Most-read stories for 2020 reflect what Macomb County was thinking about
In a typical year, the Macomb Daily’s most-read online stories will be an eclectic mix of content — heartwarming feature stories and oddball incidents mixed in with some hard news reporting.
This year, one unlike any other, Macomb Daily readers interests mirrored what was on the minds of people not only locally but across the country — primarily the COVID-19 pandemic and racial unrest. Our list is a virtual roadmap of readers concerns and interests as the coronavirus plagued our county and our country for most of 2020. There were a couple of good news business stories, too.
Here is our top-10 mostread stories on macombdaily.com for 2020.
1.
Police preparing for protest march down Hall Road
In the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police in Minneapolis and other Black Americans killed in altercations with police officers, law enforcement officials from several Macomb County communities met to discuss patrolling strategies for a possible protest march down Hall Road. A post on Twitter indicated a Black Lives Matter March called, “Macomb Protest — Show Up Show Out” would be held on a Saturday afternoon in June down Hall Road. The flier indicated marchers would begin near the Golden Corridor signs in Sterling Heights/ Shelby Township and proceed east to Macomb Community College’s Center Campus in Clinton Township. Police from communities along Hall Road including Clinton Township, Macomb Community College, Shelby Township, Sterling Heights and Utica all took part in a virtual conversation to make sure marchers would have the right to protest but also do it peacefully.
In the end, it was estimated more than 4,000 people
took place in the march June 6. The march was peaceful and without incident and went from Hall Road near Lakeside mall and headed about two miles east.
2.
Groesbeck Highway in Clinton Twp. bounces back to life
The new year was filled with economic hope as vacant buildings along Groesbeck Highway in Clinton Township were being repopulated. Reviving Groesbeck — a hodgepodge of industrial shops, fast-food eateries, gas stations, and other businesses along the gritty, poorly-lit highway — has been a top business goal for Clinton Township. Major Magic and Captain D’s seafood restaurant were two of the early improvements. Then the coronavirus took hold. Major Magic closed this fall.
3.
Macomb County unveils new zip code map showing COVID-19 cases
This story, published on April 1, came as COVID-19 first started creating a strong foothold in Macomb County and across the state. At the time, Macomb County had about 1,200 cases of coronavirus and 69 deaths. April would go on to become the deadliest month of the year for Macomb County with 600 deaths. As of Dec. 22, the
map reveals Macomb County had more than 45,000 cases since March and more than 1,400 deaths. Sterling Heights has the most cases, with nearly 8,800, followed by Warren with 6,200. Warren has had the most deaths, with more than 300, followed by Sterling Heights with more than 260.
4.
COVID-19 analysis shows Eastpointe is county’s current hot spot
In late March, Macomb County had less than a dozen total COVID-19 related deaths in its statistical database. By the end of the month, based on death of date, Macomb County had 69 deaths.
“As sad as it is, we have to be honest about it,” Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said at the time. “The toll will continue to rise. We are going to see more cases and more deaths, and dramatic increases in those categories based on what’s going on around the country and around the globe.”
At the time, the “hot spot” of confirmed cases was overwhelmingly in Eastpointe, with lighter pockets in western Sterling Heights and Warren, and south and northwest Clinton Township. Hackel said one possible reason for Eastpointe’s density could be that its residents are more concentrated and
have closer contact than other communities. He stressed he fully expects the rest of Macomb County communities to show an increase in their representation in the coming weeks. 5.
Andiamo Sterling Heights to close for good after Father’s Day
The busy and popular Andiamo location on Hall Road in front of Lakeside Mall became a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. The landmark restaurant which had opened in 2004, closed its doors after serving its final homemade pasta dish via curbside service sometime after Father’s Day.
Joe Vicari, head of the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group, sold the property and was operating on a lease when the new owner exercised an out clause this past winter.
“Technically, we had to be out of there in May, but due to the coronavirus and all of that confusion, we agreed to be out by midAugust,” Vicari said. “So we will be shutting down and vacating the building after Father’s Day.”
Andiamo’s was replaced with a Chicago-based hot dog and hamburger restaurant known as Portillo’s. The new eatery is currently under construction.
6.
Macomb County’s COVID-19 hot spots continue to migrate north
In late March, the spread of the coronavirus in Macomb County continued to be an area of concern for readers. The county “heat map” originally showed Eastpointe along Macomb’s southern border as the primary location for COVID-19 infections. But only four days later, hot spots had arisen in Warren, Center Line, St. Clair Shores, Roseville, Sterling Heights, Harrison Township and Macomb Township.
“I don’t like to be an alarmist, but these numbers are expected to rise incredibly over the next few weeks — they are going to go up dramatically,” Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said on March 30.
Also on that date, statewide, there had been nearly 6,500 infections and nearly 200 deaths.
7.
Coronavirus kills three more autoworkers
In early April, The United Auto Workers (UAW) confirmed a union member working at the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Warren Stamping Plant was the latest local autoworker to die of COVID-19. At that time, many auto factories were either closed or in the process of closing due to the pandemic. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer authorized Michigan auto plants to reopen in early May.
8.
Hydroxychloroquine cut death rate in half in study, Henry Ford says
In June, a new study published by Henry Ford Health System indicated treatment with hydroxychloroquine cut the death rate in half for sick patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and without heart-related side-effects.
An analysis of the study of 2,541 patients who were hospitalized between March 10 and May 2 at Henry Ford’s six metro-Detroit hospitals showed 13% of those treated with hydroxychloroquine died compared to 26.4 percent of patients who died and were not treated with hydroxychloroquine, according to hospital officials.
Hydroxychloroquine has been touted by President Trump, but on June 15 it was removed by the Federal Drug Administration from use at U.S. hospitals for COVID-19 other than for trials. Since then, most medical experts, including a National Institutes of Health clinical trial, have formally concluded the drug provides no clinical benefit to hospitalized patients
9.
Roseville Dennys abruptly closes
In late January, Denny’s restaurant fans were surprised to find out the popular 24-hour location on Gratiot near the Macomb Mall was closing for good. Records indicated the restaurant had been open since 1975. The closure left the Denny’s diner on Hall Road by Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights as the sole Denny’s location in Macomb County. That location has also since closed in October.
10.
New $35 million Kroger to open next week in Sterling Heights
Also in January, The Kroger Company announced it would unveil its new $35 million grocery store at 18 Mile Road and Dequindre in Sterling Heights. The new Kroger Marketplace replaced an existing Kroger store across the street on the south side of 18 Mile Road.