No. 45
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
75¢
November 3 - 9, 2011
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
State Sen. Glenn S.
Anderson announced his can-
didacy for Michigan's 13th
Congressional District across
from the Ford Assembly com-
plex in the City of Wayne last
week.
See page 5.
Students at Metro Academy
in Romulus celebrated
Constitution Day last month by
having a casual jean day and
creating Statue of Liberty art-
work.
See page 2.
The newest exhibit at the
Plymouth Historical Museum,
A Red Ryder Christmas Story,
will open Nov. 9. It is based on
themovie and original story.
See page 4.
Holiday shopping will offi-
cially begin in Northville
tomorrow night when the 7th
Annual Holiday Art Market
begins with a reception from6-
9 p.m.
See page 3.
Thosewhomay need a little
extra help during the holidays
have until Dec. 2 to let the
Belleville/Van Buren
TownshipGoodfellows know.
See page 2.
Vol. 126, No. 45
Vol. 64, No. 45
Vol. 64, No. 45
Vol. 11, No. 45
Vol. 11, No. 45
Vol. 126, No. 45
Vol. 64, No. 45
Vol. 64, No. 45
The City of Inkster will cele-
brate the 50th anniversary of
theMotown singing group, and
gold record winners, The
Marvelettes, Nov. 11 at Inkster
HighSchool.
See page 5.
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Jaycee members will be at
the Westland Mall from 6 a.m.
until 8 p.m. Nov. 25 for the fifth
annual Holiday Card Signing
for Our Troops, collecting
items to send overseas.
See page 5.
Romulus Mayor Alan R.
Lambert called General Motors
announced plans to invest $385
million in the Romulus Engine
Plant “a great day for the city” on
Monday.
City officials were at the
Romulus plant as GM officials
announced that the investment
would prepare the plant for pro-
duction of an all-new, fuel-effi-
cient engine program - creating
or retaining 320 jobs.
“Customers care about fuel
efficiency and performance,”
said Gerald Johnson, GM manu-
facturing manager. “We continue
to innovate to meet both these
expectations and the Romulus
teamwill be an important part of
our efforts.”
The plant currently has about
840 employees on two shifts and
produces a variety of V6 and V8
engines that power GM full-size
vans, SUVS and pickups. The
vehicles include the Chevrolet
Express, Silverado, Tahoe,
Suburban and Colorado, GMC
Savana, Sierra, Yukon, Canyon,
and Cadillac Escalade. Romulus-
built engines also are used for
marine and industrial applica-
tions.
The announcement was made
in partnership with UAW Local
163. Hundreds of plant employ-
ees were on hand Monday morn-
ing, applauding throughout the
announcement.
The investments will support
tooling and equipment upgrades.
Johnson declined to reveal many
specifics, citing competitive rea-
sons, but assured the investment
would help continue the “great
legacy” that is under way in
Romulus.
“The gains we achieved
through collective bargaining not
only help our membership, but
also provide opportunities to
members of the communities
where GM builds vehicles,” said
Joe Ashton, UAW vice president
representing
the GM
Department. “Today's announce-
ment of a new engine program
for the Romulus plant will mean
more good-paying job opportuni-
ties for the Metro Detroit area. It
shows that the members of UAW
Local 163 have the skills and abil-
ities to compete with any work
force in theworld.”
GM officials praised the coop-
eration and partnership of
Romulus city officials, who
awarded a significant tax abate-
ment that extended the life of the
Romulus plant beyond its previ-
ously expectedworkload comple-
tion in 2013. General Motors LLC
is the largest general fund tax-
payer in the city.
“The City of Romulus wanted
to ensure the GM facility stayed
open and active well beyond
2013,” said Economic
Development Director Timothy
Keyes. “The tax abatement was
the incentive GM needed to
allow the new line of work to be
brought into the facility and pre-
serve existing jobs. That's very
important tous.”
Lambert, Plant Manager Kai
Spande, Local 163 GM
Powertrain Chairman Bob
Crumley and Wayne County
Executive Robert Ficano also
spoke during the press confer-
ence.
Lambert talked fondly of his
years working at the Romulus
Engine Plant while attending col-
lege. He said the hard-working
employees at the plant have
made a difference in the auto
industry by creating high-quality
products - and General Motors
has noticed.
“This is a great place and I'm
excited about GM's investment
here,” Lambert said. “This is a
great day for our City of
Romulus. I look forward to work-
ing with you for a very, very long
time.”
Tuesday, voters throughout the
area will be asked to go to the polls
to choose school board trustees, city
council representatives and mayors.
In some communities they will also
be asked to approve specific ques-
tions placed on the ballot regarding
funding for schools and public safe-
ty departments.
Polls will be open throughout the
area from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. and
most results will be posted on city
and school board official websites.
BELLEVILLE
Voters will be asked to choose
either Kerreen Conley or Rick
Dawson to serve as mayor of the city
for the next four years. The will also
be asked to choose two members of
the city council from five candi-
dates, including Deanna
Schrecengost, James Shrove, Tom
Smith, Vera Z. Howell and Jack
Loria.
Belleville voters will also be
asked to continue an operating mill-
age for the Van Buren Public School
District exempting principal resi-
dence and qualified agricultural
property. Spokesmen have said the
renewal affects commercial proper-
ty only and will not impact homes in
the school district tax area.
Belleville voters will also choose
two representatives to the Van
Buren Public Schools Board of
Education from a field of six candi-
dates. Seeking to fill the two expir-
ing board terms are Brent Mikulski,
Brandon Mullins, David Peer,
Martha Toth, Robert T. Binert and
MarthaE. Hanolan
CANTON-PLYMOUTH
The four seats available on the
Plymouth-Canton Community
Schools Board of Education have
attracted 15 candidates seeking to
fill the terms.
Voters will choose the four repre-
sentatives to the school board from
candidates Michael Redman,
Steven M. Sneideman, Angie
Williams-Chehmani, Mike Andro,
John Barrett, Matt Dame, Nancy
Eggenberger, Stephanie Goecke,
Mark Horvath, John T. Jackson,
Michael Maloney, Abdul Muhluddin,
Clifton R. Nealey, John Nichols and
SheilaPaton.
An online forum which includes
the answers of the school board can-
didates to three questions is now
available to voters online.
The candidate'swebsite or online
presence is also listed on the site.
INKSTER
In Inkster, voters will choose
between incumbent Mayor Hilliard
L. Hampton, Jr. and Councilman
Courtney James Owens for the top
spot in the city.
In District One, voters will
choose either Timothy Williams or
Walter L. Starghill, Jr. to represent
them on the city council. In District
Two, voters will choose between
Marcus L. Hendricks and Curtisene
Barge for the single seat at the city
council. In District Three, Lorenzo
Moner is also unopposed for the sin-
gle council seat as is Michael A.
Canty in District Four. In District
Six, voters will choose between
Dennard Shaw and Henry Lee
Crump, Jr. for the city council seat.
NORTHVILLE
In both Northville Township and
the City of Northville, voters will be
asked to confirm the two candidates
for the Northville Community
Schools Board of Education, Anita
Bartschat and Scott Craig. They are
the only two candidates for the two
open seats.
Voters will also be asked to
increase the non-Homestead oper-
ating millage to 20.91 mills from 18
mills. The rate does not include
principal residences and other
exempt agricultural property. If
approved, the millage will continue
for 10 years and is a renewal of the
millage that will expire in 2012
which provides operating funding
for the district.
The millage will not affect resi-
dential property or home tax rates.
In the City of Northville, incum-
bent Mayor Christopher Johnson is
unopposed on the ballot.
Three candidates, Nancy Darga,
Robert Grant and Ryan A.
McKindles, are seeking the two
available terms on the city council.
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP
A renewal of a 4.0 millage dedi-
cated to funding the police and fire
operations in the township will be
decided by a yes or no vote of those
who cast ballots on Tuesday in Van
Buren. The five-year extension of
the current millage would begin in
Dec. 1, 2012 and is a renewal of a
millage that will expire on Dec. 31,
2011.
Voters in Van Buren Township
will also be asked to renew the oper-
ating millage currently levied on
commercial property in the town-
ship, exempting all principal and
qualified agricultural property. This
is a renewal of 18 mills for a period
of five years to provide funds to
operate andmaintain the school sys-
tem. It will not affect tax rates of
principal residences in the town-
ship.
Voters in Van Buren will also be
asked to choose two members of the
Van Buren Public Schools Board of
Education. Candidates seeking vot-
ers' favor are David Peer, Martha
Toth, Robert T. Binert, Martha E.
Hanoian, Brent Mikulski and
BrandonMullins.
WAYNE
Wayne voters will be asked to
approve an amendment to the City
of Wayne City Charter which would
delete the provision regarding the
uncontrolled growing of noxious
weeds. The city intends to regulate
the uncontrolled growing of noxious
weeds by ordinance instead.
Voters in Wayne will also be
asked to approve an amendment to
the charter regulating the meetings
of the Pension Board of Trustees.
The change would allow the meet-
ings to take place "as necessary"
rather than requiring them once
eachquarter year.
The municipal employees are
now part of the Municipal
Employees Retirement System
which administers the pension sys-
temin the city.
Current City Councilwoman
Susan Rowe and incumbent Mayor
Al Haidous are each seeking the job
of top official in the city.
There are also five candidates
seeking two seats on the seven-
member Wayne City Council, an
election that has become con-
tentious in the city.
Voters will be asked to choose
from a field that includes Albert M.
Damitio, an incumbent, Lorne "Skip"
Monit, John P. Rhaesa, Christopher
Sanders andWilliamJ. Long.
A candidates forumsponsored by
the League of Women voters can be
seen on the local city cable channels
every day at 7 a.m., noon, 5 and 10
p.m.
Canton will once again
honor areamen and women of
the armed services during a
"Salute to Service" ceremony
Nov. 11 which is open to the
public.
See page 4.
Votes to decide leaders, issues on Tuesday
On hand for the GM announcement Monday morning were State Rep. Douglas Geiss (left), Romulus Mayor
Pro-Tem LeRoy Burcroff, City Treasurer Stacy Paige, City Clerk Ellen Craig-Bragg, Councilman John Barden,
Economic Development Director Timothy Keyes, Mayor Alan R. Lambert, John Blanchard and Eric Henning
of General Motors and State Senator Hoon-Yung Hopgood.
GM to invest $385 million in Romulus