The Independent among top newspapers in Canada
Co-founder of Sarnia Braves dies
June 5, 2020
One of the most recognizable figures around minor baseball in Sarnia Lambton has died. Joe Panik Sr. passed away this week at the age of 81.
Panik, who was born of immigrant parents near Oil Springs in 1938, co-founded the Sarnia Braves minor baseball system with the late Stan Slack and was its president for 25 years.
Over that period, the Braves won 11 OBA titles and finished as runners-up on ten other occasions. He was also a long-time chairman of SMAA baseball.
Over his 60 plus years of involvement in the sport, he was a player, manager, tournament convenor, umpire and fundraiser. The latter led to considerable amounts of money being raised for improvements to both Errol Russell Park and Blackwell Park.
He was inducted into the Sarnia-Lambton Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
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The Independent among top newspapers in Canada
September 18, 2024
The Independent The Independent of Petrolia and Central Lambton has won four national awards at the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards. Newspapers of similar circulation size compete against each other and are judged by a panel of industry experts in 27 categories. There were nearly 800 entries this year. The Independent placed second in its division in the prestigious Best All-Around
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‘Opportunity to make some money’ now says wind developer
September 18, 2024
Wind project generate $500,000 a year for Brooke-Alvinston Heather Wright/The Independent Peter Budd says the crunch is on for new power sources and municipal governments have a chance to make some cash. The representative of Venfor Inc – a team of developers and entrepreneurs with decades of experience in the Ontario electricity and natural gas sectors according to a filing
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Petrolia for cash in second round of housing funding
September 16, 2024
Heather Wright/The Independent Petrolia is hoping the second time will be a charm. The town will again apply for the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund. The federal program was announced early in 2024 and early this summer Petrolia and Plympton-Wyoming and Warwick were shut out of funding which would have allowed the municipalities to attract more affordable housing investment in
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Town may recognize Petrolia White Rose Band with plaque
September 16, 2024
Heather Wright/The Independent Norm Sutherland wants Petrolia to honour its musical history. He’s written a letter to town council asking if it will consider erecting a plaque at the new bandshell, built as a legacy project during the town’s 150th anniversary. “Mr. Percie Cox, musical director of the Petrolia White Rose Band and teacher of almost all of the youngsters
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