June 26,2008 A2 (W) LOCAL NEWS
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* "V ' squad has sports 75 cents WINNERS OF STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE www.hometownlife.com Ashlee Baracy' humbled' to be Miss Michigan BYDARRELLCLEM OBSERVER STAFF WRITER Thrilled by her new Miss Michigan title, Fund Westland's own Ashlee Baracy will use her lame to draw attention to breast cancer, a disease her mother, Janet, battled successfully five years ago. Baracy, 23, was crowned Saturday before a crowd of 1,400 people at Muskegon's Frauenthal Theater. Her latest achievement came after her family recently celebrated her mother's five-year milestone of remaining can- BY SUE MASON ed for a $130 increase for fiscal cer free. • OBSERVER STAFF WRITER 2008-09. However, as it stands "All of this was so timely," Baracy said now, the district's increase Monday during a telephone interview from A Wayne-Westland school could be $90, well below the Muskegon, where she was preparing to accom- official is hoping state law- rate of inflation, Baracy said. pany reigning Miss America Kirsten Haglund, makers will focus on funding He added that $80 million last year's Miss Michigan, to a photo shoot. current school programs and is earmarked for initiatives, an Baracy already has started a Web site, www. wait until the state's economy amount that equates to $50 bcdaughters.com, aimed at supporting daugh- improves to finance new initia- per student. That would get ters whose mothers are battling breast cancer. tives. the district closer to the $130 An only child, she made her mother and father, The proposed state school mark, but declining enrollment Kevin Baracy, proud long before she became aid bill is currently before a could wash it away. Projections Miss Michigan. state House-Senate conference show 26,000 students leaving "She has worked so incredibly hard," Janet committee to hammer out dif- the state this year and a like Baracy said. "We're just very, very proud of ferences, primarily over the number next year and that, 400 her." amount of money earmarked school districts will report an Ashlee Baracy won more than $11,000 in for new programs like the 21st enrollment loss this fall. scholarships and other prizes Saturday night, century small high school ini- He added that state Rep. capturing academic, community service and tiative. Richard LeBlanc and Sen. preliminary swimsuit awards. Her talent por- "We need to take care Glenn Anderson, whose tion was lyrical dance to IRunjbrLife. of the existing programs' districts take in portions of Moreover, she will represent Michigan in funding until Michigan is Wayne-Westland, realize the Las Vegas on Jan. 24, when she will compete healthy," said Wayne-Westland importance of putting the in the Miss America competition. She's hoping Superintendent Greg Baracy. money into current programs for back-to-back wins for her home state. "The programs arc well inten- that benefit Wayne-Westland, Baracy, the niece of Wayne-Westland tioned, but the timing's not Livonia and surrounding school Community Schools Superintendent Greg right." districts. Baracy, proved that her third attempt to According to Baracy, $32 "Both have voiced opposition become Miss Michigan was the charm. million is earmarked for the to the small high school initia- "I'm so humbled and honored," she said. small high school initiative tive and for putting money in "Out of the three years I have competed, I've which would be available to it," Baracy said. "We are appre- never been with such talented and gracious high schools with low gradua- ciative of their efforts because young women." tion rates. If the program were we know they're under a lot of Baracy, a competitive dancer since age 5, delayed, it could mean an addi- pressure to support the small attended Madison Elementary, Stevenson tional $20 per Wayne-Westland high school initiative." Middle School and John Glenn High, where student or $250,000 that could Saying that efforts to ham- she was a valedictorian. She earned her bach- TOM HAWLEY j STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER be used "to add teachers or buy mer out a compromise bill is at Westland's Ashlee Baracy poses with her crown and sash in her backyard for her first newspaper buses." a "critical state," Baracy encour- Please see BARACY, A2 photo since being crowned Miss Michigan 2008. According to Baracy, the pro- aged lawmakers to "put some of posed per pupil increase ranges the proposed earmarked money from $52 to $110, but could be in the foundation allowance." more if the state waits to on the "Every school district in the , initiatives. Wayne-Westland state will benefit," he said. receives $7,896 per student in state school aid and has budget- [email protected] | (734) 953-2712 BY SUE MASON went to punch the bicyclist, but OBSERVER STAFF WRITER hit him with his forearm," price said. "The rider was knocked off BYDARRELLCLEM ing and entering a business. A A 19-year-old Westland man the bike and hit his head on the OBSERVER STAFF WRITER not-guilty plea was entered for faces a preliminary hearing pavement." him, and he was jailed with a Thursday on a charge of assault- He was transported to An alert neighbor helped $50,000 cash bond. ing and injuring a bicyclist who Oakwood Annapolis Hospital in Westland police nab two sus- , George already was on proba- was riding to the 7-Eleven store Wayne and airlifted to Oakwood pects accused of breaking into tion for an unarmed robbery in at Hix and Cherry Hill to return Hospital in Dearborn where he Sport-Way, a west-side business Dearborn, Adams said. empty bottles. is in stable condition. According that offers miniature golf, bat- A second defendant, 19- Akim Bashire Hunter, 19, was to Price, the victim sustained a ting cages, go-carts and other year-old Angela Rene Bond of arraigned in 18th District Court fractured skull behind his right recreational amenities. Detroit, was arraigned on the June 19 on a charge of aggravat- ear and is a medical-induced The neighbor heard loud same charge, although she was ed assault following the incident coma after doctors removed a noises as one suspect was using a released on a personal bond. that occurred about 10 p.m. June portion of his skull to relieve the sledge hammer to break through She was described by Adams as 16 on Avondale east of Hix. pressure on his brain. a roof of the building on Ford the alleged lookout during the According to Westland Police Hunter was arraigned before west of Hix, police Sgt. Todd incident, but she has no criminal Sgt. Ed Price, a 22-year-old visiting Judge Gail McKnight Adams said. The incident hap- history. Westland man and his com- who set bond at $50,000 cash/ pened around 4:20 a.m. Sunday. Bokos also entered a not- panion, a 20-year-old Superior surety. The neighbor called police, guilty plea for Bond. Township woman, were riding Hunter was on a felony proba- prompting a swift response from The pair will be back in court their bicycles on Avondale when tion for second-degree hottie officers. July 3 for a preliminary hear- a car pulled up behind them, invasion and receiving and TOM HOFFMEVER|STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER "When they showed up, they ing that will determine whether honked the horn and the pas- concealing stolen property and saw (the suspects) running from they should stand trial in Wayne senger shouted that they were was wanted on a felony warrant the building," Adams said. County Circuit Court. If con- blocking the road. in Detroit, Price said. If found Defendant Cecil Deandre victed, they could face penalties Price said there was a verbal guilty, he could face one year in President George W. Bush speaks during the Max M. Fisher George, 20, of Detroit was ranging up to 10 years in prison. altercation and the passenger jail. National Republican Leadership Award Dinner Wednesday evening arraigned Monday in front of According to Adams, George told the driver to stop the car. at Laurel Manor in Livonia. See story on page A3. 18th District Judge C. Charles had a ladder in his hands when "She did and he got out and . [email protected] | (734) 953-2112 Bokos on a charge of break- police arrived on the scene. © The Observer & Eccentric We beat any AT&T Wireless Offer INDEX For Home Newspapers APARTMENTS C5 Delivery call: AUTOMOTIVE C9 Volume 44 CLASSIFIED (3-C9 (866) 887-2737 Number 9 CROSSWORD PUZZLE C3 HOMETOWNLiFE D1 JOBS CT Only at.. OBITUARIES A5 We beat any The Corner of Ford OPINION A8 ii= :li:H & Merriman Roads, PINK D4 iFMi AT&T Garden City REAL ESTATE C3 Take advantage of summer's J Wireless Offer 734.421.8000 SERVICE GUIDE C5 bounty to eat for health GAMER SPORTS B1 Observer & Eccentric | Thursday, June 26,2008 A2 (W) LOCAL NEWS www.hometownlife.com IN HER OWN WORDS Ham radio operators test skills in national event Hi everyone, I am humbled and elated to Members of the Garden City emergency management pro- all else foils..." is more than just this is not your grandfather's sit here (at 3:30 a.m.) to write Ham Radio Club will be show- gram. Their most common role words to the hams as they prove radio anymore," said Allen Pitts to you as Miss Michigan 2008. ing off their emergency capabil- is that of SKYWARN spotters, they can send messages in many of the ARRL. "The communica- Tonight has truly been a whirl- ities this weekend during a field acting as the eyes and ears of forms without the use of phone tions networks that ham radio wind and I am beyond grateful day event at the Maplewood the National Weather Service systems, the Internet or any people can quickly create have for the outpouring of support Community Center.