Oakland County

NEWS IN A MINUTE: Oakland County
May 19, 2006
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COUNTY-WIDE: Troy official to take over Oakland Co. department

Doug Smith, director of Troy's Real Estate & Development Department, will become the new director of the Oakland County Department of Economic Development and Community Affairs.
He will replace Hayes Jones, who resigned the seat to run for the state House of Representatives.

Smith has worked in Troy for eight years. His new job, which begins June 12, will put him in charge of 83 employees and a $30-million budget.

Smith, 55, of Bloomfield Hills served as an aide to former Michigan Gov. William G. Milliken on education, finance and taxation issues in the early 1970s. He also was director of policy and legislation for the Michigan Department of Commerce, 1981-84, and vice president and chief administrative officer for Walsh College, 1991-98.

HUNTINGTON WOODS: Permits still available for block sale this weekend

Homeowners throughout Huntington Woods will be selling their wares this weekend. They'll have small and large items -- from CDs to clothes to jewelry.

The sale is from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday.

Last year, more than 250 households participated, making it one huge block sale.
There is still time to get a permit to participate. The cost is $3 and includes three garage sale signs. Homemade signs are not allowed.

For details, call the recreation center at 248-541-3030 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

FARMINGTON HILLS: Attorney charged with retail fraud from Kohl's

A 37-year old attorney who police said stole thousands of dollars in merchandise from Kohl's department stores and later fenced the stuff on eBay was arraigned Thursday in 47th District Court in Farmington Hills on a charge of first-degree retail fraud, a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and $10,000.

Lisa Marie Londer of Oxford used the Internet name 1legaleagle1, police said.

Police said she was caught on videotape taking merchandise from a Kohl's in Farmington Hills on May 9.

She was freed Thursday on $5,000 bond and is due back in court before Judge Marla Parker at 1:30 p.m. Monday.


BERKLEY: Free ID kits on children to be made this weekend

To help law enforcement authorities find missing children, the Masons of Michigan are sponsoring a program this weekend to create a free identification kit for parents.
The kit includes a color photo, a set of fingerprints, a videotaped interview, dental impressions and a saliva swab that includes the child's DNA.

All the information -- except for the swab -- is recorded electronically on a CD.

The Masons do not keep the identifying information.

The kit takes about 15 to 20 minutes and goes home with parents so that they will have a way to identify their children if they are ever missing.

The kits will be made from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Berkley Community Center, 2300 Robina, behind Anderson Middle School.

For more information, call Jerry Steinard at 248-557-2978 anytime.

Compiled by Kathleen Gray, Frank Witsil and Free Press staff