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Works Skills Corp. Showcasing New Residential Services Home Works Skills Corp. Showcasing New Residential Services Home

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7/21/14 - An open house this week will showcase a local organization’s latest venture designed to further its mission of optimizing human potential. Works Skills Corporation will celebrate the grand opening of its new residential services home, located on North Michigan Avenue in Howell. The organization helps people with barriers to employment find jobs in the community and also provides training services. The residential services program provides a new approach to residential rehabilitation for adults with brain injuries by offering individualized programming and therapies to result in the highest level of independence possible. Residential Services Administrator Amy Sheibar says the community at large will benefit and it's a new and exciting process since they've been talking about starting this type of program for years. Renovations on the house began last summer. The new home now includes six bedrooms each with a private bathroom, and other upgrades were done throughout. Both the public and interested parties are invited to the open house, which is scheduled from 3 to 7pm Wednesday. A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned at 5pm. (JM)

Howell Theater Owner Seeks Local Donations For New ProjectorHowell Theater Owner Seeks Local Donations For New Projector

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7/21/14 - An online fundraising page has been set up to buy a new digital projector for the historic Howell Theater. Tyler DePerro, the owner of FilmTell LLC in Toledo, Ohio, bought the theater in June. DePerro says he has a “unique vision” for the theater that includes showing independent movies, silent films, documentaries, and other less-well-known works. He also wants to make-over the building’s facade and lobby to showcase local artwork and host community gatherings. He has created a fundraising page on Kickstarter seeking contributions from the community to purchase and install a new digital projector to replace the old-fashioned models currently inside the theater. DePerro says he will be able to keep ticket prices down if he gets the funding for a new projector from the community. He is seeking $75,000, and with about six weeks remaining in the fundraising campaign, almost $2,000 has been raised. A link to the page can be found below. (TD)

Semi Wrecked On Railroad Bridge On Dexter-Pinckney RoadSemi Wrecked On Railroad Bridge On Dexter-Pinckney Road

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7/22/14 - Traffic was closed on Dexter-Pinckney Road for almost four hours yesterday when a semi-trailer failed to clear a railroad bridge. The incident happened at about 10:45am, when the semi traveling eastbound crashed into the railroad bridge near Dexter-Chelsea Road. The stone bridge has a clearance of 11 feet 10 inches, and the cab of the semi cleared that height, but the Dexter Leader reports the trailer was 13 feet 6 inches tall and was obliterated. There were no injuries in the crash, and but it took crews until 1:30pm to reopen Dexter-Pinckney Road. (TD)

Wednesday Marks Deadline to Nominate Everyday Heroes Wednesday Marks Deadline to Nominate Everyday Heroes

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7/22/14 - Those looking to nominate local individuals that have either saved a life or greatly impacted the lives of others have just a short time left to do so. The Livingston County Chapter of the American Red Cross is again soliciting nominations from the community at large for its annual “Salute To Everyday Heroes” celebration in an effort to honor ordinary individuals who have acted in extraordinary ways. The event will be held September 25th and recognizes local residents who have gone out of their way to help someone in need. Red Cross officials ask that the public 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 is Wednesday July 23rd. Forms and further details are available through the link and attachment below. (JM)

New Gas Station And Restaurant Expansion Approved In GenoaNew Gas Station And Restaurant Expansion Approved In Genoa

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7/22/14 - The Genoa Township Board approved site plans for a new business and an expansion of an existing restaurant in the area of Grand River and Latson Road last night. The first approval was given to Buffalo Wild Wings located on the northwest corner, which plans to expand its facility with an addition on the western side. Vice President of Operations Bobby Kramer says the new expansion will give the restaurant room to serve the large weekend crowds as well as an area for private parties. They will be closing for ten days this summer for an interior renovation, but plan to reopen the store with the expanded seating in time for the beginning of football season and the school year. The township board also gave final approval for a new USA 2 Go gas station and drive through, which will be located south of Grand River at the southwest corner of Latson Road and Grand Oaks Drive. USA 2 Go President Kevin Bahnam tells WHMI the new facility will be similar to the one on M-59, but updated to reflect the changing priorities of the industry. This will include a greater focus on the seating for the integrated Tim Hortons restaurant. Bahnam expects the new facility to be done early in the summer of 2015. (TD)

Plea Deal Rejected By Woman Charged Following Son's DeathPlea Deal Rejected By Woman Charged Following Son's Death

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7/22/14 - A local woman whose infant son died has rejected a plea deal from prosecutors and is scheduled for trial next month. Heidi Lynn Kozlowski of Deerfield Township faces child abuse charges for living with her young children in what authorities called “deplorable” conditions. She turned down a plea deal at a pretrial hearing yesterday. She is scheduled for jury pick on August 29th. In March, one of Kozlowski’s twin sons, less than three weeks of age, died after experiencing breathing problems. She also has a two-year old daughter. Authorities could not say that the poor living conditions were the definitive cause of the child’s death, and the child abuse charge relates strictly to the conditions she allowed her children to live in. The 25-year-old told police 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 12:30 that morning. According to court records, she said the babies were fine when her cousin woke up between 3 and 4am, but when she and the children’s father woke up at 5:30 am, they noticed their son was not breathing. Kozlowski’s cousin and paramedics attempted CPR, but were not unsuccessful. Kozlowski will also be in Livingston County Family Court July 29th for a disposition hearing on a child abuse/neglect case to determine if she can maintain custody of her children. (TD)

Jail Expansion OK'ed by Livingston County CommissionersJail Expansion OK'ed by Livingston County Commissioners

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7/22/14 - Ground will be broken soon for the $16.7 million expansion of the Livingston County Jail, which was approved by the Livingston County Board of Commissioners Monday night. After long debate the board rejected an amendment that would establish a “prevailing wages” policy for all future such contracts. In addition to construction of the jail expansion, the board approved the project budget and construction contracts. The jail project is being funded through tax-exempt general obligation bonds, with a portion coming from the county’s general fund. County Commissioner David Domas presented a proposed amendment which would eliminate prevailing wages as a requirement for any of the project’s contractors. In government contracting, a prevailing wage is defined as the hourly wage, plus benefits and overtime, paid to the majority of workers in a particular area. Prevailing wages are set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Domas said Michigan is now a right-to-work state where no one can be forced to join a union in order to gain employment, adding, in his words, “The prevailing wage law is in contradiction to that.” Domas said it was time to change the policy to reflect that reality. However, his amendment to the resolution ultimately failed on a split vote. A subsequent motion to approve the original resolution passed on a 6-2 vote. Board Chairwoman Carol Griffith tells WHMI she was uncomfortable with hearing the proposal for the first time before the full board - without going through committee - and she didn’t want to tell the general contractor, Clark Construction Co., how to conduct its business. Domas countered that the amendment would not have prevented the contractors from hiring union employees, and therefore was not restrictive. The expansion will greatly expand the size of the jail, from its current 254 inmate capacity to a total of 411. It will have separate male and female holding and isolation areas, additional medical cells and exam rooms, an expanded pharmacy, a new triage room and an elevated control room with a clear view of cells, and expanded evidence and property rooms. The intent is to address long-standing overcrowding issues, particularly for female inmates. Construction is expected to begin in the near future with the jail addition completed by next spring. (TT)

Howell Nature Center Animals Visit Summer Lunch Bunch KidsHowell Nature Center Animals Visit Summer Lunch Bunch Kids

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7/22/14 - Local kids taking advantage of a summer lunch program got a little closer to nature last week. The Summer Lunch Bunch program received a grant from the Spirit of Alexandria Foundation, based out of Milford, to receive visits from representatives from the Howell Conference and Nature Center and their animals. The Lunch Bunch provides free lunches for kids during the summer break at five different locations around the county, and the Nature Center visited all five locations to give demonstrations. The visits included animals such as a woodchuck, porcupine, opossum, box turtle, and birds of prey that are cared for by the center. Lunch Bunch Coordinator Liz Welch says the grant was for $750, and they were lucky to receive it for the second year in a row, but that it would not cover the cost of having the Nature Center visit all five locations and the representatives volunteered their time to make sure every child had a chance to experience their presentation. (TD)

Livonia Man Charged in Local Road Rage Incident Enters Plea Livonia Man Charged in Local Road Rage Incident Enters Plea

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7/22/14 - A Livonia man police say brandished a weapon during a road rage incident has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. 46-year-old Thomas Lee Holman of Livonia pleaded guilty as charged to a single count of assault with a dangerous weapon during a recent hearing in Livingston County Circuit Court. He was accused of brandishing a semi-automatic pistol at two Nunica residents in a Chevy Impala on I-96 near Chilson Road in Genoa Township the afternoon of Sunday, March 23rd. The pair reported that Holman and his wife, who was a passenger, were tailgating them and flipping them off, alleging Holman eventually pulled alongside their vehicle pointing a gun. Holman previously denied brandishing a weapon and maintained that it was the Nunica man who was driving erratically and cut them off, nearly hitting their vehicle. Holman’s weapon was seized at the scene, along with several rounds of ammunition. As part of the recent plea deal, prosecutors agreed to not charge added felony firearms counts. Holman will be sentenced September 4th. (JM)

Fenton Cycling Tour Aims To Raise Money For Medical ResearchFenton Cycling Tour Aims To Raise Money For Medical Research

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7/22/14 - A cycling tour in Fenton next month will raise money for research into congenital heart defects. The annual Tour Des Lacs will begin and end at The Laundry in Fenton on August 2nd. Several routes ranging from 18 to 62 miles will be offered to showcase nine local lakes, including a new 37-mile dirt and gravel path. The tour has been going on for more than a decade, raising funds for medical research at the University of Michigan into the genetic causes of certain heart defects. Registration is $50 per rider, and this year’s goal is to raise $70,000 for the research. For more information, follow the link below. (TD)

Scholarships Available for Student Youth Leadership ProgramScholarships Available for Student Youth Leadership Program

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7/22/14 - Scholarship funds are available for a program that aims to positively impact the community by developing Livingston County youth into informed and invested future leaders. The Leadership Livingston Youth pilot program held last year was dubbed a success. It develops Livingston County juniors and seniors ages 15 to 17 as leaders by providing a program of skills building, engaging community resources and facilitating networking opportunities with peers and community leaders. This year's program will be starting up Wednesday, August 13th and organizers say grants that were received will allow the first nine students who sign up to qualify for scholarship money. A grant was received from the Community Foundation of Livingston County for the project costs, along with $800 in scholarships from the Linske family and $1,000 in scholarships from the DTE Foundation. Students in the program learn about leadership reading from a text book and networking with county leaders as well as applying what they learn in a community leadership project. The cost of the program is $200 per student and includes lunch, transportation, books, supplies, training and all project costs. Details and a link to the online application are available below. (JM)

City Of Howell's Credit Rating Bumped From A+ to AA-City Of Howell's Credit Rating Bumped From A+ to AA-

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7/22/14 - Standard & Poors has updated its rankings, and the City of Howell has been upgraded from an A+ to an AA-. The city maintained the A+ rating through the recession, although Mayor Phil Campbell says new approaches to business and finance were needed to weather the storm. He, along with City Manager Shea Charles, see the improved credit rating as an indicator that they have taken the city down the correct road. A municipality’s credit rating determines the interest rates available when it seeks to issue bonds, and this increase should be able to save the city money when that becomes necessary. However, Mayor Phil Campbell points out that the city has eliminated its debt for now, and Charles says they do not expect to be in the market for more anytime soon. (TD)

Incumbents Not Seeking Re-Election to Howell Board of EducationIncumbents Not Seeking Re-Election to Howell Board of Education

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7/22/14 - Today marked the filing deadline for local school board races and it appears the Howell Board of Education will have some new members in November. Board President Mike Witt, his wife Kim Witt who is the board secretary, as well as incumbent Doug Moore did not file as of this afternoon’s 4pm deadline. Candidates Grace Trudell and Greg Gilligan are the only two candidates to file for the three open seats on the Howell school board before the deadline. Mike Witt says he is hopeful the district will continue to move forward and feels it is in a much better place than when he was first elected to the board. Witt tells WHMI it has been a wonderful experience and praised the kind, professional staff in the district but says State Senator Joe Hune’s conflict of interest legislation is the main reason he’s stepping down. Kim Witt stated that she also made the difficult decision to not run for re-election due to the overreaching, unnecessary and unfounded politics surrounding the Conflict of Interest law. The complete statements from the Witt’s may be viewed below. In Brighton Area Schools, three seats are up and a number of candidates have filed, including current board members Miles M. Vieau and John Conely. The seat held by William E. Anderson is also up but he has not filed for re-election. Four candidates are seeking that seat; Jerilyn Gilleylen, David R. Chesney, Kenneth Stahl and Andy Burchfield. In Hartland, incumbents Charlie Aberasturi, Michelle Hutchinson and Bill Gatewood have all filed for re-election. A fourth seat currently held by Cynthia Sinelli is also up and candidate Christopher Costa has filed for that. In Pinckney, incumbents George A. Rogers and Deborah Reynolds filed for re-election. In Fowlerville, the seats of Sam Larioza, Laura Prochnow and Jeff Limonoff are up. Candidates Richard Spaulding, Tim LaPlante and Steve Frederick have filed. A link to the Livingston County Clerk's webpage is below, where more information on the candidate filings can be found.(JM)

Village Councilman Joins Race To Be Dexter's First MayorVillage Councilman Joins Race To Be Dexter's First Mayor

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7/23/14 - If Dexter becomes a city in November it will need a mayor, and one member of the village council wants to challenge the current village president for the title. Dexter voters will have the opportunity to approve a proposed city charter in the general election, and if they do Village Council Trustee Paul Cousins wants to become the first mayor. The Dexter Leader reports Cousins filed for the office just hours before the Tuesday deadline. He will be the only competition for Village President Shawn Keough, who announced his intention to become mayor more than a week ago. All of the other elected positions needed for the proposed City of Dexter are on the ballot as well, including a 6-member city council. Cousins says he discussed his intentions with Keough before filing. (TD)

Red Cross Seeks Blood Donations During Challenging SummerRed Cross Seeks Blood Donations During Challenging Summer

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7/23/14 - The need for blood donations doesn’t take a summer break and Red Cross officials say there’s an urgent need for donors of all blood types to roll up a sleeve and give during one of the most challenging times of the year. The American Red Cross is facing a looming blood shortage and putting out the call for community blood and platelet donations. The summer can be among the most challenging times of the year for the Red Cross as regular donors will delay giving for vacations and other summer activities. The Independence Day holiday reduced the number of blood drives scheduled in early July and donations are down approximately 8% over the last eleven weeks, resulting in about 80,000 fewer donations than expected. Officials say the number of donors continues to decline and the shortfall is significant enough that the Red Cross could experience an emergency situation in the coming weeks. July 13th marked the half-way point for the organization’s “100 Days of Summer. 100 Days of Hope” campaign and officials say every day this summer is a chance to give hope to patients in need and their network of family and friends. A list of upcoming blood drives in Livingston County is attached below. (JM)

Fowlerville School Board Approves Contracts and ResignationsFowlerville School Board Approves Contracts and Resignations

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7/23/14 - The Fowlerville Board of Education ratified several agreements at Tuesday night’s meeting. Board members approved a new two year contract with the Fowlerville Educational Support Personnel Association, and another with the district’s custodial and maintenance staff. Each of the agreements include no wage increase over the next two years. Additionally, custodial and maintenance personnel will see a 2.9% in their insurance cap as required by the state legislature. Fowlerville Community Schools contracts with the Village of Fowlerville to provide an armed police officer to the district. Superintendent Wayne Roedel tells WHMI the district is looking forward to having Officer Jeff Soli and his drug sniffing K9 dog Niko in the hallways again this year. Officer Soli will visit each school in the district but will spend the majority of his time at Fowlerville High School. Meanwhile, Roedel said the board accepted the resignations of two teachers. Robert Fuehr and Lauri Purdy, both teachers at Fowlerville High School will not be returning for the 2014 – 2015 school year. He suggested educators interested in applying for the positions visit the school district website for more information. The link to the district’s website is listed below.

Huron River Clean-Up Day Set to Go Saturday in Hamburg TownshipHuron River Clean-Up Day Set to Go Saturday in Hamburg Township

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7/23/14 - Hamburg Township’s Flood Prevention Committee is gearing up for this weekend’s annual clean-up day that helps improve the navigation and flow of the Huron River. In addition to keeping the natural area pristine for locals and tourists, the annual Huron River Clean-Up Day ensures that water can easily flow out of the local watershed area, which helps reduce flooding in low-lying areas of Hamburg Township during times of heavy rainfall. The clean-up effort will take place Saturday from 8am to 2pm, with volunteers meeting in the parking lot of the Livingston County Wildlife and Conservation Club. Volunteers will work along the shore and riverbanks removing trash and trimming back vegetation that could block the flow of the river as well as in the water and from boats. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own tools and equipment such as waders, gloves, boots, chainsaws, and protective eyewear. They should also dress appropriately for the weather and bring along sunglasses, sunscreen, wide-brim hats, and insect repellent. Complete details can be found through the link below. (JM)

Local Resource Guide Aims to Help Prevent Youth ObesityLocal Resource Guide Aims to Help Prevent Youth Obesity

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7/23/14 - Local health officials say work is ongoing to help reduce and prevent youth obesity in Livingston County. The Healthy Habits for Youth work group is currently compiling information on all youth obesity prevention and treatment programs, services, and initiatives in Livingston County. Officials say the information gathered will help facilitate collaboration, identify gaps, assist with needs assessment and program planning. The work group operates under the Human Services Collaborative Body and information will ultimately be shared with partners and Livingston County families in the form of a resource guide. Any Livingston County-based organization that provides a program or service promoting physical activity, nutrition, or emotional well-being for youth is encouraged to complete a short survey for each obesity prevention program, service, or effort they are leading. The submission deadline is August 31st. The form takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and The Livingston County Department of Public Health notes that the form may need to be completed and submitted multiple times for different obesity prevention programs. A link is posted below. AP Photo. (JM)

Genoa Township Invests In Upgrades To Water & Sewer SystemsGenoa Township Invests In Upgrades To Water & Sewer Systems

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7/23/14 - Some big changes to water and sewer systems were approved at Monday night’s Genoa Township board meeting. The first change made was a series of rate increases for water and sewer hookups in the area of Latson Road an I-96. Utility Director Greg Tatara explained for the board that this area would probably see commercial growth in the coming years, and while the system had the capacity to handle some new users it could eventually get overwhelmed and need an upgrade. The increased connection fees will help mitigate that cost when such an upgrade becomes necessary. Water connection fees in the area were increased from $5,000 to $7,900 per residence equivalency unit. Sewer connection fees south of the freeway increased from $5,500 per REU to $11,400, and those north of the freeway increased to $7,200. Residents posed questions and offered suggestions to the plan, and one encouraged the board to expand the water system south of the freeway to improve the area’s attractiveness to commercial developers. The new rates will be incorporated over time. Also at Monday’s meeting, the township board approved a $6 million construction project to transfer the bulk of the work done at the Oak Pointe treatment plant to the Genoa Oceola treatment plant to the north. The project involves turning the Oak Pointe plant into a pumping station where only pre-treatment would take place, then installing a 10-inch water main to the GO plant to the north for complete treatment. The Oak Pointe plant is unable to meet state standards for sodium. Residents who use it will be picking up the tab for the project on their monthly bills, but Tatara says that will be partially mitigated by the fact that they will no longer be required to use expensive potassium-based water softeners. Work on that project is slated to begin next month, with full conversion planned to finish sometime in the spring. (TD)

Hartland Township Residents Weigh In On Road ImprovementsHartland Township Residents Weigh In On Road Improvements

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7/23/14 - The last public hearing on the plan to repair and improve roadways in Hartland Township was held last night. The Safer Roads and Pathways plan was created by a citizens’ task force, which has been meeting at least once a month since last fall to identify the priorities of township residents with regard to roads. After gathering large amounts of input from the public, the task force identified 14 different road projects and some general preventative maintenance actions that were most in need of addressing. They would be funded through a 1.5-mill, 10-year property tax, which would have to be approved by voters in November. Several residents addressed the township board with their concerns at last night’s public hearing, asking about how excess revenue would be spent, the involvement of the Livingston County Road Commission, and why some roads were chosen for improvement rather than others. One area of concern for residents was the improvement of sidewalks, which was originally part of the task force’s plan but later removed in favor of roadways. Officials say using the millage to pay for roads will allow general fund money to be spent on sidewalk improvement, but some residents were still unhappy with that plan. A poll in March showed 60% of Hartland residents would support a 1.5-mill road tax. Residents can still provide feedback to the township on the plan by calling the township offices or following the link below. (TD)
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