w s H.AQ \\ 50^3 350 m w* j ? n • ! *1-, SmlBjc IV hrttci An-a K»r Our l«» Vr*i>! •fcw i ."•J • ; • i < \ ^ ^ ' M C P i f p r f p M tcin N 492^4 The Lowell Ledger Volume 28, Issue 16 Serving Lowell Area Readers Since 1893 Wednesday, February 26, 2(K)3 PURforms to purchase original section of Newell By Thaddeus J. Kraus Lowell Ledger Editor before the end of last year, St. in Grand Rapids. An early 32 people and runs three shifts "We'll have to coordi- "By allowing us to split the filled that void. March closing on the transac- in a 25,000 square foot build- nate the move with our cus- parcel, it got the facility down With the closing and/or The good economic news tion will make it official. ing. tomers. The move can't in- to a manageable size. We're downsizing of Family Fare, doubled recently when city The polyurethanes can be "We anticipate expansion convenience them or shut not seeking a variance, in- Newell Manufacturing and officials learned that an offer flexible, i.e., such as seat cush- and increasing our number of them down," Raimor said. stead a clarification on the Attwood Corp. all within the to purchase 65,000 square feet ions, gaskets; or integral skin employees," said PURform "We'11 have tooperate out of zero lot line splits." last year, the city of Lowell (original section) of the polyurethanes, i.e., steering president. Rick Raimor. both facilities initially" Kuiper said the building was in need of some upbeat Newell building was accepted wheels, armrest console cov- PURforms customers in- The group of investors was on the market for ap- economic news. by investors. erings and floor mats; or a clude Crown Equipment, who purchased the Newell proximately nine months. The announcement that The purchase offer was mold rigid poly foam for struc- Steelcase, Maytag and 3-M. building is working with the Grubb Ellis Paramount is U a group of investors pur- tendered by PURforms, a cus- tural applications. I anticipate the move will city in order to split the facil- currently seeking to market chased what was formerly tom molder of polyurethanes, Incorporated in 1995, allow us to choose from a bet- ity into two parcels (65,000 the 440,000 square foot Newell Manufacturing, right currently located at 835 Hall PURforms currently employs ter employee base and it will and 46,000 square feet). Attwood facility for sale or improve the quality of life for "The city of Lowell un- lease. my family," Raimor ex- derstands and shares the same "I envision an ideal reuse plained. The president grew vision as the investors - rede- for the Attwood facility would up in Saranac and his family is veloping the manufacturing be for a perspective purchaser a member of the First Baptist facility and bringing in jobs." to pare down the facility into Church of Lowell. said John Kuiper, vice presi- 60-100.000 square foot sec- Once closing has taken dent of Grubb Ellis Para- tions." Kuiper said. place. Raimor says his com- mount (commercial real es- Attwood currently uses a pany will start moving imme- tate firm) and a representa- section of the building for its diately. tive of the ownership entity. marine application manufac- turing division. Alto men arraigned in brick throwing incident The Kent County Sheriff Department Jack Aaron Swick, 16. of Alto, was ar- arrested three suspects in connection with raigned as an adult and charged with the same an incident on 1-96 in which a brick was crimes as Kooiman. thrown into the windshield of a moving The third adult arrested had changes vehicle. dropped. There is a fourth person that investi- Jeffrey Douglas Kooiman. 18. of Alto, gators need to question and interview in this is being lodged in the Kent County Correc- incident. tional Facility on two counts of assault with Vickie Prantle. 46. of Greenville, and her the intent to commit great bodily harm less 20-year-old daughter. Sarah Prantle were re- than murder and two counts of felonious turning home from Grand Rapids on 1-96 on assault. Bond was set at S500.000 cash/ Friday (Feb. 21). surety. He was arraigned on Monday and a Traveling eastbound under the Morse Lake preliminary exam was set for March 10 at overpass, a brick came through the windshield 2:30 p.m. in the 63rd District Court. Cas- cade. Brick Throwing, cont'd, pg. 8 City promotes preventive measures in fight against sewer backups By J.N. Boorsnia Contributing Writer S8.49 for a 3-inch drain to a seal into the drain to prevent SI 1.88 for a 2-inch drain. The the sewage from going into In an effort to help pro- device fits in a drain. When the home. mote the use of such devices the sewer starts to back up. Sewer Backups, as backwater valves and drain the float automatically pushes cont'd, pg. 8 floats, the city will be giving some residents drain floats as a preventive measure in sewer Inside ••• IHH backups. e Tales of Earth and Sky At the city council's Tuesday night meeting. Pub- The Lowell Ledger lic Works director. Dan The Lowell Area Arts Council, in partnership with Circle Presents, offers "The DesJarden said he wanted Dallas Children's Theatre production of "African Tales of Earth and Sky." $500 to purchase drain floats Originating from the campfires of Ghana, the one-hour musical is a blend of vibrant to be given to residents iden- costumes, pulsating rhythms, storytelling, and dance. "Why Does the Lion Roar," and tified as having a sewer "Why Do Lightning and Thunder Live in the Sky," as well as other tales about courage, backup due to a city or other Rotary Recognition bravery, friendship and pride, are highlighted. related problem. His plan was The performance is Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Lowell Performing Arts Center. to give one to each resident Winner, Tickets are $ 10 for adultsand $8 for children. LA AC members pay $8 for adults and who has been identified with the problem since 1997, a to- $6.50 for children. tal of 32 homes. Page 9 A drain float can run from The Lowell Ledger - Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - Page 3 The Lowell Ledger - Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - Page 2 ing. She was preceded in worked for 25 years at brother and sister-in-law Chapel Hill Memorial Gar- death by her loving husband Frigidaire in Greenville. He Michael and Donna Roskamp dens. Memorial contributions William. She will be sadly was a member of the North and their children; his mother may be made to the Disabled missed by her children Larry City changes zoning requirements in suburban residential OBITUARIES American Fishing and Hunt- and father-in-law David and American Veterans or Sun- (Char) Rosema, Jerry ing Club and loved hunting Martha Roskamp of Lowell; set Park Church of God. (Penny) Rosema of Lowell, By J.N. Boorsnia Contributing Writer One resident, Mark Bowman, of 410 James Street, said he proposed ordinance changes also included a reduction in and fishing. Keith was a lov- grandmother-in-law Anna ROSEMA - Lois June Rocky (Darlene) Rosema, wanted to know how this would affect the proposed Sundry the front yard setback from 40 to 30 feet, an increase in the COUGHL1N - Nettie sisters Betty Lambert, Vir- ing husband, father and Marie Roskamp; many Rosema, aged 81, of Grand Robert (Dionel) Rosema, Hoping to encourage new housing developments, the development on High and James streets. The council said this rear yard setback from 25 to 35 feet, and a decrease in the Coughlin. aged 80. of Sa- ginia Noble; 39 grandchil- grandfather and will be nieces, nephews, cousins and Rapids, went to be with her Arlene (Scott) Graham; 17 Lowell City Council unanimously agreed to reduce the size proposal would have no effect since the developers are moving minimum lot width from 165 to 125 feet. ranac, passed away February dren; 49 great-grandchildren greatly missed by his family many friends. Funeral ser- Lord Thursday, February 20, grandchildren and 15 great- of the lots in suburban residential. ahead with a planned unit development (PUD) for the project In both the residential R-1 and the suburban residential 18, 2003. She was preceded and two great-great-grand- and friends. He was married vices for Keith will be 2003, following complica- grandchildren of whom she The proposal came after a lot of study by the Lowell at this time. areas, the change would put into effect a new minimum in death by her son Fred and sons. Private services will be on Dec. 31, 2002, to Lisa Wednesday at 1 p.m.atShiloh tions from a seven-year cou- was very proud; a loving and Planning Commission, much of it done by former Mayor Jeanne Shores said the Sundry project was not the dwelling unit floor area that would be 1,200 square feet for daughter Mary. Mrs. held in Big Bay, Ml. Roskamp and she survives Community Church with Pas- rageous struggle with mul- special sister Sharlene (Dou- planning commissioner John VanderWilp, which exam- nemesis behind the creation of this ordinance either. the main floor of a single level home and 780 square feet on Coughlin is survived by her along with his children tor Kendall Harger officiat- tiple strokes. Born on May 2, glas) DeBlaay; two brothers ined lot size requirements of the city's suburban residential "Even when I was on the planning commission, we were the mam floor of a multi-level home with total floor space children Sonny (Kelly) OLSEN - Keith A.