5/29/13 - The Howell Parks and Recreation Authority is now temporarily without a director. Debbie Mikula, the authorityâs director until last night, abruptly resigned after a special meeting called Tuesday to discuss concerns staff members had about policies and actions by Mikula and their effect on employee morale and the programs offered. The authority is funded through contributions from each of the member local governments, plus program and activity fees. After opening the meeting, the authority board immediately broke into executive session with Mikula the subject of discussion behind closed doors. After nearly an hour, the board returned and during the public comment period many of the employees addressed the board to cite their concerns about where Mikula has taken the authority in the five or so years sheâs been there. Staffer Andrew Sell told the board that poor judgment and misuse of funds threatened the day-to-day operations of the authority. Staffers were particularly critical of her decision to hire Michael âMikâ Mikula â who according to authority Chairman Todd Smith is no relation to Deb Mikula â as her operations director. The staff members said Mik Mikula was abusive, abruptly changed rules and procedures and was entirely unqualified for any of the responsibilities he undertook. According to Smith, the board fired Mik Mikula last week. One employee told the board that because of the atmosphere that existed there, city officials called for a police car to be outside the building when she left late the night after Mik Mikula was fired. Other employees told of being threatened with their jobs on different occasions. Deb Mikula did not comment after the closed session during the open meeting; likewise she declined comment for WHMI after the meeting was over and later did not return phone calls. Mikula was an at-will employee and could have been terminated with or without cause, had the board chosen to do so. The Howell Parks and Recreation Authority consists of the city of Howell along with Genoa, Oceola and Marion townships and includes athletic and recreational programs and activities for youths, adults and seniors. The Howell Senior Center and the authorityâs headquarters are both located at the Bennett Recreation Center on West Grand River, where the meeting was held. (TT)
Howell Parks & Rec Director Mikula Resigns Howell Parks & Rec Director Mikula Resigns
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Funnel Cloud Filmed Touching Down in Byron
5/29/13 - Some Flint-area schools are closed after severe storms that pushed across the area knocked out power to district buildings. The National Weather Service says a tornado touched down around 10 p.m. Tuesday near Goodrich High School, southeast of Flint in Genesee County. Goodrich Area Schools and Beecher Community School District are closed today in the Flint area. Byron Area Schools in Shiawassee County also are closed. A funnel cloud was also filmed by Bill Floto near Byron, which he posted to his Facebook page. That video is posted here. A YouTube video also reportedly shows a funnel cloud touching down in Beecher, north of Flint. There was also damage reported in Fenton Township. National Weather Service officials are surveying the damage today. Funnel clouds were spotted in southern Livingston County during the same line of storms, but none touched down and no damage was reported. (JK)
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Pink Party Book Features Local Breast Cancer Survivors Pink Party Book Features Local Breast Cancer Survivors
5/29/13 - Howell's Pink Party will take over the downtown area come June and a new book has been released that embodies the spirit of the event. The town-wide fundraiser benefits St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Livingston for patient supportive care and breast cancer research. Pink Portraits, the Pink Party Yearbook 2013, is available now and features the photos and written biographies of thirteen breast cancer warriors with ties to the area, along with memories of Pink Parties past. The featured women range in age from their early 40âs up to 76 and are all in different stages of breast cancer; some being 12 year survivors and others who had just finished treatments. Howell photographer Karen Luce says the book reaches a wide audience and itâs a testament to the strength and power of the Pink Party as well as the community that everyone can look back on. Luce tells WHMI it took her about a year to create the book and it was an eye-opening experience, being that she was pretty much a complete stranger and asking the featured women to share their very personal stories. Pink Portraits can be purchased online as well as a number of retailers in Howell. Tickets for the event are available now and sponsors are still needed. The next community meeting will take place at 6pm on Monday, June 3rd at the All Saints Chapel on Walnut Street. Complete details are posted below. (JK)
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Former McCotter Staffer Enters Plea in Petition ScandalFormer McCotter Staffer Enters Plea in Petition Scandal
5/29/13 - A Livingston County woman who served as a congressional staffer has entered a plea to fraud charges concerning nominating petitions. 59-year-old Mary Melissa Turnbull of Iosco Township pleaded no contest to committing fraud on the nominating petitions of Livonia Republican Thaddeus McCotter in a case that knocked him off the ballot. Turnbull entered the plea Tuesday in Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac. She faces up to five years in prison when she is sentenced July 9th. McCotter was disqualified from the 2012 congressional primary after the Secretary of Stateâs office said he lacked the 1,000 valid signatures. He resigned last July, rather than serve the remainder of his term. Authorities say Turnbull and other McCotter aides forged signatures, cut and pasted signatures from other petitions and had people falsely sign statements that they circulated the petitions. Another former staffer, Lorianne OâBrady of Livonia, previously pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts of falsely signing a nomination petition as a circulator and was sentenced to 20 days in a work-release program. Two other staffers, Paul Seewald and Don Yowchaung, earlier had charges of conspiracy to commit a legal act in an illegal manner dropped by a Wayne County judge. However, that decision is being appealed by the Michigan attorney generalâs office. (JK)
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New Trial Sought in Beating of Local WWII VeteranNew Trial Sought in Beating of Local WWII Veteran
5/29/13 - A hearing is set next week for one of the men convicted in the vicious beating of a Livingston County World War II veteran. Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailiencourt tells WHMI that 42-year-old Harry Riley filed a signed affidavit in January claiming his co-defendant, 37-year-old Noah Richard Lovell III did not plan, nor participate in the robbery and beating of John Pickett in his Oceola Township home in 2008. Both men were convicted of armed robbery, unlawful imprisonment, torture and first-degree home invasion. Authorities say Riley, who was sentenced to a term of 88 to 135 years in prison, posed as a utility worker when he approached Pickett and lured him outside his home in October 2008. They say Lovell then entered the residence and looked for cash and valuables. Picket was beaten when he returned inside. Based on Rileyâs affidavit, Lovell, who is serving a 50 to 95 year sentence, is seeking a new trial. A hearing to review that motion is schedule for June 6th in front of Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty. (JK)
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Autopsy Results Inconclusive For Former Brighton Football StarAutopsy Results Inconclusive For Former Brighton Football Star
5/29/13 - Autopsy results are inconclusive for a former NFL quarterback from Livingston County who was found dead yesterday in northern Michigan after going missing on Sunday night. The body of 30-year-old Cullen Finnerty was found about 8 p.m. Tuesday in the woods within a mile of where he disappeared. WOOD reports an autopsy has not revealed a cause of death, ruling out natural causes such as heart attack. Results are still pending for other tests, such as a toxicology report and an examination of Finnertyâs brain relating to prior football injuries. The search for Finnerty drew scores of police and volunteers, including staff and players from Grand Valley State. Sheriff Robert Hilts said Finnerty last spoke to a family member Sunday night in a phone call in which he said "he was nervous about something." Based on that call, Hilts said the family suspected he might be having some kind of a mental episode. Authorities say his body was eventually found beneath a heavily-needled pine tree, making it very difficult to see from a distance. Finnerty, a 2001 Brighton High School graduate, was a dual-threat QB who played for Grand Valley teams that won Division II titles in 2003, 2005 and 2006. He also briefly played in the NFL in Baltimore and Denver. (TD)
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Volunteers Sought For Hunger Council Community GardensVolunteers Sought For Hunger Council Community Gardens
5/30/13 - Now that winter is over, the Livingston Hunger Council is seeking volunteers to help with its community garden program. This year the Hunger Council has a network of 12 active gardens, where volunteers can grow crops to be shared with local families in need. A new half-acre garden was added in the Hartland area, and the SonRise Church on M-59 has joined the program. Volunteers are being sought to plant, weed, harvest, or deliver the crops around the county. One garden also has an âadopt-a-rowâ program where organizations, families, or businesses can send representatives once a week to weed or harvest their plants. Gardening supplies are also being sought. For more information, follow the link posted below. (TD)
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Fenton City Council Denies Taking Action to Evict Resident PigFenton City Council Denies Taking Action to Evict Resident Pig
5/30/13 - Representatives promoting the Fair Housing Act paid a visit to the Fenton City Council last night to make a case for a pot-bellied pig named Eli living within the cityâs borders. Eli lives in the city as a therapy animal for a young girl with autism. Legal Services of Eastern Michigan Director of Fair Housing Patricia Baird tells WHMI she addressed the council because a newspaper article had led her to believe the city had ordered the family to get rid of the animal, which could have been a violation of the FHA. When she began to speak, however, council members informed her that they had not banned the pig, and in fact they had not taken any action on the issue yet. City attorney Stephen Schultz tells WHMI the city had only just received information on the issue and is still considering what can and should be done at this time. Baird and her associates took the opportunity to discuss some of the laws pertaining to service animals and the provisions in the Fair Housing Act to protect them. She provided contact information and paperwork on the subject to help the city address the issue. She says legally the pig is like any other piece of equipment used by people to overcome disabilities, and she suggested that the city amend its zoning ordinance to make special provision for service animals. Council members expressed gratitude for her advice and expertise. (TD)
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Highland Twp. Board Determines Next Step for Streetscape ProjectHighland Twp. Board Determines Next Step for Streetscape Project
5/30/13 - The Highland Township DDA met last night in regards to the streetscape project plans for renovating several sidewalks, landscaping and pavement inlays on Milford Road. The project, which will reconstruct the quarter-mile area near M-59, is estimated to amount to a total of $1.2 million. Missy Dashevich, executive director of the Highland DDA, tells WHMI this project is slightly out of their budget. The board will meet again in 2 weeks for a budget meeting to determine how to best spend the money in the budget on the project and how else they can procure funds to pay for what the budget canât cover. Nowak and Fraus Engineering is the company that has been hired to prepare construction drawings for the streetscape project. Jeffrey Huhta, Vice President of Nowak and Fraus Engineering, says there are four components of the project: funding, construction drawing preparation, easement procurement and permits from the road commission. Huhta says the construction documents are 90% complete and they have gone through the first round of permit review. Huhta says before they can take the next step, they have to wait for the HDDA to develop a funding program for how they want to proceed. If all goes as planned, construction is expected to begin around the beginning of August.(DK)
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Howell Library Asks For Millage To Repair Aging BuildingHowell Library Asks For Millage To Repair Aging Building
5/30/13 - Voters will be asked to approve a new millage to help pay for repairs to the Howell Carnegie District Library in August. Library director Kathleen Zaenger says the libraryâs funding has been decreasing in recent years, but the building itself continues to age and require expensive repairs, such as replacing the heating and cooling system and permanently fixing patched holes in the roof. A study performed estimates that it will cost $3.5 million in total to completely repair the building. The library will ask voters to approve a 20-year, point-4 mill property tax as part of the August 6th election. This should provide the library with about $820,000 per year at an annual cost of about $30 for the average household. Library officials will be visiting township and city government meetings in the meantime to promote the millage and explain why it is necessary. (TD)
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Runners to Accrue Miles for Meals at Weekend EventRunners to Accrue Miles for Meals at Weekend Event
5/30/13 - The 6th annual Miles for Meals 5K and 10K will take place this weekend to benefit Livingston County Meals on Wheels. The event is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Meals on Wheels program. When it began in 2008 it was held in downtown Brighton, where streets had to be closed down to accommodate the runners. The 5K and 10K runs, as well as the 5K walk, are now scheduled to take place in the Kensington Metropark this Saturday, June 1st. Last yearâs run attracted about 200 runners and raised about $22,000, and program coordinator Bridget Ajemian is hoping for a turnout of 250 this year. So far more than 90 people have signed up, and registration will remain open even on the day of the race. She says the senior population of Livingston County grew by about 65% between 2000 and 2010, but the Meals on Wheels program still receives the same level of funding it got in 2000. Additionally this year, federal sequestration has cut the programâs congregate budget by about 25%, and some large sponsors have ended their support for the event. (TD)
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Repairs To Silver Lake Road Bridge Scheduled for 2015Repairs To Silver Lake Road Bridge Scheduled for 2015
5/30/13 - The Fenton City Council approved paying 5% of the cost of replacing the Silver Lake Road bridge last night, with the remaining 95% to be paid from state and federal sources. The city has received a grant to repair the bridge over the Shiawassee River between Leroy and Adelaide Streets. The $1.4 million reconstruction will be paid almost completely by the federal government, with the state and city governments each paying about $70,000. The city must also pay for the engineering and design work, which will cost about $80,000 and take six to nine months. This is the third bridge in the City of Fenton to receive 95% reconstruction funding from the state and federal governments in recent years. Public Works Director Dan Czarnecki says this kind of funding is typically very unusual, going only to bridges in the poorest condition, and the fact that three bridge projects have been funded this way shows the poor state of Fentonâs bridges. Actual work on the bridge should begin during the construction season of 2015. (TD)
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Autopsy Inconclusive; Services Set for FinnertyAutopsy Inconclusive; Services Set for Finnerty
5/30/13 - A cause of death was not determined Wednesday after an autopsy on the body of a Livingston County man who was one of the most successful quarterbacks in college history. Lake County Sheriff Robert Hilts said there was no obvious sign of heart trauma on Cullen Finnerty, whose body was discovered Tuesday night in woods 65 miles north of Grand Rapids, following a search by dozens of people, including former teammates, coaches and current players at Grand Valley State University. Finnerty had led Grand Valley to more than 50 victories and three national titles; the last in 2006. The 30-year-old former Brighton High School star was with his relatives on a holiday weekend at a cottage in Lake County's Webber Township. He disappeared Sunday while fishing a river separately from other relatives. Hilts said the autopsy "ruled out anything real obvious" and that there âwas nothing that stood out as to the cause of death.â He added that he was glad there was no sign of foul play involved and that more results could be available after an examination of the brain and other tests. WZZM-TV is reporting that the coroner has said while Finnerty did have an enlarged heart, it was not large enough to have caused his death. Meanwhile, services have been set for Finnerty. Viewing will be Monday at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Brighton, with family from noon-1 p.m. and friends from 1-8 p.m. The funeral will be held Tuesday morning at 10:30 at the church. He is survived by his wife and two young children, pictured here. (JK)
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DIA To Place Works Of Art Around Downtown Brighton This SummerDIA To Place Works Of Art Around Downtown Brighton This Summer
5/31/13 - Some new works of art will be making appearances outside selected buildings in downtown Brighton as part of the Detroit Institute of Artâs 4th annual Inside Out program this summer. Workers from the DIA will soon begin installing seven reproductions of pieces of art from the DIA. They will be placed at locations chosen for their high visibility by the city and representatives from the museum. Community Development, Planning, and Zoning Department Deputy Director Lauri French says the program will add to the work the city has already done to bring sculptures into the downtown, and that many people only have a chance to view art when it is displayed publicly. Installation at the sites will begin in June, and the DIA has assured the city that all of the art will be in place by July 4th. The displays will stay up through September, with the option to extend the program into October. DIA representatives will issue a formal âthank youâ to the Brighton City Council at its June 6th meeting for the cityâs participation in the event. An invitation-only kickoff event will be held on July 10th at Studio West Gallery in the downtown, followed by a walking tour of the artwork that is open to the public. In addition to the program, residents in the 48116 zip code will be given free access to the Detroit Institute of Arts during the weekend of July 20th. (TD)
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Legacy Recalled of Landscaper & Longtime Basketball Coach Legacy Recalled of Landscaper & Longtime Basketball Coach
5/31/13 - A longtime community businessman and educator has passed away. Frank Leppek, founder of Leppek Nursery and Landscapes, died Wednesday. He was 65. Leppek was also a former basketball coach and teacher at Hartland High School for over 19 years. Friends and family recall Leppek as a man who had a way of relating to people that made them feel comfortable. He was also described as a man of character and integrity, who was a true inspiration for the young athletes he coached over the years. Leppek is survived by his wife Wendy, three children and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Saturday at the Keehn Funeral Home in Brighton. A Mass will follow on Monday at 11am at St. John Catholic Church in Howell. Memorial contributions are suggested to Arbor Hospice or to the family for a future scholarship. (JK)
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Community Invited to Family-Friendly Event at Lutz County ParkCommunity Invited to Family-Friendly Event at Lutz County Park
5/31/13 - Residents are encouraged to celebrate community and the environment during an event tomorrow at Livingston Countyâs first owned and operated park. âLutz Get Togetherâ will be hosted by the Livingston County Park Advisory Committee Saturday from 11am to 3pm. It has been nearly five years since the opening day of Lutz County Park and officials say they want to reintroduce residents and others to the natural beauty of the park, as well as the recreational improvements that have been made over time. A variety of family friendly activities are planned and guests are encouraged to bring a lunch and have a picnic. Information about the art of bee keeping will be offered and kids can plant seeds in take-home containers while The Michigan Barn Preservation Network will be raising a demonstration size barn. Alexandriaâs Nature Bus will offer a close-up look at birds of prey, which is run by the Howell Area Conference and Nature Center. (JK)
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State Education Spending Plan Brings $1M To Howell Next YearState Education Spending Plan Brings $1M To Howell Next Year
5/31/13 - The Michigan House and Senate have sent a spending plan to Governor Rick Snyder for approval, and Superintendent Ron Wilson says that is good news for the Howell School district. The plan calls for a funding increase to K-12 schools of about 3%. In Howell, that equates to an increase of about $138 per student, or $1 million for the year. Democrats have criticized the spending plan, saying it does not do enough to correct previous funding cuts. Brighton is expected to get an additional $400,000 under the plan, Hartland $378,000, Pinckney $300,000 and Fowlerville $216,000. However, Wilson says his district was not expecting any increase in state funding at all, so an extra million dollars is a welcome surprise. While the additional funding is welcome, it wonât erase the districtâs deficit situation, which officials have attributed largely to past education cuts by the legislature. It will, however, mean less money will have to be used from Howellâs fund equity account to balance the budget. Some best-practices funding for public schools will be tied to new requirements, including allowing students to take a certain amount of schooling online. Wilson tells WHMI that requirement is not a concern for Howell Schools, which already offers a number of online classes. Under the plan, community colleges and universities will see a 2% increase in funding but will lose some performance-based funding if they raise tuition more than 3.75%. (TD)
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Tyrone Township Considers Solo Deal For Sheriff PatrolsTyrone Township Considers Solo Deal For Sheriff Patrols
5/31/13 - After teaming up with Hartland Township to reject and renegotiate a deal for dedicated road patrols earlier this year, Tyrone Township may decide to negotiate a new deal without Hartlandâs help. The two townships had a contract with the sheriffâs department for more than 30 years to provide dedicated road patrols to the remote area of the county. Earlier this year they chose not to renew the contract, which they said was not providing enough benefit for the cost. The county government had subsidized the 24/7 patrol by about 38%. The Tri County Times reports that Tyrone Clerk Keith Kremer says he has been negotiating with the sheriff and undersheriff, which has offered to provide patrols at the same 38% discount. He says the township will probably be looking at paying for fewer than 12 hours per day, such as eight hours during peak times to provide a visible police presence. He added that Tyrone would probably be enter the deal without Hartland Township. Tyrone residents will be able to give feedback on the proposed deal through a survey on their summer tax bills. (TD)
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Great Strides Event to Raise Funds for Cystic Fibrosis CureGreat Strides Event to Raise Funds for Cystic Fibrosis Cure
5/31/13 - An event in Hartland this weekend will help raise funds for cystic fibrosis research and associated programs. The 2013 Great Strides walk-a-thon will take place on Saturday, June 1st at the track of the Hartland Educational Support Service Center on M-59. Registration will begin at 10am. The walk is part of a nation-wide Great Strides effort that takes place every year. A press release says the 2012 program raised nearly $40 million, and that real progress is being made in the effort to develop a cure for cystic fibrosis. The event also sponsors education and care programs. For more information or to register for the walk, follow the link below. (TD)
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New Milford Twp. Medical Marijuana Regulations RecommendedNew Milford Twp. Medical Marijuana Regulations Recommended
5/31/13 - New home occupation regulations for medical marijuana caregivers were recommended for approval by the Milford Township Planning Commission last night. The regulations outline the process and procedures for residents who wish to grow or provide medical marijuana as a licensed caregiver under the 2008 Michigan Medical Marijuana Act. The planning commission held a public hearing to discuss the draft ordinance last night, but no members of the public came forward to speak. The regulations will now go to the township board for approval. Unlike in many other municipalities, if the regulations are approved, no two properties of active caregivers will be allowed to exist within 500 feet of one another, which would force local caregivers to be spread out through the community rather than condensed into one area. There could be no signs identifying any particular residence as a site where marijuana is grown or distributed. A single caregiver would also be required to keep all growing, processing, and storage of medical marijuana to an area of 150 square feet or less. Dispensaries and collective smoking facilities would be completely prohibited under these regulations. The planning commission wanted to make sure to communicate to applicants that the regulations do not provide them immunity from federal laws, which outlaw marijuana. Planning Commission Chair Richard Lemke refused to comment on the record about the proposed regulations. They will go before the Milford Township Board on June 19th for final approval. (TD)
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