St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital announced Monday morning, Oct. 2, that effective Wednesday, Oct. 4, mandatory face-masking would return in patient care areas for staff, physicians and volunteers. The change was based on Public Health Ontario’s guidance, as well as practices being adopted by other hospitals in Southwestern Ontario, STEGH said in a statement. Patients and visitors will be required…

Host East Elgin Secondary School’s Senior football quarterback Gavin Russell tossed a pass during a game under the lights against Tillsonburg Glendale in on-and-off drizzle on Thursday night, Sept. 28. EESS led 7-2 at the half, but surged in the last two quarters for a 23-8 victory. (AE/Rob Perry)

Christian Skinner of host East Elgin Secondary School took a hand-off from quarterback Matt Worrall during a Junior football game against Tillsonburg Glendale under the lights on Thursday night, Sept. 28. Glendale roughed up the Eagles, taking a 29-6 victory. (AE/Rob Perry)

Several of the cyclists participating in the Journey for Change line up for the ride, starting in Steen Park in Aylmer, on Saturday morning, Sept. 23. The event, which was also open to walkers, runners and motorcycles (who followed a different route), raised just over $165,000 for The Family Central, which offers housing, food and addiction support programs and help…

Elgin Ontario Provincial Police reported Thursday, Sept. 28, that a “potentially dangerous” Malahide man, 42, who was considered “unlawfully at large” was found with help from London Police on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Police had issued a public appeal for help finding him on Sept. 27.    

Brooke Preszcator of host East Elgin Secondary School kept a grip of the ball despite the efforts of a St. Joseph’s Catholic High School defender during a Senior girls basketball game in EESS’s old gym on Tuesday, Sept. 26. East, which won 42-15, was forced to host the game on a much smaller court because the flooring in the regulation-size…

Abby Knelsen of host East Elgin Secondary School set up a shot on the St. Joseph’s Catholic High School hoop during a Junior girls basketball game on Tuesday, Sept. 26. St. Joe’s took the win 40-20, with the game played in the much smaller old gym at EESS while the floor is being replaced in the main gym. (AE/Rob Perry)

Fire departments across Elgin and St. Thomas are preparing for the first-ever annual “Test Your Smoke Alarm Day” on Thursday, Sept. 28. Firefighters will be going door-to-door asking to perform volunteer checks of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and helping residents who didn’t have the protection to get them. Fire chiefs from St. Thomas and Elgin kicked off preparations…

Forward Theoron Morrison of the Aylmer Spitfires Junior hockey game stretched for but couldn’t quite reach a puck loose in Dorchester’s end in Aylmer’s season home-opener at East Elgin Community Complex on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 17. Dorchester took the win 4-2. (AE/Rob Perry)

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has ordered a recall of all “Mild Pepperonistix” labelled as being from Springwater Packers made on June 21, 2023 from markets selling, and is advising anyone who has the product to either dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase because of potential listeria contamination. The recall had been prompted by test…