Sheriff’s report shows ups, downs in local crime

Brandon Twp.- Larceny, fraud, and OWI reports are up, traffic crashes and damaged property reports are down? but overall, the number of police service calls are about the same this year compared to the same time period last year. These are some of the findings of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office quarterly report, tracking township […]

Halloween festivities, trick-or-treat hours set for Goodrich, Ortonville

Costumed children by the dozens will descend on the streets of Goodrich and Ortonville on Oct. 31. Planned holiday festivities begin at 10:30 a.m., as about 900 elementary students from Harvey Swanson and H.T. Burt march through Ortonville in their costumes. The parade is expected to last approximately 30-45 minutes and will conclude with class […]

Free, reduced school lunch requests soar

Brandon Twp.- More than one in every four children attending school here are receiving free or reduced price lunches, the highest number Suzanne Evenson has seen as director of food services for the district. ‘The numbers change daily? I get up to five applications per day,? she said. ‘In the past, the most we had […]

Brandon parapros return to kindergarten classes

Brandon Twp.- Five parapros whose positions were eliminated from the school district earlier this year will return to kindergarten classrooms this week, thanks to at-risk funding from the state. ‘I expect them to be in the classrooms on Monday,? said Brandon Superintendent Lorrie McMahon. ‘The teachers are happy and we want the kids to get […]

‘I will truly miss this community?

Brandon Twp.- Phyllis McCaffrey believes social work was her destiny, but she will leave the profession this month for a new path in life. ‘I really think I was born to be a caseworker,? says McCaffrey. ‘But I’ve waited a long time to be a grandmother.? The Oakland County caseworker is retiring Oct. 31, after […]

Reward offered in township armed robbery, pistol-whipping

Brandon Twp.- A reward is offered by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office to anyone with information regarding a recent armed assault in the Clarkston Lakes Mobile Home Park. According to police reports, at about 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 14, a 29-year-old man was walking home from work when he was approached by three younger males […]

Teachers? salary increase OK’d

Brandon Twp.- The school board has approved a 1-percent salary increase for all Brandon Education Association members for this school year. BEA membership includes all district teachers, as well as psychologists and social workers. ‘I thought this was very positive with the economy the way it is, and with the district losing 92 students, it […]

A case for medical marijuana: Pain relief or crime?

Mary Tison knows what pain is. The 62-year-old Atlas Township resident fought a years-long battle with cancer and endured multiple surgeries, months of chemotherapy, and radiation sessions that gave her second and third-degree burns. Still, she opposes a ballot proposal that supporters say would offer patients another avenue to dealing with pain and nausea. Proposal […]

Halloween festivities set for Goodrich,Ortonville

Costumed children by the dozens will descend on the streets of Goodrich and Ortonville on Oct. 31. Planned holiday festivities begin at 10:30 a.m., as about 900 elementary students from Harvey Swanson and H.T. Burt march through Ortonville in their costumes. The parade is expected to last approximately 30-45 minutes and will conclude with class […]

Township eyes centralized waste program for residents

Groveland Twp.- For years, township officials have battled proposals to locate a landfill here. Now, Supervisor Bob DePalma hopes a study approved by Oakland County last week will help the township put the issue to rest for good, as well as save township residents money. The purpose of the study, paid for by a Capital […]