The Oceana Echo - Volume 1, Issue 11, Aug. 11, 2023

Sprinklez Delight is more than ice cream

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Anyone who enjoys ice cream knows about “sprinkles”; just ask any kid, especially. That’s how the owners of the new “Sprinklez Delight” in downtown Mears actually got its name. “We wanted something catchy, different, for kids especially, they know sprinkles,” said Alfonso Lopez, who along with his wife Maribel Caldron are the owners of the newest business in town, located at 5657 West Fox Road in downtown Mears.

The shop has been open since Memorial Day and has been a dream of Alfonso and Maribel for some time. “In Chicago, where we’re from, you see businesses like this on every corner.  We wanted to do something similar here,” Lopez said. “This is the only place you can find some of the items on our menu.” From their parmesan peppery corn on the cob to their best seller “Mangoneadas”, or mangonada, a Mexican slushie, Sprinklez will tickle your tastebuds and have you stopping in for more.

Sprinklez makes their mangonada with mango ice cream, chamoy sauce (a sweet and sour sauce made from dried fruit and chiles), and tajin chili powder, topped with fresh fruit and a tajin-coated straw for a refreshing option on a hot day. Everyone who has tried one loves it, according to Lopez. And their spicy sweet corn isn’t far behind. “People say they try to make it at home, but it doesn’t taste the same,” he said. He attributes the shop’s unique flavors to the special ingredients, ice creams and fruits he purchases specifically for his recipes.

Sprinklez offers a full line of ice cream from their favorite suppliers, Country Dairy, MOO-ville and Ashby’s. Some of the more unusual flavors in his

ice cream case include Tequila, Gansito (ice cream with real pound cake mixed in), Pepino (cucumber), Chile, and four sorbets: pineapple, mango, watermelon and lime. “Lime sorbet is a big seller,” Lopez said. Jacked-Up Tennessee Toffee from Ashby’s is great if you’re looking for a coffee ice cream with a smooth toffee finish.

Lopez, a building contractor before opening the ice cream shop, has completely remodeled the former space, making it a fun and welcoming atmosphere, from its pink walls and doors to its bright checkerboard floor and chalkboard wall. Patrons may choose to dine in using the four available booths or take their edible creations with them.

Sprinklez offers all of the regular ice cream favorites, from soft-serve and hard ice cream cones to sundaes and banana splits.

Lopez and Caldron also pride themselves on their authentic Mexican snacks, which are not available anywhere else in the area. Unique menu items offer “chicharrones preparados” (a flat snack base made out of wheat, topped with pickled pork skin, diced tomatoes, chopped cilantro, shredded cheese, and sour cream; hot sauce is optional), “dorielotes” (Doritos corn chips topped with corn, nacho parmesan cheese and hot sauce) and “dorilocos” (Doritos corn chips topped with nacho parmesan, spicy snack mix and pork skins).

Looking for something on the lighter and less spicy side? Try one of their mixed fresh fruit cocktails, yogurts with fruit and granola or fresh fruit waters.

Alfonso and Maribel will be taking Sprinklez Delight “on the road,” where they plan to have a booth at the Oceana County Fair and offer many of their specialties. They will also be on hand at the Mears 150th Celebration Sunday, Aug. 20, at the Mears Museum Complex, where they will be serving up vanilla and chocolate ice cream to go with the event’s homemade dessert buffet.

The two are looking forward to meeting many members of the community, whether at the ice cream shop, the fair or the 150th celebration. Sprinklez is open every day from 1-9 p.m. with plans to stay open year round.

Deputy Tim Simon named Shelby Public Schools resource officer

Effective Aug. 21, 2023, Deputy Tim Simon will be assigned to the Shelby Public Schools as their school resource officer. Deputy Simon is a 25-year veteran of the sheriff’s office and a 1993 graduate of Shelby High School.

“Deputy Simon is committed to the community he has lived in his

entire life, and we believe he is going to do amazing things in the schools,” Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast said.

Shelby Public Schools and the Shelby Police Department were originally awarded a Michigan State Police – Cops in Schools grant in January 2023. The grant is for $165,232.00 over three years.

Chief Dean Roesler approached the Sheriff’s Office in June to see if they might be able to staff this

position, as he believed it was going to be difficult for the village to try to find a candidate for that position. “They, like many other agencies, are shortstaffed and unable to fill vacancies. The board of commissioners was unanimously supportive of this partnership with the village,” Mast said. “Deputy Simon is a well-known deputy in our community, where he currently lives with his wife and two sons.

“Deputy Simon has been in charge of our marine division for 19 years and does a fantastic job. (He) is also one of our car seat technicians and hunter education instructors. Deputy Simon has been an assistant varsity baseball coach, and it’s not a stretch to say he bleeds purple! There are not enough good things to say about Deputy Simon, and we know he will be a great member of the team in Shelby!

“Our goal with this program is to make another one of our schools a safer place for our students. There are SRO programs in Pentwater and Hart already, and we are excited that Shelby will also have a law enforcement presence. Establishing positive relationships with students and staff will be the number one priority. We are thankful  for Mr. Olmstead and the SPS staff who have helped (with) this partnership.”

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is Aug. 19

This is an annual call to clean out your basement and garage and look for old, unused, or mystery products that require safe disposal. The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day (HHW) is scheduled for Aug. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at three locations within Oceana, Mason and Manistee Counties. The collection site in Oceana County will be held at the Department of Public Works, located at 1010 State St. in Hart.

The collection is open to county residents who wish to drop off household materials only. Hazardous waste will not be accepted from businesses except for pesticides, in which case pesticide users such as agribusinesses, greenhouses, and golf courses can use this service.

Accepted materials include used motor oil, automotive fluids, cleaners, adhesives, pool chemicals, pesticides, oil-based paints, varnish, electronics, medications, and more. Small appliances such as mini-fridges, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners containing Freon will be accepted for a mandatory fee. Materials are reused, recycled, or safely disposed of by certified contractors, ensuring that the waste stays out of our local soil and water.

Items that are NOT accepted include tires, Styrofoam, latex paint, and large appliances, among others. For a full listing of materials accepted (and those that are not), go to www.OceanaConservation.org or visit your local township office and request a

brochure.

The event is made possible every year thanks to financial support from Oceana, Mason and Manistee Counties, townships, and municipalities in the three-county area, as well as donations from supporting organizations and private donors. Donations at the time of drop off are encouraged! A suggested donation of $15 per car/truck load will help generate the additional funds needed to support this year’s collection.

Volunteers are welcome to help load electronics and sort batteries. If you’d like to learn more about how to get involved as a volunteer or support the event as a sponsor, please call (231) 861-5600.

Deputy Tim Simon

Alfonso Lopez stands behind the counter of Sprinklez Delight, the newest business in downtown Mears. • Sharon Hallack/Echo

• Contributed Photos

West Central Michigan Agricultural Spray Day is a success

On Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, Michigan State University Ag Extension and West Central Michigan Horticultural Research Inc. hosted the first Sprayer Technology Spray Demonstration in Oceana County at the West Michigan Research Station & Farm. The day entailed demonstrations of new sprayer technology such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV/Drone), Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV/ Rover), and sensor-smart Sonic Spray. State researchers and specialists educated growers on the versatility of the technology in the application process for lowto high-density crops, mature and young trees, as well as asparagus.

Emily Lavely, Michigan State University Ag Extension educator, stated, “I’m excited to have this demonstration day for the local growers to experience the new sprayer technology that is out there, like the Mini Guss (a completely autonomous vehicle), which is the first unit in Michigan, technology that some growers have never seen in person.”

In a separate demonstration that day, a 10-foot-wide aerial drone took to the skies with a lift weight of 200 pounds, giving local growers firsthand experience with the new application potential. Among the demonstrations and education,

a common theme rang throughout: Sticking to the Fundamentals. As Michael Reinke with Michigan State University Ag Extension stated, “Physics is physics; fundamentals don’t change. The goal for this event is to show the agriculture community how new sprayer technology can be implemented on the farm while not forgetting the fundamentals of effective spraying.”

As the industry moves into the 21st century, many generational farmers are looking for new and effective ways to produce the best-quality product for consumers. WCMHR, Inc. President and local generational grower Andy Riley says, “We are thrilled to be able to partner with our sponsors today to provide our agricultural community with a glimpse into the future of farming. The autonomous nature of farming is developing before our eyes, and I’m excited for the next generation of fruit and vegetable growers.” Special thanks to the presenters and equipment providers for the event: Gillisons Variety Fabrication, GreenMark Equipment, Aerial Ag, and Burnips Equipment. To stay in touch with upcoming community events and demonstrations occurring at the West Michigan Research Station in Hart, Michigan, visit www.westmichiganresearchstation.org.

News and Notes

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

• Last week, five of seven Hart City Council members took a lunch-hour tour of the Great Lakes Packing (GLP) facility in Hart to learn more about their operations. During its annual cherry season, the company processes over 2 million pounds of sweet cherries, making it one of the largest processors of IQF (Individualized Quick Frozen) cherries in the nation. According to City Manager Rob Splane, the cherries are trucked into town in smaller box trucks from all over the state of Michigan. During the height of the six- to eight-week season, cherries are IQF processed and packaged 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• The Oceana County Council on Aging held its 2nd Annual Walk-a-thon Tuesday, Aug. 8. Eighteen participants walked, with six volunteers helping to facilitate the activity. Program Developer and Volunteer Coordinator, Gwen Adams, estimated that $1600 was raised and will be used to support the council’s programs and services. She also said the event was complete with a celebratory and refreshing ice bucket shower afterward!

• Stan and Sharon Hallack, of rural Hart, hosted nearly 60 family members from Sharon’s mother’s side of the family the weekend of July 29. Descendents of Lloyd and Helen Young (originally from Benton Harbor and later Lake Ann) came from Pennsylvania, Oregon, Empire, Beulah, Hart, Reed City, Casnovia, Bailey, Allegan, Grand Rapids, Lowell, Dexter and Saline to celebrate another “Young at Hart” reunion. The last time the family gathered, other than for a funeral, was in 2010. A catered meal, family tree photo display, and photo booth were enjoyed by all. Many of the younger set enjoyed thrills and spills on the 60-foot slip and slide created by Mr. Hallack.

• Oceana-grown produce is ripe everywhere, including sweet corn, potatoes, zucchini, melons, peaches, blackberries and blueberries, among many others! It’s all one can do to incorporate their fresh goodness into meals and snacks before the season is over! Freezers and canning jars are filling up everywhere.

• There has been some chatter in the community about the “Micro Wrestling” event set to take place at the Oceana County Fair next Saturday night, August 19, at the grandstands. According to their website, the Micro Wrestling Federation (WRF) is a full-scale WWE-type event supported by an entire cast under five feet tall. The WRF performs over 400 shows a year across the U.S.

• The City of Hart will be experiencing some road closures on Griswold and Polk in the coming days and weeks while sanitary sewer and water main work is performed. The project is being constructed in phases to provide access for local industry. Detours and delays may affect commutes. Further updates are available on the City of Hart’s website and Facebook page.

• Due to the city manager’s planned absence on August 22, the City of Hart has canceled its regular scheduled meeting for that evening. If a special meeting is needed before the council’s next regularly scheduled meeting, Sept. 12, the public will be notified per city charter requirements.

• The Oceana Women’s Slow Pitch Softball League will conclude its season with two more tournament games on Wednesday, August 23 and Wednesday, August 30. Made up of approximately 90 women from across the county, six teams competed every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. throughout the season from mid-June to the first of September. Double-header games were held at one of the following fields each week: Shelby Optimist, Stony Lake, Rothbury and New Era. Women 18 years of age and older are invited to join a team or form their own team, more teams are always needed. Sponsors for each team help to cover expenses, and practices are generally only held before official play begins.

Oceana Center Grange Agricultural Report for August 2023

By Phil Carter The Oceana Echo Agricultural Consultant

The land of Oceana has been blessed with rainfall in the past few days. Nothing takes the place of natural rainfall, and the crops, gardens and lawns look much better than during our drought. Drought is over for our area, but several areas still need more precipitation.

On the agricultural scene, the cherry harvest is complete. Both yield and pricing are a disappointment.  Many growers saw their harvest day over by mid-morning due to processor quotas. Many have reported that this crop will be lucky to have covered its spray bills. Consumer choices are changing, and many are moving away from items

STREET MARKET

like fruit pies. A surplus of the previous year’s crops has freezer storages full of unsold inventories. Ladies and gentlemen, you need to make more cherry pie.

Apple packing facilities also have excess inventory; some won’t finish packing for several weeks. Michigan’s crop is estimated to be 24.5 million bushels, and processors are also sitting on excess 2022 crop year inventory. Growers may not be able to sell all of this year’s crop. Again, production costs of labor, fertilizer, equipment and fuel, among other things, are dampening farmers spirits for the upcoming harvest.

The peach and pear crops are also good and may offer a bit of sunshine to lift spirits on the farm. The peach harvest has commenced around here.

One of the longest running county fairs will open Aug. 20 for its yearly run. It’s not the biggest, but it’s

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August

Open: June - August

Fall

one of the best. Our livestock project’s young people have been working hard for this event. While not all these kids will be involved in a future agricultural endeavor, realizing where food comes from and developing a strong work ethic will be eternal in their minds. Please support them by attending, viewing their projects, and maybe purchasing an animal at the auction. SEE YOU AT THE FAIR IN HART!

This page is brought to you by:

114 Dryden St. in Hart , Mich. 49420

(231) 873-2600

Please join the OCH&GS for Pleasant Afternoon in downtown Mears, Sunday, Aug. 20, for the celebration of Mears 150th Anniversary.

Visit us!

The OCH&GS is open

Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mears Museum hours are Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. oceanahistory.org

The evolution of farming in Oceana

By Caleb Jackson The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

Today, when we think of Oceana County, we think of asparagus. Oceana is often hailed as the largest asparagus producing county in the country, which has also led to the development of our very own annual asparagus festival. It is no stretch of the imagination to say that the livelihood of several families in the area depends on asparagus. I also think of cherries. Living in Hart, I often pass by the Gray and Co. cherry plant, where, if one has the windows down, a sweet smell may greet you even as you pass by in your car. I am also constantly reminded of this produce through the many “Michigan cherry-based” products one passes in the local stores and marts. There is no doubt about it, Oceana is a farming community. Agriculture is the largest contribution we make to our nation, and much of our county is farmland. But this was not always the case.

Following the War of 1812, a survey of the Old Northwest was conducted in order to gift soldiers with plots of land. The results of this survey, however, were so unfavorable that the state of Michigan was made out to be nothing more than barren waste land covered in swamps and sterile swatches, which were very unsuitable for farming. And so, Congress decided maybe land in Missouri would be more suitable for the soldiers than land in Michigan. This report so strongly affected the view of Michigan in the eyes of the general public that it wasn’t until the lumber boom of the mid-19th century that we really began to see an influx of settlers in the area. “The fine forests of timber located near the shore of the great lake first attracted the attention of lumbermen…” we can read in “Oceana County Pioneers and Business Men of To-Day” by Hartwick and Tuller, “in about the year of 1848… the first attempt to make a permanent settlement was made.” These early lumber barons and settlers, of course, needed food, and so they started farms, and much to the general amazement of these settlers, the crops did exceedingly well. Charles W. Jay repeatedly writes about this in his book, “My New Home in Northern Michigan.”

The original settlers were chiefly lumbermen who came into the “pineries” for winter work…They worked at the mills in the summer to get supplies for their families, and many of them plied the axe half the night to get a little “clearing” around the cabin. Then, with a borrowed ox from a more prosperous neighbor… they would break up the yielding, sandy soil, and, amid half burned logs and stumps, plant a peck of potatoes, a little corn, and a few square yards of garden…

To the surprise of these first experimenters upon this seemingly worthless soil, the crop proved astonishingly bountiful. (Charles Jay, 1874, pp. 42-43)

But it goes beyond simply producing fruits. It would seem that many believed that Oceana produced fruits of a superior quality. In particular, instead of asparagus or cherries, peaches seemed to be a big deal. “For several years, fruit of a very superior quality had been supplying the local markets and exciting the admiration of all,” wrote Hartwick and Tuller. They mention that wagons full of peaches, plums and pears were brought to Pentwater in September of 1867 and go on to say that Charles Mears shipped as many as 500 bushels of peaches to Chicago in that same year. It would seem the peach craze started in Weare.

Myrtle B. High… was raising plums on section eight in Weare. He had also been very successful in raising peaches on this place. E. B. Burrington, who also lived in Weare, had an orchard that produced very fine peaches, and the River House farm then was regarded as the model fruit farm. The trees were literally breaking down with peaches, and they seemed to bear every year. (Hartwick & Tuller, 1890, p. 61)

In subsequent chapters, they discuss the development of several fruit associations that sprang up and faded out in the early years of Oceana but that did much work to spread the message that our county was good for farming. “The fruit interest continued to grow and extend, and the necessity of an organization was apparent,” they wrote, “Through its influence, statistics have been secured, exhibits made at Detroit, Lansing and other places, and the reputation of the locality spread abroad until the

attention of people in many States has been attracted toward Oceana County.”

Returning then to the words of Charles Jay, we can see that many times he seemed to attribute the success of our crops to the influence of Lake Michigan.

It will seem strange to most of my readers, this tale of southern fruit promise, away up here in this northern latitude, by the mighty lakes, where winter rages or lingers for fully one-half the year. And yet there is no spot on all this broad country of ours where peaches, apples, plums, strawberries, raspberries, and their kind, come to more profuse and certain perfection than right here in this circumscribed location of my new home in the West…. Five miles inland these fruits, apples excepted, will not grow to production. It is the milder influence of the immense body of water which we are nearly surrounded, that makes this great difference of temperature.

(Charles Jay, 1874, p. 38)

Another aspect worth mentioning, which Jay attributes to the success of the lumber trade in the area but passes up completely when considering the successes of farming, is the number of lakes and tributaries draining into Lake Michigan on the western coast. In Oceana alone, we have Hart Lake, Silver Lake, Pentwater Lake and Stony Lake, not to mention the associated rivers and streams, all of which must have done wonders for the fertility of the soil.

OCH&GS 2022-23 Annual Meeting notes and goals

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• We were sorry to lose long-time member, supporter and Mears icon, Dale Lathers, in February

• We were sorry to lose board member, George Sadler, in May

• All society committees and committee procedures were reviewed and updated.

• President Erickson continues to promote the society in the community and communicates regularly regarding the various issues, requests and conversations he has related to the county’s history.

GOALS FOR 2023-24:

• Continue to acquire, ascension and display Oceana County artifacts

• Increase society membership and volunteer base

• Update the Society website

• Resume regular displays and events at the Old Town Hall

• Open for school tours again

• Create videos for placement on the society’s website

GOALS FOR 2023-24 continued:

• Record more narrations for Guide by Cell audio tours

• Design and produce new brochures

• Install more shelving at the town hall to hold bound editions of Oceana County newspapers.

• Painting at Chadwick Munger and Mears Museum

• Repair Swedish Church steeple

Dear Community,

The biggest revelation to date from Pentwater’s village-to-city study is the Conclusion of the Citizens Research Council (CRC) of Michigan’s report (found on p. 20) to the township:  “Pentwater Township would be affected by the village incorporating as a city, but tools exist for it to adapt.  Because Pentwater Township has a relatively rich property tax base and levies taxes at relatively high rates, it will have more resources…while some services and operations may need to be scaled back, those changes would do little to lessen the quality of life in the township.”

The village’s study is only Step 1b in a 20+ step process!  The next step – Step 1c -- says Village Council may contract with a consulting firm to validate financials, and pros and cons.  I hope it does, and clarifies whether the current village headcount can indeed take on functions now performed by Township staff.

READER ADER RE FLECTIONS FLECTIONS READER ADER RE FLECTIONS FLECTIONS

The press release printed in The Oceana Echo noted one citizen who questions “who is behind the curtain?”  Who benefits?  The Boycott group’s press release calls out Claudia Ressel-Hodan.  Yes, Village Council tapped her to chair the citizen study committee after she simply did her job -- bringing constituent concerns to Council.  Some of us have long wondered why there are two governments for 1,600 residents.  Can tax dollars be used more efficiently?  That’s who would benefit.  Calling out the chair and raising suspicions only discourage citizens from accepting community leadership roles because they fear public intimidation.

A “village” taxpayer pays three tax bills annually - two to the township and one to the village.  The township forwards most taxes it collects from us to the county, West Shore Educational Service District and the state.  It earmarks other taxes it receives to support the fire department, cemetery, and library.  Could we instead send these taxes to the new “city” form of government? It would seem easy for it to forward the payments to the above. The new “city” would just keep taxes earmarked for general operating, streets and Park Place.

Village taxpayers also pay for the township’s $600,000 operating budget.  Costs include salaries and wages for 6 staff and deputy staff positions, elections, transfer station, sewer, dock, board of review, Park Place, building upkeep, North End Park, Lake Improvement Board, recreation, planning, zoning/board of appeals)  But wait, I’m already paying taxes to the village for docks, curbside trash/recycling pickup, leaf pickup, Park Place, Village Hall, North End Park, recreation, planning, sewer, and zoning. Why am I paying the township for these seemingly duplicate services?

Finally, “City” status could also mean Pentwater could obtain grants for which a “village” doesn’t qualify.  That would benefit everyone. What’s needed now are continued understanding and respectful discussion between us all.  Not intimidation or threats of boycotts.

Ron Beeber Pentwater, Mich.

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August Ongoing

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Pentwater celebrates 93rd Homecoming Celebration

Pentwater Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 93rd Annual Homecoming Celebration from Aug. 10-13. The Homecoming Celebration offers an array of ac tivities that guarantee enjoyment for everyone in attendance. Among the high lights are the Farmers Market, where attendees can explore local produce and artisanal crafts. Additionally, the Strawberry Shortcake Social promises to satis fy sweet cravings for all. The Pentwater Civic Band and the renowned Scottville

7th Annual Golf United Oceana event set for Aug. 19

United Way of the Lakeshore is hosting its 7th Annual Golf Unit ed Oceana event, 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19 at Oceana Golf Club. Ocea na Golf Club members can play for $55 while non-members cost $75 with all proceeds ben efiting the United Way and their goal to work with more than 10,000 families by 2025. Costs include green fees, two golf carts and a full course BBQ lunch.

ESTATE AUCTION

Saturday Aug. 19, 2023 @ 10AM

Located: 8112 E. 80th. Howard City, MI 49329

Directions: From M-37 in Newaygo take M-82 E. 9 miles to Cypress then N. to 80th then E. to sale site. Watch for signs! Sold Live On Site!

Beyer Auction has been commissioned to sell the Estate of Richard E. Froese at public auction. Items include Cushman 16hp yard truck w/dump box, Sea Spirit Tri hull boat w/70hp boat motor & trailer, 3 & 5 hp Johnson boat motors, riding mower, snow blowers, generator, power tools carpenter & mechanic tools, Garage & outdoor, primitives, household furniture & furnishings, collectibles plus much more!

(All items sold with no mins no reserves!)

Auctioneers Note: See our website for complete list & pictures @ www.beyerauction.com two rings.

Terms: No out of state checks will be accepted. Cash or check with positive ID. Announcements take precedence over printed material. Not responsible for accident or loss. Lunch available. Beyer

O bituaries

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

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May 31, 1925 ~ August 5, 2023

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By Lucie Winborne

• In 2018, Nataraj Karate set a new Guinness World Record by stuffing 650 drinking straws in his mouth at once. He had to keep them there for at least 10 seconds to break the previous record.

James “Jim” Coleman Tanner, 98, formerly of Shelby, passed away Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. He was born May 31, 1925, in Hornbeak, Tenn., the son of Ernest and Daughty (Colman) Tanner.

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The Tanner family moved to Michigan in 1939, where Jim met Clara Samuels, whom he married in June 1943. Jim joined the US Army in December 1943 and served in the Pacific Theater. Jim bought out Ossman Plumbing and Heating in June 1950. During his 40 years of ownership, the name was changed to Tanner Plumbing and Heating, with locations in Shelby and Hart. Jim and Clara loved traveling in their RV.

Jim has been a member of St. Stephens Lutheran Church since 1943, holding the offices of chairman and elder. He is a past president of the Shelby Chamber of Commerce, the Shelby Optimist Club, the Shelby Development and Planning Commission, and the Shelby Development Corporation. Jim served as a volunteer on the Shelby Fire Department, was on the Shelby Village Council, served on the Lakeshore Hospital Board, was the area scout commander for 25 years, and was on the Board of Directors of Shelby State Bank for 20 years, serving as chairman for a time.

Jim is survived by: his sons, Wayne (Andree) Tanner, Paul Tanner, and Mark (Linda) Tanner; six grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Jim was preceded in death by: his parents, Ernest and Daughty; Clara, his wife of 56 years; his second wife, Jean; brother, Jack Tanner; and his sisters, Rebecca Stoner and Betty VanHeck.

Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, at St. Stephens Lutheran Church, 7410 W. Johnson Road, Shelby, Mich. 49455, with Reverend John Brooks officiating. Visitation took place from 5-8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at Harris Funeral Home, 267 N. Michigan Avenue, Shelby, Mich. 49455, and one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Harbor Hospice, 1050 W. Western Ave., Suite 400, Muskegon, Mich. 49441, or St. Stephens Lutheran Church.

Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is in charge of arrangements. www.harrisfhome.com

Kelly Dawn Parsons

July 15, 1961 ~ August 5, 2023

Kelly Dawn Parsons, 62, of Hart, passed away on August 5, 2023. She was born July 15, 1961, the daughter of Fred rick and Shirley (Inman) Parsons.

Kelly graduated from Hart High School, and she went on to be a manager at a couple of different gas stations and was also a devoted caregiver. She loved being outside, especially barefoot, checking out flowers and birds. She is known for crocheting afghans and gifting them to many people. Kelly also enjoyed reading, doing puzzles, painting, and her newest hobby of diamond painting.

Kelly is survived by: her children, Teena (John) So rensen, Tawnya Bostrom, and Steven Houston; her beloved dog, Virginia; 10 grandchildren; her brother, Gary (Becky) Parsons; her sister, Becky Parsons; 2 nieces; and 1 nephew.

Kelly was preceded in death by: her parents; her brother, Doug Parsons; and her nephews, Michael Parsons and David Hillenburg.

Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, at Harris Funeral Home, 267 N. Michigan Ave., Shelby, Mich. 49455, with Pastor Cyd Insigna officiating. The family will receive friends Friday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the funeral home. A luncheon will follow the service at Hart United Methodist Church, 308 S. State St., Hart, Mich. 49420.

Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is handling arrangements. www.harrisfhome.com

Obituary Information:

We, at The Oceana Echo, offer our deepest condolences for your loss and are here to help you tell others about your loved one’s life and the plans you have made to honor, celebrate and remember them.

If you would like to place an obituary with us, please tell your arrangement specialist or email us at theoceanaecho@gmail.com.

• “To help our children learn the placement of states, we glued a map to a piece of cardboard, then used a razor knife to cut each state out along its lines. This created a puzzle. It made learning the states fun, and we wrote the capitals on the backs, so we learned those, too.” — M.A. in Georgia

• “To help our children learn the placement of states, we glued a map to a piece of cardboard, then used a razor knife to cut each state out along its lines. This created a puzzle. It made learning the states fun, and we wrote the capitals on the backs, so we learned those, too.” — M.A. in Georgia

• Keep extra magazines in the car to read when you have to wait or while sitting in line at the bank or fast-food drive-through.

• Keep extra magazines in the car to read when you have to wait or while sitting in line at the bank or fast-food drive-through.

• “I love self-sticking notes to stay organized. I use them on my bathroom vanity mirror so that I can preplan my day in my head while getting ready.”

• Human blood cells have different lifespans.

• Dollar bills weren’t always green. Colonial money, for example, was tan with black or red ink. The Civil War government began using green ink to print paper money because it didn’t fade or easily decompose, which protected against counterfeiting.

• Auto manufacturer Volkswagen makes not just vehicles, but currywurst sausages.

• Following his successful bladder stone surgery, the relieved English diarist Samuel Pepys celebrated the anniversary of the event every year after.

— E.T. in Georgia

• “I love self-sticking notes to stay organized. I use them on my bathroom vanity mirror so that I can preplan my day in my head while getting ready.”

• “I purchased extra-large safety pins and used scraps of fabric to designate towels for family members. I wrote each of our names in washable ink on several ‘tags,’ which are then attached to our bathing towel. I can tell in an instant who has left his or her towel on the floor/bed/etc. And I am washing a lot less towels now.” — D.L. in Ohio

— E.T. in Georgia

• “I purchased extra-large safety pins and used scraps of fabric to designate towels for family members. I wrote each of our names in washable ink on several ‘tags,’ which are then attached to our bathing towel. I can tell in an instant who has left his or her towel on the floor/bed/etc. And I am washing a lot less towels now.” — D.L. in Ohio

• “I had a few old mouse pads that were lying around. I used embroidery floss to stitch a few together, and I use them as a knee pad in the garden. The bonus is that it rolls up for storage!”

• The first hot-air balloon flight, in 1783, took off with a sheep, a duck and a rooster on board, as it was unknown how the human body would react to flying at high altitudes. (They landed safely.)

• A company in Poland makes dinnerware out of wheat bran.

• Queen Elizabeth II visited the set of the TV series “Game of Thrones” but couldn’t be seated on the throne due to an old rule that “the ruling monarch can’t sit on a foreign throne.”

• “I had a few old mouse pads that were lying around. I used embroidery floss to stitch a few together, and I use them as a knee pad in the garden. The bonus is that it rolls up for storage!”

— A.C. in New Mexico

• While it’s not the longest word in the English language, a study of 1.7 million samples of everyday English found that the longest word you’re likely to encounter on a daily basis is “uncharacteristically.”

— A.C. in New Mexico

• Keep and wash thoroughly any vegetable or meat trays (discard broken ones or pierced ones). They can be used as paint tray for small projects around the house, or for the children.

• Ants leave pheromone trails when they walk that serve as maps for other ants.

Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

• Keep and wash thoroughly any vegetable or meat trays (discard broken ones or pierced ones). They can be used as paint tray for small projects around the house, or for the children.

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

• Although Saturn is the secondlargest planet in our solar system, it’s also the lightest, and could float in water because it’s basically a giant gas ball — if we had a bathtub big enough to hold it.

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Thought for the Day: “Laws control the lesser man. Right conduct controls the greater one.” — Chinese proverb © 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

JoAnn Derson

Oceana Golf

played host