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Afci1 USA WEEKEND B 1 i a Morning TV's hot new duo, Kathie 1 2 1 № 1 i 1 IS 1 1 8 UP Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, give 1 i1 •1 i $8 I£ 1 E pointers on starting a job. * 1 HDII i 1111 1 inside today's Observer July 13,2008 75 cents WINNERS OF STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE www.hometownlife.com charged .1," o - l" in Hines Park sexual assault BYDARRELLCLEM officer and, as such, he had his OBSERVER STAFF WRITER eyes open, spotted the vehicle and the suspect while on his way A 29-year-old Westland man home from work, called in (for accused of posing as a photogra- uniformed officers) and took the pher and sexu- necessary action," Deputy Police ally assaulting Chief Gary Sikorski said. an 18-year-old Milam met the 18-year-old woman in victim July 3 while she was walk- Hines Park ing in Westland's Norwayne was arraigned neighborhood, and he posed Friday after- as a professional photographer noon on mul- and offered to pay her if she tiple felony would model for him, police Sgt. charges and Milam Steve Borisch said in court. He jailed with a arranged to meet her two days $500,000 cash bond later in Romulus, where she was Steven Wayne Milam, who driven by her grandfather, who described himself in court as a believed the suspect's story, police married father with two chil- have said. dren ages 7 and 1, was charged Milam ultimately took the in Westland 18th District Court victim to a wooded area near with unlawful imprisonment, Middlebelt and Warren roads, TOM HAWLEY|STAFF PHOTOGBAPHER criminal sexual conduct with asked her to take off her domes, intent to penetrate, criminal pulled up her top and pulled sexual conduct involving a sec- down her skirt, Borisch testified. ond-degree assault and imper- When she resisted, Milam put sonating a police officer. plastic zip ties on her wrists, but Brenden Massticci, 12, of West land balances himself on the bowl of the Concrete Jungle skatepark in Westland. Summer sessions of noon to 4 p.m. Milam, who has a prior misde- the victim managed to use her and 4:30 p.m. to dusk are in effect, with late-night sessions from 9 p.m. to midnight on Fridays only. For more information, call (734) 722-7620. meanor charge of possession of cell phone to call her grandfather steroids in Garden City, faces a and alert him, Borisch said. July 17 preliminary hearing that Milam is accused of grabbing will determine whether he should the cell phone, posing as a police stand trial in Wayne County officer and telling the grandfa- Circuit Court. If convicted, he ther that the young womaji was Mission Green environmental plan ready to take root could face penalties ranging up in trouble, the detective said. to 15 years in prison. A not-guilty Police have said the suspect BY DARRELLCLEM officials and residents serving development. workshop on setting short- and plea was placed on record for apparently became afraid — pos- OBSERVER STAFF WRITER on subcommittees. The ultimate goal will be long-term goals and policies him. sibly that someone was approach- The project will focus partly for city leaders, residents and will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Milam, arraigned Friday in ing — and that he burned off the Mayor William Wild's initia- on implementing a curbside businesses to "reduce their car- Aug. 11, at City Hall. front of 18th District Magistrate zip ties with a cigarette and fled. tive to make Westland more recycling program. bon footprint" — a measure of The latest developments Donald Vandersloot, was arrest- Milam has denied the criminal environmentally friendly — a "If your community is going the impact people have on the follow Wild's announcement ed Wednesday evening after allegations against him and has project dubbed Mission Green green, curbside recycling is the environment, Thompson said. during his State of the City an alert, off-duty police officer, said that he and the teenager — will begin to take root in cornerstone," Thompson said. He will lead a public meet- address in May that he would Brian Humphrey, spotted his agreed to a photo shoot for $100, late July. However, the effort also ing at 6 p.m. Monday, July 28, be starting Mission Green. vehicle near Ann Arbor Trail and Borisch said in court. Wild has appointed his will involve making the city at City Hall, and residents who To get involved in Team Inkster roads and followed him Police executed a search war- planning director, Bruce more cost-efficient and envi- want to volunteer are urged Green, call the mayor's office to a nearby apartment complex rant at Milam's apartment after Thompson, to spearhead the ronmentally friendly, rang- to attend to learn more about at (734) 467-3200. where he lives, police said. apprehending him, Sikorski has project and head up Team ing from exploring fuel effi- Mission Green. "Brian is an excellent police said. Green, which will involve city ciency to promoting "green" Two weeks later, the first [email protected] | (734) 953-2110 Gebhardt cites experience, background Harris-Foster touts issues, hands-on attitude BY DARRELLCLEM BYDARRELLCLEM OBSERVER STAFF WRITER JOAN GEBHARDT OBSERVER STAFF WRITER WANDA HARRIS-FOSTER Age: 59 Age: Not provided In her bid to win a Wayne County As she campaigns for a Wayne County Residence: Inkster Commission seat, candidate Joan Residence: Livonia Commission seat, candidate Wanda Gebhardt said her goals Occupation: District staffer for state Harris-Foster has cited Education: Degree in special educa- include spurring job House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford) economic development, tion, Eastern Michigan University; growth, addressing the Education: Master's degree, educa- county park improve- nursing diploma Henry Ford foreclosure crisis, sup- tion administration, Eastern Michigan ments, health-care Community College. porting a rail system University. Some doctoral work at 12th Commission District issues and airport noise Family: Single and other infrastructure Wayne State. The Observer continues its abatement as issues Community involvement: 16-year improvements, and help- profiles of two more Democratic she wants to address if Family: Married with two adult children member Inkster City Council, four ing families find the candidates seeking the 12th elected. years as mayor pro tern; Inkster services they need amid Community involvement: Schoolcraft District Wayne County Commission Harris-Foster also Gebhardt Harris-Foster tough economic times. College trustee; representative to seat, which represents Westland, pointed to her 16 years Chamber of Commerce; precinct A Livonia resident who has lived in ~ Southeastern Michigan Council of inkster and south Livonia. The as an Inkster City Council member, delegate; member Christian Faith the 12th District for 35 years, Gebhardt Governments; Madonna University series wilt conclude with two including four years as mayor pro tern, Ministries Church; former member cited her strong ties to the community adjunct professor; executive board Republicans. Party nominees will as reasons she is qualified to become Michigan Democratic Women's and said she has the knowledge to help Michigan federation of the American be chosen in the Aug. 5 primary the next 12th District commissioner, Caucus; former member Wayne- the county tackle a $33 million budget to compete in the Nov. 4 general replacing veteran Kay Beard's 30-year Federation of School Administrators; County Head Start board; former shortfall while protecting the health, election. The overall winner will service. executive board League of Women Voters chair Nankin Transit Services; safety and welfare of residents. get a two-year term. The job pays "I enjoy public service," she said, Northwest Wayne County, among others. $68,411 a year. Coalition of Labor Union Women. Please see GEBHARDT, A2 Please see HARRIS-FOSTER, A2 ©The Observer & Eccentric .*....r" INDEX Coming Thursday For Home Newspapers APARTMENTS ^D3 in niter Delivery call: ^ s-^ "' <} * ^' ;^ AUTOMOTIVE C8 Volume 44 - ' CLASSIFIED C5-04 (866) 887-2737 Number 14 HEALTH B3 .I "^.^ --* HOMETOWNLIFE C1 1 \*\* *v J0BS C5 IJKWI^IWHH * V NEW HOMES D1 *'" - OBITUARIES C4 toj OPINION A9 Gear up for the 30th i REAL ESTATE D2 anniversary of Meadow SERVICE GUIDE DA Brook Concours sp0RTS B1 d'Eiegance. GANJETT -.= __-_ -_-__ Observer S Eccentric \ Sunday, July 13,2008 A2 (W) Www.hometownllfe.com could help to .create new jobs breath away." School site. AROUND WESTLAND GEBHARDT and pump money into the She called it critical that Referring to the county's PAGE A1 area's economy. She cited county leaders work with budget troubles, Gebhardt Let's read new development around state officials to help resi- indicated she would support The Westland public library Detroit Metro Airport and dents who are losing jobs across-the-board, depart- will host a "Reading Dog" pro- Fof an expanded version of "My heart is in this com- the possibility of a rail system and homes. At a minimum, mental cuts of possibly 10 gram at the Dorsey Center on Around Westlatid, visit our oniini munity," Gebhardt said. "I'm from Detroit to Ann Arbor she said, such efforts should percent as a way to avoid a July 17 and Aug. 14 for children edition at www,hometownl!fe.' dedicated to this community." as potential ways of boosting begin by establishing a one- deepening crisis. But she said who love to read, are just learn- corn and click on the Westland • Gebhardt also pointed employment. stop place where people can officials also need to develop ing to read or want to practice home page. to her experience, ranging Gebhardt also said the area find a wide array of services a workable spending and rev- reading aloud.