M Canton Chamber Trots out Kentucky Derby Party
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LOOK FOR MONEY-SAVING COUPONS INSIDE TODAY'S NEWSPAPER S H O W MU S T G O ON ^ Senior actors X ^ ~ are fundraising, P A G E B6 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2015 • hometownlife.com ' 3 , LaJoy to seek Ford Road fix in Washington B y Darrell Cl e m meet with U.S. lawmakers capital for the National Confer U.S. leaders ma p out funding LaJoy, a former state repre Staff Writer amid hopes of convincing them ence of Regions, which delves priorities for regions. sentative wh o chairs a legisla to loosen up into issues such as transporta tive committee for SE M C O G , Still waging a years-long federal dollars tion, water quality, housing, Lobbying efforts said he hopes to convince law battle to fix Ford Ro a d traffic for local pro workforce innovation and “It’s an opportunity to meet m ak er s that traffic-clogged woes, Canton Township Su jects. federal budgeting, am o n g with U.S. senators and repre Ford Ro a d in Canton - ho m e to pervisor Phil LaJoy intends to LaJoy said others. sentatives fr o m southeast m a n y of Michigan’s mo s t acci press the issue this we e k as he transportation Carmine Palombo, S E M Michigan and others, as well, dent-prone intersections - joins a southeast Michigan dollars, specifi M C O G deputy director, has at and talk to th e m one-on-one desperately needs mo n e y for a delegation headed to Washing cally to address tended past conferences, about issues local governments fix. ton, D.C. Ford Ro a d traf- LaJoy though he’s sitting this one out. are most concerned about in The Michigan Department In his role as vice chair for fic congestion, H e said the Feb. 8-10 gather southeast Michigan - and ho w of Transportation has indicated the Southeast Michigan Coun tops his list as ing, sponsored by the National they, in their positions in Wa s h the long-term goal is to trans- cil of Governments, LaJoy and he and the S E M C O G dele Association of Regional Cou n ington, can potentially be of other SE M C O G leaders plan to gation head to the nation’s cils, can prove beneficial as assistance,’’ Pa l o m b o gaid. See LAJOY, Page A2 Motel razed, two n e w hotels c om ing By Darrell Clem Staff Writer A co m p a n y ’s plans to build two ne w four-story hotels on Canton’s east side are gaining m o m e n t u m as an industry official said construction could begin within a month. A & M Hospitality intends to invest nearly $20 million to build the hotels northeast of the bustling Ford-Haggerty intersection, near the 1-275 interchange. " W e want to get these hotels built," said Mi k e Abdulnoor, A & M Hospitality regional manager. “The Canton area supports it and needs it. Ev e r y b o d y is hap py about it and wants to see it.” Construction is expected to begin as early as Ma r c h after a wrecking crew in recent days m a d e ro o m for the ne w hotels b y demolishing the old Am e r ica’s Best Value Inn & Suites, a 107-room, six-building complex of one-story motels that police say had deteriorated and Canton chamber trots d r a w n crime. A & M Hospitality is hopeful the ne w hotels, with a co m bined 178 rooms, can open for business a year after construc out Kentucky Derby party tion begins, providing lodging for business travelers, retail shoppers and groups staying in B y Darrell Clem “It really just continues to help us Canton for regional events Staff Writer fulfill our mission to serve the business such as the Canton Cu p soccer community and provide our businesses tournament. Canton is pulling its horses to the with cutting-edge programs they need Abdulnoor said the ne w starting gate early for this year’s Ke n to network and gr o w their businesses," hotels expect to dr a w custom tucky Derby, placing bets on a strong chamber President Tho ma s Paden said. ers for several key reasons: finish in a local run for the roses. This year’s event, “Kentucky Derby: » Nu m e r o u s large co m p a N e v e r mi n d Churchill Do w n s in A Night at the Races," has a starting nies along the Haggerty Ro a d Louisville, though. This race’s payout gate time of 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18, corridor need lodging for busi c o m e s right here in Michigan. at Burton Ma n o r in Livonia. Tickets cost ness representatives. The Canton Chamber of Commerce $75 per person and include an open bar, » Out-of-town shoppers has chosen a De r b y th e m e for its 28th a strolling dinner, entertainment and an BILL BRESLER | STAFF P H O T O G R A P H E R going to the nearby IK E A store annual dinner and auction, the biggest opportunity to be c o m e involved in live T h o m a s Paden, Can t o n ch a m b e r president, and other retail destinations fundraiser of the year to support Ca n has an n o u n c e d details of this year's ch a m b e r can ma k e a day - and night - of ton’s thriving business community. See CHAMBER, Page A2 fundraising auction. See MOTEL, Page A2 Plymouth Township siblings describe escaping knife attack By Matt Jachman and a text-message conversa on," Jud ge Mi k e Ge r o u in 35th T h e boy, 13, testified via a he had fled to an adjoining Staff Writer tion that included instructions District Court said after re video link that he wa s aw a k bathroom, saying Sikorski first for using the knife to kill - viewing a transcript of the ened early Oct. 17 wh e n he sa w cut hi m as he wa s at the bath A brother and sister from convinced a judge to send Ro k texts. “Forethought wa s going Sikorski looking through the r o o m door. Plymouth Tbwnship described sana G. Sikorski, 15, to trial on into this." dresser drawers in his room. “She cut me one time and Thursday escaping their older seven felony charges, includ Sikroski, wh o is being Gerou had issued an order w h e n I tried to shut the door, sister one night last October ing attempted mu r d e r and charged as an adult, and Rive that the me d i a not use photos she cut me twice," he said. He after she threatened the girl conspiracy to commit murder. ra, a Detroit resident, are be or the na m e s of the minor wit w a s able to shut the door on with a knife - at the sa m e time H e r alleged accomplice, Mi ing held without bond and are nesses. Sikorski’s head, he said. telling her that she loved her - chael A. Rivera, 23, wa s sent to scheduled to be arraigned “S he sliced my neck,” said then "sliced" the boy ’s neck. trial on identical charges. Friday, Feb. 12, in Wa y n e Co u n the boy, a child advocate sitting T h e siblings’ testimony - "They knew what was going ty Circuit Court. next to him. He described ho w See ATTACK, Page A2 O b s e r v e r & E c c e n t r i c © The Observer 6 Eccentric INDEX h o m . l o . n l . f com M E D I A Volume 40 • Number 67 C o m m u n i t y Life. .. B6 H o m e s ..... a Services.... a » GANMITT COm Pamv — Crossword Puzzle ..... C3 J o b s....... ... Cl Sports..... B1 ■ Education...... A 4 Obituaries...... B7 W h e e l s .... ____ C4 PRICE: $1 Home Delivery: (866) 887-2737 | Return Address: 29725 Hudson Dr.. Novi Ml 48377 Health........ B8 Like dogs W e love to help »»•* United States. whether anyone inter Rivera and Sikorski fatal,” the judge said. CHAMBER Raffle tickets are $5 ATTACK vened; he replied that no were arrested at Rivera's The messages from each and ma y be bought one did. h o m e in Detroit hours Continued from Page A1 Rivera to Sikorski, he n o w from the chamber, Continued from Page A1 T h e girl, 11, testified after the attack. added, included a dia which has offices at that she shared a bed g r a m of a neck, the direc auctions and raffles. 45525 Hanford, west of 'I just screamed' r o o m with Sikorski, with Text exchange For tickets or mo r e tion to cut it "like a to m a Canton Center. the bathroom between T h e third witness, to" and instructions to information, call the Padt i declined to say T h e boy described the their ro o m and their Plymouth Tbwnship Offi c h a m b e r at 734-453- m a k e sure the victims h o w mu c h mo n e y the knife as a "very sharp" brother’s ro o m and doors cer Brian Rupard, a de stopped breathing.