Letter Sparks City Election Flap
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ive Star Expo on tap, A6 Homelown I OMMLNK Afttl.VSNIirwtlUk11 Putting you In touch Sunday with your world August 22,1999 Serving the Westland Community for 35 years V* VOLUME 35 NUMBER 23 WESTLAND, MICHIGAN • 68 PAGES • http://observereccentric.com SEVENT*~nVE tfENtS c Letter sparks city electioO I9&n9 HomeTow nfla Communications Networkp, f" - The Westland City Council primary is heating ing road repairs to concerned residents "I would do it again." up following the use of city letterhead in a of Holliday Park Townhouse Coopera The Aug. 3 mailing indicated that mailing by two councilmen. Their actions may tive. Holliday Park will benefit as early as Cox and Griffin'used'the city clerk's next spring from a resurfacing pro Starting Sunday afternoon, the result in a union grievance. office letterhead.even, though they gram. The letter ended with a-cam exit ramp from northbound 1-275 described their mailing as a personal paign slogan, "keep making it better," to eastbound 1-6.96 will be closed BY DARRELL CLEM for a prerprimary election mailing to a response - paid with their own money being used by Cox, Griffin and theic for reconstruction and traffic STAFF WRITER north-end neighborhood. •- to road concerns raised by more than running mate, David James. .detoured about five miles onto [email protected] . Councilmen David Cox and Charles 400 residents who signed petitions. James- name doesn't appear in the eastbound M-5. - Two.incumhent Westland council "Trav" Griffin have upset some col "I will never let anybody tell me that letter. From northbound 1-275, candidates are accused of campaign leagues, residents and their own coun I can't communicate with the citizens Critics accused Cox and Griffin of motorists looking to exit .to east- improprieties for using city stationery cil secretary by sending letters pledg of this community," Griffin said Friday. bound 1-696 will be directed onto Please see LETTER, A6 the eastbound-M-5/Grand-River exit and follow two lanes Onto that portion of M-5 how known as Sound of music the Keith Deacon Memorial High way in Farmirigtoh-Hills.. Motorists will drive: 2.5 miles east. That will take them past the Grand River exit, then they will option of turn around pn a temporary ramp, then proceed on westbound M-5 another 2.Sjniles to the east- bound 1-696 exit. an appeal Construction crews also contin ued work this weekend on the Eight Mile Road entrance and BY DARRELL CLEM exit ramps. Motorists are advised STAFF WRITER to use Seven Mile or Six Mile [email protected] interchanges as alternate routes. Richard Gnida - besieged by intense Once Eight Mile ramps are com-, public scrutiny after crashing a limou- pleted, crews will move to Seven sine that injured two Detroit Red Mile for construction there. Wings players and a masseur in 1997 - faces a Sept. 8 deadline to decide whether he will fight a new. one-year jail term. TV Book: The Observe?* "He did not indicate to me that he Newspapers have discon will file an appeal," Gnida's court- tinued the TV cable guide. appointed attorney, Mary Jane Bevel- heimer. said. "I have no idea if he will," Reader surveys have Her remarks came Wednesday after shown that the guide Westland District Judge Gail McK- night sentenced Gnida. 30, to one year hasn't been popular with in jail for driving drunk July 2 - his the majority of our read third alcohol offense. ers. We will continue to McKnight criticized Gnida's "absolute cavalier attitude" toward the focus our attention on law. and she urged authorities and improving other aspects prosecutors to prevent any early of your newspapei\ We release he might seek, McKnight's ruling followed a July 30 apologize for any inconve jury decision to convict Gnida after nience. authorities accused him of driving drunk and ignoring a stop sign in Westland. where he lives. SUIT PiiUfl) Bit' TOM UAK1.F.Y The judge also revoked Gnida's THE WEEK license and directed, prosecutors, under Family fun: D'umpet player Nate Panicacci of Westland and a member of the Red Garter Band forfeiture laws, to seize his car. plays out into the audience during a Tuesday concert at Red ford's Capitol Park, At right is wife In a rare move. McKnight issued a Mary Panicacci arid grandchildren Mandy and Tyler Brown of Wayne. Westland's summer three-page statement detailing Gnida's concerts end 6p.m. Sunday at the William P. Faust Public Library of Westland. case and explaining why she believed ftrikfUr jail was the only option in sentencing •him.' She said Gnida has a history of alco hol offenses and other violations such MONDAY as driving on a suspended license. She Concert fan a slice of summer . singled out the 1997 crash that brought Council session: The "very serious, life-changing injuries to Westland City Council the Red Wings players and staff." By JULIE BROWN The show will be at the Performance enjoyment for the people." said Jo A former limousine driver, Gnida STAFK WRITER Pavilion of the William P. Faust Pub Johnson, Cultural Society president. will hold a study session [email protected] was involved in a June 1997 crash in 6:15p.m. Monday at City lic Library of Westland, on Central "We've had some real good crowds." Oakland County that injured Red f you like music, today's a good day City Parkway, between Warren and said Johnson of Westland. The con Wings 'Vladimir Konstantinov and Hall on a proposed Wal- to head to the Westland Cultural Ford. certs, which have been held 10 years, Slava Fetisov and masseur Sergei greens. I Society concert. Concerts are sponsored by the have been at the library the past Mnatsakanov. three years. The free concert will begin at 6 W'estland City,Couneil and feature a Konstantinov still is frequently in p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, with Detroit variety of musical styles. The aim: the public spotlight as he tries to over School board; The Wayne- Breakdown featuring Todd Marken. "Just to provide a Sunday evening ..'" Please see CONCERT, M come injuries that paralyzed him. • Westland Board ofEdu- McKnight noted that, even before cation will meet 7 p.m.. Gnida was arrested again for driving drunk July 2. he had received two. Monday in the school minor traffic tickets in May and board offices, on Mar IS 111 refused to appear in court. quette east ofNewburgh. Clearly upset by Gnida's actions, McKnight ordered him jailed and said BY JULIE BROWN calendar year. he has exhausted options such as pro-, STAFF WRITER The restaurant, which' opened" in October 1995, is one.of jbrown@t)e,homccomm.net bation. trea.t'ment.arid fines. INDEX more 1hah 130 in the U.S., with additional sites.in Canada. The judge .pointed out that Gnida's The Red Robin restaurant on WaiTen in Westland is tops The Michigan restaurants are owned by the Aiisaia Group, ..problems,have led to new state laws, or nationwide in increased sales for Red Robins, and that has which also owns area Big Boys, • Obituaries -•'•• A2 so-called "Gnida bills," thai increase staff at the restaurant feeling-proud. , , Red Robin's, about to open its fifth Michigan eatery, Kos • Classified Index E3 penalties for driving on a suspended "We just keep going faster and faster," said Ken Kossick, sick said, with others planned. lie attributes their success .to' license and causing injuries or death. Real Estate EI general manager for the Westland eatery. The top honors excellence in service. "Whatever it takes to make our guests are for the fiscal year, which corresponds closely to the 1999 Crossword E8 Please see RESTAURANT, At '"' ' .• . •' " Please see GNIOA, A4 Jobs Gl Home & Service H5 Automotive 117 • Taste Bl 'Wacky Wednesday' b rings • Health & Fitness m • Arts & Leisure CI tomfoolery to • Sports & Recreation Dl BYJULIEBKOWN • Now that the day has STAFF WRITKH tlOWTfrREftCHiJS jbrown4?oe.honiecomm.net passed, the secrets can be Libraries may have a reputation as revealed. The items includ • Newsroom 734-953-2104 staid places, but "Wacky Wednesday" ed a Christmas stocking Newsroom Fax:734-591-727 9 proved that wrong at the William P. hung in August, a table Faust Public'Library of Westland. E-mail: JbrowridoebonWcomm.ne. t Wearing gym shoes and oth Nightline/Sports :734-9532104 The children's department was the focus of activity Wednesday, Aug. 18, ers. Reader Comment line,734-953-204 2 with things iVbit topsy-turvy. "We have Classified Advertising,734-591-090 0 a .'lot of wacky things around, hiddein . Display Advertising:,734-591-230 0 secret things," said Joleo Kempf, head "Wacky Wednesday" wasn't part of ..'•'•'. Home Delivery,734-591-050 0 of children's services. "Our department the Summer Reading Program, which has gone wacky." ended Aug, 7. "This is just straight fun, Now that the day has passed, the no reading required," Keihpf said. secrets caii be revealed. The items "We've done it a numbvr of times, srui-IMMCOBY TOM iiwn included a Chi istmas stocking hung in Sometimes its called-Freaky Friday'." Searching: Lisa Heni'csbauijh, 10, (left) and her brother Lance. August, a table weaving gym shoesand She desenbe(l student response as f \y , f l ,}// ) f } -Wacky Wednesday" von- - others. Students searched for 10 items, }1 (l ( s( (im out t)w orm orf w great, noting 30 kids participated m • ..'.,' ,, /,., ,, •, } ,• ) •• r .- ;J, , ,/,,) filling out a form, plus two more for the first 2\ hours There was no age t('st at ihc hhrary.