Mooretown pool, fitness centre won’t reopen in September
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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Front Page
Mooretown pool, fitness centre won’t reopen in September
August 14, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent Renovations at the Mooretown Sports Complex pool have hit a snag. The pool closed April 1 for a major renovation of the pool deck and change rooms. St. Clair Township, which owns the complex, has been upgrading the community hub for several years and has been planning work on the pool area for about two years. The
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Front Page
Townhouse development in the works for Oil Springs
August 14, 2026
Blake Ellis/The Independent There could be more residential development in Oil Springs. Roger Buurma of Lasalle Line in Brooke-Alvinston owns Lekker Homes, which wants to build 11 single-floor townhouses of Roady Park Rd. in the north east part of the village. The plan calls for two blocks of buildings – the first includes four one-storey townhouses located towards the rear
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Front Page
Local ball player wins national and provincial titles
August 14, 2026
Barry Wright/The Independent As an addition to the Windsor Selects for the Canadian U22 baseball championships, Point Edward’s Will Greer definitely made an impact with his adopted team. He started the gold medal game against Manitoba and went 3.2 innings, scattering six hits, including two buntsingles, striking out five and only surrendering one walk leading the Selects to the championship
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Front Page
Petrolia’s Helps, Wilson fourth at national tourney
August 14, 2026
The Independent After losing its first three games at the national U22 baseball championship in Tecumseh, near Windsor, the Sarnia Junior Brigade rebounded and played for the bronze medal. Following wins over Nova Scotia and the host Thunder to end the preliminary round, Sarnia had a bronze medal in its sights with a 5-4 lead on the Halifax Mets but
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