READY REFERENCE \i\ttl I '/i^/i rs EST Newspaper classified sections Get a jump on the holiday are available at the Reference shopping season! Desk lide to the See inside today's Observer for some terrific season's most offers. Some of the advertising information (particularly inserts) in today's paper is movies valid for very specific days and times. These time-sensitive offers are clearly marked. FILTER-INSERTED SECTION Your hometown newspaper November 24,2005 serving Westland for 41 years 75 cents WINNERS OF OVER 100 STATE AND NATIONAL AWARDS SINCE 2001 www.hometownlife. com BYDARRELLCLEM light on westbound Warren at Threatened at gunpoint, the victims ing, Borisch said. Moments later, was brought in and found him hiding STAFFWRITER Merriman, police Sgt. Steve Borisch were ordered out of the BMW and Dearborn Heights police spotted.the under a Jeep, Borisch said. said. forced to lie down on the pavement of BMW at Warren and Beech Daly and "The dog had to drag him out from Four Detroit teens face criminal The victims, on their way home Warren Road, Borisch said. tried to stop it, prompting the driver under the car," the detective said. charges for a carjacking that police after night-clubbing, had their BMW Their attackers took money from to flee north into a residential neigh­ The passenger in the stolen BMW say happened early Sunday at windows partially rolled down when a their pockets and, leaving them in the borhood while the Malibu headed escaped but was later picked up at his Merriman and Warren, where a 1998 Malibu drove up behind them road, stole the BMW and started trav­ south, police said. Detroit home, Borisch said. Westland man and his brother were and two men got out, approaching the eling east on Warren, the detective Authorities chased the BMW until Although the pair in the Malibu - a forced out of their car at gunpoint. BMW from both sides with at least said. The BMW was trailed by the the driver, 19, and the passenger, 17, male and a female, both 17 - got away, The incident started about 5 a.m. one semiautomatic handgun, Borisch Malibu. jumped from the car and tried to flee, Westland police caught them about when a 27-year-old Westland man, said. The victims called 911 and police Borisch said. The man suspected of an hour later when they returned to accompanied by his 21-year-old Two other people - one male and came to assist them as other depart­ driving the stolen car was captured on brother, stopped his BMW for a red one female - remained in the Malibu. ments were alerted about the carjack­ Clairview after a Redford police dog PLEASE SEE CARJACKING, A9 *v BY STEPHANIE AMGELYN CASOLA STAFFWRITER Livonia Public School trustees listened for 5% hours as community members shared emotional pleas and educa­ tion research - which mostly opposed the district's Legacy Initiative. The plan, presented formally to the board last week, would close seven school buildings, consolidate school communities, and establish three new upper elementary buildings for grades five and six. Board members hosted a public hearing Monday night at Churchill High School's auditorium. It marked the first televised remote hearing for the school district. Grant and Alicia Wenzinger recently moved to the dis­ trict fr6m Redford Township. "We put a lot of thought into making this decision," said Grant Wenzinger. "We left Redford where we lived two blocks from an elementary school. Being close to our schools was an important factor." Should the plan pass, the Wenzingers will have three PLEASE SEE PLAN, A9 -y • PHOTOS BY HEATHER ROUSSEAU Kim Rutkowski shows her emotion Saturday after being crowned the new Wayne-Westtand Junior Miss. Rutkowski, a John Glenn High School student, also won in Salon plans purrr-fect the scholastic, talent and fitness categories. fund-raiser for animals BYDARRELLCLEM Junior Miss winner 'surprised' STAFF WRITER After seeing how dogs, cats and other pets suffered mis­ BYDARRELLCLEM with $3,050 from Saturday's in Alpena, Hermatz said. erably through Hurricane Katrina, a Westland hair salon ' STAFFWRITER competition at Wayne Doerr, a Wayne Memorial owner was impressed that the Michigan Humane Society Memorial High School's High School senior, earned stepped in to help displaced animals. Westland teen Kim Stockmeyer Auditorium. $2,200 in scholarship money Now, Lori Cicirelli, manager of E Salon at 141 Wayne Rutkowski charmed judges In all, Junior Miss officials as the first runner-up, and she Road north of Cherry Hill, wants to shov^Ker appreciation. Saturday and earned the title of gave out $21,500 in scholarship also won honors in the cate­ Cicirelli, daughter-in-law of Mayor Sandra ^Cicirelli, has Wayne-Westland Junior Miss, money - up from $18,000 last gories of interview and self- announced that the humane society will receive' 30O per­ earning a trip to state competi- year, said Junior Miss President expression. cent of proceeds from haircuts at her salon from nooti to(4 tionin March. Pat Hermatz. Hermatz praised the efforts p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. , ^ \ "I was really shocked and Rutkowski said she prepared of the high school seniors who "I'm really big into animals, and after Katrina-andfivery- surprised when they called my for Saturday's contest by put­ participated in this year's four- thing else, I just thought this would be a good thihg-to do," name," the 17-year-old John ting "110 percent" of her ener­ hour event. said the salon manager, who has three cats and a (Jog of her Glenn High senior said. "I was gies into it. "It was a very, very good pro­ own. \ * really excited that they chose After high school, she plans gram," she said. "The girls are Haircuts cost $14.95 for adults and $9.95 for children, me." to study to become a pharma­ all winners as far as I'm con­ Cicirelli said, adding that her salon also will offer free eye­ Rutkowski captured honors cist. She is a member of the cerned." brow waxing, normally $13, for customers who bring in in the categories of scholastic, National Honor Society and Here's a look at other win­ items from the Michigan Humane Society's wish lisfc talent and fitness on her way to was formerly involved in ners: . Those items include dog. and cat food, collars, leashes, 9v winning the 3006 Wayne- Students Against Destructive • Heather Ennis, a finalist batteries, cat litter, dog treats and rawhide chews, groom­ Wesuand Junior Miss contest - Decisions (SADD) and the who earned honors in the ing brushes, blankets, rubber gloves, non-porous toys. the largest of its kind in Spanish Club. She also is a class scholastic, talent and commu­ No appointments are necessary. For more information, Michigan. representative, helping with nity service categories. She call the salon at (734) 721-8881. She tap~danced her way into activities such as the senior earned $1,750 in.scholarship The Michigan Humane Society welcomed the E Salon prom. the judges'hearts, but she's had money. event. : much practice. Rutkowski also plays basket­ • Alisha Schrader, a finalist Jennifer Guthrie of Wayne Memorial High "The Michigan Humane Society sincerely appreciates the "I've been tap-dancing since I ball and softball at Glenn. who won in the categories of School does an act for the taient portion support of E Salon and their clients who participate in this was 4 years old," she said. "I Placing second to Rutkowski interview, physical fitness and of the Wayne-Westland Junior Miss event, making the holidays brighter for the needy animals absolutely love it." . among 28 Junior Miss partici­ audience participation. She program. She was one of six finalists and in our care," spokeswoman Nancy Gunnigle said. Rutkowski hasn't decided pants was Kelly Doerr, who earned $1,600. was one of the winners in the scholastic Gunnigle asked that any other businesses interested in where she will attend college, earned the title of Wayne • Jennifer Guthrie* a finalist and talent categories. She plans to study doing a benefit for the MHS call (866) MHUMANE, 8 a.m. but she will have some money Junior Miss. She, too, will chemical engineering at the University of to 5 p.m. weekdays. ' for tuition after walking away advance to state finals in March PLEASE SEE JUNIOR MISS, A4 Michigan. [email protected] I (734) 953-2110 © The Observer & Eccentric Coming Sunday For Home Newspapers APARTMENTS F5 Delivery call: AT HOME B1 on the Volume 41 BELIEFS & VALUES B5 (866) 887-2737 Number 52 AUTOMOTIVE G4 * Look great CROSSWORD F8 JOBS HO for the MOVIES D16 holidays ; With, any sandwich purchase OBITUARIES B5 with-* With this coupon only. • REAL ESTATE F1 Expires 12-20-05 SERVICE GUIDE Fff glittery / SPORTS • C1 I party style. GArMETT UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP! TASTE B7 A2; (W) Obseiler & Eccentric | Thursday, November 24,2005 LOCAL NEWS www.hometowniife.cqn Talk aims at confusion over BY MATT JACHMAN STAFF WRITER For Mary Johnson, senior citizens trying to understand what Medicare's new prescrip­ tion drug coverage means to c them should break it into * *• i1- * three C's: cost, coverage and convenience. ***\ % But some of the seniors who h packed Livonia's Civic Park w Senior Center to hear about the. benefit on Monday added ' J^feU a fourth C to the equation; confusion. "This is the most confusing thing I've ever seen. I can't believe the government came out with something so confus­ ing * said Paul Polsky of Livonia after listening to Johnson, director of the Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program, and! YMVJh BY IUM nuri-NILYLK | Sim fnUIWDKAftltK other speakers Monday.