Salvation Army – Morning Coffee

Weather forecast for Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Today – Mainly sunny. Fog patches dissipating this morning. High 28. Humidex 36. UV index 7 or high.

Tonight – Partly cloudy. Becoming cloudy overnight. Low 13.

Fog advisory in place

A fog advisory is in place across Chatham-Kent, as near zero visibility in fog is expected or occurring.

Areas of dense fog have developed across the region, forecasters say.

School buses in Zone #6 (Dresden, Ridgetown, Thamesville, Bothwell, Highgate, Florence, Morpeth, Orford) are cancelled this morning as well, but will be running this afternoon.

All other buses are running normally.

More details, here.

International Plowing Match starts today

With the official opening of the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo 2018 (IPM 2018) mere hours away, everything is in place to welcome more than 80,000 visitors over five days.

It all gets underway near the Village of Pain Court (Municipality of Chatham-Kent) – 7579 Pain Court Line – on Tuesday, September 18 with a parade through Tented City starting at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Opening Ceremony on the Pride Seeds Main Stage at noon.

Elected officials from all levels of government will take part.

“We are ready! It’s amazing how 1,000 volunteers can bring things together,” says Darrin Canniff, IPM 2018 Co-chair. “It’s a huge community effort.”

“Even driving down the roads throughout Chatham-Kent is amazing – all the displays. Wherever you go, there are homes decorated, and signs,” adds fellow Co-chair Leon Leclair. “I even got a call the other day − an eight-year-old girl in Mitchell’s Bay made a display to advertise the Plowing Match. We’re touching everybody’s heart. It’s awesome!”

Gates open at 8:30 a.m. and plowing competitions begin at 9:30 a.m.

Admission costs $20 per adult each day, $5 each for children age six to 15. Children age five and younger are admitted for free.

Cash, Debit, Visa and Mastercard will be accepted.

There is no fee for parking.

“I’m excited. I hope I have time to see everything,” says Leclair, noting the wide array of entertainment, activities and more IPM 2018 has to offer.

“Come on out. You don’t want to miss this,” adds Canniff. “There’s something here for everybody.”

Here’s a peek at what’s scheduled today at IPM 2018:

– Opening Day Parade through Tented City, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

– Opening Ceremony on the Pride Seeds Main Stage, beginning at noon

– Attempt to break Guinness World Record for Largest Egg & Spoon Race, beginning at 2 p.m. in the
World Records Tent

– VIP Plowing at 2:30 p.m. (plenty of politicians expected to take part)

– Plowing competitions begin at 9:30, 10 and 11 a.m.

– Team Farmall dancing tractors (11 a.m. & 1 p.m.), Horse Power Live (11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.), Canadian Cowgirls Precision Drill Team (2:30 p.m.) and much more.

To download the full schedule, visit https://www.plowingmatch.org/news-2018/ipm-2018-show-guide .

From September 18-22, IPM 2018 will attract more than 80,000 visitors to a five-day agricultural celebration
that will showcase Chatham-Kent’s important agriculture, business and tourism activities.

It will feature plowing competitions, a wide range of performers, displays, demonstrations, education and much more.

Information, schedules and a site map are all in the Official IPM 2018 Show Guide available on the IPM 2018
website at www.plowingmatch.org/ipm2018 and in print at IPM 2018 itself.

For ongoing news, updates and photos of events as they occur, visit the website and www.facebook.com/IPM2018.

Results from each day’s plowing competitions will be posted at http://www.plowingmatch.org/daily/1-1.php once they’ve been tallied.

Ford to make an announcement

Premier Doug Ford will make an announcement at the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo.

Ford is expected to speak on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at 12 p.m.

I’m here in Chatham–Kent at the 2018 International Plowing Match with our PC caucus! @IPM2018 is an excellent opportunity for all of us to celebrate rural Ontario, our agricultural sector, and the farmers who feed our province. #IPM2018 pic.twitter.com/YRGkHyBYlJ

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) 17 September 2018

Admiring beautiful Chatham–Kent with @erniehardeman, our Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs ahead of the International Plowing Match tomorrow! #IPM2018 pic.twitter.com/iTRo2z90yD

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) 18 September 2018