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Petrolia native hopes to win UFC contract

July 4, 2025

The Independent Cody Chovancek will be part of Dana White’s UFC Contender Series this season. The Petrolia native who trains with the Niagara Top Team in St. Catharines is 8-0 as a pro in the bantamweight division. His latest bout was a unanimous decision against American Jordan Howard defending his Unified MMA title in Toronto in May. He originally won

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Cattlemen, conservation authority reach agreement for pasture

July 4, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority and local cattlemen have reached an agreement for 187 acres of land to create a community pasture. About 30 members of the Lambton Cattlemens’ Association expressed an interest in the idea of a large pasture area managed by an association with a feed per head of cattle. There are 11 community

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Sarnia senior dies in 402 crash

July 4, 2025

An 87 year-old from Sarnia has died in an accident on Highway 402 near London. West Region OPP say around 12:30 pm Friday, an SUV going westbound between Col. Talbot Road and Wonderland Road crossed over the centre media, struck a minivan and then hit a transport, landing in a ditch. Police say three people in the minivan were taken

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Dresden “the canary in the coal mine” says Stiles

July 4, 2025

Ontario’s NDP promising to put pressure on Ford government to repeal Bill 5 The Independent NDP Leader says Dresden is the canary in the coalmine – a warning to other Ontario communities about what will happen because of Bill 5. Marit Stiles was in Dresden July 3 for a rally against the Dresden Dump. The province introduced and passed Bill

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Loosley gives back some of new powers given to mayors by the province

July 4, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Petrolia’s mayor won’t be using some of the new powers he received under the Strong Mayors Act. In the spring, 170 mayors in smaller municipalities were given the power to hire and fire the chief administrative officer and senior staff, propose a municipal budget and veto bylaws they believe will go against the provincial priorities such as

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Sarnia ‘Find places for these units:’ Case

July 4, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Warwick Mayor Todd Case says Sarnia should tell Lambton County where supportive housing can be built. The comment came Wednesday during a discussion about the new 50-unit supportive housing complex on George Street. The county gave the land to Indwell for the project. Neighbours found out after the deal was done. Sarnia City/County Bill Dennis – who

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The Best in Canada: Petrolia’s Bell marks 800 wins

July 4, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Brian Bell hasn’t won on Father’s Day since 2021. But the Petrolia-born jockey pulled off one of the biggest wins of his career on this year Father’s Day becoming the first Canadian jockey to reach 800 wins. Bell is a quarter horse jockey; he calls it the drag racing of horses – straight down the track. Bell

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Over 50 ed assistants cut for First Nations students

July 3, 2025

Blake Ellis/The Independent Lambton-Kent District School Board passed a $383 million balanced budget for the 2025-26 school year but local Indigenous leaders are concerned.  While Trustee Roberta Northmore called it a wonderful budget during the June 24 meeting, she did not support it saying there was no consultation with the four First Nations within the Lambton-Kent boundaries.  Northmore called the

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Ham radio fans say hello to the Netherlands without leaving Enniskillen

July 3, 2025

Blake Ellis/The Independent Ham radio enthusiasts tuned into locations throughout North America and the world, connecting with Texas, Argentina, the Caribbean and the Netherlands all from Enniskillen Township. The Lambton County Radio Club held its annual field day on Saturday and Sunday, for a 24 hour period at Krall Park in Enniskillen Township.  Field day demonstrates ham radio’s ability to

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Petrolia splash pad almost ready

July 3, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Petrolia’s long-awaited splash pad should be up and running by the end of July.  That from Town of Petrolia officials who acknowledged they’d hoped it would be open July 1. In 2019, a community survey called for a splash pad. The 2020 Parks and Recreation Master Plan also picked up on the desire for the water feature.

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Two drowned in the waters off Ipperwash on the Canada Day weekend

July 2, 2025

The Independent It was a deadly long weekend on Lake Huron in Lambton Shores. Monday, an 18 year-old London resident died and a 12 year-old had to be rescued from the waters at Ipperwash Beach. Today, Lambton OPP report another person – a 44 year-old from Lambton Shores – has also died while swimming. Police, paramedics and Lambton Shores firefighters

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Petrolia firefighter taken to hospital with signs of heat exhaustion in Canada Day blaze

July 2, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent A Petrolia/North Enniskillen firefighter was taken to hospital with signs of heat exhaustion during a Canada Day blaze on Petrolia Line. Five Lambton County fire departments battled a large barn fire on west of Petrolia. Petrolia/North Enniskillen firefighters responded to the Petrolia Line farm first, around 8:30 pm and water trucks and crews from Brigden, Courtright, Oil

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