Goodrich- The police dogs in the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit are highly trained animals that are carefully chosen for duty. While the animals may seem intimidating as they are taught to bite on command to protect their handler or corner a suspect, they are also taught to release on command and are very […]
Brandon Twp.- When strangers learn that Ron Besemer, 24, is the unmarried father of a 6-year-old son, he feels that assumptions are often made. ‘They quickly do the math and assume all the wrong things,? he said. ‘The first impression is, ‘You must be a deadbeat dad,? or ‘You must have left the mom and […]
Brandon Twp.- Consumers Energy is bringing more natural gas to the township with one of the largest projects the utility company has undertaken in years. ‘This is one of the biggest main extension programs we’ve had in a long time for our company,? said Debra Dodd, Consumers Energy spokesperson. As of June 11, the company […]
Brandon Twp.- Long-term strategic budget planning the township board began in 2010 is starting to pay off. Pfeffer, Hanniford and Palka, CPA, recently completed their audit of the township’s 2011 financial statements. During the board’s June 4 meeting, Ken Palka presented results of the audit to the board, which found that as of Dec. 31, […]
Ortonville- The village continues to have a healthy fund balance and unlike other governmental entities, the council has no planned cuts to the budget again this year. During a public hearing on the 2012-13 village budget, Village Manager John Lyons said the village has a projected fund balance of $264,425, or roughly 56 percent. The […]
Brandon Twp.- Stepping Stone is stepping up to fill a need for childcare. The child development center, 885 S. Ortonville Road, is expanding their summer childcare for the summer and possibly even for the next school year. School-aged childcare will be offered at the H.T. Burt Lifelong Learning Center, 209 Varsity Drive, with June 18 […]
Brandon Twp.- After facing a projected $1.4 million deficit for most of this year, school district officials are now anticipating not only a balanced budget for 2012-2013, but a $50,000 increase in the fund balance. The anticipation needs to be tempered, however, as School Board President Kevin McClellan said the budget that Finance Director Steve […]
Ortonville- The seventh annual season of Beets, Beats & Eats kicks off in the village June 15. The event takes place every Friday night at Crossman Park during the summer and features a variety of local vendors, acoustic musicians, and a dinner each night provided by local restaurants, churches, or community organizations. Dinner cost ranges […]
Two local residents can use support from the community in fighting their battles against cancer. Charlene Helmle, 47, was first diagnosed in 2008 with stage 2 breast cancer. The single mother of two sons, Kyle, 21, and Joshua, 18, had a lumpectomy and underwent chemotherapy. Faced with the prospect of losing her hair, she shaved […]
Brandon Twp.- Firefighters wanted. Fire Chief Dave Kwapis requested the township board approve the hiring of three paid on-call firefighters during the June 4 board meeting. ‘We are at the lowest we’ve been in 15 years for paid on-call firefighters,? he said. ‘We are well below the 40 we would like.? Currently, the Brandon Fire […]