9/5/13 - Although the School Aid Fund will see a slight boost this academic year, the actual classroom benefit is debatable. State Representative Bill Rogers serves as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on K-12 Funding and says students will benefit from a 3.4% increase to the School Aid Fund in the coming budget year, which starts October 1st. Proposal A determines what schools receive in terms of foundation allowance or per-pupil funding. He says Republican legislators have been very progressive with many reforms in education that have been a key part of turning things around. Rogers adds that since the GOP has taken over the majority in the state House they have put more money into school funding. But when it comes to education funding, there is often a dispute as to how the numbers are being interpreted. Livingston Educational Service Agency Superintendent Dan Danosky says the claim thereâs more money available to the classroom now is inaccurate. He says in the budget year before Governor Snyder took office, the lowest per-pupil funding in the state was $7,316. After three years, Danosky says that number is now $7,076 but it was lower than that in each of the previous two years. Danosky knows the Pinckney Community Schools district best, having left just recently to take over at LESA this year. In the three years since Governor Snyder has been in office and Republicans have held the majority, Danosky says Pinckney has $3.4 million less today than it would have had funding simply remained flat for three years. Thatâs assuming Pinckney had the same 4,000 students from one year to the next, meaning the district would not be in the deficit situation it is today and there would be $3.4 (m) million more to put in the classroom. The complete calculation from Danosky and link to the audio released by Rogers can be found below. (JM)
New LESA Head Disputes School Funding ClaimsNew LESA Head Disputes School Funding Claims
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Candy Bar Awarded Incentive Money For Sign After DisputeCandy Bar Awarded Incentive Money For Sign After Dispute
9/5/13 - A new Downtown Howell business was granted signage incentive money last week by the cityâs Downtown Development Authority following some confusion about the process. The Candy Bar originally applied for the signage funding for the completion of a sign and a blank awning. Sign incentive guidelines would not provide funding for a blank awning, so the application was re-submitted with a logo on the awning. Now the Candy Bar has completed the sign and abandoned plans for the awning, and in June it asked the DDA to release the signage funding for the portion it had completed. That request was denied in June by the DDA Board, which intended to withhold the money until the awning portion was complete as described in the application. Candy Bar owner Rick Schrader wanted to appeal the decision, saying in a letter that the process had been frustrating, confusing, and poorly handled by the DDA. Last week the DDA Board took another look at Schrader's request and unanimously decided to grant him the $550 approved for the sign as constructed. Schrader thanked the board, but declined to comment further. (TD)
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St. Patrick School Marks Passing of Longtime TeacherSt. Patrick School Marks Passing of Longtime Teacher
9/5/13 - A local private school is mourning the passing of a long-time educator. Barbara Goodwin of Brighton taught at St. Patrick School for 24 years. Goodwin passed away Monday at St Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor with family at her side. She was 68. Following her retirement in 2008, Goodwin continued to work with students and frequently visited St. Patâs as a substitute teacher. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Bill; two children, Scott and Amy and three grandchildren. Visitation for Goodwin will be held next Tuesday morning at St. Patrick Catholic Church at 9:30, with a funeral mass to follow at 10:30. St. Patrick School will be closed that day to allow for staff and school families to celebrate her life. After Mass, a reception will be held at Oak Pointe Country Club. In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to St. Patrick School or Capuchin Soup Kitchen. (JK)
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Unadilla Man Charged With Labor Day Domestic AssaultUnadilla Man Charged With Labor Day Domestic Assault
9/5/13 - A Labor Day domestic dispute has left a Unadilla Township man charged with assault. Unadilla Police say were dispatched to Chelsea Hospital at about 9am Monday for a report of a woman receiving facial injuries from an altercation in which a man was accused of throwing a patio chair at her and striking her in the face at a home on Doyle Road. Police suspect alcohol was a contributing factor. They subsequently arrested 23-year-old Eric Puckett and lodged him in the Livingston County Jail. Domestic violence aggravated assault charges were later authorized by the Livingston County Prosecutorâs Office. Puckett has since been released from jail on a personal recognizance bond and is due back in 53rd District Court for a pre-trial hearing on Monday. (JK)
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Numbers And Totals Released For 2013 Day Of CaringNumbers And Totals Released For 2013 Day Of Caring
9/5/13 - The Livingston County United Way has released information related to the August 21st Day of Caring event. The annual event brings together volunteers, sponsors, and organizations to provide a wide variety of services to people all over the county. This year, a total of 1,300 volunteer shifts were filled at an estimated value of $102,500. These were used in several different projects, including performing maintenance at the homes of 65 senior citizens and delivering 12,900 meals. They also distributed 1,300 new backpacks to local families, hundreds of pounds of fresh produce, and almost 3,800 pairs of new socks through specialized programs. The United Way began recruiting volunteers and partners for the Day of Caring back in January, and ended up working with a total of 140 businesses and organizations as part of this yearâs Day of Caring. (TD)
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Brighton Fire Authority Gearing Up for 9/11 Memorial Run/WalkBrighton Fire Authority Gearing Up for 9/11 Memorial Run/Walk
9/5/13 - The community is invited to join The Brighton Area Fire Authority this weekend in remembering the events of September 11th and take part in its second annual âNever Forgetâ 9/11 5K Memorial Run/Walk. Firefighters from all departments, family, friends, serious runners or walkers are encouraged to take part. Individuals can also volunteer or just cheer on and support participants. Firefighters from around Michigan will be in attendance, with many running and walking in full turnout gear. The event coincides with the Smokin Jazz and BBQ Blues Festival in Brighton and there will be fire trucks and entertainment in various spots along the certified course. It starts out at the Mill Pond and runs throughout the downtown area before ending at Fire Station 31 on Grand River, right at the base of the 9/11 memorial. Fire Chief Mike OâBrian tells WHMI they hope that the community will never forget the events of September 11th or all of the men and women who gave their lives that day. He says they expect it to be a busy morning with a great atmosphere and whether walking or running, itâs an easy flat route and a good course for someone to complete their first 5K. He says it will also help raise some funds to help finish the departmentâs 9/11 memorial in front of the station headquarters while a portion will also be sent to help the 9/11 charities in NYC for the families devastated by the attacks. OâBrian adds that the run is just one piece of their efforts to remember the dayâs events and they will also host a memorial service on Wednesday, September 11th at 7:30pm in front of the station. Registration for the memorial run will begin at 8am this Saturday morning with event getting underway at 9am. Individuals and teams can still register or donate directly through the link below. (JM)
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Weekend Lane Closures on I-96 in Oakland & Livingston Counties Weekend Lane Closures on I-96 in Oakland & Livingston Counties
9/5/13 - Thereâs some roadwork planned across Livingston and Oakland Counties this weekend that will stretch on into Monday. In Oakland County, westbound I-96 will have one lane open from Beck Road to Kent Lake Road from 10pm this Friday until 6 am Saturday; and then again from 10pm Saturday until 8am Sunday for paving. Then on Sunday on I-96 in Livingston County, there will be a single lane closure on eastbound I-96, approximately 2 miles west of M-59, so that M-DOT crews can install pavement sensors. The right lane will be closed between 7am and 11am on Sunday. Finally come Monday, The Michigan Department of Transportation says there will be daytime lane closures on I-96 between Nicholson Road and Fowlerville Road. The closures are needed to set up traffic control devices as part of a larger project at the Red Cedar River where it flows under I-96. One lane of eastbound I-96 will be closed in that area between 7am and 2pm with a westbound closure between 9am and 2pm. (JM)
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Information Sought On Second Cellular Store Break-InInformation Sought On Second Cellular Store Break-In
9/6/13 - Police are asking for the publicâs help in identifying three men who robbed a cellular store last week and are believed to be connected to a similar theft the previous day. At 4:52am on August 30th, the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department responded to a breaking and entering alarm at the Verizon Wireless store on Grand River near Latson Road in Genoa Township. Officers arrived within six minutes to find the back door of the business pried open. A witness told police two vehicles, a red Ford Escape and a silver SUV, sped away from the business about four minutes before police arrived. Sheriff Bob Bezotte says cell phones and electronic equipment were stolen from the business. Surveillance footage shows three men in hooded shirts wearing bandanas and gloves inside the building, carrying a blue-and-white bag and a yellow pry bar. The Sheriffâs Department says these may be the same men who broke into the Sprint Store in Brighton the previous night. Both incidents involved three men breaking into cellular stores at about 5am using a yellow pry bar and making off with electronics. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriffâs Department or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. (TD)
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Brighton School Board Member Running for 42nd State House Seat Brighton School Board Member Running for 42nd State House Seat
9/6/13 - A Brighton Board of Education member has announced his run for the 42nd State House seat. 24-year-old Nick Fiani currently serves on the Brighton Board of Education and works as a law clerk in his fatherâs attorney office in Brighton. Despite being only nine months into his four-year elected term on the Board of Education, he insists he is not using the school board as a stepping stone to higher office. Fiani told WHMI that the reality of the situation is that the primary election for the State Representative seat is in August 2014 and he feels to be a viable candidate; he needed to start his campaign now. Fiani says if he was to be elected to the seat, he wouldnât take office until January in 2015 and that would give him a solid two years on the school board, which would be half his term. He says he has nearly accomplished what he set out to do in getting the district on solid financial footing, saying the district is on track to eliminate its legacy deficit and feels he has helped put the district in the direction it needs to go, with the rest of the board and administration. He says his service on the board has provided a chance to see firsthand how state funding interacts with the local, especially with education and he wants to be an advocate for the taxpayers. He adds the that current State Representative Bill Rogers is term limited also played a role in his decision to run, which he referred to as a sequence of events that seemed to align. Fiani noted that he is opposed to the Federal Affordable Healthcare Act and a strong pro-life supporter. As of yesterday, The Livingston County Clerkâs office told WHMI that Fiani is the only candidate to have filed for the seat. The 42nd District encompasses the City of Brighton and the townships of Brighton, Genoa, Green Oak, Hamburg and Putnam. (JM)
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Another Deficit Elimination Plan For Pinckney Schools RejectedAnother Deficit Elimination Plan For Pinckney Schools Rejected
9/6/13 - The latest deficit elimination plan submitted by the Pinckney School Board has been rejected by the state, but a new option has opened up as well. Last yearâs budget shortfall left the district with $2.4 million in debt, which means it get a deficit elimination plan approved by the state to outline how it will work to bring the books back into the black. The districtâs original $800,000 projected deficit for this year increased to $2.8 million after it became clear that enrollment was continuing to fall and no major assistance was forthcoming from the state. Several plans have been rejected by the state thus far. The latest offset the projected deficit with $1.6 million in theoretical funds from the sale of the vacant Pinckney and Hamburg Elementary School buildings. At the school boardâs regular meeting last night, Superintendent Rick Todd informed the board that the plan had been rejected and a new one would have to be submitted to the state by September 18th. However, he says there is also a new option available that could give the district some help. The rejection notice also contained an invitation to apply for a longer term in which to fix the deficit. In order to qualify the district will have to spell out what measures it has taken internally to address the deficit, such as staffing cuts and wage reductions. Pinckney will have to submit an updated deficit elimination plan by September 18th, and an application to extend the two-year time limit to five years will be included. Todd says this will help prevent the district from having to make damaging decisions to balance the budget. (TD)
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Lansing Man Facing Both Local & Federal Charges in Bank HeistsLansing Man Facing Both Local & Federal Charges in Bank Heists
9/6/13 - Local charges are moving forward against a Lansing man indicted by a federal grand jury for a series of bank robberies in Brighton, Williamston and Stockbridge. 42-year-old Todd White is charged in Livingston County Circuit Court with five counts of armed robbery for the March 18th robbery of the PNC Bank on West Grand River in Brighton and the April 26th robbery of the 1st national Bank on Challis Road in Brighton. A September 23rd trial date is set in front of Judge David Reader. However, White is also facing federal charges related to the heists, as well as two others in Ingham County. Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt tells WHMI that the federal charges are not for the actual bank robberies in Brighton, but instead conspiracy to commit those crimes, meaning he plans to proceed with the local case against White while federal prosecutors proceed with theirs. The federal indictment charges White, along with co-defendant Roderigious Williams, with three counts of armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. White was also charged separately in Grand Rapids federal court with brandishing a firearm during a felony and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Also charged were Andrea Hath and Jessica Felix, who are alleged to have assisted. All four are set for trial in Grand Rapids federal court October 29th.
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School Closing - Lakes Elementary in HartlandSchool Closing - Lakes Elementary in Hartland
9/5/13 - Lakes Elementary School in Hartland will be closed and classes canceled on Friday, September 6th. Officials say there is a problem with the well at the building, leaving the facility without water. (TD)
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Teacher Protest Planned at Trustee's HomeTeacher Protest Planned at Trustee's Home
9/6/13 - A peaceful protest is reportedly planned outside of a Howell school board memberâs home later this evening due to the continued lack of a teacher contract. The Howell Education Association consists of approximately 400 full time and part time teachers in the district and the protest is expected to take place in front of the home of Trustee Mike Moloney. Moloney, along with fellow Trustee Deb McCormick and Board Treasurer Doug Moore, was instrumental in voting down a proposed teacher contract back in March recommended by Superintendent Ron Wilson and the districtâs bargaining team. Union President Jay McDowell didnât confirm or deny whether the protest was taking place, but was clear about who the teachers blame for the stalemate. "Teachers are very upset at what Moloney, McCormick and Moore have done that they're now made to feel uncomfortable within this community, the teachers are, because they have less money than they did before...I know many teachers feel that Moloney and McCormick, especially those two, because they send their kids to other schools, should feel some of that pain also." For his part, Moloney called the planned protest a standard tactic from the MEA playbook, adding that, âbullying tactics like this don't change the numbers.â Moloney says the district is projecting an operating deficit for the third year in a row and the need for a responsible contract hasn't changed. McDowell says a responsible contract was offered up to the board in March, but rejected by Moloney, McCormick and Moore to satisfy a political agenda, a move he says has cost the district $500,000 in savings. (JK)
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Many Questions Remain for Joint Community Center ProposalMany Questions Remain for Joint Community Center Proposal
9/6/13 - The Green Oak Township Board got an update on the upcoming community center project at its meeting this week. The Green Oak Community Center would serve the citizens of the township as well as Lyon Township and the City of South Lyon with the help of the South Lyon Recreation Authority. It is not yet known where it will be located, how it will be funded, or exactly what features it will offer residents, but organizers are working to determine how to best serve the area. The oversight committee for the project has released several surveys to determine what kind of features local residents would like to see in the facility, such as swimming pools, workout rooms, or a senior center. This week, Ron Morelli from that committee spoke to the Green Oak Township Board to inform them that a $15,000 bid has been accepted for the conceptual building design of the building. Morelli says the next step is to meet with specific groups in the area to discuss what exactly they would want included in the facility. He says the it could cost between $10 and $20 million, and if it does not provide the services people want to use then it will be a waste of money. The actual implementation of the project is still several years away. (TD)
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Business Owner Offering Reward Following B&E Incident Business Owner Offering Reward Following B&E Incident
9/6/13 - The Livingston County Sheriff's Department is investigating a breaking and entering incident at a Brighton Township business. The incident took place at the Conley Oil Change and Car Wash off Grand River, east of Old US-23 between the hours of 7pm on August 29th and 8am August 30th. Undersheriff Mike Murphy tells WHMI the suspect or suspects busted out a window to gain entry into the building and then proceeded to gain entry into an interior office. Money for approximately three daysâ worth of business receipts was stolen and Murphy says their investigation continues. Meanwhile, business owner John Conely is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. Details can be found in the attachment. (JM)
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Council Requests Street Millage Proposals be PrioritizedCouncil Requests Street Millage Proposals be Prioritized
9/6/13 - The Brighton City Council provided some direction to City Manager Dana Foster at Thursday nightâs meeting on the four Headlee override requests that will be on the ballot in November. Voters will be deciding on proposals to override, or temporarily lift, the Headlee Tax Limitation Amendment, which caps tax increases at the rate of inflation or 5%, whichever is lower. The proposals address city issues such as street repair and improvements, sidewalks, police department needs, improvements to Mill Pond Park and trash collection. City Manager Dana Foster tells WHMI council Thursday night directed him to prioritize and bundle street and related projects which should be addressed first, assuming the street millage passes. Voters will have four separate requests to decide: A 1.25-mill proposal to improve streets, sidewalks and storm drainage; 38-hundredths-of-a-mill for new city police patrol cars and other department needs; 37-hundredths-of-a-mill to maintain and improve public buildings and parks and 1.16 mills to replace the current trash collection fee. All of the millages must pass or fail independent of each other and would be in effect for 10 years if approved. (JK)
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Hearing Adjourned Against Brighton Assault SuspectHearing Adjourned Against Brighton Assault Suspect
9/6/13 - A judge adjourned a hearing so that a witness in the case against a Brighton man charged with assault and unlawful imprisonment can get her own attorney. 46-year-old Daniel Robert Phillips faces one count each of unlawful imprisonment and assault with a deadly weapon, plus two charges of felony firearms. The charges stem from an incident August 15th involving a woman that police say Phillips assaulted at a residence on Kensington Road in Brighton Township. She said he confronted her about money he believed she owed him. Thatâs when she says he threatened her with a gun and tied her to a chair, then later released her. During Thursdayâs hearing, the woman admitted she had been given money for pills, at which point 53rd District Court Judge Geddis stopped the proceedings and then advised the woman that a court-appointed attorney would be appointed to represent her. The hearing was tentatively rescheduled for September 17th. Phillips remains free on an $18,000 cash surety bond, and is ordered to have no contact with the woman, not enter the property and to possess no weapons. (JK)
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Howell Teachers Protest Friday at School Board Member's Home Howell Teachers Protest Friday at School Board Member's Home
9/6/13 - Howell teachers protested peacefully in front of school board member Mike Moloneyâs home Friday evening to bring awareness to the fact they are still without a contract. Carrying signs that read âteachers deserve a fair contract, not more Moloney baloneyâ and âMoloney works for Lansing not Howellâ, about a dozen teachers gathered outside of Moloneyâs home. He was not home at the time of the protest, which was still underway as of 7pm Friday. Teachers said the intent was to let him know that they will go public with their displeasure of his politics and unfair tactics. The Howell Education Association feels a responsible contract was offered up to the board in March, but rejected by Moloney, Deborah McCormick and Doug Moore to satisfy a political agenda, a move the union says has cost the district $500,000 in savings. Teachers told WHMI it was mean-spirited to vote down a healthcare plan that would have cost the district nothing, especially with so many teachers struggling. One said the fact that Moloney wasnât home did not surprise her in the least since he doesn't even make eye contact at board meetings. Those gathered indicated that there will be more public displays of displeasure because teachers deserve a fair and equitable contract and some board members need to stop playing politics with their paychecks. For his part, Moloney earlier called the planned protest a standard tactic from the MEA playbook, adding that, âbullying tactics like this don't change the numbersâ and the need for a responsible contract hasn't changed. (JM)
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Woman Jailed Following Alleged Theft Of $800 From Local StoreWoman Jailed Following Alleged Theft Of $800 From Local Store
9/7/13 - A Flint woman has been jailed after police say she and her 21-year-old daughter tried to steal hundreds of dollarsâ worth of merchandise from a local retailer. Her arrest took place after an August 30th incident where police say the 41-year-old woman walked out of the Hartland Walmart without paying for several items. Hartland Patch reports an employee witnessed the event and confronted the woman in the parking lot, where she and her 21-year-old daughter were loading items into a vehicle. The employee asked for a receipt, which was provided, but it did not include many of the items being loaded. The pair then drove off with the items. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Department eventually pulled the vehicle over and returned the women to the store, where they say the mother admitted to stealing the items, which cost a total of about $800. The daughter claimed to have no knowledge of the theft, but police say the security footage of the incident show her participating in it. Additional items, including a flat-screen television and digital camera, were also found unopened in the vehicle and were identified as potentially stolen from the store. The mother was transported to the Livingston County Jail without incident. (TD)
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Golf Outing & Wild Game Dinner to Raise Funds For Vets
9/6/13 - The Livingston County Democratic Party will be hosting a golf scramble and wild game dinner next month to raise funds for local veteransâ organizations. The event will be held at Ironwood Golf Club on Saturday, October 12th. Organizers hope to raise $1,000 each for Stiggyâs Dogs of Howell and the American Spirit Center of Brighton, both of which provide services to military veterans. The event will include 18 holes with a shotgun start scheduled for 10am. A buffet dinner will be served from 3 to 6pm and include buffalo, pheasant, moose, and venison dishes. The event will also include a lunch at midday, a cash bar, and a silent auction featuring native crafts from around the world and two hunting firearms. Reservations are $75 per person for the whole event, or $25 per person for just the dinner portion. Information can be found by calling the party at (810) 229-4212 or by emailing livcodems@gmail.com. (TD)
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