Second suspect arraigned in township armed robbery

A second suspect has been arraigned in the armed robbery of a Brandon Township man the day before Thanksgiving. Isiah Jamal Brent, 17, of Detroit, was arraigned on a charge of armed robbery on Dec. 29 in front of 52-2 District Court Magistrate Elizabeth Chiappelli. Bond was set at $500,000, no 10 percent. Additionally, police […]

‘Blast from the past?

Ortonville- Half a century or more separates the participants in age, but the conversation flows, the coffee and lemonade (?) is sipped, and cookies are eaten. It’s a Friday afternoon at the Brandon Township Library and in the conference room, area senior citizens and students from Sharon Voyer’s fourth-grade Harvey Swanson class are bridging the […]

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. […]

Brandon grad tracks storms as meteorologist

Bryan Tilley would rather face a tornado than lightning. He’s had a few near misses with lightning, but has actually chased some tornadoes. ‘You can see where a tornado is going,? says Tilley. ‘With lightning, you don’t know where it’s coming from until it hits you.? As a meteorologist, Tilley tracks tornadoes, thunderstorms and more, […]

Brandon grad tracks storms as meteorologist

Bryan Tilley would rather face a tornado than lightning. He’s had a few near misses with lightning, but has actually chased some tornadoes. ‘You can see where a tornado is going,? says Tilley. ‘With lightning, you don’t know where it’s coming from until it hits you.? As a meteorologist, Tilley tracks tornadoes, thunderstorms and more, […]

Area businesses report change in buying habits

The month of December has typically been a good month for area businesses, but for Joe D’Anna of Papa Bella’s, last month was a great one. ‘Kids home from school, families together, people out Christmas shopping’business has been great,? said D’Anna, located at 425 Mill St., Ortonville. ‘Despite the tough economy, people are still spending […]

Snowed in

Ortonville- Frustration with snow piled on sidewalks and curbs has caused several business owners to sign a petition seeking a solution to the problem. The petition, circulated by Robin Mansfield, owner of Glass With Class bead store, requests that the village council change the Department of Public Works plowing procedure by tilting snow blades to […]

‘You learn to ask: ‘Why are you eating this???

Like many people, Kari Roehl used to start each new year by making a resolution to lose weight. Then, she would join the ranks of many more people by breaking the resolution. Not anymore. Roehl, 36, has lost more than 100 pounds since April 2006, without bariatric surgery. ‘Every first of the year, I would […]

Third suspect arraigned in Brandon armed robbery

A third and final suspect has been charged in the armed robbery of a Brandon Township man on Thanksgiving Eve. Annmarie Elizabeth Hanna, 17, of Burton, was arraigned Jan. 7 in 52-2 District Court on a charge of armed robbery. Bond was set at $100,000, no 10 percent, and she remains in the Oakland County […]

Swamped twp. home at issue

Brandon Twp.- A real estate sign in front of the home at 2330 S. Ortonville Road advertises it is for sale. But what is in back of the home advertises big problems. The vacant home has a walk-out basement, what could be considered a good selling point, but instead is a liability. The backyard is […]