Livingston County Daily Press and Argus from Howell, Michigan • 1

Serving Livingston County since 1843 Publication Number USPS 316500 PERIODICAL Homelown NUTWOKK Pining you in touch with your woric Inside 0KIFER1KI ifi i mi'-- i Log Cabin Inn, Genoa Twp. residences go up in flames Gas main break leads to evacuation 5. 7 fa JB fl, Photo by ALAN WAR0 Firefighters try to save the Log Cabin Inn Friday afternoon. Grand River Avenue was closed for several hours due to the blaze, which officials believe started after workers hit a nearby gas. main.

In the right hand corner, black smoke billows out from the neighborhood behind the pub. By Maureen Patzer STAFF WRITER With the smell of natural gas hanging sickeningly sweet in the air. firefighters from the cities of Howell and Brighton and Hamburg Township fought a losing battle to save the Log Cabin Inn and as many as six Genoa Township residences from going up in flames early Friday afternoon. The fire at the Log Cabin Inn a Livingston County landmark for over 30 years is believed to have started after a contract crew doing directional boring work in the area allegedly hit a gas main, causing an explosion and subsequent fire in the bar located on the edge of Lake Chemung at 5397 E. Grand River Ave.

It isn't known for whom the independent contractor was working. According to early reports, as many as three other residences were also destroyed by fires following the explosion and three others heavily damaged. No casualties were reported, but 90 degree-plus temperatures caused problems for fire fighters. "The situation is giving us problems due to the heat," said Jeff Boyd, director of the Livingston County Ambulance Department. "The firefighters can't say suited 7 evacuated Map by JUANITA LITTLE up in this heat so we've got eight paramedics on the scene helping prevent heat exhaustion." Emergency personnel began evacuating the area shortly after the fire started due to the gas leak; Consumers Power cut gas service to over 600 customers in the area.

As black smoke billowed into the air, law enforcement officials blocked off east and west Grand River Avenue and closed the Lake Chemung Exit 141 forcing 1-96 traffic to find an alternate route. back about three minutes we went out in the parking lot and saw black smoke coming out and went back in and called the fire department," said Lester Davis, owner of MiddleTown Market at 5580 E. Grand River a business located less than a half-mile from the Log Cabin Inn. Shortly thereafter, Davis said law enforcement personnel drove through the parking lot of his store, telling customers to evacuate the area due to a gas leak. Many other businesses In the area, including Champion Chevrolet, Sha-Ron's Pizza and Lake-.

Most of the fires were reportedly contained by 2:30 p.m. but several smaller explosions may have taken place following the initial blast. "Grand River Avenue is closed (for several miles) in both directions and the area has been evacuated," said Debra Dodd, a spokesperson for Consumers Power. "There's no way of knowing when residents will be able to return but our first priority is making sure the area is safe." Witnesses said the fire may have started at the Log Cabin shortly after noon. "I had gone out to the bank and drove by the Log Cabin and came f-96 crash Counties to team up for corrections work Fireworks can spark your dog to run away County officials report that July 5 is one of the busiest days in the animal business.

Many owners lose their dogs due to noisy fireworks displays. See page 3A. Township officials set for pay increases Hamburg Township Supervisor Howard Dillman has recommended salary hikes for himself and Clerk Joanna Hardesty as part of the 1999-00 budegt. See story and editorial on pages 5A and 10A. Detain county youth offenders at Maxey? Talks are under way to see whether police officers can save travel time by transporting county youths in trouble with the law to a self-contained unit at Maxey Boys' Training School instead of out-of-county juvenile facilities.

See page 7A. Sports stars are on display today, as we present our annual All-County team. See page IB. Lifestyle Ballooning popular throughout Livingston County This weekend's Michigan Challenge Balloonfest marks the biggest highlight of the year for hot air balloon enthusiasts, but county pilots operate throughout good weather months. See page 1AA.

--msmsmmmm Business ID Classified 4D Coming Events 8C Country Living 1C Editorials 10A Entertainment 9AA Letters 10.11A Weather 4A Obituaries 9A Sports IB Call us! NewsSportsFeatures fax (810) 227-0175 (517) 548-2000 Classifieds (517)548-2570 Advertising (517)548-2000 Home Delivery (517)546-4809 SUMMER'S HOTTEST BARGAINS Your Green Sheet Classifieds are filled with terrific bargains including GARAGE SALES, AUTOMOTIVE, HOMES FOR SALE and, HELP WANTED VANT TO WIN A BOAT? Look in today's paper for an entry blank to register to win Hometown Newspapers Wilson Marine Let's Do Launch STARCSAFT BOAT GIVE-AWAY 'P' best in base ball The county biggest i a 11 1 i V'. -A-i A 5-year-old boy remained in critical condition at University of Michigan Hospital following a two-car accident on 1-96 in Brighton Friday morning that snarled traffic for hours. Sgt. Sean Furlong of the Michigan State Police said the boy, his two sisters and his mother were in a car parked on the shoulder of eastbound 1-96 near Grand River Avenue when their vehicle was struck in the rear by another car. The force of the impact caused the parked car to roll over.

Sgt. Furlong said the mother, a 39-year-old Detroit-area woman, and her two daughters, a 3-month-old and a 3-year-old, were transported to University of Michigan Hospital and listed in stable tion. The boy remained in the intensive care unit. Police had no information on the condition of the occupants of the other car. The accidents remains under investigation.

pointe Manor, were also evacuated. Davis remained in his store iot several minutes after the gas leak was reported "I've got to turn off all my compressors," Davis said. "They've turned the power off, and when it comes back on, it can damage the compressors if they are still running." The owners of the Log Cabin, Harry and Nakos (Nick) Kovanis could not be reached for comment prior to press time. County. "This would be the first county-owned facility of its kind in the state," said Nancy Riley, manager of the the Washtenaw County CCAB.

Since 1988, when the Michigan Legislature passed the Communfr. ty Corrections Act to ease prisof) and local jail overcrowding, coun ties have been allowed to develop and operate local corrections programs for nonviolent offenders. Both Washtenaw and Livingston counties maintain corrections boards, generally consisting of representatives from the sheriffs department, district and circuit courts, the board of commissioners, private citizens and several Continued on naffe 4 a for arena Photo by HAL GOULB efforts to resolve the dispute. cross the picked line, which meant they wouldn't deliver concrete the site.But now that the picketers are gone, the concrete is rolling back In. We're back on track, Schaffer said.

He wants to have the ice rinks open in October. Picketers protest use of non-union workers By Maureen Patzer STAFF WRITER Prompted by overcrowded jail conditions, Livingston County, officials are moving forward with a proposal that would allow courts to substitute public service work, training and substance abuse programs for jail time. Preliminary plans call for the Washtenaw County Community Corrections Advisory Board to administer the programs in partnership with the Livingston Coun-ty CCAB. Included in the package is the possible construction of a minimum security 60-bed residential probation center located in Washtenaw County, one that would also be used by Livingston Protestors and developers made because of his exceptional credit. The biggest hurdle for the Schaffer caused by the picket ended up being the supply of concrete from Brighton Block Concrete.

He said drivers from Brighton Block are members of the Teamsters Union and therefore refused to 1 rv i -mmfr Photo by ALAN WARD BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP and cooled the dispute. Edward Shepler, director at MRCC, said he has entered into negotiations with Schaffer. He said picketers have also been called off. Ironically, there were union workers at the site. Although not carpenters, there were about 10 union Ironworkers hired by Schaffer to put up the iron framing and help Install the concrete panels.

When the pickets broke out, Shaffer said, the Ironworkers agreed to honor the picket line for a couple days. He said the ironworkers were scheduled to be back to work on Friday. He said workers from his own carpentry company, Progressive Carpentry, were helping to install concrete panels at the site. Although his employees are nonunion, he said he pays them every week and they have never missed a payday for 10 years. Schaffer said it's possible he would have hired some union carpenters to work on the project By Jim Totten STAFF WRITER The picketers are gone from the old Lakes Drive-In site, and work is moving ahead at the site of what will be Livingston County's second indoor ice arena.

But work slowed down for a day last week after members of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters (MRCC) union protested along Grand River Avenue in Brighton Township in front of the proposed Ice rink on Wednesday. The picketers stood outside the construction of the proposed Kensington Valley Ice House, a dual ice rink going up at the former Lakes Drive-In site. Edwin Nyhus, organizer of the picket and member of the MRCC, said they held the protest because non-union workers were being paid below the standard wage of the area and weren't getting bene fits. Yet Nyhus said it "looks like we're getting it (the issue) he said. Talks between the the carpenters union and the builderdeveloper, Mark Schaffer, have started when it reached a stage where more carpentry work was needed.

And he would have been willing to talk with the union about this, he said. But Schaffer said Nyhus didn't approach him like a gentleman and a businessman, and the two ended up getting Into a argument on Monday The picketers came out on Tuesday. "A guy like Edwin (Nyhus) is what gives union a bad name." Schaffer said. Yet Schaffer said he has met with Shepler resolving this issue. He said he will likely end up hiring one or two union carpenters to help with the project.

Schaffer said he doesn't understand why the carpenters union would target him. He said his company Is doing the project on a shoestring budget and is only breaking even. Schaffer said he put up some of his own money to get work going on the $2.6 million project and is taking a huge risk. He said he-began work on the project before the bank loan came through last week. The only reason he was able to do this.

Schaffer said, is t.f.jii huh.