2/12/13 - On a split vote, the Brighton Board of Education approved a revised 2012-13 budget of about $52 million at its meeting Monday night, with the caveat that the budget be trimmed in the weeks ahead to get revenues in line with expenditures. The problem, according to Superintendent Greg Gray, is that expenses are greater than projected revenues, unless the vacant Lindbom School is sold. The elementary building is on the market and Gray says several people have indicated an interest in it, but so far there are no buyers. Lindbom, which was closed several years ago because of declining enrollment, has a market value pegged at between $1.7 and $2 million. The school is located on State Street, on Brightonâs west side. Gray tells WHMI itâs important to note that a budget is a working document and can be amended at any time, which gives the board enough time to make the needed reductions before the end of the fiscal year on June 30. But Assistant Superintendent of Finance Maria Gistinger cautioned that the cuts must be made fairly soon, saying the longer the board waits the harder it is to find areas where to make cuts. If Lindbom is not sold, and without further budget cuts, the district could find itself about $450,000 in the hole at the end of the fiscal year. Gray said that would be very disappointing, since the board and administration have worked worked hard in whittling down the legacy deficit. The red ink at one time stood at $15 million, but is now less than half that, at $7 million. Board members promised to work with administration in future meetings to work on specific areas where the budget can be trimmed without directly affecting programs or students. (TT)
Brighton Board OKs Revised 2012-13 Budget; Cuts ComingBrighton Board OKs Revised 2012-13 Budget; Cuts Coming
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Tipton & Parker File for Primary Election to Fill Vacant District 5 Seat Tipton & Parker File for Primary Election to Fill Vacant District 5 Seat
2/12/13 - Today marked the filing deadline for a special primary election thatâs one of two needed to formally fill the vacant District 5 seat on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners. Two special elections will be taking place to fill the partial 2-year term vacancy created when Commissioner Jay Drick left to become a magistrate for the county. The first is a special primary election on Tuesday, May 7th and two candidates filed as of todayâs 4pm deadline - Howell Attorney Don Parker on the Republican ticket and Howell Township Trustee Mike Tipton on the Democratic side. Parker is serving as the interim appointment on the board until voters make a final determination to fill the vacancy during a special general election on Tuesday, August 6th and elect one candidate. Minor political party candidates and others interested in the District 5 Commissioner position can still file to run in the general election. The deadline is 4pm Thursday, April 18th. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, a registered voter, and a resident of the district which includes the City of Howell, Cohoctah Township and Howell Township. Additional candidate filing information is available through the elections division of the Livingston County Clerkâs Office. Details can be found through the link and attachment below. (JM)
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Committee Meets To Create Opera House Historic District
2/12/13 - Last night was the first meeting for a committee working to establish a one-building historic district around the Howell Opera House. The Opera House Historic District Study Committee is chaired by Downtown Development Authority intern Lindsey Wooten. She says the creation of such a district would have significant benefits for the Opera House and for the city as a whole. The Opera House was built in 1881, but the current arrangement is the result of a 1938 renovation. A historical district for the Opera House would be entitled to receive federal preservation tax incentives, the Opera House would receive protection for its historic character, and the city itself would gain increased access to grant money for having the district. Right now the committee is in the process of writing a report to be submitted to the state as well as the City of Howell detailing the history and current characteristics of the building. Once that is complete a series of meetings will be held to create an ordinance to be put into effect for the district that would protect it from exterior changes that would damage its historical nature. A public hearing will be held on that ordinance in late April. Once that ordinance is in place and a historic district commission has been appointed to manage it, the state legislature can approve the creation of the historic district. Mayor Phil Campbell attended last nightâs committee meeting. He says the city wants the historic district created as soon as possible, and he said the act of preserving the Opera House was itself a historic undertaking. (TD)
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Maintenance Man Finds Pot Growing In Foreclosed Highland Home
2/13/13 - A marijuana growing operation was discovered by White Lake police in a foreclosed Highland Township home. According to Hartland Patch, police were called to a home on Eagle Road after a maintenance worker found the operation in the home. The worker had been sent by the bank which now owns the home to clean and secure it. Reports indicate more than 20 marijuana plants of various maturity levels were discovered in the building. The police confiscated the plants and are now investigating the incident. (TD)
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Lakeland HS Student Charged In Driving Death
2/13/13 - Charges have been filed against a Lakeland High School student who authorities say is responsible for a traffic accident that killed a Milford mother in November. The Milford Times reports 17-year-old Bridget McBride was arraigned on February 8th on one charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death and one count of reckless driving causing death. If convicted, she could be sentenced to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Police say McBride was driving an SUV near the intersection of Milford and General Motors roads when she collided head-on with a Volkswagen Jetta. The sedan was being driven by Cheryl Prewitt-Murphy, a mother of two who was pronounced dead at the scene. McBride has been released on a $5,000 bond. She is due back in court February 27th. (TD)
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Promo Video Allowed As Evidence In Local Man's Fraud TrialPromo Video Allowed As Evidence In Local Man's Fraud Trial
2/13/13 - A federal judge has issued an order to allow a contested piece of evidence to be admitted in the fraud trial of a Livingston County investment manager. John Bravata is accused of misleading investors as he collected millions of dollars from then at BBC Equities. He denies any fraud and says he was taking legitimate stakes in real estate that simply turned sour during the recession. His trial began on January 28th in the Eastern Michigan United Stated District Court. On February 7th prosecutors attempted to enter a video into evidence. It was produced in 2009 and depicts an interview of Bravata as a promotional advertisement for investors, encouraging them to contact the BBC Equities website. The defense objected, saying the video was inadmissible because it had never been shown to potential investors, and at first Judge Paul Borman agreed. However, after examining the video, the Borman decided that the video was relevant to the case and was admissible under the rules of evidence. Bravataâs trial continues today. (TD)
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Trial Date Set for Former Staffer Charged in Petition Scandal Trial Date Set for Former Staffer Charged in Petition Scandal
2/13/13 - A trial date has been set for an Iosco Township woman charged in a campaign scandal involving bogus petition signatures tied to a former Republican congressman. The only remaining member of former Congressman Thaddeus McCotterâs staff who faces criminal charges for her alleged role in the scandal is 58-year-old Mary Melissa Turnbull. She is charged with conspiracy to commit a legal act in an illegal manner and falsely signing a nominating petition as circulator. Turnbull appeared in Oakland County Circuit Court yesterday, where new dates were scheduled. A hearing will be held before Judge Leo Bowman on April 16th and if no plea deal is reached, her trial is slated to begin June 3rd. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuetteâs office is prosecuting the case and filed an appeal yesterday challenging the dismissal of felony conspiracy charges previously leveled against other former aides to McCotter, who were sentenced to probation and community service on other counts. The staff members were accused of a deliberate fraud pattern of copying and altering nominating petitions to qualify the five-term congressman for the 2012 ballot. McCotter didn't make the ballot and quit Congress last July after nearly 10 years rather than finish his term. (JM)
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Great Start Livingston Hosts Kindergarten Readiness SummitGreat Start Livingston Hosts Kindergarten Readiness Summit
2/13/13 - Early childhood providers, teachers, administrators, parents and community partners came together Tuesday to talk about efforts in making sure kids are not only ready for success in school but later in life. The 3rd annual Kindergarten Readiness Summit was hosted by Great Start Livingston at the LESA building in Howell. Information from Kindergarten Observation Surveys was presented in which teachers observed different development indicators among 1540 students across all five local districts in September. Great Start Livingston Collaborative Coordinator Robin Schutz says based on research and what theyâre seeing in the community, school readiness is not always linked to academics. Officials say results from the past three surveys and others clearly indicate the skills that students lack the most when entering kindergarten are social and emotional and approaches to learning. Jeri Kay Thomas is a kindergarten teacher at Spencer Elementary in Brighton. She says the summit offers county-wide perspective about what can be done for early learners and possible changes because they want kids to be successful and productive citizens. She said the survey results really werenât a surprise because they do see struggles in the areas of social/emotional development as well as problem solving skills, the ability to stay focused and regulate themselves or getting along with peers. Officials say in moving forward, they will continue with the surveys and work to build strategies while identifying more supports for families and kids, including partnerships between a childâs outgoing school and new school to ensure a smooth and more successful transition. Child transition forms are already being utilized by some pre-schools for placement purposes to help ensure classroom success. Officials are now in the process of putting together information for possible inclusion during kindergarten round-ups at local school districts, which will be happening in the next few weeks. They intend to also send it out to local private pre-school providers while continuing work with community partners to find different ways to reach parents. (JM)
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Tea Party Group Talks Gun Laws With Undersheriff And ProsecutorTea Party Group Talks Gun Laws With Undersheriff And Prosecutor
2/13/13 - Prompted by a surge in interest regarding the legality of firearms, local Tea Party group RetakeOurGov had Undersheriff Mike Murphy and Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt speak at its meeting last night. Murphy and Vailliencourt explained topics of confusion and took questions regarding concealed weapons, open carry laws, and possible government action to restrict gun access. Almost 100 people attended the meeting at Memories Lounge in Brighton Township. Murphy went over some lesser-known portions of gun law, explaining that any gun in a vehicle is considered to be concealed unless properly stowed. He told the audience that as a law enforcement officer he had no problem with residents carrying concealed weapons, but warned that openly carrying firearms would make gun owners high-priority targets for criminals. Murphy also recommended that those interested in home defense purchase a shotgun rather than a handgun, saying it would be more effective and practical. (TD)
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Former Handy Twp. Dispensary Case Affected by RulingFormer Handy Twp. Dispensary Case Affected by Ruling
2/13/13 - A recent court ruling regarding medical marijuana will not only affect users and caregivers across the state, but also four local residents charged in connection to a raid on their now-closed marijuana dispensary. 40-year-old Alan Marshall, his 38-year-old wife Christi and 31-year-old Stephanie Lynn Baxter have been facing counts of marijuana manufacture and delivery after authorities say they sold pot to an undercover narcotics officer who had come to the Marshall Alternatives dispensary in Handy Township in February and May of 2011 posing as a card-carrying medical marijuana patient. 45-year-old April Sundie Smith was also charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. Defense lawyers maintain itâs a case of entrapment. The charges had been on hold while the Michigan Supreme Court decided an Isabella County appeal on the validity of medical marijuana dispensaries. But in a ruling last week, the justices banned patient to patient sales and transfers, essentially outlawing medical marijuana dispensaries. Court records show that no new dates have been scheduled locally. Howell-based attorney Denise Policella specializes in medical marijuana issues and says the decision may have been sparked by irritation with the Michigan Legislature for sitting on the issue for four years and not doing anything to regulate it. Policella says patients who relied on dispensaries for clean, safe lab-tested medical grade marijuana will now have a very difficult time obtaining it because there is no easy way to find a caregiver. She tells WHMI there is an urgent need to regulate dispensaries because if medical marijuana is going to be allowed to exist in Michigan, then patients need to have a means of safely accessing it without fear of prosecution. While dispensaries were outlawed, caregiver to patient sales are still considered legal and up to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana can be sold or provided to a registered, qualifying patient. But Policella says the ruling will just push the production and sale of marijuana back into homes and subdivisions where she feels it doesnât belong. (JK/JM)
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Howell School Board Approves Title 1 Tech PurchasesHowell School Board Approves Title 1 Tech Purchases
2/13/13 - Two Howell elementary schools will be getting new technology upgrades through purchases made with federal money approved by the school board Monday night. Title 1 grant money is awarded every year to schools whose student bodies include a large portion of students living at or below the poverty line. Superintendent Ron Wilson says two of Howellâs elementary schools, Southeast and Challenger, have already met the criteria for the funding and will soon be joined by Southwest elementary. School improvement teams from Southeast, Southwest, and Challenger elementary schools met to discuss their needs for the year and decided what each school would purchase with the money. The purchases approved last night included $15,000 for document cameras and data projectors for Southeast, as well as $20,000 for tablets for Southwest. The purchase of $44,600 worth of laptop computers a storage carts for Challenger is expected to be approved at the school boardâs next meeting. None of the spending requires local matching or impacts the districtâs general fund. (TD)
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Hamburg Township to Complete Lakelands TrailHamburg Township to Complete Lakelands Trail
2/13/13- The Hamburg Township Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing regarding the completion of the Lakelands Trail. The township was unable to finish the development of the portion of the trail that lies between Hall and Hamburg Roads because it was under private ownership at the time. In order to complete that portion of the trail, the township will apply for a grant from the Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund. A public hearing will be held before the township's regular meeting on Tuesday, March 5th at 2:00 pm to get residentsâ input on the project. (SO)
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Fowlerville High School Students Suspended for Snack TheftsFowlerville High School Students Suspended for Snack Thefts
2/13/13 - Officials at a local high school say they've suspended 25 students who admitted to stealing snacks from a vending machine. While no criminal charges are expected, the Fowlerville High School students are all serving two day suspensions. The vending machine belonged to the school's food-services program and school administrators became aware of the theft of chips and other snacks last week. The thefts at the school were noticed when money in the machine didn't match the amount of food removed. Fowlerville Superintendent Rick Heinrich says each student took less than $5 in food. The school is getting rid of the machine. (JK)
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RetakeOurGov Plans To Increase Visibility On Issues
2/14/13 - Local Tea Party organization RetakeOurGov is planning to become more vocal about its positions on actions taken by the government. The organization recently issued press releases opposing Governor Snyderâs decision to provide state funding to enact the presidentâs health care exchange, calling for more responsible spending on road repair, and endorsing a new bill from Senator Joe Hune preventing school board members from voting on union contracts that impact members of their family. RetakeOurGov founder Wes Nakagiri says more press releases covering further issues will be released in the future. RetakeOurGov is also identifying specific legislators and committee members for relevant issues so supporters can send their emails where they will have the greatest effect. (TD)
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Unadilla Police Bringing Charges Against Woman for Cyber-StalkingUnadilla Police Bringing Charges Against Woman for Cyber-Stalking
2/14/13 - Charges are being sought against a Roseville woman who police say impersonated a Unadilla Township woman online. In a press release, Unadilla Township police say the 30-year-old woman created a fraudulent Facebook account using the Unadilla womanâs information and photo, then used it to make it appear that the victim was threatening her. She then filed a police report claiming that she was being stalked by her victim. The department executed several online search warrants to investigate the situation. Police say the suspect eventually admitted that she had created the Facebook account. The dispute apparently stemmed from a conflict over a relationship with an unrelated man. The police will be seeking charges for stalking, felony use of a computer to commit a crime, and felony unlawful posting. (TD)
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Howell School Board Members Weigh in on Conflict of Interest LawHowell School Board Members Weigh in on Conflict of Interest Law
2/14/13 - Some members of the Howell School Board hold differing opinions about the new conflict of interest law that will prevent board members Mike and Kim Witt from voting on teachersâ union contracts. The law, called Public Act 606, forbids school board members from voting on employee contracts that involve their family members. It was sponsored by Senator Joe Hune of Hamburg Township and passed during the state legislatureâs lame duck session. School Board President Mike Witt and Secretary Kim Witt are related to an educator in the district and thus are prohibited from voting on a new contract for teachers after the current one expires in June. Other Howell School Board members are divided on their opinions of the act. Newcomer Stacy Pasini says that while she supports transparency, she feels conflict of interest questions should be handled on a case-by-case basis. Deb McCormick, also a newcomer to the board, took a neutral stance, saying only that the board would follow the law and continue to work to the best of its ability. Mike Yenshaw didn't say whether he was for or against the law, but only indicated that it should be extended to all governmental agencies. (TD/JK)
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Howell's "We the People" Team Fundraising for Nationals Howell's "We the People" Team Fundraising for Nationals
2/14/13 - Local students with Howellâs âWe the Peopleâ team are seeking community support to help raise a hefty sum thatâs needed to make to the national competition in Washington DC. Howell High School senior Aaron Osborne is one of 29 students that make up the team that won the state finals congressional competition. Heâs with Unit One, which focuses on the historical and philosophical foundations of the Constitution. Osborn tells WHMI the team pulled through despite being underdogs at the state competition, so heâs excited and hopeful about making it to DC but acknowledges $50,000 is a lot of money to raise in a very short time. The team has been making brief presentations throughout the county and stopped by the Howell City Council meeting Monday night, where three individuals pledged $3,000 after hearing the pitch. That prompted Howell Mayor Phil Campbell to issue a challenge to the entire community, asking members step up and donate. And almost immediately several area business and organizations have stepped forward, including the Ted & Jane Von Voigtlander Foundation, which has agreed to match the money raised by the students up to half of the amount needed. More information about sponsorship opportunities, upcoming events and fundraisers can be found in the link below. (JM)
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Fowlerville Manager Duites Distributed to Village President, ClerkFowlerville Manager Duites Distributed to Village President, Clerk
2/14/13 - With nobody to fill the village manager position, the Fowlerville Village Council has amended an ordinance to allow Village President Wayne Copeland to perform the managerâs duties in the long term. Along with Village Clerk Kathy Arledge, Copeland has been performing the duties of the village manager since Joe Merucci quit the position in March of last year. Under village ordinance those duties automatically fall to the village president, but the village council recently amended the ordinance to allow Copeland to officially continue in that capacity. Arledge was promoted to full time status to provide Copeland with assistance in those duties. She says that spreading the duties of the manager, DPW director, and DPW supervisor to other village employees, including herself, has saved the village $300,000 over the past three years. (TD)
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Youth Leadership Group to Benefit From Tropical FundraiserYouth Leadership Group to Benefit From Tropical Fundraiser
2/14/13 - The Livingston Sunrise Rotary is preparing to hold its fourth annual Midnight in the Tropics fundraising event this weekend to benefit a pair of local youth charities. The event will take place Saturday and include dinner, live and silent auctions, live entertainment, and prize drawings. One of the organizations that will benefit from the Midnight in the Tropics is Reaching Higher, a Brighton-based non-profit organization dedicated to helping young men and women live healthier, happier lives. The groupâs leadership training program teaches middle and high school students how to make positive life choices and steer their future in the right direction. Susie Dahlmann founded the program in 1997 after working for 25 years as a teacher in the Walled Lake district. Speaking with WHMI's Mike & Jon in the Morning (Click Here for interview), Dahlmann says that after attending eight, 2-hour classes, teens are able to achieve greater self-esteem and social competence, develop the ability to thrive in difficult and pressure situations, maintain stronger academic achievement and understand and utilize positive conflict resolution skills. The other organization to benefit from Saturdayâs fundraiser will be The Connection Youth Services in Howell. The theme of Midnight in the Tropics, which last year raised about $16,000, is tropical, with Hawaiian shirts and flip-flops encouraged. In keeping with this theme, the grand prize for the drawing will be a weeklong vacation at a beach resort on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets to Midnight in the Tropics are $50 and include dinner and entry into the prize drawing. The event will take place in the Johnson Center at Cleary University, but ticket holders need not be present to win prizes. For more information call Bryan at 248-361-6392. (JK)
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Police Remind Residents to Lock Vehicles Following Theft ReportsPolice Remind Residents to Lock Vehicles Following Theft Reports
2/14/13 - The Hamburg Township Police Department has been busy dealing with reports of items being stolen from vehicles in a subdivision located off of M-36 between Merrill and Chilson Roads. The department put out a crime alert on its Facebook page reminding residents to lock their vehicles after officers took eight reports of incidents overnight Tuesday, that stretched into the early morning hours. The incidents occurred on Riverdale Drive and Woodland, Field and Hiawatha Avenues in a subdivision off M-36 & Hiawatha. Police say several of the vehicles had items stolen out of them and all of the incidents had one thing in common - the vehicles were unlocked. Police remind residents to lock their homes and vehicle doors at night to help prevent future thefts. (JM)
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