Page 1 - The Eagle 11 27 13

No. 47

NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST

75¢

November 27 – December 4, 2013

w w w . a s s o c i a t e d n e w s p a p e r s . n e t

The Wayne Ripple Effect

group is still seeking donations

in their attempt to be one of

the cities chosen for the Select

Level as a Michigan Main

Street Community.

See page 2.

Teamwork was one of the

themes of the 2013 City of

Romulus inauguration cere-

mony Nov. 20 at the Romulus

AthleticCenter.

See page 3.

Michigan Stop Smart

Meters, a statewide group

opposed to the new meters

that electric, gas and water

providers are installing, will

show a free movie on the topic

next week.

See page 5.

Ann Kalass has been

appointed to the Northville

Board of Education to serve a

one-year term left open by

Joseph Hige, Jr., who will step

downDec. 31.

See page 5.

Owners of stray dogs picked

up inVanBurenTownshipwill

no longer have to drive to

Westland to retrieve their pets

which will now be sent to the

Romulus Animal Shelter.

See page 3.

Vol. 128, No. 47

Vol. 66, No. 47

Vol. 13, No. 47

Vol. 128, No. 47

Vol. 66, No. 47

Once again, Middlebelt

Baptist Church will be the site

of a clothing give away for

needy families scheduled for 9

a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday,

Dec. 7.

See page 2.

For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.

Aman suspected of robbing

three banks and a credit union

in Westland is being held in

lieu of a $750,000 cash or sure-

ty bond.

See page 2.

Two veteran law enforce-

ment officers, Deputy Chief

Robert Kerr and Ofc. Kevin

Rize, have retired from the

CantonPoliceDepartment.

See page 4

.

Vol. 13, No. 47

Wayne County Executive Robert

Ficano has named Mark J. Abbo of

Northville as the new Chief

Financial Officer for the county.

“Mark brings a wealth of finan-

cial management expertise and a

fresh perspective to the county's

department of management and

budget,” said Ficano. “Mark knows

government finance and, with

decades of work as a CPA and chief

financial officer in a number of pri-

vate sector businesses over the

course of his 30+ year career, he

knows how to find solutions,” said

Ficano.

Abbo, a Republican and former

Northville Township Supervisor,

built a career in private sector

financial management. He started

working for Big 8 accounting firms

after graduating from Eastern

Michigan University in 1975 and

later moved into top financial posi-

tions at growing manufacturing

companies in southeastern

Michigan, according to information

providedbyWayneCounty.

“Mark has a long track record of

driving efficiencies in both the gov-

ernment and private sectors. It's a

unique blend of experience and

we're fortunate to have himjoin our

team,” saidFicano

Abbo served as an elected offi-

cial for 20 years in Northville

Township. He was elected town-

ship supervisor in 2000 and held

this position for 12 years until he

retired at the end of his term in

November 2012. During his tenure,

the township saw growth in resi-

dential and commercial develop-

ment as well as endured the eco-

nomic downturn of the last five

years.

The Plymouth Noon Rotary

Club had some very special guests

for lunch last week when the

Officers of the Year were honored

by the club in the 13th annual cere-

mony.

Each year, the club membership

honors emergency responders in

the community, and this year the

four chosen included two who are

on their second law enforcement

careers and one newcomer to the

public safety field.

Charles Rozum, 50, was chosen

as the Police Officer of the Year in

Plymouth Township, although his

27 years on the Farmington Hills

force may have given him an edge

over other rookies. Rozumhas been

with the Plymouth Township

Department about a year and has

been involved in several high-pro-

file cases according to Township

PoliceChief TomTiderington.

Tiderington said that it was

Rozum who took only a few hours

to identify the suspect in a robbery

of the Bank of America branch at

Five Mile and Beck roads. Rozum

also apprehended Robert Messer,

the 37-year-old man who ran off

with a 15-year-old township girl last

month. Messer is now facing trial

on criminal sexual assault charges.

Tiderington said that Rozum is a

leader in the department, “based

onhis actions.”

Mark Farhat, a Plymouth Police

officer since February of last year,

was chosen for the Officer of the

Year designation in the city. Farhat

is credited for saving the life of a 9-

month-old girl when hemanaged to

dislodge a piece of plastic lodged in

the child's throat, blocking her air-

way.

Farhat, the father of a 2-year old

girl and a soon-to-arrive son, said

that he thought of his own daughter

whenhe saw the child turning blue.

“My heart sank. I think of my

See

County,

page 5

Former Northville Supervisor named to county post

Noon Rotary Club honors Officers of the Year

While he can already be found in

Northville, Santa will arrive to officially

open the holiday season in several other

local communities thisweek.

The annual Tree Lighting in Canton

Township will take place from 6-8:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 at the Summit on the Park, located at

46000 Summit Parkway. This is the 35th year

for the holiday celebration in the township.

Festivities will include Christmas carols

performed by the Plymouth Canton

Educational Park Octavians acappela choir,

Santa's arrival - courtesy of the Canton Fire

Department - and countdown to the official

Tree Lighting with Canton Township

Supervisor Phil LaJoy. Warm soup or other

hot beverage and food options will be avail-

able for purchase onsite from The Rolling

Stove food truck.

Special festive activities will also take

place inside the Summit, including addition-

al refreshments and seasonal entertainment.

The cost is $5 per family, which includes

cookie decorating, face painting byD&MArt

Studio, two holiday crafts, and a visit with

Santa. Free seasonal entertainment will

also be available indoors, including perform-

ances by Dancin' Feet and Spotlight on

Youth, along with a family sing-a-long with

Kevin Devine, and a Lionel Train display.

Coffee and sweet holiday drinks and treats

will also be available for purchase from

Katherine's Catering in theSummit Lobby.

Children are encouraged to bring their

favorite toy or stuffed animal to the event for

a check-up at the Radio Disney Junior Doc

McStuffins Toy Clinic, powered by Children's

Hospital of Michigan. Parents can obtain a

free Child Safety Kit, provided by New York

Life to record their child's vital statistics and

urgentmedical information in one place.

During the festivities, the Tree Lighting

Marketplace, located in the Summit

Banquet Lobby, will also be open.

This year, the Tree Lighting Ceremony is