Governor Rick Snyder delivered his 8th State of the State address to a joint session of the Michigan Legislature Tuesday night â with a local lawmaker and Democrat weighing in.
Republican State Senator Joe Hune of Fowlerville said the governor did a good job of giving kudos to some of the economic metrics he feels are important including 540,000 new private sector jobs created, manufacturing job growth, increased home values and significant pension liability reform. Hune says some really positive things for the state were highlighted, noting for the first time years there are actually more people are moving into the state instead of out. He also noted new initiatives related to recycling, rural broadband access, and preventing invasive species like Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes.
Hune said overall in terms of economics, he feels Michigan is doing absolutely phenomenal but there were two big issues of concern where he felt the governor could have done more. Those include the Michigan State University sexual assault scandal involving former campus sports doctor Dr. Larry Nassar as well as the Flint water crisis. Hune says several years ago, the Snyder administration said they would lower the allowance of lead and copper in municipal drinking water, which still hasnât been done and is a travesty. With MSU, Hune says he adamantly believes the governor should have called for President Anna Lou Simonâs âheadâ but unfortunately he didnât do that.
Dan Luria is vice chair of strategy for the Livingston County Democratic Party, saying he gives credit where due because the governor called out the Republican Legislature for pushing tax cuts when more revenue is needed for schools, roads, water infrastructure and skilled trades training. Luria felt the speech had a civil tone and feels the governor is a decent guy who would have liked to do more but in many cases simply didnât have the resources because of the unfortunate decision of having a needlessly large and poorly designed business tax cut from the beginning - money that could have been available for things like roads, schools or water infrastructure so the Flint situation doesnât happen again.
Luria felt some items absent from the speech included political debate about a higher minimum wage, restricting fracking, shutting down Enbridge Line 5 under the Straits of Mackinac, and school class sizes. He noted the governor highlighted more than 40 initiatives but many were very small, concepts or pilots. A formal statement is attached.
The governor touted Michigan's economic and fiscal gains under his watch, saying his tenure has had "huge ups and downs" but Michigan is better shape today than before he took office. Meanwhile, a fight is shaping up with the GOP-led Legislature on cutting individual taxes, which Snyder opposes for budgetary reasons. (JM)
Local Lawmaker, Democrats Respond To Governor's State Of The State Speech Local Lawmaker, Democrats Respond To Governor's State Of The State Speech
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White Supremacist Flyers Found After Cultural Event In Downtown HowellWhite Supremacist Flyers Found After Cultural Event In Downtown Howell
The Howell community is responding to what many view as a recent hate-related incident.
Flyers were placed on the windshields of vehicles parked around downtown for an event and film screening at the Historic Howell Theater last weekend that celebrated cultural diversity. About 100 people attended the event and film screening at the Historic Howell Theater, which brought awareness to the plight of girls in India, as well as the need for education and womenâs rights. Some see the placement of the flyers at such an event as an act of intimidation. The group behind the flyers, Patriot Front, is dedicated to bringing white nationalists together under an activist banner using the phrase âblood and soilâ, which is often used in the Nazi/white supremacist movement. Their website promotes a race purity theory and states that (quote) "Democracy has failed in this once great nation, now the time for a new Caesar to revive the American spirit has dawned."
While the Texas-based group is not believed to have been involved in any violence, just a plastering of flyers at events and locations in states across the country, including Flint, Ann Arbor and Washington D.C., it is known to be a splinter group from Vanguard America, which gained significant attention after it was revealed that James Alex Fields had marched with them in Charlottesville, Virginia last August before being arrested on murder charges for the death of a protestor.
Livingston Diversity Council President Nicole Matthews-Creech tells WHMI itâs important for the public to know this was not motivated by any Howell-based group. She says with race and culture being as tumultuous as it is today, it is an issue and something the community should be aware of. She says itâs also nice to know that this is nothing being perpetuated by anyone in the community because it is something everyone has been trying really hard to fight against.
Matthews-Creech says out of crisis comes opportunity and there are a lot of people who are upset and feeling angered or defeated by the incident, but what they can do is use that anger to create positive change, which is the goal of the Diversity Council. The Council is said to be undergoing a re-birth and anyone wanting to get involved can find out more on their website, a link for which is posted below. (JM/JK)
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Hearing Set For Expansion At The WillowsHearing Set For Expansion At The Willows
The Howell Township Planning Commission reviewed a site plan that would add a memory care facility to an existing assisted living home.
The Willows at Howell is a long term care, assisted living nursing home on Highland Road at Byron. Tuesday night, planning commissioners from the township performed a site plan review that would add a 35 bed care facility from persons suffering from Alzheimerâs and other memory illnesses. While this 21,000 square foot expansion was known to be coming when the main building was constructed, changes to township ordinances now require it to hold a special use permit.
Two issues of note held the commissionerâs interest longer than others. Chairman Andrew Sloan was concerned about the new parking lot addition and an insufficient setback distance. Under ordinance, the new addition needs to meet a setback of 75feet, but dips to only 48 and 56 feet in a couple spots. Methods that could help the zoning board of appeals grant a variance for the setback tied into their second problem, landscaping between the lot and Byron Road. The commission was concerned about both the types of vegetation to be used, and how many shrubs and trees were to be planted. Sloan was adamant against the use of proposed blue spruce trees, citing their high rate of developing fungal diseases 10 to 15 years down the road. The commission was also against a solid row of shrubs, instead wanting to see a broken up pattern to help reduce monotony.
The commission also asked for sidewalks to built around the perimeter, as they are trying to make walkability from development to development easier throughout the township. They tabled the discussion on recommending approval of the site plan until these items were rectified, but did schedule a public hearing for the required special use permit. That hearing will take place at their next meeting, February 27th. (MK)
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Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Dismissing Lawsuit Over Dead CowsAppeals Court Upholds Ruling Dismissing Lawsuit Over Dead Cows
A woman who says gas emissions from a companyâs Livingston County facility killed her cattle had had her appeal denied.
Peggy Zlatkin owned a farm located on Cherry Blossom Road in Milford, where she kept a herd of Hereford cattle. After initially filing a lawsuit in Oakland County Court and then dismissing it, Zlatkin filed her complaint in U.S. District Court alleging that on the evening of November 17th, 2013, the Merit Energy facility on Lone Tree Road in Hartland Township emitted a large quantity of hydrogen sulfide into the air. The lawsuit claimed that the hydrogen sulfide was then transported by natural winds to her farm, killing two cows immediately and forcing her to euthanize three others.
But she later withdraw the case from federal court and filed it in Livingston County Circuit Court, where it was eventually dismissed by Judge Michael Hatty, saying that the decision to voluntarily dismiss the case from both state and federal court rendered the legal arguments moot. Zlatkin appealed that decision to the Michigan Court of Appeals, which released a ruling Tuesday that upheld Judge Hattyâs dismissal.
Zlatkin was seeking damages totaling $197,500 for the death of her five cows, having to move her herd to a farm in Montcalm County and veterinary expenses.
The Merit Energy facility was also at the center of an investigation into potential groundwater pollution. As the plant was being decommissioned in the fall of 2015, it was discovered that the chemical sulfolane was present in nearby soil and groundwater. The company was then required to clean the site up by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality; although the impact to groundwater was localized with no evidence that residential groundwater was impacted. (JK)
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Howell Leaders Say Flyer's "Hateful Rhetoric" Does Not Represent CommunityHowell Leaders Say Flyer's "Hateful Rhetoric" Does Not Represent Community
Howell civic leaders have responded to the discovery of white supremacist flyers that were found after a cultural event in Downtown Howell over the weekend.
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The flyers were placed on the windshields of vehicles that were parked downtown for a fundraising event for the Sikyha Foundation, whose mission is to help girls in Northwest India. The group behind the flyers, Patriot Front, is a nationally recognized white supremacy organization which promotes a race purity theory. The national group, which is based in Texas, is responsible for similar activities in Flint and Ann Arbor, as well as across the country over the last several months.
A Joint Statement by the City of Howell, Howell Downtown Authority and Howell Area Chamber of Commerce said that Howell area citizens and organizations such as the Livingston Diversity Council have worked hard to educate on the value of diversity to a communityâs success. Howell Mayor Nick Proctor said racist attitudes espoused by the group behind the flyers arenât welcome in the community. âOnce again, Howell was subjected to intolerant and hateful rhetoric by a group not associated with our community. Although we support the right of free speech we find this type of expression reprehensible. We categorically reject intolerance of any type and those who peddle in it are not welcome in our town.â Pat Convery, president of the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce, concurred, saying âHate, such as that expressed by Patriot Front, has no home here. The chamber and this community have worked together for years to create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all who want to live, work or visit. These fliers that are not from our community are reprehensible but also remind us that there is still work to do in this country.â
Howell Downtown Development Director, Cathleen Edgerly joined in by saying âThis is not who we are as a community. To have such an incident happen in our downtown, especially where people were gathering for such a worthy cause is extremely troubling. We, as a City, will continue to be vigilant and work together to prevent these types of actions from happening in the future.â (JK)
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Judge Sentences Nassar To 40 - 175 Years In PrisonJudge Sentences Nassar To 40 - 175 Years In Prison
Ingham County Judge Rosemarie Aquilina told disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar "I just signed your death warrant," as she handed down a sentence of 40 to 175 years in prison for seven counts of felony criminal sexual conduct in the first degree.
The sentence, read in open court, follows 7 days of victim impact statements. Over 156 survivors were able to present their statements to court either in person, via video or having it read on their behalf. Nassar was previously an osteopathic sports physician at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics. While he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting seven females in the Lansing area between 1998 and 2015, the hearing was open to all of his accusers, who said he would molest them while they were on a table seeking help for various injuries. Nassar also has a 60-year prison sentence for child pornography crimes.
Nassar will next appear in Eaton County on January 31st in front of 56th Circuit Court Judge Janice Cunningham. (JK)
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Congressman Bishop Visits Newly Expanded Brighton PlantCongressman Bishop Visits Newly Expanded Brighton Plant
The state of the manufacturing industry and how to get needed talent was on the mind of Congressman Mike Bishop and management of a newly expanded auto supplier in Brighton.
TG Fluid Systems is one of the fastest growing subsidiaries of automotive supplier Toyoda Gosei. They specialize in functional components for fuel tank systems and supply mainly to Toyota Motors, but are approved to ship to most OEMs, including the Big Three. Wednesday afternoon they invited United States Representative Mike Bishop to their Brighton plant in celebration of completing an $11-million expansion project. He complemented TG for being able to expand and stay in the community, saying that it is a testament to the economy overall. He said that employers now feel they can grow and invest in their own facilities is a stark difference from what he saw when he first took office 3 years ago.
The expansion has added 60,000 square feet of space to the now 240,000 square foot facility that will consolidate all 3 of TG Fluidâs Livingston County locations. It will allow the company to hire 35 new employees over the next 3 years. The problem, recognized by management and Bishop alike, comes in finding trained and dependable workers. Bishop said that one thing he hears everywhere he goes is that talented employees are difficult to find. He suggested that there needs to be a greater encouragement for vocational training and better collaboration between training facilities like community college or high school, and the employers. Bishop noted that many manufacturing jobs are going unfilled and that if our economy is going to expand, we need to do a better job bringing up young workers to fill those spots. (MK)
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South Lyon Officials Working To Find Balance For Proposed Liquor License OrdinanceSouth Lyon Officials Working To Find Balance For Proposed Liquor License Ordinance
The City of South Lyon is continuing to work on developing an ordinance regulating liquor licenses in the municipality.
Currently the city does not have a liquor license ordinance, but a memo to City Council from City Attorney Tim Wilhelm suggested officials should consider creating one. Wilhelm indicates the ordinance would be beneficial due to renewed interest in the downtown area and an increase in economic development in the community.
City Council met Monday with plans to hold a first reading of a draft ordinance, but was met with some resistance from local business owners against the additional regulation. Ryan Cottongim, owner of Witchâs Hat Brewing Company, says his business is already governed by so many laws and doesnât understand why officials want to add another layer on top. Councilmember Maggie Kurtzweil agreed with Cottongim and says after reading the draft, she feels the ordinance is âway too restrictiveâ and micro-manages business ownersâ decisions.
But Councilmember Mary Parisien says the ordinance has been revised a number of times to remove some restrictive components and that the draft is âas bare-bones as it getsâ. Caty Stus, owner of Pinz Bowling Center, also spoke out against the proposed ordinance. She says she researched ordinances held by neighboring municipalities and feels South Lyonâs could still be scaled back further.
City Council ultimately decided to postpone the first reading to allow for more time to investigate certain provisions. Council plans to revisit the proposed ordinance at their second meeting in March. (DK)
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Suspected Bank Robber Ordered Detained Suspected Bank Robber Ordered Detained
A Howell man facing federal charges in connection with three bank robberies recently appeared in court for a hearing.
35-year-old Kenneth Kniivila is in federal custody for bank robbery according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit. He appeared in court Wednesday afternoon for a detention hearing, and was ordered detained.
Kniivila allegedly admitted to local authorities that he robbed the Bank of America on Grand River in Genoa Township on January 11th, a Huntington Bank branch in Toledo, Ohio on January 16th and then a Fifth Third Bank branch in Monroe on that same day. After surveillance photos went public, law enforcement was able to identify Kniivila as the primary suspect. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Office took him into custody without incident and a vehicle search turned up various items including four grams of suspected cocaine, two black semi-automatic pellet guns, money and green canvas bags. The Sheriffâs Office and the FBI interviewed Kniivila, who waived his Miranda rights and admitted to the three robberies. He told authorities he âlost his marblesâ on the 16th and drove around Toledo looking for a bank to rob.
Kniivila is scheduled to appear for a preliminary exam on January 31st. (JM)
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Marion Twp. Man Sent To Trial For Assaulting OfficersMarion Twp. Man Sent To Trial For Assaulting Officers
A Marion Township man who allegedly assaulted police officers when they tried to serve a search warrant at his home has been bound over for trial.
45-year-old Patrick Gizinski recently appeared in 53rd District Court for a probable cause conference, where Judge Carol Sue Reader determined there was enough evidence to send his case to trial. Gizinski was bound over to Livingston County Circuit Court, though future court dates have not been scheduled at this time.
Gizinski is charged with felonious assault and three counts of resisting police for throwing furniture at Livingston County Sheriffâs deputies as they tried to enter his Marion Township home on August 16th. Police had arrived at the home to serve a search warrant in an investigation of a breaking and entering complaint involving the theft of several thousand dollars of materials and tools reportedly stolen from a home under construction. None of the deputies were injured in the incident. Gizinski was also charged with one count of receiving and concealing stolen property valued at $200 but less than $1,000.
The August incident is not the first run-in with the law for Gizinski, who was convicted of assault and battery, resisting police and disturbing the peace in 2015 after police say he attacked a coach for not playing his son during a Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy basketball game. (DK)
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Hours Before Simon Resignation, Vaupel Votes Against Resolution Calling For Her OusterHours Before Simon Resignation, Vaupel Votes Against Resolution Calling For Her Ouster
Hours before Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon announced she was resigning in the wake of the Larry Nassar sex abuse scandal, a local lawmaker was among the minority who voted against a resolution seeking her ouster.
The Michigan House of Representatives voted on a resolution Wednesday, hours after Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison. Republican State Representative Hank Vaupel of Handy Township was one of eleven lawmakers who voted against it. Vaupel tells WHMI Nassar is a monster of the worst kind who used his medical degree to molest the victims for decades. He says Michigan State University failed the victims in the most despicable way but he believed it wasnât appropriate for the legislature to intervene.
The university announced just hours later President Lou Anna Simon's resignation amid mounting pressure. Vaupel said it was probably the hardest vote he has ever had to make while serving in the Legislature, stressing he is not diminishing the atrocities that took place but felt the legal process needed to run its course. (JM/JK)
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New Member Joins City of Howell's Downtown Development BoardNew Member Joins City of Howell's Downtown Development Board
A vacancy has been filled on the City of Howellâs Main Street and Downtown Development Authority Board.
The board met Wednesday and approved a resolution making Jonathan Myers a member. Myers already serves on the cityâs Design Committee, which handles sign incentives and overall beautification in downtown Howell. He and his family have volunteered at a variety of community events since last summer, prompting him to find a way to become even more involved. Myers says having contributed to the areaâs aesthetics, he wanted to have a role from a management perspective.
Myers lives across from the central business district in downtown Howell and says he wants to be a part of the cityâs forward momentum. Myers says he is eager to connect with business owners to discover what can be done to make the city even better. DDA Director Cathleen Edgerly says as a resident who is already very active in the community, Myers brings a different perspective. She feels he is âforward-thinkingâ in terms of the future for the downtown region and how it fits within the city.
Myers will remain on the Design Committee in addition to his new role. His membership is effective immediately and he will be sworn in by the City Clerk next month. (DK)
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Fenton Police Chase Wrong Man, Still Make ArrestFenton Police Chase Wrong Man, Still Make Arrest
Fenton Police may have chased the wrong suspect earlier this week, but they still ended up making an arrest.
Officers responded to a home on Worchester Driver Monday morning at about 11:45 after a juvenile caller to dispatch said a man was using a tool to puncture a tire of a vehicle parked in the driveway. He said the man was wearing a beanie cap, dark sweatshirt and jeans.
The Tri-County Times reports that the familyâs dog, a pit bull/German shepherd mix, jumped the fence and began chasing the man. When police arrived on the scene, they spotted a man matching the description and attempted to talk to him. But when he saw the officers, the suspect fled, which prompted a foot chase until he was taken into custody near US-23 and North Road behind a gas station. However, Fenton Police said that it turned out he was not the suspect who punctured the tire.
However, the 31-year-old Fenton resident did have outstanding warrants from Holly Police, which is why he ran from officers when they approached. The man was turned over to Holly Police for arraignment. As for the original suspect wanted for puncturing tires, officers returned to the area but could not locate him. (JK)
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'March Against Fear' Planned In Response To Flyers'March Against Fear' Planned In Response To Flyers
Following the discovery of white supremacist flyers in Howell last weekend, a group is organizing a public display of unity.
Citizens for Unity plan to hold to hold a âMarch Against Fearâ on Saturday to counteract what they call a, âvile act of racist intimidation directed at our neighbors.â The flyers were placed on the windshields of vehicles that were parked downtown for a fundraising event to help girls in India. The group behind the flyers, Patriot Front, is a nationally recognized white supremacy organization. Using the Nazi-identified phrase âBlood and Soil,â the flyers claim the nation has been âsubverted and usurpedâ and calls for âpatriotsâ to âreconquer their birthright and forge a new America.â The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups across the country, says Patriot Front promotes a ââ¦dead-serious advocacy of white-supremacist ideologyâ¦intended to appeal to a more militant mindset.â
Citizens for Unity organizers, Kasey Helton and Colleen Turk, say itâs important to âstand-up and speak out in support of equality, democracy, and the fellowship of humankind.â Theyâre calling it a March Against in honor of a 1966 Civil Rights demonstration of the same name led by activist James Meredith. They are asking participants to meet in front of the Howell Carnegie District Library on Saturday at 2:30pm. From there, they will proceed on a walking demonstration along Grand River. They ask participants to wear appropriate footwear and clothing and that signs promoting love, peace, equality, democracy, and all related themes are encouraged. They add that this will be a quiet, peaceful, kid-friendly demonstration with a goal of getting more attention than what they called âdespicable unwelcome cowards who are trying to stir up hate in our community.â (JK)
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Hartland Winterfest This Saturday, No Matter What The WeatherHartland Winterfest This Saturday, No Matter What The Weather
Hartland Township officials arenât letting the weather forecast impact plans for this weekendâs Winterfest event.
Winterfest takes place at Heritage Park from noon to 7pm Saturday, complete with heated tents, performers and a full festival slate of activities for all ages. When the weather forecast signaled a 50 percent chance of rain, the event organizers took defensive action and ordered friendly-by-nature rain ponchos that will be given out free to the first 500 attendees. Hartland Township Manager James Wickman tells WHMI Winterfest has been a great addition to the community and theyâre prepared for anything. He says the event was planned with âsnow, or no snowâ in mind and there will be plenty of fun activities and entertainment for families, even if it rains. He says theyâre getting pretty good at having Winterfest without snow, adding this will be the third year in a row without snow and thereâs lots of fun to be had. All of the activities and entertainment are offered free for the community. In addition, a professional fireworks display will begin at 6pm Saturday. Hartlandâs Winterfest takes place in Heritage Park off M-59. Parking is free on-site but somewhat limited, so free shuttle service is also offered from Rural King.
More information and a schedule of events may be found at www.HartlandWinterfest.com. The link is provided. (JM)
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Crews Commended For Quick Response During Fire In Lyon Township Crews Commended For Quick Response During Fire In Lyon Township
An electrical issue is believed to be the cause of a residential structure fire in Lyon Township earlier this week.
The Lyon Township Fire Department was called out Wednesday after reports of the outdoor odor of smoke in the area. Crews arrived quickly and discovered the odor was coming from a trailer that was on fire. Firefighters started an interior attack and requested mutual aid from the Green Oak Township and South Lyon Fire Departments, as well as an all-call for manpower.
Officials commended all of the crews on scene, noting Lyon Township arrived on scene within five minutes of the original call, which was prioritized as a non-emergent response. The fire was believed to be started by an electrical issue under the home, which allowed to fire to grow before it was discovered, and they were lucky no one was injured in the fire. Lyon Township Fire Department Facebook photo. (JM)
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Fowlerville Woman Charged In Fatal Crash Headed To TrialFowlerville Woman Charged In Fatal Crash Headed To Trial
A Fowlerville woman has been bound over for trial on charges connected to a fatal crash that claimed the life of a Hartland man.
An examination hearing was held for 53-year-old Sarah Jane Fluegel in 53rd District Court earlier this week, with evidence being presented over the course of several days. Judge Carol Sue Reader ultimately determined there was enough evidence to send the case to trial and bound Fluegel over to Livingston County Circuit Court.
Fluegel is charged with operating while intoxicated causing death and reckless driving causing death as a result of the September 5th incident. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Office determined 72-year-old Alan Zielinski was killed when his Jeep Cherokee was hit by Fluegelâs Mazda 6 on Grand River Avenue east of Burkhart Road.
The crash occurred where the roadway narrows down to one lane and authorities said at the time, road rage may have been at play. Zielinskiâs Jeep was forced off the road and overturned, hitting a telephone pole, a tree, and a cement pillar. He was pronounced dead at the scene. While alcohol was not suspected as a factor at the time of the crash, toxicology reports on Fluegel eventually came back positive for narcotics.
Future court dates for Fluegel have not been scheduled at this time. (DK)
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Bishop Among Lawmakers Requesting Investigation After Nassar SentencingBishop Among Lawmakers Requesting Investigation After Nassar Sentencing
Lawmakers from both parties are calling for the creation of a select committee to investigate the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics following the sentencing of a former sports doctor who admitted molesting female gymnasts for years under the guise of medical treatment.
Larry Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison Wednesday for molesting more than 150 women and girls. Michigan Democratic Senator Gary Peters and 8th District Republican Congressman Mike Bishop both called for investigations Thursday. Peters plans to introduce legislation to make clear the responsibility university and college leaders have to respond to sexual abuse accusations.
Bishop, meanwhile, sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy requesting an investigation specifically into the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics to examine and compile a full report on their failures. He said to do so was "in the interest of bringing to light how such a gross level of incompetence in protection of a predator was allowed to continue for decades." Bishop says that since 1982, more than 290 coaches and officials connected to the U.S. Olympic Committee have been accused of sexual misconduct, a statistic he called "unacceptable."(JK)
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Hartland Unified Basketball Team Brings Inclusion To The CourtHartland Unified Basketball Team Brings Inclusion To The Court
A unique Hartland High School basketball team put up a good fight on the court last night, but team members and the coach say the final score may be the least important aspect of the game.
Around 150 band students volunteered to play at the Hartland Unified Basketball game, which also included performances by the high schoolâs drumline and pom team. With support from the student body and community, the entertainment and large crowd made the game appear the same as a varsity game, which team leaders say is the point.
Hartland Unified Basketball is in its first year and is comprised of roughly 16 players that are a mix of students with and without disabilities. Unified Sports is the result of a partnership between Special Olympics Michigan and the Michigan High School Athletic Association. The goal is to bring general education and special needs students together to build meaningful friendships in an inclusive environment.
Hartlandâs team started in the high schoolâs 2nd hour peer-to-peer course and has grown from there.18-year-old Jake Gallagher is a senior at Hartland and a member of their Unified Basketball team. Gallagher says he enjoys working with his teammates on and off the court, adding that his goal is to make them smile every day. Gallagher says his dream job is to work with children with disabilities and that he loves seeing their joy.
High school Assistant Principal and Hartland Unified Coach Jason Reck says the camaraderie among team members is what makes the game so special. The basketball games are still competitive, but cheering for both teams is what creates the positive vibes between players. Hartland Unified went up against Northvilleâs Unified team, though they lost 28 to 30. However Reck believes the score doesnât matter, noting that he has been an athlete his whole life, a coach, and an athletic director. Yet he feels the Unified teamâs games are just as important as the state championships heâs won or has led teams to.
Even with a loss, Reck says he doesnât think heâs ever smiled that big leaving the gym. Reck says it is the teamâs encouraging nature of inclusion and unity that makes âeveryone wearing a Hartland H proud of what theyâre doing.â
(DK)
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Pat Convery Named Howell Chamber's 2017 Citizen Of The YearPat Convery Named Howell Chamber's 2017 Citizen Of The Year
Pat Convery, a longtime member of the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce, has been named the organizationâs 2017 Citizen of the Year.
2016âs recipient, Patti Griffith, presented the award to Convery at the Chamberâs 61st annual Citizen of the Year dinner on Thursday. The event was held at Cleary University in Genoa Township. Clearyâs Johnson Center was full of community members and leaders, many of whom have met, interacted, or worked with Convery through her numerous roles.
Convery has been with the chamber for 28 years and has held leadership positions in a number of local organizations. The Hartland resident is the only chamber professional to receive the Michigan Chamber Professional Award twice since its inception. Still, she remains humble, saying it is a tremendous honor to serve with people of such a high caliber.
Convery says she was shocked when she realized she had been chosen as Citizen of the Year, adding that she attended a âsham meetingâ held by past recipients who fooled her into thinking someone else had been chosen. Griffith began the presentation with a slideshow of clues as to who the 2017 winner might be. Convery says she noticed she had a lot in common with the recipient based on those clues. Once she figured it out, she started to cry. Convery feels Livingston County is a passionate community filled with people who work hard to make it so and says itâs an honor to even be considered as Citizen of the Year.
A number of awards were also handed out prior to the citizen announcement, including investment and prosperity awards to Adam Merkel Restaurants, Chem-Trend Limited Partnership, Thai Summit America Corporation, and TG Fluid Systems.
Rick Resinger and Brandi Tambasco were recognized for their leadership and professionalism.
The Howell Police Department, Livingston Educational Service Agency, and the Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority were also awarded for their community impact. (DK)
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