PPPJW'PHWF 'Pll'l »w II. .. .• >ll l^ipl • .l".P"|» »» |P ^. Cooper School reunion brings forth memories, A3 HomeTbvvn CIIHHlMrAI K>NHMitWlinK* ."'•.•-' * Putting you In touch Sunday with your world September 6,1998 Serving the Westland Community for 34 years &' VOLUME 34 NUMBER 27 WESTLAND. MICHIGAN • 68 PAGES • http://obscrvercccentric.com S^VFNTY- FIVE CiNTsi C1M6 H«a«Town CommunlMttoni Network, Inc. THE WEEK Classrooms beckon Crying: Katie Miller, a first- AHEAD grader at Schweitzer Ele­ mentarySchool HoW that trash: ThelSth in Westland, District Court will be holds on to her . closed Monday for Labor mother, Lisa Bay, as will CityHalL Miller, with tears oh her first day of The court will have no school this past work program Sunday or week, Wayne- Monday and no evening Westland school • Teachers and school dis­ probation on Monday. officials reported trict officials are pleased a The William Rfaust no major prob­ tentative agreement has Public Library of ^West- lems with the been reached as the new stiirtofthe cur­ school year starts. The pact land will be closed Mow- rent school year. would cover a period of two day forLaborDay. The yearsv ::^,..'•'.'•7:^¾1 7 Bailey Center pool will be BY DARRELL CLEM open noon to 6 p.m. Sun­ STAFF WRITER day and Monday, with Wayne-Westland admission of $5 a day. teacher union leaders •have''reached a tehta^ Emergency police and fire tive agreement with service will be provided district officials for a tworyear contract, throughout the holiday. both sides confirmed. .'. 7/- Negotiators refused to release details of the hew pact, but union employees said teachers are, expected to receive salary increases of 2.75 percent this TUESDAY school year and 2;5. percent next year. "We believe it is a fair contract," STAIT PaOTO BY TOM HAWJET Steve Becher, president of the 847- Council: The Westland member Wayne-Westland Education City Council will meet 7 Association, said Friday. "We would p.m. at council chambers have liked more, and I'm sure the sdraw school board would like to have given in City Halt, 36601 Ford us less." at Carlson, Wetland. BY DARRELL CLEM dents all across the Wayne-Westland dents." The proposed pay increases would STAFF WRITER district, and officials reported no Rettman notified the Westland boost salaries now ranging from Art demo: Garden City econd-grader Rachel Fischer major start-up problems. Police Department but was told that $28,311 for a new teacher with a bach­ held on tightly to the shoulder "We're real pleased with opening past studies didn't indicate a need for elor's degree to $68,086 for a teacher potter Judy Buresh will straps of her purple backpack day," said Charlotte Sherman, assis­ the city to place crossing guards at with a doctorate and ll years of experi­ S ence. "._. .'• ' ' .-;•/ •'. .'/ •;.'•;:••.'•" • demonstrate the art of as she walked hurriedly toward tant superintendent of general AdamS. wheel-thrown pottery Schweitzer Elementary School, administration. -I don't know of any "Ifs going to be too late if they do it That salary range placed Wayne- "I've got my markers and glue and mayor shags," •. after somebody gets hurt," Rettman Westland teachers fourth from the bot­ 6:30-8:3dp.m; Tuesday at all my school supplies,''she said. But one parent cited what he con-; said. •''//'•.:;;' '.-•'";'"•;. :.''".;'.';• tom in pay among 34 Wayne County the Plymouth Community Walking with her mother, Louise, aiders a dangerous situation at Outside Schweitzer, several moth­ public school districts, union leaders and 4-year-old sister Jessica, Rachel Adams Middle School,! where stu^ ers congregated after their children said.' . ,"-.'•;•':'\ /v.". '7 /? ...•• .'• Arts Council. Buresh is giggled and smiled as she came closer . dents cross Palmer without any help had found their way to their new Th> new pay increases won't close teaching workshops on to a.school door that opened to hew from crossing guards. classrooms. Summer vacation had the salary gap with rnajoy districts, Becher said, but.it wiUhelp. wheel-thrown pottery at beginnings for this 8-year-old^Wajt-" w?R^"4Mfhv**y.da there: to be ended. '..' ;.-;•'- •:,':".-'•• .•.•.,•;.•';:; .'!'•:..'••• land girl. crossing the: foad^.plrent^on "Let'sgo have a margarita," one Charlotte Sherrhah, assistant super­ the arts council this fall. "I like school," she said. "I like Rettman said. "We heed a traffic mpther^ssdd.. ..' intendent of general administration) For information, call doing my work and playing." '• light or a crossing guard or some­ Parents toted camcorders and cam­ reported that negotiators reached a Wednesday marked Day One of a thing. It's hot just for my (sixth; eras to capture their children's tentative agreement oh Wednesday - (734)416-4ART grade) daughter, but for all stu- the first day of classes for students. nfew school year for Rachel and stu- Please see SCHOOL, A4 .. '. , V •' Please see ACCORD, A3 THURSDAY 0 s area Mayor's meeting: Mayor Robert Thomas will hold BY LEANNE ROGERS "We're in really good shape. Tables promote my business in Garden City vendors," Solovey said. "I like to get a town hall meeting 7 STAFF WRITER are selling extremely fast," said Linda and the other communities involved," business from everywhere - it keeps p.m. Thursday. The meet­ A variety of businesses are looking Shappha, executive director of the said Greg Solovey of Sign-A-Rama in "the balirolling." . forward to showing their stuff to the Wesjtland Chamber of Commerce, Garden City. If nothing else, Solovey/said he ing is hosted by Willow public and networking with other busi? The event has five major sponsors: Although he produces a full range of expects.to,get some leads for new jobs. Cre&k faaririietits, 1673 nessCs at the first chamber Five Star Observer & Eccentric Newspapers; sighs including banners, Solovey plans "We do fantastic work/ he said, of his National Wholesale Printing Corp., to highlight his graphic work oh vehi­ company which open^ in 1981. Expo scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. [ Fairwbod Drive, off New- Saturday, Sept; 12, at Joy Manor, on Sign-A-Rama, WJR radio and Joy cles'. ;.-..; •..'•'.''• '";./ • The expo is sponsored by. the Canton, burgh between Cherry Joy between Middlebelt and Inkster Manor. ',''•. "I.try to concentrate on vehicles. I've Westland, Garden City, Dearborn This seemed like a very good way to done signs for some of the other (Expo) Hill and Ford. For infor- Road in Westland. Please see CHAMBERS, A3 mationy call (734)467- Moo. Let's play. Erinne Rose Williams, BY BETH SUNDRLA JACHMAN some of the signals that gave her motherrea- who has a INDEX STAFF WRITER Sph to think something was wrong. form of It's hot unusual for most children to crawl, Williams, a Westland resident, said she also muscular I Obituaries A2 but it is for 16-month-old Erinne Rose suspected something was wrong because she has lots of experienceAvith children. She is the dystrophy, pCla88ifiedInde*;__ '_' Hjf Williams. Erinne was recently diagnosed with a.form director of the BotsfoVd Child Care Center on checks out .:. „?*^. ?">**?L _. 1.1 El of muscular dystrophy called Spinal Muscular the Botsford,Hospital campus in Farmingtoh some of _ Crossword m Atrophy-2. The Condition is such that Erinne's Hills. Erinne is also in child care there. her toys. Jobs r\ mother, Suzanne, has been told that Erinne is "I've been doing this for 17 years," she said m of her years in child care, seven of them at Home & Service \_ fortunate to be crawling. J3~ Erinne crawls along with her own style Botsford. Tve seen thousands of kids. I knew Automotive JT including her holding her wrists turned put. Erinne was nbt a typical child." • Taste ;'__ JBT The unusual crawling and the fact that she • Health A Fitness "04 had the ability to stand but lost that ability are Please see HOME, A4 STMT PHOTO BY TOM mivsx N Arts & Leisure CI • Sports & Recreation r .----, in i i KLKCTiON ROUNDTABLE GUEST FORM i Let the campaigns begin! i i NarneL..;:.. ^-:.-..:-^..^--:-,-. :.__...•_-.•..._.._ .•..- '..,...'.'__...:•...-. ^..:..: HOW TO REACH US » i While candidates Koffadtables will be held >9 p.m. Add|ess:_;_._____•.'„ ..„_..;_ .__„__;._,;_-., ::...__^J. _.__.. .. v i V#^ are pounding.the Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 23- i HoaiePhone:_ ^jL_ ^ __ _8us|ness Phorie:_ - ._ _:. Age: pavement, dominat­ 24, in our corporate headquarters at i Newsroom: 734-953-2104 ( ion the airwas'es and 36251 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia. i Newsroom Fax: 734-591-7279 i Education^ _. .„..•...;.:„.„..,.'.... ; .... ..'.......;. •....,••, """" the print media, we We're looking far a good crons-sec­ i £-ma/(: believe voters have a lot to say. We'd tion of voters. So if you've got an opin­ i Employment: ^ . like 'to hear .from you - the average- ion and nre available both evenings, i bjachm«ndo«.hom«comm.net i Professional Affiliations: . voter -- on what you believe are please fill out the guest form which t NlghWne/Sports: 734-953-2104 i important insues in the November accompanies this'article. i 6 10 1 i ^-^DiyDJlX-lOy?^ ."- .'^- _ :. ^-. Reader Comment Line: 734-953-2042 election for governor. We'll notify you if you are selected. i ) Classified Advertising: 734-591-O9O0 , The Observer will ho*»t a Citizens' The amnions'will t>e photographed i What issues are Important to you in the November election? i Dispiay Advertising: 734-591-2300 Election Roundtable later this month and serve SR the basis for stories to i appear on the Westland Observer op­ i "•' ---••- Home Delivery: 734-5914500 and we're looking for a few residents ed pages before the Nov.