Operators of a new restaurant and brewpub in Brighton Township are finalizing the last details needed before the business can open. The former Memories Lounge site, located on Old US-23 near Hyne Road, will soon be home to âBlockadeâ. The establishment is said to be of the exact same concept as Block Brewing Company, located in Howell off of D-19, and operated by the same owners. Managing Partner Jon Emaus of The Law Firm PLLC, says construction on Blockade is underway and that the owners are just working on finalizing licenses. Emaus tells WHMI Block Brewing Company in Howell had enough success that the owners were encouraged to bring a similar eatery and brewpub to Brighton Township. The former Memories site was chosen for the establishment because three of the four owners of Block Brewing Company live in Brighton Township and Emaus says have a âstrong commitmentâ to investing there. Two liquor licenses from Memories transferred to the establishment, but state regulations are requiring the owners to have an On-Premise Brewpub license so they may keep a microbrewery tank at the site. At this time, Emaus says Blockade does not have plans to distribute its beer. An application to the state for a brewpub license required the local jurisdictionâs approval, and a resolution doing so passed unanimously by the Brighton Townshipâs Board of Trustees Monday night. Emaus says the hope is for Blockade to open before Christmas, with a goal of December 1st in mind. (DK)
Old Memories Soon To Be Replaced By "Blockade"Old Memories Soon To Be Replaced By "Blockade"
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Suspected Drunk Driver Charged After Loaded Guns Found In VanSuspected Drunk Driver Charged After Loaded Guns Found In Van
A felony warrant has been issued for a South Lyon man after police found an unregistered handgun in his van following a suspected drunk driving crash. South Lyon Police say they responded to a crash the evening of November 15th on North Lafayette Street at Heritage Boulevard. They found two vehicles involved, a minivan driven by a 66-year-old man and a Jeep driven by a 41-year-old woman. The womanâs fiancé, who arrived at the scene after the accident, told police the minivan driver appeared to have been drinking and had a shotgun in the back seat. Police spotted the gun, which wasn't inside a case, along with a half-full bottle of cognac. When questioned, the male driver initially said there were only two shotguns, but eventually admitted there was also a handgun in the glove compartment. All three weapons were loaded. The man also said he had a concealed pistol license, but that it was expired. A records check soon revealed that no CPL in his name existed. Meanwhile, a preliminary breath test indicated he had a blood-alcohol level of .15%, nearly double the legal limit for driving. He has subsequently been charged with a third offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and possession of a firearm while intoxicated. He was arrested at the scene, but later released. Police say he will be allowed to turn himself in for an arraignment, a date for which has yet to be set. (JK)
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Howell Schools Names Support & Service Personnel Of The Year Howell Schools Names Support & Service Personnel Of The Year
Howell Public Schools has recognized two employees for their dedication to students and the district. On Tuesday Karen Socia (left), the office clerk at of Southeast Elementary School, was selected as the Howell Public Schools Support Person of the Year. That same day Martha Mendoza (right), an English Language tutor at Howell High School, was named as the districtâs Service Person of the Year. The selections were made by a committee made up of a central office administrator, a principal, staff representing each school and a board of education member. Socia, described as the, âheart of Southeast,â is said to greet all visitors with a smile and friendly hello, all the while helping teachers and assisting students. One teacher said she âhandles any situation, large or small with ease and graceâ and âgoes out of her way to say something kind to all who come into the office and make them feel good with her smile and positive attitude.â Mendoza was recognized for her efforts at teaching Howell High School students who are learning English as a second language. Officials say she goes above and beyond in the position and has been known to purchase school supplies for students, assisting families by translating documents and ensuring parents who may not be fluent in English can communicate with their childâs teachers. A high school English teacher marveled that Mendoza, âcould truly be two or three people for the amount of work that she accomplishesâ noting that she âhelps to come up with solutions for her students' success.â Both Socia and Mendoza were surprised with their awards by Howell Superintendent Erin MacGregor along with key staff from each of their schools. (JK)
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AAA's Thanksgiving Travel Forecast Calls For Busy Roads, Airports AAA's Thanksgiving Travel Forecast Calls For Busy Roads, Airports
Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season for many but once the turkey and trimmings are gone, itâs typically time to prepare for the trip back home with busy roads and crowded parking lots. AAA reports more than 1.5 million Michiganders will be traveling 50 miles or more from home this holiday weekend, with more people on the road in nearly a decade. AAA Michigan says the Thanksgiving holiday travel period stretches through Sunday and gas prices are also lower than a year ago, thus more than 90% of travelers will drive. AAA Spokeswoman Susan Hiltz tells WHMI they urge motorists to buckle up, drive safe and sober, and ditch distractions considering the amount of people on the road. For those braving the busy airports, Hiltz says itâs always good to be early for flights as most will have longer waits in security lines. She suggests those traveling be prepared and perhaps have a back-up plan should their flight be delayed or cancelled for any reason. AAA says 2016 is expected to be the seventh consecutive year of growth for Thanksgiving travel in Michigan. The auto club says it would be the most travelers since 2007 and a 2% increase from last year. Reasons cited include improvements in the economy during the second half of the year, including rising wages, increased consumer spending and consumer confidence. (JM)
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Detour Routes & Closures Announced For Friday's Fantasy Of Lights Detour Routes & Closures Announced For Friday's Fantasy Of Lights
Anyone making their way to Downtown Howell for Fridayâs Fantasy of Lights Parade and Fantasy 5k Run should be mindful of some associated road closures. To accommodate the events, Grand River will be completely closed between National Street and Byron Road starting at 5pm and ending after the parade, which is approximately 10-11pm. Detours will be posted to use Clinton Street as the primary route for westbound traffic and Sibley Street as the primary route for eastbound traffic. There will also be additional road closures on Friday from 5am to 11pm that include:
* North & South Walnut Street between Clinton & Sibley
* North & South Chestnut Street between Clinton & Sibley
* North & South Center Street between Clinton & Sibley
* North State Street between Grand River & Clinton Street
Officials caution some parking lots may have limited parking. Thus visitors are asked to park only in legal parking spaces, not blocking driveways or sidewalks, and to also look for signs that may limit parking. A map is attached showing the detour routes around the Grand River closure. (JM)
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Services Set For Milford Man Killed In CrashServices Set For Milford Man Killed In Crash
Services will be held this weekend for a Milford man killed in a car crash. 23-year-old Devin Jennings Daugherty died after his pickup truck crashed into a tree on South Hill Road near Maple Road just before 5am on Friday, November 18th. Milford Police say a preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle was traveling too fast for road conditions at the time of the crash. Daughertyâs friends started a GoFundMe campaign online, trying to raise $10,000 for a memorial, and surpassed that goal within one day. Visitation for Daugherty is set for Friday from 2-9pm and from 1-2pm on Saturday at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home in Milford. A memorial service will be held there Saturday at 2pm. Memorials are being requested to the Michigan Pit Bull Rescue in honor of Daughertyâs dog, Kharma, a pit bull that friends hope to find a permanent home for. (JK)
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Local Church Donates Funds For Early Education ScholarshipsLocal Church Donates Funds For Early Education Scholarships
An early education initiative has received a financial boost from a local church.
First Presbyterian Church of Brighton recently presented a check for $5,406 to Livingston Promise for the Livingston Promise Preschool Scholarship Program. The donation is expected to provide one year of preschool for one child and two months of preschool for a second child. The check was presented to Livingston Promise President, Robin Schutz, by Pastor Scott Phillips and members of the First Presbyterian Church of Brighton Missions Team. Livingston Promise is in their fourth year of offering preschool scholarships to 3-year-old children in Livingston County. Program officials say that without the scholarships, children may not otherwise have the opportunity to benefit from a quality preschool experience.
A release from Livingston Promise asserts that quality early childhood experiences are the foundation of the cognitive & character skills children must have to persist in school and be successful in college, career & life. Funding for scholarships is garnered through private donations by businesses, community organizations and individuals. All donations to Livingston Promise, a 501(c) 3 organization, are tax deductible. To donate on-line visit the link below. (JK)
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Single Lane Closures Start Saturday On US-23 Single Lane Closures Start Saturday On US-23
Overnight single lane closures on US-23 could cause delays for local motorists and commuters.
The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced nightly lane closures that will take place along US-23 and are needed for pavement repairs along the centerline. Nighttime single-lane closures on northbound US-23 between North Territorial Road and M-36 are scheduled to begin this Saturday and will last through next Tuesday. Then starting this Sunday and lasting through next Saturday, December 3rd, nighttime single-lane closures are planned on southbound US-23 between M-14 and M-36.
M-DOT says all work is weather dependent. For exact times of the closures each night, M-DOT encourages motorists to visit www.michigan.gov/drive.
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Several Local Businesses Being Awarded Money From Grant Several Local Businesses Being Awarded Money From Grant
Some local businesses will be able to bring on more employees and create new jobs thanks to a recent grant.
Michigan Works! Southeast announced that are receiving over $1.4 million to help employers. Over $235,000 of that will come to four businesses in Livingston County. The grant comes from the Michigan Talent Investment Agency and are part of the stateâs Skilled Trades Training Fund that aims to better train employees to help businesses achieve better production and quality of product.
Michigan Works! GKI Foods in Brighton will receive $9,895 from the grant. In Howell, 3 companies will get awards. They are Thai Summit America Corporation ($77,401), DeWittâs Radiator ($6,695), and Tribar Manufacturing ($131,930). (MK)
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Fund Drive Seeks Money To Purchase Permanent Torch 180 FacilityFund Drive Seeks Money To Purchase Permanent Torch 180 Facility
A local non-profit organization that trains people with disabilities for jobs in the food service industry is raising funds for a new training facility and commissary.
Sarah Ruddle and Rhonda Callanan founded the Torch in 2012 and have spent the last 4 years driving around Livingston County with their food truck feeding people. During their travels they noticed recurring needs in the community with food, housing, and gainful employment. Thus, Torch 180 was born, with the goal of helping people with disabilities fulfill these needs by training them for jobs in the restaurant industry like cooking, serving, and dishwashing. The two co-founders have recently been using Howell High Schoolâs amenities for training purposes. Callanan said she was proud to announce that earlier this week all of their students passed the SafeServ Food Handler exam.
Now, after two years of searching, they have a found a place that could serve as an independent, permanent home. Their next step is asking the community for help in raising the $350,000 dollars needed for acquiring this new home base. An anonymous donor has recently stepped up and offered to match 10-cents on every dollar pledged through the end of this calendar year. Ruddle, who suffers with a disability herself, told WHMI that no donation is too small, and that they appreciate how the people have always rallied around them in the past. To donate or learn more about Torch 180âs efforts, visit the link below. Callanan and Ruddle will also be guests this Sunday morning at 8:30 on WHMI's Viewpoint. (MK/JK)
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Driver Of Stolen Vehicle In I-96 Police Chase SentencedDriver Of Stolen Vehicle In I-96 Police Chase Sentenced
Sentencing has been handed down to a Muskegon man who drove a stolen vehicle and led a police chase on I-96. 23-year-old Rodriguez Montez Burks of Muskegon is one of the three suspects involved in the pursuit of a stolen vehicle that occurred earlier this year on I-96. Earlier this month, Burks pleaded no contest to receiving/concealing a stolen vehicle and guilty as charged to third degree fleeing a police officer, driving on a suspended license and as a third time habitual offender. On Monday, Burks requested to withdraw his plea, stating coercion as his reasoning. That request was denied. Burks was sentenced to two to ten years in the Michigan Department of Corrections and will be required to pay $21,125 restitution. Burks was the driver in the April 22nd incident, when State Police attempted to stop a vehicle near Wallace Road in Handy Township. Burks refused to stop and a chase ensued. The vehicle, which was stolen from Fruitport in West Michigan, crashed into a marsh area off eastbound I-96, and multiple subjects ran from the vehicle. Deputies searched the area and found three suspects, including Burks, hiding in the marsh. The other two suspects were juveniles and face charges in Muskegon County where they reside. (DK)
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South Lyon Council Wants More Information On McMunn RoadSouth Lyon Council Wants More Information On McMunn Road
South Lyon City Council wants more information gathered on one of its roads before proposed construction gets underway. A section of McMunn Street between Dorothy and McHattie has been rated as being the worst road in the city eligible for federal aid with reconstruction. Preliminary engineering design work estimated that the project would cost $460,000, with $90,000 of that coming from federal aid, according to the South Lyon Herald. The city has around the cost of the project available in their major street fund balance, but many council members are hesitant to give the project the green light. Councilwoman Maggie Kurtzweil said that the city has overspent on its budget the past three years and wants more information before she considers giving her approval. Other councilmembers wanted to see a complete proposal looking at all of South Lyonâs roads, while wondering if there were less expensive options available for McMunn. The council is expected to have more information when they meet this Monday. (MK)
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Donations Sought To Support Holiday Meals On Wheels ProgramDonations Sought To Support Holiday Meals On Wheels Program
A program that provides a hot meal and company to local homebound seniors is asking for the communityâs support. The Area Agency on Aging 1-B helps fund the Meals on Wheels program in a six-county region that incorporates Livingston County. While federal funding covers the cost of the program on weekdays, it does not cover holiday deliveries. Thatâs why the AAA 1-B is looking to the community for help. Communications Manager Kathleen Yanik says what the organization needs is monetary donations to deliver over 8,000 meals this year. Yanik tells WHMI any amount is appreciated and it brings much more than just a meal to the programâs recipients. Many seniors who receive meals through this program are home bound and live alone. Yanik says some donât have anyone to share the holiday with, and the volunteer who delivers their meal may be the only person that senior sees all day. Through the program, meals are provided to seniors on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Yearâs Day, Passover and Easter. Donations can be made by calling 1-800-852-7795 or online. You'll find that link below. (DK)
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Local Democrats Allege Brighton Twp. Committee Member Replacement Politically Motivated Local Democrats Allege Brighton Twp. Committee Member Replacement Politically Motivated
Local Democrats allege political retaliation is at play in Brighton Township following the replacement of a member on the utilities committee. Livingston County Democratic Party Chairwoman Judy Daubenmier says the party had four candidates who ran against the existing power structure and repeatedly raised issues related to sewer system, the campaigns of which resident Doug Taylor volunteered for. Taylor volunteered in the campaigns of Jim Sarna for supervisor, Bob Potocki for township clerk and Anna Chatten and Mike Palmer for township trustees. He also served on the utilities committee.
Daubenmier says as soon as the election was over, the outgoing lame duck board called a special meeting last Friday, November 18th with very little public notice to appoint new members to the utilities committee and members voted to replace Taylor. Daubenmier tells WHMI incoming supervisor Patrick Michel voted yes and more or less gave up the right of the new board to appoint people to serve on that committee for the next two years - just so they could purge somebody they wanted to retaliate against for their political activity and being involved in the process. She says âthe Stalin-esque purge is bad enough, but incoming supervisor Michel denied in a public meeting on Monday that he had voted to get rid of Taylor. In a video of the meeting, Michel was confronted about his vote to remove Taylor and replies, "And that's not true."
A link to the video of the two meetings provided by Livingston County Democrats is available through the link below. Michel responded to the allegations to say âif you watch the videos, you can clearly see Daubenmierâs interpretation is inaccurateâ. Michel clarified that in the video, Mike Palmer was accusing outgoing Supervisor Tom Murphy during call to the public of asking Michel to make the motion. The vote to replace Taylor was not unanimous. Clerk Ann Bollin and Trustee Lucille Weaire both voted against the motion, with Weaire commenting she preferred the new board make appointments and didnât agree with how it was handled. (JM)
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New Procedure Will Identify Abandoned Vehicles Already ReportedNew Procedure Will Identify Abandoned Vehicles Already Reported
Local emergency departments are reminding the community about a new method used to mark abandoned vehicles during the winter season. Emergency agencies within Livingston County have begun a new procedure of marking vehicles that have been either abandoned or involved in spinouts during harsh weather conditions. Agencies will use caution tape and tie it from mirror to mirror over the windshield and a small section tied to the antenna if the vehicle has one. Officials say the caution tape will indicate that the vehicle has been checked for any emergencies and that there is no need to respond back to it. If someone calls 911 to report a vehicle off the road, the dispatcher may ask if it is marked with caution tape to identify if it has already been reported.
Photo courtesy of Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority
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New Home Of Howell Teen Center To Open MondayNew Home Of Howell Teen Center To Open Monday
Middle and high-schoolers between the ages of 11 and 18 will have a new place to hangout come Monday. A soft opening from 2:30 to 6pm is planned for The Hive, which is located at the old Swannâs building on Walnut Street in downtown Howell. The teen center is a division of the Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority. The building will serve as the new Youth Services facility and encompass their summer day camp program. According to HAPRA, the goal of The Hive is to provide a place where teens can gather with friends, interact with adults on relatively equal footing, and gain recognition for their efforts and skills in a place that is teen-driven. The center allows students to hang out and socialize, take classes, watch movies, do homework and play games. Students need parental permission and a signed form to join the Howell Teen Center. Daily admission is free. A grand opening of The Hive is scheduled for January 20th. (DK)
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Brighton Swimmers Gather To Honor Beloved CoachBrighton Swimmers Gather To Honor Beloved Coach
Brighton swimmers past and present gathered at the Brighton High School pool Wednesday night in what was billed as a âTribute to Tim,â in honor of former coach Tim McInnis, who died suddenly in September. He worked for Brighton Community Education for more than a quarter-century, as a coach and as an administrator. One of the swimmers he worked with was Brighton High School senior Taylor Seaman, who last week set two individual records while winning state titles in the Division 1 state meet. âHe was the first coach to every push me to be better. Before that, coaches would say, âYouâre doing great. Youâre doing great.â But Tim would say, once he started coaching me, âYouâre doing great, but you can do better, and this is what you can do to improve.â And I really loved having him as a coach, because he would always push me to be my best and do my best.â His impact also was as a father figure for some, as both inspiration and, for former swimmer Danielle Gray, an instructor out of the pool as well. âHe never coached me, but I worked for him as a lifeguard and thatâs a big part of what he did here. He taught me how to drive the stick shift of my car during lunch hours when I was lifeguarding. He was always saying, âShift smooth, shift smooth.'â When WHMI's Tim Robinson asked if she shifts smooth these days, she replied, "Well, now I have an automatic, but at the time? Oh yeah.â As for the races, there was plenty of laughter mixed in with old competitive juices, as 2015 grad Brandon Schultz explained. âI got tired out during the warmup, but Iâm not giving up yet. Weâre  going at it. I want to beat some people. I donât want to be last. I know Iâm not nearly as good as I was in high school, but Iâm trying, for sure.â It was the kind of sentiment that Tim Mcinnis would surely have enjoyed. Photo courtesy of Tim Robinson. (TR)
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Howell Twp Looks To Fill Vacant Planning Commission And Trustee SeatsHowell Twp Looks To Fill Vacant Planning Commission And Trustee Seats
A local municipality is seeking residents to fill vacant seats on two of their governing bodies. Howell Township has one opening each on their Township Board and Planning Commission. Anyone who is interested in applying for the Trustee seat must be a township resident who is 18 years of age and is a registered voter in the municipality. A letter will need to be submitted to the Township Office, no later than December 5th, stating their interest as to why they would like to be considered for the position. They should also attend the December 12th Township Board meeting and be prepared to give a short presentation about themselves. Those interested in the open seat on the Planning Commission should send a letter of intent to the townshipâs Zoning Administrator Joe Daus at 3525 Byron Road Howell, MI 48855. Any questions may be directed to him at 517-546-2817 ext. 108.
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Fantasy of Lights Parade Kicks Off Howell's Holiday SeasonFantasy of Lights Parade Kicks Off Howell's Holiday Season
The City of Howell welcomed the holiday season Friday night with the 33rd annual Fantasy of Lights Parade and Fantasy 5K Run. Despite rain and cold temperatures tens of thousands of people lined Grand River Avenue in downtown Howell for the 33rd annual event that also featured a 5K run. Nearly 40 lighted floats included a handful of first time entries this year. Winner of the Mayors Award this year was the Livingston Prospects softball program. Bob McQueen tells WHMI the softball stadium float was about helping the players get to know each other. He says Prospects is girls that are prospects to play in high school and even college softball if they get that far. McQueen says building the float was all about team bonding, because a lot of the girls haven't played ball together before, so they wanted to do something where they could get together as a team. He says they've done floats in the past with different softball team so they thought it would be a good idea to do some team bonding. He says the girls were all having a blast, hanging out together. The float was one of 13 award winning entries. Each float in the parade was decorated with over 5,000 lights to represent this yearâs theme âJingle Around the Block.â The annual parade brings over 30,000 people into the downtown area and is hosted by the Howell Chamber Foundation. Along with the parade this year the Howell High School Leadership Team raised funds and collected food in a school bus to benefit Gleaners of Southeastern Michigan. It was the first year the group organized to help feed those in need for the holiday season. Before the parade got started Santa and his live reindeer greeted children from 4 to 6:30 in whatâs known as Christmas Alley. He and Mrs. Claus brought up the rear of the parade, stopping in front of the Historic Howell Courthouse to help Grand Marshals Joe and Becky Parker light Howellâs Christmas tree. Event Director Michelle Tokan says each entry in the parade was spectacular and despite the rain, helped brighten downtown to kick off the holiday season.
Fantasy of Lights Parade award winners announced
Thousands enjoyed the 33rd annual Fantasy of Lights in downtown Howell on November 25. Awards were presented to the 13 parade entries listed below.
Grand Marshal Award â Citizens Insurance
Cobb-Hall Insurance Major Sponsor Award â First National Bank
Mayorâs Awardâ Livingston Prospects
Best Decorated Vehicle - American Legion Riders
Best Use of Lights Award â Bordineâs
Childrenâs Delight Award â Huron-Clinton Metroparks
Best Use of Music â Re/Max Platinum
First-timerâs Award â Pardiac Towing & Recovery
Most Unique Award â Amerigas
Parade Committee Award â Livingston County Sheriff Department Explorers
Spirit of Christmas Award â ITC
Best Animal Entry â Motown Working Alaskan Malamutes
Razzle Dazzle Award â Hartland Area Fire Department
Founders Award â First Presbyterian Church of Howell
âThanks to all who were part of the parade,â said Fantasy of Lights Director Michelle Tokan. The annual Fantasy of Lights holiday event is hosted by the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Major sponsor is Cobb-Hall Insurance. Supporting sponsors are Blue Care Network of Michigan and Citizens Insurance.
For more information, contact the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce at 517.546.3920 or visit howell.org.
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Brighton Arts & Culture Commission Hosting Chair Auction Brighton Arts & Culture Commission Hosting Chair Auction
Decorative art-themed chairs around the City of Brighton are being auctioned off. The Brighton Arts and Culture Commission is auctioning off chairs that were painted by artists and then displayed in Hyne Alley this past summer. City officials say all donations will go toward materials for Hyne Alley next year. Individuals have different options to bid, through either a silent auction or an email process. Individuals can place a bid in the silent auction at Great Harvest Bread Company or email reedj@brightoncity.org with your name, phone number and bid amount. (JM)
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