CJRO News April 2 to April 9, 2023
Hello, bonjour, and welcome to CJRO News on CJRO Radio. I’m Candice Vetter, reporting from Embrun.
CJRO Radio is now a partner with Beat Radio World from beatradioworld.com. We now play their live audio feed from midnight to 6 a.m. daily at 107.7 and 107.9 FM. Beat Radio is based in Cozumel, Mexico but owned by Marc Villeneuve from the Rockland area. Over 50 famous international DJs are featured.
Also on the topic of music, a new festival has been announced. Forest Fest will be held Saturday, May 13th, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Ludger Landry Park on Piperville Road, near Anderson, west of Carlsbad Springs. The free, family-oriented, nature-themed festival will celebrate music, art and awareness of protecting forests and the environment. It is described as a positive counter-example to local systemic injustice. To get involved see the Facebook group forestfestfetedelaforet. I will be interviewing the organizer, Chris White, on Local First.
Speaking of positive, or maybe not, funding for the community positivity program of the United Counties of Prescott-Russell has stirred up controversy in its eight municipalities. UCPR set aside $400,000 for the program, and divided it equally for $50,000 per municipality. Russell Township Council resolved to request a tax levy-based funding model instead, as it has 23 per cent of the population. However Casselman Mayor Genevieve Lajoie supports equal division and said she does not want to come back and fight over money year after year. Mayor Mario Zanth of Clarence-Rockland also prefers a tax levy system as Clarence-Rockland has a population 27,000 compared to Casselman’s 4,000. It is likely the division will stay as is for now and be discussed in the autumn. Lajoie pointed out that every individual pays the exact same taxes to the upper tier. The fund is meant to benefit the community as a whole, whether to build infrastructure, ensure open access to events, or to beautify public spaces.
In other UCPR funding news, the county is receiving almost one and a quarter million dollars ($1,223,701.35) from the province to help with clean up and replanting of areas devastated by the derecho last May. Numerous other small municipalities in Ontario were granted funds too, but the City of Ottawa, which includes Navan, Sarsfield and Carlsbad Springs which particularly suffered, is not receiving funds.
Ottawa Hydro has initiated a Class Environmental Assessment study for the construction of a new 27.6kV municipal transformer station at the intersection of Piperville Road and Farmers Way to connect the new power station to Hydro One’s existing 230kV transmission line, on the west side of Highway 417. The 20-year plan was made in March, 2020, through the Integrated Regional Resource Plan (IRRP) for the Ottawa area developed by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), Hydro Ottawa and Hydro One. A virtual community information session will be Thursday, April 20th from noon to 1 p.m., and an-person session from 7 to 9 p.m. You can see the map of the location under the News tab at CJROradio.com. If you have questions or wish to receive project updates, email piperville@hydroottawa.com.
Spring/summer programs are now available in Russell and in Ottawa. Check out their activity guides. Summer jobs are also available with the Township and the City. See their websites to apply. Also in the City, consultation is open on a new zoning bylaw of interest to rural residents. For more information see EngageOttawa.
The Carlsbad Springs Optimist Club recently donated $1,600 to St-Mary Catholic School at Mitch Owens and Bank Street. Funds will be used for meal and entertainment tickets for low-income families to attend the St-Mary Fun Fair, and for low STEM resources from the community. Close to 40 students from our coverage area attend this school.
South Nation Conservation has released its report card. Russell Township and the area between Spencerville and Morrisburg scored lowest in the whole watershed for surface water and ground water quality. My interview with Katherine Watson of SNC will be on Local First shortly and she will explain what the report card means for our area.
SNC is also reminding residents, especially parents with young children, to stay away from the edges of rivers and streams during spring melt. The soaked and thawing ground and melting ice are hazardous. Residents in flood prone or low-lying areas should take precautions to protect their property. Make sure sump pumps are clear and working, that there is easy access to backup, that downspouts are clear and their outlet is minimum three metres from the building.
St. Andre Road in Russell from Séguin Street to Route 400 is closed until October 16th for bridge rehabilitation.
George Darouze’s office has confirmed that the closed intersection at Cartwright Road and Victoria just northwest of Russell will be made into a T-intersection. Funding has been allocated two years ahead of schedule so that change will be made this year.
New scam. Beware of Facebook friend requests posted on your page expressing how beautiful, adorable, or other compliment you are, and saying “I tried many consecutive times sending you a request but unfortunately, it wasn't going through....please if you don't mind send me a request from there so that we can be friends here......thanks and I hope to see your request soon.” That is a scam going around. Do not reply or accept them as a friend.
The jackpot of the Kin Club of Russell’s Catch the Ace lottery is now estimated at $565,000 and the weekly prize at $26,000. Purchases can be made at 26 retail locations or online at kinclubofrussell.ca.
If you have News you want included on this weekly report, please let me know by Monday mornings. We have additional content up at CJROradio.com. Check for photos, videos, late News, media releases, News text, email conversations with public officials, and Local First podcasts. It’s all here on CJRO. Tune in at 107.7 or 107.9, follow us on Facebook, listen to our podcasts on cjroradio.com or on the Tune-In and Radio Player Canada apps. I’m Candice Vetter for CJRO News. CJRO, last on the dial, first for local news.