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March 9 – 15, 2023 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 10 www .associatednewspapers.net

Former St. Mary priest is sentenced to prison

A former priest at St. Mary admitted his guilt during a con-
Vol. 138, No. 10 Catholic Church in Wayne has ” versation with the victim's father,
Five Sumpter Township vowed to appeal the prison term which was recorded. Prosecutors
police officers were among imposed by the court last week. Baker said Baker admitted his guilt and
the latest participants in the Joseph “Father Jack” Baker, repeatedly apologized for the incident while
Louisiana State University 61, was found guilty and sen- defense attorneys disputed that
Training Academy of tenced to 3-15 years in prison for denied interpretation of the conversa-
Counter Terrorist Education. the rape of an elementary stu- the allegations. tion.
See page 5. dent at St. Mary Catholic School Six former teachers and staff
during the mid-2000s. His sen- members at the religious school
tencing hearing took place March spoke in defense of Baker and
1 in Wayne County Third Circuit enforcement officials he was sent explained that the child would
Court last week. Baker was found to the church sacristy during an never have been sent to the sac-
Vol. 76, No. 10 guilty on Oct. 2022 of first-degree after-school religious program to risty and would not have taken
Members of the Wayne criminal conduct-sexual penetra- retrieve a book when the sexual part in after school religious edu-
County Commission tion with a person under the age assault occurred. cation as these classes were only
approved the use of $4.75 of 13. His prison sentence will be The victim, who is now in his offered to non-students at the Father Jack Baker
million in county American reduced by the 140 days Baker mid-20s, only revealed the assault parish school. The victim was a
Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds has already served in jail. to his parents in 2019, according student and therefore would not Baker repeatedly denied the
for renovation of Cherry Hill The charges stemmed from to court reports. His parents have attended those classes, the allegations and continued to deny
Village in Canton. 2004 when the alleged victim was reported the allegation to the witnesses testified. The victim his guilt during his sentencing
See page 2. a second-grade student at St. archdiocese and church officials claimed he attended the classes hearing.
Mary Catholic School in Wayne forwarded the charge to the office as part of preparation for his first Baker's attorney, Alison Kriger,
and Baker served as pastor of the of the state attorney general. communion because he had said an appeal of the verdict is
church. The victim told law Prosecutors claimed Baker missed several sessions. planned.

Vol. 76, No. 10
A 34-year-old Inkster man Mixing it up
was among those arrested
and charged with seven
felonies in Chippewa County District culinary students compete for championship honors
in Sault Ste. Marie. Plymouth- Canton
See page 6.
Community Schools will com-
pete to avoid the “chopping
block” in a statewide culinary
competition as they vie for an
Vol. 23, No. 10 opportunity to be the best stu-
The Northville Township dent chef in Michigan, and
Fire Department team potentially move on to a
brought home the trophy for national cooking contest.
Best Firehouse Chili during “This team is quite possi-
the annual Chili'in the Ville bly the most caring, kind,
event in downtown hard-working, respectful and
Northville recently. tough young culinarians I've
See page 6. ever had the pleasure of
coaching in 22 years and their
talent is something we should
all watch for in the months
and years to come,” said
Diana Woodward, district
Vol. 23, No. 10 chef instructor and coach.
Plymouth- Canton The Hospitality and
Community Schools students Culinary Arts Team has 10
are making an impact - in members who competed last
real time and in an official weekend at the Michigan
capacity - on school policies ProStart Competition in Port The Plymouth Canton Community Schools Hospitality and Culinary Arts Team competed last
through a newly-created Huron. The top Michigan weekend at the Michigan ProStart Competition in Port Huron. The team is coached by Diana
committee. team will then go on to com- Woodward, district chef instructor.
See page 3. pete May 2-4 at the National Nearly 50 students are culinary, restaurant service, how good we really are.”
ProStart Invitational in enrolled in the Plymouth- baking and management pro- Salowich and the team
Washington, D.C. Canton hospitality and culi- grams. practice four times a week in
Student participants com- nary arts program, consid- “I've always wanted to be a preparation for the ProStart
peted in three events, includ- ered among the best in the chef and cook for people, so Competition. During a recent
Vol. 138, No. 10 ing: creating a nutritious and state, according to educators. being in the culinary arts pro- practice, Salowich sauteed a
delicious children's menu; The program consistently gram shows me what it's like mirepoix of onions, carrots
Wayne County
Commissioners are calling developing a restaurant from ranks among the top pro- to work in a restaurant,” said and celery while nearby,
on federal officials to enact the ground up and pitching it grams in the state and across Salem High School junior teammate Yamira Garver
rail safety and improve com- “Shark Tank”-style to judges, the country, according to Charlie Salowich, a member kept a close eye on sugar bub-
munication following the complete with a written pro- ProStart and SkillsUSA of the team at the ProStart bling in a ramekin as it
Feb. 3 train derailment in posal and preparing a three- career and technical pro- Competition. “Competing became caramel.
Ohio. course dinner without refrig- grams. In 2022, the Plymouth- against students from other “I love this team so much,”
See page 4. eration, electricity or running Canton program was ranked schools is a lot of fun because Garver said. “They're fun and
water. Students will have first or second in the state - we get to go up against people they love food as much as I
camp stoves for heat. and across the country - for from all over the state and see do.”

Romulus mayor seeks oversight of waste disposal

Vol. 76, No. 10
Wayne has joined the City of Romulus officials ” Energy (EGLE). Official docu-
Families Against Narcotics recently issued an update This is a regional issue, ments obtained by the City of
COMEBACK program, regarding the shipments of Romulus indicate that the
becoming the 21st local toxic waste from the train not just a Romulus issue. product was comprised of 95-99
department to participate in derailment in East Palestine, percent water. Even though
the Quick Response Team OH into the community. the products appear to meet
effort. Upon receiving notification of elected officials, further ments, processing and inject- the EPA requirements, ship-
See page 2. from Republic Waste that the shipments to the Romulus ing the liquid product into the ments into Michigan were
Romulus Deep Well Injection facility were halted and this well. From Feb. 20 until Feb. stopped during the evening of
facility was accepting delivery past week, McCraight met with 24, the well injected approxi- Feb. 24.
of liquid waste from the Ohio officials from Republic and mately 313,807 gallons of prod- McCraight has since met or
train derailment that occurred requested details in an effort to uct from a total of 63 shipments spoken with elected officials
Feb. 3, Mayor Robert better inform the public and that averaged between 4,000- and representatives of multiple
Vol. 76, No. 10 McCraight and his team imme- clarify the situation. 5,200 gallons per shipment. organizations to discuss next
Members of the Westland diately reached out to city, As early as Feb. 10, Republic Lab results show the products steps.
community are mourning county, state and federal agen- began to accept samples for discharged into the well satisfy "This is a regional issue, not
the death of Dave Monak, a cies for assistance to better testing of the liquid proposed the guidelines as set forth by just a Romulus issue, we have
constant presence at city understand how this was tran- to be shipped from East both the Environmental to focus on overall transporta-
events for more than 30 spiring without notification to Palestine, officials said. On Protection Agency (EPA) and tion protocols and best prac-
years. the city, explained the pre- Feb. 20, the Romulus Republic the state Department of
See page 5. pared statement. With the help facility began accepting ship- Environment, Great Lakes and See Update, page 4

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