Brandon Recreation: Progress continues despite challenges

Brandon Twp.- Recreation is ‘standing tall? in the township. This is how Fred Waybrant assesses the current state of the department he manages, which has been through plenty of challenges in the last few years, including a cut of two-thirds of the staff, elimination of an annual $15,000 funding contribution from Groveland Township, and a […]

Meeting to change local government

Concerned local taxpayers can meet at 7 p.m., May 10, at the Goodrich United Methodist Church, 8071 S. State Road, to discuss ways to force change in their local government. Brandon Township resident and business owner Tabethia Tiseo-Shell organized the meeting, at which State Rep. Dave Robertson, R-Grand Blanc Township, and a representative on the […]

‘The last day in Ukraine, I was thankful to leave?

“My name is Lisa, but once upon a time, my name was Ivanna, and I was an orphan living in the streets of Kiev, Ukraine.” This is the opening line of Lisa Jankowski’s essay ‘My Heroes that Saved My Life,? which was chosen as the first place winner from Goodrich Middle School entries in the […]

BGYA: ‘Making a brighter future for our children?

Dustin McClellan accepted an invitation to hop on a bus 15 years ago, a decision he believes changed the course of his life. McClellan was a 7-year-old Pontiac kid living with his single mother and older brother in a home with drugs and alcohol when Pastor John Gunn invited him to get on the bus […]

Repeat domestic abuser charged with felonious assault

A 34-year-old Brandon Township resident who chased after a woman fleeing from him and was witnessed striking her in the snow before dragging her back to their shared home has been arraigned on multiple charges. Toby James McCoy was arraigned March 7 on one count of felonious assault and one count of domestic violence, third […]

Ortonville sidewalk repair, replacement to start

Ortonville- Repairs and replacement of sidewalks in the village will begin soon. The village council decided at their April 23 meeting to scrap a plan for residents to sign up for sidewalk repairs, in which homeowners would have paid for the concrete for sidewalks needing work adjacent to their homes, while the Department of Public […]

Village Council OKs new times for Village Skate Park

Ortonville- The village council voted 5-1 at their April 23 meeting to expand the hours the Village Skate Park is open. The park will now be open from 8 a.m.- 9 p.m., instead of the previous 8 p.m. closing time. Mary Kassuba voted no. Council President Sue Bess was absent. Additionally, the council approved a […]

After fleeing to Colorado, funeral bandit back to Michigan,facing charges

The 44-year-old man whom police are calling ‘the funeral bandit? arrived back in Michigan Wednesday after having fled to Colorado. Todd Lloyd Griffin was expected to be arraigned on a probation violation charge April 4, with numerous charges in numerous jurisdictions to come in the weeks ahead, said Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Dale Miller. […]

Exceeding expectations

By Susan Bromley Staff Writer Brandon Twp.- Leah West calls herself a modern-day hippie. The 17-year-old Brandon High School junior loves to help people and the environment and it shows? she has done more than 100 hours of community service in the past few years. ‘I’ve faced lots of difficulties growing up, but I have […]

CreekFest Poetry entries due May1

Ortonville- Entries are now being accepted for the Ortonville DDA’s – Main Street 2nd Annual CreekFest Poetry Contest, in participation with the State of Michigan’s River Day Observance. CreekFest is a festival celebrating Michigan waterways and promoting their conservation. Thematic content in poetry pieces will be favored but is not mandatory. Each entry must include […]