H<M<! 4 25C ""3' 300X -"R'Noposr. UIchican A A 49284 Volume 12, Issue 4 Serving Lowell Area Readers Since 1893 Wednesday, December 9, 1987 Lowell YMCA seeks a course for the future In July of 1987 the Lowell scss !hc recreational needs of the ell Branch YMCA had 13 Lowell YMCA hired Kennedy Re- community and its attitudes to- community leaders interviewed seareh. Incorporated to prepare wards the organisation, to see if they held any interest a community image study to as- This was a year alter the Low- in. and for the growth of the local YMCA. On the surface the answers to these questions may mx have Along Main Street meant a whole lot to many, but to the Lowell Branch YMCA it meant Ihe difference between re- I maining a branch of the Grand Rapids YMCA and maybe put- ting into motion a plan to become independent and to relocate. 'These studies will help us do imr job. and to know what we should and shouldn't do," direc- tor of the YMCA Jim Hodges said. "Knowing if the commu- SANTA CLAUS PARADE TO BE SHOWN ON LCTV CHAN- nity and its leaders' image of the NEL 2 YMCA is good or bad, tells us whether a move to become inde- The Lowell Santa Claus parade and conversations with Santa pendent is realistic." will be shown on LCTV Channel 2 on: Tues , Dec. 8 at 10:00 Another concern is the re- a.m.; Wed., Dec., 9 at 12 noon; Thurs., Dec. 10 at 2:00 p.m.; lationship with the Grand Rapids Fri., Dec. 11 at 5:00 p.m. and Sat., Dec. 12 at 10:00 a.m. YMCA and whether or not it and the Lowell YMCA board will en- CAR RAFFLE TICKET SALES RESUME dorse a move to become indepen- dent The Athletic Boosters will resume selling car raffle tickets at The two groups met at the the basketball games. 2 winners will be drawn on Dec. II, and Lowell YMCA board meeting Umuc will be eligible for the final drawing. Dec. 7 and talked about solutions toward the refotionship between FIRE DEPARTMENT SPONSORS A BLOOD DRIVE them. Grand Rapids is willing to The Lowell Area Fire Department will be having a Blood Drive. help in anything that would best Frank Martin»left, president of the Lowell Lions Club, presents a check for $500 to Jim Hodges, Wed., Dec. 16 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Lowell Middle serve Lowell. 'That may mean director of the Lowell YMCA for the community survey project. School. Call Frank at 897-8916 or 897-7736 or John at 897-8072 helping in our effort to become "Even the criticism from the image of the YMCA and how it to sign up. Walk-ins are also welcome. Give this special Gift of independent." Hodges said. cent), child care facility (60 per- study was good, it will help us serves the community. Many felt Life during the holiday season. However, the Lowell board cent), weight training room (60 still needs to meet and decide if percent), and outdoor tennis do our job better." Hodges said. the strength of the organization Some of the criticisms brought seemed to be in its variety and COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTED becoming independent is the di- courts (51 percent). rection it wants to go. Hodges Currently, the Lowell YMCA to the forefront by the study were quality of programs. J that the respondents did not feel A majority of the general over- Surplus commodities, butter, cheese and flour, will be distn- added that it would be premature is without any central physical they were well informed about views gained from the 13 com- buted from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10 at the to speculate on what the board s facilities; activities are held in the YMCA; lack of facilities; munity leaders in the goal de- Lowell Moose Club. 210 1/2 E. Main St.. Lowell. Next distribution decision will be. various locations throughout the high fees; lack of financial sup- velopment interviews were also will not be until January 18, 1988. Make your plans now. "Being a branch of the Grand area. It is felt that the YMCA rapids YMCA makes doing bus- has grown sufficiently to warrant port; and lack of a pool. positive. But overall the Kennedy study OFF THE BLOTTER iness in Lowell more difficult." its own facilities in order to serve the community better shows residents have a positive Lowell officers investigated 18 accident complaints in the month Hodges said. "Any decisions of November. 4 of which resulted in injuries to occupants. about finances and program Arrested on two warrants issued by the 63rd District Court for items need Grand Rapids' ap- failure to appear was David Swearingen, 21, of Lowell on Friday. proval. New librarian at Lowell Nov. 4th. "It's frustrating when you Kathryn Clouser. 17, of Lowell sustained injuries Thursday don't have total control of your Andrews has seven years of morning, Nov. 3, when the car in which she was a passenger own destiny, it sure would expe- previous experience in the li- struck a parked car owned by Phil Traver of Lowell on East Main dite things if we could do things brary field. For the past 2-1/2 Street. The driver of the car was identified as Francis Clouser. 45, here." years she has worked at the Old of Lowell, who escaped injury. Moreover, the Community Kent Bank in Breton Village. Arrested Friday, Dec. 4, on a 2 count warrant issued by 63rd Image Study put together by Her library work includes District Court for breaking and entering of a residence was Lloyd Kennedy Research, Incorporated serving as assistant director at Powell Jr., 29, of Lowell. helped the Lowell YMCA gauge the Nashville State Technical In- The Lowell Medical Unit responded to 16 dispatches in the the reactions of the people to- stitute Junior College; Libranan month of November, while the Fire Department responded to 9 wards building a YMCA facility. at George Peabody College in The study shows, almost three Nashville. Tenn.; and school lib- 0 dispatches in the month. Steven Ralys, 21, of 40th St. in Lowell was northbound on quarters of the respondents (73 rarian for Pinecrest Elementary Segwun when Dorothy Stahl, 77. Clarksville heading westbound percent) agreed that a separate and Homestead Junior High on Grand River struck him. Stahl was ticketed for failing to yeiuld facility should be built. It was School in Miami. Fla. right of way at a stop sign. Ralys received lacerations to the head also felt that the funding for this As fate would have it. An- and had neck and upper back pain. facility should come mainly drews worked in theatre while at James Bierman. 26, Ionia was eastbound on Fulton when his from individual donations (46 the Miami Opera Company Her left rear tire blew out. Bierman lost control and struck a retaining percent) followed by a capital role in the play "Music Man was wall on the north side of M-21. Both Bierman and passenger, Tom campaign directed towards Marian, the Librarian. Clellend, 25. of Ionia both received B injuries. businesses (11 percent), city and Andrews earned her under- Arrested Dec. 2 was Paul Eastes Jr., 26, of Lowell for driving township taxes and the YMCA's graduate degree in music educa- while license suspended, 2nd offense, a criminal bench warrant own finances (eight percent), Janet Andrews has replaced Kris Vogelar as the new librarian tion from David Lipscomb Col- issued by 63rd District Court in Roscommon. MI, and a civil and higher YMCA fees (five per- at the Lowell Public Library. Andrews brings with her librarian lege in Nashville. She then re- bench warrant issued by 20th Circuit Court in Grand Haven. MI. cent). experience from Nashville, TN and Miami. FL ceived a graduate degree in li- Injured in an accident Thurs , Dec. 3 was Norman Brown. 32, Features that arc considered brary science from Florida State of Saranac and his passenger David Brown. 29. of Lowell, when important parts of a YMCA facil- The Lowell Public Library has leaving open a spot in Lowell for University. their car was struck from behind on M-21 near the Admiral Gas ity included an indoor pool (86 named Janet Andrews to replace me." Andrews said. Andrews and her husband Station by a car driven by Timothy Kehoe, 29, of LoweH who percent), multi-purpose room Kris Vogelar as its head librarian. With help from the library Timothy of 15 years have a 14- (77 percent), gymnasium (70 per- was also injured. Vogelar. accepting a librarian board. Lowell library director year old daughter named Ashley. Issued an appearance violation for assault and battery in Lowell cent). youth game room (64 per- position in Grandville. leaves the Joe Garcia and assistant director "I knew as a sixth-grade Saturday evening. Dec. 5, was Richard Sauber, 19, of Lowell. Lowell post after serving two Sandra Boatman interviewed the teacher in Florida, when 1 No injuries were reported in an accident on Hudson near Chatham PRECISION & FASHION years. four applicants for the position. couldn't get reading material for Friday, Dec. 4 when a vehicle driven by Veronica Morse, 80. of HAIRSTYLING - For both "East Grand Rapids hired the "I've been trying to get back all the various reading levels, Lowell backed from a private drive into the side of a car driven men and women. Man's World Grandville librarian and Vogelar into libranan work for quite that being a librarian is what 1 by Edeltrand Yeiter.