Bargain hunting is the way to shop these days. The economic downturn has paved the way for the proliferation of resale shops in the lakes area and across the country, and resale shopping is one way to save money while decorating or dressing with panache. Not only are resale shops thought to be effectively recession-proof, but they continue to thrive. The concept is a win-win situation. Consignees or donors bag up gently-used items and benefit [...]

A West Bloomfield Township police officer has been suspended for his conduct during a recent traffic stop involving township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste and her husband, Matthew Ureste. West Bloomfield Police Chief Michael Patton said the police department has concluded an investigation into the incident, adding that the officer didn’t follow department policy during the traffic stop that took place in the early morning hours of Saturday, Aug. 13, when the officer drove a motorist [...]

While U.S. soldiers continue to battle insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, putting their lives at risk daily, here in the lakes area a group of Wolverine Lake volunteers is “paying it forward” by joining the Desert Angels campaign to pack and distribute supplies to the men and women serving overseas. The “Miracle Box” packing party will take place on Oct. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Multi-Lakes Conservation Association, located at 3860 Newton [...]

Horsin’ Around in Highland plus Pet-A-PALooza equals one great family weekend with the first-ever Highland HeyDays. Highland HeyDays is a two-day family festival held in downtown Highland geared towards bringing families, friends, neighbors, and pets together to celebrate the Highland community. This will be the first year of the two-day festival after local organizations decided to combine the annual square dance with a pet awareness day. The Highland Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) Horsin’ Around in [...]

 Waterford Township police are searching for a man who robbed the Lakes Community Credit Union, located in the 4700 block of Dixie Highway, on Wednesday, Aug. 24. A white male suspect entered the bank at 2:24 p.m. and presented a note to one of the tellers stating his intent to rob the credit union. The man fled with money in hand before police officers arrived on the scene. No weapon was observed during the [...]

As of Friday, Sept. 2, the county’s West Oakland Office Building located at 1010 E. West Maple Road in Walled Lake will be closed. The 17,000-square-foot, single-story building situated on 1.64 acres was at one point home to staff of the county Health Department, the Probation Department of the Probate Court, the Circuit Court Family Division, and the Information Technology communication hub. The building’s sale, which the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved in April [...]

A Walled Lake man plummeted five stories from his apartment balcony to his death on Thursday, Aug. 25. A pedestrian discovered the 45-year-old victim’s body in the 1000 block of Villa Drive at 6:41 a.m. and called 911. “The victim fell on a grassy area and from all indications he fell from his fifth-floor balcony,” said Walled Lake Deputy Police Chief Bruce Kirby. Police, fire and the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s office personnel arrived on [...]

Although the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has started cleaning up the old Aggressive Marine site by removing the old marina’s underwater piers and taking out pavement, the DNR’s quest to acquire the adjacent “Dunville property” on the western shores of Union Lake remains stalled. “We were hoping that all would’ve been wrapped up several months ago. But it’s been a back and forth situation,” said Kristen Bennett, the DNR’s regional field planner for [...]

A Waterford Township man was hospitalized in serious condition after he was shot by township police when he allegedly attacked them with a martial arts sword on Thursday, Aug. 25. According to police reports, officers responded to the Eagles Landing Subdivision at 1:25 a.m. after a family member called 9-1-1. The 25-year-old subject was reportedly off his medication, wielding the 2-foot-long sword and cutting up and damaging the home. When police arrived on the scene, [...]

To facilitate aesthetic improvements downtown during the economic slowdown, the Walled Lake Downtown Development Authority (DDA) continues to dole out facade and sign grants to help business owners enhance their storefronts. “It has been a very popular and successful program,” said Wendell Allen, chairman of the DDA’s Urban Design Committee. “There have been many new businesses in Walled Lake that have taken advantage of it.” The program started in 2006 and has picked up steam [...]