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Michael Smith

HOLLY, Michigan – Former Royal Oak Police officer and Holly resident, Michael Smith, 41 was arrested and charged with 20 counts of alleged possession and distribution of child pornography.

According to a press release issued by Michigan Attorney General, Bill Schuette, Smith is alleged to have downloaded and possessed child pornography on his personal home computer between the dates of September 2011 and January, 2012, and allegedly distributed some of the pornographic images to other users on a public Internet file-sharing network.

Smith faces 15 counts of possession of child sexually abusive materials, punishable by up to four years in prison, two counts of distribution of child sexually abusive materials, a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison, and three counts of using a computer to commit a crime, punishable by up to seven years in prison based on the underlying felonies previously stated.

Smith was arraigned by Judge Kelley Kostin in Clarkston’s 52-2 District Court on Thursday. His bond was set at $50,000 with 10-percent allowed. A pre-exam conference is scheduled for May 18.

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Brian McConnaughey has been th...

HOLLY, Michigan – With nearly 60 years of automotive repair service behind them, there isn’t much Coleman and Sons Garage of Holly can’t fix.

Owner Ed Coleman said his father, Carl first came to Holly in 1954, working as a wash rack boy at the Standard Oil gas station on S. Saginaw Street. In 1960, Carl took over the business, and in 1972, relocated Coleman and Son’s Garage to the corner of E. Maple and N. Saginaw Streets where it is still located today.

In 1975, Ed took the hometown automotive repair business over, and it’s been going strong ever since.

“We primarily specialize in automotive repairs and service – it doesn’t matter if it’s domestic or foreign, we have the capability of working on them all,” Manager Brian McConnaughey said.

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Mary Ann Vergith

HOLLY, Michigan – The Holly Area Community Coalition is lauding several local businesses this week, in recognition of their commitment in not selling alcohol, tobacco or other harmful substances to youth.

In a collaborative effort with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, the coalition conducted alcohol compliance checks are area retailers during the months of February and March. The “sting” operations were carried out by minors who were accompanied by an officer. The minors were instructed to attempt to purchase alcohol and if a sale was made, the retailer was then issued a ticket on the spot. Of the 22 retailers checked, seven sold alcohol to a minor.

Among the retailers refusing to sell alcohol to minors were the Dixie Party Store, New York Minute, Town and Country Beverages, Dixie Highway Market, Buscemi’s, Town and Country Market, Holly Party Shoppe North, Alex’s Market and Grill, Groveland Food Castle, Ortonville Rite Aid, Bueche’s Food World, Famous Food Center, Holly CVS and Holly Rite Aid.

Coalition Director Mary Ann Vergith said she was pleased with the outcome of the compliance checks. “We applaud these retailers for making this a priority and we appreciate their dedication to protecting the youth of our community.”

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Junior Girl Scouts in the 5th ...

DAVISBURG, Michigan – In addition to earning the highly coveted Bronze Award, the girl scouts belonging to Davisburg Troop 13075 learned an important lesson in compassion last weekend as they prepared and delivered 29 personal care packages to children staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Ann Arbor.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest honor a junior Girl Scout can earn, requiring her to learn the leadership and planning skills necessary to follow though on a project that makes a positive impact on the community.

To earn their award, the scouts spent the weekend at Camp Hawthorn Hallow, each making personal care packages for families at the Ronald McDonald House. Troop Leader Nancy Humphreys said the packages included polar fleece lap blankets with a strategically placed heart inside each blanket that read, “Lord our God, maker of the universe, let your healing power descend upon this child and drive out this illness, let the medicine work quickly and thoroughly, and restore them to health.”

Humphries said the packages also included homemade soaps and other personal care products like shampoos and lotions.

The troop later delivered the packages to the Ronald McDonald House in Ann Arbor where they were treated to a tour of the facility. “They were truly blessed in feeling that they may be able to provide some comfort to the families that stay there when their child is sick,” Humphries said.