LOCAL HEADLINES

South Huron municipal council has been advised it could be looking at paying as much as 11 per cent more for OPP policing in 2027. Coming in at nearly four times the current rate of inflation, the increase would push policing costs for South Huron to more than $2.3 million, up from $2.1 million this year. The money for the Ontario Provincial Police service comes from property taxes. The bill for 2026 was also an 11 per cent hike over the previous year.

A new firehall that will serve Dashwood and the surrounding area is expected to open in April 2027. Local representatives and community members gathered at the new firehall’s location on Centre Street South Sept. 14 to break ground on the new station. By Dan Rolph Construction on a new fire station that will serve Dashwood and the surrounding area has officially begun, bringing the community one step closer to the end of a years-long effort to replace its aging firehall. Loca

The Canadian Community Newsmedia Awards (CCNAwards) celebrate the best in community publishing from across the country. Therefore, it was a thrill earlier this week to see several of our journalists recognized for the valuable work they do in their communities. The 2026 competition included more than 650 entries in 29 different categories which spanned the areas of editorial, photography, multimedia and general excellence from the 2025 calendar year.

Firefighting in South Huron runs in the family. Two volunteer firefighters were presented with years of service awards at the recent South Huron council — Aaron Datars for 20 years of service and Doug Smith for 30 years. Joining Aaron Datars for the presentation were his father, Peter Datars, and his brother Sam, who also serve on the fire department.

The priorities for candidates running for Exeter’s two spots on South Huron council range from improving communications to investing in infrastructure and attracting family doctors. Voters in the Exeter ward of South Huron will be able to pick from three first-time candidates and one veteran in the Oct. 26 municipal election.

Local representatives and South Huron staff gathered at the South Huron Recreation Centre on Sept. 14 to recognize the impact of the municipality’s recreation co-ordinator position. South Huron created the recreation co-ordinator position in 2025 after receiving an $89,900 seed grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

If you live or visit Grand Bend or have spent any time in St. Thomas, you have been fortunate to see the metalwork sculptures of an exceptionally talented artist. Driving down the Grand Bend strip towards the main beach near the traffic circle, there is a large metal fish named Stewie the Sturgeon. No ordinary fish, he came into the world at the suggestion and guidance of Teresa Marie Phillips, founder and curator of Paint Ontario.

United Way has kicked off their 2026 campaign in South Huron and Perth-Huron. Why is this campaign so important? The United Way campaign focuses raising funds for social services in the community along with housing projects and mental health programs. They are a strong advocate for helping with affordable housing, living wages and social assistance.

Dr. Robyn Elgie, a dairy veterinarian with the Kirkton Vet Clinic, said the practice is unique compared to other veterinary care. A dairy veterinarian will travel to see their clients regularly, usually every two weeks, to check for pregnancy, milking parlor protocols, medical treatment as needed and disease-prevention initiatives like vaccine protocols.

The Exeter Hawks started the 2026-2027 season of hockey on a high note after coming out on top of a matchup against the Thamesford Trojans Sept. 11 at the South Huron Recreation Centre in Exeter. Exeter’s Trey Taylor was first on the scoreboard with a goal for the Hawks at 9:12 in the first period, assisted by Chase Wedlake.

The Lucan Irish Six stepped onto the ice Sept. 12 at the Lucan Biddulph Community Memorial Centre for their first regular season home game since the team’s relaunch, going head-to-head with the Petrolia Flyers. The teams traded shots throughout the match, but it was Petrolia who climbed their way onto the scoreboard first with a goal at 7:38 in the first period.

South Huron in a lame duck period South Huron council is now considered a “lame duck” under provincial rules that restrict what a council can do during an election period. The lame duck status is triggered when 75 per cent of the current council might not be re-elected. All of the six council positions in South Huron have been contested by two or more candidates.

Long before I was in the newspaper business, I still wrote a lot of things down and kept a journal.

In the span of less than two weeks, four individuals went missing and were later found dead in separate incidents in the Grand Bend area, and police are urging everyone with plans of being in or around the water to stay safe. According to Lambton County OPP, crews began searching for a missing swimmer, a 28-year-old from Scarborough, who had last been seen on the beach at Pinery Provincial Park on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, just after 1 p.m.

It was a fitting sendoff to a summer of music as the final acts of Grand Bend Summer Sunset Sounds took to the stage Sept. 3. Held on the Rotary Community Stage at Grand Bend’s main public beach, the free concert series featured Grand Bend’s own singer-songwriter Clara Stegall as the final headliner of the year, bringing the series to a close with local flare.

One of the perks of my job is to be able to meet some inspiring people and to come across some hidden gems in our community that need to be shared. I came across one of these hidden gems when I met with Elena Dumitru and took a tour of the Art of Ideas Gallery located at 236 Jones St. East in St. Marys.

Continuing a tradition that began way back in 1869, the Kirkton Fall Fair returns this weekend with a packed schedule of fun events for families to enjoy. The fair remains focused on agriculture and all things farming. There is plenty to see and do without a midway or carnival games. Inflatables and a strawbale structure are sure to be popular with youngsters, as well as all the various exhibitions and shows.

With the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) in its final days, South Huron and the Authority have agreed on a plan to expand and manage the popular South Huron Trail. South Huron municipal council was assured at its last meeting that the trail agreement will remain intact when the local authority is absorbed into the Lake Huron Regional Conservation Authority in early 2027.

A large-scale energy project has been turned down by Bluewater council after residents rallied in opposition to the proposal. The project would have made use of two depleted natural gas caverns between Bayfield and Varna off Goshen Line, pulling power from the grid to compress air into the caverns that could be released later to move turbines, effectively storing the energy for times when demand increases.

Dan Rolph - Exeter Examiner Editor By Dan Rolph With September being World Suicide Prevention Month, I think it’s important that we take a moment to discuss the topic of mental health with transparency and honesty. Throughout my career covering the news in this community, every discussion I’ve been a part of regarding mental health has had one theme as its focus — the stigma that exists around mental health and how we can overcome it. I suppose I’ve always had a somewhat uniq