By Shelby Stewart Staff Writer As a wrestling referee for nearly three decades, Frank Olson has witnessed many epic battles on the mat. But a recent match Olson participated in was not fair, not on a mat and required an enduring spirit. In September of 2017, Olson found that his lymph nodes were swollen. “The […]
By Shelby Stewart Staff Writer Two exchange students from Spain are liking Brandon Schools, possibly more than their own schools in Spain. “I don’t miss a lot of my school in Spain,” said Paula Porras, 14. “I think I prefer this one. The schedule is the most different because it’s like, every day we do […]
By David Fleet Editor Roger Brasseur’s burns were severe. The Pontiac resident’s injuries were caused when polyurethane paint fumes inside his shirt were ignited when he tossed a match on charcoal saturated with lighter fluid. “I had been spraying paint on baby furniture in my garage,” recalled Brasseur, who along with wife Kay lived in […]
By David Fleet Editor Groveland Twp.- The small stones are about three inches long and two inches wide—honed to sharp edges. Last month Ortonville resident Ron Sutton shared the story of the two township artifacts he received from his brother Orra more than 80 years ago. “In the 1930s Orra worked on a Groveland Township […]
By David Fleet Editor Brandon Twp.- The small ragged quilt was nearly 90 years old. Carefully handsewn butterfly squares adorned the aged shredded heirloom. “It needed some repair,” said Sheila Newton, a 76-year-old township resident, former British citizen and lifelong seamstress. Earlier this year Newton had received the family quilt from Lake Orion resident Barb […]
By Shelby Stewart Staff Wrtier Ortonville-Christina Bray is tired. And for good reason. Bray, a trainer at Fit Body Boot Camp, 4 N. Ortonville Road is a distance runner—a very long distance runner. On Oct. 6-7 the local athlete went the distance for more than 24 hours participating in a race that covered 100 miles. […]
By Shelby Stewart Staff Writer August 1933, downtown Grand Haven, Mich.—notorious robber Baby Face Nelson walks into the Peoples Savings Bank. Nelson and his gang grab the cash then exit—except his driver already split. At 7 p.m., Oct. 25 the Brandon Township Public Library will be hosting Tom Powers, author of “Stick ‘Em Up: Michigan […]
By Shelby Stewart Staff Writer Brandon Twp.-Eating mac and cheese and running cross country are two things that exchange students from Brazil are loving in America. Brandon students Mateus Wanderley, 16, and Pietra Magnagnagno, 15, arrived in the United States last summer for a school year long stint as a Blackhawk. “The culture is totally […]
By David Fleet Editor Holly Twp. -Army Private Stan Kengerski served in France during World War I returned home in 1919 and raised a family. He died in 1992 and was buried at Great Lakes National Cemetery. Now, more than century after serving his country on a rainy October morning his son, Brandon Township resident […]
By David Fleet Editor Groveland Twp.- A barn returns. An area couples passion for the restoration of an area landmark barn was recently honored statewide. Last May, David and Kathleen Mayo earned the 2018 Michigan Barn of the Year Award for their exceptional restoration of an 1880s barn on their township farm. “We had been […]