OCEF has biggest distribution ever
Brandon Twp.- In their annual Christmas Food and Gift Distribution this month, the Ortonville Community Emergency Fund helped more than 170 families, as well as residents of 11 group homes.
‘It was our biggest distribution ever,? said Food Pantry Coordinator Judy Henley, who noted that last year OCEF helped 145 families at Christmas. ‘We have a lot of new people asking for help. It’s been awful. Each year you feel it’s getting worse.?
She was grateful for volunteers who showed up after a major snowfall to sort food and gifts for the distribution and donors who supplied enough food, toys, and gifts for those in need.
‘It’s absolutely amazing what people out here do for one another,? Henley said.

Goodrich all A’s
Goodrich – In December the Goodrich School District received the highest mark possible on their Adequate Yearly Progress report, as one of two districts in Genesee County to receive an all ‘A? score. Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is one of the cornerstones of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. In Michigan, it’s a measure of year-to-year student achievement on the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) test for elementary and middle schools or the Michigan Merit Exam (MME) for high schools.
Superintendent named
Goodrich – By a 7-0 vote in December, the school board voted to approve the hiring of Interim Superintendent Larry Allen as the district’s permanent superintendent. President of the Goodrich District Board of Trustees, Michael Tripp said he wanted a contract negotiated for Allen as soon as possible. He said that although the end date of Allen’s contract would be negotiated, they definitely want him to be the district’s superintendent for the next year and a half.