CJRO News July 31 to August 6, 2023
Hello, bonjour, and welcome to CJRO News on CJRO Radio. I’m Candice Vetter, reporting from Embrun.
The Florida man who has been charged with the murder of Jewell Parchman Langford, the “Nation River Lady”, has been arrested in Florida, where he faced his first court appearance, and is expected to be extradited to Canada to face trial. He had been a rugby player in Montreal in the 1970s and was known to have briefly been in a relationship with Langford. Langford disappeared in 1975 and her remains were found in the South Nation River near Casselman by a farmer in May of that year, but her identity was not known until forensic DNA technology was used last year.
Another violent storm passed through the area on Friday of last week. The areas in and to the south of Russell were hard hit with more trees uprooted, damage to buildings and cars, and hail in some places, including parts of Ottawa. Although there was a rotating cloud front which often creates tornadoes, no tornado was reported this time.
For the unfortunate few who still try to commute within Ottawa, a new R1 express bus is now running between the LRT’s Blair Station and three downtown Ottawa stations. This is in addition to the existing R1 replacement bus service. One of the complaints of commuters using the R1s was the slowness compared to the train so the powers that be have, at last, instituted an express. Twelve buses will run from Blair to downtown weekday mornings from 6:30 to 8:30 and will run the other direction from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Stolen vehicles have been a big issue in this area. An Ottawa police officer was travelling east on Highway 417 in the middle of the night last week, when a suspected stolen vehicle was spotted east of the Anderson Road exit. Additional officers were called, the vehicle was pulled over, and the driver was arrested. An investigation is ongoing. This follows the discovery on July 26th of two stolen cars, a Range Rover and a Ferrari being loaded on a tow truck on Ramsayville Road. In that case a 40-year-old suspect was arrested while attempting to flee the scene.
The OPP is seeking the public’s help finding a male driver committing indecent acts. On Tuesday, July 25th shortly after 8:15 p.m., officers were called to Limoges Road in Limoges because of a male driver exposing himself to a pedestrian. The male left without incident. He is described as a heavily built white man between 30 and 40 years old with light brown hair, no facial hair and wearing a black t-shirt. The vehicle is a black Dodge Caravan, partial Ontario plate CERJ with clear windows and rust around the wheels. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Leslie Hahn at 613-443-4499 or the OPP Communication Centre at 1-888-310-1122.
The OPP is also seeking information about a fatal accident last Sunday, July 30th shortly before 8:00 p.m. on Glen Robertson Road in North Glengarry Township. The 56-year-old male driver was pronounced dead at scene of the single vehicle collision. Call 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a TIP online at www.seawayvalleycrimestoppers.ca.
OPP, along with the Transportation Safety Board, are also investigating the fatal plane crash of a Cessna 150 near Alexandria at Power Dam Road last Wednesday, July 26th. The pilot was killed and the passenger was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Kody Troy Crosby, 35, the man charged with causing the explosion in the Avalon Vista development in Orleans last February, is scheduled to appear in court on August 31st. “Mr. Crosby is extremely remorseful for his actions and wishes to take full responsibility for what occurred,” his lawyer Natasha Calvinho said in a statement. It is suspected Crosby had stolen two water heaters from homes under construction and left the gas turned on. Four homes were destroyed, many more were damaged, six people were hospitalized and others injured. Crosby was charged with four counts each of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and arson causing bodily harm, two counts of breaking and entering, and arson with disregard for human life and arson causing property damage.
The provincial government is changing its land use plans and has extended the public comment period to this Friday, August 4th. There has been practically no notice to the public about the plan and the document, which is number ERO # 019-6177. The document is 61 pages, most of which appear to be filler, but which shows a preference for residential development trumping agricultural, rural, cultural and environmental concerns. This reporter only found out about it, although I am signed up to receive ERO notices, through the new Facebook page created by concerned residents in Russell, What’s Up Russell. To comment go to https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6813.
At the same time the Township of Russell is conducting a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study Master Plan Update for Russell Township Water and Wastewater Systems. The township said the 2016 plan, which was supposed to outline a 20-year strategy, is no longer suitable due to the pace of development. It says newly developed areas will require water and wastewater servicing. It is not clear what parts of the township will be subject to the EA, as the entire township is shown on the accompanying map. The township has had numerous reports prepared, each by a different consulting firm, and every report or EA undertaken over the last seven years shows a different version of the proposed expansion of the industrial park. To be placed on the Project Contact List to receive notices and information or to provide comments at any time during the process, contact Francois Landry at 613 443 1747 or francoislandry@russell.ca or contact Bradley Young from CIMA+ at 647 614 2462 or Bradley.young@cima.ca. When I contacted Landry for an interview I received this reply, “Please note that we hope to have a response to you regarding an interview when our Executive Director returns on August 9. In the meantime, if you have any specific project-related questions, please send them to us by e-mail and we will try to assist as best as we can.” A request for an interview with Bradley Young, sent a week ago, has not been answered.
The Casselman Water Quality Group, a Facebook group started by Casselman residents because of the water situation in Casselman, which has high levels of manganese tinting the water dark yellow, recently collected 416 litres of water for the Casselman Food Bank. Many Casselman residents are afraid to use their water, regardless of public assurances, and cannot afford to buy water on top of paying water bills. The group asks people to consider donating to the Casselman Food Bank by eTransfer at ccsbanque@bellnet.ca and putting “water” in the comment or dropping off water/donations during the food bank’s regular hours (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 2pm-5pm and Wed 5pm-8pm). If donations exceed what is needed for the water crisis they will be put towards other needs at the food bank.
Now let’s move on to some lighter news. The Perseid meteor shower is starting. The earth is moving through the debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. The meteor shower goes from July 14th to September 1st, but the peak nights are expected to be August 12th and 13th.
The new location for the Homestead Pub in Embrun is expected to be open in mid-August, after major renovations are complete. It is in the former Etienne Brule brewpub, which was the Embrun fire fall until the new fire hall was built on Route 300. The move will enable owner Robin Wheatley to go from 30 patrons at a time to 80. The former brewery area will become a party room and the menu will remain the same as at the current location.
Photographers have until Monday, August 16th to enter the Russell Photo Club Expo. This year’s theme is “Stillness.” Categories are Youth (under 18), Portrait, Landscape, Best Overall. The exhibition will be Saturday, September 16th. Open to Canadians but images must be taken within the Township of Russell. Submission forms are available at Russell.ca.
The Navan Fair is fast approaching and this year’s headliner is Bif Naked on Friday night. Other performers under the domes include The Jevon Rudder Band, Sterling, Beyond Driven, Teigen Gayse, Tim and the Glory Boys, East Coast Experience, Nelson Colt, and Yvan Petit. The fair starts Friday, August 10th and also has all the usual country fair fun. For more information see navanfair.com.
Send your event listings and News you want included to this weekly report to newscjro@gmail.com by Monday mornings.
We have additional content, photos, maps, and Local First podcasts online. Hear us at 107.7 or 107.9, 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.