Livingston County Daily Press and Argus from Howell, Michigan • 3

Around the County Sunday March 28, 1999 Five Simpson children will remain in foster care until May 4 hearing News briefs HOWELL Simpson must adhere to number of orders, including counseling and monitoring of prescription drugs Howell named Tree City USA Howell was recently honored by the National Arbor Day Founda tion for the 1 1th year in a row as a Tree City USA, The program is sponsored by the NADF in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. To qualify, cities must have the following: a tree board department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program and an Arbor Day observance. The Tree City USA efforts were initiated by former assistant city manager Randy Altimus, who left after March 19 to take a new post in the city of Riverview. Public hearing set for Lucy Road Park The Howell Area Parks and Recreation Commission will, hold a public hearing on the proposed reconstruction of Lucy Road Park on April 13. Among the topics to be discussed is the application of a Clean Michigan Initiative grant from the state Department of Natural Resources.

The city has been looking into improving the now-defunct site, which has undergone a number of environmental tests in the past, for public recreation. A proposal for the park is available for review in the recreation department offices, located at 925 W. Grand River Ave. in Howell. The public hearing will begin at 7:30 p.m.

in the Howell City Council chambers, located in the lower level of 61 1 E. Grand River Ave. For more information, call (517) 546-0693. File photo by ALAN WARD attorney, Stewart Christian. Simpson suffers from a number of medical conditions she suffered a closed head injury and is also treated for asthma and diabetes she was able to care for the children and attend to household chores.

"I don't think even the migraines slowed her down from doing what she was supposed to be doing," Weatherholt said. Weatherholt broke dowrrfwhile testifying about the day the children were ordered out of the Simpson home. She said the children were crying and appeared to be confused. "I would really like to have them reunified because I think they'd be better off where they were than where they are now," Weatherholt said. Pastor Richard Mathew of First Baptist Church in Gregory testified to improvements he's seen as well.

Mathew said he became involved with the family about one year ago and never observed Simpson being unable to function normally. He also said he never saw her use corporal punishment on the chil dren. Capt. Lynda Hogaboom of the Salvation Army said Simpson typically uses "time out" as a means of disciplining the children. She testified that Simpson verbally indicates when there is a problem, and the children are then sent to take a "time out" in a designated place usually a chair or other place in their bedroom.

There has been no physical abuse to her knowledge, Hogaboom said, Hogaboom and her family have been assisting the Simpsons since the November fire. Prosecutors claim that prior to that time, Simpson used a number of abusive methods of discipline on the children, including, but not limited to, "hog-tying." Putting the children in cold showers was also cited as a means of restraint used by Simpson on the children. According to a petition filed in December by the Family Independence Agency and Livingston County Sheriffs Department, one of the children broke a leg in an attempt to resist one of the alleged shower episodes. COUNTY NEWS By Kerry Lefere Staff writer Karen Simpson's five adopted, special needs children will remain in foster care at least until a May 4 hearing. The latest rul-ing in the ongo COURTS ing child neglect and abuse case was handed down last Wednesday after a string of dispositional hearings in Livingston County Probate Court.

The court is expected to review its decision to place the children in temporary foster care at that time. Simpson, who has been under the microscope of investigators since a Marion Township house fire killed three of her adopted children in November, will have to prove herself a fit mother in the interim in order to avoid an ultimate termination of parental rights. Attorney-referee David Batdorf-Barnes ordered Simpson's five remaining children one child whose adoption was pending at the time of the fire has since been removed from her care into foster homes on March 17. Simpson was granted supervised visitation rights two days later; she left this most recent hearing early to visit the children for the first time. As expected, Simpson will have to adhere to a number of court orders, including weekly counseling sessions and prescription monitoring by a primary physician.

Among the charges leveled at Simpson is the misuse of prescription drugs. At Wednesday's hearing, it was also ordered that Karen Simpson return some $3,600 to $3,800 in Karen Simpson confers with her funds withdrawn from a fund established for the Simpson family to the account at First National Bank. The court stipulated that the funds, once returned, could not be removed without court approval. At issue is whether the funds were generated through community donations and for what reason. According to Ed Moore of the Livingston County Sheriff's Department, who testified the previous Friday at one time the First National account had a balance of over he was unsure where the monies came from.

There was also an additional $8,980 in community donations given directly to the Salvation Army, which cut three separate checks to Karen Simpson for the total, according to testimony from Capt. Lynda Hogaboom of the Salvation Army on Wednesday. Hogaboom said she was unclear how that money was spent. A check for 50, made payable to "Cash." was withdrawn from the First National account March 18, Moore said. Stewart Christian, Karen Simpson's attorney, said part of that money was used to pay some of his legal fees; the money Simpson has been ordered to return to the account is Food bank participating in match program Money raised by the Livingston Community Food Bank in March may be matched by the Alan Feinstein Foundation, which is matching up to $1 million for donations received by the nation's food banks.

If donations exceed that amount, the match will be divided among eligible organizations. Darlene Paulauski, director of the Livingston Community Food Bank, said only $4,500 has been raised since the beginning of the month. Last year, the food bank had only a week to raise funds and managed to pull in $10,000. The food bank must submit donation documentation by April 6. Paulauski said Feinstein donors will not be placed on any mailing list for future solicitations, and donors are eligible to receive up to a 50 percent tax credit on their Michigan tax return.

To make a donation, make your check payable to the Livingston Community Food Bank and send to 746 S. Michigan Howell, Mich. 48843-2635. For more information, contact Paulauski at (517) 548-3663. Howell board accepts Hamilton challenge for mil lage debate Commissioners give road commission $500,000 for road repair projects what remains after Christian's fees are deducted.

The balance in the First National account as of Wednesday's court proceedings was $8.02. Monica Copeland, appointed attorney for the five remaining Simpson children, said Wednesday that Moore has investigated the matter further and is prepared to submit more evidence about the account if needed. Simpson has already undergone a number of physical and psychological tests as part of an earlier agreement with prosecutors, who initially let the children remain in her home under the protection of 24-hour supervisors. Psychologist Charlene Kushler, an expert witness who testified during one of the recent hearings, administered recent tests to Simpson and told the court she found her to be "self-destructive." But several witnesses who testified last Wednesday said Simpson has made great strides since reducing the number of prescription drugs she was taking. Rita Weatherholt, who has served as a monitor in the Simpson home, said Simpson interacted with the children in a positive way.

Weatherholt said even though begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Meabon Room of the Howell Carnegie District Library. Featured panelists include state Rep. Judith Scranton (R-Brighton); Gary Naeyaert, director of communications for the Michigan Department of Transportation; and Tom Frazier, regional representative for U.S. Sen.

Spencer Abraham. Scranton, who is the new chair of the House Appropriations subcommittee on transportation. do," said Livingston County Road Commissioner Mike Craine. "A lot of what we really wanted to do was just out of our reach." Once the new funds flow over from the commissioners, projects that are likely to hit the drawing board include paving or improving parts of D-19 in Marion Township; North Fowlervflle Road from Sherwood to Haner roads in Handy Township; White Lake Road from Fenton Road to U.S. 23; and Chil- attending to students' individual needs.

The school has built its policies alnd principles around the theories of noted educator Dr. William Glasser. Parents interested in learning more about Livingston Developmental Academy are encouraged to attend the following lectures at the school: March 29 Choice Theory. April 20 What is IVL. Republicans want to By Maureen Patzer STAFF WRITER The Livingston County Board of Commissioners is expected to lend a half-million dollar helping hand to the Livingston County Road Commission for projects during the 1999 construction season.

"Times are very good and right now, and we do have the money in this year's budget," said Livingston County Commissioner David Reader. "We do have a lot of other things on our plate, but we also get a lot of calls about roads even though we're not road commis-i. sioners." Last year, the board of commissioners helped fund $1 million worth of county road improvements covering approximately 53 miles of road. "This isn't something I anticipate we will be able to do every year," Reader said. "But it is something that benefits all residents we could spend $200,000 putting new lavatories in the jail, but the average person isn't going to see all that." The proposal regarding this year's funding was discussed by the board of commissioners at its the challenge wasn't surprising.

Board member Roger Dresden said some sort of challenge from Hamilton was expected by the district and the idea of a debate might be a good way to get the district's message across to the public. "We wanted to stir something up with the public," Dresden said. "Let's make it fun. "If they (the rest of the board) don't want to do it, I will," he said. Dresden went on to point out that Hamilton didn't live in the Howell Public Schools district.

"Why should he care about it," he said. "It's not his schools that are falling apart. It's ours." "My initial reaction would be to take him My only problem that I have is that I haven't been on the board very long," Dresden added. Board Treasurer William Hulbert, who will be seeking his third term on the board this June, also said a debate might prove to have some benefits for the district. "I think it would be interesting to find out what Mr.

Hamilton's problem is," Hulbert said. "I can't speak for the whole board, but I think this is something to take seriously," Hulbert continued. "I think this is something we should bring up at our next board meeting and if this is something we decide to accept, I imagine we could appoint someone to go one-on-one with him." Ideally, Hulbert said, the debate should include the entire Board of Education since all decisions in the district are made as an entity and not individually: Gnce the meeting adjourns, the closest thing the board has to an official spokesperson is the board president, Hulbert "We would probably want to come as a team with RicKTerres (assistant superintendent for business). He's our resident expert," Hulbert said. "I don't think any of us on the board claim to have the same expertise on the matter that Rick does." By Christopher Nagy STAFF WRITER A challenge has been issued.

David Hamilton, county commissioner and chairperson, of the Livingston County Taxpayer's Association, has challenged the Howell Public School Board of Education to a debate on the possible sinking fund millage being eyed by the district for the June ballot. Hamilton issued the challenge in a letter delivered to the Livingston County Press offices Friday, March 26. "This letter serves as a challenge to a one-on-one public debate with any elected member of the Howell School District Board of Education on the following issue: the merits of asking the Howell School District voters for additional millage in the form of a sinking fund to maintain the district's existing facilities," he In his letter, Hamilton outlines the following series of guidelines for the proposed debate. The debate must take place within the boundaries of the school district on a weekday evening between Monday, April 19, and Friday, May 21; The public debate last a minimum of one-and-a-half hours; and The Livingston County League of Women Voters be asked to conduct the debate. The school district recently began talk of placing a sinking fund millage on the June ballot to pay for future land purchases and improvements at the high school and middle schools.

A specific; millage amount hasn't yet been determined. Shortly after sinking fund discussions began, Hamilton came out against it, saying he didn't think a millage should be used for anything except brick and mortar expansions. Hamilton couldn't be reached for further comment on his challenge, but one member of the Howell Public Schools Board of Education said talk roads said she welcomes the opportunity to speak with residents. "1 encourage residents to attend and share their thoughts and concerns," Scranton said. The forum is the first of several programs that will be offered by the LCRC to inform county residents on important issues; an education forum is scheduled for May.

For more information, call (810) 220-3984. son Road from Winans Lake to Swarthout Road. "It's about 15 miles of road," Craine said. In the long run, the main road i projects also benefit residents liv-' ing on gravel roads as the money saved on maintenance of primary i roads can then go to making improvements on rural gravel roads. applications.

May 10 Math Curriculum. May 17 Developmental Education. June 14 Reading Curriculum. June 21 LDA Policies and Procedures. All lectures will be held at 7 p.m.

at the located at 9758 E. Highland RoadlM-59, Just west of U.S. 23). For more information, call (810) 1 632-2200. Roads, roads and roads will also be the topic of discussion Wednesday as the Livingston County Republican Committee hosts a public forum featuring state and federal transportation officials.

"Everybody has to drive on roads," said Chris Ward, chairperson of the Livingston County Republican Committee. "So everybody is interested in this issue." The transportation forum Finance Committee meeting March 25; the full board is expected to vote in support of the measure at its regular board meeting on April 5. The extra funds will be shared by local municipalities in a formula worked out by the Livingston County Road Commission. "We sent the commissioners a map of what we were planning on doing this year, as well as one that showed what we really wanted to A lecture series for parents interested in enrolling their children is currently being offered on select Monday nights through June 21. LDA takes a developmental approach to teaching, using various programs such as Intergrated Visual Learning (IVL) First Step, MEBA (Math Experience Based Approach) and High Scope, A low staff-to-student ratio allows teachers and aides to spend more time Developmental academy accepting The Livingston Developmental Academy, a free public school academy in Hartland, is accepting applications for fall 1999 enrollment.

The school expects to have 40 to 60 openings for kindergarten, with 10-20 openings at the first and second grade levels. LDA enrollment has doubled since the school opened three years ago. Currently," it has over 400 students in kider-garten through eighth grade..