7/23/13 - Local motorists are likely feeling the pain of construction everywhere lately but most recently, with the next phase of a project on M-59. The Michigan Department of Transportation started resurfacing work on M-59 this week, which will encompass an eight-mile section from Oakway Drive to just west of Old US-23. The work will be done in two mile segments. One lane of M-59 will be open under flag control from 9am to 3pm on weekdays, and on weekends during daylight hours. Crews have been widening the south side of M-59 and upgrading the shoulders to allow for the installation of a center left-turn lane at Kellogg Road, which is close to completion. M-DOT officials advise that motorists plan extra time when traveling in the area, due to the lane closures and flagging operations. The work is projected to last throughout the summer and M-DOT is looking to have construction wrapped up by November. (JM)
Summer Road Construction Projects Piling up in Livingston CountySummer Road Construction Projects Piling up in Livingston County
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Howell City Council Approves Fireworks Ordinance AmmendmentsHowell City Council Approves Fireworks Ordinance Ammendments
7/23/13 - The detonation of fireworks overnight or on public property is now a civil infraction in the City of Howell and the first offense will cost you $500. New amendments and fines for violating the municipalityâs fireworks ordinance outside of the designated holiday time period were put into effect during Monday nightâs City Council meeting. While the statute says the fines are âup to $500â, Council decided that the amount will make it less desirable to break the new fireworks law. This doesnât preclude a police officer from giving a warning but some council members debated whether it was an appropriate amount for a first offense. Councilman Scott Niblock felt $500 was a significant amount of money and a bit much while members Dawn Cooper and Steve Manor believe going to this extreme will be effective in getting peopleâs attention. Currently the City of Howell restricts the use of fireworks to the day before, the day of and the day after a national holiday. The amendments approved last night prohibit the detonation of fireworks on public, church or another personâs property. City Manager Shea Charles tells WHMI a first offense alone could cost you $500 and the recent change came about due to the State of Michigan updating their fireworks law. Municipalities were given the choice to prohibit fireworks between the hours of 1am and 8am, even on the three days that they are allowed. The new amendments also prohibit fireworks on church or another personâs property. The new restrictions were put into place following continued complaints. As the offense has been changed to a civil infraction, council members believe it should cut down on the misuse of fireworks. (DK)
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Pinckney School Board to Discuss New Deficit Elimination PlanPinckney School Board to Discuss New Deficit Elimination Plan
7/23/13 - A new deficit elimination plan will be discussed by the Pinckney School Board at its August meeting. Pinckney became a deficit district at the end of the school year and is now $2.4 million in debt. The coming school year will add to that debt, but the amount that will be added has been reduced by two-thirds to about $800,000. The district is required to submit to the state a deficit elimination plan detailing how it will get out of debt. The district has so far submitted three deficit elimination plans to the state, and Superintendent Dan Danosky tells WHMI the state approved one of its earlier plans, but a new one must be discussed and submitted because the numbers have changed. Danosky says since those plans were submitted the district was able to renegotiate terms with all of its employees, which is a large part of how the district was able to reduce its operational deficit for this year. A new deficit elimination plan with the latest numbers will be discussed by the board at its August 1st meeting, and if it is approved it will be sent to the state for approval or revision. (TD)
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Third Street Reopens Following Water Main CollapseThird Street Reopens Following Water Main Collapse
7/24/13 - The City of Brighton has reopened Third Street, which collapsed earlier this month due to a water main break. A small section of the sewer pipe on South Third Street near the intersection of Third and Washington collapsed July 14th. Excessive groundwater and runoff in the break had delayed the repairs, but City Manager Dana Foster says the crews were able to clear the water out faster than anticipated. The repairs were completed and the street reopened on Monday afternoon. A small section of the street remains barricaded because it has been backfilled and needs to be compacted and patched. Foster thanked residents and nearby businesses for putting up with the construction and resulting detour. (TD)
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Council Split on Whether to Allow Chickens in City of HowellCouncil Split on Whether to Allow Chickens in City of Howell
7/24/13 - The Howell City Council was tied when it came to vote on whether or not to allow the keeping of chickens in the City. With member Jeff Hansen absent from Monday nightâs meeting, Council was locked at 3-3 on the issue of chicken-keeping, therefore deciding to postpone the decision. Council member Scott Niblock was opposed to the allowance of chickens, saying that he âchose to live in a city and if people want to keep chickens, they can go live in the countryâ. Niblock believes chicken-keeping is a fad and Council member Dawn Cooper agrees with him, saying Howell is ânot a farm communityâ. Shea Charles, the City Manager, says they are several ways to regulate the keeping of chickens which includes the number of chickens allowed, the restriction of roosters, permit requirements and requiring chickens to be penned. Charles tells WHMI this issue comes up frequently. City Council also passed harsher firework restrictions at last nightâs meeting which Niblock finds interesting that they would allow chickens in the city but not fireworks, as he finds them equally disruptive. The City Council plans to consult other municipalities on their chicken ordinances before making a final decision. They also plan to mock up an ordinance with two readings before the public so that community members can voice their comments and concerns. (DK)
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Closing Arguments Heard in Local Embezzlement TrialClosing Arguments Heard in Local Embezzlement Trial
7/24/13 - Today marks the first day of jury deliberation in the trial of a Marion Township man is on trial in connection with an embezzlement scheme involving General Motors. Jeffrey Eastom is charged with embezzling more than $100,000 in property while working as a supervisor for Ideal Setech in Howell. The company housed property for General Motors at a time when it was closing plants, and Eastom is accused of manipulating submitted inventory lists of machinery, tools and scrap materials between March of 2008 and January of 2010. He and his co-defendants are accused of then selling the property for scrap. Closing arguments were delivered near the end of the day yesterday, and jury deliberations were set to begin today. Police say search warrants that were executed turned up approximately $700,000 in property. (TD)
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Howell Township Denies Special Use Permits For Regal RecyclingHowell Township Denies Special Use Permits For Regal Recycling
7/24/13 - The Howell Township Board rejected three special use permits this week for Regal Recycling. The facility was seeking special use permits for three operations currently working out of a larger location. They included Starlight Supply, which is a junkyard and recycling operation; Lucy Landscaping, which is a retail outlet; and Weâre So Tired, which provides auto maintenance and tire sales. Regal began these operations about two years ago but only recently sought permits. However, the Howell Township Board rejected the applications and the operations must therefore be shut down. Township Clerk Carolyn Eaton says owner Vern Brockway has done an excellent job fixing up that facility and the board had a hard time denying the permits, but in the end they were not appropriate for the zoning and conflicted with the townshipâs master plan. The associated activities had also generated complaints from nearby residents. (TD)
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Education Advocate Denounces Common Core in BrightonEducation Advocate Denounces Common Core in Brighton
7/24/13 - The possible adoption of common core standards by the state of Michigan was the focus of a presentation last night by a former Portage School Board member and candidate for the State Board of Education. Melanie Kurdys spoke for about three dozen people last night to denounce the common core standards. She said there is no evidence that the common core standards improve education, that they are unproven in a classroom setting, that they take control from local powers and put it in the hands of unelected bureaucrats, and that removing the standards if they go wrong would be very difficult. Supporters for the common core say it will create a nation-wide standard for education and make it easy for schools to place students who relocate to their districts. Kurdys argued that schools should not rely on such assumptions but treat each child on a case-by-case basis. She also took questions from the audience, which included teachers and aprents from local districts. A Michigan House Common Core Committee hearing is scheduled for July 31st and will include a balanced look at the issue from both sides of the debate. (TD)
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Jury Finds Marion Township Man Guilty of Embezzlement Jury Finds Marion Township Man Guilty of Embezzlement
7/24/13 - A local jury has convicted a Marion Township man in connection with an embezzlement scheme involving General Motors. Deliberations began this morning and the jury found Jeffrey Eastom guilty as charged of embezzling more than $100,000. Jurors were then polled and all affirmed the verdict. A motion made by prosecutors to revoke Eastomâs bond ahead of his sentencing August 29th was denied, although a separate request that he turn over his passport was granted. Eastom worked as a supervisor for Ideal Setech in Howell and was said to be the ring leader of the group involved in the scheme. The company housed property for General Motors at a time when it was closing plants. Prosecutors maintained that Eastom would manipulate inventory lists of machinery, tools and metal materials between March of 2008 and January of 2010, which were then sold for scrap. Four co-defendants were charged in the scheme; two of which have already been sentenced to jail time and ordered to pay restitution of $471,369. The other two defendants, Kevin Bowles and Joseph Shuler, reached plea deals with prosecutors and testified against Eastom during his trial. They face sentencing August 1st in Livingston County Circuit Court. (JM)
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Fowlerville Man Facing New Federal Charges in Child Porn Case Fowlerville Man Facing New Federal Charges in Child Porn Case
7/24/13 - A Fowlerville man charged after authorities say he sent sexually explicit text messages to an 11-year-old girl is facing new charges at the federal level for what the FBI is calling âdespicable crimesâ. 30-year-old Matthew Lewis Colston has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Flint for allegedly manufacturing child pornography over a five-month period. The indictment alleges Colston used a cell phone to persuade and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and then also used that phone to distribute obscene material to a child. The case was investigated by the FBI, Michigan State Police, the Livingston County Prosecutorâs Office and the Southeast Michigan Crimes Against Children Task Force. Colston was already facing charges in Livingston County of child abuse commercial activity, accosting a child for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime. The victimâs parents told State Police that Colston, who owns an IT company based in Williamston, sent their daughter over 500 explicit photographs, which they discovered by using a cell phone app installed on her phone. The parents reportedly became concerned after their daughter started receiving multiple late-night messages. (JM)
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Accusations Fly in Fowlerville After Non-Renewal of Coach's ContractAccusations Fly in Fowlerville After Non-Renewal of Coach's Contract
7/24/13 - The Superintendent of Fowlerville Community Schools says the decision to not renew the contract of a popular coach was his alone. The Board of Education met Tuesday night, where some parents and former Junior Varsity Baseball Coach Dana Fitrakis spoke out about his contract not being renewed earlier this month. Superintendent Wayne Roedel says contracts are renewed on an annual basis for all coaches per policy. He tells WHMI the reason for the non-renewal, which is different than firing someone, really stemmed from a conversation that Fratrakis had with the former district athletic director in which he stated that he consistently has something in his mouth at practices and games, which varies from real chewing tobacco to a coffee ground substance to sunflower seeds. Despite that assertion, Fitrakis and some parents have alleged that Board of Education Trustee Laura Prochnow influenced the decision because she wasnât happy with the amount of field time her son was getting, who plays on the team. Roedel says coaches need to be role models and educational athletics is about more than just winning a game. Roedel says the board is an advisory group that will discuss certain issues but he is in charge of all personnel decisions and the choice was his, saying he has expectations for their coaches and programs, which Fratrakis did not meet. (JM)
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Hartland Firefighters To Host Charity Golf Scramble Next MonthHartland Firefighters To Host Charity Golf Scramble Next Month
7/25/13 - An event next month will use golf to help raise funds for the organizations that help local families in need. The Hartland Firefighters Association Annual Golf Scramble will take place on Sunday, August 18th beginning at noon. The event, organized by the firefighters of the Hartland-Deerfield Fire Authority, will raise money for the local Disaster Assistance Response Team, the Livingston chapter of the American Red Cross, and local families who have been hit by disaster. The cost is $70 per person and $280 per foursome. That include 18 holes of scramble golf, lunch and dinner, a special event hole, prizes, raffles, and awards at the end of the event. For more information, contact Captain Jon Dehanke or call the station at (810) 632-7676. (TD)
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Garage Fire Closes Leroy Street During Rush HourGarage Fire Closes Leroy Street During Rush Hour
7/25/13 - A detached garage fire in downtown Fenton shut down traffic on Leroy Street during rush hour yesterday afternoon. Lieutenant Casey Gilbert with the Fenton Fire Department tells WHMI they got the call at about 4:00pm for a fire in a detached garage on the 800 block of South Leroy, north of High Street. Crews arrived to find the garage fully involved and began a defensive attack to contain the blaze. The garage was a complete loss, and the cause is unknown. There was one resident home at the time, but she was in the house and it was the neighbors who called in the fire. Officials are investigating the cause. Firefighters had to shut down that section of South Leroy Street for about two hours while fighting the fire to allow their hoses access to water. They were assisted at the scene by firefighters from the City of Linden. (TD)
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Livingston County United Way Seeks Volunteers for Day of Caring Livingston County United Way Seeks Volunteers for Day of Caring
7/25/13 - Volunteers are being sought for the Livingston County United Wayâs Day of Caring event next month. This yearâs Day of Caring is scheduled for August 21st and while itâs an all-day event, volunteers can sign up for morning or afternoon shifts. Committee Chairman Piet Lindhout says the one-day blitz offers community members an opportunity to reach out to neighbors and help those in need, noting the United Way matches volunteers with the right project and focus based on their individual skill set. Everyone from high school students to retirees are encouraged to volunteer for community assistance projects, which include sprucing up area parks and recreational facilities, painting, minor general repairs at senior citizens homes, visits with area shut-ins and cleaning up and improving area playgrounds. Lindhout says theyâre still accepting applications, and currently the number of projects outweighs volunteers. He notes there are also more individual projects this year so volunteers with experience in home repair projects are being sought in particular. Last year, more than 1,300 volunteer shifts were performed at 105 sites throughout Livingston County, which Lindhout says was a huge increase over the previous year. Complete details about how to volunteer or submit a project can be found on the United Wayâs website. A link is posted below. (JM)
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Dedicated Road Patrol Contract Being Finalized For Tyrone Twp.Dedicated Road Patrol Contract Being Finalized For Tyrone Twp.
7/25/13 - After months of negotiations, Tyrone Township has a new contract for dedicated road patrols from the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department. Tyrone and Hartland Townships maintained a contract with the sheriffâs department for road patrols for more than 30 years as a way to deter crime and improve response times to local incidents. In March they canceled the contract, claiming that it did not provide enough benefit to justify the cost, and attempted to renegotiate the terms. The county had already been subsidizing the cost of the deputies by about 30%. Tyrone Township officials recently approved a new two-year agreement for dedicated road patrols. The cost for the patrols is roughly the same. However, unlike the previous agreement which had a deputy on patrol through the two townships around-the-clock, the new agreement keeps a patrol on the roads for eight hours a day, seven days a week. The specific hours that will be patrolled were determined by examining the 911 dispatch data for peak hours of activity. The details of the agreement are being hammered out, and the patrols will begin on August 5th. Hartland has no contract for dedicated road patrols and must rely on basic sheriffâs department coverage. (TD)
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Woman Rescued From Sinking Car in Whitmore LakeWoman Rescued From Sinking Car in Whitmore Lake
7/25/13 - Local first responders started out the day by rescuing a woman who drove her car into Whitmore Lake in what appears to be a suicide attempt. Green Oak Township police officers and firefighters were called out shortly before 6am after a fisherman reported seeing a car sinking in Whitmore Lake, near the DNR boat launch off North Main Street. Deputy Green Oak Fire Chief Kevin Gentry tells WHMI the car was around 60 to 70 feet out in the lake with only the roof was visible. He says the woman was found inside alive and breathing through an air pocket and was quickly rescued by firefighters and brought to shore. The 1998 blue neon was removed from Whitmore Lake and the woman was transported to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor by Livingston County EMS. Police say preliminary investigation indicates the event followed an earlier domestic dispute, noting the 54-year-old Novi woman had possibly been in the water for as long as two or three hours before the discovery. (JM)
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Veterans To Be Honored At Fowlerville Family Fair SaturdayVeterans To Be Honored At Fowlerville Family Fair Saturday
7/26/13 - A ceremony at the Fowlerville Family Fair will pay tribute to local veterans this weekend. On Saturday, the Armed Forces & Government Day Veterans Tribute will take place at the grandstand at the Fowlerville Fair. The ceremony will begin at noon, rain or shine, and include representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs, service organizations, and every branch of the US Armed Forces. Senator Joe Hune and Representative Cindy Denby will also make guest appearances. In honor of Armed Forces & Government Day, all active and past military personnel get free admission to the fair until 5pm. (TD)
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Green Oak Gives Green Light To Private Pinball Machine MuseumGreen Oak Gives Green Light To Private Pinball Machine Museum
7/26/13 - A local pinball wizard will be moving his machines into a new museum in Green Oak, but members of the public should not expect to get a turn with the silver ball. The Green Oak Township Planning Commission approved a special use permit by resident Clay Harrell last night. A retired computer analyst, Harrell has been collecting and restoring vintage pinball machines since the early 1990âs. He has over 100 now, with some dating back to the 1930âs. Having filled his warehouse and basement to capacity, Harrell began the process to purchase the vacant VFW hall on Spicer Road to use as a private museum to house and work on his machines. He asked for permission from the planning commission last night before signing the final documents to purchase the property. The planning commission asked a few questions to make sure there would be no major renovations to the building and that no commercial use would take place there. Harrell assured them that he had no intentions of opening an arcade, operating a repair shop, or selling machines out of the hall. With that assurance, the planning commission granted him the permit. Although the pinball machine museum generally will not be open to the public, Harrell tells WHMI the commission did give him the option of hosting special events over four weekends per year. That could include showcases of the machines or even tournaments. Harrell hopes to have the renovations done and his machines moved in sometime in the coming months. (TD)
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Contracts Approved For Courts' Drug Abuse Prevention ServicesContracts Approved For Courts' Drug Abuse Prevention Services
7/26/13 - Several drug abuse prevention service providers have been hired through the end of summer to provide assistance to local specialty courts. Specialty courts, like intensive treatment mental court and adult drug court, are offered through the Livingston County judicial system through grant funding. Each of those courts has participants in need of substance abuse counseling, and money is provided in each of the grants for that service, so recently the county held a competitive bidding process to select its service providers. This month, the County Board of Commissioners approved non-exclusive contracts for substance abuse treatment services with Livingston County Catholic Charities, Karen Bergbower & Associates, Key Development Center of Brighton, and Dennis McHale of Fowlerville. These service providers were recommended by court staff and will give the courts improved services and flexibility when deciding how to assign people in specialty courts. The deal expires on September 30th, but having it in place will provide three monthsâ worth of services to the courts and lay the foundation for a renewed contract of longer duration. (TD)
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State Says Regional Jobless Rates Up Seasonally in JuneState Says Regional Jobless Rates Up Seasonally in June
7/26/13 - Unemployment levels rose in Livingston County in June, along with all of Michiganâs regional labor markets. Following some substantial rate reductions, the individual jobless rate for Livingston County increased by just more than one full percentage point from May to June and currently stands at 8.3%. Its overall ranking also fell six spots to 20th in terms of unemployment among Michiganâs 83 counties. The Department of Technology, Management and Budget says employment and workforce levels expanded in most Michigan regions in June with the continuation of summer and seasonal hiring and due to the large influx of job seekers, June jobless rates increased typically. The state says historically, rates advance in June by around half a percentage point. The largest June 2013 unemployment rate increase was the Detroit-Warren-Livonia Metro statistical area, which includes Livingston County. Over the past year, the state says regional rates displayed only modest change but labor force and employment levels rose. (JM)
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