2/24/15 - At its meeting Monday night, the Brighton Board of Education debated the subject of whether the Pledge of Allegiance is being offered universally in district classrooms, as it is supposed to be under state law. Although taking no formal action, the board discussed whether the district is in compliance with a law that requires all public school districts to give all students an opportunity to recite the pledge each day. Board member John Conely said the district had been woefully inadequate by failing to offer the pledge on a consistent basis from classroom to classroom, particularly at the high school level. Superintendent Greg Gray agreed that conformance with the law should be uniformly applied at all grade levels, and said that effort toward full compliance would be initiated today. The state law took effect at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year and requires giving students an opportunity to recite the pledge each day, although they aren't compelled to recite it. A second law requires public schools to display a US flag in each classroom or site where students say the pledge. One resident criticized the school district for not requiring the pledge in all classrooms, saying men and women had died for their country and that sacrifice needed to be respected. AP image. (TT)
Brighton Schools to Make Offering of Pledge More Consistent Brighton Schools to Make Offering of Pledge More Consistent
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Howell School Board Advised Against Balanced Calendar ProgramHowell School Board Advised Against Balanced Calendar Program
2/24/15 - A committee formed to investigate the issue has recommended that Howell Public Schools not implement a balanced calendar program at this time. Balanced calendar is a scheduling system that shortens summer vacation for students but makes other breaks throughout the year longer. This is meant to increase the retention of information and skills, which supporters say are lost over the long summer break. Howell was considering implementing an opt-in balanced calendar program at Three Fires Elementary sometime in the next couple of years, and a committee was formed to survey parents on how they felt. The committee delivered its report to the Board of Education last night. While there was significant interest in the program, with the parents of 476 students in preschool through 5th grade saying they would be interested in participating, the parents of nearly 100 Three Fires students said they would take their students out of the district if the program were implemented. This represents the potential loss of about $700,000 in state funding for the district. Furthermore, the additional teaching positions and projected costs for the balanced calendar program would total more than $300,000 for the year. The committee recommended that a balanced calendar option not be considered for Howell Schools at this time. Additionally, it suggested that other programs could be used to attain the same goals, such as a summer school program for students who are struggling or excelling, as well as foreign language and gifted learning programs at the elementary level. (TD)
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Howell City Council Postpones Appointment Of New Mayor Howell City Council Postpones Appointment Of New Mayor
2/24/15 - The Howell City Council met Monday night and accepted the resignation of Mayor Phil Campbell with reluctance and regret. Campbell resigned for personal and professional reasons and Councilman Scott Niblock commented the city was well served. He also noted all of the time invested, saying Campbell brought a level of energy he hadnât seen before to the position. Council now has 30 days to officially fill the vacancy. An initial motion was made to appoint current mayor pro-tem Al Schlittler to the position but council ultimately decided to hold off on making a decision until the next meeting, being the resignation was an unexpected event and member Steve Manor was out of town. Councilman Doug Heins opposed the motion, saying he didnât see the benefits of postponing the mayoral appointment and preferred to not wait. He said if âManor wants to play games then thatâs fine but the city moves forward with or without him.â Other members commented that if Manor wanted to participate in the discussions, he has a right to be heard. Heins further questioned member Nick Proctor if Manor had an alternative in mind for the mayor position. Proctor responded that if he did, then that would be for Manor to propose. Meanwhile if someone from the council is appointed, then that would create a new vacancy and there would be another 30 day period to fill the council seat. (JM)
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Dance Competition To Celebrate Catholic Charities AnniversaryDance Competition To Celebrate Catholic Charities Anniversary
2/24/15 - Livingston County Catholic Charities will be celebrating its 30th year of operation at its annual Salute to the Stars and Celebrity Dance Competition next month. The event features four dance teams of local celebrities who have chosen their music and are currently working on routines to perform. Three judges, including last yearâs winning team, will determine the overall winners for this year. In the weeks leading up to the event, residents can go online to vote for their favorite team, with the most popular pair winning this yearâs Community Favorite award. Voting begins on March 1st, and costs $5 per vote. Those who attend the event will enjoy dinner, open dancing, raffles, a cash bar, and an awards ceremony where Catholic Charities will recognize a local volunteer and an organization which have made a significant impact on the quality of life in our area. The cost to attend is $60 per person, or $440 for a table of eight. All proceeds will go toward substance abuse prevention programs offered to local people through LCCC. For more information or to cast your vote, follow the link below. (TD)
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Firm Chosen To Help Howell Schools Find New SuperintendentFirm Chosen To Help Howell Schools Find New Superintendent
2/24/15 - A firm was chosen last night to help the Howell Board of Education select the districtâs new superintendent. The board fired Ron Wilson from that post late last year. The current interim superintendent is Dr. Jeremy Hughes, but he has made it clear to the board that he will be leaving at the expiration of his contract at the end of June. The district would like to have someone in place to take over the position permanently, preferably well before Hughes leaves so that the new administrator can learn on the job before taking over. Board President Mike Yenshaw says the school board should not attempt to undertake the search process on its own, since finding and vetting candidates is extremely time-consuming. Therefore, the district unanimously chose last night to hire the Michigan Association of School Boards to serve as the districtâs search firm. It was chosen from a field of three possible firms due to its relatively low cost of $8,500 and because the executive who would oversee a search by the MASB is a graduate of Howell High School. The MASB also helped the district locate and recruit Hughes when it was searching for an interim superintendent earlier this school year. (TD)
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Former Fire Official Gets Delayed Sentence In Assault CaseFormer Fire Official Gets Delayed Sentence In Assault Case
2/24/15 - A former local fire official will undergo a year of therapy after his sentence was delayed. Former South Lyon Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Hammon had been charged with domestic violence, but entered a plea last month to a reduced count of disorderly conduct. In court yesterday, Hammonâs sentence was suspended for a year while he undergoes both domestic violence and substance abuse therapy. If he successfully completes those programs and alcohol and drug testing, the charges could be dropped at the end of the year delay. Police say the 35-year-old Hammon punched his girlfriend at a bar on Thanksgiving and later grabbed her by the neck at home. Despite denying the story to officers who responded to the home, Hammon was taken into custody. A preliminary breath test indicated Hammon had a blood alcohol content of 0.18%, more than double the stateâs legal limit for drunk driving. The 15-year veteran firefighter was later fired by South Lyon Fire Chief Mike Kennedy, who said they hold their command staff to a high standard. (JK)
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Livingston County 911 To Receive Needed UpgradesLivingston County 911 To Receive Needed Upgrades
2/24/15 - Staffing in Livingston Countyâs 911 Department will be growing this year in order to provide top notch service to the community. Central Dispatch will be adding four dispatchers and two floor supervisors to their team after a recent study showed emergency response time in the county could be affected by a shortage of staff. A consultation from Fitch & Associates, a group that specializes in EMS and Fire communications, retrieved data from Livingston Countyâs 911 Department regarding the people, technology and infrastructure. Director of Central Dispatch and EMS, Jeff Boyd, says some areas of concern are being voiced from local law enforcement, EMS, and Fire departments. He tells WHMI the changes to correct the situations are being implemented over a span of five years. The need for man power is the major issue, and the Public Safety and Infrastructure and Development Committee authorized positions for Central Dispatch Monday evening. The new members will go through a two week academy before beginning onsite training, bringing the crew to a total of 31 employees. Those taking the incoming calls to 911 will have separate responsibilities then those dispatching emergency services to the needed locations. Boyd, who is proud of the growing system, says they are âgoing to learn, move forward, and make a better communication centerâ. (DK)
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Political Power Lunch Brings Attention To Local & National IssuesPolitical Power Lunch Brings Attention To Local & National Issues
2/25/15 - Livingston Countyâs political dignitaries will bring attention to issues of interest on both the local and national levels during an upcoming luncheon. The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Political Power Lunch on next week featuring Congressman Mike Bishop, State Senator Joe Hune, State Representatives Lana Theis and Hank Vaupel. The U.S. Chamber of Commerceâs Vice President of Congressional & Public Affairs Ron Eidshaug will provide an overview of issues trending in Washington such as tax reform, EPA regulations and changes to the Affordable Care Act. The Power Lunch series is 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. Attendees are being encouraged to come prepared with questions for local legislators. The Political Power Lunch will take place Friday, March 6th at Lakelands Golf and Country Club. To RSVP, contact the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce at 810.227.5086 or info@brightoncoc.org. (JM)
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DEQ to Review Plans Addressing Violations at Waldenwoods Resort DEQ to Review Plans Addressing Violations at Waldenwoods Resort
2/25/15 - Plans to address violations at The Waldenwoods Family Recreation Resort on Old US-23 in Hartland Township are believed to have been submitted to the state. Environmental concerns were raised about work being done on the property last year, which led the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to get involved. Onsite violations were identified related to the dredging and filling of regulated wetlands, excavation along the shoreline of Lake Walden and other issues related to storm water structures and management. Waldenwoods Chief Operations Officer Brian Crouse previously told WHMI they werenât aware that the scope of work required permits and considered it to be necessary maintenance. Environmental Quality Analyst Thomas Kolhoff works within the DEQâs Water Resources Division in the Lansing District. He says the submitted plans must be processed, reviewed and possibly discussed with specialists, which could take some time and possibly warrant additional meetings. Eventually the DEQ will respond, likely in the form of a letter. He says theyâll ultimately look at the plans, what was done on the site and how they want to move forward and then determine if it fits within the requirements of the law. Kolhoff tells WHMI fines or consent orders could come into play if a restoration plan is determined to be fairly complicated but there are a variety of options. He says those include restoring the site to original condition; require restoration in some areas but leave others and allow the owners to apply for an after-the-fact permit or restore the site and allow them to do additional work as part of the project that would be permitted work and could warrant additional meetings. (JM)
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Arts Group Seeks Funding For Hell Of A PurchaseArts Group Seeks Funding For Hell Of A Purchase
2/25/15 - A Detroit-based group has launched a crowdfunding campaign with the goal of raising more than $1.3 million to purchase holdings in the unincorporated village of Hell. The organization known as Damned plans to use the money to buy Hell, located in Putnam Township, and build a performing arts center where events could be held year-round. The leader of Damned says the group wants to expand its productions and bring more elaborate events to Hell, like an annual festival with performance, music and art. The group currently produces the Damned Expedition, an art show held around Halloween each year in Detroit. Damned must raise the full amount of money it's seeking by March 22. More than $47,000 has been donated to the campaign so far. The group is seeking a total of $1,333,666. Thatâs $334,000 more than the original asking price that longtime proprietor and unofficial Mayor of Hell, John Colone, asked for. The sale includes not only the businesses, such as Screams Ice Cream and Diner, the miniature golf course, the chapel, and the souvenir shop, but also the rights to merchandise, marketing, and slogans for the location. The only business in Hell not included in the deal is the Dam Site Inn. (AP/JK)
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Norovirus Outbreak Monitored At Retirement Village In Hartland Norovirus Outbreak Monitored At Retirement Village In Hartland
2/25/15 - A highly infectious virus similar to the stomach flu is making the rounds at Village Manor Retirement in Hartland Township. The Livingston County Department of Public Health first became aware of this particular outbreak on February 3rd and has been following it ever since. Medical Director Dr. Don Lawrenchuk tells WHMI there have been 64 reported cases since then, which includes staff and residents at the facility. He says itâs the type of virus that people often refer to as the stomach flu with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea being the predominant symptoms. Lawrenchuk says things had begun to quiet down but then reports of illness started up again, which is not uncommon and the difficulty of this particular virus is that it is highly infectious and very communicable. Furthermore, Lawrenchuk says you can get re-infected with the same virus again and again so it really makes it very difficult in a facility such as this to completely eliminate the organism and often times, it just kind of has to run its course. Lawrenchuk says there is a lot of Norovirus out there, but only outbreaks are required to be reported. He says the good news is that it generally doesnât have any long term complications and those who do become infected are usually sick for a couple days and make a full recovery. Lawrenchuk says staff has been doing an awesome job following not only their recommendations but guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adding the single most effective way to prevent outbreaks like this from occurring in the first place is really good hand washing. (JM)
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Fowlerville's "Walking Man" Passes Away At 95Fowlerville's "Walking Man" Passes Away At 95
2/25/15 - Clayton Klein, who had gained attention for his annual walks across Michigan, has passed away. The lifelong Fowlerville resident was 95 when he died on Sunday, two days before his 96th birthday. His daughter, Deb Klein, said he died peacefully under hospice care. A memorial service is planned for 11am on Thursday at the Fowlerville United Methodist Church. A 1936 graduate of Fowlerville High School, Klein was the author of several books, his most recent in 2012 titled âMy First 90 Years.â In it, he shared stories and highlights during his life as a farmer, business owner and outdoor adventurer to exploring Canadaâs river systems and adventures in Mexico and Central America in the 1960âs. But Klein was probably best known in recent years for his annual walks from 2005 to 2009, when he walked 425 miles from Paradise in the Upper Peninsula to Hell in Putnam Township, on behalf of Hospice of Michigan. He is survived by a son and daughter and two granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years; Marjorie, who died in 2003. Memorial contributions may be made to Livingston Community Hospice. (JK)
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Woman Sentenced For Assaulting 5 Year Old ChildWoman Sentenced For Assaulting 5 Year Old Child
2/25/15 - A Pinckney woman has been sentenced to jail time after entering a plea in a sexual assault case involving a minor. 22-year-old Barbara Rose Stidham was originally charged with 1st degree criminal sexual conduct stemming from an incident in April of last year involving a five-year-old girl. Stidham entered a no contest plea last month to the lesser charge of assault with intent to commit 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct. In exchange, the prosecution agreed to dismiss the original count and recommend only one year in jail, plus probation. On Monday, she was sentenced by Judge Michael Hatty to five years of probation, with the first year to be served in the Livingston County Jail. One of the conditions of her probation is that she not have contact with anyone under the age of 17, which reportedly scuttled her plans to live with friends who had a 10-year-old child. She must also register on the stateâs sex offender registry for the rest of her life. (TD/JK)
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Presentation Teaches Substance Abuse AwarenessPresentation Teaches Substance Abuse Awareness
2/25/15 - A presentation on new trends in substance abuse among children drew a crowd of more than fifty people in Pinckney last night. Drugs 101 provides a primer for local adults, explaining which substances local youth are most likely to experiment with and how they go about doing it. The program, which is offered periodically through local substance abuse prevention groups, has as its centerpiece a mock-up of a typical teenage bedroom (pictured) that includes more than 70 pieces of drug paraphernalia. The adults in attendance were invited to study the mock-up and see how many they could spot, including everyday objects that had been specially made or altered to enable substance abuse or hide contraband. In addition to covering facts about the substances most commonly abused by children, tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, and prescription drugs, the presentation went over the current trends in youth substance abuse. These included a continued increase in opiate-related deaths stemming from pharmaceutical abuse, as well as a rise in popularity for concentrated forms of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. The presenters encouraged parents to keep an open dialogue with their children about drugs. They also encouraged adults to learn about how to monitor online activity and social media so they can keep tabs on their childrenâs activities. The presentation was for adults only to keep some of the information presented from spreading around local youth populations. (TD)
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M-DOT Hosting Public Hearing Thursday on US-23 Proposal M-DOT Hosting Public Hearing Thursday on US-23 Proposal
2/25/15 - Public input is being sought on a recently completed environmental impact assessment related to a large improvement project on US-23 from M-14 to Silver Lake Road. An overview of a recently completed environmental analysis will be presented during a public hearing Thursday along with project alternatives that were considered, potential impacts and measures to minimize them. Plans include replacing and upgrading pavement, expanded median shoulders in both directions and other upgrades to bridges along with entrance and exit ramps. M-DOT will also utilize a new traffic management system to reduce congestion during peak periods. Brighton Transportation Service Center Manager Mark Sweeney tells WHMI that new technology will offer the additional capacity needed to help with southern movement in the morning and northern movement in the afternoon, because otherwise the two lanes operate fine. Sweeney says six crash investigation sites will be added outside of the pavement to further help traffic flow during peak congestions, which provide space for law enforcement and other vehicles in need of a refuge area to safely pull off on the side of the freeway. Thursdayâs public hearing will run from 4 to 7pm, with formal presentations planned at 4:30 and 6pm at the Northfield Township Hall on Main Street in Whitmore Lake. The environmental assessment document is available for viewing through the link below. (JM)
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Purchase Of WALLY Rail Cars Was Recommended AgainstPurchase Of WALLY Rail Cars Was Recommended Against
2/25/15 - Records show a local transportation official urged a Michigan agency not to lease passenger trains, now sitting idle, intended to be used for a proposed commuter line that would run through Livingston County. The state is spending $1.1 million a year to lease 23 double-decker passenger cars while commuter service between Ann Arbor and Howell still hasn't been established. The plan came to be known as WALLY, which stands for the Washtenaw and Livingston Line. The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority official in 2009 told the Michigan Department of Transportation that the cars weren't suitable for proposed commuter rail services because they didn't meet federal requirements for wheelchair accessibility. The recommendation from Dawn Gabay, who was then the interim executive director of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, came more than a year before MDOT signed a contract to lease and refurbish the double-decker railcars. MDOT has defended the leases as being valuable in stirring up interest in the project and says that if the commuter line is ultimately approved they will be used because wheelchair-bound passengers will be able to utilize portable lifts in each station. The 6-year-old correspondence between the transportation authority, MDOT and Great Lakes Central Railroad, which owns the cars, was obtained by the Detroit Free Press, which highlighted them in todayâs edition. It comes as three state legislative committees prepare to hold a rare joint hearing at the Capitol today to investigate the railcar issue. The project has proposed to run from Ann Arbor, north to Howell, with stops in Whitmore Lake and Hamburg Township. (AP/JK)
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Federal Lawsuit Over 2011 Howell Traffic Stop DismissedFederal Lawsuit Over 2011 Howell Traffic Stop Dismissed
2/26/15 - A federal civil rights lawsuit involving a man who challenged a traffic stop in the City of Howell has been dismissed. The civil suit sought $500,000 in damages and named the City of Howell, Officer Luke Lorenz and Police Chief George Basar as defendants. In a decision released yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Laurie J. Michelson granted a motion by the defendants to dismiss the lawsuit. Christopher Bailey of Canton Township alleged his rights were violated by Officer Lorenz during a September 2011 traffic stop. Bailey, formerly of Fowlerville, alleged Lorenz wrongfully stopped his vehicle and arrested him after he left a high school reunion, but also claimed illegal search and seizure, denial of due process and malicious prosecution surrounding his refusal to submit to a chemical test. Bailey claimed he never actually refused the test. City officials disputed that and said his statement that he wouldnât take the test until he talked to an attorney was a de facto refusal. In the ruling, the judge said there was probable cause to pull Bailey over after he pulled out of the former Shark Club and turned the wrong way down Michigan Avenue. While Bailey passed a test of his ability to stand and turn and stand on one leg while raising the other, the officer said his eye movements were indicative of someone who had consumed too much alcohol. A blood draw done about an hour later indicated a blood alcohol content of .07%, just below the stateâs legal limit for driving. (JK)
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Former Burger Shop Employees Claim They're Owed WagesFormer Burger Shop Employees Claim They're Owed Wages
2/26/15 - A lack of communication has led some former employees from a local burger chain to go public with concerns about wages they claim theyâre owed. The original Mikeyâs Burgers location in Genoa Township remains open but the Brighton location has been closed for the past two weeks. Since then some former employees have claimed they have not been paid and are owed back wages. One former employee who contacted WHMI also voiced concerns about not receiving his W2 for tax purposes. A post on the restaurantâs Facebook page says they have sold to a new owner and will be working with him to make a smooth and quick transition. It goes on to say that the Brighton location will re-open in the next few weeks, followed by a new Livonia location shortly after. The Hartland location officially closed October 16th and at that time, the owners said it was a difficult decision to close after one year of operation but it became clear that it was going to continue to be a drain. (JM)
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Experts to Assist w/ Sewer Problems in Gregory & Putnam TownshipExperts to Assist w/ Sewer Problems in Gregory & Putnam Township
2/26/15 - Residents and businesses served by the Multi Lake Water and Sewer Authority in Gregory and the Patterson Lake area of Putnam Township are being asked to restrict water usage until further notice following sewer system failures. One half of the Gregory collection system is non-functional due to the freezing of control valves and one half of the Patterson Lake system in Putnam Township is down due to the same conditions. Crews have been out working around the clock since problems started last Friday and will continue to do so according to Authority Director Lloyd Lewis. He says the issues are very closely associated with the arctic cold thatâs been blanketing the area for the last week or so. Lewis tells WHMI they continue to field calls from customers and understand their frustrations but ask for patience and that they limit water use as much as possible to avoid further overload on the system, which can hamper repairs. Lewis says the designers of the system are located out of state but are sending representatives to assist them. They are expected to arrive on Friday, which was the soonest possible. He says they should be able to provide some on site physical relief, technical support and other expertise to the current situation and get the system back in service. (JM)
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Proposed Constitutional Amendment Would Bar Benefits To IllegalsProposed Constitutional Amendment Would Bar Benefits To Illegals
2/26/15 - A proposed constitutional amendment introduced by a local legislator would disqualify undocumented immigrants from receiving state benefits. State Senator Joe Hune introduced Senate Joint Resolution H on February 12th, and it was referred to the senateâs Committee on Families, Seniors, and Human Services. The resolution would explicitly state that those who are in the state illegally cannot qualify for social welfare benefits. Similar resolutions have been introduced in the past by Hune, but he says they always get tied up in committees, and he would like to see this one progress. The proposal was introduced as a potential constitutional amendment, which means it would require two-thirds majority support from both houses in the state legislature as well as approval from voters. Hune says he went that route, instead of just getting a new law passed, because he does wants to make sure the proposal has longevity, and changing the state constitution is much more difficult than repealing a law. He is also confident that Michigan voters will approve the proposal if it makes it to the ballot. The Michigan League for Public Policy says Michigan law already blocks illegal immigrants from state food and assistance programs and health-care policies and that the only public benefit illegal immigrants have access to is a Medicaid payment in the event of an emergency-room visit. Hune says there are currently about 70,000 illegal immigrants in the state, though he could not say how frequently they were receiving benefits from social welfare programs. (TD/JK)
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