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No. 52
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
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December 29, 2011 - January 4, 2012
w w w . a s s o c i a t e d n e w s p a p e r s . n e t
Sponsored by the City of
Wayne Parks and Recreation
Department, a Skate Park
Think Tank meeting has been
planned to hear the opinions
of local residents.
See page 5.
Romulus police have
arrested a 16-year veteran of a
downriver fire department on
charges of criminal sexual
abuse of his daughter.
See page 2.
The Community Founda-
tion of Plymouth recently
awarded $9,700 to local pro-
grams that benefit the commu-
nity.
See page 4
.
The Northville Township
Police Department is seeking
volunteers for Civilian
Emergency Response Train-
ing.
See page 4.
Pinter's Flowerland, on
Rawsonville
Road
in
Belleville draws customers
from throughout the area dur-
ing the holidays for their
famous poinsettias.
See page 4.
Vol. 126, No. 52
Vol. 64, No. 52
Vol. 64, No. 52
Vol. 11, No. 52
Vol. 11, No. 52
Vol. 126, No. 52
Vol. 64, No. 52
Vol. 64, No. 52
Inkster police officers
donated personal funds to pay
for holiday meals for 50
Inkster families this holiday
season which they distributed
last week.
See page 3.
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Cheryl Welday, who led a
fund-raising effort to save a
school clinic, has been hon-
ored with the inaugural Apple
Award from the School
Community Health Alliance
(SCHA).
See page 3.
One of the most dangerous intersections in
Michigan will not receive federal funding to
reconfigure the traffic flow, after all.
Officials in Washington, D.C. who recom-
mend and award the Transportation
Investment Generating Economic Recovery or
TIGER grants, rejected the grant application
from Canton Township officials last week. This
was the third round of such grant funding and
the third effort of Canton officials seeking funds
to reconfigure the traffic flowat the intersection
of I-275 and Ford Road. Township officials have
indicated that should there be a fourth round of
TIGER grants, they will reapply for funding for
the $20.3millionproject, whichwill reshape the
intersection in an effort to ease traffic conges-
tion, called “one of the most accident-prone
areas” in the state.
Canton Township Supervisor Phil LaJoy and
Municipal Services Director Tim Faas have
both spoken to the state Legislature regarding
the necessity of making the intersection less
hazardous for drivers. The Michigan
Department of Transportation is moving for-
ward with a traffic and environmental impact
study that may take as long as a year to deter-
mine the feasibility of the project amidst grow-
ing bipartisan support from state legislators,
according to a state spokesman.
InMarch, the Southeast Michigan Council of
Governments, SEMCOG, will reportedly add
the project to the list of regional transportation
projects supported by the organization, which
should bring more support, and funding, from
the state, a spokespersonnoted.
LaJoy reportedly said that there is a “good
chance” that the project could be shovel-ready
by the end of 2012, although there is no guaran-
tee of statemoney at this time.
The Village Theater at
Cherry Hill will host veteran
rockers, Time Machine, for a
New Years Eve celebration
starting at 9 p.m. Saturday.
See page 6.
Ford Road grant application is rejected
The cause of the explosion at
William C. Franks Furniture in
Wayne last December remains a
mystery, despite the best efforts of
fire investigators.
The early-morning explosion
killed two employees, James Zell,
64 and Leslie Machniak, 54, and
seriously injured business owner
Paul Franks.
In a report filed last week with
the Michigan Public Service
Commission, investigators from
Consumers Energy Co. made no
definite finding as to the cause of
the blast and subsequent fire
which demolished the building.
Investigators instead offered three
possible causes in the 65-page
report. They found a 2-inch break
in a natural gas main about 230
feet behind the building, but could
not determine whether the rup-
ture occurred before or after the
explosion. In the report, investiga-
torswere also unable to determine
whether there was a gas leak
inside the building which may
have caused the blast. They said
pipes had been removed or dam-
aged during the rescue and fire
containment efforts, making that
determination
impossible.
Another possibility was that gas
came into the building through a
sanitary sewer, investigators said
in the report.
“Therewas a very intense effort
to determine a cause,” said Jeff
Holyfield, a spokesman from
Consumers Energy. “We did our
best to identify the cause but we
just weren't able to.”
According to the gas provider,
six of the 10 lawsuits that were
filed as a result of the explosion
have now been settled, including
those filed by Franks and the fami-
lies of those killed. Two other
injury cases and two property
damage cases remain open,
according toConsumersEnergy.
Franks is reportedly still recu-
perating fromhismassive injuries.
The chime of the bells ringing
at The Salvation Army's more than
400 red kettle locations ended
Christmas Eve - traditionally the
final day of kettles at storefronts.
The Salvation Army still has $5
million to raise in order to reach
the $8.2 million Red Kettle
Campaign goal. The nonprofit is
approximately $300,000 behind in
donations fromthis time last year.
"We're $5 million away from
achieving our goal to provide criti-
cal services to the neediest in our
community," said Major Mark
Anderson, general secretary and
metroDetroit area commander for
The Salvation Army Eastern
MichiganDivision.
According to Major Daniel
Hull, corps officer at the Plymouth
facility, the campaign for the
Northville, Plymouth, Canton and
Belleville service area has cur-
rently collected $188,370 or59 per-
cent of the $315,000 Christmas goal
for this year. The Red Kettle drive
has collected $149,183 if its target-
ed $225,000, Hull said.
"The money donated to the red
kettles is used throughout the year
to provide basic necessities to
those who would otherwise go
without," Anderson said.
"The bell ringing portion pf our
campaign has ended," Hull said.
"Donations are still being accepted
through the end of January as part
of our Christmas Fundraising
Campaign. To make a contribu-
tion, please send it in or drop it off
at our office located at 9451 S.
Main St. in Plymouth. Our office is
open between 9 a.m. and noon and
1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday."
Funds raised by the Red Kettle
campaign support programs and
services such as food, shelter, utili-
ty assistance, free legal aid, after
school programs, counseling, drug
and alcohol rehabilitation, disas-
ter aid andmore.
Contributions also can be made
by sending a check to The
Salvation Army at 16130
Northland Drive, Southfield, MI
48075; calling 877-SAL-MICH; giv-
ing online at www.salmich.org
until Jan. 31, 2012; or texting
'GOODMICH' to 80888*.
This past year, The Salvation
Army of Metro Detroit was
involved in providing 3,194,802
millionmeals and 687,203 nights of
shelter for the homeless. The
Salvation Army uses $.85 of every
dollar raised to provide direct
services to people in need each
and every day of the year. For
more information about The
Salvation Army, please 877-SAL-
MICH, or visit www.salmich.org.
Cause of Wayne explosion ‘undetermined’
Salvation Army continues collection efforts
The employees at the GM plant in
Romulus are experts at working together on
the job----and have once again proven that
cooperation is the key to success off the job
aswell.
Every year, the UAW members support
several charities, but during the holidays,
they put extra effort into the annual Toys for
Tots drivewhichprovides toys for children.
This year, the plant workers raised more
than $15,000 for the annual Toys for Tots
campaign which was used to purchase bicy-
cles, toys, and books for children in the
Romulus area. Workers organized bake
sales, t-shirt sales, pop can collections,
Christmas ornament sales, poinsettia sales,
and gate collections throughout the year to
ensure the success of the holiday effort.
“The generosity of our workforce has con-
tinued to exceed everyone's expectations.
Employee contributions and support of our
local charitable programs have distin-
guished UAW Local 163 and Romulus
Engine as key members of the community,”
said Bob Crumley, chairman - UAW Local
163.
This year, fundraising efforts also includ-
ed donations from local GM dealers, local
automotive suppliers, and local businesses
in the Romulus area. Romulus High School
students also partnered with Romulus
Engine on fundraising efforts.
“We would like to thank the men and
women of Romulus Engine for once again
donating their time, effort andmoney to sup-
port those less fortunate in our local commu-
nity. Their generosity is especially appreci-
ated in these difficult economic times and
we are very proud of their efforts,” said Kai
Spande, plantmanager at RomulusEngine.
Holiday helpers
GM plant workers
raise $15,000 to
aid Toys For Tots
Plant Manager Kai Spande (left) and Bob Crumley, chairman - UAW Local 163, pose with
Santa Claus at the GM Romulus Engine 2011 Toys for Tots Campaign.