C&G Newspapers

Brian Louwers

C&G Staff Reporter – Warren Weekly

Staff Writer Brian Louwers covers the cities of Warren and Center Line. He has worked for C & G Newspapers since 1998 and is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn. In his free time, he participates in the Michigan State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program and conducts interviews with military veterans for the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress.

Published September 20, 2019

Warren Weekly

‘Oversight’ late notice of canceled event rankles local groups

WARREN — The Warren Community Center was closed Sept. 7-15 for cleaning and renovations.

A settlement in a lawsuit between a medical marijuana facilities license applicant, the city of Warren and members of the city’s Medical Marihuana Review Committee was reached before Judge Carl Marlinga in Macomb County Circuit Court on Sept. 17. The deal required the committee to hold a public meeting in the auditorium of the Warren Community Center at 4 p.m. Sept. 20.

Published September 19, 2019

Warren Weekly

Deal allows Warren to move forward with medical marijuana licenses

WARREN — Legal wrangling over medical marijuana facilities licensing in Warren continues to take twists and turns, but it now looks like a batch of up to 15 applications could soon go to the full City Council for consideration.

Published September 16, 2019

Warren Weekly

Halloween season starts early, as decorating options abound

WARREN — The stuff usually begins trickling into stockrooms in midsummer and hits the sales floor in early August.

Published September 16, 2019

Warren Weekly

Sadowski: ‘The clerk’s office can be an ambassador for the city’

WARREN — Keith Sadowski said he enjoys interacting with the public, meeting residents, helping them and representing them.

Published September 16, 2019

Warren Weekly

Buffa: ‘I love being here for the people’

WARREN — Sonja Buffa has worked for the city of Warren for more than 33 years now. She still has former Mayor Ronald Bonkowski’s letter from when she was hired in as a Community Development Block Grant aid at $3.35 an hour.

Published September 13, 2019

Warren Weekly

Two charged after robbery ends in fatal shooting

WARREN — Two men remain in custody and ineligible for bail after their alleged involvement in a fatal shooting, robbery and carjacking at a Taco Bell restaurant on the border of Warren and Detroit late on Sept. 1.

Published September 13, 2019

Warren Weekly

Center Line historians seek storage space for growing collection

CENTER LINE — Collecting artifacts is only one part of building a museum to showcase them. Precious, irreplaceable pieces of history have to be photographed, numbered, cataloged and stored.

Published September 6, 2019

Warren Weekly

Court bars Warren from licensing medical marijuana facilities

MOUNT CLEMENS — A judge has ordered the city of Warren to halt any effort to approve or issue medical marijuana facilities licenses after questions and allegations of impropriety about the process were put forth in two new lawsuits.

Warren City Council District 2 candidate Richard Sulaka II said roads, stormwater management and economic growth will top his agenda if elected in November. “We need to be working together to find solutions for our infrastructure to give businesses the ability to grow,” Sulaka said.

Published September 6, 2019

Warren Weekly

Sulaka: ‘It’s one of the most exciting times in Warren’s history’

WARREN — Growing up in Warren, Richard Sulaka II said he began measuring his life in “four-year spans.” Such was the rhythm in the household led by his father, Richard Paul Sulaka, a former member of the Warren City Council and a former city clerk.

Warren City Council District 2 candidate Jonathan Lafferty said he knocked on 4,000 doors in the district while connecting with residents before the primary election. “I was always taught to put the needs of others ahead of yourself,” Lafferty said. “I’ve always been drawn to public service.”

Published September 6, 2019

Warren Weekly

Lafferty: ‘I will be accountable to you, my neighbor’

WARREN — Jonathan Lafferty knocked on a lot of doors in the Warren City Council’s District 2 before the primary election. He puts that number at 4,000.

Final work along the I-696 service drives in Macomb County will be completed this fall, but a date has not been determined.

Published September 6, 2019

C&G Newspapers

MDOT: Final ‘Restore the Reuther’ work nearing completion

METRO DETROIT — There’s good news to report for anyone driving near Interstate 696.

Published August 29, 2019

Warren Weekly

Rutila: ‘I think the status quo needs to get a little jolt’

CENTER LINE — Lee Ann Rutila hails from Traverse City, where she spent five years working as a police officer, detective and narcotics enforcement task force member in Leelanau County’s Peshawbetown tribal area.

Published August 29, 2019

Warren Weekly

Reid: ‘You’re going to do what you think is right’

CENTER LINE — James Reid followed Center Line politics for 10 years as a member of the audience at City Council meetings. He often attended city events, with an interest in seeing the city thrive.

Published August 29, 2019

Warren Weekly

Lapham: ‘I try to solve problems for residents and businesses’

CENTER LINE — Ron Lapham grew up in the Kramer Homes housing cooperative. He served in the United States Air Force during the 1960s, but has otherwise lived his whole life in Center Line.