Month: May 2020

May 13: Coronavirus numbers steadily declines

Michigan reported 40 new COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, May 13, and 370 new cases in ramped-up testing. Statewide, the all-time low of 6.4 percent positive was achieved Sunday. Region I, which includes Lenawee and eight other counties up the center of the state had a figure of 2.9 percent that at with 24 positive and 790 negative.

Monday’s testing percentage for Region 1 is 2.1 percent, per current reporting (it does change sometimes as tests are reported from various areas), with 22 positive tests and 1006 negative tests.

The total cases of COVID-19 is now 48,391 with 4714 Michiganders’ lives lost to the virus. The daily cases added Wednesday was 370, down from 469 Tuesday.

Lenawee County reported no change in its coronavirus figures during Wednesday’s state reporting at 3 p.m. with 129 cases and two death. Hillsdale County had no change, too, with 152 cases and 22 deaths. Jackson added one case and has 401 total cases and its deaths remain at 26. Monroe County saw its deaths hold at 18 and five new cases (404 total). Washtenaw had only four new cases (1210) and one more death (83 total).

The metropolitan Detroit area has been identified as a “hot spot” through much of the pandemic period. There were 11 new deaths in Wayne County, two in Oakland for the second day in a row, five in Detroit City, and 18 in Macomb, which reflects a big decline from April.

In Ohio, there are 25,721 cases including 1476 probables, there have been 4618 hospitalizations, and there are 1483 deaths including 136 probable from the coronavirus. Lucas County (Toledo) was reporting 1858 total cases Wednesday, 497 hospitalizations and 187 deaths. Fulton County, which borders on Lenawee County, has 32 cases and no deaths.

Sherry Augustyniak

RIGA – Sherry Kay Oyler Augustyniak, age 52, of Riga, passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2020, at Toledo Hospital.  She was born June 1, 1967 in Adrian to Willie Jerry and Karen Kay (Tabbert) Oyler.  She was married to Jeffrey Augustyniak.  Sherry was an equestrian and loved horses and Great Danes.  She took horticulture in school. She enjoyed flower gardening and cooking.

In addition to her husband, Jeffrey, she is survived by her mother, Karen (Larry Kastel) Tabbert of Riga; her mother-in-law, Linda Augustyniak of Holland, Ohio; her father-in-law, Larry Augustyniak of Ottawa Lake, Michigan; a son, Thomas Augustyniak of Riga; two brothers, Tim (JoAnna) Oyler of Ottawa Lake and B. Jay Rodriguez of Lapeer, Michigan; a brother-in-law, Scott (Tisha) Augustyniak of Maumee, Ohio;  nieces and nephews, Scott, Josh, Coty, Autumn, Cam, and Eli; two fur babies, Brutus and Brody.  She was preceded in death by her father, Willie Jerry Oyler; and grandparents, Donald and Martha Tabbert.

Cremation has taken place.  Due to Covid 19 Regulations, there will be no public visitation or services at this time. A memorial service will be held at a later date.  You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Lenawee Humane Society.  Envelopes are available at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.

Joan Sudborough

ADRIAN – Joan Ellen Sudborough, 88, of Adrian, died early Tuesday morning, May 12, 2020, at her home. She was born March 30, 1932, in Adrian, the only child born of the late Arthur and Agnes (Keller) Knoblauch.
After graduating from Blissfield High School in 1950, Joan went on to Davis Business College. On March 29, 1952, Joan married Donald F. Sudborough, in Blissfield, and they shared 49 years together before his passing in 2001. Over the years, Joan worked in the office at Ramus Automotive and Tom Prange Auto Village; and enjoyed selling Avon for more than 40 years and was a long-standing member of Avon’s Presidents Club. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, the Ladies Aid, and a volunteer at St. John’s Lutheran School. Joan was a Girl Scout Leader when her family was young and worked many years at Dick’s Market. She bowled on numerous leagues through Lenawee Rec and had made lasting memories with her friends. Later in life, Joan took on one of her most treasured roles of being a grandma and thoroughly enjoyed the time she spent watching and helping to mold her grandchildren.
Joan is survived by her children, David (Kendra) Sudborough of Weston, Jeffrey Sudborough of Adrian and Michelle Micklewright; grandchildren, Jenny Sudborough, Rachel Hanning, Alexandria (Josh) Thomas, Neil (Markelle) Micklewright, Michael (Leah) Sudborough, Halie Sudborough, Amanda (Jake) Fluker and Steven (Nita) Messerschmidt; great-grandchildren, Mckenzie Wiltshire, Jordan Wiltshire, Rylen Hanning and Hadley Micklewright; and Neil Micklewright. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald.
Visitation will take place on Thursday, May 14, 2020, from 11 to 1 p.m. at Wagley Funeral Home. Private service to follow. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the number of individuals in the funeral home will be monitored. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church of Adrian.
Online memories and condolences may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com.

Merle Karl

  MAUMEE, Ohio – Merle M. Karl, age 77, of Maumee passed away on Monday, May 11, 2020. He was born March 6, 1943, in Toledo, Ohio, the son of Martin and Myrtle (Seegert) Karl Sr.

Merle graduated from Blissfield High School in 1962 and worked for Champion Spark Plug in Toledo, Ohio. In his younger years he enjoyed dancing with friends and later in life helped to renovate several homes to help others he knew.
Merle is survived by his older brother, Stanley Karl of Blissfield. Merle was preceded in death by his parents and four other siblings, Marlo (Karl) Seeburger, Wilbur Karl, Nelda Karl, and Martin Karl Jr.
Arrangements are under the care of Urbanski Funeral Home, Toledo. No services are planned at this time. Merle will be interred next to his mother at Pleasant View Cemetery, Blissfield.

Nora Maher


Nora Marie Maher, age 57, of Blissfield, passed away at Toledo Hospital on May 12, 2020, surrounded by family.

She was born on January 30, 1963, in Tecumseh, to Jay and Vanda (Ruhl) Fisher. She graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science. On June 26, 1993, in Palmyra, Nora married Michael T. Maher and he survives. Nora worked for the United States Postal Service as a Postal Clerk starting her career working part-time at the Palmyra, Deerfield, and Riga Post Offices and then transitioning to full-time at the Blissfield Post Office, where she loved interacting with her customers. She was a member of the Blissfield Baptist Church and was a devoted homemaker, who was instrumental in home-schooling her children.  She enjoyed crafting, making jewelry and greeting cards, and enjoyed doing theater and plays.

In addition to her husband, Mike, Nora is survived by her two children, Yvonne and Jay Maher; her father Jay Fisher; one brother, Ed (Jean) Fisher; one sister, Tammy (Ken) Green; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother and a brother, Daniel John Fisher.

A viewing for Nora will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2020, from 2-6 p.m. at Blissfield Baptist Church. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, social gathering regulations will be strictly enforced. A memorial service will be held at a later date.     

You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Blissfield Baptist Church.  Envelopes are available at the Blissfield Baptist Church.

May 12: Lenawee County holds at two deaths from coronavirus, 1 new case

As Michigan’s death rate from the coronavirus has come down (25 Sunday, 33 Monday and 90 today which includes 19 deaths reclassified as COVID-19 deaths), Lenawee County health officials report still two total deaths during the pandemic.

The case count rose by one in the past 24 hours to 129 which reflects 68 males and 60 females. Four Lenawee residents are hospitalized, one fewer than Monday’s Lenawee County Health Department report. The number of people who have discontinued isolation jumped by five to 71 in the last 24 hours and the number monitoring at home also dropped four to 52. There are 33 probable cases, an increase of three since Monday, with 15 males and 18 females. None of these people are hospitalized, but 13 are monitoring their symptoms at home and 20 – three more than 24 hours ago – have discontinued their isolation.

Michigan now reports a total of 48,021 total coronavirus cases since the first was diagnosed, and 4674 state residents have died. Today, there were 469 new cases and the 90 deaths, of which 19 were added after a review of death certificates.

Neighboring counties are looking more stable as well. Hillsdale has 152 cases and 22 deaths; Jackson has 401 cases and 26 deaths; Monroe County has 399 cases and 18 deaths; Washtenaw County have 1206 cases and 82 deaths. In these counties, there have been two added deaths in the last 24 hours.

Lenawee County is part of a nine-county Region I up the center of southern Michigan which showed only three percent of tests coming back positive on May 10 (24 positive/786 negative), 4.1 percent on May 9 (43/1002) and 3.4 percent on May 8 (39/1118) as of numbers reported today. There are numbers added in over coming days as tests are reported.

Ohio, just over the border, has a total of 25,250 cases today with 4539 hospitalizations and 1436 deaths. Lucas County, where Toledo is the largest city, has had 1836 cases, 490 hospitalizations and 179 deaths. Fulton County, just south of Lenawee County, has had 32 cases, six hospitalizations and zero deaths.

May 8: Lenawee County COVID-19 case count up by six to 126

The Lenawee County coronavirus case count has risen by six to 126 as of today, May 8. Of those, there are 67 males and 59 females with four hospitalized. However, 58 are monitoring their symptoms at home and 62 have discontinued their isolation process, according to the Lenawee County Health Department.

Probable cases in Lenawee now tally 29 with 12 males and 17 females, none of whom are hospitalized. Twelve are monitoring their symptoms at home and of the probable cases, 17 have discontinued their isolation process.

Michigan now has reported 46,326 coronavirus cases with 4393 deaths attributed to the virus. Today, there were 680 new cases and 50 deaths in the state attributed to the pandemic. The death count was down from 93 Thursday, during which 38 prior deaths were added to the count upon review of death certificates.

On Friday, Region I, which includes Lenawee, Hillsdale, Jackson, Ingham, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Livingston and Shiawassee counties, had a positive test percentage of 4.3 percent May 5, which was up from 3.6 percent May 4, according to the May 8 report. However, the testing was up dramatically – the highest testing date since data began being kept. There were 1453 negative tests in the region and 65 positive across the nine counties.

May 6: Lenawee Co. at 114 cases of coronavirus

There have now been a total of 114 cases of the coronavirus and two have died from it in Lenawee County since figures began being kept in March. Tuesday’s total was 110 cases so four new cases have been confirmed.

Of those 62 are males and 52 are females. There are 50 people currently monitoring symptoms at home and 58 have emerged from isolation. Four people remain hospitalized. There have been another 30 people deemed “probable” COVID-19 cases on the Lenawee County Health Department website with 12 males and 18 females. None of these people are hospitalized, but 14 are monitoring symptoms at home and 16 have discontinued isolation.

In the state, there are now 45,054 identified cases via lab tests with 4250 deaths. The daily new case count is 657 with 71 deaths of Michigan residents reported today, up from Tuesday’s death count of 44, which included eight deaths added by a review of death records in the state.

The Detroit area is seeing fewer deaths being added to the total counts. Detroit city rose from 9424 Tuesday to 9536 today with 18 new deaths which brings the total in the city to 1126 today. Wayne County’s total cases rose from 7967 Tuesday to 8035 today and saw 10 new deaths for a total of 847; Oakland County’s total cases rose from 7522 Tuesday 7573 today with two new deaths for a total of 774; and Macomb County’s total cases rose from 5789 to 5832 today and added 15 deaths for a total of 662 today.

Lenawee County’s neighbor counties are reporting the following numbers: Hillsdale County up from 137 to 138 and the death toll remains at 21; Monroe County up from 327 to 354 with two more deaths for a total of 15; Washtenaw County added only six new cases for 1129 with 77 deaths (one death added in 24 hours).

In Ohio, the total is now 21,576, up from 20,969 Tuesday. There have been 4052 hospitalizations and 1225 deaths, up from 1135 Tuesday.

In Lucas County (Toledo area), there are now 1527 cases with 450 hospitalizations and 151 deaths, up from 133 Tuesday.

Fulton County has seen a case uptick to 30 cases with six hospitalizations and no deaths.

Lenawee County is in Region I of Michigan which is the lower center slice of the state. Its testing on May 4 showed only 3.8 percent of tests given to be positive (32 of 836). This is reflective of a steady decline of the percentage of positive tests. The Detroit area is running around 9 percent positive right now, according to www.michigan.gov which also shows Region I having reduced daily cases as May gets underway. Those were adjusted today, but here’s what was reported for the multi-county Region I: May 5, 7; May 4, 26; May 3, 16; May 2, 23; May 1, 12; April 30, 32; April 29, 27; April 26, 37.

May 1: May arrives with uptick in Lenawee County coronavirus cases

The month of May arrived in Lenawee County where 98 residents now have been confirmed as having COVID-19, up from 92 Thursday (according to county figures, and 93, according to state statistics).

The 98 include 54 males and 44 females. There are four county residents hospitalized at this time, with 43 monitoring their symptoms at home. There are now 49 people who are out of isolation, up four from Thursday. In addition, the Lenawee County Health Department, which reports the aforementioned statistics, reports there are 22 “probable” cases among 11 males and 11 females, none of whom are hospitalized. There are 15 people monitoring at home (up three from Thursday) and seven who have discontinued monitoring (down one from Thursday).

The Lenawee County death toll remains at two.

There are many charts and graphs of statistics on the www.michigan.gov coronavirus page. Lenawee County is part of Region 1 which includes these counties: Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston and Shiawassee. As of the end of April, Region 1 shows 137 patients discharged, 40 in critical care, 21 on ventilators and 72 inpatients. The website shows Promedica Hospital in Michigan has 15 COVID-19 patients at this time with 11 in ICU. That would indicate there are patients there from other areas as the Lenawee Health Department shows four Lenawee County residents hospitalized.

The statewide website says there are 2690 active coronavirus cases in hospitals with 942 Michiganders in ICUs.

The Detroit area today shows a marked decline in the number of newly reported deaths. Detroit City saw an increase of five deaths today; Macomb County had nine additional deaths; Wayne had 15 additional deaths; and Oakland County reported nine additional deaths. Just Tuesday (April 28), Wayne County added 18 deaths, Detroit City added 38 deaths, Oakland County had 24 additional deaths, and Macomb County had 45 additional deaths.

Statewide, Michigan is reporting 42,356 cases with a total of 3866 deaths since the coronavirus hit. There were 977 daily new cases and 77 daily deaths Friday

Neighboring Michigan counties had the following statistics today: Hillsdale County 127 cases (up two) and 17 deaths; Jackson County had 381 cases (up 17 cases) and remained at 22 deaths; Monroe County had 296 cases (up nine) and remained at 12 deaths; Washtenaw County had 1091 cases (up 16) and had an increase of five deaths to 66 overall.

In Ohio, after a jump in deaths for the Toledo area that showed up midweek, the number steadied at 119 with no increase from Thursday for Lucas County. There are 1297 cases in Lucas and 421 hospitalizations. Fulton County did have an increase to 24 cases with six hospitalizations and no deaths.

Overall, Ohio now has 18,743 cases (including 781 “probable” cases added through the CDC’s expanded guidelines, 3634 hospitalizations, and the death toll exceeded the 1000-fatality mark to 1002 Friday with 80 listed as probable per the CDC’s expanded guidelines.