SPOTLIGHT
FINANCE
Deputies, trustees talk about patrols
Board approves infrastructure maintenance plan
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Last June, the Macomb Township Board of Trustees extended its contract with the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office for policing services and added an additional sergeant. On Feb. 26, trustees got to find out what they have been paying for.
Sgt. Ryan Piszczek and Lt. Kevin Gillespie took to the podium at the board’s final February meeting to give a rundown of how things were going with the addition of Piszczek to the substation.
“We’ve seen these dramatic numbers since (Piszczek has) been in charge of the midnight shift,” Gillespie said. “And not that there was anything wrong with midnights, but with the
Sgt. Ryan Piszczek of the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office speaks to the Macomb Township Board of Trustees on Feb. 26 about changes to the midnight shift’s effectiveness since he was added as the shift’s sergeant. Trustees approved adding a midnight shift sergeant last June.
Governor approves bills for sick time, minimum wage
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
METRO DETROIT — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed two bills into law that headed off automatic changes to the state’s paid sick time and minimum wage on Feb. 21.
“Michigan workers deserve fair wages and benefits so they can pay the bills and take care of their family, and small businesses (need) our support to keep creating good jobs in Michigan,” Whitmer said in a press release. “I’m proud to sign these two bipartisan bills into law that will raise wages, ensure workers can take time off to care for themselves or their loved ones, and continue growing our economy. This commonsense compromise was made possible by the Republicans and Democrats who worked together to forge a fair, bipartisan deal. I hope we can build on this momentum to keep passing commonsense, bipartisan legislation that makes a real difference in people’s lives. I’ll keep working with anyone to protect working families and make sure our economy is competitive.”
Photo by Dean Vaglia
Whitmer
Roundtable addresses Michigan’s first Statewide Workforce Plan
BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — On Feb. 18, one week before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State address, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity held a roundtable discussion in Macomb County to discuss the first-ever Statewide Workforce Plan.
Held at the University Center on the Macomb Community College Center Campus, attendees discussed the plan designed to expand career opportunities, strengthen Michigan’s workforce and support employers. There are three components of the plan: registered apprenticeships, pre-employment transition services, and removing barriers to work.
The roundtable panel included presentations from LEO
LAKESIDE DEMOLITION LAWSUIT DISMISSED
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
STERLING HEIGHTS — Plans to demolish Lakeside Mall remain set to continue as a lawsuit from a property owner was dismissed in mid-February.
Lakeside Circle Holdings, owner of the former Sears at Lakeside Mall, reached an agreement with mall owners Out of the Box Ventures and the city of Sterling Heights on Feb. 12 to dismiss its lawsuit alleging plans to demolish the mall deterred tenants from doing business in the ex-Sears building.
Per the dismissal order issued by Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Richard Caretti, Lakeside Circle and Out of the Box Ventures are to agree on a final site plan and form an agreement “defining their respective rights, which is expected to include an agreed upon
Our next issue will come to homes March 20. Stay current by visiting
Group helps survivors of human trafficking
BY ANDY KOZLOWSKI akozlowski@candgnews.com
STERLING HEIGHTS — A form of modernday slavery, human trafficking ensnares people from all walks of life. Sadly, their hardships aren’t over once they’re free.
That’s where groups like True North to Freedom make a difference. The Sterling Heights nonprofit helps survivors rebuild their lives.
This can mean overcoming trauma, finding work and shelter, and staying sober — drugs being one way that traffickers control their victims. TNTF helps survivors turn things around by offering counseling and other services, as well as limited financial support.
Officials say the odds are stacked against survivors.
“There’s a lack of understanding of human trafficking. Not knowing what to look for allows this crime to exist all around us, right under our noses. Awareness training is paramount,” said Heidi Wilt, TNTF’s executive director. “Our criminal justice systems are overwhelmed. Their hands are often tied when it comes to prosecuting and keeping perpetrators in jail.”
She explained that the trauma felt by survivors makes it difficult to testify.
“Victims still carry the brunt of the criminal consequences,” Wilt said.
‘The survivors face many challenges’
There are nearly 27.6 million human trafficking victims globally, according to a 2023 report by the U.S. Department of State. Of those, an estimated 6.3 million are in forced sexual exploitation.
“Human trafficking is one of the most profitable crimes, so we have involvement from the top of governments all the way down in societies around the world,” Wilt said.
See TNTF on page 12A
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Susan Corbin, left; Stephanie Beckhorn, deputy director, LEO’s Office of Employment and Training, center; and Heidi Devroy, CEO/founder, Prosper-Tech Machine & Tool, located in Richmond, discuss Michigan’s Statewide Workforce Plan Feb. 18 at the University Center on the Macomb Community College Center Campus in Clinton Township.
Photo by Dean Vaglia
Lacking the Sears branding it was once known for, the segment of Lakeside Mall owned by Lakeside Circle Holdings sits empty. Lakeside Circle Holdings reached an agreement with the mall’s owners to end a lawsuit that alleged plans to demolish the mall deterred
Workforce
Director Susan Corbin; Stephanie Beckhorn, deputy director, LEO’s Office of Employment and Training; and Heidi Devroy, CEO/founder, Prosper-Tech Machine & Tool, located in Richmond.
According to LEO, Whitmer’s proposed 2026-27 fiscal-year budget includes $19 million to expand access to registered apprenticeships; $40.4 million — including a $8.4 million general fund investment to secure $32 million in matching federal funds — for pre-employment transition support and other vocational rehabilitation services for students with disabilities; and $7.5 million for the Barrier Removal Employment Success program.
“We know that registered apprenticeships strengthen our talent pool and help Michiganders earn while they learn. One year after successfully completing their training program, registered apprentices in Michigan have median annual earnings of over $80,700,” Corbin said. “That can put a household into the middle class. One of the strong, clear priorities and goals of our Statewide Workforce Plan is to bring 75,000 additional households into the middle class. We also know that 94% of apprentices are retained in employment one year after completing their apprenticeship program.”
The $19 million is expected to expand registered apprenticeship opportunities in traditional and nontraditional industries. According to the panel, that will strengthen Michigan’s talent pool of students and job seekers by helping them to gain in-demand skills and provide employers with the workers they need.
An apprenticeship program trains future employees to become skilled in a trade or profession. Apprenticeship training combines classroom learning with handson work as students prepare for entry level patient-centered or business-oriented health careers.
Justin Al-Igoe, executive director of the Macomb/ St. Clair Workforce Development Board, talks about how his department works with the apprenticeship program in Macomb County and made himself and his department available.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
“Registered apprenticeships are an opportunity to learn important skills that lead to industry-recognized credentials while getting paid,” Beckhorn said. “You earn and you learn at the same time. They are pathways into good paying jobs. We currently have more than 850 active programs and over 22,000 active registered apprentices in our state.”
The $40.4 million for pre-employment transition support will provide academic remediation, specialized tutoring and enrollment into career and technical training courses or college, with the goal of assisting individuals with disabilities on a pathway to in-demand jobs. The $8.4 million general fund investment will allow the state to provide the required match to access federal vocational rehabilitation funding. Michigan’s pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities are provided through the state’s vocational rehab programs, which includes Michigan Rehabilitation Services and the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons.
The $7.5 million for the Barrier Removal Employment Success program is for no- and low-income residents, including those who earn above the poverty level but not enough to adequately sustain a household. This service will address transportation, legal services, childcare, clothing needs, tools for work and other barriers that keep people from participating in the workforce. The goal is to lift 100,000 families out of working poverty during the next five years.
“The governor’s proposed budget will allow us to work closely with over 8,000 students aged 14 and older to help them with their transition from high school to postsecondary education into employment,” Beckhorn said.
Devroy, whose husband is an apprentice, said Prosper-Tech Machine & Tool began 18 years ago. The production machine company staffs 24 employees and began an apprenticeship program in 2017. They have four children, one of whom is a journeyman electrician.
“I’m a big proponent of the skilled
command structure you get so much more with direction and just someone to take the lead on the shift and lead by example, and that’s what we have with Ryan.”
Piszczek’s goal going into the role was to keep productivity high and, since the start, he has seen productivity increase though self-initiated calls. Instead of calls from the public to 911 or nonemergency lines, self-initiated calls occur when deputies find something to look into while on patrol.
“That’s driving around and checking subdivisions for car doors that are open, garage doors that are open, checking businesses, walking around complexes making sure nobody left their door open,” Piszczek said. “It’s how we find a lot of work on midnights. You get calls during the day that are popular like larceny from autos. Well, those happen on midnight shifts. So if guys are in the subdivisions and they’re looking for these sorts of things, then that’s important to deter crime as well as (to) find it as soon as it happens.”
In January 2025, the substation logged 885 self-initiated calls, an increase over the 300 or so logged in January 2024. One reason for the increase is a push by Piszczek for improved documentation of work performed.
“Somebody on a routine patrol may drive through a subdivision three or four times but they might not exactly document it the way that it should be,” Piszczek said. “For example, we would pull a general number for a subdivision check, and that’s an important metric for me to understand (that) this deputy went through that subdivision and they pulled a number for it, so we can say he was accountable and was there and did it. And then we can see what activities lead to finding those (incidents) and which areas lead to finding those open businesses and stuff like that.”
Piszczek patrols the township along with serving as the midnight shift sergeant. He was responsible for 60 of the 885 self-initiated calls in January.
Capital improvement plan
Trustees also approved the fiscal year 2026 five-year water and sewer capital improvement plan, a multimillion-dollar plan outlining expected expenditures for upcoming maintenance projects.
“The goal of the (capital improvement plan) is to have the water and sewer systems be maintained to stay current to avoid a state of disrepair,” Department of Public Works Director Kevin Johnson said. “We’re trying to avoid kicking the can down the curb which could lead to emergencies and more costly repairs in the future.”
Upcoming projects for 2026 include the first phase of water main replacements in Plum Grove Village, replacing pump station No. 1 and expanding the department of public works’ headquarters.
The capital improvement plan was approved unanimously.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Friday, March 21, 2025 2:00 p.m.
Call or visit your local financial advisor today.
Kevin Ott, AAMS™ Financial Advisor
45200 Card Rd Suite 114 Macomb, MI 48044 586-693-3602
Percentage Yield (APY)
ownership category. Please visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC).
COMMUNITY BRIEF
Turning
Point hosts ‘The Vagina Monologues’ MOUNT CLEMENS — Turning Point, a nonprofit supporting those impacted by domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking, will host its fifth performance of “The Vagina Monologues” at the Emerald Theatre on Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m.
“We are pleased that hosting The Vagina Monologues has become a tradition in our community,” Sharman Davenport, Turning Point CEO and president, said in a press release. “This is an evening for everyone; we all know someone who has been impacted by the scenes presented in the play. It takes education
HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AT AFFORDABLE PRICES
and effort from all of us to end domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking. The performance is both powerful and moving, while also entertaining and fun for the audience.”
Created by playwright V (formerly known as Eve Ensler) in 1996, “The Vagina Monologues” has since become key work in the campaign to end violence against women. The Emerald Theatre performance involves community members who support Turning Point’s mission and is based on real-life stories that explore several topics through the perspectives of women of different ages, races, sexualities and backgrounds.
Tickets for the show begin at $35. Four-seat opera boxes are $200 and eight-seat tables are $245. All proceeds benefit Turning Point. Tickets and more information can be found at turningpoint macomb.org.
Photo provided by Turning Point
From left: Stephanie Lang, Lesia Fedorak and Shannon Vanslambrouck rehearse their roles in Turning Point’s production of “The Vagina Monologues,” taking place at the Emerald Theater on March 7.
Someone, somewhere, reading this right now is thinking you wrote this for me. And you’re right, we did. You’re the one who just can’t bring yourself to pick up the phone. It doesn’t matter if you’re a woman, a man, a black belt in karate, or 90 lbs. soaking wet. You’re scared, embarrassed and just overwhelmed. We can help, we’re positive we can. We know the pain you experienced wasn’t just “in your head.” We will not lecture you and most certainly won’t make you feel “bad” about whatever is going on. No blame, no lectures, just the rst step on getting back your smile and health.
Sergeant retires from Fire Department
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At the Feb. 26 meeting of the Macomb Township Board of Trustees, Sgt. Gerald Genna of the Macomb Township Fire Department was honored for his over 18 years of service.
Genna was hired in August 2006 and became a paid on-call sergeant in June 2010. He became a part-time sergeant in July 2024 and officially retired on Feb. 16, 2025. During his nearly two decades with the department, Genna kept himself busy with involvement in public service across Macomb County. He worked for an ambulance company from 1983-86; as a paid on-call firefighter for East Detroit, now Eastpointe, from 1984-86; as a Center Line public safety officer from 1986-2007; as a Grosse Pointe Woods public safety officer from 2007-2019; and has been a Macomb County protective services officer since 2019.
Genna was awarded his township helmet as a token of appreciation.
CMPL MARCH EVENTS
CLINTON TOWNSHIP/MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Books are not the only way to learn at the library.
Over the month of March, the branches of the Clinton-Macomb Public Library will host various events that let attendees learn through listening and doing.
Jennifer Levasseur, a National Air and Space Museum space history curator, will guide a virtual tour of the International Space Station in a Zoom-based presentation at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18. Topics of discussion include the people who are in the station, the research performed
Dakota High School hosting craft show
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — DIYers and curio lovers, your time has come. The Dakota High School Boosters will host the 2025 Spring Craft Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 at Dakota High School. Admission is $3 to see and purchase hand-built crafts from a full house of local creators. For more information visit dakotaboosters.weebly.com.
up there, how the station is operated as both a residence and research station and how microgravity affects people.
Students, parents and caregivers preparing for college are invited to the North Branch at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 20 for a discussion about filling out and submitting the FAFSA form.
Children ages 7-12 are invited to the South Branch at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 24 for a STEAM circuitry craft session about the human brain. Adults are invited to the North Branch at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27 for a show-and-tell session. Attendees are encouraged to bring a treasured object to discuss. Items must be appropriate for a public setting.
To register for these events and more, visit cmpl.libnet.info/events.
‘An Evening with Rita Rudner’ is no laughing matter
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Comedian Rita Rudner is coming to town.
“An Evening with Rita Rudner” is scheduled for 3 p.m. March 9 at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, located on the Macomb Community College Center Campus at 44575 Garfield Road. Rudner, known for sharp wit and one-liners, has been a top draw in Las Vegas since June 2000. She has appeared on countless television shows including HBO specials and performs nationally. Rudner earned the title of Las Vegas’s Comedian of the Year for nine consecutive years and was honored with The Nevada Ballet’s Woman of the Year Award in 2006.
For tickets, visit macombcenter.com, call the box office at (586) 286-2222, or email MacombArts@macomb.edu.
Ballet Company goes to Oz
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Take a trip down the yellow brick road and go somewhere over the rainbow with the Macomb Ballet Company’s upcoming production of “The Wizard of Oz.”
Based on the novel by L. Frank Baum, the “The Wizard of Oz” follows Dorothy on a journey through the fantastical world of Oz as she tries to return home to Kansas. Adapted by Artistic Director Amber Megna Michalik and assistant directors Hannah Carden, Brandon Koepsell and Mary Sherman, “The Wizard of Oz” is a full-length ballet featuring performers ages 8-19. It is intended for an all-ages audience.
Performances take place at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts at Macomb Community College on Friday, April 25 at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.; on Saturday, April 26 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m. The 10 a.m. performance on April 25 is a sensory-friendly performance. Shows last around an hour and 45 minutes with a 15-minute intermission. Visit macombcenter.com for tickets and macombballet.org for more information.
Photo provided by Macomb Ballet Company
The Macomb Ballet Company will perform “The Wizard of Oz” at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts April 25-27.
File photo
John Tompkins of New Baltimore shows off his bird feeders at a prior craft show at Dakota High School.
Photo by Dean Vaglia Macomb Township Fire Department Sgt. Gerald Genna, left, receives his helmet from Fire Chief Robert Phillips.
SPOTLIGHT ON FINANCE
GROWING YOUR MONEY WITH HIGH-YIELD ACCOUNTS
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
This may be news to some, but money doesn’t grow on trees. It can grow, however, if you know how and where to plant it.
Money is handy in a checking account or kept as cash because it can easily be spent. Investing what you don’t need to spend immediately in stocks, mutual funds and other long-term investments can see a high return when it is time to cash out — if you have years or decades to see it through.
For those looking to grow their unused cash but are not interested in waiting years to see the pay off, there are high-yield savings account options.
Banks and credit unions offer savings accounts as a way for customers to grow deposited funds through compounding interest at a rate known as an annual percentage yield. The ability to build upon deposited
funds through interest serves as a tradeoff for often not being able to directly use funds as they would be in a checking account. Using money in a savings account requires transferring funds to a checking account, and the frequency and amount of transfers is governed by federal regulations and often by policies set by individual banks and credit unions.
While savings accounts at large brickand-mortar institutions have APYs in the 0.01-0.05% range, the growth of online banking options has seen the rise of a more aggressive way to save — the high-yield savings account.
“A lot of (high-yield savings accounts) are offered by institutions that mainly do online services,” said Sam Taube, lead investing writer at NerdWallet. “They have fewer or no branches and the way that they work, in a business model sense, is that those financial institutions have much lower overhead costs because they’re not renting storefronts to op-
erate branches, and they pass those savings along to the consumer in a higher APY.”
By cutting the overhead costs and funneling the savings into the accounts of members, high-yield savings accounts from online institutions can have APY rates anywhere from 3-5%. However, the lack of overhead that leads to some banks being able to provide high-yield savings accounts can create problems for some savers.
“On one hand they offer a much higher
APY than you would get from a traditional bank, but on the other the branchless model can mean that they offer slightly more limited customer service options than a traditional bank,” Taube said. “If you really want the ability to physically go to the bank and talk to someone if you have a problem, that may not be available through every highyield savings account provider.”
If the virtual nature of online banking is
Amy Persyn, chief marketing officer of First State Bank, said savings accounts can be used to build up money and behaviors.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
TNTF
The U.S. is no exception, with an estimated 1.1 million survivors and counting. In Michigan, some traffickers use the Great Lakes as clandestine channels for transporting victims between locations in the U.S. and Canada.
As for how victims end up in this predicament, traffickers often groom them on social media and employ tactics ranging from blackmail and drugs to verbal and physical abuse.
Traffickers will limit the victim’s access to communication devices, cutting them off from family and friends. They also tightly control their finances and schedules. Some victims are especially vulnerable due to mental or physical disabilities.
“Force, fraud and coercion are always present in human trafficking,” Wilt said. “The survivors face many challenges. Many have felonies on their records for drug use, prostitution and other offenses due to being trafficked. They’re missing documents like birth certificates, Social Security and driver’s licenses. Many have children — some with their traffickers — and that complicates getting free from their control.”
The way forward
TNTF started humbly enough in 2015 as a prayer group that later evolved into an organiza-
tion called the Alabaster Gift, and from there rebranded to its current name in 2021.
But the foundational beliefs remain the same.
“Every life has value,” Wilt said. “We’re called to love, nurture and care for each other as unique and beautiful individuals. Everyone has the basic right to live a life of freedom.”
She said the name “True North to Freedom” draws upon their Christian faith, as well as America’s sad history of slavery.
“Jesus is our true north,” Wilt said. “The bondage we’re helping these survivors escape is not just physical or financial, but ultimately to discover their worth. We give them the ability to successfully navigate life in society today.
“The problem is that society promotes the exploitation of men, women and children for profit, with no regard for their innate worth as God’s image bearers,” she said. “We’re committed to nurturing those who were previously involved in sexual or labor exploitation. We’ve become a safe space for those vulnerable people to feel loved, accepted and valued.”
It’s also the beginning of their recovery. TNTF helps survivors apply for governmental aid, find jobs and write résumés, and create household budgets. The group provides emotional support and spiritual guidance, as well as limited financial and physical support with accountability.
There are also life skills classes, survivor-led
“Where Everyone’s A Regular”
Photo provided by True North to Freedom
Heidi Wilt, the executive director of True North to Freedom, assists survivors of human trafficking with resources like counseling, applying for government assistance, searching for jobs, limited financial and physical support with accountability; and more.
Workforce
from page 4A
trades. We lived off them, my family, our son and now our company has a very thriving apprenticeship program. At Prosper-Tech, we believe it’s important to teach the trade to the next generation. We need younger people to come in and do this type of work,” Devroy said.
“That’s why we became a registered apprenticeship employer through the Department of Labor. I’ve seen firsthand how offering opportunity gives career advancement and higher wages,” Devroy said. “They’re more likely to retain employment. Also, they hold a nationwide certificate. We’re on our six apprentices now. An apprenticeship program is four years but takes 10 years to become an expert.”
Beckhorn addressed how the funding will be distributed under the Statewide Workforce Plan.
“We’re held to requirements with the state dollars. We will put out competitive grants or requests for proposals. Sometimes we may start with a request for information. We do want these to be high wage, high demand jobs. We want to invest where there are quality jobs that pay good wages, that have benefits such as health care, retirement benefits,” Beckhorn said. “We’re going to invest it where the data says we need more direct care workers and more advanced manufacturing. We’re working here with Macomb (County) with the Department of Defense, particularly the (maritime) industrial bases.”
Tatjana T. Savich and her brother, Alex Savich, attended the roundtable discussion. Alex Savich is the owner of Angelica’s Place, an assisted living facility in Romeo. Tatijana Savich is the CEO and owner of Quality Care Rehab & Autism Center, with locations in Shelby Township and Clinton Township, and Divinity Homecare in Clinton Township. Between the three companies, there are 32 apprenticeships in five different areas. While there are many associate apprenticeships with manufacturing, Tatjana Savich said the health care field is in need of them, too.
“We’ve already had several people complete their apprenticeship, and it’s really been wonderful,” Tatjana Savich said. “Many of the team members are now looking at getting an associate’s degree, getting a bachelor’s degree because they never thought they could do it. They never had the support, but they do have the support.”
Call Staff Writer Maria Allard at (586) 498-1045.
TNTF
from page 12A
classes and expressive arts, as well as referrals for counseling through Community Mental Health and others.
“Case management includes all the areas they need to work on, each with their own goals,” Wilt said. “We’re not limited to one area of need. We recognize not everyone fits into the same box.”
Making a difference
Wilt provided testimony by a number of clients, using aliases to protect their identities.
One survivor, Claire, described the despair she once felt.
“The hopelessness is so profound that we think the only way out is to die,” she said. “But there is a glimmer of hope, where someone sees our efforts to survive, (like TNTF), and encourages us to take another step. I can finally live a real life — I am extremely grateful!”
Another survivor, Sara, said TNTF gave her family an opportunity to start over.
“They give me a sense of community and wonderful, spiritual fellowship. I’ve received numerous resources, so that my children and I can meet our basic needs, and we can thrive … (with) things like budgeting, groceries, exceptional therapy and prayer,” Sara said. “The mentoring and guidance I received led me to accomplishments such as a new home and vehicle.”
Carrie said TNTF helped her after enduring 13 months of sex trafficking.
“The Bible-based therapy, and Heidi (Wilt) being available at honestly any time of day or night, is what saved me on nights filled with anxiety and worry,” Carrie said.
Louise Trombly is one of the volunteers with TNTF. She said she joined after Wilt made a presentation at her church.
“It broke my heart for the many women and men who have been trafficked and all the difficulty they go through trying to get their lives back,” she said. “Many of them feel unloved, of little or no value, and no purpose. But we show them that with God, they’re loved unconditionally, and that we all have great value and purpose. And once they realize that, they no longer loathe themselves.
“It’s satisfying to see their progress,” she added. “And we all need to help. (Trafficking) is not just in the inner city or faraway countries. It’s right in your neighborhood — it’s everywhere.”
How you can help
To donate, visit truenorthtofreedom.org, and go to “Support TNTF” on the left. The group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so all donations are tax deductible. Contributors can also write a check made payable to “True North to Freedom,” sent to 7007 Metro Parkway — Suite 725, Sterling Heights, MI 48311.
Other ways to donate include stocks and mutual funds; qualified charitable distributions through your IRA; choosing TNTF as the recipient of your Kroger Rewards; or if you’re a Thrivent member, directing your Choice Dollars to TNTF. One can buy from the online shop, as well, where all proceeds benefit TNTF.
The website also has a wish list of needed items. Gift cards are especially useful, mailed to the same address as the checks. The group also accepts donations of supplies for its pantry. To learn about current needs and where to deliver items, email director@truenorthtofreedom.org.
Volunteers are also needed. Only approved applicants are told the TNTF Center’s location, which is separate from the group’s mailing address. This is to protect the survivors there.
As a volunteer, one can help stock the pantry, set up clothing racks, run security, offer prayer support, and assist with case management. To apply, visit the website.
Wilt said everyone can help simply by watching for signs of trafficking. She said signs can include personality changes where a person shuts out others, feels extremely uncomfortable talking — as though being watched — or is unable to recall where they live or what they did that day.
“If something seems off, pay attention to details — a good description of the people involved, the location of the business or house, the model and license plate of their vehicle. Contact the police, the FBI, Polaris. You can report anonymously,” Wilt said. “But never put yourself or the victim in harm’s way by taking actions into your own hands.”
To learn more, visit truenorthtofree dom.org.
Call Staff Writer Andy Kozlowski at (586) 498-1046.
Wage
Whitmer’s action closes the door on an issue that dates back to 2018. Two petitions for increased wages and paid sick time received the necessary number of signatures to appear on the ballot in Michigan. Republican legislators, in a move to keep them off the ballot, adopted the two petitions. Once adopted, the measures were significantly altered.
In the Michigan Court of Claims, it was determined on July 19, 2022, that the adopted and altered acts were unconstitutional. This was reversed by the Michigan Court of Appeals but was ultimately upheld by a 4-3 Michigan Supreme Court ruling July 31, 2024.
The Supreme Court outlined changes that would have been true to the petitioners’ original intent. This included changes to paid sick time and the state’s minimum wage for tipped and nontipped workers.
Legislators in the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate scrambled to pass legislation that would alter the changes set to take effect Feb. 21. House Bill 4002, introduced by Rep. Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, and Senate Bill 8, introduced by Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, were the bills ultimately signed by the governor.
What the adopted bills do
SB 8, which became Public Act 1 of 2025, raised the minimum wage to $12.48 from $10.56, which mirrors the automatic changes due to take effect after the Supreme Court’s ruling. Each year on Jan. 1, the wage will rise until it hits $15 in 2027. After 2027, the state’s treasurer will determine the wage.
PA 1 gives tipped workers 38% of the $12.48 minimum wage. This will raise the wage from $4.01 to $4.74. The wage will rise in 2% increments each Jan. 1 until hitting 50% in 2031.
HB 4002, which became Public Act 2 of 2025, deals with paid sick time. Employees at small businesses, those with 10 or fewer employees, earn one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked. This is capped at 40 hours a year. For larger businesses, employees also earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked with a cap at 72 hours.
Those working for small businesses can carry over up to 40 hours of unused sick time. At larger companies, employees can carry over up to 72 hours of unused sick time.
The changes for small businesses go into effect Oct. 1. For larger companies, the changes took effect Feb. 21. For both large and small businesses, employees hired after the acts go into effect can start accruing time immediately. However, an employer can require an employee to wait 120 days before taking any time.
Reasons to take paid sick time in Michigan for employees or an employee’s family member include mental or physical illness; injury or medical treatment; and domestic or sexual violence. For employees, meetings regarding a child’s health or abuse, and closure of a business due to a public health emergency, also qualify.
Reactions
Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, praised the legislation.
“With Governor Whitmer’s signature today, thousands of community restaurants and tens of thousands of servers and bartenders can exhale, knowing their voice was heard,” Winslow said in the same press release that included the governor’s comments. “They can now begin the work of planning for their collective future with the knowledge that a tip credit has once again been preserved. We’re especially grateful to all those who took the time to truly understand what was at stake — the servers who showed up in Lansing to share their stories, the legislators who visited countless restaurants to learn firsthand how the tip credit works and the many small business owners who opened their books to show the real numbers.”
Not everyone was thrilled with the outcome. Progress Michigan Executive Director Sam Inglot criticised legislators for deviating from the original intent of the petitions.
“It is disappointing that the Michigan Legislature caved to a spin campaign pushed by corporate lobbyists and voted to roll back a well-deserved raise and paid sick leave for working families in Michigan,” Inglot said in a press release. “Hundreds of thousands of Michiganders took action to sign petitions and demand that we give workers a raise, eliminate the subminimum tipped wage, and implement paid sick leave in 2018. Advocates fought back against the Republican adopt-and-amend scheme and won, only to face the same betrayal in 2025 — this time in a bipartisan fashion.”
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
Lakeside
from page 3A
construction schedule … an agreement related to demolition, access, utility, drainage, and parking assurances and easements, and common area obligations, all with a desire to create an attractive mixed-use community … or unless a court of competent jurisdiction otherwise directs or allows.”
In light of the agreement, representatives for Out of the Box Ventures have been positive about the future of the Lakeside Town Center project. Lakeside Town Center aims to be a mixed-use development featuring 2,359 multifamily residential units, over 700,000 square feet of retail space, 70,000 square feet of offices, a 20,000-square-foot community center and a hotel with 80-100 rooms.
“We believe our client is able to move forward with the project just as it was before the lawsuit was filed,” Bernard Fuhs, director of law firm Butzel Attorneys and Counselors and counsel for Out of the Box Ventures, said via email. “To the extent there are any future issues or disputes that touch upon Lakeside Circle’s specific property rights, the parties can either work it out themselves or our client still retains the right to go to Court to address an issue. Importantly, our client is looking forward to continuing the work on this transformative redevelopment project and continuing to work with the city staff, community leaders, state officials and others to make it all happen.”
The optimism toward continuing the project expressed by Fuhs is shared by the city of Sterling Heights.
“The City is pleased that the parties were able to reach a swift resolution of this matter,” a spokesperson for Sterling Heights said via email. “The dismissal of the lawsuit allows everyone to work together towards the common goal of developing Lakeside City Center into what promises to be a transformative mixed-use development, as envisioned by the approved Master Development Plan Agreement.”
Lakeside Circle Holdings filed its lawsuit on Jan. 7. Representatives for the company were unable to be reached by press time.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
CRIME WATCH
Welfare check
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Feb 15 at around 1:30 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a home in the 54000 block of Malheur Drive for a welfare check.
A resident in the area called 911 reporting that a neighbor, a 60-year-old man, had not been seen for several days. The caller had been around the man’s house earlier that day and heard what sounded like a cry for help.
After arriving at the house and not receiving a response at the door, deputies walked around the property and saw a man on the floor through a window. Deputies breached their way in and approached the man, who told them he had been on the ground for three days. The man was taken to a hospital.
Missing registration
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — While patrolling around Hall and Card Roads on Feb. 11 at around 8 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies spotted a Toyota Corolla that did not have a license plate.
A traffic stop was initiated and the driver, a 23-year-old Sterling Heights man, said he did not have registration for the car.
Deputies had the car towed while the driver was picked up by a driver with registration.
Failure to yield
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Feb. 11 at around noon, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies patrolling around 23 Mile Road and North Avenue pulled over
10A
not attractive and the inability to directly pull from savings accounts seems stifling, brickand-mortar banks and credit unions offer money market accounts as an alternative.
“It’s more like a hybrid between a checking and a savings account,” said Amy Persyn, chief marketing officer at First State Bank, on Groesbeck Highway in Clinton township. “This acts like a checking account because you can write checks off of it.”
Unlike high-yield savings accounts from online banks, money market accounts can be directly used to make up to six transactions in a calendar month via checks or a debit card per federal regulations. APYs on money market accounts can rival those of high-yield savings accounts on an institution-by-institution basis.
for a Medstar ambulance with its lights and sirens on.
A white Ford F-350 did not pull over for the ambulance, and deputies performed a traffic stop on the truck as a result. The driver, a 29-year-old Chesterfield Township man, told deputies he did not see the ambulance and did not have a driver’s license due to previous conviction for driving under the influence.
The driver was released at the scene while the truck was turned over to its licensed registered owner.
Fraudulent form
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Feb. 9 at around 3 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke with a 48-yearold Macomb Township man about a case of identity theft.
On Jan. 20, the man received a fraudulent 1099-K tax form and a Cash App credit card. He did not have a Cash App account and contacted the company to close the count, needing a police report to do so.
Bad check
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On Feb. 8 at around 10:20 a.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke with a 79-year-old Macomb Township man about a fraudulent check.
The man was in contact with a person through the phone app “Wire.” The person sent him a $3,000 check to be cashed, but the Macomb Township man was suspicious because there were no instructions on what to do with the money after the check was cashed.
The check was turned over to the sheriff’s office.
— Dean Vaglia
Financial institutions offer other kinds of ways to build savings through accrued interest.
Certificates of deposit are savings accounts where money is held without being withdrawn and they have a fixed APY. Institutions may offer various themed savings accounts, such as those built around saving for holidays, vacations and taxes.
“Sometimes they (savings accounts) are about the rate you’re getting and sometimes it’s about creating a behavior that ends up benefiting you in the long run,” Persyn said.
Terms, conditions, fees, rates and other critical details for savings and money market accounts vary by institution. Prospective savers are encouraged to look around and see which institutions offer more agreeable conditions.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
CALENDAR
MARCH
6
Clinton/Macomb Senior Expo: Connect with dozens of organizations specializing in assistance and care, also free admission, health screenings, prizes, giveaways and refreshments, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Italian American Cultural Society Banquet & Conference Center, 43843 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township, register at seniorexpousa.com for chance to win gift card and more
ONGOING
Fish fries: 4-7 p.m. Fridays March 7-April 11, St.
Editor: Brian Louwers | (586) 498-1089 | brianlouwers@candgnews.com
Reporter: Dean Vaglia | (586) 498-1043 | dvaglia@candgnews.com
Sports: Scott Bentley | (586) 498-1090 | sports@candgnews.com
Artroom: (586) 498-1036 | ads@candgnews.com
Classifieds: For ad rates (586) 498-8100
Isidore Church, 18201 23 Mile Road in Macomb Township, dine in, carryout and drive-thru, stisidore. church/fish-fry, see more at candgnews.com/ fishfry2025
Widowed Friends lunch: 1:30 p.m. every second Tuesday of month, Moni’s Restaurant, 16600 24 Mile Road in Macomb Township, RSVP to Sue at (586) 549-1041, widowedfriends.com
Bereaved Parents of Macomb Support Group: Also for grandparents and siblings, meets 7-9 p.m. every first Thursday of month, Washington Senior Center, 57880 Van Dyke Ave. in Washington Township, (248) 953-5970, bpmacombleader@gmail.com
and Obits: (586) 498-1099
Advertising:
Millar | (586) 498-1054 | lmillar@candgnews.com
Advertising:
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TOWNSHIP OF CLINTON
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EMPLOYEES
Seasonal general laborer positions, $15.30 - $16.32 hourly, no benefits. Successful completion of Civil Service Examination is required, and applicants must meet all requirements set forth in the Employees Civil Service Ordinance. Pre-employment background investigation is required. Interested, applicants must submit application to the Clinton Township Employees Civil Service Commission, 40700 Romeo Plank Rd., Clinton Township, MI 48038 on or before the close of business, Thursday, April 17, 2025. The Charter Township of Clinton is an Equal Opportunity Employer, applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, or disability. For further information pertaining to this position or to download employment application please refer to www.clintontownship.com, click on employment.
0262-2510
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CLINTON ASSESSING DEPARTMENT
SEASONAL
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Seasonal Assessing Canvasser positions, $15.30 hourly, no benefits. Successful completion of Civil Service Examination is required, and applicants must meet all requirements set forth in the Employees Civil Service Ordinance. Pre-employment background investigation. Interested, applicants must submit application to the Clinton Township Employees Civil Service Commission, 40700 Romeo Plank Rd., Clinton Township, MI 48038 on or before the close of business, Thursday, April 17, 2025. The Charter Township of Clinton is an Equal Opportunity Employer, applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, or disability. For further information pertaining to this position or to download employment application please refer to www.clintontownship.com, click on employment.
Help Wanted General
Wellness Coach (Macomb, MI)
Identify & assess worker/co needs & lifestyle factors to optimize health, wellbeing & satisfaction. Create fitness/sports plans. Monitor program progress & provide seminars on related topics. Create, oversee, & modify exercise routines. 35 hrs/wk. Master’s degree in Sports or Wellness Admin, & 1 yr. exp. Resume: DRV Contractors LLC, Attn: D. Vetor, 51483 Quadrate Dr., Ste. A, Macomb, MI 48042. 0243-2510
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