A large construction project in Hartland and Oceola Townships kicks off today. Hacker Road will be rebuilt and paved from Golf Club Road to north of M-59 in an effort to correct drainage problems and improve visibility. Itâs a joint project being funded by the two municipalities and the Livingston County Road Commission. Managing Director Mike Craine says people will initially see a big flurry of earth moving activity as crews will start off by removing topsoil in all of the areas where underground storm sewer will be installed. About a week after that, a second crew from the same contractor will show up to begin installing them. Itâs a busy road and Craine is advising that motorists simply avoid the area if possible as the work will stretch through the summer. Local traffic will be maintained on Hacker Road and Craine says theyâll get people in and out who live along the road but other than that, no tourism passes will be issued. Craine notes they have a great contractor with lots of capacity and are very confident in the project timeline. He says theyâre shooting for early November completion. (JM)
Hacker Road Construction Project Starts Today Hacker Road Construction Project Starts Today
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Howell Man Decries Suspension From State Party For StripteaseHowell Man Decries Suspension From State Party For Striptease
A Livingston County man who made national headlines with his striptease at a political convention has been suspended by the state party. James Weeks II of Howell says that he was informed Sunday of his suspension from the Libertarian Party of Michigan for a term of two years. It was voted on by the Libertarian Executive Committee at their meeting earlier yesterday. Weeks says the reasoning behind his suspension was the executive committeeâs disapproval of is use of what he called, âfree expression in lieu of a speechâ during his run for Libertarian Party chair at the national convention. Weeks says that many have come out in support of free expression, and cited John McAfee, who was a candidate for the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party. Weeks quoted McAfee as saying âIf we care about such trivialities, then we are indeed fools. For me, I was far more ashamed of those who turned their heads in disgust than by anything Mr. Weeks did.â He also cited a hand written letter of support from Richard Winger, publisher of Ballot Access News who wrote: âI approve of your dance at the LP Convention. So many other political party meeting & rallies are dominated by anger. The LP had some anger too, but you took the spotlight off our anger and presented the LP as a happy bunch.â Weeks says that some have complained that his intentions should have been explicitly stated, but he disagreed, saying that âperformance art, in my humble opinion, should be left up to interpretation.â Weeks believes that his suspension will âecho through all of the party, it send a clear message that the LPM is not the inclusive partyâ and that it does not represent what libertarianism is about. (JK)
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Brighton Woman Hospitalized After Ann Arbor Motorcycle CrashBrighton Woman Hospitalized After Ann Arbor Motorcycle Crash
A Livingston County woman was seriously injured following a motorcycle crash over the weekend in Ann Arbor. State Police from the Brighton Post say they responded to a crash report just before 6pm Saturday, June 11th on northbound US-23, just north of Washtenaw Avenue. A 50 year old man, later identified as Jamie Hicks of Westland, was operating his 2016 Harley Davison when it left the roadway and flipped several times in the median. Hicks was pronounced dead at the scene. A 47 year old female passenger, Laura Hurn of Brighton, was transported from the scene to the University of Michigan Medical Center with multiple serious injuries. However, she has been upgraded to stable condition as of this morning. Neither Hicks nor Hurn were wearing helmets and alcohol use is suspected as a contributing factor in the crash, which remains under investigation. Troopers were assisted on the scene by the Ann Arbor Police Department, Ann Arbor Fire Department, and Huron Valley Ambulance. (JK)
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Lyon Township Trustee Submits ResignationLyon Township Trustee Submits Resignation
The Lyon Township board will have a vacancy following a resignation last week. Citing the faster than anticipated sale of his home, Trustee Steve Adams turned in his resignation, effective July 4th. Township officials say state law will require them to appoint a replacement within 45 days of his departure, which would put the deadline after the August 2nd primary election, but before the November 8th general election. Whoever is appointed would only serve through the November election, when a new board would take over. Adams, who is serving his second stint as a trustee, previously said he was not running for re-election. Adams was a regular critic of unrestrained growth in the township, including zoning changes that allowed developers to build more homes than what was allowed under the master plan. He was also an advocate of videotaping township board meetings. (JK)
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Federal Bank Fraud Charge Filed Against Tyrone Township ManFederal Bank Fraud Charge Filed Against Tyrone Township Man
A pretrial hearing for an accused embezzler from Livingston County that had been set for today is on hold after federal charges were filed last week in the case. 37-year-old Michael LaJoice of Tyrone Township had been charged with 14 felony embezzlement counts after police say he admitted to stealing millions of dollars while serving as the chief financial officer for the Clarkston Brandon Community Credit Union. LaJoice turned himself in last January and has been jailed since then. A pretrial hearing set in Oakland County Circuit Court for today has been delayed until July 11th after a single felony count of bank fraud was filed June 7th against LaJoice in U.S. District Court in Detroit. The federal complaint alleges that from January 2003 to this past January, LaJoice âdevised and executed a scheme and artifice to defraud and to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses and representationsâ from the credit union and that as a result, he embezzled more than $18 million from the institution. The indictment alleges LaJoice used two different methods to steal the money. The first involved electronic transfers from credit union accounts directly to his personal account, the other used cashierâs checks from the credit union which were then deposited into his own account using automated teller machines. Federal prosecutors claim LaJoice concealed his fraudulent activities by creating fictitious investments in certificates of deposits and bonds at Total Bank in Miami, Florida. These fictitious investments were then provided to auditors and state examiners conducting yearly financial audits of the credit union to show that the credit unionâs books were balanced. LaJoice could face up to 30 years in federal prison and/or $1 million in fines if convicted on this latest charge. (JK)
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Prayer Vigil Planned Wednesday In Brighton After Deadly Nightclub ShootingPrayer Vigil Planned Wednesday In Brighton After Deadly Nightclub Shooting
A local prayer vigil is being held in honor of those killed and injured during a massacre at a gay nightclub in Florida. A prayer vigil at St. Paulâs Episcopal Church in Brighton will start at 7pm on Wednesday, followed by a remembrance and multi-colored balloon release at the Brighton Mill Pond. Every time there is a mass shooting, the names of those killed have been called out during Sunday worship at St. Paulâs. As one person who has had to read those names, the Reverend Deon Johnson tells WHMI heâs tired and had great hope after Sandy Hook that things would change but nothing happened and called the latest mass shooting âabsolutely horrificâ. While the suspect did target Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning people, Johnson says it is the targeting of everyone that should be of concern. He noted this is also not the time to be blaming all Muslims because this is not about Islam but one person who chose to do so something unspeakable and horrific on their own. Johnson says itâs heartening to see people around the country coming together and people in Orlando lining up for hours to give blood. He says people are having conversations with their loved ones, friends, families and strangers to ask what they can do to do something to move forward, which is where he finds the most hope. Johnson says what he finds interesting though is that some of the voices they need to hear have been relatively silent, outside of issuing statements, about what can be done next or where to go from here. Wednesdayâs vigil is intended to help the community find some healing and begin the process of grieving, which is being organized by The Livingston Diversity Council. Officials say âit is times like these when we need to pull together as a community to show our support for all human-kindâ. (JM)
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Motion & Trial Set For Deerfield Couple Charged In Child Abuse CaseMotion & Trial Set For Deerfield Couple Charged In Child Abuse Case
A trial date has been pushed back and another motion hearing has been set for a Deerfield Township couple facing felony child abuse charges. Eric and Angela Corcoran are charged with 2nd degree child abuse following accusations that they mentally and emotionally abused their 16-year-old adopted son. A motion has been filed by prosecutors to quash the defendants subpoena to a therapist to produce the victimâs therapy records. Court records show that motion will be heard on Monday, June 20th at 8:29am and the trial is scheduled the same day. The trial has been held up by months of procedural delays and the couple was earlier granted the ability to travel out of state. The abuse reportedly began in 2012 and continued through February of 2015. Authorities say the couple kept the boy isolated in their basement, with only a camper toilet to use as a bathroom and a dirty mattress without any sheets, blankets, or pillows. The teen also claims he was mistreated by the coupleâs biological children and was forced to eat alone. He has since been placed in foster care. (JM)
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Substitute No Longer Focus Of Inappropriate Message InvestigationSubstitute No Longer Focus Of Inappropriate Message Investigation
Authorities no longer believe that a substitute teacher at Pinckney High School was responsible for an inappropriate electronic communication allegedly sent to a student. District officials launched an investigation in December after concerns were brought to the attention of Pinckney High School Principal Jim Darga. While nothing incriminating was found on the substituteâs district-issued computer, officials at the time said that evidence of an âinappropriateâ communication received by a student was discovered, which may have been sent from a personal device belonging to the substitute. However, Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt tells WHMI that an investigation by the sheriffâs department has found no basis to believe that the teacher sent the inappropriate email. He says they are now focused on attempting to identify who sent the message. The substitute was immediately removed from his assigned position after the allegations surfaced. The substitute had been hired to teach a health class through mid-January. (JK)
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Brighton School Board Trustee Questions Shared ServicesBrighton School Board Trustee Questions Shared Services
The budgets for the current and coming fiscal years in the Brighton Area Schools will be in the black, which will make three years in a row that the district has had a positive fund balance after having been a deficit district for several years. But a board member contends that the district depends too much on a revenue generating program that could end at any time. Assistant Superintendent of Finance Maria Gistinger told the board Monday night that the district is projecting a $2.5 million fund balance for the end of the fiscal year ending June 30 and a nearly $4.6 million fund equity by the end of the 2016-17 school year. Shared Services is one reason why Brightonâs finances have improved so dramatically. Itâs a program in which public school districts may offer non-core curriculum subjects to private, parochial and other such schools which lack such courses. Brighton has become the state leader in Shared Services, providing classroom instruction in specific course areas to more schools than any other district in the state, and itâs been a big factor in the districtâs return to financial stability. However, Trustee John Conely says that the district depends too much on the revenue from Shared Services and told the board the fund balance for this fiscal year would be zero if the district didnât have the Shared Services program in place. And he told the board and Superintendent Greg Gray that it isnât something the district can depend on from year-to-year because it could end at any time. Gray responded that the district is doing very well financially â with or without Shared Services â and according to projections will be in the black next year, even if Shared Services were to suddenly come to an end. Gray also reminded board members that they decided to spend an additional $2.1 million in the current fiscal year after the original budget was adopted, which tightened the budget considerably, making the profit from Shared Services necessary to end up in the black. The amended budget for the current fiscal year ending June 30 is about $62.9 million, and the spending plan for the 2016-17 year is just over $63 million. The new budget is slated to be adopted at the next board meeting on June 27. (TT)
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Project Seeks To Redevelop Old Memories Lounge In Brighton TownshipProject Seeks To Redevelop Old Memories Lounge In Brighton Township
Redevelopment of a familiar restaurant and bar is proposed in Brighton Township. âBlockadeâ is described as a family friendly restaurant with an arcade component and outdoor patio that would also host banquet events such as weddings. The project is being proposed by the owner of Block Brewing in Howell Mike Magyari and two partners at the former Memories Lounge site. The Commission ultimately granted a special land use permit allowing alcoholic beverages to be served but preliminary site plan approval was tabled until some remaining concerns and technical aspects on the proposed site plan can be cleared up between the applicant, engineer and planner. It would initially open as a restaurant, with a future addition for a family-friendly arcade, and typically be open until 11pm or midnight during the week but until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. The close proximity of an establishment serving alcohol, late hours of operation, lighting and a lack of landscaping/buffering are of concern to a couple that live directly behind the property. Jennifer Ryskamp-Lopes and Jeffrey Lopes maintain the bar is out of place for the neighborhood, disturbs the character of the community and will decrease property values. Brighton Township resident Brian DeGrand spoke in favor of the project, saying as a retired police commander he is well aware of how a mismanaged bar can get out of hand but has complete confidence in the owners given how the brewery operates. Those behind the project stressed the goal is to create a destination and community asset â not bring back Memories. Some Commissioners had questions about traffic on the heavily traveled road but engineers stated anticipated volumes and current conditions donât necessitate an in-depth study, and there are already existing acceleration and deceleration lanes. Interior renovations mostly include bringing the building up to code, including electrical and a new fire suppression system. The dance floor will be removed and replaced with dining tables. No live entertainment is permitted per ordinance under current zoning but a DJ is allowed for events in a banquet room. The parking lot will be renovated to improve circulation patterns and a new LED lighting system is proposed that wonât spill over onto nearby residential properties. The building will be served by existing well and septic systems. However should those fail, the owners will be required to hook into the township system. Planning Commission Chairman Steven Holden told WHMI there were concerns from the engineer and planner, outstanding issues that really the planning commission and township need to see more details and specifics before moving ahead with the site plan proposal. He says they look forward to having the applicant back and they appear to be a good operator in the Howell area and Livingston County so hopefully if they see the right information, there will be a nice project potentially for Brighton Township. The commission also heard some history on the property as the old, longtime Memories owner Dan Schifko is a current planning commission member. The current applicants purchased it from a second owner, not Schifko. Twitter Photo. (JM)
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Unadilla Store Reopens Unadilla Store Reopens
A country store in Livingston County has reopened after being destroyed in a fire that injured a firefighter. The Unadilla Township store burned down in January 2015. It reopened Monday in a new building. A firefighter combatting the blaze was injured when one of the brick walls collapsed. The cause of the fire was ruled as "undetermined." Store manager Mike Harbert said the store was built in 1871 and that his parents have run it for two decades. Harbert says local memorabilia, hunting mounts and old photographs were lost in the fire. The store sells food, basic shopping supplies and camping-related supplies among other things. A grand opening celebration is scheduled to be held in July. (AP)
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Woman Pleads Guilty To Charges In Green Oak Township Home Invasion Woman Pleads Guilty To Charges In Green Oak Township Home Invasion
A Romulus woman has pleaded guilty to charges filed in connection with a Green Oak Township home invasion. 24-year-old Jacquelyn Hickman of Romulus pleaded guilty as charged to 1st degree home invasion, receiving and concealing firearms, being a prisoner in possession of weapons and resisting and obstructing police. Prosecutors agreed to recommend nothing as part of the plea, which the court accepted. Sheâll be sentenced as a third-time habitual offender in Livingston County Circuit Court July 7th. The charges were filed after Hickman and 25-year-old Jonathan Parkkila of Melvindale were caught attempting to steal a large amount of personal property from a home in Green Oak Township last November. The incident was reportedly one of several other criminal acts the two have been involved in and property was recovered linking them both to at least six other home invasions and vehicle thefts in the metro Detroit area. Parkkila was previously sentenced to 7 to 20 years prison after pleading guilty to the same charges, as well as possession of marijuana. (JM)
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BHS Choral Group Performs at Board MeetingBHS Choral Group Performs at Board Meeting
The Brighton High School Bel Canto choral ensemble charmed the Brighton Board of Education with a song at its meeting Monday night. Choir Director Phil Johnson says the all-female choral group â one of several choirs at Brighton High School â was selected to perform before the school board because of a special honor it received earlier this spring when it was selected as one of two high school choral groups representing the state of Michigan at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival. The number the group sang to the board was a Spanish language song entitled âLas Amarillasâ by composer Stephen Hatfield, and it elicited a standing ovation from the audience after the performance. Many members of the Bel Canto ensemble were also in the special Brighton High School choir chosen to perform in Italy this past March. The group sang at St. Peterâs Basilica and in a basilica in Florence, and even got to see the Pope, who picked up and kissed Johnsonâs five-month-old daughter Adeline. (TT)
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Howell Public Schools Board Hears Comments on Transgender Bathroom IssueHowell Public Schools Board Hears Comments on Transgender Bathroom Issue
Local residents turned out at Monday nightâs meeting of the Howell Public Schools Board of Education to comment on a controversial issue. Though there were a number of families in the audience only a few people stood up to comment on the issue surrounding the use of restrooms by transgender students. The district has been wrestling with the controversy over the last month, since one of resident Matt Stewart's children came home and said a girl was using the boysâ bathroom. Rev. Christopher Thoma is the pastor of Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church and school in Hartland. He cautioned board members that their decision could affect enrollment. Thoma urged the board to recognize in the midst of a drop in enrollment that that would probably get worse if the transgender ruling goes forward and the district allows it to take place, or at least allows it to gain a footing. He says he speaks from experience with regard to families coming to visit his own school saying that if that's something that happens they will most definitely be pulling their kids out of the district and going somewhere else. Activist and former Trustee Wendy Day commented that the districtâs survey about the issue is invalid because there are no restrictions on the number of times people can answer, nor does it have a residency requirement. All five who spoke up commiserated with the board for the hard job they faced in the situation, but Trustee Deb McCormick admonished the superintendent and administration for taking matters into their own hands. She says she is extremely disappointed that a decision of such magnitude was made by the superintendent and administration without the consent of the board. She says taking this action without the board's consent is in essence making a policy without the board's consent. McCormick says the main job of the school board is to make policy, and a breakdown in communication has taken place and a total disregard for the chain of command has taken place. Superintendent Erin MacGregor was unavailable for comment after the meeting, but board president Mike Yenshaw says he thinks the superintendent did what he had to under the circumstances. During the meeting MacGregor said the board will be taking a close look at the survey as well as comments from community members before putting any official policy into place. (DS)
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Drugs Investigated As Factor In Crash That Caused Hartland FireDrugs Investigated As Factor In Crash That Caused Hartland Fire
State Police say a teen driver may have been impaired when she hit a Livingston County residence and caused a fire. Troopers from the Brighton Post were dispatched just after 10pm Monday to a residence in the 13000 block of Denver Drive, in the Hartland Meadows Manufactured Housing Community, south of M-59 and east of Pleasant Valley Road. A preliminary investigation indicates a 2003 Lexus driven by a 17 year old Hartland girl, lost control and struck a residence. The impact caused a gas line to rupture, explode and catch on fire. There was damage to the residence from the explosion and fire. The teen was transported by Livingston County EMS to the University of Michigan Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. However, authorities say drug use may be a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation. Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Hartland Township Fire Department, Highland Township Fire Department, DTE Energy and Consumers Energy. Hartland Fire Chief Adam Carroll tells WHMI the gas and electric pedestal for the two services to the home had been destroyed and there was a fair amount of damage to one side of the house. He says it mostly involved siding, gutters, and exterior finishes such as decks and steps to the home but there was no significant structural damage. Carroll says after safely removing the teen from the vehicle, which sustained significant damage from the crash, they took care of fire issues with the burning gas line and worked to sort of contain it and kept it from spreading to a nearby house before Consumers and Edison came out and did their parts. Carroll says it was a long ordeal that involved finding the gas line, digging it up, putting in a sort-of bypass so the rest of the neighborhood still had service and then getting the gas line closed off so it could stop burning. Carroll says you canât just put out a burning gas line because of gas escaping everywhere, so it was sort of a waiting and juggling game of keeping the gas line burning but not allowing it to spread to other things. Picture and video courtesy of Donna Roy. (JK)
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County Health Department Is Encouraging Dads To Quit Smoking County Health Department Is Encouraging Dads To Quit Smoking
This Fatherâs Day, the Livingston County Department of Public Health is encouraging dads to give up one tough-to-break habit. Chelsea Moxlow, Health Promotion Coordinator for the LCDPH, told WHMI that she believes Sundayâs holiday is a great time to celebrate dads and support their efforts to quit cigarette smoking. She said that tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death and disease in Michigan, and that 1 out 4 men smoke cigarettes. The Health Department reports that 7 out of 10 adult smokers want to be free of nicotine in their lives. However, the highly addictive drug can make it difficult to quit and often several attempts are needed before success. In recent years, e-cigarettes and vaporizers have become popular methods for smokers trying to quit. Moxlow said the LCDPH does not recommend this as research is beginning to show preliminary results that vaping is also causing health consequences. She also stated that she believes biggest thing that people should know is that there are not only long term benefits to quitting, but there also health benefits that happen right away. Dads, or anyone interested in stopping smoking, are encouraged to call the Michigan Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Callers can not only receive information, but if qualified can enroll in a coaching program and even receive nicotine replacement medications to help them in becoming tobacco-free. Picture courtesy of Quit.com. (MK)
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New Parking Lot Could Potentially Be Built By Hartland Post OfficeNew Parking Lot Could Potentially Be Built By Hartland Post Office
More parking spots in the village area of Hartland could be on the horizon. The Hartland Board of Trustees has shown an interest in opening up future parking options and is looking closely at one parcel of land near the schools. A once-acre lot that has been on their radar has recently come down in price, triggering the board to enter a closed session at a special meeting held Tuesday night. The potential site is located near the post office on Crouse Road, closest to Creekside Elementary School. According to the Boardâs agenda notes, the schools are receptive to the idea of the would-be lot straddling onto their property. It is possible that a connection to the rear parking lot of the post office could happen as well. The Board has gone as far as having an engineering firm draw up a concept plan and provide a cost estimate for developing the land. The proposed lot would be large enough to park 82 vehicles and after engineering and construction, is estimated to cost around $375,000. The parcel as is it now, is listed at $99,900. The board reopened the special meeting with no motion to be made at the time. Township Manager James Wickman declined to comment saying that there was no action taken and that he could not talk about what was discussed in closed session. (MK)
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Kroger Pays $82k & Agrees To ADA Training To Settle Howell LawsuitKroger Pays $82k & Agrees To ADA Training To Settle Howell Lawsuit
Details of a settlement have been released in a federal lawsuit against a major grocery retailer over the firing of an employee at their Howell location. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the suit in 2014 alleging that the Kroger store in Howell failed to make reasonable accommodation for Jarydith Mannella, who worked as a stock person, after she suffered a back injury in June of 2010. The suit said that after her injury Mannella was moved out of the stock room and became a cashier, scanning items in customersâ carts using a hand-scanner. However, after more than a year in this capacity, she was let go. According to the EEOC, Kroger says it fired Mannella because she could not perform the essential duties of her job, but they believed it was actually done because the retailer learned her disability would be permanent. Under terms of the consent decree, Kroger does not admit any legal liability, but will pay $49,000 to settle and redeem Mannellaâs workersâ compensation claim. Kroger will also pay $33,000 directly to Mannella as compensatory damages to resolve all claims asserted in the complaint. The decree also prohibits Kroger from refusing to reasonably accommodate an employee with permanent restrictions nor fire a disabled employee when a reasonable accommodation is available. Kroger must also provide a mandatory training program for its human resources department that will focus on the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case is now considered closed. (JK)
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Superintendents, Parents & State School Officials Raise Concerns Over Cyber SchoolSuperintendents, Parents & State School Officials Raise Concerns Over Cyber School
Local superintendents and schools districts are taking a stand against a recently authorized cyber charter school. The Livingston Classical Cyber Academy is proposed on a site at Old US-23 and Hyne Road in Brighton Township. Founder Pat Battaglia originally proposed a full charter school, the Livingston Classical Academy (LCA), in the old Lindbom elementary building in Brighton but the project never came to fruition. LCA was able to later obtain cyber charter authorization from the Whitmore Lake district. However it is now proposing a large school campus project on the Brighton Township property, which is within the Hartland Consolidated Schools district but also in close proximity to Brighton Area Schools. Both Hartland Superintendent Jan Sifferman and retiring LESA Superintendent Dan Danosky are raising concerns about the venture, most especially how it will impact per pupil funding and special education funding. Sifferman tells WHMI from Hartlandâs perspective; Whitmore Lake has authorized a cyber school, which has now become a bricks and mortar school being built within Hartland's boundaries, and she believes it is not following the state school code. "It really should be a concern for all the school districts in Livingston County and there all kinds of nuances that could occur and that happen with the fact that another public school in Washtenaw County that is building a building in Livingston County. You have questions about special education money (and) who supports those kids of things." Danosky also raised questions about the approval of a charter school under the guise of a cyber school. "Cyber schools are going to be part of the landscape now. All we're looking for is to kind of play by the rules. The rules have been set up by the legislature. This is very specific about how they operate. In this case they are blurring the lines at best and downright illegal at worst." Sifferman says her hope is that Whitmore Lake Public Schools (WLPS) would understand the ramifications for not only Hartland and Livingston County but across the state for all public schools. She wants WLPS to re-think the decision to authorize the school and rescind it, have the Michigan Department of Education rescind authorization or the LCCA to operate as a cyber academy according to the law - which they have every right to do. But Sifferman and Danosky are not the only ones with concerns. Brighton parent Sherri Osterman spoke about the âscary, toxic cyber school recently added to Livingston Countyâ during the June 6th Hartland school board meeting, saying she has done a lot of research into the LCCA stakeholders and found whats she said were "many links to greed and deceit. One of the most disfavorable leads was to Pat Battaglia as he tried to speed track the same organization into an old elementary school in Brighton. Luckily Brighton caught on to the mess and stopped the process. So now they have a loophole. A way of getting in with Whitmore Lake Schools with a very tiny financial cut distributed to them, approximately only $225 per student for chartering them. How convenient for a school to be located 12 miles away from Whitmore Lake." Osterman went on to raise concerns about the larger impacts of per pupil funding being diverted to other districts and the funding gap created for public schools. She encouraged attendance at future Brighton Township meetings related to LCCA. The State Board of Education has had concerns about LCCA's status and President John Austin told WHMI it did look into the matter, but can't find a legal way to block it, given the way the law is written. However, Austin said other districts are suing and the Michigan Department of Education will try to block future such schools. Meanwhile, Whitmore Lake Superintendent Tom DeKeyser addressed what he feels is the misinterpretation of cyber law. He stressed WLPS thoroughly had the laws vetted before authorizing the cyber charter, which has been approved. DeKeyser says they are following the laws and the cyber can have a seat time requirement, which there is no restriction on. He also maintains a cyber can operate outside of their school district boundaries. DeKeyser says the Board of Education has taken the position that cyber charters offer choices for school age children that donât want the public education experience and could benefit from a school such as LCCA. The school has been advertising the opening of a full school campus this fall to serve students in kindergarten through high school. The project has been referred to only as the Deerfield Preserve on agenda items, with no mention of LCCA. Developer Marshall Blau is proposing 72 homes on the property at Old US-23 and Hyne Road, as well as the school and a daycare for 120 children not limited to LCCA families. A shopping center was previously proposed. The school would initially serve grades K-10, with plans to expand to K-12. Plans received conceptual approvals at a March meeting but things appear to have stalled since then. WHMI reached out to LCCA officials, but received no response for comment. (JM/JK)
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Highland Township To Make World Record Attempt During Annual FestivalHighland Township To Make World Record Attempt During Annual Festival
Fireworks, BBQ and a world record attempt are all part of an upcoming festival in Highland Township. The Red, White & Blues Festival is an annual event held the last Saturday in June at Veterans Park, on the corner of North John Street and Livingston Road. Food and craft vendors and a farmers market are on site, along with live music, bounce houses, a kayak pond, magic show and pony rides. A professional Bar-B-Que competition is held during the day, along with the Fireworks 400. Itâs described as fun run and an attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the number of people wearing âthongâ flip flops in a single race. The community came close to breaking the record last year and organizers say this is the year they put Red, White & Blues and Highland on the map. Fireworks are planned at dusk, followed by a beer tent and local music. All family activities are low cost or free. Details about Red, White & Blues on June 25th can be found through the link below. Photo: Highland Heritage & Preservation Society. (JM)
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