DCVI DRAMA GOES VIRTUAL PAGE 6 BIA SHARES LOVE MESSAGE PAGE 9 St. Marys Independent 36 Water St. S., St. Marys ON | 519.284.0041 | [email protected] | www.stmarysindy.com Issue #1040 Thursday, February 4, 2021 FREE AWD RAV4 JUST $144 B.W. Black’s Financial Services 2016 Toyota Rav4 All wheel drive, auto, air, heated seats, Black’s Financial Services *All rates subject to change without notice* Call us for details 519.284.1340 bluetooth, backup camera, power options, cruise, keyless TERM GIC GIC INSURED and more, clean 1 owner vehicle with brand new brakes Are you taking advantage of the TFSA? 1 year 0.92 *All rates subject Prices /payment plus tax and license, payment over 84 months 1 YR 0.71 - 3 YR 1.02 - 5 YR 1.43 3 years 1.30 to change without at 6.74% o.a.c. ( 5.99% available for 72 mo's or less) For more products and 5 years 1.50 notice* $ $ Financial Advice call us today! 143 b.w. 20,495 + HST 519.284.3308 Picture St. Marys: Past and Present Thorndale students RIVER VALLEY Have some lockdown fun with Museum’s photo challenge return to school; St. Marys continues THANK YOU at-home learning By Spencer Seymour, Local Journalism Initiative Re- ESSENTIAL porter An announcement on Thursday from the Ontario WORKERS! Ministry of Education brought mixed emotions in our area with regards to the return-to-school plan Let's all do our for local students. The Thames Valley District School Board and Lon- part & social don District Catholic School Board were among the nine school boards in Ontario that were approved distance! by the OME to return to in-person learning for el- ementary students effective Monday, February 1, 2021. Secondary students will return to classes on 519.225.2329 Thursday, February 4, which coincides with the be- ginning of Quadmester Three. St. Marys Mayor Al Strathdee recreates a photo of then-mayor Clifton Brown on Local schools which form part of the TVDSB are his Penny Farthing bicycle during the 1978 Homecoming Parade. In the back- www.rivervalleygolfandtube.com A. J. Baker Public School in Kintore, West Nissouri ground of both photos is St. Marys resident Bob Doupe. Public School in Thorndale, Zorra Highland Park Fight cabin fever and learn about our The winner will be announced on Public School in Embro, Thamesford Public School, local history this month via a fun con- Monday, March 1. Wilberforce Public School in Lucan, Tavistock Pub- lic School, and Hickson Central Public School. test from the St. Marys Museum. Submissions will be accepted any Simply visit Picture St. Marys, the St. time during the month of February In total, the TVDSB is comprised of over 150 schools Marys Museum’s online photo col- and will be uploaded to the Facebook in and around the City of London. lection, and recreate any photo as album as they are received. The ear- The Avon Maitland District School Board, which accurately or creatively as you wish! lier photos are received, however, the administers public school education in Huron and Email your photo to museum@town. larger the window of opportunity is to Perth Counties, was not among the school boards stmarys.on.ca, being sure to include earn reactions. approved to return to class at this time by the Min- the “Local Identifier” number listed “There are approximately 3,000 pho- istry of Education. with the original. tos on Picture St. Marys,” says Town of Many parents of students at local schools such as Submitted photos will be uploaded to St. Marys Cultural Services Supervi- St. Marys D.C.V.I., Little Falls Public School, Down- a Facebook album on the Museum’s sor Amy Cubberley. “It’s an incredible ie Central Public School, and South Perth Centen- Facebook page, and the creator of the archive of our town and this contest is nial Public School expressed surprise and, in many photo with the most likes/positive re- a fun way for residents to explore our instances, frustration at the decision for AMDSB actions will win a $25 gift certificate town's history.” Cubberley adds that schools to remain at home while TVDSB students to the St. Marys Museum Gift Shop. Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its MORTGAGE AGENT sorrow; it empties today of its strength." CELL: 519.01.5155 - Corrie ten Boom .MheeWebber.a Need rae he 2 Thursday, February 4, 2021 St. Marys Independent COMMUNITY — Thorndale students Another Drug Bust by SPS return to school; St. Marys Street Crime Unit On Saturday, January 30 the Strat- for Possession of a Controlled Sub- continues at-home learning ford Police Service Street Crime stance and transported to Stratford Continued from page 1 the choosing of which school boards Unit, with the assistance of officers Police Headquarters. A search of the would return to class, but did empha- from Uniform Patrol, concluded a vehicle yielded one 30mg hydromor- would return to school. size that schools would implement project regarding the trafficking of phone tablet, 93.5 grams of cocaine, According to statistics posted online stronger masking protocols to include illegal substances in the Town of St. and a large amount of cash. The to- on January 31, 2021, there are 74 ac- grades 1-3, expand access to target- Marys and surrounding area. Short- tal street value of the seized drugs is tive cases of COVID-19 in the Hu- ed asymptomatic testing, and ensure ly before 8:00 p.m. the Stratford Po- approximately $9,410. Both accused ron Perth Public Health district. At stricter screening protocols. lice stopped a vehicle in the Town have been charged with two counts of St. Marys, with the two accused of Possession of a Controlled Sub- the same time, there were 1,680 ac- “The government agrees with the tive cases of COVID-19 being tracked persons inside. The driver was iden- stance and one count of Possession growing consensus in the medical tified as a 51-year-old male resident of a Controlled Substance for the through the Middlesex-London community that returning students to Health Unit. of St. Marys, while the passenger was Purpose of Trafficking. The female in-person learning is essential to the identified as a 30-year-old female accused was released from custody Thursday’s announcement from Min- wellbeing, development and mental resident of Woodstock. They were on an Undertaking, while the male ister of Education Stephen Lecce did health of children,” said Lecce. both placed under arrest at that time was held for a bail hearing. not include detailed rationale behind Picture St. Marys: Past and Present HPHA declares COVID-19 outbreak Continued from page 1 to COVID guidelines and only submit photos of their own household, and at Stratford General Hospital over the contest coincides with Ontario to social distance while outdoors. Ad- An outbreak of COVID-19 at the Hu- No patients acquired the virus while Heritage Week (February 15-21) and ditionally, please do not trespass on ron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) in hospital. As there have been no Canadian Heritage Day on Monday, private property or attempt to recre- - Stratford General Hospital has been further cases, the Inpatient Surgery February 15. ate any of the more daring photos in declared over by Huron Perth Pub- Unit has been reopened to admis- Even though the contest is virtual, the archive. lic Health. The outbreak had been sions and transfers. Family and Care- participants are reminded to adhere declared on the Inpatient Surgery giver Presence on the Unit has also Unit on January 15, 2021 after three been restored. Full guidelines can be staff tested positive. “Upon declaring found on our website at www.hpha.ca. HOW TO LISTEN TO ST. MARYS RADIO the outbreak, immediate precautions “While this outbreak is over, we can’t were implemented, including en- stress enough the importance of con- Step 1. Go to www.stmarysradio.com hanced cleaning and prevalence test- tinuing to follow public health mea- 2. Click play on the online player ing in 100 staff and physicians,” says sures and adhering to the province’s Andrew Williams, President & CEO. Stay-at-Home Order,” adds Williams. 7 Day Forecast - Weather Sponsored by TheHITCHING POST Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Feb-3rd Feb-4th Feb-5th Feb-6th Feb-7th Feb-8th Feb-9th Mainly sunny Sun/cloud Snow Sun/cloud Snow Cloudy Sun/cloud c c c c c c c -2 -1 -0 -7 -7 -12 -11 0.95% 0.95% 0.75% Feels Like Feels Like Feels Like Feels Like Feels Like Feels Like Feels Like 1.45% 1.35% 1.02% 1.60% 1.60% 1.43% Market Prices Sponsored by (Cash bids as of Tuesday at 12pm.) 695 Levitt Street, Granton ON, N0M 1V0 #2 YELLOW CORN SOYBEANSSOFT RED WHEAT Old Crop – $6.85 Old Crop – $16.93 Old Crop – $7.86 New Crop – $5.38 New Crop – $14.28 New Crop – $7.41 St. Marys Independent Thursday, February 4, 2021 3 COMMUNITY — St. Marys joins together for a cause that can't be ignored By Alex Hunt it just warms my heart so much that people are On February 20th, it’s time to walk and support recognizing each other and reaching out to help those who are unable to enjoy the warmth of a each other, it’s so humbling.” home during the frigid months of winter, as the A portion of the overwhelming success has been Coldest Night of the Year (“CNOY”) fundraiser attributed to increased use of social media, which comes to St.