11/1/12 - Now that Halloween has passed and local kids have possibly had their fill of sweets, theyâre being encouraged to donate any leftover candy for cash through a buy-back program benefiting troops serving overseas and local food banks. TNT Orthodontics in Brighton and South Lyon are again offering a Halloween candy buy-back program this week where it will weigh candy and pay kids $1 per pound, up to five pounds. The program is done in connection with Orthodontic Health Month, a movement to decrease cavities, childhood diabetes and childhood obesity. Itâs part of the larger âOperation Gratitudeâ that sends candy to troops serving overseas. Kids are encouraged to write letters to the troops, which will be sent over with the candy. The offices will also be making a matching cash donation of whatever is raised to food banks in Brighton, South Lyon and Pinckney. The buy-back will take place at TNT Orthodontics in Brighton and South Lyon Thursday from 10am until 9pm. It will be offered again Friday at the Brighton office only from 8:30am until 6pm. (JM)
Halloween Candy Buy-Back Program Offered Again To Local Kids Halloween Candy Buy-Back Program Offered Again To Local Kids
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Local Red Cross Mobilizing Volunteers For Hurricane Sandy Relief Local Red Cross Mobilizing Volunteers For Hurricane Sandy Relief
11/1/12 - A huge relief response to Hurricane Sandy is underway and the Livingston County Chapter of the American Red Cross is mobilizing volunteers. The massive storm has resulted in devastation and death and the Red Cross is urging support to help people recover during the weeks to come while also providing them a safe place to stay, food to eat and comfort. Executive Director Renee Wyatt with the local chapter says thousands of people have spent the night in hundreds of Red Cross shelters since the storm began its onslaught. She tells WHMI one local volunteer was deployed prior to the storm and is assisting those in need at a shelter on the north side of the Bronx. She says they anticipate sending more, who are ready to go when needed. Wyatt adds that she has also received calls from people in the community who have seen the news and want to help, and there are number of ways whether its donating funds, blood or offering time and talents. The Red Cross has already served more than 100,800 meals and snacks and mobilized more than 2,300 disaster workers with more being deployed. Information on how to donate or help can be found in the press release below. (JM)
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AATA Official Lines Up Support For Commuter Rail ProjectAATA Official Lines Up Support For Commuter Rail Project
11/1/12 - WALLY, the commuter rail project otherwise known as the Washtenaw and Livingston Line, is on the move and with a new grant to back it up, is picking up speed. The railroad, anticipated to run from Howell and Brighton to Ann Arbor, has received a federally funded grant to aid in the estimated remaining cost of $18.9 million. Michael Benham, strategic planner at the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, says the startup of the project is dependent on funding and support from the community. In a recent survey done by the Transportation Authority, more than half of Washtenaw and Livingston county residents were aware of the project and about 3/4ths approve. Benham tells WHMI that the success of the transit system has a lot to do with location.Benham says that 30% of operation costs would be covered by fares as the project would cost $7.1 million annually. The University of Michigan is also willing to do some funding by covering the fares of their own employees who use the system in order to promote it. The standard locomotive will be made up of double-decker pulled rail cars, 23 of which are undergoing rehabilitation. Benham says there are many benefits to WALLY which include an increase in jobs and property values and a decrease in energy use and air pollution. (DK)
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Howell Man Released From Hospital After Contracting MeningitisHowell Man Released From Hospital After Contracting Meningitis
11/1/12 - A local man whose wife died in the national meningitis outbreak has been released from a hospital where he was being treated for the same illness. George Cary of Howell Township says he's "much improved" but still taking medication and focusing on regaining his strength. His wife Lilian died on September 30th. The 65-year-old George Cary didn't become ill until October 19th. He was diagnosed with meningitis at a Florida hospital and returned to Michigan last week and was discharged from an Ann Arbor hospital on Sunday. The Carys were treated at Michigan Pain Specialist in Brighton, which administered steroids made by a Massachusetts pharmacy. The contaminated steroids have been linked to a national wave of fungal meningitis, including 62 cases in Michigan. A total of eight state residents have died. Separately, 46-year-old Brenda Bansale of Howell Township is suing the Massachusetts pharmacy for negligence in a class-action suit after contracting meningitis from the tainted steroids. (JM)
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Calm & Caution Urged By Shooting InvestigatorsCalm & Caution Urged By Shooting Investigators
11/1/12 - As a task force follows up on more than 2,000 tips related to a series of shootings along the I-96 corridor, officials yesterday encouraged the public not to change their daily routines and for the media to be careful linking unrelated events to the case. Wixom Police Chief Clarence Goodlein, State Police Lt. Michael Shaw and Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard spoke to reporters yesterday, saying that while nine of the shootings have been linked through forensic testing, only three of the 24 reported incidents have actually taken place on I-96. The remainder have been on trunk lines or local streets. Shaw urged people not to connect other events, such as a reported road rage incident that happened earlier Wednesday in Livingston County, to the shootings. A Detroit television station aired a report that the incident was possibly related to the shootings, setting off panic and concern in the community. The incident instead turned out to only involve two men who got into a dispute after one aggressively tailgated the other. So far, only one person has been injured in the shootings. 46-year-old Scott Arnold of Delton, near Kalamazoo, was struck in the buttocks by a bullet as he drove Saturday on I-96 near Fowlerville. Authorities are offering a $102,000 reward for information in the case. Investigators say they believe the shooter is a white male in his 30âs, driving a dark-colored, four-door, 10- to 12-year-old car similar to an Oldsmobile Alero, Toyota Camry or Chevy Cavalier. (JK)
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Proposal 4 Seeks Protection For Home Health Care Workers Proposal 4 Seeks Protection For Home Health Care Workers
11/1/12 - Next Tuesday, Michigan voters will be asked to amend the stateâs constitution in order to give Home Health Care workers limited rights to collective bargaining. If the constitutional amendment known as Proposal 4 passes, Home Health Care workers would be classified as public employees for the purpose of collective bargaining negotiation only. However, the participating users of home care services would still retain the power to hire or terminate the home care workers. Supporters of the amendment, which includes Service Employees International Union, claim that this measure is necessary to improve user experience by establishing a registry that would contain a list of workers who have passed background checks, creating worker training opportunities and by providing competitive wages. Claire Layman, a public policy specialist at Michigan State University points out that backers of this amendment support it because they feel the legislature has not done a good enough job of maintaining the quality of service necessary to help a vulnerable population. Opponents of the measure argue that the issue doesnât warrant amending the constitution, and that a legislative option is much more appropriate. Currently there are roughly 42,000 Home Care workers affected by this measure. For additional details on all of the ballot proposals, you can log onto the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, a non-political public affairs research organization. A link is posted below. (JM)
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Hole Dug At Green Cemetery Believed To Be A Halloween Prank Hole Dug At Green Cemetery Believed To Be A Halloween Prank
11/1/12 - A hole that was dug near a grave at a cemetery in Marion Township is believed to be a Halloween prank, not any criminal activity. Township Clerk Tammy Beal says a woman reported that some digging had been going on at the Green Cemetery off Pingree and Vines Roads. Beal says she contacted the Sexton to investigate and he determined that someone, not an animal, had dug a hole roughly 5-feet long and 3-feet deep near a grave. Beal tells WHMI she did report the incident to police but they have come to the conclusion that it was just a prank or some kind of Halloween stunt based on where it was located. She says the hole was dug on the opposite side of the headstones from where any bodies would be buried. Beal says nothing was disturbed and records indicate there are no bodies located where the hole was dug. She says people should not be alarmed as this is certainly not something that happens on a regular basis and the hole has since been filled in. Beal says a lawn service company was at the cemetery October 15th and the incident was reported October 21st, so it happened sometime during that period. (JM)
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Man Charged For Brandishing Weapon On US-23 In Hartland Man Charged For Brandishing Weapon On US-23 In Hartland
11/1/12 - A Genesee County man is due back in court next week after police say he brandished a weapon at a motorist on U.S. 23 in Hartland Township earlier this week. 67-year-old Clarence Leroy Murphy Jr. of Flint is charged with carrying a concealed weapon. A woman says she and her 12-year-old daughter were driving northbound on US-23 early Monday evening when a minivan tried to pass her near Crouse Road. He eventually pulled alongside and waived a handgun while laughing. She was able to get his license plate and pass that along to authorities, who later stopped his vehicle in Flint. A search turned up two handguns and a starter pistol. He was taken into custody after a background check also revealed his concealed pistol license had been suspended. Murphy also is charged in Genesee County for a September 6th incident in which he was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. An exam conference in the Livingston County case is scheduled for Monday in 53rd District Court. He remains jailed on a $25,000 bond. (JM)
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Semi Crash Snarls Traffic On EB I-96 In Howell Thursday MorningSemi Crash Snarls Traffic On EB I-96 In Howell Thursday Morning
11/1/12 - Two drivers managed to escape injury following a morning crash involving a semi that tied up traffic on I-96 in the Howell area for a couple of hours. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI that they received a 911 call at around 9am about a semi that was basically on top of a car on eastbound I-96, one mile east of D-19/Pinckney Road. He says the semi-trailer was in the middle lane and merging over to the right lane but didnât see a smaller Oldsmobile beside him, driven by a 21-year-old Chesaning woman. Bezotte says the semi driver hit the womanâs vehicle with his front passenger tire and knocked it into the guardrail before she bounced off and ended up underneath the trailer, which was empty. He says the semi driver was able to stop the trailer before the rear tires went over the back of her vehicle but anyone passing by would have likely thought it was a fatal situation and they're very fortunate no one was killed or hurt. A 44-year-old Ann Arbor man was driving the semi for BTS Carrier trucking company out of Plymouth. Bezotte says he was cited for improper lane use as well as for some violations in his log book. He says the female motorist refused treatment at the scene. Both were wearing seat belts and alcohol was not believed to be a factor. (JM)
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Local Woman Charged In McCotter Petition Scandal Heads To Trial Local Woman Charged In McCotter Petition Scandal Heads To Trial
11/1/12 - A judge has refused to drop a conspiracy charge and ordered a Livingston County woman who served as an aide to a Detroit-area congressman to stand trial in a campaign scandal. Mary Turnbull of Iosco Township worked for former Congressman Thaddeus McCotter. The Livonia Republican didn't make the 2012 ballot after a staff member submitted bogus petition signatures. The 58-year-old Turnbull is charged with conspiracy and a Troy Judge determined on Thursday that there was enough evidence to bind the case over to Oakland County Circuit Court. Authorities say Turnbull asked Doug Bauss to sign his name as a petition circulator, although she actually collected the names. Bauss previously testified Turnbull told him she couldnât be listed as the circulator because her Iosco Township address was outside of McCotterâs district. McCotter's district director and deputy director face conspiracy charges in Wayne County. A fourth staffer pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor. McCotter has not been charged and didn't know about the petition problems, but was forced to resign from Congress in July. (JM)
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Unadilla Township Police Seek Tips After Church Break-InUnadilla Township Police Seek Tips After Church Break-In
11/1/12 - Local authorities are investigating a church break-in and are asking for publicâs help. Unadilla Township Police are seeking any information regarding the break-in of the Family Tabernacle Church of God located on West M-36 near the Putnam Township line. Police say sometime between this past Monday morning and Wednesday morning, a person or persons broke into the church and ransacked the pastorâs office. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Unadilla Township Police at (734) 498-2325 Ext. 307 or by email at police@unadillapolice.org. Police say anyone with information or tips regarding the crime can call and report information confidentially to police without their identity being disclosed. (JM)
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Brighton Condo Project in Compliance with Consent Agreement
11/2/12 - Five years ago the city of Brighton entered into a consent agreement with the developer of the Northridge Hills II condominium development due concerns that the slope leading to a pond behind the condos was eroding rapidly, and destabilizing the deck and patio areas of some of the condos. The consent agreement, which involves twice-per-year monitoring by the city through on-site inspections, is about to expire. That led to a final report to the City Council Thursday night by city engineer Gary Markstrom of Tetra Tech and county building inspector Jim Rowell. City Manager Dan Foster tells WHMI compliance with the consent agreement has been reached by the developer. Both Markstrom and Rowell said that while there has been some settling of the units, as would be expected in any development over time, there has been no serious erosion and the condos are in no danger. However, Council Member Jim Bohn, himself a resident of Northridge Hills II, had a different viewpoint on the matter and told council that there has been some serious shifting of the posts of some decks and other problems that are beyond what would be expected in just five years. Markstrom said that he wasnât aware of the problems and said he would make a second inspection of the development to look at the areas of concern outlined by Bohn. Markstrom will report his findings to Foster and Foster will then share the information with council. City Attorney Paul Burns said from a legal standpoint, the developer, Steve Davis of Northridge Hills LLC, is in full compliance with the consent order. (TT)
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Ability to Raise Taxes at Heart of Proposal 5Ability to Raise Taxes at Heart of Proposal 5
11/2/12 - On Election Day, Michigan voters will be asked to approve a Constitutional Amendment requiring that all future tax increases, including new taxes and tax base expansion, be approved by a two-thirds vote of the legislature. If passed, Proposal 5 would be in addition to a current state constitutional requirement that already caps the amount of annual state spending. According to Eric Scorsone, an expert on state finance at Michigan State University, backers of this measure such as Michigan Alliance for Prosperity, argue that the amendment is necessary to compete against neighboring states with lower taxes in order to save Michiganâs jobs and would provide certainty for future potential businesses about what their bottom-line costs would be, thus giving the state a leg up to attract that development. However, Scorsone also points out that this measure could impact the long-term financial stability of local units of government because a limitation on state revenue would make it hard for the state to share revenue with local governments, forcing the latter to resort to cuts in spending. Currently only nine states have constitutional requirements for super-majority votes to enact similar tax increases. Most recently, a similar requirement was adopted by the Wisconsin legislature, although there, the super-majority requirement could be changed by a simple majority vote. For additional details on all of the ballot proposals, you can log onto the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, a non-political public affairs research organization. Weâve put that link below. (JK)
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Mexican Fugitive Jailed For Alleged Assault In Unadilla Twp. Mexican Fugitive Jailed For Alleged Assault In Unadilla Twp.
11/2/12 - A fugitive wanted for an alleged sexual assault in Unadilla Township is back behind bars in Livingston County. Police say records show that 31-year-old Varnet Brito, a citizen of Mexico, has been extradited from Blackhawk County, Iowa to the Livingston County Jail, where he is presently incarcerated and awaiting arraignment for the local charge. Brito is charged with sexually assaulting an incapacitated victim in Unadilla Township on March 19th of 2008. During the investigation, township police say they were able to recover forensic evidence from the scene that linked Brito to the victim, but would not elaborate as to what that evidence was. Brito spent four and a half years on the run before being arrested by the Blackhawk County Sheriff's Department in Iowa last month for disorderly conduct and public intoxication. Unadilla Township Police were notified of his recent capture and he was being held on the charges as well as a deportation detainer from the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement for having illegal immigration status. (JM)
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"Defeat Obama" Tour Returns to Brighton Mill Pond For Rally"Defeat Obama" Tour Returns to Brighton Mill Pond For Rally
11/2/12 - For the second time in just over three weeks, the national âRebuild America, Defeat Obamaâ tour held a rally on the shores of the Brighton Mill Pond yesterday. The tour combines entertainers, political speakers, and local politicians at its rallies to promote Republican candidates and criticize the Obama administration. Tour officials say they originally planned to visit states all across the union, but have since narrowed their efforts to five battleground states to more effectively influence the result of the election. More than 200 people attended the rally, which included senate candidate Pete Hoekstra, State Senator Joe Hune, and State Representative Bill Rogers. Presenters declared that voters have already decided who to vote for, the main message now is to get out to the polls on Tuesday. Organizers said they decided to return to Brighton after visiting less than a month ago because of the strong positive reception they received in the area. (TD)
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State Police Investigating Claim of Harassment During SearchState Police Investigating Claim of Harassment During Search
11/2/12 - State Police at the Brighton Post say they are investigating the claims of a Freeland man who says he was pulled over on Monday in Livingston County and threatened at gunpoint by a trooper; an action he says is related to the ongoing search for a freeway shooter. 56-year-old Kim Sachs says he was driving his 2012 Ford Mustang on U.S. 23 just south of I-96 Monday morning when a trooper pulled him over and pointed her gun at him and three times threatened to kill him if he didnât display his hands. He says she then frisked him and searched his car. Sachs believes the incident was part of effort to stop a gunman who has fired on two dozen vehicles in Shiawassee, Ingham, Livingston and Oakland counties since October 16th. First Lt. Joel Allen, commander of the Brighton Post, told MLive.com that he has spoken with Sachs and that a formal investigation of his claims will be made. Witnesses have described the gunmanâs vehicle as 1998 Oldsmobile Alero, a 1998 Toyota Camry or a dark Ford Mustang. The gunman is believed to be a white male in his late 20s to early 30s. Authorities are offering a $102,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Meanwhile, football fans traveling to East Lansing to see the Spartans take on Nebraska can expect to see more police along the I-96 corridor where there have been 24 shootings in the past several weeks. Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth says drivers are more likely to get in an accident than get shot. Nonetheless, he's boosting patrols Saturday just in case. (JK)
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Oceola Tests Invasive Weed For Cross-Breeding With Native Plant
11/2/12 - An invasive plant species may have started cross-breeding with local flora in Thompson Lake to become resistant to the herbicide used to kill it. The species, known as Eurasian milfoil, has been spreading across waterways in the northern Midwest since the 1940âs. It forms thick mats that interfere with recreation on lakes while choking out native plant life. Oceola Township treats the weed with an herbicide called Sonar, but recent evidence indicates the weed may be developing a resistance to Sonar by interbreeding with the native species of milfoil. Samples of the potentially-hybrid weed are now being grown for testing so the township can determine what concentration of herbicide will be effective. It will bring that information to the state in the spring to get permission to use a higher concentration if it is needed. (TD)
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NTSB Releases Preliminary Report in Fatal Plane CrashNTSB Releases Preliminary Report in Fatal Plane Crash
11/2/12 - An initial report has been made into the fatal crash of a single-engine plane at the Brighton Airport in September, but offers no obvious clues as to what may have gone wrong. The preliminary report was issued Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board into September 1st crash of an Aeronca 7AC propeller-driven aircraft that killed a female passenger from Costa Rica and seriously injured the pilot, 79-year-old Walter Davenport of Brighton. The report says that witnesses observed a normal warm-up of the engine and takeoff, but that shortly afterward, the engine did not sound like it was developing full power and the airplane was struggling to climb. The airplane was then seen to turn and descend with its nose downward, crashing in swampy terrain approximately 1,000 feet from the end of the runway. An examination of the airplane showed no obvious faults with the flight controls. The carburetor float was undamaged, and the fuel intake screen was clear. While the carburetor float bowl contained both fuel and water, that isnât necessarily a possible cause for engine failure as the plane was partially submerged in water. The wreckage from the crash remains stored in a hangar at the airport while the NTSB completes its investigation, which could take some time. Davenport, who is a retired Michigan State Police detective sergeant, has since been released from the hospital and continues to recover from his injuries. (JK)
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Genoa Trustee's Past Alcohol Convictions SurfaceGenoa Trustee's Past Alcohol Convictions Surface
11/2/12 - A Genoa Township board member is reacting to news that her colleague had two prior alcohol-related driving convictions from four years ago. Court records show that Trustee Todd Smith was charged in Brighton in 2008 and pleaded guilty to a charge of operating while impaired. They also indicate that he complied with all terms and conditions set forth, including random drug and alcohol testing, probation and community service. It was also reported by the Press & Argus that he was charged with a driving while intoxicated offense in Grand Haven the following year which âlanded Smith behind bars for 45 days and netted him a year of probationâ. That was erroneously reported though as Smith only served five days in jail, with the rest suspended as he successfully completed all probation terms. Smith has served on the Genoa Township Board since 2000 and is a member of the Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority Board. He is the President of Laurex Real Estate. Smith has served on the Genoa Township Board since 2000 and is a member of the Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority Board. He is the President of Laurex Real Estate. Board members were not made aware of the incidents and Trustee Jean Ledford told WHMI this was the first she had heard of it, but she considers it a personal matter that has not affected his work on the board. She points out that the incident happened years ago and hopes that Smith has learned from his mistake. She adds that this has never happened in Genoa Township before and expects the board will likely discuss the matter and whether or not any policy should be drafted to deal with incidents of this nature in the future. Smith did not return calls placed for comment but acknowledged making some bad decisions four years ago and says he takes full responsibility for his actions. There are seven candidates vying for four trustee seats on the board. They include incumbent Republicans Smith, Ledford and Jim Mortensen. The challengers are Republican Linda Rowell, Democrat Jim Delcamp and non-partisan candidates Terry Croft and Jeff Dhaenens. (JM/TD)
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Local Red Cross Workers Head East To Help Storm RecoveryLocal Red Cross Workers Head East To Help Storm Recovery
11/3/12 - Several members of the local chapter of the American Red Cross will be heading out east to help deal with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Four volunteers from the Livingston County chapter left for the East Coast on Friday, with several more planning on joining them in the coming days. They will join more than 3,000 American Red Cross trained disaster relief workers providing hundreds of thousands of meals and tens of thousands of shelter stays for those displaced by the storm. The American Red Cross responds to an average of 70,000 emergency situations of all sizes every year. Local Red Cross workers are also warning residents of fraudulent telephone solicitors claiming to be affiliated with the Red Cross. Executive Director Renee Wyatt says the local chapter is glad that people want to help with the relief effort, but urges people to seek out legitimate and secure methods of donation. (TD)
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