62-year-old facing assault charge after Brigden confrontation
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Knights take second-generation player in import draft
July 13, 2026
Barry Wright/The Independent
Mark and Dale Hunter of the London Knights turned to Finland for its two picks in the CHL import draft last week.
They selected Luca Santala in the first round with the 40th choice and then nabbed Juho Piiparunen in the second round with the 101st selection.
Santala, a right-shot forward, turns 17 later this month.His father Tommi played more than 1,400 pro games in North America and
Europe after he was selected by the the former Atlanta Thrashers in the late 90’s.
Piiparunen, a lanky right-shot d-man, was a first round selection by the Vegas Golden Knights last month in Buffalo.
His father Jarkko played about 400 games of pro hockey.
The Knights have had recent success drafting players from Finland including Kasper Haltunen, now in the Ottawa Senators organization, in 2022 and Islanders prospect Jesse Nurmi in 2024.
London passed on its third-round selection.
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62-year-old facing assault charge after Brigden confrontation
October 27, 2026
The Independent A 62-year-old St Clair Township man is facing a charge of assault with a weapon after a confrontation in Brigden. Lambton OPP were called to Brigden Road near Jane Street in the community Friday around 1:30 pm. Police found there had been a fight and one person was assaulted with a weapon. Police say the injuries were minor,
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One dead, another person arrested on Walpole Island
October 27, 2026
The Independent One person is dead and another is in police custody on Walpole Island. Lambton OPP were called to River Road around 1:30 am Monday for a disturbance. They found one person who was injured and pronounced dead at the scene. Officers arrested one person at the scene without incident. “Investigators believe this to be an isolated incident with
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Agar returns as mayor of St. Clair Township
October 27, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent Jeff Agar will return as St Clair Township Mayor. He defeated newcomer Bruce Gibson with a margin of 3,625 to 1,114 votes. “It’s mind-boggling,” Agar said of the wait to find out if he won. “Even if you think you’re gonna win, it’s still is because you never know.” Agar says it was a very long campaign,
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Entire Plympton-Wyoming council returns to office
October 27, 2026
Heather Wright/The Independent The entire council in Plympton-Wyoming has been returned to office. Mayor elect Gary Atkinson defeated Tim Wilkins 2,061 to 1,633 in the polls Monday. Deputy mayor elect Netty McEwen got more than double the votes of challenger Brad Zantingh. Alex Boughen topped the polls for councillors with 2,446 votes; John Van Klaveren had 2,164 votes; Mike Vasey collected
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