Howell Schools Director of Operations Mike Peterson bid farewell to the Board of Education last night before he heads off to a new position in the Plymouth-Canton district. After 30 years with Howell, Peterson applied for a similar position in Plymouth last summer and was the first runner-up to the person chosen to fill it. When that person did not work out for the district, Peterson was contacted and accepted the job. The operations director oversees transportation, maintenance, and janitorial services for the district, and Peterson has been serving Howell in that capacity since 2001. He says he has enjoyed his time in Howell, which included the construction of three new schools, but now feels it is time to move on to the bigger challenge of a larger district. Members of the board thanked him for his decades of service last night. He encouraged the board to look for internal candidates when finding his replacement, saying many people in education rarely get the chance to advance unless they change districts. He would not identify one specific employee that he would endorse as a replacement. (TD)
Howell Schools Operations Director Departs For Larger DistrictHowell Schools Operations Director Departs For Larger District
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Longtime Police Sergeant & Former Chief Resigns Longtime Police Sergeant & Former Chief Resigns
A well-known member of the local law enforcement community has resigned from his current position. Pinckney Police Sergeant Bill Cook resigned unexpectedly on April 4th. No reason why was given and the news came as a surprise to many, given his years of service to the community. Cook previously served as chief of the Unadilla Township Police Department for about a decade before leaving in October of 2013, saying it was time for him to start slowing down. He continued working as a police sergeant with the Pinckney Police Department up until his recent resignation, which was done late at night via email. Pinckney Police Chief Jeff Newton tells WHMI Cook was in good standing with the department and had been there for almost 16 years. He says the only thing that was kind of odd was the way he chose to resign. Following Cookâs departure, Newton says theyâll be posting the position and seeking applications. (JM)
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Deputies Accidentally Tasered While Trying to Restrain Unruly SuspectDeputies Accidentally Tasered While Trying to Restrain Unruly Suspect
Two deputies were accidentally tasered by two other deputies while trying to isolate an unruly suspect in the Livingston County Jail. The man had been brought in by Green Oak Township Police on a felony assaulted-related charge but became unruly with other inmates and was apparently yelling about hearing voices in his head. Livingston County Undersheriff Mike Murphy tells WHMI the man was being moved to a single person cell for safety but continued to be unruly and deputies tried to restrain him, which turned into a bit of a scuffle. There were four total deputies involved and two were accidentally shocked by the others. Outside of some bruised egos, Murphy says the deputies are doing fine and there were no other injuries. The suspectâs identity is not being released. Murphy says he was being evaluated by medical staff to determine if he was having a drug-induced issue or suffering from something mental health related. (JM)
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Pole Fire Spreads To Field, Causes Traffic IssuesPole Fire Spreads To Field, Causes Traffic Issues
An electrical pole in South Lyon broke in half and began igniting the surrounding vegetation on Monday, prompting a response from the South Lyon Fire Department. Firefighters responded to the site on the incidents on Nine Mile Road south of the city limits just before 6pm on Monday. The pole, which carried 44,000-volt transmission lines, caught fire and broke in two, resulting in a power outage for residents in the southern part of South Lyon. Arcing electricity started fires on both sides of Nine Mile, and fire crews set to work putting those fires out. Once crews from DTE Energy confirmed that the power had been shut off to the transmission lines, fire crews extinguished the fire on the pole. South Lyon Police and Department of Public Works employees helped control traffic on Nine Mile during the incident.(TD)
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State Grant Will Help Highland Township Park ExpandState Grant Will Help Highland Township Park Expand
A state grant recently approved by Governor Snyder will help increase the size of Hickory Ridge Pines Park in Highland Township. $127,800 will be used to add 15 acres to the park, located in the townshipâs northwest corner. The money is part of nearly $25 million in Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants distributed statewide for outdoor recreation development and acquisition. The land for Hickory Ridge Pines Park is being purchased from the adjacent Highland Tree Farm and Garden Center. The purchase will add a half-acre pond surrounded by forested land that adds to a natural corridor into the existing park from Murray Lake. The rest of the additional land will be used to expand a pathway system and possibly add soccer fields. Highland Township will cover 25% of the acquisition costs, which is expected to be between $40,000 and $50,000. (JK)
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Milford Man Wins Big In Mega Millions DrawingMilford Man Wins Big In Mega Millions Drawing
While many of us are counting our pennies for Tax Day, one Milford man is counting the $5 million prize he won in the Michigan Lottery. David Kalanik purchased a Mega Millions ticket from the Michigan Lottery, and on April 3rd he discovered he had matched five numbers for a $1 million prize. Furthermore, he had paid an extra dollar for the ticket to get a âmegaplier,â which would multiply any prize other than the jackpot to five times its amount. Kalanik initially could not believe his good luck, and had his wife double-check to verify that he had actually won. The pair claimed their $5 million prize late last week. Kalanik says he and his wife do not have any extravagant plans, but will simply be more comfortable in their current conditions.
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MDOT Meeting To Offer Insight On Proposed Roundabout In Chelsea MDOT Meeting To Offer Insight On Proposed Roundabout In Chelsea
A public meeting is planned in Chelsea tomorrow to discuss safety improvements at M-52 and Werkner Road. A roundabout will be installed at M-52 in Chelsea to address congestion and the public is invited to attend a meeting detailing the project. The Michigan Department of Transportation will be discussing the results of a recent road safety audit conducted at M-52 and Werkner Road. As the result of that study, MDOT is recommending a roundabout be installed as a way to increase safety and improve traffic flow at that location. Local officials, interested residents and commuters are being invited to attend the meeting and learn more about the proposed safety improvements at the intersection, including the timeline for construction. Thursdayâs meeting will be held in room 100 of the Washington Street Educational Center in Chelsea from 4 to 7pm. Formal presentations will be made at 4:30pm and 5:30pm, followed by a question and answer session with staff. (JM)
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County Board of Commissioners Names New AdministratorCounty Board of Commissioners Names New Administrator
After interviewing the final two candidates for the position, the county Board of Commissioners appointed Ken Hinton as its new county administrator. The position is being vacated by Belinda Peters, who is retiring after 16 years with the county to move to North Carolina. A total of 271 applications for the position were filed, and the County Personnel Committee has been working to narrow the field. Last night, the two finalists for the position were interviewed about their experience and goals during the regular meeting of the county board. While both candidates were identified as excellent choices for the position, the job was ultimately offered to Wexford County Administrator Ken Hinton by a unanimous vote. Wexford, located south of Traverse City, is a smaller community than Livingston County, but Hinton and the board both felt his skills and experience would translate well to the local job. Hintonâs exact start date has not been set, but he expects it to be sometime in the next six weeks. Peters says the county government did an excellent job of finding her replacement, and that it has been a pleasure working for the county for the last 16 years. (TD)
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Livingston County Celebrates National Telecommunicators WeekLivingston County Celebrates National Telecommunicators Week
Livingston County is honoring its 911 dispatchers as part of National Safety Telecommunicatorsâ Week. The annual observance is celebrated nationwide as a way to bring recognition to those who take 911 calls and dispatch emergency services, who often go overlooked. Livingston County 911 Director Jeff Boyd tells WHMI the local department takes about 185,000 calls every year with a staff of just 31 full-time employees and four supervisors. The annual awards recognizing outstanding performance by 911 dispatchers was held on Monday. Both the Directorâs Award and the Employee of the Year award were presented to dispatcher Amanda Joseph, who was selected by her peers for the latter award. She will be recognized for her accomplishments at an upcoming meeting of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners. (TD)
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Construction Begins on North Territorial Road in Dexter TownshipConstruction Begins on North Territorial Road in Dexter Township
Local commuters may want to find alternate routes if traveling on a stretch of North Territorial Road in Dexter Township. The Washtenaw County Road Commission has begun work on North Territorial Road over the Huron River, just east of Dexter-Pinckney Road. Due to the nature of the work, travel will be restricted periodically on North Territorial Road throughout the summer. The project involves the replacement of joints, concrete patching, epoxy overlay and rip-rap replacement. During periods of active work at the site, traffic on North Territorial Road will be maintained over the bridge with the use of temporary traffic signals. However, motorists are being advised that long delays can be expected. At the completion of each phase of work, the road will be fully re-opened to traffic. It is anticipated that work during the current phase will take approximately three weeks to complete. The second phase is planned to begin in mid-June and the final phase anticipated after July 1st. Due to weather restrictions, all dates are tentative and subject to change. The commission asks that motorists reduce speeds and drive cautiously through the work zone for the safety of road crews as the necessary improvements are completed. (JM)
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Small Fire Reported at Brighton District Library Small Fire Reported at Brighton District Library
The Brighton District Library is closed following a fire. A posting on the libraryâs Facebook says due to a small fire, the library is closed today and will remain closed until further notice. The staff and materials were said to be safe and officials were assessing smoke damage. No further details have been made available. (JM)
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Michigan Municipal League Pushes For Passage Of Proposal 1Michigan Municipal League Pushes For Passage Of Proposal 1
With word this week that the Livingston County Republican Party's Executive Committee was formally coming out against the statewide referendum May 5th to raise more than a billion dollars for Michiganâs roads, another organization is making the opposite case. John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate with the Michigan Municipal League, which represents the interests of communities across the state. He says the MML is advocating strongly for passage of Proposal 1, which would increase the state sales tax from six to seven percent, while exempting fuel. In exchange, gas and diesel taxes would rise. Additional money would also be raised, including $200 million for schools, $116 million for public transportation, $111 million for cities, and $173 million for the state's general fund. LaMacchia says while criticism of the plan centers on its complexity and a suspicion that special interests are being enriched, the reality from the MMLâs standpoint is that Proposal 1 will be providing voters exactly what they have also wanted; the entirety of taxes they pay at the pump to be dedicated to roads. But in order to do that, other funding has to be found to fill the holes in the state budget that would be created by exempting fuel from the sales tax. According to Associated Press calculations, if the proposal passes, the tax hike would average $545 per household in 2016 â or $45 a month. But supporters say the higher taxes would lower vehicle repairs caused by poor roads, while providing a dedicated funding source to maintain the stateâs roads. Critics say that the stateâs gas tax was designed to pay for road repairs and the only logical way to raise the additional money needed for the roads is to raise the gas tax, without involving so many other elements. LaMacchia says the bottom line is that the votes donât exist in the legislature to do that and that Proposal 1 represents what is possible to accomplish. Critics say that while its goals are laudable, ultimately it is bad public policy because funding for schools and other areas that benefit from the package should be debated and approved on their own merits, not under the cover of a roads bill. (JK)
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Bond Reduction Denied For Suspect In Officer's DeathBond Reduction Denied For Suspect In Officer's Death
A key hearing has been set for a local man charged in connection with a crash that killed a Hamburg Township Police sergeant. Steven Mark Kelty of Oceola Township is charged with driving while license suspended causing death and operating a motor vehicle with the presence of a schedule one substance causing death, in this case marijuana. Sergeant Jim Sanderson, a 20-year veteran of the Hamburg Township Police Department, was off-duty but 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. At a probable cause hearing Tuesday, a request was made by Keltyâs attorney to have his $1 million bond reduced to $100,000 with a 10% cash alternative. That was denied by the judge, who also set a preliminary exam in the case for May 28th. That hearing will determine if there is enough evidence to send Keltyâs case to trial in circuit court. Kelty is also charged as a third time habitual offender for prior operating while intoxicated convictions that happened in 2002 and 1995. If convicted on the current charges, he faces up to 30 years in prison. (JK)
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More Redevelopment Coming to Downtown FentonMore Redevelopment Coming to Downtown Fenton
Two future redevelopment projects are planned in the City of Fenton. SkyPoint Ventures LLC recently announced the acquisition of two more properties in downtown Fenton -- 102 West Silver Lake Road and 132 North Leroy Street. The parcel on North LeRoy is just east of the cityâs large Cornerstone project while the property on Silver Lake Road was formerly owned by Fenton Collision. A press release states redevelopment of both properties is anticipated in the near future. In March the company announced the purchase of the Fenton Bean Company building (pictured) that sits on a half-acre lot at 234 North Leroy Street. It has history dating back to 1865 when the grain elevator was built and is also in close proximity to the Cornerstone development project. Fenton Mayor Sue Osborn commented that theyâre excited about the continued investment and redevelopment of the downtown. SkyPoint Ventures is a business capital and real estate investment firm owned by Phil and Jocelyn Hagerman of Fenton Township. No further details about plans for the properties are being released by the company or the city at this time. (JM)
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Volunteers Sought for Hamburg Township Huron River Clean-Up DayVolunteers Sought for Hamburg Township Huron River Clean-Up Day
As they have since 2006, volunteers will once again work to remove trash and debris from a three mile stretch of the Huron River. The Hamburg Township Huron River Clean-Up Day is scheduled for Saturday, July 25th but planning efforts are well underway for the event. Volunteers remove trash, debris and other obstructions from the banks and the river to help keep it flowing and lessen potential flooding impact. The clean-up was typically held in April but because of recurring issues with high water levels or temperatures, organizers moved it to later in the season. The project is an all-volunteer community effort with residents and businesses donating time and supplies. Event co-chair Scott Strane says theyâve been doing the clean-up for nine years now and the water moves much more freely between Strawberry and Ore Lakes, which was prone to flooding. He tells WHMI theyâre in the process of prioritizing what work needs to be done and they encourage residents and businesses from the area as well as the Portage and Baseline Lake areas to get involved. He says groups cover the Huron River and Chain of Lakes area, all the way from Rickett Road down to the bridge and the big damn at Portage Lake. In addition to volunteers and sponsors, some of the other things needed for the event include: rowboats with oars, pontoon boats, porta-potties, dumpsters, work gloves, garbage bags, food, tee shirts, waders and life jackets. New web pages are up for the event, with applications, brochures and posters available for download. A link is posted below. (JM)
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Man Charged In Tyrone Knife-Point Robbery Enters PleaMan Charged In Tyrone Knife-Point Robbery Enters Plea
A man charged in a knife-point robbery of a Tyrone Township store has entered a plea in the case. 20-year-old Nicholas Smith is charged with armed robbery in connection with the robbery in November. On Wednesday, he pleaded guilty as charged in exchange for prosecutors recommending a cap on his minimum sentence of 81 months. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 14th, and if his minimum sentence is 82 months or more, he may withdraw his plea. Smith is considered homeless by police and is currently lodged in the Livingston County Jail on a $250,000 bond. At about 8:30pm on November 14th, deputies responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Runyan Lake Food Center. Two employees and a customer witnessed the event and told officers that a man entered the store, produced a knife, and demanded money from the cashier. He then left with an undisclosed amount of cash, fleeing northwest on foot. (TD)
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Small Fire At Brighton Library Under InvestigationSmall Fire At Brighton Library Under Investigation
A fire Wednesday inside the Brighton District Library forced the closure of the building and an investigation into its cause. The fire, which occurred shortly after noon, was limited to the menâs room in the library, but caused both smoke and soot damage. No library materials were damaged and everyone was evacuated from the building safely. Library Director Nancy Johnson says that staff reacted quickly and calmly to get the 25-30 patrons and 15 employees out of the building, while guiding the fire department in and making sure they had an open fire lane. Johnson says a disaster response team worked in the building through the remainder of the day on Wednesday and will be back today to continue the air handling and room cleaning needed. She added that they are working with the Brighton Area Fire Department and the Brighton police during their joint arson investigation of this incident. The library will be closed today as usual, but Johnson hopes they can reopen as normal by Friday. She advises patrons to check their website (www.brightonlibrary.info) or their Facebook page for more information about Friday programs and hours.
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Putnam Seeks Input From Residents Opposed To ET Rover PipelinePutnam Seeks Input From Residents Opposed To ET Rover Pipeline
Residents of Putnam Township are being encouraged to send their complaints and concerns regarding the ET Rover Pipeline to the township government. ET Rover is a proposed natural gas pipeline that would travel from West Virginia, through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan, and end in Ontario. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is responsible for approving the routes of proposed oil and gas pipelines, including ET Rover, and the township has reserved the right to intervene in that process and make its concerns known to the organization. At its regular meeting last night, the township board informed dozens of residents with concerns about the pipeline that the best way they could contribute to that effort would be to put their concerns about ET Rover into written form and send them to the township either physically or via email. Those letters will be compiled by the townshipâs legal counsel when making their case to FERC to change the route of the pipeline. Members of the public speaking to the board last night expressed several concerns about ET Roverâs proximity to their homes, including the environmental impact of a potential leak, damage in the event of an explosion, and dropping property values from the presence of the pipeline.
Among them was Kurt Royborland, part of the citizen group ET Go Home, which aims to force the pipeline out of the area. He tells WHMI his house lies within 100 feet of the proposed pipeline route, and his biggest concern is safety in the event of a natural gas explosion. Royborland is being sued by the pipeline company for access to his land for surveying. He says he has been trying to work something out with the company for weeks, and he hopes the court case will come to an amicable solution. Letters with concerns about the ET Rover Pipeline can be dropped off at the township offices. Emails can be sent to treasurer@putnamtwp.us or supervisor@putnamtwp.us. (TD/JK)
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Marshmallow Drop & Nighttime Moon Glow Event This Friday Marshmallow Drop & Nighttime Moon Glow Event This Friday
Thereâs limited time left to register for a unique night-time Easter egg hunt and spring time celebration. The Howell Area Parks & Recreation Authority will host its popular Marshmallow Drop and Moonglow at the Genoa Township athletic fields off Dorr Road this Friday. It was planned earlier this month but had to be rescheduled due to the weather. The outdoor event begins with a helicopter fly-over and a massive drop of thousands of marshmallows, with some that can be turned in for prizes. After the marshmallow drop and once the sun sets, the night-time Easter Egg Hunt or Moon Glow begins. Attendees are asked to dress appropriately for the weather and bring cameras and flashlights. The event is open to children up to age 8 and limited to the first 1000 children registered. All registrations must be received in advance by Friday. Details are available through the link below. (JM)
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LACASA Hosting Documentary & Discussion Panels On Campus RapeLACASA Hosting Documentary & Discussion Panels On Campus Rape
A documentary tomorrow night in Howell will highlight sexual assaults on U.S. college campuses, major institutional cover-ups, and the brutal toll on victims and their families. LACASA Center is presenting âThe Hunting Groundâ Friday at 7pm at the Historic Howell Theater as part of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. âThe Hunting Groundâ opened at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Itâs Co-Editor and Associate Producer, Douglas Bush, who is a Michigan native, will discuss making the film and field questions from the audience afterward. Then next week, on Thursday, April 23rd, there will be a University Panel Discussion in the Livingston County EMS Headquarters on Tooley Road in Howell. Representatives from Michiganâs major universities will address sexual assault response measures on local campuses and answer questions from the audience. That event is free and open to the public. Nicole Matthews-Creech, LACASAâs Community Education Director, said they are honored to host the Livingston County premier of âThe Hunting Ground,â which she described as âa powerful film that dares to expose sexual assault cover-ups at top universities.â Tickets to the documentary film premiere are $8 for adults and $7 for students and seniors. The theater is donating $1 from the sale of each ticket to help sexual assault victims at LACASA. âThe Hunting Groundâ will run throughout the weekend at the theater in Downtown Howell. (JK)
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