Skate Park on edge again

By Susan Bromley Staff Writer Ortonville-The Village Skate Park is in danger of not opening again. The park is scheduled to open for the season May 3, but as of April 20 only had six registrations. “I need at least 30 sign-ups to recommend to the village council that we open,” said Village Manager John […]

Back on all fours

Firefighters, deputies, locals rally to save horse

By Susan Bromley Staff Writer     Brandon Twp.– Horses can get themselves into trouble, but a recent emergency presented a horse in deep, deep trouble. The horse was stuck in a pond, in water up to her neck. “Horses can get themselves in sticky predicaments, they don’t always do what is smartest, but I’ve […]

Brandon Schools reading, math scores jump

The test scores, released earlier this year, show a districtwide 10.5 percent improvement in math and a 4.8 percent gain in reading.

By David Fleet Editor School officials are encouraged with some double digit improvements in Northwest Evaluation Association —NWEA test scores. The test scores, released earlier this year, show a districtwide 10.5 percent improvement in math and a 4.8 percent gain in reading. The Brandon students’ percentile rankings outpaced students from more 7,400 districts nationwide According […]

Mighty Mac Swim: ‘The water is just freezing’

By David Fleet Editor At 54, Paul Barber has completed his share of challenging races. But this Labor Day, as thousands walk the five mile span of Mackinac Bridge, Barber will attempt to complete the same distance hundreds of feet below, swimming in the frigid water of the Great Lakes. “It’s going to be a […]

The last messages from Titanic

  By David Fleet Editor We are sinking fast, passengers being put into life boats. “We are putting passengers off in small boats. Cannot last much longer. Losing power. This is Titanic. CQD. Engine room flooded. This was one of the few final messages sent by senior wireless operator Jack Phillips, an employee of the […]

FoodPlay

Brandon Elementary students learn healthy eating, active living on stage

By Susan Bromley Staff Writer Brandon Twp.– Playing with your food was A-OK at school this week. FoodPlay, a traveling theater show, served up a main course of fun to students at Oakwood and Harvey Swanson Elementary students, with the intent to “turn kids on to healthy eating and active living.” “I thought this would […]

‘Discovering Michigan County by County’

By Susan Bromley Staff Writer Brandon Twp.- Barb VanderMolen was 11-years-old when the Mackinac Bridge was built and remembers thinking she would never see it. Born and raised in Wayne County, the daughter of a Teamsters truck driver who worked every Saturday, and a mother who didn’t drive, the family had no disposable income and […]

Brandon Township man severely burned after distilling drugs

Brandon Township man severely burned after distilling drugs

By Susan Bromley Staff Writer Brandon Twp.- An explosion and resulting fire and severe burns to a township man last month was caused by his attempt to extract hash oil using butane. “This is extremely dangerous for the person doing it, the home and the community,” said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard. “He obviously knows […]

Ortonville Lions: Serving others for 50 years

By David Fleet Editor It’s been a half-century since a group of local men gathered on a summer evening at Brandon High School to set the foundation for community service that benefit thousands. The Ortonville Lions Club—chartered June 30, 1966 will be commemorated for 50 years with a dinner at 5:30 p.m., April 23 at […]