Pfymouth D is tr ic t Library Plyn n u i -Mm n S tK c t 1 2 ‘# - 9 ? The Community Crier Vol. 25 No. 44 www.community-GUIDE.com www.crier.com December 9, 1998 © P C C C In c . Locals’ goal: CHL Cup tournament For The Plymouth-Canton-Northville Community, For the Whalers, it means an automatic bid to the 5,000 visitors, $7 m illion to P-C-N a Memorial Cup tournament could bring more than $7 tournament and a chance to show off their sparkling million into the local economy, pack restaurants and facility, Compuware Sports Arena. BY SCOTT GOODWIN hotels and put the community at the center of “This would be huge,” said Whaler coach and Would The Plymouth-Canton-Northville international media coverage of the junior hockey Please see pg* 18 Community want 5,000 visitors spending $7 million universe, at least for 12 days. over 12 days in M ay? Hosting the 1999 Canadian Hockey League Memorial Cup could mean just that for businesses here. Although the Plymouth Whalers are one of the favorites to represent the Ontario Hockey League in next May’s Memorial Cup final, they are looking for more than just an invitation to play in the junior hockey championship. The Whalers want to host the prestigious event. McLaughlin halts recount BY SCOTT SPIELMAN Around 2 a.m. Nov. 4, the banquet room was fairly empty in Summit on the Park. Those still at Canton’s election headquarters sat ., exhausted at tables, loosening collars, kicking off shoes and scanning the broad sheets of election results and assessing their impact on the township. Most contests were over, their results decided. The only active wall displayed returns of the 11th County '"ill £fj £ Commission race. Canton’s Melissa McLaughlin was M cLa u g h l i n neck-and-neck with Wayne resident John Sullivan. The final results didn’t come in until the next day. Please see pg. 10 Whalers dominate Druken on pace to set Plymouth Inside the lines.. isn’t where Robby Lowe’s mind was when he made his vibrant single-season goal record marks on the Crier’s annual holiday coloring contest. Judging from the look of the yellow teddy See Sports, pg. 24 bear — the only part completed — Robby’s mind was on Christmas morning wishes. He and the other three contest winners appear on pg. 13. Look inside for Letters to Santa, too. Page 2 THE COMMUNITY CRIER: December 9,1998 BY SCOTT SPIELMAN because of the amount of smoke billowing forth, have been expelled from school and are awaiting trial Canton Police are investigating the second case of George said. The smoke came from burning plastic for arson — a 10-year felony -r- in Wayne County arson in as many months at Canton High School. toilet seat covers, according to George. Circuit court. The school was evacuated at 1:10 p.m. Friday after a “When they catch on fire they give off noxious Neither police nor high school security have fire was reported in a first floor girls’ restroom on the fumes,” he said. “It’s dangerous to breath them in.” suspects yet, but George was confident they would find north side of the building, according to Tom George, The Canton Fire Department responded. and who was responsible. security chief at the high school. extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported. “The Canton police department will find who did “Security officer Tim Stapan responded first to the A similar incident occurred Oct. 16 in the adjacent this and they will charge them,” said Canton Police scene,” he said. “A student ran up to him and told him boys’ restroom, according to Ofc. Leonard Ofc. Mike Steckel. there was smoke coming from the restroom.” Schemanske. Anyone with any information about the incident can Stapan checked out the door, but didn’t open it The two 17-year-old Canton suspects from that case call the Canton detective bureau at 734-397-5337. I n C a n t o n : ' ' | Thieves take time at Ford Rd. Speedway BY SCOTT SPIELMAN Wednesday morning and fled with an Schemanske. “That wasn’t very effective,” patient as they entered and exited the store Three men robbed the Speedway gas undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes. he said. “It just bounced off the door.” for about 10 minutes. station at Ford and Lilley roads early According to Canton police reports, at The suspect then ordered the victim to lay “They were calm and collected,” he said. 3:30 a.m., an 18- to 22-year-old man armed on the floor and began to kick the door in, “All in all, they were in the store for about with a .38-caliber semi-automatic handgun according to reports. 10 minutes. It’s the longest holdup I’ve ever approached the gas station employe and The victim said he heard the suspect seen.” Read pointed the weapon at him. talking in another language to others who The suspects grabbed an undisclosed When the suspect ordered the employe to had entered the store,, according to amount of cash and a large quantity of open the office behind the sales counter, the Schemanske. cigarettes before fleeing in an unseen Crier Sports victim said he couldn’t get inside, according Although video from the gas station’s direction, according to reports. to reports. camera showed three suspects, the picture The case has be$n turned over to the Pages 23-25 The suspect then put on a white glove, was not clear enough to identify them, detective bureau. Anyone who believes they chambered a round and fired the gun at the Schemanske said. saw the suspects can 'call the bureau at 734- door handle, according to Ofc. Leonard He said the suspects appeared to be very 397-5337. THISPAPERIS PROUDLY News with byte: In the Twp: PRINTED ON A w eek’s worth of information for 100% RECYCLED Plymouth-Canton-Northville residents to PAPER WITH chew on. Hit The Crier’s website at Slain ofc. funeral Sat. Please continue the recycling loop SOY INKS www.Crier.com Services for Shawn Bandy, the Detroit to pay respects to Bandy, according to Lt. Police officer killed in the line of duty Bob Smith of Plymouth Township Police. Monday, will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at “It’s an honor to have them here,” he said. Temple Baptist Church. The tragedy reaches Plymouth just as Community Crier Some 500 squad cars from across the state police here are preparing an annual memorial USPS-340-150 the escape - wsdp plymouth are expected to arrive in Plymouth Township for officers slain as they served. Published weekly at Hockey As in other communities across the 821 Pennim an Ave., Dec. 12 •3:30 pm P ly m o u th , MI Compuware Ambassadors vs. Springfield country, Plymouth Township is asking 48170-1694. Carrier residents to shine a blue light in a window or delivered: $27 per PLYMOUTH-CANTON’S RADIO STATION B & E fails porch light this holiday season in support of year. Mail delivered: $40 per year. Project Blue Light, a tribute to fallen and Periodicals postage If You’ve Just Made working police officers. paid at Plymouth, MI 48170-1694. Call (734) 453-6900 for delivery. A Big Change, We’d Like To at Hilltop Locally, Ofc. John Drake of the Plymouth The Crier’s advertisers strive to hon­ Give you A Great Start Township Police has strung more than estly present commercial messages to Over the years, the Welcome Wagon® basket has 11,000 blue lights around trees at Township our readers. If, for any reason, you find become a welcome sight to all kinds of people. New Plymouth Township police are seeking Hall and has organized an evening ceremony problems with a Crier ad, please call residents, new parents, newly-engaged couples and new warrants for two men now in custody they Monday at 7:30 p.m. A piper band, the our office at (734) 453-6900. citizens all enjoy the benefits of a free Welcome Wagon Crier advertising is published in basket which not only contains valu- believe tripped alarms at Hilltop Golf Township Honor Guard and the Plymouth accordance with those policies spelled p ja C y . able gifts, but also information about Course Monday in an attempted robbery. Whalers will be on hand to pay tribute to out on the current rate card, which is community services and local The alarm sounded around 2 a.m., fallen officers, including former Township available during business hours from businesses. For you, it’s a new day. our office at'821 Penniman Ave., ' ’’V w M r Why not start it by making a new according to reports, and the Township Ofc. Steve Reuther. Plymouth. The publisher, solely, makes friend? We’d love to hear from you. responded with Ofcs. Cheston and Lego Reuther was working part-time for the final acceptance of a specific advertise­ ment (not an advertising representative) dispatched to the scene. Tow nship in 1991 when he Vvas gunned and only publication of the ad signifies When they arrived, police saw two down in the line of duty in Milan, MI. such acceptance. men — a 26-year-old from Wayne and a Drake said residents can show their Postmaster, send change of address To find out how you can become a Welcome notice to The Community Crier, 821 23-year-old from Dearborn Heights support for Reuther and other officers by Penniman Ave., Plymouth, MI 48170-1694.