CJRO News May 23 to May 29, 2022

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

I hope you have electric power in your home and at work and haven’t suffered too much damage from the storm, called a derecho, which blew through last weekend. Our transmitter is damaged and we don’t know when we’ll be able to be back on-air. In the meantime we will try to keep you updated through our website.

The derecho, which I understand is a wide line of thunderstorms ahead of a front which causes continuous downbursts of wind, caused major damage all over the area, including several deaths. In Sarsfield the steeple blew off the parish church, which had been replaced quite a few years earlier after another storm. Around Navan several barns and sheds lost roofs. Power poles were snapped off and lines also downed by falling trees. So far eight deaths have been reported in Ontario. The storm moved up from the U.S. and hit Ontario’s and Quebec’s most populous areas, going in a straight line from Windsor to Quebec City.

Last I heard, the Navan Arena was open for anyone needing water, somewhere to charge their phones or a shower. The Francois Dupuis Rec Centre on Portobello Boulevard in Orleans is also available. The Township of Clarence-Rockland has declared a state of emergency. OPG, Ontario Hydro and Ottawa Hydro all report having full crews and extra emergency help out working to restore power as soon as they can. The Gatineau and Laurentians areas are also mostly without power, so escaping to the cottage may not work. Estimates for restoration range from a few hours to a couple of days depending where you are located.

A listener also reminded area residents to watch out in playgrounds or parks for broken glass if near some of the destruction. Keep the kids’ shoes on!

Now on to other news.

Don’t forget the Carlsbad Springs Optimist Club’s annual recycling drive is this Saturday, May 28th from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the community centre at 6020 Piperville Road. In partnership with Ecology Ottawa the club will give a free tree seedling to donors. The drive is for metals, particularly steel and aluminum, bottles and cans, and electronics. Check out the poster at cjroradio.com/news to see what all you can donate.

There isn’t much time left to register your children for the Carlsbad Springs Optimist Club’s bike rodeo before June 1st. The Bike Rodeo is Saturday, June 11th from 10 a.m. to noon for children aged 4 to 11 years old at the Carlsbad Springs Community Centre. There will be a light lunch and several great prizes, including a bicycle. To register send an email to cluboptimiste.cs@gmail.com.

The Russell Lions Club’s food drive will be Saturday, June 4th, at the Russell Foodland parking lot, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can also donate electronically by sending an e-transfer to fooddrive@lionsrussell.com.

The Russell Community Market's second season starts Sunday, June 12th at the Russell Fairgrounds and organizers are still accepting vendors. For information write TheRussellCommunityMarket@Gmail.com or get an online application and send it to that address. The first market will feature live music by Two for the Road.

Do you have storm damage photos? If you would like to share send them to newscjro@gmail.com to be posted on our website. Email us at newsCJRO@gmail.com. For interviews regarding local affairs, listen to Local First on the Tune In or Radioplayer Canada apps, and follow us on Facebook. I’m Candice Vetter for CJRO News. CJRO – Last on the dial, first for local news. We’ll try to be back on-air as soon as possible.