Month: October 2013

Area schools mull annual student-count numbers

By Melissa Burnor

With the annual fall count day last week for Michigan schools, local schools are seeing a smaller enrollment but there is silver lining in the numbers. Blissfield reported 1,237.5 students. Britton Deerfield had 753 students.

Blissfield is down 26.5 students from last year, Blissfield Superintendent Scott Moellenberndt said. The district had 1,264 students a year ago.

“Although state funding is based on a blended count of 10 percent February/90 percent October which equates to 25 less students than the 2012-13 school year, he said. Funding for schools is based on the number of students. The state of Michigan divides out education money based on the blended enrollment count.

Britton Deerfield superintendent Charles Pelham said student enrollment in the district is down from last year but it is higher than what the district projected. The benefit is that the district took in consideration fewer students when they set the budget for the 2013-14 school year leaving a potential surplus or at least potential wiggle room in the current fiscal year budget. Next year the state may be going to a more complex mechanism to determine the exact student count in each district. The Britton Deerfield School board discussed the issue at their September board meeting that the state will require weekly student enrollment reports in the next school year.

Whiteford Schools was not able to get the information to The Advance by press time. That information will be in the Oct. 16 Advance.

Note: Blissfield school figures were updated by the district after this week’s Advance had gone to press. These are the corrected figures.

COPYRIGHT 2013,  River Raisin Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.

Analin Sorensen

Analin Dorthe Sorensen, beautiful daughter of Kristoffer and Carrie (Cole) Sorensen, was stillborn at 37 weeks, 6 days on October 6, 2013.

In addition to her parents she is survived by her big brothers, Joshua Martin and Sebastian Rasmus Sorensen; maternal grandparents, Cheri and Greg Leu of Blissfield; paternal grandparents, Dorthe Moller and Leif Sorensen of Copenhagen, Denmark; maternal great grandparents, Roger and Sue Gritzmaker of Adrian and Dorothy Leu of Sylvania; and many other family members.

Private memorial services will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Tiny Purpose. Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel where online condolences are welcome at www.Wagley FuneralHome.com.

Joyce Grinage

Joyce E. Grinage, 85, of Blissfield, passed away Sunday, October 6, 2013, at Blissfield Place. Born January 22, 1928, in Adrian, she was the oldest child of John and Minnie (Barnhart) Fischer. Joyce graduated from Blissfield High School with the Class of 1945. She received a Bachelor’s Degree from Alma College and a Master’s Degree in reading from Eastern Michigan University. On June 11, 1949, Joyce married James Grinage in Blissfield and they celebrated 62 years of marriage prior to his death in 2011.

Joyce taught elementary, middle, and high school for Blissfield Community Schools for 30 years, retiring in 1988. She was a faithful member of the Blissfield First United Methodist Church where she directed the choir for 40 years. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women, the Lenawee County Retired Teachers and the Michigan Retired Teachers organizations.

Joyce is survived by her children, Janet Flores, Joann Kerekgyarto, Jayne Gorski, all of Blissfield, Judee (Michael) Williams of Buchanan, MI and a foster daughter, Janis Kane of Clinton, MI; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and brothers, Ronald (Joyce) Fischer and David (Mary) Fischer, both of Blissfield. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Julie Grinage; son-in-law, John Gorski; and three brothers, James, Frank and Gary Fischer.

A memorial Celebration of Life service will take place on Friday, October 11, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church in Blissfield with the Rev. Kristen Parks officiating. The family will receive friends at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the service at 11 a.m. Contributions in memory of Joyce may be made to the First United Methodist Church or Hospice of Lenawee. Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel where online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com.

Robert Creger

Robert Edward Creger, of Fort Myers, Florida, formerly of Adrian and Blissfield, passed away on Monday, September 30, 2013, at Shell Point Hospice after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 79.

Robert was born on May 1, 1934 in Deerfield, Michigan to John H. Creger and Marguerite (Bucholtz) Creger. He was married to Eleanor D. Creger (Tasnadi) on February 9, 1963, who predeceased him in 2005. He is survived by three children, Catherine M. Creger-Chambers, R. Bradley Creger, and Eleanor Joanne “EJ” Creger. He is also survived by his sister, Jean Burns (Creger), a brother, Charles C. Creger, Grandchildren, Wyatt and Rachael Creger. In addition to his seven nieces and nephews.

Dr. Creger graduated from Adrian High School in 1952 and was its class president. He attended Michigan State University and was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. During his business career, he earned a Master’s Degree and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Indiana Northern University. He was a dedicated Spartan fan and a member of the MSU Alumni Association. He served his country with honor as a member of the 11th Airborne Division and received an Honorable Discharge from the Army in 1956. Most recently, he continued to dedicate himself to veteran’s causes as Commissioner of Veterans Affairs for the State of Florida. He also served as Vice Chairman of the Florida Veterans Foundation. While living in Blissfield, he served on the Blissfield Fire Department and attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

Through his career in the automotive industry, Creger held executive positions at General Motors, Jeep Corporation and American Motors. In the 1960s, he was instrumental in the evolution of the Jeep from a military vehicle to a recreational passenger vehicle. At the time, he was the youngest General Sales Manager of any of Detroit’s “Big 3” at the age of 38. He purchased his first of many auto dealerships in 1976. Over the next 20 years, he owned dealerships in Colorado, Wyoming and the United States Virgin Islands. Dr. Creger was an adjunct professor at Edison State College at the time of his death. He served on numerous corporate and civic boards. Creger was a member of the Forest County Club and served on its Board of Directors until his health restricted his golf game. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Services were held on Saturday, October 5, 2013, at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield, with the Rev. Gary Leking officiating. He was placed into eternal rest next to his beloved wife Eleanor at Pleasant View Cemetery in Blissfield, with military honors by the Blissfield VFW Post# 10912 and the American Legion Post #325.

FOOTBALL: Friday, Oct. 4

When lightning lit up the sky Friday night in Blissfield, the scoreboard was lit up 31-0 in visiting Hillsdale’s favor in the third quarter. And the score never changed as the homecoming game was finally called as it stood when officials first cleared the field. Seniors Claire Denecker and Charlie Southward were crowned homecoming queen and king at halftime.

Britton Deerfield also played the role of homecoming spoiler over in Summerfield, taking the game 33-14.

The Whiteford Bobcats traveled to Whitmore Lake where the home team claimed a 20-14 win over the visiting ‘Cats.

For all the details from these games, please see The Advance’s Oct. 9, 2013, edition.

Driver lands in Yankee Road ditch

RIGA TOWNSHIP — An 18-year old Jasper woman was taken to Flower Hospital as the result of a one-vehicle crash on Yankee Road in Riga Township Friday shortly before 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 4.

Cpl. Ben Oram of the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office said MacKenzie Brown, 18, was eastbound on Yankee Road

Lenawee County Sheriff’s Dept. Cpl Ben Oram examines the vehicle at the scene of the accident. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc.

when she allegedly lost control of her vehicle, spun around and landed in the ditch on the north side of the road facing west.

A passerby stopped to stay with the woman until rescue and ambulance arrived. Brown suffered a head injury. Oram said she would be cited with a violation of the basic speed law. She was not wearing a seatbelt he said. Riga Township Fire Department was assisted by Madison Township Fire Department at the scene.

It’s Homecoming at Blissfield High

Two of these Blissfield HIgh School seniors will be crowned homecoming king and queen tonight, Friday, Oct. 4, at half time of the varsity football game against the Hillsdale Hornets. Pictured from the left in the front row are senior queen candidates Kaytlin Martinez, Claire Denecker, Kelsie Abbott and Sara Goetz. The senior king candidates in the back row from the left are: Jacob Bayer, Dakota Underwood, Dakota Suiter and Charlie Southward.

Not pictured are the float riders for each class. The 2013 float riders are seniors, Brianna Yates and Josh Green; juniors, Quinn Cross and Jacob Bates; sophomores, Carlee Wanless and Charles Kaster; and freshmen Jesse Reaster and Jack Gorny.

There will also be a silent auction at the game to benefit the Blissfield Athletic Boosters.

The annual Homecoming parade through town will be at 5:30 p.m. tonight (Friday, Oct. 4).

Blissfield High School 2013 homecoming queen and king candidates. Photo courtesy Blissfield High School.

Lady Bobcats reign in TCC

The Whiteford Lady Bobcats remain atop the Tri-County Conference after defeating Summerfield in a double-header Thursday, Oct. 3

Kaleigh Funchion serves for the Whiteford Lady Bobcats, unbeaten to date in the TCC. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Melissa Burnor photo

.  Whiteford won the first match 25-8, 25-12 and 25-17. They came back to win the second match 25-12, 25-12, 22-25 and 25-12. The Bobcats are 7-0 in the TCC.

 For the complete story, please see the Oct. 9, 2013, edition of The Advance.

Accident ties up U.S. 223 traffic in Palmyra

PALMYRA — A two-car crash on U.S. 223 shortly before 9 a.m. this morning (Friday, Oct. 4) backed up traffic in both directions

A woman in the Ford Taurus was allegedly struck by another vehicle Friday morning as she attempted to turn into a driveway on US 223 between Driggs Road and Crockett Hwy. The woman was taken to the hospital by personal vehicle as a precaution according to Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Ben Oram. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc. Photo by Melissa Burnor

.  According to Cpl. Ben Oram of the Lenawee County  Sheriff”s Office, who was at the scene, a woman was attempting to turn into a driveway at one of the homes on the north side of the road when she was struck by another vehicle. Oram said one of the drivers was being transported to the hospital by private vehicle as a precautionary measure.

Complete details will be in the next edition of The Advance Oct. 9.