A run for Kayla

Goodrich-Eight hundred and ten people hit the pavement for one reason last Saturday. They wanted to remember Kayla O’Mara. The Kayla O’Mara Memorial Road Race took place on Aug. 4. The 5K course began on Gale Road, in front of Goodrich High School, stretched down Gale Road and doubled back to end on the GHS […]

Local ready for a shot at Blizzards

As a hockey goalie, R.J. Heath is used to blocking shots. Now, he’s taking one. Heath, a 16-year-old Ortonville resident, was invited to play with the Junior A Minnesota Blizzards hockey team in Alexandria, Minn. Junior A is a tiered system within the North American Hockey League for 16-20-year-olds that is heavily scouted by colleges […]

Hustling toward recognition

Tyler Burmeister did not just meet his favorite NBA player, he played basketball against him. For the second year in a row, 12-year-old Tyler attended Rip Hamilton’s Basketball Camp at Avondale High School in Rochester. ‘It’s the most organized camp we’ve ever sent him to,? said Laura Burmeister of her son. Among the camp’s coaches […]

It’s good: Local kicker eyes goals

Jake Hardy loves to watch football on TV. He loves playing it more. Hardy, a 17-year-old Ortonville resident, is the varsity football kicker at Brandon High School. An entering senior, Hardy is using this summer and upcoming season to become known by college recruiters. ‘Jake definitely wants to play football in college. He’s been going […]

Opportunity ‘Above and Beyond?

Ortonville-Emily Merlo plans on going above and beyond during this year’s equestrian season. With the help of her horse, Above and Beyond, of course. Merlo, 16-year-old Clarkston resident, trains and works at Ortonville’s MeadowCrest Farms, 4920 Groveland Road. ‘Emily is a remarkable rider,? said Kay Wooderson, barn owner at MeadowCrest. ‘She competes at shows around […]

Fields of dreams?

Goodrich- Harry Flotemersch is obsessed with land. He thinks of it in terms of acreage, elevation, location and price. He needs a vast area of flat, dry, healthy land. Flotemersch needs a soccer complex. Goodrich Soccer Club is one of the only clubs in the surrounding area not to have a centralized soccer complex. ‘We’re […]

Chasing away adversity

Chase Jolley hates to sweat. Hard work, however, does not seem to be a problem for him. Jolley, an 8-year-old Goodrich resident, was born with an underdeveloped left arm and no left hand. ‘Our doctors were never able to tell us why it happened,? said Trina Jolley, Chase’s mom. ‘We had three ultrasounds and there […]

‘I would say it was a class 5 storm?

July came out in full force on the 5th. With winds gusting at 50 miles per hour and a downpour of hail littering the area, nothing was safe. ‘There was damage to structures, vehicles, telephone poles and lines,? said Bob McArthur, Brandon fire chief. ‘The storm really beat us up.? Local firefighters guarded the dangerous […]

Krych’s 261 stolen bases leads to All-State team

Goodrich- During her senior season, Kelsey Krych had no idea that she was closing in on the national record for stolen bases in a softball career. ‘My parents and coaches knew that I could beat the record, but they didn’t tell me until I was like 19 bases away,? said Krych. ‘I don’t think they […]

CreekFest 2007 Poetry Contest

No one can say that Ortonville’s Creek Fest 2007 was void of culture. The second annual Creek Fest Poetry Contest brought out the area’s poets and their most prized compositions. Competing in two catagories based on age, the participants were placed from first to third place, with two honorable mention awards. The first place winner […]