L'Orignal, ON

The Hawkesbury detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have initiated an increase in patrols and enforcement on County Road 17 in order to promote road safety.

The increased enforcement initiative is in response to the fatal collision that occurred on County Road 17 on Wednesday, January 11. The three-week initiative continues until Wednesday, February 8.

A request filed with Champlain Township to rezone the parcel of land currently being used for the Hill Meadows Golf Club - in essence, to legally authorize the use of the golf club - was heard by council last Wednesday, January 11.

Owner and operator André Ouimet initially opened the nine-hole executive golf course in late July, adjacent to the existing driving range.

Champlain Township Mayor Gary Barton is currently awaiting bypass surgery in a Montreal hospital after suffering a heart trauma last week.

Family members, at his side at the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital over the last few days, said Barton is expected to make a full recovery.

"My mom has been by his side the whole time and it was nice when his episode occurred to have my brother Peter (fireman/paramedic) helping out," said his son, Steve Barton.

While most municipalities in the United Counties of Prescott-Russell agree that clear cutting lands should be controlled, regional mayors are not willing to "go to war" with farmers over the controversial practice.

Earlier this summer, the Township of Alfred-Plantagenet put forward a resolution asking the counties to consider introducing new policies for the use and management of forest lands in the counties.

The Knights of Columbus organization in L'Orignal is asking Champlain Township to consider assuming control and in essence, ownership, of the village's community hall.

Twenty-one members and residents of L'Orignal presented themselves at a special council meeting held last Thursday, January 5 to discuss the proposal.

Council members decided to meet in a closed meeting to discuss the options. They emerged about 40 minutes later and approved a motion for Mayor Gary Barton and chief administrative officer Jean Thériault to open negotiations with the Knight of Columbus.

Despite a few closures and the near-miss of a major commercial development, Champlain Township's economic outlook is relatively rosy for a municipality of its size, according to its economic coordinator.

Owners of several commercial buildings in Champlain Township are now required, by law, to install backflow prevention devices.

The township says the bylaw, which council approved on Wednesday, December 14, will ensure the public water supply is not compromised.

It's going to cost the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR) and its tourism partners more than $107,000 to carry out a cultural mapping and inventory project.

At a committee of the whole meeting held on Tuesday, November 9, regional mayors agreed to proceed with the cultural mapping and inventory project recommended in the Economic Development for Prescott-Russell Final Report, which was compiled by the consulting firm Millier Dickinson Blais.

It was published in February 2011 and outlines a strategic plan for economic development and tourism in Prescott-Russell.

Because of the strong sense of rural culture and tradition in the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR), regional mayors don't appear to agree with the Ontario Fire Marshal's plan to crack down on allowing large gatherings to be held in barns and other farm structures.

At the regular meeting of council held on Tuesday, November 22, regional mayors reviewed a resolution from the Municipality of Central Huron urging other municipalities to voice their displeasure with the fire marshal's proposal.