October 9, 2008
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WINNERS OF STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE www.hometownlife.com BY D ARRELL CLEM OBSERVER STAFF WRITER A strong push has begun to make Westland a coveted stop along a commuter rail line that regional officials plan to establish between Detroit and Ann Arbor, a project that could create tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dol • Students remain out of lars in new development. school since Monday as a A formal decision is expected within weeks that will result of a strike by Wayne- reveal whether Westland, Wayne or Inkster would become Westland teachers. a stop along the Michigan Avenue rail corridor, along with • The two sides were sched the designated cities of Detroit, Dearborn, Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. uled to meet for negotiations City officials and state legislators representing with state mediator Wanda Westland have touted a rapid transit stop on Michigan Harris at 4 p.m. Wednesday Avenue near Henry Ruff as the best alternative, partly •• and again Thursday. because of its proximity to Wayne County satellite offices • The dispute is aiso and the Merriman Road corridor that leads to Detroit headed for the courtroom. On Metro Airport. Thursday, the Wayne-Westland "It's the best place," state Rep. Richard LeBlanc, D- Westland, said Monday night during a Westland City school district will ask a Council meeting. Wayne County Circuit Court LeBlanc and state Sen. Glenn Anderson, D-Westland, judge to issue an injunction, have pressed for the local railway stop, and Mayor William forcing the district's striking Wild and the seven-member Westland City Council gave teachers back to work, and sweeping approval Monday to a joint resolution support the Michigan Labor Relations ing the Michigan-Henry Ruff proposal. Board also scheduled a special "I think we should be happy, proud and glad that we're session for Wednesday about being considered," Councilman Michael Kehrer said. The city resolution will be sent to state and federal legis the Wayne-Westland situation. lators, Gov. Jennifer Granholm's office and the Southeast m The Michigan Education Michigan Council of Governments, or SEMCOG, which Association nas won me first is spearheading the rail project with the Michigan of several unfair labor practice Department of Transportation and Amtrak. charges it filed against the s'*-*" A Using a mix of federal, state, local and private-sector district. According to MEA gen dollars, the commuter train service is pegged as a three- PHOTOS BY TOM HAWLEY j STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER eral counsel Art Przybylowicz, to five-year trial project along existing rail lines, although Supporters of striking teachers hold up signs, urging negotiating, during the meeting. an exact start-up date isn't known. During the trial an administrative iaw judge period, studies would measure ridership and costs for a ruled that the district failed long-term plan. to properly respond to union Supporters have said the Detroit-to-Ann Arbor rail requests for information. The Wayne-Westland service would bring long-overdue rapid transit to an area judge issued the decision in board to get school board that sorely lacks mass transportation. Some others have favor of the union after the President Martha suggested the service would need additional routes to be Pitsenbarger tells district failed to respond to agreement teachers the board's an order to show cause. The negotiating team is district plans to appeal. BY SUE MASON 'ready and willing The teachers' contract expired OBSERVER STAFF to complete these Aug. 25. Members had been negotiations.' working under at month- The Wayne-Westland Board of Sitting beside her iong contract extension that Education put its striking teach is Superintendent Greg Baracy. expired Sept. 30. The union ers on notice Tuesday evening that it is prepared to take action refused the district's request against them if they don't return begin notifying teachers partici laws of the state of Michigan to for a second extension to their classrooms. pating in the "illegal strike" of the be violated," said board President and instead went on strike The school board voted 6-0 procedures that would be used for Martha Pitsenbarger. "The Monday with Treasurer Steve Becher discipline. absent to allow school officials to "The board will not permit the Please see STRIKE, B3 BYDARRELLCLEM lems appear to have spilled into pride while creating an open about issues like home security, OBSERVER STAFF WRITER Westland Woods and spurred forum to address community crime reporting skills and local more calls for help to local issues." crime patterns. City officials On the same night a Westland police. Wild indicated that groups have urged the groups to have man sought help for problems In response, Wild pledged to may be formed by any subdivi start-up meetings in homes, like "drugs, gangs, knives and have Police Chief James Ridener sion, apartment building, condo yards, recreation centers, parks, violence" in his once-quiet neigh and Building Director Roger minium complex or business dis schools, churches or businesses. borhood, Mayor William Wild Shifflett address the situa trict, with the goal of watching Anyone interested in orga announced a new crime-fighting tion, and he urged residents to for problems and reporting them nizing a Community Watch Community Watch Program. become involved in a new crime- to police. Program group should call Robert Fowlkes, a resident of prevention program. Westland Police Officer Archambeau at (734) 467-3547 Westland Woods'subdivision on "At its core, the Community David Archambeau, who has or send him an e-mail at dar- TDM'HAWtEY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Cherry Hill between Newburgh Watch Program is about neigh been named Community Watch chambeau @wlpd.net. and Wayne, said crime has bors looking out for one another Program liaison, has said watch Community Watch Program increased amid an economic while serving as the extra eyes groups are not designed to serve packets also are available at the downturn that has ushered in and ears of the Westland Police as vigilantes. Wild has indicated Westland Police Department and Cassie Johnson has reason to smiie after being elected to more foreclosed homes, aban Department," Wild said in a pre that Archambeau should be in the mayor's office at City Hall. 2008 Homecoming queen at Wayne Memorial High School. doned cars and blight conditions. pared statement. "But it's deeper invited to start-up meetings for Both buildings are on Ford Road Johnson was crowned during last week's Homecoming game. Fowlkes, speaking Monday than that ~ it's also about main the groups. between Newburgh and Wayne. For more photos, see Page A3 or go online to the Westland night during a Westland City taining clean, safe neighbor Archambeau plans to train home page at www.hometownitfe.com. Council meeting, said prob hoods and building community the groups and help them learn • dclemlitiometownlife.com 1 (734) 953-2110 © The Observer & Eccentric For Home Newspapers APARTMENTS C3 AUTOMOTIVE C7 Delivery call: Volume 44 We Beat Any Only at: The Corner of Ford & Merriman CLASSIFIED C3-C8 (866) 887-2737 Number 39 AT&T Wireless Offers in Garden City «734-421-8000 CROSSWORD PUZZLE C3 FILTER 01 JOBS C6 OBITUARIES B6 OPINION A6 PINK D8 REAL ESTATE C3 SERVICE GUIDE C3 SPORTS B1 Observer S Eccentric | Thursday, October 9,2008 www.hometowniife.com week messaae BY DARRELl CLEM fire had gone to stay with Heating fires also can pose OBSERVER STAFF WRITER family members or in other a risk, especially when resi apartments in the complex, dents aren't careful to keep BY DARRELL CLEM been entered for Harrell A fire that started inside a clothing, curtains and other OBSERVER STAFF WRITER OHM WEB and Byrd as they await potentially flammable materi trial, but Harrell told 18th Westland apartment kitchen •The fire occurred during For today's version of Around Monday morning served as a National Fire Prevention als away from portable heat Two men accused of break District Magistrate Donald grim reminder of the potential Week, which coincidentally ers, Pennington said. ing into and vandalizing a Westland, visit otr online edition Vandersloot during a Sept. 19 dangers of home cooking. this year has a theme of pre She also cautioned against Westland charter school will at nometowniife.com and dick arraignment that "I'd just like The fire inside Hines Park venting home fires. electrical fires, which often face trial in Wayne County on the Westland home page. to apologize." Apartments, near Warren and "Cooking is the lead can be avoided if residents Circuit Court. Harrell is jailed with a Merriman, started as a resi ing cause of home fires," take precautions not to over Zackery Taylor Harrell, $50,000 cash bond, but dent had been cooking around, Pennington said, especially load circuits inside the home. 17, and Anthony Ivan Byrd, Hill, are charged with break Vandersloot set Byrd's at 9 a.m., Westland Fire Capt. when food is left unattended. Finally, Pennington also 22, were ordered to stand ing into the school and caus $100,000 because he is Colleen Pennington said. The "With a little extra caution, cautioned residents to make trial after they waived ing malicious destruction of charged as a repeat offender blaze left one residence with preventing home fires is with sure their smoke detectors are their preliminary hearing property. with a 2007 conviction for heavy fire damage and several in everybody's power." working properly. She said last Thursday in front of The pair is accused of going home invasion. others with smoke damage, While cooking starts more it's important to remember Westland 18th District Judge into the school and damag If convicted, Harrell could she said. home fires, smoking causes to change the batteries when C.