An online list of the top ten best communities in Michigan for young families published this month includes the City of South Lyon. The list was published by the personal finance website NerdWallet.com last week. The author of the report pointed to the recovery efforts and successes of Michigan and Detroit as possible draws for young families to move into the state. Criteria for the top ten was based on measurable data, including home affordability, economic growth, education, the percentage of families with school-age children, and the poverty rate for young children. With a total of 137 communities examined, South Lyon ranked #8 overall, with special recognition paid to its school system, growing median family income, and recreation opportunities like the Huron Valley Trail. The top spot was occupied by the Saginaw County community of Freeland, which has the highest proportion of married family households with children in the state at 37%. (TD)
South Lyon Named Among Friendliest Michigan Communities For FamiliesSouth Lyon Named Among Friendliest Michigan Communities For Families
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Fenton Streetscape Work To Cause Lane ClosuresFenton Streetscape Work To Cause Lane Closures
Fentonâs streetscape project is continuing to move forward. An update from the city says pipe boring underneath the Shiawassee River was completed and new water main was installed there. They are also continuing work to place footings for a handicapped accessible ramp that will be constructed at 101 W. Shiawassee (Sweet Variations). This week a valve will be inserted on the water main on LeRoy Street between Elizabeth and Rockwell. The City cautions that there may be intermittent lane closures but they will only be temporary. In addition, water main work will begin primarily on the north side of Shiawassee Avenue from Adelaide to LeRoy. Eastbound traffic will continue to be open on Shiawassee while that work is completed. However, officials say parking will be removed from Shiawassee while the water main work is being completed.
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Community Project Culminates with Presentation & AED DemoCommunity Project Culminates with Presentation & AED Demo
Local businesses were presented with life saving devices during a recent event at the Livingston County EMS and Public Safety Complex. Cleary Universityâs Leadership Livingston coordinated the Heart Hunt Challenge, which was a volunteer effort to hunt for Automated External Defibrillators or AEDâs across Livingston County. If someone has a sudden cardiac arrest, an AED is a device that applies an electrical shock to the heart to get it started again. Every year 1,000 people in Livingston County are said to die from Sudden Cardiac Arrest - which is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. The project mapped out 119 locations showing where AEDâs are located so that first responders arriving on scene can quickly and easily find the closest. A total of seven businesses in busy, identified gap areas were presented with AEDâs and more are expected, which was made possible through local donations and a $10,000 grant from the Livingston County Community Foundation. Josephine Jabara is one of the twelve class participants and tells WHMI the goal is to prevent all deaths related to sudden cardiac arrest, noting the project was a bit of a challenge considering they had to map out all of the devices during one of the coldest winters on record. Leadership Livingston coach Debi Drick commented the class worked very hard and accomplished a huge goal since the project was no small feat. Livingston County 911/EMS Director Jeff Boyd also commended the class and all of their hard work. He tells WHMI the goal is to now coordinate with local fire departments to document any remaining AEDâs and take the project to the next level for the county, which could include inputting the information into the Central Dispatch system. (JM)
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Horse Rescued From Deerfield Township SwampHorse Rescued From Deerfield Township Swamp
The Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority rescued a horse trapped in a swamp over the weekend. The department was called out to the scene off of a trail in Deerfield Township Park just after 6pm on Saturday. The first units to arrive had to hike for a mile and a half to get to the horse, which was trapped in about three feet of mud in a swamp with heavy ground vegetation. Crews cleared the brush, and once the horseâs owner had sedated it, they were able to get the animal on a large tarp-like sled. Responders then used a winch to pull the sled with the horse out of the mud and onto the trail. The extraction took about two hours, and by the end the horse was able to stand and walk back home.
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Fired Superintendent & Howell Public Schools Work To Find ArbitratorFired Superintendent & Howell Public Schools Work To Find Arbitrator
Howell Public Schools and former superintendent Ron Wilson are currently working to choose an arbitrator for the lawsuit he has filed against the district. Late last year, Wilson was fired by the Board of Education, which claims he filed for and lied about travel compensation to which he knew he was not entitled to. Wilson and his wife Elizabeth filed suit against the district in December, claiming personal damages, violation of the Whistleblower Protection Act, and breach of contract. He sought $600,000 for lost compensation, damage to his reputation, and various other damages. Since then, however, the lawsuit has been put on pause and the dispute has been sent to be resolved in binding arbitration as called for in Wilson's contract. Dr. Jeremy Hughes says lawyers on both sides are currently examining a pool of possible arbitrators. He tells WHMI the process can begin as soon as an arbitrator is agreed upon. The court case between Wilson and the district is still technically open. Although he was not entirely sure why that is, Hughes says it may be because the arbitrator can choose not to rule on certain aspects of Wilsonâs claims, which would then have to be resolved in the legal system. (TD/JK)
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Charity Hockey Game Shoots For Goal Of AED's In Every County Cop CarCharity Hockey Game Shoots For Goal Of AED's In Every County Cop Car
The Sparky Defibrillator Challenge Charity Hockey Game will take place this Saturday, April 25th at 2pm at the Hartland Sports Center. The game will feature the Sparky Defibrillator Challenge team vs. the First Responders of Livingston County, which is made up of fire, police and EMS personnel from across the county. The Sparky Defibrillator Challenge will also donate five Phillips Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) to five Livingston County police departments who will be present in uniform, including Brighton, Green Oak, Howell, Livingston County Sheriff and Michigan State Police. George Stefureac heads up the Sparky Defibrillator Challenge and says the presentations will be the start of their goal to raise funds for another 30 AEDâs so that every police car in Livingston County will be fitted with their own unit. He says equipping police cars with the units will decrease response time for cardiac arrest victims, hopefully within a five minute window. Thatâs something heâs very familiar with, having survived his own cardiac arrest in 2011 while playing hockey at the Kensington Ice House. First responders would later say that the availability of an AED at the arena saved his life. Stefureac says Michigan statistically has a 5% survival rate of having a cardiac arrest and that if all county police cars were equipped with AEDâs, that should increase the survival rate to 25%. Youâll find additional details through the link below. (JK)
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Hand Crafted Military Models Presented to Local Veterans Next Friday Hand Crafted Military Models Presented to Local Veterans Next Friday
A military model dedication ceremony is planned next week at a senior citizen living facility in Brighton. Independence Village of Brighton Valley is hosting the Veterans Project Ceremony on May 1st. Hand crafted models of military subjects will be dedicated to Veterans there, with each model presented by the creator. The custom models feature the ship, tank or aircraft a veteran served on. Next Fridayâs ceremony begins at 1pm at Independence Village. Details are attached below. (JM)
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Congressman Bishop Gives Address At Good Morning LivingstonCongressman Bishop Gives Address At Good Morning Livingston
A congressional leader who spends most of his time in Washington D.C. made his way to Livingston County this morning.Mike Bishop, the 8th Congressional Districtâs new leader and successor to Mike Rogers, spoke at the Howell Area Chamber of Commerceâs monthly event, Good Morning Livingston. Bishop, who says he ânever anticipated to run for congressâ, though he âtruly enjoysâ his job, appeared at Crystal Gardens to update the community about his 102 days as a member of Congress thus far. Bishop, who was elected as head of the Steering Committee by his fellow congressional class members, also serves on the Education and Work Force and Judiciary Committee. Bishop tells WHMI there are several issues he believes deserve attention on a national and world-wide level. The self-described âstrict constitutionalistâ is also working on regulatory reform with the Judiciary Committee. Though Bishop says regulation may not be a hot topic, he believes there is a âstaggering amountâ of regulation standing in the way of businessesâ progression. The Congressman also addressed Michiganâs Proposal 1 and says he supports responsible funding for the stateâs roads. On the United States remaining a respected world leader, Bishop says America needs âto let the world know what weâre doing and how weâre doing itâ. (DK)
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Critics Charge Hune-Sponsored No-Fault Reforms Unfairly Benefit Insurance CompaniesCritics Charge Hune-Sponsored No-Fault Reforms Unfairly Benefit Insurance Companies
A divided state Senate approved revisions last week to Michigan's auto insurance law that backers, including Livingston Countyâs Joe Hune, said would curtail costs. Opponents warned it wouldn't guarantee rate relief and was rushed through to benefit insurance companies. The Republican-led chamber voted 21-17 last week to move the legislation to the House after five hours of closed-door meetings and debate on the floor. In addition to limiting auto insurance medical payments, the bills would also create a new entity to replace the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association, which covers severely injured motorists whose medical bills exceed $530,000. That is currently funded with a $186 annual per-vehicle fee assessed on drivers. It would also limit insurance reimbursement for in-home nursing care for people recovering from their injuries and establish an insurance authority to investigate fraud in the no-fault system. While the bills don't mandate reduced rates, insurers say they would drop to coincide with unspecified corresponding cost savings. State Senator Hune, a Hamburg Township Republican, was the legislationâs sponsor and said the âbest approach to bringing down insurance rates in Michigan is to take costs out of the system." Hune said unlimited lifetime benefits would stay intact, unlike in bills introduced last session that would have capped them. But Democrats saw it differently. Sen. Coleman Young II, of Detroit said competition among profitable insurers hasn't driven premiums downward and "won't under this bill." Further criticism came from Progress Michigan, which said the bills were, âproof that too many lawmakers are working on behalf of big donors instead of the people,â noting that Hune, as chairman of the committee, had received more than $108,000 in donations from the insurance industry, the most of any other Senator. Unlike many bills in the highly partisan legislature, this legislation did not break entirely on party lines. Seven Republicans joined 10 Democrats in opposition, while one Democrat joined 20 Republicans to support the measures. GOP leaders, who came under criticism for rushing the bills without adequate time for review, said the issue has been debated for a decade. Previous legislation stalled under resistance from the medical community, patients and plaintiffs' attorneys. The bills now move on to the House for consideration. (JK)
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Sheriff's Department To Purchase New Service WeaponsSheriff's Department To Purchase New Service Weapons
The Livingston County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution Monday evening approving the purchase of new service weapons for the Sheriffâs Department. The sidearm weapons that the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department currently uses have begun to experience functionality problems due to age and the amount of rounds fire through them. The Sheriffâs Department found refurbishing their weapons would cost $11,400. For less than $1,000 more, the department is able to entirely replace the weapons, holsters, and magazine pouches. After receiving quotes from three weapon system vendors, the department found Michigan Police Equipment had not only the best overall price, but also a buyback program. The Sheriffâs Department will receive credit towards their new purchase by selling their old systems back to the vendor, bringing the net cost of the project to just over $12,000. The vendor will also be purchasing a large amount of ammunition from the department who says they no longer have a use for it. The Sheriffâs Department will be purchasing 62 Glock 21 units and 52 Smith and Wesson M&P units. After extensive research, the department decided to allow their shooters to choose their weapon based on personal preference. A representative from the Sheriffâs Department says âitâs not commonâ for departments to have different weapon systems, but they believe shooter confidence is the most important aspect in a high stress situation. (DK)
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Whitmore Lake Woman's Nursing License Suspended After Fraud CaseWhitmore Lake Woman's Nursing License Suspended After Fraud Case
A Whitmore Lake woman has had her nursing license suspended after being convicted in a fraud case. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs says it has suspended Patricia Kay Hampelâs license to practice as a registered nurse based on felony convictions in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court in Ann Arbor. Hampel was sentenced in March and ordered to serve 24 months of probation after being convicted of identity theft and Medicaid fraud/false claim. LARA issued an order summarily suspending Hampelâs license pursuant to the Public Health Code earlier this month. (JM)
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Howell City Extends Medical Marijuana Facility Moratorium Until Next AprilHowell City Extends Medical Marijuana Facility Moratorium Until Next April
The Howell City Council added another year onto its moratorium on medical marijuana dispensing facilities last night. The moratorium has been in place for years, but was scheduled to expire at the end of the month. It is now scheduled to end in April of 2016. City staff has been working with experts in the subject and recommended the extension because of action being taken at the state level. City Manager Shea Charles says there are three Michigan Supreme Court cases and some legislative action related to medical marijuana regulation pending right now, and those would all be factors in the cityâs final decisions about how and where medical marijuana can be handled commercially. Charles says the other major factor weighing on the minds of local municipalities is the growing momentum of the legalization movement. Two separate groups are planning to circulate petitions to get the legalization of marijuana onto the November 2016 ballot. City staff recommended that council extend the moratorium to the end of next April, rather than the end of this December as originally planned, so they could have a better idea of whether the legalization proposals would be on the November ballot. No members of the public spoke about medical marijuana at last nightâs meeting. (TD)
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Woman Charged With Premeditated Murder Of Fenton ManWoman Charged With Premeditated Murder Of Fenton Man
Murder charges have been brought against a northern Michigan woman in the slaying of a Fenton man. 52-year-old Mary Bigford of Lake is accused of shooting 39-year-old Lawrence Howard to death in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday afternoon. Witnesses say Bigford had two children with her, one in a stroller, when she began shooting at the car in the parking lot of an apartment complex. She then allegedly left the stroller, grabbed the children, and ran off. According to WNEM, Bigford was arraigned on Monday on a charge of premeditated murder and is being held without bond. Authorities say they are not releasing a theory on Bigfordâs motive until their investigation is further along, but police did say that Bigford is the maternal grandmother of Howardâs children. (TD)
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Howell Considering Self Financing City Hall RepairsHowell Considering Self Financing City Hall Repairs
Major repairs are needed to stabilize Howellâs City Hall and City Council is keeping their options open. When cracking was discovered along the east wall of the building, the city brought in their engineering firm to investigate the dependability of the establishment. The engineers determined that several problems needed to be addressed in the near future and the city has been looking for the best option to cover the costly reconstruction. City Council discussed the possibility of financing the necessary repairs to the building at a recent meeting. City Manager Shea Charles presented the idea to the board as Council had recently approved the refinancing of existing debt. He tells WHMI adding the cost of repairs to their refinance could be a beneficial option. Charles says the city is in the process of reissuing around four million dollars for their debt and with interest rates working in their favor, the city could potentially save money with the reissuance. Charles says while this leads to some long term costs, the city will not have to deplete their cash reserves. Council members agreed to prepare a resolution to consider this option for financing the buildingâs repairs, though it does not commit the city to issue the debt. (DK)
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Pharmacist Pleas Guilty To Stealing Adderall For Personal UsePharmacist Pleas Guilty To Stealing Adderall For Personal Use
A Hartland Township pharmacist has pleaded guilty to stealing pills from her employer for personal use. 32-year-old Lauren B. Strzelecki was charged with larceny in a building and larceny totaling more than $1,000. Both charges stem from claims that Strzelecki stole Adderall pills from her employer, the Brighton Township Walgreen Pharmacy. Strzelecki, who is a doctor of pharmacy, pleaded guilty to the larceny in a building charge in exchange for having the second charge dismissed by prosecutors. She said in her plea that she stole the pills over time âto help me do my job.â She is scheduled to be sentenced in Livingston County Circuit Court on May 14th. Adderall is an amphetamine stimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. It is also used recreationally to enhance performance, libido, mood, and cognition. Addiction is unlikely at normal therapeutic levels, but is a risk when taken recreationally. (TD)
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Best-Selling Author Brings Tale Of Post-Apocalyptic Michigan To HowellBest-Selling Author Brings Tale Of Post-Apocalyptic Michigan To Howell
A bestselling author will be in Howell this weekend to promote her acclaimed book chosen to be this yearâs selection for The Great Michigan Read. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel tells the story of troupe of Shakespearean actors and musicians traveling the shores of the Great Lakes in a post-apocalyptic Michigan. The story travels back and forth in time from just prior to a worldwide collapse caused by a flu pandemic to its immediate aftermath to twenty years later, describing a world without electricity, technology or organized systems of government. Station Eleven spent eight weeks on the New York Times best-seller list and was one of the best-reviewed books in 2014. Mandel, who will discuss the book on Sunday at the Howell Opera House, says even though she was born in Canada and now lives in New York, she set the story in Michigan because she fell in love with the area while on a book tour in 2010. But it also made sense for the storyline as survivors in such a world would need abundant drinking water and it had to be in a location where it would be plausible to walk to from Toronto, where the story begins. Mandel hopes the story will give readers a greater appreciation for the technological wonders of the world we live in, but also a realization of how much we sometimes let that technology define us as people. Sundayâs program at the Howell Opera House starts at 3:30pm and is free of charge. It will be hosted by the Howell Carnegie District Library. An excerpt of Mandelâs interview is posted below, while the full version will air Sunday morning at 8:30 on WHMIâs Viewpoint.
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Milford Village Council Approves Monument In Veterans Memorial Milford Village Council Approves Monument In Veterans Memorial
Monday nightâs Milford Village Council meeting was standing room only after a story about a fallen soldier monument went viral. After a lengthy call to the public and some debate, Councilman Jim Kovach made an unexpected motion to add the item to the agenda and it passed unanimously. Cheers and applause filled the room - which was packed with veterans, project organizers, soldiers, citizens and students who implored council to add the bronze sculpture which consists of combat boots, a rifle and helmet to remind of those who have served honorably, made sacrifices or gave their lives. Some members voiced concerns during the April 6th meeting about the proposed 8-foot size and location in the middle of the park, as well as the weapon itself. A number said itâs an honorable monument that will only enhance the existing memorial but added they were embarrassed by all of the controversy since Milford is very patriotic town. Friends of American Veterans raised about $12,000 in donations to pay for the statue and FAV chairman Bear Hall said he was originally told that all he had to do was make sure it matched the monument currently there. He later learned he would need to go before the parks and rec commission as well as the village, which he did. Hall will be working with Village staff and administration to work out a final design for the monument, which could potentially be in place within 6 to 8 weeks. (JM)
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Hartland Township Discusses Plans For New Residential DevelopmentHartland Township Discusses Plans For New Residential Development
A new subdivision is in the works on the north side of M-59 in Hartland Township. The Walnut Ridge Estates subdivision is a 64-unit development planned for the area behind the Venture Church, formerly the River Church, west of US-23 on M-59. The houses will include two-story and ranch-style homes and are expected to be priced starting at $300,000. The township had planned on that area being used for single-family residential housing even before the church was built. Representatives for the Walnut Ridge project presented their conceptual plan to the township board last night and received direction on changes board members would like to see to the plan before it gets brought back. The largest question raised by the township board was one of connectivity. Board members suggested the developers look at connecting to Hacker Road, rather than only M-59, to improve access. The developers will now take the recommendations of the township board into consideration as they begin work on a preliminary site plan. They will also begin working with the Michigan Department of Transportation and Livingston County Drain Commission to clear their plans with those departments. (TD)
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Howell Township Woman Bound Over For Trial In Fatal Crash CaseHowell Township Woman Bound Over For Trial In Fatal Crash Case
A local woman has been bound over to Livingston County Circuit Court in connection with a Howell Township crash that claimed the life of an unborn child. Judge Carol Sue Reader bound over 34-year-old Angela Murphy-Spare of Brighton at a probable cause conference Tuesday. Murphy-Spare is charged with one count of Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death, a 15-year felony, and one count of Operating While Intoxicated Causing Serious Injury, a five year felony. Police say she was driving westbound in an eastbound lane of M-59 near Durant Road in Howell Township on May 7th of last year when she struck a Saturn driven by 29-year-old Michelle Richards of Howell. Murphy-Spare was deemed the at-fault driver and initial testing indicated she had a blood-alcohol content of .12%. The legal limit is .08%. Both women suffered significant injuries as a result of the crash. Murphy-Spare was taken by Survival Flight to the University of Michigan Hospital. Richards, who was seven months pregnant at the time of the crash, was also hospitalized and ultimately lost her child. (TD)
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Volunteers Sought for Imagination Station Spring Clean-Up Volunteers Sought for Imagination Station Spring Clean-Up
The City of Brighton is looking for help with an annual project to spruce up a downtown play structure. The 4th annual Imagination Station Playground Volunteer Spring Kickoff event is scheduled for Saturday, May 9th in downtown Brighton. The community built playground was constructed in 1995 and is maintained by volunteers. A variety of tasks are available for all ages and skill levels. Some of the jobs include pulling weeds, trimming shrubs, painting, and dropping a fresh layer of chips on the ground. All the tools and materials will be provided and volunteers will receive goodie bags from local businesses. For more information, visit the Imagination Stationâs Facebook page, or visit the âNews and Noticesâ section of the city's website. A link is below. (MK)
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