Friday Briefing
Friday Briefing: Conagra Eyes Selling or Closing Dresden Plant, and Election Weekend
Conagra's Dresden tomato plant, a patient-made book for CKHA's mental health unit, and your weekend guide for Chatham-Kent
By CKNow7 min read
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Morning, CK, and happy Friday. Conagra says it plans to sell or close its Dresden tomato plant next year, CKHA has a thoughtful new resource for mental health patients, and Monday is Election Day. CKNow also passed 2,000 subscribers this week, so thank you for reading. Here's the week that was.
⛽ Gas & ☀️ Weather
Gas (Regular): Most Chatham stations are at 168.2¢ to 168.9¢, with UPI and the Mobil on St Clair at 169.5¢, the Esso on Queen St at 170.7¢, the Esso on Bloomfield at 170.9¢ and the Mobil on Grand Ave E at 179.5¢. Charing Cross runs 168.3¢ to 168.9¢, Blenheim 169.4¢ to 171.9¢, Thamesville is 170.9¢ and Dresden ranges from 170.5¢ to 180.9¢. The cheapest fill-ups in the area are at Moraviantown First Nation, from 140.9¢ to 142.8¢ (one station there is at 154.7¢).
Gas (Diesel): Chatham ranges from 259.3¢ to 259.9¢ at most stations (the Petro-Canada on Grand Ave W reported 269.9¢ and the Mobil on Grand Ave E 287.3¢). Blenheim and Charing Cross are 259.9¢ (the Petro-Canada on Chatham St S is 265.9¢) and Dresden is 261.9¢. Moraviantown is lowest at 229.4¢ to 234.9¢. GasBuddy → · cknow.ca/gas-prices →
Today: A chilly start that turns into a lovely fall afternoon. It's 8° at 8 AM under mainly cloudy skies, 12° by 10 AM and 15° at noon, with a high of 18° around 2 to 3 PM and a mainly sunny afternoon. It cools to 17° at 5 PM, 13° at 7 PM and 10° by 9 PM under clear skies.
📣 CK Spotlight
10 Van Allen Avenue, Unit 903, Chatham
Courtesy of Bridget Blonde, REALTOR®, Nest Realty Inc. Brokerage
Bridget Blonde has a new condo listing in Chatham for anyone who wants river views without the yard work. This 9th-floor, two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit looks out over the Thames, with a gas fireplace in the living area, a dining room, in-suite laundry and a large balcony reached through two patio doors. The second bedroom works as a guest room with a built-in desk and a Murphy bed, and the Murphy bed is included.
Here's the part worth knowing: the building has a secure entrance and an elevator, the unit comes with one assigned garage parking spot, and there's shared storage plus a shared patio with a gas BBQ and a party room. Downtown, groceries, pharmacies and a bus stop are close by. The $510 monthly condo fee covers exterior maintenance, parking, water and storage.
🍅 Major Story — Conagra Plans to Sell or Close Its Dresden Tomato Plant
Conagra Brands has confirmed it intends to sell or close its tomato plant in Dresden next year. The company says the decision followed a careful review but hasn't explained why it is leaving, and it says it is in talks to sell the plant to Highbury Canco in Leamington. CK News Today reached out to Highbury Canco and hadn't heard back at the time of publication.
The plant opened in 1947. For its 75th anniversary in 2022, Conagra said about 175 people worked there full time and roughly 225 seasonally, though the company hasn't said how many work there today. MPP Steve Pinsonneault says he's very concerned about the effect on tomato growers, employees, suppliers and other local businesses, and has passed the news to the province's economic development ministry to see whether support is possible. Jim Brackett, president of the Kent Federation of Agriculture, says he's still worried the plant could close.
💙 Major Story — A Patient-Made Activity Book for CKHA's Mental Health Unit
Every patient admitted to the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance's Inpatient Mental Health Unit will now receive a mental health support activity book, created by Chatham resident Andrea LaForce. She drew on her own hospital stay and her experience with bipolar disorder, and worked with a social worker in the unit to get it into patients' hands.
The book is designed to take very little mental effort, with step-by-step activities and prompts that help a person focus on the present, ease overwhelming feelings and add some structure when processing information is hard. LaForce says she wanted a physical tool that works as a guide for getting through the next few minutes, and that making it helped her own recovery. CKHA's Dan Saunders says it supports the hospital's goal of expanding mental health and addictions services. LaForce has made other versions, including one already used in her workplace, and hopes to reach schools, community centres and youth organizations.
📰 This Week's Full Recap
🗳️ Election Day is Monday. Polls in Chatham-Kent are open from 10 AM to 8 PM on Oct. 26, with more information at ckelection.ca. The Sydenham Current has also been running candidate Q&As for mayor and Wards 4 and 5. Find your ward and candidates → · Candidate Q&A →
🎰 $473K from OLG. Chatham-Kent is receiving $473,000 in casino revenue sharing from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, and has received more than $22 million since 2001. Read more →
🎪 Highgate fairgrounds get $15K. The Highgate District Agricultural Society received $15,000 from the FCC AgriSpirit Fund for upgrades and repairs. Read more →
🐈 Thamesville farm cat dispute. A Thamesville man says six of his farm cats were taken to Wandering Whiskers Cat Rescue and that the rescue is refusing to give them back. Read more →
🔥 Fire at a Chatham encampment. A tent caught fire and one person suffered minor injuries, according to the executive director of Reach Out Chatham-Kent. The fire is under investigation. Read more →
🎃 Lancers Scare Hunger is Thursday, Oct. 29. Ursuline College students, staff and parent volunteers will cover 60 routes across Chatham from 5 to 8 PM collecting food for Chatham Outreach for Hunger. Read more →
🚔 Community Safety Day on Walpole Island. Chatham-Kent Police joined other agencies at the event, talking with students and community members about policing careers and letting people try on equipment. Read more →
🚔 Assault and mischief charges in Chatham. A Chatham man has been charged after an alleged assault on an intimate partner. The charges have not been proven in court. Read more →
🚔 Theft charge on Grand Avenue East. Police allege a 36-year-old Chatham woman concealed items and left a business without paying around 1:42 PM on Wednesday, Oct. 21. She is charged with theft under $5,000 and possession; the charges have not been proven in court. Read more →
🥧 Dinner sorted at Union Block Bakery. The Dresden bakery has take-and-bake chicken pot pie, tourtiere and sausage rolls while supplies last, and recommends pre-ordering. Read more →
🚗 Sho Time Detailing is growing. Neetahwis Shognosh-Diaz is expanding his fully insured mobile detailing business after training at the Chatham-Kent Business Centre. It serves sedans, trucks, vans, buses and fleet vehicles. Read more →
Around Wallaceburg
🌉 Dufferin Bridge repairs keep moving. Per an update shared by Big Chief Drive-In, deck removal is ongoing, the bearing pads under the deck will be replaced before the new deck goes in, and a Sunday shift has been added. The hope is to finish before the new year, weather permitting. Read more →
⭐ Star Search final night is tonight. The finale of the Star Search contest is upstairs at the CBD club, 1342 Dufferin Ave, and the winner will be crowned. Read more →
🎱 Wallaceburg Hometown Bingo. Every night at 1416 Dufferin Ave. Doors open at 5 PM and bingo starts at 7 PM.
🏒 Frank Dymock Classic. The Wallaceburg Minor Hockey tournament runs today through Sunday, Oct. 23 to 25. Read more →
📌 Community Bulletin
Introducing Community Bulletins. List events, jobs, fundraisers, things to buy or sell, volunteer calls and more, all in one place. Post yours free at cknow.ca/bulletin, or get it right here in the newsletter for $35 by replying back to this post or visiting cknow.ca/advertise
🙋 Volunteers Wanted — Chatham-Kent Boards & Committees. The municipality is accepting applications through October 30 at 2 PM. Learn more →
🎃 Halloween Bash at the Barn — Blenheim. Red Barn Brewing, October 23, a fundraiser for the Children's Treatment Centre Foundation of Chatham-Kent. Event details →
🎃 TJ Stables Trick or Treat Trail. Saturday, Oct. 31 from 1 to 4 PM at 837 Gregory Dr. E. It's $30 per child, and adults are free.
🎉 Weekend Event Guide
Friday, Oct. 23 — Eye 4 Art opening reception (7 PM, Thames Art Gallery). Tom Arnold (8 PM, Capitol Theatre). Halloween Bash at the Barn (Red Barn Brewing, Blenheim; a fundraiser for the Children's Treatment Centre Foundation). Sons of Kats VIP Night (Sons of Kent Brewing Co., Chatham). Star Search final night (CBD club, 1342 Dufferin Ave, Wallaceburg). Wallaceburg Hometown Bingo (doors 5 PM, bingo 7 PM). Frank Dymock Classic hockey tournament begins in Wallaceburg.
Saturday, Oct. 24 — Spooktacular Halloween Party (11 AM, Camlachie Community Centre, free). Frank Dymock Classic continues in Wallaceburg. Wallaceburg Hometown Bingo (doors 5 PM, bingo 7 PM).
Sunday, Oct. 25 — A Taste of Ireland (6 PM, Capitol Theatre). Frank Dymock Classic wraps up in Wallaceburg. Wallaceburg Hometown Bingo (doors 5 PM, bingo 7 PM). Coming up: Election Day is Monday, Oct. 26 (polls 10 AM to 8 PM). Public flu and COVID-19 vaccine rollout begins Oct. 26. Lancers Scare Hunger is Thursday, Oct. 29 (5 to 8 PM), and the TJ Stables Trick or Treat Trail is Saturday, Oct. 31.
See the full lineup at cknow.ca/events →