The Grand Valieu Ledger Serving Lowell Area Reader* Since 1893 Volume 10, Issue 44 September 17,1986 Lowell is gripped by weekend long warnings "Bcc-dcc-bcc-bcc-dce-bccp. Rather than evacuating the Shopkeepers began moving Bcc-dcc-bcc-bcc-dcc-bccp". curious flocked lo Belding hop- their merchandise to high alerted TV viewer* lo a scroll ing to witness the dam burst. ground, or out of the store com- announcement on the lube Fri- Hundreds gathered on bridges pletely. Fearing the worst, GAG day evening. The message came and other vantage points on the Reproductions and the Lowell as a shock to viewers here in Rat between Belding and Low- Sport Shoppe hauled their mer- Lowell. It said the Belding Dam ell. In downtown Lowell, traffic chandise away. Gary Timinkas, was in imminent danger of burst- was ' snarled as spectators whose business. The Gift Gal- ing and that the White's Bridge gathered on the bridge and river lery" is perched precariously and Burroughs Dams would banks Record rains on Tuesday, over the Rat River at 106 W. likely fail when a seven to eight Wednesday and Thursday drop- Mam St.. said Ml had a truck foot wall of water roared down ped up to 13 inches of rain on parked right out front, and was the Rat River. Residents along the area. By Friday several dams ready to start loading as soon as the Rat in Belding, Smyrna and had given out around the state, word came down that the Beld- Lowell were told to take meas- and the dams along the Rat were ing Dam had broken.** ures to safeguard property and being tested. Management personnel at lives. Attwood Corporation rushed lo the plant lo begin emergency measures. Important records were moved lo high ground, trucks were moved to the cemet- ery and the second shift was sent home. The King Milling Co. moved their fleet of trucks from their parking lot below the Low- ell Dam to high ground at the Huge logs have been washed up at the Main Street bridge near the Showboat ticket office. II Lowell High School parking lot Record rainfalls last week caused rivers like the flat to swell over their banks and threaten dams. continued on back pg. Lowell was on alert over most of the weekend for fear of the dam at Belding breaking. Inmate operates MarLee's from prison HOMECOMING IS FRIDAY!!! 10 to 15 years for crimiaa^ cftual. policy lo operate a business trom West Mam St., Lowell, while Holy cow! It's Homecoming already. The Lowell High School Richard Spangler knows about. conduct in the second degree, 60 within a prison. Wayne LaCross, Spangler does most of the deci- will celebrate its Homecoming on Friday, Septebmber 19. It's just Spangler is currently serving to 200 years for criminal sexual an administrative assistant to the sion making via collect phone the third game of the year and the first home game, so it really several sentences at Riverside conduct in the first degree, life warden, said that prison officials calls from the prison. He orders came up fast. The parade will form near the Methodist Church at Correctional Facility in Ionia imprisonment for criminal sex- have issued Spangler with a supplies, talks to vendors, places 6:00 p.m. and step off at 6:30. The parade will proceed west along while operating MarLee's Vil- ual conduct in the first degree cease and desist order. LaCross advertising, hires employees and Main to Broadway, then south to Burch Field. lage Inn and Pizza Express from and life imprisonment for armed said that if Spangler continues to even does day-to-day menu plan- Halftime festivities will include float judging, a performance by behind the prison's walls. robbery. operate the restaurant from ning by placing collect calls. the L.H.S. Marching Band and the crowning of the 1986 King Spangler was incarcerated on Prison officials were not at lib- within the prison, he will be sub- Prison officials say that there are and Queen by last year's royalty. May 26, 1983. Spangler, 33, erty to elaborate on the situation. ject lo disciplinary action. several phones available for the The varsity squad will play the Knights from Kenowa Hills. was sentenced by a Livingston We were told that the Depart- Spangler has two partners in use of inmates dunng their free Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. County Court for 15 to 22 years ment of Corrections can not pre- the business; Irene Spangler. his time, but only collect calls can on an armed robbery conviction. vent an inmate from owning a grandmother, and Marian Sel- be placed. Employees and ven- DONATE YOUR GOURDS! On May 28, 1983 an Oakland business outside the prison con- leck. They perform the duties of dors arc always told that Spang- County Court sentenced him to fines. but it is against department operating the restaurant at 2186 continued on bad( pg. The Fallasburg Fall Festival Decorations Committee is in need of fresh flowers, sun flowers and gourds. If you have any of these, please call Carolyn Jane Blough at 897-9920 after 5:00 p.m. Canoeist drowns near Burroughs Dam ATTENTION BOOSTER CLUB MEMBERS! Tragedy struck at about 1:30 Sunday afternoon at the base of The Lowell Athletic Booster's will march in the Homecoming the Burroughs Dam (sometimes Parade, Friday evening. Please meet at the Methodist Church at referred to as the Fallasburg 6:00 p.m. Dam). Brian Keith Schellema, Also, workers are needed to park cars at the Fallasburg Fall 22, of 6912 84th St., Caledonia, Festival, Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28. Please call apparently drowned when he Denise at 897-9678 or Gay at 897-8986, if you can work a shift. was pulled under by the raging water below the dam. Schellema OFF THE BLOTTER and a friend, Allen James Thompson, 21, of 4367 ' Involved in a three car accident on Wednesday afternoon, Sep- Montcalm, Lowell, had canoed tember 10 were Edward Irby, 71, of Lowell when he changed down the Rat from White's lanes suddenly on Main St. and was struck from behind by a car Bridge. A Sheriff s Deputy said driven by Harold Barnes II, 26, of Ionia. The impact sent Irby's that he was told by witnesses the car into the side of a car driven by Jamie Smith. 28, of Lowell, duo made the trip in just an hour who was stopped at the intersection of Center and Main. There and a half on the flood swollen were no injuries reported. river. The trip normally takes There were no injuries reported in an accident that occurred on about four hours. Thursday, September 11 when Timothy Moore. 18, of Lowell The pair portaged the dam and struck the rear of a car driven by Jeffrey Childs, 18. also of Lowell. put their 17 foot canoe in on the The accident occurred on Main St. near Lafayette. eastern shore below the dam. David Bonn. 20, of Lowell was arrested and taken to the Kent The force from the open flood- County Jail on Saturday evening, September 13, on charges of gates created huge whirlpools at fleeing and eluding police officers. Bonn was chased by Lowell the base of the dam. Deputies officers for 13 miles before being apprehended. said the canoe capsized just 30 This is the spot where the ill-fated canoeists put their craft in after travelling from White's Cited into 63rd District Court on charges of consumption of feet from shore. Thompson was Bridge. They portaged the Burroughs Dam in the background and re-entered the river at about alcohol in a public place was Joseph Yurkinas, 26, of Lowell, by able to swim to safety, but 1:30 p.m. The canoe filled with water and capsized just 30 feet from shore. Lowell officers on September 9. Schellema was pulled under never attempt anything as emergency. water was determined lo be loo Cited into Court Monday evening. September 8 for minor in when he was swept toward the treacherous as the area below ihe Schellema was termed as dangerous for divers. possession of alcohol was Brent Jousma. 20, of Ada. white water coming from the dam in such flood swollen cir- "missing and presumed Units from ihe Lowell Police A boat trailer owned by John Losinger of Lowell was slightly floodgates. cumstances. Neither canoeist drowned." by the Sheriffs De- Department. Lowell Fire De- damaged when Douglas Wisner. 25, of Saranac backed into the A witness said he had canoed was wearing a life vest, and had partment on Tuesday. The Kent partment, Mercy Ambulance trailer in the Eberhard's parking lot on September 5. lots of white water, but would only seat cushions in case of an County Sheriffs Departmcni and Sheriffs E-Units responded Seriously injured on Thursday evening September 11 was Wade Dive Unit could only search the to ihe scene on Sunday. The Thompson. 19. of Ada when he drove the motorcycle he was Appointments not always PRECISION & FASHION river from a boat, as ihe raging Dive Unit continues its search. riding off the West end of Hunt St. and over the railroad tracks. needed at Vanity Hair Fash- HAIRSTYLING - For both Thompson was attempting to flee police officers at the lime of the ions, Open six days Lowell, men and women. Man's World SUBSCRIBE TO THE LEDGER accident. He was also driving on a suspended license. 897-7506. Hairstyling. Phone 897-8102. Grand Valley Ledger • Wednesday.