6/9/14 - Somme changes will likely be taking place within the Livingston County Department of Veterans Affairs. Director Carl Pardon has announced plans to retire but is recommending some changes prior to his departure. Heâs put a plan together with county administration and human resources that will be presented to the general government committee of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners tonight. Pardon tells WHMI that heâs recommending returning the director position to full time to keep up all of the required duties but also to attract a quality replacement. Pardon says heâs planning to retire sometime around October and the goal would be to start the hiring process and help train his replacement. Heâs also seeking to change the name of the office from Veterans Affairs to Veterans Services to avoid confusion with the federal department. Furthermore, he says service is what they provide so Veterans Services speaks better for the office. Pardon came on board in 2009 but brought 32 years of experience with him and says the department has seen big changes for the better from staffing to programs. Heâs a widower and says he made the decision to retire based on his age and wanting to spend more time with three children and grandchildren. If all goes as planned, Pardon says they should be able to finalize changes by the July 7th board meeting and then start advertising for a replacement director. (JM)
New Name & Leadership Planned For County Veterans Affairs New Name & Leadership Planned For County Veterans Affairs
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Gathering Planned Wednesday in Memory of Howell TeenGathering Planned Wednesday in Memory of Howell Teen
6/9/14 - A gathering will be held this week for friends and family of a Howell teen killed in a tragic accident Friday evening. 18-year-old Trevor Mitchell Inman of Howell died from injuries sustained in the crash that happened around 8pm Friday on Latson Road, south of M-59. Police say Inman pulled his car out of a gas station parking lot onto Latson Road, directly in front of a pickup truck. Alcohol and speed donât appear to be factors and seat belts were worn in the crash, which remains under investigation. Meanwhile, Inmanâs friends and family are invited to gather at MacDonaldâs Funeral Home in Howell on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8pm. No formal services are planned. Inman, who had a twin brother and two other siblings, was a 2014 graduate of Howell High School and had planned to attend Eastern Michigan University. Memorial contributions may be made to the family care of his mother Nicole. The family has also set up a gofundme account to raise money for funeral expenses. A link is posted below. (JK)
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Paid On-Call Firefighters Sought by Area DepartmentsPaid On-Call Firefighters Sought by Area Departments
6/9/14 - An open house event later this month aims to attract local residents to the possibility of becoming paid on-call firefighters. The Hartland-Deerfield Fire Authority and the Brighton Area Fire Authority will be opening the doors to residents at their locations around Livingston County and the surrounding area on Saturday, June 21st. Both fire departments are actively seeking new firefighters for all of their locations, and will provide all the training needed to meet state standards for the position. Training generally takes place over a yearâs time in the form of a few nights of work each week. The downtown Brighton fire station, as well as the Hartland-Deerfield stations in Hartland, Linden, and Fenton, will be open to men and women interested in the position during the open house. Brighton Fire Chief Mike OâBrian says there is definitely a shortage across the country of interested people seeking to become paid on-call firefighters. He attributes this to the increasing demands of careers and family on the average resident, which limits their ability to commit to the paid on-call program. OâBrian says the open house should give interested people a chance to explore the options the fire department has to offer in an informal setting. The open house event will take place from 10am to 2pm on June 21st. (TD)
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Howell Man Charged With Church Theft in LivoniaHowell Man Charged With Church Theft in Livonia
6/9/14 - After stealing money from several churches in Wayne and Oakland counties, a Howell man has been charged with larceny. Jeffrey John Bentley was arraigned last week after a hidden camera showed him taking money out of a donation box at St. Edithâs Catholic Church. Church officials notified Livonia Police and said they thought money was being taken out of donation boxes, so a hidden camera was then put in place which caught Bentley in the act. He is also suspected in several other church robberies in the area. The 55-year-old Bentley is charged with larceny in a building and as a habitual offender, which is a 15 year felony. His criminal record includes previous convictions in Livingston County for larceny and criminal sexual conduct. Bentley is due back in Livonia district court Thursday for a preliminary exam. His bond was posted at $50,000. (JK)
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Refinancing Saves Money For Pinckney School TaxpayersRefinancing Saves Money For Pinckney School Taxpayers
6/9/14 - Taxpayers in Pinckney will be seeing lower rates towards the school district debt payments after a financial move pays off. The Pinckney Community School district has sold their 2014 refunding bonds for over $35 million. The bonds will be used to cover the rest of the cost remaining from 2004 bonds which were taken out to help fund the new high school that was built in 1997. The district also saves close to $12 million with a decrease of over $4 million in the districtâs interest rate for taxpayers and saves almost $8 million in future borrowing from the School Bond Loan fund. Linda Moskalik, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations of Pinckney Schools, likens this to refinancing a mortgage on a house. Taxpayers will see their tax rates on the school debt decrease over the next 13 years, meaning taxpayers will save over $4 million. The refunding bonds were sold with a true interest rate of 2.87% with a final maturity of 2027. (JK)
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Breast Cancer Fundraiser to Pink Up Howell's DowntownBreast Cancer Fundraiser to Pink Up Howell's Downtown
6/9/14 - Downtown Howell will be full of pink on later this week, as a local group raises money for breast cancer research. This Thursday, the Howell Pink Party will hold its 6th annual event, starting at 5pm. The gathering is a fund-raiser for supportive care and breast cancer research at St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital. Participants get access to discounts at local stores, wine tastings, and other forms of entertainment. Women attend wearing pink, and escorted around Howell by men wearing tuxedos. Organizer Diana Biermann says there are still open spots available. The group has partnered up with St. Joes for the next few years to raise enough money to buy a stereotactic breast imaging device, which is a special table that will help with procedures. Tickets are on sale for $25, and can be purchased online through the link below or in person at the Howell Farmerâs Market, Howell Western Wear, and Heart of Michigan. (JK)
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Pinckney Woman's Recall Lawsuit Sent To New York CityPinckney Woman's Recall Lawsuit Sent To New York City
6/9/14 - The parties in a lawsuit between a local woman and General Motors have agreed to a stay of proceedings. Lorie Biggs of Pinckney filed the lawsuit in Michiganâs Eastern District Federal Court last month. GM issued a recall of specific models in February due to a problem with the ignition system that could potentially be dangerous. Alyson Oliver, the attorney representing Biggs, says her firm believes GM knew about the defect long before the recall, going so far as to alter the design of the faulty part without changing its part number in an attempt to correct it. However, she says GM never told consumers about the problem, allowing them to purchase vehicles that were physically dangerous and economically worthless since they cannot be resold. Last week, Biggs and GM agreed to a stay of proceedings until September to comply with an order issued by bankruptcy court in July of 2009. Oliver tells WHMI this was to give the Panel on Multidistrict Litigation time to decide where the case should be litigated. Earlier today, that body decided to hold the case in the southern district of New York before the same judge who handled GMâs bankruptcy. Oliver says GM plans to argue that its obligations in this case were discharged during bankruptcy, so it makes sense to litigate the case in front of the judge best suited to determine whether that is the case. She says the stay will likely be lifted and an official status conference set once the cases are transferred to New York. Only economic loss claims against GM are being relocated to New York. For now, personal injury claims will be litigated in the jurisdictions in which they were filed. (TD)
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Morning Crash Sends Fowlerville Woman to Hospital Morning Crash Sends Fowlerville Woman to Hospital
6/9/14 - A Fowlerville woman was hospitalized following a morning crash in Conway Township. The incident was reported at approximately 8:30am on Fowlerville Road near Sherwood Road. Livingston County Undersheriff Mike Murphy tells WHMI it involved a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am, driven by a 23-year-old Gregory woman traveling southbound on Fowlerville Road. He says she had passed one vehicle and attempted to pass a second but ended up making contact with it, left the roadway, struck an embankment and a ditch and overturned the vehicle. While the driver was not injured, Murphy says a 19-year-old Fowlerville woman who was a passenger in the vehicle was transported to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing by Livingston County EMS. Murphy says they were assisted at the scene by the Fowlerville Fire Department, which responded initially and was able to free the Fowlerville woman. He says the Gregory woman was cited for careless driving as she was going too fast to overtake the vehicle she was trying to pass but also because contact was made with the 2003 Pontiac Sunfire, which was driven by a 54-year-old Corunna man who was not injured. (JM)
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Health Department Offers Mosquito Prevention Tips Health Department Offers Mosquito Prevention Tips
6/10/14 - Lots of mosquitoes are expected during the warm weather months and local health officials are urging personal precaution and protection to help âfight the biteâ. Given the amount of snow and rain that Livingston County has endured this spring, The Livingston County Department of Public Health says low-lying areas will likely experience a lot of mosquitoes. Health officials advise using insect repellents when outdoors but to take extra care during dawn and dusk, which are peak mosquito biting hours. Itâs advised to wear long sleeves, pants, and socks when outdoors when weather permits. Standing water found around homes in things like flowerpots, gutters, pool covers, pet water dishes and birdbaths should be removed on a regular basis. Itâs also recommended that screens be installed or repaired on windows and doors to help keep mosquitoes outside. More information can be found in the attached press release below or on the health departmentâs website. (JM)
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Charges Dropped in Lyon Twp. Pellet Gun IncidentCharges Dropped in Lyon Twp. Pellet Gun Incident
6/10/14 - A New Hudson man who police say shot another man with a pellet gun in April has had charges against him dropped. 24-year-old Christopher Ouellette had been charged with a single count of assault and battery after Oakland County deputies responded to a Lyon Township residence on the evening of April 13th after receiving a report of an assault with a CO2 pellet gun. A 42-year-old man said he had been having problems with Ouellette and they were involved in a physical confrontation when Ouellette pulled out the pellet gun and shot him in the face. Court records indicate the charge was dropped and the case closed on June 3rd. Lyon Township local ordinance prosecutor Scott Baker said that the witness and victim in the incident failed to appear at the time scheduled for Ouelletteâs trial. Baker says he asked for an adjournment, but that was denied and he was forced to drop the case. However, he says he expects new charges will be filed. (JK)
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Fowlerville Company Introduces Environmentally-Friendly PlasticFowlerville Company Introduces Environmentally-Friendly Plastic
6/10/14 - A new, more environmentally-friendly kind of reinforced plastic will be unveiled at a conference this week by a local plastics producer. Asahi Kasei Plastics, based out of Fowlerville, has sent representatives to Chicago to unveil furniture made from the new material at a major design convention. While most plastics are reinforced with fiberglass, the new polypropylene is reinforced with cellulose, or tree fiber. Marketing Manager J. P. Wiese says other biomaterial plastics had a tendency to produce bad odors, but this new material eliminates that issue. The cellulose is collected from sustainably-harvested forests, and the energy saved by producing 500 tons of the new plastic rather than fiberglass-reinforced plastic is equal to more than 400,000 pounds of coal. Additionally, the biomaterial plastic is much more recyclable than fiberglass-reinforced plastic, retaining about 85% of its physical properties even after being shredded and re-cast ten times. Asahi Kasei has teamed up with a furniture manufacturer to demonstrate the plastic at NeoCon this week, but Wiese says it will likely take manufacturers a while to try out and commit to the new material. (TD)
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Redevelopment Plan For Latson School Property Moves ForwardRedevelopment Plan For Latson School Property Moves Forward
6/10/14 - The Howell School Board approved a planned unit development agreement with Genoa Township for the Latson Road Elementary property last night. A portion of the property was used as right-of-way for the new I-96 interchange, while the rest of the property remains under the districtâs control. The elementary school has been torn down and the property is up for sale. Assistant Superintendent Rick Terres says it is difficult to put a value on the land, but it could fetch between $4.5 and $6.5 million. Terres says the PUD agreement gets an extra step out of the way for any development at that location, making the site almost shovel-ready and therefore much easier to sell. The agreement was drawn up by the attorneys for both the township and the school district, so it is likely the Genoa Board of Trustees will approve it this month as well. School Board Members Mike Moloney and Deborah McCormick both voted against the agreement. Moloney said he did not feel it adequately protected the districtâs ingress and egress rights, which included two access points to the road. Other board members and district staff disagreed, saying those rights were clearly protected. (TD)
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Classmates of Accident Victim Stepping Up to Help FamilyClassmates of Accident Victim Stepping Up to Help Family
6/10/14 - As the classmates of 18-year-old Trevor Inman try to come to grips with his tragic death last week in a car accident, several of them have stepped up to help raise money for his funeral expenses. Inman, a recent graduate of Howell High School, died of injuries sustained last Friday in a crash on Latson Road in Oceola Township. Inmanâs friends and family are invited to gather at MacDonaldâs Funeral Home in Howell on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8pm. No formal services are planned. However, his classmate and fellow recent graduate, Cassie Bondie, wanted to do more. Bondie has been the organizer behind a fundraising DVD effort that enlisted senior members of the Howell a cappella choir. Together they recorded their own version of the 1985 hit âWe Are the World". Originally the plan was to donate proceeds from a DVD recording of their session to the Save the Children charity, but following Inmanâs sudden death, Bondie approached the group about switching it to helping Inmanâs family with expenses. She tells WHMI she received overwhelming support from the group. DVDs can be ordered through; projectwearetheworld@yahoo.com. A gofundme account has also been set up to help the family. That link is below. (JK)
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Fenton Passes Expanded Anti-Discrimination OrdinanceFenton Passes Expanded Anti-Discrimination Ordinance
6/10/14 - Fenton City Council has approved an ordinance that bans discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. A vote came Monday night after several recent public hearings had been held on the topic. Fenton Councilman Bradley Jacob said they want âeveryone to feel welcome and to treat people fairly and with respect." The ordinance allows the city manager to investigate and attempt to come to an agreement "terminating discrimination or reverse the effects of past discrimination." If violations persist, penalties could be a $500 fine per day until the violation no longer exists. Also included in the ordinance is protection based on factors including race, religion, national origin, gender, age and marital status. More than two dozen other Michigan communities have similar gay rights measures. (JK)
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Vandalism Reported at Pinckney Community Public Library Vandalism Reported at Pinckney Community Public Library
6/10/14 - Summer is here and schools out - an apparent recipe for vandalism at the Pinckney Community Public Library. The Pinckney Village Council met Monday night, where it was stated that the library continually suffers incidents of vandalism. The drop box appears to be a target as the vandals have been pouring energy drinks down it, resulting in damaged books and videos. Kids are suspected since the incidents have coincided with the summer recess from school. The library is located next to the Veterans Park, which is somewhat secluded, so officials feel that could be a lure, coupled with boredom. Pinckney Police Chief Jeff Newton told WHMI vandalism was reported just last weekend and it was also the start of summer vacation for school kids. He says theyâll be paying special attention to the area and building with heightened patrols. Despite the inconvenience for patrons, Newton says they suggested the library start locking the drop box, which it is doing. He's also recommended a surveillance system installed as soon as possible. He says the Pinckney Library has a millage proposal on the August ballot and some of that funding, if successful, would be designated toward a security cameras. (JM)
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Brighton School Board Mulls Outsourcing Some Support Staff Brighton School Board Mulls Outsourcing Some Support Staff
6/10/14 - The Brighton Area Schools Board of Education Monday night discussed, but took no action on, outsourcing some of the district's support staff. The employees affected would include about 35-40 kitchen staff, 30 secretaries and six maintenance workers. All are represented at the bargaining table by BESPA â the Brighton Educational Support Personnel Association. The district hopes to gain significant cost savings with the union in negotiations toward a new contract, which would replace the one set to expire at the end of the month. If that doesnât happen and the employees are outsourced, district officials say Brighton would realize a savings of $423,000. Thatâs because the district would no longer be required to pay the state the employeesâ retirement costs. Toward that possible end, the board Monday night approved a contract authorizing Professional Educational Services Group, or PESG, to administer outsourcing services for the district. But Superintendent Greg Gray empathizes that the board did NOT make a decision to outsource its support staff. Gray tells WHMI such action might come at a future meeting, but only if the district and BESPA are unable to reach contract agreement. Gray emphasizes the goal is that the employees continue to be employed by the district. He says the two sides have been working diligently toward a new agreement, and need to continue those efforts as the calendar gets closer to the June 30th expiration date. The downside for the employees is if the district ends up outsourcing them, and they are contracted out to a private company, they would lose their state retirement benefits. The 40 para-professionals on staff are not subject to being outsourced because they are considered instructional employees, and by law cannot be outsourced. (TT)
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Fights Reported & Pinckney Woman Run Over by Truck at Mud Bog Fights Reported & Pinckney Woman Run Over by Truck at Mud Bog
6/10/14 - Alcohol and testosterone may have fueled some incidents at a big mud bog event last weekend in Marion Township. Michigan State Police at the Brighton Post and the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department responded to different complaints at the event held Saturday off Hinchey Road. A MSP trooper arrived around 6:30pm to find a large party and learned that a fight had occurred earlier and was also advised that a 28-year-old Pinckney woman had her legs run over by a white pickup truck. Police say she was transported by a private vehicle to an unknown hospital and the extent of her injuries is unknown at this time. No tickets or charges have been issued against the driver as the investigation is continuing. Meanwhile later that night around 9:30, Livingston County Undersheriff Mike Murphy says deputies responded to a report of larceny from a vehicle as well as a 28-year-old White Lake man who had been assaulted by an unknown white male believed to be in his 20âs. He says the victimâs girlfriend who resides in Auburn Hills stated they were headed back to the parking lot when she heard a pounding noise and witnessed her boyfriend being assaulted with a bottle of some sort. He says the suspect apparently took off after she yelled and the victim was transported to a hospital by his girlfriend, where he was treated and released. Murphy says they have no further description other than the suspect was wearing tan pants and had no shirt on. There were no other witnesses. It was estimated that there were more than 1,000 people in attendance and Murphy says the host made a statement to deputies that the event had gotten out of hand due to people posting about it on social media sites. (JM)
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Crash Involving Semi Shuts Down M-59 at Hughes During Rush HourCrash Involving Semi Shuts Down M-59 at Hughes During Rush Hour
6/10/14 - An accident involving a semi forced the closure of M-59 near Hughes Road in Oceola Township. The accident happened around 4:00 and resulted in both directions of M-59 being shut down at Hughes Road and traffic being detoured. The accident involved a semi and a black sedan, with the semi blocking both directions of traffic on M-59 at Hughes Road. Michigan State Police report that the female driver of the sedan was traveling northbound on Hughes Road. Police believe she was trying to turn westbound onto M-59 when the front of her vehicle struck the cab of the semi, causing her vehicle to spin out and strike the box of the semi. The woman sustained non-life threatening injuries and was last reported in stable condition at a hospital. The driver of the semi was not injured and the crash remains under investigation. (JM)
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Crash With Semi Shuts Down M-59 at Hughes During Rush HourCrash With Semi Shuts Down M-59 at Hughes During Rush Hour
6/11/14 - An accident involving a semi forced the closure of M-59 near Hughes Road in Oceola Township Tuesday afternoon. The accident happened around 4pm and involved a semi and a black sedan, with the semi blocking both directions of traffic on M-59 at Hughes Road, resulting in both directions of M-59 being shut down at Hughes Road and traffic being detoured. Michigan State Trooper Matt Keller tells WHMI that the front of the womanâs vehicle struck the cab of the semi, causing her car to spin around and strike the mid-section of the semi. She suffered head, back, and stomach injuries and was transported by Livingston County EMS to the University of Michigan hospital, where she was last listed in stable condition. The driver of the semi was not injured. Drugs and alcohol are not suspected as being factors in the crash, and Keller says both drivers were spared further injury by wearing seat belts. The crash remains under investigation. Both lanes of M-59 were closed for about three hours while crews worked to remove the vehicles. (TD/JK)
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Man Bound Over On Charges Stemming From High-Speed ChaseMan Bound Over On Charges Stemming From High-Speed Chase
6/11/14 - A man has been bound over for trial after a high speed freeway chase in a stolen vehicle. 21-year-old Kevin Vincent-Lynn Jones waived his preliminary exam on Tuesday in 53rd District Court, sending his case to circuit court for trial. A $200,000 cash or surety bond has been set for Jones, who is charged as a second time habitual offender based on a prior fleeing and eluding conviction out of Wayne County. No circuit court dates have yet been set. Police say Jones was the driver of a stolen vehicle involved in a high speed police chase June 3rd that began in Ingham County and continued at speeds reaching 120 miles per hour along I-96 before finally ending in Brighton after stop sticks were deployed by State Police. The 18-year-old passenger in the vehicle, identified as Jonesâ brother, is not being charged locally, although the pair are expected to face charges in Southgate, where theyâre alleged to have tied up a 92-year-old woman and stole her car, which was the same one used in the chase. (TD/JK)
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