Local growers sweating out early spring, as warmth continues

Atlas Twp.-Ray Porter examined the tiny green leaves that recently emerged on one of his apple trees. ‘I’ve had dreams like this before where the leaves come out in March’then I’d wake up,? said Porter, third generation apple grower and owner of Porter’s Orchard, 12060 Hegel Road. ‘It’s no dream now’the chance of cold weather […]

Invasive phragmites control sought

Atlas Twp.- A common reed is producing an uncommon problem. Township Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones is spearheading a drive to raise land-owners’ awareness of an invasive reed that is growing at an alarming rate. Phragmites australis is native to Michigan. An invasive, non-native, variety is becoming widespread in the state and is threatening the ecological health […]

Historic bridge teeters on end

Goodrich-Jim Hunter has a bridge that once led somewhere. Hunter’s backyard incorporates a section of the Kearsley Creek near Green Road and what locals have labeled the ‘Rhodes Road Bridge.? The iron, stone and wood structure, which incorporates hot rivets and spans the Kearsley Creek, has been abandoned for about 80 years, say historians. In […]

Council passes SS number breach over to village insurance

Goodrich- When the village council adjourned the special meeting just after 9 p.m. Monday night, a glimmer of light may have been shed on a controversy over a breach of security and just who should be responsible. In November, the village council voted 4-0 to hire Grand Blanc CPA Karl Haiser to resolve an unpaid […]

Council to hear report on missing Social Security numbers

Goodrich-In November, the village council voted 4-0 to hire Grand Blanc CPA Karl Haiser to resolve an unpaid bill of about $6,000 as well as answer questions regarding whether 19 individuals? private information was compromised by the removal of computer files after the dismissal of the village administrator. The council approved a $9,300 contract with […]

Champion at 103

Goodrich-Isaac Jewell began his wrestling career at a rather dismal 0-23. ‘As a seventh grade wrestler at 75 pounds, I was getting pinned all the time,? said Jewell, now 18. ‘The coaches were throwing me out there against tougher opponents’they knew I would come back.? He did. On March 3, Jewell, 103 pounds, won an […]

Goodrich School Board OKs artificial turf for field

Goodrich-By a 7-0 vote on Feb. 27 the school board approved $586,140 for artificial turf for the athletic field. After a few upgrades to the middle school last year, the second phase of a $15.4 million bond extension approved by voters in February 2011 has been ongoing since December. The bid was awarded to Kiefer […]

Graves wins 51st House

Atlas Twp.-In November, local voters narrowly recalled 51st House State Representative Paul Scott from office. On Tuesday, township voters chose Republican Joseph Graves to fulfill a partial term that will end Jan.1, 2013. Graves received 10,290 votes (53 percent) while Democrat Steven Losey tallied 8,173 votes (42 percent). Green Party candidate Cary Neuville-Justice had 803 […]

The art of laughter

Steve Gotham is a clown. And that’s no joke. ‘I just always wanted to be a clown my whole life,? said Gotham, 58, a Hadley Township resident. ‘When everything turns bad, laughter makes people feel better. It releases endorphins’you can’t experience pain when you’re laughing.? In the 1970s, Gotham attended Florida State University, which just […]

Questions surround leave of absence for coach

Goodrich- Plenty of questions’few answers. On Monday night the regular school board of trustees meeting was moved to the middle school cafeteria to accommodate about 100 parents, teachers and students following a row allegedly between the school administration, boy’s basketball coach Gary Barns, players and parents. The issue was not on the school board agenda. […]