Brandon Twp. approves 2006 budget

Brandon Twp.- During a special meeting Dec. 14, the township board adopted a $2,170,345 operating budget as well as approved a 2.5 percent raise for elected officials and all township employees. Both the budget and the raises were approved by a 4-1 vote, with Supervisor Ron Lapp, Clerk Jeannie McCreery and trustees Tom Stowell and […]

Community Emergency Response Team to assist in case of natural disasters, terrorist acts

Community Emergency Response Team By Susan Bromley Brandon Twp.- In the event of a terrorist act or natural disaster, the community has a new line of defense in addition to traditional professional emergency services. The Community Emergency Response Team program was begun shortly after Sept. 11, 2001 as part of President George W. Bush’s Citizen […]

Christmas memories through the years

Brandon Twp.- Mathew Daigle grew up during the Great Depression. He was one of three senior citizens at the Edna Burton Senior Center and others who recently shared their memories of Christmases when they were children. Toys weren’t plentiful for Daigle during Christmas in the 1930s, in fact, they were pretty rare. Daigle felt fortunate […]

BHS grad has extra role in ‘Super Ex-Girlfriend’

Coming soon to the big screen: a Brandon High School graduate. Adam Rickabus recently returned from New York where he was filmed as an extra in ‘Super Ex-Girlfriend,? a movie to be released next year starring Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson. ‘It was a really, really good experience,? said Rickabus, a 2004 BHS graduate. ‘It […]

Carnegie Hall bound

Brandon Twp.- The Brandon High School show choir is New York bound. The choir has been selected to perform at New York City’s Carnegie Hall in June as part of the Ron Winans Tribute Concert. ‘It’s the ultimate experience,? said Debbie Sebetic, choir director. ‘It’s a wonderful way to cap off the experience with the […]

The Old Mill to get CDBG funds

Ortonville- A fire suppression system for the Old Mill will be installed following the village council’s designation of $6,400 in Community Development Block Grant funds for the project. The council unanimously approved 80 percent of the $8,000 in funds they will receive in 2006 from the federal government to go to the nearly 150-year-old building. […]

BHS senior arraigned in drive-by shootings

Brandon Twp.- Daniel Austin Hunt, an 18-year-old senior at Brandon High School, was arraigned Dec. 2 in 52-2 District Court on six charges in the Nov. 12 drive-by shootings on Granger Road. Oakland County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Hunt Dec. 1 after receiving a tip. A .22 caliber gun in Hunt’s home matched the gun used […]

OCEF asks for help as deadline looms

Brandon Twp.- With less than two weeks to go until Christmas, the Ortonville Community Emergency Fund has been asked to help 12 group homes and 127 families, with the number still growing. OCEF food pantry director Judy Henley is still taking calls everyday from people asking for assistance with food and gifts for the holidays. […]

Township denied nature preserve grant

Brandon Twp.- An 80-acre parcel of land located off M-15 and adjacent to Brandon High School will not become a nature preserve. The township and the Brandon Preservation Committee applied for a $900,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant to purchase the $1.2 million property, but received a letter Dec. 5 denying the grant. The […]

Live Christmas trees: The real deal

Brandon Twp.- Frank Genovese calls artificial trees ‘the plague? of the real Christmas tree industry. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture website, in 2000, the share of real Christmas trees was 39 percent, while artificial trees reached 61 percent of the market. However, Cathy Genovese, who co-owns Candy Cane Christmas Tree Farm with husband […]