$1 million bond, five new charges for attacker of judge

A White Lake Township man in court on charges of domestic violence found himself with a tenfold increase in bond and five new charges after assaulting a judge in 52nd-2nd District Court on Wednesday. Judge Dana Fortinberry told police she felt something whiz by her ear, but had looked down to close a folder and […]

State could reverse speed limit law

The message sent by Clarkston-area and other county residents on gravel roadways was loud and clear: leave our speed limits alone. The Michigan House of Representatives heard the message, and voted last week to amend the new law’Public Act 85’which mandated removal of speed limit signs and increased acceptable speeds to 55 mph along many […]

Program supports boot camp grads

It’s time to grow up and be a man. Those were the words of Independence Township resident Steven Bailey, 20, as he approached a Dec. 25 graduation from Oakland County’s Boot Camp ? more formally known as the Regimented Inmate Discipline Program. The program, which has turned out 2,740 graduates since 1990, was developed by […]

Santa gets a hand

Four underprivileged Oakland County siblings will wake to find an eye-popping pile of presents stacked under the tree this Christmas, thanks to Santa and his special helpers at Vaughn Chiropractic. For the past 25 years, the Vaughns have made it a Christmas tradition to ‘adopt? a less-fortunate local family through one of the area’s many […]

Baskets save Christmas

I love to help otherz. You shood help otherz too. That was the message Collin Walls found scrawled on a sheet of paper and wrapped around a can of food Friday as he sorted through a mountain of goods donated to help local families during the Christmas season. ‘This is why I do this,? said […]

Board boosts Springfield salaries

The Board of Trustees approved a pay hike for many of the Springfield Township’s key employees Thursday, while the supervisor, clerk and treasurer all voted down personal raises. None of the township’s employees received a raise last year. Fire Chief Charlie Oaks saw his annual salary rise from $49,000 to $53,500 for 2007, while full-time […]

Finding a family

Shellie Stuetzer wasn’t thinking about changing the direction of her life or putting her own plans on hold when she signed on as a mentor. As the mother of two grown daughters, Stuetzer, of Independence Township, finally had some extra time and simply wanted to reach out, to make a difference in the life of […]

Can we help the wounded families?

Hurt people hurt people. I heard it first from one of my favorite yoga teachers. People who come from a background of abuse perpetuate the cycle. They don’t mean to, don’t want to, it’s just what they know. I’ve written about the family brawls and skirmishes I find in the police reports before, but it’s […]

Girls’ Night Out

Barb Patch of Independence Township shares a laugh with fellow scrapbookers while participating in ‘crop night? Friday at Maggie’s Scrapbooking Company on Sashabaw Road.

Three local stores caught in alcohol-to-minors sting

Three Independence Township establishments were reported to the state’s Liquor Control Commission after selling alcohol to a minor during recent sting conducted by Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputies. Of the 12 stores targeted, an underage decoy was allowed to purchase alcohol at: ‘Kroger, 6625 Dixie Highway; ‘Bianca’s II, 7880 Andersonville Road; ?7-Eleven, 7743 Sashabaw Road. ‘We’ve […]