Brandon Schools to offer early retirement, again

Brandon Twp.- The school board is moving forward with plans to offer an early retirement incentive to eligible teachers in the district. The board has received two proposals from firms that specialize in financial planning for school districts. One of the companies offering to formulate a plan for teacher buyouts is Educators Preferred Corporation, which […]

Pastors ponder marriage equality ruling, local couple celebrates

Brandon Twp.- June 26, 2015 will be remembered in history as the day the United States Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right in all 50 states. For Willie and David Ollie-Ray, township residents, the date is yet another to celebrate in their life together. ‘I am excited!? said Willie on Wednesday. […]

Sewer ballot language OK’d

Ortonville- The village council has approved ballot language for a November vote on a proposed wastewater treatment system. The council unanimously approved at their June 22 meeting a sewage disposal system contract proposition to be submitted to the Oakland County Elections Board. If the language is approved by the county elections officials, the proposition will […]

Village Skate Park to reopen

Ortonville-A divided council has approved reopening the long-shuttered Skate Park. Council Member Liz Waters made a simple motion to ‘reopen the Skate Park as soon as possible? at the June 22 council meeting. The motion was approved by a 4-3 vote, with Waters joined in voting yes by council members Debbie Baker, Tonja Brice, and […]

‘Ordinary People by Extraordinary Artists?

Brandon Twp.- Prints and drawings by some of the world’s most famous artists are no longer on public display at the Detroit Institute of Arts due to their fragile nature, but locally there is an opportunity this week to see and hear about these treasured works in a special program. Constance Corrigan will present ‘Ordinary […]

Ortonville Village budget: ‘We’re in really good shape?

By Susan Bromley Staff Writer Ortonville- The village council unanimously approved at their June 22 meeting the 2015-16 budget, with matching revenues and expenditures of $730,825. The budget will leave the village with a projected ending general fund balance of $432,558.85, or 62 percent, a slight decrease from the existing fund balance of $461,094.71. ‘We’re […]

Making Christmas merry

Brandon Twp.- Rumor has it that elves work at the North Pole. What is not as widely known is that Santa has his own helpers right here. Janet Kurnat is one of many. Kurnat, a Groveland Township resident and retired Brandon school teacher, hates shopping. Despite her loathing of the task, she was out shopping […]

Christmases Past: Local seniors share holiday memories

Grace Holstein grew up in a time when the world seemed safer and no one locked their doors or were concerned about kids being left alone. Little did her parents know that one Christmas Eve, there was reason to be concerned? about her brother. On that snowy Christmas Eve nearly 60 years ago, Holstein’s parents […]

Pizza maker turns to Christmas cookies

Ortonville- Got Christmas cookies? Joe D’Anna does. D’Anna creates thousands of pizzas all year long as the co-owner of Papa Bella’s Pizza, but once a year in December, the pizza maker turns into cookie baker? creating on average about 2,500-2,800 cookies in about four hours with his family. This year’s cookie extravaganza happened last Sunday […]

Bussing to home schools only next year

Brandon Twp.- In the past, elementary students here have been provided transportation to the school of their choice in the district. No more. Beginning next school year, students will be bussed only to the elementary school they are assigned to based on the area in which they reside. ‘In the tight economic times and because […]