Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 8

8A WWW.FREEP.COM SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2009 START YOUR MOWERS: Small-scale filmmaker Mike Ratel is tracking a Sparta family's passion for lawn-mower racing. Jay-son Mikula started an annual lawn-mower race as part of a local fair nine years ago. It now draws up to 125 participants. The event raises money for Huntington's Disease Society of America. Mikula, 33, has had five relatives die of the hereditary disorder.

-ASSOCIATED PRESS Oakland County er I tli iter MB? il if sit Couple alleges false imprisonment in sex assault case involving 14-year-old daughter i Photos by TAMMY STABLES BATTAGLIADetrolf Free Press Children blow bubbles and balloons are released as the Harley-Davidson hearse carrying 5-year-old Nevaeh Buchanan's body passes Munson Park in Monroe on Saturday. Nevaeh loved motorcycles, and an escort of at least 100 of them led the mile-long funeral procession. Weary commiiiiiity bids Nevaeh a teary farewell tion, false imprisonment and more than 50 other counts. Defense attorneys say governmental immunity will be the defense for nearly all of the defendants. Depositions began earlier this Julian Wendrow underwent several hours of questioning.

Gorcyca and some of his former top aides, along with detectives involved in the case, are expected to be questioned in the coming A trial is expected in early 2010. "What happened to the Wendrow family was a tragedy," said Deborah Gordon, the Bloomfield Hills attorney representing them. I GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY TO BE DEFENSE. 14A By LL BRASIER FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER Julian and Thai Wendrow were arrested and jailed in December 2007 on charges that Julian sexually assaulted their 14-year-old autistic daughter and that Thai had allowed it to happen. Prosecutors dropped the case nearly four months later after admitting that they did not have the evidence to proceed.

Now, in a federal lawsuit that is likely to test the limits of governmental immunity, the Wendrows of West Bloomfield have sued former Oakland County Prosecutor David Gor-cyca and 24 other defendants, including the West Bloomfield Police Department. The lawsuit alleges malicious prosecu T- Helping students stay connected Music and dance honor her memory By TAMMY STABLES BATTAGUA FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER A community weary from weeks of anxiety, anger and heartbreak, gathered once again Saturday in the name of Nevaeh Buchanan. This time to lay the 5-year-old girl to rest. Mourners lined the streets of Monroe as a Harley-Davidson hearse to honor Ne-vaeh's love of motorcycles Key to staying in school includes Nevaeh's casket is carried to the Harley-Davidson hearse by her uncle Mike Buchanan and her father, Shane Hinojosa, on Saturday. matters of heart Investigators seek help in girl's death Monroe County Sheriffs investigators are pushing for area anglers to step forward with information about anyone or anything they've spotted along the River -Raisin that might be linked to the death of Nevaeh Buchanan The cause of the girl's death is still pending.

People with information are asked to call 734-243-7070. has been ministering to the family since Nevaeh disappeared, also quoted the Rev. Billy Graham, who helped families after the Oklahoma City bombing. "He said, 'Let the healing advised Hayford, head of Crosswalk Community Church in Monroe. Before Nevaeh was laid to rest at St.

Joseph Cemetery, her uncle, Mike Buchanan, broke down as he read a poem by Ferna Lary Mills dedicated to children who have lost their lives violently. "Horrific as our life now seems, one thing remains quite true Our little ones have now been freed to do things angels do." I CONTACT TAMMY STABLES BATTAGLIA: TBAnAGUAaFREEPRESS.COM By PEGGY WALSH-SARNECKI FREE PRESS EDUCATION WRITER carried her tiny white coffin through the town. An escort of at least 100 motorcycles led the mile-long funeral procession past the parks where Jeremiah Owens knows how easily he could have been another high school dropout. I have members Nevaeh Buchanan who just dropped out because they felt, 'What's the said Owens, 18, who graduated Sunday from Chippewa Valley was nervous because the person who took Nevaeh on May 24 has not been caught, she said. "He said, 'How do I know the killer's not she said.

Patty Kennedy, 36, of Newport, a mother of three, attended the funeral. She was among the hundreds who searched for Nevaeh. Kennedy said she was devastated when two fishermen found the girl's body last week, covered with concrete in a hole dug along the River Raisin in Raisinville Township. But she was glad for the closure for the family and the community. During Nevaeh's funeral at Stewart Road Christian Ministries Center, the girl's grandmother Sherry Buchanan; mother, Jennifer Buchanan, and father, Shane Hinojosa, were surrounded by friends and family members.

None spoke during the service, which included a duet of the song "Halo" by Beyonc6. There was an expressive dance performance and a trio sang a song they wrote titled "Nevaeh," reminding mourners the name is heaven spelled backward. Softly, "Amen" could be heard throughout the sanctuary as Pastor Dale Hayford told mourners Nevaeh's killer would have to answer to God someday. Hayford, who High School. At the Clinton Township At Port Huron High School which saw the number of dropouts soar after it dropped sports to save money in the 1980s ninth-graders and their parents now visit before the school year starts to find out what classes and activities are available.

At Southgate Anderson High School, teachers are expected to constantly urge students to talk, come to their offices and e-mail. Some connections may seem inconsequential. But to some students, they may be everything. "Kids don't want to fail," said Novi teacher Marsha Reid. "Sometimes it has nothing do with reading, writing and arithmetic.

Sometimes it has to do with the heart and the head." i I HOW SCHOOLS HELP STUDENTS FIND CONNECTIONS. 14A she loved to play and a statue of George A. Custer sitting atop his life-size horse, a landmark she admired. "I have grandkids the same age, and it's just devastating what's going on here," said Donna Schehr, 51, of Monroe, who brought her grandchildren to Munson Park to release balloons as the motorcade passed. Grandson Nick Foster, 8, school, Owens met a counselor devoted to helping kids feel connected to the school.

The counselor enlisted a group of students to help him find that connection. Teachers, federal officials and other experts are increasingly finding that making stu "IT'S JUST DEVASTATING WHAT'S GOING ON HERE." DONNA SCHEHR, 51, of Monroe, who took her grandchildren to Munson Park to release balloons as Nevaeh Buchanan's motorcade passed dents feel connected to a school through friends, sports, clubs and other ways may be the most important factor in high school success. 1 OVER THE DETROIT RIVER Racing planes draw crowds on both banks Pete Mcleod, representing Canada, flies an Edge 540 plane between two cones Saturday during the first qualifying round of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship on the Detroit River. Today's racing Is to begin at 1 p.m. More photos from Saturday's events TODAY'S SCHEDULE When: Gates on both the Windsor and Detroit sides open at 10 a.m.; racing begins at 1 p.m.

Where: Along the Detroit River, downtown Detroit and Windsor Cost: $15 for adults. Tickets for children 15 and younger range from $5 to $15. More Information: www we. I BREUU' DREITLIf. r- KIMBERU P.

MIKHELLDttrolt (m Press were seeing the ended with heartbreak for Red the planes crisscross the sky. "I didn't know people could fly planes like that and still be conscious." Although the race is officially hosted in Windsor, thousands of fans lined both sides of the Detroit River on Saturday to gawk at the planes weaving through a maze of inflatable cones set up on the river. Each plane leaves behind a trail of smoke before the camera- and binocular-wielding spectators. The pilots are judged on By DAN CORTEZ FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER While at work Friday near Hart Plaza, Lawrence Acuff noticed the planes twisting and twirling on practice runs over the Detroit River. That preview was enough to lure him to Hart Plaza on Saturday to see the qualifying rounds of the Red Bull Air Race, which concludes today with the finals.

"This is my first time coming to something like this," Acuff, 60, said as he watched Saturday planes in action for the first the city. I was here last year, but the pilots are even better this year." Today's racing is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. I CONTACT DAN CORTEZ OR 0CORTE2OFREEPRESS.COM how fast they complete the course, which takes them past the Renaissance Center and Hart Plaza before they double back and go straight up for several seconds before making a final pass. Many of those in attendance Wings fans, on top of the ongo-' ing economic difficulties, several spectators said this was what the city needed. "It's awesome," said Olline McElroy of Detroit.

"It's nice to have something like this for time, but others have come to appreciate the racing series, which has events all over the world. Detroit hosted the race last year. After a Friday night that.