News

 

Every one of the 1,000 duck tickets for the great 2012 Duck Race, held on Sunday morning, August 5, by the Morrisburg & District Lions Club, was sold out ahead of time. 

“We are so very pleased with the response of the community to the event,” said Lion Judy Charette, as she joined fellow Lions, volunteer helpers, dogs, handlers and the crowd at the Morrisburg beach, to enjoy the fun-filled ‘race.’ “This community has once again united to support us. The funds we raised with the Duck Race will all go back into Lions’ events and causes right here in South Dundas. All I can say, is get your tickets early next year.” 

Five very keen dogs, Gemma, Willow, Heidi, Cocoa and Dublin, did the ‘duck hunting’ honours, to the applause and encouragement of folks on the shore, plunging into the waves to haul out the numbered prize winning yellow birds. 

The strong wind and choppy waters Sunday morning obviously did not deter the dogs. However, the rubber ducks (on loan from the US) appeared at one point, after the prize retrievals, to be making a run for Cornwall. Organizers had to scramble to retrieve them all at the end.

The dogs were all volunteers for the Duck Race and appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the ‘retrievals.’ Gemma was handled by Jonah and Lucas Bennis, Heidi by John Gilmer, Cocoa by Juli Strader and Dublin by Mike Radoman.

Willow, wearing a lovely bikini, and handled by Priscilla Hubbard, pulled out the first prize duck. Ticket holders Linda and Jim Hollister, were actually on hand to see the race and were thrilled to accept the $500 cheque from the Lions. 

Susan Bird took home 2nd place in the Race and $200; Carol Thompson received $100 for third place; Cam Shaver received a $50 gift card from Canadian Tire in fourth; and Dawn Dumoulin claimed the final prize, a $50 gift card from Riley’s Valu-mart.  

[…]

 It was a nail biter ending to the 2012 Tubie race.

Held on Sunday, August 5, from the Morrisburg dock, the race for gold ultimately came down to two crafts, Gary Magee’s and Jon Domanko’s, both battling waves and a strong wind at the finish. 

At the Morrisburg beach, with both sets of paddlers pumping furiously, the winning decision was made in three seconds. 

Gary Magee’s team pulled up on the sand first, to be crowned the new Kings of the River in a time of 6:12, while Team Domanko took silver with a time of 6:15. 

Seizing bronze in a time of 6:44 was Jeff Barclay’s team while Curtis Fowler and the South Nation Conservation Authority came fourth (7:17) and the Waddell/Millard team took fifth (7:42).

A big upset in the race came earlier in the afternoon when the Katherine Lee team, the defending 2011 Tubie champions, got caught in the wind, during their qualifier, and turned turtle in the river. Team members, all wearing life jackets, were dumped into the St. Lawrence. No one was injured in any way, but the rowers and their craft had to be ferried to shore and were out of contention.

The crowd waiting for the final race outcome at the Morrisburg beach, felt they had certainly gotten their ‘money’s worth’ with the 2012 competition. 

“This was the best race ever,” said Wayne Domanko, who served as official timer for the races. “What an incredible finish.”

Gary Magee shared some thoughts with Morrisburg & District Lion, Mike Domanko, one of the prime organizers of the annual Tubie weekend.

“Jon Domanko and I worked together for years,” Magee said, “but we have different ideas about how to win the contest, so we split up and made it a rivalry between us. 

This year my team went with a new rudder design and we were able to steer despite strong winds. Even thought the Tubies is over 40 years old, there’s still room for creativity.”

Mike Domanko said that some special creative awards were  acknowledged this year. The Emergency Preparedness nod went to Jeff Barclay, whose Tube-in-a-Tube design kept his team in the race, when their outer tube blew. Magee received kudos for Innovation of the Year for his foot operated rudder controls.

The Magee Tubie  (Gary Magee, Irene Shaver, Adrienne Leroy, Jay Griffiths, Susie Wye and Dan Shaver) took home $400 in prize money, with the Domanko team winning $250 for second place. The Barclay team won $150 for third. The South Nation group received $50.

Taking part in all the Tubie fun, although they did not qualify for the final race, were crafts  skippered by Tommy Keyes and Canadian Tire. 

The weather for the 2012 Tubie weekend co-operated for the most part, although Sunday did start off a little threatening. Saturday was hot, but that did not deter the annual parade of Tubie floats. The  Friday night Teen Dance, a new addition to the weekend, proved to be a success as did the Tubie Dance on Saturday night. 

The theme of this year’s Tubies  was ‘Dock of Ages’, and there were some highly creative floats in the noon parade.

The Barclay/Laurin float, which celebrated the Muppets, was awarded first prize by float judges and a cheque for $400 on Saturday. Alice in Wonderland (Waddell/Millard) came second, and won $250. It’s Good Tubie Under the Dock, the Magee/Domanko float was third, tied with the Lions Mini Pops float, each winning $150.

 The Katherine Lee float, Dock of Ages, came 4th, the Red Neck Tubies 5th and Canadian Tire 6th. The last three each received $50.

[…]

 

The excitement is mounting as the South Mountain Fair is now just around the corner from August 16-19.

“This is our 120th anniversary, so this is a special year for us,” says Diane Fawcett, a member of the board of directors. “Every year we try to put together the best show that we can.”

And what the South Mountain Fair Board ends up with each year, is a huge well-rounded country fair that has something to offer for all ages and all interests.

Fawcett is extremely excited about this year’s music venue which she looks after. “We have Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives headlining Sunday and on Saturday, sure to please everyone is Jason Blaine and Landmark.”

“Freddy Vette is on Friday night. He does 50s-60s and he is amazing,” says Fawcett.

The Freddy Vette show at 8 p.m. on Friday, August 17, follows the hugely popular Demolition Derby which roars into action at 7 p.m.

The Fair opens Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. with the opening of the midway. The fair’s opening ceremonies will take place at 6:30 p.m. and the first big event is the Horse Pull at 7 p.m.

“Our midway is Crown Amusements and they run a great show, really clean,” says Fawcett.

Fawcett also explains that from some new events tried last year, the committee decided to return the Farmer’s Olympics. “It was a hoot. We had 17 teams. The audience had a great time along with the participants.”

The farmer’s Olympics includes contests all related to farm practises like hay bale throwing, running through tires, wheelbarrow racing and so on.

Fawcett says there are also a few new events at this year’s Kid’s Mountain and she urges families to come out and have some fun.

The fair features one price admission of $20 per person (daily) or $50 per person for the weekend, and that gives the holder unlimited midway rides, admission to all of the concerts and dances (age of majority), the kids entertainment, and all of the agricultural shows and exhibits.

Fawcett says that people have been really receptive to the all inclusive pricing, because it really is a bargain.

The fair is a huge event which receives great support from everyone in the community, not just the people who attend but those who sponsor it and various events and prizes.

“The fair would not be able to continue at the level it does, if it weren’t for the support of the community,” says Fawcett. “We have Agri-Business sponsors, private business sponsors and organizations and people in general who support events.”

“This is a big year for us, and hopefully we have put together a big show that everyone will enjoy.”

As a bonus, the fair offers free camping. “It’s rough camping, but people can come, purchase their $50 weekend pass and camp. They don’t have to leave a concert and drive and that’s great for them and less worry for us.”

“We also have plenty of nearby parking for everyone.”

Fawcett explains that each year following the close of the fair, the committee of 25-30 directors takes a couple of months off. “We usually have our annual meeting in early December, and then come January we start again with new directors and new sponsors.”

This year’s title sponsors are Scotiabank and O’Farrell Financial Services Inc.

For a complete list of all of the South Mountain Fair events, everything from events for kids, to the agricultural shows, to the concerts and dances go to www.southmountainfair.ca

This year’s grand prize give-a-way offers the winner a choice of four grand prizes sponsored by Mike Dean’s Supper Food stores, Sandy Row Restaurant  & Golf Course, Winchester BMR and Byers Limousine and Stretch Suv’s.

[…]

 

Police Constable Robert, “Bobby” Bird of the Wikwemikong Police Service located in the region of Manitoulin Island was commended with the Police Medal of Courage and Bravery at the annual First Nations Chiefs of Police Ceremony in Winnipeg, Manitoba on May 23, 2012.

A native of the Morrisburg/Williamsburg area, Constable Bird is a graduate of the Police Foundations Program at St. Lawrence College in Kingston.

The award was given for Constable Bird’s valiant actions during a domestic assault incident in November of 2010, when he was the first officer on scene to a 911 domestic violence call involving a female who had been stabbed by her common law spouse.

The incident later involved a heated stand-off during which the accused man pointed a firearm directly at the officers. Due to the actions of Bird and the other officers, the incident was resolved without casualty and the man was brought safely into custody.

The Police Medal of Courage and Bravery is one of the highest honors a police officer can receive.

Bird says “I decided in high school (he is a graduate of Seaway District High School) that I wanted to become a police officer.” He recalls the love and support of his grandmother (the late) Delores Mullen during his teenage years growing up in the South Dundas.  

In 2006, at the age of 25, Bird became Security Manager at Rideau Carleton Entertainment Centre in Ottawa, It was in 2009 that he decided it was time to pursue his policing career. 

Applications were made to local city police stations in Ottawa, Cornwall and Brockville and to the Wikwemikong Police Service, which he learned was hiring officer through a policing website.

“I have a close friend who works with the RCMP and polices a First Nations Reserve in Saskatchewan. He highly recommended that I apply to a reserve in Ontario.”

Bird explains that when he looked into the Wikwemikong Police Service more deeply, he learned it was located on Manitoulin Island, the largest fresh water Island in the World.

“Since I enjoy the outdoors and fishing immensely, I thought I would give it a shot in the dark and put in my application. I also have First Nation heritage that goes way back on the Bird side of my family, therefore I thought policing a First Nations  community would be a great experience.”

After completing the interview process, Bird was hired by the Wikwemikong Police Service in January 2010, as a fourth class probationary police constable.

After three months of work as an Auxiliary Constable, he was sent to the Ontario government mandated Police Constable Training College in Aylmer, Ontario. While at the college, he was selected by the College Instructors and Sergeants to be a Police Ethnic and Cultural Exchange Mentor. He graduated from the Ontario Police College in July of 2010, and returned to Manitoulin Island.

It was just four months after his graduation, in November 2010, the he was faced with the incident that led to the recently awarded Medal of Bravery.

Constable Bird explains that the Wikwemikong Police Service is a stand alone First Nations Police Service.

“At one time the Wikwemikong Reserve was policed by the RCMP, then by the OPP, then in 1994, the Reserve, supported by the OPP, decided to become their own, stand along, police service.”

The Wikwemikong Police Service has a staff of 24 people (most of whom are First Nations officers). Bird is one of two officers who are not First Nations.

Constable Bird will complete his two year contract with the Wikwemikong Police Service this December.

[…]

 

Members of The Morrisburg & District Lions Club recently presented the Dundas County Food Bank a donation of $1,000. On hand to make the donation on behalf of the Lions club were Lions Earl Wood and Fred Langlotz. Pictured at the Morrisburg location of the Dundas County Food Bank following the presentation, l-r are Lion Earl Wood, food bank board members Jim Wilson (with his six-year-old daughter Katie),  Alvin Runnalls (board chair) and Brenda Millard (past chair), Lion Fred Langlotz and Dave King (food bank treasurer). Historically, the summer months are the time when the food bank sees its donations decrease mainly because people are busy and often away from the community for holidays. With visits to the food bank up about 10 per cent over last year and donations down, the Lions Club’s generosity was greatly appreciated. The food bank can always use cash donations for the purchase of the necessary perishable foodstuffs. The Food Bank is also currently in need of juices, cereals, canned meats and fish, canned fruits and vegetables, soups, dry pasta, canned pasta and pasta sauce, children’s snack items and personal toiletries. With the school year just around the corner, school supplies would also be welcomed.                      Photo contributed

[…]

 

An update on the state of the sewers in Iroquois, Morrisburg and Williamsburg was given at the July 17 South Dundas council meeting.

Todd Grant of AECOM was on hand to deliver a presentation outlining the issues found in each of the locations as well as an account of what needs to be done and a timeline and cost approximation for the work to be completed.

The 2011-2012 study of the sewers in Iroquois, which has 14 kilometers of “mainly concrete” pipe and 125 manholes, revealed “clear evidence of infiltration and pipe deterioration.”

The streets needing work in Iroquois were divided into high priority and low priority, with the high priority streets expected to be addressed first.

The study of Morrisburg’s sewers took place from 2009 through 2011, revealing that the 19 kilometers of pipes and 250 manholes also had “clear evidence of infiltration and pipe deterioration.”

All listed streets needing work in Morrisburg were listed as high priority. In addition, a section on Lakeshore Drive is in such a state of disrepair that it cannot be rehabilitated, but requires replacement.

Grant’s report also covered the findings from the 2011 study of Williamsburg’s sewers, which include four kilometers of pipe and 20 manholes. These, he said, were in “generally good condition” and need only minor repairs.

The studies revealed extraneous flow, which is a combination of infiltration and inflow issues.

Infiltration refers to ground water entering the sewers through defective pipes and/or cracks in manholes while inflow refers to  water entering the sewers through inappropriate connections. 

Inappropriate connections can include such things as roof drains, foundation drains, sump pumps, street catch basins and yard drains.

The impact of the extraneous flow is loss of capacity in the sewer collection system as well as higher water treatment costs.

It was suggested that operating costs could be reduced by as much as 30 percent if all systems were completely repaired.

Grant suggested council look into an education program for residents highlighting and explaining the various inappropriate connections.

He informed council that final reports will be submitted by July 27 with the expectation that tender preparation will be completed by August 31 with a tender closing of September 21. Rehabilitation work would then begin on October 1, 2012 and run through to October 31, 2013.

The section of Lakeshore Drive requiring replacement has a design deadline of October 30, 2012 with the expectation that tender preparation will be completed by November 9, 2012 with a tender closing of March 2013. Work would take place between May and September of 2013.

“That was very interesting,” said deputy-mayor Jim Locke, following Grant’s presentation, “and not frightening.”

[…]

 

Just as some wells are beginning to dry up with the heat of summer, so are the stores of available items at the local food bank.

Statistics from January to June of 2012 show that visits to the Dundas County Food Bank are up by 10 percent over last year.

According to food bank administrator Donna Quesnel, there were ‘just over’ 900 visits in that time compared to 839 in the same time frame for 2011. Forty-five percent of recipients are children.

In addition, there have been 40 new families visiting the food bank this year.

The Dundas County Food Bank, with locations in Morrisburg and Winchester, is currently in need of the following items:

• Juices

• Cereals

• Canned meats and fish

• Canned fruits and vegetables

• Soups

• Dry pasta

• Canned pasta and pasta sauce

• Children’s snacks – raisins, real fruit gummies, Rice Krispies, cheese and crackers

• Personal toiletries

• School supplies

There are a variety of locations for depositing donations, including the food banks themselves. 

Donations are accepted at several churches in both North and South Dundas as well as at Riley’s ValuMart in Morrisburg and Mike Dean’s in Winchester.

The two locations of the Dundas County Food Bank are: 17 Second Street in Morrisburg and 497 May Street in Winchester.

The food banks are open Mondays from 10 a.m. until noon, Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m.

In addition to regular donations, there is an upcoming fundraiser for the Dundas County Food Bank for those interested in walking or running for charity. 

This year’s Winchester Dairyfest will include a run/walk for charity called the Dairy Dash, proceeds from which will go to the Dundas County Food Bank.

The Dairy Dash will take place on August 11 at the Winchester Arena. 

It provides participants with the option of a five or 10 kilometer run or walk beginning at 8:30 a.m. or a Holstein Scamper, which is a two kilometer run or walk, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

[…]

 

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit warned residents to take precautions during the hot and humid weather following the humidex advisory that was in effect this past weekend.  

During extremely hot and humid weather, anyone can suffer heat-related illness when their body is unable to compensate for the extreme temperatures and properly cool. 

Some groups are more vulnerable than others, including young children, the elderly, people who exercise vigorously or who are involved in strenuous work outdoors for prolonged periods, individuals on medication and the chronically ill. 

There are a number of things that people can do to prevent heat-related illness:

Drink plenty of water and avoid liquids that contain alcohol, caffeine or large amounts of sugar.

Stay indoors. Stay cool by taking cool showers or wetting your hands, face and the back of your neck.

Wear light, loose fitting clothes, a hat and sunscreen when outdoors. 

Avoid vigorous exercise in the heat (this includes children as well). If you have a young child or a child with chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, do not allow them to partake in sporting events or exercise during heat waves especially when there is a heat/humidity advisory in effect.

Keep your home cool by limiting the use of your oven/stove.

Turn off unnecessary lights. 

Keep windows slightly open during the day. 

At night, open windows wide to cool the house. 

Never leave children or pets in a parked car.

Check up regularly on friends, family and/or neighbours who may be at high risk during a heat wave.

Extreme heat can cause many health problems, including cramps, dizziness, headache, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.  

Heat stroke is a medical emergency and can be fatal if left untreated.

For the complete list of tips and warning signs of illness, visit www.eohu.ca  or call 613-933-1375 or 1 800 267-7120 and ask for Health Line. 

[…]

 

A “training video” released virally on YouTube this week shows how easy it is to train for the Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation’s September 8 fundraiser, the Heel ’n Wheel for Local Cancer Care.

The training grounds in the video are right in front of WDMH, in the roundabout, but your training grounds can be anywhere. Staff organizer, Christina Enright, said, “you can walk or bike a little or a lot; in your own backyard, or through the streets of your hometown.”

“However you choose to train, we’re encouraging you to get moving, because we want you to enjoy this event with no pain, and lots of gains!”

“We hope that this funny video shows people that they can still have fun while they’re training,” she continued.  

The video features several current and former Winchester Hospital Heelers (occasionally in costume), Janet Hutt, Tanya Keats, Heather Harper, and WDMH Dietician, Lisa Raoul Watt, along with some neighbours and friends.  Check it out on YouTube under the name: Training Laps for the Heel ’n Wheel.

To start your own walking club or cycling group for the event, you first have to register yourself or your team at heelnwheel.ca.  

Then, to get your team active, you can easily make a phone or email tree, and reach out to your teammates to arrange your weekly training walk or bike ride.  

Or, you could mobilize on Facebook or on the Heel ’n Wheel event website, where there are tools that will get you talking and moving in preparation for the event.

The event will be held on September 8, 2012. There are seven starting locations including Greely, Osgoode, Russell, Crysler, Finch, Morrisburg and South Mountain. This event is open to all ages. 

The Heel ’n Wheel will wrap up in the early evening with a celebration barbecue in front of WDMH, complete with musical entertainment, children’s activities, and a presentation of awards.

[…]

 

On July 22, at Guindon Park, Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry MPP Jim McDonell hosted a summer picnic for everyone in his riding. According to his ‘tweet’ later that day: “SD&SG Riding Picnic was a great success today with almost 200 enjoying sausages, hamburgers and good company.”

The picnic is expected to be an annual event and, according to McDonell’s executive assistant Marilyn McMahon, “It gives the people a chance to chat with and maybe meet the MPP, if they have not met him before, and it  allows the MPP to have an opportunity to meet and chat with the people.”

South Dundas residents Lorne Strader and Doris Stewart were just two of the residents in McDonell's riding to attend and enjoy the picnic. Strader recently received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his many years of service to his community.

[…]