Most-read stories of the week: Pride flags stolen, craft brewery struggles, kitten found during traffic stop

57 Pride flags stolen in Norwich, craft breweries struggling with inflation, and a kitten found during a highway traffic stop in Cambridge round out the most-read stories of the week.

A family is speaking out after they say they’ve had more than 50 Pride flags stolen from their Norwich Township property.

Tensions around the Pride flag in the community boiled over this spring when Norwich Township council voted not to fly it or any other non-government flags.

Earlier this month, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) released video that shows someone ripping down several Pride flags. This prompted LGBTQ2S+ advocates in Norwich Township todemand action from police and council days later.

Peter Luciani said he and his wife started putting up Pride flags shortly after council made the decision not to fly them. 

“[We started] shortly after our town council decided that they would vote against both allowing the flag to be hung on municipal property and for not even declaring June Pride Month in Norwich Township,” Luciani said.

The craft brewing industry is feeling the effects of inflation, evolving trends and the lingering impact of the pandemic. Cambridge brewery Rhythm and Brews has closed its doors after five years of business. The owner says all things combined made for the perfect storm that was too much to overcome.

“Things got harder and harder, so we kind of had to pull the plug,” owner Andrew Byer said. “Last year was great but we remortgaged twice during COVID-19 just to keep the doors open. We did everything we could but we’re tapped out.”