The Eganville Leader
150 John St. K0J 1T0 Eganville, ON, Canada

BREAKING NEWS - A Student at Fellowes has tested Positive for COVID - 19, bringing the total number of cases to 5.

Looking for a new book to read? There is a new library in Eganville as part of the Little Free Library project. Area resident Rose Stashick won the small library as part of a contest and it is now located at the Eganville Tourist Information Booth. Books are free to borrow. Return them at your leisure or exchange them for a new one. Sounds like a great addition to our community. Read about it in the Leader this week.

A storm in Laurentian Valley took down trees, ripped off shingles and demolished sheds, but no one was hurt. See more pictures in the Leader this week.

The County of Renfrew was granted permission by the province to make exemptions to the Count of Renfrew Official Plan and now the work begins with the official plan amendment slated for the spring. Warden Debbie Robinson thanked the province for their support, but stressed there is work to be done on land designations which make development impossible, as well as limiting extensive studies for severances. See the full story in the Leader this week.

First Step Options, a not-for-profit pregnancy support centre serving the Upper Ottawa Valley has been hit hard by COVID-19 as some fundraising programs were cancelled or postponed. The popular baby bottle drive is being held now with bottles or online donations to raise funds until October 4. The centre provides pregnancy resources and support for parents. Read about what they do and how to help in the Leader this week.

And he did it! Russell MacKay, at the spry age of 82, completed a 125 kilometre walk raising funds for CHEO and presented a cheque for $105,000, way beyond his original goal of $25,000. An example to all of us, although legally blind he persevered and inspired so many along the way. Connie White shares this inspiring story with us.

Ok, we know you love Bacon on a Bun too! The Renfrew Fair may be cancelled, but there will be bacon on Saturday. Read about it in the Leader this week and make your plans now to be there this weekend. The Rotary Club is grateful for all support.

Big, big, big week in Barry's Bay with funding announcements totally almost $50 million from the province. A major expansion is planned for the Emergency Department at St. Francis Memorial and funding has been given for the redevelopment of Valley Manor, as well as ongoing funding. For local boy John Yakabuski, who grew up in the Bay and is now the MPP for our riding, this was truly great news to bring back home. Great to see rural Ontario is not being forgotten.

The Eganville community and others in the Valley are grieving the loss of a vibrant young woman whose life touched many. We celebrate her life in the Leader this week and offer our condolences to her family, once again expressing our gratitude for their graciousness in sharing with us their memories amidst such sorrow. Our prayers are with all of you.

Mike Klobouk, president of BayBud Inc, has been waiting to open his Cannabis Store in the Bay, but is waiting to finish one final step with the government. He is planning on opening soon, but only time will tell. Read about his slow opening process in the Leader this week.

WOW! Thanks Eganville and area! The total of the Save Our Legion campaign fundraiser was a huge $83,000 for Branch 353 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Eganville. Thanks to the Legion for being part of our community for 75 years and looking forward to many more. Seen here at the unveiling are, front from left, Legion treasurer Claude Jeannotte. Rotary Club president, Lorna Byers, Legion president Dieter Stehle, and Rotarian Dave Clark. At rear, Rotarian Wayne Gorman, public committee members Zig Mintha and Gerald Tracey, and Legion past president/deputy zone commander, Walter Hobden. See the full story this week in the Leader.