CJRO News: April 22 to April 28, 2024

Hello bonjour and welcome to CJRO News on CJRO Radio. I'm Candice Vetter reporting from Embrun.

Happy Earth Day! Russell Township has two environmental events for this week. Saturday, April 27 is community Clean-Up Day where residents are asked to help pick up the winter’s garbage. Garbage bags can be left without tags for next week’s pick up. On Sunday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. the Environmental and Sustainability Advisory Committee is cleaning up the recreational trail and asks the public to join then. Gloves and bags will be provided. Also in Russell half-load restrictions for big trucks have been lifted.

The Casselman Vikings Junior B Hockey Club won the 2024 Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Barkley Cup Championship at the sixth game on April 13. This is the eighth time since 2012 the Vikings have won the Cup. The league had a two-year hiatus due to Covid. This year’s team was led by veteran defencemen and Captain Brad Leblanc. He was also the 2024 EOJHL defencemen of the year and 2024 Playoff MVP. In their final game the team beat the Carleton Place Jr. B Canadians in a hard fought series.

Photo courtesy Casselman Vikings

Police have arrested 14 persons in Montréal linked to the emergency grandparent scam that targeted victims across Canada, and which has been reported by OPP as occurring in this area. Project Sharp consisted of 11 Ontario and Quebec police services. Aimed at seniors with a landline telephone, the perpetrators pretended to be an officer or a lawyer and claimed to have the victim's grandchild or family member in custody. They would request bail money to secure the victim's family member's release. The victims were instructed not to speak to anyone due to a supposed "gag order”. In the last two years, this group of suspects is responsible for over $2.2 million in reported losses. 

Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of the any fraud is urged to contact their local police, the OPP at 1-888-310-1122, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca, or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's phone at 1-888-495-8501.

The Township of Russell has initiated the update of the Transportation Master Plan. The Township said this document will guide “the strategic directions of the transportation network as the Township accommodates mobility for future growth while ensuring a sustainable, accessible, and highly liveable community.” To be placed on the project contact list, submit comments, or get further information on the project, contact Bassam Hamwi at 613-739-2910 or bhamwi@morrisonhershfield.com and François Landry  at 613-443-1747 or  FrancoisLandry@Russell.ca. To get on the list regarding the road network at the Vars Industrial Park, which for some reason is not included in the Transportation Master Plan, contact Landry or Kyle Herold at LRL Engineering, 613-842-3434 or kherold@lrl.ca.

CJRO News spoke to Ward 20 Councillor George Darouze about a question on the rural summit questionnaire rural residents are being asked to fill out. The question asked if rural wards were appropriate places to put green energy projects, wind turbines, battery energy storage systems, and landfills. Darouze noted that it was a scaled question, meaning residents can rate the answer from 1 to 5, indicating their strong disagreement or strong agreement. He said the Residents Working Group for the rural summit felt this question was relevant and if many residents indicate strong disagreement that will be reflected in the final report and recommendations. The Ward 20 workshop, which includes Carlsbad Springs, Metcalfe and Vars will be April 24 at the Greely Community Centre at 7 p.m. For more information on participating contact Darouze’s office.

Devine Road and Russland Road are being repaved this summer. Devine will be repaved from Boundary to Sand Road, starting in late May, and Russland from Rockdale Road to Saumure Road has already started.

The Carlsbad Springs Optimist Club will hold the virtual roadblock for CHEO, with an onsite roadblock on Saturday May 4, or by donating using the QR code on the club’s website. Last year, the club donated over $5000 to CHEO.

This week is large item week in Russell Township. One large item per household, except fridges and freezers, or one box weighing less than 100 pounds can be put out for pick up this week only, on Monday, regardless of your regular collection day.

Starting on Wednesday, May 1, The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group is again giving away voucher for seeds at thecommonwell.ca/seedit. Locally the vouchers will be accepted at Robert Plante Greenhouses in Navan and Denise & Sylvain Garden Centre at 767 Notre-Dame in Embrun.

CJRO wants to report on the local news that matters, so send news ideas, issues and comments to newscjro@gmail.com by Monday mornings. Listen to the news, Local First and Priorite Locale on cjroradio.com anytime or on the Tune In or Radio Player Canada apps. If you want more news from independent radio stations across Canada listen to FrequencyNews.com. I'm Candice Vetter for CJRO at 107.7 FM. We're last on the dial and first for local news.