W"^ Elestlanft (JDbsmrcr VOLUME 28 NUMBER 39 MONDAY, OCTOBER 26,1992 • WESTLAND, MICHKJAN . 40 PAGES FIFTY CENTS 199? SuDur|jan ComrrjumcaliQns Corporation IN THE PAPER Murder 'I'm sorry' Ian Cowen admitted he was sorry for the sequence of "Now there's a child out there who judge, adding later, "The only way I- TODAY events that led to the fatal shooting of a young man, will not have a father to look up to," . can change all this, is by carrying out Cowen said. the goals that I'have set for myself." whose girlfriend delivered a baby after his death. Cowen's statement came as he pleaded with Detroit Recorder's If sentenced as a juvenile, Cowen Cowen is urging a judge to sentence him in the murder said he can continue his high school Fall bargains: A Westland special conspiracy case as a juvenile, not an adult. •Judge Denise Page Hpod to sentence him as a juvenile, not as an adult. studies in the juvenile system and education center had plenty of Hood's decision, expected Wednes­ plan for college courses. He had .at­ tended John Glenn High School be­ bargains for early Christmas BY DARHELL CLEM day, could mean the difference be­ to grow up without a father," Cowen fore his arrest. shoppers. /3 A STAFF WRITER said in court. tween a long or lifetime prison term, Ian Bruce Cowen, 17, expressed re­ Cowen and three other Westland or a second chance for Cowen by the Moreover, Cowen said he could morse Friday that the child of the teens have been accused of conspiring time he's 21. continue to attend group counseling man he's accused of plotting to mur­ to murder Everett Earl Bowen Jr., 19, "I'm sorry for what has happened, sessions. COUNTY NEWS der will never know its father. — slain last November before his and I wish there was some way that I "I don't think anyone should have girlfriend gave birth to their child. could change this," Cowen told the • " . See CASE, 2A Tax request is back: Voters will decide a 0.5 county tax proposal on Nov. 3. Read what local com­ missioners have to say about the 1 charged proposal./BA in assault STREET SCENE Pop Belles: They were campy, vampy, even a bit trampy, but the of boy, 6 one thing Erasure wasn't was a BY DARHELLCLEM disappointment. Members of the STAFF WRITER British pop Duo were literally the A 30-year-old Garden City man has "belles of the ball" when they per­ been , charged with assaulting a 6- year-old boy on the playground of El­ formed at Detroit's Music Hall liott Elementary School in Westland. earlierthismonth./!A Steven Brian Smith was arrested Wednesday and arraigned Thursday SPORTS • COURT District soccer: Livonia Steven­ in~l*8th District Court on a charge of son metRedford Catholic Central assault and battery. He has pleaded in the championship final Friday not guilty. at Southfield High with the He could face up to 90 days in jail winner advancing to the and a $500 fine if convicted of the regional./lC misdemeanor charge. A preliminary examination is scheduled for Wednesday. Schoolcraft soccer: The Ocelot STAFF PHOTOS BY ART EMANUELK men's team can clinch the regional Westland police had been watching title with a victory Saturday over WfigKjereV' for -an assailant after a person was Cuyahoga, Ohio./IB Frightful galore: The identified in photographs by the fa­ Cookie Mon­ ther of the 6-year-old boy, police Sgt. Laura Moore said. The father had ster of "Sesa­ been with the boy at Elliott School frolics in me Street" when he was assaulted, Moore said. TASTE fame was part of the The boy's father had told police "Friendly that the attacker stopped his son, Recipe repair: Healthy substitu­ full swing gave him a bear hug, put him over his tions cut 18 grams of fat per serv­ Monster" at­ knee and spanked him. The father ing, not flavor in "Terry's Chick­ The ghosts and goblins are enter­ mosphere at confronted the assailant, who fled the ing their last' week of providing scene. en," a chicken casserole. Making Halloween fun for children and the YMCA's the switch from a high fat diet to adults. haunted Smith remained in the city jail Fri­ The Jaycees will staff their barn Hallow­ day on a $5,000 bond. He had not low fat is easier than you haunted house, on Hix south of een program. posted 10 percent, or $500, as of Fri­ think. /IB Warren Road, through Saturday Inside, day. night, £|s will the Wayne-Westland YMCA, on 827 S. Wayne Road. The adults were The 6-year-old boy was assaulted Y will also have a "Friendly Mon­ treated to the at 4:20 p.m. Sept. 27, a Sunday, at the INDEX ster" tour of their barn from 10 a.m. "operating school at 30800 Bennington, between to noon Saturday for smaller chil­ room." Palmer and Avondale and Merritnan dren. and Henry Ruff. » Classifieds . B.C.D Obituaries .... 4 A The Wayne County parks depart­ Auto . Sec. B,C,D Personals .... 8A Westland police had released to lo­ Crossword . 9B Street Scene . 7A ment is planning a Halloween festi­ Employment . C,D Sports 1C val from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the cal newspapers a composite sketch of Index 8B Taste. IB Nankin Mill picnic area, corner of the suspect, but it was the father who Real estate . ,B,C Travel 7B Ann Arbor Trail at Hines Drive. identified the attacker in photographs at the Westland Police Department. OUR PHONE NUMBERS FOCUS ON EDUCATION Newsroom: 591-2300 Newsroom Fax: 591-7279 Schools ponder potential boundary changes Nightline/Sports: 953-2104 BY DARHELL CLEM The issue arose Wednesday night School officials have received com­ neighborhood schools. Reader "Comment Line: 953-2042 STAFF WRITER as 40 school and government officials plaints from parents concerned that Superintendent Thomas told the Classified Advertising: 591-0900 A study leading to new Wayne- from the three cities met at the Dyer many students aren't attending government officials he wants to ad­ Display Advertising: 591-2300 Westland school attendance bounda­ Center in Westland for a landmark schools closest to their homes and are dress the attendance boundary prob­ Home Delivery: 591-0500 ries could be launched as early as . roundtable discussion on educational being bused to schools farther away. lem in its entirety, instead of piece­ January, amid strong demands from issues. In particular, residents of Wayne's meal. That's why the Legacy Estates residents and government officials. Most top government officials, in­ Legacy Estates subdivision have situation has been put on hold. Superintendent Larry Thomas has cluding many city council members, noted that most children in ,the Thomas wants a districtwide study told officials from Westland, Wayne attended. Westland Mayor Robert neighborhood attend Schweitzer Ele­ to ensure equity among schools and and Inkster that he hopes to form a Thomas and Canton Township Su­ mentary, Stevenson Junior High and to avoid perceptions that students in committee by January to study the pervisor Thomas Yack were absent, John Glenn High, though some 35 attendance boundaries. but sent representatives. pupils are bused away from the See STUDY, 2A Get the picture School session Observer & Eccentric Youngsters will be offered free photos at West- PLACES & FACES The Wayne-Westland school board will hold a land Center's annual trick-or-treating Saturday business session at 7 tonight (Monday). On the ELECTION LINE afternoon and evening, Oct. 31. Merchants will agenda will be a discussion of how statewide bal­ take part in the event, to be held from 5-9 p.m. For lot proposals on property tax limits will affect the (318)953-2024 ^ children, a magic show, "Spooky Magic," will be school district. The board is expected to take a held at 7 p.m. in the center's East Court. Illusion­ position on Proposals A and C after the presenta­ From now through election day you will , ist William Schulert will perform. tion. The proposals are on the Nov. 3 ballot. The be able to hear who is running for office (51) and PASS (58). The free programming is meeting will be in the board office, on Marquette anol a recap of the endorsements made by sponsored by the Southeast Michigan Cable Asso­ near Carlson. our staff of editors by calling the Observer TV time ciation. On PASS will be the Detroit Red Wings- & Eccentric Election Line, • ••• . Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game. "The Empire Completes course On Not). 4, our Election Line Will bring Continental Cablevision will offer free premium Strikes Back," "Die Hard 2" and "The Fisher you the complete returns of local elections channels on Devil's Night Friday to provide family King"will be on the movie channels. The Disney David Rltchey, son of Charles and Ann Ritchey and state ballot issues. You'll also be able programming for children. The company said the Channel will offer a full night of Halloween shows. of Westland has completed the Federal Aviation to find out how your hometown voted in free viewing of the premium channels will start at Purpose of the free program is to offer a safe Dev­ Administration's air traffic controller basic the national sweepstakes for president. 4 p.m. and include HBO (Channel 5), Showtime il's Night at home for children, said Sue Ruwe, course, at the FAA academy in Oklahoma City, (22), The Movie Channel (52), Disney Channel Continental's marketing manager.