Month: March 2016

Deerfield manslaughter defendant faces preliminary exam

By Melissa Burnor

Very little new information was revealed March 9 at Jacky Bell’s preliminary examination. The 44-year old Clayton man has been charged with manslaughter in the death of Nathan Vance on  Sept. 22, 2015.
Vance died as a result of an alleged fist fight outside of the Deer Run Apartments on East River Street in the village of Deerfield.
“There will be another time to argue the facts of this case,” public defender Rodney Leon said.
The defense does not deny that Bell took part in a fight between the defendant and Vance. They claim that Bell acted in self-defense in an altercation where Vance was the instigator.
Bell’s attorney also asked for  a bond of $5,000 or lower or even a personal recognizance bond.
His original bond of $50,000 had been reduced to $30,000 at his arraignment by Judge Jonathan Poer.
Schaedler said she also had concerns about lowering the bond, but did lower his bond to $20,000. Bell will be arraigned in Lenawee County circuit Court on March 23.

For the complete story, please see the March 16, 2016, edition of The Advance.

Testicle Festival returns to Deerfield for 15th year on March 19

DEERFIELD – The Deerfield American Legion Testicle Festival will serve up the cuisine that some folks love and makes others cringe this Saturday, March 19, at the legion hall at 10 W. River St. in Deerfield.
Commander Al Rau said this year will be the 15th annual event that draws people from Michigan, Ohio and sometimes Canada for the day-long event.
The bar opens at 10 a.m. and the legion starts serving dinners at noon until they run out of food.  The menu features Rocky Mountain oysters, chicken gizzards, baked beans, slaw and rolls.
Commemorative shirts will also be on sale.

Blissfield Rotary auction Saturday night

By Melissa Burnor

The Blissfield Rotary Club has a treasure trove of items up for bid a the 28th annual charity auction this Saturday, March 19. Once again hosted by Toledo 11 news personality Jerry Anderson, the event has a large variety of items in live and silent auctions as well as a Blitz Raffle.
This year’s blitz raffle beneficiaries are the Blissfield Senior Center and I92 Ministries, a Lenawee County-based organization working to feed the hungry here and in Haiti.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. giving folks time to register and put initial bids on silent auction items and purchase raffle tickets.  The Blitz Raffle drawing, dinner and game table drawings take place from 6:30-8 p.m. At 8 p.m. is when the main event takes place with the live auction with Anderson acting as auctioneer. Another Blitz Raffle and the silent auctions will also close during this time. And then there is the popular Heads & Tails competition and the horse race to end the evening.
Several trips, sporting event tickets, gift certificates and local products are available for the live auction. Also original artwork from local artists will be auctioned off. An original painting of Blissfield landmarks by Carl Quinn will be on the auction block. Also a painting by Bob Billington depicting the Palmyra Hobo Race of 1924. Artwork by Ted Vassar and glass work from Mark Wagar will also be available.
The Auction is the service organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

This is a photo of Bob Billington's painting of the Palmyra Hobo Race to be auctioned off Saturday at the Rotary Auction.
This is a photo of Bob Billington’s painting of the Palmyra Hobo Race to be auctioned off Saturday at the Rotary Auction.

Palmyra farmer arrested

PALMYRA – An investigation into a series of thefts throughout Lenawee County led sheriff’s detectives to arrest a Palmyra Township farmer on charges of receiving stolen property,firearms charges and conspiracy to carry on a criminal enterprise.
Police executed a search warrant last September at the residence of Edward Judson, 65,  in Palmyra Township. Several items including chain saws, tools, lawn and garden accessories, clothing and firearms were seized during the execution of the warrant.
An arrest warrant was issued for Judson, Thursday and was charged with criminal enterprises-conducting, weapons-firearms- receiving and concealing , dangerous weapons, stolen property-receiving and concealing $1,000 up to $20,000 and felony firearms.  He will face a preliminary examination on March 14 in front of Judge Jon Poer. He was released Thursday from the Lenawee County Jail after booking with a $125,000 personal recognizance bond.
   For the complete story, please see the March 9, 2016, edition of The Advance.

Earl Goetz

Earl Charles Goetz passed away on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 in the care of his wife Joyce, his girls, close friends and Hospice of Lenawee.

Earl was born on July 19, 1922, which was also his mother’s birthday. He was known to say “he was the only birthday gift his mother couldn’t return”. Earl was born to Charles G. and Elfrieda (Tobian) Goetz at home in Monroe, Michigan, both of whom preceded him in death along with his brother Richard and his only son Todd Earl Goetz.

Surviving him are his loving wife of 68 years, Rena Joyce (Service) Goetz, his two daughters; Jill Kiesow of Riga, Mich., and Paula Aspacher (Jeff) of Franklin, TN.; 5 grandchildren; Kate Dewick (David), Green Bay, WI, Lynn Edmunds (Mark) of Wind Point WI, Charlie Goetz of Vernon, NY, Earlene Mest (Dan) of Strykersville, NY, Valerie Aspacher of Houston, TX, and Garrett Aspacher of Denver, CO. Great grandchildren: Connor and Ashlyn Dewick, Addeline and William Edmunds, and Levi Mest. He is also survived by his two brothers; William and Wendell Goetz and many nieces, nephews and his friends’ children who all loved their Uncle Earl.

Earl graduated from Blissfield High School and then began full time farming in Riga Township. He was a faithful member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Riga. He was also an avid Blissfield Royals fan enjoying many games at the school and listening on his trusty transistor radio. He also loved the Detroit Tigers and college sports! He was a happy man when he was able to have a radio on his tractor so he could listen to sports while he worked.

Earl served on several boards over the years including; Rural Electric Membership Corp., Blissfield Co-op, St. John’s Lutheran and Killarney Lutheran Camp.   As a dedicated Kiwanian, Earl served as President, Secretary and had Perfect Attendance at meetings for 39 years. He was awarded the George F. Hixson Fellowship Award from Kiwanis International in 1996. Earl and his smiling face could be seen all over the area selling tickets for any event Kiwanis was supporting.

The Goetz family would like to thank his caregivers; Diana, Charlene, Dawn, Leslie, Rachel and Sanya for their faithfulness and loving care of Earl during his final months, and to Jon and Leann Mattek and Karson Edgar for ALWAYS being available when the phone rang.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8pm, Thursday, March 10 at Tagsold Chapel of Wagley Funeral Home in Blissfield. Services will be Friday, March 11 at 11:00 am at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Riga with internment immediately after. Pastor James Seelow will be officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hospice of Lenawee, Riga Fire Department, or the charity of your choice. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com.

Georgette Pieh

Georgette “Gette” Marie Pieh, age 88 of Blissfield, formerly of Deerfield
passed away on Tuesday, March 08, 2016 under the loving care of the
residents and staff of Blissfield Place and Hospice of Lenawee.

She was born on July 25, 1927 in Torhout, Belgium to Richard and Irma (Jacques)
Vanhaerents.  She and her family migrated to the United States when she
was three years old.

On February 5, 1947 she was united marriage to Richard J. Pieh in Deerfield, MI. He preceded her in death on October 31, 1993.

Gette worked as a cafeteria cook for Deerfield Public Schools for
25 years, retiring in 1983.  After retirement, she and Rich enjoyed
spending winters in Largo, Florida, where they made numerous friends and
eventually, they moved there to live year round.  About four years ago,
Gette moved back to Michigan and into Blissfield Place to be closer to her
remaining family only to become part of a much larger family where she
lived. The staff and residents of Blissfield Place were wonderful beyond
words. She was a faithful member of Light of Christ Catholic Parish (St.
Alphonsus Catholic Church) of Deerfield, the Deerfield American Legion
Post #325 Women’s Auxiliary for over 50 years and was a past member of the
Deerfield Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary. Gette enjoyed cooking,
playing cards, golfing in earlier years and enjoyed her grandchildren and
great-grandchildren.
Surviving are five grandchildren, Allyn (Rhonda) Lanz of Tipton, Amy
(Mark) Madalinski of Blissfield, Brad (Amber) Pieh of Jackson, Brian
(Kristy) Lanz of Deerfield and Arin (Jeff) Rudd of Blissfield; one sister,
Agnes DeBruyne of Monroe; her daughter-in-law, Deanna Pieh of Deerfield;
sister-in-law, Marcy Vanhaerents of Florida; 12 great-grandchildren,
Stephanie, Dustin, Holden, Dylan, Noah, Chandler, Ryan, Abby, Ashlee,
Allycia, Grace and Parker and many nieces and nephews.  In addition to her
husband, Rich, she was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter and
son-in-law, Janet and Keith Lanz, her son, Robert Pieh and three brothers,
Remi, Jerry and George Vanhaerents.
The funeral liturgy for Gette was  read at 11 a.m. on Friday, March
11, 2016 at Light of Christ (St. Alphonsus Catholic Church) in Deerfield
with Fr. Jeff Poll officiating. Burial  followed in Deerfield Cemetery,
Deerfield. Visitation was held on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at the
Anderson Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield from 2-8 p.m., with a prayer vigil
at 7 p.m. Visitation was also  held on Friday from 10 – 10:45 a.m. at
the church in Deerfield.
You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to Light of Christ (St. Alphonsus),
Blissfield Place or to Hospice of Lenawee. Envelopes are available at
Anderson Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.

Jimmy Bates

Jimmy W. Bates, age 76 of Blissfield, passed away Sunday, March 6, 2016, at Provincial House.
He was born August 9, 1939, at home in Hillsdale County to George and Beulah “Eileen” (Blanchard) Bates, and attended Adrian High School.
On June 19, 1965, Jimmy married Madeline DeNudt in Blissfield and they have shared over 50 years together.
Jimmy went into tool-and-die making and completed his training at Snedeker & Son in Adrian.  He worked at BlisSfield Manufacturing, Meyer Boat Factory, and National Aircraft Services in Tecumseh, where he retired.
In his younger years, Jimmy loved roller skating and dancing.  His favorite pastimes were fishing and woodworking, but he would choose being with his family over anything.
In addition to his wife, Madeline, he is survived by their children, Brenda Ostrander and Brian (Christina) Bates; grandchildren, Nicholas Ostrander and Makenna Bates; and his siblings, George “Herb” (Betty) Bates of Fairfield and Nora (Robert) Irish of Adrian.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Bates.
Special thanks to Provincial House staff for the care he received.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 12, 2016 at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield with Cliff Washburn officiating.  Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery.  Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 5-8 p.m