Brandon school district wish list work proceeds

Brandon Twp.- The school board unanimously approved French Associates to provide architectural and engineering services for several projects on a district wish list. By state mandate, anytime the district has construction or renovation costs of more than $25,000, an architect or engineer must be involved. The Rochester-based company will begin planning the renovations on science […]

Church hosts holiday grief support

Ortonville- Michael Jordan describes the first Christmas after his daughter Emily died in a 2002 Labor Day weekend accident as ‘absolutely terrible.? ‘I couldn’t focus on anything,? Jordan says. ‘Not on family, on celebrating Christmas, or anything. What I tried to do was focus on our daughter, Katie, who survived through all of that. Instead […]

Ride for wishes, ‘Making dreams come true’

Ortonville- Billy Flanders had his dream of seeing Shamu fulfilled when he was 4-years-old and terminally ill. More than 20 years later, his mother, Hazel Flanders, still recalls how her son laughed as the killer whale splashed people in the front rows. ‘Everytime people got splashed he’d crack up,? she says, smiling at the memory. […]

Old Mill anniversary celebration

Ortonville- Old-fashioned fun is right around the corner, both time and distance-wise. A celebration to mark the 150th anniversary of The Old Mill will be June 23 and 24 at the mill, 366 Mill St. ‘Many community members will have a summer at home,? says Janice Turnbull, chairperson for the sesquincentennial celebration, ‘The Mill With […]

Old Mill anniversary celebration

Ortonville- Old-fashioned fun is right around the corner, both time and distance-wise. A celebration to mark the 150th anniversary of The Old Mill will be June 23 and 24 at the mill, 366 Mill St. ‘Many community members will have a summer at home,? says Janice Turnbull, chairperson for the sesquincentennial celebration, ‘The Mill With […]

At home in The Beach House

Brandon Twp.- Since buying WOW Tan May 1, new owner Kathy Zardus has made significant changes in the business, with more to come. The salon located at 950 Ortonville Road has been renamed The Beach House and besides the new sign out front, the interior has an all new look, too. Inside, the walls of […]

Local author tells of her cancer journey

Atlas Twp.- Mary Tison has found, and wrote, a happy ending to what was a horror story. ‘A Cancer Journey: Walking with God,? was published in March, detailing Tison’s battle with cancer following her diagnosis in December 1999. She would endure a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, a mastectomy, more radiation that resulted in second and third-degree […]

Unknown passer-by alerts township family of chimney fire

Brandon Twp.- Babe Osmak and her husband, Grady Like, are looking for the angel who rang their doorbell at about 4:30 a.m. Dec. 8, telling them their chimney was on fire. ‘We were asleep and the doorbell rang,? recalls Osmak. ‘I answered the door, and a man there said flames were coming out of our […]

Township braces for $150K in cuts

Brandon Twp.- The township board will ‘put everything on the table? in an effort to save between $100,000- $150,000 per year. ‘A revenue saving committee will investigate ways to save money, especially in the area of healthcare for township employees,’said Supervisor Kathy Thurman, who is aiming for $150,000 in cuts. ‘They will also investigate how […]

National Weather Service: ‘White Christmas sure thing this year?

A white Christmas in Ortonville and Goodrich is likely a sure thing this year. ‘It’s looking very good for a white Christmas,? said David Kook, a meteorologist intern at the National Weather Service, White Lake. He made his prediction on Thursday, with a few inches of snow already on the ground and more expected Friday. […]