5.Schools get new superintendent
~On July 2, Ken Gutman signed a three-year contract to serve as superintendent of Lake Orion Community Schools.
Gutman, who had served as assistant superintendent and the principal of Scripps Middle School, replaced Christine Lehman, who retired after 30 years in the district.
4.Zelenak gets village manager job
~In 2007, a two-month-old village council ousted JoAnn Van Tassel from her position as village manager, leaving a vacant spot.
Throughout the beginning of 2008, the council considered several candidates including Tori Kelly, city manager of Standish.
In February, the council made their decision: Paul Zelenak, whose previous jobs include city manager in Bloomfield Hills (2005-06), village manager in Ortonville (2001-05) and duties in various departments within Rochester Hills (1987-2000).
3.Ehman Center auctioned off
~Lake Orion’s old schoolhouse, since transformed into the Ehman Center, was sold at auction for $52,500 to Deborah Moceri in October. Moceri changed the name to the ‘Angel Center? and hopes to offer theraputic and community services from the building.2.GM’s problems reach Orion plant
~GM narrowly avoided bankruptcy with a recent federal bridge loan, but while the company attempts to restructure, it’s places like the Orion Assembly Plant that suffered.Things looked optimistic in September, with an addition of a third shift, but after the economic meltdown, GM laid off 650 employees in Novemeber, and then cut the third shift in December, affecting 1,200 jobs in total.1. Dragons head to state finals
~Even though it ended with a loss to Rockford at Ford Field, the Lake Orion Dragons football squad had their best season ever, heading to the state finals for the first time.
The team went undeafeted in their OAA Red league and went on to win their district and regional crowns with victories over Romeo, S.H. Stevenson and Fordson.