LOCAL HEADLINES

Oxford County Paramedic Services (OCPS) and partners have been awarded an Ontario Health System Quality and Innovation Award.

Although many Tillsonburg residents are already grumbling about the cold weather, the bright spot ahead is the Coldest Night of the Year.

Oxford County Council approved the 2026 Business Plan and Budget in late December, authorizing a total budget of $406.1 million that includes a $278.2 million operating budget and $127.9 million in capital projects.

The first draft of the town’s 2026 budget is sitting at a 1.8 per cent hike, plus a retroactive court-mandated policing increase, for a total tax increase of 3.64 per cent.

It’s not often that good news comes out of municipal government budget discussions, but this is one tidbit - the water and wastewater rates for Tillsonburg residents won’t be increasing.

Reverend Thomas Stradwick is settling in at St. John's Anglican Church and finding his way around town, socializing with the people he meets and marvelling over the amenities.

As he turned 100, a surprise celebration for Tillsonburg resident Leighton Ronson honoured his achievements within the Legion and the Masons.

Planning is underway for the Shriners annual Fish Fry and Elimination Draw.

Tillsonburg councillors received an insight into how the town’s insurance rates are set during a recent meeting.

Subdivision agreements extended

The Tillsonburg Gemini junior girls’ volleyball team started their Thames Valley Regional Athletics match well against the Woodstock St. Mary’s Warriors Tuesday, Dec. 16 at Glendale.

Splitting a pair of weekend games brought the Thunder within two points of Elora and Dunnville, which are tied for sixth in the South Conference of the OEHL.

Tillsonburg may be closer to seeing the design of a new town hall after the last council meeting.

New regulations on carbon monoxide detectors will take effect on Jan. 1.

Tillsonburg council turned down a proposal to build a battery storage facility on an industrial property at 500 Highway 3, but said the decision may be revisited in the future.

A financial review of the Downtown Tillsonburg Business Improvement Association, in connection with an anonymous letter circulated last summer, found “no wrong-doing or financial irregularities”.

Issues with the existing supports have pushed the target opening of the Kinsmen Bridge back to March.

Doug Lester hadn't initially planned to write a book, but his memoir With A Little Bit of Luck has become a bestseller.

Local country artist Olivia Mae Graham’s debut album, Nobody, is now available digitally, along with vinyl and CDs.

The Tillsonburg Thunder and the Milverton Four Wheel Drives are battling to avoid the 8-versus-9 playoff series and advance directly to the playoffs in February. This sets up Saturday night’s game to be a December clash that has early playoff implications.