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"This project has been pending for three years," said Township Supervisor Mark Emmendorfer. "The culvert is broken and in bad shape." Heystek Construction was awarded the contract, and is expected to start with in the next 30 days. The board also approved spending $17,000 from the general fun in 50/50 money for more ditch work this fall. Emmendorfer explained that the township had used up all of its 50/50 money with the Genesee County Road Commission, but that other townships had not used their's. Genesee and Mundy Townships allowed their left-over county portion to be used by Montrose Township. The ditching project will be the north side of Farrand Road, east and west of Morrish Road. In other action, the board: Ä approved a sewer use agreement with the Genesee County Drain Commission, allowing the county to provide wastewater treatment services to the township. Ä approved a millage rate of 5.88 rather than 4.28 following the Truth-in-Taxation hearing. The difference will bring in around $8,000 to the township. Ä adopted a building and ground ordinance, creating a building and grounds department for the township, rather than having just parks or cemetery workers. Ä approved a maintenance agreement with Flushing City and Township for a jointly owned Live Scan fingerprinting device. The cost to the township for the agreement is $858 per year.

Special displays remain at Montrose museum

MONTROSE -- The Montrose Historical and Telephone Pioneer Museum will continue to host a series of special displays until the end of October. The museum building houses countless displays celebrating Montrose's rich history and the area's roots in the telephone industry. Bygone businesses, schools and residents are the focus of many of the permanent exhibits, including one detailed re-creation of a downtown pharmacy. New to the museum is a display of vintage cameras put together by professional photographer and Lansing Community College photography instructor Ike Lea, a Montrose native. The exhibit includes a variety of antique cameras, including Kodak Brownies, Polaroids, an Argus and more. Museum boosters Don Whitmire and Duane Sholler have provided cameras for the exhibit. Another fun addition is an exhibit of product advertising toys and collectibles. Museum volunteers have assembled a variety of items, including the Snuggle Fabric Softener bear, Kellogg Cornflake toy trucks, the Blue Bonnet Margarine doll, Dole Pineapple bear, Swiss Miss doll and more. A collection of Taymouth Fair memorabilia showcases the annual event that was held just north of the present-day Lake Road between Seymour and McKinley Roads from 1869 until 1936. Sponsored by the Flint River Valley Agriculture Society, it was one of the state's biggest fairs of its time. The museum's regular collection of antique telephones also remains on display. The museum, located at 144 E. Hickory Street in Montrose, is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information on the Montrose Historical and Telephone Pioneer Museum, call (810) 639-6644 or visit www.gfn.org/telmusm.

Hartley Autumn Fest returns Oct. 7

ST. CHARLES -- Join the Hartley Outdoor Education Center and volunteers for a great day of family fun and outdoor education on Sunday, Oct. 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For students coming to camp at Hartley this year, this is a great time to explore the Hartley Center, see where they will be staying and meet the staff. This year's fest includes a presentation entitled "Michigan's Big Cats" by Dr. Patrick Rusz, director of wildlife programs, Michigan Wildlife Conservancy. He will be presenting on his research detailing evidence of the reappearance of cougars in Michigan. Other family activities include the all-you-can-eat Hartley breakfast, wildlife workshops, folk music and kids' activities. See demonstrations in pioneer crafts including cider pressing, cooking apple butter, homemade ice cream and candle-dipping. Activities at the Murphy Farm include hayrides, loom demonstrations, farm pioneer crafts, a working sawmill and animal actors on the wetland prairie interpretive trail. Also visit the Fowler one-room school house, Murphy farmhouse museum, coal mine museum and the pioneer log cabin. The Hartley Outdoor Education Center is located at 12633 Beaver Road, St. Charles. Hartley Center Activities: Ä All-you-can-eat breakfast, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Ä Bird hike and count - Paul Roose, 8 a.m. Ä Cherri's Feed-N-Seed, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ä Rusty Strings Band, 9 to 11 a.m.; Ä Coal mine tour, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Ä Puppet show - Tom and Marge Gillman, 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. Ä Kids' activities, 9-10:30 a.m. and 1:30-3 p.m. Ä Schroeder Log Cabin open 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; funnel cakes, 10-11:30 a.m. and 1-2 p.m.; spinning, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ä Silent auction, bidding starts at 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Ä Saginaw Valley Archaeological Society display, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ä Butterflies by Denny Brooks, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Ä Fall color walk - Paul Roose, 11 a.m. Ä Paper making - Joe Leach, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ä Michigan's Big Cats by Dr. Pat Rusz, 1 p.m. Ä Wagon ride shuttle to farm, 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Farm Activities: Ä Wagon ride shuttle to Hartley, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Ä Tractor display and antique equipment display, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Ä Loom demonstrations - Joann Krzywosinski, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Ä Sawmill demo by Mark Schultz, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Ä John Deere scale model farm display, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Ä Visit the farm animals, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Ä Festival tent -- make a leaf print t-shirt and homemade ice cream, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Ä Animal actors at the farm prairie - St. Charles Skits and Drama Club, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Ä Visit the Murphy Farm House Museum and the Fowler one-room school house, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.