Sunday, January 19, 2020

Brighton Students Raise Funds for Charitable Causes

Brighton High School students raise $46,000 for cancer treatment and disadvantaged students.

Burchfield Humbled to Again Serve as Brighton Board of Education President

Brighton Board of Education President Andy Burchfield says the Brighton Area Schools is one of the top school districts in Michigan, and justifiably so.

John James To Make Brighton Appearance

“An Evening Tea with John James” on Wednesday, February 5th from 5 to 7pm at the Oak Pointe Country Club in Brighton.

LCCVB Accepting Applications For Hospitality Scholarships

The Livingston County Convention & Visitors Bureau's “Hospitality Star Scholarship” aims to invest in the education of tourism industry professionals in the Brighton-Howell Area.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Parent Accidentally Shoots Himself In Leg In School Parking Lot

Police say a male subject was picking up his child at Three Fires Elementary School when he accidentally discharged his hand gun, shooting himself in the leg.

Snow Emergencies In Effect

Brighton, Howell, South Lyon, Pinckney and Fowlerville have all declared snow emergencies.

Ex-Judge To Be Segregated From Other Inmates During Jail Sentence

Ex-Judge Theresa Brennan was sentenced Friday and ordered to serve six months in jail and 18 months of probation. She must also complete 200 hours of community service.

Cleary University Appoints Interim President

Provost Emily Barnes has been appointed the university's first female provost and will become its first female interim president.

Volunteer Commission Supports Several MLK Day Programs

The Michigan Community Service Commission is helping support 29 programs honoring Martin Luther King Jr, including events in Fowlerville and Milford.

Lawmaker Offers Plan To Promote Michigan's Equine Industry

State Rep. Hank Vaupel testified on his plan to improve the education, research and promotion of the equine industry.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Ex-Judge Gets Jail Time

Former Judge Theresa Brennan was sentenced Friday and will serve six months in jail.

Teen Charged With Target Robbery, Police Chase

17-year-old Jamone Carter of Kentwood and 17-year-old Kquazay Vinson of Grand Rapids face counts of resisting and obstructing police and breaking and entering. A 16-year-old from Grand Rapids will face charges in juvenile court.

Brighton City Mgr. Gets Salary Increase

Mayor Shawn Pipoly tells WHMI that Geinzer has been doing a great job for the city, and deserves to be compensated accordingly.

City Of Howell Halts Survey Of Potential New Post Office Site

City Council wants the United States Postal Service to provide more information about addressing issues with the property and surveying work before moving forward.

Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found On Sign, Howell Businesses

Police are working to identify who is responsible for Anti-Semitic graffiti found on businesses and a real estate sign in Howell.

Brighton, Hartland Fire Depts. to Discuss Possible Merger

Is a merger between the Brighton Area Fire Authority and Hartland-Deerfield Fire Authority in their futures? A meeting was to be held today to explore that possibility.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Townships & Nonprofit Team Up To Oppose Industrial Shredder

Livingston County Catholic Charities has joined with Genoa Township and Marion Township to oppose variance requests pending before the City of Howell Zoning Board of Appeals concerning a proposed industrial shredder.

District Moving Forward On Getting Bond Work Underway

The funds will be used for a multitude of improvements including new roofing and parking lots for some schools as well as a multipurpose facility that can be used by all district schools.

Cleary University Hosting MLK Day March

A 2.8 mile march from the Johnson Center to the Historic Howell Theater will be supplemented with short speeches on themes and ideas consistent with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's teachings.

VINA Looks To Expand Services In 2020

According to the United Way report for Livingston County, there are currently 27,500 residents who qualify for dental care at VINA and two specific areas the organization is hoping to expand into are the veteran’s community and senior citizens.

Health Department To Restock Radon Test Kits

Free radon home test kits distributed to promote January as Radon Action Awareness Month went fast following an "overwhelming response."

Bollin Participates In Hearing On "Green Ooze" Found On I-696

State Rep. Ann Bollin participated in a committee hearing on the "green ooze" environmental threat in metro-Detroit that drew national attention.

Huron River Expected To Crest Today

In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, the township noted that water from the ponds next to Merrill Road had filled in the roadway and the trail, closing the Trail at Merrill Road.

Livingston For Trump Celebrates 3rd Anniversary of Inauguration

The celebration will be held from 7 to 9pm on Monday, January 20th at the Livingston for Trump office.

World Champion Technodogs Kick Off New Season

The Brighton High School FIRST Robotics team, which won the world championship last year in Detroit, held the season kickoff event recently and invited robotics teams from all the high schools in Livingston County to the event, held at the Brighton Center for the Performing Arts.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Howell Paralegal Getting Ready For Debut MMA Fight

51-year-old Heidi Miller of Howell will take part in her very first MMA bout next month in Grand Rapids.

Nominations Sought For Outstanding Volunteers

The deadline is January 31st to nominate an individual, student, or youth organization to be honored at the Livingston County United Way’s Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Breakfast in March.

Volunteers Sought For Salvation Army Food Drive

Volunteers are needed for flier distribution and donation collection, as well as shifts for unloading and restocking the Salvation Army's pantry.

County Engaged In Several Projects Born Out Of Master Plan

The projects currently being implemented by Livingston County's Department of Planning aim to better guide and enhance local communities.

Theis Co-Sponsors Bill To Restrict State Bonding For Roads

The legislation would limit the ability of the State Transportation Commission to purchase bonds to fix and maintain the state’s roads and bridges without additional oversight from the Legislature.

Local Company Among Those Listed In State's PFAS Lawsuit

One of the 17 companies listed as defendants in the lawsuit is Asahi Kasei Plastics North America Inc., which is located in Fowlerville. The lawsuit alleges that the companies purposefully concealed the dangers of PFAS.

Residents Want Tighter Restrictions On Allowable PFAS Levels

While appreciative of EGLE's efforts in creating maximum contaminant levels in drinking water, residents at a public hearing wanted numbers even more strict, with added protections for the most vulnerable.

Home Occupants Safe In Green Oak Twp. Fire

Responding units found a home with heavy fire involvement in the front of the house with the homeowner reporting two dogs and two cats were trapped inside.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Cleary University President Jason Boyers To Resign

Cleary University President Dr. Jayson Boyers will resign, effective May 8th, 2020, in order to assume the position of president of Rosemont College, a private, Catholic liberal arts college in Rosemont, Pennsylvania.

Burchfield Re-Elected President of Brighton Board of Education

The Brighton school board elected its officers for the coming year at the annual organizational session Monday night.

Nominations Sought For Brighton Area Women’s History Roll of Honor

The group looks to recognize the achievements and contributions by women in the greater Brighton area, and applications are being accepted through January 31st.

Civil Rights Activist To Speak At Local Library On MLK Day

Gertrude Croom was one of 50 residents arrested with Dr. King during the Easter Sunday protests of 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Huron River Cresting Earlier & Higher Than Predicted

As of this morning, the models are predicting a crest at 7.4 feet by later this evening, two days before it had originally been expected to reach its highest point.

Suspects In Fenton Robbery Arrested In Brighton Twp. After Manhunt

The incident began shortly after 2am Monday when Fenton Police were called to a report of a robbery in progress at the Target store on Owen Road. Three suspects were spotted fleeing the scene.

Structural Admin Changes Could Help Better Serve Residents

Erv Suida, Interim Manager for the City of Howell, says the structure changes will have a minimal impact to the City’s General Fund budget at about $10,000 to $15,000 annually.

Milestone Will Mark 15th Celebration Of MLK Day In Milford

Residents can participate by donating items to the soup meal food drive, submitting to the art/writing/multimedia contest, walking in the March on Main Street, or assisting at the soup meal assembly event to benefit Community Sharing’s food pantry.

Brighton Twp. Employees Raise Over $500 For Local Nonprofit

The organization, Blue Star Service Dogs, rescues and trains shelter dogs, and pairs them with veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Huron River At Flood Warning, Although Predictions Lowered

The National Weather Service says that widespread rainfall caused significant runoff into area rivers, although some of the precipitation toward the end of the storm fell in a frozen state resulting in the lowering of flood crests.

Professional Female Empowerment Event To Benefit LACASA

Event organizers say the mission of the Winning Women event is to empower, elevate and educate women in fearless pursuit of their professional career.

Wanted: Compassionate & Brave Plungers

Participants of the Livingston County Polar Plunge will jump into Leith Lake, located behind Brighton High School. Local individuals and teams have already begun fundraising for the event, which will be held on Saturday, January 25th.

DeBenham Reflects On 25 Years At Nature Center

Howell Nature Center Director of Wildlife and Education Dana DeBenham is retiring. Her last day is January 31st.

Oak Park Man Sentenced To Prison After Genoa Drug Raid

42-year-old Brandon Kernodle of Oak Park was ordered last week to serve between 3 and 20 years in prison on charges stemming from a raid at a Genoa Township residence where police found drugs and weapons.

Nonprofit To Hold Senior Suicide Awareness Workshop

The fastest growing demographic of those that attempt suicide is males that are 85 and older. Between 1999 and 2016, there were more than 232,000 suicides in the U.S. in the age group of 45 to 64.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

New Marijuana Manufacturing Facility Opens in Webberville

A huge cannabis-producing operation, which recently opened in Webberville, is expected to get into full operation in the near future, employing nearly 300 people.

Bollin Raises Awareness, Wants Solutions To End Human Trafficking

State Representative Ann Bollin of Brighton Township says she is “eager to get to work on finding solutions to eradicate the heinous act of human trafficking”.

Fire Station Now Second To Offer 24-Hour Coverage

A 10,000 square-foot improvement to Fire Station 34 in Genoa Township will bring better safety measures, customer service, and training opportunities to the Brighton Area Fire Authority.

Clerk's Office Looks To Add Election Security Infrastructure

Improvements to the Elections Division would include the installation of a door that will require swipe card access to employee-only areas, the installation of a window system on a new counter area, and a new partition area.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Local Man Charged In Child Porn Case Gets Probation

Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty on Thursday sentenced 47-year-old Daniel Delavergne to two years of probation.

Slotkin Votes To Pass PFAS Legislation

Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin also introduced an amendment to hold the Environmental Protection Agency accountable for coming up with viable alternatives to AFFF, the firefighting foam at the root of PFAS contamination in many Michigan communities.

Hartland Citizen Assessment Returns Positive Results

While respondents felt road maintenance and transportation options were areas where the township's priorities could improve, the survey found that in terms of community satisfaction, the municipality meets or exceeds most benchmarks.

Tyrone Twp. Open House To Showcase New Town Hall

The new facility is located at the former site of the Baptist State Convention, at the corner of Center Road and Runyan Lake Road.

Public Input Sought On Livingston County Trails Plan

A Trail Summit will be held Wednesday, January 22nd at the John E. LaBelle Public Safety Complex in Howell Township. The meeting will begin with a short presentation followed by opportunities to provide input and mark-up maps.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Padnos, Local Groups Prepare For Industrial Shredder Hearing

The Howell Board of Zoning Appeals will make a decision on three variance requests, including the potentiality of an outdoor shredder at Padnos Iron and Metal's Lucy Road location.

Tainted Steroid Compensation Fund Officially Closed

In all, 642 grants were dispensed to outbreak victims or their survivors, for a total of more than $23 million. The outbreak, caused by tainted steroids produced by the now-closed New England Compounding Center, killed 23 people in Michigan, 11 of them in Livingston County.

Plea Negotiations Extended 6th Time In Child Porn Case

31-year-old Kevin Porter of Fowlerville was charged by federal prosecutors in February of 2019 with production and attempted production of child pornography and enticement of a minor.

House Passes Slotkin War Powers Resolution

The measure, introduced on Wednesday by 8th District Democrat Elissa Slotkin, passed 224 to 194, mostly along party lines.

Vaupel Working To Raise Human Trafficking Awareness

Approximately $87-million per day is made from human trafficking transactions, second only behind drug trafficking as the most profitable crime in the U.S.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Wings Etc. Sports Bar Proposed In Hartland Twp.

At a recent meeting of the township's Board of Trustees, officials voted to support the transfer of a liquor license from elsewhere in the county to the township for the business.

Appeals Panel Hears Arguments In Sahouri Lawsuit

The Michigan Court of Appeals heard oral arguments Wednesday on the latest appeal by the Hartland Consolidated School District to a lawsuit filed by Tracey Sahouri in 2012, alleging it violated the Whistleblower Protection Act when it removed her as principal from Creekside Elementary School.

Former TV Anchor Seeking To Replace Slotkin Raises $250,000

Republican Congressional Candidate Paul Junge, a former Lansing-area TV news anchor, most recently worked in the Trump Administration at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. He says he is grateful for the financial support to launch his campaign to oust 8th District Democrat Elissa Slotkin.

Aisin Unveils Future Car Concepts At Vegas CES

The vehicle technology developer is showing off their latest concepts for safer and more enjoyable rides in self-driving and autonomous vehicles at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Putnam Twp. Planning Commission Re-Elects Same Leaders

At their meeting Wednesday, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to re-elect Michael Porath as Chair, Jeff Beemer as Vice-Chair, and Jeff Lomber as Secretary.

Howell School Bus Struck Head-On

Authorities say the driver of a pickup truck headed southbound on Wiggins Road lost control on the ice-covered roadway and struck a northbound Howell School bus head-on.

Town Hall Meeting Warns Residents Of Life After No-Fault Insurance

The Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault believes promised savings from recent reform are dangerous and misleading.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Fire Destroys Marion Township Home

The Howell Area Fire Authority was called out just after 11:30pm to a home in the 3000 block of Sesame Drive. When they arrived on scene, Fire Chief Andy Pless says that flames were visible from the roof.

Report: Window Bracket Missing At Facility Where Woman Died

The 86-year-old resident of the Vista Springs Assisted Living Community in Howell died December 9th after falling from a second-floor apartment.

Pontiac Man Charged In Fenton Armed Robbery

22-year-old Ward Alvin Goodnight III was arrested December 29th and charged with one count of armed robbery and one count of felony firearm.

Grant Directed To Strengthen Local Medical Reserve Corps, Outreach

The Livingston County Health Department applied for and received a $7,500 grant with plans to work with preparedness partners in developing training and utilizing the MRC to assist in the whole community.

Giant Pig Makes Statement Towards "Greedy Legislators"

Scott Tillman's 18-foot hog will be in Fenton, Friday, symbolizing, his organization says, greed by lobbyists and legislators for wanting to do away with term limits.

M-59 Pathway To Be Constructed In Hartland Twp.

MDOT is constructing a pathway on the south side of M-59 from approximately 250 feet west of Hartland Woods Drive, to easterly approximately 700 feet to the existing pathway at the Oakbrooke property.

Census Bureau Specialist Visits County Count Committee

Census Bureau Specialist Linda Clark gave a 90-minute presentation to the local Complete Count Committee on the importance of the upcoming census and what groups of people might be hard to reach.

Inclusion & Diversity Will Be The Focus Of Library Event

The Howell Carnegie District Library will host World Cultures Day on Monday, January 20th from 1 to 3pm. It will encourage participants to be a World Culture Detective and find out what makes the different cultures represented in Howell both unique and complementary.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Brighton Making Radon Test Kits Available

In a Facebook post on Monday, the City of Brighton published a color map of the city’s radon levels based on past testing. January is National Radon Action Month.

OWI Enforcement Focus Of Additional Patrols In Genoa Twp.

62 hours of additional patrols by the Livingston County Sheriff's Office in the municipality resulted in 57 traffic stops, two drunken driving arrests, eight misdemeanor arrests, and 14 citations being issued for violations such as speeding.

Highland & Milford Twp. Roads To Receive "Mumble Strips"

Mumble strips are similar to rumble strips, but designed in a way to create less noise when vehicles travel over them while still alerting the driver that he or she has veered out of the lane.

Community Offered Inside Look At LACASA Facilities, Programs

“Within These Walls” are one-hour programs in which the organization’s leaders share their stories, discuss plans for the future, and conduct a walking tour of the LACASA facility.

Sheriff's Office Holding Second Citizens Police Academy

Some of the classes will consist of the actual training deputies receive, such as a Fire Arms Range Simulator and Emergency Vehicle Operation, evidence processing, and others.

Arabic Language Option Added To New SOS Self-Service Stations

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says they’ve “heard the call from communities for better language access, and plan to continue translating additional documents in the future.”

Dexter High School To Participate In Teen Traffic Safety Campaign

"Strive for a Safer Drive" is a peer-led statewide program that seeks to reduce traffic crashes, which are the leading cause of death for teens nationwide.

Monday, January 6, 2020

Slotkin To Lead Congressional War Powers Vote

On Sunday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi informed House members that 8th District Democrat Elissa Slotkin would lead the introduction of a war powers resolution calling for an end to military action against Iran without congressional approval.

Fundraiser Set For Hamburg Employee Facing Terminal Cancer

An upcoming spaghetti dinner fundraiser aims to help the longtime Hamburg Township employee in her cancer fight.

Howell City Council To Host Budget Worksession

Interim City Manager Erv Suida says Council wants to make sure to start early, identify objectives and get a good game plan together to get through this fiscal year and the upcoming fiscal year.

County Census Committee Meets On Tuesday

The public is invited to attend Tuesday’s meeting of the Livingston County 2020 Census Complete Count Committee.

Funeral Services This Week For Longtime Livingston County Judge

Livingston County’s longest serving judge Stanley Latreille passed away on January 2nd.

Volunteers Sought For Community Connect

The Livingston County Homeless Continuum of Care Committee hosts the one-day connection to needed items, community resources, and free services for Livingston County residents in need.

Former Fire Chief Gets "Final Call" Before Being Laid To Rest

Former South Lyon Fire Chief Craig Kaska passed away December 30th at age 70, with services held Saturday in South Lyon in his honor.

Town Hall Will Focus On New No-Fault Law

The town hall is sponsored by The Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault, or CPAN, a coalition of 15 major medical groups and 11 consumer groups that had fought to preserve Michigan’s one-of-a-kind no-fault auto insurance system.

Registration Still Open For Polar Plunge

The annual Livingston County Polar Plunge will be held Saturday, January 25th, at Brighton High School. Participants will jump into Leith Lake, located behind the high school, to raise money for the Special Olympics of Michigan.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Midland Man Still Critical In Crash Near Fowlerville

The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office reports the 19-year-old man lost control of his 2003 Oldsmobile Alero while traveling north on Nicholson Road south of Allen Road in Handy Township

AG Rolls Out Assault On Illegal Robocalls

There were 1.3 billion robocalls in Michigan through October of 2019, more than double the 617 million robocalls three years ago.

Bollin Seeking Legislative Intern

Republican State Representative Ann Bollin of Brighton Township is looking to welcome a young adult from Livingston County to join her office as a Legislative Intern.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

Retired Judge Stanley Latreille Passes Away

Livingston County’s longest serving judge passed away at home surrounded by family on January 2nd.

Howell Nature Center Wildlife Director Retiring

Dana DeBenham is leaving a legacy of 25 years at the Nature Center by developing a Wildlife Park with over 70 Animal Ambassadors, a Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic and Pre-Release Zone serving over 4000 animals annually.

Free Test Kits Offered During Radon Action Month

Local health officials say elevated levels of radon are present in about 40% of Livingston County homes.

Public Hearing Set On Facade Project In Downtown Howell

Façade work was completed at both Uptown Coffeehouse and First National Bank with Community Development Block Grant or CDBG Funding.

Dept. Of Treasury Warns Of Fake Letters In Collections Scam

In the scheme, taxpayers receive what appears to be a government-looking letter about an overdue tax bill, asking individuals to immediately contact a toll-free number to resolve a state tax debt.

Friday, January 3, 2020

Slotkin Says Administration Must Consult Congress On Iran Strategy

8th District Democrat Elissa Slotkin, who served multiple tours in Iraq as a member of the CIA, has called on the Trump administration to confer with Congress about its rationale for an airstrike killing a top Iranian general.

No Cause Yet For Fire At Popular Lyon Cantina Restaurant

The building had to be razed on New Year's Eve due to flare-ups.

County Clerk Says All Local Election Officials Trained & Accredited

Following an audit report asserting that some clerks did not have proper accreditation, Livingston County Clerk Betsy Hundley assures the community that all local clerks are accredited and trained heading into the 2020 election cycle.

County Commissioners Re-Elect Parker & Dolan As Chair, Vice-Chair

The Livingston County Board of Commissioners has elected to keep their leadership the same in the coming year. Donald Parker will return as Chairman and Dennis Dolan as Vice Chairman.

Former Putnam Fire Marshal Files Lawsuit

Jennifer Koch has filed a ten count complaint against Putnam Township around her termination last September.

Livingston County Jobless Rate Dipped In November

Livingston currently ranks 12th among Michigan’s 83 counties.

Metroparks Program To Discount Daily Pass Cost Off Annual Pass

The new Pass Trade Up Program began New Year’s Day allowing visitors to trade in their daily park passes for discounts off a 2020 Annual Pass.

Teams Will Try To 'Hit The Buzzer' For Cancer Patients

Five Points of Hope provides grants of up to $500 to help patients pay for unaffordable essentials such as insurance deductibles, prescriptions, medical equipment and utility bills.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Police Apprehend Suspect Following Larceny & Police Chase

One suspect was arrested and another remains at large following a larceny and subsequent police pursuit on Christmas Eve.

Howell's Zack The Fat Cat Looking For A New Home

The Michigan Humane Society is looking to find a new home Zack the Cat, although whoever does decide to step up will need to be prepared to put the feline on a diet.

Milford Taco Bell Robbery May Be Connected To Others Across Region

Police now say it was one of at least five similar fast-food robberies in the last few weeks, including one in Auburn Hills last Friday.

County GOP To Hold Congressional Candidate Forum

The candidates that have committed to attending the forum as well as the post-forum meet and greet include Mike Detmer, Alan Hoover, Paul Junge, Kristina Lyke, and Nikki Snyder.

Memory-Related Disease Caregivers Offered Free Respite

Livingston County Catholic Charities is offering three free events in January to help reduce stress and care for caregivers.

Theis Fall Photo Contest Winners Announced

State Senator Lana Theis has selected three photographs taken between Pam Ries and Terri Moore, both from Howell, as the winning entries in her fall photo contest.

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Fire Destroys Lyon Township Restaurant

The fire at the Lyon Cantina on Pontiac Trail and 9 Mile Road was called in shortly after 7am.

Community Coalition Seeks To Expand In 2020

The Huron Valley Community Coalition has been working to bring on more partners in its work, as research shows a significant reduction in youth substance use where there is a strong community-based coalition in place.

Nominations Sought For Hartland Chamber Awards

The Hartland Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards celebrates those that have demonstrated unique vision, support and achievement in support of Hartland Living, the area economy, business community, and quality of life.

Lyon Township Fire Department Urges Carbon Monoxide Safety

The department says a family was sleeping when a carbon monoxide detector went off early Christmas morning and it was proper planning that saved their lives.

SBA Disaster Loans Available For Livingston County

The loans are available in 44 counties including Livingston, as well as Genesee, Washtenaw and Ingham counties.