Westland Looks to Use Vacant Parcel for New Fire Station

MUSIC I ENTER'RO RrAl LEGEND CHANCEITO.WIN! QUINCY JONES I See the Don't Miss module at horaetownWe.com and e m ^ W lB I win a washer and dryer from Bill and Rod’s Applianc^in USA WEEKEND Best in nation Stephanie Hyams, WAYN E-W ESTLAND a cadet command A GANNETT COMPANY sergeant major in the Wayne Memo rial High School JROTC Zebra Bat talion, has Hyams earned PRICE: $1 • SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2013 • hometownlife.com the top spot in the National JROTC Essay Contest with her essay on "Why did I enroll in JROTC?" Hyams's essay was se lected first from 130 es says at Wayne Memorial Westland looks to use vacant and then from the 209 schools in the region to compete at the national level. Hyams also has received a three-year parcel for new fire station ROTC scholarship to Eastern Michigan ing. Plans call for the former of the property. It depends on the ment loan. H ie U F A recaptures University, after which, Officials close on retail building on Warren Road square footage.” property tax dollars for reinvest she will receive a com east of C en trd City Parkway to A new fire station wouldn’t ment in public improvepients mission as a U.5. Army be retrofitted to b^ m ei West- require the fu ll 10-acre site, within the TIFA district. officer. Circuit City purchase land City HaU. but no decision has been made “We stretched it out and got By LeAnne Rogers On Monday, city council is on what could be done with the below 3 percent interest for a low staff Writer scheduled to consider a $275,000 remainder of the parcel payment,” said, addiag that agreement to purchase die for “There is some flexibility with payment method gives the city Advisory panel The purchase by Westland of mer Service Merchandise budd the rest of the property. It could more bonding ab^ty. Westland rKident the former Circuit City has been ing on Nankin Boulevard. Locat be an out lot (for development), The $275,000 for the former Richard LeBlanc is completed Bnd a nearby eyesore ed on a 10-acre parcel, the budd public space or combined with Service Merchandise budding among four appoint could also soon become dty prop ing would eventuaUy be demol the budding to the south (where purchause wdl initiady be covered ments Gov. Rick Snyder erty— and the site of a new fire ished. Malarkey’s is located),” said. by the city general fund, but lat has made to the Or station. ‘T think Service Merchandise The Increment Finance er be reimbursed by the TIFA, ganized Retail Crime The city officially closed Thurs has been closed at least 20 years,” Authority will fund the $1.6 md- V^ dsaid. Advisory Board. day on the $1.6 million purchaise Westland Mayor William vhld lion purchase of the Circuit Qty Housed in the for the former Circuit City build said. “W ell budd at the north end budding through a bank instad- Please see PA R sL A2 Michigan Department of State Police, OtMa Junk the six- (horn left), member Marcus Al Garden City man board was len Jr. and created in Morgan 2012 to Gratwlck charged vfith LeBlanc develop a rehearse a database scene from and compile annual the John embezzlerhent statistics on organized Glenn High retail crimes, as well as School recommend actions to Theater By LeAnne Rogerjs further combat it In ad Guild's ijStaff Writer | dition to the governor's production four appointees, the of"Happy A Garden C ity man is faejng a board includes the state Days A charge that he embezzled more than attorney general and New $100,000 while working as the manag the state police direc Musical." er at a Westland jewelry store. tor or their respective Kenneth Carl Murray, 42, waived designees. his preliminary examination Thurs "O rganized retail day in Westland’s 18th Distpet Court. c r im e is a g r o w in g He was ordered bound over for tri problem in our state, al on the felony charge of Embez and this board will play zling more $100,000 from I^ y Jew el an important role in ers, where he had been employed as curtailing it and pro manager of the store in tecting hard-working Westland Shopping Cen Michiganders,” Snyder ter. A not guilty plea was said. entered for Murray. LeBlanc will repre State statute sets dol sent the general public STEPHEN CANTRELL | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER la r amounts in embezzle on the board. A Wayne ment charges — in this County commissioner, case, an amount more luiurrav he will serve four-year than $100,000. Informa- ^ term expiring March ‘Heyyyr Glenn brings tion provided to Westland police sets 30,2017. His appoint the dollar amount at significantly ment is subject to higher than the $100,000 threshold. approval by the state back those ^Happy Days’ “K ay Jew elers did an infernal inves Senate. tigation. They set the total loss of cash and merchandise at $223,702.83,” By Sue Mason Westland Police Sgt. Norm Brooks staff Writer OH, HAPPY DAYS said. R e d u ce d Tim elDate:7 p.m. Thursday- the famed drive-in malt shop The charge is that money was sto Richie Cunningham, Potsie Saturday, April 18-20 and No. 1 hangout, is in danger len from the store through fraud u-, hours Webber, Ralph IM p h and The 'Location: John Glenn High of being demolished so the lent returns and unauthorized charg As of Monday, April Fonz will li^ t up the stage of School Auditorium, 36105 Mar gang teams up to save it with es to customers’ Kay Jewelers cred 15, the Wayne County John Glenn High School this quette, west of Wayne Road a dance contest and TV-worthy it cards. Clerk's Westland Satel week, as students present D etails: Based on the hit tele wrestling match. “I f someone bought a $3^000 item, lite Office will be have py IJoys A New Musical Thurs- vision series Happy Days, the Tlcketa: $8 for students and he’d do a return and take money. new office hours due to day-Saturday, April 18-20, in the musical reintroduces one of $10 adults. Available at the No item was returned,” Birooks sai± budgetary constraints. h i^ school auditorium. “He is also accused of taking mer America's best loved families, door or in advance by contact The office, at 3100 The musical is based on the chandise. The jewelry was sold or the Cunninghams, and the days ing Kevin Gidley at (734) 419- Henry Ruff, will be hit television series Happy pawned.” of 1958 Milwaukee. Arnold's, 2342. open from 8 a.m. to 3 Days that aired for 11 years. No merchandise or mohey have p.m. Monday-Friday. on ABC. But the musicsd isn’t been recovered. Brooks spid. Services affected by the a continuation of the T V show. in Gidley said. “There’s no ref in Charles “Chachi” Areola The embezzlement tool^ place from change include birth Ritchie won’t croon about find erence to Fonzie jumping in and Richie’s sister Joanie are September 2012 until M urray was ter and death certificates, ing his thrills on Blueberry HUl. the shark tanl^ but many refer already in love. And there’s minated by the store in December, marriage licenses, as The songs are more reflec ences to Howard Cunningham even a reference to Richie’s Brooks said. It was not known how sumed names, notary tive of the story which revolves being die grand pcxibah of the brother Chuck, who disap long he had workpd for the jew elry pubiics and concealed around Arnold’s closing and Leopard I^ g e.” peared early on in the televi c h ^ . weapons. the wrestling matdi that char The cast includes Arnold sion series, and Laveme and M urray is free on $10,000/10-per- acters come up with to try to - Delvecchio, the affable owner Shirley. cent bond. His circuit coiirt arraign save it of Arnold’s, a hybrid of Arnold, Gidley is doing a 90-minute ment is set for A p ril 25. “There’s references in the the original owner, and A1 who version of the musical It’s very play to 80 percent of the Hap came later on in the televi ' [email protected] | (il3 ) 222-5428 INDEX py Days shows,” director Kev- sion series. The Fonz’s cous- Please see HAPPY DAYS, A2 Twitter: @LRogersObs^rver Community Life ......... B 6 Crossword Puzzle....C 2 Education.......................A 4 H e a lt h .............................. BIO H o m e s.............................. C3 Wayne considers Commercial Redevelopment District Jo b s .................................... C l O b itu a rie s ...................... B9 S e rv ic e s ........................... C3 By LeAnne Rogers side of Wayne Road. The goal is Once the district is established, Ibeon Sports................................B1 staff Writer V V h e e ls............................ C4 to spur new development and businesses could apply for a 50- the building. There'is no abate reinvestment in existing busi percent property tax ^atement ment for personal property taxes ♦ Wayne Road businesses could nesses. for up to 12 years for new devel ■ either,” M clnem ey ^ d . © The Observer & Eccentric be eligible for tax abatements “Th is law had sunset in 1985. opment. The city is obtaining an applica Volume 48 • Number 94 under a new Qjmmercial Rede We had done seven (CRD s).

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