IP iw^^w^^m w*w ^•^ Community foundation to honor scholarship winners, A3 Homiflbwn »:ftMM.t.i.JNif:A'riiiNt* .stj-iytms' Putting you In touch Thursday with your world July 15,1999 Serving the Westland Community for 35 years *>. [VOLUME 35 NUMBER 12 WESTLAND. MICHIGAN • 76 PAGES « http://observer-eccentric.com SEVENTYr-FlVE CENTS 0 19»9 HomeTown Cobununkalion* Network, Inc. ! N THE PAPER camper Police TODAY study Saturday In the park: The annual Cooper School reunion is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 9p.m. Saturday, assault July 17. Graduates from throughout the area are expected./A6 of kids • Kenneth Stefanski was arraigned Sunday in Ponti- mmfflmmm ac on counts including try­ Staying together: For this ing to accost children for immoral purposes. He is Livonia family, marriage being investigated in con­ is a reason to celebrate. nection with Westland The parents are celebrat­ fondling incidents. ing their 50th wedding BY DARRELL CLEM anniversary, and two chil­ STAFF WRITER dren 25 years of wedded [email protected] bliss each, for a total of A 28-year-old man suspected of 100 years. /Bl accosting young girls is under investi­ 8TAFt W50TO BY BKYA.N MITCHELL gation for two sexual fondling incidents police believe happened at his former ArtinhktHiWtipM arts and crafts class at the Wayne-West- Westland residence. AT HOME land Salvation Army. The camp offers a variety of summer activities, including field trips. Parents told police that two girls, ages 3 and 9, reported being fondled in early May after a man lured them into True to form: A Birming­ a residence on Edgerton, near Palmer and Wildwood, police Lt. Marc Stobbe ham interior designer said. recently completed a reno­ One of the parents came forward vation project that stayed after learning that Novi police on Sat­ urday arrested Kenneth Stefanski, sus­ true to Arts and Crafts BYJUUEBEROWN ; The day cahap is for students ages story every day and the music is STAFF WBTfSR 7-12 and has more than 50 registered Christ-centered. The campers work pected of trying to lure girls into his style./DG jbrown9o«Jbomeco«iB.net this summer, said Sharon Zobkiw of with "peace pies," learning how to red pickup truck. Inkster, day camp director. Most work out conflicts on their own. The Another parent already had notified eather Henning, 9, is in •her sec­ Westland police about a suspected ond year of day camp at the .come for each week, and the program pie includes such pieces as saying ends. Aug; 6, with/a graduation musi­ you're sorry and sharing. fondling incident on Edgerton, Stobbe MWayne-Wesiland Salvation said. cal on Aug, 8. "The two of them together decide Araiy.U suits her just fine. The Novi case resulted in Stefanski's "I like doing arts and crafts and I Those interested can cail.(734) 722- which solution will work best for the 3660 to see if spaceis availablb. problem.they are having," Zobkiw being arraigned Sunday in Pontiac Dis­ Music: The Michigan like lUtening to the .Biyteitorie*,"" trict Court on one count of indecent said Heather, a student at Elliott Camp feea are based oh income, With said;;; Jazz Festival, Sunday, a maximum cost of $25 per week, Camp sessions are held 9 a.m.: to 3 exposure by a sexually delinquent per­ Elementary in Westland. "I also like son and two counts of trying to accost July 18, at Schoolcraft toplay in the gyraa lot*" which includes lunch. p;m; Monday through Friday at the r/.'-^yfcig^.-fi^ •corps: building/on Verioy between. children for immoral purposes. Coty Silting*XStt also prai th* day Stefanski hasn't yet been charged in College in Livonia, fea­ camp high marks./It's fun," thfc" ^virdttmeht to play in" is the goal, Palmer and Gleriwood; In addition to tures local musicians who lid Zobkiw.The ;*staff is "abletotalk the hot lunch every day, campers Westland. According to Novi Detective Adams Middle School student sail;-' Todd Anger, Stefanski grew up in Livo­ He lik^es "arts fend crafts; muij&i ibout God and spiritual issues. *We ' swim ohce a week at the Bailey Cen­ will be performing on four p nia but has frequently moved. ive the privilege of doing that ter pool, They go to VVestland Bowl going on: field trips." This is hte firtj^ The alleged Westland incidents - stages. /E4 . •,»/"' year at the canip in Westland. The young people hear, a Bible Please see CAMP, A3 unlike reports from other communities •.'" Dining: Wander into Shiv- Please see ASSAULT, A4 ers Cafe in Li von ia for • . ' • \ ' • -,-• • tasty treats, light lunches and delightful desserts. Moore heads Wayne-Westland school board Mickey O'Connell of West- land recommends the BY DARRELL CLEM Moore ascended to the presidency of 14. approval from Moore, Cox, Pitsenbarg­ * STAFF WRITER the seven-member board for a one-year Monit; sworn in and kissed by wife er and Monit. McCusker was absent. [email protected] chicken soup./ES term, replacing departing leader David Kitty, is beginning his. first term after Pitsenbarger, as secretary, and New Wayne-Westland school board Cox. , waging a successful campaign. Monit, as treasurer, won their board President Robin Moore pledged Mon­ Other board-elected officers on Mon­ Cox, leaving for a Westland City offices in 6-0 votes. day to continue renovating buildings, day included Mathew McCusker, vice Council appointment, voiced strong Moore, meanwhile, said her top pri­ boosting student test scores and president, Martha Pitsenbarger, secre­ confidence in the board leadership he ority will be to continue a districtwide improving classroom curriculum. tary , and Lome "Skip" Moriit, treasur­ leaves behind. effort to renovate school buildings and Versatile tool: Homeown­ "Those are three very big issues," er. '. • However, split votes for the top two add several classroom additions. Voters Moore said, responding to questions J The election of officers came on the offices indicated early on that board approved money for the projects last ers' insurance can do 'same, night that Pitsenbarger apd members aren't entirely aligned. vear. after a school board meeting. 4 inore than protect you Moore becomes president as she | Monit took the oath of office one month Moore and McCusker - both nomi­ after a storm loss./FX starts her fourth year of office in a dis­ : after winning four-year terms in the* nated by Pitsenbarger - won then- Moore also said she will support cur­ trict that serves 14,600 students. ' June 14 election. posts.in.a pair of 4:2.decisions.-" riculum-improvement efforts in hopes She is a mother of three employed as \ Pitsenbarger, swOrn in by husband Their nominations fueled opposing that Wayne-Westland scores will begin assistant properly manager ofthe Firsl feekf-is starUx>g hcr-seeondTfourryeaEr: i^Qiesr^mrfeparjAmemb^sTfires a_Ro b -_ National building in dowftf own Detroit: term. She was the top vote-getter June- -bins and--Ed-T-m-nerT hut.they_won' Pie a se see MOOfflEv A4 • Obnuaries _ re-leaves •^Classified Index W ./, -RealEstate ""."~ra BY DARRELL CLEM ing. said. Crossword _J& STAFFWRrTKR He served the last 12.months as president. Cox's departure prompted six remaining board Jobs _ _ ,'._". [email protected] members to start seeking candidates to fill his one- •"" G« Cox's board stint came as Wayne-Westland reached Home & Service year vacancy. Ji David Cox resigned his Wayne-Westland school a critical landmark in February 1998, when voters Automotive board seat Monday by praising a district that he said Potential appointees should supply letters and :ZJZ approved a $108.3 million bond proposal to upgrade resumes to school board offices at 36745 Marquette, • Opinion "is in the midst of a rebirth the likes of which it has school buildings and install new classroom technolo­ A14-15" never seen," Westland 48185. The job has an earnings cap of gy- ' •• ' '„" - • Calendar B4 Cox's departure avoids ethical problems following $1,830 a year. .ft Sport*.;_. ::r : his June 21 appointment to a Westland City Council Superintendent Greg Baracymade a sweeping ges­ The application deadline is 2 p.m. Friday, July 23. : ture of approval Monday for the decisions that Cox " 'm vacancy. The hoard has scheduled a special meeting for 7 p.m. B Real Estate made as a board member. -.-"-- Monday.-July 26, to interview candidates and choose • pf He exited after serving throe years of a four-year "I can say unequivocally that Mr. Cox has always school board term that he called "remarkably reward­ made those decisions by putting kids first,".Baracy Please see DEPARTURE, A4. H0WT0REACH4JS meaning ofp r forgiveness . Newsroom; 73.^953-2i<>4 '.'."• Newsrodm F&x: 734-591-7279 BY jism BROWN had been taken from the church. They agreed to.pay hack the insur­ E-mail: tyacbm«n0 ot.homtcomm.net STAFF WRITER Powless discovered some $4,000 ance company, at installments of $150 • / Nigntline/Sports: 734-9*^2104 J!HOV.U£VW.hoiaccojmii.net worth of equipment gone; Police were a week. One man told Powless "This' Reader Comment line: 734-953^2042 Members of a Westland church are contacted^ along with the insurance has been eating me up inside." Clashed Advertising: 734-591-0900 living out the biblical injunction to for­ company, and $2,800 worth was Police told Powless that it was up to replaced. the church how to proceed; police know : Display Advertising; 734-591-2300 give 70 times seven.. V uWo believe highly in all of the Bible. "Two weeks ago, two young gentle­ what happened with the two young Home Delivery:. 734-,591-0500 We do believe in forgiveness," said men came in," the Westland resident morn but not their identities.