Judge to hear village council oath case

Goodrich- A former village council member drive to challenge a procedural issue regarding the election of Councilman Doug McAbee will be heard by a circuit court judge on March 28. Judge Geoffrey Neithercut, of the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court, will hear both sides of a dispute after McAbee failed to sign the oath of office […]

Lawmaker to schools: Use rainy-day funds now

According to an article in The Detroit News, Sen. Jack Brandenburg, R-Harrison Township, believes school districts should be required to spend down their fund balances just as the state has done. The Budget Stabilization Fund is down from $2.2 million from a high of $1.2 billion in 2000. Brandenburg told The Detroit News the state […]

Never on the sideline: GHS athletic director retires

Ask Al Martus the key to almost four decades as a high school athletic director and he can answer in one word: Fairness. ‘I often considered students like my son or daughter,? said Martus, 66, who retired as athletic director from the Goodrich School District earlier this year. ‘Whether I consoled or congratulated or yelled […]

Sidge leaves office, no replacement named

Goodrich- On Wednesday, Village Manager Jakki Sidge vacated her office after a whirlwind of controversy stemming from a 3-2 vote at a special meeting Friday Feb. 11, when the village approved a motion requesting her resignation. No replacement has been announced; however, Village Council President Patrica Wartella said the village office will be open as […]

Open township trustee seat draws 12 applicants

A total of 12 applications were received to replace a vacated seat on the Atlas Township Board. The deadline for filing an application to fill the trustee seat vacated by Scott Statson, who resigned earlier this year, was 4 p.m., March 8. Those interested must be a resident of the township, be able to attend […]

Study examines college-ready students statewide

A Detroit Free Press article published last month compared how college-ready seniors at each individual high school were. Nationwide, 24 percent of 2010 high school graduates were considered college-ready, with a little under half of high school students taking the test. In Michigan, all public high school students take the test and about 19 percent […]

Hawks tops in Metro League

On Feb. 26 the Brandon Blackhawks boys swim team won their second straight league championship. In the six-team meet, the Blackhawks won six of the 12 events with 560 points, 130.5 more than runner-up Fenton. Individually, the Blackhawks placed in the top three in the 12 events. The Blackhawks, who finished their season 5-0 in […]

Wartella recall petitions OK’d

Goodrich-It’s on. A recall attempt aimed at village council president Patricia Wartella will be on the ballot May 3. Of the 225 petitions submitted by village resident Norm Bass on Jan. 27, a day before the Jan. 28 deadline, 195 were validated by canvassers. A minimum of 175 signatures, 25 percent of the last gubernatorial […]

Wounded bald eagle recovering

A wounded bald eagle rescued from a Genesee County woodlot is on the mend. That’s the update from Julie Oakes, senior wildlife biologist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, who was part of a team that responded on Feb. 14 to the remote rural area after a call requesting help for the injured eagle. […]

Saturday deer season opener eyed statewide

Opening day for deer hunters may soon become just a little easier if lawmakers have their way. Last month State Rep. Kevin Cotter introduced House Bill 4259 to move the opening day of firearm deer season to the Saturday closest to Nov. 15. The traditional start to the firearm deer season is Nov.15, but depending […]