Local Author Discusses 'Green Eggs and Manna' and Says 'Good Morning, Hartland!'

It's Thursday and Christmas is only three days away. Here are some tidbits of news and information that we hope you'll find useful or entertaining.

Please also don't miss our video greeting (at right) from Green Eggs and Manna author Judith Burkhardt, whose book is available online at www.xlibris.com, www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com. Proceeds from the book during a recent visit to were donated in honor of Burkhardt's late granddaughter to an orphanage in India.

1. The weather

Expect areas of drizzle early with the chance of rain diminishing after 7 a.m. to 30 percent with a high near 42 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Tonight, rain and snow is likely (60 percent chance) with the precipitation turning to snow after 2 a.m. as temps drop to around 26. A north northeast wind will be between 8 and 14 miles per hour with gusts as high as 21 mph. Accumulation  should only be less than a half inch (whew!).

2. Fuel prices

Here's a quick daily survey of the regular per-gallon price, according to gasbuddy.com —

• : $3.39
• Shell: $3.39
• Mobil: $3.49 (cash is 10 cents lower)
• Lowest price at Hickory Ridge and M-59 in Highland: $3.12 at Citgo.
• Lowest price in the Fenton area: $3.19 at the Shell stations at Thompson and U.S. 23 and at Silver Lake near U.S. 23.
• Lowest price in the Brighton area: $3.05 at Costco at 6700 Whitmore Lake.

3. Brothers from Hartland sentenced in mortgage-fraud case

Two brothers from Hartland were sentenced to terms in federal prison last week for their role in a mortgage-fraud case, according to an article in the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus.

John Hoose, 49, was sentenced to 18 months and Scott Hoose, 35, received 12 months and one day, the article said. Both also will have to serve three years on supervised release and were ordered to pay restitution. John Hoose owes more than $1 million while Scott Hoose was ordered to pay more than $570,000, although the amounts are expected to be voided once the mortgage company they worked for reaches a settlement with the government.

Two men, who worked at the Brighton office of Shore Mortgage Company, pleaded guilty "to making false statements on credit applications" in February, the article said.

4. Still need to see Santa? Here's one place to find him

Santa Claus will be at from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday — his last day there (busy man, of course).

5. Hartland trivia

Congrats to Charlotte who correctly answered — What local church is holding its 51st live nativity? Answer: .

Thursday's question: George Cornell and Eliza Williams and Albert White and Nancy Bidelman were listed as the first to do what in Hartland Township in 1836? Please answer in comments.