Adult ...................................$12 Senior .................................$11 Children (12 and Younger) FREE
L’Anse Creuse Unified leads MAC 4A
*Parking not included in Show Admission
0011-2504
JANUARY 23, 2025 • Vol. 37, No. 2 • candgnews.com
FAMILY ASSIST
Sabatini becomes county board chair
Transfer addition, milestone win motivating Crusaders basketball
BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — It was a bright moment for a Macomb L’Anse Creuse North boys basketball team with heavy goals. As second-year coach Kurt Wilson earned his 300th career win Jan. 15 against Macomb Area Conference White rival Utica, the team celebrated his accomplishment immediately following the game. “It felt awesome,” senior Ricky Sparks said. “He was really excited to get it, and it was awesome because his whole family was there and got to celebrate with him. Right when we won, they all came onto the court, and they had a ‘300’ sign for us to hold up.” Among the players in the midst of the celebration was junior forward Julius Wilson, who is also coach Wilson’s grandson. He helped his grandfather secure No. 300 with a 23-point performance. Kurt Wilson came in last season and immediately turned around a program that had been struggling to find any kind of traction in the success department, posting a 16-9 record and finishing third in the MAC Red. Now it was Julius’ turn to give another Wilson a lasting impact, and he’s done everything and more since transferring from Warren De La Salle Collegiate before the beginning of the season. Wilson, a 6-foot-2 guard, embodies the defensive mindset coach Wilson emphasizes, but also can facilitate and score at will when needed because of his athletic ability. “He’s always known the guys,” Kurt Wilson said. See NORTH on page 12A
See CHAIR on page 13A
FREE ADMISSION • FREE PARKING Presented by
SHOW ONLY DISCOUNTS
Macomb Community College Sports & Expo Center 14500 E. 12 Mile Road, Warren (Corner of 12 Mile & Hayes) - Building P
0361-2504
Macomb Spring Home Improvement Show
Sat, Feb. 15th • 10am -5pm & Sun, Feb. 16th • 10am -4pm
2025 Trax LT
169/mo.*
$
24 mo./ 995 down
Purchase for
22,339
$
$
26125 Van Dyke • Center Line (Just south of 696 on Van Dyke) (586) 754-7000 • www.edrinke.com
STOCK# DPVJZP
*995 down with Lease Conquest. 24 month lease. 10,000 miles per year, plus tax, title, plate. Pricing is based on select model vehicles while supplies last. See Salesperson for details. Expires 1/31/2025.
0077-2504
HE SAVE TE! T A D
Photo by Erin Sanchez
Macomb L’Anse Creuse North junior Julius Wilson controls the ball against Utica Jan. 15 at L’Anse Creuse North High School.
MOUNT CLEMENS — The Macomb County Board of Commissioners voted on Jan. 9 to appoint Joe Sabatini, R-District 4, as its new chair in a unanimous vote. “I’m very thankful of my fellow commissioners and their trust and support to put me in the position,” Sabatini said. “I’m looking forward to working with all the countywide officials in a new way. We’re progressing here, we’ve had meetings all week, so it’s been a busy January to say the least.” Sabatini Originally elected to the board in 2010 for a tenure that lasted until 2016, voters in the Macomb Township District 4 elected him back to the board in November 2020. Sabatini was reelected in 2022 and 2024, and is now serving a term that will last until 2028. Sabatini has been serving as the Finance/Audit/Budget Committee chair, a role that had him managing the county budget. Sabatini’s road to becoming chair began when former Chair Don Brown, R-District 1, resigned on Dec. 12, 2024, to work in the Macomb County Public Works Office. From there, Sabatini began working with commissioners to become the board’s leader. “It starts with conversations with commissioners and working through what their concerns are and what they want to see from a chair,” Sa-