Some spooky sights will be amiss from downtown Milford this month due to a lack of volunteers. "The Haunted SHAC: Gallery of the Disturbed" was set to open this weekend but is now being canceled due to insufficient volunteer support. Event Co-Coordinator Isaac Perry tells WHMI that far too few volunteers stepped up to assist with material transport and build, which forced then to cancel this year's Haunted SHAC. He says event organizers have been working on the project since January, and âit was a heartbreaking decision to make, but it was necessaryâ.
In addition to offering entertainment and thrills, the haunted attraction served as a fundraiser for the Village Fine Arts Associationâs Suzanne Haskew Arts Center. The SHAC is Milfordâs community art space and funds raised typically support the continuation of their programs throughout the year. (JM)
The Haunted SHAC In Milford Canceled Due To Lack Of Volunteers The Haunted SHAC In Milford Canceled Due To Lack Of Volunteers
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Livingston County Commissioners Recognize Ruth MunzelLivingston County Commissioners Recognize Ruth Munzel
A longtime member of the Livingston County Board of Canvassers was recently recognized for admirably administering the duties of her office, which involved the canvassing and certifying of countless elections.
Ruth Munzel was recognized with a proclamation during Monday nightâs meeting of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners. Commission Chair Kate Lawrence thanked Munzel saying her experience, knowledge and attention to detail will certainly be missed. Her work in performing numerous ballot container inspections, certifications and participation in many statewide and local recounts was noted but also her experience with several changes in voting equipment.
Munzel has worked with everything from levered machines to punch cards to optical scan and says times have much changed. Munzel told the crowd the most controversial thing the Board of Canvassers does is conduct recounts and she could remember one election where they had to take deputies with them because there was a lot of hostility. She recalled another recount in which they ended up conducting inspections of challenged ballots with flashlights due to poor lighting.
Munzel was one of two Democrats on the four member board and said she has certainly enjoyed her service and appreciated the boardâs graciousness in issuing the proclamation. She thanked a number of people in the audience for their contributions including county clerks, colleagues and her successor. Judy Donohue Williams has been appointed as her replacement, which Munzel said was a good decision. She called the former school teacher a lovely person who is also firm, which is want you want in such a position. (JM)
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Green Oak Twp. Settles Land Discrepancy For Police StationGreen Oak Twp. Settles Land Discrepancy For Police Station
Green Oak Township is moving forward with an agreement to purchase land from the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority.
The 13-acre parcel is located behind the townshipâs existing fire station off of Whitmore Lake Road, adjacent to the Legacy Center. The township has plans to build a new police station on the property as the current one is âseverely outdatedâ, according to Township Supervisor Mark St. Charles. However before the township could move toward a purchase agreement, a small piece of land within the 13 acres had to be addressed.
After multiple land surveys, it was discovered that the physical lines of the survey and its description donât match. The mistake was likely made before the HCMA or Legacy purchased their property, but a 30-foot discrepancy of land between the two parcels remains. To resolve the issue, all parties came to an agreement that they would acknowledge the discrepancy and will âlive with itâ. In the event any of the parties want to pursue the 30 ft. in the future, a process to do so is included in the agreement.
The townshipâs Board of Trustees signed the agreement Wednesday. St. Charles says the township needs to move forward with purchasing the land from the HCMA and begin construction of the police station quickly, as they face seasonal challenges. The goal is to begin construction before winter so the police station can be up and running by next year.
The $5(m) million police station will be funded strictly from township revenues over the next 30 years. St. Charles says the township is also considering constructing a new fire station on the 13 acres sometime in the near future. (DK)
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Local Residents Can Try Out Next Generation Voting Equipment Before Election Local Residents Can Try Out Next Generation Voting Equipment Before Election
Public demonstrations of new election equipment are being offered to Livingston County residents.
The Livingston County Clerkâs Office is partnering with local clerks to conduct public demonstrations of the new voting equipment. Voters will have the opportunity to see the new equipment firsthand prior to Election Day. Demonstrations and mock elections will be held during the evening hours next Monday, October 23rd at the Hamburg Township Library and next Wednesday at the Howell Carnegie District Library from 6 to 7:30pm. Then on Saturday, October 28th, an afternoon demonstration is planned from 1 to 2:30pm at the Brighton District Library.
The new machines, from vendor Hart InterCivic Verity, will be implemented for the first time in the November 7th election. The new tabulators, ADA-complaint devices for disabled voters, and software, were paid for through federal and state funding, with a local component. Election officials expect to get a minimum of ten years out of the new voting equipment, although they could last far beyond that. They further anticipate election night results should come more quickly than they do with the current system. (JM)
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Federal Charges Filed Against Deadly Drug Trafficking Organization Federal Charges Filed Against Deadly Drug Trafficking Organization
Federal charges have been filed against a dozen people involved in a drug trafficking organization that allegedly sold fentanyl-laced heroin throughout multiple communities for years, including Livingston County.
Overdose deaths from heroin and fentanyl have become a state and national epidemic, as authorities say individuals addicted to prescription pills become desperate to feed their addictions. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent and results in frequent overdoses that can lead to respiratory depression and death. The prescription drug is typically used to treat patients with severe pain or to manage pain after surgery. Federal indictments against twelve Oakland County residents were announced Wednesday morning and involved several law enforcement groups. The twelve charged are said to be involved in a drug trafficking organization known as âTEAMâ that authorities say has been tied to countless deaths dating as far back as 2013. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard commented that opioids are âan equal opportunity destroyerâ that affects all ages and communities but is killing people everywhere.
Charges include distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in overdose death and serious bodily injury. The indictment says TEAM members would deliver heroin to customers at homes in Oakland, Livingston, Macomb and Wayne Counties, as well as parking lots and strip malls throughout Pontiac. (JM)
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Local Man Facing Charges For Sending Nude Photos To Underage GirlLocal Man Facing Charges For Sending Nude Photos To Underage Girl
A local man who sent his nude photos to a 13-year-old girl is facing charges.
18-year-old Craig Allen Holland of Gregory is charged with accosting a child for immoral purposes, using computers to commit a crime, and distributing obscene matter to children. The charges stem from his relationship with a 13-year-old girl. Unadilla Township Police Chief Dave Russell tells WHMI Holland connected with the girl via Facebook. He sent nude images of himself and then convinced the girl to send nude images of herself back. Russell says they did not have any in person contact that they are aware of.
Court records indicate this occurred last December and the case was taken over by local authorities in March. Chief Russell says the girlâs mother became aware of the pictures after a friend of the girl brought it to her attention.
Holland was charged earlier this month and held on a $50,000 bond. He was released from the Livingston County Jail last week after posting bond. Holland is due back in 53rd District Court October 25th for a probable cause conference, which will determine if there is enough evidence to send the case to trial. (DK)
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Putnam Township To Support Village Of Pinckney With New PathwayPutnam Township To Support Village Of Pinckney With New Pathway
The Putnam Township Board of Trustees is teaming up with the Village Council in Pinckney to make a busy street safer for kids and pedestrians.
Last week the Village Council approved spending up to $5,000 for engineered drawings of a potential new sidewalk on Dexter-Pinckney Road from M-36 to the high school. Putnam Township Supervisor Dennis Brennan said that he, too, has been wanting to put a path in there for a long time. The stretch was identified as being dangerous for students walking to and from school with there being no sidewalks and the road becoming very narrow in parts. Brennan suggested that the Board of Trustees approve chipping in up to $2,500, or half of the Villageâs amount, of the design costs. He said heâs has discussions with Livingston County Road Commission Managing Director Mike Craine and that Craine believes it will probably come in closer to $3,000. Paving on Dexter-Pinckney Road is already scheduled to take place in 2018, but Brennan said he was told there wasnât enough in the Road Commissionâs budget to add a sidewalk. Still, the supervisor said Craine told him there is a possibility that the Road Commissionâs engineers may draw the plans up for the township and village for free.
The board also discussed grant opportunities as well as having developers in the area chip in. They voted unanimously in favor of helping with up to $2,500 and taking, what they agreed to be, was the first step in the right direction. (MK)
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Temporary Light At Griswold & 8 Mile Could Be Made PermanentTemporary Light At Griswold & 8 Mile Could Be Made Permanent
Now that construction on a local roundabout is complete, many nearby residents are hoping a temporary traffic light installed for the project can become a permanent fixture.
While work commenced over the summer on a $6.3 million project to install a roundabout at 10 Mile and Napier Road in Lyon Township, a temporary traffic light owned by the contractor was placed along the detour route at Griswold and Eight Mile. But its removal has some residents requesting that it be permanently installed at the intersection, saying that it greatly aided the traffic flow and made left turns onto Eight Mile much easier.
Brent Schlack is an Assistant Director of Engineering for the Washtenaw County Road Commission, which would be responsible for that portion of the intersection. He tells WHMI that they donât disagree with the value of having a permanent signal there, but it comes down to funding. However, he says Lyon Township has been contacted and they are optimistic an agreement will be reached to have a permanent signal installed. The cost to do that is estimated at between $150,000 and $175,000. (JK)
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Third Exam Finds Fenton Twp. Teen Competent For Murder TrialThird Exam Finds Fenton Twp. Teen Competent For Murder Trial
A Fenton Township teen charged with fatally shooting his friend has again been found competent to stand trial.
16-year old Abdurrahman Ahmed Akl was charged as an adult with open murder in the shooting death of 18-year-old Brady Morris. Police arrested Akl March 4th after responding to a 9-1-1 report of a male with a gunshot to the head. Authorities say evidence indicates that Akl and Morris, who were friends, were alone on the first floor of the residence when the shooting occurred. According to the autopsy report, Morris was shot from behind at point blank range on the top left side of his head. Police were met by Akl outside and arrested him without incident, securing a semi-automatic pistol they found on the front porch.
An interim mental exam by the state determined Akl was incompetent to stand trial, followed by a finding that he was competent. The discrepancy prompted Aklâs attorney to request an independent analysis. On Wednesday in 67th District Court in Fenton, the third exam also determined he was competent for trial. Akl, who is also charged with receiving and concealing a stolen firearm and two counts of felony firearms, is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing November 1st. (JK)
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Bank Window Replacement Prompts Lane Closures In Downtown Howell Bank Window Replacement Prompts Lane Closures In Downtown Howell
Periodic lane closures can be expected in downtown Howell next week.
There will be periodic closures of the northbound lane of Michigan Avenue at Grand River beginning Monday, October 23rd. Officials say the closures are a safety precaution during window replacement on the west side of the First National Bank building.
Officials say the portion of the project resulting in the periodic closures is expected to take just a few days. (JM)
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Private/Public Venture To Install I-96 Guardrail CompletedPrivate/Public Venture To Install I-96 Guardrail Completed
A private-public partnership stemming from a tragic accident has led to the installation of a new guardrail in eastern Ingham County.
The Michigan Department of Transportation has completed construction on 1.7 miles of median cable guardrail along I-96 near Dietz Road and Williamston. The $300,000 project is the result of a unique relationship between MDOT and the Kiefer Foundation. In September 2016, the foundationâs namesake Mitchel Kiefer, lost his life when his vehicle was struck from behind by a distracted driver and pushed across the median into oncoming traffic. Kiefer was then hit by a truck and passed away on the scene. The Kiefer Foundation has paid for half the cost of installing the new guardrail.
State Transportation Director Kirk Steudle said that this is the first time in his 12 years on the job that he has seen private money invested towards a safety feature on a highway. According to MDOT, cable median guardrails reduce cross-median crashes by 87% and are part of the stateâs Toward Zero Deaths safety initiative. A video highlighting the project and partnership can be found through the link below. More information on the Kiefer Foundation can be found at www.mkiefer.org (MK)
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Settlement Discussed In Sahouri Lawsuit, Trial Delayed Until 2018Settlement Discussed In Sahouri Lawsuit, Trial Delayed Until 2018
A trial date has again been delayed in a lawsuit filed more than five years ago against Hartland Consolidated Schools by a former administrator.
Tracey Sahouri sued the district in 2012, alleging it violated the Whistleblower Protection Act when it removed her as principal from Creekside Elementary School. After years of appeals and delays, the case was set to go to trial earlier this month. But court records indicate that the October 3rd trial date was adjourned for discussions over a possible settlement in the case and has now been rescheduled for January 30th of next year.
Sahouri claims her removal as principal and re-assignment to a teaching position was in retaliation for reporting âirregularitiesâ in how the district administered state-mandated student achievement tests. The district had sought to dismiss the lawsuit, taking the case to the Michigan Supreme Court, which declined to hear the appeal, allowing the lawsuit to go forward in Genesee County Circuit Court. The district contends Sahouriâs re-assignment was based on the conclusions of a state report that determined teachers at Creekside improperly gained access to material from the tests.
Sahouriâs attorney alleges Hartland administration led a (quote)âout-of-control lynch mobâ that âtrashedâ her career in part due to a ticket she received in the summer of 2011 for allowing a minor to consume alcohol at her Argentine Township home during a graduation party. The ticket was later dismissed and Sahouri settled a lawsuit over the matter with Argentine Township for $150,000. The district has contended that incident had nothing to do with its decision regarding Sahouri. (JK)
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"Exploring Islam" Series Educates To Develop Understanding"Exploring Islam" Series Educates To Develop Understanding
An educator with a mission to inform others about the religion of Islam feels his program âExploring Islamâ has been well-received by community members.
John Schultz has been teaching world religions for 40 years with the idea that education can dispel ignorance and fear. The First United Methodist Church of Brighton has been hosting Schultzâs three-part series, which concluded last night. Each session focused on a main component of the religion, including its history, beliefs, and Muslim practices. Schultz shared Thursdayâs session with Shayk Hassan, Assistant Imam for the Muslim Community of Western Suburbs in Canton.
The meeting had about 65 people in attendance with plenty of questions for both men. The sessionâs leaders and audience discussed topics like Sharia Law, gender equality within the culture, the religion's compatibility with western society, and extremists' terroristic displays. Considering the Muslim population to be approximately 1.3 billion, Hassan says Islam cannot be represented by a few people and their âatrocious acts.â
The series has had significant attendance, according to church leaders who say the first session brought in about 80 people and the next two had over 60. Schultz believes many embraced the opportunity to learn and says he is heartened by all the positive feedback.
Brighton resident Gwynne Attarian and her daughter Anna attended all three sessions. Attarian feels the series was informational without being overwhelming. Brighton resident Agnes Hoshal also attended the full series and says she found it encouraging. Hoshal says it recognized the importance of being civil to one another and the need to connect.
Hassan says he appreciates the welcoming atmosphere at the church and the groupâs open minds. Reiterating the need for education, Hassan says âpeople fear what they donât know.â (DK)
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Brighton Council OKs Plans for Mill Pond Bandshell & Amphitheater Brighton Council OKs Plans for Mill Pond Bandshell & Amphitheater
With only one dissenting vote, the Brighton City Council approved the bandshell and amphitheater site plan at Thursday nightâs City Council meeting. The plan involves construction of a bandshell â which will replace the aging gazebo â and a concrete amphitheater, which will replace the grassy, terraced area that serves as the current amphitheater.
The project will be paid for by the cityâs Downtown Development Authority. City Manager Nate Geinzer tells WHMI the Mill Pond project has been highly charged, but he thinks the city has addressed those concerns with some changes from the earlier design.
Joyce Powers, who is a write-in candidate for City Council in the November election, told council that one of her two main objections to the project is that four mature shade trees will be destroyed.
The city has responded that although two of the trees are oaks, two others are invasive locust trees. After a meeting in which citizens criticized the project, both for the destruction of the trees and the construction of concrete amphitheater seats and floors, architect Piet Lindhout modified the plan considerably.
Originally, five of the six trees were to be destroyed; he reduced that to four. Lindhout also changed several other aspects, including decreasing the amount of amphitheater space and altering the bandshell colors to more muted tones. Geinzer says bids will be let in January and construction on the project is to begin in early spring, with scheduled completion in September. (TT)
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Entries Sought For Fantasy Of Lights Parade In Downtown HowellEntries Sought For Fantasy Of Lights Parade In Downtown Howell
What can an organization do with 5,000 lights? Thatâs the challenge being out to local businesses, agencies and groups by the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce.
The 34th annual Fantasy of Lights Parade is planned on Friday, November 24th. Organizers are encouraging the community to get creative and enter a float in the illuminated nighttime parade in downtown Howell featuring animals, marching bands and Santa Claus. This yearâs theme is âAll is Brightâ. Floats must have at least 5,000 lights.
Float applications can be downloaded by visiting the Fantasy of Lights web page through the link below. The deadline for entries is November 2nd. For more information about the Fantasy of Lights, contact Michelle Tokan at mtokan@howell.org or by calling (517) 546-3920. (JM)
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Center Stage Expo Puts Local Businesses In The SpotlightCenter Stage Expo Puts Local Businesses In The Spotlight
A unique event gave many local businesses a chance to shine in the spotlight.
Center Stage: The Business Expo took place Thursday afternoon stretching into the evening at Crystal Gardens in Genoa Township. The event, put on the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce, was the brainchild of President and CEO Pam McConeghy who dreamed up doing something creative for the community over a year ago. Following a closed door opportunity for the nearly 60 businesses attending to network internally, the doors opened to the public. Inside attendees saw vendors set up at tables around a center stage area with bright lights and a DJ playing music. Throughout the event, each business had the chance to come up into the spotlight, talk about what they do, and give away prizes. McConeghy said business owners from all over the region signed up to be a part of this. She said that local business is what makes this area so vibrant and complimented the variety.
The expo was filled with businesses not only from Brighton, but Howell, the rest of Livingston County, and from all over southeast Michigan. McConeghy called the event a success and said the response she has heard from businesses and attendees was all positive. She said that while this was the first annual Center Stage Expo, she doesnât intend for it to be the last. (MK)
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Man Caught Watching Porn At Work Headed To TrialMan Caught Watching Porn At Work Headed To Trial
A Flint man has been bound over on charges connected to an incident in which he was caught at work watching porn depicting a minor.
39-year-old Kenneth James Smith was bound over to Livingston County Circuit Court Tuesday on charges of using a computer to commit a crime, possession of child sexually abusive material, and failure to register as a sex offender.
Smith reportedly works at a manufacturing plant in Howell Township. His supervisor felt Smith was slacking at work and viewed surveillance footage to further investigate his poor job performance. From the video, the supervisor is said to have witnessed Smith watching pornography on his phone that appeared to involve a female minor. Livingston County Sheriffâs deputies were called to the plant and agreed that the subject in the video was indeed underage, leading to a search warrant to obtain Smithâs phone and electronic devices from his home.
In 2005, Smith was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under the age of 13, which required him to register as a sex offender for life. He reportedly changed his address and failed to notify the proper authorities, which led to the failure to register as a sex offender charge.
Smith is being held in the Livingston County Jail on a $250,000 bond. Future court dates have not been set for him at this time. (DK)
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National Weather Service Predicts Snowy Michigan Winter National Weather Service Predicts Snowy Michigan Winter
Gone are the warm winters of the past for Livingston County residents.
The National Weather Service has issued its annual winter outlook and itâs not as rosy as the past two years according to Warning Coordination Meteorologist Rich Pollman with the Detroit/Pontiac Office. He says weâll be getting back to more typical Michigan winters with typical cold temperatures and snowfall, noting the last two were warm and didnât have a lot of snow. Pollman says the winter forecast will be strongly influenced by a strengthening La Nina circulation in the Pacific Ocean, which is basically colder than average water temperatures in the pacific off the coast of South America.
Pollman says the safest bet for this yearâs outlook is that it will be colder and snowier than in the last two winters âwhich were among the top ten warmest winters. Specifically, he says last year was about the 8th warmest and the year before was the 6th warmest winter in the record books. Pollman tells WHMI there will be a better than average chance for precipitation though, which includes regular rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow. Pollman says the region will probably see more rain than average and likely, above average snowfall but it all depends on how storms move up into the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes and how much warm air they bring to determine how much snowfall. He says the combination of typical temperatures and Michigan being in the storm track will lead to a good chance of above average snowfall.
Meanwhile, the Old Farmerâs Almanac is calling for a wet and snowy winter all-around, saying precipitation will be at above-normal levels throughout the country. It states overall, the long-range winter forecast for 2017â2018 shows generally colder temperatures than last winter for the U.S. and Canada but not colder than a typical winter, based on historical averages. (JM)
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Brighton Council Accepts DDA Offer to Pay for Bonding Projects Brighton Council Accepts DDA Offer to Pay for Bonding Projects
City Council voted unanimously Thursday night to accept the Downtown Development Authorityâs offer to pay $2.5 million toward various projects. Capital improvement bonds and refunding bonds will be used for the projects.
They include one major project already completed: the $300,000 local match required toward resurfacing and other improvements that were made to West Grand River this past summer. City Manager Nate Geinzer tells WHMI there are several future projects that will be paid for using DDA funds via the bonding mechanism that was approved Thursday night.
The projects also include resurfacing and other improvements to Challis Road from Karl Greimel Drive to Grand River. This section is not part of the Livingston County Road Commission project on Challis, which will go from Karl Greimel Drive west to the CSX Railroad tracks.
The CIP bonds will also pay for improvements to Second Street from Mill Pond Lane to Walnut and possibly Cross St. as funds permit, as well as the $750,000 Mill Pond bandshell and amphitheater project. (TT)
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Donation To Benefit Foster Families In AreaDonation To Benefit Foster Families In Area
A generous donation to a local charity will help assist with their care for foster families.
For the third year in a row, Livingston County Catholic Charities was named as the recipient of an award from the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. Their Livingston County Sarah Regan division presented Catholic Charities with a $4,000 check earlier this week. The money was raised during the divisionâs annual charity golf outing that was held at Chemung Hills in Howell. In previous years the donation was used to help a variety of senior outreach programs. LCCC has chosen this year to use the gift to help grow their Foster Family Care special needs fund. The fund provides assistance to children in foster care, the foster families, and the birth families. Money from the fund is often used to help with the purchasing of items like beds and bedding, car seats, and gas cards for both the foster and birth families to assist with travel for visitation rights or other needs. For more information on Livingston County Catholic Charities visit http://www.livingstoncatholiccharities.org/ For more on the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, send an email to Mary Killeen at mkilleen@charter.net, or call (517) 546-5847. (MK)
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