2/24/14 - Following last nightâs conclusion to Season 4 of the popular PBS series Downton Abbey, the Pinckney Community Public Library will host a special event this week to celebrate and discuss the program. Director Hope Siasoco says there is a great interest in the show locally, with constant waiting lists to check out the first three seasons from the library. She says a special evening dedicated to the show will be held Tuesday, February 25th, from 6 - 7:30pm. In keeping with the show's setting, the library will offer refreshments from the 1920's at the beginning of the program. Those will be followed by an hour-long discussion of season four. Siasoco tells WHMI the evening will also be a learning opportunity to help residents understand the era, with actors from the Pinckney Players attending in period clothing and some dance students performing ballroom dances of the era.There is no cost to the evening, but seating is limited and organizers ask that those who plan to attend register in advance. Contact the Pinckney Community Public Library to reserve a place. (TD)
Pinckney Library to Host an Evening of Downton Abbey Pinckney Library to Host an Evening of Downton Abbey
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South Lyon Search for New Manager ExtendedSouth Lyon Search for New Manager Extended
2/24/14 - The deadline to apply for the South Lyon City manager's job had originally been set to expire this week, but has instead been extended. The original deadline for applications was this Thursday, but the consultant heading up the search process informed officials that she was moving it to March 13th to allow for additional candidates. Joyce Parker had received only 13 applications, but had set a goal of at least 30 to choose from. The job will pay between $85,000 and $95,000 with the ideal candidate having leadership ability to motivate elected officials, staff and others with experience in planning, zoning and code enforcement. They also need a bachelorâs degree in public or business administration or a related field, although a master degree is preferred. The position is currently occupied by interim city manager Rod Cook, who took over after the firing last fall of Dave Murphy. Cook is working 25 to 30 hours a week through June 30th, unless his contract is ended before that. While Cook is out of town until April 5th, he says he is working remotely as needed. Heâs also being assisted by South Lyon Police Chief Lloyd Collins. Because of the delay in the closing out the search process, Parker has also had to extend that date by which she expected a manager to be hired from March 27th to April 16th. (JK)
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Employees Laid Off & Assets Sold as Liquid Manufacturing ClosesEmployees Laid Off & Assets Sold as Liquid Manufacturing Closes
2/24/14 - Despite recent assurances from the owner that his company was not in jeopardy, Liquid Manufacturing has been closed and its employees laid off. On Wednesday, the building and property of the Green Oak beverage producer were foreclosed and sold at auction for $3.25 million. Liquid Manufacturing has faced numerous lawsuits in recent years, including ongoing litigation with Green Oak Township. Officials claim the business was responsible for numerous building, fire, and sewer code violations, and more than $600,000 in unpaid taxes and fines. Officials plan to recover this money by putting liens on the property, which they do not expect to be reopened in the near future. According to Liquid Manufacturingâs former Sanitation Supervisor Joshua Stout, employees were assured that all was well with the company until Friday, two days after the foreclosure, when they were told they had been laid off. Nonetheless, Stout says many of them suspected something was up. Former Head Brewer Peter Fras tells WHMI he has worked for Liquid Manufacturing for three and a half years, and there have been signs of trouble for quite a while now, including checks being floated to suppliers, resources being shifted between clients, and direct deposit paychecks being canceled because the company could not maintain the account balance necessary for the service. Fras says several employees are also owed money by Liquid Manufacturing, since the layoffs came in the middle of a pay period and no final paychecks were issued. Stout says the company told employees that it will not be paying them, and that the obligation had passed to the propertyâs new owners. (TD)
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Fenton Plans To Buy Smaller Fire Engine to Better Serve TyroneFenton Plans To Buy Smaller Fire Engine to Better Serve Tyrone
2/24/14 - To meet the challenges of responding to incidents in Tyrone Township, the Fenton City Fire Department will be purchasing a new, smaller vehicle. Fire Chief Bob Cairnduff says normal, full-sized fire engines work well in the city, but have a harder time responding to emergencies in Tyrone. Rural houses tend to have longer, narrower driveways that may be poorly maintained or have overgrowth from trees. Large fire engines may not be able to reach residents at the end of these driveways, requiring firefighters to waste time running hoses to from the street by foot. With a 15-year-old engine being retired this year, the Fenton City Council recently approved seeking bids for the purchase of a smaller engine to make responding easier in those tight quarters. Cairnduff visited the Tyrone Township Board last week to explain the plan. Called a mini-pumper, the vehicle is narrower, 10 to 15 feet shorter, and one-third lighter to make accessing homes in Tyrone easier. Its primary use will be making medical runs, but it will also allow firefighters to run hose along Tyrone's long driveways while full-size fire engines pump water from the road. Cairnduff says he expects to have the new engine within a year. Replacing the old fire engine with a similar vehicle would cost about $110,000, but the new mini-pumper should cost the department closer to $200,000. (TD)
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Milford Officials Seek State Grants & Loans for UpgradesMilford Officials Seek State Grants & Loans for Upgrades
2/24/14 - Itâs no Powerball, but officials in Milford will be paying close attention to a lottery drawing next month in Lansing. Itâs anticipated that needed repairs and upgrades to the village wastewater treatment plant will run between $7 and $9 million dollars, including the addition of an equalization basin, additional sludge storage capacity and an upgraded filtering ability. While the plant, located on General Motors Road, west of Milford Road, was built in the mid-1980âs, the Milford Times reports that some of the tanks and buildings date back to the 1950âs. Last June, the Milford Village Council approved a resolution to adopt the 2013 State Revolving Fund project plan, which identifies and prioritizes projects that need to be scheduled for future construction. The village has five years to remain on the project priority list for those funds, which if granted would provide low interest DEQ loans. Officials also submitted two applications for approximately $1.2 million in grants from the Stormwater, Asset Management, and Wastewater fund, one for asset management and the second for engineering design of the projects. But because of the large number of such requests from across the state, the DEQ will hold a lottery in March to determine the recipients. But Milford officials are hopeful that even if they donât get picked in the first round, they will eventually receive funding for the upgrades. (JK)
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Driver Arrested in Fatal Crash Released Pending Test ResultsDriver Arrested in Fatal Crash Released Pending Test Results
2/24/14 - The driver police was responsible for killing a Mount Morris man in Tyrone Township when he rear-ended his car has been released. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI that the 49-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene of the crash along US-23, south of White Lake Road after a preliminary breath test indicated he had a blood-alcohol content of .16%, twice the stateâs legal limit for driving. However, he was released today after the Livingston County Prosecutorâs Office declined to issue charges pending the return of toxicology tests. Killed in the Friday night crash was 31-year-old Leroy Leon Batson. Bezotte says police in the Fenton area had earlier issued a âbe on the lookoutâ bulletin for Batsonâs car after motorists reported he was driving erratically. His car was in park in the right lane of the freeway when it was rear-ended. A medical examiner concluded Batson died from injuries related to the crash, but toxicology tests are expected to take at least six weeks to complete. (JK)
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Brighton DDA Seeks Applicants To Open Board SeatBrighton DDA Seeks Applicants To Open Board Seat
2/25/13 - Brighton is seeking applicants to an open position on its Downtown Development Authority board. Mondi Miller resigned from the board following a disagreement at a meeting last week. Applications to fill the vacancy are now being accepted by the city. In order to be considered, an applicant must be a businessowner or have interest in property in the downtown district, or be an agent of a legal entity that does. Applicants also cannot be in default to the City of Brighton. Those interested are asked to submit letters of application and resumes summarizing their experience, qualifications, and leadership qualities to Jennifer Burke, Human Resource Director/Deputy City Clerk, at 200 N. 1st Street, Brighton, Michigan 48116. The deadline to apply is Friday. (TD)
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Trial Delayed for Man Charged in Unadilla Township MurderTrial Delayed for Man Charged in Unadilla Township Murder
2/25/14 - A Montcalm County man charged with a local murder has had his trial delayed. 50-year-old Mark David Jackson of Vestaburg is charged with a single count of Open Murder as a Fourth Habitual Offender in the death of 52-year-old Jonathan Risinger. A trial had been set to begin in Livingston County Circuit Court on Monday, but has been adjourned until May 5th. Risingerâs body was found October 6th by authorities who were called to his Berkshire Road residence. Authorities say they believe the actual death took place on October 4th. However, no information has been released as to the manner of death or relationship between Jackson and Risinger. If convicted, Jackson could face a sentence of life in prison. The case was investigated by the Unadilla Township Police Department and detectives from the Michigan State Police. At the time of the murder, Jackson was on parole for a 1996 conviction in Livingston County on six counts of 2nd degree home invasion, for which he served 14 years in prison.
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Fowlerville Reduces Pay For Village Council PresidentFowlerville Reduces Pay For Village Council President
2/25/14 - Fowlerville Village Council President Wayne Copeland wears a lot of hats, but last night the council made changes to village ordinance in case his successor takes a more part-time approach. In addition to serving as council president Copeland also supervises the village's Department of Public Works and covers many of the duties of the village manager. Fowlerville has been without a manager ever since Joe Merucci unexpectedly resigned in 2012. Because of his large workload, Copeland's pay was changed by the board from a per diem pay rate to a monthly salary of about $2,000. However, Copeland's current term expires in November, and whoever is elected to replace him might not be able to provide the full-time commitment needed for all of those duties. Village Attorney David Stoker tells WHMI the council passed an ordinance amendment last night preparing for that possibility by returning the position to per diem pay of $255 per meeting. Council wanted to make the change now, well ahead of the election, so anyone who ran for the position would know what kind of pay they could expect. Copeland has said that he is happy with his duties right now, so there is no need for the village to spend another $200,000 a year on a village manager and DPW supervisor. However, he has not yet decided if he will run for reelection in November. (TD)
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Possible Attempted Kidnapping Foiled at Genoa WalmartPossible Attempted Kidnapping Foiled at Genoa Walmart
2/25/14 - Deputies from the Livingston County Sheriff's Department responded to Walmart in Genoa Township after a man reportedly attempted to walk off with a cart containing a baby. A Fowlerville couple had taken their 6-month-old daughter to the retailer on Sunday night and turned away from the girl to look at some merchandise. They say that's when the suspect, a 52-year-old Howell man, grabbed their cart and began to walk away. The couple says they shouted for the man to stop, but he continued to walk away, so they had to chase him down and recover their daughter on foot. He claimed that he had grabbed the wrong cart by mistake, and that he did not notice the baby or its large red carrier. The incident was reported to the Sheriff's Department as a possible attempted kidnapping, and deputies responded to the store. They found the man at the checkout aisle, and though he was not arrested a report of the incident has been submitted to the county prosecutor for possible charges. Sheriff Bob Bezotte says the couple reacted well to the situation by spotting the problem quickly and reporting it to authorities. He says the store and its employees reacted properly as well, cooperating with police and providing security footage. He says the security footage shows the man look at the cart, look away, then grab it and walk away. (TD)
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Fenton Mortgage Scammer Captured in Saline; Attacks ProsecutorFenton Mortgage Scammer Captured in Saline; Attacks Prosecutor
2/25/14 - A convicted mortgage-fraud fugitive from Fenton assaulted a federal prosecutor Monday, just hours after getting nabbed in Saline. 46-year-old Ronnie Edward Duke was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Saline for failing to report to prison after pleading guilty to a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme Officials say Duke was in U.S. District Court in Detroit when he allegedly attacked a female assistant U.S. attorney. She received minor injuries and sought treatment at a nearby hospital. Duke was ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on June 3rd, 2013, after being sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, but was released from custody on a $20,000 unsecured bond by U.S. District Judge Julian Abele Cook despite objections from federal prosecutors. Duke was charged in the scheme along with several others, including William Camsell Wells III of Oceola Township who was previously sentenced to 8 and a half years in prison. Duke was at the center of the scam in which fake loans were used to generate cash for travel, upscale homes, expensive boats and even a helicopter. Authorities say the fraud triggered losses of more than $100 (m) million and involved roughly 180 homes in the region between 2004 and 2007. Wells recruited so-called âstrawâ buyers, who filed fraudulent loan applications. Duke would then arrange the loans, which ranged in size from approximately $350,000 to $600,000. The money was used to finance Hardcore Motorsports, a Hartland-based business that he owned. While no new charges have yet been filed against Duke, the incident is under investigation by the U.S. Marshals and FBI. (JK)
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Former Liquid Manufacturing Employees Seeking Legal ActionFormer Liquid Manufacturing Employees Seeking Legal Action
2/25/14 - After Liquid Manufacturing shut down last week, some of its former employees are seeking legal action to get paid for their last paychecks. On Wednesday, the building and property of the Green Oak beverage producer were foreclosed and sold at auction for $3.25 million. Former employees report that they were assured that everything was fine until two days after the foreclosure, when they were laid off unexpectedly in the middle of the day. They say the layoff came in the middle of a pay period, but that former owner Peter Paisley told them the new owners of the building were responsible for getting the employees their final paychecks. Jessica Balden, who previously worked in the plantâs quality control department, says she is owed in excess of $1,000. She joined some other former employees in visiting the plant yesterday seeking reimbursement, but to no avail. She tells WHMI she and some other former employees are now seeking legal action. Balden says she gave her information and statement to a law firm, and expects them to get back with her this week as to whether she has a case. Any other former employees of Liquid Manufacturing interested in joining the potential lawsuit can contact Balden at j.balden@yahoo.com. Additionally, two informational meetings will be held early next month by Michigan Works to explain the services offered free of charge at the organizationâs Service Center. These include job placement assistance, training, career counseling, and filing for unemployment. Those meetings will be held at the service center on March 4th and 5th. (TD)
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Fix of Lake Tyrone Sewer System Moving ForwardFix of Lake Tyrone Sewer System Moving Forward
2/25/14 - The Livingston County Drain Commission will continue to move forward with a project that has left residents of Hartland and Tyrone Township in limbo since 2007. The Livingston County Drain Commissioner Brian Jonckheere came before the countyâs Public Safety and Infrastructure & Development committee Monday night to request the Lake Tyrone Sanitary Sewer Drain be relinquished to Livingston County. The committee gave preliminary approval to connect the drain to the Livingston County Regional Sanitary Sewer. State regulations requiring a change in the way waste water is discharged brought the dilemma before the Livingston County Drain Commission nearly seven years ago. The Drain Commission opted to connect to the Livingston Regional system back in October, as opposed to constructing an onsite system which they believe had greater risks. The stipulations before the project was able to move forward included paying off construction debt of the original construction, which came from bonds that were issued in 1989. While the committee had some concerns surrounding the relinquishment of the drain, Jonckheere believes the lot occupancy at Lake Tyrone guarantees payment for the new bonds of the project. With 180 of the 185 lake-front lots on Lake Tyrone currently occupied, the degree of permanence and stability creates a successful bond repayment plan, which he called a âwin-win for everyone except the residents who have been in limbo for a number of years.â But he believes the end result will be beneficial to all entities involved. (JK)
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Ohio Man Found Guilty Of Sexual Relationship With Local GirlOhio Man Found Guilty Of Sexual Relationship With Local Girl
2/25/14 - The trial of an Ohio man accused of having sexual relations last year with a local 13-year-old girl ended with a guilty verdict today. 31-year-old Carloque Lanning of Toledo is charged with five counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct, as well as being a fourth-time habitual offender. He was found guilty on all counts by a Livingston County Circuit Court jury today, and will be sentenced by Judge Miriam Cavanaugh on March 20th. The charges against Lanning stem from accusations that he had a relationship with a local girl that eventually became sexual in nature. The girl in question, who is not being named as part of a policy to not identify alleged sexual assault victims, testified that Lanning also provided her with drugs and alcohol. (TD)
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Deputies Follow Trail of Stolen Cigarettes to Suspect's HomeDeputies Follow Trail of Stolen Cigarettes to Suspect's Home
2/26/14 - A trail of stolen cigarette packs led police to a Putnam Township man who confessed to stealing them from a local party store. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte said his deputies responded at about 11pm Monday night to an alarm at the Hell Country Store on Patterson Lake Road. They found a broken window and two packs of cigarettes in the snow right beneath it. They also notices fresh footprints in the snow, which they followed to a private road, where two more packs were located. They then knocked on the door of the home and were invited in by 27-year-old Matthew Thomas Morrison. Once inside they spotted six more packs, at which point Morrison confessed that he had used a flashlight to break the window and reach into steal the cigarettes. He was arraigned Tuesday on a charge of breaking and entering a building with intent to steal. In all, he stole 10 packs of cigarettes. His bond was set at $5,000. If he does meet bond, the judge ordered that he must wear an electronic tether. Morrison is due back in 53rd District Court March 4th for a preliminary exam conference. (JK)
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Upgrades Progressing for Livingston County Sheriff's VehiclesUpgrades Progressing for Livingston County Sheriff's Vehicles
2/26/14 - The Livingston County Sheriffâs Department will be upgrading to much needed technology equipment within their vehicles. The Livingston County Board of Commissioners Public Safety Committee approved slight changes made to the Sheriff Departmentâs budget this week in order to replace much needed mobile data terminals as well as in-car video cameras. The department had rough numbers to work with when constructing their budget for the 2014 fiscal year back in the fall. They originally asked for $124,867 for a cheaper version of the laptops used as mobile data terminals in their vehicles, equaling out to under $200 per unit. The units have since been tested and found ineffective, causing the Department to re-route their budget to $129,424 to replace the existing units. The Sheriffâs Department plans to replace 25 units, 23 of which will be used regularly, with 2 spares. Also included in the budget were funds to replace in-car video cameras, which are used as a backup to disprove false claims during traffic stops. The cameras have not been replaced since they were first installed 6 years ago. The original plan was to replace all cameras, but after a needs assessment, it was decided to upgrade only the first generation cameras which have begun to fail and no longer offer an extended warranty. However, the department will be replacing the âgutsâ of 11 in-car video cameras along with all mobile data terminals. (JK)
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Howell Students Raises Lunch Funds for Students in NeedHowell Students Raises Lunch Funds for Students in Need
2/26/14 - Some students at Challenger Elementary will be able to continue getting hot lunches thanks to the efforts of one of their peers. 8-year-old Cayden Taipalus became upset earlier this month when he noticed one of his friends trying to buy a hot lunch at Challenger Elementary, only to be turned down because his lunch account did not have enough for the purchase. His mother, Amber Peters, tells WHMI Cayden told her about it and asked what they could do to help the children who needed help purchasing food. They decided to start raising money to contribute to the delinquent lunch accounts of Challenger students who receive reduced-cost lunches and breakfasts. Cayden began collecting cans, asking for donations from friends and family, and even took his campaign to Facebook to ask the community for support. On Monday, he and his mother delivered $61 to Challenger's food program, paying for 151 school lunches. This covered all of the delinquent accounts and put several additional meals onto each account so the students would not have to worry about going delinquent again anytime soon. Cayden actually raised closer to $200 during his campaign, and will use the remaining money to take his philanthropic efforts to other schools. He and his mother will be visiting Southeast Elementary on Thursday to make the same kind of donation for the students there. Peters says Cayden enjoys seeing how his efforts can make other people happy, and he has not sought out rewards or recognition in the schools. (TD)
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Three Brighton Area Schools Union Contracts to ExpireThree Brighton Area Schools Union Contracts to Expire
2/26/14 - The Brighton Area Schools District will be looking to hold the line on teacher and other employee contracts when it begins negotiations in the near future with its teachersâ union and hourly employees. Superintendent Greg Gray says the contracts of all three labor units in the school district expire this year and the district will soon begin negotiations with the two largest employee groups. They include the Brighton Education Association, which represents about 300 district teachers, and the Brighton Educational Support Personnel Association, representing over 100 hourly workers. The district recently reached tentative agreement with the Brighton Area Schools Administratorsâ Association, which represents about 20 principals, assistant principals and department directors in the school district. Gray tells WHMI that district negotiators have had no formal bargaining sessions with the BEA as yet. Gray says that the district will begin bargaining with BESPA within the next few weeks. He says the board of education will vote on the tentative agreement with the administratorsâ group at the next board meeting in two weeks. The contract is substantially the same as the current one, involving a pay freeze and a salary reopener after the 2014-15 year. (TT)
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Flint Man Killed in Head-On Crash in Oceola TownshipFlint Man Killed in Head-On Crash in Oceola Township
2/26/14 - The Livingston County Sheriffâs Department is investigating a head-on crash Tuesday morning in Oceola Township that killed a Flint man. Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI that the crash happened around 7:50am when a 2000 Chevy Blazer heading east on M-59 struck the front right corner of a westbound box-style Snap-On tools truck, just west of Musson Road. The driver of the SUV, 20-year-old Demetrius Sanders of Flint, was killed in the crash, while the truck driver, a 46-year old Waterford man, was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor and was last listed in stable condition. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts and alcohol does not appear to be a factor. Both lanes of M-59 were closed between Musson and Botsford roads for more than three hours as the Sheriffâs Departmentâs Traffic Safety Bureau investigated. The Howell Area Fire Department also assisted at the scene. Bezotte said theyâre investigating whether Sanders was using his cell phone or if he possibly fell asleep. (JK)
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Plea Reached in Howell Twp. Unlawful Imprisonment CasePlea Reached in Howell Twp. Unlawful Imprisonment Case
2/26/14 - A plea agreement has been reached in an incident in which a woman and her children say they were held against their will by a Howell Township man. 40-year-old Edward Joseph Stewart Jr. had been charged with unlawful imprisonment, domestic violence and 2nd degree child abuse for a February 13th incident at his home in the 2400 block of West Grand River. But in a plea deal reached this week, he entered a guilty plea to the domestic violence and 3rd degree child abuse charges in exchange for the unlawful imprisonment count being dismissed. Police say Stewart and his 28-year-old girlfriend got into an argument after she returned from work because she didnât answer his earlier call. She alleges he then began beating her before pulling her daughterâs bedroom door off of its hinges and using it to block the front door. Police say he then slammed her 12-year-old daughterâs hand in the door after she managed to kick it out of the way and they fled the house. The girlfriend then managed to flag down a sheriffâs deputy. A 7-year-old girl was also home at the time. Stewart faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced in April. (JK)
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