CJRO News: December 9 to December 15, 2024

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

Osgoode Ward Councillor George Darouze has been nominated as the provincial Progressive Conservative candidate in the riding of Carleton. On Sunday, December 8 the Ontario PC Party announced his nomination, which he won with 96 per cent of the vote. In the next provincial election he will be the PC candidate for Carleton, a riding which encompasses most of rural Ottawa. The riding is now held by independent MPP Goldie Ghamari. Darouze is currently the city councillor for Osgoode Ward, which he has held since 2014.

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation said that recent efforts to get a cargo ship, the Tim S. Dool, unstuck have been unsuccessful. The ship is an Algoma Central-owned seawaymax lake freighter, or bulk carrier, and has been aground on the U.S. side of the river across from Morrisburg since November 23. Three tugboats which sailed from Quebec City last week were unable to move the vessel. In a statement on Saturday, December 7, the corporation said officials have reviewed and accepted a salvage plan for the Tim S. Dool. Lightering, which means removing sufficient cargo to lighten the ship, is expected to start this week using barges which are on their way.  The ship was carrying grain but officials say there has been no injuries, no damage to cargo or environmental damage. All ships must be clear of the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section by January 5.

The Carlsbad Springs Community Association has announced that the Tree for Tree Project is back. Up to eight trees per household are provided on a priority basis and applications for the residents of Carlsbad Springs are open now. The association said the project is a community approach to the restoration of indigenous trees. It offers 12 different species which will be between one and three feet tall. To register email csca.events.mgmt@gmail.com and provide your address.

The Municipality of Casselman is launching a call for tenders to hire a contractor to repair water infiltration issues at 1 Industriel Street. The media release said there are defects in the building envelope and that air and water are entering windows and doors during heavy rains. The municipality bought the building for $2.2 million in 2022 to use for its new town hall. The media release said a qualified engineering firm had been hired before purchase to assess the condition of the building and lands. The report did not identify the problems. The municipality became aware of water infiltration after the acquisition.The town said estimated repair costs will be made public once the tendering process concludes in January.

The Embrun Co-op revealed the exterior design for the future Embrun Branch of the Township of Russell Public Library on December 5. The design was developed in collaboration with the Township of Russell and the Public Library. The Co-op and township will now move forward with the site plan approval and building permit processes, bringing the project closer to reality. The new library is expected to open in September, 2026.

Yves Laviolette  has been elected as the 2025 Warden of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell. The inauguration will be held on Wednesday, December 18, at 7:00 p.m. in L’Orignal. Laviolette is the mayor of the Township of Alfred-Plantagenet. Wardens are chosen each year from the sitting mayors which form the Council of UCPR.

The Greater Avalon Community Association, the City of Ottawa and the Orleasn Cumberland Community Resource Centre are holding their annual food drive until Wednesday, December 11. Non-perishable items can be dropped off at the Aquaview Community Centre at 318 Aquaview Drive in Orleans. The media release said since 2019 there has been a 90% increase in food programs in Ottawa.

The emergency preparedness community meeting at the Carlsbad Springs community centre took place on December 5. Information was supplied on how to prepare yourself in case of emergency and a demonstration of equipment from the Ottawa Fire service was on site. Check this week’s news on cjroradio.com for photos from the evening.

The Community Radio Fund of Canada, which provides part of the funding for CJRO, is asking community radio listeners to encourage their MPs to put the Community Radio Initiative into the 2025 federal budget 25. Of the $24.5 million needed, $6 million will come from digital broadcasters by 2026. The fund hopes to secure the remaining $18.5 million in next year’s federal budget. The media release said letter writing is the most effective way to get the message directly into the hands of politicians in Ottawa. The website for the campaign is MyCRI.ca in English and MonIRC.ca in French.

CJRO reports on the local news that matters, so send news ideas, issues and comments to newscjro@gmail.com by Monday mornings. Listen to the news and Local First on cjroradio.com anytime or on the Tune In or Radio Player Canada apps, the Radio App, Apple Music, the Unison Radio app, or at FrequencyNews.ca. And now CJRO is also part of the iHeart Radio group. I'm Candice Vetter for CJRO News and the Local Journalism Initiative. CJRO, 107.7 FM, last on the dial and first for local news.