The Sarnia Police Service (SPS) is warning the public about the dangers of unlawfully entering high-voltage electrical facilities in the city.

Police said there have been several recent incidents where suspects have stolen or attempted to steal copper wire and electrical cables.

This includes one that happened at around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday in the College Park neighbourhood.

Police didn't find the suspect but said there was a hole in the perimeter fence. Officers found a red bike on the property, believed to be connected to the suspect, and also provided a still image of the accused.

A bicycle used by a suspect who broke into an electrical facility in Sarnia - July 29/26 (Photo courtesy of Sarnia Police Service)

Police said electrical facilities contain energized equipment and high-voltage conductors, where contact with live electrical components can result in serious injury or death.

Cutting, damaging, or interfering with electrical cables can also create powerful electrical arcs that reach extremely high temperatures, causing catastrophic, life-altering, or fatal injuries.

Police said the theft or damage of electrical infrastructure can result in power outages that affect homes, businesses, and essential services within the community.

Anyone with information about the individual or the bicycle is asked to call Sarnia Police at 519-344-8861.

To provide an anonymous tip, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com.

Sarnia's Kim Colborne will be riding in style this summer.

She's the lucky winner of a metallic blue 2026 Ford Mustang convertible after having her name drawn in Sarnia-Lambton Rebound's Wheels of Summer raffle.

The draw was done at Sarnia Ford Lincoln at noon on Wednesday.

Rebound Fund Development Coordinator Beverley Horodyski announced the winning ticket via Facebook Live.

She said they were able to raise $43,000 which is amazing.

"We have been working since the middle of May on the Wheels of Summer car raffle campaign at Rebound," said Horodyski. "The first thing we want to do is thank Reg Hanlon and the team here at Sarnia Ford Lincoln. They've been absolutely amazing to work with. We couldn't have done it without them."

Horodyski expressed her appreciation for everyone who purchased a ticket.

"We want to thank the community, everyone across Sarnia-Lambton and beyond because lots of ticket buyers from different parts of Ontario have supported Rebound as well," she said. "Keeping in mind all the funds we raise for Rebound go back into programming at our agency and our agency supports youth from eight years to 24 years old. They need our support more now than ever so by your ticket purchases that changes lives in our community so thank you again for that."

Raffle tickets for the car were sold at $100 apiece.

Over the past 40 years, Rebound has supported over 42,000 youth and their families in Sarnia-Lambton.

The City of Sarnia is asking community members to practice good trail etiquette and to be mindful of others.

The reminder was issued on Tuesday for anyone who uses Sarnia's trails, including joggers, cyclists, pet owners, and e-bike enthusiasts.

“Our trails are a great asset to the community that bring people together and encourage healthy and active lifestyles,” said Manager of Development and

Transportation Alister Brown. “Part of trail use is shared responsibility and respect so that everyone can stay safe and enjoy their time outside.”

While e-bikes are allowed on city trails and paths, riders are asked to travel at a safe speed, yield appropriately, and pass with care.

A list of simple practices can be found below. Further details can be found on the city's website.

- Keeping right when travelling, and passing with care on the left

- Traveling at a safe speed

- Yielding to pedestrians

- Passing with care, only on the left

- Using a bell, verbal or other auditory signal to pass

- Leashing pets and cleaning up after them

- Respecting natural surroundings and wildlife

- Staying on the trail

- Being aware of surroundings

- Using caution at all crossings

- Not littering and using proper receptacles for waste

Sarnia's newest ride-sharing app is offering free rides throughout the long weekend.

Pocketride is a community-based ride-share program based in Sarnia that began in response to a growing need for more affordable options to get around the city.

"We started working on the Pocketride app about three years ago, while we were facing a lot of transportation issues, travelling from location A to location B. We did not find the right sources with respect to the usual ones, Uber, Lyft; those were too expensive," said CEO and Founder Ansh Bhutani. "The big giants, obviously, we respect them. They have been in the market for years now. They are billion-dollar giants, but they have failed to serve the rural communities of Canada."

Pocketride is intended to be different from bigger rideshare apps by putting a focus on having safe, background-verified local drivers, transparent pricing, reliable access and being designed to support both riders and drivers.

"We are very community-centric. We are not offering dynamic pricing. Our prices don't go up and down every now and then with respect to the requirements. We have drivers who are earning more than 75 per cent commission out of the whole ride charges, which is typically the industry best, and in terms of the technology, we've built everything in-house," he said.

Bhutani notes that people were skeptical at first, but the response from riders and drivers has been positive overall.

"The community has shown a great response. To be honest, they are skeptical, but we have been able to answer those questions. And after answering those questions, the community is becoming more frequent users. You have to build trust, and the trust only comes in once they use the application and once we are able to serve them," he said. "I feel the community has been positive, but you know they will become even more positive maybe in the next three to four months once they start using it fully."

As a way to get more users onto the app, Pocketride is running a special campaign this upcoming long weekend.

"For Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, for four days, we'll have free rides for all the people from Sarnia, completely free. So we are stress testing our application through that, and we've seen a massive sign-up," said Bhutani.

The Pocketride app is free to download for both Apple and Android phones.

BGC Sarnia-Lambton is receiving a $25,000 tech grant from Best Buy Canada to improve opportunities for youth who use its programs.

The grant is one of four that Best Buy Canada has awarded BGC clubs across the country in celebration of 25 years of partnership between the two.

"The children and youth that utilize our programs- our whole kind of motto is that there are no barriers to service, and I think this opens up opportunities that they might not otherwise have. And being able to get in some really unique technology to upgrade our programs. I think it will be really exciting for them, and something that they might not be able to do otherwise if we didn't offer that programming for free," said BGC Sarnia-Lambton Executive Director Jaylene Henry.

Through technology grants, Best Buy Canada has helped BGC Clubs across the country create spaces where kids can explore coding, robotics, digital media, graphic design, music production, and photography.

"Kids are just excited to learn. When I look at the programming that we do in our STEAM Ahead program, it's them getting to see the different sides behind science and different engineering things, and just things that are not in my wheelhouse personally. But it's really cool to have people come in and teach some of those things and get to see the kids be able to learn in areas that aren't taught every day that are really special to them and then they get to see their creation or their science experiment or their art piece or whatever it is kind of come to life and we test those theories out in the same night," she said.

Henry said the team at BGC Sarnia-Lambton is looking at what they can add to their programming with the funds from this grant and what will benefit the youth the most.

"We're still in communication with our leadership team to see where we can best adapt and grow our programs, but we run a program called STEAM Ahead. It stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, and we run that for free through the school year on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30, and we partner with Imperial Oil for that program as well. But we haven't done a technology upgrade to that program in quite some time, so we're just doing a little bit of internal research and gathering our supplies that we'll need to upgrade that program. So that's where we're going to start."

The partnership between Best Buy and BGC Canada has made it so many young people are able to have access to programs and opportunities that would otherwise not be possible, such as scholarships, tech grants and events.

There will be some new rules next season in the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL).

The league is officially adopting the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) playing rules.

Most of the changes are small, but a couple could have big impacts during games.

When a team clears the puck over the boards in their own zone, they will now be issued a two-minute penalty. Previously, there would be a faceoff in the defensive zone, with the team not allowed to change.

Another change would be allowing goals to count if the puck is going in while the net is knocked off its pegs. It'll be up to the referees to determine whether the puck would have gone in if the net hadn't been removed.

Richard Santos, the general manager of the Chatham Maroons, believes this is the right step for the league.

"It only makes sense that we start adopting the same type of rules," he explained.

Santos explained that the GOHL is a development league, with teams hoping to help their players reach higher levels. He said having players learn different rules when they get the call hasn't helped.

"[Now] when they jump to the OHL, they understand the rules, they're used to the rules, and it's not a different set of rules here and a different set of rules there," added Santos.

Not all rules are being implemented by the GOHL. Players will still be required to wear full face masks, and fighting will still result in a game misconduct. These rules remain in place to ensure player safety.

All the changes are expected to be finalized later this week.

Ottawa is trying to make it easier for Canadians to travel.

The federal government announced on Tuesday that it has lifted the cap on the number of people per day who can renew their passport online. This clears the way for all eligible Canadians can get a passport renewal digitally.

"Expanding online renewal gives eligible Canadians a simpler, more convenient way to renew their passports, without unnecessary barriers or delays," said Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Lena Metlege Diab.

She added that there are a few requirements for renewing digitally that differ from doing it in person or by mail.

You can only apply online if your passport expires in six months or less, if you live in Canada and will be home to receive your passport, and if there are no observations on your passport.

If you're renewing online, you must use the same name, date of birth, place of birth and gender identifier on your new passport as on your current passport.

The government warns that as soon as you apply for a new passport online, your current passport will be cancelled, adding that you should ensure you won't need it in the time it takes for your new passport to be processed and mailed to you.

It's believed that expanding passport renewal services will benefit people who struggle to get to Service Canada Centres, including those who live in rural or remote communities and those with mobility challenges.

"Accessible service means giving Canadians options, starting with more ways to renew a passport," said Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu. "We are removing the barriers between Canadians and the services they rely on by modernizing how we deliver them and shaping them around how people live."

In person and mail in services are still available.

Residents may notice emergency response vessels on the upper St. Clair River and lower Lake Huron as search and rescue marine training is scheduled to take place on Wednesday.

Volunteers with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (PointSAR Marine Rescue Unit) will train with members of the Canadian Coast Guard Inshore Rescue Boat crew and OPP Marine Unit.

The training will involve a series of realistic scenarios meant to strengthen interoperability, communications, and coordinated emergency response.

During the training exercise, members of the public are being reminded there's no cause for concern.

A media release from PointSAR Marine Rescue said it's essential for rescue agencies to regularly train together under realistic conditions.

Victim assessment during 2025 scenario at Canatara Beach. (Photo courtesy of PointSAR Marine Rescue Unit)

"Training alongside our federal and provincial partners is essential to maintaining a high level of operational readiness," said PointSAR Marine Rescue Unit Leader Greg Grimes. "Every search and rescue response relies on teamwork, clear communications, and coordination with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. Exercises like this allow us to strengthen those relationships before an actual emergency occurs."

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre coordinates marine and aeronautical search and rescue operations across the Great Lakes region, stated a media release. 

PointSAR Marine Rescue provides marine search and rescue services on the Canadian side of the St. Clair River and southern Lake Huron.

A reminder of how important life jackets can be after two people in the St. Clair River were rescued Tuesday night.

Point Edward Fire and Rescue was dispatched at around 8 p.m. after two people, who appeared to be in distress, were seen holding onto a Sea-Doo just south of the Blue Water Bridge.

The two were unable to get out of the water on their own.

A rescue swimmer dove in and helped the two people onto Marine 2. They were taken back to shore and declined EMS.

Officials said the two were part of a group who had rented Sea-Doos, but they ended up in the water after being ejected.

"Their Sea-Doo drifted away from them in the current, and they were unable to get back on," read Point Edward Fire and Rescue's Facebook post. "Another Sea-Doo from their group was able to get to them and they held onto the side until firefighters arrived on scene."

Point Edward Fire and Rescue said eventually, all watercrafts were secured and returned to Sarnia Bay.

All parties wore personal flotation devices.

First responders and agencies recently highlighted the importance of wearing life jackets during National Drowning Prevention Week.

Earlier this month, West Region OPP Sgt. Ed Sanchuk said nearly 80 per cent of all boating deaths investigated in 2025 involved people who were not wearing a life jacket. Additionally, adult men accounted for almost 90 per cent of all boating fatalities on OPP-patrolled waters last year.

The contract holder of a private Service Ontario location in Corunna says independent counters across Ontario are facing critical funding freezes.

Christyann Alexander said there is a misconception that all Service Ontario locations are directly owned and run by the provincial government.

"187 counters are actually operated by an independent local small business," said Alexander. "Right now, independent operators are facing critical, multi-year funding freezes from the province under the current contract terms."

Alexander said the Lyndoch Street site -- which handles driver, vehicle, and health card paperwork, is scheduled to switch to the new compensation model on August 4.

"The compensation simply does not cover basic commercial overhead," she said. "Things like commercial rent, hydro, insurance, or fair living wages for our counter staff."

Alexander has launched an online petition urging provincial decision makers and the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement to implement a more realistic model that reflects 2026 operating costs.

"The community support has been incredible," she said. "We've already gathered more than 300 signatures [online], plus signatures from our counter."

In her opinion, Alexander said the new model fits a big box store and puts operations like hers at risk.

"If this model isn't fixed... small, independent counters across the province will face a very real threat of permanent closure. Losing our counter would be a huge blow. We serve a lot of seniors, a lot of rural residents and small business owners that rely on face-to-face service to navigate complex transactions," Alexander said.

There are a total of three employees at the St. Clair Township location, including Alexander.

She said her family has operated the site for a few generations, after her grandmother opened it in the 1980s.

MLB

Washington 8 Toronto 6

Detroit 14 Baltimore 0

Cleveland 6 Cincinnati 5

Arizona 8 Pittsburgh 7 (12 innings)

Texas 4 Tampa Bay 1

Miami 1 Philadelphia 0

Cincinnati 2 Cleveland 0

Atlanta NY Mets (postponed)

Minnesota 3 Kansas City 2

NY Yankees 3 Chicago White Sox 2

Chicago Cubs 10 St. Louis 2

Houston 3 LA Angels 2

San Diego 8 Colorado 7

Athletics 4 Boston 3

Milwaukee 8 San Francisco 2

Seattle 7 LA Dodgers 6

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WNBA

Minnesota 100 Toronto 93

Washington 92 Connecticut 84

Indiana 105 Seattle 95

Las Vegas 98 Portland 83

New York 113 Los Angeles 109

----

Wednesday's Schedule

MLB

Philadelphia at Miami, 12:10 p.m.

Arizona at Pittsburgh, 12:35 p.m.

Toronto at Washington, 1:05 p.m.

Baltimore at Detroit, 1:10 p.m.

Atlanta at NY Mets, 1:10 p.m.

Milwaukee at San Francisco, 3:45 p.m.

Colorado at San Diego, 4:10 p.m.

Texas at Tampa Bay, 6:40 p.m.

Cleveland at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m.

Atlanta at NY Mets, 7:10 p.m.

NY Yankees at Chicago White Sox, 7:40 p.m.

Kansas City at Minnesota, 7:40 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 7:45 p.m.

Houston at LA Angels, 9:38 p.m.

Boston at Athletics, 9:40 p.m.

Seattle at LA Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.

----

WNBA

Atlanta at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Golden State at Phoenix, 10 p.m.

The Sarnia Police Service (SPS) is looking for two masked suspects, accused of robbing a business on Wellington Street.

Officers were called to the Mitton Village area just after 12 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28.

Police said a man approached the victim and handed them a violent, and threatening note demanding money from the register.

A woman allegedly walked the victim to the register, made them open it, and stole several hundred dollars in cash.

Police said the suspects took off on foot about 20 minutes later, heading southbound on Wellington Street.

Patrol officers and the Canine Unit were unable to find the accused.

The male suspect was wearing blue shoes, dark shorts, a blue t-shirt, a red/orange hat, and had a green backpack, and a white mask.

A suspect wanted in a robbery at a Wellington St. business in Sarnia - July 28/26 (Photo courtesy of Sarnia Police Service)

The female suspect was wearing a green baseball cap, a black-and-white pinstripe jacket, a black-and-white horizontally striped shirt, black capri pants, red shoes, and a white medical mask.

She was allegedly carrying a folding pocket knife.

Anyone with information about this incident, or who may have doorbell or dashcam videos, is asked to call Sarnia police at 519-344-8861.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com.

Plans to increase the speed limit along a section of Highway 402 in Sarnia have been slightly altered after safety concerns were raised.

The Ford government announced plans in June to increase the highway's speed limit to 110 kilometres per hour from Waterworks Road to 350 metres east of Colborne Road, beginning July 31.

The Point Edward OPP Detachment Board and Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley sent letters to Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria asking to defer the implementation and maintain the existing speed limit until a comprehensive review could be completed.

In a July 27 letter forwarded to Sarnia News Today, the MTO said the highway's unique characteristics were "carefully considered," specifically with the westbound approach to the international border crossing. 

As such, the 110 km/h zone will end west of Blackwell Road, then the 100 km/h zone will begin west of Blackwell Road and end west of Modeland Road, and a new 90 km/h zone will begin west of Modeland Road and end 300 metres east of Colborne Road.

The 70 km/h zone approaching the border will remain 300 metres east of Colborne Road.

Board Chair Greg Grimes said the westbound corridor can sometimes be described as a "parking lot," and the thought of vehicles approaching the area at 110 km/h was a genuine safety concern.

"So having these stepped-down zones from 110 km/h to 100 km/h, to 90 km/h, to 70 km/h will slow traffic down and will ensure it's a safer corridor for both the transport trucks and for our personal vehicles," he said.

Grimes said he has spoken with OPP Insp. Ross Stuart, who is also pleased by the MTO's response.

"He said the OPP will be doing some education and will make sure people are aware of the changes," Grimes said.

For eastbound traffic, the 110 km/h speed limit will begin 300 metres east of Colborne Road.

"The ministry will continue to monitor the operating speeds on Highway 402 and implement any additional improvements, as needed, to support safe travel along the corridor," read the letter signed by Minister Sarkaria.

It's unknown at this time if the westbound speed limit reduction will take place on July 31 as well.

Warning signs were posted at Grand Bend's north beach and Ipperwash main beach on Tuesday, July 28.

Lambton Public Health said E-coli bacteria levels were estimated to exceed Ministry of Health guidelines.

The south beach at Grand Bend, received an all clear for swimming using predictive models.

Following heavy rainfall and high winds, the water at area beaches may be temporarily polluted with high levels of bacteria for up to 48 hours.

The water quality status is updated daily for the popular beaches in Lambton Shores.

You can receive the latest results by texting the keyword: BEACH to 226-909-3003, you can also call the Beach Info Line at 519-383-3816 or toll-free 1-800-667-1839 ext. 3816, or visit LambtonPublicHealth.ca.

Police have identified two suspects accused of stealing $250 worth of groceries from a business in Wyoming.

Lambton OPP said it happened on Friday, July 17, just before 7 p.m.

Police said a man and a woman entered a business on Broadway Street, selected several grocery items and left without paying.

The suspects were last seen leaving the area in a black Chevrolet Malibu.

The first suspect is a white male with short dark hair and various tattoos.

He was wearing a black hat, black and grey Under Amour t-shirt, grey shorts, and black shoes.

The second suspect is a white female with long dark hair, numerous tattoos and was wearing sunglasses on her head and a green romper.

*Police released photos of the suspects, asking for help to identify them. In an update released on July 28, police said the individuals had been identified. OPP thanked the public for help in the ongoing investigation.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Lambton OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can submit a tip through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.sarnialambtoncrimestoppers.org.

You may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.

According to a new survey done by CAA South Central Ontario, almost all Ontario drivers have seen dangerous driving but far fewer admit to it.

The survey, which took into account the last year of driving, showed that 96 per cent of drivers asked stated that they have witnessed some form of dangerous driving over the last year. 78 per cent witnessed speeding, 69 per cent saw aggressive driving, 68 per cent saw unsafe lane changes and 67 per cent witnessed distracted driving.

However, the data flips when drivers were asked if they themselves committed any of these acts. Only 57 per cent admitted to engaging in at least one dangerous driving behaviour. That number rose to 62 per cent among those aged 18-34.

The survey results, released by CAA South Central Ontario on Tuesday, showed that speeding remains the most common dangerous driving behaviour reported by Ontario drivers. More than one-third, or 38 per cent, admit to speeding, with more than half of those drivers saying they typically travel 10 to 19 kilometres an hour above the speed limit

The survey also showed that 87 per cent of drivers support the fines and penalties for speeding, and 37 per cent claim that penalties and fines affected their driving behaviour in the past year.

Additionally, data shows that 16 per cent of drivers in Ontario have been in collisions caused by distracted driving. That figure has been on the rise in recent years, with rear-end crashes being the most common cause of distracted driving.

"Most Ontario drivers can identify dangerous behaviours when they see them, but many don't realize they may be contributing to the problem themselves," said Michael Stewart, community relations consultant with CAA South Central Ontario. "The good news is that small changes in driver behaviour can make a big difference. By slowing down, staying focused and making safe choices behind the wheel, we can help create safer roads for everyone."

On the heels of Sarnia Legion’s record-breaking $4.5 million payout, the Inn of the Good Shepherd is hoping local residents still have a little Catch the Ace fever left in the tank.

Executive Director Jack Christine said week 11 of their Catch the Ace draw goes on Tuesday, July 28.

"What the Legion has done for their whole Catch the Ace was phenomenal," Christine said. "The reaction they got from the community was great as well. Do I think ours is going to be as big as that? Probably not. We've been sort of flying under the radar with our [draw]. We are on a much smaller scale."

Tickets are $5 and will be sold from noon to 7:30 p.m. at Sarnia's BrownStones Restaurant on Finch Drive.

"The progressive pot is an estimated $1,641 and how our draw is slightly different from the Legion's is that we are limited because we only have a municipal license. So, our prize can't exceed $50,000," he said.

He said the live draw is always broadcast on the Inn's Facebook page at 8 p.m. on Tuesday nights.

"The money is going directly into our food bank. We recently reopened the food bank. So, we're going to put the money into buying provisions for the food bank," Christine said.

After restricting access to its food bank in May, the Inn announced in June it had received a $100,000 anonymous donation and would be able to operate for the remainder of the year.

After 45 weeks, the Ace of Spades was caught at Sarnia Legion Branch 62 last Thursday.

Ashley Norton claimed the $4.5 million prize.

MLB

Toronto 3 Washington 2

Baltimore 8 Detroit 5

Texas 7 Seattle 3

Pittsburgh 3 Arizona 2 (10 innings)

Miami 8 Philadelphia 7

Cleveland at Cincinnati (postponed)

NY Mets 14 Atlanta 3

NY Yankees 9 Chicago White Sox 5

Chicago Cubs 7 St. Louis 3

Houston 6 LA Angels 4

Boston 4 Athletics 2

San Francisco 3 Milwaukee 0

---

Tuesday's Schedule

MLB

Cleveland at Cincinnati, 1:40 p.m.

Baltimore at Detroit, 6:40 p.m.

Arizona at Pittsburgh, 6:40 p.m.

Texas at Tampa Bay, 6:40 p.m.

Philadelphia at Miami, 6:40 p.m.

Toronto at Washington, 6:45 p.m.

Atlanta at NY Mets, 7:10 p.m.

Cleveland at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m.

Kansas City at Minnesota, 7:40 p.m.

NY Yankees at Chicago White Sox, 7:40 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 7:45 p.m.

Houston at LA Angels, 9:38 p.m.

Colorado at San Diego, 9:40 p.m.

Boston at Athletics, 9:40 p.m.

Milwaukee at San Francisco, 9:45 p.m.

Seattle at LA Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.

-----

WNBA

Connecticut at Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Toronto at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Indiana at Seattle, 9:30 p.m.

Portland at Las Vegas, 10 p.m.

New York at Los Angeles, 10 p.m.

A Sarnia man is facing weapons charges after a resident awoke to find several bullet holes in their vehicle.

The Sarnia Police Service (SPS) was called to Overlea Crescent at around 8:50 a.m. on Thursday, July 23.

Police said several nearby residents reported hearing a loud noise, believed to be a gunshot, at around 10:40 p.m. the previous evening.

Investigating officers found the damage to the vehicle was consistent with a shotgun discharge, and determined the likely direction of travel of the shot.

Police said wadding and shell components were recovered from the front yard of a nearby residence, which was consistent with a discharged .410-gauge shotgun shell.

A Criminal Code search warrant was executed at the home.

Officers seized six firearms, including a Winchester Model 37A .410 bore shotgun, along with .410-gauge and .22 calibre ammunition.

Investigators also found a spent .410-gauge shotgun shell casing inside the residence.

A 47-year-old Sarnia man was arrested and faces the following charges:

- Discharging firearm with intent

- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose

- Possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order (X8)

- Possession of a firearm without a licence (X6)

- Mischief Under $5,000

Police said they were unable to establish a motive for the incident.

No injuries were reported.

The accused, whose name was not released, remains before the courts.

Guns seized from a residence on Overlea Cres. - July 23/26 (Photo courtesy of Sarnia Police Service)

Lambton OPP are searching for a distinct looking pickup truck that was used in a theft from a Point Edward business.

Police said it happened at around 1 a.m. July 21 on River Front Street, in the area of Bridgeview Marina and Purdy's Fish Market.

A suspect in a navy blue pickup truck, with a red hood and chrome toolbox, allegedly stole a powerboat charging cord, valued at $2,000, and drove off.

A suspect wanted in a theft from a Point Edward business - July 21/26 (Photo courtesy of West Region OPP)

The suspect is described as a white male with a medium build who was wearing a grey sweater.

The investigation is ongoing.

*In an update released on July 28, Lambton OPP said the individual had been identified.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Lambton County OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can submit a tip through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.sarnialambtoncrimestoppers.org.

You may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.

Representative teams within the Sarnia Hockey Association will wear memorial emblems on their jerseys this season in honour of Dane Nisbet, a local hockey player who was tragically killed earlier this year.

Rep. Equipment Director Tom Babcock said the board unanimously approved the idea. "It was a pretty easy decision," he said.

Nisbet, 20, died in April after he was shot outside Lambton College's student pub.

Babcock -- who coached Nisbet and is a family friend -- said Nisbet's mother, Tracy Bennett, sent him a patch design.

Memorial patch honouring Dane Nisbet. July 2026. (submitted image)

"They really appreciated the thought," Babcock said. "We decided on both shoulders would look good and balanced."

Babcock said all 19 representative teams will wear the memorial emblems.

"Our jerseys, they're all sublimated jerseys, so our sponsor logo and their names -- we don't use patches anymore, it's just built right into the jersey," said Babcock.

He also said other teams are welcome to wear a patch or helmet sticker in honour of Nisbet.

"Dane grew up playing in Sarnia hockey in the AA program. He was part of Sarnia hockey all of his playing years until he got up and played U18 AAA and then went on to play junior," Babcock said. "We just thought, being as he played through our rep program, that it was a good way to honour him."

Babcock said Nisbet's death is still being felt within the hockey community.

"There are still players in our program who are Dane's friends and people Dane's been associated with," he said. "Even a couple of coaches who had coached him in the past are still involved in the organization."

Most teams are set to begin practice in September.

The Strathroy-Caradoc Police Service is circulating a photo of a male suspect they would like help identifying.

In a post to social media, police said the man allegedly committed a distraction-style theft of approximately $720 from the Shoppers Drug Mart on Front Street East on July 19.

He is described as six feet tall with a beard and glasses.

At the time of the incident, the man had tattoos on his left cheek and neck but investigators believe they may have been temporary tattoos.

Anyone able to recognize the individual, or with information that may assist investigators, is asked to call the Strathroy-Caradoc Police Service at 519-245-1250.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Four Lambton-Kent students are being recognized by the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) for their academic achievements and commitment to environmental stewardship.

Two of the scholarship recipients attended Northern Collegiate Institute and Vocational School in Sarnia, and two are from Chatham-Kent.

Eliana Severs from Northern and Tyson Lozon from Wallaceburg District Secondary School were awarded the 2026 A.W. Campbell Memorial Scholarship.

Both students will pursue engineering degrees.

The conservation authority said Severs plans to attend Queen's University with aspirations of developing innovative environmental solutions to infrastructure challenges.

Lozon will attend the University of Western Ontario in the fall.

"He hopes to address pressing environmental challenges through the development of sustainable technologies and environmentally responsible designs that will preserve ecosystems and promote responsible resource use," read a media release.

Tyson Lozon is awarded with the A.W. Campbell Memorial Scholarship by St. Clair Region Conservation Authority Chair Greg Grimes. July 2026. (Photo courtesy of the SCRCA)

Meanwhile, Josie Van Dellen, a Wallaceburg resident who attended École secondaire catholique de Pain Court, was awarded the Tony Stranak Conservation Scholarship.

Van Dellen will pursue a degree in wildlife biology and conservation at the University of Guelph.

Josie Van Dellen is awarded with the Tony Stranak Conservation Scholarship by St. Clair Region Conservation Authority Chair Greg Grimes. July 2026. (Photo courtesy of the SCRCA)

Lastly, the Mary Jo Arnold Conservation Scholarship was awarded to Areya Young of Sarnia.

Young will attend the University of Waterloo in the Climate and Environmental Change program.

Areya Young is awarded with the Mary Jo Arnold Conservation Scholarship by St. Clair Region Conservation Authority Chair Greg Grimes. July 2026. (Photo courtesy of the SCRCA)

"These students have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to both academic excellence and environmental stewardship," said SCRCA Chair Greg Grimes in a statement. "Their passion for protecting and enhancing the natural environment gives us confidence in the future of conservation. We are proud to support them as they take the next step in their educational journeys and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have on their communities and beyond."

In total, $3,000 was awarded to students this year.

The scholarships are made possible through trust funds established by the St. Clair Region Conservation Foundation and its donors.

Sarnia residents may hear helicopters in the area this week as military training is conducted.

Members of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command will conduct routine training around Muskoka, Meaford, Bruce Peninsula, Sarnia, and Cockburn Island from July 27 to July 30.

A public service announcement said it will primarily involve low overwater flight training, and people may see or hear up to three CH-146 Griffon helicopters.

The training is scheduled to take place between 3 p.m. and 2 a.m.

The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command thanked communities for their understanding and said efforts will be made to minimize disruptions.

MLB

Boston 6 Toronto 1

Kansas City 5 Detroit 4

Tampa Bay 1 Cleveland 0

Washington 10 Arizona 7

Atlanta 3 Baltimore 2 (11 innings)

Pittsburgh 8 Chicago Cubs 7

NY Mets 8 LA Dodgers 3

San Diego 5 Miami 3

Minnesota 11 Athletics 8

Milwaukee 11 Colorado 2

Chicago White Sox 12 Houston 3

Cincinnati 5 St. Louis 3

Seattle 6 Texas 4

LA Angels 4 San Francisco 3

Philadelphia 11 NY Yankees 4

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CFL

Montreal 31 Hamilton 18

---------

MLB

Monday's Schedule

Seattle at Texas, 2:35 p.m.

Arizona at Pittsburgh, 6:40 p.m.

Baltimore at Detroit, 6:40 p.m.

Philadelphia at Miami, 6:40 p.m.

Toronto at Washington, 6:45 p.m.

Cleveland at Cincinnati, 7:10 p.m.

Atlanta at NY Mets, 7:10 p.m.

NY Yankees at Chicago White Sox, 7:40 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 7:45 p.m.

Houston at LA Angels, 9:38 p.m.

Boston at Athletics, 9:40 p.m.

Milwaukee at San Francisco, 9:45 p.m.

Environment Canada has ended a yellow severe thunderstorm watch for parts of southwestern Ontario.

The alert was put into effect at around 2 p.m. on Sunday and is lasted until around 9 p.m. on Sunday evening.

The alert was in effect for Chatham-Kent, Sarnia-Lambton, and Windsor-Essex.

Huron Shores Area Transit (HSAT) has announced the Route 1 Express service between Sarnia and Grand Bend has discontinued.

Transit Coordinator Susan Mills said the service was introduced to provide additional capacity for international students seeking seasonal work during the summer months.

"For the last several years they were travelling up into the Lambton Shores area for seasonal work and because of that we were putting on extra buses to provide transportation, because the regular bus literally was full when it was leaving Lambton College and Lambton Mall," Mills said.

Ridership exploded in 2024 and buses from Lambton Elderly Outreach were used to keep up with demand, but the number of individuals using the service has fallen over time.

"Since the federal government capped international students, we have seen a huge drop in ridership on Route 1," Mills said. "In 2025, we had 4,000 less rides on Route 1, which included the seasonal service last year, then this year it dropped even further."

Mills emphasized the cancellation, effective July 27, only applies to the seasonal express service.

"The regular bus will still run as scheduled. It's just the extra seasonal express service that's being cancelled," she said. 

Mills believes the regular bus can handle current capacity, but ridership will be closely monitored.

"We have an Express bus that we add to the London to Grand Bend line because of demand. That one is very much day trippers heading out to the beach, and if we need to do that with Route 1 we would certainly consider doing that," she said.

Current schedules and service information can be found at HuronShoresAreaTransit.ca or by contacting Huron Shores Area Transit customer service at 1-888-465-0783.

Local students going to school in the fall are getting a leg up, thanks in part to the Kiwanis Club of Sarnia-Lambton Golden K.

The group has donated $4,000 to the Inn of the Good Shepherd in support of its Back-to-School Backpack program.

The initiative provides backpacks and school supplies to children and youth in need in the community.

The funds come from volunteering through the Jackpot Time Sarnia Bingo program, which is run through the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association.

The Kiwanis Golden K Club also provides a meal once per month at the Inn's soup kitchen and donates apples for the Mobile Market program.

MLB

Kansas City 3, Detroit 2

Arizona 3, Washington 5

LA Angels 2, San Francisco 9

Toronto 6, Boston 0

San Diego 7, Miami 2

NY Yankees 3, Philadelphia 1

Cleveland 0, Tampa Bay 3

Chicago Cubs 11, Pittsburgh 0

Atlanta 2, Baltimore 3

Houston 4, Chicago White Sox 1

Colorado 5, Milwaukee 8

Athletics 0, Minnesota 2

Seattle 1, Texas 7

LA Dodgers 4, NY Mets 3

Cincinnati 0, St. Louis 7

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CFL

Toronto 26, BC 12

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WNBA

All-Star Game

Team Coop 122, Team Spoon 129

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Sunday's Games

MLB

Cleveland at Tampa Bay, 12:15 PM

Arizona at Washington, 1:35 PM

Atlanta at Baltimore, 1:35 PM

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh, 1:35 PM

Toronto at Boston, 1:35 PM

Kansas City at Detroit, 1:40 PM

Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Mets, 1:40 PM

San Diego at Miami, 1:40 PM

Athletics at Minnesota, 2:10 PM

Colorado at Milwaukee, 2:10 PM

Houston at Chicago White Sox, 2:10 PM

Cincinnati at St. Louis, 2:15 PM

Seattle at Texas, 2:35 PM

Los Angeles Angels at San Francisco, 4:05 PM

New York Yankees at Philadelphia, 7:20 PM

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CFL

Hamilton at Montreal, 7 PM

Another local legion is getting ready to celebrate the Royal Canadian Legion's 100th anniversary.

The Forest Legion Branch 176 will host a community celebration on Sunday, July 26, from 12 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, and refreshments will be served.

Guests will also have the chance to learn about what the Legion does to support veterans and their families.

The Royal Canadian Legion was founded on November 25, 1925, during the National Unity Conference in Winnipeg. The Canadian Legion of the British Empire Services League was officially incorporated on July 17, 1926, read the Legion's website.

The Watford Legion recently held its Centenary Celebration from July 16 to July 19.

Meanwhile, the Sarnia Legion Branch 62 will mark 100 years in November.

Hundreds of people are expected to line the St. Clair River shoreline this weekend for the 32nd annual St. Clair River Classic.

Over 50 powerboat teams are expected to participate, featuring Super Stock, Modified V, and Super V teams.

Race practice and qualifiers begin on Saturday, July 25 at 1:15 p.m.

The races will be held on Sunday, July 26 at 12 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m. and 5 p.m. with the awards ceremony at 7 p.m. at the Riverview Plaza Courtyard in Port Huron.

The St. Clair River will be closed to vessel traffic between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday.

If you're on this side of the border, the best area to catch the action is between Mooretown and Courtright.

For more information about the two-day event visit the Blue Water Offshore Racing Association's Facebook page.

Two people have been taken to local hospital after a single-vehicle collision.

Shortly after 2:30 a.m. Saturday, July 25, Sarnia Fire Rescue was called to a home near Poplar Avenue and Evergreen Drive for reports of a vehicle vs structure.

On scene, crews found a vehicle had violently struct the concrete steps of a home.

Two occupants had exited the vehicle and were found conscious but complaining of injuries.

Sarnia Fire said if the vehicle had gone further, a more serious outcome could've occurred as there were people home at the time of the crash.

Crews were able to secure the vehicle, and both occupants were taken to Bluewater Health by EMS for further assessment and treatment.

Sarnia police closed the roadway while an investigation took place. The road was reopened at around 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Friday's Games

MLB

Colorado 5 Milwaukee 2

Detroit 2 Kansas City 1

Chicago Cubs 3 Pittsburgh 2

NY Yankees 1 Philadelphia 0

Arizona 3 Washington 2

Atlanta 7 Baltimore 6

Tampa Bay 11 Cleveland 3

LA Dodgers 4 NY Mets 2

San Diego 4 Miami 2

Boston 6 Toronto 4

Houston 9 Chicago White Sox 5

Texas 5 Seattle 4

Athletics 2 Minnesota 0

Cincinnati 4 St. Louis 2

San Francisco 7 LA Angels 6

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CFL

Calgary 52 Winnipeg 30

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Saturday's Games

MLB

Kansas City at Detroit, 1:10 p.m.

Arizona at Washington, 4:05 p.m.

LA Angels at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.

Toronto at Boston, 4:10 p.m.

San Diego at Miami, 4:10 p.m.

NY Yankees at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

Cleveland at Tampa Bay, 6:10 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh, 6:40 p.m.

Atlanta at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.

Houston at Chicago White Sox, 7:10 p.m.

Colorado at Milwaukee, 7:10 p.m.

Athletics at Minnesota, 7:10 p.m.

Seattle at Texas, 7:15 p.m.

LA Dodgers at NY Mets, 7:15 p.m.

Cincinnati at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m.

---

CFL

Toronto at BC, 7 p.m.

---

WNBA

All-Star Game

Team Coop vs Team Spoon, 8:30 p.m.

Congratulations to Sarnia's Richert Bischoff!

He's the winner of the Bluewater Health Foundation's (BWHF) Dream Ride Lottery, and is taking home a brand-new 2026 BMW X1, courtesy of BMW Sarnia.

General Manager Tim Bamford announced the winner over Facebook Live on Friday afternoon.

Foundation Executive Director Kathy Alexander said the $46,000 raised from the lottery will support diagnostic imaging at Bluewater Health.

The Sarnia site will be getting a second MRI machine, as announced at the foundation's gala in May.

"We're just so grateful for the partnership (with BMW Sarnia)," said Alexander. "It's a longstanding partnership and we're really honoured and proud to be partnering with them once again for this prize. This lottery is much more than just giving out a car, it's about investing in healthcare at Bluewater Health. Every ticket we sold, and we sold out, is being directly reinvested in local healthcare."

Alexander expressed her deep thanks to supporters and volunteers for making the raffle a big success.

Bamford said BMW Sarnia is happy to help with an amazing cause.

Following renovations and installation, the unit is expected to become operational by mid-to-late 2027.

The final cost of the machine won't be known until the RFP (Request for Proposal) process is finalized this fall.

The original MRI machine was purchased about 14 years ago at a cost of nearly $3 million.

The BWHF said the Dream Home Lottery returns this September with another spectacular home to reveal.

Meanwhile, tickets for Sarnia-Lambton Rebound's Wheels of Summer Raffle are still being sold.

Tickets to win a blue Ford Mustang are $100 each and can be purchased through Rebound's website.

Proceeds will support Rebound's 21 programs geared to youth between the ages of eight and 24.

The winning ticket will be drawn on July 29 at 12 p.m. at Sarnia Ford, previously Finch Ford Lincoln.

Fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine were seized in a three month long drug trafficking investigation.

The Anishinabek Police Service (APS) launched the investigation in May, and on Tuesday, July 21, officers stopped a vehicle of interest in Lambton Shores.

During a search, officers seized seven grams of suspected fentanyl and over 50 hydromorphone tablets.

The 57-year-old driver and a 43-year-old passenger, both from Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, were charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Police said the investigation led to the identification of a residence of interest in Sarnia.

With support from the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) Emergency Response Team and the K9 Unit, APS executed a search warrant at the home.

Officers located 97 grams of suspected fentanyl, 101 grams of suspected cocaine, 182 codeine pills, suspected methamphetamine, cell phones, and over 50 .22 calibre rounds.

Two Sarnia men, 54 and 49 years old, face several charges including possession of a schedule one substance for the purpose of trafficking and careless use of a firearm. Both men were released on an undertaking.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the Anishinabek Police Service at 519-727-2525 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

A 45-year-old man accused of stabbing a woman at Centennial Park has been arrested.

Sarnia police said William Gallerno was arrested by OPP officers in Strathroy Thursday evening.

Gallerno was transferred into the custody of the Sarnia Police Service and held for a bail hearing.

Police are thanking the public for their assistance in finding Gallerno, who was wanted on charges of assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, and failure to comply with a release order.

It's alleged Gallerno stabbed a woman in the back of her upper arm at around 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 21. She sustained non-life threatening injuries and was treated at the scene.

Charges against the accused have not been proven in court.

The popular Bluewater Anglers' Walleye Derby gets underway at 6 p.m. Friday night.

Participants can either fish in a boat or on shore.

The Bluewater Anglers Salmon Derby boundaries apply.

Anglers can fish in the St. Clair River south to the south end of Fawn Island, east to the harbor at Grand Bend, and north latitude 43’34” in Lake Huron.

Everybody is eligible to enter, provided you have a valid fishing licence and you have purchased a $10 entry ticket.

If fishing in a group, everybody in the group must have a ticket.

Tickets are available at The Outdoorsman until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 24 or online through the "Donate" link on the Bluewater Anglers website until 5.59 p.m. the same day.

Any money raised will go to support the Bluewater Anglers.

The weigh-in will be at the Hatchery from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, and you must be in line by 2:30 p.m. to have your entries qualify.

We're reminded this is a single fish event and you can only weigh in one walleye.

Prizes will be awarded to the 10 heaviest walleyes, including $500 for first place which was donated by the Village of Point Edward.

A $100 prize will also be given for the biggest fish (by weight) entered by a Bluewater Angler member.

Winners will be announced immediately after completion of the weigh-in.

There will be draw prizes with winners drawn from all Walleye Derby entrants present.

Participants must be present to win a draw prize.

Few changes are anticipated after Aurora-based Environmental 360 Solutions (E360S) recently acquired Sarnia-based Marcotte Disposal Inc. and Transco Recycling Inc.

Marcotte Disposal and Transco Recycling, referred to collectively as Marcotte Disposal in an E360S media release, provide curbside collection and waste transfer services in the Sarnia and Port Huron, Michigan regions.

Originally acquired by Charlie Kaplin, Marcotte Disposal has been run by the Kaplin family since 1993.

"I first had the privilege of meeting Charlie in 2006 when he was considering the future of Marcotte Disposal. At that time, he decided to continue building the business and entrust it to his daughter, Tracey, a decision that speaks to the pride and dedication of the entire Marcotte team," said E360S President and CEO Donato Ardellini in a media release. "I want to sincerely thank Tracey for placing her trust in E360S to carry forward that legacy. We are honoured by the confidence they have shown in our team, and we are committed to building on the strong foundation that Charlie, Theresa, and the entire Marcotte team have created."

Ardellini said the acquisition also marks an important milestone as E360S enters the U.S. market. It currently operates in other Canadian provinces such as Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.

"Together, we look forward to growing our U.S. presence while building on Marcotte’s outstanding legacy and pursuing our vision of becoming North America’s leading and most trusted environmental management company," Ardellini continued.

According to its website, E360S is a vertically integrated provider of waste management, environmental, and recycling and circular-economy services.

A recent post on Marcotte Disposal's Facebook page said the foundation of the company will remain unchanged during the transition.

"As we pass the torch and begin our partnership with the E360S team, we are excited about the opportunities ahead," read Marcotte's Facebook post. "Together, we will continue to build on the legacy that started in 1993 while investing in future growth, innovation, and the same commitment to service you’ve always counted on."

While it's unknown if any changes to the local brand or vehicles will take place, City of Sarnia General Manager of Engineering and Operations David Jackson said it's believed local contacts and staff will remain the same.

"We don't anticipate any significant change to our service or our operation," Jackson told Sarnia News Today. "That's our understanding, while they will become part of the larger company locally, we shouldn't really notice much change."

Sarnia News Today reached out to E360S for an interview but did not receive a response.

Sarnia has a new millionaire!

After 45 weeks, the Ace of Spades was finally caught in the Sarnia Legion Branch 62's Catch the Ace fundraiser.

Ashley Norton was the lucky winner taking home the grand prize of just over $4,511,971.50, which included the weekly prize of $210,266 on top of the $4.3 million progressive jackpot.

Norton's ticket was pulled from the more than 40,000 that were sold on Thursday.

Norton, who works at Imperial Sarnia, selected envelope 31 to unveil the Ace of Spades.

In a post to its Facebook Page, the Sarnia Legion said his first purchase was a round of drinks for the entire bar after receiving his massive cheque with his wife and children by his side.

Catch the Ace winner Ashley Norton, July 23, 2026. Photo courtesy of the Sarnia Legion via Facebook.

Money raised from the lottery will benefit local charities and community groups, while helping fund further improvements to the Front Street Legion.

The weekly fundraiser grew to a community event every Thursday with thousands lining up around the Legion to get their tickets, some as early as 5 a.m.

Food and donation drives were added over the last several weeks, collecting goods for local organizations such as the Salvation Army, the Inn of the Good Shepherd, BGC Sarnia-Lambton, Sarnia-Lambton Rebound and the Sarnia and District Humane Society.

Past President Les Jones told the crowd gathered at the Legion that they will be launching another Catch the Ace fundraiser in the near future.

Hundreds of cyclists, volunteers, and supporters will take to the roads this weekend for the annual MS Bike from Grand Bend to London.

Community Fundraising Lead Sierra Mota said the cycling tour, from Saturday July 25 to Sunday July 26, brings together community members from across the region to ride in support of those living with multiple sclerosis (MS).

"The start and finish line is at Grand Bend Motorplex," said Mota. "It starts at 7:30 a.m. and riders will cycle between 79.2 and 184.2 kilometres over the two days, depending on the routes that they choose."

By the middle of this week, Mota said 460 participants had registered.

"There is absolutely still time to register," she said. "Registration remains open until the weekend. So, everyone is encouraged to sign up, if they're thinking about joining us, as soon as possible."

Cyclists participate in the MS Bike from Grand Bend to London. Submitted photo.

Mota said they've set an ambitious fundraising target of $885,000 this year.

"We're thrilled to share that so far we've raised just over $599,000, which is an incredible achievement and a testament to the dedication of our riders, volunteers, supporters and sponsors," Mota said.

Proceeds from the ride go directly toward funding critical research, expanding community support programs, and driving advocacy work to improve the quality of life for people living with MS.

Weather forecasts are being actively monitored leading up to the event, and Mota said if the presence of wildfire smoke heightens again, Government of Canada Air Quality Health Index guidelines will be followed to ensure participant safety.

"If air quality conditions require changes to be made to event, we will directly notify participants ahead of time," Mota said.

The Southwestern Ontario ride is one of 11 signature MS Bike events taking place across Canada over a four-month period.

Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is calling for more new donors and more consistent donations after a major decrease in the national blood supply.

Since June 1, the national blood supply has seen a 20 per cent decrease according to CBS. Community Development Manager Marisa Gatfield says there needs to be a major uptick in donation appointments to allow the supply to catch up to demand.

"Nationally we need around 18,000 appointments to be filled each week across the country and there's been a shortfall of about 1,500-2,500 appointments over the past several weeks," Gatfield explained.

While CBS always anticipates and preps for a downturn in appointments for blood donations in the summer, this year has seen an even steeper drop off than usual.

"The appointment bookings have fallen well below what we would usually expect. So despite our usual recruitment efforts and a larger donor base than this time last year, the result is fewer donations are coming in," Gatfield stressed.

Gatfield says that has a big cause and effect nationally for the healthcare sector.

"What this means is we've had to draw down our inventory. So yes, we are asking for those that are eligible to donate, or someone who has thought about donating or is considering it, to book that appointment," she stated with some urgency.

Blood donations are critical for the healthcare sector because the donations of blood and plasma, as well as platelets, support so many different areas of treatments.

"Whether it be trauma, surgeries, people going through cancer treatments, burn victims, people with auto-immune diseases, blood donations help all of these people. There are individuals that require blood and blood products on a regular basis to sustain life," Gatfield pointed out.

There is a nationwide call for new donors. Finding out if you're eligible to donate, and setting up a donation appointment, is a very simple process. You can visit Blood.ca, download the GiveBlood app or call 1-888-2-DONATE to set up an appointment and find out more about the process and what to expect.

MLB

San Diego 5 Atlanta 6

Minnesota 3 Cleveland 1

Tampa Bay 1 Toronto 3 

Arizona 10 St. Louis 6

Kansas City 3 Detroit 4

---

CFL

Edmonton 36 Saskatchewan 34

---

Friday's Games

MLB

Colorado at Milwaukee, 4:10 p.m.

Kansas City at Detroit, 6:40 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh, 6:40 p.m.

NY Yankees at Philadelphia, 6:45 p.m.

Arizona at Washington, 6:45 p.m.

Atlanta at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.

Cleveland at Tampa Bay, 7:10 p.m.

LA Dodgers at NY Mets, 7:10 p.m.

San Diego at Miami, 7:10 p.m.

Toronto at Boston, 7:15 p.m.

Houston at Chicago White Sox, 7:40 p.m.

Seattle at Texas, 8:05 p.m.

Athletics at Minnesota, 8:10 p.m.

Cincinnati at St. Louis, 8:15 p.m.

LA Angels at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

---

CFL

Calgary at Winnipeg, 8:30 p.m.

An investigation launched by the Windsor Police Service 18 months ago has led to the seizure of more than $139 million of illegal drugs and the arrest of 21 people.

The seizure is believed to be the largest, by weight, in a single investigation in Ontario history.

The investigation, named Project Bay, was a multi-jurisdictional operation that included the Canada Border Service Agency, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Toronto Police Service, the Peel Regional Police, and U.S. agencies Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

"A key finding of the investigation was the identification of a broker-style transportation model operating within the commercial transportation sector," said OPP Detective Superintendent Andy Bradford. "Investigators identified a network coordinating the movement and distribution of large quantities of drugs through otherwise legitimate supply chains."

Between June 25 and July 20, homes in Windsor, Corunna, LaSalle, Brampton, Kleinburg, Markham and Caledon were searched in connection with the investigation.

The following items were seized throughout the course of the investigation:

• 973 kg suspected cocaine

• 660 kg suspected methamphetamine

• 49 kg opium

• 230 oxycodone tablets (5mg)

• 17 firearms, including an anti-tank rifle

• Ammunition

• Prohibited devices and weapons including brass knuckles, magazines and baton

• C$80,000

• US$10,000

• One vehicle as offence-related property

• High-end jewellery

• Money counters

• 43 cell phones and six laptops

There are two suspects, believed to live in Windsor, still outstanding.

A total of 1.7 tonnes of illegal drugs were seized, a large portion of which was seized by the CBSA at the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia.

"The intelligence that we've gathered from these seizures has helped us, not only in these communities, but across Canada," said Michael Prosia, CBSA Regional Director General. "The intelligence that we feed from this investigation will help make intelligence-led referrals at other ports of entry across the country to further disrupt these networks."

Law enforcement officials concede that while this is one of the most significant seizures in a single investigation in Ontario, these networks are complex and continue to pose a threat.

"The scope of this drug trafficking network extends into the southwestern United States, and we continue to work with our American partners, in this case the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, to share intelligence and enforcement information to bring those people to justice," said Bradford.

Windsor Police Chief Jason Crowley said the most important thing is that these drugs and guns no longer pose a threat to people in the community.

"The drugs in this room are not ending up in the hands of our community's vulnerable population. The firearms in this room are not sowing chaos in our communities. And because of Project Bay we will see fewer lives destroyed and fewer families torn apart," said Crowley.

On this week's episode of Sarnia Lambton Beyond the Headlines, Josh Boyce chats with Lambton College Firefit Team Co-Coach Shane Bettridge. The squad recently competed in the first regional event of 2026 at Lambton College and has high hopes for the year.

Sarnia's Chase Capes has been named to Team Canada for the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships.

The event will take place from August 5 to 9 at the legendary Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

The venue is often referred to as the “Cathedral of Track and Field.”

The St. Patrick's High School student will compete in the 1,500 metre race as the reigning Canadian U20 Champion. He won the June event with a time of 3:49.60.

This is also the second time this year Capes will represent Canada after competing at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in January.

He placed 37th overall in the U20 men's race, with a time of 26:03.

The Sarnia Athletics Southwest Track & Field Club is selling lawn signs (for a minimum $40 donation) to decorate the community and show support for Capes.

Proceeds will support the club and the dedicated volunteer coaches.

You can email Board of Directors Vice Chair Scott Smith at ssmithsfh@gmail.com to place an order and arrange delivery.

The Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park plans to have its new board of directors in place by early next year as it looks to attract new tenants and meet economic development goals.

Recruitment efforts started in June.

Executive Director Dr. Katherine Albion said the research park received strong interest from the community in response to the call for applications.

Albion said the new directors will be appointed in late 2026 to have the new board in place in early January 2027.

"The research park board provides us with strategic leadership, fiduciary oversight, and ensures that the research park fulfills the economic development goals of Sarnia-Lambton," Albion previously told Sarnia News Today.

There are currently five ex officio members on the board, and they wanted to add four new directors to serve a term of up to three years.

Albion said they were specifically looking at candidates with strong business skillsets and experience.

Meanwhile, the research park's occupancy rate increased earlier this year and currently sits at about 71 per cent.

"We had a new tenant move into the research park recently and we've also recently had three of our current tenants expand on site," Albion said.

The research park is rolling out a new marketing plan to attract new tenants.

"We have new ads that are being run across the region, and we are continuing to pursue new opportunities with companies who have expressed interest in leasing at the park," she said. "We have some primary real estate space -- office space currently available."

The research park has faced financial problems in recent years as many tenants adopted a hybrid-work-from-home model in 2023.

During the 2026 budget deliberations, the County of Lambton Community Development Corporation was approved $845,603 to accommodate the research park's short-term needs, as well as $653,156 in grant funding.

Sarnia and Point Edward have received first quarter gaming revenue payments from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

The money is given to cities across the province that host casinos.

Sarnia has received $83,437 for hosting Gateway Casinos Sarnia for the period of April 1 to June 30.

Since the gaming site opened in May 1999, Sarnia has received $28,497,414.

Point Edward is getting $420,711 and has received $55,912,074 since the Starlight Casino opened in April 2000.

“Revenues from OLG’s Municipality Contribution Agreement allow Sarnia and Point Edward to invest in infrastructure and provide funding for critical community services,” said Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey in a news release. “Provincial revenues from Gateway Casinos Sarnia and Starlight Casino Point Edward will help improve the quality of life for families across Ontario.”

The OLG said the payments are based on a formula consistently applied across all gaming sites in Ontario using a graduated scale of gaming revenue at the hosted site.

Since 1994, host communities have received more than $2.4 billion in non-tax gaming revenue.

Six students from Great Lakes Secondary School (GLSS) have received the 2026 Anne McFadyen Scholarships.

McFadyen was the first woman to serve as President of the Lambton Law Association and later as a respected judge of the Ontario Court of Justice.

Established through the generosity of Anne’s husband, George, the Sarnia Community Foundation, and Great Lakes Secondary School, the scholarships recognize students who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, and financial need.

“Each of these students has made a meaningful impact on our school community,” said GLSS Principal Nathan Jeffrey. “The Anne McFadyen Scholarships not only support their next steps, but also honour their dedication, character, and commitment to excellence. We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and the opportunities it creates for our graduates.”

The scholarships are valued at $15,000 each and support students as they pursue secondary education.

“These scholarships reflect the power of community partnerships and the belief that investing in young people creates lasting impact,” said Lambton Kent District School Board Superintendent of Education Ben Hazzard. “We are proud of these students and grateful for the generosity that makes opportunities like this possible.”

Recipients include Jayla Judson, who will be attending Wilfrid Laurier University for Health Sciences; Joel Derkzen, who is set to attend Western University for Mechanical Engineering; Jacob Mills, who will be attending University of Windsor for Honours Criminology; Kaelyn McArthur, who will attending Western University for Kinesiology; Olivia Courtney, who will be aAttending Redeemer University for Psychology; and Katie Brooks, who is going to Western University for Social Science.

Sarnia police have identified a suspect accused of stabbing a woman at Centennial Park on Monday afternoon.

It happened at around 4:30 p.m., near the end of George Street.

William Gallerno, 45, is wanted on charges of assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, and failure to comply with a release order.

Police said the female victim was approached by a man who looked distressed and offered him the use of a bench.

It's alleged the suspect became agitated, walked behind the victim, and stabbed her in the back of her upper arm.

He took off before police arrived and officers were unable to locate him.

The woman sustained non-life threatening injuries and was treated at the scene.

Based on camera footage from nearby businesses, police were able to identify a suspect. They said he now has shorter hair than in his previous mugshot photo.

Police said if you see Gallerno, or have information leading to his whereabouts, call 911.

Don't approach him, maintain a safe distance and contact police immediately.

Tips can also submit tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or visit p3tips.com.

UPDATE: Gallerno was arrested in Strathroy on the evening of July 23.

William Gallerno, 45, wanted by Sarnia police in connection with a stabbing at Centennial Park - July 20/26 (Photo courtesy of Sarnia Police Service)

The Sarnia Legion's Catch the Ace Lottery has reached a new milestone heading into week 45, with an estimated $4.1 million up for grabs.

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 62 Past President Les Jones previously said he never expected the progressive jackpot to grow this much.

Last week's Catch the Ace draw was cancelled due to poor air quality and heavy smoke caused by wildfires in northwestern Ontario.

There are only eight envelopes left.

Ticket sales will begin at 12 p.m. at the Front Street Legion and will end at 7:30 p.m.

As part of a partnership between the Legion and City of Sarnia, a free shuttle bus will continuously travel between Christina Street and the Centennial Park parking lots from 12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to alleviate traffic congestion and parking concerns.

Free parking will also be available in nearby city/county lots after 4:30 p.m.

Over the past several weeks, lottery participants have been asked to drop off donations at the Legion for organizations such as the Salvation Army, the Inn of the Good Shepherd, BGC Sarnia-Lambton, Sarnia-Lambton Rebound, The Centre, and the Sarnia and District Humane Society.

On Thursday, July 23, donations will be collected in support of the YMCA Jerry McCaw Family Centre Sarnia and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sarnia-Lambton.

The organizations are seeking items such as craft kits, board games, grocery gift cards, snacks, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper and paper towels. A full list can be found on the Sarnia Legion's Facebook page.