RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOLLOWING EXPLOSION AT KEATINGTON

RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOLLOWING EXPLOSION AT KEATINGTON

by | Nov 20, 2024 | Local News

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ORION
OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISOR

CHRIS BARNETT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Orion
Township

248-391-0304 ext. 2009
ORION TOWNSHIP CONFIRMS NO FATALTIES AND OFFERS RESOURCES
FOLLOWING EXPLOSION AT KEATINGTON NEW TOWN ASSOCIATION
Orion Township, MI (November 20 2024) – Orion Township Fire Department and
Oakland County Sherrif Department can confirm that there are still no fatalities following
yesterday’s tragic explosion at Keatington New Town Association. However, numerous
residents were affected and displaced from their homes after last night’s event. The
Township advises all affected residents to use the following resources to seek aid or
information, or to help those impacted:
FOR THOSE DISPLACED OR IN NEED
Any victims in need of immediate support, please call the American Red Cross at 1-800-
RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). You can also call the Township at 248-391-0304 at ext.
2009.
DONATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
Any cash donations can be sent through Love INC of North Oakland County by phone
at  248-693-4357 or online at https://loveincofnoc.org/.
All clothing and food locations can be dropped off at Woodside Bible Church, located in
Canterbury Village at 2500 Joslyn Road. Residents in need of food can also make use
of Woodside’s Village Food Pantry, also located in Canterbury Village at (2325 Joslyn
Court); their phone number is 248-391-1900.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Orion Township will host a press conference at 4PM today to provide additional
information. All are invited to attend in person or virtually at Township Hall: 2323 Joslyn
Rd, Lake Orion, MI 48360.

DNR News: Recipients of 2025 Community Forestry Grants

DNR News: Recipients of 2025 Community Forestry Grants

by | Nov 19, 2024 | Recreation
DNR banner with link to website

DNR News
Nov. 19, 2024
Contact: Kerry Gray, 734-691-1806

DNR announces recipients of 2025 Community Forestry Grants

Trees wait for people to claim them at a tree giveaway event. Tree planting, education about the benefits of trees and other tree-centric efforts are on tap in nine Michigan communities thanks to Community Forestry Grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Those communities will share $127,093 in grant funding.

The DNR received a total of 24 proposals requesting nearly $393,000 this year.

The approved projects will collectively plant and care for 260 new trees; engage and train an estimated 200 students, residents and city staff; inventory and develop plans to sustainably manage more than 14,500 public trees; and leverage more than $157,500 in community and volunteer matching.

  • Village of Cass City: $10,000 to complete a public tree inventory and tree management plan.
  • City of Chelsea: $5,768 to complete an urban tree canopy assessment and tree preservation plan.
  • Eaton Conservation District: $26,205 for tree planting, youth and volunteer engagement, and education and outreach efforts at the Charlotte Forest Garden.
  • City of Hastings: $12,500 to complete a public tree inventory and develop a maintenance plan to guide the city’s public tree care program.
  • City of Laingsburg: $14,365 to plant and care for new trees at McClintock Park.
  • Sparta Township: $9,102 to plant and care for 41 new trees at several township parks.
  • City of Swartz Creek: $9,890 to plant and care for 38 new trees at Abrams Park.
  • City of Trenton: $27,013 to complete a public tree inventory and develop a maintenance plan to guide the city’s public tree care program.
  • City of Williamston: $12,250 to complete a public tree inventory, develop a maintenance plan and plant trees to expand the city’s tree nursery.

Community Forestry Grants are made available through federal funding from the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s Urban & Community Forestry Program. They are administered by the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program. Learn more about the DNR’s program at Michigan.gov/UCF.

Note to editors: Several urban/community tree-planting photos are available in the DNR’s public image gallery. All photos courtesy of the Michigan DNR unless otherwise noted.
Expanding Veterans Options for Long-term Care Act

Expanding Veterans Options for Long-term Care Act

by | Nov 19, 2024 | Regional News

Image
Hi there,

I have some great news to share: last night the House passed my Expanding Veterans Options for Long-term Care Act with overwhelming bipartisan support. It was passed as part of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, which is a larger veterans package.

My bill creates a three year pilot program at the VA that would allow senior veterans to receive assisted living care paid for by the department, giving them more options for independent living and reducing VA spending on nursing home care. The purpose is to lay the groundwork for senior veterans to live their lives independently and without undue financial stress.

When we send our men and women in uniform into harm’s way, we make a solemn promise to take care of them when they return home – including in their later years. This bipartisan vote delivers on that promise.

It’s also a reminder that we can work together and find common ground to deliver results for our veterans. I hope my Senate colleagues do the same by taking up this bill.
– Rep. Elissa Slotkin
Ferndale University has a new Girls Basketball Coach

Ferndale University has a new Girls Basketball Coach

by | Nov 18, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Ferndale University has a new Girls Basketball Coach.

Written Thursday November 14th at 11:45 PM

Ferndale University has a new girls basketball coach.

The Eagles named Bennie Szczepkowski their new head coach taking over for Coach Brianna Rowe who stepped down recently.

Szczepkowski took the Ferndale University job two weeks before the season started which he confirmed on Media Day at Groves.

Szczepkowski has a hard task ahead of him in turning around a program that went 0-18 last season. He will have a ton of proven experience coming back in LeAnna Spencer, Gabrielle Thompson, Kayla Sanders, Taniyah Crawford, Tamary Powell, Kendall Spencer, and Jayda Wilson.

Ferndale University will need a strong start to build confidence this season. It won’t be an easy transition and it has to happen during the season. It will be very interesting to see what happens.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

Ferndale University has a new Girls Basketball Coach

Week Twelve Recap

by | Nov 18, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Week Twelve Recap.

Written Friday November 15th at 10:10 PM

This will be updated.

HARPER WOODS 48, Macomb Lutheran North 3: The Pioneers were the dominant team on Friday night in Harper Woods shutting down a very solid Crusaders team and running back Vincent Campisi was held in check by a really strong Pioneers defense. The offense was really good for Harper Woods in this game. The Pioneers will move on to have a rematch with Goodrich in the Division Four State Semifinals.

GROVES 21, Warren De LaSalle 19. Ryan Counts was the story on Friday night in Beverly Hills. Counts had two passing touchdowns (one was a very controversial touchdown) and a running score while the Falcons defensive line was the story in a 21-19 win over Warren De LaSalle. The touchdown in question was on a fourth and 16 there was a battle between Chris Little and the Warren De LaSalle player pushed Little out of bounds but Little came back in and caught the ball in bounds. It was originally called incomplete which would have been called illegal touching but the officials reversed it and called it a touchdown infuriating the Pilots. According to the replay it looked like Little was pushed out of bounds which if he’s pushed out of bounds by the defender then he can return to play without being penalized but if he went out on his own and came back on his own then it’s illegal touching which the replay showed Little was pushed out of bounds. The Counts to Little connection has been really good all season for Groves. The Falcons proved they can win against proven Catholic League powers and they will need to do it again when they play Orchard Lake St. Marys and former Stoney Creek Coach Nick Merlo (Merlo is the offensive coordinator for the Eaglets) in the Division Two State Semifinals.

ADAMS 21, Grand Blanc 14. The Highlanders overcame a ton of mistakes and a strong air raid attack from the Bobcats on Friday night. Adams got a key catch from backup quarterback Nolan Farris to Cameron Darwood which set up an eight yard touchdown from Matteo Humbert and the Highlanders defense held off Grand Blanc in a 21-14 win on Friday night. Humbert was really good all night for Adams. The Highlanders defense was really good all night shutting down a really good Bobcats offense despite allowing some yardage in the air. Adams will likely head west to play Hudsonville next week in the Division One State Semifinals.