2021 - THE YEAR IN REVIEW - JANUARY

Hogs raffle nets winner $114,050

The Hogs for Hospice Holiday 50-50 Raffle, drawn on December 31, netted the winner, Cor Slikboer of Kingsville, $114,500.

Slikboer was presented with his cheque by the committee on Monday at the Erie Shores hospice building.

Cor Slikboer was the winner of $114,050 from the Hogs for Hospice Holiday Draw on New Year’s Eve.

Need help to find missing man

OPP are looking for the public’s help in locating a missing man from Leamington, who was last heard from on New Year’s Eve. Police say Victor Paz Lozoya’s vehicle was discovered in LaSalle, Ontario, there is yet no clue on his whereabouts. Lozoya is originally from Mexico, but had been living and working in the Leamington area.

Police lay charges at area churches

Chatham-Kent Police Service and Essex County OPP were both busy, laying separate charges to three different area churches over the holidays.

On Sunday, December 27, shortly after 11 am, C-K Police responded to the report of a large gathering at a church in the 2200 block of Kent Rd. 1, north of Wheatley. Upon arrival, they observed over 100 unmasked people inside the church. The current health regulations only allow for 10 people indoors. A 50-year-old member of the church took responsibility and was charged under the Reopening Ontario Act.

A short distance away, on the same day, shortly after 9 am, OPP responded to a complaint of ongoing church services in the 1300 block of Rd. 8, where more than 10 people gathered indoors. A 29-year-old from Leamington took responsibility and was charged under the act. Later that morning, another complaint came in about a church in the 700 block of Rd. 8, where a 46-year-old Chatham-Kent resident took responsibility and was charged.

Leamington Raceway on tap for 13 race dates

The Lakeshore Harness Racing Association has been granted 13 race dates for the 2021 season. The races will take place at Leamington Raceway on the Leamington Fairgrounds property. The 2020 season was affected by COVID-19, but the raceway was eventually allowed in-person attendance during the last few months of the season.

Ice set in on Lake Erie in January, 2021.

Vaccines roll out at LTC homes, hospitals

As the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines made their way into Ontario in recent weeks, it was only a matter of time before they reached this region.

Last week, the province announced that Windsor-Essex would be among the first of the ‘hot-spot’ regions to get vaccines into the arms of all residents and staff at long-term care facilities by January 21. The news came as a welcome glimmer of hope for families with parents in long-term care and also for those who work in the healthcare field.

Premier declares another state of emergency

Premier Doug Ford has delared a State of emergency across Ontario, effective immediately. On Tuesday, the Premier issued a stay-at-home order, effective Thursday at 12:01 am. Residents can only go out for groceries, health appointments, and work. Schools in Windsor-Essex will remain closed until at least February 10. The State of Emergency is in place for a minimum of 28 days.

Pelee Island incident

On January 7, at about 5:50 pm, OPP received a complaint of vehicles on fire and threats made to a Pelee Island resident. The next day, OPP Aviation services utilized an aircraft response, with members of the Emergency Response Team and Canine team converging on a property there. The investigation is ongoing.

TWEPI awards Spark grants to local groups

The trails of Point Pelee National Park hold a lot of stories and those trails will soon become a stage for local actors. The Bank Theatre has partnered with the Leamingotn Rotary Club and Parks Canada to present Spirit Walks inside the park as early as this spring. Caldwell First Nation has also been awarded a grant to celebrate and educate with indigienous culture and culinary arts. Celebrity Chef Billy Alexander will be spearheading the Caldwell events, which will take place on their land near Sturgeon Creek, as well as inside Point Pelee National Park.

Passersby rescue driver

Alert passersby rescued a lucky driver from a burning vehicle on Sunday, January 26.

The OPP were called to the accident on County Road 31 in Kingsvlle, but upon their arrival, the van had burst into flames. Luckily, a couple of good Samaritans had pulled the driver out.

Town purchases LDSS and Mill Street properties

The Municipality of Leamington has purchased the two schools form the Greater Essex District School Board and plans are underway, at least with LDSS, to turn the property into an affordable and sustainable housing complex.

Local mayors ask government to take charge of quarantine

Mayors Hilda MacDonald, Nelson Santos and Gary McNamara have written to the federal and prpovincinal governments, hoping that one of them will take charge of the quarantining of incoming offshore workers, who are supposed to isolate for 14 days upon arrival in Canada.

The mayors expressed concern that, if left to their own accord, the farms and workers would not quarantine as required.

A large influx of farm workers is due over the next two months.