Parents of students in Blissfield Public Schools were alerted by Interim Superintendent David Pray this morning (Wednesday, Feb. 11) of a threatening email regarding Blissfield High School.
“I was sent an email (not a phone call or fax) in which I was told ‘a threat(en)ing email was posted anonymously on the After School App regarding Blissfield High School’,” Pray wrote.
Blissfield Police Chief Dale Greenleaf issued a press release that until the threat is disproven, it will continue to be treated as credible.
“A joint investigation between the Blissfield Police Department, the Michigan State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been initiated,” Greenleaf said in the release. “At this time, there is no evidence to support a credible threat, however until the investigation has disproven the threat, we will continue to treat the threat as credible.”
Greenleaf said he had received contact early this morning from Pray of the email and that the school and police department had immediately implemented protocols designed to respond to incidents of this nature.
“The safety of our schools is of paramount importance to the Village of Blissfield,” Greenleaf said, “We take any threat very seriously and ask that anyone with information regarding this threat, or any threat, contact the Blissfield Police Department at (517) 486-4340 or Crimestoppers at (517) 266-6161 or (877) 276-8477.
Pray echoed the chief regarding the credibility of the threat.
“At this time, there is no evidence this is a credible threat, but until we can rule this out completely, we will continue to treat this as a credible threat,” he said.
“Further investigation has found that the company which sent the email ‘After School App’ is an application which Apple has chosen to remove from their sales because of numerous unwarranted threats in other areas of the state and nation,” Pray wrote in a message to the Blissfield Community School District.
To be proactive and as a precautionary measure, Pray said, the village police, Michigan State Police and Lenawee County Sheriff’s Department have begun providing extra patrols on the school campus and will continue to do so for the remainder of the week. In addition, he continued, office staff has taken extra precautions to assure the safety of students and staff of the Blissfield District.
Month: February 2015
Joshua Gates
Joshua Louis Gates, age 31 of Blissfield, died Sunday, February 8, 2015.
He was born July 31, 1983, in Adrian to Terry and Debra (Kastel) Gates.
Joshua was self-employed doing painting and power washing. He was an active Cub Scout volunteer. Joshua coached for the Blissfield My Way Wrestling Club, Little League, softball and soccer club.
He was a member of Elem3nt Church and was a member of their Upward Basketball program.
Joshua is survived by his children, Nevaeh Gates and Braxton Gates; parents, Debra (John) Shields and Terry (Carol) Gates; a brother Charles Gates and his children, Charles Austin and Aundrea Gates; a sister, Jennifer Gates and her children, Jude Rosas and Jade Casanova; maternal grandmother, Phyllis Kastel; paternal grandparents, Charles and Suzanne Gates all of Blissfield. He was preceded in death by maternal grandfather, Dale Kastel, paternal grandmother Nancy Schill, great grandparents, Ernie and Marcella Kastel and Edward and Edith McMullin; and uncles, Darrel Kastel and Daniel Gates.
Funeral services for Joshua will be held 1 p.m. Friday, February 13, 2015, at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield with Pastor Gayle Ruble officiating. Burial will be in Riga Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday from 2-8 p.m. at the Anderson Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.
Condolences to the family may be made at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the family to help them with funeral expenses. Checks may be made to the Anderson Rudd Funeral Home. Envelopes are available at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.
Robert “Bob” Pieh
DEERFIELD — Robert J. “Bob” Pieh, 66 of Deerfield died unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 3, 2015, at his home.
Bob was born in Adrian, Michigan, on October 14, 1948, to Richard and Georgette (Vanhaerents) Pieh. He graduated from Deerfield High School with the class of 1966. After graduation he went to work for Ford Motor Company in Saline. Shortly after getting hired, he was drafted to serve his country with the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He returned home from the war in 1969 and went back to work for Ford’s in Saline.
On October 8, 1971, Bob married Deanna S. Sager in Deerfield. She survives.
Bob was transferred to Ford’s in Milan where he retired in 2001 after 34 years of service.
He was a member of the Deerfield American Legion Post #392, Moose Lodge of Sylvania and a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Bob was a faithful member of the Deerfield Church of God.
In addition to his wife, Dee he is survived by his two children, Brad (Amber) Pieh of Jackson, Mich.,and Arin (Jeff) Rudd of Blissfield; his four grandchildren, who were his pride and joy, Holden and Noah Pieh of Jackson and Chandler and Parker Rudd of Blissfield; his mother, Georgette “Gette” Pieh of Blissfield; sister-in-law, Sherrie Brown of Deerfield; many nieces and nephews including Allyn (Rhonda) Lanz of Tipton, Amy (Mark) Madalinski of Blissfield and Brian (Kristy) Lanz of Deerfield; his canine companion Cash; and numerous cousins and close friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Rich, and his sister, Janet Lanz, and brothers-in-law, Keith Lanz and Barney Brown.
Bob’s family would like to express our sincerest heartfelt thank you to the Deerfield Fire Department for all of their promptness, efforts and compassion that was given to our family during this most difficult time.
Funeral services to celebrate Bob’s life were held at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 9, 2015, at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield with Pastor Paul Clark officiating. Burial followed in Deerfield Cemetery, Deerfield, with full military rites conducted by the Deerfield American Legion Post #392. Visitation was held from 2-8 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, 2015, at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.
Condolences may be made at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Deerfield Church of God. Envelopes are available at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.
Pipeline meeting Feb. 17 in Adrian
ADRIAN — Representatives from the NEXUS Pipeline will be on hand from 5:30-7 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Adrian College Tobias Center, 110 S. Madison St., for an open house to discuss the proposed natural gas pipeline that could come through Fulton County and eastern Lenawee County with residents and government officials.
For more on the pipelines, please see the Feb. 11, 2015, edition of The Advance, as well as past editions in January 2015 and December 2014. Copies are available at The Advance, 121 Newspaper St., Blissfield, MI 49228.
Blissfield Coming Home Court named
Although the announcement was delayed due to school cancellation Monday, Feb. 2, the Blissfield High School Coming Home Court has been named. They are pictured here: Front row, from left, Emma Essen, Rebecca Shields, Chelsey Eatmon and Elizabeth Hartke; Back row, Connor Friess and Caleb Schaffer.
The winners will be crowned Friday night, Feb. 6, at halftime of the Coming Home game at Blissfield High School.
Back – Connor Friess, Caleb Schaffer
Blissfield Lions look to make someone $2500 richer
The holder of the last ticket left will win $2,500 at the Blissfield Area Lions Club Reverse Raffle at the Blissfield American Legion Saturday night, Feb. 7.
The club sells 199 tickets to the annual event. The final ticket is auctioned off when there are 10 tickets left in the barrel, Lion Dale Wotring said.
Second prize is $500 and third prize s $250. The evening also includes a live auction and other prize raffles throughout the evening. Ticket-holders are also provided dinners, dessert and drinks and can stay for a dance after the raffle is over.
Tickets for the event at the are $50 each. Doors open at the legion at 6 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and drawings begin at 7 p.m. All participants must be 21 years of age or older.
For ticket information, contact Stan Masters 517-320-0802 or Bob Ford 517-902-4915 in the evening. Dale Wotring can be contacted at Knapp Motors during business hours.
For the complete story, please pick up the Feb. 4, 2015, edition of The Advance.
Don Sattler
Donald ‘Don’ (Freddie) Sattler, 86 formerly of Blissfield, passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2015, at Tecumseh Place II.
He was born in Metamora, Ohio, November 5, 1928 to Robert and Ruth (Irwin) Sattler. He married Marian Haas on November 10, 1946 in Blissfield. They enjoyed 64 years of marriage before she preceded him in death in 2010.
Don worked with the Crist Company, GoCon/Goodrich and later on with Lenawee Kreighoff doing masonry work and carpentry. Family was important to Don, especially his grandchildren. He and his wife, Marian spent many hours at Lenawee County Fair watching their grandchildren show their 4-H projects. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting and spending time with his family up north at the family cabin. Christmas time was always special to Don as he created presents for family, especially birdhouses. He attended Blissfield United Brethren Church.
Survivors include his children, Greg (Tanna) Sattler of Tecumseh, Laura (Dan) Sauter of Palmyra and Lezlie Whiteford of Texas; 11 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren and a brother Jim (Sue) Sattler of Assumption, Ohio.
In addition to his wife Marian, he was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Brenda; a son, Brad Sattler; and four brothers and sisters.
Funeral services for Don were held Friday, January 23, 2015, at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel, with Pastor Tom Hawkins officiating. Burial took place at Pleasant View Cemetery in Blissfield. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lenawee or the Alzheimer’s Association. Memories and online condolences are welcomed at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com.
John Bocskay
John A. Bocskay died Friday, January 30, 2015, at his home with his family at his side, under the care of Hospice of Lenawee. He was 67 years of age.
John was born December 3, 1947, in Adrian to Alexander and Sina “Vernett” (Law) Bocskay. He graduated from Deerfield High School in 1966.
In 1974, he married Karla Burguard in Petersburg, Michigan.
John was an active member of the Deerfield Township Volunteer Fire Department, going on 42 years. John liked to hunt and fish and spent time at his cottage on Evans Lake. He retired in 2002 from Ford Motor Company in Saline after 36 years.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a sister Barb (Lowell) Hottenstein, a brother, Robert (Diane) Bocskay, mother-in-law, Lois Burguard, sister and brother-in-law, Robert and Renee Larzelere, four nephews, three nieces, six great-nephews and seven great-nieces and his dog, Gracie. John was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law, Carl Burguard and a great-nephew.
Visitation for John will take place from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 7, 2015 ,at St. Peters Lutheran Church, Petersburg with services to follow at 12:30 p.m. at the church. Pastor Mark Flory will officiate and participation from the Deerfield Voluntary Fire Department. Cremation has taken place and John’s cremains will be inurned in Pleasant View Cemetery, Petersburg.
The family asks that there please be no flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to the Deerfield Fireman’s Association or to St. Peters Lutheran Church, Petersburg. Envelopes will be available at the church. Condolences to the family may be made at www.andersonfuneralservices.com
Arrangements are under the direction of the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.
Winter storm hits Lenawee County
By Melissa Burnor
The Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Lenawee County Emergency Management Office and the Lenawee County Road Commission, has issued a winter weather road advisory for Lenawee County. At the same time the National Weather Service has raised its prediction of snowfall to more than 14 inches through Monday.
Heavy snow accumulation throughout today and into Monday morning is expected across Lenawee and Monroe counties. Blowing and drifting snow is going to accompany this storm, which will cause hazardous traveling conditions according to a press release from Lenawee Count Emergency management, Lenawee County Sheriff and the Lenawee County Road Commission. The release said that the Michigan Department of Transportation has five salt trucks serving the state highways and the Lenawee County Road Commission has eight salt trucks serving secondary roads.
“If you must travel give yourself extra time, keep your speed down and approach intersections with extra caution,” the news release drafted by Sgt. Kraig Kourt said.
Officials reminded the public that winter weather not only creates hazardous driving conditions but also creates an enormous demand for police, EMS and Central Dispatch services. They urged residents to listen to local radio stations for road reports and please not to call 911 and request weather or travel information.
Plummeting temperatures and wind are also a major concern as temperatures will drop and the windchill is expected to be down to negative 20 degrees. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning in affect until 7 a.m tomorrow (Monday) morning.
The village of Blissfield is operating under a snow emergency until all major accumulation has ceased and the roads are cleared. This means that vehicles cannot be parked on village streets during that time period.