LOCAL HEADLINES

A mixed bag of severe winter weather hit Oxford County and Wilmot Township over the last few weeks, creating hazardous driving conditions and keeping public work crews busy clearing snow and applying salt and sand to area roadways.

“Region of Waterloo budget delivers affordability and service investments.”

Cases of influenza continue to rise across the Southwestern Public Health Unit area as hospitals report an influx of patients presenting with flu-like symptoms.

Claire Koch, the Wellesley Fall Fair ambassador for 2025-2026, is using her platform as a representative of the Wellesley North Easthope Agriculture Society to help spread farm and rural safety messaging to elementary students through her new Barnyard Buddies program.

Ella Jones of the Wellesley area has once again claimed the Laura Masters Hansuld Award, presented annually to the top point earner in the Junior Division at the Tavistock Fall Fair.

Wellesley residents will see the township portion of their property tax bill increase by just under 3.5 per cent, which includes a 0.5 per-cent greening levy, after township council tentatively approved the township’s 2026 draft budget just before the holiday break.

Bob Berg, the New Hamburg Legion’s military service recognition book (MSRB) coordinator, has his work cut out for him in the first few months of the new year as he continues his search for family members of local veterans, focusing his efforts this time on locals who served in the First World War.

The Optimist Club of Petersburg hosted its annual Breakfast with Santa Claus on Saturday, Dec. 13, bringing holiday cheer to local families.

Christmas celebrations may be winding down, but Milverton residents are still enjoying memories from a colourful and successful holiday parade. The event brought crowds to the streets and filled the Perth East Recreation Complex with families eager to take part in seasonal activities.

The name David Carson has been familiar to livestock farmers across Perth County and beyond for decades. Whether it involved cattle, horses, farm machinery or charity events, if an auctioneer was needed, Carson was the one people called.

The Waterloo County 4-H Dairy Classic Team returned from the 103rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto with strong results and memories they say will last a lifetime.

A large crowd of Perth County farmers and rural landowners packed into the Perth East Recreation Complex in Milverton in December to learn more about the county’s proposed changes to its forest conservation bylaw.

Tavistock has been home to many pioneering business owners whose efforts helped build the community residents know today. Among the most influential was Fred Krug, founder of the Glasgow Warehouse and one of the town’s earliest and most successful mercantile entrepreneurs.

Tavistock made two more roster moves just before the roster deadline, acquiring forward Jackson Andrews from the Renfrew Timberwolves of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League (EOJHL) and former Braves defenceman Jack Hodge back from the Waterloo Siskins of the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL).

A pair of victories to start 2026 has put New Hamburg a single point ahead of Tavistock in the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s (PJHL) Doherty Division.

The best way to break a losing streak is to start a winning streak, and that’s exactly what Tavistock did with a pair of Ontario Elite Hockey League (OEHL) victories over the weekend against a pair of teams below them in the standings.

There is good news coming out of The Wilmot Heritage Fire Brigades Museum in Baden. In late October, members received an unexpected email from Western Canada about a long-lost piece of local firefighting history – a 1948 Ford F-155 Bickle-Seagrave pumper that once served the New Hamburg Fire Department.

The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo and Stratford Perth supports people and pets across Waterloo Region and Perth County, and is extending that support into local schools.

Robert Bruce “Bob” Currah, age 69, passed away peacefully at Wildwood Care, St. Marys on December 27, 2025. Born in Stratford, October 15, 1956, son of the late John and Audrey (Zehr) Currah.

Oxford County council approved the 2026 business plan and budget last week, passing a total budget of $406.1 million which includes a $278.2 million operating budget and $127.9 million in capital projects.