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Teens death found Scholar to to be accidental discuss lost drowning Holcaust texts See Page 1-B See Page 1-B

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013 Weave the Web:
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VOL. 19, NO. 6

District to be named Ypsilanti Community Schools

Danny Shaw
Heritage Media

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Rep. Rutledge speaks about consolidation grant

After months of deliberation and community feedback, the consolidated school district finally can fill the blank name plaque. As of July 1, Ypsilanti Community Schools will take over and Ypsilanti Public Schools and Willow Run Community Photo by Danny Shaw Schools will be no more. The Board of Education voted to officially State Rep. Dave Rutledge, above, helped lead the press conference announcing the district would make Ypsilanti Community Schools the receive a $6.5-million grant from the state. districts name over Eastern Washtenaw Community Schools at its Monday meeting. The districts Name Recognition Committee, comprised of school board members, community parents and school staff members, narrowed the selection down to the two possibilities. Board members expressed their interest in using community within the title, but ultimately felt excluding Ypsilanti from the districts identity was a bad idea. Menzel said the state received more than $25 milYpsilanti is the thing that we all share, Danny Shaw Heritage Media lion in requests from 51 different applications, all said Don Garrett, Board vice president. To of which were vying for a piece of the $10 million the Willow Run people . . . its bigger than The impending Ypsilanti-Willow Run consoligrant. PLEASE SEE DISTRICT/3-A dated school district will have an added boost of We are appreciative that the [Michigan funds issued from the state, school administrators Department of Education] and everyone who announced Monday. worked on this understand the magnitude of this Washtenaw Intermediate School District consolidation and what its going to take in order Superintendent Scott Menzel said in a release the to ensure its successful, Menzel said. unified district, which begins on July 1, will be the The grant, issued by the Michigan Department recipient of $6.5 million to help with consolidation of Education, was specifically set side by Gov. Rick costs, which is the largest portion of the $10 milSnyder to be used on school districts looking to lion state-issued grant. consolidate. District administrators hosted a press conferThe school districts administrators, aided by ence about the awarded grant co-hosted by longWISD staff, applied for the grant in November. time consolidation supporter state Rep. David The original proposal requested $6.5 million, the Rutledge, D-54th District. amount of which will be awarded. This is especially exciting for me and the reaWe did estimate, a long time ago, that a sigson it is is because it validates the efforts that have nificant amount of resources would be needed been taken by this community and the residents of to ensure the transition is successful and that it it, Rutledge said. Its not an easy thing, as most didnt further compromise the already challenged Amy Bell of you realize . . . to pull two separate school disHeritage Media tricts together. PLEASE SEE GRANT/3-A An Ypsilanti man accused of sexually assaulting four teenage boys will serve time in prison on two charges as part of a plea deal. Leonardo Devinci Christian, 53, was sentenced Jan. 29 by Judge Donald Shelton in call reporting a gunshot victim charged in connection to Jan. 1 the Washtenaw County Trial Court. at about 9:50 p.m. Jan. 29 in case. Christian will serve three to 15 years maxthe 600 block of Calder Street, Willie Lee Wimberly, a 30imum in prison for second-degree criminal Jackson said. He said deputies year-old from Trenton, faces two sexual conduct, which he pled guilty to in responded, located Charles and counts of assault with intent to December. Christian, who is HIV-positive, called Huron Valley Ambulance murder and one count of felony also pleaded guilty to sexual penetration for medical assistance. firearm. with an uninformed partner. He will serve Ben Baird Charles was pronounced dead Steve Deshaun Smith-Rush, 23 months to six years on that charge. Heritage Media at the scene a short time later. a 33-year-old from Inkster, was The prosecutors office dismissed mulMichigan State Police Lt. charged with one count of accestiple charges against Christian as part of a Brandon Wesley Charles, a 28Michael Shaw said Charles was sory after the fact to a felony. plea deal that took place in December. year-old Ypsilanti-area man shot previously shot during a road Investigators also believe a Christian was initially charged with five and killed Jan. 29, was scheduled rage incident while driving on third person was involved. counts involving a 14-year-old victim. to appear in court Jan. 30 as the New Years Day in Detroit. Shaw said after it was learned He was later arraigned on eight addiA second victim and Charles Charles had been killed, the pretional charges in connection with two other victim and witness of a separate shooting in Detroit. passenger, believed to be his liminary exam was postponed. alleged victims when they were 15 in 2006 Derrick Jackson, Washtenaw girlfriend, was shot nine times. It has since been rescheduled for and four more charges for the fourth teen. They suffered non-life threatenFeb. 20. Christian pleaded guilty to crimes involv- County Sheriff s Office director Both Smith-Rush and ing two of the teens. The cases involving the of community engagement, said ing injuries. Charles was shot while sitting Both were subpoenaed to Wimberly are currently released others were dismissed. in his car in Ypsilanti Township. appear to testify Jan. 30 in 36th on bond. Christians attorney, Michael Vincent, He suffered several gunshot District Court, Shaw said. He For the events of the said Christian gave a very emotional statewounds to his torso. said state police were able to PLEASE SEE DEATH/3-A Metro Dispatch received a identify two suspects who were PLEASE SEE CHRISTIAN/3-A

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Consolidation effort to receive $6.5M state grant

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Child rapist gets 3 to 15 years after plea bargain

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Man found dead in vehicle

Victim was to appear in court as witness

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INDEX
Editorial Classifieds Sports Page 6-A Page 1-B Page 1-C

Death Notices Page 8-A

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