Compuware, Whalers Could Be up for Grabs Karmanos Might Give up Franchise Amid Streamlining Efforts
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i t Daylight Saving Tinf Antique Collector Toy culture meets fine art Don t forget to turn your dock forward one hour Sunday makes it personal at CPOP gallery in Detroit morning also don t tfffrnT forget to change the batteries in your smoke detectors AT HOME SECTION B INSERTED SECTION a Your hometown newspaper serving Plymouth and Plymouth Township for 119 y e a rs THURSDAY March 31 2005 75 cents Volume 119 N umber 63 iviviv.hometoivnlife.com © 20 05 Hometown Communications N etwork Plym outh native Billy Dickey, in fear for his life and that of his son, didn’t think the van w as w orth dying for. His son had other ideas, lending life-and-death connotation to the alleged thief’s question. Compuware, Whalers could be up for grabs Karmanos might give up franchise amid streamlining efforts BY TONY BRUSCATO STAFF WRITER For Sale One 3,500-seat arena, complete with a d junior hockey team, m a great location Price ^ Negotiable Compuware Arena president Mike Vellucci con firmed the two-sheet ice arena and the Plymouth Whalers are for sale - at the right pnce PHOTOS BY TOM HAWLEY | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER “We don t have the ‘For Sale sign out, but we 11 lis Billy Dickey of Canton, who grew up m Plymouth still shows the effects of injuries he sustained during an attack at a home he and his sort are fixing up m Detroit ten,” said Vellucci “(Arena and hockey team owner) Peter Karmanos is streamlining operations, and if somebody is interested, he’ll look at any offers As far as pnce, we really haven’t gotten that far” Karmanos is currently in the process of selling the Flonda Everblades of the East Coast Hockey League, ‘How m uch is and their 7,082-seat home, Germain Arena, m Estero, Fla According to the News-Press m Ft Myers, Everblades general manager and team president Craig Brush, a minonty owner of the team and arena, confirmed “the team and arena are for sale and there your life w orth?’ is an interested party” the events of that day would change Vellucci said if Plymouth operations are sold, it will Shot three times, local his life forever have to be a package deal % Around 3 p m , a man walked into ‘We couldn’t just sell the arena or just the team,” man trying to put his the house, while the father and son Vellucci said were working, and inquired how life back together much the home was being rented PLEASE SEE SALE, A6 he morning of Feb 8 started for According to Detroit police out just like any other day for reports, when Dickey told the man Billy Dickey The Canton the house was not yet ready to be handyman headed to Detroit withrented, the Detroit resident alleged Cham ber lands spot Billy Dickey points to a bullet hole in his arm his son, Billy Dickey Jr, where theyly pulled out a small-caliber hand had spent a couple months fixing upgun and asked a question Dickey Story By Kurt Kuban ■ Staff Writer a home on Abington Street on the T PLEASE SEE SHOOTING, A7 for downtown home city’s west side Little did he know BY TONY BRUSCATO STAFF WRITER Local businesses go green thanks to Spartans For years, Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce staffers have aspired to purchase down BY TONY BRUSCATO televisions, and at least half of We 11 probably do some beer spe the bar over the last 10 years and town office space the chamber could call its own STAFF WRITER them are on Michigan State cials ” fans are happy,” Howell said Now, it appears the chamber is on the move games At the Wolverine & Spartan “But, it’s not an extra special “It looks like it’s going to happen,” said Fran Toney, For Michigan State University “Normally we do well during Shop m Canton, general manager accomplishment Iftheywinthe chamber executive director ‘ They (the board) voted sports fans, green and white the tournament, and it really Tim Howell said much of the 25- national championship, that’s a couple of weeks ago to proceed We’re so dose ’ apparel will be worn with pride helped on Easter weekend, when percent increase in sales the past when we expect the (sales) explo The chamber is buying 1,900 square feet of space this weekend as both the men’s its generally slow, he said couple of weeks is attributable to sion to happen from Richard Reid, who leases storefronts along Ann and women’s basketball teams “We re going to put together a the Spartan side of the store Doyle said when it comes to Arbor Trail currently occupied by Angelo’s Card & are playing in the NCAA Final Michigan State pep rally before “We’re catching a little bit of playoff time, fans like to cele Gift, Breads & More, Milano Fine Apparel and the Four the games, and have some MSU the wave of March Madness,’ brate and cheer on their home soon-to-be-opened Bookcellar For business owners, the green giveaways ’ said Howell ‘The hats and Final town teams The chamber will purchase half the space currently means the sound of cash regis In Plymouth, John Doyle said Four T-shirts are the biggest sell “It always helps when the Red leased by Angelo’s, with the card and gift shop plan ters ringing as they hope the run his Doyle’s Tavern also received a ers” Wings and Pistons are in the ning to downsize The purchase price is reported to will continue through the cham boost on Easter weekend However, Howell points out playoffs,” he said ‘ It hurts not be $350,000 Toney said it could cost another pionship games ‘The last couple of games we that Michigan State basketball having the Wings playing, espe $100,000 m renovations before moving m, which is “It’s been standing room only, had a really big turnout of State fans are used to success, so the cially during the week. Hopefully, expected m about three months said Ellis King, general manager fans, said Doyle I think novelty of the Spartans m the the Pistons will make a run like ‘ The location is just so ideal, especially to parking of Bailey’s Pub N Grille in Saturday is going to be good, and Final Four has worn off a bit last year That would help us out Canton Township Wevegot32 we’ll have a pretty good turnout ‘(Coach) Tom Izzo has raised a lot ’ PLEASE SEE CHAMBER, A6 CONTACT US INDEX Tho m as Coming Sunday Apartments F5 I HOMAS klXKADK A t H om e B1 K J iik a d e on the P ill Pape Newsroom (734)4592100 Automotive G3 • A im T ic.i's i-o m n o si 1 h iii)» Vricst" Circulation 1866 887 2737 Classified Index F5 Highlighting • Yri on A pp rov.il * l a \ . t v \ . t y Classified 1 800 579 7355 Crossword Puzzle F6 • t'nsiom I'ramint* * O p rn 7 I);ivs For The Record A4 E v e n t • 1 S{‘U>i lio n o f Ivink.uh- (*lli In-m s! Meet Miss Michigan Jo b s F10 Movie Guide D12 Sat A p ril 23”* /tf* ’ ii'U‘hniiiwA Out ’iih Uar! and help her win Obituaries C9 y * jt vSS s. M.itn X Vtin \H>or Ir.iil Real Estate FI Call fo r Dow m ow n 1*1\mouth the Miss USA title S p o rts C1 D e t a ils ^ g i f a s 7 i - t , i O O k 6 83174 16008 8 Taste B5 ..ica- a (p> Observer S Eccentric j Thursday March 31 2005 NEWS BRIEFS www hometownlife.com Spring renewal (734) 416-4278 for luncheon calling (734) 453-5464, and The market opens May 7 and The Plymouth Community information walk-ms are welcome runs on Saturdays through Arts Council is the site for the Exhibit hours are 9 a m -3 The Salvation Army is locat Oct 22 Last year, the market first Spring Renewal/ a spe p m , Monday, Tuesday, ed at 9451S Mam St in was expanded to include crafts cial evening for couples, from Thursday and Friday, and 9 Plymouth produce, flowers and shrubs 7-9 p m Friday, April 1 am -8 30pm Wednesday are also welcome, all must be The evening includes appe The PCAC is located at 774 N Bottle drive hand-made or home-grown by tizers, desserts and beverages, Sheldon in Plymouth Soccer boosters from the seller wellness strategies and nutri Canton, Plymouth, and Salem Booth space is available in tional tips from Betty Maliska Calendar honor High Schools are hoping that front of The Gathering on the at First Fitness, 10 minute At the recent Michigan by now people have heard of street for the full season or on couples massage plus tips to Townships Association the P-CEP Soccer Field of a weekly basis Cost is $250 for use at home from certified Educational Conference Dreams project, a collabora the season or $25 per week massage therapist Rachel Banquet, Plymouth Township tive effort between the school For more information, or to McKolay, rejuvenating hand Supervisor Richard Reaume district, boosters from the girls rent a space, call the Plymouth treatment for men and women accepted an award for and boys soccer teams at the Community Chamber of from Cnsta Bekker of Clearly “Excellence m Township three high schools, area busi Commerce, (734) 453-1540 You, mens fitness instruction Government in the nesses, and the community-at- from Paul Seymour of The Constituent Communications large EEF dinner Blitz, mini-makeovers for men category for the 2004 This project will update and The Educational Excellence and women from Salon Plymouth Township calendar refurbish soccer facilities Foundation serving PJymouth- Awesome, treats compliments The MTA created the awards including a new permanent Canton Community Schools of Benmgans, prizes and give program in 2003 to reward concession stand, public rest Cheers! hosts a dinner-theater evening aways and highlight the outstanding room facilities, handicap at 6 30 p m Thursday, April 14 Proceeds will pay for ship achievement of dedicated accessible stands, new Premier Cheer Zone finished second at the UCA National Cheerleading at Salem High School ping care packages to tsunami townships Applications for the dugouts, the addition of a new Championships held earlier this