Area Fourth of July fireworks ready to go at dusk

The Ortonville Independence Day celebration will begin at dusk on July 3, with fireworks ignited from the Brandon Middle School parking lot. Parks and Recreation Director Fred Waybrant expects the show to be ‘spectacular.? The Chamber of Commerce sponsors the show, with funding for the $8,000 show from Wolverine Fireworks provided by donations from the […]

Diverse projects at Oakland County Fair

Groveland Twp.- A rat mold, make-up depicting the Black Plague, and Christmas items. These are among the diverse projects Danielle Todd expects to show at the Oakland County Fair, set for July 8-13 at the Springfield Oaks County Park, 12451 Andersonville Road, Davisburg. Danielle expects to be up until at least 2 a.m. the night […]

Council OKs budget, inks village manager raise

Ortonville- The village council approved 5-1 to give Village Manager Ed Coy a 5 percent raise, as well as a $600 per year allowance for mileage. Councilmember Melanie Nivelt voted no. Councilmember Aileen Champion was absent. ‘I’m appreciative,? said Coy, who previously made $46,350 per year and will now receive $48,667.50. Nivelt said she voted […]

Facione: ‘I will miss my colleagues and the kids?

Brandon Twp.- Judy Facione was a city girl when she came to teach special education students at Brandon High School 31 years ago. She remembers being baffled when one of the first students she had came to class with ‘white stuff? on his boots. She asked what it was. ‘He told me the white stuff […]

CreekFest

Ortonville- The most ‘outstanding special event,? as named by Main Street Oakland County, is back. The eighth annual CreekFest will take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., June 4 in the village. The Downtown Development Authority-sponsored event celebrates waterways in the village and Brandon Township, primarily Kearsley Creek ‘We have many exciting things going on at […]

Village manager to retire

Ortonville- Larry Brown announced his retirement as the village manager during the May 23 village council meeting. ‘I am retiring at the end of August,? said Brown. ‘This (position) takes a lot of time and energy and I want to dedicate more time to my family.? Brown was hired as the village treasurer in January […]

Brandon yearbook ad sparks controversy

Brandon Twp.- Stephanie Ratliff never expected to see an advertisement for a problem pregnancy center in a high school yearbook, but that is exactly what caught her attention? and outrage? as her son, a freshman, paged through the 2011 edition of Wingspan. Ratliff picked her son up from school May 19 and in his hands […]

Skate park plans: Season passes, helmets

Ortonville- A village parks committee is being formed with the goal of ending long-standing problems at the Skate Park, as well as addressing more recent problems that have included fights involving large groups of people. Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Pete Burkett, commander of the Brandon substation, has offered to lead the committee overseeing the […]

Board OKs teacher lay-offs; more possible

Brandon Twp.- The school board has approved the reduction of 15 full-time teachers, but more lay-offs may be coming. The lay-offs were approved by a 6-0 vote during a special board meeting May 23. Trustee Debbie Brady was absent. Besides the teachers, 31 other personnel have also received pink slips, including paraprofessionals that are not […]

Groveland Township family loses dog, home to fire

Groveland Twp.- A township family lost a beloved pet and are staying with friends after a fire in the early morning hours of May 19 destroyed their home and everything in it. Despite the tragedy, Jeff McLanson feels fortunate. ‘We’re lucky, we have a lot of great friends and people we don’t even know have […]

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