OCEF: ‘We hope there are lots of smiles Christmas morning?

Brandon Twp.- Happy faces on Christmas morning is the hope of Brenda Todd, co-coordinator of the OCEF toy store. Todd and Ortonville Community Emergency Fund volunteers Pat Bardel and Diane Knowles were hard at work on Dec. 12 at St. Anne Church in a toy-laden, festively decorated hall. Long tables filled with toys were arranged […]

Man faces charges in sex abuse case; teacher wife released on bond

William Arthur Keely, the 64-year-old Brandon Township man accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl introduced to him by his wife, a teacher, will be arraigned on multiple charges at 8:30 a.m., Dec. 26, in front of Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Rudy Nichols. Keely was bound over to the circuit court Monday on all […]

One Keely heading to court, the other’s free on bond

William Arthur Keely, the 64-year-old Brandon Township man accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl introduced to him by his wife, a teacher, will be arraigned on multiple charges at 8:30 a.m., Dec. 26, in front of Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Rudy Nichols. Keely was bound over to the circuit court on all charges, […]

VFW numbers decline locally, nationwide

Ortonville- The day was sunny and hot, music filled the air as the Brandon High School band marched and applause rang out as military veterans in uniform placed wreaths at World War I and II markers in the village during the Memorial Day Parade. Many citizens braved the 90-plus degree heat to follow the procession […]

Memorial day in Ortonville

Ortonville- The day was sunny and hot, music filled the air as the Brandon High School band marched and applause rang out as military veterans in uniform placed wreaths at World War I and II markers in the village during the Memorial Day Parade. Many citizens braved the 90-plus degree heat to follow the procession […]

A flood of CreekFest activties

Ortonville- Without Kearsley Creek, there would be no Old Mill, and without the Old Mill, no Ortonville, says Connie Stalker. As an integral part of the community, the waterway will be celebrated with a full day of activities during CreekFest, June 10. ‘Kearsley Creek is a major element in the community,? says Stalker, who, with […]

‘I’ve loved all of the excitement?

Brandon Twp.- When Fire Chief Bob McArthur retires next month after 33 years with the Brandon Fire Department, he’ll take many memories with him. Some are funny? like the time he went out on a call in the early 80s after a woman who was locked out of her house got stuck in her chimney; […]

Peru, Mexico part of Brandon High School grad’s year

Brandon Twp.- As 2008 draws to a close, Tyler Cole reflected on it as an educational year in which he learned about the people of two different countries and the effects of pessimism and optimism, among other things. Cole, 20, spent five weeks in Lima, Peru in April and May, followed by a 2-month stay […]

School liaison officer to stay this year

Brandon Twp.- A last minute deal will keep the police liaison officer position in the school district until June. Township Supervisor Kathy Thurman and Brandon Schools Superintendent Lorrie McMahon reached an agreement on Dec. 26, in which the school district will contribute $10,000 to fund the position for the remainder of the school year. ‘The […]

Military couple:’We knew what we were getting into?

Groveland Twp.-Air Force Technical Sgt. Mackenzie Lombardo spent Christmas this year at the the Groveland Township home of her parents, Terry and Rick Geary. She was happy to be there and they were happy to have her and their two grandchildren, Mackenzie’s daughters Addison, 3, and Riley, 2, for the holiday. But the family wasn’t […]