25^ Lowell Cable Weathers Dispute with WWMT
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25^ C Serving The Lowel^Area for §00 Years ^ The Lowell Ledger Volume 17, Issue 48 Serving Lowell Area Readers Since 1893 Wednesday, October 13,1993 Lowell Cable weathers dispute Advent of 2nd with WWMT - Channel 3 semester, will Two sides will work to finalize tentative agreement By Thad Kraus ever, he did say the local p.m.,H he said. that will solicit what addi- return students Lowell Ledger Editor cable company had Asked If the cost of the tional channels they may procurred a radar dopier service offered by Channel be interested in receiving. A two-and-a-half day system which was developed 3 would Increase subscriber The channel 3 blackout to 6-hour day blackout of WWMT-TV for this area. The weather costs, Christman said that occurred because WWMT By Thad Kraus Channel 3 by Lowell Cable service would be picked up would not be known until was asking that Lowell Approximately $80,000 in Lowell Ledger Editor ended Friday night a little starting on Aprill, 1994. an analysis was completed Cable and other cable com- unemployment costs can be after 7 p.m. Christman said WWMTs at the end of the year. panies pay 25 cents per saved and thus, used to recall Lowell Cable Superin- price for the service is very One thing that will be customer, per month, in the Six factors affecting staff. tendent Paul Christman reasonable* completed, long before first year, 50 cents In the known revenues of the Low- Esch also noted that ap- said the two sides reached The agreement would be year's end, is a second and 75 cents in the ell School District pursuaded proximately half or $ 150,000 a tentative two-week ex- similar to the one reached realignament of channels. third yean the Lowell School Board to of the projected 1992-93 fund tension agreement with FOX. Lowell Cable This realignment will in- Cable companies said give the administration per- balance committed to oper- "Basically that means agreed to carry its new cable clude moving WWMT up they would not pay local mission^ reinstate a six-hour ating this year could be saved we've reached an agree- signal called FX in 1994. to channel 3 from 32 on the stations for their signal day beginning the second se- at a mid-year change. ment and the next two Christman, who was cable dial Instead, they would Just mester . School officials also noted weeks will be spent final- given authority to negotiate Christman said the re- drop the station from their Lowell Superintendent that it is reasonable to be- izing it/ Christman said. a settlement by the Cable alignment should take place local package. Fritz Esch said positions be- lieve, with a reasonable The Lowell Cable Su- Board, said he and City At- sometime after the 2Dth of TCI and WWMT ing recalled will require marketing plan, that the new perintendent said the torney Dick Wend t reached October. reached agreement on funds totaling $589,000. high school plan will attract tentative agreement does an agreement around 7 p.m. At that time, subscrib- Thursday, roughly 24 The positions will include: some students. include cash for carrying on Friday. "Channel 3 was ers will also receive a letter hours before Lowell Cable. •23 teachers/two counsel- "Because of the resched- WWMTs signal. How- then backon the air by 7:30 ors ($500,000). ulingthat will needtobedone • Three full-time custodi- at the high school, it is im- ans ($47,000). possible to reinstate the School finance reform will redefine the • One in-house middle six-hour day before second school supervisor ($12,000). semester," Esch said. • One in-house/study hall Board vice president Chris roll of adult and community education high school supervisor VanAntwerp. reminded the By Thad Kraus wouldn't stop there. He would ($12,000). approximately 100 people in individualized skills such as weren't being addressed in a Lowell Ledger Editor then market the program, in •Three kindergarten para- attendance that, even with the office, basic math/reading, stereotypical school setting. an attempt to draw second pros ($4,000). return to the six-hour day, communications, problem This year Lowell had 30 chance students to the facil- • One principal (Alto El- $125,000 will remain cut out Dick Korb, Director of solving, team building and students who attended Cale- ementary ($14,000). of the curriculum budget. Schools and Community Ser- self esteem. donia Alternative High ity. "We have to put a great Factors that allowed for "That means no new text- vices, knows that the It has also allowed them to School. With the depletion of investment of money into the reinstatement of a six- books," he said. Governor's proposed plan for start up a basic education adult education funds, Low- alternative education. If we hour day to come to fruition Charlie Kohler, the only education for 1994 and be- learning center for foster ell Community Education/ don't dothisupfront we will included a State Aid Bill board member to vote against yond will "pull the plug" on adults, a New Dawn pro- Consortium will cease to ex- end up paying in either, cor- which will provide the dis- the six-hour reinstatement, Adult and Community Edu- gram, and a program at local ist in June of 1994. rections, mental health or trict with a 1.3 percent said he had concerns about cation as it is now defined. nursing homes. Instead ofballyhooingthe welfare," Korb said. increase or $125,000. embarking on a program that Currently, for every full- "For years, schools have charter school proposal by the The proof is in its puddi ng. The school also antici- may have to be cut again next time equivalent (adult and gone to local business and Governor, Korb has set his There were 17,000 adults who pated a loss of students due to year. "We can't afford to do alternative education) stu- industry with their palms up. sights on finding out how he participated in adult educa- the five hour day schedule. all of this and risk paying for dent, Lowell gets reimbursed. This pro-active program turns can be prepared to use fund- tion in Kent County last year. The district actually enrolled it again," Kohler said. The Governor's new educa- this relationship into a part- ing that will be available for • 1,000 of them earned an additional 33 students, for In July of 1993, the Lowell tional plan will eliminate nership. We're able to provide charter schools to continue high school diplomas. an estimated additional rev- School Board found it neces- support for education to earn business with a service," Korb programs in Lowell. • 2,000 learned to speak enue over projections of sary to reduce school diplomas. said. "1 would like to be able to English. $125,000. programs because of un- Korb says it is through Lowell's Director of take those 30 Lowell students • 9,000 showed improve- District auditors have known factors. these revenues that Lowell School and Community De- who now attend Caledonia ment through testing (math, oearly completed their review With the many unknowns, Community Education has velopment believes an effort Alternative High School and reading and communication). of last year and anticipate the it was necesary in mid-July been able to start up a busi- must be made to help stu- place them in a new facility (a • 2,000 went into higher district's "actual" fund bal- to reduce the district's work ness partnership with local dents who have lost interest charter school) at Riverside education. ance to be approximately $1.1 force, that could be accom- business and industry to pro- for a variety of reasons, and (currently an elementary vide their employees building)," Korb said. He million. who have specific needs that Adult education, cont'd., pg. 8 Six-hour day, cont'd., pg. 8 HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST PICTURES planned some special activities, which will include a formal Along Main Street The Lowell Ledger office will be taking Halloween cos- closingccremony for the field. All former alumnae/alumni arc tume pictures at local businesses on Friday, Oct. 29. invited to attend, especially former band members and foot- If you plan on participating, please call in advance to set up ball players who played for Coach Burch. a picture appointment at 897-9261. SPOOKY FUN AT MEN'S OPEN BASKETBALL LOOK MEMORIAL FIRE STATION Men's open gym basketball will be held at the Lowell High The Lowell Area Fire Department will host a haunted School from 7 to9 p.m. on the following Mondays in October: house again this year. It will be held Saturday, Oct. 30 from Oct. II, 18 and 25. 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Look Memorial Fire Station. 315 S. The fee is $3 at the door. Future dates and locations will be Hudson. announced at a later date. Come on in, join the fun. If you dare! GIGANTIC BARN SALE LAST GAME AT BURCH FIELD Main St, cont'd., pg. 8 There will be a gigantic barn and bake sale, October 23 at On Friday, Oct. 22, the Lowell Varsity football team will 8 a.m. sponsored by Snow United Methodist Church. It will be play the last varsity game ever to be played on Burch Field. held at 3231 Snow Ave. INSIDE THE LEDGER Next year the new field at the new High School will be The nbencfit event is for David Blanding who has acute Red Arrow girls clip Hawks, pg.