August 7, 2008
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Local author pens The Big Event on Motor City University says Rock V Roll thanks in a big way American Profile 75 cents WINNERS OF STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE www.hometownlife.com BY D AftRELL CLEM work while city employees are before city employees return-on City Hall's basement. He said plained years ago of possible came from working at City Hall. OBSERVER STAFF WRITER away Friday evening through Monday. what is commonly referred to environmental problems at City Wild has indicated that he Sunday to remove mold that Another firm, I.A.Q. as the more threatening "black Hall, partly due to repeated moved to address the mold The Company hired to remove Mayor William Wild said was Management Services Inc, an mold" was found in two isolated water leaks in the basement. problem after environmental mold from Westland City found in July, when Belfor was indoor environmental test- spots but was not airborne. They said they didn't believe workers told him of the situa- Hall's basement will broaden called in due to widespread ing company, was expected to Some other molds, typically their concerns were adequately tion in July. However, he has its efforts by bringing in envi- basement flooding. begin testing air quality on the considered less dangerous than addressed. conceded that city officials will ronmental workers to examine Belfor representative David upper floors as early as today the Stachybotrys black mold, Workers said they have had need to seek a long-term solu- the building's first and second Weaver said a team of environ- (Thursday). was more widespread and was health issues like recurring tion for water leaks inside the floors and to test the air quality. mental workers will take out the I.A.Q.'s president, Jon Dattilo, found in basement air samples. headaches, sinus infections and basement. Belfor, a Livonia-based prop- mold, sanitize the basement and confirmed in July that workers Several city workers have told upper respiratory problems. erty restoration company, will dean out the building's air ducts found mold in several rooms in the Observer that they com- They wonder if their symptoms [email protected] | (734) 953-2110 War of words For more coverage of other area races and the latest poll numbers, visit hometownlife.com Dispute heats up over senior village BY DARRELL CLEM Godbout, Bill Johnson, OBSERVER STAFF WRITER Michael Kehrer and Dewey Reeves. A dispute over a proposed In another move, senior housing development Councilman Charles on Westland's north side has Pickering, who opposed COUNTY COMMISSION escalated, with an attorney Shaw's plans along with 12IH DISTRICT accusing critics of "drive-by a minority of council col- character assassination" for leagues including Cheryl V Thomas E. Thompson 693 remarks they made against Graunstadt and Robert David James 705 *4Mfe \L developer Glenn Shaw Jr., his Stottlemyer, flatly rejected bFMCMT ties to city officials and his a personal offer by Amann Wanda Harris-Foster 182 role in a charitable organiza- to attend an invitation-only Douglas A. Kaye 102 tion. meeting that Shaw plans to Danny Wilson 154 Canton attorney Bpyan conduct this week with Wild, Ronaele Bowman (appointed} ... £31 Amann hinted that Shaw's Godbout and hand-picked PatiiG.Citkawsiii 213 critics have made statements residents who oppose the Um Gebhardt ,. 1,398 James fi. Godboui 1,929 that could be deemed law- Hilliard Hampton 2T6 suit-worthy, partly for raising Pickering indicated he questions about the non- believes Shaw should have STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 18TH profit Westland Community invited all residents poten- i Richard UBIanc(l) 5,022 Foundation that Shaw tially affected by his $35 steers as president. Amann million development. Shaw U.S. HOUSE 1HH DISTRICT mmm defended the organization as plans to unveil some changes tfTtaNnHfeeottwfl) 1,719 nonpolitical and said it has to his project, including a KHKMT given nearly $500,000 for bigger buffer between the f TOP mi TO mm m miwm mm) causes ranging from heat- apartment building and Edward Krieweil 1,004 ing-bill assistance to student nearby homes. J Joseph W.Larhin 3.067 scholarships. "I consider it as a closed Amann said the founda- meeting," Pickering said, tion was unfairly dragged "and I'm not going to be Totals reflect votes casi by voters in into a heated dispute over attending." Westland. Overall winners are shown with a I TOM HAWLEY|STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Shaw's proposal for Nankin Residents in June collected County Commission candidate Joan Gebhardt greets Wanda and Jerry Noel of Livonia before they vote at the Mills Village, a high-den- more than 300 signatures, precinct at Garfield Elementary School in Livonia. sity, upscale development he including people who live plans to build near Joy and beyond their neighbor- Newburgh roads. Amann hood, to show Opposition spoke Monday evening dur- to Nankin Mills Village. ing a Westland City Council They fear the project could meeting. hurt their property values, BY DARRELL CLEM Commission primary. in the November election for down in March for health rea- Elected officials also have increase traffic congestion OBSERVER STAFF WRITER On the Republican side, a two-year term in a district sons. rejected implications they and lead to noise. Apolitical newcomer Thomas that has been a longtime Gebhardt, a Schoolcraft support Shaw's plans because Some city government Bolstered by a large turnout Thompson of Livonia edged Democratic stronghold. The College trustee and district he has given money to their watchers worry that a poten- in her hometown of Livonia, out Westland's David James to winner will replace appointed staffer for state House Speaker political campaigns — dona- tial recall campaign could Joan Gebhardt clinched claim the GOP nomination. Commissioner Ronaele Andy Dillon, D-Redford, cel- tions they called legal and tarnish the city's image.> the Democratic nomination If unofficial vote tal- Bowman after Bowman lost ebrated with supporters at available for public scrutiny On Monday, resident Bob Tuesday in the closely contest- lies stand, Gebhardt and her bid to succeed 30-year vet- through campaign expense Johnson praised Wild's ed 12th District Wayne County Thompson will face each other eran Kay Beard, who stepped Please see PRIMARY, A2 reports. leadership and warned that Still, north-end residents residents can support the city continued to blast Shaw's or "tear it down" with a recall proposal,1and one critic, effort. Donna DeWitt, accused the The Wayne County city of a "hostile takeover" Elections Commission Police chief 'disgusted' by governor's decision of the neighborhood by giv- is expected to rule next BY DARRELL CLEM maintained her innocence. ported by her executive staff. Hargrave-Thomas spent ing Shaw the go-ahead to Tuesday on proposed lan- OBSERVER STAFF WRITER But Ridener blasted Hargrave-Thomas was con- four years out of prison when a build a three-story, 147-unit guage for recall petitions, Granholm's decision, which victed in the stabbing death U.S. district judge overturned apartment building, 20 which would have to be Police Chief James Ridener he said comes after Hargrave- of 42-year-old Joseph Bernal her conviction, but she was duplex-style condominiums signed by 6,818 registered has sharply criticized a Thomas had exhausted her in his Westland home in 1991. incarcerated again two years and 54 stand-alone homes. Westland voters to get the decision by Gov. Jennifer court appeals process. Police also said a fire was start- ago following a reverse deci- The senior village would be issue placed on a ballot. Granholm to commute a life "I am absolutely disgusted by ed to cover up the crime. sion in an appellate court. She built near Sts. Helen and Wild has said Shaw's sentence of a woman convicted her decision to commute that Hargrave-Thomas was con- had received a degree and was Constantine Greek Orthodox project would create new in 1993 of killing her Westland sentence," he said, "but it's not victed of first-degree murder working as a counselor in a Church, in a neighborhood jobs and generate $250,000 boyfriend. surprising coming from her in 1993 and sentenced to life homeless shelter for women. long defined by larger lots . in much-needed city tax Granholm's decision to because she has always been in prison. She maintained The job still awaits her, Lyon and a more restrictive zon- revenues. On Monday, he , accept a parole board's recom- weak on criminal justice." her innocence, and DePaul said. ing. pledged to continue encour- mendation to release 56-year- Granholm's office confirmed University Law School profes- "We're very grateful to Gov. The controversy has fueled aging Shaw to work with the old Kylleen Hargrave-Thomas that the governor was acting on sor Andrea Lyon took up her Granholm for doing what she an early-stage recall effort neighbors. in early September ended along a parole board recommenda- fight and worked for years to can do to right this injustice," against Mayor William Wild fight by her supporters, who tion that was reviewed and sup- secure her f elease. Lyon said. and council members James [email protected] | (734) 953-2110 © The Observer & Eccentric INDEX For Home Newspapers APARTMENTS C3 Delivery call: AUTOMOTIVE C7 Volume 44 We Beat Any Onfy at The Corner of Ford & Merriman CLASSIFIED C3-C9 (866) 887-2737 Number 21 AT&T Wireless Offers in Garden City •734-421-8000 CROSSWORD PUZZLE C9 FILTER D1 JOBS C8 OBITUARIES B8 OPINION A8 fV.minn Innrlau vu sy WUIIUUJ. PINK D8 REAL ESTATE C3 Tween power: Pre-adolescent SERVICE GUIDE C5 tweensspend millions- their 6 53174 1009? S SPORTS Bl leader? Hannah Montana.