Supporters, protesters gather to mark Trump’s 100th day
BY MARIA ALLARD AND NICK POWERS allard@candgnews.com, npowers@candgnews.com
Editor’s note: While your local newspaper was denied credentials to cover the president’s remarks at Macomb Community College on April 29, our team of journalists spoke to those outside of the event who came to applaud or protest the first 100 days of his second nonconsecutive term. Here is what they had to say.
WARREN — Tien Tran, a resident of Fullerton, California, traveled from the West Coast to Warren to see President Donald Trump April 29 at the South Campus of Macomb Community College in Warren.
Trump, elected to his second term last November, held a rally at the local college to observe his first 100 days in office that has centered around tariffs, the Department of Government Efficiency, illegal immigration, securing the border and the possible dismantlement of the U.S. Department of Education.
“He’s a real leader. He cares about his people,” said Tran, 59, who wore a white suit, cowboy hat and Trump flair. “This is historic. This
See TRUMP on page 12A
President Donald Trump delivers an announcement before members of the Michigan National Guard at Selfridge Air National Guard Base on April 29. Trump said the base would receive 21 F-15EX fighter jets in the coming years, fulfilling a goal of Michigan officials to maintain a fighter mission after the A-10 Thunderbolt II is retired.
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — During a stop in Macomb County on April 29, President Donald Trump announced that Selfridge Air National Guard Base would receive a new mission with 21 “brand new” F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets.
Announced at Selfridge alongside state and federal officials to an au-
Photo provided by Michigan National Guard
Positive reaction rolls in after Selfridge announcement
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On April 29, President Donald Trump announced a mission with 21 F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets that will replace the A-10 Thunderbolt II jets at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
Though the planes are not set to arrive until fiscal year 2028, Harrison Township residents are happy with the announcement and what it might mean for the base.
Harrison Township Supervisor Ken Verkest said he thinks it’s good news.
“It’s the result of a lot of people’s efforts, but I believe the governor played a big role in working to get the runway revision funded; extension, I should say,” Verkest said.
He went on to say the mission helps to ensure that the base stays open.
Verkest thinks the base is in very good condition with a current refueling mission and a fighter mission planned.
“I can’t remember when we didn’t have a fighter mission at the base as a lifelong resident,” Verkest said.
See REACTION on page 10A
Whitmer celebrates Selfridge gains in Macomb address BIPARTISANSHIP, COLLABORATION CORE OF GOVERNOR’S SPEECH
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Nearly a week removed from the announcement of new fighter jets destined for Selfridge Air National Guard Base, neither state nor county executives have recorked the champagne.
Around noon on May 5, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gave an address to Macomb County business leaders at The Palazzo Grande banquet hall during a luncheon for the Macomb County Chamber and Connect Macomb. The governor’s remarks to the Macomb audience would ultimately revolve
See WHITME on page 11A
Residents vote down Mount Clemens school millage
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — Residents of the Mount Clemens Community Schools district delivered a resounding defeat to the district’s bond proposal on May 6, with 1,843 votes against the proposal versus the 912 votes in favor.
Around 15% of the district’s registered voters turned out to cast ballots on the pro-
posal, which saw the district ask for $91.82 million to build a new gym and middle school at the secondary school complex and renovate Seminole Middle School. Approval of the bond would have been tied to a 1 mill reduction to the district’s debt millage rate from 11.8 to 10.8 mills.
According to a fact sheet released by the district ahead of the vote, the proposal’s defeat means planned improvements will either be postponed or paid for with reallo-
cated funds. In January, district Superintendent Julian Roper told C & G Newspapers the district would look into criticism before submitting another proposal.
“We will listen to them and make an informed decision,” Roper said in January. “If they say ‘no’ then we’ll find out why and come back to the table and try to do it again. This community, these kids and the taxpayers of this community deserve to have quality facilities, quality structure in the commu-
nity that our kids can go to, to be able to compete with our local surrounding school districts.”
The L’Anse Creuse Public Schools district had its own bond saga in 2024, with residents initially turning down a $330 million bond before approving a $188.7 million bond. Roper could not be contracted by press time.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township will soon have a new missing, with 21 F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets planned for deployment in 2028.
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Governor Gretchen Whitmer speaks at a luncheon in Shelby Township on May 5.
Photo by Dean Vaglia
Clinton Township Board of Trustees set deadline for ITC cooperation
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — After months of delays and investigations, an end is in sight.
On April 28, the Clinton Township Board of Trustees set Monday, June 2 as the latest day for a definitive vote on ITC’s Henry Ford Macomb Hospital power line project.
The board’s patience with the electrical transmission firm appears to be running thin after its continued instance on running lines along 19 Mile Road despite complaints from residents and evidence of a viable alternative route along Dalcoma Drive. ITC’s project is meant to provide power to the hospital’s expansion, which opened in May 2023.
“I was presented with a number of reasons why Dalcoma wasn’t possible,” Clinton Township Supervisor Paul Gieleghem said. “I went about removing all of them. (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy) agreed to consider wetland mitigation if it was even necessary but they didn’t think it was. I hired a helicopter company to look at the issue of the helipad and we have definitive proof that those lines are not an impediment. Then there’s a drain easement from the (county) public works commissioner’s office. We met with the public works commissioner’s office and (Candice Miller) said co-locating is not going to be a problem … The only impediment is ITC’s willingness
the board to a Clinton Township meeting, after the school released a statement to WXYZ-TV stating they had not been approached by ITC about a Dalcoma Drive route.
“Right now, it’s clear to me that, by their statement that they constructed and put into the press, that (Macomb Community College) want(s) to fall back on the position that nobody has formally approached them, which is inconsistent with the evidence that we have and basically gives them a route to save face and say … ‘Nobody ever came to us,’” Dolan said remotely during the meeting. “I don’t want to give them that escape route and I don’t think this board does either … None of us should be in a situation where the community college isn’t pinned down on what their position is.”
to actually submit the Dalcoma route, and the community college.”
With a smaller board than usual, trustees voted 4-1 to set the June 2 meeting as the final date for the township to exercise its approval for the project — though board attitudes appear set to reject the current ITC plan — using the meantime to secure formal support from Macomb Community College for the Dalcoma Drive route.
Township Attorney Jack Dolan encouraged the board to force the issue with the Macomb Community College Board of Trustees, either by going to one of its meetings or bringing
Gieleghem said he had spoken with the president of the college and sent a letter to the college board. On May 7, Macomb Community College Executive Director of Communications and Public Relations Jeanne Nicol told C & G Newspapers that ITC had still not approached the college about Dalcoma Drive and that the college “has received a request from Clinton Township to be added to the May 21 Macomb Community College Board of Trustees meeting.”
Research by the township revealed a Dalcoma Drive route was present in earlier stages of the project but was replaced in favor of the 19 Mile Road route. Residents along the proposed 19 Mile Road route have been against the projSee DEADLINE on page 9A
Life is full of ups and downs. But together, we can overcome any obstacle. Rise to any challenge. And fght any battle.
Photo by Dean Vaglia
Clinton Township Supervisor Paul Gieleghem, left, speaks at the April 28 Clinton Township Board of Trustees meeting as Trustee Dan Kress watches.
Senior center director retires after 28 years with township
BY NICK POWERS npowers@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — After 28 years with the township, Matt Makowski feels he’s accomplished his goals for the Clinton Township Senior Adult Life Center.
“Many other communities only have recreation departments and seniors are just one portion of the recreation department,” Makowski said. “Our department was exclusively set up specifically for seniors and it’s served the community well.”
Makowski has been the center’s director for 20 years. Prior to that, he was appointed as the center’s assistant director in 1997. The senior center was opened in 1982, and a gym and fitness center were added in 1987.
Acting Senior Center Director Debbie Travis highlighted Makowski’s hands-on approach. She said he was compassionate, connecting with the seniors and the center’s staff.
“We’ve learned a lot from him and are strong and ready to take on the new era of leadership the township board chooses for us,” Travis said. “We will continue to be
champions for our senior population and deliver the same level of exceptionalism that our seniors have come to expect from us. However, Matt’s comforting presence and joyful energy will be sorely missed by seniors and staff alike.”
One accomplishment that particularly stands out to Makowski is the center’s expansion in 2008 with a wellness wing. He said this was done with a patchwork of fundraising, private donations and grant funds. Since last November, the wing’s Club 55 Fitness Center extended its hours from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“We never thought we’d get there but, with perseverance and the seniors wanting to do this, we were able to expand the facility to meet their needs,” he said.
During his time as director, Makowski has accomplished goals like updating technology and implementing programming that works for all different aging residents. There’s been added programming, ranging from summer concerts to wellness programs.
He’s also headed up things like blood drives, grief support and a food pantry.
Makowski grew up in Livonia and graduated from Madonna University with a degree in gerontology in long-term care administration. He found himself working in the township when he was transferred by his former employer, Presbyterian Villages of Michigan. He was part of establishing what’s now called The Village of Peace Manor.
He and his wife, Valerie, a kindergarten teacher in the Fraser Public Schools district for 30 years, bought a camper. They plan to tour the United States, visiting national parks along the way.
“There are all kinds of things we’ve
wanted to do but just haven’t had the time,” Makowski said.
Makowski’s last day was April 30, with Travis now serving as the acting director. The Clinton Township Board of Trustees will have to appoint a new permanent director.
“For 28 years, Matt has been working with seniors throughout our community, helping to develop a thriving and a very active senior center,” Clinton Township Supervisor Paul Gieleghem said. “Matt is a guy with a big heart and strong commitment to public service.”
Call Staff Writer Nick Powers at (586) 498-1059.
Makowski
City Commission introduces blight, animal ordinance changes
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — At its May 5 meeting, the Mount Clemens City Commission voted to approve the first reading of amendments to the city’s blight and animal control ordinances.
Achieving full support during its introductory reading, the amendments bring rental condition disputes under the purview of the Administrative Hearings Bureau and overhaul the city’s animal control ordinance.
“I know this was in our strategic plan, but I’m glad to see that we’re putting rental dwellings and units as part of our AHB now, so that way we can hopefully expedite these complaints and have an impact on the quality of and controlling our rental population in the city,” Mount Clemens Mayor Laura Kropp said.
The Administrative Hearings Bureau is the city’s venue for hearing and administrating blight and other ordinance violations. Formed in 2023, the bureau is intended to be a faster way to resolve violations without needing to get courts involved.
Changes to the animal control ordinance include updates to terms and definitions, outlining requirements for owners and removing sections 14-16.
Commissioner Laura Fournier praised the changes to the animal control ordinance for their detail and for codifying things that were “implied by the previous ordinance but not necessarily stated.” Commissioner Erik Rick asked about the decision to reduce the
maximum animal impoundment time from five days to four, which City Manager Gregg Shipman was a recommendation from animal control officers. Shipman also answered a question from Fournier about where the city takes impounded animals. The city has a state-certified kennel in its Department of Public Works building.
“(Macomb County Animal Control) quit taking them. That’s why we have the state-certified shelter,” Shipman said.
Kropp said the decision to review the animal control ordinance occurred before an April 12 video allegedly showing misconduct by an animal control officer was posted.
“We asked for this animal control ordinance to be looked at and updated long before the animal control incident that happened within the city,” Kropp said. “I just want that to be clear that these were done well before that and that this body was trying to be proactive, and so was our administration, to make some changes to animal control before the incident.”
The ordinance is set to be adopted on Monday, May 19.
Lawn enforcement
In his report to the commission, Shipman said code enforcement had begun identifying properties with grass or weeds 8 inches or taller.
The city may have a contractor cut those lawns at a cost of $150 per residential lot and $200 per commercial lot. Monitoring will continue through Nov. 3.
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Photo by Dean Vaglia
The Mount Clemens City Commission met on May 5 and approved the first reading of amendments to the blight and animal control ordinances.
NEWS & NOTES
‘YOGA ON THE HILL’ RETURNS
STERLING HEIGHTS — On Saturday, July 26, the Macomb County Board of Commissioners will host the 10th annual Yoga on the Hill at Freedom Hill County Park in Sterling Heights.
Held in partnership with Bodhi Seed Yoga & Wellness, the free event takes place inside the park’s pavilions from 9-11 a.m. A raffle will take place featuring items donated by commissioners. Visit bocmacomb.org/ events/yoga-at-the-hill/ to register.
Arc of Macomb hosting golf outing fundraiser
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — On Friday, May 30, The Arc of Macomb County is hosting a golf outing at Hickory Hollow Golf Club in Macomb Township.
Proceeds from the outing directly support The Arc’s mission to provide services, resources, and advocacy that empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, learn and work in the community of their choosing.
“This outing is more than just a great day on the course — it’s an opportunity to drive real impact for people with disabilities in Macomb County,” Lisa Lepine, executive director of The Arc of Macomb County, said in a press release. “We’re incredibly grateful for the businesses and individuals who come out each year to support inclusion, empowerment and opportunity.”
The outing will feature 18 rounds of golf starting at 9 a.m., a continental breakfast, lunch, dinner, raffles and giveaways, hole contests and sponsorship opportunities.
For more information and registration, go to arcservices.org/golf.
Clinton Township trustees hold first May meeting
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — A quirk of meeting schedules saw the Clinton Township Board of Trustees hold its first May meeting on Monday, May 5, one week after it held its final April meeting.
Trustees approved paving inspection procedures and ordinance amendments, which clarified differences between new paving and maintenance projects. Trustees then awarded HMC, LLC. of Sterling Heights a $473,000 contract to conduct 19 open-cut sanitary sewer repairs throughout the township. A pilot program to repair or replace sanitary sewer leads for limited-income residents was also approved.
Zontini rejoins Clintondale board after MISD vote
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Diane Zontini has found her way back to the Clintondale Community Schools Board of Education following a unanimous vote from the Macomb Intermediate School District on April 30. Zontini, who last filled a vacancy on the Clintondale board from April 2023 to Dec. 31, 2024, will complete the term of Board Vice President Michael Manning following his death earlier this year. Zontini’s term runs through Dec. 31, 2026.
“It’s an honor to return to the Board,” Zontini said in a statement from Clintondale. “I’m looking forward to collaborating with fellow board members, staff and the community to build a bright future for our students and the Clintondale Community Schools District through the power of teamwork and positivity.”
AVOVE: South River Elementary
Principal Cathy Ciolino shows off pictures of the 1974 second grade class of room 104, as preserved in a time capsule opened on May 4.
RIGHT: Ciolino shows off decorated vinyl records made by students in the 1970s, as preserved in a time capsule.
BELOW: Old South River Elementary paraphernalia was on display for guests at the school’s 150th anniversary celebration on May 4.
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
South River Elementary celebrates 150
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On May 4, residents and alumni of L’Anse Creuse Public Schools celebrated the 150th anniversary of South River Elementary’s opening.
Opened in 1875 as a one-room schoolhouse, South River Elementary is one of the oldest schools in the district.
A highlight of the May 4 celebration is the opening of a time capsule buried in 1975, with Principal Cathy Ciolino guiding the room through the objects left behind by students 50 years ago. Objects in the capsule included newspaper clippings, notes and postcards from students and staff, 1974 lesson plans, textbooks, and personal mementos like a horseshoe, a safety patrol belt and photos of staff and students. Items from the capsule were cleaned up and put on display, alongside the doors from the 1928 South River Elementary building and other historical memorabilia.
ect citing health concerns as lines could be as close as 50 feet away from residences.
The township is able to approve or deny the project due to township ordinances, though a denial could lead to ITC pursuing state approval for the 19 Mile route via the Michigan Public Service Commission.
“We’ve maintained from November (2024) that we are very concerned about putting these lines 50 feet from the balconies of residential condo owners and this process to condemn, and it’s almost like (ITC is saying), ‘Hey, yeah, we’ll consider it, but no, we haven’t really considered it,’” Gieleghem said. “So, what’s it going to take? Do you want a denial so you can just go to the Public Service Commission and force it, or do you want to work with this community to come up with a route that works? That’s where we’re at.”
Trustee Dan Kress was the sole “no” vote. Kress has indicated a desire to expedite the denial of the project. Trustee Bruce Wade suggested holding a vote to approve a Dalcoma Drive route, but as a formal Dalcoma route does not exist, the vote would not re-
solve the issue.
East Town Village
Trustees approved several items related to the East Town Village mixed-use development, located near the corner of Elizabeth Road and North Groesbeck Highway. Trustees approved rezoning the site from “B-2 Community Business” to a planned unit development district.
Trustees then approved the final site plan which calls for 29 single-family units, 107 multifamily units across 13 buildings, 6,000 square feet of commercial space, a 112-unit senior living facility and a community center, all on a 21.5-acre site.
Liquor License Approval
Trustees narrowly approved awarding its final Class C quota liquor license to Mr. Miguel’s Mexican Grille & Cantina.
Approved by a 3-2 margin with Trustees Kress and Shannon King voting “no,” the census-based license will allow the restaurant to open its fifth and “flagship” location in The Mall at Partridge Creek. Should Mr. Miguel’s cease operations within the township, the license will be returned to the township.
Nonsurgical spinal decompression now available in the Grosse Pointes
Chris Swift Insurance Agency will celebrate its grand opening May 17
Chris Swift Insurance Agency will celebrate its grand opening from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 17. Guests can meet the staff, enjoy refreshments and enter a raffle to win a big screen TV. With 15 years of experience, owner Chris Swift leads a team focused on protecting families and small businesses with proper coverage and great value. Following Michigan’s 2020 insurance reform, reviewing liability and personal injury protection is more important than ever. The agency offers a full range of services, including home, auto, boat and life insurance. Visit the office at 28326 S. River Road in Harrison Township or call (586) 231-2520 or email Chris at cjswift@acg.aaa.com for a personalized insurance review.
Whitmer
from page 3A
around bipartisan cooperation to solve mutual problems, and no example fit the subject and audience better than the idea of factory-fresh F-15EX fighter jets replacing an aging and retiring fleet of A-10s at Selfridge.
“This is a really important moment in our state and our country,” Whitmer said. “We know that there’s a lot of uncertainty for a lot of different reasons, but for us to be able to say we know what the future of Selfridge is a big (deal).”
Whitmer described the fighter mission as not only a lifeline for the base but for the numerous defense manufacturing jobs located around the county and state, claiming the continued mission would support 30,000 jobs, 5,000 military families and $180 million in annual economic impact.
In a room of people that included the 127th Wing’s Brig. Gen. Matthew Brancato, Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel may have been the most excited about the Selfridge news. Hackel, who wore a custom Selfridge baseball jersey and recalled getting “choked up” watching the April 29 announcement, was not shy about praising Whitmer’s role in the effort, particularly in light of criticism she has received for working and appearing with President Donald Trump several times.
“This did not go without some criticism, that she may have gotten on one extreme within the party, or the president getting criticism on extremes within his party,” Hackel said. “Yet the two realized the importance of this, and that announcement that was made was an incredible asset to Macomb County and Macomb County’s future.”
Whitmer, who is term-limited as governor, addressed her intraparty critics from the lectern with a defense of bipartisanship.
“I was in the minority all 14 years I was in the Michigan Legislature,” Whitmer said. “As governor, I’ve signed over 1,500 bills that are bipartisan — and 1,000 of them came out of a completely Republican-controlled legislature. It’s the same approach that led me to the White House a few weeks back. I am committed to working with the Trump administration on any priority we can find common ground on. I am not going to pretend that that’s always going to be possible — I know that’s the case — but Michiganders elected both of us twice, just two years apart, and I know from looking at this room that you all expect us to get things done.”
Speaking to reporters after the speech, Whitmer said her primary goals when meeting Trump were to secure jets for Selfridge
and federal aid or funding for northern Michigan communities ravaged by a lateMarch ice storm. She had not yet received word from Washington on the aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Bipartisan collaboration was the theme through the rest of the governor’s speech, which moved from the Selfridge runways to Macomb County’s roadways. As part of her pledge to “fix the damn roads,” Whitmer highlighted the completion of the Innovate Mound project and the ongoing Restore the Reuther work. Now in its final phase, sections of Interstate 696 will be closed between Lahser Road, Dequindre Road and the interchange with Interstate 75 from 2025-2027.
Whitmer mentioned the need to find new revenue sources and make cuts in order to fund roads in the future, and called upon the audience to help find a solution to this issue.
“We can’t put all of this on the backs of hardworking Michiganders. Businesses also benefit from strong, reliable roads and we all need to be part of the solution,” Whitmer said. “It’s a simple equation: Fewer potholes means fewer delays, means safer roads, means more predictability and certainty in a world that feels very uncertain in many ways. So, when it comes to fixing our roads and bringing Michigan manufacturing back, every voice in this room matters.”
Whitmer ended her remarks by telling businesses that the state had their backs in creating an easier, less-uncertain economic environment and asked them to help “build a future of this state that we can all be proud of, we can all drive in and we can all brag about.”
Call Staff Writer Dean Vaglia at (586) 498-1043.
Photo by Dean Vaglia
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel speaks at a luncheon in Shelby Township on May 5.
in Fullerton, California, for the event. RIGHT: A demonstrator dressed in a costume from television’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” took part in a rally outside of President Donald Trump’s event.
Trump
from page 1A
is an important event for the future of my three children.”
Tran was born in Vietnam and said he spent two years in a refugee camp before coming to the U.S. He is pleased the Trump administration has clamped down on illegal immigration through Immigration and Customs Enforcement and feels if people want to move to the U.S., they need to do it legally.
“We escaped communism. We lost South Vietnam 50 years ago. When you came here then you had to be vetted, you had to learn English and you learned how to adapt,” he said. “You came here to support yourself. The government doesn’t support you.”
Trump was scheduled to speak at 6 p.m., and attendees needed a ticket to get inside the Sports and Expo Center. Doors to his rally opened at 1:45 p.m. Many supporters — wearing Trump T-shirt, hats and buttons — lined up early in the day. Merchandisers sold everything from flags to bumper stickers, media lined up to speak to supporters, and there was a police presence.
Cheri Veradi, 56, of Adrian, stood in line in the early afternoon waiting for her sister and cousin.
“I want him to know he has a lot of support. I love how strong he is,” she said. “He makes the United States strong.”
On March 20, Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. The department has not closed; by law, that would still have to go before Congress for a vote.
“I’m fine with that,” Veradi said of it possibly closing.
She commended the Republican president for working to secure the borders and deport known criminals.
“That needed to happen because of crime,” she said.
Veradi has attended about five Trump rallies.
“The camaraderie is what I love about them,” she said.
When asked why Trump supporters are viewed in a negative light, Veradi said “They think we’re bullies. I think it’s because we’re strong-minded people. But we welcome everybody.”
Nathaniel Baker drove from Lansing April 29 to attend his first Trump rally.
“He is a great person. Everyone here is nice, and they’re great people. They let you say what you mean. None of that fake news,” Baker, 27, said. “We just want what is best for the United States. It’s nice to see our president on TV every day.”
For Baker, a former Democrat, one of the biggest issues for him is the Mexico border, which he said is now “very secure.”
“He’s doing a good job getting rid of the people coming here illegally. Those people are gang leaders and violent people,” Baker said. “As long as you (come here) the right way, there’s no problem.”
Shah Mehdi, of Prentice, Wisconsin, and Norma Holm, of Hammond, Indiana, met a few years ago at a Trump rally. They keep in touch, and both made it to Macomb for the rally.
“I’m here to speak for my nine grandchildren,” Holm, 55, said. “I want them to have the same freedoms I had growing up. Liberalism is confusing to them. The woke agenda has affected the kids.”
See TRUMP on
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
LEFT: Tien Tran joins other supporters of President Donald Trump for a rally to mark the first 100 days of his second term on April 29 at the South Campus of Macomb Community College in Warren. Tran, 59, traveled from his home
Trump
Holm remembers seeing Trump appear on talk shows in the 1980s, including “The Oprah Winfrey Show” about what he would do “to help our country get stronger” if he ever ran for president.
“He’s executing that plan,” Holm said. “These tariffs aren’t going to be fine overnight, but it’s going to benefit us in the long run.”
Rob Cortis, of Livonia, brought the “Trump Unity Bridge” to the college campus. He drives the patriotic float across the country in an effort to unite it.
“It’s to spread the message of unity through Donald Trump. Since 2015, his campaign is to put America first,” Cortis said. “There are more people that like him that don’t, and the mainstream media doesn’t get the word out. They don’t tell the good side of the story. They don’t tell how good the tariffs work, how good the economy works.”
Hundreds gather to protest Trump
Hundreds of protestors fanned out on the corner of Hayes and 12 Mile roads to show their dissatisfaction with Trump. There was the persistent sound of car horns honking. There were also occasionally people who drove by to yell their support for Trump or yell obscenities at the crowd.
While many held up signs with the phrase “I Dissent,” there were a variety of messages displayed from Ukrainian solidarity to warnings of creeping authoritarianism. Some attendees wore black to symbolize loss.
Jon Halock, a Roseville resident, said Trump and his supporters have prioritized an earlier ideal of the American family, crowding out the LGBTQIA+ community. He ties this narrow vision of a preferred American into authoritarian movements of the past.
“I think trans people are under attack,” Halock said. “If we don’t have people out here doing this type of stuff, trans people are going to be the number one target. They can’t be. We have to put all Americans first, even conservatives. They deserve a right to be here and they need to understand so do we.”
Lisa Hile, who dressed in a cloak seen on the television show “The Handmaid’s Tale,” held up a sign that said “Unity is the Only Way.” Hile is from Lapeer and is a member of the Rural Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party. She came to stand against the politics of division and to “wake up” people.
“The reality is unity is the only way,” she said. “We need to lift up the we people and we need to take out the me people. We don’t care what side of the aisle that is at
this point, but I’m looking to uplift the we people.”
Harrison Township resident Janet Stephens started an organization called Macomb Resistance, which gives women a place to talk politics in an often conservative county. She came out to the protest because she was concerned about education, women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ rights and voting rights. Across the political divide, Stephens hopes there are some issues that can unite women.
“There’s a lot of things we have in common, especially women,” Stephens said. “Even though we aren’t on the same side, we still are women and now your children cannot have an abortion in certain states.”
Randy and Linda Priest traveled from Belleville to protest. They helped start a local chapter of Indivisible, a nonprofit that advocates for progressive causes. Linda is on Belleville’s library board and Randy is on the city council. The pair helped organize a recent protest in Canton along similar lines. Randy lamented the division in the country.
“The truth will set you free, but don’t block access to the truth,” Randy said. “A coin has two sides for a reason. Turn it over, talk to people in a civil way. Let them talk for a minute or two without interrupting then give your point of view.”
Linda wishes more young people would get involved.
“Be with your grandparents out there fighting for this country because we love it and we know you love it, but you don’t know how at risk it really is,” Linda said
Lindsay White, 50501 Michigan’s East Side Captain, is one of the event’s organizers. White said she felt alone after Trump’s 2024 election, but when she attended a 50501 protest in Lansing, she realized there were other people who felt the same way.
“I got hungry for that immediately and started organizing more,” the Madison Heights resident said.
White said one issue that motivates her to activism is the dismantling of the Department of Education. Her daughter is autistic and attends a school funded by the department.
“I don’t think a lot of people understand that what the DOE did was take care of children with special needs,” she said.
White said face-to-face interactions are more constructive than online discourse.
“Even when I meet a counterprotestor, we’re able to have a conversation with each other on a human level,” she said. “Protests like this are just a jumping off point for action. I’ve been able to reach out into the mutual aid sphere through protesting like this. It doesn’t have to all be about holding signs, it can be so much more if you want it to be.”
CRIME WATCH
Paint plant prowler
MOUNT CLEMENS — On April 16 at around 7:50 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the Axalta paint factory at 400 N. Groesbeck Highway to investigate a man pounding on and damaging cars in the parking lot.
Deputies encountered a 23-year-old Hazel Park man who admitted “immediately” when asked that he was the one pounding on cars. He was detained, read his rights and did not speak further with deputies.
Deputies then spoke with a security guard who initially spoke with the 23-yearold near the front of the building. The Hazel Park man was trying to enter the factory and told the guard he was from “homeland security.” He demanded to be let into the factory, said he was looking for dead children and in-
formed the guard, “You are all going to hell.”
The guard then called 911 and returned to his patrol car. The guard observed the man trying to open various cars around the lot. The man then tried to open the guard’s car door, punched and spat on the window, broke the mirror and made threats.
The Hazel Park man was taken to the Macomb County Jail.
Court complaints
MOUNT CLEMENS — On April 18 at around 10:30 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were sent to the 16th Judicial Circuit after receiving several complaints.
Upon arrival, the deputies recognized the 56-year-old Mount Clemens man sleeping in front of the court’s west-facing northern door. The man had been given multiple warnings about sleeping at the court in the past.
Deputies issued the man a citation for violating Mount Clemens’ loitering ordinance. After loudly using profanity while
collecting his belongings, deputies issued the man a citation for violating the city’s public disturbance ordinance.
Who let the dogs out?
MOUNT CLEMENS — On April 15 at around 5:10 p.m., Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the 20 block of Meadle Street in response to a report about loose dogs.
Deputies found four small dogs running outside of the property. They reportedly managed to corral them into the home after some time and with the help of a neighbor.
A juvenile resident of the home gave deputies the name of the dogs’ owner. Deputies passed the homeowner’s information along to Mount Clemens Animal Control for possible violations.
Battery burglar
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On April 12, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke with a 62-year-old Harrison
Township resident about suspicious activities that occurred around her home in the 39000 block of Nautical Lane.
The woman told deputies that on April 10 at around 4:50 p.m., a man entered her open garage and took two solar light batteries. A video recording documenting the incident was not uncovered until April 12.
Ransacked car
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — On April 11, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office deputies met with a 73-year-old Harrison Township woman about a theft at her home.
At around 8:45 a.m., the woman walked out to her car and noticed items that were stored in the car were laying on the ground outside of it. All compartments inside the car were opened and the contents were tossed around.
The only reported missing item was a $10 umbrella. The woman told deputies the car was left unlocked.
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Emerging and veteran artists feature in double show
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — Experience and youth share the stage at the Anton Art Center’s first-ever double exhibition.
From now through Saturday, June 14, the Anton Art Center in Mount Clemens is hosting two exhibitions on behalf of the Detroit Society of Women Painters and Sculptors.
“This exhibition focuses on two different spaces in our gallery,” Anton Art Center Exhibitions Manager Stephanie Hazzard said. “We’ve got two floors, so each floor is dedicated to an exhibit presented by the same group, which is the (DSWPS). They come together often to hold a member’s exhibition at various locations, so we are hosting their 2025 member’s exhibition on our first floor, which is a juried show that comprises of members of this group.”
On the art center’s second floor is where the DSWPS’ Emerging Women Artists of Metro Detroit exhibition is being showcased.
“This is the first time that this group has done this project,” Hazzard said. “They hosted an open call for women artists between the ages of 18 and 35 to submit their artwork for jurying and the results would be part of the exhibit.”
While this is not the first time the art center has worked with the DSWPS or held shows that span both of its gallery-space floors, the ongoing DSWPS exhibitions are the first time a single outside organization has held two exhibits at the same time. Around 90 works of art from over 70 regional artists span the center’s two floors, with the works ranging from paintings to sculpture to jewelry to even video work.
According to Hazzard, the goal of the DSWPS’ membership with the emerging
artists show was to promote the work of upand-coming artists, which is reflected in the backgrounds of much of the works on display. A number of the works on display were made prior to the announcement of the show and some of the works, like Pontiac-based sculptor Taylor Knight-Turner’s bronzed raccoon fur “Pelt” and second-place-winning Royal Oak-based painter Madison Forbes’ “The Swan” and “Les Fleurs,” were created initially for art schools.
The featured artists have a mix of experience in the world of juried exhibitions.
Thy Hoang, a painter from Sterling Heights, had been in four of the Anton Art Center’s secondary student shows before she saw her works “What Had I Wanted?” and “Things Left Unsaid” featured in the emerging artists show. Knight-Turner currently has another work on display at a show in California.
Sterling Heights-based painter Catherine Haggerty, a first-place winner for her work, “Fishbowl,” had never been featured in a juried show until now. She plans on being in many more in the future.
“I’m an emerging artist now. I feel like I have a duty,” Haggerty said. “Part of the first place was winning membership in the (DSWPS) and so I’m really excited about that, because it means I get to have more resources, more connections and can be further involved.”
The Detroit Society of Women Painters and Sculptors 2025 Members Exhibition and the Emerging Women Artists of Metro Detroit exhibit run at the Anton Art Center until Saturday, June 14.
The Anton Art Center is located at 125 Macomb Place in downtown Mount Clemens. Admission to the art center is free and it is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information visit theartcenter.org.
Catherine Haggerty’s painting “Fishbowl,” top left, Madison Forbes’ painting “The Swan,” top right, Thy Hoang’s painting “What Had I Wanted,” left, and Taylor Knight-Turner’s sculpture “Pelt,” right and are on display at the Anton Art Center as part of the Detroit Society of Women Painters and Sculptors’ Emerging Women Artists of Metro Detroit exhibition.
Images provided by the Anton Art Center
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Shoe thrown during altercation
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At 8:50 p.m. April 9, police officers from Shelby Township were dispatched to the 45000 block of Utica Green West, near M-59 and Mound Road, for a domestic assault. The caller stated she got home after getting food and her girlfriend became upset because she did not get her food. An argument started and the woman reportedly stated that she was struck with a shoe that was thrown at her. The officers spoke with both parties. The officers arrested the woman who allegedly threw the shoe for domestic assault. The woman was lodged at the Shelby Township Police Department. The case was sent for review for possible charges by the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.
Driver arrested, turned over to ICE
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — At 9:18 p.m. April 6, police officers from Shelby Township were dispatched to the area of 23 Mile and Shelby roads for a possible drunken driver in the area.
An officer located the vehicle in question and observed the driver drinking alcohol while in the driver’s seat. The officer was able to make contact with the driver and asked him to step out of the vehicle for sobriety tests. After the sobriety tests and a preliminary breath test, the driver was placed under arrest for operating while intoxicated. The man was lodged at the Shelby Township Police Department but was eventually turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement due to his immigration status.
Police called for shots fired, altercation occurs
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Police officers from Shelby Township were dispatched to the 8000 block of East Pearson Road, near Van Dyke Avenue and 26 Mile Road, for possible shots fired at 12:58 a.m. April 6. Upon officers’ arrival they met with a man at an address that the possible shots fired call came from. The man reportedly advised that he believed his girlfriend had left. The officers located the woman inside the garage. Both the man and woman were interviewed. The woman reportedly said the man became upset after an argument and it soon became physical. The woman reportedly stated she was struck in the head with a closed fist and strangled. The man was arrested and lodged at the Shelby Township Police Department.
Driver found with pills in pill container
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A police officer from Shelby Township conducted a traffic stop on a Ford Taurus in the area of Hall Road and Market Street at 12:48 a.m. April 9. The officer made contact with the
Once inside the vehicle, the officer located several unlabeled pill containers with many different pills. The driver was arrested and lodged for possession of analogues. The case was turned over to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office to be reviewed for possible charges.
Larcenies reported ST. CLAIR SHORES — At 12:12 p.m. on April 23, a theft was reported in the 21000 block of Greater Mack Avenue.
The officer met with a 23-year-old man who stated he was a crew manager for the business. He stated they arrived at the location with three trimmers in their truck at around 10 a.m. When they went back to the truck, they saw a black vehicle driving erratically. One of the trimmers was missing and the strap securing it was tampered with. The man contacted the building owner who said they have a camera pointed at the area it was stolen from. The trimmer was worth approximately $450.
At 8:23 p.m. on April 21, a theft was reported in the 21000 block of Walton Street.
An officer met with the victim, a 57-year-old man, who stated three kids stole bikes from his unlocked garage. Video surveillance footage shows the three juveniles entering the garage and taking the bicycles. All three of them attempt to ride away, but one of them falls from the bike’s flat tire and leaves it there. Officers responded to another larceny where a man said his daughter’s bike was stolen. Another bike was left and matched the description of one of the bikes taken from the man’s garage.
Vehicle stolen from church parking lot
GROSSE POINTE PARK — Sometime between the hours of 11 p.m. April 21 and 8 a.m. April 22, an unknown suspect is said to have stolen a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee from the parking lot of a church in the 1400 block of Maryland Street. The vehicle was locked at the time. Police said they found broken glass where the Jeep had been parked.
Park aids in apprehension of suspects
GROSSE POINTE PARK — Three male suspects who were being pursued in a vehicle by the Eastpointe Police Department were arrested in the area of Mack Avenue and Marlborough Street in Detroit at around 2 p.m. April 18 by police from Detroit and Grosse Pointe Park. A report states that Eastpointe police followed the suspects’ vehicle as it made its way into the Park and Detroit. The suspects’ vehicle crashed, and the three suspects are then said by police to have gotten into another vehicle, which then
Detroit and Park officers caught up with them and apprehended them. The suspects were turned over to Eastpointe police.
Traffic stop leads to arrest
GROSSE POINTE PARK — Police pulled over a 29-year-old Detroit man in the area of Mack Avenue and Yorkshire Road at 4 a.m. April 18 after the driver is said to have been speeding and failed to stop at a red light. Police said the suspect also had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. After failing field sobriety tests, the suspect was arrested for operating while intoxicated, police said.
Vehicle stolen GROSSE POINTE PARK — Between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. April 17, an unknown person is said to have stolen a blue 2025 Dodge Durango from the driveway of a home in the 1300 block of Lakepointe Street. The owner told police the vehicle was locked and no keys were left inside.
Bikes stolen
GROSSE POINTE PARK/CITY — Sometime between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2:25 p.m. April 22, an unknown person is said by police to have stolen a red Giant Boulder mountain bike valued at $600 from a bike rack at Pierce Middle School. Police said the bike was unlocked. An unlocked 21-speed mountain bike was stolen from in front of a business in the 17000 block of Mack Avenue while the victim was working April 23.
Vehicle rummaged through GROSSE POINTE CITY — At around 2 a.m. April 17, three unknown people — described in a police report as thin males wearing hoodies and backpacks — are said in a police report to have entered an unlocked 2016 Honda CR-V while it was parked in the 800 block of Fisher Road. Police said the suspects rummaged through the interior of the vehicle, but nothing appeared to have been taken.
Inappropriate behavior leads to arrest
GROSSE POINTE CITY — Police arrested a 65-year-old Detroit man after he was allegedly seen urinating in the Kroger parking lot adjacent to Maire Elementary School at around 2 p.m. April 18. Police said the man — who was facing a possible charge of disorderly conduct — was taken into custody, cited and released.
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