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Tom Touzel learned one of life's most important lessons, perhaps unintentionally, after deciding several years ago that he would not succumb to bladder cancer, chose to fight it, and won.

Touzel, who lives in Vankleek Hill but travels abroad on a regular basis, said despite having to undergo regular checkups for his health, he lives a relatively fit and active lifestyle - and he feels good.

Mark and Lisa Henderson are no strangers to tragedy.

As owners of Hillcrest Funeral Home in Vankleek Hill, the Hendersons are often called upon to help local individuals and families deal with the death of a loved one. Because they see death on an almost daily basis, the Hendersons never forget that completing all the necessary arrangements of a funeral service is a task most families face only a few times.

The Vankleek Hill Cougars held on to their new year's winning streak this weekend with impressive wins against the league's two Quebec-based teams.

Vankleek Hill started the weekend in Gatineau on Friday, January 20 against the fifth-place Express, which currently sits a mere three points ahead of the seventh-place Cougars.

Now that we have some snow and the temperatures are feeling more seasonal, Dalkeith is getting ready to celebrate winter with its Winter Carnival.

The carnival is set to run from Friday, January 27 to Sunday, January 29.

The event will kick off with open skating from 5 to 6:30 p.m., followed by pick-up hockey from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Four-on-four hockey for those 40 and over will begin at 8 p.m. following by music and dancing with Norm Campeau, who will begin playing country western-style music at 9 p.m.

It may be small and unassuming at first glance, but there's a reason why the sweat lodge is known for being "one of the most powerful structures in the world."

Michael Looks Twice is a First Nations elder who is the keeper of a sweat lodge on a piece of land located near his home in western Quebec.

He has been a sweat lodge keeper for 20 years and works hard to keep the location of the lodge as secretive as possible.

Ontario Provincial Police officers in Hawkesbury have made an arrest in connection with the break-in at the Hawkesbury Central Food Bank.

Initial investigation revealed that someone broke into the food bank on Christmas Eve and left with two computers, 12 cases of sausages and about $100 in cash.

Constable Raoul Doucet further investigated the matter, which resulted in the arrest of a 46-year-old Hawkesbury man. Richard Gorry, of Hawkesbury, was found in possession of computer parts stolen at the said food bank.

The Cornwall Community Police Service is asking the public's help in locating a missing 15-year-old girl, who was last seen more than two weeks ago.

Police say 15-year-old Raven Thompson-MacDonald was last seen on January 5, but said they do not suspect foul play in her disappearance at this point.

Citing the undermining of voters, a lack of discussion, and a bylaw that was "obviously directly copied" from another municipality, Hawkesbury councillors Johanne Portelance and Michel Thibodeau adamantly shot down a bylaw proposed by Mayor Rene Berthiaume to change the deputy mayor position.

At the meeting held Monday, January 16, council members discussed a bylaw sent to them and clerk Christine Groulx via e-mail for their consideration.

While the National Capital Junior Hockey League was on hiatus over the holiday season, the Vankleek Hill Cougars coaching staff was busy behind the scenes making a variety of changes.

Perhaps the biggest change to the Cougars roster is the lack of the team's top point getter, Pier-Olivier Poulin, who requested his release from the team in order to pursue a future with the Alexandria Glens of the Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League.