by orionontv | Jul 31, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
ORION TWP, Mich. – On Friday, July 26, 2024, a major fundraiser as well as fun-filled music festival came to the Orion area. Tommystock is an annual music festival that takes place at Camp Agawam off of Scripps Rd. There was live music, entertainment, food and beverages all weekend long.
Photo by Joe Johnson
The Orion area has had a warm welcome to many different bands and performers that have played at venues across the township and Lake Orion – including the Wildwood Amphitheater, 20 Front Street, Children’s Park and now Camp Agawam.
Eight bands including the popular Jimmy Buffet tribute band “Air Margaritaville,” performed across Friday and Saturday. The Fire Bowl was packed with spectators while the Tiki bar at Tommy’s Lake was accompanied with entertainment by DJ Rolling Rock.
“We’re happy to be back, it’s a real thrill for us,” Frank Bama of Air Margaritaville said.
The proceeds from that weekend went to the Friends of Camp Agawam group, their goal is to make improvements to the facilities in the camp.
ONTV’s Joe Johnson talked to Julia Dalrymple, a board member of Friends of Camp Agawam, about the festival that weekend.
“One of the main goals and the purpose of Friends of Camp Agawam is to make that space more enjoyable for all of our community,” Dalrymple said. “All the money raised at Tommystock goes right back into the camp.”
Rock, pop, reggae and even electronic music was celebrated at Camp Agawam – there was even a silent disco. Friday and Saturday’s bands and performances came and went, then it was time for “Boobs, Tubes and Dudes” – a fundraiser set up by the “Real Men of Orion” organization to help raise awareness for breast cancer research.
Photo by Joe Johnson
“We do so much for other people and this is just another one of those events,” Dalrymple said. “[Friends of Camp Agawam] keep looking for new opportunities all the time to get involved.”
Visitors from all over the area and even those across state lines joined up for this fantastic event. The Real Men of Orion has gotten a head start on their fundraising campaign, that Sunday they raised approximately 3400 dollars, according to a Facebook announcement post. October will be a big month for them coming up as it is breast cancer awareness month.
For more information about Camp Agawam and the Friends of Camp Agawam organization visit orionparks.com/facilities/parks_and_trails/camp_agawam.
by orionontv | Jul 31, 2024 | Recreation
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DNR News
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July 30, 2024
Contact: Pat Whalen (DNR Parks and Recreation Division district supervisor), 269-838-1196, or Cpl. Jill Miller (DNR marine and boating safety specialist)
DNR urges ‘safety first’ approach to time on the water
 Summer is in full swing, and the water is the place to be! Though there are many ways to enjoy Michigan’s waterways – swimming, fishing, paddling, boating and more – the Michigan Department of Natural Resources wants to ensure that your first priority is safety in and around the water.
“Michigan’s waters, from the Great Lakes to our inland lakes, can be deceptively dangerous,” said Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “With several drownings already reported on inland lakes and the Great Lakes this season, this underscores the importance of practicing and reviewing water safety each and every time you’re on the water.”
Although most tips apply to all situations in and on the water, there are a few distinctions between general water safety, Great Lakes beach safety and boating safety. |
General water safety tips
- Before leaving home for any beach outing, check local weather reports and lake conditions.
- Always swim with a buddy or an observer on shore, regardless of swimming abilities.
- When near the water, keep small children in a U.S, Coast Guard-approved life jacket, even when playing on shore in the sand. Always watch and never turn your back to children in or near the water.
- Have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device readily available in case you or another swimmer needs help.
- When visiting a state park, swim in buoyed swim areas. These areas are equipped with additional safety features, such as buoys or markers that identify water depth less than 5 feet (inspected approximately every two weeks), a beach flag warning system (found in buoyed swim areas in state parks along the Great Lakes) and rescue equipment. It’s important to remember that not all state parks have designated swim areas.
- Avoid swimming near the outlets of rivers – either upstream from the outlet or where there are “no swimming” signs – because these currents can be extremely hazardous. Swimmers can be quickly swept out into the Great Lakes.
- Swimming near moored or anchored boats? Boats coming and going can create turbulent water strong enough to exhaust even strong swimmers.
- Especially in the spring and fall, please be cautious of cold-water temperatures. Sudden immersion and/or sustained time in cold water can cause cold shock, making it hard to breathe and increasing your risk of drowning.
- Keep in mind that DNR staff start removing swim buoys, beach warning flags and other visual markers that denote buoyed swim beaches at state parks along the Great Lakes after Labor Day.
- Please be aware that there are no beach guards in state parks. Visitors must swim at their own risk and are asked to always prioritize safety.
Great Lakes beach safety tips
- If you get stuck, remember these important steps: flip, float and follow. Flip over to get your mouth out of the water, float by filling your lungs with air and follow the current to determine where it’s taking you. Once you establish where the current is taking you, swim perpendicular to the current to get out of it.
- When you arrive and throughout the day, check beach flags in buoyed swim areas (double red flags = water access closed, red flag = high hazard, yellow flag = medium hazard, green flag = low hazard) in state parks along the Great Lakes. By law, you cannot enter the water from the beach when double red flags are flying or if otherwise directed. Please note that different flag systems are used at non-state park beaches.
- Do not swim near piers and breakwalls because dangerous structural currents can form.
- During certain weather conditions, the force of water and waves crashing over the surface can easily wash someone off a pier.
Boating safety tips
- Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, especially when kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddle boarding.
- If boating (or fishing) alone, wear a life jacket, tell someone on shore where you’re going and when you plan to return and schedule a check-in time.
- Make sure you’re boating with a sober operator who has completed a boater safety course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.
- Before you leave shore, ensure your vessel is in good operating condition and packed with a life preserver for each person on board, a fire extinguisher, tow lines, a throwable flotation device, anchors, a communication device and a basic first aid kit.
- Jumping in the water from a boat? Make sure the motor is off before getting into the water. Always swim a safe distance away from the motor and stay in direct communication with the operator so they are aware of where you are.
- If you are swimming or boating in unfamiliar water, ask DNR staff or locals about the conditions, depth and any obstructions (such as sand bars, rocks or fallen trees) that may be hiding under the surface.
In Michigan, boaters born after June 30, 1996, and most personal watercraft (Jet Ski) operators who operate a vessel in Michigan must have a boater safety certificate, and children under the age of 6 must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while riding on the open deck of any vessel while underway.
Learn more about these and other top tips, including information on the benefits of buoyed swim areas, the beach flag warning system, how to spot (and escape) Great Lakes currents and more at Michigan.gov/BeachSafety.
Note to editors: An accompanying photo is available below for download.
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by orionontv | Jul 30, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
ORION TWP, Mich. – Two recent ribbon cutting events hosted by the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce took place last week. One on July 25 and one on July 27. Both businesses opened recently, one is a chain restaurant sure to be welcomed by the community as a fun place to eat and gather, the other business is a one-of-a-kind fitness studio that aims to tailor work-out plans and fitness routines to each customer.
The first Texas Roadhouse opened in 1993 in Clarksville, Ind. And eventually expanded to 620 locations nationwide. The Orion Township location opened its doors in December of last year, but the Chamber put on a grand opening for the restaurant to officially celebrate its newest recent location.
Photo by Joe Johnson
Along with the official ribbon cutting, guests were treated to live music, entertainment, games for kids and unlimited portions of their legendary rolls with cinnamon butter.
Jacob Wininger, a managing partner of the Orion Township location, spoke to ONTV’s Lexi McKinney about the grand opening and what it means to be a part of the community.
“There’s nothing better than giving back,” Wininger said. “If you’re going to be a part of the community, be a part of the community… You’re here to help the community and grow.”
Families, friends and community leaders came to the grand opening of the restaurant – Wininger spoke on how Texas Roadhouse’s mission helps serve this part of Michigan.
“We’re a people first company,” Wininger said. “We try to take care of our people and do the best we can by them. We have a lot of programs for our people.”
ONTV also spoke to township supervisor, Chris Barnett about the recent flow of business and commerce on the Orion side of Brown road and how he has helped develop this once empty parcel of land.
“We sprung into action, we created the Corridor Improvement Authority, which was a unique tool…” Barnett said. “Ever since then, it’s kind of been this awesome domino effect… this is a great time to be in Orion.”
For more information about Texas Roadhouse in Orion Township, visit texasroadhouse.com and click on “locations,” you can also find them on Facebook.
Photo by Joe Johnson
For the next ribbon cutting event for the Chamber that week, was the grand opening of D1 Training.
Owned by Dimitra and George Boulos, D1 Training aims to enhance the lifestyle of all age groups that come in to their facility. From focused fitness plans to offering classes, D1 Training will be a welcome addition to the Orion community at-large.
ONTV’s Joe Johnson spoke to Dimitra and George Boulos how D1 Training can benefit the community.
“We offer training to athletes as young as seven years-old to adults who are looking to lose some weight,” Dimitra Boulos said. “We knew we wanted to be in Lake Orion, this is our home, this is our community and the athletes that are within our community really inspired us to open this business.”
D1 Training opened on June 10, 2024 and has been embraced by the athletic community in Lake Orion as well as the surrounding businesses in the Orion area.
“We live and breathe Lake Orion daily,” Dimitra said.
For more information about D1 Training visit, d1training.com/lake-orion.
For more information on Chamber events visit orionareachamber.com.
by orionontv | Jul 30, 2024 | Regional News
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 30, 2024 |
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AG Nessel Seeks to Reduce DTE Electric’s 10% Rate Hike to Less than 3%
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LANSING – Continuing her work to limit energy costs for residents, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed testimony last Friday in DTE Electric’s (DTE) rate hike case. DTE filed its request with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) in March seeking an annual increase in revenues of $456.4 million. This request, which comes less than four months after the MPSC granted the Company a $368 million annual rate increase, would result in a 10% hike for residential customers. Nessel argued DTE’s requested increase is excessive and unnecessary.
In her testimony, the Attorney General argued that DTE should receive no more than a $139.5 million annual increase, limiting any residential ratepayer increase to around 2.5%. Nessel also recommends re-prioritizing customer dollars toward vegetation management and tree trimming, activities proven to be more effective at reducing outages compared to more expensive, capital-intensive options preferred by DTE.
“A deep dive into DTE’s latest electric rate case reveals a disturbing pattern of exaggerated projections and unsubstantiated projects that clearly prioritize corporate interests over customer benefits,” Nessel said. “DTE is once again seeking MPSC approval to bill its customers for corporate jet travel by executives on top of these inflated costs. Such exorbitant expenditures not only inflate customers’ bills but also undermine DTE’s corporate pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These unnecessary costs directly contribute to rising utility bills.”
Since taking office, the Attorney General has saved Michigan consumers more than $3 billion by intervening in utility cases before the MPSC. Friday’s testimony reaffirms her commitment to affordable energy for consumers.
DTE sells electricity to approximately 2.3 million customers in Southeast Michigan and natural gas to 1.3 million customers across the state.
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by orionontv | Jul 30, 2024 | Regional News
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 29, 2024 |
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AG Nessel Announces $1.2 Billion Settlement with Kroger for Role in Opioid Epidemic, Calls on Local Units to Participate
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LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is encouraging municipalities to join a $1.2 billion national settlement with Kroger to resolve allegations that the company contributed to the opioid epidemic. Michigan governments will receive nearly $42 million from the settlement over 11 years to help address the opioid crisis.
“The opioid crisis wreaked havoc on our communities, leaving men, women, and children forever changed,” Nessel said. “While this settlement cannot erase the profound impact the opioid epidemic continues to have on our state, it does represent a significant step toward holding companies accountable for the suffering they have caused. I urge every eligible municipality to register to receive these funds so this settlement can effectively reach our communities and help those most desperately in need.”
The deadline for local governments and counties to register to receive funds from the Kroger settlement is Monday, Aug. 12th. The settlement allows eligible local units of government in Michigan, referred to as subdivisions in the settlement agreement, to participate. If there is sufficient local government joinder, the agreement should become effective by early fall.
According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, between the years 2000 and 2020, the opioid death rate in Michigan increased an average of 13.9% each year. These deaths—and the impacts on thousands who have struggled with opioid addiction—have created considerable costs for our health care, child welfare, and criminal justice systems. More significant than the dollars and cents in damage to our state, the impact of opioid addiction, substance use, and overdose deaths has torn families apart, damaged relationships, and devastated communities.
Since taking office in 2019, the Attorney General, who recently launched a website dedicated to opioid settlement distributions, has focused intently on combatting the opioid epidemic and holding accountable those responsible for creating and fueling the crisis. This effort resulted in over $1.6 billion to Michigan governments through settlements with Publicis, McKinsey & Co, Distributors (Cardinal Health, McKesson, Inc., and AmerisourceBergen), Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceutical, Allergan Pharmaceutical, CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens. Funds are distributed to the state and local units of government for opioid-use disorder treatment and remediation. The website includes an updated Opioid Settlement Payment Estimator worksheet that now includes estimates from the Kroger settlement.
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