A Brighton woman has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting another woman while they were staying at a local shelter for the victims of domestic violence and abuse. The 58-year-old woman pleaded to a charge of assault with intent to commit penetration in Livingston County Circuit Court on Monday. The assault happened in December while she and the victim were in the care of LACASA Center at their shelter in Howell Township. The victim approached LACASA staff to indicate that she had been sexually assaulted. LACASA Director Bobette Schrandt says the staff followed the established protocol, separated the women, conducted an internal investigation, and allowed the victim to choose whether to call the authorities. Schrandt emphasized that this is the first time such an incident like this has occurred at LACASA in its decades of operation. However, she adds that the organization was prepared for it with protocols to follow, and that the staff did everything they could to protect the victim and cooperate with authorities. Schrandt says LACASA will study this incident and learn how to better prevent similar assaults in the future. The assailant will be sentenced on September 10th. (TD)
Woman Enters Plea To Assault At LACASA ShelterWoman Enters Plea To Assault At LACASA Shelter
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Pool Access Issues Discussed At Brighton School Board MeetingPool Access Issues Discussed At Brighton School Board Meeting
The Brighton Board of Education Monday night discussed at length a contract with Club Wolverine, an Ann Arbor-based swim club that will be using the new Brighton High School pool when it opens on Oct. 1st. Several parents of kids who are on the Brighton Eel Swim Team â or âBESTâ â addressed the board, complaining about the contract between the district and Club Wolverine, an elite swim club out of Ann Arbor that has produced championship swimmers such as Olympics gold medal winner Michael Phelps. The residents told the board they felt that Club Wolverine was getting the best pool times, and they objected to the fact that when Club Wolverine uses the pool no other groups could use it. Superintendent Greg Gray responded that all groups which pay the district to rent a facility for a specific use â whether a group using the Performing Arts Center to stage a play or SELCRA for use of an athletic field â get exclusive use of the facility for that time period. A representative of Club Wolverine â Sam Jalet of Ann Arbor, addressed the board, saying the club wants to work with the district to provide the best swimming opportunities for kids and adults, adding that his group would not be recruiting BEST team members to join Club Wolverine. Jalet said the group was relinquishing a half-hour of its designated time to give the Brighton group two full hours, making BESTâs pool time 5-7 p.m. and Club Wolverineâs 7-9 p.m. Superintendent Greg Gray said a preliminary meeting between himself and the various clubs and coaches that will use the pool was very cordial, and he was surprised when he started hearing complaints. He tells WHMI that any potential future conflicts can be resolved to everyoneâs satisfaction. After the meeting, parent Kathy Fischer of Hamburg Twp. Tells WHMI the concerned parents feel a lot was resolved at the board meeting, and she is confident that in the long term, the involvement of Club Wolverine at the new pool would serve to benefit the Brighton swim clubs and teams at all age levels. Club Wolverine is paying the district $14,000 for one yearâs use of the pool, at which time it will have to be renegotiated. The first yearâs contract was negotiated by athletic director John Thompson. The new state-of-the-art pool, which has 12 lanes â twice that of the old pool - is scheduled to open on Oct. 1st. It is part of the $89 million bond issue passed by district voters in 2012. (TT)
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Gilbert Announces For Congress, Attacked On Tax IssueGilbert Announces For Congress, Attacked On Tax Issue
After a successful career as an actress and author, Melissa Gilbert wants to be Livingston Countyâs next congressional representative. Gilbert announced on Monday that she plans to run for the 8th Congressional District seat in 2016 as a Democrat. In her release, Gilbert said she wants to help families that have been burdened by the economy, and believes she can provide a fresh voice in congress to do so. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee identified the 8th District as one of the most vulnerable Republican seats. The Livingston County Democratic Party chair Judy Daubenmeier tells WHMI they look forward to Gilbertâs candidacy, saying she was a good campaigner for the Democratic ticket last fall, has been very accessible to the community and firmly believes voters will really respond to her. Incumbent Mike Bishopâs campaign spokesman, Stu Sanders, describes Gilbert as a âtax cheat,â referring to the discovery in June that she had to set up a payment plan for the IRS to cover more than $360,000 in unpaid taxes. He says her values are not in line with those of the 8th District, adding that she did not pay her taxes but provides her dog with a personal stylist and a Louis Vuitton collar. He was referencing comments Gilbert made last year while promoting her childrenâs book, âDaisy and Josephine.â The 51-year-old Gilbert has said her tax problems stemmed from a lull in her career combined with a divorce. Best known for her role as Laura Ingalls on the hit 1970âs TV show âLittle House on the Prairie,â Gilbert moved to Livingston County in 2013 with her actor husband Timothy Busfield, who grew up in the Lansing area. She previously served as President of the Screen Actorâs Guild. (TD/JK)
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Pinckney Village Discusses Fireworks OrdinancePinckney Village Discusses Fireworks Ordinance
During its meeting Monday night the Pinckney Village Council talked about whether an ordinance would curb fireworks activity in areas where neighbors live close together. Village Attorney David Stoker provided samples from other cities to give the council ideas as to what could be done. Stoker says other municipalities have ordinances to restrict fireworks beyond what the state statute does. Police Chief Jeff Newman says enforcement of an ordinance is an issue. He says unless the police actually see who shot off the fireworks very little can be done. Council President Linda Lavey says the council can only do so much. Lavey says there was someone seriously injured in a fireworks incident over the July 4th Holiday that prompted discussion for an ordinance, adding the Village is planning to adopt an ordinance even though it will push up against the wall of state statutes. She says they still want to regulate where they can. Council member Rebecca Foster says sheâs in favor of limiting fireworks to so far from a lot line, or away from structures, or open flames. She says that would make it easier to keep fireworks out of neighborhoods with small lots. Right now Lavey says Pinckney relies on the state statute, which she says is not strong enough. (DS)
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Howell Township Votes To Join Parks & Rec AuthorityHowell Township Votes To Join Parks & Rec Authority
Additional recreation options will be provided at a discount for residents of a local municipality if a proposal moves forward. The Howell Township Board of Trustees voted 4-1 Monday night to join the Howell Parks and Recreation Authority. Under the proposal, which still must be approved by the Parks and Rec authority at their board meeting next week, Howell Township will pay $37,500 for a 9 month trial. In exchange, township residents will receive full "Resident Discounts" on all parks and rec programs as well as a significant discount on season passes to Thompson Lake. The lone no vote was from Trustee Dar Howard. Supervisor Mike Coddington and Trustee Matt Counts were absent. Trustee Mike Tipton said the action was made possible by careful financial planning over the past three years and shows that Howell Township is willing to invest in its citizens and promote future growth.
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Howell Schools Expand Shared Services Program And IncomeHowell Schools Expand Shared Services Program And Income
Howell Public Schools have renewed a Shared Services Agreement with a local catholic school and added another to their program to generate state revenue. A Shared Services Agreement allows Howell Public Schools to teach non-core subjects to students from the St. Joseph Catholic School in Howell. The agreement was renewed Monday night by the Board of Education and a second contract of the same circumstances was approved with St. Maryâs Catholic School in Williamston. The funds accumulated by a Shared Services Agreement outweigh the districtâs expenditures, which will benefit the schoolâs general fund. Howell Public Schools Superintendent, Erin MacGregor, tells WHMI there is a possibility that other schools may be added to the program in the future. Non-essential elective courses are chosen by the District and Catholic Diocese of Lansing, which are then taught by teachers that the Howell District provides. Brighton Area Schools were caught in a financial struggle until they came upon the shared services program. The district is now one of the largest providers of shared services in the state. However, MacGregor says Howell Public Schools are not necessarily following Brightonâs lead, but rather approaching it their own way. The agreement will allow the provision of services to both Catholic schools for the upcoming school year and must be renewed annually. (DK)
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Police Searching For Teen Who Brandished Gun In MilfordPolice Searching For Teen Who Brandished Gun In Milford
Police are seeking tips from the public about an incident Sunday night when a driver allegedly pulled a gun on four West Bloomfield men. The men say they were headed west on General Motors Road at about 8:30 Sunday night when they passed a red Ford Taurus waiting to turn left into a Taco Bell restaurant. According to the Milford Times, the men say that as they passed the Taurus, someone threw a large rock out the passenger-side window, damaging the front driverâs side of their vehicle. The driver turned around and followed the Taurus into the parking lot, when he and his three companions got out to confront the other vehicle. According to them, the driver got out, brandished a handgun, and told them not to approach. They exchanged some words, but the driver of the Taurus drove off when one of the victims took a picture of his car. The Milford Police are now accepting tips from the public as to the identity of the driver of the Taurus, who is described as a tall, white male in his teens with short dark hair and a scruffy beard, wearing a neon-green shirt. The number to call is (248) 684-1815. (TD)
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District Approves Stipend For Support Personnel District Approves Stipend For Support Personnel
In what may be a first involving a Brighton Area School District union, a bargaining unit has ratified new provisions of a contract without a single dissenting vote.
The nearly 90 members of the Brighton Educational Support Personnel Association unanimously ratified a change in their contract last week which gives them a 2% stipend if certain conditions are met. In turn, the Brighton Board of Education Monday night ratified the changes in the contract with their hourly employees' union. Only Board Member Jon Conely dissented, saying the district should be hiring new teachers instead of increasing pay for existing staff. BESPA involves about 90 secretarial, maintenance, food service, and para-professional employees. The 2% percent stipend is a one-time increase in the existing contract for the 2015-16 school year, and does not roll over into the following year. Future wage hikes would have to be negotiated on a yearly basis. In order to qualify for the stipend, the BESPA employees must undergo a specific number of hours of professional development during the school year. They will receive the 2% stipend in one lump sum at the end of the district's fiscal year on June 30th. The stipend amounts to $400 to $700 per employee. Superintendent Greg Gray tells WHMI he is pleased with the unanimous vote by the union membership, which encompasses most of the hourly employees in the district. Custodial employees are not included in the stipend because they are no longer members of BESPA, having been privatized several years ago as a cost-cutting measure. (TT/TD)
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City Of Howell Asked To Address Loud & Fast Boating On Thompson LakeCity Of Howell Asked To Address Loud & Fast Boating On Thompson Lake
Residents around Thompson Lake are asking the City of Howell to help rein in some unruly boaters making noise and traveling at excessive speeds. The city gets complaints about boating activity every year, but this summer has been particularly difficult for property owners around the lake. For weeks, they have been complaining that a group of 4 or 5 boaters has been returning day after day, making excessive noise, racing at high speeds, getting drunk on the lakeâs islands, and threatening residents who try to complain. More than a dozen residents attended Monday nightâs meeting of the Howell City Council to ask that something be done about the nuisance. The council was sympathetic, and several members live close enough to the lake to hear the problem boats. However, rectifying the problem is not as simple as sending out some police officers to issue citations. The Howell City Police Department does not have a marine unit, so any response on the lake has to be undertaken by the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department, which has numerous other lakes to monitor during the summer. Additionally, there are questions of enforcement, since Thompson Lake is only half in the City of Howell, with the other half in Oceola Township. While deputies do spend some time on the lake each week, residents say the perpetrators have learned to behave themselves when the police are watching. Mayor Nick Proctor says the city is encouraging residents to get the registration numbers for the boats in question so enforcement action can be taken. Further, he says the cityâs budget next year will accommodate the need for additional enforcement at the lake entrance. (TD)
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Unadilla Township Police Investigating Vehicle Fire In GregoryUnadilla Township Police Investigating Vehicle Fire In Gregory
Local police are seeking tips about a vehicle fire that happened over the weekend that they suspect could be arson. The Unadilla Township Police were notified at 6:45am Sunday that a silver 2001 Chrysler Concord was on fire in the area of Graves Road and M-36 in Gregory. The vehicle, which was stolen from the Stockbridge area, was still actively burning when fire crews arrived to extinguish it. Police Chief David Russell said that vehicle arson is very rare in the area. If anyone has any information, they are asked to call the Unadilla Township Police Department at 734-498-2325. Anyone wishing to leave an anonymous tip can do so with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Crime Stoppers has offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the case. (MK)
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Hartland Township Board Approves Median Beautification ProjectHartland Township Board Approves Median Beautification Project
A maintenance project for a median located on M-59 in Hartland Township has been approved in hopes of creating a more scenic gateway to the community. The M-59 median was completed in 2004 following the arrival of two developments. Part of the contract required the Township to maintain the median, which has been a challenge. Township Supervisor Bill Fountain says the speed of the traffic and the need for salt on the road in the wintertime has destroyed most of the medianâs vegetation. In a special meeting on Tuesday night, the Hartland Township Board of Trustees approved a contract to begin the beautification project, which passed in a four to two vote. Fountain tells WHMI he does not expect the work will cause delay for motorists. The island across from the Big Boy restaurant will be improved with grating, soil work and implementation of plant material. If the plants survive the conditions, the Township plans to continue the work onto the other medians located in the commercial district. The first phase of the project will cost the Townshipâs general fund just over $27,000. Fountain expects the renovations to begin this fall and finish by next spring. (DK)
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Structure Fire Destroys Conway Township Home, Kills DogStructure Fire Destroys Conway Township Home, Kills Dog
A dog was killed and a house destroyed by a fire that took place north of Fowlerville yesterday afternoon. The Fowlerville Fire Department was called out to a residence in Conway Township at about 3:30pm on a report of a structure fire on Julie Court, south of Lovejoy Road. Nobody was home at the time of the fire, so no people were injured, although the family dog was lost in the blaze. It took about four and a half hours to extinguish the fire, and Chief John Wright says the one-story house is a total loss. Fowlerville firefighters were assisted at the scene by crews from the Howell, Williamston, and Leroy Township fire departments. The cause of the fire is unknown, and the incident is under investigation. Photo credit WLNS. (TD/JK)
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Court Upholds Order Allowing ACLU Mailings To Livingston County JailCourt Upholds Order Allowing ACLU Mailings To Livingston County Jail
The Livingston County Jail must continue to allow inmates to get mail from the American Civil Liberties Union. A federal appeals court refused to overturn an injunction ordered by a judge last year. The ACLU of Michigan filed a lawsuit after it got no response to two dozen letters sent to inmates. At the time, jail administrator Tom Cremonte said staff doesn't deliver legal mail to inmates unless it's from a lawyer who is representing an inmate. Cremonte says the jail gets suspicious about mass mailings. But the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, in a 3-0 decision Tuesday, said the "sweeping scope" of the jail's "arbitrary policies" not only violated the inmatesâ First Amendment and due process rights, but their own rules for communications with inmates. The panel noted that the letters sent by the ACLU were âprecisely the type of communication that an attorney and an inmate would want kept confidential,â noting that they were addressed to a specific inmate, clearly marked âlegal mail,â and included the name and bar number of a licensed Michigan attorney. Livingston County Undersheriff Mike Murphy says they still have some legal options as the decision came from a panel of the circuit court and they can seek a decision from the full court or take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. ACLU officials say jail guards are still free to open envelopes to check for contraband, as long as the inmate is present and no one but the inmate reads the contents. The decision does not settle the issue of whether Michigan jails can adopt postcard-only letter policies, although the practice has been struck down in other states as too restrictive. (JK)
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Fenton Seminary Building Will Be Demolished Within 30 DaysFenton Seminary Building Will Be Demolished Within 30 Days
A company has been selected for the demolition of the old seminary building in Fenton, and the building will be razed sometime in the next month. The crumbling seminary, built in the 1800sâ, has been identified as a public safety hazard. After a structural analysis was performed, engineers and Fentonâs City Council agreed the building must be demolished. A bid for the demolition was approved by the city council on Monday. The company chosen to conduct the work, Burnash Wrecking Incorporated, was the lowest bidder at $48,900, according to the Tri-County Times. The city received only two other qualified bids, both of which were at least 40% higher. The seminary was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and so experts had to be consulted to determine whether or not it could be restored. After the bid for demolition was accepted, a representative from the Oakwood Cemetery told the board that any salvaged materials could be used by the cemetery to erect a monument to the 51 pastors and their families interred there. (TD)
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South Lyon Plans Public Meeting To Discuss DTE Tree RemovalSouth Lyon Plans Public Meeting To Discuss DTE Tree Removal
A public meeting has been set up to allow South Lyon residents to discuss a tree removal program with representatives from DTE Energy. The power company says two-thirds of outages are due to trees interfering with overhead lines, and has planned to trim or remove trees in several areas in the city. Residents approached the City Council on Monday with concerns that DTE crews will hack their way through their trees, according to the South Lyon Herald. In response, the city established a public meeting for August 19th at 7pm where residents and DTE reps can discuss how and why trees will be trimmed and removed. Until then, no trimming activities will take place. Residents and officials say South Lyon is a âtree cityâ and removal of the foliage is an irreversible step. The power company says it plans to respect the city and its property owners by discussing all actions taken against the trees with their owners beforehand. Residents who are concerned about the issue but cannot attend the meeting can call DTEâs regular business number to make comments during business hours, or leave a voicemail after hours. (TD)
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Tyrone Gravel Pit Road Will Be Sold To ChurchTyrone Gravel Pit Road Will Be Sold To Church
After months of work and planning a recreational path in Tyrone Township will be sold to a Genesee County Church. Since February of this year residents of Applewood Estates have worked toward purchasing a portion of Old Truck Road in northeast Tyrone Township. The undeveloped road that adjoins the condominium complex off Hartland Road is used for walking and jogging. Residents of the condo association want the roadway to remain as it is, and keep the ends of the road closed off to keep it from becoming part of a development, so work has already been done toward surveying and splitting the road from the gravel pit property owned by Vaughn Smith. Planning Commission chairman Mark Meisel says after months of work and planning though things changed suddenly. Meisel says Smith had combined the road property with another piece of property several years ago and now wants to split it off. The Township has a mechanism through which the condo association could have purchased it and made it part of the condo property, but it meant making it part of the master deed. The condo association had finally resolved all of the issues when another entity stepped in and purchased the property, but Meisel says they plan to preserve it as a nature trail or walking trail. The Planning Commission also recommended the condo association get an agreement with the Freedom Center, in writing, allowing them access to the road. Since much of the work has already been done, Meisel says Smith has only a few minor changes to make before bringing the issue back to the Planning Commission next month. (DS)
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Prosecutor To Review Report After Cats Seized From Marion Township HomeProsecutor To Review Report After Cats Seized From Marion Township Home
Charges are under consideration after more than 100 cats were seized by Livingston County Animal Control officers from a Marion Township home last month. The cats were taken in late July from the residence on Dutcher Road north of Coon Lake Road. The owner, identified as Kevin Roberts, said the cats, which he numbered at 53, were in good condition and had been watered and fed properly. But Animal Control officials described many of the cats that were taken as being very sick. A report on their condition is expected to be turned over to the prosecutorâs office for review. (JK)
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Art Works Displayed Throughout Downtown HowellArt Works Displayed Throughout Downtown Howell
Local art enthusiasts gathered Wednesday in Howell for a walk through downtown and a stroll through the seasons. Winter, spring, summer, and fall was the theme for the Howell Main Street and Downtown Development Authorityâs Howell Art Walk and Auction. Artists from all over the nation submitted themed paintings and photographs that were hung for display on eight downtown businesses. Over 150 people gathered at the Heart of Howell before taking a guided tour for the unveilings of the works. The evening then moved to the Opera House where the Peopleâs Choice awards were announced. First place went to Emilie Beadle of Romulus for her winter themed oil painting named âIcy Forest.â DDA Director Cathleen Edgerly believed this event will have a lasting effect on the community as the displays will remain on the businesses until next spring. The event ended with a live auction featuring prizes like getaway vacations across the continent, gift certificates to many local businesses, and all of the artwork on display. Seventy percent of the proceeds made on the items went back to the artists, with the remaining 30% being saved for next yearâs event. (MK)
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Authorities Look For Driver Involved In Motorcycle CrashAuthorities Look For Driver Involved In Motorcycle Crash
A crash on US-23 shut down the northbound lanes for more than two hours yesterday and sent a man to the hospital in critical condition. At about 4:30pm, police say a maroon Pontiac four-door sedan used the emergency-access turn-around between Clyde Road and M-59. Several vehicles reportedly had to avoid the vehicle, but when 49-year-old Delbert Arthur Loomis of Gaines tried to maneuver his motorcycle out of the way, he lost control and dropped the bike. He was transported to the University of Michigan Medical Center for treatment of life-threatening injuries, where he was last listed in critical condition. Northbound US-23 was at least partially closed to traffic until about 7:00. Undersheriff Mike Murphy says police are now looking for the driver of the Pontiac sedan to learn more about the incident. (TD/JK)
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Planning Commission Puts Brakes On Putnam Therapy CampPlanning Commission Puts Brakes On Putnam Therapy Camp
The Putnam Township Planning Commission has put a planned therapeutic camp on hold, even though nearby residents are not disagreeing with the project. The faith-based Camp 360 would be constructed on 320 acres of land north of Pinckney, near the intersection of Gawley Road and Beardsley. It would be operated by Brighton-based therapist Sally Reese and her husband, Light of the World Academy Principal Jim Reese. Their vision for the camp is a place where families in need of therapy can relax in a natural setting, get rid of the stress of everyday life, and reconnect with their loved ones. In order for the camp to be created, the site must be rezoned from agricultural to recreational, a change which was considered by the planning commission last night. Dozens of residents from the area attended the public meeting held on the topic, and representatives from the camp answered questions about how it would operate and how it would affect the surrounding properties. Although nobody voiced opposition to the proposed use for the land, the planning commission tabled the rezoning for at least a month. Township Trustee Bob Press, who serves on the planning commission, says they are concerned that the camp applied for a general rezoning rather than one that ties the property to a specific purpose. This means they, or whomever acquires the property in the future, could put the land to any use allowed under the new recreational zoning, such as opening a gun range or hunting preserve. Press adds that there is already plenty of land in the township with the appropriate zoning for this kind of camp. The planning commission also wants the camp to come back with better maps to provide an overview of how they envision the operation and the surrounding area. (TD)
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