Miranda Johnson three-peats in state long jump

Whiteford senior Miranda Johnson is for the third time the Division 4 women’ s long jump champion with a leap of 18’6″.  She was also second in the Division 4 100-meter days and is qualified for the 200-meter, though results are not in at this time.

She is seeded first now in the 200 meter finals and was seeded fourth in the 100-meter finals.

Tristan Pizana of Britton Deerfield  placed fourth in the men’s long jump at the state meet.
Sara Goetz placed fifth in the pole vault finals with a vault of 10’6″ for Blissfield.

For the complete story on state track finals, please see the June 4, 2014, edition of The Advance!

Loretta Burch

CLAYTON – Loretta F. Burch, age 92, of Clayton, died Friday, May 23, 2014 at Hospice of Lenawee, Hospice Home.  She was born February 16, 1922 in William Co., OH to John and Clara (Thiel) Stark.  She married Lawrence Burch on May 17, 1941.  He preceded her in death on July 7, 1992.  Loretta was a member of St. Mary’s on the Lake, the Irish Hills Region Antique Auto Car Club; the Antique Farmers Tractor Club of Adrian and the Heritage Farmer Tractor Club of Adrian.  She was a music teacher in her home and in the Onsted Public Schools.

Loretta is survived by her children, Jerry Burch of Manitou Beach, Karen (Ron) Coopshaw of Blissfield, Kenneth (Pat) Burch of Onsted, Olis (Lois) Burch of Manitou Beach and Olen Burch of Brooklyn; one brother, Vincent Stark, of Bryan, OH; one sister, Rita Hancock, of Florida; one sister-in-law, Letha Stark of Howell, OH; 14 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.  In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two sons, Ronald and Gary Burch and three sisters, Celestine, Beatrice and Genevieve, two brothers, C.P. and Buck and twin great-great- granddaughters.             

The Funeral Liturgy will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at St. Mary On The Lake with Fr. Paul Grehl O.S.F.S. as celebrant.  Interment will be in Lenawee Hills Memorial Park, Adrian.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 2-8 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian where a Vigil Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will also be held on Wednesday at the church from 10-10:45 a.m. where a family prayer service will be held at 10:45 followed by the funeral liturgy.  You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com.  Memorial contributions may be made to donor’s choice.  Envelopes are available at Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian.

Henry “Hank” Wiesmann

Henry J. “Hank” Wiesmann, age 79 of Adrian, MI died peacefully at home surrounded by his family May 26, 2014.  He was born Dec. 1, 1934 on the family farm in Clayton, MI, to Anton & Rose (Mueller) Wiesmann.

He graduated in 1952 from St. Mary’s High School in Adrian and attended Michigan State University.  He served in the United States Army from 1956-1958 and was honorably discharged from the Army Chemical Center in Edgewood, MD. On Sept. 17, 1960, he married Joyce Calhoun, and they enjoyed a marriage of 53 years.

Hank joined The Raisin Presbyterian Church of Holloway, Britton, MI in 1972 where he served as a Ruling Elder and Sunday School Teacher for many years.  He was a member of Gorman Grange, leader of several Lenawee County 4-H Clubs, and member of Palmyra/Blissfield Order of the Eastern Star.  He joined the Palmyra Masonic Lodge #184 in 1971, receiving his Life Membership Sept. 5, 2013.  Hank was also a member of Tecumseh Chapter #42 Royal Arch Masons of Michigan.  In addition, he was a member of the I.B.E.W. and the I.A.E.I.  Hank retired as a Michigan State Electrical Inspector in 1997 ending a 30-year electrical career.

His wife Joyce, daughter Lisa Hendricks, son Lance Wiesmann, and granddaughter Erinn Hendricks, all of Adrian, survive.  Hank is also survived by sister, Anne Righter, brother Walter Wiesman of Adrian; two sisters-in-law, Jane (Cortland) Rule of Palmyra and Gini Lyn (Timothy) Roberts of Jacksboro, TX, brother-in-law Gregg Calhoun (Leeann Underhill) of Clayton, many special nieces, nephews, great-nieces & great-nephews.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by infant sister Rosemary, sister and brother-in-law Gertrude and Leo Swinehart, brother-in-law Joseph Righter, and parents-in-law Lyle & Gladys Calhoun.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagley Funeral Home, Adrian. The family will receive visitors on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Raisin Presbyterian Church of Holloway where a Masonic Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Rev. Karen Zurakowski will officiate at a celebration of Hank’s life on Thursday, May 29, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at The Raisin Presbyterian Church. Military honors will be conducted by the Annis Fint Post #1584 of the VFW. The family requests memorial contributions to Hospice of Lenawee, The Raisin Presbyterian Church of Holloway, or Palmyra Masonic Lodge #184.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHome

Whiteford wins invitational

The Whiteford Bobcats  won their own invitational defeating Emmanuel Christian

15-0 in 3 innings then beating Erie Mason 5-1 on May 10. In game one,  Kevin Kaufman was the winning pitcher and Josh Beck had seven RBI’s. Beck went three for four with two

doubles and a single. In game two Troy Diller pitched the win. Colin Lake

and J  Beck both went two for four and Zach Perry went two for three.

5/12/14 Whiteford defeated Sand Creek 13- 10 taking their record to 14-6

with 8 straight wins. Joe Link was the winning pitcher. Josh Beck and Zach

Perry both went 3 for 4 and Troy Diller went 2 for 4. 9 of the 10 Bobcats

Whiteford baseball has picked up several wins with an eight game wining streak over the last two weeks. On May 7 Whiteford defeated Adrian Madison 7-6  Troy Diller was the winning

pitcher and went 3 for 4 at the plate. The other leading hitter for the

Bobcats was Josh Beck who went two for four at the plate. The following day Whiteford scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to defeat Morenci 7-6 according to varsity coach Terry Pant. Joe Link was the winning pitcher and helped improve the Bobcats to

10-6. Colin Lake went  three for five with three singles,  Beck again went two for four with 2

singles, and Aiden Roberts had the winning hit with 2 outs and bases

loaded, Pant said.

The Bobcats defeated Sand Creek 13-10 on May 12 taking their record to 14-6. Link was the winning pitcher. Beck and Perry both went three for four and Diller went two for nine.

Blissfield board doesn’t renew superintendent contract

The Blissfield Board of Education has voted 7-0 against the renewal of Superintendent Scott Moellenberndt’s employment contract through the LISD, according to a Tuesday morning news release from board President David Brewer.

According to Brewer, the current contract ends effective June 30, 2014.

“The current board has determined the new initiatives and a change in leadership are necessary for BCS,” Brewer said in the statement. “Mr. Moellenberndt has been an asset to our district and the Blissfield Board of Education would like to thank him for his service.”

Moellenberndt came to BCS July 1, 2007.

“He has a large list of accomplishments during his tenure including reaching all goals outlined by the hiring Board of Education,” Brewer said the release. “He has been continually devoted to the betterment of Blissfield Schools. He has held the reins thrugh the toughest financial times public education has faced in decades. Mr. Moellenberndt managed to keep our district in strong financial state.”

For more on the unanimous Blissfield BOE decision to end Moellenberndt’s contract through LISD, please see the May 28, 2014, edition of The Advance.

Denecker signs to play basketball at U of St. Francis

Bilssfield High School senior Claire Denecker will continue her stellar basketball career next fall as a member of the University of St. Francis basketball team in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Denecker will be joining the program that won the 2014 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)  Championship title.

For complete details please check out the May 21 issue of The Advance.

BD sinking fund millage goes down

By MELISSA BURNOR

Voters in the Britton Deerfield school district said no to a sinking fund millage by just a narrow margin of 115 yes to 130 no.

The yes and no votes cast were pretty even through the district. Voters in Deerfield Township voted 38 yes and 42 no.  Voters in the Ridgeway Township precinct voted 77 yes to 88 no.

The four- year one mill request was for building maintenance and improvements to the electrical system that would have enhanced technology in both buildings.

Goetz steps down as volleyball coach

The Blissfield Athletic Department announced Sunday that Kilee Goetz is steeping down as head volleyball coach to take a full-time position with the Oakland Elite Volleyball Club in a director role for the 10-14 year old division, joining Eric Lazowki, director for the 15-18 division and Roly Roldan, chief operating officer.

For the rest of the story, please see the May 7, 2014, edition of The Advance.