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June 25 – July 1, 2020 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 26 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE Area-wide ‘Listening Tour’ unites communities
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE
The 18 Conference of Western
Vol. 135, No. 26 Wayne (CWW) mayors and
Sumpter Township supervisors, Western Wayne
Treasurer Kenneth Bednark County police chiefs and
has defied the official direc- Western Wayne County NAACP
tive of the members of the officials today announced the
township board and the “Partnerships for Progress
threat of legal action. Listening Tour”, a new collabo-
See page 2. rative effort to bring open con-
versation and active listening to
THE CANTON the Western Wayne County
EAGLE region in light of ongoing
EAGLE
protests around S.E. Michigan
Vol. 73, No. 26 seeking new discussions and
reform in our communities.
The Canton Township The group met June 16 in
Police Department wel- Westland City Hall to announce
comed some special 'virtual' planned listening meetings in
visitors this week as a re- the CWW region.
accreditation team evaluat- The goal is for community Westland Mayor William R. Wild spoke to the Conference of Western Wayne members during a meet-
ed the procedures and poli- members to be able to ask police ing announcing the Listening Tours designed to promote racial equality which took place last week.
cies of the force. and elected officials questions, mit proposed questions and/or the questions asked by the com- open and honest discussion and
See page 2. share stories and offer ideas for statements in advance via the C- munity proved that more conver- communication that can facili-
solutions and change. The W-W.org registration page. sations need to be had. We part- tate real change. The Partners
THE INKSTER Listening Tour meetings are an The events will be moderated nered with the Conference of for Progress Listening Tour will
LEDGER STAR
LEDGER STAR extension of ongoing discussions by Daicia Price, LMSW, a mem- Western Wayne to continue our give community members the

Vol. 73, No. 26 that recently began between ber of the Detroit-Wayne County Listening Tour. We believe that ability to ask the questions they
Western Wayne police chiefs and Crisis Intervention Team, which continuing to learn what hap- need answered, to share their
A 27-year-old man was the Western Wayne County supports collaborative efforts to pens when police officers inter- stories and to also offer ideas for
killed by gunfire and another NAACP. sustain more effective interac- act with Black people will help solutions.
man wounded last The first meeting took place tions between law enforcement us determine which changes “We know that we need to
Wednesday morning on the in Livonia yesterday. and the communities they serve. police chiefs and elected offi- give people the opportunity to be
28000 block of Glenwood “We realized that for far too Gina Wilson Steward, cials can implement that will heard and we need to listen to
Street in Inkster. long, many members of the com- Western Wayne County NAACP benefit the lives of Black peo- them. Our intent with these tours
See page 6. munity felt like they have not President: ple,” Wilson said. is to create an environment in
been heard by the elected offi- “The leadership of the Belleville Mayor Kerreen which all parties feel comfort-
THE NORTHVILLE cials and law enforcement in Western Wayne County NAACP Conley, CWW chairwoman said able to express their concerns,
EAGLE
EAGLE their communities. The recent began our Conversations with the events fill a need in the area. questions and ideas for change,”
“The message we have consis-
Vol. 20, No. 26 killing of unarmed Black people Police Chiefs last week because tently received from the organ- she said.
and the resulting global protest
City of Westland Police Chief
we must continue to work to
The City of Northville was says it is time to do something change policies so that Black ized protestors in the Western Jeff Jedrusik was also in favor of
the site of two peaceful different,” said Gina Wilson people can live without the fear Wayne County region is that they the planned meetings.
demonstrations last week to Steward, Western Wayne County of being stopped, arrested or need to be heard. As elected offi- “We see this as an opportunity
call attention to the Black NAACP president. killed by police officers. cials and police chiefs, we for both the Western Wayne
Lives Matter movement, To accommodate social dis- “The information shared understand that necessity and
protest police brutality tancing required due to the between the Police Chiefs and we hear you. This is the time for See Tour, page 6
across the nation, and rally ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,
against racism in the United the events are limited to 100 peo-
States. ple attending in-person, and
See page 3. PPE will be provided. Those
wanting to attend in-person can
access registration information
THE PLYMOUTH at www.c-w-w.org. There are no
EAGLE restrictions on who can attend,
EAGLE

Vol. 20, No. 26 but in order to ensure COVID-19
safety and compliance, pre-regis-
The National Day of Joy tration is required.
was celebrated in Plymouth For those who cannot attend,
yesterday when 65 individu- the event will be livestreamed
als were surprised with flow- via Facebook Live at www.face-
ers from their caretakers. book.com/conferenceofwestern-
See page 4. wayne
The meetings will include
THE ROMULUS time for questions to encourage
ROMAN an all-encompassing conversa-
ROMAN
tion, officials said. Community
Vol. 135, No. 26 members who register can sub- Mayor Kerreen Conley Police Chief Jeff Jedrusik Gina Wilson Steward
Members of the Romulus
City Council heard some Hiking, biking trails now officially open in Northville
good news and a word of
caution during their virtual Nature enthusiasts have a dedicated the new trails, located Township officials agreed to posted on the trailhead and on
meeting last week. whole new area to explore fol- at the end of the Seven Mile partner with Motor City the MCMBA website at
See page 6. lowing the official opening last property in the township last Mountain Biking Association www.mcmba.org . A picnic table
week of new biking and hiking Friday and area residents will (MCMBA) members who created has been installed and benches
trails in Northville Township. now be able to enjoy acres of the several miles of biking trails will be built for the area as soon
THE WAYNE Township officials officially wooded property. and a mile-long hiking trail dur- as feasible.
EAGLE
EAGLE ing the past year. The trailhead a connection to the trails on the
Plans are also under way for
is accessed off Wayne Avenue
Vol. 73, No. 26 and weaves through the 50-acre West end of the Seven Mile
Years of planning took woodlands west of the property, which will make much
one more step toward proj- Hawthorne Center along of the park available to the resi-
ect completion last week as Haggerty Road. Parking is avail- dents. Opening of the western
the City of Wayne officially able along Wayne Avenue and end is anticipated for fall this
broke ground for the across Haggerty Road in the year, officials said. Still unavail-
Veterans' Memorial near city Schoolcraft College parking lot, able for use is the area where
hall on Wayne Road. officials said. old buildings remain. Those
See page 5. The MCMBA club members structures will be removed as
and bikers created the trails finances become available for
with contributions from REI, the demolition work necessary,
THE WESTLAND Cooper Standard and other according to a township
EAGLE donors. The organization, repre- spokesman.
EAGLE
Northville Township officials
Vol. 73, No. 26 sented by Jeff Oles, Loren also announced a contest to
Konkus and Scott Silver, con-
Massage parlors in structed a trailhead sign and name the entire park that is
Westland will soon face both trails - named Chinkapin open to residents aged 10 to
much stricter regulations (for hiking) and Belle Creek 110+ years.
and requirements according Branch (for biking). Trail names “It is time the property had
to revisions proposed for were chosen for their historic an official name following its
licensing in the city. connection to the park, officials
See page 5. noted and maps of the trails are See Trails, page 3

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