Upcoming technology upgrades have one local district looking to hire a technology coach to help support its staff. Howell Public Schools superintendent Erin MacGregor told the Board of Education Monday night that he wants to add a position in the district. He says heâll be bringing a motion to the board at its April 11th meeting to hire the technology coach. MacGregor says there is currently a staff member working about two hours a day, who is paid through a fund for professional development. He says this new position will provide ongoing support. He says the coach will be in place to help out teachers using the new technology, whether it's student devices, new classroom technology devices to make sure that teachers are comfortable and able to take that next step with teaching and learning and to expand their wheelhouse of technology and ability to execute some things around student learning. He says what they think technology is going to look like three years from now could look different, so in his opinion they need someone who can build the capacity of the staff around instructional technology because the kids are moving faster than the staff so they need to make sure they're keeping up with those needs. MacGregor says once the board approves the position, it will be posted both internally and externally for hire. He says the object of the position will be to support teachers and staff so they can keep up with the changes in technology. (DS)
Howell Schools Look to Hire a Technology CoachHowell Schools Look to Hire a Technology Coach
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Putnam Township Approves Fire Millage Proposal LanguagePutnam Township Approves Fire Millage Proposal Language
A millage increase for the Putnam Township Fire Department will appear on one of the election ballots this year. Rising equipment costs, loss of funding and a decline in personnel has made things difficult for local fire departments in recent years. The fire operations millage in Putnam Township hasnât moved from 1.19 mills in 19 years, thus prompting a request from Fire Chief Greg Amburgey for an increase. On Wednesday, the Board of Trustees approved submittal of ballot language for a fire operations millage to the tune of 1.9 mills for the next 6 years to help generate revenue for the department. Chief Amburgey tells WHMI the hope is that the millage will help the department along until the fire capital outlay returns in 2020. Treasurer Pat Carney says in the last 6 to 7 years, the fire department has had to spend more money than what theyâve brought in and they need to start putting money aside to replace fire trucks. The county will also no longer be paying for the departmentâs radio equipment maintenance and the Chief says âthings are starting to add upâ when it comes to items the department doesnât normally budget for. The Board of Trustees will meet in April to approve the full ballot language for the millage proposal, as well as decide which ballot to place it on. As for the decided 1.9 mills, Chief Amburgey says the department will âmake it work one way or anotherâ. (DK)
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Local Teen Could Face Charges For Fake 911 Texts Local Teen Could Face Charges For Fake 911 Texts
Criminal charges are pending against a local teenager who sent a fake text to 911 claiming he was being harassed by a person with a gun. The Oakland County Sheriffâs Operation Center received a 911 text just after 2:30 on Thursday stating "some kid is harassing me please call back he has a gun.â The text was traced to a school bus in Lyon Township. The dispatcher attempted several times to retrieve the location of the caller and what school bus he was on, but the caller was uncooperative. The caller then shut off his phone after texting, "Dude I'm fine calm down." The dispatcher was able to determine the location of the bus and worked with the school district to identify it. The South Lyon School District Bus Garage was directed to have the bus stop on Spy Glass Drive where deputies with the Oakland County Sheriffâs Office Lyon Township Substation searched the bus full of students. No gun or weapon of any type was located. The bus was released and continued dropping off students. A witness provided the identity of the person that made the text, who is a male 16 year old resident of Livingston County. He was on another bus at the time that he sent the message. He was located, interviewed with his parents present, and admitted to the false 911 texts. The bus video / audio system revealed the subject writing the texts along with approximately nine other students. Criminal charges are pending a review by the Prosecutorâs Office. (DK)
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Woman Charged In Alleged Meth Lab Operation May Enter PleaWoman Charged In Alleged Meth Lab Operation May Enter Plea
A Lansing woman facing charges in Livingston County for allegedly operating a meth lab may enter a plea in the case next week. 27-year-old Jessica Voorhees and her 46-year-old boyfriend, John Crosley, are charged with two counts of a controlled substance for possession of methamphetamine and operating and maintaining a lab involving meth. Separately, Crosley is charged with no insurance under the insurance code and Voorhees faces charges of purchasing and possessing ephedrine to make meth, possession or the sale of a Taser, possession of marijuana and false identification. In January, the couple was pulled over on Latson Road in Howell and Voorhees reportedly gave the deputy a false name at first when he questioned her. Materials used in a meth lab were found in the coupleâs car. Voorhees has been scheduled to appear in Circuit Court next Friday for a hearing where she may enter a plea. If an agreement cannot be reached, a tentative final settlement conference and jury trial has been scheduled for her and Crosley in May. (DK)
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K-9 Veterans Day Event Planned at Michigan War Dog MemorialK-9 Veterans Day Event Planned at Michigan War Dog Memorial
A "K-9 Veterans Day" event is approaching in April at the Michigan War Dog Memorial in Lyon Township. It will feature a color guard and invocation, as well as words from various state and local officials and K-9 organizations. The event will conclude with Taps, a "K-9 Salute" by the Hanabit German Shepherds to represent the brave and loyal K-9's no longer here and a war dog plaque will be unveiled in memory of Rob Wurtz. A gathering is planned after at the VFW Post 9914 on Duck Lake Road in Highland Township. Organizers say the official K-9 Veterans Day is March 13th but due to Michigan weather, they hold the event April 16th. Meanwhile, the MWDM committee and volunteers will be busy tackling various goals as part of their restoration mission for the abandoned war dog monument at the corner of Milford Road and 11 Mile in Lyon Township. Much progress is being made to develop it into a park setting as the site serves as hallowed ground and the final resting place for K-9 heroes. Annual goals include nine paved parking spaces for visitors, seeding and planting 30-40 white pine trees on the western border of the site, extending a walking path to be lined with American flags and installing an arch at the start of a new path that will read âPath of Honor â K-9 Heroesâ. Sponsors are also being sought for five granite plaques that will be installed along the walking path for the Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and law enforcement. Details about the project and progress are available in the link below. (JM)
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Hutchings Students Give "Coast-To-Coast Tour" Of National Parks With Research ProjectHutchings Students Give "Coast-To-Coast Tour" Of National Parks With Research Project
A research project for local elementary school students is inciting curiosity about some of the greatest assets in the U.S. 5th graders at Hutchings Elementary School in Howell were given the task of choosing and researching a national park, then creating a presentation to teach others about it. 5th grade teacher Jason DeLand formed the idea for the project several years ago and this yearâs coincides with the 100th anniversary of the creation of the National Park System. On Friday, 5th graders displayed their projects and invited 2nd and 3rd graders and administration to visit their individual posters for an âAdventure Trekâ at the school. DeLand says this kind of attention given to each student and their work means a lot to the kids. Hunter Post tells WHMI he enjoyed learning about Arches National Park. Post says while some parts of the project were challenging, he had a lot of fun doing it. DeLand says through this project, students learn about an interesting topic while also acquiring skills for researching and presenting information. He says it also makes the students curious about visiting the national parks and says some have done so as a result. (DK)
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Roundtable To Provide Information On SBA Loan ProcessRoundtable To Provide Information On SBA Loan Process
Small business owners seeking financing for their current venture or local entrepreneurs looking to start a new business can take advantage of an event next week that will corral area experts. The TEAM SBA Roundtable on Small Business Lending will be held on Wednesday, March 23rd from 9am to noon at the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce in downtown Howell. The free gathering aims to give current or prospective small business owners insight into the Small Business Administration Guaranty Loan Program and the criteria used by loan officers to evaluate a loan request. Chamber officials say the assembled experts will seek to demystify the lending process, debunk myths about SBA programs, and share real-life examples of successful loan applicants. Gerald Moore, Michigan SBA District director, says the roundtable format is unique by providing access to the SBA and small business lenders in an interactive process. Youâll find details through the link below. (JK)
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ACLU Speaker To Discuss Lawsuits Involving Inmate Mail At Livingston County JailACLU Speaker To Discuss Lawsuits Involving Inmate Mail At Livingston County Jail
Two pending lawsuits involving the Livingston County Jail will be the focus of an upcoming meeting hosted by the local Democratic Party. Dan Korobkin, the deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, will discuss two federal lawsuits pending against Livingston County regarding a mail policy for jail inmates. The first lawsuit was filed by the ACLU in 2014, challenging the jailâs refusal to deliver legal mail from the ACLU to inmates at the jail. At the time, jail administrators said their policy is not to deliver legal mail to inmates unless it's from a lawyer who is already representing them. A federal district judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering the jail to deliver the ACLUâs mail to inmates. The county appealed but lost when the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals issued a unanimous decision last August calling the policy âarbitraryâ. Livingston County appealed again to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the high court declined to hear it. The second lawsuit challenges the jailâs policy barring inmates from sending or receiving any mail except postcards. The suit was filed by Prison Legal News in 2012 and the ACLU of Michigan filed a friend-of-the-court brief challenging the policy. The Livingston County Democratic Party will meet at 7pm on March 31st at party headquarters, located in Suite 7 of the Woodland Plaza near the Grand River and Hacker Road intersection. The partyâs regular business meeting will follow Korobkinâs talk. For more information, call (810) 229-4212 or email livcodems@gmail.com. (JM)
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Brighton DDA Plans to Sell Liquor LicenseBrighton DDA Plans to Sell Liquor License
The Brighton Downtown Development Authority has decided to sell the liquor license it has held in escrow for several years. The DDA acquired the liquor license about a decade ago when former Mexican Jones owner Perry Jones refused to grant the city an easement on his property and the DDA ended up purchasing the restaurant and its liquor license from Jones. The DDA needed the easement to extend and upgrade the Mill Pond Walkway and Boardwalk. The DDA extended the liquor license from year to year, but its board decided at a recent meeting to sell the license since the DDA has no plans to use it. DDA attorney Doug Cameron told the board at its monthly meeting last week that several brokers are interested in obtaining the license and there would be no problem in selling it. He said the market price for the liquor license is about $65,000-$70,000. Any purchase agreement on the license will have to be brought back to the DDA Board for action before it is approved. (TT)
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Smart Growth And The Master Plan Educational Meeting ScheduledSmart Growth And The Master Plan Educational Meeting Scheduled
As Livingston County prepares to draft a new master plan, an informational series to educate residents is continuing. Michigan State University Extension and the Livingston County Department of Planning are coming together for part two of the six session part on Tuesday, March 22nd. The focus of the evening will be on âsmart growth.â Smart growth is development that serves the community, economy, and environment through use of comprehensive planning. The workshop will discuss the principles and outcomes of smart growth, financial benefits to the community, and using it as a framework for economic development. Each session is independent of the others and prior attendance is not necessary to understand the subject matter. The event runs from 7pm to 8:30pm at the Livingston County Public Safety Complex, Howell Auditorium, at 1911 Tooley Road in Howell. A written presentation of the first session, The Basics of Master Plans and Planning, can be found at https://www.livgov.com/plan/Pages/2015-16_County_Master_Plan.aspx.(MK)
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Realtor Expert Discusses 'Placemaking' In BrightonRealtor Expert Discusses 'Placemaking' In Brighton
According to an executive with the Michigan Association of Realtors, Brighton can do a lot to attract more people to the downtown with small and inexpensive steps. Gil White of Lansing, past president of the state realtors board, is considered an expert in developing public spaces and promoting walkable communities. He told the DDA Board last week that a new strategy being tried by several Michigan communities to attract more people to their downtowns is called âplacemaking.â He says it can involve something as inexpensive as placing a couple of park benches in strategic places, placing a piano in a pocket park for people to play, or even making a small area available for sand art. The DDA approved a motion to become involved in the placemaking incentive with an expenditure of spend $3,500 to match a $3,500 private donation. White says he is working with seven Michigan communities this spring on placemaking projects. White agreed with the board that the Hyne Street alley - across Main Street from the north end of Hyne - would be the perfect place to start with a placemaking program. (TT)
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Residents Concerned With Truck Traffic & Speeders On Cemetery RoadResidents Concerned With Truck Traffic & Speeders On Cemetery Road
Some Handy Township residents are seeking relief from what they feel is heavy truck traffic and speeding motorists along South Cemetery Road. The Handy Township Board briefly discussed the matter during a recent meeting. Some residents along South Cemetery Road earlier presented a petition with approximately 25-30 signatures seeking to limit truck traffic but also raised concerns with speeding motorists. The speed limit is currently a posted 25mph. Supervisor Ed Alverson tells WHMI the area of concern is the portion south of Grand River that goes over to Van Riper and into the Village of Fowlerville. He says residents have raised concerns with increased development over the years in the Village, which they feel has led to more truck traffic on South Cemetery Road. Residents are also concerned with the number of people they say speed down the road - although that concern is believed to be more motorist related, not so much the trucks. Alverson says 30 years ago, there were about 300 trips a day on South Cemetery Road, compared to almost 900 trips a day now. The Livingston County Road Commission is looking into how many trucks are using the road daily to see if the perceived issues are minor or major and if itâs something they would potentially intervene with. Alverson says the Livingston County Road Commission went out, did a house count and will be investigating further to determine how many trucks are actually traveling down the road before reporting back. He says theyâll probably observe speeds as well, although that is really more of an issue for the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department or Michigan State Police to handle. Photo: Google Street View. (JM)
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New Brighton Manager Managing Retirements & New HiresNew Brighton Manager Managing Retirements & New Hires
Some recent changes have taken place in the staff at city hall in Brighton, with a new city manager, a new city finance director, and come mid-April, a new city clerk. New City Manager Nate Geinzer started his job on Feb. 22nd, barely a month ago. The city also has a new city finance director, Gretchen Gomolka, who begins her duties today. She takes over for Kelly Hanna, who retired Friday after 25 years of service. Finally, long-time City Clerk Diana Lowe recently announced that she would be retiring on April 15th after 25 years of service to the city. Both Lowe and Hanna say they had already made up their minds to retire after they got their 25 years in, and that their decisions had nothing to do with Geinzer becoming city manager. Geinzer, who has never been a city manager before. tells WHMI he knew in advance that some people were eligible for retirement at city hall when he accepted the job. Geinzer came to Brighton as assistant to the city manager in Farmington Hills, an Oakland County suburb of about 70,000 people. Gomolka, the new city finance director, was the township finance director in Ingham Countyâs Meridian Township before coming to Brighton. The Genoa Township resident holds bachelorâs and masterâs degrees in accounting from Eastern Michigan University. She also has 16 years of experience in the private sector, having worked for TCF Bank as a financial analyst and Plante & Moran as an auditor. Hanna has been training Gomolka for the past two weeks to familiarize her with her new duties. With all the new blood, Geinzer has at least one veteran city department head returning. She is Brighton Human Resources Director and Deputy City Clerk Jennifer Burke, who has returned to her desk after being on maternity leave for 12 weeks to have her third child. Burke has been working for the city of Brighton since 1996 in various capacities. (TT)
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Investigation Continues Into ATV Crash That Kills Howell TeenInvestigation Continues Into ATV Crash That Kills Howell Teen
An investigation continues into a weekend crash that claimed the life of a middle school student and sent another man to the hospital. An eighth grader at Highlander Way Middle School in Howell died Saturday following an off-road vehicle accident. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Department reports they were dispatched to an accident call just before 10:45 Saturday night to the Hawk Meadows Golf Course on Marr Road in Howell Township. A preliminary investigation indicates that a 28-year-old Howell man was operator a John Deere Gator when it overturned and ejected both the operator and his 13-year-old passenger. The teen was pronounced dead at the scene by Livingston County EMS, while the Howell man was taken to St. Joe Livingston Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. While sheriffâs officials are not releasing any names, the 13 year old was previously identified as Matthew Longthorne. Howell Schools Spokesman Tom Gould said that the district extends their deepest condolences to Longthorneâs family and friends and that counselors would be made available to any student or staff member in need of support. The sheriffâs department says neither the vehicleâs driver nor passenger was wearing a seat belt and that alcohol use is under investigation. (JK)
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HPS Board Considers Early College ProgramHPS Board Considers Early College Program
Students in one local district may soon have options when it comes to early college programs. The Howell Public Schools Board of Education recently started the process of trying to get an Early/Middle College program in the district. The program offered through the Michigan Department of Education has students continuing high school for an additional year where they both finish high school and earn college credit. Howell High School Principal Jason Schrock told board members last week that students currently have access to career and technical training as well as dual enrollment programs, which give them the ability to earn some college credits. The early college program will give high school students the ability to walk away from high school having earned an Associateâs Degree or 60 transferable credits. Superintendent Erin MacGregor says before the district can commit to the program they need to apply with the MDE. He says it is an extensive process but once the application is approved they will look at partnerships. MacGregor says the district already partners with others in the community, whether it is Lansing Community College, Mott Community College. They may not be housed in Livingston County, but they have a presence in Livingston County. He says they are looking to have conversations with them and would love to have a conversation with Cleary University around some of the opportunities, but the nice piece of this program is that it doesn't limit the district to any one partner. He says they can have multiple partners that they decide to finalize this agreement with and then move forward. Depending on the program, it might work better for certain higher education institutions. MacGregor says after the application is approved by MDE they can build the framework of the program and decide which programs to offer. He says building trades, the culinary arts, business, technology, and health care are possibilities. MacGregor told the board the district will receive additional state foundation allowance for any students who decide to stay in high school the additional year. MacGregor says he doesnât know yet when programs will begin because the application is just the first step in a lengthy process. (DS)
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Charyl Stockwell Prepatory Academy Among 2016 GRAMMY Signature Schools Charyl Stockwell Prepatory Academy Among 2016 GRAMMY Signature Schools
Livingston County has its own Grammy award winner; the only difference is the local recipient will be recognized for excellence in school music education - not a smash hit. The GRAMMY Signature Schools program was created in 1998 and recognizes top U.S. public high schools that make an outstanding commitment to music education during an academic year. The Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy in Brighton educates students in 6th through 12th grade and is among 13 schools to be awarded cash grants from the GRAMMY Foundation. Each of the selected schools will receive a custom award and a monetary grant to benefit its music program. The Academy will receive a 2016 GRAMMY Signature Schools Enterprise Award of $5,500, which recognizes efforts made by schools that are economically under-served. The initiative overall highlights the excellent work being done through music programs at public high schools across the country. GRAMMY Foundation officials say theyâre proud to offer the financial resources to augment what are often limited budgets, so that teachers may continue to provide the enriching and lasting benefits of a musical education to their students." Director of Bands & Choirs Jessica Perry says itâs a huge honor, as only a handful of schools are awarded the grant in a given year. In addition, Perry and a CSPA student will be representing the Grammy Education Foundation at an April event in Washington DC called âGrammy on the Hillâ. (JM)
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Handy Township Board Investigating Paving Sharpe RoadHandy Township Board Investigating Paving Sharpe Road
The Handy Township Board is looking to possibly pave a portion of busy road. A very brief update was provided on the Sharpe Road paving project during a recent meeting. The board is looking into paving Sharpe Road from Fowlerville Road to the FCS Junior High School. The Livingston County Road Commission has a contract with a paving company and Supervisor Ed Alverson tells WHMI theyâre trying to tag on to their prices to pave Sharpe Road, east of Fowlerville Road, for about 3/10 of a mile. He says the paving there is deteriorating and gets heavy traffic from the schools. Alverson noted itâs also a bypass route motorists use to get around the Village, go out to Cemetery Road then Grand River so theyâre trying to save the pavement before it deteriorates further. Alverson says whether the paving project will go forward this construction season is still to be determined. The board would likely make a decision after receiving communication from the road commission. (JM)
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Specialized Culinary Training Program Set To Graduate First ClassSpecialized Culinary Training Program Set To Graduate First Class
The founders behind a mobile food truck that provides food assistance to area residents are close to a milestone in their efforts to help train people for culinary careers.
The Torch was founded in 2012 by Rhonda Callanan and Sarah Ruddle, who outfitted a food truck and soon hit the streets of the Livingston County area serving free food. But they began to notice that in addition to food and housing, gainful employment was a big problem for many of their clients and they came up with the idea for Torch 180. Affiliated with the Michigan Career and Technical Institute, Torch 180 trains individuals with disabilities to achieve industry standards in a variety of employment opportunities. Ruddle says theyâve been able to set up a temporary location at Brightonâs First United Methodist Church where their first class recently wrapped up their coursework and will graduate their first class next week. Callanan says that Torch 180 makes sure the curriculum is geared towards students with disabilities, who just need a helping hand on the path to self-sufficiency. While theyâre grateful to the First United Methodist Church in Brighton providing them temporary kitchen space, they are still searching for a permanent location and say they have a few leads they continue to pursue in that direction. Anyone interested in taking part in the program or assisting with a permanent location can contact them through the link below. (JK)
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Hearing Ordered For Local Man Charged With Illegally Growing MarijuanaHearing Ordered For Local Man Charged With Illegally Growing Marijuana
A local man charged with illegally growing large amounts of marijuana has been scheduled for an evidentiary hearing. 42-year-old Anthony Portelli of Whitmore Lake, 50-year-old Jeffrey Mote of South Lyon, and 60-year-old Richard Lee Riley of Brighton were originally charged with delivering or manufacturing between 5 and 45 kilograms of marijuana, as well as a generic charge of delivering or manufacturing marijuana. On Friday, a Walker hearing was ordered for Portelli by Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty and is scheduled for May 27th. In a Walker Hearing, a judge decides if statements Portelli made to police can be used at his trial. Portelliâs bond was also amended to discontinue all court-ordered testing. The charges against the three men followed a police raid in May of 2013 on an alleged marijuana dispensary in Brighton Township and two other homes, which authorities say were being used to grow the substance. Police say Riley was in charge of growing the plants, Portelli managed the dispensary and the homes were reportedly owned by Mote. The case against the men has spanned years, with motions alleging various medical marijuana defenses being held in abeyance. The case against Mote was recently dismissed due to insufficient evidence and Riley was sentenced in January to six months of probation after pleading guilty to maintaining a drug house in exchange for the original charges being dismissed. (DK)
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Hutcheson Named Region 11 Athletic Director Of The YearHutcheson Named Region 11 Athletic Director Of The Year
A local athletic director with teaching, wrestling and coaching background has been named âAthletic Director of the Yearâ by a state association. The Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association has named Howell Public Schools Athletic Director Dan Hutcheson the 2015 Region 11 Athletic Director of the Year. District officials say Hutcheson exemplifies the qualities of a high-performing leader, noting he works tirelessly to improve athletic programs by supporting and encouraging student athletes and coaches. Superintendent Erin MacGregor says Hutcheson holds them to high standards, both on and off the playing field, and has set a 3.5 grade point average goal for all student athletes. Howell High School Principal Jason Schrock says Hutcheson is a high-capacity leader with a vision for excellence and a heart for students, which has allowed him to build strong relationships with the student body, staff and community. Hutcheson was further commended for using a variety of methods to communicate purposeful messages designed to encourage students, motivate teams and provide adults with tools to set high expectations for their student athletes. Hutcheson has an extensive wrestling background and began his career with Howell Public Schools in 1997, where he has worked as a teacher and assistant high school principal before being named athletic director in 2006. (JM)
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