No. 47
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
75¢
Dec. 7 – 13, 2017
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 investigation into
vandalism at a Michigan
Avenue church in Wayne is
still under way, according to
Wayne police.
See page 5.
AaronBaughman, former-
ly of theWayneWestland dis-
trict, has been named assis-
tant superintendent of
instruction for Northville
Public Schools.
See page 3.
Vol. 132, No. 47
Vol. 70, No. 47
Vol. 70, No. 47
Vol. 17, No. 47
Members of the city coun-
cil unanimously agreed to
enter into a contract for a
grant writer to seek out fund-
ing for a variety of public
safety issues.
See page 4.
Vol. 132, No. 47
Vol. 70, No. 47
Vol. 70, No. 47
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Three Cities Art Club will
present the 6th annual
juried artist's exhibition at
WestlandGallery at CityHall
through Jan. 30.
See page 5.
Two Canton police offi-
cers, Lt. Scott Hughesdon
and Ofc, Michael Kowalski,
have retired from the public
safety department.
See page 2.
Vol. 17, No. 47
Police are continuing the
investigation into the shoot-
ing of a 17-year-old Inkster
resident in Romulus last
month.
See page 4.
The Plymouth Uptown
Players Youth Theater
Program will present 35
local actors, ages 7-13, in the
classic Dickens' story, A
Christmas Carol, for the holi-
days.
See page 3.
Belleville Community
Chorus members will pres-
ent their 12th annual holiday
concert, It's Time For
Caroling, beginning at 7 p.m.
Dec. 9.
See page 2.
This week, the Michigan
Talent Investment Agency (TIA)
announced the approval of $2.6
million in Skilled Trades
Training Funds to 61 businesses
in Wayne and Monroe counties.
Among the recipients were sev-
eral Romulus businesses,
including: Environmental
Testing and Consulting, Inc.
$68,798; National Metal Sales,
Inc. $3,000; Rapid Response
EMS $30,925 and YAPP USA-
Romulus $16,746.
The talent investment agency
encourages employers to design
training models that are adapt-
able in real time to the ever-
changing skill requirements of
employers. Training must be
short-term in duration and lead
to a credential for a skill that is
transferable and recognized by
industry. Employers who
request funding must actively
participate in the development
of the training and must commit
to retaining individualswho suc-
cessfully complete the training.
“Training new and incum-
bent employees is essential to
the continued economic growth
in Michigan. We are fortunate
that the Governor and the
Legislature have made this a
funding priority.” said Charlie
(Charlotte) Mahoney, chairper-
son of South East Michigan
Community Alliance (SEMCA)
WorkforceDevelopment Board.
“SEMCA Michigan Works!
has done an outstanding job pro-
viding assistance to employers
in Wayne and Monroe County
Training new and incumbent
employees is essential
to the continued economic
growth in Michigan.
”
Businesses awarded training grants
Season’s greetings
Local student creates card
On the heels of formal com-
plaints to government officials
by area community leaders, a
CSX Railroad crew again
blocked intersections and upset
motorists inPlymouthwhen they
strategically parked the train
across four major intersections;
Mill, Ann Arbor Trail, Farmer
andMain streetsDec. 2.
Informed sources said they
suspected the Saturday morning
stoppage, which continued from
about 10 a.m. could have been a
union response to comments
during a Nov. 28 meeting, organ-
ized by Senator Debbie
Stabenow, between representa-
tives from Plymouth, Plymouth
Township, Canton Township,
Huron Township and Livonia
alongwithCSC railroad officials.
The area leaders, CSX North
Region Superintendent Robert
Dales and Federal Railroad
Administration officials-connect-
ed by a conference call, talked
about the dangers of delayed
public safety response times and
constant blocked crossings.
Stabenow did not attend the
meeting.
Plymouth Township Clerk
Jerry Vorvawho represented the
township at the meeting, said
railroad officials blamed sched-
uling problems and union issues
for the ongoing delays. Vorva
said he had doubts Stabenow's
office would foster any new leg-
islation that would help the
problem.
Over past months Plymouth
officials have posted signs at var-
ious city crossings urging
motorists to report emergencies
to CSX and the federal railroad
administration. Vorva said he
learned there are only three rail-
road detectives in all of
Michigan to respond.
In a news release, Dales stat-
ed he has “adjusted some train
schedules” and has “installed
underground air compressors”
in three locations to recharge
the cars' air braking systems
more quickly. Dales stated com-
puter malfunctions caused the
recent nine-hour blockage in
Plymouth last month and are
still a possibility.
CSX Regional Vice President
For the fourth consecutive
year, elected officials will be
providing holidaymeals for area
veteranswhomay be inneed.
The program is headed by
Westland Mayor William Wild,
State Rep. Robert Kosowski and
Vic Barra, president of the
Wayne-Ford Civic League. They
will be joined in the effort to
provide groceries for a tradition-
al holiday meal for veterans this
year by Westland City Council
President James Godbout and
Councilman-elect JimHart.
“I have always been an advo-
cate for our veterans. We have
men and women who ask for
nothing in return for all they
have given for us. This is a very
small gesture that we all can and
should get behind,”Hart said..
“It is an honor and privilege
for me and my family to roll up
our sleeves, shake their hands,
and showour thanks,” he added.
The officials will provide vet-
erans in need with a choice of
either a turkey or ham, along
with mashed potatoes, gravy,
stuffing, sweet potatoes, corn,
green beans, cranberry sauce
andheat-and-serve rolls.
Westland veterans should call
Wild's office at (734) 467-3200 or
Kosowski's office at (517) 373-
2576 to register for the groceries.
Requests will be taken until
Wednesday, Dec. 20.
Food will be distributed from
10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday,
Dec. 23.
“I am thrilled to be able to
participate with my colleagues
in such an incredible program
this year,” commented Godbout.
It is an honor and privilege for me
and my family to roll up our sleeves,
shake their hands, and show our thanks.
”
Vorva said he learned
there are only three railroad
detectives in all of Michigan to respond.
”
The annual Christmas card
from Catholic Central High
School this year may help one
student decide on his educa-
tional future.
The card was created as
part of an art class competition
at the high school by 17-year-
old Christian Johnson of
Canton Township. Johnson, a
junior, said he has not decided
on whether to pursue an edu-
cation in art, but the honor of
having his work chosen for the
“official” card of the school
might helphimdecide.
Johnson has attended
Catholic Central since 9th
grade after attending Allen
Elementary School in the
Plymouth-Cantondistrict.
“I really enjoy it,” he said of
his school. “It's really cool
here.”
Johnson said his favorite art
medium is pencil, with which
he created the selected card,
using images he researched
online and elsewhere for inspi-
ration.
“I like to draw realistic
things,” he said, “and I enjoy
using coloredpencil towork.”
Johnson said that the school
may announce that he created
the drawing for the card when
they are printed but there real-
ly was no prize awarded for the
work, other than the satisfac-
tion of being chosen from
about 20 other student entries.
He said he has been draw-
ing since he “was a little kid”
and that he really enjoyed the
art classes at the Plymouth
Community Art Center,
although he admitted, with his
See
Card,
page 2
See
Railroad,
page 3
See
Grants,
page 4
See
Meals,
page 6
Don Howard
Staff Writer
Trains continue to block Plymouth roads
Officials donate holiday food to veterans
Christian Johnson's drawing, above, was chosen for the Catholic
Central High School holiday card this year.
Christian Johnson
