A local program will offer training this weekend to community members interested in becoming better prepared and response-ready in the event of disaster and emergency situations.
The basic training classes will be held at the Livingston County Emergency Management Department on Tooley Road in Howell Friday through Sunday. The course will be offered by the countyâs Community Emergency Response Team, also known as CERT.
CERT is a nation-wide program loosely administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). John Fauver, a member of Livingston Countyâs CERT program, says in these cases, emergency responders will often have their hands full and itâs important that citizens are able to handle the situation on their own until help can arrive.
Participants will be trained in triage and first aid, establishing disaster and escape plans, family reunification, search and rescue, how the emergency management system works and brief coverage of terrorism response. The session will conclude with mock disaster scenarios so participants can demonstrate what theyâve learned.
The course is free and registration is requested as space is limited. Classes will be held Friday from 6-10pm with check-in starting at 5pm, Saturday from 8am-8pm, and Sunday from 8am-6pm. Those who attend all three days of training will receive a certificate of completion and has the option to join CERT. You can find a link to register below. (DK)
Emergency Response Team To Hold Free Training This WeekendEmergency Response Team To Hold Free Training This Weekend
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Online Voting Through Friday For Salute To The Stars Dance CompetitionOnline Voting Through Friday For Salute To The Stars Dance Competition
Livingston County senior citizens will benefit from votes cast in a local celebrity dance competition set for this Saturday.
Online voting for fan favorites in the annual Livingston County Catholic Charities Celebrity Dance Competition will close late in the day, Friday March 17th. Each vote cast is $5, and supports the agencyâs outreach services to local seniors. Four teams compete in the event set for Saturday at Crystal Gardens in Genoa Township. A Fan Favorite award goes to the couple who raises the most funds for LCCC, while a panel of four judges decides the overall winners.
While ticket for Saturdayâs event are no longer being sold, you can read a short bio of each of the dance teams and see a clip of them preparing for Saturdayâs event through the link below, which is also where you can register your online vote. (JK)
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Federal Sentencing Set Tuesday For Admitted Livingston County EmbezzlerFederal Sentencing Set Tuesday For Admitted Livingston County Embezzler
Sentencing is set Tuesday in federal court for a former Fenton businessman accused of embezzling millions of dollars from a credit union.
38-year-old Michael LaJoice of Tyrone Township pleaded guilty in November in U.S. District Court in Detroit to charges of bank fraud for embezzling millions of dollars from a Clarkston credit union. A memorandum from federal prosecutors recommends a sentence of 11 years in prison, which is in line with a plea deal that will also require five years of parole once his sentence is served as well as restitution of up to $17.7 million. However, a motion by his attorneys has requested a downward departure in sentencing that would only jail him for five years. That motion points out that since LaJoice turned himself in to authorities, he has completely cooperated to reveal the full extent of his crimes and to repay the stolen money, including selling off properties including his $1.3 million dollar home in the northeast corner of Tyrone Township and more than $1.1 million in properties he owned in the Fenton area.
The federal bank fraud charges came after Oakland County authorities charged LaJoice with 14 counts of embezzlement for stealing millions of dollars while serving as the chief financial officer for the Clarkston Brandon Community Credit Union. A pretrial hearing in that case is set for March 27th. (JK)
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Police Identify Man Killed Saturday On US-23 In Green Oak TownshipPolice Identify Man Killed Saturday On US-23 In Green Oak Township
The man who died from injuries Saturday when he was hit along US-23 has been identified by police.
According to Green Oak Township Police Chief Jason Pless, 63-year-old Bruce Harold Nyeholt of Marshall was struck by a southbound US-23 vehicle after his pickup truck had become disabled on the right shoulder of the freeway near Silver Lake Road. While he was waiting for a wrecker to arrive, he opened the rear cover of his F-150 pick-up and several papers began to blow out of the bed of his truck. Witnesses told police that as Nyeholt began to pursue the paperwork, he walked directly in front of two southbound vehicles and was struck. He died a short time after being transported to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor.
Chief Pless says none of the other involved parties suffered injuries and their preliminary investigation indicates the incident was a tragic accident. He says no charges are being sought against the driver, who reportedly stopped to lend aid until the Green Oak Twp. Fire Dept. and Livingston County EMS arrived at the scene. (JK)
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Partial Bridge Demolition At Barker Road & US-23 This WeekPartial Bridge Demolition At Barker Road & US-23 This Week
Barker Road bridge demolition will take place this week as part of the ongoing US-23 Flex Route project.
Construction is said to be progressing well at various locations from M-36 all the way up to M-14 as part of the Flex Route US-23 project, which has an aggressive timeline.
The Michigan Department of Transportation says the bridge demolition work is tentatively scheduled to take place Thursday. There will be a full closure of Barker Road at night to accommodate bridge deck and beam removal. Detours will be posted. Eastbound Barker Road will be closed to traffic while one lane on westbound Barker Road will be maintained with a flagging operation. M-DOT Spokeswoman Kari Arend tells WHMI motorists can expect to see a partial detour at Barker Road and some overnight closures:
Eastbound Barker Rd at US-23 - Road Closed
- Wednesday, March 15th at 7am through Saturday, March 18th at 7am
- Tuesday, March 21st at 7am through Thursday, March 23rd at 7am
Detour is southbound US-23 to 6 Mile Rd to northbound US-23 to Barker Rd
Westbound Barker Rd at US-23 - one lane maintained with flag control
- March 15 -18 between 8pm and 5am each night.
- And March 21 - 23 between 7pm and 5am each night
Northbound US-23 at Barker Rd
- Single lane closure March 15 - 17 between 8pm and 7am each night
Southbound US-23 at Barker Rd
- Single lane closures March 21 - 23 between 7pm and 5am each night.
Meanwhile, the new 8 Mile Road bridge is being built as well and is pictured. The southbound off ramp is tentatively scheduled to close after bridge beams are set in late March. That closure will last through late June and is needed to accommodate ramp and roundabout reconstruction within the interchange.
A link to M-DOT's March newsletter about the Flex Route project and construction on US-23 is provided. Project details can be found online at www.flexroute23.com. Photo: MDOT. (JM)
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Self Defense Class Benefits Family Of Good SamaritanSelf Defense Class Benefits Family Of Good Samaritan
A member of the Livingston County Sheriffâs Office is using his knowledge of self-defense skills to give back to the community in a couple of different ways.
Sergeant Terry Davis held a womenâs self-defense class Sunday at Howell High School, which was open to female county employees and their female family members. Sgt. Terry Davis is a 20-year member of the Livingston County Sheriffâs Office. The certified black belt has been practicing Jiu Jitsu for 20 years and teaches womenâs self-defense all over the state.
Approximately 60 women attended the class and were taught basic self-defense techniques, along with situational awareness. Each participant was charged $20 and the proceeds from the class will be donated to Chris Alvarado and his family. Alvarado is a Howell resident who lost both of his legs back in November when he was struck by an SUV while assisting a stranded motorist.
Davis says roughly $1,250 was raised through the class, but he has been contacted by people who wish to donate even if they could not attend, and guesses the final number will be between $1,300-1,400. Davis tells WHMI he enjoys teaching the class which not only helps women protect themselves, but also will benefit a local family in need.
Davis is looking to hold another class in mid to late April that would be open to the public. Ultimately, he says the goal is to hold three to four classes a year, each to benefit a different local charity or cause. (DK)
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County In Complete Compliance For Annual Water Supply ReviewCounty In Complete Compliance For Annual Water Supply Review
Local health officials say Livingston County has done well monitoring its non-community water supply over the last year. Matt Bolang, Director of Environmental Health for the Livingston County Health Department, provided a report to the countyâs General Government and Health and Human Services Committee Monday night.
The countyâs non-community public water supply program regulates small water supplies that serve the general public, but does not include residences. Bolang says that would be establishments like businesses, restaurants and office buildings. Each establishment is supplied by an individual well which is tested throughout the year and must meet certain criteria for safety purposes and to avoid deficiencies.
Operation of the program is reviewed by the state annually and Bolang says Livingston County âdid greatâ this year. The county has met all of their indicators and performed much better than the state average to boot.
Bolang says monitoring frequencies for bacteria in the water have changed across Michigan and in that category, the state average is 18% while the countyâs is 0%. Bolang says that means not a single establishment was out of compliance in monitoring their water. He says the favorable results are a combination of commitment to public health safety, a good relationship with business owners and dedicated workers within the program. (DK)
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Brighton School Board Discusses Contract NegotiationsBrighton School Board Discusses Contract Negotiations
The Brighton Board of Education held its first closed door session regarding the contracts of three employee groups at the conclusion of Monday nightâs regular meeting.
The unions are BASAA â the Brighton Area Schools Administrators Association, the Brighton Education Association, and the Brighton Education Support Personnel Association. The BEA represents about 300 certified teachers in the district, BESPA includes maintenance, food service and secretarial staff, along with para-professionals and ancillary employees BASAA represents about 15 school district administrators, including principals, assistant principals, and department heads.
Custodial workers are no longer represented by BESPA since they were privatized a few years ago. (TT)
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New Genoa Township Hotel Plans On Hold New Genoa Township Hotel Plans On Hold
Plans to develop a parcel of land near I-96 and South Latson Road into a four story hotel are on hold until traffic details can be worked out with the developer.
Monday night the Genoa Township Planning Commission tabled a final site plan recommendation for the Hampton Inns and Suites on the property located behind the USA 2 GO and Tim Hortons at Grand Oaks and Latson Roads near the interchange. Planning commissioners wanted to see better plans for traffic into and around the development, which includes not only the parcel the hotel will sit on, but those around it. Assistant Township Manager and Community Development Director Kelly VanMarter says they're hoping that the owner of this property will go back and meet with the developer of the overall project to come up with a traffic circulation plan that benefits not only this parcel, but the vacant parcels around it. She says it hasn't been decided where those are yet, which is where some of the confusion comes in from this plan. VanMarter says that they don't know what's going on next door, which involves the possible split of another parcel into three out lots, so it's hard to plan one project and try to fit in what could be coming in the future around it.
Commissioners like the plan overall, and VanMarter says it will be a beautiful addition to the township. The traffic concerns and the fact that developer Bo Gunlock wasnât at the meeting to answer questions put plans on hold temporarily. VanMarter and developers are expected to work on the issue and bring it back for approval either later this month or early April. A public hearing was held prior to the site plan review, but there were no comments. (DS)
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Bishop: CBO Report Shows GOP Delivering On PromisesBishop: CBO Report Shows GOP Delivering On Promises
While critics of GOP health care legislation have gotten fresh ammunition from a report that says the bill would increase the ranks of the uninsured by 14 million people next year alone, the man who represents Livingston County in Congress says it is the first step towards delivering on their promise of lowering premiums and providing expanded access.
8th District Republican Congressman Mike Bishop said that Mondayâs release of an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (available by Clicking Here) shows that the GOP legislation provides âmajor tax relief and reduce(s) the deficitâ by lowering premiums 10% and reducing the federal deficit by $337 billion. The report indicates that following a two-year spike, average premiums would fall after 2020 relative to Obamacare, but would increase for older Americans. It concludes 5 million fewer people would be covered by Medicaid by 2018, and 14 million fewer people would enroll in the program by 2026. In total, an estimated 52 million people would be uninsured by 2026 under the GOP plan, compared to 28 million who would lack insurance under the current law. Democrats have pounced on the reportâs findings. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said that, âthrowing 24 million Americans off of health insurance, raising premiums for older low income Americans, while giving $285 billion in tax breaks to the top 2% is a disgusting and immoral proposal.â
But Bishop, who was recently appointed to the House Ways and Means Committee, said that, âThe bigger picture of health care reform goes beyond this single bill â including additional legislation and administrative actions that will invigorate the market and improve access to quality coverage.â He added he was, âconfident that Congress will build on the progress outlined in this report to make health care work for everyone. Anything less is unacceptable." A press release from Bishop pointed people to House Speaker Paul Ryan's website for further details on the GOP plan. That can by found by Clicking Here. (JK)
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Local Dental and Health Clinic Each Receive $10,000 GrantLocal Dental and Health Clinic Each Receive $10,000 Grant
Grants have been awarded to two locally-based clinics that serve the uninsured and the underinsured. VINA Community Dental Center in Brighton and the University of Michigan Student Run Clinic in Pinckney each received a $10,000 grant Monday.
The dental center is a free clinic for low income, uninsured patients and treats over 1,600 people annually. Many local dentists volunteer or support the clinic with donations. If patients need specialty dental care, VINA has a network of dental specialists who can help.
The U of M Student Run Clinic provides primary care services to around 500 uninsured and underinsured adults in Livingston County each year. In the five years since its opening, it has been led and operated by medical students.
The grants were presented Monday by State Senator Joe Hune and State Representatives Hank Vaupel and Lana Theis. VINA Community Dental Center has been funded since 2008 and has been awarded $202,890 to date. The University of Michigan Student Run Clinic has been funded for the past two years and has been awarded $17,800.
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Brighton 5th & 6th Grade Students to Tour GM Proving GroundsBrighton 5th & 6th Grade Students to Tour GM Proving Grounds
A group of Maltby Intermediate School students - all of them females - have been invited to tour the GM Proving Grounds this week. It all stems from an offer General Motors made to the school district about getting female students interested in engineering - a discipline that has long been regarded as a male-dominated field. Brighton Superintendent of Schools Greg Gray tells WHMI that about 40 Maltby 5th and 6th grade girls will be going. The girls will be bused to Milford Wednesday morning and spend all day at the famed proving grounds. Gray says this is just one of many collaborative programs the district has established in the last few years with business and industry to give students a practical, hands-on opportunity to see examples of the workforce in an everyday setting. Hopefully, he says, this will increase the number of students interested in exploring careers in the auto industry and technology-related fields. (TT)
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Insurance Officials Warn Residents To Beware Of Storm Repair ScamsInsurance Officials Warn Residents To Beware Of Storm Repair Scams
Last weekâs massive windstorm that tore roofs off houses and downed trees across the state also could rip a hole in your budget.
More than one million Michigan residents lost power from what's been called one of the worst weather events in state history, and while most are back on the grid, Lori Conarton, the communications director of the Insurance Institute of Michigan says after a disaster like this, con artists often are looking to move in. "They may come into an area after a storm and start knocking on doors and getting on your roof and telling you that you have damage. But...call your insurance agent to verify your benefits immediately after a disaster. Have them look at it first."
In a high-tech twist, many of those in affected areas may see pop-up ads for repair companies on social media sites, but Conarton says it's always best to get referrals from friends and family, or to check with the Better Business Bureau. She advises taking pictures of any damage, and to stay away from contractors who demand cash up front. Anyone who thinks they may be a victim of a scam is encouraged to contact Livingston County Central Dispatch at 517-546-9111 so the proper police agency can take the report.
Meanwhile, Conarton says most wind damage, including trees that fall onto cars or homes, will be covered by insurance policies, however, those who are renting properties may find themselves in a tough spot since surveys have shown only about one-third have renter's insurance. "They assume maybe, incorrectly, that their landlord will pay for any damage, and that's not the case. The landlord's coverage will cover the building, the structure, but not the contents in it."
She adds that while spoiled food from a power outage isn't typically covered by insurance unless a separate rider was purchased, items purchased to prevent further damage to homes, such as tarps and plastic to cover roofs and windows, are reimbursable, which is why you should hold onto all receipts. (Public News Service contributed to this report/Photo courtesy of Brighton Area Fire Authority)
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Sentencing Postponed For Local Man In Credit Union Embezzlement CaseSentencing Postponed For Local Man In Credit Union Embezzlement Case
Sentencing has been delayed for a Livingston County man who embezzled millions of dollars from a credit union.
Michael LaJoice of Tyrone Township was expected to appear in federal court this afternoon but the hearing was postponed until March 23rd. LaJoice was chief financial officer at Clarkston Brandon Community Credit Union. He stole from the credit union over a dozen years, buying a luxurious home, fancy cars and commercial properties and traveling by private jet. A Cadillac Escalade cost $95,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Neal says it "reflects a level of greed that is difficult to fathom." The credit union had to be taken over by Michigan State University Credit Union. Prosecutors are recommending an 11-year prison sentence. LaJoice is asking for a five-year prison sentence. Defense lawyer Michael Manley says LaJoice has been "humbled and destroyed." (JM)
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Go Fund Me Account Set Up For Homeless Family Of Six After Fire Go Fund Me Account Set Up For Homeless Family Of Six After Fire
The community is coming together to assist a Fowlerville area family that lost everything in a house fire during last weekâs massive wind storm.
A power line came down last Wednesday and caught the Semear familyâs rental home on North Gregory Road on fire. The family of six, including a 6-month-old grandson, and most pets all made it out safely but are now homeless. They did not have any insurance and lost everything, including a family vehicle.
A Go Fund Me account has been set up to assist the family. The link is provided. (JM)
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Bottle And Can Drive To Support High School DemocratsBottle And Can Drive To Support High School Democrats
An opportunity to support local students with a mind for politics by donating bottles and cans is coming up this weekend.
The Livingston County High School Democrats are hoping people think of them when cleaning up after their St. Patrickâs Day or NCAA Tournament parties later this week. The students will be accepting returnable bottles and cans at the Livingston County Democratic Party headquarters this Saturday, March 18th, from noon until 2pm. The headquarters are located at 8028 Grand River Avenue, Woodland Plaza Suite 7, near the intersection at Hacker Road in Brighton.
The Livingston County High School Democrats group is open to all Livingston County high school students no matter which high school they attend. For questions, contact the groupâs treasurer John Tucker at livcohsdems@gmail.com (MK)
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Livingston County Central Dispatch Receives High DistinctionLivingston County Central Dispatch Receives High Distinction
Livingston County 911 Central Dispatch has been recognized as being one of the best services of its type by an international association.
Central Dispatch last week was approved as an Emergency Medical Dispatch Center of Excellence by the Board of Accreditation of the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, or IAED. The IAED is a standard-setting organization that supports first-responder related research, legislation for call center regulation, and aims to strengthen the emergency dispatch community through education, certification, and accreditation. The Livingston County center, in achieving this, has become the first and only Central Dispatch Center and Public Safety Access Point in Michigan, to become accredited, and 230th worldwide. Becoming an Accredited Center of Excellence is the highest distinction in 9-1-1 emergency communication services. The accreditation comes from demonstrating compliance to the Medical Priority Dispatch System and its associated â20 Points of Excellence.â
The 20 points encompass international practice standards for Emergency Medical Dispatch and shows high levels of effectiveness in areas like the performance from their emergency call-takers, individual certifications, and quality improvement programs. (MK)
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Free Distracted Driving Course Offered To Local Teens Free Distracted Driving Course Offered To Local Teens
A course is being offered for free to local parents and students in an effort to teach young drivers the dangers of distracted driving first-hand.
The Livingston County Sheriffâs Office is providing the course in conjunction with FT Techno of America on Saturday, May 20th. The course allows teens to operate a vehicle under the direct supervision of sheriff and police personnel in several distracted driving scenarios, which include texting while driving and the use of fatal vision drunk driving goggles. Two sessions are being offered, with each lasting four hours. The teens will be provided with a short classroom discussion and video presentation before the supervised driving scenarios on the FT Techno test track in Fowlerville.
Space is limited to 20 students and a parent per class. Attendees must possess a valid driverâs license and be enrolled in high school. To sign up, contact the Livingston County Sheriffâs Office Monday through Friday between 8am and 4pm 517-546-2440. Details are in the attachment. (JM)
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Handy Township Supports Concept Of Better Broadband For Residents Handy Township Supports Concept Of Better Broadband For Residents
One more township has passed a resolution in support of helping bring high speed internet to western Livingston County.
Add Handy Township to the list of municipalities in favor of the ongoing Rural Broadband Initiative that sprung up last year in hopes of bringing better internet to residents in the countyâs less populated areas. They join Iosco, Conway, and Genoa Townships, along with the County Board of Commissioners as entities that have passed resolutions. While it was approved by the Board of Trustees, Handy Township Supervisor Ed Alverson wanted it to be on record that this was in support of the concept of the Initiative, and not a pledge for financial backing of it. Alverson said that while better internet is needed in Handy Township, that current water and sewer issues make it challenging right now. He told Grace Damerow, the Technology Director for Fowlerville Schools who has been collecting the resolutions, that it might be 10 to 20 years before the township could find money for this.
Damerow said she understands that most of the municipalities donât have the funds that would be required to upgrade the broad band service, and that they are looking at alternative methods of funding. She told the board, for example, they are closely watching a bill being looked at in Washtenaw County that would allow townships to use special assessments through the Public Improvement Act for projects like this.
Damerow said her next goal is to try and collect similar resolutions in support from the Village of Fowlerville and Unadilla Township. Handy Township passed theirs by a 4-1 vote with Trustee Gordon Munsell voting against it. (MK)
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Local Man Who Drove Drunk To Police Station Receives Jail TimeLocal Man Who Drove Drunk To Police Station Receives Jail Time
A Hamburg Township man who allegedly drove drunk to the police station has been sentenced.
Last month, Daniel Heise appeared in 53rd District Court and pleaded guilty to a charge of operating while intoxicated. He was sentenced Tuesday to 10 days in the Livingston County Jail with a credit of one day served, one year probation and 40 hours of community service. Substance abuse counseling has also been recommended for Heise.
The incident occurred on January 26th when Heise followed two newspaper carriers to the Hamburg Township police station off Merrill Road. Heise allegedly told police he came home to find a suspicious vehicle in his private subdivision and followed it. The newspaper carriers called 911 and officers met them in the back parking lot. Police said Heise appeared highly intoxicated and that he failed field sobriety tests and was subsequently placed under arrest. (DK)
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