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WHMI 93.5 - Livingston County's Own
We are Howell and Brighton Michigan's Hometown Radio Station
Wednesday, May 16
5/16/12 - A local crossing guard hit in a school parking lot Tuesday afternoon is showing signs of improvement. The crossing guard has been identified as 52-year old Susan Nanette Hazzard. She was originally listed in critical condition at the University of Michigan hospital in Ann Arbor, where she was taken by ambulance yesterday. Her condition has been steadily improving and as of this afternoon, a hospital spokeswoman told WHMI Hazzard was listed in fair condition. A 16-year-old Hartland High School student who lives in Brighton was said to be driving as fast as 60 mph when he hit Hazzard and witnesses reported that the Hartland Township woman was thrown into the air from the impact and landed on her head. An investigation by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department is ongoing and the teen could face charges. Sheriff Bob Bezotte says speed and drugs appeared to be factors and suspected marijuana was found inside the teen's vehicle. He says preliminary investigation shows the teen dropped something on floor and bent down to retrieve it but hit the gas pedal in doing so. A passenger in the car is then said to have grabbed the wheel to try and get control of the vehicle. After hitting Hazzard, Bezotte says the vehicle jumped a curb and went into a nearby field and hit a tree before finally coming to rest. The teen is not being identified but Bezotte says he was uncooperative at the scene and also refused a drug test so a warrant for a blood draw was obtained and he was later released to his parents. The results of that could take two to three months. Bezotte says once interviews and the investigation are complete, a report will be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office, which will then determine if any criminal charges will be filed although he says no decision would be made until the blood test results come back. The Harland Consolidated Schools district said in a statement today it was saddened by the accident and its thoughts and prayers were with their employee and her family. (JM)
5/16/12 - The Old Fenton Fire Hall could soon have new life after all. The Fenton Downtown Development Authority solicited proposals from the community after Michigan Brewing Company backed out of a prior deal due to financial issues. Letters of interest have since been received from four parties wishing to be considered for re-development of the Old Fire Hall on North Leroy Street downtown. They include the owners of Arbor Brewing Company and Corner Brewing Company; the owners of the Clarkston Union and the Union Woodshop; the owners of Lockhart BBQ, Royal Oak Brewery and Detroit Beer Company as well as the owners of Tavern 131 in Milford and Ciao Amici in Brighton.DDA Executive Director Michael Burns tells WHMI the four firms that submitted letters are all very qualified and its going to be a difficult decision because there are some very elite candidates. He feels the most interesting part of the entire process was that the city didn't have to approach anyone, adding the fact they were able to draw in such impressive candidates is due to the hard work of the DDA and its investment in the revitalization of downtown Fenton over the past few years. A selection committee consisting of three DDA members will meet Thursday to review the proposals and select candidates to interview, which will take place next week. A financial analysis of the final candidates will then be conducted and a recommendation will eventually be made to the full DDA Board for approval. (JM)
5/16/12 - The Hartland Township Board got a visit from Sheriff Bob Bezotte at its regular meeting last night to warn them about the sale of the drug K2 in the township. K2 is a synthetic form of marijuana sold legally as incense to people over 18 at gas stations, party stores, and head shops around the country, including Livingston County. Despite its legal status it is frequently smoked by young people and parolees trying to get high without testing positive for marijuana. Smoking K2 leads to complications not seen with marijuana including vomiting, seizures, and brief psychotic episodes. Bezotte will be visiting township board across the county this week to make sure they are informed about the nature and continued sale of K2 in their townships. Last night, he identified the smoke shop near the CVS pharmacy on M-59 as one place in Hartland Township where K2 is sold. The owner of the Clyde Road Sunoco, which is now a Mobil gas station, told WHMI that he has never sold the product due to its potential harmful effects and doesn’t believe in selling those types of substances to the community. Bezotte tells WHMI that the sheriff’s department is teaming up with the Livingston County Community Alliance and coalitions from Pinckney, Hartland, and Howell to take action against the sale of K2 and options such as picketing sellers are being discussed. Bezotte also visited the Tyrone Township Board last night and says he will visit the Brighton Township board tonight. (TD)
5/16/12 - A Webberville man labeled as a “person of interest” in an unsolved Iosco Township murder is facing numerous weapon charges. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI that three warrants have been authorized for 23-year-old Anthony Sean Duke. He is expected to be arraigned Thursday on the eight felony firearm charges. Bezotte says Duke was named a person of interest during the course of their investigation into the death of Ronald Hauser and Duke was found to be in possession of the weapons. Since Duke is a convicted felon, he cannot legally possess any weapons. Bezotte says the investigation into Hauser’s murder continues and declined to provide additional details about Duke’s involvement, citing the open case. Hauser was found shot to death in his basement and local investigators believe that robbery was the motive for the murder. Hauser owned a tree-trimming service and was known to keep large amounts of cash in his home and on his person. (JM)
5/16/12 - Officials from communities around the state will be converging on Brighton next month to hear and see for themselves Brighton’s success story in revitalizing its downtown. Downtown Development Director Matt Modrack, who is the instigating force behind the event, says the workshop will be a chance for downtown Brighton to showcase itself as a shopping and dining destination. Much larger communities - among them those with trendy downtowns such as Northville and Plymouth – will be coming to see what Brighton has to offer and will eat lunch at local restaurants. Those attending from the approximately 28 communities will range from city managers to mayors to DDA directors. The reason why they are coming to Brighton is the success of its downtown redevelopment liquor license program. Brighton officials will go over the process of creating a downtown redevelopment district and how to apply for the special license to serve alcohol. Modrack tells WHMI that with the exception of Grand Rapids, Brighton has obtained more redevelopment liquor licenses than any other community in the state. Modrack says the success of downtown Brighton, which has no vacancies currently, is directly attributable to the DDA’s aggressiveness in obtaining downtown liquor licenses for its restaurants and pubs. The state program makes them available at a much lower cost than obtaining a Class C liquor license through conventional channels. The purpose of the special licenses is to improve the business climate in downtown areas and they cost the applicant $20,000, considered a bargain. The workshop will be held on June 15 at the Chamber of Commerce Conference Center on East Grand River. (TT)
5/16/12 - A millage will appear before Howell Township voters for sanitary sewer and water services. The decision to place the 3.5 mill, five year proposal on the August ballot was made at Monday night’s board meeting. Resident Mike Tipton, who is running as a Democrat for an open trustee seat, attended the meeting and told WHMI this comes after a substantial increase in water and sewer rates that essentially doubled what residents are paying. He feels township officials aren't exploring all of the available options. "There's some land they could sell (but) they don't feel the market is right. We could just wait for the next few years that a millage like this wouldn't be required. It seems rather ironic that this board that's been controlled forever by the Republican administration is considering these hefty tax increases without trying these other alternatives first." Township Clerk Carolyn Eaton says the township is short $1.3 million a year toward sewer and water debt and the millage would just barely cover the debt and generate approximately $1 (m) million a year. The township doubled sewer rates about three years ago from $4.50 to $9 per 1,000 gallons but to cover the existing debt, it would need to be $18. Voters turned down a millage proposal a couple years ago and the situation has only worsened since then and the debt keeps escalating every year. Eaton says they have enough to get through this year and hopefully if approved, the millage should keep the township going so it can possibly pull though this. Eaton says by law, they can only collect two mills and it’s just not enough. "We have cut jobs, we have cut our hours, we have cut pay and put freezes on our pay for over the last four years now. We have done everything we can and what we are doing is draining our general fund...within the next two years if we don't get a millage we will probably end up going into receivership." If the millage does pass, it can only be used for sewer debt and Eaton says the board would only collect what’s needed out of the 3.5 mills. (JK)
5/16/12 - Business owners and managers from around the county came to hear a presentation by Bill Zehnder, owner of the Bavarian Inn restaurant in Frankenmuth, yesterday afternoon. Zehnder addressed more than 100 people as part of the Livingston Economic Council’s semiannual luncheon. During his presentation, Zehnder discussed the challenges faced by his family-owned business in the decades since its founding and the strategies his family has used to overcome them. He offered advice and insight to local family-owned businesses, encouraging them to communicate and coordinate with one another and be willing to accept outside help and advice. He spoke personally to local businessman Joe Parker, who owns C&B Machinery in Livonia and is behind the new Heart of Howell development planned for construction this year. Parker tells WHMI that all of his business ventures are family-owned and he was glad to learn from Zehnder’s experience. The next meeting of the Livingston Economic Club will take place in October and will have business counselor Chris Brogan as its featured speaker. (TD)
5/16/12 - Yesterday marked the filing deadline for candidates looking to run in the August primary and it was a busy day for local clerks. County Elections Supervisor Joan Runyan told WHMI that there were many last minute candidate filings yesterday at various municipal offices, and all of the affidavits received must be verified so they were busy getting information updated and online. There will be some contested races following the filing deadline. In Genoa Township, Republican Supervisor Gary McCririe is being challenged by Kevin Spicher for the seat. The Supervisor’s seat is also contested in Putnam Township where Republican Supervisor Ron Rau is being challenged by Bob Stone and Jerry Balk on the GOP ticket and Mike Porath on the Democratic side. Other contested races in the county are the offices of prosecuting attorney, where Republicans Lyle Dickson, Carolyn Henry and William Vailliencourt have filed along with Democrat Matthew Evans; Sheriff in which incumbent Bob Bezotte is being challenged for by C.J. Maier and Tom Ash; and in the non-partisan Probate Court judgeship, Miriam Cavanaugh and Lori Marran have both filed to replace Carol Hacket Garagiola, who declined to run for another term. Updated filings may be found on the county clerk’s website. You’ll find a link below. (JM)
Tuesday, May 15
5/15/12 - A local crossing guard is listed in critical condition after being hit in a school parking area after classes let out this afternoon. Deputies with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department responded to the personal injury accident at 2:37pm that happened in the parking area of Hartland High School. Authorities tell WHMI that a 16-year-old student who lives in Brighton was driving a 1999 Mercury Sable when he hit a 52-year old Hartland woman, who was working as a crossing guard for the district. Based on investigation and witness reports, deputies determined the student was traveling at a high rate of speed, with some reports as fast as 60mph, when he hit the woman, who then flipped into the air and landed on her head. She was transported to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, where she is listed in critical condition. The Sheriff’s Department says both speed and drugs appear to be factors. Suspected marijuana was found inside of the student’s vehicle and the department was in the process of obtaining a warrant for a blood draw on the student. (JM)
5/15/12 - The Howell Public Schools Board of Education voted last night to spend down some of its fund balance as part of a coordinated reinvestment strategy that will hopefully attract additional students into the district. On a 5-1 vote, the board moved ahead with drafting a budget for the 2012-2013 school year that will spend $633,000 on seven new positions, including a new administrator, counselors and at-risk reading coaches. That is among $1.5 million the district would spend on new buses, technology and maintenance. Supporters of the plan say that with a projected loss of between 75 and 125 students next year, the district will be facing an operating deficit of $3.4 million and this plan is a credible first step to begin reversing that trend and ensure the district’s long-term financial health. But Trustee Mike Moloney, who cast the lone no vote, saw it differently, saying the district was headed down the “wrong path” by making a decision he didn’t see as financially sound. But that notion was met with a vehement objection from the board’s Vice President Mike Witt. "We're not being irresponsible here. We're doing better than any district in Livingston County financially and this is...a work in progress that we've worked on for months...so to make the statements that you made Mr. Moloney, I'm sorry but that's ridiculous." Moloney responded by saying the board's decision was "ridiculous." Several board members, including Board President Ann Routt, concurred with Witt’s assessment that the district had made enough cuts and needed to improve its programs going forward. As to the notion of the district having an operating deficit, Associate Superintendent of Business Rick Terres tells WHMI it is important to remember that the district routinely heads into a budget year with an operating deficit, which it then offsets throughout the year. He says the district has been financially stable and is simply using some of the funds to reinvest in itself as any responsible entity would. Terres added that the district recently learned that its credit rating had been boosted from an “A” rating to an “A+” from Standard & Poor’s, one notch below the state’s own rating. The board will vote to approve the final budget for the upcoming school year before the end of June. (JK)
5/15/12 - Three resolutions passed by the Livingston County Commission last night will provide a new terminal building for the Livingston County Spencer J. Hardy Airport. Airport Manager Mark Johnson says the existing terminal (pictured) on Grand River is about 50 years old and too small for the needs of the growing airport. The project approved last night will construct a larger terminal building on Tooley Road north of the runway. Johnson says the new terminal will provide more space for travelers to meet and relax as well as putting forward a more attractive first image for visitors to Livingston County. The total project cost is about $850,000, of which the Federal Aviation Administration will pay about 95%. The remainder will be paid for through Michigan Department of Transportation grants and local funds. Johnson says the MDOT grant money is already in hand and needs only to be approved by the Board of Commissioners on Monday. An airplane ramp for the new building is currently under construction and should be finished about three weeks before construction on the new building begins in July. The new terminal should be up and running by the end of October. (TD)
5/15/12 - The Genoa Township Planning Commission met Monday night to discuss plans for a new medical office building and upgrades to a gas station. The commission recommended that the township board approve the rezoning request as well as the environmental impact assessment for the medical office building, which would be located on Bendix Road. The commission also approved the site plan, which is contingent upon the rezoning from medium density residential to office service district being completed by the township board. The property is slightly more than one acre in size and the county planning department must also make a recommendation before any final approvals. Commission Chairman Doug Brown told WHMI that the person interested in buying the property and moving ahead with the development remains unknown to them and the petitioner was being represented by Notable Realty and is said to have a medical interest in the community. Brown says they felt it made good sense to have a small medical building right next door to a larger medical center in close proximity. It was also indicated during the meeting that financing has been secured for the project. Meanwhile, the Planning Commission also recommended approval of a special use application, site plan and impact assessment that will allow for a small addition in back of the Speedway gas station located on Grand River as well an outdoor storage area. The addition will not be visible from Grand River. Brown says the gas station has been there since the early 90’s so this allowed the commission the opportunity to spruce up the building and bring the landscaping there up to today’s standards. (JM)
5/15/12 - Three new administrators were hired by the Hartland School Board last night, including one to replace Tracey Sahouri as assistant principal of Hartland High School. The district re-assigned Tracey Sahouri from her role as Principal of Creekside Elementary School to Assistant High School Principal following an investigation by the Michigan Department of Education that concluded a breach of security occurred in administering the MEAP test to 4th grade students. The district controversially chose not to renew Sahouri’s administrative contract for next year so she will begin teaching at Hartland High in the fall. Sahouri, who has since filed a civil lawsuit against the district, will be replaced by Kate Gregory (pictured), the current dean of students for the high school. Outgoing Hartland High Principal Chuck Hughes tells WHMI Gregory was a natural choice and regardless of the controversy around Sahouri, the staff of the high school has accepted Gregory as the district’s choice for assistant principal. Hughes will take a new position as director of curriculum and administration next year. Last night the board approved hiring Fowlerville Junior High School Principal Ben Mainka as the new Hartland High principal to replace him in the fall, selecting him from almost three dozen applicants to the job. Farms Intermediate School Counselor Mary Day was also promoted to assistant principal of that school last night. Meanwhile, no recommendation came before the board Monday night to expel the 18-year-old student identified as the person responsible for sending text and online messages that led to the one-day closing of the high school last month. That means he will be allowed to graduate. Prosecutor David Morse announced last week that he was declining to press criminal charges against the teen. (TD)
5/15/12 - An elderly Brighton woman charged with hoarding dozens of cats inside of her home who was set to go to trial next week has entered a plea instead. 80-year-old Carol Anne Adams pleaded no contest to a single count of abandoning/cruelty to 4 to 10 animals in connection with a raid on her two Brighton homes more than a year ago. Adams entered the no-contest plea at a hearing yesterday in Livingston County Circuit Court, which is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such during sentencing. The deal also stipulates that upon successful completion of probation, the charges may be dismissed. More than two dozen cats and one dog were seized during the raid in April of 2011. Both homes where the animals were living were later condemned by the city for various code violations. The case came to light after neighbors complained about smells and a large number of cats at one of the homes on Woodlake Drive. Five of the cats had to be euthanized with the remaining animals placed up for adoption. Adams will be sentenced June 28th. (JM)
Monday, May 14
5/14/12 - US Senate hopeful Clark Durant made a campaign stop in front of Howell’s Historic Downtown Courthouse today on his way to turn in his ballot petitions in Lansing. Durant is attempting to take the GOP nomination away from longtime congressman Pete Hoekstra and run against incumbent Senator Debbie Stabenow in the November election. Rather than hand in the petitions to put himself on the ballot, Durant chose to lead a convoy of supporters, who he describes as “bikers and moms,” to the state capital. He made campaign stops along the way including one in Howell, where he has local connections to the Ann Arbor Railroad. Local petitioners, led by Brighton resident Renee Pettingill, gathered 1,400 signatures for Durant’s campaign in Livingston County. About 30 residents greeted Durant, including eight motorcycles. During the stop Durant delivered a stump speech at the courthouse promoting himself as an unconventional candidate. He tells WHMI that he believes the existing politicians have caused more harm than good and the unusual way he is delivering his petitions is part of an image of nonconformity. He views his supporters as a cross-section of the voting public who back him as an alternative to career politicians. Durant says he has the roughly same cash-on-hand funding as Hoekstra at about $1.5 million. Stabenow has raised nearly $7 million, but Durant expects her past performance to work against her in the election. (TD)
5/14/12 - A Livingston County attorney is handling multiple lawsuits claiming the hiring and promotion practices of the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority police department favors minority candidates over older white males. At least four lawsuits have been filed since November against the authority, which oversees 13 parks including Kensington and Huron Meadows, claiming age, race or sex discrimination. Pinckney attorney James Fett is representing several of the claimants. Among them is 63-year-old Cmdr. Harley Rider of Dexter Township, who says he was improperly passed over for the chief's job in 2008 in favor of Police Chief George Phifer, who he says was less qualified. Authority officials dispute that. His case is scheduled for trial in July. Rider, a commander in the department and also the Dexter Township clerk, told the Free Press that the atmosphere of the department changed drastically after the hiring of Phifer. Rider says a campaign of retaliation began against anyone who complained about Phifer's employment that included multiple transfers that at one point took him from a 5-mile commute to 90-minute commute and a stripping away of his responsibilities and oversight. Fett told the paper that the alleged focus on diversity is illegal and is “…a code word for jamming old white guys." George Steele, an attorney representing the park system, says many complaints about the department stem from a reorganization begun in 2005. He acknowledged some officers are unhappy, but says the park system has a "professionally organized and efficient" department. (JK)
5/14/12 - The history of Howell will come alive this weekend during an event that aims to celebrate the past while preserving it for the future. The 9th annual Howell History Days celebration this Saturday will provide free entertainment, demonstrations and exhibits including historic building tours and as many as 30 craft vendors. Other activities include a tractor alley, butter churning, free children's books and two workshops for kids that start at 10am - Renee Chodkowski, also known as the Great Foodini, will host Cooking with Kids while “Draw with Me” will be hosted by Rick Schlaack. The event is sponsored by the Howell Area Historical Society and the Howell Carnegie District Library. The historical society owns and maintains the depot museum on Wetmore and Walnut Streets, which was built in 1886 and was the first building in the county to be recognized on the national Historic Register. To learn more about Howell History Days, click on the link below. (JM)
5/14/12 - Congressman Mike Rogers told a national television audience yesterday that the leak of an al Qaeda bomb plot aimed at an American aircraft amounted to "premature chest thumping," by the Obama Administration. Speaking on CBS' "Face the Nation", the Howell Republican, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, said he has ordered a preliminary review and could open a full committee investigation or refer it to criminal charges to the F.B.I. Last month, a double agent volunteered to smuggle a sophisticated underwear bomb onto an American plane and bring it down. Instead, he turned it over to the U.S. government. It was later revealed that the intended suicide bomber was a double agent, working with the CIA, Saudi intelligence agencies and the United Kingdom's MI6. The controversy is over the fact that the operation was leaked to the Associated Press before it was complete and before congressional leaders had been informed about it. "Well, it's clear that the information was leaked, and that information was presented at some point to the CIA. The CIA at that point tried to put that story back in the can for-- for security reasons. We had-- people's lives were at stake during this particular operation. And that's where it gets a little murky which is why I've ordered the review. This is not anything that should be used for a headline. Our national security should be exempt from any November at any time in any year." But a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, rejected the idea that the leak was in any way coordinated saying the administration had fought to prevent the information from coming out, and then to delay the AP's publication of it for operational reasons. (JK)
5/14/12 - The Michigan Department of Transportation has some big plans to revamp the US-23/I-96 interchange and is looking to get public feedback at a pair of meetings Thursday. M-DOT is looking to gain input on the new proposal before any construction occurs, which would be done in conjunction with building three new bridges over northbound and southbound US-23, and over Old US-23, that would also require the demolition of about a dozen homes located where the freeway splits off through the interchange. M-DOT Spokeswoman Kari Arend says the new plan would repair the bridges at I-96 and US-23 but also involve the construction of six additional new lanes there, basically in-between the existing eastbound and westbound lanes of I-96 and turn it into more of a collector/distributor ramp. Arend says construction would more than likely start in 2015 and 2016 at the interchange but they are still in the very initial stages of the project planning. The public is encouraged to learn more and offer input at two sessions this Thursday at the Brighton Township Hall. The first will run from noon to 2pm and the second from 5 to 8pm. Picture courtesy of www.canhighways.com. (JK)
5/14/12 - An open house to celebrate the completion and opening of the new Putnam Township Fire House was held Saturday. The fire department outgrew its old fire house of 30 years and asked township voters to approve the construction of a larger $1.5 million fire house on M-36 near the township hall. That project was completed last year and the fire department moved into the new building in December, but the open house was delayed until this weekend to make sure the weather would permit residents to take full advantage of the facility. Residents attended the open house throughout the day to enjoy free food, cotton candy, demonstrations of equipment and simulators from various departments, and games and attractions for kids including a bounce house. The open house was also attended by emergency departments from all over the county including the Sheriff’s Department, Brighton Fire, Livingston County EMS, and the Red Cross. The fire department increased its available vehicle bays from five to 13 by moving to the new facility, allowing all of the department’s vehicles to be kept and maintained indoors. Department vehicles now also enjoy direct access to M-36 without having to worry about traffic in downtown Pinckney. (TD)
Sunday, May 13
5/13/12 - The Brighton Board of Education has approved unlimited schools of choice in the district for the 2012-13 academic year. Superintendent Greg Gray says unlimited schools of choice means that as long as there is room, students from other school districts will be allowed to enroll in any grade, K-through-12, for the fall term. Gray tells WHMI the Board of Education approved a limited schools of choice program earlier this year but amended that last week to offer an unlimited program. Gray says the 620 schools of choice students enrolled in the Brighton Area Schools this year is a record. Participating in the schools of choice program is a good source of income because the district receives the per-pupil revenue when a student from a neighboring school district enrolls in the Brighton program. (TT)
Saturday, May 12
5/12/12 - Congressman Mike Rogers of Brighton will appear on “Face the Nation” Sunday to discuss the foiled, so-called “underwear bomb" plot and his call for an investigation into how the information became known to the public. Rogers, who is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, will discuss the leaking of such classified information and whether those leaks affect current and future U.S. intelligence gathering operations. The Brighton Republican will also talk about the preliminary review by the House Intelligence Committee he has ordered to determine the impact of the leaks and why the Obama administration did not notify congress in advance of the activity as required by law. In the Livingston County area, “Face the Nation” can be seen at 10:30 a.m. Sunday on WLNS-TV, channel 6 in Lansing and WWJ-TV, channel 62 in Detroit. (TT)
5/12/12 - The Michigan State Police Brighton Post was one of the top collection sites during a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. A total of 693.7 pounds of prescription drugs were collected and all 29 MSP posts participated in the “take back” effort, with the Brighton Post located off of Old US-23 collecting a total of 41 pounds. Michigan State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration and numerous other local law enforcement agencies across Livingston County took part in the effort in late April, which offered an anonymous venue for residents to dispose of unwanted, expired or unused prescription drugs for safe destruction. (JM)
Friday, May 11
5/11/12 - A gravel-hauler truck crash caused major traffic backups along I-96 Friday near the Oakland County line. Local authorities say the truck was traveling along eastbound I-96 at around 8am Friday when it left the roadway just before Pleasant Valley Road, going several hundred feet into a wooded area and pond where the front portion then fell on its side. The truck leaked fuel into a small pond, which necessitated hazardous material containment and an environmental cleanup. A specialty towing company was brought in with heavy equipment to try and remove the truck, which was partially submerged in thick mud. Crews were working for hours to pull the truck out and get it upright while also unloading material in the trailers. The driver of the truck is said to have suffered minor injuries. The right lane of eastbound I-96 was closed near Pleasant Valley Road to allow for cleanup efforts and backups were originally reported past the US-23 interchange. The freeway finally re-opened to traffic at around 4pm. (JM)
5/11/12 - The Howell mother of a young girl diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder is urging community support at a walk next weekend designed to raise both funds and awareness. The Angelman Syndrome Walk-A-Thon is a 2.2 mile walk that will be followed by a picnic next Saturday at Linden County Park. Angelman Syndrome is a complex genetic disorder that primarily affects the neurological system, resulting in delayed development, intellectual disabilities, severe speech impairment, seizures and problems with movement and balance. It is rare in that one in every 15,000 children are diagnosed and Tyfanie Faron of Howell received the news when her daughter Avery was 2-years-old. She tells WHMI they noticed Avery had a speech delay, which prompted them to get some genetic testing done and resulted in the diagnosis. After that, Faron says they connected with the Angelman Foundation and were able to get in touch with other families and form a support network, which is why she is urging community support for the walk. All of the funds raised will go to the Foundation, which seeks to advance awareness, understanding and treatment with the ultimate goal of finding a cure. A benefit dinner is also planned Monday evening at Tomato Brothers in Howell in which a portion of proceeds will be donated in Avery’s name. You can find details about that as well as information about the walk in the events section located to the right of our webpage. (JM)
5/11/12 - A local recycling company is under investigation after a complaint was filed against it by the state. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Weights and Measures division filed the complaint against Regal Recycling after discovering a scale that was out of tolerance during a routine inspection. The company operates two facilities in the Howell area, one in Whitmore Lake and another in Ann Arbor. The complaint was filed with the Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office, which turned the matter over to the Sheriff’s Department for additional investigation. Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI interviews are being conducted and they are currently working the state, which turned over the possible evidence to them. He says that has since been sent to the crime lab, which will determine if there is any viable evidence to indicate intentional mis-use of the device. He notes that the Department of Agriculture routinely checks these devices to make sure they are legitimate and that nobody’s tampered with them, adding that this is the first time he has seen one actually seized and a criminal report filed. Bezotte says detectives should wrap up interviews by the end of next week and have the investigation complete before the end of the month. (JM)
5/11/12 - A canoe race this weekend will honor the memory of a Milford man who gave his life trying to save two drowning teenagers. The Doug Killenbeck Memorial Canoe Race will take place this Saturday at Milford’s Central Park. The 48-year-old husband and father was said to be an accomplished athlete and has been described by family members and friends as a selfless guy who knew the dangers of the water but took the risk anyway. He drowned while attempting to rescue two teens whose canoe overturned in choppy water near the base of the Huron River Dam in Milford in May of last year. Killingbeck was a member of the Michigan Canoe Racing Association, which is hosting this Saturday’s memorial race. It will run from noon to 6pm and will start and finish at Central Park in downtown Milford. The competitive races are expected to draw some of the country’s best marathon racers to the area and registration begins at 11am. For more information, click on the link below. (JM)
5/11/12 - A hearing is set next month on a proposal to replace more than 200 miles of pipeline in Michigan, including a 50-mile stretch from Stockbridge to Ortonville that would run through Livingston County. A June 6th hearing is scheduled by the Michigan Public Service Commission to a proposal submitted by Alberta-based Enbridge Incorporated to replace portions of the pipeline, known as Line 6B, to reduce the number of future maintenance needs and restore capacity. The 30-inch-diameter pipeline, originally installed in 1969, runs from Griffith, Indiana, to Sarnia, Ontario. Joe Martucci, a spokesman for Enbridge, told The Time Herald of Port Huron that the pipeline has been operating at a reduced pressure since 2010. It produces 243,000 barrels of oil a day with the pressure restrictions, but projections show the new pipeline will produce about 500,000 barrels of oil a day. The existing pipeline will be decommissioned and remain in place with the new pipeline placed about 25 feet from the existing line. Several landowners along the pipeline’s route have expressed concerns about how the additional land will affect them, with some saying it will require decks to be removed and stands of mature trees cut down. Others have expressed dissatisfaction with the compensation being offered by Enbridge. Martucci has said the company is offering fair market value. Meanwhile, a petition from a Livingston County property owner to intervene in the case has since been resolved. The Michigan Nature Association owns 20 acres in Tyrone Township that would be affected by the pipeline project. MPSC records indicate that they have since reached an agreement with Enbridge and have withdrawn their petition. After the commission hears the case both for and against the project at the June 6th meeting, they will then issue a decision at a later date, most likely before the end of the year. If they do vote for approval, Enbridge will then be able to pursue eminent domain in circuit court in those instances where landowners have not reached an agreement with the company. (JK)
5/11/12 - A Howell High School senior has been named a 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholar. The U.S. Department of Education has announced that Claire Kwan is one of 141 high school seniors named a U.S Presidential Scholar. The honor is given to those who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership qualities and character while making significant contributions to their community and school. Inclusion in the program is considered one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. More than 3,000 candidates qualified this year based on their exceptional performance on either the College Board SAT or the ACT Assessment as well as their academic and artistic achievements. When Kwan was a junior at Howell High School, she accomplished something that few people manage to ever get - a perfect ACT score of 36. At the time, she told WHMI that she was looking into a science or math based career, perhaps in the medical or engineering fields. Kwan and the other scholars will be honored for their accomplishments during a ceremony in Washington, DC June 16th through the 19th. (JK)
5/11/12 - Local motorists have more lane closures to deal with this weekend and next but the good news is that a freeway entrance ramp that has been closed for a while is expected to re-open. M-DOT says single lane closures will be in effect this Saturday in each direction on US-23 between Silver Lake Road and just south of the I-96 interchange and motorists should be prepared for traffic slowdowns. The closure will be in place from 6am until 4pm and is needed so that crews can implement the split merge traffic configuration near Silver Lake Road. Once that’s in place, three lanes will be maintained on northbound US-23 - two northbound lanes and one southbound lane –as well as one southbound lane maintained on southbound US-23. M-DOT says once the split merge traffic configuration is in place, the on-ramp from Silver Lake Road to northbound US-23 will re-open. Motorists can expect single lane closures again next weekend on northbound US-23. There will be a single lane closure between Lee Road and the CSX Railroad starting at 9pm Friday, May 18th lasting through 7am on Monday, May 21st. The closure is needed for pavement reconstruction on northbound US-23 under Lee Road and the CSX Railroad bridge. (JM)
5/11/12 - Northwest Elementary in the Howell Public Schools district has been named the “2012 Bike to School Day” award winner. This past Wednesday marked “Bike to School Day”, which is a yearly event that celebrates the school commute and encourages families to safely try out riding. The Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority says Northwest Elementary won the award by a landslide with over 40 students and faculty members taking part in this year’s event. "Bike to School Day” was just the first of many upcoming events to recognize May as National Bike Month. Local residents are being encouraged to save on gas money and get some exercise next Friday, May 18th when the Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority will be celebrating “Bike to Work Day”. The Bennett Recreation Center will be providing free coffee, juice, bagels and donuts on your way to work and riders can also enter their name into a prize raffle. For more details, click on the link below. (JM)
5/11/12 - The Marion Township Board of Trustees approved moving forward with at least two road new road projects at its regular meeting last night. The board approved a motion to request contracts from the Livingston County Road Commission for construction projects on Peavy Road and Cedar Lake Road this summer. The Peavy Road project will pave the road from Mason Road to Tracilee at an estimated cost of $210,000. The second project will repair the surface of Cedar Lake Road between Jewell and Norton Roads at an estimated cost of $250,000. Both of those will be paid for out of the township’s general fund. The township board also discussed a request by the residents of Bonnie Circle, a public road south of Norton Road that is in need of repair. 21 of the 23 families on Bonnie Circle have requested a special assessment district to pay for $150,000 in repairs to the road. Last night the board discussed the possibility of creating the SAD and providing no-interest financing for the project. The possibility of contributing a fraction of the cost was also discussed but ultimately dismissed by the board. (TD)
Thursday, May 10
5/11/12 - Arson Awareness Week is underway and this year’s theme is juvenile fire-setting. The Brighton Area Fire Authority is working to promote education and action towards fighting the issue, which it refers to as a quiet and often ignored community problem. Officials say there are many avenues and resources available to help families and their children if afflicted with fire-setting behavior. They add that the common perception of “scaring someone straight” is a misnomer, and fear can be counterproductive to helping a person develop better behaviors. Officials add that fire-setting in younger children often manifests from stress and curiosity, while fire-setting from teens and adolescents often stems from boredom. Officials say problems with fire setting often start small, and much like fire itself, it grows into something much bigger. For example, a young child may start by setting paper on fire in his closet and eventually on a separate occasion igniting his mattress, or teenagers lighting a small brush fire, then using gasoline to accelerate another fire and injuring themselves. The authority has developed a comprehensive public education program that spans all ages and in doing so, hopes to reduce fires while increasing safety in the community. More information may be found below about Arson Awareness Week. (JM)
5/10/12 - Livingston County residents and officials will soon know whether the Latson Road Interchange project will become a reality. The Michigan Department of Transportation is expected to announce the future of the Latson Road Interchange at the end of May. The Livingston County Road Commission and Genoa Township have been working for months to acquire the funding and right of way necessary to begin with the project, but a funding gap of about $8 million was recently identified by the state. It remains to be seen whether MDOT will make up the difference and allow the project to move forward. Road Commission Managing Director Mike Craine tells WHMI local partners will hold a meeting with MDOT on May 30th to go over details of the project’s bids. He expects MDOT to make an announcement in the days before or after the meeting to declare the fate of the project. (TD)
5/10/12 - Some Republican lawmakers in Livingston County face challenges in the August primary election. Incumbent State Representative Cindy Denby is being challenged by Harold Melton for the Republican nomination for the 47th District House seat. Shawn Lowe Desai is filing on the Democratic side. In the 42nd House District race, Shanda Willis has filed for the Democratic nomination but incumbent Bill Rogers is being challenged by Hamburg Township resident Dale Rogers (pictured) for the Republican nomination. Dale Rogers is a teacher at Novi High School and tells WHMI that with the recent events in education reform at the national, state and local levels, he felt it was time to step up and try to add his voice to the mix. Dale Rogers says he knows the Rogers family has been a political influence in the county for quite some time and while he respects Bill Rogers’ interests and views on education, he brings a different view to the table. Meanwhile, Howell Republican Mike Rogers has represented the 8th Congressional District since 2001 and is seeking re-election. Democratic challengers Michael Magdich of Hamburg Township and Lance Enderle have both filed for the seat. The top vote getter in the August 7th primary will face Rogers in November. This marks the first political run for Magdich while Enderle, a former teacher, unsuccessfully ran against Rogers in 2010. (JM)
5/10/12 - A trial date has been set in a lawsuit filed in federal court over an incident involving a Howell High School teacher who removed a student from his classroom during a discussion about free speech and gay rights. Court records indicate that the lawsuit will go to trial in either November or December. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit by Sandra Glowacki, whose 16-year-old son Daniel was removed from class in October 2010 by teacher Jay McDowell. She alleges that the incident violated her son's First Amendment rights. Daniel Glowacki, now a senior, was reportedly ordered to leave McDowell’s classroom after saying he didn’t support homosexuality because of his religious beliefs. The district disciplined McDowell by suspending him for a day without pay and placing a written reprimand in his personnel file, which included a letter establishing certain behaviors that would not be tolerated. He was required to complete a training related to student first amendment rights. The suspension was eventually rescinded after McDowell, who heads up the district’s teachers union, appealed. Glowacki is being represented by attorneys from the Thomas More Law Center, a conservative Christian law center based in Ann Arbor. They allege that the Howell district, in cooperation with teacher unions, “indoctrinates students to believe that homosexuality is normal and…that religious opposition…is harassment, bullying, hate speech and homophobic.” District officials have categorically denied those claims. (JK)
5/10/12 - A relatively low-speed crash between two asphalt trucks closed two lanes of Grand River Avenue in front of Elder Beerman in Genoa Township for more than an hour this morning. The two trucks were in traveling westbound in the left-hand lane when the second truck collided with the rear of the first at the traffic signal near Taco Bell. Neither driver appears to have been seriously hurt, but there was damage to the front end of the rear truck. The sheriff's department and local police and fire responded to the scene and closed off the inside lanes for both westbound and eastbound Grand River at the site. The driver of the vehicle says he left ample room between his truck and the rear of the other truck, but his vehicle would not stop even though he was "standing on the brake." He adds that the truck had no problem stopping at the traffic signal at Latson Road. (TD)
5/10/12 - A deer that’s believed to have gotten spooked ended up crashing through some glass windows at the Howell Nature Center Wednesday morning. Executive Director Dick Grant says a wild, white tailed buck was in the area at around 9:30am and must have gotten spooked and ended up running through a large plate glass window into the Wildwings Lodge. Grant says the deer roamed around in the commons area for a few minutes before escaping through another plate glass window into the woods, leaving a piece of antler behind. Grant tells WHMI that he has been with the Nature Center for 34 years now and this is the first time something like this has ever happened. He says they don’t believe the deer was severely injured but they did go out and search for it. Being a wildlife rehabilitation center, Grant says they are well equipped to assist the animal but notes deer are resilient so other than being shaken up, the deer is likely just fine. Grant says luckily no one was in the building at the time but says a school group had actually been inside the building about a half an hour prior to the incident. The incident resulted in about $1,000 in damages. Grant says they have boarded up the windows but are still able to use the building so it’s just matter of replacing the glass, which will likely be done this weekend. (JM)
5/10/12 - The paving of Clyde Road west of Argentine Road is proceeding on schedule and should begin in the early part of next month. Clyde Road was paved for one mile east of Latson Road two years ago, but funding and engineering issues left a one-mile stretch of unpaved road between Mack and Argentine Roads. That portion of Clyde has challenging soil types that make the paving process difficult and expensive, but the $1.2 million project was approved by Oceola Township and the Livingston County Road Commission earlier this year. Road Commission Managing Director Mike Craine says bids will be received on May 22nd and awarded two days later. He adds that there are currently more than a dozen bid holders and he is expecting good pricing on the project. The Road Commission will cover about 10% of the overall project, with the other 90% being paid through the township. (TD)
5/10/12 - A Howell School board trustee’s ethics are being called into question by a member of the Howell Teachers Union. Board of Education member Mike Moloney was appointed to the board in November 2010. It was recently learned that he also serves as the Director of Constituent Relations for Michigan Senator Mark Jansen who represents the 28th district that includes part of Kent County. Voyager Elementary music teacher Christine Schoendorff is also the Vice President of Communications for the teachers union and feels Moloney’s position is a huge conflict of interest and questions not only his purpose there but his dedication to the district being he has no children attending Howell Public Schools and has had signs in his yard advertising for St. Joseph Catholic School in Howell, essentially encouraging people to consider options other than Howell schools. She tells WHMI that Moloney should have been honest about working under Senator Jansen, who she says has penned a lot of legislation that is very anti-schools and anti-teacher. In her opinion, she says Moloney hasn’t shown any positive reasons for being on the board and has no vested interest in the schools or what’s best for kids, noting his own children aren’t enrolled in the district. Moloney says there was never an attempt to hide his position but rather he felt there wasn’t a need to officially announce it to the board and says many members including Superintendent Ron Wilson were already aware. Moloney says it’s pretty normal for those serving on school boards to have other jobs because it is essentially a volunteer role and he feels there is no conflict of interest. All in all, he feels recent allegations made by the teachers union are an attempt to cast a negative light on someone who doesn’t always agree with them. As to questions about his children attending St. Joseph School in Howell currently, Moloney says the idea was to get involved now so that when his kids do attend Howell High School in a few years, the district would be in a good position. Superintendent Ron Wilson tells WHMI he has been in contact the district’s legal counsel, which indicated Moloney’s position and his serving on the board was not a conflict of interest. Concerns have also been voiced about Moloney’s role with Senate Bill 1040 sponsored by Jansen, which he says is an attempt to address the runaway costs associated with the public school employee retirement system. He says he was one of dozens of staffers and legislative officers who all did research on different portions of the bill but did not write it. Schoendorff called it one of the most harmful pieces of legislation to date that would directly impact her, although one main area of contention was a proposed requirement that has been dropped would have had employees reach age 60 before getting retiree healthcare coverage. (JM)
5/10/12 - The trial date for a Genesee County couple charged with felony murder in the death of a homeless man whose body was found in 2010 along a rural Livingston County road has been delayed yet again. 44-year-old Mitchell Judd Hall of Byron and 50-year-old Antoinette Bea Hix of Gaines had been scheduled to stand trial this month in the death of 71-year old Clarence Elijah Hines. They’re also charged with 1st and 2nd degree abuse of a vulnerable adult in the case. The request for another adjournment was made by the defense and now pushes the case out to September for trial, unless a plea deal is reached. The extra time was requested to allow for additional investigation and potential motions being filed. Police say the suspects left Hines at the side of Sober Road in Conway Township on April 11th, 2010. He was found dead there the following morning. Authorities say Hines died due to a combination of hypothermia and multiple blunt trauma injuries. Authorities say the couple decided to rid themselves of caring for Hines after he became incontinent and stopped eating. They had originally planned to leave him behind a business in Lansing, but fearing being caught on surveillance video, decided instead to drop him off on a rural dirt road. (JM)
5/10/12 - The Pinckney area’s first 100 Women Who Care event raised about $6,000 for two local charities at the Zukey Lake Tavern last night. 100 Women Who Care is a template for charity fundraising used across the country. Organizers contacted dozens of women in the Pinckney area and invited them to participate in exchange for a commitment to donate $100 to charity. Women who attended the event suggested charities during the event and three were chosen at random to be presented to the crowd. Attendees then voted to decide which charity should get the money. Last night 43 women attended the event and 16 more provided donations, raising over $5,900 in a single hour. The vote for which charity would get that money ended in a tie between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Livingston County, which provides mentors to local children facing adversity, and the Guadalupe Partners, a pro-life group based in southeast Michigan. Last night’s donations will be split between the two charities. Organizer Julie Flaherty says she is very pleased with the event and its turnout. She plans to hold 100 Women Who Care events every six months. Last night’s gathering follows one on Tuesday by the Brighton chapter of 100 Women Who Care. That group raised $7,300 for Mission House of Fowlerville, which helps pre-teens with substance abuse problems. For more information, email Flaherty at the address below. (TD)
5/10/12 - Members of the Pinckney community will be able to get a peek inside of the new Putnam Township station this weekend. The department moved operations into the new station in late December but felt it was best to host the grand opening in the spring when the weather is more favorable. The new hall is located directly in front of the Putnam Township hall at 3250 West M-36, just west of Cedar Lake Road. Putnam Fire Chief Greg Amburgey tells WHMI that the extra space has been needed for many years and the project has pretty much been a decade in the making. He says the new facility can house all of their equipment and it was built to serve the community for many years to come. A wide variety of activities are planned for the community at the event Saturday from 11am until 5pm. A flag raising and ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled at noon and a survival flight helicopter will appear at 1pm. Amburgey says there will be different pieces of emergency apparatus from all over Livingston County on display. Family activities, a smoke house and bounce house are also planned and grilled hot dogs and other refreshments will be served. (JM)
Wednesday, May 9
5/9/12 - Unadilla Township Police have released the name of the man killed Tuesday during an accident involving his tractor. Unadilla Township Police have identified the victim as 61-year-old Louis Haibel Jr, who lived in the 14000 block of Holmes Road. Emergency responders discovered that a 1950's Ford Tractor had driven over Haibel and pinned him underneath one of the rear wheels yesterday. Police say initial indications were that Haibel was standing in front of the tractor when he attempted to start the engine but it appeared to have been in gear and had driven over him. An autopsy was to be conducted today at Sparrow Hospital Forensic Center in Lansing. The incident remains under investigation. (JM)
5/9/12 - A beagle who survived an Alabama animal shelter’s gas chamber stopped by the Humane Society of Livingston County this afternoon. Daniel “The Miracle Beagle” Dwyer stopped by the shelter in an effort to promote legislation that would end gas chamber euthanasia in Michigan. His owner Joseph Dwyer tells WHMI that it’s a pretty miraculous story and Daniel survived the gas chamber in October of 2011 in Alabama. Interestingly enough, he says the gas chamber had been outlawed but there was a stay period and during that time, Daniel and 18 other dogs were put into the chamber but he walked out alive. Dwyer says Daniel has an incredible personality and while some have referred to him as a “politician in a dog suit”, he jokes that’s probably not too far off from the truth. He says Daniel travels well and does great in crowds, where areas others might get stressed out so this really is a great opportunity to spread his message. Michigan State Director for the Humane Society of the United States Jill Fritz says the visit was also part of an effort to support Senate Bills 423 and 424 introduced last spring that would ban the use of gas chamber euthanasia in the state and are also referred to as “Grants Bills”. She says they were named after a dog that was not as lucky as Daniel and suffocated to death in a St. Joseph gas chamber a couple years ago. Daniel “The Miracle Beagle” Dwyer will head to the capitol Thursday for a press conference where supporters will be urging the Senate Agriculture Committee to hold a hearing and pass the legislation. Fritz says despite numerous calls for action, there has been no movement and they hope Daniel's visits will create awareness and a renewed push to approve the bills. The committee is chaired by Senator Joe Hune of Hamburg Township. A spokeswoman there says they have been working very closely with the US Department of Agriculture on the issues and feels they are close to reaching agreements on all sides, adding that it looks as though this is something that will be addressed within the very near future. (JM)
5/9/12 - More than fifty local residents attended a meeting of local anti-drug organizations to discuss how to combat the sale of the drug K2 in Livingston County last night. The meeting took place at Pinckney High School and discussed the nature of K2 and its negative effects on users and the community. K2 is a synthetic alternative to marijuana that is legally sold at gas stations, head shops, and party stores as incense. Due to its unregulated composition, K2 has led to thousands of hospitalizations across the country annually in recent years. Last night, speakers included representatives from the County Prosecutor’s office, local and county law enforcement, and the Pinckney Coalition. Two former K2 users also spoke, describing the negative effect the drug had on their lives and those of other users. Terry Murray from the Livingston County Community Alliance tells WHMI that a list of businesses that sell K2 in Livingston County is being compiled in preparation for a county-wide campaign against the drug. He says the LCCA is already approaching store owners and asking them to end the sale of K2, and that those who do not comply could face further action such as picketing or boycott. Attempts to outlaw K2 have been unsuccessful since its manufacturers can alter its chemical makeup slightly to get around legislation, but a new bill before the Michigan Senate would ban the drug and any visually or chemically similar substances in the future to close that loophole. (TD)
5/9/12 - Despite a highly publicized campaign that included numerous road signs, television commercials and the public opposition of a member of the Brighton Area School’s Board of Education, voters in the Brighton district passed an $88.5 million bond issue yesterday by about a 500 vote margin. The 1.49 mil increase will fund improvements to technology, facilities, and infrastructure. The vote in favor of the millage followed efforts by RetakeOurGov, a Hartland-based Tea Party group that described the millage as “sneaky” because it had been placed on the May ballot instead of in November when they say it would have attracted more voters. Brighton Superintendent Greg Gray disputed that characterization, saying the issues had been debated publicly for months and the bond information posted online for all to see. The millage had also been opposed by Brighton school board Trustee John Conely, who said he preferred a sinking millage for the repairs and a much smaller bond for technology. Voters in Fowlerville and Hartland also approved renewals of the statutory 18 mills used to maintain per-student funding. However, a $9.8 million bond issue being sought by Fenton Schools was rejected by voters, gaining only 45.3% of the vote. The 1 mil increase was intended to provide funding to improve parking, update building security, buy new education technology, and expand the district’s bus fleet. Complete unofficial results can be viewed through the link below. (JK)
5/9/12 - The Michigan Department of Transportation will be making improvements along a stretch of I-96 in eastern Ingham and Livingston counties starting this weekend, while also planning for a major overhaul of the US-23/I-96 interchange that would construct six new lanes on I-96 between the current eastbound and westbound lanes of the highway, along with building three new bridges over northbound and southbound US-23, and over Old US-23. That two-year project could begin as soon as 2014 and would require the demolition of about a dozen homes located where the freeway splits off through the interchange. A pair of public meetings to discuss the $40 million project will be held next Thursday, May 17th at the Brighton Township Hall. The first will be from noon to 2pm and then the second from 5 to 8pm. The work that begins this weekend includes pavement patching and shoulder upgrades, along with bridge repair work at structures over Deer Creek, Doan Creek and the Red Cedar River. M-DOT Spokeswoman Kari Arend says the big impacts to motorists will be single-lane closures in each direction at night and on weekends. All work is scheduled to be complete by the end of August. She says there will be single-lane closures starting at 9pm on Friday until 5am on Monday for a total of 10 weekends but no work will take place on special event weekends or holidays. She advises motorists to plan extra time when traveling through the corridor on the weekends, especially when I-96 will be down to one lane and watch for traffic slow-downs and plan alternate routes if possible. Picture courtesy of www.canhighways.com. (JK)
5/9/12 - A Unadilla Township man is dead after an accident involving his tractor yesterday. The Unadilla Township Police and Fire Departments were dispatched at about 6pm Tuesday to a residence on Holmes Road. Upon arrival, emergency responders discovered that a farming tractor had driven over the 61-year-old homeowner and pinned his body underneath one of the rear wheels. Initial indications were that the man was standing in front of the tractor when he attempted to start the engine. The tractor appeared to have been in gear and it had driven over him. The Livingston County Medical Examiner has ordered an autopsy which will be conducted today at Sparrow Hospital Forensic Center in Lansing. The incident remains under investigation by township police. (JK)
Tuesday, May 8
5/8/12 - The ballots will be open in several districts around Livingston County today with ballot issues in the school districts of Brighton, Hartland, Fowlerville, and Fenton Area Schools. In Brighton, an $88.5 million bond issue millage will go before voters today. If passed, the schools would levy 1.49 mils across the district for the next 33 years. Superintendent Greg Grey tells WHMI that the average Brighton home valued at $200,000 would pay an extra $149 per year due to this millage. That money would be used for a laundry list of projects, including improved technology, a new high school pool, major upgrades to existing athletic facilities including the high school football field, and myriad other repair and maintenance projects throughout the district. In Fenton, voters are being offered a 1 mill increase to supply the district with $9.6 million in bonds. If approved, this will be used to remodel, refurnish, and re-equip its buildings with improved technology, additions to the district’s bus fleet, and developing sites within the district. Both Hartland and Fowlerville Schools will be asking voters to renew their statutory 18 mills against all properties to maintain their funding, with an additional .794 mills to be renewed in Fowlerville against all properties except residences and other exempted sites. (TD)
5/8/12 - Representatives from DTE addressed the Howell City Council last night in defense of the company’s wireless Smart Meter technology, convincing the council not to put a moratorium on the devices. The council was considering asking DTE to put the moratorium in place for the city while it waited for an analysis of the benefits and potential burdens of the new technology by the state’s Public Service Commission. Members of the public spoke up at last night’s meeting, most notably two activists from Shelby Township who said the Smart Meters presented a health hazard and an invasion of privacy by DTE. The company’s representatives dismissed these claims as misinformation connected to conspiracy theories. Actual residents of the city as well as the council itself were more interested in the costs and benefits of allowing the Smart Meters into the city. The representatives from DTE stated the new meters will provide better and faster meter reading as well as real-time monitoring in case of power outages, malfunctions, or fires. Mayor Phil Campbell tells WHMI that most council members were satisfied with the explanations given by the company’s representatives and decided not to ask for DTE for a moratorium on the installation of Smart Meter. It was pointed out during the meeting that the new meters are not mandatory and those who do not want them can choose not to have them. The DTE representatives admitted that opting out of the new technology would incur an additional fee to have your meter checked the old fashioned way. (TD)
5/8/12 - Local families and students are getting ready to get off the couch and school bus and shift into a new gear tomorrow. Wednesday marks “Bike to School Day”, which is a yearly event that celebrates the school commute and encourages families to safely try out riding. With rising gas prices and parents often stuck waiting in long lines to pick up and drop off their kids, Enrichment Director Beth Schraeder with the Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority tells WHMI that “Bike to School Day” is a welcome change from typical routine. She says everyone used to walk or bike to school but times have changed and now it’s becoming obsolete. She says it was always an exciting time when you got your first bike and learned to ride but also the sense of accomplishment when you followed directions and arrived somewhere on your own. In addition to that, Schraeder says biking is a fun form of exercise that’s shown to boost productivity at school or work. As part of “Bike to School Day” tomorrow, Recreation Authority staff will be out and about counting the number of bikes at each school in the Howell area, which will determine the school that wins the “2012 Bike to School award”. Northwest Elementary took home the award last year. To learn more about “Bike to School Day” or the upcoming National Bike to Work Day on May 18th, log onto the authority's website. You'll find a link below. (JM)
5/8/12 - Several Howell residents attended last night’s City Council meeting to express their concern over a proposed 1.3 mill garbage tax that will be voted on by the council later this month. The city has seen a decrease in property tax revenue of about 35% in the past five years due to falling property values. The millage would pay for the portion of the city’s garbage pickup costs that is currently paid out of the general fund, freeing up those funds for other expenses. Residents asked the council last night to explore other options, such as increasing garbage pickup fees rather than property taxes. Steve Gronow owns the McPherson Mansion on Michigan Avenue, and during the meeting he stated that the city council was not fully exploring all of its options to increase its revenue. He recommended settling all of the city’s tax tribunal cases so it would not have to keep $900,000 in reserve for the liability those cases bring. When asked, Gronow agreed that settling or arbitrating the tax tribunal cases was not a predictable way for the city to gain access to funding and could actually end up costing money. Councilman Steve Manor called the suggestion ludicrous. He tells WHMI that he supports the council’s decision to enact the millage and that asking the voters to approve the millage would be the same as asking if they wanted their trash picked up. He adds that even with the millage in place, residents will pay less in property taxes next year than they did this year due to falling property values. Several members of the council insisted that any further cutting into the city budget would result in a visible reduction in service to residents. Councilman Doug Heins still wants to explore spending cuts, while Mayor Phil Campbell says the issue should be put before voters. The council will vote on the millage at its regular meeting May 21st. (TD)
5/8/12 - It’s no secret that Brighton school board member John Conely is not only against the $88 million bond issue being voted on today but has been actively campaigning against it. After Monday night’s Brighton Board of Education meeting, WHMI asked Brighton School Superintendent Greg Gray if, in his experience as an educator, he had ever seen a seated school board member mount a public crusade against a school bond issue or millage – a campaign that in Conely’s case includes signs that urge people to vote no. Gray replied that it was the first time in his career that he had witnessed a campaign against a school funding issue by a member of that school board. However, Conely told WHMI that he thinks it entirely proper – even his duty - to campaign against a school ballot issue he doesn’t agree with. Conely concedes that the Brighton Area Schools has needs – both in repair of aging buildings and in the technology area. Rather than an $88 million bond issue, Conely proposes a sinking fund for a limited number of years to take care of repair and maintenance and a bond issue of $10 million or so for technology upgrades. Conely says if people really want a new swimming pool, that also could be put on the ballot as a second, separate bond issue. (TT)
Monday, May 7
5/7/12 - A Hartland Township couple will not be facing charges after being lodged in the Livingston County Jail for most of the day after police determined that they and their four children were living in unsanitary conditions. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte says deputies were dispatched to a trailer in the Hartland Meadows trailer park on M-59 near Tipsico Lake Road shortly after 1 o’clock this morning after receiving a disturbance call from a neighbor. Upon arrival, they found the couple's 15-year-old son walking up and down the street while loudly swearing. Deputies then found another of the children in their underwear while kneeling inside the doorway. Bezotte said the inside of the home was covered in garbage both on the floors and on the counters and the refrigerator filled with spoiled food. He said while there was no immediate evidence of drugs, there were numerous alcohol bottles and cans throughout the trailer. The 42 year old father and 33 year old mother were taken into custody. However, Bezotte says since then the Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office has since decided not to issue charges and refer the matter to Child Protective Services. He says that a similar complaint was made against the couple two years ago, but he’s unsure how that was resolved. Their children, ages 5, 11, 12 and 15, were taken into custody by Child Protective Services. The father admitted to deputies that he knew the living conditions would eventually lead to them losing the kids, two of whom reportedly have autism-related disorders. Bezotte also says that amidst the debris inside the home, they also found new electronics including a flat screen TV and a laptop computer. (JK)
5/7/12 - A Hartland Township couple is lodged in the Livingston County Jail awaiting arraignment this afternoon on child neglect charges after police determined that they and their four children were living in unsanitary conditions. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte says deputies were dispatched to a trailer in the Hartland Meadows trailer park on M-59 near Tipsico Lake Road shortly after 1 o’clock this morning after receiving a disturbance call from a neighbor. Upon arrival, they found the couple's 15-year-old son walking up and down the street while loudly swearing. Deputies then found another of the children in their underwear while kneeling inside the doorway. Bezotte said the inside of the home was covered in garbage both on the floors and on the counters and the refrigerator filled with spoiled food. He said while there was no immediate evidence of drugs, there were numerous alcohol bottles and cans throughout the trailer. The 42 year old father and 33 year old mother were taken into custody and are expected to be arraigned this afternoon. Their children, ages 5, 11, 12 and 15, were taken into custody by Child Protective Services. The father admitted to deputies that he knew the living conditions would eventually lead to them losing the kids, two of whom reportedly have autism-related disorders. Bezotte also says that amidst the debris inside the home, they also found new electronics including a flat screen TV and a laptop computer. (JK)
5/7/12 - While a local judge has denied one defense request in the murder case against two men charged in a grisly Green Oak Township murder last year, he has agreed to hold a hearing on a second motion in the case. Livingston County Circuit Court Judge David Reader on Friday denied a motion to dismiss the murder charge against 28-year-old Brian Stafford, whose attorney argued unsuccessfully that insufficient evidence had been presented at her client’s preliminary exam that he knew 40-year-old Christopher London Townsend would be murdered by co-defendant George Tanner. Police allege the suspects murdered Townsend, dismembered his body and then burned it on wooded property in Green Oak Township owned by Tanner’s uncle on October 15th, 2011. Tanner’s girlfriend said he admitted to her that he and Stafford had murdered Townsend in retaliation for kissing her the day before. A medical examiner also said that DNA testing confirmed Townsend’s blood was at the scene along with teeth and bone fragments and Stafford's fingerprints were found on a metal awning that police say was used as a base for the bonfire that destroyed Townsend’s remains. While denying the first motion, Judge Reader did set a May 30th hearing on a second motion to determine if police violated the co-defendant's Miranda rights. Tanner’s lawyer maintains authorities purposely didn’t tell his client that a court-appointed attorney was ready to represent him. Tanner and Stafford both face charges of open murder and disinterment or mutilating a dead body. Stafford also faces three counts of resisting police after authorities say he fought with Brighton police in October after an interview. (JK)
5/7/12 - Members of the Howell business community are being sought to offer their input in making the area more business friendly. The Howell Area Chamber of Commerce it continuing with its Business-Friendly Howell initiative in collaboration with the city and business owners and management, building owners, large employers, realtors and developers are being asked to attend stakeholder focus groups. Chamber President Pat Convery says they want to create an atmosphere where it’s easier for businesses to open up and thrive with continued customer service at the city level. Convery says much of that is already occurring but there are always areas for improvement. Convery says seven focus groups will be held on Thursday, May 17th from 7:30am until 7:30pm. Each session is 90 minutes long with a different stakeholder focus groups but the city, the chamber, the public and the media will not be able to attend in an effort to ensure open dialogue. Convery says a facilitator will bring a note taker so individuals can feel comfortable saying what’s on their mind. A report will then be drafted and after being analyzed, an action plan will be crafted to investigate opportunities and make recommendations to the city. Anyone attending is asked to RSVP with the Howell Chamber. More information may be found in the document posted below. (JK)
5/7/12 - A Washtenaw County man was killed Sunday after his motorcycle struck a minivan in Unadilla Township. Unadilla Police say an 84-year-old township man was driving his 2003 Ford Windstar northbound on M-36 at about 12:15 yesterday afternoon when he turned westbound onto Dexter Trail. He was then hit by a 1967 Triumph motorcycle traveling southbound on M-36. The driver of the motorcycle, 64-year-old Thomas Anthony Gonzales of Pittsfield Township, was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers indicate the operator of the motorcycle appeared to be wearing a helmet at the time of impact. Further investigation will be conducted to determine if alcohol or drugs may be a contributing factor in the accident. According to witness accounts, excessive speed does not appear to be a factor. An autopsy has been scheduled at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing by the Livingston County Medical Examiner's Office. Unadilla Township Police were assisted at the scene by Pinckney Police, crash investigators from the Livingston County Sheriff Department Traffic Safety Bureau and the Stockbridge Area Emergency Services Authority. (JK)
5/7/12 - More than 200 people turned out for a two-mile walk at Cleary University yesterday to help raise funding and awareness for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a disease of the nervous system that affects about 5,000 Americans every year. The disease gradually reduces the sufferer’s ability to control muscles, usually leading to death within two or three years of diagnosis. Despite being described in scientific journals more than 140 years ago the disease still has no known cause or cure. The Howell High School Boy’s Tennis Team started holding a “Play for the Cure” tournament in 2009 and has focused this tournament on ALS since 2010. Their efforts attracted the attention of the ALS Association, which decided to hold its first local Walk to Defeat ALS yesterday. With about 300 people in attendance and $15,000 raised, ALS Association of Michigan Executive Director Susan Woolner says yesterday’s event was about three times as successful as most first-time walks. (TD)
5/7/12 - Local businessman Joe Parker held a press conference Friday to announce the plans and progress being made for the new business development he intends to build in downtown Howell. The press conference was held at Moe’s BarBar Shop on Grand River and included dozens of local business owners and politicians. Parker used the event to announce that the developers had acquired the Spag’s building, which along with the Swann and Thistledown buildings will be turned into the new Heart of Howell complex. The planned renovations to the buildings will be extensive, including an elevator and wheelchair access to all three floors. Parker plans use a portion of the complex as space for start-up entrepreneurs to grow their businesses locally, called the Frontal Lobe. The first floor is planned to contain a high-end restaurant, while the second floor will contain offices. An open green space, including trees, a fountain, and possibly a fire pit, will be built in the back of the complex. Parker also announced the possibility of a smaller restaurant on the second floor of the Heart of Howell complex, which could take the form of a tapas bar or cocktail lounge. (TD)
Sunday, May 6
5/6/12 - The weather was cooperative yesterday for the annual “Fill the Gazebo” event, which began exactly one decade ago in just one location – the Mill Pond gazebo in Brighton. The event was such a success that it was expanded – first to Howell and Hartland, then Pinckney, and this year included – for the first time - a location in Fowlerville. Fill the Gazebo coordinator Steve Monet tells WHMI that this year’s event, held yesterday throughout Livingston County, was an unqualified success. Monet says the need has been greater in recent years because of the recession. 100% of the proceeds from Fill the Gazebo go to the Gleaners’ Community Food Bank of Livingston County to aid those in need of assistance in the areas of food and personal hygiene products. Monet says those who weren’t able to make it yesterday to one of the food donation collection sites can still give either checks or non-perishable foodstuffs or personal care items. They can be dropped off at the office of any local realtor who is a member of the sponsoring Livingston County Board of Realtors, or at the Shared Harvest Food Pantry on Sterling Drive off Dorr Road, just west of Grand River between Howell and Brighton. (TT)
Saturday, May 5
5/5/12 - With less than a week before voters in the Brighton Area School district head to the polls to vote on an $88.5 million dollar bond issue, a letter from the head of a local charter school has created somewhat of a controversy. On Thursday, Chuck Stockwell, the Chief Administrative Officer of the Charyl Stockwell Academy, sent out a letter to that school's parents saying that effective at the end of May, CSA sports teams would no longer be allowed to use the Brighton district's soccer and baseball fields. He then pointed out that those fields and facilities are paid for at least partly with the tax dollars of CSA families that live within the Brighton district boundaries and that while private schools and local recreation programs would be allowed to use those fields, CSA was specifically excluded from using them. He then encouraged parents to consider those facts when they voted on the bond Tuesday. However, Brighton Superintendent Greg Gray tells WHMI that the reason for the decision was due to the fact that CSA contracted through SELCRA to use the facilities and Brighton school board policy prohibits any joint user agreements with SELCRA as a subcontractor. He says he has since spoken with CSA officials and they are setting up dates to resolve the situation. Betsy Krupansky, CSA's Director of Athletics, said that they always desire to work with surrounding districts so that students have the opportunity to go to a school of their choice and still be able play athletics. Stockwell has since issues a follow-up letter to parents informing them of the updated situation. (JM)
Friday, May 4
5/5/12 - Police say a man attempted to entice a Gregory boy into his vehicle this past week. The incident occurred on Thursday, May 3rd and Unadilla Township Police say the 12-year-old Gregory boy reported that he was walking northbound along M-36 at Spears Road when a white male described as being in his 20's pulled up and attempted to entice him into his vehicle. When a second vehicle pulled up to the location, the suspect fled southbound on M-36. The suspect vehicle was described as a black older model Honda or Toyota two-door passenger car. The juvenile stated the man was holding some type of police light on the roof of his car and he believed the driver was a police officer. Unadilla Township Police are advising parents to talk to their children and explain to them not to approach a stranger's vehicle. Police are asking anyone with information regarding this matter to contact them at (734) 498-2325 Ext. 307. (JM)
5/4/12 - A Hartland High School senior may be facing expulsion for both texting and posting threats of violence online, but he won’t have to worry about criminal charges in the incident that prompted the one day closure of the school last week. Livingston County Prosecutor David Morse says after reviewing the police report filed against an 18-year-old Hartland High School student identified as the person who texted more than a dozen different people April 23rd, his office will decline to bring any charges. Morse tells WHMI that it appears there simply wasn’t any criminal intent on the teen’s part, who followed up the texts with an online message that none of the recipients perceived as an actual threat. "It was a little akin to saying something about a bomb while you're at the airport or an airplane. You're not intending to terrorize anybody, you're making a stupid joke and I think what happened here is that everybody responded as they should have, not knowing what was going on and clearly there was no intent to make any kind of a threat." The messages stated that the number “24” that had been spray painted around the school and etched into the grass earlier referred to the number of students that would be killed on April 24th. After district authorities were made aware of the posts, they canceled school that day in order to err on the side of safety. The teen does still face expulsion from the district, as do two other 18-year-old students who were responsible for the vandalism. Criminal charges are not expected to be filed against them since the district is handling the matter internally but the students may be responsible for restitution. (JK)
5/4/12 - Brighton officials arranged a meeting Thursday between officials from the state Department of Corrections and residents of a north side neighborhood concerned about four prison parolees living in their midst. The city was recently informed that there are four convicted felons living in temporary rental housing. The parolees, who were released after finishing their prison terms, are living in two duplexes on North Second Avenue in Brighton. Mary King is the community coordinator of Washtenaw County’s Michigan Prisoner Re-entry Initiative, and addressed council at last night’s meeting. She tells WHMI that while felons convicted of certain crimes, such as sex offenders, have GPS tracking devices, the parolees living in Brighton are not in that category. The parolees are allowed to live for a maximum of six months in housing fully subsidized by the state. The objective, King says, is to assist them in finding jobs so that they can find another place to live. The residents have been concerned about their safety after learning there were convicted felons living in their neighborhood. They also are worried that their property values might be lowered by the parolees living nearby. King says while she can’t guarantee the personal safety of the residents, statistics show that most crimes in neighborhoods are committed by persons who have never been to prison or charged with a felony. King gave her assurance to council that no other residences for ex-felons would be sought in that same neighborhood. However, she cautioned that when the parolees leave, others will likely be placed at the same address. (TT)
5/4/12 - A Brighton man serving prison time for holding four people at gunpoint in his home for several hours in 2010 has had a bid for a retrial rejected. 24-year-old Coty Lee McCauley was sentenced to serve between 10 and 22 and a half years in prison on various unlawful imprisonment and felonious assault charges. He was also ordered to serve separate two year prison sentence on felony firearms charges. On Thursday the Michigan Court of Appeals rejected his motion for an appeal of his conviction and sentence, saying there was no merit to his claims of prosecutorial misconduct and ineffective defense counsel. Brighton Police said McCauley held the four acquaintances against their will at his residence on Second Street after becoming upset that someone had called police about an incident in Howell that day in which he assaulted a longtime friend with a steak knife. The Brighton standoff ended when he put the gun down, at which point one of the four victims fled and called police. McCauley is serving his sentence at a facility in Saginaw County. The earliest he could be released is 2022. (JK)
5/4/12 - After a presentation from an ad hoc committee on school closure last night, the Pinckney School Board is preparing to close Pinckney Elementary and reorganize the student body. The board put a recommendation on its May 17th agenda to close Pinckney Elementary for the 2012-2013 school year to help deal with declining enrollment. Students, staff, and administrators from Pinckney Elementary would be transferred to Farley Elementary. The board also plans to reorganize its remaining elementary schools to teach grades K-3 and Navigator School to teach grades 4-6. Pathfinder School will remain the same. That reorganization will take place for the 2013-2014 school year to give the district time to plan the curriculum changes, which School Board President Anne Colone says will allow the district to better focus on the reading and math skills students need by the end of third grade. The plan was one of nine put forward by the district’s ad hoc committee, which was made up of parents, staff, and administrators from every school in the district. Although the committee was not intended to give a recommendation, a poll of its members indicated that they strongly favored this plan. Other plans involved closing Navigator School instead, or closing both Pinckney and Challenger Elementary. The final approval was put off until the board’s next meeting to give the public time to learn about the plan and give feedback. (TD)
5/4/12 - The Brighton City Council Thursday night approved the site plan for the new Veterans’ Memorial at the Mill Pond in downtown Brighton. Veterans’ Memorial Subcommittee spokesman Bryan Bradford tells WHMI the cost of the memorial would be around $150,000 if paid for in cash with no in-kind services provided. However, he says they’ve had a lot of generous offers of help with materials, and the amount required through donations will be anywhere from $30,000-$50,000. Five armed forces will be represented in the completed memorial: The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Plans are to have groundbreaking ceremonies on Memorial Day, start construction around Labor Day and for the memorial to be completed by Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Bradford says the subcommittee has teamed up with the Kiwanis Foundation to make it a 501-©(3) fund-raising effort, which means donations will be tax-deductible. Anyone wishing to donate toward the new veterans’ memorial may go to the group’s new Web site for more information through the link below. (TT)
5/4/12 - A Detroit man facing charges after getting caught following a break-in and robbery at a Genoa Township business is set to appear in court next week. 67-year-old Michael Edward Donovan was arraigned recently on a single count of breaking and entering a building with intent following the incident at Plymouth-Wayne Welding Supplies on Parkway Drive last Sunday, April 29th. The business was broken into by several suspects who made off with about $8,000 in equipment. An employee of WHMI, whose studios are adjacent to Plymouth Wayne, noticed a vehicle leaving the parking lot in a suspicious manner and called authorities. State Police spotted Donovan walking in the woods near the rest stop on westbound I-96 who reportedly said he was looking for his cat but police say evidence found on his person indicated he was involved. The robbery followed an earlier break-in back in January when about $5,000 in equipment was taken. Donovan will appear in 53rd District Court for an exam Wednesday. (JM)
5/4/12 - A school board member is voicing concerns with the way Brighton Superintendent Greg Gray has been delivering information to the community about the $88.5 million bond issue on the ballot next week. By law, a schools chief is only to provide the facts and cannot encourage anyone to specifically vote for a bond issue. Trustee John Conely feels Gray is over-supporting the bond issue and crossing the line. After consulting the Thrun Law Firm, Conely says it appears Dr. Gray is following the rules but in his opinion, the superintendent is right on the edge of them. "He's included the kids in the tours of the high school and then talking about what needs to be done and what the things that need to go into the bond are. The kids are asked basically to take that message home and there's rules on this on how far the superintendent can push the salesmanship of the bond within a district. I've been under the impression that its like 'You need to vote for this for these repairs to get done." Gray disagrees completely with Conely’s assertions and says bond issues are very complex so a lot of people have had specific questions and he feels fortunate to have had the ability to answer them. "In no way on any of the tours that I've given have I advocated one way or the other. I've just shared the information related to what is under the scope of the bond and talk about the financial piece with them and answer any of their questions. That's pretty much been my role from the beginning." Conely says he is definitely voting against the bond issue but would support short term bonds and sinking funds for the November election to maintain voter control. He tells WHMI that he has not contributed financially to the current opposition efforts but has put up old signs he paid for and printed a few years ago in opposition of a different financial issue. Conely says a couple of his signs have been removed at least twice on different occasions from a property at 9817 Spencer Road. It’s currently listed for sale. Conely told WHMI he intended to call 911 from the property and file a police report late yesterday afternoon now that at least four signs have been stolen. (JK)
5/4/12 - The Brighton City Council Thursday night adopted the budget for the new fiscal year that starts July 1st. Projected spending for the 2012-13 fiscal year totals $15.4 million, which marks a reduction from last year’s figure. City Manager Dana Foster says that although property values have been declining in the city for the past several years, they have recently stabilized and are now declining to a much lower extent than before. Foster tells WHMI the revenue picture has improved from earlier, more dire, projections because of Brighton’s vibrant downtown. The central business district has 100% occupancy right now, and several new businesses have started up in recent months. Two council Members – Jim Bohn and Larry Schillinger – voted against approving the city budget for next year in the 5-2 vote. Both have expressed concerns about the state of the city’s finances and projections which show that the city could be in a deficit situation by the end of the 2013-14 fiscal year. (TT)
Thursday, May 3
5/3/12 - Robo calls are going out and conflicting signs are going up in the days leading up to the May 8th election when voters in the Brighton Area Schools district will cast ballots for an $88 (m) million bond issue. The local Tea Party group Retake Our Gov is behind a series of automated calls that went out in early April reaching out to absentee voters but over the next couple days, the group will be targeting all voters. Retake Our Gov Treasurer Wes Nakagiri tells WHMI they are funding more robo calls today and tomorrow to alert local citizens that there is a tax vote coming up. The group has also paid for signs up around the Brighton area that say “Stop Sneaky Tax Hike May 8th”. Nakagiri says not everyone is aware of the upcoming bond issue and their goal is to better inform local voters. He says the board selected the May election date when voter turnout is historically low as opposed to the November general election and feels it’s a sneaky move in that they are trying to slide something by the electorate. Brighton Superintendent Greg Gray responded by saying anytime you have a bond or school election, people will have differing views and everyone is entitled to their own opinion but it’s a smart community and people will make their own informed decisions. Gray says his job is to educate he doesn’t feel the district has been sneaky in any way and there are some real monetary ramifications if they wait past the May date, adding that their job is to try and improve the schools as best they can while keeping the dollar figures for taxpayers as low as they can. they are entitled to that. More information about the Brighton school bond issue may be found through the link below. (JM)
5/3/12 - Two Michigan State football players were involved in a rollover crash yesterday afternoon in Brighton Township. Junior defensive end William Gholston and freshman linebacker Lawrence Thomas avoided serious injury in the crash that happened at 3:40pm on eastbound I-96 near Spencer Road. Michigan State Police at the Brighton Post say a 28-year-old Lansing woman was traveling in a sedan in the left lane of eastbound I-96 when an unknown vehicle moved left from the middle lane and cut her off. Sergeant Mark Thompson tells WHMI the woman swerved to the left to avoid the crash but then turned right and lost control, which is when she was hit by a Chevy Tahoe driven by the 20-year-old Gholston. The 19-year-old Thomas was a passenger. Both vehicles then went into a ditch on the side of the freeway and rolled over. Thompson says neither driver was ticketed or at-fault and it was the unknown car that cut the woman off. He says no drugs or alcohol were involved and everyone involved was wearing seat belts and their injuries may have been more serious otherwise. In an online post, Thomas and Gholston said you learn to appreciate life every day and their vehicle flipped in the air three or four times but they only had a few cuts, bruises and soreness. (JM)
5/3/12 - The Michigan Department of Transportation has scheduled some lane closures on US-23 in both Livingston and Washtenaw Counties this weekend. Lane closures in effect this Saturday on US-23 near Brighton between 6am and 4am, weather permitting. The closure on southbound US-23 will be near Lee Road while the closure on northbound US-23 will be near Silver Lake Road. Single lane closures are also scheduled along US-23 in Washtenaw County this weekend in each direction on US-23 between M-17 and M-14 for pavement repairs. (JM)
5/3/12 - A Brighton tax attorney is running for the open Livingston County Treasurer seat. Brian Wutz is a civil litigation and tax attorney practicing in Brighton and filed his paperwork to run today with the County Clerk’s Office. The seat is up for election following the retirement of former Treasurer Dianne Hardy. In announcing his candidacy, the Genoa Township resident cited a desire to improve the financial investment and cash management strategy of Livingston County. Wutz describes himself as a conservative republican. He is a member of the N.R.A, the Livingston County Republican Party and will be serving on the Brighton Rotary Board of Directors in June. (JM)
5/3/12 - Investigators working on behalf of a Brighton-area businessman inspected computers and combed through records at the Michigan State Police Brighton Post yesterday in connection with a criminal case filed against him. John Conely was charged with felonious assault and reckless driving following a dispute centered around the repossession of a 2009 Chevy Avalanche on August 26th, 2011 from the lot of his Genoa Township auto dealership. Conely, who also serves as a trustee on the Brighton Area schools Board of Education, is accused of intentionally ramming the tow truck sent by Shaheen Chevrolet of Lansing to take back the vehicle. State Police investigated that incident and it’s believed the activity at the Brighton Post yesterday was the result of an April 23rd discovery order issued by Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty. It orders that the defense be provided copies of the police investigation and interrogation reports, copies of any photos that exist along with copies of any audio, video or computer communications in any form between the Brighton Post and State Police patrol cars from the incident. The order also grants the defense the opportunity to view or listen to the original 911 calls pertaining to the incident, including the original talk between dispatch and any and all patrol cars, regardless of the police department. The defense will also be able to inspect any evidence gathered in the case and if prosecutors discover any witnesses have criminal records, they must fully disclose the details. A final settlement conference in Conely's case is set for May 18th, with a trial date scheduled for May 21st. (JK)
5/3/12 - The Green Oak Township Board approved a preliminary rezoning last night for the property planned to become the Legacy Recreation Park west of US-23 last night. The park would consist of more than 20 athletic fields as well as indoor sports, training, and rehabilitation facilities. It is being planned by Michigan Rehabilitation Specialists, which operates more than a dozen related facilities around the state. The facility is planned to meet the recreation needs of Livingston County, draw in athletes from surrounding communities, and provide world-class training for professional, collegiate, and Olympic athletes. Members of the public spoke out in favor of the facility last night, and the township’s approval of the preliminary rezoning will allow MRS to begin finalizing the facility’s site plan. Designers have already made significant changes to the planned facility in the past two months to accommodate conditions from the township planning committee. This includes ongoing work on a plan to mitigate the increase in traffic that will result from the facility’s construction, which will likely involve the use of traffic signals rather than roundabouts. Designers are also working on relocating or eliminating sports fields and entryways to reduce the impact on a large stand of old oak trees near the property, saving about 1600 trees that would have been destroyed in the first version of the plan. Township Supervisor Mark St. Charles says a great deal of work remains to be done before the project itself is approved. He adds that the township board is wary of the fact that not much is known about the facility’s second phase of construction, which will include commercial development. (TD)
5/3/12 - This Saturday is the date for the annual Cleanup Day at the Old Village Cemetery in Brighton. It's the fourth year for the event, which is sponsored by the Brighton Area Historical Society. Cleanup Day attracts members and volunteers from the community, and from 30-to-50 volunteer workers are expected for Saturday's event. The event will take place the same day as another volunteer community event in Brighton, Fill the Gazebo, which will be held at the nearby Mill Pond. Over 35 Civil War veterans have their final resting place at the cemetery. Historical Society President Jim Vichich tells WHMI the purpose of the cleanup day event is to prepare the cemetery for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend, when veterans will be honored. The first known burial was in 1837, when Truman Warden was interred there. Volunteers of all stripes are needed for cleanup day and they don't need to be handy, as long as they can wield a shovel or other garden implement. Those who wish can bring their own rakes, small gardening tools, wheel barrows and leaf blowers. The cleanup will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cemetery is located adjacent to the Mill Pond in downtown Brighton, right behind St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Volunteers are asked to meet at the new parking lot off West St. Paul Street just west of Grand River. For more information, call Vichich at 517-304-7722. (JK)
5/3/12 - A Shiawassee County woman charged with embezzling more than $200,000 from a Fowlerville business where she formerly was employed is not allowed to leave the state. 44-year-old Lonai Rochelle Ziesmer of Durand is free on a $50,000 bond appeared in court for an exam conference yesterday in 53rd District Court before Judge Suzanne Geddis. Ziesmer was ordered to surrender her passport and is not allowed to leave the state without court approval. Court records show that she turned in her passport to the courts yesterday for safekeeping while the case proceeds. Authorities allege she wrote approximately $300,000 in checks from Michigan Rehabilitation Specialists in Fowlerville to herself and then cashed them between 2004 and this past January. However, the charges only reflect activities over the last three years due to the statute of limitations. Ziesmer is due back in court June 6th. (JM)
Wednesday, May 2
5/2/12 - Two New York men who authorities say traveled to Livingston County and numerous other states to steal high end items from outlet shopping centers have been arraigned on criminal charges. Kevin Palma and Christian Osorio, both of Queens, were arraigned this afternoon on one count each of 1st degree retail fraud, which is a five-year felony that carries up to a $10,000 fine. $100,000 cash or surety bonds were set for both men, who are also not to leave the state without court approval. Palma, Osorio and a female suspect who remains at large are alleged to have stolen items valued at more than $7,500 from three stores last Friday at the Tanger Outlet Center in Howell Township. The men were taken into custody after local investigators traced a license plate number to a rental vehicle due to be returned at Detroit Metro Airport. Sheriff Bob Bezotte says the female suspect checked five bags of stolen merchandise at the airport but never boarded her flight. He says it arrived in New York but was shipped back to them and everything inside totaled more than $23,000 but they discovered merchandise from various other stores that could possibly be from the Green Oak Village Place Mall and different counties so they\'re working to nail that down. He says they are also trying to verify if the group sells the items at swap meets or goes to a store that then sells it for a reduced price but Bezotte says they are leaning toward the latter. He adds that they will likely be seeking additional charges of organized crime against the suspects. The group is believed to have made multiple trips to large cities around the country where they would rent vehicles and then go out for two or three days stealing items from malls before returning to New York. Bezotte says investigators were able to make contact with the female suspect but she hung up after learning it was law enforcement. He says they believe she has returned to New York but they have been unable to locate her and intend to request a warrant for her arrest once they verify her identity. (JM)
5/2/12 - A 6th grade student at Pinckney’s Navigator School has been named the state winner in a national Google art competition. 250 winners were announced today out of 114,000 entries received from across the country in its \"Doodle 4 Google\" contest. 12-year-old Janae Marttinen’s winning doodle “The Welcoming Future\" was unveiled during a morning assembly in Pinckney and the theme of the contest was “If I could travel in time, I\'d visit...”. All state finalists were chosen by Google employees based on a list of criteria and Marttinen was named the state winner. The public voting period to choose the national winner is underway now through May 10th and the winning doodle will appear on the Google webpage on May 18th. The national winner will receive a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant for their school. A link to the voting site may be found below. (JM)
5/2/12 - A unique fundraising method has sparked the creation of two groups of women in Livingston County ready to put their checkbooks into action. 100 Women Who Care is an effort that began in Jackson in 2006 to benefit area charities. It has now spawned two groups in Livingston County; one in Pinckney and the other in Brighton. Julie Flaherty is one of the Pinckney organizers and tells WHMI the concept brings hundred women together, who then each register their favorite charity. Three are then selected randomly and one is voted on by the group to receive $100 checks from all that are present. That potential $10,000 windfall would make a big difference for whatever group is chosen. Flaherty says the goal is to benefit local charities with a targeted fundraising effort that can make a real difference. The Pinckney group of 100 Women Who Care will hold their inaugural meeting on Wednesday, May 9th at Zukey Lake Tavern at 7pm. Anyone wanting more information, can e-mail Flaherty at soccermom07@gmail.com. The Brighton group will meet the night before, May 8th at 5:30. Details on that group can be found through the link below. (JK)
5/2/12 - Four Howell High School Juniors mentioned in a recent Forbes.com article for their stock picks, are also business partners who hope to be selling their products this summer. Juniors Adam Hukkala, Colton Liske, Nicholas Vande Berg and Brandon Wright are part of the University of Michigan Ross Business School Reaching Out Enriching Academics in Collaboration with High Schools, or MREACH program. As sophomores, the four created a formal business plan and received a small grant from U of M for their business, B-CAN graphics. They hope to be producing graphics for bumper stickers, t-shirts, cell phone cases and iPod cases by July. The group was picked for the Forbes story by writer Kai Petainen who is also a professor at U of M and the person who created a stock picks contest for high school students to pick stocks they believed would be profitable. The Howell group chose Carmike Cinemas, which Petainen called a gutsy pick that might not appeal to some value investors, but could appeal to ‘growth’ and ‘smart money’ investors. You can read the article through the link below. Pictured are Adam Hukkala, Colton Liske, Nicholas Vande Berg. Photo by Kai Petainen. (JK)
5/2/12 - A 1.3 mil tax increase was supported by a majority of the Howell City Council last night and will go back to the council for approval later this month. The increase will generate $390,000 to pay for the city’s share of local trash pickup services, which is currently paid for out of the general fund. City Manager Shea Charles says the millage increase is meant to offset the shrinking revenue available to the city as a result of falling taxable property values. The city’s annual revenue has dropped by 27% since its peak in 2007, and Charles says it was known at the time that a tax increase would be necessary due to the city’s ongoing street project. While the city council is allowed to impose the 1.3 mil trash tax, a minority of the city council is opposed to doing so. Mayor Phil Campbell says the council should let the voters decide whether to pass the millage in the August primary election, pointing out that the city council does not typically enact millages on its own. Campbell recognized that this plan would delay the revenue for the millage by one fiscal year at a time when the city is facing further budget cuts from the state and taxable values continue to drop. Councilman Doug Heins was opposed to both plans, saying the city government had to control its spending before it levied new taxes. A majority of the council was in favor of approving the 1.3 mil increase, citing future budget cuts from the state. Councilman Scott Niblock tells WHMI that it is the council’s duty to make difficult decisions and putting the issue out to vote would be counter-productive. Niblock adds that due to falling taxable property values, residents will still be paying less on their property taxes with the millage increase than they paid in 2011. The millage will go before the city council for approval on May 21st and show up on city residents’ July 1st tax bill. (TD)
5/2/12 - Another overcrowding emergency has been declared at the Livingston County Jail. A total of nine inmates were released yesterday, all of which were considered non-violent offenders and had three days or less remaining on their sentences. Their convictions included operating under the influence, retail fraud, animal cruelty, probation violations, larceny from a motor vehicle and obstruction of justice. The jail has a 254-bed capacity but has been averaging around 264 inmates on any given day. Sheriff Bob Bezotte says the female population has been increasing every year and they are working to address the need for additional female beds and recently reached a deal to rent beds from another jail facility. (JM)
5/2/12 - A nationally-known speaker who was bullied throughout her years in an area school district was in Howell Tuesday to give a speech before students on the pervasive problem of bullying. Gabrielle Ford spoke before about 300 seventh graders at Highlander Way Middle School, relating her experiences while a student in the Lake Fenton School District, just outside Fenton. Ford has a neuromuscular disorder which results in loss of motor control, difficulty in speaking and balance problems. She was teased and bullied starting in the 8th grade, when she was diagnosed with the disease. Although she could walk with difficulty at the time, Ford now is confined to a wheelchair. Ford told her audience that just one of the things other students would do to her is knock her books over when she was walking to another class. Ford said her life took a turn for the better when she got a dog named Izzy, who gave her the unconditional love and support she wasn’t getting from her peers. Izzy passed away a few years ago but Ford continues to give motivational speeches throughout the country. She has been in 15 states and has been interviewed on NBC’s “Today” show and other TV shows. Ford, or “Gabe” as she calls herself, told the Howell students that everything in life is a choice. Charlene Langley, a Highlander Way teacher who was in charge of the presentation, told WHMI the problem of bullying is no better now worse at Highlander Way than at other schools. The bullying presentation was sponsored by the Highlander Way Parent-Teacher Organization. Ford has a self-published autobiography, and people can get a copy by going to her website through the link below. (TT)
5/2/12 - A local teacher and coach has filed paperwork to run as a Democrat for the District 8 seat on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners. Jim Katakowski of Hamburg Township submitted his nominating papers to the Livingston County Clerk’s office yesterday and will be challenging Commissioner Dennis Dolan, who currently represents the 8th District. He worked as a special education teacher in Brighton Area Schools for 30 years and after retiring in 2005, Katakowski has continued to coach cross-country and track teams at Scranton Middle School. He also coached soccer in Hamburg Township. Katakowski says he believes in providing citizens with a thriving business atmosphere, safe neighborhoods and roads, a clean environment, and excellent schools and if elected, intends to bring a voice of collaboration to the board. (JM)
Tuesday, May 1
5/1/12 - Three Hartland students could be expelled following incidents of vandalism at the High School and an online threat that followed. An 18-year-old Hartland High School student has been identified as the person who made the threats on social networking sites April 23rd, which stated that the number “24” that had been spray painted around the school and etched into the grass earlier referred to the number of students that would be killed. Superintendent Janet Sifferman tells WHMI that two 18-year-old senior students were responsible for the vandalism and they have been suspended pending the outcome of expulsion hearings. Criminal charges are not expected to be filed since the district is handling the matter internally but the students may be responsible for restitution. Meanwhile, the Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office says it expects to issue a decision by the end of the week as to whether any criminal charges will be filed against the male student deemed to be responsible for the online threats. Authorities say the student’s actions were likely intended as an online joke but it went viral, resulting in safety concerns amongst district students, parents and staff. That student has also been suspended and an expulsion hearing has been scheduled. (JM)
5/1/12 - Working smoke alarms are believed to be the reason a Brighton Township family escaped harm following a basement fire early this morning. The fire was reported at a single story ranch home with a walkout basement on Woodfield Circle in a subdivision off of Van Amberg Road at around 6:15am. The male homeowner, his wife and her caregiver were all able to make it out safely and called 911. Brighton Fire Chief Mike O’Brian tells WHMI that upon arrival, Brighton and Green Oak firefighters found a very aggressive fire in the basement spreading up into the first floor and there was some extensive overhaul involved as the fire got up into some of the walls. O’Brian tells WHMI that the male homeowner was actually woke up by his wife, who heard the smoke alarm going off in the basement and it would have been very easy for the family to have been overcome by the products of fire such as carbon monoxide and smoke. O’Brian says they actually had an interaction with this homeowner a few years ago when the HVAC system went bad and resulted in smoke throughout the home. Since then, O’Brian says the homeowner put in smoke alarms and checked them regularly and really, those sound fire prevention techniques are probably the reason the family is alive today. O’Brian says there was mostly smoke and water damage on the first floor of the home and heavy fire damage in a portion of the basement but the quick action of firefighters prevented it from becoming much worse. He says the fire was not suspicious but the actual cause remains under investigation. He adds that the Brighton Fire Authority is continuing in its mission to make it into 1000 homes within their response district and make sure everyone has working smoke alarms. (JM)
5/1/12 - As a local family continues their fight against a fatal disease, they’re hoping an event this weekend will both raise awareness and funds for continued research. Howell’s Maggie Barnowski refers to ALS as “a collateral damage disease.” Since her husband Don was diagnosed with the disorder, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, in 2010, it has not only impacted the couple but also their children, friends and colleagues. Although Don Barnowski now uses a power wheelchair, Breathing Assist and lift device, he and his wife maintain busy lives and work closely with the ALS Association’s Michigan Chapter to educate others about the disease. The couple is serving as chair people for the Walk to Defeat ALS in Howell this Sunday, May 6th. Details are posted in the events section to the right. The Walk raises funds for local patient care programs and research to find causes and treatments for ALS. Don Barnowski, who previously served as the Chief Information Officer at United Way for Southeastern Michigan, continues to do what he can as well by participating in research and clinical trials at the University of Michigan, Henry Ford Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic. His wife Maggie and their two kids, 18-year-old Nicholas and 16-year-old Emily, are also planning to attend the National ALS Advocacy Day and Public Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. May 13th through the 15th and meet with national legislators while they advocate for a treatment and cure. You can hear Maggie Barnowski's full interview through the link below. (JK)
5/1/12 - Authorities have arrested two people they suspect traveled to Michigan from New York and Florida to steal high end items from outlet shopping centers. Investigators with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department believe two New York men and a female suspect have been targeting outlet stores around the country. Two men were arrested in connection with the theft of about $5,000 in merchandise last Saturday from two stores at the Tanger Outlet Center in Howell Township. Investigators traced a license plate number to a rental vehicle that was due to be returned at Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus and arrested the pair. Sheriff Bob Bezotte says the female suspect checked five bags believed to contain the stolen merchandise that were flown to LaGuardia Airport in New York but she never boarded the plane and they believe she was tipped off. The luggage was recovered and sent back to the Sheriff’s Department. Bezotte says they are seeking a warrant for the female suspect, whose license listed a Miami address. (JM)
5/1/12 - A local group of students earned top honors this past weekend at a regional competition. The Civil Air Patrol Livingston Composite Squadron Color Guard won the overall team competition at the Great Lakes Regional Cadet Competition in Springfield, Illinois. They now travel to Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio June 20th through the 25th to compete at the nationals. The team consists of four high school students and one middle school student from the Fowlerville, Howell, Hartland, Pinckney and Brighton districts. The competitions consist of indoor and outdoor practical drills along with the military posting of the colors, flag ceremony and carrying the flag in formation. Captain Paul Bauerle is the Color Guard Project Officer and tells WHMI the team has been practicing twice a week for the past three months at the Howell Armory in preparation for the state and regional events and will continue that hard work to try and win at the national level. Pictured from left to right, Escort Karen Demars, Cadet Leith Wheeler, Cadet Katie Corcoran, Cadet Nathan Knudsen, Cadet Carrie Shuler and Captain Paul Bauerle. (JK)
5/1/12 - The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments is reminding residents that Ozone Action Season begins in early May and urging people to be on the lookout for Ozone Action Days this summer. SEMCOG Senior Communications Specialist Iris Steinberg says Ozone Action Days are those which are over 90 degrees with no clouds or wind. On days meeting those criteria air pollution, including ozone, tends to stay near the ground and cause an increased health hazard. SEMCOG recommends reducing air pollution on action days by doing things such as carpooling or telecommuting, walking to work or lunch if possible, and waiting until later in the day when it is cool to pump gas. Last year SEMCOG announced a total of eight Ozone Action Days, but says air quality in Southeast Michigan is improving each year as air pollution emissions are reduced. To sign up for SEMCOG’s official Ozone Action Day email notification list send an email with “notification” in the subject line to ozoneaction@semcog.org. The body of the email should include your name, phone number, and email address. (TD)
5/1/12 - Livingston County is doing well when it comes to maternal and infant health according to a state report. The annual report is called “The Right Start In Michigan 2012” and deals with infant and maternal well-being that compares data from 2010 to 2012. The Michigan League for Human Services' Kids Count in Michigan report showed that the number of low-birth-weight babies and babies born to unmarried women statewide is increasing. However, Health Department Director Ted Westmeier tells WHMI that Livingston County is the exception and ranked third out of the 81 counties rated on various health indicators for mothers and children. Some of the worst included Genesee and Wayne. The report compares data from 2000 to 2010 on some criteria that is used to determine how maternal and infant health is going in a community. Westmeier says the reason we rank so favorably is likely because of the low percentage of Medicaid births. Westmeier says we rank number one in the state for teen birth rate and number two for births to local mothers who are married. Areas of lower rankings included mothers who received later prenatal care. He says out of all the criteria, there was only one area Livingston County slightly exceeded the state average that dealt with the amount of mothers who smoked during pregnancy but he feels that is likely more of an indicator of the age of some of the mothers. Westmeier says the report is a three year weighted average and there can be some blips so it’s difficult to see major changes over one year. He says we can always improve on any of the criteria but the most important thing is that when a local woman becomes pregnant to seek prenatal care, initiate more planned pregnancies and not smoke. (JM)
5/1/12 - May is Motorcycle Awareness Month and the public is being reminded that they will be sharing the road with an ever increasing amount of riders – many of whom will likely be riding without a helmet now. ABATE or American Bikers Aiming Toward Education promotes safe practices but also lobbies on behalf of motorcycle rights. Region 14 includes Livingston County and Regional Coordinator Dave Pettit tells WHMI they’re perhaps best known for their battle over the last 30 years to have the mandatory helmet law repealed. He says they work to make individuals aware of the responsibilities of riding without a helmet and they’re not against them, but would like the choice. He notes a lot of those involved in fatalities don’t even have a legal motorcycle endorsement. While many bikers are celebrating the repeal of Michigan’s mandatory helmet law, Pettit says the vast majority of those he has spoken with have said they will wear one sometimes while others intend to continue wearing a helmet. Pettit says they are always working to promote motorcycle rights, freedom and safety while ensuring all motorcyclists are properly licensed and have completed safety courses. As for drivers, Pettit says don’t tailgate because motorcycles can stop faster than cars and they need more space and make sure they fully stop and look around for bikers. As for the helmet repeal and how the law was worded, he says there has been some confusion but he expects changes as everything gets straightened out. Pettit adds that while it may appear at odds with the safety issue, statistics show helmet laws of themselves do not tend to make an area safer. For more information about ABATE or Motorcycle Awareness Month, click on the link below.
5/1/12 - The Fenton Downtown Development Authority says it has been flooded with interested individuals who want to redevelop the old fire hall now that they have ended the agreement with Michigan Brewing Company. Last Thursday, the DDA and Michigan Brewing Company mutually agreed to terminate the lease agreement that would have created a microbrewery and restaurant at the old fire hall on South Leroy Street. A press release issued by the city says in just the few days after the termination was announced, the DDA has been contacted by a number of interested restaurants and microbrewers, all of which are reputable. Michigan Brewing Company was evicted from its Webberville headquarters and the Fenton lease was terminated as a result of the company’s current financial status. The DDA says it feels any development project at the site must move forward quickly and therefore, a May 14th deadline has been set to review plans. A committee of DDA board members will then review the proposals and select two or three to interview. Interested parties must also be able to provide a detailed financial analysis of their capability to complete a project. Once complete, the committee will report to the DDA Board. More details may be found in the release below. (JM)
Monday, April 30
5/1/12 - Teams from two local high schools are expected to take part in a series of hovercraft races being held in the Brighton Recreation Area by the Hoverclub of America this weekend. The Hoverclub is a non-profit organization that holds similar races around the country year-round, including snow and ice races. The last race held in Livingston County took place last year on Bishop Lake, while this year’s race will be held over Chilson Pond. Participants in this year’s race will include engineering classes from Howell High School and South Lyon High School, which have built racing hovercrafts as school projects. The races will take place beginning at noon on both Saturday and Sunday with levels for youth racers, first-timers, and three levels for advanced racers divided by the power of their hovercrafts. The top level has no limits on horsepower or engine size and local Hoverclub representative Les Melkvik says those racers can get upward of 90 miles per hour. Hovercraft owners who are not part of the club are welcome to race but must first pay membership and racing fees totaling $160 to comply with the club’s insurance. The public is welcome to show up and watch the races for free but must have or purchase a pass to enter the recreation area. The next Hoverclub race in Livingston County will take place in September. Click the link below to visit the Hoverclub’s information page on this weekend’s races. (TD)
5/1/12 - A Howell man is facing prison time after robbing a local store at gunpoint last week. Howell Police Chief George Basar tells WHMI that a male suspect entered the Mobil station on D-19 last Wednesday at about 10:30pm and demanded money from the register. He then showed the clerk a gun in his waistband, at which point the clerk handed it over. Basar says as the suspect was leaving the store, the clerk yelled to an incoming customer that they had just been robbed and the customer grabbed the suspect. After a short struggle, the suspect said he had a gun and the customer let him go. He then fled in a vehicle onto westbound I-96. A short time later, deputies with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department spotted the suspect vehicle in the city limits and pulled it over, taking him into custody without incident. Basar says it appears he exited at M-59 and was doubling back home when he was caught. The suspect, 23-year-old old Zachary David Litwiller, was arraigned on armed robbery and felony firearms charges. He’s due for an exam conference this afternoon in 53rd District Court. (JK)
4/30/12 - A Pinckney mother encouraging the community to take a strong stand against the availability of synthetic marijuana at local businesses and gas stations says she is making some progress. Kim Liepold recently started a community Facebook group titled “Stop Selling K2 in Pinckney” that now has more than 400 members and is designed to encourage businesses to stop selling the product. Liepold has a young son and had no idea what K2 was until a good friend called her crying after learning her son had been buying it from a smokeshop. He had always been a “straight A” student but started slipping recently in school. Since learning of the products on the market now and discovering how readily available they are at gas stations and businesses she frequents on a regular basis, Liepold decided to take action. K2 has been linked to health problems and psychotic episodes but is growing in popularity amongst kids and teens. Liepold told WHMI’s Mike and Jon this morning that after being approached recently, the owner of the On-The-Go Mobile gas station in downtown Pinckney off of D-19 has completely pulled the substance from its shelves but the nearby BP gas station that heavily markets the product and other drug paraphernalia has not. Liepold says the community has enough drug problems already yet the harmful substance is available less than a mile away from the high school and she encourages the community to avoid making purchases at any business selling K2 or ask that they stop. Liepold is working with the Pinckney Coalition to Reduce Underage Drug Use and is also getting involved in the legislative push to ban the substance completely. She adds that the Pinckney Community Schools district also sent a letter home to parents this past Friday explaining what K2 is. To get involved or learn more about the push to remove K2 from the shelves of businesses in Pinckney, log onto the group's Facebook page. You’ll find a link below. (JM)
4/30/12 - Hartland High School Principal Chuck Hughes is in the running for a national honor. Hughes was recently named the 2012 "Principal of the Year" by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals and is now in the running for National "Principal of the Year". District officials described Hughes as a dedicated and professional educator and leader who has guided Hartland High School for many years. Hughes was said to be humbled by the award and said that it reflects the dedication and passion that the community, staff and the entire district put into preparing students for the future. Hughes has served as the high school principal for 12 years now and came to Hartland after serving as assistant principal in Novi. (JM)
4/30/12 - A Detroit man is facing robbery charges after he was caught last night following the break-in and robbery of a Genoa Township business. An employee of WHMI, whose studios are next to Plymouth Wayne Welding Supplies on Parkway Drive, called police shortly after 11 o’clock Sunday night after seeing a vehicle suspiciously leaving the parking lot. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI that State Police then spotted a suspect walking in the woods near the rest stop on westbound I-96. He reportedly said he was looking for his cat, but Bezotte says evidence found on his person indicated he was involved. He’s identified as a 67 year old resident of Detroit and that Sunday’s robbery followed an earlier break-in in January in which about $8,000 in equipment such as acetylene torches was stolen. Bezotte says last night’s robbery is estimated to have netted about $5,000 in equipment. The suspect, who will likely be arraigned later today, is not cooperating with authorities. (JK)
4/30/12 - The niece of Dr. Martin Luther King will be presenting the keynote address at an annual fundraising event this week in Brighton. Dr. Alveda King will speak at Pregnancy Helpline’s “Celebration of Life” this Thursday. She says many people may think Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was pro-choice and that he supported Planned Parenthood but he did not. She tells WHMI that while he was offered an award from the organization in 1966, he did not attend the ceremony, although his wife Coretta Scott King did, who supported the pro-choice movement. Alveda King says while she has experienced abortions in her lifetime, she has been pro-life for many years now and travels across the country encouraging support for organizations such as Pregnancy Helpline and pregnancy care centers that offer opportunities to women, mothers, families and even fathers to help them make important life decisions while encouraging them to be healthy. Tickets to Pregnancy Helpline’s “Celebration of Life” are $25 and include an appetizer and dessert buffet. For more information, click the link below . (JK)
4/30/12 - Howell High School seniors raised more than $13,000 during this year’s Senior Survivor competition. The record $13,275 that was raised will benefit the Arc of Livingston. Senior Steven Keating was the final “survivor” after five days of various competitions among a dozen seniors who slept in the high school library with supervision, while still attending classes during the day. Then during lunch period, the contestants would compete in challenges and try to avoid being eliminated. On Friday afternoon, a check with all the proceeds was turned over to Arc of Livingston officials. The money was raised in a variety of ways, mainly through t-shirt sales, but also through cupcake sales and donations from fellow students while contestant’s sang and danced for money. Also competing were were Stephanie Bearden, Andrea Devries, Josh Gardner, Danielle Kollath, Jordan Locklear, Nick Mannisto, Emily McPherson, Nate Mimnaugh, Gabrielle Montesanti, Aryn Morrison and Nick Swan. Picture courtesy of Nick Mannisto. (JK)
4/30/12 - A local coalition has received state-wide recognition for efforts in drug abuse prevention.The Michigan Department of Community Health awarded the Livingston County Community Alliance last week with the 2012 Hometown Health Hero award, which recognizes individuals and organizations throughout Michigan who exemplify and promote healthier lifestyles in their community. The community alliance was cited for its creation of the Big Red Barrel Project, which stemmed from an expressed need in the community for a place where people could safely dispose of their unused or unwanted prescription medication, including heavy pain killers. LCCA members designed collection units to accept all medications, including controlled substances, and worked with Livingston County law enforcement to place a barrel in nearly all police departments throughout the county. All medication is disposed of in an environmentally safe manner with oversight from law enforcement. From the project’s inception in April, 2011, the barrels have collected nearly 143 pounds of pills. The Livingston County Community Alliance is a non-profit organization that mobilizes members from the Livingston County community to take action to address substance abuse issues. (JK)
4/30/12 - A Linden woman remains in critical condition after a rollover accident in Hartland Township early Sunday. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte says a Chevy Suburban driven by a 32-year-old Fowlerville man was northbound on Old US-23 near Krause Road at 1:30 a.m. Sunday when it went out of control on a curve and rolled over several times. The passenger, a 19-year-old woman, was thrown from the vehicle. She was pinned by the SUV and had to be extricated by Hartland-Deerfield Department firefighters. She was then airlifted to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, where she was admitted to the intensive care unit. The driver, who was not injured, was arrested for operating under the influence of liquor and lodged in the Livingston County Jail. He may also face charges of driving on a suspended license. The identities of both the driver and passenger are being withheld while the investigation continues. (JK/TT)
4/30/12 - Roads around the county are being considered by the Livingston County Road Commission for rehabilitation as part of its annual Pavement Maintenance Program. Operations Director Steve Wasylk says the road commission funds the project with as much funding as can be spared from basic funding in order to repair pavement on county roads. This year $400,000 have been set aside for that purpose and the Road Commission is exploring its options for how to spend it. Pavement rehabilitation for Bennett Lake Road in Tyrone Township, chip sealing for Clyde Road east of Argentine Road in Oceola, and chip sealing for Chilson Road are all projects being considered as part of this project. The road commission will choose the recipient projects and let them out to bid by the end of next month. Wasylk says the road commission will try to finish the projects as early as possible no matter which are chosen. (TD)
4/30/12 - A deal approved by the Howell School Board last week will get local students access to industry standard computer-aided design software from technology giant Siemens. The five-year agreement will give up to 40 students at a time access to the same CAD program from Siemens used by companies like Ford, GM, and Boeing to design their products. County Director of Career and Technical Education Timothy Jackson says a setup like that would typically cost more than $30 million, but the district will only be responsible for a small maintenance fee. Members of the school board at last week’s meeting praised the deal as an excellent advantage for local students before approving it unanimously. Jackson adds that Siemens estimates that there are more than 100,000 design jobs unfilled in the United States and 10,000 here in Michigan. (TD)
Sunday, April 29
4/29/12 - The Brighton Board of Education is considering selling or leasing the closed Lindbom School. The board was provided with a report on the school and its estimated current value at its regular meeting last week. Lindbom, on Brighton’s west side, was closed in 2010 as part of re-districting stemming from a decline in enrollment and the need to erase a budget shortfall. District officials have said the decision to close Lindbom – rather than a different elementary building – was made because it is the oldest school in the district. Supt. Greg Gray tells WHMI the board had the market analysis of the school done in case the district wants to dispose of it at some point in the future to gain needed revenue. The board was told by its financial consultants that Lindbom is worth from $1.75-$2 million. Its closure was part of a sweeping redistricting program the district put into effect within the space of two years to save money and utilize facilities more efficiently. The Miller Early Childhood Center – a kindergarten-only facility - was closed in 2009. The two buildings were the only elementary school buildings within the city limits of Brighton. Only four elementaries remain in the Brighton District: Spencer and Hilton in Brighton Township, Hawkins in Green Oak Township and Hornung in Genoa Township. (TT)
Saturday, April 28
4/28/12 - The race for the Livingston County Probate Court bench is now contested. Miriam Cavanaugh, a Senior Trial Attorney with the Livingston County Prosecutor's Office, announced her candidacy on Friday after dropping off petitions at the county clerk’s office. Election officials were still reviewing those as of late Friday afternoon. Cavanaugh joins former Livingston County Probate Court Administrator Lori Marran in the race to replace Probate Judge Carol Hackett Garagiola, who earlier announced she would not seek another term on the bench. The 37-year-old Cavanaugh, who received her law degree from the University Of Detroit Mercy School Of Law in 2000, grew up in Brighton and has worked in her current capacity for nearly nine years. During that time, she has handled juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect matters but currently handles criminal cases in the district and circuit courts. Cavanaugh has also served as a member of Livingston County’s Child Abuse Prevention Council and is trained as a child forensic interviewer. She lives in Oceola Township with her husband and three children. (JK)
Friday, April 27
4/27/12 - A trial date has been set for a Highland Township man charged in the stabbing death of his mother. A September 10th trial date was set for 22-year-old Jeffrey Pyne, who is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of his mother last May. The former University of Michigan student is accused of bludgeoning and stabbing to death his mother, 51-year-old Ruth Pyne. Her body was found May 27th of last year in the garage of their home on Burwood Court. Court records show Ruth Pyne had a lengthy history of severe mental illness and had been committed to a mental hospital just months before her murder for assaulting her son. Before setting the trial date, Judge Leo Bowman denied a defense motion for an independent examination of cell phone records obtained by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, as well as cell tower information and other related data. Pyne remains in the Oakland County Jail without bond.(JK)
4/27/12 - The Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office recognized several local officials and citizens for their efforts to aid local victims of crime at an award ceremony Friday. The ceremony is held every year at the County Judicial Center as part of Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s honorees included Deputy Chad Sells and Detective Mark Klein of the Livingston County Sheriff's Department for their persistence in a complex motor vehicle accident resulting in death; a group of four officials who worked on a case involving the exploitation of minors last year; and Probation and Parole Agent Amy Walker who worked to help a victim’s mother get a chance to speak with the man responsible for her son’s death following his conviction. The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program, offered through LACASA, was honored as a group for providing victims of sexual assault the opportunity to be examined in a private and comforting atmosphere. The SANE Program can see 25 to 40 victims of sexual assault every year. The honorees were treated to a luncheon following the ceremony. (TD)
4/27/12 - After leading the Pinckney Village Council for the past eight years, President Rebecca Foster is stepping down. Foster was appointed to the post in 2004 and recently announced that she will not be running for re-election in November. Councilman Barry White has also indicated that he will not seek another term. Foster tells WHMI that she’s had a great time and it’s been an honor and she really has enjoyed most of what she has had to do over the past eight years but feels it’s time for someone else to take over. Foster says it will be nice to take a step back and be a normal citizen again with fewer commitments. A lot of work has been done over the years and she feels the Village has really come to be known as a business friendly community. One area of improvement Foster says she will take credit for is how business is conducted in the village. She says council meetings are much shorter and more efficient and overall, they get more done. A self-proclaimed information junkie, Foster says she does a lot of research and works to get information out to members so they can be as informed as possible about the decisions they’re making. Foster notes Council has been very fiscally responsible but one challenge over the past couple of years has been the economic environment and trying to deliver the same services with less money while also keeping everyone on flat budgets. Some projects do stand out in Foster's mind more than others and one of her personal favorites was the Mill Street project, which she says was a pretty big “green street” project that accomplished a lot in terms of the environment but also resulted in a really beautiful street. The village president position is considered non-partisan and the seat carries a two-year term. Three other council seats are also up in November that carry four-year terms. The deadline for candidates to file for is August 14th. (JM)
4/27/12 - A local recreation organization has racked up another award. The Southeastern Livingston County Recreation Authority, or SELCRA, received the Extraordinary Event/Organization Award from the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports for providing fitness opportunities to the public at large. The Governor’s Fitness Awards serve as a platform for recognizing individuals, public officials and organizations that are committed to healthy living. SELCRA representatives received the award Thursday night at the Governor’s Fitness Award’s gala at Ford Field in Detroit. Earlier this year, the Michigan Recreation and Park Association honored SELCRA with a Recreation Leadership Award for Director Derek Smith and a Design Award for its website, SELCRA.com. Formed in 1992, SELCRA acts as a recreation department for more than 50,000 Livingston County residents. Pictured from left to right are Lila Lazarus, President and CEO of Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports Marilyn Lieber, SELCRA Director Derek Smith and Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley. (JM)
4/27/12 - The House's solid bipartisan vote for a cybersecurity bill sponsored by Congressman Mike Rogers sends a message to the Senate: Now it's your turn to act. Ignoring a White House veto threat, the House approved the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act on Thursday. It would encourage companies and the federal government to share information collected on the Internet to help prevent electronic attacks from cybercriminals, foreign governments and terrorists. The vote was 248 to 168, with 42 Democrats joining 206 Republicans in backing the measure. Rogers, a Howell Republican who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, thanked his Democratic counterpart on the committee, Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger, for his leadership in getting 42 Democrats to vote for the legislation and encouraged the Senate to take up the bill soon so it can move to the President’s desk. Congressional leaders are determined to get a cybersecurity bill completed this election year, but that may be difficult. The Obama administration and several leading Senate Democrats and Republicans want a bill with security standards. The House bill would impose no new regulations on businesses, an imperative for Republicans. Photo courtesy of AP. (JK)
4/27/12 - The Pinckney Coalition brainstormed about how to undertake a campaign against a drug known as K2, which mimics the effects of marijuana, at its regular meeting last night. K2 is a substance which is sprayed on a mixture of herbs and sold legally to people over 18 as incense, but it is most commonly smoked as an alternative to marijuana. Head shops and gas stations around the county carry the product, and overdosing can lead to seizures, vomiting, and psychotic episodes that can require hospitalization. Different tactics to encourage retailers not to sell K2 were devised at last night’s meeting, such as picketing or boycotting those businesses which carry the product, providing visible certificates to those that do not, and increasing parental awareness of the drug. Pinckney mother Kim Liepold started a Facebook group called Stop Selling K2 in Pinckney, which received over 300 followers in less than five hours. Liepold has approached several Pinckney retailers of the product and asked them to stop selling it. She says some have agreed to raise the stated minimum age for purchase to 21 or to remove visible advertising, but most denied her requests and none removed the product entirely. Click the link below to visit the Stop Selling K2 in Pinckney Facebook group. (TD)
4/27/12 - The Salvation Army of Livingston County held its annual civic dinner and volunteer appreciation event Thursday night. The event was well attended and celebrated the work of the local Corps over the past year along with all of the volunteers and community members that make it possible. Guests learned about how the local Corps is "Creating a Shared Future" in Livingston County as well as where it has been and where it is going. The Salvation Army has been serving the local community for 150 years and originally operated out of a facility at 221 North Michigan Avenue in Howell that has since been torn down. In 1980, the Corps was moved into its current Lake Street location, which is a former church intended to be temporary but 30 years and a whole host of problems later, the Salvation Army is still there. Divisional Commander Colonel Dennis Strissel was the featured guest of the evening and noted that the Corps is looking at opportunities for a capital campaign to build a more efficient, adequate, and purpose- based facility for the community, adding the current one is less than 3,000-square-feet but last year alone 27,000 people visited the Howell location to receive some kind of help. Captains Aaron and Jenny Ortman came to the area four years ago and both expressed a heartfelt thanks to the community for its unwavering support. To learn more about the Salvation Army of Livingston County, click on the link below. (JM)
4/27/12 - One of two men charged in connection with a robbery and kidnapping incident in Fowlerville has been sentenced. 18-year-old Alex Wolfe will avoid jail time in the case but has been ordered to undergo random drug and alcohol testing, attend an outpatient treatment program and complete one year of probation and ten days of community service. Wolfe was sentenced by 53rd district Court Judge Suzanne Geddis. He was originally charged with armed robbery in the case but instead pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor larceny count. Police say Wolfe arranged a meeting between co-defendant 24-year-old Edward Priebe and the then 16-year-old victim for the purpose of a drug transaction. The victim previously testified that Priebe arrived at that meeting on January 27th in a ski mask with a gun demanding $500 and then held him hostage at gunpoint while he called family and friends to come up with the cash. The victim said he finally convinced Priebe to let him go but was told to come up with the money in a week. Priebe was arrested after calling the victim with further threats and police traced the call to his father’s home, where police say a Carhartt jacket, ski mask, black baton and a gun registered to Priebe’s father was found along with the victim’s school ID. Priebe also pleaded guilty to reduced charges and faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced May 3rd in Livingston County Circuit Court. (JM)
4/27/12 - Some Livingston County students will be competing in a regional cadet competition this weekend. The Livingston Composite Squadron is a Civil Air Patrol team that consists of four high school students and one middle school student from the Fowlerville, Howell, Hartland, Pinckney and Brighton districts. The team won the state championship in March and will now be representing Michigan in the Great Lakes Regional Cadet Competition in Springfield, Illinois. The team will be performing indoor and outdoor practical drills and will post the colors, conduct a flag ceremony and carry the flag in formation. The team will compete in other areas that are not flag-related and involve leadership and aerospace. Color Guard Project Officer and Captain Paul Bauerle tells WHMI the team has come a long way and he’s very proud of everyone and wished them all the best of luck while competing this weekend. The team was to depart from the Livingston County Airport this morning and is expected to return late Sunday. Pictured from left to right with the awards won at Michigan Wing Competition March 17th - Aaron Evanoff from Fowlerville High School, Nathan Knudsen from Howell Highlander Way Middle School, Katie Corcoran from Hartland High School, Leith Wheeler from Pinckney High School, and Carrie Shuler from Brighton High School. (JM)
Thursday, April 26
4/26/12 - Congressman Mike Rogers is pushing ahead with legislation he says will protect the nation’s critical infrastructure and corporations from electronic attacks despite Obama administration objections that the legislation fails to protect Americans’ civil liberties. The Howell Republican, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, says the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act addresses cybersecurity threats by allowing the private sector and government to share information to thwart attacks, something that is currently prohibited. In a statement Wednesday, the Obama Administration said the president’s advisers would recommend he veto the bill because its liability protection for companies that share information is too broad and that the Homeland Security Department should have a primary role in domestic cybersecurity. In a conference call this morning with reporters, Rogers said the veto threat shouldn’t derail passage. One of the proposed amendments to the bill that House Republicans refused to take up would have limited the government’s ability to collect information, such as birthdays, that could be used to identify individuals. Rogers says they have already included many measures from privacy advocates. The House is expected to pass the bill on Friday, although how many Democrats vote in favor of it is unclear. But many agree that the larger the margin, the greater the pressure will be on the Senate to pass the bill and send it the President. Photo courtesy of AP. (JK)
4/26/12 - Michigan Brewing Company will not be moving to downtown Fenton after all. The company was evicted from its Webberville headquarters this week and the property foreclosed after the company failed to make loan payments. Michigan Brewing Company was slated to open up a brewery in the old Fenton Fire Hall on South Leroy Street and renovate the building. However, Fenton DDA Executive Director Michael Burns tells WHMI that the DDA and Michigan Brewing Company have now mutually agreed to terminate the lease agreement for the project. He says it’s disappointing and he wishes the company the best of luck. While it didn’t end the way they wanted it to, he says it was a good relationship and the financial situation the company is in is really the cause of why the lease was terminated. He adds that the DDA did agree to pay up to $400,000 or 33% of the construction of the project but as of now, not one dollar of that agreement has been spent. Burns says one of the things the DDA learned from this process is they feel a brew pub might fit best at the building, although he notes the DDA is open to any unique project from a reputable company in the old fire hall that would bring people downtown. Meanwhile it is still unclear how the eviction will affect Michigan Brewing Company’s other sites which includes a downtown Lansing brew pub or what impact it will have on its overall brewing business that includes Kid Rock’s "American Badass Beer". The company had reportedly intended to sell the building and then lease it back from the landlord as part of restructuring the business. The Lansing State Journal reported that an entity called Highview Enterprises purchased the Webberville property but failed to reach a rental agreement with MBC and its lending company, which resulted in the eviction on Tuesday. (JM)
4/26/12 - Credit unions in Grand Rapids and Adrian recently settled separate class-action lawsuits brought by a Livingston County retiree who has made a second career of suing financial institutions that fail to follow federal regulations about ATM notification signs. Nancy Kinder of Fowlerville and her partner Ray Harrison have driven around the country looking for ATMs without proper fee notification signs. The two then photograph ATMs that lack legal signage and file class actions against the credit unions and banks that own the ATMs, saying that nondisclosure of fees for ATM transactions violates the Electronic Funds Transfer Act. Kinder and Harrison have filed dozens of lawsuits in Michigan, New Mexico and Texas. Both credit unions said the ATM’s in question have on-screen notices that allow consumers to cancel a transaction without a fee. They also dispute that KInder suffered any actual harm or damages as a result of the absence of an on-machine posted fee notice, but agreed to settle given the expense of litigation. Under the settlement, both credit unions will pay $1,000 to Kinder, and $15,000 in legal fees. They will also set aside more than $50,000 to satisfy the claims of potential claimants. After all individual claims have been settled, any money remaining in the settlement fund--up to $5,000 each--will be donated to Kinder's designated charity--the Karmanos Cancer Institute. Meanwhile, legislation was introduced last week in Congress to remove the duplicate disclosure requirement. (JK)
4/26/12 - The County Road Commission will be doing repair work on two gravel roads in Handy Township this summer. Operations Director Steve Wasylk tells WHMI the road commission approved the contract agreement earlier today to add gravel, improve drainage ditches, and add culverts to Gregory Road south of Allen Road and Hogback Road south of Grand River. The road commission will charge the township with the full $130,000 cost of the project. Neither road will be closed completely during construction, although through traffic may be closed at some points during construction. The project could begin as early as May, and accommodations would be made for school busses if so, but Wasylk says it will most likely begin in July after school lets out. (TD)
4/26/12 - A plan to relocate female prisoners from the Livingston County Jail to neighboring counties was approved for recommendation by the county’s Finance Committee Wednesday morning. The jail currently houses about 51 female inmates in facilities designed to handle less than 35, and the difficulty of housing them is made worse by the need to separate minimum, medium, and maximum security prisoners. In one part of the jail 20 female prisoners are currently housed in a 10-bed unit. The plan recommended by the committee would have several female prisoners moved to jails in Washtenaw, Ingham or Eaton Counties to alleviate the overcrowding. Jail officials are already working with other facilities to set up a six-month deal which could be renewed or cancelled depending on the local need. The proposal will go before the County Board of Commissioners at its next meeting for approval. In the long term, the county has also formed a subcommittee exploring the option of expanding the Livingston County Jail in the near future. The plan would add a new pod to the existing jail and would at least double its capacity for female prisoners. County Commissioner and Public Safety Committee Chair Dave Domas says that preliminary work and cost estimates have been completed, and the project is expected to cost about $6 million. He says if the county approves the plan and a bond issue can be passed to pay for it, the pod and new staff to operate it could be put in place during the next budget year. (TD)
4/26/12 - A Shiawassee County woman has been arraigned on charges she embezzled more than $200,000 from a Fowlerville business where she formerly was employed. 44-year-old Lonai Rochelle Ziesmer of Durand is free on a $50,000 bond, but is due back in 53rd District Court next Wednesday for an exam conference in front of Judge Suzanne Geddis. Authorities allege Ziesmer wrote approximately $300,000 in checks from Michigan Rehabilitation Specialists in Fowlerville to herself and then cashed them between 2004 and this past January. However, the charges only reflect activities over the last three years due to the statute of limitations. If convicted, Ziesmer faces up to 20 years in prison. (JK)
4/26/12 - The Howell Downtown Development Authority approved the creation of an ad hoc committee last night to examine the parking situation in downtown Howell and the surrounding residential areas. A similar ad hoc committee was created in 2008 and resulted in the parking lot behind Cleary’s Pub being extended from two hours to four hours. DDA Director Stephanie Schlittler says the goal of the committee will be to improve parking not only for local residents and business owners but patrons as well. Schlittler says every option for improving parking is on the table for this committee, including extended parking hours, more parking spaces, and parking permits. There is no set meeting schedule or roster for the committee yet, but it will consist of several local residents along with DDA members Matt Wilson, Natalie Burg, and Kyle McBain. (TD)
Wednesday, April 25
4/25/12 - After more than six years on the job, Fowlerville’s village manager has resigned. Joseph Merucci told staffers at the village offices about mid-day Monday that he was leaving his post. Village Clerk Kathy Arledge tells WHMI that he did not offer a reason for his departure nor tender a written resignation. She declined to speculate as to the reason for his decision. A call placed to Merucci’s home was answered and then hung up. Subsequent calls have gone unanswered. However, his resignation came hours before the council was to discuss his annual review. That issue had caused some friction last July when council members created what they called an “evaluation tool,” to rate Merucci on his relationships with village staff, the public, and the village council, as well as his occupational skills and business performance. At the time, Merucci said he had not been told about the need to outline those goals prior to the council’s decision. Merucci began as Fowlerville’s manager in January 2006. He had previously served as the manager of Clawson in Oakland County, but also left that position unexpectedly in May of 2005 and eventually received a $100,000 severance package. Arledge says the council did discuss Merucci’s resignation in closed session at Monday’s meeting, but has taken no action on finding a replacement. (JK)
4/25/12 - Oceola Township officials are expressing some concerns with a proposed settlement offer from a chemical company responsible for the deaths of trees at the Chemung Hills golf course. The course is owned by the township but operated by a management company, which discovered that nine spruce trees standing around 49 feet tall were dying from use of the chemical Imprelis, which is used to kill broad leaf weeds such as dandelions and clover. Four other spruce trees have showed signs of problems but officials believe those can possibly be saved. Township Supervisor Bill Bamber tells WHMI the chemical company DuPont has certified that the chemical was to blame but maintains it didn’t know it would kill the trees. DuPont has since offered the township a settlement, which Bamber says they are still reviewing with legal counsel. DuPont has offered to remove the trees at their own cost as well as give the township $92,000 to plant and maintain replacement trees. However, Bamber says a clause in the contract stipulates that when the township is paid, the company would be relieved of additional liability, other than a very limited clause for damage of the replaced trees. Bamber says they are still in discussions with legal counsel about the proposed settlement but have concerns because they are not familiar with the chemical and in fact, the company wasn’t even familiar with it because they didn’t know it killed spruce trees. He says they don’t know if they necessarily want to plant trees again in the same spots but also have concerns about residual issues with the chemical that could possibly affect new trees. Bamber says the chemical was taken off the market last August but it was also sprayed on many yards and residential lawns by companies, resulting in dead spruce trees all over the Midwest. The Chemung Hills golf course totals 149 acres and Bamber says once the damaged trees are gone, no one should know the difference. The matter is expected to be a topic of discussion when the township board meets next on May 3rd. (JM)
4/25/12 - The Livingston County Sheriff’s Department is reminding local parents to be watchful of their children when playing outside following an incident Tuesday night in Genoa Township. Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI that they took the unusual report at around 8pm in the Sylvan Glens manufactured home community off Grand River, shortly after the incident occurred. He says an 8-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy were playing outside near one of their homes when they were approached by a masked man. Bezote says he got their attention by yelling over to them, asking questions such as “are you in love” and “do you want some candy”. However, Bezotte says he was wearing a white Halloween-type mask and was trying to entice them to an area about 150 feet away from where they playing. Bezotte says the man then went around a trailer and came closer to the kids, within about 20 feet, and was trying to lure them to a more private place. Bezotte says this occurred right around the time it starts to get dark outside so they just wanted to give area parents a heads up and remind them to keep a close eye on their kids and know where they are and what they are doing. Bezotte says the suspect was described as a being a white male around 25 or 26 years old standing about 5 foot 8 and weighing around 140 pounds. He says they do believe this is a credible incident and ask anyone that may have noticed something suspicious or who has knowledge of anyone with a white mask to contact the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department at (517) 546-2440. (JM)
4/25/12 - The Livingston County Hunger Council is continuing with efforts to help provide produce to local families in need. Local professional-turned-farmer Joannée DeBruhl was looking for ways to help make fresh, local produce more available to low-income families in the community and is now involved in a partnership with the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency and the Livingston County Hunger Council dubbed "Project Farm". DeBruhl opened a farm in 2010 mirroring “Project Fresh”, a state funded program that gives seniors ages 60 and older coupons for produce to spend at the local farmer's markets. DeBruhl provides gift certificates to OLHSA, which distributes them to eligible Livingston County residents that allow for the purchase of produce at Stone Coop Farm or its booth at the Brighton Farmers Market. The Hunger Council is currently seeking more local farmers to join in the effort to make healthy and local food more available to those in need. More information may be found in the release below. (JM)
4/25/12 - A new micro-brewery located at a historic site in downtown Brighton should be getting off the ground sooner than later. The brewery will be located in the old Pink Hotel, which was originally the site of the Western House Hotel and built in 1873. The site is also on the National Register of Historic Places. A new sign that says “coming soon” is up on the building now, referring to “Brewery Becker”. There is no estimate on how long construction is expected to take but Brighton City Planning and Zoning Director Amy Cyphert tells WHMI things should be ramping up pretty soon. She says the city has the building permit for the project, which is about ready to be issued and once that happens, they will be breaking ground in the near future. Cyphert says the interior of the three story structure that currently sits on the property will be completely remodeled and there will be a two-story addition on the rear portion of the building to house elevators, stairs and restrooms. An outdoor patio is also planned. Cyphert says the project has been proposed mainly as a brewery, and its understanding is that there are very strict requirements under the brewery license that do not permit a restaurant component. Cyphert adds that the city is really excited to see the groundbreaking and acknowledged that it has been a slow progression. However, she says that’s not unusual when trying to convert a historic building because you open up the process to the mystery of the building. (JM)
4/25/12 - Work is underway to remove the hundreds of trees that were damaged and uprooted at the Hudson Mills golf course. The damage occurred during the devastation of a tornado that carved a path through its manicured grounds when it touched down last month in the Dexter area. Fodor Timber Incorporated has been contracted for the work and is removing trees from the back-most portion of the course, which will help park crews in their efforts to clean up the remaining areas of brush and debris. Huron-Clinton Metroparks Spokeswoman Denise Semion tells WHMI that the golf course is making a strong comeback and and it was the back nine holes of the course that received the brunt of the damage. Semion says the tornado was very selective when it came through and actually danced along several holes on the course, taking down a large number of trees. The disc golf course was un-touched. She says the clean-up will bring a significant cost but they do plan to sell some of the wood and resulting products, which they hope will help to offset the cost of clearing the trees. Semion says they appreciate all of the community support received and are hoping the course will be up and running at the full 18-holes in time for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Semion says, however, in the meantime the front nine holes of the course are open. (JM)
4/25/12 - A Cohoctah Township man will avoid jail time in an animal cruelty case involving horses. 66-year-old Dennis Alex Pollom was sentenced Monday in 53rd District Court to probation and fines. An earlier plea deal reached also requires Pollom to pay $5,147 in restitution. $1,200 of that will go to Livingston County Animal Control, which seized the 12 horses at a farm on Preston Road last October. Pollom was originally charged with a felony count of animal cruelty but pleaded guilty instead to two misdemeanor counts of failing to provide adequate care to the horses. That deal was reached in coordination with the Michigan Horse Welfare Coalition. Officials say the horses were in terrible condition and many had with bones visible in their shoulders, ribs, and hips. Animal Control Director Debbie Oberle previously told WHMI that as they do with all investigations, they tried to work with Pollom on the care of the horses but they reached a point in time where they just couldn’t go any further and felt it was best to rescue them. The horses were placed with foster volunteers. Picture courtesy of WLNS. (JK)
Tuesday, April 24
4/24/12 - The Michigan Supreme Court will not hear appeals from two men who robbed and beat a Genoa Township World War II veteran inside his home in 2008. On September 29th, 2011 the Court of Appeals upheld the conviction and sentences of both 40-year-old Harry Riley and 35-year-old Noah Richard Lovell III. They both appealed to the Supreme Court and in a ruling released on Monday, the high court said it was not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed. Both men were convicted in 2009 for the attack on John Pickett, who at the time was 83. Riley posed as an electrical worker to gain access to Pickett’s home, and then he and Lovell assaulted him, restraining him with duct tape and threatening his life in exchange for money. Riley, who was sentenced to 88 to 135 years in prison, claimed he received inadequate representation during his trial and sentencing. Lovell, who was sentenced to 50-95 years behind bars, had asked for a new trial claiming Pickett’s testimony was coerced. Riley won’t be eligible for parole until 2097, when he would be 126 years old. Lovell would be 83 when he becomes eligible for parole in 2059. (JM)
4/24/12 - The purchase of two new food service vehicles was unanimously approved by the Howell School Board last night despite statements by several board members that the money would be better spent elsewhere. The vehicles were purchased because the state of Michigan set a limit on the amount of fund equity that can be maintained in a school district’s food service fund, which is determined through a complicated formula. The food service fund equity for Howell Schools was about $100,000 over its limit, forcing the board to make appropriate purchases to eliminate the excess or turn the money back over to the state. The purchase of the two vehicles, a van and a pickup truck, eliminated $51,000 of that excess equity last night. Board members expressed their displeasure about the purchase, saying the state should allow the district to spend the money on more immediate needs. Superintendent Ron Wilson says the policy punishes the district for being frugal by requiring it to make low-priority purchases. Other purchases, such as new ovens for the kitchens, were already approved to help eliminate the excess fund balance. The two vehicles will be used to distribute food from a central kitchen to schools around the district. (TD)
4/24/12 - A senior at Hartland High School has been identified as the person who made threats on Facebook yesterday that forced officials to close Hartland High School today. Parents began calling school officials last night and eventually 911 after being alerted to a “perceived threat” about shooting people at the school. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte says they quickly began following up on that information and were able to identify a suspect shortly after midnight. He says they took two phones into custody, and will follow-up with the prosecutor for possible charges. The student is an 18-year-old who had been set to graduate next month, although that may very well be in jeopardy following this incident. Bezotte says the student had made mention that the number “24” spray painted around the school and etched into the grass referred to the number of students that would be killed. But he says the number appears to have been placed there in a separate case of vandalism. Hartland Superintendent Janet Sifferman says this is a very serious incident and while further investigation is ongoing, they intend to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. She says they are confident everything has been resolved and safety and security are their primary responsibilities. Sifferman says students and parents may notice some increased security on campus but there is no danger and it’s intended to make them feel comfortable returning. Hartland High School re-opened at around 2:30 this afternoon for athletics and district activities. Classes will resume tomorrow. A statement that was released by the district is attached below. (JK)
4/24/12 - Officials say it now appears that an Argentine Township woman whose body was found in the parking lot of an Oceola Township church died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department originally were reluctant to rule the death as a suicide due to what they called the “suspicious” nature of how the 45-year-old woman’s body was found inside her car. The Argentine Township Police Department had issued a “be-on-the-lookout” advisory late Sunday afternoon for the woman, who was reported missing last Thursday by her husband. Her SUV was spotted Monday morning in the parking lot of the St. John the Baptist Church at Hacker Road and M-59, and her body inside was covered with a blanket. While she appeared to be dead from a single gunshot wound to the head, investigators wanted more information from Argentine Police and her husband before making a determination about the death. However, they say that they now have enough information to conclude the death was a suicide. (JK)
4/24/12 - The Cromaine District Library in Hartland says an anonymous donor has raised the rewards in its “Grant Sweet Memorial Essay Contest”. This is the second year that Cromaine has presented this essay contest to the community’s high school students, which is in memory of the library’s former building manager, Grant Sweet. It is made possible through support of Friends of the Cromaine Library, the National Veterans Awareness Organization and Hartland’s American Legion Post 415. Officials say the contest has been expanded to include all Livingston County High School students in grades 9 through 12 and homeschoolers working at those grade levels. The deadline has also been extended to Monday, May 7th at 6pm. The award for first prize is now $300, second prize is $200 and third place award is $100. Essays must be delivered to Cromaine Library in the Village prior to the deadline in order to be included in the judging. Further information may be found below. (JM)
4/24/12 - Hartland High School is closed today after district officials say they received information about death threats involving guns being spread via Facebook. Assistant Superintendent Scott Bacon told WHMI that the closure was due to, "threats focused on the high school." Superintendent Janet Sifferman plans to meet today with the Livingston County Sheriff's Department to further discuss the threats. Today's closure includes any Community Education Activities that take place at the High School and the Pool. (JK)
4/24/12 - A Howell City Councilman’s push to allow voters to decide whether the mini-circles installed as part of the multi-year street improvement program should be ripped out and removed was shot down Monday night. City Council debated a resolution from Councilman Doug Heins, an outspoken critic of the circles and overall project. His resolution sought to put a ballot issue before voters in the City, asking them to decide if the mini-circles that were installed as part of the street improvement program should be removed. The referendum would have applied to the mini-circles already installed at intersections as part of phases one and two of the street program as well as at East Washington. Some members indicated that the issue of removing the mini-circles was discussed at length during the annual council retreat in February, where it was determined the issue should be brought up in another year. Scott Niblock made a motion to postpone the matter until the next retreat, which was approved but sparked debate from Heins. Heins expressed his resolution was about choice, freedom, fairness and accountability. He also warned Council that if it was postponed, he would re-introduce it in a different form again and again. The debate that followed prompted resident Scott Hodge to speak out in favor of the mini-circles, who lives on south Chestnut Street. Hodge said he went to one of the highly publicized meetings before the street program took effect, where he and his neighbors decided they wanted the circles on their street and want to keep them, noting the public had a chance to approve or disapprove of the program. The postponement was approved in a 4-3 vote with Mayor Phil Campbell, Heins and Councilman Al Schlittler voting against it. (JM)
4/24/12 - Just two weeks from today, voters in the Brighton Area School District will be going to the polls to decide the fate of an $88.5 million bond issue. The subject got heated during the public comments portion of Monday night’s school board meeting. Tim Bloch of Brighton chastised board Trustee John Conely, accusing him of being the person behind the orange signs appearing in the community urging a “no” vote in the May 8 election. Bloch says Conely’s used and rental car business on West Grand River is listed as the address on the bottom of the signs, which say “Vote no on Brighton school millage”. Fellow board member Miles Vieau defended Conely. Stepping down from the board table to address the board from the audience, Vieau said that just because Conely wasn’t in favor of the bond issue didn’t mean he’s not concerned about what’s best for kids in the district. Earlier Monday, Conely told WHMI that he will be voting against the school bond issue and instead favors a smaller technology bond and a sinking fund to address repair and technology issues. Superintendent Greg Gray says he respects Conely’s right to his own opinion. However, he tells WHMI that what Conely is proposing would be insufficient to enable Brighton to catch up in areas where it has gotten behind other districts. People addressed the board on both sides of the issue, students complaining of leaking roofs, black mold on ceiling tile in classrooms and poor athletic facilities. Opponents said the election should be held in November, when more people will be voting, and that the bond amount is too high. If passed, the issue would result in a 1.49-mill tax increase and cost the owner of a $200,000 home an additional $149 a year in property taxes. (TT)
4/23/12 - The Howell High School Interact Club is gearing up for a 5K run and walk this weekend that will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The club has put on the event for the past nine years and organizers say it serves as an amazing opportunity to benefit a wonderful charity that has touched so many lives. The Make-A-Wish foundation grants a “wish” for children with medical complications and life-threatening diseases whether it be a trip to Disney Land or a different dream. The 5K will take place this Saturday, April 28th at 9am at the Howell High School Track Football Stadium Area. The course will be around the main campus grounds of the high school. Registration begins at 7:30am. More information may be found in the press release below. (JM)
4/24/12 - The deadline to submit community project nominations for the Milford area is approaching. The Rotary Club of Milford is currently seeking nominations for service projects designed to improve life in communities within the Huron Valley School district boundaries. Those include Milford, Highland, White Lake and portions of Commerce Township. A number of nominations have been received including replacing the fence around the Milford Memorial Cemetery, a Milford dog park, a boardwalk around the Mill Pond, playscapes for three Highland Township parks and firefighter-themed play structures at South Side Park that would serve as a “tot-lot” adjacent to the Milford Fire Station. An area kayak/canoe launch has also been suggested along with a job seekers car pool bank that would provide a fleet of used vehicles to provide transportation for the unemployed for job interviews. Nominations will be accepted through April 30th and the Rotary Club of Milford is expected to make a decision by July 12th. For more information or to obtain a project nomination application, click on the link below. (JM)
Monday, April 23
4/23/12 - The Livingston County Sheriff’s Department is investigating what it says appears to be a suspicious suicide or possible homicide. The department received a “be-on-the-lookout” advisory late Sunday afternoon for a missing Argentine Township woman believed to be suicidal. The 45-year-old woman was first reported missing on Thursday by her husband and the advisory was issued by Argentine Township Police yesterday after attempts to locate her were unsuccessful. Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI that they received a report at around 8:30 this morning of a woman in a church parking lot at Hacker and M-59, who was covered with a blanket inside of a grey Chevy blazer. Bezotte says once on scene, they discovered the woman was deceased from a single gunshot wound. He says the scene appeared to be a little suspicious so they have not yet ruled it a suicide and are investigating it as a homicide case although its still very early in the investigation. The woman’s name has not been released yet and Bezotte asks that anyone who may have noticed anything on Sunday afternoon in the parking lot of St. John the Baptist Church to contact the Sheriff’s Department at (517) 546-2440. (JM)
4/23/12 - Congressman Mike Rogers talked to local residents and business owners about the international threats facing the United States at today’s Good Morning Livingston luncheon. The event was held by the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce at Crystal Gardens this morning. Rogers, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, discussed current physical and economic threats from around the world. These included Russia’s growing nuclear submarine fleet, Iran’s nuclear program, and efforts by China to build an aircraft carrier fleet and force the United States out of the South China Sea. However, the bulk of the talk focused on cyber espionage, which involves countries like China and Russia using cyber-attacks to steal intellectual property from American corporations to use in their own industries. Rogers says the American government has developed confidential techniques and software that is used to protect domestic computers which he believes should be shared with corporations and internet service providers to better protect corporations from espionage. The House Intelligence Committee provided a draft amendment to the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act last week, backed by Rogers and Maryland Democrat Dutch Ruppersberger, which will allow that information to be shared with the private sector. Attendees at the luncheon said the talk was very informative and that the topic was very important but not often discussed. (TD)
4/23/12 - The Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce held an informational session this morning about the $88.5 million school bond issue that will appear on the ballot next month - an issue that at least one Board of Education member opposes. Brighton Superintendent Greg Gray addressed the group of business leaders and community members with some questioning why the bond issue will be on the spring ballot instead of the November ballot. Some feel more people will likely be casting ballots in the fall because it’s a general election. Gray told the audience that a fall election would be more costly, due to new property assessment figures coupled with an overall decline in property values. Most members of the Brighton Board of Education are behind the proposal but Trustee John Conely told WHMI that he will be voting against the May 8th bond issue. Conely says he would support a smaller ballot issue consisting of a sinking fund to take care of maintenance issues that come up, and a technology bond so the district could catch up with other school districts in the area of computers and other technology. Gray counters that a sinking fund only raises a limited amount of funds annually, which would not be enough to take care of big-ticket items like a high school roof or new football field. Gray adds that there are a myriad of other issues the district needs to address besides maintenance of aging facilities and technology – matters he says can only be successfully addressed by a major bond issue. (TT)
4/23/12 - Hazardous material response teams from Oakland and Livingston counties along with the Oakland County Incident Management team assembled Saturday at the Troy Police and Fire Training Center to respond to a simulated train derailment and release of chlorine gas in downtown Holly, and to demonstrate emergency response readiness in time of disaster. Officials say that the exercise, held through the Michigan Fire Service Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was the largest such demonstration of intra-regional cooperation among fire service and emergency response task forces ever held in the state. MABAS is a user-driven system designed to streamline the usage of emergency and fire service resources for events such as major fires, train derailments, tornadoes, hazardous materials incidents and other events that could overwhelm a local fire department. Livingston County’s Hazardous Materials Response Team is composed of members from Livingston County EMS and various fire departments in the county. Officials say they took part in the exercise as an entry team into the immediate disaster zone as well as making repairs on the rail car to stop the simulated leak. The exercise included a “command post,” a “hot zone,” where tactical operations were executed; and a “hands-on” staging area of Hazmat vehicle and equipment. The exercise was funded through the 2009 Homeland Security Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (JK)
4/23/12 - Several dozen women veterans turned out Saturday in Hartland Township for a first-ever Day of Caring event put on by a local group concerned that local female veterans are being overlooked when it comes to benefits and services. Women Supporting Women Veterans began as an effort to thank women veterans for their service, but quickly changed its focus to providing information and advocacy. Several workshops were held Saturday to discuss employment, housing and mental health issues. The keynote speaker was retired Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone, who until last year was the Assistant Adjutant General of Veterans Affairs for the State of Michigan. She told WHMI that events like that held on Saturday are critical for assisting all veterans with their post-service issues, most especially women. But she thinks a better approach would be for the Department of Defense to automatically enroll service members into the Veterans Administration upon their honorable discharge from the military, something that isn't currently done. She also thinks that once a member of the military has left the service, they should come in on a one-on-one basis with their spouse or significant other to discuss their benefits as opposed to day-long seminars given at the unit level. But General Fausone says until that is done, events like that on Saturday are absolutely crucial. Also speaking Saturday was Congressman Mike Rogers and State Senator Joe Hune. Organizers said they planned to gather in the next week and assess how the event was received and whether it should become an annual gathering. (JK)
4/23/12 - New data shows that traffic crashes are on the rise across the region, resulting in more deaths and injuries but Livingston County is bucking the trend. The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments says traffic crashes went up across the southeast Michigan region from 2010 to 2011. SEMCOG’s Senior Engineer and Transportation Manager Tom Bruff tells WHMI they are just now beginning to analyze the data and figure out the details behind why we may be seeing the increases. He says across the state, crashes are not increasing as much as the southeast region but that could be because we are more urbanized and include Detroit and surrounding cities. Bruff says that means the region is probably experiencing a bit more distracted driving and use of cell phones leading to the increase in crashes. In Livingston County, there were 4,315 crashes in 2011. 17 of those were fatal and 716 involved injuries. That’s down from 18 fatal crashes in 2010 and 4,340 total injury accidents that produced 761 injuries. A link to view the complete data may be found below. (JK)
4/23/12 - Bone-chilling winds didn’t deter hundreds of runners Saturday morning from honoring Dominick Calhoun in a 5K race at Kensington Metropark in Milford. The 4-year-old Argentine Township boy was killed at the hands of his mother's ex-boyfriend in 2010. Saturday’s run was organized by child abuse advocacy group ChildHelp, which paid tribute to Dominick and other abuse victims while raising the profile of Dominick's Law, pending legislation that would enforce harsher penalties for those who abuse children. It has been strongly supported by Linden resident Rick Calhoun, who is Dominick's paternal grandfather. Brandon Hayes was convicted earlier this year of first degree murder in the boy’s death and sentenced to a life sentence in prison. His mother, Corinne Baker, was handed a 13 to 30 year sentence for not doing enough to stop the fatal beating. All the money raised from Saturday’s event will help prevent and treat victims of child abuse in Michigan by going directly to Childhelp Michigan programs. (JK)
4/23/12 - This is the final week for diapers to be collected for local parents in need across Livingston County. Great Start Livingston is again organizing the drive in which packaged diapers are collected and then given to Gleaners Community Food Bank of Livingston County for distribution. Great Start Parent Coalition Liaison Sarah Smith tells WHMI that there is a large number of local parents struggling to provide this basic essential to their children and are seeking out assistance. She says the drive was created after learning that more 50,000 diapers were handed out a year ago to those in need across the county. Around 10,000 diapers were collected through last year’s drive and Smith says they’re hoping to double that amount this year. Smith says they have roughly 50 sites throughout the county now serving as drop-off sites through the end of the month and a number of merchants are also offering incentives in connection with the drive. For more information and a list of drop-off locations, click on the link below. (JK)
Saturday, April 21
4/21/12 - The “Safety in Numbers” trophy was awarded to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department for raising the most funds in the seventh annual "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" fundraising event Saturday. Shown in the photo holding the trophy is Undersheriff Mike Murphy, who is also the board chairman of LACASA, the sponsoring organization. Official totals aren’t in yet, but Development Director Julie Smith says it appears the event raised over $18,000 – topping last year’s total of about $16,000. Over 100 walkers participated in the event, held at the Tanger outlet mall in Howell Township. Proceeds go to the non-profit LACASA agency, which provides treatment, temporary housing and other services for women and children who have suffered sexual or physical assault. In "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes", men dress up in women’s shoes and walk around the mall until they complete one mile. The other trophy was awarded to “Team Livingston EMS”. The LACASA fundraiser is still in progress, and people may donate by going to the LACASA web site at lacasacenter.org and contribute online, or they may call the office to donate. The Clothesline Project T-Shirt Scavenger Hunt contest is taking place through the end of April at Tanger. People can pick up an entry form at the mall’s shopper services, walk around the mall and locate the 12 stores that have the special T-shirts, write them down and submit the entry. The winner will receive a $100 gift card from Tanger. (TT)
4/21/12 - A man with local ties has been selected as the new Chief of Police for Eastern Michigan University. 57-year-old Robert Heighes of Pinckney has been named the new Chief of Police and Executive Director of Public Safety following an intensive national search that yielded five finalists. Heighes has served as a police officer at Eastern for 28 years, including three stints as interim chief. EMU Director of Media Relations Geoff Larcom tells WHMI that Bob is an EMU alumnus with an exceptional history at the university in a variety of law enforcement roles and knows and loves the campus. Heighes, who has served as interim chief since the suicide of police Chief Greg O'Dell in December, will be reporting directly to EMU President Susan Martin as a member of the university’s Executive Council. His annual salary will be $128,000. (JM)
4/21/12 - One of the four men charged in connection with the theft of tools and equipment from GM warehouses in Livingston County has been sentenced. 56-year old Harry Martin Gibbs Jr. of Mason was ordered to serve a year in the county jail on Thursday following his earlier guilty plea to a single count of embezzling $100,000 or more. Authorities say he provided space to store tools and machinery allegedly stolen by Joseph Shuler of Lansing and Billy Baumchen of Perry. Shuler and Baumchen, who are also 56, worked for a Livingston County-based GM contractor. Police say the thefts occurred at GM warehouses on M-59 and I-96 in the Howell area between June 2009 and June of 2010. Shuler, Baumchen and Bowles are set for trial May 21st. (JK)
4/21/12 - The Pinckney Lakeland Hamburg Hell Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards ceremony Thursday in which several special members were recognized for their contributions. John & Anne Colone were given the Lifetime Community Involvement Award. John is best known as a full-time booster for Hell, Michigan. He is also active with the Livingston County Veterans Affairs Department. Anne has been a long-time member of the Pinckney School Board and currently serves as the board’s president. She is active with the Kiwanis Club of Hamburg and sits on the board of Livingston County Catholic Services. Realtor Rick Beaudin, known to many as the Pinckney Pirate, was given the Super Star Award for his tireless promotion of the Pinckney Lakeland Hamburg Hell area. Also recognized for Distinguished Service was the Faith Medical Clinic for providing free medical care in Pinckney. And finally, retired Pinckney Police Chief Denis Aseltine was recognized for his 37 years on the Pinckney Police Department, the last twelve as Chief. Aseltine remains the deputy chief of operations for the Putnam Township Fire Department. (JK)
Friday, April 20
4/20/12 - A Brighton man convicted of receiving and possessing child pornography has been sentenced. Dale James Cardiff was ordered to serve 24 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Avern Cohn in Detroit. Once he has served that time, Cardiff will have five years of supervised release. Cardiff entered a guilty plea last August to one of the felony counts against him and a second similar count was then dropped as part of a plea deal. The charges were filed after authorities say Cardiff viewed 600 photographs and 40 to 50 videos involving children. He came to the attention of federal authorities as they investigated a website advertising access to child pornographic images and video files for a monthly fee. His name was identified on the access logs of the website known as “DreamZone CP”, which led to a search at his Oak Knoll Drive home in April of 2010 where authorities say they found about 420 child pornography images and two videos on Cardiff’s desktop computer and laptop. (JM)
4/20/12 - Livingston County Prosecutor David Morse announced today that he is endorsing William Vailliencourt to be the county’s next prosecutor. Morse, who has been Prosecutor since 1989, announced earlier this month he would not seek re-election when his current term expires at the end of the year. In making the endorsement, Morse praised Vailliencourt for his courtroom skill in trying numerous cases from drunk driving to capital felonies, as well as his successes arguing before the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court. Morse also said that in his 17 years of service on the job, Vailliencourt has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment on behalf of crime victims. He also described Vailliencourt as a respected trainer for police, prosecutors, judges and probation officers on such topics as search and seizure, sentencing, drunk driving and trial advocacy. Vailliencourt filed papers last week to run in the August 7 Republican primary. He’s being challenged by Carolyn Henry and Lyle Dickson, both attorneys from Howell. Green Oak Township attorney Matthew Evans has filed to run for prosecutor on the Democratic ticket. The deadline to file is May 15th. (JK)
4/20/12 - A roundtable meeting including the Howell School Board and representatives from the district’s union groups met for the second time at the Cleary University Johnson Center last night. The group held its first roundtable at the end of last month as a way to improve communication within the district hierarchy and devise new ways to improve the school system. Last night the roundtable broke off into smaller discussion groups to come up with high-priority suggestions for improving the district in the areas of student achievement, community involvement, and the culture of the schools. The ideas ranged from improving and implementing technology to marketing the district more effectively. The ideas will now be priced and prioritized by the district. Routt says the district will hold more roundtables in the future and is working on a system to schedule them. She adds that the school board hopes to implement at least two or three ideas from the roundtable discussions within the next year. (TD)
4/20/12 - The public is invited to attend a forum next week focusing on parenting in the 21st century as well the substance abuse issues plaguing Livingston County. The Pinckney Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking and Drug Use will host the forum Thursday, April 26th at the Hamburg Senior Community Center on Merrill Road. It’s part of the coalition’s “Partnering with the Community” series that aims to share information, awareness and resources concerning alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Guest speakers will be talking about new ways to strengthen the family bond and be aware of current issues. Community Prevention Specialist Russell Stratton tells WHMI they encourage any community members to attend the forum and coalition meeting that will immediately follow. Meanwhile, the Pinckney Coalition will be out at the Pinckney Business Expo this weekend. The coalition will be distributing materials and resources to the public at the expo, which will be held at the Pinckney Pathfinder School this Saturday from 10am until 6pm. (JM)
4/20/12 - At its meeting Thursday night, the Brighton City Council heard several people complain about a duplex on North Second which is being used by four prison parolees. City Police Chief Tom Wightman tells WHMI the city was informed about the parolees living in the community recently when it met with officials from the state Department of Corrections and Washtenaw County Catholic Social Services, which administers the Prisoner Re-Entry Program in Livingston and Washtenaw Counties. Thaddeus McGaffey, who owns a business in downtown Brighton, said city zoning regulations need to be clearer about what constitutes a single family residence and who can live there. Wightman said that single-family residential zoning allows for up to two non-related individuals and that is how the duplex – at 295 and 301 North Second - is being utilized by the parolees, with two housed in each half. Wightman added that since state law supersedes local law, as long as the local zoning rules are being adhered to, the municipality can’t prevent the Department of Corrections from placing a parolee in the city. Wightman said the police department will work with the state to resolve any issues that arise with residents over the placements. Wightman said that the parolees have electronic tethers and are monitored by parole agents. He added that the city will be notified if any more prison parolees are to be placed in the community. (TT)
4/20/12 - A group of elementary students reported being approached by a suspicious man while waiting for the bus this week in Marion Township. The Livingston County Sheriff’s Department says the incident happened at around 3pm Tuesday in the Black Eagle Valley subdivision when four female students were standing at the bus stop In the County Farm and Coon Lake Road area. Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI that the students reported a white male described as being middle aged and balding approached them in a maroon Chevy Impala. He says the girls reported that the man reached out and touched one of them on the shoulder but then became agitated, made some comments and drove away. Bezotte says although it was brief contact, it was a very odd situation and they are conducting extra patrols in the area but would also appreciate any assistance in identifying the individual or the vehicle and license plate number. Tips can be made to the Sheriff's Department at (517) 546-2440 or by calling 911. (JM)
4/20/12 - A Wyoming man is headed to prison in connection with a fatal crash last year in Unadilla Township. 20-year-old Joseph Bartley was sentenced to serve 6 to 15 years in prison on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol causing death. He previously pleaded no contest to that charge as well as two others of driving on a suspended license and having open intoxicants inside a vehicle. Bartley was sentenced to 93 days in jail on each of those and must also repay restitution as a condition of his parole. Police say Bartley was driving September 25th, 2011 when he lost control and crashed on M-106 near Dutton Road in Unadilla Township. 23-year-old Kyle Bradshaw of Stockbridge Township was a backset passenger and was partially ejected out the rear window and later died from his injuries. A second passenger, a 22-year-old man from Munith, suffered minor injuries. Investigators determined that excessive speed, reckless operation and impairment by alcohol were all contributing factors in the fatal crash. Police say Bartley’s blood alcohol level registered at .12%. (JM)
4/20/12 - The Livingston County Prosecutors Office has announced a number of individuals who will be recognized for going above and beyond in the past year on behalf of crime victims. This Sunday marks the beginning of National Crime Victim’s Right’s Week, which serves as a time to honor both victims and advocates of victim’s rights. The awards are given out to individuals or organizations that have provided exceptional service on behalf of victims. This year’s recipients include Detective David Fogo of the Howell Police Department; Assistant Prosecutors Pamela Maas and William McCririe; and victim advocate Sheri Pummill for their help in investigating and prosecuting a case involving the exploitation of minors. Lesia Hay, Patricia Gage, Christie Schonsheck, Stephanie Shauer and Kris Purdy of LACASA's SANE nurse program will also be recognized, along with Deputy Chad Sell and Detective Mark Klein of the Livingston County Sheriff's Department, for their roles in the investigation of a motor vehicle accident causing death. Probation officer Amy Walker with the Michigan Department of Corrections is also being recognized for her "outstanding work on behalf of the victim's family to facilitate closure following the death of their son and brother." A formal awards presentation will take place next Friday at the Judicial Center in Howell. (JM)
Thursday, April 19
4/19/12 - The first of two meetings to discuss parolee houses in the City of Howell was held last night at the Bennett Recreational Center. Two houses for parolees run by Catholic Social Services came to the public’s attention earlier this year. The one discussed last night was opened on Jewett Street in March despite city officials and neighborhood residents not being informed about its presence until it was discovered weeks later. Residents last night brought concerns that the organization was able to open and operate a facility which could house up to four registered sex offenders at a time without their knowledge. Representatives from the city government, Howell Police Department, parole officers, and Catholic Social Services at last night’s meeting said the program is still relatively new in this area and local officials should have been given better notification from the state about the Jewett Street opening. Police Chief George Basar says the state was quick to admit its mistake and is working on a plan to make sure all residents and municipalities are properly informed about new parolee houses in the future. Basar also reported on a zoning study conducted on the house, which found that its use as a parolee house was in violation of the neighborhood’s single-family residential zoning. The house was closed within 24 hours of the state receiving those results. The meeting was generally well-received by residents and several told WHMI that while they still had concerns about the project, they were satisfied with the answers and explanations given out by officials. A second meeting will be held tonight in the Bennett Recreation Center to discuss the Washington Street parolee house, which has been in place for years but gained attention due to the issues around the Jewett house. Basar says that house is grandfathered into local zoning laws and will not be closed. (TD)
4/19/12 - Advantage Livingston held a meeting for more than 100 local officials and business owners today to discuss the economic progress being made in the county. Advantage Livingston is an asset-based economic development program that works to create sustainable prosperity in Livingston County. Today five of its committee chairs discussed the progress being made by the program as it works with economic development firm Ann Arbor SPARK. The topics discussed included the creation and attraction of jobs, regional marketing, brainpower, and local cooperation and coordination. According to today’s presenters, 60-70% of Livingston residents commute out of the county, making them statistically less likely to spend money locally in the evening. They hope bringing jobs to the area will reverse this trend. Advantage Livingston is also trying to increase regional and international awareness of Livingston County by advertising its local knowledge base and central location within the state. Click
here to visit Advantage Livingston’s website and learn more about the organization’s progress and strategies. (TD)
4/19/12 - The Michigan Department of Transportation will be doing some work in Livingston and Washtenaw Counties this weekend that was postponed last week due to the weather. In Livingston County, M-DOT says there will be a single lane closure this Saturday on northbound US-23 between Lee Road and Grand River Avenue. The closure will be in place between approximately 7am and 2pm. Meanwhile in nearby Washtenaw County, there will be a single lane closure this weekend in each direction on US-23 between M-17 and M-14 for concrete patch work. Those closures will be in place starting at 9pm Friday lasting through 6am Monday. M-DOT says all of the work is weather dependent. (JM)
4/19/12 - Genoa Township is hosting a spring clean-up day this weekend. The township hosts two clean-up days every spring and fall. One will take place this Saturday from 9am until noon at the township hall off of Dorr Road. The day serves as an opportunity for residents to dispose of yard waste and debris, which should be bundled and no plastic bags will be accepted. Supervisor Gary McCririe tells WHMI that they will also be passing out free pine seedlings to residents for their yards. Three different varieties are available – White Pine, Blue Spruce and Norway Spruce. The trees are obtained through the Livingston Conservation District. McCririe says the idea came from Township Manager Mike Archinal and the program was started last year through a grant. He says it was such a hit with residents, the township decided to fund it this year. The clean-up day and seedlings are being offered to Genoa Township residents only but McCririe notes that they are not required to drop off yard waste to receive the seedlings. Quantities are limited and will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. For more information, log onto the Genoa Township website. You’ll find a link below. (JM)
4/19/12 - A Howell Democrat and lifelong resident of Livingston County is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 47th House seat. Shawn Lowe Desai filed nominating papers on Tuesday with the Livingston County Clerk’s office for the seat currently held by Republican Cindy Denby. The 23-year-old is single and tells WHMI that just means he has the energy and time to invest and devote to representing all of Livingston County in Lansing. He says he has no problem putting in 14 to 16 hour days pouring over all of the local and state issues. He adds that while he may be on the younger side, if you look at the record of incumbent Denby, she came up under Senator Joe Hune who was younger than him when first elected into the position so he has confidence he can do the job and represent everyone well. Desai says he has always been interested in politics and loves the company of people. Desai currently works at TRW Automotive in Fowlerville and says he has been doing manufacturing shift work ever since graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree in economics from Michigan State University. Desai says he works with his hands and is proud to be playing a small part in Michigan’s resurgent automotive business, which has a long history in the state and will play a major role in the nation’s economic recovery. You can read more about Desai in the attached press release. (JM)
4/19/12 - An event to honor the volunteers of Livingston County was held at Cleary University’s Johnson Center last night. Volunteer Livingston is a program offered through the Livingston County United Way that has helped more than 700 volunteers find organizations and events where they can make good use of their time and effort. The program held an ice cream social for its volunteers last night as a way to express the gratitude of the community and the organizations they have served. More than 200 people attended the event which included musical entertainment from the Howell-based quartet Fetching Rubies, the Livingston Lamplighters, and the Oompa Loompas from the Community Theater of Howell’s recent production of Willy Wonka Jr. A proclamation from the office of Governor Snyder was read at the event recognizing the work done by local volunteers. Volunteer Livingston founder Don Rohrer tells WHMI that he thinks the event was a great way to recognize the organization’s volunteers, and United Way Director Nancy Russo says the event will be held annually. (TD)
4/19/12 - Members of a Livingston County-based National Guard unit hosted Michigan Governor Rick Snyder earlier this week in Kuwait. Snyder took toured the Michigan Army National Guard’s 1462nd Transportation Company’s work areas and visited with individual soldiers. The 1462nd is a medium truck company from Howell supporting movement of resources and equipment, and conducting convoy escorts in support of units stationed in Kuwait. Snyder was part of a three-member delegation that included South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard and Gov. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island. The delegation had a round-table discussion with senior leaders early in their visit. Snyder held an hour-long town-hall meet and greet event with soldiers at Camp Arifjan, and talked with the assembled Guardsmen about issues concerning their state, such as jobs and education opportunities for veterans, budget priorities, public works, road improvements and urban re-development. Roughly 180 Michigan Army National Guard members are serving in the region, in addition to many Reserve and active-duty Michigan residents. (JK)
Wednesday, April 18
4/19/12 - Ongoing bridge construction in Lyon Township will result in a full road closure this weekend. For the purpose of bridge beam placement, Milford Road will be closed in both directions at I-96 this Saturday, April 21st. The closure is scheduled to last from 6am to 7pm. Milford Road is already down to one lane in each direction under I-96 in the area. The bridge repair work being done by the Michigan Department of Transportation picked back up in March and is currently occurring on four bridges along I-96 over Huron Valley Trail, Milford Road, Kent Lake Road and the Huron River. Detours remain in effect for the ramps at I-96 and Milford Road. The ramp from westbound I-96 to southbound Milford Road is expected to re-open in late summer but the ramp from southbound Milford Road to eastbound I-96 will remain closed until fall. Updated information may be found on the Lyon Township website. A link is posted below. (JM)
4/19/12 - Pinckney officials are continuing work to develop a brand for the downtown area. The Downtown Development Association has been working with a marketing firm to help develop a brand for the Village of Pinckney. Officials say what really struck a chord from the research conducted was that “Pinckney is a perfect resting place along the way and the best kind of community to put down roots and have a peaceful but active way of life.” Based on the research and by identifying the essence of Pinckney, officials say branding for the downtown village area was established. The DDA marketing committee is planning a roll out a new logo to coincide with Art in the Park that will be held June 2nd and 3rd. As part of that, new banners are being produced for all light posts in the downtown area and the DDA is currently seeking residents and business members interested in helping to beautify the area to consider adopting a banner. You can find more information below. (JM)
4/18/12 - Some hometown heroes had the opportunity meet with Governor Rick Snyder, who says he's inspired by the high morale and great work of Michigan soldiers serving in Kuwait and Afghanistan. The Republican Governor left for Kuwait on Monday night from Washington, D.C and is visiting military installations in the Afghan provinces. Snyder toured the Michigan Army National Guard’s 1462nd Transportation Company’s work areas and met with individual soldiers. The 1462nd is a medium truck company from Howell and drives trucks in Kuwait. The unit is supporting the movement of resources and equipment while also conducting convoy escorts. They are some of the roughly 1,300 Michigan residents deployed with the Army and Air Force National Guard in Kuwait and Afghanistan. Snyder said he's met with everyone from generals to riflemen and is impressed by the high morale. He said many Michiganders asked about what was going on back home – especially sports. Snyder is traveling with the governors of Rhode Island and South Dakota in a visit organized by the Department of Defense. He is expected to return Friday. (JM)
4/18/12 - Hundreds of local job seekers connected with potential employers at the Livingston Regional Job Fair Wednesday. The job fair was held at Crystal Gardens Banquet Center in Genoa Township and featured more than 50 employers. It also featured other resources for local job seekers such as resume workshops, a computer bank to file online applications and free massages to help cope with the stress of job hunting. Employers told WHMI that the number of local job seekers in attendance was impressive and some were running out of business cards. They said most came with resumes in tow and were dressed nicely and they heard from individuals searching for jobs in a variety of fields ranging from clerical and administrative work to medical and dental. The fair was hosted by the Michigan Works! Livingston Service Center and a number of other community partners. Assistant Director Justin Al-Igoe told WHMI they ad a good turnout and the fair should result in some jobs for local residents. (JM)
