Steve Heacock, the President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Whitewater Project spoke about the plans for the Grand River through the City of Grand Rapids.

The indigenous people and the early European settlers talked about being able to navigate by listening for the rapids. Through what is now the City of Grand Rapids the river drops 18 feet. When the US Olympic committee built a training facility for Olympic white-water events, they created a drop of 21 feet. The Grand drops only 2 feet from its start near Jackson to Grand Rapids and only 4 feet from there to Lake Michigan.

 

Starting in the early 1800s the river was changed to suit human needs. First for the animal pelt trade, then for logging, and finally for industry. While industry was dumping waste into the Grand, citizens were getting their drinking water from the same location. A series of 6 dams were built to let the industrial waste settle to the bottom so drinking water could be taken from the top of the river.

 

A few weeks ago, a group of Rotarians moved 10,000 books from Eagle Crest School to a warehouse. Now it is time to sort those books in preparation for getting them into our bookhouses.

 

Friday August 19th at 3:00 PM is your opportunity to help sort. If you are able to help, meet at 500 East 8th Street (former Hart & Cooley building). John Gronberg has the following instructions:

 

Go to the eastern section of the parking lot and look for my Black Escalade. We will gather at that spot, and you can follow me to the section of the warehouse I have at the back of the building.