For years, it was extremely difficult for Jeremiah Johnson to eat, speak, and be himself. That changed when he walked out of Royal Chiropractic and Dental Clinic in Pontiac with much more than a smile it was a life-changing transformation.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Man gets new smile in life-changing transformation

"Without having teeth, you shy away from people," Johnson said. "You don't say what you want to say, you don't spend time how you want to spend it. You want to get out of situations instead of really have the moments you know."

Johnson, an Indiana native, lost his identical twin brother, Cody, in a car crash and fell into addiction in the aftermath. He recovered, and what began as a solo escape through fishing turned into something far greater.

"You know, fishing helped me get out of a very dark spot in life, but it also has helped me make friends and brought me closer to people," Johnson said. "Fishing has done more for me than I can explain."

A video of Johnson's aunt gifting him a fishing rod for Christmas caught the attention of West Bloomfield resident Mike McKinstry, host of "The Bassquatch Hunter: Fish out of Water" on the Discovery Channel.

"I got this video sent to me by probably 30-40 people the day it posted," McKinstry said. "I do a lot of pay-it-forward stuff, not only all year long but around the holidays, I do a lot of big ones."

McKinstry invited Johnson out to fish, surprising him with a fishing shopping spree. But the generosity didn't stop there.

"After meeting him that day, I heard about his insecurities with his teeth and all the troubles he went through," McKinstry said. "I was like, you know what, he's done the work, and now he deserves the reward."

McKinstry spent 4 months searching for the right dentist before arranging a $10,000 smile makeover for Johnson. Thursday was the big reveal at Royal Chiropractic and Dental Clinic in Pontiac.

"I told yeah, let's get started," said Dr. Dev Oza of Royal Chiropractic & Dental Clinic. "Let's start working on it right now, and let's get him a new smile."

For Johnson, the moment he looked in the mirror and saw himself again was one he had waited a decade for.

"I know my life is going to change, and it's exciting," Johnson said. "Its also nerve-wracking and scary, but Im ready for it.

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A Detroit school community is mourning the loss of a beloved custodian after a shooting at Chrysler Elementary School on Lafayette Street.

Devin Burns, 24, was shot and killed in the school's parking lot just after 5 p.m. Thursday. Detroit police say three men got into a fight that escalated into gunfire, killing Burns. No students or staff members were inside the school or on campus at the time.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: 'A kind soul': Community honors custodian fatally shot outside Detroit elementary school

Authorities say the suspect, a concealed pistol license holder, is in custody and the weapon has been recovered.

The school district released a statement saying they are "cooperating fully with police throughout this active investigation. Our thoughts and prayers go to the contracted employee's family."

Burns had worked at Chrysler Elementary as a custodian for five years, starting when he was 19 years old. Those who knew him described him as kind, caring and deeply connected to the students he worked alongside every day.

Previous coverage: Contracted custodian fatally shot outside Detroit elementary school, suspect in custody Contracted custodian fatally shot outside Detroit elementary school, suspect in custody

His friend and colleague Rebecca Schoenkopf remembered him fondly.

"He tied the kids shoes, he worked here 11 hours a day and then he took classes on weekends to better his future. He was chill. He was lovely. He was kind, he was wise," Schoenkopf said.

A student at Chrysler Elementary recalled how Burns would check in on her during difficult moments.

"Whenever I would be walking down the hallway to the nurse because I was sick, I would walk down the hallway crying or something, he would always make sure I was OK," the student said.

Another student, Penelope Henderson, said the loss has been devastating.

"He was just such a kind soul, and he was one of the most helpful and lovely people I've ever known. I mean, I just can't believe it. It's really sad," Henderson said.

Dozens of parents and students gathered outside the school Friday night for a balloon release in Burns' honor.

His nephew, Isaiah Ruffin, described his uncle as someone who always put others first.

"He was funny. He was fun to be around. He was kind. He always had something to give. He was, you know, giving and selfless," Ruffin said.

His longtime girlfriend, Ashanique Lester, called the shooting a senseless act of violence.

"He's not confrontational. He's not a fighter. Not someone who does something like this," Lester said. "I couldn't imagine life without him. He's my best friend. We're family."

Detroit police continue to investigate the incident.

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In honor of America's 250th anniversary, a group of more than 20 high school students from Troy traveled to Europe in June to learn about World War II firsthand and to honor fallen soldiers from their own community buried abroad.

Before the trip, students at Troy Athens High School were tasked with finding Troy residents who served in World War II and never made it home. With help from the Troy Historic Village, they identified four of them.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: Troy high school students honor fallen WWII soldiers for America's 250th anniversary

Social studies teacher Susan Symes organized the 14-day trip across five countries.

"We thought that it would be really important to connect what they're learning this global war to our community here in Troy," Symes said.

The group visited major World War II landmarks throughout Europe.

"We saw major cities, we saw major landmarks related to World War II. We were in Churchill War bunker. We were on Omaha Beach in Normandy. We were in Paris," Symes said.

She says because the U.S. government only lists World War II fatalities by state, finding Troy-specific soldiers required additional research. The Troy Historic Village had the resources students needed.

"We happen to have this fantastic book called 'When Our Country Called' that was put together by staff and volunteers years ago... again, they went through and researched as many people as they could who served," said Jen Peters, executive director of the Troy Historic Village.

Using the book, students identified four World War II soldiers from Troy who fought, died and were buried in Europe. The group visited the Wall of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery in France and Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium.

For Ethan Feys, an incoming senior at Troy Athens, the experience was deeply meaningful.

"I've been doing research on this person and just to be there, to remember them, to know their name, it's just so important and that their sacrifice didn't go unnoticed," Feys said.

His classmate Connor Calven said the trip brought history into sharp focus.

"It's crazy to imagine that those four people in Troy, they were like you and me. They had lives, they had families, they had friends and they went away to war just to never come back," Calven said.

Symes, who has led many international trips, said this one stood out.

"With the 250th anniversary, we're thinking about the history of our country, and I think World War II is a very big part of that. So, I think that these students had such an amazing opportunity to learn so much more in depth, and I'm very grateful for them and for their parents to support this trip, so that we could make it happen," Symes said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A 72-year-old Troy man is locked out of his DoorDash account and cut off from several thousand dollars in earnings after a scammer called him while he was on a delivery run, posing as a DoorDash fraud department representative.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Doordasher targeted by scammers

"I feel kind of hopeless," the man said.

The man and his wife asked not to be identified, citing privacy concerns. He said he had just picked up an order from a nearby Chipotle and was on his way to a Taco Bell when his phone rang, and the caller ID displayed "DoorDash."

"The gentleman who called, saying... he works in the Fraud Department," he said.

Troy Police said the incident happened on Friday, June 12. According to police, the scammer told the man his account was compromised and that they needed the card information on his DoorDash Crimson Card a debit-style card where earnings are deposited after every dash.

Police say the dasher provided the information.

"Once they [the scammer] did that, he [the DoorDasher] realized he didn't have access to his own debit account," Troy Police Dept. Sgt. John Julian said.

Julian said while he has not seen this specific type of scam before, scams in general are becoming increasingly more common. He urged people to recognize the warning signs before it is too late.

"Unfortunately, scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated; they want you to think emotionally, before you have time to think critically. They put you under a time pressure, make you fearful," Julian said.

DoorDash provided a statement on the incident:

We know scammers are always trying to target hard-working people, including Dashers, and it's why we're working hard to combat it. Here's what Dashers need to know: DoorDash will NEVER contact you to ask for your password, verification codes or sensitive information like bank details over phone, text or email. Period. If someone does or you think it's suspicious, hang up and report it directly through the app immediately.

This type of scam can happen when a scammer places an order and then calls the dasher through the app, which can make the call appear as if it is coming from DoorDash. However, DoorDash does play a warning before connecting these calls.

The man, who had been dashing for five years, said he is now uncertain whether he will recover the money.

"I not only have no access to my payments in the Crimson account. Worse than that, my login to the DoorDash platform is disabled," he said.

Julian offered this advice to anyone who receives a suspicious call:

"Just slow down, verify independently, talk to someone you trust, and run that information by them," Julian said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The Pontiac Transportation Museum opened just two years ago, but inside, visitors will find a history that stretches from the carriage era to the vehicles that helped move America.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Pontiac museum shows America's transportation history

Terry Connolly, board chair of the Pontiac Transportation Museum, said the city's legacy in transportation is unmatched.

"In the teens and 20s, Pontiac was arguably the Silicon Valley of the whole United States. The manufacturing technology and the manufacturing progress that was happening here was unbelievable," Connolly said.

Connolly said Pontiac and nearby Flint together produced a quarter of all carriages built in the United States and when the internal combustion engine arrived, the transition to automobiles was a natural one.

"All of a sudden, the first cars looked a lot like carriages," Connolly said.

Pontiac also played a significant role during World War II. While men were on the battlefield, many women some working their first jobs were building large military vehicles, including the truck on display at the museum known as the "Deuce and a Half."

"GMC built 526,000 of these for the US Army, and General Patton actually called it the true hero of World War II because he had a reliable truck and really high volume. Yeah, if you look at the pictures, women built these trucks," Connolly said.

The city's manufacturing reach extended well beyond military vehicles.

"They built about 80% of the transit buses in the whole United States for about 40 years," Connolly said.

That production included the famous Rosa Parks bus. The museum also features classic Muscle Cars, among them a legendary 1969 GTO Judge.

Ed Palazzo, who has owned dozens of Pontiac cars throughout his life, volunteers at the museum and said the experience of driving one is hard to describe.

"It's like an old friend," Palazzo said. "It fits like an old shoe. It's.. you just feel like you know it. It's fun because it's fast."

GM's Pontiac brand received its name as a tribute to the cars being made at the Oakland Motor Car Company in Pontiac. The name also honors the city's legacy and 18th-century Odawa leader Chief Pontiac.

For Connolly, watching visitors connect with that history is what makes the museum meaningful.

"It's really rewarding as people come in here and say my grandfather worked the line in 1935, and here's what did associate with that car, and they're very proud of it, and we just see this pride re-instilled in Pontiac for all the wonderful stuff that they did," Connolly said.

This year marks 100 years since the Pontiac brand was introduced. Enthusiasts from around the world will gather at the museum later this month for the 54th Annual International Pontiac Car Convention.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Legionella case has been confirmed at a nursing and rehabilitation facility in Bloomfield Hills, prompting water use restrictions for residents and an ongoing investigation by the Oakland County Health Department.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Legionnaires' case confirmed at Bloomfield Hills nursing facility

The case involves Woodward Hills Rehabilitation. Residents have been restricted from showering and using tap water while health officials investigate the source of the contamination.

The Oakland County Health Department said a sample was collected from a patient on June 3. The following day, the facility proactively collected water samples. On June 5, the state health department notified the Oakland County Health Department of the confirmed case.

Tavia Hill's 81-year-old mother is temporarily living at the facility and has been there for nearly two weeks. Hill said her mother has not had a bath in days.

"My mom is using wipes, you know, these body wipes. For someone with a pre-existing health condition, they need a bath," Hill said.

Hill said she received no information about the water contamination until she reached out to 7 News Detroit.

"We've been there a little over a week, but no answers. Until I reached out to you, I got nothing," Hill said.

The facility declined to comment when contacted by 7 News Detroit.

Dr. Michael Swain, an epidemiologist with the Oakland County Health Department, said the shower restriction is a precautionary measure tied to how Legionella spreads.

"We asked the facility, required the facility, to use sponge baths instead of showers because Legionella, to cause Legionnaires' disease, has to aerosolize, and showers are an important risk in buildings like this. So we don't want the showers used until filters are installed," Swain said.

Swain said filters are expected to be installed by next week. The facility will then undergo 9 rounds of testing, a process expected to take 6 months.

Kate Guzman, a registered nurse and health officer with the Oakland County Health Department, said visitors, guests, and staff face limited risk from common activities.

"When we're thinking about safety of visitors and guests and staff, I know people immediately think about drinking water and eating food, and those aren't risky activities in terms of Legionella transmission," Guzman said.

Dr. Teena Chopra, an infectious diseases professor at Wayne State University, explained how Legionella spreads and why a single confirmed case warrants close attention in a facility setting.

"It's not contagious from person to person. The transmission happens through contaminated water systems, air conditioning systems," Chopra said. "It all depends on where the case was acquired. If it is from the facility, it is significant. If the problem is in the water system of the facility, then other residents are at risk."

The Oakland County Health Department said it is still too early to determine whether the case originated at the facility. The investigation is ongoing.

Hill said her concerns extend beyond her own mother.

"I'm very concerned, not just about my mom, but the other residents, like I said, there are a lot of aging people, that are in their 80s, 90s, 100," Hill said.

7 News Detroit received the following statement from Woodward Hills:

Woodward Hills Health & Rehab is under a partial water restriction as there has been a case of Legionnaires reported to our community. Although the source of the legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires, has yet to be identified, once we learned of this development, we reported it to the Oakland County Department of Health and are working collaboratively with the Health Department to determine what the significance is, if any, of these results. In an abundance of caution we have also retained an independent water testing firm to further evaluate the recent test results and to develop an action plan moving forward. We have completed facilitywide water testing, implemented all recommended precautionary measures, transitioned to a separate water supply while we await results, and will continue to work closely with the Oakland County Health Department.Woodward Hills Health & Rehab continues to be committed to providing high quality care to those residents and families we have the privilege to serve. We would like to thank the Oakland County Health Department for their prompt response and guidance. We would also like to thank our residents, their families, and our devoted staff for their support. We will continue to provide all relevant parties with the most current information as it is made available to us.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Drivers on Auburn Avenue in Pontiac say raised manhole covers left exposed during road construction are creating dangerous conditions and in many cases, costing them money.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Auburn Avenue construction leaves drivers dodging raised manhole covers in Pontiac

The road is currently under construction and down to one lane as crews pave the stretch. Dozens of manhole covers are sticking up about an inch or more out of the road surface.

Gina Boykin, a Macomb resident, described the experience of driving on the road.

"It's like playing Russian roulette down the road," she says.

Boykin, who often comes to Pontiac weekly to see her family, says the sheer number of covers makes it nearly impossible to navigate safely. Fed up, she posted this video on social media to warn other drivers.

VIEWER VIDEO: Social media post from Gina Boykin of Auburn Avenue VIEWER VIDEO: Social media post from Gina Boykin of Auburn Avenue

"Some of them you can roll over, but when there's one here, one here, one here, how can you go over that safely?" she asks.

Auburn Hills resident Catherine Gedney said she damaged her car after hitting one of the covers. She said one snapped the internal belt inside her tire.

Online, one driver shared that she needs a new wheel. Another said he damaged his motorcycle, and a woman, who takes this route every morning, says, "It's like dodging land mines."

"Sometimes, if you ever hit a really hard pothole, a really deep pothole. It was almost worse than that, my whole car, it was like a jolt," says Gedney.

Gedney said the damage cost her nearly $300 to repair.

"I pulled over and my tire was kind of low and then by the time I got home, it was flat. I had to get two new tires for it."

Another Auburn Hills resident, Jen Henry, said she does not feel safe on the road.

"I feel like I'm going to have a blowout going over that. I don't feel safe going over it at all," Henry say.

Henry, who said she has worked in construction for over 20 years, suggested a temporary fix crews could use in the meantime.

"They could bring the asphalt right up to it until they do their second coat, which would create a sort of speed bump for cars to go over. Anything would be safer than this," she says.

Pontiac Mayor Mike McGuinness said the raised covers are not a hazard to drivers, particularly those traveling at the speed limit, and that the current road surface is part of the construction process.

"That inch plus that those are raised, that's the final surface level. And so we're, in the next few days, getting from the level coating to the wear coat, where it'll be that same flush surface," he says.

McGuinness acknowledged the inconvenience but said it comes with the territory of improving the city's infrastructure.

"We're going to have some of those growing pains; if we want quality infrastructure and smoother, passable roads, they will have to be under construction to get there," he says.

The mayor said crews will level the road by early next week. The project is expected to be fully completed by the end of June.

Boykin said residents should not have to accept unsafe conditions just because construction is underway.

"The citizens deserve to have safe roads to drive on, even during construction. The way they left the road during construction is unsafe," she says.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.