CJRO News: November 18 to November 24, 2024

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

Ottawa’s Osgoode Ward councillor George Darouze has announced on his Facebook page that he is seeking the Progressive Conservation candidacy for the riding of Carleton in the next provincial election. He said his reasons are to give Carleton a strong voice at Queen’s Park. Darouze was first elected as Osgoode Ward councillor in 2014, was re-elected in 2018 and in 2022. The riding is held by MPP Goldie Ghamari, who sits as an independent after being removed from the PC caucus last June. The huge Carleton riding is most of rural Ottawa and borders four upper tier Counties, going from Stittsville in the far west end of the city, to North Gower in the south and to the edge of Russell Township in the east. If Darouze wins, this will be the second time in four years that Carlsbad Springs and Vars have been left without elected representation at Ottawa City Hall. In 2020 Stephen Blais left to become an MPP. Not long afterwards the wards were redesigned, breaking Blais’ former Ward 20 up into three separate wards.

The OPP is asking the public for help to locate a person of interest in a series of gas station thefts. On November 14, about 2:15 p.m., police responded to a call for a theft of gas from a station in Embrun. When police arrived employees said they attempted to confront the man, and he intentionally drove at them with his vehicle. Police said this is the fourth time the person has stolen gas in the past two weeks. The person of interest is described as an older white man with grey hair, glasses, wearing a black jacket, jeans and brown boots. The vehicle was a silver Dodge Caravan with no front plate, large dents along the passenger side and a stolen Ontario dealer plate 093 DSV. Anyone with information of the person's identity or other information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or call Crime Stoppers.

Gas theft in action. Photo courtesy OPP

Also in Embrun two persons in their fifties were arrested on November 13 after a search warrant on Notre Dame Street revealed methamphetamine and cocaine. Julie Goyette of Ottawa was arrested and turned over to the Hawkesbury OPP detachment on different matters. Madeline Ethier of Russell Township was arrested and released from custody. Both are charged with trafficking and are scheduled to appear in court in L’orignal.

In Ottawa the provincial Special Investigations Unit is investigating after an Ottawa Police officer shot and wounded a 33-year-old man near Place d’Orleans Mall on November 13. About 11:15 p.m., police received calls about a man with a weapon who was assaulting people and damaging vehicles near Place D’Orleans Mall. Police confronted the man. An officer shot the man multiple times and two tasers were deployed. The man was arrested and taken to hospital where he remains in critical-stable condition. Four civilians were injured and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The SIU is urging anyone who may have information, including video or photos, to contact them at 1-800-787-8529 or online.

The Township of Russell and the Société historique d'Embrun announced that the township has received a $60,000 grant from the Department of Canadian Heritage to support the society's project to create a museum at the Embrun train station. The society recently received charitable status. This funding was awarded through the Legacy Fund which supports restoration, renovation or transformation of buildings for community use. The plan for the building is to restore and transform the original train station into a museum celebrating local francophone heritage, showcasing memorabilia and artifacts, and becoming an educational and cultural space.

Acting Sgt. Andrew Worth and Cst. Al O’Donnell will present a crime prevention workshop at the Carlsbad Springs Community Centre on Wednesday, November 27, from 7:30 to 8:30. Topics include safeguarding rural residences against break and entry, who to call when a crime occurs, how to report, crime statistics for the area, and Ottawa Police structures in the area.

Also at the same centre is an Emergency Preparedness Workshop and Tactical Demonstration from Ottawa Fire Services on December 5 at 6 p.m. The police will set up a full range of rural rescue tactical equipment in the parking lot. They will show how it works and answer questions from residents. Both events can be registered for at csca.eve.tsmgmt@gmail.com.

The City of Ottawa draft budget projects a 3.9% property tax increase, which the City says would raise the average residential property tax bill by $168 per year. Transit fees have been raised with a monthly pass going up to $135 from $128, and the senior transit fee going from $49 per month to $108.

South Nation Conservation is again seeking community input on its draft watershed conservation lands strategy. Drafts and feedback forms are at nation.on.ca/consultations.

Tim Horton’s has announced that 50% of the proceeds from its Holiday Smile Cookie campaign from both the Russell and Embrun locations will be donated to the Kin Club of Russell. The club said all the funds will remain in Russell Township. The campaign runs November 18 to 24.

The Sam Stone Band will be live at the Homestead Pub in Embrun this Saturday, November 23 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The pub is located at 893 Notre Dame Street. Sam Stone is a singer/songwriter from Ottawa with soulful, powerhouse vocals and a seasoned stage presence.

The Russell branch of the Russell Public Library is hosting the library's mega-used book sale which runs from November 30 to December 7 during regular library hours.

CJRO reports on the local news that matters, so send news ideas, issues and comments to newscjro@gmail.com by Monday mornings. Listen to the news and Local First on cjroradio.com anytime or on the Tune In or Radio Player Canada apps, the Radio App, Apple Music, the Unison Radio app, or at FrequencyNews.ca. I'm Candice Vetter for CJRO News and the Local Journalism Initiative. CJRO, 107.7 FM, last on the dial and first for local news.