January 27,2008
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WORLD TRAVELERS MISS JUNK Travel club members span the globe 'Junkie' fights her way back to health January 27,2008 75 cents WINNERS OF STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE www.hometownlife.com BY SUE MASON for Schweitzer, Edison and than $1.6 million in construc will this contract reflect your ings on noncompliance in lowest bidder rather than award STAFF WRITER Patchin Elementaries, and wel tion contracts, however, came concern about the community," New Baltimore and related to contracts to Great Lakes. comed by parent Pat McCreery after a representative of the asked Gary Helmer in ques an elementary school in the However, when questioned Three elementary schools who had eight children attend Brotherhood of Electrical tioning if due diligence was Hartland district as well as the by Trustee Steve Becher if the will be getting additions to Schweitzer School. Workers questioned the selec done related to Great Lakes use of apprentices and the lack company "has ever not paid their media center, in a new "I was the first librarian, I tion of Great Lakes Power and paying prevailing wages on of appropriate supervision. prevailing wages," Helmer could round of sinking fund projects was a volunteer," she said. "We Lighting Inc. of Casco, Mich., other projects. Helmer also told the board only say that "it's a suspicion of approved the Wayne-Westland had no library, we shared space to do the electrical work. Helmer presented a series of that three other school districts mine." school board recently. with the principal." "Although the school district questions about Great Lakes — Memphis, New Haven and The additions are slated The approval of the more must use its money wisely, how to the board related to find Eraser — opted for the second Please see EXPANSION, A2 Judge rules walk was bond violation BY LEANNE ROGERS charges of being as disorderly per STAFF WRITER son and public nudity. Westland police officers had A Garden City man has been arrested Smith about 12:20 a.m. sent to jail after being found at an Dec. 18 after spotting a man elementary school standing at Venoy and Cherry Hill in violation of his with his pants and underwear • bond conditions. pulled down masturbating. Steven Brian Smith was initially released by Smith, 45, was Garden City officers because his sentenced to 30 bond conditions stated he was not days in jail for to have contact with anyone under contempt of court 18 or enter a school. by Westland 18th "He wasn't in the school, he was District Court walking near the school and the officer saw no contact with kids," Ference Cicirelli. said a Garden City officer. "He was Police were called to (subsequently) arrested after we Farmington Elementary School in clarified with the judge (Cicirelli) Garden City as classes were being that she mean he was not to be dismissed Tuesday afternoon. A in the area of a school or in close witness pointed out Smith, who proximity. He violated the spirit of was walking near on Farmington the bond conditions." . Road and Rosslyn approaching the Following his arrest, Garden school. City officers turned Smith over to The officer said Smith indicated Westland police. he was taking a walk despite the The incident last month resulted inclement weather — it was about in the pending charges. TOM HAWLEY | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 15 degree temperature and snowy. Smith was a registered sex William D. Ford Career Technical Center staffers Zach MacLean (from left), Sue Wilk, Jim Schirmer, Kevin Ryszka, Mark Batko and JC Irvine are His home is about half a mile offender for a 1994 second-degree Principal Ginny Kowalski's 'Rangers' when it comes to the Convergence Education.Foundation's innovative Vehicle Design program. from the school. The officer noted criminal sexual conduct convic Smith had been spotted walking tion in a Westland case involv on the grounds at other schools in ing a child under age 13. He was Westland recently. released from prison in 2006. Smith had been released on a $500 bond after being arrested - Staff writer Darrell Clem contributed to BY SUE MASON 'Our people are extremely impressed also praised the teachers who have in Westland on two misdemeanor this story. STAFF WRITER helped steer the program, calling them with this place. People who bring honor the center's "rangers" after the mili There's a new sign hanging outside to a profession should be honored and tary's special forces. the William D. Ford Career Technical "We received this honor because of Center, one announcing its designation these teachers are an honor to their our wonderful staff," she added. "This as a Center of Science and Engineering staff doesn't know it doesn't have to Westland woman killed Excellence. KARL KLIMEK, Convergence Education Foundation work in the evenings, on weekends and Career Tech Principal Ginny vice chairman and project orchestrator in the summer for a dozen doughnuts." Kowalski, members of her staff and Kowalski also thanked the districts's students appeared before the school administration for its help in providing i)oard tHis month to receive the The Career Technical Center has equipment for the center and the foun BY KURT KUBAN Joseph Mercy Hospital, where she award, presented by the Convergence partnered with the Convergence dation for its assistance. STAFF WRITER . was pronounced dead. There were Education Foundation. Education Foundation for a number of "We know what we want to do, but no passengers in her car. Karl Klimek, the foundation's vice years. It was a participant in the foun sometimes we need to be reined in and A 74-year-old Westland woman The drivers of the two other chairman and project orchestrator, dation's innovative design vehicle pro our vision defined," she added. was killed in a Canton traffic acci vehicles involved in the accident told the board he was "thrilled'' to gram and won several awards — the "This is truly a gifted and talented dent involving three cars Thursday were treated for minor injuries at present the center with the first ever Convergence Education Foundation's program for the community," Supt. around 6:45 p.m. the scene and released. award. Vehicle Performance Award and Greg Baracy said. "This award clearly Canton Police Sgt. Rick Pomorski said the accident "We decided to present it to the Ambassadorship Award and the 2007 illustrates the wonderful things going Pomorski said Sallie Mae is under investigation, but it.is school because they decided what was Excellence in Practice Award from the on at the center." Lockhart had just left the CVS believed that the woman had a critical to them is to excite, students Michigan Department of Labor and There's no time to rest on laurels store at Palmer and Haggerty , medical condition that probably about engineering," Klimek said. Economic Growth's Bureau of Career at the center, where the students and roads. Driving a 2007 Chevy caused the accident. The center found out in December Education Programs for the student- •• staff are working on a yet-to-be-named Malibu, she was heading east- "That is the thinking right now," that it had been selected as one of built Thunderbolt IIIVD. IVD due out in fall 2008. According to bound on Palmer just before the Pomorski said Friday morning. seven school programs to receive the "Our people are extremely impressed Kowalski, the new IVD is being built 1-275 overpass, when witnesses "Based on what the witnesses had award, which "celebrates the success with this place," Klimek said, adding on a golf cart frame and will be pow say she drifted across into the to say, it does not look like speed of projects, focused on engineering, that, "People who bring honor to a pro ered by a hydrogen-fuel cell. oncoming lane and hit a 2007 played a factor." science or math, implemented within fession should be honored and these "I had the opportunity to test drive Chevy Tahoe head on. Her vehicle Pomorski said the woman was local educational communities." teachers are an honor to their profes the latest model and it's awesome," then collided with another car, a a diabetic, but her blood sugar According to Klimek, it recognizes sion." Baracy said. "I saw the technology in Volkswagen Passat, before coming appeared to be normal at the time "their dedication to bringing unique, Kowalski said the center is thrilled the latest version and it's awesome." to a halt. of the accident. He said an autopsy project-based learning opportunities to be one of the first seven — "We call Canton emergency respond will be conducted to determine the to the hundreds of youth they serve." ourselves Mercury 7." she said — and smason@hometownlifecom 1 (734} 953-2112 ed transported the woman to St. cause of death. •- «:. -*•« Jf»*#tfBfii^UteYJ?«!^^ -•W; D The Observer & Eccentric INDEX We beat For Home Newspapers NEW VEHICLE LOAN APARTMENTS D4 any offer Delivery call: AUTOMOTIVE C9 Volume 43 CROSSWORD PUZZLE D5 (866) 887-2737 Number 70 Up to 60 Months** HEALTH B5 AT&T i ' -CI." 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