LOCAL HEADLINES

For anyone who has ever thought, “I should really write that down someday,” St. Marys writer, poet and editor Kate Orland Bere is thinking someday might just be this spring.

In early 2026, the Woodstock Police Service Street Crime Unit began an investigation into the trafficking of illegal drugs within the city early this year.

Domestic Abuse Services Oxford (DASO) launched its Purple Ribbon campaign in March to show solidarity with survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and gender-based violence.

South-West Oxford Township (SWOX) Council has approved, in principle, a shared fire service leadership model with Zorra Township.

At its March 3 council meeting, SWOX Council authorized staff to enter into negotiations with Sierra General Contracting for the commencement of phase 1 pre-construction and detailed design services for the township’s new municipal office, library, and child care facility. The building will be located in Mount Elgin.

The Woodstock College Avenue junior basketball Knights worked double-time overtime on the way to a Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association (WOSSAA) AA championship victory on Feb. 25 at Stratford St. Mike’s.

The best-of-three Thames Valley Regional Athletics Southeast championship series between the Woodstock CI Red Devils and the Ingersoll DCI Blue Bombers was not the girls hockey equivalent of a soccer friendly.

The life of the Ingersoll DCI Blue Bombers girls curling team’s Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association (WOSSAA) dream flashed before their collective eyes.

If the first week of semi-final action is any indication of the entertainment value of the two series, fans are in for one heck of a ride.

The Woodstock Navy Vets will be the Greater Ontario Hockey League’s (GOHL) 24th team next season.

The Ingersoll DCI Blue Bomber junior volleyball girls do love their cellies.

A group of fishermen creating their own micro-nation is part of our Canadian History, and One Act Players (OAP) Community Theatre will bring it to life later this March.

Oxford Women in Networking (OWIN) hosted their 10th annual International Women’s Day celebration at Woodstock’s South Gate Centre on March 4. The sold-out event welcomed 151 attendees from across Oxford County.

No serious injuries were reported after a school bus carrying 40 elementary school students left a rural roadway and crashed into a ditch last week. The bus was on the way to East Oxford Elementary.

In what could be described as somewhat of a procedural mess, a notice of motion read at Oxford County Council two weeks ago that could have reduced bag tag costs was ruled out of order.

On Feb. 15, the Town of Ingersoll celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Week (RAK Week), featuring an exclusive social media campaign.

Echo correspondent Jeff Tribe recently released his first novel, “Accountant with Benefits.”

The Woodstock Police Service is advising residents of reports involving suspicious phone calls from individuals posing as City of Woodstock employees or city contractors.

An incident that began in Burford ended in Woodstock with the arrest of a 33-year-old male. Brant County Provincial Police said they responded to a report in Burford of a person being struck by a vehicle in the early morning hours of Feb. 12.

The owner of Woodstock’s United Taxi recently presented to city council, highlighting his concerns over the emergence of rideshare companies in the Friendly City.