
Joe Preston Announces His Retirement Joe Preston, MP
Joe Preston, MP Elgin-Middlesex-London
On June 28, 2014 I celebrated my 10th anniversary as Member of Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London. As I reflect on the past 10 years I take great pride in the service that my office has provided. Together, my staff and I have responded to over 115,000 phone calls, emails, letters and visits. We have helped constituents access a wide variety of federal programs and services, and we continue to put the people of Elgin-Middlesex-London first.
I have had the honour of working with one of Canada’s greatest Prime Ministers, and to be part of a caucus that has demanded, and realized, positive change for Canadians.
After a great deal of thought and prayer, I have decided, together with my family, that I will be retiring at the end of this term. While I have chosen not to run in the 2015 election, I remain committed to carrying out my final term in office. Through 10 years and four elections
On a local level I have had the opportunity to collaborate with two outstanding Members of Provincial Parliament. Together, we have worked with our municipal counterparts to help our communities flourish. I am honoured to have served ElginMiddlesex-London for the last 10 years and I would like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support. I look forward to continuing my service over the next year and a half and I promise that I will keep working hard for all of you in whatever the future may bring.