CLEARING THE AIR ON VAPING RISKS
Dakota underclassmen help carry the program on the golf course
BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Three months before their freshman season at Macomb Dakota, sophomores Angelina Accuso and Marissa Monteith competed in the Syron Junior Challenge at Pontiac Country Club on May 20.
The two underclassmen were likely aware of each other and how they were going to be teammates on the links in just a few short months, right?
Aside from being back-to-back on the leaderboards later that day with Monteith getting the seven-stroke ad-
Purchaser found for township-owned home
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — It took over two months, but a township-owned home will soon change hands.
Trustees approved the $195,000 sale of a single-family home at 21560 23 Mile Road at the Oct. 9 Macomb Township Board of Trustees meeting.
Sold as-is, the property was purchased in 2021 due to the risk it would be damaged by the reconstruction of a nearby pump station.
“It did have some mold issues,” Macomb Township Supervisor Frank Viviano said. “Our broker generously agreed to list it for no fee, and they were able to solicit a full-price cash offer which the exact price we paid for (the property.)”
Mold remediation estimated to cost at least $30,000 is required for the property, though it was not damaged by the pump station project. Roseville-based RGS Commercial LLC purchased the home and is responsible for paying the transfer taxes.
Premier Academy rezoning
Trustees also approved changes to the conditional rezoning of the Premier Academy child care center at the corner of 21 Mile and Card roads. The requested amendments to the conditional rezoning include reducing the width of the dumpster enclosure to 10 feet 4 inches from 12 feet and adding a break in a masonry wall to allow for an aluminum fence to be built.
“As we finished the site development there was an issue with the size of the dumpster enclosure that we are cleaning up with this amendment, as well as an issue with the masonry wall,” Macomb Township Planning Director Josh Bocks said.
Macomb Dakota sophomore Angelina Accuso putts during regional play Oct. 9 at Fieldstone Golf Club in Auburn Hills.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Local middle schooler wins NASCAR youth championship
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Like many of his L’Anse Creuse Middle School East peers, Bryce Koerner has 12 years of life rolled onto his odometer. Bryce, however, would contest this to some extent.
When Bryce was 9 in the summer of 2021, his mother, Lauren, found a listing for a quarter midget race car. They followed the listing out to the Waterford Hills racetrack and, after running the open-wheeled car for a few laps, Bryce was certain his life had only just begun.
“He told us when he exited the car that he did not begin until he sat in that car, so the nine years before did not count,” Lauren said.
One car became two, two cars became three and now with five cars to his name and three years of racing under his belt, Bryce Koerner clinched the Midwest Thunder 2024 formula modified championship.
“It feels amazing,” Bryce said. “It feels like so much is already off my chest.”
Claiming the championship with a win with 285 points scored over his five best weekends, Bryce clinched the season at the final event at Kokomo Quarter Midget Club in Kokomo, Indiana on Sept. 8.
Bryce is the first member of his family to get into racing. His father and crew chief, Nick Koerner, grew up around motorsports and while Lauren is experienced in the world of automobiles, racing had not played a major role until that fateful trip to Waterford.
The road to Bryce’s championship officially began in November 2021 at the Buckeye Winternationals in Columbus, Ohio, where he ran in a performance-restricted race for rookies to the world of quarter midget racing.
“Essentially, (a quarter midget) is a scaled-down version of an actual midget race car,” Lauren said. “It is built on a tubular frame with springs and shocks, and it can be made out of bodies of either sheet metal, fiberglass or carbon fiber. It has a full roll cage and nerf bars, and these cars run on engines that are single cylinders that are
Volunteering an option for those seeking to bond with animals
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — For those who seek to build bonds with animals, getting a pet is one way to go. But not everyone has the time or space to commit to a furry friend for years.
For those whose love of animals runs against their time or spatial commitments, volunteering may be a better approach.
Volunteering at an animal shelter is one way to help a variety of animals. At shelters like the one operated by Macomb County Animal Control, volunteers are able to work with or for the benefit of animals in many roles including working at adoption events, photographing pets, grooming animals, walking dogs, taking part in the feline friends group and helping greet people as they arrive.
“For people who can’t have an animal at home, I think it is the best of both worlds here because it is really hands-on,” Macomb County Animal Control operations assistant Lori Hampton said. “You can take dogs for a walk. You can help with enrichment. There are so many opportunities here that are just like owning a pet at home.”
manufactured by either Honda or Briggs & Stratton.”
From there, Bryce began taking on different levels and classifications of quarter midget racing. His 2024 Midwest Thunder season would include races in five classes including the top-level formula modified class, and events would typically run from 8 a.m. all the way into the late evening.
See KOERNER on page 20A
Volunteers tend to vary in the pet-owning backgrounds, ranging from those who have never owned an animal to those who have spent their whole lives around them. Volunteering at the shelter allows people to interact with a wider number of pets than they may be used to. Aside from cats and dogs, the shelter houses birds, reptiles, pigs, rabbits and other such animals. Volunteers can also see what being around more common pets is like.
“A lot of (volunteers) are animal lovers,” Hampton said. “Perhaps they have recently lost a pet, and they are not ready to make that commitment to them,
Photo provided by Lauren Koerner
Bryce Koerner celebrates winning the Midwest Thunder 2024 formula modified championship at Kokomo Quarter Midget Club in Kokomo, Indiana. Bryce is joined, from left, by his grandpa and tire guy Mike Lachat, dad and crew chief Nick Koerner, driver trainer Jackson Diehl, owner of BRE Racing Engines Javin Mendoza and fellow competitor Ellis Mendoza.
ANIMALS on page 21A
Events will help Macomb Mall celebrate 60-year milestone
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
ROSEVILLE — John Saylor was a junior high school student living in Roseville when Macomb Mall first opened in 1964 at Gratiot Avenue and Masonic Boulevard.
“We’d never seen anything like it. The mall was brand-new and it was pretty amazing,” Saylor said. “The night the mall opened, my whole family piled up in the car and went to see the new mall. There were hundreds of people doing the same thing we were, just walking around, pointing and looking.”
During his senior year of high school, Saylor, now 73, of Clinton Township, worked as a stock boy at Sears, which has since closed.
“All of the guys working there, we had a lot of fun,” he said.
Macomb Mall will celebrate its 60year anniversary from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Oct. 26. The Eastpointe-Roseville Chamber of Commerce will make an appearance, and the Recreation Authority of Roseville and Eastpointe will set up arts and crafts.
At 1 p.m., things will disappear with
Enhance the design atmosphere of any space at Consign Couture
Looking for that signature piece or design element to take any interior space to the next level? Look no further than Consign Couture Interiors & Inspiration.
Now celebrating three years on 18 Mile Road in Clinton Township, Consign Couture founder Rosemarie Baldwin said she wanted to create a personalized shopping experience ofering consignment pieces, builder’s model merchandise and new furniture, home decor and oneof-a-kind gifts.
“When you come into my store, it’s somewhat of a treasure hunt,” Baldwin said. “The store is filled with national name brands, all at amazing prices. It’s perfect for very savvy
consumers who really know their brands.”
Baldwin spent 35 years in retail and was a vice president of visual merchandising and marketing for national retailers. She said she wanted to put that national experience to work at the local level.
At Consign Couture, you’ll find new high-end home decor items from brands including Uttermost — accent pieces, vases, statues, furniture and tables. Merchandise in the store on consignment bears famous brand
names, including West Elm and Pottery Barn.
“We’ve curated a selection of stylish and unique items, perfect for refreshing your space and treating your loved ones,” Baldwin said. “We have an extensive collection of funky items if you’re looking for something that makes a big statement in your decor. I love to enhance atmospheres, to tie rooms together and help designers make a bold statement.”
Baldwin said she’s already looking forward to the weeks and months ahead, and the interior
design inspirations that will change with the seasons. “What I’m really excited about is celebrating the fall season and a spectacular holiday season ahead,” she said. “I will be selling seasonal holiday things such as diferent lighted orbs, beautiful garlands, holiday candles, decor pieces, pillows and throws.”
Consign Couture Interiors & Inspiration is located at 16989 18 Mile Road in Clinton Township. For more about the shop and its wares visit consigncouturemi.com.
25% OFF ONE ITEM Excludes Furniture
ABOVE: Santa Claus gets ready for another Christmas season at Macomb Mall. BELOW: “Dallas” television star Patrick Duffy, left, meets fans during an appearance.
Photos provided by Macomb Mall staff Crowley’s Department Store was a staple at the mall for many years.
& NOTES
Educators have chance to win teacher grants
Macomb County Office of Senior Services receives federal grant
MACOMB COUNTY — The Macomb County Office of Senior Services announced on Oct. 8 it was awarded a $750,000 grant from the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women.
Officially known as the Training and Services Grant to End Abuse in Later Life, the funds will be utilized through the Macomb Elder Justice Alliance. The alliance was formed in 2023 between community organizations, banks, criminal and civil courts, law enforcement, investigative agencies and senior service organizations with the goal of organizing and amplifying efforts to end elder abuse, address exploitation and neglect through education, and promote collaboration and advocacy for victims and those at risk.
“These resources will connect Macomb County with national experts on elder abuse to train all parts of the criminal justice system,” Sheila Cote, director of senior services, said in the announcement. “It will be transformational for the community and provide support services to older adults who have been abused or exploited and place their needs at the center of our community’s response. We are so grateful to our committed partners in law enforcement and community resources who are the major partners and will be integral to the training and development of policies that will help to transform the current response to elder abuse.”
For more information about the Macomb Elder Justice Alliance, contact Sheila Cote or visit macombgov.org/departments/senior-services.
Forlini named Columbus Day ‘Man of the Year’
MACOMB COUNTY — Macomb County Clerk
Anthony G. Forlini has been named the Columbus Day “Man of the Year” by the Detroit Area Columbus Day Celebration Committee. He will be honored Oct. 13 during the 2024 Columbus Day Banquet at the Italian American Cultural Center in Clinton Township.
“Anthony Forlini has always been a strong leader and advocate in our Italian American Community. He has been a shining example of how to give back to the Italian American Community with his willingness to go above and beyond, actively seeking ways to help, support and make the community better and stronger,” Columbus Day Celebration Committee President Lisa ValerioNowc said in a prepared statement.
Forlini, the son of an Italian immigrant, has made multiple trips to Italy, establishing ties between schools and businesses and introducing American culture to Italy and vice versa. In his many visits to Italy, he brought Italian and American students together.
In 2013, he helped establish a sister-school program with a high school in Perugia, Italy, and Lake Shore Public Schools, according to a press release. After multiple visits to Cassino, Italy, he signed a sister-school program in June of 2018 with an advanced studies high school in Cassino, Italy, and L’anse Creuse School District, the press release states. Reportedly more than 150 students are enrolled in Italian classes this year alone.
Also honored this year are “Woman of the Year” Mary Smith, of the Venetian Club of Mutual Aid, and “Humanitarian of the Year” Joseph Toia, judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit Court.
Forlini
For the Love of Louie helps families find beloved pets
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — The Facebook page “For the Love of Louie” helps find lost pets and returns them to their families in happy and sometimes sad reunions.
Cathy Ludwig, an administrator for the page, said it was started around 2010 by Leah Doslea. She lost her dog, Louie, and requested help on social media.
“And there was such an overwhelming amount of responses and care in the community that she decided to start up the page,” Ludwig said.
She said that since 2010 they’ve started using spreadsheets and adopted a process to keep everything as organized and consistent as they can. Using capital letters helps the posts on the site stand out, Ludwig said. They crop photos and post the relevant information.
The page is not affiliated with anyone outside of Michigan. When they started cataloging the posted pets around 2013, they found out they reunite around 10,000 animals a year. The longest time she’s seen an animal lost was 10 years.
“We have 306,000 followers on the page,” Ludwig said. “It’s the largest displaced pets page for Michigan out there.”
The page runs from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. all year-round including holidays. Ludwig said they have around 18 volunteers who run the page and take shifts during the day. Volunteers reside all over the state. Ludwig has a home in Michigan and also has a home on the East Coast.
“We all take time slots and keep the page going,” Ludwig said.
Ludwig personally has been involved since 2018. She’s always followed the page and at one point she became obsessed with trying to help find a dog.
“Unfortunately, it never got found,” Ludwig said. “But that’s what really prompted me to get involved and become a volunteer.”
Melissa Hurn, another admin for the page, said the farthest she’s seen a pet go is across state lines into Ohio. She found the For the Love of Louie group around 10 or 11 years ago when she lost her cat.
“Back then they only did like a brief paragraph to tell people to keep a lookout,” Hurn said. “I never found my cat, but the amount of resources I guess, like, positive help that she gave me made me want to give back.”
She said even that though she never found her cat, helping others find their pets
motivates her to check out the page every day.
Hurn said the general public loves the page.
“Because we’re such a small group, we would be much better off if we had more help,” Hurn said.
Not all on the page are “happy tails” and smiles. Sometimes, Hurn said, they have the hard task of notifying a family that their pet has died. Hurn said she will personally call the family when that occurs.
“It’s heart wrenching to tell somebody that their pet’s dead and where to find it,” Hurn said. “And some people can’t handle that, either. Everybody assumes it’s just all happy tails. It’s not. It’s people, very emotionally like, begging you to help find their pet.”
She said she comes across deceased pets every day.
“Luckily, we’re matching up more people (to) alive pets,” Hurn said. “So the good definitely outweighs the sad.”
Most of the animals posted are usually let out by accident. A gate could be left open, a car accident could frighten a pet, or there could be a slew of other explanations.
“It’s usually something (that) happened, an incident happened, and the animal is afraid, bolted, (the) door left open, garage left open,” Ludwig said.
The page helps families reunite with their beloved pets throughout the state including the Upper Peninsula. It’s not just limited to dogs and cats, either. The page helps find lost cows, goats, horses and, in one instance, an alligator.
The quickest way Michigan residents can get in contact with the page is through Facebook Messenger.
To find the page, just search for “For the Love of Louie” on Facebook.
Ludwig said the public usually directs worried pet owners to the page when they post elsewhere.
“We have quite a few regular people in the public that will just look at our photos and try to make matches,” Ludwig said.
She said residents can post a picture of their animal on the page along with the pertinent information such as breed, name and other features.
Louie, the namesake of the Facebook group For the Love of Louie, is featured in this photo.
Photo taken with permission from the For the Love of Louie Facebook page
Asst. Prosecuting Attorney
PAT
SIERAWSKI FOR
41-A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
Pat had the privilege and honor to speak at this years Shelby Township Memorial Day ceremony where he shared a letter recounting his grandfather’s bravery on Okinawa during WWII.
with 2024
Pat’s grandfather was a recipient of a Purple Heart (as well as two Bronze Stars) during the Battle of Okinawa. Pat’s twin brother Tony is a current Major in the United States Marine Corps serving over 13 years and deployed twice to Afghanistan.
Our veterans put their lives on the line to protect our freedom. Unfortunately, many times those same veterans struggle transitioning back to civilian life once they have completed their service. Issues like PTSD, substance abuse, and other mental health issues afect veterans diferently and more prevalently than the average citizen. As the son, grandson, twin-brother and cousin of VETERANS; Pat has always held them and their service to our country in the highest regard. If elected, he hopes to establish a Veterans Treatment Court so as to help those who have sacrifced so much for our freedom.
Pat
Sterling Heights Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal, Chief Judge of 41-A District Court, Desert Storm Veteran and 20 year retired Air Force Major father Steve Sierawski. Recipient of the Air Force Air Medal.
COWABUNGA!
BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com
The Motor City Comic Con, which is set to take over the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi Nov. 8-10, has a reputation for bringing in phenomenal celebrity guests, and the lineup for the third annual fall convention does not cease to amaze.
This year’s lineup includes: Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund; Wayne Knight, better known as Newman from the TV sitcom “Seinfeld”; Priscilla Presley; the voice actors behind the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Cam Clarke, Townsend Coleman, Barry Gordon and Rob Paulsen; Star Trek’s George Takei; and Alan Ruck, who is known for his role as Cameron Frye in the cult classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
“A lot of the times we will try and look at anniversaries that are happening,” Sam Yankee, show manager of MC3, said of the guest selection process. “We have Ray Park, and it’s the 25th anniversary, I believe, of (‘Star Wars: Episode I — The) Phantom
Menace’ coming up, and then, I believe, we also have the anniversary of the Ninja Turtles. But that is a really good indicator. … Yeah, people like to celebrate those big events.”
Yankee said that original actors for the various fandoms are always going to be popular because they started it all.
“I also think that with some of the original actors and the original voice actors from movies, you are hitting different generations,” said Beth Burland, MC3 show manager. “So, maybe you watched it with your parents and now you’re showing that to your children. So it just carries on.”
Yankee said they also like to ‘gear a little bit more towards horror” for the fall show and bring in guests who are known for their roles in horror films, such as Englund.
“Horror icons are what we try to get as well,” she said.
This year the show will be presenting two off-site movie events at the Emagine
See MC3 on page 17A
Fall Motor City Comic Con to
be a frightfully fun event
File photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Pop culture fans browse tables at the Motor City Comic Con in May 2023. The next event will return to the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi Nov. 8-10.
Integrity and EXPERIENCE MATTERS
39 years at Macomb County Sheriff’s Office 14 years as Sheriff
EDUCATED AND DEDICATED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Associate Degree from Macomb Community College
• Bachelor’s Degree from Wayne State University
• Class 208 F.B.I National Academy
• Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command
• Secret Service Dignitary Security Protection Program
• Fiscally manage a $99 million dollar budget
• Policy and decision maker
• Leader of 562 full time employees and 178 Reserve Deputies
• Board Member of the F.B.I. Criminal Justice Information System Advisory Policy Board.
• Vice Chair of Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standard.
• Macomb Sheriff Captains/Commander/Dispatcher
Director Union
• Macomb Sheriff Command Officer Union
• Macomb County Professional Deputy Sheriff’s Association
• Macomb County Association of Chiefs of Police
• Police Officers Association of Michigan
• Consolidated Dispatch Services with Clinton Township and Sterling Heights police and fire.
• Since 2011, increased staffing by 114 full time positions.
• New State of the Art Marine Division Headquarters.
• New Central Intake and Assessment Center with a focus on mental health and substance use disorder for those remanded to the County Jail opening in 2027.
• Updated technology for Law Enforcement, Dispatchers, Correctional Staff.
• IBEW Local 58
• Sheetmetal Worker Local 58
• Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights
• Macomb County PAC, MEA
• UAW Region 1
• Southeastern Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police
CRIME WATCH
Theft and pursuit
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 3:50 a.m. on Oct. 5, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were altered to a car theft in progress.
A 36-year-old Macomb Township man called deputies as thieves were starting the Chevrolet Corvette parked outside of a home in the 20000 block of Windham Drive. The caller and his brother began chasing the Corvette in a truck, with deputies picking up the chase around Hall Road and following the stolen vehicle until it entered westbound Interstate 94 where the pursuit was terminated.
The thieves reportedly exceeded 100 mph during the chase.
Basement break-in
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On the morning of Oct. 4, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a home in the 49000 block of Vixen Trail about a reported break-in.
The caller, a 36-year-old woman, told deputies that earlier that morning she noticed her basement door was open and a screen covering an egress window was bent and partially removed. Residents performed checks of the home and did not find anything to be stolen.
Deputies spoke with the 74-year-old male neighbor, who spotted someone near the window around 12:30 a.m. He shined a flashlight at the suspect, causing them to jump a fence and flee.
Digital threats
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 2, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies met with a 50-year-old Macomb Township woman about threats she was reportedly receiving online.
Someone from an unknown email account was apparently threatening to expose her visits to pornography websites if she did not send them $1,950 worth of bitcoin. Pictures of her home and address were included with the threats.
Hit and run
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 3:15 p.m. on Oct. 3, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a traffic accident near the intersection of Romeo Plank and 23 Mile roads.
A 55-year-old Macomb Township
woman whose Jeep was hit told deputies a blue unidentified sedan was backing out of a private driveway on Romeo Plank. The sedan backed into traffic and collided with the Jeep. The sedan driver did not attempt to stop and fled the scene southbound on Romeo Plank.
Porch pirate
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 10:40 a.m. on Oct.7, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a home in the 50000 block of Madison Drive to speak with a 59-year-old woman about a stolen package.
As caught on a doorbell security camera, a FedEx employee dropped off a box containing a USB cord outside of the caller’s front door at around 9:50 a.m. At around 9:57 a.m., a man impersonating an Amazon delivery employee approached the home with a counterfeit box. The suspect replaced the USB cord box with the counterfeit fox, tucked the USB cord box beneath his Amazon vest and returned to his vehicle.
Aggressive dog
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 6:45 p.m. on Oct. 5, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a home in the 21000 block of Magnolia Drive for an in-progress dog attack.
Deputies met with a 34-year-old Macomb Township man and his leashed golden retriever, both injured and bloody. The man said his neighbor’s pit-mix dog rushed them while passing by. The pit-mix dog bit and attacked the golden retriever, forcing the caller to physically separate them.
The 74-year-old man who owns the pit-mix dog told deputies he lets the dog outside while he gets the mail. Deputies told him to quarantine the dog for 10 days, cited him for violating township ordinances and informed him county animal control would be reaching out to him.
—
Dean Vaglia
Soup SeasonisHere!
DAILY HOMEMADE SOUPS:
MONDAY: Chicken Pot Pie
TUESDAY: Italian Wedding
WEDNESDAY: French Onion
THURSDAY: Turkey Lasagna
FRIDAY: Chicken Tortilla
SATURDAY: Loaded Baked Potato
vantage over Accuso, the two future varsity golfers didn’t have the slightest clue who the other was until the match concluded.
“After we had finished the round, my dad recognized someone in the parking lot, who ended up being Angelina’s father, but at the time we didn’t know that,” Monteith said. “Our dads began talking and they had actually gone to school together and also lived right down the street from each other when they were growing up. So that is how we actually met for the first time, and we have only grown closer and closer ever since”
In 2023, Dakota, currently ranked No. 5 in Division 1, reintroduced itself to the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 golf scene, finishing as co-champions in the Macomb Area Conference Red and qualifying for states as a team with Monteith (ninth) and Accuso (17th) both posting top 20 finishes at regionals.
“When they came in, we started them out as the third or fourth girl on the squad,” Dakota head coach David Prestininzi said. “They soon took over the one and two spots pretty quickly. They kind of carried us through the year, but they were still young.”
With a year of state finals experience under their belts and returning veterans — senior Meredith Martin and junior Sophia Martin — who were both key contributors for the Cougars in 2023, the 2024 season had all the makings already to be a breakout season for Dakota.
page 1A like that.
clicking on the course as Dakota took second out of 16 teams Aug. 19 at the Lady Falcon Invitational at Stony Creek Metropark Golf Course, where Monteith tied for first place and Cooper tied for eighth. Monteith also had a hole-in-one.
Days later, Dakota captured its first tournament win at the Adams Invitational at Twin Lakes, setting the tone for the rest of the season.
“We go to Stoney Creek in the first tournament and Marissa medals, and we come in second, so we’re like, ‘Whoa, that’s something we haven’t done before,’” Prestininzi said. “Then we ran to the Adams tournament out in Twin Lakes, and we ended up winning that and she medaled again. All of a sudden, we’re thinking we’re a little bit better than we thought we’d be.”
Twin Lakes was also a turning point for Cooper, who had a taste of adversity early on in the tournament. Starting out the front nine with a 47, Cooper quickly turned around and shot closer to her average on the season with a 37.
“The first nine holes I was really struggling, but at the turn I made a few adjustments,” Cooper said.
But the youth movement felt like it needed one more golfer as a part of its pack. Enter freshman Dakota Cooper, who is already fit for the Cougars lineup with a name
Like Accuso and Monteith’s friendship, Cooper’s emergence onto Dakota’s radar all came back to a conversation between herself and other varsity players at the CJ Barrymore’s driving range. Prestininzi said the southpaw is explosive off the tee, and it sure caught the attention of Dakota varsity golf early.
“We knew of her, and we knew she was
a Dakota student, so we saw her hitting balls as much as two or three years ago,” Prestininzi said. “You could tell she was going to be quite the player. She probably has the most experience we’ve ever had come in as a freshman, being tournament savvy and having tournament experience. She plays all the time in the summer. Her dad has her going everywhere.”
It wasn’t long before the group was
The flame never seemed to burn out for a Dakota team that ran through the MAC Red, finishing 10-0 and completing the conference sweep by winning the MAC Red tournament in the process.
If the MAC Red wasn’t enough, the Cougars defeated the entire Macomb County field by winning the Macomb County championship for the first time ever in school history.
“It feels really amazing actually that all of our hard work that we put into golf this season is finally paying off,” Monteith said.”
See GOLF on page 15A
Dr. Bergeron has comprehensive education, training, and experience in hospital and clinic-based patient care. She excels in all areas of foot and ankle care with specific training and interest in wound care and foot and ankle surgery (including cutting-edge minimally invasive techniques designed to minimize surgical trauma and help patients recover faster).
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Macomb Dakota freshman Dakota Cooper follows through on her swing during regional play Oct. 9 at Fieldstone Golf Club in Auburn Hills.
It’s not only pushed me to keep getting better, but I also think it is pushing the rest on my teammates to do better as well.”
The second-to-last item on the checklist was regionals, and top 10 finishes from Monteith (fifth), Accuso (eighth), and Cooper (third) ensured that Dakota would punch its ticket for the state finals Oct. 18 at Ferris State University’s Katke Golf Course. Sophia Martin chipped in an efficient round as well, finishing 11th.
While the focus may get lost on the underclassmen’s performance, the Martins, who are not related, play a vital role for Prestininzi’s squad. Prestininzi said Meredith Martin is the glue of the team, someone who
“holds everything together,” while Sophia Martin has been key in a lot of tournaments this season for the Cougars, posting quality scores as the team’s fourth scorer.
“She (Sophia Martin) has just kept her nose to the grindstone,” Prestininzi said. “She went through some real growing pains as a sophomore because she was just starting out in golf. She had some good days, and she had some bad days. In the beginning of the year, she was really struggling. She’s one of these girls that is at the range all the time. She’s just striving to be better all the time. She’s really worked through her beginning of the year to where she’s at now.”
Dakota is playing its best golf right now and will be a contender every team will keep an eye on headed into the state finals.
As excited as the team is, Accuso said
the best part is the pride her teammates take in being a part of the team.
“We just love being out on the course and hearing, ‘Hey, are you guys from Dakota?’” Accuso said. “We just want to make the name a little bit more known.”
Monteith said the goal is top 10 at states, but we’re talking about a Dakota team that is all about defying the odds.
Either way, the Cougars will return a ton of firepower next season to make another run at states.
“I am fully confident in myself and my team that we can achieve all of these goals this year because we have all put in so much hard work and dedication this year that it would be the perfect way to cap off this amazing season,” Monteith said.
Call Staff Writer Jonathan Szczepaniak at (586) 498-1090.
CLEARING THE AIR ON VAPING RISKS
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — While vaping was originally marketed to replace cigarettes and some teens say it helps them with stress, health officials say the opposite is true.
Alliance for Coalitions for Community Health Prevention Outreach Specialist Justen Daniels said a lot of health complications come with vaping, including damage to the lungs, heart problems, gastrointestinal issues and more.
He said vape cartridges are filled with hundreds of cancer-causing chemicals.
“The majority of vape pens or vape products are going to contain nicotine, and they’re going to contain a lot of it — a lot of potency,” Daniels said.
He said Stanford’s Reach Lab shared a study that one type of vape pen, which has around 5,000 puffs, has the nicotine equivalent of around 590 cigarettes.
“I don’t think folks are realizing how much nicotine is in there and how addictive that nicotine is,” Daniels said.
Youth are more susceptible to nicotine or THC — a cannabinoid found in marijuana — dependence because their bodies and brains are still developing, Daniels said. The youngest he’s seen or heard of a person having a vape pen is around 8-years-old.
He said that though he doesn’t have a definitive answer of whether cigarettes or vape pens are more harmful, they are both very addictive.
Megan Phillips, Oakland Community Health Network’s director of substance use and disorder services, gathered information about the dangers of vaping.
A document from the organization states that nicotine addiction can cause harm to a person’s mental health, but more research is needed to understand the connection between vaping and mental health. It also states that studies show those who quit smoking experience lower anxiety, stress and depression, and experience a better mood and quality of life.
“Oakland Community Health Network, alongside our prevention partners, The Alliance, and Oakland County Health Division, work tirelessly to educate community members on the dangers of vaping,” Phillips said in email.
MC3
from page 10A
Theatre in Novi with celebrity guest Q&A sessions. Knight will host a screening of “Jurassic Park” on Nov. 8, and Englund will host a presentation of “Nightmare on Elm Street” on Nov. 9. Tickets for Englund’s presentation have already sold out, but there are still some seats available for Knight’s. Tickets run $40, which is in addition to the cost of MC3 admission. Both tickets must be purchased to attend the screening.
There is also a lot of crossover between the various fandoms and other fields, such as with the multiplatinum rapper Logic, who will also be a celebrity guest this fall. The rapper’s music has been featured in several comic movies and he has recently worked on a movie with cult favorite director Kevin Smith.
“I don’t think we want to limit ourselves in any way,” said Burland. “If we can get a different or interesting celebrity in, then we’re going to do it.”
“A lot of people think comic cons are just comics, and while that is definitely where we started and where the heart of our show is, our slogan is, ‘Pop culture, it’s what we do!’ and we really cover anything that
falls into pop culture,” said Yankee.
Aside from the celebrities there are numerous other activities for guests to partake in.
“One of the things we are doing different this year is that we are having a tabletop gaming room,” Burland said. “Throughout the whole entire show, every hour you can go and learn how to play a different game, or you and your friends can just go in and pick a different game. There are over 75 different games to choose from.”
A schedule for the games, and slots to sign up is posted on the show’s website. The games include Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, Catan and more.
There will also be a Magic: The Gathering tournament from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The cost to participate in the tournament is $5, and prizes will be given to the winners. Guests will also have the opportunity to paint figurines from games and make friendship bracelets for no additional cost.
There will also be traditions such as adult and kids cosplay contests, numerous celebrity panels, an escape room, and iCon tournaments featuring Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Cosplay groups Ghostbusters Detroit and the 501st Legion from “Star
See MC3 on page 23A
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18A/OCTOBER 17, 2024
EASY HALLOWEEN DECORATING TIPS CAN HELP YOU STICK TO YOUR BUDGET
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Whether your idea of decorating for Halloween is putting a pumpkin on the porch or having an elaborate electronic light show with props taller than the houses in the neighborhood, here are some decorating tips for any budget.
Plants and flowers brighten the space of any location. Putting them in a decorative planter makes them transitory in a couple of ways. The plants can be moved easily from one place to another, and the plants can transition from one season to another.
“What you really want to do is have (the plants and flowers) last past Halloween,” said Matthew Colonius, the owner of Piechnik’s Greenhouse & Garden Gate in Oakland Township. “The goal is to have it look good for Halloween, but when you make your choices, consider having it look nice all the way through Thanksgiving.”
Colonius suggests using purple and white colors in plants such as ornamental kale or hardy mums as opposed to the burnt colors such as yellow, orange and red. The hardy mums will still be around after Halloween and the colors mix well with the late fall colors even when it starts to snow.
“The ornamental grasses like purple fountain grass are a really great one; even when it starts to turn brown, it is still pretty in the pot with your other flowers,” Colonius said.
Decorating with pumpkins and gourds sets the stage for an autumnal or Halloween scene. Heirloom gourds come in a variety of shapes and blend with a variety of hues.
The biggest mistake people make with their fall plants is not watering them enough.
“With the dry weather we’ve had this fall, plants should be watered at least two or three times a week. It also keeps them from blowing away in a strong wind,” Colonius said.
To elevate one’s plant display and give it that designer custom touch, Colonius suggests adding items that everybody does not have.
“The kale and the ornamental grasses and purple fountain grass can give it that custom look that sets it apart from other people’s planters,” he said.
Straw bales and regular cornstalks can be added to broom cornstalks, which are very ornamental because of their fancy tassels with red, burgundy and brown.
After Halloween and Thanksgiving, adding birch logs or birch sticks with evergreens will give the planters a winter or Christmas look.
Lights
Whether you hang a single strand of lights around the doorframe or blanket the house with lights on every side, lights add illumination and cheer to any environment.
The Bostick Family Light Show Inc. uses thousands of lights in their light show incorporating Christmas lights, strobe lights and spotlights that flash on their home in Garden City to the delight of their neighbors and all who come to see it.
“If people are doing normal decorations, then outlining your house (with lights) is a nice way to decorate without spending a lot of money,” said Kyle Bostick, of the Bostick Family Light Show Inc. “But if you are trying to do a synchronized show like ours, you can start off with some basic props like the tombstones, bats, spiders and grow the show from there.”
Skeletons
Starting small and growing from there is what Holly Hayter did at her house, which is now known as “the
skeleton house” in Madison Heights.
“Currently I have seven skeletons and four (skeleton) dogs,” Hayter said.
Skeletons are not just for Halloween. The Hayters’ house displays skeletons year-round. Hayter has dressed her skeletons up as the Easter Bunny and carrots, a giant leprechaun, and other characters. Her current display is ready for Halloween, which she changes every few days.
For those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on Halloween decorations, timing is important.
“My suggestion is to buy it when it goes on clearance for the next year. You always have to look for the deals, so you’ve got to shop around,” Hayter said. “I know some of the major retailers like Spirit will do it after Halloween. One of the big retailers that’s in the game now is Home Depot, and they have already marked their stuff down.”
If your tastes gravitate to the big and bold or the sweet and small, there is a Halloween decoration for you.
RIGHT: Known as the Skeleton House in Madison Heights, Holly Hayter displays skeletons all year by changing the props and the outfits they wear.
Photo provided by Holly Hayter
BELOW: People come from all over to see the Bostick Family Light Show in Garden City.
Photo provided by Kyle Bostick
Board
from page 1A
“They left a gap that was closed with a decorative aluminum fence. The point of that was to save a tree that was on a neighboring property. The neighbor wanted to keep the tree. If the wall had closed the gap, the footing of the wall would have cut the roots and probably killed the tree.”
Vaping
from page 16A
Vaping products can affect brain development, memory, attention, learning, mood and mental health, the Health Division states.
“Additionally, vaping devices may produce vapor containing lead, which can cause brain damage,” the Health Division states.
The age to purchase vape products is 21 years old in both Michigan and nationally, though kids still manage to get these products by employees not age checking IDs, connections with older friends and sharing or by fake IDs Daniels said.
“Because technology has gotten so sophisticated, so a lot of times it’s easy to pick up on a fake ID, so a lot of times they will take an older sibling’s ID,” Daniels said.
“The most common reason middle and high school students give for currently using e-cigarettes is, ‘I am feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed,’” the document from OCHN said.
The document went on to say, though, that vaping can actually increase these feelings.
Daniels said that if an underage person looks enough like their older sibling, a quick glance will not give away that they are underage. These IDs will not trip the scanners because they are legal IDs.
Underage people who are caught with vaping can face consequences.
Daniels said in the worst case scenario underage people could face a misdemeanor. They can also face detention, suspension and expulsion at school.
“We are seeing so many of our schools
Street lighting SAD
Trustees also approved a special assessment district for the Wolverine Country Club Estates II site condominium development. The district is to collect funds to cover the cost of lighting the development’s streets.
All properties in the development are owned by the developer, and a public hearing for the SAD received no public comments.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
take an interest in restorative programming and alternatives to suspension programming,” Daniels said.
He went on to say that if a child is kicked out of school for vaping, they are going to go home and vape.
“It defeats the purpose,” Daniels said. “And so we have a lot of folks who are doing friends of the court programs.”
Vaping products like Juul became popular around the late 2010s, and Daniels said he still considers it very new.
“Especially within the grand scheme of, you know, how long it took the cigarette and everything to come out,” Daneils said. “It took around 100 years for a lot of that information about cigarettes and some of its potential impacts, some of its potential harmful health implications to come out.”
Vape products were originally marketed as a product to help adults stop smoking tobacco, and they were marketed for adults. Daniels said now it’s really hard to identify vape products due to their evolution and how they are made to blend in as electronic cigarettes. Daniels said there are vapes that look like smart watches, key fobs, straws and more.
Parents should educate themselves through education programs and presentations so they can recognize vape products.
“Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know,” Daniels said. “And that’s one of the good things about our organizations with the alliance.”
He went on to say they have programs to educate parents and community members about what vapes look like, the health implications and much more.
Call Staff Writer Alyssa Ochss at (586) 498-1103.
Koerner
from page 3A
“It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to the class, and you just have to get the setups spot-on,” Bryce said. “You have to have a good setup in the car. You have to have a good mindset going into the race. If you don’t, it might not end up a very good day.”
Success in racing was not immediate. Lauren describes the past three years as a steady progression of increasing goals to hit. Across four classes in his 2023 season, Bryce achieved two top 10 finishes. With the addition of a formula modified campaign — initially against Lauren’s wishes due to the speed of the class — new goals had to be set.
“We said for the two classes last year that (Bryce) had (top 10s), try and make a top five, and for the two you were not able to, try and make a top 10,” Lauren said. “In one of them, he actually got fourth in, so he went from 12th last year to fourth. That is the biggest thing for us, that incremental, obtainable goal and to keep plugging away.”
While winning is always great and nothing is sweeter than a championship, Bryce says some of his coolest moments have come from meeting NASCAR Cup Series stars along the way. Bryce received his first checkered flag from
Columbus, Ohio, in June 2024.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar at the pro’s home track, Kalamazoo Speedway. Trips to Darlington, South Carolina, for events in 2023 and 2024 have led to meetings with Cup drivers Ross Chastain and Joey Logano, respectively. A 2023 trip to Watkins Glen, New York, led to Bryce joining John Hunter Nemechek for NASCAR Xfinity Series driver
introductions alongside his younger brother and fellow racer Oliver Koerner. But the coolest meeting of all was a random encounter with Tony Stewart in a Fort Wayne, Indiana, hotel lobby.
“It was really cool, but it was kind of funny meeting him at a hotel on New Year’s Eve,” Bryce said. “We were staying there, and
he came to race there in his USAC midget, and he stopped by at the hotel for a little bit. I asked if he could sign my two trophies that I got for the day; they were two fourth-place trophies and he said yeah. Those are probably two of my favorite trophies I have.”
With Bryce’s Midwest Thunder formula modified championship taking place in a NASCAR Youth Series sanctioned event, questions have begun to be asked about where his racing career will go next — and how far he can take it.
“I am trying to go the legend cars/late model route, but it’s been between that and deciding if I wanted to do some USAC midget cars and all that kind of stuff,” Bryce said. “It’s kind of waiting to see what happens, but we did have a friend that offered a test ride in a legend car in Florida.”
Asked if he can take this all the way to the top?
“Yes,” Bryce said. “I think I could be able to if I put my mind to it.”
Bryce’s 2025 season is set to focus on the national NASCAR Youth Series events. The series is expected to kick off in February 2025. The racing journeys of Bryce and Oliver are chronicled on the Koerner Racing Facebook page.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 4981043.
Photo by Lauren Koerner
Bryce Koerner claims his first formula modified win in the Midwest Thunder series at Buckeye Quarter Midget Track in
Animals
from page 3A
so it is very fulfilling to them to come in and fill that void of having a pet at home. They are also able to take pets for pets’ days out. A lot of our volunteers will take them to Metro Beach or Partridge Creek to socialize them.”
Getting involved with Macomb County Animal Control as a shelter volunteer involves filling out an application available at macombgov.org/departments/animal-control and going through orientation.
For those who are able to keep animals at home but may not be able to have pets for long periods of time, volunteer opportunities through Rochester Hills-based nonprofit Leader Dogs for the Blind can be a way to make connections with four-legged friends.
“We have more volunteers than we do team members, so we really could not do what we do without them,” said Christina Hepner, Leader Dog’s digital marketing manager. “The things that (volunteers) do for our mission is incredible. Volunteers really mean the world to us, and we are so thankful for them … They’re really essential to what we do every day.”
Leader Dog’s volunteering opportunities with animals fall into two categories: raising puppies and hosting a breeding dog.
“Raising a future Leader Dog is when you have the dog for 12-15 months and you’re going through basic obedience (training) with that dog,” Hepner said. “You’re teaching the dog to sit and stay and basic obedience, and you have so much support. You don’t have to have ever had a dog.”
Puppy-raising volunteers are backed by a counselor from the organization and the wider community of fellow Leader Dog volunteers. After the 12-15 months are up, the dog is returned to Leader Dogs for the Blind to begin its formal training to serve as guides for people with visual impairments. Some dogs are
“Once a breeding dog retires, they actually become a permanent member of your family. They retire and they get to be your house dog,” Hepner said. “We specifically need hosts who will host a Leader Dog mom, and the responsibility of that is about two years and the dog will have four litters in your home.”
deemed “career changed,” meaning they may become a different kind of service dog or become available as a pet.
Puppy raising can be done as a singlehousehold endeavor or it can be done by a group. Primary and secondary raisers can split rearing responsibilities, while corporate volunteers and some college campuses can raise a puppy as a team. Puppy raisers are given the opportunity to name their puppy as well.
Hosting breeding dogs allows volunteers the opportunity to live with a matured animal for a number of years and is more in line with traditional pet ownership.
Prior whelping experience is not required, and the Leader Dog vet team and breeding department are on standby to help volunteers, though ample space and the ability to provide regular exercise and care for the dogs is required. Puppies are kept for seven weeks after birth before being brought to the campus. Volunteers are also able to volunteer for a partial period; they can be non-whelping or specifically whelping volunteers, as well as host a breeding dog for a limited amount of time.
To volunteer with Leader Dogs for the Blind, interested people are asked to attend monthly informational sessions on the first Wednesday of each month for puppy raising and the third Wednesday for breeding dog hosting. Applications are available at www.leaderdog.org/volunteer.
Informational sessions are held remotely and in person at the Rochester Hills campus. Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 4981043.
Photo provided by Leader Dogs for the Blind
Future Leader Dogs stand together with their raisers in public. Raising puppies that will become seeing eye dogs is one way people can volunteer at Leader Dogs for the Blind.
a show from magician Cameron Zvara. At 2 p.m., enjoy a Cyr wheel performance by Spinnovation Detroit. There will be cake and goodie bags. Mall staff members look forward to celebrating the mall’s longevity in the community.
“We are the main shopping hub here in southeastern Detroit,” Macomb Mall Marketing Coordinator Elaishia Outley said. “We have stores tailor-made for everyone in the family. Every month we host events and we like to be part of the community.”
The mall currently has about 50 stores, including Kohl’s, Sephora, Dick’s, Hobby Lobby and Old Navy. General Manager Marianne Meyers began working at the mall in 2004. She believes Macomb Mall provides “a great mix of tenants from local, mom-andpop stores to international chain stores all within a clean, bright, and modern facility.”
“We continue to strive to make Macomb Mall a great environment to shop. Our staff is invested in the mall and many of us have grown up in the area and continue to create partnerships and camaraderie with tenants, customers and community,” she said via email. “During the course of my tenure here, I have built relationships with our loyal mall walkers, tenants, and corporate entities, but I have built a better understanding of the community we serve at large. And that’s what I enjoy and value the most — the relationships we have built with the community. We are always listening to customers and paying close attention to the market to evaluate the ever-changing landscape of retail and if we are meeting relevancy goals.”
‘They had all the stores I liked’ Through its history, many stores came and went, including Crowley’s, B. Dalton Bookseller, Harmony House Records and Tapes, Little Caesars Pizza, and an abundance of clothing retailers. The mall became a hangout for teenagers, too, and at one time movie fans could check out the latest flicks at the Silver Cinema.
Jean Wincenciak, who grew up in Roseville, remembers when the mall was built.
“It was so exciting when it first opened,” said Wincenciak, 76, who now resides in Florida. “I used to go when I was single. That was the hot spot.”
Even when she lived in Warren and Royal Oak, she was still a Macomb Mall patron. She liked that it was a smaller size than some of the other malls.
“I would bring my children there. They had all the stores I liked,” she said. “They had a Sears and Winkelman’s. There was a pet store, they had sports stores, and little oddball stores. It was my favorite mall at the time.”
The Eastsider also heard from readers via
email after a message about the 60-year anniversary was posted on the Roseville Michigan Historical Group Facebook page. The mall was a big part of Paula C. Laroway’s life. When attending Eastland Junior High School, she and her brother Hugh often walked to the mall.
“I probably went there thousands of times over the years, and at 72, I still pop in to see how the mall is doing,” she said via email. “Winkelman’s was a weekly favorite, they had all the styles, and I shopped diligently for low priced high fashion sales.”
One of her “most precious finds” was a black full-length wool coat cape with a large black tassel hanging from the hood. The cape’s shoulder was clasped by a large Chinese knot frog. With a $40 price tag, Laroway used up most of her babysitting money for the purchase.
“But I had also bought a pair of knee high black boots that laced up the front,” she said. “I called it my ‘Black Sabbath’ outfit. Definitely kept miniskirted legs cozy on a winter day.”
Another tie to the mall was the years Laroway worked at the Kresge’s counter. She was pregnant with her second child, and sometimes her boss gave her jobs so she could sit down.
“I made a lot of milkshakes while working the counter, and taking orders,” she recalled. “In the morning I made egg salad and tunafish salad sandwiches, wrapping them in cellophane that I sealed on a heated pad.”
One of Sharon Nummer’s earliest recollections in the mid-1970s was telling Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, at age 5 or 6, what she wanted for Christmas: a Neil Diamond album. Another highlight was the Roseville High School Rock-A-Thon fundraiser in which students rocked in rocking chairs for 24 hours straight.
And four generations of the family all found jobs at the mall. Nummer’s grandmother worked in the Sears cafeteria in the 1960s and ’70s, her mom worked as part-time seasonal help at Kohl’s in the 1990s, and Nummer, now of Clinton Township, got her first job at the Gap in 1988. Her son got his first job in 2021 working at the Del Taco in the mall’s parking lot.
Some of Pat Craik’s happiest times at the mall were seeing “2001: A Space Odyssey” with his dad and “Westworld” with a group of friends at the movie theater. Macomb Mall also came in handy when Craik needed a sports jacket for formal events. He wasn’t sure where to get started, so he headed for Hughes & Hatcher.
“Mr. Lang fixed me up perfectly with a complete suit,” Craik emailed. “I got several compliments. Pretty cool experience.”
Macomb Mall is located at 32233 Gratiot Ave. in Roseville. Call (586) 293-7800 for more information.
Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.
Wars” will once again be in attendance, along with many other activities.
“When people come, they don’t just stay for an hour or two. They come and they stay the whole day,” said Burland. “A lot of people buy a whole weekend pass because it’s just a fun place to be.”
MC3 will be held from noon to 7 pm. Nov. 8, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 9, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 10.
Tickets for the event, movie screenings and celebrity autographs can be purchased online at motorcitycomiccon.com. Admission prices range depending on where and when tickets are purchased, as well as the day of the event, and the age of the person. Adult tickets cost $30-$45 or $90 for a weekend pass. Tickets for kids ages 6-12 cost $10 per day or $20 for the weekend pass. Children 5 and under are free. All kids 12 and under are free on Sunday.
Call Staff Writer Charity Meier at (586) 498-1092.
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Through the gates
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — In the early morning hours of Sept. 24, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to Selfridge Air National Guard Base after an unauthorized SUV drove through the gate. No damage was done to base property, but the SUV was stopped by spike strips.
The driver, a 40-year-old Roseville man, passed field sobriety tests and was negative for alcohol on a breath test. He told deputies that he wanted to go to the pier, that he had not slept for two days and did not remember when he last ate.
The driver agreed to seek medical attention.
Entering without breaking
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On the morning of Sept. 21, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a home in the 24600 block of Murray Street for a larceny report.
The caller, a 31-year-old township woman, said she received fraud alerts from her bank about her debit cards. She then noticed someone had broken into her car. Her husband moved the car outside the night before and she believed the car was left unlocked overnight. The purse was left in the car but the cards were taken. The woman told deputies a similar incident occurred in the past and believed it was the same perpetrator.
Pursuit along 16 Mile, Harper
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — Around 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 27, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies pulled over a silver Chevrolet Malibu that failed to stop at the northbound Union Lake Road and 16 Mile Road red light.
Upon stopping, a database search of the license plate reportedly revealed the car was owned by a 20-year-old Detroit man with multiple warrants. The car was also leaving an area where many car-based crimes were reported. Before he could be approached, the man took off from the stop and a pursuit was engaged. The chase moved up and down 16 Mile and Harper Avenue with multiple illegal U-turns being made. The chase went past 15 Mile Road on Harper when it was terminated.
The suspect was last seen turning onto westbound Interstate 94. A state warrant authorization was completed for the car owner.
Security breach
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — In the early morning hours of Sept. 24, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a break-in at the former St. John Hospital on Ballard Street.
Signs of trespassing were found around the
were out, and plywood normally covering the door was removed. Inside the buildings, wires were cut in two power boxes while various other items — copper wires, pipes, cameras and motion detectors — were damaged and left around the building.
The property owner estimated around $100,000 in damage was inflicted.
Fraudulent lover
MOUNT CLEMENS — On Sept. 27, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the 120 block of Rathbone Street to speak with the 64-year-old male resident about a computer crimes incident.
The man told deputies he had been speaking with an unnamed woman from Fraser he met over social media, going so far as to send her an explicit image. In response to the image, the man was threatened it would be released unless he sent the recipient a $100 Applebee’s gift card.
Deputies called the number and spoke with a man on the other end who asked when he would get his money. The suspect reportedly reiterated his threat before hanging up.
Stolen car and packages recovered
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At 2:41 p.m. Sept. 2, police
officers from Shelby Township received a Flock camera hit on a reportedly stolen vehicle. Detectives from Shelby Township started working the case and found the vehicle in the area of 22 Mile and Ryan roads.
Officers stopped the vehicle, and the driver and passenger were taken into custody. A search of the vehicle indicated that the occupants were also involved in stealing Amazon packages, police said. The occupants of the vehicle were interviewed by detectives and charged with possessing stolen property and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Knife pulled on manager
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At 9:41 a.m. Sept. 2, police officers responded to Dequindre Estates, near Dequindre and Hamlin roads, for a threats complaint. Officers investigated and found that a felonious assault had occurred, police said.
Officers met with the caller, a manager of the mobile home park, who stated that he had been notified that one of his tenets was moving out. The caller went to the address to collect unpaid rent and was confronted by the man who was moving out. The caller reportedly stated there was a verbal argument and the man pulled a knife from his pocket and started to approach the caller. The suspect left the area prior to officers’ arrival, police said, and the case was turned over to the detective bureau for follow-up.
K-9 smells illegal drugs in vehicle
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — In the early evening Sept. 15, police officers from Shelby Township conducted a traffic stop in the area of Ryan and Auburn roads. The officers made contact with the driver and his two occupants.
During the traffic stop, a Shelby Township police dog was on the scene. The K-9 officer started to do a sniff of the vehicle, and the dog indicated that there were possible illegal drugs in the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle uncovered illegal drugs hidden inside, police said. The driver and occupants were taken to the Shelby Township Police Department for further investigation with the detective bureau.
Two people cited for starting fire
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Police officers from Shelby Township responded to River Bends Park for a female suspect and male suspect in the park causing a disturbance at 7:58 a.m. Sept. 15. Officers saw a small fire in the park with the suspects near the fire. The male suspect advised that he had started the fire to keep warm. The officers on the scene extinguished the fire and then spoke with the suspects. The female suspect reportedly gave a false name to officers and later stated that she lied because she was scared. The suspects were cited for open burning and advised to leave the park.
Wanted suspect arrested
GROSSE POINTE CITY/PARK — A 25-year-old man from Venezuela who was reportedly living in Detroit illegally was arrested by Grosse Pointe Park police Oct. 2. The suspect is said to have committed a home invasion in the Park and stolen a MacBook Air laptop computer from a vehicle while it was parked in the 17000 block of Kercheval Avenue in The Village Sept. 30. A police report states the suspect confessed to both crimes. Police said they recovered the laptop.
Jeep taken
GROSSE POINTE WOODS — An unknown suspect is said to have stolen a 2015 Jeep from the driveway of a home in the 2100 block of Stanhope Street between the hours of 9:30 p.m. Oct. 2 and 4:30 a.m. Oct. 3. The victim said the vehicle was locked and the keys were inside. Evidence found at the scene — including broken glass — confirmed that the suspect had likely smashed a window to make entry. According to a police report, the vehicle was involved in a police pursuit Oct. 6 that ended in the arrest of two suspects by the Eastpointe Police Department.
Suspicious stop MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 1, deputies were called to the 21000 block of Homestead Drive for an auto accident.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
OCT. 17
SCAMS presentation: Stopping Crimes Against Michigan Seniors, led by Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido, 7 p.m., Romeo Graubner District Library, 65821 Van Dyke Ave. in Washington Township, (586) 469-5642
OCT. 19
Halloween Spooktacular: Free events include trick-or-treating, trunk-ortreating inside parking structure, kid-friendly haunted hallway, cake walk and more, noon-3 p.m., also Rosco the Clown show at 1 p.m., downtown Mount Clemens, (586) 469-4168, facebook.com/DowntownMountClemens
Hotel California - A Salute to the Eagles: 7:30 p.m., Macomb Center for the Perfoming Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 286-2222, macombcenter.com
Baby shower: Drop off items to be donated to local pregnancy help centers, stay for refreshments and gift basket drawings, noon-3 p.m., Right to Life of Michigan, 27417 Harper Ave. in St. Clair Shores, (586) 774-6050, macombrlm@rtl.org
OCT. 19-20
Macomb County HarvestFest: Trick-or-treat stations, hayrides, inflatables, movies, music, magic, princesses, airbrush tattoos, pumpkin patch, pumpkin carvers, games, birds of prey and reptile shows, food drive, food trucks and more, costumes encouraged, noon-5 p.m., Freedom Hill County Park, 14900 Metropolitan Parkway in Sterling Heights, macombcountyharvestfest.com, (586) 419-0332
OCT. 20
Packard Proving Grounds fall open house: Car show, Packard taxi rides, bake sale, food trucks, vendors, live music by Belgian American Association Band and more, 1-5 p.m., Packard Proving Grounds, 49965 Van Dyke Ave. in Shelby Township, packardprovinggrounds.org
SCAMS presentation: Stopping Crimes Against Michigan Seniors, led by
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido, 1 p.m., Chesterfield Township Community Center (inside former Sugarbush Elementary School), 48400 Sugarbush Road, (586) 469-5642
OCT. 25
Broadway Fright Night: Vocalists perform and discuss songs from eerie and fantastical musicals, 7:30 p.m., Macomb Center for the Perfoming Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 286-2222, macombcenter.com
OCT. 26
Friendly monster story time: For ages 2-5, 6:30 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, (586) 226-5083, cmpl.libnet.info/events
Smetanka Craft Show: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sports & Expo Center, Building P on Macomb Community College - South Campus, 14500 E. 12 Mile Road in Warren, (810) 658-0440, smetankacraftshows.com
OCT. 28
Haunted art activity: For teens, 6 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, (586) 2265083, cmpl.libnet.info/events
OCT. 30
Michigan’s most dangerous women: Author Tobin Buhk shares true crime stories, event intended for adults, 3:30 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, (586) 226-5083, cmpl.libnet.info/events
NOV. 2
Macomb Reads Carnival: Featuring puppet show, author Jonathan Rand and illustrator Bea Jackson, free kids books, STEM and art activities, DJ, music, games, costumed charatcers and school mascots, cider and doughnuts, and more, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Macomb Intermediate School District, 44001 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, misd.net/macombreads
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upon arrival, who identified himself as the owner of a black Nissan Maxima he crashed into a parked car. He said he crashed into the car while sneezing. The man told deputies he was at a local sports bar getting a burger prior to the crash. After initially refusing to answer if he had been drinking, he reportedly eventually told deputies that he was drinking “ginger ale.” Deputies suspected the man was intoxicated and administered field sobriety tests and a breath test, which reportedly registered a 0.123 blood alcohol content. The man was arrested. A search of the Nissan led to the discovery of a number of weapons: 14 knives ranging from 6-10 inches, two sets of brass knuckles and a bludgeon. Window broken while woman is driving MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At around 11 p.m. on Sept. 21,
ONGOING
Widowed Friends events: Breakfasts 10 a.m. every third Friday of month, Dimitri’s Opa! Restaurant, 50875 Gratiot
• Breakfasts 10 a.m. every
Monday of month, Amore’s Grill, 53100 Gratiot Ave. in Chesterfield Township, RSVP to Loree at (810) 335-2096
• Lunches 1:30 p.m. every second Tuesday of month, Moni’s Restaurant, 16600 24 Mile Road in Macomb Township, RSVP to Joanna at (586) 7774651
Free medicare help: Hosted by Michigan Medicare Assistance Program and AgeWays, meet with trained counselor by appointment, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 1 and 8, and Dec. 6, Clinton-Macomb Public Library - North Branch, 54100 Broughton Road in Macomb Township, also Nov. 15, Chesterfield Community Center, 48400 Sugarbush Road in Chesterfield Township, (800) 803-7174
Macomb Motivators Toastmasters Club: Meets 6:30-8 p.m. every second and fourth Thursday of month, St. Isidore Church, 18201 23 Mile Road in Macomb Township, www.6104644.toastmastersclubs.org
Ostomy peer support group: Meets 2-3 p.m. every third Sunday of month, Northside Church, 25600 23 Mile Road in Chesterfield Township, (586) 765-8976, ostomyinfo@yahoo.com, ostomysupport-macomb.org
Bereaved Parents of Macomb Support Group: Meets 7-9 p.m. every first Thursday of month, Washington Senior Center, 57880 Van Dyke Ave. in Washington Township, neilflyer@yahoo.com, (248) 425-2999
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