2020 Candidate Interview:  Adrienne Young for 6th Circuit Court Judge (Write-In)

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

In the race for 6th Circuit Court Judge, there are six incumbents running to retain their seats, plus one write-in candidate. 

2020 Candidate Interview:  Connor Nepomuceno for Oakland County Executive

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

In the race for Oakland County Executive there are three candidates. 

Enhanced Notification Service Now Available for Crime Victims in Michigan

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

The enhanced MI-VINE service offers users innovative functionality, an improved user experience and expanded access to victim services.

Election Analysis: Rejected Absentee Ballots, & How to Prevent Them in November

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Data-Based Stories, Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

Oakland County had a slightly higher rejection rate of 1.7 percent of their total 261,890 absentee ballots.

Here’s How to Nominate a School Support Staffer for Statewide Award

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

Nominees must, at a minimum, demonstrate excellence in the following areas: (A) Work performance; (B) School and community involvement; (C) Leadership and commitment; (D) Local support (from co-workers, school administrators, community members, etc., who speak to the nominee’s exemplary work); (E) Enhancement of classified school employees’ image in the community and schools. 

2020 Candidate Interview:  E. Wadsworth Sherrod for OCC Board of Trustees

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Uncategorized, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

Voters throughout Oakland County have the opportunity to select two Trustees for the Oakland Community College Board. 

Michigan Governor Clarifies Rules for Face Masks During Sports

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Uncategorized, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

Last week, the governor signed Executive Order 2020-176 reopening Michigan’s gyms and pools in those regions where they remain closed and allowing for organized sports practices and competitions to resume in those regions where they remain restricted, subject to strict protections meant to limit spread of the virus.

OCHN Grant Helps Support Youth Mobile Crisis Team

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Resources, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

The Youth Mobile Crisis Team helps children, teens, and young adults who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

Calendar Art Contest for Kids to Help Prevent Water Pollution

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Uncategorized, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

This program is a great way to educate our youth and teach them how to get involved in discovering ways that they can help to prevent pollution of our freshwater resources.

Election Analysis: A Look at Absentee Ballots Across Oakland County Cities

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Data-Based Stories, Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Uncategorized, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

Over two-thirds (77.0 percent) of the requested ballots were returned, and these returned ballots represented 70.8 percent of the total votes cast.

Oakland County Expands Free COVID-19 Testing to School-Age Children

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

The Health Division offers drive-thru testing on Mondays and Wednesdays at the South Oakland Health Center at 27725 Greenfield Road in Southfield; Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Oakland County government campus, 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac;  and on Fridays at Oakland Community College, Orchard Ridge Campus at 28696 Oakland, Farmington Hills.

Deadline for Oakland Together Business Recovery Grants is Sept. 14

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

This competitive grant program is focused on these hard-hit sectors:
Retail
Food and Lodging Personal Services
Business Services
Entertainment and Recreation
Construction and Maintenance Services

Up to $20,000 Available Through DNR Community Forestry Grant Program

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Uncategorized, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

Up to $20,000 is available for projects such as: 
Tree inventories and management plans.
Urban forest master plans or strategic plans. 
Tree maintenance connected to strategic activities in a plan or tree inventory. 
Community outreach or local staff training. 
Tree ordinance review and development.

Candidate Interviews ~  Nov. 3, 2020 Election

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Uncategorized, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

Each year Oakland County Times gives candidates for any office voted on in Oakland County the opportunity to do a video interview. This is a huge undertaking, and we post new videos as we can right up until the election. So please check back often and be patient.

County-Wide Millage to Go on Nov. Ballot for Parks and Recreation

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

“For the first time in our 54-year existence, we’re asking for an increase so we can provide more high quality parks, programs and services to the citizens of Oakland County,” OCPR Executive Officer Dan Stencil said.

SEMCOG Survey Asking Resident Opinions on Local Government Spending

Addison Twp / Lakeville / Leonard, All Stories, Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Area Communities, Brandon Twp / Ortonville, Clarkston/Independence Twp., Clawson, Commerce Twp., Farmington/Farmington Hills, Fenton, Ferndale, Franklin, Groveland Twp., Hazel Park, Highland Twp., Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion/Orion Twp, Lathrup Village, Lyon Twp / South Lyon, Madison Hts., Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Oakland Township, Orchard Lake, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Rose Township, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield, Springfield Twp/Davisburg, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake

Results will be shared with local government leaders so that they understand what services their residents value most. Responses will also help inform SEMCOG’s Economic Development Strategy for Southeast Michigan, currently under development.