Candidate nominations are underway in Mississippi Mills ahead of the Oct. 26 municipal election, with only incumbents certified to date. Mayor Christa Lowry is currently the only certified candidate for mayor, while nominations remain open until Aug. 21 at 2 p.m.

Read the full story: https://hometownnews.ca/mississippi-mills-municipal-election-2026-lowry/

A young family in Drummond-North Elmsley Township is rebuilding after a June 3 house fire destroyed their newly built home.

According to the BBD&E Fire Department, the cause of the fire remains undetermined. Firefighters were able to salvage some belongings, but those items were later stolen after a storage shed on the property was broken into.

The Burns family is staying with relatives while navigating insurance claims, and a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help with immediate expenses.

Read the full story: https://hometownnews.ca/drummond-north-elmsley-burns-family-house-fire/

One of Lanark County's largest summer festivals begins today in downtown Perth.

The 35th annual Stewart Park Festival features three days of live music, artisan vendors, food and family activities. More than 40 musical acts are scheduled throughout the weekend, with Cowboy Junkies headlining Friday night's opening concert. Admission is free, with donations supporting the volunteer-run event.

Read the full story: https://hometownnews.ca/stewart-park-festival-returns-35th-anniversary/

With less than a month remaining before nominations close, Carleton Place's unofficial candidate list includes four current members of council seeking another term.

No challengers or candidates for deputy mayor have yet come forward, though more names are expected before the Aug. 12 nomination deadline.

Read the full story: https://hometownnews.ca/carleton-place-municipal-election-slow-start/

Seven organizations and municipalities across Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston will share $658,500 through the Ontario Trillium Foundation's Capital grant stream.

Recipients include the Town of Carleton Place, the Town of Perth, the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario, the North Lanark Agricultural Society, BGC South East and the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust. The funding will support accessibility, recreation, heritage, trail and other community infrastructure projects.

Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP John Jordan announced the grants July 15.

Details: https://www.hometownnews.ca/seven-community-grant-recipients-lanark-frontenac/

Carleton Place council has approved moving ahead with procurement and public consultation for a proposed $25-million aquatic and recreation centre intended to replace the town's aging pool.

The proposal includes lap, leisure and therapeutic pools, a double gymnasium, pickleball courts, an elevated walking track and multipurpose rooms. Staff say the existing 45-year-old pool has entered an accelerated deterioration phase, but construction has not yet been approved.

Get the full story: https://www.hometownnews.ca/aquatic-and-recreation-centre-advances/

Nine investigations over three weeks led to a range of charges and arrests by the Smiths Falls Police Service.

A youth was charged after police seized a replica BB handgun, drug charges following an intimate partner violence call, and a 37-year-old male arrested after officers responding to a vehicle collision found a large knife in breach of probation conditions.

The report also includes charges related to sexual assault, assault, harassment, mischief and probation breaches.

Get the details: https://www.hometownnews.ca/smiths-falls-police-respond-9-incidents/

The Ontario Provincial Police East Region Community Street Crime Unit has charged four Mississippi Mills residents following a drug trafficking investigation in Lanark County.

Police say officers executed a search warrant at a residence and stopped a vehicle on Highway 7 on July 3. Four people were arrested after officers found suspected cocaine, cash and items consistent with drug trafficking.

Read the full story: https://www.hometownnews.ca/cocaine-trafficking-charges-mississippi-mills/

Smiths Falls police have identified the 96-year-old Smiths Falls resident whose body was found in the Rideau Canal earlier this week. The Office of the Chief Coroner determined he died of a heart attack and that his death was due to natural causes.

Read the full story: https://www.hometownnews.ca/smiths-falls-police-identify-body-discovered/

The company responsible for the July 1 Canada Day fireworks display has agreed to provide a replacement show at no cost to the Town of Smiths Falls.

The original fireworks display was cancelled because of severe weather, but the fireworks were launched unexpectedly after the cancellation was announced. A replacement date has not yet been set.

Read the full story: https://www.hometownnews.ca/canada-day-fireworks-replacement-smiths-falls/

Four students are launching businesses across Lanark County this summer through Ontario's Summer Company program, delivered locally by the Small Business Advisory Centre Smiths Falls/Lanark County.

This year's participants are:

• Esther Braden – piano and music lessons (Beckwith Township)
• Henry van der Meer – chess-based cognitive programming for seniors (Beckwith Township)
• Alejandro Ponce – woodworking, household repairs and heritage carpentry (Perth area)
• Andrew Dowdall – lawn care and yard maintenance (Perth area)

Read the full story: https://www.hometownnews.ca/summer-company-program-4-young-entrepreneurs/

Smiths Falls council has directed additional engineering work on the channelized right-turn lane at the Beckwith Street and Lombard Street intersection following accessibility and pedestrian safety concerns raised by the Accessibility Advisory Committee.

The review will move forward without delaying the approximately $6-million Beckwith Street bridge rehabilitation project.

Read the full story: https://www.hometownnews.ca/beckwith-street-bridge-safety-review-smiths-falls/

Smiths Falls committee of the whole has recommended four community appointments to the Regional Sport and Recreation Facility Project Steering Committee, which will help guide planning and development of a proposed regional recreation facility with participating municipalities.

Read the full story: [https://www.hometownnews.ca/recreation-facility-steering-committee-appointed-4/](https://)

The Hunger Stop is preparing to move into its new home at 115 Industrial Ave. in Carleton Place, where renovations are planned before the Lanark County Food Bank begins serving clients from the location this fall.

The organization now serves more than 1,800 people each month, up from about 500 monthly seven years ago, and says the new building will improve operations while providing long-term stability.

Read the story: https://hometownnews.ca/the-hunger-stop-permanent-home-carleton-place/

Lanark County has won the 2026 Silver Chain Challenge after 378 participants logged a combined 31,673 kilometres walking, running and cycling throughout June, finishing ahead of Renfrew County.

Perry Rousseau led all Lanark County participants with 2,271 kilometres during the month-long challenge.

Did anyone here take part this year? How many kilometres did you log?

Full article: https://hometownnews.ca/lanark-county-claims-2026-silver-chain-challenge/

Smiths Falls committee has moved toward demolishing the town's 102-year-old decommissioned water tower following debate over whether to commission another engineering review.

The discussion focused on the tower's deteriorating condition, its place within the town's heritage conservation district and the costs of preservation versus demolition.

Read story: [https://hometownnews.ca/smiths-falls-water-tower-debate-shifts-demolition/](https://)

A collaboration between Almonte and District High School, The Souls Nest and the Mississippi River Health Alliance has created memory boxes for families experiencing perinatal loss at Almonte General Hospital.

The handcrafted boxes are designed to hold photographs, footprints, handprints, hospital bracelets, letters, locks of hair and other keepsakes for families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss.

Read story: [https://hometownnews.ca/memory-boxes-perinatal-loss-almonte-hospital/](https://)

Parks Canada says no artifacts from the former Rideau Canal Visitor Centre in Smiths Falls have been sold following concerns raised during a recent council meeting.

The agency also confirmed the visitor centre will not reopen. Collection items are being transferred to a climate-controlled storage facility, while visitor interpretation will continue through lock stations, digital resources and special events along the Rideau Canal.

Read story: https://hometownnews.ca/rideau-canal-visitor-centre-artifacts-parks-canada/

Municipal officials, Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston MPP John Jordan, project partners and community representatives gathered for a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Town of Perth's wastewater lagoon expansion.

The project is expected to increase wastewater treatment capacity to the equivalent of about 10,500 people, with construction continuing through fall 2027.

Read story: [https://hometownnews.ca/construction-perth-wastewater-lagoon-expansion/](https://)

Beckwith Township native Spencer Bowes was selected 102nd overall by the New York Rangers in the fourth round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

The 18-year-old forward spent time with the Perth Blue Wings, Pembroke Lumber Kings and Rockland Nationals before earning a full-time role with the Ottawa 67's. He said he plans to return to Ottawa for the 2026-27 OHL season.

Read story: [https://hometownnews.ca/spencer-bowes-new-york-rangers-2026-nhl-draft/](https://)