4/14/13 - The Howell City Police Department is reminding parents and young drivers about a recent change in Michigan driving law. Kelseyâs Law went into effect on March 28th, amending the state vehicle code. Under the new law, drivers with a Level 1 or Level 2 graduated license cannot use a cellular phone in any way while operating a motor vehicle on a highway or street. This includes making or receiving a call, texting, and listening or engaging in verbal communication through a cell phone. It does not prohibit using voice-operated systems integrated into the vehicle. The restriction also does not apply if the driver is reporting a traffic accident, medical emergency, serious road hazard, a situation where the driver believes they are in danger, or a crime or potential crime being committed against themselves or another person. Level 1 and 2 licenses are issued to young drivers before they receive their permanent licenses. The Howell police are asking parents to discuss these changes with young drivers. (TD)
Howell Police Call Attention To New Rule For Younger DriversHowell Police Call Attention To New Rule For Younger Drivers
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Highland Completes Requirements To Receive $430,000 Fire Grant
4/15/13 - The Highland Township Fire Department will get full access to a $430,000 federal grant after the township board approved a budget amendment last week. In 2012 a Highland firefighter applied for FEMAâs Staffing of Adequate Fire & Emergency Response, or SAFER, Grant. The no-match grant is free funding for the department, but it came with some requirements. Township Supervisor Rick Hamill says meeting those requirements got put on the back burner rather than addressed, so the township board met the final requirement on Wednesday by passing a budget amendment. It created a line item for the revenues and expenditures associated with the grant. Hamill tells WHMI that the funds could not be spent unless they were budgeted, and the fire department could not risk letting such a large amount of money get taken away. The funding could be used to pay for training, equipment, new firemen, modifications to the department, and a new digital sign. The grant spreads the $430,000 in funding over a four-year period. (TD)
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Western House Brewery Slated To Open In Late JuneWestern House Brewery Slated To Open In Late June
4/15/13 - The owner of the Western House Brewery on Main Street in Brighton says he hopes the facility opens before the end of June. Renovations for the brewery, which will be located inside the building known to locals as the âPink Hotel,â were approved in August of 2011 with a planned completion date in the spring of 2012. According to Brighton Patch, the interior of the building has since been stripped bare and work on the exterior has met with delays, including inclement weather, while crews worked to install new footings and steel. However, owner John Becker says he hopes to open the brewery by the end of June. Plans for the brewery included a European-style beer garden, patio, and microbrewing equipment. Weather was also a factor in delaying work on the Fenton Fire House restaurant, which is also scheduled to open around the end of June. (TD)
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Women Supporting Women Veterans Host Day of CaringWomen Supporting Women Veterans Host Day of Caring
4/15/13 - Women veterans were welcomed Saturday morning for a Day of Caring hosted by the Women Supporting Women Veterans group. The event took place at the Hartland Educational Support Service Center as a way to inform and thank women veterans. Veterans were provided information on their eligibility for benefits, VA housing, education and health programs for life after the military. While the turnout was small, the groupâs Executive Director, Arlene Callaghan, tells WHMI she has plans to reach out to a larger crowd next year be taking the event to the veterans themselves with small, more intimate gatherings that might be more inviting for female vets. Several guest speakers shared personal stories and how to adjust to life and reconnect after the military. A representative from Cleary University shared information on their veteranâs program and Doctor Eric Charles Amberg spoke about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which he said can best be treated as a physical ailment rather than exclusively as a mental one. Veterans were also able to file claims for disability, pensions and health care. Several people from the Veterans Administration had booths to help out with housing and job hunting. The Laingsburg Community Choir performed during lunch, with a program of several patriotic songs.(DK)
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County Officials Say Building Permits & Land Values On The RiseCounty Officials Say Building Permits & Land Values On The Rise
4/15/13 - The latest statistics released by county officials confirm that the local economy has seen a positive turn-around, with both building permits and property values on the rise. Despite what she called âvery good newsâ for the county, Carol Griffith, chairwoman of the county Board of Commissioners, said it was a guarded optimism and felt that overall the economy is still in a fragile state. Among the statistics shared with the media on Friday was 6-year analysis of first-quarter residential and commercial building. In the first three months of 2013, the county issued 400 such permits, the highest total since 2006 before the recession hit. Griffith, who is also the co-owner of ERA Griffith Realty in Brighton and President Elect of the Michigan Association of Realtors, said most of the permits were for new construction, but a sizable number were for remodeling and other construction on already-existing structures. Still, she said the ratio had changed greatly from the depths of the recession in 2009 when the vast majority of permits were for remodeling. Also on the rise were equalized values of property in the county, the first time thatâs happened in four years. Another area of pride for officials is the Livingston County Spencer J. Hardy Airport, which County Administrator Belinda Peters said saw its highest level ever of jet-fuel sales in March compared to previous years. She was also encouraged by the recent visit of two Gulfstream IV jets to the airport, which she said is able to offer a lower price for fuel than in Oakland County and elsewhere. The newly-constructed airport terminal is expected to be completed next month with a grand opening in late May being planned. (JK)
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State Police Investigating Fatal US-23 CrashState Police Investigating Fatal US-23 Crash
4/14/13 - Police are investigating a single vehicle crash that killed a 43-year-old Howell man Sunday afternoon. State Police say the victim was the only person in the two-seat sedan, which witnesses said was westbound on M-59 when he turned onto the ramp for northbound US-23. They say he stopped on the ramp for several moments, then quickly accelerated onto the freeway. He quickly lost control of the vehicle, which crashed into the median fence and sustained heavy damage. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say it is not clear why the man behaved the way he did, and a medical cause is possible. No other vehicles were damaged in the crash. Traffic on US-23 in both directions was significantly slowed while crews worked to handle the scene. (TD/JK)
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Thursday Marks Deadline for County Board Special ElectionThursday Marks Deadline for County Board Special Election
4/15/13 - A special election will be held in August to formally fill a seat on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners and a final deadline is this week to be on the ballot. Third party candidates and those with no party affiliation who are interested in the District 5 Commissioner position can file through 4pm this Thursday, April 18th. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, a registered voter, and a resident of the district which includes the City of Howell, Cohoctah Township or Howell Township. Candidates from the Republican and Democratic parties have already filed to run. Howell attorney Don Parker, who was appointed to fill the seat left vacant when Jay Drick left to become a magistrate, is running on the GOP side. Howell Township Trustee Mike Tipton filed on the Democratic ticket. They will appear on the ballot for a special primary election on Tuesday, May 7th. Assuming they each win their respective partyâs primary, they will then battle for the office in a special general election on Tuesday, August 6th along with candidates from other parties. So far, only Howell Township resident Michael Brennan has filed to run on the Libertarian ticket. Whoever wins on August 6th will fill the remainder of Drickâs two-year term through 2014. (JK)
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March for Babies Approaching at Kensington Metropark in May March for Babies Approaching at Kensington Metropark in May
4/15/13 - A walk designed to help give Livingston County babies a healthy start in life will be held at Kensington Metropark early next month. The March for Babies will be held Sunday, May 5th. This year marks the 75th anniversary for The March of Dimes and the walk at Kensington has a birthday theme, with activities designed to engage families and children. March of Dimes helps fund research and educational programs aimed at improving the health of babies. Grants are applied for and awarded through the organization, which also has a long history with the University of Michigan. March of Dimes Community Director Kim Schafer says some of the current research being done by this yearâs grant recipients is related to cerebral palsy, hearing loss, birth defects involving the kidneys, understanding how environmental factors may cause birth defects, pre-natal fungal infections and neo-natal diabetes. The March for Babies features a 3.5 mile walk along Kent Lake with interactive checkpoints. Strollers and pets on leashes are welcome. Registration begins at 9am, with the walk getting underway at 10am. Details can be found through the link below. (JM)
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911 Disptachers To Be Recognized This Week For Service911 Disptachers To Be Recognized This Week For Service
4/15/13 - Itâs National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and local dispatchers are recognized for their invaluable work to all of public safety whether its law enforcement, safety or EMS. Mary Reed is a 911 operator with Livingston County Central Dispatch and tells WHMI the job they do often defined in the public mind by its very title, but insists they do much more than just dispatch first responders to an accident scene or other emergency. Reed says she and her fellow operators are usually the first point of contact when there is an emergency and itâs their job to make sure the proper resources are being sent while also working with members of the public who are frantic and trying to guide them through what is often the worst moment of their lives. She adds that Livingston County 911 dispatches for seven local police agencies, including the sheriffâs department and State Police, as well as eight county fire departments in addition to Fenton and Fenton Township when an incident takes place in various areas of Tyrone Township. Their responsibilities also include dispatching Livingston County EMS and calling Survival Flight if necessary. In all, they take in approximately 150,000 calls for service each year, which breaks down to more than 500 per day. The department will hold their annual awards ceremony on Wednesday afternoon which will include the announcement of their employee of the year selected by their peers. The employer of the year will also be recognized at a board of commissioners meeting in May. (JK)
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Howell Man Killed in US-23 Crash IdentifiedHowell Man Killed in US-23 Crash Identified
4/15/13 - A Howell man killed in a crash on US-23 Sunday has been identified. State Police from the Brighton Post say that 43-year-old Martin Morse of Howell was killed when his 2013 Dodge SRT Viper lost control as it entered northbound US-23 from M-59 in Hartland Township around 1pm Sunday. Witnesses told troopers they saw Morse turn from westbound M-59 onto the northbound US-23 ramp, when he stopped for several moments and then accelerated at a high rate of speed onto the freeway, where he lost control, traveled across the north bound lanes and struck the center median cable barrier. The vehicle traveled under the top two cables of the barrier, but was stopped by the bottom cable. Morse was pronounced dead at the scene. The State Police were assisted at the scene by the Livingston County Sheriff Department, Hartland Fire Department and Livingston County EMS. (JK)
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Howell Woman Manages to Escape Injury in Boston MarathonHowell Woman Manages to Escape Injury in Boston Marathon
4/15/13 - Several local residents were entered in the race, including Barbara Isom of Howell. She had already finished the race before the explosions started and spoke with WHMI just a few minutes ago. She said it appeared that the bombs went off about 15 minutes after she finished, and one appeared to be located where her mother and daughter had been waiting for her. The two powerful explosions were heard just seconds apart, at around 2:45pm. Isom says the mood in Boston is very somber, with people listening to news reports for updates. She told WHMI that authorities are also in the process of dismantling three additional devices that were found. Two employees from The Running Lab shoe store in Brighton who took part in the marathon are also said to be safe. (JM/TD)
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Pine Creek Subdivision Residents Seek PrivatizationPine Creek Subdivision Residents Seek Privatization
4/16/13- Residents of Genoa Townshipâs Pine Creek subdivision want to eliminate cut-through traffic within their neighborhood. Concerned residents spoke out at last night's township board meeting about increasing issues with speeding drivers, vandalism, and burglary within Pine Creek. The residents were very passionate and spent a considerable amount of time presenting their issues. Many spoke out of turn on multiple occasions when the Board of Trustees inquired about the problems they are facing. Township Supervisor Gary McCririe asked residents to wait their turn to speak due to numerous interruptions throughout the discussion from those in the audience. Pine Creek residents would ultimately like to become a gated community with private roads. However, board members are asking that they bring information regarding where the traffic flow would relocate to, and how it would affect neighboring communities before they entertain any more discussion. The township will announce a special meeting to talk about possible solutions when all parties involved will be able to attend. (SO)
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Auto Supplier Finalizes Plans For Relocation in Livingston CountyAuto Supplier Finalizes Plans For Relocation in Livingston County
4/16/13- Genoa Township will become the new home for an auto supply company. The Township Board of Trustees approved Dakkota Integrated Systemsâ proposed site plan at a recent meeting. The company, which mainly manufactures parts for automobile interiors, will relocate its corporate headquarters from Holt to the south side of Grand River Avenue. The company is expected to bring around 70 jobs to the area with the move. Township Supervisor Gary McCririe says the board is excited to welcome Dakkota Integrated to the community. The site plan for the new facility features a sleek, modern design with a lot of windows. The building will be around 20,000 square feet and mostly constructed of masonry. Dakkota Integrated plans to begin construction as soon as possible to meet their goal of relocating by early next year. (SO)
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Local Leaders Champion Early Childhood Ed to Prevent CrimeLocal Leaders Champion Early Childhood Ed to Prevent Crime
4/16/13 - Lawmakers, advocates and local law enforcement leaders spoke about the importance of early childhood education to not only set kids on a path for success but ensure long term results. State Representative Bill Rogers of Genoa Township and Livingston County Sheriffâs Department Lieutenant Mike Kinaschuk read âFarmer Johnâs Tractorâ to a group of rather animated preschoolers at the Brighton Community Preschool Day Care Center or old Miller building yesterday. A new report from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan was unveiled prior focused on the importance of high quality pre-school. Kinaschuk has been a member of the organization for more than a decade and says anything that can be done at the early childhood level to reduce the number of kids who get involved with criminal elements benefits everyone in the long run. The group is also urging support for Governor Snyder's proposal to increase funding for the Great Start Readiness Program targeting at-risk 4-year-olds by $65 (m) million in each of the next two fiscal years. State Director K.P. Pelleran stressed the importance of high quality programs and model curriculum aimed at the social, emotional and cognitive development of children in the classroom so students are able to learn and get a good foundation before they get to kindergarten, which then sets them up for the future. State Representative Rogers supports the proposal and says lawmakers finally have an opportunity to address the issues, reduce crime, lower corrections costs and save money. Officials from Great Start Livingston and Head Start along with the Livingston County Sandbox Party attended the event and also discussed the importance of early childhood education research and the report, which can be viewed through the link below. (JM)
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Livingston County Runners Survive Boston Marathon Tragedy Livingston County Runners Survive Boston Marathon Tragedy
4/16/13 - Two employees from The Running Lab in Brighton were among the lucky ones following Mondayâs explosions at the Boston Marathon. Three deaths were reported and more than 140 injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to amputations. Many victims suffered lower leg injuries and shrapnel wounds while others suffered ruptured eardrums. Some 27,000 runners took part in the 26.2-mile race, one of the worldâs premier marathons and two employees from The Running Lab in Brighton were found to be safe and unharmed. Mike Andersen completed the race about an hour and a half before the blasts happened while employee Marie Morgan was watching her husband run. Owner Ken Larscheid says a lot of customers have been calling to make sure they were okay and as it turns out, Mike was a short distance away and didnât hear anything. However, he says Marie and her husband were actually helped by a woman, since they couldnât leave or enter any hotels in the area. Several other Livingston County residents took part in the Boston Marathon and managed to escape harm, with many having already completed the run when the bombs exploded. They include an assistant cross country and track coach at Milford High School, the mother of a Howell High School senior, runners from the Howell and Brighton areas as well as one man taking part in his first Boston Marathon. Photo courtesy of Associated Press/Charles Krupa.(JM)
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Work Continuing On Brighton Twp. Park as Gravel Pit StallsWork Continuing On Brighton Twp. Park as Gravel Pit Stalls
4/16/13 - Efforts to resume mining at a Brighton Township gravel pit have come to a standstill, while work to turn part of the property into a public park is ongoing. A 20-year agreement between the township and Sunset Sand & Gravel for the Jacoby Road property ended in 1997. The agreement specified that the site was to be restored and made ready to become a public park and a condominium development, but those conditions were never met. Last July, the township planning commission recommended that the board approve a site plan and fill permits from Clearwater Development LLC to resume mining on the site for the next 12 to 24 years. Residents spoke out against the proposal, calling for the township to develop the land as was originally intended. No action has been taken by the board to allow the new mining operation, and Township Supervisor Tom Murphy says Clearwater Development has not contacted anyone at the township for about two months. However, he says a court order has designated a portion of the property as park land. He says the township has surveyed the land and begun making plans with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments to turn the area into a park regardless of what happens in the rest of the property. Murphy says there is still no timetable for the creation of the park, which he says will likely come with a seven-figure price tag. (TD)
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Fundraiser to Benefit Pinckney Teen Injured in Bonfire AccidentFundraiser to Benefit Pinckney Teen Injured in Bonfire Accident
4/16/13 - A fundraiser is planned this evening for a 2012 Pinckney graduate who was severely injured in a bonfire accident last month. The Putnam Township Fire Department responded to the March 29th incident and arrived as Sarah Grundy was being transported via ambulance to the hospital with severe burns on the majority of her body. Fire Chief Greg Amburgey says Grundy was burned after gasoline was poured on the bonfire, causing it to explode. Sheâs expected to be hospitalized for at least the next few months. Amburgey tells WHMI the incident was a tragic accident that should serve as a reminder to exercise extreme caution and never use accelerants of any type on a fire. He says their prayers are with the family and a number of fundraisers have been organized in the community to assist with mounting medical bills. RJ's Grill on East M-36 will host an all-you-can-eat spaghetti fundraiser from 4 to 9pm and all proceeds go to the Grundy family. A donation fund has also been set up and checks can be made payable to "The Sarah Grundy Fund" and mailed to Lavey Insurance PO Box 17 Pinckney, MI 48169. (JM)
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Latson Interchange Project to Borrow Materials From Vacant LandLatson Interchange Project to Borrow Materials From Vacant Land
4/16/13- Genoa Township will allow the contractor for the Latson Road Interchange Project to excavate materials off-site. The townshipâs Board of Trustees approved a Land Borrow Agreement that will expedite the interchange project. K & R excavating will extract necessary materials from a vacant lot near Latson Road. Genoa Township Supervisor Gary McCririe says K & R will be taking the materials from a ridge on the vacant land. The site plan shows sand being taken from about an eight acre area of land, which will be restored as a flat area upon the projectâs completion. The excavation will take place over about a three month period of time. Water trucks will be on site to help control dust in the area during this time. The extracted materials will not only aid the Interchange Project, but will also help with widening and paving Nixon Road, which will eventually become South Latson Road. (SO)
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Locally-Produced Film Shot In Jail Scheduled For April ScreeningLocally-Produced Film Shot In Jail Scheduled For April Screening
4/16/13 - Local actors, crew, and locations were used to make a faith-based film scheduled for distribution in July. The film, called âUnexpected Places,â is based on the real life experiences of screenwriter Penny Carlisi. It tells the story of a mother whose son has gotten involved with crime and drugs. It was filmed in and around the Livingston County area, making use of local actors, labor, and businesses. Carlisi says she worked with a professional in Hollywood to make sure the script was engaging, but the casting call was local and filming focused on locations in her home, her church, and the Livingston County Jail. She says securing the locations for shooting was one of the most difficult things about production. She approached Chaplain Jim Proos, who worked in the Livingston County Jail as part of the Forgotten Man Ministry, to see if he could help her get a couple of cots from one of the cells to use as props for a jail scene. Proos talked to Sheriff Bob Bezotte, who offered to allow crews to shoot the scenes inside the jail. He also supplied the projects with a patrol car and deputy to film a chase scene on Crooked Lake Road. âUnexpected Placesâ will be available in Christian retailers in July, and can be purchased online at the film groupâs website. A special screening is planned for Friday, April 26th. It will take place at the Warren Road Church in Westland at 6:30pm. Tickets are available online for $5 and at the door for $6. More information can be found by following the link posted below. (TD)
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Teen Using Cell Phone Crashes Lexus in Brighton Township Swamp Teen Using Cell Phone Crashes Lexus in Brighton Township Swamp
4/16/13 - A teen crashed a vehicle into a swamp last week and the Michigan State Police Brighton Post says a cell phone is to blame. Troopers were dispatched to the area of Victor Street and Whitmore Lake Road for a single vehicle crash involving a 16-year-old Brighton man driving a 1994 Lexus. Police say the teen was traveling east on Victor Street at around 7:45pm last Wednesday and attempting to drive while changing a song on his phone. Police say the teen failed to stay on the road, traveled over the right curb, crashed through a fence and then drove into a water-filled swamp area. No injuries were reported but police say the crash report indicates the driver was operating the vehicle in a careless/negligent manner. Troopers were assisted by the Green Oak Township Police Department and Livingston County EMS. (JM)
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