Shelby-Utica News | Published August 24, 2023
Christian Financial Credit Union gives grant to Shelby nonprofit
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The Christian Financial Credit Union Outreach & Impact Foundation recently awarded four grants totaling $7,500 to four regional nonprofit organizations. One of the grant recipients was the Daisy Project, from Shelby Township, which received $2,500.
“The Daisy Project exists to help enrich the lives of families and individuals with special needs. Grant funds will be used to help make fully accessible recreational spaces in our communities so that everyone can experience play together,” states a Christian Financial Credit Union press release.
The press release states that the Christian Financial Credit Union Outreach & Impact Foundation to date has given out $58,000 to nonprofit organizations.
“The Foundation’s mission is to support families of all kinds in the communities that the credit union serves, through stable housing, improved quality of life, financial well-being, and empowerment of the next generation,” the press release states.
Through attorneys, Grot responds to attorney general’s charges
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Shelby Township Clerk Stanley Grot, who is one of 16 Michigan residents whom Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged with a total of eight counts of forgery, uttering and publishing, election law forgery and conspiracy to commit those offenses, was arraigned on the charges Aug. 8 and appeared remotely Aug. 18 for a probable cause hearing in 54-A District Court in Ingham County. The court set a preliminary examination for Grot for Nov. 2. Grot pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment.
Nessel charged Grot and the 15 others with being allegedly false electors in the 2020 presidential election. Nessel is a Democrat and Grot is a Republican. Following Nessel’s announcement of the charges, the director of the Bureau of Elections within the Michigan Department of State told Grot not to conduct elections in Shelby Township.
On Aug. 7, attorneys Derek S. Wilczynski and Michael J. Balian released a statement on Grot’s behalf.
“We have been retained by Stanley Grot, the Shelby Township Clerk, to represent him in response to the political charges brought by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. This case is concerning as it involves the misuse of the office of Michigan’s Attorney General to intimidate and threaten duly appointed electors, such as Mr. Grot, for their support of President Trump. There is no merit to the charges alleged against Mr. Grot, and the Affidavit provided by Ms. Nessel’s investigator does not support these allegations.
“Even more troubling, the Secretary of State has issued an improper directive for Mr. Grot to cease all election-related activities simply because he has been charged by Ms. Nessel. This order deprives the residents of Shelby Township of the services they elected Mr. Grot to perform, despite their continued support during his tenure in office. The Secretary of State lacks the authority to direct Mr. Grot to stop performing his duties. We intend to address this directly with the Secretary of State’s office.
“Given the ongoing litigation, Mr. Grot will not be granting any media interviews at this time. Mr. Grot is determined to fight these false charges and asserts his innocence.
“We remain confident he will be exonerated,” the statement reads.
Shelby joins the Battle of the Badges softball game
SHELBY TOWNSHIP/UTICA — Residents can cheer on their Shelby Township police officers as they play the Chesterfield Police Department in the Battle of the Badges at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, at Jimmy John’s Field, 7001 Auburn Road in Utica. The gates will open at 1 p.m., and tickets cost $10, though kids ages 12 and younger will be admitted for free. There will be a face painter, live music and more.
See The Geri’s and more at Weekend Unwind
UTICA — There are still three Fridays left in Utica’s Weekend Unwind summer concert series. All shows take place 7-10 p.m. in Memorial Park, which is adjacent to the Utica Public Library at 7530 Auburn Road. This Friday, Aug. 25, will feature the band Acoustic Madness. Next week, on Sept. 1, a cover band new to Weekend Unwind, The Geri’s, will perform.
Weekend Unwind will wrap up for 2023 on Sept. 8 with another band new to Weekend Unwind, Detroit Social Club. The band plays blues, Motown and more.
Libraries to close for Labor Day
SHELBY TOWNSHIP/UTICA — Both the Shelby Township Library and the Utica Public Library will be closed Sept. 2-4 for Labor Day and the Labor Day weekend.