Sorting Books and Other Materials
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FOOD. BIO Guide to the v Michigan NoNvK^liya] Buy Michigan CHARITABLE BAKE SALES Now Festival THURSDAY July 29,2010 CANTON The Observer & Eccentric Newspapers Volume 36 SPECIAL Number 10 OBSERVER SECTION jTometownlife "'i^com it.-.'" CONNECTION Benefit concert The Village Theater at Plan nabs Cherry Hill is the site for a benefit concert by Michael McDermott at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20. McDermott will be perform- ing an acoustic set of his music. Tickets are $22 each. All ) proceeds go to the Susan 6. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. Tickets can be purchased online at www.cantonvillage- \ theater.org or by calling (734) first day 394-5300. Find out more about McDermott at www. BY DARRELLCLEM michael-mcdermott.com OBSERVER STAFF WRITER On the air A prison parolee who allegedly phoned a sex hotline to share fantasies of kidnapping and raping young girls has been returned to Library Director Eva Davis explains the new, automated system of sorting books and other materials. prison after Canton police and state correc- tions officers found a loaded semiautomatic handgun in his home on the township's southeast side, authorities said. Officers took the 48-year-old man into custody last Friday, the same day Canton police and the Michigan Department of Corrections debuted a joint program making unannounced visits to residences where state parolees live. "We feel very strongly that we put a very Sorting dangerous person back in prison and pre- vented a potentially heinous crime against Friday's concert featuring a child," said Canton police Lt. Debra Trilogy will air on WSDP 88.1- Newsome, who heads up the new parolee FM. the student-run radio spot-check program. station. The parolee wasn't arrested for allegations he repeatedly phoned the sex hotline to talk You won't have to be in down- about his fantasies involving girls as young town Plymouth's Kellogg Park to things out as 3 years old, Newsome said. hear the next two installments "It is not a crime to fantasize or call a hot- of the Plymouth Downtown line and say those things. If you act on it, Development Authority's Music then it is a crime," Newsome said. "It's not a in the Air concert series. Latest technology makes library leaner crime to fantasize about committing a crime, as appalling as this is." Friday's concert, featuring the band Trilogy, and the Aug. BY DARRELLCLEM Rather, authorities arrested the man because he violated his parole by being in 6 concert featuring the Shawn OBSERVER STAFF WRITER a house where a weapon was found, even Riley Band, will air on WSDP though the gun apparently belonged to his 88.1-FM, the student-run radio Faced with declining revenues, fewer employees roommate. station of the Plymouth-Canton and record-shattering cir- The parolee could be facing five years in Community Schools. LIBRARY RETURN culation figures, Canton's prison for the violation, Newsome said. "We're very excited about bustling public library The parolee's alleged phone calls prompted this partnership with WSDP," has increasingly turned to the company that operates the hotline to said Tony Bruscato, director of technology to become more contact Canton police — by sheer coinci- operations for the DDA. "It helps efficient. dence on the same day township and MDOC bring our concerts, which draw The latest: A new, auto- officers started the spot-check program. thousands downtown every mated sorting system that's According to Newsome, the company week, to an even wider audi- easy for patrons, frees up became concerned after the man made 13 ence." workers, quickly separates calls within two hours on the eve of the spot- The concerts start at 7 p.m. materials and gets books, check program, "talking about his fantasies Fridays from the band shell in movies, music discs and of kidnapping and raping a child." Kellogg Park. For more informa- other materials back on the Authorities checked the man's background tion. contact the DDA office at shelves — faster. BrMn light and learned he wasn't a convicted sex offend- (734)455-1453. "We're trying to be lean," er, though his nearly 30-year criminal his- library Director Eva Davis tory involved armed robbery and attempted Avon scholar said. kidnapping along with weapons and con- trolled substance violations. The Avon Foundation for The sorting system allows It was the finding of the gun that allowed Women has awarded Canton patrons to return their library items to a new drop- authorities to take him into custody. resident Anita Schumaker off box on the front of the Detective Sgt. Dave Schreiner said the a 2010 Avon Representative building — nothing revolu- man's arrest and return to prison should Scholarship. tionary. From there, howev- quell any potential criticism that the parolee Schumaker will be attending er, it becomes more complex, spot-check program might be a waste of tax- Eastern Michigan University dur- yet remarkably efficient, payer dollars and police officers' time. ing the 2010-11 academic year. The scholarship is designed Please see LIBRARY, A2 Library patrons return their materials to this new drop-off box. Please see PAROLEE, A2 to assist independent Avon sales representatives who are enrolled (or who plan to enroll) in an undergraduate or gradu- Switch your Checking to ate course of study leading to a degree in a field that allows Board OKs inspection program Community Financial them to advance their careers. Scholarship recipients are BV DARRELLCLEM A team of appraisers, start- prises for future homeowners. Credit Union selected on the basis of aca- OBSERVER STAFF WRITER ing on the northeast side and Two, for people who do go demic record, demonstrated gradually working southward, out there and try to usurp the will meticulously measure the system, it brings them back leadership and participation in In a 6-0 decision Tuesday, and earn exterior of homes, garages, into compliance not only from school and community service the Canton Township Board sheds, porches, decks, balco- a (tax) revenue standpoint, activities, honors, work experi- of Trustees approved a three-year plan to have the nies and other outdoor ame- but also from a safety stand- ence, statement of goals and assessor's office spearhead an nities. point," Caccamo said. aspirations, unusual personal exterior-inspection program Though he missed Tuesday's Assessor Doug Shaw has or family circumstances, and of every single-family home meeting, Trustee Todd said some property owners an outside appraisal. Academic and condominium in this 36- Caccamo said Wednesday he may not even realize it when and non-academic criteria are square-mile community. supports the decision made by companies fail to obtain the evaluated equally. Financial need It marks a sweeping effort his board colleagues to make proper township permits they is not considered. to make sure 28,500 resi- sure residential properties are need before building addi- "The Avon Foundation for dences are properly and fairly fairly assessed. assessed for tax purposes. "One, it prevents any sur- Please see INSPECTION, A2 . COMMUNITY FINANCIAL right here right for you Home Delivery: (866) 887-2737 INDEX www.cfcu.org • (877) 937-2328 Return Address: APARTMENTS ... C2 CROSSWORD PUZZLE C2 REAL ESTATE 41304 Conccpt Dr. AUTOMOTIVE ... C3 HOME & SERVICE C2 SPORTS . Plymouth MI •Some restrictions apply, v it our web site or branch for details. 6 53174 10007 8 GANNETT 48170 CAREER BUILOER ... ... C4 OBITUARIES B9 STRICTLY BUSINESS . Federally insured by NCUA. (C) Observer & Eccentric | Thursday. July 29.2010 LOCAL NEWS online at hometownlife.com One other parolee was PAROLEE caught Friday with marijuana, FROM PAGE A1 and Newsome said state cor- rections officials will decide if "Why should taxpayers that amounts to a parole viola- spend the dime to check on tion. parolees? This is a perfect Most parolees weren't found example why," Schreiner said. in violation of any laws. Some UBRAK* Public Safety Director weren't at home and, officials HOURS Patrick Nemecek lauded the hope, might have been work- efforts of officers who arrested ing at jobs or engaging in other the man. productive activities. "Having run the spot-check "This program is not about program one time, and having punishing them if they're in checked on only 17 people, to compliance," Newsome said. have something like this pop Nemecek has said Canton up on the first go-through is home to some 275 parol- really recommits us that this is ees, and township police and aa a program we're going to stand MDOC officers eventually plan behind and continue all the to contact each one. way through," Nemecek said. Newsome said officers are He commended MDOC for aware the program comes working with Canton to start with certain risks, but she said the program, which is intend- authorities take precautions to ed to make sure parolees are ensure their own safety. complying with the terms "It's our job, and it's worth of their release from prison. it," she said. "Yeah, we're Local police have more sweep- potentially putting ourselves in ing powers when accompanied harm's way, but it's worth it." by state corrections officers to Arrows point to the new drop-off box. parolee homes. [email protected] | (313) 222-2238 the library's marketing and expenses in the long term — only 16 of them full time, communications manager. have become more critical Davis said. Library officials "It saves a lot of time." "with the economy the way have trimmed the workforce $300,000 a year. Built by Design Industry it is." without layoffs, only because INSPECTION Shaw said the program LLC, the Canton library's Library officials are acute- enough workers retired or FROM PAGE A1 could take three years to com- conveyor works similarly ly aware of that.