4/21/14 - A man attempted a low-speed getaway after allegedly failing to stop for police in Highland Township early this morning. Just after 1am, Oakland County Sheriffâs Deputies attempted to stop a car they say was traveling 82 miles per hour in a 45 zone in the area of Highland and Duck Lake Roads. According to the official report the driver failed to stop, but he did slow down to about 30 miles per hour while the deputies pursued. Sheriffâs deputies eventually boxed the vehicle in with patrol cars and forced it to come to a stop, with no damage or injuries reported. The driver, a 47-year-old Rochester Hills man, was arrested for fleeing and eluding a police officer and lodged at the Oakland County Jail. Police say he was also driving on a suspended license. He reportedly has three warrants out of 50th District Court in Pontiac for assault, malicious destruction of property, and failure to appear in court. (TD)
Rochester Hills Man Leads Police On Low-Speed Chase In HighlandRochester Hills Man Leads Police On Low-Speed Chase In Highland
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Firefighters Battle Suspicious Wild Fire in South Lyon SundayFirefighters Battle Suspicious Wild Fire in South Lyon Sunday
4/21/14 - Multiple fire departments responded to a large wild fire in the City of South Lyon on Sunday afternoon that has since been labeled suspicious. South Lyon Fire Chief Mike Kennedy tells WHMI they were dispatched around 3:30pm to the CSX railroad right of way and bike path between South Mill Street and the cemetery. The fire burned about two-and-a-half acres of heavy timber and brush and assistance was required from the Green Oak and Lyon Township fire departments for brush trucks. Train traffic was shut down for about two hours while crews were fighting the fire. Kennedy says fighting the fire was hard work and firefighters had to physically walk in a lot of tools and equipment because they couldnât get apparatus very close to the incident, which was in a very remote, all natural location. Kennedy says there was nothing to indicate anything but human involvement, whether intentional or un-intentional. He added fortunately there were no injuries but the fire certainly emphasized the sacrifice that a lot of on-call members make, along with their families, because a lot of Easter dinners and celebrations were either interrupted or completely cancelled because of the incident. Anyone with information on possible suspects who may have been in the area is asked to contact the South Lyon Police Department at (248) 437-1773. (JM)
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Hartland Fire Authority Seeks Teens To Train As CadetsHartland Fire Authority Seeks Teens To Train As Cadets
4/22/14 - The Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority is looking for teenagers interested in firefighting to join the department as cadets. The cadet program is designed to build character, encourage leadership, and provide experience to local young people. It introduces participants to the careers available by becoming a firefighter or becoming an emergency medical technician. Chief Adam Carroll earlier this year said like many departments in Michigan, Hartland is finding applicants to join the department scarce, and the cadet program could help encourage local youth to join the department. The HDFA will provide training programs for the cadets, who will perform support roles within the fire station as well as limited on-scene duties. Eligible participants will be between 16 and 18 years old, with older participants only accepted if they are still in high school. Cadets must also reside in Hartland, Deerfield, or the portions of Tyrone Township that are covered by the fire authority. For more information, contact the Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority during normal business hours at (810) 632-7676. (TD)
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Genoa's Giant Bunny Hop Falls Short Of New World RecordGenoa's Giant Bunny Hop Falls Short Of New World Record
4/22/14 - Despite the best efforts of hundreds of people gathered at this yearâs Marshmallow Drop and Moon Glow in Genoa Township, it appears that no world record was set. The Howell Parks and Recreation Authority organizes the event every year, and this past weekendâs gathering included a new activity between the dropping of marshmallows from a helicopter and the nighttime hunt for Easter eggs. Attendees attempted to take a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest bunny hop dance in history. The title was held by a group in Utah, which brought together 3,841 participants for the dance in July of 2007. Despite the best efforts of organizers and the enthusiastic dancing of attending families, it now appears that around 2,000 people participated in the bunny hop this weekend, falling short of the record. Three methods of verification, including a camera mounted on a flying drone, all point to an unsuccessful world record attempt. Organizers say another attempt at the world record might take place at next yearâs event. (TD)
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"Parents Who Host, Lose the Most" Campaign to Kick-Off Thursday "Parents Who Host, Lose the Most" Campaign to Kick-Off Thursday
4/22/14 - A kick-off event later this week will mark the start of an annual spring awareness campaign aimed at deterring parents from providing alcohol to minors. The Livingston Community Prevention Project will kick off its Parents Who Host, Lose the Most â Donât be a Party to Underage Drinking campaign with an event Thursday. Organizers typically launch the campaign in the spring to coincide with prom and spring break, which they say are common occasions for adults to provide alcohol to minors and students. Guest speakers include Livingston County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Vailliencourt and Brighton Board of Education member John Conely. Prevention advocate awards will be announced while a separate community conversation segment will focus on substance abuse prevention planning. The kick-off event is free and will take place from 5:30 to 6:45pm Thursday at the Hartland Educational Support Services Center on M-59. Details can be found in the events section to the right and through the link below. (JM)
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Sheriff's Department Establishing New Rate For Dedicated PatrolsSheriff's Department Establishing New Rate For Dedicated Patrols
4/22/14 - A new set rate for the cost of dedicated Sheriffâs Department patrols should clarify contracts with local municipalities. Sheriffâs deputies have been contracted out to local municipalities for dedicated patrols for decades, and historically this has required the townships or cities receiving the increased protection to pay the full cost. More recently, the county has been covering about 38% of that cost as an incentive, but costs are changing and that large of a subsidy is becoming expensive. Last night, the countyâs Public Safety and Infrastructure & Development Committee gave its approval to a fee schedule that reduces the subsidy to 25%. At a real annual cost of about $124,000, a single deputy providing eight hours of protection per day would cost a municipality about $93,000 per year. Currently only Putnam and Tyrone townships contract for dedicated patrols from the sheriffâs department, and the new subsidy rate will kick in when the municipalities renew their contracts. This is especially important for Tyrone, which is working on a ballot proposal to renew its police and fire assessment and must know how much a contract for coverage will cost. Undersheriff Mike Murphy says not all counties are willing to subsidize this service in the interest of public safety, and that it speaks well to Livingston to do so. (TD)
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Howell City Council Votes to Remove 16 Mini-Circles Howell City Council Votes to Remove 16 Mini-Circles
4/22/14 - The mini-circle drama took a new turn at Monday nightâs Howell City Council meeting and 16 will soon be a thing of the past. Following discussion, Council voted to start the bidding process for the removal of the mini-circles. Councilman Scott Niblock debated funding for the project and the system of removal before voting against the motion to proceed saying, âthere are a lot of other things we can spend our hard earned dollars on rather replacing something that is already in place.â Voting 4-2, Council approved a proposal to spend up to $35,000 dollars to remove all 16 miniâcircles within the next 150 days and start the bidding process. Councilman Jeffrey Hansen joined Niblock and voted against the measure while Councilman Steven Manor was absent. Should the proposals come in over budget, City Manager Shea Charles told WHMI then the results will be presented to Council for direction. Using city staff would be the most economical way to complete the project. However, Charles stated that would require taking employees away from other duties at a very busy time for the City of Howell. (JM)
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Local Attorney Files to Run for 53rd District Court Seat Local Attorney Files to Run for 53rd District Court Seat
4/22/14 - A local attorney has announced his candidacy for an open judicial seat. Attorney Dennis Brewer issued a press release announcing that he submitted petitions Monday containing the signatures of more than 1,000 Livingston County residents to run for the 53rd District Court bench. Brewer resides in Hartland Township and says his legal background includes experience in all areas of practice within the district court. He began his legal career as a clerk for former 53rd District Court Judge Frank Del Vero and has operated a private practice in Brighton for the past 15 years. In addition to serving as a past president of the Livingston County Bar Association, Brewer says he has a long record of service to the community and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Livingston County. Brewer will be challenging incumbent 53rd District Court Judge Theresa Brennan, who was appointed in 2005. She was elected in 2006 to a two-year term and then re-elected to a six-year term in 2008. (JM)
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Citing Rise In Activity, City Of Howell Takes Back Building ServicesCiting Rise In Activity, City Of Howell Takes Back Building Services
4/22/14 - The Howell City Council has voted to take back control of building services in the near future. Citing a tremendous uptick in activity over the last few months, the Howell City Council approved a motion Monday night to exercise its 30-day out clause with Livingston County, returning all services to the cityâs building department. City Manager Shea Charles told WHMI Howell has contracted certain building services with Livingston County since about 2010 and has been very pleased with the services provided. The current contract will end May 22nd. (JM)
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Last-Minute Candidates Join Race For County CommissionLast-Minute Candidates Join Race For County Commission
4/22/14 - Three candidates joined the race for the county commission ahead of the filing deadline at 4pm today. Democrat Donald Pushies and Republican Douglas Helzerman are both aiming for the District 4 seat currently held by Ron VanHouten which includes the four western most townships of the county and part of Putnam Township. Helzerman is one of two Republicans challenging incumbent commissioners this year, with Steven Hart set to challenge Board Vice-Chair Steve Williams in the August 5th primary. Also registering last-minute today was Democrat James Delcamp, who will challenge Board Chair Carol Griffith for the District 7 seat which covers Genoa Township. There were no last-minute candidates for the other local contested races, which include the State Senate and two seats in the State House. (TD)
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Two Republicans, Four Dems File Last Minute For Local RacesTwo Republicans, Four Dems File Last Minute For Local Races
4/23/14 - The local races for the U.S. House of Representatives and the Livingston County Board of Commissioners got some last-minute candidates before the filing deadline yesterday. With incumbent Mike Rogers deciding not to seek re-election for his 8th District seat in Congress, a total of seven candidates are vying for his spot. Three of them registered yesterday before the deadline to submit. Among them were Rochester Hills Republican Bryan Barnett as well as Democrats Jeffrey Hank and Eric Schertzing, both of East Lansing. In the race for the county commission, three more new candidates joined yesterday before the filing deadline. Donald Pushies and James Delcamp completed the Democratic roster, which now includes one candidate for each of the nine seats on the board. Republican Douglas Helzerman also joined the race last-minute and will challenge incumbent Ron VanHouten for the District 4 seat in the August primary. No eleventh-hour candidates joined the races for the local state senate and state house seats. (TD)
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Consumers Urges Residents To Call 811 Before They DigConsumers Urges Residents To Call 811 Before They Dig
4/23/14 - The Livingston County area has already had one power outage resulting from misplaced digging, and Consumers Energy is reminding residents to call ahead before they try to dig. April is Safe Digging Month, and Consumers Vice President of Energy Delivery Mary Palkovich tells WHMI not knowing what is below the surface can be dangerous. A construction crew in Fenton cut off power to about 500 Consumers customers in March when it bored through an underground 3-phase wire on Skyline Drive, near Silver Parkway. Most of those who lost power were businesses, and it took nearly a day to restore power to some of them. Palkovich encourages anyone planning to dig this spring for planting, building, or landscaping to first call 811, free of charge, and have the owners of the utilities come out and clearly mark where they are located to avoid that kind of accident. If a resident does end up striking one of these underground utilities, the appropriate response is to call 911. For more details about safe digging and the 811 number, follow the link below. (TD)
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Committee Says Putnam Policing Sufficient, Recommends SurveyCommittee Says Putnam Policing Sufficient, Recommends Survey
4/23/14 - Putnam Township does not need extra police protection, but it would be beneficial if the residents were willing to pay for it. That was the determination of the townshipâs Police Protection Committee last night. The committee was established to examine whether the 40 hours a week of dedicated patrols by the Sheriffâs Department are sufficient, or if full time patrols from the Pinckney Police Department are warranted. After several weeks of discussions with stakeholders including Undersheriff Mike Murphy, Pinckney police Chief Jeff Newton, and Pinckney Schools Superintendent Rick Todd, the committee decided that additional patrols would be a quality of life improvement. However, they said the data on crime in the township does not justify paying for more than 40 hours a week of patrols, and the committeeâs recommendation to the township board will be to continue to contract with the Sheriffâs Department. However, that is not the end of the issue. Committee chair Pat Carney tells WHMI they are also recommending that the township seek public input on the issue through a professional survey company to determine if residents are willing to pay for 24-7 patrols. The upgrade would cost an estimated $800,000, doubling the size of the department and likely requiring a property tax of about 2.6 mills throughout the township and Village of Pinckney. While this would be an increase for most residents, it would be a substantial decrease in property taxes for those who live inside the village who already pay 6 mills for police protection. (TD)
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Board Discusses Road Improvement Plans For Hartland Township Board Discusses Road Improvement Plans For Hartland Township
4/23/14 - The Hartland Township Board of Trustees met Tuesday night to discuss several items, including safer roads and pathways. Township Manager James Wickman told the board, 60% of the residents polled in March approve of the plan. The township has put together a citizen task force to explore the issues and come up with a set of recommendations for the board. The most obvious issue is funding, and their recommendation is for a 1.5 million, 10-year ballot proposal this November. The improvements could cost $9 (m) million dollars. Wickman said for the average Hartland resident that would be about $150 a year. Residents who want more information are being invited to contact the township through social media, email, by letter or attend a meeting. The Planning Committee will hold several public meetings. More information on those sessions is available through the link to the township website below. (LR)
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Students to Run Inside Burning Building Per Assignment ThursdayStudents to Run Inside Burning Building Per Assignment Thursday
4/23/14 - Thursday marks a course requirement that most students would never normally complete - running into a burning building. 26 students will be completing their final practical training exercise and take part in a âlive burnâ tomorrow. The training is the culmination of a yearâs worth of coursework for the students currently enrolled in Howell High School's firefighters 1 & 2 program. Students will be entering a three-story burn tower to experience a live fire up close. While wearing their protective bunker gear and self-contained breathing apparatus, students will be take part in several exercises such as observing how a fire begins, grows and behaves in a building, pulling hose lines into the building and performing search and rescue operations. The exercise will take place late Thursday morning at the Hamburg Township Fire Department training grounds. (JM)
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Fire Department Millage Renewal Will Go Before Voters In AugustFire Department Millage Renewal Will Go Before Voters In August
4/23/14 - Voters in Putnam Township will be asked to approve a millage renewal, rather than an increase, for the fire department this summer. Fire Chief Greg Amburgey tells WHMI the increase was discussed due to the rising cost of operating the department. The department responds to about 500-600 calls each year, compared to 300-400 per year a decade ago. Amburgey says he also expects to replace vehicles in the coming years, adding to the cost of operation. The current 1.1923-mill tax will provide the department with about $367,000 this year, but costs will exceed $400,000 and the difference will be taken from the departmentâs fund equity. The township and the fire department will reexamine the issue and determine if an increase is necessary in 2016. The renewal will be offered to voters on the August primary ballot. (TD)
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Razzmatazz Manager To Remain As New Toy Store Steps InRazzmatazz Manager To Remain As New Toy Store Steps In
4/23/14 - The owners of the Razzmatazz Toy Store may be leaving town, but that does not mean Howell will lose its downtown toy vendor. The store is currently having a liquidation sale to empty out its inventory since the current owners are moving to California this year. After some uncertainty about the fate of the location, it was recently purchased by Toyology, a similar store currently located in West Bloomfield. Manager Becky Gremore will continue to operate the store and serve as its public face in Howell. She says the new company is very similar to Razzmatazz, and will continue to focus on educational and imaginative toys for local kids. She adds that she is very grateful that they will take over the store and allow her to continue to be Howellâs âtoy lady.â The liquidation sale at Razzmatazz will continue until the inventory is gone or the lease runs out at the end of June. Toyology will likely set up its new store and open its doors in the first weeks of July. (TD)
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HPS Superintendent No Longer a Candidate for Muskegon PositionHPS Superintendent No Longer a Candidate for Muskegon Position
4/23/14 - It appears as through Howell Superintendent Ron Wilson is no longer in the running for a job in west Michigan and will remain with the district at least for the time being. In a posting on a social media site, Wilson announced that he did not make the final cut for the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District position, saying he was rather disappointed, but not devastated. He interviewed recently and says the board decided to do second interviews with two candidates that have ISD experience but thanked the community for all of its support. Wilsonâs contract with Howell was extended through 2017. There was a public show of support for Wilson to receive increased compensation while he sought employment in the west Michigan district, with some expressing frustration because the school board had not yet come to an agreement on a new contract with Wilson. Wilsonâs total compensation package is $209,000. Heâs seeking an increase to his base salary from $155,000 to just under $174,000, which he says would be congruent with what former Superintendent Chuck Breiner was earning in 2008. He is also seeking an annual 3% cost of living increase. A Board of Education committee has been working on possible contract proposal, but nothing has been formally presented. The Board of Education will hold its regularly scheduled meeting Monday at 7pm in the administration board room on Highlander Way. (JM)
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Arraignment Scheduled For New Hudson Man In Pellet Gun CaseArraignment Scheduled For New Hudson Man In Pellet Gun Case
4/24/14 - Charges will be brought against a local man following an incident in Lyon Township that left one man wounded from a pellet gun. The 24-year-old New Hudson man is scheduled for arraignment on Monday in Oakland County District Court on assault and battery charges. Deputies with the Oakland County Sheriffâs Office Lyon Township substation responded to a residence shortly before 10:30pm on Sunday, April 13th 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 the man 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 suspect fled the scene following the incident but later turned himself in at the substation. (TD)
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Not Everyone Pleased With Sewer Connection For Lake TyroneNot Everyone Pleased With Sewer Connection For Lake Tyrone
4/24/14 - There are divided opinions among residents of Lake Tyrone regarding the upcoming switch from septic fields to a larger sewer system. The community currently sends its waste to a drain field, but soon it will be disposed of using the Livingston County Regional Sewer System. That system manages Tyrone and Hartland Township discharge, with the final processing contracted out to a facility in Genesee County. The total cost of hooking Lake Tyrone into the system will be about $1.7 million. Tyrone Township Clerk Keith says the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has raised the standards for wastewater treatment and the septic fields used at Lake Tyrone are not capable of meeting those standards. He says there is not enough land available at the site to expand or improve them. Unless the waste is properly treated, the DEQ could level fines or even charge residents to have the waste trucked to a capable treatment facility. While some residents are unhappy with the change, saying they will be paying more but not receiving any kind of benefit, while other residents say they understand the need to appease the DEQ and hooking into the sewer system is the best option. (TD)
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