www.theTimesHerald.com TIMES HERALD. PORT HURON, MICHIGAN 3A STATE WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2001 MlUOCALi: TO DISCUSS LOCAL NEWS Shawn Starkey. city editor 989-6257 Deanna Weniger, St Clair 326-1231 Amber Hunt, Macomb County 989-0747 Emily Mullen, Sanilac County 989-6274 IN BRIEF Driver pleads guilty in crash that killed child By JASON CODY Times Herald A 28-year-old Kimball Township man prosecutors said caused a crash that left a 6-year-old dead on Father's Day last year pleaded guilty Tuesday to negligent homicide. David Lewandowski appeared before St. Clair County Circuit Judge Peter Deegan on Tuesday with his lawyer, Kenneth Lord, and pleaded guilty.
Mr. Lewandowski, who put Caitlin's family through a trial, the lawyer said. "My client is having a tough time dealing with this," Mr. Lord said. "He made a mistake, he's very remorseful, and he is ready to accept his punishment." Mr.
Lewandowski, who did not have a prior criminal record, was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident, police said. Caitlin's parents, Michele Schmidt of Roseville and faces a maximum of two years in prison, is to be sentenced by Judge Deegan at 1:30 p.m. May 29, Assistant Prosecutor Joseph McCarthy Jr. said Mr. Lewandowski was traveling south in a pickup truck on M-19 near Foley Road in Emmett Township on June 18 when he tried to pass two cars and struck a northbound Plymouth Sundance driven by Dennis Hahn, 36, of Yale.
Mr. Hahn's daughter, Caitlin, was killed in the crash. "This case was such a tragedy all the way around," Mr. McCarthy said. "You have the death of a 6-year-old girl, a father who was seriously injured and a young man who made a deadly mistake." Detective Dave Patterson of the St.
Clair County Sheriff Department, who investigated the crash, said Mr. Lewandowski was speeding when he tried to pass the cars. Mr. Hahn, who are separated, both watched as Mr. Lewandowski struggled to keep back tears as he pleaded guilty.
Mr. McCarthy said negligent homicide was the appropriate charge. "This wasn't overcharged or under-charged," he said. "(Mr. Lewandowski) stood up and took responsibility for what he did, and he'll pay whatever punishment the court hands down." Mice aGTst sned in Li 'X i it-ii-i-ii Photos by JOHN F.
MARTIN, Times Herald MAKING HIS CASE: Justin Durasa speaks Tuesday to the Algonac City Council about building a skate park at Smith and Michigan streets. The council approved funding for a park at the meeting. Algonac to build skate park Authorities say driver tried to kill housemate By JASON CODY Times Herald Acting on an anonymous tip, police searched a Port Huron home Tuesday and arrested a suspect they believe ran over a man with a car Sunday afternoon in an attempt to kill him. William Albert Caiger, 26, was arrested Sunday on a felony warrant and charged with assault with intent to commit murder, police Capt. James Carmody said.
Mr. Caiger of Port Huron was arrested at a home in the 800 block of Ontario Street after police found him hiding in the house. He is expected to be arraigned today. Capt. Carmody said Mr.
Caiger is the man police suspect of driving a 1985 Honda Civic west on Gris-wold Street on Sunday when the car left the roadway and struck Jason Lee Burks, 31, of Port Huron. Mr. Burks was standing near the porch of a house in the 700 block of Griswold Street at the time. He was taken to Port CITY COUNTY Teen pleads guilty to drunken driving A 19-year-old East China Township man faces five years in prison after he pleaded guilty Tuesday to drunken driving causing serious injury stemming from a June crash. John Albert Simonian was driving a vehicle on Belle River Road in East China Township with a blood-alcohol level of .136 when he went off the road, causing the vehicle to roll over, Assistant Prosecutor Joseph McCarthy Jr.
said. A passenger in the car, Justin Carpenter, 21, suffered spinal cord injuries in the crash and now uses a wheelchair. Mr. Simonian pleaded guilty to the charges Tuesday before Circuit Judge Peter Deegan, St. Clair County.
He is to be sentenced May 29. Mission to mark Cinco de Mayo Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with pinatas, cascarones and a parade at noon Saturday. The event ends at 6 p.m. It will include Hispanic arts and crafts and a menudo cook-off. Entry fee is the winner gets $100.
For details, call Jose Pena at 987-3746. The mission is at 3110 Goulden Port Huron. Students to play in chess tourney Students enrolled in the Port Huron Area School District may participate in the district's fifth annual chess tournament from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the Port Huron High School cafeteria.
Students are guaranteed five games. Trophies will be awarded to the highest scores for each grade level, kindergarten through 12th grade. Entry is free. Sets and boards will be provided. For details, call your local school or 984-3101.
Bus trip planned to see musical SARNIA Gallery Lambton is offering a bus trip to the Stratford Festival for a May 14 matinee performance of The Sound of Musk. The trip will include a tour of Stratford's Costume Warehouse. Cost is $75.97 Canadian. For details, call (519) 336-8127. LOTTERY WEDNESDAY'S NUMBERS Midday Daily Lottery: 6-5-7 Midday Daily 4: 5-8-5-2 Daily 3: 6-6-4 Daily 4: 9-9-0-8 Rolldown: 2-11-16-17-19 Keno: 3, 9,15,16,21,23, 27, 34, 36, 42, 46, 47, 50, 54, 61,67, 68,69,70, 71,72, 78 Big Game: 4-13-15-16-25 Big Money Ball: 19 Tuesday's Big Game jackpot was estimated at $77 million.
Today's Michigan Millions jackpot is estimated at $27 million. CORRECTIONS AND AMPLIFICATIONS The Times Herald strives for fair and accurate reporting, and we regret it any time an error is made. It is the policy of this newspaper to correct substantive errors in fact that appear in its news columns. Please bring errors to the attention of Shawn Starkey at 989-6257. A pancake breakfast sponsored by the Marine City High School seniors was Sunday.
The date was incorrect in a news brief on Page 4A Friday. The Greater Port Huron Area Chamber of Commerce's 17th annual Academic Awards banquet is not open to the public. Information was incorrect in a news brief on Page 3A Saturday. Jeff Parker was chairman of the 23rd annual Salmon Stakes tournament and captain of the charter boat In the Red. Information was incorrect in a story and photo caption on Page 5A Tuesday.
Also, a quote in the story, "It was a beautiful day we all had a great time," should have been attributed to Mr. Parker. "The evidence suggests he did attempt to avoid the crash, but both drivers swerved the same way causing a near head-on collision," the detective said. Mr. Lewandowski suffered minor injuries in the crash.
Mr. Hahn still is recovering from head injuries. Mr. Lord said his client pleaded guilty Tuesday because he wanted to take responsibility for what he did. He also did not want to city's attorney, George Joachim, to draw up an agreement under which the city will own the park and the nonprofit Downriver Recreation Commission will undertake responsibility for its maintenance and upkeep.
Mr. Klunder said the city's liability for injuries suffered at the park lessens if city personnel do not staff the park. He said the city plans to limit itself to posting safety warnings and occasional police patrols. "We've got some listings of what other parks have done," he said. "We just have to consult our risk manager to see what we have to do in the way of wording the signs." Other city leaders agreed letting skaters take charge of the park would be for the best.
"Less skating around the business district and the river is a good thing for the community," Councilman Dale Nevison said just before the vote. "I'm sure that you'll police yourselves far better than we could," he said to the skaters. "Just don't mess up for now." Democrats urge voting reforms The Associated Press LANSING Michigan Democrats on Tuesday called for the elimination of punchcard ballots, a national holiday on Election Day and other reforms as part of a national focus on voting rights. State Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer said Gov. John Engler, the Legislature and Secretary of State Candice Miller are dragging their feet on election reform.
The Democratic National Committee plans to have four regional hearings this summer about voting rights. A hearing will be June 4 in Detroit, he said. Ms. Miller's spokeswoman, Julie Pierce, said Ms. Miller will deliver her recommendations for a uniform, statewide voting system on May 17.
Ms. Miller will be testifying before the state House Elections and Redistricting Committee. -J i 'v- Huron Hospital, then transferred to University of Michigan Health Systems in Ann Arbor. He remained in critical condition Tuesday night. Police said Mr.
Caiger fled the scene. Lt. Herbert Welser said police received a tip through the department's Capture Hotline and from an informant about the suspect's whereabouts. Using information provided by the callers, officers were led to the Ontario Street home. A woman living there gave them permission to search the house.
"Officers discovered the suspect hiding in the basem*nt of the home," Lt. Welser said. "There was no struggle when he was arrested." Lt. Welser said Mr. Caiger, who was in the Clair County Jail, gave a statement to officers.
The lieutenant said a motive to the crime still is under investigation. Mr. Caiger and his wife lived with Mr. Burks and his girlfriend in the same house on Stanton Street. Lt.
Welser said five people were in the car at the time of the crash, but he would not reveal the identity of the passengers. we study here today." About l' years ago, Mr. Acheson gave $1 million to another technology building on the Port Huron campus, the Michigan Technical Education Center, expected to be finished by fall. College President Dr. Christa Adams said the applied technology building and the technical education center together would make the college the regional workforce development center for Michigan's Thumb.
"I have no doubt that this building will continue to be referred to as simply the applied technology center," Mr. Acheson said. "Nevertheless, I hope that the students and staff of the college will gain some small measure of inspiration from the addition of my grandfather's name." City Council OKs paying for part of project By DAN HOCKENSMITH Times Herald ALGONAC The crowd of 20 youngsters dressed in baggy pants and T-shirts broke into cheers and whistles. An instant before, the City Council unanimously voted to, as one member put it, "step into uncharted waters" and approve funding for a municipal park dedicated to inline skating and skateboarding. Moments later, skateboards tucked under their arms, the skaters rushed out of City Hall, some hoping to fit in a few more minutes atop their boards before the sun set.
"Pretty exciting," said Eric Schmidt, 15, of the City Council's decision to set aside $30,000 for pouring a 120-foot-by-60-foot concrete slab at Smith's Field and fencing in the area. "We got what we wanted," said Dustin Durasa, 16, who spoke to council members on behalf of all the LISTENING INTENTLY: Skater Chris Jarvi, 14, listens Tuesday to the Algonac City Council discuss a proposed skate park. About 20 local youths attended the meeting to show support for the project. College building has new name: Acheson leaders and park supporters must work together to sort out the details of construction, ownership of the proposed park and safety concerns. No timetable has been set to open the park.
Councilman Gary Tuzi-nowski said he wants something more formal than the nine-page handout park advocates gave council members. City Manager Tim Klun-der said he will consult the skaters. Officials said the park's supporters must pay for equipping the site at Michigan and Smith streets with skating ramps and railings. Brad Durasa, 46, the park's main promoter and Dustin's father, places that cost between $10,000 and $14,000. He hopes to raise 60 of the money needed for skating equipment by late summer or fall, he said.
Funding issues aside, city By HANNAH NEWTON Times Herald Port Huron philanthropist James Acheson spoke Tuesday afternoon about his grandfather at the rededication of the applied technology building at St. Clair County Community College. The building has been renamed the Dr. Edward G. Acheson Applied Technology Center after Mr.
Ache-son's grandfather, an inventor and cohort of Thomas Edison. "The word 'technology' is a comparatively modern word, 'applied technology' even younger," Mr. Acheson said. "It's fitting, I think, that this complex will bear Dr. Acheson's name because he, along with other inventors of his time like Edison, laid the foundations for much of the technology By MELISSA WAWZYSKO.
Times Herald Three injured in rollover on Interstate 69 Rescue workers tend to a person injured in a rollover accident Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 69 near Eckles Road in Wales Township. A 34-year-old Port Huron man is facing charges of reckless driving and driving with a suspended license after the car he was driving swerved off 1-69, rolled over and landed upside down in oncoming traffic, police said. Deputy Tom Jackson of the St. Clair County Sheriff Department said the man was speeding in a Plymouth Sundance east on 1-69 when he swerved to avoid a tractor-trailer. The car went into the median, hit an emergency turnaround and rolled over.
The car landed in the westbound lanes of traffic. The driver and two passengers, brothers from Port Huron, were treated in local hospitals for nonlife-threatening injuries, Deputy Jackson said. A third passenger, a brother of the other passengers, was treated at the scene. Witnesses said the car was going more than 100 mph, Deputy Jackson said. Alcohol and drugs were not factors, he said.
VV I'i f' By TONY PITTS. Times Herald FAMILY TRIBUTE: Port Huron philanthropist James Acheson speaks Tuesday during a rededication of the applied technology building at St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron. To his right is a plaque of his grandfather, Dr. Edward G.
Acheson, for whom the building is now named..
