WELLINGTON NORTH - Taxpayers here will be on the hook for an extra $24.71 in municipal taxes this year after council approved a budget with an two per cent rate hike on Jan. 10.
New ‘treat-and-release’ option could help prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed by Omicron
WELLINGTON COUNTY - Paramedics in Wellington County and Guelph could, with a medical directive recently made available to emergency medical services, soon treat those with COVID-19 symptoms at home instead of transporting patients to emergency departments.
Province anticipating arrival of 54.3 million rapid antigen tests
TORONTO - The provincial government is expecting to receive millions of rapid antigen tests this month following a Jan. 5 federal announcement that 140 million rapid tests would be distributed across the country.
WDGPH confirms first death of a child with COVID-19
WELLINGTON COUNTY – A Wellington County child under the age of 10 has died after testing positive for COVID-19. It's unclear if the child's death was caused by the virus.
Students learning from home after province flip-flops on return to classrooms
WELLINGTON COUNTY - Students were supposed to be back in-class this week following a belated Christmas gift of a delayed return to school on Jan. 5.
Getting tested for COVID-19 no easy task
WELLINGTON COUNTY - A recent narrowing of the eligibility criteria for who can access publicly-funded COVID-19 tests, combined with a shortage of available rapid antigen tests, is causing some Wellington County residents to seek out options elsewhere.
Despite narrowing of testing eligibility, no end in sight for surge in COVID-19 cases
WELLINGTON COUNTY – Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) has reported 1,481 new COVID-19 cases during the first weekend of the new year. As of Jan. 4, active cases across the health unit have risen to a new record-high of 2,593.
‘It can’t be stopped’: province introduces restrictions, delays in-class learning
TORONTO - The province will enter a modified version of stage two of Ontario's Roadmap to Reopen on Jan. 5. Students will wait until at least Jan. 17 to return to in-class learning, gatherings will be limited and indoor dining and other businesses and facilities will be closed.
Fergus resident researching pandemic’s impact on rural communities
GUELPH - Fergus resident Leith Deacon has embarked on a mass survey mailout to investigate the pandemic’s impact on rural communities in southwestern Ontario.
Northwind Bison in Mapleton is where the buffalo roam
MAPLETON - Amanda and Shane Stege are farmers of a different breed, raising North America’s largest land mammal on their Mapleton farm.
WDGPH region shatters previous record for active cases of COVID-19
WELLINGTON COUNTY – Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) is reporting 821 new COVID-19 cases between Christmas Eve and Dec. 27. This is the second week in a row active cases have more than doubled in the region, with total active cases sitting at 1,367 as of Dec. 28.
WDGPH anticipates new vaccine clinic will provide more booster appointments
WELLINGTON COUNTY - Public health is anticipating more appointments will become available in the new year for third dose vaccinations after a new clinic starts up at the University of Guelph.
Mapleton snowmobile club reaches trail agreement with GRCA
WELLINGTON COUNTY - A two-year impasse between the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs and the Grand River Conservation Authority has come to an end – at least in part. The GRCA and the Lake Conestoga Snowmobilers have signed an agreement for 13km of trails in Mapleton Township.
The SEED brings food equity to Centre Wellington
CENTRE WELLINGTON - Built on a social enterprise model to address food insecurity, Groceries from The SEED are arriving at doorsteps across Fergus and Elora thanks to a recent $10,000 grant from the Centre Wellington Community Foundation.
‘Kids always came first’: Mount Forest teacher taking ‘high road’ after going against the grain
MOUNT FOREST - Local resident and longtime Wellington Heights Secondary School teacher Dave Griffiths has retired after decades of putting kids first in experiential education.