4/1/13 - A Brighton is heading to trial for the recent armed robbery of a gas station. 34-year-old David Kenneth Rentsch was charged in the hold-up of the Brighton BP gas station. He was bound over for trial following a recent court hearing and his arraignment in Livingston County Circuit Court was waived. Police allege Rentsch walked into the gas station at 204 W. Grand River the morning of March 18th, pulled out a handgun and demanded money. After receiving an undetermined amount of cash, Rentsch fled the station. He was later spotted near the Brighton Education and Community Center and taken into custody. Rentsch has an extensive criminal record that includes a prior armed robbery and he could also face a parole-violation charge. Heâs scheduled to appear before Circuit Court Judge David Reader for a pre-trial hearing on April 19th, with a May 13th trial date set. (JK)
Trial Set For Accused Armed RobberTrial Set For Accused Armed Robber
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Library Program Seeks to Bridge CulturesLibrary Program Seeks to Bridge Cultures
4/1/13 - Residents will get a professional look at the Arab world, its culture, ad its interactions with the United States at a special presentation at the Howell Carnegie Library this week. The program is part of the Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys program, and will feature as its guest speaker David Serio from the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn. It will present information about Arab culture, countries of origin, and immigration patterns. The program will take place at the library from 7:00 to 8:30pm on Thursday. The project is being funded in part by the Michigan Humanities Council, with local supporters including the Livingston Diversity Council. (JK)
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After Cuts & Layoffs, BAS Facing Budget Surplus Next YearAfter Cuts & Layoffs, BAS Facing Budget Surplus Next Year
4/1/13 - While the Brighton Area school District is working to erase a legacy deficit, central office administrators must also prepare the district budget for the coming fiscal year, which starts in just three months. And those administrators are now predicting a balanced budget with a surplus for the coming year. At the regular Board of Education meeting last week, Superintendent Greg Gray told the board that in April he will present a budget for the coming fiscal year beginning July 1st that will show a fund balance, rather than a deficit. Gray gives part of the credit to the person who does the lionâs share of budget preparation and accounting work, Assistant Superintendent of Finance Maria Gistinger, whom he called a âmagicianâ with figures. But Gray tells WHMI the entire administrative staff and the board all deserve credit for making the hard choices that should yield some black ink by the end of the 13-14 fiscal year. Brighton is being required to eliminate its long-term legacy deficit by the end of the 13-14 fiscal year, and that information is contained in the latest deficit elimination plan that was submitted to the state on March 22nd. However, Gray says he would be surprised if he heard back from the state on whether it has accepted the districtâs plan before the end of the current school year. Regarding the 2013-14 budget, Gray wouldnât did not reveal specifics, saying that would be forthcoming this month. (JK)
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Handy Township Passes State-Mandated Ordinance ChangeHandy Township Passes State-Mandated Ordinance Change
4/1/13 - The Handy Township Planning Commission is not complaining that a state-mandated ordinance amendment will diminish local control over cellular service providers. The ordinance, unanimously passed by the commission last week, makes it a permitted use for cellular companies to place new antennas on existing cellular towers, called âpiggybacking.â Currently the process is a special use, requiring the cellular companies to get approval from the township. The amendment is a state-mandated change to local ordinance that reduces the power of the local government, but Township Supervisor Dr. Hank Vaupel says Handy has no major objections to the change. He says piggybacking is already the preferred way to allow cellular companies increase local coverage, and that it is preferable to constructing more cell towers to hold the antennas. Even though local governments have no say in the matter, the ordinance amendment must still be sent to the county planning commission for review before getting final approval from the township board. (TD)
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Rollover Crash Closes I-96 Sunday NightRollover Crash Closes I-96 Sunday Night
4/1/13 - Two Wayne County residents were seriously injured in a rollover crash last night near Williamston. State Police say an SUV driven by a 23-year-old Allen Park man swerved to avoid slowing traffic and rolled over into the median on westbound I-96 near Dietz Road at about 6:45 Sunday evening. The roadway was closed so a medical helicopter could be brought for the driver, who was taken to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. His passenger, a 20-year-old Melvindale woman, was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Both were said to have suffered serious injuries, although their conditions are unknown. Both directions of I-96 were intermittently closed for about two hours following the crash. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact the State Police Lansing Post. (JK)
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Demonstration to Help Polish Howell's 'We The People' TeamDemonstration to Help Polish Howell's 'We The People' Team
4/1/13 - An event next week will serve as a tune-up of sorts for a local group of students set to represent Michigan in a national competition. Howell High Schoolâs We The People team is hosting a demonstration night on Tuesday, April 9th at the Howell High School auditorium as they prepare for the national competition April 26th through the 29th in Washington D.C. School officials say the demonstration night will serve multiple purposes by letting the public see what We The People is about, while also helping the students practice and thanking their sponsors as well. Since taking first place at the state finals in Lansing in January, several individuals, businesses and organizations have contributed to help the team raise the $52,000 needed for all 29 members to travel to Washington, D.C. A big part of that came from the Ted and Jane Von Voightlander Foundation, which pledged $26,000. At the Demonstration Night, each team will answer one question from judges based on the three questions the teams are preparing for competition. Guest judges include Howell Superintendent Ron Wilson, Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt, Howell High School Principal Jason Schrock and others. We the People is an instructional program on the history and principles of American constitutional democracy for elementary, middle, and high school students. (JK)
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Community Comes Together to Plant Pinwheels & Raise Awareness Community Comes Together to Plant Pinwheels & Raise Awareness
4/1/13 - Today marks the start of National Child Abuse Prevention Month and a large group of kids, child advocates and community members came together for a special ceremony on the lawn in front of the Howell Carnegie District Library. LACASAâs Child Abuse Prevention Council hosted the ceremony and attendees planted a blue pinwheel garden afterward, which is the national symbol for child abuse and neglect prevention. As part of an effort to expand the âPinwheels for Preventionâ campaign this year, a group of junior and cadet girl scouts from the Pinckney, Hamburg, and Lakeland area went to work planting pinwheel gardens at twelve other locations across the county this afternoon. Troop 42049 Leader Toni Pilotti tells WHMI theyâre always looking at new ways to contribute to the community and have been involved with the pinwheels campaign for about three years now. The ceremony also featured performances by Voices of Voyager elementary school choir, readings and brief speeches from local officials centered on protecting both children and families in Livingston County. (JM)
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Brighton Home Destroyed in Sunday Night Fire Brighton Home Destroyed in Sunday Night Fire
4/1/13 - A home in Brighton was destroyed by fire last night. It happened on Walnut Hills Drive south of Brighton Road and west of Bauer Road. Brighton Fire Chief Mike OâBrian says they were called out at about 10pm and found an advanced fire already underway inside with smoke throughout the 3,000 square foot residence. After attempting to try and knock down the fire from the inside, they pulled everyone out and made a defensive stand. Because that area has no hydrants, tankers had to be called in and a second alarm was declared. They were assisted at the scene by the Hamburg, Putnam, Lyon Township, Green Oak and Howell departments as well as the Disaster Assistance Response Team. OâBrian estimated the loss at about half a million dollars. He said the homeowner was not home at the time and no pets were injured. However, two Hamburg Township firefighters did sustain minor injuries. One came in contact with an electrical feed, while the other suffered a medical condition. Neither injury was serious in nature, but did require hospitalization. OâBrian says a cause remains under investigation. Photo courtesy of Roy Seifried. (JK)
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Ypsilanti Man Arraigned on Charges After Police Chase & StandoffYpsilanti Man Arraigned on Charges After Police Chase & Standoff
4/1/13 - A man who led authorities from numerous departments on a multi-mile chase across the southern portion of Livingston County on Friday has been formally charged. 28-year-old Andrew John McCormick of Ypsilanti has been arraigned on variety of charges and will appear in 53rd District Court on April 8th for an exam conference. Heâs charged with 1st degree home invasion, three counts of resisting police, 4th degree fleeing and eluding and malicious destruction of property for ramming into a patrol car while trying to escape. The chase began around 5:15 last Friday afternoon and ended with McCormick fleeing into a home on Merrick Drive in Putnam Township, which officers quickly surrounded. After about an hour of unsuccessful negotiations, a special response team went inside and discovered McCormick hiding in a bathroom. He was taken into custody without further incident and remains behind bars in the Livingston County Jail. (JM)
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Genoa Residents Support Weed Control Project on Lake ChemungGenoa Residents Support Weed Control Project on Lake Chemung
4/2/13 - There was a strong show of support from residents to renew an aquatic weed control project on Lake Chemung in Genoa Township. A large crowd turned out for Monday nightâs board meeting and while some sought clarification on lake access points, everyone spoke in favor of removing the nuisance weeds. They said stated the cost of controlling the weeds works out to less than $8 a month and felt the advantages are obvious when it comes to maintaining property values and the long term health of the lake. The board voted to new the special assessment district for a five year period following the public hearing. Trustee Jim Mortenson voted against it, but clarified his position. He said the weed control itself was fine by him if everyoneâs happy with it but felt that some back lot property owners who objected had a case in point. The lake management program has been in place for ten years now. All property owners in the district are assessed the same amount and some expressed written opposition, saying they felt it should be based on the amount of property owned while others felt only lakefront property owners should be assessed. (JM)
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Driving Classes Planned For Senior Centers Around The CountyDriving Classes Planned For Senior Centers Around The County
4/2/13 - Local senior centers will be offering a class through the AARP starting this month to help seniors with their driving skills. The Drive Safer Longer course aims to teach seniors about how the effects of aging, such as problems with hearing, vision, and response time, can affect how they drive, as well as how to cope with them. It will also cover aggressive driver, large trucks, new safety features, and other things that can prove challenging to older drivers. The program typically costs $12 for AARP members, but through the assistance of the Livingston County United Way it is being offered to Livingston County residents free of charge. It will be offered at the Howell Senior Center on April 23rd and 25th, the Hamburg Senior Center May 13th and 14th, Hartland May 20th and 21st, and Brighton on June 10th and 12th. Space for the class is limited to 15 people per senior center, and registration is required. Contact a senior center for information on how to register. That information is contained in the document posted below. (TD)
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Company's Restoration of Historic Dexter Site Nears CompletionCompany's Restoration of Historic Dexter Site Nears Completion
4/2/13 - A healthcare software company is close to finishing up its $1.7 million restoration of a historical site in Dexter. MedHub bought the 22,000-square-foot building in downtown Dexter in 2011. The former grain mill, built in 1899, is a village landmark. Company President Peter Orr said that while the cost of simply tearing down the structure and starting from scratch would have been just a third of the cost of restoration, they recognized the importance of saving a community landmark and placing it back on the tax roll. The project will also allow the company to double its staff to 15 people. MedHub, which serves large academic teaching hospitals worldwide, was assisted in the effort by Ann Arbor Spark. The company expects to move in to the renovated building later this spring. (JK)
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Fenton City Discusses Deficits Projected For Coming YearsFenton City Discusses Deficits Projected For Coming Years
4/2/13 - Fenton City Council discussed the coming fiscal year and the deficits projected for the following years at a work session last night. According to a five-year projection from a public financial consulting firm, the city currently has a deficit of $300,000 for the 2013-2014 budget. City Manager Lynn Markland says the council plans to continue to adapt that budget to make sure it balances before it is passed. However, barring a decision by voters, a decision by the state legislature is set to eliminate the personal property tax in 2014. This will remove $650,000 from the cityâs budget, leading to deficits of about $1 million beginning in the 2014-2015 budget year. Markland says the city has already made significant cuts to spending and staffing, so compensating for the lost revenue will pose a challenge to the council. He tells WHMI that an override of the Headlee Amendment, which limits how much property tax can be levied against citizens, could potentially alleviate some of the problem by generating about $600,000 annually. This would have to be approved by voters, and Markland says other communities that have tried to pass similar overrides have been met with mixed results. The city currently has a $1.8 million fund balance, and Markland says he is not sure if enough cuts can be found to balance the budget in future years. (TD)
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Coyote Decoys Part of Larger Plan to Deter Geese in HowellCoyote Decoys Part of Larger Plan to Deter Geese in Howell
4/2/13 - They may have been taken by surprise last summer, but this year the City of Howell is prepared to take on the flock of Canada geese moving in on Thompson Lake. The geese settle on the beach of the lake, where their droppings cause a spike in E.Coli levels in swimming waters. Last year the city tried to deter the birds with free-spinning coyote decoys, but they did not prove as effective as hoped. The problem got so bad the lake had to be closed to residents due to health concerns as mandated by the state. Before the end of the summer the city council approved spending money to hire a private company to deal with the animals, and Parks and Rec Director Debbie Mikula tells WHMI a meeting is scheduled with the goose removal specialist this spring. Their methods could include resuming the coyote decoys in conjunction with a capture-and-release system to move the birds. Additionally, the company could talk to the city about landscaping options, such as high grass or large rocks, that could deter geese from settling on the beach since they prefer having direct walking access to the water. Mikula says the company contracted by the city uses humane relocation techniques. In addition, residents are asked not to feed the geese. (TD)
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Brighton Township Supports Control of Mute Swan PopulationBrighton Township Supports Control of Mute Swan Population
4/2/13- The Organization of Woodland Lake (OWL) will begin process to have the Mute Swan population in their area removed. The Brighton Township Board of Trustees recently approved a resolution to support the removal of these destructive swans throughout the township. Anita Grapentien, President of OWL says the Mute Swan is detrimental to other wildlife and humans. The Mute Swan is not native to the United States and is becoming a burden in Brighton Township. Now that OWL has the support of the township, they will seek approval to join a program through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality which formally allows for the removal of this specific species of swan. OWL, and other residents of the township, will then be able to hire a company to relocate Mute Swans and destroy their nests. (SO)
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Hartland Area Chamber of Commerce Announces $1,000 Scholarship Hartland Area Chamber of Commerce Announces $1,000 Scholarship
4/2/13 - A high school senior who resides in the Hartland Consolidated Schools district is eligible to apply for a newly announced scholarship. The $1,000 scholarship is being offered by the Hartland Area Chamber of Commerce to one winner who demonstrates the kind of character and qualities itâs seeking to spread in the community. The Chamber says itâs looking for an individual who demonstrates leadership, has been a good student throughout his or her academic career, but also places value on community service and personal growth. Scholarship applicants can be from a public, private, charter, or home school setting and must submit an application, which is available through the Hartland High School counseling office or online through the link below. The winner will be selected by a committee comprised of area business professionals who are members of the Hartland Chamber. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 26th. (JM)
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Extra Expenses Approved for Latson Interchange Work Extra Expenses Approved for Latson Interchange Work
4/2/13 - The Genoa Township board met Monday night and authorized some funds for additional expenses related to updating the municipalityâs future land use plan. The township is in the process of updating the plan and the $4,000 was deemed necessary since itâs been putting more focus on the area directly south of the proposed Latson Road interchange than originally intended, including additional meetings and materials. Itâs essentially the area between Crooked Lake and the new interchange. Assistant Township Manager and Community Development Director Kelly VanMarter tells WHMI they previously hosted workshops with residents for input, which went really well, but they wanted to expand on that and felt it would be beneficial to host meetings with small groups of those property owners to discuss plans for the area and gain additional feedback. VanMarter says theyâre leaning toward a campus concept near the interchange to allow for a hospital, university or corporate headquarters and are looking to attract a large user to the area. However, she says theyâre still working on how to best identify and define the limits, how big it should be and how to best transition from the campus setting into a rural community, which is whatâs there now. The updated plan and revision are expected to be presented to the planning commission for review and hearings this summer. (JK)
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Mother Claims Innocence in Book About 4-Year-Old Son's DeathMother Claims Innocence in Book About 4-Year-Old Son's Death
4/3/13 - A mother serving time in state prison for not doing enough to stop the death of her young son is claiming innocence in a newly published book but family members say his memory deserves better. The book "I Didn't Kill My Baby: A Motherâs Quest for Justice and Journey to Forgiveness" is available online and claims to be a riveting story of Corrine Bakerâs fight to keep 4-year-old Dominick Calhoun alive, only to then be blamed for his death. It was penned by Laura Schupbach Ouellette, who told area news outlets the idea came after meeting with Baker during Dominickâs funeral at a Fenton church where she worked. Dominick was brutally beaten and tortured over the course of four days by Bakerâs boyfriend Brandon Hayes inside of their Argentine Township apartment in April of 2010. Baker later testified in court that she failed as a parent and did not do enough to try and save him. Hayes is serving life in prison without parole while Baker was given 13 to 30 years after pleading guilty to 2nd degree murder and child abuse. Sheâs currently incarcerated at the Huron Valley Women's Center. Family members say too little, too late and maintain Baker had plenty of time to take Dominick out of the situation and during those four days, she never called 911 or anyone else for help. After the childâs death, the family fought for stiffened penalties for child abuse and Governor Rick Snyder signed Dominickâs Law last June. Dominickâs grandfather Rick Calhoun told WHMI today that Baker is âa grand manipulatorâ and the book âis a work of fictionâ. The family is asking the public to boycott the book and prevent the Christian-themed self-publishing company from profiting off their loss. A link to an online petition currently circulating is posted below. (JM)
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Hamburg Police To Sell Off 31 Seized Firearms To Local DealerHamburg Police To Sell Off 31 Seized Firearms To Local Dealer
4/3/13 - The Hamburg Township Police Department has been accumulating seized weapons over the years, and yesterday it got permission to sell 31 of those guns to a local firearms dealer. The department has no use for the confiscated weapons, and state law outlines a process for selling them off. Officers have checked each one to ensure that it was not stolen, and then posted them on the departmentâs website for 30 days. With that completed, the department is free to sell the guns to any federally-certified firearms dealer. The sale approved by the Hamburg Township board yesterday will sell the whole lot of guns to a Hamburg-based dealer for a total of $4,000. It was commented that the price seemed low, but Duffany said it was an appropriate amount for a police department selling used and unwanted weapons. He says this deal actually averages more money per weapon than the departmentâs last gun sale. (TD)
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New Charge Expected Against Man for Brandishing Gun on US-23New Charge Expected Against Man for Brandishing Gun on US-23
4/3/13 - Charges filed against a Genesee County man who police say brandished a weapon at a motorist while driving on US-23 last year in Hartland Township are expected to be amended locally. 67-year-old Clarence Leroy Murphy Jr. of Flint was charged with two counts of carrying a concealed weapon for an incident last fall in Hartland Township. A driver told police she and her 12-year-old daughter were driving northbound on US-23 last October 29th when a minivan driven by Murphy tried to pass her near Crouse Road, then pulled alongside at which point he waived a handgun while laughing. 53rd District Court records show attorneys obtained information from the Genesee County Gun Board, and prosecutors advised the court that the charges against Murphy will be amended to one count of felonious assault. An exam was requested, which was scheduled for April 23rd. Meanwhile, Murphy is set to appear for a pre-trial hearing in Genesee County today for a separate incident on September 6th in which he was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in Flint Township. (JM)
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