The Grand Valley Ledger Volume 8, Issue 17 Serving Lowell Area Reader* Since 1893 February 29, 1984 Plans for proposed Softball complex unveiled Members of the Lowell Parks Some very rough, and purposely showing costs if we go top shelf Commission unveiled their ini- high estimates of cost were as all the way". tial plan for a four diamond soft- follows; construction of fields - The Parks Commission's plan ball complex at the city's Gee $45,000, landscaping - $17,500, seemed to be pretty well received Drive park, during the Lowell rest rooms and concession build- by representatives from the Low- City Council meeting of Tues- ing - $77,000, playground ell YMCA and Bob Ford who day, February 20. The wes- $10,000, parking lot - $18,000 has been very active in adult soft- 0 ternmost field which is currently and lights $50,000. As was ball here in recent years. Jim under construction would be the quickly pointed out by City Man- Hodges, Lowell YMCA director c*uvrdf?'s primary field in the complex and ager Ray Quada, "these are all said that such a facility would be Q would be the first to be lighted. Cadillac prices for the purpose of a great benefit to Lowell softball leagues, and threw out some fig- ures to give the council an idea of how much softball is played here in the summer. Hodges said that he expects Lowell to have 114 softball and baseball teams this summer, including the Little League organized last year. That equates out to 12-14 games f played each evening throughout n the summer, plus much activity in weekend leagues. Michigan Wire Processing is currently in a growth dilemma FRUITCAKE ANYONE? and has offered the ideas of help- ing construct a new softball com- The Middle School Band has a quantity of popular Christmas plex in exchange for the existing fruit cake left over from this year's sale. Cut-rate prices are as fol- softbai l/baseball diamond in lows; 1 pound bar - $3.25,2 pound bar - $6.50,3 pound tin - $10.50 Recreation Park. Michigan Wire and a 5 pound tin for $18.00. The fruit cakes are available from any is land locked with the only pos- Middle School Band member or from the Middle School Office. For sibilities being to expand onto more information phone 897-9223. the ball diamond or move. The City Council has vowed not to DISTRICT TOURNAMENT HERE make any trade of City park property without the approval by Superior plans expansion Lowell will host the Gass B District 52 Basketball Tournament a vote of the people. Much Superior Furniture Co.. a currendy employs about 37 or 38 tury occasional furniture. The this year. Portland (17-2), Lakewood (6-13) and Greenville (18-2) negotiation between the city and landmark business here for about people, most of which have been furniture crafted by Superior is all drew dyes in the first round of the tourney. Lowell will face Ionia Michigan Wire Processing lies 80 years is planning a major ex- with the Superior Co. for many truly that, and enjoys a fine repu- (2-17) in the first game on Tuesday, March 6. All game times are at ahead before any proposal will pansion of their facility at 318 many years. tation for its design and 7 JO P.M. and all tickets are $2.00. Portland will play Lakewood on appear on a ballot. East Main Street. William J. The Superior Furniture Co. craftmanship. The furniture is Wednesday, March 7 and Greenville will play the winner of the Lee, an officer and shareholder manufactures it's own line of distributed throughout the Lowell vs. Ionia contest on Thursday, March 8. District finals will Downtown fix-up in the company told members of exclusive solid cherry 18th cen- United States and Canada. be held on Saturday, March 10. All games will be played in the the Lowell Pllanning Commis- Lowell High School Gymnasium. The District winner will advance drawings are sion that he is planning construc- to the Regional Tournament to play the winner of the Hastings Dis- McDonalds site plan approved now complete tion of an 80* * 120' addition on trict on Thursday, March 15, at 7:30 P.M. at Grand Rapids Central. the east side of the existing struc- Lowellites may be munching construction times is 75 to 80 Regional finals will be held at Grand Rapids Central on Saturday, M Members of the Lowell Plan- ture. The entrance and offices on Big Macs" by Memorial Day days, and added that the new res- March 17. ning Commission were shown will be moved into the front of if all goes well with McDonalds taurant could be open by Memo- ADULT SOFTBALL the final renderings of suggested the new building, along with the Corporation's plan to build one rial Day. The Planning Commis- improvements to all the Main addition of an employee lunch of their restaurants here. Bob sion unanimounsly gave their ap- Yes, it's almost time for softball in Lowell! For 1984 the YMCA Street Buildings in Lowell's cen- room, the rest of the building Shippel, real estate manager for proval to the plan pending the announces a similar format of 6 team divisions, playing a 10 game tral business district Monday will be primarliy warehouse with McDonalds in Michigan spoke granting of the zoning variances. schedule with an end-of-season-seeded-toumament; the fee of $275 night. The City's engineers two truck loading docks at the to the Lowell Planning Commis- McDonalds has an option to is also the same as 1983. Bob Ford, the Y-Adult Softball coordi- WBDC Architects and En- south end. sion at their meeting of Monday, buy a lot located on West Main nator, announces that some of the NEW plans for '84 is the expan- gineers drew the buildings to Lee told the planners that he is February 27. If four minor zon- Street between Thomet Chev- sion of the Co-ed Teams to 2 Divisions of 6 teams each playing on show inexpensive yet effective working with the Dan Vos Con- ing variances requested by the rolet and Buick and Heritage Monday evenings; Women's Teams to 2 Divisions of 6 teams each methods of dressing up the struction Co. on the project. The firm could be granted by the Meat Market. Their option is for playing on Tuesday evenings; and Men's Teams of 2 Divisions of 6 downtown using color coordi- front of the new addition will be Zoning Board of Appeals at their the east 170' of frontage by 300' teams each playing on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. nated paint schemes, awnings designed to look like the existing scheduled meeting of March 19, deep. The property runs all the Here arc some important dates: J* and removal of deteriorated building, complete with arched construction could begin as early way to Bowes Road, and the March 12 Sponsor/Manager meeting at YMCA office 7:00 P.M. facades. The emphasis in most windows and a white painted as late March, according to Ship- cont'd, back pg. Women. 7:45 Co-Ed, 8:30 P.M. Men cases is on doing things that brick facade. pel. Shippel said that normal March 23 '83 Teams $75 non-refundable deposit due bring out the beauty in the origi- Superior currently owns the PRECISION ft FASHION March 26 New Teams $75 non-refundable deposit accepted. nal building, such as brick and entire block with the exception City Council OK's HAIRSTYUNG - For both April 6 Balance of fees are due cornice work. of the Lowell Grantite Co. on the phone system men and women. Man's Worid April 16 Schedules available The drawings are part of the northwest corner, and the Vera HairstyUng. Phone 8974102. April 27 Games begin plan that has about $90,000 in Sherman residence near the The Lowell City Council QUESTIONS - Arc there any teams interested in a 2nd shift League federal funding behind it to be southeast corner. Lee said that voted to approve the expenditure VALLEY AUTOMOTIVE - (games played at 10:30 in the morning), or a Fast Pitch League? Call used in upgrading the down- the firm is negotiating to purch- of $10,993 for a new telephone Full service garage open from the Y-Office at 897-8445 with the name of your team sponsor/man- town. The city has not decided ase the Sherman property. One system for the city hall, police 8 A.M. to8 P.M. Mon. - Fri.; 8 ager by March 23. how the money will be distri- major snag in the proposal is that department, fire station and de- A.M. to 5 P.M. Saturdays. YMCA Youth Softball information will be distributed in the buted. WBDC is putting together much of the property to be built partment of public works. Certified Mechanics on duty. schools in mid-March. some cost estimates for follow- on is zoned commerical rather The system should provide a 2400 West Main St., Lowell ing through with the drawings of than industrial. The first step in well organized communications 897-9046. OFF THE BLOTTER a typical block, and will present getting the plan approved is a design that will allow for orderly them at a meeting of all the mer- zoning change. Lee will finalize growth with state of the art FEBRUARY 18, 1984-Steak Wayne Brown, 38, of Lowell struck a parked car on Avery near chants in the central business dis- his plans and bring his case be- equipment.