Rush hour in Ripley

This man was spotted driving his lawnmower, with a horse in tow, at Ripley's main intersection early Saturday afternoon. (Josh Howald photo)


Remembering Oksana

A young woman tosses a flower in Lake Huron to pay tribute to Oksana Milovanovic, a 16-year-old exchange student from Vertou, France who lost her life Aug. 16. An estimated 500 mourners attended a memorial service at Reunion Park Friday. For full details on the tragedy and the memorial, see this week's print edition of The Independent. (Barb McKay photo)


Public consultation for off-shore wind turbine rules extended

By Barb McKay

 

The public will have until October to review and submit comments on proposed restrictions on any future off-shore wind energy projects.

 


Common sense the best safety net

Nearly impossible to regulate swimming in Lake Huron

By Josh Howald

The town has been abuzz after last week’s heart-breaking incident at Station Beach in which a 16-year-old girl died in the waves of Lake Huron.

Two people have now drowned at Station Beach in the past three years, and people are left wondering if anything more can be done to prevent these tragedies.

It’s a tough question, and the only real answer is that people must use common sense around water. The ability to swim and knowledge of lake conditions are crucial, but are there other precautions we could take as a community?

The Independent bounced some of the ideas we heard this week off Brenda Lance, the Municipality’s Aquatic Supervisor, Thursday afternoon.


Huron-Kinloss to state its position on off-shore wind turbines

By Barb McKay

 

Huron-Kinloss council will make its position clear on off-shore wind projects.

 

At its Aug. 16 meeting, council agreed to put together an official position statement regarding the possible development of off-shore wind projects in Lake Huron, after receiving a position statement from the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation (LHCCC).

 


Memorial for Milovanovic tonight

Public invited to Reunion Park

The life of Oksana Milovanovic will be celebrated tonight at Reunion Park in Kincardine.

At the request of the Milovanovic family, the South-Bruce OPP has extended an invitation to the public who wish to attend a non-denominational celebration of Oksana's life.

The 16-year-old girl from Vertou, France, drowned at Station Beach earlier this week.

The celebration will start at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Friday). The public is invited to bring a candle or flowers.

"I wish to thank all the community members who have rallied around both families involved in this tragedy," said South-Bruce OPP detachment Commander Inspector William Klym. "The support provided to the families and the members of the OPP involved has been and continues to be remarkable."


Body of drowned teen recovered

Members of the Bruce County EMS, South-Bruce OPP and Kincardine Fire Department keep eyes on the water as the police rescue boat is knocked around by large waves Monday afternoon. (Josh Howald photo)

The search for a teen lost in the waves of Lake Huron ended early this morning.

Police confirmed the body of 16-year-old Oksana Milovanovic was located this morning at about 7 a.m., about one kilometre north of where she was last seen at Station Beach. Officers on ATVs located the victim.

Milovanovic was a foreign exchange student from Vertou, France who had been swimming with other youths Monday afternoon when she disappeared under the water in heavy waves. Memers of the OPP Marine Unit, Underwater Search and Rescue Unit, OPP Helicopter, as well as police on foot and ATVs had been actively searching for the female since she went missing.


Province considering off-shore wind farms for Kincardine area

By Barb McKay

 

The province is looking into the possibility of placing wind turbines off-shore in Lake Huron.

 


New AC for Arts Centre

By Barb McKay

 

Ken Robinson Refrigeration Inc. has been handed a contract to install a new air conditioning unit in the Kincardine Centre for the Arts.

 

The unit will cost $17,500.18 to replace, including labour and materials, and will be paid for with funds from the Kincardine Arts Facility reserve fund.  Kincardine’s recreation director, Karen Kieffer, asked that council approve the municipality’s best value purchasing method under the purchasing and procurement policy to award the contract and avoid a long tendering period. Work to replace the broken unit will begin this week.

 


Kincardine Relay for Life raises big bucks for community and cancer research

By Barb McKay

Ted Petter had two special reasons for attending the Kincardine Relay for Life Friday.

Petter, a Kincardine resident, overcame his battle with prostate cancer four years ago and his daughter, Leslie Michielsen, 46, is currently fighting to recover from breast cancer in London.

 

 

Sandy Cooper, of Ripley, lights a luminary with her granddaughter, April Dawn Kelly, 2, during the luminary lighting ceremony. (Barb McKay photo)