Former Courtright haunt of Al Capone being demolished
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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Former Courtright haunt of Al Capone being demolished
July 24, 2026
The Independent The home of the first business in Courtright – said to be the former haunt of gangster Al Capone – is being torn down. Demolition of what once was the Cathcart General Store started July 21. Local historian Kip Cuthbert says the building dates back to around the 1850’s as a general store. “William Cathcart established his general
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Front Page
Four charged with drug trafficking by Anishinabek Police after stop in Lambton Shore
July 24, 2026
The Independent Four people have been arrested after a drug trafficking investigation that started in May and ended with a traffic stop in Lambton Shores July 21. Anishinabek Police Service officers stopped a vehicle in Lambton Shores July 21. Police searched the vehicle and found seven grams of fentanyl and 51 hydromorphone tables. A 57-year-old man and 43 year-old woman,
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Front Page
Bluewater Bridge border guards seized 1.1 tonnes of drugs in $139 million bust
July 24, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent About 1.1 tonnes of the drugs seized in a $139 million drug investigation were seized at the Bluewater Bridge. And a Corunna man is one of 21 people charged in the massive drug ring which netted a total of 1.7 tonnes of cocaine, methamphetamine, opium and oxycodone. The investigation began in Windsor in January 2025. “At that
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Front Page
Ashley Norton Caught the Ace
July 24, 2026
Imperial Oil employee takes home $4.5 million in Sarnia Legion Cathy Dobson & Heather Wright/The Independent After 45 weeks, hundreds of thousands of tickets sold, food banks restocked and a whole lot of fun, the Chase for the Ace is over. Thursday, Ashley Norton’s ticket was drawn at the Sarnia Legion. The 44-year-old Imperial Oil maintenance manager chose envelope number
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