Fire officials report increase in arson convictions By Mary Klemic four cases are pending, compared to compared to the $779,950 total in 1981, of residential fires and fire loss, ac- THERE.HAS been "great progress" "It Is recommended that a system be staff writer three such convictions in the previous the report said. cording to Assistant Fire Chief/Fire made in reducing the number of viola- instituted to require all businesses eight years. Of this 1982 figure, $998,208 was lost Marshal John Simonds. He said the tions while making more inspections, The number of residential fires in cited under the fire prevention code to The arson dollar loss totalled in residential fires, $190,690 was lost Irr trend of the last six years has been a Simonds said. He said a major factor in Westland rose last yearly 20, while the have a yearly permit issued by the Fire f 394,320 in 1982 and $310,650 in 1981, fires in other structures, and $122,965 decrease in residential fires. this is the requirement of an inspection amount of estimated property damage Prevention Bureau." " the report said. was lost In other fires, the report said. by the fire department before a me- increased by more than $530,000 (to to- In 1982, theTF~were 141 dwelling The 1981 figures for fire loss in resi- "With the institution of a renovated chanical amusement license Is issued tal more than $r.3 million), according Fire Chief Ted Scott sajd the depart- fires, 20 more than in 1981, according dential, structure and other fires are Inspection system, some type of solu- or before specified occupancies or pro- to the 1982 yearly report from the fire ment's education and fire prevention to the report. Also in 1982 there were $649,830, $23,270 and $106,760 respec- tion- to the Elolse complex (Wayne cesses can be operated. department's Fire Prevention Division. programs will reduce injury and fire 27 blazes in other structures (the same tively, according to the report. County General property) problem and "Mechanical amusement licenses are While the arson ddllar loss increased loss. number as the previous year) and 28 perhaps a system of permits, the Fire issued yearly and performed prior to a In the last two years, so did the number arson fires (one more than in 1981). A program of inservlce inspections, Prevention Bureau will see an increase new license being Issued. This insures "With our education and fire preven- of arson" convictions, the report said. It along with information being brought in Inspections and a decrease in viola- that these establishments are Inspected tion programs, fire deaths are some- said that in the last two years, 12 con- TfHE TOTAL fire loss, or property into the home through the public educa- tions as well as a drop in arsons in yearly and all violations noted are cor- thing we could just about eliminate," he victions for arson were obtained and damage, for 1982 stands atJl.3U.863, tion officer, should reduce the number 1983," Simonds said. rected," Simonds said. said. Volume 18 Number 84 Thursday, April 14. 1983 ' Westland. Michigan 64 Pages Twenty-five cents <• IUIS«birbuC«B)CDi>kiik>oCorpoftlk>« A)! RlgbU Rewrvrf. 4 candidates seek 2 posts onW-W board By 8andra Armbruiter campaign, going out to talk with resi- editor dents as much as possible. McCuskeF Is a member of the Michi- Four candidates — two of them in- gan Democratic Party and the West- cumbents — have filed for two seats to land League of Democratic Voters. He be filled in the June 13 .Wayne-West- also has served as a Softball coach with land school election. {he Youth Athletic Association and as All four candidates are Westland res- vice president of the John Glenn Foot- idents, although the district includes' . ball Boosters Club.. Wayne and a portion of CantonTown- 8bip. > •v >•••' SCOTTi 43, said that although '"" Incumbents, running for reHelection was a little reluctant when sh£«lixst ran are Sharon P. Scott, 36010 Rolf, and for the board in December, she has en- Mathew M. McCusker, 35103 Blrch- Joyed the challenge and hopes to be re?' wgod. •-..'. elected. ; - . Challenging them are Glenn S. An- She said that the administration, has . derson, 32311 Grandview, who lost a been professional arid easy to work bid for a school board post last Decem- .with. •.•'_••••••"• ber, and Patricia Hough, 1843 "I get the information I ask for al- Treadweil, who is making her first try most Immediately, and that makes the ART EMANUElE/staff photographer for a school board seat. job a little easier," she said.".' . -' Scott and McCusker were elected Scott said the decision to close three last December to fill the remaining six elementary schools was a hard one, but Reflections on stage months of terms left vacant after a she read all the material and decided successful recall election last Septem- ' the "schools couldn't possibly be kept Mary Jo Cobello (left), Carolyn Handler and Gail Susan Mack are ber. ___ •'.' a duction. which is the latest by the Spotlight Players.arid-more open." She added .that she doesn't be- "the main players in VanitSes,""a'comedy that'will be^presented at photos are on page 3A. lieve the children"will'sufferrbut in* ~ the John Glenn Auditorium this weekend. A story about the pro* A 46-YEAR-OLD Ford Motor Co. stead believes there will be a "smooth employee, McCusker ran last year on a transition for kids." ' ; program of keeping the school system The main Issue in the next four years working and making across-the-board will be to "keep the quality of educa- cuts.to keep down costs of education. tion high and expenses as low as possi- McCusker said he would bring an unbi- ble," Scott said. Cost savings will have or 3 Livonia board seats ased viewpoint to the board and would' to come in every department, not just .., favor a wage freeze for teachers. one, according to Scott. He said that being- a school board By Tori Banas Fried, 45, Is an attorney and certified Although she Isn't an educator, Scott Maintain 4 High Schools, a citizens member "has been more than I thought. staff writer "public accountant practicing in Livo- said one area of Interest for her is the group opposed ta_closing Bentley High it would be. It's a'very interesting pro-. f nia. He has a bachelor's degree in busi- school curriculum, an area which she School. Perennial candidate Rocky cess. There's a whole lot more to the ' safd "parents have shown some con- ness administration and a master's de* Suhayda, a member of the National As- school district thartthe! ABCs:". 'T' '' '"'cefa*about:—•'••'•• : ——:-*— - • - , Seven candidates have filed for the June 13" gree in finance and. law' from the Uni- sociation, for. the Advancement: of 'Scott; the wlfe/'of Westland*Fire , school board election In the Livonia-Pgblic Schools. versity of Michigan. He!s a member of A White. People", also has, filed for i the In the months he has served on the / Chief Ted Scott and the mother of three ; The three open positions are Cor two'fouf-^rear the Livonia Rotary and Optimist clubs". two-year post. • board so far McCusker said that he has! children, graduated from Wayne. Me- terms and one two-year term. • \ Fried's first campaign for school ; t Three incumbent^ — board secretary Carol • All the candidates are Livonia resi- learned a' lot and believes that he has morial High School..She has served on dents. The school district includes most : bpard was in 1981 when he ran unsuc-- made some contribution to the board. 'the Westland board "of election can- t Strom, trustee David Cameron and Richard Be- ^cessfully against Scarr. At one time he latr«v an appointee — face challenges from three of Livonia and the northern part of: "There is;a sense of stability to the vassers and has been active at St; John Westland. •'; v : ; .••• was a •member-of the Liyonla School board," he "said, *"^Ve brought a cainv Episcopal Church. • ;; - : :-.'; j previous but unsuccessful candidates and ode new- . Board Advisory Council.'/ r; "•- comer. - ..•";/• .-•\-. -- " /,;..'...• \ ''•.,•'..: — .-. ness back to the boaid," • : : THE FILING deadline was Monday .Fried, who lives on Riverside in. Challengers running for the four-year terms are He said he. would wage a vigorous •-•- > Please turn to Page 2; . afternoon". Candidates haveuntirtoday Livonia, Has four children attending. John Rarpg, a member, of the. School Board Advi-' to withdraw their petitions and 'remove Stevensoft High School, Frost Middle sory Council, and attorney William Fried, their names from the ballot. "• ,-• School and Cass Elementary schools. : Challenging Belaire for the two-year post Is new- Richard. Belaire comer Patricia Sari, who in recent monthshas em- • '• Rarog, a systems .analyst for the incumbent ; ;• erged as a spokeswoman on the Committee to ", Strom, this year's board secretary, is seeking her third term; This year, she Ford-Motor Co., is.waging his:second serves on the board's finance commit- school board campaign. His.first run tee, personnel committee and legisla- wSs last'June in a three-way race along tive committee. :• v V ^ ,^ ': wjth.t'rustee James Merner and >Suhay- Her school involvement has included , da. Merner was re-elected.then. : - V PTA workat both th^district and state • Rarog, .35,'has an associate's degree- • levels! She has a bachelor's degree in from Schoolcraft College and a bache- physical education frdm the University lor's degree in business, administration of Michigan. Strom is the mother of . from Eastern Michigan University.