LOCAL HEADLINES

Grant Haven Media publications were big winners in the Ontario Community Newspaper Association (“OCNA”) awards.

In the short time it has been since construction began on Main Street in Exeter, traffic flows have already started shifting elsewhere to avoid delays. For drivers traveling to communities outside of Exeter, there are two options to skirt around the town.

After a local family’s first-hand experience with cardiac arrest, the community has rallied together to install four new automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in outdoor community spaces in Lucan.

Dove’s Nest Thrift Store in Exeter has been a place to find affordable shopping in the community for more than 25 years. Above are the members of the five-person board that works to keep the store running. From left are secretary Joanne Cooper, treasurer Joan Heywood, president Donna Regier, store merchandiser Josey Christmas and store window display designer Janice Webber

A proposal is underway to rename Plan 24 as Eccleston Grove, honouring the Eccleston family’s longstanding contributions to Grand Bend. The Eccleston family, who were grocers from London and who originally spent their summers in Grand Bend, made significant contributions to the community during the early to mid 1900s, yet their efforts and accomplishments have received little permanent recognition.

Local St. Marys quilters (from left) Wendy Anderson, Joan Robinson and Darlene Roger recently won National Awards at the 2025 Quilt Canada National Juried Show in Toronto. Their award-winning quilts will be on display at the 2026 Piecemakers Quilt Show, running April 23-25 at the Pyramid Recreation Centre in St. Marys. By Lynne Godkin Quilting enthusiasts, art lovers, and community members alike should make plans for this weekend as the Huron Perth and Stonetowne Quilt Guilds

When the Ontario government first started suggesting that municipalities should look for partners to merge with in order to cut costs, Rob Morley said councils didn’t take it seriously. “We listened to them, but we didn’t really care. We were okay,” Morley said in a presentation to South Huron Council marking the 25th anniversary of the amalgamation of Usborne and Stephen Townships with the Town of Exeter.

"It’s a special group.” That is what U16B Sabres head coach Marty Debruyn said of the team that went all the way to become all-Ontario champions at the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) championships from March 27 to 29 in Oakville

It was a dominant season for South Huron’s U15A Sabres, but that season was capped off on the highest note imaginable when they became Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) champions. The team competed in the provincial championships from April 10 to 12, which were hosted in communities throughout the Greater Toronto Area. They began the first day of the provincials facing off with Owen Sound, walking away with a 3-0 win, followed by another shutout against Oakville, top

Speed limit cut on Airport Line approaching Highway 83 South Huron Council has approved cutting the speed limit to 60 kilometres per hour on a section of Airport Line south of Highway 83.

When the Apollo missions went to the moon, generations of people were inspired by their display of human ingenuity and perseverance. Now, more than 50 years after humans last stepped onto the lunar surface, humanity is returning to Earth’s only natural satellite. And for the first time in history, a Canadian was part of the crew of trailblazers launching into the final frontier.

A sense of community is such an important and often underappreciated thing. It connects us to the people who share the same home that we do, and it gives us a feeling of belonging.

For nearly 60 years, Stephen Central Public School has been more than just a place of learning. It has been a cornerstone of community life in Stephen Township. Now, that same spirit is shining through as the school launches a major fundraising effort to rebuild its playground.

It’s a story with the makings of a nightmare, but local author TC Williams said what he put onto the pages of his first book is truly what he lived though. “Resident Stalker” is the first volume of Williams’ “The Superintendent Chronicles.”

Both renters and homeowners are being hurt by high housing costs in Huron and Perth counties with some cutting spending on essentials and others working second jobs to keep afloat, a survey has found.

he Purple Hill Country Music Hall is located on the Taylor Farm on Purple Hill Road, east of Thorndale, north of Highway 2, and was built in the early 1990s.

Elliott Park in Exeter with its RV sewage dumping facility and water refilling station will be closed for the season out of traffic safety concerns during Main Street construction.

Two years of reconstruction is expected to cause disruptions on Exeter’s Main Street, but the Exeter Business Improvement Area (BIA) is working to help local businesses through the challenges that come with heavy roadwork.

Huron Perth Flag Football is returning to the field for another season of local football action, and the organization is looking for dedicated volunteers willing to lend a hand. The league first got its start in 2024 when Dave Levinson and his wife, Melanie, decided to start a local league in the region where football options are limited.

On Saturday, May 30, the community will once again come together in support of Jessica’s House Hospice for the annual Hike for Hospice, this year with an exciting new addition designed to bring even more people into the heart of the day.