4/22/13 - A proposed settlement offer with former Principal Tracey Sahouri will be discussed tonight by the Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education, although initial indications are that the district is unlikely to accept the deal. Sahouri filed a lawsuit against the district alleging they violated the Whistleblower Protection Act when it failed to renew her administrative contract and eventually re-assigned her to a teaching position. It also claims she was the subject of harassment and discrimination. An alternative dispute resolution, or ADR, hearing was held in Genesee County Circuit Court earlier this month, during which both sides presented their case to a three-member legal panel. That panel came up with a proposed settlement amount of $525,000. The recommendation is not binding and requires both sides to agree. Sahouriâs attorney has said he thinks a jury will award her far more than that if they go to trial, while Hartland Superintendent Janet Sifferman previously told WHMI they remain confident the correct personnel decisions were made and maintain that Sahouri was found to have committed misconduct by both the Michigan Department of Education and the district. Sahouri was re-assigned after a state report concluded a breach of security in administering the MEAP test to Creekside Elementary students in 2011. The lawsuit alleges the decision not to renew her contract was made in part because of rumors surrounding criminal charges that had been filed against Sahouri and her husband in a separate case that alleged they knowingly allowed minors to drink alcohol at a party at their home, although those charges were later dismissed. She also claims her removal as principal was in retaliation for reporting ongoing âirregularitiesâ in how the district administered the MEAP tests. The Hartland school board will meet at 6:30 tonight, although the Sahouri matter will be discussed during a closed session. (JK)
Hartland Board to Discuss Sahouri Settlement OfferHartland Board to Discuss Sahouri Settlement Offer
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Rogers Says Confession Not Needed to Convict Bomb SuspectRogers Says Confession Not Needed to Convict Bomb Suspect
4/22/13 - Congressman Mike Rogers believes there's enough evidence against the suspected Boston marathon bomber to convict him. Speaking Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" the Howell Republican, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, said he's not worried that the government has decided against reading the suspect his Miranda rights. He says FBI agents need to know whether there are other bombs more than they need to use in court what the suspect might tell them. "I think Mirandizing him up front would be a horrible idea. Now, itâs my understanding that thatâs not going to happen. Iâve had good conversations with the FBI. They are going to do their due diligence on the public safety portion. Here is where the problem is. Theyâre getting pressure from outside groups to actually do-- to do the Mirandizing, which is why we ought to let the FBI do their work." Rogers, a former FBI agent whose district includes all of Livingston County, says there is so much evidence against the suspect that a conviction should be easy even without a confession. "I think I-- I could make this case without a confession from this guy. There is a period of time we donât need his confession upfront. We need the information that he has to make sure that America is safe." Rogers also defended the FBI following revelations that they had investigated one of the Boston Marathon bombers in 2011. Although the FBI received a request from Russian officials to investigate 26-year-old Tamerlan Tsarnaev two years ago for possible ties to Chechnyan extremists, Rogers says agents were âhamstrungâ when the Russian intelligence service stopped cooperating with the U.S. Rogers says that without that cooperation, all agents could do was check the databases and look at what he called his âdigital footprint.â Finding nothing, they closed their file. Tsarnaev was killed in a shootout with police several days after authorities say he and his younger brother placed and detonated bombs that killed three and wounded more than 180 others. Rogers says authorities are now focusing on the six-and-a-half months the older Tsarnaev was in Russia last year, after which he returned seemingly radicalized to the role of U.S. in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world. (JK)
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Garbage Truck Hits Power Line, Forces M-59 Mid-Day Closure
4/22/13 - No injuries were reported, but a traffic mess was the result, after a garbage truck brought down a power line earlier today in Oceola Township. M-59 had to be closed down around 11am between Hughes and Gulley roads after a Waste Management trash hauling truck caused a main power line to fall across both lanes of traffic. Officials say the truck likely had its bucket in the upright position when it came into contact with power line and brought it down. The drive was uninjured and there was no other damage than the downed line itself, which took about 90 minutes to restore by a DTE Energy crew. While that work was taking place, authorities had to divert traffic away from the area, which created a traffic headache for many motorists. (JK)
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Howell Fire Marshal Chosen to Chair State Fire Safety BoardHowell Fire Marshal Chosen to Chair State Fire Safety Board
4/23/13 - Howellâs Fire Marshal has been selected to head up a state board that assists in the development of fire safety rules for most public facilities. Les Rodwell, who has been with the Howell Area Fire Authority for 34 years, was chosen by Governor Snyder to head up the Michigan State Fire Safety Board. Howell Fire Chief Andy Pless tells WHMI that Rodwellâs participation with last year's efforts to craft new guidelines for the use of fireworks helped to highlight his skill and expertise. The boardâs mission is to protect life and property from fire, smoke, hazardous materials and fire related panic in specific types of public facilities in cooperation with the Bureau of Fire Services and other fire organizations within the state. Rodwell is already a member of the board representing fire departments in the Lower Peninsula, and will replace current Chair Richard Prestage. (JK)
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Explosion At Dexter Wastewater Plant Kills 1, Injures AnotherExplosion At Dexter Wastewater Plant Kills 1, Injures Another
4/22/13 - An explosion took place at the Dexter Wastewater Treatment Plant this afternoon, leaving one man dead and another injured. AnnArbor.com reports the men were apparently using a welderâs torch inside of a tank and accidentally ignited methane gas, which exploded. Dexter Firefighters located the men on the roof of a nearby building after the explosion. Both men were transported by ambulance to the University of Michigan hospital. Both were in critical condition. Dexter Patch says one of them has passed away, but the other is now in stable condition. Witnesses say the explosion shook nearby homes and businesses as far away as the Dexter Library. The Washtenaw County Sheriffâs Office is investigating the incident. (TD)
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Gray Will Remain Brighton Superintendent
4/23/13 - Brighton Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gregory Gray is staying in Brighton. That news was announced at the regular Brighton Board of Education meeting Monday night by Board President Miles Vieau before 75 surprised, but jubilant, people in attendance. Gray told the audience that he talked with his family and board members extensively before making his decision. Gray says he has a son who is 13 and will be entering 8th grade in the fall and a daughter who will be going into the 6th grade who both indicated they liked Brighton and would like to stay. Gray says he was still the leading candidate in Portage at the time he decided to remain in Brighton. He assured those present that he would not be looking for another superintendentâs job in the foreseeable future and that he would remain in Brighton to see the bond issue implemented. Gray's contract was just extended last month by one year to 2018. He currently earns $138,000 per year, having voluntarily taken a 7% pay cut in 2011 and agreeing to pay 15% of his health insurance premiums. He also took a voluntary pay freeze for the current fiscal year due to the district's finances. He would have seen a substantial salary increase had he become the superintendent in Portage. Brighton is one of the stateâs deficit districts, with about a $7 million legacy deficit inherited from prior years â a deficit which Gray, his administration and the board are working to eliminate. (TT)
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Howell City May Cut Funding To School Resource Officer Next YearHowell City May Cut Funding To School Resource Officer Next Year
4/23/13 - The City of Howell may be forced to cut off its share of funding for the dedicated police officer assigned to Howell Public Schools. The city and the district have shared the cost of the school resource officer for years. School Board President Mike Witt and Superintendent Ron Wilson met with city officials recently and found out the cityâs portion of the funding might be eliminated due to budget cuts. Wilson told the board at its regular meeting last night that he would be proposing a plan to bring the service in-house, possibly by hiring a retired officer to fill the position this fall. He tells WHMI that the SRO performs a vital service to the district. A specific officer assigned to schools has knowledge of school layout and procedure that would not be as available or familiar to ordinary police officers, as well as keys to buildings, that would allow for a quicker and more effective response to possible threats. The current officer stays in the district during school hours to help with investigations and handle problems. He can even write the students tickets if they are caught with drugs, alcohol, or other contraband. He says he will draft the solution and bring it before the board for their approval at its May meeting. The district currently contributes about $43,000 to the cost of the SRO. (TD)
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Teachers Union Contract Discussed By Howell School BoardTeachers Union Contract Discussed By Howell School Board
4/23/13 - The head of the Howell teachersâ union drew a connection between wages offered in the district and the resignation of two teachers last night before the Howell School Board went into closed session to discuss contract negotiations. The board rejected the first contract offer from the Howell Education Association at the end of March by a vote of 5 to 3, with two board members excluded from voting by recent conflict-of-interest legislation. Rejection of that contract ensured that a new contact would be subject to Michiganâs new right-to-work law. Superintendent Ron Wilson says the board went into closed session for more than two hours last night to meet with the negotiating team to discuss strategies regarding the HEA contract. He says there is no working or proposed contract in place at this time. Before the executive session, which lasted more than two hours, HEA President Jay McDowell spoke at the boardâs call to the public. He announced that two educators in the district were resigning, at least one of them specifically due to the wages offered in the district. He says Howell teachers have gone four years with no raises and the state government continues to cut school funding, so retaining quality teachers will be difficult. McDowell says he is hopeful a new contract will be put in place by May or June. (TD)
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President Inspects Williamston Teens InventionPresident Inspects Williamston Teens Invention
4/23/13 - President Barack Obama has had a briefing from two Williamston teens about their new technology for warning swimmers about dangerous off-shore currents. 19-year-old Spencer Ottarson and 17-year-old Julie Xu represented Williamston High School on Monday as one of 12 teams that presented their science projects at the White House's third science fair. Obama examined their Offshore Rip Current Alert System, which was on display in the East Garden. The White House says Ottarson and Xu developed the technology as part of the 2012 Lemelson-MIT program InvenTeam. The technology uses a buoy equipped with a solar-powered flow-meter and alarm system that can alerts swimmers to dangerous swimming conditions. Their goal is to reduce drownings caused by rip currents in the Great Lakes. AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivai (JK)
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Explosion At Dexter Wastewater Plant Kills One, Injures AnotherExplosion At Dexter Wastewater Plant Kills One, Injures Another
4/23/13 - An explosion at the Dexter Wastewater Treatment Plant yesterday left one man dead and another injured. The blast occurred while the two men were apparently working with a welding torch inside a tank at the facility. Methane in the tank was ignited by the torch and exploded, critically injuring the two men. They were found on the roof of a nearby building by Dexter firefighters, who had them transported to the University of Michigan hospital for treatment. One man died of his injuries, but the other was last listed in stable condition. The blast from the explosion was felt by residents and businesses in the surrounding area. The Washtenaw County Sheriffâs Office is currently investigating the explosion. Picture courtesy of myFOXdetroit.com. (JK)
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Family Dollar Could Open at Former Market Location in Howell Family Dollar Could Open at Former Market Location in Howell
4/23/13 - A now closed market that served the Howell community for years could re-open as a dollar store. The site on Grand River formerly housed Sefaâs and the Howell Village Market but is currently vacant. Store transition is pretty common according to Howell City Manager Shea Charles and plans were presented for a Family Dollar store. He says the proposed use conforms to current zoning ordinance and the property owners just need to meet some site plan requirements for the project to move forward. The owners appeared a few weeks ago before the Planning Commission. (JM)
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Renovation Work Continues at New Restaurant; Job Fair Next Week Renovation Work Continues at New Restaurant; Job Fair Next Week
4/23/13 - A new addition to the local restaurant community will be hosting a hiring fair next week. Ypsilanti-based Aubreeâs Pizzeria & Grill is expanding into Genoa Township and will open its sixth location in the old T.W. & Friends building off Grand River. The job fair will take place next Monday and Tuesday and around 150 positions ranging from servers to bartenders and cooks need to be filled. Managing Partner Matt Morrison says progress is being made at the upcoming location and theyâre looking to open in early June. Anyone looking to apply is asked to attend the hiring fair from 10am to 5pm next Monday and from noon to 7pm next Tuesday at the new location. Details can be found below. (JM)
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Sewer Line Damaged During Enbridge Work May Need ReplacementSewer Line Damaged During Enbridge Work May Need Replacement
4/23/13- A Howell Township sewer line that was damaged during a county pipeline upgrade will need serious repair. The sewage pressure line that was damaged is located near the intersection of Brewer and Burkhart Roads in Howell, which is now operating as a four-way stop. The incident occurred while Enbridge Energy was continuing their work to upgrade a natural gas and oil pipeline that runs through Livingston County. Enbridge has not claimed responsibility for the damage and further review is necessary to determine exactly what happened. Howell Township Supervisor Mike Coddington says a number of things could have happened in order to lead to the damage, but that it was definitely a direct result of Enbridgeâs work. The township is working with their engineering company to figure out what the options for repair are, but the solution will most likely be a new pressure line. The line is being temporarily abandoned until a decision is made. (SO)
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Fowlerville Man Injured in Iosco Township CrashFowlerville Man Injured in Iosco Township Crash
4/23/13 - Excessive speed is being blamed for a crash Monday that hospitalized a 19-year-old Fowlerville man. The Livingston County Sheriffâs Department says the teen was driving a 1998 Ford Taurus at a high rate of speed north on Kern Road about 11:40am when he lost control and struck a tree north of Crofoot Road. Witnesses estimated he was traveling up to 60 miles per hour on the dirt road at the time. The car, which was pinned against a tree, began filling up with smoke. The window was broken out and a fire extinguisher used to put out the flames. First responders from the Fowlerville Fire Department and Livingston EMS then extricated the driver, who was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center, where he was last listed in stable condition. A deputy cited the driver for driving too fast for conditions. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor. Submitted photo. (JK)
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Colleen Rosso Hired As Hartland Twp. Communications DirectorColleen Rosso Hired As Hartland Twp. Communications Director
4/24/13 - The Hartland Township Board approved the hiring of a communications director at its meeting last night. Supervisor Bill Fountain says establishing the position has been a part of the townshipâs strategic plan for a long time. The communications director will be responsible for communicating with residents both directly and through indirect means such as newsletters. She will also manage communications with news outlets. Fountain says the director will convey the actions and vision of the township government to the residents. About 30 applications were submitted for the position, and in the end the township selected Colleen Rosso for the job. Rosso is a former state employee, having worked as Director of Communications for the State Department of Human Services until recently. The part-time position will consist of about 20 hours a week at just under $22 per hour. (TD)
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Sentencing Still On For Friday in Gun Range Shooting Death
4/24/13 - A Howell man will have a new attorney representing him when he is sentenced later this week for a fatal gun range shooting last year. Howell attorney James Buttrey had been representing 19-year-old Jessce Lincon Stearn, who earlier pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and felony firearms counts. But he withdrew as counsel on Monday citing a conflict of interest and has been replaced by David Prine. The nature of the conflict was not disclosed. Stearn faces up to 15 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and an additional two years on the felony firearm charge when he is sentenced Friday. Police say Stearn was holding a replica AK-47 on June 30th, 2012 at the Livingston Conservation and Sports Association gun range when it discharged and hit Charles Robert Kimball in the head and killed him instantly. Stearn told police the gun discharged while he was cleaning the weapon. Authorities say witness accounts contradicted his claim and experts were unable to reproduce the malfunction when they tested the weapon. Prosecutors say they filed the manslaughter charge because there was no evidence Stearn intended to kill Kimball, but did deliberately aim the weapon when it fired. Stearn is seeking sentencing under the stateâs Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which would erase his conviction from public records if he successfully completes probation.
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Boy Charged in Brighton Library Assault Released From Oversight
4/24/13 - A Brighton boy who was charged with sexual assault at the age of 13 has left the juvenile court system, having reached the age of 21. The boy, who is now an adult, pleaded guilty to 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct and gross indecency charges following his arrest in December 2005 for molesting a 7-year-old girl in a bathroom stall at the Brighton District Library. Court records indicate that he was not found to be rehabilitated at a dispositional review hearing on January 10th. However, a dispositional review was held this month following his 21st birthday. Records say the juvenile is now too old to be under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, ending his probation. They do not indicate whether he was found to be rehabilitated. (JK)
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Gray Eager to Clarify Deficit Elimination Plan With StateGray Eager to Clarify Deficit Elimination Plan With State
4/24/13 - Following news that the latest deficit elimination plan by the Brighton Area School district had been rejected by the state, Superintendent Greg Gray says he is eager to get to Lansing and clarify the numbers and reach an agreement that will allow the district to move forward with its plan to completely rid itself of its long-term debt by mid-2014. The Michigan Department of Education informed the district last week that the updated plan had again been rejected because its projections for revenue derived from shared service students was overly optimistic. The state rejected a previous plan in March, also over the shared service numbers. Brightonâs latest plan estimated more than $4 million in revenues by providing shared services including art, languages and technology with private and parochial schools. While the state still says those numbers are not realistic, Gray tells WHMI he is optimistic an agreement can be reached. The meeting with state officials has reportedly been set for May 2nd. Trustee John Conely told WHMI that he wasn't surprised the updated plan was also rejected, but says this opportunity to meet face to face with state officials is a good opportunity to resolve ongoing budgetary issues once and for all. (JK)
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Regal Recycling Owner Charged with Weights & Measures ViolationRegal Recycling Owner Charged with Weights & Measures Violation
4/24/13 - A criminal charge has been filed against the owner of a Howell recycling company following a local and state investigation that was launched roughly a year ago. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Developmentâs Weights and Measures division originally filed a complaint against Regal Recycling after discovering a scale that was allegedly out of tolerance during a routine inspection in April of 2012. Additional investigation was conducted by Livingston County Sheriffâs Department as well as the state but 53rd District Court records now show that the prosecutorâs office has authorized a charge of general weights and measures violations against Regal Recycling owner Vern Brockway. Heâll be arraigned on the charge May 1st. Regal Recycling operates two facilities in the Howell area, one in Whitmore Lake and another in Ann Arbor. Sheriff Bob Bezotte previously told WHMI the Department of Agriculture routinely checks these types of devices to make sure they are legitimate and that nobody has tampered with them, adding that it was the first time he was aware of one actually being seized and a criminal report filed. (JM)
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Local Aviation Enthusiasts to Embark on "Sandbar Mitchell" Mission Local Aviation Enthusiasts to Embark on "Sandbar Mitchell" Mission
4/24/13 - Itâs the stuff that dreams are made of: Two Brighton Township aviation enthusiasts will embark on the recovery and restoration mission of a WWII-era plane nicknamed âSandbar Mitchellâ after the fire suppression bomber crashed along a sandbar near Fairbanks, Alaska in 1969. Itâs one of the few WWII-era warbirds yet to be rescued from her abandoned crash site although various sections have been removed over the years. The center portion remains intact on the sandbar today and has basically been preserved by the Alaskan elements. Legend of Aces Aviation founder Patrick Mihalek and Todd Trainor, director of the Aeronca Aircraft History Museum, and a support team head to Alaska in June after obtaining ownership of the aircraft and recovery permits. An open house about the mission was held Tuesday night in Brighton where Mihalek told WHMI heâs had a lot of lucky breaks along his journey to make âSandbar Mitchellâ fly again. He says they'll rescue what remains and then use parts from another salvaged B-25 to re-build her to a flying piece of WWII history through his âWarbirds of Gloryâ Museum. Mihalek says the big push right now is fundraising to bring the piece of history back to Brighton and once that happens, he hopes to have the formal non-profit status for his âWarbirds of Gloryâ museum and they can begin raising money to actually rebuild the plane. Complete details about the recovery mission and fundraising efforts along with another open house scheduled for next Tuesday can be found through the link below. Pictured is Trainor and Mihalek on their first trip to see Sandbar Mitchell earlier this month. (JM)
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