€iNe w TV Magazine Hi1 n00;: In This Issue'* Hi,,, -» ^ n i • k . Complete Listings For 'the - . ai:•' Lowell Cable TV System 4 49204 0 l« Scat ri of The Grand Valley Ledger wny lA Volume 7, Issue 21 Serving Lowell Area jgf Reader* Since 1893March 30. 1983 Teachers and Board come to terms on contract After months of sometimes to them by contract paid in equal payment of from 16 to 30 percent blame already-high taxes and as- would be willing to see the bus- grams they were willing to sup- tense negotiations, the Lowell installments until the last pay of the retiree's regular teaching sessments for the March 14 mil- ing program discontinued for the port with a favorable millage MBS Hducation Association and the date of the 1982-83 school year. salary lage defeat more than anything sake of improved instructional vote. The survey listed busing, a Bill Lowell Board of Education In addition, teachers will re- In a special meeting of the else. Fifty-one percent of the re- programs This figure compares six-hour school day. extra-cur- Wednesday ratified a three-year ceive salary increases of 6 per- board held Wednesday, March spondents said that taxes were with 41 percent for non-parents ncular activities, buildings and contract agreement which gives cent for the 1983-84 school year, 23, High School Assistant Prin- the reason for the millage defeat, These results were significant grounds improvements, and in- teachers the retroactive pay in- and 6-1/2 percent for the year cipal Dick Korb explained the re- compared with 20 percent who to Korb because they seemed to structional improvements. crease they had demanded earlier following. sults of a post millage election felt that dissatisfaction with the indicate that parents were senous Respondents said that they in negotiations. Base salary for beginning telephone survey taken to give school board sank the millage ef- about restoring quality educa- would be willing to vote millage According to a copy of the teachers this year is at SI4.I27. the Board of Education some fort. Other reasons given were tion. in all areas except buildings and agreement obtained by the A teacher with a BA and 11 years sense of community response to the bad economy, contract In the final question of the sur- grounds improvements. ledger, the teachers will receive with the school system will re- millage issues. negotiations, dissatisfaction vey. voters were asked what pro- a 2-1/2 percent pay increase for ceive a salary of $23,576. The survey, Korb said, polled with teachers and administra- the present school year, retroac- The new contract agreement 216 residents who voted in the tors. Walkathon raises $1,400 tive to the beginning of the also includes an early retirement March 14 election, names were The survey also indicated that school year. incentive. According to the pulled at random from poll books voters were not interested in see- The Saturday walkathon spon- funds merely to maintain the ath- Teachers' pay checks will re- agreement, teachers between the and residents contacted by tele- ing the same millage proposal sored by the Lowell Athletic- letic program, but could instead flect the salary increase begin- ages of 55 and 60 can now retire phone the weekend following the placed before them in another Boosters will net the Boosters turn their energies toward up- ning in June, with money owed and receive a one-time lump sum election. millage election. about SI400. according to wal- grading athletic facilities and Korb said that the polling Sixty-two percent of the re- kathon co-chairman Gary Kemp. equipment techniques used should yield sur- spondents said that a re-run of At a meeting of the Boosters held vey results with a 90 percent val- the last millage elections would Monday evening, members de- idity, plus or minus 6 percent be unacceptable. Eighty-four termined thai walkathon earn- Good Friday The results of the survey indi- percent of those surveyed, how- ings. combined with funds from cated that a disproportionate ever. said they would accept a an upcoming freestyle wrestling Services at number of voters without chil- split ballot, with the opportunity tournament and benefit dance, dren in Lowell schools voted in to separately approve a 17.9 mill would put them at or very near Nazarene the March 14 election. renewal and a 3.9 mill additional their goal of S40.000 for the While the make-up of resi- request. 1982-83 school year. Community Good fnday Ser- dents in the Lowell School Dis- The survey also tested voter Last payment date for the vices will be held this year at the trict is split evenly between response to an elimination of the Boosters is Apnl 15. Lowell Nazarene Church, with households with and without school bus program should no The Walkathon held last the Rev William F Hurt acting school-age children, 56 percent additional millage be approved. weekend was not as successful as as host pastor. of those surveyed said they had Fifty-three of the respondents one held last fall, but the Boos- The service, which begins at no children in the Lowell Area said thai ihey would rather not ters had not expected a large 1:30 P M . will include a sermon ALONG MAIN STREET Schools. see busing discontinued for the turn-out presented by the Rev. William J. CKXM) FRIDAY CLOSINGS These figures are a bit disturb- sake of preserving instructional Kemp said thai at this stage Amundsen of the First United ing to Korb because they indicate programs. Booster club members are a little Methodist Church and special Most biwell businesses will closc this Friday. April I from noon that voters with children in the Surpnsingly. when parents's weary of fund-raising, and are music by an ensemble of high until 3:00 P M so ibal employees may attend Good hnday serv ices schools, who would be more and non-parents' responses were hoping that any additional funds school students. (see artidc in this issue I Businesses needing signs to posi in your likely to vote favorably on a>piil- divided, a larger percentage of needed to reach their goal will The commuity service is spon- u mduw informing your customers of your being closed those hours lage proposal, are apparently not parents would favor elimination trickle in w ithout a lot of effort sored by the Lowell Mimstenal may pick them up Iree of charge at the (irand V alley Ledger The showing up at the polls ol busing than would non-par- on their part Association. A nursery will be Lowell Library will be closed all day (itKnl Friday, books due thai According to the survey, vot- ents. forty-eight percent of the He expressed hope that the provided for worshipers with day will be due Saturday, April 2 instead ers m the Lowell School District parents surveyed said that they Boosters would not have to raise small children. iOKEMO DISTRICT SCOUT FEST V.F.W. Auxiliary donates video game Keep on the alert for Scouts selling tickets to the lokemo District Scout l est to be held in Lowell April 30 One thousand scouts from The women's auxiliary of Montcalm and Ionia Counties, northern Kent County, and Lowell VfW Post #8303 last week do are expected for the event. Tickets are being sold for S3 for the en- naled a wall-mounted video tire family, and SI individually, with 30 percent of the proceeds bow ling gan to Lowell Medical going to the local Scout Packs and Tr«»ops Care Center lor the benefit of re- sidents there SWIM INSTRUCTORS/LIFE GUARD APPLICATIONS According to Linda Zilka. ac- tivities director ai the center, April 5, I9K3 is the deadline forSwim Instructors and LifeGuard v ideo games, besides being good applications to be accepted at the Lowell YMCA entertainment, benefit residents Minimum age lor applicants is sixteen years nl age There will be by sharpening hand-eye coordi- an American RedCross Advanced Litesavmg Class starting June 2. nation Video games have 1^83 at the K nj: Memorial Pool Qualified applicants will be inter- proven popular m nursing facili- viewed alter April 5, 1983 ties across the country, and are seen with increasing frequency OFF THE BLOTTER /.ilkak expects that, in addi- tion to regular use. the game will Involved in property accidents this past week were be taken advantage of to form Christopher Childs ol Lowell when he lost control ol the car he bowlmi: tournaments among the was driving and struck a tree on foreman Road near Lincoln Lake residents Street. Monday the 21si Steve Balcom struck the rear of a car driven by Duame frederick PRECISION & FASHION Wednesday evening on fast Main Street near James Street HAIRSTYLING - For both Joseph Platjouw of Greenville failed to yield npht or way at the men and women. Man's World stop intersection of Monroe and struck a car driven by PhillipSeese llairstylmg. Phone 897-8102. of Alto who was East Bound on Main Street hnday Afternoon. K.tdney Lewis of Lowell changed lanes on Main Street near Hud- Appointments not always son fnday evening and struck a vehicle driven bv Barbara Ward needed at Vanity Hair Fash- Lowell VFW Auxiliary members Marilyn Hendrick and Gladys Groom stand with Lowell Medi- also of b)well ions. Open live days I^owell. I wo juveniles will be sighted into ProbateCourt ihis week incon- 897-7506. cal Care Activities l>irector Linda Zilka beside the video game donated bv the auxiliary.