A walk to remember

Ortonville- Hundreds of people walked in silence around the track of the Brandon Schools Athletics Complex on Varsity Drive on June 13 after dark. The track was lit by the glow of luminarias, each remembering or honoring a person who has battled cancer. The messages were touching and many? ‘My mom, my angel,? said one; […]

Campground fight ends in assault, battery charges

On June 13, at about 9:30 p.m., a Brandon deputy responded to the Clearwater Campground, 1140 S. Ortonville Road, for an assault and battery. The complainant said he was attending a graduation party there for his ex-girlfriend’s sister that he had been invited to when his ex-girlfriend’s husband threw an ice chest at him, striking […]

Triple threat: Local athletes ready for Big Fish Lake Triathlon

Brandon Twp.- Heather Crawford never thought she could ever complete a triathlon. Tomorrow, she will compete in her second one. ‘If you would have asked me two years ago, I would have said I could never do that,? said Crawford, set to participate in the Big Fish Lake Sprint Triathlon on June 21. ‘Now we’re […]

Village takes aim to dump union

Ortonville- The end of union representation for village DPW employees appears to be drawing near. The village council will vote on a settlement agreement at their June 22 meeting that would end an ongoing dispute with Kevin Booms over his termination as a Department of Public Works employee, as well as sound the death knell […]

Prosecutor drops charge against ex-OHS teacher

Margaret Sullivan Keely, the Brandon Township resident and former Oxford High School teacher who introduced one of her students to her husband, a convicted sex offender later jailed on charges of sexually assaulting the girl, will not face any criminal charges. Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper confirmed Wednesday that the 93-day misdemeanor charge of failure […]

Longest serving Seymour Lake UMC pastor moving on

Brandon Twp.- After 10 years as the pastor of Seymour Lake United Methodist Church, the longest-serving full-time pastor in the church’s 135-year history is moving on. Debbie Line, who has helmed the church located at the corner of Seymour Lake and Sashabaw roads since her appointment in 1999, will give her last sermon there on […]

Brandon parapro honored

Brandon Twp.- H.T. Burt Principal Kristy Spann quotes the Greek philosopher Aristotle when talking about Lisa Gunnels. ‘Aristotle said we are what we repeatedly do? excellence is not an act, but a habit, and for Lisa, excellence is a habit,? says Spann. Gunnels was recognized for her excellence as an H.T. Burt special education parapro […]

Village council OKs new clerk, with 6-1 vote

Ortonville- The village has a new clerk. The council voted 6-1 at their June 8 meeting to hire village resident Heidi Barckholtz as the new part-time clerk at a rate of $17 per hour. ‘I am flattered and excited,? said Barckholtz, 36. ‘It’s a new opportunity and the village is important to me, so I […]

Ortonville man dies after Oakwood Road accident

Brandon Twp.- A 20-year-old township man died as the result of a three-vehicle accident June 8 on Oakwood Road. Josh Tolan, a 2007 graduate of Brandon High School, died June 9 at Genesys Regional Medical Center, the day after the crash. According to police reports, at about 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Tolan was driving a […]

School board OKs budget

Brandon Twp.- The school board approved by a 6-1 vote a preliminary 2009-2010 budget for the district during their June 8 meeting. Boardmember Debbie Brady voted no. The project budget has expected revenues of $30,145,107, which combined with a fund balance of $4,415,478, leaves $34,560,585 available for appropriation as of July 1. Projected expenditures are […]