“This is the lowest number (of layoffs) that most people on the board can remember,” Hawkins said.

The board approved last week a motion to lay off eight teachers, only three of whom are general education instructors. Hawkins voted to approve the motion with the understanding that those same teachers will likely regain their jobs by September.

“A majority of the time we’re calling people back,” Hawkins said. Last year’s budget cuts included nearly 60 teaching positions along with general education bus service; many of those teachers returned to work for the 2011-12 school year.

Preparing the budget for the 2012-13 academic year, the board of education faced a projected deficit of $700,000. In April the board approved limited school of choice to allow a maximum of 60 new students to offset declining enrollment.

The school of choice decision was unpopular with a number of parents, although Hawkins said it will likely result in the rehiring of laid-off teachers.

“When the budget was looked at it didn’t have the school of choice students,” Hawkins said.

(James Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@bewickpublications.com.)

Weapons charges against John Robert Kennedy were clarified in a July 2011 grand jury indictment. Kennedy was charged with six counts of weapons and explosives charges after allegedly placing two bombs in Trenton in April 2011, one in the high school parking lot and the other near a hardware store on Van Horn Road.

U.S. District Court Judge John Corbett O’Meara last week adjourned the matter until Aug. 14, noting in the order that the prosecution is complex and that the defense counsel will require expert testimony.

Along with leaving explosive devices at two locations, Kennedy allegedly made a telephone bomb threat to Trenton High School on April 28, 2011.

The phone threat was made from a cellular phone purchased three days earlier in Woodhaven. Investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Michigan State and Trenton police departments traced the purchase, obtained security footage from the store and parking lot, and located Kennedy in a Flat Rock mobile home where he was arrested.

Additional charges include being a felon in possession of firearms. Kennedy has a criminal history in Michigan dating back to 1991 that includes five felony convictions.

(James Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@bewickpublications.com.)

Trenton Police Chief James Nardone said the suspect may have been in a panic after being spotted by police, and possibly under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“He may have been impaired at some level,” Nardone said. The man’s name was withheld Friday pending further investigation and notification of next of kin.

Trenton Police were notified at about 1 a.m. that a gas station in Gibraltar was recently victimized by a robbery during which the suspect used or showed a knife. Shortly thereafter a caller advised that the suspect was seen driving a 2000 Ford Escort at Future Fuels, 4107 Van Horn near Fort Street.

“Our officers responded and identified the suspect vehicle,” Nardone said. “The car immediately fled north bound on Fort at a high rate of speed.”

The officer in pursuit followed, and quickly came upon a crash scene at DeBacker’s Lawn Care, 2501 Fort St. just north of West Road. The suspect had driven through the unoccupied building, and was reported dead at the scene.

Nardone said investigation of alleged robberies and the crash scene are ongoing.

(James Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@bewickpublications.com.)

By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON — The story of Downriver, its evolution from agricultural origins through the industrial boom, is kept alive by a variety of community-based groups with a shared passion and common interests.

With slight variations, many of these local historians face the same challenges, and recently formed the Downriver Historical Organizations, an informal panel of representatives from Allen Park, Flat Rock, Grosse Ile, Lincoln Park, Southgate and Trenton, with others expected to soon join the monthly chats.

Longtime Southgate volunteer Dave Warren said the goal of the group is not to duplicate individual collections or efforts at the community level, but to share information, resources and suggestions as the different groups face similar-yet-specific challenges.

“We are meeting to form an alliance with other organizations,” Warren said. “It seems all the museums are in the same boat: Funding is down, memberships are down and visitor numbers are down.”

Caretakers of local history bring passion for their respective communities with the common knowledge that preserving local history depends on support from in dividual donors and contributors. Historical preservation was not high on budget priority lists in recent years as local governments throughout Downriver faced mounting budget deficits. Some have been supported by municipal government, others rely solely on donations. Most communities have two entities with an interest in local history, a government-appointed “commission” and an independent, nonprofit “society.”

In Southgate, Mayor Joseph Kuspa recently proposed that the two organizations merge into a Historical Foundation, sharing resources and know-how to showcase and maintain the collection and museum. In Trenton, often-shared membership in the commission and society work to preserve the Moore House and the artifacts within.

Local involvement spans a range from community to community. Tammy Travis-Taylor, chair of the Downriver Historical Oranizations and president of the Grosse Ile Historical Society, said Grosse Ile’s historical efforts include a pool of 100 volunteers for the city’s four museums, among which the North Channel Front Range lighthouse which recently received a federal grant for restoration work.

In Lincoln Park, Jeff Day said the government-appointed commission was established in the 1970s primarily to run the city’s museum building, itself a piece of local heritage from its days as a U.S. post office. Lincoln Park, he said, was among the rare communities where the annual budget includes allowances for a museum curator, albeit a part-time position.

Ironically, many said they are finding new success and friends online, and through high school students. Several high schools, including Trenton and Southgate, include a room dedicated to local school history, and libraries continue to witness a growing interest in genealogy. Historical society members often get requests for old newspapers and other community records.

Others struggle to maintain a museum building or to attract membership or interest.

“Some people don’t even know the town has a museum,” Warren said of Southgate, a comment that met understanding nods of agreement from others in the Organization.

Under any name, the mission to collect, record and preserve community history continues throughout Downriver. For more information on local activities and attractions, visit the respective community and historical group web sites.

(James Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@bewickpublications.com.)

Jury selection was scheduled to begin Wednesday in the trial of Rameshkumar Patel, accused of two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a juvenile between the ages of 13 and 15. Ewell’s office said Tuesday that the court was awaiting additional evidence, and a pretrial conference was set for July 6 for a July 30 trial.

Prosecutors and police allege that the girl was among local youth who spent considerable time at the Fort Street shop. During preliminary testimony held at 33rd District Court, it was argued that “Rocky,” as Patel is known, often furnished minors with alcohol and permitted them to loiter in the back room to drink and use a computer. The girl testified that Patel sexually assaulted her on a cot in the back room.

Patel remained free on $75,000 bond, and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON — A museum’s collection is gathered slowly, one patient piece at a time over years and decades.

The campaign to restore and preserve the Trenton Historical Museum is, appropriately “one puzzle piece at a time” as the Historical Commission and Society hope to preserve the Moore-Boelter home that houses local history.

A 2,000-piece jigsaw puzzle depicting the two-story home — built in the late 1800s complete with gingerbread trim and green shutters — is being assembled at City Hall, and once complete will join the museum’s growing collection. Puzzle pieces are available for donors to contribute $30 each; so far, Linda Murdock of the Trenton Historical Commission said about 300 pieces have been sold to fund new windows, painting and foundation work.

Putting the pieces together is part of the mission of both the Historical Commission, a nine-member panel appointed by the mayor to oversee the home, and the Trenton Historical Society, which formed in the 1980s as a non-profit organization designed to collect and preserve the community story.

Society President Carol Hendricks, a volunteer of 30 years, said an early emphasis was on keeping track of local schools.

“One of the goals of the Society was to preserve the school history,” Hendricks said.

A room at Trenton High School is occupied by the Society, and Hendricks said that students of every generation show an interest in local history, both at the high school and during tours given to fourth- and fifth-graders.

Fundraising for the museum is a multi-faceted effort, whether through special exhibits such as the display of antique wedding dresses now showing, or during Mid-Summer Festival days.

In spite of the name and designation as a state historical site, Murdock said she doesn’t like to use of the word “museum” in describing the collection. The house built by John and Sarah Moore is decorated and equipped typical of homes from earlier eras, with a wood-burning stove and ice box dominating the small kitchen, a radio suitable for families to gather ‘round, and bedrooms equipped with chamber pots.

“A museum keeps things under glass,” Murdock said. “This is a living house.”

A house with a collection that tells the story of a community, gathered one piece at a time like the components of a puzzle.

For information on buying a puzzle piece, contributing to the museum or learning more about Trenton history, go to www.trentonhistoricalsociety.org or call 734-675-2130.

(James Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@bewickpublications.com.)

Equipment failures at the site resulted in an increase of the methane gas smell that residents have been complaining about recently to Trenton officials. City Administrator Jim Wagner said that he addressed residents concerns at a previous meeting, and thought the matter was resolved.

Then, on, April 19, an explosion at the Preserve resulted in another round of odors and resident concerns.

“I told everyone that I was in touch with the County and that it looked like things would get better sooner rather than later,” Wagner said. “Then a week later they had an explosion. They’re lucky nobody got killed.”

Questions were addressed at the council study session Monday, at which Riverview Mayor Tim Durand made himself available to the mayor, council and residents.

“The City of Riverview is very proactive in notifying us and keeping us informed,” Wagner said. Wagner and Trenton public safety officials toured the Preserve last week and were satisfied that no health hazard exists for city residents.

Along with County and DTE Energy officials, Wagner issued a statement confirming there were no injuries from the explosion, the source of which is under investigation, and that the increased odors from the Preserve will soon begin fading.

(James Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@bewickpublications.com.)

“People say we’ll get undesireable students,” Hawkins said. “I understand their point, but I think they’re off base. At 6 or 7 years old? They’re just looking for a playmate.”

As approved during Monday’s regular school board meeting Monday, school-of- choice enrollment for 2012-13 will be limited to a maximum of 60 students: 20 kindergarten seats, 10 in the first grade and 30 in 9th grade. Board members approved the enrollment 6-1, with Wayne Sieloff dissenting.

Other board members said they were not fully supportive, but the district’s financial struggles require that some corrective steps be taken. The district stands to gain more than $300,000 in additional revenue, which will help address an anticipated $700,000 budget deficit for the coming year.

More to the point, Hawkins said that allowing newcomers to class will help balance what has become a shrinking student population.

“We’re trying to slow a rapid decline,” Hawkins said. “We would love to have people move into the community, but we have empty houses and houses for sale. This gives us an opportunity to slow the decline of students, and bring in additional funds to keep the programs and opportunities going.”

Hawkins, by day a K-9 officer with the Trenton Police Department, said the resistance to outside students is misplaced.

“When someone comes in with school of choice, their parents are more vested in the kid’s education,” Hawkins said. Half of the new students will join the youngest grades, and school of choice policy allows the district to review two years’ worth of disciplinary reports to determine if a student is acceptable.

Enrollment at Trenton Public Schools has dropped by about 350 students in the past five years, a loss of up to $3 million annually in district funding. The district graduates approximately 80 more students each year than are welcomed to kindergarten.

The board has a June deadline to complete a balanced budget for the 2012-13 school year.

City Administrator Jim Wagner’s office said that the maintenance project is scheduled to last from 7 a.m. Monday through 7 p.m. Friday, and will be a complete closure of Van Horn Road at the tracks.

Motorists are asked to take the alternate route suggested by the Wayne County Road Commission, using West Jefferson, West Road and Allen Road.

Wagner said the project involved routine maintenance by Conrail.