Livingston County Daily Press and Argus from Howell, Michigan • 4

1 PRESS ARGUS-Friday, April 22, 2011 Schools stare into bleak future SENATE PANEL VOTES TO CUT K-12, UNIVERSITIES FUNDING LANSING (AP) A Michigan tee has voted to cut state aid to by an additional $170 per student year starting Oct. Michigan's public universities percent of their state aid under a advancing in the state Senate. The Republican-led Senate Committee approved the K-12 party lines Thursday. The reduction addition to a $170-per-student cut books for the current fiscal year continued into next year. That reduction $340 per student.

The proposal advances to the The cuts recommended by the aren't as deep as the additional cut recommended by Republican Snyder. The move would make the said of identified job gains. "There's no guarantee that it is going to work but what I can tell you today is that businesses are not coming to Michigan. We're not even in the top 50," he added. Rogers noted that Snyder's budget plan also calls for the elimination of most business-tax incentives, a tool used often under former Gov.

Jennifer Granholm. When asked in a March Daily Press Argus interview for examples of business-tax cuts creating jobs, Snyder said: "I don't think you have to look at other states. You can look at Michigan." When pressed for specific examples, Snyder said, "I'd be happy to try to follow up with you on that." Snyder spokesman Ryan Kazmirzack said the governor is trying to avoid tying job-creation figures to tax breaks or incentives something Granholm often did and is, instead, focused on creating an environment where small businesses can grow. Bacon said the bigger issue is school funding in the 2012-2013 school year and beyond. He said schools are already strapped with stagnant revenues, Man sentenced for driving drunk A Howell man with nine prior drunken driving convictions was sentenced Thursday for driving drunk at his family business where he struck two parked vehicles and a building.

Robert Charles Pardiac, 46, was ordered to spend 30 days in the Livingston County Jail for thirdoffense operating a vehicle while intoxicated and driving on a suspended or revoked driver's license. He was given credit for 30 days already served. Circuit Judge Michael P. Hatty also ordered Pardiac to serve two years of probation with six months on electronic monitoring. In announcing his decision, Hatty called Pardiac's behavior "stupid," but said he took into consideration Pardiac's last drunken driving conviction occurred 12 years ago.

Hatty said Pardiac, who is currently in a substance-abusetreatment program, also took a proactive approach to his sobriety. Pardiac was charged after a 911 caller reported at about 3:30 p.m. Oct. 13 that he struck two vehicles and the building at the Pardiac Shell at 6000 Pinckney Road in Marion Township. When officers arrived at the scene, Pardiac admitted that he was intoxicated, but had nothing to drink after trying to leave the property, police said.

A preliminary breath test indicated that Pardiac's blood-alcohol content was 0.19, which is more, than two times the legal limit of 0.08, police said. Assistant Prosecutor Shawn Ryan asked Hatty to give Pardiac at least two years in prison. "I'm very happy (Pardiac) is in rehab but, I'm more concerned with public safety than his rehab," she said. Defense attorney Don Neville said Pardiac used alcohol to self medicate himself as a solution to problems "without realizing alcohol was the Pardiac said substance-abuse treatment has given him the tools to deal with life's twists and turns. Attack on girlfriend nets time served Continued from page 1 The K-12 fund currently only funds K-12 education.

Businesses pay the Michigan Business Tax. Eliminating the business tax is estimated to add $1.5 billion to an existing $1.8 billion general fund deficit for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. That budget gap would be partially covered by cutting payments to public schools, a move that would cost already financially strapped Livingston County districts millions of dollars. Local educators said the impact on schools will be deep and long lasting.

There is no apparent way to "flip the switch" if lawmakers determine too much is cut from schools, while it would be unlikely proposed business-tax cuts would be reversed, said Scott Bacon, assistant superintendent of business for Consolidated Schools. Hartland Superintendent Janet Sifferman said cuts to schools and tax breaks to businesses run counter to one another, considering concerns of keeping talented workers in Michigan. Sifferman said schools can provide documentation of what proposed cuts would mean to public education, but that legislators haven't been able to provide examples of business-tax cuts creating jobs. "Where's your research? What 'state has this happened in?" she asked. "I have asked this question continually, and no one has given me an answer to that." Rogers said the Michigan Business Tax burdens small businesses, particularly those that have shown little or no profit in recent years.

The business tax includes a 0.8 percent tax on the total annual income of a business, regardless how minimal a profit is turned. He said he supports Snyder's proposed tax cuts, which he said equate to "flattening things out," but that he doesn't have examples of jobs created by cutting business taxes. "In and of itself, from what some people tell me, no," Rogers A Hamburg Township woman whom police said was choked by her boyfriend asked a Livingston County judge not to send the man to jail, but to reunite her family. The woman said the Dec. 1 domestic dispute with John William Schmitz was not what police claimed, and she asked Judge Michael P.

Hatty not to send the Obituaries, Memorials Remembrances Call 888-999-1288 or Email View Passages Online: www.livingstondaily.com NOAH A. KOKOSZKA age 22, of Brighton died April 18, 2011. Funeral Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church Monday 10:30 AM. Visitation Saturday 3-9 PM at Lynch Sons, Brighton, 810.229.2905.

HELEN MCGREGOR Wixom MI, age 90, passed away April 20. was born Sept 14, 1920 in Canada. A Farewell will be held Tues April 26, 7PM, visitation, 4-7PM at Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Lamb Chapel. JACKIE THOMASON Unexpectedly, on in Apache AZ. Formerly of Howell, MI.

Born Loving Friend of many. Preceded in death by her beloved dog Angel. Memorial to be held at a future date contact Denise or Mike Beno at 517-223-1912 for more information. MARGARET "PEG" FLOOK WHITMORE LAKE, MI Flook, Peg, Mrs John Howard Flook, Margaret Joanne Hachet, Mom. All of these people, wrapped into one tired, aged body passed away peacefully in her sleep in the home of her beloved son Tom, daughterin-law Jan, and grandkids, Steven and Brian.

She is also survived by the sons of her eldest son Dale, Aaron and Sean Flook, and daughter Anne Arroyo (Flook) and Anne's husband, Oscar. Born in 1920 in Auburn, Indiana, she graduated from Ohio Wesleyan College in journalism and went on to work for the Detroit Free Press as a reporter. There she met and married a handsome Navy Lieutenant Commander, John Howard Flook. They ultimately settled in Saline, Michigan where she worked for the Saline Reporter. When child rearing was done, they sold their home and moved to St Bees Island off the coast of McKay, Queensland, Australia.

Between fishing stranded sailors from the sea, and surviving and recovering from cyclones, they saved and nursed to health any number of kangaroo joeys, baby goats, stranded dogs, and the occasional koala or fruit bat. Mom best remembered this time for sitting up nights waiting for the sea turtle eggs to hatch. Australian Guana lizards and innumerable sea birds sat near by. As the hatchlings emerged she would run defense, shooing away the birds and cranky, hissing lizards as the baby turtles made their way to the sea. When health issues caused them to return to Michigan, her commitment to all God's creatures, great and small, led to rescue of innumerable stray cats, dogs, birds and many, many raccoons.

At her request there will be no memorial service. Cremation has taken place. Weep if you must, but do not send flowers. Instead, in her. name, make a donation to your church, synagogue, or mosque as recognition of her deep life long faith; or make a donation to a Disabled American Veterans organization in recognition of her years as a patriotic Navy wife; or to the Humane Society near you in recognition of the innumerable "babies" she saved and nurtured; or to your local hospice organization in recognition to the wonderful care and support Grace Hospice provided in her last days.

Please visit Peg's webpage at www.niefuneral homes.com to sign her guest book or leave a memory. Read Then Recycle PRESS ARGUS CLARA A. COMERFORD HOWELL, I MI Senate commitschool districts for the fiscal would lose 15 proposal Appropriations funding cut along would be in already on the that would be makes the total Senate floor. Senate panel $300-per-student Gov. Rick total cut $470 per student.

Most state departments will be cut next fiscal: year as Michigan continues to struggle with budget problems. Also Thursday, the committee passed the measure regarding universities funding along party lines. The measure next goes to the Senate floor. The Senate plan would reduce state funding to universities along the same lines as proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder and the state House for the fiscal year that begins Oct.

1. Yet the Senate plan contains a key difference. It would cap the reductions at 15 percent rather than take away more state aid from universities that don't limit tuition increases to 7.1 percent or less. Republicans said they've been told universities plan to keep tuition increases for next fall declining enrollment and growing required contributions to school employees' retirement pool. The retirement rate, set by the Michigan Office of Retirement Services, is calculated against districts' employee payroll to keep the retirement pool solvent from year-to-year.

"It just looks even worse" in current school-funding proposals, Bacon said. doesn't seem to be a plan that says, got a big, onetime problem' to be dealt with, he added. Snyder has proposed an additional $300 across-the-board perstudent cut for next fiscal year in addition to a $170-per-pupil cut already on the books. State House and Senate proposals call for slight reductions in Snyder's proposed per-pupil cuts. Rogers' K-12 subcommittee approved a budget Wednesday calling for schools to be cut next year by an additional 3.9 percent a reduction that would range from $285 to $331 per student, depending on what districts now receive from the state.

The House subcommittee budget next goes to the full House Appropriations Committee for consideration. Rogers said the 3.9 percent cut would bolster equity among public school districts across Michigan by applying the same percentage cut, A Senate plan calls for an additional cut of $170 per student. Bacon said the House plan provides little relief to schools. The $285 low per-student cut is just $15 less than Snyder's proposed $300 cut, and would still be added to the $170-per-pupil cut already in place, Bacon noted. Bacon said he gets the impression things are "pretty well laid out from above" in Snyder's office down to the Legislature.

"The problem is the enormity of what money we're going to be without in this coming year. Making changes of $5 or $10 or something like that isn't going to make much of a difference," he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Daily Press Argus reporter Christopher Behnan at (517) 548-7108 or at gannett.com. Woman nabbed for theft at store A 20-year-old Pinckney woman is facing possible charges for allegedly trying to steal jewPOLICE elry and lingerie from a Green Oak Township business.

BLOTTER Store security officers at Kohl's department store at 6550 Old U.S. 23 told police that the The witness called 911 to woman was observed at around report that the driver was oper3 p.m. taking several pieces of ating "erratically." police said. jewelry and lingerie items, and Police stopped the suspect removing the merchandise tags driver on Marshall Road, south before concealing the items on of Silver Lake Road. her person, according to a The Whitmore Lake man Green Oak Township Police failed sobriety tests and a Department report.

breath test indicated his bloodThe woman then left the alcohol level at 0.28. which is store without paying for the more than three times the merchandise, police said. state's legal limit at 0.08. The woman did, however, Officers are seeking charges return to the store when stopped. through the prosecutor's office Police said about $150 in for operating a vehicle while merchandise was involved in intoxicated with a high bloodthe theft.

alcohol content and failure to Police are seeking charges of report damage to road fixtures. retail fraud against the woman, who was not identified. Package reported Man faces charge stolen from home on drunken driving A Green Oak 44-year-old Township woman reported to A 27-year-old Whitmore township police that someone Lake man is facing possible stole a package delivered to her charges under the state's new home. drunk" law. The woman, who lives in the A witness reported seeing the area of Nine Mile and East Whitmore Lake man driving a Shore roads, said she expected 2010 Honda fail to stop at the the delivery to be made beexit as he went northbound tween April 13 and Tuesday.

U.S. 23 and turned east on Sil- When she did not receive it ver Lake Road, according to a during that time frame, the Green Oak Township Police woman said she checked the Department report. online status and learned it had The Honda struck a Michi- been delivered April 13, but gan Department of Transporta- was missing. tion fence and continued east- The woman said the item, bound on Silver Lake Road, which was not identified, was police said. valued at $630.

We Deliver to Michigan all Brew Cemeteries Monument Co. Showroom Since 1895 216 W. Grand River Howell, MI 48843 517-552-1595 Toll Free 888-362-2920 Hours: Monday Saturday 9am-Spm, evening appointments available Lowest Cost Highest Quality Custom Designs No Middle Man Serving Michigan Families Since 1895 www.brewer-bouchey.com Her Age 86, died April 20, 2011 at her home. Clara was born August 12, 1924 in Gaylord, MI the daughter of the late Joseph and Balbena (Blanzy) Mamroctski. On July 12, 1947 in Detroit, MI she married Henry Comerford.

He preceded her in death. Clara spent her life as a wife and mother. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Pinckney. Her Beloved mother of Christopher Comerford of Merritt Island, FL and Cynthia Dean of Howell, loving grandmother of five and great grandmother of two, and dear sister of Eleanor and Hattie Mamroctski of Dearborn, Shirley Callahan and Margaret Bilbrey of Taylor, Marion Soltis of White Lake, and Patricia Starzec and Floyd Mamroctski of Dearborn.

Her The family will gather with friends on Friday from 4 to 8 PM with Rosary at 7 PM at Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Hamburg Chapel. A Healing Farewell will take place at Borek Jennings on Saturday April 23, 2011. Gather from 9:00 AM time of Service at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in Our Lady of Hope Cemetery in Brownstown Twp. Memorial contributions are suggested to American Heart Association.

Please leave a Message of Comfort to Clara's family by calling 877-231- 7900 or visit her guestbook at www.borekjennings.com. BLANCHE ETHEL (STEVENS) ROTH Court DOCKET 38-year-old defendant to jail. Police said Schmitz choked his girlfriend and held a knife to her throat while threatening to kill her during a domestic dispute at their home on Portage Lake Avenue. The woman said it was simply a father "grieving the death of our daughter," and that he wanted to hurt himself, not her. Schmitz was initially charged with assault with intent to murder, felonious assault and interfering with electronic communications for allegedly stopping her from calling 911 for help.

He pleaded guilty, however, to the last charge and an added charge of aggravated domestic violence. Prosecutors dismissed the initial assault charges. On Thursday. Hatty sentenced Schmitz to 15 days in the county jail with credit for 15 days already served. The judge also ordered Schmitz to spend two on probation and 120 days on tether.

Carjacking case heading to trial A 29-year-old Fenton man will head to trial in Livingston County Circuit Court after waiving a preliminary exam Thursday. Joshua Paul Forsythe is charged with carjacking, malicious destruction of property and two counts of assault and battery for allegedly assaulting a woman: and trying to steal her car after a night at a Livingston County bar, according to District Court records. Witnesses said Forsythe "kept forcing himself on" women inside the Old Hickory Bar on Bennett Lake Road in Deerfield Township at around 1:45 a.m. Nov. 19, and at one point, he grabbed the vietim's hair and tried to kiss her while she was dancing.

The woman was able to thwart his advance, police said. Later that evening, witnesses said, Forsythe was seen breaking the driver's window of a Chevrolet S-10 pickup before trying to climb a fence and falling down. They said Forsythe then ran toward the Flint woman's 2005 Chevrolet Impala, yanked open her door and tried to pull her from the vehicle, but she fought him off until other patrons tackled him. No new court dates were immediately known. Was born December 2nd, 1928, and passed away peacefully April 14th, 2011, following -a long illness.

Blanche was born in Painesdale. Michigan, and raised in Trimountain as the second child of Henry and Helia Stevens. She married Joseph Roth on September 3rd, 1949, while he was a student at Michigan Technological University. After being a homemaker for many years, she went on to pursue a career in the accounting department at Citizen's Insurance Company until her retirement in 1993. Blanche was a resident of Pinckney, Michigan.

She enjoyed traveling, needlework, and volunteer church work. She also enjoyed an active, outdoorsy life, including gardening, golfing and camping. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Henry and is survived by her siblings Betty (Stevens) Vukovich and Margaret (Stevens) Hayrynen, sister-in-law Carole Stevens, husband Joseph, children Michael, Nancy, Steve (and Ronda), Jim (and Kathy), and Mark, grandchildren Jennifer, Tim, Jessica (and Steve) Beltz, Dana, Brandon, and Janelle, and great-granddaughter Jaelyn, as well as a host of nieces, nephews and extended family members. A memorial gathering will be held on May 14th at the Pinckney residence. OBITUARY POLICY The first seven lines of an obituary are published free of charge.

After that, there is a fee of $3 a line. Pictures may be published for $25. for obituaries is 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday for publication in the next morning's newspaper. Obituaries received Friday or Saturday by p.m, will be published in Sunday's newspaper.

For more information, call 888-999-1288, or contact your funeral home. deadlines are subject to change, COUNTY DAILI PRESS ARGUS A GANNETT COMPANY PUBLICATION NO. USPS 316-500 ISSN 2150-5667 The Livingston County Daily Press Argus, published by Federated Publications, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gannett Co. Inc, 323 E. Grand River, Howell Michigan, established in 1843, is published daily Sunday through Friday in Livingston County, Michigan, and serves the cities of Howell and Brighton, the villages of Fowlerville and Pinckney, and 16 unincorporated townships of Livingston County.

Phone 548-2000, Area Code 517. Entered as periodical matter at the Howell, Michigan (48843) Post Office under Act of March 3, 1897. Subscription rates 50 cents per single on Sundays. only subscription $17.00 for 13 wks. inside Livingston County.

$28.00 for 13 wks. out of county inside the state of Michigan. $32.00 for 13 wks. out of state. 6-day subscription rates $34.00 for 13 wks.

inside Livingston County, $206.00 per year out of county inside the state of Michigan. $239.00 per year out of state. subscriptions also include delivery on these days in 2011: and General Manager Executive Editor Staff Reporter Norris Richard Perlberg Sports Editor Robinson Metro Editor News Malott Sports Reporter Csapo Copy Editor Smith Sports Reporter Beaupied Copy Editor Christopher Nagy Editorial Assistant Timlick Copy Editor John Mueller Retail Ad Manager Utter Multimedia Editor Ward Sales Consultant Glubzinski Photographer Gillis Benedict Sales Consultant Wheeler Staff Reporter Jim Totten Sales Consultant Magaluk Staff Reporter Behnan Sales Consultant Novak Staff Reporter Lisa Roose-Church Editor Niche Products Spiegel Staff Reporter Konkel Postmaster: Send address changes to Livingston County Daily Press Argus, 323 E. Grand River, Hovel, MI 48844 BUSINESS OFFICE CIRCULATION OFFICE DISPLAY ADVERTISING EDITORIAL OFFICE WANT ADS How to contact Net To place a classified ad: 1-888-999-1288 To report news: 1-517-548-2000, then press the number 8 For home delivery problems: 1-888-840-4809.