2/14/14 - A judge has denied a motion from a Stockbridge man currently serving a prison sentence for home invasion to withdraw his plea. 36-year-old Jason Robert Cavender received a sentence of 6 to 20 years in prison last July after pleading no contest to 1st degree home invasion in Livingston County Circuit Court. In exchange, two other charges of assault with intent to rob while armed and felony firearms were dropped by prosecutors, along with Cavenderâs habitual offender status. The deal was reached after Cavenderâs first trial ended with a hung jury in January of 2013 when the group failed to reach a unanimous verdict. His attorney had sought to withdraw that plea, disputing that the facts supported it, but at a hearing yesterday Judge Michael Hatty denied that request, saying the plea had been properly entered. Police said Cavender entered a home on San Luray Drive on September 27th of 2011, pointed a gun at a female resident and demanded prescription medication. When the victim told him she did not have any, police say he got nervous and fled on foot. A four month investigation by Unadilla Township Police followed and resulted in the charges.
Motion to Withdraw Plea in Unadilla Home Invasion DeniedMotion to Withdraw Plea in Unadilla Home Invasion Denied
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Livingston Health Department Seeks National AccreditationLivingston Health Department Seeks National Accreditation
2/14/14 - There will be a new employee at the Livingston County Health Department as exiting staff shifts focus to aim for national accreditation. To achieve that designation, the department will be examining and attempting to improve the quantity and quality of its services, how they are provided, and where they are the most efficient. There is currently only one accredited health department in the state and 150 nationwide. Director Diane McCormick says with Health Educator Chelsea Moxlow working on accreditation, the department will need someone to back-fill her position and take over regular duties. The County Board of Commissioners approved the hiring of a new health educator at its regular meeting on February 3rd. The position is expected to pay upwards of $40,000 per year, but would come to an end after two years, by which time the department could have achieved national accreditation. McCormick says she plans to begin advertising the position in April, and she expects to see a repeat of the strong talent pool that applied for the department's last open health educator position. The position should be filled by May. (TD)
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Daughters of Fallen Officer Get Special EscortsDaughters of Fallen Officer Get Special Escorts
2/14/14 - They may have lost their father more than a year ago, but the co-workers of a slain police officer from Tyrone Township werenât about to let his three daughters miss out on a rite of passage. 11-year-old Eileen, 9-year-old Mary and 6-year-old Andrea are the daughters of West Bloomfield Police Officer Patrick OâRourke, who was killed in the line of duty in September of 2012. Three of his colleagues recently escorted the girls to a Daddy-Daughter dance at Schmidt Middle School in Fenton. Their mother, Amy OâRourke, attended with her father as both served as volunteers. Officer Art Smith, who served on the honor guard at the funeral, escorted Eileen OâRourke, while Officers Derek Case and Joe Miller, who were both on the scene the day Patrick OâRourke was killed, escorted Mary and Andrea. Amy OâRourke says while she didnât know the three officers before that tragic day, she considers them family now. Photo courtesy of Amy O'Rourke (JK)
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Man Who Led Cops on Drunken Chase SentencedMan Who Led Cops on Drunken Chase Sentenced
2/14/14 - A Brighton Township man police say was intoxicated at a local drive-thru and then led numerous police agencies on a chase has been sentenced. 22-year-old Alec Jonathan Prinzing was ordered to spend a year in the Livingston County Jail for his guilty plea to two counts of fleeing a police officer, three counts of assault/resisting/obstructing an officer and operating under the influence of alcohol. The incident started in the early morning hours of November 6th when two Green Oak Township Police officers were outside of their vehicle at the Whitmore Lake McDonalds and informed that a man believed to be intoxicated was in the drive-thru. Police say Prinzing ignored commands to park and instead revved his engine and sped off, forcing the officers who were on foot to jump out of the way. A vehicle chase ensued along several local roads and police say Prinzing lost control several times, striking a stop sign at an intersection as well as a gas main in the yard of a home. The pursuit continued onto northbound US-23, where stop sticks were eventually deployed near Lee Road, and the vehicle finally coming to a halt near the I-96 interchange. His blood-alcohol content was more than twice the stateâs legal limit. At his sentencing Thursday, Prinzing was given credit for 99 days already served. (JK)
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Woman to Enter Plea in Crash That Claimed Life of Brazilian ManWoman to Enter Plea in Crash That Claimed Life of Brazilian Man
2/14/14 - A Livingston County woman is expected to enter a plea later this month in connection with a motorcycle crash that claimed the life of a Brazilian man in Howell Township. 52-year-old Susiter Doses of Howell was charged with a misdemeanor moving violation causing death in connection with the death of 20-year-old William Naatz. Naatz was pronounced dead at a hospital following the August 3rd crash last summer while Doses was treated and released at the scene. Court records show the case has been held up due to the lack of an interpreter despite efforts to contact one, and that Doses has accepted an offer and would like to enter a plea. An interpreter will be contacted one last time ahead of a February 26th hearing but Doses was instructed to bring a family member to the hearing in case an interpreter is needed. Police say Naatz was traveling west on Grand River on his motorcycle when he was hit by a 2007 Ford Edge driven by Doses, which had pulled out from the VGâs parking lot. Naatz was attending college in Michigan and was the son of a city councilman in Blumenau, Brazil. (JM)
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Local Dems Question Jail Expansion & County Study PanelsLocal Dems Question Jail Expansion & County Study Panels
2/14/14 - Local Democrats are not only questioning the need, but the make-up of county committees currently studying an expansion of the Livingston County Jail. Livingston County Democratic Party Chairwoman Judy Daubenmier says the perspective of taxpayers as well as defense attorneys are absent from the committees that are examining the jail expansion, which consist of commissioners and judicial members. Daubenmier says defense attorney representation on the committee is vital to make sure that every alternative and possibility has been explored before spending $14 (m) million plus interest and $2 (m) million annually for constructing and operating a bigger jail. She says the history of jail and prison expansions shows that once more cells are added, they fill up and cost more money. The complete press release issued is attached. Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Carol Griffith says the board has been looking at the jail improvement for a couple of years and there is a need for an expanded jail due to overcrowding and the types of inmates being housed including changes in the male and female populations. Now that they have a fairly good handle on the bricks and mortar costs, she says a new committee will be examining the costs associated with operations and sustainability. Griffith says the jail is a very complex issue involving complex cases and inmates but many groups work together and Livingston County is continually looking at community alternatives for the jail and will continue to do. She noted the possibility of restored state revenue sharing that could help with jail operations and have also talked about the possibility of renting bed space to generate revenue. The new committee held its first organizational meeting today and Griffith says it will determine what other input and committees will be needed, including citizens and stakeholders. (JM)
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Severe Winter Weather Cancels Blood Drives; Donors NeededSevere Winter Weather Cancels Blood Drives; Donors Needed
2/15/14 - The American Red Cross says harsh weather this winter season has resulted in a severe decline in blood donations from coast to coast. The number of cancellations is the equivalent of the American Red Cross having to shut down national operations for more than two full days. Spokesman Todd Kulman tells WHMI itâs the blood on the shelves now that help save lives in emergency situations but the severe winter weather throughout January and into February forced the cancellation of blood drives, resulting in shortages. When compared to winters past, Kulman says donations are down by about 10% on average from typical January donations since 2011. He says donors of all types are needed but especially O-negative, O-positive, B-negative and A-negative. Complete details about blood drives in the Livingston County area can be found in he attachment below. (JM)
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Woman Rejects Deal in Animal Cruelty Case After Horses SeizedWoman Rejects Deal in Animal Cruelty Case After Horses Seized
2/15/14 - It appears a Cohoctah Township woman could be fighting animal cruelty charges all the way to trial. 71-year-old Velva Jean Wainscott is charged with abandoning/cruelty to one animal resulting in death and a second count of abandoning/cruelty to 2 or 3 animals. She recently rejected a plea deal that was offered by prosecutors during a hearing in 53rd District Court. Records show the case is set for jury selection in April. Wainscott was charged after an investigation into the death of a horse found lying on its paddock on her Byron Road property January 12th. She was ordered not to possess any horses while the criminal case is pending, and rescue groups aided Livingston County Animal Control in removing the nine remaining horses from her farm on February 6th. The most recent seizure is pictured. Wainscott's horses were previously seized by Animal Control in November of 2012 after she was accused of abandoning or cruelty to 10 or more horses. Those charges were dismissed with prejudice and the animals were returned. The nine horses that were removed recently were transported to Starry Skies Equine Rescue in Ann Arbor and Horsesâ Haven in Howell for rehabilitation. (JM)
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South Lyon Man Charged After Hitting Woman w/ SUV Enters PleaSouth Lyon Man Charged After Hitting Woman w/ SUV Enters Plea
2/15/14 - A South Lyon man who police say hit a woman with his SUV in a local park last summer has entered a plea. 24-year-old Roy Joseph Galdes pleaded guilty as charged to operating under the influence of alcohol causing injury, possession of marijuana, and having open intoxicants in a vehicle. Police said Galdes was intoxicated and had open alcohol in his vehicle when the Novi woman was struck by his SUV at the Island Lake Recreation Area the afternoon of June 22nd last year. Toxicology reports later revealed that he had a blood-alcohol level of .22%, nearly three times the stateâs legal limit for driving. Witnesses told police that Galdes had backed out of his parking spot and hit the woman, pinning her between the two vehicles. She was hospitalized and unable to walk for a couple of weeks as a result. Both the victim and her doctor testified at a previous hearing that she used a walker for roughly a month due to the injuries received. Galdes will be sentenced in Livingston County Circuit Court March 20th. (JM)
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Students in Howell Firefighting Program Get Hands-On Training
2/15/14 - Howell High School students enrolled in a unique firefighters program spent their Saturday knocking out walls, breaking down doors and crawling through smoke filled rooms as part of search and rescue drills. The training took place at the shuttered Latson Road Elementary School, slated to be demolished this spring. It offered a perfect venue for the drills, one of which students entered a dark room completely filled with smoke to search and rescue a victim. There are 26 students enrolled in the program thatâs believed to be the first of its kind in the state. The Howell Public Schools district has partnered with local fire agencies to provide students interested in a career in firefighting with the training required to take the state firefighters exam. Lieutenant Tom Kiurski with the Brighton Area Fire Authority currently runs the Howell Fire Academy program. 16-year-old Liam Moore of Howell is a junior and says itâs a lot of hands-on experience with practical drills, ladder work and physical training but he's living a dream. Upon turning 18, students are eligible to take the state firefighters exam and earn certification. (JM)
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Residents Urged To Get Cats Neutered Before Spring BreedingResidents Urged To Get Cats Neutered Before Spring Breeding
2/16/14 - With kitten season coming up this spring, Livingston County Animal Control is urging residents to help control the cat population by having feral cats neutered. The department is offering to neuter any feral cats captured by residents for $25, which includes ear-tipping and rabies vaccinations. The program, called Trap-Neuter-Release or TNR, aims to help stabilize feral cat populations in the long term. Feral cats cannot be tamed or adopted into homes, and Animal Control says killing the cats only frees up their territory for more cats to move in and breed. However, they say a feral cat that is caught in a live trap, spayed or neutered, and released back into its regular area will continue to defend its territory without increasing the local cat population. Ear-tipping identifies the cat as neutered, and the rabies vaccination prevents the animal from contracting and spreading the disease. Animal Control is also offering discounted rates for people who bring in three or more cats for the program. For more information, contact Animal Control or click on the link below. (TD)
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Man Charged In Injury Crash Scheduled For TrialMan Charged In Injury Crash Scheduled For Trial
2/16/14 - A Howell-area man charged in a criminal complaint for a crash that severed the leg of a motorcyclist is heading to trial. 45-year-old Leonard Wayne Cunningham is charged with a Moving Violation Causing Serious Impairment of a Body Function. 53rd District Court records show that a waiver of jury trial was filed and a February trial has been scheduled. In convicted, Cunningham could face up to 93 days in jail. State Police say Cunningham was driving his sedan eastbound on Grand River in Genoa Township just before 9pm the evening of August 28th, 2012 when he turned left onto Golf Club Road and struck a motorcycle driven by 72-year-old Arden Painter, who was westbound on Grand River. Troopers arriving on the scene found the motorcyclists leg had been amputated in the crash and had to apply a tourniquet until paramedics arrived. (JM)
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Bomber Restoration Project Seeking Online Votes For GrantBomber Restoration Project Seeking Online Votes For Grant
2/17/14 - Less than a week of voting remains for an online contest for grant money being sought by a local museum to restore a World War II bomber. The B-25, dubbed Sandbar Mitchell, was recovered from a sandbar near Fairbanks, Alaska last July by a team of volunteers, then shipped to the small Wings of Glory Aviation Museum in Brighton. Right now the project is progressing, with work being done to repair the damage from the plane's 1969 crash landing, but Director Patrick Mihalek has decided to enter the museum in an online contest in hopes of getting money to help with its completion. The contest is being sponsored by FedEx and performed on Facebook, where anyone with an account can vote every day through February 23rd. There will be ten prizes awarded through the contest, including a $25,000 grand prize. Right now, the museum is competing against 1900 other nonprofit and for-profit organizations. On February 23rd the top 100 organizations in the contest will be chosen by FedEx, and then four essay questions will determine the winners of the grant money. Mihalek says he would spend the money on parts and equipment to help with the restoration, which is being undertaken by volunteers and local youth aged 13 to 18. For more information, including a link to the Facebook voting page, follow the link below. (TD)
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Train Collision Kills Two in Argentine TownshipTrain Collision Kills Two in Argentine Township
2/17/14 - Two men were killed in a collision between their truck and a train in Argentine Township this weekend. The men, identified as 31-year-old Robert Bosch of Gaines and 67-year-old Theodore Pudvay of Argentine Township, were traveling north on a private road near Seymour Road just after 3:00pm on Saturday when their vehicle was struck by a train. Argentine Township Police Chief Dan Allen told The Tri-County Times that Pudvay was driving a black 2003 Chevy pickup truck when he crossed over a private crossing on his property on Lahring Road. It was then struck on the passenger side by a westbound train. Allen said the train dragged the truck between one-quarter and one-half mile down the tracks. The cause of the crash is being investigated by police and the railroad company, but Argentine Police say they do not know if the driver was able to see the train coming. (JK)
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Hundreds Attend 6th Annual Runway Repurposed Fashion Show
2/17/14 - Models paraded across the catwalk for a cause at the Johnson Center of Cleary University in Howell Sunday afternoon. More than 450 people turned out to see 36 local clothing designers put their imaginations to work creating outfits for the Runway Repurposed Fashion Show, the 6th annual fundraiser for the Howell Opera House. Designers began their projects a month ago, after choosing inspiring pieces of entirely donated clothing. A panel of 8 judges awarded first place to Josie Madzik, Sarah Corcoran, Geralyn Battle and Lori Dodds in young beginner, beginner student, beginner adult and advanced categories for their original creations. Leila Al-Qallaf, Abigail DeKoninck, Emily Matticks and Karen Rex came in second in the same categories. Among the judges was actress and author Melissa Gilbert who recently moved to Howell. Gilbert tells WHMI she enjoyed being a part of the event and engaging with her new community. The event also held a silent auction of some of the modeled outfits as an additional fundraiser as well as a tribute to Nancy Anderson, who was a co-chair to Runway Repurposed. Anderson was diagnosed with cancer last year and lost her battle against it this fall. While the final amount of proceeds from the fashion show has yet to be calculated, Blythe Patterson, President of the Livingston Arts Council, says âit is such a great programâ and their âmission is to bring arts and culture to Livingston Countyâ. (DK)
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Student Penny Drive Pays Off For Local American Legion PostStudent Penny Drive Pays Off For Local American Legion Post
2/17/14 - The hard work of Highland Elementary students paid off this month when they were able to present a check to their local American Legion post. The students began collecting pennies in November around Veteransâ Day, with the different classrooms competing against one another to raise the most. According to the Milford Times, a total of $700 was raised in the month-long competition. It was presented to the American Legion Milford Post in a ceremony on February 6th and will be used to support the Legionâs various charities. The Legion post gave the school a new American flag to express its gratitude. The class that raised the most money in pennies was rewarded with a pizza party, and to increase the competition, students were allowed to use silver coins to subtract from the total scores of other classrooms. (TD)
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Legislator Hosting Fenton Meeting on Human TraffickingLegislator Hosting Fenton Meeting on Human Trafficking
2/17/14 - An area legislator will be gathering with the public next week in Fenton to discuss what is being described as one of the fastest-growing types of crime in Michigan. State Rep. Joe Graves will a town hall meeting to discuss human trafficking in the St. Johnâs Church Activity Center on Adelaide Street. The Argentine Township Republican says itâs an issue that affects every corner of the state. The issue took on added meaning for the Fenton area last December when the Lake Spa on Torrey Road was suspended from business due to allegations of prostitution. The possibility of human trafficking was also mentioned as a concern. A series of 23 bills currently under consideration would declare human trafficking a public nuisance; create a human trafficking commission with the Attorney Generalâs Office and presume all minors arrested for prostitution are victims in need of counseling and other assistance. The bills are currently being reviewed by the House Criminal Justice Committee and could hit Gov. Rick Snyderâs desk by this summer. The town hall meeting is set for 7pm, next Tuesday, February 25th. (JK)
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City of South Lyon Declares Snow EmergencyCity of South Lyon Declares Snow Emergency
2/17/14 - The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for Livingston County until 4am, with 3 to 6 inches of snow expected before tapering off. The storm has prompted the City of South Lyon to declare a snow emergency. On street parking is prohibited from 6pm until noon Tuesday. A snow emergency is declared in South Lyon when snow or ice accumulation exceeds four inches to allow Department of Public Works crews to safely remove snow from City streets and parking lots. Snow and ice must also be removed from paved sidewalks within 24 hours of a winter storm. (JM)
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Second Anti-Drug Strategic Plan Meeting Scheduled Next WeekSecond Anti-Drug Strategic Plan Meeting Scheduled Next Week
2/18/14 - A series of meetings designed to create a strategic plan to fight drug abuse in Livingston County will hold its second gathering next week. The series is being put on by representatives from several local anti-drug organizations, including the Livingston County Community Alliance, LACASA, and the Hartland and Pinckney Coalitions. Their goal is to put together a plan allowing them to work together in the fight against substance abuse county-wide. They plan to choose scientifically-verified methods provided by the federal administration that deals with substance abuse and mental health, then implement them through the various organizations depending on their areas of strength. The first in the four-meeting series took place in December and covered efforts already being undertaken in the county. The next meeting, where the strategic plan will begin to take shape, is scheduled for February 27th at St. Maryâs Church in Pinckney. Those interested in attending can register online by following the link below. (TD)
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Firefighters Prevent Blaze From Spreading at South Lyon Business Firefighters Prevent Blaze From Spreading at South Lyon Business
2/18/14 - Firefighters from three departments were able to prevent a fire from extending to the main building of a heat treating business in the City of South Lyon this past weekend. The South Lyon Fire Department was dispatched for a structure fire at Sun Steel Treating located on North Mill Street at around 1:30 Sunday afternoon. The department reports that the fire was held to a first alarm and there were no injuries. The Green Oak and Lyon Township Fire Departments assisted on scene and crews worked to prevent the fire from spreading, damage was limited to a detached building. There were said to be some people working inside at the time but all escaped safely. An exact cause has not been determined but the South Lyon Herald reports could be associated with static build-up from dust and debris that collected inside a filter bank. Photo SLFD Facebook page. (JM)
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