Above freezing temperatures during the day and frigid temperatures at night seem to represent that interminable waiting period between the dreariness of winter and the hope of spring. However, this temperature fluctuation between seasons also allows for an entirely unique season to occur: Maple sugaring season. “You really need two things for this season,” said Justin Smith, an interpretive naturalist at Indian Springs Metropark in White Lake Township. “And Michigan is one of the only [...]

After several years of inter-regional bickering between community leaders about the future of Cobo Center in downtown Detroit and how to fund long-awaited improvements there, officials have unveiled plans for Phase III’s $221-million renovation and sprucing up of the home of the North American International Auto Show. The expected improvements were unveiled on Wednesday, March 2. The new Cobo Center will include a 40,000-square-foot ballroom featuring a glass wall and open-terrace facing Hart Plaza and [...]

The day after the Oakland County Reapportionment Commission had it’s organizational meeting — and sent out a news release with comments from all members, Republicans and Democrats, talking about cooperation and fairness — a stable of Republican state representatives from Oakland County introduced legislation that would give control over redistricting county commissioner seats to the GOP-dominated county Board of Commissioners. House Bill (HB) 4380, sponsored by state Rep. Eileen Kowall (R-Highland, White Lake) and co-sponsored [...]

If you’re an Oakland County resident living on a gravel road and would like to participate in the Road Commission for Oakland County’s (RCOC) dust control program, you can now submit an application for the service. Applications must be received by May 2. The program involves the RCOC applying mineral well brine to gravel roads four times during the summer to help control dust. Mineral well brine is naturally-occurring salt water that is pumped from [...]

Every 10 years in conjunction with the completion of the decennial census, politicians begin drooling at the thought of one thing — redistricting — and that official process has begun in Oakland County, with the organizational meeting of the county’s Reapportionment Commission taking place last week. Officials serving on the commission — Clerk/Register of Deeds Bill Bullard, Jr.; Prosecutor Jessica Cooper; Treasurer Andy Meisner; Oakland County Republican Party Chairman Jim Thienel; and Oakland County Democratic [...]

Wixom Mayor Kevin Hinkley delivered his fourth State of the City Address on Monday, March 7, to recap city achievements and drive home the message that as the city moves forward it will stay the course, but with vision. “In these challenging but exciting times, we must keep our chins up and our eyes focused on how we can recreate ourselves in order to succeed in the future,” he said. In recalling the city’s accomplishments, [...]

The husband and wife legislative duo of state Sen. Mike Kowall (R-Commerce, Highland, Milford, Walled Lake, Wixom, Wolverine Lake, White Lake, Orchard Lake, West Bloomfield) and state Rep. Eileen Kowall (R-Highland, White Lake) have introduced identical legislation in their respective chambers to implement a change in election law called for by Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Bill Bullard, Jr. earlier this year. Senate Bill (SB) 204 and House Bill (HB) 4357 would eliminate the requirement [...]

A recent spate of larcenies that occurred on Monday, Feb. 28 at the Village Apartments in Wixom continue to perplex law enforcement officials and frustrate residents, given that no suspects have been arrested. A homeowner living in the 47500 block of Hickory reported that an unknown person broke into his 2002 Ford Explorer parked in the northwest corner of the parking lot. The perpetrator gained entry by smashing a window and stole an iPod Touch [...]

The Water Resources Division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) will be offering close to $500,000 in available grants for water quality monitoring projects this year. Local governments and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for the grant program, which is funded by the Clean Michigan Initiative’s Clean Water Fund. Up to $200,000 is available for water quality monitoring projects at inland beaches and another $250,000 is available for non-beach water [...]

It wasn’t quite the news many had hoped for — no, demanded — but the recent decision to rebuild the roadways in and around the Pontiac Trail and West Maple Road intersection in Walled Lake a year earlier than previously planned qualifies as good news. The scheduling change serves as an example of the squeaky wheel getting the grease. But all the Walled Lake officials, businesses and residents who piped up about the deteriorating conditions [...]