Voters approve millage renewal, Privette elected to board seat

Brandon Twp.- Despite a dire economy, voters passed an operating millage renewal for the school district on Tuesday, providing a bright spot for students, teachers, and school district officials as per-pupil funding cuts loom. The operating millage renewal of 17.9496 mills on businesses and secondary residences such as vacation homes, passed on Nov. 3 with […]

Twp. employees next casualty for budget axe

Brandon Twp.- Township employees, like workers around the state and country, are finding themselves on the chopping block in a wretched economy. As a Dec. 31 deadline to balance the budget bears down on township boardmembers, discussion on changes for employees is heating up. At the Nov. 2 board meeting, trustees and elected officials debated […]

New village manager named

Ortonville- The village has a new manager. By a 4-2 vote Monday night, the village council approved the hiring of Bill Sprague. Councilmembers Harold Batten and Aileen Champion voted no. ‘He was the best of many well-qualified candidates,? said Council President Ken Quisenberry. ‘I’m optimistic that he understands what the needs of the village are […]

OCEF prepares for Thanksgiving

Brandon Twp.- On Nov. 26, millions of Americans will gather at tables laden with food as they celebrate Thanksgiving. For 200 local families this year, Thanksgiving feasts will be made possible by generous donations to the Ortonville Community Emergency Fund. ‘We are up from last year, when we had 170 families seeking assistance,? said OCEF […]

‘And Then There Were None?

Brandon Twp.- Time for a mystery. The Brandon High School drama department presents ‘And Then There Were None,? by Agatha Christie, at 7 p.m., Nov. 5, 6, and 7 onstage at the BHS Performing Arts Center, 1025 S. Ortonville Road. Admission cost is $5. ‘It was time to do a mystery, we like to do […]

By 4-2 vote, village OKs new councilmember

Ortonville- In a spontaneous move, Coleen Skornicka was appointed as a village councilmember Monday night. Skornicka told Councilman Dan Eschmann on Monday she was interested in the position that was vacated by Mary Kassuba on Oct. 5. Eschmann told her to come to the village meeting that was starting in about 30 minutes. At the […]

Gift of Life heart beats on

Brandon Twp.- Dan and Renelle Tolan received an extraordinary letter in the mail in August. ‘Dear donor family,? began the letter. ‘There are no words possible to tell you the impact that your selflessness has had on my life and that of my family. I know that during a very difficult time in your lives […]

One year in Brazil

Brandon Twp.- Moving to Brazil for a year posed some daunting tasks for Pam Belding? she would need to leave her township home, family and friends, homeschool her son, and communicate in a foreign language. But she didn’t set her sights on avoiding homesickness, being the best teacher, or learning to speak Brazilian Portuguese fluently. […]

Vote Nov. 3: Millage renewal, one school board seat

Brandon Twp.- Voters will face just two decisions on the November school district ballot? election of a new school boardmember and whether to pass a millage renewal. Rob Privette, a 48-year-old engineer and Purdue University graduate, is a shoo-in to the school board, as he is the only candidate on the ballot. The millage renewal, […]

Dr. Ustruck joins POH, Ortonville

Dr. Rachael Ustruck has joined the staff at POH Regional Medical Center, Ortonville. Ustruck, a 2006 graduate of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pa., served her residency at St. John Macomb-Oakland and began her family medicine practice at POH in August. ‘I like family medicine, treating both children and their parents,? said […]