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December 14 – 20, 2023 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 50 www .associatednewspapers.net

FCC approves drone airspace expansion in Romulus

Vol. 138, No. 50 It isn't exactly Star Wars yet, can be near international air-
Keystone Academy stu- but the future of specific air- ” port airspace. With new drone
dents are used to seeing offi- space use and drone delivery The expansion will have a technology and proposed drone
cers from the Sumpter service is now possible in the major impact on a number delivery systems, companies
Township Police Depart- City of Romulus. of fronts in the city. will want to be around FedEx,
ment in the halls of the Romulus Director of UPS, Amazon and others
school building. Community Safety and already located in the city,”
See page 4. Development Kevin Krause Krause said.
received official approval last accessibility. Romulus, Krause explained, He added that the expansion
week from the Federal Aviation The new grid ceiling enables primarily in commercial and of the usable airspace for drones
Administration (FAA) for a sig- drone operators to receive residential areas, positively will also impact the school dis-
nificant expansion of drone air- immediate flight authorizations, impacting more than 5,500 trict as programs for drone
space near Detroit Metropolitan enhancing community access to Romulus residents. pilots could be added to the
Airport, located in the city. The the airspace. This update has The expansion will have a STEM (Science, Technology,
Vol. 76, No. 50 FAA implementation of the pro- modified 22 percent of the flight major impact on a number of Engineering, Mathematics) pro-
Gunfire erupted during posed changes to the Low grids from zero to a minimum of fronts in the city, Krause said. grams already in the schools.
an attempted escape from Altitude Authorization and 5-foot ceilings, improving acces- “This is another step moving Krause said while this expan-
the scene of an assault and Notification Capability (LAANC) sibility across 13.92 square miles the city forward. This will have sion of drone airspace was facil-
robbery in Canton Township grid ceilings near DTW has now of the city. This change affects an impact on economic develop-
last week. considerably expanded airspace more than 32 percent of ment in the city as companies See Drones, page 2
See page 3.

Vol. 76, No. 50
State Sen. Dayna
Polehanki (D-Livonia) and
members of the Inkster com-
munity celebrated the pas-
sage of HB4292 with a cere-
monial debt burning.
See page 6.

Vol. 23, No. 50
The vision for Ford Field
park in Northville has been
revealed in a 35-page master
plan developed by consulting
firm Wade Trim.
See page 4.

Vol. 23, No. 50
The Plymouth-Ann Arbor
Elks Lodge 325 has been Safety first
moved from Ann Arbor Road
into a renovated building on Annual Plymouth safety awards presented by Noon Rotary Club
Ann Arbor Trail.
See page 3. As has been the custom for of the year. He was introduced
decades, members of the Noon ” by Department of Municipal
Rotary Club of Plymouth pre- Each of the individuals was lauded Services Director Chris
sented the annual public safety for exemplary performance of their Porman, who is also the presi-
awards to first responders in dent of the Rotary Noon club.
both the city and township. duties during the past year. Plymouth Township opted
Emceed by City Manager not to participate in the
Vol. 138, No. 50 Paul Sincock, each of the indi- introduced by Fire Chief Chief Matthew Samhat was Department of Municipal
viduals was lauded for exem- Patrick Conely, received the named Firefighter of the Year Services category this year.
Romulus residents have
As has been the tradition for
only until tomorrow, Dec. 15, plary performance of their Firefighter of the Year award in the City of Plymouth. decades, each honoree was
from the township.
Plymouth Township Police
duties during the past year.
to nominate a candidate as From HVA, Senior City of Plymouth Police Ofc. Ofc. Aaron Warring was select- presented with a personal
the 37th Annual Person of Paramedic John Natiw, intro- Scott Hockenberry, introduced ed as the township Officer of plaque and a chamber of com-
the Year. duced by Karl Rock, was to the audience by Police Chief the Year, introduced by Police merce gift card. Each depart-
See page 2.
named as the paramedic of the Al Cox was named as Police Chief James Knittel. ment will have the perpetual
year. Officer of the Year for the city. Foreman Dave Cirilli was plaque displayed in the vari-
Plymouth Township Firefighter/EMT Luke honored as the Department of ous headquarters updated to
Firefighter Matthew Zmuda, Cadeau, introduced by Fire Municipal Services employee include the 2023 honorees.

School district delays decision on privatization of buses

Vol. 76, No. 50
”
The City of Wayne Police Members of the Wayne- monitors and food service
Department welcomed a Westland Community Schools The deficit is so severe, the workers. The current contract
new recruit last week with Board of Education have with the district is effective
the arrival of K9 Tanner. issued a statement postponing State of Michigan could step in until June 2025.
See page 6. a proposal to privatize trans- Union leaders have publicly
portation services in the dis- and take control of the schools. expressed concern about the
trict. A vote on the proposal proposed layoffs and labeled
was scheduled for the Dec. 18 the privatization plan a viola-
meeting of the board members. The deficit is so severe, the parents and union leaders. In a tion of the union contract and
Since a $17 million budget State of Michigan could step in letter to parents Dec. 7, admin- an unfair labor practice. In the
deficit was discovered by audi- and take control of the schools istrators said the district would Dec. 7 letter, the district praises
Vol. 76, No. 50 tors last month, 39 part- and in an attempt to control day-to- attempt to reach an agreement the efforts of the union to “col-
Members of the Three full-time employees have been day operation of the district with Michigan Education laborate to identify ways to
Cities Art Club recognized laid off, effective in January. In which currently has about Association Local 4 prior to control costs and increase con-
the winners of a recent exhi- an attempt to maintain staffing 1,600 employees charged with moving to privatize the bus sys- sistency.” The letter did, how-
bition during a public recep- levels, and “right-size” district educating 9,800 students. tem in the district. Local 4 rep- ever, reference the receipt of
tion at the Westland Gallery financing, some jobs have been The suggested privatization resents the bus drivers and multiple bids from outside
in City Hall. reclassified, officials said, to of transportation systems other part-time employees school transportation
See page 5. qualify for grant funding. caused a public outcry from including custodians, student providers.

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