Ortonville- Larry Brown announced his retirement as the village manager during the May 23 village council meeting. ‘I am retiring at the end of August,? said Brown. ‘This (position) takes a lot of time and energy and I want to dedicate more time to my family.? Brown was hired as the village treasurer in January […]
Brandon Twp.- Stephanie Ratliff never expected to see an advertisement for a problem pregnancy center in a high school yearbook, but that is exactly what caught her attention? and outrage? as her son, a freshman, paged through the 2011 edition of Wingspan. Ratliff picked her son up from school May 19 and in his hands […]
Ortonville- A village parks committee is being formed with the goal of ending long-standing problems at the Skate Park, as well as addressing more recent problems that have included fights involving large groups of people. Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Pete Burkett, commander of the Brandon substation, has offered to lead the committee overseeing the […]
Brandon Twp.- The school board has approved the reduction of 15 full-time teachers, but more lay-offs may be coming. The lay-offs were approved by a 6-0 vote during a special board meeting May 23. Trustee Debbie Brady was absent. Besides the teachers, 31 other personnel have also received pink slips, including paraprofessionals that are not […]
Groveland Twp.- A township family lost a beloved pet and are staying with friends after a fire in the early morning hours of May 19 destroyed their home and everything in it. Despite the tragedy, Jeff McLanson feels fortunate. ‘We’re lucky, we have a lot of great friends and people we don’t even know have […]
Brandon Twp.- Lay-offs are coming to the school district. The school board will vote during a special meeting to reduce 46 staff members, including 15 full-time teachers, 9 percent of the total current teaching staff. The remainder of staff that can expect pink slips following the meeting are paraprofessionals that are not grant-funded, media center […]
Ortonville- Take a walk on the wild side. Two gardens in the village are now certified wildlife habitats as defined by the National Wildlife Federation. Heritage Garden, located next to the Old Town Hall, as well as Creekside Garden, a buffer behind the Old Mill, located alongside Kearsley Creek, were recognized as wildlife habitats by […]
Brandon Twp.- Among several hundred local students graduating next month, Jason Rabideau is unique. Jason won’t go on to college and he will never hold a job, but like most mothers, Kelly Rabideau is proud of her child and dreams of a happy future for her son, who has Dyggve-Melchior-Clausen Syndrome, a disorder so rare […]
Brandon Twp.- Sandy Wiley, a Brandon Middle School teacher, feels her profession is under attack ‘For more years than I can count, I’ve had to defend my career,? said Wiley, who left a medical career and took a $40,000 pay cut to become a teacher. ‘I am sick and tired of defending our value.? But […]
Brandon Twp.- Residents with concerns about any number of state issues are invited to present them to local legislators during a community forum hosted by the Brandon School District, 6:30 p.m., May 16, at the I-TEC Center, 609 Ortonville Road. State Senator David Robertson and State Representative Brad Jacobsen will answer questions and share their […]