Ferndale Resident Dead after Being Restrained by Mall Security (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 30, 2014) 24-year-old Mackenzie Gordon Cochrane is dead after being pepper sprayed and held down by three Northland Mall Security Guards on Tuesday. Southfield Police told Fox 2 News that the man “appeared ready to assault someone. He was breathing heavy and…
Middle School Students Give “Fernbery” Literature Award (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 29, 2014) Surrounded by the books of the Ferndale Public Library, teens from Ms. Ferrini’s class at Ferndale Middle School held The Fernbery Award on Tuesday to recognize great works of literature for this year and to vote on their favorite. The Fernbery Awards…
Three Ferndale Firemen Jobs Temporarily Safe as Merger Talks Continue (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 29, 2014) Talks of a fire department merger between Ferndale and Hazel Park have been going on for years, but the hopefulness continues this week as Ferndale City Council voted to delay three firefighter layoffs in anticipation of the merger moving…
Ferndale Reminds Dog Owners to Renew Licenses (City of Ferndale Press Release, Jan. 28, 2014) 2014 dog licenses are now being provided to all dog owners by Oakland County Animal Control. As a reminder, any dogs over the age of four months are required to have a valid dog license in the State of Michigan. …
Cold Prompts School Closings for Tuesday (C. Proxmire, Jan. 27, 2014) School administrators across SE Michigan have declared Tuesday a “snow day” due to temperatures and wind chills below zero. Classes and events will be cancelled in many districts, including Berkley, Birmingham, Clawson, Farmington, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Madison Public Schools, Pontiac, Rochester Schools, Royal Oak,…
40 Under 40 Announced, Public to Pick Top Winner (Oakland County Press Release, Jan. 27, 2014) Starting Jan. 27 the public can cast an online vote to choose the winner of the Oakland County Executive’s Elite 40 under 40 Class of 2014. More than 500 applications and nominations were reviewed by a panel of judges,…
Ferndale to Open Warming Center on Tuesday and Wednesday (City of Ferndale Press Release, Jan. 27, 2014) Ferndale, Michigan– Southeast Michigan temperatures continue to be frigid, and people who have to be out in it have been warned to limit their time outdoors, wear several layers of clothing, and cover up as much as possible…
Oakland Chamber Network Learns From National Trends (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 27, 2014) Collaborating to improve the environment for business success is the core strength of Chambers of Commerce in general, and the Oakland Chamber Network doubles up on that principle by bringing 27 local Chambers together. At their annual meeting on Jan. 22, OCN…
Group Seeks Ballot Measure to Increase Minimum Wage (Mothering Justice Press Release, Jan. 27, 2014) Community organizing, social justice and labor groups today formed a committee to explore a ballot campaign to raise the minimum wage in Michigan. The minimum wage in Michigan –currently $7.40 an hour – hasn’t been raised since 2008, leaving many…
2014 Ferndale Blues & Music Festival Under Way (C. Proxmire, Jan. 26, 2014) The Ferndale Blues and Music Festival is under way, with the first two nights of live bands drawing fantastic crowds to several local bars including Rosie O’Grady’s, Dino’s Lounge, Howe’s Bayou, One-Eyed Betty’s, Sneaker’s, Bosco and Boogie Fever. The fun continues through…
The Return on Investment from Michigan Passenger Rail (Dan Sommerville, Michigan Environmental Council, Jan. 26, 2014, orig. Michigan by Rail Blog) Passenger rail has been booming nationwide and in Michigan. Record-breaking ridership was recorded in 10 of the last 11 years (1) (2), and there has been a whopping 78% growth in Michigan ridership since…
Bad Checks, Cell Phone Thefts and More in Royal Oak Police Report (Lieutenant David Clemens, Royal Oak Police Dept., Jan 24, 2014) For the week of January 16, 2014 through January 23, 2014 Larceny from an Automobile 400 block of N. Main, 1-18-14 – 1-19-14, 8:00pm – 11:00am: Complainant parked her vehicle in a nearby…
Citizens for Fair Ferndale Recognized by County Commission (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 23, 2014) Could a commitment to civility improve political discourse throughout Oakland County? Commissioner Helaine Zack was so impressed by a Good Neighbors Project and Civility Pledge in Ferndale that she decided to bring the idea to her colleagues on the Oakland…
Beyond Coal Kicks Off Oakland County Campaign (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 23, 2014) Over 70 people came together Tuesday night in Ferndale to begin organizing a campaign to convince DTE to phase out their coal-burning power plants. Beyond Coal has been a project of the Sierra Club nationally for 30 years, and until recently…
Ferndale Police Report: Woman Robbed at Knife-point (Lt. William Wilson, Ferndale Police Dept., Jan. 21, 2014) On Monday, January 20, 2014 a 52 year old Ferndale woman reported that shortly before 7:00 p.m. she was robbed at knife point. The woman said that she had been in the Ferndale Library and walking home. Near the…
Blues Festival Brings People to Ferndale, Raises Money for Charity, Jan. 24 – Feb. 2 (Ferndale Blues Festival Press Release, Jan. 20, 2014) For the 13th year in a row, the now legendary Annual Bud Light Ferndale Blues & Music Festival will bring music and crowds to locations across Ferndale with more than five dozen…
Details of UAW Contract with Ferndale Schools (Ferndale Schools Press Release, Jan. 20, 2014) EDITOR’S NOTE: Ferndale Schools is currently negotiating with all unions in hopes of wage concessions. Read a letter from School Board President Jim O’Donnell at https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/01/19/letter-from-ferndale-school-board-president-jim-odonnell-on-budget/, and a story on picketing at the School Board meeting at https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/01/14/proposed-pay-cuts-to-teachers-and-staff-spark-protest-at-ferndale-schools/. The union agreement…
Promises Kept: Because I Said I Would (video) (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 19, 2014) Are promises more meaningful than resolutions? That’s the idea behind the Because I Said I Would project that came to several cities on New Year’s Eve, including Dino’s Lounge in Ferndale. Over 200 people made promises they posted on the Because…
Letter from Ferndale School Board President Jim O’Donnell on Budget (Jim O’Donnell, Jan. 19, 2014) (EDITOR’S NOTE: This letter was submitted by School Board President Jim O’Donnell and also appeared in the Ferndale Schools e-blast. This is in response to public questions about ongoing negotiations with district employees, discussed in this article: https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/01/14/proposed-pay-cuts-to-teachers-and-staff-spark-protest-at-ferndale-schools/) Ferndale Public…
Update: Suspect in Ferndale Murder Arraigned (Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 17, 2014) Ferndale Police Lt. William Wilson released the following statement: “On 01/17/14, William Thomas Goad (homeless white male, DOB 01/22/1976) was arraigned and charged with Homicide-Open Murder, Unlawfully Driving Away Motor Vehicle and Larceny In A Building. Judge Charles G. Goedert denied bond. Goad’s…