1/19/14 - Grand River in Howell was closed down today after a fire broke out at Myer Automotive across from VGâs west of downtown. Deputy Fire Chief Les Rodwell says the Howell Area Fire Department was called out to the building just after 11:00am. They found heavy fire in the roof and attic area, extending to other parts of the building. The department fought the fire while the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department shut down Grand River, giving them access to the fire hydrants on the north side of the road. There were no injuries and the fire was knocked down in about 15 minutes, with crews continuing to work for some time after that to finish the job. Much of the roof of the building was lost, and there are visible holes in the sides of the building, but fire crews say much of the equipment inside the building appeared to be salvageable. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. (TD)
Howell Business Badly Damaged By FireHowell Business Badly Damaged By Fire
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Hartland School Board Unchanged in 2014Hartland School Board Unchanged in 2014
1/16/14 - The Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education maintained its status quo following its organizational meeting this week. By unanimous votes at their meeting Monday, Hartland board members re-elected the entire slate of officers; Thom Dumond as president, Kevin Kaszyca as vice president, Michelle Hutchinson as board secretary and Charlie Aberasturi as treasurer. Dumond and Kaszycaâs terms expire in 2016, while Hutchinson and Aberasturiâs terms expire this year. Aberasturi is one of several candidates who have announced a bid for the GOP nomination to run for the 47th District state House seat, where incumbent Handy Township Republican will be term limited out of office. (JK)
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MLK Day Marchers Set to Walk Downtown Milford MLK Day Marchers Set to Walk Downtown Milford
1/20/14 - The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day march and celebration kicks off this afternoon in downtown Milford. "The Power of Peace, Love, and Respectâ is the theme inspiring a series of local events honoring and celebrating the Dr. King holiday, which complement the 9th annual March on Main Street from Prospect Hill to Central Park at 1pm, when winners of a multi-media art contest around that theme will also be announced. The march is organized by the Huron Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Committee and Lakeland High School teacher Isaac Perry tells WHMI community members and anyone interested in celebrating the day and sharing in the message of Dr. King are invited to attend to come out. Line-up for the march starts around 12:15pm at Prospect Hill, with Main Street shut down right at 1pm. The march concludes at Central Park but festivities continue at the nearby Milford Presbyterian Church with a community volunteer fair and a full hour music performance by Josh White Jr. Complete details can be found through the link below. (JK)
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Charges Filed in Overdose Death of Handy Twp. ToddlerCharges Filed in Overdose Death of Handy Twp. Toddler
1/20/14 - Two former Fowlerville residents are facing charges in the overdose death last year of a three-year-old child. Warrants have been issued for 24-year-old Jared Kyle Brock and his girlfriend, 22-year-old Chelsie Lenee Marme on charges of involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse. Court records indicate the pair were babysitting Brockâs 3-year-old niece August 31st at his motherâs home in Handy Township when the child is believed to have swallowed a Suboxone pill that belonged to Brock. The synthetic opiate is normally used for treatment of opiate dependence. Authorities say Brock and Marme were twice told to take the child to the hospital, first by friends they had called and then Poison Control, but that they failed to do so. They also didnât tell the childâs paternal grandmother about the pill before leaving the home that afternoon. She called 911 later that night to report the child wasnât breathing, but emergency personnel were unable to revive the child. Brock and Marme initially denied any knowledge of the pill, but later admitted they suspected the child had swallowed the pill. No court dates on the manslaughter and child abuse charges have been set. However, proceedings are underway to determine if Marme and Brock should lose the parental rights to their 7-month-old son. (JK)
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Tentative Contract Up For Vote by Howell School BoardTentative Contract Up For Vote by Howell School Board
1/20/14 - A special meeting of the Howell Public Schools Board of Education tonight will give the board an opportunity to discuss and vote on a tentative agreement with the districtâs teachers union reached last week. The teachers have been working under terms of the previous contract since the start of the school year. A previous proposal from the union was rejected by a controlling minority of the board last March despite recommendations for approval from the districtâs negotiator and superintendent, Ron Wilson. That contract would have passed by a 4-3 vote, but Board President Mike Witt and Board Secretary Kim Witt were prevented from voting because of a conflict of interest law passed last year. Kim Wittâs sister is a teacher in the district. That allowed a controlling minority -- Trustee Mike Moloney, former Treasurer Doug Moore, and Trustee Deb McCormick -- to vote it down. Because a contract will require four votes for passage, at least two of the three who voted against it last year will have to vote in favor tonight for it to pass. The special meeting will be held at 7pm in the administration board room. Meanwhile, there has been a minor change-up in the boardâs officers. At the beginning of every calendar year the board elects four members to specific roles within its structure. Last week, the board voted to keep Mike Witt as board president, Mike Yenshaw as vice president, and Kim Witt as secretary. However, rather than reelect Doug Moore as the treasurer, Stacy Pasini was elected unanimously to the post. Pasini says while she does not have a history in accounting, she does have a Master's in public administration, so she is trained and qualified to handle budgeting and finance tasks the board requires. (JK)
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Fire Severely Damages Howell Auto Repair ShopFire Severely Damages Howell Auto Repair Shop
1/20/14 - Grand River in Howell was closed down Sunday morning after a fire broke out at Myer Automotive across from VGâs west of downtown. Deputy Fire Chief Les Rodwell says the Howell Area Fire Department was called out to the building just after 11am. They found heavy fire in the roof and attic area, extending to other parts of the building. The department fought the fire while the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department shut down Grand River, giving them access to the fire hydrants on the north side of the road. There were no injuries and the fire was knocked down in about 15 minutes, with crews continuing to work for some time after that to finish the job. Much of the roof of the building was lost, and there are visible holes in the sides of the building, but fire crews say much of the equipment inside the building appeared to be salvageable. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. (TD)
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Lunar New Year Festival Coming to Downtown Howell in FebruaryLunar New Year Festival Coming to Downtown Howell in February
1/20/14 - Downtown Howell will begin celebrating a new annual festival early next month. The Howell Main Street DDA is teaming up with local businesses to provide the first Howell Lunar New Year Festival from February 4th through the 8th. The festival, known in much of the country as Chinese New Year, is celebrated by many Asian cultures during the first fifteen days of the Chinese calendar, which is tied to phases of the moon. The Howell DDA plans to take part by offering a number of events, including the Dragon Run 5k and 1-mile walk/run and a Lion Dance through the downtown. There will also be educational and cultural events to help residents better understand and appreciate the festival. These will include a presentation at the Howell Carnegie District Library and an evening performance by Michigan State Universityâs Silk Road Chinese Orchestra at the Howell Opera House. A full listing and schedule of events is posted below, along with information on the Dragon Run. (TD)
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Trial Set in Lawsuit Over 2011 Drowning in Huron RiverTrial Set in Lawsuit Over 2011 Drowning in Huron River
1/20/14 - Nearly three years after a Milford man drowned trying to save a teen from the Huron River, a lawsuit filed by his family will finally go to court. The suit, filed in Oakland County Circuit Court by the estate of Douglas Killingbeck, seeks damages in excess of $25,000 for each count. It claimed several defendants, including the Village Canoe Rental in Milford, failed to provide adequate warning and fencing near the Huron River dam in Milford. Thatâs where Killingbeck died May 21st of 2011 while trying to save 16-year-old John Przydatek, whose canoe had capsized while on a church trip organized by Knox Presbyterian Church, which was also named in the lawsuit for allegedly failing to properly supervise the outing and insist the teenager wear a life jacket. Both Killinbeck and Przydatek were pulled below the surface and drowned. The case had been scheduled to go to trial last June in front of Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Phyllis McMillen, but has been delayed by numerous trial motions from the defendants, including one for the Michigan Court of Appeals to get involved, a request that court turned down. It is now scheduled for an April 21st trial date, unless a settlement is reached out of court before then. (JK)
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Compensation Commission Creates ControversyCompensation Commission Creates Controversy
1/20/14 - While most Putnam Township officials maintain that everything was done above board in creating a compensation commission, others felt the raises it determined were out of line. A motion was put forth by Trustee Norm Klein at last week's meeting seeking to repeal Ordinance 63 that established a compensation commission. Klein did not agree with the recommendations based on his own analysis and felt they were excessive. By law, a two-thirds majority is required to reject the recommendations, which Klein admitted he overlooked. Klein felt the concept isnât suitable for a small municipality, saying itâs was almost impossible for appointed committee members to not know or have a connection to board members. After noticing other municipalities doing it, the board decided a commission would take the matter of raises and salaries out of their hands but Treasurer Pat Carney says itâs created an even more stressful situation than before, with officials accused of "being sneaky" with the creation of the commission. It's made up of five appointed residents who meet in odd years to review the salaries of board members and elected officials, and make a determination. It delivered recommendations in November and there was a 30 day window in which board members could reject all or part of it. Supervisor Ron Rau made the motion to accept the recommended $500 increase for trustees and $5,200 for elected officials, which passed in 4-3 vote. Rau says after taxes, the raises work out to around $60 a week and said he was also upset by rumors going around, and they were just following the ordinance. In spite of the controversy, the recommended raises will take effect July 1st. (JK)
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Former Member Targets Hartland Chamber of Commerce in LettersFormer Member Targets Hartland Chamber of Commerce in Letters
1/20/14 - The Hartland Chamber of Commerce says it has tried to take the high road amid accusations of unethical business practices being made by a former member in two letters sent out to membership. Former Chamber Board President Brian Crouse is the Operations Officer of Waldenwoods Conference Center and Resort, his family business, which did not renew its membership and is no longer providing facilities as a venue for chamber meetings. He sent out two letters to all members, one criticizing the chamber and board dated November 4th, followed by a second expressing the same with additional personal views on January 15th. Discord began after the Chamber disbanded its Business Friendly Hartland Committee, originally tasked with helping member businesses have a better rapport with township officials to address issues and business-related concerns. However, committee members told WHMI that things changed and went in a completely different direction. A survey concept was presented by Crouse as a way to gauge if members felt the township was helpful or not but some questions were viewed by chamber members as inappropriate, including one that referred to township officials taking kickbacks. Crouse also is said to have directly contacted those who did not respond to the survey, all of which he crafted and compiled. He also indicated that he wanted to sell his survey services to other communities, which some viewed as a conflict of interest and therefore declined to endorse the survey under the umbrella of the chamber due to the content. Current Board President David Kelley says presenting the survey as is would have separated a very positive relationship between the Chamber and Hartland Township. He says the decision to disband the committee was unanimous based on the information received, and doing so was a very positive and necessary step to help businesses grow and succeed. Kelley tells WHMI the relationship with the township has never been better and theyâre working in collaboration on a number of projects, such as an online business assist program and membership was up in the last year. The chamberâs website states members are allowed a free set of mailing labels with the understanding that they are not to be used in any way to discredit the chamber. However, officials say Crouse inappropriately made copies of those to mail out his recent withdrawal letter to all members, when they say it should have been sent directly to the board only. It wasnât until after the committee was disbanded that Crouse started making other allegations that the chamber violated its bylaws. The chamber is currently operating under 2009 bylaws as it is in the process of updating them. Calls for comment have been placed with Crouse but have gone un-returned. (JM)
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Campaign: Substance Abusing Teens Are in The MinorityCampaign: Substance Abusing Teens Are in The Minority
1/21/14 - The Livingston Community Prevention Project is teaming up with local schools to help get the message to teens that most of their peers do not abuse drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. The Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth survey on drugs was administered to 7th, 9th, and 11th grade students anonymously in every school district in the county in 2012. It revealed that among the middle schoolers tested, 99% have never used marijuana and 94% had never used alcohol. Among the high schoolers tested, for the month leading up to the survey, 77% had not used alcohol, 84% had not smoked marijuana, and 89% had not smoked cigarettes. The percentage of high school students who had ever tried alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, or heroin also decreased significantly county-wide from 2009. The LCPP plans to run its new MOST Campaign from January 27th to the end of the school year, focusing on different substances every few weeks to tell students that fitting in with peers does not require drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. The survey also revealed attitudes the students have about drugs, including that middle schools consider regular marijuana use to be more dangerous than alcohol use, but that attitude is reversed among high school students. (TD)
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Community Scholarships Available for Local High School SeniorsCommunity Scholarships Available for Local High School Seniors
1/21/14 - Community scholarships are again being offered to high school seniors in Livingston County. Up to ten scholarships of $1,000 each are available for high school seniors to continue their academic or vocational education. The scholarships are offered by First National Bank as part of its 2014 Community Scholarship Program. Also this year, five teacher classroom grants of $250 will be presented as part of the program and no application is necessary for that portion. Officials say the scholarships benefit the future leaders of the community while the grants help local teachers with their important work. Students interested in applying must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, community service participation, a written essay, recommendation letters, and note challenges, if any, overcome to graduate. Scholarship applications are available online or from high school counselors, with recipients announced at the various school scholarship events. Completed applications are due by March 21st and full details can be found in the press release attached below. (JM)
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Grand River Sidewalk Project Moves Ahead in Brighton TownshipGrand River Sidewalk Project Moves Ahead in Brighton Township
1/21/14 - The Brighton Township Board has approved engineering work for the first segment of a larger sidewalk installation project in the community that will ultimately improve walkability. Back in 2009, the board adopted a Pathway Plan that calls for the installation of sidewalk along East Grand River. The board met Monday night and approved a $25,000 engineering estimate and proposed service agreement to design for the first phase of of the project along East Grand River. Township Manager Brian Vick explained that the first leg is proposed to be installed from US-23 in an eastward direction to Pleasant Valley. He says they will be working in conjunction with a representative from Green Oak Township on a portion of the sidewalk project from Pleasant Valley Road west to US-23 to ensure continuity at the jurisdictional boundary, in the area of the townshipâs sewer pump station and a Green Oak fire station. Since the townshipâs next fiscal year begins in April, Vick says the expenditure of funds will likely happen in the fall although the first phase of sidewalk could potentially be constructed in the current calendar year. He estimates engineering work will take around three months including site surveys and design before the project is put out to bid for board consideration. (JM)
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Howell Board Ratifies Teacher Contract, But May Censure TrusteesHowell Board Ratifies Teacher Contract, But May Censure Trustees
1/21/14 - A new teachers' union contract was passed by the Howell School Board last night, but the district still has unfinished business related to the negotiation process. The meeting was standing-room-only with about 150 people in attendance. The district has been struggling to get a contract approved since March. The new two-year contract will last through June of 2015, and features no salary increases for teachers during that time. It also lacks a risk-sharing agreement, which negotiator Tom White says is because the union does not trust the board enough to enter into such an agreement. Before the contract passed, Trustee Mike Moloney made a motion to include some unexpected language, including a risk-sharing agreement. This was supported by Trustee Deborah McCormick, but received no other votes, and so did not pass. In the end, the board members who could vote on the contract all approved it as originally presented, except for McCormick. She said in her closing statement that she felt a better deal could be reached for teachers. Superintendent Ron Wilson says the deal is good, but not quite as lucrative as the one that was shot down by a minority of the board in March. In his closing statements, however, Board President Mike Witt said there had been misconduct among board members that needed to be addressed. He said he would be exploring the option of forming an ad hoc committee to investigate whether to censure Trustees Moloney and Doug Moore. Witt says the two men, along with White, became aware of changes in price between two health insurance provider options in December, but chose to keep the information from the board. Moloney says he was asked to keep the new prices quiet by White, who initially believed the jump in price to be an error by the insurance provider. White says this is true, but he regrets not bringing the information forward sooner. (TD/JK)
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$25,000 Grant to Aid in Developing Two Hartland Township Parks $25,000 Grant to Aid in Developing Two Hartland Township Parks
1/21/14 - The process to develop two parks owned by Hartland Township is expected to move a bit faster thanks to a recent grant award. Hartland Township received confirmation that it was awarded a $25,000 grant from Enbridge Energy for future development of Hartland Heritage Park and Settlers Park, both of which are owned by the municipality. A key component of the townshipâs recently approved strategic plan is a master plan for the two. Hartland Heritage Park is located on M-59, west of Fenton Road and features multiple football, soccer and lacrosse fields. Itâs maintained in partnership with Hartland Area Youth Athletic Association and the Hartland Community Soccer Association. Settlers Park is located behind the Township Hall on Clark Road and features a one-mile walking path. Supervisor Bill Fountain says the grant will allow the transition from planning to delivery more quickly as it moves forward in creating a road map for development opportunities at the parks. (JM)
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Fracking Focus of Two Local Meetings Next MonthFracking Focus of Two Local Meetings Next Month
1/21/14 - Residents and officials will have a chance next month to view both the governmental and environmental sides of hydraulic fracturing. More commonly referred to as âfrackingâ, the process involves injecting a mixture of sand, water and chemicals at high-pressure deep underground to release trapped oil and natural gas. Itâs been controversial because of concern over the long-term effects of the chemical agents being used and the potential danger they pose to groundwater. That has prompted several local municipalities to examine their options in regulating the process. Leading the way is Conway Township, which is the site of Livingston County's first fracking test well that was drilled last year. The township has teamed up with a Traverse City environmental organization known as FLOW, or For Love Of Water, to host a public gathering on Thursday, February 6th at the Alverson Performing Arts Auditorium in Fowlerville. No RSVP is required. The educational presentation will start at 6:30pm and examine the environmental issues involved with fracking. That will be followed by an event which will look at the governmental perspective of hydraulic fracturing. The Livingston County Planning Department Brown Bag Lunch gathering, set for Wednesday, February 12th at Cleary Universityâs Johnson Center, will feature Adam Wyagant of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. To RSVP for that event, e-mail; kathleenk@co.livingston.mi.us
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Cleary Leadership Called Into Question by Former Board MembersCleary Leadership Called Into Question by Former Board Members
1/21/14 - Two former members of the Cleary University Board of Trustees say plans to potentially sell off the schoolâs Ann Arbor campus are a sign of a much broader, troubled financial picture, something the universityâs president strongly refutes. Last month, Cleary announced to the employees of its Washtenaw Campus on Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor that it was exploring either leasing the campus or selling it outright due to declining in-classroom enrollment there. The university would then transfer many of the functions and employees to its main campus in Genoa Township. Cleary President Tom Sullivan said the proposal was due to the fact that students taking classes at that campus had decreased significantly in the past few years and were instead opting for online courses. But for Matt Ikle, a former member of the Cleary Board of Trustees and one-time president of the Alumni Association, the decision was the result of poor financial decisions including adding a sports program and paying to house a donated art collection by world-renowned artist Arthur Secunda at the Genoa campus. "For a small business university to get off its core by adding athletics and an art gallery when you don't have funds to support it...is not a good decision to make." That criticism was echoed by local developer Joe Parker, who left the board in 2012 due to differences with the direction the rest of the board and Sullivan wanted to take the university, especially concerning the addition of a sports program. Parker said that just like GM or Ford require a change in leadership to remain competitive, so too does Cleary. But Sullivan insists the decision to add sports was made as a way to increase enrollment and is something many other business schools have already done. Sullivan says while the university did see enrollment drop during the recession, so too did almost all small education institutions. He disputes the notion that the decision to explore selling the Ann Arbor campus is being driven by a cash shortage, pointing out that the university has been shifting its focus to Livingston County since the 1990âs. He adds that the value of the 2.5-acre parcel has essentially doubled since they bought it for $2 million in 1998 and that as online courses increase their enrollment; it just makes sense to look into selling it now that the real estate market has rebounded. "As those values have come up and as we've had much more success with our distance learning program, we find we don't have as much demand for face to face classes and the facility is under utilized. So it makes sense to consolidate that." But both Ikle and Parker maintain that the university is risking its long-term viability by incurring the costs of not only a sports program, but also with housing a donated art collection at the Genoa Township campus. They say the dispute with the board that led to their departure is due to Sullivanâs influence and itâs time for new leadership. Sullivan feels their criticism is a non-issue and the school is moving forward into a future he feels will be productive and fruitful. (JK)
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Defense to Begin Calling Witnesses in Trial of Alleged I-96 ShooterDefense to Begin Calling Witnesses in Trial of Alleged I-96 Shooter
1/21/14 - The defense is expected to begin calling witnesses Wednesday in the trial of the alleged I-96 shooter. The trial picked back up today in Livingston County Circuit Court, where 44-year-old Raulie Casteel of Wixom faces terrorism and other charges in connection with two dozen shootings in October 2012. The case is being prosecuted by the Michigan Attorney Generalâs Office, which completed its witness list today. Testimony was heard from alleged victims who described how shots were fired at their vehicles as well as law enforcement officials, two men who picked up shell casings on M-52 and an FBI special agent who spoke with Casteel at his home after he was identified as a suspect. The trial will resume tomorrow morning, when defense testimony will begin. Casteel's lawyer has said his client wasn't trying to hurt anyone. Casteel is expected to take the stand, but itâs unclear when. (JM)
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Hockey Players Present Check To Local Cancer Treatment CenterHockey Players Present Check To Local Cancer Treatment Center
1/22/14 - The efforts of hockey teams and their supporters in Howell and Hartland paid off this week with a check presentation at St. Joseph Mercy Brighton. On November 27th, the varsity teams from both high schools squared off at the Grand Oaks Ice Arena for a charity game called Hockey Fights Cancer. Howell got an early lead in that game but Hartland was able to catch up, ending the game with a 4-4 tie. However, the game did manage to raise $5,000 for the St. Joe's Cancer Center for Patient Supportive Care, which was presented to the facility by several members of the Howell JV hockey team on Monday. Oncology Social Worker Erin Mulvihill says it will be used to provide relief for patients and their families for treatment-related costs, like medication, equipment, and transportation. She adds that many patients become unable to work as a result of their illness, so these extra financial burdens can be especially hard. Howell coach Paul Mitter says the game was meant to help students learn about giving back to the community. The Cancer Center was chosen by a small committee to be the beneficiary of the hockey game. The event is planned to be an annual match between the two schools, so future donations are also possible. (TD)
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Liquid Manufacturing Facing Foreclosure; Sale of Assets PlannedLiquid Manufacturing Facing Foreclosure; Sale of Assets Planned
1/22/14 - Amid legal woes, mounting tax bills and defaulted obligations, a beverage manufacturer located in Green Oak Township is now facing foreclosure and a public sale of assets. Liquid Manufacturing is a brewing, distilling and contract packaging facility on Whitmore Lake Road. A notice of the public sale of assets was published recently on MLive.com, with the link posted below. The public foreclosure sale of real estate and associated auction of machinery and equipment is expected to take place February 19th at the office of the secured creditorâs legal counsel in Bloomfield Hills. A total of $154,729 is owed to Livingston County from the 2011 tax year and must be paid by March 31st in order for the company to avoid foreclosure this year. As for back personal property taxes, the total amount owed to Green Oak Township is approximately $81,761. Of that amount, $48,499 is owed from 2012. Technically, taxes in the amount of $33,261 for 2013 are not yet considered late as they are not due until February. Meanwhile, Green Oak remains in litigation with Liquid Manufacturing in a case alleging fire, safety, and sewer ordinance violations over the course of years. The township sought an order in Livingston County Circuit Court to terminate sewer service for non-payment of bills last September, but the court denied that motion and instead issued an order giving the company until March 26th to pay up. At that time, it was said to be behind on sewer bills to the tune of about $70,000 for the first half of 2013. (JM)
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