Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 4

4A WWW.FREEP.COM FRIDAY, FEB. 18, 2011 iSOIiiKAROUND THE REGION Macomb uron work PDltH to begin trade crossing" while also making the roads safer for people who live and vacation in the Blue Water area, said Larry Young, manager of MDOT's Port Huron Transportation Service Center. MDOT said the Black River bridge will be replaced with three adjacent spans over the river. One westbound bridge will carry freeway traffic and vehicles entering from Canada; two eastbound bridges will carry local traffic and vehicles bound for Ontario. "That way, when traffic is backed up on the bridge, it won't be backed up going into Port Huron," said MDOT spokesman Rob Morosi.

MDOT said two lanes of traffic will be maintained during peak driving times. I CONTACT MATT HELMS: 313-222-1450 OR MHELMSSFREEPRESS.COM $90M project to add lanes By MATT HELMS FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER A huge two-year upgrade of the I-94I-69 freeway in the Port Huron area will kick off next week, affecting people driving to the Thumb and western Ontario. The Michigan Department of Transportation said Thursday that crews will break ground as soon as Monday on the $90-million project to widen more than 2 miles of the expressway between Lapeer Road and Pine Grove Avenue and replace an old bridge carrying traffic over the Black River. Work is expected to last into 2012. The Blue Water Bridge ov- STERLING HEIGHTS Hackel plan: Use river, fix potholes County Executive Mark Hackel announced Thursday a water initiative involving the Clinton River and an effort to have a county worker at the site of a pothole within an hour after a complaint is reported.

Speaking at the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce Industry's annual meeting, Hackel said the water initiative would mean someone in the county planning and economic development department focusing on the Clinton River. He said there are opportunities to acquire land around the river, possibly through easements, and that he wants to open it from Yates Cider Mill in Rochester Hills to Lake St. Clair. He said he'd like to see beaches, campsites and liveries along the waterway. Hackel said he plans to form business groups to serve as advisers.

He will lead a young entrepreneur group, and Assistant County Executive Al Lorenzo will oversee a business roundtable. He and his management team met Monday with the county's state legislators about opportunities and challenges Macomb County confronts Hackel also addressed critics who said they haven't seen immediate fixes since he took office Jan. He said he is working on a plan to submit to county commissioners and the public within his first 180 days. CLINTON TOWNSHIP Ex-commissioner scheduled for sentencing Irene Kepler, 33, a former county commissioner who was arrested Nov. 24 on suspicion of drunken driving, will be sentenced March 14.

Roseville police arrested her after watching her drive erratically from a liquor store at 12 Mile and Utica roads. Kepler pleaded guilty on Wednesday. Her commission term ended Dec. 31; she did not seek re-election. Detroit Free Press Source: Michigan Department of Transportation er the St.

Clair River record- than 26,000 vehicles a day, by ed about 169,000 vehicle the state's most recent traffic crossings into Canada and count, and will be widened about 167,000 into the U.S. in from two lanes each way to January. three. That stretch of freeway "This project will ensure carries an average of more Port Huron remains a viable Old hospital site to be transformed "A OAKLAND 9 Mile COUNTY Nov 50 Northville i i 7 WAYNE COUNTY Ism 7 Mile 1 J. 6 Mile 1 mile i I Northville Livonia 1 Oakldntt Township Oakland ROYAL OAK South Oakland Shelter is moving After spending years in a storefront in downtown Royal Oak, the South Oakland Shelter plans to triple its and training space by moving to a two-story building the group bought in Lathrup Village, executive director Ryan Hertz said Thursday.

The organization will continue to house its homeless clients in a rotating network of 65 churches and synagogues. The new site will allow far more space for counseling, training, storing donated food and clothing, and "let us add showers on site and expand our computer training," Hertz said. To help prepare the space, the charity A Time to Help, founded by Free Press sports columnist Mitch Albom, seeks volunteers to help strip wallpaper and move carpeting 9 a.m.-noon Saturday. Volunteers should show up at 18505 W. Twelve Mile, Hertz said.

Photos by PATRICIA 8ECKDetroit Free Press Caregiver Rachel Masen, 25, of Royal Oak watches Libby Knoper, 3, of Clawson run through a tunnel Thursday in Shain Park in Birmingham. A BRIEF FLING WITH SPRING 5 Mile Pi ft MARTHA THIERRYDetroit Free Press Northville Twp. hires firm to craft a plan By ERIC D. LAWRENCE FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER Northville Township has turned to its current engineering firm to prepare a master plan for the former Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital site at 7 Mile and Haggerty roads. On a 6-0 vote Thursday evening, township trustees opted to hire Stantec, at a cost not to exceed $100,000, to create a plan for the property, which was at the heart of an annexation battle between Livonia and Northville Township in 2008.

Prior to the vote, company representatives gave a presentation on what they intend to accomplish with the plan. "It's not something over-the-top, it's something you can actually do," said Stephen Plunkard, one of three representatives at the meeting. He said the company had developed similar plans for parks in places ranging from Texas to Alberta, Canada. "I've done this in more than 100 communities," Plunkard said. Joe Looby, a representative who specializes in site design, said the project could include the creation of natural features.

"We are creating a master plan, and the master plan is going to be a road map you're going to use for many years," he said. The company representatives and trustees discussed Wayne the need to be creative in funding for the project, though they didn't discuss specifics. Trustees encouraged Stan-tec to assure that the public is engaged as the project moves forward. Company officials said they expect to create a 30-member citizen advisory board. The site plans have evolved over time.

After the state hospital closed in 2003, the 414-acre site was bought at auction. REIS Northville, which wanted to develop the site, and the township failed to come to an agreement on the property, prompting an unsuccessful attempt to have it annexed by Livonia. Over time, the two sides were able to reach an agreement, leaving the township with the bulk of the land, much of which is expected to be parkland. I CONTACT ERIC D. LAWRENCE: 313-223-4272 OR ELAWRENCE8FREEPRESS.COM FREE PRESS STAFF No, it's not time for the spring pedicure and golf clubs, despite near-record tempera- tures Thursday.

The thermometer soared to 54 Thursday in metro Detroit, coming close to the last record high, 59 degrees, set in 19fl. That doesn't mean the end of winter, though. Temperatures today will fall to the mid-40s and to below freezing tonight, according to meterol-ogist Matt Mosteiko at the Na- tional Weather Service at White Lake. "No, this is not normal," added Weather Service meteorologist Amos Dodson. He said normal daily highs this time of year are in the mid 30s.

"It's only mid-February." More normal temperatures are expected during the week- LIVONIA Benefit today for officer's family A fund-raiser is set for the family of slain Livonia Police Officer Larry Nehasil. Today, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants at 41980 Ford Road in Canton, 9745 Village Place Blvd. in Brighton and 37651 Six Mile in Livonia are to donate 20 of sales when customers mention the Nehasil fund-raiser. Also, the City of Livonia continues to weigh naming a park after the veteran officer, who died in a Jan. 17 shootout after interrupting a burglary in Walled Lake.

A City Council committee is reviewing the proposal and the Law Department is expected to report on issues surrounding the renaming of a park, according to Dave Varga, the city's director of administrative services. Dr. Bernie Sloan gives grandson Dylan Sloan a ride Thursday in Birmingham's Shain Park. end, with highs in the upper 30s. Rain or snow is possible Monday, with highs in the upper 30s.

At least one record was broken in Flint. Mosteiko said temperatures there reached 54 on Thursday, breaking a record of 51 degrees, set in 1927. COMPILED FROM REPORTS BY CHRISTINA HALL, MEGHA SATYANARAYANA, BILL LAITNER AND ERIC D. LAWRENCE "Had It With Dentures?" mmmm I I A' Diplomats American Board of Podiatric Surgery Frean, upvn ialate Strong natural bite No messy adhesivet Complplely covert 12 of the mouth Resti on toft, tender gumi Damages bon causinu PPO Provider Most Medical Plans Accepted Frcs Initial Cesnsssltaiizm Excluding X-Rays and Treatment it 9 gum shrinkage and pr fit or Ragg'ng Surgical Stall Michigan Ortwptdc Spacufty Hcuprtj) CMC Staff 4 Are Dentures: Changing Your Appearance? Making Eating A Chore? Starting Heights 3058 Metro Parkway Suite 206 533-977-7200 Dearborn 22161 W. Outer Drive )Bfwwi PeHwm ft Dnva) 313-5C5-CCC0: To Receive An Intormation Packet And Listen To A Recorded Message Call Toll Free Now! 24 Hours A Day 1-888-291-4341 Ext.

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