Water returns to Twp. homes

Groveland Twp.? In the distance the low, dull roar of heavy diesel powered gravel mining equipment labors. Yet, the sound produced by the machines, say residents who live near the Perryville Road and Dixie Highway gravel pit, is minor compared to the environmental damage produced. Until now. ‘Since the pumps stopped the water in my […]

Workers begin to ‘chip off? the Old Mill

Ortonville – Just like painting the Mackinaw Bridge, the work continues on the Old Mill. The Ortonville Community Historical Society, the Village of Ortonville, and Brandon and Groveland townships continue to keep Amos Orton’s heritage alive. To some it may seem that each community endlessly tosses thousands of dollars each year into the restoration of […]

Local monastery celebrates new wing, retreat house

Groveland Twp.’On the banks of Renchek Lake two Dominican sisters etched an enduring mark on the pristine wooded shoreline. In 1973, sisters Mary Martin and Anne Mary Kearney made the trek from New Jersey to Ortonville on a mission, establishing the Our Lady of Mt.Thabor Monastery. After 30 years and thousands of prayers, the small […]

Local monastery celebrates new wing, retreat house

Groveland Twp.’On the banks of Renchek Lake two Dominican sisters etched an enduring mark on the pristine wooded shoreline. In 1973, sisters Mary Martin and Anne Mary Kearney made the trek from New Jersey to Ortonville on a mission, establishing the Our Lady of Mt.Thabor Monastery. After 30 years and thousands of prayers, the small […]

State inspectors suspect infected tree in Brandon

By Jeff Patrus Staff Writer Melissa Powers left no worm unturned in her search for the Emerald Ash Borer in Brandon Township. Powers, a crew leader with the Michigan Department of Agriculture, and her team of about 12 workers spent about a week searching in the township for the insect, which was discovered in the […]

Can’t phone home? Brandon area service halted

Brandon Twp – More than 3,200 Brandon township residents were without phones for almost three hours on Monday, July 21. Rumor had it that the phones went dead in Ortonville after the Department of Public Works snapped an underground phone line, while working on Mill and James streets. The DPW was not working in the […]

Lamphere left his mark on CMU baseball program

Local residents may know Larry Lamphere as the current Brandon High School Athletic Director. However, the Central Michigan University baseball archives show he was an integral part of the Chippewas? diamond history. Lamphere, who played at CMU from 1985-88, was fortunate enough to be a part of four straight Mid-American Conference championship teams. The last […]

Vandals leave their mark on subdivision

The residents of Crescent Hill Subdivision were hit hard by vandalism the night of July 23. Brandon Township Public Safety Aide Larry Roberts said several acts of vandalism, including spray painting graffiti on several cars, vans and garage doors, occurred that evening at the subdivision, located on Mill Street. He said he received calls reporting […]

Kircus earning good initial reviews at wide receiver for Lions

David Kircus is officially a member of the Honolulu blue and silver. The former Grand Valley State University wide receiver, and brother of Ortonville resident Lainie Jones, signed a three-year contract worth about $1 million with the National Football League’s Detroit Lions earlier this month. He reported for the rookie portion of Lions training camp […]

Hometown has changed since youth

About a year ago I returned to my hometown of Alma, MI, located about 50 miles north of Lansing just off US-27. It had been several years since I visited the old homestead and although my family is now scattered throughout the county and the place is long since sold, I figured one last drive […]