A Wyandotte police officer went above and beyond the call of duty when he saw an elderly resident struggling to mow her lawn, returning after his shift to completely transform her yard.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: 'In awe': Woman praises Wyandotte officer for mowing her lawn, showing kindness

Officer Jonathan Cox was on patrol when he spotted Dory Oliver attempting to push a lawn mower with one hand while balancing on her walker with the other.

"She looked like she needed help that day and when I stopped to ask her, she allowed me to help her," Cox said.

Oliver, who has mobility issues, explained that yard work has become extremely difficult for her.

"You know, when you've worked all your life and suddenly you can't, it's not a good feeling," Oliver said.

The Wyandotte resident shared that she had reached out to several companies for assistance, but no one followed through.

"Three different times somebody said, 'yeah, I'll be there,' and no one ever came," Oliver said.

When Cox saw her struggling, he immediately told her to stop and offered his help. After completing his 12-hour shift, he returned to Oliver's home and spent two days cutting the grass, clearing gutters and improving her yard.

"It was overgrown. Unfortunately, there was a storm that took a bunch of branches down and it needed to be cleaned up," Cox said.

Oliver was so moved by the officer's kindness that she called the Wyandotte Police Department to express her gratitude.

"I'm just still in awe of what he did for me. He doesn't even know me. He just took care of what was impossible for me because I can't walk without the walker. I just have to commend him, and I just thank him so much," Oliver said in her voicemail to the police chief.

Cox, who has served the department for eight years, remains humble about his actions, seeing it as part of his commitment to the community.

"I'm very blessed in the position where I'm at, whether it's personally or professionally to help others," Cox said.

For Oliver, the officer's kindness has created a lasting bond.

"I have no words. I didn't know this man at the time and now, he's my adopted grandson," Oliver said.

Cox plans to continue helping Oliver with her yard maintenance and remains dedicated to both protecting and supporting his community.

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.

A Michigan woman is sharing her struggle with Lyme disease after pop star Justin Timberlake revealed his own diagnosis with the tick-borne illness, which he described as "relentlessly debilitating" on social media Thursday.

Annette Jackson, 37, has been battling Lyme disease for over 10 years and says finding a diagnosis was an exhausting journey that took dozens of medical consultations.

"Throughout this journey, it has been tough," Jackson said.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: 'An ongoing battle': Michigan woman shares decade-long battle with Lyme disease

Jackson traces her health problems back to 2015 when she was bitten by a tick while visiting a park in southeastern Michigan.

"I was in the Clinton River, at a park here and I got bit and the symptoms started after," Jackson said. "It was a struggle every day to fight, mentally, emotionally, a lot of depression, a lot of anxiety."

For years, Jackson struggled without knowing what was causing her symptoms, consulting with numerous medical professionals who often misdiagnosed her condition.

"I've probably seen over 100 doctors in the past nine years," Jackson said.

Related story: Justin Timberlake diagnosed with Lyme disease, the former NSYNC singer says

The challenge with Lyme disease is that its symptoms can mimic other conditions, making diagnosis difficult.

"So, doctors normally think it's anxiety disorders or OCD or depression. A lot of the times, Lyme disease does present as psychiatric symptoms," Jackson said.

Dr. Jonathan Swetech, a family medicine physician in Clinton Township, finally diagnosed Jackson's condition in 2020 and explains that advanced Lyme disease can affect multiple body systems.

"Usually what people with the advanced forms of it have are bad joint pain, chronic pains, their nervous system doesn't work right, all kinds of psychiatric issues. Cardiac issues, too, seem to be pretty common. Just stuff just doesn't work right," Swetech said.

According to the Macomb County Health Department, blacklegged ticks collected from 2021, 2022 and 2023 tested positive for bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Test results collected in 2024 are not yet available.

Experts say the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours for the disease to spread. Symptoms typically include fever, headache and fatigue, which can progress to serious infections if left untreated.

Swetech says he typically sees many tick bites this time of year and recommends thorough body checks after outdoor activities.

"You should check the hairline too. I've seen a lot of times where they've actually been on people's scalp. For prevention, you can use repellents, I believe DEET or there are some permethrin treatments that can protect against ticks," Swetech said.

Hear more about Lyme disease from Dr. Partha Nandi in the video player below: Web extra: Dr. Partha Nandi talks about Lyme disease and how to protect yourself

Despite finally receiving a diagnosis, Jackson continues to deal with the long-term effects of the disease.

"It's just an ongoing battle 24/7, and that's what it's like to be me every day," Jackson said.

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.

After hundreds of children's personal information, including names, birthdays and home addresses, was accidentally published on the Dearborn Heights city website last week, parents are demanding answers.

Parents attended a special meeting at city hall about how the sensitive information was leaked online.

Watch the video reports below: Parents demand answers after kids' personal information leaked on Dearborn Heights website Parents demand answers after kids' personal information leaked on Dearborn Heights website

"It's almost like the damage is already done. The parents are already scared," said Sara Short, a Dearborn Heights parent.

The children were all connected to District 7 Dad's Club, a local nonprofit sports club that is required to share athlete information with the city for seasonal funding.

The information was taken down 24 hours later, but parents are outraged and concerned about their safety.

Previous coverage: Parents concerned after personal information of hundreds of children exposed online Privacy violated for youth athletes

City Council Chairman Mo Baydoun apologized during the meeting.

"On behalf of the city, we're sorry we're sorry to the city, we're sorry to the parents, it's unfair," Baydoun said.

Joe Doney, who has coached at D7 Dad's Club for over 10 years, said the organization is already feeling the impact of the data breach.

"We've lost three teams and a lot more players because of this incident," Doney said.

During the meeting, Sean Fletcher, director of parks and recreation, explained that his department typically collects participant information to verify residency for funding purposes.

"So, we verify name and addresses to verify we're only paying for Dearborn Heights residents," Fletcher said.

That information is usually redacted before being sent to the next department head for approval, but officials acknowledged that step may have been missed in this case.

Some parents expressed disappointment that the mayor wasn't present at the meeting. While the mayor declined interview requests, he stated he has spoken with parents and that the police chief and information technology director are investigating the incident.

Dearborn Heights Police Chief Ahmed Haidar addressed the situation at the meeting.

"We just want to make sure that we correct our mistake going forward. It's never happened to us in the past and it's kind of odd that it's happening to us now," the chief said.

City officials discussed potential solutions including tracking down the IP addresses that may have downloaded the sensitive information, funding D7 Dad's club without needing a roster and implementing stronger data breach procedures.

The City council chairman said if residents remain unsatisfied with the internal investigation, they will request an outside investigation by state police.

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.

A Wayne business owner is out of thousands of dollars after a thief stole landscaping equipment from his truck in broad daylight on Wednesday.

Security footage captured the entire incident, showing a man stealing a pole saw and two leaf blowers from a Trees and Stumps.com company vehicle parked on Oakman Boulevard.

Watch the video report below: Security camera captures brazen theft of landscaping equipment in Detroit

Timothy Gilbert, president and owner of Trees and Stumps.com, was working at a client's home when the theft occurred.

"We were there for about 15, 20 minutes. The chainsaws were going, the chipper was running. So, it was loud. And the next thing we knew, there was a lady yelling and screaming saying somebody had taken your stuff," Gilbert said.

Gilbert, a former Detroit police officer who left the force in 2003 and started his tree trimming and removal company two years ago, estimates the stolen equipment is worth between $2,800 and $3,400.

The security camera video shows a man taking a pole saw used for trimming tree branches directly from Gilbert's truck. The footage then shows the thief exiting from the passenger side of a car and grabbing two leaf blowers before fleeing the area.

Watch the security camera video below: Web extra: Video shows thief steal landscaping equipment in Detroit

Gilbert said he attempted to locate the suspects afterward and briefly spotted them, but they fled again. He then called 911 and filed a police report.

Police told 7 News Detroit they are actively searching for the individuals involved and investigating the incident.

Gilbert expressed gratitude for the nearby resident whose security system captured the theft.

"I think having the video itself is key to this case because it provides clear indication of identification of the individual who at least got out of the vehicle," Gilbert said.

Following this incident, Gilbert plans to start using enclosed trucks to better protect his equipment while on job sites.

Gilbert is offering a $1,000 cash reward for information about the person involved or help in returning the stolen items.

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.

Three people were hurt after a shooting in Inkster Thursday afternoon, police said.

The shooting happened in the area of Colgate Street and Inkster Road. Investigators remained at the scene for hours.

Watch the video report below: Inkster police searching for suspect following triple shooting

Police say all three people were taken to the hospital in stable condition.

They also say they are searching for a suspect, but no details have been released.

"We knew something big happened because it was loud. I was in the bathroom getting dressed and I couldn't believe how loud it was from inside my house," one nearby resident said.

The resident says he's lived in the neighborhood for six years and has never experienced a situation like this.

"To be honest with you, it's kind of concerning just being that close to home," he said.

Additional details about the shooting have not yet been released.

City leaders are trying to address the issue of crime and violence in the area.

"We've been blessed to get a grant with the state police and been working hand in hand with Chief Jenkins there, which is have a summer camp going on in Inkster right now and we're teaching conflict resolution there," violence prevention advocate Darryl Woods said.

Woods runs several nonprofit organizations including Fighting the Good, which works with several young people in Inkster schools. He hopes to bring more resources and opportunities to the area.

"We want to be able to continue to work with the people in Inkster and be able to work with the drivers of violence there and say hey there's a better solution," Woods said.

Some residents on Detroit's east side say they've been dealing with flooding issues for years, with water pooling on Cadillac Avenue between Shoemaker and Edsel Ford after rainfall.

"It's not a good situation at all," said Michelle Owens, a Detroit resident.

Owens, who lives on the flooded street, says her neighborhood is fed up with the recurring flooding.

"It just looks like a body of water. Like you're standing on Jefferson or something. Like you can just come on your porch and just fish," said Mario White, another Detroit resident.

Owens believes that when the city repaved the road a couple of years ago, they paved over a sewage drain, causing flooding every time it rains.

Web extra: Michelle Owens on flooded street Web extra: Michelle Owens on flooded street

7 News Detroit checked out the neighborhood Tuesday morning and saw a massive puddle of water taking up most of the street. After contacting the city, a crew came by with heavy machinery to drain it. They lifted the catch basin and started breaking up what appeared to be a thick substance.

"DPW has looked into it. They said they don't have a record of having paved over. Our records, dating back to 2018, just indicate that it's a blocked basin," said Sam Smalley, Deputy Director of Detroit Water and Sewerage.

Smalley says it's most likely sediment that accumulated in the catch basin, but he acknowledges that neighbors are right to be frustrated.

"They have called us at least 6 times since 2022. We were able to get one side clean in 2023, but we didn't get the other side clean. We had a contractor out there in February of 2024. They didn't finish the job. We knew it wasn't finished, but we have crews out there right now, and we're going to stay on it until we're fixed," Smalley said.

Web extra: DWSD talks about drain issue Web extra: DWSD talks about drain issue

Other neighbors say that when it floods, it makes it difficult to use the sidewalk or get in and out of their houses. They point out that one resident has dealt with flooding in his basement.

When asked if the flooded street was causing water in the resident's basement, the city said that's a separate issue.

"Water in basements are usually very different from flooded streets or flooded alleys because those are separate piping systems. But if anyone has a water in basement complaint, please give us a call. We will investigate that immediately," Smalley said.

Smalley says the city cleaned 6,000 catch basins last year, and the plan is to clean even more this year. He also says the Department is going to do more to prevent similar problems in the city.

By Tuesday afternoon, DWSD told us both basins on Cadillac Avenue were fully cleaned and taking water.

"Thank you to Channel 7 for amplifying this. It's something that we should have addressed prior to this. The team's going to scour through our records and make sure that there's no other issues like this lurking out there," Smalley said.

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.

Forgotten Harvest is working to tackle food insecurity by providing 100,000 lunches for kids across Metro Detroit this summer.

Watch Jolie Sherman's full report in the video player below Forgotten Harvest to provide thousands of summer lunches for Metro Detroit children

According to their website, more than 542,000 people live in poverty in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties, which includes over 174,000 children.

That's why volunteers recently assembled 3,000 lunches during Metro Detroit Youth Day on Belle Isle earlier this month, while dozens gathered at Forgotten Harvest's main campus in Oak Park to pack an additional 2,500 meals.

"You take the sandwich, you put it in the bag, then you come over here, grab the apples," explained volunteer Charlie Bamberger from Bloomfield Hills, demonstrating the assembly process.

Each lunch contains a fresh cheese and turkey sandwich, grape juice, fruit, and a sweet treat.

"So, when school is out, we provide the lunches. We go all over metro Detroit, Oakland County, Wayne County and Macomb County, we provide all the lunches for all the kids that are out of school," said Semica Escoe, Forgotten Harvest's Distribution Center Manager.

The prepared meals are delivered to various distribution sites, including St. Mark's Temple in Detroit, where hundreds of children receive food weekly.

"Yeah, it really helps all of us a lot because, you know, we can't really go to the grocery store all the time, so we just come around here, get a quick little lunch, and we're all good," said Lydia Tyson from Detroit.

Pastor Donald Davis of Saint Mark's Holy Temple and Gerrine Strother, who manages the food pantry, have been feeding their community for many years and refuse to turn anyone away.

"It's our pleasure to serve them. Because the need is real, we really have a need in this community," Strother said.

"In this community, we have a whole lot of children. So we have an opportunity and privilege to feed them," Davis said.

Olivia Atnew, a volunteer from Fraser, shared her motivation: "I grew up with kids in school who didn't always have lunch in the summer, and so I know that it can be hard for a lot of people who this is their only meal."

She added, "It's a beautiful thing to know that people give their own free time without being paid, just their time from their heart to come and help us out."

These lunches are available for pickup Monday through Friday at Forgotten Harvest distribution sites. To find a location near you, contact Forgotten Harvest during their regular business hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 248-967-1500.

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. https://www.forgottenharvest.org/donate/

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.

Detroit's far east side is getting its first indoor recreation center in over 15 years with the opening of the Chandler Park Dome at Chandler Park in the coming weeks.

The multimillion-dollar facility, funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money, features an indoor field, basketball courts, volleyball and pickleball areas, locker rooms, showers, and spaces for community programs and events.

"We started this project in 2024, and it was an opportunity for us to return indoor recreation spaces to this area," LaJuan Counts, Group Executive of Construction and Building Operations, said.

City officials chose a dome structure to expedite construction, allowing the facility to open much sooner than a traditional building would have permitted.

"The dome allowed us to turn this property back over this year. As opposed to a hard structure of this size, we would probably just be closing it in right about this time," Counts said.

For District 4 residents, the facility ends a long wait for recreational resources.

"It's been about 16 years since we've had a full-fledged rec center in the district," Latisha Johnson, District 4 city council member, said.

Johnson hopes the center will provide safe activities for young people, especially during out-of-school time.

"This summer, we've seen a lot of unfortunate incidents happening throughout the district with our young people," Johnson said.

She says one of those incidents took the lives of an 18-year-old and a 4-year-old at the very beginning of the summer.

"We're now putting a keen focus on how we in the city are providing support to our youth, programs for our youth, so that it's centrally located and that transportation to and from the facility," said Johnson.

The facility transforms what was previously an outdoor space into a year-round community resource.

"For me, to be able to have those memories of when I was little, when I was younger, growing up, just playing in Detroit, and now having a dome where we can play year-round," said Denaja King, a Detroit resident.

Community members expressed enthusiasm about having a new recreational hub in their neighborhood.

"Something for the kids to do, so they don't have to be home bored or anything," Jeanetta Taylor, a Detroit resident, said.

Both city leaders and community members agree the dome is expected to provide lasting benefits for the east side community.

"Now having a dome here, where we have more access to resources, like wellness and fitness, is going to be very beneficial for generations to come," Lex Allen, a Detroit resident, said.

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.