May 2013 – Blissfield Advance

Blissfield soccer wins berth in district finals

Blissfield’s soccer team defeated the Jonesville Comets 4-2 in district action Thursday evening, May 30, sending the Royals to District Finals at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Royals will face Manchester at 5 p.m. Saturday at Jackson Christian.

Blissfield soccer, softball advance in districts; baseball season ends

Blissfield varsity soccer won its opening round District game against Grass Lake 6-0 Tuesday and advances to play at 3:30 Thursday, May 30, in Jonesville.

The Royal softball team also won their opening District game 9-3 against Erie Mason Wednesday at Dundee. They will play at 10 a.m. Saturday in Dundee. They will take on SMCC.

Blissfield baseball lost 7-2 to Erie Mason in the first game of Districts Wednesday evening.

Glenda Shirley

LAKELAND, FLA. — Glenda Shirley, 88, formerly of Deerfield and Manitou Beach, passed away, Thursday, May 23, 2013, at Lakeland Regional Hospital. She was born October 27, 1924, in Deerfield, Michigan, to the late William F. and Mary (Hegy) Schadewald. On November 7, 1942, Glenda married Darwin E. Shirley, and he survives. Glenda worked at Revco in Deerfield until they closed in 1968, and later at Goodwill, retiring in 1985. She was a former member of Hope Lutheran Church in Adrian, and a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Plant City, Fla. where she volunteered at their school. While living in Lenawee County, Glenda was active in the community volunteering for the American Red Cross and serving on the board of The United Way. She was known for her wonderful homemade pies and cinnamon rolls. In addition to Darwin, her husband of over 70 years, she is survived by their children, Linda Kelto and Darlene (Max) Davis both of Lakeland, Fla.; Patsy (Michael) Morast of Saline, and Lynn (Corrina) Shirley of Cohutta, Ga.; 17 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren; and her siblings, Norman Schadewald and Maybelle (Gayln) Berry both of Blissfield; Donna Case and Charles (Fran) Schadewald both of Adrian and Stanley (Shirley) Schadewald of Tecumseh. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Richard Shirley; granddaughter, Faith Morast; brothers William Schadewald Jr. and Don Schadewald; and sisters, Hazel Seegert, Mary Disbrow, and Carol Lash. Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 28, 2013, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Adrian. Contributions may be made to Goodwill Industries. Arrangements were entrusted to Wagley Funeral Home, Adrian where online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com.

Waterbury named Lenawee Co. teacher of the year

Britton Deerfield middle school teacher Marie Waterbury still loves her job.

After 34 years in the Deerfield and now the Britton Deerfield school district she still looks forward to going to work.

“I love middle school,” Waterbury said.

Waterbury was recently honored by the Lenawee County Federated Women’s Clubs as their teacher of the year.

Blissfield Schools to seek new sinking fund millage Aug. 6

By Melissa Burnor

Residents of the Blissfield Schools will be asked to vote on a potential new sinking millage fund and will definitely have a new elementary school principal in the district next year.

Citing additional work that needs to be done — especially in the middle school — the district will ask voters at an Aug. 6 special election to approve a 10-year 1.25-mills sinking fund.

This millage will be in addition to an existing 1.75-mill sinking fund granted by voters two years ago. That millage will expire in eight years.

Communities observe Memorial Day

Decorated graves, somber drum cadences, flags at half-mast, communities gathering to pay respects to the men and women who fought and sacrificed their lives for the freedom our country has.

Locally, Blissfield, Deerfield, Riga and Palmyra all put their own personal touches to ceremonies and activities to honor local heroes with speakers, parades and salutes. The Blissfield American Legion hosted a sell-out chicken barbeque; Palmyra Firefighters served up a hearty pancake breakfast.

This year the weather was not very cooperative but still parades made their way to the cemeteries and larger-than-usual crowds attended local events.

Veterans march in the Deerfield Memorial Day Parade. Photo by Melissa Burnor, copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc.

Methodist Church gathering items for tornado victims

The Blissfield First United Methodist Church, 201 W. Adrian St. is helping raise needed items for people displaced and affected by tornadoes in Oklahoma City recently. They are gathering baby items and supplies, personal supplies and new children’s clothing. The church is working with ISOH/Impact from Perrysburg, Ohio, to fill a semi truck that will be leaving the Toledo area Friday, May 31.

Items can be dropped off at the church from 9-1 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday this week. To schedule a different time, contact the church at 486-4040. Items should be to the church by 4 p.m. Thursday.

Todd Zimmerman

RIGA: Todd A. Zimmerman, age 41 of Riga, Michigan passed away on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, OH. He was born August 4, 1971, in Toledo, Ohio to Donald H. and Nancy S. (Goll) Zimmerman. On October 7, 1995, he married Kimberly “Kim” Renee Hollenbaugh in Blissfield and she survives. Todd attended Baker College in Owosso. He had been employed as a Pro Sales Consultant at Home Depot in Toledo. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Riga. Todd supported his children through their many activities with sports and was known to his children’s friends as their biggest fan. He enjoyed hunting with his father and farming part time, as well. He adored his family and loved to travel with them.

In addition to his wife, Kim, he is survived by his children, Brayden and Karter Zimmerman at home; his parents, Don Zimmerman of Riga and Nancy (John) Heckathorne of Riga; two sisters, Amy (Roger) Chrisman of Adrian and Kathy (Derek) DeCatur of Palmyra; his brother-in-law, Bryan (Joyce) Hollenbaugh of Washington; his sister-in-law, Tami (Christopher) Magda of Jonesville, Michigan; his mother and father-in-laws, Jan (Rick) Kimling of Clayton and Dan (Carol) Hollenbaugh of Jonesville, Michigan; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Albert and Margaret Goll, and Alvin and Mabel Zimmerman; and an uncle, David Zimmerman in infancy.

Funeral services for Todd will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, May 20, 2013, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Riga with Dianna Raine officiating. Burial will be in Riga Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Riga. Flowers may be delivered to Trinity Lutheran Church on Monday, after 8:00 a.m. You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. A Memorial Fund has been set up at Blissfield State Bank; the Zimmerman Fund for Brayden Zimmerman and Karter Zimmerman. Checks may be made out to the Zimmerman Fund. Arrangements are under the direction of the Adrian Anderson Funeral Home.

BD Schools to join county health care consortium

By Melissa Burnor

The Britton Deerfield School board agreed to become part of the Lenawee County Health Care Consortium at their May 9 meeting. The consortium allows employees to obtain health insurance at a less expensive rate.

“It is a good savings for our employees,” BD superintendent Charles Pelham said.

According to Pelham, Lenawee County is the only one in Michigan that has a consortium of local school district to offer health care at a lower cost to employees. While Pelham said it wouldn’t make any difference for the district as BD has a hard cap on their insurance.

Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc. For the full story and many more stories and photos, please pick up the May 15, 2013, edition of The Advance, or call 517-486-2400 for home delivery each week.

Whiteford School millage passes

Residents of the Whiteford School district approved the renewal of the nonhomestead property tax millage by a wide margin in the May 7 election.

The four-year millage passed 168-38. The millage allows the local school district to asses 18 mills on nonhomestead property in the district.

For Melissa Burnor’s complete story, please see the May 15, 2013, edition of The ADVANCE.