Sterling Heights Sentry

Sterling Heights Police Chief Dale Dwojakowski swears in new police officers in 2017. Dwojakowski has credited the Safe Streets Millage for keeping the Police Department sufficiently staffed amid a major employee turnover and hiring phase.

Published February 8, 2019

Officials explain millage money usage ahead of renewal vote

Sterling Heights officials recently made a renewed effort to explain how they have used the millions of dollars they received from a safety and roads millage, which will be back on the ballot for possible renewal later this year.

Published February 8, 2019

Public Works publishes updated drain maps

MACOMB COUNTY — The Macomb County Public Works Office recently published a new series of maps that highlight the county’s stormwater drains. The maps, which are available for public view on the MCPWO website, are the first that show the location of every county drain since a hand-drawn map was created in the 1970s.

Published February 6, 2019

Sterling Heights police catch Craigslist robbery suspect

STERLING HEIGHTS — Police investigated a report of unarmed robbery at around 11:54 a.m. Feb. 5 in a parking lot outside Bed Bath & Beyond, located at 12020 Hall Road, near M-53.

Published February 6, 2019

The Friday 5 — Feb. 8-10

Your guide to this weekend's events

Published February 6, 2019

Budgeting on the ‘other side of the Great Recession’

METRO DETROIT — When they started out, it was all about advocating for low-income housing during the Great Recession. But as the economy grew, so did the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan, said Brian Rakovitis, the manager of financial empowerment initiatives at the Lansing-based CEDAM.

Published February 6, 2019

‘Tidying Up’ is not only easy on the eyes, but on the mind

METRO DETROIT — Does that old T-shirt from high school in the back of your drawer bring you joy? What about the box of receipts from 2015 lurking in your basement? There’s a new method of organization sweeping the nation called KonMari, and it’s all about focusing on keeping what brings you joy and getting rid of what doesn’t. The method was developed by Japanese organizing consultant Marie Kondo, who has written four books on the subject.

Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith responded to recent news of “secret” forfeiture accounts he allegedly maintained by saying “Make no mistake, there’s nothing off the books or secret about these accounts.”

Published February 5, 2019

Macomb County prosecutor responds to claims of ‘secret’ forfeiture accounts

MACOMB COUNTY — A Jan. 23 press release from attorney Frank Cusumano states that the Macomb County corporation counsel released the long-sought checking account records of “secret” forfeiture accounts maintained by Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith.

A September 2018 photo from inside a Macomb County shows the fatberg. Now, researchers at Wayne State University are utilizing a state grant to further study such phenomena.

Published February 4, 2019

Wayne State University researchers to study fatbergs

METRO DETROIT — Macomb County residents may recall how a “fatberg” was discovered and was subsequently removed at the Clintondale Pump Station in September 2018. Now, local college professors are studying how to prevent such entities from backing up drains in the future.

Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller and Chapaton Retention Basin assistant manager Kris Benda stand in the testing lab at the Chapaton Retention Basin in St. Clair Shores.

Published February 1, 2019

Public Works uses caution when frozen ground, snow melt and rain collide

MACOMB COUNTY — Macomb County Public Works employees at the Chapaton and Martin retention basins prevented more than 30 million gallons of combined sewer overflow from spilling into Lake St. Clair Jan. 24 after rain and snow melt combined to fill the basin.

Browning Elementary School second-grader Mason Paull, 7, sleds with his mother, Cheryl, at Delia Park in Sterling Heights during his day off from school Jan. 29.

Published February 1, 2019

Some city, school services put on ice following snow, cold

Wild winter weather frosted and exhausted Sterling Heights residents and government services the week of Jan. 28 as city buildings, schools and streets faced disruptions due to a one-two wallop of snow and subzero temperatures.

A plaque hangs over the front door of the historical John Warrenner home on Ryan Road in Sterling Heights.

Published February 1, 2019

Homes over 150 years old still stand in Sterling

The history of the John Warrenner home on Ryan Road in Sterling Heights goes back to the 1800s. But to its current owner, Karl Eckert, it’s the place where his dad set up a hobby woodworking workshop and made furniture.

Published February 1, 2019

City plans to roll out nonmotorized plan

People who want to paddle, pedal or pace through Sterling Heights will have more options, according to city officials.

Published January 31, 2019

The Friday 5 — Feb. 1-3

Your guide to this weekend's events

Published January 30, 2019

Home exercise space can be bare bones or high tech

METRO DETROIT — Cold, wet weather and icy streets can kill one’s motivation to stay physically active.

Published January 30, 2019

Organizations share plant-based lifestyle experiences, benefits

METRO DETROIT — At the age of 55, Paul Chatlin could not walk more than seven steps without having to stop and take several breaths. He also found out he had three blocked coronary arteries and was a candidate for bypass surgery.

Published January 28, 2019

Pet bird sheltered in fire truck after surviving blaze

A Sterling Heights home recently sustained damage from a fire, but all of its occupants — including a pet bird — managed to escape and stay safe from the elements, according to public safety authorities.

Published January 28, 2019

Friends no longer flying ‘Under the Radar’ after navigating recession

ROCHESTER — When the Great Recession hit, Rochester resident Tom Daldin had no choice but to reinvent himself.

Published January 28, 2019

DTE must bolster downed wire response, state says

LANSING — After two record-setting windstorms and at least one death, the Michigan Public Service Commission went to work to review DTE Energy’s response to downed electric lines.

Published January 28, 2019

Utica High student’s photo portfolio wins best in show

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Savannah Jodway’s experimentation with photography started with taking pictures of creepy dolls and landscapes. But then, like a light turning on, the dual-enrolled student from Utica High School and the Utica Center for Science and Industry grew interested in capturing light on camera.

Published January 28, 2019

Sterling Heights offers budget, tax info online

STERLING HEIGHTS — It’s not the latest video game, but residents who want to simulate a different way of divvying up Sterling Heights’ finances will now have a chance to experiment online. During the Jan. 15 Sterling Heights City Council meeting, City Manager Mark Vanderpool introduced a finance presentation that outlined a couple of online tools for residents who want to see how the city receives and allocates money: Balancing Act and Taxpayer Receipt.