Nickelodeon Bistro Bar & Grill

Independence Twp.– The Nickelodeon is almost finished with its transformation. Last October, the restaurant at 10081 Ortonville Road began getting a new look.The outer facade was torn away. New pastel-colored exterior walls appeared. An outdoor patio area to seat 40 was added. Inside, more renovations took place. New booths with floral fabric have been added. […]

New Michigan Out-of-Doors host at home

What was always a hobby for Kelly Gotch is now her job. As the new Michigan Out-of-Doors associate producer and on-air co-host, Gotch is able to hunt and fish, her favorite pastime since she was tiny. ‘This job is the best of both worlds,? said Gotch, 25, a former Ortonville resident. ‘It’s what I want […]

Action

Ortonville- Coming soon: ‘Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.? The family film starring Gene Wilder and based on the Roald Dahl novel ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,? will be shown during the third annual Ortonville Night at the Movies on Aug. 5. Showtime is 9 p.m. with activities for the entire family beginning at 6 […]

Brandon firefighter assists in rescue

On Wednesday, Brandon Firefighter Jerry Wivo was called to assist in the trench rescue of a Bay City Department of Public Works employee who was trapped during a repair of an underground utility line. Wivo, an 18 year veteran and member of the North Oakland Technical Rescue Team said he arrived in the early afternoon […]

Good health all in stride for transplant recipient

Brandon Twp.-Carol Woodbridge was near death when she got the call. Her phone rang at 11 p.m. on July 18, 1996. It was her doctor, telling her to get to Hurley Hospital in Flint. She was going to receive a kidney transplant. Next week, Woodbridge will celebrate the ninth anniversary of her life-saving operation when […]

Ortonville to Juarez, building bridges, homes, love

Ciudad Juarez, Mexico- The pictures show a desolate wasteland. Garbage is strewn across a wide expanse of sand. In the background is a high wall topped by barbed wire that is the outer perimeter of a juvenile detention facility. Homes consist of cardboard boxes and thrown together building materials. They appear to be falling down. […]

Fear no factor for me, maybe

I’ve never been on a plane. Not for fear of flying or of heights, just because the opportunity had never presented itself. I consider myself fairly adventurous. I like roller coasters; I’ve petted pythons and a wild black bear; hosted sleepovers for my daughter Katie and a dozen of her friends; and my philosophy on […]

The nose knows

Ortonville– There’s a new cop in town– and he smells a million times better than any other officer in Brandon Township. It’s not soap that puts him over the top, it’s his 225 scent glands. Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Garrison’s new partner is K-9 Bodi, a German Shepherd who uses his nose to fight […]

Groveland Township youth hits just the right note

By Susan Bromley Staff Writer Groveland Twp.- She was playing songs on the piano as a toddler. By 5, she was taking violin lessons. At age 13, she was competing and winning music awards. She has traveled to Europe to play concerts. But it is only now, at the age of 18, that Laurie Matheson […]

New look at Ortonville Citgo

Ortonville-Despite a few orange barrels the Citgo station, 495 S. Ortonville Road is open during some re construction. The barrels, equipment and mounds of soil indicate coming improvements to Citgo. The station is keeping the same number of gas pumps, but will soon add an approximately 2,000 square-foot convience store. ‘We just wanted a bigger, […]