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Truly Golden: 50 years for Supervisor Carl Fuehring

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Golden Township Supervisor Carl Fuehring, first elected to the Golden Township Board in 1974, closed out a 50-year tenure in November when he was unseated in the November 5 election by Golden Township Zoning Administrator Rob Draper. Planning to serve one last term and then retire, Fuehring handled the defeat as he has handled many challenges over the past five decades, with grace and positivity. “Rob (Draper) is young and energetic, he’ll do a great job for the community,” Fuehring said.

The past 50 years have given Fuehring not only many opportunities to lead but also the chance to become a part of local

history. From numerous Silver Lake water studies and sewer project proposals to a proposed township-funded fire department and a short-term rental ordinance, to numerous zoning decisions, infrastructure updates, and working through issues related to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes and the thousands of tourists who visit the township annually, he was quick to say the position has never been about him. It was about the board, the people he was working with and what was best for Golden Township.

“I have great appreciation for all the people I’ve served with,” he said. Naming many of them, past and present, Fuehring was quick to say something positive about every one of them. “We’ve had excellent people.”

“I have worked on the Golden Township Board with Carl since 1997. Carl always looked out for the interest of the whole township. He was easy to work with, (and) always listened to the opinions of others. He did a great job and there was never a dull moment when Carl was around. We will miss him,”

Golden Township Treasurer Connie Cargill said,. When asked how he got involved on the township board in the first place, Fuehring smiled, “I was out driving around one night and noticed a

lot of cars at the Golden Township Hall, so I stopped in. It was their annual meeting. Eddie Johnson, my former high school teacher, was (township) clerk at the time. He is one of the top-class acts of anyone I’ve ever met.

Shortly after that meeting, Johnson asked Fuehring to run for the board, and was voted in as a trustee in November of 1974. Because Golden Township has no term limits; as long as an individual is willing to run, they can be voted in for succeeding terms. “When Don Walsworth retired from Supervisor, I threw my hat in the ring and was voted in as Supervisor,” he said. Fuehring served two, four-year terms, 20162024.

“Under Don’s tutelage, he gave me great guidance. My idea was to be a facilitator for other board members and work on township problems,” Fuehring said humbly.

“Out of the past 50 years, I think he’s only missed six or seven meetings,” Fuehring’s wife Pat added. “He was always on duty. Unless we didn’t have phone service, he was willing to take phone calls or discuss township business anytime.”

Fuehring recalled one meeting in particular. It was Sept. 10, 2001, and they were in California visiting family. They’d booked their return flight

so he could make it to a township board meeting the following day. His California relatives tried to convince him to stay, telling him he didn’t have to go. “But we flew home on Sept. 10 and woke up to 9/11. I don’t know if we held our regular meeting or not that night,” he reflected.

“I worked with Carl for a long time, and whenever we talked about township issues, his first thought was, ‘What is best for Golden Township?’ He wanted Golden Township to be the best it could be and (be) a leader in Oceana County,” Golden Zoning Board of Appeals member Jake Whelpley said.

“Things used to be simpler,” Fuehring said as he shared a fascinating little-known piece of Golden’s history, “The first thing that happened (once he got on the board) was the township treasurer, Mr. Reed—I can’t recall his first name—passed away, and no records could be found. Township money was kept in a lunchbox at the town hall. Esther Viterna was appointed to fill the remainder of his term. She was a real stickler for details, a real ‘cracker jack.’

She, along with the township supervisor, whose name I don’t recall either, someone from the State of Michigan, and someone from the bank, got together and figured out how much money they (the township) had. They drew a line in the sand and said, ‘This is where you stand now.’ Now we’ve got Connie Cargill, bookkeepers and auditors, and everything is computerized.”

As far as Fuehring is concerned, the biggest township accomplish-

ment, during his 50 years on the board, was the passage of the township’s road millage. Back in the early 2000s, a group of farmers meeting over coffee at the Golden Inn started discussing the condition of the township’s roads. They petitioned the board, got it placed on the ballot, and it passed. “It’s passed every time since. We’ve spent millions on roads and are the envy of the county. Other supervisors have asked how we do it. It takes a group of people to push it,” he said. “The township has a road committee that works with the road commission. They’ve been a good partner.”

Golden Township Clerk, Rachel Iteen, shared her personal recollections of working with Fuehring. “After Carl was elected as supervisor, he and his wife would host an annual township dinner party at their house. Carl and Pat were kind and serving, taking care of their guests in style. He would make Christmas special by bringing in poinsettias for all of us and a tin of special holiday cookies. He even thought of us on many of his trips, bringing back a gift for us who worked in the office. Carl didn’t bother beating around the bush, but would get right to the point; a trait I, at times, wish more people had. No need to guess

what he really thought. I have been blessed working with Carl and will miss the opportunity now that he has retired.”

“I have worked with Carl for many years, and I loved working with him when he was on the planning commission. He was a no-nonsense decision-maker and was strong in his convictions. He would fight for what he felt was right, and I don’t recall ever seeing him back down on his position. He was unfiltered and said it like it was. He wasn’t worried about hurting anyone’s feelings and I loved that about him. He always had the good of the community in mind,” Golden Planning Commission Chair Chad Coker said.

Trustee Doug Dykstra, who came on the board in 2022, thinking of his time with Fuehring and looking to the future of Golden Township, said, “He really cares about people. He listens, and for 50 years he’s given his heart and soul. Sometimes it’s hard for people to realize we work within some constraints. It’s not easy, but Carl was passionate about leaving the township better than when he came.”

Though his public service has come to an end, Fuehring leaves behind a legacy for sure. He believes Golden Township, with its many great community leaders, will continue to serve its constituents and thrive long into the future.

Golden Township meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the township hall located at 5527 W. Fox Road, Mears. All are welcome.

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

New “Welcome to Shelby - Where the North Begins” signs, now greet travelers as they enter Shelby Township and the Village of Shelby. Two signs, located on Shelby Road next to the Marathon gas station and on Oceana Drive north of Country Dairy, were funded with a three-way match between the Township of Shelby, the Village of Shelby and the Shelby Chamber of Commerce. Shelby Township has also placed two “Welcome to Shelby Township” signs on M-20 near township boundaries. All signs feature artistic renditions of woodlands and fruit on the front side and an American flag motif on the back, are installed on raised earthen berms, and are lit by solar-powered floodlights.

“Advanced” category, for his painting of downtown Hart, was William Kenneth Hopper, and winning in the “Novice” category, for her painting of the Hart Commons, was Jennifer Smith. A reported total of 220 people cast online votes for the competition.

New Hart City Council members sworn in at Nov. 12 city council

meeting

The Hart City Council authorized a bid from Wadel Stabilization Nov. 12, in the amount of $34,300 for the replacement of three fire hydrants near Polk Road and State Street. Two of the three hydrants will be installed next to existing hydrants, including one hydrant across from the Oceana County Road Commission and the hydrant at the Fairgrounds exit. A third hydrant located at Polk Road and State Street will be relocated to the west side of the intersection.

Natural Resources

Notes

County, and approximately 40 percent were antlerless. For anyone who hasn’t harvested a deer yet or still has tags to fill, there is still time! Late Archery season runs Dec. 1 through Jan. 1. Muzzleloader season began Dec. 6 and concludes Dec. 15, but the Late Antlerless Firearm season picks up Dec. 16 through Jan. 1. Kanaziz urges all sportsmen and sportswomen to consult the Deer Hunting Regulations Summary (available online or in the DNR Hunt Fish app) for more information on any state wildlife season. Hunters can stay up-to-date on harvest report totals by visiting the DNR website at https://www.mdnr-elicense.com/ HarvestReportSummary.

Veterans

reinstall the Swedish Mission Covenant Church steeple that had been removed last year for repairs. The historic church, which was moved to the park in 2007 from its original site just west of the village, is available for rent during the warmer months of the year.

Schools

The City of Hart’s annual ArtWalk H-art Prize included two winners in the event’s first-ever Plein Air painting competition. Winning in the

According to a DNR report summary provided by Rachel Kanaziz, Wildlife Biologist of the Paris, Mich. field office, as of Dec. 3, 232,621 total white-tailed deer have been harvested and reported in the State of Michigan. Of those, 3,638 deer were taken out of Oceana

The American Legion Strong Wolf Post 234, located just north of Hart, has seen a facelift of sorts in the past few weeks. Two large pine trees and large areas of brush were cleared from the south side of the building, making it more visible from Oceana Drive. Veterans and community members interested in becoming involved with revitalizing the Strong Wolf post are encouraged to email Kim Loncar at Kloncar1966@gmail.com.

History

& Genealogical Society’s Mears Histori cal Park is now closed for the season, however, the week before Thanks giving, they were able to successfully

WALKERVILLE - Walkerville Public Schools was pleased to hire the school’s Athletic Director Marc Pacavis, as its School Resource Officer (SRO) this past September. Pacavis’ background is in criminal justice, and when the school started talking about hiring a SRO, he mentioned his past experience. In February he applied for and successfully passed the National Association School Resource Officer exam. Pacavis has been working as the school’s AD for the past three years and continues in that role as well. One of Pacavis’ duties in his new position is the administration of the district’s “In-Depth” online education program, sponsored by the American Lung Association. In-Depth provides an alternative to suspension for students with infractions related to smoking and possession of smoking paraphernalia on school property. The other main focus for Pacavis this year has been tracking student attendance and truancy, an issue for districts across the county. Once a student reaches the district’s absence threshold, Pacavis will attempt to call a student’s parents. If that is unsuccessful, he will make a home visit. “We are excited about the opportunity to have someone like Marc working with our kids to help with attendance and truancy and to be the bridge between law enforcement and the school community,” Superintendent Joseph Conkle shared. “We do not have a 3-year grant with our local police department like other local districts, but we will be working to keep this position for as long as possible because we recognize its importance in

Phil Jonassen, Jack Creed and Kim Loncar after clearing brush at Strong Wolf Post

The Oceana County Historical

Marc Pacavis, new Walkerville SRO

This page is brought to you by:

114 Dryden St. in Hart, Mich. 49420 (231) 873-2600

The Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society is open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Private tours are available by appointment. oceanahistory.org

By Caleb Jackson The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

This week let’s take a look at some of the smaller, yet no less interesting, stories recorded in the pages of our history books.

Oceana was first organized as a county in 1831, but it wasn’t until 1855 that its current borders were established. Be that as it may, families began settling here as early as 1849. For those interim years between 1849 and 1855, a man named Alex S. Anderson was “sent by the whole county for several years down to Grand Haven to look after the interests of the few straggling settlers along the beach at Claybanks, Stony Creek, Point Sable and Pentwater Lake.” Similarly, taxes had to be collected and sent down to Grand Haven, and for a time this was done by a man named Moses Hopkins.

Anderson is actually a very interesting person in our county’s history. Hartwick and Tuller recorded a brief bi-

ography on him in their book “Oceana County Pioneers and Business Men of To-Day,” but it is not very informative. They call him “a man who exerted a positive influence in the early affairs of this county” and yet also say that “nothing is known” of his early life before 1849. For a while the Whisky Creek “post office” was operated out of Anderson’s house, and he also served as the Register of Deeds for some time. In fact, it was by his hand that a grievous error was made while recording a deed, which led to the Pentwater Title Crisis.

In Page’s History of Oceana, they record the discovery of a number of “ancient pits” somewhere in Golden:

In Golden we observed a number of curiously arranged pits or depressions, now not much over one or two feet in depth, which were probably intended, like our modern rifle pits, for defensive purposes. That they are very ancient is evident from the fact of large pines growing in some of the pits. They are not arranged in an arc, or even diagonally, but still, however irregular they may seem, evidently

with a view to skillful defense. Those that we saw were on section 15, but they exist in other parts of the town. It is hard to be sure exactly what the author is referring to, however, there is a historic archeology site in the area. The Green Quarry Site was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1972. It covers 40 acres and is located somewhere in Mears, although the address is restricted. The site was used by prehistoric man to acquire something called Lambrix chert, which was used to make tools.

Lastly, when Page’s History was published in 1882, there existed a number of beautiful meadows that were attributed to beavers. It was reported by an early settler named Mr. Sayles that beavers were plentiful in 1860 and “the Indians brought in many skins.” However, by the time 1882 rolled around, there were none to be found, and they left behind only the occasional meadow “in which wild grass grows abundantly.” Mr. Sayles owned one of these beaver meadows on Section 36 of Colfax. It was over 100 acres and he was said to cut anywhere

from 50 to 75 tons of hay off from it annually. “Formerly… the lumbermen were glad to pay a high price for wild hay.” They also mention the existence of a few other meadows. One on Section 10 of Leavitt and two in Hart, one on Section 18 and another on Section 3 “where the dam and stakes are yet visible.”

Oceana Center Grange Agricultural Report for December 2024

By Phil Carter The Oceana Echo Agricultural Consultant

Winter is “ripe” in the Land of Oceana. However, at this writing, Dec. 8, 2024, winter is rapidly disappearing. We can only hope for its reappearance, given the established benefits it provides to agricultural crops. Snow has insulating properties for fruit trees, minimum chill temperatures for fruit, winter crops like wheat and alfalfa, and provides

needed moisture for the upcoming growing season.

Corn harvest continues for a few growers. Mechanical breakdowns, lack of farm storage space, wishful thinking prices will go above breakeven levels and wet soil conditions have delayed picking operations for a few. Overall, the harvest went well for most with acceptable moisture levels and good weather conditions. Seed salespersons have been busy helping growers capitalize on early order cash discounts.

American agriculture is at a low level of confidence for the majority of producers with net income 25 percent be-

low profit levels. Less disposable income has caused major suppliers like John Deere, Case New Holland and Agco to reduce their labor force due to declining sales. The trickle-down effect has spread through the ag economy, affecting most ag businesses. Only when commodity prices return to profitability will there be an uptick for these industries. Commercialization of the Christmas season is upon us. We need to remember the reason for the season, and from our farm to yours, no matter the size, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

scanning the QR code

Ongoing

MONDAYS: Free yoga, Lakeside Rehab Family Fitness, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

TUESDAYS: TOPS, Hart Wesleyan Church, 5 p.m.

3rd TUESDAYS: Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club - Feeding America W. Mich. mobile food pantry, Pentwater Fire Dept., 11 a.m.

WEDNESDAYS: Love INC satellite open, Walkerville Wesleyan Church, 144 S. Hamon St., noon to 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAYS: Good News Club, Faith Christian Fellowship, Hart, 4-5:30 p.m.

1 st & 3 rd

WEDNESDAYS: Free community dinner, all are welcome, 5-6 p.m., Hart Wesleyan Church.

1st & 3rd WEDNESDAYS: Hart VFW Post 1329 Burger/ Chicken/Brat/Ribs Night, 5-7 p.m., dine-in or carry out.

Every other WEDNESDAY: Shelby Optimist Club meetings, Stony Lake Inn, 7-8 p.m., (September to May)

2nd & 4th WEDNESDAYS - True North Housing Assistance satellite open, Walkerville Wesleyan Church, 12:30-3:30 p.m.

FRIDAYS: Preschool Story Hour, HAPL, 11 a.m.

1st FRIDAYS: Free Soup Supper, Ferry Community Center, 5-7 p.m.

2nd & 4th FRIDAYS: Knights of Columbus Bingo, 6 p.m., St. Gregory Parish Center, 214 S. Peach Ave. in Hart, doors open at 4 p.m.

1st Saturdays: Baby Pantry, Trinity Lutheran Church, 5631 W. Stony Lake Rd., 8:30-10 a.m. (note new date)

The Ladder Community Center:

M-F: The Ladder is open for adults (18+) 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

M-F: “The Huddle” for 6th-12th grade youth, 3-5 p.m. Tuesdays: Knitting Group, 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays: Celebrate worship gathering, 6:30 p.m.

2nd Saturday: Party Club for Kids ages 5-12, 1-2:30 p.m.

Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

Operation Santa Letters accepted until Dec. 18

Drop off your letter to Santa at one of the locations below, mail it to the address in red, or email it to the email address below by Dec. 18 to receive a special surprise!

**Please be sure to include a return address on your letter** operationsantaletters1@gmail.com

CB Woodland-Schmidt (2332 N. Comfort Dr., Hart, MI, 49420) Birch & Blossom (112 E. Main St. Suite 3, Hart, MI 49420) 3405 Elm St., Hesperia (Ferry), MI 49421 3100 W. Winston Rd., Rothbury, MI 49452

Little Dreamers Daycare (1906 Mills Ave., Muskegon, MI 49445) Merry Christmas!

Sharing the history of The Ladder set for Dec. 17

The Ladder Community Center in Shelby invites all adults 18 and up to join them Tuesday, Dec. 17, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. for Share Our Stories (SOS). This month’s SOS theme will be “History of The Ladder.” Ladder volunteers and staff are invited to share their stories. The Ladder’s Director Brian Beckman will share how his family implemented the vision of the community center and tell us how people can become involved in the ministry.

SOS is a monthly event held at The Ladder, where people gather and share memories, photos, and other memorabilia from Oceana County. There is no additional cost for registered adult members 18+. Please note in case of severe weather, this event will be cancelled.

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.

TLC Cookie Walk this Saturday morning in New Era

Trinity Lutheran Church will host its 2024 Cookie Walk, Saturday, Dec. 14 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Those who pre-ordered cookie boxes can pick them up on Saturday and anyone else can choose their own cookies for $8 per pound at 5631 W. Stony Lake Rd. in New Era. Payment is accepted by cash or check only. Call the church at 861-4059 with any questions.

December

Ends Dec. 18 - Spitler Elem. “Polar Express Canned Food Drive”

Dec. 14 - Pentwater Christmas in the Village

Dec. 14 - TLC Cookie Walk, New Era, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Dec. 14 - Holiday Family Fun Event, Pentwater Township Library, 402 E. Park St., Pentwater, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Dec. 14 - SHS Holiday Band and Choir Concerts, Shelby auditorium, 641 N. State St., Shelby, 7 p.m.

Dec. 16 - After School Movie at Hesp. Comm. Library, 3:30-5 p.m.

Dec. 17 - Christmas Bird Count, put on by OCD, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dec. 17 - Tech Time, Hesperia Comm. Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Board Meeting, Community Room, 4:30-6 p.m.

Dec. 17 - Hart Schools Holiday Band Concert, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 17 - Shelby Middle School Holiday Band and Choir Concerts, Shelby Auditorium, 641 N. State St., Shelby, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18 - Pentwater Community Christmas Caroling, Pentwater UMC, 82 S. Hancock, Pentwater, 4:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 - Adult Book Club at Hesperia Comm. Library, 5-7 p.m.

Dec. 19 - Matinee Movie at Hesp. Comm. Library, 1-3:30 p.m.

Dec. 20 - Story Time at Hesp. Comm. Library, 10-11 a.m., Night Before Christmas Read to a Shelter Cat, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dec. 20 - Feeding America Food Truck, Walkerville School District, 145 Lathrop St., 5 p.m.

Dec. 20 - Winter Solstice Hike, Gales Pond County Park, 49 E. Filmore Rd., Hart, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Local schools host annual holiday concerts

It’s school band concert time in Oceana! Four Oceana County schools invite the entire community to enjoy the sounds of the season as played and sung by its young musicians on the following dates.

The Shelby High School Bands and Choir will perform their holiday concerts tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. in the Shelby High School Auditorium, while the Shelby Middle School Band and Choir will perform their holiday selections, next Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. Both concerts will take place in the Shelby High School Auditorium, located at 641 N. State St., Shelby. Admission is free.

The Hart Public School Bands - Middle School, High School and Jazz Band, will present their concerts Tuesday, Dec. 17 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the high school gymnasium, located at 300 W. Johnson St., Hart. Admission is free and limited floor seating will be available. The Hart Band Boosters will conduct their annual raffle fundraiser! Many great items will be raffled, including gift cards to local restaurants, holiday crafting and decorating items, a custom-made bench, blankets, gift baskets, an overnight stay and a dinner voucher or similar to the Little River Casino Resort and more! Raffle tickets will be sold at the door the night of the concert.

The Pentwater Public Schools Bands - Junior High, High School and Jazz, will perform their annual holiday concert Tuesday, December 17, at 7 p.m. in the Pentwater School gymnasium located at 600 East Park Street, Pentwater.

Strong Wolf American Legion Post to meet monthly

The Strong Wolf American Legion Post #35 will hold meetings at the Hart Community Center from January through April. Interested individuals are invited to attend meetings from 7-8 p.m. Jan.13, Feb. 10, March 10 and April 10, 2025. The Community Center is located behind Hart City Hall at 407 State St. in Hart.

Those who would like to receive email notification of meetings or those unable to attend physically, please email organizer Kim Loncar at kloncar1966@gmail.com. A Zoom link will be provided to those requesting it.

Field birders sought for Christmas Bird Count 2024

This year’s Oceana County National Audubon Christmas Bird Count will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 17, in Oceana County’s official Christmas Bird Count Circle. “We have two needs,” said coordinator Lynda Herremans of Oceana’s Soil Conservation District. “One, we are looking for experienced field birders who have property in or would feel comfortable covering a site or section of the circle. Two, we are also looking for residents who live within the circle that have bird feeders to tally birds at their feeders for any time period during that day. The count circle area includes villages of Shelby, Pentwater and City of Hart, as well as all of Hart and Golden Township, and portions of Pentwater, Weare, Benona and Shelby Townships. There is a specific procedure and paperwork required to keep a tally. Anyone interested in helping with the annual census should call the OCD office no later than December 13 at 231-861-5600 to be registered.”

Places of Oceana County – Country Dairy: Looking Back… Part III

Consider the Lilies...

By Janet (Van Gunst) Hasselbring The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

1936. This is a story of Henry and Ellen. Together they lived on the land. Henry tended the farm, and Ellen the house, living in harmony hand in hand (“Country Dairy: A Week with Hinie and Ellen”).

My parents’ faith was honed on the small farm in west Michigan - tested and tried as they eked out a living. Like a muscle, their faith would be exercised by daily stretching and over time, it would grow as strong as the rocks turned over by the rake Henry pulled behind the tractor; their trust in God as sure as the sun that rose and set daily overhead; their walk with God as straight and narrow as the furrows formed by the plow Henry held as he walked back and forth across the field behind workhorses, Maud and Daze.

Nature formed their relationship with God as much as worshipping Him in the pews on Sunday. As they went about their daily chores, totally dependent on the wiles of the weather, Scripture verses they read after every meal were internalized until they sank into their souls and became planted there as fertile seeds. God became their daily guide and companion.

Ellen may have been a housewife living on the farm, but she never thought of herself as just a housewife. She turned housework into an aesthetic adventure. She took pride in ironing sheets and pillowcases. A batch of strawberry jam, 13 jars of canned peaches (she always managed to get 13 jars out of a bushel), 100 jars of tomato juice, a pan of snipped beans, and a freshly baked blackberry pie were works of art for Ellen. She hummed and sang as she hung out the clothes.

She had a flower garden in addition to the vegetable garden, and she tended her roses with tender lov-

ing care, naming them one by one. Henry gave her a piano for an anniversary gift, and whenever she had a spare moment, she tickled the ivories with hymns and oldies, which she could play by ear.

When the children were born – seven in 10 years, life took on added responsibilities and worries. Still, Ellen’s presence and energy transformed the house on the hill into a home filled with organized hustle and bustle, and an ambience of fragrant bouquets, the aroma of freshly baked bread and the strains of piano music.

Ellen’s artistry and handicraft were both practical and aesthetic. She was a virtuoso at the sewing machine, making clothes for the entire family. She even made her son, Roger, a snowsuit out of her father’s winter coat. Alas, it was so heavy, Roger could barely stand up in it! She knitted and crocheted sweaters, mittens, scarves and afghans. She crocheted over 100 snowflakes for a Hospice tree. She tatted doilies and handkerchiefs, embroidered tablecloths and did candlewicking. She made over 75 quilts, creating the squares or sections, then sewing them together on the quilt stand.

Her gifts were always special and often handmade. An angel she gave as a gift one Christmas sits atop my mantel; her snowflakes adorn my Christmas tree. Her afghans keep me warm on a cold winter’s night, and her quilts cover me as I go to sleep. I serve dinner on her tablecloths, pour water from a cut glass pitcher and serve jam in a Royal Albert China container she purchased in England. I still wear the sundress she sewed for me.

Ellen was intelligent, creative, cultured and determined. She must have had ambitions and dreams bursting to find fruition. When life came at them hard, and they struggled to make ends meet, she

St. Joseph & St. Vincent Catholic Churches Lighthouse Lutheran Church

www.stjosephweare.org

Check out our Facebook page

St. Joseph, Weare 2380 W. Jackson Rd., Hart

Saturday Mass: 7 p.m.

Sunday Mass: 9 a.m.

St. Vincent, Pentwater 637 E. Sixth St.

Saturday Mass: 4 p.m.

Confessions: 1/2 hour before all Masses Rev. Phil Sliwinski, Pastor

Pastor John C. Hansen Sunday Worship - 11 a.m. For more information, call 231-233-7703 EVERYONE IS WELCOME! LCMS

8786 N. Business US-31 Pentwater, MI • 49449 231-869-2527

must have wondered if her dreams would ever be fulfilled; yet, she never flinched in accepting her role as homemaker and helpmeet in the house on the hill.

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And, yet I say unto you that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matthew 6:28-29)

Stay tuned for Part IV.

*Much of the content of this article is taken from the memoir I wrote of my mother and her life on the farm. “In the Garden: Ellen – An Ordinary Woman; An Extraordinary Life” can be purchased by contacting the author at JanetHasselbring23@gmail.com.

The pictorial memoir, “Country Dairy: A Week with Hinie and Ellen” is available at the Country Dairy farmstore.

R. Clair and Nancy (Goetz) Purdy will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on December 19, 2024. After meeting at Hackley Hospital, where both were training for health care professions, they were married in Elba, New York, in 1959. They have four children, Dorothy (Alan) Moul, Robert Purdy, Russell (Shelby) Purdy, Dee (Ken) Gutowski; 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. A private family celebration is planned, but cards of congratulation may be sent to the couple at 612A Cottage Dr. Hart, MI 49420.

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

It’s December, and besides snow, it’s a month of parties and programs, Christmas lights, baking and a host of other fun things to do. It’s also a month of making memories with family and friends. While The Oceana Echo and the White Lake Mirror keep busy reporting the “news of the day,” we also enjoy sharing your family’s news as well. In preparation for our upcoming Christmas issues, we invite all Echo and Mirror readers to share some of their fondest holiday memories with us. With over 14,500 households receiving our paper on a weekly basis, there’s plenty we’re sure! Please email me at sharon@oceanaecho.com by Dec. 18. You don’t need to be a writer to share! We will edit for spelling, grammar and punctuation. We will try to print as many as we can!

Please join

Refreshments,

Weare Township

The Weare Township Planning Commission will meet at 7:00 PM on Dec. 17, 2024, at the Weare Township Hall

To discuss the Rezoning of Parcel #64-002-020-400-18 which is currently zoned LDR (Low Density Residential) to NC (Neighborhood Commercial).

Park N Store On property ID # 64-002-020-400-18 3480 W Monroe Rd Hart, Michigan 49420

- Andrew J Clark, Zoning Administrator

Please join us on December 16 for our Holiday Open House 11am – 2 pm

Refreshments, Vendor Giveaways, Raffles (RC vehicle, bike stand & much more), Gift Cards! Get your favorite Duner the gifts they really want!

We have RC vehicles, bike stands & much more! Get your favorite Duner the gifts they really want!

Refreshments, Vendor Giveaways, Raffles (RC vehicle, bike stand & much more), Gift Cards! Get your favorite Duner the gifts they really want!

DuneLand Off-Road Center, Inc. 1951 N. 24th Ave, Mears, MI

1951 N. 24th Ave iN MeArs 231-873-4047

DuneLand Off-Road Center, Inc. 1951 N. 24th Ave, Mears, MI

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• On Dec. 16, 1938, Adolf Hitler instituted the Mother’s Cross, a medal awarded as part of an initiative designed to encourage women of “pure” German origin to grow the Third Reich’s population. Each year between 1938 and 1944, gold medals were given to women with eight or more children, silver medals to women with six to seven, and bronze medals to women with five.

STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20241202

NOW HERE’S A TIP #12345_20241202 FOR RELEASE DEC. 2, 2024

By JoAnn Derson

FOR RELEASE DEC. 2, 2024

By Lucie Winborne

• On Dec. 17, 2010, a struggling street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire outside the governor’s office in Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia. That morning, his merchandise had been confiscated by a municipal inspector, as Bouazizi was operating without a government permit. His act was considered the start of the Arab Spring, a period of pro-democracy uprisings throughout North Africa and the Middle East.

• On Dec. 18, 1972, future American president Joe Biden’s first wife, Neilia, and 13-month-old daughter, Naomi, were killed in a car accident while shopping for a Christmas tree when their car was struck by a tractor-trailer.

• On Dec. 19, 1843, Charles Dickens’ beloved classic novella “A Christmas Carol” was published in London by Chapman and Hall. The first edition sold out in just five days, and the book not only has been adapted countless times in multiple media, but it has never gone out of print.

• On Dec. 20, 1940, superhero Captain America, aka Steven “Steve” Rogers, a frail man enhanced to physical perfection after drinking an experimental serum, made his debut in “Captain America Comics” No. 1.

• On Dec. 21, 2012, Korean rapper Psy’s music video for “Gangnam Style” became the first YouTube video to garner a billion views.

• On Dec. 22, 2001, British citizen and al-Qaida member Richard Reid attempted to detonate homemade bombs in his shoes while aboard American Airlines Flight 63 headed to Miami from Paris. A flight attendant smelled sulfur and saw what he was doing, and fellow crew members and passengers restrained him until he could be sedated and strapped down with belts, after which the plane was diverted to Boston’s Logan International Airport, where he was taken into custody.

• If you are serving hot rolls on a buffet, line the basket with aluminum foil before you line it with a towel. They lose heat less quickly that way.

• “I’ve loved this little trick since I saw it used at a party years ago. I serve iced tea (or punch) at most of my get-togethers, and instead of ice cubes, I freeze several pounds of cleaned, de-stemmed white grapes. They are a hit at every party.” — M.A. in New York

• Need almost-instant party snacks? Try a package of store-bought cheese tortellini. Cook according to package instructions (usually only a few minutes), toss with oil or salad dressing and stick each on a toothpick.

• “A great way to make things comfortable for guests is to print out a copy of the channel lineup for your cable service provider. You also can print out common remote control buttons or any remote-control or TV instructions for streaming movies, etc. This helps us older folks enjoy a few hours of TV time while the younger kids are out at work or school.” — H.P. in Nebraska

• At holiday parties, try this tip to avoid overeating: Keep a drink in your dominant hand. You’ll be less likely to graze on high-fat chips and other snack foods. Need a little something? Hope for a veggie platter. But whether it’s veggies or chips, grab a couple then WALK AWAY from the table before you can hit the dip.

• Here’s a great conversation piece: Get a big, shallow bowl or box, fill it with loose snapshots (preferably of holidays past) and set it on your coffee table. People can’t resist photos. Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

By Lucie Winborne

• In cities like Seattle and Des Moines, the number of parking spaces per acre is about five to 20 times that of residential units.

• Spiked and studded dog collars derive from the days of the ancient Greeks, who would give their sheepdogs sharply spiked collars to protect their necks from wolves while they watched over a shepherd’s flock at night.

• A theory suggests that the entire internet, based on the mass of moving electrons, weighs about as much as a strawberry.

• The “Ding” bowl, purchased for $3 at a New York garage sale, turned out to be a 1,000-year-old Chinese bowl from the Northern Song Dynasty. It later sold at auction for $2.2 million.

• Big League Chew bubblegum created its biggest-ever pouch for Shaquille O’Neal, at an impressive 24 inches by 18 inches, more than 15 times the size of a regular pouch.

• The square dance is the official state dance (or folk dance) of 24 states.

• Ancient Roman artisans created a glass chalice known as the Lycurgus Cup with nanoparticles of gold and silver so the type of liquid it contained would determine its appearance. On display, the cup appears jade-green when lit from the front, but blood-red when lit from behind.

• Nepal’s Kusunda language has no words for yes or no, or for directions such as left or right.

• Modern Olympics founder Baron Coubertin tried to create an Olympic event combining a 14-km race with a written essay to demonstrate prowess in mind and body. It never made it to the starting block.

• Contrary to popular belief, the bottom figures on a totem pole usually hold the most significance, as their placement keeps them closer to viewers.

***

Tails of Hope

Meet Howard: Your Future Couch Potato & Walking Buddy Extraordinaire! This handsome hunk is a perfect mix of lovable Lab and sturdy Rottweiler, bringing you the best of both worlds—strength and snuggles.

Howard’s hobbies include taking long walks (where he shows off his impeccable leash manners), practicing his “big puppy dog eyes” routine to score extra treats, and turning his crate into the ultimate doggie den. He’s ready to be your Netflix binge partner, your early-morning jog companion, and your best friend—all rolled into one loyal furball. Cats, however, need not apply for Howard’s love and affection; he’s more of a dog-person’s dog.

Looking for a lovable goofball with a heart of gold? Howard’s your guy! Come meet him, and prepare to fall head over paws.

Howard is available for adoption from the Oceana County Animal Shelter. If interested, please call the shelter at 231861-5395. The adoption fee for cats is $35, and you receive certificates for $25 towards spay/neuter and $10 towards rabies if not already done. The adoption fee for dogs is $95 and you will receive a $50 certificate good for spay/neuter, if needed. Every dog should have an ID tag. L.A.S.S.I. provides free dog ID tags to all Oceana County residents. To request tags, send a text to 231-730-3906. Free tags are also available at the Oceana County Animal Shelter.

Shelby Bands are thriving, Omness accepted into MSBOA All-State Ensemble

By Erin Ray Director of Shelby Bands

The Shelby Marching Tigers recently completed a successful 2024 marching band season, supporting their Shelby Tigers at home football games, as well as earning a Division 1 rating at MSBOA (Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association) Marching Festival in October at Big Rapids. They concluded their season with an indoor marching band show entitled “Spectacular!” in November.

The 7th and 8th grade Cadet Band, after learning some marching basics, jumped into concert season, performing for area veterans at the Shelby Middle School Veteran’s Day Assembly. In the midst of this, 14 middle school students represented Shelby at MSBOA Solo & Ensemble in Chippewa Hills Nov. 23. All students that received a Division 1 rating are invited to perform in the MSBOA Honors Band concert to be held Jan. 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the Shelby High School (SHS) auditorium. “Shelby is lucky to host this event and welcomes you to listen to

our fantastic students in District 1,” Director of Shelby Bands Erin Ray said.

All ensemble groups in 6th through 12th grades, as well as the district Jazz band, are now in the process of getting ready for their community holiday concerts, Ray said. “We welcome all community members to our performances, which will also feature our awesome choir program!”

The high school concert will be performed Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. and the

middle school concert is set for Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. Both performances will take place in the SHS auditorium and are free to attend.

In the meantime, the Shelby Christmas Ensemble has been busy spreading holiday cheer throughout the community, most recently at the Tiger Bazaar and the Getty Park tree lighting this past weekend. The Shelby Jazz Band has been busy rehearsing and working on their holiday lineup as well. The community can catch

them at the Book Nook, in downtown Montague, Saturday morning Dec. 14 beginning at 10 a.m., Ray said. Ray is extremely proud to announce that sophomore Cael Omness has been accepted to perform in the MSBOA All-State Ensemble coming up at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids Jan. 23-25, 2025. “The last instrumental All-State acceptance from Shelby was back in 2014. Cael’s success is all him. His passion for music and

jazz specifically propels him forward, and he deserves every opportunity that comes his way. I’m hoping in my career to have more students accepted for All-State Ensembles or other similar groups, as it truly exposes you to some different repertoire, musicians, and instructors. Cael is going places,” Ray shared excitedly.

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November 12

SPORTS

Bench players spark Hart girls to tight win over Shelby

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

SHELBY – Tuesday, Dec. 10 marked the 10th consecutive win for Hart’s girls basketball team over rival Shelby. The Pirates notched a 37-31 victory, relying on their bench players to get it done.

An unusually slow start for Hart saw them miss plenty of shots underneath the basket, whiff on free throw attempts and fail to box out on rebounds. That perfect storm opened the door for Shelby to build an early lead, something they were able to do despite seeing similar struggles.

The Tigers fought off their own poor shooting performance early to gain a 3-0 advantage midway through the first quarter. Strong execution on inbound plays found Shelby with wide open opportunities near the top of the key. In addition, the Tigers forced Hart’s starters into foul trouble early, forcing

Rilynn Porter and Addi Hovey to sit the bench for a good portion of the first half.

Hart found ways to answer Shelby in the first quarter, using key shots from Kelsey Copenhaver and Breslyn Porter to keep things close. It appeared that the low-scoring first quarter would end in a 7-7 stalemate, but Shelby freshman Jayna Burmeister had other plans. Burmeister gained possession of a rebound in the waning seconds of the first quarter and took it coast-to-coast in less than five seconds.

A conversion on a late layup attempt put the Tigers in front 9-7 at the end of one.

Burmeister adds a new dimension to Shelby’s offense. In years past, the Tigers have made their living from three points shots. In Burmeister, Shelby has a multi-level scoring threat.

“Having a big girl that can score inside and outside is huge,” Shelby Head Coach Sarah Wolting said. “(Burmeister)

sees the floor so well and can get others involved around her.”

“(Burmeister) took us by surprise, but we adjusted,” Copenhaver said. “We weren’t used to playing this team with somebody coming into the paint so fast and hard. We haven’t played them in a while where they’ve had someone that can score it like that. We were able to get control of it in the second quarter.”

Scoring was even more rare in the second quarter, but it was Hart that was able to find a spark enough to regain the lead. Leah Walker came off the bench and paired with Copenhaver to take a 17-15 lead heading into half. Shelby sat Burmeister for that second quarter, forcing others to try and take up the scoring mantle. Freshman Ava Lamberg added four points in the quarter for Shelby, while Michelle Peterson added two of her own to leave the Tigers in a 17-15 hole at the half.

“Leah (Walker), Natalie (Rosema), Macy (Riley) and Addison (Schiller) did a nice job of stepping up,” Hart Head Coach Travis Rosema said. “They did a nice job of contributing and getting us a lead with (some starters) on the bench. We talked about it before the game – somebody who maybe didn’t think they were

HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE

Hart sophomore Natalie Rosema dribbles the ball past midcourt, into Shelby territory. Rosema was one of many bench players who performed well for Hart in a 37-31 win over rival Shelby. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Shelby freshman Jayna Burmeister drives into the paint with Hart’s Breslyn Porter defending during a 37-31 win for the Pirates. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Pentwater thrashes rival Walkerville in boys, girls doubleheader

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

PENTWATER – Heavy snowfall and low temperatures didn’t stop Walkerville from making the brief trip west to take on rival Pentwater in West Michigan D League (WMD) action Wednesday Dec. 11.

The night was owned by the Falcons in both games. Pentwater got off to a fast start in both games, riding big leads throughout and controlling the pace of play.

Girls Basketball:

Pentwater left little to the imagination in their 67-12 rout of Walkerville, dominating in every facet of the game.

Walkerville entered the night with a clear plan of action: stop Aubrie Adams from scoring. To the Wildcats’ credit, they executed that plan in the first half, holding Adams to just two points through 16 minutes. That did nothing to stop the other four girls on the court however, with junior Charlie Swanger taking the bulk of the workload.

“(Walkerville) played a box in one on Aubrie after she scored 36 points last week. We needed someone else to step up,” Pentwater Head Coach Jeff Knapp said. “Charlie was that person. She had 19 points at halftime.”

Swanger simply looked as if she could not miss, converting on easy layups and sinking nearly every shot she took inside the three point line. Anything Swanger did happen to miss, landed directly in the hands of the Falcons’ post players down low.

Pentwater senior

Mandi Sayles was a rebounding machine, snagging five boards and adding 19 points of her own.

Walkerville seemed out of sync all night. Errant passes and miscommunication turned into a plethora of turnovers and broken plays. When the Wildcats were at their best, they fed the inside and found Marrison Simpson who converted on several short hoppers under the rim.

With the game well in hand exiting halftime, Pentwater decided to get Adams going. Adams found opportunities from deep, converting on three triples and pushing her final point total to 13 on the night.

Adding into the all around effort for the Falcons was freshman Karina Olivarez with five points and junior Lauren Davis with seven points, eight rebounds and seven steals.

Pentwater improved to 2-0 overall on the year and owns an identical record in WMD play with wins over the Wildcats and Baldwin.

Wednesday marked the Wildcats’ first action of the 2024-25 season and put them in an early 0-1 hole.

Boys Basketball:

As dominant as the girls were in the first game, Pentwater’s boys team stepped it up a level with a 78-17 win over Walkerville.

The Falcons were on fire from the start, getting nearly everybody involved on the floor. The senior trio of Mikey Carlson, Jonny Arnouts and Trey Johnson were connecting early as they combined for 18 of the team’s 27 points in the opening quarter.

The only thing better than Pentwater’s offense was their defense. The

Falcons held Walkerville without a single point in the first eight minutes, pitching a shutout early.

It wasn’t until the waning moments of the first half that the Wildcats found their first answer on offense. Eighth grade athlete Jaxson Oomen sent one through from deep to bring the halftime score to 48-3 in favor of Pentwater.

Scoring slowed for the Falcons in the third quarter as they focused on winding down the clock. Walkerville doubled down on their scoring output in the first half, scoring six in the third quarter. Wildcat junior Jordan Oomen knocked down a pair from beyond the arc to bring the score to 58-9 entering the final quarter.

Pentwater poured on 20 additional points in the fourth and final quarter, relying on a full spread of athletes once again. Five Falcons scored in that final frame, bringing Pentwater’s total to eight athletes adding to the final score.

Walkerville got contributions from Jaxson Oomen, Jordan Oomen and Logan Hill in the final quarter, getting their best scoring output of the night. Jaxson finished with six points, Jordan had nine points and Hill had two.

The Falcons were led in scoring by Johnson with 24 points, adding three steals, three assists and two rebounds to his total. Carlson scored a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds while Arnouts led the team in assists with 11.

Pentwater remained unbeaten at 4-0 and improved to 2-0 in WMD play. Walkerville fell to 0-2 overall and in the WMD.

ACCOLADES PT. 3

Rivalry

going to make an impact was going to have to tonight.”

Hovey got back into the game in the third quarter and found her first points early. After trading leads with Shelby early, Hovey scored six straight points to push Hart out in front for good.

Burmeister added her own scoring run, putting up five to end the quarter. That scoring continued into the fourth quarter, leaving her at 16 points and 18 rebounds on the night. A late dagger from three point range from Hovey put the Pirates out of range, ending their night with a conference win.

Shelby struggled to take advantage of Hart’s foul trouble in a multitude of ways. The Pirates had three starters –Hovey, Rilynn Porter and Reese Smith – with four fouls in the fourth quarter, but none of them gained that final foul to force them onto the bench. The Tigers also went 3-for-15 from the charity stripe.

“Our best offense is attacking the hoop and getting stuff below the rim,” Wolting said. “We knew (Hart) is physical and, with the right officials, we’ll get the calls.”

The Pirates were led by Hovey who scored 11 points and added six steals and four rebounds. Copenhaver added a double-double with 10 points and

11 rebounds. Hart improved to 2-0 on the season, gaining an early advantage in WMC Rivers play. Shelby now sits at 1-1 (0-1 WMC Rivers).

“Having so many young girls and competing against seasoned athletes, this was a huge performance,” Wolting said. “If we’re right here competing with them this early in the year, just imagine how good we’re going to be later this year and next year even.”

SHELBY TOWNSHIP

Synopsis of Meeting November 04, 2024

Regular meeting called to order at 6:00pm

Present: Cindy Rapes, Scott Meyers, Becky Griffin, Cathy Anderson, Richard Raffaelli and 3 members of the public.

Items approved:

• Minutes from 10/07/2024 Regular Board Meeting

• Resolution # 241104-1

• Motion to pay bills presented by Clerk

Meeting adjourned at 7:24 pm

Copies of meeting minutes are available from the Township and approved minutes are on our website www.shelbytownshipoceana.com

SHELBY TOWNSHIP

Synopsis of Meeting December 02, 2024

Regular meeting called to order at 6:00pm

Present: Cindy Rapes, Scott Meyers, Becky Griffin, Cathy Anderson, Richard Raffaelli and 4 members of the public.

Items approved:

• Minutes from 11/04/2024

• Resolution # 241202-1

• Resolution # 241202-2

• Resolution # 241202-3

• Resolution # 241202-4

• Resolution # 241202-5

• Resolution # 241202-6

• Motion to pay bills presented by Clerk

Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm

Copies of meeting minutes are available from the Township and approved minutes are on our website www.shelbytownshipoceana.com

Hart senior Breslyn Porter fights through Shelby freshman Ava Lamberg on her way to the hoop. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Pentwater junior Charlie Swanger releases a shot from inside the three-point line. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Pentwater senior Trey Johnson rises high to lay in a shot on a transition breakaway. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Reflections

Reflections of our community

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

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Whitehall approves Howmet abatement

Howmet plant expansion already in progress; company gets 12-year deal from city

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — After some discussion among the Whitehall city council at its regular Tuesday meeting, the council unanimously approved a 12year tax abatement for a large plant expansion at Howmet Aerospace’s Plant 10 in Whitehall.

between companies and municipal governments, will allow Howmet to pay less than the usual property taxes on its new plant for the next 12 years, after which it will begin paying full property tax. According to the council resolution on the matter, even with the abatement the city projects $610,000 in tax revenue in the first year of the agreement.

The abatement, a common practice

The building is already in progress at Howmet, with construction beginning in full this summer. The company considered building in both Tennessee and Texas before deciding to bring its expansion to Whitehall. Jim Vresics, director of continuous improvement and

operations at Howmet, presented on behalf of the company and said the new plant will be focused on constructing the ceramic cores that cool the turbine blades the company produces.

The council spent some time going over the abatement, with councilmen Scott Brown and Tom Ziemer registering the hope of lowering the abatement’s time frame to seven years. Brown, who worked at Howmet for 41 years, noted that on principle he is against any such abatements and that his objection had nothing to do with the company, and Ziemer said he wanted to ensure Howmet’s claims that the new

plant will produce 300 new jobs in the city would be fulfilled.

After it was noted that the competition to be the site for this plant had been fierce - Huebler noted the state of Michigan also committed $6.6 million to the project and that the state has not historically provided as many incentives as other states to businesses - the two councilmen agreed to withdraw a motion to amend the abatement to seven years and proceeded with the original vote. Other city council members stat-

Howmet abatement continued on page 2

Candlelight Yoga to raise funds for Hope Scarves

Locally founded nonprofit supports those battling cancer and their families

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Hope Scarves will host a Candlelight Yoga fundraiser next Thursday, Dec. 19, at Lebanon Lutheran Church in Whitehall, with 100 percent of the proceeds being donated to its cause, as well as a dollar-for-dollar match by an anonymous benefactor.

One might think six days before Christmas is an odd time for a yoga event, but Whitehall’s Art Plewka, who helps put it on, said the timing is no accident.

“The intention of the yoga is we always hold it near the winter solstice,” Plewka said. “The focus is on a ray of light at the darkest time.”

The Hope Scarves nonprofit was born when Art’s daughter, Lara Plewka McGregor, who graduated from Whitehall High School, was diagnosed with breast cancer while she was pregnant with her and husband Jason’s first child in 2006. McGregor began chemotherapy immediately upon her diagnosis and, as chemotherapy patients do, lost her hair as a result of the treatments. For head covering purposes, a cancer survivor she knew gave her some scarves to wear with a note that said, “You can do this.”

Once treatment was complete, McGregor sought out her friend to give the scarves back and was told that was unnecessary, as the friend didn’t need them anymore. A light bulb quickly turned on in her head.

“She founded a nonprofit that would send a scarf to a woman in treatment,” Plewka said. “With the scarf would come a story from the (donor). That was how the idea began. Since it was founded, they’ve sent out 35,000 scarves. They have over 2,000 stories in their collection. Every scarf that goes out goes out with at least one story that says, basically, ‘I did it and you can do it.’”

a Hope Cape. A new part of the Hope Scarves program, the capes are distributed to children going through cancer treatments to empower them. • Contributed Photo

program, the capes are distributed to children going through cancer treatments to empower them. • Contributed Photo

The scarves can be made from a variety of fabrics with different designs, colors and looks. Some donors are scarf collectors passing one along from their personal stores; others are handmade.

Hope Scarves took off; Plewka said all 50 states and 37 foreign countries have had participants in the program, and the organization has partnerships with dozens of treatment centers to give scarves to those undergoing treatment.

The nonprofit has, according to its website, raised $1.3 million for metastatic cancer research. That cause in particular is, sadly, close to home for him; after she originally beat cancer, even had another child, McGregor received awful news when her cancer returned and metastasized to her bones in 2014. She passed away from the disease in 2022.

The Candlelight Yoga fundraiser is one of two Hope Scarves events Plewka hosts annually; he has also hosted a Kentucky Derby-themed fundraising event at the Book Nook for almost 10 years now. The candlelight event has also been around since 2015, though he said he didn’t participate in the event in 2022 after his daughter’s pass-

ing. However, with help from local yoga instructor Courtney Falkowski, whose weekly Fruitland Township class Plewka frequents, he brought it back last year.

“I just had this feeling about her and I told her about Hope Scarves and what we’d been doing,” Plewka said. “Her eyes lit up and she was all over it.”

Falkowski already works with cancer survivors through the YMCA’s Livestrong program, so teaming with Plewka was a natural fit. She now runs the Candlelight Yoga sessions and is able to help Plewka with distributing fliers and social media outreach.

“It’s just what I needed,” Plewka said of Falkowski’s assistance. “I am so low-tech. When she said, ‘I can make the flyers,’ I thought, this is a gift from heaven, because that stuff drives me crazy.”

“I’m just happy I get to lead (the sessions),” Falkowski said. “Last year we had about 50 people, and that’s pretty neat to see people come out and give so generously to the program.”

The Hope Scarves program has recently inspired a spin-off, Hope Capes, aimed at children going through cancer treatments. The idea is that a kid can receive a cape and imagine that

they are a superhero battling an insidious villain (which, in its way, cancer is). McGregor, Plewka said, always wanted to do something for young people as part of her program, and that helped inspire the Hope Capes, which also come along with empowering stories from other families - parents, children and siblings of the child if applicablewho have battled cancer or witnessed its effects on the family.

“The original cape that went out involved a child, sibling and a parent to the receiving family,” Plewka said. “The first online request they received was someone who was a scarf recipient and it was a cousin of theirs, a child with leukemia, who requested a cape. Another one, the one that stuck out to me, was they were contacted by a teacher in Wisconsin with cancer. She contacted the Hope Scarves office because she knows three boys at the elementary school she works at who had been diagnosed with some form or another of cancer. All three will receive some sort of Hope Cape.

“It’s amazing to see my daughter’s light of inspiration, but it makes you sad to see that there’s this much need.”

About 50 people participated in the 2023 Candlelight Yoga event at Lebanon Lutheran Church, which raises funds for the Hope Scarves nonprofit founded by Whitehall native Lara Plewka McGregor. The next event is Thursday, Dec. 19. • Contributed Photo

Hope Scarves executive director Anna Laura Edwards displays

Hope Scarves executive director Anna Laura Edwards displays a Hope Cape. A new part of the Hope Scarves

Hope Scarves executive director Anna Laura Edwards displays a Hope Cape. A new part of the Hope Scarves program, the capes are distributed to children going through cancer treatments to empower them. • Contributed Photo

Fruitland Twp. approves blueberry farm expansion

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — Although a few Fruitland Township residents turned out to argue against it last Thursday night, the township’s planning commission unanimously approved a special land use application from Q & R Farms to add 25 acres of farmland to its blueberry farm.

The commission said its approval is contingent on Q & R Farms receiving all other needed approvals from the state department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), the county road and drain commissions and the White Lake Fire Authority, as well as adding trees for screening nearby properties.

Company owner Jeffrey Jawor and son Eric were on hand to present their case to the planning commission, stating that they purchased 30 acres of township land and intended to use five of them to build a house, with the other 25 being used for blueberry farming.

That would expand the farm’s current blueberry usage to 60 acres.

Public commenters, a couple of them nearby neighbors to the land in question, expressed concerns about the clear-cutting of the woods on the property in question and the use of water to irrigate the land, believing there may not be enough available water. The Jawors say they gained permits from the state to build new wells, which will prevent water overuse from becoming an issue locally. Jeffrey Jawor noted the heavy rain event that took place earlier this fall and said at the time he was concerned the fields they’re going to be using for the blueberry farming wouldn’t be able to properly drain it, but he was pleased to see that all the water was gone from the field within a couple of days and his drain was not overfilled.

Planning commission chair Dave Roesler addressed the concerns presented by saying while neighbors may dislike the clear-cutting of the land for the blueberry farm, doing so does not

violate the township’s master plan. He added that blueberry farming has long been permitted for special land uses and even invoked the township’s own name, which came about due to its fertile soil.

Jawor’s son Eric presented the farm’s calendar for insecticide treatments, which are done due to the buyers the Jawors work with having a zero-tolerance policy for any kind of maggot infestation in their fruit. Eric said the insecticide treatments generally begin in early July with the goal of being completed within a month.

Another public hearing came for an application, which was also unanimously approved, from Steve and Tracy Seeger, who purchased a large parcel next door to their own home and applied to divide it into three lots. The Seegers said the purchase was made to allow their three children to build houses. Neighbors expressed concerns about water availability and whether the new divided parcels would comply with a township regulation requiring

a lot not to be more than four times as deep as it is wide, but the commission said compliance was not an issue.

The commission also referred a proposed ordinance change to the board for approval at its next meeting. The ordinance change, the commission said, will clean up the wording of an ordinance to allow a non-conforming structure to be rebuilt as it previously existed if fire or tree damage destroys it. Another change that needed to be made in order to allow homeowners to have small solar arrays on their property was also referred to the board.

The commission also referred back to a discussion from the previous meeting regarding where electric car charging stations are allowed to be placed. It was determined that such stations will be permitted where gas stations are permitted now, which is to prevent a property owner from putting up a large electric car charging station in the residential district.

Montague Twp. approves Henderson Road project

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

The Montague Township board signed a contract for construction work to begin on Henderson Road at its regular meeting Tuesday night. Construction is planned for spring or summer 2025 and will cost $147,000.

This decision is a result of continuous requests for repair from Henderson Road residents. The board officially decided to move forward with the project and finding a construction company at November’s meeting.

All township board members who were reelected during the November election - Tracy Korthase, Jay Goodrich and Jacob Seaver - were sworn in for their

Howmet abatement

ed they understood Brown’s and Ziemer’s objections, but did note that the city sees a lot of benefits from the relationship with Howmet, as many of its employees live and spend money here, and if Whitehall did not offer abatements, other municipalities would. Councilman Steve Sikkenga offered that past abatements offered to Howmet have expired and the city is now collecting a healthy amount

of tax revenue from the company, stating, “Half of (this plant’s property taxes) is better than nothing.”

Vresics, who said he was the first plant manager at Plant 10 when it opened in 1999, said the company values its relationship with Whitehall and the region at large, which was a factor in the decision to build the new plant expansion here. The new plant, he added, is a $107 million project, of which about $64

Hope Scarves

The yoga being done will very much, Plewka said, be beginner-level, so one does not have to be a yoga enthusiast to participate in or enjoy the session. Falkowski’s brand, in fact, is called Yoga for Normal Folks, which underscores that all are welcome.

“It’s not about the yoga. It’s about the meditation,” Plewka said. “It’s about the thankfulness for the light we have that can get us through the hardest times. I’ve had amazing feedback from the people who were there (last year). It’s just a donation, whatever people want to make, and every dollar we get goes towards the Hope Scarves mission.”

Plewka will also have copies of his daughter’s book, A Hopeful

Life, which she finished writing shortly before passing away, available for sale. The book can be found on Amazon as

well.

continued from page 1

million is the building itself. The council also unanimously approved amendments to the Local Development Finance Authority and Tax Increment Finance Authority plans. Huebler said the primary objective of the amendments was to focus on road improvements within the territories covered by those two finance authorities.

“She is my light,” Plewka said of his daughter. “She is my hero. She lived her life to the fullest.

new terms at Tuesday’s meeting. They all said they look forward to continuing to serve the Montague Township community.

The board clarified information regarding incoming funds the township is receiving for the senior millage. They are brainstorming ideas on what to do with the money. There is currently $2,600 remaining from the last millage, and the township is expected to receive $11,000 for the new senior millage in 2025 that was renewed in November’s election. Conversation arose about using the funds for a possible senior voucher system for the new athletic center being built at Montague High School, which is set to open spring 2025. No action was taken on the topic.

continued from page 1

I want to stay involved. I get so much out of it myself. I feel so fortunate to be able to do this.”

Saturday, Dec. 14

White Lake Knitting Club meets @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 1 p.m. All are welcome.

Brews & Peruse Holiday Market @ North Grove Brewers, 2-7 p.m.

Dreaming of a White Lake Christmas @ White Lake UMC, 3-9 p.m. Christmas tree festival. A Sounds of Christmas concert from 6-8 p.m. will be part of the event.

White Lake Chorale presents A Rockin’ Festive Christmas @ Montague High School auditorium, 4-6 p.m. Tickets available free @ Book

Community Calendar

Nook & Java Shop and White Lake Area Chamber & Visitor’s Bureau.

Ladies Night @ WaterDog Outfitters, 7-10 p.m. Eat, drink, shop and be merry. WaterDog provides food and a drink ticket for each attendee.

Acoustic Oasis performs @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 7 p.m.

Carl Webb Band performs @ North Grove Brewers, 7 p.m.

Distracted performs @ Pub One Eleven, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 15

White Lake Ukulele Club meets @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 1 p.m. Penny

Rushing will teach on stage.

Tuesday, Dec. 17

Steve Thielman performs @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 10 a.m.

Family Storytime @ MADL Montague branch, 11:15 a.m. For kids ages 0 to 5 and their parents.

Wednesday, Dec. 18

Youth Open Studio @ ACWL-Nuveen Center, 3-5 p.m. Bring in projects you’re working on or start something new with help from staff.

Thursday, Dec. 19

Free general admission every Thursday @ the Muskegon Museum

of Art, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Original Dulcimer Players Club meets @ VAC, 1-6 p.m. All welcome to listen, acoustic instruments welcome to join in.

Friday, Dec. 20

Community Yoga @ Fruitland Twp. Hall, 10 a.m. Free to participate ($5 suggested donation), open to all ages and skill levels.

Serita’s Black Rose Duo performs @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 7 p.m. Velvet Mushroom Syndicate performs @ Pub One Eleven, 8 p.m.

Echoes of History: Santa Claus is coming to town

By Barbara Bedau Brow Volunteer Contributor

The Whitehall Forum on Nov. 16, 1950, announced that Santa Claus would make a preliminary visit to the Whitehall area the Saturday after Thanksgiving. He would arrive in a Whitehall fire truck and be escorted to the middle of the business district around 10 a.m. The streets would be roped off so as to detour traffic around the crowds of youngsters that were expected to be on hand.

With the assistance of a group of businessmen, Santa would pass candy canes out to the small visitors, take gift requests, and then visit the various stores to inspect their stocks, give away more candy and chat with the youngsters.

Russell J. Klinefelter was the chairman of the Santa greeters’ committee and was assisted by Paul Jensen and George Nelson.

Santa Claus himself, complete in white beard, stomach and red suit, was on hand Saturday morning Dec. 1, 1951. He came into town on the big red Whitehall fire engine, siren wailing and bell clanging, and was preceded and escorted by the Whitehall High School band.

Once again Santa had candy ready for giving away to the young people on hand who welcomed him, and then he was expected to while away an hour or so inspecting the stores’ stock of Christmas gift items. Russell Klinefelter was assisted by Paul Jensen and Al Klimp. Then-city manager Howard Gwinnup promised the Christmas lights and decoration were in place so Santa would be

right at home when he arrived.

Santa was met at Slocum Park at 11 a.m. by the Whitehall Fire Department and the Whitehall High School band Saturday, Dec. 5, 1953. He was brought from the park to the downtown area, which was roped off. Free candy was distributed to the children, and he accepted any lists, letters and written reminders from his admirers. The school band, under the direction of Albert Meerzo, gave a short concert on Colby Street.

Santa was seen in the business district throughout the day from 9 a.m. to noon, 2-5 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. Whitehall merchants agreed to keep their stores open every evening until 9 p.m. except on Christmas Eve, when the stores would close at 6 p.m.

Once again the firemen escorted Santa when he arrived Saturday morning, Dec. 4, 1954. He came to the corner of Colby and Mears where he distributed his candy canes to all his young admirers.

Special Christmas decorations were put out on the posts by the city crew under the direction of city manager Howard Gwinnup. Plaques of Santas and Dickens figures decorated the light poles in the business district and the poles were decorated with greenery. Many stores also had special decoration for their storefronts.

Whitehall’s Christmas shopping season officially opened with the traditional visit from St, Nicholas when he arrived Saturday, Dec. 10, 1955. Again, he was taken aboard the city fire truck and escorted to the downtown business district by the Whitehall High School

Band, under the direction of Howard Parks. The band then played a concert in the business district while St. Nick slipped candy canes and other goodies to his little admirers. It seems that the previous year Santa almost ran out of treats and goodies to hand out, so this year there were extra elves on hand. This year the city council, along with city manager John Kane, were cooperating to make sure no such situation arises.

R. J. Klinefelter and George Bell were the chairmen of the Retail Merchants Committee in charge of making sure Santa would like things around Whitehall so well that perhaps they can get him to make a return trip Saturday, Dec. 17.

On Dec. 8, 1956, Santa was overwhelmed by a crowd of admirers who welcomed him to town. It was estimated that more than 500 parents and children were present. Santa made another quick trip to the area Dec. 15.

Leading the procession for the arrival of St. Nick Dec. 7, 1957 was the Whitehall High School band, headed by Director Armstrong. Nick was riding in state on one of the city fire trucks, escorted by members of the Whitehall Fire Department. The procession proceeded to North Mears Avenue, between the bank and Klinefelter’s, which were roped off for the safety of Santa’s small admirers.

Thousands welcomed Santa to Whitehall Dec. 9, 1961. At the time it was reported to be the largest crowd on hand. Walter Delaney and his ponies greeted Santa and escorted him downtown. The parade was led by Mayor

Richard Cogswell & Chamber of Commerce President Arthur Brierley, and also included the high school band. There were also several floats that were built by high school classes.

Some 5,000 persons were expected to greet Santa on his arrival to town Saturday, Dec. 1, 1962. Thirteen units were scheduled to take part in what might be the largest Christmas parade ever held here. Taking part in the parade were the high school band, homecoming king and queen, Miss White Lake, Whitehall’s mayor and president of the Chamber of Commerce, and the American Legion color guard. There was a fire truck and duck, the championship football teams and several other floats. The high school glee club planned to follow the parade with a short program and there were also clowns for entertainment.

And so it has continued over the years to what it is today.

Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas!

Join the holiday sing-along at the library Dec. 19

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

coming events for kids and families.

Looking for some musical fun for the whole family? Come to the library at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, for a delightful audience sing-along featuring Disney versions of holiday favorites. Jammies are welcome, all ages are welcome, and all singing abilities are welcome! Come early to play the candy cane scavenger hunt game – follow the clues to find all eight candy canes and win a prize! The game runs Dec. 13-27. Check out the children’s page at wlclib.org for more up-

FUN FACT: Did you know research shows that singing in groups is beneficial for your health? It can improve your mood, reduce stress, build a sense of community, and even positively impact your physical well-being by regulating your breathing and heart rate. So do yourself a favor this holiday season and come sing at the library on Thursday evening! Holiday Hours

The library will be closed for the holidays Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 24-25. We will be open again Thursday, Dec. 26. For New Year’s, the library will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 31, and Wednesday, Jan. 1. We will open again Thursday, Jan. 2.

Whether you are staying home or traveling this holiday season, be sure to stock up on library books and movies to keep you entertained on these

long winter nights. And remember, our digital books and movies are available for downloading and streaming anytime. Be sure to check out the selection of holiday movies on Kanopy - you’ll find everything from old classics like “The Bells of Saint Mary’s” to cozy romances like “A Match Made at Christmas” to comedies like “Christmas with the Kranks”. Digital audiobooks are perfect for long trips, too – nothing to carry except your phone and maybe your earbuds! Need help getting started with Libby or Hoopla? Stop in or give us a call – we can get you all set up in just a few minutes. You can also check out the video tutorials at wlclib.org/digital-library Mario Kart Tournament for Teens

Put your racing skills to the test in the library Mario Kart Tournament!

Racers age 12 and up will compete to prove their skill and earn the title of White Lake Community Library Mario Kart Champion. The event runs from 2-4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, and is limited to the first 12 competitors to register at wlclib.org/calendar. Light refreshments will be served.

Lake Mirror Lake Mirror

NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Quick start sends Vikings to big win

Whitehall avenges

2024 district defeat to Spring Lake

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — Whitehall threw a 2-3 zone defense at Spring Lake Friday night in a highly anticipated showdown, forcing a turnover right away to spark an impressive start to the game. The Vikings never looked back and scored a 58-45 win, earning a measure of revenge for last season’s Laker upset win in the districts.

The two teams often play early in the season, but as coach Christian Subdon noted, it was the first time they had played on a Friday in many years, and the atmosphere ratcheted up accordingly.

“This is always a good rivalry,” Subdon said. “It’s been like that since I was in school. (Lakers’ coach) Bill Core always has his guys ready, and he’ll have them ready in March. Him and I schedule this game on purpose.”

Brock Morningstar sparked the Vikings (1-1) with three first-quarter three-pointers, all of the spot-up variety, and Whitehall also got out and ran, employing its traditional fast-paced style.

After Whitehall’s quick start, Spring Lake clawed back into the game, getting as close as three points with 3:22 to go in the third quarter on a putback basket. Kal Koehler quickly answered with a two-pointer of his own, and the Vikings were never seriously threatened again.

Although it wasn’t the sharpest

game for the Viking offense, as they shot under 40 percent from the field, the team displayed a knack for winning hustle plays, coming up with loose balls, steals and offensive rebounds to beat the Lakers at their own scrappy game.

“It’s about toughness, and it’s not just toughness like I’m going to talk...’I’m a big strong guy,’” Subdon said. “Toughness is, you missed your first free throw, you make your next one. You miss a shot or you turn it over, you go get a steal or you make a shot. There’s a ball on the ground, it’s got to be ours. There’s no such thing as a 50/50 ball.”

Strong defense is likely to be a sea-

Whitehall’s first win

continued on page 5

Growing pains afflict ‘Cats in loss to Fruitport

By Andy Roberts

MONTAGUE — While snow flurries fell outside, a flurry of three-pointers from Fruitport buried Montague Wednesday night in its home opener. The Trojans knocked down eight treys and downed the Wildcats 62-43.

Montague (1-3) grabbed an early lead when Cortland Schneider scored five straight points in the first quarter, and the ‘Cats were right there after eight minutes with the score tied 1313. However, their offense sputtered in the second quarter, and the Trojans took command of the game behind star DayDay Williams, who reeled off 11 first-quarter points on his way to 23 for the game, and Dexter Lillmars, who had 10 of his 15 points in the second quarter. By halftime, Fruitport held a comfortable 32-17 edge. Montague was never able to get much closer than that.

The Wildcats appeared tentative and unsure of themselves on offense at times, which isn’t unexpected given how little experience the team has, and as importantly, how little time they’ve

played in game situations together.

“It’s just figuring out what your identity is,” Montague coach Nick Thaler said. “I believe that we are a good team. There’s no doubt in my mind that we can compete with anybody. It’s just these little things that we do in contests because we haven’t been together for a long time, or trying to integrate new guys, trying to figure out our rotation. The little mistakes, they add up in a contest, especially when you’re playing against an opponent that’s going to make you pay on the other end.”

Thaler recalled mistakes like a missed box-out on a missed free throw that led to a three-pointer, missed defensive rotations that led to another trey, and getting caught up in a defensive switch on a dribble handoff. Those are all mistakes that, there’s reason to believe, can be fixed with more time.

It hasn’t helped the ‘Cats that they’ve played a very difficult early schedule. A strong Hart team with recent success was followed two games later by consistently tough Spring Lake and Fruitport, and on deck are more imposing foes - Whitehall, Ludington, Fremont and North Muskegon. The

hope is that the early lumps will pay off later in the season.

“You want to challenge yourself by playing tougher opponents and playing schools that maybe are a little bigger than you or have a lot of returning players,” Thaler said. “There’s a fine line

with that. Obviously, you don’t want to go too big because it could demoralize your players, too. There’s going to be a lot of growing pains in December for

White Lake Mirror Editor

Montague’s Riley Mulder is stopped from getting a shot up by defense from Fruitport’s Grade Anspach during Wednesday’s game at Montague. The Wildcats lost, 62-43.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall’s Corde Anderson keeps Spring Lake’s Maddux Kipling from a loose ball during Friday’s game at Whitehall. The Vikings earned a 58-45 win.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall’s Brock Morningstar lets fly with a three-point attempt during Friday’s game against Spring Lake as the Viking student section cheers him on.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall’s Camden Thompson soars to the basket during Friday’s game against Spring Lake. Thompson had 19 points in the Vikings’ win.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall’s first win

son-long storyline for Whitehall, which believes it has different things it can throw at opponents. The zone delivered good early returns for the Vikings, with Subdon shouting out Corde Anderson and Koehler as the athletic forwards needed to make it go, but they feel equally comfortable in a man-toman set.

“I’ve come into practice and said, ‘It’s not that hard, guys. Just beat (the zone) like this,’” Subdon said. “Then you’ve got Cam (Thompson)’s arms like this (spreading his arms wide) and I’m like, ‘OK, maybe it’s a little harder than I thought.’

“Once you start finding your way in the zone, we’re going to go to man, because we’re pretty good at that too, and we’re only going to get better. I’m

super proud of our guys and we’ve got to keep it going.”

Thompson didn’t have his best offensive game, going 4-of-14 from the field, though he still scored a team-best 19 points by getting to the free throw line often and grabbed 11 rebounds too. Thompson recently became the program’s all-time assist leader, adding to a limitless list of accolades.

“The guys I needed to hit, they hit,” Thompson said. “They trusted me and I’m trusting them. It’s good that we can have each other’s backs. That’s huge for us, and when I’m not hitting, one of our other guys is.”

Koehler also had a double-double, with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Subdon added that Finn Muller and Hunt-

Wildcat hoops

us, but by the time January and February roll around, we’re going to be a far different team.”

One ray of hope was the second-half effort of Kellan Francis. Francis entered the season with high expectations after a very efficient season shooting the ball last year, but has gotten off to a slow start as he adjusts to a larger offensive role. However, he did score 10 second-half points Wednesday to end the night with a team-best 12, attacking the basket more often. Thaler said he’s hopeful Francis will become more assertive in looking for his offense.

“He’s one of the better shooters on this side of the state,” Thaler said. “We need him to be more productive. We have a lot of guys that are unselfish, which is a great quality to have, but when you’re playing basketball, you’ve got to be gritty and you’ve got to play

er Osborne had impressive nights too.

The win establishes Whitehall as a district favorite, and the teams may well meet again in March.

“The district’s here (at home),” Subdon said. “So we wanted to send a message tonight and let them know that it goes through here.”

Sports in Brief

Boys Basketball

Jack Degen drives past Fruitport’s Evan Butler during Wednesday’s game at Montague. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

tougher, and sometimes you do need to be selfish and have that dog in you to take over a game.”

As the team plays together more and more, it remains opti-

mistic growth will happen quickly. “We’ve just got to get more confidence and trust ourselves and trust our teammates and just go from there,” Thaler said.

Whitehall’s Edsall calls it a career

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MUSKEGON — This November marked the end of an era at Whitehall High School, as Ted Edsall stepped down from coaching the Vikings’ volleyball team after 27 seasons at the helm and 33 seasons in all. He announced his decision to the team after its final match of the season, a district defeat to Fruitport in November.

Edsall led the Vikings to a pair of state final four appearancesin 2004 and 2012 - and won over 1,000 matches in his overall career, which also includes six seasons at his alma mater, Reeths-Puffer.

Edsall said the 1,000-win milestone, which he achieved at the West Michigan Conference Lakes tournament in October, meant something to him, but so too did leaving the Vikings with a solid base of talent. Although Whitehall will graduate four-year varsity stars Sidney Shepherd and Bella Fogus from this season’s team, the lineup also included four sophomores and a freshman whose experience will help set up the next coach with a benchmark to start from.

“It was a great team to go out with,” Edsall said. “(Our record

wasn’t) what you want. However, they gave me everything and they listened and they were coachable. They tried hard and cared for each other. That’s all a coach could ever ask.”

Edsall is a volleyball lifer. He grew up playing the sport on the beach in Muskegon - the late Kevin Davis organized the Muskegon Beach Volleyball program for 20 years, and former coaches Tim Smillie and Stan Denman were also mentors - and grew close with high-level players who took him to

play at indoor tournaments.

“That’s who taught me how to play the game,” Edsall said. “I played a lot of indoor, but it mainly started on the beach.”

Edsall took on the JV coaching job at Whitehall for three seasons to start his career on the bench before accepting the head coaching job at R-P, reasoning that the varsity coach at the time, Mary Ruth Morningstar, would be there

Girls Basketball

Montague 57 Orchard View 17

The Wildcats took command of the game in the 2nd quarter. Kayden Johnson paced a balanced Montague scorebook with 12 points and Addison Pranger chipped in 10.

Whitehall 40 Fruitport 33

Lexi Daggett led the Vikings to a road victory with 18 points. Janie Fagan had 7, and Peyton Schultz hit 5 clutch free throws late in the game. Hudsonville 73 Reeths-Puffer 27

The Rockets couldn’t get untracked against another impressive foe. Raquel Walker had 12 points and 7 steals in the defeat.

Wrestling

Montague 2-3 at Big Rapids Invite

The Wildcats bookended their day with wins in the first and last matches of the invitational. Fletcher Thommen rang up a 5-0 record, and freshman Gavyn Maddox debuted with an impressive 4-1 mark.

Reeths-Puffer 4th at Howell tournament

Ian Cook highlighted Rocket performances in the season-opening meet, posting a dominant 5-0 record at 144 pounds. Sage Secrest ran off 5 straight wins after losing his first match to finish 3rd at 215. Whitehall wins Grandville tournament

The Vikings displayed their strength in a high-level tournament. Six Vikings won their weight classes, with Gavin Craner, Wyatt Jenkins, Blake English and Cody Manzo ringing up several pins apiece. Liam Leeke and Tommy Leeke were also first-place winners. Isaac O’Boyle, Blake Wallace and Kolten Weiler all took 2nd place in their weight classes.

Bowling

placed 4th, and Tanner Bahr bowled a 190.

Montague splits matches with Holton

The Wildcat boys beat Holton 17-13 behind a 237 from Matthew Leatherman and a 210 from Ethan Hite. Jordyn Tolan was the Montague girls’ high bowler with a 132 as the ‘Cats lost that match 18-12. Orchard View beats Whitehall teams 27-3 Both Viking teams lost by the same score. Max Schneider rolled Whitehall’s high game, a 200. Felicity Dingman led the girls with a 186.

Reeths-Puffer teams split with Hudsonville R-P scored all 10 possible Baker game points to win the girls’ match, 1812. Rowan Bluhm had a high game of 179. The Eagles were too much for R-P in a 28-2 boys match. Quinn Alderink bowled the high game for the Rockets, with a 209.

Hockey

Reeths-Puffer 5 Grand Haven 2 Ayden Hartzell and Eli Cuti each had 2 goals to lead the Rockets to a win.

Montague girls open season at Howell Taylor Moore led the 3 Wildcat girls to compete, placing 2nd at 235 pounds. Ava Pelton took 3rd for the ‘Cats at 155.

Montague teams roll past Whitehall

Jordyn Tolan led the Wildcat girls to a 29-1 win by bowling a 206. She, Alanna Hysell and Carmen Howard each won 2 singles matches. In the boys’ match, Eli Hysell and Logan Hunter earned 2 singles points apiece, and Matthew Leatherman rolled a 210, as Montague won 23-7. Mason Slaughter scored 2 singles wins for Whitehall, bowling a 220.

Whitehall 69 Ludington 46 Camden Thompson had a huge game for the Vikings, going for 26 points, 23 rebounds and 7 assists as Whitehall dominated its league opener.

Montague’s

Whitehall’s Camden Thompson maintains possession of the ball while Spring Lake defenders surround him during Friday’s game. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall coach Ted Edsall gets set to toss the ball to his team after it bounded over to the bench during a November district match against Orchard View. Edsall stepped down from the Whitehall job at the end of this season. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Christmas season has arrived in White Lake!

White River Twp. receives letter from Lakeside Solar

By Andy Roberts White Lake

MONTAGUE — White River Township supervisor Ron Bailey reported during Tuesday’s regular board meeting that the township received a letter from Lakeside Solar LLC inviting him and other township officials to meet regarding the latter’s proposed solar energy facility.

The letter, Bailey said, is the first step prescribed by the new renewable energy law that allows a state commission control of siting decisions for such facilities. The law took effect Nov. 29.

Bailey said the next step to be taken under the law would be to confirm White River Township’s existing renewable energy ordinance is sufficiently permissive. The township approved the creation of a renewable energy district this summer that largely consisted of the current Chemours property; the board believes the

Retirement

a while and he wanted to cut his teeth at the top level. It was always his goal, though, to get back to Whitehall to be the varsity coach; it’s where he and his wife Terry lived, taught and raised their kids. (Edsall’s son Jaren was Whitehall boys basketball’s all-time leading scorer until current Viking Camden Thompson broke the record last season.)

Morningstar ended up stepping down from Whitehall after only three more seasons, but Edsall, who “was right in the middle of some good stuff at Reeths-Puffer,” didn’t jump over to the Vikings right away. His friend and colleague Bryan Mahan, best-known for his success as Whitehall’s boys soccer coach, took the job instead, though Edsall joked that there was always an understanding that Mahan would step

district will satisfy the terms of the law.

Bailey added that a large number of townships have appealed the new law to the state’s court of appeals, and that there is a motion from that group to halt enforcement of the law until the appeal is heard.

Lakeside Solar and the township have butted heads over a proposed facility that would have comprised 1,700 acres ever since it was publicly revealed in late 2022. After not receiving a public hearing on the matter and seeing the township board pass new ordinances that would preclude the facility from being built, the company filed suit against the township in early 2023, though that suit was dismissed this summer in anticipation of the new siting law taking effect.

Also Tuesday, the township board unanimously approved an edited version of an easement that will enable Consumers Energy to access a new residence

continued from page 5

down as soon as Edsall was ready to take over. That moment came after three more seasons at R-P.

The rest, for the Vikings, was history.

“Everything worked out great as far as that goes,” Edsall said. “I always wanted to coach at Whitehall...It’s a community school, man. There’s no transfers. There’s no portal. We didn’t have kids moving in to play volleyball at Whitehall. We did it with our homegrown kids in our community, and there’s nothing better than that.”

It helped a lot that some of those homegrown kids ended up being truly outstanding players. Edsall coached three Division I stars in his career, and all three were part of his two final four teams. Melissa Griffin led the Vikings

nearing completion. The home is located near the tennis courts at Indian Bay and Sunset roads. The board consulted with township attorney Cliff Bloom, who made edits that ensure Consumers will pay for any necessary tree removal to access the home and any property destruction that may occur; Bailey noted there isn’t really any property to destroy, but the wording limits the township’s exposure if something unforeseen were to occur.

The board also unanimously appointed Deb Harris deputy treasurer under Mary Kriesel. Harris had been township treasurer, with Kriesel as the deputy, until moving away from the role following this year’s elections; she was re-elected to the board as a trustee. Harris also reported that May 3, 2025 has been set as next year’s free dump day at the Muskegon County solid waste facility.

Planning commission chair Don

to the state semifinals in 2004 and went on to Ohio University, where she terrorized the Mid-American Conference for four seasons and was MAC player of the year in 2007. She’s now in that school’s athletics Hall of Fame, as well as Whitehall’s.

In 2012, two future Division I stars, Autumn Christenson and Hope Rillema, happened to be in the same Whitehall graduating class, and they led Edsall’s team to another final four appearance. Christenson went on to Michigan State University, and Rillema, who like Griffin was a Miss Volleyball finalist, played at Morehead State University. After the Vikings fell to North Branch in the semifinals that fall, Edsall joked that he didn’t do a lot of coaching that season.

Beyond that trio, the Vikings churned out numerous players who earned all-state mention during Edsall’s time, not to mention all-West Michigan Conference performers and

Kline reported that Bloom is reviewing a potential ordinance that would govern short-term rentals in the township. Once a review is complete, the township will schedule a public hearing to potentially approve it. One resident asked what the ordinance entails, and Kline said the township currently outright prohibits the practice; the new ordinance would permit it while establishing regulations surrounding it.

After the board stated it received a letter from the White Lake Fireworks Committee asking for donations and for interest from municipalities in having a representative on the committee, Kriesel quickly said she would be interested in joining it due to her interest in the July 4 fireworks. The board also noted it has budgeted $600 to donate to the committee, which is hoping to raise $20,000. The cities of Whitehall and Montague each contribute $5,000 to the fireworks.

players who played collegiately at both four-year and junior college levels. One of those players was Jenna Pesch (now Pider), who was also on that 2012 team, played at Alma College and Muskegon Community College, and joined the Whitehall staff this year as an assistant coach.

“There’s nothing magical about coaching,” Edsall smiled. “You give me good players, and I’m a pretty good coach...I’ve been blessed with talented kids and a community and administration that supported volleyball.”

Edsall, who also coaches at the Michigan Volleyball Academy club team, said he’ll stay involved in volleyball at the club level. He might even pick up a whistle and officiate the high school game next fall.

“I am super content with my decision,” Edsall said. “It’s hard to stay in any job this long. Sooner or later, they usually want to get rid of you. I’ve been lucky.”

Public welcomed to celebrate Jane Austen at Playhouse

The public is welcomed to celebrate Jane Austen’s birthday with a tea service and movie screening at the Playhouse at White Lake Saturday, Dec. 14 at 3:30 p.m. The event is taking place in partnership with the White Lake Community Library.

The Playhouse will show the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice as part of the celebration, which will also include English tea service and trivia. Regency-era attire is encouraged, though not required. Guests are requested to bring a wrapped book to exchange

with fellow guests, and the book does not need to be new.

Space is limited to 80 guests. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children under 12 years of age. To purchase tickets, visit theplayhouseatwhitelake.org or visit City Hall on Colby Street in Whitehall.

Mirror Editor

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

Montague school board accepts budget amendment

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — The Montague school board unanimously accepted the school year’s first budget amendment after a presentation from financial officer Stacey Brown at its regular meeting Monday night.

Some slight amendments were necessitated by the school district having 24 fewer students enrolled this year than projected, although Brown noted that expenditures for the district were also down. In all, the proposed budget decreased by about $158,000, with the

fund balance (as a percentage of expenditures) increasing to 13.5%.

The board also unanimously approved board president Brent Raeth taking four classes with the Michigan Association of School Boards, as well as four overnight wrestling trips. All four of the trips involved the girls wrestling team (one of them was for the individual state finals at the end of the season, which also includes the boys’ team), and during discussion it was noted that the girls’ team often has to travel farther to find competitions because there are fewer potential opponents locally than there are for the boys’ team.

Dalton Twp. receives land bids

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

Two land sale proposals have been submitted to the Dalton Township board, it said at its regular monthly meeting Monday.

The two land sales are on Catalpa Avenue and Russell Road. The Catalpa submission was for a 1.2-acre parcel and the board approved a bid of $13,500. A previous attempt to purchase the Russell property, 2.53 acres, fell through, and the land’s value was assessed at $22,270.

During Monday’s meeting, it was announced the water policy board has recently approved a rate increase of 5.5% for municipal drinking water. It was said that surrounding townships are seeing

similar increases.

A water quality monitoring report and bacteria sampling report commissioned by the township both came back with mostly positive results. The only flag was for high amounts of phosphorus identified in Twin Lake. It has been recommended to not use fertilizer containing high traces of phosphorus in the future in response.

The township is in search of a new clerk and deputy clerk after previous clerk Heather Cooley was elected supervisor in November. Applicants for clerk must be Dalton Township residents, but that is not a requirement for the deputy clerk position. For more information, contact Cooley at clerk@daltontownship.com.

Police activity this week

Colby St. When the officer arrived at the 9:47 a.m. call, he spoke with a resident who was upset that another woman was posting photos of the woman’s boyfriend and labeling them as “Sex Offender”. The two argued over that. The officer offered alternative suggestions to arguing and no further action was taken.

Dec. 4

An assault between a resident and a worker in a group home was reported to police. The incident occurred at about 2:55 p.m. when a resident wanted a hug from a second worker at the home in the 400 block of Mears Ave. That person did not want to be hugged and the resident became upset. When the first worker tried to intervene and have the resident move away, he became more upset and moved toward the intervening worker, who pushed him away. Neither party wanted prosecution and no further action was taken.

Dec. 7

A dispute between neighbors led to a call to police in the 1200 block of

Colby Street at Mears Avenue was the scene of a minor traffic crash. The crash occurred at 1:40 p.m. when a 26-year-old Hesperia man was stopped at the light in the westbound lane and was struck from behind by a 66-year-old Muskegon man. Neither were injured and no citations were issued.

Dec. 8

A resident of the 1200 block of Colby St. reported that a neighbor threatened to take his cat. Just before the 12:04 p.m. call, a woman knocked on his door and wanted the man to pay her $10 per month for cat food that his cat eats from a bowl that she had set outside for stray cats. If the man didn’t pay, she would take his cat. The man admitted his cat does get out at times but did not want officers to speak to her and only wanted to make a report at this time. No further action was taken.

Dec. 9

Whitehall Police were called at 12:03

a.m. for a family dispute over a VR device. According to the report, the call for police came from an 11-year-old resident of Arizona who was playing an online game with the 11-year-old Whitehall girl when her grandmother took the device away. The child then started screaming and trying to kick her grandmother. The officer suggested the girl surrender the phone and go to bed, but the child was not agreeable. The girl’s father, who was with his girlfriend, was participating through a speakerphone and when the officer suggested he return to the home in the 100 block of S Livingston St. to deal with the situation, the father became verbally abusive to the officer. No further action was taken.

A traffic crash occurred when an 85-year-old Whitehall woman failed to notice a northbound vehicle at the intersection of Slocum and Elizabeth streets. The report from the 10:50 a.m. crash noted that the first woman was eastbound and had stopped for the sign, but then proceeded as the second vehicle entered the intersection, striking the second vehicle on the driver’s side. That vehicle was driven by a 36-year-old Whitehall woman. Both vehicles had to be towed from the crash scene, but no one was injured.

Officers who had responded to a

report of a crash in the 100 block of E Hanson St. were contacted by a man asking for assistance. The 9:48 p.m. call was found to be a deer lying dead in the roadway, likely from an unreported crash. While on scene, the officers were approached by a man they had stopped about one hour earlier. The man then led them to a location in the 4000 block of Park St. where a woman was found deceased. The investigation was then turned over to the Muskegon County Sheriff Office.

Dec. 10

Officers investigating a car in the park after hours found a couple sleeping in a car. During the 2:51 a.m. discovery officers found that the girl was 16 years old and contacted her mother. The mother asked that officers allow the 19-year-old man to bring the girl home and no further action was taken.

At about 5:57 p.m. an 18-year-old Muskegon woman struck the curb on Colby Street at Division Street, flattening two tires on the car. The driver reported she was westbound in the curb lane and did not realize the lane ended and could not avoid the curb. The vehicle was towed from the scene and the woman was picked up by a relative.

Montague receives clean bill of financial health

By Andy Roberts

MONTAGUE — The City of Montague was given a clean financial bill of health Monday, Dec. 2 by Brickley DeLong’s Eric Van Dop in a special city council meeting.

Van Dop presented the results of the city’s annual audit, which showed no major issues in the processes the city uses to do its finances. When city council member Laura LaGuire asked what grade Van Dop would give the city’s financial management if he were to offer one, Van Dop said he’d give the city an A.

“You should be happy with the results,” Van Dop said.

The city received particularly high marks regarding the funding of its retiree pension plan. Once struggling to keep those funds going, the city was at just shy of 90% fully funded in the pension department as of the audit. Van Dop said the city may even be able to draw on its own assets in order to fund what is remaining.

As with Whitehall’s audit report, which was given in November, Montague’s report included a note of the higher investment returns (some $65,000 higher than a year ago) and property tax revenue for this year as compared to past years. The returns were thanks to higher interest rates this year, and revenues were higher due to the increased property values in the city. Van Dop also noted that the city received revenue from the

Fire Authority to pay off a debt to the city.

White Lake

White Lake Mirror Editor

Eric Van Dop of Brickley DeLong goes over the city’s sewer rates during a special city council meeting Monday, Dec. 2. • Andy Roberts/Mirror