Royal Oak Review

Published March 23, 2016

Clerk’s Office moves to PD following flood

ROYAL OAK — The relocation of the City Clerk’s Office to the Police Department is complete following a flood that closed down and displaced the office’s services and employees earlier this month.

City officials said the Clerk’s Office closed March 8 after a pipe burst, causing major water damage to three floors of City Hall, located at 211 S. Williams St. Employees were then relocated to other City Hall rooms until a more amenable short-term solution could be implemented.

Published March 23, 2016

Clawson invests in new network offering more accessibility, transparency

CLAWSON — Members of the Clawson City Council unanimously approved a request to upgrade the city’s computer networking capabilities to ensure compatibility between departments while freeing up time to serve residents.

The March 15 decision to purchase the BS&A Accounting Suite software programs and server was at a cost not to exceed $100,000. City Manager Mark Pollack said he expects to spend about $95,000.

Published March 23, 2016

Police arrest two men for breaking into vehicles

ROYAL OAK — Police, following a foot chase and with assistance from neighboring departments, arrested two men in the middle of the night March 15 for breaking into vehicles.

Keon Malik Mitchell, 17, of Detroit, was charged with two counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle, a felony punishable by five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine; and one count of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, a felony punishable by two years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine.

Published March 23, 2016

Police make arrest in connection to shooting at Hookah Joe

According to a statement issued by the Royal Oak Police Department March 22, a man has been arrested in connection to the March 20 shooting at Hookah Joe.

Published March 21, 2016

Police search for men wanted in smoking lounge shooting

ROYAL OAK — Police, as of March 21, were continuing their search for two men wanted in connection with a shooting early Sunday morning at Hookah Joe on Washington Street in the downtown district.

Published March 15, 2016

Steve Chisnell receives inaugural excellence award

ROYAL OAK — The seriousness of being called “excellent” didn’t permeate high school teacher Steve Chisnell until he read the words carefully penned in his nomination letter.

Published March 15, 2016

The Easter Bunny hops into town this weekend

CLAWSON — Although it may only be mid-March, the Easter Bunny is getting ready to hop into town this weekend for a couple of popular community events.

“Yes, Easter is early this year,” said Clawson Mayor Penny Luebs.

Easter falls on March 27 this year, bringing the festivities to the community earlier than in years past.

The annual Clawson Easter Egg Hunt will take place at 10 a.m. March 19 in City Park, located at 935 N. Custer Ave. at Bywood Avenue.

Published March 15, 2016

District’s outstanding elementary school teacher is from Keller

ROYAL OAK — Keller Elementary School second-grade teacher Valerie Ault recently was called an everyday hero by those who see her in action every day.

So it was no surprise to those who know her that Ault was named the Royal Oak Schools 2015-16 Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the Year during the March 10 Board of Education meeting.

“I’m so proud to be a teacher in Royal Oak,” Ault said through tears during the meeting. “And working with such amazing professionals is just an education in itself.

Published March 15, 2016

Department names 2015 Officer of the Year

CLAWSON — Two out of the past three years have been winners for police officer Scott Vierk.

Vierk joined the Clawson Police Department three years ago and learned the job well enough to win the department’s top honors for the past two years.

Vierk was named the 2015 Officer of the Year, an honor he also took for 2014.

“It is a great honor,” he said. “It’s nice to be recognized for all of the hard work that you do, but it really could be any one of us. We have a great department.”

Published March 15, 2016

Clawson Police Department names recipients of annual awards

CLAWSON — Detective Lt. Scott Sarvello can be found every fall in the station collecting back-to-school supplies for the community’s children.

When he isn’t stuffing backpacks or cracking crimes, Sarvello can be found sitting on the Clawson Athletic Boosters board of directors, helping organize events like the annual euchre tournament or planning the annual golf outing and Cops vs Kids basketball game.

He is also a coach for the Junior Trojan Basketball program, an instructional and developmental league for grade-school-age children.

Published March 9, 2016

Local communities oppose I-75 widening

ROYAL OAK — Despite an outpouring of dissatisfaction by some state and local officials, it appears a plan to widen Interstate 75 will move forward as scheduled.

Michigan Department of Transportation I-75 Senior Project Manager Sue Datta said the “modernization project” is expected to kick off this summer with the portion of I-75 from North Coolidge north to South Boulevard seeing the work. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2030, with portions being done every two years.

Published March 9, 2016

St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches through downtown RO this weekend

ROYAL OAK — All lads and lassies are invited to attend one of Oakland County’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parades happening this weekend through the streets of downtown Royal Oak.

“Bigger” and “better” are the words this year, along with carrying on the tradition of honoring some of the community’s Irish folk.

The 2016 Oakland County St. Patrick’s Day Parade grand marshal is Josephine Dare, who will be accompanied by her son, Sean Dare.

Published March 9, 2016

Grab the kids and head to the Bestest Concert Ever

ROYAL OAK — Once again, the Bestest Concert Ever is returning to the Royal Oak Farmers Market and promising the bestest time ever for attendees of all ages.

“Age limit, people laugh, but I say zero to 99,” said event producer Paula Messner.

The fifth annual event will take place 5-8 p.m. Saturday, March 12, at the market, 316 E. 11 Mile Road.

Published March 9, 2016

Police warn residents of current phone scam

ROYAL OAK — Local police advise residents to take caution when receiving any suspicious calls, as a phone scam is circulating in the area.

Royal Oak Police Department Criminal Investigations Division Lt. David Clemens said the department has recently received several complaints regarding people fraudulently identifying themselves as Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and local law enforcement officials and then asking for money.

Published March 8, 2016

Suspect wanted in gas station grab

ROYAL OAK — Police are looking for information leading to the arrest of an unknown man wanted for breaking into a downtown Royal Oak gas station last week.

The suspect was captured on surveillance video and was described as a white man who ranged in age from 25 to 35, who stood anywhere between 5 feet 11 inches and 6 feet 2 inches tall, and who weighed between 200 and 250 pounds.

The suspect was wearing a gray knit cap with an undisclosed light color logo on the front, a blue hooded jacket with dark blue or black sleeves, blue jeans, brown shoes and gloves.

Published March 6, 2016

Bernie Sanders rallies at Macomb Community College

WARREN — Nearly 3,000 people came to “Feel the Bern” March 5 at Macomb Community College’s Warren campus.

A mixed-age crowd poured into MCC’s Sports and Expo Center to see presidential Democratic candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, discuss his campaign initiatives.

Published March 2, 2016

Police say weather contributed to serious crash

Police said weather was a contributing factor in a serious car crash on Wednesday that closed Rochester Road for about three hours during the morning commute.

Police said a 26-year-old Royal Oak man was transported to William Beaumont Hospital at 7:35 a.m. March 2 following the traffic accident on Rochester Road near Houstonia Avenue.

According to police, the driver was the only person in the car, and he suffered “serious” injuries.

Published March 2, 2016

Detroit Mayor Duggan introduces new mortgage program

A new program introduced by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan looks to help qualified homebuyers receive loans to purchase renovated homes in the city.

Duggan introduced the Detroit Home Mortgage program at a press conference on Thursday, Feb. 18, and detailed how banks will give a second mortgage needed to purchase renovated homes or make repairs to homes in Detroit.

Published February 29, 2016

Police seek tips in attempted home invasion

ROYAL OAK — Police are looking for more information about a suspect wanted for a possible attempted home invasion last week on the city’s east side.

“This case has been assigned to a detective and is being investigated,” said Royal Oak Police Department Criminal Investigations Division Lt. David Clemens. “No further information is available at this time.”

A resident in the 300 block of North Wilson Avenue saw an unknown person standing at his side door at about 5:30 a.m. Feb. 25 attempting to open the locked screen door.

Published February 29, 2016

Florida man hit, killed by train in Royal Oak

ROYAL OAK — Police confirmed that a 26-year-old Florida man visiting the city was killed early Feb. 27 after he was hit by a train near the intersection of South Main and Sixth streets.

The Royal Oak Fire Department took Hosam Elghannam to William Beaumont Hospital, where he was pronounced dead following the accident.