25c! Volume 17, Issue 18 Serving Lowell Area Readers Since 1893 Wednesday, March 17, 1993 Riverview Residential Treatment Facility closed Youths bear the brunt of unsettled dispute between Riverview & DSS The results from 1992 fis- last week because it was no states that Riverview charged Riverview has claimed what Conklin argues just the The 1992 fiscal reviews cal and contract reviews longer considered a viable the state for more days of care DSS' overpayment has been. opposite. "There's been a pay- were completed in March. weighed heavily in the Michi- agency by the DSS. than what it could show in its Every single dollar of that ment problem since May. The Page said the DSS made an gan Department of Social According to Stephanie books. "It claimed care for went toward running the pro- DSS has even asked us to effort to reconcile the differ- Services' decision to discon- Comai-Page of the DSS the children that it didn't have," gram/ Conklin said. provide special programs for ences Riverview had with the tinue its contract with contract review showed that Page said. According to Page the the kids. Programs we have audit report. Conklin states Riverview Residential Treat- the running of programs and Riverview president forthe state's overpayment to not received funding for." otherwise. "Our accountant ment Facility. the facilities were no longer past two years, Jeff Conklin, Riverview totals $762,000. Page said the DSS'contract didn't agree with what the DSS The Lowell-based adequate. claims that simply isn't true. Conklin said he believes the review uncovered a number found. We tried to schedule a facility's doors were closed The fiscal review (audit) "Every year in our audit figure is quite a bit less than of deficiencies - the house meeting, but DSS wouldn't what the DSS is showing. were in poor physical condi- meet with us." "We've been trying to settle tion and there was an Following the closing of this since 1990. Riverview extremely high rale of staff the doors, steps were taken to even hired a lobbying firm, turnover. "These things im- move out the 22 kids. "I be- Public Affairs Association pact the care of the child," lieve the well-being of the kids (Lansing), to resolve the is- Page said. "Most of the kids was maintained and will be sue so we could gel on with are highly emotionally dis- well served in the agencies the business of taking care of turbed young people who lhey were moved to. children," he said. require stable relationships." Riverview had 11 kids in Riverview's contract with Riverview, an insolvent foster homes. Page said sup- the DSS was due to lapse at cx)rporation,disagrees with the port for those youths will the end of March, however, findings of the reports, Page continue as long as the foster the DSS decided to stop its said. "The contract agencies homes switch to another monthly payment to the lay out the standards they arc agency. agency on March 5. The re- expected to meet. The find- For the youths housed by sult was Riverview had to ings show they weren't willing Riverview the agency re- scramble to relocate its kids to." ceived $39, 476 for a 14-day in different agencies. The DSS is currently hold- payroll, that is roughly The fiscal audit indicated ing discussions with the $79,000 a month. that Riverview was not pro- Attorney General's Office on It received $3,522fora 14- viding services, and the the options available to it to day payroll foryouths in foster services it was providing was recover its loss. Page said the care homes, that is roughly not at the cost the DSS should fact that Riverview has no as- $7,000 a month. Combined be paying," said Chuck Peeler sets that the DSS can detect the agency received payments Since its closing, the kids living in this Riverview home, located at 791 Flat River from the Department of So- keeps the options to recover Drive, have been relocated. cial Services. the money limited. Riverview, cont'd., pg. 8 Tough decision required on district's future planning Do you put off revising and updating your long range strategic plan, when there are "If someone was to go back and look at our last strategic plan, I believe they would find lhat legitimate fears about what tomorrow holds for public school education in the State of 75-80 percent of the goals have been accomplished," Van Antwerp said. Michigan. At its March board meeting the Board approved the expenditure of $9,250 to employ President Ray Quada and the rest of the Lowell Board of Education tussled with that consultant, Phil Jenkins , President of Bill Mahr Associates, to help develop a strategic plan dilemma before coming to a decision. encompassing the next five years in this amount plus expenses. "I think we owe it to the district to spend money now on a process that will enter this school The Board did this with the recommendation of its goals committee, which Jenkins said district into the next five years with a plan," Quada said. "So we don't find ourselves floundering could best lead the staff and community through such a plan. in the future to set a plan in motion." "We did not want this to burden the administration. It was felt that objectivity of an outside For those who participated or those with good memories, they will recall that the school source was needed and that this plan needed to be completed expediently," Quada said. underwent a long-range strategic plan in 1988. VanAntwerp said other proposals for the same amount of money included fewer hours then Chris VanAntwerp, now vice president of the Lowell School Board, was an integral part of what Jenkins' did. that planning, and recalls its success. Future planning, cont'd., pg. 8 The deadline forthe applications is Wednesday, March 31. YMCA OFFERS YOUTH SPORT PROGRAMS You will need written references, so get your applications The Lowell YMCA is now taking registrations for its spring early. For further information call LAAC office 1 to 5 p.m., outdoor soccer program It is open to boys and girls grades Monday through Friday, 897-8545. kindergarten through eighth. It is also registering boys for the "new" T-ball/baseball and CLASS OF 1963 REUNION Softball program for ages four years through sixth-grade. For The class of 1963 will hold its 30 year class reunion further information call 897-8445. Saturday, August 21, 1993 at Candlestone Inn, Belding. For more information call Frances King-Walling, 897- LOWELL AREA FIRE DEPARTMENT'S 9048 or Mary Munroe-Halcomb, 755-5733. PANCAKE BREAKFAST The Lowell Area Fire Department's all-you-can-cat pan- cake breakfast will be held Saturday, March 27 at the Look LMS DRAMA CLASS TO PRESENT Memorial Fire Station, 315 S. Hudson. CHEERLEADING CLINIC "THE SPELL OF SLEEPING BEAUTY" They will be serving from 7 lo 11 a.m., prices arc adults $4; There will be a chee Heading clinic held Wednesday, March The Lowell Middle School eighth-grade drama class will children $2. All proceeds go toward fire equipment. 31 at the Lowell Middle School gymnasium from 2:30 to 4:30 present "The Spell of Sleeping Beauty" Wednesday, March 24 p.m. for sixth through 1 Ith-gradc students. at 7:30 p.m. in the LMS cafetorium. SKY WARN/TORN ADO SPOTTER No prc-registration required. The cost is $1. All girls The public is invited and admission is free. TRAINING SEMINAR interested in trying out forcheerleading forthe 1993-94school On Monday, March 22 Jack Cooley, meteorologist in year are encouraged to come. charge of the Grand RapyJs office of the National Weather LOWELL AREA SCHOOL HOST TOUR Service, will be putting on a Sky warn/Tornado Spoiler train- LAAC CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS The Lowell Area Schools proudly invites its citizens to tour ing seminar. Lowell Area Arts Council summercamp scholarship appli- the newly remodeled school buildings; Alto and Bushnell The seminar will be held at Ihe Lowell High School from cations are now available from Jill VanAntwerp at Lowell Elementary and the Lowell Middle School (current High 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in ihe auditorium. Special invitations were High School, Karen Lambert at Lowell Middle School or the School) on Sunday, March 21 from 12 until 4 p.m. Lowell Area Arts Council office at 149 S. Hudson. Refreshments will be served. Main St., cont'd., pg. 8 .1 The Lowell Ledger*Wednesday, March 17,1993-Page 3 The Lowell Ledger-Wednesday, March 17,lW-Page 2 services were held Thursday band John; three sons, Walter band Henry. Survived by her 1896, she was the daughter of from Day Bible Chapel, with of Sterling Heights, Pau| nf two sons Herbert (Genevieve) Alonzo A. and Lillie M. the Rev. Frank Lattimore of- Kentwood and Gary of of Ada, Richard (Dorothy) of Edwards Cusick. She was ficiating. Burial was in High- OBITUARIES Howard City ; two daughters, married to Fred C. Lobdell Oregon; six Rrandchildrcn O land Park Cemetery. A Me- Edna (Louis) Alighire of March 20, 1915. He died in morial has been established Grand Rapids, Mildred September 1952. Surviving Ada, Mrs. Gaylord (June) for Day Bible Chapel, in care and several grcat-grandi hi|. BKSMKR - Eilamay Besincr, (£elmer) QuallsofMt.Home, are two daughters, lone Perry Notices in The Ledger's at Lowell VFW Hall, 307 E. Cumberland Retirement dependent Amateur Radio service. They will play 11:30 a.m. in the audito- l Huntoon of Florida; and sev- of the funeral home.