2017 was a busy year in Woodstock and Oxford County as we made a lot of national headlines, sometimes for all the wrong reasons.
OXFORD COUNTY - The Heart FM Newsroom has compiled a Top 10 List of the stories that hit Oxford in 2017
2017 was a busy year for Woodstock and Oxford County as the area made national headlines, and not always for the best reasons.
A number of stories cast a dark shadow over Oxford County, but within all that darkness there are also moments to celebrate.
The Heart FM News Team has chosen the Top 10 News Stories of the Year:
1. The CAMI strike at the Ingersoll plant and the impact it had on our community.
Thousands of people in Oxford County were impacted by the CAMI strike at the Ingersoll plant. The strike lasted for over a month and resulted in layoffs at numerous supplier factories for CAMI, along with the over 2,500 CAMI employees who were on strike. The strike had ripple effects throughout the entire community as thousands of people were not taking home a paycheck in Oxford County. A last minute deal was finally reached amid rumours that GM was going to close down the plant for good.
You can read more about this story from our archives here
2. Oxford County Zero Poverty Town Hall Forum.
Operation Sharing hosted the first ever Oxford County Town Hall meeting to talk about poverty. The evening featured a panel of local leaders, experts and doctors who will talked about critical new research to reduce poverty. It was well attended and has led to the creation of a strategy to tackle poverty in Oxford County.
You can read more about this story from our archives here
3. Elizabeth Tracy Mae Wettlaufer
Elizabeth Tracy Mae Wettlaufer made history in 2017 when she became the first convicted health care killer in Canadian history inside the Woodstock court house on June 26th. She was sentenced to 8 concurrent life terms without eligibility for parole for 25 years for killing 8 people over a 9 year period in Woodstock and London.
You can read more about this story from our archives here
4. Firestone Closing
About 200 employees of the Firestone plant in Woodstock got some terrible news this year. The Firestone Fibers and Textiles plant announced in October they will begin the first phase of their closure as early as December 31, 2017.
You can read more about this story from our archives here
5. Patel Sentenced
A former Woodstock Pharmacist was sentenced to 11 years in a federal penitentiary in 2017. 47 year old Yogesh Patel pleaded guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking, forging a false document as well as fraud and theft over $5,000 on April 19th 2017.
You can read more about this story from our archives here
6. The resurgence of the Woodstock Navy Vets and Tavistock Braves
The Woodstock Navy Vets and Tavistock Braves have enjoyed a resurgence in 2017. Both teams have been on fire to start the 2017 PJHL season and have been fighting tooth and nail with Ayr all year for top spot in the standings.
You can read more about this story from our archives here
7. Andrew's Legacy
Andrew Stoddart was a star athlete when he collapsed at a soccer field in Kintore. His family was told that an Automated External Defibrillator could have saved his life. After his death, his family started Andrew's Legacy with a goal to have AED's placed at every single sports field and arena in Ontario. Thanks to the efforts of Andrew's Legacy, every sports field in Oxford County is equipped with AED's and the TVDSB has mandated they be placed inside every school.
You can read more about this story from our archives here
8. Justice for Jed
The murder case for 24 year old Flavius Miron took a lot of twist and turns in 2017. Miron is accused of killing 48 year old Jerry Klassen after Klassen was found unresponsive in his home on July 13th of last year. Miron's charges have been upgraded to second degree murder and his murder trial will take place in the new year.
You can read more about this story from our archives here
9. Heart FM Radiothon
The First ever Heart FM Give Thanks To Your Hospital Radiothon was a huge success raising $36,795.
Donations kept pouring in on October 12th to help support the Woodstock Hospital. The money will be used to purchase new equipment for the Maternal Child Unit.
You can read more about this story from our archives here
10. College Strike
College students in Oxford County, including the ones at the Fanshawe Regional campus and Woodstock were kept out of class for five weeks this year because of a College Faculty strike. The strike finally ended when the Province stepped in, however several students lost an entire semester of their studies because of the strike.
You can read more about this story from our archives here
Honourable Mention Frosters for Gage
Frosters for Gage saw the community come together to help a family in need. The Mac's on Devonshire raised over $7,000 in one day for 7 year old Gage Foster and his family. Gage is living with brain cancer and the money was raised to help his family get through a trying time.
You can read more about this story from our archives here.
Earth Day is Celebrated in Woodstock
One Man Charged after Fraudulent Activity
Norfolk OPP Catch Impaired Driver
Woodstock Navy Club Welcomes Universal Washroom
Oxford County Waste Survey Closing Soon
Woodstock Receives Award for Lifesaving Program
OPP Investigating Door-to-Door Sales
Stolen Car Spotted in Waterloo Region
Woodstock Receives Fourth-Quarter Payment from OLG
Oxford Attack U-19 Boys Vying for Spot in OBXL
Voting Open for Oxford Reads 2024
South Gate Expansion Expected to Begin this Summer
Battle of the Badges this Sunday
Two Charged in Woodstock Drug Bust
UPDATE: LPS Constable Faces Three Charges
Premier Fumes Over Gas Price Increase
Dairy Capital Run Returns to Discovery Farm Woodstock
Golf Carts Stolen and Damaged in Ingersoll
Rural Engagement Survey Closing Soon
Tickets Available for Woodstock Mayor's Breakfast
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