February 7, 2008
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75 cents WINNERS OF STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE www.hometowhlife.com BY DARRELLCLEM forward before prison in June 1991 after he molesting her when she was 6 tence could be harsher because that he had sexually assaulted 1 STAFF WRITER the statute of served 3 ^ years for molesting years old. The girl told police he is considered a repeat the great-niece when she was limitations a nephew who, along with the she was asleep and woke up offender. 6. That nephew started beating. A Westland man who did expired. nephew's mother, now lives in to find Perkins fondling her, Cicirelli granted Perkins' on Perkins but was shot and prison time for sexually assault "It's a shame Perkins' residence on Alberta, Mathews said. request Tuesday for a court- wounded by another relative ing an 8-year-old nephew was the others in the city's Nor way ne sub Cicirelli ordered Perkins appointed attorney after he who was in the house. arraigned Tuesday on new didn't come division. The mother told jailed in lieu of a $1 million indicated that he has little That nephew is facing trial charges he molested a great- forward in ' authorities that the family had cash or surety bond, entered income. for home invasion and felony niece when she was only 6. Perkins time, because forgiven Perkins, Mathews a not-guilty plea for him and "I get a check every month assault charges for going inside Raymond jLawrence Perkins, I believe he said. scheduled a Feb. 14 prelimi from Social Security," he told Perkins' residence and attack 55, also has admitted he sexu would still be in prison," But Perkins was arraigned nary hearing that will deter the judge. ing him. The shooter, however, ally molested two other nieces Mathews told Westland 18th Tuesday on two counts of sec mine whether he should stand The latest charges followed is not facing charges because and one nephew years ago, but District Judge Sandra Ference ond-degree criminal sexual trial in Wayne County Circuit an incident in December in his actions were considered police Sgt. Debra Mathews said Cicirelli during Perkins' conduct after a 12-year-old Court. The charges against him which a nephew that Perkins defensive. he can't be charged for those arraignment. niece came forward in carry a 15-year prison term had molested years ago went incidents because no one came Perkins was released from December and accused him of upon conviction, but any sen to his house after finding out dclemHihometowrilife.com I (734) 953-2110 Gunman gets stiff prison BY DARRELLCLEM He accepted a plea agreement STAFF WRITER offered by Wayne County pros ecutors. A 26-year-old gunman will Hicks will not be eligible spend 20-52 years in prison for possible parole until June for robbing and trying to kill a 2027. His sentence, handed Westland man last June after down by Wayne County kicking in a door on South Circuit Judge James Callahan, Hubbard near P&Itfver, b?.r^;ing v»c •.v^V^m'3^ hv Westland into the house anU opening authorities. fire on a resident. "As the officer in charge of The gunman, Jason William the case, I'm very satisfied Hicks, had gone to the house with the outcome," police Sgt. to rob 25-year-old acquain David Heater said. "That's a tance Jason David Shuford, substantial sentence, and it who wasn't at home. Instead, certainly was warranted in Hicks shot Shuford's room this case. The victim in this mate Michael Neibert, 26, case is lucky to be alive." TOM HAWLEY | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER even though Neibert gave him In June, Neibert testified Local teens Don Gurka (left) of Livonia and Zachery Gizicki of Westland stand near their beloved Quo Vadis Theater, a once-plush movie house they tried the only $7 he had. during a preliminary hear unsuccessfully to save. Hicks was sentenced in ing in Westland 18th District January after he pleaded Court that Hicks, accompa guilty to charges of assault nied by two other men, kicked with intent to murder, armed robbery and felony firearms. Please see SENTENCE, A3 BY DARRELL CLEM sure they fought to preserve. School lOth-grader. place., • STAFF WRITER They see unique architec Gizicki and Gurka, a 16- They circulated petitions ture that theater architect year-old Livonia resident and at school and at Westland When they look at the old Minoru Yamasaki used on a Churchill llth-grader, rallied Shopping Center, collecting Quo Vadis movie theater in much grander scale when he their friends and even solicited more than 200 signatures Westland, teenagers Don designed the former World strangers to try to save the Quo from supporters. They formed Gurka and Zachery Gizicki Trade Center in New York City. Vadis after they heard that the Quo Vadis Preservation don't see a dilapidated old 'It's such an awesome place, developers planned to raze the Foundation and started a Web building that needs demolish unlike any other place," said 1966 theater on Wayne Road, site, www.savetheqv.org, that ing to make room for progress. Gizicki, 15, a Westland resident north of Warren, and build a They see a historic trea and Livonia Churchill High $5 million fitness center in its Please see BY DARRELL CLEM Ford Road. Park, at Palmer and Henry of Central City Park, which STAFF WRITER City officials need to update Ruff, Kosowski said. is currently fenced off until a their plan to qualify for state Already, city officials plan is developed to address Westland residents who grants that may become avail and volunteers have raised such problems as lead con have a wish list for sprucing able to help pay for big-ticket $35,000 for the Curtis Woods tamination. up city parks and improving projects. soccer project, but they hope Frontier Park proponents TOM HAWLEY | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER recreation programs will have "It's kind of like ranking to collect another $30,000 to have said the complex could an opportunity to pitch their how we want things done," reach the $65,000 level the^ 1 include ice facilities for hock It's sumo-rific ideas to city officials. Parks and Recreation Director will need to potentially quali ey and figure skating, soc As the city moves to update Robert Kosowski said. fy for a $260,000 grant from cer fields, basketball courts its master plan for parks and Two projects that will the Michigan pepartment of and a special needs playing It wasn't quite a V for victory for Wayne Memorial teacher and football recreation needs, residents remain top priorities will Natural Resources, Kosowski field, among numerous other coach Kevin Weber, 'The Touchdown Warrior,' who raised his arms after will be brought into the fold be a soccer complex at said. amenities. One Frontier Park defeating Principal John Albrecht, 'The Hall Sweep King/ in a sumo during a workshop scheduled Curtis Woods Park, on One group, Citizens for leader, Mark Rodriguez, said wrestling match'during the school's Cominghome pep assembly. For more for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. Palmer between Wayne and Frontier Par^, has pushed in the group will have repre on the assembly, see Page A3. Catch more in our Photo Gallery online at 13, at the Bailey Recreation Newburgh, and improved recent years for a vast recre sentatives at Wednesday's www.hometownlife.com, and click on the Westland home page. Center, behind City Hall on baseball amenities at Voss ation complex on land west meeting. © The Observer Coming Sunday & Eccentric Garden City r INDEX For Home Newspapers L§3%] APARTMENTS C5 in Health Delivery call: AUTOMOTIVE C7 Volume 43 Pet Supply (866) 887-2737 CROSSWORD PUZZLE C3 - Number 73 HOMETOWNLIFE D1 Warehouse JOBS C9 Where your pets are our first priority OBITUARIES A6 OPINION A8 Carrying Food and Supplies for PINK 04 Dogs, Cats, Birds, Hamsters, wrth coupon only I REAL ESTATE C3 Reptiles, Fish, Rabbits and more! SERVICE GUIDE C6 Book touts heart health OcenWon.-Fri liasn-7pm;Sai 9 am-5:30 pm; Sun,10am-2pm SPORTS B1 6841 Middlebelt • S. of Warren 734-266-8063 benefits of dark chocolate Observer 8 Eccentric | Thursday, February 7,2008 A2 (W) LOCAL NEWS www.hometownlife.com AROUND WESTLAND Open house computer aided manufactur He will be at the Bailey Council OKs buy-local policy OH THE WEE ing, construction technology, Recreation Center, 3665f Ford, The Wayne-Westland for expanded versions of Around cosmetology, culinary arts, desk Westland 9-10 a.m., then move BY DARRELL CLEM businesses by putting a policy in STAFF WRITER writing. Community Schools' William D. Westland and the Community- top publishing, digital media, to Redford for a 10:30-11:30 Ford Career Technical Center, electronics technology, graphic a.m. coffee hour at the Redford Council President James 36455 Marquette, Westland, Calendar, visit our online edition design, health occupations, heat Community Center, 12121 Westland companies bidding Godbout said he already has will hold its annual Open House at www,fe3metGwr$fe.com and ing/air conditioning refrigera Hemingway. on city contracts will be given heard from local businesses and Career Expo 6-8 p.m. this <MoaWe$8and. tion, integrated web design, mar Constituents who would like to preferential treatment under a that are eager to try to boost the evening (Feb. 7)- The Career Tech keting, media production, medi address an issue with Anderson new ordinance that won broad local economy by winning city- center offers 23 different tech sentative are invited to explore cal assisting, Oracle Internet but are unable to attend may support Monday night from a contracts.