Doug Donnelly – Page 100 – Blissfield Advance

Fourth suspect arrested in pharmacy break-in

By Melissa Burnor

Police arrested a fourth suspect in connection with the July break-in of the Blissfield branch of the Schmidt and Son Pharmacy Wednesday, April 3. Suspects were in the pharmacy less than 90 seconds in an overnight break-in July 22. Three suspects have already appeared in court but Candy Sue Sullivan, 34, remained at large until today (April 3). Crimestoppers of Lenawee County issued a release early Wednesday afternoon shortly before Sullivan was apprehended in Hillsdale County. Lenawee County Sheriff Detective Gary Ward said in an e-mail shortly after 3 p.m. that Sullivan had been arrested in Hillsdale County and was on her way to the Lenawee County Jail. She is facing at least three felony charges in connection to the break-in.

Please read the April 10 edition of the Advance for more information.

BHS band, choir bound for Florida gig

By Chad Hutchinson

The Blissfield High School band and choir are serenading in sunshine as they left behind the chilly spring weather and hit the road for Florida Monday. BHS band instructor Mark Hollandsworth and choir instructor Wanice Linn are accompanying members of both groups as they boarded a pair of chartered buses bound for Disney World Monday, April 1.

The BHS band students participating in the trip are going to be in a parade down “Main Street” of the Magic Kingdom, while the choir will perform at the Epcot Center.

For the complete story, including the band’s performance in competition and an upcoming visit by the Notre Dame University band, please see the April 3, 2013, edition of The Advance. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc.

New funeral home to open in Blissfield

By Melissa Burnor

Blissfield will have a new business occupying the former Carpenter Hill Medical Building on U.S. 223 on the west end of town. The building was last occupied by ProMedica medical professionals.

Michael Anderson, owner of Anderson Funeral Home, and Arin Rudd, have joined together and will be opening the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home at that location in the coming weeks. The pair officially took possession of the property March 27 and renovation began April 1, Rudd said. Rudd said they anticipate renovations to take approximately eight weeks.

An open house is planned after renovations are complete.

Yockey earns key position in Boston Marathon lineup

By Chad Hutchinson

Britton Deerfield middle school teacher and varsity cross country and men’s track coach Jay Yockey is lacing up his running shoes once again to participate in the 2013 Boston Marathon April 15. Yockey, a former Blissfield High School and Adrian College cross country and track standout, is joining a field of over 20,000 runners and putting his endurance to the test for the 26.2-mile trek. Yockey finished in ninth place at the Glass City Marathon in Toledo last April with a time of two hours and 48 minutes to qualify for the Boston Marathon. His qualifying time places him 908th in the corral-one, wave-one grouping, which is the first-division of runners behind the “elite” participants.

Dr. Kent Benham, Ottawa Lake, is also running in the fabled marathon.

Blissfield’s Denecker earns All-State mention

Blissfield junior Claire Denecker was named Special Mention All-State selection in women’s basketball. Special mention is considered second-team all state. She was also a unanimous first-team all-LCAA league selection locally.

Sophomore Emma Essen was a second-team all-league selection as a guard for the women’s basketball program in Blissfield. Senior captain Jordan Willson was an all-league honorable mention selection for the Royals’ men’s basketball team.

TCC trio land on All-State list

A trio of TCC standouts have received All-State recognition for their efforts during the 2012-2013 basketball season. Whiteford junior Colin Lake was chosen as a first-team selection for the second consecutive season. To add to Lake’s “grand” season, he also broke the 1,000 point career mark during his junior campaign.

Britton Deerfield’s Cambria Handy was named a special mention selection for the Class-C All-State selections, along with sophomore teammate Morgan Tanis. The pair of Lady Patriots were special mention selections which is considered second-team. Handy also added to her season success by breaking the 1,000-career-point barrier as a Patriot.

Blissfield schools to fence-in buses

By Chad Hutchinson

Security and safety issues regarding Blissfield school buses was a driving force behind discussions at the March 18 meeting of the Blissfield Board of Education meeting.

District operations director Michael Reinhardt updated the board on the pursuit of bids for fencing to be placed around the buses at the garage located behind the high school. Reinhardt said 10 sealed bids were received from around the state. He said the bids ranged in cost from $30,000 to $19,900. Reinhardt recommended the acceptance of a bid of $19,926.14 from Adrian/Tecumseh Fencing.

Several members of the board acknowledged the need for the fences, and also their disappointment for it.

“We’ve had enough incidents that it’s become a risk for the buses. It’s become a safety issue. It’s unfortunate, but necessary,” trustee Scott Abbott said. The board approved the acceptance of the bid from Adrian/Tecumseh Fencing.

Lillian Bohlka

Lillian Margaret Bohlka, Blissfield, age 89, entered into Eternal Rest, March 25, 2013. She was a resident at Blissfield Place since April 2012. Lillian was born in Chicago, Illinois December 3, 1923, the daughter of August and Mary Martin. She graduated from Blissfield High School with the class of 1941. Lillian married Robert (Bo) Bohlka March 2, 1942. Lillian did secretarial work at Donaldson Machine and then 27 years at Maxitrol in Blissfield. Her hobbies included playing bingo and reading. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her family includes two children, Vicky (Jim) Rohrback of Decatur; Don (Kathy) Bohlka of Blissfield; four grandchildren; Pastor Mark (Luba) Rohrback, Jennifer (Jason) Gunter, Chad (Rebekka) Rohrback, Michelle (Matt) Ganun, and eight great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert (Bo), a stepbrother John Bogdan, and stepsister Rose Kuhn. Arrangements have been made by J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home. A private graveside Memorial service for Lillian and “Bo” will be held in July, 2013 at Pleasant View Cemetery in Blissfield. Pastor Gary Leking will be presiding. Memorials may be made to St. Paul ‘s Lutheran Church or Hospice of Lenawee. Condoleneces may be made to the family online @ www.PurseFuneralHome.com.

Kathleen Bussing

Kathleen M. Bussing, 87, of Blissfield, passed away Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at Lenawee Medical Care Facility in Adrian. Kathleen was born May 20, 1925 in Genoa, Ohio, to Helen (Root) and Earl Paul. She graduated from Sylvania Burnham High School in 1943. On October 25, 1943, she married Eugene Bussing in Blissfield. They celebrated 46 years of marriage, until his death in 1989. Kathleen devoted her life to her family. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She enjoyed traveling, baking pies and canning, sewing, playing cards, visiting and helping people in need, and still driving people to doctor and hospital appointments. She attended the Element Church in Blissfield. Survivors include her children, Gloria (Jerry) Ricker of Blissfield, Terry (Kathleen) Bussing of Plano, Texas, Bruce (Cindy) Bussing of Haslett, and Traci (Rick) Arquette of Adrian; her sister, Ilene Ries of Iowa City, Iowa; nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and her very special friend, Bob Dietsch of Swanton, Ohio. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Dean Paul and a sister, Pauline Tabbert. Funeral services for Kathleen were held Monday, April 1, 2013, at Element Church in Blissfield with Pastor Keith Smith officiating. Burial followed at Pleasant View Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Lenawee Medical Care Garden Room, Element Church or Hospice of Lenawee. On line condolences are welcomed at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com

Ora Demlow

Ora Wilhelmina Christina Demlow, 101 passed away March 17, 2013, at Drew’s Place in Coldwater MI. She was born March 24, 1911 in North Dakota to Henry and Anna (Broecker) Moeller. The family moved to Detroit when she was five years old and later to Adrian. She graduated from Adrian High School in 1929. In 1941 she married Alvin Demlow, who preceded her in death in 1999. She is survived by their two children, Carl (Brenda) Demlow of Coldwater and Dorothy (David) Mathis of Union City, MI and by a niece she raised Janice Rehklau (Bob) Kirk of Circleville, Ohio. Six grandsons and one granddaughter, Mark Mathis, Chris Mathis, Pete Mathis, Steven Demlow, Brian Demlow, Alan Demlow, and Kristen Shook. She also has fourteen great-grandchildren. Ora is survived by a sister, Luella Demlow, now of Jackson. She was preceded in death by sisters Anne Meeker, Esther Fink, Martha Harsh, Edna Rehklau, and brother Paul Moeller. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Adrian for 85 years and more recently a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Union City. A devoted wife and mother, she enjoyed the Demlow family farm in Palmyra, needlework, baking, and especially her grandchildren. Visitation was. Friday March 22, 2013 at Gillespie Funeral Home in Coldwater. The funeral services was at 11:00 a.m. Sat. March 23 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Union City with Pastor David Dodge officiating, luncheon following. Graveside services took place Tuesday March 26, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Adrian MI with Pastor Joel Sarrault officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Adrian MI, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Union City MI, Living Hope Church in West Unity, OH, or Southern Care Hospice. Visit www.gillespiefh.com to leave a message or condolences to the family.