When the calendar turned to 2020, chances are unless you were an epidemiologist you probably had no knowledge of COVID-19.
By mid March, this coronavirus disease would completely upend life as we know it in Macomb County and around the world.
Recently, Macomb Daily writers and editors held a meeting (virtually, of course) to sort out the top 10 news stories of 2020. Not surprisingly, the onset of COVID-19 and all that came with it was voted no. 1.
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It was a pretty obvious choice in a year that came with lots of important news, including the disgraced resignation of a longtime Macomb County official, racial unrest, political strife in the countyâs largest city and an election that stamped Macomb as a solidly red county with Republicans seizing control of county government.
The Sterling Heights city manager is getting a 23% pay raise next year, making him the third highest-paid city administrator of comparable cities in Michigan.
The City Council, in a 4-3 vote Tuesday, approved a raise of $37,950 for Mark Vanderpool, who has served as city manager for more than 16 years. He will earn $202,950 effective Jan. 1, up from his current base salary of $165,000.
His last raise came just over 3½ years ago, officials said.
City Attorney Marc Kaszubski said Vanderpool s current base salary of $165,000 is below that of city managers or administrators of similar cities, including Grand Rapids ($257,500), Ann Arbor ($223,600) and Troy ($167,500) and just above Farmington Hills ($163,200).
Photo by Deb Jacques
Health director says vaccine is important to curb future cases By: Nick Mordowanec | C&G Newspapers | Published December 15, 2020
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel encourages public health personnel to aid in testing and future vaccination efforts.
Photo by Deb Jacques
Photo by Deb Jacques
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MACOMB COUNTY On Dec. 14, Macomb County began utilizing an empty building to provide a centralized site for COVID-19 testing.
The county relocated its testing site at the former county juvenile court building on Rose Street in Mount Clemens, now implementing testing mechanisms at the former Baker College campus site south of 15 Mile Road on Gratiot Avenue, in Clinton Township.
In the wake of the death of George Floyd, hundreds walked in Mount Clemens to Shadyside Park in June for an afternoon of discussion about justice and equality. The event was aimed at being a way to open the lines of communication with law enforcement.
File photo by Alex Szwarc
A look back at top stories in Clinton Twp., Harrison Twp., Mount Clemens A-10 Thunderbolt II takes off from Selfridge in May as part of Michigan Strong Aerial Flyovers to show support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
File photo by Alex Szwarc
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CLINTON TOWNSHIP/HARRISON TOWNSHIP/MOUNT CLEMENS This year will undoubtedly at the local level, and the rest of the world, be known for COVID-19.
The army of white tables are prepped with supplies and spaced at least 6 feet apart to battle what health officials believe will be the most effective way to vanquish the coronavirus through a vaccine.
Each of the 40 tables serving as a vaccination station in Macomb County s immunization site in Clinton Township is identical and contains:
An orange flag (for vaccinators to wave in the air, indicating to greeters that the next person can be brought up to be vaccinated)
A package of Lysol wipes (to sanitize the station)
Two 100-count boxes of gloves
A bottle of hand sanitizer
A box of tissues