New recall petition filed against Bess

Ortonville- The Oakland County Election Commission will decide on the clarity of new recall petition language against Village Council President Sue Bess after they denied the original recall petition language in a hearing a month ago. Ellen Davis Halsey, director of Oakland County elections, confirmed that on Oct. 10, she received new language calling for […]

Yankees fan in Tigers land

Brandon Twp.- It ain’t easy being a Yankees fan in Tigers territory. Just ask George Thomakos. The 49-year-old New York Yankees devotee had to endure not only his beloved team’s defeat by the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series, which ended with a Tigers win on Oct. 7, but also jests from his […]

Healthy foods on a small income

Brandon Twp.- Nutritionist Jeannie Richards often hears that it is difficult to eat healthy on a budget, because nutritious foods cost more. But eating well on a low income can be done, she says, with more time, awareness, and extra effort on the part of the consumer. ‘In the world we live in, (consumers) want […]

Sewer setback: Grant out of reach for village

Ortonville- The village will not receive a $2 million grant that could have been used for design of a sewer system. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality recently announced communities that would be awarded $97 million in grant funds from the Stormwater, Asset Management and Wastewater Program for this fiscal year. The village did not […]

MEAP=Math problems

Brandon Twp.- On average, less than one-third of students in third through eighth grades in the district are proficient in mathematics, according to the Michigan Educational Assessment Program. MEAP scores released last month showed 28 percent of third grade students are proficient in math, compared with 40.2 percent statewide and 51 percent in the county. […]

School budget? more cuts coming

Brandon Twp.- A harsher winter than normal has resulted in higher than average bills for the school district? utility costs are forecast to be $143,000 more than last year. Severance of a contract with VARtek, the private company who had been providing technology services for schools also cost the district $72,000. However, these expenses have […]

No master’s degree and no bachelor’s degree either

Brandon Twp.- The library failed to receive state aid revenue for the last five years because former Director Paula Gauthier didn’t have a master’s degree as she claimed. Now the library board has learned she didn’t have a bachelor’s degree, either. ‘The library board has discovered through the course of our investigation that she not […]

Despite ‘technical difficulty? local gay couples marry

Like Michigan’s literal roads, currently ridden with potholes, the figurative road to history is not always a smooth one. Gay couples in the state are still encountering roadblocks to legal marriage, but at least two of these area couples bypassed the obstacles, although their future plans may be temporarily halted. Willie and David Ollie Ray […]

‘If you love each other, love conquers everything?

Brandon Twp.- After more than half a century of marriage, Sophie and Jerry Strygulec endured four years of living apart. Now they are reunited and demonstrating the meaning of devotion, commitment and hope to their fellow residents of Nature’s Way Adult Foster Care Home. The couple’s journey to end up together is one that spans […]

Library board eyes financial recovery

Brandon Twp.- The library board is planning a civil lawsuit against former director Paula Gauthier to recover financial losses. The board voted to pursue civil action during their March 24 meeting. Whether they will proceed following an investigation is dependent on the potential cost of a court case. ‘The amount we will pursue has not […]