A prominent Michigan author was in Brighton to discuss dangers to the Great Lakes.
Grosse Pointe native and Michigan Notable Book author William Rapai was at the Brighton District Library Wednesday night. Rapai gave a presentation based on his latest book, Lake Invaders: Invasive Species and the Battle for the Future of the Great Lakes. Rapai highlighted a few of the more dangerous threats to the lake system which he says creates 500,000 jobs in the state and serves as a $7-billion fishery. The Great Lakes, which are approximately 14,000 years old, had been protected from non-native species naturally by Niagara Falls until the opening of the Welland Canal and St. Lawrence Seaway changed that. Rapai noted quagga mussels as one of the worst for filtering out all the plankton in the water and causing critical damage to whitefish in Lake Michigan.
Some species like the Round Goby came in through ballast tanks on foreign ships, but others like Rusty Crayfish were brought north from anglers in Ohio and Kentucky. When discussing a proposed $300-million budget cut to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by the Trump administration, Rapai credited local organizations and watershed groups with doing more for the protection of native species than the GLRI. He said that while some of the money has gone to the Environmental Protection Agency for research, not much funding has been used to control invasive species.
Rapai said that eradication of invasive species is impossible once they are here, and that education is key. He urged local residents to protect their own inland lakes by making certain that if you have a boat, that it be cleaned, dried and drained before moving it to another body of water. Some species of seaweed can live for 7 days out of water on the side of boat.
He concluded by stating that the Great Lakes are our legacy as people from Michigan, and we have to decide what we want them to be from here on out. (MK)
Author Discusses Dangers Non-Native Species Pose To The Great LakesAuthor Discusses Dangers Non-Native Species Pose To The Great Lakes
↧
↧
Man Gets Jail, Probation For Role in Fatal Hartland Twp. CrashMan Gets Jail, Probation For Role in Fatal Hartland Twp. Crash
A Burton man charged in connection to a fiery fatal crash in Hartland Township has been sentenced.
26-year-old Joshua Smith was sentenced in 53rd District Court Tuesday to 30 days in the Livingston County Jail, two years of probation, and 10 days of community service. He is also being required to complete traffic safety and victim impact programs, as well as grief counseling.
Joshua Smith was charged with a moving violation causing death and a moving violation causing serious impairment of body function as a result of the July 2016 three-vehicle crash that caused the death of former U.S. Marine, 41-year-old Todd Smith of Fenton. Joshua Smith and Todd Smith are not related.
Police say Joshua Smithâs Chevy Impala was traveling west on Clyde Road in Hartland Township, when he struck an eastbound Ford Explorer, causing it to collide with Todd Smithâs pick-up truck. Upon arrival, emergency crews discovered the pick-up engulfed in flames and Todd Smith trapped inside. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Ford Explorer, a 28-year-old Howell man, sustained injuries and had to be transported to U of M. Joshua Smith suffered minor injuries. (DK)
↧
Neighbors Seek To Help Couple That Lost Home and Dog in FireNeighbors Seek To Help Couple That Lost Home and Dog in Fire
A Go Fund Me account has been established to help a young couple who lost their home and dog in a fire in Hamburg Township earlier this week.
The home, located on the 8400 block of Teahen Road, was completely destroyed in the fire that occurred Monday afternoon, according to Hamburg Township Fire Chief Mark Hogrebe. The residents, a young couple that recently moved to the neighborhood, were not home at the time. However their two dogs were inside the home.
One of the dogs, Brody, did not survive the fire. The other dog, 5-year-old Payton, did manage to survive but remains in critical condition at the Towne & Country Animal Hospital in Brighton. Manager Melissa Swim says Payton is being kept in an oxygen cage to treat her for smoke inhalation. Heavenly Acres Pet Cemetery, located in Brighton, has agreed to do a private cremation for Brody at no charge to the family, according to Swim.
Swim says a Go Fund Me page has been set up by neighbors under the name Manda Caudill House Fire Relief to aid with clothing recovery and veterinary expenses. Manda Caudill is said to be one of the homeowners. Swim says neighbors wanted to help out because the homeowners are so young and believes this was their first home they had purchased. Neighbors reportedly also left an initial deposit payment with the Animal Hospital for Paytonâs treatment. Swim says Towne & Country is trying to discount services for the family âas best they canâ. A link to the Go Fund Me page is available below. (DK)
↧
Complaint Claims Lt. Governor Is Violating Campaign Finance LawsComplaint Claims Lt. Governor Is Violating Campaign Finance Laws
A local Democrat has filed a complaint against Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley under the belief that he has been teasing an announcement that he will run for governor, and is in violation of campaign finance laws.
Judy Daubenmier, Chairwoman of the Livingston County Democratic Party, says she is concerned that Calley has begun a campaign for governor without taking the proper steps of forming a campaign finance committee. In accordance with state law, a candidate has 10 days after spending money in a political campaign to form such a committee.
Daubenmier says Calley has been running ads for quite some time teasing the announcement of a gubernatorial campaign, though no campaign finance committee has been formed according to the Secretary of Stateâs Campaign Finance Division. Daubenmier filed a complaint pointing that out, which Secretary of State spokesman Fred Woodhams confirmed to WHMI the Bureau of Elections has received. Woodhams says the Bureau has asked Calley to respond to the allegations and is awaiting that response.
The ads in question, web videos that Daubenmier believes suggest a run for governor, include May 30th as a âreveal dateâ. Calley did not make a campaign-related announcement Tuesday, but did announce a proposal that would make Michiganâs legislature part-time in 2018. Still, Daubenmier stands by her complaint and believes Calley should be held responsible. Woodhams says even though Calleyâs announcement did not turn out to be campaign-related, the Bureau will still go through the normal process of reviewing the evidence and either dismiss the issue, or move forward to resolve it.
Daubenmierâs complaint states that even though the ads do not explicitly announce a run for governor, there is a âwink and nod intent and messageâ that alludes to it. She names several news articles that are also under the impression that the ads tease a campaign announcement. Moreover, Daubenmier says Calley has never disputed that, and has allowed media outlets to âspeculate freelyâ that a gubernatorial campaign is his intent. Daubenmier says if Calley is found to be in violation, "...he needs to explain to the people of Michigan why he thinks that he doesnât have to abide by the campaign finance laws" and be required to pay the fine.
Calls placed to Calleyâs office seeking comment have not yet been returned. (DK)
↧
Local Car Enthusiasts Invited To Weekend Charity GatheringLocal Car Enthusiasts Invited To Weekend Charity Gathering
Local car enthusiasts are being invited to the first in a series of auto âshow and tellâ events being hosted by a Livingston County car collector.
Lingenfelter Cars & Coffee will be held each Saturday morning through August, starting this Saturday, June 3rd from 8-10am. Theyâre hosted by Ken Lingenfelter of Brighton, whose car collection is known worldwide, and will be held at the Lingenfelter North Engine Build Facility in Wixom. He says they hold the events rain or shine and in the past they've had several hundred participants bringing all types of cars to be seen.
While there is no fee to participate in the event, guests this weekend are being asked to give to Gleaners Community Food Bank with either nonperishable food items or monetary donations, which will be accepted on-site. The Lingenfelter Wixom location is located at 47451 Avante Drive, right off the I-96/Beck Road exit. (JK)
↧
↧
Family Witnesses Birds Being Mistreated At Howell KrogerFamily Witnesses Birds Being Mistreated At Howell Kroger
The installation of bird spikes at a Howell grocery store caused a harrowing incident for one local family.
Stephen and Patty Sykesâ family had favored the Kroger in Howell on M-59 and Oak Grove partly because their 8-year old daughter loved seeing the birds fly in and out of nests built on the storeâs sign. Last Sunday, Patty Sykes, her daughter, and son headed there to pick up items for a Memorial Day gathering. While walking up to the store they encountered an outside garden associate arguing with the installer of spikes strips on the Kroger sign. Stephen Sykes, husband to Patty, explained to WHMI that his wife said the garden associate, who was visibly distraught, told his family that earlier in the day bird nests along with chicks inside them had been removed and discarded into the garbage. A parent bird, then coming back to find its young, became impaled on one of the newly installed strips. The man working on the installation yelled an expletive about it not being his job to remove the bird and then threw it to the ground in frustration. Sykes said that seeing this was especially troubling for his children, and his daughter asked that they not return to that store anymore.
The family received an email from Kroger Customer Connect on Monday stating that the incident was bothersome, and that they wished to share the Sykesâ story with the store management team. Kroger Public Affairs Manager Rachel Hurst e-mailed the following statement to WHMI; âAs a company we focus on the most humane ways to prevent animals from entering our building to sustain a clean and fresh shopping experience. The spikes on our entrances are used as a deterrent and never to harm a bird. We apologize for how the recent situation was handled.â
Sykes said that he didnât want to hold Kroger totally responsible because they believe it was a contracted company installing the spikes, but believes the way the birds were treated was a tragedy, especially with the Howell Nature Center and their ability to rehabilitate birds so close by. (MK/JK)
↧
Kellogg Layoffs To Affect Lyon Township Distribution CenterKellogg Layoffs To Affect Lyon Township Distribution Center
More than 200 local workers will be affected by the decision from the Kellogg Company to close distribution centers across the nation.
The Battle Creek-based company is cutting more than 1,000 workers, including 211 employees at its 126,000 square foot Lyon Township facility on Research Drive. According to Kellogg, those workers will be permanently laid off, with their last day between July 29th and August 11th. The company says it is following through with a cost-cutting plan amid falling sales. Earlier this year, the maker of Frosted Flakes, Pop Tarts and Eggo waffles said it would close nearly 40 distribution centers.
The company will no longer ship products directly to retail stores but will instead ship to retailers' warehouses. Union employees at the Lyon Township center will have the option to be re-hired by the company if theyâre willing to relocate. (JK)
↧
Distracted Driving Likely To Blame For Fatal Crash Near Webberville Distracted Driving Likely To Blame For Fatal Crash Near Webberville
A crash this morning near Webberville that left one person dead and two others injured is believed to have been caused by distracted driving.
The Ingham County Sheriffâs Office responded to westbound I-96 and M-52 in Leroy Township for a three-car fatal crash around 11am. The Office says one vehicle had a male driver from Southfield and a female passenger from Romulus, who was transported to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing for her injuries. Another vehicle had a male driver and female passenger both from Harrison Township. The male was transported to Sparrow for his injuries, and the female passenger was pronounced deceased on the scene. Inside the third vehicle were a female driver and passenger from Manistee but authorities say no ambulance was requested for either individual. The name of the deceased has not been released pending notification of the family.
The crash forced the closure of the westbound I-96 lanes, with backups extending well into Livingston County. The Sheriffâs Office says distracted driving is suspected as being a reason for the crash. It remains under investigation. Picture courtesy of WLNS, TV6. (JM)
↧
Brighton Twp. Clerk Elected To Michigan Townships Association BoardBrighton Twp. Clerk Elected To Michigan Townships Association Board
Township officials from Livingston and neighboring counties will be represented by a local clerk that recently joined the Board of Directors for the Michigan Townships Association.
Ann Bollin, who was first appointed as clerk in Brighton Township in 2003, was introduced to her new role as District 25âs Director at the MTAâs annual conference in April. Bollin was elected by representatives from the four counties she will represent on the MTAâs Board of Directors- Livingston, Wayne, Monroe, and parts of Washtenaw County. The board is comprised of 25 directors from 25 districts within the state representing over 1,240 townships.
The MTA promotes leadership at the township governing level to strengthen municipalities. Bollin has served as a planning commissioner in Brighton Township, as vice chairperson of Livingston Countyâs MTA Chapter, and currently as a treasurer for the countyâs Municipal Clerks Association. She is also a member of the legislative committee for the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks, and an alternate on the Council of Election Officials. However Bollin says it is this latest position that has garnered her interest for a while.
Bollin says she hopes to be a solution in the challenges facing local government, including state funding and maintaining the traditional township governing model without increasing taxes or expanding the role of township government. She is also interested in seeking long-term solutions to fund public infrastructure needs. (DK)
↧
↧
Reward Offered After Thefts At Highland Twp. Auto Dealership Reward Offered After Thefts At Highland Twp. Auto Dealership
A Highland Township auto dealership hit by thieves over the holiday weekend is hoping the public can assist in catching those responsible.
Deputies with the Oakland County Sheriffâs Office Highland Township substation were called out to the Szott M-59 Dodge Dealership on Highland Road by an employee from a neighboring business who noticed numerous new vehicles had been broken into. Itâs believed the incident occurred late Sunday night into Monday morning and that professional thieves were involved.
Substation Commander and Lieutenant Matt Snyder tells WHMI the damage is estimated between $150,000 and $170,000. Approximately 51 new vehicles were involved and another that was in the shop being fixed. Others had windows busted out. Lt. Snyder says the cost estimate is $3,000 to $3,100 per vehicle between the cost of the smashed windows, damage from stereos/GPS navigators/built in touch screen systems from being ripped out or removed, and labor.
The company does employ security on site but there are no surveillance tapes from the dealership or nearby businesses. There are no suspects at this time and the case has been referred to the Auto Theft Unit. The theft is believed to be part of a larger organized theft ring at car dealerships and private homes in the Southeast Michigan area within the last year.
A reward of $2,500 is being offered from Crime Stoppers while the Szott dealership is offering an additional $4,000 reward for a total of $6,500. Anyone with information can remain anonymous and is asked to contact the Highland Township substation or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Photo: Facebook. (JM)
↧
Domestic Violence Shelter Employee Facing Child Abuse Charges For Beating SonDomestic Violence Shelter Employee Facing Child Abuse Charges For Beating Son
A local woman reportedly employed at a domestic violence shelter has been arraigned on child abuse charges connected to an incident involving her son.
28-year-old Ashley Nicole Bell of Pinckney is charged with one count each of 3rd degree child abuse and domestic violence. Pinckney Police Chief Jeff Newton confirmed that the charges stem from an incident in which Bell beat her 9-year-old son with a leather belt until it broke after becoming angry with him. Further details of what led to the beating or the extent of it are unknown at this time.
A report of the incident was made by a family member and received by the police department May 25th, but the incident is said to have occurred several days prior. Authorities say Bell implied that she works at a domestic violence shelter in Washtenaw County and also volunteers there as an advocate. Bell is due back in 53rd District Court Wednesday for a probable cause conference.
↧
Roundabout Construction Starts In Whitmore Lake Area Next WeekRoundabout Construction Starts In Whitmore Lake Area Next Week
Roundabout construction will bring about lengthy closures next week.
On Wednesday, Whitmore Lake Road will close at 8 Mile Road for roundabout construction. A detour will be posted. Also next Wednesday, westbound 8 Mile Road will close at US-23 for roundabout construction. Both roadways are expected to re-open on Tuesday, June 13th. During this time, westbound 8 Mile Road traffic from the northbound US-23 exit ramp will be closed. A detour will also be posted when 8 Mile Road is closed.
The Michigan Department of Transportation advises that the northbound US-23 entrance ramp from 8 Mile Road must be open before the closures on Whitmore Lake Road and westbound 8 Mile Road. The northbound US-23 entrance ramp is now expected to reopen next Tuesday. Then the following Tuesday, June 13th, M-DOT says 8 Mile Road and Whitmore Lake Road traffic will be placed on the newly reconstructed roundabouts. (JM)
↧
Monthly Meeting Helps Women And Female Veterans Living With Brain InjuryMonthly Meeting Helps Women And Female Veterans Living With Brain Injury
Female veterans who are survivors of and living with brain injury are invited to join a monthly peer support group in Brighton.
Women Supporting Women Veterans and the Brain Injury Association of Michigan hold monthly meetings to help women whoâve suffered from said injuries move forward in their lives. Diane Dugan of the Brain Injury Association believes there is power in bringing survivors together. She said that the one thing she keeps hearing is âThank God Iâm not alone.â Dugan explained the relief that attendees have expressed about finding other women who are going through the same thing they are. She said so often these women suffer in silence, and this is a great opportunity for them to come together and share ideas and strategies that have helped along the way.
Arlene Callaghan of Women Supporting Women Veterans said that a lot of people who have a brain injury may appear to others as looking normal and healthy, when they are not. She said that such an injury can change a personâs life dramatically and impact the way they think, act, and feel. The group does not exclude males, but does focus on females and the different sets of challenges they face. Callaghan and Dugan wanted women to know that they are not a therapy group and not psychologists. The group is meant as an opportunity for women suffering with similar issues to get together and give each other confidence.
Meetings are held monthly at the Brain Association of Michiganâs building at 7305 Grand River Avenue, Suite 100, in Brighton. More information can be found by contacting Diane Dugan at (810) 229-5880, or by emailing her at ddugan@biami.org.
Callaghan and Dugan will be guests this Sunday at 8:30am on WHMI's Viewpoint. (MK)
↧
↧
Annual Springfest Will Kick Off Summer Reading At Brighton District LibraryAnnual Springfest Will Kick Off Summer Reading At Brighton District Library
An annual event at the Brighton District Library will have fun activities for kids, but serve an educational purpose as well by kicking off the libraryâs Summer Reading Program.
Springfest will be held Saturday, June 11th, from 1 to 4pm in Millieâs Garden, which sits right outside of the library. Youth Services Specialist Margaret Vergith says Springfest will be a free, activity-filled day including giant bubble stations, a robot shop, and a petting zoo. Some of the special guests in attendance that day will be a juggler and stilt walker, the man who holds the Guinness Book of World Records for his skills in balloon art, and an appearance from a princess whose identity is remaining a surprise.
At Springfest, readers of all ages can sign up for the libraryâs eight-week âBuild a Better Worldâ Summer Reading Program, which runs from June 11th through August 5th. Vergith says this yearâs program theme allows readers to think outside of the box and encourages creativity by lending itself to all kinds of interpretations.
Vergith says the reading program, which all Livingston libraries participate in, is important especially for kids during the summer. She says reading helps children make gains in their education that they would otherwise lose when school is not in session. More information about Springfest or the reading program can be found at the link below. (DK)
↧
Brighton OKs New Joint IT Data Center with HowellBrighton OKs New Joint IT Data Center with Howell
The Brighton City Council Thursday night unanimously approved a new joint Information Technology Data Center with the city of Howell at a cost of $54,000.
The cityâs utilities fund will pay 40% of the cost and the rest will come from the general fund. Howell will pay a higher amount â $63,000 - because of its larger population, while the Howell Area Recreation Authority â which also utilizes the IT Data Center - will chip in $8,900 towards the total cost of $126,000. In 2012 Howell expanded its IT partnership with the city of Brighton by implementing a network server data center solution for both communities, as well as the Howell Recreation Authority.
Howell City Manager Shea Charles, who gave the presentation Thursday night, told Brighton Council members the current data center is at its end of life and is in need of replacement. That has resulted in part from implementation of new Geographic Information Systems by both Howell and Brighton as part of the SAW grant program. Brighton Mayor Jim Muzzin tells WHMI that Brighton has benefitted in cost savings from the joint data center, since previously the city had to hire a private company to provide the service.
The SAW â or Stormwater, Asset Management and Wastewater grant program - allows municipalities the chance to develop asset management plans for their stormwater and wastewater systems. However, grant dollars donât cover the IT hardware needed to operate the software. In addition, technology is placing increasing demands on existing hardware and software systems so that municipalities such as Howell and Brighton need to upgrade them sooner than in the past. (TT)
↧
Howell Student Who Made School Shooting Threat Receives Probation SentenceHowell Student Who Made School Shooting Threat Receives Probation Sentence
Sentencing has been handed down to a local teen charged with threatening to shoot up Howell High School.
17-year-old Sarah Hiler was sentenced to 18 months of probation and one day in the Livingston County Jail, which she has already served, in Livingston County Circuit Court Thursday. Judge Michael P. Hatty sentenced Hiler under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which means her record will be expunged if she successfully completes probation.
In April, Hiler admitted to attempting to make a threat of terrorism. The charge is connected to the March 2nd incident in which Hiler, who was using a fake name on a Twitter account, posted a tweet that referenced shooting up Howell High School.
Hiler was originally charged with making a threat of terrorism, but prosecutors agreed to the lesser charged and to dismiss a count of using a computer to commit a crime in exchange for her plea. At the time of Hilerâs arrest, Howell Police Chief George Basar says authorities were able to determine her threat was not credible. Her family has previously said she was being bullied through text messages and social media, but felt that she couldnât talk to school counselors about the harassment. (DK)
↧
Howell American Legion Asks Public To Help Recover Stolen FlagsHowell American Legion Asks Public To Help Recover Stolen Flags
A local veterans group is asking for the publicâs help to recover flags that were stolen over the Memorial Day weekend.
The American Legion Devereaux Post 141in Howell says that several of the 65 American flags they put out along Grand River Avenue for Mondayâs parade were taken. Because the flags were purchased with grant money that canât easily be replaced, they decided to make the public aware so if the flags show up in someoneâs yard, or if their kids all of a sudden have flags they didn't have before, they might recover them.
A similar theft of flags also occurred last November when the flags were put up for Veterans Day. Legion officials ask that anyone who may have the flags in their possession consider returning them to the patio at the post on Grand Rover and M-59 so they can continue to be used to honor area service members. (JK)
↧
↧
Groups File Second Request To Pull Rover Pipeline PermitGroups File Second Request To Pull Rover Pipeline Permit
Citizensâ groups in Ohio and Michigan have now requested that a second federal agency revoke a permit for the ET Rover Pipeline, which is being installed through Livingston County.
On Thursday, environmental groups representing residents in Michigan and Ohio issued a formal request to the Army Corps of Engineers to revoke its blanket permit for construction of the Rover gas pipeline. If completed, the 42-inch-diameter Rover pipeline would carry 3.25 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from shale formations in Pennsylvania and West Virginia across Ohio and into Michigan, where it would cross Lenawee, Washtenaw and Livingston counties before joining the Vector pipeline near Fowlerville.
In a letter filed with the Buffalo District of the Army Corps of Engineers, Terry Lodge, an attorney acting on behalf of three groups --Michigan Residents Against the ET Rover Pipeline, the Ohio-based Fresh Water Accountability Project, and the Sierra Club-- urged the Corps to withdraw its blanket permit for Rover contractors to use a drilling practice known as horizontal directional drilling they contend has severely damaged wetlands in Ohio, and instead require site-by-site drilling permits.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) last month ordered Rover to suspend all such drilling, but the groups say Michigan residents fear that if it resumes, a similar tragedy could happen at Roverâs planned crossing of Portage Creek, which empties into Portage Lake and then into the Huron River. Putnam Township resident Clifford Rowley, expressed hope that the Army Corps of Engineers will approve Thursdayâs request, noting that, "While FERC may have temporarily suspended some pipeline construction, the Corp of Engineers has the responsibility to avoid adverse environmental impacts. We hope that they will recognize the pattern of repeated violations, the scale of destruction, and the stunning dismissal of state authority as a unique set of circumstances that must be met with firm clear action."
Thursdayâs letter comes just one week after two of its parties --Michigan Residents Against the ET Rover Pipeline and the Fresh Water Accountability Project-- filed a motion with FERC calling on the agency to withdraw its permit for the project. FERC has yet to rule on that motion. (JK)
↧
Rock The Block Returns To Downtown Howell Wednesday NightRock The Block Returns To Downtown Howell Wednesday Night
A celebration of music and the local food scene will return to downtown Howell this week.
Rock the Block is back on Wednesday, marking the first of three events that highlight local music of varying genres and âbest bitesâ which are samples of the best of the local food scene. Each will take place on the first Wednesday of the month in June, July and August.
Wednesdayâs Rock the Block lineup will feature an American rustbelt band, a local singer/songwriter, working class pop and rock band as well as a classic rock/Irish Celtic band. The music will be in four different locations, two run from 6 to 8pm and two from 7 to 9pm.
Best Bites on the Block will be available at each location. Those wishing to purchase wristbands can do so either in advance for a discounted price or at the event locations. Details are available through the link. (JM)
↧
Neighbors Start Go Fund Me Account For Man Who Lost Everything In Fire Neighbors Start Go Fund Me Account For Man Who Lost Everything In Fire
Friends and neighbors have started a Go Fund Me site to help a local man who lost everything in a fire Monday, including his pet pig.
The Howell Area Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire on Fisk Road around 8:45pm Monday. Chief Andy Pless says on arrival, they found a 20 by 40 foot garage-type structure fully involved in fire. He says the building was about 600 feet off the road and there was a delay in reporting the fire as the owner attempted to extinguish before calling 911. The cause of the fire is believed to be from a faulty solar power system that was providing power to the structure. The official cause is undetermined due to the complete loss of the building. Pless says it was not insured and was being used for storage purposes only. The fire was brought under control quickly, however due to the roof collapsing crews were on scene for about an hour putting out hot spots.
People who live nearby reached out to WHMI following the fire to say the neighborhood is a close knit group of people and a man residing in the structure lost everything in the fire, along with his beloved pet pig Penny. They say he kind of lives off the grid and since it technically wasnât a dwelling, nothing was insured but he lost everything. Friends and neighbors have started a Go Fund Me account to assist Chris O'Neill. They say the goal is to help him re-build and get some of the tools and necessities he needs to live there, as they already have lots of clothes donated to him as well as a new pig.
The link to the Go Fund Me page is provided. (JM)
↧
More Pages to Explore .....
