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No. 7
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
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February 14 - 20, 2013
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
Members of the Wayne City
Council agreed to develop a
policy for the use of city facili-
ties by candidates or political
groups for events.
See page 2.
Dakota Watkins is the
newest Eagle Scout from
RomulusBoy Scout Troop 872.
See page 5.
The Plymouth Fife & Drum
Corps will be looking as good
as they soundwhen they travel
to Connecticut this summer,
representing the community at
an international event.
See page 3.
Ten drug dogs from police
Canine Units throughout
Wayne County inspected the
hallways, lockers and common
areas at Northville High
School last week.
See page 4.
Belleville students were
reprimanded and some sus-
pended following a fracas dur-
ing the last basketball game
with Romulus in December.
The next game is set tomorrow
night.
See page 5.
Vol. 128, No. 7
Vol. 66, No. 7
Vol. 66, No. 7
Vol. 13, No. 7
Vol. 128, No. 7
Vol. 66, No. 7
Vol. 66, No. 7
A convicted murderer has
pleaded guilty to a 23-year-old
murder in Inkster after police
began to rework a suspected
serial killer case from1989.
See page 4.
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Rather than spend money
on repairs to the pump on an
older fire truck due to be
replaced, council members
agreed to the purchase of a
new truck, saving nearly
$200,000.
See page 2.
In May, if all goes as planned,
drivers at the intersection of
Hines Drive and Haggerty Road
in Plymouth Township will notice
bulldozers and earth movers
clearing the site for the construc-
tion of a newmemorial.
Last week, area officials joined
Wayne County Executive Robert
Ficano for a breakfast announce-
ment of the plans for a memorial
to first responders from area fire,
EMS and police departments who
have lost their lives in service to
their communities.
The memorial, Ficano said,
should be completed in
September of this year and will
include monuments, seat walls,
concrete walkways, a paver plaza,
site furnishings and plantings as
well as parking and lighting.
“This memorial will stand as a
beautiful tribute to honor and
remember those brave men and
women, who, while on-duty for a
Wayne County community, self-
lessly made the ultimate sacrifice
to protect and serve us all,”
Ficano said.
Construction on the project
will begin onMay 1, he said.
In attendance for the
announcement and unveiling of
artist's renderings of the memori-
al were several Wayne County
commissioners, area mayors;
police and fire officials and union
representatives from both fire
and police departments in the
area.
In addition to the memorial
project, Wayne County Parks will
be hosting the initial First
Responders Memorial Half
Marathon and 5K run on the
morning of Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013.
The run will take place on the
western end of Hines Park and
will end at the new memorial.
Wayne County Parks is partnering
with Running Fit in producing
the event. Proceeds from the
races will go toward the mainte-
nance of the new First
RespondersMemorial
Construction of the memorial
is being funded through the
Wayne County Parks millage, a
tax levy that helps fund mainte-
nance and upkeep for the parks
throughoutWayneCounty.
Canton Township officials
said they hope a new company
can help bring in additional
revenue at the oldest munici-
pal golf course in the commu-
nity.
See page 3.
Voters in the Plymouth Canton
School district will be asked to
approve a $114 million bond meas-
ure onMay 7.
The May date allows the school
district to retain the 4.1 mill school
levy currently paid by residents of
the district. The funds will be used,
according to the board members
and administrators, to replace
Central Middle School and for tech-
nological upgrades in the class-
rooms.
The measure was not without
some controversy among the school
district trustees, however, and the
decisionwas by a 4-3 vote.
The board members, including
Kim Crouch, who was appointed to
the board the same night as the
meeting to fill the vacancy left
when Barry Simescu resigned,
heard lengthy and detailed presen-
tations about technology including
a proposal to supply computer
devices for all teachers and stu-
dents in the district during the next
five years. There was also pro-
longed discussion regarding the
timing of the bond election.
Brodie Killian, the executive
director of business services for the
district, told the trustees that if the
bond election was delayed, the dis-
trict could only ask for $80 million
without raising themillage rate.
Judy Mardigian, vice president
of the board, cast one of the no
votes on the measure but said she
was in support of the proposed con-
struction and upgrades. She said
her no vote was predicated on the
aggressive timetable of the election.
She said she was concerned about
the ability of the board to persuade
voters to approve the millage in
such a short time. Mardigian served
on the board during two failedmill-
age votes in 2006 and 2007.
Mardigian's concerns were
echoed by trustee Mike Maloney,
who also votedno on the bond.
Maloney said that he was not
comfortable with the issue and still
had a lot of questions. He said that
he was not ready to answer ques-
tions that the residents and taxpay-
ersmight ask about the issue.
The other no vote was cast by
trusteeMarkHorvath.
Jeanne Farina, assistant super-
intendent for instructional services
said that the teachers and adminis-
trators were in favor of the new
technology plans which would cost
about 415 million of the proposed
bond. She told the board members
that this was “absolutely the right
thing to do in light of the Michigan
standardized testing which is rely-
ingmore andmore on technology.”
Crouch, board president John
Barrett, secretary Adrienne Davis
and treasurer Sheila Paton cast the
majority votes for the May 7 bond
election.
County plans public safety memorial
It took nearly 60 years, but
Edward Grady finally received a
long overdue thank you for his
military service during the
KoreanConflict.
Grady, 79, suffered a perma-
nent disability during his military
service from 1952 through 1954.
The Canton Township resident
had been dependent on the kind-
ness of his neighbors and friends
to help transport him to medical
appointments, shopping, errands
and the activity he loves most,
spending time with his grand-
daughters, when his car broke
down and couldnot be repaired.
Grady is only one of the many
veterans whose circumstances
are familiar to retired Air Force
General Carol Ann Fausone
whose husband, Jim Fausone,
runs a national organization,
Legal Help for Veterans. The
group fights exclusively for veter-
ans' rights and has been provid-
ing legal work for veterans with
disabilities since 1995. The organ-
ization also helps veterans with
health issues, housing and
employment.
“I knew Grady's car lost its
transmission, and that was the
family's only transportation.
Without it, they were going to be
homebound,” said Fausone.
When her husband mentioned
that Progressive Insurance,
through the national charity
Recycled Rides, had donated a
2005 Ford Taurus with about
10,000 miles on it to Jack
Demmer Ford, Fausone knew
exactly who would be a good fit
for the vehicle.
Jim Fausone heard about the
donation from Jack Demmer, a
World War II veteran, with whom
he volunteered at the Canton
Community
Foundation.
Demmer and his son, Jim, said
their employees came up with
the idea to donate the car to a
local veteran in need. He asked
Fausone for some help in finding
a deserving recipient for the car.
“It was a perfect fit” said Carol
AnnFausone of Grady's situation.
The Demmers, along with
their team of technicians and
staff, donated many hours to
refurbish the vehicle and make
sure it was in good condition
before presenting it to Grady
early this year during a special
ceremony to thank and honor
himfor hismilitary service.
“I have the utmost apprecia-
tion for Legal Help for Veterans
and all of those who serve our
country,” said Jim Demmer.
“Legal Help for Veterans is a
group that helps families to
receive the benefits that they
deserve. I am thankful to their
team for helping us to get a car to
someonewho could truly use it.”
“I was floored when I
received the car,” said Grady, not-
ing he is still on cloud nine 9, 10
and 11. “Not only did they give
me a car, they paid my registra-
tion fee and gaveme a full tank of
gas…flooredme again!”
Jim Fausone added, “Legal
Help for Veteranswas so proud to
partner with Progressive and
Demmer in providing a helping
hand to such an amazing individ-
ual and deserving veteran. Giving
back to a veteran and their family
is so important, and what a great
way to say thank you for serving
our country.”
Road warrior
Disabled veteran receives
car from local benefactors
There was also prolonged discussion
regarding the timing of the bond election.
”
School district to ask for $117 million bond
Edward Grady drives off in his 2005 Ford Taurus, renovated by Jack
Demmer Ford and donated by Recycled Rides. The gift was coordinat-
ed by Legal Help for Veterans.
Jim Demmer, presents the keys to Edward Grady as representatives
from Progressive Insurance and Legal Help for Veterans, along with
Demmer employees who worked on the car, look on.
An artist's concept rendering of the new Wayne County memorial to first
responders was unveiled last week.
Vol. 13, No. 7