All’s well in Ortonville
Dear Editor,
It’s been a busy July in Ortonville!
The Village offices are once again open for face to face assistance. The Village Council approved a conservative budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year, and considerations were made for the unknown variables of the current economic climate.
The Farmer’s Market is open downtown on Saturdays with fresh flowers, foods and artesian goods. Take a tour of the Old Mill campus and see what is new. Buy a snack in town and sit in the shade by the creek. Take your picture by the mural. Our businesses are open in a variety of ways to serve your needs, so continue to show your support!
And best of all, the weather has been beautiful for families to walk their pets, stroll the streets and enjoy the blooms, greet their neighbors with a wave, and spend intentional time relaxing in our quaint community together. Tonja Brice
Ortonville Village President
(In response to ‘I thought it had truly been vandalized’, The Citizen, July 18, page 1)
Treachery
Dear Editor,
This letter is regarding the occurrence of destruction on or before April 1, 2020 at the Ortonville Cemetery. I would like this published in the citizen as a response to the occurrence.
What happened there, regardless of whose fault this was, the removal and destruction of cherished tokens of love that were placed, as a memorial, at the sight of our passed on loved ones was and is absolutely devastating! This should not have happened! We lost these people from our lives, all we have left is or was the ability to place decorations, ornaments, borders, and plant flowers, trees, and shrubs where their remains lay.
This occurrence has been unquestionably overwhelming for a significant number of people! Pouring salt on wounds that that won’t ever heal. This has created psychological torment and distress to those who are already suffering from an everlasting broken heart! Without warning, our love and dedication to the upkeep of these grave sites that contain our departed loved ones, was demolished, shattering our lives once more.
In the history of our presence at the Ortonville Cemetery, never have we seen such eradication and obliteration! This was unexpected and unacceptable! We, the family and friends of the people buried at the Ortonville Cemetery, suffer the consequences of these actions! The expectation of allowance has been built up throughout years of untouched remembrances, keepsakes, and vines of our love at these sites. Nothing can make up for this type of treachery! Shirley M. Boadway,wife of 1 and daughter of 2 demolished memorial sites.
(In response to, “Love thy neighbor” a letter by Ilona Yates, The Citizen, June 18.)
Stand up for freedom
Dear Editor,
I wrote into the newspaper back in May and had the words “God given rights” in my opinion.
Someone wrote in the following week and wanted to know what are God given rights, where is it in the Bible?
Our basic God given right is the right to choose.  It is found in the Bible throughout, beginning in Genesis 2:16,17 where God tells Adam that he can eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  God gave man that choice.
We all know what choice was made in the next chapter.  In John 1:12, God also gives us the right to become children of his (if we choose).  In the Declaration of Independence it states that we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these being life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  To accomplish this we must make choices.   We are given the freedom to choose how to live our lives and pursue that happiness.   Our life is a series of choices we make.
No one, not even the governor has the legal right to make those choices for us.  There is nothing in the constitution that states we must give up our rights under any circumstance, including a pandemic.  We cannot be forced to stay home, close our businesses, not worship as WE see fit, wear a mask, etc.

In light of the current circumstances, it would do us all well,to read the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Michigan Constitution.  What has happened since March is a huge infringement of these inalienable rights.  Too many people are satisfied to listen to the nightly news and do whatever is being asked of you without facts or doing your homework.   Facts do matter.   We are not getting the whole truth on anything since the governor started doling out orders.   If you do a search for Stand Up Michigan on Youtube and also Katherine Henry, attorney on Youtube, you will finds lots of information on the truth about masks and the legality of what has been forced on us through executive orders.  And keep in mind they are orders, not laws.  Only the legislature can pass laws.  Stand up for your freedoms or soon you will not have them.  Tina Furness, Goodrich

Golf outing
Dear Editor,
As the recently elected president of the Ortonville Lions Club, I am happy to announce the collaboration of our club with the Brandon Firefighters Foundation for a golf outing fundraiser on Aug. 22, 2020 at the Goodrich Country Club.
As one of the largest service organizations in the world, Lions Club International is well known for supporting blind, visually impaired, and hard of hearing individuals throughout the world, but that is only a fraction of our outreach. The Brandon Firefighters Foundation supports burn victims between the ages 6 and 17 through the University of Michigan Great Lakes Burn Camp which hosts special programs to help those children heal and grow with the support of other burn survivors. Both organizations support many local interests as well.
To reduce the burden on our sponsors during these unprecedented times, we thought it was appropriate to show our support for those who have always supported us. Many of our small “Mom and Pop” businesses have been negatively affected by the virus and the social changes it has presented. In the past, our sponsors would pay a minimum of $50 for a sign advertising their business that would be placed at one of the 18 holes on the golf course. This year, any business or individual who has supported the Ortonville Lions Club or the Brandon Firefighters Foundation in the past will have their sign displayed during our outing. There is no cost for this, but we will graciously accept donations.
The virus has not reduced the need for help, and we are as determined as ever to fill those needs. If you would like more information about the golf outing, the Ortonville Lions Club, or the Brandon Firefighters Foundation, please call of the bumbers below.
Thank you for supporting our organizations over the years.
Humbly yours,
Lonnie Dew, President
Ortonville Lions Club
Mike Ohlert (Brandon Firefighters Foundation): 248-627-4000
Lonnie Dew (Ortonville Lions Club): 248-420-1908