Highway 21 through Grand Bend for major fire
The Independent nominated as best newspaper in Ontario
March 2, 2026
The Independent
The Independent of Petrolia and Central Lambton has been nominated in six categories, including for best newspaper, in the Ontario Community Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Competition.
The Independent has been nominated in the General Excellence category for best newspaper in the 1,500 to 8,000 circulation category with the Eganville Leader and the New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker.
Reporter Tara Jeffrey has been nominated for her story about the four female leaders of the First Nations in Lambton County.
Heather Wright has been nominated in the Best News Story category for coverage of the Dresden dump story and for police coverage for a story about the arrest of a suspected drug dealer in Petrolia.
Wright has also been nominated as Columnist of the Year and in the Best Spot News Photo category for a front page image of a barn fire on Canada Day.
The Independent’s sister paper, The Herald serving Thamesville, Dresden and Bothwell is also nominated in the photography for its Spot News Photo of the Jan. 2025 fire in Bothwell.
The Herald is also nominated in the General Excellence category for newspapers under 1,500 circulation.
The award winners will be announced in April in Collingwood.
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Highway 21 through Grand Bend for major fire
May 22, 2026
No injuries have been reported The Independent Lambton OPP are reporting a major fire in Grand Bend Friday afternoon. Police say there is a structure fire between Lake Road and Greenhaven Drive which has closed Highway 21/Ontario Street. Video on social media shows the large amounts of smoke billowing from the RONA Store and Lambton Shores firefighters work. No injuries
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Front Page
Oil Springs receives $81K for recreation project as Alix Foundation grants awarded
May 22, 2026
The Independent There will soon be more recreation options in Oil Springs thanks to the Judith and Norman Alix Foundation. The village has received a $81,300 grant to turn a little used skate park at the Youth Centre into a multi-use court for pickleball, tennis and basketball. The project also includes new lights for the baseball field. The grant was
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Front Page
Cannabis seized in Lambton Shores traffic stop
May 22, 2026
The Independent An Ancaster senior is facing drug charges after Lambton OPP stopped a car north of Highway 402. OPP stopped a vehicle May 15 after 11 am after receiving an licence plate alert about a vehicle on Nauvoo Road near Brickyard Line. Police stopped the car on Rawlings Road near Townsend Line. The driver was arrested on an outstanding
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Front Page
LCCVI, North Lambton to meet in LKSSAA Soccer Finals
May 22, 2026
John Wright/The Independent It will be a battle of the Lambton county high schools in the LKSSAA soccer finals. LCCVI and North Lambton will square off in both the senior boys and senior girls ‘AA’ final in Forest on Monday. The boys final begins at 3:30 with the girls final following at 5:00. North Lambton’s girls team advanced with a
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