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November 9 – 15, 2023 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 45 www .associatednewspapers.net

Train derailment prompts safety concerns

Vol. 138, No. 45
Early voting will be avail- The cause of the train
able to Sumpter Township derailment in the city of
residents during the 2024 Romulus prompted Mayor
Presidential Election, but Robert A. McCraight, along
the cost isn't popular with with state and federal officials
members of the board of to call for increased enforce-
trustees. ment of railway safety stan-
See page 2. dards. The incident, which
remains under investigation,
prompted McCraight to issue a
statement urging stronger fed-
eral rules for railways. He said
the federal government should
Vol. 76, No. 45 have a stronger regard for the
Area residents can lace safety of local communities
up their sneakers and work and strengthen railway safety
up an appetite for a good rules. He added that local
cause Thanksgiving during municipalities and residents The derailment of 14 cars in Romulus last week was a safety concern to city first responders and offi-
the 21st Canton Annual are not aware of the dangers of cials. There were no injuries reported in the incident.
Turkey Trot for a Cause 23. trains traveling through their
See page 3. respective communities. south CSX tracks in Romulus, ly following the incident to luck of the draw today and
“We've had three derail- blocking Wick and Tobine road reassure the public. “At this today we were lucky,” Krause
ments in two years in the city crossings. A CSX spokesman time there appears to be no said regarding the empty haz-
of Romulus. It's part of a big- said that the incident posed no immediate threat to public ardous waste cars.
ger-picture issue. Of course, we threats to the public and there health,” the mayor said. Public response to the crash
want to make sure our public were no leaks or spills from Two nearby schools, Wick was exacerbated by the Feb.
is safe right now, but the feder- the cars, which usually carry Elementary School and train derailment in East
Vol. 76, No. 45
al oversight is something I hazardous waste matter. Bryan Romulus Middle School were Palestine, Ohio which caused a
Inkster property owners have heartburn over,” Tucker from CSX said the closed and students evacuated serious threat to public safety
received an early holiday gift McCraight said. derailed cars were “mostly “in an abundance of caution,” with fire and the release of
last week when state legisla- Hazardous waste travels by empty” at the time of the inci- according to a statement from potential dangerous chemi-
tors agreed to forgive $12.12 train through nearly all local dent. No injuries were report- Hugh McDairmid Jr. of the cals. In the Ohio incident,
million in school district tax communities for disposal in ed. Michigan Department of nearly 2,000 residents were
debt. landfills in Van Buren The Romulus police and Environment, Great Lakes and evacuated from their homes.
See page 6. Township and to a hazardous fire department responded to Energy (EGLE). Another derailment took place
waste well in Romulus. the scene along with a HAZ- Romulus Director of Public in Van Buren Township only
The latest incident occurred MAT crew from the Wayne Safety Kevin Krause said city two weeks after the Ohio inci-
at about 10 a.m. last Thursday, County Emergency officials communicated with dent.
Nov. 2, when 14 cars of a 97-car Management Team. McCraight railway officials immediately
train derailed on the north- issued a statement immediate- following the crash. “It was See Train, page 2
Vol. 23, No. 45
Northville Township has
asked a court to halt waste Voters choose mayor, council, commissioners
dumping in a new section of
the Arbor Hills Landfill
because of an increase in Westland Inkster
odor complaints.
See page 5. Voters in Westland have cho- tion to the city council, Inkster voters chose Byron Rutledge as the city council
sen their first newly-elected Londeau chaired the city Nolen as the new mayor of the representative for District 1.
mayor in nearly 20 years. Downtown Development city and selected city council Rutledge received
Voters chose current State Authority and was a member of representatives in three dis- 1,615 votes while Timothy
Rep. Kevin Coleman to lead the the master plan steering com- tricts. Williams was the choice of
city with 8,144 votes. Current mittee. He is a graduate of Nolen received a total of 1,046 voters. Rutledge has
Vol. 23, No. 45 interim Mayor Mike Londeau Wayne Memorial High School. 1,662 votes, while incumbent worked in government for
Northville Township has was the choice of 5,630 Voters also chose four mem- Mayor Patrick Wimberly was more than 16 years.
asked a court to halt waste voters. The four-year position bers of the city council. the choice of 1,153 voters. She is a Victim Advocate
dumping in a new section of pays pays $121,574 annually. Incumbent Michael Nolen will return to the for the Washtenaw County
the Arbor Hills Landfill The two candidates were McDermott garnered 8,944 office which he left in 2019. Prosecutor's Office Victim
because of an increase in selected by voters from a field votes; incumbent Melissa An attorney for 27 years, he Service Unit.
odor complaints. of six hopefuls in an August pri- Sampey received 7,629 votes; cited the city budget $3.3 mil- Williams serves as Mayor
See page 5. mary election. Council President Pro tem lion surplus when he left Pro Tem on the Inkster City
Coleman, 40, served on the Andrea Rutkowski received office and the relief from state Council and is a former state
Westland City Council, the vet- 7,470 votes and Emily Bauman receivership in 2019, as legislator.
eran's association and the received 7,211 votes. accomplishments of his previ- In Inkster District 4, Steven
Westland festival committee, DeLano Hornbuckle was the ous term in office. Nolen was Chisholm, the incumbent,
prior to his election to state choice of 5,376 voters and first elected in 2015 with 87 received 1,585 votes and oppo-
Vol. 138, No. 45 office. Coleman was defeated Edward Pruett received 4,622 percent of the vote. nent Rebecca J. Daniels
by former Mayor William Wild votes. Hornbuckle was appoint- Wimberly, 49, is currently received 1,076 votes.
Members of the Romulus in his first bid for the top job in ed to fill Londeau's seat when under indictment by federal Chisholm, a real estate broker,
High School Marching the city. A special election to he left the council to become authorities and is accused of has served on the city council
Eagles will be part of the fill his unexpired term as the the interim mayor. Bauman, demanding cash from a devel- for 7 years.
97th America's Thanksgiving representative from the 25th 6,826 votes, and Hornbuckle, oper hoping to purchase city- In District 6, Dee Coleman
Parade Nov. 23 in downtown District will now be scheduled. 4,543 votes were also seeking to owned property. Wimberly Richardson defeated
Detroit. Following the resignation of fill the remainder of Londeau's was elected to the mayoral Dennard Orlando Shaw.
See page 2.
long-time Mayor William r. unexpired council term. position which pays $105,000 Richardson received 1,397
Wild, current members of the Councilmembers are paid annually in 2019. He has votes while Shaw was the
city council chose Londeau to $18,040 annually while the pleaded not guilty to the choice of 1,144 voters.
serve as interim mayor until council president is paid charges. Coleman Richardson previ-
the election. Prior to his elec- $18,953. Voters chose Felicia ously served on the council.
Vol. 76, No. 45
As they have for several Plymouth voters nix millage, choose 4 commissioners
years, members of the City of Plymouth voters rejected the have seen an increase of as a priority for the community Voters also chose four new
Wayne Police Department requested charter amendment approximately $260 on their tax during the preparation of a new members of the city commission.
will participate in Movember to allow a new 1.75 mill tax to bills. recreation master plan during Kelly O’Donnell garnered 1,533
this year. fund new recreation opportuni- The question on the ballot the past five years. They added vote; Brock Minton received
See page 6.
ties in the city. No votes totaled asked for an amendment to the that while the demand has 1,421 votes; Linda Filipczak
1,368 while yes votes were 1,302. city charter and required that all grown, facilities like soccer and received 1,336 votes and Suzi
The new tax would have been funding generated by the mill- athletic fields have decreased Deal received 1,324 votes.
effect for 12 years and was age be dedicated to recreation eliminating some youth sports As the top four vote getters
expected to generate an estimat- and park expenses in the city. recreation programs. they will serve 4-year terms on
Vol. 76, No. 45 ed $1.3 million annually for The new tax would have been Approval of the charter the city commission.
There will be four new recreational expenses in the effective only on city residents. amendment would have allowed Candidate Ron Picard
police officers in Westland community through 2035. The Members of the Plymouth for the acquisition of new prop- received 1,075 votes, Joshua
funded by a $500,000 grant new millage would have cost City Commission approved the erty to provide recreational Rimatski received 835 votes and
from the U.S. Department of homeowners about $1.75 for ballot question by a unanimous opportunities and fund the Catherine Coburn garnered 829
Justice Community Oriented every $1,000 of market value of vote in July. Officials said resi- improvement and maintenance votes.
Policing Service. their property. Homes with a dents had consistently ranked of the current facilities, officials Commissioners in Plymouth
See page 4. $300,000 market value would parks and recreational facilities said. are paid $20 per meeting.

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