Get ready, kids, everyone's favourite jolly ol' elf is coming to town tonight courtesy of the annual St. Thomas Optimist Santa Claus Parade. Starting at 6 p.m. sharp, the parade begins on Talbot Street at First Avenue and continues west down Talbot to Elgin Street.[...]

An industrial strategy, taking aim at eco-friendly jobs and technology, is what's needed to help the flagging economy in Elgin-St. Thomas. So said federal NDP leader Jack Layton who, Friday, met with a dozen local labour leaders, including representatives from Ford's St.[...]

The Liberal Party of Canada is in pathetic shape and they can blame themselves. Even in the aftermath of the John Turner years, the Liberal machine itself was still strong. Even if the Liberals no longer excited the public, at least they were still in the game.[...]

When Justin Martin's family went looking for something they could do together on weekends, they found that speed suited them just fine. Speed, power, dirt, a little danger, loads of fun and lots of success.[...]

Tune into Discovery Sunday night for an episode of the all-new CSI: Dallas. OK, it isn't really another CSI spinoff. But the new documentary JFK: Inside the Target Car does apply modern CSI-style technology to the assassination of 46-year-old U.[...]

DEAR ROBIN: I've been seeing a guy for almost a year. He is really sweet and treats me well, but I have a question. He likes to write poetry and songs for me. It makes me kind of embarrassed, and my friends think it is a joke and make fun of him.[...]

St. Joseph's Ram Laura VanBommel hits the floor to rip the ball away from a Glendale Gemini during their WOSSAA AA junior girls basketball final. The Rams won 38-24.[...]

Chantal Gordon scored 12 points and Caitlyn Campbell 10 as the Central Elgin Titans cruised to a 53-30 victory over the Lord Dorchester Beavers to win the bronze medal at the WOSSAA AA senior girls basketball tournament.[...]

It's a crime-fighting tool destined for use by RCMP officers at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. And it's manufactured right here in St. Thomas by J.R Robertson Metal Service Inc., 6 Currah Rd.[...]

All six men convicted of multiple murder in the deaths of eight Bandidos bikers will appeal. Wayne Kellestine, 60, convicted of eight counts of first-degree murder last month, filed an inmate notice of appeal this week.[...]

The bizarre case of the power plant owned by the province's lottery corporation to energize a Windsor casino -- if only it would work -- is getting murkier. As I first wrote Oct.[...]

The St. Joseph's Rams turned up the pressure Thursday to win the WOSSAA AA junior girls basketball championship.[...]

Sandra Bullock is as subtle as a shin splint in the football drama The Blind Side. Half the time it's like she's one of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The rest of the movie she's Burgess Meredith in Rocky.[...]

DEAR ROBIN: My sister is a acting like a true gold digger. Ever since she got burned by the love of her life, she will only date men who have money, nice cars and lots of stuff.[...]

A Dutton-area man, charged after his brother-in-law went missing in a creek in an ATV mishap on Christmas Eve in 2007, has been fined $1,000 for drunk driving and banned from operating vehicles for a year.[...]

Anyone who has gone through airport security since 9/11 will probably appreciate Henry Ford's observation that thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably why so few do it.[...]

The Central Elgin Titans aren't going into the WOSSAA AA volleyball tournament as healthy as they'd like to be, but they still pack enough punch to carry the day.[...]

Canadian folk music icon Gordon Lightfoot turned 71 Wednesday but the hardcore troubadour said he'd been spending the day like any other working musician.[...]

DEAR ROBIN: A friend of mine loves to wear super high heels. She is somewhat short and likes the height that heels give her. The problem is, she can't walk in them and look like a lady. It is quite frightening really.[...]

The number of people sick with H1N1 is on the decline, at least for now, say local health officials. Laura McLachlin, director of health protection for Elgin St. Thomas Public Health, says the number of people showing flu-like symptoms has dropped.[...]