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March 12 – 18, 2020 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 10 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE City of Romulus names interim police chief
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE
Vol. 135, No. 10
The responsibility for The City of Romulus has sworn in
nearly $10,000 in accounting Robert J. Pfannes as interim chief of the
charges sparked a heated Romulus Police Department. Pfannes will
exchange at the Feb.11 lead the department while Police Chief
Sumpter Township Board of Jadie Settles is on medical leave.
Trustees meeting. Pfannes, who worked in law enforce-
See page 3. ment for more than 32 years, recently
retired as chief of police for the City of Ann
Arbor Police Department after also having
THE CANTON served with the Garden City Police
EAGLE Department. During his career in law
EAGLE
enforcement, Pfannes has been a road
Vol. 73, No. 10 patrol sergeant, detective sergeant, SWAT
team leader, undercover narcotics officer,
The owner of the mold- and lieutenant and Special Threats
filled home on Lotz Road has Incident Commander for the City of Ann
until April 11 to either cure Arbor.
the problem or demolish the “Chief Pfannes has a deep commitment
structure unless the Circuit to public service, a holistic approach to
Court grants her petition and policing and the belief that a police depart-
takes control of the situation. ment is at its best when it partners with the
See page 4. community it serves,” said Romulus
Director of Human Resources Kevin Losen
at the swearing-in ceremony on March 4.
THE INKSTER Pfannes has served on numerous Robert Pfannes is sworn into his new position as interim chief of police by Romulus City
LEDGER STAR
LEDGER STAR boards and committees, including the Clerk Ellen Craig-Bragg.
Vol. 73, No. 10 Washtenaw Police Academy Advisory Wayne Regional Police Academy for 27 its residents, the police department and its
Board. He has presented at the University years. mission.”
Volunteers turned out in of Michigan Ross School of Public Policy, “I am excited to be joining the Romulus Officer Eric Smith was also promoted to
droves last week during the taught at the Michigan Association of family today,” said Pfannes. “I commit to the rank of sergeant during the ceremony.
Habitat for Humanity Chiefs of Police and has served as an you that every decision I make will be in Smith has been with the Romulus Police
International Women Build instructor at Schoolcraft College Western keeping with the best interests of the city, Department for almost seven years.
Week at a home site in
Inkster.
Community mourning death of Melissa McLaughlin
See page 5.

THE NORTHVILLE American flags in Canton in the township and promoted
EAGLE Township were lowered to half the Not in Our Town effort
EAGLE
mast last Thursday as a tribute
organized by the Canton Public
Vol. 20, No. 10 to former township Treasurer Safety Department, Canton
Maybury Sanitorium: Melissa McLaughlin, a long- Leisure Services, the Canton
Fresh Air Care including the time resident and well-known Library and several outreach
history and legends of the public figure who died March 4 groups to encourage unity and
facility will be the topic of following a year-long battle with diversity in the community. She
two presentations in cancer. also served as the chair of the
Northville in April. Shirley Melissa McLaugh- Canton Downtown
See page 5. lin, was born June 3, 1957 and Development Authority as long
earned her bachelor of science as her health allowed. She also
degree in education from served on the township plan-
THE PLYMOUTH Eastern Michigan University in ning commission and was very
EAGLE 1978. During her career in pub- active with the township histor-
EAGLE
lic service, she served as the
ical commission.
Vol. 20, No. 10 Canton Township treasurer Mrs. McLaughlin is survived
from 2008 through 2016 and by her husband, John, and two
Two local history buffs in Shirley Melissa McLaughlin
Plymouth have published a under her direction the town- annually. her terms in office, both the children, Ian (Heather) and
Bryan along with her grandchil-
ship earned a AAA rating by
book about the impact of rail- Fitch and an AA rating by In a social media post, Heise leisure services and police dren Colin, Jacob, Alex and
roads throughout the area. Standard & Poor.. She was also said, "Very sad today to learn of department in the township Gavin. She is also survived by
See page 4.
proud of her work with then the passing of former Canton earned national accreditation. siblings Tom (Manka) Noakes,
state legislator Kurt Heise, now Township Treasurer Melissa While serving as a township Kathy Bonaventura and David
THE ROMULUS the Plymouth Township super- Mclaughlin. She was an out- trustee, McLaughlin introduced Hybert.
ROMAN
ROMAN visor, on several legislative standing public servant who I'll the plan to join the Great Lakes McLaughlin is planned in June
A memorial service for Mrs.
always remember and appreci-
efforts including work on
Water Authority subsequently
Vol. 135, No. 10 Public Acts 223, 224 and 225 ate for her ideas and support of approved by the members of at the Cherry Hill United
which improved property own- important bills during my time the board. She was responsible Methodist Church although
Students at Wick
Elementary School in ers' abilities to evict squatters in the Legislature serving the for reducing unpaid water debt arrangements were not final-
Romulus presented a black from their homes. She imple- Canton community". in the township from $1.5 mil- ized at press time. Final
history program called mented advanced tax software Mrs. McLaughlin served as a lion to about $40,000 annually. arrangements were entrusted
“Great Black Leaders: Past in the treasurer's office and Canton Township trustee for Mrs. McLaughlin was a mov- to the L.J. Griffin Funeral
and Present” last month. reduced billing costs by $50,000 more than 20 years and during ing force with diversity efforts Home.
See page 3.
Probe into coach’s auto crash is reopened by sheriff

”
THE WAYNE The Feb. 8 rollover car crash possible charges, so it would be
EAGLE involving a Wayne Memorial We have since learned there were (allegedly) inappropriate for me to com-
EAGLE

Vol. 73, No. 10 High School wrestling coach is other occupants in the vehicle, ment any further.”
being investigated by the
According to the Livingston
Avery Hall, who left Livingston County Sheriff's County prosecutor's office, a
Wayne Memorial High Department following reports so that has reopened the investigation. complaint warrant would be
School when he was 17, to that there were passengers in issued if a falsified police report
serve in the Korean War was the vehicle not previously iden- reports from witnesses. had happened, confirmed by were discovered and charges
awarded his high school tified to investigators. The students were subse- the other two boys in the vehi- could be filed in the incident.
diploma during a special Reports indicate that there quently picked up from the cle. The Wayne-Westland
ceremony Feb. 28. were three members of the wreck and taken to the wrestling The police report of the crash Community Schools issued no
See page 2. wrestling team in the vehicle conference tournament and report lists a single vehicle and further information other than
driven by the coach which competed in their matches with- a single driver involved in the the letter sent to parents from
crashed near the Howell exit out any medical examination or accident and does not list occu- high school principal James
THE WESTLAND from I-96. Initial reports indicat- treatment. Reportedly, the teens pants in the vehicle, Anderson. “We are aware that
EAGLE ed that the driver lost control of were cautioned not to speak to “We have since learned there there have been media reports
EAGLE

Vol. 73, No. 10 the vehicle on the exit curve at anyone about the accident. were (allegedly) other occupants on this situation. While we can-
in the vehicle, so that has
The team members kept
about 8:18 a.m. traveling at more
not share specifics that may
Members of the city coun- than 70 m.p.h. and the roadway silent, until one of them dis- reopened the investigation,” impact the privacy of any of the
cil approved the re-appoint- was snow covered. The vehicle played symptoms of a concus- Sheriff Mike Murphy wrote in individuals involved, if you have
ments of Debra Fowlkes and entered the area between the sion, diagnosed by an athletic an email. “Once the investiga- questions, please feel free to
Sharon Scott to Westland vol- highway and the exit ramp and trainer at the high school. When tion is completed it will be sent contact me via email at ander-
unteer commissions recently. rolled over, trapping the three the student's parents were noti- to the Livingston County sonj@wwcsd.net or by phone at
See page 2. teens inside, according to fied, the teen explained what Prosecutor's office for review for (734) 419-2200.”

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