Latest news with #Wilsher
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Port Colborne's iconic Dairy Queen sign shines again after decades in the dark
A beloved piece of Main Street history returned to the Port Colborne skyline this week as the Dairy Queen was reinstalled and lit up for the first time in more than 40 years. The neon sign, which sat dark for decades , was lifted back onto the roof of the long-standing ice cream bar Wednesday following months of effort by owner Rick Wilsher, local officials and members of the community. 'It hasn't been repaired or lit in over 40 years,' Wilsher said. 'Bylaws prevented that from happening.' The sign's restoration wasn't just a matter of maintenance; it took political effort and community collaboration to bring it back to life. Wilsher said a developer friend of his has contacts in politics. He also credited support from local city councillors Gary Bruno and Ron Bodner, as well as funding through the community improvement program, which covered half the cost of removing the sign for repairs. 'They approached me and said, under the facade and improvement program, we'll allow you to take the sign off for repair, and (the city) paid half,' Wilsher explained. 'And here we are.' The sign was restored in Niagara Falls and transported back to Port Colborne early Wednesday morning. It was lit that night, with local photographer Chris de Laat, known for his 'Cool September Night at Dairy Queen' print, on hand to capture the moment. An official relighting ceremony is planned for Sept. 13. Wilsher said there will be a street party and Sunday event featuring a mini parade of vintage cars to mark the store's 70 years in business. 'It's basically the community throughout the ages (that) have demanded it stay the way it is,' he said. Wilsher also shared that this Dairy Queen is the only royalty-free location in Canada, a unique arrangement that dates back to the store's original owner, John Sergnese. 'Every time they would threaten him with legal action about upgrading his store, he told them, 'see you in court', and it never happened,' Wilsher said. To honour that legacy, Rick will be placing a memorial bench out front, using the front end of a 1955 Chrysler, to commemorate Sergnese's impact. 'This is a special day for me today,' he said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
ITV News
16-07-2025
- ITV News
Man sentenced for theft of £80,000 candelabra from Merthyr Tydfil's Cyfarthfa Castle
CCTV footage from South Wales Police showed Henry Tyson Wilsher smashing a display cabinet and stealing the candelabra. A man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to theft of a candelabra from Cyfarthfa Castle in Merthyr Tydfil in April. Henry Tyson Wilsher, 31, from Bagworth, Leicestershire was sentenced to 32 months at Teeside Crown Court on Thursday. He pleaded guilty to theft, receiving stolen good and criminal damage. The candelabra, which dated back to the time when the castle was owned by the Crawshay family, was taken from a display at the museum on 8 April. South Wales Police said that, on the evening of 24 March, a delivery driver had parked his silver Ford car while he briefly left it to make a delivery, but left the car running with the keys still in the ignition. At some point after the theft of the car, Wilsher ended up in possession of it. On 8 April, Wilsher entered the castle during an event where local primary school children were presenting their projects to judges and guests. He talked to the receptionist, before making his way to the Crawshay Room, smashing the glass of a display cabinet using a brick and stealing the candelabra, which has a value of around £80,000. Merthyr Tydfil Council leader Brent Carter previously told ITV Wales of the "frightening" incident: "It was awful. There were sixty school children here from Cyfarthfa Park Primary. "They were here enjoying themselves, looking around the museum, and a gentleman came in, picked a house brick out of his pocket, and smashed the casing, tore back the glass and stole the candelabra." Wilsher then fled in the silver Ford Fiesta. South Wales Police then launched an appeal to try and find him. Seargent Watts of South Wales Police said: 'This was a brazen theft in broad daylight, that left a group of school children shocked and upset. "Through the work of the investigation team, we were able to identify Tyson Wilsher and bring him to justice, Wilsher's actions show he believed he was above the law and didn't care about how his actions impacted the venue. I'm pleased to see the sentence determined by the courts.'
ITV News
24-06-2025
- ITV News
Man pleads guilty to theft of £80,000 candelabra from Cyfarthfa Castle
A man has pleaded guilty to stealing a candelabra worth £80,000 from Cyfarthfa Castle in Merthyr Tydfil in April. Henry Tyson Wilsher, 31, walked out of the museum with the valuable object back in April after smashing a glass cabinet to steal it, shocking staff and schoolchildren who were on a school trip at the time. South Wales Police launched a manhunt to try and find the thief, and the Leicestershire man has appeared in court in connection with the incident on 8 April. Appearing via video link before Teeside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 24 June, Wilsher pleaded guilty to theft, receiving stolen goods, and criminal damage. He admitted stealing the candelabra from the castle, dishonestly receiving a Ford Fiesta knowing or believing it to be stolen, and criminal damage after damaging a glass cabinet to access the candelabra. The court heard that the candelabra - one of the museum's most prized objects - is yet to be recovered. Wilsher, of Bagworth in Leicestershire, was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at Teeside Crown Court on 15 July. Merthyr Tydfil Council leader Brent Carter previously told ITV Wales of the "frightening" incident: "It was awful. There were sixty schoolchildren here from Cyfarthfa Park Primary. "They were here enjoying themselves, looking around the museum, and a gentleman came in, picked a house brick out of his pocket, and smashed the casing, tore back the glass and stole the candelabra."
