Macomb Township Chronicle

Published April 19, 2016

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office reported that a single-car fatal crash occurred at approximately 9:41 p.m. April 16 on 23 Mile Road west of Heydenreich.

A 27-year-old Troy man was reportedly driving eastbound on 23 Mile at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his 2002 Toyota and struck a telephone pole west of Heydenreich.

The driver, who was the only occupant in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

The Sheriff’s Office reported that alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash.

Published April 19, 2016

Nearly 100 citations issued in distracted driving campaign

MACOMB COUNTY — The recent distracted driving enforcement campaign is being hailed a success by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said the campaign, which took place in various parts of the county April 8-13, resulted in 181 drivers being pulled over and 93 citations being issued.

“This (campaign) was about enforcement and education,” Wickersham said. “Not every traffic stop resulted in a ticket being issued; everyone received a warning.”

Published April 13, 2016

Chippewa grad, Macomb resident announces candidacy for state House seat

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — A lifelong Macomb Township resident and 2004 graduate of Chippewa Valley High School has announced his candidacy for Michigan’s 33rd District seat in the state House of Representatives.

Mel Koch, who is running as a Republican, has spent the last six years as a legislative aide after earning a master’s degree in history from Eastern Michigan University in 2009.

Published April 12, 2016

Dakota prepares for ‘Noises Off’ production

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Performing a play within a play, Dakota High School’s theater team is giving itself a unique challenge for its spring production.

Dakota will perform the comedy “Noises Off” April 14-17.

“This gives them something different than our winter musical, ‘Mary Poppins,’” Dakota Theater Director Kelly Schmidt said. “It is a staple show for most theater programs, and it teaches a lot along the way.”

Published April 12, 2016

Social media helps find missing teen

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — A 16-year-old girl from Macomb Township who had been reported as missing for more than a month was found April 5.

Marissa Boyce was found with a family in Detroit, Macomb County Sheriff’s Lt. John Michalke said.

“Our detectives were monitoring social media, and they were able to determine she was at a home in Detroit, and they tracked her down,” Michalke said.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Boyce went missing around 8 p.m. Feb. 28.

Michalke said this was not the first time that Boyce had run away.

Published April 11, 2016

Sheriff’s office investigates car crash

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — At press time, the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office was investigating a single-car crash that occurred around 1 a.m. April 11 near the corner of Porta Marina Drive and Sanborn Drive.

Upon arriving, deputies reportedly found that a 2016 Ford Explorer had crashed and was on its side in the driveway of a home located in the 16800 block of Porta Marina Drive, which is in a residential area east of Garfield Road between 21 Mile Road and 22 Mile Road.

There were two occupants still inside the vehicle when deputies arrived.

Published April 6, 2016

Shawnee teachers pen children’s books

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The stories of what pets are up to when their human friends are out of the house are coming to life thanks to a pair of authors who are also teachers at Shawnee Elementary School in Macomb Township.

Authors William Bower and Julie Rouse recently released a pair of books to continue their children’s book series, “Pet Tales.”

Bower and Rouse released their first book, “Pet Tales: Back to School,” in 2014, and have released a pair of holiday-themed books for the series over the past month.

Published April 6, 2016

Sewer project underway on 23 Mile Road

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — A $3.8 million sewer project is underway along 23 Mile Road in Macomb Township, between Romeo Plank and Hayes roads.

The project means that the far right westbound lane of 23 Mile Road will be closed in that stretch for the duration of the project, which is expected to be approximately three months.

Project Manager Steve Siklich said there will also be a one-week intermittent lane closure at the intersection of 23 Mile and Hayes sometime in April.

Published April 1, 2016

Missing teen reported by sheriff’s office

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — A 16-year-old girl has been reported as missing by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office.

Marissa Boyce, of Macomb Township, was reportedly last seen around 8 p.m. Feb. 28. She was still missing at press time April 4.

At the time she was last seen, Boyce was wearing gray pajama pants and a black hoodie.

Published March 30, 2016

Candidates begin announcing intent to run for offices

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Candidates for local elections have begun to announce their intentions to run in the Aug. 2 primary election.

With current U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, Harrison Township, departing from her post this upcoming fall, candidates will be vying for the vacant 10th Congressional District seat. The 10th Congressional District encompasses northeast Macomb County, most of Tuscola County, and all of Huron, Sanilac, Lapeer and St. Clair counties.

Published March 29, 2016

Local filmmakers produce film on eccentric Detroit sailors

MACOMB TOWNSHIP/GROSSE POINTE — A pair of local filmmakers have collaborated over the last seven years to produce a film that is set to premiere in early April.

Kim Stricker, 36, of Grosse Pointe Park, and Mike Pfaendtner, 59, of Macomb Township, have created a nearly 70-minute film called “The Goat Yard,” which tells the tales of a sailing club on the east side of Detroit, and the sailors who used to or still inhabit it.

Published March 22, 2016

Five-year recreation plan adopted

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — A five-year master plan for Macomb Township’s Parks and Recreation Department was adopted by the Board of Trustees during a Feb. 29 meeting.

The plan acts as a wish list for what the parks department would like to accomplish, but it does not guarantee that all of the projects listed will come to fruition.

Published March 22, 2016

Local author recounts parents’ WWII love story

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — They met in late 1945.

Simon Ruder, 39, a survivor of several German concentration camps as a Polish Jew, met Marile Hasul, then 17, a German Catholic and former member of the Hitler Youth.

Marile was caring for Simon in a hospital as a volunteer nurse at the time in 1945. The two fell into a romantic relationship that would last for the next six decades.

Rudolf Ruder, a Macomb Township resident and son of Simon and Marile, continues to tell the story of his parents through his book, “The Long Journey to Cleveland.”

Published March 22, 2016

Local teen remains missing

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — A 19-year-old Macomb Township man is still being reported as missing after he was last seen leaving his residence March 10.

The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office reported that Stephen Christopher McAfee left his residence around 2:30 a.m. that day. Attempts to locate him through his cellphone have been unsuccessful.

McAfee is 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs about 140 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on McAfee is encouraged to call the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office at (586) 307-9412.

Published March 16, 2016

Firefighters recognized with awards

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Numerous Macomb Township Fire Department personnel were recognized during a March 9 township Board of Trustees meeting for their efforts in either saving a life or bringing a new life into the world.

Five individuals were given lifesaving awards for performing CPR on and reviving a man who had a heart attack Aug. 7. Those involved were Deputy Chief Adam Munro, Capt. Gary Ross, Sgt. Ken Bartz, Sgt. Ryan Gierman and firefighter Vince Pozzuoli.

On Aug. 14, firefighters Joe Warne, Carly Mocny and Jason Krozek were involved in helping deliver a baby.

Published March 15, 2016

Local voters head to the polls for primary

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Voters across Michigan hit the polls March 8 to vote in the U.S. presidential primary.

While Donald Trump claimed another victory among Republicans, Bernie Sanders won narrowly over Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side.

Statewide, Sanders, a senator from Vermont, claimed 49.8 percent of the vote, just ahead of Clinton, who finished at 48.3 percent.

Published March 14, 2016

Missing Macomb teen reported

MACOMB TOWNSHIP— The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office has reported that a 19-year old from Macomb Township is missing.

Stephen Christopher McAfee was reportedly last seen leaving his residence around 2:30 a.m. March 10 on Walden Drive in Macomb Township.

Attempts to locate him through his cell phone have been unsuccessful.

McAfee is 6-foot-1-inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on McAfee is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at (586)-307-9412.

Published March 11, 2016

Missing person reported in Macomb Township; UPDATE: Found

UPDATE: The missing teen has been found.

MOUNT CLEMENS — A 15-year-old male from Macomb Township has been reported as missing by the Macomb County Sheriff’s office.

Cammeron Scott Setters was last seen at 6:45 p.m. March 9 leaving his home through a bedroom window.

The sheriff’s office reported that he is known to frequent Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights and Partridge Creek Mall in Clinton Township. He reportedly does not have a cell phone.

Setters is white, 6-foot-1-inches tall and 155 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Published March 9, 2016

Board approves road, sidewalk project recommendations

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — With the Macomb County Department of Roads seeking input from county communities on future projects, Macomb Township’s Board of Trustees recently approved the recommendations of the township’s Road Paving Committee to suggest to the county.

During a township meeting Feb. 29, the board approved three widening projects, which the county would use federal funding to complete.

Published March 9, 2016

Local student earns Eagle Scout honor, scholarship

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Robert Gracin spent plenty of time during his childhood going to camps at the Marvin Blank Senior Center in Macomb Township.

When the time came for Gracin, a member of Troop 349, to pick a beneficiary for his Eagle Scout project in the summer of 2014, he had an easy answer.

After talking with the director of the senior center, Gracin learned that the building was in need of a few different things, and that is how he came up with the ideas for his project.