County Closeup

County Closeup

By Elizabeth Oakley | Canoe FMNewsNews Commentary
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County Closeup episodes

  • Winter Road Preparations

    Before you know it, winter will be here with all the challenges it brings. Snow, slush, icy

    conditions and of course, bone-numbing temperatures. While we have our own way of
    preparing – putting away our shorts and t-shirts in favor of sweaters, boots and long
    underwear, the Highlands East roads crews in Tory Hill are getting all their equipment in order
    to keep drivers in the region safe.

    It's a process that starts in September and involves a thorough check of the winter fleet of snow

    plows, sanders and loaders. Then there’s the sand domes that need to be filled with sand from
    the nearby quarry. It’s a busy time, and as Brett Charboneau, Operations Supervisor with the
    Roads Department explains, every minute counts.

    5 min
  • Collecting Haliburton Gold Trout Eggs

    Members of the Haliburton Highlands Outdoor Association are ensuring a species of lake trout continues to thrive in the region’s many lakes. Together, at Elvin Johnson Park, the group has gathered to collect the eggs from fertile females to improve the survival of the Haliburton Gold trout– a fish found only here in the County. Dave Moss, who heads up egg collection, explains how the process works and why it’s so critical.

    7 min
  • New CT Scanner at HHHS

    Local resident Jim Frost was the first Haliburton Highlands Health Services patient to use the hospital’s brand-new CT scanner. The CT scanner has been in use for three months. So far, more than 1,000 patients have used the scanner since July, severely cutting down on the need for patients, their physicians and emergency medical staff to drive out of the county for diagnostic tests at other health centers. The scanner allows local patients to receive care closer to home and keeps medical personnel on-site to care for awaiting patients.

    7 min
  • Nurse Practitioners

    Seniors’ healthcare in Haliburton County got a shot in the arm recently when two nurse practitioners signed on at both long term care centers here. One is working at Highland Crest – a 62-bed facility in Minden and another at Highland Wood – a 30 bed facility attached to Haliburton Highlands Health Services. Jennifer Burns West, Chief Nursing Executive and VP of Clinic and Community Programs for HHHS believes the new NPs are already having a positive impact.

    4 min
  • Places for People 3rd Annual Housing Summit

    The statistics are staggering. At 82 per cent, Ontario has the highest proportion of renters

    paying more than 30 per cent of their income on housing. In Haliburton County, affordable
    housing remains a crippling obstacle to residents, with no easy answers. That’s what the 3 rd
    Annual Places for People’s Housing Summit, taking place October 24 in Minden aims to address
    through collaboration and problem-solving.
    The summit provides opportunities for a diverse group of people, businesses and organizations
    to come together to network, brainstorm and hopefully move the needle on providing more
    affordable housing across the county. Fay Martin, Co-Chair of Places for People, admits while

    there have been some successes, far more is needed to improve the inventory of affordable

    housing here in Haliburton County.

    5 min
  • Alcohol in Wilberforce Convenience Stores:

    It’s been more than a month since alcoholic drinks have been given the green light for sale in

    convenience stores in Ontario, thanks to a push from Premier Doug Ford to broaden consumer
    choices.

    The Wilberforce Service Centre is one of more than 41 hundred convenience stores in the

    province selling alcohol and owners Lindsay and Todd Watling are seeing the benefits first-
    hand.

    While some local residents are concerned with the impacts of easy access to alcohol or

    impaired driving, others think the move is a boost for convenience in rural communities.

    4 min
  • Cyclist Riding for SickKids and Local Little Girl:

    For Katie Woodward, cycling has become both a passion and a purpose. For the third year in a

    row, the Gelert resident has been cycling in the Great Cycle Challenge in support of SickKids
    Hospital in Toronto. While she originally chose to ride to pull herself out of a slump, Katie soon
    discovered that putting others ahead of herself was a positive move in the right direction – not
    just for herself, but for many others in Haliburton County struggling with cancer. She’s
    exceeded both her fundraising goals and distance goals every year and has raised nearly $25K
    so far.

    In her circle of friends and family, there are many fighting some kind of cancer. From her

    husband dealing with skin cancer, to many of her girlfriends facing breast cancer, as well as a
    spunky seven-year-old girl in Gooderham with a rare form of leukemia, Katie has so many
    reasons to cycle. She sees their faces with every kilometer she peddles and is glad to be able to
    do something to support them on their cancer journey.

    5 min
  • Legion Elevator

    A new elevator at the Haliburton Legion, Branch 129 is expected to be a real lift to the

    community of Haliburton, thanks to a one-hundred-thousand-dollar Trillium grant and
    assistance from the federal government, local businesses, service groups and local residents.
    The elevator will allow physically challenged members and the public to attend events at the
    Legion. In years past, the steep staircase there had made getting downstairs virtually
    impossible.

    Although the Legion is still $12K shy of its fundraising goal, the elevator, as well as the recently

    completed accessible washroom will be a real lift to the community.

    5 min
  • Sherman Tank

    It’s 37 tons and a beloved icon in the Town of Haliburton. After a recent facelift, the Second

    World War-era M4 Easy Eight Sherman tank will return to its home in front of the Haliburton
    Legion, Branch 129 this month where it’s sat proudly for more than 50 years.
    The tank, the pride of the Legion and its members, was lifted onto a flatbed early in May, and
    taken away for a facelift.

    Just a few more finishing touches are being made to the tank then ‘The Haliburton’ will be

    placed on a newly donated cement slab. Past president Don Pitman

    4 min

About County Closeup

From the publisher's feed

At more four thousand kilometers in size, Haliburton County is home to just as many