LOCAL HEADLINES

Bernie Gillis is a man of many hats. Coach of three Norfolk HERicanes hockey teams, Gillis is also president of the Norfolk HERicanes Girls Hockey Association.

Freeze it, and they will come. “It’s exciting,” said Brad Woodward Junior of Woodward’s Ice Fishing (519-586-7510) out of St. Williams, taking a moment to chat during a busy afternoon. “Nice to see everyone get back down here, happy and chipper. And to see the fish come in.” Long Point’s Inner Bay can be a four-season fishery - when Mother Nature cooperates. When it freezes, anglers do in fact come, in the main seeking perch fishing action backed up with a tasty feed. They

Those looking for something to do on the Family Day Weekend may find an answer closer to home than they think. This year’s Great Backyard Bird Count runs from Feb. 13 to 16, and anyone willing to set aside at least one 15-minute block to count and report the birds they see and hear is welcome to participate.

Councillors have fulfilled their half of a debt financing agreement for a proposed affordable housing project in Delhi, one of the final steps before construction can begin. The county also received welcome news in the report seeking council support presented at the Jan. 27 meeting. In an earlier report, councillors approved up to $1 million in financial reimbursement to the Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation “of the building permit fees and an ongoing property tax subsid

The Norfolk General Hospital Foundation is reminding the community that hospital equipment is not government-funded and relies on donations. Sarah Muntz-Flowerday, Executive Director at NGH Foundation, said there is a need for diagnostic equipment.

In a now semi-viral Facebook post it has been alleged that the owners of the Port Dover No Frills franchise were given a week's notice that Loblaws would not be renewing their contract. The original Facebook post ignited protest as it alerted people of what some consider a sneaky move by Loblaws. Port Dover and the surrounding areas have rallied behind Mike and Christine Ramirez. However, Mike and Christine themselves are not directly affiliated with the posts or the protests

The Simcoe Curling Club is looking for ways to become more involved in the community. “The curling club is a community, within a community,” said Simcoe club president Craig Thompson. “So, we’re looking at other ways, through the year, to be more effective in our community.”

Nothing warms a garden lover’s heart like a reminder that spring is just around the corner. It may have been cold – make that very cold – on Saturday, Feb. 7th, but it didn’t stop folks from turning out in droves for a very successful Waterford Seedy Saturday Garden and Homestead Market at Waterford District High School.

A proposed five-storey apartment with ground floor commercial space in Waterford has been met with hesitancy among several Norfolk councillors and members of the public. Eldon Darbyson, a consultant with Vallee Consulting, presented the plan at Norfolk’s Feb. 3 public hearings meeting. The building is planned for Leamon Street, on the property that currently houses the Waterford Home Hardware.

Playoffs are in the picture for the Norfolk HERicanes U13 B rep hockey team. So are playdowns. “We’re positioned well for playoffs,” said Gerry Dumoulin, coach of the HERicanes U13 girls. “I’m excited – all the teams that we’re going to play against in playoffs, we have beat before or it’s been a tie. So it should be a good competition that way.

A $45,000 legacy from Robert (Bob) Perks and his sister Joyce has been donated by the Rotary Club of Simcoe to ShelterBox Canada. Bob, who passed away in 2024, joined The Rotary Club of Simcoe in 1990 and he was an active member for over 35 years. In 2023, he became an Honorary member. He was a Paul Harris

Henry Knelsen is not a professional ice maker. But Knelsen, his Handy Henry Concrete staff in Simcoe, and friends, are getting there. “Now that we’ve done it a few years, now it’s all about timing,” said Knelsen Saturday evening on their homemade temporary outdoor ice rink on property they lease across the street from Handy Henry Concrete on Norfolk Street South.

As a child growing up in this area, I never fully appreciated the true value of living in a rural area. While we weren’t too far from the town of Simcoe, venturing there was a ‘treat.’ Your circle of friends included the kids across the road and the ones we used to say were ‘just a stone’s throw away.’ They were a small circle of friends but the best ever.

Very simply put, literacy is the ability to read and write. Though some might take literacy for granted, many people struggle with literacy skills. According to a recent study, 49% of adult Canadians have literacy skills that fall below a high school level, which negatively affects their ability to function at work and in their personal lives. Since 1999, ABC Life Literacy Canada has teamed up with schools, libraries, literacy organizations, and other community groups acros

It takes about 80 hours to make a wool blanket destined to be wrapped around a precariously housed person in Norfolk County.  “That’s a lot of love and time that goes into each blanket,” said James Durka of Port Dover. Durka and his wife, Barb, run Patches From Heaven, a volunteer group that has donated nearly 2,100 warm, colourful blankets over the past 30 years.

A 25-year-old Brantford man has been charged in a shooting incident that prompted Norfolk County OPP to issue a shelter-in-place order for part of Simcoe on Jan. 10.

Norfolk County residents who saw their water bills rise by more than 10 per cent on New Year’s Day will soon find out how much more property tax they must pay in 2026. Councillors met to debate the rural municipality’s operating budget, with finance staff proposing to raise residential property taxes by 5.5 per cent.

The Tillsonburg Thunder and Delhi Flames came out blazing Saturday night at the Delhi Community Arena with the home team outshooting the visitors 16-14 in the opening frame. But it was the Thunder who took a 2-1 lead on goals by Sebastian Guastadisegni and Hunter Monkhouse. Tillsonburg added three more in the second period, and two in the third to clinch a 7-3 Ontario Elite Hockey League victory.

Sometimes when we tell a favourite story to new friends or strangers, it falls flat. Maybe it leans too heavily on an inside joke, a quirky relative no one else knows, or a “you-had-to-be-there” moment.

Judging by her resume, Tosha Hains’ participation on the 2026 Canadian Women In Baseball Panel Discussion may not be her only association with the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (CBHF). But it’s a good starting point.