4/18/14 - A review of performance evaluations showed a significant drop in multiple factors for Livingston Countyâs former 911 director. The employee performance evaluations for former 911 Central Dispatch Director Don Arbic were obtained by WHMI under a Freedom of Information Act request following his abrupt resignation earlier this month. Arbic generally exceeded requirements and expectations in 2010 and 2011 when he was first hired and tasked with completing different projects to improve the public safety system. One was a complete rewrite of the Emergency Management Plan among three others. But as of the most recent evaluation in February, all four had not been completed. The evaluations were conducted by Administrator Belinda Peters, who noted in 2013 that the learning curve and departmental challenges continued and Arbic needed to focus on enhancing the core functionality of the department but also improve his relationships with peers, department directors and board-authorized professionals. The last two annual evaluations indicated Arbic needed to follow chain-of-command and noted problems with other department directors or managers should have been brought to Peters for resolution, prior to âberating in front of subordinate employees.â The evaluations also stipulated Arbic eliminate derogatory comments to subordinates. Staffing also appears to have been an issue. Additional goals and objectives outlined that Arbic immediately fill dispatcher vacancies for a full contingent but also continue employee training programs to improve customer service and quality control. The most recent evaluation stated that Arbic needed to immediately revamp the hiring and training processes to improve recruitment, selection and retention. It also noted that over the past two years, the retention rate of new hires was just 43% and that in the past four years, more than $123,000 was spent on background checks and psychological exams. Facing a discharge of his employment, Arbic resigned April 4th, signing an agreement that gave him a payout of nearly $23,000 in unused sick time in exchange for his waiver of any future legal claims. EMS Director Jeff Boyd has been named as the interim Director for Central Dispatch until a full-time replacement is found. (JM/JK)
Former 911 Director Evaluations Show Steady Performance DeclineFormer 911 Director Evaluations Show Steady Performance Decline
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Marshmallow Drop And World Record Attempt Come To Genoa
4/19/14 - Thousands of people gathered at the Genoa Township hall last night to see sugary treats fall from the sky and history be made. The Howell Parks and Recreation Authority organized yesterdayâs Marshmallow Drop and Moon Glow event. Parking for the popular event was held at a nearby school, while Livingston Essential Transportation Service buses moved families to and from the site. It began with the marshmallow drop, where a helicopter made repeated passes over a field and dropped hundreds of confections for children to gather and turn in for prizes. Later on, families hunted for Easter eggs by flashlight in the Moon Glow Easter Egg Hunt. Between the two events, the Parks and Rec Authority organized an official attempt at setting the Guinness World Record for the most people to participate in a bunny hop dance. Several methods of counting participants, including a flying drone equipped with a camera, were implemented in an attempt to break the current record of 3,841 participants that was set in Utah in July of 2007. Parks and Rec Assistant Director Beth Schrader says she expects to have the unofficial estimate sometime next week, but she is optimistic about the attempt. Schrader says she does not know how long it will take to verify the results, but the existence of a prior record will speed things up, since creating a new record is a more complicated process. (TD)
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Mad Hatter Tea Party to Benefit Media Centers in Fenton Schools Mad Hatter Tea Party to Benefit Media Centers in Fenton Schools
4/18/14 - Organizers of a whimsical tea party in Fenton are mad about books and encourage the public to turn out for a very important date. Attendees are encouraged to don their most elaborate Alice in Wonderland themed costume for the 2nd Annual Mad Hatter/Victorian Tea Party. The family themed event is open to the public and was created to raise needed funds for the media centers of Fenton Area Public Schools. After becoming aware of decreasing funds to local media centers, coordinators and teachers wanted to supplement studentsâ desire for new books and further foster their love of reading. As a result of last yearâs event, organizers were able to purchase three books for each of the five schools within the Fenton district. The event will feature tea and finger sandwiches, a silent auction and Irish folk music performed by Fenton resident Kevin Tyler along with Alice in Wonderland inspired games and costume contests. Festivities will take place Saturday, May 3rd in the rec room of the Fenton Community and Cultural Center on South Leroy Street from noon until 2:30pm. Further details and ticket information can be found through the link below.(JM)
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Milford Police Investigate Possible Theft of 1,500 Gallons Of GasMilford Police Investigate Possible Theft of 1,500 Gallons Of Gas
4/18/14 - Two businesses have reported the possible theft of hundreds of gallons of gasoline in Milford this month. On April 7th, a business on Childs Lake Road filed a police report regarding a smashed windshield on a company truck. The manager also reported that a tank that had been filled with 500 gallons of gasoline just three days before was now empty, according to the Milford Times. A representative from the gas company confirmed there was no residue in the tank, and which hinted that it may have been siphoned dry by the vandal. A small hole was later found in the tank, which may have caused it to leak out on its own, but the following day another business in that area reported a thousand gallons of diesel fuel missing from three tanks on their property. The Milford Police are investigating the situation. (TD)
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911 Dispatchers Ask Parents Not To Give Children Working Phones911 Dispatchers Ask Parents Not To Give Children Working Phones
4/18/14 - Local 911 central dispatchers help keep the community safe, and they are asking parents not to let their children harass their dispatch center. Dispatcher Mary Reed tells WHMI one of the most pressing messages they would like to get out to the county is that every active cell phone can contact 911, and that is not always a good thing. She says many adults like to give their old cell phones to children as toys, but once the children discover the old phones can call 911 and connect to a live person, they call nonstop. Reed says this remains true even if the phone has no service plan, so adults who cancel service and give their old phones to children as toys may not realize they can call the dispatch center. Answering these calls is a distraction for dispatchers, and locating cell phones that are used to call 911 is still very difficult, so it is up to parents to make sure children are not harassing the dispatch center. This week was National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, where 911 dispatchers and other who work behind the scenes in public safety were recognized for the work they do supporting local police, fire, and EMS. (TD)
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Local Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Cigarettes from Party Store Local Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Cigarettes from Party Store
4/18/14 - A Putnam Township man busted by police who followed a trail of stolen cigarette packs to him from a local party store has entered a plea. 27-year-old Matthew Thomas Morrison pleaded guilty as charged to breaking and entering a building with intent to steal in Livingston County Circuit Court. In exchange for that plea, prosecutors agreed that upon successful completion of probation, the charge may be reduced to a misdemeanor. Morrison will be sentenced May 22nd. Morrison was arrested after deputies with the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department responded to an alarm at the Hell Country Store on Patterson Lake Road February 24th. They discovered a broken window and two packs of cigarettes beneath it, along with fresh footprints in the snow. Those led to a home on a private road where Morrison was located and is said to have confessed to stealing 10 packs of cigarettes. (JM)
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47th District State House Candidates Could Host Debate47th District State House Candidates Could Host Debate
4/18/14 - A large slate of candidates are seeking various open seats this election season in Livingston County and one is calling for a clean race but not without debate. Candidates seeking the GOP nomination in the August 5th primary for the 47th District State House of Representatives seat include Howell Mayor Phil Campbell, Howell Township resident Harold Melton, Hartland Township resident Theodore Ring, Handy Township Supervisor Hank Vaupel and former Howell School Board Trustee Wendy Day. She recently challenged candidates to take part in a series of four debates so that voters will be clear where everyone stands on different issues if elected. She further encouraged candidates to avoid mudslinging and stick to the facts as the race heats up. Long-time Hartland Board of Education trustee Charlie Aberasturi announced this week that he was ending his campaign for the seat, which is being vacated by the term-limited Cindy Denby. Seeking the Democratic nomination for the 47th District is candidate Jordan Genso, who previously announced his intent to run but didnât formally file until Thursday per county records. (JM)
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Brighton Council Holds Public Hearing on 14-15 BudgetBrighton Council Holds Public Hearing on 14-15 Budget
4/18/14 - The Brighton City Council will adopt the coming year budget for the city next month, and according to city officials, the downward spiral that has caused major cuts over the past several years is starting to reverse itself. City Manager Dana Foster gave a detailed presentation on the spending plan at Thursday nightâs meeting, which preceded a public hearing on the budget - at which no residents spoke. Foster tells WHMI the budget for the coming year is sufficiently healthy that he is anticipating being able to start putting some funds away for some much-needed infrastructure projects in the future. The budget as proposed includes an increase in curbside refuse collection charges from the current $13.77 per month to $14.48 a month, which totals $8.52 more per year. The reason for the recommended increase is that the amount collected last year was about $50,000 short of what it costs the city to provide the service through Mister Rubbish. Prior to two years ago, the city paid for refuse pickup itself through property ownersâ taxes, but has since been forced to assess a fee for the service. In addition to the garbage collection fee increase, residents can expect a 1-2% increase in water and sewer rates. The budget for next year â with all its constituent individual budgets â totals $13.5 million. That includes a general fund budget of $7.8 million. Most of the remainder of the overall budget is comprised of the utilities fund, which includes sewer and water and totals $4.2 million. The 2014-15 city budget takes effect on July 1, the start of the cityâs new fiscal year. (TT)
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LACASA Again Sponsoring Cinderella's ClosetLACASA Again Sponsoring Cinderella's Closet
4/19/14 - Low-cost prom dresses are again being offered to local girls while helping the victims of violence and abuse. Cinderellaâs Closet is made possible through a partnership between Snedicorâs Green Earth Cleaners and LACASA and is designed to provide high school girls with affordable formal wear while increasing awareness about the link between substance abuse, dating violence and sexual assault. Those purchasing a prom dress are required to take the âprom promise,â pledging to remain alcohol- and drug-free on prom night. This year, the boutique will be open on two consecutive weekends to accommodate varying high school proms scheduled throughout the county. Cinderellaâs Closet will be open at Snedicorâs Brighton location next weekend, April 24th, 25th and 26th, and the following weekend as well. Meanwhile, a âDress Driveâ is now underway for long gowns or short party dresses in current styles. Dresses may be dropped off at either Snedicorâs locations in Brighton or Howell. All dresses are just $25, with proceeds going to LACASA Center for programs and services that aid victims of interpersonal violence. Boutique dates are April 24 and 25 from 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, April 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dates for the second weekend are May 1 and 2 from 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, May 3, 2014, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Inquiries about dress donations may be made by calling LACASA Center at 517-548-1350. (JK)
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Looming Deficit Could Lead To Fenton Headlee Override ProposalLooming Deficit Could Lead To Fenton Headlee Override Proposal
4/19/14 - A grim financial outlook for the City of Fenton may lead to a Headlee override or special property tax being offered to voters in the future. The city council held a special meeting to discuss its five-year plan on Monday, and the conclusion it reached was that expenses are growing faster than revenues. The 2014-2015 budget will be balanced with a surplus of only $300, according to the Tri County Times, but expenses will increase by 4% each year while revenues will only grow by 1%. Unless something is done to correct the disparity, the city will have to spend down its $1.9 million fund balance to the minimum of $300,000. A ballot proposal to give an override to the Headlee Amendment, which limits property tax growth, could increase the cityâs current 10-mill property tax to the 13 mills originally outlined in the city charter. This would give the city an extra $750,000 per year, which would cover the future deficits. The city council has not made any plans to offer that option to voters at this time. The financial consultant at Monday nightâs meeting praised the city government for doing all it could to cut costs. Every department in the city has made concessions, paid higher healthcare deductibles, and accepted pay freezes to help address the deficit. (TD)
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Hartland Man Sentenced in Milford CarjackingHartland Man Sentenced in Milford Carjacking
4/19/14 - A Livingston County man has been sentenced for carjacking a motorist during a drug deal in Milford. 23-year-old Nathaniel Ashbrook of Hartland Township pleaded guilty last month to charges of armed robbery and unlawful driving away of an automobile for an incident last year. On Thursday, he was sentenced to serve three-and-a-half to 15 years in prison for the armed robbery conviction, and 1-5 years on the vehicle charge. He was given credit for 316 days already served, but also ordered to undergo counseling. Milford Police say a man entered their station in the early morning hours of June 4th, 2013 and said heâd been carjacked by two men at gunpoint. Further investigation led to the discovery of the stolen car, which they said had been intentionally crashed. 33-year-old Neal Pollman of Novi was located in the vicinity and arrested, while Ashbrook was arrested later after further interviews. Police say the alleged victim met Pollman and Ashbrook at a designated location to sell them LSD, but instead of paying him; they stole the car at gunpoint. Pollman previously pleaded guilty to unarmed robbery and was sentenced to a year in the Oakland County Jail. (JK)
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Bullet Discovered in Window of South Lyon East High School Bullet Discovered in Window of South Lyon East High School
4/20/14 - Authorities are investigating whatâs being labeled a suspicious circumstance after a bullet hole was discovered in a window at South Lyon East High School. The incident happened sometime during the course of last weekend. Deputies with the Oakland County Sheriffâs Office Lyon Township substation responded to the high school located on Ten Mile Road after being contacted by a custodian who discovered one of the windows had a two-inch bullet hole last Monday morning. The custodian also discovered a bullet fragment on the inside of the school stairwell. The Sheriffâs Office reports that three more bullet marks were located on the brick just below the window, which is approximately 30 feet above ground level. The area was checked out but no shell casings could be located. The scene was processed and evidence was placed into property for lab analysis. Although there are no known suspects at this time, the office says the investigation continues. (JM)
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Writer Challenges Local Students to Be Authors NowWriter Challenges Local Students to Be Authors Now
4/20/14 - Students at a local school recently received a challenge from a visiting writer. Author and illustrator Aaron Zenz recently challenged students at St. Mary Catholic School in Pinckney that if they write or illustrate a book one day, they should track him down and will sit on the floor and listen while they read their book to him. The students, who were sitting on the floor waiting to hear Zenz read one of his books to them, laughed. But school officials hope the message got through that if their dream is to one day make a book, that dream can come true. Zenz has written and illustrated children's books like âThe Hiccupotomus,â âChuckling Ducklings,â and âThe Chimpansneeze.â He spoke at St. Mary's in preparation of a writer's fair the school is hosting in May. Zenz presented three, one-hour-long workshops to the students, according to their grade level. He discussed the process involved in writing, illustrating, and printing a book. Principal Veronica Kinsey said Zenz was very funny, especially with the younger kids, who were glued to everything he was saying. Zenz shared some tricks of his trade, like drawing a âthumbnailâ sketch to get started, and not being afraid to be messy in the early stages of idea development. Then he told the students that if they know how to draw circles, use colored pencils and how to write, they already know everything there is about being an author and illustrator. He said it was one of the few jobs kids don't have to wait to learn about and practice. (JK)
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Plans Made for Annual "Fill the Gazebo" Food Collection DrivePlans Made for Annual "Fill the Gazebo" Food Collection Drive
4/20/14 - Plans are being made for the 12th annual Fill the Gazebo event in Livingston County. The fund-raising and food collection event will take place on Saturday, May 3rd at several locations in Livingston County. The main site will be on West Main at the Mill Pond in downtown Brighton, and there will also be locations in downtown Howell, Hartland, Pinckney, and Fowlerville, where food items and cash donations from local residents will be accepted. Organizer Steve Monet, a former Brighton mayor, tells WHMI theyâre hoping to top last yearâs event, which provided an estimated 38-40,000 meals in Livingston County. Monet says there will be 20-25 volunteers at the main Fill the Gazebo locations in Brighton, Howell, Hartland, Pinckney and Fowlerville, plus 2-3 more volunteers each at several area supermarkets. The Gleanerâs Community Food Bank of Livingston County is the primary recipient of the donations. The food and personal care items and funds collected will be used to stock the shelves of the Gleaners Shared Harvest Pantry, located off Dorr Road between Brighton and Howell. Any family or individual with a food emergency and in need of food and personal care supplies may receive items from the food pantry, and only a small amount of personal information is required to be a recipient. The event is sponsored by the Livingston County Board of Realtors. (TT)
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Orr Spokesman Totals Car in Green Oak Township Orr Spokesman Totals Car in Green Oak Township
4/21/14 - The spokesperson for Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr totaled his car but walked away mostly unharmed following a crash in Green Oak Township late last week. It happened Thursday morning when Bill Nowling was headed to work from his home in Green Oak Township and was momentarily blinded by the sun as he came over a hill â smashing into a semi-truck that was hauling lumber on Maltby Road. While his 2011 Hyundai Sonata was totaled in the wreck, Nowling said it was nothing short of a miracle that he was able to walk away mostly unharmed. He suffered a gash on his arm and some bruises and received 12 stiches at an Ann Arbor hospital but was said to be doing okay. He was back in the office in Detroit on Friday. Nowling posted pictures of his smashed Hyundai on social media sites following the crash, saying the engineers who designed the âcrumplezoneâ feature protected him from serious injuries. (JM)
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Sexual Assault Lawsuit Filed Against Former Deputy Set for TrialSexual Assault Lawsuit Filed Against Former Deputy Set for Trial
4/21/14 - A new trial date has been set for a federal lawsuit filed by five women who were sexually assaulted by a former sheriffâs deputy. The suit was filed in 2009 in U.S. District Court in Detroit by five female plaintiffs against Livingston County and former road patrol Deputy Randy Boos. It alleges the defendantâs failure to provide proper training or supervision allowed the 2008 assaults by Boos as he transported them from the jail to various court facilities. A jury trial had been to begin last month, but was delayed by several legal motions. Court records now indicate it will now held in mid-October. Boos, who served three years and seven months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct, asserted in a deposition that he didnât know his actions were criminal because he believed the sexual acts were consensual, and that he never received training on proper conduct when transporting detainees. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte calls it a frivolous lawsuit and tells WHMI when they learned what was going on, immediate action was taken to suspend Boos while State Police investigated. He says there was never any knowledge of Boosâ illegal conduct or crimes being committed and the county is prepared to go to trial. (JM)
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Tight Security For Fenton Women & Runners at Boston MarathonTight Security For Fenton Women & Runners at Boston Marathon
4/21/14 - One year after two homemade bombs killed three people and wounded more than 260 others, the Boston Marathon returns to the streets today with two Fenton women taking part. Some 36,000 runners are signed up for today's Boston Marathon -- the second largest field ever to attempt the 26.2-mile course. The Boston Athletic Association says 9,000 more runners are taking part than last year and more spectators than ever before will also line the course. 51-year-old Rochelle Jones of Fenton and her friend Kathleen McGowan also of Fenton are running this year. Jones told WHMI she's confident and security will be tight, saying organizers have gone to great lengths to make sure nothing like last year's attacks happen. The number of police officers on patrol will be doubled from last year, with 3,500 scattered among the crowd. The officers will be aided by 100 additional security cameras as well as bomb-sniffing dogs. (JM)
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Former Howell Resident Heads Up Job Effort in West AfricaFormer Howell Resident Heads Up Job Effort in West Africa
4/21/14 - A one-time Howell resident is heading up an effort to improve the lives of students after they graduate from schools in West Africa. Marcy Hessling OâNeil is an Assistant Professor in Michigan State Universityâs Anthropology Department and helping coordinate a program in the nation of Benin called Youth Entrepreneurs Partners, or YEP. OâNeil, who spent several years living in downtown Howell while she earned her degree, received a Fulbright award to do ethnographic research in Benin on higher education and the family. She says that in her time there, she found that young people graduate from school only to face an average of 3 years unemployment. In speaking to those students, OâNeil tells WHMI that she heard stories very familiar to those she heard from college grads while working at a hair salon in Howell. She says that what makes the situation in Benin so unique is the fact that those students had an extraordinary level of responsibility because they were chosen as the person most likely to succeed with their families diverting all of their resources towards their education. When they didn't find gainful employment upon graduation, many families deemed them as a bad investment. That situation prompted her and others to create the YEP program so they could use practical training to those students on how to start a small business as opposed to working for someone else. The group has received some seed funding from the Fulbright Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund, and were shortlisted by the United Nations General Envoy on Youth as a potential partner to work on issues of youth unemployment globally. Theyâve begun an online campaign to raise $7,500, which OâNeil says is needed to pay the instructors in Benin a living wage, keeping them on staff and helping provide stability to their efforts. (JK)
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Howell Boy Featured on The Steve Harvey Show Tuesday Howell Boy Featured on The Steve Harvey Show Tuesday
4/21/14 - A local elementary school student who led a project to make sure none of his peers went without a hot lunch will be featured as an âexceptional kidâ on a national television show tomorrow. 8-year-old Cayden Taipalus is a third-grader at Challenger Elementary who began raising money and putting it into the lunch accounts of students who receive reduced-cost meals. Heâll appear on The Steve Harvey Show Tuesday to talk about the program he started called "Pay it Forward: No Kid Goes Hungry." The project got started when one of Cayden's friends couldn't get a full lunch at the school. District policy is to provide students in that situation with an alternate lunch option, usually a cheese sandwich and a juice box. Cayden began collecting cans, asking for donations from friends and family, and even took his campaign to Facebook to ask the community for support. He and his mother delivered more than $60 to Challenger's food program, paying for 151 school lunches. That 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. In the months that followed, Cayden has received donations from all over the world and to date, has raised more than $30,000. Heâll appear on Tuesdayâs show with his mother, Amber Peters. Photo Credit NBC. (JM)
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Police Identify Whitmore Lake Man Killed in Sunday Crash Police Identify Whitmore Lake Man Killed in Sunday Crash
4/21/14 - A Whitmore Lake man is dead following a fatal crash Sunday. Green Oak Township police officers responded to the crash on Lemen Road, north of 8 Mile Road at 12:16am. Upon arrival. officers discovered that a single vehicle had lost control while traveling southbound on Lemen Road, left the roadway and struck a large oak tree. Green Oak Township Police Chief Jason Pless tells WHMI the 22-year-old victim has been identified as Brendan Kee. The vehicle involved was a maroon, 2000 Oldsmobile Alero. Preliminary investigation leads officers to believe that excessive speed and alcohol were factors in the crash but additional testing is necessary and the investigation continues. Officers were assisted at the scene by Green Oak Township firefighters, Livingston County EMS, the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department, the Hamburg and Northfield Township Police Departments as well as Michigan State Police at the Brighton Post. (JM)
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