Record start at Georgian
Georgian College's Orillia campus is having a record-breaking start to the new school year. With 1,147 confirmed first-year full-time students enrolled for the 2010/11 year, the Orillia campus has beat last year's enrolment numbers by almost 100 students.[...]

Landowners brought into conservation fold
Landowners in the Carden Alvar will have some incentive to protect species at risk as the Couchiching Conservancy has received $60,000 in federal funding to assist in completing projects with nine landowners.[...]

Lightning strike causes outage
More than 1,200 Hydro One customers in Orillia were out of power on Saturday for about four hours due to a lighting strike affecting equipment, said Hydro One spokesperson Danielle Gauvin on Tuesday.[...]

Candidate wants to promote teamwork
Orillia politicians need to work together in order for Orillia to "grow and prosper," says a Ward 2 council candidate. John Falcon, 57, has announced he will be running in the upcoming municipal election.[...]

Former hospice worker receives nasty mail
Amid conflict between Hospice Orillia's board and its volunteers, the former service and volunteer co-ordinator has received "hate mail." The attack was written on a photo of Amber McGarvey that appeared in an article, which ran in the Orillia Today last week.[...]

Police seek person of interest in murder case
Police are looking for a person of interest as they continue to investigate the murder of an Orillia man. Gord Evans, 58, was found dead June 29 in his home at 89 Andrew St. S. Police are now looking to speak with someone who might have information helpful to the investigation.[...]

Cause of lakeside fire undetermined
A fire that consumed two lakeside homes in late April has been classified as undetermined by the Ontario Fire Marshal's office. The fire marshal's report stated they were unable to locate the origin of the 347 North Forest Cres.[...]

Kids go back to school
Julie Nychka gives her son Thomas, 10, a kiss goodbye on his first day of Grade 5 at Orchard Park Elementary School on Sept. 7. [...]

Senior critical
A 65-year-old woman suffered critical head injuries after being struck by a vehicle late Sunday afternoon. The senior was crossing the intersection of Atherley Road and Gill Street around 4 p.m. when she was hit by a pickup truck that was headed east on Atherley Road.[...]

Area kids head back to class
Like thousands of Orillia school-aged children, Meghan and Emily Rye are ready to go back to school today. The sisters spent Saturday shopping with their dad at Orillia Square mall, looking for school necessities.[...]

Becoming Lakehead prof 'a dream come true' for Park Street grad
When Chris Murray graduated from Park Street Collegiate Institute, he had to leave Orillia in order to study and work in the field that interested him. He attended the University of Guelph studying experimental physics with a specialization in polymers, plastics and biopolymers.[...]

Horseshoe Valley woman shines light on the two sides of Hitler in new book
Adress crafted by a Jewish woman from an old curtain was Steffie Steinke's favourite article of clothing in 1945. It was the only piece she owned not marked with swastikas. Steinke was born in 1936 in Berlin, Germany, three years before the Second World War began.[...]

News Briefs
TEENS KILLED IN MUSKOKA CANOE MISHAP Two teenage boys from St. Catharines died after the canoe they were in capsized in Skeleton Lake, Huntsville early Sunday morning. Three young males were canoeing on the lake when strong winds capsized the boat, sending all three into the lake.[...]

A fresh take on 'Only in Orillia' from cancer society
This fall will mark two years that I have had the pleasure of working with the Canadian Cancer Society, situated on Memorial Avenue. I have, without a doubt, been witness to the passion and compassion that exists in this incredible community.[...]

Orillian whose nephew died of MS urges funding of research
Fundraising co-ordinator Canadian Cancer Society Muskoka North Simcoe Unit It is appalling that the Canadian Health Organization will not fund research into what could lead to significant relief and a possible cure for multiple sclerosis.[...]

Mayor's race heats up
Coldwater's "unofficial mayor" is hoping to officially acquire the title for all of Severn Township. Colin Bidmead has lived in Coldwater for 23 years, contributing significantly to the village's main street.[...]

Orillia needs heart: candidate
Andrew Martin is looking to bring some soul to downtown Orillia. The 31-year-old is the fourth person to seek a council seat in Ward 2. "It has so much character and it has so much history, but it needs a soul," Martin said of the downtown.[...]

Twin Lakes starts Rotary Club
The Rotary Club of Orillia has sponsored a new Interact Club at Twin Lake Secondary School. An Interact Club is basically a Rotary club for youth between the ages of 12 to 17. Interactors can develop lead- ership skills while helping others.[...]