Mount Clemens
Ice Arena being sold to Marylandbased firm
SALE EXPECTED TO CLOSE BY 2025
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — After a procedural vote to become the owners of the Mount Clemens Ice Arena, the City of Mount Clemens is set to sell the arena to Maryland-based sports and entertainment firm Black Bear Sports Group by the end of December.
According to Mount Clemens City Manager Gregg Shipman, the $4 million sale will see BBSG take over with plans of maintaining current operations while injecting capital to improve facilities.
“They’re going to keep the management company in place that was there,” Shipman said. “Anything that’s there now, you’re going to see that exist, but what they’re going to do is come in and make this better because they have the means to do it. They own many other facilities, and they have these rights to these other leagues, so they’re going to increase the league presence and they’re even talking about expanding the arena, adding a sheet of ice in the future. They’re prepared
season
LEFT: Children work on ornament crafts at the Harrison Township tree lighting on Nov. 21.
TOP LEFT: Harrison Township’s Christmas tree lights up the night.
TOP RIGHT: The L’Anse Creuse High School Choir performs at the Harrison Township tree lighting.
Photos by Erin Sanchez
Bid approved for updated downtown project
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — After a delay in funding, Mount Clemens City Commissioners approved a construction contract for the updated Downtown Revitalization Project at their Dec. 2 meeting.
Commissioners awarded a $5.98 million contract to VIL Construction Inc. — the same contractor first awarded the contract at the May 6 meeting — to reconstruct Macomb Place and Cherry Street. Originally planned to begin construction in summer 2024, additional work required to receive federal funding pushed the beginning of construction to the new tentative start of mid-February 2025.
With the construction delay, city officials worked with engineering consulting firm Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick, Inc. to update details of the project.
“We ended up adding 14 new trees into the project,” AEW Project Manager Kyle Seidel said. “We also added about 25 hanging planters to the light poles. We also modified the fountain a little bit … We added lettering that says, ‘Vintage vibe, vibrant vision,’ and, ‘City of Mount Clemens Est. 1818.’”
The fountain stage, which will be moved south of Macomb Place, will be lit from below and covered by a shade sail. Some of the large rocks that would calm traffic on the curbless Macomb Place will be replaced by planter seats.
While the contract is for $5.98 million, the cost of construction is in-
ABOVE: Kyle Seidel, AEW project manager, presents updates to the Downtown Revitalization Project to the Mount Clemens City Commission on Dec. 2. LEFT: City Commissioners Erik Rick, Spencer Calhoun and Barb Dempsey look over notes and listen as the Mount Clemens City Commission discusses providing funding to Face Addiction Now. Renderings of the Downtown Revitalization Project are propped up behind them.
Photos by Dean Vaglia
SECOND FRONT PAGE
3A/ JOURNAL • DECEMBER 11, 2024
NEW MEMBERS JOIN TOWNSHIP BOARD
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Three new members of the Clinton Township Board of Trustees sat in for their first meeting on Nov. 25.
Township Treasurer Mike Aiello, Trustee Shannon King and Trustee Bruce Wade joined the board in a ceremony on Nov. 20. The November election shifted the board to a Republican majority with victories by Wade, Aiello, Township Clerk Kim Meltzer and Trustee Dan Kress. King is joined on the board by two fellow Democrats: Trustee Julie Matuzak and Supervisor Paul Gieleghem. While longtime Township Supervisor Bob Cannon was replaced by Gieleghem, one familiar name stayed in the supervisor’s office. Dan O’Leary was retained as the deputy supervisor.
DEPUTY SUPERVISOR RETAINED UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP
O’Leary stays on
O’Leary has served in the deputy position since 2021 and was previously Washington Township’s supervisor for 12 years. Prior to that, he held a director-level position at DTE Energy.
“I’m looking forward to continuing progress and to new adventures,” O’Leary said after the announcement. “We have a new board, new perspective, fresh minds and it’ll be interesting to see where they take us.”
O’Leary said he’s worked at the township level with Gieleghem for three years but has known him for about 10-15 years.
“I think we’ll work well together and get a lot of things done,” O’Leary said.
In a statement, Gieleghem said O’Leary
GOLD COIN GETS DROPPED IN
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Lots of coins get dropped in the Salvation Army’s red kettles, but for 12 years one donation has stood out. On Dec. 2, a mysterious deep-pocketed donor dropped off a final gold Krugerrand coin at a Kroger in St. Clair Shores.
This year’s coin came with a note: “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! I am sorry to say — this is my last (Krugerrand). Hoping there are others who have (Krugerrands) that can help keep up this tradition in the future to help so many in need during the holidays. God Bless!”
The donor’s identity has been kept secret throughout the years. The coin has been dropped at the Kroger near the intersection of Marter Road and Jefferson Avenue each year. According to Monex last week, the value of the coin is $2,642. Last year’s coin was valued at $2,031 when it was donated.
“(It was) very generous that someone was able to do that every year,” said Salvation Army Maj. Charlotte Hall, who oversees the organization’s Great Lakes Division.
When a coin is received by the organization, it is cashed in, and funds are distributed back to the unit that received the coin, according to Hall.
Hall said she has been stationed at Salvation Army locations throughout the country during her career and has seen gold Krugerrands donated.
will help keep the township fiscally responsible and help make improvements as it transitions from an “outer-ring suburb to an inner-ring suburb.”
“Leadership is about finding people who might not always agree with you and challenge you to look at problems and issues in different ways and hopefully end up with better solutions,” Gieleghem said.
In an interview following the release, he added that keeping O’Leary on will help bring some continuity to the office.
“Helping people embrace change is a good thing and can be made better with some consistent voices,” Gieleghem said.
Trustees dig in
The meeting itself wasn’t a marathon
three-hour affair like the last one. Most of the items sailed by without much debate.
Trustees approved the township’s part in a road improvement project with Macomb County. The county will cover 75% of repairs with the remainder being picked up by the township.
Roads in three areas will get improvements: Ingleside Farms connector roads and Rudgate Way; Fierz Place from Harper Avenue to King Drive; and Hilldale, Prevost, Sargent, Emery and Hampton streets.
Matuzak said the project would benefit those in large subdivisions, providing improvements to roads that feed into larger roads.
“I think this is an incredibly important project,” Matuzak said.
Department of Public Services Director Mary Bednar noted that the roads were
RED KETTLE ONE LAST TIME
ABOVE: A final gold Krugerrand was dropped into one of the Salvation Army’s red kettles at a Kroger near the intersection of Marter Road and Jefferson Avenue on Dec. 2. Photo provided by Galina Roehl
LEFT: From left, Warren Woods Christian School students Fisher McLeigh, 12, and Leo Duncan, 9, volunteer as bell ringers to bring in donations for the Salvation Army at the Kroger near the intersection of 13 Mile and Schoenherr roads.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
NEWS & NOTES
CLINTON TOWNSHIP PHYSICIAN HONORED
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians named Kathleen Rollinger as its 2024 National Family Physician of the Year.
Rollinger practices out of Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital in Grosse Pointe City. A little over a year ago the practice moved from St. Clair Shores. She said she’s been practicing medicine for about 30 years, attending Wayne State University and eventually Michigan State University for medical school.
According to a press release, the organization honors those who make standout contributions to osteopathic medicine. Rollinger and others were recognized in April at the ACOFP’s annual convention in New Orleans.
Rollinger said she was “incredibly humbled” by the award.
“This has been my hometown and my community where I’ve practiced,” Rollinger said. “It’s just quite an honor.”
Rollinger said that she has lived in the township for over 25 years. She grew up in the area and graduated from Roseville High School. Rollinger said she draws patients from Eastpointe, Roseville, Fraser, Clinton Township and Harrison Township to her practice.
Santa Claus is coming to town
NORTH POLE — The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will again track Santa Claus on Christmas Eve Dec. 24. The program, based in Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, is in its 69th year.
NORAD monitors and defends North American airspace 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. On Dec. 24, NORAD takes on an additional mission of tracking Santa Claus as he makes his way across the globe.
The NORAD Tracks Santa website, noradsanta.org, launched on Dec. 1. It features Santa’s North Pole Village, a holiday countdown, games, a movie theater, holiday music, web store and more.
The website is available in nine languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese and Korean. Children awaiting Santa can count the days on mobile devices with the official NORAD Tracks Santa app, via social media and on Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and OnStar.
Crafts and more at the HTPL
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — As the holiday season is underway, the Harrison Township Public Library has a number of events to get anyone into the seasonal spirit.
Those looking to escape the December chill can pack into the library on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. to hear the Lakeshore Ukelele Strummers play numerous seasonal songs on their four stings.
Crafty teens can build gifts for friends, family or themselves on Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 5:30-7 p.m. Crafts available are pudding jar candles, fuse bead ornaments, resin snowflakes and personalized cards.
All-ages crafters and bakers can decorate cookies and make handprint art on Saturday, Dec. 21 from 1-2 p.m. All month long, library visitors can take part in a reindeer hunt. Hiding around the library are eight pictures of reindeer. Find them all to win a prize. For information about these events and more, visit htlibrary.org/events.
Rain barrels available for select residents
MOUNT CLEMENS — Residents in areas of the city with combined sewer systems can apply on a first-come, first-served basis for a free rain barrel kit provided by the Macomb County Department of Public Works.
Barrel kits include a 58-gallon barrel, a stand made from recycled wood and connectors.
For the application form and information about which properties are eligible for a barrel, visit mountclemens.gov/rainbarrelprogram.
Rollinger
Butterfly Collective holds Adopt-a-Family benefit
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Providing for kids at Christmas is already difficult, especially in the wake of leaving an abusive situation. The Butterfly Collective aims to lighten some of that burden with its Adopt-a-Family program.
Butterfly Collective President Heidi McQuade said the program has been running for five years, predating the organization’s official nonprofit status in 2020. The aim of the program is to provide Christmas gifts and essentials for families that have been impacted by abuse.
Survivors who work with the nonprofit go through an application process, which asks them to for things they want, things they need and useful household items. Those who sponsor a family will provide the items for the family based on the list.
“That way they’re actually getting things they want and need versus just general items,” McQuade said.
Sponsors are able to select how large of a family they’re able to sponsor. Family
sponsors must be able to attend the Dec. 22 brunch event. McQuade said the program is unique because of the personal connection it can foster.
“We offer more than just the gift-giving portion,” she said. “The sponsors and families are brought together for a brunch the
Sunday before Christmas where they actually exchange the gifts and get to know one another while they’re at the event.”
This will be the first year kids will have an area set up so they can do some Christmas shopping for their guardians.
McQuade said that oftentimes those
leaving abusive situations leave all their possessions behind and don’t have the money to replace these items. The organization will work to provide essential items, through programs like Adopt-a-Family, but will also assist with things like making a security deposit for an apartment, funding for utilities, minor car repairs, transportation for appointments, legal aid, counseling and funding for a hotel room in extreme cases.
“Most of them walk away from their abuser with nothing,” she said.
McQuade said the organization likes to potentially see an increase in families served. Last year, there were 10 families. This year, the goal is 12 families. Sponsors often come back to the program.
“Most of the time our sponsors are recurring every year,” McQuade said.
Items provided for families in the past have included clothing items, toiletries and small appliances. She provided one example of a mom who didn’t have a bed to sleep on.
“We had a mom last year who was sleeping on an air mattress in her living room because she didn’t have enough space
See BUTTERFLY on page 11A
Kids from a previous Adopt-a-Family brunch, put on by the Butterfly Collective, pose for a photo with Santa.
Photo provided by Gugel Photography of Auburn Hills
Ice
arena
from page 1A
to come in and make the capital improvements that the arena needs, and these are all things that we can’t afford to do.”
BBSG made its first offer to purchase the arena for $3.75 million sometime after the June 3 City Commission meeting where commissioners discussed and tabled the possibility of a year-long study about options surrounding the arena. Capital improvement and bond payment costs led to commissioners questioning whether to sell the arena or redevelop it into a different kind of recreation facility.
“For years it’s been a struggle to make the bond payment on the arena, and this is the second bond that the city has on it,” Shipman said. “There is the original bond to build it, and then they took out another bond to do improvements and the arena is not going to make enough money to make the bond payment, which will mean that the city would have to start making those payments out of the general fund. In essence, the ice arena would be losing money, and we have so many other capital improvements that need to be done to the ice arena in the next five to 10 years, and that would contribute more to the deficit each year.”
Various tasks and surveys are being performed before the sale closes. One of the city’s requirements to sell the building was to reclaim ownership of the arena from the Municipal Building Authority of Mount Clemens, the building financing authority that was created in the 1990s to build the arena. Such authorities were common before municipal capital improvement bonds were introduced in 2001. The procedural step was completed at the Nov. 18 City Commission meeting. Shipman says there are no other buildings in the city deeded to similar authorities.
Representatives for BBSG did not respond to requests for comment by press time. BBSG operates four arenas in Michi-
Photo by Dean Vaglia
gan — Biggby Coffee Ice Cubes in Ann Arbor, Brighton and East Lansing along with the Hazel Park Ice Arena — as part of its 40 facilities across the Midwest and East Coast. BBSG operates 40 youth hockey clubs, four leagues, two tournament organizations, eight Junior “A” level hockey teams and Foundry Adult Hockey.
BBSG was founded in 2015 by CEO Murry Gunty and Blackstreet Capital Holdings, LLC. The firm focuses on purchasing underperforming ice rinks in National Hockey League markets with the goal of revitalizing them.
Justin Quenneville, general manager and head coach of the Metro Jets Hockey Club, has some experience with BBSG given the group’s presence in the industry and due to the P.A.L. Junior Islanders team playing in the United States Premier Hockey League alongside the Jets. Quenneville spoke highly of the arena’s current management and echoed that there were no planned changes to day-to-day operations.
“We’re excited to hear some of the ideas from Black Bear, whether it be the potential expansion of the facility or additions of any sort,” Quenneville said. “But realistically, from what we’ve been told and has been communicated with us, they don’t foresee there being any significant changes to an already well-run establishment.”
Shipman is positive about BBSG becoming the arena’s new owners. Along with the planned developments and improvements of the arena itself, private ownership means the arena will begin providing around $40,000 in annual tax revenue.
“I think it really is a win-win for everybody,” Shipman said. “For the people who use it, this is going to become a bigger, better arena than it was before. They are going to be able to do all these capital improvements that need to be done. The management team stays in place. And now we have a piece of property that comes back on the tax roll. It’s all positives.”
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
TOWNSHIP BOARD TACKLES POST-ELECTION HOUSEKEEPING
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — Change was in the air at the Harrison Township Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 25, as a new trustee led to new appointments for the new board’s term.
Liza Brown was sworn in as the board’s newest trustee, replacing Paula Rose in the seventh seat on the board. With the new Board of Trustees requiring new appointments for representatives to various township boards, Brown replaced Rose and Trustee Brian Batkins’ joint position as the Parks and Recreation Committee liaison.
Rose’s time on the board was honored with a resolution.
EGLE payment
Trustees also approved making a $5,658.03 payment to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy for its role as the township’s drinking water distributor.
“We really don’t have a choice on (paying) this but because it is beyond the spend-
ing limit. We have to put it on the agenda,” Township Supervisor Ken Verkest said.
The fee is based on the population served by EGLE as a water distributor. Harrison Township falls into the 10,001-25,000 tier for its population served.
Library boardroom reconstruction plan
As part of the ongoing plan to combine the township government and Harrison Township Public Library into one building, trustees approved a plan to reconfigure the boardroom at Rosso Hall to add two meeting rooms as well as storage space. As a result of the plan, the board table will be moved from the western side of the room to the east while the podium for public commenters will be moved in front of the board table.
Township Clerk Adam Wit had some concerns going into the meeting about the reconfiguration, but on the evening of the meeting, he found the reconfiguration to his satisfaction.
“I already don’t have enough space to run early voting, especially in a busy election, but this at least gives me the same (floor space,)” Wit said. “We can probably work
out where I can use one of the rooms for the workers’ break space because that’s really all I’m losing. We have a good enough partnership where I’m not worried about those kinds of details.”
Dedications
Trustees also approved the official dedi-
cations of Waterfront Park as the Don and Candice Miller Park, and the Clinton River Spillway Pedestrian Bridge as the Digger Odell Memorial Bridge. The dedications were announced at the State of Harrison Township address on Oct. 18. Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Photos by Dean Vaglia
LEFT: Newly-elected Trustee Liza Brown listens at the board table during the Nov. 25 Harrison Township Board of Trustees meeting. RIGHT: Harrison Township Clerk Adam Wit speaks during the Nov. 25 Harrison Township Board of Trustees meeting.
CRIME WATCH
Late-night larceny
MOUNT CLEMENS — At around 3:30 a.m. on Nov. 25, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to an apartment in the 190 block of Hubbard Avenue for a supposed property theft.
They met a 44-year-old Warren man outside of the apartment, who told them his girlfriend, a 36-year-old Mount Clemens resident, calls the police whenever she is angry with him.
Deputies spoke with the woman, who told them the boyfriend stole her driver’s license and debit card. She did not observe him stealing the card but told deputies it would either be on him or in his work van.
Both the man and his van were checked, but the card and license were not found.
Downtown hit-and-run
MOUNT CLEMENS — On Nov. 25 at around midnight, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to Macomb Place to speak with a 21-year-old Harrison Township man about a hit-and-run incident.
The man told deputies he parked his truck for work at around 12:30 a.m. the day before and left at around noon. When he returned home, he noticed a red-tinted dent on his truck and impression marks around
Project
from page 2A
creased by 10% contingencies. Most of the project, about $4.85 million, is already funded with the extra $1.1 million able to be covered by the city’s general fund if need be. Parking kiosks for the New Street parking lot will be a separate expense as well, as no companies based in the United States produce them and inclusion in the project is banned by a “buy American, build American” policy in the project. As a result, the kiosks will be purchased at a later time.
Warren Contractors & Development, Inc. submitted the losing bid for the project at about $6.72 million.
FAN receives opioid funds
Commissioners also approved allocating $20,000 received from opioid settlement payouts to Face Addiction Now to resume operation of its HARM:LESS street outreach program. The program first ran in the
the wheel. Pieces of red plastic were found on the ground that appeared to be from a taillight.
The man said he would speak with a coffee house on Macomb Place about getting security footage.
Neighbor naughtiness
MOUNT CLEMENS — At around 1:20 p.m. on Nov. 24, a 38-year-old Mount Clemens woman called Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies to her home in the 60 block of Huron Avenue about potential harassment from her neighbor.
The 38-year-old told deputies her neighbor, a 67-year-old woman, had been pointing at her home and giving her the middle finger while cutting her grass. The 38-year-old said that if the neighbor continued this behavior, she would consider it as harassment.
Deputies left a voicemail for the 67-year-old, informing her about the possible harassment considerations if she continued her actions.
Fleet car DUI
MOUNT CLEMENS — While patrolling Mount Clemens at Cherry Street and New Street at around 1:40 a.m. on Nov. 23, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies performed a traffic stop on a 31-year-old Harrison Township man after a computer check determined that his Ford Explorer was uninsured.
city through the winter to the fall of 2024.
“The numbers here are really great: 123 unique individuals who received services and 34 successful overdose reversals. That’s amazing,” City Commissioner Spencer Calhoun said. “Two people who were assisted in securing housing. For whoever this is, this is absolutely fantastic.”
With the program running only partially through the year, Calhoun inquired with trustees about whether the funding could be provided to have FAN run HARM:LESS year-round.
Shipman said the question of yearround operations would be brought up to FAN.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
The man said he rented the car from Suburban Ford in Romeo and that it should be on their fleet insurance policy. Deputies noticed a strong odor of intoxicants coming from the man, who said he had one beer upon being asked by deputies.
Field sobriety tests were performed, and a breath test registered a 0.145 blood alcohol content level. The man was arrested and taken to the Macomb County Jail.
Seawall swindle
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — At around 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 20, a 73-yearold Harrison Township man told Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies that he noticed seawall building materials were taken missing from his home.
The weight of the materials would require heavy equipment in order to be moved, and he noticed drag marks on the grass.
No suspect information was relayed to deputies.
Humbugs at large
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — At around 1 p.m. on Nov. 13, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a home in the 24000 block of Orchard Street
for a property damage report.
The resident, a 50-year-old woman, had been setting up Christmas string lights around her home. On Nov. 11, she noticed that several bulbs had been removed and wires were cut.
No possible suspect information was relayed to deputies at the time.
Ditch DUI
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On Nov. 13 at around 10:45 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a single-car property damage incident near the corner of Hazel Street and South River Road.
Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the driver, a 35-year-old Harrison Township woman. She was driving home when, after a wrong turn, she tried making a three-point turn before ending up in a ditch.
Deputies smelled the odor of intoxicants on the woman and asked her to complete field sobriety tests. She completed the tests but when asked to take a breath test, she refused and was arrested. A test performed later registered a 0.300 blood alcohol content level.
— Dean Vaglia
Coin
from page 3A
“It’s amazing,” Hall said. “I was in Aurora, Illinois, and we had one donated while I was there.”
The donation came a day before Giving Tuesday, when all statewide donations to the Salvation Army Great Lakes Division, up to $25,000, were doubled. This match also comes from an anonymous donor, according to a press release.
The Krugerrand started being produced in South Africa in 1967. It’s named after Paul Kruger, who was the president of the South African Republic from 1883 to 1900.
According to a Los Angeles Times article, President Ronald Reagan banned imports of the currency in 1985 following pressure from Democrats to crack down on South Africa’s apartheid government. The article states that $600 million worth of Krugerrands were marketed in the United States in 1984. A Seattle Times article states that the ban on importing the coins into the U.S. was lifted in 1991.
How are people giving?
This year, the Salvation Army is pushing its “Tap to Give” option. This allows do-
nations to be made with a cash app, credit card and debit card at locations throughout metro Detroit. When giving, donors will be prompted with different amounts they can contribute.
“You can use your phone or any of your chipped cards,” Hall said.
Donations are down nationwide 40%, according to Hall, though she said the Detroit area holds its own in comparison to the rest of the country.
“Detroiters are known for supporting the Army,” Hall said. “They always come through for us and we really appreciate that.”
Galina Roehl, who does public relations for the Salvation Army, said donations are up from last year. Though, she said, donations to the red kettles themselves are down.
“They’re getting more money from mail and social media,” Roehl said, who added that these alternative sources include the “Tap to Give” option.
Hall said volunteer hours have been down this year. The organization is looking for those who can help to meet its goal.
“It really just takes an army of volunteers to raise $7 million,” Hall said.
Those interested in volunteering can sign up at registertoring.com.
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
DETROIT SAILOR KILLED AT PEARL HARBOR LAID TO REST
JOHN CUTHBERT AULD’S REMAINS IDENTIFIED THROUGH DNA
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
DETROIT — While growing up, Richard Auld remembers his grandmother, Lillian, and his dad, Edwin, sharing memories about a family member named Jack.
But he wasn’t sure who Jack was, until one day he realized the stories were about his uncle, John Cuthbert Auld, who was nicknamed Jack. The U.S. Navy man, who grew up in Detroit, was killed during the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
This year marks the 83rd anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, which killed approximately 2,400 American service members and civilians.
In time, Auld learned more about his uncle, a 23-year-old seaman 2nd class who was aboard the USS Oklahoma when naval and air forces of the Japanese empire attacked the American base on Hawaii’s island of Oahu. On the following day, Dec. 8, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed Congress and asked for a declaration of war with Japan, which drove the United States into World War II.
“They rescued several sailors that day after the attack,” Auld said. “Everyone else was presumed dead. They didn’t have much hope. They always told me he died on the Oklahoma.”
While the family knew John didn’t survive, his remains were only officially identified after Auld provided a DNA sample in 2017. At press time, John was set to be laid to rest at 10 a.m. Dec. 6 with full military honors at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Auld, who resides in Albuquerque, said the cemetery was chosen because that is where Lillian and Edwin are buried.
“It will be an honor to have him with his mom and his brother,” Auld said.
Family members and friends were expected to attend the burial. John also was expected to receive military honors at the airport when his remains arrived.
For his service, John was awarded the following medals and decorations: Purple Heart medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal with fleet clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with bronze star, World War II Victory Medal, and American Campaign Medal.
‘It’s definitely a huge loss.’
John was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, on June 15, 1918. The family moved to the U.S. and settled in Detroit. On Nov. 6, 1940, John enlisted in the Navy and underwent basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes, in Illinois.
John’s seaman duties included painting, cleaning and polishing the vessel’s brightwork, equipment repair, storing and securing items, and assisting with cargo. The young man also stood watches as a lookout, telephone talker and messenger, and he was a member of a gun crew.
Richard Auld’s dad, Edwin, four years younger than John, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942-46.
“They were normal kids in a good family. It’s definitely a huge loss. I never got to meet him,” said Auld, who was born in 1960. “Every Dec. 7, we talked about him. I feel like I know him now after the Navy’s recovery efforts.”
Auld’s dad moved the family, including wife, Esther, to New Mexico to work in the grocery business. Auld has some photos of his uncle and has been told there is a family resemblance.
A few years ago, Auld and his wife Karen traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii for a ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific to pay tribute to the 33 unaccounted for sailors from the USS Oklahoma buried with full military honors.
“Very emotional,” Auld said. “It was very moving.”
According to the Navy, since the ceremony, one more sailor, radioman 3rd class Frank Hoag Jr., has been identified.
Project Oklahoma
On Dec. 2, the Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs Office issued a press release that included information about Project Oklahoma, a disinterment and identification project through the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
During Project Oklahoma, the Navy’s POW/MIA Office contacted family members to ask for their participation in the Family Reference Sample Program. That is where surviving family members of a veteran killed on duty offer DNA samples that are used to determine if there is a match.
That is exactly what Auld did to confirm his uncle’s remains.
Through the process, 356 of the 388 service members from the USS Oklahoma who were originally unaccounted for have now been identified, according to Capt. Jeff Draude, director, Navy Casualty Office.
Scientists with the DPAA, in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii and Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, are responsible for identifying unaccounted for service members by matching the DNA reference samples from surviving family members. Other documents, including available medical and dental records, are also used.
The Navy Casualty Office’s policy for notification is to work directly with the primary next of kin with matters involving
their loved one’s remains. Once the DPAA makes a positive identification, the Navy’s Casualty Office conducts an official notification to the next of kin.
Once the identification brief has concluded, the family can decide to have the remains interred in a local national or state cemetery, a private cemetery, reinterred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii, or Arlington National Cemetery. Families may also choose to have the remains cremated and retained with the family.
“When briefing families, we often hear things like, ‘My family did not believe he was dead,’ or, ‘He probably was not on board the ship,’ or, ‘Maybe one day he would walk through the door,’” Draude said. “Being able to recover and identify the remains of these sailors aids in the closure to these families.
“It is especially important to the Navy to honor our sailors and Marines who paid the ultimate sacrifice in giving their lives for our country,” Draude said. “Often the notification and identification briefing can be emotional, overwhelming and relieving for the families. Most families we speak with cannot believe their loved one has actually been recovered and/or identified after so many years.”
The Navy covers all primary mortuary expenses: preparation of the remains, casket of choice, all transportation of remains from the lab to final resting place, and family travel and lodging for up to three family members.
Photos provided by the Public Affairs Office, Navy Personnel Command
LEFT: While serving in the U.S. Navy, John Cuthbert Auld, of Detroit, was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. At press time, he was expected to be laid to rest on Dec. 6 with full military honors at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico. ABOVE: Sailors aboard the USS Oklahoma pose for a group photo.
Installation begins for cell-connected water meters
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — The future of water service in Mount Clemens is here today.
Mount Clemens has begun the process of replacing all of its water meters with Metron cellular-equipped meters, which are more accurate than the city’s current meters and will allow both the city and residents to keep track of their water usage easier.
“One of the bigger hassles with our current meters is reading them,” Mount Clemens Utilities Director Lenny Bertrand said. “Currently, we have a guy who gets in the meter truck every few days a month and he has to drive around though the whole city really, really slow so that he can pick up the signal from all of these other meters. It usually takes about four days to read the whole city. Now we’ll be able to do it by pretty much hitting a button and you can pull up any read.”
The Metron Spectrum and Enduro meters are equipped with cellular data registers that connect them to the Verizon cellular network, allowing the meters to “call” Metron on a daily basis. The city is then able to contact Metron to get the data, while residents are able to read their meter data in real time through the WaterScope app and waterscope.us website.
“(WaterScope) is great for budgeting, but it’s also great if you should have a water leak,” Mount Clemens City Manager Gregg Shipman said. “You would know right away if you had a leak, and you could get that fixed so you don’t end up with a high bill. A lot of times, somebody doesn’t even realize they have a leak until they get their water
bill and they notice it’s substantially higher than normal.”
Around 6,000 meters are being installed, in essence finishing up a modernization process that began around 2021.
“We started out a couple years ago installing these as needed to replace failed meters, (outfitting) new construction, things like that because we wanted to test them and make sure they were everything that they were billed to be,” Shipman said. “We checked with other communities that used them. Everybody that used them had a great report. We’ve had good luck with them in the past two years, so that’s when we decided that this is the style we’re going to go with.”
As of July 2024, there were 1,500 new meters in Mount Clemens, and the city commission voted to purchase enough meters to finish the job on July 15. Along with the $2.33 million in meters, the city paired a $582,700 installation job to be performed by contractor Professional Meters Inc. Letters are being sent out to residents to schedule their meter replacement date, which is a job expected to take around 20-30 minutes to complete. Residents will be informed and instructed to register through three colorcoded notices; a green notice will serve as the initial notice, a yellow notice as the secondary notice and a red notice as the final notice. Water will be shut off if all three notices go unanswered. Bertrand expects 90% of the meters to be installed by May 2025.
The battery powering the data registers is expected to last for 10 years. A new head with a full battery can be installed when the battery dies. For more information about the meters and installation process, call the Mount Clemens Utilities Department at (586) 469-6889, ext. 502.
from page 5A
or money to afford a bed,” McQuade said. “Our sponsor went and bought her a bed. We took it to her and set it up.”
Kids can also put in their requests for Santa on the list. The man in the red suit does make an appearance at the brunch event.
Volunteers are key to the event going off without a hitch, according to McQuade. Those interested, who aren’t able to spon-
sor a family, can still help out at the brunch event. Monetary donations for the brunch and assistance with the brunch centerpieces are accepted. There’s also an Amazon wish list with items available to purchase for kids activities at the event. Businesses are able to contribute to the program.
The brunch will be held at the Mirage Banquet Hall, 16980 18 Mile Road, in Clinton Township. The nonprofit is seeking sponsors right up until the brunch. To sign up, email sponsorships@thebutterflycollec tive.org or contact office@thebutterflycol lective.org for more information.
selected for the program based on their Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating score. The township also took into consideration the difficulty of creating a Special Assessment District for improvements to certain roads.
“This program is not a complete rehab program of roads,” Bednar said. “This is literally just a capping of roads themselves. They’ll do some basic maintenance on it and cap it. Typically, it lasts five years, plus or minus.”
A portion of Moravian Drive, from Cass to Harrington, could be in line for federal funding. Kress asked if a stretch of Moravian Drive between Harrington Street and 16 Mile Road was in line to get funding for improvements. Bednar said it was not but said it could be in the next round of submissions. The township is able to submit three roads every three years for the funding.
Resident Paul Schorsch has commented at multiple township meetings about the condition of Moravian Drive between Harrington Street and 16 Mile Road.
“I’ve got some good news. (County Commissioner) Jim Perna said Moravian is scheduled to be fixed,” Schorsch said. “When, I don’t know, but I guess that’s how politicians talk.”
Following the meeting, Perna, R-District 7, said he’s aware of Schorsch’s concern.
“It is being addressed,” Perna said. “I can’t give him a certain date, but I will be talking with our (Macomb County) Director of Roads Brian Santo and try to encourage him to do some temporary repairs, so there are no accidents and no hazards.”
Resident Dana Dugger advocated for improvements on Union Lake Road and said improvements beyond capping were needed for Wendell Street.
King recommended a town hall meeting to explain the PASER ratings for which roads are selected. Gieleghem pointed to the township’s website for this information. It can be found by hovering over the “community” tab at the top of the page and selecting “about roads.”
Other business
Trustees at the meeting also unanimously voted to make a correctly filed application for a Class C liquor license transferrable.
In this scenario, if the township denied an applicant one of their licenses allocated by the state, they could seek out a new one on the open market. This would be available for applicants for a year and would save them $1,850 if they were made to reapply, according to Meltzer. All the information on the application must be similar to the original.
“This is a very business-friendly policy,” Meltzer said.
Also on Nov. 25, the International Transmission Company’s proposed 80-acre overhead powerline project along 19 Mile Road, which was tabled at the Nov. 12 meeting, was deleted from the Nov. 25 agenda. The item did not appear on the board’s Dec. 2 meeting agenda.
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
Once I get the right diagnosis for the cause of your heel pain, I will provide you with a tailored treatment plan, which outlines exactly how we can fix your heel pain and keep you free from future foot pain. If you are ready, call me for an appointment to start your journey back to normal life, free from heel pain.
Photos by Nick Powers
LEFT: Newly elected Trustee Shannon King listens to a speaker during public comment at the Clinton Township Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 25. RIGHT: Clinton Township Treasurer Mike Aiello listens to Township Clerk Kim Meltzer speak at his first Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 25.
ABOVE LEFT: Newly elected Trustee Bruce Wade asks Department of Public Services Director Mary Bednar a question about road funding at the Clinton Township Board of Trustees Nov. 25 meeting. ABOVE RIGHT: Township Supervisor Paul Gieleghem listens to a colleague at the Clinton Township Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 25. Gieleghem was formerly the township’s treasurer.
Clinton Township’s emergency management coordinator retires
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — After half a century working for Clinton Township, Paul Brouwer is ready to retire.
Brouwer has been the township’s emergency management coordinator for the past 33 years. His last day will be Dec. 20, excluding a few lingering reports he’ll finish up on his way out. The longer transition period will allow newly elected Clinton Township Supervisor Paul Gieleghem a chance to find a replacement, according to Bob Cannon, the township’s outgoing supervisor.
“I never thought I was going to be here this long,” Brouwer said. “It’s been a great, great run.”
Brouwer got his start with the township as a probationary firefighter in 1974. He worked his way up to deputy chief, a post he
retired from in 2004. In 1991, he was appointed as the township’s first emergency management coordinator, which is a part-time gig.
“When I started in 1991, I didn’t know what an emergency manager was,” Brouwer said. “I was interested in the disaster planning part of it.”
When this happened, he was relieved of his duties at the Fire Department for 10 months while he put together the township’s first emergency management plan.
“I did that and then went back to the Fire Department,” Bouwer said. “They asked me to stay on on my days off at the Fire Department to maintain it and keep it up to date.”
Brouwer has lived in the area his entire life. He was born in Utica near where Jimmy John’s Field currently sits. When he was 3 years old, he moved into a house his father and grandfather built near the intersection of Harrington Road and Gratiot Avenue.
He graduated from Mount Clemens High School in 1967.
When he and his wife Diane got married in 1969, they moved to a house near the intersection of 15 Mile Road and Groesbeck Avenue. The family moved to their current home near the intersection of Canal Road and Clinton River Road in 1994.
He was initially interested in the medical field. This took him to a job at a private ambulance company where he also volunteered as a Harrison Township firefighter. Working an ambulance meant long hours and low pay so, when he married Diane, Brouwer tried working in construction and had a stint as a claims adjuster for AAA. After a while, he decided he didn’t want to sit behind a desk and searched for something else.
“I applied to the Fire Department. Fortunately, they had some openings,” Brouwer said. “I got in and, as they say, the rest is history.”
Brouwer said the department will often look at potential threats and then examine what the township is able to respond to.
Training for the Department of Public Ser-
vices, the Fire Department and Police Department works to make the township ready for the unexpected. This preparedness came in handy when the Goo Smoke Shop explosion occurred in March.
“That was a classic case of a multiagency response, and it went quite well considering the magnitude of the incident,” Brouwer said.
Brouwer acts as the liaison to the Federal Emergency Management Agency when there is a presidential declaration of an emergency. He estimates there have been five during his three decades with the township. The most recent of these came in 2014 when there was massive flooding in portions of the township.
Brouwer praised the outgoing supervisor’s management style. Cannon’s last day, after serving on the board for 40 years, was Nov. 20.
“He was really a hands-off guy,” Brouwer said.
“Paul Brouwer has been a staple in the community for many, many years in many different occupations,” Cannon said at the
See BROUWER on page 14A
Brouwer
COOPERATION KEY TO ‘STATE OF MACOMB’
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — On the evening of Dec. 4, leaders and luminaries from throughout the region gathered inside the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts to address the State of Macomb County in 2024.
Democratic Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel began the bulk of the address with the theme of partnership being the No. 1 tool to get things done.
“Now that (the election) is over, can we just set aside the Blue vs. Red and the Rs and Ds?” Hackel said. “I’ve said this many times before and I think it’s starting to catch on in light of what I’ve been hearing recently: It’s time to stop reaching across the aisle. Let’s forget reaching across the aisle. It’s time to get in the aisle and get things done on behalf of the people. And the way we get things done in Macomb County is not through partisanship, it’s through partnership.”
Examples of partnerships between the county and its stakeholders were discussed in relation to six categories: economic development, quality of life, roads and infrastructure, health and community services, public safety and education.
Macomb County Planning and Economic Development showcased various projects throughout the county that were receiving country support: the redevelopment of Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights, the overhaul of downtown Mount Clemens and the creation of General Sports and Entertainment’s new headquarters in Utica.
Related to economic development is the country’s financial position, which
Brouwer
from page 13A
Nov. 12 meeting of the Clinton Township Board of Trustees.
Cannon said Brouwer leaving would be a “big loss” for the township, saying events like the Goo Smoke Shop explosion have shown why the position is essential.
“It’s a part-time position, but it’s not part-time to Paul,” Cannon said. “Paul works all the time.”
“You have left big shoes to fill,” Clinton Township Clerk Kim Meltzer said at the meeting.
Hackel touted as strong due to the 14th consecutive year of a balanced budget and the recent increase in the county’s bond rating by Moody’s to “Aa1 with a positive outlook.”
“To quote the release, ‘The outlook is positive because the county will maintain robust finances and it benefits from prudent budget management,’” Hackel said.
Republican Don Brown, chair of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, believed this economic performance showed off the best examples of how the board and county executive have been able to partner on various matters.
“My board has a saying, ‘one team, one mission,’ and Mark Hackel is part of that team and understands that,” Brown said. “He’s worked together with everybody to raise everyone’s boats … We don’t agree on everything but when we don’t, we sit down to figure it out and talk about it. We’re working very well together. The financial picture he highlighted shows the result.”
Hackel’s next segment, quality of life, focused on the ways the county was supporting plans and programs to make Macomb County a desirable place to be. The Green Macomb and Blue Economy initiatives were highlighted as prime examples. Green Macomb’s goal is to expand the county’s tree canopy. The Blue Economy initiative is focused on developing and protecting Lake St. Clair, with its original mission of removing logjams in the Clinton River and eliminating Lake St. Clair beach closures.
Providing Harrison Township with a $1 million grant to build the Digger Odell Memorial Bridge over the Clinton River Spillway was Hackel’s biggest example, in terms of expense, of a community-led quality-of-
Township Attorney Jack Dolan said Brouwer played a key role in shaping the position.
“He is, in some respects, Mr. Emergency Manager in the state of Michigan,” Dolan added at the meeting.
Paul and Diane have two children and nine grandchildren. He has a son, Paul, and a granddaughter, Ashley, who also became firefighters.
In retirement, Brouwer wants to focus on hobbies like woodworking, coin collecting and hunting.
“I got stuff to keep me busy,” he said.
life project receiving county support. Roads and infrastructure were the next point of discussion. Much of the information about road projects was reviewed from the country’s “state of the roads” address, with Innovate Mound serving as a key example of a project that required partnerships between county and local — as well as state and federal — governments to be completed.
With the county owning the primary roads in townships, Republican Macomb Township Treasurer Leon Drolet made it clear that county-municipality partnerships on road projects were not just important but required.
“The township doesn’t run its own roads, but we’re required to pay for a good chunk, usually about half, of road projects,” Drolet said. “Coordinating with the county and roads is not an option — it’s a necessity. We’ve had a great relationship with the county.”
Macomb Township’s work with the county and state, notably state Sen. Veronica Klinefelt, D-Eastpointe, has allowed for the funding of various road projects in the township.
South of Macomb Township is Clinton Township, where newly elected Democratic Supervisor Paul Gieleghem, the township’s former treasurer, has long been adamant that the mechanism for road funding needs to be changed. Gieleghem was no less spirited about the issue as he stepped into the Lorenzo Cultural Center for the Taste of Macomb reception after the address. It’s an issue Hackel would also like Lansing to address.
“Mark is absolutely correct that we need a lot more dollars from the state and a fair (funding) formula to meet the needs of
While he’ll turn off the emergency scanner on his last day, he won’t stop listening.
“I’m going to buy another one so I can still listen,” Brouwer said.
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
our population,” Gieleghem said.
Health and community services focused on the various programs and initiatives the county operates to aid senior citizens. Examples included the Meals on Wheels program and the newly established Macomb County Elder Justice Alliance, which involves 80 organizations working together to combat elder abuse. A new community impact fund in the 2025 budget will see the county work with Advancing Macomb to target grants and philanthropic dollars for nonprofit development, parks and public spaces, small business innovation, senior citizen advocacy and childhood achievement.
Public safety showcased the central intake and assessment center project at the Macomb County Jail, as well as a mention of the Department of Justice L. Anthony Sutin Award, given this year to Hackel and Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham for their community policing efforts.
Finally, a focus on education highlighted the county’s work with the Macomb Intermediate School District, local districts and Macomb Community College to advance educational programs throughout the county.
“Our way of doing things (in Macomb County) is just sometimes different,” Hackel said. “We believe in doing things together, not alone. We believe in bringing people in, not shutting them out. We believe in lending a hand, not pointing a finger. We also believe in giving credit where credit is due and not assigning blame. As I hope that I have shown you, we truly believe in the power of partnership.”
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
15A/ JOURNAL • DECEMBER 11, 2024
DEC. 12
Trivia Night: Also pizza, salad and pop, sign up as team of six or be paired with other individuals, 6:30 p.m., Total Sports, 40501 Production Drive in Harrison Township, (586) 329-1261, htlibrary.org/events
DEC. 13
Holiday concert: Performance by Motor City Chorale, 7:30 p.m., Cross Lutheran Church, 35851 Utica Road in Clinton Township, motorcitychorale.com
DEC. 14
Winter concert: Hear holiday favorites performed by Lakeshore Ukulele Strummers, 3 p.m., Harrison Township Public Library, 38255 L’Anse Creuse (Suite A), registration encouraged, (586) 329-1261, htlibrary. org/events
National Wreaths Across America Day: Local ceremony followed by laying of wreaths on graves of veterans, noon, Resurrection Cemetery, 18201 Clinton River Road in Clinton Township, kcstraffon@comcast.net
‘Christmas in the Air’: Broadway-style song and dance revue featuring festive storylines and holiday classics, 7:30 p.m., Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 286-2222, macombcenter.com
Santa’s Little Crafters: Also cookies and hot cocoa, 1 p.m., Harrison Township Public Library, 38255 L’Anse Creuse (Suite A), registration required, (586) 3291261, htlibrary.org/events
Mount Clemens Light Parade: See trees, storefronts and vehicles lit up, 7 p.m., participate in parade at bit.ly/3Cmi4A5, www.facebook.com/downtown mountclemens
DEC. 15
‘Bach to the Holiday Movies’: Performance by Macomb Symphony Orchestra, 3 p.m., Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 286-2222, macombcenter.com
Cookie walk: Also candy available, noon-3 p.m., Grace Episcopal Church, 115 S. Main St. in Mount Clemens, (586) 465-4573
DEC. 21
Christmas cookie decorating and handprint craft: 1-2 p.m., Harrison Township Public Library, 38255 L’Anse Creuse (Suite A), registration required, (586) 329-1261, htlibrary.org/events
‘Holiday Hits Then & Now’: Performance by PRISM Chorus, 8 p.m., Macomb Center for the Performing
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.
Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 2862222, macombcenter.com
DEC. 22
Christmas concert: Performance by Detroit Concert Choir, 3-4:30 p.m., Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 2862222, macombcenter.com
ONGOING
Holiday Market: Featuring nearly 100 Michigan artisans, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays until Dec. 22, Anton Art Center, 125 Macomb Place in Mount Clemens, (586) 4698666, theartcenter.org/holiday-market
Santa photos: Select dates and times until Dec. 24, Cabin at the Creek at The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Road in Clinton Township, reservations required for pets, www.shoppartridgecreek.com
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS
MOUNT CLEMENS — Around 2:50 p.m. on Nov. 11, a 52-year-old woman residing in the 4000 block of Riverview Circle received a notification that her yard gnome was being stolen.
Camera footage showed a man taking a garden gnome and antique lantern off her porch. The woman told Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies that she believed her 30-year-old neighbor was the culprit and she was just interested in getting the decor back.
Deputies spoke with the neighbor’s dad, who recovered the items, before summoning the 30-year-old himself to the screen door. He told deputies that the items were found in the garbage but, once confronted with video footage, said he did not remember everything due to the medication he was taking.
Man steals dog food
EASTPOINTE — According to a police report, a suspect entered the Dollar General in the area of Eight Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue at 4:15 p.m. Nov. 17 and loaded a shopping cart with numerous large bags of dog food before fleeing the location on foot without paying. He was last seen in the city of Detroit before the caller lost sight of him. Police were investigating.
Laundry detergent taken
EASTPOINTE — According to a police report, officers were dispatched to the Family Dollar in the area of 10 Mile Road and Schroeder Avenue at around 1:15 p.m. Nov. 17 on a report of retail fraud in which two men allegedly entered the store and left with six containers of laundry detergent, fleeing in a black sedan of unknown make or model.
In a similar incident at around 10:30 a.m. Nov. 13 at the Dollar General in the area of Eight Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue, an older man reportedly entered the store and stole about $100 worth of laundry detergent before fleeing without paying. The suspect was said to have driven away in a gray GMC Sierra. Investigations were ongoing.
Accident happens in front of public safety building
GROSSE POINTE WOODS — A 38-year-old Detroit man is said to have rear-ended another vehicle in front of the Grosse Pointe Woods Public Safety Department at around noon Nov. 17, an incident witnessed by one of the department’s officers. The suspect is alleged to have tried to flee the scene but hit a light pole instead, which is when police said the suspect took off on foot. The victim of the accident is said in a police report to have chased after the suspect, who was caught by police just blocks away.
but refused to take a preliminary breath test, so they sought a warrant to have his blood tested to determine his blood alcohol level. The suspect was arrested for operating under the influence of liquor, police said.
Retail fraud suspect arrested
GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Police were called to a store in the 18000 block of Mack Avenue at around 7:26 p.m. Nov. 6 after a 35-year-old Detroit man allegedly tried to steal $119.92 worth of shrimp. Employees are said to have stopped the suspect after they said they saw the suspect walk to the deli area and try to leave with merchandise under his coat. One of the workers said he demanded that the suspect open his coat, and when he did, four packages of shrimp tumbled to the floor. The suspect, who was reportedly caught on the store’s surveillance cameras, is said by police to be facing third-degree retail fraud charges. Police said he was also wanted on a warrant out of Grosse Pointe Woods. The suspect was told not to return to the store or he would be charged with trespassing.
Seasonal décor used in vandalism
GROSSE POINTE PARK — Sometime between the hours of 10 p.m. Nov. 1 and 11:50 a.m. Nov. 2, an unknown suspect is said to have shattered the windshield of a 2020 Jeep Compass while it was parked in the 1100 block of Kensington Road. Police said they found chunks of broken pumpkin around the vehicle, leading them to believe that the pumpkin was tossed at the Jeep’s window.
Hacker intimidation
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — In September, a 68-yearold Macomb Township woman purchased a new laptop. She turned the laptop on for the first time on Nov. 8 at her home in the 51000 block Battonwood Drive and quickly encountered a pop-up window.
The pop-up encouraged her to call a “Microsoft Support” phone number, which was answered by a man who claimed the computer contained child porn downloaded onto it. After the woman denied this due to not downloading anything yet, the man ordered her to open her online banking accounts. She refused to do so, and the man began moving her cursor, turned on the computer’s camera and brought up a pornography website, prompting the woman to close the laptop.
Scammed out of cash
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Nov. 8, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were summoned to
speak with residents about a fraud report.
An 85-year-old male resident reportedly received an email stating a fraudulent PayPal account was made in his name. Upon calling a number in the email, a man claimed $20,000 was wrongly placed in the account and, after hours of conversation, the resident agreed to give $20,000 in cash to a man at a gas station on the corner of Romeo Plank and 22 Mile Road. The man also deposited $9,700 in a bitcoin machine at a gas station on 22 Mile Road and Van Dyke.
Woman finds tracker on vehicle
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A police officer from Shelby Township responded to the 50000 block of Scotland Boulevard, near 26 Mile and Mound roads, for a suspicious situation at 2:30 a.m. Nov. 6. The officer met with the caller, who advised that she had found a tracker on her vehicle.
The woman stated that she is in a relationship that is ending and believes it was placed on her vehicle by her soon-to-be ex. The caller stated that this is the second tracking device she has found on her vehicle in two months. This case was turned over to the detective bureau for further investigation.
Fraud reported
ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 12:33 p.m. on Nov. 14, a case of fraud was reported in the 32000 block of Harper Avenue.
A skimming device was found on an ATM at a business. Upon arrival, the officer spoke to the owner, a 59-year-old man, and a machine technician, a 27-year-old man. The technician stated he came to the business and found the device attached to the ATM in the store. The device had two parts: a plate that covered the ATM insert card hole and a “Y” shaped device inserted in the card slot.
Both men had handled the devices prior to the officer’s arrival. Evidence was collected and photos were taken. The officer asked the owner to have employees take notice of suspicious behavior near the machine.
Suspect cited for attempt to steal groceries
STERLING HEIGHTS — On the night of Nov. 7, a man allegedly tried to steal a “large amount of groceries” collectively valued at $188.76 from Walmart, 33201 Van Dyke Ave.
Police said store staff witnessed the suspect not scanning multiple items before trying to leave with the unpaid merchandise. The report added that the suspect had multiple carts filled with over 100-150
been paid for using an EBT card, other items were reportedly unpaid.
Police said they cited the suspect for third-degree retail fraud.
Police investigate report of woman causing disturbance
STERLING HEIGHTS — Police said they received a complaint about an elderly woman allegedly yelling and urinating on trash the night of Nov. 7 along Orleans Avenue, located near Van Dyke Avenue and 19 Mile Road. The woman was also accused of twice trying to enter the complainant’s vehicle. Police said they found the woman, who seemed to be “mildly intoxicated but able to care for herself.” The woman reportedly told police she would return home. Police said the complainant’s car was undamaged.
Violent driver
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — At around 5:20 a.m. on Nov. 11, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the Shook Road area to locate a white 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe that at least two 911 callers said was driving erratically along Interstate 94. Deputies found the Tahoe on Shook Road and approached the driver, a 42-year-old Detroit woman — who presented them with a fake ID — who reportedly showed signs of intoxication. Deputies had the driver perform field sobriety tests
EISENHOWER SHOW CHOIR IS TOPS AT FESTIVAL
— The Eisenhower Show Choir was chosen as the top ensemble at the Michigan School Vocal Music Association Musical Theatre Solo and Ensemble Festival Nov. 9. The group received a perfect score for its performance of “Something About This Night” from “Finding Neverland” and “Louder Than Words” from “tick...tick... BOOM!” At the end of the festival, the show choir was chosen as the group that will represent the east site at the MSVMA All-State Festival in May. The group will sing at the Gala Concert at 7 p.m. May 8 at Fairchild Theatre on the campus of Michigan State University.
DOWNTOWN UTICA TO HOLD CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
UTICA — The city of Utica will host its 2024 Downtown Utica Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at Utica’s Memorial Park. The event will include Lori Barczyk, from the Reptarium and LegaSea Aquarium, as the special guest. There will be visits and photos with Santa Claus, Jack Skellington and Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” a fireworks spectacular, Vanessa Carr performing Christmas songs, the Utica High School Marching Band, a performance by The Dance Class Youth Troupe and the Utica Fire Department’s “Stuff an Ambulance” to benefit Toys for Tots.
BIRMINGHAM COLLECTS DONATIONS FOR TOYS FOR TOTS
at
Adams Road, Fire Station 2 at 1600 W. Maple Road, the Baldwin Public Library at 300 W. Merrill St., or Birmingham City Hall at 151 Martin St. The Birmingham Fire Department has partnered with Toys for Tots, run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, for the last 25 years to collect
File photo by Erin Sanchez
