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November 27, 2013
I
NKSTER
- W
AYNE
- W
ESTLAND
Suspect in multiple bank robberies arrested
Long-serving resident is reappointed
Wayne Ripple Effect seeks donations
A man suspected of robbing
three banks and a credit union in
Westland is being held in lieu of a
$750,000 cashor surety bond.
Harold Livingston, 42, was
arraigned Nov. 21 in 18th District
Court on charges of bank robbery
and armed robbery. He is charged
with the robbery of Credit Union
One onWarrenRoad at about 5 p.m.
on Nov. 20. Witnesses told police
that aman entered the credit union,
produced a note demanding money
and then fledwithmore than $9,000.
Livingston was arrested later the
same evening by Westland police as
he was driving in the Norwayne
area. Livingston was driving a vehi-
cle matching the description pro-
vided to police by witnesses at an
attempted bank robbery earlier the
same day.
That attempted robbery took
place at the Bank of America
branch at Wayne Road and Nankin
Boulevard, police said. When the
suspect removed his sunglasses,
witnesses at the bank recognized
him as matching the description of
the man being sought in other area
bank robberies. The man fled the
scene but bank employees contact-
ed police with a description of the
vehicle the suspect was driving,
leading to the subsequent stop of
Livingston the same evening.
Livingstonhas been identified by
police and witnesses as the suspect
in robberies at the Chase Bank on
Cherry Hill Road in August, the
Bank of America branch on North
Wayne Road in September and the
TCF Bank on South Merriman
Road in October. Charges are pend-
ing in those incidents.
Taylor police are seeking
charges against Livingston for the
robbery of a Charter One bank in
October.
Livingston faced a preliminary
court examination on the bank rob-
bery and armed robbery charges of
the credit union last Tuesday before
18th District Court Judge Sandra
Cicirelli.
If experience is the best teacher,
AndrewSpisak has very little left to
learn.
Spisak has served every mayor
in the history of Westland since
Thomas H. Brown, the very first
man tohold the office.
Earlier this month, Spisak was
reappointed to the Westland
Planning Commission by Mayor
William Wild. His reappointment,
unanimously approved by the
Westland City Council, will be his
fourth term on the commission and
secondunder Wild.
Spisak has been aWestland resi-
dent since 1967. Under Brown, in
October of 1966, alongside 33 other
officers, he was hired to serve as
part of the original Westland police
force. He then served under Mayor
Thomas F. Taylor (1976-81) as
deputy mayor, before returning the
WestlandPoliceDepartment.
“I have been serving this city in
some capacity since 1966, and I've
enjoyed all of it. I appreciate being
reappointed twice by Mayor Wild,”
said Spisak. “Being on the planning
commission has been a wonderful
opportunity and most if it has been
a lot of fun...most of it,” he contin-
ued, jokingly.
Since his retirement in 1986,
Spisak has kept busy with his role
with the Westland Planning
Commission and as president of
theWayneWestland Federal Credit
UnionBoard of Directors.
“I am thrilled to reappoint a
resident who is so committed to the
City of Westland. Mr. Spisak proud-
ly served and protected our com-
munity for several years, and now
he continues to contribute a unique
perspective to the City as a
Planning Commissioner,” said
Wild.
The Planning Commission con-
sists of ninemembers appointed by
the mayor and confirmed by city
council for a term of three years.
The duties of the commission
include the review all site plans,
special land uses, land divisions,
and re-zonings.
The Wayne Ripple Effect group is still
seeking donations in their attempt to be one
of the cities chosen for the Select Level as a
MichiganMainStreet Community.
The designation would allow the City of
Wayne to participate in a state program to
help revitalization of the community, includ-
ing help in creating a positive community
image and supporting business recruitment
and retention. The program is designed to
help promote the revitalization of downtown
areas of communities throughoutMichigan.
According to a recent notification from
TheRipple Effect, a group formed specifical-
ly to spearhead the downtown revitalization
effort, the group is finalizing the next Main
Street application. A spokesperson said the
group members agree that Wayne is in a
strong position to be chosen for the Select
Level, which would provide more than
$200,000 inbenefits for the city.
“The only weak spot in our application is
the operating budget,” the release stated.
“We need to demonstrate the ability to hire a
full-timeMain Street manager to run the pro-
gramhere plus cover basic costs.”
The group has collected about $35,000 for
the necessary $75,000 the programrequires.
More information is available at the group
website, www.Wayne500.com.
The group meets each month at the First
Congregational Church of Wayne, 2 Towne
Square, behind Rex' and across the street
fromthe library.
Cash donations to help the group are
being sought and they are also seeking volun-
teers to work in a variety of capacities. More
information is also available by email at
WayneRippleEffect@gmail.com.
Once again, Middlebelt Baptist
Church will be the site of a clothing give
away for needy families.
The next give away is scheduled for 9
a.m. until 2 p.m. onSaturday, Dec. 7 at the
church which is located at 943
Middlebelt Road in Inkster.
This giveawaywill include clothing for
children, women and men and there are
items available for all ages, according to
informationprovidedby the church.
All the clothing is free and there is no
charge. The event is open to the public.
Clothing give away planned
Andrew Spisak