The Michigan State Police are hoping to spread some Christmas cheer to less fortunate children around Livingston County with the Toys for Tots program. Toys for Tots was founded by the U.S. Marine Corp over two decades ago in hopes of brightening the faces of many underprivileged on Christmas morning. The Michigan State Police Brighton Post is once again serving as a collection point for the program from now until December 21st. Toys and games being gifted need to be new and unopened, purchased from a store. Gifts can be dropped off in the bin at the Brighton Post which is located at 4337 Buno Road, next to the township hall. The doors for doing so will be open from Monday to Friday each week, from 8am to 4pm. Over its lifetime, Toys for Tots has delivered over 512 million presents to over 237 million children. (MK)
State Police Brighton Post Serves As Collection Point For Toys For TotsState Police Brighton Post Serves As Collection Point For Toys For Tots
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Chesney Presides Over Brighton Board of EducationChesney Presides Over Brighton Board of Education
With the departure of former Brighton Board of Education President Jay Krause, Board Vice President Dave Chesney is the boardâs presiding officer from now until the organizational meeting in January.
Chesney presided at Monday nightâs board meeting, which went very smoothly. Chesneyâs day job is being on the faculty at the University of Michigan, in the School of Engineering. Chesney says that due to the holiday break the board will have a single meeting in December, on the 12th.
Chesney tells WHMI that the board will reconvene in January for its annual organizational session. Krause, the former board president, resigned last month with just two months to go in his term, which expires at the end of the year. Krause was forced to resign when he moved out of state after accepting a position with a firm in the Sunbelt. Krause did not run for another term in the November election.
Two new board members, who were elected to four-year terms earlier this month, will be sworn in at the organizational meeting. (TT)
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Ousted Committee Member Still Seeking Answers About Removal Ousted Committee Member Still Seeking Answers About Removal
A former member of the Brighton Township Utilities Committee says heâs still unsure why he was removed from the committee after serving less than half of his appointment.
A special meeting was held Friday, November 18th by the outgoing lame duck Board of Trustees to appoint new members to the utilities committee. There, members voted to replace Doug Taylor. Local Democrats have alleged Taylorâs removal is political retaliation for his support of candidates who ran against the existing power structure and repeatedly raised issues related to the sewer system. Taylor (standing) appeared at a utilities committee meeting Monday and says he is still unclear as to why he was removed, but that political retaliation is among his speculations. Taylor says itâs been suggested that it was because he missed a meeting, but says that is false and attended all that were held during his appointment.
Taylor says last Monday, he received a letter in the mail dated November 18th from former Township Supervisor Tom Murphy advising that Taylorâs two year appointment to the utilities committee was terminated after only 11 months. Taylor says during his time on the committee, his feedback and input âwas not welcomed or appreciated if it was contrary to the position or expectation of the manager or liaisonâ at the committee meetings.
Several of the watchdog residents that Taylor supported in the last election attended Mondayâs meeting and demanded an answer as to why Taylor was removed. Township Manager Brian Vick declined to comment and an official answer has not been provided at this time. (DK)
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Snow Removal Procedures Discussed By Brighton Staff & Council Snow Removal Procedures Discussed By Brighton Staff & Council
Old Man Winter is coming and snow removal procedures are being evaluated in the City of Brighton. Conversation during a previous City Council Study Session centered on current snow removal procedures in comparison to peer communities, which are triggered for any snowfall - even if only a minimal amount. City officials say the Department of Public Works labors around the clock to ensure safe streets and sidewalks but in comparing Brightonâs policy to other cities, it was determined changes could be made to provide more cost-effective snow removal. That could in turn free up funds and resources for other purposes and city maintenance needs. The City is currently responsible for clearing primary, secondary and residential streets as well as public parking lots and commercial sidewalks. Talks centered on potentially limiting salting operations to primary and secondary routes as well as plowing secondary routes, dead end streets and cul-de-sacs during regular hours unless there is 4 inches or more of snow accumulation. There was also a discussion of returning the responsibility of clearing downtown and Grand River sidewalks to the owner or occupant, as those take a considerable amount of time and labor. Staff and Council agreed primary thoroughfares would continue to be plowed as soon as possible. Nothing has been formally proposed or recommended to date. Staff was directed to âfollow-up with additional analysis of projected cost savings and public safety feedback to better understand the impacts of the alterations to the policyâ. A link to the City publication is below, along with current snow plow routes. (JM)
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Donations Sought For LESA Snack Pack DriveDonations Sought For LESA Snack Pack Drive
Snack food items are needed for a yearly food drive that seeks to feed students in need during the holiday break. Each year, the Livingston Educational Service Agency (LESA) holds their snack pack drive. The event collects snacks that will be given to students served by LESA who are homeless, in housing transition, or receive free and reduced lunch. Coordinator Candice Olrich says the snacks ensure that the kids have food during the winter break from school when they are not receiving a free or reduced lunch. She tells WHMI any donations from the community are appreciated. LESA is looking for snacks like pudding, fruit cups, crackers, granola bars or juice boxes. LESA currently serves around 230 homeless students, and Olrich says the hope is to provide snacks to them and those on the lunch program. The drive began Monday and will be held through December 9th. Snacks can be dropped off at LESA, which is located off of Grand River in Howell, Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30am and 4:30pm. Olrich says the yearly drive would not be as successful without the communityâs donations and that LESA is very grateful for the continuous support. (DK)
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Authorities Investigating Non Fatal Crash In Highland TownshipAuthorities Investigating Non Fatal Crash In Highland Township
Authorities are investigating the details of an accident that happened on Milford Road Monday night. The Oakland County Sheriffâs Office and Highland Township Fire Department responded to the area of North Milford Road and Emilee Lane just before 11pm. Deputies discovered a Ford pickup truck that while traveling north had driven off the right side of the road, hit a utility pole, kept going, and then struck a tree further down. The 35-year male driver who is from Highland Township was trapped and had to be removed by first responders from the fire department. The driver was transported by emergency vehicle to McLaren Oakland Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The Sheriffâs office reported that alcohol does not appear to have been a factor in the accident. (MK)
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Public Input Sought For Kensington Metropark Master PlanPublic Input Sought For Kensington Metropark Master Plan
A community meeting this Saturday is seeking input from residents regarding the Kensington Metroparkâs Master Plan. The meeting will be held from 10 to 11:30am at the Kensington Nature Center and the public is invited to attend to voice their opinions about plans for the park. Manager of Planning, Nina Kelly, says a draft list of park projects for the next 10 years will be introduced at the meeting and guests can ask questions or submit comments following a brief presentation. Kelly tells WHMI the projects are the meat of the master plan but there are several components to it. The plan also includes information about the parkâs facilities, surrounding communities, demographic changes, natural regions and cultural history. Kelly says the master plan has been developed based on feedback from the community about what they love about the park and where theyâd like to see improvements. Mostly, Kelly says Saturdayâs meeting is important because it includes the community in shaping the park for years to come. Kelly says anyone can offer opinions at the meeting or through an online survey. A link to the questionnaire can be found below. (DK)
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Sheriff's Department Identifies Victim In Fatal Crash Sheriff's Department Identifies Victim In Fatal Crash
Authorities have identified a Brighton woman killed in a Tuesday crash in Tyrone Township. The crash happened at the intersection of White Lake Road and north Old US-23. 74-year-old Lottie Englehart of Brighton was pronounced dead at the scene. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Office reported Englehart was traveling north on Old US-23 in a Ford Fusion when her vehicle proceeded into the intersection and was struck by a Jeep Liberty traveling east on White Lake Road. The operator of the Jeep Liberty has been identified as 50-year-old David Daves of Fenton. He was transported to Genesys Hospital with what were described as non-life threatening injuries. The roadway was closed for approximately four hours for investigation. The sheriffâs office said alcohol and speed did not appear to be factors in the crash, which remains under investigation by the Traffic Safety Bureau. (JM)
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Free Presentation In Brighton To Help Homeowners Fight Oak Wilt DiseaseFree Presentation In Brighton To Help Homeowners Fight Oak Wilt Disease
A free event to help homeowners protect their trees from a fast spreading disease is being held in Brighton next week.
Oak Wilt is a fungal disease that is moving through Michigan at a quick rate. While it can affect all families of oak, red oaks are the most susceptible, with many dying within 30 days of becoming infected. To help combat this, the non-profit organization ReLeaf Michigan is hosting an educational presentation at the City of Brighton Council Chambers on December 6th, from 6pm to 8pm. Plant Pathologist, Dr. David Roberts of the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources will give an overview of the disease and important areas of concerns to owners of oak trees.
Among topics the presentation will explain are how the disease is transmitted, how to minimize the risks of infecting the trees, and how to manage oak wilt if it is identified in an area. There is no charge to attend, but an RSVP, while not required, is requested to ensure enough handouts are available. Interested parties may do so by calling 1-800-642-7353, or by emailing info@ReLeafMichigan.org. (MK)
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New "Fur-ever Home" Will Allow Stiggy's Dogs To Serve More VeteransNew "Fur-ever Home" Will Allow Stiggy's Dogs To Serve More Veterans
A new home for an area veteransâ organization will allow for more service and volunteer opportunities.
Stiggyâs Dogs is a non-profit organization that rescues and trains shelter dogs to be psychiatric service animals for military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or traumatic brain injury. The service comes at no cost to the veteran. Yesterday, the six-year-old organization made the move from their 1,400 square-foot facility in Brighton to a building more than double its size in Hamburg. Stiggyâs new home sits on the corner of M-36 and Pettys Road, complete with one acre of yard space. Staff members say this is a huge benefit, compared to a small strip of grass they had that they could barely utilize for training the dogs at their previous location. Donna Fournier, Director of Training, tells WHMI the bigger building and yard will allow the organization to train more dogs, help more veterans and allow for more volunteer opportunities.
Executive Director Julia Liljegren says when Stiggyâs was looking for a new location, they drafted a short list of their priorities. While a larger facility was the main goal, she says it was also very important that the organization remain in Livingston County because it has always been their home and the community has supported them all the way.
Liljegren says they first spotted the building a few years ago, but the timing wasnât right. The facility has been recently remodeled and Stiggyâs is continuing their training schedule while awaiting new flooring. Stiggyâs is planning to hold an open house but hasnât determined when that will be yet. Staff that helped during the move was ecstatic standing in the new building and say this will take the organization to the next level. (DK)
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Fowlerville Man Charged In Road Rage Incident Involving GunFowlerville Man Charged In Road Rage Incident Involving Gun
A Fowlerville man has been arraigned on charges connected to a road rage incident involving a handgun in Howell Township.
34-year-old Steven Michael Burke is charged with one count each of felonious assault with a dangerous weapon and brandishing firearms in public. A 32-year-old woman from the Fowlerville area called 9-1-1 Tuesday morning and reported that a man in a SUV had pointed a handgun at her while traveling on I-96. The caller was directed to the Livingston County Sheriffâs Office to file a report while deputies looked for the suspect in the SUV, who was located on eastbound I-96 near US-23. Deputies ultimately stopped the suspect, identified as Burke, and located a handgun in the vehicle matching the description provided by the 9-1-1 caller.
Burke was arrested without incident and lodged in the county jail. He is due back in court December 14th for a probable cause conference. Sheriff Mike Murphy told WHMI he doesnât know what particularly started this incident but thinks everyone should have a pretty good clue when they hear the term âroad rageâ - meaning someone is driving aggressively. He commented that these types of situations appear to be happening more frequently. Murphy says people need to pay attention when behind the wheel and not let other distractions or driving irritate them. He says arriving safe is the end goal and âthe road raging and aggressive driving serves no purpose for anybodyâ. (DK)
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$5,000 Reward Offered For Information In Fowlerville Animal Cruelty Case $5,000 Reward Offered For Information In Fowlerville Animal Cruelty Case
A reward is being offered for information in a disturbing case of animal cruelty involving a dog that basically starved to death.
A citizen discovered a deceased, emaciated beagle in a dog food bag in the vicinity of Vogt and Fowlerville Roads last Saturday. Livingston County Animal Control officers responded to the complaint and located the deceased dog, described as a male, tri-color beagle approximately 7-years-old. Three young, emaciated beagles were also found running loose in the area. Theyâre currently being cared for but are expected to make a full recovery. Animal Control Director Andy Seltz says their veterinarian conducted a necropsy and determined the dog basically starved to death.
Seltz told WHMI itâs heartbreaking when these types of acts are found in a community and they want to bring the individual responsible to justice. He says theyâre trying to stay positive and believe the dogs can be nursed back to health but these types of horrendous acts of animal cruelty will not be tolerated. Seltz says the part of the county where the dog was found is very rural with nothing in the general vicinity and theyâve been investigating since Saturday. The investigation is ongoing but Seltz says theyâve somewhat hit a wall and only have minimal information to go on at this point so are hoping someone out there knows something.
Livingston County Animal Control and the Michigan Humane Society are offering a $5,000 reward for information about the deceased dogâs owner as well as how the all of the dogs ended up on Vogt Road. Matthew Pepper, president and CEO at the Michigan Humane Society says starving an animal to death is especially cruel. He says âAlong with the LCAC, we work to give voices to the innocent animals in our communities who suffer from the brutality of callous humans. And while justice is important for this poor dog, itâs also important that we recognize that violence toward animals can evolve into violence toward people.â
Anyone with information can contact Livingston County Animal Control Officer Szabelski at 517-540-7514 or email at mszabelski@livgov.com. (JM)
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BHS Students Help Homeless & Poor In Cass CorridorBHS Students Help Homeless & Poor In Cass Corridor
This fall, a group of 63 Brighton High School senior class students were bused to the impoverished Cass Corridor in Detroit to engage in what has become an annual effort.
Tommy Hill, the student representative on the Brighton Board of Education, told the board Monday night that âSenior Serveâ, as it is called, is an annual program involving BHS student volunteers spending one weekend in the inner city, helping to improve the neighborhood and assist its residents.
Hill tells WHMI that in the process, the students learn about the have nots of the world and how different their lives are from the lives of the homeless and poor in the Cass Corridor. Hill also informed the board that another recent event at Brighton High School, Pink Week, raised over $28,100 this year. Thatâs nearly double the $15,000 raised last year during Pink Week. Hill says the proceeds go to the St. Joseph Mercy Woodland Cancer Center to help cancer patients pay for their treatments, and also for cancer research. (TT)
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Jobless Rate Remains Virtually Unchanged In OctoberJobless Rate Remains Virtually Unchanged In October
October jobless edged upward in nearly all of Michiganâs regional labor markets while Livingston County remained virtually unchanged. Livingston Countyâs October unemployment rate stood at 4.1%, dropping one-tenth of a percentage point from September. Livingston currently ranks 17th among Michiganâs 83 counties. The Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives reports that Michiganâs local labor markets in October experienced minor unemployment rate increases both over the month and year. However, payroll job growth since October 2015 remains solid throughout the state, while workforce levels continue to expand in nearly all major regions. (MK)
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Christmas In The Ville Set To Light Up Fowlerville This WeekendChristmas In The Ville Set To Light Up Fowlerville This Weekend
The 9th annual Christmas in the Ville will light up Downtown Fowlerville this weekend with a glow that organizers say can be seen for miles.
More than 30 balloonists will be taking part in the event, set to take place Saturday, December 3rd. Event Organizer Steve MacDermaid says while the highlight is the parade that night, the events get underway early with a balloon launch scheduled for 8am, weather permitting, as well as a scavenger hunt for kids, Santaâs workshop, treat decorating, story time in the window, real reindeer, a balloon sculptor, chili sold by the fire department and a 5k Dashing through the Snow and 1k fun walk for kids. If the weather permits, a second balloon launch will take place at 2pm.
The event concludes with a parade through the downtown at 6pm, with balloon crews firing their burners into the air for the crowds and Santa on hand for the official tree lighting. (JK)
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Suspect Stopped En Route To Robbing Brighton Twp. BankSuspect Stopped En Route To Robbing Brighton Twp. Bank
A potential bank robbery was prevented Wednesday in Livingston County.
The Livingston County Sheriffâs Office says that an 18 year old Highland Township man had hatched a plan to rob the Fifth Third Bank located near Grand River and Old US-23 in Brighton Township. Acting on information obtained through an informant, sheriffâs detectives were able to locate the suspect while he was on the way to rob the bank. A traffic stop was performed on his vehicle and the suspect, who was unarmed, was taken into custody without incident.
A search of his vehicle turned evidence that authorities say confirmed the suspectâs intention to rob the bank, including a robbery note and clothing to disguise his identity. The suspect was lodged in the Livingston County Jail pending arraignment, which is expected today. (JK)
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Local High School Girl Buying Special Dolls For Sick ChildrenLocal High School Girl Buying Special Dolls For Sick Children
A local girl is raising money to spread cheer to less-fortunate children in the hospital.
Bailey Brown is a senior at Brighton High School. For the past four years she has been struggling with amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome which means she is in near-constant pain 24 hours-a-day. Her time spent at Mottâs Children Hospital has helped her relate and empathize with other young girls fighting various forms of sickness. Brown recently learned that doll-maker American Girl has begun making dolls without hair and has started a fundraising campaign to help purchase some for the girls in the hospital.
She was hoping to raise enough money to buy 1 or 2 of the $115 dolls, but thanks to an outgoing show of support from the community has raised enough to buy at least 20. Brown told WHMI that she now is looking to broaden the spectrum of children she can help. She said that since they have been able to buy so many dolls for girls, she now looking at purchasing items for boys, as well.
Through her own ordeals, Brown has been able to maintain a 3.94 GPA and hopes to begin attending Oakland University next year to start down the path of becoming a pediatric doctor. Anyone wishing to contribute to Brownâs cause can contact her on her Facebook page. (MK)
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Barden Retiring From County Convention & Visitors BureauBarden Retiring From County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Livingston County is a place you canât forget. Thatâs the sentiment being expressed by Barb Barden, who will be retiring from her longtime position as executive director of the Livingston County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Bureau serves as the official authority for all of the information that a visitor could want when exploring an area - whether it be lodging, attractions, outdoor activities, special events or festivals. Barden, known for her signature hats and upbeat attitude, will retire in early 2017. She tells WHMI after nearly 25 years of working in the community, she will definitely miss it. Barden says Livingston County tourism has grown dramatically over the years and is now a major contributor to the economy in the local communities. She says her retirement is very bittersweet since she actually helped start the Bureau; which was the brainchild of Lee Reeves, a former Howell Chamber president.
Barden said it was part time and pretty bare bones when the Bureau first began but now itâs an amazing machine as far as the economic impact that is realized on an annual basis from tourism throughout Livingston County. Barden says her plans for retirement include checking off projects on the seemingly endless to-do-list, traveling and spending time with friends and family. Barden resides in Ann Arbor but said sheâs looking forward to returning frequently as a visitor and dropping some tourism dollars in the county. Meanwhile, the search to hire a replacement is already underway. As for the transition moving forward, Barden says the Bureau will be taking itâs time in hiring a new executive director and sheâs confident the industry is in great hands with the Board of Directors and leadership. Barden says the board has always been good stewards of the industry and supported the Bureau, giving it the tools needed to achieve the mission of increasing visitors to the destination.
Barden will assist in the search for her replacement but says the final decision will be left up to the Board of Directors. Information for those interested in applying can be found on both the Brighton and Howell Chamber of Commerce websites. A link is below. (JM)
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Chelsea Man Sentenced In Federal Child Pornography Case Chelsea Man Sentenced In Federal Child Pornography Case
A Chelsea man is heading to prison after being sentenced in a federal child pornography case.
George Louis Trevino was ordered to serve 60 months on one count of receipt of child pornography, plus another 60 months on a separate count of the same. Judge Judith Levy conducted the sentencing on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit. He was arrested by federal agents February 4th after a search warrant was executed at his home on Old US-12 in Chelsea. The warrant was issued after investigators with the Department of Homeland Security say they traced an IP address linked to that residence to an illegal download of known child pornography.
Once in custody, Trevino reportedly admitted to agents he viewed such material on a daily basis and had approximately one terabyte of the material on his computer and other drives. Authorities allege he possessed child pornography images and videos with children ranging in age from newborns to 13-years-old.
Trevino also told investigators he first began looking at child pornography online about 11 years ago and admitted to inappropriately touching a 12 or 13-year-old girl back in the 1990âs. (JM)
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Competition Squeezes Profit Margin For District's Shared Services ProgramCompetition Squeezes Profit Margin For District's Shared Services Program
The Brighton Area Schools has been operating a very successful program to gain extra revenue by teaching classes in private and parochial schools around the state.
The âShared Servicesâ program offered by the Brighton Area Schools has been so successful that it almost singlehandedly erased the legacy budget deficit the district had for several years. This year the Brighton school district is serving students in about 60 parochial and private schools in about a dozen Michigan counties. The district works through a private company, which gets a percentage of the revenues the Brighton Area Schools realizes. The program is financially advantageous to Brighton because the district receives the state aid for each student for the amount of time the student is in a Shared Services class.
But at Mondayâs Board of Education meeting Monday night, school board Trustee John Conely was critical of the fact that the net revenue to Brighton has declined since the program was first launched in 2011. It brought in about $8 million the first year, then $6 million the next year and then dropped to $2 million.
Superintendent Greg Gray says the districtâs revenue from Shared Services has stabilized and has been at about the $2 million mark for the last couple of years, which he expects to continue for the 2016-17 year. He tells WHMI the reason for the decline in revenue is that many public school districts are now doing the same thing as Brighton, so the competition is greater and insurance costs are up, which results in a lower profit margin. Brighton pays some 265 certified teachers, provides the course materials and is, in turn, paid by the schools for offering the academic subjects.
Gray says the Brighton Area Schoolsâ Shared Services program is the largest in the state, surpassing even the far larger Grand Rapids Public School Districtâs program. (TT)
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