Wilma E. Filhart

Wilma E. Filhart, 102, of Coleman died Sunday April 10, 2016, at the Isabella County Medical Facility in Mt. Pleasant.  She was born October 14, 1913 in Pandora, Ohio, the daughter of the late Joshua & Anna (Zimmerly) Amstutz.  She married Clifford L. Filhart in Pontiac, November 3, 1933.  He died September 24, 1994. Wilma […]

Arthur R. “Bud” Teare

Arthur R. “Bud” Teare died April 10, 2016, in Centralia, Washington. He was 93. Bud was born in Goodrich on Sept. 10, 1922 to Verne and Vera (Gregory) Teare. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in the Battle of the Bulge with the rank of Sergeant. He was a graduate of […]

Brandon Schools reading, math scores jump

The test scores, released earlier this year, show a districtwide 10.5 percent improvement in math and a 4.8 percent gain in reading.

By David Fleet Editor School officials are encouraged with some double digit improvements in Northwest Evaluation Association —NWEA test scores. The test scores, released earlier this year, show a districtwide 10.5 percent improvement in math and a 4.8 percent gain in reading. The Brandon students’ percentile rankings outpaced students from more 7,400 districts nationwide According […]

Mighty Mac Swim: ‘The water is just freezing’

By David Fleet Editor At 54, Paul Barber has completed his share of challenging races. But this Labor Day, as thousands walk the five mile span of Mackinac Bridge, Barber will attempt to complete the same distance hundreds of feet below, swimming in the frigid water of the Great Lakes. “It’s going to be a […]

The last messages from Titanic

  By David Fleet Editor We are sinking fast, passengers being put into life boats. “We are putting passengers off in small boats. Cannot last much longer. Losing power. This is Titanic. CQD. Engine room flooded. This was one of the few final messages sent by senior wireless operator Jack Phillips, an employee of the […]

Brent “Howdy” Pletcher

Brent “Howdy” Pletcher of Ortonville. Died April 8, 2016.  He was 63.  He was born May 9, 1952 in Pontiac, Michigan to Glennden and Shirley (nee: Ruple) Pletcher.  He is survived by parents; two sons, Stephen (Kourtney) Knox and Joshua Pletcher; two grandchildren, Clare and Grace Knox; sister, Cindy (Roger) Seelbinder; brother Brian (Ann) Pletcher.  Brent […]

Matthew Dunlap Allison

Matthew Dunlap Allison of Ortonville; died April 8, 2016.  He was 42. Born January 2, 1956 in Pontiac, Michigan to Susan (nee: Dean) and the late Albert Allison.  He is survived by his mother Susan and step-father, Robert Beck; three children, Chase, Brendan and Kaitlyn Allison; one sister, Lara Dryden.  A private service was held.  […]

Sister Mary Martin

Sister Mary Martin DePorres of Jesus, O.P. died April 5, 2016 at Our Lady of Mt. Thabor Monastery of Ortonville. Sister was born on July 22, 1918 in West Hoboken, N.J. She was the daughter of the late Cesare and Cristina (nee: DiFabristiis) DiGiambattista. She was preceded in death by a brother, Louis; and sister, […]

Joseph J. Perry

Joseph J. Perry of West Branch, formerly of Clarkston, died April 3, 2016. He was 90. Father of Michael J. Perry of Brandon Township and Brenda Beckwith of Harrison; grandfather of Melissa (Kyle) Kratz, Josh (Ronny) Beckwith, and Zack Beckwith; great-grandfather of four. No services are scheduled at this time.

Shirley Dutcher

A celebration of Shirley Dutcher’s life will take place in a service from 2-5:30 p.m., Saturday, April 16 at Friendship Park, 3380 Clarkston Road, Orion. Shirley, of Goodrich, died peacefully Jan. 13, 2016. She was 84. Survived by her loving and devoted husband Jack of 64 years; dearest mother of Debra (Clifford) Wilkerson, Suzanne (Kenneth) […]