1/10/15 - The Detroit man suspected of selling drugs to a Brighton Township woman shortly before she fatally overdosed has entered a plea to a reduced charge. 31-year-old Sofronzo Eric Horne was originally charged with delivering a controlled substance causing death following the July 4th, 2013 death of 28-year-old Deidre Alvis in Genoa Township. In Livingston County Circuit Court Friday, Horne pleaded guilty to the lesser included offense of delivering heroin. There had been multiple delays in the case, some revolving around witnesses. Previous testimony from a friend of Alvisâ indicated that they twice purchased heroin from Horne, using it first in a garage at a home in Detroit and then again in their car as they returned to his home in Livingston County. The friend said Alvis nodded off while they were watching a movie. When he couldnât wake her, he had his parents call 911. She was later pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined Alvis died from multiple drug intoxication including heroin and cocaine. Horne has been in custody since the Michigan State Police Fugitive Apprehension Team arrested him in September of 2013 at his Detroit residence. He will be sentenced as a fourth offense habitual offender February 19th. (JM)
Detroit Man Enters Plea in Local Overdose DeathDetroit Man Enters Plea in Local Overdose Death
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Howell Chamber Announces Annual Dinner Award Recipients Howell Chamber Announces Annual Dinner Award Recipients
1/10/15 - The Howell Area Chamber of Commerce has announced award recipients that will be honored during its upcoming annual dinner. The chamber will host its 58th Annual Dinner & Citizen of the Year Presentation later this month. The event recognizes community leaders while also spotlighting Howell Area Chamber of Commerce programs and activities in 2014. Some of the recipients being honored at the annual dinner are being announced in advance. The Jobs and Prosperity Award will go to Thai Summit America Corporation while Heart of Howell will receive the Architectural Investment Award. The Community and Educational Impact Award is going to Tom Sullivan, Rich Perlberg will receive the Life Member Award and Courtney Tarara will receive the Young Professional Award. The big award of the evening is the announcement of the Citizen of the Year and per tradition, is kept a secret up until the dinner when it is revealed by the 2013 Citizen of the Year Brent Earl. The 58th Annual Dinner & Citizen of the Year Presentation will be held on Thursday, January 22nd at Crystal Gardens Banquet Center in Genoa Township. Reservations can be made by emailing mtokan@howell.org or by calling the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce at 517-546-3920. (JM)
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Free Radon Testing Kits Available Through Month of JanuaryFree Radon Testing Kits Available Through Month of January
1/11/15 - January is Radon Action Month, and local health officials are encouraging residents to get their homes tested. Radon is tasteless, odorless, and colorless, and it causes no warning symptoms like headache or fatigue. However, it is considered to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, with the Environmental Protection Agency estimating 21,000 related deaths per year. Radon is the product of radioactive decay by naturally-occurring elements like uranium in soil and water. It can enter homes through openings in basements, such as cracked foundations or sump openings. Radon is present in elevated concentrations in one out of eight Michigan homes, but in Livingston County that rate is closer to 40%. Throughout the month of January, residents will be able to pick up free short-term radon testing kits at the Department of Public Health offices in Howell. Problems that lead to elevated radon levels can usually be corrected at a cost comparable to typical home improvement projects. Contact the Department of Public Health for more information. (TD)
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Friday Fire Destroys Fowlerville HouseFriday Fire Destroys Fowlerville House
1/11/15 - The Fowlerville Fire Department responded to a house fire on Church Street Friday morning. The department was called out to the fire shortly after 7am, and found the home completely involved when they arrived. There were two occupants in the home, but they managed to escape the blaze under their own power. Five pieces of firefighting apparatus from Fowlerville were joined by an assisting truck from the Leroy Township Fire Department in fighting the fire, but the house is considered a total loss. There were no other occupants or pets in the home, and no injuries resulting from the operation. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. (TD)
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Howell Parks & Rec Set To Open Ice Rink Later This MonthHowell Parks & Rec Set To Open Ice Rink Later This Month
1/12/15 - The Howell Parks and Recreation Authority will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony later this month for a new ice rink. The portable rink is being installed at the Bennett Recreation Center on W. Grand River and was made possible through a donation by Thai Summit America Corporation. Howell City Council approved the temporary rink last month, despite concern from the Howell Downtown Development Authority that it could negatively impact their search to secure partnerships and a location for a permanent splash pad and ice rink. City council members said they felt the temporary ice rink would likely enhance that effort and not harm it. The ribbon cutting will be held on Saturday, January 31st from 4-6pm and will feature music, an ice skating demo by the Livingston Skate Club, a fire pit and refreshments. (JK)
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Plea Entered In Fatal Green Oak Hit & RunPlea Entered In Fatal Green Oak Hit & Run
1/12/15 - A February sentencing date has been scheduled for a woman who entered a plea to a fatal hit and run. 34-year-old Candice April Soerries of Northfield Township was charged with failure to stop at a personal injury accident causing serious impairment or death for the March 30th incident. Last week, she entered a no contest plea in the case. A no contest plea is not a legal admission of guilt but is treated as such at sentencing. Green Oak Township Police say Soerries was the driver of an SUV that hit 27-year-old Kevin Douglas Simon at the intersection of Rickett Road and Meadow Farm Drive in the early morning hours and then drove off. Simon, who was wearing dark clothing while walking in the southbound lane in an area with no street lights, was pronounced dead at the scene. Soerries only called authorities after she had arrived at home. Soerries could face up to 5 years in prison when she is sentenced February 19th. However, under terms of the plea deal, she can withdraw her plea if she doesnât like the sentence. Soerries remains free on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond. (JK)
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Fenton Working To Create New Parking OrdinanceFenton Working To Create New Parking Ordinance
1/12/15 - Project Cornerstone, a $4 million development in Fenton, is bringing revenue to the city, as well as parking issues. Fenton City officials have been discussing a new parking ordinance in order to create a system that works with the cityâs renovations. Tenant and resident parking has become problematic, as well as overnight parking. The city has been working with the Department of Public Works to accommodate downtown residents and local business ownerâs parking requests. Assistant City Manager Michael Burns says an ordinance has been enforced and in place for quite some time, despite the fact that the ordinance was rescinded when the city adopted the Motor Vehicle Code in 2003. Council members discussed creating a basic framework for the ordinance at a work session last week and how it can be most effective. Burns tells WHMI the city is not jumping to a final decision without looking into outside sources of information first. The ordinance proposes reserving spots and including signage to dictate the terms for parking, however Mayor Sue Osborn is not in favor of the signs. The signs would line Leroy Street, which she believes will clutter the area they have spent a significant amount of money on to beautify. The Council has decided to table a vote on the ordinanceâs frame agreement until a future meeting while they collect more information. (DK)
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Huron Valley Community Gearing Up for MLK Jr. Day Celebration Huron Valley Community Gearing Up for MLK Jr. Day Celebration
1/12/15 - Some changes have been made to this yearâs Huron Valley Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration and march along Main Street in an effort to reach out to the community more, improve the experience and increase participation. This marks the 10th year of the event that coincides with the holiday. Committee chair Isaac Perry says the biggest change is that the march along Main Street in downtown Milford has been moved to Sunday, compared to years when it was always held on the holiday and not everyone had it off. Perry tells WHMI theyâre hoping for decent weather and a large crowd Sunday afternoon to honor the holiday, which is intended as a nationwide day of service that encourages individuals to consider what they do in their communities and seek out opportunities to serve. Perry says while they honor the holiday in January, itâs meant to be observed throughout the entire year. The march will begin at Prospect Hill near the Kroger parking lot but instead of ending at Central Park for an outdoor music performance, this year marchers will go straight to The Suzanne Haskew Arts Center (The SHAC) for a post-march ceremony including music performances and information on local volunteer opportunities. As in the past, winners and selected submissions for this yearâs âFreedom Songsâ art/writing/multimedia contest will be on display in the storefront windows of downtown Milford businesses this week leading up to the March on Main Street. Perry says they had more early submissions than ever before this year, which was a cool trend to see and thereâs a nice collection ranging from original music written and inspired by the theme to pieces of artwork. All events on Sunday are free and open to the public. More information is available through the link and attachments below. (JM)
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Pinckney Woman Set For Federal Trial On Medicare Fraud ChargesPinckney Woman Set For Federal Trial On Medicare Fraud Charges
1/12/15 - A Livingston County woman charged in a multi-million dollar health care fraud scheme involving false billing claims will finally go to trial this spring. 55-year-old Michelle Freeman of Pinckney and Elaine Lovett of Wayne County are accused of conspiring to engage in Medicare fraud and submitting fraudulent claims. The alleged offenses occurred while the pair owned and controlled Oak Park-based ABIX LLC. The complaint alleges they obtained the Medicare numbers of licensed medical service providers in and around Detroit, and then used the information to bill Medicare for chiropractic and psychotherapy services that were not provided. After more than a year of legal delays, a trial date has finally been set for May 26th in U.S. District Court in Detroit. Freeman, who remains free on a $10,000 unsecured bond, is among 20 Detroit-area physicians, company owners and operators, office employees and patient recruiters accused of submitting more than $34 million in false claims for services that were never rendered and with paying kickbacks to obtain patients to be billed. (JK)
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LACASA Looks To Add Service Dog To Client Care TeamLACASA Looks To Add Service Dog To Client Care Team
1/12/15 - The newest member of the team at the communityâs premier domestic violence prevention agency is unlike most new hires; this one comes on a leash. LACASA Center announced over the weekend that they have adopted a black Labrador named Penny to serve as a Court Advocacy Dog for their agency. CEO & President Bobette Schrandt says the dog is coming to them through a donation by Leader Dogs for the Blind after training at their facility in Rochester Hills. Schrandt says former Livingston County Prosecutor David Morse first brought up the possibility of obtaining such a dog to help provide comfort for sexually abused children while they take part in forensic interviews and, potentially later, when they testify against their alleged abusers in court. She says theyâll be working closely with the Canine Advocacy Program in Novi to help further train the dog to a specific handler at LACASA. According to Schrandt, prosecutors and judges are finding that therapy dogs aid witness testimony by providing child victims with emotional support both in the witness room and in the courtroom. "It is incredibly stressful for children when they undergo forensic interviews. It is equally, if not more, traumatic when children must testify in a courtroom setting. By implementing this new program, our goal is to provide child victims with a source of comfort that helps reduce their anxiety.â She anticipated Penny would be of great use in the CARE Program. CARE, which stands for Child Abuse Response Effort, provides a safe, private and non-threatening environment for a child to be interviewed about suspected traumatic abuse experiences. Schrandt says Penny will help further provide comfort for children taking part in that process. She says theyâll be taking the next few weeks to both train Penny to its specific handler, but also to develop a list of protocols about how, when and where the dog should be utilized. The head of LACASAâs Legal Advocacy Center, whose name is kept confidential, will serve as the dogâs handler and primary caregiver. Penny will work at the agency on weekdays and go home with her handler on nights and weekends. Schrandt added that they will be the first child advocacy agency in Michigan to introduce the program. (JK)
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Trial Date Set In Green Oak Strangulation MurderTrial Date Set In Green Oak Strangulation Murder
1/12/15 - A Whitmore Lake man who police allege murdered his sister-in-law and left her in a bathtub will go to trial in the spring. 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 of last year. Foerster allegedly confessed to choking the victim for a period of at least seven minutes, knowing that it would cause death. Foerster was ordered to undergo an evaluation in October to determine criminal responsibility. Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt says the report has been completed. He says its contents typically remain confidential unless a defendant seeks to assert an insanity defense. Court records indicate an April 20th trial adte has been set in the case. If convicted, Foerster faces life in prison without parole. He remains held without bond in the Livingston County Jail. (JK)
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Pedestrian Struck & Killed Sunday in Brighton Township Pedestrian Struck & Killed Sunday in Brighton Township
1/12/15 - A pedestrian was struck and killed while walking on Spencer Road in Brighton Township on Sunday morning. 25-year-old Owen Chapman of Cohoctah was hit by a vehicle while walking on westbound Spencer Road near Buno Road at around 7:20am. Chapman died at the scene and Michigan State Police at the Brighton Post are handling the investigation. Sergeant Chris Pascal tells WHMI several witnesses reported that Chapman was walking westbound in the middle of Spencer Road near Buno Road and acting strangely. He says the vehicle that hit Chapman was also heading westbound but didnât see him in time as he was dressed in dark clothing. Pascal noted that the motorist who hit Chapman stopped immediately and began administering CPR, adding there were no indications of excessive speed or any alcohol use. Anyone with information about the incident or who may have witnessed it is being asked to contact the Michigan State Police Brighton Post at 810-227-2015. (JM)
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Howell Police Alerting Public About Telephone Scam Howell Police Alerting Public About Telephone Scam
1/13/15 - The community is being warned about a telephone scam making the rounds lately. Residents have been receiving calls from individuals who claim to be officers or detectives from the Howell Police Department, as well as other local law enforcement agencies. The caller will sometimes identify themselves as being from the warrant division and advises that there is a warrant for the personâs arrest and theyâre instructed to immediately send money, usually in the form of a money order or green dot money card. In the past, some of the callers have identified themselves as officer Delaware or detective Harris but the department reminds the public that they do not make calls requesting money. Officials say area residents and businesses should never give out personal or financial information over the phone to someone they donât know. Those who suspect something isnât right are advised to hang up and make direct contact with the institution the person claims to represent to determine the validity of the call. Anyone with questions or has concerns that they may have been a victim of the scam should contact their local police department. (JM)
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Plan Will Demolish Genoa Twp. Bennigans; Panera Bread ComingPlan Will Demolish Genoa Twp. Bennigans; Panera Bread Coming
1/13/15 - Redevelopment projects at prominent intersections and key areas of Genoa Township were the focus of Monday nightâs planning commission meeting. RG Properties has plans to redevelop a site at Grand River Avenue and Latson Road, which is part of the larger Livingston Commons Shopping Center. The existing Benniganâs restaurant there will be closing and demolished, with a new 12,000-square-foot commercial building constructed. The largest of five tenants will likely be Panera Bread and includes space for a drive thru. There was lengthy review but commission chairman Doug Brown says the project ultimately stalled last night, in part because of general signage for Genoa Township. He says they prefer to see two locations but only one is being offered in a different location than originally anticipated. Two members expressed concerns with the overall look of the development, a desire for upgraded materials, and reaffirmed a need to meet obligations for a gateway/landmark sign for Genoa Township. Many viewed the project as an opportunity to enhance the look of one of the most visible corners at a non-freeway intersection. Brown tells WHMI staff and some commission members will meet with project representatives to see what they can come up and hopefully be successful in getting something attractive. Meanwhile, the commission recommended the township board approve plans for a Red Olive restaurant on the site of the old Prairie House restaurant. That building has been vacant for some time and will be demolished. Grand River access will be limited to right turn in and out, and one member commended the applicants for creating a workable plan on such a small, tough spot. The site will also be rezoned so the parcel can be included into an existing PUD agreement that covers the larger commercial complex at Grand River and Latson Road. That agreement with adjacent owners permits the property to share in existing improvements in the current development, create a more cohesive development and improve traffic circulation. (JM)
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Krause Elected President of Brighton School BoardKrause Elected President of Brighton School Board
1/13/15 - Jay Krause was elected president of the Brighton Board of Education for the coming year at Monday nightâs annual organizational meeting. Krause replaces Nick Fiani, who recently resigned from the board after serving two years of his four-year term. Krause told WHMI that keeping the district on task in eliminating the budget deficit this year will be one of the board's main objectives. Two new members took their seats Monday night: David Chesney and Ken Stahl. Chesney, who is a professor at the University of Michigan, was no sooner seated than he was elected board vice president by fellow members. Last yearâs secretary, Beth Minert, was reelected, and new member Ken Stahl was chosen treasurer, replacing John Conely, who remains a trustee. Fiani submitted his letter of resignation in late December, effective immediately, and was not present at Mondayâs meeting. He has said his biggest accomplishment on the board over the last two years was helping the district back on the road to financial stability. He also has said that he intends to run for the Livingston Educational Service Agency, which serves as the countyâs intermediate school district. Fiani has been critical in the recent past about the way in which LESA handles its finances. Fiani's critics have suggested he resigned from the board in anticipation of not being reelected as president. (TT/JK)
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Parents Angered By Recall Howell Email, But More Are ComingParents Angered By Recall Howell Email, But More Are Coming
1/13/15 - Families in Howell Public Schools are complaining after receiving a political email from a local group that obtained their contact information from the district itself. The Howell Recall Committee sent out the email last week to support its recall campaigns against school board members Mike Moloney, Deb McCormick, and Mike Yenshaw, which it says is motivated by the recent firing of Ron Wilson as superintendent. The group got the emails of all district families by filing a Freedom of Information Act, and because the district has a history of complying with such requests the email addresses were turned over without argument. That request was filed on October 28th, before Wilson was even fired. Parents have complained that their email addresses were released, but Howell Recall Committee co-chair Matt Ikle says his committee thinks their message is important and parents can expect to get more emails in the future. The group also plans to begin its door-to-door campaign in the next 10 days. Interim Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Hughes says the information released to the committee is only a list of emails for district parents, so it did not fall under the federal privacy act that protects the information of students. However, the school board believes that something needs to be done to prevent future incidents like this. Hughes says the district is now working with attorneys to figure out how to extend the privacy laws that protect student information to cover parental emails as well. He says the district wants residents to feel confident when they provide information to Howell schools. The email contained a line of text indicating where the committee had gotten the contact information for district parents. Ikle says that text was included for the sake of transparency. (TD)
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Registration Open for Howell Lunar New Year Dragon Run Registration Open for Howell Lunar New Year Dragon Run
1/13/15 - Registration is now open for the second annual Lunar New Year Dragon Run 5K in the City of Howell. 2015 marks the second year for Howellâs Lunar New Year Festival with activities throughout the day centered in the historic Howell Opera House on Saturday, February 21st. The Dragon Run is part of festivities and features a one mile fun run as well as a 5K run/walk. Both events will be held on Howell Public Schools grounds and start at Challenger Elementary. Early registration is available for both races online and the first 200 racers to register for each will be guaranteed a t-shirt. All runners are encouraged to wear a costume to add to the fun but costumes are not required for race participation. Prizes will be awarded in different categories but a new prize aims to encourage school spirit and healthy competition amongst high schools throughout Livingston County. A $100 prize will be awarded to the high school track team with the most members registering for the 5K run. Complete details can be found through the below link. (JM)
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Tanning Salon Owner's Statements Ruled As AdmissibleTanning Salon Owner's Statements Ruled As Admissible
1/13/15 - Statements made to police by a Hartland Township business owner who allegedly photographed a naked tanning customer will be admissible at his trial. 41-year-old Eric William Matlack of Hartland Township is charged with a single count of capturing/distributing an image of an unclothed person following an incident on August 9th. Matlack is the owner of Tan del Sol on M-59 and the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department says he admitted to taking a photograph of an unclothed woman who had just finished a tanning session. Matlack allegedly stood on a chair in an adjacent room to take the photo with a cellphone, when the victim saw a flash and heard a click. A hearing was held last week to deal with a motion by Matlackâs attorney to suppress his clientâs initial conversation with a detective, as he was not read his rights. The detective said that was a casual conversation and not an official interrogation. Circuit Court Judge Miriam Cavanaugh denied the motion and ruled the statement was admissible. Matlack remains free on bond pending a pretrial hearing set for February 6th.
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Yenshaw Elected Howell School Board PresidentYenshaw Elected Howell School Board President
1/13/15 - The Howell School Board welcomed its new members and chose its officers for the next calendar year last night. Superintendent Jeremy Hughes performed a ceremonial swearing-in for newly-elected board members Grace Trudell, Brent Earl, and Gregg Gilligan before voting began on the new officers. Last yearâs board vice president Mike Yenshaw was unanimously voted in as the new board president. He was nominated by Mike Moloney, who said Yenshaw impressed him with his experience, attention to detail, and performance on various committees. Moloney also nominated last yearâs board treasurer, Staci Pasini, to be this yearâs board vice-president, and the board elected her to that position. Newcomer Brent Earl was chosen to be this yearâs secretary, and Moloney was chosen as the new treasurer. He was not an officer in the previous year. (TD)
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Applicants Sought For Vacant BAS Board PositionApplicants Sought For Vacant BAS Board Position
1/13/15 - The Brighton Board of Education will be appointing a new member within the next month to replace Nick Fiani, who resigned last Friday. Fiani â who served two years of a four-year term - said he felt he had accomplished his objectives and was planning to run for the Livingston Educational Service Agencyâs Board of Education. LESA serves as Livingston Countyâs intermediate school district. Fiani's critics have suggested he resigned from the board in anticipation of not being reelected as president. Veteran board member Jay Krause was elected by fellow members at the organizational meeting Monday night to replace Fiani as the boardâs president for 2015. Superintendent Greg Gray says that interested persons must submit a letter expressing interest in the board position and their qualifications for the position to the district office no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 16. Details on how to do that are posted below. Following a review of the submitted materials, the board will schedule interviews with selected candidates. Not all candidates for the board vacancy will be interviewed. Gray says by law, the appointment of a new member must be made within the next 30 days. The person chosen by the board will serve until the end of Fianiâs term, which expires on Dec. 31st, 2016. (TT/JK)
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