Month: August 2013

Plow Day Appreciation Parade steps off at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10

By Melissa Burnor

To show their appreciation for the support they received from the community through the years for their annual Plow Day event, the Thompson brothers, Alan “Sammy” and Ron, will top it off with the Thompson’s Plow Day Appreciation Parade Saturday afternoon, Aug. 10.

After deciding not to have another Plow Day, that really had evolved into a weekend event showcasing plowing and farming techniques of days gone by, the brothers both said they wanted a way to say thank you to all of their supporters the last eight years. One of the things their father, the late Willis Thompson, had envisioned was a tractor parade.

This year there will be a parade that starts at the Blissfield High School  at 3 p.m. and will wind down Beamer Road to Thompson Highway approximately five and three-quarter miles to Sammy Thompson’s farm between Ridgeville and Mulberry roads. Thompson said the parade should arrive at his home between 4 and 4:30 p.m. And that is where the fun begins. There will be a potluck dinner. Sammy Thompson will have a roasted pig and some benches and picnic tables set up in his barn. All he asks is for those who are coming to bring a dish to pass and possibly a lawn chair or two. The Thompson’s plan to have DJ Chris Aaron from Hudson providing music for the event and there will be a moonwalk and other activities for younger children.

Sammy Thompson said they will have the Hospice of Lenawee Wishing Well for people to make donations. The Lenawee County FFA Alumni will also sell raffle tickets to support their scholarship activities. The winner will win a Ford Tractor. Line-up for the parade begins at 1:30 p.m. behind the Blissfield High School, 630 S. Lane Street.

Sidewalk sales added to Blissfield Aug. 8 car show

Walk down Lane Street Thursday evening and it may feel like a trip back in time with classic cars, 1950s music playing and sidewalk sales. From 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8 will be the third Blissfield Car and Bike Show of the summer, presented by Iott Insurance.

There will be a lot of activity in the downtown, said Blissfield Downtown Development Authority/Main Street Director Patricia Rayl. There will be sidewalk sales with participating downtown stores. There will be a raffle to support the Hospice of Lenawee, Rayl said in a press release. Exhibitors of cars and motorcycles will also be treated to door prizes and free samples from one of the downtown restaurants.

Car and bike exhibitors can register at the DDA/Main Street registration on the west side of the street. Lane Street from US 223 south as well as Jefferson Street from Giles to Pearl Street will be closed beginning at 4:30 p.m. For more information go to www.BlissfieldMainStreet.com.

For the complete story on this and other local events this week, please pick up The Advance’s Aug. 7, 2013, edition.

Kenneth Street

ADRIAN — Kenneth D. Street, age 74, of Adrian, died Saturday, August 3, 2013, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Dec. 25, 1938, in Richmond, Ind., to Kenneth D. and Josephine (Smith) Street. He was married to Janet S. Wigginton on March 11, 1959, in Richmond, Ind., and she preceded him in death on May 28, 2007. On Jan. 30, 2009, he married Dona J. Douglas in Blissfield and she survives. Kenneth was the Owner of K & J Absorbent Products. He was a member of Turning Point Church. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, woodworking, gardening, and collecting Old World Globes. He also loved to travel, spend his winters in Florida and spend time with his children and grandchildren. He felt it was very important to keep family together. In addition to his wife, Dona, he is survived by a son, Jeffrey (Tonia) Street of Blissfield; three daughters, Kara (Jeff) Ziegler of Adrian, Lisa (Dusty) Wilson of Palmyra, and Jana (Bruce) Elkins of Sioux Falls, S.D.; a brother, Larry (Joyce) Street of Fountain City, Ind.; three sisters, Jackie (Bob) Fasnacht of New Paris, Ohio, Barbara (John) Butler of Richmond, Ind., and Mona Kay Street of Fort Wayne, Ind.; 12 grandchildren, Jenniffer (Jay), Gary, Kim (Blane), Justin (Asha), Jessica (Kevin), Austin, Madison, Seth, Ian, Owen, Haley, and Jeffrey Jr.; and five great-grandchildren, Riley, Landon, Liam, Zayn, and Baby Phillips. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Janet Street; his parents, Ken and Josephine Street; an infant brother, Ronnie; and a sister, Tootie. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 8, 2013 at 2 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Adrian (NOTE: In the 8-7-13 edition of The Advance, the location was stated as Blissfield, but the new facility isn’t quite ready) with Pastor Christy Shaw officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery, Blissfield. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, from 4-8 p.m. and also on Thursday from noon-1:45 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home Adrian, to be followed by the service at 2 p.m. You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lenawee, Alliance for Lung Cancer, or Turning Point Church. Envelopes are available at the Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian.

Linda File

Linda J. File, 65, of Blissfield passed away Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at Ebeid Hospice in Sylvania, Ohio.

 Born May 10, 1948, in Russellville, Alabama, she was the daughter of James and Susie (Vickery) Lay.  Linda graduated from Blissfield High School with the Class of 1966.

On December 14, 1968, she married Gary L. File in Adrian, and he survives.

Linda worked at Blissfield Co-op and later, Ottawa Lake Co-op.  She was a member of the Blissfield Baptist Church.  Linda enjoyed playing bunco and flower gardening.  She and Gary were long-time members of the Irish Hills Antique Car Club.  They enjoyed attending car shows, camping, and wintering in Casa Grande, Arizona.

In addition to Gary, her husband of almost 45 years, she is survived by their daughters, Kristin File and Melissa (Jim) Fredenburg, both of Blissfield; former son-in-law, Eric Rogers also of Blissfield; grandsons, Jacob, Lucas and Zachary; granddaughters, Sarie, Haleigh and Caitlyn; and great grandkids Caden and Kayleigh.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister in infancy, and Larinda Whitehead.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Blissfield Baptist Church with the Rev. Thomas Frantz officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery. Visitation will take place Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield.

Contributions in memory of Linda may be made to Blissfield Baptist Church.  Arrangements were entrusted to Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel where online condolences and memories are welcome at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com.

Blissfield 9-10s’ title hopes end in semifinal

The Blissfield 9-10 year old Little League team’s quest for a state title in Muskegon has come to an end following a 7-3 semifinal loss to North Saginaw Township. Blissfield had cruised through the first three games of pool play, going a perfect 3-0. Blissfield continued the winning steak with a 3-2 victory over Fraternal Northwest in the quarterfinal contest Tuesday before falling to North Saginaw.

For complete details on Blissfield’s state title run, catch a copy of the August 7 edition of The Advance.