Milt Dunnell 100th Birthday

Former Toronto Star sports writer Milt Dunnell is 100 today. He was born on a farm near St Marys. He worked as a reporter on the St Marys Journal Argus in the late 1920s then moved to the Stratford Beacon Herald where he stayed for a dozen years. He joined the Toronto Star in 1942, became sports editor in 1949 and continued writing columns there until he was in his nineties.

In 1992 he was named St Marys first honorary citizen and earlier this month it was announced the Flats (where this year's light display continues until January 4) will be renamed Milt Dunnell Field.

UPDATE Milt Dunnell died January 3, 2008 at North York General Hospital at the age of 102.

Red Firetrucks Cheaper

Stratford, Ontario is buying a new mini pumper for their fire department. Since the 1970s their fire trucks have been yellow but they will be switching to red because the new red pumper costs $1000 less.

St Marys fire department consists of a full time fire chief Dennis Brownlee who has been in the department 32 years and 24 volunteers. Their equipment includes one 1,050 GPM pumper, one 1,250 GPM 50 foot telesquirt, one tank truck and one rescue vehicle, all are red.


The 1050 GPM Pumper is for sale for $50,000, it is a 1992 GMC Topkick with 23,500 km.

St Marys Cement

St Marys Cement was founded in 1912 in St Marys, Ontario by John Lind and Alfred Rogers. It is now headquarted in Toronto, Ontario and as well as the plant in St Marys has plants in Bowmanville, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. The company is owned by Group Votorantim, a Brazilian conglomerate.
Founder John Grieve Lind gave to the town Cadzow Park in 1926 and Lind Park in 1934.

Mercury Theatre Staging 'Our Town'

St Marys professional Mercury Theatre is staging Thorton Wilder's 1938 Pulitzer Prize winning play 'Our Town'.

Performances are on Friday, Dec 16, 2005 - 7:00 pm, Saturday; Dec 17, 2005 - 2:00 & 7:00 pm; Sunday, Dec 18, 2005 - 2:00 & 7:00 pm. Tickets are $35 adult, $30 senior, $20 student.

The 72-seat theatre is at 14 Church Street N across the street from the Town Hall Theatre where St Marys amateur company perform.