V New DeWitt Twp Police Chief Comments On Taking Over In Troubled Department Clinton County News See Page 2A St Johns Rotary Talent Exposition Winners See Sec B -X ST JOHNS, MICHIGAN 48879 Vol. 51 Number 18 30 Pages May 2,1974 1 t After 2 previous attempts Latest drive brings sufficient recall petitions in DeWitt Twp DEWITT TWP -- Recall organizers petitions more than a month ago, confident signing by unregistered voters and She explained that was the only possible submitted a total of 1959 signatures on recall they had more than the 728 valid signatures discrepancies between petition and. notary date because of a law prohibiting recall petitions Monday-and this time it appears needed on each one. dates. elections within 90 days of a general elec­ enough of them are valid to put the issue But, they met a snag when many of the That gave 10 days to gather additonal tion. before the DeWitt Twp voters at the August signatures were declared invalid and signatures and they accurately predicted The terms of Corr and Kzeski are not up Primary. thrown out. A previous petition campaign they would have no problem doing so. until 1976, so if they are not recalled, they Up for recall are township supervisor also failed because of insufficient Syverson said although there was a 30- signatures, will serve until then. Dale Emerson; .clerk Donna Syverson and day limit on certification of the last set of It's a more complicated matter, however, trustees, Jack Kzeski and Eileen Corr. Syverson threw out 481 out of 882 petitions, there's no legal deadline this time. for Emerson and Syverson because both of Syverson said she was well into the cer­ signatures against Emerson, 468 of 851 "I'll work on it as long and as fast as I their terms expire Nov 20. tification process by noon Tuesday. against Corr and 479 of 842 against Kzeski. can," she added. Neither Emerson nor Syverson have "I'm almost positive they'll have enough Emerson invalidated 498 of §43 signatures If there are sufficient valid signatures, the announced they plan to run for another signatures this time," she commented. against the clerk'. clerk said she will request the County term. If they do, they will have to submit Recall advocates submitted the initial Reasons given for dumping the signatures Election Commission to have the issue nominating petitions by June 18. included incomplete names and addresses, placed on the August 6 Primary ballot. Rep Powell begins Lutheran Church to welcome re-election campaign new pastor State Representative Stanley M Powell of Powell supports the1 need for such an ST JOHNS -- A service of installation for Ionia declared that he wilt be a candidate for agency, he has opposed requirements on Rev Michael R. Ruhl as new pastor of the St re-election jn the 88th Representative employers which he believes unreasonable, John Lutheran Church will beheld May 5 at District. such as "reverse discrimination" through the church at US-27 and Sturgis. This district consists of 10>& townships in unofficial racial hiring quotas. He has also A reception will follow at 4 pm at the bt Ionia County, 12& townships in Clinton charged that the commission is initiating its Johns VFW Hall on N. US-27. County, 4 townships in Gratiot County, 1 own complaints, while legitimate com­ Rev Huhl comes to St Johns from Parkers township in Shiawassee County and l plaints from private citizens do not receive Prairie, Minn, where he was pastor of township and the City of Carson .City in proper attention, said the release. * Immanuel Lutheran Church for 3 years. Montcalm County. Perhaps the only thing which over­ Rev Michael Ruhl He began his studies for the ministry at For the past two years Rep Powell has shadows Powell's expertise on legislative Concordia Xutheran Junior College in Ann served the newly created 88th House • matters, is his attendance and .voting Announce St Johns Arbor^and later graduated from Concordia District. For eight years prior to that he - record, stated the release announcing his Senfor,College in Ft Wayne, Ind. He is a 1971 represented the former 89th District which candidacy. During his House tenure, Powell AA^~*-*-:„I r\M.« a~^~A~ graduate of Concordia Seminary, St Louis, included all of Ionia County, 9 townships in has always had one of the most outstanding Memorial UdV raraae Mo He vicared at Trinity Lutheran Church, Barry County and 4 in Kent County. records for both floor sessions and com- Davenport, Iowa. Previously he had helped draft Michigan's ST JOHNS » St Johns City Clean-Up Days Rev Ruhl and his wife, the former Carolyn (gee Page 10AI r will be May 9-10 between the hours of 7 am Constitution, as a delegate tp^the. ,1961-62^ , J+ f.IfctS-fj ** J-tfPf^tf, ,LaVjgne ofDscoda are. the parents of twin Constitutional Convention "*~ ••*<* art 4fern. '*•'• " --•'-." daughters, Elizabeth and Lisa Beth, born in St Johns Cleanrup City,crews will pick up'trash and brush 1971. DURING THE PAST ten years, Powell between those hours. Rev Ruhl, 29, is the son of Rev and Mrs has become recognized as a leading Residents should have the items placed at Lome C, Ruhl of Montague. legislative spokesman for rural com­ Days are May 9-70 ^ the curb. munities, standing against a tide of rising urban domination of government. His ef­ ST JOHNS - The St Johns Memorial Day forts were recognized in 1970 when he was Parade, sponsored by the VFW, will be May Gentry joins race selected for the top legislative award of the 27 with parade participants forming up at On the outside looking in are Mayor Robert Wood (those are his eyes peeking at you from Michigan Agricultural Conference, an the corner of Walker St and Clinton Ave at 10 the far left) and his family who inspect damage at the. S( Johns Band Shell. In the other association of farm-oriented groups. He was am. house seat photo Mrs Wood (2d from left) daughters Wendy (left) andMafgaret and son Douglas take the only House member given the award The parade will proceed from Clinton Ave for GOP that year, the statement said. to Lincoln, to Mead, to Steel and then will a look from the inside. Work on the band shell has been almost complete and a week-long Later in 1970 Governor Miiliken, appointed schedule of outdoor music programs is on hand to celebrate National Music Week. cross US-27, reaching the cemetery at 11 a 10-member Task Force on the Future of am. has been lost in government and our elected Agriculture. Rep Powell was the only Lewis D Gentry, 27, of Grand Ledge Those interested in participating in the announced today that he will seek the representatives." member of the House 'to be given this im­ Memorial Day observance should contact 1 Gentry, his wife Peg and daughter Jill, portant assignment, which indicates that Republican nomination for the 56th district of the following VFW members: Mike House seat. Gentry, -a second term Grand reside at 408 W. Jefferson, Grand Ledge. the Governor regards him as an Ziegler, 224-2981; Dick Worrall, 224-3308; acknowledged spokesman of rural and Ledge city councilman said, "I feel I can Martin McCausey, 224-7138 or Robert bring to this job the type of leadership that agricultural interest, the release said. Dershem, 224-4072 Powell still resides on Ingleside Farm r respects the views of the people I hope to where he was born. represent." In addition to his work for local govern­ Gentry, a graduate of Michigan State ment and agriculture, Powell has played a St Johns confirms University, has been a teacher in the Grand role in other areas. He has been leading a Ledge school system for the past five years, campaign against abuse of authority by He has served as a member of the Eaton bureaucratic organizations, such as the June 9 graduation County Republican Executive Committee, a Michigan Civil Rights Commission. While delegate to the State Republican Con­ ST JOHNS - Gordon Vandemark, St Johns vention, vice-president and local director of High School principal, has announced the the Grand Ledge Jaycees, association Derby inspection 1974 graduation date as June 9. representative of the Grand Ledge The date was set for June 9, Vandemark Education Association, and is a member of reported, because of the energy crisis and the Michigan Education Association. ST JOHNS - An inspection and weigh-in subsequent lengthening of the school year. for Clinton County Soapbox Derby par­ As a council member he was instrumental ticipants will be held Saturday at the former Ceremonies will be held at Frank Buck in the establishment of the Grand Ledge Bee's downtown building on Higham St. Football Field beginning at 4 pm, Area Ambulance Service and presently A class of 277 seniors along with 12 adults serves on the Ambulance Committee, is Cars do not have to be completed for the from the Adult Education program, will liaison to the Ledge Craft Lane Ltd. craft 1st inspection from 10 am until noon. take part in the ceremonies. shop, and is the chairman of Grand Ledge Another inspection and trial run will be Speakers will be the valedictorian, government day for 1973 and 1974. " held May 11 from 1 pm-5 pm on Railroad St. salutatorian and president of the 1974 Gentry feels that the events of the past The final inspection will be May 15 5:30-9 graduating class. year demonstrate clearly the need for pm at the downtown Bee's building.