Brandon Twp.- The school board has approved restoring 10 special education parapros to 5 3/4 hours per day in classrooms. ‘The parapro time was very much missed,? said Superintendent Lorrie McMahon. The paraprofessionals, who work with special education students and assist them in general education classrooms, were moved back to four hours per day this […]
Brandon Twp.- By next spring, there should be three less cottages in the township. During their Dec. 1 meeting, the newly elected township board unanimously approved going forward with condemnation action on a township cottage at 1681 Hayes, while delaying action on two other structures located at 2431 Ortonville Road while the owner contracts with […]
Brandon Twp.- Kindergarten isn’t what it used to be and more changes may be in store. For the past several years, academic expectations have risen in the state for all students, including the youngest ones, and now, the time spent in school for kindergarteners may also be increasing. The school board will consider, likely at […]
Brandon Twp.- The school board unanimously approved French Associates to provide architectural and engineering services for several projects on a district wish list. By state mandate, anytime the district has construction or renovation costs of more than $25,000, an architect or engineer must be involved. The Rochester-based company will begin planning the renovations on science […]
Ortonville- Michael Jordan describes the first Christmas after his daughter Emily died in a 2002 Labor Day weekend accident as ‘absolutely terrible.? ‘I couldn’t focus on anything,? Jordan says. ‘Not on family, on celebrating Christmas, or anything. What I tried to do was focus on our daughter, Katie, who survived through all of that. Instead […]
Brandon Twp.- If 300,000 barrels worth of heavy crude oil is to flow daily through a new pipeline, two 6,000 horsepower pumps will be needed here to aid it on its way. Each pump is only 3 feet high and six feet long, but they are causing plenty of controversy, particularly because a structure proposed […]
Ortonville- For decades, bringing sewers to the village has been little more than a topic of discussion from time to time. But years of all talk and no action are finally changing and sewers could be a reality within the village if the council continues on their current course. ‘In 50 years, we’ve never been […]
Brandon Twp.- Fred Waybrant is taking a vacation, but it won’t be a permanent one. The township recreation director fielded questions from township board members, maintained his composure and kept his job during an employee review hearing July 22 at the library. ‘In the first five minutes of the Q and A, I started to […]
The first day of school is more than a month away, but it’s on the minds of many, in good ways and bad. Karyn Milligan, director of the Ortonville Community Emergency Fund food pantry, has already had inquiries from some OCEF clients about receiving help with school supplies. ‘If they are already asking in the […]
Ortonville- The Batson family has some of the coolest kids on the block thanks to two local charities. When temperatures recently soared past 90 degrees, Jennifer Batson’s worries soared, too. She and her husband, Matt, have three daughters, Sidney, 7, Katerina, 2, and Ava, 3-months-old. Their middle child was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was […]