Improvements to the West Main Street railroad crossing in downtown Brighton are complete, officially reopening the street to motorists over the weekend.
The poor condition of the bumpy crossing between First and Second Street has garnered many complaints in the last couple of years, according to the cityâs Department of Public Works Director Marcel Goch. Work began last Monday to repair railroad ties and the asphalt where it had swelled and buckled. The project, which came at the expense of CSX, wrapped up Friday. Goch says CSX was originally expected to tackle the work in August, but scheduling conflicts pushed it back. He says the community's patience is appreciated.
Goch warns that another railroad project in the area is expected to begin either at the end of this month, or the beginning of next. Though the crossing at Brighton Lake Road is smaller and will hopefully take less time to repair, Goch says traffic will be affected and a detour put in place. He says once the route has been determined, the community will be made aware of it as soon as possible. (DK)
Railroad Crossing Construction Complete in Downtown BrightonRailroad Crossing Construction Complete in Downtown Brighton
↧
↧
MDOT To Resurface South Michigan Avenue In Howell MDOT To Resurface South Michigan Avenue In Howell
South Michigan Avenue is due to be resurfaced in the City of Howell.
The Michigan Department of Transportation recently awarded the South Michigan Avenue resurfacing contract to C&D Hughes, Inc. The City notes the work is funded by and administered by MDOT. This project will consist of resurfacing South Michigan Avenue, between Mason and Grand River. Intermittent side street closures will be required. Also, as part of the construction, one lane in each direction on South Michigan Avenue, will be closed for three days each. Detour routes will be posted during times of lane closures. The City says the project also includes upgrading ADA sidewalk ramps at intersections along South Michigan Avenue between Mason and Grand River.
MDOT has communicated that construction will begin within the next couple of weeks. It is anticipated that once the project begins, it will take three weeks to complete. The schedule is weather dependent. (JM)
↧
Trial Starts This Week For Tainted Steroid Pharmacist Trial Starts This Week For Tainted Steroid Pharmacist
A Massachusetts pharmacist who oversaw the rooms where tainted drugs that caused a deadly meningitis outbreak â including one in Livingston County - is heading to trial. Glenn Chin was supervisory pharmacist at the now-closed New England Compounding Center in Framingham. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of all counts of second-degree murder under federal racketeering law.
Chin heads to trial Tuesday on charges in the 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak that killed 76 people, including 15 people who received the NECCâs tainted steroid injections at a clinic in Livingston County. Hundreds of others were sickened. Experts say prosecutors have a stronger case against Chin than they did against pharmacy co-founder Barry Cadden, who was given a nine-year prison sentence in June. Chin ran the so-called clean rooms where steroid injections were made.
He's accused of failing to properly sterilize the drugs, among other things. Michigan had the highest number of fungal meningitis cases in the nation.
↧
Case Dismissed Against Driving Instructor Accused Of Raping StudentCase Dismissed Against Driving Instructor Accused Of Raping Student
A local judge has thrown out a case against a driving instructor who allegedly raped one of his students at his home in Hartland Township.
Multiple criminal sexual conduct charges were filed against 62-year-old Ningan Hu as a result of the May 2016 incident that involved a 25-year-old female college student said to be incapacitated prior to and during the assault. The victim is a Chinese citizen who was attending school in Windsor, Ontario at that time.
Because the victim is not an American citizen, she needed a special visa to cross the border so she could testify against Hu. Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt says his office was attempting to obtain the visa through federal authorities and asked for an adjournment in the case at a final settlement conference in 44th Circuit Court Friday. But the request to adjourn was denied by Judge Michael P. Hatty. Vailliencourt says because they were unable to proceed to trial without the victim, Judge Hatty dismissed the case.
Police were dispatched to a gas station in Hartland Township on May 21st, 2016, where they found the victim who claimed Hu had plied her with alcohol until she was drunk and then sexually assaulted her at his home. She told police Hu was her driving instructor and that they had driven across the border into the United States so she could gain driving experience. Court records list a Windsor address for Hu, however the residence where the alleged assault reportedly occurred was said to be his home.
Following Fridayâs hearing and case dismissal, Hu was remanded to the county jail and given immediate release. (DK)
↧
Local Elementary Selected For Student Health & Fitness ProgramLocal Elementary Selected For Student Health & Fitness Program
A program designed to improve the health and fitness of students will now include a Livingston County school.
Challenger Elementary School in Howell was among 51 schools included in the Building Healthy Communities program providing better nutrition and physical activity for kids. According to Howell Public Schools Director of Public Relations Tom Gould, this is the first year that Challenger has been selected to receive the grant and, in fact, itâs the first time a Howell school has been selected for the program. Gould says that the grant will allow Challenger to receive a mobile cart stocked with new recess equipment. In addition, teachers will receive materials to teach healthy eating and physical activity lessons, create an afterschool Healthy Kids Club to promote physical activity and healthy eating, and use the student council to create a Student Leadership team that will help create and promote fun activities focused on physical activity and healthy eating habits.
First launched by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in 2009, the program has since been embraced by more than 500 schools across the state. Program officials say that on average students are experiencing 35 minutes per week of increased physical activity and 19 less minutes per day of screen and video time. They say that has shown a nearly 75% increase in their classroom attention span. (JK)
↧
↧
Committee Already Gearing Up For Homeless Awareness WeekCommittee Already Gearing Up For Homeless Awareness Week
Plans are underway for an annual event that informs the community about the prevalence of homelessness in Livingston County.
Homeless Awareness Week is set for the third week in November and event organizers have already coordinated several activities to take place. Each year, the Livingston County Homeless Continuum of Care Committee (HCCC) works to educate residents about the realities of homelessness in the county and what can be done to help those in need. Committee chair Terri Ariss says just because homelessness may not appear to be prominent in the area, doesnât mean thatâs the case. In fact, she reports that just last year there were over 1,000 individuals in the county who were homeless or at risk of soon becoming so.
Awareness activities kick off November 11th with a bake sale to benefit programs provided by the HCC that serve individuals who are either at risk of becoming homeless or already are. A paint and pour event will also be held to raise funds for the services. The main event will be held at the Howell Opera House, which includes raffles, a student artwork display, and guest speakers. A movie that speaks to the issue will be shown at the Historic Howell movie theater.
Lastly, the committee is utilizing social media to draw attention to homelessness. Cardboard cutouts called âsomebodiesâ emblazoned with statistics or personal stories will be placed throughout the county. The community is encouraged to take a picture of the somebodies and post them on social media with the hashtag âHAW2017â.
Ariss hopes the awareness campaign will lead to understanding about the many different faces and situations of homelessness. (DK)
↧
VINA Dental Tailgate Challenges Wolverine And Spartan Fans To Be Most CharitableVINA Dental Tailgate Challenges Wolverine And Spartan Fans To Be Most Charitable
A local dental clinic that helps low income and uninsured families is pitting Spartan and Wolverine fans against each other in a fundraiser before the big game.
The 9th annual VINA Dental Tailgate is scheduled for Thursday, October 5th at Crystal Gardens in Howell, two days before the teams meet in Ann Arbor. The clinic, located on Grand River in Brighton has been providing dental care services to Livingston County residents in-need at a low cost for nearly a decade. Executive Director Barb Colley said that while it has been a group effort by dental community in donating their time and services, the clinic still needs money to operate. Enter the tailgate, which is their yearly benefit where Michigan and Michigan State fans battle for bragging rights on who can donate more, before the teams battle for bragging rights on the field.
Wolverine fans won the contest last year, with Spartan fans winning the year before. Colley promises the tailgate will be a fun, spirited evening for a good cause. She said, âThe real winner in VINA Dental and their patients, but donât let your team lag behind; come and support the Spartans or the Wolverines. Come bring your family and it will be a great evening.â At the event there will be food, a cash bar, a silent auction, games, and more. The Brighton High School Marching Band will be on hand playing each teamâs fight song. A $40 donation gets you in the door. Tickets can be purchased at VINA Dental or online through the link below. (MK)
↧
Two Michigan Republicans Announce For 11th District SeatTwo Michigan Republicans Announce For 11th District Seat
There are now two Michigan Republicans running for a Congressional seat opening up due to retirement.
Lena Epstein and Rocky Raczkowski say they will run for the GOP nomination to replace Dave Trott in the 11th District, which includes South Lyon, Milford and Highland Township. Raczkowski, who has previously run for both the U.S. House and Senate, made his announcement today in an email. He's a businessman, Army veteran and former state lawmaker. Epstein earlier was running for U.S. Senate, but officially ended that bid today. She co-owns an automotive oil company and co-chaired President Trump's successful Michigan campaign.
Trott, a second-term Republican from Birmingham, announced last week that he wouldn't seek re-election. With no incumbent running, the GOP-leaning 11th District is likely to become a bigger Democratic target. So far, there are two announced Democratic candidates, former Obama administration Treasury official Haley Stevens and Homeland Security adviser Fayrouz Saad. (JK)
↧
New Hudson Man Facing Indecent Exposure Charges New Hudson Man Facing Indecent Exposure Charges
An indecent exposure incident remains under investigation in Lyon Township.
Deputies with the Oakland County Sheriffâs Office Lyon Township substation were dispatched to the 58,000 block of Grand River Avenue after a report of an indecent exposure around 2:30pm last Thursday. Police say a school bus driver and a few other bus drivers who had gathered observed an individual standing naked in his door way, facing Grand River.
One of the parties who witnessed the incident stated that they knew this individual from prior contacts at school. There were no minor children present during the incident.
Deputies knocked on the door but were unable to get the 31-year-old New Hudson man to answer the door. When the Deputy looked inside of the residence, he observed the subject sitting on the couch. The subject got up and ran into the bathroom. Deputies continued to make additional attempts to speak to the subject, but to no avail.
No further contact was made and the incident remains under investigation by detectives and police say charges will be sought. (JM)
↧
↧
Ohio Woman Charged After Attempting To Steal From Local Victoria's Secret StoreOhio Woman Charged After Attempting To Steal From Local Victoria's Secret Store
Charges have been authorized against an Ohio woman who allegedly worked with three other individuals to try to steal merchandise from a Green Oak Township store.
21-year-old Malaja Sharde Isom of Toledo, Ohio, is facing one count each of organized retail crime and malicious destruction of property. The charges stem from the September 13th incident that occurred at the Victoriaâs Secret store at the Green Oak Village Place mall.
Store employees contacted police when they became suspicious of the four women loading clothing, lingerie, and beauty items into shopping totes. Isom was seen removing security tags from some of the clothing items, according to authorities, which led to her arrest and subsequent charges. The three other suspects, who are also said to be residents of Toledo, were released pending additional investigation.
Isom is being held in the Livingston County Jail on a $25,000 cash/surety bond. She is due back in 53rd District Court for a probable cause conference September 26th. (DK)
↧
Revised Brighton Mill Pond Site Plan Approved by Planning CommissionRevised Brighton Mill Pond Site Plan Approved by Planning Commission
The band shell and amphitheater area at Brightonâs popular Mill Pond are likely in for some major changes next year. The Brighton City Planning Commission Monday night approved the revised site plan for the band shell and amphitheater on a 6-1 vote with Jim Bohn, who also sits on City Council, being the lone no vote.
Bohn felt the plan had not had enough public scrutiny at this stage. The new plan removes some of the seating in the amphitheater part of the project and changes the bright colors of the previous version of the band shell to more muted earth tones. It also includes planting large caliber shade trees, providing a grass, rather than concrete, hillside and an enhanced storm water basin.
A sore point with residents regarding the old plan was the removal of 5 out of 6 shade trees that provide welcome relief from the heat at concerts during the summer months.
But Community Development Associate Brandon Skopek tells WHMI the city is doing its best to save what trees it can. David Walker of Hillcrest Drive says that while the new plan is better than the previous one, it still doesnât address the problem of shade trees being removed.
The plan was revised after citizens at previous meetings were critical of the project. A petition drive was initiated, with over 500 people signing in opposition to the plan. The revised plan shows one additional tree that was earmarked for removal being saved, for a total of four to be cut down.
While the removal of trees was the main complaint, some also had criticized plans to construct concrete seating and a concrete floor for the amphitheater. The site plan will go to council for a final review and likely action at one of its October meetings. (TT)
↧
Students & Hartland District Reach Resolution On 9-11 Observation Students & Hartland District Reach Resolution On 9-11 Observation
The Hartland Board of Education commended some students for their professionalism and leadership in making sure the tragic events of 9-11 are never forgotten.
Some students were not happy about a missed moment of silence on September 11th and felt it sent the wrong message. The district typically has a moment of silence every year to remember the attacks but did not last Monday. There is no official policy in place to do so and students were encouraged to remember it themselves or in history class. That didnât sit well with some, including Hartland High School Junior Emilio Horvath. He circulated a petition seeking to reinstate the moment of silence in future years, which was presented during Monday nightâs board meeting.
Horvath told WHMI he was very happy with all of the support from the student body and others, but also that administrators were willing to work with him to come to a good resolution. Horvath explained he didnât mean to insinuate that Hartland was not patriotic or cause problems, he just felt it was important to make sure the events are not forgotten. A resolution was reached and those students who want to commemorate 9-11 can meet together next year and in years to come others to remember it as a group, which Horvath says should be more memorable and heartfelt than having a school-wide moment of silence for those donât want to take part.
Superintendent Chuck Hughes and board members stressed no disrespect was ever intended. President Thom Dumond commented he was impressed Horvath spoke up and itâs great to see that the next generation is carrying on and remembering people who no longer have voices. Board Treasurer Bill Gatewood said he felt the situation and how it was handled served as a great lesson in leadership. Gatewood felt it was the perfect outcome - there was something that needed to be brought up, it was addressed and a great resolution was reached without creating unnecessary drama. Others stated both the district and students handled themselves well and it served as a good civics lesson that sets an example for other students.
There were roughly 55 people in the audience including staff and parents but only three students spoke during call the public, along with Assistant High School Principal Jason Reck who detailed the importance of 9-11 to him, having been involved in the service and deployed to Afghanistan. (JM)
↧
Michigan State Police Host "Coffee With A Cop" Wednesday Michigan State Police Host "Coffee With A Cop" Wednesday
Members of the Michigan State Police Brighton Post will be available to chat with community members tomorrow.
Troopers will be partnering with Biggby Coffee on Main Street in Chelsea to host another âCoffee with a Copâ event. State Police say they invite the community to an informal, relaxed meeting with law enforcement to discuss community issues, build relationships and enjoy a cup of coffee.
Wednesdayâs event will run from 10am to noon. (JM)
↧
↧
Brighton Area Schools Celebrate Pink Week ActivitiesBrighton Area Schools Celebrate Pink Week Activities
Pink Week, being celebrated to increase awareness for breast cancer and raise funds for the cause, is being held this week in the Brighton Area Schools.
Most, but not all, of the activities will take at Brighton High School. The high schoolâs Leadership Class organizes the activities, including the Pink Run/Walk Wednesday at 6:30pm at the high school stadium. The entrance fee is $20 and participants can either run the 5K or take part in the 1-mile walk. The donation will include a commemorative t-Shirt, pizza and a chance to help raise funds and awareness for cancer treatment and research.
Superintendent Greg Gray says that in the last several years the Pink Run/Walk has been a big event for families and serious runners and he hopes the public will come them. Registration starts at 6pm, with the 5k run starting at 6:30 and the 1-mile walk at 6:45. Last year, the effort raised $28,000 and organizers are hoping to top that this year. All proceeds will benefit breast cancer treatment efforts at the St. Joe Mercy Brighton Cancer Center. (JK)
↧
Group Urges Livingston County Commissioners To Join Effort Against PipelineGroup Urges Livingston County Commissioners To Join Effort Against Pipeline
Several residents from both Livingston and Washtenaw County voiced their opinions to the Livingston Countyâs Board of Commissioners Monday night regarding a natural gas pipeline currently under construction.
17 concerned citizens spoke out against the ET Rover natural gas pipeline, saying it would adversely affect their homes and communities. The 42-inch diameter pipeline would carry 3.25 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day up from Ohio, where it would cross Lenawee, Washtenaw, and Livingston counties before joining the Vector Pipeline in Fowlerville. Pinckney resident Clifford Rowley of the citizenâs group ET Go Home said they hoped to educate commissioners on the safety issues the pipeline represented.
The group presented a copy of a resolution (attached below) from Washtenaw County asking ET Rover to use their original route that would avoid sensitive areas such as Silver Lake in Dexter Township, to odorize the gas for safety purposes and urging the Army Corps of Engineers to revoke ET Roverâs authorization to construct the pipeline and instead require individual permits for each water body crossing for the length of the pipeline.
None of the commissioners commented on the resolution during the meeting, although District 6 Commissioner Bob Bezotte said afterward while preventing the pipeline is practically impossible, he wants to get involved in assuring the safest precautions are taking place and that he intends on attending any upcoming public hearings involving ET Rover. Bezotte claims he feels the pipeline can prove to be positive for Michiganâs economic and job growth if done properly and safely. (DF/JK)
↧
Officials Wait To Approve Plans & Zoning For Proposed Senior FacilityOfficials Wait To Approve Plans & Zoning For Proposed Senior Facility
Plans for a new multi-unit rental and senior citizen development in Brighton Township are on hold until further agency approvals are acquired.
With intentions for development on 147 acres near Pickerel and Woodruff Lake, the proposed Encore Village project would serve as a senior living facility that includes assisted living, independent living, and memory care. The layout shows plans for a three-story building with 380 living units, a big reduction from the originally proposed 555. Residentsâ take on the project thus far has been mixed. Some believe it will increase property values and be a welcome addition to the municipality, while others have cited a potential increase in traffic and disturbance of wildlife as major problems.
The townshipâs Board of Trustees gave conceptual approval to the developmentâs Conditional Zoning Agreement, or CZA, in April. The projectâs final CZA and preliminary site plan came before the board Monday night, but didnât have as much luck in terms of approval this time around. One of the main items trustees noted that was lacking in developersâ submitted paperwork was recent documentation and approval from the Livingston County Drain Commission. Developers acknowledged that the included correspondence from the Drain Commissioner was outdated; something that Trustee Mike Slaton felt was a component that would make the issue ânot fairâ for the board to make a decision on. Trustee Lucille Weaire felt the same, initiating a motion to table the agenda item.
But Trustee Sam Theis disagreed, saying that holding up the process one more time is âshort-sightedâ, and felt the board was micro-managing developers by taking âon a paternalistic tone with them.â Theis added developers had a huge incentive to complete the process properly and had faith that they would meet those requirements in the projectâs next stage.
Board members were nearly split, but a motion to postpone approval passed 4 to 3, with Weaire and Slaton being joined in their support to table by Clerk Ann Bollin and Trustee Steve Combs. Manager Brian Vick says the majority felt developers needed to obtain approval from all agencies required by the townshipâs ordinance before they could give them the green light.
Encore representatives say they plan to work with the townshipâs planner, engineer, and possibly a board member to ensure their site plan and CZA package is âexactly how the board wants itâ when it returns for a second shot at approval. (DK)
↧
City of Brighton Holding Master Plan Public Open HouseCity of Brighton Holding Master Plan Public Open House
Brighton residents are being offered an opportunity to share where theyâd like to the city to be in the coming years with the new master plan.
An open house has been scheduled for Monday, October 2nd as part of the cityâs process for updating the central document that guides development throughout the community. It will be held at the Beck building at 125 South Church Street from 4pm until 8pm. City of Brighton Management Assistant Jessica Lienhardt said that the more people that attend, the more reflective of the community the plan will be. She said the open house format means that people can drop in and out at any time, whether they only have a couple minutes or would like to stay for a couple hours. The goal is to hear from as many people as possible.
Municipalities are required every 5 years to review their master plan and consider updating it. City of Brighton officials have elected with this cycle to do a comprehensive update and full overhaul which includes creating a new downtown plan, a parks and rec plan, and a complete street plan. Lienhardt said that to the public it might sound like complex planning language and documentation, but itâs really as simple as what do you like about your neighborhood, what donât you like, and what would you like to see there. (MK)
↧
↧
Local Fire Departments To See Big Cost Savings By Buying Equipment TogetherLocal Fire Departments To See Big Cost Savings By Buying Equipment Together
Five local fire departments are planning on purchasing some much-needed equipment in one mass order as a way to save a significant amount of money.
Fowlerville, Green Oak, Hartland, Unadilla, and Hamburg Townshipâs fire departments are all in need of self-contained breathing apparatuses, or SCBAâs, which provide breathable air to the firefighters in dangerous conditions. The equipment is required to be replaced every 15 years and the departments are creeping up on that expiration date.
Hamburg Township Deputy Fire Chief Nick Miller says buying 182 SCBAâs all at once for each department will end up saving them about $2,000 per unit. The total purchase amount will be approximately $1.2(m) million.
Miller says having the same equipment will make their jobs safer because should they need to borrow one anotherâs in the event of an emergency, firefighters will already be familiar with the apparatus and how it works. Fire Chief Mark Hogrebe says additionally, the departments will have that same purchasing power the next time the SCBAâs are due for replacement.
Hamburg Townshipâs Fire Department will spend $246,051 to purchase their 40 units; an expenditure that was approved by the Board of Trustees Tuesday. If Green Oak Township approves their share of the purchase this week as well, the order will be placed Thursday and expected to arrive by the end of the year. (DK)
↧
Volunteers Sought For Imagination Station Resealing ProjectVolunteers Sought For Imagination Station Resealing Project
The Imagination Station in Brighton will closed this weekend so that volunteers can seal wooden structures at the playground.
The Imagination Station Playground Volunteer Group will be sealing the structures this Saturday, September 23rd. The City says the playground and adjacent parking spaces on Millpond Lane will need to be closed during the work and the Imagination Station will re-open Monday, September 25th. The work is needed as part of the Imagination Station Due Care Plan, which was approved by City Council and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Per that plan, all wooden surfaces at the playground are required to be sealed every two years. It was previously done in September of 2015.
Officials say a large number of volunteers are needed and those helping out will receive goody bags filled with incentives from local merchants. Anyone interested in volunteering is invited to arrive at the Imagination Station at 9am Saturday. They can also contact Renee Pettengill at PettingillR@brightoncity.org. In the case of any rain or inclement weather, the sealing work will be done on Saturday, October 14th and the Imagination Station would re-open on Monday, October 16th. (JK)
↧
Vacant Home On Flint Road In City Of Brighton Demolished Vacant Home On Flint Road In City Of Brighton Demolished
A historic home in the City of Brighton has been demolished.
The vacant home at 614 Flint Road was razed Friday. Itâs on a 5.5-acre piece of property that also includes six mobile homes, which are classified as low-income housing. The demolition project was completed in about a day.
The property is owned by Brighton area businessman John Conely, under the name SKA LLC and is intended to become a future redevelopment site. Conely previously said he was unsure how he wants to develop the land, but it could become a mixture of town houses and apartments or housing for seniors. He says soil borings and topographic surveys have been completed, revealing no contamination at the site.
Conely says he would seek to have the land rezoned as a Planned Unit Development, or P-U-D, if he develops it. Conely says he is working with the City and an architect to come up with a viable proposal for redevelopment. Photo: Josh Tinsley. (JM)
↧
