Two Ontario men face charges after alleged immigration fraud at Lambton College
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Sarnia's Joe DiBatista and his mixed doubles partner, Bright's Grove native Angela Walker Marczak, who now lives in Pittsburgh, won gold at the Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships in Florida April 11-18, 2026.
Sarnia man brings home pickleball gold from world’s largest tourney
May 11, 2026
The Independent
A Sarnia senior has won big at the world’s largest pickleball tournament.
Joe DiBatista won three golds at the Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida in April. The tournament hosts over 3,750 amateur athletes from 53 countries.
DiBatista won in gold in his age bracket for singles, men’s doubles, with Chi Fai Cho of New Jersey, who he’d met at the tournament for the first time, and mixed doubles with Angela Walker Marczak, a Bright’s Grove native who now lives in Pittsburgh.
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Two Ontario men face charges after alleged immigration fraud at Lambton College
July 10, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was edited July 10 to include comments from the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Two men are facing immigration and criminal charges after Lambton College tipped authorities off about a student immigration scam. College officials called the Canada Border Services Agency in February 2025, about students who had dealt with immigration consultants.
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OPP look for missing Crime Stoppers sign in Thedford
July 9, 2026
The Independent It may not be a good sign for Crime Stoppers. Lambton OPP were called to the intersection of Highway 70 and Arkona Road after a large Crime Stoppers sign at the entrance of the community was stolen. It’s valued at $800. Police are investigating, adding if you have tip about the stolen Crime Stoppers’ sign, you can call
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Whoops: Local plowing match officials back track, confirms Brigden will host 2027 IPM after all
July 9, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent The Lambton 2027 International Plowing Match Committee says they were wrong; the 2027 event will be in Brigden. A local committee landed the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo in April 2025. The group attracted hundreds of volunteers and planning was well underway. In late May, Ontario Plowmen’s Association (OPA) officials came to Brigden, working with the
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Integrity Commissioner dismisses complaint against Dennis’ ‘woke’ art tirade
July 9, 2026
The Independent The Integrity Commissioner says a Sarnia councillor’s comments about an Indigenous mural at City Hall were “a political argument” and has dismissed the complaint. In March, Sarnia unveiled a mural depicting the relationship between Sarnia-Lambton and The Council of Three Fires Confederacy; the Ojibway, Odawa, and Potawatomi people. The project included the $5,000 mural, a new wall honouring
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