Township continues to reduce tax arrears
Madawaska Valley Treasurer Amanda Hudder updated Council this month on the success of continuing staff efforts to collect arrears of property taxes. Her report showed the arrears at December 31 2018 had been reduced from $1.3 million to just over $500,000 by July 31 2019. As of that date the total arrears collected so far during 2019 was $917,370.72. Council asked Hudder to convey their appreciation to Deputy Treasurer Janice Brisson Zelney for her efforts. CAO Klatt reminded Council that some municipalities were moving to collect after two years rather than three, but staff found three years is fine if they are proactive in collecting early on. Hudder said, “Sometimes people get in a situation where it takes two years or it might take three years to get back on your feet.”
Catching up with Catch The Ace
Week #7 winner David Golka took home $1,157. Golka bought his ticket at the Barry’s Bay Shell, choosing #51 and revealing the queen of diamonds. Peter Large, lucky Week#6 Winner received $1,041. Large also bought his ticket at the Barry’s Bay Shell, choosing #28 for his granddaughter’s birthday. And there are many other vendors throughout the Valley where you can buy a ticket.
The weekly prize for Week #8 is estimated at $1,095 and if the Ace of Spades is found the total winnings will be around $14,461. Reminder: your tickets are only valid for a week so after the draw on Thursdays, you must buy a new ticket to be eligible for that week’s draw. And each $5 ticket means more funds for the Valley Manor Redevelopment project.
Take a look at Renfrew Victoria Hospital (RVH) Foundation’s Catch the Ace Lottery for a great illustration of how the progressive jackpot works. Their Week #32 winner received $16,138.00 and if next week’s winner catches the Ace of Spades, they will win an estimated $348,090. So far the draw has brought in $580,150 for RVH Foundation.
Drive safe and sober as OPP launches seasonal festive RIDE campaign
The festive RIDE campaign has officially begun. Locally, Killaloe Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be taking part in this campaign aimed at taking alcohol and drug impaired drivers off of our roads.
The OPP is heading into this campaign with enhanced tools that allow police officers who have in their possession an approved screening device who lawfully pull over a driver in a RIDE initiative or through a lawful traffic stop to demand a breath sample without having reasonable suspicion that the driver has alcohol in their body.
The OPP also has acquired approved drug screening equipment which can detect cannabis and cocaine in a driver’s saliva. Motorists are also reminded that officers can demand a driver to submit to a Standardized Field Sobriety Test, (STST) and a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Evaluation.
Access Work Service
Access Work Service (AWS) invites you to a Christmas card-making workshop. AWS Workshops are designed to provide creative opportunities for anyone who wants to learn new skills, be energized and inspired.
The workshop will be held at the Opeongo Senior Centre (downstairs) on Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. All materials are included. Your first card is free and further cards cost $2 each. The cards that you will be making are your own unique creations to keep or to give away to a loved one.
To register please call AWS Main Office at 613.756.0723
Station Keepers’ Culture & Heritage Film Club
Two National Film Board short films will be screened at the Barry’s Bay train station at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26:
- First Winter a moving and beautiful historical drama set in the Ottawa Valley as an Irish immigrant family endures their first logging winter in 1830.
- Kazuby was a documentary shot in 1975 in the Barry’s Bay area and attempts to depict what it believes is a waning Polish-Canadian culture.
Food & Toy Drive
If you are in need of help this Christmas, please call and sign up at 613.757.3108
Community Resource Centre (CRC) in Killaloe is now accepting donations of gently used and new toys, gift cards and cash donations. There are Angel Wreathes and Trees throughout the communities if you would like to pick one to buy for this season.
