Bloomfield News Blog

5 teens charged in armed robbery

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:56:47 +0000

Five Oakland County teenagers are charged with armed robbery after Farmington Hills police say they lured two men to a parking lot and robbed them of their money and cell phones.

The teens, who were charged Sunday as adults, could face up to life in prison if convicted.

A short temper and lengthy record

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:56:47 +0000

As dive teams concluded the first day of searching for Marilou Johnson's body in Cass Lake, a picture emerged of the murder suspect as having violent tendencies and a hair-trigger temper.

David J. Wright's ex-wife, Susan Ann Wright, described him as dangerous in a petition for a personal protection order filed in Macomb County Circuit Court last July after the couple separated. She cited his lengthy criminal record, and noted that at one time he was ordered to undergo anger management counseling.

Blogs hit Silverdome, gas gouging, Iraq

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:56:47 +0000

Excerpts from The Detroit News' politics blog. See complete blogs and biographies at detnews.com/weblog/.Pontiac slows entrepreneurs

Name: JD Andary

City: Waterford

Divers find victim's purse; will search again today for body

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:56:47 +0000

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP -- Divers from Oakland and Macomb counties' sheriff's divisions will be out on Cass Lake again today searching for the body of a missing Washington Township woman, allegedly killed by a plumber for her expensive jewelry.

Twenty divers searched throughout the day Monday in an area near Greer and Hiller roads for Marilou Johnson, 50, of Washington Township. They found Johnson's purse at 5:30 p.m. about 250 yards off shore in 70 feet of water. It contained her passport, her driver license, her credit cards, a necklace missing its diamonds and other items. The purse also contained bricks to weigh it down.

Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel has announced that Johnson was killed and her body dumped into the water by a plumber who wanted her expensive jewelry.

Federer, Roddick win Wimbledon openers

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:56:47 +0000

WIMBLEDON, England ? Roger Federer came onto Centre Court at Wimbledon dressed like a player from a bygone era. He then played like his usual modern-day great self.

The top-ranked Swiss star began his bid for an Open-era, record-equaling fifth consecutive Wimbledon title Monday by beating Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 on a cool and wet opening day at the All England Club.

Martina Hingis returns to Britain's Naomi Cavaday during their match on Monday. Hingis, a former Wimbledon champion, avoided a first-round upset with a 6-7 (1), 7-5, 6-0 win over the 18-year-old wild card.

Five teens held in robbery

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:56:47 +0000

FARMINGTON HILLS -- Five teens, two of them women, have been charged in a plot in which the women set up two Macomb County men to be robbed, Farmington Hills Police said Monday.

According to police, the young women lured the men, from Sterling Heights and Warren, to the parking lot of the Nantucket Townhomes, at Nine Mile and Tuck, around 12:30 a.m. Saturday.

The men may have believed they were meeting them for a date, police said.

Little sister takes stand to help diabetic brother

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:56:47 +0000

TRENTON — When Kiersten Palmer, 7, was asked whether she likes her older brother, Nicholas, she never hesitated.

"Not that much," she said. "He's mean."

Don't be fooled by Kiersten's comments. That's what most girls would say about their brother.

Local TV show explores Macomb's diversity

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:56:47 +0000

CLINTON TOWNSHIP -- The township's Cable TV and Communications Department has produced a new television show that explores the various religions and ethnic cultures found in Macomb County.

Clinton Township Television is producing the Forums on Diversity, which is being broadcast on public access cable TV channels in the community as well as in Mount Clemens, Shelby Township and Sterling Heights.

The Rev. Michail Curro, director of the Interfaith Center for Racial Justice in Warren, has hosted the three episodes Clinton Township TV has produced, according to Linda Badamo, director of the Cable TV and Communications Department.

Michigan's dismal economy leaves thousands in construction trade trying to nail down work

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:56:47 +0000

ROSEVILLE -- With the exception of the beleaguered auto industry, no other segment of the state's recession-bitten economy probably has suffered as much in the past year as the building trades.

The number of Michigan workers employed in construction fell 15,000 in the past year alone, from 181,000 in May 2006 to 166,000 in May 2007, according to the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth.

Local 58 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has almost 20 percent of its 5,000-plus workforce drawing unemployment, a spokesman said, leaving about 1,000 licensed electricians seeking work from the union's job list each day.

Nordstrom and DSO to celebrate new Novi store with gala

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:56:47 +0000

Nordstrom will team up with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Links Inc. for an opening gala at its store in Novi.

The gala, expected to raise $180,000 for the two groups, will be Sept. 26, two days before Nordstrom opens its new 165,000-square-foot store in a new wing of Twelve Oaks Mall that includes 22 specialty retailers such as Martin + Osa and Lucky Brand Jeans. The expansion also includes a larger Macys, with a 60,000-square-foot addition.

Plumber arrested in death of missing Macomb County woman

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:03:23 +0000

DETROIT (AP) - Authorities say the man expected to be arraigned this afternoon in the slaying of a Macomb County woman has provided information about the location of her body.

Divers planned to search Oakland County's Cass Lake this morning for the body of 50-year-old Marilou Johnson. Police accuse 37-year-old David Wright of slitting her throat outside her secluded Washington Township home and dumping her in the West Bloomfield Township lake.

Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel says Wright had gone to the home on June 14th to give an estimate for plumbing work and then attacked and robbed her.

Police search lake for missing womans body

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:03:23 +0000

UPDATED AT 11:05 A.M.: Divers plunged into Cass Lake at 10:20 this morning, searching for the body of Marilou Johnson, a 50-year-old Washington Township woman who police say was killed by a plumber giving an estimate for work at her home.

Police say David Wright, 37, of Richmond, a plumber with a violent criminal history, slit Johnsons throat around 10 a.m. June 15 in the driveway of the sprawling estate she shared with her 71-year-old boyfriend, Roger Blanchard, and took her diamond necklace.

Should state ban smoking in eateries, bars?