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PAGE 8 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN August 12, 2021

BELLEVILLE - VAN BUREN
BELLEVILLE - VAN BUREN

Library rescinding all late book fees

The Wayne Public Library the last few years, hundreds of right now, just bring back what- library may still charge overdue
just wants the books back. libraries across the country have ever you've checked out and we fines, officials added.
Recently, members of the gone fine-free and seen signifi- will waive any overdue fines “We believe that eliminating
Library Board voted to rescind cant increases both in library that might have accrued,” the overdue fines and increasing
the late fee on borrowed materi- materials being returned and in statement added. access to the library benefits our
als in an effort to have the residents using the library The library will still be charg- entire community! For more
library operate more efficiently again. ing replacement fees for lost or information, please check out
and allow more people to use “If you have overdue fines on damaged items. Those who use our Fine Free FAQs (https://stat-
the library. your account from something their Wayne library card at ic1.squarespace.com/.../Fine+Fr
In an official statement, the you've returned late or if you another library or check out ee+FAQs.pdf)” the statement
board members said that during have overdue materials at home another library materials, that concluded.

Lawsuit

FROM PAGE 1
regarding Blackwell. On March
11, 2019, following an investiga-
tion assigned to police Lt.
Finley Carter, arrest warrants
were issued for Blackwell on
charges of stalking and disturb-
ing a public event. Blackwell
claims Carter never contacted
or interviewed him as part of
the investigation into
Nocerini's complaints.
Blackwell further cites the
sworn testimony of a witness
who claims that the warrant
issued for Blackwell's arrest
was the result of personal
intervention by Acting Police
Chief Ryan Strong in response
to influence by Nocerini. Party on
The charge of disturbing the Elvis did not leave the building during a recent party at Independence Village of Plymouth. An Elvis tribute artist arrived to visit residents
peace was dismissed prior to in a vintage car and interacted with the crowd of residents during a day in the sun. Residents cooled off in several small wading pools
trial by the prosecutor citing after they enjoyed games including volleyball, ring toss, and water unfights. For dinner, the residents enjoyed an “Elvis Eats Southern
the lack of evidence. Style Buffet.” The week leading up to the party on Friday was filled with Elvis-themed events including daily Elvis movies, a traveling cart
Blackwell was found not with peanut butter and banana smoothies, a viewing of the way pools and diving boards are made, exercise periods to Elvis tunes,
guilty of the stalking charge by Bingo with Elvis, and a craft with mini beach umbrellas.
Judge Richard L. Hammer, Jr.
”

No court date
has been set
in the case which
was filed in

U.S. District Court
on July 23.

on Oct. 4, 2019. The judge noted
that Blackwell's actions were
“constitutionally protected”
and that Blackwell was “not
doing anything out of the
norm.”
Blackwell is seeking dam-
ages from some of the defen-
dants personally as he con-
tends they sought to unlawfully
interfere with his “clearly
established rights by pursuing
and causing others to pursue
criminal charges against him.”
The adverse actions of the
defendants, Blackwell claims,
subjected him to criminal pros-
ecution and deprivation of lib-
erty and damaged him “by
restraining, preventing and
impairing his right to free
speech in a way likely to chill a
person of ordinary firmness
from propounding further law-
ful speech.”
During the subsequently dis-
missed criminal charges
against him, Blackwell claims
he suffered a deprivation of lib-
erty as he was restricted from
appearing at city hall without
48-hours notice.
No court date has been set
in the case which was filed in
U.S. District Court on July 23.
“While we will not talk about
the substance of pending litiga-
tion, I will state that we look
forward to the exoneration of
the city and its hard-working
employees,” said Wayne Mayor
John Rhaesa.
In a separate lawsuit filed
last month against Nocerini
and the city, Sgt. Abraham
Hughes also cited the undue
influence exerted by Nocerini
in the police department. In his
lawsuit, Hughes claims
Nocerini altered hiring criteria
to favor the promotion of
Strong to police chief.