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No. 39
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
75¢
September 26 – October 2, 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
The Wayne Ripple Effect, a
group of volunteers working to
promote the city, is now pro-
moting The Wayne 500, Race
to Main Street, a fundraising
effort.
See page 2.
Ryan Curtis Curcio, 25, will
stand trial in the sexual
assault and robbery of a 72-
year-old Romulus woman.
Curcio was arrested by police
oneweek after the crime.
See page 2.
Meet and greet some of the
characters from Plymouth's
past at the Plymouth
Historical
Museum's
"Plymouth
Characters"
CemeteryWalk.
See page 5.
Joel Stone, senior curator
for the Detroit Historical
Society, will be the guest
speaker at a meeting of the
Northville Genealogical
Society.
See page 5.
The 4th Annual Community
Art show Sept. 12 and 13 at
St.Anthony's gymnasium pro-
duced several winners in each
category.
See page 5.
Vol. 128, No. 39
Vol. 66, No. 39
Vol. 66, No. 39
Vol. 13, No. 39
Vol. 128, No. 39
Vol. 66, No. 39
Vol. 66, No. 39
Marcia Nunn - an attorney
who worked for over 30 years
at Ford Motor Co.- has been
named to the Starfish Family
ServicesBoard of Directors.
See page 2.
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Two new Westland police
officers took their oaths of
service last week during the
same meeting in which the
promotion of new Sgt. Paul
Whitewasmade official.
See page 2.
They will be running for the
Rouge in Canton Township
this Saturday, Sept. 28 during
the 4thAnnual Run/Walk along
theRougeRiver.
See page 5.
Vol. 13, No. 39
Wayne County Commissioner Kevin
McNamara (D-Belleville) has been appointed
to lead the special task force investigating the
Wayne County Consolidated Jail construction
project.
The project ran nearly $90 million over
budget without authorization or oversight from
the Wayne County Commission. The jail con-
struction in Detroit remains incomplete and
the project has beenhalted.
Groundwas broken two years ago on the jail
located across from the Frank Murphy Hall of
Justice, adjacent to the Greektown area. The
plan was to have the three county jails consoli-
dated into one facility. Efficiencies in the con-
solidation were expected to pay the $300 mil-
lion inbonds needed for the project.
Last spring, the Wayne County Commission
learned that the project would cost an estimat-
ed $390 million to complete and all construc-
tion was stopped so an outside firm could
investigate the reasons for the higher costs,
McNamara said. The development contracts
were terminated by theWayneCountyBuilding
Authority in August, officially abandoning the
project.
McNamara and the commissioners unsuc-
cessfully requested that Wayne County
Prosecutor KymWorthy release the findings of
an audit of the project. Worthy was granted a
one-person grand jury panel by Wayne County
Circuit Court Judge Timothy Kenny. The one-
person grand jury will investigate fraud, mis-
conduct or willful neglect of duty in the project.
Subsequently, Kenny also ruled that the audit
is evidence in the case and therefore must be
kept secret until the conclusion of the investi-
gation.
McNamara said that the county building
authority, which is responsible for oversight on
the project, will consider options for moving
forward with the new jail. The Wayne County
See
Jail,
page 3
Wayne residents will be treated
to the Rouge-a-Palooza, a celebra-
tion of the Rouge River, on
Saturday, Oct. 12.
The event is designed to show-
case the numerous recreational
opportunities theRougeRiver now
provides for Wayne residents,
organizers said. With the federally
funded removal of the dam across
the river near Wayne Road, fre-
quent Rouge clean up days and the
efforts of the Friends of the Rouge
to remove cars, debris, grocery
carts, tires and invasive plant
species from the waterway, the
Rouge is again becoming a natural
habitat for fish, eagles, beaver and
other wildlife, according to
experts.
JohnHartig, amanager with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has
called the rescue of the Rouge
River, “one of the most dramatic
ecological recovery stories in
NorthAmerica.”
Rouge-a-Palooza will be a full
day of outdoor recreation and
entertainment in Goudy Park and
will begin at noon and include live
music, bouncy houses and other
activities for children. Food and
beverages will be available from
local restaurants and breweries,
cornhole boards, educational tents
from outdoor recreation authori-
ties, raffles and many other activi-
ties are being planned.
The day will feature the oppor-
tunity to canoe the Rouge River
from10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and partic-
ipants canbring their own canoe or
rent one for the 2-3 hour paddle.
Friends of the Rouge has part-
nered with Heavner Canoe Rental
to offer a trip that feels like an Up
Four suspects have been arrest-
ed in the death of a 46-year-old
Romulusman last week.
According to police reports, offi-
cers were sent to the Cherry Street
home at about 8:45 p.m. Sept. 19 in
response to a 911 call. The call was
made by the ex-girlfriend and co-
worker of the victim. She told
police that she had not heard from
the man and went to his home, in
the area of Middlebelt and Eureka
roads, and found him dead in the
living roomof the home.
Officers entered the residence
and discovered the deceased man
who appeared to have suffered
from multiple gunshots wounds,
according to police reports.
Officers also discovered that the
victim's 2008 Black Chevrolet
Silverado four-door, pick-up truck
was missing from the residence
along with his 2012 Kawasaki
Motorcycle.
According to police, several tips
were received from the public
regarding the slaying and possible
suspects in the incident.
During the three-day investiga-
tion leading to the arrests,
Romulus Police detectives said
that they executed multiple search
warrants, one with the assistance
of the Downriver Mutual Aid
SWAT team, and found one of the
suspects hiding under a bed at the
Court Village Apartment complex
inTaylor.
Officers discovered the victim's
truck being disassembled in the
area of Pierson and Grand River
in Detroit. Police said that with the
assistance of the Detroit Police
Department they were able to
recover that vehicle, although the
motorcycle remainsmissing.
Police said that the individuals
currently being held include a 24-
year-old black female from Taylor,
24-year-old and 44-year-old black
males fromDetroit and another 28-
year-old black male, also from
Detroit.
“At this time we do not believe
that this was a random act of vio-
lence, and we are still working to
establish a motive. A warrant
request will be submitted to the
Wayne County Prosecutor's office
within the next few days,” police
said.
Police are still searching for the
victim's motorcycle, a green 2012
Kawasaki with chrome wheels and
muffler, bearing Michigan License
Plate 14/MI BB528, with a black
seat and windshield and what
appear to be small flame decals.
Anyone with information about
the case is asked to call Romulus
police at (734) 941-8400.
The project ran nearly
$90 million over budget without
authorization or oversight from the
Wayne County Commission.
”
One of the hottest events in the area will
return to downtown Plymouth Oct. 6 when
the 18th Annual Great Lakes Regional Chili
Cook-off and Motorcycle Show roars into
town.
Sanctioned by the International Chili
Society, the event is also a fundraiser for
Penrickton School for Blind Children and
Habitat forHumanity.
The Chili Cook-off will feature a tradition-
al Red Chili, a Green Chili and a Salsa com-
petition. This portion of the cook-off follows
all International Chili Society rules.
“We are excited to have the Cook-off sanc-
tioned by the International Chili Society,
which is one of the largest food festival organ-
izations in the world! Cook-offs just like this
one have enabled the ICS to raise over a mil-
lion dollars annually for charity,” said organ-
izer AnnetteHorn. Thewinners in each cate-
gory will advance to the 2014 World
Championship Chili cook-off next fall, she
said. A fee is charged to participants wanting
to try their best to create a winning pot of
chili. Top winners receive trophies and cash
prizes. People's Choice Chili samples will be
available at noon and competition samples at
1:30 and 3 p.m. for a $1 donationper sample.
The GLR Chili Bike Show is a ride-in
show with 17 bike categories including
Harley and non- Harley classes. There is a
fee to enter a bike and all first place winners
will receive a trophy with one lucky rider
winning aBest of Showaward.
The bike show will take place on Ann
Arbor Trail at Kellogg Park from 11 a.m until
4 p.m., according toHorn.
There are two official charity Chili Rides,
she said. MotorCity Harley Davidson ride
begins in Farmington Hills. Dick Scott's
Classic Motorcycles ride begins in Livonia on
Plymouth Road just west of Levan. A fee per
rider will get participants V.I.P. parking at the
event. Both rides are open to all bikes, Horn
added.
The Restaurant Chili Challenge will be
taking place from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. in Kellogg
Park. More than a dozen restaurants will be
vying for the Best Chili in Plymouth award.
Visitors are the judges and will choose the
winner. Bowls of restaurant chili will be $4 or
$1 for a 2-ounce sample. The cost is a charita-
ble donation.
Other activities planned for the event
include music by Steve King and the Dittilies
from noon until 5 p.m., dance team perform-
ances and a children's activity area.
Anyone interested in competing in the
Red/Green/Salsa, or Restaurant Chili
Challenge should contact Horn at (734) 776-
9669.
Event information/registration at
www.GreatLakesChili.com
Chili Ride inquiries should be directed to
Dick Scott's ClassicMotorcycles (734) 542-8000
www.DickScott.com or MotorCity Harley
Davidson (248) 473-7433 www.motorcity-
harley.com
Hot stuff
Chili cook-off
returns next week
Commission probe of jail costs thwarted
4 arrested in Romulus homicide and robbery
Rouge-a-Palooza will launch in Wayne Oct. 12
See
Rouge,
page 3