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October 8, 2020 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 5

INKSTER - ROMULUS - SUMPTER
INKSTER - ROMULUS - SUMPTER

Woman threatened following church outreach efforts

An 22-year-old man has plead- preted the threatening message as finding several weapons believed
ed guilty to intentionally threaten- a joke. A more careful examina- ” to belong to Wyatt at his mobile
ing an Inkster woman with physi- tion showed that there were two Federal officials said that Wyatt admitted home.
cal harm to obstruct her free exer- “friends” associated with the he was acting intentionally to obstruct the woman's The church did not shut down
cise of religion, which is a federal Facebook page from where the due to the threat although church
offense. message originated, one of those freedom of religion, because she is African-American. officials did increase security
The incident began last July, identified as Ronny Wyatt, 22. including having Patton's husband
according to official accounts of Patton told investigators that she walk the church aisles while
the case, when Teresa Patton knew Wyatt through her church investigators that he had sent the admitted he was acting intention- armed in an effort to protect wor-
received the threatening message outreach program and had taken message telling Berry that he ally to obstruct the woman's free- shippers.
from the Facebook page of an 83- him food as part of the Sunset would show up at the church “with dom of religion, because she is Wyatt’s mother reportedly told
year-old man. Patton is an attorney Church of Christ in Taylor out- my AK to put you and your [exple- African-American and that he police that her son was angry that
and her husband is in law enforce- reach services. tive] family down [expletive].” intended her to read his message church members attempted to
ment. She said that she first inter- Wyatt alegedly admitted to FBI Federal officials said that Wyatt as a threat. FBI agents reported counsel him about his drug use.
Romulus receives more than $800,000 in grant funds

The City of Romulus has streamline the grant process by vide funding necessary to sup-
received more than $800,000 in providing each department the ” port a range of public safety and
various federal and statewide resources and information they As city leaders, it is our duty to protect public health expenditures -
grants, coming at a critical time need to easily complete appli- our city's financial standing while $47,550; Building Healthy
as the city works to lessen the cations. The new committee has Places grant from MParks and
effects of the COVID-19 pan- played a key role in Romulus' bettering the community we call home. Michigan Department of Health
demic, officials said. ability to coordinate and and Human Services; $10,000
In light of the increased need receive grants during the pan- for Boise Parkway walking path
of funding due to the pandemic demic, Burcroff said. create an efficient and success- ard pay premiums for those improvements; $1,500 for
and the grant opportunities “As city leaders, it is our duty ful grant process, securing who have performed hazardous COVID-19 related items such
offered at the federal, state and to protect our city's financial access to resources, especially work related to COVID-19 - has sanitizing stations and
county levels, Mayor LeRoy standing while bettering the funding, that build on our city's $58,272; Public Safety and social distancing signs for
Burcroff recently created an community we call home,” said existing infrastructure.” Public Health Payroll parks; Center for Tech and
Operational Sustainability & Burcroff. “I am proud of those To date, Romulus has Reimbursement Program grant Civic Life grant to assist with
Community Enhancement on the Operational received grants including: First to reimburse public safety and election expenses - $16,645 and
Committee. The committee Sustainability & Community Responder Hazard Pay public health expenditures a DTE Foundation and Relief
members, including city depart- Enhancement Committee who Premiums Program grant to related to COVID-19 - $685,759; Michigan grant to plant 15 trees
ment leaders, work together to continue to work diligently to reimburse first responder haz- Justice Assistance Grant to pro- around the community.
Sumpter Township auditor praises board’s performance

Members of the Sumpter told the board members that they
Township Board of Trustees “do a good job watching the
accepted and approved an inde- budget.” She noted that overall,
pendent financial audit pre- the budget in the township is sta-
pared by auditors from Post, ble.
Smythe, Lutz & Ziel. The general fund balance of
The positive audit was pre- $9.2 million against total expen-
sented to the board members ditures of $5.4 million indicate
during the Sept. 22 meeting and that the township financial
included the financial transac- health is sound with nearly two
tions and management of the fis- years of anticipated expenses
cal year ending March 31. already funded, she said.
The auditor referred to the “Those are real numbers,”
findings as “a good report” and she told the board members.