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St. Clair Region Conservation Authority opens McKeough Dam after issuing a flood warning

January 30, 2024

Water levels along the Sydenham River are slowly receding. The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority started the process for opening the gates of the McKeough Dam has begun as of 7:00 am yesterday. With the amount of water currently in the watershed, some locations are still experiencing elevated water levels into floodplain areas.

The following roads remain impacted due to flooding:

    • Stanley Line between Kimball Road and Waubuno Road
    • Plowing Match Road between Rokeby Line and Petrolia Line
    • Black Ash Road between Durham Creek Line and Rokeby Line
    • Gypsie Flats Road between Durham Creek Line and Rokeby Line


Individuals are reminded to avoid watercourses and flooded areas due to dangerous conditions, slippery banks and cold, swift moving water. Children and pets should be kept away from the water.

The Conservation Authority continues to monitor watershed conditions and will issue advisories to municipalities and media should flood issues arise.

Municipal emergency response staff and road superintendents should monitor local conditions closely.

This message will remain in effect until Tuesday, January 30, 2024, unless otherwise updated.

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LCCVI evacuated after alarm in tech wing sounds

June 18, 2026

The Independent Morning classes were disrupted at LCCVI Thursday when the students and staff were evacuated. The fire alarm at LCCVI was activated after 9 am. The Petrolia/North Enniskillen fire department was searching through the tech wing for about 45 minutes. School officials say an alarm company was called in to return the system to normal operations. There was no

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Sports Briefs: Express finish third at U17 tourney

June 18, 2026

Barry Wright/The Independent The Enniskillen Express finished in third place in a rain-shortened U17 girls’ fastball tournament in Mitchell. The Express beat teams from Goderich and Exeter but lost to the Sweaburg Storm to finish the tournament with a record of 2-1. ••• The Corunna Giants U11 girls’ fastball team won silver medals at a tournament in Chatham last weekend. 

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Retirement, training deadlines leave Oil Springs without fire chief on July 1

June 17, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent The retirement of the Oil Springs/South Enniskillen fire chief and new training regulations are creating a unique situation in Oil Springs. The Oil Springs/South Enniskillen Chief Mike Cumming is retiring on June 30. Monday, Oil Springs council appointed John Berdan as the new chief. But Berdan is in administrative limbo because of new training regulations and cannot

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Montanino, Jolicoeur among locals picked in OHL Draft

June 17, 2026

Barry Wright/The Independent Defenceman John Montanino led the local contingent drafted at the OHL Priority Selection in Kingston. The Brampton Steelheads selected him in the third round. The Sarnia native played with Detroit-Little Caesars this season. Windsor chose Sarnia’s Cameron Jolicoeur, a power forward from the London Jr. Knights, in the seventh round and the Knights took Grand Bend’s Liam

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