One local communityâs efforts to enhance its downtown have again drawn national notice.
The National Main Street Center announced that downtown Howell is being honored as a semi-finalist in the Great American Main Street Award program. The announcement puts Howell in the running among 10 other downtown communities across the United States. A winner will be selected and announced at the 2018 National Main Street Conference next March in Kansas City. Howell was also named as a semifinalist for the 2016 contest.
In a post on their Facebook page, Main Street America noted that when Howell first became a Main Street community in 2005 it already had a low storefront vacancy rate, but many of the first-floor spaces were occupied by professional or service-based businesses that didnât always attract people downtown. The organization noted that over the last 12 years, âHowell Main Street has not only further reduced the vacancy rate, but also diversified the mix of businesses to foster a strong sense of place to attract and keep people downtown.â (JK)
Howell Again Named Semifinalist In Great American Main Street ContestHowell Again Named Semifinalist In Great American Main Street Contest
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South Lyon Mother Pulls Gun During Back To School Brawl South Lyon Mother Pulls Gun During Back To School Brawl
A back to school brawl between four women at an area store over a notebook ended with a gun being pulled.
The ordeal occurred Monday afternoon at the Novi Towne Center Walmart and was caught on video by a witness. It involved a Farmington Hills mother and daughter, ages 46 and 32, and a mother and daughter from South Lyon, ages 51 and 20. Novi Police Detective Scott Baetens confirmed for WHMI that both pairs of women are mother and daughter.
The two Farmington Hills women were said to be shopping for school supplies when one of them reached for the last notebook on a shelf. The 20-year-old South Lyon woman reportedly reached for it at the same time, an argument ensued and quickly turned physical. Police say the two women pulled the 20-year-oldâs hair and her mother got shoved out the way before she pulled out a gun, pointed it at them and told them to stop attacking her daughter.
Police received several calls about the incident from store staff and customers. The South Lyon mother is a valid concealed pistol license holder and the gun is registered.
Baetens says the South Lyon women purchased the notebook. He says no arrests were made at the scene and the case has been forwarded to the Oakland County Prosecutorâs Office for review, which will determine if any criminal charges are warranted. (JM)
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Fundraisers Will Coincide With Local Sporting Events Fundraisers Will Coincide With Local Sporting Events
A couple of fundraisers will be held tonight at area high school sports events.
At Brighton, a collection will be taken for a school district in Pasadena Texas, an area that has seen more than 50 inches of rain since Friday. The money will be collected between the first and second quarters, with all proceeds going to the Pasadena district. Donations can also be made at canisters at the concession stands and ticket windows.
At Howell, the Howell and Brighton volleyball teams will team up tonight to raise money for two charities dedicated to helping veterans here in Michigan. The varsity match will start at 5:30, and Howell students who attend the volleyball game can show their ticket stubs for free admission to the Highlandersâ football home opener, which starts at 7. Williams says the money raised will go to Stiggyâs Dogs, which trains support dogs for military personnel, and the Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund. (TR)
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Livingston County Sheriff's Office To Host "Coffee With A Cop" Friday Livingston County Sheriff's Office To Host "Coffee With A Cop" Friday
The Livingston County Sheriffâs Office is jumping on the java train.
âCoffee With A Copâ will take place at Biggby Coffee on Lawson Drive in Genoa Township and is sponsored by the Livingston County Sheriffâs Office Community Outreach Program. Friday marks the first time the Office will host such an event. Sheriff Mike Murphy tells WHMI thereâs been several police agencies in the county that have hosted coffee events and they felt it was their turn.
The goal is to make the Office more approachable, connect with the community to understand what they expect, help solve problems and generally, open up lines of communication. He says these types of events have been successful with other agencies and it will highlight the Community Outreach Program implemented August 1st.
The primary focus of the three deputies assigned is working with youth, the schools and existing school resource officers to help solve problems at a much lower level. Murphy says the idea is that if they can solve some problems and have good dialogue with youth, then looking long term it will make their jobs much easier.
Murphy noted there will be no set script or anything at Fridayâs event and deputies will just be available to strike up a conversation with those who attend from 10 am to noon at Biggby Coffee. He added they welcome the input and it can only make them better when they understand community expectations from the Sheriffâs Office.
Murphy says theyâre looking forward to the opportunity to start conversations and expect the âCoffee With A Copâ events will continue, as will the availability of the Community Resource Officers to have those interactions with the public. (JM)
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New Judge To Hear Case Against County Commissioner From FentonNew Judge To Hear Case Against County Commissioner From Fenton
Genesee County officials have found a judge to preside over a case against a Commissioner from Fenton.
District 6 Commissioner Drew Shapiro is charged with three misdemeanors following an incident that took place on Silver Lake on May 27th. The 28-year-old Shapiro faces counts of reckless operation of a vehicle and two counts of indecent language after police say he shouted ethnic slurs from his pontoon boat at an individual on shore who was reportedly dating his ex-fiancée. Shapiroâs pre-trial hearing had been delayed after three district court judges recused themselves from hearing the case, citing compromised objectivity. One of Shapiroâs responsibilities as a county commissioner is to oversee the judgeâs salaries. But court records indicate that 67th District Court Judge Vikki Haley of Mt. Morris has been assigned the case with a pre-trial hearing set for September 14th.
Shapiro, who is running for a vacant seat in the State House of Representatives, has claimed the charges are a public smear campaign against him for being a Jewish Republican in Genesee County. (JK)
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Green Oak Police Station To Be Built, Fire Station And Community Center PostponedGreen Oak Police Station To Be Built, Fire Station And Community Center Postponed
Plans for a new police station in Green Oak Township are still on, but 2 other projects once tied to it are being put on temporary hold.
The Green Oak Township Board of Trustees held a special meeting Wednesday night to discuss their options for funding a new police station, community center, and improvements to the fire station. Originally the Board believed they could get this project done without extra cost to the taxpayers. Township Supervisor Mark St. Charles said this no longer seems to be the case. St. Charles said that the vision they had of what it would cost in the beginning, realistic or not, is only about half of what new estimates are coming in at. Early estimates suggested to the Board that the new buildings could be constructed for around $150 per square foot, but new estimates have that number at double that. St. Charles said that current codes and methods of constructing police and fire stations are at a higher level than more regular buildings. As a result, the difficult decision had to be made with how to proceed.
Treasurer Susan Daugherty said she was pretty confident they could still do the police building, but the fire station and community center would most likely require an additional millage. Clerk Michael Sedlak said that they have been promising the public a new police department for a long time and have enough money in the general fund to make a significant contribution. While the early suggestion was to spend $2.5million from the general fund, Trustee Richard Everett recommended spending a million less and bonding more to keep extra cash on hand for emergencies and other promised projects. Bond counselors present supported this idea along with the rest of the Board, saying this would have little to no impact on the townshipâs bond rating.
The Board ultimately approved a motion to continue the plans for a new police station committing $1.5 million of the general fund balance and bonding the rest, and postponing the rest with the exception of fire department site prep and infrastructure development. St. Charles invited anyone with questions to come to Green Oak Days on September 16th at the township hall for more information. (MK)
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Livingston County Again Has Lowest Unemployment In MichiganLivingston County Again Has Lowest Unemployment In Michigan
Livingston County again had the stateâs lowest jobless rate for the month of July.
Livingston Countyâs July unemployment rate stood at 3.1%. While that was up from Juneâs rate of 2.7% - the county was able to maintain the lowest statewide jobless rate for two months in a row. The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget reports that all of Michiganâs 83 counties registered seasonal unemployment rate increases in July, showing a significant median gain of one full percentage point.
The state says the rate hikes are typical in July, attributing increases to seasonal staffing cuts in local government and education along with temporary layoffs in the stateâs auto industry due to the annual vacation shutdown/retooling period at a number of plants.
Over the year, unemployment rates are down. The largest rate decline was recorded in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn statistical area, which includes Livingston County. (JM)
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More Ramp Closures Set For US-23More Ramp Closures Set For US-23
Area motorists should brace themselves for more ramp closures and delays on US-23 in Livingston and Washtenaw Counties starting next week.
The Michigan Department of Transportation says that starting Tuesday, September 5th at 6am, the northbound US-23 entrance ramp from 6 Mile Road will be closed for reconstruction. A detour will be posted when the ramp is closed. The ramp is expected to reopen on Saturday, November 4th. MDOT also says the southbound US-23 entrance ramp from 6 Mile Road, closed since the beginning of July, will remain closed until approximately September 22nd.
Meanwhile, the northbound US-23 ramp to Barker Road will be closed for storm sewer reconstruction starting at 9pm on Friday, September 8th through 7am on Monday the 11th. A detour will be posted. Complete closure and detour information is available through the link below. (JK)
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Osprey Nest Found On Cell Phone Tower In Genoa TownshipOsprey Nest Found On Cell Phone Tower In Genoa Township
A large nest belonging to a rare predatory bird species in Michigan has been spotted by two business owners in Genoa Township.
Don Matskiw of Sterling Auto Creations and Rick Allard of R&A Tool have been watching uncommonly large avian creatures carry food and nesting materials to the top of a cell phone tower off Dorr Road for two years now. It wasnât until Allard recently brought in a bird book, that the duo discovered they were looking at the once-threatened osprey species. Allard said its been exciting to grab the binoculars and watch the birds that have a wingspan of up to 6 feet as they just hang out. Mattskiw flew his drone up there last year and discovered the nest taking up what he believes to be nearly ¾ of the cell phone tower platform. He said he has no idea just many osprey are living up there. He said there appears to be at least 2 adults and some babies. The business owners said itâs not uncommon to see the birds carrying fish back to the nest from nearby Lake Chemung. Allard said they arenât causing a disturbance, but he can often hear them making enough noise to be heard inside his tool shop.
Ospreys were once in danger of being wiped out of Michigan due to the widespread use of the pesticide DDT following World War II. DDT hasnât been used in over two decades, and efforts to reintroduce the species have been successful. Ospreys were taken off of Michiganâs threatened species list in 2009. The Department of Natural Resources still wants any who observe the bird to contact them and report the location. Mattskiw and Allard emailed the DNR Wednesday morning and are awaiting response. Photo - Don Matskiw (MK)
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Six Mile Re-Opens Between Main Street & Nollar Road In Northfield TownshipSix Mile Re-Opens Between Main Street & Nollar Road In Northfield Township
Thereâs one less detour in Northfield Township as of today.
Six Mile Road between Main Street and Nollar Road has been closed since early August so that crews could replace the culvert at the Horseshoe Lake Drain. The road was closed to traffic during construction, with a detour that involved Nollar Road, Seven Mile and Main Street.
The Washtenaw County Road Commission announced today that the contractor for the project has completed the culvert replacement and 6 Mile is back open. (JM)
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Gathering Focuses On Effort To End GerrymanderingGathering Focuses On Effort To End Gerrymandering
A petition to stop gerrymandering in Michigan is making its way around the community, as those heading up the initiative work to inform citizens about the issue and how they plan to fix it.
Voters Not Politicians is a ballot question committee that wants to establish an independent Citizen Redistricting Commission through a state constitutional amendment. The amendment would allow a citizen-controlled system to draw voting maps for legislative and congressional districts. Committee leaders say the commission will end gerrymandering, which is the process of drawing legislative district lines to favor one party so that it maintains political power. The commission would be comprised of four Democrats, four Republicans, and five Independents that are randomly selected through a sampling process.
The committee held a meeting Wednesday at the Livingston County EMS building in Howell, which was attended by approximately 25 people. The goal was to inform residents about what gerrymandering is, how it affects voting outcomes, and their mission to develop the Citizen Redistricting Commission. State Field Director Jamie Lyons-Eddy says gerrymandering rigs the voting system and hurts democracy because the way people vote isnât reflected in their representation. She says it happens with both parties in different states around the country. Lyons-Eddy says the commission would be independent from governmental entities and completely transparent.
Voters Not Politicians is seeking signatures for their initiative petition and have until February 12th to collect the required amount. More information about the committee and the petition can be found at the link below. (DK)
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Warrant Requested For Woman Who Made False Report Of Drunk BartenderWarrant Requested For Woman Who Made False Report Of Drunk Bartender
A local woman who allegedly made a false report that a bartender was drunk while working is wanted by authorities.
54-year-old Lisa Culbertson of Gregory was scheduled to be arraigned last Friday in 53rd District Court on charges of unauthorized use of emergency telephone service and making a false report of a misdemeanor. She originally was set to be arraigned August 16th, but had called the court to inform them she has moved to Virginia and requested a date change, which was granted. However Culbertson did not appear for arraignment on the rescheduled date of August 25th. A warrant for her arrest was requested Tuesday.
The charges against Culbertson stem from the July 5th incident in which Unadilla Township Police were called to the Country Pub in Gregory after receiving a call that a bartender working there was intoxicated and being rude to customers. Police found that the bartender was not drunk, nor did customers believe he was being rude to them.
The employee also indicated that he had received harassing phone calls from Culbertson, who is reportedly a former co-worker. Authorities say Culbertson admitted she had called the bar to speak with someone else and called 911 because she felt the bartender was rude to her on the phone.
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Busy Roads & Stepped Up Patrols This Labor Day Weekend Busy Roads & Stepped Up Patrols This Labor Day Weekend
Another busy Labor Day weekend is anticipated on the roads and the Livingston County Sheriffâs Office is urging safety with many hurrying to get in or out of town.
Itâs the final summer holiday before many parents prepare for the start of another busy school season. AAA Michigan is projecting that more than one million people will be traveling for the holiday, so roads and freeways could be congested. Motorists will still encounter some active work zones, although many construction restrictions will be lifted.
Livingston County Sheriff Mike Murphy says Labor Day tends to be the last hurrah for many in wrapping up summer and getting in that one last time on the water or closing up cabins. As with any holiday or extended weekend, Murphy says people tend to be a bit over zealous whether out on the roads or water, so they just ask that people use patience.
Murphy advises that says his Office and Michigan State Police will have extra patrols out, and he anticipates most local police agencies will as well. Murphy tells WHMI theyâll do their best to make it a safe, uneventful holiday weekend for everybody, but it just works a whole lot better when they have the publicâs help in doing that.
Labor Day is historically the third-most traveled holiday of the summer. While AAA Michigan is anticipating a healthy number of travelers, officials caution that increased gas price volatility could keep some people home.
AAA Michigan officials say the impact of Hurricane Harvey on gas prices hasnât been determined yet, but motorists can expect gas prices over the holiday to be slightly higher than last year. (JM)
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Brighton Freight Company Accepting Donations For Hurricane ReliefBrighton Freight Company Accepting Donations For Hurricane Relief
A local freight trucking company is accepting donations to help victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Matrix Transportation in Brighton will be accepting goods to help survivors and the relief effort for the hurricane which hit southeastern Texas earlier this week. They will be accepting donations at their location on weekdays from 7am until 4pm throughout September. Their trucks will depart each Friday to Spring Creek Church of Christ in Tomball, Texas, which is a suburb of Houston. The church will then distribute the goods to any in the city in need. A
ll donations are accepted, but the top needs are for fans, dehumidifiers, brooms, trash bags, bug spray, and clothing of all sizes and gender. Matrix Transportation is located at 7202 Whitmore Lake Road in Brighton. For more information, contact Jordan Kiefer at (810) 533-1650, or email jkiefer@matrixtransportation.com. (MK)
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Kroger Expansion Project To Start In Brighton Township Kroger Expansion Project To Start In Brighton Township
Demolition is soon to be underway that will aid in the expansion of the Kroger store in Brighton Township.
The grocery store on East Grand River will undergo a 41,000-square-foot expansion. Several smaller shops next door to Kroger will be torn down and the store will total over 104,000-square-feet when the project is complete. All of the tenant spaces next to the current store will be demolished first, so the new addition can be built on those spots, followed by utility work and an overall remodeling.
Kroger Corporate Affairs Manager Rachel Hurst tells WHMI the expansion represents over a $13 (m) million investment in the community. She says the expansion will result in the addition of around 50 jobs at the store. Hurst says the project will expand the produce, meat, seafood and deli departments. She says the storeâs âclick listâ will be relocated to front of the building and the parking lot will be completely resurfaced. Solid start and target completion dates were not available.
Kroger is expected to remain open during the expansion project. (JM)
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Charges Filed In Death Of Inmate Convicted In Livingston County Charges Filed In Death Of Inmate Convicted In Livingston County
Charges have been filed in the death of an inmate who was serving prison time for a crime committed in Livingston County.
Rodriguez Montez Burks of Muskegon was killed July 20th at the Alger Maximum Correctional Facility in Munising. He was serving a two to ten year sentence for fleeing and eluding officers in Livingston County in April of 2016. A warrant was issued this week for Burksâ cellmate, 23-year-old Deshawn Madden. Inmates at the prison told the Detroit Metro Times that Madden killed Burks because Burks was gay and they were âhaving issues.â Madden is serving a 16 to 30 year sentence for a Wayne County conviction on charges of carjacking, armed robbery and assault with intent to commit murder.
Prisoners have also alleged that Madden told two prison staffers that he would hurt Burks if he was not moved to another cell. Corrections officials have denied those allegations, saying that is not the prisonâs protocol, and if an inmate had threatened another individual, he wouldâve been ticketed and punished. Burks' cause of death has not been released. Madden is scheduled for video arraignment September 12th. (JK)
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Entrepreneurial Conference Coming To Downtown HowellEntrepreneurial Conference Coming To Downtown Howell
A statewide program to help educate communities in how to best help local businesses thrive is coming to Howell.
Michigan State University Extensionâs annual Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference, or CEC, will take place in downtown Howell on October 4th and 5th. The conference will bring more than 150 attendees from across the state and beyond. Many breakout sessions will take place in shops, restaurants, and other venues throughout the downtown area. Sessions will be based on topics like talent recruitment, technology, online business planning, creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem and more. Keynote presentations will be given Joe Parker, an investor and entrepreneur in Howell, and the Great Foodini, Renee Chodkowski. Pat Convery, President of the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce said that this conference has something for everyone in the community, whether you work in economic development, business, arts and culture, government, philanthropy, or education.
Registration is now open and early sign-up discounts are available. The cost of the event is $85 per person before September 23rd, and $100 between September 24th and October 1st. Sign up after that and the fee goes up to $125. More information can be found contacting Convery at (517) 546-3920, or by emailing him at pconvery@howell.org. Register at https://events.anr.msu.edu/CEC2017. A full view of all the breakout sessions can be seen through the link below. (MK)
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Event Will Celebrate Those Who Donate Their TimeEvent Will Celebrate Those Who Donate Their Time
A thank you event is being held to celebrate everybody who volunteers their time throughout the area.
Volunteer Livingston is a program of the Livingston County United Way. The upcoming âCheers to Volunteersâ event is an annual opportunity that provides them the chance to recognize and thank those who have donated their time and talents throughout the year. Since its inception in 2002, the program has matched over 6,500 of people to various organizations across the county. For anyone interested in getting involved, their website (link below) offers a free database of opportunities in the Livingston County area. The site has options for all ages, skill levels, time commitments, and locations. The Cheers to Volunteers event is open to anyone who volunteers in the county.
It will be held on Thursday, September 28th, from 4:30pm to 7:30pm at the Howell Opera House. Food and drinks will be provided by Howell High School catering. RSVPâs are requested by September 15th. The reserve your spot call (810) 494-3000 or email volunteerlivingston@gmail.com. (MK)
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Law Enforcement & Advocates Unite For Change At Local Addiction ConferenceLaw Enforcement & Advocates Unite For Change At Local Addiction Conference
Education and awareness about drug abuse, addiction, and overdosing was the focus of an event in Howell yesterday.
The âUnited to Changeâ seminar was held at Cleary University and on National Overdose Awareness Day. Project Hopeâs event provided information about drug disposal, how to reduce overdoses, and stories from survivors and those affected by addiction. Project Hope is a branch of Project Opiate, which offers information to help prevent and reduce the stigma regarding prescription drug abuse and opiate addiction.
One local resident who attended the conference recently began her mission to bring awareness to addiction and help individuals impacted by it. Cheryl Towery of Howell lost her daughter Elaina last month as a result of a heroin overdose. She tells WHMI the painful experience has fueled her desire to prevent and reduce such instances. Before Elaina was taken off life support and passed away, Cheryl says she promised her she would spend the rest of her life helping people who are affected by addiction. Cheryl believes providing help and awareness is the most important aspect in the war on drugs.
Thursday's event included pertinent training for law enforcement in how to recognize and handle an overdose, and a course in the use of Naloxone, which is used in emergencies to treat narcotic overdoses. Livingston County Undersheriff Jeff Warder says these forums are what will make the difference in the fight against the opiate epidemic and offered some advice to anyone battling addiction. Warder encouraged those individuals to speak up and get help. He says law enforcement wants to help people battling addiction get treatment, not lock them up. In fact, Warder says every police and law enforcement agency has bought into that philosophy.
53rd District Court Administrator and event organizer Francine Zysk says it was a powerful day, as there was frank discussion about the problem and its prevalence. She issued a final call to action to attendees before they left, encouraging them no matter what the situation is, they âcan tryâ. (DK)
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South Lyon Fire Department Gets Improved ISO RatingSouth Lyon Fire Department Gets Improved ISO Rating
The City of South Lyon is among the best in the state when it comes to fire protection, which could spell insurance savings for homeowners and businesses.
Effective December 1st, the City of South Lyonâs rating for fire insurance will drop from a â5â to a â3â. The City will be one of only 30 communities in Michigan with a â3â rating, which places the South Lyon Fire Department in the top 1% in the state. The department announced the news on its Facebook page.
Officials say although different insurance companies use a variety of factors to set rates, the lower rating could lead to a 15-20% reduction in fire insurance costs for City residents. ISO evaluates municipal fire-protection efforts in communities using credit points and various formulas, before calculating a fire protection rating from 1, being the best, to 10 being the worst.
The department noted that the 2014 Drinking Water Revolving Fund grant project that replaced water mains and improved hydrant distribution in the core downtown had a significant impact on the overall reduction. Additionally, officials say the department has made improvements to staffing, training, equipment, and apparatus since their last audit. (JM)
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