mm JPPPPP •^* "^ • •'.»•'»•.<•• ^••^ Area sailors head for Mackinac island, A2 CtecK out the coupons inserted I in today's Usue <A youf home- j delivered ObserveV and save an ! ave/age $20 to $30 a week on your j grocery bil for home '-delivery, pteaie j I call 591-0500. I Sunday July 20,1997 i> VOLUME 33 NUMBER 13 WESTLANO, MICHIGAN • 70 PAGES • http://wwvy.oeonline.com $EVENTY<*FlVE CENTS O 1W7 Ho ofov,n toiimuntcatloniN«twork,tnc. IN THE PAPER TODAY Man charged Oil spill: County officials say that preliminary test Jesuits indicate with stabbing oil which spilled into Newburgh • A 25-year-old Westland District Court. He is jailed in lieu of Lake from the General Motors a $250,000 cash-bond. Delphi Chassis.plant contained woman is hospitalized with critical injuries fol­ Fearful, for her life, the, victim is dangerous PCBs./&5 recovering at an undisclosed hospi­ lowing a domestic tal where she is using an assumed assault. Her husband name, Westland police Sgt. Jon faces a preliminary hear­ Handzlik said Friday. TASTE ing this week after being The woman suffered a stab wound charged with attempting to the left side of her back, and the Specialty foods: New frozen to murder her. knife plunged deep enough to col­ desserts are refreshingly cool on lapse one of her lungs, Handzlik BY DARRELL CLEM 'said. hot, muggy summer days./BX STAFF WRITER Although critically injured, he said, "she is going to survive." Hot Dog: Kids love hot dogs, but A Westland man is The woman fears that she will be accused of plunging killed if Brown is released from jail, so do adults. We eat more of them a butcher knife Handzlik said. The defendant could during the summer than at any through a bathroom face life in prison - or any number of door and stabbing years - if convicted as charged of other time of year. /Bl his wife on the other assault with intent to murder. side as she desperately struggled to The stabbing occurred .at 11:37 keep him put. p.m. July 11, and.it marks the latest HEALTH NEWS Charged with trying to kill his 25- incident in what Handzlik described year-old wife, Ronald Fitzgerald as a long-term abusive relationship. Isolation: Stuttering isn't an Brown, 34, faces a preliminary hear­ The victim initially tried to dismiss ing this Thursday in Westland 18th the stabbing as an accident. uncommon problem and can "These victims are very, very cause feelings of isolation and afraid," said Judith Barr, director of anxiety. Health care professionals First Step, an agency that provides emergency shelter and other ser­ can help those who stutter./F5 Self-blame vices for battered women. "Fear is In the park: Holly Sanchez (right), 4, and Ashley Ostre- the motivation that keeps them in ga, 6, both of Westland sing the Barney song with a lot these relationships." of giggles. INDEX The attack occurred in the 28900 is common block of Powers, where the couple had been staying with the suspect's Classified Index G3 Home & Service J5 BY DARRELL CLEM Musie program STAFF WRITER mother, Handzlik said. The mother Automotive J6 Places & Faces A3 phoned police for help. Crossword G4 Obituaries A6 A Westland woman who flamed The suspect had become angry Jobs '. • H2 Malls B4 herself for a stabbing allegedly com­ during an earlier argument in a car, 'em moviti' Real Estate Gl Movie Guide C4 mitted by her husband isn't alone in Handzlik said. He was "enraged" trying to conceal an abusive rela­ when the victim told him that she rea youngsters danced to the Rentals G7 Sports Dl tionship. believed her two children, ages 5 beat of local musician Guy Domestic vio­ • First and 6, should be allowed visitation A Louis who appeared July 15 at lence victims Hines Park Nankin Mills picnic area n Step's 24- by their father - a man from a previ­ ; ; HOW TO REACH US often view their ous relationship, Handzlik said. in Westland;. :^ attackers as hour toll- The victim had pointed out that Louis; a member of the Michigan Touring Arts, plays a variety of Newsroom:313-953-210 4 "GodliuV and free hotline her husband visits his daughter above the law, number is 1- from a prior relationship, police instruments in his performances, as.: Newsroom Fax:313-591-727 9 said Judith Barr, reports said. well as involving his visitors. E-mail: newsroom @oeonllne.co m director of First 888-453- When the couple arrived at the He performed as part of the coun­ Nightline/Sports: 313-953-2104 Step, an agency 5900. Powers residence near Middlebelt ty's "Children's Evening Out" chil­ dren's park series paid for through Reader Comment Line:313-953-204 2 that provides and Van Born, the suspect began' to shelter, vand ser­ beat the victim on her head and her the recently approved countywicje Classified Advertising: . STAFF PHOTOS BY TOM HAWW 313-591-0900 vices for abused shoulders with his fists - all the parks millage. Display Advertising:313-^91-230 0 women and children. '...:•'• while yelling that he was going to The Nariki n Mills are a of Hine s S!ng-a-!ong: Above, 2- Home Delivery:313-591-050 0 First Step's 24-hour toll-free hot­ kill her, police reports said. Park is on Hinps Drive east of Ann year old Molly Ryder of line number is 1-888-453-5900. The woman managed to flee into a Arbor Trail- Per more information Victims often see abusive men as bathroom, where she braced herself about this or any Wayne County Inkster helps with the somehow having the' power to avoid with her back to the door to try to Parks event, call (313)261-1990. frog song. • ;.^= •.. • Please see HELP, A4 Please see STABBING, A4 arie Jones, the 95-year-old woman fea­ tured in the Observer's July 13 edition, M has died. ans to resign She was featured in a story with Westland > youngster .Briane Ritchie, 10, who developed a BY DARRELL CLEM calls and death threats for his outspoken views. friendship with the resident of Hope Care Con­ STAFF WRITER James also told the Observer Friday that he BIBLE COURT valescent Center on Cherry Hill Road through A Westland man said he intends to resign as regrets singling out former Wayne-Westland school board president Patricia Brown when the daily visits to clerk of asp-called "Bible court," and he issued an Even so, James admitted that the flier con­ the center. Bri­ apology for personally criticizing a former Wayne- court sought to "upgrade the public discussion of homosexuality." • tained language saying that its contents could be ans lives just Westland school board member for being a les­ placed oh the Internet. On Friday, he said the behind the.cen­ bian., '; ..' .••'.;••' Brown was defeated in her bid for re-election to office in June. Bible court has no Web site. ter, which is Peter James said he will step down Friday as "My mistake was hot correcting it from the located in West- clerk of a three-member, self-appointed panel "I'm very sorry I personalized an issue With a fine and upstanding member of my community," beginning," James said, adding later, "I'm really land. that now calls itself -The Post-Industrial hurt by all this." According to Monotheistic Reconstructionist Court of Wayne James said; "By doing that, I've disgraced this organization and my religion." The letter said religious citizens had "a moral family members County." obligation" to oppose Brown because of her sexual and center staff, Janies, a 30-year-old construction worker, said James said,he never intended for art anti- Brown letter to be circulated publicly when he orientation. Marie was alert. he lacks the public relations finesse to represent •Brown was put of town Friday and cpuldn't be and seeing visi­ the court, even though he believes in its princi­ sent it to local minister Neil Cowling," who has spoken critically of th'e so-called religious court. tors during thie. ples. He said he has received harassing phone Please see BIBLE COURT, A6 day last Satur­ Briane Ritchie, 10 and Marie day, July 12, Jones, 95, shared a special including a visit friendship. The glooaf event will enter the state of Michigan el .. f*>,v YvK. NY - S*-.. Ap*. 19 . ••;•'• from Briane and N«w Buf fafoon Juty 25, tfavei throughthe, southern . Qi/Abdh, HI -: ^.1-,., Af-f. 20 ..-' SriChinmoy f-W?ffftvpNe, FA - tf.o-i., Hi*. 2! ' Global run part of trie Uate.paJSing'throughrnariy to^ris ar>d Wi^vjiorr. DC - To*;;. .•Ape, 22' •' . family members. She passed away unexpectedly : Village j. Ceremonies ace »*t up tn Three Rivera, H*:UTW», WO - W<iV. A&f. ? j ;: later that evening, said center staff member Kalamazoo, Mar analt,Grew.lake, ArmArbbr,Detroit W>sMrfc{«>. iX - TtofS.. Aj*,24 Oneness-Home and RocVw/ood'. It WW pais by We>t:and City Hall oo RKtSL<0'ri, VA - TJI.. At< 2V -- Marie Johnson, Ca't'ph. KC -¾•«-., Afjr. 27. for<j Road, Monday, My 28 - estimated time is 1:50. Ch-»rie«-»r NC - Tiivs, AF*-2¾ ' Patricia Duwel of Northyille, her only daugh­ Peace Run p/n. the amft*ri*will thert continue east to Detroit Ci'.i ••.nw'o^-J, SC - 'A'*^ '. "IX 30 ter, said she will carry fond memories of her At!ws», fis. - Tivs:. May 1 M.W!'.i-:S:y. At. - S'»!.'. Mhi 3 .mother. "She hdd a great sense of humor and J-.-ckjc>., M$T Tusf'., V3) <i //'^^'-S Li-, f/O-.'Xj"?^:?, LR - V.*d , Ms^ 7 wasa wonderful person," Duwel said.