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The Independent Warwick Fire and Rescue is warning farmers to be extra careful in the wheat fields in the next couple of days because of the extreme heat. Environment Canada issued an extended heat warning with maximum temperatures of 30 to 37 C and minimum temperatures of 20 to 24 C and humidex values of 38 to 45. Tuesday will

Heather Wright/The Independent A new study on development charges in Plympton-Wyoming suggests raising the fees to as much as $36,963. That’s more than three times the cost the municipality is now charging to builders of new single-family homes. Town councillors got their first look at the Development Charges background study June 29. It’s prepared every five years to update what

Cathy Dobson/The Independent Eighteen years after she took on the chairmanship for Petrolia’s annual Art in the Park, Carol Graham runs a well-oiled machine in the Hard Oil Town. “It’s become a coveted event for artists because it’s juried and is so well-attended,” Graham said as the crowds arrived Friday for the two-day event in Victoria Park.   This year, a

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.

The Independent It may not be a good sign for Crime Stoppers. Lambton OPP were called to the intersection of Highway 79 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

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

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

Board says its needs to focus on organizations long-term sustainability EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was editted to correct the title of Jack Christine and to clarify the Inn temporarily  capped food bank distribution at 40 households per day The Independent The Inn of the Good Shepherd says it won’t build a 56-unit, six-storey affordable housing complex on the site of

Cathy Dobson/The Independent The Clark family of Petrolia has donated nearly a quarter of a million dollars to three local groups they call the driving forces of their community. Together, two Clark family funds administered by the Sarnia Community Foundation are supporting the “Reaching New Heights” capital campaign at Victoria Playhouse Petrolia (VPP), the Bluewater Health Foundation’s fund to expand

Cathy Dobson/Local Journalism Initiative & Heather Wright/The Independent The security of Sarnia-Lambton’s industrial future received a big boost with Monday’s announcement that a new proposed pipeline will be routed entirely through Canada from Alberta to Sarnia’s refineries. “What it means is Canadian feedstock (will be) moving to Canadian production through Canadian transmission, solely in Canada,” said Matthew Slotwinski, CEO of

500k – 800k barrels of oil per day could flow from Alberta to local refineries Heather Wright/The Independent Sarnia’s refineries could soon be getting a lot more Alberta oil. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the route for the Northern Shield pipeline from Alberta to Sarnia’s refineries. Smith says the pipeline would move an additional 500,000 barrels of

Heather Wright/The Independent A Lambton Shores politician is praising the life guard crew after saving 32 people struggling in Lake Huron on Canada Day. Glenn Bailee, who represents Grand Bend on Lambton Shores council, says the combination of incredibly hot weather, a statutory holiday in the middle of the week, all kinds of people using personal watercraft plus a major