Doug Donnelly – Page 91 – Blissfield Advance

Blissfield school millage fails; county district library levy wins

By Melissa Burnor

Area voters said “yes” Tuesday to funding the new Lenawee County District Library, but “no” to a new sinking fund millage request for the Blissfield Community Schools.

Lenawee County voters in the library district voted 1018-832 in favor of a new .6 mill 10-year levy to operate the district library that includes a branch in Deerfield as well as Britton, Addison, Clayton and Onsted.

Voters in the Blissfield Community School District rejected a new 1.25-mill sinking fund levy by a 481-255 tally.

Complete precinct results of the Aug. 6 election will be available in the next edition of The Advance.

St. Paul’s offers free meal Tuesday

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church will again be providing meals at no cost to you on Tuesday, Aug.13, 2013. It will be a meatloaf, potato casserole, California blend, and strawberry Bavarian and carry-out meal. Meals can be picked up at Catering by Liz between 5 and 6 p.m. on that day or delivery is available. To request meals please call 486-4738 any time prior to noon on meal day. Leave a message if necessary. Those who know of shut-ins who might enjoy a meal, please notify them of this service.

Tractor Cruise in set for Tuesday, Aug. 13

Downtown Lane Street will be a field of red and green and yellow as tractors of all sizes, brands and vintage come to town for the third annual Blissfield Tractor Cruise-In on Tuesday, Aug. 13, presented by GreenStone Farm Credit Services from 5-8 p.m.

This year’s cruise-in features DJ Chris Aaron as well as trivia games and a 50/50 raffle hosted by the Blissfield Kiwanis Club. For anyone registering a tractor for the event there will be a free cap and door prizes available. The DDA/Main Street will also be selling event T-shirts.

For the complete story, please see the Aug. 7, edition of The Advance.

Plow Day Appreciation Parade steps off at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10

By Melissa Burnor

To show their appreciation for the support they received from the community through the years for their annual Plow Day event, the Thompson brothers, Alan “Sammy” and Ron, will top it off with the Thompson’s Plow Day Appreciation Parade Saturday afternoon, Aug. 10.

After deciding not to have another Plow Day, that really had evolved into a weekend event showcasing plowing and farming techniques of days gone by, the brothers both said they wanted a way to say thank you to all of their supporters the last eight years. One of the things their father, the late Willis Thompson, had envisioned was a tractor parade.

This year there will be a parade that starts at the Blissfield High School at 3 p.m. and will wind down Beamer Road to Thompson Highway approximately five and three-quarter miles to Sammy Thompson’s farm between Ridgeville and Mulberry roads. Thompson said the parade should arrive at his home between 4 and 4:30 p.m. And that is where the fun begins. There will be a potluck dinner. Sammy Thompson will have a roasted pig and some benches and picnic tables set up in his barn. All he asks is for those who are coming to bring a dish to pass and possibly a lawn chair or two. The Thompson’s plan to have DJ Chris Aaron from Hudson providing music for the event and there will be a moonwalk and other activities for younger children.

Sammy Thompson said they will have the Hospice of Lenawee Wishing Well for people to make donations. The Lenawee County FFA Alumni will also sell raffle tickets to support their scholarship activities. The winner will win a Ford Tractor. Line-up for the parade begins at 1:30 p.m. behind the Blissfield High School, 630 S. Lane Street.

Sidewalk sales added to Blissfield Aug. 8 car show

Walk down Lane Street Thursday evening and it may feel like a trip back in time with classic cars, 1950s music playing and sidewalk sales. From 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8 will be the third Blissfield Car and Bike Show of the summer, presented by Iott Insurance.

There will be a lot of activity in the downtown, said Blissfield Downtown Development Authority/Main Street Director Patricia Rayl. There will be sidewalk sales with participating downtown stores. There will be a raffle to support the Hospice of Lenawee, Rayl said in a press release. Exhibitors of cars and motorcycles will also be treated to door prizes and free samples from one of the downtown restaurants.

Car and bike exhibitors can register at the DDA/Main Street registration on the west side of the street. Lane Street from US 223 south as well as Jefferson Street from Giles to Pearl Street will be closed beginning at 4:30 p.m. For more information go to www.BlissfieldMainStreet.com.

For the complete story on this and other local events this week, please pick up The Advance’s Aug. 7, 2013, edition.

Kenneth Street

ADRIAN — Kenneth D. Street, age 74, of Adrian, died Saturday, August 3, 2013, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Dec. 25, 1938, in Richmond, Ind., to Kenneth D. and Josephine (Smith) Street. He was married to Janet S. Wigginton on March 11, 1959, in Richmond, Ind., and she preceded him in death on May 28, 2007. On Jan. 30, 2009, he married Dona J. Douglas in Blissfield and she survives. Kenneth was the Owner of K & J Absorbent Products. He was a member of Turning Point Church. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, woodworking, gardening, and collecting Old World Globes. He also loved to travel, spend his winters in Florida and spend time with his children and grandchildren. He felt it was very important to keep family together. In addition to his wife, Dona, he is survived by a son, Jeffrey (Tonia) Street of Blissfield; three daughters, Kara (Jeff) Ziegler of Adrian, Lisa (Dusty) Wilson of Palmyra, and Jana (Bruce) Elkins of Sioux Falls, S.D.; a brother, Larry (Joyce) Street of Fountain City, Ind.; three sisters, Jackie (Bob) Fasnacht of New Paris, Ohio, Barbara (John) Butler of Richmond, Ind., and Mona Kay Street of Fort Wayne, Ind.; 12 grandchildren, Jenniffer (Jay), Gary, Kim (Blane), Justin (Asha), Jessica (Kevin), Austin, Madison, Seth, Ian, Owen, Haley, and Jeffrey Jr.; and five great-grandchildren, Riley, Landon, Liam, Zayn, and Baby Phillips. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Janet Street; his parents, Ken and Josephine Street; an infant brother, Ronnie; and a sister, Tootie. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 8, 2013 at 2 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Adrian (NOTE: In the 8-7-13 edition of The Advance, the location was stated as Blissfield, but the new facility isn’t quite ready) with Pastor Christy Shaw officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery, Blissfield. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, from 4-8 p.m. and also on Thursday from noon-1:45 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home Adrian, to be followed by the service at 2 p.m. You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lenawee, Alliance for Lung Cancer, or Turning Point Church. Envelopes are available at the Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian.

Linda File

Linda J. File, 65, of Blissfield passed away Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at Ebeid Hospice in Sylvania, Ohio.

Born May 10, 1948, in Russellville, Alabama, she was the daughter of James and Susie (Vickery) Lay. Linda graduated from Blissfield High School with the Class of 1966.

On December 14, 1968, she married Gary L. File in Adrian, and he survives.

Linda worked at Blissfield Co-op and later, Ottawa Lake Co-op. She was a member of the Blissfield Baptist Church. Linda enjoyed playing bunco and flower gardening. She and Gary were long-time members of the Irish Hills Antique Car Club. They enjoyed attending car shows, camping, and wintering in Casa Grande, Arizona.

In addition to Gary, her husband of almost 45 years, she is survived by their daughters, Kristin File and Melissa (Jim) Fredenburg, both of Blissfield; former son-in-law, Eric Rogers also of Blissfield; grandsons, Jacob, Lucas and Zachary; granddaughters, Sarie, Haleigh and Caitlyn; and great grandkids Caden and Kayleigh.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister in infancy, and Larinda Whitehead.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Blissfield Baptist Church with the Rev. Thomas Frantz officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery. Visitation will take place Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield.

Contributions in memory of Linda may be made to Blissfield Baptist Church. Arrangements were entrusted to Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel where online condolences and memories are welcome at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com.

Blissfield 9-10s’ title hopes end in semifinal

The Blissfield 9-10 year old Little League team’s quest for a state title in Muskegon has come to an end following a 7-3 semifinal loss to North Saginaw Township. Blissfield had cruised through the first three games of pool play, going a perfect 3-0. Blissfield continued the winning steak with a 3-2 victory over Fraternal Northwest in the quarterfinal contest Tuesday before falling to North Saginaw.

For complete details on Blissfield’s state title run, catch a copy of the August 7 edition of The Advance.

Eric LaVoy

Eric T. LaVoy, age 65 of Blissfield passed away unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, July 30, 2013. He was born on September 11, 1947 in Adrian, Michigan to Bernard G. and Florence R. (Roberts) LaVoy. Upon graduating high school, Eric served his country in the United States Army from 1969 to 1973. He was a deputy with the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Department where he proudly served as Captain of the Lenawee County Mounted Division right up until his untimely death. Eric was a very active member of the Annis-Fint V.F.W. Post #1584 in Adrian.

Surviving are two sons, Nicholos (Cathy) LaVoy of Blissfield and Nathan LaVoy of Pueblo, CO; his grand pup, Skippy and five sisters, Karen (Mel) Buchelt of Petersburg, MI, Rose (Keith) Proulx of Waters, MI, Paula (Tom) Marsh of Cedar Springs, MI, Christine (Ron) Reed of Morenci, MI and Linda LaVoy of Monroe, MI. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Rena in infancy.

Visitation will be held on Friday, from 2-8 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Adrian. Visitation will also be held at Light of Christ Parish (St. Alphonsus) in Deerfield on Saturday from 10:00-10:45 a.m. The funeral liturgy for Eric will be offered at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2013, at Light of Christ Parish (St. Alphonsus) with Fr. Jack Loughran as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Alphonsus Cemetery with full military rites conducted by the V.F.W. Annis-Fint Post #1584. During the services and visitation the Lenawee County Sheriff Department will be in attendance to serve as Honor Guards.

You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lenawee Riding for Handicapped, P.O. Box 771, Adrian, MI, the Annis-Fint V.F.W. Post #1584, 1396 S. Main St., Adrian, MI or to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Avenue Dallas, TX 75231 Envelopes are available at the church and also the Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian.

Blissfield talent shines in Lookouts’ 33-3 season

A trio of talented Blissfield varsity softball players helped to lead the 16U Adrian Lookouts travel softball squad to a stellar season. The Lookouts piled up the wins on their way to a 33-3 season record.

Kelsie Abbott, Kaytlin Martinez and Bryce Yeager helped to lead the Lookouts to successful season that included claiming the crown at four out of five tournaments on the season. The Lady Royal members and their teammates faced some of the top competition from the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and even some international competition from Canada.

The Blissfield representatives and the Lookouts claimed the crown at the Independence Day Classic in Maumee, Ohio, the Motor City Showdown in Canton, the Michigan College Exposure Tournament in Lansing and their season capping championship at the Fast Pitch Classic in Maumee.

For the complete story, please see the July 31, 2013, edition of The Advance.