7/25/14 - A local man suspected of exposing himself in public on multiple occasions in the Novi and South Lyon communities has been identified by police. The suspect is only being identified as a 30-year-old Green Oak Township man, as criminal charges have not yet been filed. South Lyon Police Lt. Christopher Sovik says their investigation is complete and they believe the man is the person responsible. South Lyon Police released a composite sketch of the suspect in late May while Novi Police released a surveillance photo last week. While the descriptions and images were different, Lieutenant Sovik was able to put two and two together as the man shown looked similar to a person of interest he interviewed two weeks prior and whose responses raised some red flags. Sovik says he was never ruled out as a suspect and further investigation by both departments led to the Green Oak man being identified. Sovik tells WHMI they take great pride in keeping the community safe and when something like this happens, which is rare, theyâre quick to investigate. He says they used the information received to their advantage, are pleased with the outcome and believe the incidents will stop. The departments are submitting their investigation reports together to the Oakland County Prosecutorâs Office for review. Indecent exposure is a misdemeanor charge that carries a penalty of up to one year in jail but Sovik says heâs hoping the combination of all of the incidents that occurred within a short period of time will lead to more serious charges being filed. (JM)
Local Man Identified As South Lyon & Novi Flasher Local Man Identified As South Lyon & Novi Flasher
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LETS Director Delivers Annual Report; Demand for Service UpLETS Director Delivers Annual Report; Demand for Service Up
7/26/14 - The director of the Livingston Essential Transportation Service, or âLETSâ, gave a slide presentation in his annual report to the Livingston County Board of Commissioners this past Monday night. Director Douglas Britz told the board that LETS averages 467 calls for service per day. He says demand is so great that LETS dispatchers are compelled to deny 15-20 calls for service a day on average due to lack of sufficient vehicles, employees or service hours. Board Chairwoman Carol Griffith tells WHMI that, as its name implies, the Livingston Essential Transportation Service is truly an essential and indispensable service to Livingston County residents. Griffith says that as an âenterpriseâ fund, LETS is required to be self-sustaining, and as such does not take any county tax dollars, relying exclusively on federal and state grants and passenger fares. And those fares remain reasonable. Britz says rider fares range from 2-to-6 dollars within the county, and those over 60 pay half-fare. LETS has agreements with the four surrounding counties to transport passengers for medical services. Fares for out-of-county runs to hospitals and other such facilities in places like Lansing and Ann Arbor are $20, round-trip. Britz says that starting this fall, LETS will begin using propane-powered buses to replace the diesel buses because they burn cleaner and are less costly to operate, saving $1.80 per gallon in fuel. After his presentation the board approved creation of a new position, that of LETS deputy director, which will bring the number of employees up to 40. The individual has not yet been selected. (TT/JM)
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Father & Son Charged In Road Rage Incident Reject DealFather & Son Charged In Road Rage Incident Reject Deal
7/26/14 - A plea deal has been rejected by a father and son from Hamburg Township who police say chased and assaulted another man in a road rage incident. 28-year-old Nathan Marcum (pictured) and his father, 52-year-old Daniel Marcum, both turned down plea deals from prosecutors on Monday. They are now both scheduled for jury pick on August 29th. Both face charges of aggravated assault, while the son also faces one count of reckless driving. The charges stem from an incident June 28th that began in the vicinity of westbound Grand River and Latson Road in Genoa Township. Witnesses reported seeing a pick-up truck traveling at high speeds, weaving in and out of traffic. Police say a 56-year-old Howell man tried to get away and ran a red light before pulling into the parking lot of a business near Grand Oaks Drive. The Marcums are alleged to have 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. 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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BREAKING: Phone Service Disrupted Around Livingston CountyBREAKING: Phone Service Disrupted Around Livingston County
7/26/14 - A cut AT&T fiber cable is interfering with telephone communications around the county. Most of the disturbances are among land lines for numbers beginning with (517)-223, which are most found in the western part of the county. The disruption has also affects AT&T and Verizon Wireless cell phone connectivity around the county. Affected calls cannot make outgoing or receive incoming calls. Livingston County Central Dispatch says it is not clear at this time how the line was cut, and there is no estimated time for restoration. An AT&T media relations representative could not be immediately reached by phone for comment. A temporary bridge line has been put in place so affected customers can contact emergency services. That number is (517)-223-8561. (TD)
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Volunteers Clear Flood-Causing Debris From Huron RiverVolunteers Clear Flood-Causing Debris From Huron River
7/27/14 - Hamburg Township held its annual Huron River clean-up day on Saturday. Volunteers, township officials, and members of the Department of Natural Resources met at the Livingston County Wildlife & Conservation Club on M-36 Saturday morning. After a continental breakfast, the group ventured out onto the river by pontoon boat. Volunteers divided up into different groups to tackle different sections of the river. They worked to remove trash, trees, and other debris that blocks the riverâs natural flow. Officials say this is essential to the health of the river system, since those blockages can create natural dams that lead to flooding along the Huron River and in the Ore Lake area. The townshipâs Flood Hazard Prevention Committee organizes the event every year in an effort to clear the river to improve its flow and help prevent future flooding. To learn more about next yearâs event, âLet The River Flow 2015,â visit the townshipâs website. The link has been posted below. (LR/TD)
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Sexual Assault Seminars Offered For College-Bound StudentsSexual Assault Seminars Offered For College-Bound Students
7/27/14 - Two seminars aimed at increasing awareness about sexual assault among college-bound students will take place this week. The College Safe seminars are being offered by LACASA to increase student awareness about sexual assault risks, provide self-defense information, and dispel myths about sexual assault. Youth Prevention Educator Kayla Dillon will host the events, and she says while many students think strangers pose the biggest threat of sexual assaults, more than 90% are actually committed by someone the victim knows personally. She says the seminars will help students heading off to college learn to protect themselves and their friends by knowing the risks and avoiding vulnerable situations. The first meeting will take place on Monday from 1:00 to 3:30pm at the Brighton District Library, while the second will take place Thursday from 5:00 to 7:30pm at the Howell Carnegie Library. More information on the seminars can be found by following the link below. (TD)
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Investigation into Freeway Death of Hamburg Twp. Man CompleteInvestigation into Freeway Death of Hamburg Twp. Man Complete
7/27/14 - The investigation into the death of a local man killed when a semi hit a disabled pickup truck on US-23 is complete. 36-year-old Joseph Michael Logan of Hamburg Township, who is pictured, was killed April 9th while putting gasoline into a pickup truck on southbound US-23 near Six Mile Road in Northfield Township. Michigan State Police from the Brighton Post say a semi-truck veered over to the shoulder, crossed the fog line and hit the back end of the pickup truck, also striking Logan. The pickup truckâs driver, Jason Bell of Pinckney, was injured in the crash and hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. State Police were investigating why the semi driver, identified as a 56-year-old Pennsylvania man, lost control of his vehicle. They were also awaiting toxicology and medical examiner reports in the case. State Police tell WHMI the investigation is now complete and the report has been forwarded to the Washtenaw County Prosecutorâs Office for review, which will decide any possible criminal charges. (JM)
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Phone Service Restored After AT&T Fiber Cable CutPhone Service Restored After AT&T Fiber Cable Cut
7/27/14 â Phone service for local AT&T and Verizon customers has been restored after an AT&T fiber cable was cut on Saturday afternoon. The incident disturbed land lines for numbers beginning with (517)-223, most of which are found in the western part of the county. The disruption also affected AT&T and Verizon Wireless cell phone connectivity and Internet around the county. Affected phones could not make outgoing or receive incoming calls. Livingston County Central Dispatch says it is not clear at this time how the line was cut. A temporary bridge line was set up so affected customers could contact emergency services. (TD)
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Former Deputy Sentenced for St. Pat's Day Bar FightFormer Deputy Sentenced for St. Pat's Day Bar Fight
7/28/14 - A former Oakland County Sheriffâs deputy has been sentenced for his part in a bar fight in Hartland Township. Thomas Knasiak, who had been working as a deputy out of the Highland Township substation, and co-defendant Andrew Coleman of Howell were arrested on St. Patrickâs Day on a felony count of resisting or obstructing a police officer. In June, they pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge of attempted resisting or obstructing a police officer. While it wasnât a legal admission of guilt, it was treated as such when they were sentenced last week. On Friday, Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty ordered Knasiak to spend three days in jail, time heâs already served, and one year of probation. Coleman was given the same sentence the day before. The incident began March 17th when Livingston County Central Dispatch received a call from OâMalleyâs Irish Pub at about 8pm for a report of a man being assaulted. A Michigan State Police trooper was the first on the scene, and Knasiak and Coleman were pointed out as the two men involved. The pair was subdued by the trooper and a deputy from the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department and taken into custody. Knasiak was placed into a ânon-deputizedâ position with the Corrections Division, and later retired from the department after 25 years. Both he and Coleman must also pay restitution of more than $4,600. (JK)
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Hartland Township Works To Update Blight And Nuisance OrdinanceHartland Township Works To Update Blight And Nuisance Ordinance
7/24/14 - A new ordinance is in the works to help Hartland Township better define and enforce standards related to blight and nuisances. The township currently has such an ordinance, but Manager James Wickman says it leaves something to be desired when it comes to actually enforcing common complaints and even identifying exactly when a particular case is in violation. A new ordinance has been in the works for some time, and on Tuesday the issue was brought to the township board for final approval. However, since not all board members were present, the matter was tabled until the boardâs next meeting. Wickman says the most common blight problems are uncut lawns, derelict vehicles, and attractive nuisances such as broken windows that could cause children to get into mischief. He says the current blight ordinance provides limited enforcement options, usually just ticketing people who are in violation, but that the township would prefer to correct the violation instead of simply punishing the resident. The new ordinance would provide better options, for instance, mowing a lawn that has been neglected and then billing the owner, which would correct the violation and cost less than a ticket. (TD)
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Backpacks for Kids Collection Drive in Full Swing This SummerBackpacks for Kids Collection Drive in Full Swing This Summer
7/28/14 - Every year thousands of school supplies and hundreds of backpacks are collected to help local families and students in need. Itâs part of the Livingston Educational Service Agencyâs annual Backpack for Kids campaign, which is well underway and helps provide basic school supplies for Livingston County students whose families may be experiencing financial difficulties. Residents, churches and local businesses contribute through donations, volunteer time, and serving as drop-off sites for supplies and backpacks to help make the event a success according to Great Start Livingston Coordinator Robin Schutz. Last year, approximately $20,000 in monetary and school supply donations helped the Livingston Educational Service Agency distribute over 1,000 backpacks to students in preschool through 12th grade. The goal this year is to distribute 1,500 backpacks. Schutz says to help reach that goal, two collection drives are planned and the hope is that families out shopping for school supplies will pick up an extra set or even a backpack to donate. An LESA bus will be at the Howell Wal-Mart August 8th to be stuffed with supplies while another event at Five Below in the Green Oak Village Place Mall will allow for 10% of dollars spent to be donated to Backpacks for Kids program for school supplies. Backpacks and supplies will be collected up until the distribution event on August 21st. Supplies and backpacks can be dropped off at the Livingston Educational Service Agency on Grand River in Howell Monday through Thursday between 7:30am and 4pm. A supply wish list can be found on the LESA website, along with more information about the upcoming Stuff the Bus event and Five Below fundraiser. A link and press release are available below. (JM)
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Sentencing Set Today in Murder of Longtime Brighton ResidentSentencing Set Today in Murder of Longtime Brighton Resident
7/28/14 - Nearly four years after a former Livingston County man was shot and killed, the three men convicted in the case will learn their fates this afternoon. Three men were charged with the murder of 53-year-old John Mick, who was shot to death at the Flint River Village Apartments in August of 2010. Mick, who lived in Brighton for 14 years, had worked as an engineering technician at the GM Proving Grounds in Milford before retiring to take a security guard job in Flint. Earlier this month, a Genesee County jury returned guilty verdicts on murder charges against two of the three suspects; 22-year-old Floyd Gene Perkins and 21-year-old Kenya Ali Hyatt. However, they could not agree on a verdict in the homicide charge against a third defendant, 33-year-old Aaron Williams, although they did convict him on armed robbery and firearms charges. Perkins and Hyatt were also convicted on those counts. They face life in prison without the possibility of parole when they are sentenced at 2pm by Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Judith Fullerton. Williams will also be sentenced this afternoon, but will face a maximum term of life in prison with a chance of parole on the armed robbery conviction. Court records indicate that prosecutors have reserved the right to retry Williams on the murder count in the future. More than two years passed without a break in the case until Perkins and Hyatt were arrested in connection with another crime in Mt. Morris Township. Flint Police say they were able to obtain information from that case that led to the trio being charged in Mickâs murder. (JK)
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Construction to Begin at New Camp for Kids w/ Health ChallengesConstruction to Begin at New Camp for Kids w/ Health Challenges
7/28/14 - A new local camp for children with major medical challenges will host a groundbreaking celebration this week. The North Star Reach camp is located on a 105-acre peninsula in Putnam and Unadilla Townships and will begin accepting campers in the fall of 2015. It includes natural features such as hardwood forests, meadows, waterfront, and wetlands, and organizers are planning to build a fully-functional camp including an amphitheater, water docks, sports fields, and crafts building. A medical center staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses will ensure the health and safety of campers, who could have a range of medical challenges ranging from transplanted organs to cancer. Organizers plan to host children with similar ailments together so they can bond over their shared experiences. The camp is funded entirely by donations so that campers and their families will never be charged for services. A groundbreaking ceremony this Wednesday will give campers, families, organizers, and donors a chance to meet and also mark the start of construction. Some site demolition and road work has already begun and due to issues of accessibility and space at the campground itself, the groundbreaking will be held at The Polo Fields Golf and Country Club in Ann Arbor. (TD/JM)
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Thousands Without Power After Strong Sunday Afternoon StormsThousands Without Power After Strong Sunday Afternoon Storms
7/28/14 - Approximately 5,000 homes and businesses in Livingston County are without power after a strong line of storms moved across the area late Sunday afternoon. They are among the approximately 126,000 across all of DTEâs service area. About half of the local outages are in the Hartland Township area, with DTE Energy saying wind damage was the cause. The utility says most of the outages should be resolved by late Tuesday night, although some of the more isolated areas might have to wait until Thursday. The series of severe thunderstorms packed winds of up to 50 miles per hour that knocked down trees and ripped roofs off buildings across the region. The National Weather Service says a trained spotter reported 1.75-inch hail struck Oakland County's White Lake Township and that the high winds damaged 80 percent of the units at a mobile home park in Highland Township. The Village branch of the Hartland Cromaine District Library is closed until 1pm while the Hartland Child Care Center is closed today because of the outage. (JK)
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State House Candidates Decry Campaign Dirty TricksState House Candidates Decry Campaign Dirty Tricks
7/28/14 - Two candidates for state representative say they are the victim of dirty campaigning. State Representative candidate Hank Vaupel says he will ask Livingston County law enforcement officials to investigate inappropriate automated calls made to voters on Sunday morning by a group calling itself âSoutheast Michigan First,â which he says were intended to confuse voters about his record. Vaupel, who is running for the GOP nomination to the 47th State House in the August 5th primary, says there is no such organization registered with the Michigan Secretary of State. He called on fellow candidates to denounce the robo calls and to discourage similar activity from happening in the final week of the campaign. âThese kinds of dirty tricks lower the level of debate and I sincerely believe the voters deserve better.â Meanwhile, in the race for the 42nd State House race, candidate Rich Perlberg says more than 20 of his large campaign signs in the Brighton and Hamburg areas were stolen recently. He condemned the theft and vowed to have all of them replaced by mid-week. He has also offered $2,500 in reward money for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the thefts. âWe are not going to let cowardly thugs silence our campaign,â he said. âThey can steal my signs but they canât silence my voice.â Perlberg says the State Police are investigating the theft of the signs, which he valued at about $2,000. (JK)
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Motorcyclist Critically Injured in Handy Twp. CrashMotorcyclist Critically Injured in Handy Twp. Crash
7/28/14 - A Gratiot County man was critically injured Sunday in a motorcycle crash in Handy Township. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Department says deputies were dispatched at about 1:20 Sunday afternoon to the exit ramp from eastbound I-96 to Fowlerville Road on a report of a motorcycle crash. A preliminary investigation indicates a 60-year-old St. Louis, Michigan man was riding his motorcycle when he exited at the freeway ramp, but failed to negotiate the curve, going off the roadway and into the ditch. The man was flown to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing by Survival Flight and was last listed in critical condition. Police say he was not wearing a helmet, and alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash. Deputies from the Livingston County Sheriffsâ Department were assisted on scene by personnel from Livingston County Ambulance, Survival Flight, Fowlerville Area Fire Department, and Fowlerville Police Department. The road was closed for approximately 3 hours while deputies investigated the crash. The incident remains under investigation by the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department Traffic Safety Bureau. (JK)
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Sentencing Delayed For Trio Charged in 2010 Murder
7/29/14 - It will be another week before the three men convicted in the robbery and killing of a former Livingston County man will learn their fate. Sentencing had been set for Monday for the trio charged with the murder of 53-year-old John Mick, who was shot to death at the Flint River Village Apartments in August of 2010. Records indicate it has been moved to August 4thy as prosecutors seek a term of life in prison without parole for two of the defendants, one of whom was a juvenile at the time of the murder. Mick, who lived in Brighton for 14 years, had worked as an engineering technician at the GM Proving Grounds in Milford before retiring to take a security guard job in Flint. 22-year-old Floyd Gene Perkins and 21-year-old Kenya Ali Hyatt were convicted earlier this month by a Genesee County jury of first-degree murder in the case as well as armed robbery and firearms charges. A third defendant, 33-year-old Aaron Williams, was only convicted on the armed robbery and firearms charges. Perkins and Hyatt face life in prison without the possibility of parole. Hyatt was only 17 at the time of the murder and because of a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that it is unconstitutional for juveniles to face such a sentence, Governor Snyder signed a law in March allowing judges the discretion to sentence teen murderers to terms of as few as 25 years in prison, although a life sentence is still possible, just not mandatory. (JK)
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Strange Truth Of Local Woman's Viral Wedding Photo EmergesStrange Truth Of Local Woman's Viral Wedding Photo Emerges
7/29/14 - An online joke about wedding crashers at a local womanâs Detroit wedding may have gone viral, but the true story is even stranger than the hoax. The photo, which features the bridal party of South Lyon native Amy Hicks posing with several other people in casual clothing, made the rounds on social media recently. Accompanying it was a fictional story claiming the bride had sent an invitation text to a wrong number, tried to retract the invitation, and got a reply saying âWe still coming,â which led to the unusual photo. In truth, Hicksâ bridal party had traveled to the iconic Michigan Central train station in Detroit to take photos after their June wedding. When they arrived, they found local rap group â7262â was already on location shooting a video for their new album. The two groups decided to combine their agendas, with the bridal party dancing in the rap video and the rappers posing in some of the wedding photos. (TD)
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A First-Timer's Viewpoint on Blood Donation; Do It!A First-Timer's Viewpoint on Blood Donation; Do It!
7/29/14 - The American Red Cross works year-round to collect the blood used by doctors to save lives, but summer can be one of the most challenging times of year for that effort. Yesterday, the Howell Chamber of Commerce hosted the Red Cross Blood Bus, a mobile, four-chair blood donation facility, for a one-day blood drive. WHMI reporter Tom Darling (pictured) gave blood for the first time yesterday in order to understand the process and help encourage other potential first-timers to give it a try. He reports the process is quick and the pain involved is minor and very brief. During the process, he interviewed Red Cross Communications Manager Todd Kulman, who explained that blood donation is essential to many medical processes and each donation can help save up to three lives. He adds that, in addition to being afraid of the process, people often say they do not give blood because they have never been asked. Kulman says everyone should consider themselves invited to give blood. For more information, follow the link below. (TD)
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Write-In Candidate Emerges in Howell Board of Education Race Write-In Candidate Emerges in Howell Board of Education Race
7/29/14 - The Howell Board of Education will definitely have new faces come November but some young blood is also now likely. 18-year-old Adam Hukkala is a 2013 Howell High School graduate who resides in Howell and recently filed paperwork to run as a write-in candidate in the November election, saying he viewed the lack of candidates for open seats as a personal call to action. Hukkala will be a sophomore at Grand Valley State University, where he is majoring in public and non-profit administration and minoring in political science. He calls himself a pro-student candidate and his complete platform press release can be viewed on our website. As of last weekâs deadline, just two candidates had filed for the three open seats on the board - Gregg Gilligan and Grace Trudell. Board president Mike Witt and his wife Kim, the board secretary, announced that they would not seek re-election largely because they feel their hands are tied by a Conflict of Interest law created by Senator Joe Hune of Hamburg Township which prevents them from voting on certain employee contracts. Incumbent Doug Moore is also stepping down. Write-in candidates have up until October 24th to file letters of intent for local school board races. School boards also retain the ability to appoint candidates after the November election should there be a lack of candidates for open seats. (JM)
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