• • m w mim^wmw Churchill vs. Catholic Central in district hockey final, CI h>£Ibwh « tlHMVHU-.MWNtt Hvrvn.mx-' Putting you In touch fhurtday with your wocM March 4,1999 /Serving theWestlandCommunity^ years £•'. VOll-Ml' 34 NUMBfM 78 WESTLAND. MICHIGAN • 7G PAGES • http://obsorvcruccentric.com SFVFNTi Fat ClNTS © 1M* HMWTOWA Cqwumnktlofc* N*tworfc, tre. Car buffs: Westland drives away with Autorama awards./k2 OPINION Working together: Western Wayne communities are chase among those applying for a voluntary stormwater BY DARRELL CLEM STAFF WRITER permit for the Rouge [email protected] River. We applaud this A Westland bowling alley break-in effort of working coopera­ early Tuesday escalated into high­ speed chases, the attempted killing of a tively/MA police officer and, finally, a two-vehicle crash that ended the dramatic ordeal, authorities said. COMMUNITY LIFE Incredibly, no one was reported seri­ ously injured as innocent motorists slammed their brakes and swerved on Consumer-oriented: In the major roads to avoid hitting suspects, In court: Attorney Steven C. Bullock confers with defendant Hassan Clark ofWestland in 18th 20 years since its found­ who led Westland and Canton officers District Court Monday during Clark's preliminary exam in the death of a 2-year-old boy. at speeds up to 90 mph, police reports ing, the Suburban West said. Community Center has A Taylor man faces six felony charges for the incident that started at developed programs that 5:33 a.m. at Vision Lanes bowling fit in with its notion of Mom says defendant alley, on Ford Road east of Hix in self-determination and Westland. Police arrested but later released a making its consumers an female companion and a Redford man active part of the treat­ who was initially believed to have been ment. /Bl with the Taylor pair. Instead, he was was good for her son in an area where police closed in on AT HOME • Hassan Clark of West- she never saw murder defendant The boy suffered internal bleeding Please see CHASE, A2 land faces a preliminary Hassan Christopher Clark, 30, abuse and a liver fracture, and a police hearing Monday in the * her son. report said his pancreas had been Beautiful life: Interior "I believe Hassan was good for my split in two after it was pushed death of a 2-year-old West- son," she said. against his spine. designer Alexandra Stod­ land boy. * City hall dard, who will discuss * Her statements came during a pre­ Clark is charged with felony mur­ BY DARRELL CLEM liminary hearing in the death of der involving first-degree child design and her new book STAFF WRITER Michael Towne, who died the after- abuse. He could face life in prison if r [email protected] nooaof Jan. 14 after he was left in convicted. at grpy's Michigan Design ; : options ;CrSrWc%ref'*'"•• *:'• /-2.¾\.' •"' '^/;y£>: Center, has an eye for In between tears, a Westland •'>' V/«"*.*MV/T V woman in court Monday smiled at Pleue see> TliraiONY, A3 practicality as welt as for the boyfriend accused of killing her style./D8 2-year-old son - and admitted that s she still cares for him. • Kimberly Howie, 26, testified that BY DARRELL CLEM STAFF WRITER ENTERTAINMENT [email protected] A split Westland City Council has Jazz: Abbey Lincoln, per­ hired a Bloomfield Hills firm to study proposals for renovating City Hall or forming March 12 at Ann building a new administration com­ Arbor's Michigan Theatre, plex. has just released a new , Some city leaders say they will even­ tually face a crucial decision to build CD, "Wholly Earth.''/El new administration offices or renovate a deteriorating City Hall, built in the Popular music: A reluc- mid-1960s on Ford Road. Officials also will face key issues tant Brian Wilson talks' such as the best way to use taxpayer about his music/El dollars to pay the tab - whichever plan they pursue. HI think it's long past due that we make these decisions, and I'm looking REAL ESTATE forward to making them," Councilman Charles Trav" Griffin said. Worth the effort: A tidy, During a meeting Monday, council 7 members split 5-2 in hiring TMP Asso­ fixed'up home will sell Hearing: Above, Westlana 18tfCf)istrict Cpurt Judge Gail ciates Inc. for $24,800 to study the fea­ fastest and bring the most McKnight presides at the hearingCAttefi are Assistant Wayne sibility of new construction or renova- money. /Fl County Prosecutor Maria. MHler and Sgt. Miclmel Terry. Please see CITY HAH, A3 ^T INDEX Runaway girl, accused of death plot, captured • Obituaries A5 u • Classified Index F6 BY DARRELL CLEM 15 from her grandmother's home in ^ Meanwhile, some of the runaway Stobbe said authorities don't know of Real Estate _'_ F6 STAFF WRITER Westland's south end and had been girl's friends began calling Westland anyone who has made any attempts to [email protected] kill the grandmother. Crossword G2 missing for six days, Stobbe said. police, informing them of her alleged A runaway Westland girl, accused of "We had been looking for her ever plot to kill her grandmother, Stobbe On Sunday, the runaway teen Jobs G6 plotting to kill the grandmother whose since she ran away," he said. said. phoned relatives in Nashville and Home & Service H8 home She shared, was captured Sunday The girl is accused of stealing her 56- "They let us know that she had been asked them to bring money to her at that city's Greyhound bus depot, Sto­ Automotive Jl in Nashville, Tonn., police said. year-old grandmother's 1998 Dodge trying to solicit people to murdef her "The grandmother is very upset over Neon, which was latrtf^Ound in Detroit. grandmother," he said. "She had sever­ bbe said. • Opinion A14-.15 this," Westland police Lt. Marc Stobbe A 16-year-old bov^riving the car told al people that she was offering cars and "The relatives called the grandmoth­ • Calendar B4 said. "She is vory distraught and police he found" it jWked with the keys money." er, and she called us," the lieutenant • Sports CI scared. Now she fears what could hnp- in the ignifionr-art" he denied knowing Police say it's possible the girl was said. thr-runaway, Stobbe said. The hoy was trying to give away her grandmother's Stobbe contacted Nashville police. • Heal Estate Fl pen if the girl is returned to her." The 16-year-old girl ran away Feb.' ''arrested following a police chase. Dodge Neon in exchange for a killing. Plenso see RUNAWAY, A5 HOW TO REACH US Mail carrier cares about people Newsroom: 734-953-2104 Newsroom fax: 734-891*7279 BY LILLY A, EVANS Prowse attests that ho enjoys life and cares about E-mail: tyftthmaneoe.honwcomm.jMtSTAF F WRITF.R people. "If I am alive, I am happy," he said. NighVine/Sports: 734-983-2104 Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night "I like all the customers on my route and 1 want to Reader Comment Line: 734-9 83-2042 keeps John Prowse from delivering mail with a smile on his face and a spring ip his step. do a good job for them," explained Prowse. Classified Advertising: 734-591-0900 Prowse has been a Canton mail carrier in Carriage He says he takes special care in making sure his Display Advertising: 734-591-2300 Hills subdivision for 10 years and loves his job every­ customers get checks and parcels in a timely man­ Home Delivery: 734-591-0500 day. And it doesn't go without notice. ner, Observer reader Janet .Hnmmons nominated "I do everything on my end to follow up if a cus­ Prowse for excellent customer service recognition due tomer asks me about a delivery they are expecting,'' to his disposition. Prowse said. SUIT Twin RV »*\I I HI R* HM*VS "It can bo the worst weather; icy, snowy and the During the holiday season if he knows a customer Special delivery: John Prowse of Westland wind blowing and he is always smiling," Hnmmons is waiting for a gift, he personalizes Ins service by has delivered mail in (he same Cantor} said, "The world would he a better place if we had knocking on the door and wishing them a Merry Toirnship subdivision for the past )() more people like him." 63174, yea rs. -r>~-~~- -V %**> The Obtrver £ Eccentric/ THVBSDAY, MARCH 4,19p9 from page Al Clark could learn as early as March 15 whether he will face trial. Part of his hearing waB delayed until then because a medical examiner wasn't avail­ able to testify Monday. Clark lived with Howie and her son at The Orchards of New- burgh, an apartment complex on Westland's southwest side where paramedics and police officers found the lifeless child about 2 p.m. Jan. 14, In court Monday, Judge Gail McKnight had to warn Clark to stop signaling to Howie during her testimony. McKnight threat­ ened to hold Clark in contempt. Woman testifies Under questioning, Howie « admitted that she still cared for Clark, whom she had known for 18 months. She said she had no fears of letting Clark care for her Excellence award: Bob Duzak (left) of Westland, owner of a 1950 Mercury son while.she was working. hardtop, was selected as winner ofthe AlexanderBrothersAward of Excellence "He had been taking care of him for quite awhile - months," 9TATT PHOTO BY B«TA?C MITCHELL at Detroit Autorama, presented by Bob Larivee Sr., Autoramafounder. she said. v Hearing: Hassan Clark of Westland appeared Monday Two neighbors testified that for a preliminary hearing in 18th District Court.