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Hartland To Offer Large Item Clean Up And Paper Shredding DayHartland To Offer Large Item Clean Up And Paper Shredding Day

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4/13/14 - Now that spring has finally arrived, Hartland Township is planning to offer an event to help residents with their spring cleaning. The township hall will host its annual Large Item Clean-Up and Shredding Day on May 17th. Items like furniture, scrap metal, tires, bicycles, and large appliances will be accepted for disposal free of charge. Things like refrigerators and air conditioners will not be accepted for free unless they have a certified “Freon-removed” sticker on them. At this year’s event, residents can have the Freon properly removed from such devices for $25 cash. The township cannot accept things like chemicals, paint, concrete, dirt, yard waste, or televisions. The event will also include shredding for unwanted documents. Anything from bank statements to manila envelopes to junk mail are accepted, and things like staples, paper clips, and rubber bands left on the documents are acceptable. The township will not shred things like magazines, books, newspapers, or non-paper media like compact discs. For more information, log on to the township’s website. Separate cleanup events will be held by the county government for hazardous waste on May 3rd and for televisions or other electronics on May 10th. (TD)

Tyrone Township Planning Commission Talks Fireworks SalesTyrone Township Planning Commission Talks Fireworks Sales

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4/14/14 - Some state-level changes prompted a discussion on how to handle retail fireworks sales at the Tyrone Township Planning Commission's most recent meeting. The latest changes to state fireworks laws created standards for retail fireworks, but Tyrone Planning Commission Chair Mark Meisel says local municipalities bear a lot of the burden to establish regulations. He says the ordinance currently on the books in Tyrone does not adequately spell out what to do with temporary fireworks sales, and the township is working to adapt and accommodate them. On Wednesday, the township planning commission meeting discussed temporary businesses, seasonal sales, temporary structures, and other topics associated with the sale of fireworks around major holidays. The goal of the discussion is to advance the township toward changes in the local ordinance that would provide a safe and fair solution for fireworks sales as outlined in state law. Fireworks may be lumped into seasonal sale items, like Christmas trees and pumpkins, which would allow vendors more time to sell their goods. Meisel says several meetings will likely be required before any changes are ready for action by the township. (TD)

Bill Funds Trail Improvements in Hamburg TownshipBill Funds Trail Improvements in Hamburg Township

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4/14/14 - A local trail will see some noticeable improvements thanks to legislation recently signed into law. Gov. Snyder signed the bill approving more than $27.6 million in grants from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. About $13 million will go to trail development, including $125,400 for access improvements to the Lakelands Trail in Hamburg Township. The universally accessible development project includes a trailhead and half-mile paved extension of the 26-mile trail which is the last remaining unpaved section in the township. The trailhead includes parking and an informational kiosk. Grants will also fund 44 outdoor recreation projects and 32 land acquisition projects across the state. The Trust Fund gets its money through investments from the sale and lease of the state's mineral rights. (JK)

Boil Water Advisory Lifted in Fenton

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4/14/14 - Fenton authorities say it's safe for everyone in the Genesee County community to drink the water again. The city issued a boil-water warning after discovering Wednesday that a 6-inch water man on Trealout St. was broken. Crews were unable to make repairs without depressurizing the system, which allows bacteria to enter pipes. That led to the warning to residents of a number of streets and apartment complexes not to use water without boiling it first. Fenton lifted the order after confirming the system had been decontaminated. (JK)

Milford Event Celebrate K9 Veterans DayMilford Event Celebrate K9 Veterans Day

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The Michigan War Dog Memorial held a celebration to honor all dogs of service over the weekend. Phil Weitlauf, Director of the Michigan War Dog Memorial, tells WHMI Saturday’s event celebrated K9 Veterans Day. "It's a day that happened on March 13th, 1942 when the Quartermaster was given the order to secure dogs for defense. In 2010, we submitted a proclamation to the governor and asked that he sign that and make this an official day that we recognize all K9's service, which he did." He says because of the excessive snow last month, they postponed the event until Saturday. The ceremony included a flag line, taps and a choral salute by service dogs who howled on command. The Michigan War Dog Memorial was created in 2010, when Weitlauf and a volunteer work force restored a rundown pet cemetery located at 11 Mile and Milford roads in Milford. Today the War Dog Memorial serves as the final resting place for any dog of service including military, K9 police force members and all those who serve and protect. (LR/JK)

Local School's Robotics Team Advances to World ChampionshipLocal School's Robotics Team Advances to World Championship

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4/14/14 - A local school’s robotics team is heading to the world championship after finishing in the top third at the state championship over the weekend at Eastern Michigan University. Team 4362 from the Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy in Brighton, which was the only Livingston County-based team to advance to the state tournament, finished in 20th place overall at the FIRST Robotics state championship, earning enough points to qualify for the World Championship in St. Louis, beginning April 23rd. The team now has to raise $5,000 by Wednesday to pay for the entry fee for the FIRST tournament, but Vingsness expects they’ll be able to come up with the money. FIRST is an acronym, which means "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology." The robots, which are entirely student-built, compete in a contest called, Aerial Assist, which is played by two competing Alliances of three robots each. The objective is to score as many large exercise-type balls in goals as possible during a two-and-a-half minute match. (JK)

District Motion Denied, Administrator Lawsuit Heading to TrialDistrict Motion Denied, Administrator Lawsuit Heading to Trial

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4/14/14 - An effort by Hartland Consolidated Schools to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a former administrator has been denied. Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Richard Yuille recently denied a motion by the district to dismiss the lawsuit filed in 2012 by Tracey Sahouri, who alleges the district violated the Whistleblower Protection Act when it failed to renew her administrative contract and eventually re-assigned her to a teaching position. Sahouri’s attorney, Tom Pabst, says he expects the case will now head to trial sometime in the fall. Pabst claims her removal as principal at Creekside Elementary was in retaliation for reporting ongoing “irregularities” in how the district administered the MEAP tests. The district contends her re-assignment was based on the conclusions of a state report that determined teachers at the school improperly gained access to material from the tests in 2011, which constituted a breach of security, and thus she’s ineligible for a Whistleblower defense. A three-member legal panel previously recommended the district settle the lawsuit for $525,000, but that was rejected by the Hartland school board, which stood by the decisions that were made in regard to Sahouri, who it says was found to have committed misconduct by both the Michigan Department of Education and the district. Hartland Superintendent Janet Sifferman says they are disappointed in the decision not to dismiss the charges, but are prepared to litigate the case. (JK)

Citing Medical Issues, Drick to Retire as MagistrateCiting Medical Issues, Drick to Retire as Magistrate

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4/14/14 - Medical complaints have prompted a local magistrate to retire from his position barely more than a year after taking it. Jay Drick closed down his law practice and gave up his seat on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners to become a 53rd District Court magistrate in January of 2013. Then, in January of this year, Drick had to be hospitalized for a massive bleeding ulcer that was causing him to lose blood internally. Drick calls it a life-changing event that has caused him to rethink his employment in the courts. On Friday, he issued his letter of resignation to head judge David Reader. He tells WHMI that the medical scare prompted him to begin avoiding stress, which he and his wife believe is a major factor in the formation of the ulcer. He says he does not need to work, and will be taking it easy in the near future. His last day as a magistrate will be April 18th. Drick chose not to speculate on how the courts would replace him or cover his duties. (TD)

Howell City Council Approves Parks And Rec 2014 BudgetHowell City Council Approves Parks And Rec 2014 Budget

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4/14/14- Teamwork is the theme for the Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority as they outline the budget for the next fiscal year. The 2014 budget was approved by the Howell City Council at a Board meeting last week and is taking a different course of action this year. Paul Rogers, Director of the Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority, says he plans to split event coordination among staff members. Rogers believes divvying up the workload among employees will not only be cost effective, but also more efficient. Rogers says many of the employees have yet to see the budget and where certain funds go. He believes with someone in charge of each department and the ability to visualize the distribution of revenue, staff members will take ownership of their specific fund. Rogers also stressed the need for volunteers. Events such as the Melon Fest, which are already in the planning stage, require quite a bit of voluntary help. Rogers says any interested community members need only call the Rec center. (DK)

Man Jailed After Felonious Assault Incident w/ Pellet GunMan Jailed After Felonious Assault Incident w/ Pellet Gun

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4/14/14 - An incident in Lyon Township Sunday night involving two men and a pellet gun led to one being arrested and the other injured. Deputies with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Lyon Township substation responded to a residence shortly before 10:30pm Sunday following a report of an assault with a CO2 pellet gun. The office says a 42-year-old Lyon Township man was shot in the face and head, and had visible injuries to his mouth and nose along with a small bump consistent of a pellet strike. Police say the victim stated that he had been having problems with the other man who lives in the area and they were involved in a physical confrontation when he pulled out the pellet gun and shot him in the face. The victim was treated at the scene by the Lyon Township Fire Department but refused further medical attention. Police say the 24-year-old suspect fled the scene following the incident but later turned himself in at the substation. He was subsequently lodged in the Oakland County Jail pending approval of warrant while the gun was placed into property. (JM)

Blaze Burns Highland Township Barn Sunday Afternoon Blaze Burns Highland Township Barn Sunday Afternoon

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4/14/14 - Firefighters battled a barn fire in Highland Township Sunday afternoon. The fire was reported on Twin Oaks Lane at around 12:15pm. Upon arrival, Highland Township firefighters and deputies with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office found the structure fully engulfed. The fire department requested an investigator to respond but due to amount of damage, the cause of the fire was not immediately determined. Heat lamps were said to have been used throughout the barn and may have contributed to fire but the investigation continues. No injuries were reported. (JM)

Services Tuesday for Hamburg Man Killed in Semi CrashServices Tuesday for Hamburg Man Killed in Semi Crash

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4/14/14 - The Livingston County man killed last week when a semi hit a disabled pickup truck on US-23 will be laid to rest Tuesday. 36-year-old Joseph Michael Logan of Hamburg Township was killed last Wednesday as he was putting gasoline into a pickup truck on southbound US-23 near Six Mile Road in Northfield Township. State Police from the Brighton Post say a semi-truck veered over to the shoulder, crossed the fog line and hit the back end of the pickup truck, also striking Logan. The pickup truck’s driver, Jason Bell of Pinckney, was injured in the crash and hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. State Police say they are still investigating why the semi driver, identified as a 56-year-old Pennsylvania man, lost control of his vehicle. Any possible criminal charges are pending the completion of that investigation. Services for Logan, who is survived by a daughter, siblings and his parents, will be held at noon Tuesday at the Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Hamburg Chapel. Burial will follow at Holy Spirit Cemetery in Brighton. (JK)

EMS Director Says Search Process to Begin Soon for 911 DirectorEMS Director Says Search Process to Begin Soon for 911 Director

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4/14/14 - The search process to find a new, permanent director of Livingston County 911 Central Dispatch could begin later this week. Former Director Donald Arbic resigned effective April 4th. Livingston County EMS Director Jeff Boyd has been providing temporary assistance to the department and says the Livingston County Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday night and is expected to approve a resolution appointing him as the interim director. He says the process to move the organization forward can then begin. There have been conflicting reports about Arbic’s performance as well as reasons for his departure including a poor performance evaluation, disagreement with administration, and a chronic turnover of dispatch employees. (JM)

Two Firefighters Injured in Howell Twp. Barn FireTwo Firefighters Injured in Howell Twp. Barn Fire

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4/14/14 - Two firefighters were injured fighting a barn fire in Howell Township late this afternoon. Fire crews were called to the scene of the fire around 4pm off Oak Grove Road, between Barron and Marr roads. They were reportedly injured when one firefighter fell from a ladder onto the other. The firefighter who fell was taken to the hospital by Survival Flight, and the other was taken by Livingston County EMS. Their injuries are described as non-life threatening, and they are expected to recover. Several other local fire departments assisted at the scene. (JK/TD)

School Closing

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Byron Area Schools will be closed on Tuesday, April 15th due to storm damage. The district's child care will still be open.

Pinckney Council Approves Zoning Change for New Rehab FacilityPinckney Council Approves Zoning Change for New Rehab Facility

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4/15/14 - Officials feel a newly proposed rehabilitation and wellness facility will be a positive for the Pinckney community - in addition to bringing new jobs and business to the area. The Pinckney Village Council approved a conditional rezoning amendment Monday night for a parcel off South Howell Road and Mower Street where Wellbridge of Pinckney will be constructed. The building would be one-story with brick exterior and have 100 beds for different levels of care, including more extensive rehab. This would be the first facility of its kind in the Village and Council President Linda Lavey told WHMI she feels the project will be a good addition to the community. Developers offered to extend the municipal water main to service the project, which Lavey says was not a request and will be good for the Village, noting some homes in the vicinity will now have the option of connecting to the system instead of having a well. They will also work to control lighting and ensure as least lighting pollution as possible because it’s a rural area with homes in the proximity. However, Lavey feels that can be easily addressed and says developers appear willing to meet any conditions offered by the Village. Some Village officials recently toured the Wellbridge facility in Brighton and commented that they were impressed with how clean and well-kept it was, also remarking about all of the new technologies being utilized. Monday’s approvals were the first step for the project, which must still go through the site plan approval process and future public hearings will be scheduled. If all goes as planned with state and local approvals, foundation construction could begin this fall. (JM)

911 Dispatch Honors Operators, Names Employee Of The Year911 Dispatch Honors Operators, Names Employee Of The Year

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4/15/14 - The outstanding efforts of local 911 Dispatch operators were honored at an awards ceremony yesterday as part of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Dozens of awards were presented at the ceremony, which took place at the Central Dispatch offices on Highlander Way. They honored the work dispatchers did in unusual and difficult circumstances over the past year, including locating a woman lost in January’s heaviest snowfall, coordinating the rescue of a woman who had wandered into the woods, and assisting with baby deliveries. The last award was for Employee of the Year, which went to Leane Lowe, who has been with Livingston County Dispatch for about three years and works the night shift. She says she is honored and surprised to have been nominated for the award by her coworkers, and that her excellent performance would have been impossible without her team. Central Dispatch has also set up a two-week training program for new dispatchers to gain necessary skills in-house, and the first two graduates were recognized for their accomplishment. (TD)

Injured Firefighters In Stable Condition After Howell Twp. FireInjured Firefighters In Stable Condition After Howell Twp. Fire

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4/15/14 - A barn fire in Howell Township left two firefighters injured yesterday afternoon. The Howell Area Fire Department was called out to the scene at around 4pm by a passerby who saw the barn burning off of Oak Grove Road, south of Marr Road. Crews arrived and began extinguishing the fire with help from departments in Hartland, Brighton, Fowlerville and Putnam Township. There was nobody in the barn when it caught fire, but the operation was complicated by the hay inside the barn, which had to be drenched to fully extinguish the fire. During the operation, a firefighter fell from a ladder onto another firefighter, injuring them both. The firefighter who fell sustained spine and rib injuries, and had to be transported to the University of Michigan by Survival Flight for treatment. He remains in stable condition. The firefighter he fell on suffered a leg injury and was transported to the university by Livingston County EMS, where he was treated and released last night. The barn itself is still standing despite significant damage to the interior. the cause of the fire remains under investigation. (TD/JK)

Howell Superintendent Finalist for Position in MuskegonHowell Superintendent Finalist for Position in Muskegon

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4/15/14 - Howell Public Schools Superintendent Ron Wilson is one of four finalists interviewing for the superintendent position with a district in west Michigan. Wilson is set to be interviewed for the soon-to-be-vacant Muskegon Area Intermediate School District superintendent position on Thursday. Wilson, who took over Howell schools in 2010, was previously the superintendent of Cass City Public Schools. He was also a middle school principal, curriculum director and special education director for Harrison Public Schools. Wilson, who has a master's degree in educational administration from Central Michigan University, was one of 19 applicants for the position, which is being vacated by current Superintendent Dave Sipka, who is retiring in June. Also up for the job are superintendents from the Fruitport Community Schools, Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District and the Harper Creek Community Schools in Battle Creek. A second round of interviews is planned for mid-May. Wilson’s contract with Howell Public Schools was recently extended an additional year, through June of 2017. He also applied for the superintendent position with the Livingston Educational Service Agency last year, but that job went to former Pinckney Superintendent Dan Danosky. Wilson receives a base annual salary of $155,000, but his total compensation package, including pension and insurance payments, is $209,000. Sipka, the man he is seeking to replace, earns $139,000 annually, but has a total compensation package of $212,000. (JK)

State Grant Will Help Lyon Twp. Upgrade Wastewater SystemState Grant Will Help Lyon Twp. Upgrade Wastewater System

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4/15/14 - A planned improvement to a local township’s wastewater system will be greatly assisted by a state grant worth more than a half-million dollars. Lyon Township recently a received a Stormwater, Asset Management, and Wastewater (or SAW grant) from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The nearly $516,000 will cover 90 percent of the costs to design the township's wastewater treatment plant expansion and prepare an asset management plan for the sanitary sewer system. Lyon Township is responsible for the remaining 10 percent of the project costs, totaling just over $57,000. The upgrade will increase the plant's capacity by approximately 60% to more than a million gallons per day. Officials say the increase is needed to accommodate the growth occurring in the township. The MDEQ created the SAW program in 2013 to provide grants and loans to Michigan municipalities for development of asset management plans, stormwater plans, and sewage collection and treatment plans, and state-funded loans to construct projects identified in the asset management plans. The state received 673 applications that totaled $541 million. Because only $97 million was available, a lottery was held. Other local municipalities receiving funds this fiscal year were the cities of Linden and Williamston. (JK)
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