VFW numbers decline locally, nationwide

Ortonville- The day was sunny and hot, music filled the air as the Brandon High School band marched and applause rang out as military veterans in uniform placed wreaths at World War I and II markers in the village during the Memorial Day Parade. Many citizens braved the 90-plus degree heat to follow the procession […]

Memorial day in Ortonville

Ortonville- The day was sunny and hot, music filled the air as the Brandon High School band marched and applause rang out as military veterans in uniform placed wreaths at World War I and II markers in the village during the Memorial Day Parade. Many citizens braved the 90-plus degree heat to follow the procession […]

A flood of CreekFest activties

Ortonville- Without Kearsley Creek, there would be no Old Mill, and without the Old Mill, no Ortonville, says Connie Stalker. As an integral part of the community, the waterway will be celebrated with a full day of activities during CreekFest, June 10. ‘Kearsley Creek is a major element in the community,? says Stalker, who, with […]

‘Blast from the past?

Ortonville- Half a century or more separates the participants in age, but the conversation flows, the coffee and lemonade (?) is sipped, and cookies are eaten. It’s a Friday afternoon at the Brandon Township Library and in the conference room, area senior citizens and students from Sharon Voyer’s fourth-grade Harvey Swanson class are bridging the […]

Ride for wishes, ‘Making dreams come true?

Ortonville- Billy Flanders had his dream of seeing Shamu fulfilled when he was 4-years-old and terminally ill. More than 20 years later, his mother, Hazel Flanders, still recalls how her son laughed as the killer whale splashed people in the front rows. ‘Everytime people got splashed he’d crack up,? she says, smiling at the memory. […]

Brandon grad tracks storms as meteorologist

Bryan Tilley would rather face a tornado than lightning. He’s had a few near misses with lightning, but has actually chased some tornadoes. ‘You can see where a tornado is going,? says Tilley. ‘With lightning, you don’t know where it’s coming from until it hits you.? As a meteorologist, Tilley tracks tornadoes, thunderstorms and more, […]

Brandon grad tracks storms as meteorologist

Bryan Tilley would rather face a tornado than lightning. He’s had a few near misses with lightning, but has actually chased some tornadoes. ‘You can see where a tornado is going,? says Tilley. ‘With lightning, you don’t know where it’s coming from until it hits you.? As a meteorologist, Tilley tracks tornadoes, thunderstorms and more, […]

Swamped twp. home at issue

Brandon Twp.- A real estate sign in front of the home at 2330 S. Ortonville Road advertises it is for sale. But what is in back of the home advertises big problems. The vacant home has a walk-out basement, what could be considered a good selling point, but instead is a liability. The backyard is […]

Laviolette repetes at science & engineering fair

Brandon Twp.- For the second year in a row, Jessica Laviolette attended the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. But this time, she brought home a prize. Laviolette, an 18-year-old senior at Brandon High School, won first place in engineering for her project, ‘Optimizing Ethanol Production Efficiency,? earning a $3,000 cash prize, as well as […]

Two area men arrested following attack

Brandon Twp.- Two local men had a video arraignment May 14 in front of 52-2 District Court Magistrate Melinda Balian on charges of assault with intent to murder and assault with a dangerous weapon, following an attack on a neighbor. Joshua Beurman, 26, and Jason Thyrion, 21, are being held in the Oakland County Jail […]