Michigan, Pontiac | featured news

There are about 438,000 dogs in Oakland County but only 65,000, or 15 percent, are licensed. For many residents, they are completely unaware that it's state law for dogs, four months of age and older, to have a license and be vaccinated for rabies. That's a problem and it's illegal. That's why each year, from June through September, animal census workers from the Oakland County Animal Shelter Pet Adoption Center go door-to-door, across the county, stopping at homes where signs of dogs have been exhibited but records indicate there is no license for that home.

West Bloomfield fire officials say fireworks disposed in a garbage can caused a house fire late Wednesday, July 4.No one was injured, but the house in the area of Greer and Hiller roads sustained significant damage and is uninhabitable, said Fire Marshall Byron Turnquist of the West Bloomfield Fire Department.

BERKLEY (AP) - A suburban Detroit library has decried an unidentified censor who concealed DVDs of movies from the racy "Fifty Shade" series.The Berkley library is now openly displaying the R-rated movies, accompanied by a sign that says hiding movies "is not how libraries work."Librarian Lauren Arnsman tells the Detroit Free Press that the three movies had mysteriously disappeared since last year, forcing the library to spend more than $100 to replace them.

Several hundred people were without electricity Thursday morning as power outages in Southfield and Oak Park due to equipment problems. According to the DTE Energy Outage Map, the power should be restored this afternoon to the areas impacted.

PONTIACCreative Arts Center Confetti CampRegistration is open for the Pontiac Creative Arts Center 36th annual Confetti Camp. The art camp runs Monday, July 9 through Friday, July 13 for kids ages 6 to 11. Each day from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., campers will make new friends and learn new things by participating in different art activities including drawing, painting, sculpture and more.

Birmingham resident Jerry McKeon was recently appointed as the President of the Department of Michigan Marine Corps League Foundation by Marine Corps League Department Commandant Dave Masunas.As a once active duty Marine, McKeon is a member of the Marine Corps League, an organization of active or honorably discharged Marines and Fleet Marine Force Corpsman and Chaplains.

Comcast recently announced that it has awarded $91,000 in scholarships for the 2018-19 school year to 85 Michigan students as part of its annual Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program. The program, funded by the Comcast Foundation, is a one-time, $1,000 scholarship awarded to the best and brightest high school seniors for their community service, academic performance and leadership skills.

Farmington Hills Police Officer Brian Harbaugh was named the Farmington/Farmington Hills Optimist Club Police Officer of the Year. Harbaugh was selected by his peers for this award as a result of his exceptional work last year. Harbaugh was also awarded a Lifesaving Award for rescuing a 78-year-old woman from a vehicle fire, and he received a Unit Citation for assistance in disarming a suicidal person armed with a knife and a second Unit Citation for his assistance during a sexual assault investigation leading to the arrest of the offender.

Therapeutic horseback riding nonprofit Offering Alternative Therapy with Smiles (O.A.T.S.) honored local members of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, Madison Heights Police Department, Starr EMS and Groveland, Brandon, Waterford, and Commerce Township Fire Departments. "The purpose of the day was to thank our local heroes and their families for all they do to keep us safe," said O.

More than 600 employees from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, headquartered in Farmington Hills, took part in the Week of Caring at the end of June.The Week of Caring is five days dedicated to 25 community service projects across metro Detroit, benefitting 11 local nonprofit organizations.