SPORTS

The
VOL. 28, NO. 16

Seniors take leadership role for young squad See Page 1-B

INSIDE

INSIDE

Residents concerned over smart meters See Page 4-A

Local crime briefs See Page 8-A

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THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012 Weave the Web:
Make sure to click on www.heritage.com around the clock for the most in-depth coverage. See most popular stories....Milan mayor errects barrier.

New mapping affects over 500 homes

By Jerry LaVaute
Special Writer

Van Buren Township residents who read about the recent floodplain issues in Sumpter Township and wondered if their homes might be VAN BUREN affected got some answers in the TWP. townships Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday night. Township officials learned 529 properties in the township had been identified in a newly-drawn floodplain map by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as being at risk of being in a floodplain, and property owners might be forced by

the property mortgagor to purchase flood insurance for an annual premium of as much as $2,000. The primary affected areas are primary residences near Belleville Lake, areas adjacent to the Throop and Riggs drains, and a few others. Only primary residences are affected; outbuildings are not at risk of having to purchase flood insurance. Township development Director Terry Carroll and engineering consultant David Nummer presented a slide show that outlined the issue and a proposed two-pronged approach on behalf of residents: Remove as many township properties as possible from the insurance requirement. It is estimated that 376

of the parcels now defined as being in a floodplain may be removed by evidence derived from aerial photography; that another 95 of the parcels dont have a structure to insure, and of the remaining 58 parcels, roughly half will not require insurance after a formal survey of the parcel showing the low probability of flooding risk. Of the 20 to 30 remaining parcels that may require flood insurance, the township will apply to become a participating community in the Federal Flood Insurance Program, enabling homeowners to purchase flood insurance at a more reasonable annual premium as part of their current homeowners insurance policy . Nummer said his work could

be completed in about a week, but the critical path was getting either the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality or FEMA to define a base elevation in the community in which an areas flooding risks could be assessed. He did not have an estimate for how long that might take. Township officials were taken aback by the sudden news. In response to their questions as to why this would happen now, speculation included the notion that FEMA needed to replenish its funding after being impoverished by the expense associated with Hurricane Katrina.
PLEASE SEE FLOOD/3-A

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Traveling Rainforest Exhibit Saline Salutes

Library discusses millage to fund new building

By Jerry LaVaute
Special Writer

Professors art on display

EMUs Kyle Miller to be featured in Rochester
By Carrie Kennedy
Heritage Media

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At its regular meeting April 10, the board members of the Belleville Area District Library dealt with near- and long-term open issues, concluding that they would continue to work on both. They met for about an hour in the meeting room of the library. Five trustees were joined by library staff Debra Green, Mary Jo Suchy and eight audience members, including five residents and three local media representatives. The long-term issue was the timing for the special millage election that would fund the construction of two new libraries, one in or near the city of Belleville, the
PLEASE SEE LIBRARY/3-A

veryone has a moment to be proud of when their drawings are hung on the refrigerator or displayed in class. Maybe they dream that one day their artwork will be exhibited in a professional show. For one Ypsilanti resident, that dream is becoming a reality. Kyle Miller, an adjunct professor at Eastern Michigan University, will have his work featured at Photo by Carrie Kennedy the Paint Creek Center for Kyle Miller, an adjunct professor at Eastern Michigan University, shows one of his the Arts Works on Paper show, beginning April 20. mixed media pieces. His work will be featured at the Works on Paper show at the Paint Creek Center for the Arts in Rochester. Miller has been teaching for three years at Ive been drawing since to be chosen for a school EMU as an adjunct profes- teaches shading, tonality, and color theory. Miller I was a kid, the Saginaw district calendar. Millers sor. He has taught basic calls it your basic nuts native said. picture of a fish jumping art classes for non-majors, and bolts of drawing. When he was in elemen- out of the water was the including topics such as Millers inspiration is tary school, each class was drawing and a foundations PLEASE SEE EMU/3-A course for non-majors that drawn from his childhood. asked to submit a picture

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Strawberry Festival to feature white tigers

have appeared on the Tonight Show Special Writer with Jay Leno and Late Night with David Letterman. According to its The Strawberry Festival website at http://www.whitetigerCommittee gathered on discovery .com/WTD_001. April 10 to confirm that html, there are 40 white BELLEVILLE tigers on exhibit in zoos, and plans were on track for the festival planned for June 15 400 white tigers across the 17, Fathers Day weekend, planet. None live in the wild. and to make a few decisions to keep Bodnar said that the event is being the plans moving. provided to the festival for free, in Among the unique things that exchange for being allowed to charge will be featured at this years festival the public for camel rides and a parawill be a display of rare white tigers. keet exhibit. According to Festival Executive She added that radio station Director Joan Bodnar, the tigers WCSX will be broadcasting from the

INDEX
Editorial Calendar Sports Page 6-A Page 3-C Page 1-B

By Jerry LaVaute

festival on Friday, June 15, from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. Committee President Tom Fielder said that he had been approached by Van Buren Township Clerk Leon Wright about a festival booth to register voters. Fielder noted that, while the city doesnt have an issue because its elections have recently been conducted, all elected positions in Van Buren and Sumpter Township are being voted in November, and partisan political activity needs to be separated from the voter registration process. Fielder said that Wright had no issue

with this requirement, although Fielder said that the Southwestern Wayne Democratic Club had asked to share the voter registration booth, and had to turn them down. Fielder said, I saw no reason to say no except for campaigning. Van Buren Township would like this to be apolitical. City Council member Brian Blackburn said that the booths should be spread out. Others agreed that no campaign literature should be distributed or offered at or near the voter registration site. With respect to obtaining sponPLEASE SEE TIGERS/3-A

Death Notices Page 14-A

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