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December 30, 2021 – January 5, 2022 NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST 75¢

No. 52 www .associatednewspapers.net

THE BELLEVILLE Romulus superintendent sues school district
ENTERPRISE
ENTERPRISE
Members of the Romulus
Vol. 136, No. 52 Community Schools Board of ” President Debi Pyles and
Secretary Susan Evitts and
Sumpter Township Education have been named in Vice President Judy Kennard
Trustee Tim Rush has been a lawsuit claiming discrimina- Three members based on their actions in sus-
appointed as interim deputy tion and harassment by pending Edmondson.
township supervisor by a 5-1 Superintendent of Schools Dr. of the “I will not give up on this,”
vote of the board members. Benjamin Edmondson. Three school board Hampton said.
See page 6. members of the school board Edmondson, who abruptly
are also facing a recall effort are also facing left the September board meet-
based on the suspension of a recall effort ing immediately following the
THE CANTON Edmondson during an investi- vote to suspend him, claims
EAGLE gation into district business based on that his suspension was based
EAGLE
Vol. 74, No. 52 office financial practices. the suspension on his whistleblower concerns
In his lawsuit, filed in the regarding a violation of the
The Canton Township U.S. District Court of the of Edmondson. Open Meetings Act by the
Municipal Services Eastern District of Michigan, board and racial discrimina-
Department recently Edmondson claims he was tion. He claims that the district
received full accreditation placed on indefinite leave and has been plagued with prob- Dr. Benjamin Edmondson
by the American Public replaced with a less-qualified Since then, board meetings lems before he was hired and Edmondson noted that the dis-
Works Association (APWA) person and has endured a have been contentious with that Pyles, Kennard, Evitts and trict interim finance director,
for the second time. “sustained campaign of harass- public comments from union Trustee Nichole German creat- the executive director of K-12
See page 5. ment” since he was named to representatives, teachers, par- ed problems by interfering instruction, the director of
the position in August of 2020. ents and staff members sup- with his ability to perform his human resources and the pay-
During a Sept. 27 meeting of porting Edmondson and job and improve the school dis- roll supervisor all resigned
THE INKSTER the board of education, the protesting the board action. trict, “and causing multiple “due to problems with the four
LEDGER STAR board members voted 4-3 to Romulus resident Rita District administrators and board members.”
LEDGER STAR

Vol. 74, No. 52 suspend Edmondson during Hampton has been vigorously employees to quit.”
the financial investigation. attempting to recall Board In his court filings, See Lawsuit, page 2
Nakia Hubbard Heard of
Inkster lost a week of her life
and nearly the life of her ‘Fame’ous
unborn son to COVID-19 this
year.
3 named to Canton Hall of
See page 3.

THE NORTHVILLE Fame, 3 others are honored
EAGLE Six individuals were Taj was instrumental in bridg-
EAGLE
Vol. 210, No. 52 recently honored for their ing the friendship between the
Members of the extraordinary contributions to Canton Muslim Community of
Northville Township Police the Canton Township commu- the Muslim Community of
Department celebrated the nity. Western Suburbs, known as
recent food drive in the com- This year, the Canton Hall MCWS, and the various cul-
munity when more than 300 of Fame recognized three indi- tures in Canton and the sur-
pounds of food was donated. viduals based on their long- rounding region. He has fund-
See page 4. time and long-lasting contribu- ed scholarships for graduating
tion to the Canton community. Plymouth Canton Community
The Community Achiever Schools students going into the
THE PLYMOUTH award recognizes those indi- healthcare field.
EAGLE viduals who brought attention Canton Public Library, is co-
EAGLE
Eva Davis, director of the
to Canton as a result of a spe-
Vol. 21, No. 52 cial or outstanding achieve- chair of the Canton Coalition
The City of Plymouth ment in the past year, and the for Inclusive Communities,
Department of Municipal Community Supporter Award and is also chair of the coali-
Services has a limited num- recognizes those individuals tion new subcommittee, the
ber of vouchers available for or groups who continue to Police Transparency and
free hazardous waste dispos- make a regular contribution to Guidance Subcommittee. She
al. the community. This year, the spearheaded the Canton Not
See page 6. inductees into the Hall of in our Town program and led
Fame are Dr. Syed Taj, Eva the charge for Canton to
Davis and Tammy Haggerty. receive Gold Star status Newly inducted members of the Canton Hall of Fame are, from
THE ROMULUS The three were recently hon- through this program. In addi- left, Eva Davis, Tammy Haggerty and Dr. Syed Taj. The three
were honored during private ceremonies earlier this month cele-
ROMAN ored at a private ceremony at tion, she volunteers and is brating their contributions to the community.
ROMAN
active for many causes and
the Summit on the Park
Vol. 136, No. 52 Community Center. organizations such as National ter president and has helped Salute to Canton ceremony
Dr. Syed Taj served on the Night Out, the Beloved with various other veteran included Jeff Poplin with a
Romulus Memorial
Cemetery was one of more board of directors of the Community, Giving Hope groups, where she has been Community Achiever award
than 3,136 sites to honor vet- Canton Community Women's Giving Circle, and the able to raise more than for his work picking up trash
erans with memorial flags Foundation for six years and Canton Community $400,000 in the last few years. throughout the community,
during the holiday season. currently serves on the board Foundation. She is also a current board Jennifer Brock with a
See page 2. of directors for The Senior Tammy Haggerty, owner of member for the Partnership Community Achiever award
Alliance. He spent the last Jacob Matthews Jewelers, is for the Arts and Humanities for her efforts with the
decade as Chairman of United an active member of Chicks 4 and the Canton Cares Fund “Feeding the Frontline” initia-
Outstanding Physicians of Charity, Giving Hope Women's Advisory Committee. She tive during the early days of
THE WAYNE Southeast Michigan. He is a Giving Circle, and the Canton holds many Days of Giving the pandemic, and Cam
EAGLE lifetime member of The and Plymouth chambers of campaigns at her store, offer- Nellett with a Community
EAGLE
Michigan Association of
commerce. Haggerty said she
Supporter award for his many
ing the proceeds of sales to
Vol. 74, No. 52 Physicians of Indian Heritage is extremely passionate about various area non-profit organi- years of service to the Canton
Wayne Fire Department and the American Association the Wounded Warriors Project. zations. Emergency Food Assistance
Captain Andrew Stager of Physicians of Indian Origin. She is currently the local chap- Others honored at the Program.
marked his last day on the job
last week, retiring after 25
years of service to the commu- Drunk driving enforcement program now under way
nity.
See page 5. During the New Year's holi- involved fatalities statewide, selfish behavior.” involved alcohol, drugs or both.
days, law enforcement officials according to data provided by From 2016 to 2020, during the The National Association of
throughout Michigan will be the state agency. Christmas and New Year's holi- Drug Court Professionals recog-
participating in the “Drive “Getting behind the wheel of day period, 84 people were nizes December as one of the
THE WESTLAND Sober or Get Pulled Over” cam- a vehicle after you've been killed in traffic crashes in most dangerous months
EAGLE
EAGLE paign. To protect lives, there drinking or taken drugs endan- Michigan, including 34 people because of an increase in

Vol. 74, No. 52 will be increased patrols on the gers you, your passengers and who died in alcohol-involved impaired driving.
everyone else on the road,” said
crashes. Over the 2020 holiday
roads through Jan.1, 2022, with
The “Drive Sober or Get
Members of the Westland zero tolerance for those who Michael L. Prince, Office of period, 15 people died in crash- Pulled Over” campaign is sup-
Police and Fire departments drive impaired, according to a Highway Safety Planning es on Michigan roads. ported with federal traffic safety
escorted children to Meijer statement from the Michigan (OHSP) director. “Fatalities on According to the 2019 funds provided by the U.S.
to shop for family gifts as State Police. our roadways are preventable, Michigan Annual Drunk Department of Transportation
part of the Shop With A Hero Throughout 2020, there were and drivers must remember Driving Audit by the Michigan and the National Highway
program. 9,078 alcohol-involved crashes that driving impaired by any State Police, 41.9 percent of all Traffic Safety Administration
See page 4. in Michigan with 326 alcohol- substance is deadly, illegal and fatal crashes that occurred and coordinated by the OHSP.

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