“The Right to Be the Grown-Up”

Ortonville- A five-week parent education series beginning this week is set to help parents regain control and get back the children they once knew. ‘The Right to Be the Grown-Up,? will be from 7-9 p.m. on Nov. 15, 22, 29, and Dec. 6 and 13 at Harvey Swanson Elementary, 209 Varsity Drive. The series is […]

Laos immigrant at rest in Brandon Township

Brandon Twp.- Nou Yi Yang will finally be able to rest in peace. The Laos immigrant died in March and was buried in Seymour Lake Cemetery on a hilltop that reminded him of the hills and mountains of his homeland. But eight months after his death, his dying wish had not yet been carried out […]

Christmas in the Village gets new start time

Ortonville- Christmas in the Village is back– with a new starting time. The Ortonville Chamber of Commerce has changed the time of the annual event to 3-8 p.m., Dec. 3. In previous years, Christmas in the Village ran from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Jane Derry, director of Christmas in the Village, says the time was […]

Briar Ridge Farm

Brandon Twp.- On a sunny, chilly, quiet fall morning, almost two dozen quarter horses are grazing in green fenced-in pastures at Briar Ridge Farm, 1156 Briar Ridge Lane. Debbi Wiesner leads a visitor on a tour of the tranquil facility, which includes two barns with heated or cold stalls, two indoor arenas (one heated), five […]

Cut for the Cause to benefit teen with rare tumor

Hadley Twp.- Mark McElrath awoke with a nosebleed on Sept. 18 that would change his life. McElrath had been looking forward to Homecoming Week at Goodrich High School where he is a junior, but instead he would spend most of the next four days in the hospital, hemorrhaging and losing 18 pounds off his thin […]

“The Rimers of Eldritch” comes to the Goodrich stage

Goodrich- The setting is a small, impoverished, midwestern town, population: 70. The characters are all flawed. The plot involves a murder. Goodrich High School theatre director Steve Mitchell expects audience members might feel they need a shower after seeing ‘The Rimers of Eldritch,? but says it is a visually stunning, great play. The drama has […]

Brandon boy with rare disease needs transplant

Brandon Twp.- At first glance, it wouldn’t appear Robbie Williams is anything but a normal 7-year-old. The brown-haired, brown-eyed boy wears a t-shirt and jeans and appears tan. He sits on the floor in the living room of his home playing with a Thomas the Tank Engine train set. When he smiles, he reveals a […]

Brandon nurse aids victims of Hurricane Katrina

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many Americans gave money or supplies in a relief effort. Lauren Brasile gave herself. The Brandon Township resident recalls watching the news all of Labor Day weekend. The hurricane made landfall in the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, devastating Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, killing more than a thousand people […]

“Dad, I’m Proud of You”

Parents often tell their children how proud of them they are. But how often do children tell their parents they are proud of them? My parents have told me countless times throughout my life they are proud of me. They have been at every major milestone, cheering me on. They were beaming with pride at […]