35tf frving 77ig Lowell Area for over 100 Years ) <5 SOW j 300- ii ' A»Tr r. sp • r. n r ^ - ^'rvGp 0i?r i The Lowell Ledge432 r Volume 23, Issue 9 Serving Lowell Area Readers Since 1893 Wednesday, December 31,1997 School safety committee to address today "s concerns before they're future problems By J.N. Boorsma There is not one single in- committee will begin meet- Contributing Writer cident that has lead to a review ing in January and probably of the school's safety proce- will meet for two to three Should all school volun- dure, Bleke said, but rather just months. teers be required to have questions that have popped up The committee will re- criminal background checks? during the day-to-day opera- port its findings to Bleke, This is just one of the tions of the school. The ques- who in turn will review the questions that a new safety tions centered around such information and inform the v|f committee, formed by Low- topics as dispensing of medi- board of any changes if any ell Area Schools, plans to ad- cation, bus transportation, and are recommended. dress in the upcoming volunteers in the schools. It is not uncommon for months. "We are trying to be pro- a school district to review its The committee, formed active instead of reactive," he policies and procedures. In by Superintendent Bert Bleke said, adding it is the hope that fact, for any school district and put together by the by having the committee re- to continue to update and district's head of security A1 view the district's safety pro- improve itself, school offi- Eckman, includes parents, cedures, the district will be cials often review policies to administrators and teachers. able to solve a problem before make sure they fit with the "Basically, we had a va- it even happens. school's current needs and riety of questions pop up on The committee was set to structure, Bleke said. different issues and rather start meeting in December, but "This really is just be- than take them all separately, the first session was cancelled, ing proactive in trying to ad- 1 asked A1 (Eckman) about not because of the district's re- dress concerns and future putting together the commit- cent bomb scare, but due to problems before they really tee to look into them," Bleke bad weather. Bleke said the are problems," Bleke said. said. mm ——T • .• 1 '1 : 1 . ' l;.'; . • 1 Jim Hodges served on the Lowell City Council for nine years. • : n) mmm • By JJN; Boorsma formed to help people like O'Beime, who Councilman's long either don't drive or drive on a limited ba- sis, get to places they need to go, whether When Scott O'Beime moved to Low- it's a doctor's appointment or just going to journey ends; Hodges sst summer, he wasn't too concerned Woodbind Mall. about how he was going to get to his The program was started by the North doctor's appointments in Grand Rapids. Kent Service Center as the Rockford Area ready to start anew O'Beime doesn't drive much and Transit Service. In 1994, the center decided won't drive in Grand Rapids because of his to get out of the transportation By Thaddeus J. Kraus ning numbers for Hodges. However, it did eye sight. He figured Lowell was a big Lowell Ledger Editor produce some hurt. "The results were dif- enough city to have a taxi service, so ev- changed the ' ferent than what 1 thought they were going erything would work out fine. Service. Leaving the city council, be it not of to be," Hodges explained. "I will be But Lowell doesn't have a taxi service. At that time, six municipalities partici- his own choice, has come at a very natural honest...! felt sorry for myself for about 24 whichmight have left 0' Beime in the lurch pated, some using Housing of Urban De- point in Jim Hodges' life. hours." if luck, and the local senior center, hadn't velopment Block Grant monies to help Td still like to serve on boards and Hodges calls his nine years of council connected him to the North Kent Transit fund it, said Gathy Wmick, who is the cus- there are things I'd still like to be a part of, service a long but incredible journey. "I Service provided by Hope Network. tomer service representative for the pro- but at a point where I' ve just completed my am very honored to have been selected and "It's comforting to know that if I have gram. Today, 19 municipalities participate master's degree in public administration, to have served on the council." to go to Grand Rapids or someplace, they'll in the program including Lowell Township, it's time to pursue other things," Hodges A council, he says, which has been be Acre," O'Beime said. "There's really Vergennes Township, and the city of Low- said. diverse within reason but respectful among no other way here in Lowell to get to Grand ell. Community Mental Health and St. The nine-year council veteran lost his one another even in disagreement. 'There Mary's also contribute, ft*|l|i|| seat in the November city council general has been diversity but also cooperation," North Kent Transit Service was Transit,cont'd, pg 6 election. Hodges explained. — Hodges, who seriously considered not A prime example of this is the Bowes running for another term, waited until the Road realignment dispute over property. last hour to hand in his petition. "My one Hodges points out that the council worked contingency was how many candidates with the Barbers (Jim) to get things done. m were running," he says. "Had I not run, "The county had just one plan which there would have been three people run- did not accommodate the Barbers," Hodges ning for three seats. I did not want a per- said. ception of government rubber stamping." The council worked with the Barbers Hodges said once the decision to run to find an alternative. was made, despite all the pre-election con- "It was a classic example of how things siderations, he wanted to win another term. can and should be done," Hodges said. Mere's 'Wishing Jou A "Once I decided to run, I ran to win." "Local government is the best because Election night did not produce win- Hodges, cont'd, pg. 6 Safe, Teacefut19981 *r- I /' The Lowell Ledger-Wednesday, December 31,1997-Page 3 The Lowell I>edger-Wednesday, December 31, 1997-Page 2 great grandchildren; two sis- cember 24, 1997. Surviving VanderBee of Grandville, tation will be Wednesday (to- ters-in-law Lillian De Cator are his wife, Joyce; children: Gertrude and Robert Krol of day) from 2-4 p.m. and Thurs- Cherry Creek fifth-graders brighten the holidays for furry friends and Burdene Huyser both of Brian (Sue) Masengale, Brent Jenison, Wilma Dingess of day from 2-4 and 7-8:30 p.m. Hudsonville; one brother (Cindy) Masengale, Beth OBITUARIES Grand Rapids, brother-in-law at the funeral home. Lester and Evelyn Huyser of (Blaine) Workman, Bridget By Thaddeus J. Kraus Robert Zerfas of Dorr; 8 (Joel) Harder all of Ionia; 7 Lowell Ledger Editor Humane Society devel- adopt out," Eslaymi said. grandchildren and I great- DE CATOR - Mrs. Evelyn Grand Rapids; one sister, grandchildren; one sister, opment director Alison The director told students grandchild. She was preceded De Cator, aged 91, of Wyo- Esther Post of Wyoming; and BRONDYK - Belly Ann (Pol- ter. He survives her in The fifth-grade students Eslaymi said the shelter ex- that lost animals are kept four in death by her daughter ming, passed away Saturday, several nieces and nephews. Ionia (Blair) Workman of ler) Brondyk, aged 63, of Saranac. Also surviving are of Wendy Ackermann and ists on donations. "We sur- days. "If animals are really Debra Kay Gould, grand- December 27,1997, and went Funeral Services were held Florida; stepmother. Donna Saranac. passed away Decem- her sons James and special Karen Latva have checked a vive because of generous do- sick or hurt when we get them, daughter Kristal Ann and sis- to be with her Lord. She was Tuesday from the Cook Me- Gracie of Lowell; mother- Mm* ber 28. 1997 at her residence. friend Terri McKellips of wish list several times this nations like this," she said. we put them to sleep." ter Henrietta. Funeral Ser- preceded in death by her hus- morial Chapel with Pastor Bill in-law, Susie Hanline of She was born July 4, 1934 in Lowell and Jack and Carol holiday season. "Most of the food and toys Latva said a shelter wish vices will be Friday 1 p.m. at band Donald; her son Dou- Cumow of Grandville Jenison Ionia; brother-in-law, James Byron Center, ihe daughter Brondyk of Orleans; broth- The list didn't contain are donated each year." list was printed in the the Lake Funeral Home in glas; and two grandsons, Den- Congregational Church offi- Arnold of Florida; several of Herman and Susie ers Arthur and Savannah Pot- their wishes and desires; in- The Humane Society of society's quarterly newslet- Saranac with Chaplain Rob- nis and Dean De Cator. She is ciating. Interment Grandville nieces and nephews. Funeral (Helmoldl) Poller Sr. She ter of Byron Center. Herman stead it was for their furry Kent County operates on an ter. "From that list, they ert Dahl officiating. Interment survived by her son Darl and Cemetery.