continues to conjure up friendships, imagination
Role-playing game celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
With its expansive history and dedicated fanbase, the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons has attracted players young and old to take part in adventure and chaos.
David Cummings, a D&D player from Lake Orion, said the game has a long history.
“It originated as rules for
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
The city of St. Clair Shores has a busy year ahead with continued bond work at the school districts and continued construction at the police station and the central fire station.
St. Clair Shores City Manager Dustin Lent said they have continuing and new infrastructure projects occurring in 2025. He said at the beginning of the year, the police station and central fire station will be demolished.
We are proud to announce the opening of our second location in St. Clair Shores. We bring expert aesthetic and wellness services to St. Clair Shores and the surrounding community.
The spa’s philosophy centers on normalizing aesthetic treatments while delivering natural, impactful results. With a focus on safety, continuing education, and addressing root causes rather than o ering quick fixes, the team aims to provide exceptional care.
In addition to aesthetics, the spa o ers wellness services such as weight loss injections, IV infusions, and peptide therapy. The team includes skilled registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and medical director Dr. Peter Panagopoulos, ensuring clients receive top-tier care.
We o er a variety of options including Dysport, Botox, Jeuveau and Xeomin to reduce ne lines & wrinkles.
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eo and in person. We o er a variety of options for weight loss including Semaglutides, Tirzepatide, Peptide therapy, male hormone therapy.
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BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
St. Clair Shores Finance Director and Treasurer Renae Warnke is retiring at the end of January.
Warnke said she is retiring for personal reasons and that she felt like it was time.
“So that I could have a good retirement, have this time,” Warnke said. “If I waited, it might not turn out as well just because of the timing of some personal issues going on.”
Warnke has been with the city for around six years, and she said it was a great experience.
“(I’ve) learned a lot, met a lot of great people and just, I’ve been very pleased with everything,” Warnke said.
Before she moved up to the finance director position, Warnke was the city controller. She said the finance director
BY GREG TASKER
NORTHERN MICHIGAN — Nearly a year ago, despite the scarcity of snowfall in northern Michigan, I found myself gliding along a powdery, groomed trail in the woods at Forbush Corner Nordic, a cross-country ski destination outside Grayling.
And I wasn’t alone. With its state-of-the-art snowmaking system, Forbush had created a snowglobe amid an otherwise dreary, barren landscape, drawing amateurs and polished skiers alike. As long as temperatures cooperate, Forbush can pump out enough snow to create a figure-eight-loop at the 200-acre destination.
This ski season Forbush has expanded its snowmaking prowess to blanket another km of trails. And that’s just one of the many improvements this winter at the dozen or so Nordic and downhill ski resorts across the northwest lower peninsula.
Nearly all of the downhill ski areas — from Thomp-
‘WE’VE COME A LONG WAY’
BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com
When asked if she could recall her first season on varsity in 2022, senior captain Avery Koebke’s memory was a little hazy.
Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that St. Clair Shores Lake Shore girls bowling graduated nine seniors going into the season and had only six girls in the entire program as another season in the Macomb Area Conference Red neared.
It was up to Koebke, senior captain Mariska Livingston, and junior Maura Turpin to replace a Shorians team who won regionals and qualified for a shot at the state title as an eight seed.
“We just got pounded in the MAC Red, but the thing was I told them that we were probably never winning a meet and we’ll be lucky to qualify in a tournament, but we’re going to learn,” Lake Shore head coach Greg Villasurda said. “We’re going to get better every day.”
Just a season after their 0-10 finish in the MAC Red, Koebke, Livingston and Turpin returned with a fire lit under them, and Lake Shore put on a show as it picked up three wins in league play while winning the regional championship and qualifying for states.
It’s exactly the kind of confidence boost the trio needed after enduring the trials and tribulations their first season of varsity bowl-
ing brought, but now there’s an expectation.
The Shorians qualifying for states was a significant step in the right direction, but missing the top-eight qualifying block for a shot at the state title by 35 pins put a pause on the celebration.
The excitement may have stalled but the motivation and hunger to get it back is at an all-time high.
“We are very eager to go back to states and regionals,” Livingston said. “We won regionals last year, which gave us a huge ego boost, and then states kind of knocked us down a few pegs. We’re very eager to get back and show what we can do.”
Returning two all-conference bowlers
See BOWLING on page 14A
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Hospice of Michigan is looking for compassionate volunteers in Macomb and Oakland counties to create “Memory Bears” to comfort bereaved family members coping with the loss of a loved one.
Memory Bears are teddy bears about 8-inches tall made from clothing, blankets, or other special items from those who have died. According to Hospice of Michigan, the Memory Bears allow grieving families to capture and preserve aspects of their loved ones within one-of-a-kind stuffed animals as a personal memento.
Pattie Huttenga, a sewing volunteer, started sharing her sewing skills with Hospice of Michigan in 2014 after her son was in hospice. The Memory Bear program was started the same year.
“For my son, Hospice (of Michigan) was here for the last two weeks of his life, and they were so helpful. You just don’t
know what to expect,” Huttenga said. “They were just there for whatever we needed. They were there and so when I saw they needed help, I had to give back.”
Huttenga has been sewing since she was 9 years old; however, volunteers of all skill levels are welcomed as long as they can make the bears. Interested volunteers will need to provide their own sewing machine to participate.
Tracey Pierce, associate vice president of communications at Hospice of Michigan, said before she donated the clothes of her loved ones, she remembered some items could be used to make a Memory Bear as a special keepsake.
“2021 was not the best (year). We lost three parents in my family within the year,” Pierce said. “As we were cleaning out their clothing, I was getting ready to donate them and I went into the office one day and saw an email that reminded me of Memory Bears. It was a revelation.”
Each Hospice of Michigan patient’s
See BEARS on page 11A
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
DETROIT — The world’s automotive industry will descend again upon Huntington Place for the Detroit Auto Show Jan. 10-20.
A roster of 22 different automakers and brands — including Alfa Romeo, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, GMC, Jeep, Kia, Lincoln, Ram, Toyota and Volkswagen — will have cars on display with support from dealers and manufacturers, along with a showcase of upcoming luxury cars in “The Gallery” section.
“Through this blended automaker and dealer participation, we’re able to give attendees a totally immersive experience in some of the most exciting products available on the market today — whether that’s comparing a variety of propulsion systems on one of four tracks, to seeing hundreds of brand-defining vehicles, up-close-and-personal and all in one place,” Detroit Auto Show Chairman Karl Zimmermann said in a press release.
Attendees will be able to interact with some cars through ride-alongs. Rugged expe-
See AUTO SHOW on page 17A
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — One of the saddest parts of the holiday season is getting rid of a Christmas tree.
While there’s not much to ease that feeling, unless you get a fake tree and leave it up year-round, there are ways to give your old tree a new purpose. With these options, you’ll need to make sure the tree is pesticidefree by checking with the seller. Be sure there are no lingering ornaments or tinsel as well.
Old trees can be used to improve your garden when cut into small pieces and used as a mulch, according to a press release from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The trees can return nutrients to the soil. Before doing this, check to see if the tree will throw off the balance of your soil. Reusing a tree in this way will depend on what you’re trying to grow.
Tree needles can also be used as an organic weed barrier in a garden bed, said Caitlin Splawski, a consumer horticulture educator for the Michigan State University Extension. Though pine needles, which are longer than typical Christmas trees, make for a more effective barrier.
“If they’ve got acid loving plants, things like blueberries, rhododendrons, azaleas, things like that, they could add a little bit of acidity through soil,” Splawski said. “Typically, with how alkaline our soils are in Michigan, it’s not going to put a dent in changing your soil Ph. But it can help keep it a little more on the acidic side.”
Ultimately, Splawski said keeping light away from a garden bed is the most important thing when creating a weed barrier. She said keeping it 1/2-inch to 1-inch thick will help deter weed growth.
She added that websites like earth911. com and mcta.org can be good resources for recycling options.
The DNR release states that the trees can also be useful for farmers. Chickens can use them to roost, and goats can chew on them. They can function as a food source or a nesting place for wildlife in your yard.
If all else fails, contact your municipality’s sanitation department for ways to recycle your tree. Some places have sites where trees can be dropped off and turned into mulch.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has a directory of locations you can drop your tree off to be recycled. Type in “christmas tree” in the search at recyclesearch.com/profile/ michigan-directory for locations near you.
The DNR press release states old Christmas trees should not be used for fish habitats. This is because typical trees like balsam fir, Douglas fir, and Fraser fir are all softwoods.
“These softwoods break down relatively quickly in aquatic environments,” the release states. “The dense branches on Christmas trees that are perfect for holding ornaments are often too dense for many fish to use as habitat.”
See TREES on page 11A
playing individual characters on a skirmish game called Chainmail which was a miniatures game where you had units of soldiers fighting each other and they came up with rules that you could play individual soldiers on the field, and it grew from there,” Cummings said.
Over the years, the official Dungeons & Dragons “Player’s Handbook,” the “Dungeon Master’s Guide” and other guidebooks have gone through various changes. The most recent edition of the book was published in 2024, though many people still use rules from the fifth edition published in 2014.
Cummings said his group still uses rules from the fifth edition.
“We are kind of working some of the new rules into the game, but we used quite a few of the optional rules in the Dungeon Master’s Guide which have been dropped from the game in the new 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide,” Cummings said.
Cummings started playing D&D when he was in college. The game includes a dungeon master who sets the stage for the story. The dungeon master, known as the DM, creates the story and the setting the players explore with their characters.
Cummings said he prefers being a DM more than being a player.
“I’m much more comfortable creating the larger picture and I like creating characters to the point where I like creating a lot of characters,” Cummings said. “And so as the dungeon master you get to create the bad guys and the NPCs (non-player characters) and the settings and stuff. There’s also a little bit more control.”
A character’s action effectiveness is determined by a series of dice the player uses. A set includes dice with four, six, eight, 10, 12 and 20 sides. The dice are used to determine player skills and attributes, assess damage, and establish percentages for success or failure of various actions, including thievery, attacks and spells.
“If you’re playing a certain type of character, you might get away with not needing one of those (dice) but it’s a heck of a lot easier to just buy a set that includes all of those,” Cummings said.
Cummings said due to the growing popularity of the game, the dice are now easier to get. Players can find sets at retailers such as Walmart and local gaming stores.
Character creation is half the fun of D&D. Some players and DMs call the character creation stage “session zero” of their campaign. Though character traits can be
The St. Clair Shores City Council gave its approval in a 7-0 vote to accept a federal port security grant in the amount of $276,412.
According to items attached to the meeting’s agenda, the grant will be used to purchase a new patrol boat. The current patrol boat is around 26 years old.
A 25% match by the city is required for this grant which equates to around $92,138.
“The current boat will be sold and the proceeds will be used to offset the cost of the new vessel,” material included with the agenda stated.
Compiled by Alyssa Ochss and Maria Allard
The St. Clair Shore Public Library will host a game day from noon to 4 p.m. on Jan. 11.
A wide variety of classic and modern games will be available for patrons to enjoy. No registration is required.
The library is located at 22500 11 Mile Road. For more information, call (586) 771-9020.
METRO DETROIT — Michigan has good taste when it comes to pizza.
Recently, the McNair Center at Northwood University partnered with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce to conduct an analysis of who serves the best pizza. According to their report released Dec. 16, Michigan is the pizza capital of the United States and maybe even the world.
WARREN — On Dec. 30, the U.S. The Department of Labor announced the award of $65 million in Strengthening Community Colleges grants to 18 colleges, including Macomb Community College, in 14 states.
Macomb received a $1.5 million grant designed to help with affordable, high-quality workforce training to meet employers’ needs in critical industry sectors, including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, semiconductors and biotechnology.
Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the fifth round of grants will use proven strategies to enhance career pathway programs and support more equitable outcomes for marginalized and underrepresented populations.
Grantees will provide training across multiple sectors, many of which align with the BidenHarris administration’s Investing in America agenda, such as advanced manufacturing, health care, information technology agriculture and infrastructure-related sectors. Through five rounds of grants to date, the department has invested $265 million in 207 colleges in 35 states.
DETROIT — The Detroit Riverwalk earned first-place honors as the top location for marriage proposals in Michigan on New Year’s Eve, according to 3,000 women who were surveyed by the website datingnews.com. The women, currently in relationships but not yet married, indicated the location has a mix of urban excitement and natural beauty to make for the ideal marriage proposal setting.
“Couples can enjoy the lively energy of the city while sharing an intimate moment along the serene riverfront, making it a perfect spot for a romantic proposal,” datingnews.com states.
Per the website, 78% of the women said they prefer the moment to just be between the two of them while 20% said they would “be happy” to have a small group of family or close friends present. Just 2% of those surveyed opted to have a large audience on hand during the proposal.
Nearly half of the survey participants would love to be proposed to just before midnight. According to the survey, 60% wanted their partner to kneel down for the ring reveal, 22% were up for a creative surprise, and 18% would love to find their engagement ring hidden, such as in a book or an ice cream sundae.
The study, “Michigan: The Unlikely Pizza Capital of the United States (and the World?),” analyzed the size and scope of the U.S. and global pizza industry and the economic role Michigan plays. The study also looked at the history and economic role in growing the U.S. and global pizza markets, and what role eight entrepreneurs from Michigan had in influencing the size, scope, and quality of the growth.
“We found that across the U.S. and around the world, millions of people speaking different languages were brought together by the common pleasure of consuming pizza, whose origins emanated from entrepreneurial activity within a 60-mile radius of downtown Detroit, Michigan,” stated Dr. Timothy G. Nash, one of the study’s authors who led the McNair Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Northwood.
The study determined Michigan is home to four of the top 10 U.S. pizza chains by sales in 2023: Domino’s Pizza at No. 1; Little Caesars Pizza at No. 3; Hungry Howie’s Pizza at No. 8; and Jet’s Pizza at No. 9. Those four institutions accounted for 30.5% of the U.S. pizza sales in 2023, recording a combined $14.36 billion of the $46.98 billion industry total.
According to the results, the four Michigan pizzerias recorded nearly 15% of global pizza sales with $23.6 billion of the $159 billion total. The headquarters for the “Michigan Four” are all located within less than 60 miles of each other in southeast Michigan in Madison Heights, Detroit, Sterling Heights and Ann Arbor.
sonville to Traverse City and beyond — have unveiled a slew of upgrades, many of them focused on improved snow-making capabilities. But that’s not all. There are new ski lifts. New rental equipment. New trails. New ticket options. And new dining and apres-ski possibilities.
All of these resorts, of course, are looking to create optimal skiing conditions for skiers and riders as well as a better winter experience for all of their guests.
“Northwest Lower Michigan’s ski areas have undergone impressive off-season improvements, ensuring an exciting winter season for all,” says Mike Panich, who is executive director of the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association, the trade group for the state’s ski and snowboard industry. “From advanced snowmaking to exciting new trails and guest-focused upgrades, Michigan’s ski destinations are ready to impress this winter.”
No wonder. After last year’s forgettable winter, ski areas across the region are pumped about this season’s prospects, already benefiting from cooperative temperatues for plenty of snow making as well as frequent lake-effect snow.
“The 2024 season started with a great early blast of cold air and lake effect snow, allowing most ski areas in Michigan and the rest of the Midwest to open earlier and with more terrain than in the recent past,” Panich says.
Despite the recent warm up and rain over the holiday, ski areas “were able to take advantage of the early cold weather and build significant snow reserves and will be able to ride
it out until the cold returns with the new year,” he adds.
Here are some highlights of ski area improvements this season (Note: most resorts have upgraded snow-making capabilities so they are not mentioned below):
• In mid-December, the Highlands at Harbor Springs unveiled its newest lift — the Interconnect triple. The new lift cuts the amount of time up the hill by one-third and improves access to the North Peak area. The lift includes RFID gates providing hands-free, direct-to-lift access. This is the second new lift in two years at the 4,000-acre resort. Last year the Highlands introduced the Camelot 6, a six-person bubble chairlift, the fastest in the Midwest. New food options include a Brew Bar at the Day Lodge, serving a selection of craft beer, and a Ramen Bar at the Food Market.
• With more snowmaking power, Boyne Mountain is creating the Victor Glacier, a ski run being designed to offer great snow conditions earlier and later in the season. The signature blue run is reminiscent of Vermont’s legendary King of Spring, late-season skiing at Killington Ski Resort. Additionally, Boyne has unveiled nearly 18 acres of fresh, glade terrain within its Disciples Ridge area. The new glade terrain is located between Grice’s Way and Zippie’s and features wide-open, gentle slopes for beginners and more challenging terrain for the more experienced. Other improvements include synchronized music and vibrant LED lighting displays at the resort’s Tubing Hill.
• In Thompsonville, Crystal Mountain has expanded its selection of rental equipment, adding more than 400 new sets of rental skis and 55 snowboards. The 1,500-acre resort has also upped its apres-ski game with new rooftop igloos at the Level4 Lounge. The heated igloos offer scenic views of the
surrounding countryside. Guests will also find expanded trail loops and new rental gear at the Cross-Country Learning Center. More than half the guest rooms of the Hamlet Hotel have been renovated with new furniture, flooring and accessories.
• Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire offers a new 18 km cross-country trail system through Schuss Village, one of four villages on the 5,500-acre property. Non-skiers looking for something to do can hop aboard the new Alpina Snow Glider, for a free, hour-long ride through the expansive resort. Shanty Creek has also extended private ski and snowboard lessons to include evening sessions.
• Outside Gaylord, Treetops Resort boasts two new trails. Razzle Dazzle promises “a thrilling new experience for those who love gladed slopes,” resort officials say. The other is the Woodsplitter, providing a new route between Kathryn’s Way and Lookout at the 3,300-acre destination.
• Caberfae Peaks, one of the country’s oldest ski areas, outside Cadillac, has renovated guest rooms, which feature custom-made furniture.
Back at Forbush Corner, which is owned and operated by a nonprofit organization, the addition of another km of man-made snow coverage extends that trail network to nearly 3.5 km. Overall, Forbush has more than 30 km of trails. This year snowshoe trails also have been expanded, with 8 km now dedicated to snowshoeing paths. By the way, the region’s other popular Nordic ski spot, Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Higgins Lake, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this winter. A 50th Anniversary Ribs and Blues celebration is planned for February 22. The ski center also offers free beginner lessons every Saturday.
from page 7A
Lingering ornaments and pesticides on the trees could also pose a problem when attempting to reuse them as a habitat.
For state-approved ways to create an
family is eligible to receive one uniquely designed Memory Bear as a memento.
“In times of loss, having a physical reminder of a loved one can be profoundly comforting,” said Ruth Moore-Lilly, volunteer program manager for Hospice of Michigan. “By volunteering as a Memory Bear sewer, you can make a lasting impact on grieving families by creating a cherished treasure that offers a source of peace through your craftsmanship.”
Hospice of Michigan’s Memory Bear program was launched in June 2014 by the not-for-profit’s grief support services department to help bereaved families capture and
aquatic habitat, EGLE at (800) 662-9278 or go to michigan.gov/egle. To navigate to information about approved structures, type in “shoreline woody structure” in the EGLE website’s search and select the “Inland-LakesFact-Sheet-WoodyStructure” result.
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
preserve aspects of their loved ones through one-of-a-kind stuffed animals.
As the initiative continues to gain popularity among grieving families, additional volunteers are needed to meet sewing demands.
For those who have experienced a loss, Hospice of Michigan encourages a waiting period of one year before becoming a hospice volunteer to allow for the processing of grief.
Those in Oakland County who are interested in donating time to the Memory Bear program should contact Cynthia Palmer at cpalmer@hom.org or (248) 334-1323. For Macomb County residents, contact Amanda Layne at alayne@hom.org or (248) 568-7564.
Call Staff Writer Gena Johnson at (586) 498-1069.
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
These two volunteers were recognized for their 29 years of good deeds in St. Clair Shores. But they say they don’t do it for the recognition.
Nikki and Enio Iafrate took over the Goodfellows annual paper drive 29 years ago. At first, they didn’t know they agreed to take over the whole operation.
“Enio thought he was volunteering to work a corner, but he actually was volunteering to take the whole thing over,” Nikki said.
She said they were both pretty surprised when they found out about the whole operation. However, it didn’t take too long to figure it out, Enio said.
“The following year, I did it and my kids were very young at the time,” Enio said. “So I pretty much did it by myself until they got old enough to help.”
He said at this point, they’ve mastered it. The corner they work every year is at 10 Mile Road and Interstate 94.
At the St. Clair Shores City Council meeting on Dec. 16, the mayor and members of council presented both Enio and Nikki with a proclamation. They received a standing ovation from friends, family members, city officials and employees who sat in the crowd.
Mayor Kip Walby called them “inspirations” during the meeting.
“You can see that the people that came are thankful for you, and we appreciate that,” Walby said. “Again, St. Clair Shores, the Goodfellows, I speak on behalf of them. Thank you for all of your work.”
Enio said they volunteer for a lot of things and that he really enjoys it. They’ve also helped at a few charities in Detroit.
“My family really gets involved with it,” Enio said. “It’s a great thing.”
Nikki explained they first attended a men’s club meeting at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church to find out how the Goodfellows worked. At the time, their son was in kindergarten.
She called the Goodfellows’ paper drive her passion, but she emphasized that they don’t do this by themselves.
“Enio organizes over anywhere between 60 and 70 of the parishioners from St. Isaac’s, men and women, and we take the corners on 10 Mile from 94 to Harper and Mack and Cavalier,” Nikki said. “So it’s an undertaking. They all do two-hour shifts.”
She also said without help they wouldn’t be able to contribute as much to the St. Clair Shores Goodfellows.
See IAFRATE on page 13A
“Many foot problems in people with diabetes occur when injuries and infections go unnoticed and untreated. Healing can be delayed due to decreased feeling in the feet (neuropathy) and poor circulation. I will evaluate your feet regularly to detect any changes early, before they become a problem. Call me for an appointment and I will work with you to keep your feet healthy.”
from page 12A
After the first time volunteering, Nikki said, people are often hooked because of how rewarding it is.
This year, the Detroit Goodfellows chapter celebrated 100 years, and the St. Clair Shores Goodfellows celebrated 98.
Nikki and Enio both agreed that they’ve always instilled in their children the importance of giving back and volunteering.
“We’ve had enough, but we always haven’t had a lot, but giving is very important to us, not only us, but our family,” Nikki said.
They sometimes receive thanks from families who received help from the Goodfellows when they were kids. Many of these people say if it wasn’t for the organization, they wouldn’t have gotten anything for the holiday season.
“It’s pretty rewarding,” Enio said.
This year, the Goodfellows were able to help 44 families with 90 kids. The total amount of families helped varies from year to year, but Nikki said the number can vary anywhere from 50 to 150.
Nikki said they recommend people volunteer in their communities.
“Volunteering is definitely a reward in itself. It really is,” she said. “It makes you feel good.”
This article is part of an ongoing series recognizing individuals who volunteer or do a lot for the St. Clair Shores community. Do you know someone who should be featured? Email Alyssa Ochss at aochss@candgnews.com or call her at (586) 498-1103.
from page 3A
job has been extremely busy especially with the added work of the controller before they found a new employee.
“I had to do the most important things,” Warnke said. “Some things kind of piled up behind the scenes and so I’ve been trying to dig out of that and get things caught up and in a good spot so that when I retire the person coming doesn’t have that issue to deal with.”
Warnke said City Manager Dustin Lent is great to work with, as are the other managers in the city.
“And it’s just a good group of people to work with,” Warnke said.
Lent said that it is sad to see a valuable employee retire, but he also said Warnke has earned her retirement and deserves it.
“She has, just recently, was moved up about two years ago to the finance director (position) and has done an admirable job and an extremely good job. She’s been a pleasure to work with and we are sad to see her go, but it’s a well-earned retirement and she’s going to enjoy it with family,” Lent said.
Warnke said her, her husband and her mother are going to become “snowbirds.” They will still keep a residence in Michigan and said she’ll still be around St. Clair Shores.
She thanked everyone for the opportunity to meet new people and do the job. She said her department is great.
“I just want to thank everybody for just pitching in and doing their part,” Warnke said. “It’s been a wonderful experience.”
Though no one had been hired at press time, the search continued to find a new finance director.
Call Staff Writer Alyssa Ochss at (586) 498-1103.
from page 10A
In the meantime, don’t let the warmerthan-usual and rainy weather around the holidays deter your skiing plans. Wintry weather is around the corner.
“After the terrible winter of 23-24, we have entered a much more winter-like pattern and meteorologists are predicting a much snowier and cooler January and February than we have experienced over the last several seasons,” Panich says. “With good weather and regular snowfall, skiers should expect to have great snow covered slopes all season long, with great conditions.”
For more information about what’s new at Michigan’s ski areas visit Michigan Snowsports Industries Association at goskimichi gan.com.
Greg Tasker is a Traverse City-based freelance writer.
from page 4A
in Livingston and sophomore sensation Sara Augustitus — and two individual state qualifiers in Augustitus, who was also the individual regional champion, and Koebke — the Shorians had a solid foundation with Turpin, a veteran bowler, also returning.
The surprise of the season has been junior Teagan Klott, who came up from JV this season and has been a consistent contributor.
“She worked at it,” Villasurda said. “She was a girl that never bowled, and she walked in and had to learn last year. I’m sure there were some frustrating things, but she got better. She’s always been will-
ing to learn. She’s a really smart girl.”
Lake Shore jumped out to a quick 2-0 league record behind a dominating performance from Augustitus, who rolled a 504 series, in its first league meet against Anchor Bay, but how about starting off the season with a tournament win to get the competitive juices flowing?
For the first time since 2019, Lake Shore brought home a tournament championship after placing first in the 2024 Richard Hochstein Memorial Invitational on Dec. 1 at Wonderland Lanes.
The Shorians followed up the team’s tournament success a week later as Augustitus fought through the L’Anse Creuse North Singles Invitational Dec. 8 at Imperial Lanes, taking down some of the top bowlers in the state in Utica-Eisenhower’s
See BOWLING on page 15A
We hope that we can count on you to attend many of the church services in our area on Sunday to pray for our country to once again protect all human life from conception to a natural death. We must continue to pray for the unborn who are being killed by abortion, but now we should also pray for the elderly, the handicapped and the disabled who face legalized assisted suicide in many states. Even though prayer is the single most important thing that we can do to save lives, RTLSE Macomb needs YOU. YOU are important! We need individuals of all ages to volunteer to help with so many activities including mailings (folding, stu ng, sealing newsletters and taking them to the post o ce), phone calls to members, helping with fund raising events such as the Bid for Life Auction. We need people with new ideas and new ways of doing things. Please think it over and try to help.
We are planning a general membership meeting in March. Free admission, free refreshments and an outstanding speaker that you will want to hear- also free. More details in our next newsletter.
We were awestruck by the tremendous victory of President Trump. He won by such a huge landslide! We are hopeful that he will eliminate the FACE Act and pardon the 89 year-old woman and her friends who were unjustly sentenced to 10 years in prison for praying at an abortion clinic. ere are many more individuals imprisoned for similar crimes. ank God for President Trump. At least these persecutions will stop for the next four years.
Let us pray:
God our Father created each of us in HIS image. For this reason, life at every stage has immeasurable value and beauty.
Lord, we pray, help us accept your creation.
As members of the human family, we rely on others to help us see our value. e Bible teaches us that God created each human life for a purpose. Lord, we pray, show us our purpose.
Be a prolife angel. SAVE A LIFE! Please ll in below and mail to: Right to Life Southeast Macomb, 27417 Harper, St. Clair Shores, MI 48081 or call 586-774-3939 for more information.
your
from page 14A
Hadley Clark and Ava Mazza before defeating Armada’s Reese Cecil 236-194.
Augustitus, a varsity softball player for the Shorians as well, is one of the premier bowlers in the sophomore class and has already made her mark on the juniors side of bowling.
“Sara is just a hard worker,” Villasurda said. “As much as she bowls, she has to be a hard worker. The difference between her freshman and sophomore year is her mental side of the game is getting better. She’s not frustrated when things don’t go her way, and that comes with getting older. She’s becoming more mature and getting better.”
Lake Shore’s biggest test of the season came in the Cougar Classic Invitational Dec. 14 at Imperial Lanes as Lake Shore battled all day to earn a runner-up finish, falling to Utica-Eisenhower, a unified team of Utica, the reigning MAC White champions, and Utica Eisenhower, the reigning MAC Red champions.
The Shorians went pin-for-pin with a team that’s penciled in as a state championship contender, and Augustitus, who placed 10th in the singles side of the tournament,
said it showed the team their full capability.
“I think we were all confident, but we just needed to make more spares,” Augustitus said. “I think everyone was a little nervous, but I don’t think they couldn’t do it. I think they all knew we had a shot, but we just needed to make a couple more spares and we would’ve been right up there with them. They got some great players on that team, and I think it showed us what we’re capable of.”
Turpin also placed 14th in the singles side out of 83 bowlers.
Augustitus and company currently have Lake Shore 4-1 in the MAC White with an impressive track record on the tournament path, but had a slight hiccup against Roseville Dec. 18 in a 27-3 loss.
Sometimes, an early loss for a team riding high with all the confidence in the world might just be exactly what they needed.
“We came out very egotistical, like we thought we were something,” Livingston said. “Roseville definitely put us back in our place and reminded us that there are teams way better than us and we have to make sure we stay on our game and stay focused. We can’t win them all, and that’s perfectly OK, but this showed us that regionals are going to be hard because there are teams that are going to be strong.”
Lake Shore will have another shot at Roseville in its last league meet of the season, which could end up being a league-deciding matchup.
The goal is simple — competing at regionals and improving at states, especially on the individual side for Augustitus and Koebke, who placed 41st and 32nd, respectively, but the transformation of the program
in just one season is something each bowler should be proud of.
There’s still work to be done, but Lake Shore bowling is back on track and ready to show Division 2 what it can bring.
“The difference is unbelievable,” Turpin said. “We’ve come a long way.”
Call Staff Writer Jonathan Szczepaniak at (586) 498-1090.
randomized, a lot of players think out their characters’ backgrounds and traits.
The character’s species and class help determine their statistics in areas such as strength, wisdom, intelligence, constitution and more. Examples of species include human, halfling, gnome, dragonborn and elf, while examples of character class include barbarian, bard, cleric and druid.
Cummings said he creates characters with drawings.
“I like to know what the character looks like and then that will kind of help me create the character,” Cummings said.
Stephen Ketcham, a D&D player from West Bloomfield, said his favorite part of the game is the collective storytelling nature.
“There’s usually a story framework, but everyone’s part of that and it’s evolving, and so we give and take and the back and forth and just that sort of that group storytelling aspect,” Ketcham said.
Ketcham started playing the game in the 1980s. At that point, the edition known as the “blue box” edition was the most current.
“So the books came in this blue box
with a dragon on the front and everything,” Ketcham said.
He played the game through his childhood and stopped in college. He said he picked it back up around 10 years ago. Ketcham likes the fifth edition of the handbook.
He said he got back into D&D gaming again because a man came into the branch of the library he managed in West Bloomfield. Ketcham said the man was looking for players and wanted to place something on the bulletin board.
“So that’s how I met a guy that lived really close to the branch that I managed,” Ketcham said. “He got me back into it and then we have a couple other guys around our ages. So we game every other Friday night with that group, and we’ve been doing that probably for seven, eight, nine years.”
Ketcham said he’d recommend people check out D&D if they’re curious about it.
“If anyone that likes the creative storytelling, the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ stuff, ‘Lord of the Rings,’ all that kind of (stuff), yeah, do give it a try,” Ketcham said.
Cummings’ advice to first-time players is to not memorize the rules and play it strictly by the book. He explained a lot of rules sometimes get ignored because no one knew they were there.
“You don’t need to memorize all of the
rules, you don’t need to bicker at the table and have the game stop because everyone’s trying to figure out how exactly a particular rule works,” Cummings said. “What we try to do and a lot of groups try to do is just get through that game session smoothly. Keep the story going. Try not to ruffle any personal feathers, of course.”
He went on to say that people can look up the rules afterwards.
Ketcham recommends first-time players watch YouTube videos explaining the game and its basics.
“Dungeons & Dragons isn’t just an easy game to sit down and play,” Ketcham said. “There’s a lot to it, a lot of rules. If you look at
Editor: Brian Louwers | (586) 498-1089 | brianlouwers@candgnews.com
Reporter: Alyssa Ochss | (586) 498-1103 | aochss@candgnews.com
Sports: Jonathan Szczepaniak | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com
Artroom: (586) 498-1036 | ads@candgnews.com
the character sheet, it’s just full of stuff.” He encourages the new players he meets to stick with it. He also said new players should find a group willing to take on a new player. New players can find groups online, in local game stores, at local libraries and many other places.
The Dungeon Master’s Handbook and the Player’s Handbook, as well as many other guides, can be found at local libraries and bookstores. Rules and other sources of information can also be found on the D&D website at dndbeyond.com.
Call Staff Writer Alyssa Ochss at (586) 4981103.
| pkaspor@candgnews.com
“(We’re) hitting the ground running, doing the underground (work), and then putting the building up and constructing the building,” Lent said. “Both of those buildings are anticipated being anywhere from 12 to 15 months (to complete), so the entire year we’re going to be doing a lot of projects.”
At the police station, the front memorial will be saved and incorporated into the new building, Lent said. Everything at the fire station will be removed and replaced.
Firefighters who were stationed at the central fire station are now housed at the south and north fire stations with the administration operating out of the St. Lucy Catholic Church. The Police Department operations are also managed out of St. Lucy’s.
The library will also have renovations inside the building. Lent said federal ear-
from page 6A
riences include the “Ford Bronco Built Wild Track” and “Camp Jeep” course, while the “Powering Michigan EV Experience” gives attendees the ability to ride in the passenger seat of electric vehicle offerings by BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and Rivian. A sportier experience will be held on Friday, Jan. 17 with a course designed in collaboration with the Detroit Grand Prix, where two Chevrolet Corvette E-Rays will be on track and ride-alongs in Buick, Ford, Honda, Mazda and Volkswagen vehicles will be provided.
The grand prix-inspired course comes as part of the show’s “Racing Day” on Jan. 17, where drivers from the NTT IndyCar
marked funding allowed them to create new areas for children and teens. The children’s and teen areas will be getting new carpet, a new makerspace and a new location. The Friends of the Library Used Book store will be located where the children’ s area currently is. A genealogy room will also be constructed.
“We got some private donations as well for the new genealogy room,” Lent said.
He added that projects at the library would total about $2 million.
Renovations for the library will be inside only. During construction, which will most likely occur during September, the library will be shut down for around three months. Lent said, however, that residents can still pick up books.
“We’ll be doing door service very similar to how we did (during) COVID,” Lent said. “Not allowing people inside but still having the library books available.”
Book drop offs will also still be available.
Series and Indy NXT by Firestone, including two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden, are slated to appear.
“The Detroit Grand Prix embodies innovation and the spirit of Detroit,” Sam Klemet, co-executive director of the Detroit Auto Show, said in a press release. “We are thrilled to have a partnership with the Detroit Grand Prix and bring this amazing experience of Racing Day to the 2025 Detroit Auto Show.”
Other notable events during the show include the Driven by Service Day on Saturday, Jan. 18, Industry Days, AutoMobili-D and the Mobility Global Forum on Wednesday, Jan. 15 and Thursday, Jan. 16.
Tickets, speaker lineups and other information about the 2025 Detroit Auto Show can be found at detroitautoshow.com.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
18A/ ST. CLAIR SHORES SENTINEL • JANUARY 8, 2025
JAN. 11
#BestLife Vision Party: Practice breathing exercises, guided meditation, writing about goals/desires for 2025 and more, 10:30-11:30 a.m., GVST Wellness inside Hampton Square Building, 22811 Greater Mack Ave. in St. Clair Shores, teemaree.com/events
Board Game Day: Noon-4 p.m., St. Clair Shores Public Library, 22500 E. 11 Mile Road, (586) 771-9020, scslibrary.org
JAN. 12
‘Ford Gliders in WWII’: Presentation about auto company’s production of planes for U.S. War Department, 2 p.m., Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society Museum, 16600 Stephens Road in Eastpointe, (586) 872-2581, mimths@mimths.org, mimths.org
JAN. 26
Night at the Races: Fundraiser hosted by St. Clair Shores Firefighters Local 1744, bet on horses in virtual races, also 50/50, prizes, hors d’oeuvres and drinks, 7 p.m.-midnight, Blossom Heath Inn, 24800 Jefferson Ave., facebook.com/stclairshoresfirefighters
ONGOING
St. Clair Shores Community Chorus: Rehearsals for ages 14 and older held 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Triumphant Cross Lutheran Church, 22360 13 Mile Road,
spring concert featuring music from movies at 3 p.m. May 4, Lake Shore High School, 22980 13 Mile Road, scscommunitychorus.org
Tunnel of Lights: 5-9 p.m. daily until Jan. 26, Blossom Heath Park, 24800 Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores, facebook.com/st.clairshoresparksandrecreation
Silent Book Group: Bring own book, for ages 18 and older, socializing at 6:30 p.m. and silent reading at 8 p.m. every third Wednesday of month, St. Clair Shores Public Library, 22500 11 Mile Road, (586) 771-9020, scslibrary.org
Activities for seniors: Crafting, movies, knitting and crocheting, dominoes, euchre, pickleball and many more games, St. Clair Shores Senior Center for Active Adults, 20100 Stephens Road, (586) 445-0996
St. Gertrude Senior’s Club: Meets 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays, St. Margaret of Scotland, 21201 E. 13 Mile Road in St. Clair Shores, (586) 293-2240
Overeaters Anonymous meetings: 10 a.m. Saturdays, St. Margaret of Scotland, 21201 E. 13 Mile Road in St. Clair Shores, (586) 293-0814
‘Sky & Space’: Featuring works by Lakeside Palette Club of St. Clair Shores, Mount Clemens Art Associa-
To view more Community Calendar and to submit your own, use the QR code or visit candgnews.com/calendar. To advertise an event, call (586) 498-8000.
tion, Romeo Guild of Art, Shelby Township Fine Art Society and Warren Tri-County Fine Arts, opening reception and awards from 1-3 p.m. Jan. 18, exhibit on display 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays Jan. 18-Feb. 22, Anton Art Center, 125 Macomb Place in Mount Clemens, theartcenter.org
Lakeside Palette Club of St. Clair Shores: Open studio events, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, St. Clair Shores Adult Education Center inside North Lake High School, 23340 Elmira St., (586) 944-8253, lpcofscs@gmail. com, lakesidepaletteclub.org
Lakeshore Ukulele Strummers: Jam sessions for all levels, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Lakeshore Presbyterian Church, 27801 Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores, (586) 321-9535
Storytime: 1:30 p.m. every second Wednesday of month, near Dick’s Sporting Goods at Macomb Mall, 32233 Gratiot Ave. in Roseville, shopmacombmall. com
Young Modelers Club: For ages 8-16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Saturdays until April 19, Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society Museum, 16600 Stephens Road in Eastpointe, contact Jim at (248) 574-3487, (248) 399-2386 or jimandkatie17@att.net
Ice skating: Noon-8 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
GIVE BLOOD FOR CHANCE TO SEE SUPER BOWL LIX IN PERSON
Winner gets two tickets, access to pre-game activities, round-trip airfare to New Orleans, hotel accommodations, gift card for expenses and more, donate through Jan. 26, find participating center and make appointment at redcrossblood. org/give.html/find-drive, (800) 733-2767
Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays, and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays until March 2, The Rink at Campus Martius Park, 800 Woodward Ave. in Detroit, downtowndetroit.org/ experience-downtown/things-to-do/the-rink
Detroit Auto Show: Public hours run 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Jan. 11-14, 1-8 p.m. Jan. 15-16, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Jan. 17-19 and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Jan. 20, Huntington Place, 1 Washington Blvd. in Detroit, detroitautoshow.com
Health workshops: Hosted by Corewell Health, free and virtual, corewellhealth.org/classes-events/ southeast-michigan
Lupus support groups: 10 a.m. every second Tuesday of month and 7 p.m. every last Wednesday, Zoom, (248) 901-7299, milupus.org/support-groups
He said between the fire station, police station and the library, around $28 million will be spent for city building projects.
South Lake Schools Superintendent Ted VonHiltmayer said bond work will continue in the district.
Most of the bond work will occur at Avalon Elementary School and Elmwood Elementary School.
“Whereas last summer we had a lot of work going on the outside, it’s going to switch to the inside at this point,” VonHiltmayer said.
Work on the inside will include boiler replacement, HVAC projects and more. VonHiltmayer said every classroom will be touched by construction. The rooms will be painted, flooring and furniture will be replaced and more.
“So there’s going to be a lot of work going on,” VonHiltmayer said. “It’s going to start in the spring, go through the summer and (there) may even be some work left to do in the fall.”
VonHiltmayer said the work and funding comes from the most recent bond passed.
Other work includes parking lot replacement and expansion at South Lake Middle School and continued bond work throughout the project period. VonHiltmayer said they have work scheduled out until 2027.
“When it’s all said and done, we will have touched every building,” VonHiltmayer said.
Lake Shore Public Schools Superintendent Joe DiPonio said bond work will continue in 2025. The renovations at Rogers Elementary School are expected to be completed.
“That includes (a) new gymnasium, new playground, new cafeteria space, renovation of all of our classrooms and hallways and really transforming what that space looks like,” DiPonio said.
He also said this year will kick off construction at their early childhood center and community center. It will include new classroom space, pickle ball courts and more. The early childhood center will be open to all residents of Macomb County.
This building will also house the administrative center with all business, district level director positions, student services and more.
DiPonio said they will also take a look at the impact of cellphones in the school district and that officials will analyze the potential use
of pouches that hold the phones during the school day.
“They create basically a cellphone-free school environment,” DiPonio said.
The district will look for feedback from students, teachers and parents.
Superintendent Karl Paulson said they are also continuing bond work in the Lakeview district.
The school district will soon see renovations at their high school pool and auditorium, new playground equipment at the Wheat Early Childhood Center and elementary schools and more.
Renovations to the pool and auditorium will continue through the summer and Paulson said it is hoped that both will be open by the fall.
“Those are good new things still to
come,” Paulson said. “We’re obviously now taking advantage. I mean, we’re still looking forward to taking advantage of our new classrooms at our four elementaries and we have a new wing that’s about to open midyear here at the high school.”
The bond used for the projects was passed back in 2019 and was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The school district has also been implementing a new math curriculum in the elementary schools.
“Those are things teachers have been working on and this is the second year of the implementation,” Paulson said. “We did half of it last year, the other half of (it) this year.”
That also includes new materials, new approaches and new online materials.
Paulson said they’ve already seen the benefits with improved scores, and they expect the same thing this year.
C & G Newspapers strives for accuracy and fairness to its readers. If you think we got it wrong, please let us know. Call Gregg Demers at (586) 498-1042, email gdemers@candgnews.com or write us at 13650 11 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48089.
CORRECTION: The story “When shopping at home, be alert for grinches trying to steal gifts and info” in the Dec. 11 issue should have stated that the St. Clair Shores police detective lieutenant’s last name is Brueckman.
Permanent full-time Utility Worker position, $47,528 - $64,230 annually (40 Hours per week) includes benefit package. Successful completion of Civil Service Examination is required, and applicants must meet all requirements set forth in the Employees Civil Service Ordinance, possession of a valid Michigan driver’s license and a good driving record. Pre-employment background investigation and substance abuse testing is required. Interested, applicants must submit application to the Clinton Township Employees Civil Service Commission, 40700 Romeo Plank Rd., Clinton Twp., MI 48038 on or before the close of business, Monday, November 25, 2024. The Charter Township of Clinton is an Equal Opportunity Employer, applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, or disability. For further information pertaining to this position or to download employment application please refer to www.clintontownship.com, click on Employment. 0305-2446
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Street, located near M-59/Hall Road and M-53, the night of Nov. 30.
Officers said they talked to the individual, who reportedly said he threw lawn furniture on the grass and was mad that his family didn’t invite him to dinner on Thanksgiving. Police said no one was hurt, and nothing was damaged, so they advised him to restrain his temper and took no further action.
Vehicle reported stolen parked on building’s opposite side
STERLING HEIGHTS — Police said they heard that a silver Nissan Sentra had been stolen Dec. 1 along 18 Mile Road.
The owner reportedly went inside a building to get a soda and cigarettes and exited to discover that the vehicle was apparently gone. Police said the owner had the vehicle’s keys.
Although the Sentra’s owner reportedly thought she had parked on the south side, a police investigation then discovered the vehicle on the building’s north side. Police took no further action.
Woman at apartment gathering arrested for resisting police
STERLING HEIGHTS — Police went to an apartment address in the 8000 block of 16 1/2 Mile Road early in the morning of Dec. 1 upon hearing that people were “screaming and throwing stuff.”
Police said they learned that the apartment was an Airbnb used by “five males and five females,” and the males reportedly came from Indiana to meet the women. Police said they also heard that one woman allegedly was mad that the “males were not paying attention to her.”
Police said they noticed a woman who appeared to be intoxicated, stumbling and unsteady. When police told her to talk to them, she allegedly “refused and began running.”
Police said they grabbed her by the arms, and when she allegedly kept flailing and resisting, they reportedly “assisted her to the ground” and handcuffed her.
Police said the woman was taken to jail and cited for misdemeanor resisting and obstructing an officer.
Kia theft attempted
EASTPOINTE — According to a police report, at 10:10 p.m. Dec. 9, officers were dispatched to the
Road and Gratiot Avenue, to investigate a complaint of attempted auto theft. They found that an unknown suspect had broken the rear driver’s side window of a 2011 Kia Sportage to gain entry, and the steering column had been peeled in an attempt to steal the vehicle.
Police were investigating.
Trailblazer taken
EASTPOINTE — According to a police report, at around 6:05 a.m. Dec. 11, officers were called to the 22000 block of Pleasant Avenue, in the area of Toepfer Drive and Gratiot Avenue, to investigate the theft of a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer that had occurred overnight. The vehicle had been left unlocked. Surveillance footage showed two suspects entering the vehicle at around 11 p.m. Dec. 10. They remained in the car for about two minutes and then drove off.
An investigation was ongoing.
Stolen deer
MOUNT CLEMENS — On Dec. 1 at around 3:30 p.m., a 43-year-old Mount Clemens man reported his stolen Christmas decorations to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office.
He told deputies that he began setting up decorations the day before, including setting up his light-up deer.
After finishing setting up around 9 p.m. and going to bed, he noticed the deer was gone when he checked at 8 p.m.
Man steals expensive wine bottle
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Officers from the Shelby Township Police Department were dispatched to 51015 Van Dyke Ave., a BP gas station, for a retail fraud complaint at 7:03 p.m. Dec. 6. An officer was informed that an unknown man stole a $300 bottle of wine and left prior to police arrival. The owner of the BP gas station printed a picture of the suspect and showed it to customers to see if they could recognize the suspect. A customer recognized the suspect and updated the detective working on the case. The detective was able to positively identify the suspect.
Someone cuts wires to lights
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At 2:11 p.m. Dec. 4, an officer from the Shelby Township Police Department was called to the 6000 block of 24 Mile Road for a malicious destruction of property report. The location is a business that has lights around the perimeter of the business in the parking lot. The business owner noticed that one of the lights was not working and called an electrician to check it out. The electrician
been cut. The business owner said he had heard rumors that the neighborhood located near the parking lot was upset with the lights.
Many liquor bottles stolen SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A Shelby Township police officer was dispatched to Meijer at 15055 Hall Road for a retail fraud at 2:41 p.m. Dec. 4. Upon the officer’s arrival, he was advised of two people who had walked out of the store without paying for more than $900 worth of liquor. The couple had concealed 17 bottles of liquor before leaving the store, according to the Police Department. The case was turned over to the detective bureau for investigation.
Fraud reported
ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 3:28 on Dec. 3, a case of fraud was reported in the 25000 block of Little Mack Avenue.
An officer spoke with the store manager, a 27-year-old man. He stated a person came into the store and stole sunglasses from the store the previous day at approximately 7:30 p.m. He did not know how many pairs were missing. He stated the same suspect came into the store on Nov. 27 and again on Nov. 28 and stole the same sunglasses. The suspect has been identified as a 60-year-old man. The sunglasses are valued at $19.99 each and are Detroit Lions themed.
The suspect reportedly concealed the sunglasses without paying.
Online Lions ticket fraud reported
ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 2:53 p.m. on Dec. 3, a case of fraud was reported in the 23000 block of Euclid Street.
A woman, 33, came into the station and reported that she and her boyfriend, a 50-year-old man, were scammed out of $450. She said her boyfriend spoke with a girl on Facebook who had six Detroit Lions tickets for sale at $150 per ticket. They conducted the transaction over Venmo and in doing so her boyfriend sent a partial payment of $450 to the account.
After the payment went through, the user blocked them and the two were unable to make contact. Venmo froze the woman’s account, and she was attempting to stop the transaction.
Trespasser arrested GROSSE POINTE PARK — A 41-year-old Hamtramck man was arrested at
