March 12, 1998

^^^^^^P^^^^^^T^*^^^^^^^^ w*n ^* IPPW^^^F«WF *^W District basketball heats up, CI Hom^Ibwn . ' Putting you In touch I -j ' with your worW J Thursday *£1 March 12,1998 w Serving the Westland Community for 33 years SF.VENV* FtvF CfNTS Von vr A3 NLMBLR 80 WlSTiAM). MICHIGAN • 68 PAGfcS • http: observer ecccntric.com O l»6H©intToirnC©mmunJirmtioii»Neiworfc, In*, Driver charged in hit-and-run Catherine O'Keefe suffered head injuries and said/ • ;:'v ::';".•"/.'.•'••'. :'- . Rather than stopping to help the- remains in critical but stable condition. Theywenton top of the hood of the girls, Escobar kept driving until he Samantha Kosmyna suffered a broken right car and hit the windshield," Westland: reached a Westland residence where- arm and she still faces surgery. Both girls police Officer Daniel Karrick said. The his fiancee and his B-ye'ar-oid disabled..;• Spring ball: Westland were injured in a hit-and-run accident. windshield broke; and the girls fell off daughter live, police said. if Community foundation the'car,":;UVv.•-:''•' ••••-' "f:.''. v;^" "He did panic," defense attorney BY DARRELL CLEM too many drinks after work - drove O'Keefe suffered major head injuries Daniel Moss said Monday afternoon in ; will host its spring ball STAFF WBrrgR east through the Joy-Middlebelt inter- and remains in critical but stable con Westland 18thDistrictCourt.' ;: • i Escobar apparently didn't realize he/ on March 27 at the Hel It was 8:20 p.m. Saturday when sectioni police Said. dition at Detroit'sGrace Hospital. Kos ?He did have the green light," West- myna fared better; her right arm was had been trailed by witnesses, who con lenic Cultural Center. ./AS Livonia teens Catherine O'Keefe and tacted police and led officers to the/; Samantha kosmyna began walking land police Officer Cathy Gilliam said. broken and she still faces surgery, but Then it happened. Escobar* accused she was released Monday from Garden fiancee's residence hear Joy and Harri:' across Joy Road to socialize at a West- son, Karrick said. lancLcoffeehouse. of his third alcohol-related driving City Hospital. At that same moment, 26-year-old offense, rammed his 1994 Taurus into "There's nothing to indicate that the COUNTY NEWS O'Keefe and Kosmyna before the two driver was going real fast," Karrick Standing mute Sergio Antonio Escobar of Garden City In court Monday, Escobar stood mute — a truck driver accused of stopping for 16-year-old Livonia Franklin High said, responding to questions. "And '•Xi\ In court: An appeals court juniors could cross the road, police there's no Sign of any braking." • •"••.-.• ." ' Please see HIT, A2 panel heard opening arguments Tuesday in a Technical travel WayneCouniy Taxpayers Just the Association lawsuit on fax: Quia- 911 charges on telephone ton Mark, bills./A5 center, faxes a question COMMUNITY LIFE to vf? Hawaii. Superstitious? With the At left is Matt second of three Friday the Kanni- ISthson the horizon, you ainenand can chase away your fears at right is of the unlucky day by Janet doing something differ- Salt. ent./B± AT HOME Speaking English: A Troy designer explains how the English style of decor can be anyone's cup of tea, as it features a sense of his tory as well as fun./D8 ENTERTAINMENT The 13th annual St. Patrick's Day Irish Fest at the Hellenic Cul ST AW PHOTOS BY JIM JAGDTOD tural Center in Westland features 60 musicians and dancers /El Dining: Newly-opened • • Q'Grady's in Troy offers good food at moderate to on prices with an Irish- very Thursday afternoon, Carrie real time. They interact with the Americantwist. /El Toussain's fourth-grade science teachers and students in Hawaii by Eclass at Vandenberg Elementary computer and telephone. School in Wayne goes to Hawaii... not Reefs, corals, volcanoes become by boat or plane, but ;by satellite, more than flat pictures on a page. REAL ESTATE The 35 students walk oyer to the Lessons about fragile ecosystems computer lab at Wayne County RESA become immediate and three-dimen to participate in "TKidScience/ a long sional. Earning their pay: Good distance learning program produced "It's certainly more real. It's not just Realtors serve sellers and through Hawaii's department of edu a storyi When the students feel it's cation.- •.••• . ''.'."•' .• real, they feel they can do something buyers of h^m^s in lots of While RESA provides the technolo about it. They see they have some Seeking answers: Paula tiles and Chelsea Khan type a ques ways., gy, the Students provide the enthusi- control over it," Said Vandenberg tion into their computer as the program from Hawaii plays in aspi. JFpr them, it's real learning in School principal Karen Zokas. the background. INDEX • Obituaries \ A8 nee • Chuwlfled Index ' F5 receives RealErtate Fl BY DARRELL CLEM That marked the highest possible increase to $116,280 on July 1. eight categories ranging from commu Crossword *G3 BTAFFWRrreR rating he could receive for his first for Board members will have to approve nity relations to financial expertise to Jobs HI Riding a crest of popular support mal job evaluation. any adjustments. They also still have curriculum improvements. Home & Service J2 There was no dissent in this agree to reach an agreement with Baracy for "We believe that Dr. Baracy's energy from Wayne-Westland school board level, leadership and vision for the Autos J3 -members, Superintendent Greg Baraqy ment," Mathew McCusker, board vice a third-year salary that will begin July president, said. "It was an evaluation 1,1999. school district has provided a positive I Opinion A1243 won sweeping praise Monday for his first six months on the job. earned and deserved." ; Baracy replaced former Superinten and motivating atmosphere that focus I Calendar B4 Baracy's revjew didn't come with any dent Duane Moore, who retired as es on teaching and learning," Fowlkes Baracy, basking in voter approval of said. [Sports CI a $108.3 million bond issue for class salary adjustments - not yet, at least. Wayne-Westland superintendent. In a lengthy public address Monday, She also commended Baracy for pro I Real Estate Fl room technology and school building Under his existing three-year con repairs, received an "outstanding* rat-, tract, Baracy's first-year' pay of board President Debra Fowlkes noted moting good relations with communi- l : that Baracy received top marks in ing. ' \ '. $114,000 already is scheduled to ~~~~' Please se* BARACY, A4 HOW TO REACH US Newsroom: 734-953-2104 S concerns Newsroom Fax: 734-591-7279 E-mail: nwwtKmtOoaonlffw.com BY BETH SUNDRLA JACHMAN the new owners. said. 'Nlghtllne/Sports: 734^53-2104 STAFF WRITER "We feel like you feel that maybe the school board Among the disputes is whether a strip of wooded Reader Comment Line: 734-953-2042 A proposed development near the Sassafras Trails pulled a fast one on us," Westland City Council Presi property should have been sold as part of the old Wil Classified Advertising: 734-591-0900 nature area sparked criticism Monday, but it is des dent Sandra Cicirelli said after residents came for son School site or kept as part of the neighboring Sassafras Trails nature area. The Wayne-Westland Display A dvertlslng: 734-591-2300 tined for preliminary approval by the city, ward to urge the council to help in protecting Sas While lobbing criticism at Wayne-Westland schools safras Trails. school district sold the parcel, and developer Mar ^0^06/^734-591-0500 officials who sold the property, council members and Meanwhile, Councilman Richard LeBlanc said if shall Kallen is planning a 64-lot subdivision on the residents hashed put their concerns about the pro there is blame to place, it should be with the school 13.5-ncre site. Sassafras Trails is protected by the posed Wildwood Manor Subdivision at a study,ses district not the city. Department of Natural Resources. sion Monday. Schools Superintendent Greg Baracy responded Property lines Many residents expressed concern about the future Tuesday, saying he wished city officials would call of a nature area called Sassafras Trails, but council him first for the facts boforo making negative com There is no dispute over any parcel of the property, members said they, feel their hands are tied, and that ments. Baracy said. The property lines are set on a map dat* they must approve the project or face a lawsuit from The school district has been totally upfront and 6 «174 10011 6 honest with the Sassafras Trails people," Baracy Pf ea<» see WU6N, A4 t s iliiiui 'jki.'i-*' i. mmmm iiJ*k-_i£iLl^* lii i:-L A2(W) The Ob»erver& Eccentric/ THURSDAY, MARCH 12,1998 PETelethonto aid shelters Hit from page At In addition to being, the auto into making the PETelethon a as Jyidge < Qail McKnight Westjand police and court offi capital of the world and the success," he said. "Aside from his arraigned hirn on tvyo cpunts of cials said Escobar had two mis home of the Stanley Cup chanv generous financial support, he operating under the influence, of demeanor alcohol offenses on his iO pions, the Detroit area can lay and his staff have volunteered liquor/causing a serious injury record prior tothe latest claim to having the largest their time and efforts to do all of accident-and two counts of leav charges. telethon devoted exclusively to the things that are necessary to ing the scene. AH four charges ; ; : Driving while impaired pets.; •'.'';'>' ••.;•:.';: .•:•• /-.,-::. -^:- carrying out a first-rate new : carry ifive-year prison terms •/The Michigan Humane Society telethon* upon conviction. McKnight noted in court that PETelethon raised $302,000 for The 1998 Michigan Humane Moss stopped short of saying, Escobar was cited for driving Debra Fowlkes, Wayne- area animal shelters last year, Society PETelethon will be host that Escobar drove drunk but while impaired foUpwihg a.

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