Owen Sound Sun Times

A shotgun and ammunition has been seized and an Owen Sound man faces charges after a police investigation involving death threats on the weekend. On Friday, police learned that the suspect was unlawfully in possession of a shotgun, Owen Sound police said in a news release. The 55-year-old man was arrested on Saturday for uttering […]

For the second day in a row, four new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Grey-Bruce Sunday. Single cases were reported in Owen Sound, Meaford, Southgate and West Grey, bringing the total number of confirmed local cases to date to 1,242, according to public health’s daily situation report. There are now 42 known active cases […]

The young piping plover spotted at Sauble Beach last week hasn’t been seen along the sandy shoreline in days. Andrea Gress, Birds Canada’s Ontario piping plover program co-ordinator, said the endangered shorebird – believed, based on his leg bands, to be a first-year male from Michigan – was first reported at Sauble May 4, but […]

The owners of The Dam Pub in Thornbury are proposing to open a sister restaurant at the Owen Sound Billy Bishop Regional Airport. But the plan, which is to be presented to the city’s operations committee Tuesday, comes with a proviso. The city must eliminate the new $35 landing fee for small, private aircraft and […]

Four new cases of COVID-19 were reported to the Grey Bruce Health Unit Saturday, marking the 10th straight day that the local new daily case count has been in the single digits. Single new cases were from Owen Sound, Meaford, Kincardine and West Grey, according to public health’s daily situation report for Saturday. There are […]

After graduating from high school in the early ’90s, Owen Sound’s Jen McGuire worked as a nanny for a year in Switzerland. “I really loved it,” the freelance writer and author said Saturday. “I just really liked being over there and felt like myself there in a way that you’re not defined by all the […]

It will be four years this summer since Steve and Joanne Atchison’s only son Traves was killed in a head-on collision on Highway 6 just south of Tobermory. Described as a friend to everyone, 22-year-old Traves and his girlfriend and passenger Jana Watson died Aug. 26, 2017, when a southbound Dodge Charger that was being […]

Owen Sound could soon be getting a rainbow crosswalk to signify its support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Staff is recommending the city create the six-coloured crosswalk at the newly installed pedestrian crossing on 8th Street East near the 8th Street bridge and Owen Sound Farmer’s Market. A recommendation report is to […]

COVID-19 played a role in the death of a Grey-Bruce resident who was being treated at a local hospital for another medical condition, the health unit reported Friday. It’s the fourth person confirmed to have died with the pandemic virus locally. Six deaths in total are now listed in the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s daily […]

A GoFundMe has been established for the family of a seasonal farm worker from Mexico who died while in isolation in Saugeen Shores last month. And in less than three days, the fundraiser for Jose Antonio Coronado’s family back in Mexico had raised more than double its original goal of $10,000. Elaine MacNeil, one of […]

The jury trial of David Douglas Beattie, charged in the death of a 20-year-old Southampton man more than three years ago, will begin Sept. 27 in Owen Sound. Beattie, now 25, is charged with second-murder in the death of Nolan Panchyshyn on Dec. 14, 2017, in Chatsworth Township, and offering an indignity to human remains […]

Owen Sound Minor Lacrosse is planning for a return to action in a new home for 2021. Minor box lacrosse will shift to the Shallow Lake Community Centre this year as the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre and Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre in Owen Sound are currently being utilized as a field hospital and […]

Despite educational campaigns, targeted enforcement and other efforts to curb stunt driving on the Bruce Peninsula, the problem continues to get worse, says the Grey Bruce OPP’s detachment commander. Acting Insp. Debra Anderson said the stretch of Highway 6 between Wiarton and Tobermory is of “great concern” to the OPP. “Obviously, it’s not safe,” she […]

Dr. Ian Arra said he doesn’t want to encourage “vaccine shopping” by saying which clinics use which vaccine. Some shopping has been propelled by concerns about extremely rare vaccine-induced blood clotting after receiving the AstraZeneca shot, a condition doctors can treat. It occurs about every one in 250,000 doses. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization […]

More COVID-19 vaccination appointments have opened up at the P & H Centre in Hanover Saturday. That clinic initially was set up to catch up with anyone in the education and daycare sectors who still wanted a first COVID-19 shot and about 600 people stepped forward, said Dr. Ian Arra, the medical officer of health […]

A longtime area resident has asked Georgian Bluffs council to consider constructing a new community hall instead of upgrading the former arena in Kemble. Keith Davidson appeared before the Georgian Bluffs committee of the whole meeting on Wednesday, where he suggested that recently announced federal, provincial and municipal funding would be better spent on a […]

Georgian Bluffs council continues to gather feedback on whether to continue to allow water access for motorized vehicles at Sutacriti Park. On Wednesday, the municipality held a public meeting to gather feedback on the use of the access point located along Presqu’ile Road north of Cobble Beach. Of the nine participants registered, those who spoke […]

Some residents with safety concerns about the speed and volume of traffic along Grey Road 17B have received support from Georgian Bluffs council. Russ Pierson and Kevin Lind spoke to council on Wednesday about their concerns, with hopes of having the speed limit lowered on the road between Somers Street and Highway 6 to 50 […]

Georgian Bluffs has added a few new parks projects to its plans for 2021, but thanks to additional funding from the province it won’t mean an increase to its 2021 budget. On Wednesday during its committee of the whole meeting, Georgian Bluffs council received an update on its 2021 operating and capital budget with a […]

The Ontario Hockey League’s first-ever draft lottery went pretty well for the Owen Sound Attack. A random computer-generated draw selected the Attack to pick eighth-overall in the upcoming OHL Priority Selection, the first three rounds of which will take place June 4, with Rounds 4 to 15 following the next day. As an added sweetener, […]

Ron Zinger says he’s pretty much seen it all in his 35-year career behind the steering wheel of transports and delivery trucks. But the 55-year-old Northern Bruce Peninsula man says one of the most dangerous roads he’s travelled is in his own backyard – the stretch of Highway 6 between Wiarton and Tobermory. “It’s right […]

A Brampton man pleaded guilty Wednesday in the Ontario Court of Justice to attempted murder for his part in an effort to kill a co-worker and dispose of his body more than two years ago. Punit Gandhi, 32, pleaded guilty to attempted murder Dec. 5, 2018 in Grey Highlands and admitted the facts presented by […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported six new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday. The newest cases were found in Arran-Elderslie, Brockton, Grey Highlands, Hanover, Saugeen Shores and Southgate. There are now 54 active COVID-19 cases confirmed by the health unit in the two counties including 37 involving a variant of concern. Two people with COVID-19 currently […]

A plan to pump water from Georgian Bay at night, then release it through power-generating turbines by day when demand for electricity is higher, continues to progress. TC Energy says its $4 billion pumped-storage project, which is proposed to be built at Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford, would have a capacity 1,000 megawatts […]

While Grey-Bruce has seen its COVID-19 case numbers level off then fall in recent weeks, “external pressures” continue to weigh on local hospitals as they take on more patients with very complicated and severe ailments. “It is deceiving because from outside the hospital it probably looks like there is hardly anyone in the parking lot […]

Although it’s still early in the year, city officials are anticipating Owen Sound will end 2021 with a “nominal” $10,000 surplus as a result of pressures and funding related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Corporate services director Kate Allan said the city has received $310,000 in Safe Restart Funding for 2021 so far, along with funding […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported one new case of COVID-19 Tuesday, in Brockton. There were 51 active confirmed cases in the two counties as of just before midnight Monday, including 36 involving a variant of concern. Four COVID-19 patients being followed by the health unit are hospitalized locally, according to the report. The health […]

Traffic-calming devices could be rolled out in other Owen Sound neighbourhoods if a pilot project on 6th Avenue West proves successful at curbing speeding, says the city’s director of public works and engineering. “The residents that we’ve been speaking to are really encouraged by what we’re proposing as well as police services – they think […]

The Owen Sound Downtown Improvement Area board has approved an “ambitious” plan aimed at rebranding, revitalizing and promoting the city’s downtown. The 43-page River District Action Plan, presented to city council Monday night, includes nearly a dozen recommendations – from rebranding the downtown as the River District to boosting the safety, comfort and visual appeal […]

Over $35,000 has been raised in just four days for a grandmother who was seriously injured in a collision involving a transport truck on the Sunset Strip just west of Owen Sound. The amount is more than 10 times the $3,000 goal of the GoFundMe campaign started by the woman’s eldest son. On the morning […]

Olivia Duwyn reached her goals on the weekend, completing a marathon and blowing past her target of raising $10,000 for child and youth mental health. “It went really well and I am happy with it,” Duwyn said Monday. “It was really cool just to finish it and realize I had run that far.” Duwyn, 20, […]

The Grey Bruce Health Unit reported six new cases of COVID-19 Monday. Three of the newest cases were reported in Southgate, two in South Bruce, and a single case in Meaford. There are now 59 active and confirmed cases in the two counties including 37 involving a variant of concern. The health unit’s contact management […]

The scarecows won’t be invading Meaford again this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The executive of the Meaford Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival announced the event’s cancellation last week, the second year in a row it has not been held due to the pandemic. “The event is volunteer-run,” event chair Donna Earl said in […]

There are still spots available in all age groups as the Owen Sound Minor Soccer Association prepares for a return to the field. Should the Grey-Bruce region be returned to either the green, yellow, or orange zone of the province’s reopening framework following the provincewide shutdown, the soccer season will get underway June 1. OSMSA […]

Owen Sound Attack defenceman Andrew Perrott is part of a player-led group organizing a two-week NHL draft showcase in Erie, PA. Perrott, along with fellow American OHLers Ryan Humphrey (Hamilton), Ryan Beck (Saginaw) and Brendan Hoffmann (Erie), have officially launched the PBHH Junior Showcase set to take place in early June. The idea is to […]

For the first time in the history of the Ontario Hockey League, a lottery will be held to set the 2021 draft order. Nineteen OHL clubs will have an equal chance at landing the best 2005-born player available at the June 4 draft. The Niagara Ice Dogs forfeited their 2021 first-round pick in a penalty […]

The MS Chi-Cheemaun will remain docked in Owen Sound indefinitely amid the provincial shutdown. The ferry service between Tobermory’s Little Tub Harbour and Manitoulin Island’s South Baymouth was scheduled to begin Friday. All reservations affected by the delay have been cancelled, and the Owen Sound Transportation Company is reaching out to customers with reservations between […]

A Saugeen First Nation woman has been charged with arson in relation to a fire that levelled a house on the weekend. Just after 5 p.m. on Saturday, Grey Bruce OPP were dispatched to the fully engulfed house fire on Highway 21 at Saugeen First Nation. The Saugeen First Nation Fire Department extinguished the fire […]

A Grey Highlands woman has been identified as the driver of a vehicle that went over the wall and became submerged in the Owen Sound harbour on Sunday. Catherine Weldrick, 60, was pronounced dead at the scene after being recovered from the vehicle that was removed from about five metres of water, Grey Bruce OPP […]

Grey-Bruce’s COVID case count added just three new cases Sunday, the latest sign that pandemic precautions are paying off. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra thanked the public in remarks included in the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s daily situation report Sunday afternoon. “Thank you Grey-Bruce communities; keep up the great work!” he said. “The […]

The garden centre was Karen Loughnan’s “happy place” Saturday. Surrounded by flowers and green leaves, she said the pandemic has been long and lonely. Vanvugt Greenhouses, on Grey Road 1 just north of Owen Sound, was her oasis on the first day the greenhouse has opened this spring. “Finding some happiness. Stress reliever,” she said […]

There were reports of armed police in military-style garb at the Bayfield Landing subdivision in Owen Sound Sunday morning. Facebook pictures showed men in helmets and drab olive garb carrying what one person at the housing complex who saw them thought were assault rifles. One resident showed a phone video of police like that at […]

Grey Bruce OPP said one person was found dead in a submerged vehicle which was driven over the east harbour wall early Sunday morning in Owen Sound. Acting Staff-Sgt. Nigel Heels also confirmed Sunday afternoon that next-of-kin have been notified and police will be releasing the name of the deceased Monday in a formal news […]

Grey-Bruce added six new cases of COVID-19 Friday. The Grey Bruce Health Unit’s daily situation report Saturday, with figures current up to midnight Friday, said there were three new cases in Georgian Bluffs, two in West Grey and one in Chatsworth. There are 28 active cases involving variants of concern, and 58 active COVID cases […]

The last time big and little brothers and sisters gathered as a group was about a week before Ontario’s first pandemic state of emergency was declared. It was March 7, 2020 at The Bowling Alley for the annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake event. This was before public health orders, isolation, masks, remote learning, and other daily […]

Grey-Bruce has wrestled the surging COVID-19 third wave to manageable levels, the local medical officer of health said Friday. “It is a success to see that Grey-Bruce, all of us — the public, the partners, municipalities, businesses, the health unit — they really wrestled this surge down to the ground,” Dr. Ian Arra said in […]

An Owen Sound committee is not recommending council lower the speed limit on all residential streets to 40 kilometres an hour after a staff review concluded speeding is not a “chronic issue” city-wide. Instead, the operations committee is endorsing a staff-recommended three-part plan – which is to come to council Monday – to address problem […]

A “delusional” man who set fire to a house while people were inside pleaded guilty Thursday to arson and separately to making a death threat and was sentenced to 22 months in custody, possibly served in a secure treatment facility. Benjamin Paul Komisar, 36, of Grand Valley, Ont. admitted in the Ontario Court of Justice […]

A city project to create a new, adequately sized backup 911 dispatch centre in Owen Sound should be finished by the end of May, says police Chief Craig Ambrose. He said the current facility – a backup site for the department’s dispatch centre, which handles all 911 calls in Grey-Bruce and dispatch duties for seven […]

Local politicians and advocates for increasing the safety of Highway 6 on the Bruce Peninsula are applauding the province’s proposal to introduce tougher penalties for stunt driving. The Moving Ontarians More Safely (MOMS) Act, introduced this week at Queen’s Park, would increase both the automatic vehicle impoundment and driver’s licence suspension periods for motorists caught […]