11/14/14 - Repairs on the Latson Road bridge over I-96 in Genoa Township have been completed on schedule. Crews have been working to repair the concrete approaches on the bridge at the busy interchange that opened less than a year ago. One lane of traffic was maintained in each direction during the work, with traffic being shifted to either the east or west side of the bridge. Those lane closures have been lifted but final pavement markings must still be completed and are weather dependent. The Michigan Department of Transportation said the approaches didnât settle properly after the initial construction and bridge was complete but there were never any structural problems. The cost of the repairs was being absorbed back into the overall project budget as the contract was still officially open when the settlement issues arose. (JM)
Repairs Completed on Latson Road Bridge Over I-96Repairs Completed on Latson Road Bridge Over I-96
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Recall Committee Formed After Howell School Board Fires WilsonRecall Committee Formed After Howell School Board Fires Wilson
11/14/14 - As former Howell Superintendent Ron Wilson explores his legal options, a group of business owners, parents and concerned citizens met this morning to discuss forward direction on a recall effort concerning the board of education. All but one sitting member on the Howell Board of Education voted to dismiss Wilson during a special meeting this week. The decision to terminate Wilson was centered largely on about $300 in claims for mileage reimbursement that Wilson maintains he was entitled to per contract but board members say was sought falsely. Wilson is pursuing binding arbitration to determine if the circumstances surrounding the board action were justified but he is also in the process of interviewing attorneys for a potential civil lawsuit. Meanwhile, a committee group is forming to recall the entire board, less those newly elected and those leaving the board. Howell Businessman Don Cortez is one of the committee chairs and says citizens and taxpayers should be able to expect a certain level of competency, respect and integrity from those who lead in the community. He says the committee is tired of the way leaders are treated in the community, especially Wilson, so theyâre standing up. Cortez says Wilson has done a very good job and the âchargesâ the board put on him are ludicrous, with $309.33 being the best they could come up with. The committee will be holding two town-hall type events to inform the public of Wilsonâs side and allow them to ask questions of him directly. They will be held next Tuesday, November 18th at 6:30pm and Saturday the 22nd at 10am at the Howell Carnegie District Library. Seating is limited to 100 at each meeting and individuals should register through a website that is currently being developed; www.howellrecall.com. A link is below, along with an update issued by the committee. (JM)
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Small Business Expo To Return To Fenton This MonthSmall Business Expo To Return To Fenton This Month
11/15/14 - The 6th annual Holiday Craft and Small Business Expo will be held by the Fenton United Methodist Church this month. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 22nd at the Family Life Center on Leroy Street. Nearly 80 local vendors have signed up for this yearâs expo, which is meant to show off local businesses and their products. This yearâs expo will also feature a fashion show from Creative Fashions of Holly and a silent auction, with gift certificates to local businesses and restaurants as door prizes. Proceeds from the expo will benefit the ministries of the Family Life Center, while the proceeds from the silent auction will go toward Family Promise, a ministry aiming to combat homelessness. (TD)
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Howell Fire Authority Auctioning Off 22-Year-Old PumperHowell Fire Authority Auctioning Off 22-Year-Old Pumper
11/15/14 - A 22-year-old vehicle has been put up for auction online by the Howell Area Fire Authority. The vehicle up for sale is a 1992 International 4700 LP Rescue Pumper. According to the listing it has 7,499 miles on odometer and drives just fine, but the pump did not pass inspection due to some leaks. Interested buyers are encouraged to visit the authorityâs main building and inspect the vehicle before purchasing, since it is being sold as-is without warranty and will not be delivered. Test drives will not be allowed. The current bid as of Saturday morning is $5,300, which does meet the authorityâs minimum reserve sale price. The auction closes on November 25th. For more information, visit the Howell Area Fire Authorityâs Facebook page. (TD)
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Local Judge Won't Hear 2011 Murder Case Local Judge Won't Hear 2011 Murder Case
11/15/14 - A Livingston County judge has recused herself from hearing the case of a former Webberville man accused in a 2011 murder. 25-year-old Anthony Sean Duke is facing first-degree murder and nine other charges in the December 2011 shooting death of Ronald Hauser in his Iosco Township home. Duke appeared in Livingston County Circuit Court for a pre-trial hearing Friday, where Judge Miriam Cavanaugh disclosed having previous contact with defendant while working in the prosecutorâs office. While she affirmed impartiality, the defense requested Cavanaugh be disqualified. The recusal was granted and Dukeâs case will be re-assigned to another judge. If convicted, he would face life in prison without parole. During previous testimony, a Livingston County Sheriffâs Detective in said a 2012 Facebook post by Duke in which he speculated about how he should spend $30,000 brought him into focus as a suspect in the killing of the 47-year-old Hauser, who was known to carry large quantities of cash for use in his tree-trimming business. Dukeâs has attorney argued that only circumstantial evidence linked his client to the murder, and that police were unable to locate the murder weapon or provide any physical evidence of his clientâs guilt. (JM)
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Brighton Super Elected President of Administrator AssociationBrighton Super Elected President of Administrator Association
11/15/14 - Brighton Superintendent of Schools Greg Gray has been elected president of region 8 of the Michigan Association of School Administrators for 2015. Region 8 of MASA includes all public school districts in Livingston, Washtenaw, Lenawee, Hillsdale and Monroe counties. Announcement of the selection was made at Monday night's Brighton school board meeting. Gray tells WHMI he is pleased at the honor of being appointed to serve as MASA president in the coming year. Gray says the superintendents' group meets regularly to engage in professional development, discuss issues of importance in the educational arena and work with lawmakers toward legislation that benefits public education in Michigan. Gray has been superintendent of the Brighton Area Schools since 2009. He has a bachelor's degree in history from Alma College and master's and doctoral degrees in educational leadership from Western Michigan University. Gray was the sole finalist for the superintendent's position in the much larger Portage School District, in suburban Kalamazoo, but withdrew because of family considerations and after a campaign of Brighton district parents and employees was launched to persuade him to stay. Gray is married and has two children, ages 14 and 12, both of whom are enrolled in the Brighton Area school system. (TT)
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Holiday Glow Will Return To Brighton This MonthHoliday Glow Will Return To Brighton This Month
11/16/14 - An annual tradition in Brighton that officially launches the holiday season is coming up later this month. Hosted by The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce, this yearâs Holiday Glow will take place on Saturday, November 22nd from 4 to 7pm.The event begins with holiday music provided by WHMI, a special performance by the Academy of Russian Classical Ballet, visits with Santa, horse drawn hay rides, the popular Jollie Choo-Choo train, a nativity petting farm, a station to write letters to Santa, pictures with the reindeer, and holiday treats. Then at 6pm, Santa and Mrs. Claus will join Brighton City Mayor Jim Muzzin to magically light up the Mill Pond and fill the streets with holiday cheer. (JM)
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Local Grant Helps Parker Students Visit Henry Ford MuseumLocal Grant Helps Parker Students Visit Henry Ford Museum
11/16/14 - Students from a new class at Parker Middle School focused on diversity got to visit the Henry Ford Museum with help from local grant money. The new elective class, called âCivil Rights in the United States,â teaches students about the importance of various civil rights movements in American history, their constitutional roots, and their impact on modern culture. These include civil rights for minorities, voters, women, and individuals with disabilities. The lessons culminated in a recent visit to the Henry Ford Museumâs âWith Liberty and Justice for Allâ exhibit, where they got to see historical artifacts like the Rosa Parks bus and cells from a womenâs suffrage jail cell. The trip was financed in part by a grant from the Livingston Diversity Council, which was secured by the efforts of two students in the class. (TD)
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Gleaners Donations Doubled On Monday By FordGleaners Donations Doubled On Monday By Ford
11/16/14 - As WHMI and the Gleanerâs Community Food Bank of Livingston County team up to help make sure local families in need get a holiday meal, those efforts will be supplemented in a big way on Monday. Julie Beamer is the Director of Gleaners Livingston Distribution Center and says Ford Motor Company has stepped up to double the impact Gleaners can make in peopleâs lives. All donations made to Gleaners Community Food Bank on Monday, November 17th will be doubled by Ford. Local officials have estimated there will be approximately 1,000 families in our area that need help to put a holiday meal on the table. The cost of that meal through Gleaners is $20. So a $20 donation Monday, and Monday only, will put two holiday meals on the table thanks to Ford Motor Company. You can find details and donation options through the Gleaners link to the right. (JK)
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Howell Area Parks & Recreation Authority Examining FacilitiesHowell Area Parks & Recreation Authority Examining Facilities
11/17/14 - The Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority is in the midst of examining current facilities to expand opportunities, particularly for the Page Field complex and the Barnard Center. Authority Director Paul Rogers is working to create a comprehensive facilities plan to maximize capabilities and identify potential funding sources. He went before the Howell City Council recently to gauge support from members before moving forward. Rogers told Council that heâs come up with a check list of improvements, additions and things that could help move the authority forward in the area of recreation. Rogers expressed a desire to restore Page Field to its old glory, saying itâs a great facility that could be well used but it's deteriorating rapidly because it just sits there. While the City of Howell owns both Page Field and the Barnard Center, the recreation authority leases and programs them. In creating the facilities plan, Rogers acknowledged that everything will ultimately come down to funding. He noted different lighting options are being explored to expand use of the fields for club sports, adding that fencing and bleachers have also been acquired for future use. The Howell City Council was ultimately supportive of the concepts and having Rogers proceed with developing a detailed project and financing plan. No funding was committed toward anything. (JM)
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Milford Waste Fire Put Out After Three DaysMilford Waste Fire Put Out After Three Days
11/17/14 - Firefighters in Milford, with help from other departments and the Department of Natural Resources, were finally able to put out a debris fire on Friday, about three days after it began burning. On Tuesday, the Milford Fire Department was called out to Childs Lake Road on a report of a fire on an industrial property. Firefighters found a field of waste and debris the size of a football field fully engulfed in fire. The material included construction, landscaping, and other organic waste. The initial firefighting attack on the debris fire was unsuccessful, and while the pile burned Milford firefighters came up with a plan. By Friday the fire had not yet burned itself out, so Milford Fire called in mutual aid trucks as well as the Department of Natural Resources forest fire crews to launch one last attack on the fire. The nearest hydrant was a mile away, and seventeen pumpers were working in unison to fight the blaze. The attack on Friday was ultimately successful, and no injuries are being reported. (TD)
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Youth Project Requests Services From Village Of PinckneyYouth Project Requests Services From Village Of Pinckney
11/17/14 - The Pinckney Community Youth Development Initiative program, which is organizing the Recreate Pinckney project, recently signed a lease for a building as a gathering center for the group. The youth empowerment associationâs co-founder, Rosemary Gass, came before the Village of Pinckney last week with a request that is part of the lease agreement with Putnam Township. Gass requested the Village provide snow removal for the facility as the lease cannot be signed by both parties until certain requirements are met--snow removal being one of them. Village Council members say this is a change as snow removal was Putnam Townshipâs responsibility when the facility was a senior citizen center. There is also a matter of word interchange as the lease indicates the walkway must be cleared, however Gass says the Township referred to it as the sidewalk when she called for clarity. That would mean snow removal would be required for the sidewalk surrounding the building which would cost significantly more. Gass tells WHMI Council approved the request, but only by the exact interpretation of what the lease requires. The Council members agreed that if the Township meant the entire sidewalk, it is their own fault for improper wording in the lease. (DK)
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Hearing Adjourned For Man Charged In Overdose DeathHearing Adjourned For Man Charged In Overdose Death
11/17/14 - Questions over who administered Miranda rights to a Lansing man charged in the overdose death of a woman in Howell last year led to the adjournment of a hearing in the case. 28-year-old Ryan Aubrey Tyus is charged with Delivery of a Controlled Substance Causing Death in the July 2013 death of Dorothy Brock. On Friday, a Howell Police officer testified Tyus admitted to selling heroin to Brock and her fiancé. The officer said he had not provided Miranda rights, including that to remain silent, to Tyus because he indicated that had already been done. At that point, the hearing was adjourned until Thursday it could be determined exactly who had administered Tyus his Miranda rights. A State Police trooper who transported Tyus from Lansing to Howell is set to testify that he read the defendant his rights. Brock was discovered dead over the July 4th weekend in 2013 at the Kensington Inn on D-19 in Howell. An autopsy determined she died from the combined effects of heroin and a prescription painkiller. Her fiancé, Ryan David Devellis, previously testified he bought heroin from Tyus to celebrate her birthday. Devillis is currently serving a 3 to 20 year sentence in Brockâs death. He was convicted of Delivery of a Controlled Substance Causing Death earlier this year. (JK)
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Targeted School Board Trustee Questions Recall MotivationsTargeted School Board Trustee Questions Recall Motivations
11/17/14 - One of the Howell school board trustees that are targeted in a proposed recall effort is defending the decision to fire Superintendent Ron Wilson while calling into question the motives of those leading the recall. On Friday, a group of business owners announced a recall effort against school board Vice President Mike Yenshaw, Treasurer Stacy Pasini and Trustees Mike Moloney and Deborah McCormick, citing the vote last week to fire Wilson. While Pasini didnât vote to fire Wilson, the fact she did vote that he engaged in major misconduct had one of the recall organizers saying it was âtoo little too late.â The firing was based largely on nearly $310 in mileage reimbursements by Wilson the board concluded were made by the ex-superintendent with full knowledge they were not allowed under his contract which already provided a $450 a month car allowance. But Howell businessman Don Cortez, who is one of the recall committee chairs, said there was no reasonable explanation for the firing over such a small amount. For Trustee Mike Moloney, however, the issue has never been about the amount of money, but the principle behind it. Moloney says that as superintendent, Wilson ran a multi-million dollar operation and his ethical behavior is very much the issue. He says one of the stated reasons for the recall is that the firing has degraded the reputation of the district, but tells WHMI the leaders of the effort will be guilty of the very thing they say they are upset about as the earliest a recall could take place is May, meaning at least six months of continued negative publicity for the district. Moloney also says the recall organizers are either personal friends of Wilson, serve with him in service organization such as Howell Rotary, or have business interests with the district. He questions whether their true loyalty lay with the best interest of the district or that of their friend and various businesses. Moloney also disputes the sentiment that the district was prospering under Wilsonâs leadership, pointing to a loss of $220,000 in state funding this school year because of a decline in the growth of student achievement. He also says the most recent 11th grade ACT numbers dropped to levels prior to Wilson coming to the district. Furthermore, he says the last several budgets put forward by Wilson have been off the mark in regard to staffing needs and estimates of student enrollment. Moloney says itâs his understanding Wilson will be seeking binding arbitration, which is his right under his contract with the district. Heâs confident the boardâs decision will stand up in that process. As for a new superintendent, he says that process will play out over the next few months, but they want to take care to ensure that the right person is selected to lead the district forward. Meanwhile, two town-hall type events will be held in the next week by the recall committee. The first will be held tomorrow, November 18th at 6:30pm and then again on Saturday the 22nd at 10am at the Howell Carnegie District Library. (JK)
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Ford Motor Company Doubles Gleaners Donations TodayFord Motor Company Doubles Gleaners Donations Today
11/17/14 - As WHMI and the Gleanerâs Community Food Bank of Livingston County team up to help make sure local families in need get a holiday meal, those efforts are being supplemented in a big way today. Ford Motor Company is matching dollar for dollar all donations made to Gleaners today, whether online or in person at any of their locations across Southeast Michigan. One area resident who knows what kind of impact that can have is Lynne Fialkowski. Several years ago she found herself in a tough situation as a single mom with few resources. She reluctantly went to Gleaners Shared Harvest Pantry in Genoa Township, not knowing what sheâd find and was amazed at the setup that allows clients to shop as if they're in any other grocery store and pick out the specific items they need to feed their family. Fialkowski, speaking Sunday on WHMIâs Viewpoint, says that helping hand made a very real difference in her life and that of her two daughters. "There's such a high level of anxiety and when you can find someone who can make you feel like your special and you're not abnormal and it's not your fault...because you really do take a lot of guilt on, so to have that option to feel that you're not alone, and the shopping experience (at the Shard Harvest Pantry) itself. But Gleaners does so much more than just provide food, because here I am a few years later and I'm proud to say I can give back." Local officials have estimated there will be approximately 1,000 families in our area that need help to put a holiday meal on the table. The cost of that meal through Gleaners is $20. So a $20 donation today, and today only, will put two holiday meals on the table thanks to Ford Motor Company. You can find details and donation options through the Gleaners link to the right. (JK)
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Funeral Services Saturday for Well Known Brighton Attorney Funeral Services Saturday for Well Known Brighton Attorney
11/17/14 - A well-known Brighton attorney and involved community member will be laid to rest this weekend. William McCririe Senior passed away October 30th at a long-term care facility in Howell at the age of 85. The father of five was a mentor to many, and community was said to be very important to him. He operated a law practice in downtown Brighton and served as the Brighton Board of Education attorney for many years. He was also a Brighton City Council member during the 1980âs and a long-time Brighton Rotarian. Funeral arrangements are being handled through First United Methodist Church on East Grand River in Brighton. Visitation will take place this Friday, November 21st from 6 to 8pm and on Saturday from 10am to 12pm, with a funeral service to follow beginning at noon. McCririe will be laid to rest after the service in the church's Memorial Garden next to Barbara, his wife of 55 years. A link to his obituary is below. (JM)
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Local Church to Pack 30,000 Meals Wednesday to Feed the Hungry Local Church to Pack 30,000 Meals Wednesday to Feed the Hungry
11/17/14 - A local church will pack 30,000 meals later this week as part of a community outreach project that helps feed the hungry around the world and right next door. Heart of the Shepherd Lutheran Church was able to surpass its fundraising goal for the Kids Against Hunger project and raised $8,400. As a result, around 200 volunteers will come together Wednesday evening to pack 30,000 nutritious meals. Teams will start packing meals at the church on Burkhart Road in Howell at 5:30pm and should be done in a couple hours. Pastor Galen Grulke tells WHMI its fun activity but there is a great need to feed the hungry around the world and around the corner. Grulke says one-third of the meals packed go overseas, one-third will go to the United States disaster relief storehouse, and another third will be distributed around the local area to LACASA, the Family Impact Center in Fowlerville and Gleaners Community Food Bank. The church is still in need of volunteers willing to help with set up and clean up. Those interested should contact Heart of the Shepherd Lutheran Church. Details are available through the link below. (JM)
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Trial Dates Set In Oceola Township Home InvasionTrial Dates Set In Oceola Township Home Invasion
11/18/14 - The four suspects charged in an armed home invasion in Oceola Township earlier this year now have trial dates. 39-year-old Ronald Morrell, his wife, 27-year-old Rebecca Morrell, 28-year-old Richard Quam and 18-year-old Cody James DeBruyn are charged in Livingston County Circuit Court with a variety of criminal counts including 1st degree home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, larceny in a building and various felony weapons charges. The three male suspects are set for trial January 26th, while Mrs. Morrell will go to trial February 2nd. Police say the three men were armed with handguns when they stormed a home on Hughes Road last June and confronted the owner looking for drugs and money. Livingston County Sheriffâs Detective Gary Childers has testified the defendants were at a cookout in Grand Rapids where Quam and Morrell were discussing $50,000 needed to start a business. DeBruyn allegedly started throwing out names including the local victim, at which point Quam and Morrell began putting on camouflage and arming themselves with guns and knives. Police say the group then drove to the victimâs home, with Morrellâs children taken along on the trip. Mrs. Morrell and her kids are alleged to have waited in the car while the home invasion took place. Rebecca Morrell is accused of participating in the action through the use of a walkie-talkie. (JK)
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Aisin Seiki Agrees To Pay Millions In Price Fixing Plea DealAisin Seiki Agrees To Pay Millions In Price Fixing Plea Deal
11/18/14 - A Japanese auto parts supplier with local ties has agreed to a plea deal in a price-fixing trial. Aisin Seiki Corporation maintains an automotive test track in Fowlerville, as well as various plants in Northville, Ann Arbor, and Plymouth, employing more than 700 Michigan residents. It produces and tests automotive supplies for Detroit automakers, and recently agreed to contribute money to the Detroit Institute of Arts as part of the cityâs Grand Bargain. However, on Thursday, the company agreed to pay the much larger amount of $35.8 million as part of a plea deal in federal court, according to Crainâs Detroit Business. The case alleges that Aisin has been fixing prices in violation of US antitrust laws. This makes it only one of the companies to face charges in what has become the largest price-fixing investigation in US history, with more than 30 automotive supply companies agreeing to pay more than $2.4 billion in fees since September of 2011. Early prosecutions in the investigation were conducted in Detroit, but now nearly all of them are conducted out-of-state. Many of the companies being investigated are owned by Japanese corporations. (TD)
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Howell Township Fire Investigated As ArsonHowell Township Fire Investigated As Arson
11/18/14 - Arson is being investigated as the likely cause of a fire that damaged a vacant house in Howell Township over the weekend. The fire, at a two-story house off of M-59, east of Byron Road, was reported to the Howell Area Fire Department by a passerby around 9:15 Saturday night. Upon arrival, firefighters saw flames coming from the rear of the home. Because the home was vacant, a defensive attack was taken and firefighters didnât enter the structure until the fire was out, which took about half an hour. A preliminary investigation indicates the fire was deliberately set. (JK)
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