1/16/15 - A new student housing project at Cleary University in Genoa Township is on the fast track. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday to mark the start of construction on the first student housing complex at the university that focuses on business education and art. The program was held inside at Richards Hall in the Chrysler Building, which houses The Arthur Secunda Museum and offers the largest public display of art in Livingston County. Following the program, those at the forefront of the project headed outside for the ceremonial shovel and turning of the dirt. The project has been a dream for quite a while according to university President Tom Sullivan. He said it was a historic day for the business institution to finally get shovels in the ground and the project moving forward, telling those gathered it will be a big difference to the university and for students. Itâs designed as a suite-style housing project, not dormitories, and described as a significant change maker that will change the nature and fabric of the institution to help bring it together as a true university community. University Housing Solutions partnered with Cleary on the project. President Jim Schmidt commented that they only started talking about it three to four months ago so itâs exciting to be at the groundbreaking stage already, adding this type of project will do a lot for a university. The accessory building is being constructed on the existing campus, south of Grand River where trees have already been cleared, permits issued and plumbing put in for sanitary sewers. Sullivan says theyâre going strong and should be starting foundations very shortly so there will be a lot of activity at the site over the coming months and through the summer. Sullivan says theyâre on a tight timeline and the public can expect to see a flurry of activity as the goal is to have the new housing project open and ready for occupancy by August 5th. (JM)
Groundbreaking Celebrates New Student Housing At Cleary Groundbreaking Celebrates New Student Housing At Cleary
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Another Sentence Handed Down For Jailed Hartland ManAnother Sentence Handed Down For Jailed Hartland Man
1/16/15 - A Hartland Township man who had been sentenced for threatening a woman with a gun has been sentenced to additional jail time for a drug case. 34-year-old Weston Gabriel King was sentenced yesterday to one year in the Livingston County Jail with credit for 69 days already served after pleading guilty to a charge of delivering less than 50 grams of a controlled substance on August 11th. His co-defendants in that case, 29-year-old Ryan Bonner and 34-year-old Keeley Sanders-Masch, both pleaded guilty to similar drug charges and were sentenced to less than a year in jail. King was earlier sentenced to nine months in jail with 129 days credit for time already served after pleading guilty to felonious assault and domestic violence charges. He must also complete three years of probation, a parenting skills class and a domestic violence program through LACASA. Police say they were met outside of a residence on Montgomery Drive on July 29th by a woman who said King pointed a handgun at her and threatened to shoot her during an argument. She alerted officers that there was a child inside the residence and that King had taken a large amount of prescription drugs. King eventually exited the home unarmed with the child. He was charged in the drug case after using the phone inside of his jail cell to set up a drug deal involving methadone. His sentences will run concurrently. (TD)
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Hamburg Group To Get Deed For Old Fire StationHamburg Group To Get Deed For Old Fire Station
1/16/16 - A legacy structure in Hamburg Township will soon become the permanent home to a group focused on helping sick children. The Hamburg Township Board of Trustees plan to hand over the deed for the original township fire station built in the 1940âs at their meeting next week to Bennettâs Beavers, a non-profit organization whose motto is âImproving the Lives of Hospitalized Children.â The group started in 1995 when lifelong Hamburg resident Jim Bennett began making simple wood cutouts for patients at C.S. Mott Childrenâs Hospital in Ann Arbor. The pieces quickly became a favorite arts and crafts project for the patients. As demand increased, several of Bennettâs friends joined in, meeting weekly in his garage to make the cutouts. Over the years, the size of the group has grown, as has the demand for their product. In early 2010, the Hamburg Township Board of Trustees agreed to lease at no charge the unused fire house, located on Stone Street in the Old Village of Hamburg, to the organization. The group renovated the building and moved into their new expanded facility later that year. Bennettâs Beavers has expanded to include over 20 volunteers that last year provided over 50,000 toy cutouts to 20 childrenâs hospitals throughout the country. The deed will be handed over officially at Tuesdayâs meeting of the Hamburg Township Board of Trustees. (JK)
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Local Victim Advocacy Group Applauds Veto On Gun BillLocal Victim Advocacy Group Applauds Veto On Gun Bill
1/16/15 - Governor Rick Snyder vetoed a bill that would have allowed the subjects of personal protection orders to carry concealed weapons, and a local domestic violence prevention organization is applauding the decision. First filed in February of last year, Senate Bill 789 would allow people to obtain and retain licenses to carry concealed weapons even if someone else had obtained a personal protection order against them. The person seeking the PPO would have to specifically ask the court to prevent the subject of the order from carrying a concealed weapon. Governor Snyder bucked the trend set by Republican lawmakers when he rejected the bill, citing the potential danger it posed to victims of domestic violence. LACASA has opposed the bill from its inception and supports Snyderâs veto, saying the billâs passage would have posed a serious threat to the survivors of domestic abuse. President and CEO Bobette Schrandt says the victims of domestic violence are often tense and nervous when going through court proceedings for personal protection orders, so it would be unfair to put the responsibility on them to making sure their alleged attackers cannot carry concealed weapons. All of Livingston Countyâs local legislators in the 2014 session voted in favor of the bill, including representatives Bill Rogers of Brighton, Cindy Denby of Handy Township, and Joe Graves of Argentine as well as senators Joe Hune of Hamburg and Mike Kowall of White Lake. (TD)
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Howell Recall Petition Invalidated By Circuit JudgeHowell Recall Petition Invalidated By Circuit Judge
1/16/15 - A motion hearing yesterday afternoon led to a petition being thrown out that would recall three Howell School Board of Education members. The Howell Recall Committee created a petition to recall board members Mike Yenshaw, Deborah McCormick, and Michael Moloney for their decision to fire Superintendent Ron Wilson. The petition also stated the trustees were to be recalled for authorizing the expenditure of $5,000 in public funds to investigate claims made against Wilson. Moloney and Yenshaw filed for an appeal against the petition and came before Judge Michael P. Hatty yesterday afternoon. Judge Hatty allowed an expedited appeal in order to solve the matter, saying his office had been âinundated with phone callsâ from recall supporters to move the case along. Though the petitionâs language was approved at a clarity hearing last month, Judge Hatty threw the petition out for lack of factualness in its language. As the trustees are unable to authorize funds, Judge Hatty says the second part of the petition is misleading, making it invalid for circulation. Judge Hatty told representatives of the recall committee if the petition stated that the board members voted to authorize the expenditure, it would âbe a different storyâ. The decision means the recall will not appear on the May ballot as had been planned. Matt Ikle, co-chair of the recall committee, tells WHMI the group is not accepting defeat just yet. He says they will meet and decide on a new course of action. Ikle believes there is quite a bit of support behind the recall committee from the community. He says the large response is confirmation that good leadership is still to be found and is needed in the school district. Treasurer Michael Moloney, however, tells WHMI it is time to re-focus on what he believes is important; planning for the upcoming school year and making sure the policies and priorities of the district are focused on students. For another shot at the petition, the recall committee would be required to submit new language before the Livingston County Elections Commission for approval. However, that would push the recall to November, which the committee itself has recognized would cost the district up to $40,000. (DK/JK)
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Suspect in Brutal Beating of Elderly Highland Man Heads to Trial Suspect in Brutal Beating of Elderly Highland Man Heads to Trial
1/16/15 - A circuit court arraignment is set later this month for a suspect charged with the severe beating of an elderly Highland Township man. 30-year-old Mark Wisenbaugh of Flint is charged with multiple counts, including assault with intent to commit murder, killing or torturing of an animal and auto theft. On Wednesday, his case was bound over to Oakland County Circuit Court for trial. Deputies from the Oakland County Sheriff's Highland Township substation say they were summoned to a home in the 1500 block of Highland Park just before 7am on November 10th after a neighbor discovered the 70-year-old victim bleeding and unconscious in the home. His truck was also missing. Wisenbaugh, who had reportedly been staying in a camper on the victimâs property, was later located with the truck in Flint. The victim was hospitalized with serious head trauma. His dog was also killed in the attack. Police believe the attack followed an argument over money. Wisenbaugh remains lodged in Oakland County Jail without bond pending a January 27th arraignment in Pontiac. (JK/JM)
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Brighton City Council Praises Retiring Deputy Police Chief Brighton City Council Praises Retiring Deputy Police Chief
1/16/15 - At its meeting Thursday night the Brighton City Council recognized outgoing Deputy Brighton City Police Chief Jon Westendorf for his 25 years of service. Westendorf is retiring from the police force in order to accept the position of Livingston County Animal Control Director. Westendorf told council he is proud to have served the community for a quarter-century, and had words of praise for fellow officers and the command staff at the Brighton Police Dept. Westendorfâs retirement becomes effective today. He will take over for outgoing Livingston County Animal Control Director Debbie Oberle when she retires in March. Westendorf says heâs thankful for the opportunity to continue to serve the public after he leaves police work and will be honored to serve the entire county in the near future. He adds he will bring some law enforcement experience to the table as animal control director â something the county Board of Commissioners was looking for in a future director. In the meantime, Westendorf is getting acquainted with the employees and day-to-day operations with the help of Oberle. Brighton City Manager Dana Foster praised Westendorf for his dedication and hard work, not only for the police dept. but the entire Brighton community. (TT)
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Revised Petitions Filed to Recall Howell School Board Members Revised Petitions Filed to Recall Howell School Board Members
1/16/15 - One day after updated language was invalidated by a local judge, recall organizers have filed new petitions against three Howell Board of Education members. The Howell Recall Committee re-filed petitions today against school board President Mike Yenshaw, Treasurer Michael Moloney and Trustee Deborah McCormick for their votes to fire former superintendent Ron Wilson. Although proposed petition language was approved at a clarity hearing last month, Yenshaw and Moloney appealed the wording and were successful. Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty invalidated the petitions during a hearing Thursday for what was described as misleading language. The committee has since reduced the language on the petitions to a single sentence regarding the votes of each board member to terminate Wilson. The Livingston County Election Commission will be scheduling another clarity factualness hearing and make a ruling on the petition language. (JM)
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New State Department Head Speaking in BrightonNew State Department Head Speaking in Brighton
1/17/15 - The featured speaker at an upcoming luncheon event will discuss a newly created department of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation that aims to foster the workforce and job growth in an improving economy. The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerceâs Power Lunch series is an informative program that takes place on the first Wednesday of most months. Itâs designed to provide updates on economic and political issues trending locally and statewide as well as feature leadership insights from heads of business and industry. The event February 4th will feature Director of the Department of Talent and Economic Development Steve Arwood. Governor Rick Snyder created the department through an executive order in December, as part of the MEDC. Due to the shortage of qualified and talented workers to fill new jobs in the state of Michigan, the new department is expected to focus on cultivating a workforce to meet the demands of our growing economy. The event will take place on Wednesday, February 4th at Ciao Amiciâs in Brighton. The cost to attend is $20 for chamber members and $25 for guests. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP through the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce no later than January 28th. (JM)
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Trial Set Next Week For Howell DoctorTrial Set Next Week For Howell Doctor
1/17/15 - A separate trial gets underway next week for a Howell doctor initially charged after a raid by the DEA. Howell-based orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Holda was charged last May with two counts of delivery of a prescription form for incidents on August 19th and December 18th of 2013. His trial on those charges starts Tuesday in front of Judge Michael Hatty. Testimony alleged Holda illegally prescribed a controlled substance after he had voluntarily surrendered his license to do so. He had turned in the license following a raid on his Howell offices in May of 2013 by the Drug Enforcement Administration. DEA agents, who were acting as patients, testified Dr. Holda prescribed pain medications and other drugs, including Xanax, beyond what would have been medically necessary. He insists he wrote the prescriptions in good faith and properly questioned them about their symptoms. Despite that, he was charged with six counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of possession of marijuana. (JK)
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Livingston County Association of Realtors Welcome 2015 Directors Livingston County Association of Realtors Welcome 2015 Directors
1/17/15 - The Livingston County Association of Realtors recently inducted its 2015 Board of Directors. Recognition of the 2014 Board of Directors was followed by the induction of 2015 Board of Directors during the associationâs general membership meeting. John MacLeod was named president and Todd Buckley president-elect, with Kevin Schingeck elected Treasurer. The directors were inducted by past President of Michigan Realtors Carol Griffith, who is the current chairwoman of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners. More than 90 members were present at the meeting. State Senator Joe Hune of Hamburg Township and newly seated State Representatives Lana Theis of Brighton Township and Hank Vaupel of Handy Township were the featured guest speakers and shared their legislative priorities for 2015. The Livingston County Association of Realtors is a local branch of the Michigan Association of Realtors. (JM)
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Huron Valley Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration & March SundayHuron Valley Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration & March Sunday
1/17/15 - This Sunday will mark the 10th annual celebration in the Huron Valley and Milford community honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A large component is the annual March on Main Street, which was moved to Sunday this year to help boost participation. Itâs organized by the Huron Valley Martin Luther King Jr. Day Committee and Chair Isaac Perry says the YMCA is providing a bus this year for anyone who is physically unable to march the entire distance but still wants to participate and ride along. He says they always encourage the public and community groups to march with signs showing their support of MLK Day and the lineup will begin at 12:15pm Sunday at Prospect Hill in downtown Milford, near the Kroger parking lot. The march begins with a brief speech and the National Anthem and proceeds throughout downtown Milford. Perry says this is also the first year the march will conclude in an indoor space, as it had always ended outside in Central Park but the weather made it increasingly difficult and the opening of the SHAC has been a welcome addition to the community. Once the march ends at the Suzanne Haskew Arts Center, aka the SHAC, there will be refreshments, a post-march ceremony and award ceremony for this yearâs art/writing/multi-media contest featuring a âfreedom songsâ theme. There will also be performances and officials will talk about opportunities to serve the community throughout the entire year. Sundayâs MLK Day events will continue at Milford United Methodist Churchâs Americaâs Sunday Supper, which will include a community potluck supper starting at 5:30pm. Then on Monday, the HVMLK Day Committee will host an empty bowl charity event with funds being donated to Community Sharing Outreach Center in an effort to end hunger. Details about all of the activities can be found through the link below. (JM)
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Yenshaw Says Recall Effort Is a Vendetta, Asks Public to Speak OutYenshaw Says Recall Effort Is a Vendetta, Asks Public to Speak Out
1/17/15 - Organizers say attempts to recall three Howell school board members are about accountability while those being targeted say itâs a time to move on. The Howell Recall Committee wants to remove Trustee Deborah McCormick, Treasurer Michael Moloney and President Mike Yenshaw (pictured) for their votes to fire former Superintendent Ron Wilson. The group is on its third attempt to get petition language approved against the three, which must happen before the group can begin circulating petitions and gathering signatures. Committee Co-Chair Matt Ikle says they appreciated the judgeâs research and decision and if they do get the issue before voters in November, it would be the first successful recall to make the ballot since 2012, when laws governing recalls were changed. He says that's made things more difficult but there has to be accountability for elected officials and a large number of community members reached out to say they definitely wanted the recall to go forward. Yenshaw told WHMI itâs really unfortunate a small group of misguided people can take advantage of a poorly written law, referring to the recall statue, to address what they perceive to be a lack of leadership. He says itâs become a vendetta that no longer just affects three board members but an entire school district. He says those tired of the self-serving agenda need to publicly voice their displeasure with the recall committee. The committee had been aiming to make the May ballot but after setbacks in getting the language approved, itâs now hoping to get the issue before voters in November. Ikle says the shared cost to the district would be less than the $40,000 figure previously stated as there are other issues that will be appearing on the November ballot. The Livingston County Election Commission will rule as to its factualness and clarity of the latest petition language submitted at an upcoming hearing, which Treasurer Moloney plans to attend. He called the continuing recall efforts a tremendous waste of time, saying âthis small group is recklessly running down the districtâ. Moloney told WHMI difficult decisions must be made in the best interests of students and parents, adding heâs worried about the long term impact the vendetta of this small group will have on the ability to attract quality people to serve on school board in the future. (JM/JK)
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Local School Board Members Recognized During Month of JanuaryLocal School Board Members Recognized During Month of January
1/18/15 - The Livingston Educational Service Agency is saluting local school board members who serve as the leaders and champions for public education. January marks the observance of School Board Recognition Month and officials say itâs an opportune time to show appreciation to the forty school board members who serve LESA as well as the Brighton, Fowlerville, Hartland, Howell and Pinckney districts. A press release says school board members dedicate countless hours and provide leadership guidance to local districts in an effort to advance education for the nearly 28,000 children in Livingston County. It says the job of a board of education is âto establish a vision for the education program, design a structure to achieve that vision, ensure schools are accountable to the community and strongly advocate for continuous improvement in student learningâ. Thanks are said to be few and far between for their efforts and School Board Recognition Month aims to build community awareness and understanding about the crucial role school boards play in local communities. (JM)
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Documentary About Small-Town Tolerance To Screen In HowellDocumentary About Small-Town Tolerance To Screen In Howell
1/18/15 - A documentary film with local ties will be screened at the Historic Howell Theater next month. Welcome to Unity is a lighthearted film that explores the experiences of seven foreign exchange students, including two from Muslim backgrounds, who attend school in the town of Unity, Oregon, which has a population of 100. It was created by filmmaker Katie Mahalic and sponsored by Nancy Brehm, a Howell resident and former Howell High School English teacher. She tells WHMI the film was originally about how the seven new students finally allowed the town to have enough players to field a football team. However, it quickly became about how the students and the small town adapted to one another. The Historic Howell Theater will screen the film on February 8th at 4pm and at 7pm. Brehm says Mahalic is also planning to schedule some private appearances around the county for interested organizations. (TD)
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New Brighton School Board to Get Training, Chartering InfoNew Brighton School Board to Get Training, Chartering Info
1/18/15 - The Brighton school board - with two new members - is going to get a tutorial on the responsibilities, duties, and procedures of public school boards of education. David Chesney and Ken Stahl took their seats on the board at its annual organizational meeting Monday night. Chesney and Stahl were elected last November to four-year terms, replacing Miles Vieau and Bill Anderson, the latter opting not to run for another term. With two new members, the board decided it could use a little training on how to be a valuable, contributing member. Superintendent Greg Gray tells WHMI he will arrange a session with a representative of the Michigan Association of School Boards in the near future. A date for the tutorial has not yet been set. The board also asked Gray to give them some pointers on chartering a school. The closed Lindbom School, recently purchased by ACA Brighton Holdings LLC for $1.45 million, is to be converted into a charter school called the Lindbom Classical Academy. However, it first needs to be sponsored by another institution, and has asked the Brighton Area Schools to charter it. Superintendent Gray will be taking the board through the legal requirements and technicalities involved at the next meeting, on Jan. 26. Lindbom School was closed in 2010 due to budget cuts and what at that time was declining enrollment. Gray says the board may choose to charter the school if it so wishes, but is under no legal obligation to do so. (TT)
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Four Applicants Seek City Council VacancyFour Applicants Seek City Council Vacancy
1/18/15 - The deadline has passed for applicants for the vacant Brighton City Council position that was vacated when former Council Member Chad Cooperâs resignation took effect on Dec. 31st. According to City Manager Dana Foster, there are four candidates for the position, and the four will be interviewed in open session at the next council meeting on Feb. 5th. Foster says it will be up to council whether to appoint the new member at that time, or wait until the following meeting on Jan. 19th. One of the candidates â Randy Klipton â was at the meeting Thursday night and introduced himself at the public comments portion of the meeting. The person selected will serve until the general election next November. (TT)
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Howell Township Proceeds With Dangerous Home RemovalHowell Township Proceeds With Dangerous Home Removal
1/19/15- Howell Township has decided to move forward with the proceedings to take down a house that has been on their dangerous buildings list for several years. The home, located at 700 West Highland Road, has been labeled dangerous and was boarded up in 2011. A recent fire in the home has left it in a worse condition than ever before, causing the Howell Township board members to agree to pursue its official removal. Carolyn Easton, Howell Township Clerk and Zoning Administrator, says the process to remove it takes some time. First, the Building Department and an Engineer must show the building is structurally unsound and not feasible to fix. The owners of the home will then be notified and a public hearing will occur with the township and ownerâs attorneys. A date will be set to take down the house and if the ownerâs do not comply by that date, the township can go out for bid to take it down. Easton tells WHMI it cannot be repaired at this point. It is believed the fire was either caused by an act of vandalism or someone living in the home. Easton says the biggest expense for the buildingâs removal is the attorney and engineering fees, which will be put on the tax bill. Picture courtesy of Google Street View. (DK)
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Woman Arrested In Fatal Waterford CarjackingWoman Arrested In Fatal Waterford Carjacking
1/19/15 - Police in Waterford Township say a woman suspected of stealing a 76-year-old man's pickup truck and then running him over, killing him, is in custody. The carjacking happened at a Burger King restaurant near M-59 and Williams Lake Road around 11 a.m. Sunday. A statement from police says that 38-year-old Ruth Pozdol stole the truck in a strong-arm robbery. When the victim, Clifford Van Haywald, tried to stop her, she ran him over before fleeing the scene. Police said late Sunday night that Pozdol was taken into custody without incident in the Walled Lake area and was being held at the Oakland County jail. Police said Pozdel has a criminal past, including retail fraud and narcotics possession. Haywald leaves behind four children, three grandchildren and a great grandson. (JK)
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Names Sought For Brighton Women's History Roll of HonorNames Sought For Brighton Women's History Roll of Honor
1/19/15 - Nominations to the Brighton Womenâs History Roll of Honor are being sought. There are currently 63 women that have been inducted onto the roll since 2003, which honors those women of distinction who have been born in the Brighton area, achieved prominence while living in the area or have been a resident for an extended period of time. Group officials say the goal is to create awareness about womenâs contributions whether it be in the workplace or at home, social movements, government or volunteer work. Nomination booklets are available at the Brighton District Library, the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce and the BECC building at the corner of Main and Church Streets. Nominations are due by January 31st and winners will be announced in March as part of National Womenâs History Month. Questions can be mailed to the Brighton Area Women's History Roll of Honor, c/o Brighton District Library, 100 Library Drive, Brighton, MI 48116; by calling 810-229-2149; or by emailing joycepowers@comcast.net. (JK)
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