Fire destroys Brandon Township mobile home

Brandon Twp.- A township family’s mobile home was recently destroyed by a fire that originated from a nearby charcoal grill. Township firefighters as well as Independence Township firefighters, responded to the blaze at about 12:34 p.m. June 14 in the 2300 block of Ironwood in the Sashabaw Meadows Mobile Home Park. Upon arrival, Brandon Fire […]

Brandon School District hires new business services director

Brandon Twp.- The school board unanimously approved at their June 18 meeting the hiring of Janice Meek to be the full-time executive director of business services. ‘I am very excited to be part of the team in Brandon,? said Meek. ‘It’s a wonderful community and I look forward to continuing the excellent reputation for academics […]

Groveland Twp. break-ins

Groveland Twp.? Michigan State Police are seeking tips in the recent break-ins of two homes and a business in the township. Troopers are investigating the breaking and entering of a business in the 1200 block of N. Ortonville Road that occurred on June 7. Two laptop computers and a pick-up truck were stolen, as well […]

Police dog attacks handler

Goodrich- The police dogs in the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit are highly trained animals that are carefully chosen for duty. While the animals may seem intimidating as they are taught to bite on command to protect their handler or corner a suspect, they are also taught to release on command and are very […]

‘If you want to be a good Dad, you will be?

Brandon Twp.- When strangers learn that Ron Besemer, 24, is the unmarried father of a 6-year-old son, he feels that assumptions are often made. ‘They quickly do the math and assume all the wrong things,? he said. ‘The first impression is, ‘You must be a deadbeat dad,? or ‘You must have left the mom and […]

Consumers Energy to begin major gas project

Brandon Twp.- Consumers Energy is bringing more natural gas to the township with one of the largest projects the utility company has undertaken in years. ‘This is one of the biggest main extension programs we’ve had in a long time for our company,? said Debra Dodd, Consumers Energy spokesperson. As of June 11, the company […]

Auditor to Brandon Township Board: ‘Good job?

Brandon Twp.- Long-term strategic budget planning the township board began in 2010 is starting to pay off. Pfeffer, Hanniford and Palka, CPA, recently completed their audit of the township’s 2011 financial statements. During the board’s June 4 meeting, Ken Palka presented results of the audit to the board, which found that as of Dec. 31, […]

Village fund equity balance remains healthy at 56 percent

Ortonville- The village continues to have a healthy fund balance and unlike other governmental entities, the council has no planned cuts to the budget again this year. During a public hearing on the 2012-13 village budget, Village Manager John Lyons said the village has a projected fund balance of $264,425, or roughly 56 percent. The […]

Stepping Stone expands care

Brandon Twp.- Stepping Stone is stepping up to fill a need for childcare. The child development center, 885 S. Ortonville Road, is expanding their summer childcare for the summer and possibly even for the next school year. School-aged childcare will be offered at the H.T. Burt Lifelong Learning Center, 209 Varsity Drive, with June 18 […]

Brandon school budget balanced, pending employee negotiations

Brandon Twp.- After facing a projected $1.4 million deficit for most of this year, school district officials are now anticipating not only a balanced budget for 2012-2013, but a $50,000 increase in the fund balance. The anticipation needs to be tempered, however, as School Board President Kevin McClellan said the budget that Finance Director Steve […]