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Fenton Man Sentenced for Bar Fight That Led to Man's DeathFenton Man Sentenced for Bar Fight That Led to Man's Death

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2/28/13 - A judge exceeded guidelines in sentencing a Fenton man this week in connection with a lethal bar fight last year. 37-year-old Evan James Wells was ordered to serve 50 months to 40 years behind bars after earlier pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter. He was sentenced as a fourth-time habitual offender in Oakland County Circuit Court. Police responded to a call from a bar in Holly on October 12th and found 43-year-old Ronald Smith unconscious on the ground outside. Smith never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead three days later. Police say Wells punched Smith in the face during an altercation, which caused him to fall and ultimately led to his death. Wells was arrested near the scene on charges of aggravated assault and parole violations. (JM)

Pinckney Set to Host 9th Annual St. Patrick's Day ParadePinckney Set to Host 9th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade

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2/12/13- The Pinckney area is looking forward to the 9th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade set for Saturday, March 16th. The parade will be led by American Legion Post 419 beginning at noon in the parking lot of Pinckney Elementary School. Participants will march through downtown Pinckney and end at the village’s library. There will be many activities taking place before the parade starting with the Annual Run for the Gold 5K Race at 9:30 am. That event benefits both the Light of the World Academy and the Faith Medical Clinic, which was recently destroyed by fire and is hoping to reopen as soon as they raise enough money for new equipment. Other activities for Pinckney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade include Irish Dancers on Main Street, the 5th Annual Paddy Wagon Bed Race, and the Cutest Leprechaun Contest. You'll find more information through the link below. (SO/JK)

Brighton Township Seeks Public Opinions on Master PlanBrighton Township Seeks Public Opinions on Master Plan

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2/28/13 - Dozens of Brighton Township residents gave their opinions and ideas at a workshop open house last night discussing the township’s master plan. The master plan is reviewed and potentially revised every five years, and while public input is usually sought Township Planner Kelly Mathews says officials are going above and beyond this time around to make sure residents can make their ideas heard. A survey was done last summer to get preliminary ideas, and focus groups of developers, recreation groups, and residents have been held. The open house included displays of various aspects of the master plan and local land use as well as a presentation by officials. Citizens were asked to share their concerns and ideas for improving the plan. Mathews says overall citizens are not seeking major changes to the master plans. She says one of the main concerns by citizens and recreation groups was the availability of pathways along township roads as well as the preservation of the rural and natural setting. She says developers were mostly happy with the township and had ideas for potential development incentives. Mathews will now meet with the township board to discuss the data gathered from the meetings and decide what changes, if any, need to be implemented. Anyone who still wants to provide feedback on the master plan can fill out an electronic survey at the township’s website. (TD)

Jury Convicts Brighton Man of Sexually Abusing Poor Haitian BoysJury Convicts Brighton Man of Sexually Abusing Poor Haitian Boys

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2/28/13 - A Miami jury has found a Livingston County man guilty of sexually abusing poor boys at a residential center he operated in Haiti. The jury deliberated for about 90 minutes this afternoon before convicting Matthew Carter of Brighton on five counts of traveling from Florida to Haiti for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with minors. He was also found guilty of one count of attempting child sex tourism. Carter ran the Morning Star Center in Haiti from 1995 until his 2011 arrest at Miami International Airport, when the Haitian government took the rare step of shutting down the center. Former Morning Star residents testified during the three-week trial that they were molested by Carter as children. Carter denied the allegations of sexual abuse when he took the stand Tuesday. During closing arguments this morning, Prosecutor Bonnie Kane said nothing was for free at the center and that Carter’s routine was well-established, with him forcing vulnerable children to engage in sexual acts in exchange for food, clothes, toys, a place to sleep and an education. Defense attorney Stuart Adelstein said no physical evidence supported the allegations. Carter faces up to 15 years in prison for the sex tourism charge and up to 30 years in prison on each of the other counts. A sentencing date is pending. (JM)

City Of Brighton Wins Design Award For Streetscape Project

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3/1/13 - The streetscape improvement project undertaken last year by the City of Brighton has earned the city an Award of Excellence from the Michigan Concrete Association. The organization presents awards to contractors, engineers, and agencies for concrete projects based on quality, safety, public relations, complexity, aesthetics, and innovation. The 2012 streetscape project included stamped and colored concrete and brick pavers over pedestrian-activated, lighted crosswalks. The organization says the design makes drivers more aware of pedestrians who have the right of way as they cross the street. Brighton’s Downtown Development Director Matt Modrack says the city and DDA were ahead of the curve on the design of the crosswalks, and other municipalities have contacted the city trying to find out how to replicate the system. (TD)

Couple Wins Brighton Chamber Distinguished Service Award Couple Wins Brighton Chamber Distinguished Service Award

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3/1/13 - Two people who have made significant contributions to the Brighton community were presented the 2013 Distinguished Service Award at the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce State of the Chamber luncheon Thursday. The annual event was held at the Oak Pointe Country Club, with about 200 chamber members and guests in attendance. Normally, the Distinguished Service Award is accorded to a single individual, but this year’s honor goes to two people. They are Cheryl Mayday Kittredge and her husband, Reed Kittredge. Chamber President and CEO Pam McConeghy tells WHMI the Kittredges were recognized for their over two decades each of service to both the chamber and the community. Cheryl Mayday Kittredge owns a West Main Street building which houses several retail businesses that received major exterior improvements this past year, and Reed Kittredge is operations manager at WHMI radio. Some new awards were meted out, including the first annual Pamela A. McConeghy Visionary Award, going to Chamber President and CEO Pam McConeghy; the Retailer of the Year, to Impulse in downtown Brighton; Architectural Investment, to Ashley and Marcy Israel of the Brighton Mall; Agricultural Enterprise, to Stone Coop (Organic) Farm; Innovative Business Award, to Energy Design Service System and Restaurant of the Year Award, to Brighton Bar & Grill. (TT)

Schuette Says Local Lawmaker's Blue Cross Bills Will Hurt Seniors Schuette Says Local Lawmaker's Blue Cross Bills Will Hurt Seniors

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3/1/13 - The Michigan House has approved legislation sponsored by a local lawmaker that would transform Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan from a charitable trust into a customer-owned nonprofit. The Michigan Attorney General’s Office says the proposed overhaul will hurt thousands of senior citizens who rely on a specific form of coverage called Medigap. It’s a supplemental policy that picks up expenses not covered under Medicare. Spokeswoman Joy Yearout says Attorney General Bill Schuette negotiated a historic 5-year rate freeze for the more than 200,000 seniors who rely on Medigap coverage through Blue Cross to ensure they could continue to afford it. She says the legislation that passed doesn’t answer any questions about what happens when that rate freeze expires. The bills are sponsored by Hamburg Township Senator Joe Hune. He tells WHMI they shared initial concerns about how to best protect seniors and others, which is why the legislation that just passed includes a four year rate freeze for those on Medigap, followed by an additional five years in which a $120 (m) subsidy is provided. Hune says that means seniors and others will be protected and have a nine-year safety net. The Blues legislation now goes back to the Senate for concurrence and Hune says he hopes to have it on the Governor’s desk by Tuesday. (JM)

Brighton Board Member Wants Emergency Manager for DistrictBrighton Board Member Wants Emergency Manager for District

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3/1/13 - A Brighton school board member says a state appointed emergency manager may just be what’s needed to put the district in a position of control and oversight to force financial reform. The district faces a half million dollar deficit for the current fiscal year, based on cuts from the state and a continued decline in student enrollment, resulting in the loss of per pupil funding. However, the district is hoping to sell the vacant Lindbom building to offset the projected loss. At least one board member, John Conely, feels the district is headed in the wrong direction financially. He made a presentation at Monday night's school board meeting (posted below) about the budget and feels an emergency manager would be helpful in solving budget woes. Conely says administration presents numbers in the best light at the time they get them, but it seems they repeatedly come in different than expected. Conely feels all labor groups should be brought to the table to balance the deficit, so the district doesn’t have to cut any programs and he tells WHMI the appointment of an emergency manager would allow for that to happen. At least two other district officials disagree. Board of Education President Miles Vieau says the district is not at any point where it needs an emergency manager but noted that once all "fat" has been trimmed from the budget, across the board cuts may be necessary. As to the overall numbers, school districts across the state are forced to build budgets on estimates because of how the state operates. Superintendent Dr. Greg Gray says the budget is well documented and the numbers "are what they are" but the district has been making steady progress and is working with the state to erase its legacy deficit, which is now down to around $7 (m) million. (JK)

Local Proving Grounds One Step Closer to Absorbing New ParcelLocal Proving Grounds One Step Closer to Absorbing New Parcel

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3/1/13 - Aisin Holdings of America owns about 800 acres in Handy, which are zoned for research and development to accommodate the company’s test track and proving grounds. It recently purchased another 80 acres of farmland on the eastern edge of its property which are zoned for agricultural and residential uses. Township Zoning Administrator Bill Call says the land was up for sale at a low price, and the company has no stated goals for the property. Aisin requested rezoning the parcel for R&D, and Call tells WHMI the planning commission had no reason to deny the request. He adds that Aisin has been a model corporate citizen since it entered the township in 2003. The request will now go to the county department for review and the Handy Township Board for approval. (TD)

Heart Of Howell Project Lands $375,000 State Revitalization GrantHeart Of Howell Project Lands $375,000 State Revitalization Grant

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3/1/13 - The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has awarded a $375,000 grant to the Heart of Howell project. The money is part of the organization’s community revitalization project. Developer Joe Parker says the application for the grant went out about eight months ago and he was notified that it had been awarded to his project about two weeks ago. The money will not be due until the project is complete. The Heart of Howell will bring the old Swann, Spags, and Thistledown buildings up to code and transform them into a single commercial complex. Parker says the commercial space on the upper floors is completely spoken for, and the restaurant space on the first floor will be occupied by owners of The Root in White Lake. He tells WHMI complications from the weather and the aging buildings have slowed down construction on the $2.4 million project, which is now six weeks behind schedule. He says all the work is being done properly and the building should open in the third quarter of this year. Local officials have praised the project and the expected economic impact it will have on the city. (TD)

Freedom Salute Ceremony Planned Sunday for Howell's 1462nd UnitFreedom Salute Ceremony Planned Sunday for Howell's 1462nd Unit

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3/1/13 - Area residents are being encouraged to come together for a ceremony this weekend and salute some local heroes for their Afghanistan deployment. Approximately 85 Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers from the Howell-based 1462nd Transportation Company will be honored this Sunday with a “Freedom Salute” ceremony, in recognition of their deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 1462nd Transportation Company is led by Captain Megan Hall and departed in June of 2012. During their tour of duty, they served in multiple bases in Afghanistan and conducted both equipment recovery and sort-yard operations while also staffing mobile readiness teams. The Freedom Salute ceremony honors the families, employers, and other “centers of influence” of each Guard member. Each Soldier will receive an encased American flag, lapel insignia, commemorative coin or lapel pin, and a certificate of appreciation. Soldiers on their second deployment will receive a Freedom ring and their spouse will receive a clock in recognition of their service. The celebration will be held at 9am Sunday at the Howell Armory, located at 725 Isbell Street. (JM)

Plea Entered in Fatal Gun Range ShootingPlea Entered in Fatal Gun Range Shooting

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3/1/13 - A Howell man will be sentenced next month after entering pleas in a fatal gun range shooting last year. 19-year-old Jessce Lincon Stearn pleaded guilty today to charges of manslaughter and felony firearms counts for the June 30th, 2012 incident at the Livingston Conservation and Sports Association gun range. Police say Stearn was holding a replica AK-47 when it discharged and hit Charles Robert Kimball in the head and killed him instantly. Stearn told police the gun discharged while he was cleaning the weapon. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte says there were concerns with his story from the beginning and witness accounts contradicted his claim. He also noted that experts were unable to reproduce the malfunction when they tested the weapon. Prosecutors filed the manslaughter charge because there was no evidence Stearn intended to kill Kimball, but did deliberately aim the weapon when it fired. Stearn will be sentenced April 4th. He faces up to 15 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and an additional two years on the felony firearm charge. (JK)

Alleged I-96 Shooter Waives Oakland Case to TrialAlleged I-96 Shooter Waives Oakland Case to Trial

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3/1/13 - A man accused of a series of shootings on and off I-96 in a four-county area, including Livingston County, has told a judge to send one of the cases to trial. Raulie Casteel waived his right to a hearing today to determine if prosecutors have enough evidence in the Oakland County case. He’ll be arraigned in Oakland County Circuit Court on March 14th on 60 charges, including attempted murder, linked to shootings in Commerce Township and in Wixom. Casteel lived with his wife, daughter and in-laws in Wixom. The two dozen random shootings occurred last fall. One man was injured. The Livingston County charges against Casteel are being handled by the Michigan Attorney General’s office and will next be in court March 27th. Those counts, which also cover any incidents that occurred in Ingham and Shiawassee counties, include terrorism and attempted murder. (JK)

Howell Opera House Historic District Commission Seeks VolunteersHowell Opera House Historic District Commission Seeks Volunteers

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3/2/13 - Volunteers are being sought to help with the creation and maintenance of a historic district to protect the Howell Opera House. The city’s downtown development authority is working on the creation of the district, which would allow for greater control of the building and open up avenues for grant money into the city. Intern Lindsey Wooten chairs the historic district study committee, which she says is in the final review process for its report on the state of the Opera House. That report will soon be submitted to the state preservation office for review and input. She tells WHMI that in the meantime, Howell residents with historic or architectural knowledge are being sought to serve on the Howell Opera House Local Historic District Commission once the district is established. Those commissioners will be the review board for any potential exterior changes to the Opera House, as directed by an as-yet-undrafted ordinance outlining the design guidelines for the building. A public hearing on the creation of the historic district will take place on March 6th at the regular meeting of the Howell City Council. Wooten says the commissioners will likely be appointed and the district created at that meeting. The next study committee meeting will take place on March 21st at 6:00pm at the DDA office. (TD)

Suspects Jailed After Crashes Early Friday Involving Drugs/Alcohol Suspects Jailed After Crashes Early Friday Involving Drugs/Alcohol

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3/2/13 - The Livingston County Sheriff’s Department was busy Friday morning dealing with three accidents believed to be the result of drug and alcohol use. Everything started at around 6:30am Friday with a crash at Clark Road and M-59 in Hartland in which a 45-year-old Highland Township woman registered a .17% blood alcohol level. Bezotte says another accident followed at around 8am that happened at the corner of Linden and Bennett Lake Roads and involved a 55-year-old Goodrich woman who got lost on her way home from Soaring Eagle Casino. Bezotte says also tested positive for alcohol and registered a .20% BAC at the scene. Finally around 11am, he says 911 reports started coming in of a driver all over southbound US-23 and a single car accident was reported shortly thereafter in the median of the freeway, just south of M-59 involving a 35-year-old Durand man. Bezotte says alcohol is not believed to be involved in that case but the man was taken into custody for operating under the influence of prescription drugs, which were sent to the Michigan State Police Crime Lab for identification. He says that suspect likely won’t be officially charged until toxicology reports come back. (JM)

Howell Woman Heads to Trial in Fatal CrashHowell Woman Heads to Trial in Fatal Crash

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3/2/13 - A Howell woman has been bound over for trial for a fatal crash that authorities say involved alcohol. 32-year-old Treena Jean Beazley waived her preliminary exam last week in district court, sending the case to Circuit Court for trial. Beazley is charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and causing the death of 56-year-old Roger Miles. The Livingston County Sheriff’s Department says Beazley was driving an SUV west on Clyde Road the evening of January 11th when she failed to stop at Fenton Road in Hartland Township. Her vehicle then collided with Miles' hatchback, which was southbound on Fenton Road. Miles was taken to Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc by Livingston County EMS, where he was pronounced dead. Dates have yet to be set for Beazley’s next court appearance. (JK)

Challenger Elementary to Celebrate March is Reading Month Challenger Elementary to Celebrate March is Reading Month

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3/3/13 - A local elementary school has some special events planned this week to celebrate “March is Reading Month”. Challenger Elementary in the Howell Public Schools district will be hosting a special scavenger hunt on March 5th. The event begins at 5:30pm and district officials say students will follow a treasure map that leads them to discover fun and engaging activities in various classrooms. They earn clues along the way that will help them guess which well-known book will be read at the end of the night. Howell Mayor Phil Campbell will be the featured guest reader and at the end of the evening, each student will earn a free book to take home with them. (JM)

Man Arrested After Allegedly Slashing Woman With MacheteMan Arrested After Allegedly Slashing Woman With Machete

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3/4/13 - A man slashed a woman with a machete at Burrough’s Tavern in the early morning hours last Friday after a fight with another man over his ex-wife. Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells says deputies were dispatched to the establishment just after midnight. Police say two men had an argument that turned into a fistfight earlier that night. One of the men, identified as 30-year-old Ben Cameron of Howell Township, was apparently fighting with an unnamed 36-year-old man who was at the restaurant with Cameron’s ex-wife. The fight was broken up and Cameron left the restaurant. However, according to police he returned about 20 minutes later with a machete. A female employee tried to stop him from attacking the other man and was slashed on the hand. She was treated at the scene for her injury. Cameron was found by police in the parking lot of the establishment and taken into custody for aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon. He is now out on bond and will go before a judge within a week. Bezotte says although searches of his home, his car, and the surrounding areas have not produced the weapon, there are enough witnesses to justify the dangerous weapons charge. (TD)

Church Holds Gratitude Service for Public Safety WorkersChurch Holds Gratitude Service for Public Safety Workers

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3/4/13 - Cornerstone Presbyterian Church welcomed public safety workers and their families for a recognition service of gratitude Sunday night. The celebration honored law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS workers with special guests, a dessert reception and featured vocalists, Peaceful Authority. 75% of the members for the vocalist group Peaceful Authority are Flint police officers, who perform at special events such as these. Donna Alberta, one of the coordinators for the event, tells WHMI the main goal was to express the community’s gratitude. Among the guest speakers that shared their testimonies of the help they have received from public safety workers was Amy O’Rourke of Tyrone Township whose husband, Patrick O’Rourke, was killed last year in the line of duty. Amy shared her testimony of her husband’s story and all the support she received from public safety workers. Amy gave WHMI insight to the life of someone whose family member is a public safety worker. A painting that had been recently made for each department that was honored at the event was unveiled, along with goodie baskets made for each worker. A video was also shared that had a greeting from US Congressman Mike Rogers, who expressed his gratitude to those who protect our community. (DK)

Sentencing Tuesday for Man Convicted in Oceola Double MurderSentencing Tuesday for Man Convicted in Oceola Double Murder

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3/4/13 - The man convicted of murdering an Oceola Township couple in 2008 is due back in court tomorrow for sentencing. 66-year-old Jerome Kowalski (left) was convicted in January on first-degree murder charges in the deaths of his brother Richard Kowalski and his wife Brenda, who were found shot to death May 1st of 2008 in their Lyngre Drive home. He is set for sentencing Tuesday at 1pm by Judge Theresa Brennan. First degree premeditated murder carries with it a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. The three-week trial included testimony from Brenda’s son Michael Reilly, who speculated that his uncle had killed his step-father after the two had disagreed about how to handle the estate of their mother. The videotaped interrogation of Kowalski was also played for jurors, including a portion where he seemingly confesses to the crime, although he later recanted. His defense attorney, Walter Piszczatowski, unsuccessfully tried to undermine the confession with a psychological expert who testified that he evaluated Kowalski to be a depressed, passive-aggressive individual with alcohol dependence and a tendency to try and please authority. An earlier ruling by Judge Brennan barred the defense testimony of another expert on false confessions, which is likely to form at least the basis of an expected appeal of the conviction. (JK)
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