Author: Marcia Loader

Phone service temporarily unavailable in some Lenawee County government offices

ADRIAN – There is a fault in the phone lines affecting some of the Lenawee County government buildings, according to a Lenawee County Wednesday afternoon news release. This includes the Sheriff’s Office, Jail, all of the courts, Administration, Register of Deeds, Treasurer, County Clerk Vital Records, Equalization, Solid Waste, Public Defender, Medical Examiner, Drain Commission, Printing and Purchasing, and Information Technology.

“We have not received an estimate on how long it will take to fix the issue and restore service. This issue DOES NOT affect the 911 service to dispatch,” the release stated.

“We apologize for any inconvenience,” the release continued. “Until such time as all phone lines are working, you may want to consider contacting our offices through our website (www.lenawee.mi.us) or direct e-mail.”

People may follow the links below to these offices:
District Court – http://www.lenawee.mi.us/176/District-Court
Drain Commission – http://www.lenawee.mi.us/447/Drain-Commission Probate Court – http://www.lenawee.mi.us/257/Probate-Court Sheriff’s Office – http://www.lenawee.mi.us/261/Sheriffs-Office

Or they may contact the following offices by e-mail:
Administrator’s Office – county.administrator@lenawee.mi.us

County Clerk – Roxann.Holloway@lenawee.mi.us Equalization – Equalization@lenawee.mi.us

Friend of the Court – foc@lenawee.mi.us
Information Technology – webmaster@lenawee.mi.us
Medical Examiner – Medical.Examiner@lenawee.mi.us
Printing & Purchasing – Kim.Cramer@lenawee.mi.us or Debbie.Arhens@lenawee.mi.us

301 N. Main Street Adrian, MI 49221 Lenawee.MI.US

Register of Deeds – Carolyn.Bater@lenawee.mi.us Treasurer – treasurer@lenawee.mi.us
Solid Waste – Diana.Schroeder@lenawee.mi.us

May 19: Lenawee County at 139 coronavirus cases

Lenawee County’s coronavirus case count rose by three to 139 today, a number representing 73 males, 66 females and three hospitalizations – an increase of one since Monday. There are 39 people monitoring their symptoms at home with 94 who have discontinued isolation, or 68 percent of the positive cases since the tally began in March.

Three people have died in Lenawee. There are also 32 “probable” cases – 12 men and 20 women, none of whom are hospitalized. Eleven of the “probable” cases are monitoring their symptoms from home, but 21 or 66 percent of these cases have discontinued isoltion.

Statewide, after 24 deaths Monday, May 18, the count rose today to 102, but included 43 deaths swept into the daily count from a review of death certificates which leaves 59 new deaths that actually occurred in the past 24 hours.

There are now 52,350 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Michigan and the number of deaths has topped the 5000-mark at 5017 total.

In neighboring counties, Hillsdale County has 165 cases with 24 deaths, an increase of one fatality. However, Jackson, Monroe and Washtenaw held their death counts at 26, 18 and 89 respectively over the past 24 hours. Jackson County saw a three-case rise, Monroe held at 433 cases, and Washtenaw saw six new cases today.

In the area hardest-hit by COVID-19, Wayne County has 8875 cases and 999 deaths; Oakland County has 8078 cases and 928 deaths; Macomb County has 6367 cases and 753 deaths; and Detroit City had 10417 cases and 1276 deaths.

The only other county with triple-digit deaths is Genesee County which has seen 235 of its residents die among 1898 cases. Kent County has 1000 more cases, but one quarter the death toll with 58 deaths among 2934 cases as of today.

In Ohio, today’s case count was 28,952 which includes 1846 probable cases per the CDC expanded definition. Ohio has seen 1720 of its residents die of the coronavirus, with 164 of those deaths deemed probable under the CDC expanded definition of the virus.

Lucas County, home of Toledo, Ohio, stands at the brink of 2000 cases today (1999) with 531 hospitalizations and 209 deaths. Fulton County, to the south of Lenawee County and Williams County to the southwest of Lenawee are reporting 35 cases, six hospitalizations and no deaths, then 47 cases, four hospitalizations and one death respectively, but there was no increase in the past 24 hours in either county. Ohio is in the process of opening its businesses again.

Lenawee is part of nine-county Region I which had 40 positive tests and 997 negatives among its citizenry Sunday for a 3.9 percent rate. Statewise, there were 1275 positives and 12,264 negatives that same day for a rate of 9.4 percent.

May 14: Lenawee County records third COVID-19 death

The third person from Lenawee County to die of the coronavirus has been reported by the Lenawee County Health Department today. The number of total cases also rose by three to 132 with 71 males and 61 females affected. Three are hospitalized at this time and 43 are monitoring their symptoms from home, but the number of those who have discontinued isolation is now 83 people.

The death rate in Lenawee is two percent with the latest fatality.

There are also 33 probable cases, not proven by a lab test, representing 15 males and 18 females. None of these people are hospitalized with 13 monitoring their symptoms at home and 20 who have discontinued isolation.

Michigan has now confirmed 49,582 cases of COVID-19 with 4787 deaths attributed to the virus. There was an upswing in daily cases to 1191, and 73 deaths which had an asterisk indicating in past weeks that other deaths had been swept into the figure after a review of death certificates, but for the first time the number of those added deaths was not specified.

In the surrounding area, Hillsdale County has had 155 (three new) cases with 22 deaths, Jackson County added six cases (411 total) with 26 deaths; Monroe County has 11 new cases (411 total) and remains at 18 deaths; and Washtenaw County has had 1231 cases (21 new) and three new deaths for a total of 86.

Detroit City has gone over the 10,000 mark – the highest in the state – with 10,164 cases adding 191 cases on this day with 1236 deaths – 18 new; Wayne County is reporting 8606 cases – 190 new – and 947 deaths, nine additional; Oakland County’s case count has risen to 7952 – 122 added cases today – with 888 deaths, up 14 from Wednesday; and Macomb County has 6232 cases – an increase of 95 cases – with 11 new deaths reported.

The added case rate may reflect more vigorous testing as the death number remains flatter. The most recent date of testing reported on michigan.gov is May 12, which showed the second-highest test total in Region I, which includes Lenawee County, of 1258, 43 of which were positive, 1215 negative for a 3.4 percent rate. The May 11 testing had 22 positive cases and a 2.1 percent positive rate. The May 10 testing had 24 positive cases for a 2.9 percent rate. The highest testing date was May 6 in Region I with 1518 total tests, 65 of which were positive for a 4.3 percent rate.

Statewide, michigan.gov’s coronavirus page reports a positive testing rate of 6.1 percent with 867 positive tests versus 13, 375 negatives on May 12. This is the highest overall date of testing in Michigan with 14,242 total tests reported for the May 12 date.

In Ohio today, there are now 26,357 total cases including 1557 probables under the CDC expanded case definition. There were 636 new cases in Ohio the past 24 hours. Of the 1534 total deaths, 146 are included under the CDC’s expanded death definition for COVID-19. And 4718 have been hospitalized.

Lucas County, home of Toledo, has dropped to the sixth highest county as far as coronavirus cases with a total of 1883, 505 hospitalizations and 195 deaths.

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.