r£.-,x '* ... ,V 4 , «• Your Wild Michigan hometownlife.com fllt@r - Section D January 8,2009 75 cents WINNERS OF STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE serve5 rS,"*ari<8P!tiKW>» t «K^3<V«SMMMHKI ^ / www.hometownlife.com Reeves to speak it annual MLK Dw program BYOARRELLCLEM "It's a day I never thought I'd one day after the King holiday, his late parents, Dewey and humble in describing what his King's celebration at Annapolis OBSERVER STAFF WRITER live to see," said Westland City marking a two-day celebration Natherine, could have lived to style will be as keynote speaker. Park Church of Christ also Councilman Dewey Reeves, the that Reeves called truly his­ see America elect its first black "I'm not a speech-maker," he is noteworthy. The church is When Westland celebrates keynote speaker for the city's toric. president. said. "I'm a conversationalist." located in a neighborhood that the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther observance of King's birthday "We talk about having a Westland's ceremony hon­ Reeves started his third year made the National Register of King Jr. this month, the election at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19, dream. We talk about individu­ oring King will be open to onthe city council this month. Historic Places as one of the of Barack Obama as the nation's at Annapolis Park Church of als being judged by the content the public. Reeves, a retired He became only the second first U.S. suburbs populated first African-American presi­ Christ, on the southeast corner of their character and not by Washtenaw County sheriff dep­ African-American elected to largely by African-American dent will serve as a momentous of Annapolis and Henry Ruff. the color of their skin," Reeves uty and wardrobe consultant/ the council since Westland residents. reminder that some progress Obama's inauguration as the said. "It has come to fruition." custom clothier for his business, became a city in 1966. and change have been achieved. 44th U.S. president will come Reeves, 55, only wishes that Sartorial Impressions, was The city's tradition of having [email protected] | (313) 222-2238 Police seek suspects in 2 armed robberies BYOARRELLCLEM tion about the robbery is OBSERVER STAFF WRITER asked to call Westland police at (734) 721-6311 or (734) Westland police are inves­ 722-9600. tigating two armed robber­ The other robbery hap­ ies that occurred along the pened about 9:30 p.m. last Wayne Road corridor on the Friday when a lone gunman city's north side. robbed a Westland Shopping The latest incident hap­ Center store employee who pened about 5 a.m. Tuesday, was making a night deposit •** * r **« * -'v-/ f * when three young men at the Charter One Bank at , robbed a clerk inside the 7- Wayne and Warren, police Eleven store at Wayne and Sgt. Brian Miller said. ? '.#• * « ^1 Joy roads, police Lt. Dan "No shots were fired. The Karrick said...Two of ihehan- -guy-turned-over the money, dits stood watch by the door and the subject fled on foot," while a third pulled what Miller said. '•?, was described as a long gun The employee had gotten from his coat and forced the out of Ms car when he was t employee to take money from approached by a lone gun­ the cash register, Karrick man who was on foot, the said. sergeant said. The bandit The gunman also grabbed "took a handgun out of his the cash drawer before all pocket and demanded the three men ran out the door money," Miller said. and fled around the north The victim described the side of the building, near man as attack male, about the Westland-Livonia line, 25 years old and 140 pounds, TOM HAWLEYI STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER the lieutenant said. No shots between 5 feet, 7 inches and Volunteer Jim Cook leaves the William P. Faust Public Library with books he delivers to homebound patrons. were fired. .5 feet, 9 inches, wearing a The clerk described the dark-colored hoodie. He also gunman as a black male, had what was described as 20 to 25 years old, shorter patchy facial hair, Miller than 5 feet, 10 inches tall said. Volunteers bring library to homebound patrons and wearing jeans and a Anyone who has informa­ dark-colored coat with a fur tion about the robbery is BY JUUE BROWN of Westland. said of his visits while deliver­ ested can call her at (734) 326- collar. asked to call Westland police. OBSERVER STAFF WRITER" "I think it's a neat program, ing library materials. "I've had 6123 to arrange an interview. The employee also said the Moreover, anonymous tips actually," Cook said. "I'm in some really wonderful experi­ "I try my best to match it up," other two men were black for a possible cash reward Eager readers are glad to see favor of anybody who reads." ences with them." she said about finding the right males of roughly the same may be made by calling Jim Cook of Westland at their The Westland library has Cook likes to talk with titles. "They still get all the age and height as the gun­ Crime Stoppers at (800) door. offered homebound delivery patrons about books dur­ same benefits of the library." man. One of them wore a SPEAK-UP. A retired Livonia Public to city residents for more than ing his visits, as does Andrea Perez, 29, finds it rewarding white coat with a fur collar To learn more about how Schools administrator, Cook five years. Books, audiobooks, Perez, a reference librarian and to include all in the library and and dark pants. The other Crime Stoppers works, go delivers books and other periodicals, videos and DVDs, homebound coordinator for larger community. wore a dark-colored coat, online to www.l800speakup. materials two days a month as well as CDs and cassettes the library. There are some 30 Delivery to homes follows dark pants and a red knit org. for homebound patrons of the are available. patrons active in the program cap. William P. Faust Public Library "I always have fun," Cook now, she said, and those inter­ Please see VOLUNTEERS, A3 Anyone who has informa­ dclemihometownlife.com 1.(313) 222-2238 Repeat sex offender from Garden Gity sentenced to prison BY DARRELL CLEM happened near "We're pleased that this per­ District Judge Sandra Ference Cicirelli set the $1 million a while." OBSERVER STAFF WRITER a Westland son with that type of deviant Cicirelli set a $1 million cash bond because of concern that Smith had often avoided intersection. behavior is off the streets," bond. Smith had a history of Smith had violated his proba­ lengthy prison sentences A repeat sex offender from Smith was Westland Police Chief James sex-related crimes, includ­ tion orders by going near the because his crimes were mis­ Garden City could spend sentenced by Ridener said Tuesday, follow­ ing allegations in December schools, posing a potential demeanors rather than felo­ up to five years in prison Wayne County ing Smith's sentencing. of 2007 that he masturbated threat to students. nies. Even though indecent for exposing himself last Circuit Judge Smith's latest sentence beside a Westland road. "My concern was not only exposure is a misdemeanor, June to passing motorists in Brian Sullivan. came after he was arrested Smith also had served an for the public safety, but espe­ Sullivan was able to send Westland. His troubles Smith to prison because of his Smith last June for allegations he 89-day jail term after he was cially for the safety of the chil­ Steven Brian Smith, 46, began to was "standing totally naked spotted near two Garden City dren," Cicirelli said Tuesday. prior record. learned Tuesday that he will mount after he was released and posing for traffic" near elementary schools. He was With the latest sentenc­ Cicirelli said that while spend two years/six months in 2006 following a 12-year the busy Venoy-Cherry Hill then released in April of last ing, Cicirelli said, "at least Smith is in prison, "I hope he to five years behind bars after prison term for second-degree intersection, police Sgt. Debra year, just two months before now our (Westland) resi­ gets the help that he needs." pleading guilty to indecent criminal sexual conduct Mathews has said. he exposed himself in the lat­ dents —and the residents of exposure for an incident that involving a boy. At that time, Westland 18th est incident. Garden City — will be safe for dclemthometownlife.com | (313) 222-2238 I I" l)l)'i [Ml v v.. LL' u'.i it- INDEX rx jA«Pk For Home Newspapers m&rsi •fe®£ii>r&s« ,w&rte ^^•ismtlmt stare moms. APARTMENTS C3 ' 1 AUTOMOTIVE C6 Delivery call: Log on to momsMfceme.comtoday and you'll 1 (866) 887-2737 Volume 44 find a community of moms just like you! 1 CLASSIFIED C2-C7 Number 65 1 CROSSWORD PUZZLE C? Forums ° Photo sharing ••> Groups « Personal profiles 1 FILTER D1 1 JOBS C7 Have fun at momsfJkeme.com/ 1 OBITUARIES B4 1 OPINION A6 PINK D8 Coming Sunday: 1 REAL ESTATE C2 where Detroit moras meet Intriguing innovations Hi momslike^lom 1 SERVICE GUIDE C2 6 03174 10007 S L SPORTS B1 A2 (W) Observer S Eccentric | Thursday, January 8,2009 LOCAL NEWS www.hometownlife.com AROUND WESTLAND Christmas tree pickup Westland's Department of Avenue and south of Palmer. LPS trustee's husband hired for Public Service declares a snow The pickup time and loca­ The Westland Department emergency when six (6) inches or tion for Westland residents of Public Service is collecting more of snow has fallen, a decla­ south of Michigan Avenue is natural Christmas trees that are ration that is also detailed in the 10 a.m.