A local nonprofit group isnât sitting still as they prepare to wrap-up their winter activities and get rolling into spring. The Torch is an organization founded and operated by two local residents; Rhonda Callanan and Sarah Ruddle, who have committed themselves to providing meals to those in need. Most of the year they accomplish that goal with their food truck, which serves as a kitchen on wheels. Over the course of the winter, the pair has been stationed at the Bennett Rec Center in Howell on Wednesday evenings, cooking up meals for anyone who shows up. Their last meal at the rec center for the season will be this Wednesday. After that, they plan to get The Torch food truck back on the road by the end of April. In the meantime, theyâve launched a crowdfunding campaign called "What's YOUR 180?" in which they are asking people to post and share a video in which they talk about a moment when something happened in their lives that caused them to do a 180. Callanan says theyâve had some generous donations, and are hoping for that to pick up momentum. Another fundraising activity they are connected with is a 5K Glow Run/Walk set for April 25th at Howell High School and organized by the schoolâs Interact Club. The Torch will be the recipients of the eventâs proceeds. You can download the 5K run flyer below. There's also a link to the crowdfunding website. (JK)
Group Seeks Turnaround Stories For Crowdfunding CampaignGroup Seeks Turnaround Stories For Crowdfunding Campaign
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Free Tax Prep Services Offered in BrightonFree Tax Prep Services Offered in Brighton
Free tax preparation assistance is being offered to qualifying individuals and families at two locations in Livingston County. The Accounting Aid Society is again offering free tax services at the Brighton Senior Center and the Brighton Education and Community Center or BECC building, up until April 14th. Both locations are by appointment only. The Accounting Aid Societyâs Director of Tax Policy and Advocacy Marshall Hunt tells WHMI the biggest changes this year will be on federal returns affected by the Affordable Care Act and itâs important that filers know what kind of medical insurance coverage they had last year. Eligibility is based on income: families with household incomes up to $53,000 and individuals with incomes up to $35,000. Services will be offered at the Brighton Senior Center on Spencer Road at Church Street on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9:30am and 3pm. Services at the BECC building at Church Street at East Main will be offered in room 141 on Wednesdays from 4pm to 9pm through April 8th and on Saturdays from 9:30am to 2pm through April 11th. Those interested in setting up an appointment should call 810-447-0868. (JM)
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Grass Fires Spark Burn Ban in Howell Fire Authority Response Area Grass Fires Spark Burn Ban in Howell Fire Authority Response Area
Several grass fires over the weekend have led the Howell Area Fire Authority to institute a burn ban. The ban covers the City of Howell, as well as Howell, Marion, Oceola and Cohoctah Townships. While the ground is wet, all of the grasses and cornfields above ground are extremely dry.
Howell Fire Chief Andy Pless says conditions are way too dry and not conducive for burning so the burn ban will remain in effect for until we get some rain and everything greens up. He tells WHMI grass fires burn really fast, especially with the windy conditions lately. He says people will have small yard clean-up type fires but burn next to a large open field and the fire just gets away from them before they even know what happened. Pless says grass fires are not only dangerous for crews but bury trucks in the mud and use up a huge amount of resources. In addition to the Howell Area Fire Authority, the Green Oak Township Department declared a burn ban on Friday. The Brighton Area Fire Authority has not yet declared anything. (JM)
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White Lake Man Sentenced To 50 Years On Child Porn ChargesWhite Lake Man Sentenced To 50 Years On Child Porn Charges
A local resident convicted on federal child pornography charges will likely be spending the rest of his life in prison. 35-year-old John Millmine of White Lake Township man was ordered to spend 50 years in prison for his guilty plea to one count of producing child pornography and one count of distributing it. Authorities say he shared explicit videos of himself and a two-year-old child. Following Fridayâs sentencing, Steve Francis, acting special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that while "No amount of prison time seems like adequate punishment for sexual crimes committed against childrenâ¦this 50-year prison sentence will ensure that the defendant is kept away from the public and will have no access to children." Millmine came under suspicion in 2013 after the Homeland Security Investigations office in Detroit received information that an e-mail address linked to Millmine had received child pornography. A separate investigation then revealed that similar material was also sent out from that same address to a recipient in Ireland. When agents arrested Millmine on outstanding warrants for failing to pay child support and misdemeanor marijuana possession, they confiscated a smartphone that then linked him to numerous other female children. (JK)
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Man Arraigned in Connection w/ Crash that Killed Hamburg Police SergeantMan Arraigned in Connection w/ Crash that Killed Hamburg Police Sergeant
A local man has been arraigned on charges in connection with the motorcycle crash that killed a Hamburg Township Police sergeant. Steven Mark Kelty of Oceola Township was arraigned on charges of driving while license suspended causing death and operating a motor vehicle with the presence of a schedule one substance causing death. The criminal complaint identifies that controlled substance as marijuana. Livingston County Prosecutor William Vailliencourt announced the charges today and said they were the result of an investigation by Michigan State Police. Sergeant Jim Sanderson was a 20-year veteran of the Hamburg Township Police Department. He was off duty and headed to a police memorial event when the motorcycle crash occurred at the intersection of Latson Road and Figurski Drive in Genoa Township September 26th. Kelty is charged as a third time habitual offender for prior operating while intoxicated convictions that happened in 2002 and 1995. Heâs being held in the Livingston County Jail and a $1 (m) million cash/surety bond was set following his arraignment in 53rd District Court. (JM)
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State Suspends Liquor License of Popular "Dive Bar" for Five DaysState Suspends Liquor License of Popular "Dive Bar" for Five Days
A small bar and restaurant regulars describe as a Brighton institution should be opening up for business again soon. Known for its famous burgers and homemade chili, The Cozy Inn on Grand River is said to meet the definition of a dive bar - complete with the eclectic mix of locals. The Michigan Liquor Control Commission suspended the license of the small establishment for five days and it has been closed for business since at least Sunday. A bright orange notice on the door says the suspension was the result of cancelled liquor liability insurance. Green Oak Township Police Chief Jason Pless tells WHMI the suspension was an administrative action and not the result of any action by local law enforcement. (JM)
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Livingston County EMS Facing Difficulties With State Regionalization Plan Livingston County EMS Facing Difficulties With State Regionalization Plan
Livingston County Emergency Medical Services are facing a major issue with a recently implemented State program.
The Medical Control Authority Regionalization project originally divided Michigan into 10 separate regions while grouping certain medical control authorities and EMS systems together. Livingston County EMS was notified this past Friday evening that the new layout depicts eight regions, throwing the mismatched medical authorities and EMS for a loop. Livingston County was originally partnered with Washtenaw County, which was considered sensible as 70% of local residents are taken to Ann Arbor for healthcare. The new guidelines would have Livingston County EMS contacting medical authorities for direction that are not within Washtenaw County, despite the large patient flow to that area. Jeff Boyd, Director of Livingston County EMS, says he plans to contact the Department of Community Health about the problems this imparity could cause. He tells WHMI legislative action may even be necessary. Belinda Peters, a member of the Livingston County Legislative Committee, says the new regionalization plan âmakes no logic senseâ. Commissioners on the committee are discussing preparing a resolution against the stateâs initiative to help support action taken by Livingston County EMS. (DK)
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Residents Address Brighton School Board on Open-Carry LawResidents Address Brighton School Board on Open-Carry Law
A couple of residents told the Brighton Board of Education Monday night that they hope the open-carry law doesnât become an issue in the Brighton Area Schools, as it has in Ann Arbor. There is a loophole in Michigan law that allows concealed pistol license holders to openly carry guns in schools. The residents addressed the Brighton school board at the public comments portion of the meeting, referring to the situation that developed in Ann Arbor when 25 people attended a March 11 school board meeting openly carrying handguns. An equal number of people addressed the school board opposing guns in schools. The issue came under public scrutiny on March 5 when a man carried a gun to an Ann Arbor Pioneer choir concert and police were called to the school in response. Brighton Supt. Greg Gray tells WHMI that open carry could become an issue and, working with the school safety committee, the school district has already developed a plan to handle such an event, should it occur. Meantime, an Ann Arbor lawmaker is introducing legislation to close the loophole. Dem. Rep. Adam Zemke is working with fellow lawmakers on a pending amendment to Senate Bill 0053, which would allow retired federal law enforcement officers to carry a concealed weapon in weapon-free zones, such as schools. Also, a Republican lawmaker is looking at a different approach to closing the open-carry loophole - by allowing concealed weapons in schools. State Sen. Mike Greenâs proposal would allow concealed permit license holders with advanced training to carry a concealed gun into a school. However, Gov. Snyder vetoed a similar bill in 2012. (TT)
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Lobur & Ellis Appointed To Howell City CouncilLobur & Ellis Appointed To Howell City Council
The Howell City Council is whole again. Robert Ellis and Jan Lobur were appointed to fill two vacancies during a special session held prior to Monday nightâs regular meeting. Ellis is a retired physician and U.S. Air Force Colonel who serves as the current treasurer of the Howell Downtown Development Authority Board while Lobur is a certified prevention specialist and educator with LACASA who previously served on the Howell school board. Meanwhile, Mayor Nick Proctor is hoping to change the dynamics of council and get beyond any negative history he feels has affected how some approach issues and tainted the deliberative process. He told members at the start of the regular meeting theyâre a non-partisan body and need to start acting like it because vindictiveness, mistrust and bickering always seem just below the surface. Proctor says heâs not only grown a little weary of it but will not accept it during meetings and citizens have every right to be unhappy with councilâs performance to date. Proctorâs speech resulted in a rather light-hearted meeting despite some differences of opinion among members on other topics. In addition to the appointments, council also voted to name Councilman Steve Manor as Mayor Pro-Tem. (JM)
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Farewell Events Planned For Retiring Director Of Recycle LivingstonFarewell Events Planned For Retiring Director Of Recycle Livingston
As she gets to set to retire, a local non-profit organization is asking the public to come and say farewell. Linda Berch, Executive Director of Recycle Livingston, is stepping down April 1st after more than ten years at the helm. In recognition, the organization is hosting an Open House on Wednesday from 10am to 4:30pm, and then again on Saturday from 10 am to 1pm. Michael Pheney, President of the Recycle Livingston Board of Directors, hopes the open houses will provide members and friends an opportunity to share their best wishes with Berch on her upcoming retirement. Light refreshments will be provided on both days. Pheney says Berch had worked tirelessly to deliver on their mission, playing a key role in the transformation of the organization and the expansion of services during her tenure. Berch is being succeeded by Julie Cribley, who was a founding member of Recycle Livingston.
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Dispatchers Will Be Honored In April For National Telecommunicator's WeekDispatchers Will Be Honored In April For National Telecommunicator's Week
April 12th through the 18th of 2015 has been proclaimed by Congress as National Public Safety Telecommunicatorâs Week. Livingston County EMS Director, Jeff Boyd, says that dispatchers can often take a back seat when it comes to thanking those that aid citizens during an emergency. He says it is because of 911 telecommunicators and the information they relay that first responders are able to find and attend to those in need, track down and capture a criminal, or stamp out a fire. Boyd tells WHMI the dispatchers work tirelessly to ensure public safety. The Livingston County Board of Commissioners will be joining the national proclamation for the week of recognition, which was first mandated in 1991 by Congress. The festivities to celebrate Telecommunicatorâs Week in the county include an awards ceremony for local dispatchers the afternoon of April 13th. Deputy Director of Livingston County EMS, Chad Chewning, has reportedly "conned" local fire chiefs into cooking breakfast for the dispatchers a couple of mornings that week as well. Boyd says telecommunicators are constantly the single vital link between the citizens and first responders and are critical to the protection of life and the preservation of property. (DK/JK)
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Final Posting For Howell Superintendent To Go Out TodayFinal Posting For Howell Superintendent To Go Out Today
Applications are now being accepted for the position of superintendent of Howell Public Schools. The superintendent post became available earlier this school year with the firing of Ron Wilson, and although Dr. Jeremy Hughes has stepped up to run the district in the interim, he has made it clear he will not stay beyond the end of his contract in June. Michigan Association of School Boards Search Consultant Marlene Davis got the Howell School Board to give its final thoughts on the listing at a special meeting last night. The MASB has been collecting community feedback on the types of characteristics and qualifications that residents, staff, and students would like to see in the new superintendent, and that information was passed on to the board during the discussion. Davis says residents wanted a leader who was approachable and responsive to everyone, and who led with both vigor and humanity with the children as his priority. She also told the board she had never before seen a community put so much emphasis on making sure a candidate was trustworthy. Residents and staff members were also concerned that the school boardâs past had created a reputation for dysfunction, which could overshadow the districtâs strengths and limit the number of applicants to the position. Applications will be accepted through April 23rd, and Davis plans to actively solicit resumes from candidates she thinks will be a good match for Howell. The school board wants to begin interviews on May 12th and have a new superintendent by June 8th. (TD)
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Brighton School Board Gives Supt. Pay Hike Brighton School Board Gives Supt. Pay Hike
At its meeting Monday night the Brighton Board of Education gave Superintendent Greg Gray a hefty pay raise â one that board members say is long overdue. Gray had gone the last few years without a pay raise, and, in fact, had given back 5% of his annual salary because of the budget deficit. Beyond his current, $135,000 base salary, Gray will be given 1.5% of the net proceeds the district receives from its highly successful Shared Services program. Thus, if the program earns a net $5 million profit this year â similar to what it earned last year - Gray will get an extra $75,000 on top of his $135,000 base, for a total compensation of $210,000. That would be for the 2015-16 fiscal year, beginning July 1st. However, Grayâs current $135,000 salary will remain in effect through the end of the current fiscal year on June 30th. Board President Jay Krause tells WHMI that considering the job heâs been doing in Brighton, Gray deserves the pay increase, and more. Gray tells WHMI he is pleased by the boardâs show of confidence and happy to be continuing as Brightonâs superintendent for the foreseeable future. Actually, Gray could have been receiving that amount, and more, the last two years, had he accepted the offer of the Portage School District in 2013 to be its superintendent at a salary of $235,000. The board actually wanted to give Gray a higher raise â 2% of the net from Shared Services instead of 1.5% - but he declined, saying it wasnât fair to other employee groups who have been making a sacrifice while the district struggles to get out of deficit. The board felt confident in giving Gray the raise in part because the district is projected to be out of its long-term deficit by the end of the current fiscal year. (TT)
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Animal Control Investigating Possible Hoarding Case in Gregory Animal Control Investigating Possible Hoarding Case in Gregory
Animal control officers were called out on a potential hoarding complaint in the Gregory area this morning. Livingston County Animal Control received a tip about a large number of animals at a home on Weller Road and officers made a site visit at around 11am. The complaint is said to have involved cats and dogs but it is unclear how many. Retiring Animal Control Director Debbie Oberle told WHMI that no animals were removed from the home as a result of todayâs visit. Further details were not being released as Oberle says the investigation remains active. (JM)
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Crews Battle Large Brush/Grass Fire in Unadilla Township Crews Battle Large Brush/Grass Fire in Unadilla Township
3/24/15 - Local fire department crews worked in mucky conditions and choppy fields to extinguish a large grass fire in the Gregory area this afternoon. The Unadilla, Putnam, Stockbridge, Fowlerville and Hamburg Township Fire Departments were on scene, along with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The fire reportedly encompassed an area as large as forty acres in the vicinity of the Gregory State Wildlife Area, near Spears and Gregory Roads. Extra water tankers had to be brought in and crews worked in different sections with brush trucks and tractor plows but also dealt with hot spots and flare-ups before the fire was cleared at around 3pm. As crews were wrapping up efforts on that grass fire, a separate incident was reported in the Cohoctah area of someone burning trash, which then spread to a nearby trailer full of tires, resulting in heavy black smoke in the area. Officials again remind the public that the risk of fire is great due to the extremely dry conditions, adding grass and brush fires spread very quickly and tax local public safety resources. The Howell Area Fire Authority and the Green Oak Township Fire Department have declared burn bans until further notice. (JM)
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Prosecutor Drops Efforts Against Joshua & Brenda BurnsProsecutor Drops Efforts Against Joshua & Brenda Burns
The parental rights of a Brighton father recently sentenced for child abuse will no longer be the subject of a termination proceeding. Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt says his office is no longer pursuing the termination of Joshua Burns parental rights. They also will no longer pursue efforts to force the childâs mother to disclose the girlâs whereabouts. Burns was recently sentenced to serve a year in the county jail, plus two years of additional probation, for his conviction on a charge of second degree child abuse. Vailliencourt said terminating his parental rights no longer appeared to be a âviable optionâ and that given Burnsâ incarceration and probation terms, they no longer had any concerns that there would be improper contact with the child. He says thus, there was no reason to proceed any further on the supplemental petition against Brenda Burns. However, the Michigan Department of Human Services, which originally requested the petition against Mrs. Burns, may hire an independent attorney to pursue their demand that she disclose the childâs location. An attorney for Brenda Burns says her client was found to be a fit parent during a civil trial and DHS has no legal authority over her or the child. An April 9th hearing is set to hear a motion challenging the stateâs demand to see the child. Joshua Burns claims he dropped his daughter on accident. But the director of the child-protection team at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital testified that the injuries appeared to be the result of deliberate abuse. That was in conflict with several defense experts who testified that based on the childâs medical records, the issues were the result of birth trauma and not child abuse. Despite that, a jury found him guilty after deliberating for more than ten hours. (JK)
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Handy Township Man Bound Over For Trial On Child Pornography ChargesHandy Township Man Bound Over For Trial On Child Pornography Charges
A Handy Township man allegedly caught with child pornography at a motel earlier this month has been bound over for trial. 57-year-old David John Wennberg is charged with possession of child sexually abusive material, a four-year felony. On Tuesday he was bound over to Livingston County Circuit Court for trial. After receiving information from the FBI, detectives with the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department executed a search warrant March 12th at the Grand Motel on Grand River in Fowlerville. An investigation is said to have produced evidence that Wennberg was in possession of child pornographic images. He was placed under arrest at the scene and lodged in the Livingston County Jail, where he remains held on a $100,000 cash or surety bond. Wennberg was ordered to have no access to the Internet as a condition of bond. Police say additional charges are possible pending lab and/or forensic testing. (TD)
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Committee Probes Kreeger Elementary ComplaintsCommittee Probes Kreeger Elementary Complaints
A committee formed by the Fowlerville Board of Education has begun its investigation into allegations that administrators at Kreeger Elementary create a hostile environment. Earlier this month, teachers and parents complained to the school board that Principal Jason Miller and Assistant Principal Josh Meersma routinely intimidate and bully parents, students, and teachers that have concerns or questions. In response, the school board formed a three-member investigation committee to look into the allegations. That committee is now planning to meet regularly, gather and examine data from Kreeger Elementary, and decide how to move forward. The committee has no timetable for its investigation, and will take as long as necessary to look into the allegations. Superintendent Wayne Roedel says the information obtained by the committee so far has indicated support for Kreegerâs administration. (TD)
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Police Chase Suspect To Get Independent EvaluationPolice Chase Suspect To Get Independent Evaluation
A Marion Township man who fled from police after threatening family members with a gun will undergo an independent competency evaluation. 22-year-old Brandon Gale had previously been found competent to stand trial after undergoing competency and criminal responsibility testing in January by the state forensic center. However, his attorneys want to contest those results and on Monday were granted approval to obtain an independent evaluation. An April 27th hearing was scheduled to go over the results. Four different cases are pending against Gale in the Livingston County court system. Heâs already pleaded guilty to retail fraud in one and is charged with possession of marijuana in another. The third case is tied to a motorcycle chase on October 20th and involves charges of fleeing a police officer and driving an unregistered vehicle. The most recent case stems from an incident in December in which Gale, while out on bond from the October chase, allegedly threatened family members with weapons twice in one day before attempting to flee police. Gale is said to have led police on a high-speed chase and had to be immobilized by responding Michigan State Police troopers.
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County & Brighton Fire Authority at Odds Over Code Regulations County & Brighton Fire Authority at Odds Over Code Regulations
The Brighton Area Fire Authority says it was caught flat footed by a resolution passed Monday night by a committee of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners related to state building and fire code regulations. The authority is in the midst of updating the fire protection ordinances of its member municipalities â the City of Brighton, Genoa and Brighton Townships â which were written close to a decade ago. The county resolution opposes efforts by any group to increase regulations, costs and/or duplicate efforts. It states that the Brighton Area Fire Authority is promoting additional regulations that will create extra hardships and costs for developers and business owners, and those types of efforts do not serve the common good. It followed a letter from building official Jim Rowell, who says the authorityâs efforts are âa bit over-regulatoryâ. Fire Authority Chief Mike OâBrian says the resolution was off based and not factual, and they werenât even advised it was on the agenda so he doesnât quite know how to respond. He says language was incorporated to align with national standards and so that it wasnât conflicting with state building code. OâBrian tells WHMI they share same interests and donât want unnecessary regulations or fines either, adding the communities they serve would not let an ordinance be pushed through that does anything like what was implied by the county. OâBrian says their only intent is to make sure the ordinances are cleaned up and caught up to align with current codes and standards so they have a document that meets the needs of the communities they serve and reduces fire impact. He says the proposed changes are being worked on by staff and attorneys and havenât even made it to the local board level yet, adding previous recommendations from the county executive and building official were incorporated and no additional changes have been submitted from them to date. The resolution passed unanimously out of committee and copies were to be sent out to the governor, legislative leaders and municipalities within Livingston County. The resolution and letter can be found on pages 15 - 17 in the attached committee packet below. (JM)
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