W estland City H all project receives state honor from m unicipal league The project that turned a makes us proud is this is vot­ community is very proud of vacant Circuit City store into ed on by our peers” Westland the project, and the award Westland City Hall has won Mayor William Wild said. will help bring statewide the 2015 statewide Communi­ “When you see other munici­ recognition, he added. ty Excellence Award. palities that know how hard “We actually have two The award is the highest these projects are to pull off other facilities that we’ve community honor given by and to be recognized by them repurposed as a result of the Michigan Municipal is something we appreciate what we did at city hall and League membership. There and I know the residents of are in the process of opening were four finalists. The top Westland appreciate it as those as new facilities within CEA honor was awarded Fri­ well.” Westland,” Godbout said. “So day afternoon at the Michi­ The Westland City Hall it’s absolutely replicable, and gan Municipal League Con­ retrofit was a major endeavor I would encourage people in vention in Traverse City. that involved significant com­ other communities to look at “There were four incred­ munity input, Westland City doing similar projects in ible projects and the competi­ Council President James Westland City Hall, retrofitted into a former big box store, has received a tion was very stiff, but what Godbout said. The Westland See AWARD, Rage A2 statewide honor. Fundraiser for John Glenn High planetarium skyrockets LeAnne Rogers Staff Writer It only seems appropriate that Westland John Glenn High School, named for an astronaut, was built with a planetarium. When the school opened in 1964, the planetarium was state of the art and built with a grant from NASA. Nearly 50 years later, it’s in disrepair, prompt­ ing fundraising efforts that got a boost Monday from local groups and some oneupman- ship. “I got an email a month ago from a Glenn alumni looking to put together a fundraiser to restore the planetarium. I didn’t know it was in disrepair,” Wayne-Ford Civic League President Vic Barra said. “When I was in third grade, I walked from Edison Elemen­ tary School to go to the plane­ tarium. I never forgot the expe­ rience.” BILL BRESLER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER An estimated $45,000 is Vietnam veteran Sid Morris of Westland salutes during the playing of taps at the annual POW/MIA ceremony. needed for the restoration of the planetarium, which still uses a 35-millimeter slide car­ Sue Mason MIA ceremony. said. “Let us remember those who did not ousel, Glenn principal David Staff Writer The ceremony acknowledged the sac­ make it home. And let’s not forget the rifices of the country’s military person­ family members; they also have made See FUNDING, Page A2 Laughter from a wedding party mixed nel, especially those who were prisoners sacrifices.” with the mournful sounds of taps Friday of war and those who remain missing in For more than 25 years, a POW/MIA evening as a small group of people action. Day ceremony has been held in Westland. paused to remember the nation’s forgot­ “Let us not forget this solemn day,” ten warriors at Westland’s annual POW/ VFW 4th District Commander Ray Lopez See CEREMONY, Page A2 Suspect in assault, robbery arrested after tip LeAnne Rogers asked the pub­ Police, Todd was arraigned years in prison for identity Staff Writer lic’s help in Monday in Westland 18th Dis­ theft, according to the Michi­ locating Todd, a trict Court. A not guilty plea gan Department of Correc­ A suspect wanted in con­ parole abscond­ was entered to four felony tions. Todd also has prior con­ nection with the assault and er. charges of unarmed robbery, victions for home invasion, robbery of an elderly man has On Saturday two counts of stealing a fi­ identity theft and assault with been arrested by Westland morning, West- nancial transaction device intent commit armed robbery. Police with help from the land Police Todd (credit/ATM cards) and un­ Todd has a probable cause I Detroit Police Department. received an lawful use of a motor vehicle. hearing scheduled for Thurs­ Police had identified Jack anonymous tip Westland Police reported day in 18th District Court. Edward Todd, 35, as a person that he was at a medical facil­ the 71-year-old sustained mul­ Bond was set at $200,000 bond FILE PHOTO of interest in the beating and ity on the east side of Detroit. tiple injuries, including skele­ cash/surety. A fundraiser that aims to bring the robbery of a 71-year old West- At the request of Westland tal fractures, which caused John Glenn High School land man in the early hours of Police, Detroit Police officers him to lose consciousness. [email protected] planetarium into the digital age got Sept. 7. After releasing his arrested Todd. Paroled on May 18, Todd 734-883-9039 a huge boost this week with more name and photographs, police Turned over to Westland had been sentenced to five Twitter: @LRogersObserver than $30,000 in donations. O bserver & E ccentric © The Observer & Eccentric INDEX hometownllfe.com Volume 51 • Number 37 Business.....................A10 Hom es..........................B6 Services........................B6 A GANNETT COMPANY Crossword Puzzle...... B7 Jobs.............................. B6 Sports........................... 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Federally insured by NCUA. ©2015 Community Financial CFCU.ORG/AUTOS 877.937.2328 1 \ * 1 I I A 2 (W ) 0 & E Media | Thursday, September 24, 2015 LOCAL NEWS hometownlife.com for NOCWA Members sioner Richard LeBlanc AWARD (Auburn Hills, Roches­ CEREMONY said. ter Hills, Pontiac, Members of the Continued from Page A1 Orion Township and Continued from Page A1 JROTC at Livonia Ste­ the Oakland County venson aiid Churchill their communities.” Water Resources Com­ In the past, it had been High Schools presented The four finalists mission). Contest cate­ held on the lawn of West- the colors for the cere­ were among 16 pro­ gory: Funding for the land City Hall and at the mony, and representa­ jects, programs and Future. new Veterans Memorial tives of the VFW and initiatives involving » Transforming Garden of Westland, but Ladies Auxiliary placed more than 20 Michigan Woodward Together - this year it was moved to wreaths in memory of communities vying for The Journey to Better a memorial erected at the the country’s POWs and the statewide Commu­ Transit (Berkley, Bir­ Bova VFW Post on Hix. MIAs. The post’s honor nity Excellence mingham, Ferndale, The memorial in­ guard, under the com­ Award. Huntington Woods, cludes a mock grave with mand of retired Marine This year’s Race for and Royal Oak). Con­ the Fallen Soldier Battle Master Sgt. Sydney Mor­ the Cup projects were test category: Michi­ Cross of an inverted ris, provided the 21-gun divided into four cate­ gan in Motion. rifle, helmet and boots salute. gories: Funding for the » Citizen Interac­ and the stone monument “While we reflect on Future, Michigan in tion Design (Jackson). that honors Refugio the sacrifices made for Motion, Place for Tal­ Contest category: “Tom” Teran, who was this country, this is also a ent and Strength in Place for Talent. listed as missing in ac­ time to remember the Structure — the cate­ Representatives tion in Vietnam on May 6, faces of those who came gory Westland was in. from the final four 1970. His remains were home,” said Sandy Pinon Each entry was ranked presented their pro­ eventually found, identi­ of Post 9885 Ladies Aux­ by a panel of judges, jects at the league’s fied and returned for iliary. “Our soldiers need and the public could 2015 Convention in burial at Arlington Na­ to know that if they fall weigh in through on­ Traverse City, Sept. tional Cemetery in 2002. in battle, their nation will line voting. 16-18. After hearing “It’s an honor and a do everything to bring The other statewide the presentations, privilege to be here,” them home. Freedom is Community Excel­ attendees voted for said Westland City Clerk not free, it comes at a lence Award finalists their favorite project, Eileen DeHart Shoof, price.” were: and the winner was who has been present “The courage of Amer­ » Flood of Commu­ awarded the CEA Tro­ every year since the icans to answer the call nity Benefits Realized phy Cup. veterans started holding to serve their country the ceremony. “Without represents the very best your sacrifice and com­ BILL BRESLER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER of the human spirit,” Post mitment, this nation Chaplain Michael Massey places a wreath. Chaplain Mike Massey would not be what it is. said. “We pray for those We can never forget our who have not returned service personnel and haven’t ended for some. commitment and sacri­ from battle. We will nev­ what they gave for us. “We honor those who fice, and until they are er forget their sacrifices O b s e r v e r My hope is that we con­ will never return and found, we pledge that nor will we abandon Published Sunday and Thursday by Observer & Eccentric Media tinue to keep the POWs those with the physical they will never be forgot­ them.