250 (^Serving The Lowell Area for over 100 Years ^ TOT The LoweU Ledger Volume 19, Issue 1 Serving Lowell Area Readers Since 1893 Wednesday, November 16,1994 C-l fp,.' ^ CI a^-s- be***- 1 \ \ \ \ \ 11 n AVV y** P U f* i v « '• mm r&ft#*: v.<Sr^r f J •r (tr nr ton f e t> Wv* JWHRTTV'- -rj» x This is a sketch of the proposed riverfront design for the city of Lowell. The city will begin work on its DDA project in 1995. DDA project could be enhanced by FTE funds By Thad Kraus Swanson also noted that Spring Lake has a $1.3 the funds. Lowell Ledger Editor the repaving of M-21 in the million bond issue. The con- Should Lowell be granted city is being scheduled for struction will start in the FTE funds, they would not be 1996. Bridge improvements spring. available until the construc- Through the Federal and needed curb replacement Spring Lake Village tion season (April) of 1996. Transportation Enhancement will be handled at the state Manager Eric DeLong said The application deadline is Fund, the Lowell Downtown expense. its match with the FTE pro- April 15, 1995. Development Authority has Through the Federal gram was 50-50 dollar match- If Lowell were to receive an opportunity to improve Transportation Enhancement ing. these additional funds, they upon its roughly $ 1.2 million (FTE) program, cities are "We included the monies could possibly be used toward downtown improvement asked to put in a minimum of from the Federal Transporta- additional landscaping and/ project. 20 percent. FTE will match tion Enhancement program or extending the boundaries Larry Swanson, of the up to 80 percent. Swanson in planning for our project," of the project. Incredible! Michigan Department of said the more the city matches, DeLong said. uWe had a good Lowell will begin its It was a comeback movies are made of - Lowell girls basketball team trailed by as many as 29 points in its Transportation, suggested the better its chance of gain- design team and felt confi- DDA project in '95 by im- that thecity apply for federal ing additional funds. dent we would get the addi- proving the city parking lot district contest against Belding Monday night before transportation enhancement Lowell City Manager tional funds." on Riverside Drive and at Me- pulling out a miraculous 65-64 win. Above, Tammy funds, this would give the Dave Pasquale said recently Through FTE, Spring morial Park on the east end of Stauffer drives for a layup against Forest Hills Centra DDA an opportunity to do the city of Spring Lake was Lake received $350,000. town. The complete story is on page 18. more projects or expand upon successful in garnering these Those funds will be used for Other actions recently what is already planned. additional funds. streetscaping, curb and gut- taken by the DDA include: ter as well as sidewalks and • initiating the engineer- Township revisits hall addition with new priorities in mind benches. DeLong said light- ing of streetscape improve- ing is not an eligible use of DDA, cont'd., pg. 8 By Marc Popiolek to only 2,500 square feet per floor. Contributing Writer The change in space is due to the new high school being built. As part of the original construction plans, the school was INSIDE THE LEDGER The Lowell Township Hall could get a face-lift providing going to use some space for their office needs, but that is not construction costs for a new addition fall within the township's a factor any more. Middle School stage guidelines. The township still wants to add onto the hall because they Two years ago the township decided not to go ahead with feel the addition would benefit the community. improvements, pg. 3 a 10,000 square foot addition because the estimates were well "At some point in time, we'll need to build something for above what the township could afford. the community. We are growing fast and in five years, we'll Cherry Creek The estimates ranged between $400,000 to $700,000, but need the extra space," said Township Supervisor John Timpson. the township only had $300,000 to spend on the project. Timpson said the hall could he rented out for community playground ready , pg. 21 At a recent meeting the township was presented with meetings or receptions and would also be beneficial during preliminary plans that are scaled down from two years ago. election periods. First Buck winners, Originally the township had plans for two 5,000 square One cost saving measure has the township building a 22 foot floors in a two -story floor plan, but that has been reduced Face-lift, continued, pg. 8 PS- > The Ledgtr-Wednesda^. November 16, lW4-Pa2e 2 The Lowell Ledger-Wednesday, November 16,4994-Page 3 member of Moose Lodge grandchildren; her brothers, -S09. Ken: Co. Veterans Don (Arienc) Tiddens of FL Third annual OBITUARIES Honor Guard. Funeral Ser- Bob (Ann) Tiddens of Grand vices -Aere held Friday with Rapids, Roger (Floss) Folkert's five-step plan addresses recommendations of audit Rev. Gordon Barry. First Tiddens of Grand Rapids; her Christmas Through By Thad Kraus Lni ted Melodist Ch u rch of mother-in-lav^ Esther end fund balances on a more independence of functions Finally, Folkert'splan un- the checks written and the various funds. This went into DALSTRA - Albert G. •9. 1906. at Bo^ne Center Low eiLoffidadng, Graveside W illyard of Caledonia; her Lowell Ledger Editor current basis, Suarman that now exists within the derlines that a worksheet will transfer of monies from the effect the first of Novenbcr. D ; sira. aiied "3. of Grand She attended Bowne Center Lowell hits home Servces under t.-e Auspice brothers-i n-Iaw and sisters-in- pointed out that the last business office. be put into place to monitor Rapids, died ar home W ednev School and graduated from of Ken: Count) \ eterans law. Jim (Fran) Sluiter of Lowell Schools' new ammended budget was in A review of all staff du- dav. N nember 9.1094. after South High School in 1^24 Honor Guard. Memorial con- Grand Rapids. James (Kathy) business manager, Dale January and that normally an- ties was started on Oct. 26. a long batrle ^irh cancer. He this weekend She taught at Lowell Country :ributioas may be made to Willyard of Lowell. Barbara Folkert is no "Johnny Come other is completed in March Folkert outlined in hisfive Contingency monies allocated s SUP* ived h\ his u. ife of 34 School for four years, starr- VFW Camp Trotter Fund. (Elmer) Velthouse of By Marc Popiolek Lately." or June. -step action plan that he would >car.s. Barbara; children. ing in 1924. She married Caledonia. David (Jean) Contributing Writer The ink, from the sugges- In response Folkert said a begin to oversee all federal Sharor (Jack) Hartley of WILL YARD - Mrs. Myrtle Howard Houghton August Willyard of Wayland, Mary tions and recommendations procedure will be established grants. All federal grants and toward stage improvements Grand Rapids. Jo Ellen (Alike) Will yard, aged 65. of 26. 1927. Funeral Sep. ces W ilKard of Alto; and several Christmas is just around the corner and the malls are filled identified in the comprehen- to review the budget and to the budget layout will be Oi>»r of Bartle Creek. Den- Caledonia, passed away Sun- By Thad Kraus were heldThursday with Rev. nieces and nephews. Funeral with the hustle and bustle of people searching for that one-of. sive annual financial report recommend adjustments to done by the grant administra- nis (Sand> i Kiel of Rock ford day . November 6.1994 at the Lowell Ledger Editor changed from the original small auditorium Todd Thompson officiating, Services were held Thursday a -kind gift. for the year ending June 30, the budget in January or Feb- tor and reviewed by Folkert. with a separate cafeteria to a cafetorium. and Doug K:ei of Grand Rap- Interment Bo^ne Center Home of Hope. She w as pre- This weekend Lowell residents have the opportunity to 1994 and prepared by Phillip at the Gaines United Brethren ruary and May or June as Thereport also suggests With adequate contingency monies avail- ids: sister. Ada Heemstra of Cemeterv. ceded in death b) her hus- look for that special gift without the crowds. "We needed to put in new curtains, rigging t0 Church with Pastor Mark Saurman that merit identifi- needed. He adds that a report that the balances in the en- Ada: grandchildren, Tracy band Donald Willyard in able, the extensive work needed at the Lowell and electrical components to bring the facility Beers officiating. Interment The third annual Christmas Through Lowell will take cation and discussion, was will also be given to the board ergy and maintenance, land (Gerry > VanCamp. Scott 1983. She is survived by her Middle School cafetorium was put back on the up to shape for the m iddle school," White said. MELLE • Charles A. Melle. Lakeside Cemetery. The fam- place this weekend. This year's tour includes 13 homes which barely dry before Folkert had of education on a regualr ba- acquisition and scholarship (Kristina) Hartlev. Shellev children. Sharon (Kurt) docket. Middle school drama teacher Cheryl aged 69. of Lowell, died un- ily requests memorial contri- will offer crafts of all sorts. prepared a five-step action sis that tracks the budget. funds be reviewed by the dis- Hartley. Kari. Krisii and Jodi Sch^ambergerof New York. The school stage rehabilitation portion of Blodgett said the improvements will enhance expcctedlv Tuesday.