Communication a concern over homeless camp
By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
The moving of the homeless camp to a new site on Grand Avenue near the Chatham water treatment plant
led to a slew of questions from municipal councillors at their July 14 meeting.
The Rotary Park camp came down on Monday, with many of its residents – termed “stayers” by Cha-
Summer ClothingClearance
HUGE SELECTION
Utilities Commission structures.
tham-Kent staff – who had been there for a year, relocating to the greenspace to the west of the Public Utilities Commission facility on Grand Avenue East.
The stayers had to be gone July 14. By that night, a fence surrounded the park and all that remained was to clean up all the debris left behind.
The reason the camp had to go was due to coming shoreline stabilization work along the north side of the Thames River.
Jodi Guilmette, general manager of health and human services stressed municipal staff did not tell the homeless where to relocate.
“Staff have not provided any direction with any stayers with respect to where they should go. We can tell them where not to go, identifying what is not appropriate,” she said.
That includes being too close to schools, children’s playgrounds, athletic fields, and private property lines.
The current location on Grand should satisfy all rules, as it is well away from soccer fields and a community garden on the east side of the property, and an abandoned rail corridor divides the land from homes to the west.
But the 10-metre setback will have to be closely mon-
itored at the north side of the property.
Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy, who said he has fielded numerous calls from concerned residents, sees that as a problem.
“I understand the rules, the guidelines that are in place. In this circumstance with the PUC property, the north end of that trail, there is no barrier to keep anybody 10 metres away from someone’s backyard,” he said. “How will it be enforced or adhered to?
How do we as a municipality speak to the nearby residents?”
Guilmette said R.O.C.K. personnel are “very familiar with our protocols. They have worked very closely with the stayers when they erected their tents to ensure they have complied with our protocols.”
She added that if there is a situation where a resident believes the protocols aren’t being followed, they should call 311 and ask to speak to Kim Crew, director of housing services.
“We will investigate,” Guilmette said.
Chatham Coun. Alysson Storey also heard from residents.
“The concern from folks is the lack of notification for this site. It did seem to come up
fairly quickly,” she said. “The location seems a lot farther for (homeless) folks, especially during a heat emergency, for them to walk downtown for their services.”
Guilmette stressed it was “the stayers’ choice to move to that site. I don’t know if I want to pretend to understand why they opted to move to that site.”
Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor said whenever there is change, it only brings out more questions. He said he believed community members may not have been well informed on the process; “how we develop the encampment bylaw and what municipalities have control over and what we don’t.”
Guilmette said municipal staff looked at what other municipalities were doing in regard to their homeless, focusing on best practices. “It’s about what makes sense for us. We looked at what some of the practices were put in place by other municipalities,” she said. “That’s how we came to have the encampment protocols.” Dave Taylor director of legal services, said the courts have illustrated that if someone does not have “available shelter” for them, they can shelter on public land.
Continued on page 5
Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice
Chatham’s homeless camp has moved to the greenspace on Grand Avenue East beside the Public
CCTV cameras going into 5 C-K parks
By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
Big Brother’s mechanical eyeballs are proliferating around the municipality.
Chatham-Kent council voted to add new closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to five parks in various locations in the municipality.
West Kent Coun. Melissa Harrigan successfully put forward a motion to see cameras added to Kingston Park and Thamesgrove Conservation Area in Chatham, as well as Memorial Park in Tilbury, Library Park in Wallaceburg and McGregor-Kinsmen Park in Blenheim. In all instances, concerns over vandalism and mischief were the prime reasons behind the proposal.
A total of $94,000 will be used from strategic reserves to fund the added cameras.
They join a list of CCTV devices in other parts of the municipality, including in Tecumseh Park, downtown Chatham, Wallaceburg, Blenheim, Ridgetown, Tilbury, Dresden, Wheatley and Thamesville.
Chatham-Kent Police Chief Kirk Earley said the cameras have been instrumental in solving crimes, as well as locating missing individuals.
“I don’t think any of us could have predicted when it started how successful and crucial CCTV has played for our police service and for public safety,” he told council. “It takes sometimes hours to do things down to minutes.”
He said the deterrence and de-
tection the cameras offer helps the service utilize its manpower more efficiently.
However, he stressed cameras do not replace boots on the ground.
“This does not replace police officers. This augments and compliments our resources,” Earley said. “We are in the people business and we need people to do that. No matter how much technology we purchase, that will never replace police officers walking the beat and driving around on patrol.”
Earley pointed to how CCTV cameras can deter criminal activity.
“Look at Tecumseh Park. Once CCTV was in
place, it reduced calls for service significantly,” he said. The park had been the site of
drug use, vandalism, and violent crime.
Continued on page 5
Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice
A CCTV camera module keeps watch over the intersection of Fifth Street and King Street West in Chatham. Council recently opted to add CCTV cameras to five parks in the municipality
Another lucky local! CCTV cameras
‘Extremely difficult situation’
Continued from page 1
There aren’t enough beds in the homeless shelter on Murray Street to accommodate everyone.
Concerns over trash and criminal activity were also raised by councillors.
Chatham-Kent Police Chief Kirk Earley said CCTV cameras are not in place where the new “tent city,” as Bondy called it, is located.
“We use an evidence-based approach. For us to assume crime will occur at either location, that’s not the appropriate approach. That’s stereotyping these individuals. I don’t think that’s fair,” Earley said. He added there was some criminal activity at the Rotary Park encampment, but not the entire camp. CCTV cameras were eventually installed there, however.
Guilmette said keeping the area clean can be a challenge.
“We were doing the best we could with the resources we had,” she
said of the Rotary Park encampment, which at times resembled a trash heap.
Storey urged other residents to not rubberneck when it comes to the encampment.
“I request that our community does not drive by this site to treat it like an attraction. I don’t think that’s appropriate,” she said. “This is where they live. It’s an extremely difficult situation.”
Meanwhile, Chatham-Kent police said they have been receiving 911 calls over the location of the encampment.
“We remind the public that calling 9-1-1 is for emergencies only. If you have questions or concerns with the location of an unhoused person sheltering in a location you believe violates the encampment protocol, we ask that you call 311 or our non-emergency number at 519-436-6600,” officials said in a release.
Continued from page 3
In his report to council, Earley said key successes with the use of CCTV include locating several missing persons; tracking an assault and robbery; identifying vehicles involved in organized crime, or those that failed to remain at collisions; uncovering vehicles and individuals tied to a major auto theft ring; debunking a claim of an active shooter; tracking down a missing firearm; and more.
Councillors seemed enamoured with the idea of adding more cameras to communities. South Kent Coun. Anthony Ceccacci suggested exploring adding the cameras to other areas, such as Erieau and Mitchell’s Bay.
Gord Quinton, chief financial officer for the municipality, said throwing cameras up everywhere will not lead to an end in crime.
“There is the part of diminishing returns. If a park is having very few issues, does it make sense to spend $12,000 on cameras?” he asked. “It makes sense for police to be reporting back to council on where we are having issues and would having a CCTV camera there be beneficial.”
Not everyone at the table was in favour of the added CCTV coverage. North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville said she’d prefer to see the funding fuel more officers.
“The costing is a deterrent for me. I would rather see funds go towards frontline staffing. Get more boots on the ground in our smaller communi-
ties,” she said.
Jubenville was also against the use of CCTV cameras when the matter came to council in 2024 to expand on a 2020 pilot project, expressing concerns over surveillance and the general public.
At the July 14 meeting, she asked when facial recognition software was used. Earley said it isn’t.
“I wouldn’t call it facial recognition. It’s AI software,” he said.
Contributed image
Chatham’s Robert Gordon-Kay is an instant winner. Gordon-Kay won a top prize with Instant Sonic Multiplier. He purchased his winning ticket at Richmond Convenience on Richmond Street in Chatham.
Opinion
Water woes
Open the damned pool. Let the kids cool off.
That was our thought during the heat wave after Orville Wright pool was closed by CKRecreation due to a report of lifeguards being threatened by young adults, according to municipal officials.
Thankfully, that did happen…albeit six days after it was closed, including over a rather warm weekend.
When the pool opened July 16, families lined up to enter.
Why so long? There are tools in place to quickly address such matters.
The first element is the police. If the threats were serious enough, the alleged tough guys could be charged for uttering threats. It’s a criminal offense.
The alleged culprits can also be trespassed off the property, which is what seemed to be the plan for the municipality. Officials said they will be banned from all pools.
What about old-fashioned police presence? Keeping the pool open and putting an officer down there, or a special constable, on regular occasions would have served as a deterrent.
Ditto for temporary CCTV cameras.
According to the chief of police, there are about four portable units that could be used at the park.
Surely these were better options than just closing the pool. By doing so, the municipality sent several signals, none of which were good.
First off, for six days, it let the alleged bullies win. We have the resources to stand up to such bullying in a very tangible manner.
Second, this was a case of the actions of a few, or perhaps just one person, ruining the pleasure of the many.
We were happy to see the pool reopen. We can only imagine how families in that area felt.
Speaking of water, if what comes out of Lake Erie is good enough for the people of Chatham and South Kent, not to mention millions of people around the lake in Ontario and the bordering U.S. states to drink why wouldn’t it be for the people of Wallaceburg?
Council will have to make a decision on how to deliver potable water to Wallaceburg in the future, and building a new treatment plant in that community looks prohibitively expensive. If the Chatham plant has the capacity and is less expensive, that should be the end of the debate.
We are one big, happy(ish) municipality, right? All for one and one for all.
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Turning the pages
Two former colleagues of mine died recently, one well-known in the community, the second known more in the hearts of those who worked with her.
Simon Crouch, a renaissance man in the local media scene, died at the too-young age of 67.
A man of acerbic wit (a more colloquial term would be he didn’t put up with stuff), Simon worked in local radio when ownership provided more resources for radio news departments, in television with CKCO in the heyday of John and Jean-Marc Haslip, and in local newspapers.
There wasn’t a topic on which Simon didn’t have an opinion, but he didn’t let his personal feelings get in the way of any story. He was a consummate professional. He was also another
person who helped me along the way.
I had left a former London Free Press-affiliated company over their penchant for treating news like it was filler between advertisements, and had taken the summer off.
Simon (who was in radio at the time) called me at home and said he’d heard a rumor that I was going back to the Chatham Daily News.
I called managing editor Steve Zak and said, “I hear you’re hiring me.”
He replied, “Sure, if you’re willing to come back as a reporter. It’s all we’ve got right now.”
I had left as an editor, so it put me in a position of
working for the people who had been working for me.
I took the job (having two kids and needing to eat were great motivations) and later was able to return the favour as Simon covered some stories for the Daily News.
Simon had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the Marx Brothers, comedy greats of the 1930s, and, it seemed, knew something about practically everything. It was impossible not to have an interesting conversation with him.
The passing of Kathy King deserves more space than I have here. Every organization has someone who holds the whole mess together. Kathy was that person for the Chatham Daily News editorial department for some 20 years.
Continued on page 7
Jim Blake
Future of ’Burg water discussed again
By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
Municipal councillors and members of the public offered differing opinions on what the municipality should to in the future to supply drinking water to Wallaceburg.
Building a new water treatment plant, moving the intake pipe upriver, adding a 56-mega-litre storage reservoir, new water mains and more is estimated to cost as much as $150 million, possibly more, according to consulting firm Municipal VU (M-VU).
Jim Harnum of M-VU said building a pipeline from Chatham’s water treatment plant to car-
ry water to Wallaceburg would likely be a better use of tax dollars.
Currently, Wallaceburg draws its water from the Chenal Écarté (the Snye River) and the water is treated at the Wallaceburg plant.
Three citizens spoke up at council July 14 in regard to the PUC master plan review, all of whom focused on the future of potable water for Wallaceburg.
Two wanted to see Wallaceburg’s water treatment plant maintained, while one urged the opposite.
Wallaceburg Advisory Team for a Cleaner Habitat (WATCH) chair Joel Johnson urged council to “go back to the drawing board,” over the proposal
Saying goodbye to old friends
Continued from page 6
Her official title was “editorial assistant,” but she kept the crew of what was once 20 reporters, editors, and photographers on an even keel. She had a smile and a nickname for everyone she met. Mine was “Chief” since I was managing editor. Her banter was legendary. Those getting out of line with “K.O.” would end up with a stern “AYE, AYE, AYE” and a finger wagging.
In the days of manual data entry, Kathy typed letters to the editor. On one occasion, a local realtor who lived in an apartment along the river was upset that someone had driven a snowmobile through a flock of birds resting on the ice.
“I was awakened by bees at two in the morning,” he wrote in anger. When he called to complain that the letter made no sense, it was discovered he had actually been
to switch to Wallaceburg receiving water from the Chatham water treatment plant, which draws water from Lake Erie.
“Wallaceburg and area residents feel that changing to Lake Erie is a downgrade,” he said.
“Sarnia’s chemical valley has cleaned up its act in the last 20 years. The
industries on Lake Erie have not done the same. They’re still releasing unacceptable amounts of pollutants.”
Kris Lee, a past chair of WATCH, said a move to using Lake Erie water would be akin to “asking the Wallaceburg community to sustain itself on fast food when a health-
ier home-cooked meal is readily available.”
However, Larry Hutchins said if all of Chatham-Kent is to share the cost of upgrading the Wallaceburg water treatment plant, then everyone should have a say.
“By following the PUC recommendations (to use Chatham water), we as a
community will be saving $100 million on the cost of this project,” he said.
“Meetings should be held for all of Chatham-Kent, as the debt will be spread across the municipality, unless council plans to area rate the cost.”
Councillors also chimed in.
Continued on page 8
awakened by Bess, his wife.
It took a while for us to live that one down.
Kathy loved her Toronto Blue Jays and was distraught one morning when she came in to find out that their catcher (and her favourite player Pat Borders) was out for the season with a pulled sphincter muscle.
Somehow, a fake news story had been placed on Kathy’s desk by a newsroom prankster.
She approached me with a sincere look of concern and asked, “Chief, what’s a sphincter muscle?”
“I think it has something to do with squatting” was all I could get out while suppressing a laugh.
There was hell to pay when she found out, but all was forgiven eventually.
Godspeed to Simon and Kathy. Wherever their souls land will be better for it.
July 26-27, 2025
ON Saturday, July 26th.........................................9am to 5pm Sunday, July 27th............................................10am to 1pm
Pet Valu #2077 647 Grand Avenue West
Green Party boss visits Dresden
By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com
Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner recently joined the chorus of voices opposed to the York1 Dresden landfill.
The long-time environmental advocate made the commitment during a visit to the Dresden Legion where he spoke with farmers, members of Dresden C.A.R.E.D and other community leaders, urging the provincial
government to repeal or “kill” Bill 5.
Schreiner called the controversial bill – which removes the environmental assessment from the Dresden project and greenlight others – one the scariest pieces of legislation he’s ever seen.
“I’m deeply concerned that the government can declare special economic zones anywhere in Ontario they want to,” Schreiner told the gathering, noting the creation of such zones could contravene a host of environmental protections.
Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner talks with Doug Shaw and North Kent Coun.
recent gathering in Dresden organized by Dresden Citizens Against Reckless Environmental Disposal. Schreiner has pledged his support to oppose the York1 landfill project and repeal Bill 5.
Straight Talk with Nathan McKinlay
Low Price or Low Ball?
In my time working in Funeral Service, I have certainly seen a shift in attitude in marketing style and consumer trust. People are becoming increasingly cynical about institutions and there are often outliers throughout varying industries which make their money by exploiting this cynicism. Funeral service is no different. “Inexpensive cremation” is now marketed with the same vigor and flamboyancy as the “Shamwow” and the “Slapchop”. You have big personalities on park benches pushing back against Funeral Homes with their “unnecessary buildings, staff, and dignified holding areas.”
Immediate cremation has always been an option at the Funeral Home. There is nothing new or ‘progressive’ about it. At the Funeral Home, it is one of many of the low-pressure options a family may select. We can keep this as simple or elaborate as you wish – one of the many benefits of a building, staff and a dignified holding area.
Cremation storefronts often work under the “get them in the door and charge them more” mindset. They will give you a price for immediate cremation and you will prearrange for it. Then, when you die, the extras tend to come out. Here are a few ‘extras’ you might find on a cremation storefront’s price list.
Surcharge Sheltering beyond 48 hours $190, Surcharge person over 250 pounds $250
Surcharge “Hazardous transfers” $100 - 300, Surcharge “Priority Assistance” $100 – 300
“I’ve never seen anything so undemocratic be proposed in Ontario, or even across Canada,” he said of Bill 5. “This is not what local democracy is supposed to look like. There’s nothing there to prevent the pre-
mier from declaring Dresden as a special economic zone in order to proceed regardless of what local and provincial laws say,” he said.
“I want you to know that I am committed to working with you, and parties in the opposition have agreed to stand up for Dresden. We’re all committed to working together, to stand up
for what’s right, to stand up and say that if you’re a deep-pocketed donor, you shouldn’t get special treatment.”
The fight against the York1 Dresden dump/regenerative recycling facility proposal is entering its 17th month. Since the project was revealed, momentum against it has been building. Continued on page 10
Expand public meetings, councillor urges
Continued from page 7
South Kent Coun. Anthony Ceccacci said since this a Chatham-Kent decision impacting ratepayers around the municipality, there should be public meetings on the matter beyond Wallaceburg “to discuss the potential increase to rates to construct a new Wallace-
burg water treatment plant.”
Wallaceburg Coun. Carmen McGregor said reaching out to see if it was feasible to connect to Lambton County water was a failure.
“We were told it wasn’t feasible. There needs to be some education on why it is not feasible,” she said.
Surcharge “Holiday Assistance” $100 - 300, Surcharge Delivery of Cremated remains to family $190
Surcharge - Filling keepsakes not purchased at FH $5 per piece
By law, every funeral home and cremation storefront must have their pricing available on their website. Be sure to research online before entering into any immediate cremation arrangement. If you are pre-arranged elsewhere and want us to look over your arrangements with you, we are always happy to help.
Your Wishes. Your Way.
Communities around Lake Erie have been taking their drinking water from that lake for decades. Darren Galbraith, general manager of the Public Utilities Commission, said the first use of Lake Erie water in the former Kent County took place in 1965 to service the now-levelled Southwest Regional Centre. Other plants came online in the early 1970s.
“There are tens of millions of people that drink the water from Lake Erie every day on both sides of the border,” he said.
Council approved updating the Water and Wastewater Master Plan in the fall before making a decision.
Tourlas,
Pam Wright/The Chatham Voice
Rhonda Jubenville at a
Sacred waters, sacred fire
Continued from page 8
In June, the Ontario government passed Bill 5, which notably removed the EA for the Dresden project located just steps from a waterway and one kilometre from the town’s high school.
In his comments, Schreiner repeatedly stressed that better policies need to be in place to regarding landfills with existing permits, emphasizing there are hundreds of these in Ontario.
He also took issue with the fact the York1 Dresden project was specifically named in Bill 5.
“Communities need to be confident that existing landfills (like Dresden’s)” cannot be re-opened,” he said.
Members of Dresden C.A.R.E.D. said they want Ford to come to Dresden to see what a bad idea the Dresden project is.
“”We need to get him down here so we can
show him how dumb this idea is,” group member Rob Simpson told Schreiner.
In response to a comment from the crowd that Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Steve Pinsonneault was put in a tough position over Bill 5, Schreiner said Pinsonneault had the opportunity to leave the Progressive Conservatives and speak out as an independent.
“Steve’s more than welcome to come over to our corner of the legislature where you can vote how the people want you to vote,” Schreiner explained.
His comment was met with applause. Pinsonneault’s absence from the Bill 5 vote and from local meetings regarding the dump have been roundly criticized by the community.
Schreiner joins Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles
in the fight against Bill 5. Stiles paid a visit to Dresden two weeks ago to shore up support against the York1 project and launch the province-wide Kill Bill 5 initiative.
Schreiner was also on hand on the morning of July 13 to offer words of encouragement for those who took part in a symbolic relay paddle. Led by members of the First Nations community, participants paddled to carry sacred water along the Sydenham River from Dresden to Wallaceburg, a stretch of the river that could be severely impacted if the dump becomes a reality.
A sacred fire, also burned at a site near Molly’s Creek for four days as part of a peaceful protest to bring awareness to Dresden’s plight and the need for environmental protections.
Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice
Walpole Island First Nation firekeepers and volunteers, including Possum, Kevin Jacubec and Honie Chumko, oversaw a sacred fire near Molly’s Creek. The fire burned for four days in honour of healing the Sydenham River, which critics say is threatened by the York1 landfill project. Molly’s Creek is tributary of the Sydenham.
C-K to address road dust issue
By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
Dust control is back on for gravel roads in Chatham-Kent.
Well, for at least 20 per cent of them.
At the July 14 council meeting, council unanimously opted to approve a plan that would see dust suppressant used on various rural roads, starting as soon as a “couple of weeks,” according to Ryan Brown, director of Public Works.
A total of more than $263,000 of that will be pulled from strategic reserves to cover the expense this year.
“Our road supervisors know the really busy roads and where
them.”
“We’re hoping to get to at least 20 per cent of roads and hopefully up to 40 per cent. We’ll start with the
Den-Mar Brines has been tasked with applying the suppressant, earning the job with their tender of just under $293,000.
est-use roads.”
- C-K’s Ryan
During the 2025 budget process, the budget committee of council opted to pull the dust suppressant work across all gravel roads in the municipality. That earned extensive backlash from rural residents.
Brown
During the July 14 council meeting where the decision was made to reintroduce dust suppressant, West Kent Coun.
- C-K’s Ryan Brown
Melissa Harrigan wondered about service levels for this year.
Brown said the roads supervisor team discussed what would be practical and how Public Works could convert that into a figure that could be put to tender.
Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy successfully brough the matter back before council.
“We’re hoping to get to at least 20 per cent of roads and hopefully up to 40 per cent,” Brown said. “We’ll start with the highest-use roads.”
Brown said the dust
suppressant effort could begin in several weeks, adding that the work is weather- and materials-dependent.
“We need a little time to get going and get started on some of the busiest
roads. As we get moving and people notice extremely dusty roads, give Public Works some time and then if residents have a concern, they can call 311,” he said. “Our road supervisors know
the really busy roads and where stretches of gravel roads have large numbers of houses on them.”
Tournament pulls anglers from across the region
By Jim Blake jim@chathamvoice.com
Take 160 anglers, 110 volunteers, dozens of sponsors, a dedicated committee, and a touch of luck, and you come up with the recipe for another successful Canadian Tire Mitchell’s Bay Bass Tournament.
The 11th annual tournament, held July 11-12 in the small waterfront community, attracted
some of the best bass anglers from across Ontario and the midwestern United States to compete for tens of thousands of dollars in cash and merchandise.
“One of the reasons we’re so well known as a tournament is the community participation,” said tournament chair Tom Beaton. “We’ve always designed this as a community event with proceeds going back to the community because without the as-
Whether you’re hitting the trails or taking an evening walk — we’ve got the perfect pair of shoes for every step.
sistance of the volunteers, we just could not do it.”
From famous professional anglers such as Bob and Darren Izumi to American Fishing Hall of Fame angler Steve Clapper, whose career stretched back to the 1970’s, the event is a must for returning anglers. Clapper retired this year and wasn’t planning on attending but felt the pull to return to watch the final Saturday weigh-in.
“It was one of those spur-ofthe-moment deals,” said the Port Clinton, OH resident. “I spoke to Robby Stanley who I had fished with the last several years and he was telling me he was going through his practice session. I told my wife Linda, it would be fun just to go up there and watch the weigh-in. She said ‘Let’s go,’ and we did.” Clapper said local hospitality keeps him coming back, from the angler’s dinner the night before the event to the way participants are treated.
“I’ve fished some of the biggest
tournaments there are, and I have more fun here. The people and the volunteers are unbelievable. They treat you like a king,” he said.
Organizers kept a watchful eye on a massive storm front sweeping in from the Windsor area, but managed to just get the event in as strong winds and waves blew in at the close of the day Saturday.
There was a mishap on the water on Saturday during the tournament. Two tournament boats collided, sending two people to hospital, Beaton said.
The incident is under investigation by the OPP.
Beaton said the tournament would have no additional comment until the OPP concludes its probe.
Beaton said the strength of the event has allowed it to contribute to various community improvement projects as part of the Mitchell’s Bay Area Association.
The two-day totals for top five teams in the catch-and-release tournament were:
Jeff Kerr/Johnny Yancoulis –41.07 lbs
Neil Deleeuw/Brent Cescon –38.45 lbs
Derek Strub/Marcel Lambercy – 38.08 lbs
Jeff Power/Luke Sanders –37.60 lbs
David Reault/Charles Reault –36.96 lbs
The biggest fish of the tournament (6.47 lbs) was landed by the team of Rick and Berkley Damphouse.
Jim Blake/The Chatham Voice
Aaron and Natalie Hathaway showcase two of their catch during the Saturday weigh in at the Canadian Tire Mitchell’s Bay Open. The couple placed seventh with 36.09 lbs. of fish.
Leamington siblings with C-K roots hailed as heroes
By Michael Bennett Local Journalism Initiative The Ridgetown Independent
A pair of Leamington-area siblings, with roots in Chatham-Kent, are being regarded as heroes following a Lake Erie rescue of a jet-ski rider off Point Pelee on the night of July 8. Cal, 15, and Lyla Kivell, 14, are credited with saving the life of a 39-year-old Brampton man who had fallen off his personal watercraft off the east side of Point Pelee around 8:30 p.m.
Lyla was playing guitar in her bedroom of the family home on East Beach Road – between Point Pelee National Park and the Hillman Marsh on the east side of the point – when she looked out the window and saw a man struggling in the water beside a Sea-Doo.
She ran into her brother Cal’s room to let him know what she saw and then called 9-1-1.
Cal, who has taken lifeguard lessons for two years, jumped in the water and began swimming toward the victim.
“I can tell if someone’s a non-swimmer in a situation like that,” Cal said, as he could see from shore the man was wearing a life jacket but was struggling to stay above water.
He donned a life jacket and grabbed a second one before jumping into the water.
Cal thought the man was about 200 yards from shore, “but when I started swimming, I realized this guy was way further out than I expected.”
“I was swimming for about 15 minutes, and when I finally got to him, I was pretty exhausted,” said Cal.
Once he reached the victim, he asked for his name, if he was
alone, and if he was hurt.
“I made sure I told him I was a lifeguard in training, which is what we were taught to say in a situation like this,” stated Cal.
Cal said the man kept trying to get back on the jet-ski, “but I told him to let it go, it was pulling him under.”
“He had a life jacket on, which was the scariest part because he was still going under,” said Cal. “I think he was a bit in shock, so I was trying to keep him calm.”
Once the man did regain his focus, he kept thanking Cal for saving his life.
“He was like, ‘Thank you so much, you’re such an angel, you saved my life,’” Cal recalled. However, the two still had a bit of an adventure getting back to shore, as the water was choppy, with waves coming from all directions.
They also had to fight the current, which was pushing them towards Wheatley, as they drifted about half a kilometre.
Cal used the second life jacket to pull the bigger and heavier man to shore, where OPP officers were waiting and helped pull the pair out of the water and over the shoreline rockpile.
Lyla and Cal Kivell, of the Leamington area, are credited with saving the life of this Brampton man, who fell off a jet-ski into Lake Erie off the east side of Point Pelee, just off shore from the Kivell home on East Beach Road. Cal swam out to the man and guided him back to shore, where OPP constables Blair Boismier, left, Godfrey Ragonjan and Mathieu Rossignol, of the Leamington detachment, helped the rescuer and rescuee get back ashore.
The man, who reportedly was in the area working on the Gordie Howe International Bridge, was with friends who wanted to rent jet skis, but the others changed their minds. However, he decided to venture out onto the lake alone.
The man, who did not give his name, agreed to have a picture taken with the Kivell siblings and OPP officers before getting a ride back to Wheatley to get to his car.
The OPP officers acknowledged the Kivells for their heroic actions, as did MP David Epp, who later in the week met with the family and presented the siblings with a certificate.
“My mom was a lifeguard, my sister and I
want to be ones too,” said Cal. “We feel it’s important to be safe in the water.”
Cal and Lyla’s parents are Lindsay (nee Cooper) and Graham Kivell, both from Chatham, where the children were born.
The grandparents are also from Chatham – Jill and Kim Cooper, Sherry and Vaughn Kivell, of Kivell’s Piano Parlour.
Submitted image
Welcome to the Maples Retirement Living
Experience an active retirement on the shores of the Thames River! The Maples is a vibrant community where opportunity and hospitality find the perfect balance. Parks, golf, and walking paths are minutes away. Shops, restaurants, and the casino just down the road. Everything you need is close to home.
When you’re not immersed in your scenic surroundings, enjoy the elegance that awaits you within this beautifully renovated property. Designed to meet your desires for comfort and community, The Maples features a hair & nail salon, a library and TV room, a private dining room, a chapel, and so much more. It’s your life, and it’s time to live it your way!
There’s something to do here, every hour, every
Long grass, weeds dominate local dog park
By Pam Wright Local Journalism Initiative pamwrightlji@gmail.com
Every day, Shasta likes to romp and play at Chatham’s John Waddell OffLeash Dog Park.
But for owner Carmen McCauley and other dog parents, not so much.
McCauley said the municipality isn’t cutting the grass enough at the park, meaning there’s an increase in pesky insects and it’s also hard to find the ‘treasures’ the dogs leave behind when they do their business.
“We’re worried about
ticks because of Lyme disease and you can’t pick up poop,” she added. “You’re stepping in other dogs’ (feces) on the way to find your own. It’s always a lovely surprise when you step in your car.”
McCauley, one of the proponents behind the founding of the park more than 10 years ago, said she’d like to see more maintenance at the site. Fallen tree limbs and overgrown noxious weeds along the chain link fence – including stinging nettle – are also a problem.
McCauley said she and others call the Chatham-Kent 311 line on a regular basis to complain about conditions.
“Last year they were mowing regularly,” she said. “This year they’ve just abandoned the place.”
LIVE PERFORMANCES BY
Shasta and owner Carmen McCauley enjoy
in Chatham. However, McCauley and others would like
of the park, including more frequent grass cutting.
“If the grass is growing quicker and requires more than one cut to ensure it is below the five inches threshold, then the
When contacted by The Voice about grass cutting at the park, Chatham-Kent’s director of parks, recreation and facilities said the dog park is classed by the municipality as a C cut. According to Robert Pollock, the grass is to be mown once a month and is never supposed to exceed five inches.
contractor monitors that and cuts it as appropriate,” Pollock said in an email message. “If there are performance-related issues and long grass concerns, staff will follow up
with the grass contractors on those issues to resolve them.”
Editor’s note: The grass at the dog park was cut a day after the interview with McCauley was conducted.
Pam Wright/The Chatham Voice
walking at the John Waddell Off-Leash Dog Park
to see the municipality take better care
SENIORS LIVING SENIORS LIVING SENIORS LIVING
Bat in C-K tests positive for rabies
By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
Hands off wildlife.
That’s the message from Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, medical officer of health for Chatham-Kent, in the wake of a bat in Chatham-Kent testing positive for the virus. He said the prime way to avoid possible exposure to rabies it to steer clear of wild animals.
“Don’t interact with wild animals. Don’t pet them. Don’t feed them,” he said.
Nesathurai made the statements at the July 14 board of health meeting. He said it is not uncommon for bats to carry rabies, but other animals that can be infected include raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, dogs, and cats.
“In 2024, there was a case of rabies not far from here. It’s a virus and it’s a virus that
A Wednesday drug raid that hit multiple residences in Chatham resulted in five people being arrested.
Police also seized 293 grams of fentanyl, 51 grams of cocaine, 1.5 grams of methamphetamine, as well as scales, packaging materials and a large quantity of cash.
Total estimated street value, according to police, is
transfers from animals to humans by scratch or bite,” Nesathurai said.
A child contracted rabies west of Hamilton and did not survive.
“Once a person has symptoms, they’re almost certain to die,” Nesathurai said, adding symptoms can begin with feeling unwell, but are followed by “increased salivation, limb paralysis…it’s an awful way of dying.”
However, people can make efforts to prevent exposure. First, stay away from wildlife, here and abroad. Second, ensure your pets are vaccinated against rabies.
“If you have a pet, talk to your veterinarian about the rabies vaccine,” Nesathurai said. “If an animal doesn’t have rabies, it can’t transmit it to a person.”
And if someone believes they may have been exposed
to rabies, he said there is medical help available.
“If a person has been exposed, if they’ve been bitten by a bat or had physical contact, or had a bite from a dog, medical treatment can be used to prevent getting rabies,” Nesathurai said. “When appropriate, after an assessment and an investigation, post-exposure treatment is provided as soon as possible. If you’ve been exposed, get medical help. If you need advice, call the on-call team here.”
Last year, CK Public Health received 380 calls for animal bites or rabies exposure. The calls are welcomed. The number to dial is 519-355-1071, ext. 2902.
Rabies is a viral disease that infects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. The virus is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals.
nearly $64,000.
Charged with possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking are three Chatham men, aged 53 and 42 respectively; a Chatham woman, 32; and two women, aged 52 and 28, of no fixed address.
The 32-year-old woman is also charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and meth, as well as possession of fen-
tanyl and failing to comply with a probation order.
The 52-year-old woman is additionally charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine.
As for the 53-year-old man, he is also charged with failing to comply with an undertaking.
The 42-year-old man is charged with failing to comply with a release order.
August 6 to August 23
Chefs Dolly and Isobel have their own online cooking shows, each with dwindling ratings. So, what could possibly go wrong if they joined forces? EVERYTHING!
By Caroline Smith
The Chatham Voice
Council updated on Wheatley gas leak
By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
Municipal staff encourage residents of Wheatley to continue to let them know if they smell gas.
This after the June 26 evacuation of part of the downtown after gas was discovered emanating from the grass at the Wheatley branch of the Chatham-Kent Public Library on Talbot Road.
Chris Case, Chatham-Kent’s fire chief, said people were evacuated as a precaution for 12 hours, and as of July 14, there were six additional calls, including on Canada Day.
“We continue to respond to calls when anybody smells gas,” he said.
Ryan Brown, director of Public Works, said the problem appears to be a water well in this instance. It’s giving off methane and hydrogen sulphide gas, similar to what emanated from the ground in 2021 less than 200 metres away that led to an explosion that levelled two buildings in the downtown.
In that instance, gas came from an old gas well, which has since been closed in.
“Once the other well was capped, we monitored it for six months,” Brown said. “It was very, very minimal.”
A monitoring well at the site of the explosion remains in place. It too is an old water well, Brown said. The gas that is detected there is “very consistent” with the gas that has come out of the ground near the library.
“There could be a logical link to the two places,” he said.
West Kent Coun. Melissa Harrigan said the latest issue has Wheatley residents up in arms.
“It’s very safe to say they have some trauma memories (of 2021),” she said.
The Wheatley library remains closed out of an abundance of caution. A stack sends any gas that seeps from the well up into the air to disperse, while a pipe links to a nearby storm sewer to dispose of the water that is also coming up from
Library usage remains strong
By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
Based on performance metrics, the Chatham-Kent Public Library system is as busy as ever.
In a report to council, Stefanie Lawson, manager of public services, said the number of visits to library branches topped the 283,000 mark in 2024, up from 271,000 in 2023 and up substantially from 2022’s 223,000.
the ground. “What we do know, is there are some (newspaper) articles from the 1930s that indicate the Wheatley fire hall was on the site and there was an explosion and fire from a gas leak,” Brown said. “We believe there is a water well on this property.”
But they aren’t sure at this point, and ask for the public to supply any historical photos they have of the area to help them gather more information. He said the use of historical photos with the old site, at the intersection of Erie Street and Talbot Road, was helpful.
“We had a photo of the old gas well and we knew where to look,” Brown said. As for next steps, he said crews must excavate and confirm it is a water well. Are the two site connected? Should the monitoring well remain? Brown said municipal
FORM 6
SALE OF LAND BY PUBLIC TENDER
The MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT
officials don’t have all the answers yet. If it is a water well and not a gas well, it won’t likely be as deep, he said. He expects it would have to be cleaned, with the casing checked. Experts could advise if it needs to be capped, re-cased or monitored.
Take Notice that tenders are invited for the purchase of the land(s) described below and will be received until 3:00 p.m. local time on August 21, 2025, at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent Civic Centre, located at 315 King Street West, Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5K8. The tenders will then be opened in public on the same day as soon as possible beginning at 3:15 p.m. at the Council Chambers of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, located at 315 King Street West, Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5K8. Tune into our Municipal Facebook page or the Chatham-Kent YouTube channel for a virtual event where the tenders will be opened live beginning as soon as possible at 3:15pm.
Description of Land(s)
All lands are in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, the following are the geographic descriptions and municipal addresses.
1. 1. ROLL #3650-320-001-01300 - LT 184 PL 141; CHATHAM-KENT
Being 125 Oak St. W., Bothwell
2. P.I.N.: 00642-0103 (LT)
According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $32,000.00.
2. Roll #3650-410-012-02900 - PT LT 24 CON 2 CHATHAM GORE AS IN 658457; DESIGNATED AS PART 2, PLAN24R9372; S/T INTEREST IN 658457; CHATHAM-KENT
Being 8409 North River Line, Chatham P.I.N.: 00592-0062 (LT)
According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $232,000.00.
5. 3. Roll #3650-420-054-03800 - LT 8 PL 595; CHATHAM-KENT
Being 123 Coverdale Street, Chatham
6. P.I.N.: 00549-0201 (LT)
According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $146,000.00.
Minimum Tender Amount
$27,256.49
$56,250.30
$20,095.78
Tenders must be submitted in the prescribed form and must be accompanied by a deposit in the form of a money order, bank draft, or cheque certified by a bank or trust corporation payable to the municipality (or board) and representing at least 20 per cent of the tender amount Except as follows, the municipality makes no representation regarding the title to or any other matters relating to the land to be sold. Responsibility for ascertaining these matters rests with the potential purchasers.
This sale is governed by the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Tax Sales Rules made under that Act. The successful purchaser will be required to pay the amount tendered plus accumulated property taxes and any taxes that may be applicable such as the land tra nsfer tax and HST The lands do not include mobile homes situate on the lands. The municipality has no obligation to provide vacant possession to the successful purchaser. Purchasers must retain a lawyer to complete the purchase of any property for which their tender is accepted.
Pursuant to the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non -Canadians Act, S.C. 2022, c. 10, s 235 (the “Act”), effective January 1, 2023, it is prohibited for a non-Canadian to purchase, directly or indirectly, any residential property, as those terms are defined in the legislation. Contraventions of the Act are punishable by a fine, and offending purchasers may be ordered to sell the residential property. The municipality assumes no responsibility whatsoever for ensuring bidders/tenderers comply with the Act; and makes no repres entations regarding same. Prospective bidders/tenderers are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with the Act and are advised to seek legal advice before participating in this sale.
A copy of the prescribed form of tender is on the Municipality of Chatham -Kent website, www.chatham-kent.ca and on the website of the Government of Ontario Central Forms Repository under the listing for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
For further information regarding this sale and a copy of the prescribed form of tender contact:
Title
“In 2024, the library continued to serve as a cornerstone of knowledge, inclusion, and community engagement,” Lawson wrote in her report.
Continued on page 18
On top of increased in-person visits, borrowing of materials, both hard copy and virtual, were at 2023 totals or above. Physical items were borrowed to the tune of nearly 645,000 last year, while the 2023 numbers were about 350 more. Virtual loans approached 302,000 last year, while in 2023, they were below 236,000. Programming and outreach efforts are on the rise, as is attendance.
Amy McLellan, Manager Revenue or
Matthew Torrance, Deputy Treasurer
Address of Municipality or Board
315 King Street West, P O Box 640, Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5K8
Name of Municipality or Board
Municipality of Chatham-Kent
www.chatham-kent.ca
Blonde joins ER team
Dr. Jackson Blonde is no stranger to Chatham-Kent.
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) recently announced that Blonde has joined the emergency medical team.
The physician grew up in C-K.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Blonde back to Chatham-Kent as a valued member of our Emergency Department team,” said Dr. Zeke Milkovic, CKHA’s chief of staff, in a media release.
“His clinical experience, community connection, and dedication to patient-centred care make him an excellent addition
to our hospital. We are proud to see a former local medical student and resident return home to give back to the community that played a role in his education and development.”
Blonde graduated from Ursuline College Chatham before earning his Bachelor of Science from Western University in 2018. He went on to complete his Doctor of Medicine at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry in London.
During med school, Blonde completed clinical rotations in hospitals across southwestern Ontario and did his two-year family medicine residency here.
“It’s an incredible privilege to return home to Chatham as part of CKHA’s emergency department team,” said Blonde. “I have always felt welcomed and respected by the staff and patients in Chatham-Kent and I am delighted to serve the community that has invested in me. I’m especially grateful for the opportunities CKHA has already provided me throughout my training, and I look forward to contributing to the that CKHA strives for.”
C-K libraries
Continued from page 17
“The significant increase in visits through the door showcases the importance of the library as a gathering place and the staff’s ability to explore new programs and services that best serve Chatham-Kent,” Lawson wrote in her report.
North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville wondered if Lawson had per-library statistics.
“Do you collect data on each library,” she asked. “And perhaps on ones that might be declining on usage? Would you use that data to maybe see how you can bolster the one
that might be declining?”
Lawson replied that she could break out the data on a per-library basis.
Chatham Coun. Amy Finn said stepping into the Chatham branch immediately shows a visitor how active the library is.
“It’s always interesting to see all the activities going on in the Chatham library,” she said.
Lawson agreed.
“Summer is definitely the busiest time at the libraries,” she said. “We have reading programs going on for every age group.”
The Chatham Voice
Dr. Jackson Blonde
Nothing beats farm fresh produce
One of the many benefits of living in Chatham-Kent is the availability of fresh produce at roadside stands throughout the community. Fry’s Farm Market in Grande Pointe is one of many Foodland Ontario certified stands opening across C-K. Here, Lynne Fry prepares her stand with fresh tomatoes while waiting for a load of sweet corn. Lynne and her husband Craig and son have operated the stand for several years.
Casino hosting nets C-K $475K
The Chatham Voice
Chatham-Kent has pocketed another $475,000 thanks to gamblers who visit Cascades Casino in Chatham.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) recently transferred its first quarter (April to June) hosting payment of $474,992 to the municipality.
Since the gaming site in Chatham-Kent opened in April 2001, the municipality has received more than $20 million. These payments to host communities are based on a formula in the Mu-
nicipality Contribution Agreement that is consistently applied across all land-based casino sites in Ontario using a graduated scale of gaming revenue at the hosted site.
“OLG is a strong partner that provides substantial benefits to Chatham-Kent,” said Trevor Jones, MPP for Chatham-Kent–Leamington in a media release. “In addition to creating jobs at Cascades Casino Chatham, important investments in Chatham-Kent’s public services are made possible through OLG’s sharing of casino revenue.”
Jim Blake/The Chatham Voice
Community Events
Thursday, July 24, 2025:
• Afternoon Jamboree with all singers and musicians welcome 1–4pm at the Merlin Legion. Come out and enjoy good music and great company. Donations welcome. Starting at 4pm is bike night come out for drinks and pool. Call 519-350-8937 for more info.
• Blenheim Summer Concert Series featuring Pepper Jones & the Rockits – rain or shine. Starts at 7:00pm. Lawn chairs recommended. Talbot Trail Place, 24 John St. W., Blenheim.
• Dresden Summer Concert Series –Free music at Rotary Park. Cellar Door will perform at 7:00pm. BBQ at 6:00pm. In event of rain head to “The Wheelhouse”, 547 North St., Dresden.
• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St, Chatham open 11:00am–9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am–1:30pm. Come check out our daily specials. Senior Euchre starts at 1:00pm. Everyone welcome.
• Lunch at the Chatham Moose Lodge, 850 Richmond St, 11am-1:30pm. Daily specials and menu items available. Everyone welcome.
Friday, July 25, 2025:
• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St. Chatham open 11:00am–9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am–1:30pm. Supper served 4:00-6:00pm. No orders after 5:30pm. Tonight’s specials are liver & onions or fish & chips, $14.00(HST included). Take out available by calling 519-351-8733 or 519-351-5639. 5:15pm. is our weekly Catch-The-Ace draw (tickets can be purchased at the bar). Fun Darts start at 7:00pm. Everyone welcome.
• Chicken BBQ with all the fixin”s $25.00/person 5-6:30 pm. Meat Draw 3:00-5:00pm at the Tilbury Legion, 4 Stewart St, Tilbury.
• Friday night supper at the Chatham Moose Lodge, 850 Richmond St is a Pork Chop dinner with potatoes, vegetables, coleslaw and a bun. Dine in $14 and pickup $15. All meals are served at 6pm. Please call 519-3528291 to order. Everyone welcome.
Saturday, July 26, 2025:
• Morning Breakfast Program at First Presbyterian Church (corner of Fifth St. and Wellington). A delicious and nutritious breakfast served free of charge from 9:30am-11:00am, serving indoors, no take out. Wheelchair accessible.
• Bill’s Place Community Space Drop-In. Come spend some time in a 2SLGBTQIA+ safe space 48 Centre St., Chatham. Hang out and have a chat, have a coffee, do your homework, ask a question, read a book, or find out about our programs and upcoming events. No RSVP needed! Come & go as you please. All ages & allies welcome. 11am-2pm.
• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St., Chatham open 11:00am–9:30pm. Meat draws at 3:30, 4:30 and 5:30pm. Kitchen open from 3:00pm–5:30pm. Entertainment by Unity Station from 4:30-9:30 p.m. Everyone welcome.
• It’s fright night once again for our second summer ghost walk. We return to one of the most haunted areas of Chatham leaving from the parking lot of the Chatham Cultural Centre at 7:30 and 8:00 pm. Hear stories of accidents, seances, suicides, renovation heebie jeebies, freezing cold and invisible encounters that will have you looking under the bed when you get home. Tickets are available at www.eventbrite.ca and are $16 for Adults plus Eventbrite fees and $10 for Children (12 and under) plus Eventbrite fees. Visit our Facebook page, “Ghost Walks of Chatham-Kent”.
• Meat Draw 3:00-5:00 pm at the Tilbury Legion, 4 Stewart St, Tilbury.
in three part harmony, backed by some of the area’s best musicians. Carol Kerr, Christine Chemelle and Rochelle Day bring you all the hits of the girl bands from the 60’s to today. No admission, but we do pass the hat. There is a huge pavilion in case of rain. Food and drink from the Scouts.
• Merlin Legion Classic Country Jamboree from 1:30pm-5:30pm followed by a Sparerib dinner for only $15. $20 total with entry. No Frills meal & hamburgers also available. Bring your dancing shoes and don’t miss the fun event. Please contact 519-476-5870 to book your spot. Take outs also available. $5 entry with musicians/singers free.
• Breakfast at the Chatham Moose Lodge, 850 Richmond St from 9amNoon. All meals are cooked to order. Everyone welcome.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025:
• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St., Chatham open 11:00am–9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am–1:30pm. Today’s special is spaghetti with meat sauce. Come play Euchre at 1:00pm. or spend the evening playing Fun Shuffleboard or Euchre at 7:00pm. Everyone welcome.
Wednesday, July 30, 2025:
• The Chatham Concert Band presents Summer Concerts in the Park 2025 with special guests all summer long. Free concerts at 7pm in Tecumseh Park.
• Ridgetown Summer Concerts at the Ridgetown Legion. Black River Rememdy will perform at 7:00pm. 75 Main St. E., Ridgetown.
• The Chatham Legion, corner of William & Colborne St., Chatham open 11:00am–9:30pm. Kitchen open for lunch 11:00am–1:30pm. Our daily special is Meatloaf Dinner. Come check out our other daily specials. We have Fun Darts at 7:00pm. Everyone welcome.
CLUES ACROSS
Fun Stuff
52. Large wading birds
53. Similar
54. Time zone
55. Atomic #34
56. Program
58. Old world, new
59. Contrary belief
60. “To the __ degree”
CLUES DOWN
1. Plain-woven fabric
2. Classed
3. Suppositions
4. Midway between south and west
1. Pacific Standard Time
4. Extracts through heating and melting
10. Express delight
11. More curvy 12. Expression of uncertainty 14. Indicates before 15. Daughter of Hera and Zeus 16. Southwestern CA city 18. Unified 22. Less attractive 23. Base of jellies 24. A large and noisy party 26. He was traded for Luka
27. Wolverine genus
28. “Happy Days” actress Moran
30. Root of taro plant
31. Student environmental group (abbr.)
34. Silk garments
36. Unique power
37. Ray Liotta cop film
39. Leak slowly through 40. Notion
41. Atomic #55
42. Fixed in one place
48. About heat
50. Type of baseball pitch
51. Seedless raisin
5. Tropical American trees
6. Leveled
7. Published false statement
8. Adolescent
9. Junior’s father
12. Aurochs
13. Not low
17. Boxing’s GOAT
19. Short musical composition
20. Small immature herrings
21. Eavesdropper
25. Parcels of land
29. Anger
31. Irritations
32. Hindu holy man
33. Wicker basket for fish
35. Natural object
38. Transporting in a vehicle
41. A dog is one
43. Smaller portion
44. Sew
45. Belonging to a
‘Perfect Game’ sculpture unveiled
By Michael Bennett Local Journalism Initiative
The
Ridgetown Independent
People called it a home run, but since it’s a carving about a pitcher, maybe a better descriptor would be “the perfect game.”
A good-sized gathering was on hand to witness the unveiling of a carved wooden sculpture dedicated to Ridgetown’s own Harry O’Neill during the town’s 150th Anniversary celebrations.
World-renowned Bothwell carver Mike Winia, with the help of O’Neill’s great-great-grandchildren Lily, Jackson and Kacin Fuller, unveiled the masterpiece in a ceremony in
front of the Ridgetown Legion Br. 243 recently.
It is two sculptures –one of a catcher’s glove and the second of a hand holding a baseball in the grip of a slider.
It was the slider that was O’Neill’s claim to fame, as although he made only four appearances in the Major Leagues with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1922 and ’23, he is regarded by many as the inventor of the pitch.
Jim Brown, chair of the Ridgetown BIA, said there were a number of ideas for the town’s personalized sculpture.
“But this topped the list,” he said.
The carving is the second of 16 to be erected
in communities across Chatham-Kent in 2025 as part of an initiative by Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff, with funding provided by the Councillor Ward Funding Program through Hydro One’s $10-million investment in art, culture and recreation.
The first carving was un-
veiled in June in front of Rondeau Joe’s Pub & Eatery, depicting two turtles in a canoe as a reference to the area’s natural beauty. Plans are in place to in-
stall sculptures in Bothwell, Highgate, Thamesville, Blenheim, Erieau, and Shrewsbury in the East and South Kent area at some point this year.
Image courtesy The Ridgetown Independent News
Descendants of Harry O’Neill gather around the sculptures, with Ridgetown resident Ron Fuller (Harry’s son-in-law), sitting in the ball glove.
Pet Valu hosting adoption days
By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
Pet Valu in Chatham is about to play host to outof-town furry friends, and they’re looking for help getting these lovable northern ‘invaders’ new homes in and around Chatham-Kent.
Rhonda Sondrol, franchise owner of the Grand Avenue West store, said the North Bay Humane Society (NBHS) reached
Jodi Gander
50, Sunday, July 13, 2025 Nicholls Funeral Home
Darlene Lauwereys
61, Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Nicholls Funeral Home
Yvonne Labonte
62, Wednesday, July 9, 2025 Kendrick Funeral Home
Toni Ouellette
89, Monday, July 14, 2025
McKinlay Funeral Home
Joanne Beverley Brown
84, Friday, July 11, 2025 McKinlay Funeral Home
Edna Mae Gerow
88, Friday, July 11, 2025
McKinlay Funeral Home
out to see if Pet Valu would host an adoption weekend.
It’s not the first time the NBHS has brought animals here for adoption.
Sondrol said the same thing occurred last September, when volunteers brought 18 cats and 22 dogs here.
“They went home empty handed. Everybody was adopted out,” Sondrol said. “The community really stepped up.”
She’s hoping for similar success this year. Where last year was an event that was planned months in advance, this one is taking place with about two weeks of lead time.
This year, the NBHS has had a large influx of animals. Sondrol said the organization is a hub in northern Ontario for sheltering strays, and the wildfires in Manitoba have also contributed to the added dogs and cats.
OBITUARIES
Simon Crouch
67, Saturday, July 12, 2025 McKinlay Funeral Home
Edna Landry
88, Sunday, July 13, 2025 McKinlay Funeral Home
Shirley Manson
104, Tuesday, July 15, 2025 McKinlay Funeral Home
Margaret Ellen Kelley
91, Friday, July 11, 2025 Badder Funeral Home
Joe Kozera
62, Thursday July 10, 2025 Badder Funeral Home
Marilyn J. McFadden
92, Friday, July 11, 2025 Badder Funeral Home
kendrickfuneralhome.com
“Shelters are often left to deal with any animals that get left behind,” Sondrol explained. “They (NBHS) have been hit really hard with an abundance of animals.”
All the dogs that are coming down for hopeful adoption have been vetted and have been at NBHS for some time, she said.
“They have had to do an emergency adoption with all the influx,” Sondrol
Jennie (Jeltje) Devries
87, Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Badder Funeral Home
Annie "Anne" Katherine Kominek
95, Thursday, July 17, 2025 Badder Funeral Home
Mary Lou Heuston Saturday, July 12th, 2025 Alexander & Houle Funeral Home
Ethel Phyllis Wicksey 89, Wednesday, July 9, 2025 Life Transitions
William Arthur Edgar Fnukal 43, Friday, July 11, 2025 Life Transitions
Kathy King
57, Sunday, July 13, 2025 Life Transitions
Joanne Patricia Nevin 82, Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Life Transitions
See full obituaries at chathamvoice.com/obituaries
said.
As a result, she received short notice of a request for help, but she looks forward to helping.
“They will do anything to avoid euthanizing animals,” she said.
“We’re all about heling the animals. This was an emergency situation. We’re trying to help everyone we can.”
“They (North Bay Humane Society) have been hit really hard with an abundance of animals. All the dogs that are coming down for hopeful adoption have been vetted and have been there for some time. They have had to do an emergency adoption with all the influx.”
NBHS volunteers will hit the road this week for a 10-hour trip from North Bay to Chatham. It’s not a straight shot for vehicles filled with animals.
- Rhonda Sondrol
Sondrol said her store also works with local shelters that seek to adopt out pets as well, “but I’ll help anyone who says they need the help.”
“They have to stop three or four times to feed, water and walk the dogs,” Sondrol said. “God bless the volunteers that come with them.”
Anyone interested in adopting can visit Pet Value at 647 Grand Ave. W. on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Correction
The Chatham Voice
In our July 17 story, “Art on the Blvd. back Aug. 2,” we incorrectly stated in the story that the event
was taking place Aug. 7. It is indeed happening Aug. 2, as stated in the headline.
The Voice regrets the error.
Obituary
A resident of Chatham, Edna Gerow passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Chatham on July 11, 2025 at the age of 88. Survived by her loving family, Sherry Lee (Gene Benoit), Keith and Kathy Gerow, Susan and David McKenzie, granddaughter Lisa Wilson (Brendan), grandsons Gregory Lee, Jeffrey Lee (Dara Miller), Corey McKenzie (Kimberley Manders), and Nick Gerow (Nicole Baldwin). Special great-granddaughter Deliah Susan McKenzie. Also survived by sisters-in-law Connie McCallum, Pat Lalonde and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Charles Gerow (2011), son-in-law Wayne Lee, parents Jack and Jennie McCallum, siblings Murray, Melvin, Ronald, Karl, Jean Cooper, Dianne Johnston. Edna was very organized and efficient in her varied clerical and secretarial positions throughout her career. She played the organ for many years and enjoyed music, especially classic country. Most Saturday nights you could find her and Chuck dancing up a storm anywhere in Southern Ontario. Her favourite pastimes included sewing and creating wall hangings. She also loved flowers, doing crosswords and reading. She was a member of the Sprucedale United Church family. Special thanks to the wonderful staff at the Grand Retirement Village. She loved her time there. Appreciation to Dr Moazzam (CKHA) and Dr Kovacs (LHSC) and Dr. Gagner and their staff, for their dedication and care. In lieu of flowers donations to The War Amps Ontario Champ program, Sprucedale United Church or Chatham Kent Hospice Foundation would be appreciated. Cremation has taken place, followed by a private family burial at Evergreen Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date. Online condolences may be left at www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com McKinlay Funeral Home, 459 St. Clair Street, Chatham. 519-351-2040
Samways: Herbert “Sandy” Sylvester
A resident of Chatham, Sandy Samways, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at Riverview Gardens on July 3, 2025 at the age of 92. Born in Chatham, Sandy was the son of the late Herbert and Margaret Samways (née Coyle). Beloved husband of the late Dianne Samways (née Cook). Son-in-law of the late Raymond and Phyllis Cook. Dear father to Dana McGrail (the late Bill) of Cookstown, Robin Samways (the late Dorinda) of Maynooth, and the late Chris Samways of Chatham. Caring grandfather to Klarisa McGrail (James) of Halifax. Soon to be Great-Grandfather to Fintan McNeil. Sandy will be dearly missed by his sister Sally McGregor (the late Bill), sister-in-law, Marilynn Cook. As well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Our father was blessed with a sharp, inquisitive mind and musical inclination. He played harmonica in a youth band, and then, discovered the ukulele while studying civil engineering at University of Toronto. It was there that Dad and Mom’s romance began. Upon graduation, Sandy worked in planning for the city of Toronto. After 10 years, our parents moved to Chatham to raise their family. Dad continued as an engineer with Todgham and Case, expanded his workmanship with Planning for People and completed his career with Storey Samways. Throughout Dad’s working life and retirement, he golfed at Maple City Golf Club. This sport was passed down to Robin and his love for music bequeathed to Chris and Dana. He was very proud of his granddaughter Klarisa. Along the way; guitar, piano, and banjo increased his repertoire, and other activities would include coin collecting, photography, and trips to Honey Harbour. We are forever grateful for his humility and hard work; values he imparted to us. Lucky we were, to count on Dad to help us through life’s ups and downs. During the pandemic, Dad lost a son and his wife, then compounding that, suffered an amputation. We take comfort knowing Dad is at rest now. Many thanks to Riverview Gardens for their care of Dad. Cremation has taken place. A gathering in memory of Sandy will be held at a future date. Donations made in memory of Sandy to the Canadian Cancer Society, Diabetes Canada, or a charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be left at www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com. McKinlay Funeral Home
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Announcement
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459 St. Clair Street, Chatham. 519-351-2040
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Wanted to Buy: Antiques, costume jewellery, gold, silver, coins, military, furniture, tools. We Buy All - Paid Cash. 519-7278894.
For Sale
Six-foot fibreglass step ladder. Call 519-4010063.
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MORTGAGES / LOANS
Happy Heavenly 80th Birthday Dad
(Bob) William Robert Fotherby
July 20, 1945- June 25, 2001
If heaven is real
You know how I feel
My heart has an empty space
Reserved for your place
That will never go away
How I wish you could’ve stayed
Gone too soon
I love you to the moon
I have so many things to say
To share with you every day
It’s been a tough go without you
To tell me what to do
The challenges of life sometimes stab you like a knife
With you not around
I find myself bound
The most valuable things on earth
From birth
Is time
Losing you at a young age
Was so hard to turn the page
So many happy memories
I will never forget
Is a safe bet
I cherish those memories today
Is all I can say
What I wouldn’t do
To sit down and have a pint with you I miss you and love you so much
Your Son, Kev
Rock & Roll Never Forgets
