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Funeral Services for Hartland Township Clerk Larry Hopkins TodayFuneral Services for Hartland Township Clerk Larry Hopkins Today

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12/29/14 - Funeral services will be held later this morning for a well-known Hartland Township official who passed away suddenly. Hartland Township Clerk Larry Hopkins passed away at the age of 53 on December 23rd, after battling a rapidly advancing form of cancer. He leaves behind his wife Nancy and three children. Hopkins was first elected to the township board in 2004 and was well liked and respected in the community. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on north Hacker Road. The Hartland Township Hall will be closed from 10am until noon today so that staff may attend the funeral. (JM)

Livingston County Sees Favorable Economic Development in 2014Livingston County Sees Favorable Economic Development in 2014

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12/29/14 - Representatives from the Livingston County Economic Development Council and Ann Arbor SPARK visited the Putnam Township Board last week to give an update on economic development in the county. Local municipalities are a major part of the funding provided to the EDC and SPARK, so as 2014 comes to a close and the township’s three-year contract for service comes up from renewal, those organizations take measures to make sure officials know the impact of their efforts. SPARK says there has been a significant increase from larger companies in Livingston County, particularly those with foreign ownership. A presenter from the EDC told the board that they appreciated having SPARK available and working for local economic development, especially given the high level of experience among SPARK staffers. The EDC has increased its efforts to encourage investment not just from foreign investors, but also from their suppliers and business partners. (TD)

Marion Twp. Man Bound Over In Police Motorcycle Chase CaseMarion Twp. Man Bound Over In Police Motorcycle Chase Case

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12/29/14 - A local man arrested after leading local authorities on a motorcycle chase has been bound over to Livingston County Circuit Court for trial. 22-year-old Brandon Gale of Marion Township was charged with fleeing a police officer, driving an unregistered vehicle, and possession of marijuana following the incident the afternoon of October 20th. He was recently bound over for trial in Judge Michael Hatty’s courtroom. A Livingston County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to stop a blue and white Yamaha motorcycle traveling westbound on Mason Road from Norton Road for equipment violations. When the deputy turned around Gale allegedly fled, traveling through yards and cutting through fields. Authorities say he ran the stop sign at Burkhart Road and did a wheelie after the intersection before driving onto a farm west of Truhn Road. A perimeter was established by responding deputies with assistance from Fowlerville Police and Michigan State Police. Police say Gale eventually walked out of the woods and turned himself in. (TD)

Man Suspected of Arson Barricades Himself in Whitmore Lake Home Man Suspected of Arson Barricades Himself in Whitmore Lake Home

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12/29/14 - A Whitmore Lake man suspected of setting a fire that destroyed his ex-girlfriend's house was taken into custody after barricading himself inside of his own home for several hours. The 23-year-old man barricaded himself in his home after police heard reports of incriminating statements by him in relation to a possible arson. The chain of events started around 4am Sunday when the South Lyon police and fire departments responded to a home in the 200 block of University Drive for a structure fire, which was believed to have been deliberately started and extensively damaged the woman's house. By 5am, Northfield Township Police say officers went to arrest the man at his home in Whitmore Lake, but he refused to come out and barricaded himself inside. South Lyon Police Lt. Chris Sovik told MLive.com police are investigating the possibility the incident was related to a fight between a man and his ex-girlfriend. A woman of unknown relation left the home on her own accord at around 9am according to police and a negotiator from the Metro SWAT team was said to finally made contact with the man shortly before his peaceful surrender around 11:30am. No one was injured in either incident and the man’s name has not yet been released, although he was said to be known to police. Photo Credit WDIV.(JM)

Livingston County United Way Focusd on Stability Initiatives in 2015Livingston County United Way Focusd on Stability Initiatives in 2015

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12/29/14 - As the economy improves, the focus of the Livingston County United Way is changing. Basic needs have long been an area of focus for the local United Way but it’s now shifting to financial stability initiatives and pro-active efforts - whether helping families experiencing hunger or others in need of rental or utility assistance. There is still a high level of need throughout Livingston County and United Way Executive Director Nancy Rosso tells WHMI more than half of their dollars go into initiatives, which actually move the needle on problems and can be measured, adding that it’s not a denial of need but more so a focus on what’s being done about it and how to help people so they don’t become impoverished. The Livingston County Basic Needs Workgroup had a strategic plan but Rosso says with the recession ending, it came to the conclusion that the purpose for which it was started no longer fits. She says it’s now really morphed into the work of the Homeless Continuum of Care and a small sub-group geared toward utility assistance as well as landlord eviction issues. The Livingston County United Way is also being mindful of ALICE needs, which Rosso feels leads to a much bigger question for the whole community to answer. ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed, which translates to those who are working but make too much money to qualify for assistance programs and not enough to pay for certain, basic needs. (JM)

Bowling Event Will Raise Funds For South Lyon Child With CancerBowling Event Will Raise Funds For South Lyon Child With Cancer

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12/28/14 - An event in South Lyon next month aims to raise money for a local boy battling brain cancer. Caleb Post was born on August 5th, 2013, and less than five months later he had to undergo surgery to remove a large tumor from the back of his head. He has since endured chemotherapy, but in August of this year doctors found that the tumor had returned. He is now about to undergo his second surgery, then travel to Chicago for radiation treatment. On January 11th, a bowling event will be held in South Lyon to help support Caleb’s family during this difficult time. It will be held at PINZ Bowling Center on Lafayette street. Tickets are now on sale online for $20. A link has been posted below. (TD)

Volunteer Livingston Aims To Train Program Leaders In Free SeriesVolunteer Livingston Aims To Train Program Leaders In Free Series

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12/30/14 - Leaders of local volunteer programs are invited to a free workshop series beginning next month that aims to improve their effectiveness in that role. The series, called “Harnessing the Power of Volunteers,” is being put on by Volunteer Livingston and held at Cleary University. It is aimed at those who manage volunteer programs, work to organize or recruit volunteers, and leaders from organizations that are struggling to create volunteer programs. The first workshop will take place on January 13th, and will focus on marketing, branding, and how to post volunteer opportunities. The second meeting will be held in February and covers the resources, tools, and methods that are needed to make a volunteer program run smoothly, and the third meeting in March will discuss recruitment and retention of volunteers. Space is limited, and those interested in attending one or all three sessions can contact Volunteer Livingston. (TD)

Walkers Needed for 25th Anniversary of OLHSA's Walk for WarmthWalkers Needed for 25th Anniversary of OLHSA's Walk for Warmth

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12/30/14 - As we move into another cold winter season, the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency is gearing up for the 25th anniversary of its Walk for Warmth events. The Livingston County event will take place in February. Individuals, families, community groups and businesses are being encouraged to come together and raise funds to help keep low income individuals and families warm during the cold months. Since it began in 1990, Walk for Warmth has raised over $1.2 million to keep the heat on in the homes of local residents. OLHSA CEO Ronald Borngesser tells WHMI it started out with community action agencies recognizing a about a big problem out there, raising awareness about the need, and doing something about it. Borngesser says they’re proud to have helped significantly impact the community over the years because 25 years ago when there was a shut off notice, there weren't any programs in place to help people get through the winter, they just lost their heat. Borngesser says something needed to be done to help plug that gap so that's how Walk for Warmth began, adding that there have been a number of changes since then to make sure utilities don't cut people off. The Livingston County Walk for Warmth takes place on Saturday, February 21st at the Hartland Education Support Service Center, also known as the old high school on M-59. Individuals and teams are being encouraged to sign up and also use a new fundraising platform to solicit support and track progress. Sponsors and volunteers are also needed. Details and registration information are through the link below and attached press release. (JM)

Man Accused In South Lyon Fire & Police Standoff ArraignedMan Accused In South Lyon Fire & Police Standoff Arraigned

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12/30/14 - An arraignment was held yesterday for a Whitmore Lake man accused of burning down a home in South Lyon. 24-year-old David William Luark is being charged with one count of second-degree arson for allegedly setting the fire that destroyed a home on University Avenue. The South Lyon Herald reports that he was arraigned by video Monday from a cell in the Novi Police Department. Luark is reportedly the ex-boyfriend of a 21-year-old woman who lived in the house. The South Lyon Police say Luark was drunk when he was dropped off at the house and invited to sleep on the couch by the woman’s brother, who was a friend. The brother reportedly awoke around 1am to find Luark smashing the family television, and left the home to call the police. The house was on fire by the time they arrived. Luark barricaded himself inside his own home for about three hours on Sunday before surrendering to police. The house was completely destroyed in the fire and two dogs were killed, but there were no other injuries reported. Luark denies getting violent, and says the fire was started by himself and the brother smoking before bed. (TD)

Mental Illness May Have Led To Random Marion Township ShootingsMental Illness May Have Led To Random Marion Township Shootings

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12/30/14 - Police still do not have a reason why a local man shot two other men in Marion Township last week, even as more details emerge. Police were called to a home on Cedar Lake Road at about 1:30 on December 23rd for a report of a shooting. Police have identified the shooter as Adam Royal Poppenger, a 36-year-old Brighton resident. They say he drove to the home and pulled into the driveway. When two adult brothers came out to investigate, Poppenger is reported to have gotten out of his car and opened fire. One of the brothers suffered injuries to his hand, leg, and buttocks, while the other was not harmed in the shooting. Poppenger’s car was spotted and he as confronted by police near the intersection of Cedar Lake Road and Norton Road. He exited his car and took his own life. Undersheriff Mike Murphy says Poppenger’s mother has come forward to tell authorities that her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia, which they believe to be the underlying reason for his act of violence. However, Murphy says they still cannot positively identify a cause for the location or timing of the incident, since Poppenger did not know the victims. Murphy says police will not be identifying the victims, but confirmed that the injured brother is recovering. (TD)

Man Arrested After Police Pursuit & Threatening Family with GunsMan Arrested After Police Pursuit & Threatening Family with Guns

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12/30/14 - A Marion Township man was jailed over the weekend after police say he threatened family members with a gun twice on the same day. Michigan State Police troopers with the Brighton Post were called out to a home on Pinckney Road at around 2:45pm Saturday on a report of a man threatening family members and shooting a rifle inside the residence. The man had already fled when troopers arrived so a be-on-the-lookout advisory was issued for the suspect and possible vehicle, a white 2006 Ford pickup truck. The suspect was not located at that time but troopers were again called out to the same residence at around 8:45pm on a new report of the same suspect threatening family members with a handgun. While responding, troopers observed the suspect vehicle traveling southbound on D-19 and attempted to make a traffic stop but the suspect attempted to elude officers and sped up. The pursuit reached speeds of up to 110 mph and troopers were eventually able to use an immobilization technique that caused the suspect vehicle to leave the roadway and ended the pursuit in the area of Coon Lake and County Farm Roads. Police recovered a handgun in the vehicle and the suspect was arrested and lodged in the Livingston County Jail pending arraignment on multiple felony criminal charges. (JM)

Crews Battle Pole Barn Blaze at Horse Boarding Facility MondayCrews Battle Pole Barn Blaze at Horse Boarding Facility Monday

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12/30/14 - An equipment barn at a small boarding facility for horses went up in flames Monday evening. Crews with the Howell Area Fire Department and the Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority battled a blaze in a pole barn at the Excalibur Horse Center on North Eager Road in Oceola Township. Crews were first dispatched after 6pm to a possible open burn that was called in by a neighbor or passerby. However, they were notified while on route that the owners of the center reported a barn was fully involved in fire. Howell Fire Chief Andy Pless tells WHMI the barn is a complete loss and the cause remains under investigation but it’s not believed to be suspicious in nature. He says the owners had been working in the barn but went inside the house for roughly 20 to 30 minutes and when they came back outside to do something with the horses, they noticed the barn was on fire and called it in. Pless says the center is a boarding facility for horses but the barn that burned was used for tools and equipment. He says there were no injuries as there are not any animals kept in that barn. Meanwhile, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department ended up shutting down Eager Road for a couple of hours due to gawkers and spectators as fire crews were running their water supply operation in the middle of the roadway. (JM)

Charges Filed In Chelsea Christmas Eve Stapler Attack

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12/30/14 - A woman has been charged with felonious assault after allegedly attacking her mother with a stapler in Chelsea on Christmas Eve. Police were called to a residence on Garfield Street the evening of December 24th for a possible assault in progress. The Chelsea Standard reports the mother of the suspect told officers she had been counseling her daughter, a 53-year-old Jackson woman, who she said was drunk at the time. The suspect allegedly became violent, pushing her mother around before attacking her with a stapler. Police reported the victim had minor injuries to the head, but refused treatment. The suspect has been since been charged with felonious assault and lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail. (TD)

Medical Reserve Corps Seeking Nurses And Pharmacists For 2015Medical Reserve Corps Seeking Nurses And Pharmacists For 2015

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12/31/14 - The Livingston County Department of Public Health is seeking medical professionals to be part of its Medical Reserve Corps in the coming year. The program is made up of more than 300 medical and non-medical professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to help strengthen public health and emergency preparedness in the county. It began in 2006 as a public health volunteer response team, but was certified as a medical reserve corps in the spring of 2014. The volunteers are an integral part of the county’s plans to respond to large-scale emergencies, such as disasters and epidemics. The program is currently seeking local nurses and pharmacists to join its ranks in 2015. Those interested in joining or getting more information about the Medical Reserve Corps can contact Coordinator Jennifer Kramer at (517) 552-6819 or via email at jkramer@livgov.com. (TD)

Brighton School Board President Stepping Down Brighton School Board President Stepping Down

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12/31/14 - A controversial member of the Brighton Area Schools Board of Education has confirmed that he will be stepping down. Board President Nick Fiani provided a statement to WHMI indicating that he has decided to seek election to the Livingston Educational Service Agency board and therefore will be stepping down in the near future. Fiani has openly criticized LESA finances, the granting of a bonus to LESA staff, as well as the LESA board and Superintendent Dan Danosky. Those criticisms were made last October and the LESA board responded to say that they had “complete confidence in our superintendent, his administrative team and the processes and procedures used to produce and administer all of the budgets.” Fiani also regularly butted heads with some parents in the Brighton district and members of the Brighton Board of Education during his latest term. Treasurer John Conely says while some have criticized Fiani for his youth and inexperience, he expects the board president to be remembered for helping the district work toward the elimination of its substantial debt over the past few years. The school board selects its new officers at the beginning of each calendar year, so a new president will be chosen at its first meeting in January. (TD/JM)

Extra Sheriff's Patrols Planned Over New Year's HolidayExtra Sheriff's Patrols Planned Over New Year's Holiday

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12/31/14 - The Livingston County Sheriff’s Department is stepping up drunk driving enforcement during the New Year’s holiday. An extra two or three patrol cars will be on the road looking specifically for drunk drivers beginning on New Year’s Eve and continuing for several hours into the morning of New Year’s Day. The extra patrols are being completely funded by the department’s budget without additional funds from the state. They will be focusing primarily on the heavily-trafficked secondary roads in the county, including Grand River and M-59. Sheriff Bob Bezotte says while drunk driving does not see a big surge during the Christmas holiday, New Year’s Eve is one of the department’s busiest nights for that particular crime. He recommends that anyone who plans to drink that night find a designated driver or make other arrangements to get home safely. (TD)

City of Howell Partnering with County for Spring 2015 Aerial UpdateCity of Howell Partnering with County for Spring 2015 Aerial Update

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12/31/14 - The City of Howell will be a partner in an upcoming aerial acquisition although not all council members were on board with the scheduled flyover. Livingston County is partnering with SEMCOG and five other counties in Southeastern Michigan to collect high resolution aerial imagery in the spring of 2015. The City of Howell partners with the county for its Geographic Information System and maps are produced occasionally. It’s something that’s done once every five years and the majority of members felt it was worth the investment as technology has advanced so much. Council recently voted in support of the effort, with member Doug Heins and Mayor Phil Campbell opposed. Campbell commented during a recent meeting that he could see cars parked in his own driveway on Google maps and it freaks him out. While he recognized it would be helpful, Campbell said he didn’t want to facilitate further and more advanced pictures of everything going on in people’s lives and felt Howell is a small enough city that people can drive around if they need to see something. The last SEMCOG aerial update was completed in 2010 and the City of Howell relies on aerial imagery to perform duties related to planning, zoning, assessing, and public services. As significant development has occurred throughout the city since that time, the updated aerial imagery is expected to provide a better foundation for daily business and long-term planning. Officials said it would also be helpful when trying to site out manholes and inventory trees. The upcharge to the city for improved resolution during the flyover is estimated at roughly $1,300. (JM)

Livingston County’s Jobless Rate ImprovingLivingston County’s Jobless Rate Improving

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12/31/14 - Livingston County’s unemployment rate improved from October to November. Local and regional jobless figures were released recently for November and rates declined in 14 of the state’s 17 major labor market regions. The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget says November was a favorable month for many of the state’s local labor markets. One of the most pronounced over-the-month jobless rate declines was recorded in the Detroit-Warren-Livonia region, which includes Livingston County. The majority of counties recorded mostly moderate jobless rate decreases in November. Livingston County’s individual unemployment rate dropped nearly a full percentage point to 6% - compared to 6.9% in October. Also improving was Livingston County’s overall ranking among Michigan’s 83 counties, which moved up twenty spots to 43. (JM)

Former Superintendent Files Lawsuit Against Howell Public Schools Former Superintendent Files Lawsuit Against Howell Public Schools

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12/31/14 - The former superintendent of Howell Public Schools has filed a lawsuit against the district. Ron Wilson was fired in November following an investigation into about $300 in questionable mileage claims made over the course of the summer. That investigation came about after Wilson filed a formal complaint against School Board President Mike Witt for creating a hostile work environment, but investigators cleared Witt of any wrongdoing, saying the two men simply did not get along. Wilson had the option of seeking arbitration, which could have awarded him the remaining balance of his contract, estimated at about $500,000. That option may be closed to Wilson now that he has filed suit. The case has been filed in Livingston County Circuit Court rather than federal court. Wilson is a well-known figure in the Howell community, and dozens of residents turned out to support him during the investigation into his actions, so a local jury may be to his benefit. He declined to comment on the lawsuit on the advice of his legal counsel. Meanwhile, a group of Wilson’s supporters in the community were successful in getting petition language approved to recall three Howell school board members. The Howell Recall Committee wants to remove Vice President Mike Yenshaw and Trustees Deb McCormick and Mike Moloney for their role in the termination of Wilson. Organizers must gather the needed number of valid signatures by January 30th in order to get the recall onto the May 5th ballot. (TD/JM)

Livingston County Road Commission Approves 2015 BudgetLivingston County Road Commission Approves 2015 Budget

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12/31/14 - The Livingston County Board of Road Commissioners met Tuesday morning and unanimously adopted the budget for the coming year following a public hearing. The 2015 budget is similar to the 2014 program and as one would expect, a large portion of the budget is dedicated toward maintenance and much of that depends on the winter weather. Road Commission Director of Operations Steve Wasylk tells WHMI most of the revenue the Road Commission receives from the state goes toward routine maintenance and they have quite a bit. He says the 2015 maintenance program will be similar to last year, with snow removal taking up the main portion of that part of the budget. He says it all depends on how the winter goes and they could have more money to spend in the summer if it turns out to be a light winter or vice versa. Wasylk says there are some significant paving projects planned in 2015 on D-19 and on Grand River by Fowlerville. He added that with the Green Oak millage continuing and the approval of a new road millage in Hartland Township there will likely be some significant local projects coming up over the next year as well. Some of the planned bridge improvement projects will be on Hamburg Road over South Ore Creek, Rushton Road over Davis Creek and on Dean Road over the Yellow River Drain. The latter project is ongoing and a significant amount of work has already been completed. (JM)
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