What's on

I'm working with some technical people today to work out the kinks in our website's events listing.
When all is well, the system will allow readers to upload their events directly to the site, which sounds great to those of us who spend not a small amount of time entering this stuff for the paper.

Missing woman

We were surprised to hear this week the OPP called off a search for a missing Pakenham woman. Tina Smithson disappeared on Jan. 26.
We called the police to confirm the search was over and learned they believed she fell through the ice of a nearby stream and was swept away.
We called the mayor of Mississippi Mills to learn how the community was dealing with this tragedy. We encountered a second surprise.
Al Lunney reacted with some hostility when our reporter reached him. To be fair, the mayor may know this family and was acting out of grief.
He felt we should not delve into the story.
I had hoped he would act as a spokesperson for his residents who undoubtedly are trying to come to grips with this loss.
Given we reported the OPP were looking for a missing local woman, we felt it prudent to tell our readers the search was over. And as I'm sure readers have many questions about this incident, we feel it's our role to try to find the answers.
We had a reporter visit Pakenham yesterday to talk to residents.
I hope to post a story online early next week.

Pakenham's Frost Fest

In his father's footsteps

We have a short feature in the paper this week that I think will be well read.
Well-known Almonte businessman Reg Gamble is passing the reigns of his funeral home business to his son Josh.
Read the online version

Student reporter

Our Carleton Place High School co-op student wraps up her time with us on Monday.
Alicia Rogers came to us saying she planned on going to journalism school in the fall. She's been a great addition to the team and we wish her the best in her career.
Here's something Alicia wrote for us this week:

Alicia Rogers
Student reporter

Those who think romance is dead might just be right.
The town of Mississippi Mills and an Almonte youth group are joining forces this Valentine’s Day to host a “Zombie Ball.”
Calvin Murphy, Mississippi Mills’ recreation coordinator, says the zombie themed idea came from “the TYPS side of things.”
During discussions with the town and the group Taking Young People Seriously, ideas were thrown around for a Valentine’s Day dance and the undead idea came alive.
“It was a joint effort,” says Murphy.
Both groups are hoping to get a large turnout of youth for this event. For those who are unsure about what to do for a zombie themed dance, TYPS (located at 79 Bridge St.) will be providing make-up between 4-7 p.m. the night of the dance.
All you have to do is provide a donation. Proceeds from the canteen will go towards the Almonte skate park project.
“We’re putting this on for a worthwhile cause,” says Murphy.
The dance will take place Friday, Feb. 12 at the Almonte Community Centre between 8-11 p.m. The cost is $2 per person at the door and all youth aged 12 to 18 are invited. For more information contact TYPS at 613-256-8485 or Murphy at 613-256-1077.

YourOttawaRegion.com

Sorry for the long period of silence.
We've been busy getting ready for the official launch of YourOttawaRegion.com next month.
The new site will give us a good push to become a daily news organization, which I think is pretty much a must in 2010. The site has already got us going with video and some of the staff have really taken an interest in the new medium.
There are still some bugs to be worked out, but I think we're nearly there.
YourOttawaRegion.com isn't the newspaper put online, but rather a product of its own that gets most of its copy from our community papers.
Take a look and let me know what you think.

Councillor threatens newspaper

Our sister paper, the Kanata Kourier-Standard, is involved in an interesting situation.
All of the newspapers in our family have cut back on editorial space. In order to find some room for more local news, some papers have decided to end the free weekly columns written by politicians.
One Ottawa councillor is now threatening to have the city yank its advertising dollars if her column isn't reinstated.
Read more about the story and what Coun. Marianne Wilkinson has to say:

‘I can pressure you’: Kanata North councillor vows to stop city ads if paper pulls column

Give your head a shake, councillor

Councillor's cancelled column spurs front-page fight

Send your thoughts to the Kourier-Standard's associate editor: blair.edwards@metroland.com