FlightCare comes to West Branch
By Jocelyn Garza | June 29, 2022
Area residents may soon have quicker response should they need to be transported to a medical facility south of the area. FlightCare is currently assessing whether establishing a FlightCare crew at the West Branch Community Airport is viable. A crew will be available during the...
WPAS adopts a conservative budget
By Jocelyn Garza | June 29, 2022
Costs are going up and schools are not exempt from that. The Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools adopted its 2022-2023 budget at a special meeting June 27. Before explaining the budget, Superintendent Joseph Perrera told the board of education the budget is ‘extremely conservative.’ “We are only...
Road work ahead
By Jocelyn Garza | June 29, 2022
Warm weather means construction crews can get out and work on the roads. The Ogemaw County Road Commission has numerous projects taking place this year. So far, Managing Director Pat Reinke said everything is on schedule so far for the most part. There was a...
Aerial antics
By Danielle Beeler | June 22, 2022
The Experimental Aircraft Association, EAA Chapter 1253, held its 22nd annual fly-in Saturday, June 18 at the West Branch Community Airport. Families came out to enjoy breakfast, check out a variety of aircrafts, and ride in planes. Kids enjoyed building and playing with free balsa...
Budget and safety
By Danielle Beeler | June 29, 2022
The Rose City Council approved its 2022/2023 budget during its meeting Tuesday, June 21. General fund revenues were set at $716,336, an increase from last year’s $577,008 and this year’s estimated $526,992. The biggest change was from state grants totaling $112,006. Total expenditures were set...
ORV ordinance delayed
By Jocelyn Garza | June 29, 2022
Off-Road Vehicle season is in full swing, and the Ogemaw County Board of Commissioners is coming closer to adopting a new, stricter ordinance. The proposed ordinance would have required lighted headlights and taillights on all ORVs, limited the size of wheel rims to 13 inches...
Ogemaw County man arrested for White House bomb threat
By Mandilee Hecht | June 22, 2022
OGEMAW COUNTY — A man from Ogemaw County is facing federal charges after allegedly threatening to kill the President of the United States. Timothy Findlay, of Prescott, was charged Wednesday, June 15 in United States District Court in Bay City with threatening to kill U.S....
Price doubles for paying taxes
By Jocelyn Garza | June 22, 2022
Ogemaw Township sets its budget at the June 15 meeting, estimating a 96 percent increase in general fund revenues for the 2022-2023 fiscal year at $320,000 compared to last year’s revenues of $162,975. The township is collecting twice as much in tax collection fees this...
Falcons golf finishes season
By Danielle Beeler | June 8, 2022
The Ogemaw Heights varsity golf team finished its season Wednesday, June 1 at the 2022 MHSAA Boys Division 3, Regional 13 tournament at the Quest in Houghton Lake. The Falcons finished in seventh place out of 20 teams. Leading the team was senior Lucas Courtemanche...
Falcons baseball ends season
By Danielle Beeler | June 8, 2022
The Ogemaw Heights varsity baseball team ended its season with a loss to Petoskey 8-6 in the District 34 Championship Saturday, June 4. Coach Korey Kripli said the Falcons fought back after falling down by seven runs in the fourth inning. Ogemaw Heights outhit Petoskey...
Falcons’ soccer on to districts
By Danielle Beeler | June 1, 2022
Ogemaw Heights varsity girls’ soccer team finished up its regular season going 5-2-2, winning 4-0 over Oscoda at home in the district opener. “It was a stark contrast in comparison to last season when we lost six straight to end the season,” said coach Tom...
Falcons golf heading into regionals
By Danielle Beeler | June 1, 2022
The Ogemaw Heights golf team took fifth place out of 24 teams at the Nightmare Invite Thursday, May 26. Teams from all over the state came to play in the rain. Leading the team was senior Mason Tousigna who shot a career low of 78...
Falcons lose double header to Gladwin
By Danielle Beeler | June 1, 2022
Ogemaw Heights baseball went up against Gladwin in a double header Friday, May 27. The Falcons out-hit Gladwin seven to six in the first game but still lost 5-3. Fletcher Thompson drew a walk, scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kooper...
Keeping cool
By Amy Hensel | June 29, 2022
Summer is officially here. After a fairly cool spring, Michigan has produced several hot days, so far book-ended by rather comfortable or cool days. This works out well for my husband and me. We don’t have air conditioning, but our house is well-insulated and stays...
New but old
By Danielle Beeler | June 22, 2022
One of my recent columns I mentioned that I love going to the movies and that it was something I greatly missed during the pandemic. One movie opinion I have that I think may be slightly controversial, I kind of love the Disney remakes. If...
Strawberry summers
By Jocelyn Garza | June 15, 2022
With the summer season upon us, so is gardening season. This year, my family is growing a variety of vegetables such as squash, peppers, and corn. We also grow over fifty tomato plants that we use to make salsas, marinara sauce, and basic tomato sauces....
100 years and going strong
Rose City resident celebrates milestoneBy Amy Hensel | June 29, 2022
Waneta Mayhew celebrated her 100th birthday June 25 at Rose City Park. Relatives from Arkansas, California, Mississippi and Tennessee traveled to celebrate with friends and family in Michigan. Waneta Belden was born in 1922 in South Branch to Clyde and Mildred (Montney) Belden. She has...
Oceanic Science
Kids learn more about oceans with hands-on activitiesBy Jocelyn Garza | June 29, 2022
The Ogemaw East District Library held a STEM program event June 21 at the Hardwood Lake Campground to go along with the Oceans of Possibilities summer reading program. There were a variety of ocean-related activities and experiments for kids to do. One experiment involved putting...
Hot time at the firehouse
Rose City firefighters welcomed the community with open armsBy Amy Hensel | June 29, 2022
ROSE CITY — Rose City Area Fire Department hosted a pancake brunch and open house June 25 at the firehouse. Visitors checked out the department’s new fire truck and went for rides. Bob Schneider played his red accordion while attendees played games and visited with...
Unconventional art tools
Local artist uses chainsaw to create works of artBy Danielle Beeler | June 29, 2022
On M-33, at the corner of M-55 by Ivan’s old convenience store, a man can be found with a chainsaw and a log, making art. Jeff Deming has always been interested in art and has known how to use a chainsaw for most of his...
Time to host an exchange student
Expand the horizons of your family and theirsBy Amy Hensel | June 29, 2022
The return of international air travel following the lifting of pandemic restrictions means international students are again participating in student exchange programs. That means host families in the U.S. are needed. Vickie Alexander of Roscommon first became involved with International Student Exchange as a host...

Gary Lee Palmer
Died June 27, 2022June 30, 2022
Gary Lee Palmer passed away on June 27, 2022, surrounded by loved ones, in Bay City, Michigan. He was born on June 21, 1950, in Flint, Michigan, to Almon I. and Elizabeth J. (Stanlake) Palmer. Gary graduated from Hale High School in 1968, and later...

Gerald Joseph Lehman
Died June 29, 2022June 30, 2022
Gerald Joseph Lehman, age 81, passed away on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at MyMichigan Medical Center in West Branch, Michigan. He was born on April 13, 1941, in West Branch to Leo and Nedra (Wangler) Lehman. Jerry lived in West Branch his entire life. On...

Vera Joan (Barker) Rutherford
Died February 18, 2022June 27, 2022
Vera Joan (Barker) Rutherford, age 79, of Manistee, passed away at her home on February 18, 2022. Vera was born on July 10, 1942, in Carterton Close, Oxfordshire, England, to James and Daisy Barker. She was one of three children. She married Jack Rutherford while...

William “Dave” David Hufstedler
Died June 21, 2022June 21, 2022
William “Dave” David Hufstedler, age 96, stepped into eternity on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at The Villa at West Branch, surrounded by his loving daughters. He was born on February 20, 1926, in Corning, AR to James and Eathel (Cox) Hufstedler. His family moved to...

Olin “Chris” Christopher Wymer
Died June 20, 2022June 21, 2022
Olin “Chris” Christopher Wymer, age 52, passed away on Monday, June 20, 2022, at Covenant Cooper Hospital in Saginaw, Michigan. He was born on September 17, 1969, in West Branch, Michigan to Gale and Agnes (Comas) Wymer. He lived in Troy, Michigan for the past...