Four departments respond to Petrolia Line house 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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Four departments respond to Petrolia Line house fire
June 14, 2026
The Independent No one has been injured in a house fire in Brooke-Alvinston. Around 10:30 pm Saturday, firefighters were called to Petrolia Line between Suitorville and Little Ireland Road for a fire in an older brick home. Bystanders saw flames shooting above the trees in the front lawn. Firefighters from Warwick, Watford, Brooke-Alvinston and the North Enniskillen departments were on
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Front Page
Welcome Home: New Alvinston Legion officially opens
June 12, 2026
Blake Ellis/The Independent “I would like to welcome you to our new home,” said Alvinston Legion Branch President Jack MacDonald. After 56 years at its River Street location, the Alvinston Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion moved into its new home on Nauvoo Road at the beginning of 2026. The Branch 249 made it official with a grand opening celebration
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Front Page
Plan calls for 1K of new affordable/supportive homes
June 12, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent Lambton County needs 1,096 affordable and specialized housing units in the next 10 years. That from Org Code Consulting which presented a 10-year Housing Plan for the county at Wednesday’s county council meeting. “Affordability concerns are now affecting more people, with rents rising between 38 and 42 per cent since 2020 and deeply affordable housing is also
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Front Page
Lancer trio place second in Novice Girls category at OFSAA
June 12, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent The future of track and field at LCCVI is in good hands after three members of the Novice Girls’ Team placed second overall at the provincial championship. Kallee Elliott, Rayah Minten and Jaylen Helps scored 30 points with their four medals, just one point behind Scholard Hall from North Bay for the Novice Girls Team championship. Track
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