Mike Baker

Lindsay

Mancunian residing in Ontario. Newspaper guy. Lover of all things football. Reporter at The Highlander. Views are my own.

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Articles

Wig blaze reported to fire marshal, OPP

1 week ago | thehighlander.ca | Mike Baker

Dysart et al fire chief Dan Chumbley says the May 3 fire that engulfed the main lodge of the abandoned Wigamog Inn property has been reported to the Haliburton Highlands OPP and the Ontario Fire Marshall’s office. The chief said the department was notified of the fire at approximately 4:20 a.m. s o on Saturday. Thirteen firefighters from sR ’ Haliburton were involved in the response, with the assistance of four volunteers from Minden Hills.
People on assistance longer

1 week ago | thehighlander.ca | Mike Baker

Since 2020, the time some people from Haliburton County and Kawartha Lakes spend enrolled in social assistance programs, like Ontario Works, has doubled according to Janine Mitchell, the recently retired manager of human services with the City of Kawartha Lakes. She delivered a new four-year social services service plan to the County April 23, highlighting the current demand, outlining provincial targets, and identifying some concerning trends that have emerged recently.
Push for Legion crosswalk

1 week ago | thehighlander.ca | Mike Baker

Haliburton Legion president Mike Waller says he’ll be submitting a request to the Ministry of Transportation to install a crosswalk in front of the Mountain Street facility this month. At an April 22 meeting, Waller told Dysart et al council he feels people need assistance crossing the busy highway, saying he’s seen many near-misses between pedestrians and vehicles recently . He noted close to 500 people have signed a petition, wanting to see a crosswalk installed by the legion.
Caboose to be cycle hub

1 week ago | thehighlander.ca | Mike Baker

County resident Pamela Marsales has been an avid cycler for most of her life. Now, she plans to spend the next few months passing that love on to the Highlands community via programming at the new Caboose Community Bike Hub. Located in Head Lake Park, the space was unveiled April 24 by Marsales, MPP Laurie Scott, and Dysart et al coun. Pat Casey. The project was pitched by Friends of the Rail Trail (FoRT), supported by Dysart, and funded by a $30,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.
National conference ‘puts Haliburton on the map’

1 week ago | thehighlander.ca | Mike Baker

Robert Pye, executive director of Watersheds Canada, said last week’s inaugural national conference held at Pinestone Resort in Haliburton was “a bit of a homecoming” for the non-profit. The event was a sellout, with 116 scientists, environmentalists, and water enthusiasts from across the continent descending upon Haliburton County May 1 and 2 for speeches, workshops, and live demonstrations from more than a dozen partnering presenters.
New fire hall hinted for Dysart

2 weeks ago | thehighlander.ca | Mike Baker

Dysart et al council has been told it’s time the township starts thinking about potential sites that could one day house a new fire hall. Mike Vilneff of The Loomex Group presented Dysart’s new fire master plan April 22. It includes 38 recommendations for improving operations at the Dysart Fire Department.
County looking for partners for on-demand bus service

2 weeks ago | thehighlander.ca | Mike Baker

A public bus service could be back on the menu for Haliburton County, with councillors at the upper tier directing staff to investigate an on-demand service model. The issue has been debated for several years, with the most recent update coming in May 2024, when the lone bidder on a fixed route system between Haliburton and Minden quoted annual costs of $685,000 – plus gas and $45,000 in start-up money – to operate. Council opted against the contract.
Minden at risk of flooding as Gull system ‘basically full’

2 weeks ago | thehighlander.ca | Mike Baker

Minden Hills has now been in a state of emergency for 32 days and while Hydro One says all accessible properties have had power restored in the weeks since the March 29 ice storm, mayor Bob Carter says the community’s issues are far from over. In a public statement April 29, Carter said there are currently no plans to end the emergency given the community is facing significant flood risk. “You may have seen on the news that Peterborough and others have lifted their state of emergency.
Thomas says inflammatory tweets ‘taken out of context’

2 weeks ago | thehighlander.ca | Mike Baker

Addressing her supporters following defeat in Monday’s federal election, Liberal candidate Nell Thomas said she, her team, and supporters “have been victimized” throughout the five-week campaign. In a speech delivered at Lindsay’s Olympia Restaurant, Thomas said she ran a “squeaky clean” operation, which culminated April 28 with 29,193 votes (38.7 per cent).
Schmale returned to Ottawa for fourth term

2 weeks ago | thehighlander.ca | Mike Baker

Conservative MP Jamie Schmale, elected for a fourth time in the rejigged Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes riding in Monday’s federal election, said he noticed a major change while campaigning in the area over the past five weeks. “An outpouring of support and interest in politics among youth. While door knocking, I’m noticing young Canadians are more dialed-in than I’ve seen in a long time. They do care about what happens, and what decisions made today mean for their future.