Residents are being asked to lend a hand as the Fenton Parks and Recreation Board prepares for its annual Park Cleanup Day. The event will take place on May 2nd beginning at 8am. Volunteers will conduct the cleanup along the Riverwalk Trail from the gazebo in Mill Pond Park to the fishing dock in Strom Park. The work is expected to mostly consist of trimming vines and vegetation along the trail, thereby improving the view and access for visitors. They do not plan to remove any trees. Workers will also be raising sunken bricks along the trail. Anyone who wants to volunteer is invited to meet on the morning of the cleanup behind the Fire Hall restaurant, and should bring any work gloves, pruning tools, rakes, and shovels they can to help with the effort. (TD)
Fenton City Residents Invited To Park Cleanup DayFenton City Residents Invited To Park Cleanup Day
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Howell City Approves Device To Clean Animal Droppings From BeachHowell City Approves Device To Clean Animal Droppings From Beach
The City of Howell has approved the purchase of a specialized device that will help keep goose droppings off of Thompson Lake beach. Every year, geese and other waterfowl congregate at the lake and leave droppings on the beach. When they mix with water, those droppings raise the E.coli levels of the lake. The city must test the water every day that the beach is open, and if the E. coli levels are too high they have to close the beach to residents. While this did not happen last year, Parks and Cemeteries Department Supervisor Devin LaRowe says it happened about half a dozen times in 2013. At its meeting Monday night, the Howell City Council approved the purchase of a device that can be pulled behind a tractor to clean the sand on the beach. The device lifts out the top three layers of sand, sifts through it to remove the droppings, and redeposit clean sand behind it. The lowest bid for the device came in at just over $18,000, and LaRowe expects to have the beach-cleaner sometime around Memorial Day. Councilman Doug Heins was he only dissenting vote on the board. He said other municipalities on Thompson Lake should chip in on the cost of the device. (TD)
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Huron-Clinton Metroparks Board Names George Phifer DirectorHuron-Clinton Metroparks Board Names George Phifer Director
Huron-Clinton Metroparks has a new director although heâs no stranger to the organization and brings a strong law enforcement background to the table. The board named George Phifer to the director position during a meeting earlier this month. In the new role, Phifer will serve as chief executive officer and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority. Phifer said heâs elated to lead such a unique organization and honored to be given the opportunity by the Board of Commissioners. Prior to his promotion, Phifer served as deputy director and chief operating officer and was responsible for the overall administration and operation of all 13 Metroparks. Phifer first began working for the Metroparks in September of 2008 as the chief of police - a role in which he still maintains today. He retired as a captain from the Pontiac Police Department in 2004 before working as chief of security for the Pontiac school district and later became director of security and safety for six out-of-state-hospitals. (JM)
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Fundraising Dinner Benefits Local Students And Youth-Based NonprofitFundraising Dinner Benefits Local Students And Youth-Based Nonprofit
The proceeds from a recent fundraising dinner and raffle will be split between a local nonprofit and a group of Pinckney High School students planning to travel to California. The Pinckney Community Youth Development Initiative, or PCYDI, held a spaghetti dinner on April 18th. The event raised more than $6,000, and while PCYDI took home the lionâs share of that money, Treasurer Lyzelle Dunn tells WHMI a large portion of it also went to a group of five Pinckney students who have qualified for Business Professionals of America activities next month in California. Of those students, one was chosen as an ambassador and voting delegate for the State of Michigan, one is involved in a mobile app development competition, and three took the top three spots at the state level in the Cisco Systems Administration competition. They presented their work during the dinner and explained why they needed funds to travel to California and participate in their BPA activities. They ended up with $2,200 toward that goal from the dinner. PCYDI ended up netting more than $3,000 from the event after expenses. It will use those funds to help secure a more permanent headquarters and continue funding local youth projects. (TD)
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Upcoming Fashion Show to Benefit Non-Profit Suits for SoldiersUpcoming Fashion Show to Benefit Non-Profit Suits for Soldiers
An upcoming charity fashion show aims to help fill a need among returning service men and women. The Livingston Chapter of Womenâs Council Realtors is hosting a fashion show with an âAmerican chicâ theme to benefit Suits for Soldiers. Donations of new or clean, slightly-used interview-friendly outfits for men and women and/or accessories will be collected at the event on May 7th at Waldenwoods Resort in Hartland Township. Fashion Show Chairperson Kat Alexander tells WHMI itâs a very worthy cause that helps give Veterans the ability to make a first impression during employment interviews as they become acclimated back into civilian life. Alexander says sponsors and vendors are still being sought to participate in the event and theyâre also looking for donated auction items. Details and ticket information can be found in the attachments below. (JM)
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Slight Decrease In Unemployment Last Month Adds To Yearlong ProgressSlight Decrease In Unemployment Last Month Adds To Yearlong Progress
There was not much change in Michiganâs seasonally unadjusted jobless rates between February and March, but there has been significant improvement since March of 2014. The state released regional unemployment numbers this month. They remained stable from February to March, changing less than one-third of a percentage point in either direction in all 17 labor regions. The biggest reduction was in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area, which includes Livingston County, which saw unemployment drop from 6.3% to 6%. Of the six counties in that region, Livingston has the lowest unemployment rate with 4.9%, just barely edging out Oakland County for the #13 spot among Michiganâs 83 counties. Between March 2014 and March 2015, the region and the state as a whole have seen significant improvement in jobless rates. Michiganâs overall unemployment rate dropped by more than a third from 8.4% to 5.7% in that time. The jobless rate for the local six-county region fell even faster during the past year, dropping from 9.4% to 6%. (TD)
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Two Local Finalists in Running for Farmington City Manager Post Two Local Finalists in Running for Farmington City Manager Post
Six finalists â including two with ties to the local area â are in the running to become the next Farmington city manager. Among the six candidates to be interviewed May 9th are Fenton Assistant City Manager Michael Burns and current Wayne City Manager David Murphy, who is the former Brighton Township and South Lyon city manager. The other four finalists are the Peoria, Illinois director of public works Mike Rogers, previous Woodhaven city administrator Mark Kibby; Taylor's director of public services and deputy city manager David Mackie and Bryce Kelley, former director of the Wayne County Economic Development Growth Engine. Mayor Bill Galvin announced the names at Monday's city council meeting. The six were selected from a list of 40 applicants seeking to replace City Manager Vince Pastue. The Farmington City Council will be conducting a public meet and greet from with the six finalists on May 8th from 6 to 9pm. Interviews start at 9am on May 9th in council chambers with deliberations to follow. (JM)
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Alleged Illegal Grow Operation Leads To Charges For Three Local MenAlleged Illegal Grow Operation Leads To Charges For Three Local Men
Three local men are being charged after police say they were growing large quantities of marijuana illegally. 49-year-old Jeffrey Mote of South Lyon, 50-year-old Richard Riley of Brighton, and 41-year-old Anthony Portelli of Whitmore Lake have all been charged with delivering or manufacturing between 5 and 45 kilograms of marijuana, the equivalent of between 20 and 200 plants, as well as a generic charge of delivering or manufacturing marijuana. Their cases have been delayed since February of 2014, with various conflicts or adjournments pushing them back. During that time they have each posted their $40,000 bond, and Judge Carol Sue Reader has granted requests to suspend bond conditions and let the defendants travel out of state. Mote and Portelli are currently on a business trip to Las Vegas. The trio is scheduled for an exam on May 12th, when the judge will discuss the possibility of binding the defendants over to circuit court for trial. (TD)
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Dexter Man Charged After Being Found In Motel Room With Teen GirlDexter Man Charged After Being Found In Motel Room With Teen Girl
After being found in an Ann Arbor motel room with a 14-year-old Monroe County girl, a Dexter man is jailed and facing felony sexual assault charges. 21-year-old Andrew Campbell was arraigned last week in Monroe County on two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of accosting a minor for immoral purposes, one count using a computer to commit a felony, and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His bond was set at $250,000. Additional charges may also be filed in Washtenaw County. The girl was reported missing to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office last Tuesday. Police believe the girl and Campbell met online and she voluntarily met up with him in Monroe. The two were then found in an Ann Arbor hotel Thursday morning. Ann Arbor Police returned the girl to her parents. Campbell was questioned, arrested and then booked into the Monroe County Jail. (JK)
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Realtors To Hold Annual Canned Food Drive For Gleaners Food BankRealtors To Hold Annual Canned Food Drive For Gleaners Food Bank
A canned food drive to benefit Gleaners Community Food Bank will be held this weekend. The Livingston County Association of Realtors will be holding its 13th annual Fill the Gazebo event from 9:30am to 1:30pm on Saturday, May 2nd. Realtors will be collecting canned goods along the streets of Howell and Brighton and in front of area grocery stores during the event. They encourage residents who want to donate to think of nutritious foods that children enjoy, since much of the food donated to Gleaners will go to families with small children. Organizers are also accepting cash donations, with every dollar providing an estimated three meals for local people in need. The goal this year is to collect 15,000 pounds of food. Those who wish to contribute but will not be able to get out to donate can visit the Livingston County Association of Realtors website and donate online. A link is provided below. (TD)
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Hartland's Cromaine Library Piggybacks Bond Onto May 5th Road ElectionHartland's Cromaine Library Piggybacks Bond Onto May 5th Road Election
A $12 (m) million bond proposal to renovate the Cromaine District Library location in the village will appear on the May 5th ballot. The proposal failed in the November election by 95 votes across the library district, which encompasses Hartland and five other townships. Library Director Ceci Marlow tells WHMI many supporters felt it was important to keep the momentum going and put the issue back on the ballot after they were able to take advantage of a free statewide election once the legislature decided to put the roads-related Proposal 1 before voters. Marlow says itâs a very simple bond proposal and none of the funds can be used for wages, positions or even supplies. Four presentations have been held to date and another titled Library Financing 101 has been scheduled this Thursday, April 30th at 7pm. Marlow says sheâll explain why they have to put the funding request before voters, why the Crossroads location will close if the proposal doesnât pass and why itâs important in general for the growing community. Details about the bond proposal are available through the link below. (JM)
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Same-Sex Michigan Couples Await Supreme Court Arguments TuesdaySame-Sex Michigan Couples Await Supreme Court Arguments Tuesday
Is it the will of voters or a court or law that decides who can marry? The answer many Michiganders have waited years for is almost here, as the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday takes up the issue of marriage equality. Tari Muniz of Lansing has been with her partner Kim for nearly six years, and says she's optimistic the high court will rule that states have an obligation to perform same-sex marriages. She says she firmly believes the tide of public opinion has shifted in the 11 years since Michigan voters approved a same-sex marriage ban. "Everybody knows someone who is lesbian, gay, transgendered or bisexual at this point. You know, even if you don't want to admit it, it's pretty hard to say that, 'There's no one in my world or my connection that is an LGBT.'" The Supreme Court could issue a decision in what is actually a consolidation of cases from Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee, at any time. However, most legal analysts believe a ruling will come toward the end of the court's term in June. A candlelight vigil in support of marriage equality takes place on the Michigan State Capitol steps today at 6:30 p.m. Given the current hodgepodge of state laws on same-sex marriage, Muniz says she and her partner easily could have traveled out-of-state to tie the knot, but she says they are committed not just to each other, but to Michigan. "As lifelong residents, as someone that's paid taxes to the state for over 40 years, I really am invested in doing it here, in my home, with my family and my community." Roughly 300 same-sex couples were married in Michigan last March during a short-lived window that opened when a federal judge in Detroit struck down Michigan's same-sex marriage ban. Written with help from Public News Service. (JK)
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Winner Awarded For Art Competition Sponsored By Congressman BishopWinner Awarded For Art Competition Sponsored By Congressman Bishop
A local art competition hosted by Congressman Mike Bishop announced its winner at Cleary Universityâs Arthur Secunda Museum on Saturday. One piece was chosen out of 20 entries from high school students for the Eighth District Congressional Art Competition. Ashley Gibbons, a senior at Father Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor, is the artist behind the winning artwork. Her entry will be displayed in Washington D.C. She was also awarded two round trip tickets to the Capital. Though Gibbonsâ parents were previously informed of her success, she says she was completely shocked when her name was announced. Gibbons tells WHMI her collaborative piece was inspired by one of her passions. The submitted artwork was judged by three art professionals from across the district. John Sauve (at far right), a Brighton artist and panel judge, says it is incredibly important to keep the conversation about art alive. Sauve says Congressman Bishop (at far left), the competitionâs sponsor, is renewing art interest in the community. Sauve was inspired by the number of entries for the competition and encouraged each participating artist to continue their work. (DK/JK)
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Vandals Damage Closed-Down Skate Park In BrightonVandals Damage Closed-Down Skate Park In Brighton
Brighton Police are investigating damage done recently to a now-closed recreational facility. Brighton Police Chief Tom Wightman says that someone broke into the SELCRA Skate Park off of Orndorf Drive sometime in the past several weeks and did extensive damage to the building's windows. The interior was also significantly vandalized. In addition, he says the park's No Trespassing signs were also stolen. The park, located behind the Meijer store, was owned and previously operated by the Southeastern Livingston County Recreation Authority. Chief Wightman says they canât be more precise as to when the vandalism took place because the park has been closed the last few years due to a lack of funding. But anyone with information is asked to call the Brighton Police Department at 810-227-2700. (JK)
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Fowlerville Man Facing Charges After Crashing Vehicle In Ingham CountyFowlerville Man Facing Charges After Crashing Vehicle In Ingham County
A Livingston County man is facing charges after being rescued Sunday by an off-duty police officer. The Ingham County Sheriffâs Department says that just after 9pm Sunday, an off-duty MSU Police Sergeant called in a reckless driver, who she believed to be possibly impaired. The vehicle was traveling eastbound on I-96 east of Okemos Road. The officer then witnessed the vehicle crash several minutes later, just west of Meridian Road in Alaiedon Twp. The vehicle was smoking and the airbags were deployed. The officer stopped and rendered aid to the driver who was said to be barely conscious. She removed the driverâs seatbelt and pulled him out of the vehicle. Moments later, police say it was fully engulfed in flames. The driver, identified as a 28 year old male from the Fowlerville area, was not injured. After being taken to a local hospital for evaluation, he was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated, Driving with a Suspended License and Possession of Narcotics. The suspect was then lodged at the Ingham County Jail without bond, pending arraignment. (JK)
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Alcohol & Drugs Likely Factors In Injury To Brighton Pedestrian Alcohol & Drugs Likely Factors In Injury To Brighton Pedestrian
A Brighton man is hospitalized after being hit by a car Friday night. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Department says that deputies were dispatched around midnight to a pedestrian versus automobile crash on W. Grand River near Herbst Road in Brighton Township. A preliminary investigation indicates that 24-year-old Christopher Vaught of Brighton was struck by a 1990 Cadillac Deville that was heading west on Grand River. The vehicle was a driven by a 28-year-old Brighton resident. Vaught was transported by Livingston County Ambulance to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor with what were thought to be life-threatening injuries. However, he is listed in good condition today. The driver of the Cadillac was not injured. Prior to the crash, police say there were several 911 calls indicating that Vaught was in the roadway running at passing vehicles and he also had been observed lying in the roadway. While it appears alcohol and drugs were factors in Vaughtâs actions, neither alcohol nor speed is thought to be involved with the driver of the Cadillac. The roadway was closed for approximately two and a half hours during the investigation. Deputies were assisted at the scene by personnel from Brighton Fire Department and Livingston County EMS. This incident remains under investigation by the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department Traffic Safety Bureau. (JK)
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Rental Car Found Partially Submerged In South Lyon PondRental Car Found Partially Submerged In South Lyon Pond
A South Lyon police officer found a car rented by a Wyoming man partially submerged in a local pond on Sunday. The officer was patrolling near the Waterâs Edge Apartments just after 2pm when he spotted the Chevy Malibu sticking out of the pond that gives the complex its name. According to the South Lyon Herald, the carâs two front doors were open, the headlights were on, and the vehicle was still in drive. Police traced the license plate to a rental car company in Virginia. It was registered to a Wyoming man who said he had rented the vehicle on Friday to visit family nearby. He said he did not know the vehicle was missing, and that he had left it parked with the keys inside about 3 miles away from where it had been found. The vehicle has since been impounded. (TD)
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Brighton Schools' Legacy Deficit Seen As Ending Soon Brighton Schools' Legacy Deficit Seen As Ending Soon
At its meeting Monday, the Brighton Area Schools Board of Education was given a rosy picture of the projected district budget for next year that shows a huge, $9 million swing from the negative to the positive. The proposed budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year, prepared and presented by Assistant Superintendent of Finance Maria Gistinger, projects revenues of just under $63 million, about $4.5 million over projected expenses. That means the district would go from a deficit district with a debt of $4.3 million to a district in the black, with a projected fund balance of $4.5 million by the end of the 15-16 fiscal year. Superintendent Greg Gray tells WHMI that going from a deficit district to having a substantial projected fund equity is a huge swing that involved sacrifice by all employees in the district. The budget is based on such factors as the same amount of net revenues as this year from the Shared Services program, a loss of 50 in-house students, counter-balanced by an increase in the number of Schools of Choice students, a zero increase in employee retirement costs and a 2% increase in district property values. Per-pupil state aid is projected to go up to $7,301 per student, based on a state foundation grant of $7,126 per pupil, along with âbest practicesâ revenues and other financial incentives. The 15-16 fiscal year start on July 1 and the board will be adopting the new budget sometime in June. (TT)
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Fowlerville Man Charged With Indecent Exposure Fowlerville Man Charged With Indecent Exposure
A Fowlerville man is jailed after being charged with exposing himself to women in three counties. 38-year-old Ryan Daniel Daves is charged with aggravated indecent exposure by a sexually delinquent person. According to Bloomfield Township Police, Davesâ arrest came after his latest alleged victim was able to snap photos as he âtried to get her attention by making sexual gesturesâ in his SUV on Telegraph Road, near Maple, on April 18. After the photos and a description of the suspect were released to the media, tips began flooding in from Wayne, Oakland, and Livingston counties. Investigators following up on the tips were able to locate and arrest Daves. He was arraigned this past Saturday and a $10,000 bond was set. So far he has not been able to post that, but if he does, heâll be required to wear a GPS tether. Daves is scheduled to appear for a hearing on May 4th in Oakland Countyâs 48th District Court. (JK)
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Howell School Board Chooses Finalists For Open Superintendent PositionHowell School Board Chooses Finalists For Open Superintendent Position
The Howell Board of Education has narrowed down the list of possible superintendents to six finalists and one alternate. A special meeting of the board took place before last nightâs regular meeting. Members voted on which of the 29 applicants to the position they wanted to bring in for the first round of interviews. Only nine of the applicants got any votes at all, and of those five got support of at least five board members. Trustee Brent Earl was not present. Two applicants were tied for sixth place with three votes each, so the board discussed which one would be the sixth interviewee. The other will serve as an alternate in case one of the chosen six drops out of the running. The actual names of each candidate will be released later today after they have been announced. The first round of interviews will take place on May 12th and 13th. The board also selected the questions it would ask candidates in the first round of interviews. Search Consultant Dr. Marlene Davis advised them on which questions would be best, indicating that the board should keep their questions broad to get a better sense of how the candidates think. (TD)
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