Breaking News

The Minden Hills Finance Committee met late last week and received reports of a reasonably healthy financial position for the period ending June 30th, 2009. This will be music to the ears of residents who been concerned about the municipality’s financial position over the past few months and could allay fears that tax rates set by the municipality could increase once again next year.
In his comments to the committee, CAO Gerry Morrison thanked Treasurer Lorrie Blanchard for her efforts and his department heads for showing responsibility in managing their budgets.

As a result of the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act Search Warrant executed at a residence on Crystal Lake Road in Harvey-Galway-Cavendish Township on the 11th of August 2009 where officers seized 1200 marihuana plants and a large assortment of hydroponic grow equipment, members of the OPP Central Drug Enforcement Unit, OPP K9 Unit and Hydro One Theft of Power Team executed four more Drug Search Warrants in the Township of Minden Hills.

The federal and provincial governments announced last week grants totally $1.2 billion to local housing authorities across Ontario for “energy efficiency repairs, health and safety improvements, and improved accessibility.”

There were definitely big and small at the 26th Annual Wilberforce Agricultural Fair, from enormous horses to tiny newborn chicks. Seniors and toddlers alike were busy with the multitudes of activities available for everyone. The usual flowers, veggies and home-craft articles were available for viewing in the curling rink, while toy-building, face painting, scarecrow creation, minnow races, a goat show and nail-driving activities were ongoing throughout the day.

Call it what you will, residents of Hunter Creek Estates described Tuesday’s weather event as a tornado, a downdraft, a hurricane and a severe wind gust. Until Environment Canada determines what in fact happened, the one thing everyone agreed on was that “it” was frightening and “it” came quickly from the NW at about 2:30 PM on Tuesday. Fallen trees and downed wires were strewn over lawns and streets everywhere.

This past weekend the Highlands East Cultural Association hosted what it described as “Ontario’s Premier Plein-Air Painting Festival”, also dubbed “Brush with the Highlands”. Some forty artists from all over the province attended the three-day event, which ended with a highly successful Art Show and Sale, including a juried competition of the attending artists’ works.

The meeting hosted by Infrastructure Canada last Thursday evening, allowing residents an opportunity to learn how the environmental assessment will be conducted on the proposed Stanhope airport expansion and how the public can participate in that process, drew a large and diverse group with equally diverse concerns. As many as 150 people gathered at the Stanhope Firefighters Community Centre, some prepared to be angry and others to pepper federal government officials with a long list of questions.

Last week the Algonquin Highlands Council reviewed a letter from the Maple, Beech and Cameron Lakes Area Property Owners Association (MBC) demanding that action be taken to consider the potential impacts of the proposed new runway construction on private properties adjacent to the Stanhope Airport. The results of a careful review by MBC executive were not only discounted, but were also denigrated by Council.

Sometimes, when a project sounds too good to be true, it really is, and that may be the case with proposed improvements to the skating rink and tennis court in Stanhope. Despite original project estimates of $50,000 which were to be raised through the volunteer efforts of John Ashworth, the project has mushroomed from discussions in May to levels not anticipated by a Council that finds itself stuck firmly between a rock and a hard place.