2/6/15 - One of four suspects charged in an armed home invasion in Oceola Township earlier this year has entered a plea. 28-year-old Richard Quam pleaded no contest to 28 different criminal counts including 1st degree home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, larceny in a building and various felony weapons charges. Quam entered the plea during a hearing today in Livingston County Circuit Court and will be sentenced later this month. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes. The three other suspects charged in the case - 39-year-old Ronald Morrell, his wife, 27-year-old Rebecca Morrell and 18-year-old Cody James DeBruyn â face similar charges and are all scheduled to appear in court February 17th. 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. (JM)
Man Enters Plea to 28 Counts in Armed Home Invasion CaseMan Enters Plea to 28 Counts in Armed Home Invasion Case
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Lindbom Charter Academy Backers Explain Plans for SchoolLindbom Charter Academy Backers Explain Plans for School
2/7/15 - A group of area residents dissatisfied with the state of traditional public education described their plans to open a public charter school in Brighton next fall at a question-and-answer session Thursday. The session was held at the old Lindbom Elementary School at Sixth and State streets in Brighton, which is currently vacant. The school was closed several years ago because of declining enrollment. At its meeting on Jan. 26, the Brighton Board of Education reached consensus that it has no interest in chartering a school. After the original purchase offer on Lindbom fell through, the school district sold the school for $1.45 million to ACA Brighton Holdings LLC, which plans to operate the Lindbom Classical Academy at the 10-acre site for grades pre-school-through-10. Some in the community â the academyâs organizers maintain that itâs mostly the Brighton teachersâ union â charge that the academy is actually a school that will teach from a Christian religious perspective while posing as a public school so that it can collect per-pupil state aid. Glenn Ikens, a Dearborn teacher and union member who lives in Brighton, has been a regular critic of the planned school and told the Brighton school board that that the charter school controversy has been divisive for the community. He pleaded with the board to decide once and for all on the request by the academy group to charter the school. The formal vote on whether to sponsor a charter of the school will take place at the next board meeting on Monday. The school's parent organization is American Classical Academies, whose founder Pasquale Battaglia has been a lightning rod for controversy after several social media postings in which he compared the facial features of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama with shooting victims Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin. At Thursdayâs question-and-answer session at Lindbom, Academy Development Team spokesman Dick Streetman continued to assert that Battaglia is strictly the landlord and will have nothing to say about the schoolâs policies, programs or philosophy. But Battaglia himself seemed to contradict that, saying, "Being that they don't have any financial obligation, it has to be more than just a business relationship. We have to be aligned ideologically at the very least." With the Brighton school boardâs apparent rejection of the sponsorship request, Streetman says his group has been in contact with two universities which sponsor charter schools in Michigan, although he prefers not to disclose their names at this time. Initial enrollment is expected to be 350-450 the first year with a capacity of 600, after which the operators would have to expand the building. A couple hundred people attended a recent open house held at the school for prospective families, as well as neighbors in the area around the school, and a second one is planned for Feb. 28 from 1-3 p.m. (TT/JK)
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Elderly Woman Dead Following Blaze in Fox Ridge CondosElderly Woman Dead Following Blaze in Fox Ridge Condos
2/6/15 - A blaze in the Fox Ridge condominium development near M-59 in Howell Thursday night led to the death of an elderly Howell woman. 911 Central Dispatch received reports of a fire at a home on Shire Court near Steeplechase with someone possibly trapped inside shortly after 7pm. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Department arrived first on scene but could not gain entry due to the extent of the blaze and crews with the Howell Area Fire Department arrived to find both the interior of the condo and the attached garage on fire. Howell Fire Chief Andy Pless tells WHMI crews made a quick entry and did a primary search of the home before working their way out to the garage, where they found a 68-year-old woman who was still alive. The woman was rescued from the garage and flown by Survival Flight to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, where she later died. Pless says the fire was actually discovered by neighbors who noticed smoke coming from the condo and that the garage door was partially open. Itâs believed the fire started in the family room and then spread to the garage but the cause remains under investigation. Pless says crews did a great job with the rescue and brought the fire under control pretty quickly but remained on scene for about three hours for investigation. (JM)
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Charity "Run For The Gold" 5k Planned For PinckneyCharity "Run For The Gold" 5k Planned For Pinckney
2/7/15 - Registration is open for a charity 5k event that will take place in Pinckney next month. The Run for the Gold 5k will take place on March 14th, the Saturday before St. Patrickâs Day. The race will begin at 10am at the Putnam Township Square on Howell Street in downtown Pinckney, then take runners through the historic village and down country trails before finishing at Main Street. Participants are encouraged to dress in festive Irish attire. Registration is $30, but those interested in signing up before March 1st will save $5 on that price. There will also be a Kids Run around the Town Square, which is a quarter-mile course. Registration for that is $8 before March 1st or $10 after. All proceeds from the event will be split between the Pinckney Community Youth Development Initiative, also known as Recreate Pinckney, and a fund to purchase technology for Light of the World Academy. For more information, follow the link below. (TD)
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Citizens Police Academy Accepting ApplicationsCitizens Police Academy Accepting Applications
2/7/15 - Area citizens are being invited to take advantage of an opportunity to learn about what really goes on behind the scenes in law enforcement. Applications are currently being accepted for the âThe Lakes Area Citizens Police Academyâ. Milford Police Chief Thomas Lindberg says the free program helps increase understanding and cooperation between police and citizens through education. The free 30-hour instructional program academy is a joint venture between the Milford, Novi, Walled Lake, South Lyon, Wixom and Wolverine Lake Police Departments. Itâs open to those 18 and older who live or work in those communities and designed to give the public an insiderâs knowledge about various police departments and what law enforcement work is all about. The format includes practical demonstrations, hands-on exercises and presentations, as well as tours of various facilities such as the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office and the Michigan State Police DNA lab. Classes are held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm to 9pm and begin March 4th, running through May 13th. The first class will meet at the Novi Police Training Center and the registration deadline is February 20th. For more information or to apply, log onto the link below. (JM/JK)
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Howell Fire Marshal Trying To "Make Bail" For Charity Event Howell Fire Marshal Trying To "Make Bail" For Charity Event
2/7/15 - A local fire official is hoping the community will help him make bail once he is locked up to benefit a charitable organization. The Muscular Dystrophy Association will hold its annual MDA Lockup event on Wednesday, February 11th, and Howell Deputy Fire Chief and Fire Marshal Les Rodwell is one of those who will be arrested for the cause. Rodwell has not been told who nominated him for the program, but he will be taken to Aubreeâs Pizzeria for the event and his bail has been set at $1,600. Residents can donate to Rodwellâs effort to make bail by visiting the MDA website, a link to which has been posted below. According to the MDA, the Lockup is the associationâs premier fundraising program that occurs around the country at various times during the year. Funds raised are put toward research, medical clinics, and accessible summer camp experiences for those affected by neuromuscular diseases. Rodwell was chosen to participate in the Lockup several years ago. He adds that he hopes the community will help him make bail quickly this year, since he still has work to do at the fire department that day. (TD)
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Man Enters Plea After Photographing Naked Tanning CustomerMan Enters Plea After Photographing Naked Tanning Customer
2/7/15 - The owner of a Hartland Township tanning salon charged with photographing a customer who recently lost a bid to suppress his statements to police has entered a plea. 41-year-old Eric William Matlack of Hartland Township pleaded no contest to a single count of capturing/distributing an image of an unclothed person following an incident on August 9th. Nothing was offered by prosecutors in exchange for the no contest plea, which is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes. The deal also stipulates Michigan Sex Offender Registry requirements. 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. Matlackâs attorney had sought to suppress his clientâs initial conversation with a detective, alleging 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 is scheduled to be sentenced in the case March 19th. (JM)
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Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority Hosts 2014 Awards CeremonyHartland Deerfield Fire Authority Hosts 2014 Awards Ceremony
2/7/15 - The Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority celebrated its employees last night with their 3rd annual achievement recognition ceremony. A heartwarming reflection highlighted the programâs accomplishments of 2014, along with the acknowledgement of member promotions and years of service. Engineer Jennifer Whitbeck received the 2014 Firefighter of the Year award, and several response units were awarded for their outstanding performance in life saving and citation incidents. Fire Chief Adam Carroll tells WHMI he enjoys the ceremony and the unity it brings to the department. Deputy Chief Mike Eckert chose Sergeant Gregg Schkade the II for Chiefâs Pick, as Schkade has had over 350 responses annually. Sergeant Schkade began as a junior firefighter and was applauded for his contribution to department efficiency improvement projects. Carroll says the members of the Fire Authority are actively and continually involved in community outreach events. He tells WHMI the staff always goes above and beyond. Chief Carroll says the goals of the Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority are to not only serve the community, but out serve their staff. (DK)
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Milford Plans To Relocate Problematic Canada GeeseMilford Plans To Relocate Problematic Canada Geese
2/8/15 - The Village of Milford is putting together a plan to confront Central Parkâs Canada geese population this spring. The geese and their droppings have been an ongoing challenge for the village, posing environmental and health risks for residents who want to use the park area. The issue is compounded by residents who illegally feed the birds. There are guidelines regulating how local municipalities can address problematic geese populations, requiring a permit be obtained by the municipality and a licensed geese disposal company be contracted. According to the Milford Times, the village is now in talks with a company called Goosebusters to arrange for the local geese to be wrangled and relocated elsewhere in the state. Wrangled geese are sometimes distributed to low-income families as food, but the village is looking for a nonlethal solution. The company plans to go into the park during a brief two-week window in June when the adults will have molted their flying feathers and the goslings will still be unable to fly, making it easy to herd them into pens. The process must be repeated for several years to be effective, according to Goosebusters. Company representatives were invited to a meeting of the Milford Village Council to answer questions and discuss options. (TD)
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Livingston County Community Connect Outreach Continues To Aid And ExpandLivingston County Community Connect Outreach Continues To Aid And Expand
2/8/15- The 8th annual Livingston County Community Connect event was held at Parker Middle School on Saturday. The free outreach program is held every year to provide a variety of services and goods to residents all in one place. Those in need of personal items, health services, job and legal information, and other resources attended the event, which was hosted by the Livingston County Homeless Continuum of Care. Over 400 volunteers contributed to making Community Connect a success, including Livingston County Treasurer and returning volunteer Jennifer Nash. She tells WHMI she enjoys seeing how many people are able to benefit from the function. More than 65 organizations provided assistance to community members, including Livingston Countyâs Big Red Barrel project, a safe way to dispose of unused medication. Anne Rennie, Community Collaborative Planner and Event Chair, says Community Connect has increased by 25% this year in terms of exhibitors and giveaways, and there has been a huge increase in donations as well. Rennie hopes to expand the health services next year with more of an individual clinic approach, and potentially grow the exhibition to use the upstairs floor of Parker Middle School. (DK/TD)
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Prison Sentence Handed Down For Man After Police ChasePrison Sentence Handed Down For Man After Police Chase
2/8/15 - A man facing felony charges after twice fleeing from police is headed to prison. 28-year-old Martin Brock received a 2 to 15 year prison sentence after earlier pleading guilty to charges of assaulting/resisting police, fleeing from a police officer and driving on a suspended license. Brock was sentenced as a fourth-time habitual offender in Livingston County Circuit Court, and the punishment imposed was what was agreed to as part of a plea deal. However, court records show that Brock must first complete a consecutive one year sentence in the Livingston County Jail before he can begin serving his prison term. The charges against Brock were filed after a chase September 25th after he drove past a deputyâs patrol vehicle at a high rate of speed. The deputy attempted to pull him over but Brock refused to stop and fled at speeds reaching 100 mph. He lost control and crashed near Fowlerville Road in Conway Township but then fled on foot from his vehicle, which had caught on fire. As firefighters worked to put the car fire out, police set up a perimeter around nearby cornfields to try and capture Brock. He then reportedly called his mother, who picked him up. When police stopped his motherâs minivan near Vogt Road, Brock again fled. However, police used a K-9 to track him down and take him into custody. (JM)
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Fenton Council To Vote On Low-Income Housing Credit
2/9/15 - The Fenton City Council will vote tonight on whether to help a low-income housing development maintain its lower tax payments. Dauner Haus is a 41-unit low-income housing facility in Fenton for senior citizens with limited incomes. Since 1996 it has taken advantage of lower tax rates provided by payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, which allows the city of Fenton to receive money from the state rather than collect a certain amount from Dauner Haus. MHT Building CFO Brian Gallaher says that program is worth about $10,000 to the city annually. At a recent work session, the city council heard from Gallaher about Dauner Hausâ plans to renovate its facility. He says Dauner Haus is requesting a new round of low income housing tax credits from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, and getting those credits is much easier with a PILOT program in place. Dauner Haus is asking the city to renew its PILOT status for the next 15 years, and will ask again when more renovations are made at the end of that time. The city council will vote on whether to approve the PILOT for Dauner Haus at its meeting tonight. (TD)
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Hamburg Officials Implementing Public Safety UpgradesHamburg Officials Implementing Public Safety Upgrades
2/9/15 - Some safety improvements are taking place at buildings owned by Hamburg Township. The changes were discussed at last week's public safety meeting. The fire department is installing plaques in the township offices, police department, senior center, and library detailing emergency escape routes and protocols in case of fire, police, or medical emergency. Township staff is also receiving disaster preparedness training specialized to their building to make sure they know the proper procedures and protocols in the event of an emergency. Additionally, the fire department is working to install new emergency call boxes on the exterior of its two stations. The boxes contain phones with which residents can directly contact 911 dispatch in the event of an emergency. Fire Chief Mark Hogrebe says the fire department is staffed by paid on-call firefighters, so there is not always someone physically present at the buildings to help in case of an emergency. 911 dispatch is staffed around the clock and would be able to send an appropriate response to any emergency. Both buildings currently have one box each, and a third is going to be installed on the rear of Station 11 facing the Lakeland Trail. (TD)
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Historic Landmark in South Lyon Still Slated for DemolitionHistoric Landmark in South Lyon Still Slated for Demolition
2/9/15 - Itâs unclear when a historic grain elevator that sits next to a hardware store in South Lyon will be coming down. The 120-year-old grain elevator is on Lake Street by the railroad tracks, next to a hardware store. Itâs said to be one of the last visual reminders of South Lyonâs rich history as a farming community. Some in the community have expressed a desire to save the four-story structure, which is gray with red trim. Ginger Reichenbach, who owned the building with her husband for three and a half decades, was recently profiled in a Detroit Free Press article. She doesnât want to see the landmark torn down and that will be a sad day for the community. The owners maintain the building is basically falling apart and in need of extensive repairs from roof to floor and while many people may have fond memories, itâs time for it to come down. The stateâs historic preservation office has said that since the grain elevator is not in a local historic district, there arenât any restrictions and the property owner is free to level the building. Thatâs expected to happen sometime this winter and a storage building will be built in the spring but a demolition permit has yet to be pulled. A bronze recognition plaque is also expected to be erected detailing the history and background of the grain elevator.
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Three Suspects Arrested For Series Of Vehicle LarceniesThree Suspects Arrested For Series Of Vehicle Larcenies
2/9/15 - Livingston County Sheriffâs Deputies arrested three Howell-area teenagers in a subdivision off of Latson Road Saturday night after an alleged string of larcenies. Undersheriff Mike Murphy says deputies were called out after dark when a Genoa Township resident heard a noise outside and saw someone near his vehicle. The resident got a license plate for the vehicle the suspects were using and called 911. Police were able to locate the vehicle relatively quickly in a different subdivision just south of M-59 in Oceola Township. Murphy says three male suspects, ages 17 and 18, were taken into custody. Their investigation reveals the suspects had enacted a series of larcenies by checking for unlocked cars and garages and taking what they could find. He adds the suspects were taking mostly random objects of little value, including drumsticks and a pair of shorts. Police say all three suspects tested positive for alcohol, and so could be charged with being intoxicated under the legal drinking age in addition to the larceny charges. The driver of the vehicle could also be charged with operating while intoxicated. Their case has been turned over to the Livingston County Prosecutorâs Office. Anyone in a Latson Road subdivision who finds something missing from a car or garage is encouraged to contact the sheriffâs department. (TD)
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Informational Meeting Planned on I-96/US-23 Construction ProjectInformational Meeting Planned on I-96/US-23 Construction Project
2/9/15 - While winter weather may be the gripe among motorists for now, it wonât be long before the orange barrels return and an upcoming meeting will educate the public about a large local project. The Michigan Department of Transportation will be embarking on the large I-96/US-23 interchange improvement project, which is scheduled to begin in March and last through August of 2016. An informational meeting is scheduled at the Brighton Township Hall on Wednesday, February 18th from 5 to 7pm. MDOT representatives will be present to provide the construction schedule and activity information, as well as answer questions and address concerns. The work will include an estimated 45-day closure of the I-96/Spencer Road interchange overpass bridge this coming summer. That closure is also expected to result in some significant short-term traffic impacts for the city of Brighton. Additional information about the project is available through the link below. (JM)
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Livingston Leading Region In Vaccination WaiversLivingston Leading Region In Vaccination Waivers
2/9/15 - Livingston County is atop the list for southeast Michigan when it comes to the percentage of kindergartners exempted from at least one vaccine. A report in Sundayâs Detroit Free Press detailed the vaccination waiver rates for Michigan counties. Statewide, 5.9% of Michigan children entering kindergarten in 2013 had vaccine waivers, the fourth highest rate in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Leading the list for all 83 counties in Michigan was Leelenau County, in which nearly one in five kindergartners had such a waiver. While Livingston Countyâs rate of 11.3% ranked it 9th in the state, thatâs the highest waiver rate in all of southeast Michigan. Health experts hope a change in Michigan's vaccination waiver policy ensures more Michigan kids will be immunized. The new rule was sought by Gov. Rick Snyder's administration and approved by lawmakers. It took effect Jan. 1 and comes amid a rise in whooping cough and measles cases. Many of those deciding against vaccinating their children have cited concerns over a perceived link to receiving an immunization and autism, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that no such link exists. Parents wanting a non-medical waiver must be educated by a local health department about the risks of not receiving vaccines. While legislators aren't looking to eliminate the ability to file waivers on philosophical grounds, Michigan State University associate professor Mark Largent says the rule should prompt 30% of parents seeking waivers to get their kids vaccinated instead. But he says the change also will harden resistance among other parents. (JK)
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Sweet Shop to Open in Late Spring on West Main Street in BrightonSweet Shop to Open in Late Spring on West Main Street in Brighton
2/9/15 - The Brighton City Council Thursday night approved the cityâs application for a façade grant so that a downtown building can be renovated for a planned new business. Yogurtopia, which will offer yogurt products and desserts, is expected to open in late spring of this year in the former Grow Green building at 332 West Main St. City Manager Dana Foster tells WHMI that no city funds will be used for the exterior and interior improvements, with the local match provided by the developers. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. has already approved a façade grant of about $77,000 for the project under the federal Community Development Block Grant program. The building owners, Ray Totten and Chuck Reda of Yogurtopia Brighton LLC, are providing a private match of $144,000 for a total project cost of $221,000. In addition, the company is spending over $200,000 for interior renovations, and that, combined with the building and equipment purchases, put their total investment at over $500,000. The City Planning Commission and City Council have already approved the site plan for the project, which is expected to result in 10 full time-equivalent jobs. (TT)
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Online Effort Seeks To Fund Scholarship In Officer's MemoryOnline Effort Seeks To Fund Scholarship In Officer's Memory
2/9/15 - The memory of a fallen police officer from Livingston County is being honored through a scholarship fund currently seeking donations. Sgt. Patrick O'Rourke of Tyrone Township was killed in the line of duty while serving with the West Bloomfield Police Department on September 9th, 2012. He had just finished his shift when a call came in about someone potentially seeking to harm themselves. Despite his shift being over, O'Rourke still responded in an effort to help. Tragically, he was shot and killed by the very person he was trying to help. Sgt. O'Rourke's wife Amy has since created a scholarship fund in her husbandâs memory. The fund gives two scholarships a semester to students at Oakland Community College, the same college Sgt. O'Rourke graduated from. The fundâs initial money came from the inaugural Patrick OâRourke Memorial Golf Outing which was held last September. Some of the proceeds will help students pursuing degrees in law enforcement and public safety. But to keep that fund able to offer help for those seeking careers in public safety, a Go Fund Me website has been established and is seeking donations from the public at large. Youâll find details through the link below. (JK)
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Oceola Township Hoping To Get Deal To Fix Hacker RoadOceola Township Hoping To Get Deal To Fix Hacker Road
2/9/15 - Officials in Oceola Township want to begin work repairing Hacker Road, but the work is being held back due to its cooperative nature. According to Supervisor Bill Bamber, Hacker Road between M-59 and Golf Club is in terrible shape and in need of resurfacing. He tells WHMI that project is planned as a joint undertaking between Oceola and Hartland Townships and the Livingston County Road Commission. Originally the $3 million cost was meant to be split evenly between the townships with the road commission providing engineering services. Bamber says the road commission has since offered to participate in paying for the construction cost, which would split it three ways. However, he says while Oceola would prefer to begin work as soon as possible, officials in Hartland recently said they did not expect to start before 2017. Oceola officials are currently talking with the other parties to iron out a solution. Oceola Township has a road millage, but its share of the funding for Hacker Roadâs repairs is coming from the sale of land near the township hall that was acquired at tax sale. (TD)
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