Parents face felony charges in son’s shooting

    Parents of a 5-year-old Westland child killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound will face felony charges in the incident.

    According to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, the handgun was not properly stored when the child found it in his home last week and fired it, fatally striking himself in the stomach. His parents, Timothy Gravel, 32, and Heather LeBlanc, 29, both of Westland, now are facing charges under the Michigan safe storage law, which went into effect in February. The law holds parents criminally responsible if their unsecured guns are found by minors who then kill or injure themselves or others with the weapon.
    “Another young child is dead because adults did not safely store their firearms — yes, that is plural. The death of this child was completely and totally preventable. This is the seventh one this year,” Worthy said in a statement announcing the charges.
    The incident took place at about 8:40 p.m. Nov. 7, according to Westland police reports, when officers responded to the family home in the 33000 block of Alamo Street. The child had apparently found the gun and fatally shot himself in the stomach, according to police. Officers immediately called for medical aid and the child was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
    The boy’s parents were arraigned on Monday in 18th District Court. Gravel received a $50,000 cash/surety bond; LeBlanc received a $25,000 cash/surety bond. The two are scheduled to appear at a probable cause conference today when a judge will determine whether there is enough evidence to send the couple to trial. If convicted, each faces up to 15 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
    The new state safe storage law, which went into effect Feb. 13, requires individuals to keep unattended weapons unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if it is reasonably known that a minor is likely to be present on the premises.
    If an individual fails to store a firearm as required and a minor obtains the firearm and any of the following occur, they are guilty of specific charges relating to the incident. If the minor possesses or exhibits the firearm in a public place or in the presence of another person in a careless, reckless or threatening manner, gun owners can be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail or a fine of up to $500, or both. If the minor fires the weapon and injures themselves or another individual, felony charges punishable by up to five years in prison, a maximum $5,000 fine, or both can be filed against the gun owner or parents. If the minor child discharges the gun and seriously impairs a body function on themselves or another person, felony charges punishable by up to 10 years in a prison and/or a $7,500 fine. If the minor discharges the gun and kills themselves or another, felony charges punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and/or a fine of up to $10,000 can be filed against the gun owner or person responsible for safe storage of the weapon.

Battle of the Badges

Westland's Finest teamed up with Westland's Bravest as our Police and Fire Departments squared off against their counterparts from the City of Wayne. In a fundraiser basketball game that also featured a 50/50 drawing and plenty of prize baskets that were raffled off, plenty of money was raised for the Westland Youth Athletic Association.  Our Westland team came out on top, but the real winners were the kids of the WYAA.  Thanks to everyone who came out to support this great event and organization.

 

Listening in

Westland Mayor Kevin Coleman held the first stop on his 2024 Listening Tour.  he was joined by some key members of his administration to hear what residents had to say at the Jefferson Community Vitality Center.  There was an update on the Neighborhood Makeover Program, Parks and Recreation plans for 2024, and the latest focus from the Police Department.  Residents had the opportunity to ask questions of the Mayor and department heads, as well as offer suggestions.  If you missed it, don't worry.  There are many more stops planned throughout 2024.  The next Listening Tour will held at the Westland Public Library on Feb. 26 at 6pm.

School board members reject proposed layoffs

Members of the Wayne Westland Board of Education unanimously rejected Superintendent of Schools John Dignan's suggested staffing cuts during their Dec. 21 meeting.

The staffing cuts and layoffs were proposed in response to the abrupt discovery of a $17 million deficit in the school district budget. Board members and administrators believed the district was operating with a strong positive balance rather than the huge deficit. The deficit was discovered during a routine audit of district finances.

Westland is awarded ‘Safe Streets’ federal grant

Wayne, Westland, Garden City, and Inkster have each been awarded $192,000 in federal grant funding to develop and join the Safe Streets for All plan. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced $817 million from President Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for 385 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grants. 

The SS4A program grants go directly to regional, local, and tribal communities for implementation, planning, and demonstration projects driven at the local level to improve safety and help prevent deaths and serious injuries on national roadways. The funds will help communities in the development of road safety action plans and improve unsafe roadway corridors by implementing effective interventions, officials said. 

Acts of kindness

The Compassion Project at the Westland City Council meeting Dec. 4 introduced three outstanding students from three different elementary schools in the Wayne-Westland district. Each child was chosen for this award based on random acts of kindness they implemented toward classmates, teachers, and/or classroom. Liam Bejarano from Edison Elementary surprised his teacher with her favorite candy while Sophia Bell-Esparza from Elliott Elementary was recognized for the help she provided in the lunchroom at her school.

Warm wishes

Kristi Nimsgern, at left, a member of the Westland Rotary Club, and her fellow Rotarians have adopted a family this year through the Wayne-Westland Salvation Army. Corps Pastor/ Administrator Andrew Barylski, at right, said about 750 area children are getting help this year with toys and clothing, including warm coats. Barylski is also a Westland Rotarian. The Wayne-Westland Salvation Army serves Wayne, Westland, Romulus, Inkster and New Boston.

School district delays decision on privatization of buses

Members of the Wayne-Westland Community Schools Board of Education have issued a statement postponing a proposal to privatize transportation services in the district. A vote on the proposal was scheduled for the Dec. 18 meeting of the board members.

Since a $17 million budget deficit was discovered by auditors last month, 39 part- and full-time employees have been laid off, effective in January. In an attempt to maintain staffing levels, and “right-size” district financing, some jobs have been reclassified, officials said, to qualify for grant funding.

The deficit is so severe, the State of Michigan could step in and take control of the schools in an attempt to control day-to-day operation of the district which currently has about 1,600 employees charged with educating 9,800 students. 

New mayor selected to attend Harvard program

Mayor Kevin Coleman

Newly-elected Westland Mayor Kevin Coleman has been selected to participate in the  Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University Program for New Mayors: First 100 Days program.

Coleman was one of only 27 mayors across the country selected to attend the program which is delivered in collaboration with the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. As a participant in the Program for New Mayors, Coleman will experience world-class training from Harvard faculty, urban innovation and management experts and other mayors on how to set strategic citywide priorities, build effective city hall organizations, and deliver for residents, according to information released by the city. The new class of the Program for New Mayors includes officials from 21 states and represents more than 9.5 million residents nationwide.

Winning ways

Members of the Three Cities Art Club recognized recent exhibition winners during a public reception at the Westland Gallery in City Hall. First place in the photography category was awarded to Lawerence Hamilton for his artwork “Crosswalk,” while second place honors went to Allen Brooks for “Golden Age of Industry. The third-place award went to John Middlestead for “Boneyard Pastel Sunset.” Honorable mentions went to Cheryl Ann Boc-Chidester for “Vines of Gaudi,” and Terri Haranczak for “Old Truck.” (Fuzzy Dice).

5 seeking unexpired state representative term

Two elections will determine the new State House Representative from the 25th District.

Former representative Kevin Coleman, a democrat, resigned the state office following his successful campaign to become mayor of Westland. The 25th District encompasses the City of Wayne and portions of Canton Township and Westland.

The lone republican seeking to complete Coleman's term, Josh Powell, is unopposed in the primary election set for Tuesday, Jan. 30. As the only republican on the ballot, Powell will face the winning democratic candidate in the election set for  April 16 to fill the term which expires at the end of next year.  Powell is a Westland resident who has been unsuccessful in several campaigns for a city council seat.

Random kindness

The Compassion Project at the Westland City Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 6 introduced three outstanding students from three different elementary schools. Each child was chosen for this award because of the random acts of kindness they all implemented towards their classmates, teachers, and/or classroom. Kaleb Eikenberg from Wildwood Elementary School demonstrated a random act of kindness was when he helped a classmate with a math puzzle.

Education foundation provides grant funding to teachers

Julie Brown - Special Writer

Brandi Smith sees inequities among area school districts in classroom funding. It is her job to help address that situation.

“It's such a foundation of what a community is,” the Canton Township resident said of school districts. Since this past January, her focus has been the Wayne-Westland Foundation for the Improvement of Instruction. Both a golf outing and a wine event draw business support, allowing the foundation to distribute grants to Wayne-Westland teachers for classroom use. One example? Tablets for kids who can't communicate.

“That is really just giving students greater opportunity,” the foundation executive director said of the $15,000 in grants awarded last spring. “I feel like this next year is going to continue to grow. It made me so excited and proud..”

New economic development director is named

Rep. Alex Garza

In one of his first acts as mayor of Westland, Kevin Coleman appointed former State Rep. Alex Garza as the new Economic Development Director for the city.  Garza will play a pivotal part in driving economic growth, fostering community partnerships, and enhancing the overall business environment in Westland, according to an official statement from Coleman's office.

Garza holds degrees in Business Management, Political Science, and Public Policy. Garza served as both mayor pro-tem of the city of Taylor and as a state representative, where he played a pivotal role in shaping policies that positively impacted businesses and local communities, according to the prepared statement.

On the job

The City of Westland celebrated the inauguration of new Mayor Kevin Coleman last week, along with newly elected councilmembers and City Clerk Richard LeBlanc who was unopposed in the election. The officials were sworn into office in city council chambers. Coleman became the first new elected mayor in the city in 16 years following the resignation of William Wild. He was the choice of 8,144 voters or 59.01 percent of the total votes cast. Former interim mayor Mike Londeau garnered 5,630 votes or 40.79 percent of the total ballots cast. Administering the oath of office to Coleman was Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Harris-Bolden.

School district administrators are reassigned

Recent transfers and reassignments of administrators in the Wayne-Westland Community Schools district have followed the surprise discovery by auditors of a $17.6 million budget deficit.

In the recent reassignment, Chris Swanson, the principal at Wildwood Elementary School will become the assistant principal at Wayne-Westland Innovative Academy. Swanson has been the principal at Wildwood for four years and was previously at Hamilton Elementary School in the district. 

Alumni veterans' wall planned at Wayne Memorial

Wayne Memorial High Schools may soon include a tribute to servicemen who have graduated from the school.

Currently, donations are being sought to build a memorial wall to be prominently displayed at the entrance to the school. The display would include the name, rank and brief information about the serviceman or woman who served in the U.S. military. 

Estimated costs for the installation of the memorial are $40,000 and would include construction, artwork, plaques, an interactive display, a software data package for digital storage and website viewing. The project would also include the development of educational materials and contributions to support local veterans.

Sign of the season

Many of the bright red stands holding the kettles for the annual Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign are the work of students at the Willilam D. Ford Career-Technical Center. Auto collision students accepted the challenge when Salvation Army officials reached out to inquire if the stands could be repaired and repainted. The students used their training and expertise to freshen up the stands. Officials at the center thanked the Salvation Army for "involving the students in such a meaningful project. What an incredible way to give back to the community and spread holiday cheer. 

Toy drive is planned

 he annual Westland Community Foundation and Salvation Army Toy Drive is planned for 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30 at Westland City Hall.

Organizers said the gift of a new toy or book brings the joy of Christmas and sends a message of hope to disadvantaged children. Participants are urged to bring an unwrapped toy to donate. A $5 donation is also encouraged, organizers said.

Westland City Hall is located at 36300 Warren Road in Westland.

School district audit discovers $17 million deficit

The Wayne-Westland Community Schools district is facing an unexpected $17.6 million budget deficit.

School officials and members of the board of education learned of the budget deficit last week when an audit of district finances discovered the serious budget shortfall which officials had believed was, in fact, a surplus. Board of Education President David Cox reported the surprise findings during a meeting of the board members last week.

“At this moment, right now, we don't exactly know where we are, but we have a tremendous problem that has to be addressed,” Cox said in making the deficit public during the meeting.

According to the auditor's report, revenue in the district totaled $135 million for the 2023 fiscal year, while expenses totaled $152 million.