A music and foodie series that celebrates summer will again take over Downtown Howell Wednesday night. Rock the Block happens rain or shine and features live bands throughout downtown, opportunities to sample food from local restaurants, sidewalk sales and discounts at local businesses. Wednesdayâs four performances will feature musical genres ranging from jazz and blues to swinging country and acoustic pop rock. Howell Main Street DDA Director Cathleen Edgerly says with so much happening on the weekends in the summer months and people traveling, Rock the Block really benefits the community being on a Wednesday and offers different styles of music with indoor and outdoor elements. Edgerly says theyâve introduced a Best Bites pass for $5 that allows individuals to sample the best bites on the block at the Howell Opera House with Renee Chodkowski aka The Great Foodini and three downtown restaurants. All Access VIP passes are also available to take advantage of business specials and other activities. More information is available through the link below. (JM)
Downtown Howell Ready to "Rock the Block" Again WednesdayDowntown Howell Ready to "Rock the Block" Again Wednesday
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City Council Hires Firm to Aid in Potential Highland Howell Property SaleCity Council Hires Firm to Aid in Potential Highland Howell Property Sale
Unloading what could be a profitable piece of property in the City of Howell is expected to take some time. The Howell City Council approved a listing agreement with Thomas Duke & Associates for the undeveloped Highland Howell property during a recent meeting. The parcel is located on the south side of the city near Lucy Road and has a number of favorable characteristics, although there are some access issues. A listing price of $5 (m) million was previously agreed to, although negotiable. City Manager Shea Charles tells WHMI any potential sale is not expected to happen overnight considering itâs a large piece of property totaling 212 acres with wetland issues. Therefore, staff advised council that this will probably be a lengthy process since itâs not a piece of property that would typically sell as quickly as a house and it will take a lot of work by a developer to put together a package. A twelve month agreement was approved with Thomas Duke & Associates by Council and Charles says theyâll see what the market brings during that time. (JM)
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Jury Awards No Damages To Brighton Attorney In Breach Of Contract LawsuitJury Awards No Damages To Brighton Attorney In Breach Of Contract Lawsuit
A Macomb County businessman was found to have breached a deal with an attorney by a local jury, but will not owe any money because of it. A Livingston County Circuit Court jury found that Wayne Webber, president of Webber General Properties Inc. did breach a contract with Brighton attorney Michael J. Biber after he had negotiated a business deal to sell Webberâs interests in three Texas-based companies. But the jury also determined that Webber didnât owe Biber any money in damages as a result. Court documents indicate that when Webber sold his company, Southern Crushed Concrete, in 2005, it generated $220 million, which was more than 200% higher than predicted. Biber claimed that in addition to his contract fee, he was also due a 1% performance bonus, or about $2.5 million. Webberâs attorneys indicated that the jury clearly felt Mr. Biber had been adequately compensated for his work. (JK)
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Committee Clears Kreeger Elementary Administrators After ComplaintsCommittee Clears Kreeger Elementary Administrators After Complaints
Accusations of a hostile work environment at Fowlervilleâs Kreeger Elementary School have been investigated by a special board of education committee. Following the resignation of a popular teacher, several parents complained to the Fowlerville Board of Education in March that Principal Jason Miller and Assistant Principal Josh Meersma had routinely intimidated and bullied parents, students, and teachers. In response, the school board formed a three-member committee to look into the allegations. That committee delivered its report earlier this month and found that the issue did not rise to bullying and harassment of staff and they felt that the teacher in question, Diane Spence, handled the situation poorly. Spence resigned from the district on February 22nd after claiming she received an unfair evaluation from administrators. Fowlerville Superintendent Wayne Roedel tells WHMI that one thing that did come from the committee's discussion was that the district will make a concerted effort to open the lines of communication with parents, students, administration and staff. He says that in the end, there was a lot of misinformation âswirling aroundâ that could have been avoided with more and/or different communication. He added that they will continue to review these questions internally as they work to handle district business in the most effective manner possible. (JK)
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Chelsea Standard and Dexter Leader Cease PublicationChelsea Standard and Dexter Leader Cease Publication
Two publications that provided local-interest news to Chelsea and Dexter have shut down. The Chelsea Standard and the Dexter Leader were both part of the Washtenaw Now publication, and provided coverage of news and local activities for their respective communities. On Tuesday, the websites for both publications featured a single headline entitled âA notice to our readers.â In it, Washtenaw Now Publisher Jeannie Parent explained that efforts to reorganize and reinvigorate the outlet had not yielded the results they wanted, and there would be no further editions. Those who subscribed to the print edition can have the remaining balance on their subscriptions refunded. Those interested should contact subscribe@heritage.com. (TD)
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Coast-to-Coast Passenger Rail Service Focus of July Public MeetingsCoast-to-Coast Passenger Rail Service Focus of July Public Meetings
Public thoughts and opinions are being sought about a potential rail service that would encourage tourism and travel by reconnecting principal cities along Michiganâs freshwater coasts. Two informational meetings about The Coast-to-Coast Passenger Rail Study are scheduled locally in July. The study would help determine ridership demand and the cost feasibility of re-establishing passenger rail between Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids and Holland. Along with public feedback, the study would also analyze travel patterns, demographic trends, cost estimates and existing conditions of rail infrastructure to determine what, if any, next steps should be taken to examine the possibility for new passenger rail service. The study is being managed by the Michigan Environmental Council in partnership with the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority and the Michigan Department of Transportation. 16 public engagement meetings are planned, with two coming up in Livingston County. The first will take place Wednesday, July 15th at the Bennett Recreation Center in Howell, followed by another at the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce building Monday, July 20th. Both meetings will run from 6 to 7:30pm. Further details are available in the attachment and through the link below. (JM)
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Delinquent Properties Remain As Handy Twp. Approves New BudgetDelinquent Properties Remain As Handy Twp. Approves New Budget
The Handy Township Board of Trustees has approved their budget for the upcoming year, though one major issue looms ahead. In 2006, Handy Township had several properties that went delinquent on their taxes and special assessments due to hardships from the Great Recession. The issue was turned over to the Livingston County Treasurer who then compensated Handy Township for the delinquent taxes. Now, eight years later, the properties will be going to tax sale. The township must repay the county for the taxes and special assessments that they have received over the years. Handy Township Supervisor, Ed Alverson, says the township is responsible for four significant properties that are at the delinquent status, counting subdivisions as one property. Alverson tells WHMI the Board must consider all options when looking at this fiscal year. Aside from this major challenge within the budget, Township Clerk Laura Eisele says âeverything is pretty much the same as last yearâ. The Township is behind on sewer collections due to lack of users, but Eisele feels the residents cannot be forced to make up the deficit. On Tuesday, a motion was made and passed to increase water use rates by $1 and sewer use by $1.98, which will be effective August 1st. The majority of budget expenditures include the road millage, Township Hall operations, drains and community recreation. Alverson says the township is âreal closeâ to a balanced budget. (DK)
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1.4 Million Michiganders Expected To Travel This Holiday Weekend1.4 Million Michiganders Expected To Travel This Holiday Weekend
The Independence Day holiday is the ultimate summer vacation for many whether by car, boat, plane or train and itâs expected to be a busy travel weekend. AAA Michigan is projecting nearly 1.4 million Michiganders will be journeying 50 miles or more for the Independence Day holiday travel period, defined from today through Sunday. AAA spokeswoman Susan Hiltz tells WHMI thatâs the most since 2007, marking an almost one-percent increase over last year. She says a number of factors are coming into play such as rising income, driven by a strong employment market which are prompting more people to take a holiday trip. Gas prices are approximately one dollar less than last year, which Hiltz says is making a big difference and AAA is projecting the lowest gas prices for the holiday in about five years. Since the majority of travelers will be hitting the road, she adds that itâs worth the effort to have your vehicle checked out and avoid getting stranded during your 4th of July getaway. (JM)
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New Officers Elected To Head Up Local Service ClubNew Officers Elected To Head Up Local Service Club
An area service club has named a new slate of officers. Brighton attorney Cathy Riesterer became the new president of the Brighton Rotary at the service clubâs annual Presidentâs Dinner Tuesday night. She follows Peggi Mintz whose term as president included overseeing the clubâs first Top of the Mountain Dash or Crash 5K obstacle run, a fund-raiser that drew nearly 500 participants last month. Other new officers for Brighton Rotary include Adrienne Knack as the clubâs vice president and president-elect; Lori Lalama as secretary and Bill Markby as treasurer. With about 80 members, Brighton Rotary is the largest service club in Livingston County. The clubâs community-service projects include Rotary Raiders, which builds handicap-accessible ramps for low-income residents. The club also supports literacy programs, the Gleaners food bank, Boy Scout Troop 350 and numerous college scholarships for Brighton-area students. Brighton Rotary is one of 34,000 clubs that make up Rotary International, an international humanitarian service organization whose top goal is the eradication of polio worldwide. (JK)
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Local Experts Dispel Coyote Myths During Land Conservancy MeetingLocal Experts Dispel Coyote Myths During Land Conservancy Meeting
A non-profit organization that works to protect the natural heritage and rural character of the greater Livingston County area held its annual meeting last night. Coyotes and land preservation along the Huron River watershed were among the topics discussed during the Livingston Land Conservancyâs annual meeting at the Brighton District Library. Two local wildlife experts worked to dispel myths and fears about coyotes in Southeast Michigan while Conservancy President Roy Schwartz explained the importance of protecting land along the Huron River watershed. Naturalist and Educator Beth Duman, and Wildlife Rehabilitator Holly Hadac each presented information on coyotes in the urban setting. They were both concerned about the myths surrounding the coyote as a threat to humans. Duman says most often coyotes pose little threat to humans and their diets consist mainly of rodents. She says that if there is a pack of coyote on a property leave it alone. Most often there are only problems when coyote are fed by humans, even if the feeding is unintentional. Duman says if a coyote comes onto a residential property or farm it should not be fed, but instead should be run off. Making loud noises and arm waving will usually frighten a coyote off, Duman says. Hadac has been tagging and studying coyotes in Southeast Michigan for several years. She says on the rare occasion theyâve attacked a human it is because they have been fed. Rather than exterminating the animals, both Duman and Hadac suggest leaving them alone. The animals do help keep the rodent, deer and goose population in check, so neither woman recommended killing them. Meanwhile, Conservancy President Roy Schwartz told the audience of about 30 that the group is working to educate landowners on the benefits of land preservation along the Huron River watershed and adjacent tributaries. He tells WHMI the organization has raised about $8,400 toward the needed $10,000 in matching funds to help with watershed protection efforts.The conservancy hopes to be able to provide landowners with field assessments after which they will put in easements to protect the land along the river and watershed. Schwartz says the conservancy is trying to strike a balance between the urban area and preserved land. They are looking to meet their funding goal by the first of September. The groupâs annual fundraiser at the Howell Opera House is also scheduled for September 10th, with live and silent auctions. (DS/JM)
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Hartland Township Discussing New Sidewalk FundingHartland Township Discussing New Sidewalk Funding
Discussions are underway about how much property owners are going to pay for new sidewalks in Hartland Township. At their regular meeting on Tuesday, the Hartland Board of Trustees focused on a special assessment district tax to install or rebuild pathways over six stretches of land spanning both residential and commercial property. The board came to one consensus that the SAD should be the same no matter how a property is zoned, and another that the total the township would pay into it should be 50%, though both votes had dissenters. Manager James Wickman led the discussion, but it was ultimately the board that has the final say. Trustee Joe Petrucci thought it might not be fair for businesses that havenât built sidewalks yet to get a discount over ones that have already built to township standards. Trustee Joe Colaianne believes that some of the businesses that have already built paths have already benefited from having them and may be exempt from needing to rebuild. The board as a whole knew they had to draw a line at some point and insist on sidewalks being built for the benefit of the community, but recognized that by doing so they would face sour feelings from some property owners. Previous engineering designs place the townshipâs share for the construction to be around $850,000, though a couple board members believe that number is low. (MK)
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Oakland Sentencing Delayed For Highland Twp. Man On Child Porn ChargesOakland Sentencing Delayed For Highland Twp. Man On Child Porn Charges
A Highland Township manâs sentencing date in Oakland County is on hold pending a sentence being handed down in federal court to charges that he filmed himself having sexual relations with underage girls. 37-year-old Nino Tanzini pleaded no contest to three counts of 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct in Oakland County Circuit Court in January. He also entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Detroit that same month to two counts of producing and possessing child pornography. He had been set for sentencing in Oakland County on Monday. But court records show that has been adjourned until August 10th, which would be almost a week after a sentence in federal court is handed down. Authorities say Tanzini had sexual relationships with two girls beginning when they were 14 and 16 years of age. In both cases, the girls said they started long-distance romantic relationships via email with young men, who then suggested they gain sexual experience by visiting Tanzini. Both girls said they then met up with Tanzini, who would take photos or videos of the acts. They eventually became aware that their online boyfriends were in fact Tanzini himself, posing as the younger men online. Tanziniâs wife, who has since divorced him, turned the contents of his external hard drive over to police, who say they found explicit photographs and videos of both girls. Tanzini faces up to 30 years in prison in both cases.
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High Court Refuses Appeal From Double-MurdererHigh Court Refuses Appeal From Double-Murderer
An appeal has again been rejected for a man serving life in prison after being convicted in connection with a Livingston County double-homicide. 69-year-old Jerome Kowalski was convicted in January of 2013 on two counts of first-degree premeditated murder and two felony weapons charges for the shooting deaths of Richard and Brenda Kowalski in their Oceola Township home in 2008. Prosecutors said the Warren man was disgruntled about his relationship with his more successful brother and the two had disagreed about how to handle the estate of their mother. The Michigan Appeals Court affirmed Kowalskiâs conviction and sentence last December, and that opinion is attached below. Kowalski then appealed that judgement to the Michigan Supreme Court, which denied the request in an order issued yesterday stating it was not persuaded the questions presented should be reviewed. Kowalskiâs attorney claimed the trial court erred when a videotape was shown that indicated he had taken a polygraph. In rejecting that argument, the appeals court panel noted that the statement âwas never actually played for the juryâ and that a transcription error led to the mistaken belief that the statement had not been redacted. They also ruled that while the trial court was mistaken when it refused to redact a hypothetical question about whether Kowalski shot his brother and sister-in-law, it determined it had no practical effect as jurors did not know the questions were asked by the polygraph examiner. Kowalskiâs attorneys claimed his confession was made under duress and that a ruling that barred expert testimony about false confessions was incorrectly made. Kowalski is currently incarcerated at the Michigan Reformatory in Ionia. (JM)
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One Of Five Suspets In Home Invasion Bound Over For TrialOne Of Five Suspets In Home Invasion Bound Over For Trial
The first of five suspects in a Genoa Township home invasion has been bound over to Livingston County Circuit Court for trial. 25-year-old Tyler Ayers of Detroit was bound over to Judge Michael Hattyâs courtroom on charges of home invasion, armed robbery, and felony firearms. He is scheduled for trial on August 31st. Three other suspects from Detroit and one from the Brighton area are still in Livingston County District Court and are scheduled for probable cause conferences this month. State Police from the Brighton Post say that shortly after one in the morning on Friday, June 4th, Troopers were dispatched to an armed robbery in the 3500 block of Crystal Valley Drive in Genoa Township. Once on the scene, a total of fourteen victims reported that three men entered the residence and robbed them at gunpoint. One victim was struck in the head with a metal baton during the robbery, causing extensive bleeding. They reported that the men took their cash, jewelry, car keys, and cell phones before fleeing on foot. After fleeing a traffic stop, all of the suspects were located and arrested over the next three days. (TD)
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Industrial District To Create New Jobs In Green Oak TownshipIndustrial District To Create New Jobs In Green Oak Township
A local manufacturer is expanding and bringing new jobs to Green Oak Township. At its regular meeting of the Board of Trustees on Wednesday, Green Oak Township established an industrial development district for aerospace supplier Wyman-Gordon which will allow them to expand. A representative for the company told the board that the demand for their product was too great for them to fulfil with their current facility. The IDD is the first step for the expansion in which the company is looking to add another 40,000 square feet to their existing 36,000 square foot building. The Board applauded Wyman-Gordon for their thoroughness in applying for the IDD and choosing to expand their plant in Green Oak, rather than their other plant in Kentucky. Township Supervisor Mark St. Charles doesnât think the next step, the industrial facilities tax abatement, should take too long to complete.Wyman-Gordon is looking to spend around $4.1 million on work site development, grating, and water lines; and another $18 million on equipment. This expansion will add 25 new jobs to the 50 that already exist, and some training for new hires is already underway.(MK)
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Residents Encouraged To Be On The Lookout For Terrorism This July 4thResidents Encouraged To Be On The Lookout For Terrorism This July 4th
The Michigan State Police are asking residents to be vigilant this weekend as the Fourth of July holiday is a tempting target for terrorists. The MSP put out a press release this week stating that while there are no known terrorist threats to the state right now, citizens should still be vigilant over the weekend. Similar warnings are put out around several other national holidays, particularly those considered to be patriotic since they can present an opportunity for terrorists to make a statement. The state police say everyone can play a role in protecting the community by being on the lookout for suspicious people and activities. These include unattended objects in crowded places, people trying to enter closed or off-limits areas, individuals who leave quickly when seen or approached, people tampering with surveillance equipment, or strong odors coming from vehicles or buildings. Residents who see this kind of suspicious activity are encouraged to call the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center at 855-MICH-TIP (855-642-4847) or online by visiting www.michigan.gov/michtip. If any suspicious activity seems to be an immediate danger, residents should instead dial 911. For more information on spotting suspicious activity, follow the link below. (TD)
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Recall Committee Delays Decision On Whether To Move Forward Recall Committee Delays Decision On Whether To Move Forward
The committee coordinating a recall effort against members of the Howell Public Schools Board of Education has delayed a decision on whether or not to continue forward, even as a deadline looms to collect and turn in signatures. The Howell Recall Committee was planning to meet this week to discuss the future of the effort, but has delayed that until next week. Committee member Don Cortez says the delay was due to a lack of a quorum by the committee. The committee received approval in February to circulate petitions seeking to recall School Board President Mike Yenshaw, Treasurer Mike Moloney and Trustee Deb McCormick for their votes last year to fire former Superintendent Ron Wilson. Recall organizers claim the targeted board members votes to fire Wilson were not appropriate nor in the best interest of the school district. Board members said they believed evidence indicated Wilson had received travel reimbursements he knew he was not entitled to and then lied about them afterward. But doubts about the future of the recall arose after the resignation last month of Moloney, who cited a new job and lengthy commute. Based on when the group began collecting signatures, they have until the end of this month to obtain 4,700 valid signatures to get the recall onto the November ballot. When asked how many signatures the group had obtained, Cortez told WHMI they would âhave some direction next week.â (JK)
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Green Oak Fire Chief Expected Back On The Job SoonGreen Oak Fire Chief Expected Back On The Job Soon
It wonât be long before a local fire chief who was injured while assisting at an accident will be back on the job. Green Oak Township Fire Chief Kevin Gentry was struck by a vehicle on northbound US-23 near M-36 on June 19th while helping clear the scene of another accident. He suffered significant but non-life threatening injuries and was attended to by Livingston County EMS who was already on the scene before being transported to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. Green Oak Township Supervisor Mark St. Charles told WHMI on Wednesday that Gentry is recovering well and will be back to work soon. Gentry took over for former Chief William Steele following his retirement on May 29th, less than 3 weeks before the accident. A decision on whether charges will be filed in the case remains pending. (JK)
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M-DOT Supends Construction During 4th of July Holiday Travel PeriodM-DOT Supends Construction During 4th of July Holiday Travel Period
The majority of construction projects throughout the state will be put on hold during the 4th of July holiday travel period but work will be picking right back up next week. Michigan Department of Transportation Spokeswoman Kari Arend tells WHMI they try to remove orange barrels everywhere they can for those traveling, although they urge motorists to drive safely as there will be some traffic restrictions in place. Traffic shifts will remain in place at I-96 and US-23 with M-DOT maintaining three lanes but Arend says motorists still need to slow down and watch for other motorists as they travel through that active work zone. Spencer Road over I-96 in Brighton will still be closed this weekend but Arend says that portion of the project is proceeding on schedule and they look to have the bridge re-opened by the end of the month. Motorists that regularly travel through that interchange area should also be aware of overnight closures planned next Wednesday and Thursday. Arend says work is progressing and M-DOT is preparing to set beams over northbound US-23 for one of the new I-96 bridges. In order to accommodate that, overnight closures of northbound US-23 and several freeway ramps are planned. (JM)
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State Police Step Up Enforcement As Michigan Residents Travel For HolidayState Police Step Up Enforcement As Michigan Residents Travel For Holiday
Enforcement efforts are being stepped up by the Michigan State Police for the holiday weekend. Lieutenant Joel Allen at the Brighton Post tells WHMI that beginning on Thursday afternoon, troopers across the state will be taking part in a holiday traffic enforcement effort known as the Combined Accident Reduction Effort, or CARE. The State Police will be on the road throughout the weekend looking for speed, seatbelt, and safety violations among the many motorists that will take to the freeways for Independence Day. Allen says many Michigan residents will be traveling this weekend, both to get out-of-town and to attend local celebrations, which is prompting the State Police to increase their enforcement efforts on Michigan highways. He says the CARE effort is in full force every Fourth of July, as well as Memorial Day and Labor Day, which are similarly popular for attending celebrations or getting out of town. (TD)
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