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Johnson Seeks Democratic Nomination In 42nd House District RaceJohnson Seeks Democratic Nomination In 42nd House District Race

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A Democrat from Genoa Township has entered the race for the 42nd District seat in the Michigan Legislature. Timothy Johnson filed papers with the Livingston County Clerk’s Office last Wednesday in preparation for the November 2016 election. He’s the only Democrat to file so far for the seat currently held by Republican Representative Lana Thesis, who was first elected in November 2014. The 42nd District encompasses the City of Brighton and the townships of Brighton, Genoa, Green Oak, Hamburg and Putnam. He says Livingston County is still in need of committed leadership in Lansing and is too focused on appeasing corporate interests. Johnson says six years later roads are still awaiting repair, infrastructure needs have been ignored and Detroit Public Schools has continued to decline under the direct control of Lansing. His campaign focus is how money is allotted for public schools and improving Michigan’s infrastructure. Johnson currently teaches at the Detroit Behavior Institute/Capstone Academy, which is a 98-bed residential facility that treats children with mental health and related disorders. He previously taught at Hawthorn Psychiatric Center, has worked at a local steel mill and been an elected union representative. He’s a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association but also brings a small business background, having owned an automotive body repair business and a sports card shop. Johnson and his wife have three children and she operates the Brighton Tea Company. He has also chaired the Livingston County Democratic Party’s strategy committee since 2014. (JM)

BHS Marching Band To Compete For 2nd World Title At Disney WorldBHS Marching Band To Compete For 2nd World Title At Disney World

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For the first time in 17 years, the Brighton High School Marching Band will have brand-new uniforms when it marches out onto the field for the first home football game next fall. The Brighton Board of Education approved new band uniforms at its meeting Monday night. The uniforms, costing a total of slightly over $135,000, are the first new uniforms for the marching band in 17 years. With 240 members, Brighton has one of the five largest marching bands in the state, according to band director Gabriella Hoffman. Hoffman tells WHMI that the BHS Marching Band has accumulated numerous awards and honors during its history. Hoffman says the Brighton High School Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony will leave in two weeks to participate in “Festival Disney” at Disney World in Orlando, where they will compete with about 20 bands for the world title and hope to repeat for the title they won two years ago. The band has also been invited for a second time to the Outback Bowl, taking place on Jan. 2 in Tampa, Florida. The game, and halftime festivities, will be broadcast nationally on ABC-TV and ESPN. In addition to new orange and black uniforms to represent the school colors, the uniform package will also include hats and raincoats. A total of 300 uniforms have been ordered for the band, which currently numbers 240 members.(TT)

Webberville Teen Enters Plea In Fatal CrashWebberville Teen Enters Plea In Fatal Crash

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A teenager charged in a car crash that took the life of a Livingston County man has entered a plea. 17-year-old Kaitlyn Dianne Powers of Webberville is charged with a moving violation causing death. She pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor in 53rd District Court on Monday. In October, Powers was involved in a two-vehicle car crash in Conway Township that resulted in the death of 28-year-old Nicholas Roddenberg of Fowlerville. A preliminary investigation indicated Powers was heading westbound when she failed to stop at the stop sign on Morhle Road at Nicholson Road. Her Buick struck the Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by Roddenberg, who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. He was ejected from the vehicle and later pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel. Roddenberg’s passengers, 23 year-old Holli Matthews of Fowlerville and a 14 month-old child, were transported by ambulance to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Powers was treated and released at the scene. She will be sentenced April 5th. (DK)

Senator Hune To Serve On Joint Flint Water Committee Senator Hune To Serve On Joint Flint Water Committee

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A local lawmaker has been tapped to serve on a joint committee that will investigate findings related to the Flint water crisis. Republican Senator Joe Hune of Hamburg Township says it’s time for both Republicans and Democrats to come together and get to the bottom of what happened. The Joint Committee on the Flint Water Public Health Emergency will be tasked with providing recommendations for legislative action after reviewing the findings of ongoing investigations into the crisis. The committee is expected to begin work once results of the first investigation are received and reviewed. That investigation is expected to wrap up within the next few weeks. Midland Republican Senator Jim Stamas, who will lead the panel, says it is not an investigatory unit because it lacks subpoena power. But Democratic Senator Jim Ananich of Flint, one of the vice-chairs, openly calls it an investigation. Flint failed to treat river water with anti-corrosion chemicals when it switched water sources in 2014, allowing lead to be scraped from aging pipes and into drinking water. (JM)

Forecasters Call For Major Snowfall Wednesday...ProbablyForecasters Call For Major Snowfall Wednesday...Probably

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Forecasts are calling for a major snowstorm to blow across Michigan Wednesday and many residents and businesses are preparing for snow totals that could exceed ten inches. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning effective Wednesday at 9am through Thursday at 4pm, with a total accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possible. But AccuWeather Meteorologist Heather Zehr says while there is a potential for a lot of snow, the precipitation has to come down hard enough to overcome mild air at the surface. She says if it comes down too light, the snow will be light and it will come down as a cold, miserable rain most of the time. Stay tuned to 93-5 for the latest weather and traffic updates. (JK)

No Injuries In Genoa Township House FireNo Injuries In Genoa Township House Fire

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No one was injured in a house fire that occurred in the Brighton area this morning. The Brighton Area Fire Authority was dispatched at 8:30 to a reported house fire on Brady Road in Genoa Township. Neighbors reported heavy smoke coming from the house across the street, but did not think anyone was home because the homeowner’s truck wasn’t in the driveway. Mike Evans, Deputy Fire Chief with the Brighton Area Fire Authority, tells WHMI the home is located in a rural part of the district and they needed help from surrounding fire departments. No one was home at the time of the fire and no firefighters involved were injured either. Evans says they received mutual aid assistance from the Howell Fire Department, as well as tankers from Howell, Hamburg, Putnam and Green Oak Township. The firefighters used a defensive attack to combat the flames and activated the county’s tanker strike team which provided additional tankers. The fire was contained within an hour, however the second floor was destroyed and there is significant damage to the first floor. Firefighters were conducting overhaul and trying to hit all of the hot spots as of about 11:30 this morning. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time. Evans says five other incidents were happening in the district around that time and the Brighton Fire Authority had assistance covering those other calls from Green Oak, Hartland and Lyon Township fire authorities. (DK)

Howell Public Schools Complete Water Testing At Northwest ElementaryHowell Public Schools Complete Water Testing At Northwest Elementary

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After an extensive second round of testing, officials say the majority of samples taken from Northwest Elementary showed no lead or amounts below EPA action levels. The tests conducted by the City of Howell and Howell Public Schools included 30 samples from 23 sites within the school and the majority of the results found either no detection of lead or amounts that were below the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) action level. The EPA’s action level is 15 parts per billion (ppb). At Northwest Elementary 16 samples found no detection of lead and 14 samples found lead. Of the 14 samples, 11 samples were below the EPA’s action level and tested between 1 ppb and 12 ppb. Three samples did come back above EPA action level at 19 ppb, 24 ppb and 130 ppb. The district says those samples were from seldom used fixtures. The result that returned at 19 ppb was from a drinking fountain, the result that returned at 24 ppb was from a nonpublic consumption point and the result that returned at 130 ppb was from a sink. In the case of the later, a sample from the drinking fountain connected to the same fixture returned at 3.1 ppb. Samples were tested by two independent state certified laboratories. Because only some samples returned positive for lead, it is believed that the fixtures in those locations are the cause of the positive test results. As a precaution, any fixture where a water sample returned positive for lead, even those that were below the EPA action level, will be replaced. These fixtures will remain out of service until replacement occurs. Replacement of the fixtures will take place after school hours as to not interrupt instructional time. Howell Public Schools will maintain water coolers and portable water at Northwest Elementary until all of the identified fixtures have been replaced. HPS Spokesman Tom Gould tells WHMI each of the test sites with levels beyond the EPA threshold levels were in seldom used rooms where the sinks are not used, including one from a valve on the pipe fittings that was not a public consumption point of water. He says the majority of drinking fountains are okay and the district will be putting an action plan into place but this will be an ongoing process and the district is in contact with the health department but stressed the goal is always to keep students safe and make sure they have access to safe drinking water. Meanwhile, Howell City Manager Shea Charles commended the district for its response to the situation. He says the tests confirmed what the city and district suspected – that the issues were associated with the fixtures themselves or the plumbing attached to it, not the municipal water system. (JM/JK)

Howell Man Pleads In Fatal Car CrashHowell Man Pleads In Fatal Car Crash

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A plea has been entered by a Howell man authorities say was responsible in a car crash that killed a local woman. 24-year-old Brandon Paul Lassila is charged with one count of a moving violation causing death and one count of a moving violation that caused serious impairment of body function. The charges stem from an incident that occurred in December of 2014 when Lassila failed to stop at a light on Grand River Avenue in Genoa Township and struck another car. Authorities say Lassila said he was unsure if the light was red or green and did not see the van until it was right in front of him. 80-year-old Sylvia Sarah Wood of Fowlerville died 20 days after the accident from injuries she sustained from the crash. Her daughter, who was also in the car, was seriously impaired in the incident. On Friday, Lassila pleaded no contest to the charges and has been scheduled for sentencing April 5th. Lassila was also charged with one count of driving with a suspended or revoked license in a separate incident that occurred in October; however that case was abandoned by prosecutors as a part of a plea agreement. (DK)

Senator Joe Hune Tapped For New Flint Water Committee Senator Joe Hune Tapped For New Flint Water Committee

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A local lawmaker will serve on a joint oversight committee created by the Michigan Legislature to review findings and take testimony on the mistakes that lead to the Flint water crisis. Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof and House Speaker Kevin Cotter on Tuesday announced creation of the Joint Committee on the Flint Water Public Health Emergency, appointing four Republicans and two Democrats to the panel. Republican Senator Joe Hune of Hamburg Township says there are a lot of investigations going on at the federal, state and local levels and the panel will examine possible policy actions to prevent similar events elsewhere. Flint failed to treat river water with anti-corrosion chemicals when it switched water sources in 2014, allowing lead to leach into the drinking water from aging pipes. Hune tells WHMI it will take more time and effort to fix everything and make sure it never happens again but the committee’s intent is not to have another duplicative investigation. He says the plan is to take information, determine how to implement the right policy and make sure the response is going well. There has already been some disagreement on what role the new panel should play and whether it needs subpoena power. Midland Republican Senator Jim Stamas, who will lead the panel, says it is not an investigatory unit because it lacks subpoena power but Democratic Senator Jim Ananich of Flint, one of the vice-chairs, calls it an investigation. Hune said there’s a good group of people on the panel that have the ability to put aside partisan issues and make hard decisions. He feels the oversight committee will work to make sure the response to the Flint water crisis is working effectively and this type of travesty doesn’t happen again - noting the government failed at all levels in providing the most basic service to citizens. Meanwhile, Legislative leaders announced the committee Tuesday, as the Senate finalized legislation to grant $30 million in supplemental aid to help pay Flint residents' water bills. (JM)

Study Says Passenger Rail Through Livingston County Is ViableStudy Says Passenger Rail Through Livingston County Is Viable

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According to a new study released Monday, passenger rail service reconnecting Detroit with Grand Rapids, running through Livingston County, is economically viable. The Coast-to-Coast Passenger Rail Ridership and Cost Estimate Study was compiled following a series of public meetings last summer by the Michigan Environmental Council, which said that based on the input they received, the economic benefits and number of anticipated passengers justify moving the project forward. The study examined three potential routes from Detroit to Holland via Lansing and Grand Rapids that could be established by upgrading existing rail. One route passes through Ann Arbor and Jackson. Another passes through Ann Arbor and Howell. The third route bypasses Ann Arbor, heading from Wayne to Howell. It concluded that both of the proposed routes that pass through Ann Arbor are viable options that deserve further study, while the route that bypasses Ann Arbor likely does not. It also indicated that the route through Ann Arbor and Howell promised the greatest return on investment. They conclude that by 2040, it could provide nearly 1.6 million trips per year with eight daily round trips at 110 mph. Planners estimate that establishing basic 79-mph service on the 186-mile route through Ann Arbor and Howell would require an annual subsidy of about $3 million and an upfront investment of $130 million, but they point out that is comparable to the cost of building 13 miles of interstate highway. They say that increasing the speed to 110-mph would require greater capital investment, but would yield higher ridership that would allow the service to recover its operating costs and possibly generate $12 million in annual profits on the route through Ann Arbor and Howell. The next major step toward establishing Coast-to-Coast passenger rail service is a full feasibility study to include environmental impact analyses, an implementation plan and a review of public-private partnership options. (JK)

Follow-Up Testing Points To Fixtures As Source Of School's High Lead Results Follow-Up Testing Points To Fixtures As Source Of School's High Lead Results

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After an extensive second round of testing, officials say the majority of samples taken from Northwest Elementary showed no lead or amounts below EPA action levels. The tests conducted by the City of Howell and Howell Public Schools included 30 samples from 23 sites within the school and the majority of the results found either no detection of lead or amounts that were below the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) action level. The EPA’s action level is 15 parts per billion (ppb). At Northwest Elementary 16 samples found no detection of lead and 14 samples found lead. Of the 14 samples, 11 samples were below the EPA’s action level and tested between 1 ppb and 12 ppb. Three samples did come back above EPA action level at 19 ppb, 24 ppb and 130 ppb. The district says those samples were from seldom used fixtures. The result that returned at 19 ppb was from a drinking fountain, the result that returned at 24 ppb was from a nonpublic consumption point and the result that returned at 130 ppb was from a sink. In the case of the later, a sample from the drinking fountain connected to the same fixture returned at 3.1 ppb. Samples were tested by two independent state certified laboratories. Because only some samples returned positive for lead, it is believed that the fixtures in those locations are the cause of the positive test results. As a precaution, any fixture where a water sample returned positive for lead, even those that were below the EPA action level, will be replaced. These fixtures will remain out of service until replacement occurs. Replacement of the fixtures will take place after school hours as to not interrupt instructional time. Howell Public Schools will maintain water coolers and portable water at Northwest Elementary until all of the identified fixtures have been replaced. HPS spokesman Tom Gould tells WHMI each of the test sites with levels beyond the EPA threshold levels were in seldom used rooms where the sinks are not used, including one from a valve on the pipe fittings that was not a public consumption point of water. He says the majority of drinking fountains are okay and the district will be putting an action plan into place but this will be an ongoing process and the district is in contact with the health department but stressed the goal is always to keep students safe and make sure they have access to safe drinking water. Meanwhile, Howell City Manager Shea Charles commended the district for its response to the situation. He says the tests confirmed what the city and district suspected – that the issues were associated with the fixtures themselves or the plumbing attached to it, not the municipal water system. (JM/JK)

Parks Committee Turns Down 5-Year Contract For Hamburg Fun FestParks Committee Turns Down 5-Year Contract For Hamburg Fun Fest

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The Hamburg Enhanced Recreation Organization (HERO) isn’t happy with the outcome of a request for a new contract by the Hamburg Township Parks and Recreation Board. HERO submitted a request asking the Township Parks and Recreation Committee to commit to a 5-year contract for the annual Hamburg Family Fun Fest, but left yesterday’s meeting disappointed. The committee, headed by Township Clerk Jim Neilson recommended denial of the request. Neilson says he would recommend a one year contract and was concerned about damage to the township’s baseball fields. Neilson made a motion to deny the request and was supported by five other members. Committee member Annette Koeble says she would rather wait to even sign a one-year contract until after the 2016 festival. HERO president Joanna Hardesty tells WHMI the longer contract is needed to save money. She says the benefits to the organization are that they can negotiate for the activities that they have during the festival such as the fireworks, the laser light show the petting zoo and the staples that come back year after year and the amusement rides as well. She says they can negotiate long term contracts and they get a much better deal. Not only that, but Hardesty says with the amusement provider they have to provide for more than one year because of their routing. She says if they don't have a commitment from them they may not have a midway. She says the last contract, which expires this year, was a three-year contract. She says the contract issue isn’t the only time they’ve had a problem with the township committee. Hardesty says the committee has questioned the value of the Hamburg Fun-Fest in the last few months. She says HERO answered all of the committee’s concerns. Neilson says the committee fully supports the Hamburg Family Fun Fest, but won’t agree to a five-year contract. He says he would like HERO to resubmit a request for a one year contract, and says they don't give a five-year contract to anyone. He says once before they gave a three year contract. Neilson says he thinks the entire Parks and Rec Committee and the board support HERO and the purpose of HERO, and they want to see the Fun Fest stay in Hamburg Township but they have to work around some of the other sports programs; it's right in the middle of baseball season. He says they are also doing a lot of changes and improvements in the park and things are changing from year to year. Hardesty says the contract request will go before the Township Board of Trustees at its next meeting. HERO vice-chair Gene Doncea left the meeting angry, saying Neilson and another committee member were making a big mistake. (DK)

Sheriff Says Student Did Not Intend To Carry Out Columbine Threat Sheriff Says Student Did Not Intend To Carry Out Columbine Threat

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A Columbine-type threat made by a Hartland High School student proved to be unfounded. The district contacted the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday after being made aware of a threat that was made by a 15-year-old student. Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI the student made Columbine reference and told some students to not come to school March 1st. Bezotte says their investigation was completed today and it was determined the student did not actually intend to carry out any of the threats and had been joking around. However, he says it’s no laughing matter considering the consequences or the resources tied up investigating. Bezotte commended the district for its swift response, as well as the students who reported the threat. He says the student has been expelled but is not facing criminal charges. (JM)

Winter Storm Causes Widespread Crashes, Car Trapped In Creek Winter Storm Causes Widespread Crashes, Car Trapped In Creek

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Numerous accidents and road run-offs are being reported across Livingston County. Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI reports of road run-offs and cars in ditches have been steadily increasing throughout the afternoon as traffic picks up due to people coming home and school letting out. Some agencies have accidents in holding patterns due to the high volume and authorities are advising motorists to slow down and avoid distractions. Among the crashes reported was a property damage accident involving a school bus on M-59 at Eager. Bezotte says no students were on board at the time and there were no injuries. Another accident in the Hartland area involved in a 2005 Buick Lacrosse in which the driver lost control, went off the road and flipped the vehicle, which landed in a creek. The three male occupants were submerged in water for a period of time and all three were transported to a hospital by EMS. Another incident involved a couple that had vehicle problems and went off Linden Road near Turner in Tyrone Township. Bezotte says they went home, got a pickup truck, returned and were able to fix the front wheel of the 2004 GMC Yukon but couldn’t get it started so decided to tow it. Bezotte says they hooked up a standard cable to the Yukon and had just left when the cable broke. He says the vehicle had limited steering and the woman went off the shoulder and into a tree line before another tree came down on top of the vehicle, pinning her inside. The woman was extricated by Fenton firefighters and suffered an ankle injury. Photo Credit: Lyliss Mann (JM)

Winter Storm Warning Prompts Snow Emergencies, School ClosingsWinter Storm Warning Prompts Snow Emergencies, School Closings

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With the National Weather Service issuing a Winter Storm Warning in effect until 11am Thursday, several area municipalities have declared a Snow Emergency, requiring residents to remove their vehicles from main roads. The Village of Pinckney wants all cars off streets until noon on Friday, the City of South Lyon says their order will be in effect from 3pm today until noon Thursday, Fowlerville's will be in effect until Friday at 8am and the City of Brighton's from 2pm until further notice. The City of Howell has also declared a Snow Emergency starting at 7:00 pm, Wednesday, February 24, 2016 through 1:00 pm Thursday, February 25, 2016. During the emergency all vehicles must be removed from the street to allow public works personnel to perform winter maintenance in a safe and efficient manner. Vehicles that are not removed will be towed at the owner's expense. Click the link below for a list of school closings.

Mom And Son Charged With Animal Cruelty Receive Probation SentenceMom And Son Charged With Animal Cruelty Receive Probation Sentence

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A mother and son charged with animal cruelty have both been sentenced. Sharon Bath and her son Kevin Roberts were each charged with a single count of animal cruelty to ten or more animals after over 100 cats were seized from their residence on Dutcher Road in Marion Township in August. Officials from Livingston County Animal Control say the cats that were taken were very sick, despite Roberts’ claims that they had been given food and water. Both defendants were ordered not to possess any animals and were to be subjected to random inspections by Livingston County Animal Control. Prosecutors allege that Roberts violated his bond by continuing to feed feral cats, which he disputed. Earlier this month, Roberts pleaded guilty to the animal cruelty charge as a habitual 3 offender. His mother pleaded no contest and prosecutors agreed to non-reporting probation and no jail time. On Tuesday, Roberts was sentenced to five years of probation and Bath was sentenced to two years of probation. If she successfully completes probation, the charge against her could be reduced to a misdemeanor. The two were ordered to help trap the remaining feral cats and will not be allowed to possess any animals or animal paraphernalia. (DK)

Local Opposition To "Gag-Order" Legislation ContinuesLocal Opposition To "Gag-Order" Legislation Continues

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Local government officials are nothing if not amused by the latest attempt in Lansing to fix controversial legislation related to campaign finance and practices. House Bill 5219 deals with how public bodies such as governments, schools and libraries can communicate with residents and voters about ballot issues. It has been met with much criticism from local officials and others who feel it’s overly restrictive and created to address a non-existent issue, citing laws already on the books that prohibit advocating. The new version removes some restrictions, including a 60-day provision before an election. Green Oak Township Supervisor Mark St. Charles feels the so-called fix is not necessary because there was no need for the “absolutely senseless” change in law brought before the House in the eleventh hour with no debate. He tells WHMI law already stated public bodies could only provide factual information and not take a pro or con side on any issue and no one has justified why the change was a good idea in the first place. He further found the latest fix amusing, since it’s the same concept municipalities have been operating under. The Michigan Municipal League also remains opposed to the “fix” bill that moved out of the House. State Affairs Director Chris Hackbarth referred to it as poor public policy lacking clear guidance. He says a judge agreed the law was overly vague and granted an injunction so lawmakers need to take it off the books and have a conversation about what’s really needed, if anything. Lawmakers defend the legislation was properly vetted and overall, is good public policy that prevents public bodies from using taxpayer dollars to advocate for proposals. All three Livingston County lawmakers supported the original legislation, and State Representatives Hank Vapuel and Lana Theis voted in favor of the latest fix, which is now pending in the Senate. Theis said she respectfully disagrees that the issue was non-existent as there have been local instances of public bodies using taxpayer dollars to advocate for tax increases and that’s simply wrong. Theis told WHMI public bodies have always had the ability to form their own campaign committees and openly advocate, they just can’t use taxpayer dollars and the legislation better clarifies the standards. (JM)

Brighton Man Who Led Police Chase Violates BondBrighton Man Who Led Police Chase Violates Bond

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A local man who was arrested following a police chase and crash has been caught drinking and driving. 23-year-old Marc Christian Thibodeau of Brighton is charged with two counts of breaking and entering a building, unlawful driving away of a vehicle, operating a vehicle under the influence and a charge of third degree fleeing and eluding police. In November, Thibodeau was arrested after police say he broke into a tattoo studio and then the showroom at Brighton Chrysler, where they say he stole a 2015 Dodge Challenger. A chase ensued reaching speeds of 100 mph before the stolen vehicle crashed into a utility pole, causing power outages in Howell and Fowlerville. Thibodeau was jailed on a $100,000 bond and was later transferred to a residential treatment facility in Saginaw. Prosecutors fought to have him returned to the Livingston County Jail once he was released from the hospital, citing public safety as a concern. Thibodeau’s defense, however, filed a bond motion to have him released into his mother’s care instead, which was granted by District Court Judge Carol Sue Reader, who noted his lack of a criminal history and his mother’s preparedness to adhere to the strict bond conditions. But an order of noncompliance was filed against Thibodeau at a follow-up hearing on February 19th, with court records indicating the violation was operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Future court dates have yet to be set. Thibodeau’s attorney has said his client was in the throes of a schizophrenic episode when the original incident occurred. (DK/JK)

Hartland High School Student Faces Expulsion After Columbine-Like ThreatHartland High School Student Faces Expulsion After Columbine-Like Threat

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A 15-year old’s attempt at being funny by making a Columbine-like threat at Hartland High School has him facing expulsion. The Livingston County Sheriff’s Department was contacted by the school district on Tuesday after some students were warned at lunch about a possible attack at the school on March 1st. Sheriff Bob Bezotte told WHMI the student never said he was going to shoot, but inferred that there was going to be a ‘Columbine incident.” Following the threat, a search was done of the student’s computer and bedrooms at both his mother’s and father’s place. Nothing incriminating was found and the Sheriff’s Department determined that he didn’t have the means to carry out the threat. He said the student had been visiting comedy websites and that they believe he was trying to be funny and get a rise out of classmates. Bezotte said people have long memories of Columbine and that it wasn’t a laughing matter and many of the department’s resources were tied up in the investigation. The student faces an expulsion hearing within the next 10 days. (MK)

Resolution Will Leave Decade-Old Sewer Project As IsResolution Will Leave Decade-Old Sewer Project As Is

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An on-going project surrounding the Livingston County Sewage Disposal System that has faced a number of issues could be nearing a resolution. The contract for the Grand River Avenue Pump Station and Sanitary Sewer Extension project was awarded over a decade ago. The work included installing 10,000 feet of sanitary sewer with a pumping station and incidentals; however it took several years to complete due to electromagnetic interference problems. An excavating company took the project over after that, but abandoned it and another company was brought in to finish the completed work. Funding was not available at that time and the county, contractors and Handy Township ultimately agreed not to proceed with it. Two years ago, litigation between all parties involved ended and the county was awarded insurance money, most of which was used to pay legal expenses. Robert Spaulding, DPW coordinator for Livingston County, says a resolution that approves the third amendment to the original project’s contract has two parts-a mutual understanding of completion of the project as it now stands and the transfer of remaining construction funds back to Handy Township. The resolution was approved on Monday by the Public Safety and Infrastructure and Development Committee. Spaulding says the partially completed infrastructure will remain as is until the township-owned property it’s located on is developed in the future. (DK)
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