Month: February 2013

Village OKs study of possible joint venture with Blissfield school

By Melissa Burnor

The Blissfield Village Council agreed Monday evening that the exploration of a joint venture between the village and the Blissfield School District to potentially construct a sports and performing arts facility is worth at least looking at by both parties.

Council supported a resolution 6-0 of support of studying the feasibility of the village collaborating with the school district on the project that would include a swimming pool, exercise facility, auxiliary gymnasium and a community performing arts center. Trustee Randy Kelley was absent.

For the complete story, please see the Feb. 27, 2013, edition of The Advance. To subscribe, just call 517-486-2400 with credit card in hand!

Shari Jones

Shari L. Jones, born May 20,1961, passed February 18, 2013, Age 51.

She is survived by her husband Jay Jones of Adrian (formally of Blissfield) Children; Sheryl (Jamie) Eason of Metamora,OH, Melissa Jones of Adrian, Ashley (Brian)Peters of Erie,PA, Jason Jones of Adrian, David Jones of Adrian, Daniel Jones of  Adrian. Grandchildren; Zachary,Megan, and Michael Eason, Brady Peters. Her mother Dorothy Webber of Alachua,FL., Sisters; Ann (John) Kerns of Morenci,MI, Brenda (Russell) Coleman of Waldo,FL, Delores (Junior) McGinnis of Cordele,GA, Joan (Randy) Smith of Kent, OH, Linda Gifford of Archer,FL, Sister-in-law Virginia (James) Gifford of Sand Creek,MI, Brother; William Webber of Archer,FL. And many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her Father; James Gifford Sr.,Toledo,OH, James Gifford Jr. of Adrian,MI, and Virginia Gifford of Adrian,MI.

Visitations will be Saturday February 23, 2013, from 9:30 – 12:30 at Purse Funeral Home in Adrian,MI Burial at 12:30 at Oakwood Cemetery. Pastor Lloyd Jewett officiating.

 

Kimberly Svestka

ADRIAN — Kimberly Sue Svestka, age 49, of Adrian, died on Thursday, February 21, 2013 at her home.

She was born on September 7, 1963, in Adrian to Ronald L. and Sharon (Dunbar) Svestka.

She graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1981 and from St. Vincent School of Nursing/Lourdes with a Registered Nursing Degree in 1984.  She had been a RN for 22 years at the Ypsilanti Center of Forensic Psychology and then for two years at Tendercare now known as Magnum.

Kim was baptized at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Blissfield, was confirmed at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church and currently attended Light of Christ Parish (St. Alphonsus).  Kim was an accomplished organist who won numerous trophies and awards.  She enjoyed making homemade cards and loved her dog, Paco, very much.

Kim is survived by her parents, Ronald and Sharon Svestka of Blissfield; a brother, Douglas (Rieki) Svestka of Adrian; a sister, Sherrie Dauer of Port Clinton, Ohio; two nieces, Arianna Svestka of Adrian and Samantha (Jared) Calkins of Maumee, Ohio; and her dog, Paco at home.  She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ladd and Mary Svestka and Egbert and Frieda Dunbar.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2013,  from 4-8 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian, where there will be a Vigil Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation will also be held at Light of Christ Parish (St. Alphonsus) on Monday, February 25, 2013, from 10:00-10:45 a.m. The funeral liturgy for Kim will be offered at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 25, 2013, at Light of Christ Parish (St. Alphonsus) with Fr. Jack Loughran as celebrant.  Burial will be in St. Alphonsus Cemetery.

You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com.  Memorial contributions may be made to Light of Christ Parish.  Envelopes are available at the Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian.

Blissfield bowlers to roll at regionals

The Blissfield bowling team will send six women and five men to the regional bowling tournament at Airport Lanes in East Jackson Friday evening.
Women representing Blissfield are Emily Cueto, Madison Laroy, Abigail Duffy, Haley Street, Angela Woodbury and Erin MacBeth. Cueto had the highest score of the Royal bowlers at the district event in Morenci  last Saturday scoring 705 pins in five games with a high game of 192. Laroy had a score of 693 in five games with a game high 176. Duffy followed with 631 and a game high 138.  Street bowled 624 and had a game high of 138. Woodbury bowled 566 in five games with a game-high 134 and MacBeth bowled 553 with a game high 131.
Jayson Gilson bowled 804 to lead the men and had a game-high 182. Austin Rule finished with a 675 pin total and hit 157 for his high game. Jacob Clark bowled 670 and had a high game of 148. Adam Aubry bowled 653 for the series and had a game high of 160. Jake Warner bowled 556 and had a game high of 131.

Thompson to represent BHS wrestling at The Palace

Dylan Thompson locks up with and attempts to out muscle Sand Creek’s Gabe Beaubien in the 285-pound division at regionals. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc. Photo by Chad Hutchinson

The Blissfield varsity wrestling squad took seven contenders to regional competition at Hudson Saturday, but only one advanced to state. Dan Barta and Thomas Jackson both found victory on the day, but were unable to duplicate it and advance on to state competition.

Senior Dylan Thompson was victorious through the first two rounds of competition, before being matched up with 285-pound powerhouse Zach Rieger from host Hudson. He muscled out a 7-6 decision over Homer senior Tyler Prater who entered the tournament with a 35-3 record on the season. The road seemed to get just a little bit rockier for the Royal as his second match was against Gabe Beaubien of Sand Creek who defeated Thompson a week earlier in district competition. Thompson met the Aggie head on, however, and came out with a crucial and nail-biting 3-2 decision in overtime to guarantee him a trip to the individual state tournament at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Thursday, Feb. 28.

For the complete story, please see the Feb. 20, 2013, edition of The ADVANCE. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc.

 

Men’s varsity basketball, Feb. 11-15

BLISSFIELD

The Blissfield men’s varsity basketball team was undersized and over matched by a deep and vertically gifted Onsted squad last Friday during the Coming Home celebrations in Blissfield. The Royals fought hard in front of the packed home house, but were unable to keep pace with the Wildcats in the 63-36 loss.

BRITTON DEERFIELD

After soundly defeating the Sand Creek Aggies Tuesday, the Britton Deerfield men’s basketball team lost a close one to league-leader Madison 48-43 in Deerfield Friday evening, Feb. 15.

Tuesday evening, Feb. 12, the Patriots had an easy win over Sand Creek defeating them 54-39 on the road.

WHITEFORD

The Whiteford men’s basketball team lost two key Tri County Conference match ups last week pretty much eliminating any chance of a repeat performance as league champions. The Bobcats lost 52-43 to Clinton Friday night, Feb. 15, in overtime at Ottawa Lake. This came on the heels of a defeat at the hands of Madison earlier in the week when they fell 50-42 on Tuesday, Feb. 12.

For the complete stories, please see the Feb. 20, 2013, edition of The ADVANCE. To subscribe for weekly home delivery, please call 517-486-2400.

 

Women’s varsity basketball, Feb. 11-15

BLISSFIELD

The Blissfield women’s varsity basketball team made the Coming Home celebrations a little more special Friday night, Feb. 15, as they defeated the rival Onsted Wildcats 57-46. The Lady Royals used the packed house at Blissfield as an opportunity to avenge its 49-36 loss to Onsted Jan. 18.

BRITTON DEERFIELD

DEERFIELD — It was a first for the Britton Deerfield women’s basketball program Friday evening. They were playing for a share of a Tri-County Championship. The Patriots ultimately fell to the Trojans 48-37 but not without a good fight.

The Patriots took a lot of momentum into the Madison game by defeating Sand Creek 75-53.

WHITEFORD

WHITEFORD — After a poor performance on Tuesday, the Lady Bobcats of Whiteford bounced back and played their best game of the season by defeating Clinton 66-36 Friday evening. They lost to Madison Tuesday night, Feb. 12.

Koppelman in top three for prestigious science teaching award

By Chad Hutchinson

Blissfield elementary science teacher Gary Koppelman’s hands-on approach to science has him within reach of the Shell Science Teaching Award.

In a combined effort by Shell Oil Company and the National Science Teachers Association, the award is given in recognition of a K-12 educator who has demonstrated an exceptional impact on their students, school and community in the field of science.

Koppelman, a 26-year faculty member of Blissfield schools, is one of two finalists from the state of Michigan and the third hails from Hawaii. Along with the extensive paper work needed to initially be considered, as one of 10 finalists, he was required to submit a 30 minute DVD featuring classroom activities with students that reflected his teaching philosophies, methodologies and expertise in the field of science. After reviewing the submissions, Koppelman was then selected by the judging panel as one of three finalists who will now undergo a visit from the Shell subcommittee this week (Feb. 18-22), before a winner is chosen.

During the visit, the subcommittee will observe Koppelman teach, and will speak with several members of the faculty and staff, community members, and former students.

For the rest of this copyrighted story, please see the Feb. 20, 2013, edition of The Advance. And for news of how Koppelman finishes among the top three, please keep an eye on www.blissfieldadvance.com

Coming Home Royalty introduced

In Royal fashion, Baily Holdridge and Miles DeNudt were crowned the 2013 Blissfield High School Coming Home queen and king Friday night, Feb. 15.

Hand-pulled “floats” built on wagons carried the Coming Home queen and king candidates into the packed gym.

For many more fun photos of the Coming Home events, please watch the Galleries in www.blissfieldadvance.com