Make comments at hometownlife.com Look inside for 'American Profile' - now in Thursday editions April 24,2008 75 cents WINNERS OF STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE mmmmmmmmmmmmiMMmmma www.hometownlife.com organize senior party BY SUE MASON OBSERVER STAFF WRITER While the demand for tickets has been weak, a group of parents has decided to go ahead with plans to stage a senior party Friday, May 9, at BY SUE MASON John Glenn High School. OBSERVER STAFF WRITER The parents of seniors, they are looking to revive the senior party tra- TOM HAWLEVI STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The cost of refuse collection in Westiand dition at the Westiand high school. Two groups that help make the projects of Westiand First Citizen Lou Toarmina a reality are the Wayne-Westland Corps of the is on its way up, following a request from the "This is the first time the school has Salvation Army and the Westiand Rotary Club. city's trash hauler to charge for the increased had one in a long time " said Sheila cost of diesel fuel. Lada, the party chair. "No one can In a letter to Mayor William Wild, dated remember when the last one was." April 1, Paul Ruthenberg of Midwest The parents started working on the Sanitation told the city his company "can no party in January and have been doing 2008 First Citizen longer afford to absorb the increases in diesel fund-raisers like a casino trip, pan- fuel costs" and asked that an escalator clause cake breakfast and dine to donate. be added to the five-year agreement. They've also sent out letters to busi- Called a 'go-getter,' Toarmina bring good news toNorwayne However, after a half hour council study nesses in the community in hopes session Monday evening, city officials came of generating donations that can be BY SUE MASON to the conclusion that the contract already included in goodie bags for he kids. OBSERVER STAFF WRITER includes such a clause and that the trash The party will be from 8 p.m. to hauler need only added the charge to the midnight at the school and will fea- Ask Lou Toarmina how he's 7he Westiand Chamber of Commerce's Hawaiian Beach Bash. Westfand monthly invoice. ture a live band and karaoke, a Guitar able to run a successful pizza First Citizen Lou ^armina and Business Person of the Year Angeio Plakas will "It looks like there's nothing to do other Hero competition, three or four business and do volunteer work be honored during ttie annual spring awards program. than realize that we're going to get hit with inflatables, Cash Cube, temporary in the Westiand community, and When: 6 p.m. Friday, May 2. a surcharge as of April 1," said Council tattoo artist, photo booth and beauty he'll tell you he's "the face" on the Where: American Legion Post 32 at 9318 Newburgh, north of Joy, Livonia. President James Godbout. room for the girls. Area restaurants many projects that are linked to Cost: Tickets cost $35 per person and include a buffet dinner and open bar, At times questioning whether the charge also are donating food for the party. him. It's the people behind the sponsored by TOS Metrocom. Register for tickets'online at www.westland- was double dipping because of a negotiated There also will be a scavenger scenes that make them happen. 2 percent increase that kicks in each July 1 hunt through the school for students That might explain why he chamber.com. to cover inflation and increased tipping fees, to find their star, tying in with the says he will share the honor of Information: Cait the Westiand Chamber of Commerce at (734) 326-7222. the council was stymied in getting answers theme of a Red Carpet Party, Lada being Westland's 2008 First because Ruthenberg did not attend the said. Citizen with the likes of the "Together we create a synergy to Memorial High School, meeting. According to Department of Public "We're making a big film strip and Westiand Rotary Club, Salvation get things done. A number of peo- Toarmina's name is all but synon- Service Director Kevin Buford, Ruthenberg are cutting out stars with the names Army, Westiand Community ple are needed to make an impact ymous with the Norwayne com- was in Florida, which he found out when he of the seniors on them," Lada said. Foundation, Wayne County on the community." munity. Six years ago, he started called him to discuss a complaint. "They'll be able to write on the film Community College District and "A person like Lou is a go-get- a project to provide youngsters The initial concern was that Ruthenberg strip and it'll be hung up in one of the 18th District Court Judge Sandra ter," said Salvation Army Capt. at Lincoln and Jefferson-Barns wassasking for new contract language, but halls after the party for students to Cicirelli. Matt CNeil. "He has a passion for Elementaries with backpacks and Godbout pointed out that a copy of the read." "What I do is a small portion helping the community." The party is for seniors only, and of the project/' said Toarmina. A1980 graduate of Wayne Please see TOARMINA, A2 Please see FUEL COST, A2 parent chaperones and a school administrator will be in atten- dance. A school ID and ticket will be required to enter. Organizers are hoping the idea will catch on with seniors, who must pur- chase the $15 in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door. No students BY BRAD KADRICH to three-10 years for mutilation of a are (husband) Jim and Dan, and one of fied during Orlewicz's trial in order will be allowed to enter the party OBSERVER STAFF WRITER corpse. The sentences will run concur- them has been taken from me for the to get a deal from prosecutors. The after 9 p.m. and students who leave rently. A felony murder charge against rest of my life." elder Letkemann said his son is truly will not be allowed to re-enter. Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Letkemann was dismissed. James Sorensen told of the last remorseful, even if he couldn't voice it "We've done morning announce- Annette Berry repeatedly asked After saying he couldn't "find a father-son moment he shared with in court. ments and fliers and have posted Alexander Letkemann reason for myself why he didn't walk Daniel, weeks before his death, when "Alex thought anything he said would information in the school," Lada said. at his sentencing hear- away from the murder, Letkemann the son took the father for a ride in his sound lame," Pete Letkemann said. Volunteers to serve as chaperones, ing Wednesday why apologized to Sorensen's family, who new truck. Daniel would always be, "The Sorensens are amazing in their to pick up the food, do set up and he got involved in the forgave him during their statements to James Sorensen said, "my little boy." forgiveness. It means a lot. Alex always clean up and decorating also are murder and beheading the court. "I'll never see that big ol' grin that wanted a shot at redemption, and now needed. People interested in helping of Daniel Sorensen, "I can't find enough words to say how would light up my soul," James said. he's going to get it." . can go to the senior party Web site at and why he didn't do sorry I am for what I did," Letkemann "He is gone, and the hole in my heart is Prosecutors agreed to the plea deal www.geocities.com/rocketseniors for something to stop said. "I'd like to thank the Sorensens for so big, it will never be filled." in exchange for Letkemann's testi- more information and to sign up for convicted killer Jean their forgiveness. I'm grateful I'm going Kimberly Sorensen pledged her mony against Orlewicz, the Plymouth e-mail alerts. Pierre Orlewicz from Letkemann to have a second chance." forgiveness to Letkemann, and her Township teenager convicted last week Businesses that would like to make going through with the killing. The forgiveness came during tear- husband thanked him for the testimony of killing and beheading Sorensen, then a donation can call Lada at (734) Letkemann's answer? A repeated "I ful statements by both James and that ultimately helped convict Orlewicz. disposing of his body in a Northville 422-4599 or also click on the Web don't know." Kiniberly Sorensen, the parents of the "It would be easy to justify hating Township field and tossing his head in site for more information. Hell have plenty of time to think victim. Kimberly Sorensen, who noted (Letkemann), and I don't think anyone the Rouge River. And even though only 14 seniors about it after Berry, pursuant to a plea her son's penchant for thinking of oth- would fault me, but I don't hate him," Orlewicz, 18, faces a mandatory life have bought tickets to date, the par- agreement between Letkemann and ers ahead of himself often led him "to James Sorensen said. "In an act of cour- sentence' without possibility of parole ents aren't giving up. the Wayne County Prosecutor's office make foolish decisions," called the age that will send him to prison for when he's sentenced May 12. Assistant "We decided to go ahead and do it. for Letkemann's guilty plea to sec- months since his death "surreal." many years, (Letkemann) stepped for- prosecutor Robert Moran, who pros- It's a shot in the dark, but we're hop- ond-degree murder, sentenced the 18- "The enormity of how my life will ward to accept responsibility for what he ecuted Orlewicz, said Letkemann's tes- ing word-of-mouth will help," Lada year-old former Churchill High School change has yet to strike me," she said.