75 cents WINNERS OF STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE www.hometownlife.com senior robbery BY OARRELL CLEM scuffle occurred, Nelson said. OBSERVER STAFF WRITER Zucchetto confirmed that the suspect described himself A 69-year-old man got his as homeless and that he was money back after he chased briefly detained by the 69- down a self-described homeless year-old man, who was walk­ man who robbed him Saturday ing him toward Aldi when the evening outside a Westiand . suspect broke free and fled on grocery store, police said. a bike that he had left near the The incident happened about store. 5:45 p.m. outside the Aldi store No one was seriously injured TOM HAWLEY | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER at Wayne Road and Bayview, during the incident, and the Jon Fodal, an adult student from Westfand (from left), Nathan Bovia, a senior at John Glenn High School, and Steven Decker, senior at Wayne Memorial police Sgt. David Zucchetto victimgot his money back. High School prepare to remove the engine housing off the Hydro Volt that was built by students at the William D. Ford Career Technical Center. said, and the suspect managed The suspect ''told the victim to escape on a bicycle. that he was homeless and that The victim, accompanied was why he was trying to pull by his wife, told police he was the scam on him," Zucchetto walking into the store when he said. encountered a stranger ask­ The suspect was described ing for change for a $100 bill, as a tall, clean-shaven white police Sgt. Thad Nelson said. malt: in bis 20s with i>: medium "The citizen went inside the build. He was last seen wearing store, saw that he did have layered clothing, including a change, went back outside to dark blue or black hooded jack­ BY SUE MASON fabrication and Professionals' Two years in the making, The frame and chassis of change the $100 bill and saw et or sweat shirt, and he was OBSERVER STAFF WRITER Pick, as well as second place the Hydro Volt was designed the one-seater IVD was from that it looked bogus," Nelson riding a dark-colored bike. for presentation, ambassador­ and fabricated from scratch a student's CAD drawing, said. Anyone who has information The showcase in the com­ ship and vehicle performance. by students in a variety of pro­ while the fiberglass body was The suspect then shoved is asked to call the Westiand mons of the William D. Ford "The students also really grams at the Career Technical made from a clay mold and him down, took his money and Police Department at (734) Career Technical Center has wanted innovation because of Center. It features steer by was finished and painted started to run away, but the 721-6311 or (734) 722-9600. more bling than Tiffany's. the uniqueness of the vehicle wire, a data acquisition sys­ by the Auto Body Shop. The victim chased him and caught Six trophies fill the case, and they wanted fabrication tem, computerized driver HVAC class did the interior him in a nearby yard where a [email protected] | (734) 953-2110 proclaiming the school's suc­ because they worked so hard information system and a work, screwing sheet metal cess in this year's Innovative in building it piece by piece, 200W hydrogen fuel cell that in the driver's compartment. Vehicle Design competition. but they were most pleased recharges the batteries that Parts like an electric window Hydro Volt, the student- with the Professionals' Pick," power its electric motor. It has motor from a Ford Windstar, built retro Rat Ride vehicle said Sue Wilk, the IVD proj­ a top-end speed of 45 mph, the reverse switch from a go — a flat black scaled-down ect coordinator. "They had to but has been scaled back to 25 cart and the wheels and tires Judge finds man can stand 1940s pickup that's a fuel pitch it to the professionals for mph for safety reasons, Wilk from a motor scooter also cell/plug-in hybrid vehicle — three days to convince them said. were used. received first-place trophies in to vote for the car. They had to innovation, engineering and answer some good questions." 'CUTTING EDGE' Please see VEHICLE, A2 BY DARRELL CLEM 2007, at the three-bedroom OBSERVER STAFF WRITER ranch home the couple shared on Gloria, near Merriman and More than a year after he Cherry Hill. Police have said service was accused of shooting and Susalla wanted to end the. rela­ killing his deaf girlfriend as tionship. she lay in bed at the Westiand The couple's daughter, 19 at home they shared, 45-year-old the time, was in the basement Timothy Catalano has been when authorities said the kill­ ordered to stand trial in Wayne ing occurred. Beginning Friday, Dec. 12, Customers also can call toll County Circuit Court. Catalano's competency b readers who wish to purchase free ¢866) 887-2737 for delivery Plymouth Catalano, also deaf, is facing ruling and new preliminary back copies of the Westiand service and information regard­ Distribution Center 7 Mile i trial for first-degree murder hearing came Friday after Observer can do so at the circu­ ing photos reprints weekdays 41304 Concept Dr. and felony firearm charges Bokos halted court proceed­ ir after Westiand 18th District ings in June, amid conflict­ lation office at 4-1304*Concept and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to East of Haggerty Rd. D. in Plymouth Township, (see noon or visit us anytime online Judge C. Charles Bokos ruled ing concerns by defense and between related map). at www.hometownlife.com 6 Mile I Friday that Catalano was prosecuting attorneys over Customers can also place a (click on customer service at the Schoolcraft and competent — a decision that whether Catalano was actu­ classified ad and order photo and top of homepage). Plymouth Roads culminated a long dispute ally incompetent or might be page reprints at the new office Readers can also use www. 866-887-2737 over whether the defendant faking his confusion through located in the Metro Plymouth hometownlife.com to contact understood court proceedings interpreters. Business Park off Haggerty any member of the editorial against him. "I want to be sure the defen­ Road between Schoolcraft and staff, send a letter to the editor, The judge's ruling came after dant isn't playing a game," Plymouth roads. community calendar item, pho­ Catalano in June was referred Bokos had said in June. The Observer office at 36251 tograph or press release.' for a second time to the Saline- But the judge found Catalano Schoolcraft Road in Livonia is Fax a letter to the editor, press based Center for Forensic competent and ordered him now closed. release or item for the commu­ Psychiatry, which found the to stand trial on Friday after Customer service representa­ nity calendar .to(313) 223-3318. defendant capable to assist in receiving the latest report from tives are available on site week-, The Observer also maintains a his own defense. the forensic center. days from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. local retail advertising office in Catalano is accused of kill­ If convicted, Catalano faces and until 6 p.m. on Thursdays Plymouth Township. To contact ing his girlfriend of 24 years, life in prison. in the new Plymouth Township an advertising representative, Tammy Susalla, as she lay in office. call (734) 582-8363. bed around 1 a.m. Aug. 27, [email protected] | (IU) 953-2110 © The Observer & Eccentric INDEX For Home Newspapers APARTMENTS C3 Delivery call: AUTOMOTIVE C5 Volume 44 CLASSIFIED C2-C6 (866)887-2737 Number 57 CROSSWORD PUZZLE C4 FILTER D1 JOBS C5 OBITUARIES D6 OPINION A6 PINK D8 REAL ESTATE C2 u Hi d SERVICE GUIDE C2 6 331?4 10007 8 ™*2™E1 — » SSS'v«-«i SPORTS Bl VA Observer S Eccentric j Thursday, December 11,2008 A2 (W) LOCAL NEWS www.hometownl1fe.com MANY HELP CREATE IVD Man gets probation in FROM PAGE A1 The production of the Hydro Volt vehicle spanned two years and involved many people. Recognized for their con­ failed purse snatching tributions to the project were: "It's pretty cutting edge, • Lead students Mike Paonessa, the aim is to put out safer Angela Czarniowski and Frank Bazan. BY DARRELL CLEM woman braced herself and held things for the environment," • Critical team members Ryan Smith, OBSERVER STAFF WRITER on tightly to her purse, police said Steven Decker, a Wayne Derrick Roulo, Kyle Facto, Denis Knight, Sgt. Thad Nelson has said. Memorial High School student Ryan Irwin, Joe Leschinski, Danielle A Westland man who tried to VanHorn fled without the Gunther, Donovan Roberts, Zach Ferris, rob a 71-year-old woman of her purse when a witness drove up, who helped do a lot of solder­ James Holbrook, Jon Fodal, Leandra ing on the car. "We use air and Calfee, Kyle Yarber, Kyle Bowman, Jeff purse outside a Kmart store saw what was unfolding and hydrogen to charge the batter­ Palmer, Nathan Bovia, Steven Decker, has been placed on probation started honking a car horn, ies. If we could do it on a larger Thomas Wade, Ed Bailey, Paul Cox, for two years. Nelson said. Police officers Matthew Stalkey, Jonathon Green and Gary William VanHorn, 55, searched the area, and with scale, it would be better for the Tabatha Roberts. environment and cheaper." has avoided jail for an incident help from witnesses they found • William D. Ford Career Technical that happened about 9:45 a.m. the suspect at a nearby apart­ Jon Fodal, an adult student staff members Sue Wilk, who led the from Westland, was the last Students and staff f.