At the Clinton Township Board of Trustees meeting on March 18, Township Supervisor Robert Cannon said the onsite investigation at the Select Distributors/Goo Smoke Shop property near 15 Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway is on hold until early April. He said it is important to have the different agencies investigating the explosions and fire work together to provide a unified finding.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP— Though the Clinton Township Board of Trustees had other things to get through at its March 18 meeting, the Goo Smoke Shop explosion was the elephant in the room.
Township Supervisor Robert Cannon opened the meeting by relaying comments from Tim Berlin, the pas-
tor at Faith Baptist Church, which Turner Salter attended, thanking the community for its support during the difficult time. Salter, 19, of Clinton Township, died in the March 4 incident. Cannon then addressed the township’s position directly.
“We want the public to know that the incident that occurred on March 4 at approximately 8:50 p.m. is being given our utmost attention and will continue to be until
See EXPLOSION on page 14A
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Canteen Golf and Billiards isn’t just a place to unwind. It’s a place to give back.
The new business, replacing the former ACO Hardware in a strip mall at 41601 Garfield Road, offers golf simulators and pool tables with a variety of games. While the fun center is available to everyone, it puts a special emphasis on veterans.
Canteen features a mural dedicated to those who served. Owner Bert Copple, a U.S. Army veteran, took
See CANTEEN on page 10A
March 21.
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CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The Clinton Township Board of Trustees approved John Gallagher as the township’s new fire chief at its March 18 meeting. Gallagher will take over for Tim Duncan.
“He will be a great chief. We’re looking forward to it,” said Township Supervisor Robert Cannon at the meeting.
Duncan agreed.
“I’ve known John for his whole career,” Duncan said in an interview following the meeting. “Guy’s got a great heart, puts a lot of effort into the department.”
Gallagher was one of three potential candidates for the job. He has served with the township for 19 years in various roles. Galla-
gher started off as a paramedic. He eventually became the EMS chief, a role he’s been in for the past seven years.
“That role allowed me to really blossom out, to work with the county and with the local medical control authority Medstar,” Gallagher said in an interview following the meeting.
Prior to his time with the township, Gallagher earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Michigan. He’s a registered nurse and has earned a firefighter/paramedic associate degree from Macomb Community College where he also attended the fire academy.
“It was always something that seemed cool to me, kind of interesting,” Gallagher said about his career. “It came on my radar later in life, but I’m certainly glad it did.”
Since Gallagher became EMS chief, he has
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Wilbur Jones is taking years of experience in the military, education and sports back to the community where he grew up. He’s hoping to bring people together.
“An open view of our community, the connection back to our community,” Jones said in an interview following the meeting about what he brings to the board. “Trying to get our parents involved in what the school system does.”
4A/ FRASER-CLINTON CHRONICLE • APRIL 3, 2024
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The Clinton-Macomb Public Library is putting on activities this April for kids, teens and adults.
The library wraps up its 1-2-3 initiative about immigration with two discussions. Roland Hwang, an attorney and lecturer for the Department of American Culture, Asian/ Pacific Islander, and American Studies at the University of Michigan will speak about the Asian American community in Michigan at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10. Kawkab (Kay) El-moussaoui, Immigrant Justice Corps legal fellow from the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, will discuss naturalization at 6:30 p.m. on
Tuesday, April 16.
Kids in grades 2-5 can learn about the flora around them during the Those Amazing Plants activity at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, at the South Branch. Teens in grades 6-12 can visit the Main Branch on Saturday, April 13, for an after-hours escape room activity at 6 p.m.
To register for these events and more, visit cmpl.libnet.info/events.
METRO DETROIT — French bulldogs have secured the crown for the third straight year in the American Kennel Club’s annual rankings of popular dog breeds in Detroit.
Rottweilers came in second followed by German shepherds, golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers. Make sure not to count beagles out in future years. The breed climbed the rankings from 27th in 2022 to 12 in the new rankings, which looked at 2023.
This is the second year that French bulldogs have taken the crown in the national rankings too.
“Since overtaking the loveable Labrador Retriever as the most popular breed, the French Bulldog’s popularity has continued to surge,” the AKC states in a press release. “The breed is playful, adaptable and has an even temperament. Frenchies are very popular among city dwellers, as they’re also portable and get along with almost anyone.”
French bulldogs also topped AKC lists in Denver and Miami.
“Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States,” the press release states.
METRO DETROIT — The Michigan Department of Transportation will begin a traffic shift on the Blue Water Bridge beginning May 29.
The eastbound span will be closed for maintenance work, causing all traffic to be routed onto the westbound span. Dedicated lanes for buses and commuter pass holders will not be accommodated and wide loads will be restricted to 10 feet. Work will be coordinated between MDOT and the Federal Bridge Corp. Ltd.
MOUNT CLEMENS
— The Anton Art Center is asking Macomb County elementary school students to send in their artwork for the Macomb County Biennial Primary Student Show.
Due on Wednesday, April 17, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 125 Macomb Place in Mount Clemens, students from kindergarten to fifth grade can work with their art teachers to submit up to 20 pieces of artwork per school. Each submission costs $1. More information about the submission process is available at theartcenter.org/artist-opportunities.
“Witnessing the creative freedom of young minds in this art show is truly inspiring,” said Stephanie Hazzard, Exhibition Manager of the Anton Art Center, in a press release. “These young students share their imagination and bring a refreshing perspective to the world of art, reminding us all that creativity knows no age requirement.”
The Primary Student Show will run from April 27 to June 1. Gallery Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information visit theartcenter.org.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Students will have their voices heard on the Clintondale Community Schools Board of Education for the first time since 2020. Sophomore Kurt Violet and junior Abriana Guzman were appointed to the board at its March 18 meeting.
“It’s just such an amazing opportunity to be here and I’m really thankful for that,” Guzman said after being sworn in.
“I’m glad you guys think highly of me to be here, so thank you,” said Violet.
While the students don’t get a vote on the board, they are able to have direct access to its proceedings. Clintondale principal Meloney Cargill said the representatives serve for two-year terms. She said the representatives were selected by Clintondale staff.
“Schools have a lot to do with students, they’re for students,” Cargill said after the meeting. “Students should definitely have a voice. They’re a stakeholder. They definitely deserve to have a seat at the table to, if nothing else, influence discussion but to also be
METRO DETROIT — Donald Payne has seen many white-tailed deer pass through his Farmington Hills yard. The lanky ruminants are a common sight around the region, but one recent visitor stands out from the rest with its stark white fur.
“It’s exciting. … It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Payne said of seeing the deer. “You’ve got to appreciate the time you have when you’re blessed with a rarity like that coming into your yard to say hello.”
Payne is not the only one that’s spotted white-furred white-tails in the region. Sightings of deer with the rare fur date back to at least 2022 in Troy with subsequent sightings in Bloomfield Hills and Farmington Hills. According to Rochester Hills naturalist Lance DeVoe, white fur in deer is a symptom of either albinism or piebaldism, which respectively have about a 1/30,000 and 1/1,000 chance of occurring.
“It’s a recessive genetic trait,” DeVoe said. “It’s a thing where (white fur is) selected against because of the fact they lack the camouflage.”
Sightings of deer are common throughout southeastern Michigan. What was once a rare glimpse into nature has become a daily occurrence in some areas as white-tailed deer have made their homes between ever-growing housing developments.
“With everything being so developed and big subdivisions bordering each other and a really small of what would be considered suitable deer habitat, they’re forced to be in neighborhoods and commons areas
and every little woodlot,” DeVoe said. “You can see a deer any day of the week anywhere in (Rochester Hills) and pretty much all over southeast Michigan.”
The loss of habitat has led to behavioral changes in deer. DeVoe says fawns will be left in yards and common areas since humans keep predators like coyotes at bay. It has allowed the deer population to become a regular part of living in the region. The sight of deer is hardly an issue, but homeowners and drivers can have encounters with deer ranging from the inconveniences — deer tend to eat from gardens and planted fruit trees alongside native plants — to dire road hazards.
While living with deer can be challenging at times, DeVoe says the role of influence the four-legged neighbors have on residents tends to align with how important the local environment is for deer.
“If you live in an area where you have a big commons area and there’s a lot of natural food, like oak trees, then they’re not as persistent as they are when those things don’t exist,” DeVoe said.
In areas where deer lack natural food, the animals turn to garden plants. Deer can be deterred from dining in gardens through the use of physical barriers like nets and fences, applying repellents to plants or by planting flowers that deer do not like, such as hyacinth, sage or coneflower. Hazing deer by making loud noises or using noise-emitting devices to keep deer away also helps.
But no matter the tactics used to keep deer away from lawns and flowers, DeVoe says the white-tailed deer are not leaving
See
from page 1A
75 submissions from those who served to add to the mural. The pictures are arranged on a timeline, spanning the global war on terror.
“It tells the story of the war because there are whole generations that weren’t even alive in 2001,” Copple said. “So, we’re trying to get them to understand why we went to war, what happened, and it tells the good, the bad and the ugly.”
While the wall showcases those who sacrifice, it doesn’t pull punches. It includes things like the torture and abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
The “Leatherneck Lounge” at the Canteen caters to those veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. On the first Monday of each month, the business hosts a PTSD support group for veterans. A licensed counselor comes in to assist with the sessions.
“Anyone who just wants to come in to talk and share their story,” said Copple about the event. “The most important thing you can do when you have PTSD is to talk about it. That’s the first step in finding healing.”
Copple said he’s currently in talks with two groups, Helping Paws for Veterans, in Farwell, and Veteran Service Dogs, in Howell, that train emotional support animals for veterans with PTSD. He’s also working to find veterans organizations to donate to. Copple hopes to get these donations from the business proceeds set up later this year.
He said Canteen’s name comes from the place soldiers go after a mission.
“That’s the watering hole,” he said. “You go have a drink, play pool, play darts, whatever the case is. We set this up to feel like that atmosphere.”
The Canteen utilizes Trackman golf simulator projection screens and is the second business in North America to use the pool table simulators they have, according to Copple. He estimates that the building has $600,000 in simulators between the golf simulators and the pool tables.
When coming up with the idea, Copple wanted to give golfers a year-round place to come but also wanted to provide something unique for billiards players.
“Billiards is a sneaky popular sport in the United States,” Copple said. “How can I make it more relevant to younger generations?”
The billiards tables feature a number of options other than traditional pool games. Each table is essentially a computer screen with the pool stick functioning like a mouse. There are videos on the table to walk you through how to play each game. A patron could play blackjack, where the table picks up where the cue ball lands to select different cards, and then brush up on their billiards skills in a training mode. Copple highlighted the line assist game in particular. This feature allows you to work on different shots to learn in real time.
“There’s a system called 100 moves that walks you through the 100 moves of how to play pool from the easiest to the most difficult,” Copple said.
The food is all-you-can eat hot dogs and pizza. Refreshments offered include Coke products and the business also has a liquor license to offer alcoholic beverages.
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aware of the discussions that are happening.”
Clintondale superintendent Kenneth Janczarek agreed.
“For me, being engaged with the students and families is extremely important,” Janczarek said after the meeting. “So to have some kids sitting in and just giving their opinion on things just offers another level of input to, not only me, but the community and the board of education.”
Clintondale Community Schools Board of Education President Jared Maynard said he heard about bringing the student members back to the board while he was campaigning for office. The comments came from teachers, former board members, parents and people he didn’t even know.
“It was a priority of mine, and my team, to return it so we can hear the voices of the students,” Maynard said after the meeting. “And so the students can have a voice at the board level. I’m excited for it.”
During the meeting Guzman said, as a student athlete, she would like to see improvements made to Clintondale’s track.
“I’ve seen the wear and tear on our tracks,” she said.
Later, she talked about adding more art electives like ceramics. She said a home economics class would be especially useful.
“I think it’s really important for our generation of kids to definitely have those
things, those fundamental skills and values,” Guzman said. “So, as you go into adulthood, you’re not left unaware calling mom at college like, ‘Hey, how the heck do I, you know, do some taxes?’”
Violet said he’d like to see the school start a cross country team and make the basketball court less slippery.
Maynard said the students should talk amongst their peers and try to get things added to board meetings.
“Having been on student council back in my days here at Clintondale, I’m glad you guys are on the board,” Maynard said. “This is fantastic. Those are some great questions and reports.”
During public comment, Mark Titus, a former member of the Clintondale board, supported reinstating the student board members. Titus sat on the board for 14 years and considered helping to create the student representative spots one of the highlights of his career.
“Week after week I came to this podium asking for them back,” Titus said.
Titus said that previous student board members were able to advocate for improvements like better ceiling tiles.
“We addressed it. We repaired all the ceiling tiles for the students,” Titus said.
FRASER — All throughout the offseason, Fraser wrestling was fully aware that Warren Mott would be the obstacle standing in their way.
Fraser coach Richard Julien knew Mott had a loaded senior class with firepower across every weight class, and he knew his squad would have to come prepared against Mott if they were going to capture the Macomb Area White league title.
What Fraser didn’t know was the Roseville Panthers, a MAC Blue team, were patiently waiting for a chance to earn some retribution for last season’s loss to Fraser in the district championship meet.
So when Roseville beat the Ramblers in the Fraser Tournament back in December to open the season, the attention immediately shifted to getting the better of Roseville when districts rolled back around.
“As a coach, you bring that up that, ‘To win a district, you got to beat Roseville and you did not do that earlier in the year,’” Julien said. “They are going to be fired up to beat you. It’s something that you set goals on as a team. You keep talking about it, and not every day, but every 10 days like, ‘Hey, Roseville is coming up. We better be ready.’”
The Ramblers were ready, and a 47-21 win showed Julien and his guys just how locked in they were as the momentum of the win carried over their district championship match minutes later as the Ramblers beat Sterling Heights 84-0 for the district title on Feb. 7 at Roseville High School.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Chippewa Valley wrestling had been through it all this season.
Injuries clouded any bright moment for a healthy lineup for the Big Reds while the Macomb Area Conference Red did its fair share of damage, leaving Chippewa Valley in the basement of the conference.
“We were fortunate to pull through,” head coach Nick Bowers said. “We had a tough year with injuries and stuff. We had a ton of people who were sick, and it seemed like every time we would get people back from being sick, someone else would get sick.”
But through all the obstacles and all the brutal elements of the season, there was one bright spot Chippewa Valley
APRIL 6
Those Amazing Plants: Presentation about Michigan greenery, for grades 2-5, 3 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - South Branch, 35679 S. Gratiot Ave. in Clinton Township, registration required, (586) 2265073, cmpl.org
APRIL 6-7
‘Shrek The Musical JR.’: 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. April 6, and 2 p.m. April 7, Macomb Center for the Perfoming Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 2862222, macombcenter.com
APRIL 9
Make fairy garden and gnome houses: For grades 2-5, 6 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - Main Branch, 40700 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township, (586) 226-5030, cmpl.org
APRIL 13
After-hours escape room: Teens in grades 6-12 have 2 hours to solve puzzles, 6 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - Main Branch, 40700 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township, (586) 226-5030, cmpl.org
Motor City Rockers: Professional minor league ice hockey, final home game at 6:05 p.m., Big Boy Arena, 34400 Utica Road in Fraser, rockershockey. com
from page 3A
Card party: Pinochle, euchre, dominoes and other games, 1-3:30 p.m., St. Thecla Catholic Church, 20762 S. Nunneley Road in Clinton Township, (586) 791-6177, (586) 791-9012
APRIL 13-14
‘Carmina Burana’: Performance by Macomb Symphony Orchestra with Oakland Choral Society, Macomb Chamber Choir, Symphonia Chorale and William S. Harrison Chorale, 8 p.m. April 13 and 3 p.m. April 14, Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, (586) 286-2222, macombcenter.com
APRIL 18
Senior expo: Meet experts about medicare, assisted and independent living, mobility solutions, veterans benefits, travel, financial planning and more, plus free admission, health screenings, refreshments, prizes and giveaways, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Century Banquet Center, 33204 Maple Lane in Sterling Heights, seniorexpousa.com
APRIL 21
Euchre tournament: Also dinner and desserts, 1 p.m. (doors 12:15 p.m.), Fraser Lions Club, 34540 Utica Road, call Randy at (586) 202-7858
APRIL 26
Crime survivors assistance: Learn about criminal justice system and support services available, also
been learning from Duncan about the fire chief role.
“He’s certainly allowed me to pick his brain, ask any questions,” Gallagher said. “I have plenty. Just to his best practices and what he identifies as concerns. Just making me aware of day-to-day operations.”
Gallagher said while there was nothing wrong with the way things were done before, he’ll bring a new perspective to the position.
“Just another set of eyes, just another set of experiences that I’ve had,” he said. “I try to have a good relationship with everyone in regards to fire suppression and emergency services. Just a different type of background moving into the position.”
Gallagher is focused on working on the community’s relationship with the department. He said there have been struggles getting a future generation of firefighters.
“I think having great community relations is a good start to addressing that concern,” he said.
Gallagher has been the president for the Clinton Township Kiwanis Club since 2018. The club played a role in getting Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System devices for each of the township’s frontline vehicles. That sparked Gallagher’s interest.
“I saw the community service that they put forward and it’s something that I’m really involved in,” he said. “It kind of really stuck with me.”
A New Baltimore resident, Gallagher is the father to two daughters and a son. Hockey is a passion. His nephew Ty plays for Boston University and was drafted by the Boston Bruins. Lately, he’s been traveling with his brother to catch some of his games. He currently serves as treasurer for the New Baltimore Historical Society, an interest his dad helped nurture.
“It gives me a great opportunity to be involved with the community as well as continuing my quest for knowledge of history,” Gallagher said.
“Very involved person, employee and father,” Duncan added about Gallagher. “Just a great guy.”
Gallagher is slated to start as chief in mid-May.
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
meet other survivors, hosted by Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Crime Victim Rights Unit, 11 a.m.2 p.m., Velocity Center, 6633 18 Mile Road in Sterling Heights, (586) 469-5675
APRIL 26-28
‘Peter Pan’: Presented by Macomb Ballet Company, 7 p.m. April 26, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 27, and 2 p.m. April 28, meet-and-greet follows each performance, Macomb Center for the Perfoming Arts on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, macombcenter.com, (586) 286-2222
APRIL 27
Claude Monet: Learn about Impressionist painter famous for water lilies, 10 a.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - South Branch, 35679 S. Gratiot Ave. in Clinton Township, registration required, (586) 2265073, cmpl.org
APRIL 29
Create Mad Lib poems: Part of National Poetry Month, for ages 7 and older, 4:30 p.m., Clinton-Macomb Public Library - South Branch, 35679 S. Gratiot Ave. in Clinton Township, registration required, (586) 226-5073, cmpl.org
‘Freedom Confirmed’: Exhibits and presentations include “The Iron Brigade” (April 4-5), “Michigan in the Civil War” and “Michigan Women Go to War” (April 11), “Abraham Lincoln in the Kitchen” (April 12), “Michigan Men in the Civil War” (April 20), “Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation & the Cause of Freedom” (April 24), and “President Abraham Lincoln’s Courage to Create Change” and performance by 5th Michigan Regiment Band (April 27) Lorenzo Cultural Center on Macomb Community College - Center Campus, 44575 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, lorenzoculturalcenter.com
Monthly book clubs: Presidential Book Club (every first Monday) and Mysteries & Munchies (every second Thursday), both 6:30-7:30 p.m., Fraser Public Library’s temporary location, 15260 15 Mile Road, fraserpubliclibrary.org
Crafts and games: Craft-making for adults and older teens, 6-7:45 p.m. every third Thursday of month, and board games for all ages, 5:30-7:45 p.m. every last Wednesday of month, Fraser Public Library’s temporary location, 15260 15 Mile Road, www. fraserpubliclibrary.org
Widowed Friends breakfasts: 10 a.m. every third Friday of month, The Pantry, 44945 Morley Drive in Clinton Township, RSVP to Liz at (586) 801-4536
Men overcoming loss ofpartner/spouse: Meetings 6-7:30 p.m. every third Tuesday of month, virtual and in person, Hospice of Michigan, 39531 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, wlawton@hom.org, (586) 263-8514
from page 6A
their homes anytime soon. Humans, it seems, have come to accept this.
“I get fewer complaints (about deer) now than at any time that I’ve had this job, which is over 30 years,” DeVoe said. “I think people have adjusted to living with them and knowing that they’re going to be around and that sometimes there’s going to be a negative impact from them. But at the same time, there’s a lot of people where that’s why they enjoy living here, seeing the wildlife and having those opportunities. It’s a perspective thing, and I think people are becoming more realistic with living with them.”
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 4981043.
from page 1A
it is fully investigated and a report issued,” Cannon said.
Cannon said there was misinformation about the blast and aimed to set the record straight. He said the Goo Smoke Shop erupted into a fire followed by a series of explosions. He explained that the explosion sent debris into the air up to 2 miles away. Cannon said that no township would have permitted the volatile materials found at the scene, such as butane, to be stored the way they were.
“Our building and fire inspectors properly inspected the business prior to issuing a certificate of occupancy in May 2022,” Cannon said. “Contrary to public opinion, the township does not have the ability to subsequently inspect businesses of this type without probable cause.”
He said the police and fire departments responded immediately and, by 9:13 p.m., the Clinton Township Police Department Facebook page warned residents to stay away from the area.
“Naturally, the public wants to know what’s going on, but we will not jeopardize the investigation by responding tonight to a question-and-answer session,” Cannon said.
Cannon added that the onsite investigation is on hold until early April, saying it was important to have the different agencies work together to provide a unified finding. He said the site is currently being protected by police and private security services. Cannon said there is currently another investigation happening that started following the explosion and is ongoing. He said he also couldn’t comment on that investigation.
Following the usual business, the town-
ship opened it up for public comment. Most speakers touched on the explosion.
Resident Paul Schorsch discussed the emotional toll of the event.
“My granddaughters were in my basement crying their eyes out,” he said. “I thought we were being bombed. It was terrifying, I don’t ever want to see that happen again.”
Resident Stephania Messina discussed the ripple effects of the explosion on her family.
“On that day my son, who is seated back here, lost a friend named Turner (Salter),” Messina said.
She went on to talk about her background as a registered respiratory therapist and how she’s familiar with the safe storage requirements for compressed medical gasses. Messina said in the wake of the explosion, and the increase in vape shops, there should be more regulations of this industry. She also called for more inspections of the shops.
“I live only a few hundred feet from the vacant building, I have five young sons, and I don’t want to lose sleep at night wondering if the next person that moves in is going to be storing similar items that can cause a similar event,” Messina said. “Most people I’ve spoken with would agree with that. I don’t think that’s hyperbolic. I think that’s appropriate considering what we’ve endured as a community and in light of the loss of a young life that should not be lost in vain.”
Following Messina’s comment, Cannon asked that the meeting hold a moment of silence for Salter.
Later, resident Flora Marie Cusumano commented that the Clinton Township community alert system, through Nixle, was not utilized to warn residents of the explosion.
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
The city of Fraser held two marshmallow drops at Steffens Park on March 29. Kids scrambled to pick up the treats in a field once they were given the signal. The first drop was for kids 1-5 and the second was for kids 6-10. Participants gathered up the marshmallows to turn them in for prizes. Five golden marshmallows in each drop yielded bigger rewards. The Easter Bunny made an appearance and there was also a petting zoo. “It’s a great event,” Fraser Mayor Michael Lesich said. “Really, it’s the first big event we’ve had from recreation since COVID. We’re looking forward to having more events like this in the near future.”
from page 3A
Jones was appointed to the Clintondale Community Schools Board of Education at its March 18 meeting, filling a vacancy left by Beverly Lewis-Moss, who left the board in February. He hopes to bring a new perspective.
“Just another fresh, motivated face in there on decision making and bringing ideas,” said Jones, a 1982 Clintondale grad. “I see a lot of things I know they don’t see because I’ve been a teacher. I’ve been in the system and I’ve been a teacher of the kids they have the most of, which is African American.”
During his 20 years in the United States Army, Jones had tours in the Persian Gulf War, Bosnia, Germany and Kosovo. While there, he learned the value of unity.
“When you come in as a soldier, you’re in a group with all these other soldiers,” Jones said. “They all look different and come from different places. You watch this drill sergeant make us one.”
He retired in 2003, becoming a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps educator in Pontiac. He was there for 20 years. He also coached boys and girls basketball at Mount Clemens and the South Lake district in St.
Clair Shores. He’s currently the girls hoops coach at the latter. Through it all, he hoped to eventually return to Clintondale at some point.
“The opportunity presented itself on the school board,” Jones said. “I’m like, ‘I’ve got to take this opportunity to get on the school board and see if I can make a difference,’ and that’s what I did.”
“I’m extremely excited to have him on the board,” Clintondale Superintendent Kenneth Janczarek said in an interview following the meeting. “He’s been an ROTC teacher before in the Pontiac school district. He has a great wealth of knowledge in the community and I’m excited to have him there.”
“I’m ecstatic,” Board President Jared Maynard said. “He’s going to be great. He is very knowledgeable, very level-headed and calm. He brings a great perspective to the board as a veteran.”
Jones has seen problems develop at other schools when issues aren’t addressed early. He’s looking to change that at Clintondale.
“Let’s try to learn to be proactive and prepare ourselves to head a lot of these things off,” Jones said.
Jones said it can help to have someone on the board from the community it represents — a person who can understand its specific needs.
“That person needed to come from a community of us,” Jones said. “Not from somewhere where the system was so perfect or the kids so perfect that they couldn’t relate to our kids. That’s what you had. Those types of people sitting on boards that didn’t really represent the community. They made decisions for people they really didn’t know. Once I started realizing that I was like, ‘One day I hope I’m able to go back home and be a part of the school system.’”
The budget and getting more people on the board are other concerns he has as a new member. He wants to make sure to do what’s best for the students.
“These children at Clintondale, what makes them better?” Jones said. “How do we push them forward educationally? And if they don’t go to college, how do we push them into a place where they can become successful?”
In addition to his work in education, Jones has been a deacon at Greater Life International Ministries in Clinton Township since 2007.
“I came back home to the church I grew up in and the pastor saw something in me,” Jones said.
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
from page 12A
“You should’ve seen the Roseville match,” Julien said. “They were ready, we were ready, and we just took it to them. We blew the roof off their building. Just the screaming and the hollering, the atmosphere was just phenomenal.”
Another opportunity for revenge was on tap for Fraser as they went head-to-head with St. Clair Shores Lakeview, which beat Fraser at regionals last year, in the regional semifinals.
There’s always an extra bit of energy from the team when they play Lakeview because of Julien’s son, Lakeview wrestling coach Eric Julien, who is also the brother of Fraser assistant coach Kevin Julien.
“Getting back at coach Kevin’s brother and coach Rick’s son was a really nice feeling,” senior Bryce Warner said. “It’s always good competing with those guys because he’s got a really nice program over there.”
For Warner, just being healthy for a full season was a great feeling for the veteran standout as he battled injury after injury.
Suffering a meniscus tear in both knees, one coming in September 2022 and one in June 2023, Warner spent extensive time working through physical therapy and watching videos from Kevin Julien of moves he could do on the mat.
Warner said it was the love of the sport that kept him going, and his passion and determination paid off when he became one of four Fraser wrestlers this year to qualify for the state finals, including winning an individual district title.
“It was a great feeling,” Warner said. “It was something I really wanted to work hard for, and I knew was achievable.”
Alongside Warner, junior Draven McAllister, junior Stanley Anderson and sophomore Ethan Miller all qualified for the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 state finals on March 1 at Ford Field. Anderson was also crowned an individual district champion.
If you need any indication of the progress Fraser wrestling has made, Julien said the state qualifiers alone speak for themselves.
“Last year, we got better but we had no state qualifiers and no superstars,” Julien said. “It was a tough year. The kids bought into the program, started working real hard, and this year we came up with four state qualifiers and we took second in the league.”
While the improvements didn’t lead to beating out Mott for the league title, Fraser gained plenty of ground on their MAC White rivals.
Fraser fell to Mott in the regional cham-
pionship meet on Feb. 14 at Fraser High School 37-35 and also came close during their dual meet earlier in the season, losing 40-31.
It’s a massive jump from the 66-12 loss the Ramblers suffered to Mott last season, and the team is hoping Mott’s massive graduating class will leave a void they can exploit next season.
Fraser will graduate a strong senior class in Warner, Konrad Bogacz, a regional qualifier and district runner-up, and senior Myron Kruzel, who cut down to 150 and excelled this year.
“For him (Kruzel) to get down to 150 to fill in the gap where we needed somebody really helped the team,” Julien said.
Fraser will return with no shortage of impact wrestlers with Anderson, McAllister, Miller, sophomore Connor Wilson, junior Kadin Addy, sophomore Mitchell Nash, and freshman Austin Wilson all set to headline the 2024-2025 Ramblers.
“I feel like we’re going to be way better,” Miller said. “We might even make it to states
C & G Newspapers strives for accuracy and fairness to its readers. If you think we got it wrong, please let us know. Call Gregg Demers at (586) 498-1042, email gdemers@candgnews. com or write us at 13650 11 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48089.
next year because we got a lot of guys coming back that are really good.”
498-1090.
from page 10A
Utica resident Mike Ferrans, a billiards player, found out about the Canteen by just peeking in the window before the business was open. Copple gave him a tour.
“He let me in and showed me around,” Ferrans said. “I was very impressed with what I saw.”
Rochester resident Mark Koski, a golfer, said he liked how open it is and that there’s food nearby.
“It’s more of a social interaction than the other simulators I’ve been at,” Koski said.
Brandon Choranziak, who was playing on the same screen as Koski and hails from Clinton Township, agreed.
“I’m coming back on Saturdays,” Choranziak said.
Billiards player Paul Garant, of Clinton Township, was playing a regular game of pool on the table, but had tried out some of the other features like blackjack.
“It’s clean, it’s close by, everything is brand new,” said Garant. “It feels welcoming.”
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
from page 12A
wrestler turned to as a momentum shift.
Senior Marcus Abdal was one of the fallen wrestlers this season for Chippewa Valley, suffering a torn UCL before a MAC Red division meet that saw nearly half of Bowers’ team sidelined.
While displeased that his high school wrestling career came to a close early, Abdal was one of many Big Reds wrestlers cheering from the edge of the mat for freshman Eli Rinas, who was about to send the Big Reds to the district championship.
Rinas had battled the ebbs and flows any first-year wrestler goes through while
transitioning to varsity, but as he picked up the win in the 120-pound weight class in the first round of districts against Utica Ford on Feb. 7 at Ford High School, a different feeling surrounded Chippewa Valley wrestling.
“We were all screaming because he had the kid on his back for 10-15 seconds before he pinned him. It was amazing,” Abdal said. “I’ve never seen a person that happy in my life. Not only did Rinas’ win secure the Big Reds a spot in the district championship, but it showed the rest of the team just how hard the freshman wrestlers were working to contribute.”
“We saw the lengths the freshman were going,” sophomore Nathan Murphy said. “One of the freshmen, Eli, at districts in the first dual, he got the pin to win the dual.
That was something that we’ve seen, that the freshmen on varsity that don’t know what they’re doing are accomplishing this much for the team.”
Chippewa Valley would carry the momentum just minutes later into a district title meet against MAC Silver league champions Macomb L’Anse Creuse North, and Chippewa Valley would capture their first district title since 2019 in a 39-28 win.
The state tournament run would end in a loss to MAC Red rival Macomb Dakota, but the Big Reds continued to make noise on the individual side.
Senior Mattheos Mitropetros, who was 44-4 on the season, captured an individual district championship and finished top-four at regionals to earn a state finals berth.
Murphy continued his standout season with a regional qualification and will be one Chippewa Valley leans on as a potential state finals qualifier.
Bowers said Murphy, who compiled a 37-15 record, took his preparation for the season to another level.
“During the offseason, he put a lot of work in with some camps, and every open mat we had he didn’t miss,” Bowers said. “He just took to wrestling like a fish to water. He came out this year with a whole different mentality. We’re about halfway in the
season and us as a coaching staff are looking like, ‘Wow, he’s come a long way in a short amount of time.’”
With a loaded senior class set to graduate, Chippewa Valley’s underclassmen group has all the makings to continue building on the success.
Murphy, sophomore Brendan Bowers, and sophomore Logan Kowalski will headline the incoming junior class while freshmen Crosby Runevitch and Anthony Hosier will look to take a step forward in year two.
Juniors Brody Kelly, Justin Gjinaj, and Jacob Brown will lead the incoming senior group hoping to fill a portion of the void left by Anthony Wright, Charlton Eden, Ricky Evans Jr., Abdal, and Mitropetros.
With a strong group of veteran wrestlers set to return, Murphy said he expects Chippewa Valley to be right back in the hunt for a district championship.
“We know how hard each other are working and it’s not like, ‘Oh, this person isn’t doing this,’” Murphy said. “With the sophomore class, we’re all working hard towards somewhat of the same goal and we have leadership from the people above us to show us what we should be doing.”
Call Staff Writer Jonathan Szczepaniak at (586) 498-1090.
Saturday, April 20 th • 11:30am - 2:00pm
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