9/10/13 - The community is invited to a ceremony in Brighton to remember the men and women who lost or risked their lives on September 11th, 2001. The Brighton Area Fire Authority will host its annual 9/11 memorial service at 7:30pm Wednesday and parking is available around the fire department headquarters located at 615 West Grand River. All are welcome but it is recommended that attendees bring a chair. Handicap parking is also available at the station. The series of four coordinated terrorist attacks were launched on September 11th, 2001 on the World Trade Center Towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. In 2011, members of the Brighton Fire Department traveled to Staten Island, New York and brought back a piece of steel from the World Trade Center, which serves as the permanent memorial to the victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The department is continuing with efforts to raise needed funds to complete that memorial, which is located directly in front of the station. (JM)
9/11 Memorial Service Wednesday Night at Brighton Fire Station 9/11 Memorial Service Wednesday Night at Brighton Fire Station
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Brighton Woman Killed in Weekend Motorcycle CrashBrighton Woman Killed in Weekend Motorcycle Crash
9/10/13 - A Brighton man is facing possible charges after a fatal motorcycle crash over the weekend. Livingston County Undersheriff Mike Murphy tells WHMI a 2003 Harley Davidson was northbound on Flint Road around 1am Saturday when it failed to negotiate a curve and crashed south of Hilton Road in Brighton Township. The passenger, identified as 26-year-old Amanda Schlarb of Brighton was pronounced dead at the scene. The motorcycle's operator, 25-year-old Nicholas Gross, also of Brighton, was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor and originally listed in critical condition. He has since been upgraded to good condition as of today. Murphy says neither Gross nor Schlarb was wearing a helmet and speed and alcohol are believed to be contributing factors in the crash. He says they plan to turn over their report to the Livingston County Prosecutorâs Office for possible charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, causing death. The accident closed Flint Road for more than two hours. (JK)
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Jury Seated & Second Trial Begins for Man Charged in CSC Case Jury Seated & Second Trial Begins for Man Charged in CSC Case
9/10/13 - Following a mistrial earlier this summer, a new trial has begun for a Genoa Township man accused of molesting a female family member. A jury was seated and opening statements were heard this afternoon in the second trial for the 42-year-old man, who is not being identified by WHMI per a policy of protecting the privacy of alleged sexual assault victims. Witness testimony was heard from two individuals on behalf of the people and a defense exhibit was admitted before the prosecution rested. The trial is slated to resume tomorrow morning. The suspect is charged with a single count of 1st degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of 2nd degree CSC. The alleged abuse is said to have taken place between 2008 and 2011. The defendant, who adamantly denies the accusations, could face life in prison if convicted. His first trial was halted July 1st and a mistrial declared by Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty. That followed an outburst by a member of the jury pool that officials felt would irreversibly taint the panelâs opinion. (JM)
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Volunteers Sought to Re-Seal Brighton's Imagination Station Volunteers Sought to Re-Seal Brighton's Imagination Station
9/11/13 - Another sprucing up of the Imagination Station in downtown Brighton is planned this weekend and volunteers are being sought. The next bi-annual wood resealing of the playground equipment will take place this Saturday, September 14th and get underway at 9am. About 40 community volunteers have been recruited as well as City Manager Dana Foster to participate in the re-sealing operation but additional volunteers are still needed to help out. Organizers say the larger the group of volunteers, the faster the resealing gets done. However, because the sealant needs to dry properly, the playground will be temporarily closed this Saturday and Sunday to allow that to happen. It will re-open for public use on Monday, September 16th. The City of Brighton says itâs very appreciative of all of the work that community volunteers have already done for the Imagination Station playground. Anyone interested in volunteering with the resealing is asked to contact Imagination Station Volunteer Coordinator Renee Pettengill. Youâll find that information in the city-issued press release below. (JM)
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Plea Deal Set for Suspect in US-23 Gun IncidentPlea Deal Set for Suspect in US-23 Gun Incident
9/11/13 - A man who police say brandished a weapon at a motorist while driving on US-23 last year in Hartland Township is expected to enter into a plea deal with prosecutors. 68-year-old Clarence Leroy Murphy Jr. of Flint was charged with two counts of felonious assault following an incident last fall in Hartland Township. Court records show that he is scheduled to enter a plea on Friday, September 20th. A driver told police she and her 12-year-old daughter were driving northbound on US-23 last October 29th when a minivan driven by Murphy tried to pass her near Crouse Road, then pulled alongside at which point he waived a handgun while laughing. He was eventually pulled over by police in Genesee County and taken into custody. A subsequent search of his vehicle turned up a starter pistol, a semi-automatic handgun and a loaded revolver. Meanwhile, Murphy was also charged in Genesee County with an assault and battery charge for an incident last September in Flint Township that also involved a gun. He pleaded guilty in that case and was subsequently sentenced to 93 days of jail time already served. (JK)
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Man Caught Impersonating a Police Officer to Appear in Court Man Caught Impersonating a Police Officer to Appear in Court
9/11/13 - A man caught impersonating an officer by a local police chief is scheduled to appear in court today. 25-year-old Matthew Henry Norton was arrested at around 3pm last Wednesday following an incident that occurred in Centennial Park off North Grand Avenue in Fowlerville. Police Chief Tom Couling says Norton approached a group of teenagers and displayed a badge that he was wearing around his neck on a chain. He says Norton was dressed in all black clothing, black boots and carrying a briefcase and indicated he was a federal agent. Couling says Norton requested that some of the youth present identification, which he took and photographed with his cell phone. He says Norton then acted as though he was calling in to check on warrants for the individuals and warned that if they did not comply, he would call in a police K9. Couling and another officer were taking a crash report that was just adjacent to the park when he says the kids came up to express concerns about the manâs true identify. Couling says they approached Norton, who was displaying a badge, and said he was a police officer. However, when they requested Nortonâs identification, he attempted to flee but Couling was able to grab onto him and subsequently place him under arrest. Norton has since been charged with false personation of a public officer and resisting/obstructing a police officer in 53rd District Court, where he is scheduled to appear later this morning. (JM)
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District's Bottom Line Boosted by Student ProgramsDistrict's Bottom Line Boosted by Student Programs
9/11/13 - The Brighton Area Schools has scored two probable records with the start of the 2013-14 school year. Superintendent Greg Gray tells WHMI that although he doesn't have the final figures in yet, it appears the district has hit a record high for students enrolled through their Schools of Choice program, with between 600 and 650. Because thatâs at least 200 students more than last year that enrolled through the program, the district will see an additional one million dollars in state aid. In addition, the Shared Services program has also reached apparently record numbers, with about 1,400 such students enrolled in one or more non-core-curriculum class taught by the Brighton Area Schools by non-district teachers at various private and parochial schools in Livingston, Ingham and Oakland counties. Gray says district administrators were extremely aggressive during the spring and summer months in recruiting private schools to sign up for the Shared Services program and their efforts have yielded impressive results. Gray says having such a successful Shared Services program will also give the district a better chance of erasing the legacy deficit by the end of the fiscal year next June 30th. (JK)
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Handy Twp. Examines Legal Options to Handle Sewer Debt Handy Twp. Examines Legal Options to Handle Sewer Debt
9/11/13 - Handy Township has decided to investigate its legal options for dealing with the county government on delinquent tax charge-backs. After developers defaulted on sewer assessments, Handy Township was left with about $2.9 million in charge-backs owed to the county and twice that in unpaid bonds. The charge-backs will come due in 2014, and the township is currently working with the county to help mitigate the impact on Handy residents. About a month ago the County Board of Commissioners visited the township board to propose a new deal for paying off the charge-backs, including paying $1.2 million from the townshipâs fund balance, taking out a loan from the county, and cutting the interest rate on the charge-backs in half. Supervisor Hank Vaupel says the county recently sent a followup letter to the township asking for feedback and offering help in implementing the plan. The township board was divided in its opinions on this deal, and after discussing the letter from the county last night it decided to ask the township attorney to look into the matter further. The township attorney will work with specialists in this area of law to determine what the statutes are, what options are available, and the different ways the township can pay back the money to minimize the impact on residents. The board will reexamine the issue in October. (TD)
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Howell Man Found Competent For Trial In Shooting DeathHowell Man Found Competent For Trial In Shooting Death
9/11/13 - A forensic exam has found that a Howell man charged with open murder following a fatal shooting at a Brighton Township gun range last year is competent to stand trial. 20-year-old Jessce Lincon Stearn of Howell Township is being held without bond and also faces a felony firearms count in the June 2012 death of 21-year-old Charles Kimball at the Livingston Conservation and Sports Association gun range. A state forensic exam has found him competent to stand trial, and a preliminary exam conference has been scheduled for September 27th. Stearn told authorities his replica AK-47 had jammed and that when he tried to clear it, it misfired and hit Kimball in the head, killing him instantly. Afterward, authorities said they were unable to reproduce the weapon malfunction and that witness statements contradicted the claim that it was an accident. Stearn had pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge originally filed by prosecutors because there was no evidence to support that he intended to kill Kimball. However, that all changed when new evidence in the case surfaced, reportedly statements Stearn made to fellow inmates in the Livingston County Jail that he had intentionally killed Kimball over an unpaid debt, resulting in the current charge of open murder. (TD)
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Suspect Sought in Foot Fetish AssaultSuspect Sought in Foot Fetish Assault
9/11/13 - Police are searching for a man a local teen says assaulted him after he refused to let him smell his feet last week. The 18-year-old from Genoa Township was walking home from work on September 1st at about 11:30pm when a man in a green Oldsmobile pulled alongside him and asked for directions to Golf Club Road. The teen says the man was acting strange and appeared to be intoxicated. The man offered to drive the teen home and, when he was turned down, drove around and stopped again. This time the man allegedly offered the teen $100 to smell his feet, saying he had a foot fetish. The teen refused, and when the car began to drive around again he tried to run home. He says the car pulled in front of him, at which point the man got out and punched the teen in the nose, knocking him unconscious. The suspect then drove away. He is described as a thin white male in his early 20âs with short brown hair, standing about 5`10.
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Local Charges Dropped Against Child Porn SuspectLocal Charges Dropped Against Child Porn Suspect
9/11/13 - The local case against a Fowlerville man accused of sending sexually explicit photos to an 11-year-old girl has been dropped while prosecution continues in U.S. District Court. 30-year-old Matthew Lewis Colston had faced local charges of child abusive commercial activity, accosting a child for immoral purposes, and using a computer to commit a crime. Those charges were dropped on July 30th, and Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt says it is because he faces other, harsher charges in U.S. District Court. The local case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning it can be brought back if prosecutors so choose. Colston faces charges in US District Court of manufacturing child pornography, enticement of minor, and transferring obscene material to a minor. Prosecutors allege he used a cell phone to persuade a child to engage in sexual activity, and that he also used the phone to send hundreds of sexually explicit photos to a child. The victimâs parents told State Police that Colston, who owns an IT company based in Williamston, sent their daughter over 500 explicit photographs, which they discovered by using a cell phone app installed on her phone. The parents reportedly became concerned after their daughter started receiving multiple late-night messages. (JK)
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Ceremony Set to Rededicate County Veterans MemorialCeremony Set to Rededicate County Veterans Memorial
9/11/13 - A monument to Livingston County residents that have made the ultimate sacrifice will be rededicated at an event later this month in downtown Howell. The ceremony for the newly enlarged and enhanced Livingston County Veterans Memorial is set for noon, Saturday, September 28, on the lawn of the historic Livingston County Courthouse. All branches of the military will be represented at the event which will feature a keynote address from Vietnam War veteran John Colone of Pinckney. The monument has been professionally cleaned and will have additional seating, lighting and new landscaping. The enhancement project, chaired by Louis VanCuyl of the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee, received strong community support, both through the sale of engraved bricks that will be set around the monument, and through fundraising efforts. Also part of the project is the âRing of Honor,â in which the donor bricks will be set. Originally built in the 1940âs, the memorial lists the names of veterans from Livingston County who gave their lives in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Family members of those veterans who wish to attend are asked to call the Howell Chamber of Commerce at 517-546-3920. There will also be military vehicles on display on State Street, and the event will conclude with 21-gun salute and âTaps.â (JK)
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Spilled Coffee Leaves SUV in Woodland LakeSpilled Coffee Leaves SUV in Woodland Lake
9/11/13 - It was a very bad and very wet morning commute for a Howell man whose SUV ended up in Woodland Lake this morning. State Police at the Brighton Post say they were dispatched to Hilton Road and Oak Knoll Drive just after 6:30 this morning. Upon arrival they found a 2007 Jeep Compass submerged in Woodland Lake. The driver, a Howell man, told the trooper he had spilled his coffee and lost control of the vehicle, which then went into the water just a few feet away from the roadway. Authorities say fortunately the man was not injured and it appears alcohol and drugs were not involved. However, the effort to remove the SUV from the lake blocked traffic for about two hours. The incident remains under investigation. (JK)
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Students Make Snack Bags For Veterans As 9/11 Service ProjectStudents Make Snack Bags For Veterans As 9/11 Service Project
9/11/13- Four classes at Pathfinder School in Pinckney remembered 9/11 this year with a service project. 3rd graders at Farley Hill Elementary designed lunch bags and filled them with non-perishable food for hungry and homeless veterans this morning. The students brainstormed ideas on why they should thank a veteran and included hand written thank you notes in the snack bags. Michelle Trumpey, who teaches 3rd grade at Farley Hill, says her 7th grade daughterâs class at Pathfinder, is doing the same project. The class inspired her to bring the service project to her own classroom to teach 3rd graders about 9/11, who werenât even born at that time. Trumpey tells WHMI it has been a learning process as much as an outreach project. Students have been collecting food for about a week, hoping to fill the bags they are donating and will continue to collect for the rest of the week. The snack bags will be picked up next year by a representative from the Veterans Administration in Ann Arbor. Trumpey says the representative will talk to the class and thank them. 3rd grader Emma Hartley says doing something nice for someone puts her in âa really good moodâ. (DK)
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Legislators & First Responders Attend 9/11 Ceremony at Capitol Legislators & First Responders Attend 9/11 Ceremony at Capitol
9/11/13 - A number of local legislators were joined by fire officials and dignitaries during a special state House session honoring first responders on the 12th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The House of Representatives invited first responders and their families from all over the state to attend the remembrance ceremony at the capitol, where seven first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty last year were honored for their sacrifice. Representative Joe Graves from Argentine Township was joined at the capitol building by Fenton Fire Chief Bob Cairnduff. He told those assembled that the 9/11 attacks should instill respect for first responders all year long. State Representative Bill Rogers of Genoa Township was joined at the ceremony by Brighton Fire Authority Chief Mike O'Brian and the departmentâs Human Resources Director Anne Campbell while State Representative Cindy Denby of Handy Township welcomed Fowlerville Deputy Fire Chief Bob Feig and his wife. First responders are widely remembered as the heroes of the 9/11attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., as police, firefighters, and medical personnel from around the country rushed to the affected areas to help with the recovery.(JM)
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Howell School Board Hold First Meeting With New Lead NegotiatorHowell School Board Hold First Meeting With New Lead Negotiator
9/12/13 - The Howell School Board held a special meeting last night to become acquainted with its new lead negotiator, Tom White. The former lead negotiator, Eric Griggs, has taken a new job in Grand Rapids. As former director of the Michigan Association of School Business Officials, White has worked with he MASA and MASB. Superintendent Ron Wilson describes him as an âelder statesmanâ of school district management, and officials hope his experience will help close the rift in the Howell School Board. Last night's meeting was done in closed session and was meant to introduce White to the board and begin making headway on some of the board's more pressing issues. Most prominently, the board hopes to find some consensus on how to proceed with negotiating a contract with the Howell Education Association, which still does not have a contract for the 2013-14 school year. Wilson says no new direction was provided during the meeting, but the board is making progress. Members of the board, including Mike Moloney and Kim Witt, said the meeting was a positive step for the board. White will be out of town through next week, so no further meetings with him are scheduled at this time. White describes the board as a group of highly intelligent and dedicated people, and says while they may not always agree they all know that creating the best possible district for the kids is the top priority. (TD)
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Firefighters Battle Small Blaze at Genoa Township Home Firefighters Battle Small Blaze at Genoa Township Home
9/12/13 - Local firefighters battled a small blaze in Genoa Township late yesterday afternoon. The Brighton Area Fire Authority was dispatched at approximately 4:30pm to a home on Chilson Road, south of Grand River, with automatic aid from the Howell Area Fire Authority. Brighton Fire Chief Mike OâBrian says the first engine arrived found some light smoke in the home and through investigation, a small fire in the front room of the home was found and limited to an appliance. He says crews only used extinguisher water and worked quickly to get smoke out of the home and the fire was kept pretty small. He says damage was relatively limited but the homeowner will likely wonât be able to return for a couple days. The structure fire did result in some traffic delays during the evening commute as Chilson Road at Grand River was shut down completely for about half an hour. (JM)
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Putnam Couple Heads to Trial on Prescription Fraud ChargesPutnam Couple Heads to Trial on Prescription Fraud Charges
9/12/13 - A Putnam Township couple is heading to trial for trying to pass fraudulent prescriptions at a Pinckney pharmacy. 25-year-old Neal Pardo and 20-year-old Kasee Cobb waived their preliminary exams Wednesday on charges of prescription fraud and using a computer to commit a crime. Pardo was also charged with marijuana possession. Their cases now go to circuit court for trial. Pinckney Police launched an investigation August 15th after receiving a report of a customer trying to use a fake prescription at the Rite Aid Pharmacy on Dexter Street. Pardo and Cobb were arrested after a subsequent raid and search at a home on Sunrise Ridge in Putnam Township turned up large quantities of illegal narcotics, computer equipment and a vehicle. Pinckney Police say multiple suspected marijuana plants were also confiscated. Pardo and Cobb are both free on a $10,000 personal bond pending new dates in circuit court. (JK)
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Doctor Facing Felony Charges Following Raid at Howell PracticeDoctor Facing Felony Charges Following Raid at Howell Practice
9/12/13 - Felony charges have been authorized against a Howell doctor after search warrants were executed at his office in May by federal agents and local authorities. Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt tells WHMI that Dr. Michael Holda has been charged with six counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of possession of marijuana. He is scheduled to be arraigned in 53rd District Court next week. Holda has been practicing in the Howell community for more than three decades and operates Livingston County Orthopedics on Byron Road. On May 7th, Livingston County Sheriffâs Deputies assisted the Drug Enforcement Administration in executing a search warrant at that location. However, further details have never been released. (JM)
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First Responders & Others Remembered at 9/11 CeremonyFirst Responders & Others Remembered at 9/11 Ceremony
9/12/13 - The Brighton Area Fire Authority is unwavering in not only tradition but its commitment to never forget the September 11th terrorist attacks or the first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice that day - to lay down oneâs life to save another. The fire service is deep in tradition and one is the sounding of the bell - a symbol of honor, respect and the devotion the brave souls had for their duty. Despite some rain and a structure fire, firefighters and first responders from multiple departments, family, friends and community supporters attended the annual 9/11 ceremony held at the station headquarters on Grand River. The day was described as a time to remember those first responders presented with an unthinkable crisis that performed their duties in unimaginable surroundings, facing unfathomable odds. Fire Chief Mike OâBrian says cars were coming in and out of the station all day with people stopping to look or kneel at the departmentâs 9/11 memorial, which is a piece of steel from one of the towers. OâBrian tells WHMI it was a humbling day but also stressed how important it is for the younger generation to know what 9/11 is and how it affected everyone, including the fire service. A variety of speakers offered their thoughts, saying September 11th is a day to remember those who were doing nothing out of the ordinary but going about their typical day and gave so much. Those who worked tirelessly in the days, months and years after performing recovery efforts were also remembered. It was noted that 1,140 World Trade Center first responders who worked on those grounds have lost their lives since 2001 to cancer, also known as the 9/11 illness. (JM)
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