7/6/14 - Applications are being accepted for a summer program that offers young adults an up-close glimpse into the world of law enforcement. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Departmentâs Cadet Academy is designed for mature young adults age 14 to 21 with a strong interest in law enforcement and will take place August 25th through the 29th. Cadets will be exposed to real life adult situations and criminal behavior, learn how to process a crime scene, prepare a case for a mock trial, go through a firearms simulator and experience a SWAT team demonstration. Theyâll also hear presentations from police K-9 officers, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Livingston County Dive Team, Medical Examiner Investigator, 911 operations and Michigan State Police. At the completion of the week-long 40-hour academy, cadets will be eligible to join the Cadets Post, which meets regularly throughout the year and takes part in competitions against other posts to test their training and skills. Further details and contact information about the Livingston County Sheriffâs Departmentâs Cadet Academy is available through the link below. (JK)
Sheriff's Cadet Summer Academy Taking ApplicationsSheriff's Cadet Summer Academy Taking Applications
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Registration Deadline for August Primary is MondayRegistration Deadline for August Primary is Monday
7/6/14 - Livingston County residents have just a short time left to register to vote in the August 5th primary election. Those who are not registered have until Monday, July 7th to do so at any Secretary of State branch or local municipal clerkâs office. Although the voter registration deadline is right around the corner, Livingston County Elections Coordinator Joan Runyan tells WHMI it's a simple process. She encourages local voters to visit the Michigan Voter Information Center website to obtain information, verify their registration status, polling locations, track absentee ballots or view a sample ballot. The August election is considered an open primary, meaning individuals will have to choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary ballot. A link to the Michigan Voter Information Center is available below. (JM)
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Hartland Road Closure Planned This Week
7/7/14 - Drivers through Hartland Township will have a detour to deal with starting this week. The Livingston County Road Commission plans to close down Hartland Road between Dunham and Crouse roads beginning this Wednesday, July 9th for deck patching on the bridge located there. The closure, which will remain in effect until July 18th, will consist of concrete patching, surface sealing, and epoxy overlay. Officials say they also plan to close the bridge for two days in mid-August to seal the bridgeâs new surface. By doing so, they expect to extend the life of the bridge by approximately 10 years. (JK)
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Fowlerville Woman To Be Resentenced On Meth Lab ConvictionFowlerville Woman To Be Resentenced On Meth Lab Conviction
7/7/14 - A new sentence will be handed down for a Livingston County woman who went to prison for operating a meth lab. Ray Lynn Dennis of Fowlerville was sentenced in November to a prison term of 13 to 30 years after pleading guilty to delivering methamphetamine and operating a meth lab in Iosco Township. She recently made a motion to withdraw that plea, which was denied. However, the court has granted her motion to be re-sentenced and correct the jail credit she received. Her new sentence will be handed down on August 21st. Last year, after entering her plea, Dennis used red Kool-Aid to pretend she was bleeding and having pregnancy complications. Deputies took her to the hospital, but a doctor concluded she was not bleeding and had been faking distress. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte says Dennis planned to use the hospital visit as a way to escape. (JK)
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Hamburg Township Revisits WALLY & Approves Salary SurveyHamburg Township Revisits WALLY & Approves Salary Survey
7/7/14 - The Hamburg Township Board of Trustee received and filed a report at their meeting last week on the Washtenaw and Livingston Rail Line provided by the Friends of WALLY. The commuter rail line is being proposed as an option to adding a third lane to US 23. Township Supervisor Pat Hohl tells WHMI the rail line would offer a rush hour alternative to township residents. If the WALLY project is approved, the proposed Hamburg depot will be located in the Village Center district near Winklehaus Park. In other Township business, Trustees approved spending $9,000 on a salary survey. Rahmberg Stover and Associates will conduct the study on behalf of the township. Hohl said it is time to update the salary survey done in 2004. He added several positions listed in the old survey no longer exist or have been merged with others. Each job in the township will adhere to a range comprised of 11 steps. Compensation will be based on an individualâs education, time and grade. During the meeting, Trustee Michael Dolan asked Hohl if the township would follow the survey recommendations. Hohl stated, "the township is committed to following the survey so that people out of their range will be brought within range." (LR/JK)
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Howell Opera House Mortgage Set to Be Paid Off in 2015Howell Opera House Mortgage Set to Be Paid Off in 2015
7/7/14 - The Howell Opera House is nearing the fundraising milestone of paying off its mortgage. Opera House officials say less than $40,000 remains on the mortgage for the historic building, and they are looking at a time frame of 14-16 months to pay that off completely. The Opera House has been the beneficiary of some big giving recently, including a triple-match fundraiser in 2012 that contributed $650,000 to the mortgage and a recent donation from Thai Summit to improve the 2nd floor windows. There are no major fundraisers currently planned, but organizers have formed an advisory board to plan ahead for when the buildingâs mortgage is paid. They are considering seeking funding to focus repairs and improvements on the upper level, possibly allowing 100 or more people to gather up there for performances. (JK)
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New Bill Would Allow Municipalities to Ban FrackingNew Bill Would Allow Municipalities to Ban Fracking
7/7/14 - A local legislator is working to help eliminate language from an amendment passed in 2011 limiting local government control over hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, an amendment he had voted to approve at the time. Currently, local governments are very limited in what kinds of limitations they can place on operations that harvest mineral resources, including fracking. This was established by a Michigan Supreme Court case in 1982, but briefly overturned by the Supreme Court in 2010 on the basis that the judiciary did not have the jurisdiction to impose the kind of language used. In response, the legislature passed House Bill 4746 the following year, exempting mining and drilling operations from local zoning ordinances unless âvery serious consequencesâ would result. In both houses the bill got bipartisan support and passed by at least a 2-to-1 margin, with local legislators Joe Hune, Cindy Denby, and Bill Rogers all voting in favor. Hune says the Supreme Court decision called for the legislature to take action on the issue. He points out that the bill did preserve some local control over hours of operation and transportation issues, and that municipalities like Ishpeming have successfully blocked fracking operations with the âvery serious consequencesâ defense. Regardless, he is now working with Democratic Senator Rebekah Warrn from Ann Arbor on new legislation entitled Senate Bill 930 that would remove several paragraphs introduced by the 2011 bill. Hune tells WHMI while this will not give local governments a say in how these operations do business, it will help them keep such operations out of their municipalities entirely. Warren introduced the bill on May 7th, and it has been sent to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, and Great Lakes. When contacted, representatives Denby and Rogers were not completely familiar with the new bill since it has not yet reached the state house. However, Denby says more local involvement in this industry is needed. Rogers says additional oversight would be a plus, but also that local officials may not have the experience of higher-level authorities. (TD)
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Everyday Hero Nomination Deadline ExtendedEveryday Hero Nomination Deadline Extended
7/7/14 - Local individuals that have either saved a life or greatly impacted the lives of others will be honored later this year. The Livingston County Chapter of the American Red Cross is again soliciting nominations from the community at large for its annual âSalute To Everyday Heroesâ celebration. Set for September 25th, the event honors local residents who have gone out of their way to help someone in need. Red Cross officials have been asking the public to nominate individuals in several categories for recognition including workplace, first responder and law enforcement heroes, an individual who has dedicated their life to serving others, good neighbors and even animal heroes that have reacted in a significant way to help and assist in an emergency. All nominees must live or be employed in Livingston County or have performed an act of heroism in the county. The nomination deadline has been extended through July 23rd. Forms and further details are available on our website.
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Trial Delayed For Romulus Cop From BrightonTrial Delayed For Romulus Cop From Brighton
7/7/14 - A Romulus police officer from Livingston County has had his trial put on hold. 52-year-old Richard Balzer of Brighton is among half a dozen Romulus officers who were charged in a corruption probe that included undercover narcotics officers, a former police chief and his wife. He had been set to go to trial starting today, but court records show it has been adjourned to October 6th at the request of his defense attorney. Balzer is charged with conducting a criminal enterprise, conspiracy, embezzlement by a public official, uttering and publishing, misconduct in office and neglect of duty. Authorities allege the 25 year department veteran submitted false police reports and fake expense records involving fraudulent undercover work at strip clubs in Romulus and Southgate. Heâs also alleged to have solicited prostitutes. Former Romulus Police Chief Michael St. Andre and two other co-defendants were also arrested in 2012 for engaging in âinappropriate conductâ including allegations that thousands of dollars were stolen from the departmentâs drug forfeiture accounts and that an undercover narcotics team had not been paying informants properly. St. Andre entered a plea in the case and will be sentenced in October. His wife was previously sentenced to 7 to 20 years in prison for her part in the scheme. (JK)
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Police Suspect Alcohol Involved in Head On Crash Police Suspect Alcohol Involved in Head On Crash
7/7/14 - Police say two Highland Township men involved in a head-on crash just prior to the holiday weekend are suspected of drunk driving. The crash happened around 10pm last Thursday, July 3rd on Duck Lake Road, north of Wardlow Road. The Oakland County Sheriffâs Office reports that a 79-year-old man in a Chevy Suburban was traveling southbound when he crossed over the center line, into the path of a Chevy Trail Blazer driven by a 55-year-old man. The two vehicles collided head-on in the northbound lane and both drivers were hospitalized. The driver of the Trail Blazer was cleared by medical staff and lodged in the Oakland County Jail while the driver of the Suburban was last listed in stable condition. Police say itâs suspected that both men were intoxicated at the time of the accident and blood samples were taken from each and have been sent to the Michigan State Police crime lab in Lansing to be analyzed. Police anticipate that it will be several weeks before any charges are authorized. (JM)
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Wixom Woman Improves After Saturday Crash in Handy TownshipWixom Woman Improves After Saturday Crash in Handy Township
7/7/14 - An Oakland County woman is improving after an accident over the weekend near Fowlerville that sent her to the hospital via medical helicopter. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte says 46-year-old Wendy Ann Steward was riding on the back of a motorcycle that was traveling with another motorcycle east on Grand River Avenue just before 8:30 Saturday night, when the driver collided with a Ford Escort as it turned left onto Cemetery Road in Handy Township. Witnesses said the Escort driver had his blinker on when he stopped to make the turn. Steward was taken by Survival Flight to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor with critical injuries. As of this morning, however, she had been upgraded to fair condition. The man who was operating the motorcycle, 47 year old Chris Economides of Pinckney was taken by ambulance to U of M and was last listed in good condition. The driver of the sedan was not injured, but may face charges for driving without auto insurance. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash. Bezotte says while Economides was not wearing a helmet, Steward was and that likely kept her injuries from being more severe. (JK)
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Lt. Governor Touts Tax Reform & Ballot Proposal in BrightonLt. Governor Touts Tax Reform & Ballot Proposal in Brighton
7/7/14- The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce held a luncheon this afternoon to inform the community about what it feels is a critical measure . Citizens interested in learning more attended to hear Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley advocate for Proposal 1. The soon to be voted on Personal Property Tax reform will appear on the ballot next month. Calley says the Personal Property Tax has slowed economic growth and punishes job providers by imposing taxes on their capital investments. The Personal Property Tax bases its rate on a businessâ equipment, regardless of its condition. The Lt. Governor says this tax has been in place for over 100 years, thought despite the longevity, he is not aware of resistance to Proposal 1. Calley tells WHMI a wide spread knowledge of the proposal is currently the biggest obstacle. If the proposed plan were to pass, tax rates will not be raised and Calley foresees an increase in job creation. He also informed attendees that the proposal will create a reliable funding system for community uses, such as libraries, schools and emergency services. Included in Calleyâs promotion on Proposal 1, he notes that this has and still is a âcritical time in Michiganâs historyâ in order to change the trajectory of the stateâs destined circumstances. Michiganâs tax practices have gone from being ranked 49th in the nation, to residing in the top 10. Calley encourages voters casting their ballot in August to vote Yes on Proposal 1 in order to move forward with the stateâs success. (DK)
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Father Arraigned Along With Son In Road Rage IncidentFather Arraigned Along With Son In Road Rage Incident
7/8/14 - A father and son from Hamburg Township who police say chased and assaulted another man in a road rage incident have been arraigned. 52-year-old Daniel Marcum was arraigned on aggravated assault charges on Monday and is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on July 21st. His son, 28-year-old Nathan Marcum, was arraigned a week earlier for aggravated assault and reckless driving, and his pretrial hearing will take place on Monday. The charges stem from an incident that began in the vicinity of westbound Grand River and Latson Road. Witnesses reported seeing a pick-up truck traveling at high speeds, weaving in and out of traffic prior to the incident. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte says the victim, a 56-year-old Howell man who was driving a black Buick, tried to get away and ran a red light before pulling into the parking lot of a business near Grand Oaks Drive. He says the Marcums cut across Grand River, exited their vehicle, and proceeded to assault the victim. They fled a short time later after being advised that police were coming. Bezotte says witnesses were able to get a license plate number along with descriptions of the suspects and their vehicle, which led police to the Marcums. (TD)
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Genoa Residents Firing Complaints About Fireworks LawGenoa Residents Firing Complaints About Fireworks Law
7/8/14 - The 4th of July holiday may be over but the frustration being felt by residents and municipalities is far from finished. The Genoa Township met Monday night and some members expressed that theyâre just as frustrated as anyone else following the change in state law allowing the use of consumer grade fireworks. While some revel in shooting them off and putting on elaborate displays, others liken the noise in neighborhoods to war zones and want them banned or restricted. It was reported during the meeting that there have been numerous calls and complaints about fireworks going off at all hours, particularly from those who live on lakes and subdivisions throughout the township. Genoa Township does not currently have any ordinance regulating the use of fireworks and Supervisor Gary McCririe says thatâs because itâs no easy feat. He tells WHMI the township regularly fields a myriad of complaints from those in the community who are experiencing discourteous neighbors shooting off fireworks. He says itâs difficult to regulate how to be a good neighbor or courteous behavior and recommends residents contact their state legislators who are responsible for the new law. (JM)
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Latson Road Elementary Property Sold To Health Care SystemLatson Road Elementary Property Sold To Health Care System
7/8/14 - The Howell School Board has sold the Latson Road Elementary property to St. John Providence Health System. The decision to approve the healthcare nonprofit's bid of just over $5 million was made at last night's board of education meeting. The property has been on sale, both with and without the school building, for the past two years, and Assistant Superintendent of Finance Rick Terres told the board last night that this was the first reasonable offer made in that time. St. John's had made two previous offers, including one that was higher in the initial dollar amount, but the commissions on those offers would have resulted in the district netting less than $5 million. St. John's is planning to construct a 50,000-square-foot ambulatory care facility that will provide health care with a wide array of specialties, and board members commented the hospital will bring high-paying jobs and new families to the community. Two board members, Mike Moloney and Deb McCormick, voted against the sale, saying the district should wait and seek higher offers. Moloney called the sale "a huge mistake" that the district will regret in the years to come. Other board members and district staff insisted that it was a good market price for the land, even factoring in the location near the new interchange. Superintendent Ron Wilson says the district is getting more per acre on that property than any commercial property sold in Livingston County in the past ten years. (TD)
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New Natural Gas Pipeline Through Livingston County ProposedNew Natural Gas Pipeline Through Livingston County Proposed
7/8/14 - Plans are in the works for a new natural gas transmission pipeline that could pass through Livingston County on its way to Canada. The proposed new gas pipeline project would partially track along the same route as the Enbridge Energy Line 6B oil pipeline that was recently replaced as it ran through the county. A company spokeswoman says the 42 inch natural gas pipeline being proposed by ET Rover Pipeline, a subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners, is in a pre-filing process with another application due to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in January. If approved, it would transport natural gas from as far away as Pennsylvania, coming through Ohio and then into southern Michigan, where it would make its way north through Lenawee and Washtenaw counties before entering Livingston County, roughly paralleling the Enbridge line as it makes its way to Ontario. The company projects that the pipeline will create more than 5,000 temporary construction jobs and 30 to 40 additional permanent jobs. But for many area residents who were unhappy with the way they were treated by Enbridge during that project, including complaints of illegally clearing trees from their land, this latest proposal is being met without outright opposition. Josh Mogerman, a spokesman for the Natural Resources Defense Council told the Detroit Free Press the plan is âconsistent with the growing trend nationally that puts more and more risk in peopleâs backyards for the movement of fossil fuels.â That sentiment is echoed by Beth Wallace with the nonprofit Pipeline Safety Trust, who said the project has very little benefit for Michigan, which she says is âbecoming yet another highway for export pipelines,â at the expense of the environment and homeowners living along the proposed right-of-way. The first chance for the public to have their say on the pipeline plan will be next week when ET Rover will hold an informational meeting on Monday, July 14th at the Fenton Township Hall from 5:30 -7:30pm. (JK)
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Volunteers Still Sought For South Lyon Blues, Brews, and BratsVolunteers Still Sought For South Lyon Blues, Brews, and Brats
7/8/14 - A music and food festival will take place in South Lyon Saturday, and volunteers are still being sought. The 3rd annual South Lyon Blues, Brews, Brats event will take place in downtown South Lyon starting at 4pm, with a $3 cover beginning at 5pm and a 21-and-over restriction beginning at 9:00. The festival includes music from local bands, food vendors, and local beers, wines, and hard cider. Volunteers are needed for the event in capacities ranging from setting up and cleaning up to beverage service and checking identification. For more information, contact the South Lyon Chamber of Commerce. (TD)
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Jail Time Ordered For Howell Man in Church TheftJail Time Ordered For Howell Man in Church Theft
7/8/14 - A Howell man will go to jail after being sentenced for stealing 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 58-year-old recently pleaded guilty to larceny in a building in the Wayne County Circuit Court and was sentenced to 90 to 120 days in jail. He will then be on probation for 18 months, and be forced to pay over $1,000 in court fees. Bentley, whose criminal record includes previous convictions in Livingston County for larceny and criminal sexual conduct, will also have to go through a program called the Jail PLUS program, which will keep him in custody to allow experts to work with him to properly assess his mental condition and other criteria before being released. (JK)
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Hartland Senior Center asks Brighton Township for FundingHartland Senior Center asks Brighton Township for Funding
7/8/14 - The Hartland Senior Center is out to redefine what it means to be a âsenior,â and is inviting neighboring townships to become a part of their mission. At Monday nightâs Brighton Township board meeting, trustees discussed the possibility of providing up to $7,000 dollars in financial aid to the facility. The center is seeking financial support due to a loss of previous funding and a desire to expand what the facility is able to offer its members. The facility currently has approximately 1,100 non-duplicate members, with approximately two hundred of those being citizens of Brighton Township. The Hartland Senior Center provides a variety of non-traditional, eclectic activities including memoir writing, instruction in jazz and fitness, and crowd favorite pickle ball. The Hartland facility is the largest out of the seven senior centers in Livingston County, and its unique approach draws residents from nearby townships. Any Michigan adult over the age of fifty is eligible to become a member at the center, and there is no additional fee for being a resident outside of Hartland Township. Tyrone, Deerfield and Oceola townships are already providing funding to the facility. (KT/JK)
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Fenton Council Talks Insurance, Marijuana & Library RenovationsFenton Council Talks Insurance, Marijuana & Library Renovations
7/8/14 - The Fenton City Council held a work session Monday night to discuss several matters including health insurance, a proposed medical marijuana ordinance and library renovations. City Manager Lynn Markland addressed the council regarding health insurance coverage for city employees and retirees. Markland said rising premiums were a primary reason for considering a change in health plans. Susan Donnell Masak and Jeff Phillips outlined the health plan under consideration. The proposed plan is managed by Priority Health, and will include an option for a Health Savings Account, or HSA. Markland said the city will make $1250 and $2500 contributions into the HSA on behalf of employees. Meanwhile, Christopher Patterson from the city attorneyâs office presented the council with a draft of the cityâs ordinance to manage growing medical marijuana within city limits. The proposed ordinance addresses care givers, patients and industrial growing. The council will readdress the ordinance in August once the zoning board provides districting recommendations. Council members approved the extension of the moratorium regarding medical marihuana at Mondayâs meeting. The council was also provided an update on the library renovation project. Chris DeBear from Library Design Associates told the council all costs would be finalized in August, and that renovations would take 30 days. Work is scheduled to begin in October, and could be completed by Thanksgiving. (LR/JK)
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