' ' i r - I H I • S^BJSSJSJBSJSIP ^n^^-*- _ flbwn COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK Your hometown newspaper serving Westland for 35 years -m A 1»'-- Thursday, March 16, 2000 hometownnewspapers.net 75c V<M 39 Number 82 Wwttand, Mfchlgsn O6000 HomsTown CommunteSbons N«*wortt'*, Gunman gives up BYDAWUELLCUW New clerk hiring looks imminent attrr Waim do}«B#Qe.hom*cOimiii.n«t Joann Seaberg, current Westland deputy President Pro Tern David Cox said, Griffin said. A barricaded gunman surrendered 1 ! clerk, is the front-runner for the permanent Griffin made his announcement after Councilman Glenn Anderson refused to authorities early today after firing post of city clerk. The Westland City Council a majority of seven council members to participate in Griffin's polling and at least 22 rounds from an assault indicated support for Seaberg during a called for a broader search. rifle during a five-hour standoff at is poised to vote on the clerk's position at a Monday night study session. Griffin said he scheduled interviews The Landings apartment complex, meeting next Monday. Council members interviewed- for three candidates after they indicat­ Police Chief Emery Price said. Seaberg and former Wayne City Clerk ed an interest in the job. Collop and No one was believed to be injured, BY DAJ&ELL CLKM Seaberg for the job. Norma Collop Monday before privately Langmesser had applied when Gibbons he said. STAffWftirm "I guess I appreciate the opportuni­ rating candidates on paper and giving got the job in August 1998. The 39-year-old suspect, described dcfc*a#oeJionwoomi&jiet ty," Seaberg said Tuesday. their informal choices to Griffin to Anderson criticized Griffin for decid­ as a Landings resident who lives by A Westland City Council majority Council President Charles "Trav* tally. ing how the clerk would be chosen himself, initially indicated that be appears ready Monday to hire, a new Griffin issued a memo Tuesday stating Seaberg, a 13-year city employee and without asking the full council for its had several hostages inside the apart­ city clerk, amid hopes of quelling a that Seaberg will be considered for the 18-month deputy clerk, emerged as the views. ment, but it was later learned he was public rebellion that followed the Jan job during a 7 p.m. Monday meeting at front-runner, Cox said, alone, Price said. 18 firing of Patricia Gibbons. City Hall A third candidate, Plymouth Clerk 'Doesn't include' / Police received a call at 2:11 a.ro A council majority has indicated sup­ Tm very encouraged at the prospect Linda Langmesser, pulled out of her "He doesn't include the council in today about gunshots being fired An port for hiring Deputy Clerk Joann of Joann being the next city clerk," interview due to a family emergency, the south end of the apartment * Please see CLA*K,A4 plex (facing Hunter, between W*yne Road and Central City Pajriway , Price said. The gunman fired four or ifive shots into an unmarked police car, and he also is accused of firing multiple rounds toward another apartment building, the police chief said. ^If anybody had )>een standing up getting in the area it would have probably killed them," Pric* said. Police Sgt, John Buresh described the .gun as a Rnssian semi-automatic assault rifle si/nilar to an AK-47. Police didn't know exactly what prompted the man to start firing BY DARREU CLEM The gunman eventually surren­ STAFF WRITER dered to a negotiator at 7.24 a.m. dclem@o«JtomecoDun-iM!t today - more than five hours after the Hoping to ease long lines of angry incident started, Price said. The sus­ : voters at overcrowded polls, Westland pect was taken to a psychiatric hospi officials will buy more voting machines tal. for this presidential election season. Police brought in a tactical response The move come* after angry voters in team and also had assistance from 1996 criticized long lines that forced Garden City police and the Wayne them to wait as long as four hours to County Sheriffs Department, Price cast their ballots. said. Council members agreed Monday to "We had over 20 of our own people buy 35 new touch-screen computer vot­ involved,''he said. ing machines, boosting the city's stock Police evacuated two apartment to 228 units. buildings and warned condominium *It would be nice to put some extra residents on the south side of Hunter machines in the heavily populated to go into their basements to avoid precincts that have a high voter gunfire, Price said. turnout," interim City Clerk Diane Friti'ffftri durirttf t\ study session, Pritz conceded that voters still could face long lines at polls - typical for a IN THE PAPER presidential election - but .she said STAFF PHOTO BY TOM HAWLEY extra voting machines will help to Family time: George Cabrera (left) of Westland plays a game of Candy Land with his daughter, reduce the wait". Kristy, 5, at the Family Game Night last week at the library. Kristy said this was her favqrite The city will spend $80,000 tu TODAY game-In the background are Margaret Mueller and Aaron Scott. $85,000 to buy the new equipment. Finance Director Tim McCurley said. Some snags occurred during the, last presidential election because the com­ puter voting system was then new, and ENTERTAINMENT many voters took a long time to com­ plete their ballots. Music: Oh Saturday, the Fritz urged council members this year to consider sending sample ballots Plymouth Symphony BY JULIE BROWN "Most of the time, we come to the Aaron ia a fifth-grader at Johnson STAfT WRITES library," he said. He likes "to share Elementary. to residents to give them an opportuni­ jbrowo#DeJioaiecomm.net Orchestra presents nice times with my daughter. "I like coming here*" said Margaret, ty to study the candidates and issues before they arrive at the polls "Scenes and Landscapes," risty Cabrera, 5, and her dad, Evenings, most of the time, we are whose mother works at the library. a concert featuring guest George, like to play Candy Land here We like this library." Aaron likes it, too! "1 just wanted to Westland has 58,346 registered vot­ at home. They got a chance to Often, his wife cornea along. do something," he said- ers, but Fritz predicted a big push to accordionist Peter K register other residents before the play away from home Wednesday, "Today, she'B attending a class." He Attendance was down a bit, due to Soave./&. March 8, at a Family Game Night at agreed it's important for families to the evening's nice weather, said Joe November election that includes a vote the Westland library. spend time together. Kristy chimed Burchill, assistant to the library for U.S. president. Under state law. the city must have. "1 have it in my home," Kristy said, in that she usually wins at Candy director. Rain would probably mean at least one voting machine for every adding that Candy Land is her Land. more people at the library, he said. 300 voters, and the city's decision to favorite game. She and her family, At a nearby table sat Margaret Suzanne Shipman is the library INDEX buy 35 more units will more Mian Westland residents, come to the Mueller, 11, and Aaron Scott, 10. staffer who coordinated the program, 1 "We're playing gin rummy," said he said, adding it will likely be held ensure the city is in compliant **. Apartments/OS Crossword/F7 library often. Margaret, who is homeschoaled. again. AtHome/D entertainment/El Please sese VOTWtt, A4 Automotive/i'f Jot>5/0« Classified/F,a,J Obituaries,/AI2 Classified Optaions/AisViT Index/W Real Estate/Fl Community Service Gyide/iS School chief receives excellent rating from board Sports/Ci Ufe/tt BY JULIE BROWN "I have never seen anyone who has finance; employee relations; board rela­ Wayne-Westland schools in charge, STAFF WllTKB worked with such a passion for Our stu­ tions; intergovernmental relations; and "He's a pleasure to work with, takes Jbrowu#D*kbom«comimiet dents," Robin Moore, school board pres­ student relations. nagging well;" .said Vice President If Greg Baracy were still in school ident, said during Monday's meeting. The board* in voting unanimously to Mathew McCusker "Hen everything I and getting his repprt card, he'd be on She then read a statement praising accept the evaluation, echoed Moore's want to be when I grow up." . the honor roll, Baracy. comments *1 would just like to say it's Treasurer Lome "Skip" Monit cited Baracy, Wayne-Westland school Baracy was evaluated in eight areas: my pleasure to work with Greg," said working or. the bond committee'With superintendent, received the highest professional leadership and personal Secretary Martha Pitsenbarger Baracy a« a'positive experience. possible marking, excellent or a five, on qualities; curriculum and instruction; Trustee Richard Eiaiminger Added Baracy thanked the board and his recently completed annual review. community relations: business and that it's good to have a product of the CHIEF. A4 s insurance is says fire o Thinking about a new car BTDAERIU. CLIM Apartment owners Will have the damaged building still were awake wh»h the blaze erupted, he said. STAFF wtrro repaired, Harder said, but many residents will not Firefighters brought the flame* under eontsol by I ora$od9econd car? recoup their personal losses because they didn't have a.m. Thursday. Harder said One apartment buttered You'll find tt huge selection A fire that damaged 12 Westland apartments last renter's insurance, fire damage, the ri'fct received mostly smoke and week should Serve as a warning to renters citywide "There was one family out of all those people that water damage, he said of auto <td$ in today's who don't have insurance, Fire Marshal Patrick had renter's insurance, and that seems to be typical "It was confirmed to bean accidental fire," Harder Harder said Monday.