10/16/12 - Concerned residents have been speaking out at Brighton Township Board meetings against reopening the gravel mine at Jacoby and Kensington roads. Residents questioned the board at Monday nightâs meeting about why they havenât talked about the issue in depth. The residents who spoke out would like a previous agreement that would turn the property into a recreational park to be upheld. They are worried that if the gravel mine is reopened, it will result in water contamination in Brighton Township. Supervisor Tom Murphy explained that the board hasn't discussed the topic because it hasn't been formally brought to the board. Murphy says that the board would be denying Clearwater Development of Milford, the company that owns the gravel mine, its right to Due Process if they speak on the subject without a formal proposal. Clearwater is working with the planning commission to resolve the issues brought forth by residents so they can reopen the gravel mine. The Brighton Township Board says they will not get involved unless a proposal is brought specifically before them. (SO)
Residents Speak Out Against Gravel Mine In Brighton Township
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County Approves Allowing Enbridge Pipeline Through AirportCounty Approves Allowing Enbridge Pipeline Through Airport
10/16/12 - The County Board of Commissioners approved a deal last night to allow the Enbridge Energy Companyâs new pipeline to cross the Livingston County Airport. The deal has been in the works since February and includes the payment of $400,000 to the county. Additionally, Enbridge has agreed to bury the pipeline at a depth of seven feet for safety issues and to allow the airport to install new pavement in the future without complications. The airport will remain open during the construction, but its ability to service faster-moving planes will be restricted for seven days as a result with compensation guaranteed for the county if Enbridge goes over that time. However, one local political candidate was unhappy with the boardâs approval. Jeanette DiFlorio, a Democrat who will face William Green for the District 2 seat on the commission in November, told the board last night that it should put off the decision. She says there are more than 75 cases in court right now between Enbridge and Livingston residents over issues of compensation and property damage. She tells WHMI that the county should have used this opportunity to âdrag its feetâ and put pressure on the company to resolve those issues. Airport Manager Mark Johnson approved of the boardâs decision. He says if the board had delayed, Enbridge probably would have sued for eminent domain just like with any other landholder and the special benefits received in the deal would not have been available. Commissioner Dave Domas also spoke against the suggestion. He said the commission should not resort to âChicago-style politicsâ by using executive branch powers to influence proceedings in the judicial branch of government. (TD)
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Man Dodges Disease; Lawmaker Says Suspend Pharmacy's License Man Dodges Disease; Lawmaker Says Suspend Pharmacy's License
10/16/12 - As a local lawmaker calls for the license suspension of the pharmacy believed to be at the center of a national fungal meningitis outbreak, tests show that a Livingston County man whose wife recently died does not have the illness. The rare disease has been traced to contaminated steroids made by New England Compounding Center, which was sent to clinics across the country including Michigan Pain Specialists in Brighton. George Cary of Howell Township and his late wife both received pain injections at the Brighton clinic. 67-year-old Lilian Cary died September 30th. Cary had a spinal tap to check for meningitis more than a week ago and told The Associated Press today there's no evidence of meningitis. His late wife is one of at least four Michigan residents who have died as a result of the outbreak. Separately, 46-year-old Brenda Bansale of Howell Township is suing the Massachusetts pharmacy for negligence after contracting meningitis from the tainted steroids. Republican Senator Joe Hune of Hamburg Township says there is absolutely no doubt the pharmacyâs license should be revoked. Governor Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette filed an administrative complaint and order of summary suspension against the company. Once that order is signed by the Bureau of Health Professions director, the company will be forced to cease operations in Michigan.(JM)
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Man Enters Plea To Hit & Run Crash That Injured Pinckney OfficerMan Enters Plea To Hit & Run Crash That Injured Pinckney Officer
10/16/12 - An Ohio man charged in a hit-and-run crash that severely injured a local police officer has entered a plea in the case. 54-year-old Gary Fury pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated vehicular assault and failure to stop after an injury accident. Heâll be sentenced on November 13th in the Cuyahoga County Court Common Pleas. Police say Fury fled the scene after hitting Pinckney Reserve Officer Robert Bielak, who was off-duty and lost his leg in the crash. He was heading to Vermont on a motorcycle and had pulled over along I-71 to look at a map after missing an exit. Police say Fury originally stopped after hitting Bielak but then sped off when another vehicle pulled behind him. Bielak was hospitalized in Cleveland for more than three weeks following the September 4th incident and had been in critical condition at one point. He was eventually transported to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor to receive follow-up care after his above-the-knee amputation in late September. As of Tuesday, he was listed in good condition. (JM)
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Student Enrollment Surges in South Lyon Schools
10/17/12 - South Lyon Community Schools will get a funding boost this year thanks to a higher-than-expected increase in student enrollment. The district had been planning on an increase of about 50 students, but the official count this month showed the district has gained 281 students overall, an increase of about 4%. At $6,900 per student, that translates into an increase in state funding of almost $2 million. The district averages 25.6 students per elementary school classroom, slightly higher than the state average. Superintendent Bill Pearson told the South Lyon Herald that growth in the student body may or may not continue in future school years, and the school board may need to begin thinking about how to accommodate it. He added that along with changes in the local housing market, this surge in enrollment is an indicator that the recession has come to an end. (TD)
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Local Credit Union Effort Aims to Support Small Business Local Credit Union Effort Aims to Support Small Business
10/17/12 - Credit unions across mid-Michigan, including Livingston County, put their money where their mouth is on Tuesday â by buying breakfast, lunch and other treats âcash mobâ-style from local restaurants as part of a statewide program supporting local businesses. During the day-long CU Lunch Local program, credit unions and their employees supported a local business for everything from getting breakfast or lunch to purchasing gifts for staff. Dozens of Michigan credit unions, with hundreds of employees, across the state participated, including staff at Lake Trust Credit Union with branches in Howell and Brighton, who lunched at Clearyâs Pub in Howell. David Adams is the CEO of the Michigan Credit Union League and said the program is ââ¦an opportunity to show everyone just how big the credit union commitment to small business really is.â (JK)
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Man Airlifted To U of M After Tree Accident In Brighton Township Man Airlifted To U of M After Tree Accident In Brighton Township
10/17/12 - A man injured while trimming a large oak tree was rushed by helicopter to the hospital Tuesday afternoon. The Brighton Area Fire Department received a call about a man stuck in a tree at around 2:15pm at a home off Hilton Road in Brighton Township. Fire Chief Mike OâBrian tells WHMI the man was helping a homeowner remove a very tall oak tree and got pinned by a tree branch he was cutting. The man was approximately 50 to 75 feet off the ground and fire crews were eventually able to free him. OâBrian says it was a delicate task and the man suffered significant injuries to his leg, hand and face. He was taken by Survival Flight to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. His identity and condition are unknown but O'Brian says the man's vital signs were stable before he was transported. (JM)
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Workforce Development Council Honors Local Employment EffortsWorkforce Development Council Honors Local Employment Efforts
10/17/12 - The winners have been announced for the Livingston County Workforce Development Councilâs upcoming awards ceremony. This will be the 21st annual ceremony to honor businesses, individuals, and organizations who have gone the extra mile to contribute to the growth and development of the local workforce. The winners include nine individuals who have overcome challenges to gain employment, three workforce development programs that help train individuals in the work force, and Community Mental Health Services Executive Director Mac Miller who is retiring after 35 years at the organization. Also being honored are Old Navy in Green Oak and Adam Haberkon from the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority, both of which have provided assistance to adults with disabilities. The ceremony will be held on October 26th at Cleary Universityâs Johnson Center. (TD)
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BAS & Restaurant Team Up to Promote Brighton AthleticsBAS & Restaurant Team Up to Promote Brighton Athletics
10/17/12 - Two student athletes from Brighton Area Schools are featured on the large brick exterior of a building in the downtown area. The Brighton Athletic Department and The Pound restaurant have partnered up to better ingrain the athletic department and schools into the community through the use of art. The district submits photos of two athletes who will be featured for one season, which are then transferred to plastic and heated onto the bricks of the building. BAS Athletic Director John Thompson tells WHMI they look toward upperclassmen in choosing the athletes and select both a female and male so both genders are represented. He says they want to highlight students who not only excel at their sport but in in the classroom in terms of leadership and character. He says this is just another example of Brighton Area Schools and Bulldog Athletics working with the different entities that make up the community. The first two students featured are Forrest Chong who is on the boys soccer team and Hannah Pietila from the girls golf team. (JK)
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Hartland Father Accused Of Kidnapping Son Heads To Trial Hartland Father Accused Of Kidnapping Son Heads To Trial
10/17/12 - A Hartland Township man accused of kidnapping his son is heading to trial. Mark Joseph Grabowski was recently bound over for trial in Livingston County Circuit Court. The 53-year-old former football player was recently bound over for trial on a charge of unlawful retention of a child by a parent. The decision came after 53rd District Court Judge Carol Sue Reader deemed there were some claims in the case best decided by a jury. A massive search effort began after Grabowski failed to return his 11-year-old son Connor home to his mother prior to the Labor Day weekend. He was arrested at a hunting ranch in South Dakota on September 7th. Allegations of abuse against the boyâs mother surfaced during that search but a Child Protective Services worker testified that Conner was very eager to get home and her investigation found no evidence of any child abuse or neglect. Grabowskiâs defense attorney indicated that a computer in Connerâs possession was believed to contain evidence and Judge Reader ordered it turned over to the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department. Grabowski has been ordered to have no contact with Connor unless directed otherwise by the court and remains on house arrest. (JM)
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Ordinance Changes Number of Dogs Allowed for Tyrone ResidentsOrdinance Changes Number of Dogs Allowed for Tyrone Residents
10/17/12 - A new ordinance will allow some residents of Tyrone Township to keep more dogs on their property while reducing the number allowed for other residents. The previous township dog ordinance allowed two dogs per residence regardless of size. The ordinance passed by the Tyrone Township Board last night includes a gradual increase in the number of dogs allowed based on the size of a parcel, up to six dogs allowed on a parcel larger than six acres. The only member of the board to vote against the ordinance was Supervisor Mike Cunningham, who tells WHMI that he would have preferred to keep a fixed number of dogs allowed on a parcel regardless of size. The new ordinance also brought the townshipâs definition of a commercial dog kennel into compliance with state law. (TD)
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HPS Superintendent Completes Professional Leadership Program HPS Superintendent Completes Professional Leadership Program
10/17/12 - A local superintendent has completed a professional leadership program focused on high-impact strategies to improve schools while contributing to the growth of staff members and students. Howell Public Schools Superintendent Ron Wilson earned the advanced specialty endorsement after completing the voluntary program called âCourageous Journeyâ. It addresses seven research-based points to become a highly effective superintendent including leadership, management, relationships & communication, data-informed planning & decision making, organizational development, politics, and teaching & learning. The program is offered by the Michigan Association of School Administrators and participants take part in classes, forums and online interactions to improve leadership skills and apply those to improve staff and student outcomes. MASA officials say because the program spans three years, it allows superintendents to tackle real transformative changes in their districts, which in turn can raise student achievement. They applauded Wilsonâs commitment and accomplishments, saying he now joins a special guild of district leaders who make a critical difference and are committed to using best practices. (JM)
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Local Women Arraigned On Charges Of Distributing K2Local Women Arraigned On Charges Of Distributing K2
10/17/12 - The co-owner and manager of a smoke shop in Genoa Township have been arraigned on criminal charges for allegedly selling synthetic marijuana during a routine compliance check. 41-year-old Ronda Roszak of Howell and 27-year-old Melissa Dzierwa of Fowlerville were arraigned in 53rd District Court Wednesday on a single felony count each of delivering or manufacturing a non-narcotic controlled substance. Both women were released on $5,000 personal bonds and must submit to random drug and alcohol testing as part of conditions set forth by Judge Suzanne Geddis. Theyâll appear in court again later this month for an exam. Livingston County Prosecutor David Morse previously told WHMI that Roszak is the co-owner of the smoke shop and Dzierwa is the manager. He said the charges were filed after an attempted sale of K2 during a compliance check by State Police at the Smokers Depot located off of Lawson Drive on April 26th. (JM)
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Volunteers Needed For Boardwalk Repairs At Huron Meadows Volunteers Needed For Boardwalk Repairs At Huron Meadows
10/18/12 - Some helping hands are needed to help reconstruct the boardwalk at an area Metropark both this weekend and next. Volunteers are being sought to help rebuild and repair damaged boardwalks at Huron Meadows Metropark, located off of Hammel Road in the Brighton area. The Ecological Restoration Volunteer Workday will take place this Saturday and next, October 20th and 27th from 10am to 1pm. Volunteers are asked to dress appropriately for outdoor work and current weather conditions. Tools, gloves, water, and snacks will be provided and park entry is free for volunteers. To register and find out more information, contact Allison Esper at (810) 227-2757 ext. 6086. (JM)
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Putnam Township Man Avoids Jail For Drunken Mishap Putnam Township Man Avoids Jail For Drunken Mishap
10/18/12 - A Putnam Township man will avoid jail time but undergo extensive treatment after entering a home and climbing into bed with a man and his wife while intoxicated. 28-year-old Jason Ervin House was sentenced to six months of probation and three days of community service after pleading guilty to a drunk and disorderly count in exchange for prosecutors dropping a breaking and entering charge. House must also submit to random drug and alcohol testing, complete an outpatient treatment program and 12-step program while attending three Alcoholics Anonymous meetings every week with proof. House was arrested July 29th at a home on Patterson Lake Drive after police were called by the 75-year-old homeowner who said a stranger had crawled into bed with him and his 72-year-old wife. Police say House was found unconscious in the bed with his shorts partly down but woke up to say âthis isnât my houseâ after being placed in handcuffs. A preliminary breath test administered at the scene revealed that he had a blood alcohol level of .174%, more than double the stateâs legal limit for driving. Authorities later discovered unsupervised children sleeping at the defendantâs home located down the street along with dirty dishes, empty alcohol containers and garbage on the counters. A referral was subsequently made to state authorities on a child neglect complaint. (JM)
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Howell DDA Board Grants Facade Money for Heart of HowellHowell DDA Board Grants Facade Money for Heart of Howell
10/18/12 - The Heart of Howell Project has been granted almost $58,000 from the Howell Mainstreet and Downtown Development Authority Board to improve the façade of its historic buildings. The Heart of Howell is an ongoing development that will consolidate the Spagâs, Thistledown, and Swannâs buildings on Grand River. Developer Joe Parker tells WHMI that the board expedited the application for façade grant money because portions of the Swann and Spagâs buildings are falling apart and could fail if allowed to remain as-is through the winter. The $214,000 project will repair the structural problems in the buildings as well as help restore their historic attractiveness. That will include replacing the exterior with stained brick and converting the windows from vinyl to glass. The board deviated from DDA guidelines in expediting the application, but no laws or ordinances were broken as a result. Board members suggested creating emergency exemption conditions in the guidelines at a future meeting to compensate for such circumstances. (TD)
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Crooked Lake Weed Control Plan Sparks DebateCrooked Lake Weed Control Plan Sparks Debate
10/18/12 - A special assessment district is being proposed for weed control on East and West Crooked Lake in Genoa Township but those impacted have some differences of opinion as how to best eradicate them. Board members heard comments and concerns from those who live on the lake and others who have boats on it. If the assessment goes through, itâs believed that both property owners and boat slip owners would be included in the district. Thatâs something that doesnât sit well with resident George Lacelle and others who voiced concerns about the use of chemicals and feel they would not only impact water quality but lead to the potential contamination of wells. Lacelle says theyâve been fighting this for years and those who want chemicals could never get the required majority to go ahead with the district but now theyâre counting the owners of boat slips as a third tier to push it through. He tells WHMI spraying poison will only cause more damage than its worth and kill the lake. Resident Tom Rafferty and others counter that after much research, chemicals are the only way to get rid of the Eurasian milfoil weed, which he says gets worse every time the lake level goes down and sunlight gets through. He tells WHMI everyone needs to come together to get this done so they can move forward and enjoy the lake. Township officials indicated that petitions were received from 55% of parcels included in the district and another public hearing will be held in December. (JK)
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Ground Broken on Fenton Community Center ExpansionGround Broken on Fenton Community Center Expansion
10/18/12 - A groundbreaking ceremony took place yesterday for additions and renovations to be made to the Fenton Community Center. The project will add two new classrooms to the buildingâs south side and renovate the interior to increase building code compliance, particularly for handicapped access. Fenton Mayor Sue Osborn says the expansion will be useful for renting the facility out and also as a studio for the local artistsâ guild. The project is being funded with $800,000 in private donations and $1.3 million in city money. Osborn tells WHMI that city officials went forward with the project because there is a legitimate need for improved handicapped access and having a strong, active community center will serve to bring business and new residents to the downtown. Construction is planned to begin in the spring of 2013 and be completed sometime that fall. (TD)
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Hands Shaken on Restaurant Deal for Heart of Howell DevelopmentHands Shaken on Restaurant Deal for Heart of Howell Development
10/18/12 - The deal between Heart of Howell developer Joe Parker and the restaurant planned to take over the first floor of the complex is all but complete. The Heart of Howell is a planned development that will incorporate the Swann, Thistledown, and Spagâs buildings in downtown Howell on Grand River. Parker has been in talks with The Root, an acclaimed bar and restaurant out of White Lake that specializes in Michigan-based foods, to occupy the first floor of the facility. Parker tells WHMI that although the papers have not yet been signed, the parties entered an informal agreement for that deal on Wednesday wherein The Root will occupy the entire first floor of the Heart of Howell as well as two of the three basements. The deal is for a 10-year lease, and Parker says Root operators would like to be up and running by September of next year. The second floor of the Heart of Howell is planned to be rentable office space for business start-ups called the Frontal Lobe. Tenants are still being sought for the third floor, which will consist of traditional office space. (TD)
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Howell Contractor Sentenced in Detroit Bid-Rigging SchemeHowell Contractor Sentenced in Detroit Bid-Rigging Scheme
10/18/12 - A Howell contractor charged in a Detroit bid-rigging scheme will avoid jail time after being sentenced last week. 54 year old Brian Dodds was ordered to serve six months of home confinement, followed by two years of probation, for his guilty plea to concealment of a felony in U.S. District Court in 2010 for knowing about the conspiracy to defraud the government but not notifying authorities. He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. Dodds had been set for sentencing half a dozen previous times, but federal authorities continued to seek postponements while they investigated the full extent of corruption in Detroit during the tenure of ex-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Dodds, co-owner of D & R Earthmoving, admitted to creating false and inflated bids in April of 2007 for the Garden View Estates public housing project in Detroit allegedly at the urging of co-defendant Bobby Ferguson of Ferguson Enterprises, a close friend of Kilpatrick. Ferguson, along with Kilpatrick; his father, Bernard Kilpatrick; and ex-city water chief Victor Mercado are currently on trial after being charged with running a criminal enterprise through the mayor's office to enrich themselves. Prosecutors say Dodds made it appear as though the $11.9 million bid from Fergusonâs company was the lowest presented for demolition work and utilities installation. In return for allowing the false bid to be submitted, authorities say Dodds received a sub-contract from Ferguson worth more than $300,000. (JK)
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