tmrnw^^^ • ••pna pip i| w V -T^"^w^»•-* <• li "l^pf" • ' • P , • i ^1 : MiMttiiiMsiaiiiirQMm Hometown. •', *' Putting you In touch Sunday with your world September 19,1999. Serving the Westland Commiinity for 35 years «> VOLUME 35 NUMBER 31 WESTLAND, MICHIGAN •' 68 PAGES • http://observer^qcehtrfc.cdm SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS © 19&0 Hometown Communication* NVlwork, Inc. 1-275 Siblings searching for long-lost father / «««•& ucttoft^i W^WWfcw j*jfr • A Westland brother and sister met with other rela­ tives at the William P. Faust Library this week to research the whereabouts of relatives they haven't SeyenMifojamp jsloae* seen for years. .Contfactors V/ere expected to close entrance.and exit ramps this weekend for BY HEATHER NEEDHAM soarc'h. They began searching about a northbound 1-275 at Seven Mile Road for reconstruction of the ramps.. •• ' • STAFF WHITKK . year and a half ago. The closure is expected to last approx­ Call it-East meets Westland. Their half-siblings wore pleasantly- imately 10 days. Motorists'can use Eight Two East Coast sisters, determined surprised to be sought after by people Mile Road and Six Mile Road exits as to find their long-lost half siblings, they had never met but knew about alternate routes. recently met up with three of them in since early childhood. " Contractors also are paving new lanes .Westland for a' reunion and for a. "It was kind of a surprise - a pleas­ of the northbound side freeway with the chance to do family research together. ant surprise," said Ron Sampson,"60, "Inttmidator." which paves three tones The siblings - Marlenif--Provencai \v'ho has lived in Westland all his life. simultaneously.' and completing bridge * He went out tp meet his long-lost sis­ deck work oh the bridge overpasses. and Ron Sampson of Westland, ters in April. The $49 million project is.expected to Clandette Subada of Roscommon, for­ conclude this fail......- '-,": .v merly of Westland, Andree Leuchner of " "We want'to.just get together with Uncasville, Conn, and Carmen Mathe- all the family for a family reunion,"he son of Fratningham, Mass. - started' said. some of their family research last week His sister, Marlene. echoed his senti­ at the Westland's. William P. Faust ments. THE WEEK Public Library. , "I always knew they existed but I never knew who they were," Provencal The East Coast sisters were visiting • ' ^, .. ' STAIY PiirtTOBV BRYA\ MrrnrjLL. for the weekend. said of her.two sisters, "I was happy." Though the reunion went well, the Searching: Carmen Matheson of Framingham, Mass, Claudette The Westland siblings received a let­ Subada ofRoscommoii; Andree Leuchner of Uncasville, Conn.,. ter from Leuchner and Matheson in searchers initially said they had some AHEAD insecurities. and Marlene Provencal and Ron Sampson of Westland begin February asking for confirmation about their parentage. All the siblings . "Andree and 1 were very nervous.'" their family history research at the William P. Faust Public. ~v?efe born in the Detroit area and said Matheson, -52-. "We weren't sure Library in Westland. :^~~' share the same father, Albert Samp­ .we'd be accepted." TODAY son, who disappeared in 1949. Leuchner said finding out about her their search is about the whereabouts include brothers Albert and Howard of their father, Alber^^wTiQ.has never Sampson and a sister. Virginia. "We were setting out to find out if we ' family's health history was a big rea­ dra^m Social-Security benefits and has had any siblings by the name of Samp­ son she started search in g'Tor her kin. While Leuclrner and Matheson' were HOG Wild: Some, motorcy­ not been seen since T949r-I-ieuchnf£<r son in Michigan," Leuchner,'53, said, Leuchner has.mukiple sclerosis and growing up in the Detroit area, they said. clists are HOG wild about adding that the Internet aided in their Matheson has lupus. helping children. Hun­ The biggest question raised during Others they continue to search for Please see SEARCHING, A4 dreds of bikers are expect­ ed to Join a "toy run" So happy together today that starts and One precinct ends in Westland, wind­ ing through Livonia, Ply­ only had 2 mouth, Northville, Gar­ den City and other com- voters Tuesday munities. The Motor City Chapter of HOG (Harley BY HEATHER NEEDHAM Owners Group) hopes to STAfV WHITER collect hu n dreds of toys The jury is still out on whether the and thousands of dollars Nov. 2 general election results will mimic last week's primaryoutcome of for charities it supports. spell victory for the primary's under<log candidates. Councilman and candidate Glenn Anderson said he predicts dark horse MONDAY candidates Michael .Kehrer and James Godbnut nught be pleasantly surprised Housing:. The Westland by'the'Nov. 2 election results. Ander­ Housing Com?7iission will son has continually .supported them throughout his campaign. hold its regular meeting 6 r;,^„..„l „i,.„*;„. *..„; — n.- J~ -:~ v.... * ,»_« »*i m-ti^'. • ttj/nam .ui(l»> Jig- p.m. Monday at the nificantly more voters'than primaries.. Dorsey Center, 32715 and those higher numbers could/mean win-, for Kehrer and Godbout. Ander­ Horsey Center in West- : son <aid. • ..-- land. •"•";•:'.•••'• V • #T1TP precincts art- where the votes will mcroa-se.'" he said. He predicted there will only be minor increase*'m • AJBa-tofLIJ*»tf»afe. SU ah-entee ballots WWIME9UA? Arcording to official election results- l elea<ed Tiui vsf.l'i|>\ both .Kellrer and Nature ioyeisvThe- Smr Pjioro w TOM H\V\ t\ Godbont did.syell among precinct vot- Great aiierripii Celeste Galled on the. playscdpe in Wrest.land recently. ei,s* Kelifer netted 9l-i>vote's.,'pla-fi'n'g Fiiencis of Nankin Mills second, and .Godbout received 89(> SM and her mother, Janet, of Westland, were enjoying their day together at the playscape in in cooperation with the r votes, phycing third among precinct vot: Central City Park/ • : - ' - / e.rs.. ••.;.••..•••..'.• ':.'"••••••. WayneiCourity Parks. :^-l^rt?ti-wtxtt4tt-f-;and-hi11gti me re,vi,dei11 DepcirtmenJ) mitt hold <i t 1 J(>rot by; Sni i \h cajn. e. in fcuirfh. a mom; wlM aitdcheese reception TTo7wibsente''e vOt-ers. with 766 .votes, Anderson came m fasl amting absjeiitfii- 5--7p.m. Wednesday at the - i\nd precinct vote/is. .receiving ,1.2-28 mill on Ann Arbor Trait. preuinci votes and .l.-r)2.c absentee vutes. ' , But Councilman and candidate. cities to divide the •money equally." said INDEX BY LEANNE ROGERS See related police story on A2 CharU'S "Trav"'iiriflin.• wlio placed srtv STAKE WRITER Price. "It absolutely comes in handy. Vind^oVerall .with 2.202 von-s and-fifth• Ii'ogertf3oe,homcc6mm.not • Arts ._ ,: ' • • CI involving the Melody Theater m Money is tiglU in government..'' among precinct-'Voters with 709 votes. • As part of the'set dement, the owners • Classified Index E4 The' four, police departments partici­ Inkster. said the primary winners should also of the theater agreed to demolish the pating in the, Metro Street. Enforce­ There have been previous forfeitures win the general .electi;nv- Autos •-""'• •-.-H<J. on MSET cases, .-said Westland •Police building aiid turn the.property, over, to ment Team are getting sizable checks "My hope is that we get- more people • Home & Service H5 .Chief Emory Price, money, .which the the City of-Inkster,' r thanks to a case 'handled by the unit. t o."tur0 'oilt in t he. gonera 1 • e 1 ection; . departments have allowed- the unit to •Jobs' in Garden City, Westland, Inkster and. ; The $J million fash -forfeiture will be 'Griftln'saiU. 'adding t-liat Tuesday's •$ 'utilize. " .' -. ' Rentals K9 Wayne police ate each expected to percent tiirnt>ut was the "lowest h.e'd "Due to the amount'involved, we. divided with the Wayne ••County Preso­ receive $225,000 - their shares of the • Crossword K8 intend to make a proposn! to, the four forfeiture stemming their 1998 case ld oli^^FWilTlJ RE, A2 Plei ELECTION WRAP, A1 • Rnterhdnmejit C ise see • Health D5. • Obituaries ''•,'.' AG • KcarKstnte/NewHoines \ -.El • SpoHs u • Tas^e • Dl ...Westland residents ai^d firefighters —m—mmwmmmumimmmwpwwwufinii fighters to act 'very cautiously. cf^eTortunnte. there has-uover-beoii a.' See related ralKstory on A4: "It's not just '.the si/.e of tin' train RaU route in Wostlanri HOW TO REACH US train. diM^ilmeiil-or a .related- toxit that's a problem, it's the type of mate Ihf iff', t ?-;V,:'V Si :o V.r^:i.^'1,.1 t;0 '^(H^IM^r. rials the train -contains You don't Sviiith.vCSt i.'erno'1, iKi^S-'f, r'v.liis!rv 'ir-:i '. T -waste spill in.the city, llut if either family homes along Palmer and -loii ' \i • Nowstodm: 754 953-2104 eVcTrdiap^ens,. the\le'pal!tnl(^nt•,K..spc^-••• always RKow what's in the container's-." ... • Si-.^-p [vKfiie i'O^'-^s . ' ' • vHix ro;als.s ... \ _ 1 :••' Wewsro^n fax/734^5917279. ci-a11 y tJ\Ained hn?,ardo'us materia.I.s Th.ree recent 'high-profile derail.-' Theoretically, the Westland Fire ; i //w//jbrowh@ 00 JiDmpcpmm.net •workers and firefighiers nuvpro'pnVod.'." ments'.'••-. one.in Pirnunghaiii, oho in Department would act as a first rosponse unit and secure the >cene Utef/uriff. sit }• :.' fNighUine/Sporls: 734-953-2104 Two railroad lines come Hirongh N'ovi atuf one in River Rouge have westteivh ..:' • • •''; .•.-... brought lenewed atterrlion to train' uiit.il the, .more' specialized West ere Rcdiicr Conpvent line; 73.4-9$3-2042 u.--•((•-, -^ V ' Rail '-tracks'in Westland bisect the derailhteuts. Wayne II a/ardniis Matei'iais team Cfa5$i{iC(iAdvcnis!n^: 734-5$lO900 city's western etlge crossing under .