M • ^5% S mJP ii M „«# r<- i- V i "•iiiGPort n •'iCAG & B30K BlflDERY C r S0|(3 (Serving The Lowell Area for over 100 Years v" t » - t u.;r 350 MICH. l-J Qo OA 1 " — v T The Lowell Ledger Volume 23, Issue 12 Serving Lowell Area Readers Since 1893 Wednesday, January 6,1999 Along Main Street M SHOVEL OUT THOSE EIRE HYDRANTS Large snow storms have a way of covering up fire hydrants which play an important part in fighting house fires. Lowell Fire Chief Frank Martin asks that Lowell residents shovel out any hydrants that are covered by snow. PROGRAM ON PARENT'S ROLE IN CHILDREN'S HOMEWORK The Parent's Role with Their Child's Homework will be presented Thursday, Jan. 14 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Lowell Area Schools' Administration Building, 300 High Street. Dr. William Mclnnis, a psychologist from the Grand Rapids Psychological Consultants Group, will speak with parents. Learn how to help your child organize homework, develop a good "homework routine," homework tips, school and home communication. Find out just how involved a parent should be in their child's nightly homework. This is a free workshop with childcare provided. Call either Jantina at 897-1214 or Carol at 897-1216 by January 12. Sponsored by Lowell's Educational Support Services Dept. Clearing a Path PICTURES NEEDED EOR SENIOR VIDEO Dan Allchin, floor security for Flat River Antique Mall, spent a few hours clearing off the Parents, for the senior video to be a success, we need sidewalks from Saturday's blizzard which dumped 10-16 inches on West Michigan. The pictures of your seniors. Please bring group or individual pics, baby, preschool, junior high or current shots to the high school winter-like weather which was missing all of December made a memorable new year office or the media center by Fri., Jan. 15. Put your name on appearance. The storm was labeled as the worst snowstorm in nearly 30 years in West them and they will be saved for you. This video will be Michigan. available at the senior all-night party May, 1999. LAAC IS SEARCHING FOR A PRODUCER Lowell Area Arts Council is searching for a producer or co- producers! The play Blithe Spirit, a ghostly farce, calls for a Fire sirens ring in new year for Lowell family cast of seven...five women and two men. Rehearsals are on their way soon. For further information call director Jim •••• A New Year's Day fire gutted the home (313 N. Washington) of Lowell's Renee Marron at 897-7880 or the Arts Center at 897-8545. DeBold and her three children. Main Street, cont'd, p*;. 6 By Thaddeus J. Kraus Lowell Ledger Editor Chris, Tory and Kim State awards matching barely had time to play with their new toys or model their funds to Lowell Charter new clothes before they were ***' UJSC&J • gone. A New Year's Day fire Township for park left Renee DeBold and her three children with nothing •••• A state grant from the DNR in the but the clothes on their backs. amountof $142,000 was awarded to the "The kids are doing better township toward the development of a but are still pretty bummed. They are still in shock," said park. DeBold. Chris and Kim returned to By Thaddeus J. Kraus school Tuesday, but Tory re- Lowell Ledger Editor mained home. "I left return- Damage to the house at 313 N. Washington was estimated at $70,000. ing to school up to the kids," Engineers estimate that it will take $500,000 for Low- Police chief Frank Mar- DeBold explained. "They ell Charter Township to develop a park along the Grand tin said it appears an electric were going to wear their new space heater in the living room River. clothes they got for Christ- Its supervisor, John Timpson, hopes the 76-acre park near the front of the house mas." Inside the Ledger site can be developed for considerably less than that. may have been the cause of DeBold was next door Either way, Lowell Township is beginning to develop the fire. using her neighbor's phone u some capital for the Grand River Riverfront Park. Kim crawled out of the Gifts Left in Hahn Estate and her two boys were out house on her knees like she In June of last year, the township was granted $50,000 shoveling on Friday when her from the Lowell Area Community Fund toward the park was taught in school," DeBold for Local Organizations, daughter Kim came running said. project. out the front door yelling the Lowell firefighters were Timpson recently received verbal confirmation trom house was on fire and filled Page 20 with smoke. Park, cont'd, pg. 6 House Fire, cont'd, pg. 6 The Lowell Ledger-Wednesday, January 6,1999-Page 3 The Lowell Ledger-Wednesday, January 6,1999-Page 2 Henry C. Van Wyk officiat- passed away Friday, January ERICKSON - Paul W. KOLLl - Lenni Kolli, aged ing. Interment Georgetown 1, 1999. He w^ a founding Erickson, aged 68, of Ionia, 85, of Saranac, formerly of Cemetery. Memorial contri- member of St. Pius X Church died Friday, January 1, 1999. Stonington and Rapid River butions may be made to the OBITUARIES and retired from General Mo- He is survived by his children Area in the Upper Peninsula, Jenison Man Wins Snowmobile Raffle Holland Home Hospice. tors. He was preceded in death Paula (Jeff) Rittersdorf of passed away January 4,1999, by his grandsons Jason and Saranac, Denise (Dennis) at his home. He was born July 30, I9I3, in Finland, the son STANLEY - Roger Scott one granddaughter Makayla Damon Beak. Surviving are Hoskin of Smyrna, Karla Flat River Snowmobile Club held its first annual ALLEN - Gregory S. Allen, of John and Hilda (Eskola) Stanley, aged 41, of Alto, Dann; one sister Christie and his wife Evelyn; his children Erickson of Walker, Dale aged 36, of Lowell, passed Kolli. He went on to marry went to be with his Lord, raffle drawing. Mayor Bill Thompson drew the three John Christiansen of Stanton; Judie (Thane) Hess of Big (Heather) Erickson of Sa- away Friday, January 1,1999 Evelyn M. Lorenson Septem- Tuesday, December 29,1998. winning tickets. one brother Rocky and Stacey Rapids, Gary (Anne) Beak of ranac, Jason Erickson of at his residence. He was born ber 24, 1938 in Escanaba. She He was preceded in death by Pictured: Brad Potter (right) gives first prize winner Allen of San Jose, CA; sev- Jenison; his grandchildren Grandville; brothers Arthur January 27, 1962, in survives him in Saranac. He his daughter Sarah-Jane, fa- eral aunts, uncles, nieces, Melissa (Jon) Snead, Leslie (Betty) Erickson of Lake Todd Vanderlaan, of Jenison, the keys to a 1999 Polaris Greenville to Roger L. and worked for the Rapid River ther James, and father-in-law nephews and cousins. Funeral Beak, Aaron Beak, Brett (Pat) Odessa, John (Lucille) Indy 500 along with Triton trailer. Anna VanVlerah Allen. He Forest Service until he retired Walter Benedict. Mr. Stanley Services were held Tuesday Fockler, Shane Fockler; three Erickson of Lowell, Norman Second prize, $300, was won by John Will of Stan wood was employed at Newell in 1976 after 20 years of ser- is survived by his wife of 20 at the Johnson Funeral Home step granddaughters Yevette, (Merlena) Erickson of Manufacturing in Quality vice. He was a member of the years Joyce; daughters Eliza- (formerly of Lowell); third prize, $200, went to Charles in Belding with Pastor Ken- Valerie and Kristy Stanley; Barryton, Harry (Pat) Control. He is survived by Saranac Community Church. beth and Melissa; Vogel of Lowell. neth Harger officiating. In- two great grandsons Jacob and Erickson of Alto, Alvin (Dor- his parents Roger Allen and He is survived by one daugh- mother Betty Stanley of terment in River Ridge Cem- Anthony Snead; his mother othy) Erickson of Greenville; Anna Sisson of Stanton; his ter Shirley and Ronald Weeks Grand Rapids; sisters and etery. Memorials may be Erma Beak of Lowell; his sisters Helen McCaul of Low- grandmother Helen Allen ot of Saranac, one sister Hilia brothers Jackie (Ralph) made to the American Can- brother Bruce Beak of Wyo- ell, Esther Erickson and spe- Belding; his fiance' Pam Jacks of Florida; granddaugh- Everest of Grand Rapids, cer Society. ming; his sister Betty Lou cial friend, Bernie Gray both Coleman of Lowell and their ters Tanya and Joe Smith and Larry (Barbara) Stanley of (Dave) Clark of Lowell. The of Lansing; two grandchildren children Julie, Jeannie and Jana Weeks and four great- Memphis, Mickey (Ellen) BEAK - Mr. Lloyd Beak, Funeral Mass was held Tues- Natasha and Breana; many Following the rules ensures safety on the trail for all Stephen Coleman all of grandchildren. He was pre- Stanley of Brighton, Sandy aged 85, of Grandville, day at St. Pius X Church with nieces and nephews. Funeral Duran. He is also survived by ceded in death by one sister (Jim) Hoorn of Northville, Fr. George Darling celebrant. services were held Tuesday at Whether you' re a veteran or a rookie snowmobiler, follow safety tips: Elsie Tyrvainen. There will MI; mother-in-law Marjorie Interment Resurrection Cem- the Roth-Gerst Chapel, Rev. the rules of the trail to safely enjoy the seasonal sport whose • Always wear a helmet. It's the law. Full-face helmets be a private visitation and fu- Benedict of Alto; brothers- etery. Memorial contributions Gordon Barry officiating. In- rebound in popularity has been nothing short of remarkable, protect against frostbite. neral service at a later date.