April 26, 2007
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April 26, 2007 75 cents WINNERS OF OVER 100 STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS SINCE 2001 www.hometownlife. com BY DARRELL CLEM Valeeka Noelle Gartrell, was in the Wayne County "Everyone was good with that." tal, her stepfather and another relative returned to STAFF WRITER Jail on charges of assault with intent to murder Police believe that Gartrell delivered her baby the home to search for the baby. and first-degree child abuse. Her bond: $100,000 about 11 a.m. Monday, put it in a garbage bag, tied "They hear crying and'find the child in the A 27-year1old Westland woman delivered her cash. it up and placed in on the garage floor. Two hours garage in a garbage bag, on a floor by a wall," own baby at home, put it in a garbage bag, walked She could face life in prison, or lesser penalties, later, she woke her mother, who works nights and Benson said. ; , ,^, - to the garage as she bled and placed the newborn if convicted. Westland 18th District Court was sleeping. Authorities had no real theories why this moth boy on the floor to die, according to police. Magistrate Donald Vandersloot entered a not- "She comes in, wakes her mother and says she's er would be accused of such a crime, Miraculously, the baby lived. guilty plea for the mother as she awaits a May 3 bleeding," Benson said. "I can't even imagine," Benson said. "The family The plot unfolded like a heartbreaking movie of hearing that will determine whether she should Her parents took her to St. Mary Mercy was all completely shocked. She never gave an the week, like a tragic incident that happens stand trial. Hospital in Livonia, fearing that Gartrell maybe indication she didn't want the baby or that she somewhere far away — not here, not in this quiet It wasn't a secret that Gaitrell, who also has a 3- having complications from her pregnancy, Benson wanted to terminate the pregnancy." neighborhood on the city's northwest side. year-old daughter, was pregnant, police Sgt. Chris'. said. Gartrell is accused of making conflicting state Sadly, authorities say, it did happen here, on an Benson said. She lived with her mother and step "The staff checks her out, only to find that she is ments to police — none of them reliable, Benson otherwise typical spring day near Joy and Hix father, and they knew. no longer carrying the baby and she has recently said. roads. "Everyone knew she was pregnant and due to delivered," the detective said. Wednesday afternoon, the child's mother, deliver at the end of April," Benson said. While Gartrell's mother remained at the hospi PLEASE SEE NEWBORN, A5 • •• Teamp Preschool celebrates 33 years of readying tots for kindergarten BY DARRELL CLEM STAFF WRITER A giraffe, a monkey, clowns and dancing princesses smiled and parad ed around the' room. Superman and Spider-Man even showed up for this circus, performed SY SUE MASON girls want to see this happen." by costumed children who attend STAFF WRITER DeLuca is a full-time elemen Westland Free Methodist Church's tary media specialist clerk who preschool. Wayne-Westland School coached students after her nor Parents clicked their cameras, and Superintendent Greg Baracy mal work schedule. According to sitting in the audience last week was stopped short of promising John Baracy. a provision in the federal Carol Ferguson', who founded the pre Glenn High School cheerleaders Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 school 33 years ago with Gertrude that their coach would be requires employees receive over Ostrander. returned to her position, but did time pay for hours worked in "It's wonderful," Ferguson said, tell the squad that his adminis excess of 40 hours a work week. when asked to describe how it felt to tration "will work with you to try Up until now, DeLuca has return to the preschool, on Venoy and make it happen." worked as a coach under a con south of Avondale. Barney's comments came as tract rider. Children ages 3 and 4 walked across cheerleaders and their parents a low-rise balance beam, maneuvered tearfully pleaded to revoke a deci LEGAL ISSUE up a wooden incline, jumped onto a sion to terminate Cheryl DeLuca Baracy said the district became mat, rolled and tumbled, and lifted who has been the high school's aware of the provision last fall as Styrofoam barbells — anything for cheerleading coach for 21 years. the result of litigation. In light of applause. "We're proud to'have Cheryl the court case, keeping DeLuca The circus marked just one special DeLuea as coach and to see this on and paying her overtime was preschool activity this year for happen to her is an atrocity to something the district couldn't preschoolers who come from her," said Kim Heath, president Westland, Garden City, Livonia and of Booster Club. "None of these PLEASE SEE COACH, A6 Canton. Other events included a paja- PHOTOS BY TOM HAWLEY | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ma party, a teddy bear picnic, a Christmas celebration and a gradua Samuel Harroun, 4, leads a circus parade at Westland Free Methodist Preschool. tion ceremony for those moving on to kindergarten. "We also have academic and devel opmental activities to help them pre pare for kindergarten," preschool director Sherry Tenorio said. • The preschool had just four stu Preschooler Zane dents when Ferguson and Ostrander Christ© of Garden started it in fall 1974. Enrollment City, dressed as Editor's note: Five candidates - Bhagwan Dashairya, Skip Monit Brian Mulligan, Martha gradually increased and now is typi Spi'der-man, lifts a Pitsenbarger and T. Cortez Spann Jr. - are campaigning for two four-year terms on the cally 50-60 children. Styrofoam-and-foil Wayne-Westland Board of Education in the Tuesday, May 8, election. This is the last of "We saw a need because so many barbell as another five stories profiling the candidates based on their responses to guestions submitted to mothers had to go back to work," Spider-manr Gage them by the Observer. Ferguson said. Deneweth, and The state-licensed preschool Superman Blake T. Cortez Spann Jr. is well aware of the state's financial became an integral part of Westland Graves, both of difficulties and the effect it is having on local school dis Free Methodist Church, although Westland, wait their tricts an d believes he has the experience to help the families don't have to be church mem turn during the Wayne-Westland Community Schools. bers to enroll their children. preschool circus. The principal of the Academy of Oak Park - "It has been a blessing to so many Whitcomb Campus in Detroit, Spann is making his sec families in the church and the com- • staited a preschool that has survived from 9:15-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-2:45 ond bid for a seat on the school board in the May 8 elec munity," the Rev. Randy Bennett said. 33 years. p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. tion. He first bid for a seat was about 15 years ago, he Brianna Jefferson, 4, said she likes The Westland Free Methodist Sessions for 3-year-olds are from 9:15- Spann said. attending the preschool. "I like to play, Preschool is accepting youngsters for 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. "The board of Education of Wayne-Westland must and I like to learn about animals," she the 2007-08 school year. Parents are Optional Friday classes are offered have someone who has the certification and who is said. invited to an open house and family from 9:15-11:30 a.m. authorized in education to ask the important questions Before last week's circus started, fan night from 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, Enrollment fees are $40 before concerning our children's education" the Wayne resi Tenorio pulled Ferguson to the front April 30. June 1 and $50 after that. Tuition is dent said. "I feel that I can make a contribution to the of the room, where she was given a Activities will include tours, snacks, $810 a year, or nine payments of $90 district with my'30 years of experience in education as a bouquet of flowers and told that she a video titled Moe £2 the Big Exit, each. Friday class tuition is $40 a certified teacher and administrator." will be welcomed in heaven. Western-thexned photos, and bounc month starting in October. Spann has a bachelor of science degree in elementary Ferguson beamed as she returned to ing balls for each child. For more information, call (734) her seat in the audience, proud to have Classes for 4-year-old pupils are 728-3559. PLEASE SEE SPANN, A6 ) The Observer & Eccentric ing Sunday For Home Newspapers APARTMENTS B9 Delivery call: AUTOMOTIVE C5 Volume 42 CLASSIFIED B8-C6 (866) 887-2737 Number 96 It's your choice! lock in your Home CROSSWORD CI Equity rate for 24 or 60 months. HOMETOWKLIFE.COM D1 Priority Community JOBS CI Payments as low as $179/month! Credit Union MOVIES 111 PIUS: Receive a $200 VISA Gift Card! OBITUARIES - A14 OPINION A10-11 REAL ESTATE 88 l-area prep winter PCCUMembers Start & lonnie SERVICE GUSDE BIO SPORTS sports special section A2 <w) Observer S Eccentric | Thursday, April 26,2007 LOCAL NEWS www.horftetovtottfe.com & Franklin players perform 'Charlie Brown' GC man faces BY REBECCA JONES STAFF WRITER Forty years later, the Peanuts gang is still at trial in purse it. Snoopy daydreams atop his dog house. Linus can't give up his blue blanket.