Oakland County Woman Dies Due to West Nile Virus (Oakland County Health Dept. Press Release, Sept. 25, 2015) Pontiac, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed an 81-year-old woman from Oakland County died due to complications from West Nile Virus (WNV), the Oakland County Health Division announced today. She is…
Closing Blinds Can Save Birds’ Lives (Detroit Zoo Press Release, Sept. 22, 2015) The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) is asking the community to take preventative measures to protect wild birds from window strikes, which occur when a bird collides with a window and dies. According to the Humane Society of the United States, an estimated…
Lives Lost on the Road on the Rise (Guest View by Carmine Palombo, SEMCOG, Sept. 22, 2015) As I was driving home from a meeting recently I noticed the message on the freeway that said 613 people had lost their lives in traffic crashes in Michigan so far this year. On Friday, there was the…
SEMCOG releases statistics on 2014 vehicle-deer crashes in Southeast Michigan (SEMCOG Press Release, Sept. 21, 2015) There were 5,557 vehicle-deer crashes in Southeast Michigan in 2014, according to figures released by SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, based on crash data received from the Michigan Department of State Police, Criminal Justice Information Center. “For…
Drug Testing Company Errors Impacting Oakland County Cases (Crystal A. Proxmire, Sept. 19, 2015) Hundreds of people could be impacted by reporting errors by the company hired to do drug testing of people in the Oakland County Court system according to a report by the Detroit Free Press. Details are still emerging, but journalist John…
For First Time Ever, Every Retailer Passed Tobacco Sales Tests (Oakland County Health Division Press Release, Aug. 24, 2015) For the first time ever, Oakland County retailers did not sell any tobacco products to youth during recent undercover inspections, County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced today. The Oakland County Health Division conducted the annual inspection…
Townhall Explores Possibility of Redistricting Reform (Crystal A. Proxmire, Aug. 15, 2015) “When I was in junior high, there was this famous editorial cartoon in the textbook about Gerrymandering, and it had this oddly chopped up district that was shaped like a monster or a dragon. It was like this big joke that back in…
Sierra Club Offers Solar Partnership for Homeowners (Art Myatt, Sierra Club of Michigan, Aug. 11, 2015) Have you been thinking about putting solar panels on your home? Are you feeling the pressure to act soon, because the 30% federal tax credit is expiring at the end of 2016? Are you a little lost about where…
Happy’s Pizza Founder and Co-Conspirators Sentenced to Prison (FBI Press Release, July 20, 2015) A Detroit-area businessman and other co-conspirators were sentenced to prison this week for income and employment tax fraud in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice…
Patterson Presents County Budget Recommendations, Emphasis on Buildings and Workforce (Crystal A. Proxmire, July 15, 2015) With an emphasis on buildings and on building up the workforce, County Executive L. Brooks Patterson presented a three year budget that he hopes will be adopted by the Commission. The budget also includes a reduction in property taxes.…
Hazel Park Couple’s Big Win Means Marriage Equality Across the Country (C. Proxmire, June 26, 2015) The United States Supreme Court has ruled in favor of marriage equality. In a 5-4 decision it said same sex couples have a fundamental right to marry. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion “No union is more…
Oakland County 115 Publisher Featured in Detroit News Column (compiled, June 22, 2015) For those who may have missed page 3A of The Detroit News, we’re pleased to share that columnist Laura Berman did a fantastic write up about Oakland County 115 News Editor & Publisher Crystal A. Proxmire. “She practices her profession by walking…
Keeping Safe on Carnival Rides (LARA, June 19, 2015) With the first official day of summer approaching, the more than 40 million of us who will travel Michigan to enjoy carnival and amusement rides this season are urged to make safety a priority, especially with the kids. “Carnival rides in Michigan are held to the…
Detroit’s Data Guru Explores: Top Baby Names for 2014 (Kurt Metzger, orig. detroitsdataguru, June 1, 2015) NOTE: Click on tables to expand. Shakespeare’s Juliet stated…”What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Marshall McLuhan said, a little less poetically, “The name of a man is…
$2 Million in Pothole Repairs Coming Thanks to County Commission Vote (Adapted from press release, May 25, 2015) Members of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to allocate a one-time appropriation of $2 million in Fiscal Year 2015 to assist the Road Commission of Oakland County (RCOC) in purchasing road equipment. This activity…
Memorial Day Parades and Events Through Oakland County (C. Proxmire, May 20, 2015) As Memorial Day approaches people through SE Michigan prepare to honor those who have done military service. Check out the parades and events in the area: Thursday, May 21, 2015 Hazel Park Memorial Festival https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/05/19/memorial-day-festival-and-events-in-hazel-park-may-21-25/ Friday, May 22, 2015 Southfield City Hall…
Stories, Resources and Sadness Shared at Suicide Prevention Forum (Crystal A. Proxmire, May 10, 2015) People cried. And quite possibly that was the point. Opening up about suicide – whether you have lost a loved one, someone who survived an attempt, someone who has thought about it, a teacher, a counselor, a healthcare provider or…
WONder Woman Kelly Garrett Honored by Women Officials Network (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, May 5, 2015) “What would I say to Kelly Garrett 20, 20 and 5 years ago? The one thing I would tell her is to keep your integrity. Never compromise. Make sure that you have such good character that if someone ever…
Sales Tax, Mixed Drinks, City Charter, Schools and More in May 5 Elections (Crystal A. Proxmire, May 3, 2015) Tuesday, May 5, 2015 is Election Day and there is a state-wide proposal on the ballot as well as a handful of local initiatives. STATEWIDE SALES TAX INCREASE State-wide voters will be asked to increase the…
Springtime Means Stop Pruning Oak Trees (compiled, May 2, 2015) The experts at MSU Extension are advising people to avoid the spread of Oak Wilt by not pruning their Oak trees now that it is springtime. According to Bert Cregg, Michigan State University Extension, Departments of Horticulture and Forest: “Oak wilt is an aggressive disease…