Border officials at the Blue Water Bridge have seized nearly $6.6 million worth of contraband nicotine products from commercial shipments within a three day span.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said the separate shipments all arrived from the U.S.

In an email to Sarnia News Today, a CBSA spokesperson said border officers seized approximately 61,758 nicotine vapes from a commercial driver, worth around $2.77 million, on August 7.

On August 10, border officers seized 570 kilograms of nicotine pouches from a commercial driver, valued at approximately $835,200.

Also on August 10, officers seized about $2.98 million worth of nicotine pouches from a commercial driver.

The CBSA said in these cases, the products were seized with no terms of release. It's unknown if charges are anticipated. The investigations are ongoing.

A 17-year-old accused of causing disturbances at two separate businesses in Watford is facing several charges.

Lambton OPP was called to an unspecified business on August 16, shortly after 6 a.m. As part of the investigation, the youth was arrested and charged with theft under $5,000 and mischief.

The youth was released from police custody with a future court date.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., it's alleged the teen was involved in another disturbance reported at a separate business. As a result, they were charged with failure to comply with an undertaking, mischief, theft under $5,000, and committing an indecent act in a public place.

The accused was again released from police custody.

Police were called back to a business shortly after 7 p.m. when the teen allegedly returned to the site.

The youth was arrested again and charged with failure to comply with an undertaking.

They were held for a bail hearing and released from police custody.

Their identity has not been released as it's protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).

Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to contact Lambton OPP at 1-888-310-1122, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

MLB

Toronto 5 Tampa Bay 1

St. Louis 10 Cincinnati 9

San Francisco 2 Cleveland 5

Athletics 2 Kansas City 6

Atlanta 2 Chicago White Sox 0

Seattle 4 Milwaukee 7

NY Yankees 6 Baltimore 1

Washington 0 Texas 2

LA Angels 18 Houston 3

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CFL

Ottawa 16 Montreal 46

---

NFL Preseason

Las Vegas 22 Houston 20

San Francisco 41 LA Chargers 17

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WNBA

Indiana 85 Dallas 91

Atlanta 12 Los Angeles 88

Connecticut 78 Las Vegas 101

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Friday's Games

MLB

Atlanta at Milwaukee, 4:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Philadelphia, 6:40 p.m.

Toronto at NY Yankees, 7:05 p.m.

Washington at Miami, 7:10 p.m.

San Francisco at Boston, 7:10 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Baltimore, 7:15 p.m.

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

Athletics at Houston, 8:10 p.m.

Detroit at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m.

LA Angels at Texas, 8:15 p.m.

Cleveland at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

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

Cincinnati at Arizona, 9:40 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Seattle, 10:10 p.m.

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

---

CFL

Winnipeg at Edmonton, 9:30 p.m.

---

NFL Preseason

NY Jets at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Carolina at Jacksonville, 7:30 p.m.

Green Bay at Denver, 9 p.m.

---

WNBA

Minnesota at Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Golden State at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

Portland at Toronto, 10:00 p.m.

Lambton County OPP have arrested two people in connection with a dispute in Grand Bend this past weekend.

Officers responded at around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday to a business on Main Street near Woodward Avenue. Police learned that a dispute between a customer and an employee became heated, ending with the employee being assaulted.

A 23-year-old Mississauga man is charged with assault.

As the investigation progressed, the OPP also arrested a 62-year-old Grand Bend man for obstructing a peace officer.

Both have been released from custody with court dates scheduled for late September in Sarnia.

With fresh paint drying and landscaping about to get underway, a 50-unit affordable housing development in Sarnia is gearing up to open its doors to local residents this fall.

The three-storey, Kathleen Avenue Housing Project, is being constructed at 471 Kathleen Avenue by the County of Lambton.

Housing Services Manager Melisa Johnson said construction has moved along quickly, with a lot of cosmetic imperfections being touched up now.

"On the first floor they're almost done the interior of the units, we're at the deficiency stage," she said. "Second floor we should be doing deficiencies later this week and then [on the] third floor we should be starting next week with deficiencies. Then they'll be moving into the interior common spaces as they work their way out of the building."

Johnson said some significant changes will be noticed on the outside of the property soon.

"On the exterior, the curbs and sidewalks are in, the parking lot will be paved next week, then they'll be doing some site grading and you'll start seeing some landscaping happening on site," Johnson said.

Right now, she said the project is expected to be completed on time and on budget.

"We are anticipating that we'll get occupancy from the city, so from the planning side, in September and we'll have our first tenants move in either late October or early November," she said.

All of the units are one bedroom rent geared-to-income apartments, including 14 supported by March of Dimes.

"We have started the rent selection process," Johnson said. "So, working with March of Dimes on their selection, as well as starting to call people on the waitlist to see if they're interested in the project. So, lots happening and we're super excited to be at this finish line and hoping to see people move in, in the next eight weeks or so."

The interior of an apartment at the Kathleen Avenue Housing Project. July, 2026. Photo courtesy of the County of Lambton via Facebook.

The full reconstruction, including road, water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer, of Kathleen Avenue has yet to delay any work on the building.

"We have been working very closely with the city, and our contractor has been working very closely with the city's contractor, to try and mitigate any possible delays in terms of access to the site," Johnson said. "There's no guarantees that there won't be some minor delays, but we're all working very closely together to make sure that both projects are completed in a timely manner."

According to the County of Lambton's monthly homelessness data, there were 338 unhoused individuals in July, up from 316 in June.

The monthly stats showed that while 21 exited homelessness, 57 became newly homeless or re-entered the system after some time. Also, 14 individuals gained housing through local programs.

Investigators are hoping a newly established tip line will help in an ongoing fraud investigation concerning London's hospital network.

The London Police Service launched an investigation in October 2024 after London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) brought forward allegations of fraudulent financial activity.

OPP and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) -- a dedicated initiative led by OPP and the Ministry of the Attorney General -- have joined the investigation due to its complexity and the specialized resources required.

"Information from the public can be critical in complex fraud investigations. We encourage anyone who may have information to come forward, no matter how minor it may seem," said SFO and OPP Det. Supt. Jennifer Spurrell in a media release. "Even small details can play an important role in advancing the investigation."

Anyone with information is asked to call the dedicated tip line at 1-844-677-9413, London police at 519-661-5670 or OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

Local kids are being invited to tune up their road safety skills before hitting the pavement this school year.

The workshop, in partnership with the Sarnia Police Service, is part of the First Five Kids Summer Workshop Series put on by the First Five Team at the West Lambton Community Health Centre.

"We know families are busy, and we know kids learn best when they engage and have fun. So we wanted to bring this educational opportunity directly into the community. That's why we partnered with the police," said First Five Program spokesperson Sarah Neve.

The event is to encourage kids to learn about road and bike safety before heading into the new school year. Kids will learn the rules of biking on roadways and how to wear helmets properly.

"Kids will have a chance to get to interact with a police officer and learn about road safety in a way that's engaging and age-appropriate. There will be a slideshow, and the children are welcome to bring their bikes. And there's an opportunity for them to ask questions and learn some practical things they can take with them with regards to bike and road safety," said Neve.

The event is aimed at young children, but the whole family is welcome.

"It's always fun to encourage families to come out, learn something new, and participate in this whole series for the summer. We actually have one more workshop coming up to wrap up the summer series. The last one will be on August 27th. It will be here at the West Lambton Community Health Center with the Sarnia Fire and Rescue.

The bike and road safety workshop begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 21 at the Log Cabin at Canatara Park. Registration is encouraged.

More details can be found on the Lambton Family Hub website.

On Thursday, August 20, A&W restaurants across the country are hosting their annual Burgers to Beat MS day, donating $2 from every Teen Burger sold directly to MS Canada.

Since its inception in 2008, the popular fundraiser has raised over $23 million to support vital research, treatment, and care for those living with multiple sclerosis.

Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world.

According to Health Canada, roughly 290 out of every 100,000 Canadian adults live with the condition, with women accounting for seven out of ten cases.

"On average, someone in Canada is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) every two hours," read the MS Canada website. 

You can can also donate to MS Canada by rounding up your bill at A&W, donating in restaurants, through the A&W App, online at BurgersToBeatMS.ca, or by adding a donation when ordering on UberEats, SkipTheDishes and DoorDash.

MLB

Toronto 6 Tampa Bay 7

Detroit 3 Pittsburgh 4

San Diego 2 NY Mets 4

Atlanta 4 Minnesota 6

Chicago White Sox 3 Chicago Cubs 0

Arizona 7 Boston 6

Miami 1 Philadelphia 4

NY Yankees 5 Baltimore 3

St. Louis 4 Cincinnati 5

San Francisco1 Cleveland 0

Seattle 7 Milwaukee 5

Athletics 7 Kansas City 9

Washington 6 Texas 0

LA Angels 2 Houston 3

LA Dodgers 6 Colorado 4

---

MLS

Columbus 1 Montreal 2

Toronto 3 Charlotte 3

Philadelphia 2 Inter Miami 2

Vancouver 0 Houston Dynamo 1

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WNBA

Toronto 82 Washington 93

Minnesota 77 Golden State 66

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Thursday's Games

MLB

St. Louis at Cincinnati, 12:40 p.m.

San Francisco at Cleveland, 1:10 p.m.

Toronto at Tampa Bay, 1:10 p.m.

Athletics at Kansas City, 2:20 p.m.

Atlanta at Chicago White Sox, 2:10 p.m.

Seattle at Milwaukee, 2:10 p.m.

NY Yankees Baltimore, 6:35 p.m.

Washington at Texas, 8:05 p.m.

LA Angels at Houston, 8:10 p.m.

---

CFL

Ottawa at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

---

NFL Preseason

Las Vegas at Houston, 8 p.m.

San Francisco at LA Chargers, 10 p.m.

---

WNBA

Indiana at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Atlanta at Los Angeles, 10 p.m.

Connecticut at Las Vegas 10 p.m.

No injuries are reported after an SUV slammed into a home in Sarnia Wednesday night.

Sarnia Fire Rescue, Lambton EMS and Sarnia police responded to a home on Indian Road North between Errol Road and Michigan Avenue at around 7 p.m.

A vehicle had struck a home, but fire officials say luckily the two residents inside the home an two people in the vehicle were not hurt.

Sarnia Fire Rescue were on scene until about 9 p.m. and a section of Indian Road North was closed to traffic for a few hours.

Further details, including a damage estimate, were not immediately available.

With files from Tamara Thornton

A police investigation that lasted several months has led to the seizure of $1.28 million worth of drugs, guns, and stolen property and the arrest of three people.

The multi-jurisdiction drug trafficking investigation began in April after provincial police identified suspected drug trafficking activity affecting the Walpole Island First Nation community.

"On July 17th of this year, members of the Lambton County OPP Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), supported by other specialized OPP units and frontline officers from across West Region, executed search warrants at two residences in the City of London. As a result of this investigation, police seized substantial quantities of suspected fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Investigators also recovered multiple firearms, five stolen vehicles, Canadian currency, and additional evidence consistent with drug trafficking. Three individuals from the City of London have been charged with numerous offences," said OPP Acting Chief Superintendent Andrea Quenneville.

$1.28M in drugs, guns and stolen property seized in months long investigation. Photo from West Region OPP.

Members from the OPP's Essex, Elgin-Middlesex, Huron-Perth, Wellington, Brant-Oxford, Grey Bruce, and Lambton-Middlesex CSCUs, as well as uniform members, West Region Tactics and Rescue Unit, Emergency Response Team, Canine Unit, Clandestine Laboratory Investigative Response Team (CLIRT), and the Urban Search and Rescue CBRNE Team, were all involved in the operation.

Police believe the outcome of the investigation has led to the disruption of a significant drug trafficking operation, and the removal of dangerous substances and firearms from communities.

$1.28M in drugs, guns and stolen property seized in months long investigation. Photo from West Region OPP.

"The total seizures are approximately 15.3 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.7 kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of methamphetamine, four loaded prohibited handguns, five stolen re-vinned vehicles, approximately $20,000 in Canadian currency, with an estimated street-level value of approximately $1.2 million," said OPP Acting Detective Superintendent Andy Bradford. "To put today's seizures into perspective, investigators seized more than 15 kilograms of fentanyl. Based on common street-level quantities, that amount had the potential to generate over 150,000 potentially lethal street-level doses. That is enough to impact communities far beyond a single municipality, and that is exactly why CSCU investigations matter."

Police held a media conference on Wednesday, August 19, where they shared details about the investigation, and Walpole Island First Nation Chief Leela Thomas commended the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies.

"The scale of this operation demonstrates the importance of cooperation and information sharing among police services and federal agencies in disrupting organized criminal activity. The safety and well-being of our community remain one of our highest priorities. We recognize and appreciate the tremendous work undertaken by all of the agencies and officers involved in this coordinated effort," said Thomas. " The seizure of illegal drugs on this scale represents a significant disruption to criminal networks involved in the movement and distribution of illicit substances. It also reinforces the importance of continued collaboration between First Nation police services, municipal police agencies, provincial and federal law enforcement, and border authorities."

The accused, 27-year-old Saad Khan, 28-year-old Saleh Khan, and 28-year-old Fathima Ahamed Fahim, face numerous charges including possession of property obtained by crime, trafficking and firearm-related offences.

Police continue to investigate the origin of the drugs seized and the scope of the network that distributed them.

$1.28M in drugs, guns and stolen property seized in months long investigation. Photo from West Region OPP.

$1.28M in drugs, guns and stolen property seized in months long investigation. Photo from West Region OPP.

There's now a race for the mayors seat in the Village of Point Edward.

Current councillor Paul Burgess filed his nomination papers on Monday, August 17.

"The village has been home to my family for over a century," Burgess said in an announcement to local media. "It has fostered fond memories of what it truly means to be a part of a community and something bigger than oneself. From my late father Bill serving on the fire department for 25 years, my son currently serving on the fire department for the past five years, marrying my wife Erica 24 years ago at St. Paul's Church, attending Bridgeview school as my father and children did; the village is truly a special place that I hold dear to my heart."

Burgess was first elected to council in 2014.

He's running against Deputy Mayor Greg Grimes who filed his nomination papers back in May.

Current mayor Bev Hand has not yet indicated if she is seeking another term in the fall.

The deadline to file nomination papers for the October 26 election is 2 p.m. on Friday, August 21.

A substantial amount of cocaine and meth was seized in a recent drug bust in Sarnia.

On August 10, members of the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) Emergency Response Team (ERT), K9 Unit, and drug unit executed a search warrant at a home on Confederation Line near Mandaumin Road.

During the search of the home and a vehicle, police seized 176 grams of cocaine, 133 grams of methamphetamine, drug trafficking paraphernalia, $27,270 in Canadian currency and a loaded .40 caliber Glock 27 handgun.

Police said two men were taken into custody without incident.

A 35-year-old from Scarborough is charged with numerous firearms-related offences, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and possession of cocaine and crystal methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.

A 52-year-old from Sarnia is also charged with possession of cocaine and crystal methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.

Both men were held in custody pending a bail hearing.

The number of campsites at Pinery Provincial Park has been reduced, as the Grand Bend site is brought up to current Ontario Parks management standards.

Previously, there were over 1,000 campsites at the provincial park.

In an email to Sarnia News Today, Park Superintendent Mark Custers said a total of 52 campsites in a sensitive ecological area were removed following the 2025 season.

"No further campsite reductions are planned, and work is underway to relocate a portion of the impacted sites to other development zones within the park," said Custers.

The province is updating the existing Pinery Provincial Park Management Plan, which includes proposed zoning changes to support sewage treatment infrastructure.

Custers said public comments on the plan were collected over a 45-day period, which concluded on August 17.

"Comments are being reviewed alongside feedback from Indigenous communities and local stakeholders, which will help inform next steps regarding the Pinery Provincial Park Management Plan," he said.

Old Ausable Channel at Pinery Provincial Park. (File photo by Melanie Irwin, Blackburn Media)

Other proposed changes in the plan include Burley Bridge water control structure upgrades, an addition to the development zone to accommodate an upgraded trailer sanitation station, and a proposed policy prohibiting motorboats in the Old Ausable Channel (OAC) with upgraded access points for motorless crafts.

According to the Pinery Provincial Park's website, the park established in 1957, also offers 10 walking trails, a 14-kilometre bike trail and 38 kilometres of groomed ski trails.

Lights, camera, laughter — Kettle Point Productions will roll out the red carpet this Saturday, August 22 for the long-awaited premiere of its new Indigenous comedy series, Rez Cops.

Writer and Director Leigh George said the entire six part series will be shown at the Kettle Point Pow Wow Grounds, or in the gymnasium at Hillside School if it rains.

"We were talking to one of our relatives about their experiences working with the police, and we found that their stories were so funny that we thought 'wow, this could actually work as a story,'" George said.

But, the idea faded until a producer friend tipped them off to an international media event in Alberta, prompting them to shoot their first sketch within 24 hours.

"We grabbed my nephews and talked them into improving a little comedy sketch that we called Rez Cops," George said. "Three months later, the Banff [World Media Festival] calls up and said 'hey, you got selected to pitch your project here in Banff.' So, we went out there and pitched it around and eventually Ontario Arts Council decided to give us a grant to produce the pilot."

George said it quickly turned into a community project, with local residents acting in the series and businesses providing financial support.

They also secured a Creative County Grant from the County of Lambton.

Cast and crew members from a new Indigenous comedy series called Rez Cops. Courtesy of Christina Clark of Kettle Point Productions.

"Everyone wanted to be a part of it. Chief and council said, 'yeah, absolutely, you can use our office as your police precinct,'" he said.

George said they were just going to post the series online.

"That was the original intent, for YouTube, but we have had an invitation from APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) to apply to put it on their streaming platform which is called APTN+. So, we're not exactly sure where it's going to live right now," he said.

George said the series was filmed last summer.

"We had actors from Walpole Island, Serpent River [First Nation], and lots and lots of people from Kettle Point to help bring this vision to fruition," he said. "We did all the post [production] ourselves. We did our own sound design, our own graphic design."

He said the event begins at 6:30 p.m. with food vendors and live entertainment.

"We're hoping for good weather," said George. "We have Odawa Wiingushk coming down from Manitoulin [Island], we have Brothers Wilde, but the big one is we have Mr. Sauga who has a very unique hip hop/blues sound, and I'm just looking forward to it."

The premiere is planned to start at around 9 p.m.

Tourism Sarnia-Lambton (TSL) has launched its Cheers to the Coast Passport Program.

The initiative aims to showcase over a dozen craft beverage producers across Lambton County.

"We just want to encourage everyone to go out and discover all the amazing craft beverage producers that we have in Lambton County. Whether it's your first time to one of them or it's a return visit, there's always something new to experience," said TSL Interim Executive Director Adam Veen.

Participants can pick up a passport at any of the 14 participating locations; the more places you visit, the more prizes you can win.

"They just have to stop into one of the locations in Lambton County. All of them have passports available. You make a purchase and collect your first stamp and your passport, and then from there you can travel around the county and visit each location, collect your stamp, and then you get rewarded at certain points as you fill your card up," said Veen

The 14 Cheers to the Coast locations are Two Water Brewing Co, Imperial City Brewhouse, River Run Brew Co, Refined Fool Brewing Co, Point Brewing Company, Black Gold Brewery, Munro Honey & Meadery, Alton Farms Estate Winery, Stonepicker Brewing Company, Widder Station Bar & Grill, Shale Ridge Estate Winery, Twin Pines Orchards, Grand Bend Stirling Sands Vineyards, and Torched Brewing Company.

"This is going to go on while supplies last, so we didn't put an end date on it. If it picks up and gets momentum, we'll extend the program. So we just want to give a little bit of extra support to our craft beverage industry, and so it's going to be an ongoing program for right now. And we'll see how long it lasts. Hopefully, into the Christmas season."

Participants who complete their passport will receive a $10 TSL gift certificate that can be used at more than 200 local businesses.

MLB

Toronto 10 Tampa Bay 5

Detroit 1 Pittsburgh 4

NY Yankees 3 Baltimore 1

San Francisco 1 Cleveland 8

St. Louis 3 Cincinnati 0

Miami 4 Philadelphia 6 

Arizona 4 Boston 9

San Diego 5 NY Mets 2

Athletics 3 Kansas City 4

Seattle 0 Milwaukee 22

Atlanta 1 Minnesota 4

Chicago White Sox 3 Chicago Cubs 4

Washington 0 Texas 5

LA Angels 3 Houston 1

LA Dodgers 7 Colorado 6

---

WNBA

Indiana 101 Toronto 95

Los Angeles 77 Connecticut 85

Atlanta 97 Las Vegas 82

New York 86 Chicago 93

---

Wednesday's Games

MLB

Detroit at Pittsburgh, 12:35 p.m.

San Diego at NY Mets, 1:10 p.m.

Atlanta at Minnesota, 1:40 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

Arizona at Boston, 4:10 p.m.

Miami at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

NY Yankees at Baltimore, 6:35 p.m.

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

St. Louis at Cincinnati, 6:40 p.m.

San Francisco at Cleveland, 6:40 p.m.

Seattle at Milwaukee, 7:40 p.m.

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

Washington at Texas, 8:05 p.m.

LA Angels at Houston, 8:10 p.m.

LA Dodgers at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

---

MLS

Columbus vs Montreal, 7;30 p.m.

Toronto vs Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.

Philadelphia vs Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Vancouver vs Houston Dynamo, 10:30 p.m.

---

WNBA

Toronto at Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Minnesota at Golden State, 10 p.m.

Lambton OPP are asking for the public's help in finding suspects after $1 million worth of copper wire was stolen in St. Clair Township.

Officers were called to a reported theft from a business on Oil Springs Line between St. Clair Parkway and Greenfield Road in St. Clair Township, shortly before 7 a.m. on August 17.

The theft is believed to have happened between 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, and the morning of August 17.

According to police, the suspects gained access to the property by cutting a locked perimeter gate, then entered and stole spools of copper wire.

The estimated value of the copper wire is $1 million.

The suspect vehicle, which had previously been reported stolen out of Sarnia on August 2, 2026, is described as a 2007 white International Model 40S heavy truck.

Police are asking scrap metal dealers and recycling facilities to contact Lambton OPP if they receive a large quantity of copper wire.

Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is asked to contact Lambton OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers.

A man has been pronounced dead after a motorcycle crash in Port Lambton.

Emergency crews were called to St. Clair Parkway between West French Line and West Holt Line in Port Lambton for a serious collision involving a motorcycle the evening of August 8.

OPP said a 57-year-old man was airlifted to a London hospital for treatment. He has since been pronounced deceased.

Anyone with information or dash camera footage is asked to contact Lambton OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stopper at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

The wait is over for families in Watford.

After significant delays, the new playground at Centennial Park is finished and open to the public.

The Watford Park Playground Revitalization Project started on June 1, and was originally scheduled to take about two weeks to complete.

Warwick Township Parks and Recreation Manager Ryan Chamney said the delays in the project were outside the township's control.

"There were a number of challenges including weather and supply of a couple pieces of equipment that were crucial to the final design of the playground," Chamney said.

Despite the setbacks, Chamney noted that community response to the finished product has been positive.

"The new playground provides an accessible, inclusive structure that includes installation of an accessible rubber surfacing, multiple ground components, adjoining swing set with an accessible seat and connects with the existing splash pad and other park amenities," he said. "It's the first of its kind in Warwick Township and we're excited to see the community use it."

The playground revitalization project was part of a multi-year, phased Centennial Park Revitalization Plan, included in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

The project was funded in part by a $125,000 federal accessibility grant, with the rest coming from township reserve funds.

Lambton Public Health has confirmed the first local presence of West Nile virus this summer.

A mosquito trap collected on Wednesday, August 12 in Petrolia tested positive for the virus.

While no human cases have been reported in Lambton County so far this year, public health officials note that three positive human cases have already been confirmed across Ontario.

West Nile can be passed to humans through an infected mosquito. 

A very small number of people will get sick but occasionally the virus can cause encephalitis.

Residents are encouraged to take precautions to prevent exposure to mosquitoes by eliminating breeding sites and standing water on their properties, and wearing insect repellent containing deet.

For more information about West Nile virus and local surveillance, contact the Lambton Public Health information line at 519-383-3824 or visit lambtonpublichealth.ca.

The Northern Tornadoes Project has marked an important milestone during its 2026 season.

Western University's Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory Director Gregory Kopp said the discovery wasn't observed right away.

"We realized only in retrospect that we had sent out all female damage survey crews for four tornadoes," said Kopp. "We've been doing damage surveys for a long time and Northern Tornadoes Project was set up in 2017, but we realized 'oh, it's the first time we've just sent out all women.'"

The all-female crews were led by trailblazing graduate students; Anij Sparenberg and Hailey Durham.

Kopp said they've focused on having gender balanced groups for several years, so this really shows how far women have come in STEM fields.

"We don't have it yet at the staffing levels, but within our intern program we have about 25 interns every summer, we have 10 or 12 graduate students, and we've managed to achieve 50/50 at that level. So, we're really proud of that actually," Kopp said.

Northern Tornadoes Project in Blenheim, ON. (Left to right) Catherine Walke, Jihan Pacer, Hailey Durham, Kyleigh McClennan. Submitted photo.

Undergraduate students from any Canadian University or program are eligible to apply to the interns program.

"So, we have students from all across the country," Kopp said. "About one third are from Western and the rest are from other universities. About a third are engineers, about a third are meteorologists, and the others are in other disciplines. A lot of them are in geography."

He said it has been difficult to draw females into engineering and meteorology programs.

"Engineers across the country in undergraduate programs are about 25 to 28 per cent and it seems kind of stuck there, and meteorology is the same and so it's been a challenge," Kopp said.

But, he said there are still a lot of people interested in storms.

"I don't think your gender matters for that, and so we've been able to attract a good balance in our team," said Kopp.

He said the passion to study storms has really made the group successful.

"When we first started, we were much smaller," Kopp said. "Our first staff member was female and we used graduate students that were in my research group and they did the surveys. As we grew and moved in 2019 to doing the whole country, we had to hire more and we had seven or eight. In 2022, we were in the 20 [person] range with our team."

Kopp said coverage about the project has led to an increase in applications.

"This past year, we had 270 applicants for the 25 positions," he said. "So, it's really competitive to get one of our internships."

Two defibrillators recently donated by the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund will honour the memory of two fallen soldiers from Lambton Shores.

The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) said the two life-saving machines will be placed at Rock Glen Conservation Area in Arkona.

The conservation authority said it's a fitting way to remember the service and sacrifices of Lt. Howard Vincent Pickering, who was killed in 1917; and Rifleman Edgar Dawson Butler, who died on D-Day in 1944.

“Lt. Pickering and Rifleman Butler made the ultimate sacrifice for us all," said Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund Executive Director and Co-Founder Patrick Armstrong in a statement. "These defibrillators will continue the service and dedication to the community [that they demonstrated]."

Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund donates defibrillators to be used at the at Rock Glen Conservation Area. July 2026. (Photo courtesy of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority).

ABCA Workplace Safety Specialist Stacey Palen said they're grateful for the donation.

“Every additional AED (automated external defibrillator) in our community represents an opportunity to save a life. These donations strengthen our commitment to providing a safer environment for our staff, volunteers, visitors, and the public while ensuring life-saving equipment is available when every second counts," Palen said. "We sincerely thank the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund for their investment in the health and safety of our community. What a wonderful way to honour the memory of these two fallen soldiers from the Arkona area.”

The defibrillators were presented to the ABCA at the Arkona Lions Museum and Information Centre on July 30.

Meanwhile, Lambton OPP said the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund also donated two defibrillators to DeGroot's Nurseries and the Dante Club in July

One was dedicated in memory of Able Seaman Michael Hardy, who lost his life aboard HMCS Kootenay in 1969. The second machine was dedicated in memory of Ordinary Seaman Stephen Powell, who died aboard HMCD Margaree in 1940.

MLB

St. Louis 2 Cincinnati 1

St. Louis 5 Cincinnati 6

Baltimore 6 Tampa Bay 7

Miami 5 Philadelphia 6

Detroit 8 Pittsburgh 5

Arizona 1 Boston 11

San Diego1 NY Mets 2

Athletics 5 Kansas City 9

Atlanta 2 Minnesota 4

Chicago White Sox 5 Chicago Cubs 7

LA Dodgers 11 Colorado 5

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WNBA

Dallas 70 Golden State 78

---

Tuesday's Games

MLB

NY Yankees at Baltimore, 6:35 p.m.

San Francisco at Cleveland, 6:40 p.m.

St. Louis at Cincinnati, 6:40 p.m.

Detroit at Pittsburgh, 6:40 p.m.

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

Miami at Philadelphia, 6:40 p.m.

Arizona at Boston, 7:10 p.m.

San Diego at NY Mets, 7:10 p.m.

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

Seattle at Milwaukee, 7:40 p.m.

Atlanta at Minnesota, 7:40 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs, 8:05 p.m.

Washington at Texas, 8:05 p.m.

LA Angels at Houston, 8:10 p.m.

LA Dodgers at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

---

WNBA

Indiana at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Los Angeles at Connecticut, 7 p.m.

Atlanta at Las Vegas, 9 p.m.

New York at Chicago, 9 p.m.

The Township of Warwick is planning to recognize those who contribute to the community's sport and recreation legacy through a new Sports Wall of Fame.

Parks and Recreation Manager Ryan Chamney said the wall will be located near the main doors of the East Lambton Community Complex.

"It's a nice visible area that I think adds a little bit of our storied history and past to one of our new, excellent recreation facilities within the community," he said.

Displays will include a photo and brief description of each inductee's accomplishments.

The township is currently accepting nominations for the Sports Wall of Fame.

Chamney said an internal selection committee will go through the applications.

"I know there will be plenty and we're excited about this process," he said. "We're looking to induct - it's flexible - but up to three candidates a year. We have three categories: we have athletes, teams, and community builders."

Nominations will be accepted until October 1.

Chamney said they're aiming to have an induction ceremony in either late fall or early winter.

Applications and further information can be found on the township's website.

Inflation in Canada was 3 per cent year-over-year in July, as gas prices shot up again and the World Cup drove up the cost of travel and tours.

Statistics Canada says a slower acceleration in groceries helped moderate those factors.

Groceries remained above headline inflation again in July, rising 3.1 per cent year-over-year after a 3.9 per cent increase in June. July marked 18 months grocery prices were higher than the Consumer Price Index.

The cost of fresh vegetables rose 3.9 per cent in July, while fresh or frozen chicken cost another 0.3 per cent. Fresh fruit shot up 6.1 per cent, as prices increased by 4.7% compared with June, the highest monthly price growth for a July since 2011, driven by higher prices for melons and berries.

The price at gas pumps across Canada rose 25.7 per cent in July due to the continued conflict in the Middle East, the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, and the partial closure of some Red Sea shipping routes in late July.

Without gasoline, inflation was 2.2 per cent for the third consecutive month.

That conflict also drove up the cost of air transportation since it increased the price of jet fuel. Buying a ticket for a flight jumped 12 per cent year-over-year.

The World Cup also drove up the price of travel tours to U.S. destination cities. Those increased 15.2 per cent after June's 6.8 per cent jump.

Among the provinces, prices in Ontario accelerated the slowest at 2 per cent, as homeowner replacement costs dropped 4.6 per cent, and buying natural gas cost 18.7 per cent less.

Across the G7 group of nations, Canada's inflation rate in July was the second highest after the United States, which reported an inflation rate of 3.4 per cent.

The United Kingdom hasn't released its inflation rate for July yet, but it was forecast at 2.9 per cent. The rate in France last month was 2.1 per cent. It was 2.8 per cent in Germany, and 2.9 per cent in Italy.

Japan had the lowest inflation rate of the G7 nations at 1.7 per cent.

Hundreds of people entered the St. Clair River Sunday for the annual Port Huron Float Down.

The unsanctioned event in the past attracted up to 4,000 participants, but it appears the threat of thunderstorms kept numbers down this year.

In an e-mail to Sarnia News Today, Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Communication Officer Jeremy Hennessy said there were roughly between 800-1000 participants.

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and the U.S. Coast Guard also put out a joint statement warning about the dangers of the event last week, although it's been confirmed by the Canadian Coast Guard that there were no incidents or injuries that required an emergency response.

The 12-kilometre float down, from Port Huron's Lighthouse Beach to Chrysler Beach in Marysville, made international headlines in 2016 when 1,500 U.S. residents, many without identification, were pushed across the river to Canada on strong winds.

"There were a few US floaters that were blown onto the Canadian shoreline. Local law enforcement addressed the repatriation of these floaters," said Hennessy.

In 2014, a 19-year-old experienced swimmer from Michigan drowned.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and Sarnia Fire and Rescue were also patrolling during the event.

Vessel traffic on the St. Clair River was restricted from the Blue Water Bridge to the upper end of Stag Island between noon and 6 p.m.

The Watford Library will be temporarily closed for Phase two of a renovation project.

The project is led by the Township of Warwick in collaboration with the County of Lambton to maintain and enhance the historic building.

"The building is owned by the Township of Warwick, and then the County of Lambton provides library service. As part of our renovations, we're looking to create a more accessible space within the library. So, for the county's portion of the project, we're looking at installing a new accessible service desk and some new flexible shelving, and just making some changes to kind of modernize and freshen up the space," said Lambton County Manager for Library Services Darlene Coke.

The Township of Warwick is investing $120,000 as part of a capital initiative approved in the 2026 municipal budget. The renovation includes repairs to the foundation, masonry work, and addressing existing safety concerns. The work is expected to take over a month.

"The project will last from August 21 until October 18, and we are hopeful that we'll be able to reopen on October 19," said Coke. "We will have to cancel a lot of our programming that's happening over that time, and we would just encourage people to see what might be available for them at other neighbouring libraries for them to join in during that period of time."

Visitors are encouraged to visit other local libraries such as Forest Library, Alvinston Library, Arkona Library, and Wyoming Library that are all within a quick drive from Watford.

MLB

NY Yankees 4 Toronto 3

Baltimore 10 Tampa Bay 2

Arizona 3 Atlanta 5

Boston 3 Pittsburgh 8

Chicago White Sox 7 Detroit 5

Miami 7 Cincinnati 1

San Diego 5 Cleveland 0

Washington 3 NY Mets 4

Philadelphia 7 Minnesota 5.

St. Louis 11 Chicago Cubs 4

Colorado 13 San Francisco 7

Texas 2 Athletics 5

Kansas City 3 LA Angels 0

Milwaukee 6 LA Dodgers 2

Seattle 3 Houston 2

---

WNBA

Chicago 82 Seattle 80

Indiana 95 Atlanta 91 (OT)

Portland 88 Phoenix 85

---

MLS

Seattle 0 Vancouver 2

Chicago 2 Portland 1

New York City 2 Philadelphia 3

Austin 1 Dallas 2

---

Monday's Games

MLB

St. Louis at Cincinnati, 1:40 p.m.

St. Louis at Cincinnati, 6:40 p.m.

Baltimore at Tampa Bay, 6:05 p.m.

Miami at Philadelphia, 6:40 p.m.

Detroit at Pittsburgh, 7:05 p.m.

Arizona at Boston, 7:10 p.m.

San Diego at NY Mets, 7:10 p.m.

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

Atlanta at Minnesota, 7:40 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs, 8:05 p.m.

LA Dodgers at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

---

WNBA

Dallas at Golden State, 10 p.m.

Sarnia Lambton Crime Stoppers is appealing for information about a break and enter at the Northgate Plaza in the early morning hours of July 31.

The incident was recently featured as the organization's Crime of the Week.

Just after 1:40 a.m., city police officers were called to the business and found the front glass door had been smashed.

Police contained the area, and the K9 Unit was unable to locate the suspect after a search.

Surveillance footage showed a man arriving in the area at 1:30 a.m., walking around the perimeter of the building, and using what appeared to be a small sledgehammer to smash the front entrance door.

When he noticed the cash drawers were empty, the suspect left eastbound on a bright orange bicycle.

He's described as being White, over six feet tall, wearing a maroon hooded sweater with the hood pulled up, black sunglasses, a face mask, black shorts, black shoes, and bright orange gloves.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.p3tips.com.

You could be eligible for a cash reward if your tip leads to an arrest.

MLB

NY Yankees 1 Toronto 4

Chicago White Sox , Detroit 3

St. Louis 8 Chicago Cubs 4

Colorado 1 San Francisco 7

Washington 4 NY Mets 5

Baltimore 4 Tampa Bay 3

Miami 8 Cincinnati 4

Seattle 10 Houston 5

Philadelphia 9 Minnesota 1

San Diego 1 Cleveland 6

Boston 4 Pittsburgh 0

Arizona 10 Atlanta 3

Milwaukee 4 LA Dodgers 1

Kansas City 0 LA Angels 1

Texas 5 Athletics 3

---

CFL

Toronto 12, Edmonton 42

Saskatchewan 19, Hamilton 26

---

NFL Preseason

Cleveland 10, Chicago 34

Carolina 14, Buffalo 29

Minnesota 13, New York 10

Los Angeles 20, Kansas City12

Jacksonville 24, New Orleans 20

Philadelphia 7, Baltimore 24

Dallas 17, Seattle 7

---

WNBA

New York 82, Connecticut 75

Los Angeles 70, Washington 80

Minnesota 92, Las Vegas 87

---

Sunday's Games

MLB

Baltimore at Tampa Bay, 12:15 p.m.

Arizona at Atlanta, 1:35 p.m.

Boston at Pittsburgh, 1:35 p.m.

NY Yankees at Toronto, 1:37 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Detroit, 1:40 p.m.

Miami at Cincinnati, 1:40 p.m.

San Diego at Cleveland, 1:40 p.m.

Washington at NY Mets, 1:40 p.m.

Philadelphia at Minnesota, 2:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Chicago Cubs, 3:00 p.m.

Colorado at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.

Texas at Athletics, 4:05 p.m.

Kansas City at LA Angels, 4:07 p.m.

Milwaukee at LA Dodgers, 4:10 p.m.

Seattle at Houston, 7:20 p.m.

---

WNBA

Chicago at Seattle, 5 p.m.

Indiana at Atlanta, 5 p.m.

Portland at Phoenix, 7 p.m.

Local musicians, performers, and artists will be showcased this weekend at Kettle and Stony Point First Nation.

It's the Summer Music and Art Festival on Saturday, August 15.

Over 10 live acts are scheduled to take the stage.

The event at the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation Ball Diamond also features food vendors and other family activities.

Gates open 3 p.m. with performances set to begin at 4 p.m.

The festival wraps up with the first ever Drone Light Show over Lake Huron at sunset.

Admission is free.

For more information visit the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point Facebook Page.

MLB

Chicago Cubs 3 St. Louis 0

Cincinnati 1 Miami 0

Chicago White Sox 9 Detroit 5

Pittsburgh 8 Boston 4

San Diego 7 Cleveland 5

Baltimore 6 Tampa Bay 5

NY Mets 4 Washington 1

Toronto 3 NY Yankees 1

Arizona 2 Atlanta 0

Houston 10 Seattle 7

Kansas City 7 LA Angels 6

Athletics 8 Texas 3

LA Dodgers 3 Milwaukee 1

Colorado 5 San Francisco 2

---

CFL

Winnipeg 33 Ottawa 21

---

NFL Preseason

Washington 20 Miami 7

Denver 27 Atlanta 7

Tampa Bay 24 NY Jets 16

---

WNBA

Indiana 98 Dallas 87

Portland 84 Seattle 82

---

Saturday's Games

MLB

Chicago White Sox at Detroit, 1:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

NY Yankees at Toronto, 3:07 p.m.

Colorado at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.

Washington at NY Mets, 4:10 p.m.

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

Miami at Cincinnati, 6:40 p.m.

Seattle at Houston, 7:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Minnesota, 7:10 p.m.

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

Boston at Pittsburgh, 7:15 p.m.

Arizona at Atlanta, 7:15 p.m.

Milwaukee at LA Dodgers, 7:15 p.m.

Kansas City at LA Angels, 9:38 p.m.

Texas at Athletics, 9:40 p.m.

---

CFL

Toronto at Edmonton, 3 p.m.

Saskatchewan at Hamilton, 7 p.m.

---

NFL Preseason

Cleveland at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Carolina at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Minnesota at NY Giants, 1 p.m.

Los Angeles at Kansas City, 4 p.m.

Jacksonville at New Orleans, 4 p.m.

Philadelphia at Baltimore, 7 p.m.

Dallas at Seattle, 8 p.m.

---

WNBA

New York at Connecticut, 1 p.m.

Los Angeles at Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Minnesota at Las Vegas, 8 p.m.

It's aimed at easing the minds of young students and their parents ahead of the upcoming school year.

Chatham-Kent Lambton Administrative School Services (CLASS) will hold its annual First Time Rider Program this Saturday morning in Sarnia and Chatham.

The program is geared toward those in junior kinderfarten, senior kindergarten, and Grade 1 who don't have experience riding the big yellow bus.

CLASS General Manager Kent Orr knows the students can feel nervous at first, but the staff are there to help alleviate some stress.

"We recognize that it can be an intimidating change and it's a big family change with the students going to school for the first time or riding a bus for the first time," said Orr. "This takes away some of that concern or anxiety and gives a comfortable environment where parents can ask questions. It's really an enjoyable opportunity to both get some education on bus safety, ask questions to staff that are on site and just have that first-time ride experience on a Saturday before the first big day."

Orr said the day starts off with an instructional safety cartoon video.

"The video covers off some key safety topics, and then we have the on-site piece with the actual school bus ride," said Orr. "So it's really a good fulsome experience for families. They learn how to board and deboard the bus. They learn about the safety zone around the bus and, if they have to cross in front of the bus, respecting the space in front so the driver can still see them. It's about getting them familiar with how they come in and sit down, and what the inside of the bus looks like. There are expectations around staying in your seat and being safe on the bus. We're also reinforcing the message that the drivers there to help you. They're your friend, and if you have any questions or concerns don't be scared or fearsome to talk to the driver and ask your questions."

Orr said the sessions are generally very well attended, and the feedback from parents has been positive.

"We'll see well over 500 people attend and it's just honestly probably the best funnest day of the year for us," he said. "It great to see the excitement and with their parents and just a great experience for everybody. We get great feedback from parents the smiles on the on the kids faces is reward enough."

The sessions run every 30 minutes from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Sarnia's Great Lakes Secondary School and at Ursuline College in Chatham.

There's no need to pre-register.

An employment expo will be held next week to address a growing demand for personal support workers (PSW) in Sarnia-Lambton.

Lambton Works Centre and the S&R Group will hold a dedicated hiring event on Tuesday, August 18 at the Lambton Shared Services Centre, at 162 Lochiel St. in Sarnia.

It's aimed at connecting certified PSWs with immediate job openings, according to Job Developer with Lambton Works Employment Services Scott Case.

He said the event is designed to streamline the hiring process by offering on-site interviews for qualified candidates.

Pre-registration is required. Job seekers must submit a resume to JobDevelopment@county-lambton.on.ca by Monday, August 17.

Candidates selected for an interview will be contacted directly by event organizers.

A popular summertime tradition for families will return, but instead of being held at Canatara Park, Kids Funfest will take place at Centennial Park.

City of Sarnia Recreation Coordinator Rebecca Warren said they wanted to move the family-friendly event to a more central area and highlight the waterfront park.

"A lot of our signature events are located at Canatara Park, so we're just trying to use some of our other great parks that we have within the city," Warren said.

The event will be held on Saturday, August 15, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the open field and Suncor Agora Stage.

"We have performers on the stage throughout the entire event at the Suncor Agora," Warren said. "We have a juggling show, we have a children's music performer, a comedy magic show, and a circus performer as well."

A schedule of performances can be found on the city's website.

Activities will also include inflatables, face painting, skateboarding, touch-a-truck, and arts and crafts.

Warren said about 30 local vendors and organizations will be at the park as well.

"Different recreation groups, service clubs, social services, child care... all those sorts of things looking to promote the services they have," Warren said. "They provide an activity too for kids to participate in, and it's a great way for children and families to be aware of services, recreation opportunities, and whatnot available in the community in a fun and interactive way."

Typically about 2,000 people attend Kids Funfest.

As of 7 a.m., the Suncor Agora parking lot will be closed for the event to accommodate the touch-a-truck activity. Attendees are encouraged to park in other municipal lots on Front Street and Harbour Road or to utilize public transit.

Sarnia Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire call early Friday morning at Lambton Mall Road.

It happened at around 4:45 a.m. at a business in the retail plaza between Finch Drive and Exmouth Street.

The blaze was quickly contained and no injuries were reported.

The fire has been deemed suspicious and the Sarnia Police Service said it's being investigated as an arson.

"At this stage of the investigation, limited information is available for release," read an SPS media release. "Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and are actively working to identify those responsible."

Anyone with information or video footage from the area is asked to call the Sarnia Police Service Criminal Investigation Division at 519-344-8861,

You can also submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.p3tips.com.

The Sarnia Police Service Board (SPS Board) has approved an updated 2027 operating budget of $40.9 million, representing an increase of 5.81 per cent.

In 2025, the previous board approved a two-year budget, which included a 5.28 per cent increase for 2027. After re-evaluating, the service presented the board with a proposed 5.94 per cent increase. 

Board members met virtually on Thursday and cut the budget down by reducing overtime by $50,000, a motion presented by Vice Chair Anne Marie Gillis.

"Even though we can reduce this, it's just on paper. If it goes over, it goes over," said Chair Kelly Ash. "We have no control, often, of overtime."

Board Member Chrissy McRoberts also requested regular updates to explain overtime costs, to which the board agreed upon quarterly reports.

"We're strong proponents of transparency so we can accommodate the board's interest in knowing how the service is operating, what our pressure points are, what's our experience providing service to the community," said Acting Police Chief Mike Federico. "We're pleased to provide that."

While the operating budget was approved by the board to go to City of Sarnia staff, it still needs council approval as part of the 2027 budget process later this year.

Meanwhile, the SPS is going to take more time to revise its 10-year capital forecast.

Board members cited immediate building issues, including the crumbling front steps of the Christina Street headquarters.

"We don't want to add more burden to the taxpayer, but we don't want to have people get injured because of the fact that the stairs are totally inadequate," Gillis said.

McRoberts agreed and called the stairs "a deathtrap."

"Those stairs are just waiting for someone to hurt themselves on," McRoberts said, while also noting the city is going to face a "brutal" budget next year.

Concerns were raised about possible lawsuits that may arise if someone is seriously injured on the stairs.

"The fact that we have mentioned this in conversations means that we're aware, and if we still sit and do nothing, we're putting ourselves in a very dangerous place," McRoberts said.

Federico said he has had conversations with the mayor and city staff about the facility issues.

"The city has been receptive and understanding about the service's needs," said Federico. "We have been able to share with the city the cost estimates associated with the priority needs of our capital requirements."

A quote obtained in June estimated repairs to the front steps to be roughly $440,000; however, that did not include engineering and other components. The board heard the true cost could be closer to $1 million.

Other immediate needs included replacing the fuel tank and enhancements to the prisoner unloading area. But there may be as many as 25 items considered critical and in need of addressing over the next five years.

Deputy Chief Michael Van Sickle said staff can update the capital plan with critical needs and exact costs, and have it return to the board during its meeting on September 24.

A proposed new police headquarters was placed on the back burner earlier this year.

Update: The SPS issued a public notice on social media on Friday, August 14, shortly before 11 a.m., advising that the stairs to the entrance of the police headquarters had been closed off. 

"We understand this is an inconvenience, and we are working to remediate this situation as soon as possible," read the post on X (formerly Twitter). "Your patience and understanding are appreciated."

The public can still enter the building by using the pedestrian ramp adjacent to the stairs.

Hundreds of pens, pencils, notebooks and backpacks were collected for area students during the third annual Stuff the Studio.

Local residents visited the Blackburn Media mobile studio on Wednesday, August 12 to drop off donations in support of the Inn of the Good Shepherd.

About 455 pounds of school supplies and $3,682.15 was raised for the Inn.

Executive Director Jack Christine, said that will help out hundreds of local elementary and secondary students.

"So last year we distributed 960 and we're hoping to do over 1,000 to kids in the community," he said.

Backpacks will be distributed later this month, in time for the start of the new school year.

"We have backpack pickups at Temple Baptist Church on Saturday, August 29 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and we also have a distribution event at the Inn of the Good Shepherd at 115 John Street on Wednesday, September 2 and Wednesday, September 3 from 9:30 to 11 a.m.", said Christine.

If you missed the donation drive, back-to-school supplies can still be dropped at the Inn. 

MLB

Boston 7 Toronto 0

Cleveland 0 Detroit 3

Pittsburgh 13 Miami 1

Seattle 1 NY Yankees 0

Cincinnati 9 Chicago White Sox 9

Chicago Cubs 0 Washington 7

Philadelphia 7 Minnesota 1

Texas 0LA Angels 7

Milwaukee 5 LA Dodgers 4

---

CFL

BC 30 Calgary 26

---

NFL Preseason

Detroit 14 Cincinnati 16

Green Bay 9 Pittsburgh 28

Indianapolis 13 New England 13

LA Chargers 27 Houston 7

Arizona 27 Las Vegas 14

Tennessee 19 San Francisco 13

---

WNBA

Atlanta 104 Connecticut 69

Los Angeles 81 New York 85

Washington 76 Las Vegas 83

---

Friday's Games

MLB

St. Louis at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

Miami at Cincinnati, 6:10 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Detroit, 6:40 p.m.

Boston at Pittsburgh, 6:40 p.m.

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

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

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

NY Yankees at Toronto, 7:15 p.m.

Arizona at Atlanta, 7:15 p.m.

Seattle at Houston, 8:10 p.m.

Kansas City at LA Angels, 9:38 p.m.

Texas at Athletics, 9:40 p.m.

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

Colorado at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

---

CFL

Ottawa at Winnipeg, 8:30 p.m.

---

NFL Preseason

Miami at Washington, 7 p.m.

Denver at Atlanta, 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay at NY Jets, 7 p.m.

---

WNBA

Dallas at Indiana, 7:30 p.m.

Portland at Seattle, 10 p.m.

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has put out a safety warning ahead of the annual Port Huron float down on Sunday, August 16.

In the joint statement issued this week, both the Canadian and U.S. Coast Guards said the unsanctioned float down "poses significant dangers to participants."

"With this event, there's quite a bit of safety concern with the number of people in the water and just the overall condition of the river itself. The Coast Guard is working with local, provincial and federal response partners, as well as our U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. partners as well, to coordinate a response to this event through the use of vessels, personnel on shore, and aircraft if needed, just to ensure the safety of everyone involved," said Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) Acting Deputy Superintendent Graham Silcox

Thousands of people are expected to float about 12 kilometres along the St. Clair River beginning at Lighthouse Beach in Port Huron just north of the Blue Water Bridge, ending at Chrysler Beach in Marysville. Becuase of this, the river will be closed to boats for a portion of the day.

"Unfortunately, the river will be closed from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m., and that's to align with the U.S. Coast Guard safety zone that they've implemented. So, vessel traffic is restricted during that time, just to reduce the risk of any interaction with floaters down the river," said Silcox.

Participation is discouraged by the CCG due to several risk factors, including the strong current, water temperature, lack of life jackets, and alcohol consumption.

Silcox noted that if you do participate in the event, there are many actions to take to stay safe.

"The first thing is wearing a life jacket or approved flotation device, mainly to keep yourself afloat during the event and keep your airway above water. The second thing is, if you are participating, to file a sail plan. So let somebody know on shore when and where you're entering, where you're exiting, the event timing, just so that you can ensure accountability. Floaters can mark their float with a permanent marker. Put their name on it, phone number, emergency contact. Just in case we come across an empty float."

Anyone who gets in the water is urged to stay cautious and clear-headed, as incidents do happen.

"We also recommend bringing a piece of identification, just so that we can identify who you are and make sure that we take appropriate actions to assist that person: bring a cell phone or a means of communication in a waterproof container, and we don't recommend going alone. Use the buddy system, or go with a group just to make sure that you can look out for one another, and last but not least, don't consume alcohol. It's one of those things that will impair your judgment quite quickly," he said.

All floaters are asked to make sure they take any flotation devices with them when exiting the water to avoid any unnecessary searches.

Hydro One crews are working on infrastructure improvements this week in the northern and west-central parts of Lambton County.

Customers in Camlachie, Highland Glen, and Kettle Point have recently been affected by a handful of power outages.

The utility said on Monday, July 20, a motor vehicle crash knocked out power to customers at Kettle and Stony Point First Nation.

There was an unexpected outage on Friday, August 7 from 11 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. in Camlachie due to unknown causes.

On Monday, August 10 equipment failure knocked out power to customers in Plympton-Wyoming including Camlachie from 6:45 a.m. until 9:45 a.m.

The next day on Tuesday, August 11, Hydro One said there was another outage in Camlachie from 7 a.m. until around 7:40 a.m. due to an animal coming into contact with electricity equipment.

There were also planned outages for the installation of new equipment on July 20 and July 28 in Kettle Point.

In an email to Sarnia News Today, Hydro One said it understands how difficult it is to be without power.

Since the outages in early August, Hydro One crews have patrolled the area and identified required repairs.

Restoration work is underway and is expected to wrap up by next week.

If you experience a power outage, you can report the incident by texting 92887 (WATTS), through the company’s outage map and app, or by calling 1-800-434-1235.

The deadline to submit applications for the Rotary Club of Sarnia's Community Action Grants is fast approaching.

Local groups and organizations are encouraged to apply by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, August 15.

The Rotary Club said it looks forward to supporting community projects, specifically those related to: maternal and child health, community economic development, peacebuilding and conflict prevention, disease prevention, basic education and literacy, environmental sustainability, and water and sanitation.

“We are pleased to support projects that have a positive impact on our citizens and community, and we look forward to continuing with the upcoming grant process,” said Club President Joe Cebulski in a statement.

Application details are posted on the Rotary Club's website.

The local club has doled out $209,885 over the past year. A list of those grant recipients can be found below:

- $80,000 to The Inn of the Good Shepherd for food elevator refurbishing

- $35,000 to the YMCA for a lifeguarding pilot project

- $20,000 to BGC (formerly the Boys and Girls Club) for a child support pilot program

- $15,000 to Ronald McDonald House of Southwestern Ontario

- $10,000 to Victoria Playhouse Petrolia for elevator renovations

- $10,000 to Rebound (The Hub) for infrastructure repairs

- $6,500 to Weir Active to support an accessible entrance upgrade

- $6,000 to Camp Attawandaron for equipment refurbishing

- $5,000 to Junior Achievement for its school business program

- $4,385 to Scouts Local Troop for a storage shed

- $4,000 to the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund for two defibrillators

- $4,000 to Sarnia Lambton Suicide Prevention Council

- $2,500 to Diabetes Canada to support a young person from Lambton County to attend camp

- $2,500 to Family Counselling Centre, women’s support program

- $2,500 to Tampon Tuesday initiative

- $2,000 to Royal Thunder Robotics to support its robotics team

- $500 to Mooretown Courtright School for a garden

The Ontario government is ending social assistance for those who are living in Canada illegally.

The province says it’s toughening up the rules for the Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure "Ontario's social assistance programs are focused on supporting only families and individuals facing financial hardship who are legally authorized to live in Canada."

The change in the rules is immediate.

The Ontario government is telling those who are in Canada illegally, those authorised to stay only temporarily, and those here on student visas, work permits, or tourism visas that they need not apply.

Only those who can demonstrate their citizenship or immigration status can apply.

"Our government will always be there for those that need it most, but taxpayer-funded social assistance should not go to people living in Canada illegally," said Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services, Michael Parsa. "These changes will protect taxpayer dollars and ensure these programs are there for the people who they were intended to support."

Residents should not be alarmed if there appears to be a capsized vessel in the Sarnia Harbour on Thursday, August 13, area rescue agencies will be participating in specialized training.

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit 512 (PointSAR Marine Rescue Unit) will train with the members of the Canadian Coast Guard, focusing on Zodiac rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIB) capsize reversal procedures.

The training is scheduled to take place at the west end of the Sarnia Government Dock between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The RHIBs are equipped with a self-righting system that will return the vessel to an upright position.

PointSAR said during the exercise, members will get into the water before the self-righting system is activated.

"This is an important safety exercise for PointSAR and provides an opportunity to ensure that our members are familiar and comfortable with the procedures they would need to follow in the event of an actual capsize," said PointSAR Marine Rescue Unit Leader Greg Grimes in a media release. "It is also a valuable opportunity to train alongside Canadian Coast Guard personnel who have experience with these procedures."

Additional Canadian Coast Guard personnel will be in the Sarnia area ahead of the upcoming Port Huron Float Down, scheduled for Sunday, August 16.

PointSAR has also invited Point Edward Fire Rescue, Sarnia Fire Rescue, and the OPP Marine Unit to observe the exercise.

Condolences are pouring in from across Lambton County after the death of a former Oil Springs mayor and healthcare advocate.

According to his obituary, Owen Byers passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on Monday, August 10, at the age of 86.

Byers was first elected to Oil Springs council in 1976 and served as the village's reeve/mayor for 14 years, starting in 1979.

He was also the warden of Lambton County in 1993.

His obituary said Byers was a retired driver with Suncor and was a dedicated member of Alexandra-Inwood Lodge No. 158 and Lambton Shrine Club for many years.

"Throughout his life, Owen valued community, friendship, and service, leaving behind many lasting connections and memories," read the post.

The Bluewater Health Foundation said Byers was a "remarkable advocate for local healthcare and a longtime friend of our foundation."

"Owen was a dedicated member of the CEEH Foundation Board, serving as chair for many years and championing the importance of strong, accessible healthcare in Petrolia and our rural communities," it said. "Owen’s commitment to his community will be greatly missed. We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and all who knew him."

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said he was saddened by the news.

"He was a congenial man who loved his community and county and gave a lot back of community service to both," said Bradley in a social media post.

Visitation and services are scheduled to take place in September. Further details are posted to Needham-Jay Funeral Home's website.

Those who treat themselves to a Dairy Queen (DQ) blizzard during Miracle Treat Day on Thursday, August 13, will be supporting children's hospital foundations.

Net proceeds from every blizzard sold at participating DQ locations across the country will support 13 children’s hospitals.

Funds raised from blizzards sold in Sarnia will support the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre.

Last year, DQ locations across the region helped Children's Health Foundation raise more than $118,000 through Miracle Treat Day, read a media release

“What makes Miracle Treat Day so special is seeing Canadians come together to support children and families in their own communities,” said DQ Canada Vice President of Marketing Candida Ness in a statement. “Year after year, our franchisees, staff, volunteers and fans show incredible generosity, helping local children's hospital foundations fund the life-changing care kids need to help them get back to being kids.”

To date, DQ said nearly $58 million has been raised in support of children’s health through Miracle Treat Day in Canada.

“With more than 3.9 million hospital visits in 2025, this kind of support is directly felt by so many Canadian children and families,” said Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations President and CEO Adam Starkman.

Sarnia's DQ location will be open from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.

MLB

Boston 4 Toronto 6

Cleveland 6 Detroit 4

Baltimore 5 Minnesota 7 

Philadelphia 1 St. Louis 7

Tampa Bay 8 Athletics 4

Colorado 6 Arizona 4

Houston 2 San Francisco 1

Milwaukee 3 San Diego 4

Pittsburgh 2 Miami 8

Chicago Cubs 12 Washington 6

Seattle 5 NY Yankees 10

NY Mets 3 Atlanta 6

Cincinnati 0 Chicago White Sox 5

Kansas City 2 LA Dodgers 4 

Texas 2 LA Angels 5

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WNBA

Toronto 88 Dallas 94

Minnesota 85 Portland 81 

Chicago 71 Golden State 91.

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Thursday's Games

MLB

Pittsburgh at Miami, 1:10 p.m.

Cleveland at Detroit, 1:10 p.m.

Seattle at NY Yankees, 1:35 p.m.

Cincinnati at Chicago White Sox, 2:10 p.m.

Boston at Toronto, 3:07 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Washington, 4:05 p.m.

Philadelphia at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.

Texas at LA Angels, 10:07 p.m.

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

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CFL

BC at Calgary, 9 p.m.

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WNBA

Atlanta at Connecticut, 7 p.m.

Los Angeles at New York, 8 p.m.

Washington at Las Vegas, 10 p.m.

Severe thunderstorms Wednesday evening knocked out power for hundreds of Bluewater Power customers.

The utility dealt with a handful of weather related outages in Point Edward and Sarnia, including fallen trees. All power was restored by 2:30 a.m. Thursday.

A severe thunderstorm watch issued just after 12 p.m. Wednesday was updated to a warning around 5:30 p.m., with a brief tornado warning following less than two hours later.

Environment Canada warned that the region could see wind gusts near 100 km/h, toonie sized hail, and heavy rainfall. More than 40 mm of rain could accumulate in some areas, the weather agency noted.

Residents were warned that power outages, infrastructure damage, and flash flooding were possible.

At 7:07 p.m., a tornado warning was issued, alongside a warning to take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.

Things will look a bit different when the Sarnia Legion Branch 62 starts up its popular Catch the Ace fundraiser once again this fall.

Sarnia's Ashley Norton was the lucky winner of the Legion's third and most recent lottery, which was the largest Legion jackpot in Canadian history.

He took home the grand prize of just over $4.5 million, which included the weekly prize of $210,266 on top of the $4.3 million progressive jackpot.

This October, the Sarnia Legion will start with $25,000 in seed money, up from $10,000 last time.

Past President Les Jones said they're also looking to expand their reach while keeping their line ups smaller.

"The plan for the next one is to do it county-wide, with the exception of Forest," said Jones. "We'll basically run it but each branch in Lambton County will be selling tickets at their local branch. They'll come to us and the draw will be at our branch. So, that not only spreads the wealth to the other Legions that need financial help but it will also alleviate some of the traffic in downtown Sarnia to make life a little easier."

Participating Legions will include Watford, Petrolia, Alvinston, Thedford, Wyoming, Corunna, Grand Bend, Oil Springs, and Brigden.

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

"We have about $3.4 million that will be donated back into the community," he said. "There's still a lot of work to do, we have to get together and figure out where the money is going. We obviously have to vet all of these requests for funds. We're hoping by October we'll be able to donate this $3.4 million back to the community. We do get a sizable amount of money as well to upgrade the Legion and get it ready for the next several decades. We have some major projects like the roof, the parking lot and those types of things."

The weekly fundraiser grew to a community event every Thursday with thousands lining up around the Legion to get their tickets.

Jones said they never imagined the fundraiser would grow so massively.

"Not in our wildest dreams did we think someone would walk out of there with $4.5 million," said Jones. "Ironically, it's a gamble. You never know if the winning number will be picked on the first night or the last night. You just hope for the best, but you have to be in it for the long run."

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.

An official start date for the return of the lottery has yet to be announced.

You can listen to the full Sarnia Lambton Beyond the Headlines podcast with Josh Boyce and Les Jones by clicking here.