Authorities Investigate Student Death at Cranbrook and More News Near You

1. Bloomfield Patch reported that investigators with the Bloomfield Hills Department of Public Safety and the Oakland County Medical Examiner's office are trying to determine what caused the death of 15-year-old Cranbrook student Caleb Lei on campus last Friday, reports said.

Cranbrook parent Paula Birnholtz told Downtown Publications that parents received an e-mail from Director of Schools Arlyce Seibert about the tragedy, and that he died of natural causes. Students at Cranbrook have told parents that Lei had a heart condition, the report stated.

2. Brighton Patch reported Thursday that a mural on the side of The Pound! Bar & Grill in downtown Brighton, features two Brighton High School senior athletes as part of a new partnership.

Brighton Athletics is partnering with The Pound to bring murals of student athletes three times a year to the downtown Brighton landscape. The sports bar's large brick exterior wall will serve as the canvas for six of Brighton's brightest and most talented high school athletes, starting with golfer Hannah Pietila and soccer player Forrest Chong.

3. A large 300-year old Red Oak tree in a Hartland man's yard was transformed into a local landmark after being partially blown over earlier this year, reported Hartland Patch Thursday. 

Consulting with Emil Szkipala, a woodcarving artist with 20 years experience, Leo Bard of Hartland came up with a design honoring it for its years of service and endurance. Depending on the care, the tree could now stand for 100 more years.

4. On Friday for the first time in three years, the Fenton High School football team won in the annual Wounded Warrior Project game, wrote Fenton Patch. The game raises money and awareness for the organization of the same name, which helps wounded veterans. The Tigers beat previously-undefeated Swartz Creek, 55-28, to tie the Dragons for the Metro League lead. 

5. Rochester Patch reported Thursday that $12,000 was raised at the Garden Walk and Family Fun Day held at Long Meadow Elementary School to benefit the family trust of slain West Bloomfield Police Sgt. Patrick O'Rourke.

Bobbi Fedricks, owner of Ponds and Beyond Landscaping and mother of Rochester Police Officer Jeffrey Firman, opened up her one-acre garden — once featured on the Rochester Hills Museum Garden Walk — for the event.

Patch contributing writers Laura Cassar and Patrick Hayes and local editors Nicole Krawcke, Tatum Ryan, and Art Aisner contributed to this report.