8/15/14 - A hearing has been delayed to determine the fate of two dogs implicated in biting a 5-year-old Whitmore Lake girl and killing another dog, while mauling its owner. Ellen Mohan was attacked July 17th by two pit bulls while walking in the Northfield Estates Mobile Home Park, killing her poodle terrier and mauling her hands, requiring hospitalization and weeks of physical therapy. Mohan says she was told the dogs would be quarantined following their attack on her, only to learn they had been sent home just days later. She was also unable to get any answers as to why the dogs were released from the Huron Valley Humane Society. That frustration led her to reach out to local media, which prompted a neighbor, Brent Stanley to step forward and identify one of the dogs as having attacked his daughter a month earlier while playing on the swings. He was also unable to get answer from animal control officials and says had they acted on his complaint; Mohan might have been spared the more violent attack a month later. After the story was made public, the Northfield Township Police Department obtained a court order to remove the dogs from the home and place them custody of the Huron Valley Humane Society. A court hearing had been scheduled Thursday in Washtenaw County District Court to determine exactly what would happen to the dogs, but Mohan says their owner, Adam Bater, arrived with an attorney who asked for a postponement so a âdog expertâ could determine if the dogs should legally be considered as dangerous animals. Meanwhile, the Washtenaw County Prosecutorâs Office is also considering possible charges against the owner. (JM)
Hearing Delayed for Pit Bulls That Killed Dog & Mauled WomanHearing Delayed for Pit Bulls That Killed Dog & Mauled Woman
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Fenton Police Seek Help Locating Vandals & ThievesFenton Police Seek Help Locating Vandals & Thieves
8/16/14 - Police are asking for the publicâs assistance in apprehending those responsible for a week long crime and vandalism spree. The Fenton Police Department says it took multiple reports this past week of vandalism and larcenies from vehicles, mostly on the north end of the city. The incidents are occurring overnight and police say they have reason to believe the suspects are approximately 14 to 18 years old. Incidents have been reported on East Ellen Street, South Long Lake Road and Glenwood Drive, where someone spray painted the side of a security guard building with the letters LTN. Moreblack spray paint found on a car parked in a shopping mall on North LeRoy Street. Police took other complaints of stolen items and vehicle windows being smashed. Vehicles were also vandalized in the area of Third and Howard Streets, where a group of juveniles were reportedly seen walking down the street around 2am early last week. Authorities believe the incidents are related and ask that anyone who notices suspicious activity in the late evening or early morning hours contact the Fenton Police Department. (JM)
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OLHSA Offering Free Personal Finance Seminar In HowellOLHSA Offering Free Personal Finance Seminar In Howell
8/12/14 - The Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency will offer a series of financial seminars next week in Howell. OLHSA will hold the meetings from 5 to 9pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at its Howell offices on Grand River. The seminars will teach attendees about their own spending style, spending triggers, how to create a budget, the basics of banking, saving, long-term planning, and credit. Those who attend all three classes will receive a certificate, which satisfies requirements for state programs like Family Self Sufficiency and Individual Development Account. However, OLHSA says the seminars would benefit anyone who needs some financial guidance and finds themselves living paycheck-to-paycheck. The event is free, but organizers ask those who plan to attend to call ahead and reserve a spot. Those interested in attending should contact Vanessa at 248-209-2796. (TD)
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Wisconsin Man Heads to Trial on Local CSC Charges Wisconsin Man Heads to Trial on Local CSC Charges
8/16/14 - A Wisconsin man facing local criminal charges after being accused of molesting his grandchild is headed for trial. The 68-year-old man is charged with a single count of 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct involving a person under the age of 13. That charge is tied to an alleged incident last summer. Hamburg Township Police investigated the case and the man is not being named per WHMI policy to protect the alleged victim, who has been identified as the manâs grandchild. He remains held on a $150,000 bond in the Livingston County Jail. Records show that a plea offer was placed on the record in Livingston County Circuit Court during a hearing Friday and that the defendant would be proceeding to trial in September. (JM)
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Case Closed into Death of Missing Hartland-Area Man Case Closed into Death of Missing Hartland-Area Man
8/16/14 - Reports have been received for a missing man whose body was discovered in a wooded area of Livingston County last May. The case of a decomposed body found last May in a wooded area of Livingston County identified as a man reported missing is now closed. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Department received toxicology reports for 45-year-old Thomas Christopher Enright. The Hartland-area man was reported missing in April and his identify had to be confirmed though fingerprints. A man walking in the woods behind the Hartland Township Wal-Mart found the body May 10th and investigators had been awaiting a toxicology report to determine a cause of death for Enright. Sheriff Bob Bezotte says the report showed only a minuscule amount of alcohol in his system. He says the cause and manner of death is possible hypothermia, with the contributing condition of chronic alcohol abuse. He says there were no visible signs of any type of wounds that would lead to a criminal investigation and the case is considered closed. Enright's girlfriend told authorities she last saw him in mid-March. The body was clad only in jeans, a shirt and socks, which wasn't appropriate clothing for cold weather at the time. Bezotte says Enright was somewhat homeless as he would go back and forth between living in the woods behind Wal-Mart and another place he was living near the Maxfield Road area. (JM)
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Horses And Hot Rods To Benefit Breast Cancer Screening Horses And Hot Rods To Benefit Breast Cancer Screening
8/17/14 - Some local equestrians will be hosting a fundraising event in Milford later this month to help provide breast cancer screening for local women in need. The 7th annual In The Pink Derby will be held at Milford High School on Saturday, August 23rd. The event includes horse shows, competitions, and races, with both the animals and their riders dressed in pink. The event also includes a silent auction of donated items, and new this year will be a Horsepower Car Show to increase the appeal of the fundraiser. All the funds raised will go toward providing free mammograms for uninsured or under-insured local women through the St. Joseph Mercy Health System. There is no cost to attend. Volunteers and donations are still being sought, and entries for the car show are still being accepted. For more information, follow the link posted below. (TD)
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Howell Officials Seeking Public Vision For The CityHowell Officials Seeking Public Vision For The City
8/17/14 - The City of Howell will be seeking public input through a series of community office hours at locations around the city this month. City officials are currently preparing to craft the cityâs master plan, and one of the cornerstones of that document is Guiding Values section. In order to create this section, they must gather input from residents on what they would like to preserve about Howell, what they would like to change, and what needs to be created in the future. The Guiding Values will provide a decision-making framework for the city council and help guide the annual budget. The first community office hours will be held at Uptown Coffee House from 9 to 11am on Friday. Additional hours will be held at Brunnerâs, All Star Coney, and The Crepe Studio next week. For residents who cannot attend these meetings, public input stations have been placed in buildings around the city, including city hall, the library, the post office, and the Bennett Recreation Center. They will be available for use during normal business hours. Comments can also be submitted at the website posted below. (TD)
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Public Health Department Urges Vaccinations Ahead Of SchoolPublic Health Department Urges Vaccinations Ahead Of School
8/14/14 - August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and the Livingston County Department of Public Health is reminding residents to get vaccinated. The month was chosen in part because of the vaccinations required by the government for children in public schools, but Health Educator Chelsea Moxlow says Livingston County has an unusually high rate of children whose parents get waivers for that requirement. She says this not only makes the children more susceptible to infectious diseases, it makes them more likely to spread those diseases to people with weakened immune systems. The health department offers all of the recommended vaccines from birth through adulthood at its immunization clinics, held every Wednesday at its office on Grand River in Howell. The clinic is open beginning at 8:30am, lasting to 7pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month and 4:30pm on every other week. There is an administrative fee for immunizations, and for certain inoculations the department may charge for the vaccine itself, but no child will be denied state-required immunizations due to inability to pay. Federal payment assistance is also available. For more information, contact the Livingston County Health Department, the offices of which are located on Grand River in Howell. (TD)
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Tyrone Twp. Planning Commission Looks Into Medical Pot OperationTyrone Twp. Planning Commission Looks Into Medical Pot Operation
4/18/14 - Residents in Tyrone Township believe a nearby marijuana growing operation violates local and state law, and they have asked the township to look into it. The residents went before the township planning commission last week to complain about the operation, which they said was outdoors and poorly-enclosed. The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act requires marijuana cultivation to take place within secure structures, but the wooden fencing and chicken wire used in this case is not seen as adequate by locals to protect the children and families in the area. Additionally, they said the operation contains more than the legal maximum of 72 plants and that several people can be seen accessing it at the same time, whereas the MMA requires that only one person have access to an operation at once. Residents brought the issue to the attention of the Michigan State Police and Livingston County Sheriffâs Department, but both organizations said the operation was acceptable under the MMA. They made their appeal to the township planning commission on hopes that local ordinances were being violated and could be enforced. Planning Commission Chair Mark Meisel said he had nothing against legal activity, but from the evidence presented he did not know how such an operation could be legal. Residents say the operation is maintained by out-of-towners from Detroit, and that nobody lives on the lot to keep an eye on the marijuana. (TD)
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Community Survey Seeks Input to Guide Downtown Howell Vision Community Survey Seeks Input to Guide Downtown Howell Vision
8/18/14 - Officials are encouraging community members take part in an online survey they feel will ultimately help provide a better experience for those who live, work, or visit downtown Howell. The Howell Main Street Downtown Development Authority is working on a new strategic plan and seeking community input through an online survey. Director Cathleen Edgerly tells WHMI the hope is to gain a wide collection of community input on ideas and things people want to see, so they can coordinate that with goal setting and create a five-year plan to match the vision. A lot of the questions dig deeper into ideas, strengths, weaknesses and opportunities already mentioned throughout strategic planning efforts that kicked off at the end of July. Ultimately, Edgerly says the results will help them offer better events, recruit new businesses and provide a better all-around environment and experience in downtown Howell. The survey takes roughly 15 minutes and participation is voluntary and confidential. However, those who choose to provide contact information are automatically entered to win a gift certificate to various downtown Howell establishments. The drawing will be held on September 2nd and a link to the survey is available below. (JM)
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September Hearing Set for Suspect in Grisly Green Oak MurderSeptember Hearing Set for Suspect in Grisly Green Oak Murder
8/18/14 - Itâs been nearly three years since a grisly Livingston County murder but after an appeal to the stateâs highest court, the case will begin to proceed again locally next month. The defense and prosecution have been working to coordinate a trial schedule since the Michigan Supreme Court reversed a local judgeâs decision in the case of 30-year-old George Tanner and remanded it back to Livingston County Circuit Court. Judge Michael Hatty is now presiding and on Friday, he scheduled a September 19th pre-trial date. The Michigan Supreme Court last June overturned a previous opinion concerning the confession made by Tanner to police, which ruled it was admissible in court. Police say Tanner and Brian Stafford murdered 40-year-old Christopher Townsend on October 15th of 2011 and then dismembered and burned the body on a wooded property owned by Tannerâs uncle in Green Oak Township. Police say Tanner confessed to the crime while in custody, but the defense argued that confession was inadmissible because a lawyer previously requested by Tanner was waiting to see him, but police did not inform him of that fact. Local Circuit Court Judge David Reader agreed with that claim, which was backed up by a previous Michigan Supreme Court ruling in the case of the People v. Bender, which said a suspect must be told promptly when an attorney attempts to contact them. Prosecutors appealed that decision to the stateâs highest court which by a 5-2 vote overturned People v. Bender, saying Tanner knowingly waived his Miranda rights when he reinitiated contact with police to make his confession. Stafford was previously sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to 2nd degree murder. (JM)
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Local Officer's Memory Honored at Woodward Dream Cruise
8/18/14 - The annual Woodward Dream Cruise this weekend featured one car that truly represented the pride and joy of its owner. The Lights and Sirens Parade on Saturday in Ferndale ushers in the official start of the Dream Cruise. The tradition gives police and fire departments, along with collectors of historical emergency vehicles, a chance to show off their vehicles in a parade down Woodward Avenue. But this year, one car carried an extra special message. Dan and Arlene OâRourke of Hartland Township took part in the opening ceremony and drove their sonâs now de-commissioned squad car in the parade. Their son, West Bloomfield Sgt. Patrick OâRourke, died in the line of duty in 2012 when a heavily-armed man barricaded himself into a bedroom and was said to be suicidal. When officers entered the home he opened fire and killed OâRourke instantly. OâRourke lived in Tyrone Township with his wife and their four children. Dan OâRourke later convinced West Bloomfield Police to sell him his sonâs squad car, which has been transformed into a rolling tribute to his son. After the ceremonial ribbon had been cut, Dan and Arlene drove their sonâs car north on Woodward, leading the parade of response vehicles. (JK)
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Howell Theater Owner Preparing For September OpeningHowell Theater Owner Preparing For September Opening
8/18/14 - An historic downtown Howell landmark is about a month away from reopening its doors. The Howell Theater was purchased earlier this year by Toledo-Ohio native Tyler DePerro, a film buff and movie enthusiast who has been remodeling the building to make it more community friendly. Part of that effort is adding stages in each of the two theaters to allow for live performances, while also installing a café-style area in the lobby. DePerro says heâs hoping for a debut weekend in mid-September with a Hollywood classic like âSinging in the Rain.â DePerro has also organized a Kickstarter campaign to help pay for a new digital projector for the theater. Donors can contribute online at various levels and in exchange for the amount they pledge, receive rewards ranging from movie passes and private film screenings to naming rights for either the buildingâs two theaters or even the building itself. The pledges wonât actually be charged unless the $75,000 fundraising goal is met by September 3rd. A link to the campaign is posted below. He'll also be hosting a free pre-opening "Pop-Up Movie" on Thursday, August 28th at 7:30pm at Blue Frog Books in Howell. (JK)
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Trial Delayed For Local Man Charged in Murder of Sister-in-LawTrial Delayed For Local Man Charged in Murder of Sister-in-Law
8/18/14 - A Whitmore Lake man who police allege murdered his sister-in-law and left her in a bathtub is not expected to face trial until at least November now. 25-year-old Nicholas Allen Foerster is charged with 1st degree, premeditated murder in the strangulation death of his sister-in-law, 23-year-old Rachelle Lynn Wood. She was found dead in the bathtub of her Green Oak Township apartment on June 16th. Foerster allegedly confessed to choking the victim for a period of at least seven minutes, knowing that it would cause death. Court records show that hearings have been moved out and unless a plea agreement can be reached, proceedings will begin in early November. If convicted, Foerster faces life in prison without parole. Heâs being held without bond in the Livingston County Jail. (JM)
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Mobile Food Truck Rolls to Help With Back-to-School TimeMobile Food Truck Rolls to Help With Back-to-School Time
8/18/14 - With Back to School time around the corner, a local non-profit will be visiting several communities helping out those in need. The Torch mobile food truck will be hosting a three-day event in three different cities in Livingston County this week. Ronda Callanan is one of the founders of the organization and says their tour starts Tuesday in Fowlerville and then will make stops Wednesday in Howell and finally Friday in Brighton. During the event the Torch mobile food truck will cook and serve free food, be offering free back to school clothing for children and teens, as well as offering free haircuts for children and teens. The haircuts will be offered by appointment only and can be scheduled through the Torch website, a link for which is posted below. (JK)
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Rogers Says U.S. in Greater Danger Now Than Before 9-11Rogers Says U.S. in Greater Danger Now Than Before 9-11
8/18/14 - Is the terrorist threat worse now than before September 11th? Livingston Countyâs voice in Congress says yes. Congressman Mike Rogers said Sunday he believes the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS, has left the U.S. in greater danger than it was leading up to the Sept. 11 attacks more than a decade ago. Rogers, a Howell Republican who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, was a guest on CBSâs Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer. "I do, again, only because the threat matrix is so wide. And it's so deep. We just didn't have that before 9/11. So, when you get terrorist organization that holds land the size of Indiana, has tanks, helicopters, they think it has as much as billion dollars in both precious metals, currency, and, by the way, selling oil on the black market to the tune of about a million dollars a day, according to some analytical product, that means you have got a severely dangerous organization." Rogers comments come as the U.S. conducts airstrikes against the Islamic State groupâs positions in Iraq. (JK)
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No Appeal Planned in Reduction of Inmate's ChargesNo Appeal Planned in Reduction of Inmate's Charges
8/19/14 - A Livingston County District Court judgeâs decision to reduce the charges against an inmate of the Woodland Correctional Facility in Green Oak Township will stand. 34-year-old Eddie Deans Jr. had been charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder for the incident in December of 2012 in which authorities say Deans attacked another inmate and broke his jaw. But after viewing a videotape of the incident last week, Judge Carol Sue Reader reduced the charge to aggravated assault. While prosecutorâs strongly argued against the ruling at the time, Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt says that after reviewing the testimony provided, his office has decided against seeking an appeal. Deans is currently serving a 12 to 50 year sentence for 2nd degree murder in December of 1995. (JK)
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Vacation Donations Approved For Livingston Road Patrol OfficerVacation Donations Approved For Livingston Road Patrol Officer
8/19/14 - Livingston County employees were granted permission to donate vacation days to a county deputy in need, at last nightâs board of commissioners meeting. The Livingston County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a one-time only donation of vacation time by all county employees wishing to participate, to Road Patrol Deputy Adam Hart. Hart is being treated for a serious heart condition, and has been off duty for several weeks as a result. He has exhausted his vacation and sick days, and it is unknown when he will be able to return to work. Carol Griffith, Chair of the board tells WHMI, county employees come together when one of their own is in need. âWhen it comes to a need, especially one of their fellow employees, they step up.â In other business, commissioners approved the reappointment of Jack Labelle, a 10-time chair of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners, to continue to represent Livingston County on the seven-member board governing the Huron Clinton Metropolitan Authority. The HCMA, operates 13 metroparks serving Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Livingston Counties. (LR)
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Dexter Interim Manager Gets New Title, Pay RaiseDexter Interim Manager Gets New Title, Pay Raise
8/19/14 - Interim Village Manager Courtney Nicholls has been given a new title and a pay increase while the city prepares to find a new permanent replacement for Donna Dettling. After 14 years in the role of village manager, Dettling recently resigned to take a job as village administrator for North Baltimore, Ohio, about 40 miles south of Toledo. Nicholls, formerly the assistant manager, was named the new interim manager while the village council decided on a process to find a permanent replacement. However, after learning that the village charter requires Nicholls to hold the title of âacting manager,â the council changed her title last week. With that change comes a $200 per month pay increase, which the Dexter Leader reports will bring Nicholls close to Dettlingâs old compensation level. Nicholls is the favorite to become the new permanent village manager, but the council is holding off on that decision until voters decide on whether to make Dexter into a city in the November election. They also want to create a process to replace the manager in the future. (TD)
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Disagreement As Howell Board Of Ed Appoints New AdministratorsDisagreement As Howell Board Of Ed Appoints New Administrators
8/19/14 - There was a bit of controversy last night as the Howell Board of Education hired several new administrators for buildings around the district. Two assistant principals and two deans of students were hired at the meeting. Parker Middle School Interim Assistant Principal Craig Munro and Middle School Dean of Students Julie Morrish were both hired into their roles permanently. Deans of students oversee discipline among students while assistant principals focus more on state-mandated teacher evaluation. Morrish will split her time between Highlander Way and Parker. A new assistant principal was also hired for Howell High School, with teacher Amy Pashak leaving her job at Dearborn Heightsâ Crestwood High School to take the job. However, some board members raised concerns about hiring Interim High School Dean of Students Lisa OâConnor on a permanent basis. While they agreed that OâConnor was an excellent choice to fill the job, Board President Mike Witt and Board Member Mike Moloney both raised concerns about transparency because she had simply been chosen for the position by Superintendent Ron Wilson rather than put through the typical interview process. The superintendent called OâConnorâs hiring a horizontal move. In the end, all of the board members other than Witt voted to approve her hiring. [Pictured, left to right: O'Connor, Munro, Pashak] (TD)
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