At its next meeting, the Brighton Board of Education is expected to accept a gift of $2,000 from Cut N Curl toward purchase of a service dog for Hawkins Elementary School.
Presently, only two other schools in the district have service dogs: Brighton High school, with Caesar, and Duncan, at Maltby Intermediate. Superintendent Greg Gray says the ultimate goal is to have a service dog at all schools in the district. Gray tells WHMI service dogs can be an invaluable aid to students and, as a result, make the school setting a happier environment while enabling students to be more successful.
Hawkins Principal Basia Kiehler agrees, saying a service dog provides emotional and social support and â since it has to be taken care of at the school during the day â teaches responsibility. Gray says that service dogs, which have to complete a training program before theyâre ready, come with a high price tag â anywhere from $7,000-$9,000. Since such dogs are so expensive, Karen Storey, a teacher at Maltby Intermediate, approached businesses asking for donations. The Cut & Curl donation still left Hawkins $2,500 short, so the schoolâs Parent Teacher Organization agreed to fund the remainder. However, Kiehler says itâll be a year before they get the pooch, a Yellow Lab who will live with its trainer before itâs ready to be released to the school. There, it will be âadoptedâ by a family â perhaps that of a teacher â to take home every night and on weekends.
The PTO is letting the students name the dog, and a contest will be held in which they will vote on a number of possible names. (TT)
Hawkins Elementary School Getting Service Dog Thanks To DonationsHawkins Elementary School Getting Service Dog Thanks To Donations
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Dog Owner Arraigned On Charges Connected To Fatal AttackDog Owner Arraigned On Charges Connected To Fatal Attack
A Howell man whose dog is said to be responsible for killing another dog has been arraigned on charges connected to the incident.
31-year-old Zackery Bradley was arraigned in 53rd District Court Thursday on three counts of dogs running at large and four counts for failure to license dogs in the home. Bradley pleaded not guilty and a pre-trial hearing in his case has been scheduled for May 22nd.
The charges stem from the February 25th incident, when Roni Evans was walking her shih tzu and maltipoo in the city of Howell. Bradleyâs three dogs, a pit bull, pit bull-husky mix and a cane corso, allegedly attacked Evanâs dogs. The shih tzu survived the attack but underwent several surgeries. The maltipoo died from his injuries. Mia, Bradleyâs pit bull-husky mix, is reportedly responsible for the death of the maltipoo.
Following an expert evaluation of Mia, her fate will be left up to Magistrate Jerry Sherwood. Livingston County Animal Control is handling the case and a hearing has been scheduled for May 4th to determine whether Mia is dangerous and should be euthanized. (DK)
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Recipients Honored At Livingston Regional Investment Awards CeremonyRecipients Honored At Livingston Regional Investment Awards Ceremony
Businesses, an educational institution, a hospital, and a state government agency were all honored Friday at the 2017 Livingston Regional Investment Awards ceremony.
The event, at Cleary University, was sponsored by the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce, Ann Arbor Spark and PNC Bank. It is designed to celebrate recent investment in Livingston County. The companies and other entities were all recognized for making substantial investments in Livingston County that resulted in job creation and other economic benefits over the last few years.
Joe Parker, CEO of D&B Machinery in Green Oak Township, tells WHMI his company moved last year from its old location in Livonia and itâs been a good move.
Other award recipients included Adam Merkel, owner of Adam Merkel Restaurants: Cello Italian Restaurant, Diamonds Steak and Seafood and the Silver Pig; Frances Brougham, owner of Buon Gusto Bistro; Greg Sibley, President of Eberspaecher North America; Rick Todd, Superintendent of Pinckney Community Schools/Pinckney Cyber Training Institute; Robert Bretz, President of Tribar Manufacturing; Michael Perry, Chief Operating Officer/Minority Owner of Wellbridge of Pinckney; John OâMalley, president of St. Joseph Mercy Health Systems-Livingston; and Jack Rick of MDOT, I-96/US-23 Interchange project.
McConeghy says this is only the second time the chamber has held an Investment awards ceremony, but that it will likely start having them every other year in the future. Over 120 people were in attendance at the awards luncheon. (TT)
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Howell High School Raises $78,000 For American Foundation For Suicide Prevention Howell High School Raises $78,000 For American Foundation For Suicide Prevention
Friday marked the final day of Howell High School's annual Senior Survivor fundraiser and it far surpassed expectations.
Following a week filled with school spirit, fundraising and 14 seniors living at Howell High School, the totals show an unprecedented $78,000 was raised. Senior Survivor began Sunday, April 23rd when 14 Howell High School seniors moved into the school with the goal of remaining in the competition until Friday. Students collected donations during the day and competed in immunity and reward challenges at night. Some of the challenges included a food challenge involving eating bugs, completing an obstacle course and a lip sync battle. At the end of each school day, the two Senior Survivor contestants who raised the least amount of money that day were eliminated. Student Aiden Pressel was named the winner of Senior Survivor, raising more than $10,000 in the final days. The Howell High School senior class selected the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to be the beneficiary of this yearâs fundraising efforts.
This marks the 10th anniversary of the annual fundraiser which has now raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for various charities. Howell High School Principal Jason Schrock says each year the student body and community look forward to Senior Survivor and the event brings the school, district and community together to support an amazing cause. Schrock added to be able to raise $78,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention truly speaks to the generous and caring nature of the community.
This yearâs Howell High School Senior Survivors were Cara Betz (Team Betz), Becca Bishop (Team Chewbecca), Garrett Breault (Team G-Money), Kelsey Cook (Team K-Cook), Chelsea Farley (Team Chelsea), James Griffin (Team Old Man Griff), Madi Lim (Team Maki), Jacob Lothamer (Team Loth), Robert Lys (Team Lysterine), Carleigh O'Doherty (Team OâDoherty), Aiden Pressel (Team First-Aid), Logan Russo (Team Log), Alyssa Snider (Team Snider) and Parker Woodin (Team P-Woody). (JM)
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Kensington Woods Students Give Back To The CommunityKensington Woods Students Give Back To The Community
A day of giving back to community was recent spent by over 150 local students. Students, parents, and teachers from Kensington Woods Schools celebrated their second annual Day of Giving earlier this month, on April 13th.
Over 900 hours of volunteer service was donated to 12 different organizations around the area. Some students worked cleaning up invasive weeds and ground work at places like the Livingston Land Conservancy and Howell Teen Center. Others spent the day tutoring elementary and preschool students in reading and math at Light of the Word Academy. Spring cleanups and shelf stocking at Bountiful Harvest along with inventory work at the Secunda Museum were among some of the other jobs taken on by the team of 6th to 12th graders. Kensington Woods students also went to Spain Elementary in Detroit (pictured) to work with Art Road Nonprofit and Wayne State University students as part of the Day of Service.
The Day of Service was designed as an opportunity to provide students with a valuable, enriching experience that helps develop character and gives the kids an opportunity to work collaboratively while giving back to the communities they live in. (MK)
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Man Who Fled From Police In High Speed Chase ArraignedMan Who Fled From Police In High Speed Chase Arraigned
Arraignment has been held for a Lansing man who attempted to flee from local police after being pulled over.
Earlier this month, Livingston County Sheriffâs deputies attempted to pull over 35-year-old Deron Maurice Wilson for a traffic violation. Wilson took off, leading a high speed chase on I-96. Livingston County Sheriff Mike Murphy says Wilson traveled east, and then exited at D-19. He then traveled north and re-entered I-96 headed west. Murphy says deputies pursued Wilson until the chase became a safety concern. Not long after, his vehicle was spotted in Lansing and he was arrested without incident.
Wilson is charged as a habitual offender with 2nd degree fleeing a police officer, carrying concealed weapons, resisting a police officer, driving with a suspended license, open intoxicants, and felony firearms. A warrant was issued for Wilson after he appeared for a court date, however it was cancelled Friday and he was arraigned on the aforementioned charges in 53rd District Court. He is being held in the county jail on a $200,000 bond and is due back in court for a probable cause conference May 10th. (DK)
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Huge Sandbox is Newest Feature of Brighton Playground Huge Sandbox is Newest Feature of Brighton Playground
A new activity has been added to the Imagination Station Playground in downtown Brighton. A giant sandbox was dedicated Saturday in ceremonies attended by Brighton Mayor Jim Muzzin and other local officials. When WHMI dropped by, the new activity was getting a lot of use from area children. Brighton City Council Member Renee Pettengill, the volunteer coordinator of the Imagination Station, tells WHMI funds with which to construct the sandbox area were donated by Blake and Sue Lancaster of Brighton Township, in honor of their daughter, Laura, who was from Brighton and graduated from Brighton High School. The sandbox has a roof to protect the kids from the hot summer sun and a bench to sit on so that tired parents and grandparents can be seated while watching the kids play in the sand. The Imagination Station playground is located next to the Mill Pond in downtown Brighton and is one of the main reasons why the downtown has become a destination in recent years. (TT)
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Residents Sought To Join Brighton Arts & Culture Commission Residents Sought To Join Brighton Arts & Culture Commission
Individuals who reside in the City of Brighton are being sought to serve on a commission.
Applications are being accepted for the Brighton Arts and Culture Commission. All applicants must be residents of the City of Brighton for at least two years. The Brighton Arts and Culture Commission is a five member commission tasked with supporting fine arts, performing arts, crafts, and culture. The commission maintains and promotes Brightonâs Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit and conducts creative placemaking projects.
Any individual interested in sitting on the BACC should send a letter of interest by the close of business on Thursday, May 11th with the subject line: BACC Application.
Questions can be directed to Jessica Reed, Management Assistant at reedj@brightoncity.org or (810) 225-9257. (JM)
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Unadilla Township Voters To Decide Police, Fire & Road Millages Tuesday Unadilla Township Voters To Decide Police, Fire & Road Millages Tuesday
Voters in Unadilla Township will have three issues to cast ballots for in Tuesdayâs election.
Existing millages for police, fire and roads all expire at the end of the year thus three new proposals will greet voters. The fire department is requesting 1.5 mills for eight years, a half-mill increase. The police department is asking for 2.5 mills for eight years, a one-mill increase. Both would support operations and equipment.
Deputy Fire Chief Dave Curtis says millages were originally put in place in 1998. He says the department has lived on one-mill funds for 19 years now and calls for service are increasing but their ability to cover those expenses is not. He says the fire and police departments have both been fiscally responsible but can no longer keep up and the funds just donât cover expenses anymore for either department.
Curtis says the situation is similar on the police side and that departmentâs call volumes have increased dramatically as well. Itâs dealing with increased costs and trainings but also trying to increase manpower and coverage hours. Curtis noted that both departments are very effective in pursuing and obtaining grant funding but those sources are drying up and theyâve taken advantage of them.
Curtis says the fire departmentâs annual call volume in 1998 was 75 calls. In 2016, they had 255 calls and are currently on pace for 300 annually. For further perspective, Curtis says a fire engine used to cost $250,000 but is now in excess of $400,000. A police car was $17,200 but is now around $43,000.
The third millage request would provide funds for dust control and road improvements. Due to Headlee Rollback, itâs works out to essentially one-mill that would generate approximately $107,000 for each of the eight years. Curtis noted there has been visible improvement in roads throughout the township since the original millage passed.
More information about all three ballot proposals is available on the Unadilla Township website. A link is provided. (JM)
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Jury Convicts Former Youth Group Leader Of Sexual Contact With Underage Boy Jury Convicts Former Youth Group Leader Of Sexual Contact With Underage Boy
After several days of trial, a jury has convicted an ex-youth group leader, accused of having a relationship with an underage boy, of one sex charge and acquitted her of three others.
On Friday, 36-year-old Kendra Marie Brown of Howell was convicted of 4th degree criminal sexual conduct, and acquitted of three counts of 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct. The conviction and acquittal indicates the jury believed she had sexual contact with the boy, but did not have sex with him.
The charges stem from what court records indicate was more than one incident in July of 2015. Brown reportedly volunteered with youth at the Centerpointe Nazarene Church in Howell until March of 2015, at which point she was asked to no longer do so. The teen who Brown allegedly engaged in sexual acts with says he met her through a youth group at the church.
Prosecutors say Brown manipulated the teen into sex. The boy, who is now 17, testified that he did not say no, but did feel forced throughout the entirety of the relationship. Brownâs sentencing is May 25th in Livingston County Circuit Court.
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Volunteers Pack Nearly 420,000 Meals For Hungry ChildrenVolunteers Pack Nearly 420,000 Meals For Hungry Children
Almost half a million meals will be provided to children in need as a result of a two-day event at a Brighton Township church over the weekend.
Approximately 1,800 volunteers turned out at the Livingston Cares Mobile Pack events, hosted at Cornerstone Evangelical Presbyterian Church on Saturday and Sunday. The mobile packs are a partnership the church has with Feed My Starving Children, a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to ending world hunger.
With the help of community donations, the church was able to raise around $100,000 to purchase raw ingredients for MannaPacks. MannaPacks are filled with rice, soy, vegetables, and vitamins, and when combined with boiling water, can make about six cups of food. Those that volunteered at the mobile pack were able to pack around 419,900 MannaPacks, which were loaded into pallets. Those pallets will be transported to distribution warehouses in Chicago, and then shipped to children in 70 countries across the globe where famine and nutrition has been identified as a major problem.
Mobile pack event coordinator Donna Alberta says the church will be informed within a week or so as to where the food packs were sent. Alberta says helping break the poverty cycle and raising healthy, productive members of society all begins with food, which is why she and so many others felt the cause was worthwhile.
Alberta says the mobile packs were a friendly competition between enthusiastic volunteers, all working to see who could pack the most MannaPacks. She feels the number of volunteers and donations made says that Livingston County is a caring community, and that ââ¦people have a heart for doing things that are good.â (DK)
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Man Alleged to Have Placed Camera In Women's Bathroom Heads To TrialMan Alleged to Have Placed Camera In Women's Bathroom Heads To Trial
A Williamston man who authorities say secretly photographed women in the bathroom of a Brighton auto shop where he worked is headed to trial.
37-year-old Joshua David Porter was charged in April with three counts of capturing/distributing images of an unclothed person and two counts of using a computer to commit a crime. At a hearing last week, 53rd District Court Judge Carol Sue Reader determined there was enough evidence to bind his case over to Circuit Court.
Michigan State Police identify Porter as a Williamston resident, but court records show an Ypsilanti address. Porter reportedly installed a camera in the womenâs bathroom at Brighton Auto One where he worked, prior to being transferred to the storeâs Wixom location. Court records indicate the incident occurred in April of 2016. After a photograph was posted to social media, a police raid of the Brighton store was conducted at which time the camera was discovered.
Future court dates for Porter have not been scheduled at this time. (DK)
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Howell City Council Has Tough Budget Issues To Tackle Howell City Council Has Tough Budget Issues To Tackle
"You canât kick the can down the road anymore, because it has dead ended." That was one reference used to describe the City of Howellâs budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Staff informed council at a meeting last month that there will be significant decisions to make after delivering an overall budget presentation on the current year and whatâs proposed for 2017/2018. This is the last year that budget services can be sustained without additional revenue. Current revenues are equal to the early 2000âs because of how the Headline Amendment and Proposal A impact revenue growth.
City Manager Shea Charles says 2017/2018 looks to be a stable year however the challenges of Michiganâs broken fiscal model for local governments is hitting the City of Howell very hard. He says the city is seeing a really difficult interplay between the Headlee Amendment and Proposal A and the impact on overall revenues, plus the State of Michigan continuing not to honor their obligations for revenue sharing. He says that has put the city at a point where some very tough decisions will have to be made over the next couple of years. Charles says itâs a situation where services will either have to be reduced to match the revenue stream or additional revenues will have to be considered.
As for the current budget year, some unanticipated expenses include sewer repairs and flooding events at city hall but the city is projected to end with a fund balance of roughly $2 (m) million. The city also received additional property tax revenue, which was described as a pleasant surprise and building permit revenue is also up. The sale of the Highland-Howell property was also mentioned.
Some budget impacts for 2017/2018 include new debt for parking lot projects, increased retirement contributions and a reduction in the personal property tax reimbursement. Council has already held one budget work session to review different projects and brainstorm ideas. One involves possibly creating committee to explore a potential ballot proposal.
The proposed budget is available on the City of Howellâs website. A link is provided.
Tonight's budget work session is being rescheduled. City Manager Shea Charles says Council was able to get through the whole budget during the first session and plans to hold future sessions and discussions focusing on long term finances. (JM)
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Maintenance Work Underway On Vector Pipeline This WeekMaintenance Work Underway On Vector Pipeline This Week
Maintenance work is being performed on a pipeline this week in Livingston County.
Work started today and will take place through Friday according to Livingston County Emergency Manager Therese Cremonte, who says the county was notified the weeklong maintenance last week. There are two main locations in Livingston County where work is taking place; on Byron Road in the Howell area and Fenton Road in the Hartland area. Since itâs a high pressure natural gas transmission system, Cremonte says people will hear loud noises probably at the beginning and end of the week when they shut it off.
There have been reports from residents of loud noises and the smell of gas, although the company says there should not typically be odors associated with the work. Those residing within half a mile of the maintenance site could be impacted by the noise. Work is anticipated to last between 7am and 7pm and Cremonte says Vector will have someone on location 24-7 and are monitoring the work, with supervisors constantly checking to make sure everything is going as planned and is as safe as possible. (JM)
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Congress Pushes For Report On Asian Carp Threat To Great LakesCongress Pushes For Report On Asian Carp Threat To Great Lakes
Congress is pushing the Trump administration to release a study of how a Chicago-area waterway structure might be fortified to prevent Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes.
A provision saying Congress "expects" the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release the draft report was included in a budget agreement announced Monday. The report involves possible upgrades of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois, a choke point between the carp-infested Illinois River and Lake Michigan. Authorities want to prevent the invasive carp from reaching the Great Lakes and competing with native fish. Sean McBrearty, with Clean Water Action Michigan, warns that not protecting the Great Lakes will have a profound impact on the entire state. "Especially in our communities up north, that really do rely on tourism for a lot of the economic activity going on up there. And once the Asian carp start getting into the Great Lakes, we're going to, what? Have restaurants where they're serving carp 10 ways and nothing else?"
The Army Corps was scheduled to release its draft report earlier this year has delayed it. Some lawmakers from Illinois and Indiana have warned against doing anything that would hamper commercial shipping in the area.
The Associated Press and Public News Service contributed to this report. (JK)
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City of Fenton Won't "Opt-In" To State's Medical Marijuana Facilities ActCity of Fenton Won't "Opt-In" To State's Medical Marijuana Facilities Act
The potential to allow medical marijuana growing and distributing facilities in Fenton was shot down by city officials Monday night.
City Council discussed pending state action that will clarify the Michigan Medical Marijuana Facilities and Licensing Act. The Michigan Medical Marijuana Facilities and Licensing Act, which passed last September, essentially created five license categories- a grower, processor, transporter, testing, and dispensary license. The act is designed to regulate the cultivation process, transportation, and sale to legal medical marijuana patients. The State of Michigan is expected to release regulations for the act December 15th of this year; however the state will not issue licenses for those uses in a community until the community in question has âopted-inâ and passes an ordinance allowing such facilities.
Fentonâs current ordinance regulates the number of plants and areas where medical marijuana caregivers and their patients can grow. Monday night, City Council discussed whether they planned to opt-in and expand their ordinance to allow growing and dispensing operations. The cityâs legal counsel, Christopher Patterson, says there are some benefits for communities who choose to do so, including property utilization and revenue generated from tax and licensing fees. Patterson says allowing those facilities really depends on each municipality and whether they feel they need them, and if that part of the industry aligns with community values.
Mayor Sue Osborn and almost every council member agreed they did not want to opt-in and allow for-profit growth and distribution. In fact, councilman Bradley Jacob was the only member in favor of it and said he was 100% for opting-in and allowing the issuance of all five licenses. Jacob felt council needed to at least discuss the issue and that they ââ¦shouldnât say no right out of the gate.â Jacob says medical marijuana is a tool to manage pain that ââ¦no one has ever overdosed fromâ and feels itâs an alternative to opioids. However councilwoman Patricia Lockwood was entirely against allowing growing operations in the city, stating that it âopens the doorâ, and that she believes heroin is the next step up from marijuana.
Ultimately because the majority of council was against opting-in, the cityâs ordinance will remain the same. A community can opt-in to the statute at any time, so Patterson says he will stand by until he is told otherwise. (DK)
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LaJoice Gets Additional Prison Time For Credit Union Embezzlement LaJoice Gets Additional Prison Time For Credit Union Embezzlement
A former credit union official from Livingston County has been ordered to serve prison time in an embezzlement case.
Michael LaJoice of Tyrone Township will serve 7 to 20 years in prison. The sentence ordered Monday by Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews against is concurrent with the 11-year federal prison sentence handed down in March. LaJoice pleaded no contest to 14 state charges related to the roughly $19 million embezzled from the Clarkston Brandon Community Credit Union. A no contest plea isn't an admission of guilt but is treated as one for sentencing purposes.
LaJoice, who was chief financial officer of the credit union, bought fancy cars and commercial properties, and sometimes traveled by private jet. He owned a dance studio in Fenton and put millions of dollars into his home in the northeast corner of Tyrone Township. The credit union was declared insolvent and merged last year with Michigan State University Federal Credit Union. (JM)
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Local Educator Named Charter School Teacher Of The YearLocal Educator Named Charter School Teacher Of The Year
An elementary school teacher has received one of the most prestigious awards a charter school educator in Michigan can receive.
Gordy Hyska, a teacher at Charyl Stockwell Academy in Hartland, was named the 2017 Michigan Charter School Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made by the Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA), which is the state charter school association. Monday marked the start of National Charter Schools Week and Hyska received his award during a surprise presentation at the school.
Hyska has taught first and second grade for the past six years at Charyl Stockwell Academy and is said to bring academic subjects to life for his students. One such instance involved him turning math into an adventure by becoming an action hero called âMichigan Hyskaâ (his version of Indiana Jones) and invites his students to solve math problems as they search for the treasure. MAPSA President Dan Quisenberry says Hyska has come up with one of the most innovative ways theyâve ever seen to get first-graders excited about learning math. He says Hyska perfectly embodies the charter ideal â that âwhen teachers are empowered and allowed to be creative and innovative, they can change livesâ.
Charyl Stockwell Academy is managed by CS Partners and authorized by Central Michigan University. (JM)
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LCAR Transitions Away From 'Fill The Gazebo" For Annual Food DriveLCAR Transitions Away From 'Fill The Gazebo" For Annual Food Drive
The Livingston County Association of Realtors will be out and about this weekend to collect food for the hungry.
The associationâs 15th annual food drive is this Saturday, May 6th from 9am to 1pm, with over 50 local Realtors® and Affiliate members working at several drop-off locations including Kroger stores in Brighton, Howell, Hartland and Hamburg, Buschâs in Brighton and VGâs in Howell.
Previously known as Fill The Gazebo, the drive has transitioned this year with a goal to collect $20,000 in cash donations as well as 5,000 pounds of food for the Gleaners Community Food Bank. Through its buying power, Gleaners can turn that $20,000 into 60,000 meals. Suggested items to donate include tuna, canned meat and soup. Youâll find details through the link below. (JK)
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American Spirit Center In Brighton Needs New Roof American Spirit Center In Brighton Needs New Roof
A local center serving veterans is in need of a new roof.
The American Spirit Center, located at 10590 East Grand River in Brighton, is seeking donations for a new roof. Current estimates for a replacement are about $42,000, with the Brighton Chamber Foundation stepping up to support the center by accepting tax-deductible donations as a 501-C3. The American Spirit Center is home to the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 4357, American Legion Post 235 and other veteran-related organizations. Members assist disabled and needy war veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents, as well as the widows and orphans of deceased veterans. They also provide entertainment, care and assistance to hospitalized veterans or members of the U.S. Armed Forces while sponsoring and participating in activities of a patriotic nature.
Checks may be made payable to the Brighton Chamber Foundation and mailed or dropped off at 218 E. Grand River, Brighton, MI 48116. (JM)
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