6/25/14 - A political forum to allow residents to hear from candidates in the 47th state house and 8th congressional districts ahead of the August primary was held last night at Howell High School. Eleven candidates addressed residents in the high school auditorium, answering questions about topics ranging from social issues like marijuana legalization to policy matters like when the application of armed forces is justified overseas. Jordan Genso is the only Democrat running for the 47th State House seat, which will be vacated by term-limited Republican Cindy Denby this year. With no opponents in the primary he did not take part in the forum, but he was allowed to give a brief address to the audience, which he used to encourage further dialogue with other candidates. On the Republican side, Howell Mayor Phil Campbell promised to advocate for local government if elected to office, while former Howell School Board Trustee Wendy Day denounced the Common Core curriculum in schools and Medicaid expansion, while saying she would stand up for her principles in the face of lobbyists. Also running for the seat were Howell Township resident Harold Melton, who advocated property rights and reduced taxes, as well as Handy Township Supervisor Hank Vaupel, who touted his experience in government and private business, saying he would not have to learn how to be an elected official when he went to Lansing. For the 8th Congressional District, the four Democrats seeking the seat held their forum first. Bipartisan cooperation was promoted by Ingham County Treasurer Eric Schertzing, as well as self-described moderate Ken Darga, who brought the perspective of an economist to the issues at hand. Central Michigan University Professor Susan Grettenberger said she would promote what she called the âFour Eâsâ; economy, education, environment and equality. Attorney Jeff Hank billed himself as not-a-typical-politician and promised to avoid corporate influence. On the Republican side, former state Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop said real efforts were needed to straighten out the countryâs finances. Bishop agreed with the other Republican candidate, State Representative Tom McMillin, in denouncing Obamacare and holding out hope for its repeal. For audio of the 47th state house seat forum, follow the link below. (TD/JK)
Forum Gets Answers From Candidates In August PrimaryForum Gets Answers From Candidates In August Primary
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Court Appearances Adjourned for Murder Suspects Court Appearances Adjourned for Murder Suspects
6/25/14 - The exams scheduled for two men charged in separate Livingston County murders have been adjourned. 25-year-old Anthony Sean Duke, who is pictured at right, was to appear Tuesday morning for a preliminary examination exam conference in front of 53rd District Court Judge Carol Sue Reader. It was adjourned until July 1st at the request of his new attorney, after Dukeâs original defense counsel requested to withdraw due to a conflict of interest. He was charged last week with first-degree murder in the December 2011 shooting death of Ronald Hauser in his Iosco Township home. Authorities say Duke killed the 47-year-old Hauser in the course of a home invasion or larceny. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Nicholas Allen Foerster was also scheduled for a preliminary exam before Judge Reader Tuesday, but it was adjourned to July 8th. Foerster is charged with 1st degree murder in the strangulation death of his sister-in-law, 23-year-old Rachelle Lynn Wood, who was found dead in the bathtub of her Green Oak Township apartment on June 16th. If convicted, both men mandatory sentences of life in prison without parole. (JM)
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Crash on US-23 Snarls Traffic in Multiple DirectionsCrash on US-23 Snarls Traffic in Multiple Directions
6/25/14 - A man was hospitalized following a crash on northbound US-23 near Hyne Road Tuesday afternoon that snarled traffic in multiple directions and resulted in significant back-ups for hours. The accident occurred at around 1:40pm and involved a large truck out of the Fenton area that was carrying metal concrete forms. Brighton Area Fire Authority Deputy Chief Mike Evans says the driver lost control somehow, struck the cable barricade in the median, which caused the truck to roll over and catch fire. Evans says upon their arrival, they learned that the driver had been rescued by passerbys and that the fire in the engine compartment was extinguished by another good Samaritan. Evans told WHMI the driver was extremely lucky to walk away from the crash and sustained serious injuries but was stable when transported by Livingston County EMS to Genesys Regional Medical Center in Flint. There were significant traffic back-ups reported in both directions of US-23 throughout the afternoon and evening commute. The freeway was down to one lane in each direction as large wreckers had to be brought in to get the truck upright and out of the median. The lengthy closure affected merging traffic from I-96 and M-59 but also led to residual back-ups for motorists detouring onto Grand River and Old US-23. Both directions of US-23 finally re-opened right before 6pm. (JM)
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Howell Man Enters Plea in Livonia Church TheftHowell Man Enters Plea in Livonia Church Theft
6/25/14 - A Howell man has entered a plea to charges that he stole money from a church in Livonia. Jeffrey John Bentley was arrested after a hidden camera showed him taking money out of a donation box at St. Edithâs Catholic Church. The camera had been placed there after church officials notified Livonia Police and said they thought money was being taken out of donation boxes. The 55-year-old recently pleaded guilty to larceny in a building. Bentley, whose criminal record includes previous convictions in Livingston County for larceny and criminal sexual conduct, will be sentenced July 3rd in Wayne County Circuit Court. (JK)
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Lake Trust Breaks Ground For New Corporate HeadquartersLake Trust Breaks Ground For New Corporate Headquarters
6/25/14 - Lake Trust Credit Union held an unconventional groundbreaking ceremony for its new headquarters building in Brighton Tuesday. Lake Trust is planning to consolidate its main buildings in Lansing, Brighton, and Plymouth into a single new state-of-the-art facility in Brighton. Work has already begun at that site, but it is mostly flat dirt at this time. Therefore, the groundbreaking for the facility took place in the parking lot of the Brighton Community Center using a shovel and a symbolic box of dirt. Dozens of Lake Trust employees, local residents, and officials turned out for the celebration, which took place under a tent due to the inclement weather and featured a brass quintet, catered food, and shuttles to the construction site. The new facility will cost Lake Trust $30 million, but President and CEO David Snodgrass says the company plans to sell off the other three facilities, two of which are reaching the end of their useful lifespan. While the price tag of the new facility is steep, Snodgrass says the improved efficiency of the new building will save a total of $7 million in operating costs over the next 20 years. Snodgrass adds that the new headquarters will be very modern and promote a corporate atmosphere of transparency, with an open floor plan, natural features, and no private offices. (TD)
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Howell Doctor Sent For Trial on New Drug CaseHowell Doctor Sent For Trial on New Drug Case
6/25/14 - A Howell doctor already facing trial on felony drug charges will now go to trial on separate counts for writing prescriptions without a license. Howell-based orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Holda was bound over for trial Tuesday on two charges of delivery of a prescription form for incidents on August 19th and December 18th of 2013. Testimony alleged Holda illegally prescribed a controlled substance after he had voluntarily surrendered his license to do so. He had turned in the license following a raid on his Howell offices in May of 2013 by the Drug Enforcement Administration. DEA agents, who were acting as patients, testified Dr. Holda prescribed pain medications and other drugs, including Xanax, beyond what would have been medically necessary. He insists he wrote the prescriptions in good faith and properly questioned them about their symptoms. Despite that, he was charged with six counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of possession of marijuana. The trial on those charges is scheduled for August 11th. No dates have been set in circuit court for the latest charges. (JK)
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Overturned Canoe Prompts Search on Whitmore LakeOverturned Canoe Prompts Search on Whitmore Lake
6/25/14 - A search of Whitmore Lake this morning was prompted by concerns of a potential tragedy, but ended up with more questions than answers. Northfield Township Police were at the south shore of the lake this morning after a flipped-over canoe was found in the lake. After searching the entire lake, authorities only found a life vest floating in the water near the overturned canoe. They located the owner of the vest, who indicated that to their knowledge no one in their family had used the boat. Lieutenant Tim Greene says the canoe was found with major cracks and other damage, but theyâve not been able to identify a cause. He says theyâve also received no reports of anyone missing and that at this point they are unsure if anyone was even in the canoe. "We searched the edges and the docks and the perimeter of the lake all the way around to look for anything suspicious or out of the ordinary. We couldn't find anything either. Nobody is missing, nobody has been reported missing. We will take the boat and hold it for a few weeks unless somebody comes and claims it." A family near the area reportedly had a party in the past few days and the incident could be related. (AV/JK)
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Brighton Teachers Ratify New Contract Brighton Teachers Ratify New Contract
6/25/14 - The 292 teachers in the Brighton Area Schools district have ratified a five-year contract that educators say will help give the district financial stability over the next several years. Brighton Education Association President Ellen Lafferty says teachers approved the contract by what she called a "comfortable" margin, with voting conducted Tuesday. The Board of Education unanimously approved the new contract during its meeting on Monday night. Lafferty and Superintendent Greg Gray both say the negotiations over the last four months were conducted collaboratively, and Gray added they were marked by what he calls "a spirit of trust and understanding". The new contract for Brighton teachers takes effect September 1st and contains a zero increase in pay and benefits â in effect, a long-term pay freeze. Lafferty told WHMI that with Brighton still in a deficit situation and the current state education funding, there was little or no wiggle room to negotiate a pay increase. However, she says there is a salary and benefits re-opener in each year of the contract, to allow for possible adjustments. So-called "step" increases for teachers â which have meant automatic increases in seniority each year, with a concurrent hike in salary, are still in effect with the new contract. However, unlike in the past, there will be no parallel pay increase, unless new money becomes available. (TT/JM)
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Improvement Work Could Shut Down Fenton Library This SummerImprovement Work Could Shut Down Fenton Library This Summer
6/26/14 - The Fenton Library could be shutting down in the month of August as upgrades are installed at the building. City officials say the Jack R. Winegarden Library is in need of some modernization, with cosmetic and systemic problems throughout. This summer, the Fenton Downtown Development Authority plans to spend between $160,000 and $180,000 to improve carpeting and paint, rearrange the floor plan of the building, remove walls, and make the library feel less cramped and closed-off. The Tri County Times reports this work should take about four weeks to complete, during which time the library will probably be closed to the public. Right now, it is estimated that the work could take place in August. The DDA is still waiting for bids on the work to come back so a firm price can be established. (TD)
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Pinckney Man Passes Away After Jackson Motorcycle CrashPinckney Man Passes Away After Jackson Motorcycle Crash
6/26/14 - A motorcycle crash in Jackson County claimed the life of a Pinckney man Saturday. 58-year-old Gregory Schaerer was riding his Harley-Davidson at 11:20pm June 21st on northbound Cooper Street, about 18 miles southwest of Stockbridge. He crashed into the passenger side of a Ford Mustang on West Parnall Road, according to the Jackson Citizen Patriot. Schaerer passed away as a result of his injuries, and his funeral was held on Wednesday. Officials say he was not wearing a helmet, and toxicology tests will reveal whether alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash. The driver of the Mustang was not injured. An investigation will determine if any charges are brought up in the crash. (TD)
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Three New Elementary Principals Appointed In Howell SchoolsThree New Elementary Principals Appointed In Howell Schools
6/26/14 - Three Howell elementary schools got new principals at this weekâs meeting of the Howell School Board. On Monday, interim Superintendent Bob Starkey was named the permanent principal at Southeast Elementary after the previous principal left the district last year to take a job closer to her home. High School Assistant Principal Jen Goodwin was named the new principal at Southwest Elementary, replacing Kara Cotton, who was promoted during the school year to become the new curriculum director. Mary Barghahn, principal Waterfordâs Burt Elementary, was hired as the new principal for Northwest Elementary, replacing Jill Hilla who will officially retire at the end of the month. The appointments were all unanimous, and Board Member Mike Moloney praised the mix of internal and external candidates chosen to fill the vacancies. (TD)
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Brighton Holds 1st Meeting on Ways to Improve Downtown Parking Brighton Holds 1st Meeting on Ways to Improve Downtown Parking
6/26/14 - A shortage of parking due to the popularity of downtown businesses is a problem many cities would love to have, and thatâs the issue facing Brighton city planners these days. But Brighton Downtown Development Authority Director Matt Modrack said at a downtown parking informational meeting Tuesday, that â good or bad - itâs still a problem. Brighton has about 600 downtown parking lot spaces available â not counting on-street, curbside spots, and there are times â particularly evenings and weekends â when people have to go around the various parking lots three times or more to find a spot to park. Modrack and downtown merchants exchanged various ideas for restricting parking in certain hours, such as possible enforcement mechanisms with a part-time enforcement officer and intensifying efforts to force employees to park in areas farther away from the choice spaces. In particular, downtown Brighton has become a mecca for dining, with about 25 downtown eating establishments. Those who come downtown more to dine than shop are typically concentrated in the late afternoon and evening hours, Thursdays through Sundays. However, Modrack says itâs important not to forget that the bread-and-butter of any successful downtown is retail. As such, he says the needs of retailers should always be kept uppermost in mind when planning to meet future parking needs. A DDA subcommittee was formed a year ago to identify downtown parking problems and priorities, and Modrack tells WHMI the next step for the subcommittee and himself will be amending the preliminary parking document and holding at least one more public meeting. One aspect of parking the subcommittee is seriously exploring is establishment of a set of revised parking rules and regulations which would need to be approved by City Council in order to give the City Police Department enforcement authority. Added to that would be the possible hiring of a part-time enforcement officer whose salary, Modrack says, would be paid by the DDA. He says the enforcement officer would NOT be issuing tickets, but merely giving reminders to people to follow the directives of the signs, such as those specified for short-term parking. The second informational meeting will be held Friday at 8 a.m. in council chambers of city hall and merchants, business owners, and the general public are invited to give input. The information gathered at the meetings will be converted into a final draft document for approval by the DDA Board and City Council sometime between now and the end of the year. (TT)
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Volunteers Needed for Huron River Clean-Up Day in HamburgVolunteers Needed for Huron River Clean-Up Day in Hamburg
6/26/14 - Volunteers and sponsors are needed for an annual clean-up day next month that helps improve the navigation and flow of the Huron River in Hamburg Township. The annual Huron River Clean-Up Day will take place Saturday July 26th from 8am to 2pm. In addition to keeping the natural area pristine for locals and tourists, the cleanup ensures that water can easily flow out of the local watershed area, which helps reduce flooding in the low-lying township during times of heavy rainfall. Commercial and individual sponsors for the event are being sought, as well as volunteers looking to fulfill service requirements such as local Boy Scouts and members of the community. Organizers say also needed are rowboats with oars, pontoon boats, porta-potties, dumpsters, work/rubber gloves, garbage bags, food, tee shirts, waders and life jackets. Volunteers will meet in the parking lot of the Livingston County Wildlife and Conservation Club on Saturday, July 26th and work along the shore, in the water, and from boats. Theyâll travel along the riverbank, removing trash and trimming back vegetation that could block the flow of the river. For more information on how to volunteer for or sponsor the event, contact Brenda Richardson at Hamburg Township Hall at (810) 231-1000, Ext. 212. She can also be reached by email at brichardson@hamburg.mi.us. (TD/JM)
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Fenton Woman Competing in New Reality Challenge Fenton Woman Competing in New Reality Challenge
6/26/14 - A Fenton woman will make her debut in a new reality series described as the ultimate test of strength, stamina and wit next month. 25-year-old Melissa Miller is competing for a chance to win $10,000 in âStone Coldâ Steve Austinâs new Broken Skull Challenge series. Miller grew up in Fenton and currently attends University of Michigan Flint, where she is studying elementary education. She told WHMIâs Mike and Jon in the Morning that it was an awesome experience and although Austin is a wrestling icon, he was really funny and down to earth. She says she had to build up a lot of muscle though to prepare for the show, which required a lot of strength and physical contact. The ten-episode series debuts on Sunday, July 6th at 9pm on CMT, the Country Music Channel. Millerâs episode airs July 13th and features the first round of female contestants. (JM)
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Howell Schools To Seek Non-Homestead Millage RenewalHowell Schools To Seek Non-Homestead Millage Renewal
6/26/14 - The Howell school district will be going to voters again this fall for a renewal of its non-homestead property tax. Assistant Superintendent of Finance Rick Terres tells WHMI there will be no difference between the millage now and the millage that will be offered to residents. It will be an 18-mill, non-homestead property tax, and it has been renewed for the past 18 years. The tax represents about $11 million of the districtâs $65 million budget. An 18-mill property tax means a property with a taxable value of $100,000 would pay $1,800 per year in taxes. The non-homestead millage does not apply to residential properties, but is levied against businesses and other types of uses. Terres says the state presumes that this millage will be passed, and there will be no adjustment in funding from Lansing if voters reject the renewal. (TD)
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Unadilla Fire Department Awarded Grant for New Brush TruckUnadilla Fire Department Awarded Grant for New Brush Truck
6/26/14 - The Unadilla Township Fire Department is getting a new brush truck made possible through a federal grant that will not only replace a vintage one but add an additional layer of safety for first responders. The grant is through the Federal Emergency Management Agencyâs Assistance to Firefighters Program and Deputy Fire Chief Dave Curtis received official notification from U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenowâs office Wednesday. Curtis says the grant will allow for the complete replacement of a 40-year-old truck from 1973 and while it does have a lot of history, itâs time to move on. Curtis tells WHMI it will be equipped with improved safety features to aid in operations as these types of trucks are primarily used for firefighting efforts and wildfires. Curtis says the amount of the total replacement vehicle project is $146,000, with the federal share just short of $139,000. Following the announcement, Curtis says the department has a one-year period of performance to create specifications, put the project out to bid, construct and take delivery of the new brush truck. As a condition of the grant, Curtis says the old truck must be permanently removed from emergency services so it will be stripped of all of its equipment and likely sold at auction. (JM)
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Department Of Public Health Offering Free HIV Testing FridayDepartment Of Public Health Offering Free HIV Testing Friday
6/26/14 - Friday is National HIV Testing Day, and the Livingston County Department of Public Health is encouraging local people to take part. According to the department, many people with HIV are unaware that they have the disease, and the Centers for Disease Control recommends testing for anyone who is sexually active but not in a monogamous relationship, injects drugs or shares syringes, or who has been diagnosed with a sexually-transmitted disease. From 9am to 4pm tomorrow, the Department of Public Health is offering HIV testing at its headquarters on Grand River near Golf Club Road. The testing is done orally and is completely painless, and clients should be finished in less than half an hour. Walk-ins are welcome, but organizers prefer appointments. The testing is free, but to get the results clients must return the following week. For more information or to set up an appointment, call the health department at (517) 546-9850. (TD)
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State Supreme Court Denies Appeal in Oceola Double-MurderState Supreme Court Denies Appeal in Oceola Double-Murder
6/26/14 - More than a year after being sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison, an appeal has been rejected for the man convicted in a Livingston County double-homicide. The Michigan Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeal of 67-year-old Jerome Kowalski. In an order released Wednesday, the justices said they were ânot persuadedâ to review the case. Kowalski was convicted in January of 2013 on two counts of first-degree premeditated murder and two felony weapons charges for the shooting deaths of Richard and Brenda Kowalski in their Oceola Township home in 2008. Prosecutors said the Warren man was disgruntled about his relationship with his more successful brother and the two had disagreed about how to handle the estate of their mother. Kowalskiâs attorneys claimed his confession was made under duress and that a ruling that barred expert testimony about false confessions was incorrectly made. (JK)
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Livingston Countyâs Unemployment Rate Up Slightly in May Livingston Countyâs Unemployment Rate Up Slightly in May
6/27/14 - While jobless rates increased seasonally most of Michiganâs regional labor markets in May, Livingston Countyâs held mostly steady. The state Department of Technology, Management & Budget recently released the local and regional jobless figures for May. Livingston Countyâs unemployment rate in May inched up slightly by one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.1% from April. Its overall ranking fell a few more spots to 26th among Michiganâs 83 counties. The state department says the influx of seasonal workers into the job market drove unemployment up to 8.6% in the latest month. May's unemployment rates ranged from a low of 6.1% in the Ann Arbor region to a high of 10.9% in the northeastern Lower Peninsula. (JM)
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Manslaughter Trial Set For Former Fowlerville WomanManslaughter Trial Set For Former Fowlerville Woman
6/27/14 - A former Fowlerville woman accused in the Florida death of her infant daughter will go to trial in August. 23-year-old Kylee Jean Copeland is charged in Polk County Circuit Court with manslaughter in the death of her 3-month-old daughter Nataley Jade Agee. An August 4th trial date was set, but only if a plea canât be worked out before an August 1st docket call hearing. Copelandâs daughter was found dead in a crib at her home in Lakeland, Florida in September, 2011. An autopsy determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and that the child had been dead for at least eight hours. After that contradicted Copelandâs initial account that she fed her daughter that morning and put her back in the crib, she changed her story and said she dropped the baby, whose head struck the coach, before bouncing to the floor. She said she lied because she didnât want to lose her other children or go to jail. This is not the first incident of child neglect Copeland has been involved in. She and Trevor Agee, the father of her three children, were pulled over by a Michigan State Police trooper in August of 2008 on I-96 near Fowlerville. The trooper saw a baby boy sitting sideways in a car seat with duct tape over his mouth, which Copeland and Agee admitted to placing there to hold his pacifier in place. Authorities declined to press criminal charges and shortly afterwards, the pair moved to Florida to live with Agee's mother. (JK)
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