Summertime is ‘rattlesnake-time’locally

It’s summer and with warm weather comes hiking, swimming and . . . snake bites. Reptiles, like some humans, hole up in colder weather and emerge when it’s warm. Much of the northern Oakland County areas, including Brandon and Groveland townships, are hot spots for the only venomous snake? the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, a true […]

At 90, A&W parties with cruise, music

Ortonville-On a hot June day in 1919, a California businessman named Roy Allen mixed up a frothy brew of root beer and sold it for just 5 cents. Allen, along with partner Frank Wright, combined their initials – ‘A? for Allen and ‘W? for Wright and formally named the concoction A&W Root Beer. The tradition […]

Avenue of Flags less one

By David Fleet Editor Groveland Twp.-For more than a quarter century the Avenue of Flags displayed at the Ortonville Cemetery each Memorial Day has been a visible tribute to those individuals who served the United States in the past, and presently. The 544 flags are placed alphabetically along the roadway by volunteers, on Sunday morning […]

Five vie for vacant Goodrich school board seat

Goodrich-The school board is expected to vote Monday night to fill a vacant seat following the resignation of trustee Michael J. Thorp on May 6. Thorp, 53, who served almost two decades on the school board, relocated to Flint. His current term will expire in 2011. The board will appoint an individual to fill Thorp’s […]

Township voters to decide Hurley millage

Atlas Twp.-The Genesee County Board of Commissioners voted 7-2 on Tuesday to place a 0.9 countywide millage for Hurley Medical Center on the Aug. 4 ballot. Voting ‘yes? were Commissioners Omar Sims, Brenda Clack, Jamie Curtis, John Northrup, Pat Lockwood, Archie Bailey and Patrick Gleason. Ted Henry along with Commissioner Miles Gadola voted ‘no.? Township […]

Cut from ‘prime stock?

Goodrich-If a block of wood could speak, it would tell Ted Nicklas a story of its curly grains, wavy lines and unique colors. Those characteristics define the stellar gunstocks Nicklas has created over a lifetime. For more than a half a century, Nicklas, a Hadley Township native, has transformed a small forest of hardwood blank […]

Mosquito,WNV prevention available for townships

A combination of less money to spend and a significant reduction in cases of the West Nile Virus has prompted county officials to scale back mosquito prevention to areas of the county. Tony Drautz, Administrator, Environmental Health Services Oakland County Health Division, said that funding for prevention has been reduced from $500,000 to $300,000 for […]

Planning commission defends master plan

Atlas Twp.-No trailer parks. That’s the word from township planners who on Wednesday night hosted a public hearing at the Goodrich Middle School Cafetorium which drew about 60 residents to discuss the township master plan. The master plan, which is reviewed every five years, is a guide for land use in the community it serves. […]

Local GM dealership can only wait

Brandon Twp.- Despite a looming General Motors bankruptcy, sluggish car sales and possible reductions in the number of dealers nationwide’local GM dealer Larry Simms remains optimistic about the future of his business. ‘We are going through with a positive attitude, just like we are going to be here forever,? said Simms. ‘Our goal here at […]

Local youths assist senior citizen following fall on township road

Groveland Twp.- On a warm mid-April afternoon, township residents Glen and Kathy Westfall took advantage of the sunshine to sit outside their rural home. ‘It was the first nice spring day we had,? said Kathy, 67. ‘It was such a great day that Glen decided to venture down our long driveway to Brandt Road. Glen […]