No. 46
NEWS YOU CAN USE, NEWS YOU CAN TRUST
75¢
November 10 - 16, 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
The Wayne Chamber of
Commerce is sponsoring
Holiday Night Out in the city
from 6-8 tonight for couples to
holiday shop together at the
WayneCommunityCenter.
See page 3.
Residents are invited to
comment on theCity of
Romulus' proposeddemolition
of 10 structures during a pub-
lic hearing before the city
council Nov. 14.
See page 5.
Eleven members of the
Three Cities Art Club will
exhibit their work at the
Plymouth Community Arts
Council throughNov. 29.
See page 5.
Northville families are par-
ticipating in the world's largest
Christmas project of its kind-
Operation Christmas Child-an
effort that has hand-delivered
86 million gifts to children
worldwide.
See page 5.
The 2012 edition of the
Belleville Area Historical
Society Calendar is now on
sale at the Belleville Area
Museum, 405 Main St. in
Belleville.
See page 5.
Vol. 126, No. 46
Vol. 64, No. 46
Vol. 64, No. 46
Vol. 11, No. 46
Vol. 11, No. 46
Vol. 126, No. 46
Vol. 64, No. 46
Vol. 64, No. 46
Starfish Family Services, a
nonprofit organization dedi-
cated to creating brighter
futures for the children of at-
risk families, has received a
$150,000 grant.
See page 3.
For home delivery of The Eagle call 734-467-1900.
Malarkey's Big Whiskey
Burger was named as the win-
ner of the Westland "best burg-
er in town" poll receiving
31percent of the online vote on
the citywebsite.
See page 3.
Local, regional and state offi-
cials gathered in Canton Township
last week to voice their support for
proposed improvements to the
FordRoad and I-275 interchange.
Calling it a regional effort, three
different mayors, along with state
representatives from both sides of
the aisle spoke in support of two
senate resolutions that could help
secure grant funding to improve
one of the most congested, danger-
ous stretches of roadway inWayne
County-if not all ofMichigan.
“It's a major issue of safety in
the community,” said State Sen.
Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton).
Colbeck is the vice-chair of the
senate transportation committee,
which traveled to Canton
Township for a public hearing on
two
resolutions-Senate
Concurrent Resolution 19 and
Senate Resolution 93-which both
support an application for more
than $20 million in funding
through the Transportation
Investment Generating Economic
Recovery (TIGER) grant program.
It is Canton's third attempt to
get funding through the program,
according to Township Supervisor
Phil LaJoy; the effort pre-dates his
termas supervisor.
“It's a project that I'm very pas-
sionate about and have a lot of
frustration with because nothing's
beendone,” saidLaJoy.
The problem may date back to
when the freeway was constructed
more than 35 years ago, according
to LaJoy, because the area just
north ofM-14was designated as an
urban highway, but the area south
was designated as rural, which
requires fewer interchanges. The
population of Canton has contin-
ued to grow, however, and Canton
and Westland now have a com-
bined population equal to that of
Northville, Plymouth and Livonia-
with fewer freeway access points
to show for it.
LaJoy said the Ford/I-275 inter-
changehas borne the brunt of that.
The result has been regular-if
not continual-traffic back ups as
far east as Sheldon Road and as
far west as Newburgh. The road
has been among one of the most
costly inMichigan in terms of acci-
dents, too, with more than 2,400
recorded along the 3-mile stretch
of roadduring the last six years.
“Not a day goes by that there
isn't a crash in that area,” said
LaJoy. Tim Faas, director of
Canton Municipal Services, said
the heavy traffic toll costs
Michigan drivers about $6 million
a year.
The solution has long been in
Education has always been an
important issue inTedScott's life.
So important, that when the
opportunity to fill a seat on the
Wayne County Community College
District Board of Trustees arose in
1989, he sought the position. He
stayed for 10 years and during his
decade of service helped bring
about improvements that had an
impact on thou-
sands of area resi-
dents. That
impact was hon-
ored by the col-
lege district last
week with the
dedication of the
Ted Scott
Environmental
Terrace at the
western campus inBelleville.
Scott, 76, retired as the
Westland Fire Chief in 1985, after
more than 26 years in the depart-
ment. He had been chief for five
years and found, he said, that he
had more time for civic activities
after retirement.
“I had served on the YMCA
board for 10 years, but after I left
there, I wasn't as involved with
other activities and I had more
time,” Scott said.
“When I heard about theWayne
County Community College board,
I was interested, but really, I didn't
know a great deal about it. I met
some of the trustees prior to my
going on the board, though, and I
was very impressed.”
Four years after his retirement,
he joined the college board of
trustees, where his impact contin-
ues to be felt today, according to
current College Chancellor Dr.
Curtis Ivery.
Scott became
chairman of the
board of trustees
in 1996, after only
a year, and
pushed to imple-
ment some far-
reaching changes
at the college.
Many of those
changes are cred-
ited with bringing the success and
reputation for excellence the col-
lege enjoys today.
“There had been a lot of tur-
moil at the college,” Scott said.
“We had hired several CEOs while
I was there and none had the
endurance or the support of the
board to make the changes that
were needed.
“Then in 1995, we had a nation-
al search and found Dr. Curtis
Ivery who we hired as the presi-
dent, now chancellor. That
changed everything,” he said.
Scott said that Ivery brought the
changes the board of trustees
knewwere needed andwanted.
“He got the millages passed for
the funding we needed, he
inspired the employees and the
students. He imbued the college
with respect,” Scott said. “He took
the school from an enrollment of
7,000 to 70,000wehave today.”
Ivery, however, doesn't hesitate
to credit Scott's part in the changes
at the college
“In 1996, Chairperson Scott
announced a package of sweeping
changes passed by the board
designed tomakeWCCCD the best
See
Ford Road,
page 2
Canton Police Ofc. Brian
Schultz and Sgt. Chuck
Raycraft will retire from the
CantonPoliceDepartment this
month.
See page 4.
Scott, 76, retired
as the Westland
Fire Chief in 1985,
after more than 26 years
in the department.
”
See
Honor,
page 2
It's a project that I'm very passionate
about and have a lot of frustration
with because nothing's been done.
”
Fitting tribute
College honors trustee
with environmental terrace
Voters choose officials, OK ballot requests
Area leaders support Ford Road plan
A handful of registered voters went to the
polls Tuesday to choose school board trustees,
city council representatives and mayors and
approve or reject specific ballot questions, and
millage renewals.
Complete results are posted on official web-
sites of school districts, cities and townships.
INBELLEVILLE:
Voters chose Kerreen Conley as the new
mayor with 345 votes. Her opponent, Rick
Dawson, garnered 238 votes. Voters also chose
Jack Loria, 278 votes, andTomSmith, 237 votes,
asmembers of the city council.
Belleville voters also approved the operat-
ing millage for the Van Buren Public School
District exempting principal residence and
qualified agricultural property
CANTON-PLYMOUTH:
The four seats available on the Plymouth-
Canton Community Schools Board of
Education attracted 15 candidates seeking to
fill the terms.
Voters chose Mark Horvath, Michael
Maloney, Sheila Paton and John Barrett to fill
the terms. While theWayne 11th Congressional
District Republican Committee had endorsed
and campaigned for a four-man team, voters
opted for only two of those candidates.
INKSTER:
In Inkster, voters returned incumbent Mayor
Hilliard L. Hampton, Jr. to office for another
four years giving him2,069 votes. His opponent,
City Councilman Courtney Owens received
1,017 votes..
In District One, voters chose Timothy
Williams with 1,518 votes. His opponent, Walter
L. Starghill, Jr. received 1,177 votes. In District
Two, voters opted for Curtisene Barge with
1,667 votes while Marcus Henricks, the incum-
bent, received 1,095 votes. In District Three,
Lorenzo Moner was unopposed for the single
council seat as was Michael A. Canty inDistrict
Four. In District Six, voters selected Dennard
Shaw by 1,386 votes defeating incumbent
HenryCrump, Jr, who garnered 1,301 votes.
Inkster voters also confirmed candidates
Dorothy Gardner, Sandra Markwart, Dosye
Thompson and Michael Wells for terms on the
Inkster PublicLibraryBoard of Directors.
NORTHVILLE:
Northville school district voters which
includes voters in Lyon Township, Northville,
Northville Township, Novi, Novi Township and
Salem Township renewed the 20.91 operating
millage on non-Homestead properties for 10
years by a large margin. Yes votes totaled 4,972
whileNo voteswere 1,572.
Former Wayne County Community College Board Chairman and retired
Westland Fire Chief Ted Scott and his wife, Sharon, welcome friends at
the dedication of the terrace last week.
Friends and family members applaud the dedication of the Ted Scott
Environmental Terrace at the Wayne County Community College District
Western Campus in Belleville last week.
See
Election,
page 2