Master plan key issue in Brandon development

The recent site approval of Long Lake Village should come as no surprise to the residents of Brandon Township, considering the players in the building game. Boasting a ‘focus on maximizing return on investments,? the Silverman Companies, of Bingham Farms, Mich. advertised mantra includes ‘develop and acquire premium properties from master-planned communities and luxury rental […]

100 years for Thompson’s

Ortonville-In 1904 G.N. Hart Hardware opened for business on the west side of South Street in downtown Ortonville. Later named DeLano Hardware the building was destroyed by fire in 1942. When a new building was erected in 1944, the tradition of suppling the community with a variety of goods and services unique to many villages […]

Patriot’s descendants return to honor

Groveland Twp.-It’s been 227 years since a 14- year-old boy from Hebron County near Hartford Conn. volunteered into the service of the United States as a musician-fifer in the Militia of Connecticut. He would serve with the Connecticut Continental Line, encounter Gen. George Washington and live to see our nation’s birth. The military journey of […]

Goodrich Chamber seeks to regroup

Goodrich – Bank managers, restaurateurs, and a flower shop owner? all differ in regard to their business yet all will soon have one thing in common, they’ll all be members of the Goodrich Area Chamber of Commerce. On Aug. 24 more than 20 area entrepreneurs gathered at Cranberries Caf? for the first meeting of the […]

Brandon Fire Dept. seeks equipment

Brandon Twp.- Fire Chief Robert McArthur says although losing a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant seeking a $250,000 tanker is a setback to the department, he’s confident that with lower interest rates and planning, the purchase can still move forward. Last year McArthur submitted a grant to help purchase a 3,500 gallon tanker for water […]

An American soldier with drive

Ortonville-Donning about 40 pounds of body armor, a tan sand colored Army uniform and matching helmet, Sheila Collins has experienced the War in Iraq from a rather unique perspective’from behind the wheel of a truck. Collins, 33, a 1988 graduate of Lamphere High School in Madison Heights, is the daughter of Ortonville residents, JoeAnn and […]

Remembering a patriot

Groveland Twp. – He was born in 1763, joined the Militia of Connecticut at 14, and encountered Gen. George Washington during his service. The Ortonville Cemetery is home to the grave of Norman Phelps Sr.’patriot, family man and resident of Ortonville. Phelps was buried in the cemetery with no designation as a soldier. Now, more […]

Cruising the high anxiety corridor

On M-15, a man was killed when his northbound sports utility vehicle crossed the center line, colliding with a southbound pickup truck. Three family members were killed in a car-truck collision. Two motorcyclists perished in separate incidents. All since February. Love it or hate it, most of us have to drive M-15. Legions of frequent […]

New high school art teacher keeps it ‘all in the family?

Brandon Twp.-When school ended in June, long time Brandon High School art teacher Margaret Hall moved 20 years of personal art supplies from her classroom to her home. This August, Hall’s daughter Jennifer Polasek will help pack up those same supplies and haul them back to the very same classroom her mother had occupied. On […]

Community welcomes Goodrich soldier home

Goodrich-Letters from school children, an e-mail from mom, the green countryside of rural Genesee County. For local soldier Alec MacDougall those simple reminders of home made his six month stint in Iraq a little more palatable. On Tuesday afternoon more than 50 friends, relatives and community members gathered at the Goodrich Park to welcome home […]