Commission dumps Bess recall petition

Pontiac- The drive to recall Ortonville Village Council President Sue Bess has stalled. On Sept. 14, a three-member Oakland County Election Commission unanimously denied recall petition language submitted last month by village resident Jane Derry. Oakland County Probate Court Judge Barry Grant read the language aloud in his courtroom to observers and fellow commission members […]

First week bus confusion draws parent, student ire

Brandon Twp.- Students at Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School were dismissed at 3:40 p.m. on the first day of school. But it wasn’t until 5:15 p.m. that Charity Bukoski’s sixth grade son made it home. ‘The first day, my husband came home before our son and we were like, ‘Where’s our kid?? says Bukoski. Her son […]

England to America, ‘It was a big step forward?

When Bernard Randall was a child growing up in England, he traveled once a year, never venturing more than 15-20 miles from his hometown of Flitwick. ‘I never believed I’d ever leave England,? he says. But in 1967, Randall won a two-year scholarship to train as an engineer at the General Motors Institute in Flint. […]

Local explores Russian heritage

Groveland Twp.- At Garret Sans? party to celebrate his graduation from Brandon High School, his aunt presented him with a few gifts. The first he opened was a disposable camera and a note telling him to pack it. The second was a paper airplane and an incomplete sentence: ‘We’re going on a trip to…? The […]

Local vies for Miss Teen USA

Groveland Twp.- Lyndsey Hof recalls that when she was a little girl, she wanted a crown like the ones worn by beauty pageant winners. Next month, the now 16-year-old Brandon High School junior will compete for a tiara and title of Miss Michigan Teen USA 2007. Hof first considered entering the pageant, an official preliminary […]

New township library director named

Ortonville- The Brandon Township Library has a new library director. After nearly six months as interim library director, Paula Gauthier was given the position permanently at the Aug. 31 library board meeting. The vote to hire Gauthier was unanimous following a search that yielded several candidates, four of which the board interviewed. ‘We had to […]

Pet Supplies ‘Plus? gets village OK

Ortonville- There were tears, anger, and 568 petition signatures, but none of it could stop approval of a site plan for Pet Supplies ‘Plus.? The Village Planning Commission approved a plan for the business to go into the old Rite-Aid building at 1 Mill St. by a 5-0 vote at their meeting Sept. 5. Members […]

CU president retires after 29 years

Since Sept. 11 five years ago, Phyllis Welch has noticed people are generally much more cautious with their money and spending. ‘The economy in this area has affected borrowing habits,? says Welch. ‘People are more cautious about taking on anything new.? Fiscal conservatism is one of many changes she has seen after 29 years of […]

26th annual Ortonville CROP Walk

Ortonville- In 1990, Sue Howard traveled to Mexico City, where she saw the devastating effects of an earthquake that had struck years before. But she also saw the efforts to help those left homeless by the disaster? efforts made possible by money raised through CROP Walk. Now, Howard is preparing for the 26th annual Ortonville […]

Restoration will not return to Nov. ballot

Brandon Twp.- A millage restoration proposal that was on the Aug. 8 ballot and failed by a 4-to-1 margin will not make a repeat appearance on the November ballot. ‘When it gets beat 4-to-1, it’s clear the public is not ready for it at this time,? said Township Supervisor Ron Lapp. ‘The board feels there […]