Officials confirmed no one was killed in an explosion at a condominium complex Tuesday night in Lake Orion, and the two people injured remain hospitalized but their conditions were improving as of late Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s an absolute miracle, an absolute miracle — if you’ve seen this scene — (that) currently we’re talking about no fatalities,” Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon from Orion Township Hall.

Fire Chief Ryan Allen said an investigation continues into the cause and origin of the explosion at the Keatington New Town Association and is expected to take “a little over a week.” The explosion destroyed 18 units, displacing multiple residents, and caused damage to about a dozen more, Allen said.

First responders were dispatched to the two-story building on Pine Ridge Court between Joslyn and Baldwin roads after the explosion occurred around 6:30 p.m., officials said.

Little information has been released yet on the two people injured, but Allen said one was in non-critical, stable condition and the other in guarded condition which “is between serious and stable condition.”

According to Consumers Energy Vice President Christopher Fultz, crews found no abnormalities in the system from the gas main to the meter which is the extent of the utility company’s responsibility. Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said a resident reported she had detected the smell of gas just before the explosion and is part of the investigation.

Allen reminds residents that if they ever have concerns about a possible gas leak to exit the home and contact the fire department by calling either the emergency or non-emergency number.

Barnett noted that there’s been “an incredible show of support” from the community in response to what he described as “a horrific incident.” And it’s what can be expected, he said.

“I’d put our community against any community when it comes to things like this. We step up,” he said. “It’s horrible what happened, but if ever (something like this) happens, you’re lucky if it happens in Orion Township.”

Victims in need of immediate support are encouraged to call the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or Orion Township offices at 248-391-0304 ext. 2009.

Those interested in helping can provide monetary donations through Love INC of Northern Oakland County by calling 248-693-4357 or online at https://loveincofnoc.org/.

Clothing and food donations can be dropped off at Woodside Bible Church, located in Canterbury Village, 2500 Joslyn Road. Those in need of food can visit Woodside’s Village Food Pantry, also located in Canterbury Village, at 2325 Joslyn Court. Reach the pantry by calling 248–391-1900.

Bouchard cautions residents that it’s likely there will be scammers attempting to profit through false charities, so only donate to organizations listed above and any others listed on social media pages for Orion Township or the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

Tribune News Service contributed to this report.

Sheetz, a 24-hour gas station, convenience store and restaurant, will ask the Farmington Hills Planning Commission on Thursday night, Nov. 21, to recommend approval of their plan to locate on the site of a vacant restaurant at 12 Mile and Middlebelt roads.

But a residents’ group has formed to oppose the development and plans to protest at Farmington Hills City Hall, 31555 W. 11 Mile Road, at 7 p.m., before the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.

Concerned Citizens Against Sheetz says violent crime, noise, increased traffic and environmental issues have plagued Sheetz establishments in other states.

Sheetz will be open after almost all other establishments have closed and the restaurant will have a drive-through window. That will make it a target for crime, or at the very least, customers loitering and making noise late at night, said Lloyd Banks, spokesman for the group.

Sheetz proposes to locate on the site of the former Ginopolis restaurant, which closed five years ago. Banks said it’s too close to several subdivisions for a 24-hour operation.

“It needs to be another restaurant,” he said.

At previous hearings, sizable groups of residents have spoken in support of Sheetz, saying the development is better than a vacant building that is starting to fall into disrepair. Proponents also say Sheetz is a good employer and serves high-quality food. Banks said he doubts those people live near the proposed site.

When Sheetz appeared before the commission in June, it proposed six pumps, creating 12 fueling stations; and a 6,100-square-foot convenience store and restaurant.

Nick Ruffner, public affairs manager for Sheetz, defended the company’s crime prevention efforts.

“Sheetz serves as a community hub where families gather for a meal, friends meet up before the big football game and local residents meet to conduct safe online marketplace exchanges,” he said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, all retailers – not just convenience store operators – are occasionally subjected to criminal acts. At Sheetz, the safety and security of our employees and customers – both inside and outside our stores – is our highest priority. Sheetz’s advanced security systems cover nearly every area of our stores and parking lot. We also have a first-class, advanced security operations center that is connected to our stores in real time and staffed 24/7 to help address any issues that arise at our store locations. These safeguards at our stores allow our employees to notify police as soon as an emergency situation develops.” he said in a statement.

If the Planning Commission OKs the proposal, it goes to the City Council for final approval.

Sheetz opened in Romulus in late August, its first location in Michigan. The company plans to open 50-60 stores in the Detroit area within the next five to six years, he said.

To date, Sheetz has announced the locations for eight other planned Detroit locations:
23 Mile Road east of I-94, Chesterfield Township

— 8200 Telegraph Road, Taylor

— 20623 Eureka Road, Taylor

— 45011 Garfield Road, Macomb

— 31925 Van Dyke Ave., Warren

— 19001 E. Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe

— 2103 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti

— Southwest corner of 14 Mile and Utica roads in Fraser

Each store will employ about 35 people; most will be full time, Ruffner said.

Over the next few days, Waterford Township officials will consider two options for the community’s waste-hauling service.

On Wednesday, Supervisor Gary Wall and his successor, Anthony Bartolotta, met with the current contractor, Priority Waste, to discuss a one-year contract extension. But township trustees will also consider drafting a request for a new waste hauler contract.

Priority’s Waterford contract expires in March. To consider other companies the township must publish a request for proposals, allow time to evaluate bids, make a selection and sign a new contract before the end of February.

Waterford is weighing the options after Priority bought out 72 Green for Life (GFL) municipal waste-hauling contracts and equipment in May. The issue may be discussed at the trustees’ next study session, at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, in the conference room 3-2 at the township hall at 5200 Civic Center Drive.The regular meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. Meeting agendas are online at https://www.waterfordmi.gov/AgendaCenter

The transition started on July 1 and led to significant criticism by residents in Waterford and many of the 71 other communities.

Priority Waste finalizes GFL purchase and takes over some Oakland County routes

Months of long-delayed pickups of trash, yard waste and recycling led to emergency meetings between municipalities and company officials.

Priority blamed many of the problems on shoddy trucks bought from GFL, the inability to rapidly expand the fleet, hire and train adequate drivers to properly service existing and new customers.

Waterford is not the only community evaluating other waste pickup options.

Rochester Hills sets deadlines for Priority corrections

In October, Orion Township officials announced Priority would be dropped on Dec. 31. The township signed a contract with Waste Management for service starting on Jan. 1. Priority and Standard Waste Services also bid for the contract.

Township residents will pay $62.23 per quarter for a single-family household, a $1.15-per-month increase over current rates. Waste Management agreed to honor existing discounts. The township will release more details this month.

In October, Priority secured a 5-year contract with Rochester. It’s the only renewal the company has among the former GFL communities. Pontiac signed a 10-year agreement on June 28.

Waterford Township to host town hall on Priority Waste service

On Thursday, Keego Harbor’s city council will consider extending its contract with Priority. In March, the city’s GFL contract had been extended through 2027, but a new company means a new agreement is needed. Priority officials promised to honor GFL’s 2025 terms with rates set for $20.36 each for weekly pick-up for household waste, recycling and yard waste. Payments would increase to $21.06 in 2026 and $21.99 in 2027.

Keego Harbor’s council meeting is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at city hall, 2025 Beechmont St. in Keego Harbor and will be livestreamed on the city’s website: https://civiccentertv.com/watch-live. The agenda and complete meeting packet are online at https://www.keegoharbor.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif3301/f/pages/november_21_2024_city_council_meeting_packet.pdf.

Central Michigan University head football coach Jim McElwain is retiring from coaching according to numerous media reports reported on Wednesday afternoon.

He will retire at seasons end.

McElwain led the Chippewas to a 16-14 win over rival Western Michigan University at home on Tuesday night, snapping a five-game losing streak.

The Chippewas have struggled in recent seasons as they are 4-7 this season after going 5-7 in 2023 and 4-8 in 2022.

Moreover, McElwain is currently under investigation by the NCAA pertaining to Connor Stalions’ alleged attendance on the CMU sideline in its 2023 season-opener at Michigan State University.

McElwain and Stalions worked together while assistant coaches at the University of Michigan in 2018.

A story that was published by footballscoop.com writer Zach Barnett reported, ‘McElwain will move into a special assistant to the AD role within the CMU athletics department.”

The story quoted McElwain as saying, “”My wife Karen and I have cherished every moment of our football journey. We want to express our deepest gratitude to the all the players who have welcomed us into their lives, and the incredible coaches and support staff at every stop along the way—it has been a true privilege to work alongside all of them. The lifelong friendships that were created mean the world to us.

“We are especially thankful for our time at Central Michigan. Mount Pleasant and the CMU community hold a special place in our hearts, and we look forward to continuing to be a part of this program and this great community. Thank you for the unwavering support and the unforgettable memories.”

McElwain said his reasoning behind his abrupt retirement were his own according to numerous reports.

CMU Athletic Director Amy Folan was quoted by footballscoop.com and stated, “Coach McElwain and his wife Karen have meant so much to the Central Michigan community,” AD Amy Folan said. “He has brought pride and excitement to Mount Pleasant and our football program and we look forward to his contributions to the department in other ways in the years ahead. We are grateful for his service and mentorship to our student-athletes. We wish both Jim and Karen the very best in their well-deserved retirement from coaching and we are glad that they will continue to help us.”

CMU closes the 2024 regular season at Northern Illinois on Nov. 30.

The 62-year old McElwain spent 40 years coaching in the college ranks and closes his career with a career record of 77-63 as head coach at CMU, Florida and Colorado State. He signed a five-year contact with CMU in 2022.

CMU’s Jim McElwain under investigation by NCAA

CMU football snaps 5-game losing streak, tops rival WMU 16-14

A Florida man pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges for threatening an American Muslim organization in Michigan last year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced.

Michael Shapiro, 72, faced one count of transmitting threats in interstate commerce after calling six times and leaving three threatening voicemails to the Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan.

The West Palm Beach resident also admitted to intentionally targeting CAIR-MI with threats because of the actual and perceived religion and national origin of people who work at or are assisted by the organization, officials said in a press release.

Shapiro could serve up to five years’ incarceration for his guilty plea or pay a fine of up to $250,000, according to a plea agreement filed with the court on Tuesday.

He also faces up to three years of supervised release.

“No one should be able to threaten violence and instill fear on an entire community,” U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said in a statement. “Today’s conviction should send a strong message that those who do so will be investigated, identified, and aggressively prosecuted.”

His attorney, Elizabeth Young, was not immediately available to respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Shapiro first called CAIR-MI’s Canton Township office on Dec. 8 at 6:43 p.m. and left a voicemail laughing maniacally and twice saying “I’m going to kill you bastards,” according to the plea agreement.

He left another threatening voicemail six days later, investigators reported.

“I’m going to kill you mother f******g bastards,” Shapiro said in the 1:02 p.m. voicemail. “Muslims! I’m going to kill you mother f*****s. I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you!”

He also called the next day, on Dec. 15 at 6:24 p.m.

“You’re a violent people,” Shapiro said. “Why do you come to America? Why do you come to Europe? Mother f******s. You’re violent. You’re killers. You’re rapists. I’m going to kill you mother f*****s!”

When prosecutors unsealed the grand jury indictment against Shapiro, CAIR-MI officials said the threat was among others as the war in Gaza escalated.

Shapiro’s case is the third time he has been charged in the last five years with federal crimes and has been accused of threatening U.S. Capitol Police officers, a member of Congress and their child, according to federal court records reviewed by The Detroit News.

Officials with CAIR-MI are pleased with the results of the case, Amy Doukoure, a staff attorney with the organization, told The News.

“What he’s doing is very serious,” Doukoure said. “We had to close our business for several days. He was calling every day — we didn’t know where he was, whether he was serious. It was a very scary and serious incident, and we’re happy that it’s over and he has pled guilty and will be sentenced to jail time.”

Discrimination complaints to CAIR-MI rose by over 340% in the three months after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks compared to the three months leading up to it, officials said in a 2023 CAIR-MI Civil Rights Report.

Reports of anti-Muslim bias incidents, including hate crimes, education and employment discrimination, surged in 2023, according to the report. Officials attributed the increase in complaints to increased anti-Muslim sentiment following media coverage of Israel’s attacks in Gaza.

The past year brought a record number of hate crime complaints to CAIR-MI, paralleled only by reports in 2018, according to the report.

CAIR-MI officials also recently called on the University of Michigan to conduct an independent investigation into the school’s “pattern of disparate treatment” of UM Muslim and Arab students.

In other recently reported hate crime cases, a Michigan man was sentenced in June for defacing a Jewish synagogue with swastikas and white supremacist group images.

A Warren man was also charged in March for spray painting swastikas and other graffiti on a predominantly Black church and in a Warren park’s public bathroom.

For more than a decade, a stately old apartment building in Pontiac’s Indian Village neighborhood stood empty. Oakland County took possession of the historic Casa Del Rey about a decade ago as part of a tax foreclosure and later added it to the newly formed Oakland County Land Bank.

Since then, county officials have been looking for someone to save the property.

Gregory and Ronita Coleman decided to take on what is now a $15.5 million renovation and restoration project through their company, Coleman Allen. They’ll convert the existing 41 units into 50 apartments to be rented at market rate.

The Colemans plan to open the building to tenants in 2026. Rents will range from an anticipated $1,000 for one of the12 studios apartments; $1,250 for one of the 22 bedroom units and $1,500 for one of the 15 two-bedroom units. The building will have one three-bedroom unit that will rent for $2,000 a month. Tenants are expected to earn between $50,000 and $90,000 a year – a group sometimes referred to as the “missing middle” – people who earn a good living but cannot afford a mortgage.

Ronita Coleman said the project is only possible thanks to support from the city, county, state and several nonprofit organizations. On Friday, the Colemans joined a ceremonial groundbreaking for the property.

“We’re thrilled to see this finally become a reality,” she said, calling it a “vision, divinely ordered” and a testament to collaboration.

The state’s housing development authority provided tax increment financing for just over $4.3 million; a $3.5 million grant from MSHDA’s Missing Middle program, which used American Rescue Plan Act money to increase housing to support workforce development; a $3 million loan from the county’s housing trust fund, a $2.8 million Neighborhood Enterprise Zone tax abatement and nearly $2.7 million loan from the MEDC’s community revitalization program.

Two nonprofits, Cinnaire, which makes capital investments in people and places to transform communities and IFF,  a community development financial institution formerly known as Illinois Facilities Fund are also supporting the project.

Ronita Coleman graduated from Cinnaire’s Women Empowered to Build program, which is dedicated to women-led real estate ventures.

The Colemans started working with Jill Robinson, deputy treasurer and executive director of the county’s land bank, in 2023 to formulate a plan.

Gregory Coleman said he was happy to be a second-generation business owner in Pontiac and wanted to honor the sacrifices and dreams of his father as well as pay those dreams forward for future generations.

Casa Del Rey has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1989. Realtor C.L. Groesbeck Jr. commissioned renowned architect Robert O’Derrick to design the building at 111 Oneida St. in Pontiac in 1928.

The four-and-a-half story Moorish-style building features yellow and orange brick as well as historic Pewabic tile inside and out. Pewabic tile is made in Detroit by the oldest continuously operating pottery in the U.S. The elliptical lobby features twin curved staircases, Corinthian columns and vaulted plaster ceilings. Some areas are decayed but others are relatively well preserved. Vandals have marked some of the walls with graffiti, but that might be the easiest problem to fix.

Beverley Lloyd, IFF’s eastern region managing director of lending, said she was impressed by the Colemans’ plan and knew they were committed to the renovation despite knowing they would find surprises and challenges along the way, which are expected when renovated older properties.

County Executive Dave Coulter said redeveloping Casa del Rey is exactly the kind of project meant to be supported by the county’s $20 million housing trust fund.

“This isn’t a nonprofit endeavor,” he said. “These folks want to make a buck – that’s the American dream. Pontiac is the county seat and needs investment and TLC but we are all-in on Pontiac.”

He credited MSHDA for promoting the county’s housing trust fund, but said it wouldn’t happen without the Colemans’ bravery and commitment to taking on the historic property’s renovation.

Former seven-term county commissioner Helaine Zack, a social worker, beamed and called the Colemans’ project “the best of the best.”

Zack serves on the county-run Oakland Together housing trust fund board and has been committed to Oakland County’s affordable housing issues for at least 10 years.

“You can’t do anything if you don’t know where you’re going to sleep at night,” she said. She made homelessness the focus of her work during a 2015 fellowship for executive excellence at Harvard University provided by SEMCOG and the Taubman Company.

Commissioner Angela Powell said Zack kept after county officials for years to support affordable housing efforts.

“I’m grateful I get to work on these things,” Zack said.

Gregory Coleman called Casa del Rey a “symbol of resilience and hope and growth in the city,” adding that their mission went beyond homes.

“We’re building communities,” he said. “Communities are living organisms … We are planting a seed of hope and progress.”

Mayor Tim Greimel said the project is another sign of the city’s resurgence. Other projects underway in Pontiac include:

•  Converting the former Pontiac State Bank building, 28 N. Saginaw St. into more than 100 apartments.

•  New construction of the Exchange Flats, loft apartments west of the former Oakland Press building.

•  Expanding senior housing at the Village of Oakland Woods.

•  The new five-story apartment building at Auburn and Francis being built by Lighthouse.

•  Converting the former Perdue School, 25 S. Sanford St., to senior apartments.

•  New housing on the former Wever School site by Community Housing Network at New York and Carlisle, near Walton and Telegraph.

•  At least a dozen single-family homes built in the Stonegate subdivision at Elizabeth Lake and Johnson and plans to build more homes in the Fairways subdivision near Walton and Giddings.

•  Converting a former department store, Neisner Brothers five-and-dime, at 46 N. Saginaw St. to 15 loft apartments.

When Pontiac’s city council meets Tuesday, a key agenda item will be how to replace the city’s finance director.

Dee Ann Irby was unanimously approved by the city council to take the job in August. Irby left her job as Troy’s controller in August and had 20 years of experience in her field.

Her salary was $153,000 a year and her start date was Sept. 9. But she withdrew from the position days before starting the job.

A few weeks later, she was persuaded to take the Pontiac position, but less than a month into the job, she tendered her resignation. Her last day is Friday. She could not be reached for comment.

Mayor Tim Greimel said he was disappointed in Irby’s decision, but not entirely surprised “given the hesitancy she expressed immediately following her confirmation by City Council and before beginning work at the city. Despite these concerns, she proceeded with the role and ultimately determined it wasn’t the right fit for her.”

He said the city continues recruiting for the role and will hire the  consulting firm Rehmann to manage the city’s accounting in the interim.

“Rehmann has worked with the city in the past, and we anticipate them starting work later this week,” he said.

The city has been unable to find a permanent replacement for Timothy Sadowski who left his job on Feb. 2 after 11 months on the job.

The finance director is responsible for the city’s fiscal health, managing audits and overseeing tax and utility bills, cash receipts, accounts payable and payroll.

The city’s grants and philanthropy manager, Alexandra Borngesser, left in February and was succeeded by Lisa Campbell in June. The department of public works director, Al Cooley Jr., left the city in October 2023. Cooley was succeeded by Mark Ragsdale in June.

Other items on Tuesday’s agenda include:

•  A presentation by consultants Ernst & Young about how the city’s $37.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act money is being managed. Under federal rules, all the money must have a designated purpose by Dec. 31, 2024, and be spent by Dec. 31, 2026, or it must be returned to the federal government.

•  The council will get an update on the youth recreation center. Earlier this month, the council approved a budget amendment to add $80,000 to the cost of demolishing the former McCarroll school, the pay for additional backfill dirt. The council originally approved a not-to-exceed $300,000 allocation for the city’s share of the demolition. The county land bank authority is paying $500,000 toward the work.

•  The council will consider a resolution to prohibit images or promotions of elected officials, or candidates for public office on city publications such as newsletters and mailers, starting in 2025.

The complete agenda is online at https://cms3.revize.com/revize/pontiacminew/councilagendapack-111924.pdf.

The council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at city hall in the council chambers, 47450 Woodward Ave. in Pontiac.

On Monday, another request for an investigation into the 2021 shooting at Oxford High School drew a response from the state attorney general.

Monday morning, parents and friends of the students killed and people injured almost three years ago during a shooting at Oxford High School held a press conference again calling for an independent civil investigation by the state.

“An investigation will reveal the truth to drive the change,” said Buck Myre, father of Tate Myre, one of the four students killed during the shooting.

In a separate press conference Monday afternoon, Attorney General Dana Nessel responded to their request saying her office is more than willing to move forward with an investigation.

“While my department has renewed the terms of what a proper investigation would require, we have never withdrawn that offer,” said Nessel.  “It was our hope that an additional review could provide many of the answers that the families are still seeking today.”

Nessel said offers to assist in the criminal investigation with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and Oakland County Prosecutors office have been turned down, as well as any outside investigations.

“We share in the families’ fatigue over the constant fingerpointing and scapegoating in these investigations and wish our offers to participate on any level had been accepted years ago,” said Nessel. “Any complete investigation by my office would require a number of things.”

In August, the Oxford school board passed a resolution asking for a state-funded review of how emergency responders and the district responded on the day of the shooting.

“The Oxford Board of Education calls upon the Michigan Legislature to mandate and fund a comprehensive, independent review of the emergency response to the November 30, 2021 tragedy, including but not limited to relevant events and agencies during before, during, and after the tragedy,” the resolution read in part.

Nessel said that several things would need to happen before an investigation can begin.

She said the prosecutors office would need to turn over all evidence, testimony, documents and transcripts involved with the prosecution of all members of the Crumbley family.

Ethan Crumbley, the shooter, was sentenced to life in prison without parole on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of terrorism causing death.

Jennifer and James Crumbley, his parents, were each sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter.

Nessel said the Oxford school board would have to waive attorney-client privilege and would need willing participation of witnesses, including those who did not participate in the Guidepost Solutions investigation.

The Guidepost report on their investigation was released in August 2023. The comprehensive report detailed the events leading up to the tragedy, areas where the district was deficient in their prevention of the shooting and recommendations for future security upgrades at the school, but dozens of staff and administrators refused to participate in the investigation.

She said she would also need access to members of law enforcement and the prosecutors office, as well as approval and appropriation of funds from the state legislature for the investigation.

“We would need the cooperation of the Oakland County Sheriff (Mike Bouchard) and the Oakland County Prosecutor (Karen McDonald), as well as local law enforcement and be able to interview all of their relevant staff in order to evaluate their response and their investigation and prosecution,” Nessel said.

McDonald’s office later responded to Nessel’s comments.

“We are not aware of any action needed by my office to activate the Attorney General’s authority, but we will do everything possible to enable such an investigation,” McDonald said in a statement. “And my office will fully cooperate with any such investigation.

She added, “There is so much we can learn, and we owe it to the students who were killed and those who were injured, their families, the Oxford community, and our children to do everything we can to prevent future shootings. An independent investigation remains a critical, missing piece in that process.”

Oxford students Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling and Madisyn Baldwin were killed in the Nov. 30, 2021 shooting and seven others were wounded, including a teacher.

Trent Myre, brother of Tate Myre, again called on the state to open their own investigation.

“Our goal here today is not about blame or retribution, it is about change; change that comes from transparency and accountability,” he said. “The state must step up and do what it should have done three years ago.”

“To drive change properly we need to have data, not opinions,” said Steve St. Juliana, father of Hana St. Juliana, about the need for a full investigation. “The time for excuses has passed. We need our state leadership to take action to prevent more Michigan students from becoming victims to this epidemic.”

He added, “We should not have to be sitting up here repeatedly saying do a damn investigation.”

Nessel said that even if legislation is created and her office is allowed to conduct their own investigation, it is not guaranteed they will get the answers families are looking for.

“The authority of the Oakland County Prosecutors office and the authority of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department is exactly the same as our authority,” said Nessel. “So my question is, if those entities could not get these people to cooperate, how will we be able to do it?”

The man slain recently in Waterford Township —- found fatally shot outside the MJR theater complex on M-59 — was a 28-year-old White Lake Township resident identified in court documents as Antonn Cecil Richard Thomas.

According to the filed complaint, the killing allegedly involved a drug deal, occurring “while in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of delivery and/or conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance.”

Waterford Police Chief Scott Underwood has declined to release the name of the victim, telling The Oakland Press in an email last week that it’s “not that unusual” to do so and is done “quite often” — but didn’t specify why for this case.

The accused killers, 24-year-old Mike Vladislav Kruglik of West Bloomfield and 26-year-old Jesse Del Jordan Bradshaw of New Boston, are charged with first-degree felony murder. Felony murder is when someone is killed during the commission of a felony.

Denied bond at their Nov. 12 arraignment before 51st District Judge Richard Kuhn, Kruglik and Bradshaw are held in the Oakland County Jail. They are scheduled to return to court Wednesday for a probable cause conference.

Thomas was found shot outside the MJR Waterford Cinema on Nov. 7. As previously reported, a news release from the Waterford Police Department stated that that a 911 call came in at around 11:30 p.m. about a man “down from an apparent gunshot wound” in the theater parking lot at 7501 Highland Road. Shot in the upper chest, he was treated at the scene by Waterford Regional Fire Department personnel and then transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Kruglik was arrested on Nov. 8 after police executed a search warrant in West Bloomfield Township. Bradshaw was arrested later that day in New Boston, where the vehicle believed to have been used in the homicide was also located, police said.

Tuesday Musicale of Greater Pontiac in its 101st organizational year, continues to be dedicated to the charge of promoting music and the fine arts in our area. Each year that commitment extends to encouraging and aiding in the education of student musicians by offering two monetary awards, the Dora Dawson Award and the Rosamond Haberle Piano Award.

The award winners will perform for the public at a concert on March 9, 2025 at 3:00 pm.at the Central United Methodist Church, 3882 Highland Road, Waterford Township.

To apply for the Dora Dawson Music Award, which is open to all musicians, university students and high school seniors, a current university applicant must already be enrolled as a music major or minor. A high school senior whose college application to study music is already in process may also apply. The applicant must be a U.S.A. citizen and be no older than 24 years of age. Only the first eight applications received on time, will be accepted. The Dawson Award can be from $250 to $1,000 and will depend on musical excellence, need and the number of outstanding auditions.

The Rosamond Haberle Award is open to U.S. citizens, no older than 24 years of age and is available for pianists only. Each applicant must be a Michigan resident or currently enrolled in a Michigan college or university as a music major and must be majoring in piano. Only the first five applications received on time, will be accepted. The monetary award for the Haberle is up to $5,000. Musical excellence will be rewarded.

Applications may be found by visiting www.tuesdaymusicaleofgreaterpontiac.org. Applications for both of these awards must be received by Dec. 20, 2024. The audition date is Jan. 4, 2025.

For more information, visit https:facebook.com/tuesdaymusicale or contact Mary Ann LaMonte at 248-673-818. Tuesday Musicale of Greater Pontiac is affiliated with the National and Michigan Federations of Music Clubs.

Assaults against health care workers, in the form of physical violence, threats or other forms of abuse, have been on the rise for more than a decade, experts say.

Nationally, 40% of health care workers say they have experienced workplace violence in the past two years, and 85% of emergency department physicians say the violence has increased over the past year.

In 2020, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services surveyed registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who worked in a variety of settings. Overall, 40% reported they had experienced some form of violence over the past year;  with 45% of those working in a hospital experiencing incidents. For those working in a behavioral health or psychiatric facility, the number rose to 57%.

Of those who reported they had experienced some form of assault, at least 70% said there had been physical violence.

In some cases, patients’ friends or family are responsible for the incidents. But patients themselves commit the majority of the offenses, according to the MDHHS study.

No one has taken a long look at why these assaults are occurring and how to reduce their frequency, said Stacey Frankovich, director of the new Healthcare Violence Reduction Center at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield.

Lawrence Tech, which initiated a nursing school and other health-related courses of study in recent years, is well positioned to research the issue, Frankovich said.

LTU has partnered with the Michigan Health & Hospital Association and hospitals around the state.

Funded by grants from several entities, the center’s representatives have shadowed health care workers to discover how and why the assaults occur.

By mid-year 2025, the center expects to finish compiling data and can begin to make recommendations to decision makers at hospitals and other facilities.

“We want to really see the frontlines,” Frankovich said. “The true picture isn’t being painted here.”

Incidents are underreported because many health care workers think assaults are part of the job, Frankovich said, contributing to burnout and recruitment challenges.

Frankovich was most recently director of the MedHealth life sciences initiative of TechTown, Wayne State University’s technology-focused business accelerator. Earlier, she worked for Oakland University’s Macomb-OU Incubator and was director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Macomb Community College.

Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, believes a lack of prosecution may be part of the assault problem. Increased penalties would also discourage these attacks, he said.

“We haven’t signaled to the public that it is not OK,” he said.

Violence in health care settings is “part of a broader societal problem,” he said.

“It occurs in small rural hospitals in the UP to big medical centers and everything in between,” he said.

Legislation in both the U.S. House and Senate, known as the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act, would give health care workers federal protections from workplace violence, similar to the current protections for airport and aircraft employees, Peters said.

The MHA sent a letter to all of Michigan’s Congressional delegates in support of the SAVE Act.

Both bills are pending in their respective judiciary committees.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation last year that increases the fines against those who assault health professionals or medical volunteers.

House Bill 4520, sponsored by state Rep. Mike Mueller, R-Linden, increases fines against those who assault these employees or volunteers without a weapon.

House Bill 4521, sponsored by state Rep. Kelly Breen, D-Novi, increases fines against those who assault health professionals or medical volunteers on the job with a weapon. Both bills also require health facilities to post signs describing the enhanced fines.

All employees in health care settings are at risk, even those with non-medical duties, such as those who process paperwork. But nurses bear the brunt of it, Peters said.

“There are more of them. They are front and center with patients,” he said.

“They bear it all with such grace,” Frankovich said.

Employees in emergency departments also bear the brunt, according to Frankovich, because of the high number of patients with either behavioral health or substance use issues.

Also, they’re dealing with crises that range from criminal matters to homelessness, she said.

The MDHHS study indicated that most health care facilities offer training on how to de-escalate a tense situation, how and when to call for help, how to protect personal safety and more.

Corewell Health, formerly Beaumont, and McLaren Health Oakland declined to comment on how they train their employees or what steps they take to prevent assaults.

Henry Ford Health said in a statement that, “De-escalation training starts at time of hire and team members get re-training on a yearly basis. We also have safety talks that go out throughout the year to remind employees of situational awareness and safety tips related to personal safety.”

An Oakland County woman who spontaneously paid for a $20 lottery ticket now has $1.3 million more to her name after realizing it was a winner.

The 64-year-old woman, who told state lottery officials she wants to remain anonymous, bought her Michigan Lottery Strike It Rich instant game ticket at Meaad Enterprises, 1950 E. 12 Mile Road in Warren. She told state officials she’d been in line to pay for gas when the person in front of her bought several Strike It Rich tickets, so she bought one for $20.

“I scratched the ticket off when I got in my car, and immediately locked the doors and signed the ticket when I saw I’d won $2 million,” she said. “It still hasn’t fully sunk in that I won!”

She decided to take a lump sum payment of $1.3 million instead of the annual payments for the full $2 million prize. She said she’ll use her prize money to pay off her car, pay for home improvements and donate to charities, calling it a win that will “make a big difference for me and my family and it’s going to change our lives.”

The Strike It Rich game has paid out more than $14 million since it debuted in October. Each $20 ticket offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from $20 up to $2 million. More than $92 million in prizes remain, including two $2 million top prizes, 20 $10,000 prizes, and 61 $5,000 prizes.

To learn more about Michigan Lottery games, visit www.michiganlottery.com.

People living with a gambling addiction and their loved ones can get free confidential support via the National Problem Gambling Helpline, (800) GAMBLER or (800) 426-2537 or by visiting www.ncpgambling.org.

Clarkston Superintendent Shawn Ryan has been named Michigan School Public Relations Association (MSPRA) 2024 Superintendent Communicator of the Year. The award recognizes one Michigan superintendent annually for outstanding leadership and an exceptional commitment to effective communication.

“It is my honor to present one of MSPRA’s most prestigious awards to a leader who embodies communication excellence,” said MSPRA representative and Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator for West Bloomfield School District Rebecca Fannon. “Dr. Ryan’s dedication to transparency, ethics, and proactive communication has fostered a sense of trust and connection throughout the Clarkston community.”

According to MSPRA’s national judging panel, Ryan exemplifies the attributes of a top communicator: he invests in year-round communication, supports district communication resources, collaborates strategically with communication professionals, and demonstrates integrity, honesty, and active listening. During his nearly three-decade career in Clarkston he built his reputation as a committed community builder and public education advocate, with his communication style rooted in accessibility, transparency, and respect.

“We are immensely proud of Dr. Ryan and this well-deserved recognition,” said Board President Greg Need. “His commitment to transparent, effective communication has strengthened our district and inspired trust within our school community. This award highlights the positive impact his leadership has made across Clarkston.”

Registered nurses at Corewell Health’s eight hospitals in the Detroit area and an office in Southfield have voted overwhelmingly to unionize.

The nurses voted 4,958 yes (62.6%) to 2,957 no (37.3%) for union representation through Nurses for Nurses, a committee of  Michigan Teamsters Joint Council 43, according to a release from the National Labor Relations Board.

The nurses voted over three days, ending Thursday, Nov. 14. The ballots were counted on Friday.

“The employer must begin bargaining in good faith with the union. Parties have five business days to file objections to the election. If no objections are filed, the result will be certified,” the release said.

Almost 10,000 nurses were eligible to vote and 7,915 votes were counted. There were 418 challenged ballots that won’t be counted; they didn’t affect the outcome of the election, the release said. Seven ballots were declared void..

The NLRB said the nurses’ petition to unionize is one of the largest in recent history, based on the number of potential members affected.

Corewell nurses at hospitals in Troy, Royal Oak, Farmington Hills, Taylor, Trenton, Dearborn, Grosse Pointe and Wayne are affected, as well as those at the Southfield office.

Eligible voters included full-time and regular part-time registered nurses, including casual, contingent, flex and charge nurses, according to the NLRB.

Kevin Moore, president of Joint Council 43, which represents all Teamsters in Michigan,  expressed confidence last month that the nurses would vote overwhelmingly to join the union.

“It’s about rights, dignity and proper pay,” he said at the time. “They’re exhausted. They can’t even take lunch or breaks. They’re eating on the run.”

He said nurse-to-patient ratios vary in Corewell hospitals, but some nurses are caring for 30 patients or more at a time.

“These are highly trained people. The doctor or surgeon may do your operation, but it’s the nurses who get you back on your feet,” Moore said.

Corewell, formerly Beaumont Health, said in a statement last month, “We respect our team members’ rights to explore joining a union, however, we believe our ability to provide high quality care to our patients and maintain a positive work environment is best achieved through a direct working relationship with our nurses.”

The Waterford school board is negotiating with Thomas Ahart to be their next superintendent.

Ahart is a consultant for the Washington, D.C.-based Council for Great City Schools, and was the superintendent of the Des Moines, Iowa, public school system for 10 years, the state’s largest district. He was an associate superintendent for Teaching and Learning in Des Moines before becoming the district’s leader. He has been a teacher and administrator for over 30 years.

Scott Lindberg, Waterford’s current superintendent who started in 2019, announced in June he would be leaving the district after five years on the job.
is retirement effective Dec. 31.

Sentencing was handed down Tuesday to two more men convicted of a Troy home invasion — among a group of five men believed to be part of an international crime ring and in the United States illegally.

Their minimum sentences for the felonies could have them released in less than a year, court records show.

At a Nov. 12 hearing in Oakland County Circuit Court, Judge Victoria Valentine sentenced Luis Felipe Camargo, aka Alberto Franco Jimenez, aka Franco Venezolana to 9 months – 15 years for the Aug. 1 daytime break-in on Millay Drive. The other man, Owen Jean Cortes, was sentenced to 12 months – 15 years for the home invasion, and 12 months – 10 years for possession of burglary tools. Both were credited with 103 days — more than three months — already served in the Oakland County Jail.

Camargo, 44, from Mexico, pleaded no contest to second-degree home invasion in September, and prosecutors dismissed a charge of driving with a suspended license. Cortes, 25, from Colombia, also pleaded no contest to his two charges.

The three other men connected to the Troy break-in — Colombians Omar Giovvany Rodriguez-Aponte, Michel Alba Rincon and Geovanny Castellanos-Forero — also opted out of trial by pleading to charges. Rincon and Castellanos-Forero pleaded guilty to second-degree home invasion in August, and were subsequently sentenced by Valentine to nine months to 15 years in prison. Rodriguez-Aponte pleaded no contest to second-degree home invasion in October and is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 26.

According to the Troy Police Department, the break-in was detected by a homeowner who spotted a masked intruder while watching a security camera set up in his residence. The homeowner was reportedly at work at the time. It was later determined multiple suspects were involved in the home invasion. The Department of Homeland Security has indicated there’s “probable cause to believe (all five) are here (in the United States) illegally,” police said.

Issues with the five men’s immigration status will be handled by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Another Colombian pleads in Troy home invasion case

Another defendant pleads in Troy home invasion case tied to international crime ring

Another Colombian enters plea in Troy home break-in

Pleas, trial set for cases against suspected members of international crime ring charged in Troy home invasion

Colombians sentenced for Troy home break-in

Police: 5 suspects nabbed for home invasion; likely part of international crime ring

Laurie Weeks of Rochester Hills has been named executive director of Oakland Literacy Council, effective January 2025.

Weeks succeeds Lisa Machesky, the former executive director since 2015. During Machesky’s tenure, adult learning programs expanded from basic reading and English language learning (ESL) to include math, GED, digital literacy, and workforce training, according to a news release.

Weeks joined Oakland Literacy Council in 2015 as a volunteer tutor and joined the staff in 2018. Most recently, she has been serving as program director. Previously she was a journalist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Dow Jones News Service. She also taught composition and served as a writing and ESL tutor at Oakland Community College.

Weeks has a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Spalding University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Michigan.

Oakland Literacy Council provides basic literacy, numeracy, English language, and GED instruction to Oakland County adults. The office was relocated to downtown Pontiac in 2023.

Those interested in becoming a learner or tutor, may visit www.oaklandliteracy.com or call (248) 253-1617.

Michigan Sen. Michael Webber (R-Rochester Hills) presented a state tribute to Rochester Hills resident Joann Kotcher on the floor of the Michigan Senate on Oct. 9 in honor of her service as a Donut Dolly during the Vietnam War.

Kotcher was one of 627 young women who served in the American Red Cross Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas program during the Vietnam War, joining the effort in May 1966 after earning her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Michigan.

“The legacy of the Donut Dollies goes far beyond their namesake of passing out donuts to soldiers, and our nation is grateful for brave individuals like Ms. Kotcher who answer the call to support our active military,” Webber said. “As the first women in history to be allowed into combat zones at the invitation of U.S. Army Gen. William Westmoreland, Ms. Kotcher and the Donut Dollies helped pave the way for women to be able to work in many different positions to support American troops on the ground. And while doctors and nurses treated physical injuries, the presence and friendship of the Donut Dollies offered invaluable psychological support long before we had the understanding and vocabulary of post-traumatic stress and its effects on soldiers.”

Clawson voters overwhelmingly approved a $64.5 million bond in the election on Tuesday Nov. 5, that will fund infrastructure improvements.

Almost 64% of ballots cast on the bond issue were affirmative, for a total of 4,478 yes votes to 2,543 no votes.

According to the ballot language, the general obligation bonds will be used “for the purpose of paying all or part of the costs to acquire, construct, reconstruct and improve infrastructure for the city.”

That includes:

– Road and street improvements

– Water main replacements and improvements

– Sanitary sewer improvements

– Storm sewer improvements.

The ballot language says the estimated millage to be levied in 2025 is 3.50 mills ($3.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate required to retire the bonds is 5.26 mills ($5.26 per $1,000 of taxable value).