62-year-old facing assault charge after Brigden confrontation
Tom Cochrane heading down the highway to the Hard Oil Music Festival
May 17, 2024
The man famous for bringing the classic song ‘Life is a Highway’ is heading down the highway to Petrolia.
Tom Cochrane will headline the Friday night Classic Rock concert at the Hard Oil Music Festival in August.
Cochrane– a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician – is best known as the front man for the rock band Red Rider and for his work as a solo singer-songwriter.
Cochrane has won eight Juno Awards. He is a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, an officer of the Order of Canada, and has an honorary doctorate from Brandon University. In September 2009, he was inducted onto the Canadian Walk of Fame.
His solo ‘Life is a Highway’ was a huge hit for Cochrane and for the country group Rascal Flats.
The Hard Oil Music Festival is one of the main events of Petrolia’s 150th anniversary celebration. The concert series has also attracted Country’s Josh Ross for Thursday and The Sam Roberts Band for Saturday night.
Resident passes will still be available for a limited time at www.petrolia150.com
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62-year-old facing assault charge after Brigden confrontation
October 27, 2026
The Independent A 62-year-old St Clair Township man is facing a charge of assault with a weapon after a confrontation in Brigden. Lambton OPP were called to Brigden Road near Jane Street in the community Friday around 1:30 pm. Police found there had been a fight and one person was assaulted with a weapon. Police say the injuries were minor,
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One dead, another person arrested on Walpole Island
October 27, 2026
The Independent One person is dead and another is in police custody on Walpole Island. Lambton OPP were called to River Road around 1:30 am Monday for a disturbance. They found one person who was injured and pronounced dead at the scene. Officers arrested one person at the scene without incident. “Investigators believe this to be an isolated incident with
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Agar returns as mayor of St. Clair Township
October 27, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent Jeff Agar will return as St Clair Township Mayor. He defeated newcomer Bruce Gibson with a margin of 3,625 to 1,114 votes. “It’s mind-boggling,” Agar said of the wait to find out if he won. “Even if you think you’re gonna win, it’s still is because you never know.” Agar says it was a very long campaign,
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Entire Plympton-Wyoming council returns to office
October 27, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent The entire council in Plympton-Wyoming has been returned to office. Mayor elect Gary Atkinson defeated Tim Wilkins 2,061 to 1,633 in the polls Monday. Deputy mayor elect Netty McEwen got more than double the votes of challenger Brad Zantingh. Alex Boughen topped the polls for councillors with 2,446 votes; John Van Klaveren had 2,164 votes; Mike Vasey collected
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