2013-09-01 Po

Families, lawmakers wrestle with juvenile sentencing rules By Brad Kadrich danger to others. wrangling in Michigan and Staff Writer Orlewicz, convicted in 2008 local federal court has left of killing and beheading 26- open the question of whether Kim Sorensen’s biggest fear year-old Daniel Sorensen, is the ruling has to be applied is that Jean Pierre Orlewicz, among some 350 prisoners retroactively. While a Michi the Plymouth Township man incarcerated in Michigan right gan Court of Appeals ruled it convicted of brutally murder now who could benefit from a doesn’t have to be applied to ing her son, Daniel, in 2007, recent U.S. Supreme Court cases already adjudicated, a will someday be back on the ruling in Miller v. Alabama federal court subsequently street. which called mandatory life ruled it did. Michigan Attorney Sorensen’s fear isn’t per sentences without possibility General Bill Schuette is ap sonal; she’s not necessarily of parole “cruel and unusual pealing that decision. afraid of Orlewicz, who was 17 punishment” under the Eighth at the time of the murder. She Amendment to the U.S. Consti Not mandatory does believe, however, that if tution. While the rulings don’t Orlewicz ever gets out of the While the court’s decision mean juveniles can’t be sen- Jim and Kim Sorensen of Westland, who sat through every minute of St. Louis, Mich., prison in was meant for cases going J.P. Orlewicz's 2008 trial *;r the murder of their son, testified Tuesday which he now sits, he’ll be a forward, subsequent legal See SENTENCING, Page A14 before a joint judiciary committee, bill bresler | staff photographer Ramp widening on I-275 starting soon By David Veselenak November. Staff Writer With the additional pave ment, more cars will be able to Construction will most like sit and wait at the stoplight on ly begin later this month on a the ramp, as opposed to back temporary ramp widening on ing up and extending out into 1-275 in Livonia in anticipation traffic during busy times on of larger traffic volumes due the freeway. to the 1-96 shutdown next year. This modification is the The Michigan Department only one scheduled by MDOT of Transportation is set to on other state roads to accom widen the southbound exit modate traffic in anticipation ramp to Six Mile off 1-275 this of next year’s shutdown, Moro fall. si said. The $195,000 project will He said the 1-96 project, extend the left turn lane on the which will shut down the free ramp to accommodate the way from Telegraph in Red- larger volume of traffic ex ford to Newburgh in Livonia, pected to get off at the exit still remains on schedule to next year when 1-96 is closed begin sometime in late Janu through Redford and Livonia. ary-early February. “The existing turn lane is a The $150 million project single lane. At the top of the will reconstruct both sides of ramp, it flares out,” said Rob the freeway and include reno Morosi, spokesman for MDOT. vations to 37 bridges in the “We are going to extend that two communities. left turn lane about halfway Some other ramp work down the ramp.” along the freeway is expected Morosi said while the pro to take place at the end of this ject was originally announced year. as starting this week, he The City of Livonia is cur doesn’t expect any work to rently making repairs to begin on the ramp until next week. It’s expected to last until See RAMP, Page A12 Road to economic recovery Culinary student Pajama Praphapantasak of Ypsilanti prepares petit fours, made with almond pound cake and raspberry jam. bill bresler | staff photographer slow for area communities By Sue Mason dential foreclosure led to an Schoolcraft, OCC Staff Writer average loss of $2,234 in annual property tax revenue to local Three years ago, headlines communities. The revenue loss told the tale of a state economy to the region - Wayne, Oakland, in a tail spin. Words like plum Livingston, Washtenaw, Mon met and slide were used to roe, St. Clair and Macomb coun aet accreditation refer to property values. The ties - was more than $113 mil havoc wreaked by the econom lion from residential property ic and real estate meltdowns of alone. Area culinary schools prep for offering four-year degree programs 2008 were still rippling In a report released in Au throughout southeast Michigan. gust, SEMCOG has a better Shuttered factories and story to tell. For the first time By David Veselenak earning an “exemplary” mark. massive job losses fueled a since 2007, the State Equalized Staff Writer “It says you know what you’re doing and wave of foreclosures. And by Value, the one-half of the mar you’re doing it well,” he said. “I wouldn’t be the end of 2010, there was one ket value that assessors assign Schoolcraft College President Conway going after the baccalaureate without hav foreclosure for every 40 hous to property, is in positive terri Jeffress knows how important accreditation ing first gone after the ACF accreditation.” ing units in the region. Wayne tory with an increase of 0.2 is to his school’s culinary arts program. Schoolcraft College and Oakland Com County had the highest fore percent from 2012-2013. It’s so important that before the school munity College recently received word closure rate at one in 33 hous SEMCOG Executive Direc thinks about cooking up a four-year degree their programs would be accredited for the ing units. tor Paul Tait said the numbers program, it first wanted the accreditation of next seven years, the maximum amount At the time, the Southeast are good news for “a region the American Culinary Federation, he said. Michigan Council of Govern It achieved that goal earlier this summer, See CULINARY, Page A16 ments estimated each resi See RECOVERY, Page A8 O b s e r v e r & E c c e n t r ic © The Observer & Eccentric INDEX hometownllfe.com MEDIA Community Life...... B6 Homes.................... C2 Services...................C3 A GANNETT COMPANY Crossword Puzzle C2 Jobs........................ C1 Sports......................B1 Health..................B10 Obituaries...............B9 Wheels................... 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OK, thousands of them The closings will affect regularly scheduled — can make an enor garbage collection, putting back pickup by one day mous difference. in both cities. Especially if they’re The 47th District Court and the two branches of part of Farmington’s the Farmington Community Library also are annual Rubber Duck closed for Labor Day, reopening, like the city halls, Race, a fundraiser pre on Tbesday, Sept. 3. sented by the Farming- ton-Farmington Hills Canton Foundation during the Canton Waste Recycling will not pick up trash, Founders Festival. recyclables or yard waste Monday, Sept. 2, due to Ducks are purchased the Labor Day holiday. CWR services will be de before the event and layed by one day for the week, with regular sched then float down a stretch ules resuming Monday, Sept. 9. of the Rouge River in All refuse and recycling must be placed at the Shiawassee Park, vying curb by 6:30 a.m. to ensure pickup. All recycling for prizes. materials must be placed separate from refuse on This year, 15 Duck opposite sides of the driveway. Race partners earned Also, a furlough day will usher in closings Fri “mini grants” totaling day, Aug. 30, of the Canton Administration Build $3,497 based on tickets ing, the Canton Public Safety Records Bureau, sold. police and fire administrative offices and the town But it was Sheri Fuci- ship’s ordinance enforcement unit. Those offices nari of Auburn Hills also will be closed Monday for the Labor Day holi whose duck won her the day. first place prize of $50 in Offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3. groceries each week for (From left) Doug Busch, Ginger "Mama Duck" Wiechers, Sheri Fucinari, Dave Pniewski and a year, courtesy of store manager Doug Evans were on hand for the awarding of the prize, jo h n s t o r m z a n d | Plymouth area Busch’s Fresh Food Mar STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The curbside pickup of garbage, recyclables ket. Fucinari was pre and yard waste in Plymouth and Plymouth Town sented the refillable gift Rock, whose house band is demonstrated for each ally funded school break ship will be delayed by one day next week because card a few days ago by provided music for the of its locations.

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