A Hazel Park man accused of shooting a man to death following an argument at a Warren gas station has been bound over for trial faces five felony counts including one count each of first-degree murder carrying concealed weapons and assault with a dangerous weapon A preliminary exam took place Tuesday and Wednesday in 37th District Court in Warren Bieda determined there was enough evidence for the case to proceed "I don't necessarily agree with that ruling but that's the ruling and we'll continue to fight for our defendant," said Williams' attorney Lucido said Williams got into an argument with a Warren man on Dec Williams left the store but returned to the area shortly after to confront the man again He allegedly struck the victim twice on his head with a handgun First responders transported the victim to a nearby hospital Williams was arrested by Warren police on Dec He was arraigned that same day and pleaded not guilty "The Warren Police Department performed a thorough and fast investigation that enabled the swift apprehension of the alleged perpetrator of this brutal crime," Lucido said "The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office can now prosecute the defendant and seek justice for the victim's family Conflicts between individuals should never be settled by violence and use of guns." Williams is being held without bond in the Macomb County Jail @max_detroitnews HAZEL PARK, Mich. (WXYZ) — The Jan. 27 Hazel Park Schools Board of Education Special Meeting was about three hours and 22 minutes long the board moved to put Hazel Park Superintendent Amy Kruppe The board said it was for a "fact-finding investigation of the allegations." questions about what the allegations are remain a Hazel Park mystery "It was really concerning because we haven’t been provided any information as to what the issue is," Hazel Park parent Jennifer Jackson told 7 News Detroit Hear more from Hazel Park parent Jennifer Jackson in the video player below: Kruppe," administrative assistant Ryann Voss said Jackson said that she has two children in the district and in the 10 years Kruppe has been superintendent she has been a wonderful addition to our community," Jackson said Kruppe has radically improved district funds Kruppe is really good at her job," Voss said "I believe they left it so vague because they don’t know what policy that she broke and they’re hoping that she did break one." 7 News Detroit obtained paperwork that shows the interim superintendent for Kruppe is being paid $800 a day Voss said the board is also paying thousands of dollars for the investigation and an attorney Hear more from administrative assistant Ryann Voss in the video player below: the only reason for all of this is that board members do not like Kruppe "This has all been a witch hunt to take down Dr Kruppe said she declines to comment at this time The school board President Beverly Hinton sent 7 News Detroit this statement: Voss and Jackson said that Hazel Park isn't waiting any longer Complaint letters have been sent to the governor and Michigan Department of Education 7 News Detroit is told that about 12 community members have formed a Committee for Ethical Transparency to Kruppe is more than a superintendent to us in the district; she is our go to person," Voss said "She’s a part of Hazel Park Schools," Jackson said Let's start with something new and exclusive to Daily Detroit First, thanks to Nate and Jade for joining us, and Mike for upping his support on Patreon with our new annual option. Local media is fueled by you, so be awesome like them! Get access to our member-only community discord chat a Daily Detroit rocks glass (depending on the tier) our member-only podcast Off The Record / Off The Rails A video tour of Kazkara from my visit today Soft opening over the weekend and launched today between 8 Mile and I-75 is a roaster and packaging operation with a small coffeeshop modern design with bar-style seating along the wall and the chairs and furniture were designed and built in Michigan Manager Pedro Suing has deep family roots in coffee and tells me they'll be fresh roasting at Kazkara they aim to open a Ferndale spot at the old Chazzano coffee location at Wanda and West Nine Mile spreading their their Dtroitr coffee brand Suing says the community warmly welcomed them for their soft open They're also doing something neat with the packaging for their bags They're working with artists connected to the origins of their coffee — including Mexico The plan is to license the art instead of buying it outright so the artist gets paid while retaining the rights to their work as they are more complex and highlight the flavors of the coffee better You can find them at 21818 John R, Hazel Park, Michigan 48030 and their hours are Monday through Friday from 7am to 4pm and 8am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Also on Instagram. This could be a huge deal for the east side There's a lot of vacant land nearby (including the former Big Boy restaurant that had a special soul food menu) and beyond the immediate benefits of being a draw for people — this would be the the kind of thing that might encourage others to build up around there The bandshell moved from the State Fairgrounds and put into place at Palmer Park is looking good There have been a ton of investments lately in the park at 7 Mile and Woodward and I'll be sure to run through them all as the weather warms up I talked a bit about the history and the glow up of Palmer Park on our podcast last September. I'll end with a little musical history connecting to Detroit Turns out that hook sample is from this Parliament track recorded in part at United Sound in Detroit It still stands today (though needs some love) I went and checked on it as it's a short walk from our podcast studio When I posted this on Instagram a commenter pointed out that Röyskopp in another track on that same Junior album sampled Stevie Wonder's "Too High" as part of "Vision One." hit me up - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com Remember that you are somebody — and I'll see you around Detroit Don Vogt almost always ran into people he knew: The longtime high school principal was notorious for running into former students and co-workers around metro Detroit and even on vacation a longtime Hazel Park High School and Lutheran High School East principal 10 after complications from a routine heart procedure scores of former students wrote Vogt was a dedicated and caring principal Volpe said those close to him will remember his positive demeanor and thousand-watt smile traits that endeared students to the school leader for decades Former students have shared that even when he called them to the office Vogt never made them feel like they were in trouble "His laugh is something that lit up a room and his smile is something that people definitely remember." He was also once credited with turning around Hazel Park High School's academic achievement scores at a dire time for the school, when it risked the threat of a state takeover, according to a 2015 article from Bridge Michigan And several former Hazel Park High School students said Vogt often acted as a prevailing voice of reason when Hazel Park opened enrollment to students from outside districts when students from different communities and walks of life clashed "He kind of helped us all navigate through and learn to accept each other and find that we had more in common than we actually thought," said Eric Runevitch a 2009 Hazel Park High graduate who remembered Vogt to be especially fond of the school's music program another former Hazel Park High School student said Vogt helped arrange for her and her siblings to attend school in Hazel Park Box so they had an address in the district and the opportunity for what they felt would be a better education When bullies tried to push LaTrice out of the school "he actually was one of the only I would say that actually really cared about me and my family," she said When her brother was killed in a road rage incident in February 2021 Vogt got back in touch to share his condolences and memories Vogt began his career teaching at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church and School in Detroit, moving then to Lutheran High School East in Harper Woods, which closed in 2004, according to his online obituary After a stint as dean of students at Concordia University in Ann Arbor More: Cyberattack shuts down Upper Peninsula's Kewadin Casinos, tribal operations More: Can Zach Bryan break the U.S. concert attendance record when he plays Michigan Stadium? superintendent for the Lutheran High School Association wrote in an email message that he was "very saddened" to hear about Vogt's passing Vogt ran a flourishing international program with the high school association working with more than 100 students from Latin America "Don was always a tremendous teacher; so many of his former students credit him for having such a positive impact on their lives," Looker wrote Visitation for Vogt is scheduled for Friday at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home Plymouth Contact Lily Altavena: laltavena@freepress.com Police said they found a handgun inside a student's backpack in a Hazel Park High School classroom Thursday The student was arrested and will be transferred to the Oakland County Children's Village according to a Hazel Park Police Department press release School officials were alerted on the OK2Say tip line which allows people to report threats digitally and anonymously The assistant principal contacted both of the school's resource detectives They interviewed the student identified in the tip He denied the allegation and detectives did not find a gun when they searched the student and his locker School officials told the student and his father that he would not be allowed back in school while the investigation continues The student requested to retrieve some items from his locker A detective accompanied him and provided the items to the student who then said he also had left a backpack in a classroom The detective located the backpack and searched it The student was arrested and transported to the Hazel Park police station A police K-9 and officers searched the building to ensure there was no further threat Authorities said there will be an increased police presence at the school "out of an abundance of caution." Authorities said information will be presented to the Oakland County Prosecutor for consideration of charges once the investigation is complete HAZEL PARK, Mich. – A Hazel Park High School student has been arrested after a gun was discovered in his backpack during a search. The incident occurred on Thursday (Feb. 27), when detectives identified the student who allegedly possessed the handgun and interviewed him. Police said the student denied having the handgun, and detectives searched his locker and bag that were in his possession, where the gun was not found on the student or in his locker. Officials said the student and his father were advised that the student would not be allowed back in school while the investigation continued. That was when police said the student requested items from his locker. He was accompanied by a detective who provided the items to the student. The student then said he had a backpack in a classroom that he needed. Officials said he pointed to the backpack, and a detective searched it and found the handgun inside, leading to his arrest. The student was transported to the Hazel Park Police Station and later transferred to Oakland County Children’s Village. An investigation into the situation is ongoing and will be presented to the Oakland County Prosecutor when completed. A police canine was requested to search the building along with police and staff to ensure safety for all. The police department said they do not believe there was any further threat to students or staff. Out of an abundance of caution and support for all, the Hazel Park police said they will have additional officers on hand to make sure staff and students feel safe. Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group in partnership with the city of Hazel Park and the DTE Energy Foundation is looking for volunteers to help plant 20 trees at Tuski Memorial Park partners with communities statewide to replenish community tree canopies through volunteer tree planting events The DTE Foundation awarded ReLeaf Michigan funding for 2025 to plant a minimum of twenty trees in 14 communities throughout Michigan joined The Metro on Monday to share more about this year’s event Communities across metro Detroit host a variety of events to engage residents throughout the year. Another one of those celebrations is happening this weekend with the Hazel Park Art Fair. The work from over 100 artists will be on display and for sale there will be a host of family-friendly activities with a few stops for beer lovers in attendance as well joined The Metro on Monday to share more about this year’s Hazel Park Art Fair Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts Ristau says the event is “truly a labor of love.” “We’re all volunteers who put it on because we just love the community and want to see the artists in our community shine and also giving Hazel Parkers and the surrounding area family-friendly event this weekend,” she said The Hazel Park Art Fair is taking place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, in Green Acres Park, Hazel Park. For more information visit hpart.org Use the media player above to hear the full interview with Ristau Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand WDET is a community service of Wayne State University CONTACT Membership Sponsorship Studio Rentals Technical Support Pitch Us a Story Help/FAQ Other Inquiries Shows Podcasts Schedule Listen Live Contests & Giveaways SUPPORT WDET Membership Leadership Circle Car Donations Business Sponsorship Broadcast Partners Program More » INSIDE WDET About Staff Jobs & Internships Public File FCC Applications Hazel Park School District Announces Catherine Cost as Interim Superintendent MI- The Hazel Park School Board has announced the hiring of Catherine Cost as Interim Superintendent after placing current Superintendent Amy Kruppe on paid administrative leave Kruppe continues to receive her salary and benefits while an attorney hired by the board investigates the allegation of “potential Board policy violations.” School Board President Beverly Hinton has not revealed to the public what the board policies in question are The decision to bench Kruppe came at a special meeting on Jan Hazel Park Schools sent out a letter to parents stating: On Feb. 3, 2025, the Board of Education appointed Catherine Cost, Ed.D. as the interim superintendent of Hazel Park Schools. “We will continue to prioritize the important work to support and serve our students, staff, school and district leaders, parents, and community of Hazel Park Schools,” Board President Beverly Hinton said.  Cost takes over for Tammy McHenry, who was named Acting Superintendent on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, after Superintendent Dr. Amy Kruppe, Ed. D. was placed on non-disciplinary, paid administrative leave pending an investigation into potential Board policy violations. “Having been a teacher, principal, and superintendent, I have a wide range of experiences that I bring to Hazel Park,” Cost said. “Having worked in Oakland County for over 20 years, I am very familiar with the resources available for students and districts. I look forward to working with the students, staff, School Board, and community of Hazel Park.” Cost most recently was the Superintendent for nearly nine years at Wyandotte Public Schools and spent eight years as Assistant Superintendent at Farmington Public Schools. She was also a Principal at Troy Athens High School for six years. The Superintendent is appointed by the members of the Board of Education to supervise, lead, and represent the District and work with the Board. Kruppe has been Superintendent of the Hazel Park School District since 2015 Hinton did not respond to questions from Oakland County Times Kruppe told Oakland County Times that she was unable to comment Cost resigned from Wyandotte Schools in April of 2023 after push-back from a cell phone tower placed on an elementary school Hazel Park School Board Votes to Place Superintendent on Paid Administrative Leave Main Street Hazel Park Making Things Happen in South Oakland County MI – Main Street Hazel Park Main Street Hazel Park (MSHP) has a lot of projects in store this year to improve its community the biggest being the Hazel Park Place Making Project It includes upgrading the corridor on John R Rd between 8 Mile and 10 Mile by decorating with more trees MSHP received $125,000 in funding for this project 60% from the Hazel Park Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and 40% from Main Street Oakland County and the new decorations will be placed throughout the summer The mission statement of MSHP is “to enhance the economic potential and promote the eclectic character of John R Rd.” The Place Making Project fits this goal because it is “trying to tie a lot of things together,” says James Finkley the Hazel Park Planning and Economic Development Director which in turn strengthens the local businesses “We want the character of that corridor to be inviting,” James explains Another project MSHP has planned for this year is the Main Street Gateway District Signage This includes the installation of new signs in the Main Street District New pole banners will also be added to the light poles on Northern John R James enjoys working for MSHP because “it’s a very unique organization It ties together business owners and different areas of our city to help grow economically and socially.” One project that reflects James’ statement is the business awareness campaign “Face and Soul of Hazel Park.” This happens once a month in which a local business is featured on the Main Street Hazel Park Facebook creating business awareness to attract more customers to the corridor “I am always finding ways to make Hazel Park open and welcoming for families,” he explains Marcel was previously on the beautification commission board he found that he wanted to help more with the businesses themselves He loves being part of MSHP because he “enjoys helping small businesses in any way we can.” Along with the “Face and Soul of Hazel Park” project the MSHP Facebook highlights any upcoming events as well as the new logo they created last year A major purpose of MSHP is to provide resources and help businesses in the area including those that are starting new and looking to open there and partnerships aimed at furthering the city’s objectives.” a business owner and resident of Hazel Park sees firsthand how the development and vitality of the businesses on MSHP have a direct effect on the type of community Hazel Park is becoming He loves working with Main Street Hazel Park because up-and-coming town that is nestled in the literal corner of Oakland We like to joke that all roads lead to Hazel Park,” Adam enthuses Along with the many projects Main Street Hazel Park does there is a lot of administrative work that goes on in the community Although this work isn’t showcased as much it is equally as important for the organization and economical development of the city and the businesses within it “It’s an exciting time to be involved with the city and we are grateful to be working on multiple projects from city signage to facade improvement grants for small businesses,” Adam said Any updates on current or upcoming plans can be found on the Main Street Hazel Park website and Facebook page (WXYZ) — It was an exciting day full of fresh veggies for fourth- and fifth-grade students in Hazel Park the district hosted its first-ever "farm to school" farmers market introducing students to fresh produce that may be unfamiliar to them I visited the market on Tuesday morning to get an inside look at what it provided and talk to students at Webb Elementary about what they learned "Today we bussed in 350 4th and 5th graders throughout Hazel Park School District," Dan Wrobbel the food service director for the school district hundreds of Hazel Park students flooded Webb Elementary in Ferndale for the district's day It was a hands-on opportunity for children to learn about fresh produce that may be unfamiliar to them Students aren't just learning about raw vegetables They're learning about planting and cooking them "The best part is we get to try vegetables that’s healthy," Sammie Milton "You said the best part is getting vegetables "Because you need vegetables to help your body so your body won’t melt down from sweetness," Sammie said Wrobbel worked to make the opportunity happen for students using grants and a partnership with the National School Lunch project they're giving away over 120 cases of fresh produce using Veggie Bucks that were distributed I know that when I walk through with a leak or deacon radish I get a lot of wide eyes in instances where children aren’t familiar with those produce," Wrobbel said households with children were food insecure with kids lacking affordable nutritious food It's a statistic that Hazel Park Schools Superintendent Amy Kruppe has seen first-hand "Food is expensive and it’s really rough for many of those in our community we want our kids to have every opportunity that every other student has," Kruppe said "What’s your favorite vegetable?" I asked fourth-grader Joey Wearing "My favorite vegetable is a tomato," Ryelee said The district said they hope to put on a market similar to this in the future "First thing I did when I came in is I walked over to the tables and said ‘How was it?’ And the kids said ‘Dr "I learned that they’re healthy for you and healthy for your stomach," Sammie said Where Your Voice Matters Hazel Park Schools administrators unveiled a plan at a board meeting Monday evening to better address what leaders acknowledged are increasing instances of restraint and seclusion at a school for students with behavioral disabilities The plan follows a Detroit Free Press series that raised questions about the use of restraint and seclusion across Michigan, including at the Edison School a Hazel Park school for students with behavioral disabilities advocates and parents say restraint and seclusion and particularly overuse of these tactics in schools can traumatize children who may already be vulnerable The working plan to reduce use of these tactics would include randomly auditing paperwork to ensure proper restraint and seclusion processes are being followed repurposing some seclusion rooms at Edison and working on more personalized plans to better address behavioral challenges for students experiencing restraint and seclusion on a regular basis The district is also putting together a committee with behavioral professionals Leaders have proposed using a new program called Ukeru to train staff to better help students in crisis Hazel Park's executive director of student services said at the meeting that district leaders were compelled to act when officials noted an increase in restraint usage "We recognize there is a significant need for us to put together a reduction plan … so we have the right supports in place to ensure that these numbers go down," she told board members the parent of a former Edison student and the co-leader of Michigan Advocates to End Seclusion and Restraint said her organization sent Hazel Park's board a letter on June 18 raising alarm over high seclusion and restraint numbers which put the district "at the head of the pack" for seclusion among districts in Michigan "I'm so happy because it means the spotlight is being shown on this practice in this school and it means .. somebody's paying attention now and that means the practice has got to change," she said Seclusion frequently involves a staff member confining a student to a room alone Some schools have rooms specifically meant for secluding children A former Edison student told the Free Press that seclusion rooms were about the size of a cubicle Restraint involves adults physically restraining a student Michigan law allows schools to use seclusion and restraint only as a last resort if a student poses a danger to themselves or others But the Free Press found state restraint and seclusion legislation passed in 2016 didn't include any consequences and whether schools follow those laws — or accurately report how many times students are secluded or restrained — is largely an honor system Michigan public school staff members reported secluding students with disabilities 11,910 times — the most recorded in a single school year since the state started reporting this data in the 2017-18 school year — and restraining them 9,076 times Hazel Park had the most instances of seclusion recorded in the second quarter of the 2023-24 school year following by Lincoln Park Schools and Genesee Intermediate School District The second quarter runs from October to December Hazel Park recorded using seclusion 392 times on 34 different students with disabilities the fifth-highest number of seclusions of all public school districts in the state that year Figures to calculate Hazel Park's rate of using the tactics in comparison with other districts weren't readily available said there is a waiting list to attend Edison which accepts students experiencing high levels of trauma which was exacerbated for some students during the coronavirus pandemic While restraint and seclusion numbers have increased the district is not pointing fingers at Edison staff particularly in aides for students with disabilities Freel's group and other advocacy organizations have for several years called for strengthened legislation to eradicate the use of seclusion and restraint in Michigan classrooms but it's unclear whether there's an appetite in Lansing to make any changes Though Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's spokesman in a statement in November 2022 wrote that it was "clear" Michigan could do more to curtail the use of these tactics in schools state lawmakers have not done anything to address conspicuous gaps in the law such as a lack of consequences for not following restraint and seclusion laws Lawmakers leading education committees said in December 2023 they could not commit to any type of reform Key groups representing Michigan teachers have been resistant to the idea of changes to the system arguing there are already few protections for teachers in classrooms when violence strikes Many school districts are already using crisis intervention programs some as a way to cut down on restraint and seclusion aiming to intervene in a crisis situation long before a student's behavior spins out of control or turns violent Edison already regularly trains staff annually in nonviolent crisis intervention but district administrators hope the new program they're considering "I think we have to disrupt the current processes in place to get another option and see if this works and helps," Kruppe said Ukeru is touted as "a trauma-informed approach" with tools that don't require teachers to resort to restraining a student. According to Ukeru's website school districts and behavioral health facilities using the program have reported decreases in staff injuries The program would cost the district an estimated $12,610, primarily for training, which would cover: attended the Edison School in 2018 and 2019 Bennett said he experienced trauma over being restrained and secluded without adequate intervention to get to the root causes of his behavioral issues Bennett's parents moved him to a suburb of Pittsburgh Bennett has flourished and is about to enter his senior year of high school at a traditional high school where he's taking honors and Advanced Placement courses in preparation for college She said hearing that Hazel Park is trying to change makes her "ecstatic." "I really think they need to have strong parent representation on a planning committee and really be prepared to dig deep into their current practices," she said Monday's meeting was a special board workshop The board will likely decide whether to use Ukeru and further consider the plan to reduce restraint and seclusion in a meeting later this month Hazel Park Mayor Touts New Businesses and Housing in Annual State of City Speech MI – City of Hazel Park Mayor Mike Webb recently shared his annual State of the City Speech touting new businesses in the city and increases in housing the Friendly City – We are pleased to host this year’s Madison Heights Hazel Park Chamber of Commerce State of the Cities Event I would like to thank Linda Williams and the Chamber Board of Directors for all of their hard work in putting on this event as well as thank Madison Heights Mayor Rosilyn Grafstein and the City staffs at both Madison Heights and Hazel Park for all of their efforts to make this breakfast successful is a great example of the new and exciting things happening in the City of Hazel Park   Let’s have a round of applause for this beautiful venue 2024 was another exciting year for the City of Hazel Park and we expect 2025 to be even better We received hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants we’re working to put those funds to use to serve our residents We have exciting new recreation opportunities and we’re continuing to upgrade our community recreation center for the first time in decades We continue to work collaboratively with other cities as well as the State of Michigan and Oakland County government to improve services and to be fiscally responsible with Hazel Park’s tax dollars and a pizzeria have all decided to call our city home as well So too did various retail and service businesses like Luxe Perfumes has received site plan approval for a brick-and-mortar location on the S was named Michigan’s Restaurant of the Year by Hour Magazine their owners recently constructed a 1,000 square-foot wine bar addition is “reminiscent of the wine caves of old Europe.” Another of our shinning stars is Exclterra Corporation We have frequently highlighted them in past state of the city addresses They have expanded their activities from three states to 12 and they are now active in five foreign countries Their Sustainable Agriculture Passive System could revolutionize agriculture reducing the need for fertilizers and excessive irrigation This is the fifth anniversary of the installation of their radioactivity decontamination project at Chernobyl the results will be announced in the fall of 2025 nearly 1,300 permits were issued by the Building Department this work required nearly 3,500 inspections Our designated “Main Street” corridor of John R Rd witnessed ongoing construction of what will become the Corktown Health center and the new storefront at Gameday Detroit The North John R Road Diet was a big change as well complete with bike lanes and a pedestrian island to improve non-motorized transit and walkability Five public projects saw over two hundred thousand of investment into John R while 9 private building rehabs totaled $7.5 million and two dozen pole banners went up at no cost to the City our inaugural “Main Street District” gateway sign was installed just south of 10 Mile Rd Over one hundred thousand was awarded by the DDA to local businesses as part of the 2024 Façade Improvement Grant Program Three of these projects have been completed and reimbursed more than one million dollars in federal and County grant funds have been secured for future placemaking efforts along John R I’m excited to report that many of the plans we’ve talked about during the past couple State of the City addresses have now come to fruition we were across the street at Eastern Palace proudly highlighting Hazel Park’s South-end the South End of Hazel Park is thriving according to plan Eastern Palace and Smoked Lotus continue to be successful and My Town Market has renovated its interior Hazel Perk Café is becoming a popular destination and we will soon welcome Pop-Up Hazel Park a grant-funded storefront opportunity for new startup businesses is a brand-new ice cream shop that will undoubtedly become a family friendly destination for all of Hazel Park I announced that we were working with Madison Heights and Royal Oak to establish a co-responder program that will enable trained mental health professionals to respond to incidents that are better handled by the mental health system rather than the criminal justice system Oakland Community Mental Health now provides two clinicians to provide this important service Police Chief William Hamel indicates that our officers use the program on a daily basis to help those with mental health The program needs continued state and county support for it to continue we also talked about the importance of changing the law at the state level so that local units of government could participate in the Ground Emergency Medical Transport Program Thanks to the successful efforts of the bill’s sponsor as well as the lobbying efforts of Hazel Park I want to recognize Judge Hartwell and his team at the 43rd District Court for their work in establishing a Treatment Court the court is providing 18 months of accountability and support to our neighbors who want to overcome their dependence on drugs or alcohol while expecting a few stumbles along the way but he also wants the courtroom to be a place of reward and celebration as participants accomplish stabilizing goals in their lives — for example We continue to move forward revitalizing our neighborhoods Hazel Park has seen an expansion of residential housing construction Robertson Brothers recently completed their new 54 unit condo housing project Vacant residential lots are in high demand by developers who are continuing to build new homes across our city the recent adoption of our new Zoning Ordinance will usher in major changes including moving to a largely “form-based” approach Addressing “missing middle” housing by greatly increasing flexibility for things like duplexes and accessory dwelling units will lead to increased housing options Hazel Park led every city in Oakland County in increased residential property values Hazel Park has been amazingly successful at tapping into an array of public and private grant opportunities in the past few years our staff is in the process of managing these grants and ensuring a successful completion of construction Hazel Park has received multiple grants from Oakland County for our recreation department including $300,000 for our recreation center This was the first serious upgrade to Hazel Park’s largest park in over 30 years was instrumental in helping Hazel Park win these grants and Oakland County Parks Director Chris Ward Hazel Park is also on schedule in the pre-construction phase of managing a HUD Community Funding federal grant to turn the underutilized pole barn next to our recreation department into a beautiful new community meeting space This project will add much needed space for community groups and events hosted in our area The recreation center is also being upgraded and Hazel Park will host a satellite office of Oakland County Parks and Recreation the City of Hazel Park is continuing to partner with the Hazel Park School District to improve recreation opportunities for our community’s young people The jointly funded Junior Vikings sports program has been wildly popular with our youth restoring football & cheerleading programs and helping fund our amazing youth wrestling program Look for even more sports and recreation opportunities to be added soon I want to thank our Police and Fire Departments for their hard work protecting our city I also want to thank our residents for being supportive of those departments our Department of Public Works continues to keep us safe and strives to maintain our infrastructure Let’s hear an update from our new Police Chief and Director of Public Works and some other department heads we will continue to provide excellent police and fire services work on further improving our recreation programs One area of special concern will be local road repair This will be the beginning of a multi-year program that will address the worst roads first The state has historically underfunded local roads so we will be undertaking many repairs on our own because we couldn’t run our city without our dedicated volunteers I want to thank all the people of Hazel Park who donate their time to make our city a better place Community groups like the Lions Club and the Hazel Park Eagles provide important volunteer resources for our city Whether you’re a member of one of our service clubs plant and water with the Flower Club or Beautification Commission your contributions to Hazel Park are important I have to thank our amazing administration and department heads as well as the hardworking members of our police Serving our residents is our number one mission  I want to recognize a couple of employees who had major significant accomplishments Finance Director/Assistant City Manager Laci Christiansen completed Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University last year joining City Manager Ed Klobucher and County Executive Dave Coulter as a graduate of that prestigious program HR Director Jared Gajos was named a Notable Non-Profit Board Member by Crains Detroit Business for his work with the Oakland County Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities Board of Directors I am pleased to work with a great City Council that includes Alissa Sullivan I want to thank them their hard work and cooperative attitude along with our talented staff to try make Hazel Park a great place to live will end production in Michigan on April 14 and lay off 188 workers in Warren and Hazel Park Akasol, a wholly owned subsidiary of BorgWarner Inc., issued a WARN notice that said two of its plants would close in Oakland and Macomb counties Akasol is a German company that assembles lithium-ion batteries for electric commercial vehicles a spokesperson said that BorgWarner manages the company to position it to “grow above market.” we have decided to shift all battery production from our Hazel Park and Warren “We believe in our battery product portfolio and the opportunity for continued growth as customers increasingly require innovative e-mobility solutions.” The spokesperson would not disclose whether the Michigan workers would be offered roles in the company's Seneca plant “We aim to affect the fewest number of people possible,” the person said without elaborating The Hazel Park location had been open less than five years and was built on the bones of the Hazel Park Raceway The raceway closed in 2018 and reopened in 2020 for Akasol production Everything around the EV business is challenging the R&D costs are extensive,” Abuelsamid said but if they don’t see a near-term return on investment with all the other challenges around the industry right now the stuff that’s likely to take a longer return on investment is likely to be sacrificed in the near term.” Akasol reportedly had more than 300 full-time employees and three facilities across Germany and one facility in the United States at the time of its acquisition by BorgWarner first announced in February 2021 and completed the following year “We are excited to add Akasol's innovative products capabilities and team to BorgWarner as we advance our plan to grow our electric vehicle businesses to approximately 45% of total revenues by 2030 under Project Charging Forward,” BorgWarner CEO Frédéric Lissalde said at the conclusion of the purchase “Our companies share a commitment to delivering innovative environmentally friendly solutions to our global customers we’ll be even better positioned to do just that.” Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press Hazel Park School Board Votes to Place Superintendent on Paid Administrative Leave the Hazel Park School Board voted unanimously to place Superintendent Amy Kruppe on non-disciplinary paid administrative leave while they conduct an investigation into potential school board policy violations The decision came following a closed session portion of the meeting and no specific reason was given to the public The School District sent the following statement to parents: We are writing to inform you that the Hazel Park Schools Board of Education voted on Monday paid administrative leave pending an investigation into potential Board policy violations Tammy McHenry will serve as Acting Superintendent ensuring the smooth operation of our district while Oakland Schools assists us in finding an Interim Superintendent “While the District is undergoing some change the Board remains optimistic and will be guided by our fiduciary duty to protect and educate our students as they pursue their goals,” said Hazel Park Schools Board President Beverly Hinton “The Board appreciates all feedback from the school community and the families that we serve.” We understand this news may raise questions and we want to assure you that the Board is committed to transparency and will provide updates as the investigation progresses Please contact School Board President Beverly Hinton (beverly.hinton@myhpsd.org) with any concerns Board President Hinton did not respond to questions sent by Oakland County Times Kruppe responded stating that she is unable to answer questions at this time And the district’s communications director also stated that they were not able to answer further questions who is serving as the interim superintendent until Oakland Schools can provide one is the Principal at Hazel Park High School and has previously served as junior high school principal in the District This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Learn more about Hazel Park Schools at https://www.hazelparkschools.org/ Mar 14 – Hazel Park Madison Heights State of the City Breakfast MI – Come to the Madison Heights Hazel Park Chamber of Commerce State of the Cities breakfast on Friday 2025 from 8:30am to 11:30am at Boozy’s Bar and Grill in Hazel Park More info and tickets: https://www.mhhpchamber.com/event/save-the-date-state-of-the-cities-march-14/ An automotive supplier will close two facilities in Metro Detroit and lay off close to 200 workers According to a WARN notice to the state from Akasol Inc. a subsidiary of Auburn Hills-based BorgWarner the automotive supplier's sites in Hazel Park and Warren will close permanently and 188 employees will lose their jobs between April 14 and July "BorgWarner actively manages our portfolio to position it to grow above market Michigan locations to our existing plant in Seneca South Carolina," the company said in an email sent by spokesperson Michelle Collins The Warren facility is in a building constructed by NorthPoint Development in an industrial park at the site of the former General Motors Co Warren Transmission Plant at 23590 Mound Road mabelgraykitchen.com Online review platform Yelp released its first list of the top 100 pizza spots in the Midwest and plenty of other metro Detroit pizzerias rounded out the list 1 spot on Yelp's Top 100 Midwest pizzas is Loui’s Pizza's current owner is Nykolas (Nyk) Sulkiwskyj "Now I am building on my grandfather’s legacy.”   "We still make pizzas just like he did — with caramelized cheese walls around the outside which has a high butterfat content,” Sulkiwskyj told Yelp featuring Nyk’s grandmother’s barbecue sauce recipe Yelp also highlighted Loui's "setting with red booths and wine bottles festooned with fairy lights." “My grandfather invited customers who ordered Chianti to sign the straw baskets holding the empty bottles Other metro Detroit and statewide pizza places on Yelp's list include: Yelp's Top 100 Pizza Spots in the Midwest for 2024 featured eateries in a dozen states: Iowa Yelp cited the Midwest as the "birthplace of some of America’s most iconic and beloved types of pies" including Chicago deep-dish pizza and popular Detroit-style pizza describing it as "big bold squares baked in steel pans with a cheesy While rounding up some of the best Midwest pizzas Yelp spotted some trends from pizza makers spicing up the menu with fiery toppings to new creative flavor combos and special orders such as different dietary offerings from gluten-free to vegetarian and vegan choices More: Franklin Village new eatery slated for an historic space Yelp factored in the total volume and ratings of reviews and included up to five businesses per city The businesses were listed as open as of June 10 Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInLINCOLN (KOLN) - Hazel Abel Park in Lincoln is closed until further notice due to damage from Wednesday’s blizzard A photo from Lincoln Parks and Recreation shows a downed tree resting on a renaissance-style gazebo in the park The park will reopen once forestry division crews assess and remove the downed tree Residents are advised to avoid the park while work is being completed ALSO WATCH: Night Beat with Danielle Shenk Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox OC Restaurant Quest: Boozy’s Bar and Grill in Hazel Park MI – Recently opened in Hazel Park is a fun and thoughtfully designed bar called Boozy’s Boozy’s features a beautifully lit marble bar A friend and I went to check it out and ordered a few good things to share We started with spinach artichoke dip with the good kind of pita chips – the ones that are warm and the perfect mix of crunchy edges and soft middles Next up was the BBQ Chicken Flatbread with grilled chicken We also got an order of smash burger sliders – artfully topped with a skewered tomato and tiny sweet pickles Brussel Sprouts with bleu cheese and bacon but my friend had Rolling Rock and assured me that the prices at Boozy’s are good.They also offer mixed drinks and craft cocktails Other food options include salads like the Wedge and the Wild Greens, and entrees like Southwest Tacos, Lamb Chops, and Nashville Hot Chicken and Bacon. For dessert one might enjoy the baked brownie with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce, the three layer carrot cake or skillet chipper. Check out the full menu and more at www.boozys.com Do you have a suggestion for our OAKLAND COUNTY RESTAURANT QUEST? Join in the conversation on Facebook and leave your recommendations For a city by city list of all reviews  Click HERE. Two artists with uniquely different approaches and styles are being featured together partly because of their common bond: Detroit-bred rock and roll “Detroit Royalty” is a collection of prints and paintings from Niagara and “Snapshots” is a photographic retrospective of the late Sigrid Dobat Both exhibits will be celebrated with a reception Friday and will be up through the end of November at the Gallery at Ideation Orange in Hazel Park A successful and world-recognized artist for decades Niagara was a force in the Detroit rock and punk scenes of the 1970s and '80s She fronted the bands Destroy All Monsters and Dark Carnival which featured Ron and Scott Asheton of the Stooges many with her signature femme fatale style Photographer Sigrid Dobat's exhibit features rare old photographs of recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees the MC5 as well as snaps from around the globe The German-born photographer moved to Detroit with her family in 1957 and started taking photos and becoming part of the local art and music scene at a young age was married to MC5 guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith from 1969-1980 “Her retrospective will show work from throughout her life,” said Lisa Marie Smith who is co-hosting the exhibits with Joell Hart of Iconica Art “Sigrid was a trained photographer and a world traveler She even obtained a pilot’s license to continue her love for travel.” “Sigrid really had a mastery of the medium,” said Smith who spent time with Dobat’s loved ones to learn more about her for this exhibit “I can say that Sigrid was a very interesting person and I’m happy to be able to represent her work on the request of her family and friends.” the exhibits can be viewed by appointment through Nov RSVP to reception: eventbrite.com/e/niagara-detroit-royalty-art-exhibit-sigrid-dobat-snapshots-photography-exhibit-tickets-1034994003927 Hazel Park Student Arrested for Bringing Gun to School in Backpack Hazel Park High School received a tip through OK2Say that a student had a gun in a backpack The Assistant Principal contacted both Hazel Park Police School Resources Detectives who initiated an investigation Detectives identified a student who allegedly possessed a handgun and was interviewed The student denied being in possession of a handgun Detectives also searched the student’s locker and bag in his possession No handgun was found on the student or in his locker the student and his father were advised the student would not back in school while the investigation continued The student then requested to get items from his locker he was accompanied by a detective who provided the items to the stuedent The student then stated he had a backpack in a classroom he needed A detective searched the backpack and found a handgun inside The student was arrested and transported to the Hazel Park Police station The student will then be transferred to Oakland County Children’s Village This investigation is still ongoing and will be presented to the Oakland County Prosecutor when completed A police canine was requested to search the building along with police and staff to ensure safety for all The police department does not believe there is any further threat to students or staff Out of an abundance of caution and support for all the Hazel Park Police will have additional officers on hand to make sure staff and students feel safe NOTE: Police and Fire Reports come directly from the agency involved and are written by the person or agency listed below the title We generally run these “as is” or with minimal editing for punctuation Those needing more information about a case are encouraged to follow up with the reporting agency or court system for the most current information This story is presented without internal advertising due to the nature of the story a popular Hazel Park spot known for its chef residencies program First reported by Eater Detroit the Hazel Park establishment lists "temporarily closed" on its Facebook page was the subject of a recent Eater Detroit report questioning how profits are shared with food operators who host pop-up series at the venue a part of Framebar's model after two chef operators canceled their events the owners said Frame's last sold-out service is Friday evening and "a new chef concept will be taking over the space." Khana, a popular Pakistani street food pop-up from Maryam Khan and Street Beet shared on May 15 in separate Instagram posts “that they were canceling with the venue due to financial concerns," according to Eater Detroit Both pop-ups were scheduled to be a part of Mixtapebar, a monthlong series paired with WDET host Ryan Patrick Hooper More: Menu Highlight: Tea house owner stopped to tell me how to eat this dish, and I was grateful More: Detroit native debuts new ‘Food Gifts’ cookbook with 150+ recipes for perfect presents At question was the proposed profit split percentages from the pop-up event between the pop-up operators and Framebar “The way that they were proposing it to work out with us and Khana was that they would take 40 percent of our profits we still have our own labor to cover and our own food costs to cover," Paletta told Eater So that literally leaves us with nothing when you break it down." but said that "demand for more of a sit-down dining experience by the bar’s mostly suburban customer base forced them to change Framebar’s formula." which was also to be a part of Frame's Mixtapebar series from May 31-June 2 announced its cancellation on Instagram a week ago While Pink Flamingo posted it was aware of the 60-40 profit share it stated "After internal discussions and conversations with Frame we realized that the math doesn’t work for us especially considering the cost of food and labor right now — which we would have been responsible for covering (they cover overhead and more)." the mission of Frame and Framebar is to "celebrate mixologists and other culinary leaders in the restaurant and bar world We seek out the best and brightest talent — forward-thinking makers and those deeply devoted to their craft — and provide them the framework and support to succeed in our editorially curated spaces." Framebar and Frame have hosted numerous monthlong chef-in-residence programs dinners with local and national chefs and even cooking classes Framebar is on the corner of John R and Hamata and in the same block as the popular Mabel Gray a well-known and award-winning metro Detroit chef the Freep Film Festival’s food-focused documentaries were all screened inside Frame's heated all-season pavilion behind the restaurant the Hazel Park business has undergone several concepts including its early 2019 transformation from Joebar which opened just two years prior and was known as a neighborhood bar to Latido at Joebar offering Central and South American cuisine Latido at Joebar was transforming back to Joebar offering a menu of past favorites a dining space within the restaurant where many themed dinners take place Part of Frame's appeal is that it's a space behind a hidden door and an intimate setting requiring you to buy tickets for the events Frame in 2018 was named one of the top 10 best new restaurants in metro Detroit by the Detroit Free Press While it was the Vaughns' first restaurant they've been known for their 25-plus years of producing food and hospitality photography around metro Detroit for chefs Customers can email hello@framehazelpark.com with any questions Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on X, formerly known as Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press Candidate Interview: Nathan “Nate” Becker for Hazel Park School Board MI – In the race for Hazel Park School Board there are eight people running for four seats The candidates are incumbent April Beaton For other interviews visit our Candidate Interview Page For a complete list of candidates and ballot issues, visit the Oakland County Clerk’s Election Page.  Also check out the State of Michigan Election Page for info on where to vote and more Oakland County Times does not endorse any candidates, and advertising does not imply endorsement. All candidates are welcome to do interviews. There is a processing fee to help cover the costs of this series. Contact editor@oc115.com for more information New videos are added frequently up until Election Day If you value the work we do here at Oakland County Times Buy Advertising on this site Sign up to Make a Monthly Pledge (WXYZ) — When it comes to placing political campaign signs There are rules candidates and their volunteers must follow “We don’t put signs anywhere unless they’re approved," said Jim Fouts The former mayor of Warren said when he learned two of his campaign signs were removed from outside a business in Hazel Park he requested surveillance footage from inside Hazel Park City Hall from that day he said city clerk Lisa Mayo is seen carrying the signs 7 News Detroit spoke with Mayo today about why she removed Fouts' signs “Because somebody called and said that they were on the easement She said Fouts' signs were placed between the curb and the sidewalk why is she going out as the city clerk of Hazel Park Why is she going out and taking up signs?” It just depends on who gets the phone call.” "What's the number one issue today is election integrity." I have removed political signs from other political parties and so forth State Representative Mike McFall is Fouts opponent in the race Mayo also showed 7 News Detroit McFall's campaign sign sitting in the room where the signs are stored until candidates come to pick them up it was in a planter container that belongs to the city," Mayo said Mayo said the bottom line is “it cannot be on public property.” 7 News Detroit reached out to state representative Mike McFall who said the following in a statement: Aiken Mayor Teddy Milner and Parks Director Jessica Campbell cut a ceremonial ribbon to reopen Smith-Hazel Park March 26 Also pictured are City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh City Councilwomen Lessie Price and Gail Diggs and Mayor Pro Tempore Ed Girardeau goes down a slide at the newly reopened Smith-Hazel Park March 26 Aiken City Councilwoman Gail Diggs speaks at the reopening of Smith-Hazel Park on March 26 go down a slide at the newly reopened Smith-Hazel Park on March 26 A girl jumps on the in-ground trampoline at Smith-Hazel Park on March 26 Doris Ritter took a look around Aiken's Smith-Hazel Park and Recreation Center two years ago and she didn't like what time and decades of neglect had done to the park in which she'd grown up playing "Terrible" was the word Ritter used after Aiken Mayor Teddy Milner and Parks Director Jessica Campbell cut a ceremonial ribbon to open the newly renovated park March 26 The Smith-Hazel Park and Recreation Center opened in 1963 at the Aiken Graded School (torn down in 1973) according to a history complied by the Schofield Community Association Both facilities are named after Josie Hazel and Jason Smith who worked to get a pool for the city's Black children in the 1950s many children and teenagers started their weekends with basketball games at the park and no upgrades came — except for the pool — in the decades that followed the park's heyday Mayor Pro Tempore Ed Girardeau said he visited the park to play basketball in his youth "I could not believe [it]," Girardeau said "The [outdoor] court itself was buckling and the roots were coming in There was no way anybody could possibly have played on that court Children coming off the slide or falling off the swings landed in dirt in the summer when I'd ride by here… I never saw any kids playing on them," Diggs continued The city began upgrading the park and recreation center two years ago Diggs and Councilwoman Lessie Price led the push for upgrades the district Diggs represents on the city council "I was elected to council 13 years ago," Diggs said "Some of the first questions I was asked was why does our center look so bad?"  who represents District 2 which includes the rest of the city's Northside often works with Diggs on issues affecting that part of the city my father and mom raised 10 kids on Kershaw Street," Price said "This was home for us with a family with that many children This was our other home in terms of coming to Smith-Hazel Recreational Center."  The years-long process of upgrading the park and recreation center reminds a person of what patience means "And I've shared this with the chief and others But things happen with patience and with communicating with each other…" Sometimes government activity can seem slow "Sometimes that's a good thing so that we don't get about over our too far over our skis but every council person felt this was an important thing to get done," she added The upgrades mean park and recreation center users "got moved up in the world," Diggs said The recreation center did not have bathrooms compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act Hattie E. Thurmond said the restrooms were the first thing she looked at when the city held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 25 to mark the completion of interior renovations to the Smith-Hazel Recreation Center there were too little stalls and the toilets were always broken and there was just two little sinks a new reception desk (pictures of Smith and Hazel now hang in the lobby) and a new heating you could make… the guy with the ball go to the dead spot… they lose the ball… you can run in there and take it away from them and go get a lay up for nothing," he added Upgrades to the exterior include new playground equipment complete with padding for children falling off swings or coming down the slide a new picnic shelter (furniture will arrive soon) and new tennis courts The playground also includes an in-ground trampoline which children were using during the ribbon-cutting ceremony "I never heard of such a thing," Brohl said "But the kids obviously took to it like ducks to water."  Diggs and Girardeau declined to use the trampoline to install pickleball courts and the United Way plans to install a walking trail for children and their parents "There's a lot of people supporting us to allow us to have a place like this here," Adams said Leonard Bush said he held tennis clinics on the old courts and March 26 was his first time seeing the upgraded park but wanted to make sure the community and the city maintain them Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Investigators are trying to determine what caused a house fire in Hazel Park Friday morning that killed a 59-year-old woman and her 80-year-old mother A driver headed westbound on Eight Mile Road saw smoke and turned into the neighborhood where they saw the the single-family home at 1561 East Muir Avenue on fire said Hazel Park Fire Department Chief Richard Story but accidental smoking or an electrical issue could be responsible Firefighters extinguished most of the fire within an hour and found the two women dead inside the home Officials did not find two other family cats Those cats may be wandering around the neighborhood was probably burning for about a good hour before it probably broke through the roof One of the victims' husbands was on a trip home from northern Michigan when the fire broke out though Story said it may need to be demolished A neighbor's garage about 40 feet away also sustained damage Police and an official with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office are investigating and speaking with family members