A
SSOCIATED
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EWSPAPERS OF
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ICHIGAN
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AGE
5
March 12, 2015
I
NKSTER
- R
OMULUS
Jury finds pair guilty in death of toddler
Library programs announced
Expansion of health
facility is on schedule
Library to show movies
A jury deliberated for only
three hours last Thursday before
finding two men charged with the
execution-style death of a 2-year-
old Inkster child guilty on all
counts.
The pair will be sentenced by
Wayne County Circuit Judge
UlyssesBoykinMarch 24.
A jury found Raymone
Jackson, 24, guilty of first degree
murder, torture, two counts of
assault with intent to murder,
assault with a dangerous weapon,
felon in possession of a firearm,
and felony firearm.
Raphael Hearn, 24, was found
guilty of first degree murder, two
counts of assault with intent to
murder, felon in possession of a
firearmand felony firearm.
The two were charged in the
death of Kamiya Gross who was
sitting on the porch of a Carlyse
Street home with her father and
another relative at about 8:30 p.m.
July 1 when authorities say
Jackson carried out the shooting
onbehalf ofHearn.
Kenneth French, the father of
the murdered child, was also
wounded in the shooting as was
12-year-old Chelsea Lancaster, a
relative of French.
Prosecutors say the shooting
was an act of revenge against
French in retaliation for a shoot-
ing threemonths earlier at a local
club where French was working
security. French told the court
during a hearing that Jackson
shot the child in an effort to make
him suffer. The child was shot in
the eye and died almost immedi-
ately from the wound. Witnesses
told the court that Jacksonwalked
calmly up to French, Lancaster
and the child and said, “What's
up?” before turning to fire his gun
at point-blank range at the tod-
dler. He then turned the gun on
the 12-year-old and then on
French.
“I made sure they got the kids
off to the hospital before they ever
touched me,” French said. “I told
them who shot me just in case I
didn't make it,” he said in court.
He and Lancaster, now 13, have
recovered fromtheirwounds.
The Romulus Public Library has some
special programs available during the
month of March, according to Library
Director PattyBraden.
To celebrate March is Reading Month,
the library has a special wall of photos for
those “caught” readying, she said. Anyone,
adults included who wants to have their
photo taken while reading can come into
the library and have their picture taken
for the “I Got Caught ReadingWall.
“We really want people of all ages to
participate in this program,” Braden said.
“Anyone can also post pictures of those
caught reading to ourFacebook page.”
Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. the library offers
Preschool Story Time when library staff
will read stories with little ones and do a
craft. Story time for those 3 ½ to 5 years
old is free. Dates for story times this
monthareMarch 17 and 24.
Toddler Story Time takes place at 10:30
a.m. Wednesdays. Toddlers can sing songs,
read stories and play at this free event
designed for those 2-31/2 years old.
The dates this month are March 18 and
25.
The library is also offering Reading
with the Fur Angels at 2 p.m. March 21.
Visitors can bring their own book or
choose one from the library and read a
story to a dog. The program is limited to
those ages 4-10.
To celebrate Easter, the library will
host a Family Story Time at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 31. The event is free for
the whole family who can read an Easter-
themed story anddo a craft.
Sign-up is available for all the pro-
grams at the front desk in the library but
space is limited for all programs.
The library is located at 11121 Wayne
Road in Romulus. For more information,
call (734) 942-7589.
When the new offices of Western
Wayne Family Health Center open this
summer in Inkster, employees won't have
far to go.
The new facility is located at 2700
Hamlin Court, less than a block from the
current center, is expected to open this
summer. The building is the former
Michigan Department of Human Services
facility which is being completely renovat-
ed to suit the needs of the health center
patients.
The new facility will triple the space at
Western Wayne Family Health Care with
39 medical examination rooms, a seven-
chair dental suite, dozens of rest rooms,
an onsite pharmacy and expanded admin-
istrative offices.
"Our Inkster center has long outgrown
the space we have, and our new site will
let us continue to offer themost communi-
ty centered and innovative care to anyone
in the area who wants high quality, com-
prehensive primary health and dental
care," noted Linda Atkins, chief executive
officer. The architectural plans were cre-
ated by Hooker DeJong of Muskegon
using an integrated behavioral health
model which embeds offices for behav-
ioral health consultants and therapists
into the patient care areas which allows
improved communication and teambased
coordinated care.
"There are distinct areas of care
offered such as women's health, adult
medicine, pediatrics, lab, dental, storage
space, offices and meeting rooms.
Everything is laid out to give excellent
care and to operate more efficiently,"
Atkins said of the new facility design.
The Leanna Hicks Inkster Public
Library will show the movie “Fault in our
Stars” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday March 21.
The showing will include light refresh-
ments.
Pizza Reading Robots will be starting
again at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 18. This
is a reading club for those between 8 and
12 years old where members talk about
books, eat snacks andplay games.
The movie “Hop” will be shown at the
library at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 28.
After themovie, therewill be an egg hunt.
The Teen Reading group is starting
again on Wednesday March 25. The book,
“Unwind” by Neal Shustermanwill be the
discussion topic. This is the beginning of a
series of dystopian fiction. The book is
available at the library check out desk.
The library is located at 2005 Inkster
Road. Formore information, call (313) 563-
2822 or email
Jazzed
More than 50 people enjoyed the per-
formance "Celebrate! The Music of
African Americans" by the renowned jazz
ensemble Straight Ahead on Feb. 28 at
the Leanna Hicks Public Library of Inkster.
Straight Ahead is a Grammy-nominated,
groundbreaking jazz group with strong
inventive instrumentalists and vocalists
with roots in the Detroit music scene. The
group is well known for their eclectic
approach to creating music. Straight
Ahead has shared the stage with Nina
Simone, Kem, Tony Bennett, Jean Luc
Ponty, Stanley Clarke, and George Duke
among others. "The Leanna Hicks Inkster
Public Library is proud to have been able
to present such an experience for its
patrons to enjoy." said Denise Bearre ,
library director. "We hope to have more
opportunities to present to our patrons."
