May 2, 2019

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Vol 23 | Issue 30

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CREATIVE ARTS

Teachers' choir celebrates 50 years with special concert People. Places. Pictures. Profiles. Perspectives.

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CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITIES.

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E M E R G E N CY R E S P O N S E

VOLUME 24 | ISSUE

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MAY 2, 2019 TRANSIT

Elmira Bus pilot project warrants ongoing trial, says Kiwanis Transit head BY FAISAL ALI fali@woolwichobserver.com

Fire crews spent two hours putting out the blaze on a dairy farm in Wellesley Township. Losses are estimated at $500,000 to $700,000.

[VERONICA REINER / THE OBSERVER]

Some 450 animals perish in fire All stations respond as Monday evening blaze destroys barn on farm near St. Clements BY VERONICA REINER vreiner@woolwichobserver.com

It was all hands on deck when all three Wellesley fire stations, Waterloo Regional Police and a Woolwich Fire Department tanker were called to a major barn fire on Lobsinger Line Monday evening. The call came in just around

5:50 p.m. on a dairy farm west of St. Clements. Emergency personnel arrived to find the structure completely engulfed in flames. The family was home when the fire started. “Everybody got out and nobody was hurt during the fire,” said Wellesley fire chief Paul Redman. “Some of the kids that live there actually saw the fire; it was

small, then they went and told their dad. “It was really windy; they have sawdust and hay for the animals and a little spark can start a small fire. Then the wind blows it and just gets out of control in a matter of minutes.” Their first concern was protecting the propane tank near the barn, then focused on the two

silos nearby. Firefighters had the blaze under control in just under two hours. Some 450 animals perished in the blaze. The family lost 250 piglets, 170 pigs and 30 cows. Fire crews did manage to save about 19 cows, and other animals on the property including horses, were unharmed. The damage BARN FIRE | 04

If the past several months have been a test for the viability of a regularly scheduled bus route in Elmira, then the results are in and they’re looking good. Elmira residents like their bus service. That’s according to Cheryl Fisher, general manager of Kiwanis Transit, which recently concluded its six-month pilot period for the ‘Elmira Bus.’ “It’s doing tremendously well. In fact, I was just looking back at our April numbers. March we did almost 1,500 riders,” said Fisher, adding they expected to surpass 1,500 in April by the end of the month. “So it has exceeded our expectations for riders for absolute sure,” she said. “1,500 riders is definitely very, very good. It is well worth what the cost of this service is to operate.” While the bus is no longer in its pilot phase, the service will continue to operate until the end of the year with little change – including keeping its rides free for all users. The Elmira Bus was rolled out in September as a free service for riders while Kiwanis Transit, the Township of Woolwich and ELMIRA BUS | 06

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