THE LENAWEE VOICE
Restoring a landmark
By Erik Gable The Lenawee Voice
ADRIAN — Brad Maggard grew up in a historic building — a Victorian home on College Avenue in Adrian.
“I can remember, throughout my childhood, the smell of heat guns and stripping paint throughout the house,” he said.
So when he and his wife, Casie, moved their business into the former Odd Fellows Hall on South Winter Street, he had some idea what he was getting into.
In early 2015, Maggard Razors — a business that has gained a national reputation as a seller of traditional wetshaving supplies — was running out of room. When Maggard found out that the building at 124 S. Winter St. was for sale, he couldn’t resist.
“I love our downtown, and so when I found out that this building was available, even though I might not have been ready to take it on, I decided to go for it,” he said.
The result was a restoration project that, one piece at a time, restored this Second Empire-style architectural gem to its original beauty.
And, in one of the most unusual things about this project, it was accomplished without any grant money. Maggard knew that historic restoration projects are often grantfunded, and when he first bought the building, he spent some time looking into that possibility. But he encountered several obstacles. The available grants all
required the owner to put up matching funds — not necessarily a problem in and of itself, but they also required the project to be completed in a short timeframe.
“The bids were $1.2 million, and if grants had covered half, I’d be looking at having to come up with $600,000 in 18 months,” he said.
He was willing to put money into the project, but spending that much in a short span of time just wasn’t in the cards. So he switched to a different tactic. He went to local contractor Kirk Valentine, owner of Sphere Project Management, and said “I need you to make $125,000 a year matter.”
Valentine was up to the challenge, and they came up with a plan to tackle the project one piece at a time over the course of several years. The project started in 2020, the work wrapped up in 2025, and the final price tag was $612,557.
One of the biggest tasks was restoring the mansard roof, a style of roofing that originated in France. Another was the building’s balcony.
Brad Maggard stands in front of Clark Memorial Hall, the 1888 Odd Fellows hall on Winter Street. The building’s restoration was recently singled out for recognition by the Michigan Historic Preservation Network. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE
Brad Maggard shows an example of the
Trentman chosen to lead community foundation
ADRIAN — The Lenawee Community Foundation board of directors announced last month that president and chief executive officer Bronna Kahle will retire from her role at the end of this year. Paula Trentman, currently executive vice president of the foundation, will succeed Kahle as the organization’s leader beginning Jan. 1.
Kahle served as president and CEO during a transformative season for the foundation, helping strengthen the organization internally while expanding its visibility, responsiveness, and impact across Lenawee County, according to a news release. Under her leadership, the foundation has experienced significant growth in charitable assets, donor engagement, grantmaking, and community leadership initiatives focused on improving Lenawee’s health, happiness, and hope in partnership with donors.
During Kahle’s tenure, the foundation successfully completed its $2 million Health, Happiness, and Hope Fund campaign, launching a stronger flexible grantmaking resource to help
Lenawee County respond to current and future community needs. The foundation also expanded donor services, strengthened grantmaking and community partnerships, and increased organizational capacity to better serve Lenawee for the long term.
“Serving the Lenawee Community Foundation and the people of Lenawee County has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Kahle stated. “This work is deeply meaningful because it is ultimately about people, relationships, generosity, and community. I am incredibly humbled by what we have built together and deeply grateful to our
donors, volunteers, nonprofit partners, staff, and board members for their trust, partnership, and shared commitment to this community.”
Kahle added that she has complete confidence in the foundation’s future leadership.
“Paula Trentman is exactly the right person to lead LCF into its next chapter,” Kahle said. “She brings decades of community foundation experience, strong relationships across Lenawee County, deep institutional knowledge, and, most importantly, a genuine heart for serving others. The Lenawee Community Foundation will be in excellent hands.”
Trentman has served the Lenawee Community Foundation in various capacities for more than 25 years.
Throughout her tenure, she has played a key leadership role in grantmaking, donor stewardship, scholarships, nonprofit partnerships, and many of the foundation’s most important community initiatives and programs.
“LCF has always been about helping connect people who care with causes
that matter,” Trentman said. “It has been a privilege to be part of this work for so many years, and I am honored by the trust the Board has placed in me.
Lenawee County is filled with generous people and strong community partners, and I look forward to building on that momentum together in the years ahead.”
Board chair Dave Hickman said the board is grateful for Kahle’s leadership and excited for the Foundation’s future under Trentman’s direction.
“Bronna Kahle has provided exceptional leadership during an important season of growth and organizational strengthening for the Lenawee Community Foundation,” Hickman said.
Hickman added, “At the same time, the board is thrilled to announce Paula Trentman as LCF’s next president and CEO. Paula is respected throughout Lenawee County and across the philanthropic community. She understands this work at every level, believes deeply in the mission of the Lenawee Community Foundation, and leads with both experience and heart.”
Bronna Kahle Paula Trentman
What’s going on with Adrian’s city water, and why?
By Erik Gable The Lenawee Voice
ADRIAN — A spike in complaints about Adrian’s city water led to a good deal of discussion at the June 1 Adrian City Commission meeting.
City commissioners heard comments from members of the public about their problems with city water, and also received a report from utilities director and acting city administrator Will Sadler about the reasons for the problem and the challenges involved in fixing it.
“Our drinking water is an essential need,” city resident Michelle Taylor said during the public comment period. “It’s something that we trust the city of Adrian to provide. And the fact that it has horrific taste and horrific smell makes it contaminated, and it is beyond a nuisance.”
A similar sentiment came from city resident Scott Marvin, who said: “If you’re willing to fix the water problem, I’m willing to pay more for my water bill to have clean water.”
What is the cause?
Adrian gets its water from two sources. The primary source is a wellfield on Hamilton Highway, but groundwater from the four wells there gets mixed with surface water from Lake Adrian, a manmade reservoir that was created about 85 years ago by damming Wolf Creek. The water from Lake Adrian is the source of the problems, Sadler said.
“There are two main organic compounds that thrive in the lake that are the culprit in our issues,” he said. Those compounds are 2-Methylisoborneol, often called MIB, and Geosmin. Both have a taste and smell that is often described as musty or earthy. Different people can detect these compounds at different levels, which is why some people say the water is undrinkable while others can’t taste anything at all.
Sadler said the primary compound affecting the taste and smell of Adrian’s
water is MIB. The concentration of MIB in Lake Adrian spiked this May, just like it did last spring, but this year the levels did not come down as quickly.
“The biggest way for us to help with that is running all of our wells,” Sadler said. That’s because when groundwater makes up a larger portion of the water that comes out of people’s taps, the total concentration of MIB is diminished.
This spring, Sadler said, one of the four Hamilton Highway wells had to be taken down for maintenance while a motor and a pump were replaced. But
although greater reliance on surface water exacerbates the problem, he said, some people can detect MIB and Geosmin at such low levels — 10 parts per trillion or below — that they can still taste and smell it even when all four wells are running.
“We’re still pumping about 70 percent well water, so that just goes to show you how potent this particular compound is,” he said. “Even though we’re using only 30 percent water from the lake, it’s still strong enough for people to notice.”
Concentrations of the compound 2-Methylisoborneol in Lake Adrian, which was created in the 1940s by damming Wolf Creek, are the primary cause of the taste and odor complaints about Adrian city water. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE
POLICE REPORTS
Following are reports from law enforcement agencies listed in the Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information Systems (CLEMIS) database.
ADDISON VILLAGE
May 26: Assault, 200 block of West Main Street.
ADRIAN CITY
May 26: Assault, 1200 block of South Main Street.
May 27: Shoplifting, 1100 block of North Main Street. Intimidation, 300 block of Erie Street. Intimidation, 300 block of Logan Street. Sexual assault, 500 block of Finch Street. Shoplifting, 1300 block of South Main Street. Assault, 600 block of East Front Street.
May 28: Assault, 1300 block of South Winter Street. Larceny, 200 block of West Maumee Street. Disorderly conduct and property damage, 100 block of South Scott Street. Property damage and assault, 900 block of East Butler Street. Assault, 100 block of Pleasant Knoll Drive.
May 29: Shoplifting, 4400 block of West Maumee Street.
May 30: Assault, 700 block of North Broad Street. Property damage, 1300 block of South Main Street.
May 31: Robbery, 1200 block of South Main Street. Property damage, 900 block of Addison Street. Shoplifting, 200 block of East U.S. 223. Assault, 800 block of Chestnut Street. Assault, 100 block of East Albert Street. Property damage, 800 block of Burr Street.
June 1: Intimidation, 700 block of Riverside Avenue. Vagrancy, East Church Street at Division Street. Shoplifting, 200 block of East U.S. 223. Assault, 500 block of Cherry Street. Fraud, 1200 block of South Main Street.
June 2: Assault, 300 block of East Church Street. Theft from a vehicle, 1200 block of North Main Street. Theft from a vehicle, 800 block of Frank Street. Wire fraud, 500 block of East Front Street. Disorderly conduct, 1100 block of South Main Street.
June 3: Assault, 700 block of Riverside Avenue. Theft from a building, 600 block of West Beecher Street. Disorderly conduct, 700 block of Riverside Avenue. Operating while intoxicated, 700 block of Hoch Avenue.
June 4: Property damage, 100 block of East Maumee Street.
June 5: Fraud, 1300 block of West Maumee Street. Theft from a building, 100 block of West Maumee Street. Assault, 600 block of Oak Street.
June 7: Vagrancy, 300 block of East Church Street. Assault and property damage, 1100 block of Division Street. Assault, 400 block of Erie Street. Disorderly conduct, 700 block of Erie Street. Operating while intoxicated, 200 block of Red River Drive.
June 8: Theft from a vehicle, 1100 block of Erie Street. Intimidation, 100 block of Sand Creek Highway. Assault and disorderly conduct, 500 block of East Church Street. Fraud, 1100 block of Lansing Avenue. Fraud, 100 block of Sand Creek Highway.
Assault, 200 block of Cross Street. Murder,, 500 block of State Street. Identity theft, 500 block of Lake Street.
June 9: Assault, 500 block of East Church Street. Property damage, 500 block of South Main Street. Shoplifting, 200 block of East U.S. 223. Sexual assault, 500 block of East Butler Street. Assault, 400 block of North Broad Street. Assault, 300 block of Budlong Street.
June 10: Assault, 700 block of Erie Street. Assault, 1300 block of West Maumee Street. Assault, 800 block of Erie Street.
June 11: Disorderly conduct, South Winter Street at Cross Street. Assault, 600 block of St. Joseph Street. Assault, 600 block of East Church Street.
June 12: Intimidation, 200 block of North Main Street. Assault, 100 block of Pleasant Knoll Drive. Assault, 1200 block of South Main Street.
June 13: Larceny, 100 block of North Center Street. Shoplifting, 1200 block of North Main Street. Assault, 500 block of River Street. Vagrancy, French Street at East Beecher Street.
June 14: Operating while intoxicated, South Madison Street at College Avenue. Assault, 400 block of College Avenue.
June 15: Credit card or ATM fraud, 300 block of Lawrence Avenue. Disorderly conduct, 1300 block of South Main Street. Larceny, 1000 block of South Winter Street.
June 16: Theft from a building, 1100 block of Lansing Avenue. Property damage, 600 block of South Mckenzie Street.
Larceny, Erie Street at South Tecumseh Street. Assault, 100 block of Pleasant Knoll Drive. Assault, West Maumee Street at West Church Street. Shoplifting, 1000 block of North Main Street.
June 17: Shoplifting, 300 block of East Beecher Street. Larceny, 400 block of Frank Street.
June 18: Disorderly conduct, 500 block of College Avenue. Assault, 1500 block of West Beecher Road.
June 19: Assault, 100 block of East Maumee Street. Operating while intoxicated, North Main Street at East Maple Avenue.
June 20: Theft from a building, 700 block of North Main Street. Assault, 800 block of Comstock Street. Theft from a building, 1100 block of Lansing Avenue. Assault, 400 block of Division Street.
June 21: Property damage, 800 block of West Maumee Street. Assault, 500 block of Comstock Street. Assault, 500 block of River Street. Assault, 600 block of West Beecher Street.
June 22: Property damage, 200 block of Cross Street. Assault, 300 block of South Mckenzie Street.
ADRIAN TWP.
June 14: Property damage, 5500 block of Bent Oak Highway.
BLISSFIELD TWP.
June 3: Credit card or ATM fraud, 1600 block of South Blissfield Highway.
CAMBRIDGE TWP.
May 31: Assault, 7600 block of Sherlock Drive.
FRANKLIN TWP.
June 5: Fraud, 2300 block of West Taylor Road.
June 11: Fraud, 2400 block of Paragon Road.
HUDSON TWP.
May 27: Identity theft, 3900 block of North Posey Lake Highway.
June 12: Larceny, 16100 block of West Cadmus Road.
MACON TWP.
May 31: Operating while intoxicated, Ridge Highway and Pennington Road. Fraud, 12300 block of Ridge Highway.
June 9: Wire fraud, 11800 block of Macon Highway.
MADISON TWP.
May 26: Drug violation, 3400 block of Treat Highway. Larceny, 2900 block of Treat Highway. Burglary, 200 block of Grand River Drive.
May 27: Fraud, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.
May 28: Shoplifting, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.
May 31: Assault, 100 block of Smokey Hill River Court.
June 1: Assault, 4200 block of Livesay Road.
June 3: Disorderly conduct, 3400 block of Treat Highway.
June 4: Assault, 300 block of Current River Court.
June 6: Fraud, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.
June 10: Assault, 2000 block of East U.S. 223.
June 14: Operating while intoxicated, 2600 block of Treat Highway. Motor vehicle theft, 2900 block of West Beecher Road.
June 15: Shoplifting, 1600 block of East U.S. 223.
June 20: Larceny, 2900 block of West Beecher Road.
MEDINA TWP.
May 31: Assault, 12300 block of Medina Road.
June 11: Larceny, burglary, and property damage, 11500 block of Morenci Road.
June 13: Burglary, 11500 block of Morenci Road.
June 18: Assault, 11500 block of Morenci Road.
MORENCI CITY
June 7: Assault, 800 block of West Chestnut Street.
June 15: Assault, 500 block of West Main Street.
OGDEN TWP.
June 8: Operating while intoxicated, Thompson Highway at East Weston Road.
PALMYRA TWP.
May 26: Assault, 3800 block of Sharp Road.
June 2: Fraud, 5700 block of Crockett Highway.
June 4: Identity theft, 4900 block of Ogden Highway.
June 8: Fraud, 7700 block of Rouget Road.
June 11: Theft from a vehicle, 8400 block of East U.S. 223.
RAISIN TWP.
June 4: Assault, 3000 block of Chase Road.
June 22: Operating while intoxicated, North Adrian Highway at Shepherd Road.
RIDGEWAY TWP.
June 4: Assault, 7100 block of Ridge Highway.
RIGA TWP.
June 13: Operating while intoxicated, 14700 block of East Mulberry Road.
June 14: Property damage, 13500 block of East U.S. 223.
June 22: Credit card or ATM fraud, 13100 block of Ottawa Lake Road.
ROLLIN TWP.
May 31: Theft from a vehicle, 9700 block of South Devils Lake Highway.
June 6: Property damage, 100 block of North Lakeview Blvd.
June 12: Property damage, 1300 block of North Rollin Highway.
ROME TWP.
May 26: Property damage and assault, 5100 block of North Hawkins Highway.
May 28: Larceny, 9900 block of Woerner Road.
June 9: Assault, Plank Road at Springville Highway.
June 10: Burglary, 9900 block of Woerner Road.
June 15: Assault, 5100 block of North Hawkins Highway.
TECUMSEH CITY
May 26: Credit card or ATM fraud, 400 block of Settlers Cove.
May 27: Larceny, 100 block of South Evans Street.
May 29: Burglary, 200 block of South Van Buren Street.
May 31: Assault, 9100 block of North Union Street.
June 3: Assault, 400 block of West Chicago Blvd.
June 7: Intimidation, 100 block of North Pearl Street.
June 10: Operating while intoxicated, North Occidental at Bramblewood Drive.
June 11: Assault, 900 block of River Acres Drive.
June 13: Disorderly conduct, 400 block of Adrian Street.
June 14: Operating while intoxicated, West Chicago Blvd. at North Occidental Highway. Operating while intoxicated, West Chicago Blvd. at Sunset Drive.
June 16: Fraud, 500 block of Ridge Lane.
June 18: Intimidation, 100 block of South Wyandotte Street.
June 22: Theft from a motor vehicle, 400 block of North Evans Street.
WOODSTOCK TWP.
May 28: Larceny, 15700 block of West U.S. 12.
June 11: Fraud, 17700 block of Greenleaf Road.
June 17: Property damage, 7100 block of North Rollin Highway.
June 18: Operating while intoxicated, 18700 block of West U.S. 12.
Hiring event for carpentry careers to take place July 22
Carpenters Combine will be held on the future campus of the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute
ADRIAN TWP. — The Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters, Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute, and Krieghoff-Lenawee will host a hiring event on Wednesday, July 22, at the future site of the new SBWI campus, 5201 Forrister Road.
Called Carpenters Combine and modeled after the NFL Combine, the event will give aspiring carpenters the opportunity to demonstrate their skills through a series of hands-on events designed to test ability, work ethic,
COURT NEWS
problem-solving, and readiness for the jobsite. Contractors will be on site throughout the event and may offer jobs to select candidates on the spot. Check-in begins at 7 a.m. The event is open to both union and non-union participants, and candidates should arrive ready to work.
The event will focus on wood construction, including heavy timber, traditional timber framing, and mass timber skills.
Krieghoff-Lenawee is specifically seeking carpenters to help construct
ADRIAN WOMAN CHARGED IN SISTER’S DEATH: An Adrian woman is facing murder charges after allegedly giving her sister a fatal dose of morphine on June 8. Documents filed in Lenawee County District Court allege that Frances Stewart, an autistic cancer patient receiving in-home hospice care, was unconscious when her sister, Virginia Stewart, 58, gave her an overdose of morphine and removed her oxygen mask. A caregiver told investigators that Frances Stewart had expressed a desire to receive chemotherapy but that her sister, who was her legal guardian, declined it. Court documents also state that Virginia Stewart was the beneficiary of a $1.3 million trust fund meant to provide for her sister’s care, and that earlier that day, she had been granted a do-not-resuscitate order for Fran in Lenawee County Probate Court.
MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN 2023 CRASH: A Palmyra man entered a guilty plea to four charges of attempted reckless driving causing death in connection with a Labor Day 2023 crash that killed four men on their way to a job site. Matt Koester, who was also injured in the crash, is set to be sentenced on Aug. 28. The crash took place at the intersection of Milwaukee Road and Britton Highway.
Water from page A3
At the June 15 commission meeting, Sadler updated the commission that the mix was currently about 85% groundwater. What can be done?
MIB and Geosmin are both notoriously difficult to remove using conventional treatment methods. Water is treated with activated carbon at the city’s plant on Bent Oak Avenue, but that isn’t able to remove more than a fraction of the total amount.
And the problem can’t be addressed by relying exclusively on groundwater, Sadler said, because the aquifers in the Adrian area just aren’t able to supply it in enough volume.
“We are groundwater-poor,” he said. “It’s just not there in the quantities that we need it. And even if you gave me an unlimited bag of money to put as many wells as I could possibly drill into that specific aquifer, I can’t pull it.”
Adding a fifth well at Hamilton Highway is still an option, Sadler said, and the city has been working with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to get permission for that. Although the city still would only be able to run four wells at a time, the fifth would provide a backup.
“If we are able to put that in, that doesn’t mean we get to run five wells,” Sadler said. “That means we can still only run four, but at least we’ll have one when one of them is down for repair or for maintenance.”
SBWI’s new timber frame school, a major educational project designed to expand skilled trades training. Several additional contractors will also be in attendance.
“This event brings the hiring process directly to the jobsite and gives aspiring carpenters a chance to prove what they can do with their hands,” said Luke Barnett, president of the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute.
“The construction of SBWI’s new timber frame school is a unique project that requires skilled, hardworking carpenters who are excited about wood construction,” said Jason Hess of Krieghoff-Lenawee. “We are looking for the right candidates who are ready to join our team and begin work right away.”
FORMER ADRIAN PRINCIPAL FACING CHARGES IN GENESEE COUNTY: A former Adrian High School principal is facing charges of sexually abusing a student at a middle school where he was teaching in 2016. Matthew Chapin, who is accused of five separate incidents with a victim under the age of 13, was working at LakeVille Community Schools at the time. He was the principal of AHS from 2008 to 2010, when he was placed on leave in the middle of the school year and then resigned.
HIT-AND-RUN SUSPECT CAN REMOVE TETHER AFTER ALL: The suspect in the hit-and-run crash that seriously injured Adrian teen Dakota Courington can remove the GPS tether she had been wearing as a condition of being free while awaiting trial. Judge Michael Olsaver had originally denied Felisha Madison’s request, but said he would reconsider if she presented evidence from a doctor to back up her assertion that the tether was interfering with medical treatments. On June 3, Olsaver said medical documents had been presented, and after reviewing them he was willing to allow removal of the tether.
If approved, a new well is probably a year to a year and a half away, Sadler said.
As for the surface water that is the source of the problem, the city currently uses ultrasonic wave generators to help control the algae that releases MIB and Geosmin. Those replaced the solarpowered circulation devices that could once be seen in the middle of Lake Adrian every summer.
Responding to a question about whether something like a reverse osmosis system would work, Sadler said those systems bring up a different set of problems — specifically, what to do with the “reject water” that results from the process.
“You’re pulling everything out of that water,” he said. “The good, the bad and the ugly. Well, guess what — all of that stuff that you pulled out of 100 gallons is now in 20 gallons. What are you going to do with that?”
The options include putting it into the city’s wastewater stream or seeking a permit to put it back into the environment. And Sadler estimated that a reverse osmosis system for a treatment plant the size of Adrian’s would cost at least $15 million.
“I’m not trying to say we shouldn’t look into it — just remember there’s always a downside,” Sadler said.
At the household level, he said, options can include using a Brita filter for drinking water or using lemon or lime juice to help cover the taste.
Because some people can detect MIB at extremely low concentrations, Sadler said, it will be very difficult to get the level down to a point where nobody
“The Carpenters Combine is about removing barriers and giving people a hands-on opportunity to show their skill, drive, and attitude,” said Steve Purchase of the Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters. “Whether someone is already experienced or just looking for the right path into the trades, this event can open the door to a familysupporting career in carpentry.”
The event is designed for individuals interested in starting or advancing a career in carpentry. Participants will move through a series of skill-based challenges while contractors observe their performance.
For more information, call the woodworking institute at 517-759-3070.
MAN ACCUSED OF ROBBING TOBACCO STORE: An Adrian man is facing charges of committing an armed robbery on May 31 at Wild Bill’s Tobacco in Madison Township. Township police say that Andre Pearson, 27, entered the store around noon, displayed a firearm, and gave an employee a note demanding money from the cash register.
NO NEW TRIAL FOR BLISSFIELD MAN: A Blissfield man convicted more than two years ago of causing another person’s death in a car crash is not entitled to a new trial, the Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled. William Badger Jr. had been seeking a new trial for the May 2021 crash that claimed the life of 78-year-old David Campbell of Blissfield. Badger had been driving on Lipp Highway, with Campbell as his passenger, when he lost control and the vehicle overturned in a ditch. Investigators found that Badger had a blood alcohol level of .18 and was driving at high speed.
can taste it as long as the city is partially reliant on surface water.
“Surface water is terrible to treat,” he said.
“It’s hard to treat because of the organic material in it that’s not something you get in groundwater. But as long as we’re having to use that, we’re potentially going to have this problem.”
Additional comments
At the end of his presentation, Sadler addressed a report card from the website WaterVerge.com that has been circulating on social media. A search for Adrian on that site brings up a grade of “F” as well as reports of numerous violations. The problem, Sadler said, is that the website’s data lumps several other systems in with Adrian’s municipal system, including Madison Township water and private systems that serve a number of subdivisions and mobile home parks.
“We have no violations,” he said. “That website lumps all of these entities in with the city of Adrian.”
City commissioner Matt Schwartz said it’s disheartening to go into restaurants and see them advertising that they filter their water or that they don’t use Adrian city water.
Resident Nancy O’Connor urged the city to find a solution.
“It’s not just a springtime thing and it’s not just a summertime thing,” she said. “This is year-round. I have no idea what the solutions could be, but can we please work on doing something? Because we deserve to have some water that we’re able to drink without having to doctor it up with something.”
A MONTHLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN lenaweevoice.com
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
DEBORAH J. COMSTOCK
CONTENT DIRECTOR ERIK GABLE
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
ARLENE BACHANOV • JULIE C. CLEMES
RENEE LAPHAM COLLINS
KATE MITCHELL • JEFFREY R. PLUM
SPANISH-LANGUAGE CONTENT
LIZBETH PÉREZ-CÁZARES
BUSINESS STAFF
LINDA CLINE • KATHY RAINES MELINDA MACDONALD
PUBLISHED BY
LENAWEE INDEPENDENT MEDIA LLC 2525 OGDEN HIGHWAY
MI 49221 517-263-3530 OR 313-300-2300
CONTACT US
To submit news tips and press releases, please email news@lenaweevoice.com. To submit community events for the calendar, email lcline@lenaweevoice.com. For information about advertising, email publisher@lenaweevoice.com. For subscription information, go to lenaweevoice.com/subscribe or email subscriptions@lenaweevoice.com.
Copyright © 2026 Lenawee Independent Media All rights reserved
Rollin, Woodstock townships seek to restore fire funding
By Erik Gable The Lenawee Voice
ADDISON — An attempt to restore funding for fire protection is on the Aug. 4 ballot in two Irish Hills-area townships.
AUGUST ELECTIONS
Rollin and Woodstock townships both had fire protection millages that expired in 2025, forcing them to pay for fire services out of general operating budgets. To restore that funding, Rollin Township is proposing a 1-mill levy, and Woodstock Township is proposing a 0.75-mill levy.
The taxes would pay for services provided by the Addison Fire Department, which is operated through an interlocal agreement between Rollin and Woodstock townships in Lenawee County, Wheatland Township in Hillsdale County, and the village of Addison. The four jurisdictions pay for services based on the number of runs required by their areas, which usually works out to about 40% each from Rollin and Woodstock townships and 10% each from Wheatland Township and Addison.
“To keep the level of operation we have now, we need to get these passed or there will be dire consequences,” Rollin Township supervisor Mike Clark said.
In the past, Clark said, the department benefited from the generosity of Donald Murdock, the president of M&S Manufacturing, and the Weatherwax Foundation in Jackson. But Murdock died in 2019, and the Weatherwax Foundation sunsetted its operations a few years before that.
Add to that the fact that costs are escalating rapidly, and it’s a recipe for strained budgets.
The department, which runs on about $550,000 a year and covers 109 square miles, has four trucks able to battle a major structure fire and four smaller trucks for things like grass fires, according to fire chief David Aungst.
And that equipment is aging. For example, the department purchased a ladder truck last year — but that truck was 23 years old, and Aungst said it can probably last five years.
The department’s newest large truck is 12 years old. Ideally, Aungst said, new apparatus would be purchased on a fiveyear rotation, with trucks being replaced when they reach 20 years old.
Clark said he believes the millages are necessary to keep funding a department that provides excellent service.
Millages for services provided through the Addison Fire Department are on the Aug. 4 ballot in Rollin and Woodstock townships.
“We have a great department,” Clark said. “We never hear anyone have anything but the highest praise for them, and my experience has been very much the same.”
Ballot questions across Lenawee County
In addition to Rollin and Woodstock townships, the following areas have ballot questions on the Aug. 4 primary ballot.
n Blissfield Township — a roads and bridges millage renewal of just under 1.5 mills, two fire operations millage renewals totaling 1 mill, an 0.5-mill fire equipment millage renewal, and a 1-mill levy for fire department general operations, daytime staffing, and special equipment.
n Clinton Township — a 1.6-mill fire department millage renewal.
n Deerfield Township — an 0.25-mill fire operations renewal, a 0.5-mill fire equipment renewal, and a 3-mill roads and bridges renewal.
n Dover Township — a 1.6585-mill roads and bridges renewal and an 0.8810mill ambulance renewal.
n Medina Township — a roads and bridges renewal of just under 2 mills.
n Palmyra Township — a 1-mill fire department operations renewal.
n Riga Township — a 1.5-mill fire millage renewal, a 1-mill fire equipment renewal, and a 2-mill roads and bridges renewal.
n Tecumseh Township — a renewal of just under 1 mill for fire, police and ambulance services.
n Britton Deerfield Schools — a 2-mill sinking fund levy for school facilities and equipment.
n Hudson Area Schools — an 18-mill operating millage renewal.
n Morenci Area Schools — an 18-mill operating millage renewal.
n Waldron Area Schools — an 18-mill operating millage renewal.
Consumers Energy asks state to allow rate increase
LANSING — Consumers Energy filed a $456 million rate increase with the Michigan Public Service Commission in June, a move that if granted would lead to an increase of nearly 10 percent in customers’ monthly bills.
The request came only a month after a recently approved $276 million rate increase went into effect and is the largest hike sought in the past 20 years.
Utility officials say they need the additional money to modernize the electrical grid, upgrade infrastructure, and to do more tree trimming. But Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called it part of a never-ending cycle of attempts to push rates higher every year. And consumer advocates claim the utility is deliberately baking the most expensive processes into its applications — the most recent of which is more than 3,700 pages long. Consumers Energy has sought higher rates every year for the past seven years.
Graduating seniors recognized for bilingual skills in demonstration of school district’s ‘Diploma Plus’ effort
ADRIAN — At the June 8 meeting of the Adrian school board, graduating seniors Jesús Garcés and Guadalupe Jimenez were recognized for their language skills, graduating from high school with fluency in both English and Spanish.
Garcés earned the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy and the Global Seal of Biliteracy. Jimenez earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy. To achieve these honors, students demonstrated proficiency in both English and Spanish as measured by the AVANT STAMP 4S assessment. During the board meeting, AHS teacher Teresa Jackson noted that “this assessment is rigorous and aligns with the proficiency level expected of students in an AP course or on an AP exam.”
The Michigan Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to graduating seniors who demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one other language. The Global Seal of Biliteracy is an internationally recognized credential that certifies language skills and may be shared with colleges and employers.
Superintendent Nate Parker said that the honors for Garcés and Jimenez are a good demonstration of the school district’s “Diploma Plus” program, which is intended to make sure students graduate from Adrian High School with more credentials than just a traditional diploma.
”The accomplishments of Jesús and Guadalupe are a clear example of that vision in action,” said superintendent Nate Parker. “They are leaving Adrian High School with more than a diploma; they have earned internationally recognized credentials that demonstrate valuable skills and open additional opportunities for their future.”
From left to right: Teacher Andrea Morin-Perez, Jesús Garcés, Guadalupe Jimenez, and teacher Teresa Jackson.
NEWS FROM AROUND LENAWEE COUNTY
ADDISON
ADDISON SEEKS NEW SUPERINTENDENT: The Addison school district is conducting a search for its next superintendent following the retirement of Scott Salow, who had been in the post for the past two years. John Krimmel, the retired superintendent of Airport Community Schools, has been hired to serve as interim superintendent while the board conducts a search. The school board is conducting its own search rather than hiring the Michigan Association of School Boards or another search firm the way it has in the past. School board president Andrea Woodring said the board isn’t in a hurry to complete the search, because Krimmel has agreed to stay as long as necessary. This is the district’s fourth superintendent search in as many years after Steve Guerra, who had served for more than a decade, retired in 2022. — LOCAL BUZZ RADIO
SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY TO BE FILLED: A new school board member will be appointed in Addison following Thomas Arnold’s resignation from the board on June 22. The board will accept applications through July 7 from district residents interested in filling Arnold’s seat for the remainder of his term, which runs through the end of 2028. Letters of interest can be emailed to tiffany.smith@addisonschools.us.
— LOCAL BUZZ RADIO
ADRIAN
SUPERINTENDENT RECEIVES POSITIVE REVIEW: During the June 8 Adrian school board meeting, Superintendent Nate Parker received an “Effective” rating in his annual evaluation. School board president Beth Ferguson said that’s the highest rating on the district’s evaluation system. Board members cited Parker’s responsiveness as a significant strength, as well as openness to feedback, positive relationships with staff, and ongoing efforts to engage stakeholders while maintaining a strong focus on the district’s long-term goals. — LENAWEE VOICE
NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
NAMED: Jason Skeels has been selected as the next principal of Springbrook Middle School. He will replace Adam Benschoter, who is retiring. Skeels has served as assistant principal for the past five years. “Jason stood out as a leader who is deeply connected to the Springbrook community,” said school board member Anna SolisGautz, who served on the interview committee for the post. “His experience within the building and his clear vision for supporting students and staff made him an excellent candidate to recommend to the board.” — LENAWEE VOICE
DDA DIRECTOR POST OPEN: The city of Adrian is looking for a new executive director of its Downtown Development Authority. Kate Deneau, the DDA event coordinator who had been serving as interim director, has accepted a different position in the city assessor’s office. DDA board chair Darcy Gifford said Deneau had brought professionalism, dedication, and a collaborative approach to the position and provided steady leadership during her time as interim director. — LOCAL BUZZ RADIO
FEE HOUSE TO BE SOLD: The Adrian City Commission has approved listing the property at 411 S. Main St., known as the Fee House, for sale. The house was originally the home of local philanthropists Harry and Harriet Kimball Fee. It was bequeathed to the city upon the death of its most recent owner. An appraisal in September 2024 estimated the property’s value at about $220,000. Any buyer will be required to keep it as an owneroccupied home and not subdivide it, demolish it, or make major changes to the exterior color. — LENAWEE VOICE
BLISSFIELD
SKATE PARK TEMPORARILY CLOSED: The village of Blissfield temporarily closed its skate park on West Adrian Street in late June for the removal of several wooden ramps and structures that had become unsafe due to significant deterioration, rot, and structural damage. Recent inspections of the park identified rotted support beams, weakened decking, and shifting surfaces that created potential safety hazards for users, according to a news release. Village staff will continue evaluating future options for the site. — LENAWEE VOICE
BROOKLYN
HISTORIC MARKER REPLACED: The village of Brooklyn dedicated a new historic marker at the village hall to replace one that was destroyed by a semitrailer crash in April 2025. The marker highlights Brooklyn’s settlement in 1832, when it was first named Swainsville after founder Calvin Swain. The new marker was dedicated on June 16. It was placed outside the front entrance of Village Hall instead of the Town Square so it can be safely viewed from the sidewalk. Brooklyn Village Hall is located at 121 N. Main St. — LENAWEE VOICE
A new historic marker was dedicated on June 16 in Brooklyn, replacing one that was taken out by a semitrailer crash last year. The marker tells the story of Brooklyn’s settlement in 1832. It is located at Brooklyn Village Hall, 121 N. Main St.
MOTORCYCLIST INJURED: An Adrian man was injured in a motorcycle accident on the night of June 4. Cambridge Township police said the man was riding ahead of several other motorcyclists on Onsted Highway near Teachout Road when his bike left the right side of the road and struck a guardrail. He was thrown from the bike, which then caught fire. Police said he was taken to a hospital in Jackson and his injuries were not lifethreatening. — LOCAL BUZZ RADIO
MADISON TWP.
SUSPECTED ILLEGAL GAMBLING OPERATION RAIDED:
State officials say they broke up a suspected illegal gambling operation in Madison Township by seizing more than 50 machines during a raid at Games 4 U, located in the plaza at the corner of Treat Street and U.S. 223. The search warrant was executed June 4 following an investigation by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, the Michigan Gaming Control Board, and Madison Township police. Authorities said 42 slot-style machines and 10 computer-aided gambling machines were seized, along with more than $8,700 in cash and 20 gift cards related to illegal gambling there. — LOCAL BUZZ RADIO
MORENCI
CITYWIDE GARAGE SALE: The third weekend in July has been set as the date for Morenci’s annual citywide garage sale. Although the official date is Saturday, many sales will begin that Thursday. — MORENCI ADVOCATE
RAISIN TWP.
WACKER CHEMICAL TO ELIMINATE POSITIONS: About 40 positions will be eliminated over the next year and a half at the Wacker Chemical plant in Raisin Township, the company said, citing global overcapacity for certain materials and a need to reduce operating expenses. The company said the reduction will primarily occur through planned retirements and natural attrition. Corporate communications director Rachel Ufer said it was a difficult decision that followed a careful review of Wacker’s operational footprint and was necessary to align capacity with current and anticipated market demand. — LOCAL BUZZ RADIO
TECUMSEH
LIBRARY DIRECTOR HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE HOURS:
Tecumseh District Library director Jordan Wright is holding public office hours at which residents are welcome to stop by for coffee and conversation. Residents who have questions, ideas, or concerns are invited to speak with Wright on Tuesday, July 7, between 5 and 7 p.m., and Saturday, July 11, between 1 and 3 p.m. The Tecumseh District Library is at 215 N. Ottawa St. — LENAWEE VOICE
WATER MAIN BREAK INTERRUPTS SERVICE: A water main break on Burt Street between Clark and Derby streets in Tecumseh interrupted service for a number of residents on June 23. The affected area included all of Burt Street east of Clark, as well as Woodstock, Fairway Cove, and the Tecumseh Country Club. — LOCAL BUZZ RADIO
JACKSON WOMAN DIES AFTER CRASH: A Jackson woman died after crashing into a semitrailer at the corner of M-50 and M-52 in Tecumseh Township on June 10. The crash occurred around 1 p.m. According to the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office, the semitrailer had been stopped at a red light and started to turn right when traffic was clear. Witnesses said the truck’s path was clear when it started to turn, but a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze, traveling at high speed, entered the intersection and crashed into the rear of the truck. The driver of the car was taken to ProMedica Hickman Hospital, where she died from her injuries. The driver of the semi was unhurt. — LENAWEE VOICE
CAMBRIDGE TWP.
Jason Skeels
Hudson girls mark their best finish in school history
By Jeffrey R. Plum
The Lenawee Voice
Hudson coach Tom Romanowski began the girls track and field season with multiple unknowns in March, but by the end of the season in May, the Tigers were holding hardware.
Kalamazoo Hackett edged Hudson at the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Division 4 state meet at Hudsonville High School, 44-43. The Tigers’ best finish in school history earned a runners-up trophy.
“We had a great day and finished as runners-up in the state,” Romanowski said. “We had three seniors that scored all our points at the state meet.”
Naika Rath placed second in the 100-meter dash (personal best, 12.35) and 400-meter (59.35), while Ellie Loar finished second in the shot put (personal best, 39’3½’’) and discus (122’5’’). Annabelle Czeiszperger took fourth in the pole vault (personal best, 9’9’’).
“We were shocked to be leading with two events to go, but Kalamazoo Hackett had a girl place seventh in the 3,200m run to win the title,” Romanowski said.
The Tigers finished fourth at the LCAA championship meet and fourth overall in the league. They took third at the Division 4 regional and placed eighth at the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association team meet.
Rath was the LCAA and regional champion in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter, while winning the 100-meter at the county meet. Loar won the league title in the shot put, and regional and county meet titles in the shot put and discus, while Czeiszperger was LCAA champion in the pole vault.
“These seniors showed great leadership throughout the season, and it was awesome to see them accept the runners-up trophy at states,” Romanowski said. “We had 17 out of our 30 athletes participating in track for the first time, and our seniors did a great job leading them.”
He added that seven middle school athletes qualified for the Mid-Michigan Megastar meet in Shepherd, a good sign for the future.
n Despite strong numbers, Adrian placed third in the Southeastern Conference White Division and took third out of 15 teams at the Division 2 regional.
“[We struggled] with numbers and did not have the depth, but for the numbers we did have, they competed at the highest caliber,” coach Tamara Francis said.
Ayda Skeels set a new school record in the 3,200-meter run at 10:52.
Hudson’s Naika Rath, right, runs neckand-neck with Frankfort’s Sofia Alaimo Schindler in the Division 4 girls 100-meter finals at the MHSAA state meet. Rath placed second in the event and also set a personal best of 12.35 seconds.
“In addition to the freshmen, we had a couple of newcomers who helped the team tremendously,” Francis said. “We will strive to compete with the elite and continue to work on building our numbers.”
n Blissfield had several team goals in mind before the season started, and coach Brian Sills said the Royals conquered each goal as they ran their way through the season.
The Royals posted a perfect 7-0 LCAA record en route to a LCAA championship. They also won the Division 3 regional and earned a trip to the MITCA team championship.
“The girls had a goal of winning the LCAA, regionals, and qualifying for the MITCA team states, and they accomplished all of those,” said Sills, whose team placed ninth at the MITCA meet and 18th at the MHSAA state meet.
Blissfield also captured the Clinton Redwolves Invite, the Bobcat Legacy Relay at Whiteford, the Blissfield Royal Invitational, and the Sand Creek Hinsdale Invite championships.
Blissfield sent six student-athletes in 12 events to the MHSAA state meet, as Hope Miller received all-state honors in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs. Miller won the 800-meter, 1,600-meter, and 3,200-meter runs at the league meet.
The Royals had four county champions: Leigh Wyman (300-meter hurdles), Hailey Sills (1,600-meter), Anna Hallett (3,200-meter), and Miller, Sills, Hallett, and Kaleea Braun (4x800-meter relay). Miller broke her own record in
the 3,200-meter, while Wyman set a new school record in the 300 hurdles (48.67).
n Juniors Bella Bannon and Madi McGraw, along with sophomores Ella Claus and Khloie Miller, reached the state meet for Clinton as young talent served the Redwolves well this spring.
“Our team is still young,” said coach Richard Dewald.
Claus (100-meter and 400-meter), Bannon (high jump), Miller (pole vault), and the 4x200 team of Miller, Bannon, McGraw, and Claus all qualified for the state finals. Claus was the state champion in the 400-meter, Bannon was runner-up in the high jump, and Miller was eighth in the pole vault, all earning all-state honors.
“Records continue to be broken year after year,” Dewald said. “I think that reflects on how much we have improved over the past several years. We have some outstanding athletes that have a great work ethic.”
Claus clocked a school record of 57.99 in the 400-meter, breaking her own record from 2025. Khloie Miller went 10’3” in the pole vault, breaking a record from 2023, and the 4x200 relay team of Miller, Bannon, McGraw, and Claus ran a 1:49.96, breaking a record set in 1987.
See GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD, page A12
Clinton’s Ella Claus, fourth from left, runs in the Division 3 girls
time of 57.99 seconds. MARY WILSON/RUNMICHIGAN.COM
Adrian College baseball hits 40-win mark, ends season with strong ranking
Adrian College Sports Information
ADRIAN — The Adrian College NCAA baseball team finished the 2026 season ranked No. 5 in both the D3baseball.com poll and the National Poll conducted by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
The Bulldogs advanced to the Bracket Championship round of the 2026 NCAA Division III College World Series and finished the season with a 40-14 record, becoming one of just seven NCAA Division III programs to reach the 40-win mark in 2026.
The season also marked the first 40-win campaign in Adrian College NCAA baseball history.
The Bulldogs captured the MIAA Regular Season Championship, MIAA Tournament Championship, NCAA Regional Championship, and NCAA Super Regional Championship to advance to the NCAA Division III College World Series for the third time in program history.
In Eastlake, Ohio, Adrian opened the tournament with a victory over No. 2 Rowan University before falling to No. 6 Endicott College. The Bulldogs responded with another win over Rowan and defeated Endicott to force the winner-take-all, if necessary game. Adrian’s historic season came to an end with a 4-2 loss to Endicott.
Throughout the postseason, the Bulldogs showcased their resilience by facing elimination nine different times. Adrian dropped its opening game in both the NCAA Regional and Super Regional rounds before battling back to advance. The Bulldogs also played in three elimination games during the Division III College World Series.
In the final national rankings, Adrian trailed only four teams. National champion Denison University claimed the No. 1 spot after defeating the Bulldogs 15-5 earlier in the regular season. Endicott, which eliminated Adrian in the World Series, finished No. 2. East Texas Baptist University earned the No. 3 ranking after Adrian defeated the Tigers 10-2 during the preseason. Rowan University rounded out the top four after the Bulldogs defeated the Profs twice, 10-1 and 4-1, at the Division III College World Series.
Madison boys dominate local track scene
By Jeffrey R. Plum The Lenawee Voice
The Madison boys track and field team dominated throughout the spring, winning the Lenawee County Athletic Association, capturing a Division 3 regional title, and taking third at the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association team meet.
“The team met expectations throughout the season, and continued to improve till the end,” said coach Josh Powers, whose team went a perfect 7-0 in the LCAA.
The Trojans set new school records during the season, including Derrell Tillman in the long jump (21’11’’), De’Lante Garrison in the high jump (6’4’’), and the 4x200m relay of Wade Garza, Bryson Ballantyne, Tillman, and Garrison (1:30.01).
The 4x200m relay of Wade Garza, Bryson Ballantyne, Tillman, and Garrison (1:30.01) took first at the Division 3 state meet, while Tillman finished fourth in the long jump, Trenton Fetter seventh in the 1,600-meter run, and Isaiah Tiede eighth in the 110-meter hurdles.
Madison tied Whiteford for 12th place at the state meet with 18 points.
“The three individual school records were set by juniors, and three of the four on the school record and state championship 4x200-meter relay were juniors,” Powers said.
n An undefeated season in the Southeastern Conference White Division for Adrian and a second-place finish to SEC foe Chelsea at the Division 2 regional meet highlighted the season.
“The guys really stepped up to the challenge, competed at the highest level, and had amazing performances,” coach Tamara Francis said. “They improved as a team every week, and some men took on new events to help support their team in wins.”
Moises Salazar set a new school record in the 3,200-meter run at 9:06.
“The guys wanted to compete and had winning mindsets going into each meet,” Francis said. Their ability to perform and persevere was unmatched.”
Chelsea captured the regional title over Adrian by one event, Francis said.
“Adrian is one of the smaller schools in the conference, so they had their work cut out for them,” Francis said. “They put in the work, were committed, and were determined to make a statement. I couldn’t be more proud.”
n Blissfield, which finished third in the LCAA, sent eight student-athletes to the Division 3 state meet and finished eighth at the MITCA team meet.
“We had an amazing season with dedicated athletes, who put in the work
Clinton’s Wyatt Dehring, center, gets off to a good start in the Division 3 boys 100-meter finals at the state track and field meet. Dehring won the event with a personal best of 10.75 seconds. MARY WILSON/RUNMICHIGAN.COM
and continued to get better every meet. I am super proud of my boys this season,” said coach Ryan Bills.
Michael Weidmayer went to the MHSAA state meet in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs. Also competing for the Royals were Noah Sills in the 3,200-meter run, Nolan Wilson in the discus, Braedyn Tennant in the 110-meter hurdles, Skyler Kimple in the 300-meter hurdles, the 4x200-meter relay of Iain Gilmore, Kimple, Tennant, and Durant Smith, and the 4x400-meter
relay of Kimple, Brady Bills, Gilmore, and Tennant.
Gilmore, Ethan Samuels, Brayden Treloar, and Smith set a school record in the 4x100 relay, while Gilmore, Kimple, Tennant, and Smith also set a school record in the 4x200-meter relay. Weidmayer also set a school record in the 3,200-meter run.
“The bond that the Blissfield track athletes have is awesome to see,” Bills
Madison’s 4x200 relay team of Wade Garza, Bryson Ballantyne, Derrell Tillman, and De’Lante Garrison celebrate after winning their event at the MHSAA state meet in Kent City. PHOTO COURTESY OF MADISON SCHOOLS
Local teams excel on the baseball diamond
By Jeffrey R. Plum The Lenawee Voice
Despite finishing with a losing record overall and in the Lenawee County Athletic Association, Hudson’s baseball team reached the Division 4 regional final. As always, it is not how you start but how you finish.
“We won our district and regional semifinal and came up one play short in the regional final,” said coach Jeremy Beal, whose team suffered a 3-2 setback against Marcellus.
The Tigers reached the regionals with a dominating win over Addison for the Division 4 district championship.
“We grew individually and collectively on a daily basis,” said Beal, whose team finished 19-21 and fifth at 9-12 in the league. “Our seniors Devon Brigman, Gavin Yatzek, Liam Timm, and RJ Thompson did a nice job guiding a very young group throughout the season. We
played our best baseball at the end of the season, and our players did everything possible to prepare for our regional final against Marcellus.”
Brigman did whatever was asked of him, Beal said, and managed a clutch grand slam against Onsted. Yatzek and Timm were a force on the mound and at the plate, while Thompson was an intimidating presence in the lineup.
“We are very excited about our group going forward,” Beal said of the future of Hudson baseball. “We will still be very young next year, but we feel like we have a group that is very talented and will compete very well.”
n Addison won six games in its final 10 and advanced to the Division 4 district final, all positive signs for the Panthers’ future. Junior Logan Jewell earned first-team all-conference honors in the Cascades Conference for Addison.
See BASEBALL, page A14
Hudson softball reaches regional semis
By Jeffrey R. Plum The Lenawee Voice
HUDSON — Hudson secured a regional berth with a 10-0 win over Morenci in the Division 4 district championship, its second consecutive district title.
“We had a group full of energy this year,” Coach Erika Borck said. “They were a lot of fun to be around. They played well together as a team and worked hard to be their best.”
Dansville ended the Tigers’ season with a 9-5 win in the regional semifinals.
Senior Taylor Kopin batted .500 with 50 hits, 52 runs, and five home runs, while sophomore McKenna Mull recorded 100 strikeouts, and 200 strikeouts for her career.
“We are going to miss our three seniors,” Borck said of Kopin, Macayle Grayer, and Sam Anderson. “We have a strong group returning next year with great experience and love for the game.”
n Coach Jessica McNett watched Addison double its win total from 2025 and improve its efforts in several offensive categories throughout the 2026 season.
Junior Keira Wheaton recorded a careerhigh with 150 strikeouts, while freshman Caylee Campbell had 97 strikeouts for the Panthers. Nevaeh Edison concluded her high school career with 119 hits and 109 RBIs, while Campbell and Madison McNett earned all-conference honorable-mention
honors. The team fell to Hudson in the Division 4 district semifinals.
n Adrian won its first district tournament game in 20-plus years and added a Maple Invitational championship, the program’s first title in 22 years.
“Things are coming together for this young program, and we are learning how to win,” said coach Toby Ernst.
The Maples earned a commanding 22-0 win over Romulus in the Division 2 district semifinals but fell to Milan in the championship game.
Sophomore pitcher Avery Canales recorded 109 strikeouts and 201 for her career. Kavonna Galloway hit .481, while catcher Claire Judson threw out 17 would-be base stealers and picked off four others. Galloway received allconference SEC honors, while Canales, Judson, and Jazlynn Davis received honorable mention. Judson, Canales, Galloway, and Hailey Vetitoe earned all-district honors, while Galloway and Vetitoe collected all-region honors.
n Coach Chad Fetzer scheduled more Division 1, 2 and 3 opponents, hoping the competition would make Blissfield a better team, and it worked.
“The schedule we had helped us grow as a team,” said Fetzer, whose team went 19-13. Junior infielder Savannah Stalker set a school record with 46 stolen bases,
SOFTBALL, page A15
Members of the Onsted baseball team celebrate their June 1 district championship win against Hillsdale. ERIK TJOLSEN/TJOLSENPHOTO.COM
Adrian awards first-ever Unified Varsity Letters
ADRIAN — Adrian High School marked a milestone this spring with the awarding of the first-ever Adrian Maples Unified Varsity Letters.
The Unified Champion Schools program, a project of the Special Olympics, is intended to promote social inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities. Participation in sports is one of the key elements.
The Unified Champion Schools program runs year-round. Under the leadership of AHS Unified Champion Schools director Melanie Nightingale, athletic director Chad O’Brien, and a dedicated coaching staff, the program expanded to two full teams this year.
Athletes play a competitive basketball season from December through March and participate in the Civitan Special Olympics Spring Games. In addition, several participants in Unified Champion Schools have been involved in traditional high school sports teams or have performed in high school theater productions.
Also this year, Adrian High School partnered with the local Special Olympics chapter to host the first annual Southeast Regional Special Olympics Basketball
Girls track and field from page A9
“Every returning athlete on our team set a new personal best this year, so even the athletes that aren’t the stars continue to improve,” Dewald said. “Most of all, our athletes enjoy being a part of this team and the camaraderie and atmosphere of the program.”
n Madison placed fifth at the MITCA team meet, achieving an unprecedented mark of 15 consecutive top-five finishes.
“Our young athletes performed very well against great competition and should have many opportunities for success next year,” coach Josh Powers said.
The Trojans tied for 34th at the MHSAA Division 3 state meet. Iyana Borders placed fourth in the discus at the state meet for Madison.
“We are a very young team and continued to improve throughout the season,” Powers said.
n Junior Emma Williams led the way for Morenci this season, qualifying for the state finals in the 100-meter dash,
Boys track and field from page A10
said. “I feel like our boys and girls programs work super well together, always encouraging one another and just being ultimate teammates.”
n Captains Brenden Benschoter, Broden Manchester, Peter Baker, Brody Wenn, Austin Strand, and Cole Hillegonds led the charge for Clinton en route to a strong spring.
The Redwolves posted secondplace finishes at the invitational meets at Blissfield, Onsted, and Sand Creek Hinsdale during the season. Clinton also placed ninth at the Division 3 team meet hosted by the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association.
Freshman Wyatt Dehring won the 100-meter dash, while the 4x100-meter relay of Jimmy Schaffner, Cory Hoover, Peter Baker, and Dehring took seventh at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 state meet. Dehring (200) and Hillegonds (400), along with long jumpers Benschoter
Clinton names new varsity baseball coach
CLINTON — Clinton Community Schools recently announced the hiring of Jim Roberts as the next head coach of the Clinton High School varsity baseball program.
Jamboree. The event welcomed 16 teams from across four counties.
The season concluded with the recognition of 12 Unified Athletes who earned their varsity letters: Isaiah Ramos, Dillon Lauffer, Ian Clark, Kendra Tucker, Logan Warren, Abigail Shaw, Wyatt Gauss, Cruzito Torres, Makyah White, Alden VanEtten, Jason Yancer, and Conner Tabernero.
The program also honored the Unified
100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and serving as the lead leg of the 4x200-meter relay team. She also won a county title in the 100-meter hurdles with a personal record of 16.51 seconds. Brooklynn Slovacek was the leading long jumper for the Bulldogs all season.
n Izzy Cunningham represented Onsted at the Division 3 state meet. She competed in the discus for the Wildcats.
“We were a young, small team of 13,” coach Rhonda Hubbard said. “We did finish the season with some of our better times in our relays, and some significant growth by most of our athletes, who will be returning.”
The Wildcats posted a 2-5 record in the LCAA.
“We will hopefully increase our numbers and go to work next winter on making those ladies even stronger before the spring season,” Hubbard said.
n Sand Creek went 4-3 in the TCC and finished fourth in the league. The Aggies were 11th at Division 3 regional and 34th at the MHSAA state meet.
“In the final couple of meets, we saw several personal best performances, which reflected the work and consistency
and Dehring and high jumper Baker, also qualified for the state meet. Baker and Dehring received all-state academic honors.
Clinton also set several school records. Dehring (100, 10.75) and (200, 22.31) joined Hillegonds (400, 50.59) with new sprint marks, while Schaffner, Hoover, Benschoter, and Dehring (4x100 relay, 43.36) and Dehring (long jump, 22’5’’) also managed new records.
“We had positive moments in the season every week,” said coach Kurt Hillegonds.
n Hudson qualified three studentathletes to the MHSAA Division 4 state meet in four events and placed ninth at the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association team meet, its best showing in 20 years.
“I’m really proud of this team, from top to bottom,” said coach Zach Phillips. “The fact that we saw 23 athletes hit career bests at the end of the season is a testament to how hard they worked.”
Beckett Campbell qualified for the 100-meter dash, while Grayson Bills qualified in the 110-meter and 300-meter
Partners who competed alongside those athletes: Alexis Marks, Olivia McCary, Klair Baker, Thomas Darr, Ava Depew, Elizabeth Darr, Jaxan Crist, Juan Patishtan-Hernandez, and Kadan Crist. Toby Ernst, Emily Bisco, Katrina Unsicker, Darla Lewis, and Tammy Francis served as volunteer coaches this year.
The school is looking to add more sports to the program next year.
the athletes showed throughout the year,” coach Mike Zyla said.
Erin Alexander qualified for the state meet and placed fourth in the pole vault. She also broke the school record in the pole vault several times. Her personal best was 10’9’’.
Alexander also earned first-team TCC honors, while the 4x100-meter relay of Madlynn Trame, Anahi Ramirez, Brielle Nichelson, and Alexander earned secondteam honors. Alexander (100-meter), Elise Wilkinson (long jump), and the 4x400-meter relay of Victoria Williams, Haily Baker, Nichelson, and Trame earned TCC honorable mention.
“We discovered some unexpected strengths within the program this year,” Zyla said. “A few athletes transitioned from sprint events into middle-distance events and found success in those new roles, becoming valuable contributors to the team.”
n Holly Woods, Kazy Garland, Gwen Echter, Haidyn Schlorf, and Lillian Harden led Tecumseh throughout the season with their efforts in the 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter relays, respectively.
hurdles. Trey Bolenbaugh also qualified in the pole vault and placed fifth at the state meet, earning all-state honors.
“Our boys showed tremendous improvement throughout the entire season,” Phillips said. “Our goal is for every athlete to perform their best times and marks by mid to end of May for the championship season. This year, 23 athletes hit their personal best in that time frame.”
Seniors Bills, Bolenbaugh, Colton Natale, and Luis Zepeda completed their final campaigns, and in his final event, Natale set a career-best shot put at the county meet of 49’6’’.
n Junior Kylan Lester was one of the standout performers for Morenci this year. He qualified for the state finals in two events (the 100-meter and 200-meter). He also won the 100-meter dash at the TCC Championship meet.
n Sand Creek finished fourth in the TCC with a 4-2-1 record and placed 11th at the Division 3 regional meet. Brayden Ruff qualified for the Division 3 state meet in the shot put and discus for the Aggies.
A Clinton High School graduate and four-year letter winner, Roberts is returning to lead the program after previously serving in multiple coaching roles within the district. Roberts first joined the Clinton baseball coaching staff in 1994 as a volunteer varsity assistant before serving as JV head coach from 1998-2003. He was promoted to varsity head coach in 2004 and led the team through the 2010 season. During that time, Clinton captured three league championships and two district championships.
Roberts has also coached summer and travel teams, and is president of the Adrian Diamond Club.
In recent years, he has remained active with Clinton baseball, most recently serving as a volunteer JV assistant during the 2025 season and a volunteer varsity assistant in 2026.
“Their ability to deliver under pressure was evident as they maintained impressive results,” said coach Wes Harden.
The 4x100-meter relay of Harden, Garland, Woods, and Echter took third with a personal best of 49.70 and earned all-state honors, while Schlorf, Garland, Harden, and Woods had a personal best of 1:45.34 in the 4x200-meter relay and earned all-state recognition.
“In addition to the relay teams’ achievements, individual athletes shined in events such as the high jump and pole vault, contributing valuable points at key meets,” Harden said.
Tecumseh went 4-2 in the SEC White Division and finished fourth at the Division 2 regional meet.
“We relied heavily on a large group of underclassmen who gained valuable varsity experience and showed consistent improvement throughout the year,” Harden said. “Their development, combined with continued leadership from returning athletes, helped build a strong foundation for the future of the program.”
“Throughout the year, we faced several challenges, including working through multiple injuries, but the athletes remained committed and continued to improve,” coach Mike Zyla said.
Nick Trame received all-conference second team honors in the pole vault, while Noah Walters (shot put), the 4x400 relay of Trame, Brayden Winsted, Drake Hopkins, and Silas Daniels, and 4x800 relay of Winsted, Alec Parker, Hopkins, and Daniels earned honorable mention.
“Strong senior leadership played an important role in our development,” Zyla said. “Our seniors helped set expectations, maintained a positive culture, and kept the team focused despite setbacks.”
n Declan Cornish set a new Tecumseh record in the high jump at 6’7¼’’ and finished fourth at the Division 2 state meet, while sophomore Harrison Stamper also qualified for the state meet.
“Early emphasis on fundamentals and conditioning built a strong base, and as the season progressed, athletes became more confident and consistent,” said coach Wes Harden.
Pictured at the awarding of Adrian High School’s first Unified Varsity Letters are several of the Unified Athletes and partners: Abigail Shaw, Kendra Tucker, Alexis Marks (partner), Elizabeth Darr (partner), Wyatt Gauss, Cruzito Torres, Dillon Lauffer, Ian Clark, and Thomas Darr (partner). PHOTO COURTESY OF ADRIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
NOTICIAS LOCALES
Aceptamos envíos de noticias locales en inglés o en español. La fecha límite de cada artículo es el día 15 del mes anterior. Las noticias pueden ser enviadas por correo electrónico a news@lenaweevoice.com.
El sabor y el olor del agua de la ciudad provocan quejas
Traducido por Lizbeth Pérez-Cázares
ADRIAN — Las quejas sobre el sabor y el olor del agua potable en la Ciudad de Adrian fueron tema de debate en la reunión de la comisión municipal del 1 de junio.
Los comisionados de la ciudad escucharon los comentarios de parte de la ciudadanía sobre sus problemas con el agua potable de la ciudad. Muchos la describieron como si tuviera sabor a tierra.
Además, Will Sadler, director de servicios públicos y administrador municipal interino, habló sobre las razones del problema y los desafíos que implica solucionarlo.
¿Cuál es la causa?
Adrian se abastece de agua de dos fuentes. La principal fuente es un campo de pozos en Hamilton Highway, pero el agua subterránea de los cuatro pozos se mezcla con el agua superficial del lago Adrian, un lago artificial creado hace unos 85 años mediante la construcción de una presa en Wolf Creek. Según Sadler, el agua del lago Adrian es la causa de los problemas.
Nuevos negocios en Adrian
ADRIAN — Varios negocios nuevos han abierto sus puertas recientemente en Adrian.
n 5Seventeen Kicks es una zapatería propiedad de Tyler Guerrero y Nativity Fiedler. La tienda vende calzado deportivo de alta gama, tanto nuevo como usado. Los clientes pueden comprar zapatos nuevos o traer los usados para obtener dinero en efectivo o crédito en la tienda. La dirección es 109 S. Main St. El horario es de martes a viernes de 1:00 pm a 6:00 pm y los sábados del medio día a las 5:00 pm.
n Lana’s Kitchen, propiedad de Lana y Kevni Asani, sirve desayunos y almuerzos seis días a la semana. El horario es de martes a domingo de 8:00 am a 3:00 pm.
n Kindred Threads, una tienda de ropa de segunda mano, es propiedad de Therese Parker. Está ubicada en 810 W. Maumee St. El horario de atención es de viernes y domingo de 10:00 am a 3:00 pm y de martes a jueves de 10:00 am a 6:00 pm.
n El restaurante 223 Grill and Chill, ubicado en la esquina de U.S. 223 y Treat Highway, ofrece comida mediterránea y estadounidense. Su dirección es 2275 West U.S. 223 y su propietario es Hassan Khechen. El restaurante abre todos los días de 11:00 am a 11:00 pm.
— Traducido por Lizbeth Pérez-Cázares
REUNIONS
IN AUGUST
Adrian High School Class of 1966: The 60th reunion will take place on Saturday, Aug. 22, at Hills of Lenawee Golf Club, 4110 Country Club Road, Adrian. More info: Karen (Woerner) Collins, 517-263-4702.
Adrian High School Class of 1971: The 55th class reunion will be on the weekend of Aug. 7. A meet-and-greet at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, at Downtown Dempsey’s, 136 E. Maumee St., will be followed by a Pub Crawl and tour of the
Los problemas de sabor y olor provienen de dos compuestos orgánicos presentes en el lago: el 2-Metilisoborneol (o MIB) y la Geosmina. Ambos tienen un sabor y olor que a menudo se describe como mohoso o terroso.
Cada persona puede detectar estos compuestos en niveles diferentes, por lo que algunas personas dicen que el agua no es potable, mientras que otras no perciben nada en absoluto.
Sadler mencionó que el principal compuesto que afecta el sabor y el olor del agua de Adrian es el MIB. La concentración de MIB en el lago Adrian aumentó drásticamente en mayo.
Dijo que la mejor manera de mantener el problema bajo control es manteniendo los cuatro pozos en funcionamiento. Cuando el agua subterránea representa una mayor proporción del agua que sale de la llave de agua, la concentración total de MIB disminuye.
Esta primavera, uno de los cuatro pozos tuvo que ser desconectado para darle mantenimiento mientras se reemplazaban el motor y la bomba. Pero aunque una mayor dependencia del agua superficial agrava el problema, dijo,
algunas personas pueden detectar MIB y Geosmina en niveles tan bajos —10 partes por billón o menos— que aún pueden percibir su sabor y olor incluso cuando los cuatro pozos están en funcionamiento.
A principios de junio, el agua de la ciudad era aproximadamente un 70 % agua de pozo. Eso demuestra que tan potente es el compuesto MIB, dijo Sadler. En la reunión de la comisión del 15 de junio, informó que la mezcla contenía hasta un 85% de agua de pozo.
¿Qué se puede hacer?
Tanto el MIB como la geosmina son difíciles de eliminar con los métodos de tratamiento convencionales. El agua se trata con carbón activado, pero este método no logra eliminar más que una fracción de la cantidad total.
El problema no se puede solucionar dependiendo exclusivamente del agua subterránea dijo Sadler porque los acuíferos de la zona de Adrian simplemente no son capaces de suministrarla en cantidad suficiente.
Perforar otro pozo ayudaría un poco, ya que serviría de respaldo cuando uno de los pozos esté fuera de servicio. Sin embargo,
la ciudad no podría operar más de cuatro pozos simultáneamente, explicó Sadler. La ciudad está tramitando la autorización del estado para hacer un agujero para un quinto pozo.
Para abordar el problema de las aguas superficiales, la ciudad utiliza actualmente generadores de ondas ultrasónicas para ayudar a controlar las algas que liberan el MIB y la Geosmina. Estos dispositivos sustituyeron a los sistemas de circulación alimentados por energía solar que antes se podían ver en medio del lago Adrian cada verano.
Señaló que opciones como un sistema de ósmosis inversa son costosas y conllevarían otros problemas.
Mencionó que a nivel doméstico, algunas opciones incluyen usar un filtro Brita para el agua potable o utilizar jugo de limón o lima para disimular el sabor.
Según Sadler, dado que algunas personas pueden detectar el MIB en concentraciones extremadamente bajas, será muy difícil reducir el nivel hasta un punto en el que nadie pueda detectarlo mientras la ciudad dependa parcialmente del agua superficial.
Estudiantes premiados por sus habilidades bilingües
ADRIAN — En la reunión del 8 de junio de la junta escolar de Adrian, los estudiantes de último año Jesús Garcés y Guadalupe Jimenez fueron reconocidos por sus habilidades lingüísticas, ya que se graduaron de la escuela secundaria con fluidez tanto en inglés como en español.
Garcés obtuvo el Michigan Seal of Biliteracy y el Global Seal of Biliteracy. Jiménez obtuvo el Global Seal of Biliteracy.
El Michigan Seal of Biliteracy se otorga a los estudiantes de último año que demuestran dominio del inglés y de al menos otro idioma. El Global Seal of Biliteracy es una acreditación reconocida internacionalmente que certifica las habilidades lingüísticas y puede compartirse con universidades y empleadores.
El superintendente Nate Parker dijo que los reconocimientos otorgados a Garcés y Jiménez son una buena muestra del programa “Diploma Plus” del distrito escolar, cuyo objetivo es garantizar que los estudiantes se gradúen de la escuela preparatoria de Adrian con más credenciales que un diploma tradicional. — Traducido por Lizbeth Pérez-Cázares
Centro médico planea una feria de recursos con modalidad de autoservicio
ADRIAN — Family Medical Center of Michigan, que opera cuatro clínicas en los Condados de Lenawee y Monroe, conmemorará la Semana Nacional de los Centros de Salud con una serie de ferias de recursos con servicio desde el automóvil durante la primera semana de agosto.
El evento en Adrian tendrá lugar el martes 4 de agosto de 10:00 am a 12:45 pm, en 1200 N. Main St.
Habrá proveedores presentes para compartir información sobre sus programas y servicios, así como para
Croswell Opera House. The reunion is at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at ZZ’s Sports Bar & Grill, 520 College Ave., Adrian. RSVP by July 23 to Judy (Salazar) Prior, PO Box 910, Saline, MI 48176.
Adrian High School Class of 1968: The class of ’68 is having its 58th reunion on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 3-8 p.m., at the Riga Township Fire Station, 7817 Riga Hwy., Riga. RSVP to Barb Beebe Kirkendall (barblkirk@hotmail.com) or Susan Rink Arbaugh (Susanra662@ gmail.com).
Adrian High School Class of 1986: The 40th reunion will take place
proporcionar recursos y materiales educativos.
Los primeros 150 coches que lleguen a cada evento recibirán un paquete de comida gratuito.
Al mismo tiempo que la feria de recursos con servicio desde el auto, se ofrecerá un chequeo médico para hombres dentro del centro de salud. Para programar una cita, llame al 517-263-1800.
Cualquier persona que tenga preguntas o esté interesada en participar como proveedor puede comunicarse con Jennifer Ferrari al 734-654-2169, ext. 1484,
on Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Adrian Eagles, 2570 W. Beecher Rd., Adrian. More information: Jackie Peterson, kooterjakeb4@yahoo.com.
Clayton: A Clayton reunion will take place at Clayton Town Hall at noon on Saturday, Aug. 1 for lunch. RSVP to 517797-9649 or dianekmills@yahoo.com.
Madison High School Class of 1976: The Class of ’76 will hold its 50th reunion on Saturday, Aug. 15. For details, contact Julie June Selders at 517-442-7743.
Morenci 20th Century All-School Reunion: A reunion for Morenci classes from the the 1930s to 1990s will be held
o puede enviar un correo electrónico a jferrari@familymedical.org.
Family Medical Center of Michigan es un centro de salud comunitario independiente y sin fines de lucro. Los servicios que ofrece la clínica de Adrian incluyen atención médica básica, odontología, optometría, salud mental y farmacia.
Para obtener más información, llame al 517-263-1800 o visite familymedicalmi.org.
— Traducido por Lizbeth Pérez-Cázares
on Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Morenci Eagles. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; pictures will be taken starting at 7 p.m. Tacos, nachos, or taco salad will be available for $10; please RSVP for the meal. More info: 517-401-0346 or morencialumni@gmail. com.
Onsted all-school reunion: Onsted’s all-school reunion is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 1, from 1-4 p.m. at Onsted High School. The 50th-year class of 1976 will be honored. Special recognition will also be given to yearbook and journalism alumni and staff. More info: onstedalumni@gmail.com.
De izquierda a derecha: la maestra Andrea Morin-Perez, Jesús Garcés, Guadalupe Jimenez y la maestra Teresa Jackson.
“The balcony was completely rebuilt from scratch, by hand,” Maggard said.
The decorative elements were crafted from sheet copper, to make them longer-lasting than the original tin, and painted so they wouldn’t develop a patina over time.
Maggard and his mother, Lisa, personally took on the task of stripping the paint from the woodwork. “We spent about 200 hours doing that one summer,” he said.
The original brick was completely covered with white paint, and that was chemically stripped, since the brickwork would not have been painted when the hall was first built.
“Most of Adrian’s downtown built before 1910 was that size brick,” Maggard said. Although he doesn’t know for sure, he guesses that they were probably made at the Adrian Brick & Tile Works on Water Street.
A lot of the work was aimed at removing things that had been added over the years, such as paint and asphalt shingles, that covered up the building’s original beauty.
Clark Memorial Hall was originally built with money from the estate of Elihu L. Clark, a former state legislator and president of the Lenawee County Savings Bank. Upon his death in 1880, he willed $10,000 to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 8, on the condition that at least half of the money be used to construct a new meeting hall.
The building has three stories, although the third only covers part of the footprint due to the Odd Fellows meeting hall on the second floor having an 18-foot ceiling.
Maggard Razors and its six employees are on the first floor, where the company operates a retail store even though the vast majority of its business is online, with 30,000 orders a year being shipped to customers in 80 countries. Upstairs is an apartment where the Maggards live themselves, plus another that they’ve converted into an Airbnb.
A history of the building, along with photos of the renovation, can be found at clarkmemorialhall.com. The project was recently honored with the 2026 Building Award at the Michigan Historic Preservation Network’s annual conference in Grosse Pointe Shores.
from page A11
n Kyle Johnson’s Adrian lineup sometimes featured three juniors, four sophomores, and a freshman, but the Maples grew during the season and emerged as a better team. The Maples finished 15-17-1, but 10-8 and fourth in the Southeastern Conference White Division.
They captured their own Adrian Invitational, defeating Madison and Monroe. Freshman Jacob Fraser blasted a walk-off grand slam in the 4-3 win over Monroe.
In addition, about 1,000 bricks on the south and east sides of the building had to be replaced. Those bricks had to be custom-made because they were slightly smaller than standard bricks today.
The hall was built in 1888, its Second Empire-style architecture a nod to Clark’s own home. The Adrian Daily Times & Expositor described it as having “the handsomest front in town.”
At the end of the 19th century, Clark Memorial Hall was lauded as one of Adrian’s most handsome buildings.
Now, thanks to a whole lot of work, it can claim that title again. Restoration from page A1
Junior Carter Howard managed a team-best .361 batting average, while Luke Bruggeman hit .303 with a teamhigh three triples. Adam Parker batted .326 with 24 runs scored. Freshman Ethan Parker posted a 4-0 record with a 2.079 earned run average.
See BASEBALL, page A15
Baseball
from page A14
n Seniors provided Britton Deerfield coach Andrew Clark with leadership throughout the season. Liem Roe hit .432 for BD, while Caden Kubacki contributed memorable home runs against Morenci and Summerfield. Adam Scheurer was second on the team in RBIs and onbase percentage, as Alex Anspach and Julyan Day also contributed throughout the year. BD fell to Summerfield in the Division 4 district final.
n Lenawee Christian matched its win total from the past two years and managed its highest finish in the TCC in recent memory. LCS fell 6-2 to Summerfield in the Division 4 district semifinals.
n Coach Chris Dubbs had two returning starters endure nagging arm issues throughout the season, but undaunted, Madison persevered, and teammates picked up the slack.
“This year, our resilience was tested,” said Dubbs. “Kason Snyder really stepped up and gave us a really good season on the mound to help fill the hole from the injuries.”
Softball
from page A11
smashing the former mark of 29 steals. The team fell to Clinton in the Division 3 district tournament, 7-1.
n Britton Deerfield showed growth throughout the season, but coach Stacy Johnson is losing seven seniors to graduation: Kurina Dotson, Allie Grosshans, Payten McDowell, Alexis Purdy, Adriana Rafalko, Elayna Thornton, and Leah Thornton.
Elayna Thornton led BD with a teamhigh 24 hits and 30 stolen bases and hit .427, while Purdy added 16 hits and hit .421. Dotson belted a team-high eight doubles and hit .319, and Leah Thornton added 15 stolen bases.
n Despite a 9-2 loss to Clinton in the Division 3 district finals, Madison had its share of exciting moments throughout the spring. Nylee Blair delivered a walk-off single against Blissfield in a 6-5 nine-inning game, while Camylie Sower tossed a no-hitter against Hillsdale and recorded 117 strikeouts this spring. Sower has 395 strikeouts for her career.
n Morenci finished 24-12 and took third in the TCC with a 6-4 record. The Bulldogs dropped a 10-0 decision to Hudson in the Division 4 district final.
n A close 2-1 win over Ida in LCAA action during the season was a bright spot for Onsted. “We had a group of five seniors this year that all played for four years, and they truly helped us have
Cam Barber earned Division 3 allstate honors for Madison.
n Onsted reached the Division 3 regional semifinals but dropped a 7-1 decision to Detroit Edison. Juniors Lucas Arnold, Jack Tessier, and Sean Symington, plus freshmen Cade Symington and Mason Jacobs-Lowe, earned all-league LCAA and all-district honors.
n A doubleheader win over Concord, and a sweep of TCC rival Britton Deerfield, featuring an Andon Sutherland grand slam, highlighted the Sand Creek season under coach Wayne Perry.
The Aggies finished the season with an 8-17 record.
n Tecumseh capped a 23-12 season with a tough 2-1 eight-inning loss to Dearborn Divine Child in the Division 2 regional final, but it did not take away from a strong season.
Connor Bullinger stole 33 bases, the second most all-time in a season, and set the career stolen base mark with 90. Pitchers Rocco Williams and Dirk Ysassin posted 1.007 and 1.008 earned run averages, respectively, the fourth and fifth best ERAs in team history.
the best season possible through their leadership and work ethic,” said coach Randy Hutchison.
Hannah Hill received the Wildcats’ MVP award while leading the team in most statistical categories, and Megan Hunt had a solid year in the circle.
n Sand Creek battled throughout the season, and despite a 5-18 overall record and 3-6 TCC record, the Aggies remained a team. Coach Derek Hewitt credited seniors Lily Hawkins and Emma Pifer and junior Sydney Marks, whose leadership kept the team together.
n Tecumseh fell to Milan in the Division 2 district semifinals, 2-1, but that loss should not be the measuring stick for the Indians, who had much to cheer about.
“We clinched the SEC White championship on our home field in an unforgettable win over Chelsea,” said coach Katie Tobias, whose team went 24-10 and won the white division with a 9-1 record. “Senior Night was something special. Celebrating five incredible seniors, Emma Eldred walked it off with a home run to secure a 10-0 mercy win over Madison in six innings.”
London Landini showed the resilience that marked Tecumseh’s season at the Coldwater Tournament against Paw Paw. After an initial strikeout, an illegal pitch call gave her another chance, and she made it count and hit her first career home run.
“By the end of the season, every player embraced their role and put the team first,” Tobias said.
OUR TOWNS
THE LENAWEE VOICE SECOND SECTION JULY 2026
New restaurant, Lana’s Kitchen, now open for breakfast and lunch in downtown Adrian
By Erik Gable The Lenawee Voice
ADRIAN — A place to sit with friends, have a conversation, and enjoy a good meal. That’s what Lana Asani wants people to find when they step inside Lana’s Kitchen, a new restaurant in downtown Adrian.
Asani and her husband, Kevni, opened the restaurant at the end of May. They serve breakfast, lunch and brunch six days a week at 125 E. Maumee St., the former home of the Governor Croswell Tea Room.
Lana’s Kitchen represents a longtime dream for the couple, who live in Clinton.
Asani said her husband’s family used to own a pancake house on Zeeb Road in Ann Arbor. After that restaurant closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, “it was our dream to have our own place.”
They found the East Maumee Street location while looking at properties online and were immediately drawn to the historic building.
“It was so beautiful, and we just decided to go ahead and see it,” Asani said. “We came in here and we loved everything about it.”
The location is another plus, she added, because they enjoy spending time in downtowns.
The Asanis are both Albanian by heritage, but he was born and raised in Michigan and she in Kosovo. They met while spending summers in Macedonia with their families. She moved to the United States 12 years ago, and they’ve lived in Clinton for the past eight years.
Asani noted that both her and her husband’s families have a history in the restaurant business. Her sister, who is a pastry chef, runs a shop in Kosovo where their mother and two other sisters also work.
“When I go back there, I help them, I try to learn new things from them,” she said.
Lana’s Kitchen is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, a schedule that allows them to balance the work of owning a restaurant with spending time with their 8-year-old son.
“The community’s been very supportive,” Asani said. “Everybody’s been coming in and checking us out. We’ve had very good feedback and very good reviews. Everybody’s enjoying the food.”
The most popular breakfast items include waffles, biscuits and gravy, and corned beef hash. The menu also includes eggs, omelettes, and breakfast burritos, as well as sandwiches, salads,
By Renee Lapham Collins The Lenawee Voice
HUDSON — The Hudson city cemetery, off North Maple Grove Avenue, is tucked between the high school and Cadmus Road. Mature maples and oaks shade the grassy expanse, where grave markers of all shapes and sizes rise from the lawn.
It is in this quiet place that Bill Camp spends much of his retirement.
Camp, who worked 35 years in construction for Morton Buildings, is known locally as the “Monument Man” for his efforts to clean and restore grave markers in cemeteries across Lenawee County and beyond.
He only started cleaning stones last spring, but he had been thinking about it for years.
“My dad and my uncle Larry had a monument business in Hudson,” Camp
and a soup of the day. A recent addition is eggs benedict, available Tuesday through Friday.
The kitchen has no grill or deep fryer; everything is pan-cooked or baked.
In addition to serving good food, Asani intends to make the restaurant a comfortable, relaxed place where friends can get together and enjoy a good conversation.
“I want them to feel like they can sit here with their friends, chat, have fun, enjoy the food,” she said.
Lana’s Kitchen 125 E. Maumee St., Adrian Phone: 517-438-8026
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
said. “Camp Monuments. Then they sold it to Brian Marry, and my brother Terry works in the business.”
Camp spent years working alongside his father and uncle, delivering and setting grave markers. As he moved through cemeteries, he often noticed the condition of older stones — darkened by moss, mildew and lichen, or weathered by decades of rain, snow and sun.
“My dad said I should do something about it,” Camp said. “So when I retired, I decided it was a good time to get started.”
On a late afternoon walk through the Hudson City Cemetery, Camp stopped in front of a Victorian granite obelisk with the name “DIBBLE” standing out in raised letters across a panel. The monument marks the center of a family plot and is surrounded by at least nine gravestones, most dating to the 1880s.
Lana and Kevni Asani are pictured inside Lana’s Kitchen, which they opened at the end of May. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE
The Classic Two-Egg Breakfast at Lana’s Kitchen in Adrian. LANA’S KITCHEN VIA FACEBOOK
Bill Camp works on cleaning a headstone at Maple Grove Cemetery in Hudson. He was inspired to start his business, The Monument Man, by seeing headstones that
weathered
Onsted plans events to mark nation’s 250th
ONSTED — The Onsted America250 volunteer committee is hosting an Independence Day weekend full of free patriotic, historical, community-building in the greater Onsted area.
On Friday, July 3, events kick off with the first of three historical Main Street Strolls focused on stories of courage, collaboration, and charity which shaped the village.
The 10:30 a.m. tour, led by historian Michelle McLemore, will last approximately 20 minutes and must be registered for in advance. Details and all days/times may be viewed and registration completed using the link https://bit.ly/4uFL2Ru or contacting McLemore at 517-270-0986. Along the walk, visitors may enjoy the patriotic decorated business storefronts as part of the Onsted Chamber of Commerce contest. The winning business will be awarded on July 2.
Friday evening, food vendors and the America250 car show will run from 5-8 p.m. at the Durkee-Seager American Legion Post 550. Direct questions to Eric Crittenden at 517-605-8199. At the same location, from 7-11 p.m., Jaded Soul Band will perform. Both events are free to the public and attendees are encouraged to bring their own chair to watch the band.
On Saturday, multiple events in the area are offered to meet public interest.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lisa Cyrus, Michelle McLemore, and Ron Ryan will present at the Wooden Old Stone Schoolhouse at the intersection of North Hawkins and Stephenson Road, to discuss how the early Onsted and Wooden school families helped develop Onsted. Youth can also participate in a potato print make-and-take colonial activity.
At noon on Saturday, the village parade will proceed from the high school to the American Legion. The antique tractor club, walkers, antique cars, horse riders, fire trucks, and other participants will be involved. Contact American Legion Commander Dave Rudd with questions.
After the parade, float and bike decorating cash prizes will be handed out at the Legion and a free luncheon will be provided to the public. Additionally, Sara Sollars from Friends of Walker Tavern will speak on early indigenous culture of Lenawee and Jackson counties at approximately 1:15 p.m. at the luncheon site.
From 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Jackie Hubbard will host free visits to the Hubbard Auto Museum at 7630 Onsted Highway. Then, at both 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. will be the additional village history Main Street tours. Rounding out the weekend, on Sunday, July 5, Walker Tavern state historical park will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Applications now open for Knight Fund grants
ADRIAN — The Lenawee Community Foundation is accepting applications through Aug. 1 for the 2026 V.C. and Velma Knight Memorial Fund grants. Grants are awarded to programs that address basic needs, health, and human services in Lenawee County. For more information, go to lenaweecf.com or contact Madison Roberts at 517-263-4696 or madison@lenaweecf.com.
LCEF presents scholarships to more than 300 students
ADRIAN — The Lenawee County Educational Foundation awarded 466 scholarships totaling more than $503,000 to 304 students across Lenawee County during its annual scholarship awards program. The scholarships will help students pursue college, trade school, and career training opportunities as they take the next step in their educational journeys.
“This event is one of the highlights of what the foundation does,” said John Wanke, executive director of the Lenawee County Educational Foundation.
“It is a day of celebration and recognition of the hard work of these graduates, helping them move to the next phase of their adult lives with financial help for their future careers.”
Recipients represented schools from across Lenawee County, including students from the LISD Tech Center and JC/LISD Academy.
Scholarships were made possible through the generosity of local families, businesses, organizations, foundations, and community partners who continue to invest in the future of local students.
Many of the scholarships honor the legacies of community members through memorial funds, while others support students pursuing specific academic, career, leadership, and service-related goals.
Following is a list of scholarships and the students who earned them.
Community Service Scholarships: Lilah Davis (Addison), Jesus Garces (Adrian), Adriana Rafalko (Britton Deerfield), Brailey Gibson (Clinton), Ellie Loar (Hudson), Jaxon Salenbien (Lenawee Christian and Tech Center), Isabella Lamley (Madison), Katelyn Ruse (Morenci), Carliey Clack (Onsted), Payton Steinke (Sand Creek and Tech Center), Tucker Cole (Tecumseh).
Frank & Shirley Dick Memorial Scholarship Renewal: Raven Aldridge (Clinton), Wyatt Cole (Madison), Alauna Coleman (Madison).
Frank & Shirley Dick Memorial Scholarship: Hailey Sills (Blissfield and Tech Center).
Looking for a career with purpose?
Join our team at the LISD!
Whether in a classroom, on a school bus, or in an office, our goal is the same: supporting and serving learners.
Careers at the LISD span a range of programs and services, including special education, career and technical education, general education, early childhood, adult learning, transportation, technology, and administrative and support services.
Adrian Community Preschool Scholarship in Memory of Arden Muck: Sophia Curtis (Madison and Tech Center).
Adrian Community Preschool Scholarship in Memory of Shirley
Cera LaRatta (Madison). Andrew David Feldkamp Scholarship: Claire Cousineau (Tecumseh and Tech Center).
Dick:
Community Service Scholarship recipients are pictured with Pam and Jim Van Doren, representing the Sage Foundation. Standing, from left to right, are Tucker Cole (Tecumseh), Carliey Clack (Onsted), Isabella Lamley (Madison), Jesus Garces (Adrian), and Jaxon Salenbien (Lenawee Christian). Seated are Lilah Davis (Addison), Katelyn Ruse (Morenci), Hailey Sills (Blissfield), Adriana Rafalko (Britton Deerfield), and Brailey Gibson (Clinton). Not available for the photo: Ellie Loar (Hudson).
Adrian Women’s Club in memory of Thelma Swigert: Maya Awad (Adrian and Tech Center), Emma Grulke (Onsted).
Alvin & Clara Schwab Scholarship: Samantha Stiger (Onsted).
Becky and Stephanie Lay Scholarships: Lily Chamberlain (Onsted and Tech Center), Daniel Scrupsky (Lenawee Christian).
Bradford & Bronson Mansfield Business Scholarships: Paige Abbott (Blissfield), Emily Stevenson (Tecumseh).
Dr. Konda Mouli Educational Scholarship: Anna Bris-Bois (Blissfield), Emily Willett (Lenawee Christian), Maddalynn Zellen (Onsted).
Dr. William J. Ross Memorial Scholarship: Sienna Rodriguez (JC/LISD Academy and Tech Center).
Edith Walker Hong Memorial “Heart of Gold” Scholarship: Owen Whiteley (Adrian).
Edith Walker Hong Memorial Scholarships: Joseline Wilson (Sand Creek), Jordan Hassenzahl (Sand Creek).
Brenda Bobon Memorial Special Education Scholarship: Jordan Hassenzahl (Sand Creek).
Brenda Bobon Memorial Graduate Scholarship: Angela Hoffman (Teacher at Morenci Elementary).
Brenda Bobon Memorial Scholarship: Makayla Whitehead (Clinton and Tech Center).
Brenda Bobon Memorial Scholarship Renewal: Elisabeth Rowan (Hudson).
The Coberley Legacy Scholarship: Elisabeth Rowan (Hudson).
Brody J. Fry Memorial Scholarship: Alexis Edwards (Onsted and Tech Center).
Pauline & Sebastian Pizaña Memorial Scholarships: Moises Salazar, Jr. (Adrian), Sienna Rodriguez (JC/LISD Academy and Tech Center).
Edward & Roberta Osburn Memorial Scholarship Fund: Evelyn Joughin (Morenci and Tech Center), Kayla Meszaros (Sand Creek and Tech Center).
Bryan H. Mincks Memorial Scholarship: Lucas Gray (Tecumseh).
Carlos & Norma Long Agriculture Scholarship: Wyatt Sanford (Lenawee Christian and Tech Center).
Dick & Jan Parson First Generation Scholarship: Anjel Solis (Adrian).
Don & Lucy Mackey Memorial Health Scholarship: Lauren Howard (Adrian).
Eric K. Brandeberry Memorial Scholarships: Teagan Cunningham (Onsted and Tech Center), Ethan Flumignan (JC/LISD Academy and Tech Center), Gabbi Pearce (Clinton), Jack Perry (Madison), Abigail Carter (Clinton and Tech Center).
Kassie Wingerd Scholarship: Abigail Carter (Clinton and Tech Center).
Lenawee County Association of School Boards Special Education Scholarship: Isabella Weakland (Tecumseh and Tech Center).
Larry C. Camp Memorial Scholarship: Abigail Carter (Clinton and Tech Center).
Lauryn Griewahn Memorial Scholarships: Abigail Carter (Clinton and Tech Center), Lily Hawkins (Sand Creek).
Erin Christine Groeb Memorial Scholarships: Ava Kurowski (Onsted and Tech Center), Sophie Kurowski (Onsted and Tech Center).
Groeb Family Scholarship: Raegan Brosamer (Onsted).
Gordy Wuethrich Memorial Scholarship: Lacey Gerten (Clinton and Tech Center).
Harry, Bernice & Marda Gene Duncan Scholarship: Emily Stevenson (Tecumseh).
Harvey & Doris Carpenter Scholarship: Marielena Lucrecio (Tecumseh and Tech Center).
Harvey & Doris Carpenter Scholarship Renewal: Maria Achanbach (Hudson), Emily Stevenson (Tecumseh).
Isiah Stephens Memorial Scholarship for Addison High School Students and Past Graduates: Ava Mitchell (Addison and Tech Center).
Isiah Stephens Memorial Scholarship for Lenawee County Graduating High School Seniors and Past Graduates: Emily Burgess (Tecumseh and Tech Center).
Keith Eisenmann Memorial Agricultural Scholarship: Karlie Kimerer (Onsted and Tech Center).
Kelly Carter & Thomas Leffler Memorial Scholarships: Owen Plum (Britton Deerfield), Ashleigh Smith (Onsted and Tech Center).
James and Gladys Robideau Memorial Scholarships: Claire Smith (JC/ LISD Academy and Tech Center), Bryson Sutherland (Onsted and Tech Center).
Kathy Goetz Tribute Scholarship: De’Mya Gibbons (Blissfield).
Lawn Family Scholarships: Caden Duncan (Tecumseh and Tech Center), Nathan Leonard (Adrian).
Lloyd Ruesink Memorial Scholarships: June Miller (Blissfield), Keira Naegele (Lenawee Christian).
Long Family Foundation Scholarship in Memory of Jacquelyn Long Carson: Brooke Meckley (Sand Creek and Tech Center).
N. Lawrence Francoeur First Generation College Renewal Scholarship: Xander Yeager (Blissfield).
Patricia & Joseph Koszka Memorial Scholarship: Lillian Watson (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center).
Pamela S. Dafoe Legacy in Education Scholarship: Aubrey Appleman (Britton Deerfield).
Stanley Caine Memorial Scholarships for Adrian College Students: Aubrey Appleman (Britton Deerfield), Beau Shaffer (Morenci and Tech Center).
Partners in Hope Scholarship: Cadence Towler (Adrian and Tech Center).
Patricia Ann Driskill Memorial Scholarship: Olivia Speelman (Addison).
The Harry B. Steele and Joe Ann Steele Memorial Scholarship: Olivia Speelman (Addison).
Remembering Bella Scholarships: Samantha Anderson (Hudson and Tech Center), Grayson Bills (Hudson), Madeline Forche (Blissfield).
Robert & Ardyth Hinsdale AgriBusiness Scholarship: Paige Luck (Sand Creek and Tech Center).
Roy E. Freeman Memorial Scholarship: Zoey Breznik (Lenawee Christian).
Sister Eileen Rice Teacher Education Scholarship: Ambrose Horwath (Hudson).
The Fallen Heroes Scholarships: Alexis Edwards (Onsted and Tech Center), Miranda Ramsey (Onsted and Tech Center).
The Milton C. & Margaret L. Porter Special Education Scholarship: Emma Reatherford (Lenawee Christian).
The Vincent E. Lysaght, Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Emma Pino (Adrian).
Steve Gonzalez Class of 1979 Memorial Scholarship: Caden Moyer (Adrian).
Walter J. and Leota “Tom” R. McNeil
Memorial Scholarships: Makayla Gillentine (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center), Andrew Bunker (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center), Carson Johnson (Britton Deerfield), Brock Mueller (Britton Deerfield), Sophie Witt (Britton Deerfield), Jacob Bauman (Blissfield), Jaylene Goen (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center).
William “Cal” Poppink Memorial Scholarships: Conner Brodie (Clinton), Lillian Watson (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center), Chloe Bullinger (Tecumseh), Denae Covey (Sand Creek), Ben Schefka (Adrian).
WMU Scholarship in memory of Adam Nicola-Iott: Brady Pummell (Morenci).
I92 Ministries Scholarship: Trenton Fetter (Madison and Tech Center).
Adrian Breakfast Lions Club Scholarships: Delilah Buckmaster (Clinton), Jordan Hassenzahl (Sand Creek).
Adrian College Scholarships: Daniel Apger (Morenci and JC/LISD Academy), Maya Awad (Adrian and Tech Center), Grayson Bills (Hudson), Zia Blackmon (Blissfield and Tech Center), Tanner Bolton (Clinton and Tech Center), Cassidy Cole (Madison and Tech Center), Caden Duncan (Tecumseh and Tech Center), Izabella Dusseau (Adrian and Tech Center), Nevaeh Edison (Addison), Cameron Face (Madison and Tech Center), Madelyn Foster (Madison), Ethan Gafford (Madison), Taylor Griffith (Tecumseh and Tech Center), Elizabeth Jeffreys (Onsted), Clifford Jones, IV (Clinton), Lily Keel (Blissfield and Tech Center), Kayden Keller (Sand Creek and Tech Center), Catherine Mazey (Clinton and Tech Center), Blake Moran (Morenci and Tech Center), Emma Pifer (Sand Creek), Bryce Randolph (Clinton).
Adrian Garden Club Scholarship: Colton Natale (Hudson and Tech Center).
Bob Behnke, Adrian City Commissioner Scholarship: Noah Judson (Adrian and Tech Center).
Adrian Morning Rotary Scholarship for Adrian High School: Nise Nombo (Adrian).
Adrian Morning Rotary Scholarship for Adrian High School Renewal: Kaden Banta-Martin (Adrian).
Adrian Morning Rotary Scholarship Madison High School: Abby Rickard (Madison).
Adrian Morning Rotary Scholarship for Madison High School Renewal: Bryce Jordan (Madison).
Adrian Morning Rotary Club Scholarship: Ellie Loar (Hudson).
Adrian Noon Rotary Club Virginia M. Murray Scholarship for Nursing: Lillian Darm (Blissfield and Tech Center).
Adrian Noon Rotary Club 4-Way Test Essay Scholarship: Amelia Bowman (Adrian).
Adrian Noon Rotary Club Frank & Shirley Dick Memorial Scholarship: Emma Pino (Adrian).
American Legion Post #97 Scholarship: Emma Pino (Adrian).
Athena Lenawee Scholarship: Lillian Darm (Blissfield and Tech Center).
Don & Becky Fry Scholarships: Leigh Wyman (Blissfield and Tech Center), Olivia Gillespie (Tecumseh).
Thomas H. and Jeanette C. Meyer Educator Scholarship: Olivia Gillespie (Tecumseh).
Edward R. Schadewald Scholarship: Brodie Stipe (Clinton).
Jillian Rine Skilled Trades Scholarship: Brodie Stipe (Clinton).
Center), Layana Culver (Clinton), Finnley Faulkner (Clinton and Tech Center), Cole Gilbert (JC/LISD Academy and Tech Center), Rylynn Gill (Clinton), Kirsten Hess (Adrian), Megan Nadeau (JC/LISD Academy and Tech Center), Emma Neff (Clinton), Emma Pino (Adrian), Miranda Ramsey (Onsted and Tech Center), Ella Salenbien (Adrian and Tech Center), Wyatt Sanford (Lenawee Christian and Tech Center), Jaren Settles (Clinton), Aubreigh Smith (Onsted and Tech Center), Kira Wilson (Clinton), Caroline Hofflander (Adrian), Katja Nelson (Adrian).
Charles & Glenna Tipton First Generation Scholarships: Landon Abbott (Blissfield), Renee Awad (Adrian), Cheyenne Bruner (Tecumseh and Tech Center), Mason Diaz (Clinton and Tech Center), Lexi Jarrell (Clinton and Tech Center), Bianca Miller (Onsted and Tech Center), Malaki Mosher (Madison), Soren Stockmyer (JC/LISD Academy and Tech Center), Hailey Vetitoe (Adrian), Makayla Whitehead (Clinton and Tech Center), Raven Aldridge (Clinton), Payton Hallett (Morenci), Zoey Miller (Clinton and Tech Center), Ava Roesler (Clinton), Sean David Samuels (Blissfield), Sam Solis (Onsted).
Fairfield Chapter #224 Order of Eastern Star Thelma Swigert Memorial Scholarships: Madelynn Ketola (Adrian), Emily Willett (Lenawee Christian).
Britton American Legion Post 155 Scholarship: Alexyss Wielfaert (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center).
Brian Bovee Scholarship: Alexyss Wielfaert (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center).
3 Dimensional Physical Therapy (3DPT) Scholarship: Taylor Griffith (Tecumseh and Tech Center), Samantha Shane (Lenawee Christian).
Al & Julie Brittain Michigan State University Scholarships: Brooks Horwath (Madison), Lucas Goodman (Clinton).
Culver’s of Adrian Scholarship: Kamryn Billings (Tecumseh and Tech Center).
Free2Play Scholarship: Aubreigh Smith (Onsted and Tech Center).
Gray Institute Scholarship: Jaleigh Niese (Adrian).
Inteva Products LLC Scholarship: June Miller (Blissfield).
Glenn Martek Memorial Scholarship: Kailer Saxton (Tecumseh).
Anderson Development Company Adrian High School Scholarship: Emma Pino (Adrian).
Anderson Development Company Family Scholarship: Alexander Czeiszperger (Hudson and Tech Center), Annabelle Czeiszperger (Hudson and Tech Center).
Anderson Development Company Scholarships: Kellen Cadieux (Tecumseh), Cole Gilbert (JC/LISD Academy and Tech Center), Robert McDonald (Clinton), Jaren Settles (Clinton).
Brazeway Inc. STEM Innovation Scholarship: Jaren Settles (Clinton).
Elizabeth Ruthruff Wilson Dedicated Musician Award: Lucas Gray (Tecumseh), Rio Vitale (Adrian), Ava VanTuyle (Clinton).
Elizabeth Wilson Memorial Scholarship: Chance Allen (Adrian and Tech Center), Natalie Benitez (Blissfield).
Elizabeth Wilson Memorial College Scholarship Renewal: Karlee Witte (Addison), Jonathan Dahn (Tecumseh), Belle Mattson (Tecumseh).
The Larry Richardson Memorial College Scholarship: Raegan Brosamer (Onsted).
Farver Foundation Business Scholarship: Lydia Cheng (Madison and Tech Center), Lauren Kilbarger (Tecumseh), Xander Yeager (Blissfield), Ciara Ernst (Adrian). Scholarships from page B3 See SCHOLARSHIPS, page B5
Rex and Mary Martin Scholarships: Rio Vitale (Adrian), Makayla Gillentine (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center).
Allen H. & Nydia Meyers Foundation Scholarships: Nicholas Barrett (Tecumseh), Aurelia Bennett (Clinton), Tanner Bolton (Clinton and Tech Center), Lily Chamberlain (Onsted and Tech
Scholarships from page B4
Frank & Shirley Dick Lenawee Economic Development Corp. Scholarship: Xander Yeager (Blissfield).
Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter DAR Scholarship: Aurelia Bennett (Clinton), Madison Moore (Clinton), Brianna Cross (Madison and Tech Center).
FFA Alumni Scholarship: Brianna Cross (Madison and Tech Center), Madyson Fowler (Madison and Tech Center), Cora Harsh (Clinton and Tech Center), Megan Nadeau (JC/LISD Academy and Tech Center).
FFA Alumni Scholarship (Ken Bollinger Award): Wyatt Sanford (Lenawee Christian and Tech Center).
Fleur-De-Lis Scholarship: Wyatt Sanford (Lenawee Christian and Tech Center), Kyleigh Lawson (Clinton).
Brooklyn Moose #2561 Scholarship: Miranda Ramsey (Onsted and Tech Center).
Gleaner Life Insurance Society Scholarship: Brenna Broman (Clinton), Jordan Hassenzahl (Sand Creek), Caden Moyer (Adrian), Douglas Ott (Adrian Community), Ella Salenbien (Adrian and Tech Center).
LISD Tech Center Gleaner Life Insurance Society Scholarship: Colton Natale (Hudson and Tech Center).
Jackson College Scholarship: Carli Kipke (Onsted), Gabbi Pearce (Clinton).
Wildcat Athletic Boosters Memorial Scholarship: Jace Ellison (Onsted and JC/ LISD Academy), Karlie Kimerer (Onsted and Tech Center), Carsen Wonders (Onsted and JC/LISD Academy), Sydney Keefe (Onsted and Tech Center).
Joan Voorhees Yeutter & Lysle Yeutter Scholarship: Sydney Keefe (Onsted and Tech Center).
Kayner Family Scholarship: Emmanuel DePalma (Morenci and Tech Center), Kaiden Simpson (Tecumseh and Tech Center), Quinn Walden (Clinton), Alexyss Wielfaert (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center), Ellie Loar (Hudson). Lawrence & Wilma Johnson Scholarship Fund: Ellie Loar (Hudson), Logan Irwin (Onsted), Benjamin Isaly (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center), Blake Newman (Addison), Zach Parrish (Clinton), Kaylin Phifer (Clinton), Joshua Schmidt (Onsted).
LandS Scholarship: Sydney Britt (Adrian), Brandon Mannlein (Clinton), Cole Wells (Onsted).
Lenawee County 4-H Council Scholarship: Tucker Cole (Tecumseh).
Lenawee County 4-H Scholarship Everly Family Scholarship: Brianna Cross (Madison and Tech Center).
Lenawee County 4-H Scholarship in Memory of Bella Creque: Brianna Cross (Madison and Tech Center), Claire Smith (JC/LISD Academy and Tech Center).
Lenawee County 4-H Scholarship (Jr. Livestock) in Memory of Tory Clark, Lyndi Bailey and Brian McMillen: Brianna Cross (Madison and Tech Center), Madyson Fowler (Madison and Tech Center), Emerson Holsopple (Lenawee Christian), Megan Hunt (Onsted), Landon Lakatos (Clinton and Tech Center), Ellie Loar (Hudson), Wyatt Sanford (Lenawee Christian and Tech Center), Anjel Solis (Adrian).
Lenawee County 4-H Scholarship (McKown Family): Cera LaRatta (Madison), Megan Hunt (Onsted).
Lenawee County 4-H Scholarship (Rome Blue Ribbons in Honor of Harvey and Rosie Warrick): Megan Hunt (Onsted), Ellie Loar (Hudson). Lenawee County Association of Realtors Scholarship: Jeremy Bennett (Tecumseh), Lily Griewahn (Tecumseh), Miranda Ramsey (Onsted and Tech
Center), Lily Hawkins (Sand Creek), Lila Ramus (Adrian and Tech Center).
Lenawee County Republican Party Scholarship: Gavin Swinney (Clinton).
Lenawee County Commissioners Scholarship: Hope Miller (Blissfield).
David S. Hickman Leadership Scholarship: Hope Miller (Blissfield).
David S. Hickman Leadership Scholarship Renewal: Rita Marogi (Tecumseh), Emma Shankland (Clinton).
Lenawee County NAACP Citizenship Scholarship: Jasmine Griffin (Adrian).
Lenawee County Superintendents’ Association Scholarship: Erika Meckley (Sand Creek).
LISD Tech Center Nursing Prep Scholarship: Ella Salenbien (Adrian and Tech Center).
LISD Tech Center Citizens Gas Fuel Company Scholarship: Kamryn Billings (Tecumseh and Tech Center).
LISD Tech Center Lenawee County Dental Community Scholarship: Hailey Sills (Blissfield and Tech Center).
Lynn and Darlene Southward Health Scholarship: Lillian Darm (Blissfield and Tech Center), Carson Warner (Madison and Tech Center).
Maple City Men’s Garden Club Scholarship: Ava Brighton (Sand Creek and Tech Center).
Mary Kilgore Vallad Nursing Scholarship: Lani Cameron (Tecumseh), Tyler Ganun (Blissfield), Paige Shankland (Clinton).
Mary Singler Stubli Johnson Scholarship: Grace Olsofsky (Addison and Tech Center).
Spring Arbor University Scholarship: Kurina Dotson (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center), Meya Trevino (Madison), Ginger Wahl (Clinton and Tech Center), Raelynn Rumler (Madison).
Lenawee County Holstein Association Scholarship: Kamryn Billings (Tecumseh and Tech Center), Emma Brighton (Sand Creek), Brianna Cross (Madison and Tech Center), Madyson Fowler (Madison and Tech Center), Lacey Gerten (Clinton and Tech Center), Cora Harsh (Clinton and Tech Center), Cory Hoover (Clinton), Karlie Kimerer (Onsted and Tech Center), Landon Lakatos (Clinton and Tech Center), Paige Luck (Sand Creek and Tech Center), Isabella Szubielak (Clinton and Tech Center), Kylie Hicks (Sand Creek), Holly Mitchell (homeschool).
Tecumseh Youth Theatre Scholarship: Hailey Kennedy (Tecumseh and Tech Center), Camdenne Kruse (Clinton).
Maurice & Dorothy Stubnitz Foundation Arts Scholarship: Natalie Benitez (Blissfield), Madelynn Ketola (Adrian), Hailie Medley (Blissfield).
Maurice & Dorothy Stubnitz Foundation Arts Scholarship Renewal: Peyton Conolly (Sand Creek), Yuki Nakamura (Lenawee Christian), Ava Roesler (Clinton).
Maurice & Dorothy Stubnitz Foundation Engineering Scholarship: Nicholas Barrett (Tecumseh), Robert McDonald (Clinton), Ruth Fults (Tecumseh).
Maurice & Dorothy Stubnitz Foundation Engineering Scholarship Renewal: Daniel Haddix (Tecumseh), Bianca Miller (Onsted and Tech Center), Alejandro Perez (Adrian), Leah Rorick (Morenci).
Otto & Marian Meier Scholarship: Aubrey Appleman (Britton Deerfield), Ainsley Brezvai (Onsted), Anna Bris-Bois (Blissfield), Natalie Bullinger (Tecumseh), Makayla Gillentine (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center), Lillian Watson (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center), Claire Molnar (Britton Deerfield), Tyler Ganun (Blissfield), Lucas Stiver (Tecumseh and Tech Center).
The Richard Germond Scholarship: Tyler Ganun (Blissfield).
Tebo Family Scholarship: Ava Beard (Addison), Nevaeh Edison (Addison), Grace Olsofsky (Addison and Tech Center).
Tecumseh Area Soccer Club Scholarship: Ava Snyder (Tecumseh), Brook Stark (Tecumseh and Tech Center).
Women Educators Scholarship: Natalie Bullinger (Tecumseh), Josette Zuvers (Morenci).
Rod & Karen Pender Scholarship: Wyatt Sanford (Lenawee Christian and Tech Center).
The Vernon & Alice Pratt Foundation 4-H Scholarships: Madyson Fowler (Madison and Tech Center), Cory Hoover (Clinton), Logan Irwin (Onsted), Landon Lakatos (Clinton and Tech Center), Cera LaRatta (Madison), Ellie Loar (Hudson), Wyatt Sanford (Lenawee Christian and Tech Center), Anjel Solis (Adrian), Alexyss Wielfaert (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center), Jayleigh Williams (Onsted and Tech Center).
Strokes for Students Scholarship: Jaden Davison (Addison), Cameron Ritz (Adrian), Matthew Anderson (Blissfield), Caden Kubacki (Britton Deerfield), Brenna Broman (Clinton), Terrel Williams (Hudson), Pierson Cousino (Lenawee Christian), Annabelle Czeiszperger (Hudson and Tech Center), Carson Warner (Madison and Tech Center), Talan Kruse (Morenci), Molly Kordyzon (Onsted), Thomas Shanks (Sand Creek), Christan Sarmiento (Tecumseh).
Strokes for Students Leadership Scholarship: Zyan Breznik (Lenawee Christian), Dylan Elliott (Sand Creek), Ella Salenbien (Adrian and Tech Center).
Don & Dorothy Smith First Generation Scholarship: Daniel Apger (Morenci and JC/LISD Academy), Mason Diaz (Clinton and Tech Center), De’Mya Gibbons (Blissfield), Rylynn Gill (Clinton), Bailey Maynard (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center), Sienna Rodriguez (JC/LISD Academy and Tech Center), Abigail Simpson (Britton Deerfield).
The Fab 4 Scholarship: Madeline Forche (Blissfield), Hope Miller (Blissfield).
The Russ & Carol Fenner Family Scholarship: Ellie Loar (Hudson).
Tipton Pythian Sisters Scholarship: Lydia Boley (homeschool and Tech Center).
The Frederick Kindinger Memorial Scholarship of the Lenawee Community Foundation: Finnley Faulkner (Clinton and Tech Center).
TLC Community Credit Union Scholarship: Finnley Faulkner (Clinton and Tech Center), Cayden Staib (Adrian), Emily Stevenson (Tecumseh).
WesBanco Hispanic Scholarship: Sophia Torres (Tecumseh).
The Thomas Marvin Scholarship: Caleb Branham (Tecumseh), Evelyn Elliott (Adrian), Brian Ferree (Clinton), Kyle Kilbarger (Tecumseh), Lauren Kilbarger (Tecumseh), Emma Neff (Clinton), Alexander Czeiszperger (Hudson and Tech Center), Tanana Emmendorfer (Sand Creek), Kipp Fisher (Blissfield), Jack Laney (Tecumseh), Macy Schmidt (Tecumseh).
The Lenawee 40 & 8 Nurses Training Scholarships: Jacob Buchanan (Onsted), Lani Cameron (Tecumseh), Sophia Curtis (Madison and Tech Center), Chloe Griewahn (Tecumseh), Benjamin Isaly (Britton Deerfield and Tech Center), Carli Kipke (Onsted), Erika Meckley (Sand Creek), Alexander Sherman (Tecumseh), Trevor Staup (Madison), Isabelle Yoder (Addison), Zoe Rorick (Sand Creek and Tech Center), Brody Tinkey (Hudson).
Tecumseh Kiwanis Scholarship: Caleb Branham (Tecumseh), Connor Bullinger (Tecumseh), Claire Cousineau (Tecumseh and Tech Center), Lily
Gnodke (Tecumseh), Taylor Griffith (Tecumseh and Tech Center), Bryce Radant (Tecumseh and Tech Center), Macy Schmidt (Tecumseh), Olivia Swirple (Tecumseh), Chloe Bullinger (Tecumseh), Morgan Malinczak (Tecumseh).
Tecumseh Kiwanis Terry Lighthall Scholarship: Brandon Hoeft (Tecumseh).
Tecumseh Schools Foundation
“Coach” Vic Lawson Family Scholarship: Alexander Sherman (Tecumseh), Lucas Stiver (Tecumseh).
Tecumseh Schools Foundation
Bedore Family Scholarship: Riley Spaulding (Tecumseh and Tech Center), Sophia Torres (Tecumseh).
Tecumseh Schools Foundation
Bertha LaPointe Scholarship: Ruth Fults (Tecumseh), Daniel Haddix (Tecumseh), Kyle Kilbarger (Tecumseh), Lauren Kilbarger (Tecumseh), Jack Laney (Tecumseh), Rita Marogi (Tecumseh), Ashlyn Moorehead (Tecumseh), Emily Stevenson (Tecumseh).
Tecumseh Schools Foundation
Charles & Doris Hand Scholarship: Jacob Barrie (Tecumseh), Loris DeFore (Tecumseh), Lily Gnodke (Tecumseh), Macy Schmidt (Tecumseh).
Tecumseh Schools Foundation
Eleanor Johnson Scholarship: Tucker Cole (Tecumseh), Madison Morris (Tecumseh), Ryan Mossburg (Tecumseh), Ava Snyder (Tecumseh), Jessica Wilkinson (Tecumseh).
Tecumseh Schools Foundation
Gerald Nelson Scholarship: Nicholas Barrett (Tecumseh), Jeremy Bennett (Tecumseh), Zettie Borton (Tecumseh), Kellen Cadieux (Tecumseh), Taylor Griffith (Tecumseh and Tech Center), Hailey Kennedy (Tecumseh and Tech Center), Olivia Swirple (Tecumseh).
Tecumseh Schools Foundation Judy Kastel Memorial Scholarship: Lucas Gray (Tecumseh).
Tecumseh Schools Foundation
Lillian Buttolph Scholarship: Chloe Bullinger (Tecumseh), Natalie Bullinger (Tecumseh), Emma Eldred (Tecumseh), Olivia Gillespie (Tecumseh), Lily Griewahn (Tecumseh), Elle Nowak (Tecumseh and Tech Center).
Tecumseh Schools Foundation
Louise Lawson Family Scholarship: Libby Batchelder (Tecumseh), Claire Cousineau (Tecumseh and Tech Center).
Tecumseh Schools Foundation
Mensing Family Scholarship: Connor Bullinger (Tecumseh), Elaine Sysko (Tecumseh).
Tecumseh Schools Foundation Schaedler Scholarship: Kamryn Billings (Tecumseh and Tech Center).
SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED BY COMMUNITY GROUPS
Chico Martinez Memorial Scholarship: Natalie Benitez (Blissfield), Jasmine Griffin (Adrian).
Ronnie Lee Legacy Foundation Scholarship: Lily Keel (Blissfield).
Kiwanis Club of Tecumseh: Sophia Torres, Riley Spaulding, Chloe Bullinger, Emma Eldred, Lily Griewahn, Olivia Gillespie, Jacob Barrie, Loris DeFore, Lily Gnodke, Macy Schmidt, Tucker Cole, Claire Cousineau, Connor Bullinger, Elaine Sysko, Nicholas Barrett, Jeremy Bennett, Zettie Borton, Kellen Cadieux, Taylor Griffith, Hailey Kennedy, Olivia Swirple, Kamryn Billings, Lucas Gray (Tecumseh).
Adrian Breakfast Lions Club: Delilah Buckmaster (Clinton), Jordan Hassenzahl (Sand Creek).
Adrian Noon Rotary: Lillian Darm (Blissfield and Tech Center), Amelia Bowman (Adrian), Emma Pino (Adrian).
Family Researchers group has been providing genealogy resources for 50 years
By Julie C. Clemes The Lenawee Voice
ADRIAN — When America celebrated its bicentennial in 1976, a group of individuals from Lenawee County started a group to research family ancestry. This group, the Lenawee County Family Researchers, is still going strong, and was recently recognized by the Michigan Genealogical Council for marking its 50th anniversary.
Bob Wessel, vice president of the Lenawee County Family Researchers, said that the bicentennial brought an “increase across the board” in interest in history, including family history.
“That drove the creation of a lot of organizations dedicated to history, family history, genealogy, et cetera,” he said.
The Lenawee County group started with a handful of people and has since grown to 40 members. The longestserving member is Keith Derbyshire, who volunteers at the Lenawee County Historical Society as well.
The most important aspect of the group, Wessel said, is the common interest the members have in family history research. Anyone interested in family research can join the group, where they are attached with a mentor who can help them get started on their own research. The focus of the group is to share research experiences to find ways to “break through the brick walls” that they may find while doing family research.
The group meetings feature presenters who speak on a variety of topics related to family research. Presenters have included members of the group, representatives from libraries and archives, and funeral directors who speak on information that can be found in obituaries as well as funeral customs.
“Quite frankly, we’re chasing dead people, so you’ve got to know about the funeral stuff,” Wessel said.
“It’s difficult to trace family history without a fundamental understanding of the historical environment in which they lived,” he continued. That information might include the size of the family, what
kind of work someone performed, and if they moved throughout their lifetime.
Wessel said that he himself got started on researching his own family in 1971, when he was stationed with the military in Vietnam. At that time, the process of requesting a form for a birth certificate was done through the mail. Actually getting the form could take as long as two months.
“The problem with that system is that by the time you’d get the information, you’d forget what the question was,” he said.
Now most vital records are digitized and can be accessed easily through the internet and email.
“Everything is right there,” Wessel said.
Vital records used in research can include birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, obituaries, property records, wills, Probate Court records, and census records. Online databases such as ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and Fold3, a database specifically for military records, are also used in family research.
Both the Adrian District Library and the Lenawee District Library can provide access to family history information from the Latter Day Saints.
Wessel said online sources are “the tip of the iceberg” of information available for family research. Courthouse records are a valuable source of information that might not be included in online sources, for example.
Helping each other research their family history is one part of the group’s activities. Field trips are scheduled throughout the year, including a recent trip to the Allen County Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which houses the second largest collection of genealogical information in the United States. The group also hosts potluck dinners and picnics.
The Lenawee County Family Researchers group meets at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month. More information is available on Facebook at Lenawee County Family Researchers, on the website at lcfamilyresearchers. wixsite.com, or by email at lcfamilyresearchers@gmail.com.
Lenawee Cares campaign raises over $405,000 for local nonprofits
ADRIAN — Lenawee Cares, a fundraising campaign operated by the Lenawee Community Foundation raised $405,839 during the 2025–26 campaign, bringing the total invested in Lenawee County nonprofits to more than $4 million since the program began in 2016.
The totals for the past year were announced on June 15.
Every dollar raised stays in Lenawee County, supporting nonprofit organizations that address both urgent needs and long-term challenges. From food assistance and housing support to childcare, literacy programs, mental health services, and family resources, the goal of Lenawee Cares is to help ensure local nonprofits have the funding they need to respond when neighbors are in need.
Lenawee Cares is a communitydriven initiative of the Lenawee Community Foundation that brings together individuals, businesses,
and organizations around a shared commitment to strengthening Lenawee County. Through collective giving, donors create a flexible source of funding that helps local nonprofits meet emerging needs, expand services, and improve quality of life across our community. Less than 9% of the total funding goes to the cost of administering the program.
Launched in 2016, Lenawee Cares is a community-powered annual fund and corporate giving campaign focused on meeting essential needs in the community. Every fall, individuals and businesses make pledges, and in the following year, those funds are collected and distributed to support nonprofit organizations across Lenawee County. To learn more about Lenawee Cares or how to get involved, contact Madison Roberts at 517-263-4696 or email forlenawee@lenaweecf.com.
IN BRIEF
Lenawee Youth Leadership camp returns in August
ADRIAN — The Lenawee Youth Council, a program of the Lenawee Community Foundation, is hosting a Lenawee Youth Leadership camp from Aug. 11-13 for youth across the county.
This engaging, hands-on camp gives participants the opportunity to explore leadership through interactive activities led by trained facilitators. Campers will learn about youth assets, goal setting, problem solving, teamwork, communication, and the unique strengths of Lenawee County — all while building lasting connections.
Camp sessions will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Youth ages 12 to 19 are welcome. Registration is required by July 31, and the cost is $30, with scholarships available. For more information, go to lenaweecommunityfoundation.com/ lenawee-youth-leadership-camp.
Farm-to-table dinner to benefit Habitat programs
ADRIAN — Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee County’s annual farmto-table dinner fundraiser will take place on Friday, Aug. 14, in the Adrian Tobias Center at Adrian College.
The event features a meal sourced from local farms and locally owned retailers. Tickets are $75 and may be ordered online at habitat-lenawee.org.
The registration deadline is Aug. 3, but buying tickets earlier is recommended because last year’s event sold out.
Tecumseh student represents county at Michigan History Day competition
By Erik Gable The Lenawee Voice
TECUMSEH — Inspired by the stories of the women who worked in bomber plants during World War II, a Tecumseh student created a project that won top honors at this year’s Michigan History Day state festival.
Annabelle Buechele-Beasecker, who just finished third grade at Tecumseh Acres Early Learning Center, decided to undertake a project for Michigan History Day after her mom, Jamie Buechele, learned about the program from Ashley Pfund at the Lenawee Intermediate School District.
For her topic, she chose the “Rosies” — women who worked making planes during World War II and became associated with the iconic image of Rosie the Riveter.
“I chose this because I think that the Rosies did a lot for a lot of people in the future,” Annabelle said.
It wasn’t just about the war effort — it was about the fact that they blazed a trail for others, setting a precedent for women being allowed to work in jobs once reserved for men.
“They did make a very big change for the future, for women now,” she said.
The Michigan History Day program, organized by the Historical Society of Michigan, is for students in third through 12th grades. Participants can choose between project boards, individual or group performances, written papers, websites, and documentaries.
Annabelle chose to make a project board. She went to the Tecumseh Historical Museum once a week after school for several weeks, where she was mentored by Debbie Kogelman, Bob Elliott, and David Hales.
Her board features information she learned from her research as well as a few historical artifacts from Elliott’s collection. The display also includes a model of a B-24 Liberator that her grandfather, John Buechele, helped her build.
She went first to the district-level competition, which was held on Feb. 8 at the River Raisin National Battlefield Park in Monroe, and then advanced to the state competition on April 15 at Grand
Valley State University. She won state finalist status, the highest designation for her age group, and also won an award for Best Use of Economic History or Impact.
Kogelman said the Tecumseh museum is interested in seeing more students take part in Michigan history day, and museum volunteers would love to help.
“We’re more than willing to help them with research, ideas, development, just like we did with Annabelle,” she said.
Annabelle’s project will be on display at the museum, 302 E. Chicago Blvd., through at least the end of July.
The museum is open Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and can be reached at 517-423-2374.
Annabelle Buechele-Beasecker is pictured with her project, “The Rosies at Work,” from this year’s Michigan History Day competition. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE
Tecumseh Kiwanians have
For 70 years, the Kiwanis Club of Tecumseh has worked to serve children from Tecumseh and the surrounding area through fundraising and service activities. The group will hold a 70th anniversary celebration on July 23 for current and past members.
The club started with the help of the Adrian and Blissfield Kiwanis groups. The group was originally all men, but women were allowed to join starting in 1987.
“There were wives of certain members who immediately got involved,” said Jane Poczatek, past president and member of the communications committee.
The group has 60 members who work toward the Kiwanis goal of “Serving the Children of the World.”
Current president Kirsten Stiver said that the membership is “a good mix” of people who range in age from 25 to 88 years old.
The Kiwanis Club of Tecumseh holds fundraising events such as the Flag Project, which provides American flags for community display during federal holidays. Other fundraising events include a bingo night, which is a joint fundraiser with the Tecumseh Service Club; the Canoe Race in June; and gourmet nut sales at the holidays.
The funds raised from these activities are used to pay for the service projects the club sponsors.
“We either sponsor a project, do service, or both that benefits the
community, which then makes it better for children in general,” Poczatek said.
One project is the Porter Center Christmas party, which provides each classroom with a present the teacher selects. The Kiwanians, along with the Tecumseh Service Club, also help to stock the free food pantries in the community.
Cheryl Stout, who works with the youth services committee, said that some of the funds raised go toward, among other projects, a toy shower for the
children at Mott’s Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House. Another project works with Preemie Pals, a program that provides quilts for babies and children with heart defects.
The youth services program benefits students from Tecumseh Public Schools from age 5 to 18. Two students are selected as Senior of the Month during the school year and scholarships are awarded annually. New dictionaries are given to third-grade students each year.
The Kiwanis Club has leadership programs for students elementary school through college and a program for adults with special needs.
Poczatek said that working as a group is a strength of the Kiwanis Club.
“It’s very hard for one person to make a difference and have a huge impact, but when you work together, we have all our many hands,” Poczatek said. “We can have a big impact on the community and we feel we do that every day.”
The Kiwanis Club of Tecumseh is always looking for new members. More information can be found on the club’s Facebook page.
Scholarships awarded: Many area service clubs awarded scholarships to area students this spring. To see a list, turn to page B5.
— Compiled by Julie C. Clemes
Local Sons of Union Veterans group welcomes new members
BLISSFIELD — If you have an ancestor who wore Union Blue in the Civil War, or if you have an interest in preserving the memory of those who did, you can qualify for membership in the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, commonly referred to as “The Sons.”
The organization is inviting new members to join in their mission to perpetuate the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic and those who served to save the Union during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865.
The Sons assist in the preservation of documents and records pertaining to the Grand Army of the Republic, and in making those documents available for
research. They strive to honor all who have served the United States in any war, and to teach patriotism and the duties of citizenship, the history of the U.S., and the love and honor of its flag.
Anyone interested in helping with this work is invited to become one of “The Sons” by aligning with the Nash-Hodges Camp, which is the local chapter of Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. This Camp serves members in both Lenawee and Monroe counties.
The group meets monthly, alternating between the Blissfield Depot Museum and the Tecumseh Historical Museum.
For more information, contact Greg Sebring at 517-270-7397 or email mspblue@gmail.com.
Catholic Charities launches ‘Choose Your Challenge’ fundraiser
ADRIAN — Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee, and Hillsdale Counties is running a peer-to-peer fundraising drive throughout July titled “Choose Your Challenge: Be a Champion for Kids.”
The fundraiser is an opportunity for people to engage their networks in raising money on behalf of children’s services provided by the group. Those services include children’s counseling, the Children’s Trauma Assessment Center, the Children’s Advocacy Center, and the Roadmap to Graduation program.
Participants will select an activity and build a campaign. Activities could include things like walking, running, swimming, biking, video game streaming, and more.
A celebratory gathering will be held at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at St. Rita’s Parish in Clarklake.
For more information or to sign up, go to catholiccharitiesjlhc.org/events.
The 2025-26 Kiwanis Club of Tecumseh board and officers: In the back row, Marvin Crowder, Dennis Chambo (secretary), and Jake Wright. In the front row: Ken Baker (immediate past president), Laura Carothers (president-elect), Amy Kennedy (vice president), Kirsten Stiver (president); Sandy Lewis (treasurer), Cameron Kulhanek, Tim Korwin, and Stacy Tilton. Not pictured: Amy Platt and Mike Morast.
Downtown Adrian bakery selected for national accelerator program
By Julie C. Clemes The Lenawee Voice
ADRIAN — Mandy Makes N’ Bakes, a bakery in downtown Adrian, was recently selected for the Hartford Small Business Accelerator Program presented by Main Street America. The business is owned by Mandy Andrews and her sister, Bree McPhail, with their father, Joe Mattausch, acting as their financial advisor.
Mandy Makes N’ Bakes is one of 30 small-scale producers selected nationally for the program.
“We’re proud to see Mandy Makes N’ Bakes selected for this competitive program,” said Darcy Gifford, chair of the Adrian Downtown Development Authority and Main Street board.
“One of the most valuable things a Main Street organization can do is connect local entrepreneurs with resources, training, and networks that help them grow,” Gifford continued. “This opportunity will provide Mandy with new tools and connections to strengthen her business, and we’re excited to see how that investment benefits both her business and downtown Adrian.”
Participants in the accelerator program will engage in virtual learning sessions, connect with fellow small business owners from across the country and gain access to resources through Main Street America’s Small Business Hub.
McPhail manages marketing, social media and sales for the bakery business. She looks forward to participating in the program, which features a series of onehour, virtual sessions that last through the summer. The sessions will be with other businesses that were chosen for the program.
“This will be a great opportunity for me to figure out how to grow our
business and learn more information about that,” she said. She hopes to learn some “tips and tricks” from other business owners on how they succeed and operate while keeping a personalized touch.
Mandy Makes N’ Bakes started with Andrews baking out of her home. She moved into downtown Adrian in 2024 as an order-only operation. In May of this year, she and McPhail opened the bakery shop, which features individual items, seating and beverages.
The bakery shop started with cake pops, cupcakes and cookies, and now offers cheesecake options and a different special weekly, as well as homemade, ready-to-go “last minute cakes.”
Beverages include a “Dirty Soda” and cold-brewed coffee.
“It’s been shocking, the community support we’ve received, especially since expanding in May,” McPhail said.
“Our overall mission since moving into downtown is to revitalize the downtown,” she added.
GLEANER FLAG EXCHANGE RAISES MORE THAN $6,400
More than 150 worn American flags were exchanged and $6,460 raised for housing for veterans at the Gleaner Life Insurance Society Flag Exchange on June 10. Lenawee County residents were invited to exchange one worn U.S. flag for a new one in time for Flag Day and Independence Day. Old flags are respectfully retired through a partnership with a local veterans group. Donations were accepted for Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee County’s Veterans Build Fund. Matching $2,500 donations by Gleaner Life and the Joseph Wildberg Fund for Veterans more than tripled the impact from participants’ donations. Pictured here are five of the Flag Exchange coordinators: Leandra Bryan and Elly Sager from Gleaner, Carrie Hartley from Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee County, and Gleaner’s Jessica Vasher and Kristin Horton.
Breanna McPhail and Mandy Andrews own Mandy Makes N’ Bakes in downtown Adrian. JULIE C. CLEMES/LENAWEE VOICE
LAND & WATER
This page is dedicated to coverage of agriculture, the environment, and the intersection between the two.
To suggest story ideas, please email news@lenaweevoice.com.
State encourages Michiganders to watch for spotted lanternfly this summer
LANSING — The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is reminding Michigan residents to be on the lookout for the invasive spotted lanternfly this summer.
“Spotted lanternfly does not pose a risk to human or animal health, but it can be a major nuisance for Michiganders who enjoy spending time on their patios, in their gardens or in the great outdoors,” said department director Tim Boring.
As of June 2026, spotted lanternfly populations have been confirmed across
southeastern Michigan. Michigan’s Invasive Species Watch List Viewer enables residents to see where spotted lanternfly has been confirmed in the state. Reports from areas without known infestations help MDARD and its partners track the spread of spotted lanternfly and prioritize monitoring efforts.
If you see spotted lanternfly in Jackson, Lenawee, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland or Wayne counties:
n Squish it! You do not need to report the sighting. The Department
of Agriculture is already monitoring confirmed populations of spotted lanternfly in these counties.
n Focus pest management in areas where spotted lanternfly is most abundant. Traps or insecticidal soaps and oils can be effective and limit residual effects.
n Consider contacting a certified pesticide applicator for information about appropriate treatment methods if there is a large infestation on your property.
Be diligent if you choose to apply pesticide yourself. Always follow the instructions on the pesticide label and wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
For additional information on identifying, reporting and managing spotted lanternfly, visit the State of Michigan’s spotted lanternfly web page. You can also learn more at USDA’s spotted lanternfly website, www. michigan.gov/invasives/id-report/ insects/spotted-lanternfly.
Lenawee County’s 11 Public School Districts
Application deadlines and additional information for each district are as follows:
BLISSFIELD
Application Deadline
Mar. 12 - Aug. 28, 2026 - 1st Semester
December 4-18, 2026 - 2nd Semester
Additional Information 517-486-2205
kgraf@blissfieldschools.us www.blissfieldschools.us
HUDSON
Application Deadline
Mar. 18 - Sept. 3, 2026- 1st Semester
December 7-18, 2026 - 2nd Semester
Additional Information 517-448-8912 x227
lemens@hudson.k12.mi.us www.hudson.k12.mi.us
ONSTED
Application Deadline
May 1 - Aug. 28, 2026 - 1st Semester
December 4-18, 2026 - 2nd Semester
Additional Information
517-467-2173 x1102 www.onstedschools.us
ADDISON
Application Deadline
May 1 - Aug. 28, 2026 - 1st Semester
Dec 14, 2026 - Jan. 15, 2027 - 2nd Semester
Additional Information
517-547-6901
tiffany.smith@addisonschools.us www.addisonschools.org
BRITTON DEERFIELD
Application Deadline
Apr. 24 - Aug. 28, 2026 - 1st Sem./Tri. (K-12) Oct 30 - Nov. 13, 2026 - 2nd Tri. (K-5) Dec 4-18, 2026 - 2nd Sem. (6-12)
Additional Information 517-451-4581
jennifer.delmotte@bdschools.us www.bdschools.us
MADISON
Application Deadline
May 11- Aug. 27, 2026 - 1st Trimester
November 10-24, 2026 - 2nd Trimester
Additional Information 517-265-1847
ramie.overbey@madisonk12.us www.madisonk12.us
SAND CREEK
Application Deadline
Mar. 30- Aug. 28, 2026- 1st Semester
December 4-18 2026 - 2nd Semester
Additional Information 517-436-3108
brooke.smith@sc-aggies.us www.sc-aggies.us
ADRIAN
Application Deadline
April 7 - Aug. 28, 2026 - 1st Trimester
November 11-25, 2026 - 2nd Trimester
Additional Information 517-264-6640 x4108 (Angie) aschaffer@adrian.k12.mi.us www.adrianmaples.org
CLINTON
Application Deadline
March 23- August 20, 2026 1st Semester Dec 4-18, 2026 - 2nd Semester
Additional Information
517-456-6501 www.miclintonschools.org
MORENCI
Application Deadline Feb. 24 - Aug. 28, 2026 - 1st Semester
Dec. 5-18, 2026 - 2nd Semester
Additional Information 517-458-7504 Elementary 517-458-7506 MS/HS www.morencibulldogs.org
TECUMSEH
Application Deadline
Limited SOC for 1st-5th Grades
May 1 - May 30, 2026 - 1st Semester
Unlimited SOC for Y5, K, & 6th-12th Grades
Mar. 17 - Aug. 21 2026 - 1st Semester
Dec. 4-18, 2026 - 2nd Semester All Grades
Additional Information
517-424-7318 | www.tps.k12.mi.us
Pillar Recovery Services offers holistic addiction care HEALTH & WELLNESS
By Kate Mitchell The Lenawee Voice
ADRIAN — At the start of the year, Lenawee County patients seeking dedicated, medication assisted treatment for substance use disorder needed to look elsewhere. It was a big problem, one that the founders of Pillar Recovery Services in Adrian have been working hard to solve.
Pillar opened on Feb. 18, aiming to be the “missing piece” for those struggling with addiction in Lenawee County. It’s a holistic approach to treatment, offering case management services that help clients find housing, insurance, a therapist, and references to experts for diagnosis and medication — things that can make all the difference for someone working to get back on their feet.
“I’ve met with so many people who have so many patients and clients in all the different facets — from primary care to the hospital to the homeless shelter — who need this resource,” Kelsey Williams, director of operations, said. “We haven’t seen a big influx in referrals yet, but there are patients we see weekly and a handful of patients who have been completely sober since coming here. There are some who have found jobs and who have found housing, and a couple who have gone back for their GED to get their life on track.”
Pillar is still in its early days and wants to become a resource for everyone in the
community who needs it, ready to take in additional patients and help them with every step of the sobriety journey.
“We hope to offer long term relapse prevention and reintegration into the community,” Williams said. “Sobriety is a lifelong thing you have to deal with and we are always here for support and to be a resource when things come up. A long-term win for us is having clients be able to maintain sobriety on their own and get the tools they need to keep their life on track.”
This mission is one that’s close to the hearts of Pillar’s owners. Taylor Hennrick and Sarang Patel are both psychiatric physician assistants who have practiced in Lenawee County for eight years. Trent Carter is a nurse practitioner of addiction medicine. Brandon Gwinup specializes in information technology. They came together to address the needs they were seeing in the community. One worked closely with youth and saw that they were starting to dabble in substance abuse earlier and earlier in life. Another
saw patients with mental health struggles also suffer from substance use disorder but lack the proper resources to address it.
“They wanted to fill that gap,” Williams said. “That’s why they chose this community.”
As with any new business, there have been challenges. While there seems to be no shortage of need in the area, only a few clients have found their way to the still burgeoning business. Even so, the team at Pillar is confident that they can make a difference in Adrian and beyond.“What patients and the community appreciate most is the passion behind it,” Williams said. “It’s not about numbers and checking boxes on a to-do list. This was born out of providers who want to do their best for patients. For people leaving the hospital with no resources, this can be life changing and it’s extremely rewarding to give people the courage and empowerment to change their lives.
“Our passion for patient care sets us apart,” she continued. “We haven’t reached our full potential but the community members we have been able to help have completely turned their lives around. It’s definitely different if you can go somewhere and be treated like family. We genuinely want people to succeed.”
For more information, call 517-225-4483 or visit Pillar Recovery Services online at pillarrecovery.com.
Kelsey Williams is the director of operations for Pillar Recovery Services, located in the Adrian Professional Building, 142 E. Maumee St., Suite 1. ERIK GABLE/LENAWEE VOICE
Family Medical Center plans drive-through resource fairs
ADRIAN — Family Medical Center of Michigan, which operates four clinics in Lenawee and Monroe Counties, will mark National Health Center Week with a series of drive-through resource fairs during the first week of August.
The locations, dates and times of the resource fairs are:
n Adrian — Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at 1200 N. Main St., Adrian.
n Temperance — Wednesday, Aug. 5, from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at 8765 Lewis
SUPPORT GROUPS
Celebrate Recovery: A Christcentered recovery group meeting Saturdays at 9 a.m. at Ogden Church, 3201 East U.S. 223, Adrian. Contact Roger or Theresa Miller, 517-215-5754 or theresamillercr@yahoo.com.
Good Grief: Free drop-in group for adults widowed earlier in life, meeting on the second Tuesday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Hospice of Lenawee, 1903 Wolf Creek Hwy., Adrian. Contact Heather Popkey or Karen Cheney at 517-263-2323.
Caregiver Support Group: The Lenawee Department on Aging invites all caregivers to its Caregiver Support Group on the first Monday of the month at 2 p.m. at Daybreak Adult Day Services, 327 Erie St., Adrian. Free respite care is available during the meeting. Call 517-266-2588 to reserve a spot or ask questions.
Men’s Caregiver Support Group: This group meets the first Friday of each month from 2-3 p.m. at Daybreak, 327 Erie St. This group is facilitated by a male counselor, who also has caregiving experience. The group is available for men to share their caregiving challenges and provide support. Respite is available free of charge by calling Daybreak Adult Day Services at 266-2588.
Fathers of Lenawee: Fourth Tuesday of every month from 4-5 p.m. at the Ebeid Center located at Comstock School, 801 E. Maumee St., Adrian.
Overeaters Anonymous: Saturdays at 10 a.m., Mondays at 1:30 p.m., and Thursdays at 4 p.m. at Serenity House, 600 Gulf St., Adrian.
Al-Anon Meetings: Tuesdays at noon, NewSong Church, 5211 S. Occidental Hwy., Tecumseh.
Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Madison Church of the Nazarene, 3993 Treat Hwy., Adrian.
Thursdays at 6 p.m., NewSong Church, 5211 S. Occidental Hwy., Tecumseh.
Thursdays at 7 p.m., All Saints Episcopal Church, 151 N. Main St., Brooklyn.
Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., Tecumseh District Library, 215 N. Ottawa St., Tecumseh.
Sundays at 1 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1245 W. Maple Ave., Adrian.
To submit a support group listing or report any corrections or changes, please email Linda Cline at lcline@lenaweevoice.com.
Ave., Temperance.
n Monroe — Thursday, Aug. 6, from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at 901 N. Macomb St., Monroe.
n Carleton — Friday, Aug. 7, from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at 130 Medical Center Drive, Carleton.
Vendors will be on hand to share information about their programs and services and provide resources and educational materials.
The first 150 cars at each event will receive a free food package.
At the same time as the drive-through resource fairs, men’s health checks will be offered inside the health centers at each event. Appointments for the men’s health checks can be made by calling 517-263-1800 for the Adrian clinic, or 734-654-2169 for the Monroe County clinics.
Anyone who has questions or is interested in participating as a vendor can contact Jennifer Ferrari at 734-654-2169, ext. 1484, or email jferrari@familymedical.org.
Family Medical Center of Michigan is an independent, nonprofit community health center.
Services at the Adrian clinic include primary care, dental care, optometry, behavioral health, and pharmacy.
Medical hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dental hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 517263-1800 or go to familymedicalmi.org.
Travel tips for older adults and caregivers
Summer is here! And with it comes vacation season. Many people enjoy a little time away to spend with family, explore new places, or visit a special attraction. However, as we age, it can be easy to forgo such adventures when challenges begin to feel like barriers. Here are some tips for older adults and caregivers that can help make travel safer, easier, and more enjoyable.
Travel professionals, like Dawn Harke at Horizon Travel and Cruises in Adrian, encourage travelers to plan ahead. Take time to identify potential challenges so they can be addressed as part of the overall travel plan.
If you are traveling by plane, consider purchasing tickets through a travel agent. A travel agent can provide guidance on navigating airports safely and comfortably. Assistance with baggage, check-in procedures, transportation to and from the gate, and boarding the plane can often be arranged, making air travel less stressful.
If you are traveling by automobile, map out your route and include regular stops. Opportunities to stretch your legs, use the restroom, and enjoy a favorite travel snack can help travelers arrive
feeling refreshed. If the drive extends over more than one day, consider stopping early enough to relax before bedtime. Landmarks, family visits, and unique dining experiences can help break up a long drive and make the journey part of the adventure. Finding the right place to stay can feel overwhelming. Options may include short-term rentals, hotels, or staying with family. The best way to determine what will work best is to refer back to your list of potential barriers. Does the accommodation offer accessible showers, comfort-height toilets, or elevators? Will walking long distances from the parking area to the room be difficult? Is a light breakfast available for someone who needs to take medications in the morning? Having a list of specific needs will help narrow the options and simplify your search.
If your destination includes sightseeing, museums, or theme parks, learn about accessibility options before you arrive. Consider whether elevators are available, if wheelchairs can be rented onsite, and whether there are places to sit and rest throughout the day. Building in time for snacks, hydration, and rest breaks can help ensure a successful outing. It is also wise to have a backup plan should the day need to be shortened because of heat, fatigue, or other unexpected challenges.
Another way to enjoy traveling is to join a planned group trip. Trip leaders often work to accommodate participants’ needs and remove some of the stress associated with travel planning. Harke notes that group travel opportunities can range from day trips a few hours away to multi-day adventures in more distant locations.
With a little planning and preparation, travel can remain an enjoyable and rewarding experience at any age. The memories made along the way are often well worth the effort.
Cari Rebottaro is director of the Lenawee County Department on Aging.
Your food safety guide for summer eating
As summer returns with warm weather, backyard barbecues, picnics, and outdoor get-togethers become part of our weekly routines. With food at the heart of so many seasonal traditions, it’s important to keep safety in mind to prevent foodborne illness. A simple way to stay on track is to remember the four basics of safe food handling: clean, separate, cook, and chill.
Foodborne illness is often confused with the flu, but it occurs when contaminated food causes symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. Bacteria like E. coli, norovirus, and Salmonella can be present in raw meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and even fruits and vegetables. Contamination can spread easily through unwashed hands, shared surfaces, and improper storage. While anyone can get sick, young children, pregnant individuals, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk. The encouraging news is that most foodborne illnesses can be prevented through proper hygiene, safe cooking temperatures, and correct food storage.
Good food safety starts with clean habits. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing food, using the
restroom, changing diapers, or touching animals. Clean cutting boards, utensils, and countertops with hot, soapy water between tasks, and rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running water, even those you plan to peel.
Keeping foods separate is another key step. Raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs should be stored away from produce and ready-to-eat foods, whether you’re shopping, loading bags, or organizing the refrigerator. Use different cutting boards for raw meats and produce, and never return cooked foods to a plate that once held raw ingredients.
Cooking food to the right temperature is essential for killing harmful bacteria. A food thermometer is the best way to ensure safety. Whole cuts of beef, pork, lamb, and veal should reach 145°F with a three-minute rest time. Ground meats need to reach 160°F,
while poultry, leftovers, and casseroles must hit 165°F. Fully cooked meats such as hot dogs or deli items should also be reheated to 165°F or until steaming hot. When microwaving foods, follow instructions and confirm the internal temperature reaches 165°F after standing time.
Once the meal is over, proper chilling helps keep food safe. Refrigerate perishable items within two hours — or within one hour if it’s hotter than 90°F outside. Make sure your refrigerator stays at or below 40°F, and your freezer at 0°F. Thaw foods only in the refrigerator, under cold running water, or in the microwave. Avoid thawing items on the countertop, and try not to overcrowd your fridge, as good air circulation helps maintain the proper temperature.
Summer offers endless opportunities to enjoy meals with family and friends, and a few simple precautions can keep those moments healthy and worryfree. Whether you’re grilling, hosting a potluck, or packing a cooler for a day at the park, safe food handling ensures everyone can savor summer to the fullest.
Monica Hunt is the Lenawee County Health Department’s health officer.
MONICA HUNT
CARI REBOTTARO
IN MEMORY
We regret that space does not allow us to print detailed obituaries. These listings are intended as a guide to the obituaries that may be found on local funeral homes’ websites. When available, brief biographical information is provided to aid the reader in determining if they knew the deceased. To view complete information, please refer to this key:
[ADS] Adrian Dominican Sisters, adriandominicans.org
[AM] Anderson-Marry Funeral Homes, andersonfuneralservices.com
[BJFH] Borek Jennings Funeral Home, borekjennings.com
[BVH] Brown-Van Hemert Funeral Home, brownvanhemert.com
[E] Eineder Funeral Homes, einederfuneralhomes.com
[H] Handler Funeral Homes, handlerfuneralhomes.com
[PA] Purse Funeral Home in Adrian, pursefuneralhome.com
[PS] Gil Purse & Son, gilpurseandson.com
[W] Wagley Funeral Homes, wagleyfuneralhomes.com
Ronald Carson “Ron” Jeffreys, 74, of Huntsville, Alabama, formerly of Adrian, died on July 3, 2025. He was the owner of Ron Jeffreys Guitars in Alabama.
Wayne Earl Berridge, 94, of Adrian died on April 3. He was a 1950 graduate of Adrian High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Adrian College in 1955, a master’s degree in counseling and guidance from Siena Heights College, and a doctorate in education from Indiana University. He served in the U.S. Army from 1956-58. He taught biology at Tecumseh Junior High School and Cassidy Lake Technical School in Chelsea, and also at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. [AM] Sharon Hartsell, 86, of Tecumseh died on May 9. She received her associates degree in secretarial science from Huntington College in Indiana and worked at General Motors. She also worked as a receptionist at several medical practices before moving on to work at the library. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church. [H]
Herbert Ronald Miller, 93, of Adrian died on May 15. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953-55. He started his career as a tool and die maker and became a vice president in manufacturing at Faraday, where he worked for 38 years. In 1992 he started his own businesses, R&R Signal and Michigan Signal. He was an avid golfer and a member of Lenawee Hills Country Club and Wolf Creek Golf Club. [W]
William Wayne Peters, 72, of Tecumseh died on May 17. He earned degrees from Baylor University and the University of Wyoming. He was a Vietnam veteran serving in the U.S. Army and was stationed for three years at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany. He worked as a Medical Laboratory Technologist in the Warde Medical Lab Division of St. Joseph Hospital for 42 years, retiring in 2019. [H]
Dale “Sonnie” Wyrick, 83, of Tecumseh died on May 17. He retired from Ford Motor Company after many years of service. He loved going on daily drives, and was a master craftsman who had a talent for woodworking. [PA]
Rosemary Carol Anderson, 86, of Clinton died on May 18. She worked for more than 20 years as a school bus driver for Milan Area Schools and was one of the first drivers to install an eight-track tape player on her bus so students could enjoy music during their rides. She also served as a state tester for future bus drivers. After retirement she and her husband moved to Tennessee. [PS]
Mary Eileen Jacobson, 98, of Tecumseh died on May 19. As a young woman she joined The Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario, and served as an early childhood teacher, and later as a speech therapist. She left the order after 30 years but continued teaching until her retirement and was known for her dedication and compassionate care of her students. [AM]
Anthony Wayne “Tony” Gray, 59, died on May 20. He was a jack of all trades and loved fishing and making walking sticks. He also had a secret passion for sewing. He worked as a fork lift driver for four years at Martinrea. [PA]
Stephen K. Williams, 66, of Adrian died on May 20. He was a graduate of Adrian High School and went on to operate his own painting company for many years. [PA]
William E. “Bill” Bateson, 80, of Blissfield died on May 21. He was a 1963 graduate of Blissfield High School and a lifelong Blissfield resident. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War from 1969-71. He worked at Tecumseh Products for over 25 years until his retirement in 2000. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Blissfield and an avid outdoorsman. [AM]
Jerry “Fish” Fisher, 65, of Michigan Center, formerly of Adrian, died on May 21. He worked for many years as a tow truck driver for several companies in Adrian and worked for the public school systems as a custodian for many years. [PA]
Philip John Niner, 97, of Coldwater died on May 21. He was a former resident of Hudson, Morenci, and Adrian. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and earned a Purple Heart. He left school to run the family farm as a teenager and continued farming most of his life. He also worked at Kewaunee in Adrian for 34 years. He was a member of Disabled American Veterans, the Hudson American Legion, and the Morenci American Legion. [BVH]
Shelby Nicole Vanderpool, 41, died on May 21. She was born in Adrian and worked for Hylex in Hamilton, Indiana. She enjoyed shopping and photography and was a member of the Gentle Giants 4-H group growing up, where she gained her love of animals. She enjoyed going with her son and father to motorcycle races. [AM]
Larry W. Kast, 87, of Morenci died on May 22. He was a graduate of Chesterfield High School in Chesterfield, Ohio. He served in the U.S. Army and then worked for several local factories as a tool and die maker. He was an avid collector of John Deere items and clocks. He was a member of First Congregational Church in Morenci and the Morenci American Legion. [AM]
Thomas Matthew Leon , 37, of Adrian died on May 22. He attended the LISD Porter Center School and always looked forward to participating in the Special Olympics. He was a resident of the Westhaven Home in Tecumseh for 16 years before being transferred to Adrian Bay. [PA]
Clyde James Brasher, 98, of Manitou Beach died on May 23. He attended Bean Patch Country School in Hudson and graduated from Fayette High School. He served in the U.S. Army for 18 months and lived in Korea for five months. He attended Adrian College, Albion College, and the University of Michigan Dental School, graduating in 1954. After his marriage in 1954 he and his wife moved to Morenci where he had a dental practice for 38 years. While in Morenci he attended Morenci Congregational Church and was a member of Kiwanis Club of Morenci. In retirement he moved to Devils Lake and belonged to the Devils Lake Yacht Club. [AM]
Gary Leroy Jones, 66, of Weston died on May 23. He attended Sand Creek High School and went on to earn a certificate as a dental technician. He worked as a dental technician for Guisinger Dental Lab and later as a technician in small engine repair. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. [PA]
Kathleen Diane Mildred Johnson, 68, of Onsted died on May 24. She was a 1976 graduate of Garden City West High School. She worked for Country Market for over 20 years as a clerk and supervisor. [E]
John Michael “Mike” Wanzeck, 74, of Tecumseh died on May 25. He was a 1969 graduate of Tecumseh High School and served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He was a natural salesman and entertainer. [H]
George “Reed” Mapstone Jr., 93, of Blissfield died on May 26. He was a 1950 graduate of Blissfield High School and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He devoted his life to raising cattle, crops, and his family. He was a lifetime member of First United Methodist Church in Blissfield and belonged to the Blissfield American Legion Post 325. He served for many years as a Blissfield Township trustee. [AM]
William Joseph “Bill” Graham III, 75, of Constantine died on May 27. He was a 1969 graduate of Adrian High School. He worked for Simplex of Constantine and Champco, and was the owner of the Red Garter Restaurant in Jones. He later retired from IAC/Leer. [eleyfuneralhomes.com]
Denise Mari Hubbs, 71, of Tecumseh died on May 27. She was a retired dental hygienist and dedicated much of her career to working with children. She enjoyed cooking, baking, watching cooking shows, and collecting cookbooks and recipes. [PS]
Ronald Joseph Lehman, 81, of Woodhaven, died on May 27. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He worked as a millwright for Ford Motor Company for several years until his retirement. He enjoyed hockey and coached for several years. [H]
Kay Arlene Rickard Cubberly Randolph, 83, of Tecumseh died on May 27. [PS]
Mark Anthony Dombrowski, 85, of Adrian died on May 28. He served in the U.S. Navy and earned his degree from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh in 1966. He served as head acquisition librarian for a number of universities and eventually as a university library director. [H]
Margaret Ann “Peggy” (Wilber) McIntosh, 88, of Lambertville, Michigan, died on May 28. She worked for many years at Eastern Michigan University, retiring as the head of payroll and benefits. [PS]
Melissa Perez Burgess, 57, of Adrian died on May 29. She was a 1986 graduate of Onsted High School and attended college for two years. She worked at Ford Motor Company in Saline, eventually retiring from the Wayne Assembly Plant. [PA]
Martha Ruth Farrell, 92, of Brooklyn died on May 29. She was a 1951 graduate of Brooklyn High School and worked for the Brooklyn Exponent for many years as a ladies’ columnist. She was a longtime supporter and president of Rebekah’s Lodge. She attended monthly card parties and was a member of the Jefferson Book Club. She was a 50-year member of the Brooklyn Presbyterian Church. [E]
Sister Mary Vianne Bayus, OP, 92, of Adrian died on May 30. She was in her 72nd year of profession as an Adrian Dominican Sister. She was born in North Branch and baptized as Therese Bayus. After entering the congregation, she ministered in elementary education for 30 years in Detroit, Dearborn, and Adrian. She also served as a nurse’s aide for several years in Trenton and Detroit, and later volunteered at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian as a physical therapy assistant. [ADS]
Doyle Brandeberry, 94, of Waldron died on May 30. He was a 1950 graduate of Waldron High School and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He worked for Consumers Energy as a tree trimmer for 38 years, retiring in 1993. He was a longtime member of the Waldron Wesleyan Church. [AM]
Wesley “Wes” Earl Dermyer, 74, of Adrian died on May 30. He was a 1969 graduate of Adrian High School and attended Eastern Michigan University where he joined Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity. After leaving college due to health reasons he worked at the Croswell Opera House and then at Adrian Public Schools in the custodial department. He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Adrian. [W]
Kathleen Mary “Kathy” Miller, 72, of Adrian died on May 30. She was a 1972 graduate of Adrian High School. She worked at Mann Buick for many years. She was an active member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Adrian, and also volunteered at St. Stephen Lutheran Elementary School while her children and grandchildren attended. [AM]
Walter “Walt” Eugene Tabbert, 95, of Brighton died on May 30. He attended Petersburg schools. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951-53 and worked at Tecumseh Products from 1948-57. He also farmed for three years during that period. He owned and operated a Gulf service station in Clinton from 1957-59. He worked at Clinton Engines and Tecumseh Farm Equipment, then in 1963 he began working for American Chain & Cable, retiring in 1987 as a division manager. He attended Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Tecumseh before moving to Adrian. He was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and School in Adrian where he served as a Sunday School superintendent and a member of the school board. He and his wife eventually made their retirement home in Florida, then moved back to Michigan in 2018. [W]
Lawrence Joseph Allen, 70, of Tipton died on May 31. He attended Waterloo University, earning his degree in 1981. He had a long career as an independent sales representative with Fritz Winter North America, retiring in 2019. [AM]
Larry David Day, 77, of Brooklyn died on May 31. He served in the Army National Guard. He was a self-employed carpenter who had a great passion and skill for woodworking. He enjoyed the outdoors and was proud of his annual harvests of sweet corn and vegetables. [BVH]
John Anthony Simon III, 68, of Clinton died on June 1. He worked as a mechanic in the junkyard and auto parts/recyling industry. He loved cars and looked forward to working on them, especially classic automobiles. [H]
Richard F. Day, 95, of Adrian died on June 2. He attended St. John’s Lutheran School and graduated from Adrian High School in 1949. He attended Adrian College for one year and then transferred to Concordia Teachers College in Illinois, graduating in 1953. He taught for many years in Ohio. After retiring from teaching in 2004 he relocated to Adrian, where he was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and volunteered at the Lenawee County Historical Museum. [W]
Patrick Allen Stretch, 53, of Tecumseh died on June 2. He was a 1996 graduate of Milton C. Porter Center and was employed for a number of years with Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Michigan. He attended Ridgeway Church of the Nazarene. He was an active member of the HOPE Center in Adrian. [PS]
Scott Burton Barnett, 70, of Brooklyn died on June 3. He was a 1974 graduate of Addison High School. He was involved in landscaping, softscapes, and hardscapes, and was featured in the tour of homes in Jackson. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn and the American Legion Wilbur Bartlett #315 of Brooklyn. [E]
Bradford Walter Bell, 75, of Hudson died on June 3. He worked in mental health corrections for the state of Michigan for 30 years, retiring in 2006, and had relocated to Hudson where he purchased a home on Horseshoe Lake. [BVH]
Judith “Judie” Ann Doan, 83, of Adrian died on June 3. She retired in 2019 from Work Services Inc., a nonprofit she founded in 1999. She spent her career helping people that society pushed to the margins because of their disabilities and she fought for everyone to be treated equally and have the same opportunities. When she was made CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Michigan she became Michigan’s first woman to hold that title. She began her career as a teacher and earned a Master of Social Work degree at Siena Heights College in 1982 while working at Vo-Tech in Adrian as the special needs coordinator. [W]
Elden LeRoy Cattell, 81, of Adrian died on June 4. He was a 1965 graduate of Adrian High School and served in the U.S. Army. He retired from General Motors in 2005. He dedicated over 40 years to the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Mounted Division and served as a Reserve deputy for the sheriff’s office. He also spent 35 years working security at Michigan International Speedway. [AM]
Maurice D. “Moe” First, 81, of Palmyra died on June 4. He had been employed by Turkey Creek. He enjoyed model airplanes and playing pool at the Piotter Center. He attended Jasper Bible Church. [AM]
Joshua Allen-Esteban Herevia, 21, of Adrian died on June 4. He was a 2023 graduate of Madison High School and worked as a corrections officer at the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility. [PA]
Mark William Nowicki, 65, of Brooklyn died on June 4. He was a 1977 graduate of Macomber High School in Toledo and served in the military for six years. He retired after many years from Frostbite Brands in Toledo. [E]
Michael S. Flaherty, 84, of Naples, Florida, died on June 5. He was a 1959 graduate of Blissfield High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Adrian College. He served in the Ohio Air National Guard from 1965-71. He worked in Florida as a realtor, retiring in 2020. [AM]
Nancy J. Griffin, 82, died on June 6. She was a teacher for 39 years. [PS]
William Lewis “Bill” Rohweder, 71, of Adrian died on June 6. He graduated from Tecumseh High School and Michigan Technological University in Houghton. He retired in 2023 from Lenawee County after a dedicated career in IT and cybersecurity. He volunteered at the Care Pregnancy Center and his church. [AM]
Sister Janice Scholl, OP, 92, of Adrian died on June 6. Formerly Sister Peter Ann, she was in her 72nd year of profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation. She was born in Chicago. After entering the congregation, she began a 35-year ministry in elementary education in Michigan, Florida, Arizona, and New Mexico. She later served as administrative assistant for the
congregation’s Southwest Chapter Office and was a clerk at St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson, Nevada. [ADS]
Nancy L. Armstrong, 62, of Pittsford died on June 7. She was a 1981 graduate of Pittsford High School. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Pittsford, where she served in many leadership roles. She was also a member of the Pittsford, Lickly Corners, Adams, Hillsdale, Pomona, State and National Granges. She worked at Carriage House Restaurant as a cook for eight years and at Fairway Products as a supervisor for over 25 years, retiring in 2017. [AM]
Charles Oral Garwood, 78, of Adrian died on June 7. He served in the U.S. Army. He was a tour guide and later a trustee of the Lenawee Historical Museum. He enjoyed flying and gained his pilot’s license when he was a young man. In his spare time, he also built a submarine. He was also known for his guitar playing. [AM]
James “Jim” E. Raper, 50, of Hudsonville died on June 7. He was a 1993 graduate of Madison High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Grand Valley State University. He was a manager in the commercial business field. [W]
Terry Michael Ahrens, 68, died on May 27. He was born in Tecumseh and was a 1975 graduate of Manchester High School. [E]
Betty Lou Carr, 75, of Brooklyn died on June 8. She will be remembered as an avid sports enthusiast who enjoyed softball, bowling, and darts. [E]
Jack Christopher Palms, 73, of Adrian died on June 9. He was a 1971 graduate of Morenci Area Schools. He had a lifelong passion for photography, a self-taught skill that became his primary occupation. He began as a traveling photographer for Sears before founding and operating Jack’s Portraits in Adrian for many years. [AM]
Timothy Allen Sands, 64, of Harrison, formerly of Morenci, died on June 9. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 12 years. After his military service he worked for the Michigan Department of Corrections. He served his hometown of Morenci over the years in positions of reserve police officer, firefighter, and EMT. He was a member of the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans. He was also a lifetime member of the United States Military Vets Motorcycle Club. [AM]
IN MEMORY
Melissa Marie Carney, 52, of Onsted died on June 10. She worked as a radio operator for the Sand Lake Fire Department, helped run countless school book fairs, volunteered with Onsted schools, and cared for elderly people in their homes. [AM]
Keith Terry Gruel, 73, of Adrian died on June 10. He was a 1970 graduate of Adrian High School. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in 1978 from Siena Heights College and an associate’s degree and paramedic degree in 1985. In 1991 he earned a Registered Nurse degree from Jackson College. He worked as a paramedic for Jackson EMS, as a registered nurse in the psychiatric units at Bixby and Herrick Hospitals, and also worked for the Lenawee Community Mental Health Authority. [AM]
Irene Louise Kalnbach, 96, of Adrian died on June 10. She was a 1947 graduate of Lyons High School and attended Bob Jones University and Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music. She worked in the medical field and retired from Bixby Hospital in 1994. She attended Jasper Bible Church. [W]
Randie Richard Breckel, 70, of Onsted died on June 11. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1978-81 and in the Air Force Reserve at Travis Air Force Base in California, retiring after 25 years of service as a Chief Master Sergeant. He returned to Michigan in 2003 and worked as a master car mechanic and as an aircraft mechanic for Delta Airlines. After his retirement he worked as a mechanic with Clinton schools, and was a bus driver this past school year. He also enjoyed a seasonal position with Michigan DNR, maintaining the grounds at Hayes State Park. [AM]
Danny E. Clymer, 74, of Tecumseh died on June 11. He was a 1969 graduate of Tecumseh High School and, along with his wife, owned Clymer Pump Services. [PS]
Garold James Jahner, 85, of Tecumseh died on June 11. He was a 1958 graduate of Belleville High School. He moved to Tecumseh in 1969 and raised horses. He loved golfing and joined the Tecumseh Country Club, where he was a 56-year member and golfed until a week before his death. [AM]
William Henry “Butch” Vaughn III, 62, of Adrian died on June 11. He attended Madison High School where he played baseball and basketball. [PA]
Ynoe Baltazar, 21, of Hillsdale, formerly of Hudson, died on June 12 from injuries sustained in an auto accident. He was born in Adrian. He was employed with his brother constructing steel buildings. [AM]
Marian Agnes Novakoski Koledo, 95, of Tecumseh died on June 12. She enjoyed horses, canoeing, and paddle-in camping. She served as a camp counselor and taught archery and riflery and was still a crack shot into her 80s. She studied nursing at Bishop DeGoesbriand Hospital in Vermont. The highlight of her nursing career was traveling to Egypt to demonstrate and teach laparaoscopic knee surgery. She retired at age 60 and moved to the Irish Hills. She attended St. Elizabeth’s Church in Tecumseh. [H]
Marie Marlett, 95, of Clarklake died on June 12. She retired from the food service department of Michigan Center Community Schools. She attended Harmony Baptist Church for many years, and more recently attended Grace Church. [E]
Eugene Allen VanEtten, 70, of Brooklyn died on June 12. He worked for Simplex in Adrian and for the Hamblin Company in Tecumseh before going to work in the print department at the University of Michigan. [H]
Rebecca “Beckie” Sue Cook, 75, of Adrian died on June 13. She was a lifelong resident of Adrian. Camping was her favorite pastime, with Sunny’s Campground in Wauseon being her favorite spot. [W]
John Edward Conley, 77, of Hudson died on June 14. He served in the U.S. Army and was a Vietnam veteran. [PA]
Lawrence Herbert Marks, 94, of Palmyra died on June 14. He was a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Palmyra and served in many leadership roles. He joined the church choir at the age of 10 and participated in the group well into his 90s. Over the years he was a soloist for 53 weddings and 35 funerals. He worked at the A&P grocery chain for 44 years and then worked at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel, retiring after 30 years at the age of 90. He clerked at Mitchell and Kelly Auctions, and volunteered for the Lenawee Department on Aging and the Salvation Army. [W]
Leonard “Lenny” Roy, 57, died on June 14. He loved his truck, his snowmobile, and golfing. He was a talented self-employed contractor who loved to share his craft with family and friends. [BVH]
Barbara Ellen (Steinaway) Armstrong, 72, of Brooklyn died on June 15. She will be remembered for Sunday dinners that gathered four generations around one table. [PA]
Susie Harris, 67, of Adrian died on June 15. She was a member of the Adrian Eagles and enjoyed dancing, singing karaoke, playing bingo, and traveling. [PA]
Diane Rene Reichel, 66, of Addison died on June 15. She was a 1977 graduate of Belleville High School. She worked for several years at Thompson Recycle as a pilot car driver for oversized loads and private contracting. She loved listening to music, singing, and canoeing on rivers and streams. [BVH]
Patricia Jean Szymanski, 68, of Adrian died on June 17. She grew up in Toledo and attended Notre Dame Academy and the University of Toledo. She was employed for 41 years with Lenawee County, including in the prosecutor’s office, 2A District Court, and 39th Circuit Court, retiring in 2021. [AM]
George Elwood Barbour Sr., 88, formerly of Pittsford, died on June 18, at his home in Croydon, N.H. He was a firefighter, serving for 34 years on the Redford Township Fire Department. He had been a member of Wheatland Congregational Church in Pittsford. [AM]
William Steven Hyder, 84, of Adrian died on June 18. He worked for Fisher Body in Adrian for many years. He was a Marine Corps veteran and a member of the Marine Corps League Irish Hills Detachment #1182, Onsted, helping with Toys for Tots. He was a avid runner and took part in many marathons. [AM]
To submit an obituary for publication, please email obituaries@lenaweevoice.com.
Monument Man
from page B1
Camp cleaned the monument and surrounding markers last year for an outof-town relative who wanted the family plot restored.
“This one here? It took me about five hours to do this one because I had to have a ladder to get up to the top,” Camp said. “The way the chemical works, you start at the top and work down. As you keep working down, the chemical keeps working on everything else.”
Older monuments require special care. “Older stones are marble,” Camp said. “It’s porous. It’s soft. Over the years, the weather has started taking the face off. When marble just comes out of the ground, it’s a softer, more porous stone than granite.”
Newer markers, he said, are generally granite, with lettering and designs typically cut by sandblasting.
Camp does not use harsh household cleaners or acids. After researching proper methods, he began using ecosafe cleaning compounds designed for cemetery stones. He started with a product called D/2, a cleaner widely used for biological growth on stone, and now uses a similar product supplied through a company in Connecticut.
“It doesn’t have any acid in it, so it’s not going to kill the grass,” he said.
The cleaner is designed to remove moss, mildew, lichen and other organic growth without damaging the stone. Camp said the process continues even after he leaves the cemetery.
“After you’re done, the chemical keeps working,” he said. “After a month, it’ll keep cleaning. Light rain will help clean.”
Camp works from a trailer behind his pickup truck, hauling a hose, sponges, and equipment to the stones he is cleaning. His tool bucket holds brushes of different sizes, allowing him to work into lettering, crevices and carved details.
He takes before-and-after photographs that help show the transformation. A stone blackened with mildew, moss and lichen can slowly return to its natural color. White marble, especially, can brighten again after treatment. The work has grown quickly. Once people see the difference, they ask him to clean family stones in other cemeteries.
“Once you get started and people see what you are doing, they want to have it done,” Camp said.
He has cleaned markers throughout Lenawee County and has gone as far as Coldwater. At one cemetery there, he cleaned 34 stones and made minor repairs to two others, including small marble markers that needed to be glued back together. He said he is willing to drive within a 60-mile radius of Hudson.
Camp’s connection to monuments is a family story. His father, Richard Camp, sold grave markers out of an office in Hudson. His mother, Betty, also sold markers after Richard died. His uncle
Larry was part of the family business, and today Camp’s brother Terry works in the monument business too.
For Camp, the work is part skill, part patience and part respect.
He understands the stone — what it can withstand, what will damage it, and what time has already taken away. He also understands what the markers mean to families.
In a cemetery, every stone carries a name. Some are carved deep into granite. Some are fading from marble. Some stand at the center of large family plots, while others lean quietly against tree trunks in the shade.
Camp cannot stop time from weathering them. But with a hose, a bucket of brushes and the right cleaner, he can uncover what is still there.
One stone at a time, the Monument Man is helping old names be seen again.
Bill Camp, the Monument Man, can be reached at 517-306-7751 or 517-448-7475.
ARTS & LIVING
THE LENAWEE VOICE
THIRD SECTION JULY 2026
Go fly a kite!
‘Neon Lights and Country Nights’ at the Lenawee County Fair
PAGE C5
Adrian man brings his passion to the skies
By Kate Mitchell
The Lenawee Voice
ADRIAN — For Joel Scholz, it all comes back to kites.
The retired kite designer and Adrian transplant owes much of who he is today to a spring day decades ago in his hometown of Austin, Texas. A bored college student studying to become a teacher after changing majors from chemistry and biology, Joel stumbled upon a kite festival in Zilker Park. He had
always been fascinated by things that flew, kites included, so when he found himself with some time on his hands, he decided to build a kite and enter the festival’s contest.
He won third place. The rest is, as they say, history.
“In the course of doing that, I met some people that were adults doing kites,” he said. “They made me feel it was OK for a grown-up man to fly kites.”
Fly kites he did.
Joel returned to the Zilker Park kite
festival year after year, building kites for the competition and meeting other people making kites. He became an art teacher and, after a few years of doing that, got burnt out on it, going back to
school to become an X-ray technician, and all the while, he was building and flying kites.
Joel Scholz — pictured at left flying a kite at Cal Zorn Park in Tecumseh, and above in his home workshop in Adrian — is a retired kite designer who moved to Adrian in 2024. KATE MITCHELL/LENAWEE VOICE
Blissfield’s River Raisin Festival begins July 9
BLISSFIELD — “All-American Summer” is the theme of this year’s River Raisin Festival, which returns to Ellis and Bachmayer Parks in Blissfield from July 9-11.
The parks are just off U.S. 223, near the bridges on the west side of Blissfield. Ellis Park is on the east side of the River Raisin; Bachmayer is on the west side.
The festival itself is free, although there is a charge for some of the activities, such as rides and inflatable games.
Carnival rides will be located in Ellis Park, provided by Elliott’s Amusements out of Mason.
The popular Kids’ Corner will be located in Bachmayer Park. Free activities in the Kids’ Corner include arts and crafts, a variety of games, free locomotive rides, a toddler play zone, and a sensory table and calming area. In addition, the Kids’ Corner will host Kelly Inflatables and Goobers Party Animals (these activities will have a small charge).
Thursday, July 9: A Jeep show will take place on the baseball diamond in Ellis Park on Thursday from 6-8 p.m.
New to the Thursday night lineup is an open mic night on the Pavilion Stage from 5-9 p.m. Anyone with a talent to present — including singers, dancers,
instrumentalists, comedians, and storytellers — is welcome. For details or to sign up, email rrf.vendors@gmail.com.
Friday, July 10: The Miss River Raisin Festival scholarship competition will take place at 6 p.m. on the Pavilion Stage.
The Kevin Bordine Band will perform live during the competition, with Beach Boys music to fit the “All-American Summer” theme. The new Miss River Raisin Festival will be crowned by 2025 title-holder Ashlee Pelham.
The Kevin Bordine Band will continue to play throughout the evening, with live music from 9-11 p.m. coinciding with a fireworks display that begins at dusk.
(In the event of rain, the fireworks will be moved to Saturday night.)
Saturday, July 11: The River Raisin Festival Parade is at 10:30 a.m.
Live entertainment throughout the day on Saturday will include the Metro Soul Band starting at 2 p.m. and the band Stealin’ Copper beginning at 6 p.m., both on the Pavilion stage.
Throughout the weekend, athletic events such as softball and basketball tournaments and kids’ archery will be offered. Food vendors and merchants will be set up on all three days of the festival. For more information, go to riverraisinfestival.org.
Nine to compete for Miss River Raisin Festival title
BLISSFIELD — The 31st Miss River Raisin Festival will be crowned on Friday, July 10, on the River Raisin Festival Pavilion Stage in Blissfield’s Bachmayer Park.
The competition begins at 6 p.m., and admission is free.
The Miss River Raisin Festival event is a local competition for the Miss America program. It is also a scholarship opportunity, and as of this year, the program will have provided more than $208,400 in college scholarships to local young women.
The winner of this year’s competition will vie for the Miss Michigan title in June 2027 in Muskegon. The winner of the state crown will then compete for the iconic Miss America title.
There is some bleacher seating, but audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or a blanket to assure seating.
The contestants
n Emily Auth, 23, of Blissfield is the daughter of Heather and Bryan Auth. She is pursuing a master’s degree in athletic training at Bowling Green State University after graduating with her applied exercise science degree from the University of Michigan. She will do a speed painting for
her talent demonstration, and her service initiative is “Grow Through What You Go Through.”
n Denae Covey, 20, of Adrian is the daughter of Deena and Keith Covey. She is an Adrian College junior majoring in elementary education, and will present a clarinet performance. Her service initiative involves inclusion of children with special needs.
n Kindell Covey, 23, of Adrian is the daughter of Deena and Keith Covey, and a Siena Heights University graduate with a biology major. Her talent will be a spoken presentation and her service initiative is “Empowering Youth Today to Lead Tomorrow: Building Youth Leadership Skills.”
n Tanana Emmendorfer, 20, of Adrian, the daughter of Eric and Richelle CarsonEmmendorfer, is a junior majoring in marketing at Spring Arbor University. She will play trombone for the talent portion of the competition and her service initiative is “Mental Health Awareness in Athletes.”
n Gretchen Gautz, 19, of Adrian is the daughter of Heidi and Dale Gautz. She is a junior majoring in agricultural business management at Michigan State University. Her service initiative is Agricultural Education.
n Lauren Howard, 19, of Adrian is the daughter of Kristen and Bryan Howard and a sophomore at Coastal Carolina University, where she is pursuing a degree in biochemistry. She will twirl baton for her talent and her service initiative is “Grin and Give Back: Dental Hygiene for People in Need.”
n Liberty Lake, 18, daughter of Alicia and Cody Lake of Temperance, is a sophomore majoring in elementary education at Adrian College. She will present a lyrical dance for her talent, and her service initiative is “Mind Over Mirror.”
n Makenzie Simpson, 24, daughter of Malissa and Matt Simpson of Monroe, is an Adrian College graduate and will be teaching at Blissfield Elementary School this fall. She will perform a jazz dance for her talent and her service initiative is “Supporting Students Beyond the Classroom: Trauma Advocacy in Schools.”
n Madilynn Tomasek, 23, of Blissfield is the daughter of Rebecca Tomasek and the late John Paul Tomasek Jr. She is a licensed cosmetologist at Deb’s Crystal Room in Blissfield. Her service initiative is “Beyond Epilepsy: Empowering through Advocacy, Awareness and Education.”
Emily Auth Tanana Emmendorfer
Liberty Lake Denae Covey
Gretchen Gautz
Makenzie Simpson
Kindell Covey
Lauren Howard
Ashlee Pelham will wrap up her reign as Miss River Raisin Festival when she crowns the new title holder on July 10. Pelham teaches at Sand Creek and her service initiative as Miss River Raisin Festival has been “Cultivate Agricultural Education: Growing Confidence, Communication & Leadership in Youth.”
LINDSAY KING PORTRAITS
Madilynn Tomasek
Two households, both alike in dignity...
Adrian Shakespeare Company chooses ‘Romeo & Juliet’ for its third annual production in Trestle Park
By Arlene Bachanov The Lenawee Voice
ADRIAN — For its third annual Shakespeare in the Park production, the Adrian Shakespeare Co. turns to one of the Bard of Avon’s most widely performed plays: “Romeo and Juliet.”
The show takes place at the amphitheater in Adrian’s Trestle Park. Performances are at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 30; 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 31; 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2.
Admission is free, but donations to support the production via the Lenawee Community Foundation are welcome.
Patrons are invited to bring their own chairs, blankets, umbrellas, and picnics. This year, for the first time, golf cart rides are available for transportation to and from the parking areas.
As the Adrian Shakespeare Co. was getting off the ground in 2024, “we knew we wanted to start things off with some lighter fare,” producer John MacNaughton said. And so, he and director Stephen Kiersey chose “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as the company’s first production and “Much Ado About Nothing” for 2025.
“Romeo and Juliet,” however, was always in the cards as a next step.
“We would like to eventually do some more serious plays,” Kiersey said, “and this is a warmup. It’s a romantic comedy up until halfway through, and then it turns very tragic.”
It’s also one of Shakespeare’s most enduring stories. Over time, it’s been
turned into opera, ballet, multiple movies, and even adaptations such as “West Side Story.”
What accounts for its popularity?
While most young lovers don’t come from families who are sworn enemies, as Romeo and Juliet do, “the fact of falling in love with someone you aren’t supposed to is pretty universal,” Kiersey said.
Besides that, “it’s got everything — romance, fights, dancing. Shakespeare knew what the public wanted.”
MacNaughton thinks that part of it, too, is the “innocence and honesty” of both Romeo and Juliet. “They didn’t do anything wrong,” he said, and yet circumstances lead to tragedy for both of them.
The play also has some of the Bard’s most lyrical writing. “Shakespeare was kind of at the beginning of his career, but the language is so beautiful,” Kiersey added.
The production stars Eli Stachowske as Romeo and Ella Flumignan as Juliet. AJ Landingham is Benvolio, Rob Flumignan and Autumn Cadotte are Lord and Lady Montague, Kyler Mattoon is Tybalt, Nate Adams is Mercutio, and Bryan Shane and Cassidy Giddens are Lord and Lady Capulet.
The Nurse is played by Makana Luana, while Eric Huffman plays Count Paris, Justin Kohlruss is Prince Escalus, Max Ruff plays Friar Lawrence and Aiden Leake plays Friar John. Mark Schersten is
the Prologue and the Apothecary. Capulet and Montague servants are played by Aiden Leake (Balthasar), Nate Adams (Abraham), Max Ruff (Sampson), and Eric Huffman (Gregory). The roles of various citizens, servants, dancers and guards are filled by Anika Lindstrom and Dallas Barringer.
Having several of the actors play multiple roles “is actually very true to life” for a Shakespearean troupe all the way back to the earliest days of these plays, Kiersey said, and he thinks it could be interesting for audiences to see that unfold on stage.
In addition to Kiersey and MacNaughton, the production team includes Doug Miller (scenic designer), Jessica Briggs (choreographer), Mark DiPietro (fight choreographer), Pam Adair and Amy Lillywhite Sturtevant (costumers), Sabriyah Davis (intimacy coordinator), Elizabeth Olgren (stage manager) and Brad Marowelli and Red Letter Sound (sound design).
Nicholas Trevino, a local resident who’s currently a composition major at Bowling Green State University, has written original music for the show, including dance music for the Capulet ball.
While Kiersey adapted last year’s “Much Ado About Nothing” by bringing the story into modern times, “Romeo and Juliet” will have its traditional Renaissance-era setting. To that end, “I wanted Renaissance music but I wanted it to sound modern,” which is where Trevino comes in, Kiersey said.
See ROMEO & JULIET, page C4
Trestle Park will once again be the setting for the Adrian Shakespeare Company’s annual summer production. In its third season, the group will present “Romeo and Juliet” from July 30 to Aug. 2. PHOTO BY LAD STRAYER
Morenci teacher is ACA’s first Lenawee Art Educator of the Year
By Renee Lapham Collins The Lenawee Voice
MORENCI — Rachel Siefert likes to keep her students guessing.
‘George M!’ at the Croswell is packed with familiar tunes
ADRIAN — You may not know George M. Cohan’s name, but you probably know his work.
Cohan, who grew up in a performing family at the end of the 19th century, started out in vaudeville. As an adult, he became known as “the man who owned Broadway,” writing dozens of shows and publishing more than 300 songs over the course of his illustrious career.
Each week, students at Morenci Elementary School walk into her classroom not quite knowing what they will be doing next. They may study Picasso, experiment with a new art technique, work through an engineering challenge or build something that requires them to think like artists.
“I always joke with our kids, they never know what they’re going to come to my classroom doing because every week we do something different,” Siefert said.
That sense of surprise is part of the point.
Siefert, who is the Elementary STEAM teacher at Morenci, has been named the inaugural Lenawee Art Teacher of the Year by Adrian Center for the Arts. The award was created in honor of artist Marjorie Castle, who died earlier this year.
Although the award recognizes art education, Siefert’s classroom reaches beyond traditional art instruction. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math, and Siefert uses all five areas to help students learn through hands-on projects.
Her position gives her the flexibility to build lessons that combine creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving. For young students, that kind of learning can be especially powerful. Instead of separating subjects into individual boxes, STEAM helps children see how ideas connect. Art becomes more than coloring or painting. Science becomes more than facts. Math becomes more than numbers on a page. Students are asked to create, test, revise, collaborate and solve problems.
Siefert describes herself as a projectbased learning teacher. In project-based learning, students learn by doing. A group of third graders, for example, might not simply read about an artist or look at a painting. They might study the artist’s life and style, then use that knowledge to create a project that also involves design, measurement, construction or problem-solving.
Siefert is originally from Blissfield and now lives in Adrian with her husband, Scott, and two sons, Landon, 16, and Lane, 13.
For Siefert, the recognition as Art Teacher of the Year affirms work that is rooted in both creativity and curiosity. Her students may not always know what they will be doing when they walk into her classroom. But that is exactly why they keep wondering what comes next.
Those songs include “You’re A Grand Old Flag,” “The Yankee Doodle Boy” (more commonly known by its first line, “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy”), and “Give My Regards to Broadway,” as well as the rousing anthem “Over There,” which became synonymous with the U.S. military during World War I and World War II.
The musical “George M!” tells the story of Cohan’s life. It begins with his childhood, when he performed in a vaudeville troupe with his parents and sister, and follows his journeys as a Broadway singer, dancer, composer, and director.
The Croswell Opera House will present “George M!” for two weekends this month, beginning July 10 and running through July 19.
Romeo & Juliet
from page C3
Additionally, the play ends with a dance, which may seem unusual given the
Kites from page C1
Everything came together when, in the ’80s, he was facing layoffs from his job as an X-ray technician and had designed his F16 stunt kite, a maneuverable dual-lined kite that he could see the potential in.
“I thought ‘you know, I bet you I could make a lot of money with this kite,’ ” he said.
He decided to take a risk with the F16, borrowing $10,000 and starting his own business — Sky Delight Kites. It was the start of a decades-long, successful career in kite design, one that took him all over the world as he won competitions and partnered with toy and kite companies to chase his passion by designing kites.
His career even brought him to his wife, Bonnie Palmer.
Joel entered the competition at the Black Ships Kite Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, the grand prize of which was a trip to Japan. His kite won and it was featured on a magazine cover, one that she came across before she had even met him.
Bonnie’s interest in kites led her to making them herself, just a few small towns away from where Joel was living at the time. So when Joel placed an ad in the local paper seeking a seamstress to sew the kites he’d made the frames and patterns for, she knew she had to go for it. Or she did eventually, anyway. Bonnie was hesitant to reach out and, when she did, Joel had already hired a few seamstresses to do the work. That would have been the end of it, had fate not intervened. When one of those seamstresses wasn’t able to complete the work, she ran into Bonnie and offered the job to her. She eagerly accepted and their work partnership began, followed eventually by their romantic one. The
Many of Cohan’s songs have a patriotic flair, befitting the Croswell’s July time slot during the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The role of George M. Cohan is played by Will DuPuis, who is from Toledo but now lives and works in New York. Croswell regulars may remember DuPuis as Davey in the theater’s 2024 production of “Newsies,” or as the ill-fated Count Ipolitov in last summer’s “Anastasia.”
Steve Antalek and Michelle Force, both music educators in the Adrian school district, play George’s parents, Jerry and Nellie Cohan. His sister, Josie, is played by Ana Morgan of Ann Arbor.
The cast also includes Katherine Dolson, Olivia Dolson, Bobby Lindsey, Lori MacDonald, Kyler Mattoon and Eli Stachowske, all of Adrian; Nicole Harris of Ann Arbor; Kina Eby of Deerfield; Lane Hakel of Hudson; Chad Mohler and Gabriel Mohler of Lambertville; Nevaeh Bravo of Manchester; Lila Brighton and Erica Murray of Onsted; Arlo Ringle of Saline; George Reasoner of Tecumseh; Yasmeen Perrin of Perrysburg, Ohio; Ella Stoll of Sylvania; and Nathan Glover of Toledo.
fact that the young lovers have just died tragic deaths, but Kiersey said it’s the way the Globe Theatre —England’s home for all things Shakespeare — has staged it.
“A lot of Shakespeare’s plays ended with dances,” he said. “And if the Globe
pair worked together on Sky Delight Kites projects for years, creating dozens of different designs that were sometimes even sold to be produced by other companies.
While Joel picked the perfect time in the industry to start his business, kiting as a hobby faded before too long. When he founded Sky Delight Kites, his enterprise was just one of 300 kite producers in the United States. In the decades since, that number has dwindled, with Joel and Bonnie both retiring from the industry 14 years ago.
But kiting was never just a job for Joel, it was a passion. When the couple moved to Adrian in 2024, they found a home that was ideal for their creative pursuits. Bonnie’s workshop is in the basement, where she’s delved into her love of dollhouses — “Being married to a creative man, I always want that creativity to rub off on me,” she said — and Joel’s is in a barn out back.
There, he has everything he needs to design and build whatever kites he can possibly imagine. There are rolls of nylon fabric, an array of tools, even sewing machines to stitch everything together. His love of flying kites drives his design, from making things inspired by nature — something else he loves — to the practical side of design itself. With no formal training in physics, he’s had to learn through practice and observation what makes a good kite.
“I’ve been fascinated by things that flew all my life,” he said. “When I was a kid I would spend hours and days making paper airplanes. My sister and I would go out and fly a diamond kite. It’s kind of intuitive for me. I can see something like a kite and if it’s not doing something correctly, I have a sense for what’s causing it to not work and I can change it up so it does work.”
Another perk of the location of the
In addition to Cohan’s most memorable tunes, “George M!” is filled with high-energy dance numbers — including lots of tapdancing — choreographed by Meghan C. Hakes and led by dance captain Ashley Thornton Murdock.
The director is John MacNaughton. The vocal director is Wynne Marsh, and the live orchestra will be conducted by Ray Novak.
The Croswell, which is celebrating its 160th year in operation, is located at 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian. Tickets to “George M!” range from $26 to $46 for adults, $16 to $26 for students, and may be ordered online at croswell.org or by calling 517-264-7469.
Show dates and times
n Friday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m.
n Saturday, July 11 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.
n Sunday, July 12 at 2:30 p.m.
n Thursday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m.
n Friday, July 17 at 7:30 p.m.
n Saturday, July 18 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.
n Sunday, July 19 at 2:30 p.m.
can do it in London, we can do it on the banks of the River Raisin.”
For more information on the production, go to adrianshakespeare. org or search for “Adrian Shakespeare Company” on Facebook.
Adrian home? It’s close to Mitchell and Cal Zorn parks, both near ideal places to fly a kite. That’s where you can often find Joel, taking one of his creations to the sky when the conditions are right.
Though, to his disappointment, he’s always the only one at the park flying a kite.
“Kiting can be an inexpensive sport and it gets kids outdoors and away from phones or computer screens,” he said. “It gets them into nature and exposes them to good things.”
When he does see children at the park, they’re often there to play a more traditional sport like soccer or baseball. Joel sees the value in those activities, but also sees the opportunity that kiting has to offer people who may not take to other athletic pursuits.
“There are a lot of kids who aren’t cut out to play sports like that,” he said. “There are a lot of people who got into it for the sport of it, who are flying dualline kites and compete. It’s a great way to meet people, it’s a good way to get out into nature and it’s good exercise.”
Joel hopes that he can spark a love of kiting in the region. Whether it be from someone seeing one of his creations in the sky and deciding to pursue it on their own or starting a regularly scheduled gathering that can grow with time, he wants to share the sport that first gave him a hobby, then a career and, eventually, even his spouse.
“The Chinese said that when you’re flying a kite you’re actually closer to God,” he said.
“That’s true in the sense that when you’re out in nature, flying a kite, your cares seem to disappear. It’s a good, wholesome, family thing to do.”
If you’re interested in learning about kiting, you can contact Joel at skydelightkites@yahoo.com.
Rachel Siefert
Lenawee County Fair runs from July 26 to August 1
ADRIAN — “Neon Lights and Country Nights” is the theme of this year’s Lenawee County Fair, which opens on July 26.
The fair is held the last week of July every year. The way the calendar falls this year, the last day of the fair will actually be Aug. 1.
Admission to the fair is $5 per person (free for kids ages 9 and under). Free admission is available to people ages 65 and up on Tuesday, July 28; veterans on Wednesday, July 29; and active-duty military members on any day.
Fair hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Rides on the Midway are available from Tuesday through Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.
Sunday, July 26 (Queens’ Day)
Fair parade: Lineup begins at 11:30 a.m. along College Avenue and Michigan Avenue west of downtown. The parade will begin at 1 p.m. and proceed east along Maumee Street, through downtown, and end at the fairgrounds.
10 a.m.: Sand Creek Community Church service.
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Car and bike cruise-in.
2 p.m.: Michigan Pedal Pullers in the Grandstand.
6 p.m.: Earl Kelly Memorial Pull in the Grandstand.
7 p.m.: Lenawee County Fair Queen pageant in the bandshell.
Monday, July 27
4 p.m.: 4-H Performing Arts and Project Runway.
7 p.m.: Figure 8 car and truck demolition derby in the Grandstand.
8 p.m.: 4-H Lip Sync Battle.
Tuesday, July 28 (Senior Citizens’ Day)
9 a.m.: 4-H Dog Show.
2 p.m.: Elvis tribute artist.
2:30 p.m.: Music by Gramberry Jam.
7 p.m.: Adrian City Band in the bandshell.
7 p.m.: KOI Dirt Drags in the Grandstand.
8:30 p.m.: Music by Tommy Sargent in the bandshell.
Wednesday, July 29 (Veterans’ Day)
11 a.m.: Veterans’ luncheon in the bandshell.
4 p.m.: Queen contestants’ talent revue.
6 p.m.: 4-H small animal sale in the Show Barn.
7 p.m.: Figure 8 car and truck demo in the Grandstand.
7 p.m.: Music by Electrik Mayhem in the bandshell.
Thursday, July 30 (Kids’ Day)
3 p.m.: Storm Cheer & Dance in the bandshell.
6 p.m.: 4-H dairy feeder calf sale in the Show Barn.
7 p.m.: Lost Nations Rodeo in the Grandstand.
7 p.m.: Journey tribute by Infinity & Beyond in the bandshell.
Friday, July 31 (Ag Day)
1 p.m.: 4-H Food Eating Contest.
6 p.m.: 4-H junior livestock sale in the Show Barn.
7 p.m.: Diesel and gas truck pull in the Grandstand.
7 p.m.: Music by Los Hermanos in the bandshell.
Saturday, Aug. 1 (Merchants’ Day)
1 p.m.: Adrian Junior Majorettes in the bandshell.
2:30 p.m.: MST Dance Studio in the bandshell.
4 p.m.: Bark’s Tales in the bandshell.
7 p.m.: Tuff Truck & Car Competition in the Grandstand.
7 p.m.: Music by JTE in the bandshell.
The Lenawee County Fair & Event Grounds are at 602 N. Dean St., Adrian. For more information and tickets to ticketed events, go to lenfair.com.
The Lenawee County Fair opens on July 26 this year. The theme is “Neon Lights and Country Nights.” PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LENAWEE COUNTY FAIR & EVENT GROUNDS.
‘Everyone has a voice that’s worth hearing’
Children’s book ‘The Bird Who Couldn’t Tweet’ is a family effort between an Adrian woman and her nephew
By Renee Lapham Collins The Lenawee Voice
ADRIAN — When Darcy Gifford sat down to write a children’s book, she knew only a few things. She wanted to try a different kind of writing. She wanted the main character to be a bird. And she thought it might be funny if that bird could not make a sound.
What she did not realize, at least not at first, was that the little bird’s story would begin to sound a lot like her own.
“The Bird Who Couldn’t Tweet,” written by Gifford and illustrated by her nephew, Drake Gifford, began as a creative experiment and became something more: a family collaboration, a lesson in self-publishing, and a gentle story about finding one’s voice in one’s own time.
“I had this just kernel of an idea,” Gifford said. “And as I started playing around and writing it, this story kind of came out of me.”
Only later, when the manuscript was finished, did she see the connection, recalling that it sounded a bit “autobiographical.”
Gifford, an Adrian resident and Adrian College graduate, is assistant vice president for marketing and communications at Eastern Michigan University, where she also serves as editor of the university’s flagship publication, Eastern Magazine. Writing is part of her professional life, but writing for children was something entirely different.
“I knew I wanted to try my hand at writing in a whole different way than I’ve ever written before,” she said.
The result was Piper, a young bird from a large, noisy family who has not yet found her tweet. For Gifford, the youngest of six children, the story came to reflect something she understood from childhood.
“The book very closely mirrors me taking a while to be comfortable speaking in front of people or speaking out,” she said. “I’m the youngest of six, so people were talking for me a lot.”
That realization was not part of the original plan.
Instead, the story emerged during a reflective time in her life, as her mother was growing older and Gifford had become her primary caregiver. Her father had died in 2011, and after that, she said, her mother became “kind of like my buddy.”
Gifford also wanted the book to be playful. She has a young great-nephew in Denver, and the two share a love of making each other laugh. So Piper’s journey includes silly moments, too — the kind meant to delight a child.
It was also a chance to collaborate with nephew Drake Gifford, a Central Michigan University graduate and art teacher at Jenison Junior High. Drake had student taught at Adrian High School under Annie Howard in 2015 and lived with his aunt during that year.
He had drawn characters before, Darcy said, but had never carried one through a full story arc. She had never written a children’s book. Together, they decided to try.
In an era when content can be generated and distributed quickly, Gifford said she is proud that the book was slowly and carefully made by two people learning as they went.
“This was really crafted by us over the course of two years,” she said.
The production side brought its own learning curve. Gifford and her nephew chose to publish the book themselves through Amazon’s self-publishing platform, KDP, and IngramSpark, which is the platform for retail and libraries. The combination, she said, gives them wider distribution.
“One of the reasons we wanted to do it ourselves was because I wanted to learn the whole back-end of trying to produce a book,” she said.
The book has sold around 200 copies, a number Gifford said has exceeded their expectations for a self-published children’s book in a crowded market. It is available through major retailers, at Serendipity Books in Chelsea and at Sass in Adrian. Gifford hopes to add to the list of bookstores as she continues to navigate the world of metadata and promotion.
But the original goal was never bestseller status or financial success.
“It was more of the collaboration, something to do with my nephew, trying to stretch ourselves creatively, trying to put a little kindness into the world, trying to learn something new and have fun,” she said.
That kindness is at the heart of Piper the Bird’s story. No one tries to fix the little bird. Her mother does not pressure her. Her friend believes in her. The characters around her give her room to become herself.
That was intentional, Gifford said.
“We all have agency over our own lives,” Gifford said, “and sometimes the greatest gift you can give people is the space to figure stuff out themselves. I want anyone, both kids and parents, to know they’re enough just how they are. Everyone has a voice that’s worth hearing.”
Darcy Gifford is pictured with a copy of her book, “The Bird Who Couldn’t Tweet.”
RENEE LAPHAM COLLINS/LENAWEE VOICE
JULY
THINGS TO DO IN LENAWEE COUNTY
To submit events for inclusion in this calendar, please email news@lenaweevoice.com by the 15th of the month before the event.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
Brooklyn Big Boy Car Show Night
Brooklyn Big Boy, 5-8 p.m.
Every Wednesday (weather permitting), featuring a DJ, 50/50 raffle, and driver prizes. 329 S. Main St., Brooklyn
FRIDAY, JULY 3
Adrian First Fridays: Firecracker Fourth Downtown Adrian, 5-8 p.m.
Get ready for a night that goes out with a bang. This First Friday, downtown is lighting up with an evening full of energy, summer fun, and red-white-and-blue vibes. Enjoy music by the Adrian City Band in the farmers market pavilion, visit the downtown shops, and then head to Comstock Park for fireworks.
First Fridays Car Show: Jeeps & Broncos
Lenawee Fair & Event Grounds, 5-8 p.m.
The theme for this month’s car show at the fairgrounds is Jeeps and Broncos, and live music will be provided by The Metros. 602 N. Dean St., Adrian
America’s 250th Birthday Car Show
Onsted American Legion, 5-8 p.m.
No entry fee or registration; prizes will be awarded; food truck on site. Live music by Jaded Soul Band from 7-10 p.m. Bring your own lawnchair. Free.
333 Connor St., Onsted 517-605-8199
14th annual Ragtime Extravaganza
First Presbyterian Church of Adrian, 8 p.m.
Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with the River Raisin Ragtime Revue, one of the only professional ragtime orchestras in the United States. This will be a concert of music that has shaped our nation’s cultural identity, including familiar tunes by iconic American composers and songwriters like Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, and George M. Cohan. Free. 156 Maumee St., Adrian ragtimeband.org
SATURDAY, JULY 4
Devils & Round Lake Men’s Club Firecracker 7K Run/Walk Manitou Beach, 8 a.m.
The Devils and Round Lake Fireworks Association for many years has put on a beautiful display of fireworks for all to enjoy. Part of the proceeds from this event will help them to continue to put on a great show. Packet pickup is at Highland Inn from 5-8 p.m. on July 2. 3171 Round Lake Hwy., Manitou Beach
Blissfield’s River Raisin Festival, in Ellis and Bachmayer Parks, runs from July 9-11.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RIVER RAISIN FESTIVAL
TUESDAY, JULY 7
Lenawee County Family Researchers summer meeting
Sand Creek Community Church, 6 p.m.
The librarian from the FamilySearch Center in Saline will share the resources available at the center, both in-house and online through the LDS research system. The center is located at 525 E. Woodland Drive, Saline. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m.
6201 Sand Creek Highway, Sand Creek
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8
Brooklyn Big Boy Car Show Night
Brooklyn Big Boy, 5-8 p.m.
Every Wednesday (weather permitting), featuring a DJ, 50/50 raffle, and driver prizes.
329 S. Main St., Brooklyn
Reading of the Declaration of Independence
Lenawee County Courthouse, 6 p.m.
The Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution will host a reading of the Declaration of Independence at the old Lenawee County Courthouse. For more information, email Nancy Kujda at nancykujda86@gmail.com.
301 N. Main St., Adrian
THURSDAY, JULY 9
River Raisin Festival
Ellis and Bachmayer Parks, starting at 5 p.m.
The Blissfield River Raisin Festival is hosting its 42nd year of family fun. Admission to the festival is free, as are many of the activities, including musical entertainment. There will also be rides, concessions, exhibits, merchant vendors, crafts, games and more. Fireworks highlight the Friday night fun; Saturday kicks off with the big parade through the village of Blissfield.
123 S. Monroe St., Blissfield riverraisinfestival.org
Blissfield Car & Bike Show
Springbrook Commons, 5-8 p.m.
Springbrook Commons presents a series of car and bike shows filled with community fun, prizes, and more. Each show supports local organizations, including the Blissfield Food Pantry, American Legion, and more.
628 W. Adrian St., Blissfield
Celebrate Hudson Music in the Park: Flagship Romance and The Rough and Tumble
Southern Michigan Center for Science and Industry, 6:30 p.m.
After years of friendship and crossing paths at numerous folk festivals, these two duos joined forces with their “Rough Romance Tour” in 2024. Following the success of that partnership, they’re bringing the tour to the Midwest this summer. Part of the Celebrate Hudson Music in the Park series, which brings talented bands and singer-songwriters to play free outdoor concerts in Hudson every summer. Free.
550 E. Main St., Hudson
Dixon’s Violin live in Concert
The Ashlar, 7 p.m.
Enjoy the mesmerizing experience of musical magic by acclaimed violinist Dixon, live in concert. Don’t just hear the music — feel it. This is a seated show. If the weather is nice, the concert will be outside on the deck overlooking the Red Mill Pond. In case of rain, the music will be inside the building. A former technology leader and symphony violinist, Dixon walked away from a distinguished career to follow his dream full time and invented a whole new music genre. He now improvises on a five-string electric violin with a looping system he developed to create an all-live one-man symphony, guided by his remarkable personal story of life transformation. Tickets in advance are $32 for adults, $12 for students, $7 for children 12 and under. Tickets at the door are $40 if still available. Order at DV20260709.eventbrite.com.
More information at dixonsviolin.com.
700 Bishop Reed Drive, Tecumseh theashlar.org
Adrian City Band
City Market Pavilion, 7:30 p.m.
The Adrian City Band, one of the oldest continuously operating municipal bands in the United States, performs every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. throughout the summer. Bring your own chair.
115 Toledo St., Adrian
FRIDAY, JULY 10
River Raisin Festival
Ellis and Bachmayer Parks, starting at noon
The Blissfield River Raisin Festival is hosting its 42nd year of family fun. Admission to the festival is free, as are many of the activities, including musical entertainment. There will also be rides, concessions, exhibits, merchant vendors, crafts, games and more. Friday night activities include the Miss River Raisin Festival competition at 6 p.m. and fireworks at dusk. 123 S. Monroe St., Blissfield riverraisinfestival.org
Morenci Summer Block Party featuring 56DAZE
Downtown Morenci, 6-11 p.m.
The Morenci Downtown Development Authority invites the community to break out the neon, tease up their hair, and head downtown for the next Summer Block Party Concert. This month’s theme is ’80s Night. Taking the stage at 6 p.m. is 56DAZE, a highenergy band that has been entertaining audiences throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana for more than two decades with a crowd-pleasing mix of classic rock, ’80s favorites, ’90s hits, modern chart-toppers, and singalong party anthems. Retro attire is encouraged and there will be a costume contest. Food vendors include Fade 2 Black BBQ, Rock Yo Taco, and Hannah’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice. Beer tents will be hosted by the Morenci Eagles and North Street Pub. Free. cityofmorenci.org
‘George M!’ Croswell Opera House, 7:30 p.m.
This musical tells the story of George M. Cohan, a musical theater legend and the biggest Broadway performer of his time. Packed with songs you know and love, from “Yankee Doodle Dandy” to “Give My Regards to Broadway,” this is a show that will have your feet tapping along with this legendary songand-dance man. Continues Saturday, Sunday and next weekend. Adults $46/$36/$26, students $26/$22/$16.
129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org
SATURDAY, JULY 11
Blue Steel Automotive Annual Car Show
Blue Steel Automotive, 11 a.m. Event includes food, music, and a bounce house for kids. Vendors welcome. Email Lucian@bluesteelautomotive.com for more information.
509 Mohawk St., Tecumseh bluesteelautomotive.com
SATURDAY, JULY 11
River Raisin Festival
Ellis and Bachmayer Parks, starting at noon
The Blissfield River Raisin Festival is hosting its 42nd year of family fun. Admission to the festival is free, as are many of the activities, including musical entertainment. There will also be rides, concessions, exhibits, merchant vendors, crafts, games and more. Saturday activities include the River Raisin Festival parade at 10:30 a.m.
123 S. Monroe St., Blissfield riverraisinfestival.org
‘George M!’ Croswell Opera House, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Packed with songs you know and love, from “Yankee Doodle Dandy” to “Give My Regards to Broadway,” this is a show that will have your feet tapping along with legendary song-and-dance man George M. Cohan. Continues Sunday and next weekend. Adults $46/$36/$26, students $26/$22/$16. 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org
Irish Hills Suicide Awareness & Prevention Music Festival in memory of Jeff Hawkins Gauci Golf Resort, 1 p.m. to midnight Bands from 1 to 11 p.m. $10 donation. 8431 Sports Park Drive, Onsted
SUNDAY,
JULY 12
‘George M!’ Croswell Opera House, 2:30 p.m. Continues next weekend. Adults $46/$36/$26, students $26/$22/$16.
129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org
MONDAY, JULY 13
Lenawee Mobile Market
Multiple locations
Recurring the second Monday of each month from April to October (upcoming dates: July 13, Aug. 10, Sept. 14, Oct. 12). Meal kits, dairy, and fresh produce will be available to take home. No ID is required for pickup. Sponsored by City of Refuge Ministries International. Pickup locations are:
n Riverview Terrace, 400 College Ave., Adrian, 9-10:30 a.m.
n Jasper Bible Church, 8230 S. Adrian Hwy., Jasper, noon to 1 p.m. cityofrefugeministriesintl.com
The Spanish Inquisition: Separating Myth from History Stair District Library, noon to 1 p.m. A one-hour lecture and Q&A about the legacy of the Spanish Inquisition. Join linguist and historian Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer as he examines the Inquisition not simply as an instrument of religious persecution, but as a calculated tool of state-building under Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. A virtual program offered in person at the library. 228 W. Main St., Morenci 517-458-6510 or stairlib.org
TUESDAY, JULY 14
Cuellar’s Critters show Schultz-Holmes District Library, noon to 1 p.m. This program is a ticketed event and requires registration and a ticket presented to staff at the time of event. Visit the library or call 517-486-2858 to register. Joby Cuellar will talk about the lifestyles and habitats of animals from all over the world, then kids can meet them up close. Free.
407 S. Lane St., Blissfield 517-486-2858 or blissfieldlibrary.org
Pedal the Hills
Hidden Lake Gardens, 6-8 p.m.
Enjoy an evening of bicycling or walking at Hidden Lake Gardens. Explore over 6 miles of paved trails, surrounded by beautiful scenery and highlights of the Gardens. The gardens will remain open until 8 p.m., with last admission at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free for members of Hidden Lake Gardens and for library cardholders from libraries located in Lenawee and Jackson counties.
6214 Monroe Road (M-50), Tipton hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu/events 517-431-2060
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
Lunch and Learn
Weber Center, 12:15-1 p.m.
Catch up on all the changes to the Motherhouse Campus of the Adrian Dominican Sisters with Jennifer Hunter, chief operating officer. Bring your lunch (drinks and dessert provided) or purchase lunch from Weber Center for $8 (choice of egg salad, turkey and cheese, or chicken salad croissant sandwich with chips) by registering at least two days in advance of the event.
1257 E. Siena Heights Drive, Adrian 517-423-6617 or webercenter.org
Brooklyn Big Boy Car Show Night Brooklyn Big Boy, 5-8 p.m.
Every Wednesday (weather permitting), featuring a DJ, 50/50 raffle, and driver prizes. 329 S. Main St., Brooklyn
Tecumseh Players: ‘Head Elf’ Adams Park, 7 p.m.
When Santa’s head elf is unexpectedly fired, a desperate search is conducted for a replacement. From Rudolph’s bodyguard to a Grinch to the Tooth Fairy, the interviews prove difficult. (Part of the Tecumseh Players’ One-Act Wednesday series.). Free. 309 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh
THURSDAY, JULY 16
Volcanoes with Dr. Sarah Hanson
Schultz-Holmes District Library, 2 p.m.
Adrian College geologist Sarah Hanson returns for an educational program about volcanoes. 407 S. Lane St., Blissfield 517-486-2858 or blissfieldlibrary.org
Third Thursday Downtown Adrian, 5-8 p.m.
Come downtown and enjoy live music at your favorite downtown spots.
Classic Car Show
Downtown Tecumseh, 6-8 p.m.
Cars and bikes will be displayed in the Old National Bank parking lot located at 205 E. Chicago Blvd. and the adjacent downtown parking lot.
Registration is free, but people showing cars are asked to bring a canned or non-perishable food item that will be given to area service clubs to distribute to local families in need. Check-in will be held across from Gregory’s Barber Shop, 201 E. Chicago Blvd. between 5:30 and 7 pm. Call 517-424-6555 for more information. Next show: Aug. 20.
205 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh 517-424-6555 or downtowntecumseh.com
Music in the Park: The Rebel Eves Adams Park, 6-8 p.m.
Tecumseh comes alive the third Thursday of the month from June through September with a free concert series. Upcoming dates/ performances: Aug. 6 (Schlitz Creek); Aug. 20 (Wasabi Pearls); Sept. 17 (The TCA Big Band & VocalAires). Free.
309 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh 517-423-5602 or downtowntecumseh.com
‘George M!’
Croswell Opera House, 7:30 p.m.
This musical tells the story of George M. Cohan, a musical theater legend and the biggest Broadway performer of his time. Packed with songs you know and love, from “Yankee Doodle Dandy” to “Give My Regards to Broadway,” this is a show that will have your feet tapping along with this legendary songand-dance man. Continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Adults $46/$36/$26, students $26/$22/$16.
129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org
Adrian City Band
City Market Pavilion, 7:30 p.m.
The Adrian City Band, one of the oldest continuously operating municipal bands in the United States, performs every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. throughout the summer. Bring your own chair.
115 Toledo St., Adrian
FRIDAY, JULY 17
Sun & Sand Festival
Downtown Tecumseh
Enjoy the beautiful days of summer at the Sun & Sand Festival in downtown Tecumseh on Friday and Saturday. Five oversized sand sculptures created by Ice Creation of Napoleon, Ohio, will adorn the downtown area, and spectators can watch them get created on Friday. On Friday night, there will be a street party downtown with live entertainment, food trucks and family-friendly games. downtowntecumseh.com/events 517-424-6818
Summer Concert Series: 2 Hour Delay Bicentennial Park, 7-9 p.m.
The Summer Concert Series is a free, familyfriendly event held throughout the summer in the heart of Blissfield. Each concert features live performances by talented local and regional musicians, covering everything from classic rock and country to blues, pop, and acoustic favorites. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, grab a bite from a local food vendor, and settle in for an evening of music under the open sky. All concerts are free and open to the public.
121 S. Lane St., Blissfield blissfieldmainstreet.com/summerconcerts 517-486-4347
Movie Fridays: ‘The Angry Birds Movie’ Schultz-Holmes District Library, 1-2:30 p.m. Movie Fridays are held at the Blissfield library on select Fridays and include pizza and popcorn. All movies are rated PG. Up next are “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” on July 24 and “Shrek” on July 31.
407 S. Lane St., Blissfield 517-486-2858 or blissfieldlibrary.org
‘George M!’
Croswell Opera House, 7:30 p.m.
The story of George M. Cohan, a musical theater legend and the biggest Broadway performer of his time. Continues Saturday and Sunday. Adults $46/$36/$26, students $26/$22/$16.
129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org
SATURDAY, JULY 18
Morenci Citywide Garage Sale
Although Saturday is the official date for the Morenci Citywide Garage Sale, most sales begin on Thursday.
7th Annual Lenawee 10K and 5K
Endurance Run
Riverside Park, 8 a.m.
A fun and inclusive event for runners, joggers, and walkers. The course will be a two-mile loop through the west side of Adrian that will be repeated three times. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or a first-timer, the Lenawee 10K is a great opportunity to challenge yourself and have fun. Fees range from $25 to $30 depending on the course.
321 S. McKenzie St., Adrian lenaweeenduranceclub@gmail.com
Sun & Sand Festival
Downtown Tecumseh
Enjoy the beautiful days of summer at the Sun & Sand Festival in downtown Tecumseh on Friday and Saturday.
downtowntecumseh.com/events 517-424-6818
Roll the Dice for a Good Cause FireKeepers Casino, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A fun and relaxing bus trip from Adrian to FireKeepers Casino. Each $50 ticket includes round-trip transportation, $20 in free play credit, and a $5 food voucher. All proceeds support Share the Warmth and its mission to provide safe shelter and compassionate support for neighbors in need. The bus leaves at 9 a.m. from the shelter parking lot at 427 W. Maumee St., Adrian, and arrives back at the shelter parking lot at 2 p.m. $50.
427 W. Maumee St., Adrian sharethewarmthoflenawee.org
Days of Mindfulness:
Awakening In The Midst Of Life Weber Center, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The Days of Mindfulness series aims to deepen our understanding of and commitment to daily meditative practice. $35 includes lunch. Registration required.
1257 E. Siena Heights Drive, Adrian 517-423-6617 or webercenter.org
Sewing Days
First Baptist Church of Brooklyn, 4-8 p.m.
Support the Koha Project by sewing cloth pads to be sent to women in Haiti. A simple opportunity to support global missions and enjoy fellowship together. No sewing experience is needed, and dinner will be provided. Dates are July 18 and Aug. 22. All supplies will be provided. If you would like to bring your own sewing machine, please also bring a dark colored polyester thread that works for your machine. To RSVP, email connect@fbcbrooklyn.org.
402 S. Mill St., Brooklyn
Music on the Porch: Earth Angels
Smith-Kimball Community Center, 6-8 p.m.
An outdoor concert in downtown Clinton. Bring your own lawn chair or picnic blanket. Co-hosted by the village of Clinton Downtown Development Authority and the Smith-Kimball Community Center board.
211 Tecumseh St., Clinton
‘George M!’ Croswell Opera House, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.
This musical tells the story of George M. Cohan, a musical theater legend and the biggest Broadway performer of his time. Concludes Sunday. Adults $46/$36/$26, students $26/$22/$16.
129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org
SUNDAY, JULY 19
America 250 Patriot Marker Dedication Lenawee Historical Museum, 2 p.m.
This dedication is hosted by the Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.
110 E. Church St., Adrian.
‘George M!’
Croswell Opera House, 2:30 p.m.
Final performance of this musical about the life of musical theater legend George M. Cohan.
Adults $46/$36/$26, students $26/$22/$16.
129 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-264-7469 or croswell.org
TUESDAY, JULY 21
Dinosaur Dig Bubble Party
Adrian District Library, 4-5 p.m.
The Adrian District Library is hosting a Dinosaur Dig Bubble Party with Michigan Bubble Fun. This hour-long event, held outside in Library Square, includes a magical dinosaur bubble show, interactive dinosaur dance breaks and a chance to get inside a giant prehistoric bubble. A special dinosaur egg will be given to the first 60 attendees. For kids ages 2 to 12. Free. 143 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-265-2265 or adrian.lib.mi.us
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22
Brooklyn Big Boy Car Show Night Brooklyn Big Boy, 5-8 p.m. Every Wednesday (weather permitting), featuring a DJ, 50/50 raffle, and driver prizes. 329 S. Main St., Brooklyn
Summer Chamber Series: Angelus Duo Holy Rosary Chapel, 7:30 p.m. Presented by the Adrian Symphony Orchestra. This duet features sisters Melissa and Melanie Mashner on flute and harp. $27. 1257 E. Siena Heights Drive, Adrian 517-264-3121 or adriansymphony.org
THURSDAY, JULY 23
Sprouts & Stories
Hidden Lake Gardens, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
A morning of stories, nature, and exploration, hosted in partnership with the Tecumseh District Library. Bring a blanket and settle in for a cozy outdoor storytime experience surrounded by the beauty of the garden. This free program is designed for ages 2–5 and features engaging, nature-themed stories and songs paired with interactive activities, a guided nature walk, and hands-on exploration. 6214 Monroe Road (M-50), Tipton hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu
Awesome Amphibians with the River Raisin Watershed Council
Schultz-Holmes District Library, 2 p.m.
A program about the River Raisin and the amphibians that live in its waters.
407 S. Lane St., Blissfield 517-486-2858 or blissfieldlibrary.org
Wild West Murder Mystery Party
Adrian District Library, 6-9 p.m.
A murder mystery party with a Wild West theme. Upon arrival, participants will be able to pick a character that they will play for the murder mystery story. Pizza and drinks will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for a chance to lock in a spot, as there are a limited number of characters. Free.
143 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-265-2265
or adrian.lib.mi.us
The cast of the Tecumseh Players’ production of “Head Elf” includes, from left to right, Thomas Buxton, Piper Holtz, Hannah Wiles, Niki Easter, Charlotte Buxton, Henry Buxton, Annabelle Rhodes, Nick Hoffman, Josh Smith, Brandi Williams, Mary Ann Stock, Derrel Kent, and Sarah Buxton. Not pictured: Kylie McElrath. The play, on July 15 at 7 p.m., is part of the Tecumseh Players’ One-Act Wednesdays series in Adams Park. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TECUMSEH PLAYERS
THURSDAY, JULY 23
Art in the Park
Downtown Brooklyn, 5-9 p.m.
On the fourth Thursday of every month from May to September, downtown Brooklyn offers live music, food trucks, art and market vendors, a farmers market, and more.
115 Water St., Brooklyn
Classic Car Show
Twin Pines Eatery, 6-8 p.m.
No registration fee. Simply pull in, park your ride in the designated cruise-in area, and enjoy the evening.
1102 W. Russell Road, Tecumseh
Celebrate Hudson Music in the Park: Jon Shain
Southern Michigan Center for Science and Industry, 6:30 p.m.
Born in North Carolina and raised in New England, Jon Shain is known for his lyrics, his fiery acoustic guitar work, and his musical style that combines improvised piedmont blues with bluegrass, swing, and ragtime. Part of the Celebrate Hudson Music in the Park outdoor concert series. Free.
550 E. Main St., Hudson
Adrian City Band City Market Pavilion, 7:30 p.m.
The Adrian City Band, one of the oldest municipal bands in the United States, performs every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. throughout the summer. Bring your own chair.
115 Toledo St., Adrian
FRIDAY, JULY 24
Movie Fridays: ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’
Schultz-Holmes District Library, 1-2:30 p.m.
Movie Fridays are held at the Blissfield library on select Fridays and include pizza and popcorn. All movies are rated PG. Up next is “Shrek” on July 31.
407 S. Lane St., Blissfield 517-486-2858 or blissfieldlibrary.org
Friday After Five: Hydrangea Trek
Hidden Lake Gardens, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Hidden Lake Gardens invites the public to visit after hours. For this evening only, the gardens will remain open until 7:00 p.m., with last admission at 6:30 p.m. This extended-hours evening is another offering in the new Friday After Five series, during which Hidden Lake Gardens will stay open until 7 p.m. on one Friday each month through October. Each date will feature a unique educational program from 5:30–6:30 p.m.
6214 Monroe Road, Tipton hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu
SATURDAY, JULY 25
Movies in the Park
Clara Bachmayer Park, 7 p.m.
Movies in the Park, organized by Blissfield Parks & Recreation, is back. Games and fun start at 7 p.m., and a family-friendly movie (title to be announced) will start at dusk. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged. Free. 123 S. Monroe St., Blissfield 517-486-4347 or blissfieldmichigan.gov
SUNDAY, JULY 26
Lenawee County Fair
Lenawee County Fair and Event Grounds, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
See schedule on page C5.
602 N. Dean St., Adrian lenfair.com
MONDAY, JULY 27
Lenawee County Fair
Lenawee County Fair and Event Grounds,
7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
See schedule on page C5.
602 N. Dean St., Adrian lenfair.com
TUESDAY, JULY 28
Lenawee County Fair
Lenawee County Fair and Event Grounds, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
See schedule on page C5.
602 N. Dean St., Adrian lenfair.com
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29
Lenawee County Fair
Lenawee County Fair and Event Grounds,
7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
See schedule on page C5.
602 N. Dean St., Adrian lenfair.com
DIY Stepping Stones
Adrian District Library, 4-6 p.m.
The Adrian District Library is hosting an intergenerational event for participants to decorate a stepping stone. As part of the 2026 Summer Reading Program theme, “Unearth a Story,” groups are welcome to “unearth some quality time” with family and friends and create a summer souvenir at the library. All ages are welcome to participate, but all child participants must have an adult helper. Free, but registration is required.
143 E. Maumee St., Adrian 517-265-2265 or adrian.lib.mi.us
Brooklyn Big Boy Car Show Night
Brooklyn Big Boy, 5-8 p.m.
Every Wednesday (weather permitting), featuring a DJ, 50/50 raffle, and driver prizes.
329 S. Main St., Brooklyn
THURSDAY, JULY 30
Ice Cream Tasting
Schultz-Holmes District Library, 6-7 p.m. Registration required; visit the library or call 517-486-2858.
407 S. Lane St., Blissfield blissfieldlibrary.org
Celebrate Hudson Music in the Park: Stone and Snow
Southern Michigan Center for Science and Industry, 6:30 p.m.
Cincinnati-based songwriters Karen Bridges and Clint Thomson are the heart of a genre-bending Americana band with close harmonies, thoughtful lyrics, and a name that invokes mighty mountain landscapes. Part of the Celebrate Hudson Music in the Park series, which brings talented bands and singersongwriters to play free outdoor concerts in Hudson every summer. Free.
550 E. Main St., Hudson Shakespeare in the Park: ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Trestle Park Bandshell, 6:30 p.m. The third outing for the Adrian Shakespeare Company. Continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Free.
302 W. Hunt St., Adrian adrianshakespeare.org
FRIDAY, JULY 31
Movie Fridays: ‘Shrek’
Schultz-Holmes District Library, 1-2:30 p.m. Movie Fridays are held at the Blissfield library on select Fridays and include pizza and popcorn. All movies are rated PG.
407 S. Lane St., Blissfield 517-486-2858 or blissfieldlibrary.org
Summer Concert Series: Unkle Lay Lee’s Moonshine All Stars Bicentennial Park, 7-9 p.m.
The Summer Concert Series is a free, familyfriendly event held throughout the summer in the heart of Blissfield. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, grab a bite to eat, and settle in for an evening of music under the open sky. Free. 121 S. Lane St., Blissfield blissfieldmainstreet.com/summerconcerts 517-486-4347
Shakespeare in the Park: ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Trestle Park Bandshell, 6:30 p.m.
Continues Saturday and Sunday. Free.
302 W. Hunt St., Adrian adrianshakespeare.org
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1
Summer Reading 2026 Finale Party Tecumseh District Library, 1-2 p.m.
Celebrate a summer of reading with ice cream on the library’s west lawn, a prize raffle, and the gravity-defying antics of Crazy Craig Wise. Free. 215 N. Ottawa St., Tecumseh 517-423-2238 or tecumsehlibrary.org
LIVE MUSIC AT BARS AND NIGHT SPOTS
Information in this listing is taken from a mixture of submissions and information published by the venues. We recommend verifying information before making plans. To submit listings, email lcline@ lenaweevoice.com before the 15th of the preceding month.
THURSDAY, JULY 2
Bret Maynard, 6 p.m., Eagles Nest Bar & Grill, 1200 Eagle Pointe Road, Clarklake. Brittani Joy, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton. Alexandria N Transit, 6-10 p.m., Artesian Wells, 18711 U.S. 12, Cement City.
FRIDAY, JULY 3
The Metros, 5-8 p.m., Adrian’s Official First Friday Car Show, 602 N. Dean St., Adrian. Leadfoot, 6 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.
Billie Lewis & the Soulbacks, 7 p.m., Cherry Creek Cellars, 11500 Silver Lake Highway, Brooklyn.
Mark Arshak, 7-10 p.m., Shady’s Taproom (outside stage), 110 N. Main St., Brooklyn. Marcus & Tiffany, 7 p.m., Gauci Golf Resort, 8431 Sports Park Drive, Onsted. J. Geils Band Tribute by Detroit Breakdown, 8-11 p.m., Chateau Aeronautique Winery, 12000 Pentecost Highway, Onsted. Tickets at chateauaeronautiquewinery.com.
SATURDAY, JULY 4
Funk Opus, 6 p.m., Eagles Nest Bar & Grill, 1200 Eagle Pointe Road, Clarklake. Ryan Groth, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton. Aerosmith tribute by Aeroforce, 8-11 p.m., Chateau Aeronautique Winery, 12000 Pentecost Highway, Onsted. Tickets at chateauaeronautiquewinery.com.
SUNDAY, JULY 5
The Band The Groupe, 2-6 p.m., Artesian Wells, 18711 U.S. 12, Cement City. D Tour Band, 5:30 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8
Linny & Moochie, 6-9 p.m., Flamingo Beach Grilles and Bar, U.S. 12, Tipton.
THURSDAY, JULY 9
Bret Maynard, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton. AK & The Queen, 6-9 p.m., Bits & Brews, 1368 Division St., Adrian. Tad & the Fat Katz, 6-10 p.m., Artesian Wells, 18711 U.S. 12, Cement City.
FRIDAY, JULY 10
Kevin Wolff Duo, 6 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.
Big L & Code Blu, 7 p.m., Cherry Creek Cellars, 11500 Silver Lake Highway, Brooklyn.
SATURDAY, JULY 11
Soup Sandwich, 6 p.m., Flying Otter Winery, 3402 Chase Road, Adrian. Blockhouse Valley Quartet, 6 p.m., Four Keys Brewing/Starling Lounge, 133 S. Lane St., Blissfield.
Bad Mojo, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.
John Louis Good & Rose City Troubadours, 7 p.m., Cherry Creek Cellars, 11500 Silver Lake Highway, Brooklyn. Universe Band, 7-10 p.m., Shady’s Taproom (outside stage), 110 N. Main St., Brooklyn.
Greg Riordan, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., Devils Lake Bar & Grill, 6365 U.S. 223, Addison. Rolling Stones tribute by Satisfaction 8-11 p.m., Chateau Aeronautique Winery, 12000 Pentecost Highway, Onsted. Tickets at chateauaeronautiquewinery.com.
SUNDAY, JULY 12
Medusa, 2-6 p.m., Artesian Wells, 18711 U.S. 12, Cement City.
50 Amp Fuse, 5:30 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.
Greg Riordan, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., Devils Lake Bar & Grill, 6365 U.S. 223, Addison.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
Jon Torrence, 6 p.m., Atlas Restaurant, 123 N. Main St., Brooklyn.
THURSDAY, JULY 16
Bordine & Loar, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.
Lit Up, 6-10 p.m., Artesian Wells, 18711 U.S. 12, Cement City.
FRIDAY, JULY 17
Dude & the Flanman, 6 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover. The Ramblers Band, 7 p.m., Cherry Creek Cellars, 11500 Silver Lake Highway, Brooklyn.
Linny & Moochie, 7-10 p.m., Delta 109 Tavern & Eatery, 214 Main St., Delta, Ohio.
Mediocre Mixtape, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., Devil’s Lake Bar & Grill, 6365 U.S. 223, Addison.
Steely Dan tribute by Major Dudes, 8-11 p.m., Chateau Aeronautique Winery, 12000 Pentecost Highway, Onsted. Tickets at chateauaeronautiquewinery.com.
SATURDAY, JULY 18
Tre Doyle, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.
Braxton Garza, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Indian Creek Camp and Conference Center, 9415 Tangent Road, Tecumseh. Outdoor stage, bring your own seat. $5.
Leadfoot, 7 p.m., Onsted American Legion, 333 Connor St., Onsted.
The Riflemen, 7 p.m., Cherry Creek Cellars, 11500 Silver Lake Highway, Brooklyn. Fleetwood Mac tribute by the Seven Wonders, 8-11 p.m., Chateau Aeronautique Winery, 12000 Pentecost Highway, Onsted. Tickets at chateauaeronautiquewinery.com.
Marcus & Tiffany, 8-11 p.m., Chaloner’s Cigar House, 108 W. Maumee St., Adrian.
SUNDAY, JULY 19
Frog & the Beeftones, 2-6 p.m., Artesian Wells, 18711 U.S. 12, Cement City.
Killer Flamingos, 5:30 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.
Linny & Moochie, 6-7:30 p.m., Unitarian Church, 144 Morenci St., Lyons, Ohio. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22
Riverjack Ramblers, 6 p.m., Atlas Restaurant, 123 N. Main St., Brooklyn.
THURSDAY, JULY 23
JTE, 6-9 p.m., Twin Pines Eatery, 1102 W. Russell Road, Tecumseh.
JRG Jazz, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.
Mark Arshak Band, 6-10 p.m., Artesian Wells, 18711 U.S. 12, Cement City.
FRIDAY, JULY 24
Joey D & The Small Bar All-Stars, 6 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.
JackPine Savages, 7 p.m., Cherry Creek Cellars, 11500 Silver Lake Highway, Brooklyn.
Dan Bickle & the Midwest Goodbye, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., Devils Lake Bar & Grill, 6365 U.S. 223, Addison.
Def Leppard tribute by Armageddon, 8-11 p.m., Chateau Aeronautique Winery, 12000 Pentecost Highway, Onsted. Tickets at chateauaeronautiquewinery.com.
The Band The Groupe, 8-11 p.m., Two Lakes Tavern, 110 Walnut St., Manitou Beach.
SATURDAY, JULY 25
Noah Martis, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.
The Complete Unknowns, 7 p.m., Cherry Creek Cellars, 11500 Silver Lake Highway, Brooklyn.
Leadfoot, 7-10 p.m., Shady’s Taproom (outside stage), 110 N. Main St., Brooklyn. Madonna tribute by Madonna X with Swipe Left, 8-11 p.m., Chateau Aeronautique Winery, 12000 Pentecost Highway, Onsted. Tickets at chateauaeronautiquewinery.com.
SUNDAY, JULY 26
Spellbound, 2-6 p.m., Artesian Wells, 18711 U.S. 12, Cement City.
Atomic Radio, 5:30 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.
THURSDAY, JULY 30
Jack Rivers, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.
Act III, 6-10 p.m., Artesian Wells, 18711 U.S. 12, Cement City.
FRIDAY, JULY 31
Five Becomes West, 6 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.
Act III, 7 p.m., Cherry Creek Cellars, 11500 Silver Lake Highway, Brooklyn. Journey tribute by Infinity & Beyond, 8-11 p.m., Chateau Aeronautique Winery, 12000 Pentecost Highway, Onsted. Tickets at chateauaeronautiquewinery.com.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1
Ryan Groth, 6-9 p.m., The Hills Fork Oar Pour, 6400 Michigan Ave., Tipton.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2
Leadfoot, 5:30 p.m., Beach Bar, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, Clarklake. $5 cover.
