Michigan Education Trust Earns Certificate of Achievement

by orionontv | Oct 15, 2024 | Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2024

Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167

Michigan Education Trust Earns Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

Award Achieved for Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for FY 2022-23

LANSING, Mich. – The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Michigan Education Trust (MET) for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (AFCR) for the fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30, 2023.

“This award is a testament to the hard work of our MET accountants,” said Robin Lott, who oversees Treasury’s Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning. “Our staff puts in a lot of time and effort into the annual audit, building the report and managing daily operations to ensure fiscal integrity. Michiganders can be assured that MET employees are working hard to encourage families to take advantage of the opportunity to motivate and position students for successful careers by saving for higher education tuition.”

The AFCR was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the ACFR.

The MET ACFR was completed in January 2024. GFOA awarded the Certificate of Achievement this fall after a thorough review.

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

MET is Michigan’s Section 529 prepaid tuition program that locks future tuition at any of the state’s public universities and colleges at today’s rates. The total contract price is eligible for a state tax deduction and earnings are tax-exempt if used for qualified higher education expenses.

MET funds can be used to pay out-of-state and Michigan private college and university tuition or MET credits can be transferred to other eligible family members.

To learn more about MET, go to www.SETwithMET.com.

OAA/MAC Boys Basketball Showcase

by orionontv | Oct 15, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

OAA/MAC Boys Basketball Showcase.

Written Saturday October 12th at 8:00 PM

This will be updated with updated information.

This is the first ever OAA vs Macomb Area Conference Showcase that is taking place at Rochester High School on Saturday December 7th for Boys Basketball.

Here are the matchups and times.

LAKE ORION vs Macomb Dakota- 12 PM: These are two teams that could make some noise in their respective divisions. The Dragons are one of the favorites in the White have a ton of proven experience coming back for Coach Jose Andrades. The Cougars are one of the favorites in the MAC Red. They are also loaded with a ton of proven experience and are well coached under Coach Paul Tocco. These are also two teams that have had a ton of close games during the summer. Expect this game to be really interesting to watch.

STONEY CREEK vs Utica-1:30 PM: These are two teams that are coming into the season with a ton of questions. Utica was senior heavy last season after winning district crown last season. The Chieftains will look to continue their success for second year coach David Hinkle. Stoney Creek has a ton of questions this season for Coach Jeff Olind despite having proven players in Tyree Smith and Gideon Beers coming back. The Cougars are 9-35 in the last two years. This should be a really interesting game of two teams really trying to find their ways.

ROCHESTER vs Macomb L’Anse Creuse North-3 PM: This should be a really interesting matchup between the Falcons and the Crusaders. Rochester is 13-34 in the last two years which is not good for Coach Nick Evola but there is optimism. The Falcons return a ton of proven experience in Max Muhl and Jacob Tandy and they could make some noise in the Blue. The Crusaders have had a ton of success for Coach Kurt Wilson and they have a really tough schedule as well. This should be a really interesting matchup.

ADAMS vs Chippewa Valley-4:30 PM: The Highlanders lost their two top guards from last season but they have the LaGardge brothers coming back for Coach Isiah Novak. Adams is in the Red and will play the likes of proven powers in Clarkston, North Farmington, Groves, Ferndale, and West Bloomfield. Chippewa Valley lost a ton from last season after being 27-22 in the last two years. This should be a really interesting matchup.

Football Thoughts, Playoff Points, and Rankings Explanation.

Written Saturday October 12th at 9:35 AM

Updated Monday October 14th at 12:05 AM

The Gold was decided by Thursday night. Avondale took the crown with a 49-7 win over Berkley. The Yellow Jackets started 0-2 with losses to Cedar Springs and Seaholm but have bounced back nicely. Ferndale had a rough 49-14 loss to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep falling to 4-3 on the season. Royal Oak won 38-12 on their homecoming night over Pontiac. It’s been a challenging season for both teams. So when looking at the division it pretty much went as what I thought before the season.

The Blue is far from over but North Farmington is in a great spot. The Raiders beat Seaholm 24-23 in a crazy game. Seaholm doesn’t have a league game left but has to play West Bloomfield and Groves. North Farmington has Troy to play. The 32-23 loss the Colts took to Farmington puts them in a terrible spot most likely needing to win out. Troy Athens won 28-25 over Bloomfield Hills. Oak Park fell 26-12 to Lapeer. It will be very interesting to see how the Knights respond after this tough loss.

The Red went to Oxford after an impressive 38-14 win over Oxford in the Swamp. Clarkston had a chance to share the crown but Lake Orion denied them with a hard fought 20-13 win. Adams won a hard fought 21-13 win over Stoney Creek. The Red has been a battle all season with all but one game was won by the home team.

The White was decided with Groves win over Harper Woods. The Falcons have played well despite not being tested as of late. The Pioneers have played much better as of late. Rochester likely had their postseason dreams shattered after a 44-15 loss to Harper Woods. Southfield Arts and Tech has struggled all season. Stoney Creek has to win out after a really tough 21-13 loss to Adams. Overall the division went as what I thought it would be.

Playoff Points

Groves: 70.4- fourth in Division Two. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: The Falcons have been a lock for a while now. The big concerns is the lack of tests surrounding Groves despite having to play Seaholm week nine. Multiple home postseason games are in the cards for the Falcons at this time.

Seaholm: 66.7- fifth in Division Two. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: The Maples despite the 24-23 loss to North Farmington remain in the hunt for multiple home postseason games. The road for Seaholm gets tough with West Bloomfield and Groves but they are safely into the postseason with the schedule they have played.

Lake Orion: 64.2- ninth in Division One. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: After their 20-13 win over Clarkston it puts the Dragons in a great position for a postseason spot. Northville’s win over Hartland is huge at the moment for Lake Orion even though they sit at 5-2. If they can win out over Farmington and Saline then they will likely be hosting a postseason game.

Oxford: 63.2- 11th in Division One. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: It has been a special season for the Wildcats winning the Red for the first time in school history. Oxford is a lock for the postseason and they have two very interesting games looming with Oak Park and Macomb Dakota. The Wildcats if they can win both will be in prime position to hosting a postseason game.

Adams: 62.5- 12th in Division One. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: The Highlanders have gone through a ton of adversity with the injury to Ryland Watters but it’s possible that Watters could come back in the postseason. They have North Farmington and New Baltimore Anchor Bay looming. Adams is in a great spot to be in the postseason and could get a home postseason game if things go right.

North Farmington: 58.7- 14th in Division Two. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: The Raiders have worked their way back into the postseason after an 0-2 start with losses to Ferndale and Livonia Stevenson. The Raiders have won five straight which has them here. Home postseason looks possible and the postseason is a safe bet for North Farmington with Adams and Troy looming.

Avondale: 56.1- 14th in Division Three. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: It has been a rough go for the Yellow Jackets especially early but there is an opportunity for Avondale to improve on their postseason positioning. They are safe in the postseason and a home game looks very possible. The Yellow Jackets have Stoney Creek and Carleton Airport looming. Avondale is in a great spot right now.

Clarkston: 55.7- 18th in Division One. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION-Safe: The Wolves despite the 20-13 loss to Lake Orion remain in great position to get into the postseason. Clarkston has Bloomfield Hills and Utica Eisenhower remaining and both at home. The Wolves are safe when it comes to the postseason especially with Utica Eisenhower in week nine. They could get a home game but that’s borderline at the moment but they are safe when it comes to the postseason.

Harper Woods: 55.2- eighth in Division Four. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION- Safe: The Pioneers schedule is really helping them when it comes to postseason positioning. Harper Woods has played a really tough schedule. The wins aren’t the greatest when it comes to bonus points but the wins matter for the Pioneers at the moment. They could be in line to host a few home postseason games.

Farmington: 55.2- 18th in Division Two. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION- Not Safe: The Falcons 32-23 win over Troy is huge at the moment for Farmington. The Falcons have a ton to play for especially with Lake Orion and Dearborn Heights Crestwood looming. Farmington has gone through a ton of adversity but the wins over Division One schools Bloomfield Hills, Troy, and Troy Athens has really helped at the moment. The Falcons have to win one of their next two games to be safely in the postseason field.

Ferndale: 48.2- 29th in Division Two. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION- Not Safe: The Eagles are in a strong spot to get into the postseason despite playing a tough schedule. The 20-12 win over North Farmington in week two is huge at the moment for Ferndale’s chances. They have Southfield Arts and Tech and Utica Ford II looming. The Eagles have to win one of their next two games to be safely in the postseason but big challenges await in Division Two.

West Bloomfield: 48- 27th in Division One. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION- Not Safe: I thought about where the Lakers were right now. The 49-41 win over Lake Orion is really helping them but Chippewa Valley has improved as well sitting at 3-4. West Bloomfield didn’t help themselves falling 38-14 to Oxford on Thursday night. The Lakers need to win one of two to be safe when it comes to the postseason against proven Division Two powers in Seaholm and Roseville but if they lose both of them they will be out. It will be very interesting to see where West Bloomfield is at heading into the postseason but if they lose both games it could be very close.

Stoney Creek 45.1- 32nd in Division One. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION- Not Safe: The Cougars postseason dreams took a hit falling 21-13 to Adams on Friday night. Stoney Creek will need to win at least one of the next two games to make the postseason but it would be much stronger if they won both games. They have Avondale and Ann Arbor Huron which are very interesting matchups. It will be really interesting to see where the Cougars are at especially with Jenison, Kalamazoo Central, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, and Chippewa Valley are on the outside looking in.

Troy: 40.7- 38th in Division One. S PLAYOFF PROJECTION- Not Safe: The Colts postseason dreams is in severe jeopardy. The 32-23 loss to Farmington severely damaged their postseason hopes. If Troy can beat North Farmington then there is a chance they could sneak into the postseason and that includes beating Troy Athens. If they lose one or both games they are out.

Rankings Explanation

Groves has kept the top spot most of the season despite not being tested. Did have thoughts of putting Oxford at the top spot but kept the Falcons there for that top reason. The Wildcats are second winning the Red crown. Lake Orion is at three after their emotional 20-13 win over Clarkston on Friday night. Moved Adams to four because of their 28-10 win over Clarkston. The Wolves moved down to five after the loss to Lake Orion but have played a tough schedule. North Farmington moves up to six after their emotional 24-23 win over Seaholm. Seaholm goes to seven after their tough loss to North Farmington. West Bloomfield goes to eight after their tough loss to Oxford, I thought about moving them down in the rankings but kept them at eight. Avondale and Harper Woods stay at nine and ten respectively. Farmington is at 11, Stoney Creek is 12, and Ferndale is 13 at the moment.

Week Seven Thoughts

by orionontv | Oct 15, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Week Seven Thoughts.

Written Saturday October 12th at 1:25 AM

West Bloomfield: The Lakers after an impressive win over Lake Orion last week laid an egg on Thursday night against Oxford falling 38-14 in the Swamp. The Wildcats shut the Lakers down in every phase of the game which West Bloomfield had no answers. The Lakers are in must win mode if they want to make the postseason. They have Seaholm looming next week.

Lake Orion: The Dragons got a bounce back after a really disappointing loss to West Bloomfield last week by beating Clarkston 20-13 on Friday night. TR Hill had a big night for Lake Orion who celebrated homecoming with a throwing and passing touchdown in the game. The defense which allowed 35 second half points to the Lakers played much better allowing three points in the second half. Lake Orion has Farmington looming next week.

Clarkston: The Wolves had a very controversial 20-13 loss to Lake Orion on Friday night. The penalties were an issue for Coach Justin Pintar. The call was off setting penalties which the officials declared the game was over instead of giving Clarkston an extra play. Wolves quarterback Alex Waszczesko had a monster game for the Wolves especially with his running ability. Clarkston will be fine, they have Bloomfield Hills looming next week.

Adams: The Highlanders earned a tough 21-13 win over Stoney Creek on Friday night. Adams played the veer to perfection on homecoming night but found a way to win. They have North Farmington looming next week.

Oxford: The Wildcats proved that they belong in the Red after an impressive 38-14 win in the Swamp over West Bloomfield on Thursday night. Jack Hendrix was outstanding for the Oxford offense. Luke Johnson added three touchdowns for the Wildcats who right now have a ton of momentum heading to the postseason. They have Oak Park looming next week.

Harper Woods: The Pioneers have found their way after a rough start to the season winning 44-15 over Rochester on Friday night. They have Nate Rocheleau back at quarterback really stabilizes things. The defense looked stout for the Pioneers and they have outscored their last two opponents by a combined 93-21. The penalties are still a big issue for Coach Rob Oden’s team. They have Pontiac looming next week.

Groves: The Falcons had no issues with Southfield Arts and Tech winning 42-12 on Thursday night. Groves had a 35-0 halftime lead and didn’t look back. The Falcons have Royal Oak looming next week.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars had a tough 21-13 loss to Adams on Friday night. Stoney Creek will be fine. They have a big one with Avondale looming next week.

Rochester: The Falcons saw their postseason hopes likely dashed after falling 44-15 to Harper Woods on Friday night. Rochester’s defense had a rough night against a high octane Harper Woods offense who seems to be finding their way as of late. Rochester has Berkley looming next week.

Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors had a tough 42-12 loss to Groves on Thursday night. Southfield Arts and Tech trailed 35-0 at halftime but did outscore Groves 12-7 in the second half. The Warriors have Ferndale looming next week.

Farmington: The Falcons made a statement with an impressive 32-23 win over Troy on Thursday night. Farmington used their balance on offense and made a ton of noise on a really good Colts defense taking a 25-7 lead at one point. The Falcons are in a really good spot right now. They have Lake Orion looming next week.

North Farmington: The Raiders have taken control of the Blue at the moment stunning Seaholm 24-23 on Thursday night. North Farmington got an interception to seal the game after Seaholm recovered an onside kick. It’s the first win for the Raiders in school history against the Maples and it’s a huge win for Coach Jon Herstein. Terrance James had three big touchdowns including the game winner. North Farmington controls its own destiny right now. They have Adams looming next week.

Oak Park: The Knights had a tough 26-12 loss to Lapeer on Friday night. Oak Park had chances but the Lighting defense shut the Knights down and Lapeer had a big game winning a big game they needed. They have Oxford looming next week.

Troy: The Colts had a tough 32-23 loss to Farmington on Thursday night. The offense wasn’t the issue for Troy but the defense has some serious concerns. They had a 25-7 deficit but got it within 25-23 late in the game but Farmington got a score to seal the deal. They have a rivalry game looming next week with postseason dreams on the line.

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks had to survive with a 28-25 win over Bloomfield Hills on Thursday night. Troy Athens needed this one in the worst way possible. It’s a sign of progress for Coach Tom Cook’s team with Troy looming next week.

Seaholm: The Maples had a tough 24-23 loss to North Farmington on Thursday night. Seaholm had a hard time with quarterback Terrance James who had three rushing touchdowns but had a ton of chances including scoring a touchdown but went for two and didn’t get it however they recovered the onside kick but threw an interception sealing the win for the Raiders. Seaholm has West Bloomfield looming next week.

Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks had a tough 28-25 loss to Troy Athens on Thursday night. Bloomfield Hills has made a ton of progress on the offensive side of the football which is a great sign. They have Clarkston looming next week.

Avondale: The Yellow Jackets earned the Gold for the second straight season with a 49-7 win over Berkley on Thursday night. Avondale has been a completely different team ever since their 0-2 start. They have Stoney Creek looming next week.

Ferndale: The Eagles had a tough 49-14 loss to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep on Friday night. Ferndale knew it was going to be a challenge against the Fighting Irish on their homecoming. Postseason is a concern at the moment for Coach Eric Royal. They have Southfield Arts and Tech looming next week.

Berkley: The Bears had a rough night falling 49-7 to Avondale on Thursday night. Berkley had trouble on both sides of the football. They have Rochester looming next week.

Royal Oak: The Ravens earned a 38-12 win on their homecoming night over Pontiac on Friday night. Royal Oak was clicking on all cylinders in the game. They have Groves looming next week.

Pontiac: The Phoenix had a tough 38-12 loss to Royal Oak on Friday night. Pontiac has struggled since their week one win over Detroit Fredrick Douglass. Depth has been an issue for Coach Wendell Jefferson’s program. They have Harper Woods looming next week.

Standings After Week Seven

Red

Oxford 3-1, 5-2
Lake Orion 2-2, 5-2
Adams 2-2, 5-2
Clarkston 2-2, 4-3
West Bloomfield 1-3, 3-4

White

Groves 4-0, 7-0
Harper Woods 3-1, 4-3

Stoney Creek 2-2, 3-4

Rochester 1-3, 2-5

Southfield Arts and Tech 0-4, 1-6

Blue

North Farmington 5-0, 5-2
Seaholm 5-1, 6-1

Farmington 4-2, 5-2

Troy 2-2, 3-4

Oak Park 1-4, 2-5

Troy Athens 1-4, 2-5

Bloomfield Hills 0-5, 1-6

Gold

Avondale 4-0, 5-2

Ferndale 3-1, 4-3

Berkley 1-3, 2-5

Royal Oak 1-3, 2-5

Pontiac 0-4, 1-6

Week Seven Recap

by orionontv | Oct 15, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Week Seven Recap.

Written Saturday October 12th at 1:15 AM

UPDATED TOP TEN

Groves
Oxford
Lake Orion
Adams
Clarkston
North Farmington
Seaholm
West Bloomfield
Avondale
Harper Woods

WEEK SEVEN SCORES

AVONDALE 49, BERKLEY 7.

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 49, FERNDALE 14.

ROYAL OAK 38, PONTIAC 12

Lapeer 26, OAK PARK 12.

FARMINGTON 32, TROY 23.

TROY ATHENS 28, BLOOMFIELD HILLS 25.

NORTH FARMINGTON 24, SEAHOLM 23.

ADAMS 21, STONEY CREEK 13.

HARPER WOODS 44, ROCHESTER 15.

GROVES 42, SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH 12.

OXFORD 38, WEST BLOOMFIELD 14.

LAKE ORION 20, CLARKSTON 13.

WIN OF THE WEEK: Lake Orion: The Dragons bounced back after a really tough 49-41 loss to West Bloomfield by keeping Clarkston from sharing the Red crown with a 20-13 win over the Wolves on the Dragons homecoming. TR Hill had a big night for the Dragons throwing and passing for a touchdown while the Lake Orion defense bounced back limiting Clarkston’s offense to three points in the second half. They have Farmington looming next week.

WHAT IN THE BLUE WORLD: Rochester: The Falcons have not been the same team since falling 22-21 to Stoney Creek in overtime last week. They really struggled falling to Harper Woods 44-15 on Friday night. Rochester needs some help if they want to make the postseason. They have Berkley looming next week.

TEAM THAT NEEDS A HUG: Seaholm: The Maples seen their unbeaten record come to an end at Ron Holland Field on Thursday night falling 24-23 to North Farmington. Seaholm took a 14-8 lead at one point but the Raiders fought back and it went back and forth. The Maples got a touchdown but missed the two point try and got an onside kick only to throw an interception sealing the win for North Farmington. They have West Bloomfield looming next week.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME: West Bloomfield: The Lakers had a really rough night falling 38-14 to Oxford on Thursday night falling to 3-4 on the season. Luke Johnson had three touchdowns for the Wildcats which gave Oxford their first Red crown in school history. West Bloomfield will possibly need to win out to make the postseason. They have a big one looming with Seaholm next week.

OC Hosts Annual Community Showcase & Development Event

by orionontv | Oct 15, 2024 | Regional News

Oakland County Hosts Annual Community Showcase & Development Event to Highlight Local Growth Opportunities

Post Date:10/15/2024 11:43 AM

Oakland County’s Community Showcase & Development Opportunities event is a unique opportunity for investors, bankers, developers, brokers, real estate agents, homebuilders, business and property owners and site selectors to connect directly with economic development teams from 21 municipalities.
Attendees will also have the chance to meet with county representatives from business development, planning, brownfield redevelopment, Main Street.
Oakland County, and Neighborhood & Housing Development.
Advance registration is requested to attend this free event. To register, visit AdvantageOakland.EventBrite.com.

Pontiac, Mich. – Oakland County will host its annual Community Showcase & Development Opportunities event from 7:30-10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18 at Oakland Schools, located at 2111 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford.

This gathering provides a unique opportunity for investors, bankers, developers, brokers, real estate agents, homebuilders, business and property owners and site selectors to connect directly with local officials and the economic development teams of 21 Oakland County municipalities. Attendees will have the chance to discuss current projects, hear firsthand about community priorities and explore new development opportunities.

“We are committed to helping our businesses succeed and grow and this is a key part of our economic development goals,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “This event allows investors and developers to engage directly with local leaders and talk about exciting new projects in our communities.”

In addition to municipal representatives, attendees will have the chance to meet with county representatives from business development, planning, brownfield redevelopment, Main Street Oakland County and Neighborhood & Housing Development.

Representatives from Lean & Green Michigan will also be available to answer questions about the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, which enables commercial property owners to finance energy-efficiency upgrades through local governments.

The 21 participating communities are Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Groveland Township, Hazel Park, Holly Village, Independence Township, Lake Orion, Lathrup Village, Lyon Township, Madison Heights, Novi, Oak Park, Orion Township, Oxford Village, Pontiac, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Southfield, Troy, Waterford Township and Wixom.

Some highlights from participating communities include:

In Hazel Park, Director of Planning and Community Development James Finkley said the city supports both large developments and smaller transformational projects such as Corktown Health which broke ground earlier this year and the development of the future social district on John R Road with new venues like Boozy’s Bar and Grill and Eastern Palace.
In Oak Park, Director of Municipal Services Kimberly Marrone points to the success of the Nine Mile Redesign project, which transformed former auto repair and storage buildings into vibrant businesses, including Pie Sci Pizza, Forest Bakery, and Hansen’s Hall, the first neighborhood bar in Oak Park.
In Southfield, Director of Business and Economic Development Rochelle Freeman shares an update on the Northland City Center project, which is transforming the historic Northland Mall into a major mixed-use redevelopment, featuring more than 1,200 luxury apartments, entertainment venues, park districts, offices and 500,000 square feet of retail space.

Advance registration is requested to attend this free event. To register, visit AdvantageOakland.EventBrite.com. For more information, contact Jim Schafer at 248-858-2033 or [email protected].

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