Donkeys delivered; saving their asses

Brandon Twp.- On a recent warm sunny afternoon, Jane Olney walks out to a fenced pasture on her 10-acre property, calling out greetings to four miniature donkeys who are grazing. The donkeys look up at the sound of her voice and all four immediately begin ambling her way. Olney holds no food in her hands, […]

Community rallies for Kress-Stoddard Family

Brandon Twp.- Kim Kress-Stoddard describes her husband, Steve, as a workaholic. The couple has been married five years and between them, they have five children. Steve has been working three jobs to make ends meet every month. But after he was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer last month, the family is learning to live […]

UAW to hold bone marrow drive in Orion

Kammron Myles looks and acts like a normal baby. On a recent Tuesday morning, the curly-haired, sturdy 10-month-old with the big brown eyes smiles and reaches for a toy truck on the floor in his aunt’s home in Groveland Township as sunshine streams in through a window. There are no signs that anything is wrong. […]

Relay for Life

Ortonville- Pat Guziak was sitting at her campsite at about 3 a.m. at the Relay for Life in Westland five years ago when she saw a woman in distress at the 24-hour walk to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Guziak walked up and asked her if she wanted to talk, and soon learned […]

Nine fire departments respond for massive Ortonville blaze

Ortonville- Eight local fire departments responded last week to assist Brandon firefighters in extinguishing one of the largest fires ever in the township. The blaze began at about 1:03 a.m. June 18 and destroyed a building on property the village is in the process of purchasing at 255 Narrin Street. Atlas, Hadley, Groveland, Independence, Springfield, […]

Doggy Olympics

Ortonville- Go, dog, go! The first annual Doggy Olympics to benefit North Oakland Animal Help (NOAH) will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 30, at Crossman Park in the village (located next to the township offices, 395 Mill St.). ‘Originally we were going to have a charity dog show, but being an Olympic […]

No privatization, bus drivers stay in Brandon

Brandon Twp.- The school board unanimously approved during their June 18 meeting a contract with the Teamsters Local #214 bus drivers and mechanics. The move avoided privatization, saved jobs in the community, and drew cheers from several bus drivers in attendance, including union steward Debbie Allen. ‘Debbie, we thank you for working with the board,? […]

School board candidate Q&A

Residents of the Brandon School District interested in serving on the school board are invited to an informational session planned for 6:30 p.m., Monday, June 25 at the central district office, 1025 S. Ortonville Road. The school board has three seats up for election this year? two four-year terms currently held by Debbie Schummer and […]

Brandon man charged in assault, resisting police

An 18-year-old man who assaulted family members and then barricaded himself from police last weekend has been arraigned on charges. Keyneal Toonay Alexander was arraigned on two counts of domestic assault and one count of resisting and obstructing police on June 16 by Sixth Circuit Court Magistrate Marie Soma. According to police reports, Brandon deputies […]

The Peace Corps: Area mom reflects on El Salvador

Editor’s note: This is the first installment in a 2-part series on the Peace Corps. Next week: Ryan LaPrairie, a 2002 Brandon High School graduate, is currently serving in Ghana, Africa. Renee Witherup knew three things about El Salvador prior to traveling there to live as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1965: It was small; […]