Sumpter Township police millage on November ballot

Voters in Sumpter Township will be asked to approve a millage to fund the police department, weeks after a similar request was rejected in the August primary election.

Members of the township board of trustees unanimously approved revised ballot language at a meeting immediately following the August vote which was defeated by 57 percent of voters during that balloting. Officials agreed at the time that the language of the proposal was confusing to voters who interpreted the proposal as a hefty tax increase. The new proposal combines two previous millages which will expire and increase the dedicated public safety millage by only 2 mills.

Township trustees say that without the approval of the 5 mill levy, the police department could face a 41 percent cut to the current operating budget. The shortfall in funding the police department has been made up from the township general fund for several years. The decrease in landfill fees and the recent assessment from Wayne County for drain repairs have negatively impacted the township budget, officials said, and the public safety millage question is imperative to police service in the township. 

Police Chie/Public Safety Director Eric Luke has said the department can't cut expenses to compensate for a loss of the magnitude of the two expiring millages. Luke said the combined millage proposal would cost the average township homeowner an additional $250 a year for the 24-hour, 7-day a week protection the department provides. Department funding, he explained, relies on millage money because about 99 percent of township property taxes go to Wayne County, something most homeowners do not realize.

Ballot language filed with the county shows the request is for an increase of up to 5 mills, or $5 per $1,000 of taxable value, for police operations. Luke has said he does not consider the August result as a rejection of the police. He attributed it to widespread voters' fatigue with taxes.

Sumpter officials are counting on a larger turnout at the polls in November to approve the needed funding. They estimated primary turnout at 24 to 25 percent of registered voters and said that approximately 14 percent of all registered voters sank the proposal.

Trustee Tim Rush has warned that severe cuts or a department closure would force the township to lean on outside agencies such as the Michigan State Police, which he said could mean slower emergency response. “This is crucial to our township,” Rush said.

The general election is Nov. 3.

Marching ahead

Romulus Rotary Club reveals Parade of Lights crowd favorite entries

Thousands of spectators gathered along Goddard Road last Friday to share the excitement of the annual Romulus Rotary Parade of Lights, which opened the 28th annual Romulus DDA Pumpkin Festival.

Parade favorites as selected by online voting were announced by the club members earlier this week. Taking home top honors for live music was the Romulus High School Marching Eagles. Barth Elementary School was chosen as the favorite school entry while the Romulus Flyers were chosen as the favorite non-motorized entry in the parade this year. Kingdom Life Church was honored as the favorite motorized entry, and The Haunted Funeral Home was the favorite in the commercial category. Votes were tabulated from entries on the Rotary Club website, officials said.

The weekend festival took place at Romulus Historical Park and as usual attracted large crowds of residents to the family-friendly event with events and entertainment for all ages. The Downtown Development Authority-sponsored festival takes place every year starting on the third Friday in September and features music, food, crafts and games for all ages, along with a classic car show and a craft and vendor show. Pumpkin painting, Punkin Chuckin and a Romulus Idol competition drew crowds again this year. The event also featured Punkie’s 5K, a run, walk or bike through the city.

Organizers said the festival was a huge success, even with a bit of rain, and drew large crowds during the weekend.

New township finance director is selected by Sumpter trustees  

Lisa Stanfield has been selected as the new finance director in Sumpter Township.

Members of the board of trustees approved Stanfield’s hiring during their regular meeting Sept. 8. The position had been vacant since early spring, officials said.

Stanfield will be paid an annual base salary of $90,000 along with staff benefits. She will assume her new position, according to township officials, following successful completion of the required background investigation and drug screening.

Stanfield previously served as both deputy clerk and accounting clerk in Ypsilanti Township. She was the Ypsilanti Township representative with the Washtenaw Regional Resource Management Authority in 2019 and has worked as a municipal election clerk, among her other municipal finance experience, according to officials.

Not guilty

Unique delivery vehicle is an unofficial legal police look-alike

If arresting the attention of other motorists and local residents is the goal, the delivery car sporting a wrap from the viral THOT Patrol meme network is a success.

While the exact identity or full name of the specific delivery driver using the car with a design similar to police vehicles has not been publicly released due to privacy concerns, the vehicle is used by an independent delivery driver working for services like DoorDash, UberEats or Instacart among others. Owners across the country have custom-wrapped vehicles in decals to mimic official law enforcement or border patrol vehicles, according to the internet, as a joke and attention getting device.

One of these vehicles has gained significant attention across local communities, with multiple residents spotting it making food and grocery runs throughout Canton Township, Westland, and Plymouth. The vehicle is privately owned, and the custom decal wrap operates in a specific legal gray area. Under Michigan law and local Western Wayne County ordinances, the legality of custom decal kits that mimic law enforcement hinges heavily on the intent of the driver, the wording on the decals, and the equipment attached to the vehicle.

Because the vehicle prominently displays a parody word ("THOT") rather than "POLICE," "SHERIFF," or "STATE POLICE," it generally does not meet the legal threshold for criminal impersonation on face value, according to officials. A reasonable observer would recognize it as a joke, which undermines the legal requirement of "intent to deceive."

Police departments in Canton, Westland, and Plymouth strictly enforce traffic laws but generally tolerate parody wraps as long as the driver is not actively trying to pull people over, using emergency lights, or blocking traffic. Local ordinances against public nuisances or disorderly conduct can be triggered if the driver uses the vehicle to aggressively harass pedestrians or create a safety hazard during delivery runs. To date, authorities note, there have been no complaints about any of those infractions concerning the THOT car.

The wrap is protected as a form of crude, parodied free speech under the law as it lacks real emergency gear and makes no genuine attempt to act with police authority.

While it frequently causes a stir with sightings, local police have not cited the vehicle for public disturbance or impersonation. In fact, locals online have noted that the vehicle has sometimes been driven by an older woman completing ordinary errands, further indicating it is just a highly unusual family or gig-work vehicle and not an attempt to impersonate an official police vehicle.

Canton ARToberfest festival includes Pottery Guild show and sale  

The Fourth Annual ARToberfest Family Fall Festival, a one-day artisan and vendor fair will take place from noon until 4 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 26, in Cherry Hill Village, as well as at the Arts Warehouse.

Festivalgoers can immerse themselves in art and seasonal fun throughout Cherry Hill Village, as well as at the Arts Warehouse at Cherry Hill.  Additional festivities of this family-friendly event include an artisan marketplace, live music, and food trucks.  In addition, cider, donuts, seasonal snacks, and more will also be available.

In addition to the artisan marketplace, the Cherry Hill Potters Guild will be hosting the fall exhibition and pottery sale at the Arts Warehouse, providing festivalgoers with a chance to peruse and buy one-of-a-kind creations. The Fourth Youth Art Fair featuring the work of promising student artists ages 8 to 18 will also take place during the event.

“The interest in this popular family fall festival that celebrates the arts has been remarkable,” stated Kevin Ryan, program director of the Arts Warehouse at Cherry Hill. “Each year, ARToberfest continues to evolve into an ideal fall destination. It not only offers a diverse range of creative works and merchandise for sale but also features a variety of family-friendly artistic activities that highlight the arts.”

Additional activities include a range of fall-themed activities tailored specifically for children, as well as lawn games. The 32^nd annual Canton Fine Arts Exhibition will be on display throughout October in the Gallery at Cherry Hill inside the Village Theater, as well as the Arts Warehouse at Cherry Hill Fine Art exhibition inside its facility.  Both venues showcase a broad range of artistic styles and interpretations in a variety of mediums from emerging and well-established Michigan artists.

The Arts Warehouse at Cherry Hill is located at 50755 Cherry Hill Road. This event is sponsored by Blink Eye Care, UBS, and The Village Dentist. The exhibit is free. For additional information, visit www.cantonfun.org or call (734) 394-5360.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Sumpter sets October Jam

Sumpter Township Parks and Recreation department is hosting October Jam at the Community Center Pavilion beginning at 4 p.m. Oct. 4.

A free concert featuring The Stone Blossoms is planned along with a 45-foot obstacle course with a slide; inflatable axe throwing; cornhole games; bonfires and food trucks.

The event will close with a fireworks display. The pavilion is located at 23501 Sumpter Road in the township.

 

Fire Department Open House set before trick or treating

The Canton Fire Department will host an Open House at Fire Station No. 1 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Oct. 10..Fire trucks and equipment will be on display and the Fire Safety House will be open along with other family friendly activities.

The Heritage Park Trick or Treat Story Trail located behind the fire station will be open from 1 until 4 p.m. and fire crews will be distributing treats to visitors. Registration is required for the Trick or Treat Story Trail. Visit cantonfun.org for more information and to register.

 

Shred Day in Canton

Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union will host a Shred Day event from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 17 at their branch located at 44530 Ford Road in Canton. The public can bring up to five boxes or bags of confidential documents that will be destroyed and recycled securely and efficiently. For more information, visit https://www.msgcu.org/member-appreciation-day

 

Farmers Markets are open

The Northville Farmers Market will open from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. each Thursday through Oct. 29.

The market takes place at 550 Seven Mile Road.

The Canton Farmers Market is open Sundays, offering weekly access to fresh food, local goods and family-friendly activities at Preservation Park. Located at 500 N. Ridge Road, the market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on most Sundays through Oct. 11, rain or shine.

The Plymouth Market, located in The Gathering across from Kellogg Park is open from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Westland hosts a Farmers Market from 3 until 7 p.m. on Thursday at 1901 N. Carlson, Westland.

Local clerks reassure voters of mail-in voting rights

Prior to the Supreme Court ruling Monday, local election officials were reassuring voters enrolled in the Michigan automatic absentee ballot program that there were no changes in voting by mail procedures and their ballots were valid and would be counted.

An effort by President Donald J. Trump to limit mail in voting was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court Monday in a decision upholding multiple rulings by lower courts across the country preventing federal interference in mail-in voting procedures.

In a prepared statement, the office of the Canton Township clerk said that eligible voters on the Michigan Permanent Absentee Ballot List remain on the list and should still expect ballots to be mailed to them automatically ahead of upcoming elections. The office said those voters do not need to reapply or take any other action because of the court decision."Nothing has changed for you today," the clerk's office said in the statement.

The latest ruling of the Supreme Court seemed to contradict an earlier decision Aug. 24 to lift a lower-court injunction that had blocked parts of an executive order President Trump signed in March directing the U.S. Postal Service to restrict delivery of mail ballots to voters included on a federally compiled list. The order, which the administration says was meant to bolster election security, had been put on hold in Michigan and roughly two dozen other mostly Democratic-led states after Michigan and other state attorneys general sued to block it.

That earlier Supreme Court decision did not rule on whether the executive order itself was lawful, and the latest decision Monday was considered a victory for voting rights groups, who strongly opposed interference at the federal level in elections which are run by the states, a system detailed in the U.S. Constitution.

Last week, another lower court ruled Trump’s attempts to interfere with mail-in voting were illegal and froze any new procedures at the U.S. Postal Service regarding delivery of mail-in ballots. Trump’s appeal of that decision prompted the Monday ruling from the Supreme Court which rejected his legal arguments.

Canton election officials said they would administer elections under existing Michigan and federal law and procedures and would notify voters directly if anything changes in how they register or cast ballots. The office urged voters to continue making plans as usual and to direct questions about registration or ballot status to local election officials rather than other sources.

The practical effect of the ruling on voters has been limited, and clerk's offices in nearby Wayne County communities report no changes to local absentee voting procedures because of the decision.

In Plymouth, Inkster, Romulus, Wayne and Westland, as in Canton, voters who are already enrolled in the Michigan Permanent Absentee Ballot List continue to have ballots mailed to them automatically for each election under the statewide list, which is maintained under state election law rather than by individual municipalities.

One change unrelated to the Supreme Court case is under way in the city of Plymouth. City election officials say that beginning in 2026, Plymouth will stop automatically mailing absentee ballot applications to voters who are on a separate, secondary list — the Permanent Absent Voter Application List — meaning those voters will need to request and return an application on their own to receive a ballot. The change does not affect voters who are on the Permanent Ballot List itself; those voters will continue to receive ballots automatically, according to city officials.

Michigan is among the states that sued to block the executive order and voting rights advocates say they expect further court challenges and attempts to affect voting before the November midterm elections.

Voters with questions about their registration, absentee ballot status or upcoming elections are encouraged to contact their local city or township clerk's office directly.

Breaking ground

Ceremony celebrates start of new Romulus public safety building

Romulus officials, first responders and community members met in a vacant field near Wick and Vining roads last Friday to commemorate the past and celebrate the future of public safety.

The event, specifically scheduled on Sept. 11, was a groundbreaking ceremony for the new public safety headquarters in the city. The date, officials noted, was timed to remember the heroic work of first responders during 9-11 and mark the long-awaited construction of the new police and fire headquarters in the community.
Before city officials placed the ceremonial shovels into the ground, the crowd paused to remember the thousands who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks and honor the heroic police and fire departments who worked at the site.

The new headquarters building will be constructed without any increased tax levy on residents, explained Mayor Robert McCraight.  In June, members of the Romulus City Council approved the sale of $45 million tax-increment bonds to finance a new public‑safety headquarters, purchases of technology and emergency equipment, and agreements to support infrastructure projects. Officials said the project will modernize facilities for police and fire and that residents should not see a direct tax increase as a result.

"It's exciting," said Romulus Police Chief Robert Pfannes. "They've been trying to get this facility for the last 35 years." He added that the current police headquarters is in a former elementary school in a city neighborhood. 

"A 100-year-old school building — it doesn't meet any of the needs of a modern police station," he said.

City leaders said the new site will also improve emergency response times.

"This is much more centrally located," Pfannes said. "The area where the station used to be is basically on a side street in a neighborhood. While residents liked it, it was not a good place for response, and we were routinely stopped by trains."

Fire Chief Dave Heavener said the building will hold nearly all fire department administration along with a four-bay station for crews responding to fire and EMS calls.

Heavener acknowledged the significance of the timing of the groundbreaking and reflected on the sacrifices made by first responders in the attacks, 25 years ago.

"Three hundred forty-three firefighters died that day from FDNY," Heavener said. "The common thing following that event was 'never forget,' and I think things that we've done here today and what we continue to do prove we're committed to not forgetting."

McCraight said the current police station no longer serves the department adequately.

"The men and women who risk their lives for this community deserve better than a repurposed 100-year-old school building," McCraight said. "They have been promised a better facility for nearly 50 years, and my administration intends to honor that commitment."

Officials said they hope to have the new headquarters operational in 2028.

Boyfriend charged with first-degree murder in shooting of teen

The 20-year-old boyfriend of a woman shot and killed last week in Westland is facing first-degree murder charges.

Daniel Jarrett Dean, 20, was arraigned last week in 18^th District Court by video before Judge Michael McNamara who set his bond at $1 million.

He is also facing one criminal count of felony firearm violations

The Wayne County Prosecutors office filed the charges following the Sept. 6 shooting death of Monica Rose Rokita, 18, who was living with the suspect in an apartment at The Landings complex near Hunter and Central City Parkway.

According to police reports officers were called to the apartment at about 6 p.m. last Sunday in response to a report of a shooting.

Officers found Rokita in the kitchen/living area of the apartment suffering gunshot wounds to her face, arm, chest and stomach. She was pronounced dead by Westland Fire Department medics at the scene, police said.

The prosecutor's office alleges that Dean fired a rifle multiple times, fatally wounding the woman, before fleeing the scene. 

Westland police arrested the suspect in the area shortly afterward. 

"This was overkill. Words cannot even begin to adequately express the utter gruesomeness of this crime. The defendant that we are alleging was responsible for this domestic violence carnage will be aggressively prosecuted and brought to justice," Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a prepared statement announcing the criminal charges.

Annual Romulus Pumpkin Festival begins tomorrow

Tomorrow evening the 28th Annual Romulus Pumpkin Festival will open with the traditional Rotary Club sponsored Parade of Lights.

The event continues throughout the weekend with music, food, contests, and family entertainment

The festival set for Sept. 18, 19 and 20 will take place at Romulus Historical Park, where thousands of visitors are expected to enjoy the special community salute to the fall season.

The Romulus Rotary Club Parade of Lights, a nighttime procession featuring illuminated floats, bicycles and even cement trucks will begin at 8 p.m. tomorrow starting on Goddard Road (just w

est of Wayne Road) and traveling west and south toward Five Points.

Ongoing live music, entertainment, and harvest celebrations continue through the evening following the parade, organizers said.

The Saturday schedule is the festival's busiest, opening with the Punkie's 5K Run/Walk/Ride at 8 a.m., hosted by the Romulus Recreation Department, and a pancake breakfast served by the Romulus Fire Department's IAFF Local 4126. A classic car show presented by the Chevelle Club of Michigan runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., while the Romulus Historical Society offers tours of historic buildings throughout the afternoon. The day also includes a pumpkin painting tent, an inflatable fun zone, and performances at the Freight House Stage from groups including the Romulus Public Library, Greca Martial Arts and Detroit Circus performer "Crazy Craig." A pumpkin chuckin' competition is set for late afternoon, and the day wraps up with musical acts on the main stage, including a dueling pianos show.

The festival concludes Sunday with a Worship in the Park service at the Freight House Stage, followed by more vendor booths, food trucks and family activities. Highlights include a Hometown Heroes ceremony recognizing local honorees and the "Romulus Got Talent" competition in the afternoon.

Organizers say the event, which began in 1997 after the Pumpkin Festival Committee formed the previous year, has grown into one of the city's signature community celebrations. The festival committee meets monthly at Romulus City Hall and continues to recruit volunteers, vendors and sponsors.

Most activities are free, though some, including food and craft vendors, may charge for goods. Organizers cautioned residents to purchase vendor spots or make donations only through official city-managed channels, warning that they do not accept payment through Venmo or PayPal.

Additional details, including a full schedule and vendor information, are available through the city's website or the festival's Facebook and Instagram pages, @RomulusDDAPumpkinFestival.

Police warn of area scam

Canton Township police are warning residents and contractors about a fake billing scam that demands immediate payment through wire transfers.

According to police, cybercriminals have been using correspondence that appears credible because it uses specific personal facts pulled directly from the internet and public records in emails to victims. The notices appear authentic, police said, due to the amount of correct information they may include.

Authorities said it is imperative that residents and contractors know that Canton Township never demands payments through wire transfers or accepts payments through gift cards or cryptocurrency. Other local municipalities share that policy, according to officials.

Police cautioned residents who may receive one of these letters or emails, not to send any money, click any links, or reply to the sender. Anyone who may receive a notice claiming unpaid bills to the township, or elsewhere demanding immediate payment through wire transfers, call Canton Township (734-394-5100). Callers will be transferred to the correct department to verify the legitimacy of the letter or email.

Police cautioned residents to “Never use the phone number, website, or email address printed on the suspicious notice itself.”

Authorities declined to reveal the number of potential victims or residents who may have been involved in the scam and urged all residents to be cautious of suspicious notifications.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Victorian Festival this weekend

The traditional Victorian Festival in Northville will take place Sept. 18, 19 and 20 throughout the community.

The traditional parade of marchers in authentic period costumes is set for 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18.

Events include markets and booths, tours of historic Mill Race Village, carriage rides, a petting farm and live magic shows. Cornhole tournaments and live music are scheduled. More information is available from the Northville Chamber of Commerce. [1]

 

City-wide Garage Sale planned

 The free fall city-wide yard sale will take place in Romulus Sept. 24 through Sept. 27.

Registrations received by Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, will be included in a list of participating addresses published in The Eagle newspaper.

Contact the clerk's office at (734) 942-7540, clerk@romulusgov.com for more information.

Applications are available at: https://www.romulusgov.com/.../Spring-Fall-Citywide...

 

Romulus Pumpkin Festival set

The Romulus Downtown Development Authority Pumpkin Festival is set for Sept. 18, 19 and 20.

This is the 28^th year for the event walker for the 5K event are still sought. Pre-registration is open until Aug. 21.

For more information,  see page 2 or visit romulusgov.com/pumpkinfestival

 

 ARToberfest is Sept. 26

The Fourth Annual ARToberfest Family Fall Festival, a one-day artisan and vendor fair will take place from noon until 4 p.m. Sept. 26 in Cherry Hill Village, as well as at the Arts Warehouse.

Additional festivities of this free family-friendly event include an artisan marketplace, live music, and food trucks.  The Cherry Hill Potters Guild will also be hosting the fall exhibition and pottery sale at the Arts Warehouse located at located at 50755 Cherry Hill Road.

Area recovering from massive storm destruction

Communities across western Wayne County spent last weekend clearing downed trees, waiting on power restoration and tallying damage after two rounds of severe thunderstorms tore through southeast Michigan on Sept. 2 and 3, prompting tornado warnings, a confirmed tornado and widespread outages that at one point left more than 350,000 DTE customers in the dark.
Severe storms were first reported on Wednesday evening. The National Weather Service later confirmed a brief tornado touched down near Marysville in St. Clair County that night. The more serious disruption occurred Thursday afternoon, Sept. 3, when a second line of storms swept southeast across the state, prompting a tornado warning for the area.
Communities across the Canton Township, Romulus, Westland, Wayne, Sumpter Township and Plymouth corridor — all named in the Thursday tornado warning or the broader severe thunderstorm watches that followed — reported downed trees, damaged power lines and scattered structural damage, echoing the pattern seen elsewhere in the county. Local officials repeatedly urged residents to treat any dark traffic signal as a four-way stop and to steer clear of any downed lines, reporting them directly to DTE rather than assuming they were dead.
DTE Energy reported more than 110,000 customers without power by Thursday afternoon, a number that grew past 350,000 as the evening storms rolled through, with outages later climbing toward 280,000 overnight. Wayne County was among the hardest hit counties in the region. DTE said it deployed more than 3,700 crew members, including out-of-state line workers, with several hundred additional linemen brought in through the weekend to speed up restoration.

Canton, where there had been localized flooding earlier in the week, saw additional wind and tree damage from the Thursday storms. Public Works Division staff worked through the weekend clearing main roads of fallen limbs and debris before moving into subdivision streets, and asked residents with trees down on private property to coordinate removal through their homeowners' associations or private landscapers. Residents without power were directed to report outages straight to DTE, since the township only manages water and sewer service. Canton officials also encouraged residents with storm-related damage to fill out the township online damage-assessment survey, which is part of the broader effort to determine whether federal disaster assistance may eventually be warranted.
Romulus, anchored by Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, sat directly in the path of the storm cell as it moved northeast through the area. The open terrain in the community has funneled strong wind gusts through neighborhoods along the Ecorse Road, Van Born Road and Wayne Road corridors, and this round of storms was no exception, with crews responding to downed trees and lines in the hours after the warning expired. Flights were cancelled or delayed and flooding reportedly made interstate roadways leading to the airport impassable.

Westland and the city of Wayne were both named in the expanding severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings Thursday afternoon as the storm line pushed southeast, and both saw the kind of tree damage and scattered outages reported across the rest of western Wayne County. Sumpter Township, on the southwestern edge of the county, fell within the same warnings and outage footprint, with residents there also encouraged to report damage and outages through the county storm-recovery channels.
The National Weather Service specifically listed Plymouth among the communities where trees or power lines came down Thursday. Interstate roads through the area were underwater for a brief period as the heavy rain continued. Cleanup in the city and surrounding Plymouth Township continued into the weekend as crews worked through scattered outages and debris.
Residents in Canton, Romulus, Westland, Wayne, Sumpter Township and Plymouth are encouraged to report ongoing outages directly to DTE Energy at 800-477-4747 or through the utility's online outage map, and to route any storm-damage reports through their local township or city hall so the totals can be included in county and state damage assessments.
Romulus Mayor Robert McCraight urged residents to practice all safety measures. He also urged residents to check on elderly neighbors, individuals with disabilities, and anyone who may depend on electrically powered medical equipment.
“City crews, first responders, utility workers, and our public-service partners are actively assessing damage and responding to hazardous conditions. Please give emergency and cleanup crews plenty of room to work, and do not enter areas that have been closed or barricaded,” McCraight advised.

“Recovery will take time, and your patience and cooperation are greatly appreciated. Please continue monitoring official city of Romulus communications for updates. “Stay alert, stay safe, and please look out for one another,” McCraight posted on social media.

Chicken Sunday
Traditional Rotary Chicken BBQ set for Sunday during Fall Festival

Todd Raska, Doug Willett and Bari Livsey are expecting about 8,000 folks for dinner Sunday afternoon during the annual Plymouth Fall Festival.
No pressure.
The three members of the Chicken Barbeque Committee of the Plymouth Noon Rotary Club have taken on the tasks usually performed by twice their number as they prepare for one of the largest and most labor-intensive activities during the festival. Raska said they are all taking the responsibility very seriously as they prepare for the decades old traditional barbecue in the community.

The Fall Festival Chicken Barbeque is one of the largest fundraisers the Rotary Club hosts each year, and the funds raised by the more than 700 volunteers who help prepare the dinners will be used to fund scholarships for local students, educational efforts, community projects, beautification efforts and even some world-wide efforts.
“Everything we do, the end is charity and donation,” Raska said. He added that one of the efforts he is especially proud of is donations to the Cass Homeless Shelter in Detroit. “We donate any leftover chicken dinners to them,” Raska said. “These people feed 450 meals a day, three times a day. The food cost at the shelter is about $14,000 a week to help people who are really in need,” Raska said.
He added that every year, the barbeque committee tries to ensure that there are meals left over to donate to various charities and shelters. The Cass group, he said, is one that does a great deal of good.
“When we donate a chicken dinner to them, they get five meals from that food. They make chicken soup, take the corn from the cob and use it in various soups. One of our chicken dinners goes a long way,” he said

“Last year was quite an experience,” Raska said about his work last year on the Rotary Barbeque Committee. There are usually six committee members but circumstances this year doubled the number of tasks for the volunteers while reducing the group by half.
Raska agreed it is a huge task but since the group has been hosting the dinners for nearly seven decades, there are procedures and longstanding methods in place to ensure the event is successful. It remains however, he said, a tremendous challenge to ensure all the details and efforts that take place behind the scene are accomplished as needed and on time.
“It does take some time to coordinate the volunteers and people volunteering, ensuring the borrowed equipment is in place and supplies ordered.”

Previous Barbeque Chairman Eric Joy “left some big shoes to fill,” Raska concluded.
The famous chicken dinners are available beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday and will be served at The Gathering, across from Kellogg Park where tables will be installed. There is drive through pick-up service available at West Middle School at Sheldon and Ann Arbor Trail.

The dinners are priced at $17 presale and $20 if purchased on the day of the barbeque.

Roundabout planned at Palmer and Sheldon intersection

Roundabout next year, motorists attempting to navigate the intersection of Palmer and Sheldon roads in Canton Township will experience a new traffic control installation.

The four-way stop at the intersection will be replaced with a $2.5 million roundabout, similar to those recently constructed in Northville. The intersection has been called one of the most congested in the area by traffic officials prompting the decision to construct the roundabout which will improve safety and efficiency at the site, according to officials.

The new traffic flow system will be funded by a grant, according to Canton Township Engineering Services Manager Charles Larocque. He said the decision to install the roundabout was prompted by current traffic volumes, travel patterns and future use of the two roadways involved. He said an extensive traffic study was completed prior to application for grant funding.
Larocque said roundabout intersections eliminate T-bone collisions, left-turn conflicts and head-on collisions. He said accidents in roundabouts are usually limited to collisions when one vehicle fails to yield to another resulting in a side-swipe incident. Those he said are usually at about 15 mph, a much lower speed and less potentially damaging outcome.

Construction at the site is expected to begin next spring and conclude prior to the beginning of the 2027 school year. Bidding on the project will begin early next year, officials said.

Romulus Fire Department celebrates promotion, new marshal

The Romulus Fire Department is celebrating two significant milestones, promoting a longtime lieutenant to the rank of captain and formally welcoming a newly sworn-in fire marshal to the ranks.

Neal Allgood has been promoted from lieutenant to captain, department leaders said, citing Allgood’s sustained leadership, dedication, and service on the fire line. In his new role, Allgood will take on expanded responsibility for leading crews and overseeing operations, continuing a career built on hands-on emergency response experience.

"Captain Allgood has continually demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and unwavering service on the line," the department said in the prepared statement. "We are excited to see him step into this new role and continue to lead our crews with excellence."

The promotion adds to the department command structure at a time when the agency has been working to maintain staffing levels and strengthen leadership ranks. The Romulus Fire Department currently operates with roughly two dozen career firefighters, supplemented by part-time and paid-on-call personnel, working out of two stations — Fire Headquarters on Eureka Road and Fire Station 2 on Middlebelt Road. Firefighters are represented by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 4126.

The department also officially welcomed Dan Wright as the new city fire marshal. Wright was recently hired and sworn in, taking on responsibility for fire prevention, code enforcement, and fire-safety education throughout the city.

"His expertise and commitment to fire safety, code enforcement, and prevention will be an incredible asset to the department and the citizens we serve," department officials said.

The fire marshal's office plays a central role in inspecting commercial and residential properties for code compliance, investigating fire causes, and educating residents and businesses on prevention — duties that carry added weight in Romulus given the unique city geography. The community covers about 36 square miles, roughly a third of which is occupied by Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, adding a layer of complexity to fire prevention and code enforcement work not found in many neighboring municipalities.

The Romulus Fire Department traces its origins back more than 80 years. It was formally organized in 1940 after a fire destroyed the Romulus Gray Iron Foundry, prompting township leaders under Elmer Johnson to recruit a dozen men to serve under the first fire chief, Joe Crova. The department's first fire truck, a Ford, was purchased in 1941 and initially housed at the local Grange Hall before moving to a garage on Goddard Road in 1943.

Since those early days, the department has grown substantially, now responding to more than 5,000 calls for service each year. It provides all-hazards emergency response along with Advanced Life Support (ALS) emergency medical services, operating multiple state-licensed ALS ambulances. The department is also an active participant in the Western Wayne County Mutual Aid Association, allowing it to share resources with neighboring agencies during larger incidents.

Over the decades, the department has adapted to changing demands, including a 2012 upgrade to the state's 800 MHz communications system and the pursuit of federal FEMA grant funding in recent years to help maintain front-line firefighter staffing.

With Allgood stepping into a broadened leadership role and Wright bringing new expertise to fire prevention efforts, department officials say both additions reflect the agency's ongoing commitment to serving the Romulus community safely and effectively.

"Please join us in congratulating Captain Allgood on his promotion and giving a warm welcome to Fire Marshal Wright," department officials said. "Thank you both for your dedication to keeping our city safe."

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

City-wide Garage Sale planned

The free fall city-wide yard sale will take place in Romulus Sept. 24 through Sept. 27. Registrations received by Friday, Sept. 18, will be included in a list of participating addresses published in The Eagle newspaper. Contact the clerk's office at (734) 942-7540, clerk@romulusgov.com for more information. Applications are available at: https://www.romulusgov.com/.../Spring-Fall-Citywide...

Firefighters broil chicken

The Sumpter Township Fire Department and MAFF 343 will host the annual Chicken Broil from noon until 5 p.m. Sept. 13. This is the return of the event since it was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.
Dinners, priced at $15, include a half, chicken, corn on the cob, Cole slaw, roll and beverage.
The dinners will be served at the Fire Station, 20550 Sumpter Road in Belleville.
 
ARToberfest is Sept. 26

The Fourth Annual ARToberfest Family Fall Festival, a one-day artisan and vendor fair will take place from noon until 4 p.m. Sept. 26 in Cherry Hill Village, as well as at the Arts Warehouse.
Additional festivities of this  free family-friendly event include an artisan marketplace, live music, and food trucks.  The Cherry Hill Potters Guild will also be hosting the fall exhibition and pottery sale at the Arts Warehouse located at located at 50755 Cherry Hill Road.

Farmers Markets are open

The Northville Farmers Market will open from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. each Thursday through Oct. 29.
The market takes place at 550 Seven Mile Road.
The Canton Farmers Market is open Sundays, offering weekly access to fresh food, local goods and family-friendly activities at Preservation Park. Located at 500 N. Ridge Road, the market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on most Sundays through Oct. 11, rain or shine.
The Plymouth Market, located in The Gathering across from Kellogg Park is open from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Westland hosts a Farmers Market from 3 until 7 p.m. on Thursday at 1901 N. Carlson, Westland.

Sumpter Township police thwart armed home invasion

Police have arrested all four suspects in an armed home invasion that occurred Thursday night in the 44000 block of Wear Road, according to the Sumpter Township Police Department.

Sumpter Township Police officials said a call was received at about 10:24 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27 reporting a home invasion in progress. The caller was not a resident of the home but a friend of the victims who was on a FaceTime video call with them when she witnessed them being ambushed and assaulted, police said. The call was disconnected during the attack.

Investigators said four armed men — carrying rifles and handguns — had staked out the residence before stealthily approaching the home and confronting the people inside. Officers said one resident was pistol-whipped and handcuffed while the suspects demanded money, firearms and other valuables.

The assault was interrupted when officers arrived at the scene, police said, and the four suspects fled into a heavily wooded area nearby.

Multiple agencies joined the search using drones, K-9 units and a Michigan State Police aviation unit. Three suspects were taken into custody during the initial search, police said.

The fourth suspect remained at large for about 11 hours. Police said a resident called in a tip after seeing a man leave the wooded area along Wear Road and get into a waiting vehicle. Officers took the man into custody around 9:30 a.m. Friday, according to police reports.

Long-time Sumpter Township Trustee Tim Rush said police reports indicated officers were on the scene within 3 minutes of the initial report and in about 2 minutes when the call about the fourth suspect was received. Rush said he was told that none of the suspects spoke English and an interpreter had to be called from another department following the arrests. He said his information was that all four suspects were illegal immigrants.

“Our police department proved how professional and efficient these officers are,” Rush said. “This is such a safe community because of them.”

Police said the victims' dog, named Chip, went missing during the chaos of the home invasion, but was later found and returned home.

The Sumpter Township Police Department credited assisting agencies, including the Huron Township, Van Buren, Pittsfield Township, Milan and Monroe police departments, the Huron-Clinton Metropark Police, the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office, and Michigan State Police canine, aviation and emergency services units.

Anthony Carlo Marquez, 39, Einer Eloy Altamirano Barbosa, 24, and Gilbert David Machado Gonzalez, 20, all of Detroit, along with Jesus D. Blanco Amador, 34, of Cornelia, Georgia, have been arraigned on charges of one count of armed robbery, one count of first-degree home invasion, one count of felonious assault, two counts of unlawful imprisonment and four counts of felony firearm - pneumatic gun.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Sumpter Township Police Department Detective Bureau at (734) 461-4833, ext. 4.