OTTAWA LAKE — After both the Whiteford Township Board of Trustees and the Whiteford Agricultural Schools District approved to split the costs of housing a police liaison deputy officer at the school district, the Monroe County Board of Commissioners finalized the cost sharing plan by approving to have the deputy at the school district.
According to information relayed from Whiteford Schools officials, a March 20 meeting of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners was held and the commission approved 9-0 to provide a deputy sheriff at the school district for the next three years. The county commission also announced during the meeting that it would cover at least one third of the cost of having the deputy with the school.

For Brad Heineman’s complete story, please see the April 4, 2018, edition of The Advance, which also had a Whiteford Township board … Read More »

It is likely contracts for the construction of the newly proposed pool will be on the agenda at the village’s April 23 council meeting.

Contracts were contingent on the amount of savings that could be found in value engineering with the projects as both the pool and general construction bids along with the cost of engineering, architects and bonding the project have come in over the $2.1 million available in funds from a special millage to be levied and a March 31 closing on the property on Sugar Street to be purchased from Patrick Farver.

For more as well as all the latest Blissfield Village Council news, please see the April 4, 2018, edition of The Advance.

PALMYRA – A morning blaze fueled by high winds severely damaged a Palmyra Township home Wednesday morning. Fire crews were dispatched to Mike Newell’s home in the 4000 block of Wellsville Highway about 7:30 a.m.

Palmyra and at least seven other departments battled the blaze and were on the scene for more than two hours. The homeowner attempted to extinguish the fire that was believed to have started in the exterior west wall. Both Newell and his son were staying with relatives.

A pet bird was rescued by the elder Newell. No one else was home at the time the fire started.

EAST LANSING — Blissfield’s own Dennis “Denny” Thompson now has his name forever enrished in high school football coaching fame and honor.
The longtime Blissfield Community Schools coach and teacher was honored along with 13 other Michigan High School football coaches, March 10 up in East Lansing, for being inducted into the state’s Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) Hall of Fame Class of 2018.
A dinner reception and celebratory induction event took place the evening of March 10 at the Crowne Plaza Lansing West in Lansing.
Fellow Lenawee County football Coach Chris Luma of Hudson High School, was also part of this year’s hall of fame class.
Thompson, a 40-year teacher and athletic coach at Blissfield Community Schools, graduated from Blissfield High School in 1969. He began his long coaching tenure as a Royal in 1973. He officially retired from coaching at … Read More »

A minor flood experienced in the area late last week dissipated over the weekend. The River Raisin crested at 1.19 feet over flood stage (683 feet) n Blissfield. Water filled Bachmayer and Ellis parks, and some basements in low-lying areas.
Technically, the area is still the Cottonwood Swamp and when snow melts and rains are heavy, the land soaks up the water. During the late winter when frost is in the ground, it takes a little more time for the water to be absorbed. What can’t be readily absorbed pools into lakes and drains into the River Raisin.
Along with that water, more water from the melted snow and rain from the west, the river can overflow its banks this time of year.

For the rest of this story, please see the Feb. 28, 2018, edition of The ADVANCE on newsstands now. To … Read More »

By Melissa Burnor

OTTAWA LAKE – The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 14-year old male, Whiteford High School student for allegedly making terrorist threats towards a school.
Staff from the Whiteford High School contacted the sheriff’s office on Feb. 22 and filed a report regarding a suspicious incident involving a student making threatening gestures inside a classroom.
Whiteford Superintendent Valerie Orr addressed the situation in a letter to parents at Whiteford Schools. The letter was sent to parents on Saturday after police arrested the suspect.
According to police the suspect was located at his residence and taken into custody without incident at approximately 7 p.m. Saturday. He is now lodged at the Monroe County Youth Center and was expected to be formally charged by the Monroe County Prosecutors Office on Monday.
Orr said when police investigated the situation on Thursday, the district was advised … Read More »

DETROIT – The Whiteford Bobcats returned to Ford Fieldin Detroit after achieving runner-up status in 2016
and claimed the Division-8 MHSAA state championship
Friday morning, defeating Saginaw Nouvel Catholic
Central 42-21.

The Bobcats got out to a quick first-half lead, going into the locker room at half time with a 34-7
advantaqe.

The undefeated ‘Cats extended the lead in the third quarter and played for a time with a running clock until Saginaw Nouvel scored twice.

This is Whiteford’s first state title and was its
first meeting with Saginaw Nouvel. However, when the Blissfield Royals played for the state
title 10 years ago, it was Saginaw Nouvel – then
in D-6 – that took home the state crown over the
Royals.

The Whiteford Bobcats didn’t let a little rain and cold – or a lot of rain and cold – stop them from their goal of returning to Ford Field for a second crack at the MHSAA Division Eight state football title.

To get there, the Bobcats continued their perfect season by handling Mendon Saturday afternoon 50-21.  The ‘Cats got off to a 22-0 first quarter to set the pace. By halftime, the score was 36-7 Bobcats.

They will face Saginaw Nouvel the day after Thanksgiving at Detroit’s Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. Interestingly, Saginaw Nouvel, who played in Division Six 10 years ago, was the team the Blissfield Royals faced and fell to in 2007 at the state finals.

This is the second consecutive year Whiteford’s football team has made it to the state finals. Last year, they lost in that last game … Read More »

On a chilly Saturday afternoon in “The Woods” of Whiteford High School, the Whiteford Bobcats continued their perfect varsity football season by downing the Mountaineers of Clarkston Everest 60-20, adding another regional title trophy to their case in the process.

The Bobcats now advance to a neutral site – Howell High School – where they will take on Mendon High School at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. They are just one win from returning to Ford Field where they finished as Division 8 runners up in 2016

For Brad Heineman’s story and photos, please see the Nov. 15, 2017, edition of The Advance. 

The Blissfield Royals ended their regular football season with a 5-4 record, but it was enough to get them into the playoffs in Division 6.

They mowed down Napoleon first – top seed in their district – then Columbia Central for their district’s championship.

However, when they traveled to Madison Heights Bishop Foley on a bitterly cold Friday to face the Cougars of Warren Michigan Collegiate for the regional title, their season came to an end as the Cougars won 32-6 to advance to the Division 6 semifinals.

For Brad Heineman’s complete story, please see the Nov. 15, 2017, edition of The Advance.