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April 9 – 15, 2020 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 14 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE
Vol. 135, No. 14
Property owners in
Sumpter Township will not
see a reassessment of values
this year following a decision
of the members of the board
of trustees Feb. 25.
See page 5.

THE CANTON
EAGLE
EAGLE

Vol. 73, No. 14
A 46-year-old Canton
Township man is accused of Public safety, first responders take extra health precautions
attacking his wife with a
power saw and dragging his Don Howard Tiderington reported that township police, fire and dispatch
8-year-old daughter by the Staff Writer are at or near full staffing levels which allows the department to
hair after slamming her to provide patients with the needed critical life and safety support
the pavement. Area public safety departments are taking extra precautions during the crisis. As of last week, Tiderington reported that one
See page 4. to make sure police officers and firefighters are safe when officer was symptomatic and later tested negative.
responding to 911 calls during the coronavirus pandemic. Plymouth Township Fire Chief Dan Phillips said while
Officials said that with the onset of the pandemic their police department PSAs now question callers and alert his
THE INKSTER departments are fastidiously following the established guide- department of the need to wear PPE (protective equipment) at
LEDGER STAR
LEDGER STAR lines from both the federal and state government with respect the scene, his firefighters take precautions when approaching a
Vol. 73, No. 14 to limiting exposure to firefighters, and patients alike. likely exposed individual.
“We're taking extra steps to screen callers to find out if any-
Inkster officials have sus- IN PLYMOUTH , NORTHVILLE AND CANTON one in the house is having flu-like symptoms, or a cough, a fever
pended all water shut-offs in Both Plymouth and Northville Township police chiefs have or shortness of breath before we arrive on scene,” said Phillips.
the city during the continu- redeployed detectives to road patrol duty to accommodate the “Then we don our PPE gear and approach with great caution.”
ing COVID-19 pandemic and need for a greater public presence and to make staff available Department chiefs insist on temperature checks every 4 to 8
waived some late fees. to secure un-occupied and vacant business establishments. hours for firefighters and police officers alike to quickly identify
See page 2. On a national level, public safety call centers report they are anyone who might be sick.
experiencing unexpected 911 emergencies during the virus Canton Fire Department Deputy Chief Chris Stoecklein said
pandemic; keeping people who answer the phone healthy. in the past month there's been an increase in emergency calls
THE NORTHVILLE Dispatchers, also known as Public Service Aids (PSAs) are high- not just directly due to the COVID-19 virus but calls for slip and
EAGLE ly trained in handling emergencies and typically can't work fall, kitchen fires and domestic problems. Stoecklein said strict
EAGLE

Vol. 20, No. 14 from home. practice dictates the use of 6 to 10 foot distancing and wearing
Plymouth Township Police Chief Tom Tiderington said his full PPE equipment where COVID-19 patients are involved.
Northville Public Schools department is prepared in the event of a shortage of PSAs due “That includes, gowns, face mask, face shields, and boots,”
officials have been working to sickness with an in-place co-op system which can automati- he added.
on a plan to shift from the cally transfer calls to a Northville Township or Canton Stoecklein reported that currently they have a good stock of
current Home Learning Township dispatcher if needed. Other surrounding communi- PPE supplies, but complained that a N95 facemask that former-
Support framework to a ties have the similar protections built-in, Tiderington said. ly cost $1 is now $4.95. Phillips said they also have an ample 3-40
Distance Learning day PPE supply, but there are supply-chain issues with gloves,
Instruction model. and masks.
See page 5. Northville Township Fire Chief Brent Siegel said increased
department protocols to protect patients and limit exposure to
THE PLYMOUTH firefighters are like those in place in the other area depart-
EAGLE ments, including decontamination of ambulance units, carts
EAGLE
and equipment.
Vol. 20, No. 14 “We're doing the call screening with our dispatchers and
The Plymouth District using personal protective equipment before we arrive, but calls
Library may be closed but are taking longer.” Siegel said they “were doing tons of different
that isn't stopping hundreds things now to protect our personnel.
of folks from coming to the “Calls are now taking longer and we're spending more time
library website for down- at the hospitals, as they are much busier.”
loadable books, movies, Siegel said according to the protocols when they return from
music and more. transporting a virus patient the firefighters in addition to the
See page 4. cleaning and decontamination process, firefighters must show-
er.
“We are handling between one and three COVID-19 patients
THE ROMULUS a day, Siegel said.
ROMAN
ROMAN Canton Public Safety officers welcomed the donation of face In the City of Northville, reports and calls to the police and
Vol. 135, No. 14 shields from Ford Motor Co. last week as well as pocket-size See Responders, page 6
hand sanitizers from the Kennedy Nemier Insurance Agency.
During March, Romulus
Community Schools hosted Virus threatens traditional community festivals
the Book Mobile for the sec-
ond time visiting students Several community ” residents, staff and business-
around Romulus and Inkster. events in the area are in If it is safe to have crowds, es. It is for that reason and
See page 2. jeopardy due to the effects of through the powers of emer-
the coronavirus pandemic we will re-petition the city for gency management
THE WAYNE and several face cancella- permits and have the festival. bestowed upon me through
EAGLE tion. Belleville, Joan We will abide by what the city tells us. City Council, I am cancelling
EAGLE
In
the City's participation and
Vol. 73, No. 14 Bodnar, the executive direc- withdrawing all approvals of
“The city has the ultimate
Wayne Police Ofc, tor of the National decision. As I said, our main local churches have pre- associated activities of the
National
Strawberry Festival, said the
Strawberry
pared home made pies and
Michael Bolton was selected city has withdrawn all concern is public safety. If it other strawberry treats sold Festival this year,” her state-
as the 2019 Police Officer of approvals and permit is safe to have crowds, we during the three-day event ment read.
the Year. Bolton was nomi- requests for permits for the will re-petition the city for for more than four decades. Bodnar, however, said she
nated for the honor by his 44th annual event scheduled permits and have the festi- Interim Belleville City is still hopeful.
peers and selected by the for June 19, 20 and 2. val. We will abide by what Manager Tracey Schultz “I've talked with my board
Awards Committee last “Our main concern is the city tells us,” she said. Kobylarz, who has been and they are in agreement.
week. public safety. We are going to This would be the 44th given emergency manage- We will wait and see, and if
See page 3.
listen to what the president year for the National ment powers by the mem- it is safe, we will re-petition
says and what the governor Strawberry Festival in bers of the city council, for permits.”
THE WESTLAND advises and hope that we Belleville, a tradition which announced the denial of all Other community events
EAGLE can re-present our requests draws thousands of visitors city permits for the and celebrations throughout
EAGLE

Vol. 73, No. 14 to the city,” Bodnar said. “It to the community. The event Strawberry Festival in a the area have also been can-
published statement last
celed or are in doubt due to
is just really up in the air
celebrates all things straw-
Anthony Dominic right now. There are just too berry and includes a parade week. the severe health threat
Kesteloot still awaits sen- many questions,” she said. down Main Street with a “Due to the on-going posed by the COVID 19 virus.
tencing on manslaughter She said that the committee grand marshal, the selection COVID-19 crisis the City of In Canton Township, no
charges stemming from the is going to “wait and see” of a Strawberry Queen, car- Belleville must do every- final decision has been
death last August of Olivia what the conditions are at nival rides and Cinnamon's thing in its power to ensure
Rossi of Westland. the end of the month. Car Show. Volunteers from the health and safety of our See Festivals, page 6
See page 3.

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