John Glenn vs. Wayne in districts, CI Hom<5Ib\vn I:{IMHI'MI:AII{IM< wufWiwK' Putting you In touch, Thursday with your world March 11,1999 Serving the Westland Community for 34 years VOLUME 34 NUMBER 80 WESTLAND. MICHIGAN • 74 PAGES • http://observer ecccntric.com SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS Judges court city for spacC 199* Hotn«Totren Co«munle«tlon * Network, Inc. Overcrowding has plagued Westland's 18th ing. • Defendants, victims and their District Court) located behind the Westland In their plea for help, Bokos and families often face each other while police station on Ford Road, and judges say Judge Gail McKnight told city officials waiting in crowded hallways, increas­ Home project during a Monday night study session ing the potential for violence. the problem is worsening and could lead to that: • With as many as 200 people pack­ photos sought violent incidents in the court building. • The court had 38,000 cases last ing the court hallway some days, secu­ The Observer wants to hear aDout your. BY DARRELL CLEM problems for all of us," Judge C. year - more than double the number it rity officers have little room to break recent home improvement projects for STAFF WRITER Charles Bokos told city leaders Mon­ was built to handle in 1980. up fights. "There isn't enough space to two upcoming special sections. [email protected] day. U Its staff has doubled to 40 employ­ separate people in the hallway," McK- Send us a photograph of a recent home Westland district judges, fearing Overcrowding has long plagued 18th ees during the same 19-year period, night said. improvement project done by you person­ • Jurors waiting to be questioned ally In your home or yard. potential violence amid crowds that District Court, tucked behind the West- and workers desperately need more pack their cramped court building, are land police station on Ford Road, and space to do their jobs. for possible jury duty have to be shifted Inchxh Information about th» lob: imploring city officials to consider a judges say the problem is worsening. • Offenders waiting for probation between two courtrooms; they have no • Cost of material $4.5 million expansion. But judges face hesitant city officials appointments are forced to sit in a hall­ room of their own. • Where you bought It "I'm worried about the day that who say court needs must be weighed way where score3 of ticket-payers often • A bigger court would include bet- j • How long the job took to corrfplete something might ignite that will cause alongside hopes for a new recreation line up to settle fines - creating a situ­ ation for possible disputes. • And anything else yoy might want to center and a new administration build­ Please see COURT, A2 add The Observer will publish your photos and Information on Sunday, April IS, and on Sunday, May 9,'on a space-available basis. Sand your material to: Special Projects Editor ' Ralph R.Echtinaw 36251" Schoolcraft * Livonia, Ml 48156 • Include a stamped, self-addressed enve­ lope if you want the photos, returned. • SubmTsslons.fof Inside home improve-: ments must be received by March 23. : ti Submissions for outside horrte improve­ ments must be received by April 10'/ Questions?Call Ralphm (734)953-2054 IN THE PAPER TODAY OPINION Cause for concern? Law­ makers fret over pedophiles using the Internet to prey on chil­ dren. Legislators' actions too often become just a source of publicity./A14 COMMUNITY LIFE When In Ireland: In the United States, St. Patrick's Day can mean things like green beer and STAJT PHOTO BY To* EUffUY corned beef and cabbage, The floating worlQ. Wayne-Westland YMCA instructor Crystal Hamm of Belleville helps Brandon Asaro, 4, of Dearborn float. The but in Ireland it's a "very, class was for 3- to 5-year-olds called Rays/Starfish. It is an introduction to front crawl (freestyle) with arm stroke and rotary very great day" that usu­ breathing. It also includes underwater swimming and deep-water safety. The class is to familiarize the child with water. Please ally starts at church./Bl seepage A3. ENTERTAINMENT Construction to begin soon on new fire station Theater: Meadow Brook's BY DARRELL CLEM to be built in nearly 30 years. officials said. members approved the fire station "Gift of Glory" raises STAFF WRITER Mayor Robert Thomas predicted the Westland City Council members on plans on March 2, setting the stage for expectation for regional- [email protected] station will open late this year or in Monday are expected to vote on a site a council vote Monday- specific theater./El South-end residents could see con­ spring 2000. plan and a special land use for the new Two firefighters trained as struction begin as early as May on a The new station will provide faster station, paramedics will initially work out of new Westland fire station in their responses to fires and medical emer­ "We'll go out for bids soon after that, the station with one mini-pumper. neighborhood. gencies in a south leg of the city that is and we should be ready to break "They'll have fire attack capabilities INDEX The new building is slated for the geographically separate from the rest ground by May." Fire Chief Mark Neal as well as advanced life support capa­ southeast corner of Annapolis and of Westland. said. "We're starting to get very excit­ bilities," Neal said. • Opinion A14 Irene, in Carver subdivision. It will The 4,600-squaro-foot building is ed." Ultimately, city officials hope to become the first Westland fire station expected to cost about $800,000, city Westland Planning C o m m l s s i o n • Obituaries A3 Please see STATION, A5 • Crossword G2 • Classified Index F5 Autos H8 Man faces charges in cashing of fraudulent checks Home & Service H7 Apartments G2 BY DARRELL CLEM erica branch and trying to defraud The company official told bank withdrawing $3,000 from the savings • Community Life Bl STAFF WRITER Dimplex Oil Co. of Wayne. authorities that he didn't authorize the account, a police report said. • Sports CI [email protected] The defendant has been charged fol­ check and that three other checks also On March 4 three days after the • Entertainment El A Westland man is accused of check lowing incidents cited in Westland were missing. l first incident the suspect is accused • Real Estate Fl fraud amid allegations that he tried to police reports. A man who brought in the $10,000 of returning to Comerica with an bilk an oil company out of as much as A Dimplex manager was notified by check took $2,000 in cash, placed $8,000 check drawn on the same oil $18,000, police reports said. Comerica that a company account was $3,000 in a savings account and put company, police said A 23-year-old suspect could face 14 overdrawn and that a $10,000 check $5,000 in a certificate, hank employees The man went to a drive-up window HOW TO REACH US years in prison if convicted of cashing had been written on March 1. one told police. fraudulent checks at a Westland Com report said. Two davs later, the man is accused of Please, soo CHECKS.'AK Newsroom,734-963-210 4 Newsroom fax: 734-591-727 9 E-mail: bjachmandoehomecomm.n«. t Switch to Lowell gets unofficial approval Nightllne/Sports.734-953-210 4 Reader Comment Line: 734-953-204 2 BY MARIE CHKSTNEY Twice this week LKA president Karen Zyc?ynski Classified Advertising: 734-591-090 0 STAFF WRLIKR LIVONIA SCHOOLS has hinted at the looming conflict, first m a letter to [email protected] ecomm.net the LivOnia Observer and then m a public hearing Display Advertising:734-591-230 0 I Livonia Public Schools' plan to close Johnson Kle- held Monday to air the Johnson Lowell switch and Home Delivery,734-591-050 0 into Ihe 1WI9 mentary in 2000 and move students and staff to the June and build the costs of the move t ho changes in the element arv school da\ N<. bigger Ixnvoll school is sailing in smooth waters, with 20(H) budget (ii-companvinfl stnr\ i little controversy and few anticipated problems But a sister issue I hat brings major <haugos to the In her letter Zyc/ynski warned "Change;, rccom The Livonia Hoard of Education gave the unofficial elementary school dnv may lace si iff head winds from mended in tins restructuring plan are issues that go-ahead to school administrators Monday to begin the teachers' union, ihe Livonia Kducatinn Associa affect contract negotiations planning for both the switch to Lowell and a planned turn, and may figure heavilv into contract negolia The $2 million price tag on the changes iiniuis the $800,000 classroom addition to (iarfield Klemenlary t.ioiis slated to begin this week between (he district district will temporarily set .isnlr iN qui.M to reduce The trustees are expected to approve (he move in and the l.KA The cut rent contract expires in August 6 63174 10011 6 HlilM TMe-nso seo **<*>» The Ob*erotr& Eccentric/ THURSDAY, MARCH ,11,-.1999 "^t.'lil'lJl.jlUL mrnmimrw^imi aftte Mais, it wU) «•*#>we, tt» W^RWlFiHr PWIW WwW WlBMJf IMC Poafi9m»m>H£3*t& \$ ,» , r *' t *fy »» ^0* or fcgy ntt*r* Cotnriwa|^|MpfW|yRa1|^[% ^¾ high marks «N» (llfMAIION 'l»r • Hi*etiaf#*MmtT#><kMB?tfetiiifc RratnewHn kttarnet fpf toto'iwawii>i «*>¥P<Jat -' ate ywr*. Tltii WMkrKmwt*t*\r*mml*m*0L, BY BETA SUNDRIA JACHMAN "I have worked with Greg.