Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 11

DETROIT FREE PRESSSATURDAY, MAY 30, 1997 1 1 A Data reveal hearing Judge opens in rape-slaying case By DAVID ASHENFELTER Free Presj Staff Writer JACKSON A district judge Friday reluctantly reopened to the public next week's preliminary hearing involving a 16-year-old Jackson County youth accused of raping and strangling his 79-year-old great-grandmother. Twelfth District Judge Robert Crary Jr. lifted his suppression order after the Jackson Citizen Patriot, the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News argued that the state law under which Crary closed the proceeding was rendered unconstitutional by a 1986 U.S. Supreme Court decision. Monday's hearing before Crary will determine whether Douglas Chmielewski is to stand trial for the death of Helen Laskey, killed in her AP 'Big 4' plan SEMTA takeover i John F.

Kennedy Park dedicated Sen. Edward Kennedy, center, is joined by John F. Kennedy Jr. and Caroline Kennedy in Cambridge. as they read an inscription in the newly dedicated John Fitzgerald Kennedy Park on the campus of Harvard University.

More than 1 .000 people gathered on the 5 -acre, $2.5 million park for the dedication on the 70th anniversary of the former president's birth. GM plans to idle 3,000 workers at Tecumseh, Livonia factories SEMTA, from Page 1A plan for revamping SEMTA two years ago, but were unable to win the necessary changes in the legislation that created SEMTA 25 years ago. McNamara said the revised plan Initially would give each of the four political Jurisdictions its own transit system, supported by a pre-determined share of state and federal transit money that now goes to SEMTA. "Maybe Oakland, western Wayne and Macomb could keep a portion of the system together," he said. Any major transportation projects, such as a rail line, would be subject to approval of the full board and subject to veto by any board member.

If the project required more money than available through the formula, the Individual regions would be responsible for raising the additional money. Friday's proposal got mixed reviews from the chairmen of the Legislature's two transportation committees, which would have to approve it. "I THINK we'd have a much better system" more accountable to the public with the elected officials replacing SEMTA 's appointed board, said Rep. Curtis Hcrtel, D-Dctroit, of the House Transportation Committee. Sen.

Richard Fessler, R-West Bloomficld Township, said he backs changes In the SEMTA board "but I don't think they'd (the Big Four) be the most effective group. I'm not sure they'd do a better job than the current TOOLS GTUFF snapshots of newspaper war JOA, from Page 3A the 1987 forecast, the gap between the News and Free Press could widen by 25,000 to 30,000 daily and Sunday in the next (six-month circulation reporting period) ending March 1987," Nizen wrote. "We have lost our momentum. Between March 1986 and March 1987, the News did widen its daily circulation lead, from about 5,000 copies to nearly 40,000, and its Sunday lead from about 88,000 to about 115,000. In a Sept.

26, 1986, memo to Free Press President Jerome Tills, General Manager Robert Hall said a proposal to raise the price of the paper's Sunday edition from 75 cents to $1 a copy could produce a net gain of $1.1 millionovera three-month period, even though pro- jections Indicated the Increase would reduce Sunday circulation by about 46,000 and daily circulation by about 20,000. The News also sells for 75 cents on Sundays. "THE RISK is a loss of advertis-Z Ing revenue," Hall said Friday. He said a loss of circulation would make the Free Press less attractive to advertls-; ers, who provide three-fourths of the paper's total revenue. In documents released Wednesday, the News said It spent $2.27 million more in 1986 than it did in 1985 on staff and other expenses to increase circula-tlon, The News' promotion expenses also rose $1.1 million In 1986, An April 22, 1987, letter to Rldder from Bernhard outlined the News' forts to lure newsroom staff away from the Free Press.

IJernhard said that the News "has hired five Free Press people In recent months. We've been told that the News Is now talking to approximately ten other Free Press staffers," He said the News was offering substantially more money than they were making at the Free Press and was "pitching heavily Cannett's commitment to the paper and Its position as a Gannett Co. Inc. owns the News. Lawrence acknowledged that the morale issue was serious, but said that the paper's staff had "generally coped extremely well with a time of uncer- tainty." Under a JOA, the Free Press and the If .1,1 ni.mUInn K.a.ilnAca AnaFft.

tions, such as advertising, promotions, production and circulation, to cut costs, I and would share profits for 100 years. The newspapers would keep their newsroom and editorial page opera- tions separate. The memo from Lawrence outlln-IT Ing proposed Free Press editorial changes under the JOA suggests: il An Increase of almost 10 percent In space for news. "I New metro and business news sec-; tions weekdays. An expanded Sunday comment sec-i; tlon.

The possibility of three new Free Press sections in the combined Sunday Vt paper, covering sports features, per-Z sonalltles and the arts. A press start two hours later for the Free Press' earliest edition, to Include later news to outstate readers. THE FREE PRESS has said it is in IMA TKn Mmiru unH Vrun Prmta tii.VA reported losing a combined $132 mil- iiiui i it i iiwh nni i in (i i documents released Wednesday re- m.nii.H Mint pui nimpr lout more than $5 million In the first four months of 1987. Following a public hearing, which Is scheduled to begin Aug. 3, U.S.

Attorney General Edwin Meese will decide whether to approve the JOA. Meanwhile, a federal hearing Judge ruled Friday that opponents of the proposed JOA may take depositions from as many as six executives of the two newspapi-rs and their parent companies as long as the depositions are completed by June 30 and do not delay the hearing, Administrative law judge Morton Needelman also said the newspapers could obtain depositions from a similar number of non-expert witnesses for the Justice Department and the JOA opponents. At Kirn' for I hp ncuHDHDprs ob- jeeted to the request for depositions, saying they were unnecessary and iiifiuM Anuv thm hfirlnO WUUIU W1.IHJ ill. ii-m coundoff IS GM, from Page 1A wanted to be more competitive. It took the wind right out of us.

It was a very depressing meeting." Jim Hagcdon, spokesman for Dayton-based Inland, confirmed the division was moving work out of Livonia, but said he did not know how many jobs would be lost there. "It's really too soon to tell," he said. Inland executives had told UAW officials during a February meeting that an outside consultant's study shows the division has too much production capacity and must consolidate six plants Into four operations. "Inland, like many other domestic automotive components suppliers, has been adversely Impacted by increased competition and changing market demands," Ross llaun, Inland general manager, said In a statement Issued late Friday regarding the Tecumseh plant closing. Craig suid he believes GM moved to close a major portion of the Livonia plant because workers failed In March to approve a controversial local contract that would have changed work rules and classifications in an attempt to make Inland Livonia more competitive.

UAW workers at Grand Rapids and Euclid approved changes In their local contracts earlier this year. THE NEW AGREEMENT, which would have helped the Livonia plant Increase efficiency and cut costs, also would have meant the loss of about 1,000 Jobs over the next two years. Craig, who negotiated the new contract with Inland management, blames UAW politics for the defeat, saying some In Local 174 who considered the contract concessionary convinced a majority to vote It down. In Washington, three Michigan congressmen denounced GM's decision as intolerable and sent a letter to GM Chairman Roger Smith. "I'm optimistic, with the right effort, there's a possibility the plant can be saved," said Ernest Lofton, director of UAW Region 1A In Detroit.

Wayne County Executive Edward McNamara, attending a conference on Mackinac Island Friday, said he believes GM's decision in Livonia was "a compromise that they feel is adequate in view of our past relationship with them." McNamara, former mayor of Livonia who had banded with Gov. Blan-chnrd and U.S. Sen. Donald Rlegle, In an effort to persuade GM officials to keep the Livonia plant open, said he found the move inadequate and wants to talk more with GM officials. "I would very much like to see the plant stay," he said.

"It's probably one of the oldest plants In Michigan. Again, the community has been very co-operative with them and I really question what they've done to the community." IN WASHINGTON, three Michigan congressmen denounced GM's decision as Intolerable and sent a letter to GM Chairman Roger Smith asking him to reconsider. "The workers at the Tecumseh and Livonia plants are hardworking individuals from our congressional districts who feed their families and pay Jackson apartment in late March. -Crary had closed the hearing at the request of Jackson County ProsecutDr Joseph Filip and Chmielewski's attcjr-ney, Alfred Brandt, who felt news coverage would harm Laskey's grieving sister and make it harder to select an impartial jury. Michigan's 1974 criminal sexual conduct statute requires district court judges to suppress the names of the victim and defendant and crime details if either party so requests.

But last year's Supreme Court ruling, the newspapers argued, Acquires judges to weigh competing interests the victim's right to privacy, the defendant's right to a fair trial and the public's right to attend court proceedings. 15-member board." Fessler said that although Mayor Young seems to keep mass transit a high priority, the county officials do not. Neither Fessler nor Hertel said they expect the Legislature to deal with the SEMTA question before its summer recess. SEMTA now has jurisdiction over seven counties Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, Monroe, Livingston and Washtenaw.

The involvement Of the four outer counties in the proposed arrangement is uncertain but McNamara said he would expect them (o "opt out." McNAMARA SAID the Big Four already have approached legislators informally about the proposal. "You now have four heads of government that say we think we can make this thing work," McNamara said. "We think we can sell public transportation." He said SEMTA is currently stalemated by a perception In Detroit's suburbs that regional money Is wasted on Detroit projects. "There's no way that you can sell people in Oakland County on subsidizing a transportation system when they feel any of those dollars are going to be used to subsidize a people mover hi downtown Detroit," McNamara said. He said he was not sure If the new transit authority would retain the SEMTA name.

Prices Art 24 Inch Brass Touch Lamp IJUO "Just Touch To Turn On" WJf 0i6J6JeWGf linut Reg. 59" $29M is, 135 unite ehebtwMe Air Tools a long Deluxe High. pressure Spray Gun Now 180 units chetnwtde tJL Air Ratchet Now 140 unite chetnwlde Heavy Duty 3 Sander Now 57- $24Mi 130 units chalnwtde andMnttlc Alr Sandblasting Kit Now 10O R0- to 90 units chalnwtdt 12" chalnwld Air Blow Gun Now 2- "1 410 units chetnwtde Mmny otftmr Ak Tod (At Crazy Low PrtoMlt) US dlbWHl 6 7 only 23 day until Father' Day) fcrcst Fetter's Day Juna 21st Special Purchase Survival (TWH Knife their bills," said U.S. Reps. John William Ford and Carl Pursell In a joint statement.

They also asked for a report on the feasibility of either selling the Tecumseh plant to another company or offering It to employes as part of an employe stock ownership plan. Dlngcll is a Democrat from Trenton, Ford a Democrat from Taylor and Pursell a Republican from Plymouth. Some workers from Livonia and Tecumseh will be able to follow their work to the Grand Rapids and Euclid plants, under provisions of the national contract negotiated between GM and the UAW. Others will receive unemployment benefits. Free Press stuff writers l.uther Jackson and Ken Fireman contributed to this report.

1 WEEK tONLY, "AsSeenonT.V.II" Reg. The Belly Butter On Now Only J'i V. ft mm OO Nn Shlimliui 51 19' CltAlgQ 2ttpu Units chttlnwldfl 8 Pc. Professional Screwdriver Set Reg. 8" Now 5 gOS units chalnwldo 4Pc.

Adjustable Wrench Set Now 14 Bm 1U" 220 units ctmlnwklH 7 PC. Flaring Set 7" 11)0 units chalnwldo aetp Aluminum Step Ladder Now ns- $Ta 12" Ml ii tt" and Stamp Don't 10 140 Pc. Drive Torx Bit Set WmiDUHUM Compass NOW 4 10 and $2" units clmlnwIdM oniy 10- $499 Limit 4 I por lumlly eiOunimchutnwtdfl 3 Way Car Stereo Speakers Now 2 Ton Come 29M itf; units chulnwldti Reg Now I lot killed, 1 wounded in separate shootings 245 units chnlnwlde Reg. Pc. Combination Wrench Set Now 270 OQ units 8" Now 11" 200 units chnlnwlde chiilnwlda Polypropylene Rope Robert Depew, who said he was a relative, said family members told him an adult left a gun on top of the refrigerator.

"He climbed up there and got It," said Depew. Neighbors also said they were told by family members that an adult had returned to the home Thursday night with the gun, and left it out before going to bed. The boy's mother, neighbors said, was reportedly getting David ready for the baby-sitter when he found the gun and shot himself. Homicide Investigators would not comment on the circumstances of the shooting. The two shootings brought to 148 the number of youths aged 16 and under shot this year In Detroit, according to a Free Press tally.

Fifteen have died. SHOOTINGS, from Page 1A husband. He used their one-year-old son, Michael Irving as a shield, police said. She allegedly fired two shots, hitting both Michael Jr. and Michael 28.

The baby was reported In critical condition In Children's Hospital on Friday with a gunshot wound In the abdomen. His father refused treatment for a superficial wound to the left side, said police. The mother was arrested, but no charges had been IsNued as of late Friday, police said. David Mulllnax' father, whom police did not name, was being held pending Investigation In the Incident In their home In the 2300 block of Manson on the southwest side, police said. MX) Vt" Drive Micrometer Adjustable Torque Wrench 16" 155 units chnlnwlde Letter Number Set Now "0- ft TOO 3 49 units chulnwldti 25 PC HeX A.E.

1... r.M units chHlnwkta Now 5 $2m 406 until 305 unite chnlnwklo limn pr nmny 10" Special Purchaaa Deluxe Wooden Skateboard Now 49M lU IBQunllwchnlnwkto Rubber 605 5Pc. Snap Ring PllerSet Now -3 Suction Cup Dent Puller 99 units chelnwldn units chnlnwlde business in the political process Is great." YE8, 36 percent: "Our mayor In Warren doubled his wages, yours wants a Jet plane. Doth cities have their poor, black and white. These poor people should simply vote them out!" "Ono drive through the neighborhoods will tell you that." "Look at the money he's spent downtown.

Ho hasn't helped any neighborhoods. Look at the school situation; he doesn't care about anything but himself." Soundott It non aclenllflc, reader-opinion feature. Porcotiluu ere based on 1,102 calls. Today's question: President Reagan vowed Friday the United States will keep open the Persian Gulf to stop the spread of the Iran-Iraq war and prevent a disruption of the world's economy. (Story on Page 1 I you think the United States should assume that role? Call before 2 p.m.

to vote: YES 222-8833 NO 222-6844 Has Young done little for poor blacks? Muyor Young has tried to revitalize Detroit by arranging "a marriage between big business and government" that has done little for the city's poor blacks who played a big rote In his election, according to Howard University political scientist Linda Williams. The mayor Insists that Williams' analysis Is wrong. Do you agree with Williams' conclusion? NO, 84 percent: "What would this woman suggest, giving away money? The only way you can help poor people Is by creating Jobs." "She has no Idea what she's talking about." "He's helped Detroit's poor as well as Its more well-off people. The merging of KIVERVIEiV ROYAL 0'X 4336 N. Woodward fhtfMSMf aYfe? eWs om 4r fan 0400344 1 liven 21891 Plymouth Rd.

jMEfctleY eWf AMMMMft Iran 1 31-0070 1920S Port In (n Kfm Comment $hmOmmr If OH 470-'n077 I. Teniae 77P-CSCO Ccrrr.3 Coon 1 11 1.