lomeTDwn COMMUNICATIONS .NETWORK Your hometown newspaper serving Westland for 35 years jfe? < MP jrtht.' Thursday. May 4, 2000 hometownnewspapers. net 75c Vo*um« 35 Number 96 Westland, Michigan ¢£000 Hometown Communications Nstwork™ Adams principal facing inquiry A veteran Wayne-Westland school administra­ "We'll let the due process take place." • Temporarily, Walt Durant, tor Was suspended with pay Monday after an Sanders, who couldn't be reached for investigation revealed financial irregulari­ comment, is a longtime employee, a retired principal, will working for the district since the early serve «t Adams, Baracy ties. Staffers at Adams Middle School, where 1970s. Celestihe Sanders served, are shocked. "The district itself has not drawn any said, working with the cur- conclusions one way or the other," the rent assistant principal. BY JULIE BROWN Westland Police Department," said superintendent said. He was unsure of STAFF WRITER Greg Baracy, superintendent of the the time frame for the investigation. jbrown&oe.hotnecomm.net cipal. •' : • Wayne-Westland schools, on Monday. Lt, Marc Stobbe of the Westland Police Department referred calls for "We have used him to fill in in other The police department informed the Adams Middle School Principal information to Baracy. The department buildings across the district," Baracy Celestine Sanders has been suspended school district Sanders could be misus­ ia still investigating, Stobbe said, and said of Durant, a retired Wayrte-WesW with pay, pending an investigation into ing school district money, he said. there are no warrants yet. land educator, financial mismanagement. "They did some investigating." Temporarily, Walt Durant, a retired Adams staffers were told Monday of: "We have suspended her today with A school district review of police the decision to suspend Sanders. The he 2000 Academic All-Stars are principal, will serve at Adams, Baracy pay pending the outcome of our investi­ work led to the suspension, Baracy said/working with the current assis­ superintendent described their reaction presented in a special section gation and the investigation of the said. as "shock and disappointment." Tinside today's Observer. Each tant principal, Mark Cesarz, as co-prin- year, The Observer pays tribute to the best young scholars in our public and private high schools, as selected by a committee of area principals and assistant principals from test scores and grade-point averalges. These i young scholars share their visions for the future and pay tribute to their favorite teachers. IN THE PAPER BY KURT KUBAN STAFF WRITER TODAY • An armed robbery took place Sunday night at a Westland CVS drugstore at the corner of Merriman and Joy roads. At gunpoint, a man tied up two store employees, including the store manag­ AT HOME er, and made offwith $4,700. Westland jK>lice officials^believe the Antique appraisal: Find suspect is the same man that recently committed similar robberies at two out the value of that other Westland stores. antique at Heirloom Dis­ CVS employees described the suspect covery Day on Saturday, as a"large black male,.around 6-feet:4 and 240 pounds. Ho was also wearing a May 13, at Greenfield Vil­ waist-length black or brown coat and a lage. /D6 redcap. At about 9:15, the man walked into the store and approached a 17-year-old female employee who was stocking ENTERTAINMENT shelves. Ordering the woman into a STAFT PHOTO vt TOM HAWJJT back room whore he tied her wrists Tell me a Story: Julie Chwalik reads to children during a recent program at Lincoln Elemen­ with cotton rope, the suspect then Dining: Celebrate Cinco de tary School in Westland. She's enjoying her role at the library in Westland. found the manager, a 26-year-old male. Mayo Friday at your The suspect demanded the manager take him to the store's office and open favorite Mexican restau­ y the safe. When the manager protested rant. /E8 and refused, the suspect struck him over the head with his handgun; open­ ing up a gash. The manager then complied with the BY PATBICIA RlCHABDS Although raised in New Boston, contacting the schools ... and I've now REAL ESTATE suspect's demands.After the sate was SPECIAL WRITER Chwalik has strongties to this area, seen over half of the elementary opened, the suspect proceeded to tie being the daughter of Wayne Dusti­ .school teachers in iheii staff meet­ fhen I'm in this job, 1 feel the manager's hands and made offwith Forward glance: The new ii ness owner Dick Chwalik. On the job ings, kind of giving them the basics of 'like a detective," said the money. head of the Michigan since Dec, 13, 1999, Chwalik has what we can do." WJuli e Chwalik, the West- Westland police officials think the demonstrated not only her skills as a In the fall, Chwalik intends to Association of Realtors land library's new children's librari­ suspect had an accomplice in this librarian but her commitment to begin working with the schools so the an. crime. ' looks to the future./Fl MT> i _..: J.„ c.~ J i.u . u „ „4- :„*"• », ~ ' bringine the librarv and the commu­ Westland library can supplement the A 111 l.lj'illg tO 4441U L14C utai liiiuium^ T**.^ rtiU(M»fimnln\'rtrt« i*»V»rt li'OTA nity close together, particularly the *»(hS lj».»*._A«_*..f-*wj^..^, .... ..., tion, the best dues. And then giving work of school personnel. public schools. Chwalik received her bachelor's working the. register during the inci­ out the best information to that per­ dent, described to police another black "My main goal when I moved here degree in English from Michigan son. And it's fun .That's the most male, about 5-foot-3 with a stocky INDEX -and one of the things that I talked State University and attended gradu­ rewarding part, knowing you've •build, who was in the store at the same with my director about when first ate school at Wayne State University. Apartments/62 Crossword/F6 found the information and giving it to time.'They said the man continuously, taking the job - was to start connect: But it was while attending MSU and that person and seeing them and asked, about .certain..items behind the At Home/ D Entertain mem/El ing the schools, in the past, they them thanking you." counter, and then just walked out the Automotive/JI Jobs/OS hadn't had that connection. 1 started Please see UBRAR1AN, At Classified/F,G,H,J Obituaries/A6 • . • Please see ROBB£D,~A4 Classified Opinions/ A12-13 Index/FS Real Estate/ Fl Community Service Guide/H8 Life/Bl Sports/Cl . EMU graduates moved, irked by Clinton's speech BY TEDD SCHNEIDER here," said Jennifer Pastu.la, 23, of Ruerkle's fiancee. Paula Bobiiuii, friends thought "it sounded like he was' STAFF WRTTSR Garden City. "I went to last year's cere­ was a little less reserved. campaigning" . ' . ' HomeTown Classifieds t*chiieider#o«Jhoin«comin,npt mony (when her boyfriend graduated > "I didn't expect to be so moved. Hut "It's definitely A bonus.".said Murk Having the president of the United and I couldn't tell you a single thing the moment he walked into the room Reaume, 29, of Canton: The former WORK! States headline their commencement about it now," she said. my emotions came over me. People like Livonia resident and Franklin High ceremony Sunday was a highlight for The Garden City High School gradu. uf. never get close to someone like School gradnat*' received his bachelor area Eastern Michigan University ate received her bachelor of science' that." she said. of arts degree (in facilities' management graduates, although a few were clearly degree in biology. Eva Markowski of Westland. a 1994 Clinton spoke for about '20 minutes 1 put off by parts of Bill Clinton's speech. "It was an honor,' said Plymouth res­ 'John Glenn graduate, paid Clinton's on the increasing role ol technology in ident Mark Buerklc. appearance was "very exciting"'but her "I placed a classi­ "It was memorable to have him PlfMse see CUNTON, A4 fied ad to sell house­ hold goods and I had Job search great results! I sold every thing." BY KURT KUBAN News and Detroit Fret1 Press. 1 Career: STArrwtuTtK Cox also told the two men he expect Patricia —KathyG. At the Monday Westland City Coun­ ed them to reimburse him for the [Hall and cil meeting, Councilman David Cox $l,2fi0 he had to pay for the legal costs Jehan. demanded apologies and monetary of defending himself against the allega­ Dakki fill . reimbursement for legal feea from two tion*. t>ut career In January, Anderson and LeRlanc fellow council members. • s'//ri'(.'v.s' During hi* lengthy public comments. filed « complain! with the Wayne t Cox insisted that council members County Prosecutor's Office that Cox Sat unlay Richard LeBlanc and Glenn Anderson and fellow council members Charles during the publicly apologize for having accused "Trav" Griffin,. Sharon Scott and David c ha inner him of violating the Michigan Open James had violated the act dobs and However, in late February. Wayne Meetings Act in the firing of ex-Clerk ^HRn^n^jfll^^^^^^lyr^^ / Careers Patricia Gibbon*. County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Fair, For Cox demanded that the two make Frank Bf?rnacki ruled there was u\nuf- ^SfaH^HIk . '''-%''•/': '-'.r.^l^^^^^^lP^ / their apology during a regular council ficient evidence that the four members more. had <;ommitte<i'any violations., "-•-a|^B^H meeting, a* well as in writing to him­ k ir / pli'i'lS* >'••'< self and several area newspapers Cox said the ruling exonerates him $i\rr PWFTI) *\ MAT-run fvn (V;M» A9 6 83174 10011 6 including The Observer.