Macomb County Public Works Office engineer Steve Wagner, left, and Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller visit the work site near 21 Mile and Garfield roads.
Macomb Chronicle | Published July 27, 2023
21 Mile and Garfield sewer lining completed, odor work begins
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Drivers in Macomb Township have an easier time getting around as the sewer work at 21 Mile and Garfield roads has come to an end.
Work recently finished installing spiral-wound PVC lining along the Garfield Interceptor sewer, which required lane closures so the PVC could be wound down into the shaft. The lining was required due to corrosion on the pipe caused by hydrogen sulfide gases produced by fast-flowing sewage.
“What our inspections showed would keep you up at night. We were in danger — maybe not this year, but certainly soon — of having an actual sinkhole or some sort of a collapse here,” Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller said. “It had to be fixed.”
While the sewer has been lined, work is not over for the interceptor and the 21 Mile and Garfield roads intersection. The county has begun working on a project to reduce sewage odors and further protect the sewer from corrosive gases. A fan will be installed to draw the gases out of the interceptor and through an odor-extracting carbon filter before being piped out above ground. Lane closures will not be required for the project.
The Garfield Interceptor is part of the Macomb Interceptor Drainage District and follows Garfield Road underground from 21 Mile Road down to 18 Mile Road. The section at 21 Mile and Garfield roads was installed in 2000 and carries sewage flows from Macomb and Shelby townships.
Local fourth grader wins pageant, seeks volunteer opportunities
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Maliya James, 9, of Clinton Township, will represent Michigan at a top-level pageant this fall after winning the National American Miss Michigan Jr. Pre-Teen pageant on July 8.
“We just went with positive energy,” said Shantinique James, Maliya’s mother. “We went with smiles. Even if there were pageant moms not smiling at us, we just said go and spread positive energy and that’s what she does. I’ve never met a soul that was so positive and so loving.”
Taking place in Columbus, Ohio, alongside the Ohio pageant, Maliya’s crowning of Miss Michigan Jr. Pre-Teen qualifies her to compete at the National American Miss pageant in Orlando, Florida in November. Along with winning the main crown, Maliya took first place in the “Miss Personality,” best resume and art contest categories. It is her first year competing in pageants.
Outside of pageants, Maliya has been active in dancing, originally receiving lessons in ballet before taking up jazz dancing. She placed second in High Point Virtual Academy’s spelling bee and is a Girl Scout. She loves animals and volunteers with Rejoyceful Animal Rescue when her schedule allows.
Maliya is looking for additional ways to volunteer around the area. Please email shantiniquejames@gmail.com about any volunteering opportunities.
Watershed council, politicians to clean up Clinton River in August
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Politicians and officials will come together with the public for a morning of cleaning on the Clinton River on Saturday, Aug. 26.
Organized by the Clinton River Watershed Council, participants will meet at Budd Park in Clinton Township and be broken up into three groups: one to clean up Shadyside Park in Mount Clemens, one to clean up the Don Green Trail between Budd and Canal Parks, and one to clean up along the river itself between Shadyside and MacArthur parks.
A bipartisan group of officials will take part in the cleanup including state Reps. Joe Aragona and Denise Mentzer, state Sens. Kevin Hertel and Veronica Klinefelt, and members of the Mount Clemens City Commission and the Clinton Township Board of Trustees.
Gloves, bags and trash grabbers will be provided for volunteers. For more information visit www.crwc.org or call (248) 601-0606.
Gift shop artists get spotlight at Anton Center Art Market show
MOUNT CLEMENS — Artists whose work graces the Anton Art Center’s gift shop will have their works on full display until Aug. 26 during the Art Market Art Show.
“This show is our first exhibition and competition for our participating Art Market artists,” said Stephanie Hazard, the Anton Art Center’s exhibitions manager. “The artists that participate in the gift shop were invited to participate in a juried show.”
A total of 21 Art Market artists represented across 40 works were juried by Janet Almstadt-Davison, an artist and former art teacher with degrees from Olivet College, Oakland University and Wayne State University. She is also a member of numerous art societies. Artists come from around Michigan and range from working artists to people involved in various Anton Art Center classes. The Anton Art Center is open for regular business hours Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public, and the center is accessible for those in need of mobility assistance.