Teaching tarantula

For Belle Ann Elementary teacher Kay Moreau, what started out catching a few small spiders to demonstrate the fine art of web building to her first grade students, has produced a rather large hairy classmate. ‘A few years ago, John Sherman, a custodian at the school, noticed that I was hunting spiders around school and […]

Brandon school board inks buyout deal

Brandon Twp.-The Brandon School Board Ok’d by a vote of 6-0 Monday night a comprehensive severance package for teachers who choose to retire early from the district. The decision comes after school officials say an estimated 13 teachers may receive layoff notices in the next few months due to declining enrollment. The district is projected […]

Local companies award school bids

Brandon Twp-Three area businesses are among 40 companies awarded bids by the Brandon School Board for work on the Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School renovation project. Rob Busby, assistant project manager for Skasaka USA construction organizers for the Brandon School District project says they try to find contractors that are located in the area. Skasaka USA […]

One less trooper

Groveland Twp.-At least one trooper assigned to the Michigan State Police team located in the township may be laid off after The Michigan Department of State Police announced a spending reduction plan to address a $13.6 million deficit the department is experiencing in the current 2007 fiscal year. Shanon Akans Michigan State Police public affairs […]

Chamber Expo 2007: bigger, better

The Greater Ortonville Area Chamber of Commerce will host its sixth annual Business Expo from 6 to 8 p.m., April 26, at the Brandon High School. The Expo offers a networking opportunity for the public to meet area business owners. ‘Last year more than 35 area businesses participated in the Expo which attracted more than […]

M-15 Task Force eyes hospital proposal

Brandon Twp.- The traffic impact of a proposed hospital project in nearby Independence Township has some traffic engineers concerned that significant improvements along the M-15 corridor are needed sooner than later. During a legislative briefing on Monday at the Brandon Township Library, an outline of the progress the M-15 Task Force has made since 1995 […]

Danish teen finds American life fast paced

Brandon Twp.- Lots of traffic, plenty of junk food and very large. That’s how Denmark native Mads Flaga, 17, discribes life in the township since arrving last August as an exchange student through theYouth for Understanding a non-profit educational organization which offers opportunities for young people around the world to spend a summer, semester or […]

February fire recalled in downtown Goodrich

Goodrich- It’s been more than 90 years since a late February fire scorched businesses in downtown Goodrich. In the early morning hours of Feb. 22, 1916 three businesses and a residence in the downtown area of the village were destroyed by fire, according to a newspaper report in The Oxford Leader. The fire started in […]

Camping in the cold and snow: The challenge of winter survival

The challenge: spend two mid-February nights in the remote Pigeon River State Forest. The payoff: Cold but accomplished students. With nighttime temperatures dipping to 10 below zero, Brandon Middle School science teacher Dave Green along with ten Brandon Middle School students and seven adults hiked deep in the pristine forest of Otsego County. ‘If you […]

Steady growth for Atlas Township

Atlas Twp.- A five acre lot size, rezoning of M-15 properties and continued work on some of the more than 47 miles of gravel roads, are just a few of the issues Paul Amman, township supervisor, has to contend with this year. ‘New homes in the township have sagged over the past three years,? said […]