Patrick Raftis

LISTOWEL – The Southwest Surge took on the Midwest 49ers in a U15B game at the Steve Kerr Memorial Complex in Listowel on Dec. 14. The Surge jumped out to an early lead, but the 49ers game back with a strong third period for a 4-3 comeback win.

The popularity of the Blyth Festival's 2025 production of Radio Town: The Doc Cruickshank Story, which ran on the theatre's main stage this past summer has fueled a local wave of nostalgia about old-time television and radio among those who have seen the show (or wished they had). The stage show included many references to…

The 2025 North Perth Farm Toy Show was held at the Listowel Agricultural Hall on Jan. 3. The event featured farm toy vendors with a wide range of collectibles and proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish Canada.

You may have noticed a stream of creative policy pronouncements emanating from the provincial government of late: statutory holiday shopping, legalizing pepper spray, making public parks BYOB zones, to name a few. Opposition critics have suggested such proposals have more to do with obfuscating than legislating. The theory, of course, is that citizens planning for…

LISTOWEL – Local residents had a chance to learn the art of making traditional Ukranian Easter Eggs at a workshop held at Knox Presbyterian Church in Listowel on March 28. Hosted by the Listowel Lions Club and led by Lion's Club member Rama Schtovba, the event was a fundraiser for the Lions Clubs Ukraine relief…

LISTOWEL – Students from North Perth Westfield Elementary School visited the offices of the Listowel Banner and The Ranch 100.1 as part of a local field trip to learn on May 27. Students also visited local gyms Livfit and NewU. School officials noted students discovered various approaches to lifelong fitness, and were able to see……

LISTOWEL – A series of Bingo nights at the Listowel Kin Station have resulted in a big jackpot for the local food bank. Listowel Kinsmen and Kinette Club members gathered at the station on June 2 to present a cheque for $7,210 from Bingo proceeds to the Listowel Salvation Army Food Bank. The total is…

LISTOWEL – The annual North Perth Teddy Bear Family Playday was held on June 12. The event, hosted by North Perth Early On in Listowel Memorial Park, featured a wide range of activities presented by various community groups.

MONKTON – Elma Minor Ball held its annual Minor Ball Days on June 12 and 13, with two days packed full of games and fun for players and fans. U-5 to U9 action, including a U-7 game between Elma and Ethel, took place on the back diamond at the Elma Logan Recreation Complex in Monkton…

Journalism is often described as “literature in a hurry” – and as someone who's been dashing around the province covering news of all manner for somewhere around four decades, I concur with that characterization. Newspaper deadlines are relentless and the push to meet them keeps keyboards tapping at a furious pace day and night, often…