First responders gathered at Kensington Church in Clinton Township as part of a mass casualty event simulation on Nov. 8.
C&G Newspapers | Published November 21, 2023
Emergency services simulate mass casualty event
MACOMB COUNTY — The Macomb County EMS Medical Control Authority conducted a full-scale simulation of a mass casualty event at Kensington Church in Clinton Township on the morning of Nov. 8. Over 200 participants from EMS and fire agencies, law enforcement, dispatch, emergency management and the Region 2 North Healthcare Coalition hospitals took part in the simulation to test and develop response strategies to mass casualty events.
“The safety and well-being of our community are top priorities,” said Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel in a press release. “Collaborative exercises like these play a crucial role in ensuring our emergency response teams are well prepared and equipped to handle any unforeseen challenges they may face.”
According to Macomb County officials, responding to events like mass shootings require a certain degree of planning and coordination between public safety and emergency management agencies. Events happen quickly — the November 2021 Oxford High School shooting took place over four minutes — requiring response efforts to be quick as well.
Clintondale closes schools for threat
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Clintondale Community Schools operations were disrupted in early November when district administration made the decision to cancel classes for Nov. 13.
According to a letter from Superintendent Kenneth Janczarek, the decision to cancel classes stems from “a physical altercation between students and other community members” on Nov. 10 that led to police officers being dispatched to Normandy Park. Additional reports were made to police and school officials indicating further violence could occur on Nov. 13 and the decision was made to cancel classes out of caution.
“Moving forward, please know that in any and all situations where there is violence, or a threat of violence, Clintondale Community Schools will follow all protocols to keep students and staff safe,” Janczarek said in the letter. “In addition to protocols for keeping students and staff safe, Clintondale Community Schools will follow through on filing police reports and pressing charges against any and all individuals that threaten or pose a threat to the student(s) and staff.”
Classes resumed on Nov. 14 with additional security measures, including an increased police presence.
DNR calls on hunters to report kills online
STATEWIDE — As deer hunters across Michigan set out for the woods, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters to report their deer harvests online.
Now in its second year, online deer harvest reporting through Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport and the DNR’s Hunt Fish app allows hunters to help provide the state with deer conservation and management data. In 2022, 208,408 hunters submitted a harvest report.
“We know Michigan’s deer hunters care about quality hunting opportunities and healthy deer herds,” said Chad Stewart, a DNR deer, elk and moose management specialist, in a press release. “Each online harvest report takes just a few minutes but provides critical information about hunting experiences and deer abundance all over the state. That means better management recommendations for Michigan’s deer population.”
Warren teachers receive MSGCU grants
WARREN/CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union recently announced its 2023 Classroom Cash Grants recipients, which included teachers from Warren.
Lincoln High School teacher Abigail Johnson, from the Van Dyke Public Schools district, and Cromie Elementary School educator Ashley Zachwieja, from Warren Consolidated Schools, were among the recipients.
Each teacher received a grant worth up to $750 to help implement innovative learning experiences designed to promote students’ exploration, independent thinking and problem solving. Teachers submitted project ideas in math, science, literacy, social and emotional learning, and physical education.
Classroom Cash Grants winners were determined based on total votes cast by students, parents, colleagues, family members and friends during an 11-day public online voting campaign.
MSGCU awarded more than $45,000 to 64 educators from 54 schools across the metro Detroit area. The Classroom Cash Grants initiative has funded nearly 1,200 projects since it was launched 18 years ago.