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October 12 – 18, 2023 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 41 www .associatednewspapers.net

Inkster mayor indicted on bribery charges

Vol. 138, No. 41 Inkster Mayor Patrick Wimberly continued to accept
The Sumpter Township Wimberly, 49, has been indicted ” $10,000 payments until April,
Fall Vendors Market and on federal bribery charges, and is Elected public prosecutors said, meeting at the
Bake Sale will take place accused of receiving $50,000 from mayor's office and in his car. The
from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. a developer to guarantee the pur- officials owe a duty alleged bribes were paid from
Friday Oct. 27 and Saturday, chase of city-owned property. to their community September of 2022 through April
Oct. 28 Wimberly, who was elected to of this year.
See page 6. his first term as mayor in 2019, is to act in the “Mr. Wimberly was elected to
currently campaigning for re- citizens' best interest. serve the people of Inkster, yet he
election. Wimberly previously prioritized his personal interests
served on the Inkster City Council and greed over their needs,”
and as mayor is $105,000 annually. Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent
If convicted of the felony charges, council. The developer allegedly in charge of the FBI in Michigan,
Vol. 76, No. 41 he could face 10 years in prison agreed to pay Wimberly $5,000 a said in a statement.
A cabaret of entertain- and a $250,000 fine. month, increasing the payments Wimberly's Inkster home is fac-
ment is planned Oct. 25 at According to the federal indict- to $10,000 monthly, the indictment ing foreclosure, according to
the Village Theatre in ment, Wimberly first suggested on claims. Wimberly is accused of Wayne County records as he owes
Canton to benefit the Relay 2022 to the unnamed developer accepting $5,000 from the devel- $6,966 in unpaid county property
For Life of Canton and that he could ensure the success- oper at that 2022 meeting. taxes. A Michigan state lien filed Patrick Wimberly
Plymouth event planned for ful purchase of the city-owned The indictment claims that in 2018 for $2,979 in unpaid taxes
next spring. property. The indictment claims Wimberly received $5,000 in was released in August. He has Eastern District of Michigan, said
See page 5. that in September of 2022, November and another $5,000 in been assigned a court-appointed in a statement Tuesday.
Wimberly demanded $100,000 early December. Wimberly attorney, according to court docu- Wimberly is currently cam-
from the developer to guarantee requested the January payment ments. paigning for reelection against
the sale of the unidentified site, from the developer in advance “Elected public officials owe a attorney Byron Nolen who served
telling the developer he could and in February demanded the duty to their community to act in as mayor from 2015 until 2019.
control the necessary approval increased $10,000 amount, the citizens' best interest,” Dawn The mayoral election is set for
Vol. 76, No. 41
vote of the seven-member city according to the court filings. Ison, the U.S. Attorney for the Nov. 7.
Inkster police are search-
ing for Yanko Romero, 40,
who is considered a person Courtroom canine
of interest in the death of a
34-year-old Inkster resident.
See page 6. New county advocate offers support to victims, witnesses

Witnesses and victims have a new calm demeanor. Retriever. In February 2023, Mark
advocate in the Wayne County Jellybean, the first canine court advo- Hindelang, the chief of information and
Prosecutor's Office who offers a unique cate in the county office, is described as technology at the prosecutor's office,
skill set along with her sweet nature and half black Labrador and half Golden along with his wife and three sons,
Vol. 23, No. 41
adopted Jellybean. She rides to work
The Northville District with Hindelang daily and reports to her
Library offers much more “boss,” Child Advocate Jamie Buchholtz.
than the traditional books, When her tail slows down to a manage-
CDs, and movies that most able wag after greeting Buchholtz and
people might expect. the other staff members, Jellybean dons
See page 2. her neckerchief and begins her work-
day. She meets with victims and walks
them to court. With a loving look and
maybe a small pat she helps to assuage
the anxiety of both child and adult vic-
tims and witnesses, Buchholtz said.
Vol. 23, No. 41 Prosecutor Kym Worthy had been
Paving of the new munici- hoping to add a special four-footed vic-
pal parking lot on Ann Arbor tim advocate to the Victims' Advocates
Trail and Deer Street was Unit to serve child and adult victims and
under way last week as witnesses when they participate in a
crews installed the base coat court case. In Michigan all canine advo-
of asphalt. cates, including Jellybean, come from
See page 3. the Leader Dogs for the Blind in
Rochester. They go through two years of
intensive obedience and service train-
ing. Jellybean had a tendency to stop
while walking which led to her reassign-
ment to the Canine Advocacy Program
Vol. 138, No. 41
(CAP) in Oakland County.
Members of the Romulus Jellybean then successfully complet-
High School Marching ed six weeks of intensive training to
Eagles will participate in the become “certified” as a canine advocate.
97th America's Thanksgiving She must not react to courtroom distrac-
Parade® presented by tions, needs to be able to walk on a lead
Gardner White in downtown without pulling, and to remain in a
Detroit. “sit/stay” position while her handler
See page 6. moves out of her sight range. During her
training, Wayne County Court Services
provided an empty courtroom so that
mock trials could be conducted with
county volunteers to familiarize her with
Jellybean provides a special level of comfort to victims and witnesses in her new job
Vol. 76, No. 41 with the Wayne County Prosecutor's office. See Jellybean, page 4
While Halloween pump-
kins and decorations are
appearing throughout the Wayne, Westland awarded state development grants
community, Wayne and
Westland officials have The cities of Wayne and “Today's grants underscore million in state funding to according to a prepared
Thanksgiving on their minds. Westland were among those our commitment to the people, address the COVID-19 impacts release from the state offices.
See page 4. awarded Revitalization and places, and projects that are and community revitalization Administered by MEDC, this
Placemaking grants from the integral to the growth of needs in Michigan. The funding program provides access to real
State of Michigan last week. Michigan's economy,” said is awarded for investment in estate and place-based infra-
Governor Gretchen Whitmer Whitmer. “These investments projects that enable population structure development gap
and representatives from the will help create vibrant places and tax revenue growth financing in the form of grants
Michigan Economic that attract and retain talent, through rehabilitation of of up to $5 million per project
Vol. 76, No. 41 Development Corporation add new housing options, vacant and blighted buildings for real estate rehabilitation
Westland Mayor Michael (MDEC) announced the grant enable business creation and and historic structures, rehabil- and development, grants of up
P. Londeau used his first awards last week. Grants to 10 attraction, and provide itation and development of to $1 million for public space
State of the City address to state communities totaled $99.2 resources for Michiganders vacant properties, and develop- place-based infrastructure per
honor three residents for million. and our communities. I will ment of permanent place- project, and grants of up to $20
their commitment to improv- The City of Wayne was work with anyone and do any- based infrastructure associated million to local or regional part-
ing the quality of life in the awarded $458,990 and Westland thing to continue getting things with social zones and tradition- ners who develop a subgrant
city. will receive $1 million as part done for our state.” al downtowns, outdoor dining, program, the statement contin-
See page 4. of the program. The program is part of $100 and place-based public spaces, ued.

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