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No. 18
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
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May 3 - 9, 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
Wayne City Council mem-
bers were set to vote on a
merger of the fire departments
of Westland and Wayne and
public hearings on the 2012-
2013 budget thisweek,
See page 3.
Romulus officials will
increase the sanitationmillage
by .23 mills to 1.45 mills in
order to compensate for an
increase in the cost of city
garbage collection service.
See page 4.
More than 121 volunteers
took part in the Plymouth
Community UnitedWay spring
Rake~N~Go last Saturday
andworked at 38 areahomes.
See page 5.
The ongoing budget chal-
lenges facingNorthville Public
Schools will be the topic at
two community forums being
sponsored by the Northville
Board of Education in this
month.
See page 5.
The looming $4.2 million
budget deficit necessitated lay-
off notices to 18 teachers and
11 support staff employees in
the Van Buren School District
last week.
See page 4.
Vol. 127, No. 18
Vol. 65, No. 18
Vol. 65, No. 18
Vol. 12, No. 18
Vol. 12, No. 18
Vol. 127, No. 18
Vol. 65, No. 18
Vol. 65, No. 18
This year, duringNational
Women'sHealthWeekMay 13-
19, TheNational Kidney
Foundation ofMichiganwill
sponsor freehealth forums for
women in Inkster.
See page 3.
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Several teen defendants
charged with offenses like
drunk driving, shoplifting and
drug possession will face the
judge at a local middle school
duringLawDay tomorrow.
See page 3.
Chief Judge Sylvia James of the 22nd
District Court will learn if she can return to the
bench when she faces the Judicial Tenure
CommissionMay 14.
James was found guilty of misappropriation
of funds from the court Community Service
Fund by retired Judge Ann Mattson, who
issued a 48-page report of her findings last
week. Mattson had been appointed by the
Michigan Supreme Court to oversee the inves-
tigation into charges alleged by the Michigan
Judicial Tenure Commission. Those charges
were filed in October and James was suspend-
ed with pay in April. The officials hearing on
the charges began in 20th District Court in
DearbornHeights Jan. 24.
James has not been charged with any crimi-
nal offense although the guilty ruling could
carry a penalty of up to removal from the
bench.
Mattson ruled that James used money from
the Community Service Fund for “travel, dona-
tions to local groups and other expenses that
the fund was not intended for.” The account is
self-funded by court fees and fines and is
intended for nonviolent offender programs.
In her report, Mattson ruled that James
failed to diligently discharge her administra-
tive responsibilities and that she ignored the
advice of trained financial professionals.
James was also found guilty of non-compliance
with generally accepted judicial accounting
principles and violating the clearly applicable
anti-nepotism policy when she re-hired her
niece to work at the court. Mattson also ruled
that James failed to establish policies requiring
documentation of expenditures of all public
money.
“Despite being told that her actions were
improper, she continued to authorize dona-
tions,”Mattson said in the report.
James also “demonstrated a lack of respect
for the law by lying to the commission and mis-
appropriating the court funds,” Mattson said in
her ruling.
While acknowledging Mattson's ruling,
Sharon McPhail, who served as James legal
counsel, said that the report also disputed
many of the allegations.
“One thing she (Mattson) saidwas that this is
a very hardworking judge---- she was not fooled
by the exam officer's attempts to paint her as
lazy and never being there,” McPhail said.
“And it's clear that Judge James never got one
cent. If shemade any error in judgment at all, it
was always in good faith.”
Attorneys from the Judicial Tenure
Commission, James and her legal counsel will
learn the consequences of the findings at the
May 14 hearing.
Health reporter Lila
Lazarus will help Canton
Leisure Services celebrate the
first Healthy Summer program
Saturday.
See page 5.
Judge found guilty of misappropriation
The preliminary hearings for
all seven defendants charged in
the Romulus Police Department
corruption investigation is under
way at the Van Buren Township
Hall board room.
The hearings for all the defen-
dants are being conducted by
33rd District Court Chief Judge
James K. Kersten of Woodhaven.
The number of defendants, attor-
neys and witnesses required the
move from the 34th District Court
in Romulus to the larger space.
Judges from the Romulus court
were recused from the cases as
they had knowledge of or dealt
with the officers involved.
Prosecuting attorney Lori
Dawson of the Wayne County
Prosecutors office and Kersten
agreed that the pre-trial hearings
should conclude next week,
based on the number of witnesses
to be called. Reportedly, the pros-
ecutor has amassed more than
20,000 documents and a large ros-
ter of witnesses in an effort to
convince the judge crimes were
committed and that there is evi-
dence that these defendants com-
mitted those crimes. If the prose-
cutor makes that case, the defen-
dants will be bound over by the
judge to stand trial.
Former Romulus Police Chief
Michael St. Andre faces 10
charges, including conducting a
criminal enterprise and acquir-
ing or maintaining a criminal
enterprise. He could face up to 20
years inprison if convicted.
His wife, Sandra Vlaz-St.
Andre also faces 20 years in
prison if convicted of charges of
acquiring or maintaining a crimi-
nal enterprise and conspiracy
criminal enterprise.
Former Det. Sgt. Richard
Balzer, former Det. Donald
Hearing continues in police corruption charges
The Fifth Annual Green Street Fair will
return to the streets of Downtown Plymouth this
weekend, May 4, 5 and 6.
Founded to help educate and inform people
of all ages about the benefits of green, organic,
and eco-friendly products and services, Green
Street Fair promotes global interest, personal
well-being and offers insight to those interested
in having a softer footprint on the planet, organ-
izers said. Every May since the inaugural event
in 2008, Green Street Fair has blended compa-
nies, artisans, entertainers, and workshops
together in a friendly and family-oriented out-
door environment. Consumers who visit the
Green Street Fair learn the advantages of taking
strides, large or small, toward living a healthier
and greener life, according to a spokesman.
With an estimated crowd of 80,000 over three
days, the 2011 Green Street Fair hosted more
than 200 exhibitors and 30 sponsors showcasing,
demonstrating and selling eco-friendly, organic,
and greenproducts.
The Fifth Annual Green Street Fair will
include new highlights and exhibitors, a
spokesman added, including:
Fort Box
With the help of the Branch Line School
Development Team, Fort Box will bring a “gar-
den” toGreenStreet Fair this year. Childrenwill
cultivate their creativity by “growing” a recycled
garden in the heart of Kellogg Park. Visitors can
contribute by constructing gardens and green-
houses out of recycled materials such as card-
board, foam, plastic bottles, and more. Children
and adults alike can create their own flowers
and vegetables to “plant” in the gardens, adding
their creativity to this corrugated community
garden all weekend.
Flip Your Lid
Flip your Lid returns to Green Street Fair
and is expected to create quite a “tweet” this
year. Prior to the event, students from Field
Elementary School inCantonTownshipwill col-
lect plastic lids of all colors, shapes and sizes to
create oversized birds that will be scattered
around Kellogg Park throughout the weekend.
Attendees of the event will also be encouraged
to help construct the FlipYour LidMural which
will be donated following the event. This event
is sponsoredbyMeijer.
TheQuenchBuggy
The Quench Buggy is a mobile water filling
station designed to meet personal hydration
needs. Multiple on-board fountains and spigots
will provide an eco-friendly option to clean,
cool, fresh and free potable water. The Green
Street Fair Quench Buggy trailer will offer spig-
ots for filling water bottles as well as water foun-
tains for thosewho don't have reusable bottles.
Bird of Prey Exhibit
Birds of Prey from the Leslie Science and
Nature Center will be on hand. These birds
have each suffered a permanent injury that
makes themunable to survive in thewild. There
will be hawks, falcons, owls, vultures and an
eagle visiting theGreenStreet Fair.
The EcoBeats Entertainment Stage
Green Street Fair will offer a broad range of
eco-beats all weekend on the Eco-Beats
Entertainment Stage. Headlining on Saturday,
May 5will beTheVervePipe.
The stage will be located on Penniman at the
corner of Union in downtown Plymouth and is
presentedby 107one and 93.9TheRiver.
Entertainment schedule:
Friday, May 4 | presented by 93.9 The River
RobinHorlock 1:30-2:30
PatoMargetic 3:15-4:15
TheWallclocks 5-6:30
Saturday, May 5 | presented by ann arbor's 107.1
Abigail Stauffer 10:30-11:30
TheDifficulties Noon-1
Cold ToneHarvest 1:30-2:30
TheMacpodz 3-4:15
The Verve Pipe 5-5:45
Sunday, May 6 | presented by ann arbor's 107.1
AppleseedCollective 12:30-1:30
The KidsWhoCriedWolf 2:00-2:45
One Love Reggae Band 3:15-4:15
Additional highlights of the fair this year
include exhibitor display,s recycling workshops,
street performers, interactive displays, clothing
donation stations, fitness andwell-being demon-
strations and a petting farminKelloggPark.
The fair will be open from noon until 7 p.m.
Friday, May 4, from10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Saturday,
May 5 and from10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday, May
6.For the latest updates on Green Street Fair,
visit www.greenstreetfair.com or phone: (734)
259-2983
Going ‘Green’
Ecology festival
returns for 5th year
See
Hearing,
page 2