No. 06
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
75¢
February 11 – 17, 2016
w w w . a s s o c i a t e d n e w s p a p e r s . n e t
Both the Wayne and
Westlandpolice departments
are implementing Force
LMS (Liability Management
Solution), a new software
program.
See page 5.
Tipping Point Theatre is
now accepting submissions
of 10 minute plays for the
Sandbox Play Festival, part
ofNorthvilleArts andActs.
See page 3.
The largest crowd in two
decades appeared at a meet-
ing of the Van Buren Public
Schools Board of Education
to criticize the handling of a
gun incident at the high
school.
See page 7.
Vol. 131, No. 06
Vol. 69, No. 06
Vol. 69, No. 06
Vol. 16, No. 06
Those who wish to nomi-
nate a Hometown Hero in
Romulus have only until
next Tuesday, Feb. 16, to
meet the deadline to nomi-
nate them for the annual
awards.
See page 3.
Vol. 131, No. 06
Vol. 69, No. 06
Vol. 69, No. 06
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
The Friends of the
Westland Library Book Sale
is planned for Feb. 12-14
with special prices on books,
CDs and DVRs along with
bag-day Sunday.
See page 8
The Canton Police
Department is now accept-
ing applications for the next
Citizens Police Academy for
individuals interested in
learning how the police
department works.
See page 2.
Vol. 16, No. 24
Investigators from the
Michigan State Police are
seeking the help of the pub-
lic in identifying the killer of
an Inksterman last week.
See page 6.
Regular officers of the
Plymouth Noon Rotary Club
stepped aside last week
when teens from the Interact
Club and National Honor
Society ran themeeting.
See page 4.
Last week, a Billy Casper Golf
sales team presented the mem-
bers of the Plymouth Township
Board of Trustees forecasts,
charts, graphs, weather data and
new management ideas in an
effort to obtain renewal of a
soon-to-expire, five-year man-
agement contract at the town-
ship golf course.
Hilltop Golf Course, a one-
time source of revenue for
Plymouth Township, currently
shows a $460,000 deficit and has
operated at a financial loss for
several years. The Billy Casper
representatives showed operat-
ing deficits for 2013 and 2104 and
a break-even financial report for
2015 operations.
The 18-hole, par-70 course
located within the 80-acre
McClumpha Park has been a
long-time bone of contention
among residents and trustees,
many of whom have questioned
the continuance of the money-
losing operation with so many
privately-owned courses in the
area. The township course
opened in 1927.
An
audit,
titled
Comprehensive
Annual
Financial Report, prepared by
Plymouth Township Sept. 22,
2015, shows a liability in the
amount of $500,000 for the golf
course-an amount owed to the
township general fund which is
explained as, “the long-term
advance from the General Fund
to the Golf Fund is cover opera-
tions anddebt payments…”
Billy Casper Golf, LLC, based
in Reston, VA, took over the
management contract at the golf
course in 2011 from competing
See
Contract,
page 4
William Melendez, a former
Inkster police officer, was sen-
tenced last week to 13months to
10 years for his assault on a
motorist during a traffic stop in
2015.
Melendez, 47, was convicted
by a jury Nov. 19 of assault with
intent to do great bodily harm in
the vicious beating of Floyd
Dent of Detroit, along with a
charge of misconduct in office.
He was immediately remanded
to jail following that verdict.
Wayne County Circuit Court
Judge Vonda Evans sentenced
Melendez Feb. 2 on the assault
charge and also sentenced him
to 90 days in jail on the miscon-
duct in office charge, with credit
for time served at the Wayne
County Jail since his conviction.
Evans' ruling did not seem to
agree with sentencing guide-
lines which range from two
years and five months to four
years and nine months.
Prosecutors had urged Evans,
in a court memorandum, to
exceed the sentencing guide-
lines, as they said, the guide-
lines do not adequately reflect
“the absolute betrayal of the
trust and authority placed in the
defendant to protect the com-
munity and uphold the laws of
this state.”
Melendez’ attorney James
Thomas asked the judge not to
send his client to prison and
cited his actions as a police offi-
cer and in themilitary.
Evans, however, told
Melendez in court that his con-
duct and the beating of Dent
were “disgusting.”
Wayne County Prosecutor
Kym Worthy issued a prepared
statement following the verdict
stating, “Improper, predatory,
and illegal police conduct will
not be tolerated. The vast
majority of police officers are
hard working law enforcers.
Former officer Melendez was
not one of them.”
Improper, predatory, and illegal police
conduct will not be tolerated. The vast majority of
police officers are hard working law enforcers.
”
Ex-officer sentenced to prison for assault
See
Sentence,
page 6
Celebrate
City plans month of
Black History events
Black History Month is again this year
an official celebration in the City of
Romulus.
Mayor LeRoy D. Burcroff and themem-
bers of the city council approved an offi-
cial resolution andproclamationdeclaring
February asBlackHistoryMonth.
“While it might be implied, I wanted to
make an outward showing of support to
our community that Black History month
is important to me and to our city,”
Burcroff said.
Events are planned throughout the
month to commemorate Black History
Month, according to officials.
The ComeUnity Soul FoodDinner took
place earlier this week. This free soul food
dinner for the community has been the
unofficial kickoff to Black History Month
in Romulus for more than 20 years. The
event is co-organized by the Rev. Rita
Talley and her daughter, Minister Tina
Talley, in partnership with Romulus
Community Schools, Romulus Ministerial
Alliance and theCity of Romulus.
The event took place at Romulus High
School and a special black history pro-
gram followed the dinner which is authen-
tic Southern-style soul food. All the food at
the dinner was prepared and cooked by
local churches and volunteers.
Next week, at 6 p.m. Feb. 18, the library
will screen The Great Detroit and film-
maker Anthony Brogdon will be available
for a question and answer session with
attendees.
Brogdon, a resident of Detroit, will
share a positive story about the city, its
people, and industries. He has been recog-
nized by several organizations for his
efforts in creating the film.
The event at Romulus Public Library
will be an opportunity for the community
of Romulus to be a part of sharing this pos-
itive outlook, officials noted.
Brogdon is currently working on and
promoting his new film, Business in the
Black. This film will examine the black
business community in Detroit, starting
with the height of the Black Bottom years
through the 1960s. The film will also con-
tain footage of recent interviews with peo-
ple who are knowledgeable about the sub-
ject plus photos andnarrative.
“What will make this film unique is
depth with which we go to give a complete
picture of the businesses and people who
madeDetroit so great,”Brogdon said.
The DVD of the film will be available
for sale.
For more information, visit or call the
library at (734) 942-7589.
The Romulus High School Drama Club
will perform “Tambourines to Glory” by
Langston Hughes in three performances;
6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m. Friday,
Feb. 19 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20
Hughes, an award-winning American
poet, social activist, novelist playwright
and columnist wrote “Tambourines to
Glory” in 1956 as a gospel play withmusic.
The play premiered onBroadway in 1963.
Tickets for the performances are $7 and
can be purchased in advance or at the
door.
The City of Romulus Appreciation
Breakfast, organized by City of Romulus
Community Services Department, is
scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22 at
theRomulus AthleticCenter.
A full breakfast is served at no charge
and is followed by a community tribute
program honoring local African-American
residents for their contributions to the City
of Romulus and abroad.
This program is open to the community,
but attendees must RSVP by Monday, Feb.
15 by calling the mayor's office at (734) 942-
7571.
Rosa Parks Children's Program is set
for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23 at the Romulus
PublicLibrary.
The Second Annual Black History Tour will leave Romulus City Hall at 4:30 Feb. 20 and
stop at Underground Railroad sites in the city.
Rosie Chapman, known as Miz Rosie, will
share stories of Rosa Parks at the library
Feb. 23.
The Annual Soul Food Dinner attracted a
large crowd of residents this week just as
it did last year.
Township golf course contract is considered
See
History,
page 3
Don Howard
Staff Writer
