St-Isidore, ON

After months of hard work and dedication, the St-Bernardin Centennial Book is about to celebrate its official release.

While the book won't be officially launched until May 20, 2012, people are being advised to reserve their copy of the commemorative book as soon as possible. Those wishing to order ahead will be eligible for the special prepaid price of $60 until January 31.

Those who wait until after January 31 will pay $70 for the 450-page book.

Farmers and appraisers across Ontario have been seeing a steady increase in farmland values in the last two to five years, particularly in the eastern and southwestern regions of the province.

According to Farm Credit Canada's most recent report, values increased an average of 2.4 per cent during the second half of 2010, following gains of 4.3 and 3.3 per cent in the two previous reporting periods.

Three exceptional Canadians, including a farmer from St-Isidore, have joined the ranks of Canada's most influential individuals as the 2011 inductees into the prestigious Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame.

The hall is proud to announce the upcoming induction of Dr. David Chalack (nominated by the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association), Laurent Souligny (nominated by Egg Farmers of Canada) and Frank Stenger (nominated by Jersey Canada).

The St-Isidore Recreation Centre has received a new lease on life.

On Tuesday, June 28, The Nation Municipality held a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the work to improve the St-Isidore Recreation Centre.

Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MP Pierre Lemieux, MPP Jean-Marc Lalonde for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell and The Nation Mayor François St-Amour gathered to cut the ribbon and officially open the renovated arena.

Residents in The Nation will see a modest one-per-cent increase in their taxes this year.

In a unanimous decision, council recently adopted the 2011 budget after months of budget meetings and negotiations.

The Nation's total budget for 2011 will be $22.3 million, with $7.7 million set aside for various capital projects.

While taxes will increase by one per cent per $100,000 in average assessment, so too will the salaries of municipal employees.

Community organizations in the Glengarry-Prescott-Russell area will benefit from $473,000 in Ontario Trillium Foundation grants this year, including the Vankleek Hill Curling Club and a splash pad in St-Isidore Park.

The local grants are part of $2.5 million in OTF grants awarded to 50 non-profit and charitable organizations in eastern Ontario, including Ottawa, to expand social programs, develop literacy and work skills, and improve community facilities.

The Vankleek Hill Cougars traveled to St-Isidore on Sunday, February 13 for another chapter in what has become a heated rivalry between two teams.

Both are fighting for a playoff birth in the National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL).

With only a single point separating the two teams in the season standings and the playoffs lurking in the near future, both teams fully understood the importance of bringing home a victory.

Repair and rehabilitation work on the Skye Road underpass and bridge on Highway 417 will result in the closure of Skye Road for up to 12 weeks this summer, as well as temporary single-lane closures on the highway.

The closure of the road is expected to impact the 125 people who use the road every day, according to a study undertaken by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO).

The National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL) All-Star Game is set for Sunday, February 20 in Vankleek Hill with the face-off at 1:30 p.m.

New this year, the day will include the banner presentations to the regular season division championship teams (east and west), as well as the season's individual awards earned by players in defined categories for their skills throughout the regular season.