Wednesday, March 27, 2024 page 5

v

iewpoint

We love to hear from you!

The Lowell Ledger welcomes letters to the editor from

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before they will be published.

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• In an effort to keep opinions varied, there is a limit of
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Deadline is noon on Mondays

to the

editor

Letter writer opinions are their own and do not

necessarily reflect the opinion of this publication.

To the editor:

As a 30+ year resident

of the LAS district, a parent

of three LAS graduates,

and a former school board

member, I support the May

7 Bond Proposal to fund

facility improvements

throughout the district. You

can review the details of

the elementary renovations

and high school updates

included in the proposal at

lowellschools.com or by

placing a call to the district’s

administration office.

There are numerous

reasons to vote yes, whether

you currently have children

attending our schools or not.

To highlight a few:

Strong schools create

strong communities. Your

yes-vote supports learning

for the thousands of students

and community members

who use the district facilities

daily. The youngest, to the

oldest, in our community

will benefit from the passage

of the bond proposal.

Education is a

fundamental right and a

public good. Your yes-

vote supports the learning

environments needed to

equip Lowell students with

the critical thinking skills

and experiences needed

for success throughout life.

The bond proposal includes

modernizing learning

spaces, improving fine arts,

athletic and community

spaces, and updating

infrastructure.

The bond proposal is

the result of careful study

of current and projected

needs in our district. It is the

responsibility of the District

Administration and Board

of Education to maintain

facilities within a framework

of fiscal accountability. Tax

rates are not expected to

increase.

The case for voting yes

on the school bond issue is

compelling, regardless of

whether you have children

enrolled in the district. By

casting a yes-vote on the

bond proposal, you are

supporting student success

today and taking an active

role in shaping the future

for Lowell students and

community.

Nancy Hopkins

Lowell Township

150 years ago

The Lowell Journal

April 1, 1874

A new company is booming the logs down the Flat
River this year.
Women of Allegan are opening a reading room,
now that they have closed the saloons, and loafers
have no place to go.
H.H. Holt, Michigan’s lieutenant governor taught at
the Bailey School, in Vergennes, in 1852-53.
Columns are full of the caucuses and spring
elections to be held next week.
New York streams are rapidly being fished out
of trout, and ichthyologists are looking at stocking
them with the grayling, found in the AuSable River in
Michigan. (Note: the grayling was fished to extinction
here a little later.)

125 years ago

The Lowell Ledger

March 30, 1899

Livery men in Grand Rapids are having a price war.
Some Smyrna citizens pay for a survey, and
promise to build a depot if the proposed Lowell and
Hastings RR extension goes through there.
Train excursions fare to Lansing, April 5: one dollar
for the round trip and a chance to see the legislature
in action.
Potato prices went from 25¢ to 50¢ a bushel, when
it was reported that stored potatoes had frozen in the
pits, but not many froze and the price is back down.

100 years ago

The Lowell Ledger

March 27, 1924

The Lowell basket ball boys win the sectionals over
Mt. Pleasant, Alma and Ionia. Their first two games
are played with a 45-minute break between.
Promoters from Lowell and Grand Rapids are
seeking a location for a button factory in Lowell, close
to where the source of the Grand River clam shells.
Michigan salt manufacturers agree to add iodine
to food salt for the control of goiter, very prevalent in
Great Lakes states.
Editor: In view of the oil scandal, the country will
ride it out, but not because of voters who put party
before country.

75 years ago

The Lowell Ledger

March 31, 1949

Lowell, Grand Rapids and “14 nearby communities”

will now be in the same exchange. Other nearby

exchanges’ will have lower charges on calls.

Janet Kleefisch is valedictorian, David Stiff and

Carolyn Groenenboom are co-salutatorians of the

year’s graduating class.

About 30 percent of Lowell high school graduates

seek advanced training, as compared to 20 percent of

all graduates.

Fire chief, Dave Clark, reminds that a permit is

necessary for burning within the village limits; the

department fought several grass fires in March.

50 years ago

Lowell Ledger Suburban Life

March 28, 1974

Ideas for improving the Central Business Disctrict

are presented tot he Planning Commission by Chuck

Lippert, and block captains appointed to poll CBD

merchants.

The Lions Club, VFW and Moose are running Bingo

games on consecutive nights.

Veterans are assured that loss of a marriage license

or birth certificate need not keep them from filing for

benefits.

Studded tires must come off by April 1, and will be

allowed only one more year.

25 years ago

The Lowell Ledger

March 31, 1999

The Bowne Township Planning Commission’s

unanimous decision, not to recommend rezoning of

142 acres, did nothing to deter Landon Companies’

continued pursuit. Landon will now take its case to the

county planning commission.

St. Mary’s Pregnancy

Crisis Center is extending

a caring hand to roughly

30 area mothers and their

children.

The beautiful spring-

link weather may have

kept some away from

the third annual Lowell

Expo, but the number of

exhibitors was bigger and

better than ever.

Grant proposals are

now being taken for

Englehardt Lowell Area

Community Fund. Grant

awards will be announced

in June. To date, nearly

$600,000 has been

awarded from the Lowell

Area Community Fund.

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