3/6/13 - The Hartland and Tyrone Township boards have both unanimously voted to reject a proposed deal with the county to keep dedicated sheriff patrols in the townships for the next two years. In a press release, Hartland Township clarified that both townships had already rejected the terms of the contract that was approved by the County Board of Commissioners on Monday. The contract would have provided Hartland and Tyrone with a 24-hour road patrol for the next two years with each township paying $153,000 the first year and $160,000 the next year. This is similar to the arrangements that were reached in years past, with the townships paying for the officersâ salaries and the county paying for the vehicle and equipment costs. Although officials on both sides, including Hartland Township Supervisor Bill Fountain, called the deal a âwin-winâ when it was approved by the county Public Safety Committee in February, Hartland and Tyrone rejected the deal unanimously on Tuesday. Tyrone Supervisor Mike Cunningham says 80% of the townshipâs calls for service would be answered by sheriffâs deputies even without a contract, and his township will partner with Hartland to seek alternative law enforcement options. Tyrone Clerk Keith Kremer says under the contract, the townships have been subsidizing improved road patrols for other townships while response times have been worse in Hartland and Tyrone than in communities that pay nothing. Hartland Manager James Wickman added that the county is in the process of reevaluating its road patrol priorities, and ending the contract will simplify that process. (TD)
Hartland And Tyrone Reject Proposed Sheriff Patrol ContractHartland And Tyrone Reject Proposed Sheriff Patrol Contract
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More Than $17,000 In Smart Phones Stolen From Local RadioShack
3/7/13 - Thousands of dollarsâ worth of smart phones and accessories was stolen from the Genoa Township RadioShack during a morning break-in on Friday. Police reports indicate that the incident happened at about 7:16am on March 1st. Brighton Patch reports the frame of the front door was bent and torn, and the glass was smashed. Police say the devices, gaming systems, and cash register in the front of the store were undisturbed, while a specific shelf in the back storage area had been raided. The store manager says the items stolen were worth a total of $17,484. The police report also indicates the damage to the door will cost about $480 to repair. (TD)
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Wastewater Treatment Ordinance Adopted By Green Oak TownshipWastewater Treatment Ordinance Adopted By Green Oak Township
3/7/13 - Industrial businesses in Green Oak Township will have to pre-treat their wastewater before discharging it into the township's sewer system. On Wednesday night, the township's board approved a resolution to adopt an industrial treatment plan for wastewater that will be effective Friday, March 15th. Green Oak Township currently owns and operates a wastewater treatment service which is governed by the Sewer Use Ordinance. This service cleans sewage before it is discharged into township lines. The ordinance will make it mandatory for every business in Green Oak that has wastewater to use the service, should levels of certain chemicals in their sewage exceed what is allowed. When a companyâs sewage chemicals exceed this limitation, they are deemed as âindustrial usersâ. Green Oak Townshipâs Supervisor, Mark St. Charles, says every once in a while this will happen with a company, in which case they are issued a violation notice and must fix it. St. Charles says many companies usually take care of it right away, but thatâs not the case with all of them. Liquid Manufacturing, which has had the problem of staying in compliance with the amount of discharge that is allowed in wastewater, disagreed with the township's efforts. Peter Paisley, the owner and CEO of Liquid Manufacturing, attended last nightâs meeting and voiced his thoughts, saying the passing of the ordinance was âmishandledâ. St. Charles told WHMI he disputes the information Paisley provided, saying he âdoesnât have his facts straightâ. However, both St. Charles and Paisley were limited in their comments because the dispute between Liquid Manufacturing and the Township is still in litigation. (DK/JK)
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Life Prison Sentence Issued to Man Convicted in 2006 MurderLife Prison Sentence Issued to Man Convicted in 2006 Murder
3/7/13 - The man convicted of helping a former Putnam Township resident break in to a car dealership more than six years ago and fatally beat an employee has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars. 32-year-old Jonathan Aiden was found guilty last month on five counts, including open murder, in connection with the August 2006 incident at an auto dealership in Scio Township. Aidenâs uncle, Shane Roscoe, a one-time candidate for Putnam Township Supervisor, was convicted last year of breaking into the dealership, stealing auto equipment and materials and beating William Kenney, who worked there. Kenney later died from his injuries. Both Roscoe and Aiden were former employees of the dealership. Prosecutors said the pair attacked Kenney with a sledgehammer and then ran him over with a vehicle. Kenney survived the attack for several weeks and was able to talk with investigators before passing away from his injuries. Aiden declared his innocence before Judge Archie Brown passed the mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. He also indicated he plans to appeal his conviction. (JK)
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$10 Million Improvement Project Announced For Mt. Brighton$10 Million Improvement Project Announced For Mt. Brighton
3/7/13 - The new owners of the Mt. Brighton ski resort have announced plans to invest nearly $10 million toward improving the facility. Colorado-based Vail Resorts announced in early December that it planned to acquire Mt. Brighton. The company recently announced that it plans to add nearly $10 million in improvements to the facility over the summer in preparation for the next ski season. These will include new snowmaking technology which Vail says will provide a more reliable skiing surface as well as dramatically extend the season by allowing the resort to open earlier in the year. Vail will also install new quad chairlifts, create terrain parks with new features and rope tows, and improve base area facilities. Vail will also install its EpicMix technology, which allows visitors to track and share their activities on Mt. Brighton through social media. The company has also announced a $10 million improvement project for its recently-acquired Afton Alps ski resort in Minnesota. Vail also owns eight mountain resorts around the western United States, including Colorado, California, Nevada, and Wyoming. (TD)
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Midnight in the Tropics Fundraiser Doubles Donations
3/7/13 - Two organizations that serve local youth will benefit greatly from a recent fundraiser. The Livingston Sunrise Rotaryâs fourth annual Midnight in the Tropics fundraising event was held in February, with proceeds split between The Connection Youth Services in Howell and Reaching Higher, a Brighton-based leadership training program that teaches middle and high school students how to make positive life choices. Organizers say they were hoping to raise about $30,000, which would have been about a $10,000 improvement on the year before. But they say much to their surprise, the event brought in approximately $44,000, essentially doubling last yearâs total. Reaching Higher officials say they hope to be able to use the additional funds as part of their effort to expand their program into the Pinckney school district. They currently run programs in both the Howell and Brighton districts. Connection Youth Services will use the funds to continue their mission of providing help to teens and families in crisis. (JK)
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Hamburg Resident & First Responders Revive Heart Attack VictimHamburg Resident & First Responders Revive Heart Attack Victim
3/7/13 - A Washtenaw County man was revived over the weekend by a group effort of Hamburg Township residents, firefighters and police after suffering a heart attack. The incident began just before 5pm Saturday, when the victim collapsed from an apparent heart attack inside the Hamburg Township Kroger store. An off duty nurse, Karen Benefield, was shopping inside the store at the time and began performing CPR on the man. She was assisted by two off-duty township firefighters, Gerald Pickarz and Keith Leirstein, who were also shopping at the store. They were then joined by Hamburg Township Officer Megan Paul, who arrived on the scene within a minute and applied an automated external defibrillator, or AED, to the man. Police said Paul delivered a shock to the man, and he regained consciousness. AEDâs are carried in all township patrol vehicles. The man was then taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor by Livingston County EMS. Saturdayâs incident was the second time in about a month that Officer Paul used an AED to save a patient. She was one of three officers who assisted a 33-year-old woman in February when the woman collapsed at her home from an apparent heart attack. (JK)
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Genoa Couple Reaches Plea Deal in Medical Marijuana CaseGenoa Couple Reaches Plea Deal in Medical Marijuana Case
3/7/13 - There will be no jail time or criminal record for a Genoa Township couple charged in the seizure of medical marijuana from their home. 65-year-old Dewey Edward Thomas and his wife, Pamela, had been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture or deliver after police found more than 70 pot plants growing on their farm in Genoa Township in August of 2011. Thomas has insisted that neither he nor his wife broke the law, noting that he is a certified caregiver for her and that she is a certified medical marijuana patient with a debilitating condition. Prosecutors had contended that the couple had more plants than allowed under the law. But following ongoing legal proceedings, an agreement was reached that they would plead no-contest to a lesser charge of marijuana possession. In exchange, they were sentenced to non-reporting probation which will keep their convictions out of the public record. The plea deal follows a previous decision by Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty that denied a motion by prosecutors to prevent the couple from presenting a Medical Marijuana defense to a jury. The couple's attorney, Michael Komorn, said the deal indicates all sides understood the couple was legitimately using marijuana for medicinal purposes. (JK)
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Genoa Township Crash Kills Driver from HowellGenoa Township Crash Kills Driver from Howell
3/7/13 - A one-car accident this morning has claimed the life of a Howell man. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI that a 2003 Crown Victoria was traveling at a high rate of speed at about 7:45am when it lost control and hit a tree head-on along Hughes Road near Golf Club Road, just south of the Faulkwood Shores Golf Course. The driver, identified as 47-year-old William Dean Fletcher, was partially ejected in the crash. It appears that speed was a factor in the crash, but an autopsy and toxicology report will have to be conducted to determine if drugs or alcohol were involved.(JK)
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Hartland Father Who Kidnapped Son Sentenced To Short Jail StintHartland Father Who Kidnapped Son Sentenced To Short Jail Stint
3/8/13 - The Hartland Township man who pleaded guilty to kidnapping his son last year has been sentenced in the case. 53-year-old Mark Joseph Grabowski, a former football player who once played for the Detroit Lions, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful retention of a child by a parent. He was sentenced yesterday to 90 days in jail, with credit for 26 served, as well as 5 years of probation. A massive search effort began after Grabowski failed to return his 11-year-old son Connor home to his mother prior to Labor Day weekend last year. He was arrested at a hunting ranch in South Dakota about a week later. While with his father, a video of the boy was posted on YouTube in which he made allegations of abuse against his mother, but a Child Protective Services worker later testified that Conner was very eager to get home and an investigation found no evidence of any child abuse or neglect. (TD)
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Man Caught In Online Police Sting Sentenced To Jail
3/8/13 - A Howell man who pleaded guilty in February to soliciting a minor online who turned out to be a police officer has been sentenced in the case. 37-year-old Eric Nicholas Bramble pleaded guilty to various charges including child abusive commercial activity, using a computer to commit a crime and accosting a child for immoral purposes. He was sentenced yesterday to 1 year in jail with as well as 5 years of probation. His computer has also been forfeited. As part of his plea agreement prosecutors stipulated that he would get no jail credit other than statutory good time and must also undergo sex offender treatment. Police say Bramble sent messages âdesigned to entice or solicit a child under the age of 16 to commit an immoral act.â The messages came in the form of texts and emails to an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old child. (TD)
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Elizabeth Smart Talks About Abduction Education & PreventionElizabeth Smart Talks About Abduction Education & Prevention
3/8/13 - Since becoming a victim of kidnapping in 2002, Elizabeth Smart has since established herself as a childâs safety advocate and speaks about her experience across the country. Many were captivated as she recounted her ordeal at the Johnson Center at Cleary University in Genoa Township yesterday for the Livingston Economic Club Luncheon. Smart was 14 years old when she was taken from her home in Salt Lake City, Utah and was held prisoner for 9 months by Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. Smart now promotes the National AMBER Alert and the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. She is also the founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation which educates the public and lawmakers about child abductions. Smart tells WHMI her target audience for educating and prevention is elementary school children. Smartâs positive take on a tragic situation moved many audience members and said she was grateful for what had happened because it had brought her where she is today. In her presentation, she included the best advice that she had ever received, which came from her mom the day after she returned home from her 9 month ordeal. Smart says her mom told her the best punishment she could give the man who kidnapped her is to be happy. Kim Martin, the Assistant Director of Marketing at Cleary University, was an audience member and tells WHMI her experience listening to and meeting Smart was unforgettable. Cleary University sponsors the Livingston Economic Luncheon series to students in order to enrich the Livingston County Community. Smart, who is now 25 and married, told the audience, âYou never know who youâre going to impact.â (DK)
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Brighton to Place Restrictions on Setting off Fireworks Brighton to Place Restrictions on Setting off Fireworks
3/8/13 - The city of Brighton plans to establish restrictions on the use of fireworks in the city that are in line with a relatively new state law. At its meeting Thursday night the City Council voted unanimously to direct City attorney Paul Burns to draft an amendment to the current fireworks ordinance that would restrict setting off fireworks to the day before a legal holiday, the holiday itself and the day after. City Police Chief Tom Wightman says with the relaxation of fireworks rules in the state, citizen complaints about loud fireworks have increased. A couple of council members said at the meeting that the fireworks can start as early as two weeks before a holiday such as the 4th of July and continue long afterward. Council Member Jim Bohn said he thinks some of the fireworks on his side of town are set off in a surrounding township, but can be easily heard in the city. The amended ordinance to be drafted by the city attorney will be returned to council in the coming weeks for a first and second reading. The ordinance becomes effective following the second reading. (TT)
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Brighton Schools And State DOE Disagree On District's DeficitBrighton Schools And State DOE Disagree On District's Deficit
3/8/13 - The State Department of Education and the Brighton School Board disagree about how whether the district is running a deficit budget this year, as well as how big that deficit will be. In its quarterly report to the state legislature about deficits among school districts, the Department of Education listed Brighton Area Schools as a Category 3 deficit district. This means according to the department, Brighton started Fiscal Year 2013 with a deficit and will end the year with a greater deficit. Assistant Superintendent of Finance Maria Gistinger says Brightonâs budget does have a projected shortfall of about $425,000, but district officials are optimistic that they will be able to sell the vacant Lindbom School before the end of June. The school is appraised at $2.2 million, and if it is sold the budget will be more than balanced. The remaining revenue from the sale will likely go toward the districtâs $7.4 million legacy debt. However, no bids have been made for the building and the state does not take the revenue from the sale into account. In addition, the report released last month indicates that Brightonâs deficit will actually be nearly $1.2 million. Superintendent Greg Gray tells WHMI the two organizations will have to work together to figure out where the nearly $800,000 discrepancy comes from, possibly at a meeting. Jan Ellis, a spokeswoman from the Department of Education, tells WHMI they only get their numbers from the district, but they may be out-of-date if the district amended or changed its budget without reporting it. The districtâs deficit reduction plan was rejected by the Department of Education on Tuesday for its optimistic enrollment and per-student funding numbers. A new one is due by March 22nd. Also in the report was the Pinckney Community School district, which ended the last school year with a positive fund balance but is projected to end the current school year nearly $2 million in the red. (TD)
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Tax Changes Could Hit Low-Income Residents HardestTax Changes Could Hit Low-Income Residents Hardest
3/9/13 - The state government approved significant tax cuts for businesses last year, but with Tax Day approaching policy experts are saying low-income families could be picking the slack. Governor Rick Snyder and the state legislature approved $1.6 billion in business tax cuts last year as a way to encourage business growth in Michigan. However, tax credits to individuals were reduced to make up for the lost revenue. Most significantly, the Earned Income Tax Credit was reduced and the Child Tax Credit was eliminated. Karen Holcomb-Merrill, policy director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, says this will hit low-income families the hardest. She says this is bad news for communities since these residents typically cannot afford to save money and so spend it right away, driving the local economy. She says she is hopeful that legislators will restore the Earned Income Tax Credit for the next fiscal year. (TD)
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Sponsors And Brave Men Sought For LACASA FundraiserSponsors And Brave Men Sought For LACASA Fundraiser
3/8/13 - Registration is now open for LACASAâs eighth annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes fundraiser. The event is held every April to coincide with National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The male participants will collect pledges before donning womenâs shoes and walking the one-mile circuit around the Tanger Outlet Center in Howell. The walk raises awareness about gender and sexual violence, and all proceeds go to LACASAâs Sexual Assault Response Center. Organizations and businesses are encouraged to form teams of walkers and hold friendly competitions with one another to raise the most pledges. Judges will secretly move among the crowds before the walk starts to identify the winners of various awards for enthusiasm and outlandish apparel. The event will begin at 9am on April 20th at the Tanger Outlet Food Center. The walk itself will begin at 10:00. For more information on sponsoring, walking, or forming a team, click on the link posted below. (TD)
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Nonprofit Focused On Senior Health Coming To BrightonNonprofit Focused On Senior Health Coming To Brighton
3/8/13 - A grand opening will be held next week for the new Brighton office of a senior-focused nonprofit group. United Home Health Services is a nonprofit organization that provides seniors with health and private-duty services in their homes, including personal care, medication reminders, companionship, transportation, and light housekeeping. Although it is based in Canton, MI, Service Coordinator Angie Muscat says the organization began 30 years ago in Brighton. She tells WHMI that United Home Health Services is coming home to the city with the new office that will open this month. An open house will be held on March 13th from 11am to 2pm. It will include words from officials from the city as well as the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce. Visitors will get the opportunity to meet staff members and get information on the services offered by the organization. The office will be located at 455 East Grand River, suite 201B. To RSVP for the open house, call United Home Health Services at (800) 968-8447. UHHS is also seeking caregivers, and those interested in the position can call the same number. (TD)
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Department Of Education Rejects Brighton Schools Deficit PlanDepartment Of Education Rejects Brighton Schools Deficit Plan
3/8/13 - The state Department of Education has rejected the deficit elimination plan submitted by the Brighton School District this year, and a new one is due this month. The district had about $7.3 million in legacy debt at the end of the last school year and is required to submit a plan to the state each year outlining how that debt will be reduced. This yearâs plan was rejected by the Department of Education on Tuesday. Department Spokeswoman Jan Ellis tells WHMI that the student enrollment numbers in the plan projected an increase of 1,400 students, which was not realistic when most districts are expecting a decrease in student enrollment. The department also took issue with the planâs estimated increase in state funding of $100 per student. Superintendent Greg Gray says the plan was submitted before the governorâs latest budget was announced, and the state-shared revenue the district will actually receive is less than expected. He says the district has contracts coming due and will need to examine its employment levels to fix the plan. He tells WHMI several retirements are expected, but it is possible that layoffs will be necessary to compensate for the issues in the plan. According to the district, its budget for the year will include a $425,000 deficit unless the Lindbom School is sold before the end of June. The school is valued at $2.2 million. (TD)
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Police Seek Public Help In Identifying Lotto Ticket ThievesPolice Seek Public Help In Identifying Lotto Ticket Thieves
3/9/13 - Authorities are asking for the publicâs help in identifying the two men who robbed a local party store for lottery tickets late last month. On February 24th, two men broke into the Angeloâs retail store in Howell and stole several lottery tickets. Police have released surveillance photos of the robbery hoping for information from the public on the thieves or their white four-door vehicle. Similar robberies have been taking place in Oakland County beginning in February, and the two sheriffâs departments are now both working to find the culprits. Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI the lottery tickets should be identifiable as stolen when they are turned in to retailers, but not all of the tickets have been identified and retailers do not always bother to check. Bezotte says some of the tickets from the Angeloâs robbery were cashed in at a retailer in Oakland. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Mark King at 517-540-7953 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information. (TD)
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Cell Phone Theft Followed Unsuccessful Break In At AT&T StoreCell Phone Theft Followed Unsuccessful Break In At AT&T Store
3/10/13 - A break-in attempt was unsuccessful at a local cellular service retailer earlier this month, less than two hours before the successful theft of smart phones less than 10 miles away. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Department reports that someone tried to break into the AT&T store in Hartland Road at around 6am on March 1st. The security latch was pried away from the employee entrance and there was damage to the door, but the report says no entry was gained. Police did not find anyone inside, and nothing was stolen. About an hour later, more than $17,000 in smart phones and cellular accessories was stolen from the Genoa Township RadioShack after someone pried at the frame and smashed the glass of the retailerâs front door. Police reports have not indicated whether the two events may be connected. (TD)
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