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Fire Chief Says Work That Led to Fatal Explosion Wasn't PermittedFire Chief Says Work That Led to Fatal Explosion Wasn't Permitted

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5/22/13 - State officials are continuing their investigation into an explosion in Dexter last month that killed one man and injured a Livingston County man. The April 22nd explosion at the village of Dexter’s waste water treatment plant is thought to have happened after methane gas was ignited while workers were cutting a piece of steel off of a tank. The work was part of a $3.3 million project to enhance sludge handling at the plant. The Dexter Leader reports that details surrounding the incident came up at a Chelsea Area Fire Authority meeting Tuesday morning. Dexter Fire Chief Jim Payeur told the board the cutting of the tank lid was not properly permitted. He also said village employees were present during the work who should not have been there. 48-year-old Michael Koch of Brooklyn was killed by the blast, while 23-year-old David McBridge of Howell was injured. Both the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the blast. However, sheriff’s officials have reportedly said they don’t believe any criminal charges will be filed in the case. (JK)

New Memorial Placed To Honor Veterans In Hartland CemeteryNew Memorial Placed To Honor Veterans In Hartland Cemetery

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5/22/13 - A monument to honor the veterans of America’s wars over the past century is now on display at Hartland Cemetery. The monument was put in place this afternoon by the American Legion Hartland Post 415, which has been working to design and construct a new memorial for about three years. Skilled workers from the community helped obtain and assemble the materials for the monument. It is a four-foot pyramid made of aluminum. The eastern face features the image of a doughboy to honor the soldiers of World War I, the northern face features the iconic “Kilroy was here” image from World War II, and the western face has bronze medallions honoring every branch of military service including the merchant marines. The southern face is backed by vegetation and was left blank. The overall cost paid by the Legion Post was about $2,000. The monument will be dedicated at a ceremony at 11am on Memorial Day. (TD)

Exam Moved Out For Man Facing New Charges in Gun Range Death Exam Moved Out For Man Facing New Charges in Gun Range Death

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5/22/13 - A Howell Township man charged with open murder for a fatal shooting last year at a Brighton Township gun range appeared in court briefly this afternoon. 20-year-old Jessce Lincon Stearn is being held without bond and also faces a felony firearms count in the June 2012 death of 21-year-old Charles Kimball at the Livingston Conservation and Sports Association gun range. He was present for a brief hearing in 53rd District Court in Brighton where Judge Theresa Brennan determined there was good cause to exceed the 14-day rule for an exam, saying there’s a multitude of discovery that needs to be done. Stearn told authorities his replica AK-47 had jammed and that when he tried to clear it, it misfired and hit Kimball in the head, killing him instantly. He had pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge originally filed by prosecutors because there was no evidence to support that Stearn intended to kill Kimball. However that all changed recently when new evidence in the case surfaced, reportedly statements Stearn made to fellow inmates in the Livingston County Jail that he had intentionally killed Kimball over an unpaid debt, resulting in the current charges being filed. Following the crime last year, Sheriff Bob Bezotte said they were unable to reproduce the weapon malfunction and that witness statements contradicted the claim that it was an accident. An exam in the case has been scheduled for Thursday, June 13th. (JM)

Fenton Firefighters Learn New Skills To Join Dive TeamFenton Firefighters Learn New Skills To Join Dive Team

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5/23/13 - Five of Fenton Township’s firefighters are getting extra training this spring to join the department’s dive team in the summer. The new firefighters were in Flint this week to practice safety procedures and get specialized instruction for joining the dive team. The Tri County Times reports that in March, the Fenton Township Board of Trustees approved a proposal from the Fenton Fire Chief to train and equip more dive team members. That proposal came after two drownings occurred in Fenton Township last year. More dive team members would mean a faster response to emergencies in local lakes during the swimming and boating season. The five firefighters will be ready for open-water diving by June 8th. (TD)

Seminar Provides Easier Path Through DivorceSeminar Provides Easier Path Through Divorce

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5/23/13 - A smoother path through the turbulent waters of divorce was the goal of a seminar last night at the Brighton District Library. The public event was put on by the Livingston Interdisciplinary Professional Association or LIPA, a local community organization that informs Livingston County on more positive approaches to divorce. LIPA is comprised of attorneys, counselors, mediators, therapists and other professionals who also deal with finances. LIPA’S goal is to educate on more positive and less costly ways to go about divorce, one of them being mediation before the legal proceedings. Mediation is a process in which divorcing couples sit down with a neutral third party to resolve issues in their divorce. Andrea M. Banfield, a family law attorney and mediator, attended the event and tells WHMI mediation is extremely beneficial and is actually recommended prior to going before the court. Several speakers attended the event, including Judge Carol Sue Reader, financial advisors, attorneys, mediators and a real estate appraiser. Attendees were able to directly ask the speakers questions about their specific case and what their next step should be. For more information about LIPA, including a brief video clip from a previous seminar, you can click the link below.(DK)

Latson & Grand River Work to Remain Through SummerLatson & Grand River Work to Remain Through Summer

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5/23/13 - With many Michigan residents expected to travel over the Memorial Day weekend, the Michigan Department of Transportation will be shutting down construction sites around the state to relieve traffic, including along I-96 through the Latson Road Interchange project. Out of MDOT’s 130 active road construction sites, work will cease and traffic restrictions will be lifted on 83 beginning Friday afternoon. The department expects more than a million people to travel at least 50 miles over the weekend, and it has closed as many construction sites and opened as many lanes as possible to accommodate the extra drivers. Locally, work on the Latson Road interchange project will cease and I-96 will be kept at three lanes in both directions throughout the weekend. However, Arend says the lane restrictions at the Latson Road and Grand River intersection that is part of the interchange work will remain in place through the holiday weekend, and in fact, for most of the summer. Although traffic will be smoother throughout the state, drivers should still be on alert while traveling along Michigan highways. The Michigan State Police are urging motorists to buckle up and drive cautiously this weekend, and federally-funded seatbelt enforcement zones will be in place until Tuesday. Click the link below to visit MDOT’s website, which identified all of the construction sites halted for the weekend. (TD)

Census: Howell Only Local Municipality to Lose PopulationCensus: Howell Only Local Municipality to Lose Population

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5/23/13 - According to new data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau, while approximately two out of three Michigan communities lost residents between 2011 and 2012, almost every municipality in Livingston County gained residents. Overall, the county’s population increased a little less than 1%, from 182,299 in 2011 to 182,838 last year. Green Oak Township saw the biggest increase, a 1.15% bump to 17,852. However, Hamburg Township is still the most populous in Livingston County with 21,383 residents, a quarter-point increase. In fact, the only municipality that saw a decline was the City of Howell, which saw a .08% population decline in 2012 to 9,505. As a whole, Michigan’s population increased by .07% — 6,559 people — year-over-year, for a total population of 9,883,360 in 2012. Detroit, the state’s largest city, dropped 0.67% — or by 4,726 people — from a 2011 estimate of 706,201 residents to a 2012 estimate of 701,475. Nationwide, eight of the 15 fastest-growing large cities and towns were in Texas, according to the Census Bureau. (JK)

Brighton School Board OKs Tech BidBrighton School Board OKs Tech Bid

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5/23/13 - The Brighton Area Schools’ Board of Education Monday night approved another technology bid, this time for new classroom audio-visual systems. Barton Malow, which is handling the technology portion of the bond issue passed by voters last year, recommended the $1.1 million bid by Digital Age Technologies, one of six bidders for the project. The recommendation was approved unanimously by the board. The bid was the second-lowest, not the lowest, but since Digital Age Technologies is the contractor on a related aspect of the technology upgrades, the board was told sticking with the same company would be the most efficient way to go about it. Superintendent Greg Gray tells WHMI the audio-visual systems will go in all buildings, but primarily at Maltby Intermediate, Scranton Middle School and Brighton High School. With a $16 million price tag, technology comprises a big chunk of the total $88- million bond issue. Work will begin in earnest on the new athletic complex at Scranton Middle School and the outdoor athletic facilities at Brighton High School as another major part of the bond issue. (TT)

State Grant to Help Clear Way for Fenton DevelopmentState Grant to Help Clear Way for Fenton Development

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5/23/13 - The Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced state incentives to five business expansions and four community improvement projects across the state, including one in Fenton. Corlin Builders was awarded an $880,000 Michigan Community Revitalization Program incentive to demolish an obsolete building on North Leroy Street in Downtown Fenton. It will be replaced by the proposed Cornerstone project; a new, four-story mixed use development. The project will include first floor dining and retail space with 23 residential units on the top three floors. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of approximately $5.2 million and create 75 full-time positions. The City of Fenton has provided $1.2 million in direct funding to the project from the Fenton Downtown Development Authority. The Cornerstone project is the first phase of the DDA long-range plan to build three buildings along the east side of North Leroy Street. Picture courtesy of Stephen Auger and Associates Architects of Lake Orion. (JK)

I-96 Ramp Re-Opens After Semi Overturns in Howell Township I-96 Ramp Re-Opens After Semi Overturns in Howell Township

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5/23/13 - The on-ramp from M-59 to eastbound I-96 has re-opened in Howell Township after a semi-truck overturned earlier today. The semi was traveling on the eastbound on-ramp from Burkhart Road to eastbound I-96 at around 10am but lost control and flipped over. Michigan State Police at the Brighton Post tell WHMI preliminary investigation indicates the semi-truck was traveling too fast on the ramp. The driver reported minor injuries and was treated by Livingston County EMS and then transported to St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital in Howell. Police say the truck was hauling vehicle parts and was leaking fuel. The on-ramp from M-59 to eastbound I-96 was closed for a few hours while crews worked to upright the semi-truck. (JM)

April Jobless Rate Improves for Livingston County April Jobless Rate Improves for Livingston County

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5/24/13 - Unemployment levels decreased in most of Michigan’s regional labor markets in April, marking jobless rate declines locally. Statewide, the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate for April is 8.2%. The individual jobless rate for Livingston County dropped a full percentage point from March to April and currently stands at 7.3%. Its overall ranking continues to improve and Livingston ranked 16th in terms of unemployment among Michigan’s 83 counties. The largest rate cuts were recorded in the Detroit-Warren-Livonia Metro area, which includes Livingston County, and the Northeast Lower Michigan region. The Department of Technology, Management and Budget says regional jobless rates decreased slightly throughout Michigan in April, noting the seasonal reductions were somewhat below the typical April declines. Over the year, the state says most county jobless rate changes were moderate but the majority of local areas continued to record reductions. (JM)

Man Sentenced After Threatening to Cut Off Kids' FingersMan Sentenced After Threatening to Cut Off Kids' Fingers

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5/24/13 - There will be no further jail time for a former Handy Township man charged after an incident last year in which he was alleged to have threatened his children’s fingers with a knife. 35-year-old Henry Stephen Spisz was ordered Thursday to serve six months of electronic monitoring and three years of probation for his no contest plea last month to two counts of felonious assault for the incident last Thanksgiving. He was also ordered to serve 55 days in jail, but given credit for already serving that time. Police say Spisz held a knife to the fingers of his then-5-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son and threatening to cut them off for misbehaving. In exchange for his plea, two domestic violence-related counts were dismissed, and the prosecution made the recommendation for probation while completing domestic-violence counseling and parenting classes. (JK)

Pinckney Senior Wins Scholarship For Essay On Firefighter DadPinckney Senior Wins Scholarship For Essay On Firefighter Dad

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4/24/13 - A national safety and security company has chosen a Pinckney High School student as the recipient of a $10,000 scholarship. Senior Cameron Hein won the Electronic Security Association Youth Scholarship Program competition this month. The scholarship is only available to graduating students with a parent or legal guardian who is a first responder, and requires an essay about what it means to have a parent involved in securing their community. While his selection is based on several factors, including his perfect grade point average and academic accomplishments, Hein says the major factor was the essay he wrote about his father, who is a 20-year firefighter working in the City of Ann Arbor. He tells WHMI the essay included his memories of visiting the department as a child, and how it impacted his future career plans. Hein, who will graduate next month from Pinckney Community High School, also wrote about how he plans to study engineering in college to save lives by designing new safety equipment for emergency personnel. With no ESA chapter participating in Michigan, Hein had to win the national-level nomination for the scholarship before winning the overall competition. (TD/JK)

LESA Superintendent Top Choice For Similar Post in Kalamazoo LESA Superintendent Top Choice For Similar Post in Kalamazoo

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5/24/13 -A local superintendent is the top choice to lead an intermediate school district in the Kalamazoo area. Livingston Educational Service Agency Superintendent Dave Campbell was one of three finalists interviewed by The Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Agency Board of Education. Campbell was notified soon after that he was the board’s unanimous choice and they would begin negotiating a contract next week. During his two-hour interview, Campbell said his leadership is centered on five principles: honesty, respect, kindness, responsibility and humility. He also said that the Kalamazoo area was uniquely positioned to lead the way on creating a "cradle to career educational system” because of the Kalamazoo Promise, a pledge by a group of anonymous donors to pay up to 100 percent of tuition at any of Michigan's state colleges or universities for graduates of the county’s public high schools. Campbell came to LESA in September of 2011 from Olivet Community Schools. LESA provides direct services and support for students and families in the areas of early childhood programs and special education services but also provides support to the county’s five public school districts. KRESA is larger and oversees nine school districts based in Kalamazoo County. (JM/JK)

AAA Michigan Says 1.1 Million Have Holiday Travel Plans AAA Michigan Says 1.1 Million Have Holiday Travel Plans

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5/24/13 - The Memorial Day weekend is a popular time for many to open up summer cottages, head to a campground or get the boat ready and the dock in for the season. The holiday launches the 2013 summer travel season for AAA Michigan and Spokeswoman Nancy Cain says they expect that it will be a good one. She says the majority of the 1.1 million Michiganders expected to travel this weekend are going by vehicle and will find that gas prices are up about 20-cents per gallon from last year. She says two refineries that service the Midwest are down for extensive maintenance work and once they’re back open, prices should start leveling off again. Cain says even with cooler weather in the forecast, people will still be traveling and they expect the roads to be busy this weekend, lasting through Monday. During last Memorial Day weekend, Michigan State Police report ten people died in nine fatal crashes, including three motorcyclists. Alcohol was a known factor in two of the fatalities. AAA will again partner with the Michigan State Police in supporting Operation C.A.R.E. or Combined Accident Reduction Effort in which yellow banners will be posted at rest areas, with many sites offering complimentary coffee and refreshments. (JM)

Billboards to Seek Answers in 23 Year Old DisappearanceBillboards to Seek Answers in 23 Year Old Disappearance

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5/24/13 - The Livingston County Sheriff’s Department will be putting out billboards on I-96 in the coming weeks following today's 23rd anniversary of the disappearance of 30-year-old teacher Paige Renkoski. Renkoski was traveling home to Okemos from Detroit Metro Airport on the night of May 24th, 1990. She pulled over near the Fowlerville exit, where her car was found running with her shoes and purse inside. Renkoski has not been seen since. In the next two to four weeks, billboards featuring Renkoski along with two local cold case homicide victims, Kimberly Louiselle and Christina Castiglione, will be placed along I-96. Louiselle was a 16-year-old Green Oak girl who disappeared in 1982 while hitchhiking. Her body was later found in the Island Lake Recreation Area. Castiglione was a 19-year-old Redford woman whose body was found in 1983 near Fisher and Fawcett Roads in the Oak Grove State Game Area. They will urge anyone with information to call 1-800-SPEAK-UP and report it to further the investigations. Bezotte says the recent case of missing girls being recovered after disappearing more than a decade ago in Cleveland has given investigators and family hope, however slim, that Renkoski could still be found alive. (TD)

Vail Resorts Names New General Manager at Mt. Brighton Vail Resorts Names New General Manager at Mt. Brighton

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5/24/13 - Vail Resorts has named a new general manager to oversee the Mt. Brighton ski area operations. Colorado-based Vail Resorts has named Taylor Ogilvie general manager after earlier purchasing Mt. Brighton and the golf course from owner Joe Bruhn, who is said to be retiring. Ogilvie is originally from the Chicago suburbs and grew up skiing Midwest ski areas and is said to have a large amount of ski resort management experience. He starts the new position June 10th and will be relocating to the area with his wife and daughters. Ogilvie will also oversee the $10 million of capital improvements planned at Mt. Brighton this summer, which officials say will significantly enhance the ski and snowboard experience next season. Improvements in snowmaking will allow Vail Resorts to open the ski resort earlier, extend the season and provide a high-quality snow surface. Lift upgrades and other improvements to the overall facility are also planned, along with new terrain parks. (JM)

Hamburg Man Sentenced For Police ChaseHamburg Man Sentenced For Police Chase

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5/24/13 - A Hamburg Township man has been sentenced in connection with a high speed police chase through Dexter that injured an officer. 22-year-old Ryan Roemer was given two days of jail time already served, one year of probation and 50 hours of community service for his earlier guilty plea to felony fleeing and eluding. After six months and upon completion of community service, Roemer is able to petition the court to be discharged from probation. He must also complete moral recognition therapy and pay $8,575 in restitution. Roemer was speeding on a motorcycle along Shehan Road on November 7th, 2012 when a Hamburg Township officer attempted to stop him but he rode off, leading to a chase reaching speeds in excess of 115 miles per hour. Police say the chase proceeded into Dexter and Roemer eventually circled back south on a street. The police car turned north to follow, resulting in a front end-crash. The officer sustained minor injuries to his arms and subsequent airbag deployment. (JM)

Brighton Fire Authority Urging Safety This Holiday Weekend Brighton Fire Authority Urging Safety This Holiday Weekend

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5-24-13 - The Brighton Area Fire Authority is encouraging fun but fire safety for those heading out of town or simply spending some time outdoors this holiday weekend. Brighton Fire Chief Mike O’Brian this is the first long weekend for many residents to get time to clean up the yard or host social gatherings, so they do see fires. He says it’s a good time to check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms but also review family evacuation plans and a meeting place. says all municipalities have different restrictions when it comes to open-burning for those who plan on tackling yard work. He says good practice is to limit the fire size, only burn natural materials and keep fires away from your lot or structure line. Whether it’s open burning or a more relaxed recreational fire for hotdogs or s'mores, O’Brian says always monitor fires and have a water source nearby in case the winds kicks up and blows embers. He points out that not everybody likes campfires and some areas don’t permit open burning because neighbors are in very close proximity. It’s best to wait until fires or hot coals have cooled down completely and any remnants to be thrown away should be kept outside and separate from your garbage. O’Brian notes they’re beginning to see the influx of seasonal businesses that sell fireworks and the general rule of thumb for consumer grade fireworks is that if you shoot them from your property, they must land back on your property. While he recommends leaving fireworks in the hands of the professionals, those that do decide to set them off should make sure to follow safety precautions and instructions, avoid alcohol, be aware of the noise factor and neighbors but also know local ordinances. O'Brian says fire spreads rapidly and in case of any emergency, call 911 as fast as possible so they can activate the appropriate resources. (JM)

New Drug Trend "Wax" Discussed At Pinckney Coalition MeetingNew Drug Trend "Wax" Discussed At Pinckney Coalition Meeting

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5/24/13 - Students and adults from the Pinckney community exchanged information on drug trends at St. Mary’s Catholic Church last night. About a dozen people, most of them middle school students, attended the meeting hosted by the anti-drug Pinckney Coalition. The result was a two-way conversation, with coalition members providing students and adults with information on the nature and hazards of new drug trends while the students gave insights and information about what was actually happening in the schools. One of the main topics was a new trend called “wax,” which is a sticky resin produced by a process of treating marijuana with butane lighter fluid. With a THC concentration of 40-80%, wax is much more potent than marijuana and can result in anxiety, panic attacks, soreness in the lungs and throat, and psychosis. It is also called “butane honey oil,” “BHO,” “earwax,” and “dab.” Pinckney Coalition Coordinator Karen Bergbower tells WHMI the substance can be disguised as normal wax objects like candles or lip balm, and parents should be on the lookout for associated paraphernalia. This could include lighter fluid, metal objects like knives or spoons with burn marks that are used to melt the substance, and hollow objects like empty pen cases, burnt water bottles, and hoses that are used to smoke it. The students also provided the adults with information on a pop culture trend centered around the name “Molly,” which is a reference to purified MDMA, the active ingredient in Ecstasy. At the end of the meeting the group took time to make plans for the Coalition in the coming months, including actions during upcoming community events and promotions for the “Parents Who Host Lose The Most” campaign. (TD)
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