24th Street Wailers Will Rock on November 2

Five years after the federal and provincial governments announced that they would grant $18 million to South Dundas to fully fund construction of a new waste water treatment plant in Iroquois, the plant is up and running and producing the highest quality effluent for discharge into the St. Lawrence River.

Late mayor Charles Barkley played a key role in securing this funding, which he knew about before his death June 17, 2009. 

The new plant has been running for 1.5 months. It took about two years to complete construction. Monday, July 28, construction and government officials gathered on site to celebrate its completion, and tour the new $18 million facility that provides a secondary treatment process, which improves the quality of wastewater effluent. 

MP Guy Lauzon spoke fondly of Barkley and his determination to make government officials aware of the need for this much needed project that the small community of Iroquois could never afford, at Monday’s completion event.

“For years, I don’t think there was ever a time when I saw Charles that he didn’t mention this project,” said Lauzon, who still remembers the emotion of the official funding announcement event that took place three days after Barkley’s funeral. 

The final project cost was $18,062,067. The governments of Canada and Ontario each contributed $9 million, with South Dundas providing the remaining $62,067.

South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds spoke about the importance of that funding for this project. He explained that if the sewer users of Iroquois had to foot the bill for this project under the traditional one-third funding formula, the new plant would have cost each user $8,500. “We need to really recognize the importance of this grant. It is a big savings to the users of the Iroquois waste water treatment plant,” he said.

The new plant is currently operating at about one-third of its total capacity.

Not only does the upgraded plant better protect the environment and ensure the health and safety of local residents, its increased capacity allows the Municipality of South Dundas to treat sufficient wastewater to support future growth.

“Without our partners, this would not have happened,” said Byvelds.

The new Iroquois waste water treatment plant is fully automated, but can be run manually, if necessary. It features UV disinfection and has a storm water tank to allow the storage of storm water in large rain events to avoid over taxing the system and virtually eliminating the possibility of ever having to bypass the treatment process.  

Project contractor was J.C. Sulpher Construction.

Ian Kemp, supervisor of water and wastewater operations for the Municipality of South Dundas is happy to report that the new plant is running extremely efficiently. “The product we are producing here is exceptionally good,” he said. He explained that by Ministry of the Environment standards up to 200 e.coli per 100 ml is allowable. “This has two,” he said holding up a 100 ml sample of clear water, the product being discharged from this plant.

[…]

If the Morrisburg Terry Fox Run raises $5,000 this year, this site will surpass the $100,000 fund rasing mark.

Although organizers of the Morrisburg Terry Fox Run, which has been taking place from the Morrisburg Legion site since 1980, are aware of this number, really the amount of money raised is not what they are thinking about as they prepare for the 2013 Run. 

The run, walk, bike, event is set to take place Sunday, September 15. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and goes until noon at the Morrisburg Legion.

“Really, we just want people to come out and participate,” said key organizer Scott Robinson. “If you are heading out on a Sunday walk, why not come out and join us?” he said. “You don’t have to go and get pledges or fund raise, just drop by anytime during registration, and make a personal donation. Then go for a walk.”

He adds, “I’m happy if anyone comes by and donates a dollar and goes for a walk, and during that walk they think about those lost to cancer, those who have cancer and those who are going to get cancer. That’s what this is all about.”

Five kilometer and 10 kilometer routes are marked for the event. 

But, organizers too say that the distance is unimportant, it’s the participation that truly matters. 

[…]

On November 10, 2013 a most important commemoration will be observed along the shores of Hoople’s Creek in South Stormont, that being the Bicentennial of the Battle of Hoople’s Creek.  

American Forces under General Wilkinson had moved by boat from Sackets’s Harbour in Upper New York State to just above Cornwall, which at that time was a major military stores location.  

It is a documented fact that a wagon train of 150 commandeered wagons began taking the all important stores north from Cornwall to St. Andrews, to Martintown and thence to Coteau de Lac. 

In order to keep the Americans at bay during the removal of stores, British Regulars, Stormont and Glengarry militiamen were sent to the Hoople’s Creek area where they engaged the enemy at what is now referred to as “The Battle of Hoople’s Creek”.  

This military engagement also served to provide General Morrison, at his headquarters on the farm of John Crysler just east of Morrisburg, time to plan the battle which was to occur the next day on the Crysler, Hanes, Fetterly and neighbouring farms. 

On Tuesday, November 15th, retired SD&G Highlanders Colonel William Shearing will speak to the Chesterville & District Historical Society at their regular meeting about the Battle of Hoople’s Creek as well as his successful endeavour to have signage as near as possible to the actual site of the battle erected.  

The meeting will be held at the Chesterville Heritage Centre at 14 Victoria Street in Chesterville. It is open to the public and will begin at 7:30 p.m. with Col. Shearing speaking soon thereafter.

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