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September 1 – 7, 2022 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 34 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE Former mayor pleads guilty to wire fraud
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE
Former Romulus Mayor
Vol. 137, No. 34 LeRoy Burcroff entered a City Council. He opted not to said. “If you talk to people that
know and have worked with
seek reelection in 2021 as alle-
An obscenity-laced threat plea of guilty last Thursday to gations of misappropriation of LeRoy, rather than talking to
of violence sent to Sumpter federal wire fraud charges, a campaign funds were report- his political enemies, they will
Township Supervisor Tim 20-year felony. Burcroff was ed by the media. all tell you LeRoy always gave
Bowman by a political candi- charged with spending more Federal prosecutors filed 100 percent of his best efforts
date has been referred to the than $15,000 of campaign-des- criminal charges in July, alleg- to his hometown, the city of
police department. ignated funds on personal ing that Burcroff spent the Romulus - and even gave
See page 6. expenses. money on personal and family money back out of his payroll
Federal prosecutors expenses. Burcroff's attorney check to the city when it was
alleged that Burcroff, 58, Walter Piszczatowski contin- experiencing tough financial
THE CANTON defrauded campaign donors ued to defend the former times.”
EAGLE who believed the money mayor noting that he had Prosecutors, however,
EAGLE
Vol. 75, No. 34 would be spent on a re-elec- repaid the campaign fund. claimed Burcroff used the
tion effort. Burcroff was elect- “LeRoy decided not to run campaign funds to pay for his
Canton Township has ed as mayor in 2013 and for reelection in 2021 and the daughter's wedding, a Florida
launched a new CodeRed reelected in 2017 after serving campaign fund has been fully
mass notification system to several terms on the Romulus reimbursed,” Piszczatowski See Burcroff, page 3 Leroy Burcroff
send alerts and time-sensi-
tive messages to residents
and staff members.
See page 2. Bright lights

THE INKSTER Historic State Wayne Theatre celebrates 75th anniversary
LEDGER STAR The 75th anniversary of the
LEDGER STAR
Vol. 75, No. 34 State-Wayne Theatre, which
A 29-year-old Inkster opened on Dec. 29, 1946
woman could face drunk includes a reunion party for the
driving charges in the crash theater staff from the past seven
that killed her 3-year-old son decades and an update of the
and injured her five other grand Marquee.
children. The State-Wayne remains the
See page 6. oldest operational business in
downtown Wayne. Being a part
of the city history, the special
THE NORTHVILLE anniversary and reunion party
EAGLE for former employees of the the-
EAGLE
Vol. 22, No. 34 ater is planned for 6 p.m. Sept. 7.
“If you were a former
Members of the employee of the theatre at any
Northville Planning time over the past seven
Commission are expected to decades, I am personally invit-
finalize their recommenda- ing you to attend our reunion
tions for the Northville party,” said Phoenix Theatres The new marquee at the 75-year-old State Wayne Theater was completed last week with the final
Downs racetrack property. State-Wayne President and lighting in place and the new lettering proudly displayed. The renovation was funded, in part, by a
See page 5. owner Cory Jacobson. “I meet facade improvement grant from the Wayne Downtown Development Authority.
people every week that have the the State-Wayne underwent a watts of electricity to operate Wayne as a regional landmark
THE PLYMOUTH fondest memories of having renovation of the wrap-around 105 bulbs each of 75 watts. The but also a national treasure to
EAGLE worked at the State-Wayne, and marquee, one of the largest orig- retrofit LED wattage would movie historians.”
EAGLE
inal movie signs in North
reduce the usage to 1,659 watts
The reunion party will be
as someone who grew up in the
Vol. 22, No. 34 theatre business, I have a per- America. The plexiglass sign and will save approximately catered by a close friend of
sonal nostalgia for the unique faces were replaced with a $4,914.12 in annual operating Phoenix Theatres, Peter
The Plymouth Fall family theatre working experi- much more durable material, a expense and reduce the strain Ginopolis' Ginopolis' Bar-BQ
Festival will again this year ence. pearl white Lexan. Additionally, on the local electrical grid. Smokehouse and will feature a
be the site of one of the “State-Wayne is such an inti- all the backlighting was upgrad- “The retrofit will ensure that private showing of the Tom
major fundraisers for the mate theatre and I thought it ed to LED. This move will help the historic 1946 marquee is Cruise summer blockbuster
Plymouth Canton Vietnam would be a wonderful time to preserve the classic look of the always completely lit properly “Top Gun: Maverick.” Former
Veterans group. have this group of people marquee while reducing the and will be pristine for decades employees are invited to contact
See page 2. reunite, catch up on their lives amount of energy needed to into the future” added Jacobson. the Phoenix Theatres corporate
and see how vibrant the State- power the marquee, a “The State-Wayne marquee is office at (248) 478-7170 to R.S.V.P.
Wayne Theatre is in her 75th spokesman said. The original the largest in length in the state or visit https://www.phoenix-
THE ROMULUS year,” Jacobson added. wattage with fluorescent lamps of Michigan and is frequently movies.net for information on
ROMAN
ROMAN As part of the anniversary, consumed approximately 7,875 photographed by visitors to the event.
Vol. 137, No. 34
Pumpkin Festival is planned Sumpter receives top marks on financial audit
The 24th Annual Romulus

for Sept. 16, 17 and 18 this Sumpter Township is in Emmons to respond to erro-
year at the Romulus excellent financial condition, ” neous claims that the township
Historical Park located at according to Rana Emmons, a This is an in-depth process with strict rules. was misusing or mismanaging
11147 Hunt St. in the city. Certified Public Accountant When you sign this document, funds.
See page 3. with Post Smythe Lutz and “You've looked at that and
Zeal, the independent auditing you are convinced it is a correct audit. you can attest it is not happen-
firm of the township. ing?” he asked.
THE WAYNE Emmons told the board “Absolutely,” Emmons
EAGLE members during the Aug. 23 or questions regarding revenue and expenses. responded. She then explained
EAGLE
Emmons also said Sumpter
Vol. 75, No. 34 meeting that she would rate and expenditures for the fiscal was “well ahead of many other that the rules for an audit of
the township 10, 10 and 9.5 on a
year ending March 31. The
this type were very specific
Members of the Wayne 10-point scale in three areas: “unmodified” classification communities” with funding of “and you've got to know what
Police Department joined the financial health, reporting and means the audit is unchal- the township pension plan. you are looking at” when
crowds at Goudy Park in efficiency. Emmons, a special- lenged and is an accurate The current pension liability is examining municipal financial
Wayne last weekend for the ist in municipal accounting, report of revenue and expens- $12.8 million, and the township documents. “This is much dif-
Downtown Development praised the work of Financial es in the township. has deposited $11 million into ferent than the corporate
Authority Movie Night. Director Scott Holtz, Township Emmons reported a “nice the plan. The resulting $1.2 mil- world. There is checklist on
See page 4. Manager Tony Burdick and bump” of 3.5 percent in proper- lion balance means the pen- checklist we have to fill out,”
Treasurer Vincent Warren, and ty tax revenue, up from 2 per- sion liability is 90 percent fund- she said.
their respective staff members. cent last year and a 10 percent ed, she said. Emmons added Township attorney Rob
THE WESTLAND Emmons' highly favorable rat- increase in state shared rev- that the pension obligation was Young noted that the financial
EAGLE
EAGLE ing came in response to a ques- enue, bringing an additional decreased significantly due to records were closely examined

Vol. 75, No. 34 tion from Deputy $150,000 to the general fund. trustees' decision to deposit during an audit of this type.
The township also saw
Supervisor/Trustee Tim Rush
increased investment income
“This is an in-depth process
Westland will have more who said he wanted to be sure $210,000 in investment income in the plan. with strict rules. When you sign
than $35 million in marijua- that residents could under- and a 70 percent increase in Trustee Matt Oddy said he this document, you are con-
na facilities in the city fol- stand the audit report. building permit revenue. wanted to ensure that resi- vinced it is a correct audit?” he
lowing approval of the site The township received an Overall, Emmons said, the dents in the township were asked Emmons. “Yes,”
plan for a third outlet by city “unmodified” audit, meaning township added $653,000 to the receiving good information Emmons responded.
council last week. the auditors had nothing nega- general fund during the past about the financial health of
See page 4. tive to report and no criticisms year, after all collected revenue the township. He asked See Audit, page 6

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