Drug overdose probable cause in township man’s death

Brandon Twp.- The death of a 51-year-old township man last weekend was likely the result of a heroin overdose. According to police reports, deputies responded to a home in the 3700 block of Birch on Oct. 26. Brandon Fire Department medics were at the scene, called by a woman who arrived home to find her […]

Two for the road: Drunk driver slams pair of patrol cars in Brandon

Brandon Twp.- Deputies here aren’t having any difficulty lately spotting drunk drivers. It’s particularly easy when one crashes into your patrol car with his truck, as was the case this week when a drunk driver hit not one, but two police vehicles. ‘We don’t even have to look’they’re running into us,? said Oakland County Sheriff’s […]

Township house fire caused by candle

Brandon Twp.- Elizabeth McGhee was asleep about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning when she was awakened by her son, Charles. The tone of his voice and one look at his face told her something was very wrong. ‘I said, ‘What’s the matter??? McGhee recalled. ‘He said, ‘My room is on fire.?? She flew down the stairs, […]

Sheriff’s report shows ups, downs in local crime

Brandon Twp.- Larceny, fraud, and OWI reports are up, traffic crashes and damaged property reports are down? but overall, the number of police service calls are about the same this year compared to the same time period last year. These are some of the findings of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office quarterly report, tracking township […]

Halloween festivities, trick-or-treat hours set for Goodrich, Ortonville

Costumed children by the dozens will descend on the streets of Goodrich and Ortonville on Oct. 31. Planned holiday festivities begin at 10:30 a.m., as about 900 elementary students from Harvey Swanson and H.T. Burt march through Ortonville in their costumes. The parade is expected to last approximately 30-45 minutes and will conclude with class […]

Free, reduced school lunch requests soar

Brandon Twp.- More than one in every four children attending school here are receiving free or reduced price lunches, the highest number Suzanne Evenson has seen as director of food services for the district. ‘The numbers change daily? I get up to five applications per day,? she said. ‘In the past, the most we had […]

Brandon parapros return to kindergarten classes

Brandon Twp.- Five parapros whose positions were eliminated from the school district earlier this year will return to kindergarten classrooms this week, thanks to at-risk funding from the state. ‘I expect them to be in the classrooms on Monday,? said Brandon Superintendent Lorrie McMahon. ‘The teachers are happy and we want the kids to get […]

‘I will truly miss this community?

Brandon Twp.- Phyllis McCaffrey believes social work was her destiny, but she will leave the profession this month for a new path in life. ‘I really think I was born to be a caseworker,? says McCaffrey. ‘But I’ve waited a long time to be a grandmother.? The Oakland County caseworker is retiring Oct. 31, after […]

Reward offered in township armed robbery, pistol-whipping

Brandon Twp.- A reward is offered by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office to anyone with information regarding a recent armed assault in the Clarkston Lakes Mobile Home Park. According to police reports, at about 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 14, a 29-year-old man was walking home from work when he was approached by three younger males […]

Teachers? salary increase OK’d

Brandon Twp.- The school board has approved a 1-percent salary increase for all Brandon Education Association members for this school year. BEA membership includes all district teachers, as well as psychologists and social workers. ‘I thought this was very positive with the economy the way it is, and with the district losing 92 students, it […]