Volume 1, Issue 31 DECEMBER 29, 2023
YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE
Conservation District hosts Christmas Bird Count By Sharon Hallack
The Oceana Echo Community Contributor
count list.” “One person heard a Barred Owl for the first time in our count,” said Herremans. “Another of our experienced birders saw a Common Loon on Pentwater Lake using a scope. That sighting was way out of season.” “The long-term perspective is vital for conservationists. It informs strategies to protect birds and their habitat and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well,” said the NAS website. Herremans added, “It’s a great citizen science tool and a way for people to be involved. I love it (birding). There aren’t many hobbies where you can do it anywhere,” she said. “There are also opportunities for anyone interested in reporting bird sightings, regardless of where they live, through the www.eBird.org website or mobile eBird app. The app has increased people’s enjoyment of birding, but it should be a tool, not a crutch. We want people to learn to recognize birds on their own.” By using the app, bird watchers can report bird sightings every day of the year. Herremans says the app was very instrumental in compiling data for the OCD’s first (2017) and second (2019) published editions of “A Birding Guide to Oceana County, Michigan.” For those interested in getting their own copy of this special publication, visit oceanaconservation. org to purchase a copy or stop by the OCD’s office located at 1064 Industrial Park Dr. in Shelby, during regular business hours. “It’s a wonderful resource to find great places to observe birds in our county and see what birds have been documented as well as the seasons to expect them,” Herremans said.
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This year marked the 124th year of the National Audubon Society’s (NAS) Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC), but just the eighth year for Oceana County. The event hosted by the Oceana Conservation District first took place unofficially in 2016 and has been part of the NAS official counts since 2017. The annual census occurs annually each year between Dec. 15 and Jan. 5. Participating groups are free to select any date during that time frame to hold their counts. Oceana County’s 2023 Christmas Bird Count took place this year on Dec. 14. “It’s a big undertaking, but we have a great core group. We were getting ready to publish our first birding book in 2016 and realized we didn’t have a lot of historical data. We were ‘under-birded’. We began with a trial year in 2016, and in 2017, we registered as an official ‘circle’ with NAS, the first in Oceana County,” said Lynda Herremans, Oceana Conservation District’s MAEAP Technician and the CBC Coordinator for Oceana County. “We’ve been doing an official Audubon CBC every year since.” Annual Christmas Bird Counts take place every year within the same 15-mile radius circles between Dec. 15 and Jan. 5 all across North America. “They (NAS) let us pick the circle we wanted. We knew we wanted it to be completely in Oceana County and to include areas we’d identified as ‘hot spots’, where birds congregate. The center point of Oceana’s CBC circle is Mears, and goes seven and a half miles in every direction to form our circle. It includes the City of Hart, as well as the villages of Shelby, Mears and Pentwater,” Herremans said. “We are also allowed to pick the day we hold the count. As coordinator, I compile all our data and send it to the national database.” According to the NAS website, the history of the annual census began with concerns about declining bird populations. “Prior to the turn of the 20th century, hunters engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas ‘Side Hunt.’ They would choose sides and go afield with their guns—whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won. “Conservation was in its beginning stages in that era, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the then-nascent Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition—a “Christmas Bird Census” that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them,” the
website said. The OCD publicizes the county’s annual CBC every year in its newsletters and website. Those interested in taking part need to be registered so they can be assigned a location. According to Herremans, this year’s count included 20 individuals with seven field scouting teams. Each team is made up of one to four people each, with at least one experienced birder per team. Feeder watchers are also used, provided they live within the 15-mile radius circle; otherwise, interested birders will be assigned to a team. Similar to a census of the human population, there are certain parameters set up to ensure the count is as accurate as possible. People need to pre-register and be assigned a group. To make sure birds are not double-counted or misidentified, only a limited number of new participants are taken each year. It is important to keep each team small and assigned to one specific area. All reporting is done by the coordinator and can only be done one day each year within the permanent circle area. “With that being said, we do have a lot of opportunities for people who live in the circle to participate with feeder surveys, but they still need to contact us to get the necessary forms and information ahead of time,” said Herremans. “The target ‘hot spots’ within our circle include Hart BioPure, Hart Lake, Pentwater Lake, Gales Pond and Lake Michigan. We may also count field birds along the roads as we travel to and from various hot spots, but field birds are harder to identify,” she said. “We count everything we see, then move on; we don’t stay in one place very long.” This year, CBC teams recorded 52 species, which has been the average number of species for the past eight years. Within those 52 species, this year teams spotted 3,740 individual birds, the average number of birds spotted each year for the past eight years has been 3,445 birds. Herremans said they were down four species from last year’s number of 56 species. “It was such a gorgeous day on the 14th. When it isn’t snowing, the birds aren’t as concentrated.” With the past eight CBCs, “the total accumulated number of birds for our circle has reached 83, so it has increased quite a bit since our very first count (in 2016) of 47 birds. Each year, we are able to add a few more,” said Herremans. The count looks at trends and populations and compares data from year to year. Herremans noted the species with the highest count was the Canada Goose, with 1,285 counted, which is consistent with every other year. The next highest number for one species was the American Crow, with 691 counted. A couple of unusual sightings were made this year and can now be added to the county’s official “bird
Hart Middle School Christmas carols at OCMCF Tuesday, Dec. 19, a group of Hart Middle School fifth through eighth grade drama students went to the Oceana County Medical Care Facility and Alzheimer’s Unit in Hart and sang Christmas carols. Organizers said it was an amazing experience for the students, as many had never done this before, and it gave them an opportunity to bring cheer and kindness to those residing there! It was truly a special and memorable experience for everyone, and the school very much appreciated the OCMCF’s willingness to have the students visit. • Contributed Photos
THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 29, 2023 2
Keeping everyone in stitches By Ron Beeber The Oceana Echo Volunteer Contributor Anyone who thinks chocolate is addictive has never learned how to knit. If you know how and are reading this, you’re probably smiling. It’s believed that knitting originated in Egypt about 1,000 years ago to make socks. Fast forward about 900 years: British citizens banded together in a national effort during World War I to knit warm clothing for their soldiers who went off to war. And recently, knowledge of the craft was shared between friends at the Pentwater Artisan Learning Center (PALC) when members Janet Nelson and Sue Bowling conducted a four-week knitting class for fellow members Kris Bluhm, Debby Duvall, Jennifer Gwillem and Judy Primozich. “I’ve been a member of the Artisan Center for at least 15 years,” said Nelson, who lives in Mason County. “I’ve always been a knitter, but I never belonged to a place like this. It was like finding a little gem. I believe knitting at the Artisan Center began when some of my friends saw a coat I knitted from an ‘Einstein Coat’ pattern. The coat got its name because, after you knit one, you feel like a genius! My friends here all wanted to get together to make our own coats. About 35 coats were made.” Nelson went on to say that everyone then just decided to continue meeting at the Artisan Center to knit. “We didn’t have to; we just wanted to. It’s the camaraderie of the place,” she continued. “Yeah, I could stay at home and knit by myself, but it’s more fun to be with a bunch of people and get caught up on what’s going on in our community. It’s where you get the real scoop,” she joked. Nelson’s class included learning about yarn types, casting on, the knit stitch, the purl stitch, binding off and blocking. “We taught the students how to knit a set of four coasters,” she added. “Each has a different pattern, and everybody pretty much learns the basics of knitting after completing all four.” Each student now knows enough to knit a sweater or start some other project. Jennifer Gwillem of Pentwater is a new PALC member. “I have no real craft skills, but a couple of friends wanted to learn how to work in stained glass, and I’ve since done a tiny bit of stained glass work. But then I heard about Janet’s knitting class. When I was about eight, my grandmother
Kris Bluhm and Jennifer Gwillem
Janet Nelson shows her “Einstein Coat” to fellow PALC members. “At the end of this class, you’ll be able to knit your own,” Nelson told them. • Contributed Photos
taught me some basics. I now have enough free time to really learn it. It’s good to keep your brain active. And the Artisan Center is a gem! I recently bought an old table and chairs that I want to redo for my grandkids. I’ll work on it over the winter, knowing somebody’s here to show me how.” The Artisan Center was established in 2004 next to the Pentwater Public School. It’s an 11,000-squarefoot, safe, well-equipped workspace that attracts year-round and seasonal residents from the surrounding area. The artisans also work in wood, metal, paint, stained glass, pottery, weaving and jewelry. They socialize, make things, teach their skills to others, and learn new ones. Annual membership is $150. The PALC’s drive to raise funds for repairing, replacing and adding equipment now stands at more than $153,000 of its $250,000 goal. More information can be found at https://pentwaterartisan.org/, or by calling 231-869-5323.
A Night in Bethlehem A Night in Bethlehem took place at Hart Wesleyan Church, 3757 W. Polk Rd., Hart, this past Dec. 20, from 5-7 p.m. It was a walk-through experience, with most of the church set up inside to resemble what Bethlehem may have
looked like on the night Jesus was born. There were shops including wood and leather shops, weaving and pottery tents, scribes and painting stations, a bakery, the inn, and, of course, the stable. There were a few modern touches,
such as a photo station and snacks. More than 30 volunteers dressed up in typical garb and interacted with more than 60 visitors, talking about that special night and doing crafts and games with the kids.
Many attend Winter Solstice Hike at Gales Pond By Sharon Hallack
$ave with weekly specials
The Oceana Echo Community Contributor
MONDAYS:
Over 60 people, including many children holding their own handmade lanterns, welcomed the winter solstice together at Gale’s Pond Thursday, Dec. 21. Oceana Conservation District Educator Kari Wilson (Miss Kiki) began by reading the children’s book “On the Shortest Day” by Laura Sulentich Fredrickson, just after sunset (5:12 p.m.). Wilson then led the group in singing “This Little Light of Mine” before leading a guided hike along the Gales one-half-mile loop trail. Families and individuals were encouraged to let their eyes adjust to the diminishing daylight as they made their way along the frosty trail. Adding to the magical experience were dozens of candles and lanterns nestled amongst the flora and fauna along the trail. The annual tradition not only marks the beginning of winter but also reminds us that a few seconds of daylight will be added to each day until the summer solstice in June. Thursday was not only a fun time enjoyed with friends and family, but a day of hope. Spring is on its way!
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A tale of two red sweaters
3 DECEMBER 29, 2023 THE OCEANA ECHO
More Christmas memories By Sharon Hallack
The Oceana Echo Community Contributor Last week, we shared a number of special Christmas memories from area residents. This week, we bring you three more and hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas!
Special Christmas mornings Joan (Slocum) Foster of Hart
We all have our holiday memories and traditions. Like everything in life, some memories are more positive and heartwarming to remember than others. If I think back about 55 years ago, to when I was a young girl, some of my most favorite Christmas memories were of my mom and grandma. My mom did her best to make Christmas morning special for her seven children on a tight budget. We were not allowed to come downstairs until 8 a.m. on Christmas morning. Someone was watching the clock, and we would race down the minute the clock changed. The Christmas tree was in the corner, full of ornaments, many of them homemade, colored lights, shiny garland and tufts of sparkling tinsel. The tree would be surrounded by presents of many shapes and sizes, and it was exciting to try to guess what was in the packages and which ones had your name on it! With seven children to buy for, we would get some gifts that were practical and then some gifts that were fun too. We all had homemade red flannel stockings with our names embroidered on them. I still have mine! They would be full, with a big orange and some candy tucked inside. My mom loved to bake, so there was always a plethora of Christmas cookies and also flavored hard candy, peanut brittle, fudge and popcorn balls. Christmas dinner was either at our house or my Grandma Joan and Grandpa Dell Bunnell’s house in Holton. Grandma Joan’s house would be decorated so nicely, and she would prepare a feast for her family. We would gather in her basement, where she had a table for the buffet covered with a special Christmas tablecloth and a variety of pretty dishes holding delicious food like German green beans and ambrosia salad. When it was time to leave, she would stand at her big picture window and wave goodbye as we drove away. She was probably totally exhausted! So as each Christmas approaches, I get to continue some of our family traditions and create new Christmas memories and traditions with my own family. Now it is my turn to be “Grandma Joan” and wave goodbye at the window when my kids and grandkids drive away. Many things have changed in the last decade for my family, but the spirit of Christmas has remained strong in my heart. Christmas blessings to all of my friends and family!
Sweet treats and traditions Joan Lound of New Era
My Christmas memories are from the 1950s and 60s. There were 11 children in our family, and we lived on a farm in the Blooming Valley School district, just east of Shelby. For several years, my Mom made different kinds of candy just for Christmas: sour cream fudge, chocolate-covered peanuts, butter brickle, peanut brittle, walnut-stuffed dates, chocolate-covered cherries, fondant, divinity and others I’ve forgotten. On Christmas morning, the candy was set out on a large round metal tray, one that my brother Dick had made in high school shop class, with beveled edges and a design etched on it. I also remember that a few days before Christmas,
she sent us out to deliver plates of candy to some of the nearby neighbors along Woodrow Road: Emily, Frank and Frances Haynor, Elizabeth Isley, Mabel Ludwig and probably others. Some of my siblings have continued that homemade tradition. Karen with her butter brickle and Mary Ann with her peanut brittle. Dick still gives us all jars of his homemade maple syrup, and Sharon makes plates of cookies and candy for family, friends and neighbors. For dessert at Christmas dinner, Mom used tall cone-shaped glasses to layer different colored jello and whipped cream; the whipped cream was homemade—definitely not out of a can or tub. I remember one fancy dessert at each place on the table. Martha Stewart, eat your heart out! I don’t know how Mom managed to keep those layers so neat. During the year, those glasses were put on an upper shelf, but once in a while in the hot summer, I remember Dad drinking a beer out of one of them. Finally, I also remember when I was in fifth grade, the only year that Jackie Lankfer Near taught school at Blooming Valley. She did an over-the-top musical extravaganza for the annual Christmas program on the stage of the Grange Hall across from the school. Among other things, she taught us how to sing “The Little Train” in German, complete with a set of trains made out of appliance boxes. After that, Jackie went from 35–40 students in grades K–8 in a country school to bigger and better things at Thomas Read Elementary, where she brought the gift of music to hundreds of kids over the years. I always figured that the Blooming Valley Grange stage was her off-broadway debut.
It’s the little things each year Vicki Davey of Stony Lake “I’ve got this Christmas song in my heart I’ve got the candles glowing in the dark And then for years to come we’ll always know one thing That’s the love that Christmas can bring Oh, why? ‘Cause that’s Christmas to me” --Pentatonix-- That’s Christmas to Me I love this song and the harmonies that make my heart glow. It makes me reflect on what it is that makes it feel like Christmas to me. So many images come rushing forth from the deepest corners of my mind. Memories of sights, sounds, smells and tastes. It’s the scent of pine; the aroma of baking cookies; of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. It’s the sound of bells rung by the Salvation Army workers and favorite songs like Silver Bells and Silent Night. It’s the flavor of peppermint and gingerbread. It’s seeing snow kissing every branch of a tree; colored lights juxtaposed against a night sky; gifts jauntily wearing their holiday finest; a nativity scene pure and perfect in its simplicity. And added to all of that are the experiences of 60 years of Christmases layered one upon another until they meld into the kaleidoscope of my life. Santa riding a Norelco razor over a snow-covered hill Little wax candles of church carolers Shiny Brite ornaments with the tiny scenes inside Family gathered around the tree in their new pajamas Linus reading the Nativity story to a hushed auditorium The Grinch realizing that Christmas wasn’t about gifts, after all City streets festooned with lights, candy canes and wreaths Carols softly broadcast over the PA of my public high school And so much more. May ‘the love that Christmas can bring’ find you this Christmas season.
Shelby Village Council decides how to spend remaining ARPA funds By Sharon Hallack
The Oceana Echo Community Contributor SHELBY - At the final meeting of the year for the Village of Shelby, Tuesday, council formally approved how they would spend the remaining 2021 ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds. The total remaining amount of $156,014 will be spent thus: $40,000 to build a new structure to house DPW equipment, and the remaining $116,014 to be spent on the Getty Park project overage the village is responsible for. The remaining ARPA funds needed to be “fully obligated” by Dec. 31, 2023 or be forfeited. Initially, the village received $211,014 in ARPA funding. Of that amount, $5,000 was spent on the 2022 Fall Festival, and $50,000 was allocated for downtown facade grant projects. How to spend the remaining balance of $156,014 has been in the works since Nov. 13, 2023, when the council held a community strategic planning session. The top four options to surface out of the planning session included using the remaining balance to cover part of the village’s portion of the Getty Park project ($115,843); using the remaining balance to purchase water meters and radio reads (estimated $90,000); allocating dollars to update the village website and logo (that cost would depend on a number of factors); and allocating dollars for a community input report or conceptual drawing review for a downtown streetscape plan (estimated cost of $22,000). After a lengthy discussion on November 13, a fifth suggestion was made to use some of the remaining funds to build a lean-to extension at the DPW garage to store the newly purchased backhoe, which is currently sitting outside. As a result, any action was tabled until the village could acquire quotes for such an addition. The village was unable to secure any construction quotes in time for Tuesday’s meeting. DPW Superintendent Jeremiah Helenhouse guessed the building would be a stand-alone structure with a 24-foot by 40-foot footprint and a 14-foot ceiling height. He also suggested it have open sides and a gravel floor. “Side walls could be added later on,” he said. Village Administrator Brady Selner said, “The DPW has been neglected; it’s a money pit. I’m not saying don’t build it (the storage). We can do something now, but we’ll want it to fit into any future capital improvement plans.” In department reports, Chief of Police Dean Roesler said that with the opening of the new Shelby Elementary School after Christmas recess, he and his department will be on hand to help with the new traffic flow for the first few days. Temporary school zone signage (good for 90 days only) has been placed along Oceana Drive to alert drivers. Permanent signage will be installed after details are worked out between the school, the township and the village. Finally, the council approved the 2024 meeting schedules for the Shelby Village Council as well as the Shelby Village Planning Commission. The village council will follow its regular schedule of meetings on the second and fourth Mondays of every month, with the exception of May 28, 2024, and Nov. 12, 2024, when meetings will take place on Tuesdays. The village planning commission will continue to meet the third Tuesday of each month. Both council and planning commission meetings will commence at 6 p.m. in the village conference room. As the last agenda item, the council went into closed session, upon the request of Selner, to discuss his annual evaluation and contract amendments.
4 DECEMBER 29, 2023 THE OCEANA ECHO This page is brought to you by:
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Oceana County Schools: Hart - Part 1 By Caleb Jackson The Oceana Echo Community Columnist
Today is week six of our county-wide tour of Oceana’s rural schools, and it brings us to Hart Township. There are nine school districts and 12 different schools in Hart Township, which is the highest of both out of every township in the county. That being the case, this township will be broken up into two parts. In this article, we will cover districts one through seven. District eight has no schools on record, and district nine we will save for next week as that district alone has five different schools to talk about. The first school we are going to look at is the Union School, which would eventually grow and morph into what is today Hart High School. This school had its humble beginnings in two wooden frame buildings, built in about 1872. The smaller building held primary students, and the larger building held high school students. The story of the Union School is one of constant growth. Even in Mort Wiegand’s notes, we see that there were 425 students enrolled in the school in 1905, far outstripping all of the other rural schools that have been talked about thus far. In 1893, seven additional rooms and a basement were built. In 1902, four more rooms were added, and a gym was built next door around 1937. But even all that was not enough to keep up. A new elementary school was built in 1955, followed by two additional schools in 1962 and 1964. Of course, Hart High School continues to operate and thrive to this day. Moving on over to district number two, we have the VanWickle school on the corner of North 88th Avenue and West Filmore Road. We don’t have too much information on this school. We know it was on the 1876 map of Oceana County, so it is at least that old, and we know that Lowell Goodrich was the teacher in 1923, so it was open for at least
that long. The building still stands, and it has been converted into a private home. One school that no longer stands is the Reed school, once located on the corners of North Oceana Drive and West Lever Road. Again, we have no exact closing or opening date for this school. We know there were 27 students enrolled in 1873, and the school ran at least until 1956. A 1922 newspaper clipping from Wiegand’s notes tells us, “Gertrude Yeager, a fifth grader, spelled the whole school down in a spelling contest last Friday. The spelling bee is a monthly affair, and we are wondering who will be the champion next month.” This note was written by Elsie DeRuiter, a teacher at the school. Other teachers through the years include Lucille Hackett, Ada Hallberg, Ann Arklet, Ruth VanSickle and Goldie Latten. Up next in District 4 is the Danielson school. I fear I may begin to sound like a broken record, as again, not much is recorded about this school. It was located on Fox Road, a little west of 92nd Avenue. A 1901 article in The Journal said, “George Blackmer, Glen Blackmer, Chauncey Perry and Hattie Knapp were neither absent nor tardy during the first month of school at the Danielson school.” The building remains standing, albeit under private ownership. Our next schoolhouse, in District 6 of Hart Township, is an interesting one because it’s one you can still visit today and it is still preserved as a school house. I’m talking, of course, about the Randall School. Here’s a brief clipping from Wiegand’s notes: Hubert Shinn’s first teaching job after graduation in 1914 was at the old Randall School three miles east of Hart on Walkerville Road (Tyler), and this was his first group of students. “Mr. Shinn’s motto was ‘You children are here to learn, and it’s my job to teach you to the best of my ability,’” Spierenburg recalls. “He was strict but an excellent
teacher. One of the best.” This school was in operation from 1876 to 1966, and then in 1994 it was donated to the Hart Historic District and moved there. You can still visit there during the museum’s hours of operation between mid-June and mid-September. And finally, we come to District No. 7, where we find the Garver school on West Taylor Road and North 72nd Avenue. This school was also in operation in 1876 or earlier, and it was unfortunately torn down in 2007. A newspaper clipping from 1905 shows us some of the exciting improvements the school was experiencing at that time, chiefly among them being a furnace for heat. The Garver school house has been moved so that now it is on the hilltop. After being moved, a furnace was put in the building, which improvement proved a most profitable one. A large bell has arrived and will be used in the immediate future to call the pupils to their studies. The teacher is Miss Margaret Reid. Once each week, Miss Walbridge of the village visits the school to give lessons in music. At present, the enrollment is about 18.
The Oceana Echo © is published weekly at P.O. Box 192, Mears, MI 49436 • All rights reserved.
theoceanaecho@gmail.com • December 29, 2023 • Volume 1 • Issue 31 Office hours (Old Town Hall in Mears): Mondays: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
and Wednesdays: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Office phone: 231-301-8149, or for breaking news, please call 231-923-0751.
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THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 29, 2023 5
Christmas Dinners for Oceana County veterans
On Tuesday, Dec. 19, Michigan Dunes Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, delivered food items to make 50 Christmas ham dinners with all the fixings for Veterans at the Oceana County Department of Veteran Affairs in Hart.
We would like to thank the sponsors that made this all possible: • Michigan Dunes Chapter Members and DAR State Members • Meijer, Ludington MI • VF Post #1329 Hart, MI
• VFW/Aux 1329 Hart, MI • G. Ritchie • Campagna • E. Moul • New Era RV Services • Fraternal Order Eagles AUX 3167
Wreaths Across America
Each year, volunteers across the U.S. gather to place wreaths on the graves of military veterans. Across the country, this event happens on the same date. This year, the wreaths were placed Saturday, Dec. 16. Michigan Dunes Daughters are passionate about showing respect for veterans. For that reason, they work to sell as many wreaths as possible. This year, members of Michigan Dunes Chapter, NSDAR, carpooled to Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan, where they joined with other chapters from around the state to place wreaths. In addition to the members of Michigan Dunes who went to Holly,
other members placed wreaths in Grand Rapids. When the wreaths are placed on the graves, the volunteer steps back and either salutes if they are military personnel or veterans or places their hand over their heart and reads the name of the veteran. Then the volunteer thanks the veteran for his/her/their service. Most people associate Wreaths Across America with military cemeteries, but what many do not realize is that wreaths are placed in other cemeteries as well. In those cemeteries, veterans’ graves are located and marked with an American flag. Then volun-
• Shelby State Bank Pentwater, MI • Walmart Ludington, MI • Rotary Club of Hart Michigan INC • Hansen Foods, Hart MI • Mary Rose Vanas • Pentwater Men’s Service Club
teers place wreaths on these graves on the Wreaths Across America date. One of the chapter’s members was in Florida and joined with others there to place wreaths on two smaller cemeteries. It is important to acknowledge all of the veterans possible. Michigan Dunes will be looking for people to help purchase wreaths for 2024. Readers will see requests during the coming year, and Michigan Dunes members are hoping citizens will help pay respects to veterans by purchasing a wreath to be placed on the graves of these heroes next year for Wreaths Across America.
6 DECEMBER 29, 2023 THE OCEANA ECHO
Ongoing Hart VFW Post 1329 Burger/Chicken/Brat/Ribs Night, first and third Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m., dine-in or carry out. The Ladder Community Center: Tuesdays: Pit Stops for Men 12 & Up, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays: Recovery Support Group, 6:30 p.m. Fridays: Open Jam Session, 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays: Celebrate worship gathering, 6:30 p.m. Knights of Columbus Bingo, 6 p.m. St. Gregory Parish Center, 214 S. Peach Ave. in Hart Starting in January: Second & fourth Fridays Doors open at 4 p.m.
2023 Into 2024
Through New Year’s - Deater Family Light Show, 6344 E. Garfield Rd., Hesperia, shows run on the hour, 5-9 p.m. Dec. 31 - “Year in Review”, First Baptist Church of Hart, 9:15 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. Jan. 2 - Tech Hour, Hesperia Community Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Jan. 5 - Story Time, Hesperia Community Library, 10-11 a.m. Jan. 7 - Broomball Tournament, John Gurney Park, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 9 - Tech Hour, Hesperia Community Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
OCAF welcomes animal lovers for Kitten Cuddle The Oceana County Animal Friends (OCAF) will be putting on another Kitten Cuddle event and a Nail Trim Clinic at the end of December. The event will take place at 5714 Fox Rd., and will serve as an introduction to the new “romper room” that allows families to play and cuddle with kittens. There will be another opportunity to participate Saturday, Dec. 30 from 12-4 p.m. This is a fundraising event and OCAF asks that each person donate $5 or bring a donation of unsented clumping cat litter or a pack of Friskies canned cat food. Nail trimming is $10 or a donation. All donations go toward helping OCAF continue to care for abandoned and neglected cats. For more information, call 231-750-5099.
OCCSA offers free ski event The Oceana County Cross Country Ski Assosciation (OCCSA) will offer a free ski event at the Crystal Valley Ski Trail in conjunction with Pentwater’s Winter Fest activities on Saturday, Feb. 10. The public is welcome to use OCCSA’s adult and children’s equipment for free on a first-come-first-served basis. All children must be accompanied by an adult who will assist them in putting on equipment and skiing with them. The event is contingent on weather and appropriate ski conditions. If there is not enough snow, the event will be postponed to Saturday, Feb. 17. Trail maps and location can be seen at www.oceanaski.org.
TrueNorth hosts Hygiene Item Drive for Homeless Awareness Month TrueNorth Community Services had a hygiene item drive in Oceana County for Homeless Awareness Month this past November. This drive collected essential items and raised awareness for homeless individuals in West Michigan. Over 1,100 hygiene items were collected in the five counties where TrueNorth provides homeless solutions, with around 200 items coming from Oceana County alone. Boxes were placed to collect donations at community partners such as the Shelby Area District Library, Hart Area Public Library and the Oceana Community Foundation office. Items such as soap, razors, toothpaste, TrueNorth caseworkers, Mary and Jackie, washcloths, feminine products, de- can be seenwith one of the hygiene donation odorant and more were donated by boxes at a participating location • Contributed Photo community members. TrueNorth caseworkers will distribute the donated items to housing participants and whoever is in need. Lisa Reinecke, TrueNorth Homeless Solutions Director, says, “We’re walking alongside many people in their most vulnerable moments, so being able to provide these essential items helps us restore some dignity and hope in these individuals.” TrueNorth Community Services is a private, nonprofit organization that builds communities with one mission: we bring together influencers, innovators, and change-makers to inspire hope and create a better world. Founded in 1972, TrueNorth strives to lead Michigan in a collective impact by inspiring future leaders, ensuring youth thrive, encouraging self-sufficiency, building vibrant communities, and creating new opportunities for individuals and families. TrueNorth offers more than 80 programs and services; and has a service focus touching all of Michigan. For more, visit www.truenorthservices.org or call (231) 924-0641.
Jan. 11 - Oceana Conservation District Candlelit Hike, Gales Pond County Park, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Jan. 11 - Teen Night, Hesperia Community Library, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Jan. 12 - Story Time, Hesperia Community Library, 10-11 a.m. Jan. 13 - Trinity Lutheran Church Baby Pantry, Trinity Lutheran Church, 8:30-10 a.m. Jan. 14 - Broomball Tournament, John Gurney Park, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 21 - Broomball Tournament, John Gurney Park, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 22-26 - Walkerville Homecoming Spirit Week. Jan. 27 - Walkerville Homecoming Dance, 8-11 a.m. Jan. 14 & Jan. 28 - Broomball Tournament, John Gurney Park, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 4 - Broomball Tournament, John Gurney Park, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 8 - Oceana Conservation District Candlelit Hike, Gales Pond County Park, 6-7 p.m. Feb. 10 - Free ski event, Crystal Valley Ski Trail, OCCSA
Shelby Middle School offers tutoring Shelby Middle School is offering tutoring Tuesdays 7-7:45 a.m. and Thursdays 3-4 p.m. until March 14. Please see the office for more information.
59th annual Pentwater Fine Arts and Craft Fair set for July 13 The Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club would like to announce that its upcoming 59th annual Pentwater Fine Arts and Craft Fair will take place Saturday, July 13, 2024, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the Village Green in downtown Pentwater. The Fine Arts and Craft Fair is a juried fair. All work must be original and of the artist’s own creation. Painting, pottery, jewelry, photography, weaving, clothing, sculpture and other media will be available. Admission is free. There is a refreshment stand on the Village Green. Applications and further information may be obtained by writing to: The Pentwater Junior Women’s Club Art Fair Registration Committee P.O. Box 357 Pentwater, Mich. 49449 pentwaterjrwomensclub@gmail.com Those interested can also visit zapplication.org to apply to the Fair.
THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 29, 2023 7
O bituaries
• • • • • • In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors • • • • •
Daniel Cornelius ‘Dan’ van Heest
Dale Elton Wentzloff
November 14, 1960 ~ December 9, 2023
May 13, 1944 ~ November 16, 2023
Daniel Cornelius “Dan” van Heest, 63, of Rothbury, passed away from natural causes, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. The son of Dirk (late) and Trudy van Heest, formerly of Spring Lake. Dan was an alumnus of Western Michigan Christian School. He obtained an A.A.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology and a B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering from Ferris State College. Dan also earned an A.A.S. in machining from Muskegon Community College. He was an exceptional machine designer for many local companies. Dan was well known for his unique, robust and cost-effective solutions to difficult problems. Dan enjoyed a lifelong passion for riding, repairing and restoring motorcycles. He created the popular YouTube channel, “A Motorcycle Nut.” Dan is mostly known for generously giving his time and talents to help those who needed a hand. He was always willing to offer advice and tell it to you straight. Strangers became friends; friends and their sons became comrades and brothers. Together, they would fix their dirt bikes, camp, fish, hunt and drink coffee. Dan’s ability to empathize, share life’s difficulties, and exchange ideas gave him the ability to be compassionate and provide encouragement, and lead people to his savior, the LORD Jesus Christ. Dan is survived by: his mother; his siblings, Christina Weber, Jack van Heest and Leonard van Heest; his adult children, Benjamin and Mina; stepchildren, Tabatha and Jessica; many of his lifelong and dear friends, and their children, who are considered extended family. A celebration of Dan’s life will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Blue Lake Community Church, 10981 Blue Lake Rd., Holton, Mich. 49425. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Blue Lake Community Church, www.bluelakecomunitychurch.com/donate. The Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is handling arrangements. www.harrisfhome.com
Dale Elton Wentzloff, 79, of Shelby, passed away Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, with family at his side. He was born May 13, 1944, in Shelby, the son of Edward and Magie Marie (Walls) Wentzloff. Dale lived in Benona Township his entire life. He worked for William Burmeister Farms while farming his own land. Dale loved fishing, hunting and playing fast-pitch softball when he was younger. He was instrumental in starting up the Stony Lake fast pitch team and was a pitcher during the 1960s and 1970s. Dale loved watching the Tigers and Lions teams and would talk about sports to anyone who would listen. Dale married the love of his life, Ruth Suchon from Muskegon, on Sept. 10, 1966. Together, they raised two children on their farm. Dale is survived by: his wife, Ruth; son, Timothy Wentzloff; and two grandsons. Dale was preceded in death by: his parents, Edward and Magie; daughter, Tammy DeVries; and eight siblings. Per Dale’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A private ceremony will take place in the spring. Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is in charge of arrangements. www.harrisfhome.com
Obituary Information: We, at The Oceana Echo, offer our deepest condolences for your loss and are here to help you tell others about your loved one’s life and the plans you have made to honor, celebrate and remember them. If you would like to place an obituary with us, please tell your arrangement specialist or email us at theoceanaecho@gmail.com.
William ‘Bill’ Richard Koch
November 26, 1936 ~ December 23, 2023 William “Bill” Richard Koch, known also as “Red,” age 87, of Norton Shores, formerly of Hart, passed away Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, at his home. He was born Nov. 26, 1936, in Chicago, the son of William P. and Margaret (Freideck) Koch. Bill retired in 1992 after 37 years of service with General Motors in Chicago. Bill had various interests, including fishing, hunting and woodworking. Bill was also an animal lover; he and his wife, Cindy, rescued an injured female Merlin Hawk while living in Hart and continued to visit “Miss Merlin” at the sanctuary. Bill also enjoyed sports, primarily golf, whether it was playing or watching on television, but he did enjoy bowling and was on a men’s bowling league in his younger years. Bill loved youth sports, which included attending his children and grandchildren’s sporting events, such as cross country, track and field, and soccer, and previously coached baseball and softball. On April 16, 1994, Bill married Cynthia (Anderson) Koch, and she survives him, along with his daughter, Beth Koch; sons, Eric Youngstrom and Jeff Youngstrom; and grandchildren, William Schlaack, Emma JoAnn Jeffries and Gunnar Youngstrom. Bill was preceded in death by: his parents; first wife, Josephine Koch; sister, Judy Frain; and brother, Tim Koch. The family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, 2370 N. 72nd Ave., Hart, MI 49420. Memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s name to your local animal shelter. Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. www.beaconfh.com
Tails of Hope This is Nell. Nell is approximately 6 years old and has already been spayed. She is very friendly and loves to be petted. Nell is available and can’t wait to be adopted. Who wants to give this loving cat a loving home? Nell is available for adoption from the Oceana County Animal Shelter. If interested, please call the shelter at 231-861-5395. 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.
Meet Nell
8 DECEMBER 29, 2023 THE OCEANA ECHO
Poinsettia and Christmas Cactus care By Sharon Hallack
pruned annually for up to one-third of the plant’s mass without doing any real damage. Now that you’ve heard what the Garden Answer channel recommends, stop in at Tanner Plumbing on State Street in Hart sometime and ask for their growing tips (this week if you want to see one of the largest Christmas cacti in Oceana County in bloom). They have a Christmas cactus, start-
The Oceana Echo Community Contributor Some may have been fortunate enough to receive or purchase, for themselves, a poinsettia or holiday cactus this Christmas. These holiday plants are fun to give and fun to receive. For the giver, they are an easy pick; however, sometimes the receiver is unsure what to do with these colorful gifts after the holidays. The “Garden Answer” YouTube channel provides a wealth of information on all sorts of gardening questions. Read on to find out more about both types of plants and how to keep them going long after the holidays. The deep, vibrant colors featured in poinsettias this time of year can be a welcome addition to any home, care facility or business. Native to Mexico, the colored bracts are actually the leaves of the plant. The “blooms” are the small clusters located in the center of the plant. For care during the holidays, be sure to place them in a sunny window, not touching the glass and away from drafts. They like the same temperatures people like: 65–75 degrees. Water poinsettias when they become dry, generally every week, although watering will depend on location. Even though they are tropical, they don’t like “wet feet.” In other words, don’t let them sit in water. It is recommended to slit the bottom of the foil they are wrapped in and sit them on a plant saucer. Water them well, let the plant drain and dispose of any standing water. Poinsettias also benefit from humidity, which can be created by lightly misting them daily, grouping them with other houseplants or placing them near a humidifier. By providing them with plenty of sunlight and just the right amount of water, plants will look great well into February, which helps with some of those long, drab days of winter. For more information on the fussy science behind getting the plants’ bracts to color up next Christmas, check out the Garden Answer channel
ed by employee Kim Sibley 40 years ago, that has grown so large that it is now potted in a 30-gallon rolling trash barrel! Its seasonal blooms greet visitors both driving by on State Street and entering their southwest-facing doors for about three weeks, twice each year. With a little planning and some “gardening luck,” the plants received this Christmas will provide for further information. ing conditions. Be advised, they are not months more and possible years of Christmas cacti can be another a hardy cactus. They can go outside in enjoyment. pretty addition to seasonal decor. In contrast to the poinsettia, they are easy to keep well past the holidays and can live and rebloom for decades with even minimal care. The Garden Answer channel gives the following growing tips: Thanksgiving cacti bloom from November to December, while Christmas cacti bloom from December to January. They grow best in conditions offering a lot of natural, indirect light. It is best to allow them to dry out between waterings, usually for one week. Native to Central and South America, these plants grow attached to trees and rocks, using only loose and decaying debris collected in the crevices as their growing medium. A Christmas cactus can remain in the same pot and soil for a couple of years before repotting, and they actually do better if they are pot-bound. If repotting becomes necessary or desired at some point, wait until after their bloom cycle (late spring to summer) and use a loose potting mix designed for cactus. Similar to poinsettia, holiday cactus like the same temperatures people do and prefer humid liv-
Garden Club spreads Christmas cheer Louise Noffke, Pat Lajko, Cheryl Burmeister and Karen Way Members of the Garden Club of Pentwater delivered Christmas gifts to several residents of the Oceana County Medical Care Facility on Friday, Dec. 22. Two handmade lap quilts made by the Centenary UMC Prayers for Squares ladies and blessed by Pastor Vaughn were given to a young non-verbal resident and an older wheelchair-bound resident. Residents were also gifted jackets, sweatshirts, Christmas ornaments and earrings. All these gifts were made possible by monetary donations received from club members. The club also delivers over 100 Cups of Cheer to residents of OCMCF and Cherry Blossom Manor during each major holiday. Part of the club’s mission is to share the love of flowers and plants and to bring a little cheer and happiness to people in extended care facilities.”
the summer, but be sure to bring them in once temperatures dip into the 50s and 60s. A specially formulated cactus fertilizer is recommended from spring through mid-summer to produce the best blooms. Speaking of blooms, they will need to be given a cooler location and darker nights starting in late September, as it can take six to eight weeks to produce their beautiful flowers. An unused bedroom or a cool basement next to a window mimics their native surroundings and will provide them with the climate they need to go to work. A Christmas cactus can be
9 DECEMBER 29, 2023 THE OCEANA ECHO
Living Legacies: Homebaked by Roxann By AnnaMae Bush The Oceana Echo Community Contributor
Pentwater once had several thriving businesses that disappeared in the mid-late 20th century. The list of those businesses included a gas station, movie theater, full-service grocery store, drugstore, hardware store, import store and a bakery. Most never returned. But in 1997, Joyce Rottschafer decided to open a business to help finance college and wedding expenses for her three children. She and her husband Ron added a commercial kitchen to their Pentwater home, and the tradition of “Mrs. R’s Old-Fashioned Baked Goods” was begun. Permanent residents and summer guests alike regularly picked up orders from her home on Second Street or found them at Cenzo’s market. She had a firmly established reputation for her cinnamon rolls, scones, cookies, sweet breads, pies and cakes. For the annual community-wide garage sale, a long queue of people waited for sales to open at the table set up on the corner outside her home. Her treats sold out completely within two hours. By 2014, Ron and Joyce had nine grandchildren with whom they wanted to spend more time. They decided to close their bakery business. What hard news that was for the Pentwater community! The Rottschafers softened the blow by publishing an illustrated cookbook, “A Collection of Mrs. R’s Old Fashioned Recipes, Pentwater, Michigan.” Two editions sold out in short order. Using her recipes and her special tips for following the recipes, many still find it hard to replicate her products. So what a delightful surprise it is to find homebaked cinnamon rolls that rival Mrs. R’s cinnamon rolls available in Pentwater again! They can be purchased fresh Tuesday through Saturday at “Homebaked by Roxann,” the new bakery that opened Oct. 7 in Pentwater at 560 S. Hancock St. In addition to the highly popular cinnamon rolls, Roxann offers scones, breakfast biscuits with sausage and gravy, a wide variety of cookies, pies, event cakes, cheesecakes, and chicken or beef pasties. Roxann has acquired her baking skills through 40 years of experience and taking classes for certification in decorating cakes and creating gourmet desserts. Her decorating skills are highlighted in her wedding cakes and other event cakes. Always tweaking her recipes in pursuit of the best possible product, Roxann says, “It has taken me two years to get my cinnamon roll recipe to where I want it.” It’s no wonder they are so good! Formerly, Roxann owned a bakery in Lansing for two years and co-owned Fudge and Frosting in Pentwater from 2012–2019 with Joel Martin, who introduced her to Pentwater. Joel made the fudge, and Roxann frosted the cakes and cookies. She confesses, “I soon fell in love with the community and purchased a home in Pentwater in 2014.” After Fudge and Frosting closed in 2019, Roxann continued to look for avenues to continue us-
Roxann Mills Frame and Phillip Frame ing her baking skills in the area. This spring, she had a call from her friend Ryan Williams, owner of Port View Wine, who was searching for help for his neighbors at The Mason Jar. Teresa Kloack and Christy Shimaitis, the mother and daughter owners of The Mason Jar, had expanded their kitchen and gift store business in Grand Rapids to include a Pentwater location in 2021. Christy had opened a small bakery in the store but found it too difficult to consistently provide products and was looking to employ a local person this past summer to bake for her. Roxann was very pleased to take on the role. At summer’s end, she casually asked Teresa if she was interested in selling the business and the building. “As a matter of fact, I am,” Teresa replied. Roxann and her husband, Phillip Frame, bought the building on Sept. 1, 2023, and opened the new bakery a month later, on Oct. 7. She has no doubt in her mind that the path to their new endeavor was prepared for them. She affirms, “I have no trouble seeing God’s hand in how this all came about through the summer and this fall.” Throughout her entire working life, she has had a vision and a goal of owning a Christian retail business that combined a bakery and art. She has achieved that goal with “Homebaked by Roxann.” It is much more than a place to purchase tasty pastries. A person with many skills, Roxann has studied interior design and worked in residential interior design. She owned an antique store in her hometown of Grand Ledge for several years, and she owned “Sew Creative,” a sewing store, for several years. It is no surprise, then, that she is an experienced seamstress who has done upholstery work in addition to her other jobs. She has incorporated these varied talents into creating a welcoming, cozy environment in the new store. A charming seating area for 24 surrounds a fireplace, and scattered throughout the larger space are shelves and various display units for books, cards and artwork on consignment by local artists. Braided rugs, jewelry, hats and clothing sewn by Roxann, as well as wood and ceramic art, are available for purchase. There is also a hot beverage bar to make coffee, tea, or hot chocolate to accompany one’s cinnamon roll or other favorite pastry while sitting in front of the fire. Her husband, Phil, is her enthusiastic partner in the new store. He arrives at 5:30 a.m. four morn-
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ings a week to bake the buttermilk doughnuts and to assist in any other way he can. Last month, he installed lights and Christmas decorations in the large windows fronting the sidewalk. He loves greeting customers by name. Having worked 35 years as the lead attorney in the field of workman’s compensation for the Michigan Attorney General’s office, Phil retired in April 2023. When asked, “What motivated you to go back to work?” He smiled and said, “I wanted to be with Roxann as much time as possible.” Sounds a bit like a newlywed, doesn’t it? Relatively speaking, that is the case, as they have been married for four years. The wedding happened in Pentwater during Covid without an audience, and their “reception” was standing outside of the Cottage Garden Café. Their blended family includes six children and six grandchildren. Their joy in each other and in what they are doing contributes greatly to the hospitable environment you will find at “Homebaked by Roxann.”
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• On Jan. 8, 1310, near the beginWEEKLY SERVICE, ning of the Little IceSERVICE, Age, when averFROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY age temperatures around the world KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, do,FROM FL 32803 dropped by as much as 3.6 F (partic628 Virginia Drive,ularly Orlando, FL 32803 in Europe and North America), 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803 the Thames River in London froze so 800) 708-7311 EXT. thickly(800) that bonfires were EXT. lit on it. CUSTOMER SERVICE: 708-7311 CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT. • On Jan. 9, 1768, British former cavalry Sergeant Major Philip Astley 257 257 staged the first modern circus after dis45_20231225 covering that if he galloped in a tight NOW HERE’S A TIP #12345_20231225 circle, centrifugal force would allow STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20231225 him to perform seemingly impossible 2023 acts on horseback. He drew up a ring FOR RELEASE DEC. 25, 2023 FOR RELEASE DEC. 25, 2023 and invited the public to watch him wave his sword in the air while riding By JoAnn Derson By Lucie Winbornewith one foot on his saddle and one on his horse’s head. • On Jan. 10, 1845, poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning began the correspondence that would eventually lead to their secret courtship and marriage, which Elizabeth’s father disapproved of so strongly that he disowned her. The couple then fled England for Italy, where they would live for 15 years until Barrett’s death. • On Jan. 11, 1915, Jacob Ruppert and Colonel Tillinghast Huston purchased the New York Yankees for $450,000. Ruppert put up his share of the sale in cash, and within a decade had built Yankee Stadium, acquired baseball legend Babe Ruth, and won the first of the franchise’s World Series titles. • On Jan. 12, 1948, pacifist and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi began his final fast. Eighteen days later, he was assassinated by Hindu nationalist Nathuram Godse while on his way to address a prayer meeting. • On Jan. 13, 1976, American inventor Ray Kurzweil and the National Federation of the Blind debuted the Kurzweil Reading Machine, the first omnifont optical character recognition system, which converts print to speech. • On Jan. 14, 2004, the national flag of Georgia, also known as “the fivecross flag,” was returned to official use for the first time in five centuries. Originally a banner of the medieval Kingdom of Georgia, it became popular again in the late 20th and early 21st centuries during the country’s national revival. © 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.
By Lucie Winborne • Before you use your grater to grate cheese, give it a quick shot of nonstick spray. It will keep the cheese from gunking up in the grate. If you need softened butter for a recipe, you can grate it from frozen and it will soften up very quickly, but not melt like in a microwave. • Eliminate odor of peanut butter after you wash the jar by rinsing it with white vinegar. I use peanut butter jars for storing things in my shop because they are a good size and the twist off top is very secure. One time, the jar smelled like peanut butter and I guess a mouse decided he’d like to get a taste. I found the gnawed-on jar on my outside workbench. Luckily, there wasn’t anything in it. — T.E. in Georgia • I have found a new way to grocery shop and stay on budget. I use my calculator as I am going through, and add up as I go. Once I hit my budget, I can’t get anything else, so I have learned to get the things I really need first (most of them on the perimeter of the store), then shop the aisles for other things. I have stayed on budget for two months, when before I had been going over budget a lot! — E.O. in Oregon • Clean your cellphone screen often. This is especially important if you have a smartphone. We use our fingers nonstop to touch the phone, then put it directly up to our face. It’s a germ’s paradise. Just remember: A quick swipe with an alcohol cloth might save you from getting the flu this season. Stay healthy! • When heater season is in full effect — like now — I keep a spray bottle of water to which I add two tablespoons of liquid fabric softener. I spritz the house from time to time, and it will add humidity as well as a pleasant scent, but it also keeps my carpets from making my kids little zappers (from static buildup when dragging their feet!). — M.A. in Ohio Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. © 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.
• In 1837, Thomas Saverland took Caroline Newton to court for biting off part of his nose after he forcibly kissed her at a party. • The original Xbox had sound snippets of real space missions. • Korean college students once launched a protest against the amount of air in potato chip bags by building a raft out of them and sailing it across a river. • When Michael Orchard broke into his neighbor’s burning home to rescue their dog, his heart was in the right place but his timing wasn’t: The house fire was merely his LSD-induced hallucination. • Frozen cow manure was the firstever puck used in a hockey game. • The word “thug” comes from 1350s India and the Hindi word “thag,” which means “deceiver” or “thief” or “swindler.” • Ten thousand light years away from Earth, a huge cloud 1,000 times larger than our solar system’s diameter contains enough alcohol to fill 400 trillion pints. To drink it all, everyone on Earth would have to drink 300,000 pints each day for 1 billion years. • A violin known as “the Blackbird,” carved entirely from stone, produces sound comparable to traditional wooden violins. • Research has shown that people born in September, October and November are more likely to live 100 years or longer. • French performer Michel Lotito, aka “Monsieur Mangetout,” or “Mr. Eat All,” could hardly be accused of being a picky eater, having earned a Guinness World Record for strangest diet. His gastronomic feats included downing bicycles, razor blades and even an entire airplane. • Much like humans, chimpanzees use strategic high ground for reconnaissance on rival groups during “chimp warfare.” *** Thought for the Day: “Every day the clock resets. Your wins don’t matter. Your failures don’t matter. Don’t stress on what was, fight for what could be.” — Sean Higgins © 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.
THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 29, 2023 11
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12-24 oz., Sel. Var.
15-16 oz., Sel. Var.
¢ 79 Best Choice
20 oz., Sel. Var.
Fruity or Cocoa Pebbles 11 oz. Golden Crisp 14.75 oz. Waffle Crisp 11.5 oz.
7.99 Green Mountain, Donut Shop
4 Progresso
2.6 oz. Pouch
18-19 oz. Sel. Var.
1.49 Best Choice
2.69 Hormel Real
2/$
Croutons
3 oz.
Special K 9.6-13.5 oz. Corn Flakes 9.6 oz.
Bacon Bits
Chex Mix
10 Frito-Lay
2.49
Crystal Light Pitcher Packs or On The Go
2/$
Drink Mix
5-10 ct., Sel. Var.
6 Kellogg’s 2/$
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7.9-14.03 oz. Sel. Var.
3/$
8 ct., Sel. Var.
3.49 Nabisco Newton’s
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15 oz. Sel. Var.
10 oz., Sel. Var.
8 ct., Sel. Var.
7
3.49 Nabisco Ritz
Frito-Lay
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Fritos 9.25 oz. Cheetos 7.5-8.5 oz. Frito Lay Dip 9 oz. Sel. Var.
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Tostitos Tortilla Chips 9-13 oz. Smartfood 9-13 oz., Sel. Var.
Pringles
4.99
Toasted Chips, Toasted Pita, Crisp & Thins or Cheese Crispers
Potato Crisps
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Snack Stacks 12 ct. Sel. Var.
7-8.1 oz., Sel. Var.
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2/$
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12.99 Delallo
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12.99 Cascade
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Actionpacs 36 ct., Sel. Var.
6 Betty Crocker
5-10 ct., Sel. Var.
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6 Betty Crocker
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17.5 oz. or
33.8 oz.
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6
Toaster Pastries
Cereal
3.99 Nabisco
5
Each
Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts
6 Kellogg’s
5 oz., Sel. Var.
2/$
2/$
or Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa K-Cup Pods 10-12 ct. or McCafe Coffee Bags 12 oz., Sel. Var.
Soup
Homestyle
$
Post
$
2/$
Chunk Light Tuna in Water
Each
Each
$
2 1 99 =1
99 $ 00 $
$
Each
Each
$
99 $ 00 $
$
1.99 Puffs Facial Tissues
124 ct., Sel. Var.
14 DECEMBER 29, 2023 THE OCEANA ECHO
bakery
1.99 Toufayan
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12 ct.
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bakery
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Dietz & Watson
deli
24 oz.
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White or Wheat
Bread 2.49
Pane Italiano
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10 ct.
Hansen’s Homemade
Honey Grilled Chicken Breast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 .99 lb .
New! Southwest Chicken Bowls . . . . . . . . . 6 .99lb .
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Black Bean Salsa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 .99 lb .
Lacy Swiss Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 .99 lb .
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Old Tyme Savings Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 .99 lb . Lightning Jack Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 .99 lb .
New! Tzatziki Chicken Salad . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 .99lb . Made with Greek yogurt for a healthy chicken salad . Great in Toufayan Pitas, on sale in the bakery .
Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta Salad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 .99lb .
10 Lean Cuisine 5/$
Entrees
6-11.5 oz., Sel. Var.
5.49 Alexia
3.99
BEVERAGE
7 Up
6 Pack .5 Liter Bottles Plus Deposit
Sweet Potato Puffs 20 oz. or Onion Rings
4.99 Snapple 6 Pack Bottles
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13.5 oz.
$ 3/ 10 Tony’s
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18.56-20.6 oz. Sel. Var.
4.99 Prairie Farms Premium
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48 oz. scround
16 oz. Plus Deposit
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6 Pack 7.5 oz. Cans Plus Deposit
6 Pack 16.9 oz. Bottles Plus Deposit
Pepsi
Pepsi
THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 29, 2023 15
SPORTS
HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE
Shelby hosts double-header with Manistee
Shelby’s boys and girls basketball teams hosted Manistee on Wednesday, Dec. 20 for a double-header. Both Shelby teams fell to the Mariners. (Above left) Eli Kelley drives down the court. (Above right) Brylee Friedman moves toward the basket after spinning away from a Manistee defender. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO
Shelby boys unable Defensive struggles to keep pace with key in Shelby girls’ Manistee, lose sixth loss to Manistee straight game By: Brendan Samuels
By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor
SHELBY – Shelby’s boys basketball will walk away from the month of December hoping the next two months hold better fortunes. With a 50-46 loss to Manistee on Wednesday, Dec. 20, the Tigers added on to an unfortunate string of losses, making it six in a row. Manistee seemed to have Shelby an arm’s length away for the majority of the game. A five point lead built in the first quarter was extended throughout, giving the Mariners a clear path to victory. For Shelby, it’s been made clear by head coach Rick Zoulek that if his team is to win games, they’ll have to do so on the defensive side of the ball. The Tigers have several athletes capable of scoring, but likely don’t house the firepower needed to compete in an offensive
shootout. The first quarter of Shelby’s bout with the Mariners looked close, but Manistee controlled just about every aspect of the game. If not for some timely three point shots from Eli Kelley and Griffin Olmstead, the Tigers would have been staring at a double digit deficit. An evenly matched second quarter saw both teams trade baskets, but it was Shelby who narrowly outscored Manistee 6-5 early in the period. Several trips to the free throw line for the Mariners helped pull them further ahead as the Mariners went 6-for-7 from the charity stripe to extend their lead to seven at 30-23. “We got off to a bad start in the first half,” Zoulek said. “It seemed like we had 11 or 12 (turnovers) in the first half alone and that digs you a hole. We were down seven at the half, but I felt like we were still in it.” Halftime did little to stave off Manistee’s attack. The Mariners went on a 7-2 scoring run to start the third quarter. That allowed them to keep their advantage at seven and enter the fourth quarter owning a 43-36 lead. The game tightened down the stretch as Shelby was able to inch closer in the final period. The Tigers rode the hot hand of Wyatt Dickman (17 points, seven re-
Shelby Boys BB
continued on page 16
The Oceana Echo Sports Editor
SHELBY – There wasn’t a moment through the first three quarters of Shelby’s girls basketball team’s 54-47 loss to Manistee that the Tigers weren’t in contention for a win. That changed almost instantaneously when the clock started on the final frame of the night. At the end of three quarters, the scoreboard read identical marks with each team having scored 38 points. Shelby had all the momentum at that point, having scored seven of nine points to end the third quarter and knotting up the score. “(Their resilience) is huge, especially being so young overall,” Shelby head coach Sarah Wolting said. “It’s awesome to see them battle. They’re not afraid to go in there and rebound hard or take it to the hoop and get fouled. I’m really impressed with where we’re at now as a whole team.” Then, Kendall Zaverl scored the first points of the final quarter to give Shelby the lead – something they hadn’t had since the game’s initial frame. From there, Manistee led an offensive charge that was simply too much for the Tigers. The Mariners rebounded from Zaverl’s bucket and went on a long scoring run. Manistee rattled off 16 points on offense with Shelby finding just one answer in between on a Molli Schultz three pointer. “(Manistee) kicked it in a little bit,” Wolting said. “I had to make some changes defensively and we just got tired. They
could tell we looked a little tired and they kept attacking.” Though the fourth quarter didn’t go exactly how Shelby had hoped, the Tigers played well to get to that point with an even score. Schultz exploded in the game’s early proceedings, racking up 13 points by halftime. Seven of those points came in the first quarter and were a big reason why the Tigers had a 12-10 advantage at the end of one. Help from Zaverl, Biloxi Lee and Lydia Soelberg added to that total as well. Manistee caught fire in the second quarter, adding seventeen in that quarter alone and jumping in front of Shelby at 29-25. Still, the Tigers started that quarter scoring six points to the Mariners’ three. Lee, Schultz and Zaverl had impressive
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Shelby Girls BB continued on page 16
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16 DECEMBER 29, 2023 THE OCEANA ECHO
Shelby Boys BB bounds) and got within four points before time ran out on them. One aspect of Shelby’s loss that stuck out to Zoulek was an affinity for turning the ball over in the first half and poor returns on rebounding attempts. “We took care of the ball much better in the second half and we hit the boards better too,” Zoulek said. “We had more put backs – or tried to have more put backs. We had one possession where we got four or five rebounds but didn’t put it in. That’s what we want to see though. Our kids aren’t real big, but they’re athletic enough where they need to crash the boards better.” Apart from Dickman, Shelby had just one other player cross the double digit point threshold. Phillip Hayes ended the night at 11 points and nine rebounds while Lalo Garcia (six points) was the next highest scorer. The Tigers (1-7, 0-3 WMC Rivers) now get a two week break before they’ll have to return to game action as the holidays are upon us. With some time to focus and improve, Shelby could turn a favorable schedule into more wins to start the new year. Shelby’s next three opponents are Hesperia, Newaygo and Holton – a trio of teams that feature a combined 8-16 record so far. Newaygo will be the toughest matchup as the Lions are 5-4 this year. Hesperia and Holton have experienced a rocky early going and should provide Shelby with a few get-right opportunities. “We’ll scrimmage a little bit over break and we’ll try to clean up some of the of-
fensive things,” Zoulek said. “We’re going to do a lot of shooting and shooting drills. The game gets a lot easier when you’re making baskets. We started out the season really soft and now we’re getting into that toughness mode. We’re going to be able to compete with a lot of teams if we’re able to do that.”
Standings WMC R iveRs D ivision Boys Basketball CONFERENCE
OVERALL
NORTH MUSKEGON
NORSEMEN 4 0 7 0 PIRATES 3 0 3 5 SPARTANS 2 1 4 5 HART
MASON COUNTY CENTRAL
RAVENNA
BULLDOGS PANTHERS RED DEVILS TIGERS HESPERIA
Shelby’s Phillip Hayes looks to make a pass after crossing mid court. Hayes finished as Shelby’s second leading scorer with 11 points in a 50-46 loss to Manistee. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO
Shelby Girls BB performances in the second quarter, but it was help from Brylee Friedman and Kylie Brown that made the difference. A big push from Manistee saw them swing 11 points to end the second quarter and was the only reason they were able to push in front at the half. “We got a little mentally tired and forgot what we were doing at times,” Wolting said. “We stopped talking because we were mentally and physically tired and I think that was the biggest thing. Our defense has been what’s winning it for us so far this year and we got tired in it.” The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair, but Shelby was able to pull things even on the scoreboard. Zaverl took a major leap with five points in that period alone, taking over with Schultz on the bench. Schultz ended the night as the top scor-
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er for Shelby, notching 18 points. Zaverl was right behind with 14 points and Lee finished with six. Shelby (4-2, 2-1 WMC Rivers) likely won’t let the loss linger too much as they’ve gotten off to a strong start to the season. With the beef of their conference schedule coming up, the Tigers will hope to continue to push toward the top of the conference with Hart and Mason County Central. “Hopefully coming back from Christmas we will just keep building,” Wolting said. “I keep saying ‘we are this close to being really good, girls.’ If we can just finish some shots and stay tense on defense we’re going to be right where we want to be at district time.” Shelby’s girls basketball will be back in action Thursday, Jan. 4 when they travel to Holton for a conference matchup.
HOLTON
SHELBY
Girls Basketball CONFERENCE
OVERALL
MASON COUNTY CENTRAL
SPARTANS 2 0 4 0 PIRATES 2 0 3 1 HART
SHELBY
TIGERS NORSEMEN RED DEVILS PANTHERS BULLDOGS NORTH MUSKEGON
HOLTON
HESPERIA
RAVENNA
(Above left) Molli Schultz drives down the court in transition, leaving Manistee defenders in the dust. (Above right) Kendall Zaverl chases down a loose ball after Manistee’s defense pokes the ball out of her control. • Brendan Samuels/ ECHO
22 43 12 25 04 17 03 17
21 41 21 31 11 31 03 14 03 14
THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR DECEMBER 29, 2023171 THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 29, 2023
Reflections of our community
White Lake Mirror YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE
Wyatt Jenkins is not done yet
Broken neck sidelined Whitehall’s star wrestler, gridder this year, but he plans to return next fall By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor Wyatt Jenkins did not always, by his dad Tom’s own admission, take the most soft-spoken approach to sports early in his Whitehall Vikings career. “There’s not a person in Whitehall that wouldn’t tell you Wyatt was a little bit cocky before this stuff went down,” Tom said with a chuckle. Granted, it was understandable; Wyatt has a lot of athletic talent, and through two years at Whitehall, he’d showcased it as a two-time state wrestling qualifier and 2023 all-state finisher, as well as contributing to the 2022 Viking football season that set a school record with 11 wins. Following wrestling season, he spent the spring and summer looking to get even better in both sports, participating in high-level wrestling tournaments and the usual off-season activity with the football team. That’s when “this stuff” happened. Jenkins and a group of teammates
Whitehall’s Wyatt Jenkins (top right) looks on during December’s “Assembly Dual” against Benzie Central. Jenkins is with the team this year, though he is not medically cleared to wrestle. • Andy Roberts/Mirror were at Montrose’s annual July veer camp, at which the Vikings have been a fixture during coach Tony Sigmon’s 11-season tenure. One-on-one drills went as planned, and the players moved to a team setup where they worked on plays they might use in the fall. On Jenkins’ eighth play, he said, a
Whitehall wrestler Wyatt Jenkins (bottom left) signals his confidence leading into a spinal fusion surgery in July along with his family, from left, Jessica, Ira and Tom Jenkins. • Thomas Jenkins/Courtesy Photo seemingly innocuous play went awry. “It was a blitz and I did my job, pushed down and grabbed the quarterback, and my outside linebacker came in and chipped me on the side of my helmet while I was trying to grab the quarterback,” Wyatt said. “I had a stabbing feeling in my hands. I tried to run off the field and couldn’t feel my legs.” Jenkins had experienced something similar just a few months prior
- during the 2023 wrestling season, in fact, when he suffered a neck injury during the state tournament. Wyatt was diagnosed with a neck sprain then, but that didn’t stop him from helping the team to the state finals match and securing all-state placement for himself. Wyatt wasn’t planning on letting
Wyatt Jenkins
continued on page 2
Montague council debates e-bike usage, city unveils website By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer MONTAGUE — Montague City Council member Paul Schultz raised concerns at the Monday, Dec. 18 council meeting over the presence of e-bikes and scooters downtown Montague. The concerns were first voiced a couple of months ago at a city council meeting while council and city manager, Jeff Auch were trying to refine language in the Ordinance No. 306- clear vision areas, pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Refining the ordinance was brought up again at Monday’s meeting. Schultz argued e-bikes and scooters posed a safety risk when allowed downtown, with sidewalks being too narrow and the downtown area being smaller. He says this will also be a growing concern once the social district, which was approved earlier this year, begins operation. “They are too fast, especially if people aren’t paying attention,” Schultz said. Council member Laura LaGuire proposed a sign be placed that requires people to walk their e-bikes downtown when signs are put up for the social district. She also voiced con-
cerns about tourists coming on their boats, since many of them use their e-bikes as a main mode of transportation downtown. Council members Lisa Kiel and Bob Hires agreed with Schultz’s concerns and said they don’t think kids would pay attention to signs regulating the use of e-bikes. Due to the strong concerns surrounding the topic, amendments to the ordinance were tabled. Also discussed Monday, Montague has introduced a new platform that will allow citizens to report any road and sidewalk issues that they believe are safety concerns. “Individuals can add pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle safety remarks,” said Montague City Manager Jeff Auch. “The more people that drop a pin at the same location and leave similar comments, the more weight it has for future safety concerns.” White Lake residents have already started dropping a dozen pins with regards to traffic lights, crosswalks near schools, crosswalks for bike safety and more. To participate and drop a pin, go to https://communityremarks.com/ wmsrdc/.
This map displays the parts of the White Lake area that CEIC has found to be affected by the old DuPont site, now owned by Chemours. • Infographic courtesy of CEIC
CEIC plans January public update meeting The Chemours Environmental Impact Committee (CEIC), a group of area residents that formed in 2018 to promote and advance the cleanup of the former DuPont site, will provide a public update on the cleanup’s progress Jan. 11 leading into a Jan. 25 informational meeting that will include a presentation by the Hazardous Waste Section of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
(EGLE). Both meetings are scheduled to take place at the White River Township Hall on Post Road in Montague; the Jan. 11 meeting is slated for 7 p.m. with the Jan. 25 public update starting at 5:30 p.m. The Jan. 11 meeting will provide
CEIC meetings continued on page 3
2 DECEMBER 29, 2023 THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 29, 2023 18
Library closes 2023 with book donation update By Virginia DeMumbrum
The
Volunteer Contributor We are pleased to announce the library is once again ready to begin accepting your donations of gently used books and DVDs. Due to space concerns and staff time constraints, we ask that you limit your donations to no more than two boxes at a time. We are also adding some new donation criteria. A small percentage of donated books will be added to our collection, but most will be sold through the Friends’ Book Closet or a library book sale. To help us have the best sales possible, please make sure the items you donate are clean, in good condition, and not more than about five years old. We have discontinued our “Book Treasures” program, so we are no longer accepting older/vintage books to sell. We get it; books can be like beloved pets, and if you must part with them, you want them to go to a good home. If you need to rehome some books that do not meet our new donation guidelines, please consider donating them to Embrace Books, Hope’s Outlet, or
Bookworm
Bulletin
Goodwill. Embrace Books (embracebooks.org) gives books away for free, while Hope’s Outlet and Goodwill sell them inexpensively. If you have books that are musty, mildewed, or otherwise in poor condition, did you know you can recycle them? Just take them to a Paper Gator bin! There is one at Reeth-Puffer High School, 545 North Roberts Road, and another at Reeths-Puffer Elementary, 874 East Giles Road. Thank you for your patience as we adjusted our procedures and made room to accept more donations. We look forward to offering our first book
Wyatt Jenkins this injury stop him either - after all, it was not a hard hit - but teammates Jamar Hill and Reid Burns had other ideas. Hill alerted Sigmon that something was off with Wyatt. “Knowing his history with previous injuries, I went over there, and I could tell he was visibly shaken,” Sigmon said. “His hands were getting numb, and knowing he’d been through something similar like that before, he was hoping for the best and hoping it was a stinger. By the same token, he wanted to, for lack of a better term, tough it out. Reid took his football helmet and said, ‘You’re not toughing this out.’ I talked to Wyatt and said, ‘We’re not messing around with this stuff. You have a couple minutes, and if it doesn’t get any better, you’re not going back in.’” The decision to stop Wyatt from returning to action, doctors later told Sigmon, Jenkins and his family, might have saved Wyatt’s life - and almost certainly saved his ability to walk. Sigmon hustled Jenkins over to a nearby medical facility, and it quickly became clear he would need a more intensive look. Jenkins was then taken to Hurley Medical Center in Flint, and Sigmon alerted Tom to what was going on. “Once he got his imaging done, I kind of felt the way people were talking to us, the doctors and nurses, it felt like they were going to tell us it was a stinger,” Sigmon said. “Then another doctor came in once he got his results, and that’s when the conversation got flipped.” Three of Wyatt’s vertebrae, the C4-C6 bones, had broken. He would need a spinal fusion for the C4 and C5 bones; doctors were optimistic the C6 bone would heal on its own with time. It wasn’t long after that news hit that Tom and wife Jessica were in Flint. Tom joked that he probably didn’t go under 80 miles per hour the entire drive. Big brother Ira, a Michigan wrestler, also came over from nearby Ann Arbor, and before long, Wyatt was in the operating room for a five-hour surgery. The surgery was successful, and
sale of the new year in February! Yoga Classes at the Library If you made a new year’s resolution to exercise more, the library can help! There is a yoga class offered at the library Thursday mornDeMumbrum ings at 9:30, beginning Jan. 18. This session of gentle movement and stretching is suitable for all skill levels, and beginners are welcome. Bring a water bottle and yoga mat if you have one. The suggested donation is $10 per class, with no registration required. We hope to add a chair yoga class in March or April that would be free to seniors in our service area through the Silver Sneakers program. If Thursday is not a good day for you, there are several other yoga classes offered at various locations in the White Lake area. Gentle yoga classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays at the Playhouse at White Lake and Tuesdays at ReNew You Fitness in Mon-
tague. Fruitland Township has all-levels yoga Fridays at 10 a.m. ReNew You also offers Power Yoga on Mondays and Stretch Yoga on Fridays at 5:30 a.m. for early risers. Look for more information on the Yoga in White Lake page on Facebook. FUN FACT: Did you know the practice of yoga originated nearly 5,000 years ago in India, and was introduced in America in the 1890s? Today, nearly 36 million Americans practice yoga regularly. Make a Giant Paper Snowflake @ the Library Stop in anytime during open hours from Jan. 2-6 to make a paper snowflake from lunch bags. No time to stick around and make it while you’re here? Take a kit with you and make your snowflake at home! All ages are welcome to create the snowflakes, but younger children will need supervision and assistance, especially when using the scissors. The candy cane scavenger hunt will continue all week as well – find all nine hidden candy canes and win a prize!
continued from page 1
just two days later, Wyatt was able to walk out of the hospital, albeit in a neck brace that he spent most of the fall wearing. Jenkins was a fixture on the sidelines of football games during the 2023 season as his team won its first 10 games. It was, at times, an emotional experience being there but unable to play, but Jenkins wanted to be part of his team in any way he could. “As soon as I broke my neck, I told Sig I’d be there to support the team,” Wyatt said. “Wrestling is more of an individual sport, but football is all or nothing, and everyone has to do their part. I took it upon myself to be out there as much as I can...I really wanted to be there for the team and help them as much as I could. The first couple games, it was starting to get to me, but eventually I decided how I can help them is to be there to support them, especially the people sliding into my spots.” Sigmon was always clear Wyatt was welcome and let the Jenkins’ decide how much they wanted to be around. The coach saw both his high school and college careers end with season-ending injuries, so he could relate to the feeling of what Wyatt was going through. “We really let the family take the lead on that,” Sigmon said. “Everyone’s a little bit different in how they handle that, but we were always a phone call or a conversation away.” The wrestling season has been a little different. For one thing, Jenkins isn’t in a brace anymore, though he’s still months from being permitted to return to any kind of contact sport. As with football, he’s around the Vikings a lot, and has taken on the role of a de facto assistant coach. “He has a lot of experience, so he can mentor a lot of these young guys and can help them out with the mental aspect of the sport,” coach Justin Zeerip said. “He can be around the guys and be around the team, helping coach guys up and helping with the mental aspect.”
Whitehall’s Wyatt Jenkins spends time with football coach Tony Sigmon while hospitalized this summer for his broken neck. Doctors credited Sigmon’s quick decision to remove Wyatt from action in July for saving Wyatt from paralysis or worse. • Thomas Jenkins/Courtesy Photo Wyatt said the experience, only a couple of months in, has given him a new perspective on the sports he loves. “It was a big change for me, honestly,” Wyatt said. “It’s hard not to say, ‘Me and you are going to wrestle now.’ I can’t really show them how to do it. I’ve learned a lot about myself. I was wrapped up so much in my ego and showing what I could do, and now with my neck, I just want to go and teach these kids about how it’s not just about you; it’s about everyone else.” Tom said he’s noticed the change in his son too. Wyatt can’t turn off the showman inside him entirely, and it’s unlikely anyone around him would want that. But he said Wyatt has grown from the experience of his games being taken away. “His mindset has changed a ton,” Tom said. “This stuff has a tendency to humble you and think about where your life is outside of sports. What value do you bring outside of having big muscles and being a good athlete? “His level of character has gone up. That has a lot to do with his faith and his ability to not quit. He’s been counted out a lot in his life. Living in the shadow of a brother who’s a big-time Division I athlete, you have a tendency to get overlooked. The version of Wyatt that will come back in the fall is a well-rounded individual, someone
with a high level of character.” Oh, yes, there’s that; if Wyatt has his way, he’ll be back on the gridiron this fall. There are a lot of doctor’s visits to go through first, but Tom said that Wyatt’s neurosurgeon, Dr. Marc Moisi, has expressed confidence that Wyatt will be able to return to play. If all goes well, Wyatt could be cleared for contact sports participation next spring. “He will hold his thumb and finger really close together and say, ‘Give me this much of your life for that much of your life,’ and spread his arms wide,” Tom said. “He was 100 percent positive about Wyatt being able to play football next fall and maybe wrestling next year.” That is, naturally, a scary thought for Tom and Jessica. But Tom said as scary as the thought of Wyatt back on a football field is, given what happened in July, standing in the way is even scarier. “My friends and family say, ‘Doesn’t that freak you out?’” Tom said. “It does, but what freaks me out more is a doctor telling me he’s cleared and holding (my) kid back from something he only gets to do one time in his life. If the doctor says he’s good to go, he’s going.” Wyatt himself could reasonably have misgivings, but when asked if he’d hesitate to return, he immediately replied, “I’m just ready to play ball.”
THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR DECEMBER29, 29,2023 2023 19 3 THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER
Echoes of History: History The Idlewild Resort By Barbara Bedau Brow Volunteer Contributor The Idlewild Resort was located on the southeast corner of Lake Street and Main on White Lake at the site of the first Swedish settlement, which came to be known as Swedentown. The Johnson and Sorenson families had built a log cabin on the site in 1856 and lived there during the winter. The next year, the Johnson family built a house across the road which later became the White Lake Villa. Hans Sorenson and his wife Anna farmed the land. A house was later built to replace the log cabin they had been living in. Hans Wilhelm Sorenson was born in Norway Sept. 16, 1822. In May 1855 he came to America and settled in Michigan. He engaged in lumbering for several years and afterwards kept a meat market. In 1859 he married Anna Peterson and they had seven children, four of whom were still living when he died Feb. 13, 1895. His wife Anna died Jan. 1, 1899. In December 1882 one of the Sorenson girls, Julia, married Jules Vigneaux. At the time, he claimed to be a famous French lecturer. They moved to Iowa where they had five daughters, one of whom died in infancy. It was only after the birth of their last child in 1894 that Vigneaux revealed his true identity as Luther Wesley Shear. Shortly after the deaths of Hans and Anna Sorenson, the Shear family returned to the area, took over the property referred to as Idlewild, made some general improvements, and used it as their summer home. In June 1902, while living in Muskegon, Luther W. Shear, District Insurance Agent for Northwestern Mutual Insurance Company, a trustee of the First Congregational Church, and one
of Muskegon’s most prominent figures in social and business life, mysteriously went missing. A letter to his wife indicated he would never be heard from again. In July 1902 Shear filed for bankruptcy. The exact amount of his indebtedness was not specified but it appeared all his assets would fall short of meeting the claims of his creditors. In October 1902, Shear was sentenced to 12 years in the state prison. The Shears divorced in March 1903 but remarried in 1911. Julia died in 1913 and Luther died in 1915. In 1903, the property was sold to Fred Schmidt from Chicago, an enterprising hotel keeper who converted it into a hotel much like that of the White Lake Villa. Fred was born in Germany in 1871 and immigrated to America. He married Sidonie Dorstewitz of Chicago July 10, 1895, and they had a daughter, Violet. Schmidt built several cottages along Lake Street. By 1915 they had remodeled all their buildings and doubled the size of the hotel. They offered tennis and shuffleboard courts, as well as swimming across the street. The resort became one of the best resort hotels on the lake. In November 1920, Schmidt sold Idlewild to Elwood Shelhamer and his son-in-law Walter R. Kemp and his wife Elmay (ne Shelhamer). Elwood Shelhamer died suddenly in December 1921. Walter Kemp and his wife Elmay continued to operate the resort and added several more cottages during their ownership. Walter died in June 1929. Mrs. Kemp then operated the resort by herself. In July 1934 she married Charles C. Kern and together they operated the resort. In 1943, guest rates at the hotel started at $22 per week. Guests stay-
CEIC meetings residents with a history of the property’s contamination, CEIC’s goals for the cleanup, restoration, and conservation of the site, and – after 62 years of study and negotiations – why all of this is still on the table and not resolved. For those who are interested in the land’s cleanup and future, but can’t attend the Jan. 11 meeting in person, a Zoom link will be available by emailing makeitrightchemours@gmail.com or visiting Make It Right Chemours on Facebook. Because “Community Acceptance” is one of the determining factors for reaching decisions about the DuPont site, which produced acetylene, neoprene, other polymers, and Freon during its 41 years of operations, CEIC is hoping for a strong turnout at the Township Hall for the Jan. 25 meeting. According to local accounts and CEIC research, by 1961 taste/odor problems had impacted a nearby private well and studies confirmed groundwater contamination – origi-
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nating from unlined landfills, sludge pits and spills in the manufacturing area – reaching White Lake. Two miles to the west, spillage caused by a 1965 break in another sludge-pit wall poured down a hill toward Pierson Creek. Two years later, a diverted wastewater flow into the creek resulted in a huge fish kill in Sadony Bayou whose waters meander about a mile into White Lake. CEIC’s efforts have recently resulted in a $36,700 state grant to evaluate the bayou as an initial step for its restoration. Over the past six decades since groundwater contamination was discovered at the DuPont site, the names of state agencies have changed. Property ownership has changed from DuPont to Chemours. State laws that govern hazardous waste have changed. What hasn’t changed is the situation at the DuPont/Chemours site. In addition to annual sampling reports, major DuPont/Chemours in-
The Idlewild Resort once stood in the White Lake area.
• Courtesy Photo
ing at the cottages paid $17 to $42 per week. In 1945, Elmay Kemp-Kern sold the resort to her brother Samuel Shelhamer and his wife Sigrid. Together they both operated the resort until 1968. In July 1948 it was reported all of the cottages at Idlewild were rented for the season. The season ran from May 15 to Nov. 1, longer than any of the other summer resorts. In 1950, the Shelhamers added four motels. Three of them had three rooms and the other had two. They were furnished for housekeeping. Ads appeared in the paper in 1963 indicating that motels and cottages at Idlewild were available as fall, winter and spring rentals. A two-bedroom furnished unit could be had for $50 to $60 per month. By 1975, their advanced ages - Samuel Shelhamer was 89 and his wife was 83 - and other health issues rendered them unable to keep up the resort. In February 1975, Samuel Shelham-
er ran an ad for the sale of the Idlewild Resort. At the time it was described as a large hotel, with a large furnished dining room to seat 70. It also included a large furnished kitchen, office, parlor, two bedrooms, and bath. There were 10 furnished rooms on the second floor and an extra-large enclosed front porch. There were four furnished cottages that faced the lake and two others on the property, in addition to a garage and 3 small buildings and a laundry building with 3 rooms on the second floor. The size of the property was 210 feet on the lake front by 180 feet deep. The asking price at the time was $49,000. Samuel Shelhamer died in April 1975. His wife Sigrid died in July 1975. The resort property and its contents were eventually sold, and the buildings removed. Beginning around 2008, several new homes were constructed on the site of the former Idlewild Resort.
vestigation reports and work plans to inform decisions on interim measures and final cleanup plans have been submitted to state agencies for review in 1991, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2018 and 2021. Some initiatives have been in place, including pumping and treating a large portion of the contaminated groundwater to remove chemicals. Meanwhile, unlined landfills with contaminants have remained in place, and in some locations groundwater contamination still exists without treatment – while we await more testing, more reports, and more negotiations. While groundwater contamination might not be visible to the naked eye, what is in plain sight are the hills of lime just south of the former plant. A byproduct of one of the chemical processes at the site, the piles of lime have been stockpiled to such an extent that from the air they look like the lunar landscape. The accumulation has impacted and invaded what has been known as Mirror Lake. The most recent round of negotiations between Chemours and the state has been ongoing since 2015. The Jan. 25 meeting will be the latest update for
the public. CEIC’s goals for the acreage include: * Removal of landfills and all sources of contamination. * Testing of sediments in Pierson Creek and Sadony Bayou beyond the Chemours property boundaries. * Cleanup and Restoration of Mirror Lake. * Removal of the massive lime pile and restoration of the ravine underneath. * Testing of soil beneath the former manufacturing plant and settling ponds. * Ensuring there are no leaks in the pipeline to Lake Michigan. If there were leaks, testing the soil underneath. * Cleanup of the property with no deed restrictions. * Permanent conservation of portions of the property, including the White Lake shoreline parcel. For more information, email makeitrightchemours@gmail.com or go to Make It Right Chemours on Facebook, or call Claire Schlaff at 231-6702724.
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community 4 DECEMBER LAKE MIRROR 20 DECEMBER29, 29,2023 2023 THE THEWHITE OCEANA ECHO
e Mirror
SPORTS WHITEHALL • MONTAGUE • REETHS - PUFFER
Thompson NONPROFIT NEWSmakes SOURCEWhitehall history in win Junior star becomes fastest to 1,000-point career milestone By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor MUSKEGON — All you need to know about Whitehall junior Camden Thompson is that he had no idea he had scored his 1,000th career point Wednesday afternoon against Fruitport until the coaches called timeout to commemorate the occasion. Thompson became only the fifth Viking to ever hit the milestone, and the first to do so as a junior, on his way to another outstanding performance that helped his team wallop the Trojans, 7243, to gain some measure of revenge for March’s district win by Fruitport. Fittingly, given Thompson’s rebounding prowess, it was a putback layup that pushed him into four digits in career scoring. He had another terrific night on the boards Wednesday, with 24 rebounds to go with his 26 points. “He’s a stud,” Whitehall coach Christian Subdon said. “There’s no way around it. He’s a 1,000-point scorer now; thank God we got that off his back.” Now that Thompson has passed that mark, though, he’ll soon close in on another; he’s just over 100 points shy of Jaren Edsall’s school scoring record. In other words, the mark should be Thompson’s before the end of January. Of course, there was business to attend to Wednesday beyond Thompson’s milestone. Whitehall (8-0) was playing in its first-ever game in the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame
Whitehall’s Ca’Mar Ready tries to make sure he gets his shot off during Wednesday’s game against Fruitport.
• Andy Roberts/Mirror
holiday classic, and the Vikings showed skills worthy of the invitation throughout. Whitehall defended well early, carrying it through a somewhat slow start on offense, before Brock Morningstar sparked the attack by scoring all nine of his points on second-quarter three-pointers. The Vikes built up a huge lead, but Fruitport showed some grit of its own, battling back to within 12 to open the fourth quarter. At that point, Subdon put his full starting lineup back on the floor, and Whitehall pulled away, utilizing the three-point shot. The team hit eight treys in the game, including a few key ones in the fourth. “When we can get hot, I don’t think we can be stopped,” Thompson said. “When they (bring a) help-side (defender) every time, we can find the
Whitehall’s Camden Thompson looks for a way out of tough pressure applied by Fruitport’s Daiton Campbell during Wednesday’s Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame game at Reeths-Puffer. Thompson passed the 1,000-point mark for his career in a 72-43 win. • Andy Roberts/Mirror
open man where we can knock down (threes). We just start rolling, and defensively it really gets us into the game.” Subdon said Whitehall got a little too relaxed at points in the second half, but admitted the team’s busy schedule may have been a factor. Despite the Christmas holiday, Wednesday’s was Whitehall’s third game in a week and eighth overall. “It’s been a grind for us,” Subdon said. “Usually we’re sitting at four games by now. These guys have been through almost half a season already.” However, the opportunities presented by Wednesday’s game and last week’s Cornerstone holiday event are
ones Whitehall doesn’t want to pass up. Subdon views such contests as the way to help push the Vikings from a team that wins conference and district titles to one that can make a deep run in the postseason. “We have to prepare ourselves for moments if we want to be anything better than winning a couple games in our conference and things like that,” Subdon said. “We’ve got to prepare like a champion. And we are. Every night if we don’t come ready, we’re going to get embarrassed, so that’s how we’re pre-
1,000 points
continued on page 5
Rockets hold off tough Broncos’ effort
R-P lead shrinks from 14 to 1 prior to Rockets gutting out win By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor MUSKEGON — Reeths-Puffer fought off a late run by Coopersville to hang on for a 66-61 victory in its home game of the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame holiday classic. The game was a rematch of an equally close district game in March that the Rockets won, but Wednesday’s appeared to be in hand when they went up by as many as 14 points. The pesky Broncos, though, forced a few turnovers, drilled a few key three-pointers and pushed the game to the final minute with their aggressive zone defense. “He’s got a good team,” R-P coach Nate Aardema said of Broncos’ counterpart Pete VanKampen. “They play hard. We got a little fatigued, and instead of running our stuff, I think we were super tentative and got out of attacking a little bit, and that cost us. But they made a couple deep threes and
Reeths-Puffer’s Marvin Moore (center) lofts a floater over Coopersville’s Gabe VanSickle during Wednesday’s game at R-P. The Rockets won, 66-61.
• Andy Roberts/Mirror
we were a little late on some closeouts and some switches.” Coopersville got as close as a point when Porter Kretschman, who led the Broncos with 18 points, hit a trey to make it 60-59. Jaxson Whitaker re-
Reeths-Puffer’s Jaxson Whitaker (center) passes the ball off to Travis Ambrose during Wednesday’s game against Coopersville. The duo combined for 47 points in a 66-61 win over the Broncos. • Andy Roberts/Mirror
sponded with a driving layup for two, and the Rockets were able to hang on from there by making four free throws. Whitaker and Travis Ambrose, as they so often do, provided the key plays down the stretch to enable the Rockets to hang on. “Jaxson and Travis combined for
47 of our 66 (points),” Aardema said. “They aren’t just seniors but fouryear seniors, all-state caliber seniors. Those guys help, believe it or not. It is nice to be able to lean on them.”
R-P wins
continued on page 5
THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR DECEMBER29, 29,2023 2023 21 5
R-P wins
Whitehall’s Kal Koehler (14) comes up with a rebound in traffic as his teammates Ca’Mar Ready (0) and Camden Thompson mix it up as well during Wednesday’s game against Fruitport. The Vikings won, 72-43.
• Andy Roberts/Mirror
1,000 points
continued from page 4
paring.” In addition to Thompson’s effort, Kal Koehler had his own double-double, with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Ca’Mar Ready had 13 points. Subdon said while he couldn’t pretend there wasn’t an extra measure of sweetness in Wednesday’s win given the Vikes’ elimination by Fruitport in March, he also knows it doesn’t change that result nor will it decide the teams’ potential district battle. Whitehall won last year’s regular-season meeting, too. “It’s just good to win this one, and it’s a new season,” Subdon said. “We’ve got to take care of business.”
For Ambrose, who had a game-high 26 points and 15 rebounds, the game represented an opportunity to battle on the inside with a fellow Division I football signee; Gabe VanSickle, the Broncos’ center, signed with Ohio State the same day Ambrose inked with Central Michigan. On the basketball court, at least, Ambrose had the statistical edge, though he credited VanSickle, an offensive lineman, for being tough to handle. “You can’t really move him,” Ambrose said with a smile. “He’s a strong fellow. I’ll give it to him. It’s fun, knowing that there’s athletes on the court.” Early in the game, sophomore Marvin Moore was a major factor, scoring nine of the team’s first 14 points in a fast-paced first quarter. Moore didn’t score again, but his emergence has made Reeths-Puffer a more dangerous foe. “There’s times where he just looks fantastic,” Aardema said. “He’s a beneficiary of how other teams defend us. Whether it’s man or zone, Jaxson and Travis get a lot of attention. They’ve seen triangle-and-two, they’ve seen box-and-one, they’ve seen just about every defense. Marvin can be kind of forgotten about, third or fourth on a scouting report, and he’s talented enough to take advantage.” In the second half, R-P went back to attacking the basket and had success with it to build its lead, with Ambrose and Whitaker leading the way. All that running could’ve been a factor in the team’s late-game fatigue. “It wasn’t one guy,” Aardema said. “It was like one guy would make a mistake and then it’s like, ‘Alright, let’s take a deep breath. Let’s move forward.’ Then another guy would make a mistake. It was a lot of fatigue, and they were switching their looks.
Strong defense carries Montague to win over MCC By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor MONTAGUE — Montague coach Nick Thaler likes to talk about “fixing it” on defense, by which he means, talk to each other. Communication is key, and for a generation with more technology at their fingertips than any before, that’s not always easy. “Because kids are always on their phone, they’ve always got their head down,” Thaler said. “That communication piece is really hard for these kids to understand. We want to get these kids communicating on the basketball court so it just makes everything easier.” The Wildcats displayed an ability to communicate and defend last Thursday against Mason County Central, shutting out the Spartans in the first quarter and earning a 42-24 win. Sheer effort was a major factor in that early success on defense, as Montague didn’t let a shot go uncontested; Isaiah Atchison was especially imposing in the lane, swatting away several early shots. The Wildcats also crashed the glass on offense, earning second and third chances. Owen Raeth capped the successful opening quarter with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give his team a 12-0 edge. Raeth had 10 points at halftime, but left the game in the third quarter after taking a poke in the eye while going for a loose ball. Thaler said his senior guard should be fine going forward, but his absence allowed classmate Atchison to get a leg up in a friendly competition between the two. “Owen and I have a little competition where we see who gets the most points every game,” Atchison said with a laugh. “So when he fouls out, or is out, I always use that to my advantage on points.” Atchison did just that Thursday, taking over the bulk of the offensive load in the second half to end with a game-high 17 points. He also grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked six shots. Thaler said Atchison and other Montague forwards have worked hard on taking advantage of whatever mismatch a defense presents them. “I feel like we have an advantage down there with Isaiah,” Thaler said. “You put a bigger guy on him and I can just bring him outside and he can drive past him. You saw that tonight with Riley Mulder when he
continued from page 4
Reeths-Puffer’s Jaxson Whitaker drives for a layup against Coopersville’s Eli Spencer during Wednesday’s Hall of Fame game at R-P. Whitaker had 21 points in the Rockets’ 66-61 win. • Andy Roberts/Mirror
Really, what it came down to is we stopped running our stuff and were just trying to survive instead of score.” By hanging on, though, R-P sent a message about its toughness - and its ability to handle a tough zone defense. “That’s the thing about us; we’re a gritty team,” Ambrose said. “It’s a very well-coached team, and a very well-coached zone. It’s nice knowing that we beat them and we can handle a zone like that.”
No More Sidelines
No More Sidelines staged its traditional game during halftime of Wednesday’s Reeths-Puffer/Coopersville clash. The organization promotes sports opportunities for those with developmental disabilities.
• Andy Roberts/Mirror
The Montague bench celebrates a fourth-quarter basket during last Thursday’s game against Mason County Central. The Wildcats won, 42-24. • Andy Roberts/Mirror brought it out outside the paint and I just told him to drive right by (his defender), and he did. He scored two points. “That’s going to be exciting for us to see as we go on here, the growth of that inside presence and having those guys play inside out, because I think it could be a big factor for us.” However, it all came back to defense Thursday. After keeping up with Montague in the third quarter, MCC managed only four fourth-quarter points, which enabled the ‘Cats to put the game away. “Any time that you’re holding a varsity team under 25 points, I think you’re doing a really nice job defensively,” Thaler said. That will be a much tougher task in Montague’s next game, a Grand Haven Lakeshore Cup showdown with Division 1 Holland. It’s made even more difficult given Atchison will be absent, as he’ll be on vacation in Florida. However it goes, though, Thaler is thrilled his team will get exposure to that kind of competitive environment. “He’s probably going to have more fun than we are, being in Florida while we’re going to Grand Haven,” Thaler chuckled. “Their program has a rich history, with how they played in the ‘90s and the early 2000s. We’re going to have a lot of fun.”
Sports in Brief Boys Basketball
Hudsonville 64 Reeths-Puffer 52 The Eagles broke open a close game with a trio of third-quarter threepointers. Travis Ambrose had 20 points, and Jaxson Whitaker added 19.
Whitehall 70 East Grand Rapids 52 Kal Koehler was named MVP of the Vikings’ 2nd win of the Cornerstone Holiday Tournament, with 17 points in only 19 minutes. Camden Thompson posted another double-double, with 18 points and 14 boards.
Reeths-Puffer 59 Covenant Christian 46 The Rockets dominated the second half by a 35-13 margin using defense and ball movement. Travis Ambrose and Jaxson Whitaker each scored 19 points, and Ambrose added nine rebounds and five blocks.
Girls Basketball Fruitport 36 Montague 31 The Wildcats “fought hard but couldn’t find the bottom of the basket,” coach Jess DeBruin said. Addison Pranger led the way with 16 points.
Holt 62 Reeths-Puffer 30 Reeths-Puffer again struggled to get much offense going in a showcase game at Aquinas. Brooklynn Tornes scored 12 points for the Rockets.
Wrestling
Whitehall goes 5-0 at Martin Clipper Classic Vikings defeat 3 ranked teams on way to title Whitehall edged #5-ranked Clinton, 36-35, in the finals, and also defeated ranked foes Bronson and Martin in the tournament. Darnell Mack and Gavin Craner went 5-0, and Ryne Christensen went 4-0.
Hockey Mona Shores 6 Reeths-Puffer 3 The Rockets trailed 3-0 after the first period and were never able to catch up. Tyler Tindall, Eli Cuti and Jaxon Stone each scored a goal.
22 DECEMBER29, 29,2023 2023 THE THEWHITE OCEANA ECHO 6 DECEMBER LAKE MIRROR
Cash or credit? Holidays are prime time for thieves By Jerry Mattson White Lake Mirror Contributor A Whitehall couple got a phone call from the credit card company asking if they had purchased $670 worth of beauty salon supplies in California. The ‘no’ answer started the process many people have experienced. The card was canceled. A new one arrived in the mail a few days later. All auto-pay accounts were notified, along with online accounts, like Amazon and eBay. They were glad the card company reacted to the unusual activity worth hundreds of dollars. They also wondered how this could happen. An interview with Jim Konieczny revealed much on this subject. He and his wife, Christy, who moved to the White Lake area three years ago, are retired municipal police detectives from Chester and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania, and are experienced with fraud. A theft can happen any time you hand the card to someone and you lose sight of it. Konieczny said, “The person who has the card can photograph both sides of it and then return and ask for verification of who you are and get the ZIP code from your driver’s license (or they use social engineering tactics while conversing with you to obtain the information). Then they have all the information they need to fraudulently make internet purchase orders.” During his 26 years on the job, he investigated identity theft and access device fraud, in addition to teaching the topic at Immaculata College, near Philadelphia. He also trained many police officers. The term ‘access device’ covers any type of card: credit, debit, gift, etc. There was a time when fraud committed with debit and gift cards was not enforceable by the existing ‘credit card fraud’ laws. This loophole has since been closed. Credit/access card fraud, and the cards themselves, have evolved over the years. Credit card fraud initially required the card to be stolen or obtained by stealing bills from the mail or dumpster-diving for account information. As technology evolved, organized
Credit card fraud can be an issue for shoppers during the holiday season. • Image courtesy of Pixabay rings switched to counterfeiting cards with customer data obtained from the dark web, hackers, and skimmers on merchant ATMs or Point of Sale (POS) card readers at retail checkout lanes and self-serve gas pumps. With the introduction of chip technology, law enforcement worldwide has seen an increase in card thefts and a decrease in counterfeit cards. Groups of pickpockets often use distraction techniques to obtain the cards, avoiding the bump or physical contact with the victim as, in many states, this will upgrade the crime to a higher charge. Always be wary of those around you. A thief might ask, “Can you reach the can on the top shelf for me?” While you are reaching to help, an accomplice is lifting a purse or wallet from your shopping cart. At a busy fast-food place, your number is called and while you leave the booth to get your food, someone else makes off with your purse. Today, a common source of access device cards are locations that credit cards are left unsecure such as handbags hanging off the back of chairs or set on the floor in restaurants and movie theaters or unattended in cars or gym lockers. Organized crime is still at it, but others now have returned to low-tech by stealing cards and ‘shoulder surfing’ (looking over your shoulder as you input your PIN). Like many people, the couple men-
tioned earlier were victimized again. They saw two entries on a monthly statement for $49.99 and $99.99 from a health club in Texas. They called the 800 number on the back of the card. The card company credited them for the bogus charges and later reported finding a charge for $1.98 by the same business a month earlier. That was a ‘test case’ to see if the numbers they had were good. When traveling, and using a card, don’t tell anyone (waiter, clerk, attendant) where you are from. Your personal data, including your address, can be used to commit ID and access card fraud. If asked for ID when using your credit card, put your thumb over your address. No retailer needs that information. Some thieves find employees willing to help for a cut of the action. Friday is a popular day for bad activity, as the weekend may delay some of the reporting and reacting until Monday. Also, be careful with your cards. This writer now puts his card away before signing the receipt. More than once, it’s been left it on the table or in the folder left by the waitress. One gets distracted: the pen doesn’t work, the table might be messy, there is a water
spot to avoid on the table, etc. There is a very low probability credit card thieves will be caught. Most incidents never get reported to the police. The credit card company will usually wipe out the charges after their investigation and the customer is not out financially, so the case is closed. If the police are called, there is a long list of reasons why not much is, or can be, done. For instance, where the information was stolen is often unknown. The theft and where an ATM raid or a Best Buy or Walmart buying spree takes place may be in different jurisdictions. No city or county wants to see their reported crime rates go up. There is a shortage of officers and their time is allocated to crimes deemed a higher priority. Credit card losses are covered by the card company’s high interest rate. Pockets being picked or other thefts in large stores are often not pursued outside the building due to company policy. There is some hope, however. With digital cameras and facial recognition software being used more often, some of these people are being identified and prosecuted. The latest gift card scam, covered on TV news in December, is being reported nationwide and is very complicated. Thieves take gift cards from a rack in a store and capture their numbers. Then they return the cards to the places where they took them. When the card is sold, a dollar amount is attached. The bad guys are alerted and withdraw the total amount. When the gift card recipient attempts to use it, there is no money available. Advice from the news report was for gift card buyers to examine the card’s packaging for any tampering and to get a receipt from the store, just in case. Credit cards can be convenient, but there is a risk. More cash may be used on this writer’s next extended trip.
Calvin University’s awardwinning January Series returns to White Lake library
The award-winning January Series National Geographic called “arguably TrueNorth celebrates donations of Calvin University is coming to the the best all-around rock climber on the White Lake area. From Jan. 15 through planet.” of hygiene items for homeless Feb. 2, 2024, White Lake Communi- “The January Series remains in TrueNorth Community Services held a hygiene item drive in Muskegon County for Homeless Awareness Month this past November. This drive collected essential items and raised awareness for homeless individuals in West Michigan. Over 1,100 hygiene items were collected in the five counties where TrueNorth provides homeless solutions, with over 300 items coming from Muskegon County alone. Boxes were placed to collect donations at community partners such as Muskegon Area District Library locations in Muskegon Heights, Norton Shores and North Muskegon, United Way of the Lakeshore, Getty Street
Grill, Fruitport Library, and the Hackley Public Library. Items such as soap, razors, toothpaste, washcloths, feminine products, deodorant and more were donated by community members. TrueNorth caseworkers will distribute the donated items to housing participants and whoever is in need. Lisa Reinecke, TrueNorth Homeless Solutions Director, says, “We’re walking alongside many people in their most vulnerable moments, so being able to provide these essential items helps us restore some dignity and hope in these individuals.”
ty Library will broadcast one of North America’s leading lecture and cultural arts series. The 2024 lineup features national podcasters and journalists, a world-renowned rock climber, a French-American jazz pianist and composer, an American legal scholar, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. For a full list of speakers and topics, visit http://www. calvin.edu/january A few of the notable names joining the series include Matthew Desmond, who won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction; Tim Dalrymple, the president and CEO of Christianity Today; and Tommy Caldwell, who, in 2015,
demand because it feeds our curiosity, it challenges us to grow and learn and discover new and amazing things about our world, and in the process we better understand ourselves,” said Michael Wildschut, director of the series. “The more we understand these things the more we appreciate and cherish this wonderful world God’s given us, and we show up as better citizens and Christians in this world.” The January Series lectures will be video streamed live at White Lake Community Library, 3900 White Lake Dr., Whitehall, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The lectures are free and open to the public.
The White Lake Mirror © is published weekly at P.O. Box 194, Mears, MI 49436 • All rights reserved.
whitelakemirror@gmail.com • December 29, 2023 • Volume 1 • Issue 7 Office hours: Mondays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Office phone: 231-301-8149, or for breaking news, please call 231-923-0751.
THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 29, 2023 23
24 DECEMBER 29, 2023 THE OCEANA ECHO
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29 White Bread 3/$
3/$
6 pk., 16.9 oz. btls. (plus deposit)
Country Fresh Pail Ice Cream
Peanut
¢ Butter
$
10 - 16 oz.
6
7.5 - 8.75 oz.
Coca-Cola Products
3
Snyder’s Pretzels
Chex Mix or Bugles 2/$
15
99 1212 pk., oz. cans 2/$ (plus deposit)
NOW CARRYING A FULL LINE OF LIQUOR AND SPIRITS. STOP IN AND SEE OUR SELECTION
Pepsi Products
Buy O N E GET ONE
FREE!
2 liter (plus deposit)
Frozen
2
99 Vegetables $ 24 oz.
Budweiser or Labatt 24 pk., 12 oz. cans (plus deposit)
Chobani
19
$
1699
99 1212 pk., $ oz. cans
10
29 Yogurt 10/$ 5.3 oz.
Truly or White Claw Hard Seltzer (plus deposit)
1% or Skim Milk gallon
7
2/$
The Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges
3
5.4 oz.
$ 99 Stonefire Naan Bread
6
2/$
Assorted Varieties 7.05 - 8.8 oz.
Original Bagels 5 - 6 ct.
399
$
The Father’s Table Variety Cheesecake $ 32 oz.
1499
AD EFFECTIVE: MONDAY, JANUARY 1 THRU SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 SORRY, NO RAINCHECKS. PRICING GOOD WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES.