History Today

Restored Train Depot Reminds Area of Historic Stops

Local historian Alan Dean Naldrett writes of the train depot's historical significance.

“That’ll be a penny sir,” said young Thomas Edison as the train pulled into the New Baltimore Station.  “What else do you sell besides newspapers and magazines?” asked the passenger, whose New York accent gave away his origins.  Many of the passengers on the train had moved from or were moving to Michigan from New York, now that the Erie Canal had opened up the area. “Just the finest cigars in the northwest, and postcards of Port Huron, Detroit, Mount Clemens, and some of the other places we’ll be going through,” replied 15-year-old Tom, who by this time was an old hand at being a “news butch,” having started when he was 12. Train kept local area on route The New Baltimore Station was a stop on what was first known as the Chicago, Detroit …

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Funeral Home Director Charged With Fraud to Undergo Competency Exam

John Olszewski, 57, who operated funeral homes in New Haven, New Baltimore and Richmond, faces three counts of funeral contract fraud.

The owner of defunct funeral homes in New Baltimore, New Haven and Richmond was ordered Thursday to undergo competency and culpability exams for his contract fraud case. A shackled John Olszewski, 57, appeared in Macomb County Jail inmate garb before 42-2 District Court Judge William Hackel for a preliminary exam in New Baltimore on charges he committed contract fraud out of Duncan-Olszewski Funeral Home in New Haven. The exam was adjourned, pending the outcome of the mental health exams. Oslzewski's daughter, who declined to give her name, said afterward she would be willing to take guardianship over her father if the court deems he's incapable of making decisions for himself. She was accompanied by Oslzewski family friend Rochelle …

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New Haven High School to Unveil 21st Century Library

With a little help from the 2006 bond, the high school has made significant upgrades to its equipment and technology.

A coffee shop, state-of-the-art computer lab and television broadcast studio are only a few of the improvements students will see when they return to New Haven High School this year. Using part of the 2006 bond for high school improvements, the district overhauled its library with the chief objective of bringing its technology and services into the 21st century. “We surveyed students about the high school last year and one thing they consistently said was our library was useless,” said Superintendent Keith Wunderlich in a release. “How can students write papers on today’s issues and do research if the library has nothing current? That had to change. We believe we’ll have the most up-to-date and technologically advanced high school library …

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Preliminary Exam Set For Alleged Scam Artist

A 30-year-old man who had been living in Chesterfield Township at the time of his arrest faces charges for stealing more than $5,000 in cash from an elderly couple in the community.

A 30-year-old man accused of stealing thousands from an elderly Chesterfield couple is scheduled for a preliminary exam Aug. 15 in New Baltimore. The exam is set for 1:30 p.m. before 42-2 District Court Judge William Hackel III.  Harvey Floyd Hood, formerly of New Haven and most recently living in Chesterfield, was formally arraigned Tuesday on two counts of larceny by false pretenses and one count of driving with a suspended license. The first charge is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, while the second is a 93-day misdemeanor upon conviction. The arrest warrant was issued July 28, but the arraignment didn't take place until earlier this week due to Hood's extensive rap sheet and other pending cases. His criminal …

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Police: Chesterfield Couple Spot Thief Living Large

A 30-year-old man who had been living in New Haven and Chesterfield is accused of scamming a Chesterfield couple out of $5,500 for home repairs he never did.

A 30-year-old man who allegedly stole thousands from an elderly Chesterfield couple seemed to be living large when he pulled a boat up to a Fair Haven dock in late July, Chesterfield Township police say. His mistake: Coming to shore in the same place as his alleged victims–who jotted down the license plate of the Ford he got into and immediately contacted police. Harvey Floyd Hood, formerly of New Haven and most recently living in Chesterfield, was charged in an arrest warrant Thursday on two counts of larceny by false pretenses and one count of driving with a suspended license. The first charge is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, while the second is a 93-day misdemeanor upon conviction. Hood has a rap sheet that details …

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New Haven Reduces $851,000 Budget Deficit by $130,000

The reduction was made possible by cuts in administration, a new teacher contract and increased enrollment.

A new deficit plan for New Haven Community Schools promises a 16-percent reduction in the budget deficit, which had been estimated at more than $851,000 earlier this year.  School officials presented the New Haven school board with the new plan at a special meeting this week. “Due to cuts in administration, a new teacher contract, increased enrollment and sound financial decisions, the deficit has been reduced by almost $130,000,” said Bob Randlett, who works with the business departments of both New Haven and L’Anse Creuse, in a release. According to New Haven calculations, the 2011-12 deficit had originally been estimated at $851,000 and with the new plan, has been reduced to $722,000. “We realize it’s still a deficit and we have a plan …

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New Haven Teachers Accept Extreme Cuts in Health Care, Salary

Teachers have signed a three-year contract that will save the district an estimated $1.2 million but not eliminate the deficit.

New Haven teachers have signed a three-year contract with New Haven Community Schools that will mean extensive concessions in health care, salary and benefits starting in 2011-12. “These are unprecedented times and this is an unprecedented contract. The teachers truly understand our financial dilemma and they have ratified a contract that will go a long way to solve it,” said Superintendent Keith Wunderlich in a release. “We have an amazing group of teachers who care about what’s best for students. This contract is an outstanding example of how they’ve done what’s best for kids and what’s best for the district.” While the contract is expected to save the district some $1.2 million in the 2011-12 school year alone, it means a different …

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