The Oceana Echo - Volume 1, Issue 10, Aug. 4, 2023

Pentwater group forms to boycott village proposal to become a city

PENTWATER - A proposal to change the Village of Pentwater into a city ran into its first organized opposition today when a group of village and township residents announced the formation of Boycott Pentwater City (BPC). The group said it is against the village proposal because the sponsors have exaggerated or misrepresented potential benefits, and it would also destroy historical cooperation between village and township residents.

“Village councilpersons voted for a measure that has no public support and will result in higher taxes in one jurisdiction and layoffs or reduced services in the other,” said Mark Trierweiler, community leader and founding member of BPC. Trierweiler said BPC intends to enlist the support of hundreds of village residents to defeat a defining vote on the proposal, which could come as early as the first quarter of 2024. The process could take up to five years to complete.

Both jurisdictions have produced competing reports on the impact

to their respective governments. During a meeting at the Baptist Church of Pentwater on the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 1, participants said they were leery of claims made by village leaders and were inclined to vote against it. “One would have to be pretty naïve to think the village could take on new functions for which it has no previous experience without hiring a bunch of people,” said village resident and retired pastor Roy Martens. “Supporting an initiative that’s based on partially false or misleading facts and that doesn’t have the support of the public is not a great place to find yourself in.”

Trierweiler echoed the concern and said that claims by village leaders that they would be able to take on what are now township functions, like elections, without adding additional staff simply didn’t pass muster. “What are these employees doing now that they would be able to double their workload without any additional cost to taxpayers,” he asked.

A retired pastor and village prop-

erty owner, Mick McCoy is deeply concerned about the proposal moving forward without public support. He said he believes that residents were being ‘slow rolled’ and worn down during a recent village-sponsored meeting he attended, with the express purpose of completing the 15-step process without public feedback.

Village voters will ultimately decide if the village will become a city without input from township residents, many of whom argue they will be negatively impacted by the proposal through higher taxes or diminished services.

Using a “Wizard of Oz” metaphor, one prominent attendee with a history of community activism told the audience the biggest unanswered question is still “who is behind the curtain.”  Several participants of village and township informational meetings encouraged organizers to determine who ultimately benefits from a proposal that is so unpopular.

Former Pentwater Village Councilor Claudia Ressel-Hodan first pro-

posed the idea more than a year ago and has since presided over community meetings where many felt lacked openness about the plan’s many negatives.

Many participants of villageand township-sponsored meetings expressed sadness that the village, which has been declining in population for years, would pursue a plan they said would destroy relationships the village needs to survive. Mike and Kendra Flynn, whose families were founding members of Pentwater, expressed profound sadness about the divisiveness they see around town. “This used to be a place where everyone knew everyone else and worked together for the collective good of the community,” Mike said, adding that Pentwater relationships have always been civil, and people stick together no matter what.”

Trierweiler promised that BPC would sponsor a community-wide survey and website to educate voters, highlighting the level of community opposition to the plan.

Commissioners discuss ORVs, Crystal Valley Dam

By Stacia Erickson

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

The Oceana County Board of Commissioners had its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, July 27. The agenda included committee reports, two Zoom meetings, a brief commentary by Sheriff Craig Mast and an in-person insurance

coverage presentation.

The 2022 auditors’ report was done via a Zoom meeting with Kevin Kozumplik of Gabridge & Co., who offered a summary of his company’s written report and answered questions posed by commissioners. Kozumplik reiterated his company’s issuance of an unmodified opinion, giving their highest level of assurance. Auditors found no deficit fund balances and no major budget deficiencies as defined by the state. The county’s fund balance across all governmental funds as of Dec. 31, 2022 was $10,033,017, an increase of $1,191,812. The general fund ending fund balance was $6,059,031, an increase of $472,428 with an unassigned fund balance of $5,256,812..

Mast spoke briefly in regard to the Sheriff’s Department. He noted Deputy Jeff Brown’s upcoming retirement , as well as the hiring of a new officer. Silver Lake was also a topic of conversation. Mast reported that the Golden Township supervisor had approached him in regard

to their current situation of not permitting ORVs. Mast noted that Golden is one of the four lakeshore townships without an ORV ordinance allowing them to be driven along the side of the road. The other 12 townships have ordinances regarding this matter. He said many locals as well as visitors are now driving side-by-sides, with some licensed, others not. “My lane is safety and security. I’m concerned with the numbers. My deputies were constantly stopping people over the 4th of July holiday. We don’t have the manpower. We’re examining it; what we’re doing out there is not working,” Mast said, adding that he didn’t know the answer. Maybe a trial run of a year allowing the ORVs to see how it worked? Board Chairman Robert Walker commented, “It appears that Silver Lake is evolving all the time.”

Jennifer Martin of Brown and Brown gave a presentation based on a 6-month review of the self-funded county health insurance program. She

said the current programming is “performing very well and has saved approximately 11 percent so far this year.” She continued, “Most today are seeing a deduction in coverage, but that’s not so with yours, which is a good thing. We don’t want to pay for something if it’s not going to be utilized.”

Martin said she wants to increase voluntary insurance. She also noted that a lot of resources have been given to employees that they’re not using, which she wants to address with more education to make them aware of the resources available.

The second Zoom meeting of the day was with James Tiffany, of Tiffany and Sons LLC of Yan-

kee Hill, Calif., in regard to the Crystal Valley Dam remediation project in Crystal Township. Tiffany’s opinion was originally sought by commissioner Paul Erickson, whose district includes the Crystal Valley Dam. Tiffany has an expansive range of experience in design studies and construction engineering for governmental, private and industrial clients. He has excelled in the design, repair, and inspection of dams and other types of Water Resources projects and has undertaken many of these same type engineering projects for FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) as well as the subsequent licensing applications. Tiffany has done the inspection

of over 75 dams throughout the State of Michigan alone, and is considered an expert in his field.  Tiffany believes the Crystal Valley Dam should be repaired rather than dismantled. Township Supervisor F. Lee Hyslop and Commissioner Erickson both strongly agreed with Tiffany and said so. After listening to Tiffany and asking questions, commissioners unanimously agreed to take the next step in the Crystal Valley Dam remediation project and hire Tiffany and Sons LLC for plan submittal, fieldwork, preliminary design, permitting process, final design, and construction engineering plans for a cost of $22,375.

The Oceana County Board of Commissioners, from left, Tim Beggs, Craig Hardy, County Administrator Tracy Byard, Chair Robert Walker, Crystal Township Supervisor F. Lee Hyslop, Clerk Amy Anderson, Paul Erickson and Phil Morse • Stacia Erickson/Echo

Happy 93rd Homecoming, Pentwater!

Pentwater is celebrating its 93rd Homecoming!. This is the largest event in Pentwater. Locals and visitors love to come “home” for Homecoming.  There are numerous activities scheduled for everyone’s enjoyment. This is a fantastic fun-filled annual event where all are welcome and it gets better every year.

The Grand Sponsor of the 93rd Pentwater Homecoming Celebration is Shelby State Bank.

Thursday, Aug. 10 th

• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Farmers Market, Village Green- 327 S. Hancock St., Pentwater

• 6 p.m. – Strawberry Shortcake Social, Village Green, hosted by the Pentwater Lake Association

• 7:30 p.m. – Les Bailey Memorial Concert with the combined Pentwater Civic Band and the Scottville Clown Band, Village Green

Friday, Aug. 11 th

• 8 a.m. to noon - Sand Sculpture Contest at Charles Mears State Park, sponsored by the Pentwater Service Club (Judging at 11 a.m. - please read all the rules before the start.). Theme: 50 Years of Sand Sculpting Fun.

• 1 p.m. – Interactive Storytelling at Storybook Village, 560 S. Hancock St., Pentwater

• Pentwater Women’s Club Quilt Raffle Winner Drawn

• 8 p.m. – Movies on the Village Green

• Evening - Live Music at the Village Cafe & Pub, 347 S. Hancock St., Pentwater

Saturday, Aug. 12 th

• Big Ten Preseason Tailgate Party at the Village Cafe & Pub- 347 S. Hancock St., Pentwater

• Horseshoe Tournaments at Art Audrey Memorial Horseshoe Pits at Fire Barn- 486 E. Park St., Pentwater.

• 2 p.m. – Registration and Lineup for Grand Parade at Pentwater Public Schools (Judging at 3:30 p.m.)

• 4 p.m. – Grand Parade, Grand Marshal: Joe Primozich, Citizen of the Year

• Evening – Live Music at the Village Cafe & Pub

• Dusk – Fireworks over Lake Michigan at Charles Mears State Park

Sunday, Aug. 13 th

• 8 a.m. to noon – VFW Pancake Breakfast at Pentwater VFW Hall, 8440 US 31 North, Pentwater

• 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.– Worship services at First Baptist Church - 101 S. Rush St., Pentwater

• 9:30 a.m.– Worship Service on the Village Green with Centenary United Methodist Church (Bring your own chair)

• 10 a.m. – Worship Service at St. James Episcopal Church - 82 S. Wythe St., Pentwater

• 10:30 a.m. – Mass at St. Vincent Catholic Church - 637 6th St., Pentwater

Saturday, DEC 3

• 11 a.m. – Worship services at Lighthouse Lutheran Church - 8786 US-31, Pentwater

• 11am, FREE, “Memoirs of an Elf” Storytime. Make a paper elf hat in Santa’s Workshop

• 1pm, $10, ages 3+, Climb aboard a magical train ride on “The Polar Express.”

Make an ornament in Santa’s Workshop.

• 6-10 p.m. – Live Blues and Jazz at Gull Landing, 438 S. Hancock St., Pentwater

Saturday, DEC 10

• 11am, FREE, “A Cookie for Santa” Storytime. Decorate your own cookie in Santa’s Workshop

• 1pm, $10, ages 3+, Climb aboard a magical train ride on “The Polar Express.”

Make an ornament in Santa’s Workshop.

Saturday, DEC 17, 10-6

• 11am, FREE, “Mr. Rabbit’s Wish” Storytime. Color a 3D forest figure in Santa’s Workshop

• 1pm, $10, ages 3+, Climb aboard a magical train ride on “The Polar Express.”

Make an ornament in Santa’s Workshop.

Open: June - August

Fall Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 1-4 p.m.

Birch Michigan

•

TACKL E HAACK

Fishing Charter

Captain Michael Haack

Saturday, DEC 24, 10-6

• 11am, FREE, “A Cookie for Santa” Storytime. Decorate your own cookie in Santa’s Workshop.

• 1pm, $10, ages 3+, Climb aboard a magical train ride on “The Polar Express.”

Make an ornament in Santa’s Workshop.

Saturday, Dec 31, 10-6

• 11am, FREE, “We Want Snow” Storytime: Make a paper snowflake in Santa’s Workshop.

• 1pm, $10, ages 3+, Climb aboard a magical train ride on “The Polar Express.” Make an ornament in Santa’s Workshop.

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

• The Village of Shelby moved one step closer to providing more affordable housing to area residents when it voted to approve the Shelby Acres Planned Unit Development Plan and the Shelby Acres Development Agreement at its July 24 meeting. Both approvals and a request for annexation now move to the Oceana County Board of Commissioners for final approval. If approved by the county, the annexation would be recorded at the state level, and the 58 acres would become part of the Village of Shelby. Excitement is building as this long-awaited project moves forward.

lage in 2020 and has been completely transformed into the perfect place for quiet reflection as well as a great place to enjoy time with friends or larger community events. Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation and donations from the Shelby Rotary Club and Shelby State Bank, this unused space has been completely reimagined and will no doubt be enjoyed for years to come.

• Shelby resident and friend to many, Mary Morningstar, celebrated her 100th birthday Wednesday, July 19, at an open house in her honor at the White Lake Assisted Living Facility. When asked what the secret to living to be 100 might be, Mary Morningstar credited regular exercise, such as walking, and eating a low-fat diet. In her younger days, she enjoyed cross-country skiing, and she and her husband regularly rode the bike trail well into their 80’s. Even now, at 100, she still tries to walk one mile a day.

• A new “Pocket Park” located in downtown Shelby has become a wonderful addition to the area. The property, located between Images Salon and Fresh Point Nutrition, was purchased by the vil-

• The Hart High School Class of 1978 has announced it will have its 45th class reunion Friday, Sept. 22 from 6-10 p.m. on the upper deck of the Village Cafe in Pentwater. In case of inclement weather, the party will move downstairs to the Village Pub. Attendees may purchase food from the menu and music will be provided by Mike Snell from 7-10 p.m.  Please visit the Class of ‘78 Facebook page for information and updates.

• Hart resident, Terry Brinkman, retired this week from the City of Hart Energy Department after 14 years as a lineman. Prior to that, he worked as a builder and electrician for Farm Bureau, Buildings Plus, Top Rail Electric and Windemuller Electric (that bought out Top Rail Electric). Congratulations Terry and best wishes in your retirement!

• Linda Quick of Hart reported that on July 11, 2023, her 11 year-old great-grandson Daniel James of Crystal Valley caught this 8-pound smallmouth bass in the Hamlin Lake area. She said he loves to fish with his dad, Brian, and his younger brother, Caleb.

• Sunday, July 23 a 33-foot Morgan sailboat was stranded near Stony Lake on the coast of Lake Michigan. The Deja Vu, a boat whose home port is in South Carolina, was on its third solo circumnavigation with Captain Jonathan Baxter at the helm when suddenly the boat was lodged into the sand. Baxter has received help from fellow boaters as well as community members, but the boat has yet to budge more than a foot or so.

• Flowers everywhere are putting on their annual show. Be sure to check out the hydrangeas in downtown Shelby, the gardens on the north side of Mears with the “Welcome to Mears” sign and the Hart Commons. Please share other “garden shows” we can direct people to!

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 untimely death of Andrew Rector

By Caleb Jackson The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

Two men are credited as the first settlers of Pentwater: Andrew Rector and Edwin Cobb. They first purchased land in the area in 1849 and arrived four years later to build the first two buildings in Pentwater, a sawmill and a boarding house. This was three years before the well-known Charles Mears would arrive and erect his own sawmill. There was, for a brief amount of time, quite a bit of trouble revolving around these founding members, due to what is now called the Pentwater Title Crisis. It’s a whole can of worms, but I will try to sum things up as succinctly as possible. In 1859, Cobb and Rector transferred much of the land that would become Pentwater Village to a man named Charles Rosevelt. Many of the early settlers then began acquiring title deeds through Mr. Rosevelt. However, it was eventually discovered that some 40 acres were excluded from the original document assigning the lands to Mr. Rosevelt, and so Cobb was in and out of court, claiming he’d been hoodwinked. It became particularly troublesome in the 1870s when a group of men from Grand Rapids began buying land themselves to try and profit from the error. Rest assured, the whole thing was resolved, but notice I said Cobb was in and out of

court during this time. Where was Mr. Rector? Well, by the 1870s, he was already dead.

There is a book detailing much of the early days of Pentwater that was compiled by Florence R. Schrumpf. It is not an officially published book, but it draws from several sources, including the mouths of some of the village’s oldest residents at that time. In it, she wrote, “little is known of these two men who founded the village,” and goes on to say that Mr. Rector was known as “a very honorable man, but of a violent temper.” The book “History of Manistee, Mason, and Oceana Counties” by H.R. Page seems to corroborate this. We learn that the impromptu justice of the peace, Jimmy Dexter, once sentenced Rector to 99 years in jail for shooting his neighbor’s hog. This “sentencing” did predate Oceana’s official judicial system and was obviously not enforced.

But to get a better idea of what occurred on the day Andrew Rector died, we have to once again turn to our favorite authors, Hartwick and Tuller. On page 45 of “Oceana County Pioneers and Business Men of To-Day,” they tell us that Rector was shot by Orson A. Fuller on July 20, 1862. Fuller had “committed an indecent assault” upon a 12-yearold girl. This infuriated the villagers of Pentwater so much that a large group of people gathered at Fuller’s house with the intention of tarring and feathering him. To borrow the words of Hartwick and Tuller, “Fuller received the crowd with a loaded

gun that he fired in their midst, killing Andrew Rector.” And just like that, one of the founding members of Pentwater was snuffed out, not even one decade after his arrival. Fuller did turn himself in the following day, but he was not charged with the murder of Andrew Rector because it was self-defense. He was, however, immediately arrested for the assault he made upon the young girl previously mentioned, for which he was fined five dollars and imprisoned for 30 days.

OCH&GS 2022-23 Annual Meeting Report

The Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society (OCH&GS) met Sunday, July 16 for its annual meeting. The following report was presented there detailing all of the good work being done by the society over the past 12 months.

ARTIFACTS - The OCH&GS continues to be contacted by various entities across the county regarding the acquisition of larger county-relevant artifacts and also continues to receive historical documents and smaller artifacts related to Oceana County from visitors and residents.

BARN PROJECT - Building plans have been solidified. As soon as permits are received and our contractor is available, construction will begin. It is hoped that the long-awaited project will be under way before the Mears 150th Anniversary celebration Sunday, Aug. 20.

BUILDINGS, GROUNDS - The following are some of the buildings and grounds projects the society has seen in the past 12 months: new roof on Swift Lather’s house; church steeple in process of repair; Golden Park purchased; Chadwick Munger House courtyard awning installed; Chadwick Munger House courtyard dedication to Charlotte Lindstrom and sign placed; new groundskeeper keeping grounds in good shape (mowing, power washing, walnuts/brush etc); pending neighboring property purchase for use as future post office & school; walkway brick engraving to be handled by Superior Monument; a professional cleaning company was contracted to do a spring cleaning of all the museum buildings; bi-weekly cleaning services resumed at Society Headquarters; shelving purchased from a Pentwater business will be used for artifact storage at the town hall; an ad for rental of the Swedish Covenant Church ran in the February Bridal Edition;

the Building Rental Contract was updated; a small gift/souvenir corner was established at the Chadwick-Munger House; the Mears Museum gift/souvenir area was refreshed; the Golden Town Hall is now being used by the Oceana Echo for base operations; a new water line was installed from the basement of Chadwick-Munger House to an outside spigot for watering; Dr. Munger’s Cherry Tree sustained a broken limb in June.

COMMUNICATIONS/NEWSLETTER - The OCH&GS was featured in the January edition of the Great Lakes Energy Country Lines magazine. The article featured the new virtual equipment purchased with a People Fund Grant. Four newsletters were published and distributed this past year.

FACILITY/VOLUNTEERS - The Chadwick Munger House is open every Wednesday, where volunteers and visitors alike spend time working on various research projects. The society’s genealogical and historical collections continue to grow and are sought after and revered by people near and far.

LIBRARY - The printing of the Ruth Ann Kelly Native American project documents was completed. They are now available to view by the public at society headquarters. In April, all of the remaining bound volumes of the Oceana’s Herald-Journal were acquired; the society now holds hard copies of many county newspaper publications, including all of the Mears Newz, Shelby Herald, Hart Courier, The Argus, East Shore News, Walkerville News, Pentwater News, Hart Journal as well as partial collections of others; Oceana County History Volumes 1, 2, and 3 continue to sell, however, we have many extra 2 and 3.

MEMBERSHIP - The society continues to take in new members and receive financial contributions

from interested partners throughout the year. More are always welcome!

PROGRAM & SPECIAL EVENTS - A Volunteer Dinner & Recognition of Charlotte Lindstrom took place Sept. 13, 2022; the society had a 2022 Fair Display; the Golden Fair Parade was Oct. 7, 2022, the annual Pleasant Afternoon took place Aug. 21, 2022; President Paul Erickson was the guest speaker at the Little Point Sable Church Association meeting last fall; Esther Moul hosts a monthly “Share our Stories” at The Ladder in Shelby.

PUBLICITY/TECHNOLOGY - Guide by Cell audio tour narrations went live in June 2022; there are more narrations to be recorded. A quote to update the website is awaiting funding. Owl virtual equipment was purchased with a Community Foundation grant; a refurbished copier was purchased on a 5-year service plan in March (the old copier was moved to the town hall); society information and brochures were posted on the “Local History” panel at the Polk Road Rail Trail Kiosk; yard signs were purchased and placed strategically in Mears directing people to the museum; board meetings were made available on Zoom at the Chadwick-Munger House each month; a second DropBox account was added to be used as a “read only” file and to provide extra “insurance” for scanned records.

TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM - Visitorship is increasing at both the Museum Complex and Society Headquarters. In July, guest book records showed visitors from all across the U.S. and Australia! It has been rewarding to see the younger generation’s interest in history, both as visitors and volunteer docents. Once the barn is built, the society will be able to divide up its tractor and transportation collections and provide more space for other acquisitions.

Mears Sesquicentennial Celebration set for August 20

MEARS - The Village of Mears will celebrate its 150th anniversary on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, from 1-4 p.m. at the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society’s (OCH&GS) Mears Museum Complex, located at 5809 W. Fox Rd. in Mears. This year’s celebration is being held in conjunction with the society’s annual “Pleasant Afternoon” celebration.

“Not only are we hoping many will come out to the festivities, but we hope to add a touch of fun and are asking attendees to dress in period costume for the day. Dress needn’t be limited to the 1800s, think 1950s, 60s, 70s or 80s too,” said current OCH&GS board member Sharon Hallack.

A brief program will take place outside at 1 p.m. (weather permitting) and include a welcome by Paul Erickson, Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society Board President, recitations of Dale Lathers writings read by family members, an impersonation of Swift himself by former Hart High School drama club member and Northern Michigan University History major, R.J. Coon, followed by a Sesquicentennial Parade through town. After the parade, visitors can enjoy music provided by Bud Olsen, reminiscing and visiting, as well as homemade desserts prepared by OCH&GS volunteers and ice cream provided by Sprinklez Ice Cream until 4 p.m.

of the Lathers family descendents. The newly added replica of Swifts’ Dune Forest Village is a “must see”

The Robinson building, which was added to the complex following the Transportation Museum, houses a wonderful collection of early laundry equipment, area medical professional equipment and the former post office boxes from the New Era Post Office. Round out a tour by visiting the Swedish Covenant Church, Boynton Honeymoon Cottage and Ralph Fenton’s Cabin, all moved on site over the years so their history and stories can be preserved and shared with the greater community.

The 150th Mears Sesquicentennial will be historic, yet modern, memory-invoking and memory-making. Everyone is encouraged to bring someone along and enjoy the day.

For more information, please contact the Oceana County Historical Society at 231-873-2600 or visit info@oceanahistory.org.

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Share old-fashioned scrapbooks at The Ladder

The next Share Our Stories (SOS) event at The Ladder Community Center, located at 67 N. State St. in Shelby, will feature old-fashioned scrapbooks. Years ago, scrapbooks contained old clippings, photos, letters and miscellaneous items of interest, unlike the well-organized fancy “scrapbooking” that is currently in vogue. Join them Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m., as they examine an interesting collection of old scrapbooks from the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society. If anyone has an old scrapbook, please bring it to share.

SOS is a monthly event that takes place at The Ladder, where people gather and share memories and memorabilia from Oceana County. There is no cost for this evening event, though donations to The Ladder are welcome. Events are subject to change. To inquire about an event or if you have ideas for future topics of interest for SOS, call The Ladder at 231-259-0211. Visit theladdercommunitycenter.com to view all our upcoming events.

VA information event planned for today

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will have representatives on-site at an informative event Friday, Aug. 11 at the Oceana County Services Annex Building. Anyone with questions on VA eligibility and enrollment, PACT Act, federal and state VA benefits, filing claims and MyHealtheVet are encouraged to stop in between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Anyone interested in on-site enrollment will need to bring their DD214 and previous year’s tax statement. For any questions, please call (269) 966-5600 ext. 36212.

Oceana Golf Club to host several events

The Shelby Wrestling Program will have a golf scramble at Oceana Golf Club, Sunday, Aug. 6 at 9 a.m., to fundraiser for their program.

The next Sunday, Aug. 13, The Oceana Golf Club Championship Finals will be at 9:00 a.m. with the Finals of the Championship set to begin at 9:30 a.m. One finalist will be Shawn Pranger. They are also having a first time champion this year 2023, but are still waiting to see who his opponent will be.

Two Oceana County entrepreneurs are finalists in Pitch North competition

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

By Lucie Winborne

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

• Brian Woods - Big Skinny’s (Oceana County)

FOR RELEASE JULY 31, 2023

Five rural entrepreneurs have been selected to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges during the fifth annual Pitch North competition. Pitch North is the region’s first-of-its-kind entrepreneurial pitching competition where entrepreneurs living in Lake, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties can pitch their ideas for a chance at one of five cash prizes. The competition has awarded over $55,000 in cash to-date as a collaborative effort to foster entrepreneurism in the rural three-county region.

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• Noble Graham-Lattin - Birch & Blossom LLC (Oceana)

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• Jackie Dickinson - Straight Path Farms, LLC (Newaygo County)

JULY 31, 2023

By Lucie Winborne

The 2023 finalists, selected from a pool of 26 total submissions, will compete for the chance to win their share of more than $11,000 in cash and prizes to bring their ideas to life.

The finalists are:

Each finalist will be given five minutes to present their business idea and then answer judges’ questions during a live event being held August 16 from 4pm – 6pm at Lakes 23 Pavilion in Fremont. Those wishing to support the finalists may attend the live event for free by registering online at www.rightplace.org/events/pitch-north-2023by August 15.

New Era Farmers Market to feature Emergency Vehicles Aug. 8

The New Era Farmers Market will feature emergency vehicles from 4-5 p.m. Aug. 8.

These are pop-up markets and are from 4-7 p.m. At 4 p.m., the vendors will be set up and ready. The Kids Power of Produce Club kicks off with a story read by Gwen Adams of the Oceana County Council on Aging. Followed by a conversation with Trooper Todd Goodrich of the Michigan State Police on identifying emergencies, how to call 911 and what information one needs to have available for the call. There will be market bingo through the market, free tokens for produce, and at 5 p.m., drawings for two Double JJ gift packs.

MSU Extension’s Michigan Fresh cooking show will begin at 4 p.m. and feature blueberry smoothies. Also, the first 30 participants will receive a take-home kit with vouchers for purchasing the main ingredients for free. The New Era Farmers Market offers Senior Power of Produce, giving anyone 62 and over $4 in free tokens to purchase produce. Register at the checkered flag booth. They accept SNAP and offer Double Up Food Bucks as well. Those that have them can also spend their Senior Market Fresh Coupons and WIC Project Fresh Coupons at this market.

The Smokin’ Dobroleles start playing at 5 p.m. The market is located on the grounds of the New Era Christian Reformed Church, located at 1820 Ray Ave. in New Era. Look for their mascot, Raye the scarecrow, on market day. She will be hanging out on the corner of Oceana Drive and Ray Avenue. Visit the Market’s Facebook page, like them, see vendor listings and other posts. They will feature posts about vendors with a short update of information on their families and how they got into growing or making what they sell.

• My father taught me all I know about working the grill — even though it was his job! One tip that’s served me best is this simple beauty: Let the meat sear before you move it. Give it a chance to cook on one side well enough that it lifts away from the grill. If it’s sticking, you probably need to leave it alone! Happy grilling.

• “Kitchen stores sell grill brushes, but they can be expensive. I use a good-quality paintbrush from the hardware store for grilling only, and replace it a couple of times throughout grilling season. I find it to be a better brush, and less expensive to boot!” — B.F. in Illinois

• Your grilled meats will be more moist and taste better if you let them rest for a few minutes after you take them off the grill. It allows the meat to redistribute the natural juices. If you are worried about temperature, just cover the meat with foil.

• “It’s best to clean a grill just after cooking, but if you weren’t able to, that’s OK. When faced with a messy grill surface, just preheat, then clean. The heat will burn off drippings and make it easier to scrub.” — R.T. in Florida

• You should never use a cooking spray on your grill. Instead, soak a paper towel in oil and use your tongs to oil the grill surface.

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• Banging your head against a wall for one hour will burn 150 calories. However, we generally recommend something safer and less painful, such as, say, walking your dog.

• The typewriter was first designed to print page numbers on books.

• Snakes can sense an approaching earthquake from as far as 75 miles away and five days before it occurs.

• “Omphalophobia” is the fear of belly buttons.

• In England, all property of suicide victims was once confiscated and Christian burial rites were denied, while those who attempted the act but failed were charged as felons. The penalties were intended as a deterrent, due to the superstition that anyone who took their own life would wander the streets of their town and haunt their homes.

• “Toy Story’s” character of Woody was originally intended to be a ventriloquist’s dummy.

• When Salvatore Ferragamo was unable to purchase steel for shoe heels due to economic sanctions against Italy in the 1940s, he inadvertently created the wedge design while experimenting with Sardinian cork — gluing, trimming and fixing it to pieces of the sole.

• Wheat isn’t just a multipurpose food source. It is also used in paper, hair conditioner and even stamps.

• In Michigan and Connecticut, it’s illegal to kiss a woman in public on a Sunday.

• Traffic has become so bad in major American cities that there isn’t even a definitive “rush hour” anymore.

• The HBO comedy “Curb Your Enthusiasm” helped save a man from being falsely accused of the murder of 16-year-old Martha Puebla. Larry David’s acclaimed series was filming at Dodger Stadium the night the crime occurred, and its cameras fortunately picked up Juan Catalan, proving the truth of his alibi as well as his innocence.

***

Thought for the Day: “How others treat me is their path; how I react is mine.” — Wayne Dyer ***

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

PUBLIC AUCTION LIVE ON SITE!

Saturday August 5, 2023 @ 10AM

Located: 518 S. 44th Ave. Shelby, MI. 49455

Directions: From US-31, take the Shelby Rd. Exit W. to S. 44th Ave. Then, North follow the black top and curves to Buchanan Rd. Go E. to S. 44th Ave., then N. to sale site! Watch for signs!

Beyer Auction has been commissioned to sell the Estate of Dennis and Carlene Ericksen. Items include: 2005 F-150 4x4 pickup with 176,000 miles, single axle 8x12 trailer, Ranch King mower, wood rack yard cart, Agri Fab lawn sweeper, Garage and outdoor tools, plus much more. All items sold with no minimums and no reserves!

Auctioneers Note: See our website for complete list and pictures at www.beyerauction.com. Celebrating new ownership. Terms: No out of state checks will be accpeted. Cash or check with positive ID. Announcements take precedence over printed material. Not responsible for accidents or loss.

DOUBLE

Beyer Auction Service Inc.

from the sand. • Contributed photos

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Reporter

HART — After a successful 2022-23 campaign saw Hart’s girls basketball team reach the state semifinals, members of the team are receiving attention at the next level.

Senior Abby Hicks and junior Addi Hovey have both been offered multiple opportunities to play for colleges across Michigan

Hicks announced in multiple posts on Twitter that she has been given offers to continue her basketball career from both Grand Rapids Community College and Alma College.

Hovey spent some time at Ferris State Univeristy last week and came away with an offer herself. The Bulldogs are hoping Hovey joins both their women’s basketball team as well as the track and field squad.

Beached Consider writing for us!

The top shots from local golf courses

Benona Shores:

• Brock Whitt (7/23) Hole in one on No. 10 from 167 yards with a seven iron.

• Wayne Pretty (8/1) Hole in one on No. 9 from 197 yards with a seven wood.

Athletes from Shelby’s football and wrestling teams got dirty on Friday, July 28. While attending a team bonding event at the Oval, the boys stumbled across a beached sailboat and her captain. Even after spending some time pushing, digging and sweating, the two teams were unable to get the 1400-pound vessel to budge