2021 - THE YEAR IN REVIEW - AUGUST

Greenhouse damage extensive after EF1 tornado

Environment Canada, with assistance from the Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University, has confirmed that a brief tornado touched down in rural Leamington on Saturday, July 24.

The twister hit at approximately 10 pm on Road 4 West, causing serious damage to greenhouses at Grace Family Farms and C and B Farms.

Hogs poker run attracts hundreds

About 500 motorcyclists and their passengers participated in the Hogs for Hospice first ever Poker Run on Saturday, July 31. Business was booming at the five locations across the county as players could pick up a card at each of them, trying to form the best poker hand and win the big prize.

Big Boyz tournament attracts 420 anglers

The 17th Annual Big Boyz Fishing Tournament wrapped up on Monday, August 2 with a lot of local names atop the leader board.

The annual walleye and salmon tournament attracted 420 participants, which might very well be the largest turnout ever.

The Southwest Outdoors Club (SWOC) hosted the tournament out of Wheatley Harbour for the first time since 2018 and a total of $8,500 in cash prizes was given out.

Barons drive for five halted by Simcoe

The Leamington Junior Barons’ quest for five consecutive Ontario titles ran into a determined Simcoe Giants team who had other plans on Sunday evening, August 8.

The Giants scored four times in the first inning enroute to a 10-3 drubbing of the Barons at the Kinsmen ball diamonds here.

With that, they became the 2021 Ontario 22U (Junior) A champs.

Hogs raffle winner thrilled with payout

Maureen Nelson was just exiting the grocery store on Wednesday, August 4 when her cell phone rang.

The friendly 78-year-old from Desbarats, Ontario (pronounced Deborah) reluctantly answered the call.

On the other end was Joe Oswald, surrounded by a few other members of the Hogs for Hospice Committee, all waiting anxiously for Maureen’s reaction.

As Oswald spoke, Maureen’s first thought was that someone wanted a donation. “Is there any chance you can call me back?” she asked.

Oswald explained that she may want to hear what he had to say, since she was about to be $99,700 richer. “Yeah right,” she said. “I don’t believe you.”

Leamington food hub brings hope to many

Dozens of guests gathered at the new Leamington Regional Food Hub on Talbot Street West last Thursday, August 12 for the grand opening of the facility.

Although they’ve been producing the ‘Leamington Veggie Box’ since May, the event gave local dignitaries and donors a glimpse into how things are done.

A short tour of the facility showed the volunteers working at packing fresh vegetables into boxes for shipment to food banks across Ontario.

Flyers prepare for season

When your top two scorers, a veteran defenseman and a solid goaltender leave your team, there are a lot of big holes to fill.

This past weekend, the Leamington Flyers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (Junior ‘B’) hit the ice in preparation for a long-awaited season.

Nicholls booted from caucus over vaccine status

Chatham-Kent Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls will now sit as an independent MPP for the remainder of his term.

Nicholls was one of two Conservative MPPs named last week who had failed to meet Premier Doug Ford’s 5 pm deadline, Thursday, August 19, to provide either proof of vaccination against the virus or a medical exemption from a doctor or registered nurse.

Just prior to the 5 pm deadline, Nicholls conducted a live media session where he made his views clear.