11/20/13 - Authorities have identified the man suspected of killing his girlfriend at their Oceola Township home and later intentionally crashing his vehicle head-on into a semi-truck in Monroe County. The body of 51-year-old Gail Dimitroff was found Monday afternoon in her Hill Top Lane residence. She's believed to have died of blunt force trauma. Investigators with the Livingston County Sheriff's Department then learned her live-in boyfriend had been involved in a fatal crash in Monroe County. Livingston County Undersheriff Mike Murphy says preliminary investigation leads them to believe that 44-year-old Mark William Herrick intentionally crashed into a semi, killing himself, but he tells WHMI there's a lot of work needed to bring the case to a close. A check of local court records by WHMI revealed that Herrick had a prior assault and battery conviction and was sentenced in 2007 to probation and community service but also ordered to undergo anger management and complete an alcohol treatment program. (JM)
Suspected Murder-Suicide Victims Identified Suspected Murder-Suicide Victims Identified
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Department of Public Health Launches New Facebook PageDepartment of Public Health Launches New Facebook Page
11/20/13 - A new Facebook page will serve as a communication tool between the Livingston County Department of Public Health and the public. The site was launched on November 14th as a way to provide 24/7 communication with the people served by the department. Updates are posted twice daily at noon and 5pm with information on services, advisories, and public health topics. The timing of those posts will be adjusted as the site gathers data on when users view the page. More posts will be added in emergency situations to keep the public advised about things such as sheltering in place, vaccinations, and boiling water. The page will also be updated for special events as well as to announce changes in programming schedules or to correct false rumors about public health. It will be monitored 24 hours a day, making it an alternative way to contact the Department of Public Health, but the department can still be contacted by phone during its normal hours of operation. A link to the new Facebook page can be found at the Department of Public Health's website, or by clicking on the link below. (TD)
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Citizens Against "Fracking" Plan Peaceful Assembly in Fowlerville Citizens Against "Fracking" Plan Peaceful Assembly in Fowlerville
11/20/13 - Some residents concerned about a project in Conway Township that could lead to hydraulic fracturing in the community say theyâre not giving up their fight. The process known as âFrackingâ uses high volumes of water and chemicals to crack open rock formations deep underground and release trapped gas. Texas-based GeoSouthern Energy was earlier granted a high-volume permit by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to extract natural gas, crude oil or both from a site near Fowlerville Road and Hayner Road owned by Jack Sherwood. The project is still exploratory at this point but depending on what core samples reveal, the company could proceed with hydraulic fracturing and what mix of chemicals would be used remains unknown. Conway Township resident Kim Joliff lives about a half mile away from the property and says the more sheâs learned, the more concerned she is about whatâs at stake for the community and possible ramifications for others. Joliff felt it was time to bring more attention to the issue with a peaceful assembly Saturday in downtown Fowlerville because they're basically at a stand still. She says a confidentiality clause in the agreement between the state and GeoSouthern prevents the DEQ from discussing any specifics about the Sherwood well until after a designated time period. Joliff tells WHMI her fear is that this project will spur more in other communities and there are many people who still donât know what âfrackingâ is or how it could potentially impact their families, homes and overall quality of life. Joliff says this Saturdayâs assembly is intended to be peaceful and they ask that concerned citizens come out and bring signs to carry along the streets of downtown Fowlerville for a couple of hours starting at noon. An event flyer can be found below. (JM)
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Trial Ordered for South Lyon Man Charged w/ CSCTrial Ordered for South Lyon Man Charged w/ CSC
11/20/13 - A South Lyon man has been bound over for trial after police say he ran away with a teenage girl. 37-year-old Robert Louis Messer is charged with four counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count each of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and accosting a minor for immoral purposes. On Tuesday, a Wayne County district court judge ruled there was enough evidence for him to stand trial and sent his case to circuit court. An arraignment is set for next Tuesday. He was arrested October 29th by authorities after they found him with a 15-year-old Plymouth Township girl in his pickup truck in a Washtenaw County field. Plymouth Township police say Messer and the girl left notes expressing their love for one another. A search was then initiated to find the pair who were finally located inside Messserâs pickup truck where police say it appears they had been staying. Messer is recently divorced, and has two children of his own, ages 14 and 17. If convicted on the first degree CSC charges, he could face up to life in prison. (JK)
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First Case of Influenza "A" Confirmed in Livingston CountyFirst Case of Influenza "A" Confirmed in Livingston County
11/20/13 - The Livingston County Department of Public Health has confirmed the first case of Influenza âAâ in the county for the 2013-2014 flu season. Spokeswoman Chelsea Moxlow says that there is a vaccine for this strain of the flu virus. The local public health department is working with the state Department of Community Health to closely monitor the situation for evidence of a wider outbreak. Moxlow says flu shots are recommended for those six months of age and older. They are available through your doctor, local pharmacies, community clinics, or during the health departmentâs regular immunization clinic. The clinic provides vaccines for children, teens and adults. The walk-in clinic is open on Wednesdays only from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., with extended hours on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month until 7 p.m. However, the clinic will not be open late on the day before Thanksgiving next week. For more information, call 517-546-9850 or go to the health departmentâs web site at www.lchd.org and click on Personal and Preventive Health, and then Immunizations. (TT)
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2,000 Livington County DTE Customers Still Without Power 2,000 Livington County DTE Customers Still Without Power
11/20/13 - DTE reports that the number of outages in southeastern Michigan from Sunday's and Mondayâs fierce storm has continued to decline as crews from Michigan and several other states work on the problem. They are projecting that over 90% of DTEâs customers will be restored to service by late Wednesday. DTE spokeswoman Erica Donerson tells WHMI that the storm produced one of the highest power outages in the companyâs history. Donerson says that the Howell area still had about 400 customers without power as of late this afternoon and the Brighton about 300 were still without electricity. Overall in Livingston County, about 2,000 customers were without power as of late Wednesday afternoon. Oakland County had approximately 8,000 customers without electricity and Washtenaw, 1,900. (TT)
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Unexplained Fire Claims Fenton Township HomeUnexplained Fire Claims Fenton Township Home
11/21/13 - A coordinated response from local firefighters could not stop a fire from destroying a home in Fenton Township this week. The flames were called in by neighbors shortly after 5am on Tuesday. The Fenton Township Fire Department responded, but the Tri County Times reports they quickly requested mutual aid from the cities of Fenton and Linden as well as Mundy Township. The area on Four Lakes Avenue has no fire hydrants, so water trucks had to make multiple trips to sustain the efforts of the firefighters. Nobody was home when the fire began and there were no injuries, but the house was deemed a total loss. Investigators were able to determine that the fire began in the garage, but could not immediately identify a cause. (TD)
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"Business Friendly Howell" Plan Results Unveiled "Business Friendly Howell" Plan Results Unveiled
11/21/13 - About 20 business owners and others attended the unveiling Wednesday of Howellâs plan to become a more business friendly community. The initiative â called âBusiness Friendly Howellâ is a joint effort between the city of Howell, the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses. City Manager Shea Charles approached the chamber, asking what the city can do to be more business-friendly. That resulted in formation of a focus group composed of over 50 local business leaders, which concentrated on areas where improvements were needed and the possible solutions. Charles tells WHMI the partnership between city government and the business community is highly unusual in his experience. Areas addressed include how properties are assessed and why the process is seemingly arbitrary; the permitting process and how to streamline it and the need for better communication between the city and the business community. The results so far have included a Frequently Asked Questions document from the city assessorâs office and updating the guide to the assessment process; improving internal communications to respond to citizen inquiries more quickly; updating city codes to reduce the time lag between when new business and development proposals are made and when they come to fruition and providing training for city employees to improve customer service, along with tracking customer inquiries. Also, with the goal of promoting a city desirous of attracting business, the city has created a new logo with the words âOpen For Business â Howellâ â complete with a five-pointed star symbol. (TT)
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Vaccinations Will Cover Newly Appeared Influenza Strain Vaccinations Will Cover Newly Appeared Influenza Strain
11/21/13 - County health officials say there is some good news in the discovery of Livingston County's first influenza case of the season. Sentinel doctors, who regularly test patients with flu-like symptoms to determine when flu season has begun, recently found a patient infected with Influenza A. Public Health Director Ted Westmeier tells WHMI this is one of the strains covered by this year's flu vaccine. Each year, experts try to anticipate what strains of influenza are likely to circulate that season so they can begin producing vaccines early enough to be useful to the public. Not every strain can be included in the standard vaccine, but Westmeier says Influenza A is included in this year's inoculations. He adds that flu vaccines should reduce symptoms of most influenza strains even if they are not specifically included, so everyone over the age of six months should get vaccinated. Those inoculations can be obtained at doctors' offices, pharmacies, and clinics. The Department of Public Health also offers regular vaccination clinics on Wednesdays between 8:30am to 4:30pm. The clinic stays open to 7pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month, but next week's hours will not be extended due to the Thanksgiving holiday. For more information, call (517) 546-9850 or follow the link below. (TD)
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Latson/I-96 Interchange to Open in Early DecemberLatson/I-96 Interchange to Open in Early December
11/21/13 - A formal ribbon cutting ceremony in early December will celebrate what has become a very popular slab of cement over the past few years. The Michigan Department of Transportation will host a ribbon cutting at the site of the new Latson Road/I-96 interchange on December 2nd and the public is invited to attend. M-DOT Spokeswoman Kari Arend tells WHMI theyâre very close to having all of the work complete and wanted to mark the exciting news. She says should construction not be done in time for the actual ribbon cutting, then the interchange will still definitely open sometime during the first week of December. Arend says they ask that attendees gather at the north end of the new interchange on Latson Road, just south of Grand River at 11:30am Monday, December 2nd. The ceremony will take place on site, at the north end of the new interchange. Anyone in need of special accommodations is asked to call 810-227-4681. Photo courtesy of Ron Staley Christman Group.(JM)
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New Details Emerge in EMS Vehicle Fatality New Details Emerge in EMS Vehicle Fatality
11/21/13 - The identity of a local man hit and killed on Grand River has been made public, along with a few other details about the circumstances surrounding the incident that involved a Livingston County EMS vehicle. The pedestrian victim has been preliminarily identified as 49-year-old Patrick Thomas Billo of Howell. A county EMS vehicle was traveling west on Grand River just west of Golf Club Road around 2am Monday when itâs believed to have struck Billo, who police say was lying in the middle of the road. The driver reportedly did not immediately stop because he may not have realized that he hit a person - given the stormy and windy weather conditions and amount of debris in the roadway. The driver also may not have even learned about the pedestrian until the 911 call went out, although he is said to have immediately returned to the scene and reported it was possible the EMS vehicle struck the man. An investigation by Michigan State Police is continuing. (JK)
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Howell Schools Honor Support & Service Persons of the YearHowell Schools Honor Support & Service Persons of the Year
11/21/13 - They are both responsible for making sure things are getting to where they need to be, when they need to be there. Rick Humphries, the districtâs mail courier, was named Support Person of the Year while Sharon Slusarczyk, a Howell High School hall monitor, was named Service Person of the Year. Humphries, an 18-year district employee, handles all interoffice mail and outgoing U.S. mail, deliveries of food service items and the delivery of supplies such as books and furniture. Heâs also involved with the high school baseball program and serves as a referee for both girls and boys basketball games. Slusarczyk, who has been with the district for 14 years, keeps a watchful eye over high school students, while also serving as a mentor to students in the Freshman Focus class. The pair received the awards Wednesday from Superintendent Ron Wilson in a surprise presentation at Howell High School. Pictured from left to right; School Board Secretary Kim Witt, Humphries, Slusarczyk, Executive Director of Labor Relations and Personnel Cassandra Harmon-Higgins and Wilson. (JK)
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Hospitality & Health Care Score Big in Online PostingsHospitality & Health Care Score Big in Online Postings
11/21/13 - As we head into the holiday season, a new report has good tidings for those in need of a job. Online job postings in Livingston County nearly doubled in the third quarter of the year when compared to 2013âs second quarter. Thatâs according to a report released Monday by the Workforce Intelligence Network. Online employment postings in Livingston County rose from 1,200 in the April-June quarter to 2,303 in the July-September quarter. That trend mirrors a similar jump across Metro Detroit. The network, which is a collaborative effort between eight community colleges and seven Michigan Works Agencies, tracks online job postings in nine counties across Southeast Michigan. The countyâs retail sector accounted for more than a third of those listings, with health care next up at over 11%. (JK)
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State Labor Board Files Complaint Against Teachers Union State Labor Board Files Complaint Against Teachers Union
11/21/13 - An unfair labor practice charge filed by a Pinckney special needs teaching assistant who says she was prevented from exercising her to right to leave the stateâs largest teachers union is now a formal complaint. The National Right to Work Foundation filed a state charge on behalf of Linda Evon with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission in Detroit. It has now issued a complaint against the MEA, which will be formally heard. NRTW Foundation Spokesman Anthony Reidel tells WHMI all sides will get a chance to present their respective arguments and the MERC will make a decision accordingly. He adds that there are various cases pending that involve public employees and deal with enforcement of Michiganâs Right to Work law. The MERC has filed a separate complaint against Teamsters Local 214 after a charge was filed by Livingston Educational Service Agency bus driver Pauline Beutler of Howell, which is expected to be heard in February. MEA Spokesman Thomas Morgan has told WHMI that unionâs resignation process has been in place since 1973, and the new right-to-work legislation does not affect membership agreements or bylaws. He has also said that only about 1% of MEA members have left the union since the law passed, and none of them have faced threats of disciplinary action. (JM)
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Woman Appprended on Local Kidnapping Warrant Woman Appprended on Local Kidnapping Warrant
11/21/13 - A woman wanted on a local kidnapping warrant after fleeing the state with her two young children is now in custody. Police in upstate New York apprehended 33-year-old Christie Hope-Erwin Clancy of Westland, who failed to return her children to their father in August. Since the coupleâs divorce was handled in Livingston County, Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI thatâs how his department got involved. He says the Livingston County Prosecutorâs Office issued a felony warrant for parental kidnapping on November 1st. She was picked up Wednesday afternoon and detained while the coupleâs two young children were turned over to Child Protective Services. Bezotte says the children were safe and unharmed. Clancy is being detained in New York and will face an extradition hearing but heâs unsure when that will be held or if Clancy will fight extradition. Bezotte says the father has legal custody of the children but currently resides in Texas and the courts will decide how things proceed. (JM)
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Santa Stopping By Brighton District Library's Holiday Open House Santa Stopping By Brighton District Library's Holiday Open House
11/21/13 - The big guy in the red suit is apparently also a book worm. Santa and one of his reindeer, a concert, puppet show, caroling, stories and crafts are all planned at upcoming Holiday Open House at the Brighton District Library. Organizers say last year's event drew more than 350 people from around Livingston County and this yearâs event will feature a unique variety of holiday entertainment. The open house at the Brighton District Library will take place on Saturday, December 7th from 11am to 3pm and admission is free. More information can be found in the press release below. (JM)
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United Way Seeks Creative Teens For Campaign Video ContestUnited Way Seeks Creative Teens For Campaign Video Contest
11/22/13 - Local high school students are invited to get creative for a good cause with the Livingston County United Wayâs annual campaign video contest. Every year, teams of students create videos between two and five minutes long that will be featured on the United Way website, YouTube, and social media as a way to tell the story of the organizationâs work in the community. Instructions for the contest say the videos should focus on the organizationâs results in financial stability, community wellness, and the Every Child Ready program. Videos must be submitted in mid-April, and a winner will be announced the following month. Last yearâs winning video came from a team of students from Fowlerville High School, and the year before it came from Hartland. (TD)
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History of Salvation Army & Old Hollywood Glamor Collide SaturdayHistory of Salvation Army & Old Hollywood Glamor Collide Saturday
11/22/13 - The history behind an iconic symbol of the Christmas season and the mission of a local non-profit will collide with the glamor of old Hollywood this weekend. The Salvation Army of Livingston County will host its Red Tie Gala this Saturday at the newly remodeled Mt. Brighton facilities. Old Hollywood glamor is the theme and the fundraiser aims to honor the season and boost efforts to help those in need while helping inform the community about the history behind the traditional red kettle campaign. Attendees will have a chance to step back in time at the gala from 6 to 11pm Saturday with a red carpet and wall of fame photographs. It includes a four-course meal, dueling pianos and live and silent auctions with unique items including a ride in a Lamborghini. Tickets are still available and are $55 per person. Details can be found in the link below. (JM)
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Stolen Guns Recovered; Two Howell Men Behind Bars Stolen Guns Recovered; Two Howell Men Behind Bars
11/22/13 - Some stolen guns are off the streets after being recovered by local authorities. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Department says guns, jewelry, cash, tools and scrap metal were taken during incidents that occurred in Genoa, Tyrone and Cohoctah Townships. Thomas James McCrackin and Vincent Richard Fowler, both 20-years-old and from the Howell area, remain lodged in the Livingston County Jail. Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI McCrackin confessed to eight crimes, which led to a search of a storage unit and the subsequent arrest of Fowler. Bezotte says the warrant that was executed at the unit rented by Fowler led to the recovery of three additional stolen handguns and other property. Bezotte says McCrackin has been arraigned on a charge of breaking and entering but additional charges are pending. Fowler is charged with receiving and concealing stolen firearms as well as possession of firearms by a felon. Heâll appear in 53rd District Court for an exam conference December 4th. (JM)
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Livingston Leaders Join 5-County Cloud Computing AnnouncementLivingston Leaders Join 5-County Cloud Computing Announcement
11/22/13 - Leaders from Livingston County took part in a press conference in Waterford this week to call attention to how cloud computing is being used to save taxpayer money and improve public services. Livingston County Board of Commissioners Chair Carol Griffith and IT Director Rich Malewicz joined officials from Oakland, Genesee, St. Clair, and Macomb on Wednesday to discuss how cloud computing allowed them to offer services through Oakland Countyâs hardware. Cloud computing is a way to make databases and other Internet services available at low cost to numerous, far-flung users at once, comparable to a utilityâs electrical grid. In Livingston County, the newly-redesigned county website was created through the cloud with help from Oakland to offer increased transaction capabilities and user-friendliness. Other counties benefit from similar services, including web publishing and online court payments. Macomb is the latest benefactor of the program, having just signed on in November. More than 2.8 million people have access to services from the cloud-based system in the five-county area. (TD/JK)
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