SMCP ACTOR WINS AWARD PAGE
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PAGE SHEAMUS GETS A HOLE-IN-ONE Thursday, May 28, 2026
St. Marys Independent
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St. Marys Independent 36 Water St. S., St. Marys ON | 519.284.0041 | info@stmarysindependent.com | www.granthaven.com
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Perth County council approves further changes to proposed treeinjury bylaw
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Regional Editor
meeting of the committee’s current term before municipal elections are held in October – committee members voted to recommend the current council advise the incoming 20262030 council not to continue the committee, provided several conditions are met. Those conditions include maintaining a strong police presence in St. Marys, ensuring residents continue to have opportunities to report policing concerns directly to police, town staff
Perth County council has approved another round of revisions to its proposed tree-injury bylaw as debate continues over how best to balance environmental protection with the practical realities faced by farmers and rural landowners. At its May 20 regular meeting, council reviewed an updated draft of the proposed bylaw – formerly known as the forest-conservation bylaw – alongside a presentation from West Perth farmer Gerald Kolkman, who has been one of the leading voices advocating for changes to the county’s proposed regulations. “The crafting of a proposed forest bylaw should incentivize rather than penalize landowners and farmers to plant more trees,” Kolkman told council. “Tree planting will not occur through overly restrictive regulation. This proposed bylaw affects privately owned land; it is not Crown land. Trust and cooperation need to be developed.” The revised draft follows months of consultation, council debate and public feedback surrounding how the county should regulate the destruction or injury of trees within woodlands while maintaining flexibility for agricultural operations. Among the most significant changes approved during the latest review was the addition of a formalized appeal process tied to newly created compliance and non-compliance certificates. Under the revised framework, landowners submitting a notice of intent (NOI) to injure or remove trees would receive either a compliance certificate confirming the proposed work meets the
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CPAC recommends future council disband advisory committee after nearly a decade of service GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
After nearly a decade serving as a bridge between the community, council and local police, the St. Marys community policing advisory committee (CPAC) has recommended the town consider disbanding the committee following the end of the current council term later this year. At its May 20 meeting – the final regular
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