Assumption Greekfest is back this weekend, bringing three days of food, music, dancing and Greek tradition to the border of St. Clair Shores and Grosse Pointe Woods.

The festival runs Friday afternoon through Sunday evening, and volunteers have been hard at work getting everything ready for a busy weekend setting up food, tents and grounds before the celebration begins.

See the full story in the video below DraftAssumption Greekfest brings food, music, dancing and Greek heritage to metro Detroit this weekend.

Greek Fest Co-Chair George Dallas said the event has something for everyone.

"The atmosphere, the music, the food, the desert, our taverna," Dallas said.

From Greek favorites and homemade pastries to music and dancing, church tours and activities for kids, the festival draws a wide crowd. Olympians Emilea Zingas and her skating partner Vadym Kolesnik will also be at Greekfest for a meet and greet.

"Bring the whole family over here," Dallas said.

Philoptochos President Lydia Villeneuve said the bake sale will be stocked with a wide variety of homemade Greek treats.

"They will see a variety of Greek Patries from baklava, traditional, kadayif, galaktoboureko, which are custard rolls," Villeneuve said.

Parishioners have also been busy setting up marketplace displays ahead of the opening. Maria Zingas, who was arranging her display, said the event holds personal meaning for her.

"It's special to my heart. It's part of my design world and I enjoy doing it," Zingas said.

Fellow parishioner Lou Pavledes said the festival is a highlight of the year.

"We look forward to the festival. It's a nice community event," Pavledes said.

For the volunteers and organizers behind the scenes, the festival represents far more than a weekend of food and fun. Dallas said it is an opportunity to share something meaningful with the broader community.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for us like I said to share our heritage to have something for the community something that our neighbors look forward too," Dallas said.

Tickets are $3 and kids 12 and under are free. More information at assumptionfestival.com.

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Ann Vanker has spent nearly three years fighting to hold the mother of the teenage driver who killed her 18-year-old son criminally responsible. This week, a circuit court judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case but Vanker and her attorney say they are not done.

"I miss Flynn. I want him back so much," Vanker said.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report below: Grosse Pointe mother appeals dismissal of involuntary manslaughter case in son's 2023 death

Flynn Mackrell was killed in November 2023. He was a passenger in a BMW SUV driven by his 16-year-old friend, Kiernan Tague, who was speeding when he lost control and crashed on Ridge Road in Grosse Pointe Farms.

Kiernan was sentenced last year to a blended sentence of 19 to 38 months in a Level 2 secure placement probation facility.

Vanker has also been fighting to hold Kiernan's mother, Elizabeth Puleo-Tague, criminally responsible.

"She knew her son was a homicidal suicidal maniac in that car. Hundreds of times, she had printouts that she sent to him saying this is how fast you're going, this is the hard braking. She knew well. She stated she knew that it was dangerous," Vanker said.

When the Wayne County prosecutor declined to charge Puleo-Tague, Vanker and her attorney turned to a rarely used Michigan law called the Act of 175 of 1927, which allows a private citizen to go before a judge and ask for a criminal warrant.

Grosse Pointe Farms Judge Charles Berschback approved the warrant and a special prosecutor was appointed. Puleo-Tague was then charged with involuntary manslaughter.

"In a situation where the county prosecutor or the office of the Michigan attorney general decline to proceed with a criminal prosecution, that allows a citizen an establishment of just cause and the posting of a bond to institute criminal proceedings against the individual charged," Vanker's attorney, Art Weiss, said.

"It's really profound that individuals such as Anne and Thad be able to at least attempt to seek judicial redress."

This week, a circuit court judge dismissed the case not because of a jury verdict, but because of how the case was being prosecuted. The judge ruled the lower court could issue the warrant but could not appoint a special prosecutor to take the case forward.

Weiss says they will appeal, keeping this rare legal battle alive.

"I am hopeful that eventually the Michigan state Supreme Court will take this matter up and resolve what Anne and Thad's rights are," Weiss said.

I reached out to Puleo-Tague and her attorney, Gerald Evelyn, but did not receive a response before my deadline.

Vanker says her fight for justice is not over.

"The message has to be sent that if you know and enable criminal behavior on behalf of your minor that you're going to be held accountable criminally," Vanker said.

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A St. Clair Shores church says it has become the target of repeated break-ins and vandalism, leaving the congregation frustrated and concerned about what could happen next.

Watch Peter Maxwell's report below 5 arrested after latest break-in at St. Clair Shores' Church of the Living God

Church of the Living God says the damage amounts to tens of thousands of dollars. The most recent break-in happened early Monday morning.

Pastor Tony Hines says the first break-in involved suspects kicking down the doors to one of the church's storage buildings. During a second break-in last month, suspects spray-painted the bathrooms, left a racist message on one of the chalkboards, damaged classrooms, and threw fire extinguishers onto the roof of the church's newly renovated school.

That school remodel cost $100,000, and the estimate for the damage is in the tens of thousands of dollars.

"We're living with leaks now because of the fire extinguishers," Hines said.

The break-ins continued into Sunday night, when the church was broken into again. Handprints from the alleged suspects were visible on a window.

"This last one we had five people break in. They removed the signs off of our bathroom door. The police caught them after a short chase," Hines said.

St. Clair Shores police confirmed that investigators are seeking charges against 5 individuals in the latest break-in and that all cases are still under active investigation.

Parishioner Jonathan Harper said he is often among the first to hear about the incidents.

"They called me first. It's always nine or ten o'clock at night," Harper said.

Harper stopped by Home Depot to pick up supplies to secure the windows.

"The community really needs to get involved and the parents to tell their kids to stop going into peoples buildings that they don't belong to," Harper said.

Despite the repeated incidents, Hines says he has urged his congregation to remain patient.

"It's taken a lot for me to talk to my members and tell them you know lets let the law enforcement take its course," Hines said.

Through it all, Hines says the church's mission has not changed.

"We're here for anybody who has a desire to understand and know God better," Hines said.

"The only thing I can tell them is trust in God," Hines said.

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Bates Park has been part of a Warren neighborhood for decades, but a city planning notice sent nearby residents into a panic about the park's future.

Watch Peter Maxwell's report below Warren city official apologizes after planning notice sparks fears about Bates Park's future

On Tuesday, the city clarified the confusion about the future of the open space.

Audrey Yeager, who lives near Bates Park, said the park means more to the community than just open space.

"The squirrels live here. We all live here and taking away another green space is a terrible thing to do to a community," Yeager said.

Yeager and her husband, Jesse, live adjacent to the park and received a letter to attend a Planning Commission public hearing regarding the park. The wording in the letter left some residents with questions about what could come next.

"We weren't really given a whole lot of information about what's going to go there. Just that there's going to be buildings," Jesse Yeager said.

Audrey Yeager said the meeting raised more questions than answers.

"We attended the meeting last night and the city planner wasn't very clear on what the plan is," Audrey Yeager said.

Neighbor Lawrence Schock shared similar concerns.

"I just don't understand why they want to tear up the park," Schock said.

Warren Public Services Director David Muzzarelli acknowledged the city fell short in its communication with residents.

"First of all I would like to apologize that we didn't get them all of the information at first," Muzzarelli said.

Muzzarelli met at Bates Park to walk through what is actually happening and to clear up the confusion.

"We're not planning on doing anything on those lots. We're not going out to the soccer field or the baseball diamond. The building that we are putting in here would only come out 60 feet from the existing building," Muzzarelli said.

The building would be an addition to the current wastewater treatment facility's storage building to house more equipment and address eyesores visible from the park.

"This is meant to help clean up this park and to get rid of some of this stuff that's behind this building and to help improve city services," Muzzarelli said.

Neighbor Nicole Cichon said she was worried but is now relieved after hearing Muzzarelli confirm the park will not be touched.

"I want to see it in action first. I need to see the concrete plans but hopefully that's all that happens," Cichon said.

A neighborhood meeting is planned for later this month.

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A wedding reception turned into a crime scene after gunfire erupted outside Athena Hall on Gratiot in Roseville late Saturday night.

Watch Peter Maxwell's report below Wedding reception shooting leaves 3 shot, 2 injured outside Roseville banquet hall

Roseville police say three people were shot and two others were injured after a fight broke out at around 11 p.m. Saturday. Everyone is expected to survive.

The groom, who wishes to remain anonymous, says the night started without incident.

"The whole night everybody was happy. We didn't see any problems," he said.

He and his bride were preparing to leave when the situation escalated.

"When we were packing up and getting ready to leave and putting everything into the car that's when we saw the chaos and everybody was running everywhere," he said.

The fight started inside Athena Hall before spilling into the parking lot. Witnesses say the altercation began over the number of people the groom had standing in the wedding party compared to the bride. One person on the groom's side allegedly pulled out a gun, and two others on the bride's side allegedly pulled out firearms of their own and began shooting. Investigators say at least three handguns were displayed before shots were fired.

Bouquets of flowers, personal belongings, shoes and a slice of untouched wedding cake were left behind in the parking lot.

Three people were shot, including one woman who was struck in the chest. Two others were injured. The groom says one of those injured was his father, who was struck by a car and broke his hip.

The groom described the moment his bride broke down in tears.

"I just see her all over the parking lot ground screaming why!? Why!? Why!?" he said.

Crime tape could be seen inside the banquet hall's reception area where the wedding had been held.

Youhil Ishmail, who has owned Athena Banquet Hall for more than 20 years, says he was shaken by what happened.

"People are just shouting and running into the hall to take cover," Ishmail said.

"It was sad. I feel sad for the people who had the wedding the bride and groom. I feel very bad for the kids who were in the wedding," Ishmail said.

The groom says he and his bride are still in shock.

"It was like a nightmare," he said.

"If you knew you weren't going to support us or be there for us then why did you come," he said.

"We get to pray and see another day to heal," he said.

Roseville police say no one is in custody, but the investigation remains active.

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A Warren woman says she lost nearly $20,000 after falling victim to a scam in which a caller posed as a Warren police officer, used fake legal documents, and threatened her with arrest if she did not comply.

Watch Peter Maxwell's report below Warren resident loses nearly $20K after being the victim of elaborate scam

Michelle Fox, 78, says the ordeal began when she clicked a sponsored ad on Facebook, which caused her computer to flood with pop-up warnings.

"There was a phone number. I called them which I shouldn't but that's okay I am in panic mode," Fox said.

Fox says the person who answered claimed to scan her computer and then transferred her to someone claiming to be with the FTC. She then received a call from someone claiming to be with the Warren Police Department.

"Then I started getting a phone call from the Warren PD," Fox said.

Fox says the scammer sent her documents that appeared legitimate and told her she was connected to a criminal investigation.

"This thing was so elaborate with all of these legal papers they sent me. It looked perfectly legit," Fox said.

The scammer told Fox she could be arrested, have her assets seized, and that she should not speak to anyone about the situation.

"They would come and arrest me and forfeiture all my assets, my car, my home and everything and not to trust anybody," Fox said.

Fox says the scammer told her the only way to avoid arrest was to send nearly $20,000 in Bitcoin. She withdrew the cash and deposited it into a Bitcoin kiosk at a mobile gas station on Van Dyke.

"I am in a panic. I do this and he says okay good," Fox said.

The following day, the scammer called again and demanded another $15,000. That is when Fox contacted Warren police and filed a report.

Warren Police Lt. John Gajewski says law enforcement will never ask for money or Bitcoin over the phone.

"Us in law enforcement we're never going to ask for money over the phone and we are certainly never going to ask someone to produce bitcoin as a form of payment," Gajewski said.

Gajewski says scammers in cases like this typically create a sense of urgency, demand immediate payment, and instruct victims to isolate themselves from others.

"These scammers are very good and many of them are international and overseas which adds a layer of complexity," Gajewski said.

Fox says she is embarrassed but hopes sharing her story will prevent others from becoming victims.

"I wanted to raise awareness because of the elaborate scheme they used," Fox said.

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A family packing for a road trip in Grosse Pointe Woods was confronted by two men, one armed with a gun who attempted to carjack their rental vehicle early Tuesday morning, according to police.

The attempted carjacking happened around 5 a.m. on Anita Avenue near Mack Avenue. Police say two suspects pulled up in a silver Chevrolet Equinox and tried to steal the family's SUV.

Abigail Russell, whose son-in-law was targeted, said the family was loading up when one of the suspects approached him and her granddaughter.

"He told them to lay on the ground. He laid on the ground. My granddaughter ran back into the house and as she was coming back into the house, the other kids and myself was coming towards the door and she just yelled 'he's robbing. My dad is being robbed. My dad is being robbed,'" Russell said.

Police say the victim was also armed and fired at the suspects, who fled the scene. Dispatch audio captured the moment a 911 caller reported the incident.

"50-50 cars, I've got a caller on 911 screaming attempted robbery," the audio said.

Neighbor Dr. Chontay Taylor Glenn was in her bedroom when she heard the gunshots and saw the confrontation unfold outside.

"I can still kind of hear it in my ear. Pow, pow, pow, pow," Taylor Glenn said. "I see someone run, which looks like a tall maybe young guy run really fast and I see him get up and begin to shoot."

Security video shows the suspects' vehicle approaching Kercheval Avenue and Fisher Road in Grosse Pointe Farms, where it jumped a curb and crashed into a light pole and a concrete flower bed. Officers from the city of Grosse Pointe and Grosse Pointe Farms took the two men into custody and recovered a gun.

Russell said she is grateful no one was killed.

"I thank God for protecting my family, my son in law because this could have turned a whole different way," Russell said.

The suspects, both men in their 20s, are expected to face charges.

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Nelson Ropke, a 41-year-old Grosse Pointe Park attorney, was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison after admitting guilt to two felony charges related to child sexually abusive activity.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Grosse Pointe Park attorney sentenced to 10 to 25 years on child porn charges

Wayne County 3rd Circuit Judge Darnella Williams-Claybourne handed down the sentence Monday, with victims and family members seated inside the courtroom. Ropke appeared in court in a wheelchair.

Ropke also received 10 to 20 years for using a computer to commit a crime.

"Those sentences run concurrently to each other. Jail credit is 97 days," Williams-Claybourne said.

Before learning his fate, Ropke addressed the court.

"I would just like to express my deepest remorse and regret for my horrible actions, for the negative impact it's had on my loved ones," Ropke said.

"There's no excuse. I've lost everything."

Williams-Claybourne acknowledged Ropke's apology before addressing the gravity of the crimes.

"Actions have consequences you know that better than anyone based on the nature of your profession," Williams-Claybourne said.

"This case is dark and it is disturbing. Based on the court's review of the pre-sentence investigative report, there's been a spiral of lawlessness and criminal behavior."

Watch Peter Maxwell's previous report when Nelson Ropke was charged below: Attorney charged with possessing & distributing child sexually abusive material

Ropke was arrested in April after Michigan State Police say they found sexually explicit photos and videos of prepubescent children at his home on Harcourt Road in Grosse Pointe Park. Investigators say those images included secretly captured videos of Ropke engaged in a sexual act with another person.

In September, Ropke was charged with driving under the influence in Grosse Pointe Farms.

Monday's sentencing follows a plea agreement in which Ropke admitted guilt to the two felony charges. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed the remaining counts, bringing the criminal case to a close without a trial.

Ropke's defense attorney, Timothy Dinan, called the case a tragedy.

"So many people have been affected by this," Dinan said.

In addition to his prison sentence, Ropke will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.