Sarnia all-candidates debate a revealing evening
Lambton honour three OPP officers killed on the job
February 13, 2015
Three police officers who lost their lives while on duty will be honoured by Lambton County.
Councilors have agreed to name three bridges named after the officers.
OPP Const. William Rodgers was killed February 25, 1970 in a blinding snowstorm. He’d been at the scene of an accident on what is now Egermont Road. He was directing traffic around the accident while two people stood with him.
But in a whiteout, a car couldn’t avoid the trio and plowed into them killing them all. Harold Coffin, who is a OPP officer working at the Point Edward Casino asked council to dedicate the Oil Heritage Road 402 overpass to Rodgers.
He also asked that the Forest Road overpass be renamed in honour of OPP Const. Randy Chatterson and the bridge over the Ausable River just outside of Grand Bend be named for OPP Const. Gary MacDonald.
The pair was on night shift as partners May 2, 1975 when they were involved in a head-on collision with a transport truck. The truck dragged the cruiser down the highway, the officers were killed and the cruiser was demolished.
Now that the county has agreed to the renaming, the Ministry of Transportation will pick up all the costs of the new signs to honour the fallen officers.
Coffin hopes to have dedication ceremonies for the bridges this summer.
In Ontario, 58 bridges have been renamed in honour of officers killed on the job.
NEXT
OPP SUV crashes into Lambton ambulance in Thursday’s storm
PREVIOUS
Tennis popular in Petrolia but courts need work
Front Page
Sarnia all-candidates debate a revealing evening
October 21, 2026
Cathy Dobson/The Independent With less than a week until election day, 28 candidates vying for eight council seats, spent four hours Tuesday trying to stand out as the right choice for Sarnia voters. They gathered at The Imperial Theatre in front of an audience of 200, with another 500 streaming the marathon event online. Compared to Monday night’s mayoral debate,
Read More
Front Page
St. Clair will be reimbursed for help at Chatham ethanol plant fire
October 21, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent St. Clair Township Councillor Brad Langstaff wants to know what it cost for the fire department to help fight an ethanol plant fire in Chatham. Sept. 16, 15 firefighters, the township’s two tower trucks and its drone headed to Chatham to help battle a massive fire at Greenfield Global. St. Clair was called on because it has
Read More
Front Page
Enniskillen rejects request for ATVs on township roads
October 21, 2026
Blake Ellis/The Independent ATVs won’t be allowed on Enniskillen roads. A request by Enniskillen Resident Mark Braet failed to sway Enniskillen Township Council to allow all terrain vehicles on township roads. Braet made a presentation to council on Oct. 8 along with representatives from the Tri-Shore ATV Club. Braet wanted to be allowed to drive ATVs on roads in the
Read More
Front Page
LAMBTON VOTES: Petrolia Candidate Surveys
October 21, 2026
The Independent sent a questionnaire to each candidate for Petrolia Council. Below are the unedited responses from the candidates: Work Experience: Policy Advisor, Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce; former Constituency Assistant to MPPs Bob Bailey and Billy Pang; former parliamentary intern with MPs Marilyn Gladu and Jake Stewart; former Town of Petrolia Parks & Recreation Summer Labourer; former Dietary Aide at
Read More