2/11/14 - A water main break resulted in problems in the City of Brighton today. City Manager Dana Foster says a significant water main break occurred between the CSX railroad crossing on Rickett Road and the intersection of Rickett and Church Streets. The break occurred at around 5pm and a section of Rickett Road was closed to traffic as a result. Department of Public Service and utilities crews were first concentrating efforts on clearing snow blockages away from stormwater drainage catch basins to facilitate the runoff from the water main break. Foster says there will be some City water utility customers along the affected part of Rickett Road that will experience temporary water service shutdowns during the repair process. Foster says the City will continue to provide updates as work progresses. (JM)
Crews Busy Following Water Main Break in City of Brighton Crews Busy Following Water Main Break in City of Brighton
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Brighton Veterans Memorial Committee Receives Greimel AwardBrighton Veterans Memorial Committee Receives Greimel Award
2/12/14 - The Brighton City Planning Commission held its annual award presentation Monday night. The 2013 Karl H. Greimel Award went to the Brighton Veterans Memorial Committee for its work in bringing the project to fruition. The new memorial is located at the Mill Pond Park and was formally dedicated just before Veterans Day last year. Itâs intended to serve as a monument to the past but also for future generations to ponder the sacrifice made by American military personnel in all wars and conflicts. Bryan Bradford served as chairman of committee. It took a lot of time, effort and fundraising to make the project a reality and Bradford tells WHMI heâs still overwhelmed but itâs something that as a veteran, he takes a lot of pride in. Bradford says itâs an incredible feeling for anyone who played a role in the project from the designers to contractors and volunteers, noting it was a huge feat accomplished for the City and the entire community in general. Other awards presented at Mondayâs meeting included The E.D. Ewing Award to James & Susan McCracy. The Noeker Award for façade improvements went to Cheryl Mayday and Reed Kittredge for 408 West Main Street as well as a development company for the Brighton Mall façade and site improvement. (JM)
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History of Civil Rights Movement Featured at CromaineHistory of Civil Rights Movement Featured at Cromaine
2/12/14 - A film said to vividly bring to life the struggles of the men and women who led the battle to end slavery will be shown at a local library during a screening today. Created Equal: Americaâs Civil Rights Struggle is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities that utilizes the power of documentary films to encourage community discussion about Americaâs civil rights history. The Cromaine District Library in Hartland is one of 473 institutions across the country to be awarded a set of four films chronicling the movement and a grant to provide programming around them. The Abolitionists will be shown at the Crossroads branch from 1 to 4pm this afternoon and chronicles the long and sometimes violent effort to achieve the rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independenceâlife, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Cromaine Director Ceci Marlow says theyâre excited to bring this quality of film and programming to the area, which will set the stage for upcoming traveling Smithsonian exhibit âThe Freedom Ridersâ, which will be hosted by the Community Unitarian Universalists in Brighton. Complete information about the film series and upcoming exhibits can be found through the link and attachment below. (JM)
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Women Charged in Synthetic Pot Case Get New AttorneysWomen Charged in Synthetic Pot Case Get New Attorneys
2/12/14 - Two women charged with illegally selling synthetic marijuana in April of 2012 have new legal representation in the wake of a ruling from the stateâs highest court. Defense attorney Timothy Corr sought to overturn a November 2012 decision from 53rd District Court Judge Suzanne Geddis, who ruled it would be a conflict of interest for him to simultaneously represent two clients - the owner of Smokers Depot, 42-year-old Ronda Lee Roszak, as well as the storeâs manager, 28-year-old Melissa Ann Dzierwa. Corr argued the decision violated his clients Sixth Amendment rights to select representation of their choice, but it was upheld by the Michigan Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court declined to hear Corrâs appeal last December. Corr maintained the seized substances Roszak and Dzierwa sold at the Genoa Township store as part of their job were purchased at a trade show, along with a lab report stating they did not contain illegal chemicals. Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt previously said the decision from the Supreme Court required each defendant to obtain an independent lawyer. Once that occurred, he said they would finally be able to conduct the independent investigation necessary to verify certain information regarding the case. Court records show that both women obtained new counsel in January; Roszak is now being represented by Southfield attorney Steven Vitale while Dzierwa is being represented by Loren Dickstein, also based out of Southfield. No new dates were reflected in court records. (JM)
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State Approves Brighton Area Schools' Deficit Elimination PlanState Approves Brighton Area Schools' Deficit Elimination Plan
2/12/14 - Brighton Area Schools Superintendent Greg Gray had some long-awaited news for the Board of Education at its meeting Monday night. Gray says the Michigan Department of Education has approved the district's deficit elimination plan for the current fiscal year which ends June 30th and the 2014-15 fiscal year. Gray informed the board Monday that he had received word earlier in the day about the state approval. Although the school district was supposed to have resolved the long-term deficit problem by the end of this fiscal year, the state had previously told district officials that they could have another year to eradicate the deficit - as long as the district was making progress toward that goal. The plan submitted several weeks ago to the state calls for reducing the over $8 million deficit to $2.7 million by the end of the current fiscal year. The good news regarding the plan is that it projects a budget surplus of $1.5 million by the end of the 2015-16 fiscal year. A motion to approve Brighton's deficit elimination plan as presented to the state was passed unanimously by the board at Monday's meeting. The district's financial improvement has been spurred by a combination of enrollment growth and, most notably, the shared services program, in which Brighton provides classroom instruction for private and parochial schools in a four-county area. The shared services program has been a boon to Brighton, which has taken the lead over most other Michigan public school districts in providing the classes, which are taught by certified teachers at the schools involved. Currently, Brighton provides shared services for private and parochial schools in several southeast and mid-Michigan counties. (TT)
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Brighton Crews Repair Water Main Break, Reopen RoadwayBrighton Crews Repair Water Main Break, Reopen Roadway
2/12/13 - Repairs have been completed following a water main break in Brighton that resulted in a loss of service for some customers. City Manager Dana Foster says the break in a 4-inch water line occurred between the CSX railroad crossing on Rickett Road and the intersection of Rickett and Church Streets around 5pm Tuesday. The problem primarily affected the Oak Crest Apartment Complex. Foster says utility crews finished the repair about midnight last night and city water service was restored to the complex. However, while that section of Rickett Road was reopened for traffic earlier this morning, he says drivers may want to exercise some caution while driving through that area as the surface is still a bit rough in some spots due to the disruption caused by the water main break and related water runoff. Foster says crews will do more pavement maintenance at that location in the near future once warmer weather arrives. (JK)
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Endowment Honors Memory of Local Public ServantEndowment Honors Memory of Local Public Servant
2/12/14 - The legacy of a former Livingston County public servant will be honored through a college endowment. The Teresa L. Olson Scholarship Endowment was recently established in memory of the late wife of D. Joseph Olson, a founding member of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and its longest serving board member. The Mackinac Center is a free-market oriented think tank that advocates for lower taxes and reduced regulation. Originally called the Michigan Research Institute, Olson said his wife Teri came up with the idea to rename it the Mackinac Center as there was nothing more unique to Michigan than âMackinac.â Teri Olson once served as the Brighton Township deputy clerk and as a deputy supervisor in Green Oak Township. She also spent nearly two years as a legislative aide for former state representative Chris Ward. Olson passed away last July after a three year battle with cancer. The endowment will fund an intern annually from Hillsdale College who shows an aptitude in economics, political economy and the insurance and financial services industry. Olson said creating the endowment for a Hillsdale student to intern at the Mackinac Center ties together two entities he and Teri cared about deeply. (JK)
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Fenton Looks to Replace Fire Truck for Rural AccessFenton Looks to Replace Fire Truck for Rural Access
2/12/14 - With a portion of northern Livingston County now in its coverage area, the Fenton Fire Department is preparing to potentially purchase a more accessible vehicle for the longer driveways found there. The department has had a contract to cover Tyrone Township for three years and Chief Bob Cairnduff recently approached city council with a proposal to purchase a smaller truck to transport thick fire hoses up some of the driveways in the Denton Hill Road area that can be 800-feet long and flanked by trees. The Tri-County Times reports Cairnduff recently brought photos to a council work session of a truck that got stuck on a two-track, 740 feet driveway. The department currently has two smaller multi-use trucks, although one is seven years old and the other is approaching 15. Cairnduff estimates a new truck would cost approximately $110,000, while the one it would replace could probably be sold for around $30,000. Fenton City Council members told Cairnduff to prepare to request bids, which would likely be ready in April. (JK)
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Five Years Later, Family Still Searching for Missing Fenton WomanFive Years Later, Family Still Searching for Missing Fenton Woman
2/12/14 - Tuesday marked the five year anniversary of a Fenton womanâs disappearance and her family continues to search for answers. Then 42-year-old Randa Jawhari vanished from her apartment complex on Shiawassee Avenue near US-23 in Fenton on February 11th, 2009. Police say there were no signs of foul play or other clues as to where she may have gone. Randa, who had been diagnosed with mental illness, didnât own a car, cell phone or credit card. Extensive searches were conducted and at one point her family paid to have a billboard asking for information about her disappearance. Fenton Police had very few leads in the case and thereâs been no new information but say someone knows something about what happened, and one tip could help solve the case. The website www.findranda.org remains active and the family has been using other social networking sites in hopes of finding closure one day. More recently, the family has started tying purple ribbons around trees in her memory. Family members still ask that anyone with information come forward and a cash reward through Crime Stoppers of Michigan is still being offered. (JM)
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New Program Highlights LACASA's Broad Community ImpactNew Program Highlights LACASA's Broad Community Impact
2/12/14 - A local non-profit is opening its doors to the public as part of a new program so they can see firsthand how help and hope is offered to vulnerable children and adults in the community. The LACASA Center in Howell is launching a new monthly program that invites the community to learn about the agencyâs work during an hour-long âWithin these Wallsâ presentation. Itâs among 25 other programs offered to help victims and survivors of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault and thereâs always a need for volunteers. It will be four years in March that Fran Campbell will have been volunteering as part of LACASAâs on-call program. Sheâs dispatched with police and medical personnel to respond to emergency sexual assault and domestic violence situations. Campbell, who works as WHMIâs Office Manager, is on call ten days out of every month and says itâs a very rewarding experience. It was her own past personal history of abuse that motivated her to volunteer with LACASA and a desire to give back. She says most people just want someone to listen and it's a very rewarding feeling to know that you've made a difference in someone's life in an exact moment. The LACASA Center is encouraging the community come out and learn about the work that it is doing and the profound impact it has on the safety and well-being of Livingston County. The first event will be held Thursday morning but other âWithin these Wallsâ sessions will be held, including afternoon and evening hours. A complete schedule can be found through the link below. (JM)
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Local Motorists Encouraged to Report Potholes on State RoadsLocal Motorists Encouraged to Report Potholes on State Roads
2/12/14 - It's definitely not spring yet and winter is far from over from a mid-season warm-up has led to the early return of potholes across Livingston County and the state. The Michigan Department of Transportation says if crews arenât out salting or plowing, theyâre busy patching potholes. M-DOT is encouraging motorists to report potholes on state highways so they can be patched but also make sure to give crews room to work. M-DOT Spokeswoman Kari Arend says the freeze thaw-cycle arrived earlier than usual and thereâs still plenty of winter left to go but safety is their first priority. She says while the patching is only a temporary fix, it does help get everyone through until warmer weather returns. She says the quicker crews know where potholes are forming, the sooner they can get them patched. Local motorists can report potholes on state highways both by phone or online, 24 hours a day. MDOT's Pothole Hotline is 888-296-4546 while a "Report a Pothole" link is available in the "Spotlight" section of M-DOT's website and can be found below. (JM)
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Nominations Sought for Historic Howell AwardsNominations Sought for Historic Howell Awards
2/13/14 - Nominations are now being sought for the 8th Annual Historic Preservation and Design Awards Program for Howellâs Main Street/Downtown Development Authority. The program recognizes outstanding achievements and investments in commercial buildings by property owners that are consistent with standards of historic preservation stewardship and result in significant aesthetic and design improvements to the community. Eligible properties include any building located within the DDA district that is more than 50 years old. New developments will be eligible for a special category. Awards will be given in several categories including Preservation Stewardship that will recognize buildings that are well-maintained over a significant period of time, Exterior Restoration for those properties that have undergone significant rehabilitation or have been restored to their original style or appearance and Building Interior to recognize significant investment and renovation in historic building interiors. Lindsey Wooten, Outreach Coordinator at the Howell Main Street DDA, said the district ââ¦saw some wonderful improvements in 2013, and these projects have kept the historic nature of the downtown in mind.â Projects chosen for awards will be presented during a special event on May 15th as a kick off to Howell History Days. Nominations are due no later than 4pm on Friday, March 7th. For further information regarding the program, or to nominate a project, call (517) 545-4240.(JK)
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Bitter Cold Leads to Another Water Main Break in Brighton Area Bitter Cold Leads to Another Water Main Break in Brighton Area
12/13/14 - Utility crews from the City of Brighton worked overnight in the freezing cold again to make repairs following a water main break. A break in a 12-inch water main occurred late yesterday afternoon in Genoa Township. The location of the break was at a valve box located underneath the Marriott hotel entrance driveway near Conference Center Drive. The City of Brighton provides water utility service to that location via an intergovernmental service agreement with Genoa Township. City Manager Dana Foster says it appears the weight of the frost underneath the driveway pavement had placed enough pressure on top of a valve box, causing it to break away from the service lead lines. Traffic was not impacted but businesses in the immediate vicinity were without water service and had to close for the evening. The repair was made and water service restored about three this morning. On Monday night, the same crews spent hours repairing a water main on Rickett Road that resulted in a street closure and the loss of service for some residents in a nearby apartment complex. Repairs are said to move along once crews are able to access the break in a water main. However, the extreme cold both nights and ice accumulation in the ground prolonged efforts since crews had to excavate and break through a few feet of frost and frozen ground. (JM)
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Hamburg Board to Address County on Merrill Road Speed LimitHamburg Board to Address County on Merrill Road Speed Limit
2/13/14 - The entire Hamburg Township Board will attend an upcoming meeting of the County Board of Commissioners to ask for help on an issue of public safety. Township Supervisor Pat Hohl says the board is concerned about the speed limit of Merrill Road, which divides the two halves of Manley Bennett Park. He says the road currently has six to seven thousand cars per day with a speed limit of 55 miles per hour. The township board feels that this poses a threat to the young athletes who use the sports fields in the park and often must cross the road to get from the parking lot to the play areas. Hohl tells WHMI the township has been trying to get the speed limit on that road reduced since the 1980's without success. The township has now forwarded the information it has compiled on the subject to the County Board of Commissioners, and the entire board will attend the commission's March 3rd meeting to make a plea for their cause. Hohl says the gathering has been announced as an official special meeting for the board, which will prevent any questions of illegality regarding the Open Meeting Act. County officials tell WHMI that while they are glad to hear from Hamburg officials, the county doesn't set speed limits and that it's a process largely controlled by the State Police. (TD/JK)
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Celebration Sunday for Brighton's Biggest Sports Fan "Uncle Zub"Celebration Sunday for Brighton's Biggest Sports Fan "Uncle Zub"
2/13/14 - The Brighton community is coming together to throw a big party for a man with a positive spirit and love of high school sports. Brighton's greatest fan "Uncle Zub" has been struggling in his battle with Leukemia and exhausted conventional treatments. The ardent fan has been following and supporting the Brighton Boys Hockey and Girls Soccer teams for the last 20 years but also knows pretty much everything going on in high school hockey across the region and the state. The bachelorâs real name is Jim Niemi but no one would know ever know that. He comes from a large family and has dozens of nieces and nephews typically found in tow with him at games. The Brighton teams have organized a big community party and fundraiser entitled âSkate for Zub â No One Fights Aloneâ. Parent Lisa Bosio has a son on the hockey team and tells WHMI Zub is a very humble man who probably doesnât like all of the attention but he really has been an important part of their family environment and success as two-time state champs. She says itâs meant to be a time to celebrate, share memories and provide him with some financial support because anyone who has battled a chronic illness knows that bills and expenses can pile up quickly. Bosio says theyâve received huge support from students, athletes, alumni, coaches, and others from out of state and you can tell he means the world to a lot of people. She says the fundraiser allows everyone to spend some quality time with Zub while heâs still feeling good and let him know how much he means to everyone. Some hockey players in graphic design class are also going the extra mile and have created orange stickers to wear on their helmets that say âSkate for Zub â No One Fights Aloneâ. The logo will also be on t-shirts and orange wristbands, the color representing Leukemia, and will be sold at all home games and events for the remainder of the season. Sundayâs event will run from 1 to 3pm at the Kensington Valley Ice House on Grand River and features open skating, food, raffles and family activities with everything raised going directly to Zub. Details about fundraiser and an event flyer can be found through the link below. (JM)
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Grant Helps Provide Smoke Alarms for Deaf & Hearing Impaired Grant Helps Provide Smoke Alarms for Deaf & Hearing Impaired
2/13/14 - Many in the community are probably aware that smoke alarms help save lives, but what if you're hearing impaired? There are a number of devices available for those who are unable to rely on the life-saving warning sound of a working smoke alarm to alert them of fire. Thanks to a federal grant, the Brighton Area Fire Authority is able to not only provide typical smoke alarms to residents but special units for those who are deaf or have hearing impairments. The Life Tone unit looks like an alarm clock and re-transmits the alarm in a different tone and includes a device to physically shake the bed. Itâs paired to a smoke alarm in the home and activates when the smoke alarm senses smoke. Fire Authority Chief Mike OâBrian says itâs a unique group to try and figure out what the true demand is so theyâve been working with local schools and determine higher risk populations, which are children with hearing loss. He tells WHMI they're looking to install around $95,000 worth of smoke alarms in homes but they want to hear from residents in Livingston County who could benefit from one of the Life Tone units. More details and contact information for those looking to request a unit can be found in the press release below. (JM)
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Closed School Building to Be Used For Firefighters ClassClosed School Building to Be Used For Firefighters Class
2/13/14 - Before the wrecking ball gets a hold of a closed-down Howell school, students in a specialized class will get a chance to use it in their training. The 26 students in the Howell High School Firefighters 1 & 2 program will be performing search and rescue drills at the shuttered Latson Road Elementary School this Saturday. The students will be fully equipped with self-contained breathing apparatuses as they break through cinder block walls, crawl through the holes they make and pull fire hoses into the building. The training will also involve the two fire trucks that the district has purchased to support the firefighters program. School officials say the program is believed to be the first of its kind in the state, in which the district has partnered with local fire agencies to provide students who are interested in a career in firefighting with the training required to take the state firefighters exam. To enroll in the program students must be at least 16 years old and enrolled in Howell Public Schools. Upon turning 18 students will be eligible to take the state firefighters exam to earn their state firefighters certification. In addition to receiving firefighters training, students will also earn school credit for taking the course. Saturdayâs training exercise at Latson Road Elementary will begin at approximately 8:30am. (JK)
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Minor Injuries Reported Following Crash Involving School Bus Minor Injuries Reported Following Crash Involving School Bus
2/13/14 - Police say high snow banks may have played a factor in an accident involving a school bus in Conway Township this morning. Police say minor injuries resulted. The crash happened at approximately 8:30am at the intersection of Nicholson and Sober Roads. Michigan State Police Brighton Post say preliminary investigation indicates a 36-year-old Fowlerville man was traveling north bound on Nicholson Road in a black Dodge Caliber and had the right-of-way when entering the intersection of Nicholson and Sober Road. Police say simultaneously, a Fowlerville Community Schools bus traveling east on Sober Road had a yield sign and the driver slowed but did not see the Dodge Caliber so continued through the yield sign and was subsequently struck. Preliminary crash investigation indicates the driver of the bus failed to yield but high snow banks may have restricted her vision while approaching the intersection. Police say the driver of the Dodge Caliber had two children inside and minor injuries were reported but the occupants sought their own medical treatment. The school bus was carrying 27 elementary school children and a minor injury was reported to one, who also sought their own medical treatment. (JM)
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Hartland Township Unveils New Logo & Tagline Hartland Township Unveils New Logo & Tagline
2/13/14 - Friendly By Nature. Thatâs the new definition of Hartland Township. After months of focus groups and community input, the municipality revealed its new logo and tagline today. Itâs part of a larger community branding project thatâs a combined effort between Hartland Township, the Hartland Area Chamber of Commerce, Hartland Consolidated Schools and the Cromaine District Library. Township Manager James Wickman tells WHMI there were some really interesting conversations that led to the new logo and tagline, and consensus among residents and business owners about what makes Hartland so unique and special. Wickman says the terms âfriendlyâ and âwelcomingâ were consistent in the focus groups and the natural beauty of the community â from the parks to lakefront living â were also a theme. He says the end result accurately reflects everything they heard in discussions. Wickman says thereâs more to come and a number of applications for the branding, which will be implemented over time in various areas. (JM)
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Healthy Hearts Focus of "Go Red for Women" Event Healthy Hearts Focus of "Go Red for Women" Event
2/14/14 - While some might be wearing red for obvious reasons this Valentines Day, a large group dressed in red Thursday for a different reason. The message from Thursdayâs Go Red for Women event in Brighton was pretty simple - get heart healthy and take care of yourself. More than 100 women dressed in red and a few men gathered at Oak Pointe Country Club for the event hosted by The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Joseph Mercy Health System. The goal was to raise awareness about womenâs heart health, how to prevent it through education overall ways to be healthy and hopefully end the disease. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States and the event offered ways to become stronger, healthier and stand together. There were a number of breakout sessions including zumba, yoga and one that focused on heart healthy meals on the go from Michigan Heart Cardiovascular Dietician Bev Kuznicki, who told WHMI itâs easier than one would think to eat heart healthy - choose more color, fruits and vegetables. The featured speaker yesterday was Dr. G. Alfred Dodds III, a cardiologist with Michigan Heart. He discussed the various risk factors for women, early detection and prevention. To learn more about heart disease and the Go Red for Women movement, click on the link below. (JM)
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