Woman dies in collision near Salem

A two-vehicle accident near Salem has claimed the life of a Guelph woman.
Wellington OPP report that police and Centre Wellington firefighters from the Elora station responded to the collision at about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, at the intersection of Wellington Road 18 and the 8th Line, west of Salem.
Police say a 2000 Dodge pickup truck was heading north on the 8th Line, while a 1994 Pontiac Grand Am was travelling west on Wellington Road 18.
The pickup truck entered into the intersection and was struck on the passenger side by the Pontiac. Both vehicles ended up north west of the intersection.
The pickup driver, Christopher Michael Waito, 24, and passenger Matthew Andrew Artus, 21, both of Hamilton were ejected from the truck because of the severity of the impact.
Both were transported to Groves Memorial Hospital in Fergus with serious injuries.
The Grand Am driver, James Allen Richards, 71, of Kitchener was taken to Groves Memorial Hospital and soon transferred to McMaster Hospital in Hamilton with serious injuries. Passenger Shirley A. Foster, 57, of Guelph was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Coroner Dr. Naidoo attended the scene. Members of the County of Wellington OPP Traffic Management Unit and West Region OPP Technical Collision Investigators attended to assist with reconstructing the collision.
Members of Wellington County Victim Services attended to the hospital to assist with family members of the injured. The roadway was closed and traffic rerouted for the duration of the investigation, police say.  

Museum adding exhibit space, staff, hours in 2012

The Wellington County Museum and Archives is increasing staff, adding archives hours, and creating new exhibits this year.
They're all part of the 2012 budget the county's information, heritage and seniors committee endorsed at a Jan. 11 meeting in Aboyne.
The museum's $1.9 million budget includes adding a part-time archives assistant to help open the archives on Sundays, a new summer student position, and more hours for the museum's program assistant position.
Wellington Place administrator Janice Hindley said the archives has been closed on Sundays since the move to the new wing in 2010. The museum is open seven days a week.
"I think it's confusing to the public when they find half the building is closed (on a Sunday)," she said. Adding the archives assistant will enable Sunday opening and help expand programming and outreach.


'The Grand' going live Jan. 30

The area's new community radio station, the Grand at 92.9 is gearing up to go live on air Jan. 30.
Currently running a test signal that features a mix of popular music and promotional announcements, the station's downtown Fergus offices are being finished off by a group of volunteers.
A beginning programming lineup is in place, says station president Scott Jensen, for when the first morning show goes on air at 6 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 30.
Programming is still "a work in progress," he says, but so far the station has lined up a classical show, Daisy Moore on gardening, a classic rock show hosted by Larry Peters, jazz and Scottish programs and others.
Programming is being put together as volunteer hosts are being trained, Jensen said - it's important that people are confident in the setting. Many of those already lined up have some radio or broadcasting experience.

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