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Saline Reporter
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2011

The

Your Hometown Newspaper

75

VOL. 61, NO. 52

Gunman robs Burger King near township police station

By Ben Baird
Heritage Media

A look inside our downtowns

By David Veselenak
Heritage Media

Weave the Web:

Make sure to click on www.heritage.com around the clock for the most in-depth coverage. See Our Most Viewed story, EMU Police Chief Greg ODell dead.

Police responded to an armed robbery Dec. 21 at the Burger King, located across the street from the Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety on West Michigan Avenue. At 10:41 p.m., a suspect entered the fast-food chain, 6190 W. Michigan Ave., jumped over the counter and produced a black handgun, according to what restaurant employees told township police. He pointed the gun at a 21-year-old cashier and demanded money. The cashier opened the register and the suspect stole an undisclosed amount of money. He then fled from the restaurant on foot. Police responded and searched for the suspect with the assistance of a canine unit from the Washtenaw County Sheriff s Office. The suspect was not
PLEASE SEE ROBBERY/14-A

hat makes a downtown unique? For the next two weeks, Heritage Media will look at two major issues facing area downtowns involving vacancies and historic preservation. This week, we look at vacancies in Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Saline, Milan and Belleville, and how area downtowns are combating them and trying to fill the storefronts. Next week, well look at how historic preservation in downtowns can affect business and the downtowns atmosphere. Well host a live chat

Check out our video:

Sheriffs deputy talks about what his job is like Community reacts to proposed cuts at shelter

on our website, Heritage. com, Jan. 11 on what you would like to see in your

communitys downtown, and your suggestions for improving business and

other activities. The chat will take place at noon. Please be sure to join us!

Click on the jobs tab on the ehome page m our h r i t a g e . c o of website or go directly to http://jobs.heritage.com.

Turn to Page 4-A for Part I of our series on area downtowns

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We have 1,509 followers on Twitter. Become a Saline Reporter follower. Click on the Twitter tab on the home page or go directly to http://twitter. com/SalineMilanNews.

Lindman named interim police chief

By Jim Pruitt
Special Writer

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Ann Arbor, Chelsea and Saline police departments, the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Ofce, University of Michigan athletics programs and talk radio station WTKA 1050 AM worked together to provide a Christmas for more than 100 families in need.
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A 26-year law enforcement veteran is getting the nod to serve as the interim police chief for the city of Saline. The City Council voted 6-1 to approve the appointment of Mike Lindman to serve as interim police chief while a search is conducted to permanently replace Paul Bunten, who is retiring next month. Council Trustee Jim Peters opposed the move. Lindman, 56, will be considered a civilian police chief since his state license as an officer has expired. He will not carry a gun, make arrests or announce himself as a police officer. His function will be as the administrative head of the department. The practice of having a civilian police chief is common, said City Manager Todd Campbell, citing the city of Dearborn, which had an attorney serve as police chief for about a decade.

Police agencies team up to give kids a better Christmas

By Ben Baird
Heritage Media

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To receive breaking news alerts, text HERNews to 22700.

Hundreds of children in Washtenaw County received gifts this year through the local holiday charity program Magic of Christmas. Ann Arbor, Chelsea and Saline police departments, the Washtenaw County Sheriff s Office, University of Michigan athletics programs and talk radio station WTKA 1050 AM worked together to provide a Christmas for more than 100 families in need. Debbie Williams-Hoak, a former golfer and current teacher in the Ladies Professional Golf PLEASE SEE LINDMAN/7-A Association tour, started
Community Calendar . . . . 6-B Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-A Death Notices . . . . . . . . 12-A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-C

the charity 16 years ago. Residents were invited to adopt a family for Christmas. Approximately 600 children received gifts through the Magic of Christmas this year, she said, including children in about 125 families and many foster children. Schools and church leaders provide her with the names of families in need and a wish list of presents for the children, she said. She said the gifts are then delivered by police officers in time for Christmas. Other volunteers are responsible for purchasing and wrapping the gifts. Saline Police Department became involved with Magic of Christmas three

years ago. Linda Hehnlin, administrative assistant, and Jan Wegner, records, coordinated the effort within the department. Its an awesome thing, Wegner said. It makes a lot of kids very, very happy. The department collected gifts for 10 families, Hehnlin said, providing about 15 gifts per child. Its a lot of fun being involved, it really is, she said. Its very gratifying. Last year, the department was even able to fulfill one childs wish to get an electric guitar for Christmas, Hehnlin said. The need has been greater than ever this year, Williams-Hoak said. She said she believes the

constant economic pressure on families has had a snowball effect. Some families able to hang on for the first few years in a tough economy are no longer able to do so now, she said. More than ever before, she is seeing essential items at the top of wish lists rather than toys, she said. So much things that are needed -- hats and coats and clothes, Williams-Hoak said. These items are on just about every list the charity receives, she said. Toys still make it on the lists, though. Williams-Hoak said she wants to make sure chilPLEASE SEE KIDS/3-A

The Marketplace:
Local ads are just a hop away at the MIcentral.com marketplace. While you are there, you can check out all the special supplements of Journal Register Co. newspapers in Michigan. Click on marketplace on the home page of our website or go directly to www.marketplace.micentral.com.

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E-mail: editor@salinereporter.com
March called Whats Next. Reporters are looking for what the public and local experts in various elds think is the next big trend in technology, education, business, transportation, automotive, medicine, government and other areas of interest. Tweet us using #whatsnextmi on Twitter or email mrogers@heritage.com. We welcome your ideas, suggestions for sources or stories, or a guest column.

BRIEFLY...

Bloggers sought: The Saline Reporter is seeking community bloggers to write on a variety of subjects. To pitch a blog idea Get breaking news text alerts: The or share a current blog, which would be Milan News-Leader and Saline Reporter, featured at www.Heritage.com, email Heras part of Heritage Media, offer breaking itage Online Coordinator David Veselenak news text alerts. Text HERNews, HERS- at dveselenak@heritage.com. ports and HERWeather to 22700 to sign Whats Next Michigan: The Saline up. Message and data rates may apply. Reporter will join sister publications at Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel. Heritage Media in producing a package in