,‘Plymouth District ■v.- o, ■, District Library \ ^23 S. Main S'a MfcSults fro m P -C -N elections , p g s . 1 3 - 1 6 j ■ 3, Main Street fv. Plymouth, Mich. 48170 ’ f O 1y;4ioutn, Mich. 48170 The Newspaper with Its Heart in The Plymouth-Canton, MI Community Com m unity Crier Vol. 2 5 No. 3 9 www. crier, com November 4 , 19 9 8 ©PCCC Inc. www.community-GUIDE.com Walters gone by Jan. 31 political calisthenics some at the meeting say City Commission led Walters to resign in the first place. i A chorus of Walters’ supporters — continues internal including former mayor Jim Jabara, long­ time resident Bill MacAnnich and a handful of committee members — were in the reconciliations audience to laud his work and blame his leaving on the torrid political climate which BY BRYON MARTIN has had the Commission sweating in recent Sen. Loren Bennett and Bruce Patterson were among the victorious in yesterday’s mid­ In the end, it took Plymouth’s City months. term elections. The pair of Canton legislators celebrated their wins with several others at Commission as long to agree on its next Nearly a year to the day after the most The Summit on the Park last night. For results from P-C-N elections, turn to pgs. 13 - 16. meeting date as it did to accept City recent City election, most Commissioners (Crier photo by R. Alwood, Jr.) Manager Steve Walters’ resignation Monday expressed exasperation with the state of night. affairs in City Hall. Most shared the belief With a bare-minimum majority, the that their difficulty in getting along brought Commission voted 4-3 to accept terms to the city manager’s resignation. Their end Walters’ employment as the City’s chief agreement* however, did not carry over into administrator. He will leave the post by commissioners’ comments. B y 1 7 votes January 31, and will collect six months in “I have to support this proposal for the severance pay and 18 months of benefits, good of the Commission and the citizens five of which the City will pay. who elected them,” Mayor Protem Joe Koch Sullivan beats McLaughlin in 11th County race ■The decision brings closure to months of safd just prior to the vote, which came at the uncertainty and weeks of rumors in City meeting’s end, circles about how much longer Walters’ “The second reason (for supporting the BY SCOTT SPIELMAN seven-year tenure at City Hall would proposal) is more important,” he continued. At 1:20 a.m. Wednesday morning, the Y o u r | continue. “The City Manager and my friend...agrees Walnut room in Canton’s Summit on the Walters had little to say about the that this is the right move for the City and Park looked a little like a fraternity house V o t e resignation, except that “it isn’t an issue of the Commission at this time.” living room after rush week. my preference.” Commissioner Ron Loiselle disagreed: Various politicos, their races already C o u n t s i n Walters said his decision to negotiate a “We have created an environment in which decided, sat among the mostly empty tables resignation reflected the best mutual decision Mr. Walters cannot perform his functions as and on the floor, every hour of their long day he and the City could reach together. city manager. I feel with my heart that I showing in their tired faces. ballot results from Belleville, McLaughlin Before they voted to accept his terms, cannot support this proposal.” Their races may have been decided, but was just 17 votes shy of victory, despite however, the Commission resumed its weeks Commissioner Dennis Shrewsbury said the 11th County Commission seat was still winning in only one community. of finger-pointing, and backpedaling, the Please see pg. 21 up for grabs. “I had to make one race interesting,” she Republican candidate Melissa said, after conceding defeat. “Bruce,Loren McLaughlin watched as results from each and Thad, they’re the important ones. I was community were carefully written on the the most expendable.” Upscale pub Final four! paper lining the walls. Supervisor Tom Yack, McLaughlin attributed Sullivan’s win to a former math teacher, punched the numbers the strong presence his party gave him in party Humidor, atmosphere Canton boys soccer into a calculator. With each result, it became literature. on tap at Bailey’s advances to state semis more clear — even with McLaughlin’s “He had more visibility and spent less strong showing in Canton, Democratic money,” she said. “It was a good campaign See Business, pg. 11 See Sports, pg. 22 Candidate John Sullivan held the advantage. in terms of issues. There was no name calling When the final results were in — absentee or nastiness.” . .. ,* a ' \ t >o < .\u U :, x > -\. * ’ Page 2 THE COMMUNITY CRIER: November 4,1998 LOWERTOWN GRILL Plym outh Twp.: 195 W. Liberty Street (734)451-1213 V i s i t U s ONLINE a t www.community- ‘Major’ crimes still rising GUIDE.com/advertising BY BRYON MARTIN change he attributes to a more same officers on patrol, at neighborhood Sex offenses, assaults and other major comfortable and open relationship events and — if necessary — when it’s M e n a r d B u il d e r s , I n c . crimes against people and property are between officers and Township residents. time to file a report. P.O. Box 700232-Plymouth continuing on the increase first reported Since his arrival roughly one year ago, Carey said he will know whether the (734)451-7400 this summer, according to totals released Carey has adjusted staff configurations increased numbers represent a true by Plymouth Township Police. and broken the Township into service increase in crime by year’s end, when V i s i t U s ONLINE at Compared to this time last year, areas. reports on follow ups and closed cases www.community- Township resdidents have reported more That way, he said, no matter where reveal greater details. GUIDE.com/advertising stolen vehicles, larcenies, burglaries, sex they live, residents will get to see the offenses and assaults. The Township released current totals in a month-end report in October. The Heides 995 W. Ann Arbor Tr. crimes constitute major or “part one” (734)453-5140 crimes the Township and State of f bwers & gifts Michigan track. The totals show: V i s i t U s ONLINE a t • Assaults increased 151 per cent, www.community- up from 71 to 178. GUIDE.com/advertising • Sex offenses increased 150 per cent, up from 4 to 10. • Burglaries increased 25 per cent, iumtiifLC iioiiDii up from 55 to 69. 1205 Ann Arbor Rd. • Larcenies increased 27 per cent, (734)453-3600 up from 298 to 378. State-mandated changes in how some V i s i t U s ONLINE a t crimes are reported might account for www.commimity- part of the increase, according to Chief GUIDE.com/advertising Lawrence Carey, Under, the previous system, assaults, stalking, threats, harassment and other such crimes were reported individually, [WHERE --------- he said. Now, they’re all reported under can y p u b u r n i n g bait the assaults category. tackle? But apart from that difference, he said, SEE PG. 142 of “the increases are increases.” Calls from the public for service and The GUIDE to Plymouth-Canton- enforcement together are up at least 52 Northville • (734)453-6900 George Fedorka helps Rose Kitti bone up on the rules of the road during a mature www.commuhlly-GUIDE.com per cent over this time last year, he said. driver retraining workshop in Canton last week (Crier photo by Scott Spielman). Growth in Plymouth and neighboring communities explains part of the rise, he said, although he attributed the crimes against property to drug addicts desparate T h e R oa d ru les review Com m unity Crier for a Quick cash grab. USPS-340-150 Carey said roughly half of the increase Published weekly at in sexual crimes were against childern,' Workshop helps “I think we had an outstanding 821 Penniman Ave., most perpetrated by other children or by turnout,” said Canton Police Ofc. Plymouth, MI 48170-1694. Carrier someone familiar to the victim. That Canton seniors Leonard Schemanske. delivered: $27 per makes prevention difficult, he said. The workshop was taught by the year. Mail delivered: “These cases are more complex because $40 per year. become better drivers Traffic Improvement Association, and Periodicals postage you’re usually bringing in social Canton Public Safety sprung for the $20 paid at Plymouth, MI 48170-1694. Call services,” he said. BY SCOTT SPIELMAN per-student fee. Instructors A1 Gapske (734) 453-6900 for delivery. To deal with the increases, Carey said Some Canton senior citizens attended and George Fedorka — both retired The Crier’s advertisers strive to hon­ Township Police will begin a Youth estly present commercial messages to last week’s mature driver retraining policemen — taught the 12-hour senior our readers. If, for any reason, you find Services Unit this month. Officers workshop because they wanted to brush refresher driving course and evaluated problems with a Crier ad, please call already assigned to elementary and up on their skills. driving skills. our office at (734) 453-6900. middle school D.A.R.E. programs and Others went because they were Fedorka said the hardest part was Crier advertising is published in accordance with those policies spelled work at C.E.P. will be assigned cases curious about about the evaluation letting the seniors know that their driving out on the current rate card, which is involving students at their respective process.