CJRO News: November 4 to November 10, 2024

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

The Russell Legion is hoping to host a Remembrance Day Ceremony on November 11 at 10 a.m. Legionnaires are awaiting the occupancy permit for the Legion Hall on Legion Lane, which has been closed since it was damaged by a fire over five years ago. Other local services are at the Greely Legion on Mitch Owens Drive at 10:45, Limoges Cenotaph at 11 a.m., Embrun Cenotaph at 3 p.m., Morewood Cenotaph at 10:30 a.m. and a day early at the Vars Cenotaph on November 10 at 2 p.m.

Cenotaph at Russell Legion File photo by Candice Vetter

The City of Ottawa hosted its Rural Summit on Saturday, November 2 at Sir Robert Borden High School in Nepean. Frequent summits regarding the needs of rural residents were planned when Ottawa amalgamated several rural townships in 2001, but this is the first one held since 2008. It was attended by over 250 persons. About 80% of Ottawa’s area is rural.

Ottawa's rural councillors, residents and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe attended. Issues addressed by the City include: water rates and ditching; strengthening the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee's mandate and the Rural Affairs Office; improving Rural Paramedic Response by hiring 23 new paramedics in 2025 and 2026, implementing a new dispatch system and reducing offload delays; consulting on intersections and road renewal; simplifying minor rezoning applications; creating a growth strategy that acknowledges the character of villages; advocating for Rural Priorities with the Province; and hosting another Rural Summit in the next term of council.

As listed on the city’s website, a top concern brought up by residents over the last few months is roads, including lack of road maintenance and slow repairs; better coordination regarding roads and infrastructure changes; dangerous roads and intersections on Boundary, Russell Road and Piperville; roads not built for the amount of traffic they carry, including farm equipment; truck traffic in the villages; maintaining ditches; and the lack of pedestrian crossovers and sidewalks especially near schools. Other issues are the lack of public transit, extending water services and concerns for groundwater; waste reduction to reduce landfill expansions; lack of parks and nature trails; more police presence; and protection of good agricultural land. See more at engage.ottawa.ca

Rural road issues in Ottawa Photo Candice Vetter

An internet outage struck Carlsbad Springs and parts of Russell Township on November 4, affecting our broadcast. Rogers said a vehicle accident cut a Rogers fiber optic line that affects internet for much of the area. Internet was restored after about 12 hours.

The Russell Kin Club held a gala on November 3 at which seven local charities received a total of over $1.2 million dollars. The funds were raised by session six of the Catch the Ace lottery. The club also announced its seventh round of Catch the Ace, which began that evening, will benefit 26 different charities. The club’s Catch the Ace has raised almost  $4.3 million for charities and given out  nearly $5 million in prize money.

The Ontario Planetarium will be coming to the Carlsbad Springs Community Centre on Saturday, November 23 to offer a presentation in their portable dome. After the presentation, kids can look at the constellations through a telescope set up on site. To register email cluboptimistecarlsbad@gmail.com.

And at both the Russell and Embrun branches of the library the annual fundraiser, Adopt-A-Book is ongoing until November 23rd. Visit either branch to donate.

CJRO wants to report 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, 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.