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Food bank use is likely to rise across Lambton County because of funding problems at Sarnia’s Inn of the Good Shepherd according a local agency. The Inn says in April, the province will cut about $180,000 from the agencies funding. That could mean up to 250 families would not receive help for rent and utilities, life skills programs at the

Petrolia Mayor John McCharles says as long as they’re not causing damage, skateboarders should be able to use the Farmers’ Market at night. Council recently heard from a resident who voiced concern about skateboarders using the area to play. Sharon Livingston told council she felt some of the skateboarders were displaying “bullying” behaviour and frightened her dogs as they walked.

As Jaylyn Eastman twirls like a ballerina in her grandmother’s living room, it is hard to believe this is what childhood cancer looks like. The spunky four-year old moves from toy to toy, playing for a moment before coming to the couch to cuddle up to Grandma Tammy Clark. Two seconds, Jaylyn, in her pink ballerina dress with medical tubes

When Patti Black signed four of her children up for piano lessons, she wanted only wanted them to be able to play music. But the mother of 10 could never envisioned this: packing fiddles, a piano, guitars, mandolins, accordions and even an Irish drum in a trailer behind their van and traveling all over southern Ontario playing 80 shows a

They’re still talking. Mayor Kevin Marriott says Enniskillen has made a counter offer to Petrolia to bring down water rates in the rural area. The negotiations started after Enniskillen began talking with officials from the Lambton Area Water Supply System about the possibility of buying water from LAWSS instead of Petrolia. LAWSS has offered to provide water to the community

Marianne VanderSpek Photo The summer may have been filled with unusual weather, but it doesn’t seem to have harmed the local grain crop. Across Central Lambton, farmers are beginning to take off their soybean crops and Enniskillen farmer Kevin Marriott says most are “pleasantly surprised” by what they’re finding. “There is the odd field off and they’re looking promising,” says

Nicky Beatty and Chris Burdett will go just about anywhere to find a BMX bike park to try, but the Wyoming teens would rather stay at home. The pair, who travel to Sarnia, Watford and as far away as Toronto to bike, was among the crowd of 18 teens and pre-teens – and a handful of adults – who came

When Amanda learned she was expecting her second child, she started looking for help. The mother of a 19-month old already, Amanda was worried her parenting skills were not that good. “My husband and I don’t have any family members,” she says. “I was very scared and I was worried that I wasn’t doing it right. My first child had

Plympton-Wyoming Council is looking at opening the community for business during holidays. A public meeting will be held tonight to talk about allowing businesses to voluntarily open on Family Day, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving Day. Mayor Lonny Napper says a local winery asked for the exemption for its tourists. “Alton Farm Estate Winery asked for the

Gary May couldn’t pass up an opportunity to tell the history of Petrolia from a more personal perspective. The former London Free Press reporter has written extensively on the history of the oil industry including Hard Oiler and Groundbreaker. Now, he is examining life in Petrolia after the oil boom in the family history “A Hard Oiler LoveStory.” The book

The Lambton Young Theatre Players made Petrolia Discovery come alive with stories from the past recently. The joint fundraiser featured plays throughout the Discovery, including the funeral of Sparky McCracken who turned out not to be dead at all, just drunk. Rain dampened attendance to the weekend event but Artistic Director Nancy Keys says the actors loved performing in the

Petrolia Councilor Liz Welsh would like to bring town council to soon-to-be voters. The week of Oct. 20 is local government week and Welsh wants town staff to look into the possibility of changing a council regular evening meeting to the day to allow elementary school students to attend and find out what local government is all about. “Let’s investigate