6/19/24 Farmington Press

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LOOK BACK AT 97YEAROLD RON TEASLEY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN LIFE, BASEBALL/6A

‘Now I can take a little breath of fresh air’

FARMINGTON PUBLIC SAFETY

DIRECTOR EXPRESSES GRATITUDE FOR RIFLE SHIELD DONATIONS

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

FARMINGTON — Farmington Public Safety Director Bob Houhanisin recently reflected on an inquiry from a local resident.

“A few months ago, John Tryon approached our department … and asked us what we could do to prevent mass-casualty incidents like Uvalde,” Houhanisin said.

Approximately two years ago, a former student at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, fatally shot 19 students and two teachers, with 17 others surviving injuries.

Houhanisin let Tryon know about equipment that the department was lacking.

“I informed him that at that time, we didn’t have any riflerange shields,” Houhanisin said. “We had a shield that would stop pistol rounds, but we didn’t have a shield that would stop rifle rounds. So he did some research on what it would cost to facilitate the department to get one of those, and he decided to make the purchase by him and his wife.”

Although Tryon is a Farmington Hills resident, he said that his wife grew up in Farmington.

It is his aspiration for every patrol car in Farmington to eventually be equipped with a rifle shield.

“That would be a nice thing for the community, (if) the community stepped up and decided to help any way they can,”

See SHIELDS on page 12A

Congrats to the grads

ABOVE: A North Farmington High School graduate smiles toward the audience and holds up the peace sign as he stands with his classmates during their graduation ceremony at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth June 9.

LEFT: Members of the Farmington High School Class of 2024 enter the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth for their commencement ceremony June 9.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

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e Whole-Body MRI Debate: Are Doctors Missing Something?

(South eld, MI) e recent buzz around full-body MRI screenings has sparked a lot of debate. While some question this approach, the controversy itself signals an advance in how we think about proactive health. It means we’re not just waiting around for symptoms when it might be too late.

Full body screenings use MRI technology to scan from the top of the head through the pelvis looking for potential abnormalities and early signs of diseases like cancer.

Tyler, age 52, lost his grandfather to lymphoma, so when the results of his full body MRI highlighted enlarged lymph nodes in his chest it gave him concern. “I felt completely healthy, but I wanted to be proactive so I did the scan. My results were concerning, so I saw an oncologist who ordered additional testing.”

e controversy comes from MRI body scans producing false positives. ese ndings are eventually proven

to be benign. Critics claim that false positives create unnecessary worry for people and needless follow up tests.

Tyler says he would rather be safe than sorry. “I hear some doctors on TV saying not to do full body screenings, but why wouldn’t you? It’s about taking control of your health and being proactive. I had some follow up tests to make sure I don’t have cancer – big deal. But what if it turned out to be cancer? en it’s caught as early as possible, and without this scan I never would have known until it was too late!”

Proponents of MRI full body screenings say that false positives should not outweigh the bene ts, stating that early detection is key to easier treatments and better outcomes.

“Early detection saves lives,” says Ryan Ringold who leads the MRI full body screening center in South eld, called Bionicc Body Screening. His father, the late Dr. Ringold, founded the company after battling cancer – twice. “My father

became short of breath one day and discovered he had stage four cancer with tumors as large as softballs inside of him. He endured brutal treatments and never wanted to see others su er because of late detection,” says Ryan.

MRI does not replace annual physicals nor routine screenings like a colonoscopy or mammogram. Although, it may be surprising to learn that routine screenings only cover 29% of cancers and 71% of cancers occur in other areas.

“ is is an additional tool to be proactive. MRI can reduce the enormous blind spot where cancer may be silently growing. ere are no routine screenings for areas like the pancreas, liver, brain, chest or abdomen,” says Ringold. “My father was oblivious to hundreds of tumors growing inside his body and his story is not unique. You rarely hear of someone getting diagnosed with stage one pancreatic cancer because nobody knows until they have symptoms. By that time, it’s almost always stage

four.”  In addition to tumors, MRI can detect hundreds of abnormalities like brain aneurysms, MS, fatty liver and spinal disc disease to name a few. “It’s quite remarkable,” Ringold adds.

Robert B. credits his scan to saving his life. A full-body MRI caught the kidney tumor his CT scan missed. “I consider it a lifesaver,” he says. Stories like these highlight the power of MRI body screenings.

For a limited time, you can request a $200 o coupon when you visit their website at BioniccBodyScreening.com. Schedule today at 1-833-BIONICC.

The debate over full-body MRIs heats up as some doctors criticize

ABOVE: Pictured are female employees of

decide if a career as a first responder might be something they want to pursue.

‘BLUE, RED AND YOU’ RETURNS

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

FARMINGTON HILLS — Women who have considered exploring a career as a first responder are being offered a potentially life-changing opportunity by the city of Farmington Hills.

The Farmington Hills Police Department and Fire Department are scheduled to host a two-day workshop that gives women an opportunity to explore both of those fields as potential career choices.

Both workshops are set to run 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with the first being hosted by the Police Department June 26, followed by the Fire Department June 27.

The third annual “Blue, Red and You” workshop is free

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for women 19 and up.

Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King said that the department has an extensive recruitment program.

He estimated that approximately five women have gone on to employment in Farmington Hills after attending the workshop.

“We wanted to focus this on another avenue to diversify our workforce, strengthen our workforce, (and) fill needed holes throughout our public safety services,” King said. “This has been extremely beneficial. … It is primarily taught by female officers, dispatchers and firefighters, because they have the most appropriate perspective on everything we’re teaching.”

The workshop teaches about the educational requirements for a career as a first responder, as well as what can be

See WORKSHOP on page 4A

Mother, son arrested following shooting

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

FARMINGTON HILLS — A mother and son have been arrested following a recent shooting incident.

Patricia Wright, 47, and her son, Brendon Wright, 19, are facing charges following an incident at Fox Pointe Townhouses, located near 11 Mile and Halsted roads, May 28.

At approximately 2:15 a.m., calls to 911 reported a group of people fighting in the parking lot.

According to a press release, dispatchers advised officers, after they were already en route, that gunfire was heard, and a vehicle had fled the scene.

After entering the complex, officers stopped the fleeing vehicle, and one of the occupants stated that she had been assaulted by her boyfriend, a resident of the townhouses.

Friends of the woman reportedly attempted to intervene during the incident, which led to the fight in the parking lot, according to the release.

Witnesses said Patricia Wright exited her residence and became involved in the altercation.

“During the fight, Patricia Wright returned to her residence, retrieved a gun from a safe, and then returned to the parking lot,” the release states. “As the group returned to their car and fled, Patricia Wright pointed the gun at them and fired one shot at the fleeing vehicle. The bullet missed the vehicle, traveled across the parking lot and into a neighbor’s residence, narrowly missing multiple innocent people, including the resident who was in the apartment.”

Following an on-scene investigation, Patricia and her son, Brendon Wright, were both arrested.

The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office is-

See ARREST on page 14A

Photos provided by the city of Farmington Hills

the Farmington Hills Police Department. The Farmington Hills Police Department and Fire Department are scheduled to host a workshop for women who may be interested in exploring a career as a first responder. LEFT: A two-day workshop offered by the Farmington Hills Fire Department and Police Department can help women

Workshop

According to Fire Chief Jon Unruh, the workshop is an opportunity for women to learn what fire service is about.

“They’ll get a chance to hear what a day in the life of a female firefighter is,” Unruh said. “They’ll be able to rotate to different skills areas, where they’ll get a chance to see what hose lines are all about, how water comes out of a fire truck (and) one and twoperson techniques for moving hose-lines around. … They get an opportunity to meet females that are in fire service and (learn) how successful they are, how fun of an occupation it really is, and get a little snippet or introduction … to the occupation.”

According to Unruh, attendees will have an opportunity to don full gear and participate in the Fire Department obstacle course. They will also crawl around in a “smoked” environment in a confined space.

“The last portion will be stretching a charged fire hose and spraying water,” Unruh said. “Now we end the day with a lot of fun, because we’ll have our tower truck here, and we’ll get to have the (participants) go ride the truck to 100-plus feet up and get a chance to enjoy the sights of Farmington Hills.”

Madison Gardenhire, who has been a full-time paramedic/firefighter for the city of Farmington Hills for more than a year, is slated to attend the workshop.

“Blue Red and You is (an) opportunity for participants to get a first-hand look on what it’s like to be a member,” Gardenhire said. “My colleagues and I like to share and focus on giving the participants an outlook on how it is to be a woman in the fire service, and through that outlook we will include what motivated us to join the fire service and challenges we faced and were able

to overcome. … With proper training and technique, they will be able to master different aspects of the job, whether it be handling a fire hose, patient movement or maneuvering our fire gear.”

Liana Petroni has been a cadet with the Farmington Hills Police Department for approximately a year and a half.

She personally attended a workshop approximately two years ago.

Petroni is a proponent of the role women can play in law enforcement.

“For those who are interested in law enforcement, it’s really important that we encourage more women into the field,” she said. “There’s so many statistics that show women have higher levels of interpersonal communication skills, which is really effective at policing, because you can just talk to people, and it goes better for females. A lot of people in the community are more willing to cooperate with female officers because they give a sense of, like, comfort. It’s more comfortable talking to a female officer.”

One of Kings’ aspirations is to make the workshop as transparent as possible.

“We expose them to all aspects of the job, from road patrol to investigations, administration training, field training, background,” he said. “When somebody’s going through a background in law enforcement, it’s a pretty intense process. … We even prepare them for that aspect, so there’s no surprises. When they apply with the Farmington Hills Police Department, they know exactly the good and the challenges that are associated with our agency.”

Although a career in law enforcement can mean seeing just how “mean and cruel a human being can be to another human being,” from Kings’ perspective, it is the “greatest profession on the face of the earth,” and he has an opinion as to where Farmington Hills ranks in the pecking order.

“This is the best Police Department on the face of the earth,” King said.

page 3A See WORKSHOP on page 14A

2024Congrats to the grads

NEAR RIGHT: North Farmington principal Joseph Greene Jr. addresses the 2024 graduating class during their commencement ceremony at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth June 9.

FAR RIGHT:A North Farmington High School graduating senior shakes the hand of principal Joseph Green Jr. as she walks across the stage to accept her diploma during the commencement ceremony.

ABOVE: Farmington High School 2024 graduates listen to speeches during their commencement ceremony at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth June 9.

NEAR LEFT: Members of the class of 2024 listen as speakers present them with final words of wisdom during the Farmington High School commencement ceremony

FAR LEFT: A Farmington High School graduate is seen in all his celebratory regalia for the class of 2024 at the commencement ceremony.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

SPOTLIGHT ON SENIOR LIVING

FAR RIGHT: Ron Teasley suited up for the Carman Cardinals from 1949 to 1950, hitting around .300 and making the All-Star team, but the league never received the proper recognition of MLB scouts. NEAR RIGHT: The Tigers have called upon Teasley several times to throw out the ceremonial first pitch during the times the former Negro Leagues were celebrated.

RON TEASLEY:

SOME CALLED HIM ‘SCHOOLBOY,’ MOST CALL HIM MR. TEASLEY, EVERYONE KNOWS HIM AS AN ICON

BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — Growing up, Lydia Teasley couldn’t comprehend the importance of her last name, and who could blame her?

To Lydia Teasley, her father, Ron Teasley, was a renowned basketball and baseball coach at his high school alma mater, Detroit Northwestern High School, compiling numerous Detroit Public School League and district championships across both sports.

Ron Teasley was also the first African American student to play basketball, the first African American team captain, and the second African American to play baseball for the high school.

It wasn’t until elementary school when she first reaped the rewards of the Teasley name by being able to have complete freedom in gym class.

“I got to do anything I wanted to do,” Lydia Teasley said. “I thought, ‘Oh wait, this is pretty cool.’ I still didn’t really understand it, but as I got older, that would happen a lot. I would go somewhere and people would say, ‘Teasley? Like Ron Teasley?’ Then the person is going crazy telling me how he was my coach or my teacher. He was this or he was that. I thought, ‘Oh, this is pretty cool.’”

Ron Teasley, 97, is much more than a former coach in the dugout or faculty mem-

ber in the school, and one quick internet search could speak a thousand words about his achievements.

One of three surviving members to compete in the original 1948-era Negro Leagues alongside Willie Mays and Bill Greason, Teasley accomplished just about every feat a baseball player could imagine.

Teasley’s life contains memories with some of the most prolific people across sports, including racing Jesse Owens, hitting a triple off Satchel Paige, signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and conversing with the likes of Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, Jackie Robinson, Buck Leonard and other Negro League legends.

Growing up around the game

Like most young ballplayers growing up, Ron Teasley had a player he idolized. The only issue was being able to see him play live.

“When I was young, my father wouldn’t take me to a Tigers game because of segregation,” Teasley said. “I didn’t go to any Tigers games when I was young, but I used to listen to the Tigers games on the radio. My favorite player was a player by the name of Charlie Gehringer, who was a second baseman. He was an outstanding player. He was my hero.”

Baseball was the epicenter of the Teasley household, with six children all invested in the sport, and even his older sister sported the nickname “Babe Ruth” because of her

Knee cartilage — the rubbery, flexible tissue that coats the ends of bones in the knee joint — makes smooth bending and movement possible. Over time, due to age or injury, this cartilage wears down, causing the bones within the knee joint to grind against each other. This leads to inflammation, pain, stiffness and swelling. Severity can vary from mild to extreme and, eventually, the condition can change the shape of the knee. Degradation of the cartilage indicates that knee osteoarthritis is developing.

“Up to half of all men and women may develop knee osteoarthritis during their lifetime,” stated Andrew Vartanian, M.D., an expert in interventional radiology who launched PrecisionIR in November 2022. “By the age of 65, nearly 60 percent of seniors are affected to some degree.”

Mild osteoarthritis symptoms can often be managed effectively with medication, supplements and lifestyle modifications. In some cases, physical therapy or support braces may also be recommended. However, for individuals experiencing a significant decline in quality of life, total knee replacement surgery is frequently advised. Now, thanks to an outpatient treatment offered by PrecisionIR called Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE), there is an effective alternative.

Dr. Vartanian and his colleague, Dr. Michael Savin, provide this minimally-invasive procedure, which could enable numerous individuals to delay or completely avoid knee surgery.

GAE targets specific arteries to reduce blood flow to the synovium — the lining of the knee — thereby alleviating inflammation and pain. This process enhances mobility and improves patient well-being.

“Patients who undergo GAE may never need knee replacement surgery,” Dr. Vartanian noted. “While steroid injections often require follow-ups, GAE typically provides a longer-lasting result that may even extend several years.”

A 2021 clinical study showed that average pain scores dropped from 8 out of 10 to 3 out of 10 within the first week following GAE.

Dr. Vartanian recalled treating a woman in her mid-40s, who was experiencing severe knee pain. “She wanted to delay joint replacement surgery for as long as possible,” he said. “Since undergoing the GAE procedure two months ago, she has experienced significant relief of her pain score.”

In some cases, the relief can be so great that patients may not experience pain again in their lifetime, he noted. “It doesn’t always preclude the necessity for an eventual joint replacement if they truly need it, but it can hopefully prolong their ability to have durable pain relief.”

PrecisionIR is located at 32255 Northwestern Hwy., Suite135, in Farmington Hills. If you or a loved one is struggling with the limitations caused by knee osteoarthritis, visit myprecisionir.com or call (947) 218-1352 to schedule a consultation. Most

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Photos provided by the Teasley family

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Teasley

from page 6A

baseball prowess growing up.

“They talked a lot about baseball, and sometimes my father would go to Chicago to watch what they called the Negro League All-Star Game,” Teasley said. “There was a lot of talk about it (baseball), and my father and I would play catch. My brothers and sisters all played baseball. After that, I joined the junior baseball program in Detroit. I became very successful.”

The earliest memories for Teasley began at Hamtramck Stadium, where his father would take him to watch the Detroit Stars play, but Teasley said he was also more focused on playing with rocks under the stands.

That was until he grew into the sport through the junior baseball program. A walk outside the local recreation center one day would be life changing.

“One day I came out of the recreation center and I looked across the field and saw some men playing baseball,” Teasley said. “I said, ‘I think I’ll just go over there and join them.’ So I went over there and started chasing foul balls. I was 13 or 14 years old, and they were nice to me and told me, ‘Why don’t you come around and practice with us?’ So I started practicing with them.”

The men playing baseball weren’t just average joes taking in a game of pickup, but rather experienced ballplayers, some former Negro League players, who were double the age of Teasley, taking him under their wing and showing him the beauties of the game.

If someone wasn’t able to make it to the game, Teasley would be thrown into right field as a boy surrounded by grown men, earning the nickname “Schoolboy” from his older teammates.

“They usually put me in right field hoping nothing would be hit my way,” Teasley said. “I really think about those fellas, because they taught me a lot of life lessons. They meant a lot to me.”

Creating a baseball legacy

On the collegiate circuit at Wayne State University, Teasley, a Southfield resident, became the first player to ever hit above .400, still holding the single season record with a .500 batting average.

Teasley was a standout basketball and baseball player for the Tartars (now Warriors) before joining the U.S. Navy in 1945 with tours in Saipan and far Pacific areas from 1945 to 1946.

Once he returned home, he picked up right where he left off, dominating his opponents on the baseball field, so much so that

the Brooklyn Dodgers caught wind of it and offered a tryout in Vero Beach, Florida, to Teasley and Detroit native Sammy Gee from Miller High School.

Upon his arrival to Vero Beach, Teasley exchanged pleasantries with Dodgers infielder Jackie Robinson, widely known for breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball.

Teasley spent two weeks before being assigned to the Dodgers minor league affiliate, the Olean Oilers of the PennsylvaniaOntario-New York League, but was promptly cut despite impressive numbers early on.

“When I was in the Dodgers organization batting .270, that wasn’t good enough,” Teasley said. “They released me. I never could understand that. I was actually leading the league in home runs when they released me. It’s something you always think about, no matter how old you are. You think about that, you know? What did they expect of you?”

Instead of being discouraged, Teasley continued his professional baseball career in the Negro Leagues as a member of the New York Cubans, but the league would soon become a picking ground for the MLB following the signing of Robinson, who played in the Negro Leagues in 1945 with the Kansas City Monarchs, in April 1947.

With Robinson’s performance came plenty of eyes looking for the next talent in the league, and the inevitable downfall of the Negro League began as teams were gutted, their best players departing for MLB clubs.

Robinson was the face of the broken color barrier, and with the title came plenty of scrutiny and racial discrimination towards him, but Teasley said the opinion of Negro League players towards Robinson’s signing began to split down the middle.

“We had a couple thousand players playing in the league, and then they were taking our best players,” Teasley said. “Then the owners were backing out. Some of the players were suggesting, and even the owners as well, that we have an all-Star team of Negro League players and put them in the league, but that was turned down. They didn’t want to do that. The players were coming and going quite a bit.”

Many players like Teasley, moved north to the Mandak League in Manitoba and North Dakota.

Teasley suited up for the Carman Cardinals from 1949 to 1950 in the league, hitting around .300 and making the AllStar team, but the league never received the proper recognition of MLB scouts.

The league had a solid fanbase, but Teasley said the fans provided a different game day environment than what he was accustomed to.

“I can recall one game where I was playing third base and I made a double play where there was one player running to third base and another returning to third base, and I tagged each one of them out, and the fans were just quiet,” Teasley said. “There wasn’t that much of a reaction. I thought, ‘Wow.’ They enjoyed the game, and it turned out quite well.”

Life outside the dugout

Teasley would turn to factory work after the 1951 season and head back to Wayne State, earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1955 and joining the Detroit school system soon after. He earned his master’s of administration degree in 1963.

Life postbaseball was everything Teasley could’ve dreamed of, spending time with his wife of 71 years and high school sweetheart, Marie Teasley, who passed away in 2020, and raising their three children: Lydia, Ronald and Tim.

Marie Teasley was a writer and editor for the Michigan Chronicle newspaper for 25 years, taking after her father, who was the first African American to own and publish a newspaper in Hannibal, Missouri.

“She was an outstanding journalist,” Ron Teasley said. “She started out when she

was 7 years old because her father owned a newspaper in Missouri, the home of Mark Twain.”

In true love story fashion, Ron Teasley was his wife’s photographer when they would go to events, which included the controversial 1986 Goodwill Games in Russia.

The Goodwill Games were brought to the forefront after the United States boycotted the 1980 Olympic Games in Russia and Russia boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics in California.

An array of political issues surrounded the games itself, with certain countries being banned from competing.

“The first thing that struck you when you landed (in Russia) was there were no people at the airport,” Teasley said. “There’s nobody but guards. In this country, airports are jammed. There, there was nobody. The guards searched you, and we were detained for about a half an hour or so before we were even allowed to come into the country.”

The Teasleys today

Lydia Teasley knows the prominence of her last name, and her kindergarten students at Dorothy Montessori School in Oak Park also get to share in the knowledge.

See TEASLEY on page 13A

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LOCAL STUDENTS HELP CREATE MURAL

FARMINGTON HILLS — A 3D interactive gear mural that was designed and created by local middle school students was scheduled to be unveiled at The Hawk Makerspace June 12.

“Under the expert guidance of The Hawk Makerspace staff, and with generous support from the Bosch Community Fund, this permanent installation showcases the creativity … of students in the City’s After School Youth Program, through the arts and engineering,” a press release states.

The students learned about computer-aided design software to blueprint the interactive mural and assisted with fabrication of the gears using computer numerical control routers, laser cutters, 3D printers and other state-of-the art equipment, according to the release.

The project provided a hands-on learning experience and an opportunity for students to develop real-life skills in teamwork, problem-solving and more, the release states.

The Hawk Makerspace provides access to technical space for community members.

‘Shred Day’ planned for Farmington Hills

FARMINGTON HILLS — Residents who want to shred documents and recycle computer electronics have been extended an opportunity to do so by Comerica Bank.

Residents can take part in “Metro Detroit Shred Day” 8 a.m.-1 p.m. June 15 at the Comerica Great Lakes campus, located at 36455 Corporate Drive in Farmington Hills. There is no charge, no registration and no residency requirement, according to a press release. Those who attend can donate non-perishable food items to benefit Gleaners Community Food Bank, according to the release. For more information, visit Comerica.com/ ShredDay.

OAKLAND COUNTY LAUNCHES GUN SAFETY CAMPAIGN

OAKLAND COUNTY — According to a press release, as part of National Safety Month and Gun Violence Awareness Month in June, Oakland County commissioners are reminding residents to safely store all firearms. According to the release, a public education billboard campaign to encourage proper storage was set to be launched throughout the county.

The Oakland County Commission website includes a section dedicated to educating residents on new state gun safety laws and changes, along with providing information about how residents can obtain free gun locks and discounts on gun safes.

In February, new Michigan gun safety laws went into effect, one of them requiring individuals to keep unattended weapons unloaded and locked with a locking device, or stored in a locked box or container, if it is known that a minor is likely to be present on the premises.

For more information about the Board of Commissioners, visit oakgov.com/boc or call (248) 858-0100.

Shields

from page 1A

said Tryon, who is a financial advisor. “There’s something we can do. … I’m glad that they’re protected.”

Tryon’s gesture helped lead to the purchase of two additional rifle shields, with one of the purchases being credited to an on-call firefighter with the Farmington Public Safety Department, John Dresden, along with his wife, and the other to the Farmington Xemplar Club, which, according to its website, is a nonprofit charitable foundation that serves families, seniors and youth in Farmington and Farmington Hills.

In total, the Farmington Public Safety received three rifle shields, which Houhanisin estimated cost $6,400 apiece.

He said one of them is for a high school resource officer, and the other two are placed in patrol cars.

“So if there’s an incident, we can respond quickly and have those shields there to protect them and their team,” Houhanisin said.

Houhanisin explained the type of situations that may call for their use.

“Any type of firearm incident,” he said. “If there was an active assailant in a school, if there was an active assailant in a business, if there was a barricaded subject in a home where we needed to get a victim out, where we didn’t have time to wait for a team to be established. That officer can use that shield to protect them to get into a situation and get somebody out – protect them and take somebody into custody.”

Farmington Public Safety Department officers attended rifle shield training to become proficient in utilizing the new equip-

ment.

William Wood, who along with being the fire marshal for the Farmington Public Safety Department also works road patrol, said that he is also a rifle and pistol range instructor.

After receiving training on how to use a rifle shield, he helped train other personnel.

According to Wood, having the shields is “outstanding.”

“It’s such an asset,” Wood said. “(It) protects us and it helps us protect others in dangerous situations. … Obviously, rifles are used sometimes in violent acts, and it’s good to be prepared for that. … If we’re going to be running into a … life or death situation, involving firearms, especially, we want all the protection we can get.”

Wood went through a two-day training period to learn how to effectively use the shield at a facility in Shelby Township.

Houhanisin discussed some of the aspects involved with training.

“We actually practice shooting from behind the shield, from behind that cover,” he said. “And then we practice on how we most effectively use that shield to protect not just the person holding it, but the whole team behind it. … We’ve made that part of our annual training and practice, because you need practice using them to be effective.”

There are multiple facets involved with learning how to use a shield properly, including learning how to operate a firearm while deploying one.

Wood discussed how training has been going with Farming Public Safety Department personnel.

“Training’s been going pretty well,” he said. “People are receptive.They recognize it as a very useful piece of gear for preserv-

ing their safety and those that we’re trying to protect.”

Houhanisin said that Farmington Public Safety Department officers “loved’ the

training.

“They like that our residents are taking a proactive approach to helping protect them,” he said. “They adapted pretty quickly to it.”

In regard to not having the equipment sooner, Houhanisin said that funding was the issue.

“And once somebody asked us, what do we need, that’s what we need right now, right away,” he said.

Although Houhanisin didn’t recall any situations in Farmington that would call for rifle shields, he added that, “I believe in preparation – that we prepare for the worst, hope for the best.”

Having residents who willingly stepped up and helped supply the Farmington Public Safety Department with valuable equipment is not something that Houhanisin is likely to forget anytime soon.

“We’re extremely grateful for the donation,” he said. “It means that our officers are safe and we can do our job safely to protect the residents. … Now I can take a little breath of fresh air … that we can keep our officers safe from rifle rounds, and we can protect our community with the shields.”

Call Staff Writer Mark Vest at (586) 498-1052.

CITY OF FARMINGTON

JULY BOARD OF REVIEW

The City of Farmington Board of Review will meet in the City’s council chambers, 23600 Liberty St, Farmington, Michigan, on the following date to correct clerical errors and review hardship appeals.

Tuesday, July 16, 2024 9:00 am until work is complete.

Any Taxpayer wishing to fle a hardship appeal, that hasn’t already appealed hardship to the March Board, may pick up an application at the City Hall (Treasurer or Assessing Departments) or by calling Oakland County Equalization Division, at (248) 858-0772. Appointments for hardship appeals will be scheduled prior to the Board of Review.

Published: Farmington Press 06/19/2024

Photo provided by the city of Farmington

The Farmington Public Safety Department now has rifle shields at its disposal.

0048-2425

Teasley

Each February, Teasley instructs her students on the Negro Leagues, reading books, playing baseball outside or playing hot potato around the classroom.

She’ll show the children a video of her father talking about his playing days, but at such a young age, Lydia Teasley said, it’s difficult for the children to comprehend the importance of the Negro Leagues and how long ago it was.

She especially found this to be true when her classroom watched the Detroit Tigers opening day game, and students asked her if her dad was playing or not.

It’s innocently hilarious, and Lydia Tealsey said it means a lot to her to pass the meaning of the game and her father’s impact on to her students.

“It’s super important, and it also turns out to be fun, because the questions they ask me are just hilarious, but they’re interested,” Lydia Teasley said. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, your dad played baseball?’ I’ll tell them all the history of what happened, and I think they get it a little bit. I think they’re more interested in how to play, so I’ll take them outside and teach them some skills myself. It means so much to me to be able to talk about my dad and for them to see him on the video. It just brings it to life, and they can appreciate the history.”

Even at 97 years old, Ron Teasley is a busy man, but he prefers it that way. Wheth-

er it’s taking walks to the park, watching any baseball he can, or playing Wii bowling, Teasley stays active.

The Tigers have called upon him several times to throw out the ceremonial first pitch during the times the former Negro Leagues were celebrated, trading in their traditional home uniforms for the Detroit Stars uniforms.

He’s also made a trip with his family to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, to speak and sign autographs, and is involved in the Negro Leagues Family Alliance, which was founded by families of former players.

Lydia Teasley said her father is a popular man at the meetings because he’s able to tell stories to the families of Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, Josh Gibson, Walter “Buck” Leonard, and many other players about their loved ones.

Ron Teasley’s passion for baseball is immeasurable, but it doesn’t compare to the impact he’s made on others around him as a player, a coach and teacher.

Lydia Teasley continues the impact with the Ron and Marie Teasley Foundation, which aims to assist students in metro Detroit through scholarships, mentorships and training.

A person like Ron Teasley should always be reminded of what he brought to the game, and Lydia Teasley said she and her siblings always try to do just that.

“I just want to have him keep talking about all the great things he’s done,” Lydia Teasley said. “I never want him to stop talking about that.”

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Arrest

from page 3A

sued an eight-count felony warrant charging Patricia Wright with one count of discharging a firearm into a dwelling, three counts of felonious assault with a firearm, and four counts of felony firearm.

Brendon Wright was charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic violence.

Patricia Wright was arraigned May 30 in 47th District Court. A not-guilty plea was entered on her behalf, with bond set at $75,000 cash or surety, 10%.

According to court records, she posted bond and has a pre-exam conference scheduled for July 15.

Brendon Wright was also arraigned May 30 at 47th District Court. A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf, with bond set at $5,000 personal recognizance.

A pre-trial conference is scheduled June 17.

“We have recently seen a senseless escalation in preventable violence within the community,” Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King stated in the release. “In this case, the homeowner had several opportunities to deescalate the situation. Instead, she chose to retrieve a firearm from a locked safe and recklessly fire at the group as they were attempting to remove themselves from the

Workshop

from page 4A

According to Unruh, the goal of the workshop is to grab the attention and interest of attendees, along with helping them to succeed in the occupation of firefighting, if that is a path they want to take.

He said there are currently over 100 firefighters working for the city, six of them women.

Approximately five of them may be at the workshop to share insight about the profession and what is required to be a part of it.

According to King, the Farmington Hills Police Department has 165 employees, 51 women.

Unruh shared what attendees can get out of attending the workshop.

“If anybody even has a small amount of interest (in) being a police officer or firefighter, I really encourage them to participate in this event, because it’ll be very educational, and our goal is for the participants to have a good time as well,” he said.

Although individuals are encouraged

situation. This impulsive act not only endangered this group of people, but also put numerous other residents in danger.”

Patricia Wright is being represented by attorney Jack Kramer.

“I have the utmost respect for Karen McDonald and the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office when it comes to their policy and procedures with regard to making charging decisions,” Kramer said. “I know that their No. 1 concern is the safety of the community, and I know that’s something that they consider when evaluating each case, but there’s always situations where all of the facts and circumstances are not immediately apparent to law enforcement and to the prosecutor. I think this case is an example of that. We’re looking forward to seeing the court process play out and working with (the) Prosecutor’s Office to resolve this matter favorably for my client.”

The release states that the Farmington Hills Police Department will relentlessly pursue justice against those who commit violence within the community.

“The Farmington Hills Police Department is dedicated to preventing these senseless acts of violence through working with community partners,” the release states. “The Farmington Hills Police Department is a part of the Farmington Hills Coordinated Community Response Team. This group includes representatives from the Farmington

to attend the workshop on both days, according to King, it is not a requirement, as some may only have an interest in one of the fields as a potential occupation.

From his perspective, the workshop is an opportunity for attendees to gain further insight into a potential career before investing time and money at the collegiate level.

“This is not about what the Farmington Hills Police Department wants for them. This is about what they want in a career … and what the Farmington Hills Police Department and/or Fire Department has to offer them,” King said. “It’s a transactional relationship. … We’re showing them who we are, what we’re all about, what we have to offer, and they are showing us who they are, what they are about, (and) what they have to offer us.”

According to a press release, the workshop is limited to 20 participants, with lunch provided.

Those interested should RSVP no later than June 20 by calling (248) 871-2750 or sending an email to crimeprevention@fhgov.com.

Call Staff Writer Mark Vest at (586) 498-1052.

Hills Police Department, City of Farmington Department of Public Safety, HAVEN, Call to Action Coalition, Mai Family Services, Oakland University, Jewish Family Services, Farmington Public Schools, Corewell Health, State and City prosecutors, and the 47th District Court. Team members meet regularly to pursue the goal of preventing the tragedy of domestic violence by reaching out

to people in crisis and making them aware of vital services that are available.”

The release encouraged residents to utilize available resources “to prevent these senseless acts of violence from continuing.”

The attorney for Brendon Wright did not provide comments by press time.

Call Staff Writer Mark Vest at (586) 4981052.

“Out

proceedeth

CITY OF FARMINGTON 2024 SUMMER TAX STATEMENT PUBLIC NOTICE

City of Farmington Summer 2024 Property Tax Statements are due and payable on July 1, 2024 through August 31, 2024. On September 1, 2024 taxes are delinquent and a 1% collection fee and 1% interest will be added to all unpaid amounts. An additional 1% of interest will be added on the 1st of each month from October 1st to February 1st. As of March 1, 2025, all 2024 taxes must be paid to the Oakland County Treasurer.

City Hall offces will be open for payment of taxes 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday through Friday except for the following: Thursday - July 4, 2024 Monday - September 2, 2024

For your convenience, a depository is located in the City Hall lobby and outside of City Hall by the east and west entrances.

Applications for deferment of 2024 taxes are available at the City of Farmington Treasurer’s offce and online at www. farmgov.com. You are eligible for the deferment of 2024 taxes if your income for 2023 did not exceed $40,000 and you are totally or permanently disabled, blind, a paraplegic, quadriplegic, or hemiplegic, an eligible serviceperson, an eligible veteran, or an eligible widow or widower; or are 62 years of age or older, including the non-remarried surviving spouse of a person who was 62 years of age or older at the time of death. To qualify for deferment your application must be fled with the City of Farmington Treasurer’s offce not later than September 15, 2024. Deferred Summer Taxes may be paid without penalty until February 28, 2025. By law, if the last day for payment falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the last day will be extended to include the next day which is not a Saturday,

CRIME WATCH

$5K gone in wire fraud

FARMINGTON HILLS — Officers took a front desk report from a resident who stated she had received several phone calls and emails posing as her credit union June 4.

After the communications, $5,000 was fraudulently withdrawn from the woman’s account. She made a claim with the credit union, and the case has been forwarded to the detective bureau for investigation. Currently, there are no suspects.

Drygoods

stolen from store

FARMINGTON HILLS — At approximately 12:15 p.m. June 8, officers were dispatched to 10 Mile and Orchard Lake roads for a retail fraud that had just occurred.

They met with the manager of the business, who reported that two unknown males had stolen drygoods in the amount of approximately $200. The manager was able to provide in-store surveillance footage of the incident. The case has been forwarded to the detective bureau for investigation.

Food truck catches fire

FARMINGTON — A food truck fire reportedly occurred around 6:35 p.m. June 8 in the 34000 block of Glenview Street. Officers arrived and found the food truck on fire. The fire was extinguished, and no injuries were reported.

Graffiti suspect found with paint on hands

FARMINGTON — Officers were dispatched to the parking lot of a business in the 31000 block of Grand River Avenue for a report of a subject actively spray-painting graffiti on a brick wall around 10:30 p.m. June 1. The witness who called 911 described

the subject as wearing a hoodie and black pants with a white stripe on each leg. Officers located a subject matching that description walking away from a brick wall that was covered in black spray paint. The subject was stopped and was identified, but denied being the one who had painted the wall with graffiti, and no spray paint cans were located. However, the subject had black paint on his hands. The subject was cited and released.

Tools stolen from hardware store

FARMINGTON — An officer was dispatched to a hardware store in the 33000 block of Grand River Avenue May 31 for a report of shoplifting that had occurred the day before.

An unknown male subject reportedly had stolen approximately $1,100 worth of tools from the store. The subject left the store in an unknown blue minivan with no license plate. The theft was captured on surveillance cameras, and the case was turned over to the detective bureau for further investigation.

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JUNE 19

Juneteenth celebrations: Concert featuring funk/reggae group Mollywop!, 6 p.m., The Hawk - Farmington Hills Community Center, 29995 W. 12 Mile Road, free but registration required, (248) 699-6700, thehawktheatre.com

See short play about an enslaved Black couple in 1865, questions with performers after, 6:30-7 p.m., Farmington Community Library, 23500 Liberty St. in Farmington, (248) 553-0321, farmlib.org

JUNE 20 Summer Solstice Celebration: Hayrides, outdoor games, marshmallow toasting, fairy/elf crafts and art projects, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Heritage Park, 24915 Farmington Road in Farmington Hills, (248) 6996700, specialservices@fhgov.com, facebook.com/fhspecialservices

JUNE 22-23

Sounds of Detroit: Presented by Detroit Youth Choir, 7 p.m. June 22 and 6 p.m. June 23, The HawkFarmington Hills Community Center, 29995 W. 12 Mile Road, detroityouthchoir.org

ONGOING

Farmers markets: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays through early November, Riley Park, 33113 Grand River Ave. in Farmington, facebook.com/FarmingtonMarket Splash pad: Open daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m. until Sept. 2, Heritage Park, 24915 Farmington Road in Farmington Hills, (248) 699-6700, specialservices@fhgov.com, facebook.com/fhspecialservices

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ONGOING

Rythyms in Riley Park: Friday Night concert series runs 7-9 p.m. June 21 (Billy Mack and the Juke Joint Johnnies featuring The WhatAbouts), June 28 (Wilson Thicket), July 5 (Chris Canas Band), July 12 (Soul Xpress), July 26 (Neil Young tribute PowderFinger Detroit), Aug. 2 (Zang), Aug. 9 (The Beatles tribute Dig A Phony), Aug. 16 (Steely Dan tribute Major Dudes), Aug. 23 (The Paisely Fogg) and Aug. 30 (Linda Rondstadt tribute Just One Linda), 33113 Grand River Ave., facebook.com/DowntownFarmington,

in the 100 block of Townsend for a reported theft on May 13 at approximately 10:30 p.m.

A witness informed hotel personnel that he had seen a woman with two males take a small brass lion’s head that was affixed to the hotel’s front wall and walk toward a vehicle parked on Henrietta Street. Officers observed the lion’s head in the vehicle’s front passenger seat. Two men returned to the vehicle, and officers stopped them at Henrietta and Merrill. After initially denying knowing the woman or how the lion had ended up in their vehicle, the men admitted that she is a business associate and that she had taken the lion after they all had dinner in Birmingham that evening.

The vehicle’s owner, a 46-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, was charged with concealing stolen property. The woman, a 43-year-old from Bloomfield Hills, said that she had seen the lion’s head on the ground and picked it up. She was charged with larceny.

Expired license plate check results in arrest

BIRMINGHAM — An officer traveling northbound on Woodward noticed expired license plate tabs on a vehicle around 8:30 a.m. May 14.

A check of the vehicle’s registration found a felony warrant for the arrest of its registered owner on two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Police arrested the suspect, a 23-year-old South Lyon man, and transferred him into the custody of the Michigan State Police.

Police investigate school bomb threat

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Someone going by the name “Alex” called the West Bloomfield Police Department around 7 a.m. May 20 and said that he had placed a bomb at West Bloomfield High School, according to a press release.

Police were immediately dispatched to the school and began to investigate, the release states.

The preliminary investigation concluded that there was no credible threat.

Detectives researched the phone number the caller used when calling in the bomb threat and learned the number was linked to several similar incidents around the country over the last two months.

Ex-tenant suspected in break-in

ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 9 a.m. May 11 and 9 a.m. May 15, a former tenant had broken into the complainant’s apartment

being evicted.

Urn stolen in family dispute

SOUTHFIELD — After a dispute with another family member, a resident noticed that between 8 p.m. May 20 and 7 a.m. May 21, a relative’s urn was removed from the home on Russell Street.

Boyfriend returns to empty home following eviction

SOUTHFIELD — A man who had moved in with his girlfriend’s family on Lahser Road returned May 22 to the home to find that the residents had been evicted and the family members had taken his TV, clothes, PlayStation 5 and laptop.

Victim loses around $30,000 in pop-up message scam

TROY — On May 15, at 10 a.m., a resident on Round Tree Drive reported she had been using her computer when a pop-up message appeared telling her that the computer was locked and to call the provided phone number for Microsoft Security.

The victim called the number and spoke with an unknown suspect, who told her that the computer had been hacked and that her bank account had been compromised.

The suspect was able to convince the victim to withdraw $24,900 from her credit union and convert the money to bitcoin using a bitcoin machine. The victim was then instructed to go to Nordstrom, purchase $10,000 in gift cards, and provide the numbers on the card to the suspect, which she did.

At that point, the victim realized it was a scam and notified her credit union, but she was informed it was too late to recover the funds.

Inebriated woman apprehended while parked in front of private drive on highway

TROY — While on patrol around 1:57 a.m. May 9, officers observed a 2024 Mazda CX30 with its hazard lights on parked on the right shoulder of Stephenson Highway, near East Maple Road, blocking a private drive.

Upon speaking with the 38-year-old driver from Mexico City, Mexico, officers noted that her eyes were glassy and there was a strong odor of intoxicants emanating from her. Police said she performed poorly on sobriety evaluations. A preliminary breath test showed a result of a 0.225% blood alcohol content.

She was arrested and issued a citation for operating with a blood alcohol content of 0.17% or more.

unregistered weapon, Adderall

TROY — Officers initiated a traffic stop at 12:35 a.m. May 11 near Rochester and Wattles roads for the driver of a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado for multiple traffic violations.

Upon speaking with the driver, a 29-year-old man from Royal Oak, officers noted his eyes were glassy, his speech was slurred, and there was an odor of intoxicants emanating from his person. The driver was asked to perform several sobriety evaluations, and officers noted he performed poorly. He submitted to a preliminary breath test, with a result of a 0.170% blood alcohol content.

During an inventory search of his vehicle, officers located a loaded handgun in a holster and a loaded spare magazine, both underneath the center console. The gun was unregistered, and the driver was found to not have a concealed pistol license.

In lock-up, several pills that were identified as Adderall were located in a plastic bag in the driver’s jacket pocket.

The case was turned over to the Detective Bureau for appropriate warrants.

Wallet stolen at Home Goods

TROY — A victim reports that, on May 5, between 2:30 and 2:50 p.m., an unknown suspect stole her wallet from her purse while she was shopping in the Home Goods store at 624 John R Road.

While shopping, a female approached the victim and asked for advice about purchasing a product. The victim now believes this may have been an attempt to distract her while her wallet was stolen.

Multiple fraudulent charges were subsequently attempted on the victim’s credit cards at various locations at a local mall.

Woman accused of assault at party

FARMINGTON — Around 10 p.m. May 22, a woman went to the police station to report an assault that allegedly took place May 12. The woman told police that a 54-year-old woman had struck her in the back with a log for use in a bonfire at a party.

Officers spoke with the suspect, who denied the allegation. The case was forwarded to the city attorney for review.

Cash snatched from purse

MADISON HEIGHTS — According to a police report, an unknown person stole $2,700 from the purse of a 71-year-old Madison Heights resident while the purse was in a shopping cart.

The incident occurred at a business in the

5:30 p.m. April 27. An investigation was ongoing.

Tractor-trailer taken

MADISON HEIGHTS — According to a police report, an unknown person stole a tractor-trailer from a business in the 32000 block of John R Road sometime between noon May 18 and 3:30 a.m. May 19. Police were investigating.

Student to be assessed after drawing pictures of guns in school

ROCHESTER HILLS — The school resource officer at Avondale Middle School was made aware of some drawings by a student that concerned school staff at 2:30 p.m. May 1. The school resource officer gathered further information and discovered the drawings were of firearms. The school counselor interviewed the student, a 14-year-old boy from Auburn Hills, while the SRO stood by. The student stated that the firearms he sketched were concepts for video games. The student’s parents were called to the school. The father stated there were no firearms in the home. A check showed no firearms registered to the father. The father advised that his child had an evaluation coming up for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and autism spectrum disorder. The student was sent home for violation of the school code of conduct and was advised that he could not return to school until a threat assessment was completed.

Drone helps find lost man

ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies became aware that a man was disoriented/lost and in medical distress at 1:04 a.m. May 3. Live911 indicated the subject was inside Flynn Park and Sanctuary Lake Golf Course in Troy. Troy police were also made aware of the incident. The first deputy to hear the Live911 transmission immediately deployed a drone to search the area for the subject. A heat signature was quickly found. Deputies and officers from the Troy Police Department began to search the wooded area with guidance from the drone operator. Information was also received that the subject’s phone was “pinging” to the same area being checked. The subject was found in a densely wooded area along a fence line, between the golf course and Troy Beaumont Hospital. The subject, a 43-year-old man from Shelby Township, was transported to the hospital for treatment.

Mollywop!