Thomas to Challenge Kay Beard • Mayor Robert Thomas Survives the Primary and Topples Said Tuesday
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^^^^^rn+i^^m* • i • i ^^i lomeTbwn COMMUNICATIONS N B T W O I* K lUc stlanu Observer Your hometown newspaper serving Westland for 35 years Thursday, April 20, 2000 hometownnewspapers.net 75c Vok*r* 36 NurtitMr 92r Westland, Michigan G2000 Hom*To*n Communicationt Network** IN THE PAPER Thomas to challenge Kay Beard • Mayor Robert Thomas survives the primary and topples said Tuesday. "I'm a little surprised. As see whether the people think I'm still TODAY confirmed hell run against Beard's 22-year reign as county com mayor, he's one of one, making more using good judgment or whether they Wayne County Commission missioner in the Nov. 7 election. money with a city car, and he's dose to want somebody new." Thomas would be replaced as mayor home." Thomas, 49, had been rumored as a Vice Chair Kay Beard in for one year by a Westland City Coun Beard suggested that Wayne County possible county commission candidate, LOCAL the Democratic primary. cil-chosen appointee. Voters would Executive Ed McNamara may be sup but he confirmed his plans Monday elect anew mayor in November 2001. BY DARRELL CLEM porting Thomas for a commission cam after Westland resident Normie Bra Backlash: A complaint STAFF WRITER Thomas' annual pay would plummet paign, but Thomas said Monday that zier asked him about his intentions dclem9oeJioinecomiii.net if he succeeds in changing jobs. His he hasn't received McNamara's during a Westland City Council meet filed byCouncilwoman annual salary of $93,481 this year com Westland Mayor Robert Thomas con endorsement. ing. pares to a county commission salary of Sharon Scott's attorney is firmed Monday that he will challenge Beard, the commission's vice chair, "That rumor is true," Thomas said, $58,683. ••• drawing flak./kZ veteran Wayne County Commissioner represents Westland, Garden City and adding that he is "99 percent sure" he Kay Beard iri the Aug. 12 Democratic Moreover, he'd give up Westland's Inkster. will seek Beard's seat. primary. top elected job to become only one of 15 "All through the years, I've had a lot During a post-council meeting inter county commissioners. Fool's cool: People of all Thomas, in his llth year as mayor, of people take me on," Beard said. "I've view, Thomas said, "I'm going to run "It's a free country. Anybody can run ages with a variety of dis will leave his job one year early if he had Bome tough ones ... I have never abilities benefit from for anything that they wish," Beard been a rubber stamp for anybody. Well . • ' Plea** s«« THOMAS, A5 Westland Therapeutic Recreation's swimr Easter ming./AS — bonnet: Alexis Hiles, 5, enjoys the COMMUNITY LIFE fun at the Civitan faces trial Preview: There are dozens Bunny BY DARRELL CLEM of summer and day Brunch, get STAFF WRITER camps for your children ting help dcleineoe.homecomm.net to participate in. /Bl from mom An 18-year-old Westland woman tes Kathy. tified Tuesday that a city police officer Below, put his hand down her pants and sexu AT HOME Austin ally groped her during a 4 a.m. March Cavender, 3, 24 traffic stop. of Westland The teen also accused Officer Steven Creative carpentry: Jaworski ,34, of giving her a police sta sits on the tion phone number and asking her for Designers found special Easter sex. She said he had a fantasy of hav places for rugs in The bunny's lap ing back seat sex in his patrol car. Ghiordes Knot-American at the The woman admitted flirting with Society of Interior Design Westland Jaworski, giving him a pager number ers Student Creative Jaycees and calling to arrange a meeting that Easter Egg same morning outside a party store. Space Competition./D6 She said she secretly planned to video Hunt. Janie tape the meeting, but Jaworski wasn't Lerchen is there when she arrived. the Easter "You tried to set him up?" defense ENTERTAINMENT bunny. attorney Peter Cravens asked her dur -*v 9rm PHOTO Bt TOM HATUY ing a two-hour preliminary hearing No show: "Burn the moved to Rcdford District Court. "Yeah, for what he did to me," she Floor,"previewed on El, responded. was canceled after our The woman confessed she made false Entertainment section Bunny fun statements in a written account of the went to press. Refunds are incident. Still/her testimony Tuesday• available at purchase Please see OFFICER, A5 locations. For informa comes to town tion, call (313) 983-6611. BY JULIE BROWN STAFF WRITER Clerk push jbrown0ae.homeconun.net REAL ESTATE he room was crowded at the Harris-Kehrer VFW Post, the happy voices eager to greet the Easter under way Pet threat: Folks who Tbunny. He was the guest of honor Saturday morning at the' BY DARRELL CLEM keep animals often don't Civitan Bunny Brunch, jspuubOied by the Westland Ciyi- STAFF WRITER * see the way their friends tans and Westland Parks and Recreation. Attendance dciemw*e.iiuuievuiutw.><c't delay a home sale./fl generally runs about 250, said Donna Jensen of West- United Auto Workers leaders, in a land, a Civitan and co*chair for the event with Nancy renewed lobbying effort, are imploring Deachaine. Westland City Council members to let "Just as a community service, a fun thing," she said of local voters decide whether they want the club's sponsorship. The brunch has been held for to start electing the city clerk. INDEX approximately nine years and generates good public rela On Monday, HAW 'Local 845 Presi tions for the club, Jensen said. dent Roger Caldwell of Ford Motor Apartments/03 Crossword/F7 The Civitans work extensively with Special Olympics Co.'s Plymouth Township plant asked At Home/0 Entertainment/Ei and other special needs children. "We like to do some council members to consider a ballot Automotive/*? Jobs/06 thing for everyone," she said of the annual brunch. "It's proposal to make the clerk's position an Classified/W 06itU8ries/A6 kind of our thank you to the community. It's also a lot of elective office. Classified Opinions/A12-13 fun." Caldwell urged, the council to vote lndex/F5 Real E$tate/Fl Civitang try to keep the event affordable, with the top during'its May 1 meeting to approve a ticket at $4 for an adult to eat pancakes, sausage, mixed Community Service Guide/J2 ballot measure, • saying the move : Life/M Sports/Cl ' " Please see FUN, A3 ST AIT PHOTO mr RANDT JACOW Please see CLERK, A4 School officials pleased with bond work progress Br JIIUG BROWN lotte Sherman, assistant superintend Roos'PV'ftlt-Ml'Giall,. Elemental y. "The.y—pifture!», inkling she wished mure STAFF Warm dent for general administration. In use it constantly.and it's a real joy to before^ had been taken. Walker-Winter jbto*m#ae. honrccomm.net fact, some officials from other districts see." she said. Elementary h»M a new library, That If you've noticed any school construc now ask to see what Wayne-Westland Taft-Galloway Elementary is getting school ha* a longtime existing fireplace tion lately in the Wayne-Westland dis has. a two-story addition, and students will that wa« saved in the construction trict, chances are it's related to the "That's just a delightful change for move in soon, after spring break. "This 18 just night and day," Sher- $108 million bond effort approved by us," Shermeri said while giving a con Adams Middle School has a. new fine "man said of a slide of Jeffersoiv Barns voters in 1998. struction update at Monday's school arts wing. "It's rrearing completion,"' Elementary She mentioned the bright Athletic improvements at both John board meeting, Sherman said, and students will use it tile at Lincoln Elementary and other Glennand Wayne Memorial high She showed slides of various school soon. schools: Thinking about a new car school* have taken place, said Char buildings, including the new library at She showed many before and nfter Please se* , A4 or a good second carl Youllfind a huge selection of auto ads in today's YMCA event on May 4 to laud community givers Homelbwn Classified* BT DIANE GALIANDHKAJWI tural Center on Joy Road in Westland Twikham Alternative High School for board members' Sharon Arthur and flngciAi,wvrn Tickets are $30 each and may be pur at risk students; nnd Jackie Smart, K 18th District Cmirt Judge tiail McK first grade teacher at Elliott. Elemen night TTMS seven diveme people to be hon chased at the YMCA. '"11"j* an evening ol community pnde ored during a Wayne-Westland YMCA The honorees are Den nix and Patri tary. find we celebrate the efforts of people Recognition Dinner next month have cia Hermatt, Mary Chames and four "We believe our. tear hern arc nn who have given H lifetime 'of vulunU'er one thing in common - helping chil teachers Barbara Andernon. an eighth important part of helping our kid.s ing either to the YMCA or to other dren. grade communications- arts teacher at. develop and in building strong families causes m the community." M* Knight The 24th annual event n open to the Adams Middle School, Marlene Bisel. a in our community.* explained Angela pyblic »nd will begin at 6:S0 p m first-grade teacher at Lincoln Elemen Holmes. YMCA offieo manager. Thursday, May 4, at the Hellenic CuK tjvry, Eileen Curtin. an art teacher at TIK' committee is oh aired-bv' YMCA . ~~rTea«» nee YH^A. A4 To place a classified ad: 734-591-0900 Newsroom: 734-953-2104 Home Delivery: 734-591*0500 The Obaerver A Eccentric/ THURSDAY, AHtlL 20, 2000 (W)A2 Jf5^/ 9» Head Start woes Starfish BY SUI MASON looking at churches and community centers, "We were bringing information from the IDestlanft dDbscruer STAFF WlUTM but until we can say it will be at Point A, we grantee that the people didn't want to hear,'* •a«*on>eoe.bomecoBim.net can't give her an answer," said Cash.