The condition of a man injured when a trench collapsed while working at the Livingston County Jail expansion project appears to be improving. The 43-year old man from Muir, Michigan has been hospitalized in critical condition since the accident on Friday morning. However, a spokeswoman from the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor told WHMI he has been upgraded to fair condition. The man was installing a sewer line Friday when the trench, six feet deep and six feet wide, collapsed on top of him. He was buried up to his stomach and trapped but was rescued somewhat quickly thanks to the efforts of Howell police and firefighters and Livingston County EMS. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or MIOSHA, is investigating the cause of the collapse. The man works for Sandborn Excavating, which was installing the sanitary sewer line as part of the jail expansion and renovation project. Authorities are not publicly releasing his name. (JM)
Man Injured In Trench Collapse At Livingston County Jail Project Improving Man Injured In Trench Collapse At Livingston County Jail Project Improving
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School Board Set To Approve New Uniform PurchaseSchool Board Set To Approve New Uniform Purchase
The Brighton Board of Education is poised to approve a $135,000 expenditure that will provide new band uniforms for the Brighton High School Marching Bandâs 250 members. The Board of Education reviewed the proposal at last weekâs meeting, and the purchase is expected to be formally approved at the February 22nd meeting. Superintendent Greg Gray tells WHMI the band sorely needs new uniforms, saying the current uniforms are almost 20 years old, have been mended and altered innumerable times, and are very threadbare. The bid price was $135,315 for 300 uniforms, submitted by Demoulin Brothers of Greenville, Illinois, the largest company in the world in the manufacture of musical apparel. Gray says that the uniforms should arrive and be ready for the marching band to wear by the start of the fall term. Gray says the uniforms should last from 15-20 years. (TT)
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Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center & Chamber Offer Supervisory Trainings Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center & Chamber Offer Supervisory Trainings
Trainings designed to build effective management and supervisory skills are being offered to businesses in Livingston, Oakland and Washtenaw Counties. The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center and the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce are partnering to offer a series of supervisor training workshops. The interactive workshops aim to help supervisors and leaders develop and refine skills to manage staff more effectively. The workshops focus on proven managerial concepts, effective communication skills, building better teams, handling conflict, and the latest employee development techniques. The training is a 36-hour course delivered in nine, half-day sessions to allow participants time between sessions to return to work and apply the learning. The training will take place at the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce Conference Center and starts in March. Further information is available in the attachment and link below. (JM)
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Trial Date Set For Deerfield Couple Charged With Abusing Adopted SonTrial Date Set For Deerfield Couple Charged With Abusing Adopted Son
A new trial date has been set for a Deerfield Township couple facing felony child abuse charges. Eric and Angela Corcoran are charged with 2nd degree child abuse following accusations that they mentally and emotionally abused their 16-year-old adopted son. In court last week, a May 2nd trial date was set after months of procedural delays. A motion was also granted to allow the couple the ability to travel out of state while they await their trial. The abuse reportedly began in 2012 and continued through February of 2015. Authorities say the couple kept the boy isolated in their basement, with only a camper toilet to use as a bathroom and a dirty mattress without any sheets, blankets, or pillows. The victim also claims he was mistreated by the coupleâs biological children as well and forced to eat alone. The victim has since been placed in foster care. (JK)
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Advocacy Group Again Plans To Address U Of M Regents On Child Abuse DiagnosisAdvocacy Group Again Plans To Address U Of M Regents On Child Abuse Diagnosis
Family and friends of a local man are reaching out to the health system that they say was at the root cause of his wrongful conviction of child abuse. Joshua Burns of Brighton was convicted of second-degree child abuse in a case that involved his daughter, Naomi and served one year in jail and is currently on probation. Burns claims the injuries Naomi sustained were the result of an accident and continues to maintain his innocence. The group Torn Family Trust was created to support Burns and they believe the C.S. Mott Childrenâs Hospital doctor who treated Naomi and diagnosed her injuries a result of child abuse was the deciding vote when it came to prosecuting Burns. Last September the group protested outside the hospital and then addressed the University of Michigan Board of Regents. Torn Family Trustee Matt Eckman says the group has since received a letter from the hospital claiming that their doctors donât make decisions or recommendations when it comes to law enforcement pursuing child abuse cases. However Eckman says that claim is ridiculous and that doctors need to be properly trained in diagnosing abuse because police officers listen to their medical opinions. Eckman believes in the case of Naomi Burns, one doctorâs diagnosis is what led to Joshuaâs prosecution and conviction. Torn Family Trust will again be addressing the U of Mâs Board of Regents in Ann Arbor on Thursday. The meeting will be held in the Union Building and begins at 3 pm. Eckman encourages the public to come out to support Burns and any other families that have experienced the effects of a misdiagnosed case of child abuse. The university previously said that the hospitalâs child protection team has âextensive expertise in analyzing medical evidence to evaluate whether injuries may have been caused by abuseâ and that the team âdoes an exhaustive review of cases at C.S. Mott Childrenâs Hospital when there is suspected abuse of an infant or child.â It further emphasized that, "Any questions about the merits of the legal decisions should be directed to the appropriate legal entities in Livingston County." (DK/JK)
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Hartland LEGO Robotics Team Honored By Leaders At CapitolHartland LEGO Robotics Team Honored By Leaders At Capitol
State elected officials and Governor Rick Snyder welcomed a local robotics team at the capitol this morning to honor the teamâs successful season. The Hartland Rising Eagles Robotics Team met with state Senator Joe Hune of Hamburg Township and Representative Hank Vaupel of Handy Township at the Michigan Senate, where they were acknowledged for their accomplishments. The Rising Eagles had a championship winning season for 2015-2016 in the FIRST LEGO League and were among 453 teams in Michigan and 16,762 teams worldwide that participated this year. The Rising Eagles will be competing alongside 54 teams from North America and 53 teams from countries around the world at the World Festival in Missouri this April. The team also had a chance to meet with Gov. Rick Snyder before the session and was presented with a special tribute on the Senate floor. (DK)
Photo caption: State Sen. Joe Hune, R-Hamburg (back row, center); Rep. Hank Vaupel, R-Fowlerville (back row, second from left); and Gov. Rick Snyder (back row, second from right) welcomed the Hartland Rising Eagles Robotics Team to the Michigan Capitol.
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Redistricting Put Off For A Year in South Lyon DistrictRedistricting Put Off For A Year in South Lyon District
There are no plans for redistricting this summer in the South Lyon Community Schools, but that doesnât mean they wonât happen sooner rather than later. Thatâs because a new elementary school is set to open in the fall of 2017 and both the school board and administrators say theyâd rather wait until then to shift school boundaries at the elementary and middle school levels. But as the South Lyon Tribune reports, waiting also has drawbacks, which were illuminated by the school board last week when they approved several recommendations to free up additional classroom space, including dividing up the media centers at Brummer, Hardy and Kent Lake Elementary schools into two classrooms, purchase two portable classrooms for Dolsen Elementary convert three sign up labs at Centennial Middle School into classrooms. But making those changes will have additional costs as Dolsen Elementary will no longer be able to use a septic field after adding portable classrooms, so will instead have to connect to the Lyon Township sewer system at a cost of about $200,000. Assistant Superintendent Jim Graham said connecting to the system made the most sense as the septic system is 25 years old and he wasnât sure they even had the physical space to expand it even if they wanted to. Meanwhile, the district has suspended its out-of-district school of choice program for the 2016-2017 year, saying that they are currently only projecting three open kindergarten spaces available. (JK)
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Hartland High School Receives High Marks for AccreditationHartland High School Receives High Marks for Accreditation
One area high school is pleased to have surpassed the national average in reaching accreditation. Last night Hartland High School principal Dave Minsker told the board of education that they received high marks from the accreditation team last week. He says the district doesnât receive any financial boost from being accredited, but does mean the district is doing well. Minsker tells WHMI accreditation involves a number of reviews. He says to be accredited means AdvanceEd, or the major accrediting system for the state and for the country has recognized them as doing the appropriate things as far as education for their students. From culture to instruction, to safety in schools to how they govern themselves, from the Board of Education all the way down, how they function as a district and how they improve things; all those things are what the accreditation team looks at in every school around the country. He says 33 million students are affected by this as well as staff. Minsker says to have come out well above national average is a pretty remarkable thing for them. He says getting ready for the two day visit from a group of educators meant gathering documents and statistics over the last several months. AdvancED (Advance Ed), the group responsible for the accreditation, is made up of a representative from the Michigan Department of Education and teachers from all over the state of Michigan. Minsker says they evaluated the district on areas like teaching and learning capacity and leadership and governance. He says the overall score the district received was 316 out of a possible 400. The national average was just over 278. The overall score is calculated from a set of criteria as well as surveys from members of the community, staff and faculty. Minsker says the accreditation has to be done every 5 years and each time is different. He says the accreditation team wants to see the district continue to make improvements and Hartland has been doing that. Minsker told the Board of Education the accreditation team had a hard time finding anything the school needed to improve on.
(DS)
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Rate Hikes Approved For Some Genoa Township ResidentsRate Hikes Approved For Some Genoa Township Residents
Some sewer and water system users in Genoa Township will see a spike in their utility bills in the near future. The Board of Trustees approved the budgets for the Lake Edgewood and Oak Pointe Sanitary Sewer System on Monday, as well as a rate increase for the Lake Edgewood system. The plan is to use the 3% cost-of-living increase to cover reserve funds and additional transfers in that system, effective June 1st. Rates for the Oak Pointe Sewer System will remain the same but its water system is another story. Utility Director Greg Tatara says the Oak Pointe Water Systemâs budget has been impacted by reduced usage the last two summers. The cool and wet weather led to a decrease in the amount of water used, which affected their revenue. Tatara tells WHMI that, coupled with other factors, resulted in a $60,000 deficit for 2016. The water systemâs amended budget and rate hike was approved, with only one trustee in opposition to the increase. The increase is 33 cents per thousand gallons which is estimated to add about $20 per year to the water bill for users. Tatara says the plan is to use the increase and hopefully additional usage to improve their budget situation. That rate increase will be effective May 1st. (DK)
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Fundraiser Will Precede Annual Side-By-Side ConcertFundraiser Will Precede Annual Side-By-Side Concert
Two events in Pinckney this month will highlight the school districtâs one of a kind music program. Pinckney Community Schools offers the only public school string instrument program in Livingston County and the district is encouraging the community to support it. A spaghetti dinner fundraiser will be held at Pinckney Community High School this Saturday, February 20th from 1:30 to 6:30pm. The PCS band, orchestra and choir groups will perform throughout the event and tickets are available at the door. Then, on February 25th, Pinckney Orchestra students will perform with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra in the annual Side-by-Side concert. The concert will take place at 7:30 pm at the Jane Tasch Theatre and tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 810-225-3950. Director of the PCS Orchestra Program, Jeff Campbell, says he would love for the community to take advantage of the program by attending and enjoying these events. Campbell says the communityâs support is needed to help promote and maintain the districtâs music program. (DK)
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Howell Students Organize Supply Drive For Detroit Public Schools Howell Students Organize Supply Drive For Detroit Public Schools
A group of students at a Howell Elementary decided to take action after hearing that students in Detroit Public Schools donât always have basic school supplies. 5th grade students at Voyager Elementary organized the supply drive for Detroit Public Schools, which got underway this week. Students commented the goal is to help make sure students in Detroit have the supplies they need to learn and be successful. A group of six students planned the supply drive as part of a Genius Hour project. Donations of pencils, paper, crayons and other school supplies are being accepted until Friday, March 4th. After that date, the supplies will be delivered to Detroit. Donation boxes have been placed near the main entrances of Voyager Elementary on Byron Road and the Howell Public Schools Administrative Offices on North Highlander Way. Details about Genius Hour are available through the link below. (JM)
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Howell To Host Lunar New Year CelebrationHowell To Host Lunar New Year Celebration
Downtown Howell will celebrate another kind of new year this weekend. All day Saturday the Howell Opera House will host the bulk of activities for this yearâs Lunar New Year Festival. Downtown Development Authority Director Cathleen Edgerly says it is an educational event. Edgerly says itâs a fun family event that celebrates cultural awareness and is held primarily at the Howell Opera House. It kicks off with Dragon Run 5K at Howell Public Schools. All the rest of the dayâs entertainment takes place at the Howell Opera House. She says one of the most popular events is the Lion Dance, which starts at noon. It is a celebration of Chinese Culture and is a Chinese cultural dance. She says it also includes a blessing of the businesses in the downtown district. Edgerly says the event is a way to educate children of all ages as well as adults about the cultural diversity in Howell. She says all of the activities at the Howell Opera House are both educational and fun. Although the dinner with Food Networkâs Cutthroat Kitchen Chef Tom Lin is sold out, there will be an opportunity for youth to get their questions answered earlier in the day. There will also be hands on activities like origami and other make and take crafts along with the Chinese cooking experience. Edgerly says the popular Lion Dance is a celebration of Chinese culture and is a traditional part of the New Year. She says often people mistake the lion for a dragon. Part of the ritual is to feed the lion in order to get blessings and red envelopes will be available to put change into. She says the donation is in thanksgiving for blessings to come. For more on the event click on the link below and look for the Lunar New Year Festival under the events tab. (DS)
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Tyrone Township Decides on New ClerkTyrone Township Decides on New Clerk
One local township has a new clerk to fill a position soon to be vacated through retirement. The Tyrone Township Board of Trustees held open interviews last night for three candidates to fill the seat of outgoing clerk Keith Kremer. Kremer, who is retiring as of March 1st, was not present for the meeting, but attended via Skype until the interview process started. Township residents Marcella Husted, Jennifer Eden and Marian Krause questioned about their experiences. Each was given three questions in advance and then during the meeting three others. After the interviews were over the board briefly discussed the three candidates and came up with a decision. Marcella Husted won approval by a 4-2 vote. Supervisor Mike Cunningham and and trustee Soren Pedersen voted no on the decision. Husted says looks forward to learning her new position. She says she's very excited to take on the responsibility and her first objective will be to learn what her role is. She says she is very eager to learn what she will be doing in her new position. Husted is retired from the Michigan Department of the Treasury as an auditor. She currently works for Baker College as a financial services representative. Husted told board members she thinks itâs important that the views of the local residents are represented and plans to work for at least the next three terms. She says sheâs been a resident of Tyrone Township for nearly 21 years and enjoys the rural setting. Township Supervisor Mike Cunningham says heâs comfortable with the candidate the board chose and looks forward to working with Husted. Husted will be officially appointed at the March 1st meeting and take over the position on March 7th. (DS)
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Pinckney Snowboarder Takes Home Gold Medal In Youth Olympics Pinckney Snowboarder Takes Home Gold Medal In Youth Olympics
A Pinckney High School student is returning home a gold medalist after dominating the snowboard cross during the Youth Olympic Games. The USAâs Jake Vedder won all five heats and stayed strong to win a tight final race and claim the gold medal in the menâs snowboard cross competition during the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway on Monday. Vedder commented it was great racing all day, he got a good start and was in the lead the whole way but crossing the finish line was an emotional experience. When it comes to racing, Vedder said he just tries to focus, shut everyone out and stay in the moment. He had been crowned a Michigan regional state champion eight times in a row between 2006 and 2014. Pinckney Superintendent Rick Todd said Jake has worked hard for many years to earn the achievement and they couldn't be more proud of him. Todd said Vedderâs parents Rob and Michelle are both PCS graduates and passionate supporters of the district and they canât wait to welcome them home. A link to the Youth Olympic website with video of Vedderâs performances is available in the link below. Pictured from left is silver medalist Alex Dickson Australia, gold medalist Jake Vedder USA and bronze medalist Sebastian Pietrzykowski, Germany. Photo Credit: Arnt Folvik/YIS/IOC (JM)
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Tyrone Township Agrees to Raise Salaries and Hire an AssessorTyrone Township Agrees to Raise Salaries and Hire an Assessor
One local township is planning to raise the salaries of many of its employees and hire a new assessor. Over the last several months officials in Tyrone Township have been conducting a salary study and have agreed to make some changes. Last night the Township Board of Trustees voted to increase salaries for some employees by 5 percent, but not all at once. Township Supervisor Mike Cunningham says the increases will have a financial impact. He says the township did a financial study and found they were behind the eight-ball as far as the county, the population and parcel count for other similar communities. He says it is going to be a significant impact to our budget so they want to bring it half way there the first year and the other half next year so they can absorb the costs and it's not going to be an issue going forward. He says the township is solidifying the budget for the budget presentation at the next meeting. Cunningham says the salary increases will cost $19,000, but will be split over two years. He says the township is also looking to fill a vacant zoning administrator and the current assessor is looking to retire. The township is hoping to hire a new assessor who will eventually work with the zoning administrator on zoning enforcement, but he says they want to have the person hired in time to learn from the current assessor. The zoning administrator position is in the current budget, but the new assessor will cost about $16 to $18 an hour in new salary. Cunningham says the township is planning now to be prepared for the budget presentation on March 1st. (DS)
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Convictions Upheld For Two Convicted In Copper & Truck TheftConvictions Upheld For Two Convicted In Copper & Truck Theft
The convictions of two men charged with stealing copper from a utility company have been upheld, while the sentencing for one of the two will be reconsidered. The Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed larceny convictions for Michael Ray Brown and Terry Lee Garten for the 2012 incident in which police say they stole copper and a vehicle from DTE Service Center in Genoa Township. But the court did overturn Brownâs sentence, ordering that the amount of his restitution should be recalculated. Appeals attorneys for both men argued that their clients were denied a fair trial because their separate juries were allowed to hear evidence about copper thefts at other utility service centers for which they were not charged. The appeals panel said that the similarities were âstrikingâ between the DTE thefts for which they were charged and the incidents which they were not charged and thus established âa sufficient factual nexus between the two.â During their trial, a third co-defendant, Patrick Cronan, testified that after breaking into the facility, they rolled a large spool of copper wiring onto a DTE truck, which they then drove to his barn on White Lake Road. He said they then abandoned the truck on US-23. All three were sentenced to serve four to 20-years in prison. (JK)
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Hartland Township Board Discusses Road Patrol & Budget Issues Hartland Township Board Discusses Road Patrol & Budget Issues
Budget issues, public safety and matters to consider in future planning took up the bulk of discussion during Tuesday nightâs Hartland Township board meeting. One item brought up was road patrol and it was noted the board will likely need to take some action within the next five years, which could mean contracting again as there is not resident support for a police millage. The township recently completed a citizen survey, which revealed residents are pleased with the current level of service being provided by the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department and Michigan State Police, which respond on an incident basis. The township previously contracted services through the Sheriffâs Department to guarantee a dedicated patrol car during certain times. Township Manager James Wickman says there is some concern when it comes to the long term sustainability of the current model as one critical incident could change things very quickly but also if road patrol is further reduced by the county. Wickman tells WHMI the road patrol issue is very important to residents, which is why the board wants to stay proactive and has kept it on their strategic plan to continue to look at it year after year. Trustee Joe Colainne noted a desire for some type of substation to indicate a formal police presence within the township if they do end up contracting again or working something else out. Wickman says theyâll continue to monitor the situation, statistics and response times, as well as the public sentiment about it. He says the also be talking with neighboring communities and the county about potential solutions down the road, should the need arise. In addition to the road patrol discussion, the board continued with organizational review and the prospect of salary increases. The board has a system in which it delegates a certain pool of money and Wickman then determines how it should be distributed as far as employee raises and bonuses. That matter was tabled until the board meets again next Tuesday at 6:30pm for a budget work session, which must be adopted by the end of March. (JM)
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Local Elementary Student Honored At Capitol As Reading Contest WinnerLocal Elementary Student Honored At Capitol As Reading Contest Winner
A local elementary school student was recognized by a state representative at the Capitol for her contest-winning reading skills. Hannah Beam (right) of Hornung Elementary School in Brighton joined State Rep. Lana Theis on Wednesday in Lansing. Hannah was named the winner of Theisâ summer reading contest, which took place between May and August of 2015. Elementary school students filled out an entry each time they completed reading 10 books and the winner received a trip to the Capitol. Rep. Theis says the importance of reading âcannot be emphasized enoughâ and that she very much enjoyed spending time with Hannah. Theis says Hannahâs dedication to her education makes her a great leader and example. (DK)
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Deputy Injured While Responding To CrashDeputy Injured While Responding To Crash
A deputy with the Oakland County Sheriffâs Office was injured in an accident earlier this week in Lyon Township. Deputies with the Lyon Township substation were dispatched to a property damage accident in the roadway in the area of Grand River and Napier Road on Tuesday, at around 5:12pm. Officials say a deputy was directing traffic at the intersection when a vehicle traveling westbound on Grand River failed to obey his signals to stop. As the vehicle continued through the intersection, the passenger side mirror of the vehicle struck the deputy on his right shoulder. The Sheriffâs Office reports the driver of the vehicle did not pull over immediately so the deputy pursued the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop a short distance away from the original crash scene. The driver, a 54-year-old Novi woman, was issued traffic citations. The deputy was transported to a local medical center for his injuries, where he was treated and released. (JM)
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Green Oak Township Board Fixes SAD, Sets Hearing For DaycareGreen Oak Township Board Fixes SAD, Sets Hearing For Daycare
The Green Oak Township Board of Trustees amended a road assessment and set a show cause hearing for a daycare during Wednesday's meeting. A resolution was passed removing a parcel of land from the Briggs Road-Richard Road special assessment district. This is the sixth lot removed from the district which had five other mistakenly identified plots being taken out last year. Supervisor Mark St. Charles said the township was notified by the owners that while they had a Briggs Road address, the land was actually on Academy Drive. The Board also set a show cause hearing date for Small Wonders Daycare on March 16th. St Charles said the township is reviewing all special use permits given out since 1980 to make sure owners are still in compliance and in business. According to the board, the owner of Small Wonders received a cease and desist from the State of Michigan in December after losing their daycare license earlier but continuing to operate. They didnât want to get too deep into discussions, however, as board members agreed that it might be like having a hearing without the owner being present. (MK/JM)
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