Videos prompt resignation of Westland police chief

Chief of Police Jeff Jedrusik

Westland Chief of Police Jeff Jedrusik resigned last week as controversial video tapes of his interactions with citizens while a patrolman were made public.

The 25-year-old videotapes show Jedrusik requesting offenders to perform particular tasks such as such as break dancing, performing a headstand or singing Yankee Doodle Dandy to avoid arrest. The videotapes were referred to the office of Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy after being investigated by Michigan State Police. Worthy declined to prosecute based on 25-year-old videotapes, according to a statement from her office. 

Deputy Chief of Police Kyle Dawley has been named as interim police chief according to Mayor Michael Londeau, who had been aware of the videotapes since February. 

Gearing up

District now offering electric vehicle classes

Gerald Lickey, CTE automotive instructor and teacher leader
at Canton High School,at left, Plymouth High School senior
Owen Moline-Freeman, Canton High School senior Liam Pfeifer
and Salem High School senior Jack Novak admire the electric vehicle.

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools is poised to take a top position in a rapidly evolving, fast-growing automotive field: electric vehicles. 

In the upcoming school year, the district will offer classes focused on electric vehicle  technology and manufacturing, becoming the first in Michigan to teach a full design-to-drive high school curriculum.

“All over Michigan and the world, we're seeing an extremely high demand for trained employees in this new automotive technology,” said Gerald Lickey, Career and Technical Education automotive instructor and teacher leader at Canton High School. “With our new EV curriculum, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools is on the cutting edge of ensuring we prepare students for careers in this important new phase of the automotive industry.”

Expert warns Sumpter Township trustees of cybercrime

David Behen

Sumpter Township officials received some strong words of warning during a recent meeting of the board of trustees.

David Behen, an executive with SenCy, a cyber security company based in Ann Arbor, was invited to speak to the board members by Deputy Supervisor/Trustee Tim Rush. Rush, the township delegate to the Conference of Western Wayne, heard Behen's presentation at a recent meeting and said he thought it was crucial to provide Sumpter officials with the information Behen presented.  

Behen told the board members that he has been deep into cyber since 2011and previously filled leadership roles in the private and public sector for more than 20 years. He spent six years as a cabinet member for Gov. Rick Snyder as the director of the Department of Technology, Management and Budget, and Chief Information Officer for the State of Michigan.

Raid reveals drugs, guns, cash in home

Following a police raid at a Romulus home earlier this year, a federal complaint against the resident has been filed in the Eastern District Court of Michigan.

During the raid, officers said they confiscated fentanyl, firearms, and brass knuckles from the home of Walter Butler, 43, who had been under surveillance for several months prior to the search of the multi-family dwelling located on Waynecourse Street in Romulus. During the months-long police surveillance, investigators allege to have witnessed multiple drug transactions involving narcotics, according to the court complaint. Butler has been charged with possession with intent to distribute and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking in the federal complaint.

Meet the champs

The Romulus Police and Fire hockey team skated away with the championship trophy in their division during a charity tournament last month. The team traveled to Bay City to compete against first responders from throughout the state and outscored their opponents. The hockey tournament was a benefit for Special Olympics of Michigan and all proceeds went to the organization. 

City roadwork under way

Drivers in Romulus can expect a few traffic delays and detours when road construction season begins.

As early as this week, workers from the Wayne County Roads Division are slated to begin the Wayne Road and Ecorse Road intersection reconstruction project. The intersection will be closed to all traffic until the estimated completion time this fall. 

The northbound I-275 ramps to eastbound and westbound I-94 were scheduled to close at 7 a.m. May 1. The ramps will remain closed through early July, officials said.  The eastbound I-94 ramp to northbound I-275 will also be closed through early July.

Signed up

Non-verbal communication boards now installed in parks 

Augmentative and Communication boards are now available
in both Heritage and Independence parks in Canton Township.
Photo courtesy of Canton Township. 

Canton Township recently installed innovative nonverbal communication boards in two popular parks - Heritage and Independence parks. 

The boards are designed to enable nonverbal individuals to easily communicate through the use of the augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) board that will help individuals express themselves while encouraging inclusivity and conversation on the playground, explained Recreation Supervisor Laura Mortier.

“Canton Township continually works towards increasing the more inclusive amenities to our parks,” Mortier said. “These additions will go a long way to enable more park visitors of all abilities to have a positive experience at our playground, all while creating a more equitable play environment for all.” 

Federal agents charge Canton man with child sex abuse

A Canton Township man is facing multiple federal criminal charges of sexually exploiting children, child pornography and producing sexually explicit material of minors for import into the United States.

In a federal criminal complaint filed last week, Charles Calahan Lowe, 49, is charged with exchanging1,600 messages and joining 177 Skype calls with a child sex trafficker in the Philippines who sells sexually abusive webcam sessions involving children. According to the indictment, Lowe paid for the child pornography with wire transfers he obtained at Rite Aid in an effort to hide his actions from his wife.

Shooting suspect faces multiple felony charges

Tywone Sweden

Following searches in Canton Township, Taylor, Dearborn Heights and Detroit, the man suspected in the April 16 shooting at Sherwood Mobile Home Park has been arrested and arraigned on multiple felony charges.

Tywone Sweden, 31, has been charged with 14 felonies, including assault with intent to murder, felonious possession of a weapon and assault with a dangerous weapon in connection to the shooting. Prosecutors allege Sweden shot a 38-year-old man, wounding him in the leg and abdomen during the incident at the mobile home park located on Old Michigan Avenue.

New fire station study is OK’d by trustees

Members of the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees approved a feasibility study last month regarding the replacement of Fire Station No. 2 in the community.

While Supervisor Kurt Heise, Trustee John Stewart and Clerk Jerry Vorva consider the construction a top priority, Trustees Jen Buckley, Chuck Curmi and Audrey Monaghan do not place the same level of importance on the fire station, rating it as a five on a scale of one to five during a goal setting session earlier this year.  Treasurer Bob Doroshewitz rated the importance of a new fire station at a three. 

Heise said the current fire station on Wilcox Road should be razed and a new station built at the existing site during discussion of the issue during a recent meeting. The building will soon be 50 years old, he reminded the board members.

2 men facing murder trial in woman’s death

Shane Lamar Evans, 34, of Sumpter Township will be sentenced May 4 for his part in the death of Elizabeth (Egypt) Covington in 2017.

Evans entered a guilty plea to charges of second-degree murder as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. He had originally been charged with homicide-felony murder and home invasion-first degree. 

Evans offered testimony against Timothy Eugene Moore, 37, of Toledo and Shandon R. Groom, 30, also of Toledo. During proceedings at the 34th District Court, Evans testified he directed Moore and Groom to a duplex on Hull Road in Van Buren Township which he believed was the home of a marijuana seller.

Moving along

In the two months since the devastating fire at Karl's Cabin in Plymouth, crews have been working on the demolition phase of restoring the 76-year-old building. The banquet room, service hallways and upstairs offices are torn down to studs and are being prepped for the construction portion of the renovation. The historic log cabin side remains intact and is being prepared for cleaning and staining due to the heavy smoke damage. During a staff meeting at the historic eatery recently, employees were invited to sign the studs and interior walls so their memories would remain in the walls. Owners said updates would continue during the restoration.

City council approves Yerkes Street repairs

Members of the Northville City Council approved Director of Public Works Director Mike Domine's request for repairs to Yerkes Street in the city.

The repaving will be completed by Nagle Paving and the water main in the street will be replaced, a project that is shovel-ready, Domine explained. While the cost of the work was estimated at $833,943, council members approved  a 15 percent contingency for a total of $959,035. 

Nagle, the low bidder in the DPW 2022 bid for the Local Road and Water Main Replacement program, explained that the 6-percent increase from the 2022 contract is due to a rise in the cost of materials, labor, and benefits in the proposal.

Joint fire contract renewed

The cities of Northville and Plymouth will continue to share fire safety services.

The Northville City Fire Department will renew a 12-year interlocal agreement with the city of Plymouth that shares fire and emergency services, following approval of the Northville City Council members.

Skate park plan is ok’d

Members of the Northville Township Board of Trustees have approved the design for Unity Park, a skateboard facility to be located in Millennium Park. Funding for the $600,000 park was provided by private donations along with $150,000 from Northville Township and an allocation the township receives as part of the Wayne County Parks millage. California-based Spohn Ranch developed the plans for the project. The park initiative was launched following the hit-and-run death of Northville Township resident and skateboarder Dominic Duhn in 2020. Organizers said a groundbreaking at the new park will be scheduled in the near future. Board members requested a few changes to the proposed design including a different entryway and gathering space in the planned 11,000 square foot facility. 

Friends of the Rouge volunteers to work in Inkster area

Opportunities for volunteers to join the effort to maintain and plant trees and protect the Lower Rouge River floodplain have been scheduled all summer in the Inkster area, a spokesman from the group explained.

Upcoming events designed to help preserve the local ecosystem are listed and registration to volunteer are listed at: https://therouge.org/rr-events/categories/4-act-trees/.

Friends of the Rouge is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1986 to raise awareness about the need to clean up the Rouge River in southeast Michigan. The mission of the group is the restoration, protection and enhancement of the Rouge River watershed through stewardship, education, and collaboration.

FIRST place

Robotics team travels to Texas competition

Atlas team members from both John Glenn and Wayne Memorial high schools
traveled to Texas to compete in the 2023 FIRST Robotics Championship. 

A group of students from John Glenn and Wayne Memorial high schools in the Wayne-Westland Community School District were recently selected to participate in one of the most esteemed national youth robotics competitions, the 2023 FIRST Robotics Championship. This year, the competition took place in Houston, TX and was attended by more than 35,000 students, coaches, and supporters from 43 countries.    

Atlas, the name of the Wayne Westland district joint team consisting of 11 students, with additional staff members and coaches, competed against 600 teams in special playing fields using robots they designed, built, and programmed.

Off-duty officer arrested

A 26-year veteran police officer was arrested last week in Wyandotte after he allegedly threatened to shoot a man in the face.

The 52-year-old officer spent 20 years with the Detroit Police Department before joining the Westland department six years ago. According to a statement from the Westland department, the officer has been off work for some time and his return was not anticipated. There will be an internal police department investigation of the incident, according to the prepared response.

According to police reports, the officer was with a friend at the Dotte Pub on Oak Street in Wyandotte last Saturday when an altercation of some type occurred.

Farmers’ Market will open

A new farmers' market is expected to open at the Nankin Mills Interpretive Center in Westland this month.

The new market, a cooperative effort of the Wayne County Parks Department and the Eastern Market Corporation, is expected to open from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, May 13 and operate on a bi-weekly basis, according to a prepared statement from the parks department.

Local psychiatric hospitals to be replaced by state

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the planned construction
of a $325 million psychiatric hospital to replace the Hawthorn
Center in Northville and Walter P. Reuther Hospital in Westland. 

A new $325 million state inpatient psychiatric hospital will be constructed at the current site of the Hawthorn Center on Haggerty Road in Northville.

Funding for the new behavioral health building was approved in the fiscal year 2023 state budget, according to Elizabeth Hertel, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) director. The facility will provide care for patients currently being served at both Hawthorn Center and Walter P. Reuther Psychiatric Hospital in Westland.

The two facilities serve nearly 200 patients and are among the five state inpatient psychiatric hospitals for individuals who have severe mental illness or intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hawthorn Center opened in 1956, while Walter Reuther began operations in 1979, and both have aging infrastructure which needs replacement, officials said. 

Safety lessons

Firefighters from the Northville and Plymouth Fire Department along with Plymouth Township Professional Firefighters and crews from Salem, Novi, Metro Airport and Van Buren Township came together to put on a  display of skills last week as they simulated real-life fire emergencies.The former office building at Maybury State Park which was scheduled for razing, was donated to the local fire departments for use in the mock burn. The departments worked in tangent to put out the fires and rescue the "victims." The event was also a training opportunity to learn about fire safety and prevention, organizers said. Photos by Terry Jacoby

Increase in local property values reported by Wayne County

 Equalized property tax values in Wayne County are continuing to rise, with values up 9.85 percent over 2022, according to a study performed for county officials said. Communities including Northville, Plymouth and Plymouth Township have experienced sizable gains according to the report.

Equalized values represent those submitted by all 43 county communities.

The equalized value in Wayne County is now $72.3 trillion, an increase of just under $6.5 trillion, officials said

County commissioners received the report last week, during their annual equalization meeting. It was presented by the Department of Management and Budget and is considered the first post-COVID county equalization report.

Alas…

Shakespeare’s birthday is celebrated with 

special performances on Cherry Hill stage

The Michigan Shakespeare Festival will celebrate the 459th
birthday of the bard himself with special pricing for
three productions in Canton Township this summer.

There is a special birthday celebration taking place in Canton Township as the Michigan Shakespeare Festival honors the 459th anniversary of the bard himself.

The annual Shakespeare's Birthday Sale will continue only until April 30 offering $35 tickets for the summer performances.  Celebrating its 27th season, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival productions will begin July 18, and continue through Aug. 20, at The Village Theater at Cherry Hill.

Planned performances include Macbeth as well as Pericles, Prince of Tire and one non-Shakespearean classical piece - Georges Feydeau's A Flea in Her Ear.

Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Janice L. Blixt, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival  brings a fresh perspective to the Shakespeare canon each season, while introducing audiences to other classical and modern works, noted a festival spokesman. 

State officer

Canton Township Director of Fire Services Chris Stoecklein was recently named as vice president of the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs. The group is dedicated to assisting members in their efforts to promote effective fire prevention and suppression, emergency medical service and other emergency services through education, technical and legislative means, according to the website. 

Applications for popular township police and fire Youth Academy are now available

Teens in Canton Township have the opportunity to experience the inner workings of the public safety department this summer.

The popular Youth Academy organized by the police and fire departments in the township will teach students, ages 13 through 17, about the daily operations of each department, including the philosophy of teamwork. The academy will take place from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday, June 26 through Thursday, June 29. 

Participants will be provided with lunch each day and light physical activity is scheduled every day, organizers said. The interactive learning experience is designed to promote a greater understanding between the youth in the community and township police officers and firefighters. The experience will help students develop life skills that promote safe, smart thinking and decision making, officials said.

School district hosts local health fair Saturday

More than 70 booths focused on mental health and overall wellness as well as creative stations for children, therapy dogs and a “healing with horses” demonstration will fill Kellogg Park in downtown Plymouth this Saturday. Free food, a family fun zone and music will also be featured at the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools mental health fair set for 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29.

Representatives of the school district and several community partners are planning the second annual event to help provide more information about mental health, ways to find support and resources and enjoy food and fun activities.

Plymouth-Canton schools earns excellent financial rating

The prestigious financial agency Moody's Investors Service recently awarded Plymouth-Canton Community Schools one of the highest ratings available.

Officials said the district had completed another major milestone in implementing a voter-approved initiative to improve academic, athletic and other student resources. 

“Plymouth-Canton Community Schools is focused on supporting student needs at all levels for years to come, and doing so in a fiscally responsible and transparent way,” Superintendent pf Schools Dr. Monica L. Merritt said. “Moody's Aa2 rating is a recognition of P-CCS's commitment to being good stewards of our financial resources. Much of the important work of the bond program will enhance and preserve our facilities for many years to come.”

Mayor visits school to help students celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day was celebrated in Westland with awards and recognition of earth-friendly projects and initiatives during a program at Wildwood Elementary School. 

Westland Mayor Michael P. Londeau highlighted the accomplishments of both the city and the Wayne-Westland Community Schools, during the celebration and presented Environmental Champion awards to Westland City Council President Pro-Tem Andrea Rutkowski and Wildwood students and Principal Christine Swanson. The award recognized the “A Bench for Caps” program. The special recycled benches were built by Wildwood students and presented to the city as part of their bottle cap collection project.

During the event, city officials distributed free seed packets and free LED lightbulbs and the new Westland Police Department F-150 EV Lightning truck and other EV vehicles were on display.

Westland District Court sobriety program proven successful

The effectiveness of the Sobriety Court program at the 18th District Court in Westland was recently recognized in a report from the Michigan Supreme Court.

The state court released the FY 2022 Problem-Solving Courts Annual Report, tracking the progress and highlighting the success of 207 problem-solving courts across Michigan from Oct. 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2022. The Westland Sobriety Court, developed in 2014, is a program designed to help individuals overcome issues such as substance abuse and lower high recidivism rates for repeat drinking and driving offenders.

Tattan Park set to reopen

A $3 million Mission to Mars upgrade to Tattan Park in Westland will include towering rocket ships, lunar rovers, slides, and play activities with zero gravity, city officials said.

The current Play Planet playground is being relocated to Lincoln-Johnson Field in the Westland Historic Norwayne District at 33800 Grand Traverse. The new playground will feature an immersive, kid-friendly dinosaur splashpad  and is expected to open for Memorial Weekend Day weekend, the city officials added. Tattan Park is located at 36601 Ford Road.

Council considering plans for downtown pedestrians

Efforts to improve street and sidewalk safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles in downtown Northville may include adjustments to traffic lights and the installation of some no turn on red signs.

Julie Kroll, an engineer with Fleis and Vandenbrink, presented the first part of a two-phase report on measures the city can take to improve street and sidewalk safety during a recent meeting of the Northville City Council. Her report, The Northville Downtown Pedestrian Study, incorporated design elements proposed by Grissim Metz and Andriese (GMA) as well as input from the Mobility Network, a group of 10 volunteer citizens. 

Maybury Farm Summer Camp helps kids cope with grief

New Hope Center for Grief Support is offering its eighth annual Kid's Camp at Maybury Farm, this summer for children ages 4-14, who have experienced the death of a loved one.

Camp takes place from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. July 20 and 21.

Sessions each day include activities such as soccer with the Michigan Jaguars, songwriting with Lost Voices, team building activities with former Detroit Lion Eric Hipple, yoga, equestrian horse therapy, art therapy, and other activities. Each activity is designed to open a dialogue about the emotions of grief. Children who attend camp gain resources and skills that help them better understand and communicate these emotions, and those skills are a lifelong benefit to campers, organizers said. 

Belleville Community Chorus sets date for annual spring concert

The Belleville Community Chorus will present the 16th annual spring concert, Life's Musical Sound Stage: Melodies, Meanderings, Memories, at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 7. The performance will feature a variety of songs ranging from classic Rock 'n' Roll to popular movie themes, organizers said.

The concert will be performed at the Belleville United Methodist Church, 417 Charles St., Belleville.  The concert will be directed by Mary Butler Loring with accompaniment by Judith Weed, backed by drummer Joe Laurell, bass player Eston Keller, and electric guitarist Eric Loring.

Class act

Sergeant Bart Devos Jr. and Officers Kenneth Toney, Rodriguez, and Gibson were a welcome attraction at the recent 2023 Keystone Academy Spring Carnival. The officers were, of course, chosen by the students to help them with the Donut Toss.

Romulus Deputy Clerk earns state designation

D'Sjonaun Hockenhull, the deputy city clerk in Romulus, was recently awarded the Michigan Professional Municipal Clerk designation by the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks.

The program was launched in January 2014 to encourage city, township and village clerks to seek continuing education specifically related to the duties of Michigan clerks. The Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks was founded on the belief that a focus on education is essential for municipal clerks to provide informed, quality leadership for their communities in the face of constant legislative change and increased demands on Michigan public servants, according to a prepared statement from the association.

Police seek limping suspect in road rage gunfire incident

Inkster police are still seeking a man with a leg cast who limped away from a shooting following a traffic accident last week in Inkster. 

The shooting followed an auto accident when a woman driving a blue Chevrolet Equinox crashed into the rear of an off-white-colored Ford Escape at about 2:25 last Wednesday, April 19. The incident shut down a section of Inkster Road near Avondale as police responded to the scene of the shooting.

Future engineer

Emily Lemus, a Wayne Memorial High School senior, has been named an Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship recipient. She will receive $40,000 during four years to pursue a computer science or engineering degree at a college of her choice. Lemus is one of 400 students nationwide to receive the award and a paid internship offer at Amazon after her first year of college to gain hands-on, practical work experience with mentorship from Amazon leaders.

Summoned

Community Day set at district court 

Area residents will have their day in court next month during the second annual Community Day at the Court.

Judges at the 34th District Court in Romulus have invited the public to enjoy a car show, food trucks, public safety demonstrations, pet adoptions along with tours of the court building from noon until 6 p.m. May 5. The event at the court, which serves Belleville, Huron Township, Romulus, Sumpter Township and Van Buren Township, is open to the public, area wide. 

Earth Day

Local communities celebrate ecology with clean-up efforts this Saturday

Earth Day is an annual event that started in 1970 when 20 million Americans - 10 percent of the population of the U.S. at the time - came together to demonstrate the importance of increasing protection for the planet, according to the official Earth Day website EARTHDAY.ORG. 

Earth Day was founded as a day of education about environmental issues, and Earth Day 2023 will occur this Saturday, April 22. The day is now a global celebration that's sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on green living and confronting the climate crisis. Inspired by the protests of the 1960s, Earth Day began as a “national teach-in on the environment” and took place April 22 to maximize the number of students that could be reached on university campuses. 

Gift of life

Long-time Canton employee donates kidney to co-worker

Abe Vinitski and Greg Hohenberger visit the Canton Township
administrative offices after their successful surgery.
Photo provided courtesy of Canton Township. 

Abe Vinitski and Greg Hohenberger have become far more than co-workers and colleagues at their respective careers in the Canton Township Leisure Services Department.

The two now share a unique bond after Vinitski received one of Hohenberger's kidneys during a directed organ donation surgery at University of Michigan Hospital.

The two men have each worked at the township in the same department for more than 20 years and as Hohenberger witnessed the ongoing deterioration of Vinitski's kidney health, he was determined to find a way to help.

Volunteer disaster safety training now being offered

As weather disasters and other emergencies continue to take place across the country, the Canton Public Safety Department Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training becomes even more vital.

Currently, volunteers for the program, which educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for hazards that may occur, are being sought. Training includes basic disaster response skills including fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. 

Detour?

Township roadwork set to start

Signs of spring in Canton Township will include large orange detour and road work bulleting throughout the community.

Repaving of Lotz Road between Michigan Avenue to Palmer Road will begin this month, officials said along with projects set for Lilley Road between Michigan Avenue and Palmer Road and Sheldon Road from Warren Road to Sheldon Center.

The road improvements will be funded through the road improvement program approved by Canton Township voters in 2018. Costs are estimated at about $3 million.

Sword fight

Historic weaponry tournament set for Plymouth competition

Members of the Historical European Martial Arts School will
compete in Plymouth May 5 through 7 at the
Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex.

The sounds of clashing metal swords will fill the halls of the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex (PARC) next month as a group of weapon-wielding competitors invade the city to display their skills with historic, and lethal, weapons.

Competitors from Historical European Martial Arts School (HEMA) facilities in the U.S. and several nations will be displaying their skills and vying for coveted honors during the tournament, which will take place at PARC in downtown Plymouth.

Joe Mundo representing the HEMA in Garden City said the tournament is based in world history. 

Library gala is planned

The Plymouth District Library will host an after-hours gala in celebration of its 100th year serving the Plymouth community. 

The gala will take place from 7 until 10 p.m. Saturday, April 29 and is for those 21 and older. Organizers said black tie is optional. 

Tickets for the evening are $100 per person and will include hors d'oeuvres, an open bar with wine and beer and live music in the stacks by the Kennebec Avenue Jazz Group. 

City qualifies for new state road repair funding program

The City of Plymouth is among the local communities that will share in $25 million in supplemental funding recently approved by the Michigan House of Representatives.

House representatives approved Senate Bill 7, a budget supplemental that allocates $25 million for the Transportation Economic Development Fund, a match grant road funding program for municipalities with fewer than 10,000 people. 

Township manager’s duties prompt board discussion

A proposed job description for Township Manager Anthony Burdick prompted extended discussion during the April 11 meeting of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees.

Discussion of the proposed agenda item which included specific areas of authority and responsibility of the manager took place during the public study session prior to the meeting.

Trustee Don LaPorte said that he favored the outline of authority as he felt it was important to have a point person available at township hall able to move forward without the board members “meeting every 20 minutes.” He suggested authorizing the township manager to make decisions would help the efficiency of projects currently under way or proposed.

Belleville High School valedictorian matches brother’s honor

Sean Tinsley

Educational excellence is a family tradition in the Tinsley family.

Brothers, Sean and Shane, are the first Black valedictorian and salutatorian in their respective graduating classes at Belleville High School.

Shane Tinsley became the salutatorian of his graduating class in 2020, the first African-American student to have won that distinction, which is based on academic performance. This year his younger brother, Sean Tinsley, became the first African-American valedictorian of the class of 2023. 

“I saw him (brother Shane) make history and I wanted to make an impact on my school and my community as well,” Sean Tinsley told reporters covering the unique achievements.

Wayne district court joins statewide e-filing program

The 29th District Court in Wayne has stepped into the electronic age.

The court will soon implement the MiFILE system, noted Judge Breeda O'Leary, which will allow the electronic filing of documents in any Michigan court, 24 hours a day, without traveling to a courthouse and waiting in line. The statewide e-filing program also allows parties to electronically serve one another with documents and electronically receive notifications and documents from the courts, O'Leary said in a prepared statement. 

The statewide system is an initiative sponsored by the Michigan Supreme Court and the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO). 

Since 2014, the Michigan Supreme Court and SCAO have been working toward the creation and implementation of this type of statewide e-filing solution. Michigan Court Rules have been changed to support e-filing and aid in the change from paper forms and documents to electronic documents. Standards have also been established to make sure the experience for the filer and the courts are consistent and reliable, O'Leary said.

“This e-filing initiative provides a landmark opportunity to increase access to justice, allows flexibility to litigants, and enables courts to become more efficient by reducing the need to receive, process, store, and retrieve paper files,” she said. 

In 2018, MiFILE was successfully implemented in three courts, the 22nd Circuit Court in Washtenaw County), the 37th District Court in the City of Warren, and the Ottawa County Probate Court. These courts have assisted in the development and expansion of the original version of MiFILE, allowing SCAO to create a model for the entire state. Significant changes have been made to the program since 2018, with the focus of product development and implementation shifting to best onboard and serve all of Michigan's 315 court locations, O'Leary explained. 

The 29th District Court is expected to go live with MiFILE this summer. Once live, attorneys will be mandated to e-file as required by Michigan Court Rule 1.109(G)(3)(f). Self-represented parties may participate in the e-filing program but will not be required to do so. Filers can learn more about MiFILE on the Michigan Courts website Filer Information page or read the MiFILE Quick Reference Guide. In addition, there are video tutorials to help filers familiarize themselves with the e-filing process available online on the MiFILE YouTube Channel, noted the prepared release from O'Leary's office.

Library offers digitalized high school yearbooks

Anyone looking for a long-lost classmate from Romulus High School can now find them on the Romulus Public Library website.

Jake Rynicki, head of Adult Services and Outreach at the Romulus library, recently completed the digitization of the high school yearbooks. Yearbooks from 1946 until 2018 can now be found in the online archives of the library, according to a prepared statement from library officials. 

Library assistants scanned the yearbooks and Rynicki uploaded the past Romulus High School yearbooks to the library website.

Deadline for public comments on waste well permit will end May 3

Michigan residents have until May 3 to provide comment on the relicensing of aboveground hazardous waste operations at the Republic Industrial and Energy Services (RIES) hazardous waste facility in Romulus. The public comment period was reopened by officials from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

Written comments on the aboveground hazardous waste activities and the draft renewal license can be submitted to Ronda L. Blayer, Environmental Engineering Specialist, at BlayerR@Michigan.gov or EGLE, MMD, Hazardous Waste Section, P.O. Box 30241, Lansing, MI 48909.  Written comments must be postmarked no later than May 3,  and include the writer's name, address, and email; a concise statement of the basis for the comments and the supporting relevant facts upon which the comments are based, according to rules posted by EGLE.