No. 14
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
75¢
April 6 – 12, 2017
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
The City of Wayne will
welcome the installation of
10 reproductions of art mas-
terworks next month as part
of the Detroit Institute of
Arts InsideOut program.
See page 4.
It took Northville resi-
dents and officials nearly a
year, but their efforts to ban
commercial truck traffic on
some roads in the communi-
tymet with success recently.
See page 3.
Vol. 132, No. 14
Vol. 70, No. 14
Vol. 70, No. 14
Vol. 17, No. 14
The Romulus Public
Library has partnered with
Helping Hand Food Pantry
in an effort to help the less
fortunate in the community.
See page 2.
Vol. 132, No. 14
Vol. 70, No. 14
Vol. 70, No. 14
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Westland Mayor William
R. Wild has been honored
with the Southeast Michigan
Council of Government
(SEMCOG)
Regional
Ambassador Award.
See page 4.
The Canton Township
Police Department has
retained the coveted accred-
itation from the Commission
on Accreditation for Law
Enforcement Agencies, Inc.
(CALEA).
See page 5.
Vol. 17, No. 14
The Inkster Commission
on Aging is offering multiple
programs for senior citizens
at the Dozier Recreation
Complex along with bus
transportation to and from
the center.
See page 5.
Plymouth Township Hall
will be open from 4:30-7 p.m.
every first and third Tuesday
beginning April 4 for resi-
dents needing services.
See page 3.
The iconic Waco biplane
will bemaking its first public
appearance May 20 at the
Detroit Aviation and Airline
Collectibles Show at Yankee
AirMuseum.
See page 2.
The new Ford Ranger and
FordBronco trucks will be built
inWayne.
Ford officials announced the
plans to invest more than $850
million at the Michigan
Assembly Plant on Michigan
Avenue to facilitate production
of the vehicles in what Joe
Hinrichs, Ford Motor Co. presi-
dent of the Americas described
as “consistent with what we
agreed to and talked about with
theUAWin 2015 negotiations.”
Ford will retain all 4,000
workers currently at the Wayne
facility. The announced invest-
ment is $150 million more than
Ford agreed to invest during
the union contract negotiations,
a spokesman said.
Ford spokesmen said the
company would be making a
total investment at three plants
of $1.2 billion, including $200
million for a new advanced
data center adjacent to the Flat
Rock assembly plant and $150
million at the engine plant in
Romeo.
Plans to build the Ranger
and Bronco trucks in Wayne
was first announced last
January at the Detroit Auto
Show. The trucks will replace
the current Ford Focus and
Ford C-Max being built in
Wayne. Those models will be
built at aFordplant inMexico.
Hinrichs said the new
Ranger will have some changes
in styling making it unique for
North American customers.
The Bronco will be a full-size
truck based on the Ranger plat-
form, he added.
“It's a package deal - the two
vehicles go very nicely togeth-
er,”Hinrichs said.
The new vehicles will also
have a new engine but Ford did
not announce where those
engines would be manufac-
tured. Hinrichs confirmed that
state tax incentives were a fac-
tor in the decision to make the
investments. Michigan
Strategic Fund board members
announced last week that an
economic development incen-
tive package comprising a $10
million performance-based
grant and a State Essential
Services
Assessment
Exemption estimated to be
worth $10.4 million over 15
years had been approved for
the automaker.
The news that a proposed
regional outlet mall will not be
coming to Romulus soured an
otherwise positive 2016 devel-
opment report for the city.
Tim Keyes, economic devel-
opment director for the city,
said he was informed recently
that the Outlets of Michigan
retail center that had been pro-
posed for a large swath of land
off I-94 and Vining Road near
Metro Airport, has officially
been scuttled.
“They just couldn't find
enough tenants to break
ground,” saidKeyes. “The retail
market is really struggling.”
The project, initially
announced in 2015, was first
scheduled to break ground in
2016. As recently as January, a
third partner had been
announced and the develop-
ment had been pushed back to
2018, but was still considered a
live project.
Keyes said contact had
dropped off after that, however,
and progress has been non-
existent.
“In the end, I didn't think it
was much of a surprise,” he
said. “This has been languish-
ing for awhile.”
The construction of regional
outlet malls is downswing
across the country. National fig-
ures showed only eight outlet
malls opened in 2016, com-
pared to 15 the year before that.
Even existing, profitable malls
are losingmajor tenants.
Keyes' announcement came
amidst a development report to
the city council that showed a
solid year in 2016 and a promis-
ing start to 2017. Nearly 60
major projectswere initiated or
completed in 2016 and another
30 are in the pipeline for 2017
already, he said. Last year, the
They just couldn't find
enough tenants to break ground.
The retail market is really struggling.
Tim Keyes
”
See
Mall,
page 2
Ford to invest $850 million at Wayne plant
Proposed outlet mall scuttled in Romulus
InBelleville…
The Belleville Central Business
Community is sponsoring the Flop E.
Bunny Candy Hunt beginning at noon
Saturday, April 15, at Victory Park at Five
Points.
Candy hunts will be divided by age
groups for children and continue from
12:15 until 1 p.m.
Framed photos with Flop E. Bunny by
April Warner Photography will be avail-
able at no charge fromnoonuntil 2 p.m.
Hot dogs and drinks will be available
for purchase.
InCanton…
Jason Hanson, retired Detroit Lions
place kicker, will be the guest speaker at
the 42nd Annual Good Friday Men's
Breakfast at St. Michael LutheranChurch.
The community outreach event
includes a full breakfast, beginning at 8
a.m. April 14. The church is located at 7000
NorthSheldonRoad inCantonTownship.
Tickets are $6 for men and $3 for boys
10 and younger.
For more information, call (734) 459-
3333.
In Plymouth…
The Genuine Toy Co. and two dozen
participating downtown Plymouth busi-
nesses and sponsors will host an all-
around-town egg hunt starting at 11 a.m.
Saturday, April 8.
Children 4 and older can follow clues to
find each stop and be rewardedwith good-
ie-filled eggs and a variety fun family activ-
ities. After the hunt, live bunnieswill be on
display from 1 until 3 p.m. at Westchester
Square Mall. The bunnies are residents of
theGreat LakesRabbit Sanctuary.
Space for the egg hunt is very limited;
sign up by calling Genuine Toy Co. at (734)
414-9500.
Lions host EggHunt
The Plymouth Lions Club will host the
annual Easter Egg Hunt in Plymouth
TownshipPark at 10 a.m. April 15.
The hunt will begin precisely at 10 a.m.,
organizers said, so early arrival is advised.
InRomulus...
Again this year, the Romulus
Recreation Department will host a free
community Easter Egg Hunt beginning
promptly at noon April 8. The event will
take place, rain or shine, behind the
Romulus Senior Center located at 36525
Bibbins, near the corner of Bibbins and
Olive streets.
Designed for children 11-years-old and
younger, the hunt is over in a matter of
minutes. Organizers reminded parents
that children should arrive early and bring
their own basket. Pictures with the Easter
Bunny will be available after the hunt for
$3 each.
Bunny Brunch registration ends
Parents have until today to pre-register
for Brunch With The Bunny planned for
10:30 a.m. Saturday April 8 just before the
annual Community Easter Egg Hunt in
Romulus.
The $10 admission fee included a pan-
cake breakfast, a craft and a photo with
theBunny before thehunt.
Registration is available in the mayor's
office at Romulus City Hall, 11111 Wayne
Road in Romulus. For more information,
Eggs-citing
events planned
Easter Egg Hunts and
Bunny Breakfasts set
See
More Events,
page 2
