St. Joseph Mercy Livingston now offers da Vinci robotic surgery; enabling minimally-invasive advanced general surgery, hernia and bariatric surgery, as well as gynecological, colon and urological procedures.
The da Vinci robotic system is part of the recent $41.1 (m) million Transformation Livingston capital investment at the Howell hospital, which includes a new surgery suite with three state-of-the-art operating rooms equipped with the latest technology. St. Joseph Mercy Livingston successfully completed its first da Vinci robotic surgery on May 8th.
General surgeon Dr. Eric Davies says surgical robotics enhance their current capabilities with high-definition, three-dimensional visualization and wristed instrumentation â âtwo significant advantages over traditional minimally-invasive surgery.â
St. Joseph Mercy Livingston president John OâMalley said through the new technology, they can now offer both complex and routine procedures through a few small incisions, offering shorter hospital stays and ultimately a faster recovery time for patients. (JM)
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Robotic Surgery Now Available At St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Robotic Surgery Now Available At St. Joseph Mercy Livingston
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Brighton Police Increase Enforcement Of Parking On Sidewalks Brighton Police Increase Enforcement Of Parking On Sidewalks
Increased enforcement efforts are underway in the City of Brighton related to motorists parking across sidewalks.
The City of Brighton Police Department has increased enforcement of parking on sidewalks, after receiving feedback from the community that vehicles frequently block pedestrian and bike traffic in the neighborhoods. A city newsletter states the police department has been issuing warnings to vehicles parked in driveways that hang over onto the sidewalk. The second offense will include a fine.
The various fees for parking related offenses are available on the City of Brightonâs website. (JM)
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Livingston Red Cross 100th Anniversary Open House SaturdayLivingston Red Cross 100th Anniversary Open House Saturday
The Livingston County Red Cross is kicking off its 100th anniversary celebration this weekend with an open house.
The community will have a chance see the services the Red Cross provides and the changes over the past 100 years while touring the building and Emergency Response Vehicle.
Disaster Services Volunteer and 100th Anniversary Celebration chair Kathy Alward says the open house will run from 11am to 3pm Saturday and they would love for the community to stop by. She says they will have lots of displays showing historic activities of the Red Cross and where they';re headed with all of the technology and new things they're doing.
The American Red Cross was formed nationally in 1881, with the Livingston County chapter starting operations in 1917 in the wake of the U.S. entry into World War I. Alward says that after Saturdayâs open house kick-off, a myriad of activities will be taking place throughout the year to celebrate the 100th anniversary. Various historical displays will later be moved over to the Howell Carnegie District Library for the community to enjoy. The American Red Cross office is located in front of Howell High School, across from the Howell fire station on Grand River. (JM/JK)
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Former Unadilla Woman Heads To Trial On Human Trafficking ChargesFormer Unadilla Woman Heads To Trial On Human Trafficking Charges
A former Livingston County woman has been bound over for trial on multiple felony charges following a human trafficking investigation.
41-year-old Amber Speed, a former Unadilla Township resident who now resides in Munith, was recently bound over for trial in Ingham County Circuit Court. She faces three counts each of minor sex trafficking and prostitution/pandering, one count of accepting the earnings of a prostitute and one count of debt bondage. All are felony charges that carry a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said the case stems from an investigation by a Michigan State Police Trooper, who after attending human trafficking training, came across a case of alleged human trafficking. Speed was allegedly conducting an âescortâ operation, posting advertisements for commercial sex for herself and at least three other girls and young women online.
Schuette says the alleged victims were minors when they were brought into the human trafficking ring. Multiple instances of Speed allegedly trafficking minors are alleged to have occurred from 2009 through approximately 2014. She waived her arraignment in circuit court last week with a pretrial conference set for June 8th. (JK)
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New Lane Closures In Effect For US-23 Bridges In Northern Livingston County New Lane Closures In Effect For US-23 Bridges In Northern Livingston County
New lane closures are in effect for bridges over US-23 in the northern portion of Livingston County.
The Michigan Department of Transportation says a single lane closure utilizing a temporary signal is in effect on White Lake Road at US-23 through Monday, May 29th. A single lane closure is also in effect on Center Road at US-23 by utilizing a temporary signal through June 7th. Officials advise that although the dates overlap, the two bridges will not have lane closures at the same time.
MDOT says the repairs are "capital preventative maintenance" designed to extend the life of the structures as long as possible. The bridge improvements include deck patching and overlay, beam repair, substructure patching, painting, slope repair and replacement, and approach work. All of the work and related closures are weather dependent. (JM/JK)
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Local High School Production Wins Statewide Award As Best MusicalLocal High School Production Wins Statewide Award As Best Musical
A local high school theater production has been recognized as the best in Michigan.
The Brighton Musical Theater production of Honeymoon in Vegas is the winner of this yearâs Sutton Foster Ovation Award for Best Musical. The awards are a celebration of outstanding student achievement in high school musical theater and recognize individual artistry in vocal, dance and acting performance. Brighton High School choir director Phil Johnson was a co-director and producer for the show and tells WHMI they were ecstatic to get the news earlier this week. "There are a lot of other fantastic programs in the state of Michigan, a number of which were also nominated along with us. We had some adjudicators come from the Sutton Foster Awards to our show and different judges came different nights to watch the show, and then put their heads together and selected us as the best musical according to them in the state this year."
Meanwhile, Brighton teens Lucas Hardy and Jessica McIntosh are among 52 high school thespians from across the state nominated to compete on the Wharton Center stage for the coveted Sutton Foster Ovation Award for Best Actor and Actress. The winners will go on to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City on an all-expenses-paid trip this June. They will also each receive a scholarship to Wharton Center's summer Broadway workshop and $1,000 in cash. Johnson says the award is validation for the hard work they put into all of their productions. "We want to put on the best show every night. We really work hard to entertain our audiences and we have been telling people for years that we put on a fantastic show but 'Broadway in Brighton' is how we like to label our shows and so it's really neat to have the opportunity to gather some hardware to back that statement up."
Johnson says the public is invited to attend the awards ceremony, which will be held this Sunday, May 21st at 7pm at the Wharton Center in East Lansing. Youâll find a link for ticket information below. You can hear Johnson's full interview by Clicking Here (JK)
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Pinckney Senior Recognized As National Excellence Award Finalist by NFL Hall of FamerPinckney Senior Recognized As National Excellence Award Finalist by NFL Hall of Famer
A ceremony at Pinckney High School Wednesday honored one of the schoolâs seniors as a finalist for a national award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame and U.S. Army.
Only 25 student athletes from across the country were chosen this year as finalists to receive the Award for Excellence. Pinckney highâs senior class president and varsity volleyball player Hannah Kerns was one of those individuals. The Award for Excellence focuses on great athletic achievement, academic excellence, and community engagement. Award finalists will attend an event for the Hall of Fameâs Enshrinement Week in August in Canton, Ohio where the winner will be announced.
The 17-year-old received a plaque acknowledging her finalist status from former NFL wide receiver James Lofton, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003. Lofton says Hannahâs application stood out to him because of her many years of community service and involvement in several projects which he noted make a huge impact. Lofton says the award means a lot to him because he is a parent and also the child of parents who were in the military.
Lieutenant Colonel Chuck Cogger was the aenior Army tepresentative presenting the plaque to Hannah. Cogger says itâs truly an honor to recognize her, as the values between the military and Hall of Fame are very similar, and that is the type of people they look for.
Hannah says when she received the call informing her that she was a finalist in February, she was âsuper excitedâ and couldnât believe it. Hannah was nominated by the schoolâs athletic director and her volleyball coach, Susan Bostian. Bostian describes Hannah as a leader with good character who is constantly working to improve.
Hannah says she is grateful for her coaches, her family, friends, and the school. At the ceremony, she also recognized her teacher and mentor Sharyl Meyer, who she says she looks up to and loves. Meyer describes Hannah as an enthusiastic and kind person who is always willing to go the extra mile.
Hannahâs mom, Kristine Kerns, feels the award speaks volumes of her daughter and the many community members who play a role ensuring student success. April Woods, who is serving her first year as Pinckney High Schoolâs principal, says the award acknowledges all of the great things the school has to offer and its successes. Woods, expressing her pride, says âWe have great citizens here and weâre preparing them to be that way.â Woods says Hannah is a great student, Pirate Nation leader, and helpful in promoting school spirit.
Hannah's achievements include a 3.98 GPA, a member of the school's volleyball team for four years, a team captain, KLA scholar athlete, and a two-time offensive player of the year. (DK)
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Hornung Elementary Celebrates 40 Years Friday Hornung Elementary Celebrates 40 Years Friday
Hornung Elementary School in Brighton is celebrating its 40th anniversary Friday.
To mark the milestone, the school is inviting both past and present students, staff and the community to take part in reunion festivities and a stroll down memory lane. Marcia Oates has been teaching music at Horning for 31 years. She tells WHMI she is very proud of how the district has grown over the years and the celebration will reflect that. Oates says theyâve structured the event in two different fashions; one for current students and staff to serve as a big birthday party celebration and then the open house in the evening, which will be more of a reunion so former students and staff can see whatâs different and whatâs stayed the same.
During the school day, during which time a drone photographer will be taking an overhead shot of the entire student body lined up in the number 40 for a keepsake. A reunion luncheon at noon is being hosted by the Hornung PTO and an all school assembly is planned to welcome past principals. Over 500 students have made commemorative t-shirts in their art classes to wear.
Fridayâs open house will run from 5 to 8pm and feature food vendors, building tours, live entertainment and memorabilia exhibits. Alumni are encouraged to stop by the school to visit with past teachers and friends for an open house with entertainment, conversation areas, and Brighton Area Schools musicians. Oates says some of the original teaching staff from 1977 is coming, along with other returning staff from as far away as Illinois and Arizona. (JM)
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Brighton DDA Votes To Begin Millpond Upgrade In Mid-SeptemberBrighton DDA Votes To Begin Millpond Upgrade In Mid-September
By the end of this fall, downtown Brighton should have a beautiful, new bandstand and amphitheater.
The Downtown Development Authority on Tuesday approved a modified plan to implement the first phase of the Mill Pond Master Plan. Completion of the entire plan could take several years and cost $2-3 million. Due to the great expense, DDA chairman Bob Herbst says the project will have to be undertaken in phases. City officials have felt for some time that the Mill Pond - considered the âjewelâ of Brightonâs downtown â needs a major facelift. Goose droppings on the sidewalks and grass, shoreline erosion and a 22-year-old gazebo that is little more than four posts and a roof are just a few of the areas that need serious attention.
The DDA Board this week approved Phase 1-A of the Master Plan, which, in part, will involve removal of the shelter and its replacement with a bandshell. The shelter had been installed in 1995 to replace a traditional gazebo with cornices and other traditional decorative touches, but Piet Lindhout of Lindhout Associates, the DDAâs architect, says it posed an open invitation to vandals who regularly caused damage and painted graffiti. The simple, form-follows-function design of the shelter which replaced it left little to vandalize, but it was thought of as unattractive and a little too basic. Its replacement, of contemporary design, is considered much more in tune with Brightonâs successful and eclectic downtown. The bandshell stage will be 1,300 square feet in size and will have a 750-square foot roof. The sides will be of stone and it will be partially glassed in to direct the sound. Lindhout says that with the current shelter, which is open on all sides, the sound goes outward in virtually all directions so that much of it is lost on the crowds who come to see the live band concerts and other events during the summer months. With the glass sides, Lindhout says, the sound will be directed at the audience, which is primarily lined on the grass along the banks of the Mill Pond and in the new amphitheater seating.
The other component of the initial phase of the Mill Pond Master Plan will involve replacement of the old amphitheater with a new one, which will be much more substantial. Except for a concrete sidewalk leading to the Veterans Memorial, the current amphitheater is little more than tiered wood seats and a packed dirt floor. The new amphitheater will, like the old one, be terraced, but will have concrete seats and backs, and the floor will be of stepped, colored concrete. The total project, including the bandshell and amphitheater, is expected to cost in the range of $700-$800,000. The DDA is on what Lindhout calls a âvery aggressiveâ time schedule, with construction to start around mid-September and completion before the onset of winter. The only aspect that will remain undone is landscaping, which he says will be done next spring. (TT)
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Howell City Council Considering Sidewalk Project On North National StreetHowell City Council Considering Sidewalk Project On North National Street
The Howell City Council met earlier this month to discuss adding sidewalk in areas of National Street to fill in gaps.
Council earlier directed staff to look at adding sidewalk on North National Street in the areas where it currently does not exist and gather estimates as to what it would take to fill in the gaps from North Street toward Thompson Lake.
Mayor Nick Proctor said he supported doing something to accomplish walkability and suggested that staff gather cost estimates to install sidewalk on just the east side or the most appropriate areas with the least budget impact. Depending on how the new estimates come back, the project might need to be moved to the 2018/2019 fiscal year.
Initial estimates were between $62,000 and $80,000 including restoration and some tree removals or trims. Pedestrian crossings were another topic of discussion. Staff initially proposed a pedestrian crossing on both sides of National Street prior to the railroad tracks to make it safe for pedestrian access. If the project is reduced down to one side, staff noted one challenge is that the railroad tracks currently only have pedestrian access on the east side but the smallest amount of sidewalk is on the west side. (JM)
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Howell High School's "Decision Day" Celebrates Seniors' Next StepsHowell High School's "Decision Day" Celebrates Seniors' Next Steps
Howell High School seniors shared their future plans Thursday with a parade across school grounds celebrating where theyâre headed.
At the schoolâs first-ever âDecision Dayâ parade, seniors were categorized by their plans for after high school, and made their way across the football field displaying a flag emblazoned with their choices. Students shared where theyâll attend college or a university, or their plans to enter a trade program, the work force, or the military.
The event included three guest speakers, all with varying career and education paths, who offered advice. The seniors were encouraged to not be afraid to fail, to branch out and meet people who are different from them, and to work hard for what they hope to achieve.
School Counselor Theresa Marcum says the goal was to help the seniors realize that âlife doesnât end after high schoolâ. Curriculum planning was implemented into the studentsâ schedules early on to help them begin to think of their path or the basic field they want to get into.
Benjamin Frimodig will be attending Harvard University with plans to study sociology or government, and eventually attend law school. Frimodig says starting in 9th grade, guidance counselors began preparing him and the rest of his class by holding frequent meetings to discuss their goals. Frimodig says he never even considered applying to Harvard, but was encouraged by his counselor.
The high school also holds an application day where the focus is to help students apply to several schools or guide them in their plans to enter the military or workforce. Earlier this week, students took part in a âTeen Financial Reality Fairâ, which taught them about budgeting based on their chosen career. (DK)
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Candlight Vigil To Protest Vote To Repeal ACA Candlight Vigil To Protest Vote To Repeal ACA
A group of 8th District constituents have organized a candlelight vigil in Brighton this weekend in response to Congressman Mike Bishopâs vote to repeal Obamacare.
Some residents of the 8th District are holding a candlelight vigil in the wake of a local congressmanâs vote to repeal what many refer to as Obamacare. The group Indivisible 8 will be holding a âTogether Against Darknessâ candlelight vigil in Brighton this Sunday to show support for people with pre-existing conditions and all others they say will be hurt by Congressman Mike Bishopâs vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The group will gather at Bishop's district office first and then walk to the Brighton Mill Pond for a candlelight vigil.
Organizers say the event comes after Congressman Bishop broke a pledge to protect patients who suffer from pre-existing conditions by voting âyesâ on the new Republican healthcare repeal plan. Event Co-Organizer Gretchen Hertz says constituents are disappointed in past promises to not pull the rug out from people with pre-existing conditions and others, adding Bishop is not representing what people want or need. Hertz says the event is in support of those with pre-existing conditions and other people hurt by the health care repeal.
Congressman Bishop says âIt is important to set the record straight. The American Health Care Act does not âeliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions.â To scare people with that notion is extremely disingenuous. "On the contrary, Congress has made it a priority to strengthen protections for these patients with this bill. By incentivizing individuals to maintain coverage, insurers will not be able to deny, rescind, or raise the cost of coverage for a patient with pre-existing conditions. The Upton-Long Amendment further doubles-down on the effort to ensure patients with pre-existing conditions have affordable coverage, by providing any states that choose to forgo the federal marketplace with an additional $8 billion specifically to lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs for high-risk patients â including those without continuous coverage."
The Candlelight Vigil starts at 7:30pm with participants meeting at Congressman Bishopâs district office at 711 E. Grand River and then walk over to the Brighton Mill Pond for a candlelight vigil featuring various speakers. A link to Sundayâs event is provided. (JM)
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Pinckney Board Of Education Fills Vacant Trustee SeatPinckney Board Of Education Fills Vacant Trustee Seat
The Pinckney Community Schools Board of Education has filled their vacant trustee seat.
Superintendent Rick Todd said he didnât envy the Board having to make the decision between the two candidates interviewed Thursday night in any way. In the end they chose Bethany Mohr, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan Mott Hospital and director of their child protection team. She has lived in the Pinckney school district since 2007 and has a pair of children in elementary school. Todd said he believes she will be a valuable addition to the Board of Education, bringing with her a great wealth of experience and perspective from the medical field while working with youths. He said he could feel in her heart that she wants to be an advocate for kids.
Mohr emphasized during her interview the importance of suicide and child abuse prevention and how it can be continued through middle school and high school. She also recognized the negative perception of the district as being one the larger issues at hand, but believes that while difficult to change, can be done. She will take over the trustee seat that was opened when treasurer George Rodgers resigned last month. Mohrâs swearing in as an official member will occur at the Boardâs next meeting on June 8th. (MK)
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Man Sentenced For Indecent Exposure, Child Porn & Assault ChargesMan Sentenced For Indecent Exposure, Child Porn & Assault Charges
A Livingston County man has been sentenced for exposing himself to a young girl at a Meijer store, along with other charges that could keep him behind bars for life.
48-year-old Troy Creekmore was ordered to serve one day to life in prison for his earlier guilty plea to indecent exposure by a sexually delinquent person and as a third time habitual offender. He was also sentenced to a maximum of 20 years for felonious assault and assault to do great bodily harm less than murder for an incident in January when he tried to stab an inmate with a sharpened pencil.
Creekmore was charged in the indecent exposure incident last July after a 5-year-old girl told her mother that he had exposed himself to her in an aisle of the Meijer store in Genoa Township. Though the victim did not tell her mother Creekmore had exposed himself to her until after they had left the store, Michigan State Police from the Brighton Post were able to identify him as the perpetrator. Using a description provided by the victim and the storeâs surveillance footage, Creekmore was arrested less than 48 hours later.
Creekmore, who is a registered sex offender from a 1996 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct conviction involving another child, will also serve a 43-month to eight-year sentence for possession of child sexually abusive material after nude photographs of children were found on his cellphone. Altogether, he will serve a minimum of just under ten years in prison with the potential for a life behind bars. (JK)
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Gubernatorial Candidate Bill Cobbs To Headline Meeting Of Local DemsGubernatorial Candidate Bill Cobbs To Headline Meeting Of Local Dems
A Democratic candidate for Michiganâs gubernatorial nomination will be speaking in Livingston County next week.
Bill Cobbs, a retired executive with Xerox Corporation, will speak at the next meeting of the Livingston County Democratic Party. Cobbs is one of several people seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018. The partyâs primary will be August 7th.
Cobbs resides in Oakland County and is running on a platform of rebuilding Michiganâs infrastructure and schools while pledging to listen to Michigan citizens and restore trust in government. Cobbs served in the U.S. Navy and later worked as a police officer prior to being hired by Xerox. He built the Xerox Professional Services Division and became a global vice president for the corporation. After retiring, he coached executives in Fortune 500 on how to listen to customers and their employees.
All Democrats in the county are welcome to attend the meeting. The event will start at 7pm on Thursday, May 25th at the RE/Max Platinum Auditorium at 6870 Grand River in Genoa Township. For more information, call 810-229-4212 or email livcodems@gmail.com. (JM)
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Donation Items Needed For LACASA Collection Resale StoreDonation Items Needed For LACASA Collection Resale Store
A donation drive is underway to help stock a new upscale resale store for those-in-need opening soon in Howell.
The LACASA Center has spent nearly four decades helping victims of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault in Livingston County. The LACASA Collection is their new store that aims to benefit clients and the community by giving them a greater choice in the products available to purchase. LACASA President and CEO Bobette Schrandt said that the store will be a place where their clients can shop with dignity. They aim to offer a wide selection of items to give customers more choice than they are usually granted from other goodwill offerings. The store will also be a place where clients who may need help building a resume can come work at to gain valuable experience.
The Spring Cleaning Donation Drive which is going on now will help stock the shelves and hangers at the store. Schrandt said that while all of the usual donation items like clothes, shoes, and toys are welcome, they have a special need for home décor and furnishings which they hope to offer as well. They are specifically looking for furniture, mirrors, complete sets of dishes, and jewelry. All donors will receive a tax receipt upon drop off, and donations can be made at the LACASA administrative building at 2895 West Grand River in Howell.
The LACASA Collection will be located in the Crossroads Town Center on M-59 at Michigan Avenue. A soft grand opening is scheduled for July 1st, with a larger, public grand opening scheduled for early September. More information about the storeâs needs and donation guidelines can be found through the link below. (MK)
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Proposed Plans for Redevelopment of Former Howell Auto Parts Store ApprovedProposed Plans for Redevelopment of Former Howell Auto Parts Store Approved
Plans are moving forward for the redevelopment of a historic building in downtown Howell.
Records indicate the building, which was home to Howell Auto Parts until 1962, was originally built in 1900. It served as an Advance Auto Parts store until last April when it closed. Located between Grand River and Sibley Street, owners Jeff and Colleen Doyle are now referring to it as âThe Pearl Buildingâ, noting its decorative features that are reminiscent of the 1920sâ. The owners are proposing to completely renovate the building.
The first floor would be prepared for future retail or restaurant use, and the second floor for four apartment units. A small amount of âthird floorâ space would be added on the roof of the building with a rooftop deck as part of the front apartment unit. There are also plans to construct a new building along Sibley Street that would house garage space on the first floor and a single accessory dwelling unit on the second.
Mayor Nick Proctor calls it âfantastic stuffâ. Community Development Director Tim Schmitt says itâs a classic type of project perfect for downtown and one that area doesnât get too often. The buildingâs site plan was brought before the cityâs Planning Commission Wednesday night and received unanimous approval. Schmitt says the applicants are working on developing their financing package and he believes the project will qualify for some state programs. (DK)
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South Lyon Schools & Police Respond To Comment About Gun On Bus South Lyon Schools & Police Respond To Comment About Gun On Bus
Reports of a student having a gun on a South Lyon school bus turned out to be unfounded but caused a disruption nonetheless.
Students were being dropped off at South Lyon East High School Thursday morning and the bus was headed to the middle school next. Before driving away, a student told the driver he heard someone a few rows back make comments about possessing a gun, a Glock specifically. Proper protocols were followed by the bus driver, who contacted the transportation department and administration.
The East High School Resource Office Deputy Tom Biggers was on site and was said to have responded immediately. Students were taken off the bus but were not made aware of the comment to not cause any unnecessary panic. Their backpacks and bags were subsequently searched by school officials and sniffed by a K-9 from the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. No weapon was found and no one was injured. 35-40 middle school students missed their first hour class. Parents of students on the bus were contacted and a district wide notice to parents was issued as well.
District officials say safety is their first priority and reminded students that they should not joke or make comments about having a gun on a school bus. They further encouraged parents and caregivers to share that same message with their children. (JM)
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Grand River Avenue Maintenance Project Progressing In Brighton Grand River Avenue Maintenance Project Progressing In Brighton
The Grand River construction project in Brighton is moving along.
The project encompasses Grand River Avenue between the I-96 overpass and Ore Creek. The City issued a recent project update stating the continuous outer lane closures for concrete work on Grand River have now been reopened.
Only intermittent lane closures will take place for pedestrian signal installation and right-of-way rehabilitation. However, that work will take place between the hours of 9am and 3pm. Left turn lanes at Cross Street have also been reopened and milling is on schedule for May 30th. That part of the work will be taking place at night. (JM)
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Brighton Township Board Approves Agreement For Deerfield Preserve Project Brighton Township Board Approves Agreement For Deerfield Preserve Project
A large housing project is moving toward the next phase in Brighton Township.
The Brighton Township Board granted approval at last Mondayâs meeting of a planned development agreement or PDA for the Deerfield Preserve and Shoppes project. Itâs being proposed by Wil-Pro Development Company and applicants Marshall Blau and Dave Willacker. It calls for roughly 78 homes and a commercial development on the corner of Old US-23 and Hyne Road. Over 40% of the development is set aside as open space. A sidewalk and boardwalk will also be installed in a dedicated easement along Old US-23 and Hyne Road for public use. Developers can now proceed with preliminary site plans, which were contingent on the PDA.
Township Manager Brian Vick tells WHMI itâs been a multi-year project and the board has now approved the planned development agreement. After some tweaks are made, both parties will sign off. Vick says itâs another step toward developers submitting construction documents, and ultimately, construction.
The board hashed out details in the agreement. Clerk Ann Bollin stressed she wanted accurate documentation of agreed upon items and clear language to prevent any future questions or discrepancies.
Developers have agreed to construct a 400 REU capacity pump station on the site and equip it with a back-up generator. Officials commented during Mondayâs meeting that it will actually be an extension of the system, and tie with the line from Northwinds subdivision. 300 REUâs will be dedicated for the townshipâs use. As part of the agreement, the township will pay $80,000 once the station is operational. That is a reimbursement for the initial cost of the difference in constructing the pump station and generator, which are both being funded by the developers. (JM)
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