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December 16 – 22, 2021 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 50 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE Schools go to virtual classes following lockdown
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE
High school students in the
Vol. 136, No. 50 Plymouth Canton Community
Schools District won't return to
Members of the Van in-classroom learning until next
Buren Education year.
Association have ratified a Following an unconfirmed
new union contract with the report of a student seen with a
school district. gun at one of the high schools
See page 2. last Thursday, the schools were
placed on lockdown while a
massive police presence investi-
gated the possibility of an
THE CANTON armed student. Tensions were
EAGLE high in light of the fatal shoot-
EAGLE

Vol. 74, No. 50 ings at Oxford High School only
a week before and police and
A Canton Township native school administrators exercised
has found a career serving extreme caution in efforts to
aboard USS Essex, a U.S. protect students. Dismissal was
Navy Wasp class amphibious delayed for more than two
assault ship. hours while police thoroughly
See page 3. searched the building. No
firearm was found, and police
determined there was no threat decisions of school administra- “We would like to express an school security team, for their
THE INKSTER to students. tion. overwhelming sense of grati- professionalism in maintaining
LEDGER STAR celled classes at all three high notified by school administra- tude to our local, state, and fed- a sense of stability and calm
LEDGER STAR
“After immediately being
District administrators can-
throughout the afternoon. The
eral law enforcement officials
Vol. 74, No. 50 schools on Friday and moved tion, law enforcement officials and first responders for their supportive environment created
classes to virtual learning this conducted a thorough search of immediate support, both on-site by our staff allowed our stu-
This year, the annual
Shop With A Cop program in week which will continue, every classroom and office and behind the scenes, to dents to feel safe and cared for,
Inkster took place Dec. 11 as according to a news release, space in all P-CEP buildings ensure the safety of our students reflecting exceptional imple-
officers loaded up 38 local until after the winter break. before clearing the buildings for and staff at all times. Their mentation of years of training
children for a holiday shop- Classes are set to resume with the safe, supervised release of quick response, preparedness, for emergency situations. We
ping trip to Meijer. in person learning on Jan. 3. students and staff. and professionalism led the way want to applaud our students
See page 4. Superintendent of Schools “We want to confirm that for us to maintain composure for their perseverance and
Monica Merritt has issued regu- there were no weapons found and control of our environment cooperation, as experiences like
lar statements and communica- on the P-CEP campus today and throughout this crisis. these can be traumatic,” Merritt
THE NORTHVILLE tions to parents, reassuring there were no injuries to any “We are also extremely grate- said in a statement to district
EAGLE them of students' safety and the students or staff.” ful to our teachers, staff, and families.
EAGLE
Vol. 210, No. 50 Northville Township officially welcomes new chief
Northville Township pub-
Northville Township has a
lic safety officials recently new police chief following Chief
announced both the Paul Tennies' announcement
Firefighter of the Year and last month that he planned to
the Police Officer of the Year retire Dec. 17.
at special presentations. Northville Township Manager
See page 6.
and Director of Public Safety
Todd Mutchler named Scott
Hilden to the top police post in
THE PLYMOUTH the community and Hilden was
EAGLE officially sworn into his new
EAGLE
position during a ceremony at
Vol. 21, No. 50 township hall Dec. 6.
Shontae Williams has Hilden previously served as
joined the staff at Plymouth chief of public safety and emer-
City Hall as the new assistant gency manager at Washtenaw
finance director and deputy Community College. He served
treasurer. in that capacity for five years
See page 5. and oversaw a department of
seven sworn officers, 34 non-
sworn officers and staff. As chief
THE ROMULUS of public safety at the college, he Department. also was president of the Canton was a sergeant from 2003-2006,
ROMAN
ROMAN oversaw the entire campus com- son to fill the big shoes that Chief Command Officers Association he brought the “A Child is
“Chief Hilden is the right per-
Missing” program to his depart-
from 2006-2013, assisting with
munity of 21,000 students
Vol. 136, No. 50 enrolled in credit classes. Tennies leaves,” said Mutchler. union issues, including contract ment to locate missing children
Hilden was also responsible “Northville Township will bene- negotiations. and vulnerable adults which
Renovations at three
main areas of the Romulus for emergency operations plan- fit from his experience keeping Hilden said he specializes in used a high-tech telephone
Public Library are well ning and was leader of the crisis communities safe and offering collaborating with the communi- broadcasting system to call 1,000
under way, according to management team at exceptional customer service ty. At Canton, he created a residents per minute. He also
Library Director Patty Washtenaw Community College. while doing so.” “Partners in Your Safety” pro- created the “We Nail Thieves”
Braden. Hilden and Tennies will con- Prior to joining Washtenaw gram that established a bridge program to reduce construction
See page 2. tinue to work together during a Community College, Hilden between the department and cit- site theft. This program was a
two-week transition term as he spent 24 years with Canton izens, businesses, neighbor- collaboration between
learns the nuances of the Township Public Safety, most hoods, churches and schools. Northville Township, Plymouth
Northville Township agency. recently as deputy chief of police Community policing is a long- Township, Canton Township and
THE WAYNE Tennies is retiring from public from 2013-2016. In this capacity, held interest of his, he said, as Crime Stoppers.
EAGLE service after 19 years at he supervised the patrol divi- far back as his early days as a
EAGLE
Vol. 74, No. 50 Northville Township Police sion, overseeing a team of 82. He school resource officer. When he See Chief, page 6
Members of the Wayne Seating arrangements are changed at Romulus City Council
Police Department and the
community mourned the Romulus officials got to the Council President John Barden, serving member of the city coun-
death last week of retired bottom of an issue during their a seat occupied by cil, explained that during his
Wayne Police Ofc. Daniel regular meeting Dec. 6 and Councilwoman Tina Talley, the decades on the council he had
Sanford. approved a change of seating in former vice chairman of the served in many capacities,
See page 4. an effort to put a complaint of council. The vice chairman of including terms as the vice
one city council member behind the council is authorized to chair, without ever changing the
them. chair the meetings in the location of his seat. Williams,
THE WESTLAND Councilwoman Virginia absence of the chairman and act however, was vocal in interpret-
EAGLE Williams, who as the second- in that capacity should the ing the failure to move her chair
EAGLE

Vol. 74, No. 50 highest vote total in the chairman be unable to fulfill the next to Barden as a personal
attack.
November election, was named
responsibilities of the office.
When Westland Police as vice-chairman of the council, Williams' request to change At the meeting Dec. 6, during
Ofc. Cole Rice took his offi- had vigorously requested the her seat was met with some dis- his report, Barden said that he
cial oath of office joining the move. During the first meeting interest by other members of the had made a decision “as chair-
department last week, it was following the election, she council during the November man of the city council” to
like coming home. demanded that as vice chair- meeting. During that meeting,
See page 5. Virginia Williams man she should sit next to William Wadsworth, the longest- See Chairs, page 2

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