Planning commission OKs Silverman project

Brandon Twp.- As soon as March, as many as 20 trucks an hour hauling gravel could be southbound on M-15 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Saturday, for as many as 90 days. Despite objections by several residents at a Jan. 9 public hearing, the planning commission […]

Special Response Team: Trained for the extreme

Brandon Twp.- The house is silent, sunlight streaming through a thin curtain in the debris-strewn living room, empty of furniture. The stillness is suddenly shattered by successive rams on the front door, which smashes open as several men in camouflage and black vests charge in with guns pointing forward, shouting, ‘Sheriff’s Office! Search warrant!? Seconds […]

Silverman project to be considered by township

Brandon Twp.- Nearly five months after the Planning Commission turned back a plan by the Silverman Development Group to excavate a township parcel, they are set to consider it again. A public hearing regarding a request by the Detroit-area development company to excavate and remove approximately 170,000 yards of material from the 48-acre parcel located […]

Creating a stir

Ortonville- Larry Burns likes coffee stirrers? but not for their intended use. Burns drinks a cup of coffee every morning, but the thousands of wooden coffee stirrers he orders from Georgia are never put in a cup of java. Instead, they are used to create tabletop versions of cabins, lighthouses, windmills, airplanes, even a space […]

Community rallies as OCEF delivers to needy

Brandon Twp.- Last Monday, St. Anne Church was abuzz with activity from nearly two dozen Ortonville Community Emergency Fund volunteers as they prepared to make Christmas merrier for 151 families in the Brandon School District and for the residents of eight area adult foster care homes. Bags full of groceries line the halls leading to […]

Village sidewalk issue discussed

Ortonville- Sidewalks and the responsibility of village residents in regards to snow and ice-covered ones, as well as broken ones, were hot topics of discussion at the Dec. 11 village council meeting. The council reminds residents they are responsible for the upkeep of the sidewalks adjacent to their property, and reiterated the responsibilities of both […]

Hunting ban in village

Ortonville- No hunting allowed within the village. That is the message the village council will convey after a current ordinance is amended. At their Dec. 11 meeting, the council asked Village Manager Ed Coy to amend a current ordinance that prohibits the discharge of firearms or cartridges, except by peace officers performing their duties, within […]

Christmas trees to spare

Brandon Twp.- To say that Norma Clore, Betty Irwin and Louise King like Christmas trees might seem a bit of an understatement. The trio has 93 Christmas trees in the home they share. There are artificial evergreens of all shapes and sizes in every room in the spacious home? some with white lights, others with […]

New commander on duty in township

Brandon Twp.- Sgt. Michael Searing, the new Brandon substation commander, was expected to begin work today. ‘I’m excited,? said Searing, 55. ‘My wife and I like the small town. I’ve always had a more urban area (beat). This will be the most rural area I’ve had.? Searing has been with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office […]

Septic issues surface at library

Ortonville- A recurring issue in the village? problems with septic systems? recently cropped up at the Brandon Township Library. The library’s septic field failed in October and the library was forced to have a new engineered system put in by Fenton-based Lawrence Engineering last week, at a cost of $77,260. This price includes design of […]