No. 32
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
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August 11 – 17, 2016
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
The stabbing death of a
74-year-old Wayne man has
been ruled self defense by a
jury inWayne County Circuit
Court.
See page 5.
City of Northville police offi-
cers Peter Davis, David
Randall and Matthew
Duggins, were each recog-
nized with a Lifesaving
Award for heroic efforts per-
formedwhile onduty.
See page 2.
Vol. 131, No. 32
Vol. 69, No. 32
Vol. 69, No. 32
Vol. 16, No. 32
Preparations are already
under way for the 19th
Annual Romulus Pumpkin
Festival, planned for Sept.
16, 17 and 18 at Romulus
Historical Park, 11147 Hunt
St.
See page 2.
Vol. 131, No. 32
Vol. 69, No. 32
Vol. 69, No. 32
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Former State Rep. and
State Sen. Glenn Anderson,
D-Westland, was elected to
serve on the Wayne County
Commission during the pri-
mary election last week.
See page 5.
The Canton Farmers
Market is partnering with
the Ann Arbor Symphony
Orchestra to present a small
ensemble performance and
an Instrument Petting Zoo
Aug. 21.
See page 4.
Vol. 16, No. 32
Following a complaint
from an insurance agency in
Taylor, an Inkster man has
been ordered to cease and
desist in selling fake automo-
bile insurance.
See page 3.
Spiderman won a special
election for children in the
City of Plymouth last week
set up by City Clerk Linda
Langmesser.
See page 3.
The Belleville Downtown
Development Authority
(DDA) has allocated $2,400
for repairs and replacement
equipment
at
the
kayak/canoe launch in
HorizonPark.
See page 5.
While the winning candi-
dates in the Plymouth
Township election last week
did not actively campaign as a
slate, they each credit the
grassroots efforts of the com-
munity for their success at the
polls.
In what many characterized
as a stunning upset, State Rep.
Kurt Heise defeated current
township Supervisor Shannon
Pricewith a total of 3,036write-
in votes. Price, appointed to
the job during controversial
hearings last year, received a
total of 2,333 votes.
In another major upset last
week, long-time township
Treasurer Ron Edwards was
defeated by political newcom-
er Mark Clinton. Edwards, who
has been the target of much
public criticism, received a
total of 1,612 votes while
Clinton earned a total of 3,907
votes. Clinton will now face
opposition for the treasurer's
office in the general election
Nov. 8 from Nancy Seifert, the
only Democratic challenger on
the ballot.
Incumbent Clerk Nancy
Conzelman was also defeated
by challenger Jerry Vorva.
Vorva, a former state senator
and state representative,
received 3,351 votes while
Conzelman received 2,065.
The new board of trustees
will comprise incumbent
Charles J. Curmi who was the
top vote getter with 3,327 votes;
newcomer Jack Dempsey, who
garnered 2,386 votes; incum-
bent Bob Doroshewitz who
won 3,218 votes and newcomer
Gary Heitman, who received
2,095 votes.
Unsuccessful candidates for
the board were incumbent
Michael Kelly who received
1,716 votes; Mike Oliansky with
1,259 votes; Thomas Parrelly
668 votes; Alexander Roehl 360
votes and Theresa Somercik
who garnered a total of 1,156
votes.
Heise credited the help of
the grassroots efforts in the
community for his election. He
said he felt there was a grow-
ing disconnect between the
elected officials and the com-
munity and that the effort of
the citizens groups was evi-
dence of that lack of trans-
parency and response to citi-
zens' needs.
“We need to refocus on the
Charles Cahill Jr., 49, of
Belleville, will face charges of
second-degree murder following
a July 27 accident in which a 12-
year-old girl died.
Cahill, who has 12 drunk-driv-
ing convictions, was arraigned
on the increased charges last
week before Judge Tina Brooks-
Green at the 34th District Court.
Prior to the death of Victoria
Mack last Saturday from injuries
sustained in the crash, Cahill
had been allowed a $1 million
bond. Brooks-Green revoked
that bond and remanded him to
the Wayne County Jail awaiting
his next court appearance set for
Aug. 17 at a probable cause hear-
ing.
Cahill is alleged to have been
driving at a high rate of speed in
a 55 m.p.h. section of
Martinsville Road and Willis
Road in Sumpter Township at
approximately 8:20 p.m. July 27.
Police reports that Cahill,
who has not had a valid drivers
license since it was revoked by
the Secretary of State in 1990,
allegedly drove his vehicle into
the rear end of a minivan in
which five people were riding.
The 12-year-old girl was riding in
the third-row seat of theminivan
and had to be cut from the vehi-
cle by township fire department
rescue workers. She was airlift-
ed to C.S. Mott Children's
Hospital in Ann Arbor where
she had been listed in critical
condition. She succumbed to her
injuries July 30. Charges against
Cahill, which had originally
been operating while intoxicat-
ed third offense and driving
while license suspended causing
serious injury, were amended to
the second-degree murder
felony and other charges.
Police said that following
Cahill's arrest, blood tests
showed his alcohol level was
almost three times the legal limit
for an adult driver. His driving
record, according to police
reports, showed 12 drunk-driv-
ing convictions.
There has been no report on
the condition of the other pas-
Wayne Mayor Susan Rowe has
reportedly already called for an
emergency financial review by
the State of Michigan following
the defeat of a funding measure
by voters last week.
Following the Tuesday elec-
tion, during which Wayne voters
rejected Proposal S, a method to
provide public safety funding
through a three-city cooperative,
Rowe reportedly called for state
intervention in the city financial
situation. Auditors from Plante
Moran have cautioned that
Wayne funds will be completely
depleted by the end of 2017 and
the city will be insolvent. The bal-
lot proposal was a last ditch effort,
officials said, to attempt to save
the community from the state
appointment of an emergency
financial manager and drastic
cuts in city services, including
public safety and retiree benefits.
Rowe also called for an emer-
gency meeting of the members of
the city council for last Thursday
to discuss the precarious situa-
tion in the community and consid-
er possible cuts, including to
police and fire, public works,
buildings and engineering.
Further cuts to the police depart-
ment would result in only two offi-
cers patrolling each 12-hour shift,
according to Police Chief Alan
Maciag. Any further reduction to
the 12-man fire department staff,
which recently accepted wage
and benefit cuts totaling nearly
$350,000, could violate the current
mutual service agreement with
theCity ofWestland, officials said.
Wayne is currently assessing
property owners at the maximum
20 mills and faces a budget deficit
of $1.5 million, after budget cuts.
The city lost $3.8 million in local
millage funding due to a severe
drop in property values and has
lost more than $7.5 million in
state shared revenue during the
last decade, officials said. The
proposed funding mechanism
would have allowed the munici-
pality to levy up to another 15
mills for public safety which sup-
porters of the plan said would
free funding from the general
fund for other expenses.
Implementation of the plan
would have required voter
approval in both Eastpointe and
Hazel Park.
While Hazel Park voters
agreed to include Wayne in the
funding plan, adopted for up to 20
years last year, Eastpointe voters
rejected the plan to include
Wayne.
Wayne voters cast 2,862 no
votes on the proposal and 1,744
yes votes. Only 22.16 percent of
the registered voters in the city
went to the polls Aug. 2.
Top officials ousted in historic write-in election campaign
See
Drivers,
page 5
His driving record, according
to police reports, showed
12 drunk-driving convictions.
”
Only 22.16 percent of the registered
voters in the city went to the polls Aug. 2.
”
See
Plymouth,
page 3
Driver faces murder charges in death of 12-year-old
Wayne mayor seeks state financial review of city
Members of the grassroots effort in Plymouth Township to replace several top officials celebrated the success of their candidates with a
party last week at the home of Paul and Doreen Sharpe. Paul Sharpe created the unique sign which had the names of all the volunteers on
blades of grass. The group was credited with helping replace all three top officials in the election.
Photo by Helen Yancy.
Grassroots effort wins in Plymouth
