\.J mwsMM^MSwmmsM^m^ Humolbwn •> I.HIill IKU;,\1 I4>NX wtl I »«>'Ui. Putting you In touch Thursday with your world September 30,1999 i* Serving the Westland Community for 35 years ass mmmmm 5SVENTY-RVE CENT^ Q1&99Hometown Communication! Network. Inc. frustration • The Westland Summer threatened to fold his committee, but newspapers amid allegations they have '"The whole thing in a nutshell is a Festival has. generated other elected officials convinced the treated him disrespectfully, on festival political problem," Thomas said. heated reactions from polit­ independent group to oversee West- issues. Specifically, he said: B Organizers priced firefighters out land's biggest event one more year. • Organizers seem to snub him when of setting up a food booth for charity by Investigation: Westland ical foes. They sparred at a By then, it is hoped, city officials and he shows up to join the festival parade saying they'd have to buy the food from Monday meeting. festival organizers will stop their politi­ lineup; "i have never felt welcome in festival vendors and then sell it, rather fire officials say a Friday than accepting donated food from other, BY DARRELL CLEM cal bickering and work to improve the one of the festival parades," he s*aid.' evening blaze that injured STAFF WR1TF.R event, which officials.say draws more • Councilmen Glenn Anderson and sources. two firefighters was [email protected] . than 250,000 people a year. Richard LeBlanc unfairly criticized Westland City. Council members him for missing last year's festival Strong views Mayor Robert Thomas on Monday caused by a gas barbecue wanted to start healing old wounds parade, though he. has participated in With his criticism, the mayor called attacked the Westland Summer Festi­ grill. They urge a dose of Monday by calling a joint study session seven out of the last nine. The Observ­ for disbanding the independent festival val committee as a" political group that between city leaders and festival orga­ er also took "cheap shots" at him for his committee and having the city take caution for those who' should be disbanded - and he recom­ nizers, but hopes of a cordial meeting absence, he said. over the several-day event that leads mended the city seize control of the choose to barbecue, /A2 quickly disintegrated. • Organizers criticize him politically up to the Fourth of July. popular event. Thomas lashed out at festival orga­ and then expect his cooperation on "That's how I think we go from here," Festival Chairman Kenneth Mehl nizers, some council members and local parade affairs. - Please see FESTIVAL, A2 '•^^'Ss&^-i^'y^^ffi , ,. j?,.'1 •-•i.-.tl-j-JL.^.I^-^-^-^^^^-VAta^r- Memories to last The old college try: High school seniors will want to check out the special section inside this issue in about colleges and univer sities in Michigan. Internet sex case 'Down Under': Organizers BY DARRELL CLEM STAFF WRITKK of a social skate at River­ ' [email protected] side Arena in Livonia are Wayne County jurors will not hear hoping for a good turnout statements made by a Westland man accused of having sex with a 13-year- to help two teens pay their old girl lie met over the Internet. share of the cost to fly to Wayne County Circuit Judge David Australia to compete in Kenvin has agreed to suppress state­ ments in which Brian Joseph Rose. 21. the junior world roller admitted picking up.the girl nea*her skating Plymouth Township home, supplying championship. /Bl her with vodka and having st-x with ' her. "The'statements are suppressed, but the case is not dismissed." defense attorney Michael Rex confirmed Tues­ day. He declined to discuss the case at Safe at home: Simple length, saying Rose has been wrongly changes around a resi­ portrayed as an Internet sexual preda­ tor who lured the girl last Nov. 26. dence can help make life Rose is accused of having sex with easier'and safer for St.or 1'iiuios bv BRYAN MIRUYII. the girl at the Westland business his seniors. /D6 Field of dreams: Gary parents own and faces trial Feb. 2S for Kowalske of Westland had a first-degree criminal sexual conduct. He could face a maximum sentence of . *^^if$WtfWW photo of his mother on the life in prison if convictx-d- inside of his Tiger cap while However, authorities concede that rawfflliHIMki he and his wife, Debbie, much of their .-se against Rose Cannon all around: watched the final baseball '..stemmed froin a.statement he made, to game Monday at Tiger Stadi­ Plynuiuth Township Detective William Human cannonball Mark '.Gruff. Groff testified during a March um. He went to his first game preliminary hearing that Rose admit-, Myers gets a big lift from in 1955 and his rnom used to his life's work. When ted-having sex with the 1 ^-year-old faing him to games at "The . £»•!•'• ,".;^ ,; ''• everything works well- '••:'-• •:-;,:•::. ; Corner", "One of the first things he said to-me dicing-the circus perfgr-' "She passed away, but'she is •'is.'he .'knew he:h.ad• sVr-ewtsI up;" Groff —JstUPief%" lie smd^MHght, said. ' . "*':- • ': ••'.'• ••'••. mttftce, it's-a tHrill, he — Rose-started "openly crying" when he Kowalske videotapes the. says>4 ; teamed the girT.wa.s.-only 13.-and-"he • game, the fans an d, of course, •wanted to know what was going "tohap- • •~theb(dlp.arkdjiHngth^ -• perrto hi in,'1 Grofrsaid. - •'-—---- -; : ~~ game at Tiger Stadium,The '. It wasn't., im media fefy clear why Tigers defeated the Kansas Rose's statement'will not'be used in t; court. What's It worth?Neigh - '. y Royals, 8 2:For more on The girl has testified that .+'he the Tigers, see today's Sports "passed out'! after.drinking vodka and bar hoodWatch brings ; section, CL that she .didn't remember having sex. jmMiihom^ —S.h^nnKl Who had been a^a^lt^-whikt^. 4?4gtttn»-J»ee»INTERNET, Al, • Atflome •."•'; •D • Classified Index F6 aim for presidential detail Autos :,'•''. J4 Home & Service >n BY JULIE BROWN Jobs G5 STAFF AVRI.TKR - [email protected]* • GOVERNMENT '•,;•' Itentals G3 The'men are scheduled to leave • Community Life Bl The last' time Brian Kol.b and Ryan Cretens were in Washington, D.C., it Thursday.for the capital, 'and have the • Crossword G2 was as seventh-grade classmates on a. support of parents Frank and Mary • Entertainment "E school trip. The young men, now in the Cretens and Ray and Brenda Kolb and • Obituaries A16 U.S. Air Force, are returning to the Other loved.ones. Kolb has an older brother in the Air Force, in avionics in • Opinion*-rt T7- ~ iviOT Tl'iatfbiVs capita"., with, assignment to the . prpsidenti.al 4p'tail starting Oct, 1. .Florida, . -: • Keal Estate; . • ¥1 -_tTlvpy'canie in: and picked 40 out of 'Crpteiis and.. Kolb have Undergone rt • Sports CT the thousand people they had there," check on any criminal record. Stic'eess- said Kolb, oh Air Force mrman first" fui, applicants must also' pass their class. Their work; baned at Andrews tests on the iirst try nntl-have.no disci-, HOW TO REACH U3 Air Force Bqse.nem- Washington, D.C/, plinary actions against them. v '.will involve protecting .Aii- Force One '"We got chosi n our bt*t day there."- !\ Neivsroom; 734-953-2104 and o^her duties, including some law Cretens said. They'd thought they'd be .stationed in Arizona. NOY/sroomFdx: 734-S93.-7279 enforcement.; ,'"We're responsible for the Air Force The .men face additional training £m#//; jbrc>wn§ O6.h6rnecomm.net .resources; Wb doh't reallykiYoW a lot of when'they get to the enpilal area'. ----: Nightiine/^f)OfiS7-7^S^n<>A -it until-we get theFe/'-said Kolb, like They'll be There: at least t'hi'ee years,-' Header Comment lino; 734-953-2042, Cretens a 1995 John Glehn High and said the security clearance would* help in seeking work with the FBI. a Gl$s$ified Advertising: 734-591^900 School graduate. Ciolehs is an airman. • Kolb, 21, attended Eastern MichigaiV career interest 'Of both. Cretens.hopes •'. Display Ac/vc;»s/n^; 734-.591-2300' University for ii year and h half and to, earn a'degree iii criminal justice. -.-. * ••".{.'•' Home Delivery: 734 591-0500 then Kentucky Christian College for 2 • Both are planning to du some sight­ *»rA»r l'!-!i lilt Bi'TOM tl.M^I IV 1/2 years. He'B just shy of a teaching seeing in I).C. in tlu;ir free time. On tfuard: John Givnn Ifigh School graduates; Brian Kolh <left) degree and plans to finish in the Air -They're excited about being a pai j of Force. history, but won't mug for the cameras, ami Ryan Cretens arc leaving for the Washington. DC area Cretens, 22, attended F,MU a year if President Chhton appears -They'll where they'will scree with the presidential detail of the I '.S. An- and a half, and went to work for (loner- keep their military hearing. Kolb sniil Force, Kolb is an airman first class. Cnicns an airman. They'll al Motors at the Willow Run plant in The men's -recruiter is Sgtl.Chi isto-. learn more about spccifiejob duties when tlicy reach the assign I Ypsilanti. lie's on military leave froin pher Gulotta from 'Westland He was ment. 6 63174 10011 6 the automaker. pretty excited,", Kolb siud. otfttiiflHtti* A2(W) The Observer & Eccentricl THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER &), 1999 by gas barbecue School days BY DARRELL CLEM ently ignited wood siding, "burning straight "We need people to understand that we do SrAFF WRITER dclein@oe,homeconvni.rict up the back of the building into the overhang have an ordinance in place," and.then into the roof area," Harder said.