News

 

A commercial lot, on the north side of County Road 2, in Iroquois has been approved for residential use.

Council approved a zoning change that will allow two semi-detached structures, containing four residential units, to be built on the property.

The commercial zoning has been retained but a special exception will allow for the residential development. Normally, residential uses are not allowed in commercial zones.

“I have no problem with it, as long as the option is left open for commercial use,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan.

Councillor Evonne Delegarde also supported the amendment. “There is demand for more residential use in Iroquois, and there’s not a lot of demand for commercial.”

“I will support it,” said South Dundas deputy mayor Jim Locke. “It’s not ideal, but I can understand them (Swank) wanting to use the property.”

 

Although the majority of council approved the amendment, South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds did express his objections.

“Putting residential in a commercial district is a recipe for disaster,” he said. “This is in our commercial district. You say you want to grow Iroquois, but you just took a piece of commercial property away.”

Regardless of the mayor’s opinion, the amendment was approved.

[…]

 

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, some farmers from Oak Valley, a small settlement north of Brinston, were embroiled in an epic battle to continue farming there.

Anna Smail and Norm Tinkler led the charge on behalf of their families homesteads to get the government and its agencies to recognize their plight and do something about the annual flooding which was more than just a nuisance to area farmers. 

The extent of the flooding made day to day operations of the farm a struggle and summer floods had devastating effects on crops.

What the farmers needed was to get all levels of government involved to dredge and realign the Nation River and South Branch in Dundas County.

In the end, their efforts paid off, and the project was completed. It took well over 10 years of involvement to get it done.

“You didn’t think about the time you were putting into it, you just did it,” said Smail. 

“It was a battle,” said Tinkler. “The biggest reward for our efforts is to see what has happened in our area.” 

Through the efforts of these farmers, the Oak Valley, Brinston areas now have thousands of acres of wonderfully productive farmland.

Remembering back to floods, Smail said, “It was bad.” 

She remembers having to get in a boat to go to a tractor to get a ride out to dry land so the school bus could pick them up. 

Her family had to sandbag the milk house to keep the water out. The cows had to be put on a raised floor and still, they were often  standing in water. 

During the floods, the milk had to be taken from their farm’s bulk tank, in cans, to another farm on dry land. It would the have to then be emptied into that tank, so the milk truck could take the milk.

March 8, Smail and Tinkler received Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, in recognition of their efforts. The presentation was made at the Dundas Soil and Crop Improvement Association’s annual Seed, Forage and Agriculture Show.

[…]

 

The average residential ratepayer in South Dundas can expect to pay an additional $15.47 on the municipal portion of their property taxes.

The average residential home in South Dundas is valued at almost $160,000.

By the end of South Dundas council’s second meeting to deliberate the 2013 budget, the group’s decisions mean that an additional $241,400 is needed for the municipality’s operations and priority capital projects.

In the second day of budget deliberations council made some further cuts to their donations budget and cut the purchase of two pickup trucks. 

However, they also decided to add in funds for a major project in the Morrisburg (Industrial) Business Park, that will extend Campbell Street  north and east, opening up commercial land for development.

In this budget, council is setting aside funds for repaying the debt that will be incurred through the Morrisburg Collegiate Institute redevelopment project and funds for impending landfill expansion and closure costs.

“I think this is a reasonable budget,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds at the conclusion of deliberations. “We did some long term planning.”

 

The Counties portion of the residential tax bill is also increasing. Last month counties budget deliberations resulted in a $16 increase to the average residential ratepayer.

[…]

 

 Francis Henderson of Terrdale Farms in Brinston, did it again at the Dundas Seed, Forage and Agricultural Show, and this year his family also did some winning of their own.

The show held, Friday March 8, at Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners attracted a large crowd, who enjoyed agriculture industry related exhibits that filled the hall and the parking lot.

Henderson, who is the perennial winner of the show, was able to accumulate enough points to be named the show’s Premier Exhibitor for 2013. 

He was also Premier Seed Exhibitor and  Reserve Forage Exhibitor, only one point behind the Premier  Forage Exhibitor.

Ian and Tracy Porteous of Ayrporte Farm were named Premier Forage Exhibitor. 

Tracy is Henderson’s daughter. The Porteous’ were Reserve Premier Exhibitors, had the Champion Forage Exhibit and Champion Dry Hay Exhibit.  

Henderson also had the show’s Champion Haylage Exhibit and Champion Soybean Exhibit.

Doreen Henderson, Francis’ wife, won the Champion Baker award for her oatmeal cookies, which were judged the best of 12 entries by South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds and North Dundas mayor Eric Duncan. 

The recipe, was a new one she tried and liked. The judges liked it too.

Bruce Porteous, son of Tracy and Ian and grandson of Francis and Doreen Henderson, won the Premier 4-H Exhibitor award.

Paul Ropars took home the Premier First Time Exhibitor award.

John and Jeannette Devries of Toyes Hill Farm took home multiple awards as well. They were Reserve Forage Exhibitor, had the Champion Corn Silage Exhibit, Champion Cereal Exhibit, won first place in the Wheat in Field Crop Classes and Champion Special Shelled Corn Bin Class.

Tibben Farms Inc. won for Champion Shelled Corn and Champion Ear Corn.

[…]

 

On Thursday, February 21, 2012-2013, The Williamsburg BP Scouts gathered for their annual Thinking Day Celebration. 

The evening included the presentations of badges earned since the start of the year. Pictured are this year’s four groups. 

[…]

 

The Morrisburg and District Cooperative Pre-School is trying to help themselves and the environment with a new fund raising endeavor.

They are collecting used inkjet cartridges, which they will have recycled. 

The recycling company has a program for charitable non-profit organizations like the pre-school whereby they pay a small amount of money to the organization for each cartridge collected.

“Every bit helps, so the more support we get from the community, the better,” said Heather Stirling, president of the Morrisburg and District Cooperative Preschool.

For parents of children attending the preschool, a drop box is available there. 

For the community, drop boxes are already available at Iroquois Foodland and Riley’s Valumart in Morrisburg. Others will be added to new locations in the future.

Funds raised through this ongoing collection will be directed towards programming, supplies and upgrading toys for the pre-school.

[…]

 

The celebration of the wedding of Wendy McGregor to John Burn, February 21, in Antigua, was already a very special occasion for the Morrisburg couple, but a chance encounter with celebrity couple Alley Mills Bean and Orson Bean made it a little more special.

McGregor and Burn went to Antigua, with the blessing of their families to get married in a quiet ceremony.

In addition to the wedding, the couple was celebrating the end of a tough year, during which John suffered from health issues. This included treatments for thyroid cancer and the removal of a benign brain tumor. 

“We were just elated that we were able to make it to Antigua and to get married,” said McGregor.

“After a year of virtual hell, it was such a wonderful experience to be able to lie on the beach and sit in the sun with Wendy,” said Burn. “We went through a lot and the fact that Wendy was there supporting me through all of it made it all bearable.”

The second night that Wendy and John were at the resort having dinner, a couple came and sat at a nearby table. “We nodded and smiled when they sat down,” said McGregor. 

They struck up a conversation. “It was then that we found out who they were,” said McGregor. 

Alley Mills Bean currently stars in The Bold and the Beautiful. 

Orson Bean is best known for his role on Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, and has had stints on Two and A Half Men and Desperate Housewives.

While McGregor and Burn learned that their new acquaintances were celebrities, the Beans learned that their new acquaintances were in Antigua to get married.

“We asked them if they had friends or family with them and when they said they were all alone, we offered to be their witnesses,” commented Mr. Bean in an article in the Antigua Chronicle. “They were so thrilled, but we felt honoured to be able to do this for them.”

“That’s exactly how it happened,” McGregor told The Leader. 

“We were so excited about the positive and good times ahead of us, when our day came, to be joined by them, just made it even better,” said McGregor. “They were sincerely excited to be there with us. It was like the cherry on top of an already beautifully decorated cake.”

“The icing on the wedding cake,” said Burn.

“The wedding without them, was already a dream come true, but with them, it was even better,” said McGregor.

“We got to know Alley and Orson and they are absolutely kind, sincere people,” said McGregor. “We didn’t talk about celebrity things, we talked about our real lives.” 

“They were such awesome friends, real down to earth and honest people,” said Burn. “Whenever we crossed paths, they always took an interest in us.”

“They made a point to find us at our wedding dinner on the beach to offer their best wishes, and Alley even came to see us off the day we left,” said McGregor.

[…]

 

After the first budget meeting for South Dundas council, March 4, it appears that South Dundas property owners can expect to see a modest increase in their taxes.

That increase, to the municipal portion of property taxes, is likely to be around two per cent.

The draft budget presented shows that South Dundas needs about $91,000 more than last year to cover the cost of day to day operations and to go forward with staff-determined priority capital projects in each department. 

Council is now in the process of reviewing the departmental list of capital projects, to determine whether staff priorities fit with council priorities.

Throughout budget deliberations council has been asked to keep in mind some major costs on the horizon, including financing the $4 million Morrisburg Collegiate Institute redevelopment and the need to fund the expansion or closure of its landfill sites which are both nearing capacity.

Council could choose to add some of those costs to this year’s budget to minimize the long term impact.

Council will meet again next week to continue budget talks.

[…]

 

March 4, 2013, Guy Lauzon, Member of Parliament for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, recognized Tyler Barkley’s heroism through the following statement in the House of Commons: 

“Mr. Speaker, last Friday I received a call from Ivan Whitteker of Williamsburg telling me about his ten year old neighbor, Tyler Barkley, who should be recognized as a hero in the riding of Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry.

That’s correct Mr. Speaker, ten year old Tyler Barkley is responsible for saving the life of Elsie Knight. Due to his keen hearing, Tyler heard Elsie’s cry for help after she had fallen outside her home and was exposed to subzero weather for 30 hours with a broken leg. 

Because of his Boy Scout Training, Tyler sprang into action, summoned his father, and together they saved Elsie. His proud parents are Rick and Carolyn Barkley. His equally proud grandparents are Rick and Greta Roberts and Sylvia Barkley.

And I, Mr. Speaker am Tyler’s proud Member of Parliament.”

[…]

 

From 9 a.m. Saturday March 2, until 3 p.m. Sunday March 3, 70 year old Elsie Knight laid outside the back door of her home with a broken leg, unable to move.

She laid there until the keen ears of a 10 year old boy heard her calls for help.

Tyler Barkley, Elsie’s neighbour, heard her calls from his County Road 18 home, which is about 100 meters away.

“I was outside shovelling the ditch, looking for some ice,” said Tyler. “I thought I heard her calling her dog, but then I heard it better. I heard ‘Help me please!’”

Hearing that call for help, Tyler got his dad, Rick. The two listened and heard the calls for help. It was then that Rick went to Elsie’s and found her outside on the ground. 

“My dad threw his coat over her. She was soaked because she was right under the eavestrough,” said Tyler.  

It was Rick who called the ambulance. 

Elsie has slipped while shovelling the snow off the back stoop and broke her leg just above the knee.

Elsie was taken to Ottawa Hospital, but is likely to be moved to Winchester Hospital soon. Tyler is planning to visit Elsie there on Sunday.

Tyler credits his ears with making it possible for his dad to find Elsie. “I hunt,” said Tyler. That hobby has obviously allowed him to develop very strong listening skills.

The whole experience hasn’t changed Tyler at all, according to his dad.

Tyler is not sure what to think of all the attention and of seeing himself on the television news. “We got lots of phone calls,” said Tyler. 

His friends at school thought what he did was pretty cool though.

Tyler is in grade four at St. Mary- St. Cecilia Catholic School in Morrisburg.

[…]