As a hockey goalie, R.J. Heath is used to blocking shots. Now, he’s taking one. Heath, a 16-year-old Ortonville resident, was invited to play with the Junior A Minnesota Blizzards hockey team in Alexandria, Minn. Junior A is a tiered system within the North American Hockey League for 16-20-year-olds that is heavily scouted by colleges […]
Tyler Burmeister did not just meet his favorite NBA player, he played basketball against him. For the second year in a row, 12-year-old Tyler attended Rip Hamilton’s Basketball Camp at Avondale High School in Rochester. ‘It’s the most organized camp we’ve ever sent him to,? said Laura Burmeister of her son. Among the camp’s coaches […]
Jake Hardy loves to watch football on TV. He loves playing it more. Hardy, a 17-year-old Ortonville resident, is the varsity football kicker at Brandon High School. An entering senior, Hardy is using this summer and upcoming season to become known by college recruiters. ‘Jake definitely wants to play football in college. He’s been going […]
Ortonville-Emily Merlo plans on going above and beyond during this year’s equestrian season. With the help of her horse, Above and Beyond, of course. Merlo, 16-year-old Clarkston resident, trains and works at Ortonville’s MeadowCrest Farms, 4920 Groveland Road. ‘Emily is a remarkable rider,? said Kay Wooderson, barn owner at MeadowCrest. ‘She competes at shows around […]
Goodrich- Harry Flotemersch is obsessed with land. He thinks of it in terms of acreage, elevation, location and price. He needs a vast area of flat, dry, healthy land. Flotemersch needs a soccer complex. Goodrich Soccer Club is one of the only clubs in the surrounding area not to have a centralized soccer complex. ‘We’re […]
Chase Jolley hates to sweat. Hard work, however, does not seem to be a problem for him. Jolley, an 8-year-old Goodrich resident, was born with an underdeveloped left arm and no left hand. ‘Our doctors were never able to tell us why it happened,? said Trina Jolley, Chase’s mom. ‘We had three ultrasounds and there […]
July came out in full force on the 5th. With winds gusting at 50 miles per hour and a downpour of hail littering the area, nothing was safe. ‘There was damage to structures, vehicles, telephone poles and lines,? said Bob McArthur, Brandon fire chief. ‘The storm really beat us up.? Local firefighters guarded the dangerous […]
Goodrich- During her senior season, Kelsey Krych had no idea that she was closing in on the national record for stolen bases in a softball career. ‘My parents and coaches knew that I could beat the record, but they didn’t tell me until I was like 19 bases away,? said Krych. ‘I don’t think they […]
No one can say that Ortonville’s Creek Fest 2007 was void of culture. The second annual Creek Fest Poetry Contest brought out the area’s poets and their most prized compositions. Competing in two catagories based on age, the participants were placed from first to third place, with two honorable mention awards. The first place winner […]
Goodrich-Evan Huizenga does not let soccer season end in the village. As coordinator of Goodrich’s Open Soccer, Goodrich native Huizenga provides a time and a place for community players to keep the ball rolling during summer months. ‘I wanted open soccer to build the interest of soccer in the community, and it definitely has,? said […]