WHMI 93.5 FM - Latest News Headlines

Chief Basar Testifies On Blueprint For A Safer Michigan

Fri, 09 May 2008 09:19:00 EDT

5/9/08 - An assortment of crime prevention strategies are the centerpieces of a model set of policies presented to state leaders this week. The so-called Blueprint For a Safer Michigan was the drafted by county governments, sheriffs, police and prosecutors as a first step in developing a comprehensive plan to reduce crime even as resources decline in Michigan. Howell Police Chief George Basar testified this week in front of the state senate as the incoming President of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police. He tells WHMI the nine page document is a collaborative effort of prosecutors, sheriff�s associations and others involved in law enforcement and seeks to focus Michigan�s policies on crime prevention strategies that have been proven to work. The document is subtitled �work in progress� because it is meant to start a dialogue about public safety issues. It is also expected to be a guidance tool for incoming legislators. In his testimony Tuesday, Basar noted that since 2001, the Legislature has passed 500 bills creating new crimes or imposing additional responsibilities while a loss in prosecutor staff and police officers has been realized, including a 17 percent loss in the State Police force. Some of the strategies include early childhood education, more police and specialized courts for mental and drug afflicted defendants, better use of technology and improved victims rights. A copy of the blueprint is available for download below. (LS)

Substation Expansion Should Curb High Electricity Demand

Fri, 09 May 2008 08:39:00 EDT

5/9/08 - An expansion of the Hurst Substation owned by Detroit Edison was granted approval by the Hartland Township Planning Commission during last night�s meeting. Detroit Edison plans to expand their Hurst Substation located on Old US-23 less than a half a mile south of M-59. Township Manager James Wickman says DTE has reported some rolling black-outs during peak usage times in the last few summers. The two large commercial developments currently being constructed are also expected to add a significant burden to the circuit. For those reasons DTE will tap the proposed ITC transmission lines, connecting them to the substation using only existing power poles. Wickman says no timeline has been established for the expansion and the project still needs approval from the Board of Trustees to move forward. (LS)

Brother Of Victim Arraigned In Oceola Township Murders

Fri, 09 May 2008 02:53:00 EDT

5/9/08 - Livingston County Prosecutor David Morse announced during a news conference Thursday that 61 year old Jerome Kowalski of Warren will face murder charges in last week�s double murder of an Oceola Township couple. Kowalski pleaded not guilty at his video arraignment in the deaths of his 65 year old brother Richard Kowalski and 58 year old sister-in-law, Brenda. They were found shot to death May 1st in their Lyngre Drive home. At his arraignment, Kowalski's demeanor was described as �composed and calm�. It was learned at the press conference that the weapon used was a pistol and a note was found by Jerome�s son at his home after the murders took place. Authorities would not comment on motive, where the gun was found or where the wounds were located. Lead Investigator Greg Poulson with Michigan State Police at the Brighton Post says before the note was found, Kowalski was a person of interest but only limited information can be released at this time due to the open investigation. Jerome Kowalski is currently under suicide watch at the Livingston County Jail. He faces two charges of open murder and possession of a felony firearm. An exam conference was set for next Tuesday. If convicted on the charges, Kowalski faces up to life in prison. (JK/LS/JM)

Livingston County Man Duped Off "Survivor"

Fri, 09 May 2008 01:08:00 EDT

5/9/08 - Friends and family of a Livingston County man who was a contestant on the CBS show "Survivor" were surely shouting at their televisions last night. And most likely they were shouting something along the lines of �Don�t Do It!� 22 year old Erik Reichenbach had a sure path to the final four on the show and a chance at a million dollar payoff, but intentionally handed it away and was promptly voted off. The senior at Eastern Michigan University and Hamburg Township resident had won the show�s immunity challenge for the third straight week, but gave it away to one of the four women that remained on the show as a gesture of good faith they convinced him he needed to make in order to have a chance at being the overall winner. He soon learned it was all a con game as the four women wasted no time in eliminating their only male rival. Recihenbach quickly realized the error of his ways, telling the four women as he left the island, "You guys drive me crazy." Erik will now return as part of the jury for the show�s two-hour finale on Sunday. He�ll also be returning to his summer job as ice cream scooper at Screams Ice Cream in Hell. You can see Erik's parting video from the show by Clicking Here (JK)

Howell School Board Sets Public Meetings In Super Search

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:46:00 EDT

5/8/08 - The Howell Schools Board of Education has scheduled a trio of public input session next week as they prepare to search for a new superintendent. On Monday the board finalized a $17,500 contract with Grand Rapids-based Terre Davis & Associates to conduct the search. One of the main issues that was discussed was the gathering of input from members of the community. With that in mind, Dr. Davis will meet with residents at three different sessions next Tuesday at the Howell High School Freshman Campus. The first will be held Tuesday morning from 10-11 in the auditorium. The second will be from 4 until 5 in the afternoon in the media center, with a final session Tuesday night from 7 until 8, also in the media center. Written comments will also be taken, but have to be received by noon on Monday, May 19th. Any written suggestions or comments should be sent to: Dr. Terre Davis, TD and Associates, c/o Superintendent�s Office, Howell Public Schools at 411 N. Highlander Way, Howell, MI 48843. You can also download the letter from Howell School Board President Phil Westmoreland detailing the public comment sessions below.(JK)

Detroit Motorcyclist Arrested After Fleeing Police

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:30:00 EDT

5/8/08 - A Detroit man is jailed after fleeing from Livingston County Sheriff�s early this morning. The 25 year old and a 38 year old female passenger from Royal Oak were on a motorcycle heading eastbound on I-96 shortly before 3:30am when they passed a deputy at well over a hundred miles an hour. When the deputy attempted to stop the motorcycle at Pleasant Valley Road, the man sped off in excess of 130 miles per hour. He was eventually stopped in the Novi area after encountering traffic and being forced to slow down. The man was arrested and booked into the Livingston County Jail for fleeing and eluding, driving on a suspended license and failure to have a cycle endorsement. He also had several outstanding arrest warrants. The Royal Oak woman was released at the scene. (JK)

Man Dies From Injuries Sustained In Conway Township Crash

Thu, 08 May 2008 02:59:00 EDT

5/8/08 - A Fowlerville man has died from injuries suffered in a rollover crash earlier this week. 38 year old Todd Prout died late yesterday afternoon at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. He�d been in critical condition since being taken there Monday after he lost control of the modified truck he was driving, rolled the vehicle over and was ejected. Prout was pinned underneath the wreckage. Police say the hood on the truck came unlatched and flew open, blocking his view. It�s believed Prout then locked up the brakes, causing the crash. A passenger in the truck, 32 year old Erik Patterson of Howell, was not injured. Police say he was wearing a seatbelt while Prout was not. They also suspect alcohol was a contributing factor. (JK)

Howell District Aims To Cut $2 Million From Operational Budget

Thu, 08 May 2008 01:03:00 EDT

5/8/08 - Options for cuts in the operational budget for the Howell Public School District were sorted out by the board of education during a workshop Wednesday night into two basic piles, one in which the board needs more time to think about and the �no brainer� pile. Among the line items that fall into the latter category include the reduction of 16 teachers while maintaining the student-teacher ratio, not filling some current vacancies and automatic computer and printer shut down when they�re not in use. More divisive cuts like privatizing bus drivers, cafeteria and maintenance workers and closing the pool at Parker High will be "chewed over" before a decision. They did agree to shoot for what administrators are calling the most likely scenario, which allows for a decline in enrollment of 170 students and assumes state legislators will settle on a $150 per student allotment. That scenario calls for a little more than $2 million in cuts to balance the budget. Board President Phil Westmoreland tells WHMI they are hoping to decide how to get to that point by the end of Monday�s meeting as administration has requested because some options require a timeline to be implemented. Superintendent of Business and Finance Rick Terres pointed out that as the 33rd largest school district out of 757 in Michigan, Howell is close to the least funded; coming in at 736th. The board is expected to make final decisions on cuts at its next meeting, Monday May 12th at 7:30 p.m. (LS)

Whitmore Lake Man Enters Plea In Police Car Vandalism

Wed, 07 May 2008 18:56:00 EDT

5/8/08 - A Whitmore Lake man that smashed the windshield of a Hamburg Township Police patrol car has entered a plea in the case. 40 year old Shannon Moody pleaded guilty Wednesday to one felony count of malicious destruction of property in exchange for the judge taking his plea under advisement. That means if Moody doesn�t like the sentence, he can withdraw his plea. He was arrested after a police car video captured him jumping onto the windshield on Sergeant Jim Sanderson�s patrol car while he was conducting a routine bar check in March at the Hamburg Pub. Meanwhile, Moody is also charged with receiving and concealing stolen property for allegedly having stolen MDOT signs in his garage. He rejected a plea in that case and jury selection is scheduled for June 6th. (JM)

Two Managers Of Local Municipalities Are Vying For Openings

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:05:00 EDT

5/8/08 - The City of South Lyon has been scouting a new city manager and two of the candidates are from municipalities in Livingston County. Fowlerville�s Manager Joseph Merucci and Brighton Township�s Manager David Murphy are two of nine candidates interviewed by South Lyon City Council in the past couple of weeks. Other candidates include Durrand City Manager Lynn Markland. The vacancy came after long-time city manager Rod Cook retired earlier this year after serving in that post for 25 years. Cook tells WHMI they are planning to conduct one more round of interviews and have no specific time table set up to fill the position. Merucci and Murphy are also both vying for an open manager position for the Village of Beverly Hills. Both are expected to be interviewed for that spot in front of the public this Saturday. (LS)

War Play Triggers Lock-Down Of Southeast Elementary School

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:03:00 EDT

5/7/08 - Two camouflaged men sparked the lock-down of Southeast Elementary Wednesday afternoon but Howell Police Chief George Basar says parents shouldn�t be concerned. At roughly 3:30 p.m. the department put the school under lockdown after a report came in that two men sporting camouflage and touting long guns went into the woods behind the school located on Sibley Street. Basar says within 20 minutes it was clear there was no danger after they discovered 14 and 18 year old Howell brothers were �playing war� in the gravel pit with air soft guns that shoot rubber bullets. They took them into custody but were quickly released after it was clear what the situation was and that the two posed no danger. (LS)

Accident Shuts Down Grand River In Genoa Township

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:02:00 EDT

5/7/08 - A two car accident forced the closure of Grand River in Genoa Township Wednesday afternoon. The accident happened around noon and it appears as though the driver of a mini-van may have gone into cardiac arrest while driving. Lieutenant Curt Ruf with the Brighton Area Fire Department tells WHMI they were able to sustain a pulse prior to transporting him to a local hospital, but he was in critical condition. Grand River was shut down for about an hour between Herbst Road and Hilton Road while accident reconstructionists worked the scene. (JM)

Lil' Chef Demolition Underway In City Of Brighton

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:01:00 EDT

5/7/08 - A corner landmark in Brighton is almost completely gone now. Crews continued demolition work on the old Lil� Chef restaurant Wednesday afternoon. The site should be cleared by the end of the week and developers are looking to put in a Starbucks and Olga�s on the corner. Lil Chef has been the county�s only 24 hour sit down eatery since it first opened its doors along a much less congested Grand River Avenue back in 1973. The local tradition for many will live on though as the owner is relocating to the Brookside Mall. (JM)

Dedication Planned For "Lest They Be Forgotten" Monument

Wed, 07 May 2008 02:46:00 EDT

5/7/08 - Livingston County�s second �Lest They Be Forgotten� monument will be dedicated this weekend in Brighton. The nationally-known program has been building monuments to those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan in hometowns across America for several years. Saturday�s dedication in Brighton will be for Army Specialist Andrew Daul and Staff Sergeant Thomas Christensen. The 6-foot monument (pictured) is topped with a bronze recreation of what�s known as the �field cross�, consisting of a serviceman�s boots, rifle and helmet. The dedication will take place Saturday in the veteran�s section of the Brighton Cemetery beginning at 3pm. The county�s first �Lest They Be Forgotten� monument was dedicated in Fowlerville in 2006. (JK)