After 11 years at the helm of the Blissfield Village Police Department, Chief Jane Kelley will hang up her gun belt and badge at the end of the year. The announcement was made at the July 8 Blissfield Village council meeting.
Kelley said she announced her retirement early so that the village could take begin the process of hiring a new police chief. Her intentions are to retire Dec. 31.
For the complete story, please pick up a copy of The Advance, July 10, 2013, edition. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc.
Victoria Nieves McKelvey, age 38, of Willard, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, June 25, 2013, in Tiffin, Ohio. She was born on March 19, 1975, in Adrian, Michigan, to Juan B. and Alice Villarreal. She had attended the Ohio State University and earned an associates degree from North Central State College.
Victoria was an active wife and mother who enjoyed traveling with her family. She was a Daisy Troop Leader with the Girl Scouts, a dance mom, a member of the Heisey Collector’s of America, and the Buckeye Study Club. She enjoyed collecting antiques and other collectibles, and volunteered with the Richland Pregnancy Services. She was an AWANA leader and member of the Westwood Alliance Church in Mansfield. She is in Heaven today with her Savior Jesus Christ. Victoria’s spirit and generosity lives on, as she was an organ donor.
Victoria is survived by her husband, William Vogel McKelvey whom she married on June 22, 2002; daughter Electa Grace; and adored dog, Nocchio. Her mother, Alice Martinez of Adrian; three brothers, Mateo J. Villarreal; Valentine R. Villarreal; and Juan Opel Villarreal; father and mother-in-law, Ralph and Sandra McKelvey; sister-in-law, Barbra Wechter; brother-in-law, Rev. Barton (Candace) McKelvey all of Willard; nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Juan B. Villarreal; brother Juan B. Villarreal, Jr.; grandparents, Miguel and Eusebia Martinez; and Valentine and Nieves Villarreal; and a brother-in-law, Edward McKelvey.
Vistation was on Friday, June 28, 2013, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the Christian Alliance Church in Willard. The funeral service was held at the church on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 11a.m. with the Rev. Doyle Peyton officiating. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the family. Online condolences are encouraged for the family at www.secorfuneralhomes.com
ADRIAN — Jacob “John” Wingerd, 89, of Blissfield, passed away Thursday, June 27, 2013, at Lynwood Manor. He was born on October 17, 1923, in Madison Township to Charles and Mildred (Hall) Wingerd. John served his country in the Army during WW II. On February 14, 1962, he married Margaret Jacques in Blissfield. John worked at Blissfield Manufacturing for 25 years, he also helped area farmers. He enjoyed collecting tractors, stamps and coins. Survivors include his children, Doris Ostrander of Adrian, Paul Wingerd of Blissfield, Joe Wingerd of Blissfield and Dale (Audra) Wingerd of Clinton; a brother, George of Michigan, and grandchildren, Zachary Wingerd, Jessica Ringle, Jordan Wingerd, Brent Wingerd and Alexa Beckey; two great-grandchildren and special friend, Margaret Braun. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Margaret, step mother Frances, sisters Janet and Betty, brother, Art and granddaughter Kassie Wingerd. A memorial service for John was held Monday, July 1, 2013, at Tagsold Chapel, Wagley Funeral Home. Private burial will take place at a later date. Online condolences to the family may be made at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com.
AKRON, Ohio — Harley P. Betz, Sr., age 86, passed away July 1, 2013. He was born February, 2, 1927, in Riga, Michigan. He owned and operated Harley Sunoco Gas Station in Akron, Ohio. Preceded in death by parents, Stanley and Rose, and sisters, Erma and Sedonna, he is survived by wife, Shirley; children, Bonnie, Sonnie (Karen), Linda (Harold), Wanda (Mark), Judy; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sisters Susie (John), Sally (Don); brothers, Homer (Donna), Herbert (Joyce); nieces, nephews and extended family. The funeral services was July 5, 2013, at Cox Funeral Home, Barberton, Ohio, with the Rev. Richard Schumacher officiating. Entombment was at Greenlawn.
PALMYRA — Winifred L. Terry, age 83, of Palmyra died peacefully at home on July 6, 2013. She was born on December 31, 1929, in Ogden Township, Michigan, to Lester and Velma (Schafer) Klump. She graduated from Blissfield High School. On June 22, 1949, she married Floyd Terry at a service at United Brethren Church of Ogden. They had three boys together: Vernon, Dale, and David. She worked at Sprunk’s Grocery Store in Blissfield and later at Sears, retiring with 25 years of service. She is survived by a sister, Marilyn (Earl) McMunn of Jasper; her sons, Vernon (Jeannie); Dale (Barbara); and David (Susan); her grandchildren, Jessica (Nathan) Bugbee, Jennifer Brewer, Neil (Sarah) Terry, Thomas VanCamp, Laura Terry, Ryan (Tiffanie) Terry, Justin Terry, and Tyler Terry; as well as 3 great-grandchildren. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, July 12, at 1 p.m. at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Blissfield with Pastors Zachary Dunlap and Doug McMunn, a nephew, officiating. Visitation is immediately preceding the service from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lenawee. Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel where you may also send condolences and share memories at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com.
Michigan residents have until July 8 to register in order to vote in
the Aug. 6 election. Nearly all residents in Blissfield, Riga, Ogden,
Palmyra townships as well as those living in the the villages of
Deerfield and Blissfield will have at least one issue on the ballot.
Residents of the Blissfield School District will be voting on a new
1.25 mill sinking fund millage for a period of 10 years, 2013-2022.
Lenawee County is also developing a district library system and will
ask voters not already considered part of a library system for a 10-
year 6-mill levy. This millage will be on the ballot in Palmyra,
Ogden and Deerfield townships and Deerfield Village. According to
ballot language it would raise $968,400 in the first year to run the
library. Currently the library is funded by the county general fund.
The Schultz-Holmes Memorial Library has contractual agreements with
townships for areas that are in the Blissfield School District.
For more, please see the July 3, 2013, edition of The Advance. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc.
The Kids’ Corner sponsored by Blissfield State Bank is offering up a flurry of free fun during the 30th annual River Raisin Festival next Thursday through Saturday. The Kids’ Corner is located near the bridge in Bachmayer Park.
Kids’ Corner organizers Elizabeth Comiskey, Kelly Seidl and Shelley Smith have worked to bring in several new activities for kids, as well as the return of many of the festival favorites since taking over the area five years ago.
Seidl said the Kids’ Corner will feature 17 different performers and vendors this year, which is the most ever offered, and events begin Thursday since the Sunday of festival has been eliminated. Seidl said the focus of the Kids’ Corner is affordable fun for the whole family.
“Our biggest thing is to be eventful for the kids, reasonable and have fun while they’re there,” she said.
New this year will be the Toledo Zoo bringing all sorts of furry and scale-covered friends for a petting zoo and animal education every day from 6-8 p.m. The animal kingdom guests will include monkeys, porcupines, amphibians and reptiles — all touchable.
For more on the Kids’ Corner and the complete River Raisin Festival 2013 Guide, please pick up the July 3, 2013, edition of The Advance.
Millage rates for the village will stay the same in 2013. Blissfield village council set the millage rates for after the 2013 Truth-in- Taxation hearing at their June 24 meeting. The millage rates are determined by data received from the Lenawee County Equalization Department.
The total tax approved tax rate is 14.2215 mills. The figure includes 9.7072 mills for general operating millage and 4.5143 mills in the street millage.
For other Blissfield Village Council news, please see the July 3, 2013, edition of The Advance. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc.
Nearly 200 runners of all ages took part in the 31st annual Lenawee Hospice Run in memory of Bruce Jones Sunday morning. The heat was seemed pretty bearable with the 8:30 a.m. start.
Blissfield’s Justin Bateson was the overall winner with a time of 16:58.98.
Josephine Weeden was the first-place winner for the women crossing the finish line in 20:06.62.
Men’s Results – Name, Age, Time Overall Winner – Justin Bateson, 21, 16:58.98 14 and under – John Fowler, 13, 22:23.74 15-19 – Isaac Westgate, 16, 19:39.89 20-24 – Justin Bateson 25-29 – Tyler Makula, 28, 45:34.80 30-34 – Chris Kircher, 30, 21:30.48 35-39 – David Caine, 39, 17:39.79 40-44 – Tom Romanowski, 43, 19:31.94 45-49 – Sam Valdez, 47, 19:33.29 50-54 – Michael Palmer, 50, 21:16.43 55-59 – Macron Cole, 55, 22:29.70 60-64 – Ron Carpenter, 63, 22:04.50 65-69 – David Koester, 66, 27:23.03 70-74 – Jerome Tomc, 70, 32:04.51 75-79 – Jack Streicher, 76, 42:37.88 80 and up – Everett Louma, 82, 36:29.42
Women’s Results Overall Winner – Josephine Weeden, 44, 20:06.62 14 and under – Emily Gebhardt, 14, 24:17.37 15-19 – Tea Romanowski, 15, 21:42.13 20-24 – Maria Kaisler, 23, 23:17.76 25-29 – Brooke Adams, 26, 20:44.35 30-34 – Christina Walter, 31, 22:38.75 35-39 – Trina Romanowski, 36, 22:03.99 40-44 – Kristy Gledhill, 44, 26:30.28 45-49 – Cathy Palmer, 49, 23:29.15 50-54 – Eileen Seegert, 50, 30:46.67 55-59 – Beverly Sauter, 55, 41:08.27 60-64 – Janet Pickel, 61, 36:49.71 65-69 – Mary Steinhauser, 68, 33:50.92 70-74 – Gretchen Warwick, 71, 38:35.23 Full results are on the Hospice of Lenawee website: www.hospiceoflenawee.org.
2013 Lenawee Hospice run gets underway June 23. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc./Melissa Burnor
Blissfield Manufacturing will add 73 more jobs over the next three years at its primary facility in the village of Blissfield. The growth gives way to a possibility of adding $1.5 million in new equipment. To help with the expansion, the company qualified for state and local business incentives.
But company officials say the expansion is bitter-sweet. The additional jobs come as both part of planned growth and as a result of a company decision to close Jay Products in Portland, Ind. Production from that plant is currently being transferred to Blissfield.
“As a family-owned business, we sincerely regret having to close our facility in Portland, Ind. Decisions such as this are not made lightly; we value the people who have worked at Jay Products and have given so much,” Blissfield Manufacturing chief executive officer and president Pat Farver said.
Farver said changes in one of their major automotive customer products drove the decision. “Yet the redesign of GM’s power steering system resulting in the obsolescence of Blissfield’s power steering cooler made the decision to consolidate plants the best direction for the company’s future,” he said.
For the complete story, please see the June 26, 2013, edition of The ADVANCE. Copyright 2013, River Raisin Publications, Inc.
