Author: Doug Donnelly

Ottawa Lake native Doug Donnelly is the editor and publisher of The Advance and Overtime, the Lenawee County Sports Weekly.

Blissfield woman killed in early morning crash

PALMYRA – A Blissfield woman was killed in a pre-dawn crash on U.S. 223 in Palmyra Township this morning. According to the Lenawee County Sherif’s Office, Nicole Deer, 43, was pronounced dead at the scene of a two-vehicle crash shortly before 6 a.m. on U.S. 223 near Driggs Road.

A press release said Deer appeared to be traveling westbound on U.S. 223 in a 1996 Chevrolet when she was alleged struck by Dewayne Shattuck, 25, Adrian, who was eastbound in a 1999 Chevrolet.
According to the release, deputies believe Shattuck allegedly crossed the centerline and struck Deer’s vehicle.
Shattuck was transported to Bixby Hospital with non-incapacitating injuries by Palmyra Township Fire Department rescuers.
Police had the road shut down for more than three hours as they investigated. The crash still remains under investigation by the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office.
The Blissfield Police Department and Madison Township Fire Department also assisted at the scene.

Jann Leverenz

Jann Lyn Peacock Leverenz, age 54, died Monday, November 5, 2012, at the Ohio Northwestern Hospice Center.

She is survived by her husband, John Leverenz of Toledo, her father, Norman (Bud) Peacock, step mother, Edna Peacock of Blissfield; a son Richard of Toledo; her brother, Jeffery, his wife, Tracy and their sons Cody, CJ Peacock of Elyria, Ohio; and John’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Leverenz.

Both Jann and her brother, Jeffery, were adopted from the Methodist Children’s Home.  The first twenty years of their life was parented by Joann Russell (1931-1981) of Kalamazoo, and Norman Peacock.  Both the Russell and the Peacock families were ecstatic over the addition and the children brought the utmost love to their families.

One of Jann’s favorite pastimes when she was young was fishing, always outdoing her father and brother and she loved talking about it.  One of Jann’s greatest gifts was making hundreds of original, specialized and intricate cards for the holidays, birthdays or just for fun to her loved ones.  Her work of handmade drawings of both formal and imaginary scenery is highly revered by her family and close friends.

Upon Jann’s request, cremation has taken place.  Graveside services for Jann Lyn will be held on Saturday,  August 24, 2013, at 2:00 pm at Pleasant View Cemetery in Blissfield, with Pastor Kristen Parks officiating.   Arrangements were handled by Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel.  Condolences are welcomed at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com

U.S. 223 closed near Palmyra

Police have closed U.S. 223 east of Palmyra while they are investigating a serious pre-dawn traffic accident near Driggs Road and U.S. 223. All traffic is rerouted from U.S. 223 to Crockett Highway to Gorman Road and Ogden Highway for both east and westbound traffic. No further information is available at this time.

Village paving Jefferson Street

Traveling Jefferson Street in the village of Blissfield for the next week may be a little rough as crews begin to prepare the street for paving next week. The village contracted with the Lenawee County Road Commission for work that began Tuesday morning.

Village Department of Public Works Superintendent Mark Strahan said traffic will be able to get down the road this week as road crews are working to clean out the street after the surface was removed Tuesday. Strahan said he expects paving to begin and end the week of Aug. 19, weather permitting. The street will remain open but drivers may experience street closures or lane closures while the street is being paved.

Bluegrass on the River set for Aug. 24

There will be plenty of bass, banjo, fiddle and bluegrass vocals Saturday, Aug. 24 at Bluegrass on the River in Blissfield’s Bachmayer Park, along the River Raisin. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc./Photo by Melissa Burnor

By MELISSA BURNOR

Bring a lawn chair, bring a blanket and bring the family to and hear some of the best bluegrass music in southeastern Michigan at the third annual Bluegrass on the River Saturday, Aug. 24, at Blissfield’s Bachmayer Park. This year’s event is presented by the Blissfield Rotary.

With a strong lineup of bluegrass entertainers, as well as crafters, lost arts vendors and food vendors, chairperson Ashley Bailey said this year’s event should be larger than ever.

The music commences at 11 a.m. with the first of the nine bands in the lineup taking the Rotary Pavilion stage. Five of last year’s acts will be returning and four new bands will perform. The last band will take the stage at 7 p.m. The committee has lined up some talented acts well-known in the southeastern Michigan region.

From dulcimer players to pickers of banjos and guitars or fiddlers, the park is alive with music. This year, Bailey said not only are musicians scheduled to perform in these jam sessions there will also be opportunities for improvisational performances as well. Music can be enjoyed from the benches set up near the pavilion or spectators might wish to bring their own blankets or comfortable chairs from home, Bailey said. Or, the music may be enjoyed while viewing the lost arts demonstrators or browsing items offered by the juried arts and craft vendors, she said.

A kids’ corner with crafts, games and face painting will be available in the afternoon. “There will also be a scavenger hunt this year, Bailey said.

For more information, please pick up the Aug. 14, 2013, edition of The Advance for a special Bluegrass on the River pullout section. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc.

Tractors chug to Thompson Farm

Plow Day has been a favorite rural event in the Blissfield area for several years. However, founders Alan “Sammy” and Ron Thompson made a decision not to host Plow Day this year, citing liability factors.

To show their appreciation to supporters of Plow Day through the years, they organized the Plow Day Appreciation Parade Saturday, Aug. 10, which found more than 50 tractors from various eras chugging from Blissfield schools to the Thompson farm on Thompson Highway in rural Blissfield.

An old-fashioned farm celebration with music, food and fun followed at the Thompson farm.

Whiteford Twp. to break ground on sewer project

By Melissa Burnor

OTTAWA LAKE — Whiteford Township will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. Aug. 21 for a $2.8 million sewer project in the township.

“This is something that Whiteford has never done in its history,” supervisor Walter Ruhl said. “This is a big moment for the residents of Whiteford Township and Ottawa Lake.”

The groundbreaking will be held at the Ottawa Lake Fire Hall, near the corner of Brown Street and Memorial Highway in Ottawa Lake.

Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc. For more on this project, please see the Aug. 14, 2013, edition of The Advance.

Exit 5 reopens with round-abouts

OTTAWA LAKE — The exits at U.S. 223 and U.S. 23 in Whiteford Township are fully open for traffic and all detours have been removed. According to the Michigan Department of Transportation, construction at the interchange is essentially complete and open. The Michigan Department of Transportation did a major overhaul of the interchange by creating a round-about. There will be a single-lane closure on northbound U.S. 23 between mile markers eight and nine for concrete pavement repair. This closure is expected to last through 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16.

Emeline Good

TECUMSEH — Emeline ‘Em’ A. Good, 83, of Tecumseh, passed away Saturday, August 10, 2013, at her home under the loving care of her family and Hospice of Lenawee. Born April 17, 1930, in Blissfield, Michigan, she was the only child of Joseph and Helen (Demusky) Dvorsky.

She graduated from Blissfield High School with the Class of 1947. On June 25, 1949, Emeline married Donald Good, at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Blissfield, and recently celebrated their 63rd anniversary.

Em was a member of St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Tecumseh.

In her younger years, she worked at Blissfield Manufacturing, Tecumseh Products, and Applewood Orchards. Her most treasured positions were that of wife, mother, and grandmother.

Em will be dearly missed and in the hearts forever of those surviving including her husband, Donald; their three daughters, Arlene Hambrook of Tecumseh; Karen (Rick) Diesing of Blissfield and Brenda (William) Sisty of Petersburg; five grandchildren, Angela (Tom) Johnson, Eric Diesing, Ann (Josh Reynolds) Sisty, William Sisty, Jr., and Kristina Sisty; and four great grandchildren, Clayton and Jackson Johnson and Kayden and Sage Reynolds. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Joshua Hambrook.

Visitation was scheduled for 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, August 13, at Wagley Funeral Home’s Tagsold Chapel, Blissfield.

Mass of the Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 14, 2013, at Light of Christ Church St. Peter’s Parish with Fr. Dan Wheeler as celebrant. Entombment will follow at Toledo Memorial Park.

Contributions in memory of Em may be made to Hospice of Lenawee or the donor’s charity of choice. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com.

Bences bound to Circuit; second charge added

By Melissa Burnor
Victim testimony along with submitted police and medical reports was enough for Judge James Sheridan to bind Bradley Bences over to Lenawee County Circuit Court not only on the original felonious assault charge but also one of assault with intent to commit murder for the alleged July 13 knife attack in downtown Blissfield.
 
The victim was the only person who took the stand at Bences preliminary examination Tuesday afternoon. John Burtle was on the stand for nearly an hour and told his account of the events of the evening that led up to the incident on South Lane Street. At one point Burtle said he believed he was going to die after his neck was slashed.
 
The 57-year old Tipton man could now face life in prison if convicted. His attorney said he planned to file a waiver of arraignment for Bences  in Lenawee County Circuit Court where he is scheduled for arraignment Aug. 14. As of Tuesday he remained in the Lenawee County Jail on a $75,000 bond.
 
Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc. A complete story will run in the next edition of The Advance, Wednesday, Aug. 14.
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