‘Absolutely ridiculous’ Lambton left in the dark by York1
Submitted Photo
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.
NEXT
Petrolia’s Soudant honoured with Women of Excellence
PREVIOUS
Petrolia man dies in Plank Road collision
Front Page
‘Absolutely ridiculous’ Lambton left in the dark by York1
August 19, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent Dawn-Euphemia Mayor Al Broad says it is “absolutely ridiculous” that York1 Environmental Solutions isn’t communicating directly with Lambton County as it plans an expansion of the former Dresden dump. The township is one of the half dozen small communities in Lambton and Middlesex counties which will see garbage trucks rumbling through town as they head to York1’s
Read More
Front Page
Jackson off to hot start with Yankees affiliate
August 19, 2026
Barry Wright/The Independent Core Jackson is making an immediate impact with his new team. The LCCVI and John Knox Christian School grad from Wyoming was hitting .294 in five games with the Somerset Patriots after being promoted to AA baseball last week. The middle infielder had five hits, five RBI, four runs scored and four stolen bases before he was
Read More
Front Page
Three Londoners arrested, $1.28M in drugs, guns seized in investigation that started on Walpole Island
August 19, 2026
The Independent Three people have been arrested and almost $1.3 million in drugs, weapons and stolen vehicles have been seized in an investigation that started on Walpole Island. The OPP, Walpole Island Police and political leaders announced the arrests of three people from London, one of whom, police allege,had been bringing drugs to the community. Lambton OPP say the investigation
Read More
Front Page
Sports Briefs: Corunna’s Birch wins OHL leadership award
August 19, 2026
Barry Wright/The Independent Kitchener Rangers Chief Operating Officer Joe Birch has been awarded the David Branch Leader of the Year for the 2025-26 OHL season. “Birch has set a standard for leadership that reaches every corner of the Kitchener Rangers organization,” said OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford in presenting Birch with the award at a recent league gathering. Birch, originally from
Read More