6/22/14 - A Howell-based company and one of its employees were among the honorees at the Michigan Works! Association First Annual Prosperity Awards. Thai Summit America was recognized for their $50 million expansion of the companyâs Howell campus and their plans to hire as many as 150 new employees in the next two years. Livingston County Michigan Works! has partnered with Thai Summit through the Skilled Trades Training Fund and other sources to leverage over $265,000 in grants for leadership training, die finishing training and on-the-job training for new employees. Ricky Doyle, one of the new employees at Thai Summit, was also honored at the Awards ceremony, which was held June 4th in Lansing. Doyle said he came to Michigan Works! last year as a homeless, unemployed 21-year-old high school dropout. Michigan Works! helped him enroll in a welding class at Mott Community College-Livingston Center and he began work on his GED. The Michigan Works! Association says the Prosperity Awards are an opportunity for state leaders to recognize the work of job makers and local workers with dozens of honorees from across the state receiving awards presented by their local lawmakers and state workforce development officials. (JK)
Local Company And Employee Honored At Prosperity AwardsLocal Company And Employee Honored At Prosperity Awards
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Entrepreneurs Sought for Idea-to-Business Reality Event in Howell Entrepreneurs Sought for Idea-to-Business Reality Event in Howell
6/23/14 - An event coming to Howell is designed to foster the importance of entrepreneurship in communities. Startup Weekend Howell will take place in early November but organizers are soliciting sponsors and encouraging participants to register now. It's part of a global grassroots movement to bring entrepreneurs together to create businesses over a long weekend but centered on action, innovation and education. It totals 54 hours from start to finish, with people coming together to pitch ideas and create businesses. The weekend is being organized by a group of local entrepreneurs and supporters that share a desire to grow business and entrepreneurship in Livingston County. One is Candy Jones-Guerin, the owner of WebWorld Advantage. She says the prospect of starting a business in a weekend is really exciting and people travel from all over the world to the various events because itâs their âmarathonâ. However, Guerin says the focus is really about making people feel confident in pulling a team together to start a business. The event will encompass all ages and backgrounds. Participants are being sought with an interest in entrepreneurship - based in technology or marketing, programmers and designers, website businesses, technology-based applications, or people interested in making new products. In addition to participants and supporting sponsors, partnerships with schools and students are also needed. Details about Startup Weekend Howell are available through the link below. (JM)
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Meetings Seek Input on Downtown Brighton Parking SolutionsMeetings Seek Input on Downtown Brighton Parking Solutions
6/23/14 - With parking in Downtown Brighton at a premium, two meetings this week will look for solutions. The Downtown Development Authority has developed preliminary recommendations for short-and-long-term parking, and the next step is to make the recommendations public at the informational meetings and to get input from downtown business owners and those who shop and dine downtown. According to DDA Director Matt Modrack, the city has about 600 spaces in city parking lots, not including on street curbside parking, and the need for more parking becomes particularly evident during the evening hours as Brighton has become a destination for dining, with over 25 downtown restaurants. He says the need for additional parking will even become more acute when Brewery Becker, Brighton's first brewpub, opens for the July 4th holiday weekend. The DDA has bought land at North and West streets for a possible future parking deck, but Modrack says that prospect is unclear. The city has estimated the cost at $7 million for a 191-space, four-level parking deck, which comes out to over $36,000 per space, something he says may be prohibitively expensive. The public meetings will take place this Tuesday, June 24th, and Friday, June 27th, from 8-9 a.m. at city hall. After that, Modrack will be available at his office to take questions. Modrack says modifications to the subcommittee's parking recommendations will be incorporated into the final draft. After being voted on by the DDA, the document will go before City Council on July 17th as a set of formal recommendations for a parking strategy, including enforcement, signage, and possible future city parking lot locations. (TT/JK)
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Candidate Forums Set This Week & Next MonthCandidate Forums Set This Week & Next Month
6/23/14 - Candidates for several positions will be present at two forums where voters will be able to hear various issues discussed. On Tuesday, candidates for the 47th State House district seat and the 8th U.S. Congressional district will be present at Howell High Schoolâs auditorium to debate topics chosen by the voters. The 47th district seat is currently held by Republican Cindy Denby, while the 8th U.S. district seat is held by Republican Mike Rogers, who is switching to a career in radio. On July 1st, candidates for the 42nd State House district seat along with a candidates for the 8th U.S. Congressional seat will take part in a second forum at the Brighton Center for Performing Arts at Brighton High School. The 42nd district seat is currently held by Republican Bill Rogers. Both he and Denby are not able to run again due to term limits. The 47th State House district candidates include Republicans Phillip Campbell, Wendy Day, Harold Melton, Theodore Ring, and Henry Vaupel who will face off in the primary while Democrat Jordan Genso is unopposed. The 42nd State House district candidates are Republicans Nick Fiani, Rich Perlberg, Dale Rogers, and Lana Theis and Democrat Timothy Johnson who is unopposed in the primary. The 8th U.S. Congressional district represents Livingston county and parts of Ingham and Oakland county. Candidates include Republicans Mike Bishop and Tom McMillin, and Democrats Ken Darga, Susan Grettenberger, Jeffrey Hank, and Eric Schertzing. Both forums start at 6:30 pm.
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Pinckney School Board Lays Off Two TeachersPinckney School Board Lays Off Two Teachers
6/23/14 - Two teacher layoffs have been announced by the Pinckney School Board to help keep the district under budget. Pinckney Schools have been experiencing a drop in student enrollment over the past several years, and as a result state shared revenue has taken a major hit as well. At its meeting on Thursday, the school board unanimously, but regretfully, approved laying off two teachers to save money. One is a social studies teacher at Navigator Upper Elementary, while the other was a kindergarten teacher at Lakeland Elementary. However, a teacher who was laid off last year due to declining enrollment has been recalled by the district to fill a part-time job. One of the districtâs math teachers will be away on sabbatical, and the recalled teacher will be filling in. Todd says the teachers who were laid-off did not have the certification necessary to move into the open position. The district had to eliminate 10 teachers this year to meet its funding goals, and only eight teachers retired at the end of the year, making the layoffs necessary. (TD)
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Deerfield Township Mom To Be Arraigned For Child AbuseDeerfield Township Mom To Be Arraigned For Child Abuse
6/23/14 - A local mother will appear in court next month after allegations of living with her young children in unsanitary living conditions. Heidi Lynn Kozlowski of Deerfield Township is set to have a July 2nd arraignment on child abuse charges for living with her young children in what authorities called âdeplorableâ conditions. In March, one of Kozlowskiâs twin sons, who was just 19 days old, died after experiencing breathing problems. She also has a two-year old daughter. Authorities could not say that the poor living conditions were the cause of the childâs death. The 25 year old told police that her son was having a hard time breathing and she had been suctioning out his nose and mouth before putting the twins to bed at 12:30am. According to court records, she said the babies were fine when her cousin woke up between 3 and 4am, but when she and the childrenâs father woke up at 5:30 am, they noticed their son was not breathing. After dropping water on his face, Kozlowskiâs cousin and the paramedics attempted CPR, but were not successful in reviving the child. Kozlowski will also be in the Livingston County family court for a disposition hearing on a child abuse/neglect case to determine if she can keep custody of her kids on July 29th. (JK)
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Application Deadline Nears for Homemaker of the YearApplication Deadline Nears for Homemaker of the Year
6/23/14 - The search is on to find Livingston Countyâs 2014 Homemaker of the Year. Cindy Salfate serves on the Fowlerville Family Fairâs Ladies Day Committee, which organizes the contest. Salfate says she was fortunate enough to be named Homemaker of the year in 2009 but then went on to compete and claim the title of the Michigan Homemaker of the Year. She tells WHMI it was an exciting time in her life and she wants anyone who is proud to be a homemaker to have that same opportunity and experience. Applications must be received by July 11th. Details about the 2014 Homemaker of the Year contest can be found through the link below. Pictured is 2013 Fowlerville Family Fair Homemaker of the Year Teri Best. (JK)
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Man Charged in Connection w/ Copper Theft in Highland TownshipMan Charged in Connection w/ Copper Theft in Highland Township
6/23/14 - A man caught stealing copper phone wire in Highland Township has been charged but police are investigating his possible involvement in a similar theft. 37-year-old Robert Stefaniak was jailed following the June 14th incident. He has since been charged in 52-1 District Court in Novi with larceny of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000 â a five year felony. A telephone company employee reported seeing an unauthorized truck removing phone cable from the area of Duck and Livingston Roads. Deputies with the Oakland County Sheriffâs Highland Township substation responded and discovered Stefaniak near a white utility truck, spooling wire. When questioned, Stefaniak claimed he had been contracted by AT&T to remove telephone cable. Detectives confirmed that he was employed by a telecommunication company out of White Lake, and the utility truck used had the company logos on the doors. Detectives are also investigating Stefaniakâs possible involvement in a similar theft at the same location in April. Authorities say the company is not involved in either of the larcenies and officials are cooperating in the investigation. (JM)
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2011 Jail Mail Lawsuit on Hold; ACLU Trial Set For Next Year2011 Jail Mail Lawsuit on Hold; ACLU Trial Set For Next Year
6/23/14 - One trial is on hold and another set for next year involving the delivery of mail to inmates in the Livingston County Jail. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a civil complaint in U.S. District Court in March challenging the constitutionality of the Livingston County Jailâs policy of restricting most incoming and outgoing mail to postcards. The lawsuit named Livingston County, Sheriff Bob Bezotte and Jail Administrator Tom Cremonte. Court records indicate it is now set for a jury trial in August of 2015, with various dates between then and now for pre-trial proceedings. The County claimed letters sent by the ACLU were solicitations and did not contain privileged content but the federal court ruled otherwise. In mid-May, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Hood granted an injunction filed by the ACLU and determined mail sent in this specific case qualified as âlegal mailâ and ordered the Livingston County Jail to deliver it. The court determined that any claim of harm by the defendants was made less compelling by the fact the defendant actions likely infringe on the constitutional rights of jail inmates. Meanwhile, a separate lawsuit filed by Prison Legal News against the county and Bezotte in 2011 had been set for trial July 8th. But thatâs been delayed while a deposition by Bezotte is reviewed by the plaintiffs. That lawsuit also claims free-speech rights were being violated because authorities wouldn't distribute the publication and other correspondence to inmates. (JK)
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Two Different Murder Cases Due Back In Court TomorrowTwo Different Murder Cases Due Back In Court Tomorrow
6/23/14 - Two men charged in separate Livingston County murders are due back in court Tuesday morning. 25-year-old Nicholas Allen Foerster was charged last week with one count of 1st degree murder in the strangulation death of his sister-in-law, 23-year-old Rachelle Lynn Wood. She was found June 16th in her Green Oak Township apartment. Foerster, a military police officer in the Michigan Army Reserve, reportedly told police he found Wood unclothed and dead in the bathtub. Foerster is scheduled for an exam conference at 8am in front of 53rd District Court Judge Carol Sue Reader. Also set for an exam conference in front of Judge Reader tomorrow morning is 25-year-old Anthony Sean Duke. He was charged last week with first-degree murder in the December, 2011 shooting death of Ronald Hauser, whose body was found in his Iosco Township home. Authorities say Duke killed the 47-year-old Hauser in the course of a home invasion or larceny. If convicted, both men mandatory sentences of life in prison without parole. (JK)
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New Offices For The Fenton Regional Chamber of CommerceNew Offices For The Fenton Regional Chamber of Commerce
6/24/14 - The Fenton Regional Chamber of Commerce has moved into a new office building. The chamber celebrated the move to a new location at 104 Adelaide in Fenton with an open house on Monday afternoon. Executive Director Shelly Day invited existing chamber members and local business owners to tour the renovated offices. Day tells WHMI the ribbon cutting ceremony had a very special dedication to Leroy G. Johnson. Johnson, a chamber member and community supporter sold the building to the chamber. The new offices will provide a unique work space to area businesses. Conference rooms are available for use by chamber members free of charge, and the five one room offices upstairs will be made available for rent. Day added that the chamber is sponsoring the Fenton Freedom Festival on July 4th in downtown Fenton. The event will feature a fireworks display at 10:00 pm in the Silver Lake Park Area. (LR)
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County Hires New Correction Deputies for Federal TransportCounty Hires New Correction Deputies for Federal Transport
6/24/14 - It was an easy decision for the Livingston County Board of Commissionerâs Public Safety and Infrastructure & Development Committee to allocate for the hiring of four additional correction deputies. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Department says it has been at the minimum required staff for years, and sought the new correction deputies to provide for the planned expansion of the Livingston County Jail. The new hires will aid in the transport of medium and maximum security inmates from the county jail to federal courts in either Detroit or Flint. Itâs part of an agreement to house federal inmates in the expanded jail that will help pay for its operation. County Commissioner Dave Domas tells WHMI that in a best case scenario, the new hires will be brought onto the department in August or September of this year for extensive training that is expected to last into January. (KT/JK)
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Local Murder Suspect's Confession Deemed Admissible By MSCLocal Murder Suspect's Confession Deemed Admissible By MSC
6/24/14 - It took the Michigan Supreme Court overruling a previous opinion on Miranda rights, but the confession given by a local man charged with murder has been ruled admissible in court. Police say George Tanner and Brian Stafford, both 29, murdered 40-year-old Christopher Townsend on October 15th of 2011 and then dismembered and burned the body on a wooded property owned by Tannerâs uncle in Green Oak Township. Police say Tanner confessed to the crime while in custody, but the defense argued that confession was inadmissible because a lawyer previously requested by Tanner was waiting to see him, but police did not inform him of that fact. Judge David Reader agreed with that claim, which was backed up by a previous Michigan Supreme Court ruling in the case of the People v. Bender, which said a suspect must be told promptly when an attorney attempts to contact them. Prosecutors appealed that decision to the Court of Appeals, and then the Michigan Supreme Court. Yesterday, in a 5-2 vote, the Supreme Court overturned People v. Bender, saying Tanner knowingly waived his Miranda rights when he reinitiated contact with police to make his confession. The case will now return to Livingston County Circuit Court for trial. Tannerâs codefendant, Brian Stafford, was previously sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to 2nd degree murder. (TD)
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Brighton School Board Ratifies New Teacher ContractBrighton School Board Ratifies New Teacher Contract
6/24/14 - In a surprise Monday night, the Brighton Board of Education unanimously ratified a new, five-year contract with its two major employee unions. That includes the Brighton Education Association, representing 290 teachers in the Brighton district, and the support union, BESPA, representing over 100 employees, which has already ratified the agreement. The old contract with BESPA, the Brighton Educational Support Personnel Association, was set to expire on June 30. It had not been generally known that the board was ready to vote on new contracts, but that became evident late in the meeting when trustees began openly discussing the contractsâ main provisions in open session. The BEA membership will be voting on the tentative agreement over the next three days. Superintendent Greg Gray tells WHMI that it was a collaborative effort which resulted in the agreements. Gray says both contracts include wage freezes over the entire term of each contract, although wage re-openers can be sought by either side. Brighton teachers are now in the second year of a 2-year contract, which is set to expire on Aug. 31. They received modest salary increases of 1-to-2 per cent this past year after being in a pay freeze, or seeing their pay reduced, for several years prior to that. BEA President Ellen Lafferty told the board it will not be "an easy sell" convincing fellow teachers to ratify the new contract, considering the zero salary increase it includes. The board also approved contract extensions through June 30, 2016, with its two top administrators under Superintendent Gray, including Assistant Superintendent of Finance Maria Gistinger and Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Laura Surrey. The extensions contain no salary increases. (TT)
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Raises Coming For Brighton Township EmployeesRaises Coming For Brighton Township Employees
6/24/14 - A study evaluating employee salaries was the hot topic of a special meeting held by the Brighton Township Board of Trustees. Board members spent three hours evaluating a classification and compensation study requested during the boardâs 2014-2015 budget work sessions. Township Manager Brian Vick tells WHMI the township has been very prudent with the money it has received from annual state revenue sharing and millage collections. Vick added during the five year economic downturn the township held wages near flat for that period. As a result, employee compensation had become 12% below the market average for comparable communities. After a lengthy roundtable discussion, the township board authorized Vick to implement the budgeted allocation in the amount 2.5% for the employees this year. Additionally, the board approved adjusting the salaries of those employees that were well below the target minimum. In other township business, the board passed a motion approving the purchase of 10 parcels of land from the State of Michigan Foreclosed Program. The land is located along side Old US 23 just southeast of I-96. Vick said the land will be used to extend a main water line and house a new booster station. The budget amendment that is required to complete the land acquisition will be brought before the board for formal action at the July 7th board meeting. (LR/JM)
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Howell School Board Looks At Upcoming Capital ImprovementsHowell School Board Looks At Upcoming Capital Improvements
6/24/14 - A report on capital improvements for the next five years was delivered to the Howell School Board at its regular meeting last night. Assistant Superintendent of Finance Rick Terres says the district has been doing positive things to help save costs, such as adopting a performance contract and retrofitting buildings with energy-saving improvements. Now, he hopes to turn the boardâs attention to other needs, including parking lots, roofs, vehicle replacements, and computer upgrades. He provided the board with a plan to take care of their needs in the next five years, with $2.5 to 3 million needed to make it happen. He says he would like to see improvements to the bus fleet and computer replacements in the relatively short term, but important infrastructure items like roofs and parking lots will not likely need attention for at least a couple of years. He told the board he would recommend putting the proceeds from the eventual sale of the Latson Road property, valued at between $4.5 and $6.5 million, into the capital improvement fund for future projects. He also says he plans to increase the percentage of the districtâs bus fleet that runs on propane rather than diesel fuel, an upgrade which he says has been cutting fuel costs in half for the two buses with that feature in the districtâs fleet. (TD)
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Supreme Court Will Not Hear Appeal Of Dominick Calhoun's MotherSupreme Court Will Not Hear Appeal Of Dominick Calhoun's Mother
6/24/14 - The Michigan Supreme Court will not hear an appeal filed by the mother of a local boy who was beaten to death by her boyfriend. 29-year-old Corrine Baker of Argentine Township is currently serving a 13 to 30 year prison sentence in the death of her son, 4-year-old Dominick Calhoun. In April of 2010 Bakerâs boyfriend, Brandon Hayes, severely beat Dominick over the course of several days, leading to his death in a hospital a few days later. Hayes is serving a life sentence for the killing, and Baker pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case. She has since sought to withdraw that plea, saying she was told it was the only way she could testify against Hayes. That effort was refused by Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Richard Yuille, then the Michigan Court of Appeals. The Michigan Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal in an order dated June 11th, saying the court was not persuaded the questions presented should be reviewed. Baker remains incarcerated at the Huron Valley Women's Center. Her earliest release date is April 22nd, 2023. (TD/JM)
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Competency Evaluations Ordered for Home Invasion Suspects Competency Evaluations Ordered for Home Invasion Suspects
6/25/14 - Two of the three suspects charged in an armed home invasion that took place earlier this month in Oceola Township have been referred for competency evaluations. The attorneys representing 18-year-old Cody James DeBruyn and 39-year-old Ronald Johnny-Wayne Morrell requested referrals to the forensic center for examinations to determine if they are competent to stand trial. Future court dates will be set once those are complete and reports are provided. Both men are charged with 26 counts stemming from a June 10th incident, including 1st degree home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, larceny in a building, and various felony weapons charges. One other suspect, 28-year-old Richard Quam, faces similar charges and a preliminary exam conference has been scheduled July 8th. The three are among several suspects who stormed the home earlier this month armed with handguns and confronted the owner, which led to a physical confrontation and a shot being fired from one of the intruderâs weapons, although no injuries resulted. One of seven other people in the residence at the time of the attack was kicked in the mouth and lost some teeth. Authorities say the intruders had a specific reason to attack that house, and other homes in the area are not in danger. Pictured from left to right are Morrell, Debryun and Quam. (TD/JM)
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Crash on NB US-23 Near Hyne Road Causes Lengthy Delays Crash on NB US-23 Near Hyne Road Causes Lengthy Delays
6/25/14 - Significant travel delays and back-ups followed a Tuesday afternoon crash on US-23 in the Brighton area. The accident occurred at around 1:40pm and involved a large truck out of the Fenton area that was carrying metal concrete forms. Brighton Deputy Fire Chief Mike Evans tells WHMI the driver lost control somehow, struck the cable barricades in the median, causing the truck to roll over and catch fire. Evans says upon their arrival, they learned that the driver had been rescued by passerbyâs and that the fire in the engine compartment was extinguished by another good Samaritan. Evans says the driver was extremely lucky to walk away from this and he sustained serious injuries but was stable when transported by Livingston County EMS to Genesys Regional Medical Center. US-23 was down to one lane in each direction before everything finally re-opened just before 6pm. (JM)
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Longtime Deerfield Township Supervisor Passes Away at 70
6/24/14 - One of Livingston Countyâs longest serving municipal officials loved people, had the gift of gab and a smile on his face until the end. Tom Green became the Deerfield Township Supervisor in 1996 and also served on the Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education for eight years. He owned Venture Corners Party Store since 1971 and was a retired executive for Ford Motor Company. His son Bill Green told WHMI his father had been battling cancer for more than eight weeks and passed away early Tuesday morning at the age of 70. He says his father was surrounded by family and everyone was comforted in knowing that he was at peace and happy during his final weeks. Green serves on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners alongside Dave Domas, who knew Tom Green well. Domas says he was a conservative, friendly man who did a lot in the rural community and everyone felt very comfortable in his presence. Domas added that he really valued Green's friendship as he was the kind of guy who never minced words and meant what he said. Visitation for Green will take place Thursday from 2 to 8pm at MacDonaldâs Funeral Home in Howell. A funeral mass will follow at noon on Friday at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Howell. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society. Complete details can be found through the link below. (JM)
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