The Oceana Echo - Volume 1, Issue 36, February 2, 2024 by theoceanaecho

Volume 1, Issue 36 FEBRUARY 2, 2024

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More than 50 attend Walkerville Report-Out By Paul Erickson The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

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A group of over 50 concerned citizens gathered Thursday, Jan. 25, at the Walkerville Wesleyan Church for the Walkerville Report-Out. The evening event had participants review the results of the Walkerville Community Assessment Report and previous planning meeting. Pastor Bob Abbott opened the church to this gathering, and enthusiasm was very high. Oceana Community Foundation Executive Director Tammy Carey welcomed the group and introduced Julie HalesSmith of North Coast Community Consultants to review the data compiled through a tour of the area. Five focus groups were created to explore possibilities for the area that encompasses Leavitt, and Colfax Townships, and the Village of Walkerville. Those initial data-gathering groups were part of the Nov. 30 meeting, which also took place at the church. The five areas identified for discussion were: Business and Retail, Development of a Community Center, Human Services and Childcare, Rebuilding Community Pride and Spirit and the Expansion of Housing and Infrastructure. Popular themes were rebuilding the village’s lost retail and dining busi-

Consultant Julie Hales-Smith, above, shares an old advertisement provided by long-time community member Jerry Frick. • Paul Erickson/Echo

nesses, re-energizing the Pioneer Days Celebration, as well as, capitalizing on the recreational opportunities present there. Black Lake County Park, the North Country Trail and the Walkinshaw Wetlands were identified. The development of a community center was very popular, with suggestions of finding a common area, perhaps in a vacant building downtown, that would have facilities like The Ladder in Shelby. Co-oping with the village offices and outreach offices was also discussed. Access to human services and childcare are very much in need. Food pantries, diaper banks, baby pantries and the ability to bring these services to the area were discussed in depth. Working with the Oceana County Council on Aging on transportation to and from a central point, such as the community center or church, was discussed at length. Housing and Infrastructure are in great demand, and ways to provide affordable housing were and are of high pri-

ority. Facilitators working with the group were Hales-Smith, Carey, Hannah Naples and Celia Hopkins of the Oceana Community Foundation, as well as Executive Director Curtis Burdette of the Oceana County Economic Alliance. The Lake-Osceola State Bank partnered with the Oceana Community Foundation to bring Hales-Smith to Walkerville for this important look into the future. Julie spent over 20 years in state government with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, or MSHDA. She was first the Homeless Coordinator for the Authority and managed neighborhood and downtown revitalization programs. She is now the principal of North Coast Community Consultants, a collaboration of veteran community development and affordable housing experts. A summary and full reports can be found at this link: http://tinyurl. com/walkervillereport

Royal Wildcats

Andrea Rivera and Zeontae De La Paz were honored as Walkerville Homecoming Queen and King during halftime of the varsity boys basketball game Friday, Jan. 26. Brendan Samuels/Echo

Hart Middle School eighth grade student Clinton Hallack won the Countdown round at the 39th annual MathCounts competition Tuesday, Jan. 23. • Contributed photo

Hart has good showing at 39th annual MathCounts By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor West Shore Community College’s 39th annual MathCounts competition took place Tuesday, Jan. 23 after being rescheduled due to weather, and saw nine schools, 170 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students on 45 teams competing from Manistee, Mason and Oceana Counties. Qualifying Oceana County middle school students attended from Hart, Pentwater, Shelby and Walkerville. This year, Hart Middle School (HMS) eighth grade student, Clinton Hallack, took first place overall in the final Countdown round, “out-solving” ten other individual round winners. Eddie Huizenga of Manistee Middle School was runner-up. In addition, Hart Middle School’s team of Robbie Buchanon, Silas Jones, Trevor Vander Kodde and Ryan Nienhuis took second place in the team round, with a second Hart Middle School team made up of Silas Ackley, Elizabeth Barnum, Clinton Hallack and Leonard Udell taking third place. When asked about his win Hallack humbly replied, “I was excited about going, but I didn’t expect to win. I competed last year but didn’t move on to the final. Math is my most favorite subject, mostly because of my teacher. To qualify to go to the competition, we had to take a 30-question test first. It’s a pretty hard test, and people usually only get about 50 percent of the questions right. I got 15 or 16. Students with the best scores got to attend, and most of our class went.” Hart Middle School has been sending students to MathCounts for more than 20 years with algebra teacher Gayla Carskadon, accompanying the students most of those 20 years. “Clinton is a joy to have in class. He has a great work ethic, works well with others and has the ability to do a lot of math in his head.” This year, Carskadon took 27 students to the competition: six teams of four and three alternates. The half-day competition typically involves students completing math problems in four different rounds of competition: - Sprint, Target, Team and Countdown. The Sprint and Tar-

get rounds of competition determine the top 10-15 students who will go on to the Countdown round to determine the overall individual winner. While the Sprint round focuses on speed and accuracy, the Target round focuses on problem-solving and reasoning. The Team round is made up of teams of four. Each school’s size determines how many teams are allowed to compete in the Team round. After the Sprint and Target rounds, Hallack was placed third behind students from Manistee and Ludington, allowing him to move on to the “Countdown” round. The Countdown is run bracket-style, with the top 10 individual qualifiers competing. Students were given a problem and one minute to solve it. If they were successful, they moved on. Asked what was one of the more difficult problems he solved, he said, “One of them that was really hard gave us the diameter of a wheel and asked how many rotations it would take to get to the bottom of a hill of a certain length.” “This has been a great group of algebra students. I’ve enjoyed teaching and working with them for the past two years. They tend to keep me on my toes,” Carskadon said. “Our entire school is so proud of Clinton and all of our MathCounts participants,” said HMS Principal Kevin Ackley. “Other than spelling bees or essay contests, there aren’t many competitions that showcase our kids’ academic talents and allow them to shine outside the classroom. I appreciate all of Mrs. Carskadon’s work in preparing our students and giving them this opportunity.” Hallack, like most eighth graders, spends his time outside of class involved in a variety of activities and interests. He enjoys riding his dirt bike in the summer and his snowmobile in the winter. Raising cattle with his Backyard Livestock 4-H club and helping out on his family farm happen every day of the year. While he’s not certain about his future career path, at this point he says he would love to be able to farm. Yet with the wisdom of an adult and the heart of an eighth grader, he quipped, “Pretty much any job requires math. I’d like to farm, but I also want to make money.”

THE OCEANA ECHO FEBRUARY 2, 2024 2

Snowmobile show to highlight this weekend’s Winterfest in Hart By Stacia Erickson The Oceana Echo Community Contributor Winter changes many people in Michigan. Some folks are ready to leave as soon as the first snowflakes begin to fly, while others are outside cheering and hoping for more! The latter are both happy and sad for the upcoming weekend, heralding “Winterfest” in Hart! Happy because the event promises a variety of fun for everyone; sad because the projected weather is not cooperating with rain and warm temperatures in the forecast. Particularly happy are the snowmobile enthusiasts who have the vintage snowmobile show and swap meet on the near horizon. But, snow or no snow, the Winterfest will return to Hart this weekend, and all are invited to attend. From 6-8 a.m. Saturday will be an ice fishing tournament with registration at the West Michigan Research Station located at 5185 N. Oceana Drive, or call to 231796-1119 or you can simply fill out a form at Klotz Insurance Agency at 3480 W. Polk Road, Hart. Cost is $20 per two-person team, with Farm Bureau members competing for free. A “Soup Walk” is another activity available. Ticket sales begin at 10:30 a.m. You can buy punch cards for this event at Birch & Blossom, 112 E. Main St. Suite 3 in Hart for $5 each. The walk begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. The Frozen Tin Man Winter Golf Outing is also happening with a cost of $35 per person and happens at 1:30 p.m. (shotgun starts at 2 p.m.) at 1774 W. Polk Rd. This event is a four-person scramble and includes nine holes of golf, along with a bowl of soup, three tennis balls and a hot dog. Pre-registration can be completed by calling (231) 923-0920 or (231) 638-1963. The golf outing will be followed at 3:30 p.m. with awards, music, raffles and a bonfire. And what some consider the highlight of the Winterfest is the antique snowmobile show and swap meet. Originator Kevin Hallack said, “This is our seventh year for the snowmobile show and swap meet.” He is credited with the

• Contributed Photo

Hart City casts vision during annual retreat By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

Hart Winterfest Vintage Snowmobile Show organizer Kevin Hallack poses with some favorite vintage Arctic Cat snowmobiles. • Stacia Erickson/Echo

idea by festival organizers and has become known for his endeavor throughout West Michigan. Hallack said he began the event because he enjoys snowmobiles and was asked during the planning of the first year of Winterfest to come up with an activity to add to the events, and so began the antique sled show in Hart. The snowmobile show began in downtown Hart in 2018, but it soon became evident that the activity had outgrown what downtown could offer. Participants, their sleds and all the equipment necessary to get everything to the show area made things over-crowded at best. At that point, Oceana County Fairboard President Paul Erickson offered Hallack the Fairgrounds as host, and as they say, “the rest is history.” Hallack said “the fairgrounds have been great for the show, with plenty of room for everything everyone brings! The gates will open to swap meet vendors at 7:30 a.m. and to the general public at 8 a.m. and run until 3 p.m. Saturday. Hallack collects Arctic Cat snowmobiles, but he emphasized, “all makes and models of antique snowmobiles are welcome!” at the Winterfest. Featured this year are Mercury snowmobiles. Those who bring such machines will be included in special competitions, judging and awards. A swap meet will also be held, wherein participants bring whatever they’d like to sell or trade. Hallack advises everyone to tread carefully on the Fairgrounds lawn if the snow is spare so as not to damage the grounds so generously supplied

for the event! The show is fee-free, with no entrance fee and no participation fee. Zero fees for this event make it very family-friendly, and everyone is encouraged to attend. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy on the grounds. Food will also be available for purchase, provided by R & T Colossal Kitchen of Scottville. The menu includes steak and cheese sandwiches, pulled pork, hamburgers and cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chili dogs, loaded fries and more. Hallack said he’d like to thank all the sponsors of this event, including Smiths Auto of Hart, Christmann Insurance, Crystal Hallack 5 Star Real Estate, Walsworth Seed Service, 2-3-1 Snowmobile Club of Muskegon and The Oceana County Fair. Hallack is looking for new ideas for snowmobile activities to add to next year’s festival, as well as additional sponsors. Look for Kevin Hallack at the show if you’re interested in sponsoring or have new ideas! Sunday events include: ~6:30 p.m. Final broomball tournaments at John Gurney Park, 111 Eastern Park Rd. (Weekly tournaments began in early January.) More information can be had by contacting Erin Stotler at events@ cityofhart.org. After Party at Hart Pizza, 105 E. Main St. Hart. More Winterfest information can be found by calling 231-9230920. The Hart Economic & Redevelopment Team and takemetohart.org are in charge of the festivities.

Spelling Bee winners Area students competed in the Knights of Columbus local Spelling Bee, which took place Saturday, Jan. 27 at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in Hart. Hart Middle School fifth grade student Ruby Miller, above front from left, won the Level I event, with homeschool students Levi Gage and Jude Gage coming in second and third places, respectively. Shelby Middle School student Robert Southey, above front far right, won the Level II competition, and his classmate Brycen Brown, at left of him, took second place. All of these students have advanced to the district competition, which will take place Saturday, Feb. 10 at St. Gregory’s at noon, with registration at 11:30 a.m. Local Knights of Columbus from the Mary Queen of Peace Council #2199 who organized and ran the event are, back row from left, John Kroon, Kevin Kludy, Nathan Kroon and Tim Beyer. • Kevin VanDyke/Echo

The Hart City Council met for its second annual retreat Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Hart Pirate Learning Center. Part of the day was spent with other community members, where together they cast a vision for the future of the city. The two dozen people who attended throughout the day included six council members, the city manager, members of the Hart High School leadership team, as well as parents and other interested community members. Matt Lehrman, of Social Prosperity Partners in Arizona, facilitator for the retreat, had attendees during the community visioning workshop respond to several questions using the Menti app on their phones. The answers given were projected on the screen for all to see; the more a word was mentioned, the larger and bolder in type it was displayed. The first question posed was, “What do we appreciate that exists today thanks to the efforts of people here more than 10 years ago?” Some of the 84 responses included Hart Lake, Hart Commons, Music on the Commons, public parks, disc golf course and a nice cemetery. Second, Lehrman asked, “In our community, what deserves to be protected, preserved or treated as sacred?” Of the 112 responses, Hart Lake, the county fair, the rail trail, the public library, asparagus festival and the Hart Community Center ranked highest. Thirdly, “What might we do today that people in our community will be thankful for more than 10 years from now?” The 196 responses included the preservation of Hart Lake, affordable housing, Pentwater Hart Trail, diversity, and a thriving downtown, among several others. “It was interesting how Hart Lake showed up in all three questions. Maintaining the lake and its infrastructure is a huge expense, but it speaks volumes,” Hart City Manager Rob Splane said. Following the community visioning workshop, under Lehrman’s direction, the council had its own “Strategic Visioning” session using the comments provided by the public and the City of Hart’s Master Plan. The six major priorities identified included: 1) Affordable housing; 2) A public beach, 3) Diversify the economy (more jobs for youth), 4) Higher education (community college or skilled trades) 5) Youth activities (many community responses referred to things people enjoy doing) and 6) Better communication and engagement. “For the community visioning session, we had invited Hart Middle and High School students but didn’t get the response we’d hoped for. So we tried a Facebook blitz, made some personal calls and took flyers to businesses. Surprisingly, the students in attendance said there weren’t more students present because it wasn’t on Instagram. As of today, Hart now has its own Instagram account,” Splane said following the meeting. The general feeling at the close of the retreat was that other meetings of this type should be held annually, if not quarterly. The council invites the community to become involved in other public input opportunities in the near future. The city’s Parks and Recreation Plan comment period will be announced soon and held in February. Interested individuals are encouraged to find the latest announcements and updates for city happenings on the city’s website, www.cityofhart.org, or its Facebook and Instagram pages.

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Hart City Council approves 5-year rate track Agency (MPPA), of which Hart is a member, gave his annual presentation to the council prior to the vote. His remarks highlighted the history of the MPPA, the changes that are affecting the cost of power now, and what the future cost of power is projected to be. “In the next 10 years, our industry will see as much change as it saw in the 1800’s,” Bowland said. According to Bowland, the MPPA formed in 1978 with 22 members. It is considered a “Joint Action Agency”, or project-based agency, with each member choosing to participate. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 MPPA recommended and the city approved a cost of service study and the implementation of a cash reserves policy.

Oceana Community Foundation’s Read early. Read often. Program starts new year with a new leader

tion attained by children as the education levels of their parents. “Early childhood experiences are the foundation for future success. Reading to children is incredibly important, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to help make an impact in this wonderful community,” Mead said. Teresa was involved in the startup of the RERO Program in Oceana County. After being introduced to the same program at the Muskegon ISD in 2016, Teresa brought the idea to the local Shelby ECC parent group. Together, they brainstormed ideas to get the program up and running in Oceana County and met with the Oceana Community Foundation’s Executive Director, Tammy Carey, and ultimately the program began in the spring of 2016. “While helping to provide free, high-quality books for area families is core to the work, we are working with all of our literacy partners to determine our shared purpose, goals and activities. Teresa is an exceptional leader to carry out the plan,” Carey said. The next RERO advisory committee meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 9-11 a.m. at the foundation offices (388 S. Hancock St. in Pentwater, second floor of the bank building). Anyone interested in learning more about the program or contributing to its success is welcome to join. For more information about making a gift, now or through an estate plan, creating a named fund at the foundation, or to learn more about foundation programs and activities, call Carey at 231-869-3377 or visit the foundation’s website at www.oceanafoundation.org.

County Board votes 3-2 to approve wage increase By Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Community Contributor The Oceana County Board of Commissioners voted in favor of providing employees of Oceana County’s Sheriff’s Office with additional compensation during its Thursday, Jan. 25 meeting. A raise of $1 per hour will be given to Sheriff’s Office and Corrections employees after a 3-2 vote saw Commissioners Tim Beggs, Phil Morse and Craig Hardy vote in favor of an increase that will cost the county an additional $60,680 per year. Commissioners Bob Walker and Paul Erickson voted no on the wage increase, citing the county and sheriff’s office had already agreed to a 2.5 percent increase back on Jan. 1. Erickson further clarified that the extra $1 an hour would be added on top of that previous agreement. The board also voted in favor of two grant agreements that would provide aid to the Oceana County Animal Shelter (OCAS). The first grant was presented in the amount of $7,786.85 to add rolling cat cages in an effort to increase the shelter’s capacity. The second motion was in the amount of $8,000 for the purpose of spay/neuter fees for animals prior to adoption from OCAS. Commissioners also appointed Benjamin Kaat to the Oceana County Department of Veterans Affairs Committee for a term that will expire Dec. 31, 2025.

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trying to be good stewards and protect our residents 10 and 20 years from now. I appreciate how the council is listening, asking good questions and not rubber stamping everything. They are making decisions based on good data.” He added, “Hart City’s residential power rates are 37.5 percent below the state comparable rate, 26.9 percent below for our commercial and 4.8 percent below for our demand customers, which include our three largest industries. Power in Hart is cheaper than you can get anywhere else.” Copies of all council packets, along with board and committee packets and minutes, are available on the city’s website, www.cityofhart.org, or by contacting the Hart City Hall. Hart City Council meetings take place the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at 7:30 p.m.

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Oceana’s Read Early. Read Often. (RERO) Program would like to welcome Teresa Mead to the Oceana Community Foundation Team as the new Program Coordinator. Teresa spent 24 years working for Shelby Public Schools. She started in 1999 at Benona Elementary, then spent seven years at New Era Elementary running the computer and library programs, and her last 14 years at the Early Childhood Center (ECC). She was the ECC Program Coordinator before her retirement in June 2023. Achievements in Teresa’s early childhood tenure include working collaboratively with Peterson Farms to open the Oceana County Early Learning Center. The innovative partnership between a business and school is unique and helped fill a critical childcare need in the county. In 2022, the Early Childhood Center, in partnerTeresa Mead ship with the West Shore ESD, was selected to pilot the Multi-tiered System of Support for the state of Michigan. The center was one of four schools in the state to be selected to shape future educators and programs nationwide. RERO is a county-wide effort to urge parents, siblings, grandparents and community members to read to infants and toddlers. Reading every day, everything, everywhere will lead to success in school and in life. Numerous academic studies support that increasing early literacy rates for our youngest learners not only impacts education preparedness but also higher education and career potential. Additionally, a 2010 study revealed that the number of books in the home has as great an impact on the levels of educa-

In FY 2023, they recommended the city do the risk assessment and implement a five-year rate strategy. “It’s great that you have a power board. Not all municipalities do and it’s good to have another layer looking at the utility,” he said. “We’d like to see you implement the study recommendations, but ultimately, it is your decision.” At the conclusion of his presentation, Bowland shared the following key takeaways: “There is a push to decarbonize the economy. You need to have engagement in the energy industry. You must invest in your utility to deliver value. Skilled trade shortages and rapid technological changes are a reality, and market uncertainty is driving up the cost of operating.” Following the meeting, The Oceana Echo reached out to Splane for further comment regarding the rate hikes. “We’re

FEBRUARY

Nick Wadel and Bill Volpp were present at the council meeting to answer questions. “The suggested rate change makes perfect sense. We can’t kick the can down the road forever,” Forner said. “We plan to be more careful of spending,” said Powers. “We’ve been supporting areas of the city that the power board shouldn’t be supporting.” Citing the recent Walker’s Restaurant property purchase as an example, Splane said the city has borrowed money for city projects from the power account before. “Historically, they’ve been a piggy bank for the city. But power funds need to fund power, not loans to the city,” he said. Coincidentally, Patrick Bowland, CEO of the Michigan Public Power

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HART - In their only action item Tuesday, January 23, Hart City Council voted to accept a recently conducted UFS (Utility Financial Services) financial study and adopt their proposed 5-year rate track. The Hart Power Board had previously reviewed and recommended the action as well. In part, the resolution states, “Adopts the recommended rate track of 3.5 percent annual electric rate increases beginning July 1, 2024. To be reviewed as necessary per the financial projections as presented in the 2023 UFS study.” “The 3.5 percent rate hike is for five years and will be audited every year

and brought to council for approval to make sure projections are right. This increase over the next five years is in lieu of a possible larger percentage increase in one year,” City Manager Rob Splane said after the meeting. UFS conducted the formal utility systems study in 2021. From that came a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and the rate track. “A lot of times, municipalities don’t want to make rate increases. Then years, sometimes decades, go by before it is looked at. Then they need to make huge increases,” said City Manager Rob Splane. “The power system is an asset and we have to invest in it to keep it strong.” Current Hart Power Board members Mike Powers, Gayle Forner,

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Oceana County Schools: Benona Part 2 By Caleb Jackson

result. It is like the proverbial government mule; it won’t budge. The teacher is Miss Leona Wilson of Shelby, who is teaching school for the first time. She is enthusiastic about her work and is making Welcome back to part two of covering the old success.” This historic school building still exists rural schools of Benona Township. If you missed and sits abandoned to this day. last week’s article, we discussed the schools that existed in the first three districts of Benona, including the old Blackberry Ridge School, which is mentioned in a book written by Charles W. Jay. This week we continue our township-wide tour, starting with district number four, the Marshville school. The Marshville school was located on the corner of Marshville Dam Road and South 56th Avenue and the building still stands today as private housing. The school was named after George and Henry Marsh, who operated the mill on the previously mentioned Marshville Dam Road. The brick school building located on this road was first constructed in 1892. A newspaper clipping from that time tells us, “The new brick school house at Marshville is nearly complete; it is an ornament to the district. The patrons made a bee last Saturday and graded the ground.” Prior to 1892, a different school building was in use. Wiegand’s notes tell us this school Up next in district number seven is the Young remained in operation until 1956, when consolidaschool. One of the teachers listed for this school is tion took place. District number five in Benona has no school none other than Swift Lathers himself, the man beon record, and so we are onto district number six hind the Mears Newz. Other teachers include Jessie with the Cobb school, named for Alonzo L. Cobb. Horter, Minnie Howe, Ruth Urtel, and Helen Fisk. Wiegand has compiled some funny notes regard- The school no longer stands, but it was located on ing this school. A Mears Newz article from Oct. 2, the corner of Buchanan Road and South 56th Av1953 reads, “The Cobb School sold its woodshed enue. An earlier building did exist, located “about and has no place to keep corn cobs for kindling if 500 feet north of that site.” The property for this it should reopen.” Which is extra funny consider- school was given by a man named John Kerswell. ing the school closed in 1934. Wiegand cites a lack When the school closed in 1946, the children transof state aid and a lack of students, prompting the ferred to the Peach Ridge School. In district number eight, the final district in Beclosure. The property was on a 100-year lease, so it reverted back to its previous owner. Another hu- nona, we will be talking about two schools. Up first morous article from 1905 tells the story of a clock in is Benona Consolidated. Located near the corners the school. “A big, fine hall clock graces the walls of of South 40th Avenue and West Baker Road, this the Cobb school house. This piece of furniture is an school opened up in January of 1956, and it consolornament to the school room, as it will not go. The idated all of the previously mentioned schools. That teacher has coaxed it and threatened it, but without includes the Marshville, Peach Ridge, Bird, Young, The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

Cobb, and Gardiner schools. It became a part of the Shelby Public School system in 1972. A new gym was built in 1996, and the school officially closed in 2010. Benona Consolidated was also the home of the first school newspaper in the township, the Tigerz Newz, which launched in 1995. The second school in district number eight, and the only school not to consolidate, was the Woodland school. This school no longer stands, but it was located “on the hill on the east side of Big Creek Hill.” An undated newspaper clipping tells us, “Georgie Morse has an industrious school in No. 8, Benona. Her enrollment is twenty; nineteen pupils were in attendance at the time of our visit. The material is on the grounds for a new school house, which is very much needed.” Some of the teachers who worked here include Zoe Brown, Ellen Greer, Nina Fuller, and Elizabeth Porter. Wiegand’s notes say that district number eight was a divided one, with some students going to Shelby and some to Benona. Although the Woodland school did not consolidate, it did not last much longer following the opening of the Benona Consolidated School. Woodland closed its doors sometime in 1961.

The Society is your one stop shop for all things historical By Mort Wiegand The Oceana Echo Volunteer Contributor The headquarters for the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society (OCH&GS) is in the former Dr. Chadwick and Dr. Munger home on Dryden St. in Hart, in the stone building.

The OCH&GS is a nonprofit organization and is governed by a board of directors. In past board minutes, it was voted to call the organization “The Society.” The official colors for The Society are green and white. Society staff are very helpful, so stop in on any Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to look up obituaries and general information on schools,

family histories, local pictures, old newspapers on microfilm and much more. There were 14 visitors in the month of January, and several items were donated. Come visit and be a part of “The Society.” We are always in need of volunteers. If you have been reading the school information in Caleb’s Corner

and would like a sheet of information on a specific school, please send $2 in an envelope to the OCH&GS at 114 Dryden St., Hart, MI 49420. A sheet will then be sent to you. For $10, a booklet about each school in a requested township will be sent. Finally, a notebook with information about all of the county schools can be obtained by sending $25.

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February

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: M-F: The Huddle for 6th-12th grade youth, 3-5 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 Second & fourth Fridays, doors open at 4 p.m. Forest School for Grownups Tuesday afternoons through Feb. 27.

The Ladder to host Power of a Man’s Story Event HERO is honored to welcome “The Naked Farmer” to The Ladder Community Center Saturday, Feb. 17 from 9:15-11:15 a.m. On a frigid December night in 2013, Tim VanderZwaag, a 6-foot-tall, 250-pound West Michigan farmer, was pulled backward into a spinning PTO (power take-off) shaft. He was forced through a 10-inch gap numerous times before being thrown out into a snow-covered field, stripped of his clothes and all alone. Tim’s story of survival and faith is gripping and inspiring. It will have a powerful impact on every man who hears it. All men 12 and older are welcome to join us Feb. 17. We encourage you to invite friends! There is no charge for the event, though donations will be accepted. We will provide donuts for all the hungry men who walk through the door – no pre-registration required. We look forward to packing out The Ladder for “The Naked Farmer” to kick off our next season of HERO: The Power of a Man’s Story. The Ladder is located at 67 N. State St. in Shelby.

Shelby Area District Library to celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day Feb. 3

Feb. 2 - Story Time, Hesperia Community Library, 10-11 a.m. Feb. 3 - Oceana County Farm Bureau Young Farmer Ice Fishing Tournament, Any lake in Michigan, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 3-4 - Hart Winterfest Feb. 4 - Broomball Tournament, John Gurney Park, 6-8 p.m.w Feb. 6 - Hart Congregational Church Building Community Interest Meeting, Hart Community Room, 1 p.m. Feb. 6 - Women’s Wellness Workshop - “Coping Strategies,” Harbor House, 6:30-8 p.m. Feb. 6 - Tech. Time, Hesperia Community Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Feb. 8 - Oceana Conservation District Candlelit Hike, Gales Pond County Park, 6-7 p.m. Feb. 8 - Teen Night, Hesperia Community Library, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 8 - “Reflections on a Winter Night,” Park Place, 6 p.m. Feb. 9 - Story Time, Hesperia Community Library, 10-11 a.m. Feb. 10 - Free ski event, Crystal Valley Ski Trail, OCCSA Feb. 10 - Hart VFW Chili Cook Off, 2-6 p.m Feb. 10 & 17 - Pentwater Winterfest

OCCSA offers free ski event The Oceana County Cross Country Ski Association (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 Crystal Valley Ski Trail in the Manistee National Forest in Oceana County is located just east of Pentwater. Crystal Valley offers skiers almost ten miles of varying trail lengths appropriate for all skill levels: beginners, intermediate and advanced. OCCSA volunteers will be on hand during the event to outfit people with ski boots, skis and poles. A warming bonfire will be manned on site. For location of the Crystal Valley Ski Trail, as well as a trail map and membership information, please visit www.oceanaski.org. 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.

On Saturday, Feb. 3, public libraries throughout Michigan and beyond will celebrate the 13th annual Take Your Child to the Library Day with free events and activities for children and families. Take Your Child to the Library Day celebrates the importance of the library in the lives of children and families. Children who are proficient in reading by the end of third grade are significantly more likely to graduate high school, opening doors to a bright future. Libraries help families build solid foundations of literacy and love of learning by providing access to books, early literacy storytimes, technology access, homework help, online resources and fun, safe spaces to explore and grow. Shelby Area District Library will offer several activities on Saturday, Feb. 3 from 9:30-11:30 a.m., including a craft project, scavenger hunt, free book from Read Early Read Often and a snack. Parents will have the opportunity to register their baby, toddler or preschooler for the 1,000 Books before Kindergarten program. A chilThe 3rd Annual Oceana County Farm Bureau Young Farmer Ice Fishing Tourdren’s board game and puzzle exchange will also be offered. Shelby Library’s Take Your Child to the Library Day is a free, fun, family-friendly nament will be held in conjunction with Hart’s Annual Winterfest on Saturday, event. Supplies for the event are provided by the Friends of the Shelby Area District February 3, 2024 from 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. The tournament is open to anyone and Library. Questions can be directed to 231-861-4565 or tifhaight@shelbylibrary.org. can take place on any lake in Michigan. Two-person teams should register and pay the $20 entry fee before the event or the morning of at the West Michigan Research Station between 6-8 a.m. Weigh-in will be at 3:00 p.m. sharp! Entrants may register by contacting Jennifer Marfio at jmarfio@ctyfb.com or 231-796-1119, or Shelby Middle School is offering tutoring on Tuesdays from 7-7:45 a.m. and filling out a registration form at the Kaleb Klotz Agency, 3480 West Polk Road in Hart or at the Lane Stotler Agency, 609 East Ludington Avenue, Ludington. Thursdays from 3-4 p.m. through Thursday, March 14.

Ice Fishing returns to Hart Winterfest

Tutoring sessions available at Shelby Middle School

OCCOA offers many February events for area seniors The following are OCCOA events for February. All activities take place at the Oceana County Council on Aging located at 4250 W. Tyler Rd. in Hart unless stated otherwise. Please call 873-4461 to sign-up or make meal reservations. Breakfast is available on Thursday mornings: 8:30–9 a.m. Cost: $3.00 Reservations required. Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program: During Open Enrollment; Call 873-4461 to schedule an appointment. Birthday Party: Wednesday, Feb. 7; Noon Strength and Balance: Monday and Wednesday Feb. 5, 7, 12, 14, 21, 26 and 28; 10 a.m. Gentle Yoga: Tuesday, Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27; 10:30 a.m. Drum Fitness with Gwen: Friday, Feb. 2 and 16; 10 a.m. Thai Chi: Monday and Wednesday, Feb. 5, 7, 12, 14, 21, 26 and 28; 9 a.m. Museum of Art Oddities & Delights Exhibit: Thursday, Feb. 8; 10 a.m.

Polish Ethnic Dinner: Saturday, Feb. 24; 5:30 p.m. RSVP by Feb. 17 Dinner and a Movie: Tuesday, Feb. 27; 3:30 p.m. Beltone: Wednesday, Feb. 28; by appointment Caregiver Support Group: Wednesday, Feb. 21; 2 p.m. Art with Bradley Youngstrom: Monday, Feb. 12 and 26; 10 a.m. Cost: $15, reservations required. Zumba: Friday, Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23; 9 a.m. Closed Presidents Day: Monday, Feb. 19 Board Meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 27; 1:30 p.m. Location: Oceana County Council on Aging. Parmenter O’Toole Office Hours: Please call 873-4461 for an appointment. Lauren Eisenbarth, an Elder Law Paralegal for Attorney Anna Urick Duggins, of Parmenter Law, will offer a half hour, no-charge introductory meeting, from 2-4 p.m. at Oceana County Council on Aging. Topics to discuss include Elder Law services such as Estate Planning, Long Term Care Planning, Medicaid Planning, and VA Aid & Attendance.

Other Activities: Farkle: Mondays at 10 a.m. Mexican Train: Mondays at 9-11 a.m. Walk With Friends: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 1:30 p.m. Mahjong: Tuesdays at 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays at 1-3 p.m. Fitness at Hesperia American Legion: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 9-10 a.m. Euchre: Wednesdays at 10-11:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 1-3 p.m. Quilting: Wednesdays at 9 a.m. to noon Beltone Hearing Clinic: Fourth Wednesday of the month 10-2. Call 231-843-3039 By Appt. Bingo: Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Blood Pressure Checks: Thursdays 11 a.m. to noon Bridge: Thursdays at 1-3 p.m. Cribbage: Fridays at 9:30 a.m. Kaffeeklatsch: Daily at 10 a.m. Cards & Games: Daily following lunch

THE OCEANA ECHO FEBRUARY 2, 2024 6

Hesperia High School earns College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award Recognized for improving gender representation in AP Computer Science Principles

Above left, Victoria Vega (current freshman at Ferris State University) and Sky Milner (current freshman at Alabama State University) work on their binary bracelets. Above center, Vega and Mia Milner (Hesperia High School senior) complete a hands-on activity to learn about creating lists. Above right, Seniors, Maci Kies and Milner, display their binary bracelets, a fun pre-holiday break project. • Contributed Photos

science education and careers.” “Computer science is the source code of our economy and much of the career landscape,” Head of the AP Program Trevor Packer said. “In the six years since we began the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, it’s been heartening to see schools like Hesperia High School welcome so many more young women into this vital field.” The first year of AP Computer Science Principles in 2016-17 attracted more students than any other AP course debut, and participation is on the rise. Last year, 164,505 students took the AP CSP Exam—more than triple the number of exam takers in the course’s first year. And of those students, 55,572 women took the AP CSP Exam, more than four times the number who tested in 2017. Providing female students with access to computer science

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courses is critical to ensuring gender parity in the industry’s high-paying jobs and to driving innovation, creativity, and representation. The median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $100,530 in May 2022. However, women represent just 24 percent of the five million people in computing occupations, which is why College Board research about AP CSP is so encouraging. According to the data, female students who take AP CSP in high school are more than five times as likely to major in computer science in college, compared to female students of similar background and academic preparation who did not take CSP. The study also finds AP CSP students are nearly twice as likely to enroll in AP CSA, and that for most students, AP CSP serves as a stepping stone to other advanced AP STEM coursework. These findings high-

light the importance of schools nationwide achieving gender parity in AP computer science classrooms. Overall, female students remain underrepresented in our high school computer science classes,

accounting for just 34 percent of AP Computer Science Principles participants and 26 percent of AP Computer Science A participants. Currently, 57.5 percent of the nation’s high schools teach founda-

tional computer science. The 1,127 schools that receive this year’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award serve as inspirations and models for all U.S. high schools.

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Hesperia High School (HHS) has earned the College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science Principles. Schools honored with the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have expanded girls’ access to AP computer science courses. More than 1,100 institutions achieved either 50 percent or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or a percentage of the female computer science exam takers meeting or exceeding that of the school’s female population during the 202223 school year. In 2023, Hesperia High School was one of 834 recognized in the category of AP Computer Science Principles (CSP). “Last year was my first year teaching AP Computer Science Principles, and I was thrilled to have such a strong interest in the course from my female students,” HHS science teacher Jennifer Sherburn said. “I think it really helps being a female myself, and my students all knew I was stepping out of my comfort zone of teaching traditional science courses to offer something new for them, so that helped convince them to try something new as well. “We’re honored that our school earned this distinction, and look forward to seeing these young women and others pursue and achieve success in computer

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THE OCEANA ECHO FEBRUARY 2, 2024 7

Oceana County man wins Fast Cash progressive jackpot An Oceana County man “quickly became popular” after winning a $111,368 Jackpot Slots Fast Cash jackpot while at his local bar. James Conley, of Hesperia, bought his winning ticket on Jan. 16 at Freeman’s Leaky Tap, located at 10193 Dickinson Ave. in Walkerville. “I play Fast Cash a lot, and I bought a ticket as soon as I got to the bar,” said Conley. “I saw the three jackpot symbols right away and I went into shock. A few people at the bar scanned the ticket on the Lottery app to confirm I really did win, and the owner confirmed it too. Once everyone there knew I won, let’s just say I quickly became popular! Everyone was excited for me.” Conley, 84, recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim the prize. He plans to save his winnings. “Winning has me feeling thrilled, nervous, happy, and everything in between,” said Conley. Fast Cash games are a series of instant-win games that print from terminals at Lottery retailers. Fast Cash tickets range in price from $2 per play up to $20 per play. Fast Cash games offer a progressive jackpot that can be won instantly.

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

Basilio Montiague Ledesma MD December 19, 1940 ~ January 25, 2024

Every Fast Cash ticket gives players a chance to win all or part of the progressive jackpot. All of the Fast Cash games feed into one jackpot, which grows with every ticket purchased. The current jackpot amount is printed on each ticket, so players always know the amount of the jackpot up for grabs. The jackpot may be won at any time. As soon as the jackpot is hit, a new one starts to grow. Fast Cash prizes never sell out, and there is no waiting for a drawing as all games are played immediately. Fast Cash games may be purchased at any of the 10,500 retailers across the state.

Tails of Hope This girl is a real sweetie. That’s why she is named Sweetie! Sweetie is a 1-2 year-old mixed-breed and beautiful girl. She is super friendly and house-trained. Sweetie is going to make somebody an awesome addition to his or her family. Are you that lucky person? Sweetie 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.

Obituaries Basilio Montiague Ledesma MD, 83, of Pentwater, Mich., formerly of Flint, Mich., passed away Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. Basilio was born Dec. 19, 1940, in Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines, the son of Jose and Asuncion (Montiague) Ledesma, one year before the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. He was the fourth of nine children and the eldest son. He excelled in school, eventually graduating with a medical doctorate from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines, in 1964. Following medical school, he enrolled in Operation Brotherhood, a humanitarian project providing medical care and other services to Laotian refugees during the Vietnam War. He spent six years in Laos, honing a well-rounded set of medical skills in general medicine, obstetrics, and surgery. In 1973, Basilio immigrated to the United States, where he was accepted first for an internship at St. Joseph Hospital and then for residency training in general surgery at Hurley Medical Center. He was recognized as a standout resident, completing residency in 1979, and continued practicing as an attending general and trauma surgeon at both Hurley Medical Center and St. Joseph Hospital in Flint, Mich. He touched thousands of lives through his surgical practice, which he maintained until 1997. Following the closure of his surgical practice, Basilio moved to Pentwater, Mich. and entered what he referred to as “semi-retirement,” beginning practice in emergency medicine at Lakeshore Hospital in Shelby, Mich. He concurrently practiced at Mercy Hospital’s medi-center in Muskegon during this time. Basilio continued working 12- to 24-hour shifts several days per week, again treating thousands of patients in this practice, until his own health forced him to retire in 2016. In addition to his dedication to his patients, he was a devoted father and husband. Basilio loved working outdoors in his garden and greenhouse. He had an insatiable appetite for current events, politics and sports. He was full of warmth for his children and grandchildren, especially, and supported them completely in all their endeavors. Basilio is survived by: his spouse Kay Ledesma, and former-spouse Sol Ledesma; his children, Sedone (Aimee) Ledesma, Ronald (Jessica) Ledesma, Jeremiah (Gretchen) Ledesma, Michael Ledesma; step-children, Almon Blankenship and Susan (Danny) Olson; grandchildren, Basilio Ledesma, Hugo Ledesma, Oscar Ledesma and Elicia Blankenship; and siblings Rebecca Munoz, Rogelio Ledesma, Maria Eleanor “Mutya” (Francisco) Borja and Oscar (Susan) Ledesma. Basilio was preceded in death by: his parents, Jose and Asuncion; sisters Estefana, Gilda and Punay; brother, Mariano. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 2380 W. Jackson Rd., Hart, Mich., 49420, with Father Phil Sliwinski presiding. The family will receive friends on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Harris Funeral Home, 267 N. Michigan Ave., Shelby, Mich. 49455, and at 10 a.m. until the service at 11 a.m. at the church. A praying of the rosary will take place at 7:30 p.m. Interment will be in the Spring. Memorial contributions may be made to: Boys Town, Donor Relations, P.O. Box 8000, Boys Town, NE 68010, helpkids@boystown.org. Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is in charge of arrangements. www.harrisfhome.com

Obituary Information:

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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.

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8 FEBRUARY 2, 2024 THE OCEANA ECHO

• On Feb. 12, 1912, Hsian-T’ung, the last emperor of China, was forced FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, to abdicate following Sun Yat-sen’s ndo, FL 32803 republican revolution, ending 267 of Manchu rule in China and 628 Virginia Drive, years Orlando, FL 32803 2,000 years of imperial rule. FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 800) 708-7311 EXT. • On(800) Feb. 13, 1958, a four-passenger CUSTOMER SERVICE: 708-7311 EXT. Thunderbird called the “Square Bird,” 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803 made by the Ford Company, made its 257 public debut. Considered to be a mod345_20240129 el that turned the Thunderbird from CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT. a sports car into a luxury car, it’s still STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20240129 often referred to as simply the T-Bird , 2024 257 and has appeared in movies such as FOR RELEASE JAN. 29, 2024 “Grease,” popular songs and music videos. NOW HERE’S A TIP #12345_20240129 By Lucie Winborne • On Feb. 14, 1984, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean became the highestscoring figure skaters in history at the FOR RELEASE JAN. 29, 2024 Olympic ice skating championship in Sarajevo with their sensual, free-dance By JoAnn Derson performance of Ravel’s “Bolero.” • On Feb. 15, 1965, the maple leaf officially became Canada’s official national flag symbol. It had already served in that capacity for more than a century, but the matter was only settled in the House of Commons the previous December, and approved by England’s Queen Elizabeth II shortly afterward. • On Feb. 16, 2007, British Education Secretary Alan Johnson’s order for “difficult” classic authors including Jane Austen and Charles Dickens to be taught to 11- and 12-year-olds was not met with favor by teachers. They believed these classic works might prove daunting enough to turn students off of such material for life. Johnson argued that they were in fact essential to a well-rounded British education. • On Feb. 17, 2014, the Saudi Gazette made Somayya Jabarti the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, marking the first time a woman held that position in the country. Her successor, writing about the decision that represented a major step forward for Saudi women’s rights, made sure to state that the position was granted solely on Jabarti’s merit. • On Feb. 18, 1943, a small group of German students from the University of Munich known as the White Rose movement were arrested after a janitor observed and reported them for distributing leaflets with anti-Nazi propaganda. Within days, all the members, including philosophy professor Kurt Huber, were sentenced to death for treason by the People’s Court and beheaded.

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• In 2012, a 90-year-old Baltimore woman named Venus Green locked a police officer in her basement when he tried searching her home without a warrant. Afterward, she brought a civil rights lawsuit and won a $95,000 settlement. • “Jeopardy!” contestants stand on adjustable platforms so that they all appear to be the same height on camera. • Chess is a required school subject in Armenia. • Before the modern glass versions we use today became commonplace, mirrors were made from bronze and were prized possessions of rich households in Egypt, Greece, Rome, China and Japan. • The Statue of Liberty’s full name is Liberty Enlightening the World. • A study conducted at the University of Montreal showed that young people who played the 1996 game Super Mario 64 for only two months increased their spatial and episodic memory, which improves brain capacity and helps to ward off dementia. • More than 20% of all the world’s freshwater is in the Great Lakes. • While humans and giraffes obviously have vastly different neck lengths, they still have the exact same number (seven) of neck vertebrae. • Ever wonder why some cocktails are shaken while others are stirred? Chalk it up to the level of dilution and texture required: The longer the shake or stir, the more diluted and cold the beverage gets. Hence cocktails made with spirits, tonics and bitters should be stirred, while those featuring fruit juices, egg whites, cream or cream-based liqueurs should be shaken. • Folks used to say “prunes” rather than “cheese” when having their pictures taken. *** Thought for the Day: “It is not by muscle, speed or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character and judgment, and in these qualities old age is usually not only not poorer, but is even richer.” — Cicero © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

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9 FEBRUARY 2, 2024 THE OCEANA ECHO

SPORTS

HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE

(Above, left) Walkerville’s Kelsey Garrett tries to dribble through some tight defense from a Mason County Eastern opponent. (Above, right) Walkerville’s Abdel Lopez eyes teammates down low as he crosses mid court with a Marion defender close behind. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Homecoming spoiled for Walkerville after basketball doubleheader losses By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

WALKERVILLE – Rarely do fans get to enjoy back-to-back varsity contests, but Walkerville decided to put both the girls and boys basketball teams on the court to celebrate homecoming on Friday, Jan. 26. Unfortunately, those celebrations didn’t go to plan for either team. The varsity girls kicked the night off with a 42-17 loss to Mason County Eastern (MCE) before the boys fell to Marion, 67-35. Walkerville’s girls team found themselves locked in a defensive stalemate

with MCE. Japanese exchange student Yurika Nakayasu along with Heaven and Maria Rodriguez got things going early, but the Cardinals were able to respond after each made basket. In the end, a missed free throw allowed the Wildcats to own a 6-5 lead at the end of the first quarter. “We were keeping good pressure and limiting some shots there in the first half,” Walkerville girls head Mandy Achterhof said. “We had some opportunities for shots ourself there as well but turnovers just plagued us.” Offense continued to be a rarity in the second quarter in large part due to the

fact that neither team was able to capitalize on trips to the charity stripe. Walkerville had eight free throw attempts in the second quarter, only sinking two of them while MCE missed all four of their shots from the line. The Cardinals did just enough to surpass the Wildcats however, walking into halftime with a 13-11 advantage on the scoreboard. MCE put its foot on the gas in the second half, holding Walkerville to just three points while adding another 12 to their own tally. Even then, the Wildcats remained alive due to continued poor free throw shooting. The Cardinals were

one-for-eight in the third quarter, including six straight misses from the line to end the third quarter. Trailing 25-15 entering the final stanza, Walkerville struggled mightily to find anything that was working. Maria Rodriguez scored the only basket for the Wildcats as MCE raced out to a big lead to end the night for the girls. Maria Rodriguez led Walkerville with eight points while Heaven Rodriguez and Nakayasu each had two points. Paige Sadenwater recorded just one point to

Homecoming

continued on page 10

Hart boys use second half to pull away from Manistee By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

HART – Hart’s boys basketball team took care of business against Manistee on Thursday, Jan. 25, defeating the Mariners 71-60. Though the Pirates earned a victory by a double digit margin, the contest was much closer than it appeared. Length was something that Hart used to its advantage as the big men got involved early. Blake Weirich, Brendan Hiddema and Caleb Ackley were responsible for all of their team’s points in the first quarter with Weirich scoring seven, Hiddema four and Ackley one for a 12-8 lead after eight minutes. Hart’s offense maintained a similar pace in the second quarter, something it needed to do in order to hold off the Mariners. Manistee nailed three shots from beyond

the arc to make things interesting. Kaden Bond and Weirich nailed a three-point shot each to answer and award Hart a 25-23 advantage. A third quarter explosion from Ackley was the catalyst for sparking the Pirates to an 11-point lead at the end of that frame. Ackley scored 11 points in the third after scoring just one single point in the first half. Weirich, Hiddema and Ty Schlukebir each hit clutch shots to support Ackley’s effort, giving their team a bit of a cushion down the stretch. “(Ackley) has put a lot of time in and (former Pirate) Parker Hovey is kind of a mentor to him and he learned a lot and applies that to his game,” Hart head coach Nick Bronsema said. “Our emphasis has been to get the ball into the post, so it was nice to see him get it and then to see him finish.”

Pirates on top continued on page 10

Hart’s Caleb Ackley contorts his body around a Manistee defender on his way to the rim. Ackley scored 18 in the Pirates’ win over Manistee on Thursday, Jan. 25. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

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Pirates on top Homecoming

continued from page 9

round out the Wildcats’ scorers. Walkerville’s varsity boys contest with Marion had more scoring, but started much the same way. The Wildcats and Eagles battled close in the first quarter. Ultimately, it was a seven point first quarter for Jordan Oomen that allowed Walkerville to hold a 15-14 lead heading into the second quarter. The Wildcats started the second quarter with a make from Zeontae De La Paz, but then allowed the Eagles to go on a 19-6 run heading into half. All six of those points were courtesy of Collin Chase, but did nothing to stop Marion from going up 31-23. Marion continued to warm up their offense in the third quarter, scoring 21 points while Walkerville sprinkled in points sparingly to break up long droughts. By the end of three, the Eagles had a firm grasp on the game and a 56-28 lead. “We came out flat after the homecoming thing at halftime. It’s always a drag,” Walkerville boys head coach Lee Oomen said. “We got down 15 points in the first two minutes. We’re not a high scoring team, we’ve got to keep it in the 30s and 40s in order to compete.” The fourth quarter was mostly a formality as the outcome seemed all but settled. The Wildcats did a nice job drawing contact and getting to the foul line, but that wasn’t enough to bring them within reach. Chase was the lead scorer for Walkerville with 13 while De La Paz and Jordan Oomen added eight each. Connor Shafer and Abdel Lopez each put up three points as well. Walkerville’s girls are now 2-8 overall and 2-5 in the West Michigan D League (WMD) following an additionHart’s Kaden Bond loads up a shot from the free al loss to Bear Lake on Tuesday, Jan. 30. The boys beat throw line in Hart’s 71-60 win over Manistee on Bear Lake to earn a 6-7 overall record and a 6-4 mark in Thursday, Jan. 25. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO the WMD. Non-stop scoring highlighted the final eight minutes of competition. Each team added 26 points to their total in the fourth quarter. Weirich scorched Manistee for 11 points over that period, but Manistee’s Kaden Kott scored 15 to keep pace. The rest of the Mariners couldn’t keep up with Hart however, pushing the Pirates to a double-digit margin of victory. “(Weirich) is playing freely now. Last year he had different players he was playing with and I think he was stressing himself out early on in the season knowing that we had a bunch of younger guys,” Bronsema said. “His teammates know he’s good for a reason so they follow his lead. Hart moved to 7-7 overall with the win, but a loss to Montague on Tuesday, Jan. 30 pushed them back to 7-8. The Pirates will face rival Shelby tonight (Friday, Feb. 2) with a chance to move to 6-2 in the West Michigan Conference Rivers Division.

Walkerville’s Jordan Oomen glides through the air on a transition layup opportunity. Oomen had eight points in a 67-35 loss to Marion on the Wildcats’ homecoming night. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Walkerville Homecoming

Walkerville High School took time to crown homecoming royalty at halftime of the boys varsity basketball game with Marion on Friday, Jan. 26. Andrea Rivera and Zeontae De La Paz were crowned king and queen while Maria Rodriguez and Abdel Lopez were given prince and princess titles. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

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15 FEBRUARY 2, 2024 THE OCEANA ECHO

Shelby’s offense stalls late in loss to Oakridge By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor SHELBY – A defensive showdown between Shelby’s girls basketball team and Oakridge on Tuesday, Jan. 30 ended in favor of the Eagles, 36-34. The Tigers were able to get some quick points as the game started with a technical foul due to an Oakridge player reporting with the incorrect jersey number. Molli Schultz went one-for-two at the free throw line and Kylie Brown did the same on the ensuing possession for Shelby. Points were hard to come by for the majority of the game as each team struggled to keep possession of the ball. Still, it seemed Shelby had just a little more juice than their opponent, taking a 10-8 lead into the second quarter following a shot by sophomore Brylee Friedman in the waning seconds of the opening frame. “I’m not the only one frustrated (by a lack of scoring), our players are

too. They’re not ready for their shot so they’re just throwing it up,” Shelby head coach Sarah Wolting said. “I just told them to take their normal shot. It’s more embarrassing throwing it over the rim than it is getting blocked. They’re worried about getting blocked or fouled.” Friedman shined early for the Tigers, scoring six of her team’s first 10 points and adding another bucket to start the second quarter. Any success that Shelby saw down low with their post players quickly dried up over the course of the second quarter. The Tigers’ guards did a nice job distributing the ball in the painted area, but their passes often bounced out of the hands of their teammates, giving the ball right back to the Eagles. “I think (our post players) thought they had to play faster because (Oakridge’s) inside girl is so athletic. We were just trying to make our moves before we caught the ball,” Wolting said. “We’ve been working and working on post moves just because most of the time we’re big-

ger. All my posts are pretty much our young girls so sometimes we just aren’t ready for the ball.” Despite the offensive struggles, Shelby did a nice job forcing similar struggles for the opposing offense. As is often the case, the Tigers’ guards used their speed and active hands to wreak havoc and force steals. That effort allowed them to maintain a two-point lead at halftime. The third quarter saw back-and-forth play as each side tried to get their offense going. For every shot one team made however, the other had an answer – a big reason Shelby’s lead remained mostly the same at 26-25 to end the third. Things started to fall apart for the Tigers in the fourth quarter. Kendall Zaverl found her way into the scoring column with six points in that frame, but the Tigers got just two additional points outside of her individual effort. That opened the door for Oakridge to take control – and they did just that. Eagles’ senior Anna Lundquist (21 points)

turned it on late, notching seven points in the final frame. That included two shots from beyond the arc that put Shelby on its heels. Schultz led the Tigers in scoring with 12 points, but it was Friedman’s double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) that kept things close. Brown also added 13 rebounds and four assists to her five points scored. The Tigers fell to 4-7 overall with the non-conference loss and are in a bit of a rut having lost six straight games.

(Above, top) Shelby’s Brylee Friedman gets past the Oakridge defense in the painted area and prepares to release a shot. (Above, bottom) Shelby’s Molli Schultz plays defense on an Oakridge guard. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Hart boys fall short in bout with Montague By: Andy Roberts The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

MONTAGUE — Hart used fast-paced and active defense to push Montague to the end in Tuesday’s cross-division West Michigan Conference battle, but the Wildcats made enough clutch plays late to eke out a 51-46 win. The Pirates fell behind in the first quarter, but used multiple defensive looks to keep Montague off balance from there. Offensively, Blake Weirich led the way with an impressive double-double, scoring 22 points and passing out 11 assists. His driving layup tied the score at 45 in the fourth quarter, but Montague got two offensive rebounds on its next

possession, which ended in Cole Herremans’ game-winning three-pointer. Hart coach Nick Bronsema said Weirich’s development as a ball handler has been one of his favorite things to watch this season. “For him to play point guard, he didn’t really dribble the ball hardly at all last year,” Bronsema said. “He was a catchand-shoot three-point shot maker. He was great without the ball, coming off screens, so Parker (Hovey) would find them for easy layups. Those two together were really good. For him to now be able to create and do other things is really big for us.” Hart took its first lead, at 13-12, on a second-quarter trey by Brendan Hiddema. That was the first of several lead changes before halftime, and the game

remained tight in the third. The Pirates were able to take advantage of getting into the bonus by getting to the free throw line several times in the third, again going ahead by a 38-36 margin. The Pirates employed several defensive looks in the game, including a press and a zone look at times. Bronsema said Hart’s attacking defense comes from his own impatience and cited current Marquette University coach Shaka Smart’s patented Havoc defense as an inspiration. “I don’t run quite the same defense, but it’s the same principles,” Bronsema said. “We’re going to make the other team speed up, hopefully, and we’re going to make them uncomfortable, hopefully. We’re going to change things up and then go right back to it. I hope it played a small part at keeping us in it.”

At the beginning of the season, the Pirates lacked experience following the departure of several seniors, including Hovey, who spearheaded a perfect regular season. Bronsema believes the team has shown steady improvement as it has gelled together and anticipates more coming over the final month prior to districts. “Our goal is that each day, we want to get better,” Bronsema said. “I feel like we got better today. I think the coaches feel we got better. The kids aren’t necessarily going to feel like they got better because they want to come out on top. Sometimes you win games (by developing) and you might be actually losing the game...We feel like we’re getting there. We feel like we’re making those steps to improve.”

(Above, left) Hart’s Blake Weirich goes strong to the hoop on a shot attempt while Montague’s Isaiah Atchison gets big on defense. (Above, right) Hart’s Kaden Bond cuts through Montague’s defense by Owen Raeth. • Andy Roberts/ECHO

16 FEBRUARY 2, 2024 THE OCEANA ECHO

Hesperia holds annual Pink Out event

Hesperia’s wrestling program held their annual Pink Out event on Wednesday, Jan. 31. The gym was filled with pink as the Panthers duked it out on the mats while simultaneously raising cancer awareness and collecting money to help three local families affected by the disease. The Panthers hosted Ravenna, Ludington and Muskegon Catholic Central. In their first action with Ravenna, Hesperia ran away with the competition defeating the Bulldogs by a 66-12 score. The lights went off for a dual between Hesperia and Muskegon Catholic Central as the Panthers celebrated their seniors with a 53-27 win over the Crusaders. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR FEBRUARY 2024171 THE OCEANA ECHO FEBRUARY 2,2, 2024

Reflections of our community

White Lake Mirror YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Montague alum competes in ice climbing Jessica Perez on USA team, competing in finland this weekend for Continental Cup By Andy Roberts

White Lake Mirror Editor Montague alum Jessica Perez has always been fearless. As mom Penny tells it, when Jessica was six or seven, there was a large hay wagon near the house - Penny grew up on a farm - and Jessica climbed all the way to the top of the hay piled on the wagon. Penny remembers the hay being four or five tiers high, and Jessica simply waved greetings to her mom when Penny came out to investigate the situation. “She had no fear of heights, even when she was little,” Penny said. Years later, Jessica still doesn’t have a fear of heights, and it’s a good thing she doesn’t, because she’s now a member of the USA ice climbing team. She traveled from her Golden, Colorado home to Finland this week with several teammates to compete in the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation Continental Cup. (The competitions can be viewed on the federation’s YouTube channel by searching for UIAA.) The American Alpine Club, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Golden with over

Montague native Jessica Perez makes her way up an ice wall while competing in ice climbing. Perez joined the USA ice climbing team two years ago.

• Courtesy Photo

24,000 members, sponsors the USA team, which travels to events all over the world each winter. Jessica doesn’t compete on the entire circuit - she has a day job as a dental hygienist - but has done more than her share of travel in her two years as part of the Montague native Jessica Perez makes her way up an ice wall while competing in ice climbing. Perez competes in

lead discipline in the adventure sport. Ice climber the • Courtesy Photo continued on page 2

Representatives from Michigan’s EGLE begin their presentation regarding cleanup plans at the Chemours site last Thursday at the White River Township Hall.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

EGLE discusses cleanup plans for Chemours site Steve Thielman charms locals

Steve Thielman performs on the piano at the Book Nook and Java Shop. Thielman regularly performs an eclectic mix of tunes at the Book Nook.

• Courtesy Photo

By Andy Roberts

White Lake Mirror Editor MONTAGUE — The White River Township Hall was filled last Thursday evening with people seeking information from the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) about the ongoing efforts to clean up the former DuPont site now administered by Chemours. In addition to many concerned citizens, several elected officials were at the presentation, including state senator Jon Bumstead, state representative Curt VanderWall, county commissioner Kim Cyr, and the mayors of both Whitehall and Montague - Steven Salter and Tom Lohman. Also in attendance were

members of the Whitehall and Montague city councils and a Fruitland Township trustee. EGLE outlined the steps it has taken and will continue to take to engage in a cleanup at the site, which is still seeing the effects of a DuPont factory that was on the site from the 1950s through 1996. Most notably, piles of lime remain in Mirror Lake, and the Chemours Environmental Impact Committee (CEIC) continues to be concerned about aquatic life at the site. Through a diagram, EGLE noted it is doing studies to determine the correc-

with Book Nook performances

EGLE meeting

Steve Thielman

continued on page 2

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer Steve Thielman is recognized in the White Lake community as a beloved pianist. Dozens of locals regularly attend his weekly performances at the Book Nook and Java Shop, where he started performing in 2016. “I really enjoy playing at the Book Nook,” Thielman said. “We’ve got a good group of people that come there every week and it’s fun. I’m glad I get to do it regularly.” Thielman enjoys playing a variety

of music, but tries his best to perform songs he knows his audience members, the majority of which are retirees, will recognize and enjoy. These include classic Disney songs, war favorites and other fun, unexpected pieces, like the “Jeopardy” theme song. “Especially when I play at the Book Nook, I try to play a little bit of everything from classical to jazz and ragtime to pop music,” said Thielman. “I don’t have any favorites necessarily. I just try

continued on page 3

2 FEBRUARY 2, 2024 THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR THE OCEANA ECHO FEBRUARY 2, 2024 18

Ice climber

team. She’s been to competitions in South Korea, France and Switzerland before, and this week’s Finland event will be followed by one in Scotland and the February 16-18 world championships in one of Canada’s largest cities, Edmonton. “I get to see all these amazing places I never would’ve seen as a kid,” Perez said. “When I was younger, I never traveled except to Florida, so my first international competition was amazing.” There are two different disciplines in competitive ice climbing - lead and speed. In speed ice climbing, athletes simply climb up an ice wall as quickly as possible using a special piece of equipment called a Fifi hook. Jessica said “at least once per competition,” an athlete accidentally stabs themselves in a hand or a leg with the hook. Even if speed were her thing - she admits with a laugh that it is not - one can see where it would be risky for a dental hygienist who does so much intricate work with their hands to compete in such an event. She sticks, therefore, to the lead discipline. The lead discipline bears a small similarity to skiing, in that climbers attempt to complete specific pre-set routes. The competitions take place on a man-made structure. While it is an ice climbing competition, routes can also include rocky terrain. The courses are usually so difficult that few climbers are actually able to complete it, so speed does become something of a tiebreaker in ranking finishers if multiple climbers reach the same part of a course before bowing out. Jessica, who graduated from Mon-

continued from page 1

tague in 2001 and Ferris State in 2004, discovered ice climbing when she moved to Colorado soon after college. Although she didn’t consider herself the athletic type while in Michigan, Jessica was aware of the state’s vibrant outdoor scene when she made the move and quickly found a group of friends that enjoyed rock climbing. A few years into that, she was enjoying it enough (and was good enough at it) that when she heard about ice climbing, she couldn’t resist trying it. “I had a friend who said they had a friend who ice climbed,” Jessica said. “I went out there and tried it at Rocky Mountain National Park. I liked it so much, I invited myself the following weekend to go again.” Quickly sucked in, Perez ice climbed whenever she could, and when the sport’s World Cup circuit staged an event in Denver in 2019, she attended and found herself “blown away at what these athletes were doing.” A few weeks after that, Perez attended the Ouray Ice Festival, part of which includes the Ice Climbing Continental Open at the Ouray Ice Park, which draws athletes from all over the world. Seeing top competitors in action twice in a short span planted a bug in Perez’s mind that just wouldn’t go away. “I thought, ‘This is so cool. How do I get to the next level to do this?’” Perez said. “The next few years I dropped everything and trained, and I made the team two years ago.” Most of the USA team is from Colorado, Jessica said, but she is not the only Michigan native on the team; Lauren Shartell originally hails from Wyandotte. There are also team members from Seattle and from Wisconsin,

EGLE meeting tive measures necessary, and Elizabeth Garver, an EGLE enforcement officer, noted that Chemours and EGLE came to an agreement finalizing the language of an enforceable Corrective Action Consent Order (CACO) in December, adding the document was over 40 pages long. However, CEIC has since submitted an official request to intervene, which must be addressed before the CACO can take effect. Once it is set to take effect, there will be a public hearing, the site of which will be local but is not yet determined, regarding the CACO. Once a date is determined, there will be a period during which public comment can be submitted, spanning 30 days prior to the hearing and 15 days after it. CEIC’s Claire Schlaff, who was described as “the bones of” the organization by another member during the presentation, noted during the public comment period that CEIC learned from Traverse City-based environmental group For Love of Water that it could request input on the CACO, hence the move. Schlaff added in an email to the Mirror that CEIC originally believed it could not intervene prior to the CACO’s enaction and originally approached FLOW hoping for a say in cleanup decisions before learning it was in fact allowed to intervene. Schlaff told the Mirror that CEIC will look to acquire legal representation to “help us wade through” the new territory it now finds itself in. She said those looking to help CEIC with associated costs can make donations to the

continued from page 1

Muskegon County Environmental Coordinating Council (MCECC), a 501(c)3 nonprofit working with CEIC. Throughout the public comment period, citizens expressed frustration that work has not been done sooner at the Chemours site; Whitehall councilwoman Tanya Cabala said she was told at a 1989 meeting with DuPont that Mirror Lake would be cleaned up, and it still has not yet happened. EGLE’s Ronda Blayer fielded many of those inquiries and said laws governing steps EGLE is allowed to take have only been on the books since 1996 and that it can only do what it has legal authority to do. Also during the public comment period, multiple citizens, as well as county water resources commissioner Brenda Moore, asked if the Pierson drain will be part of EGLE’s cleanup work. EGLE said it would investigate the drain to determine any needed rehabilitation efforts. During the presentation, EGLE’s Sam Cairns discussed a drone survey he conducted at the site. He noted such surveys would normally have been able to come up with a good idea of how much lime was at the site, but due to some unrelated changes in elevation in the area, this survey was less effective at that. He said Chemours estimated about 540,000 cubic yards of lime remain at the site. Much more information, including a timeline of EGLE activities with regard to the site, is available at the EGLE website by doing a web search for ‘EGLE Chemours corrective action.’

Montague native Jessica Perez (in pink hat) poses for a photo with the USA ice climbing team during a World Cup event. Perez has been ice climbing for seven years and joined the team a couple of years ago.

• Courtesy Photo

she added. Jessica is still a dental hygienist; there’s not enough money in the sport for many athletes to pursue ice climbing full-time. However, she has nonetheless held her own against some of the best in the world, occasionally finishing in the top three in USA competitions, though not yet internationally. She ranked 37th in the world last year despite only competing in two of the three events that factored into the rankings. Jessica feels like she’s close to pulling off a top-3 finish in a global competition, but would likely have to train full time to do it. “I’m really considering taking a small sabbatical for the next winter season to join the whole circuit,” Perez said. “It’s honestly a tough balance, because I do love it, but I do love what I do for my profession too.” Also a factor, though she, like any athlete, hates to admit it, is her age. Perez recently turned 40 years old, and the majority of her competitors are younger than she is. However, she does take inspiration from the fact that sev-

eral top climbers in the lead discipline are of a similar age. Three of the top five in this year’s World Cup standings to date are 39 or older; last year, the third-place finisher in the world rankings was Woonseon Shin, a 43-yearold Korean woman. Perez particularly looks up to a 45-year-old climber from Northern Ireland named Eimir McSwiggan, who Perez said “makes finals at every competition” and was fifth in last year’s rankings. With those women pushing her, Perez doesn’t sound like someone who will be finished with competitive ice climbing in the immediate future. The team’s roster is determined via annual tryouts, so she’s locked in through the 2024 season. She does, though, soak in every moment of the experience. “Every time I make the team, I think, ‘I’m doing this,’” Perez said. “It’s so fun. I love the traveling. I love the community. I love my teammates. We’re all competing with each other, but it’s the most supportive group I’ve ever been a part of. We all cheer each other on.”

Rotary Club ready to accept scholarship applications The Montague-Whitehall Rotary Club is encouraging high school seniors in the Montague and Whitehall school districts to continue their education by offering six competitive $1,000 college scholarships. Qualifications for the scholarships are based on community and school service and scholarship. The scholarships are to be used to cover expenses for attending a fouryear or two-year college, or trade school leading to a degree or certificate. Applications have been sent to the counseling offices at Montague and Whitehall high schools. Homeschooled high school seniors whose families reside in the Montague and Whitehall school districts can request

scholarship applications by emailing Rotary’s education/youth chair, Greg Means, at gmeans23@gmail.com. The deadline for submitting completed scholarship applications is March 28, 2024. The scholarships will be presented at the senior awards programs at Montague and Whitehall high schools. If a home-schooled student is awarded a scholarship, a presentation will be held at a Rotary Club meeting. The Rotary Club Scholarship Committee will review all applications and select the winners. Funds for the scholarships come from club fundraisers which include an annual Night On The Town silent auction, the annual Rotary Pancake Breakfast and No More Bull beef raffle.

THE OCEANA ECHO FEBRUARY THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR FEBRUARY2,2,2024 2024 19 3

Echoes of History: History Train stations & agents (pt. 2) By Barbara Bedau Brow Volunteer Contributor In early April 1906, the number of trains each day was being reduced. The trains that arrived at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. were eliminated. This left just two passenger trains each day - one at 7:15 a.m. going south and the other going north at 8 p.m. The cause of the change in service was due to a coal shortage. By the 1910 census, the Kinnons had moved and were living in Olive, Ottawa County, Michigan. E. D. Miller – Earl D. Miller was the station agent in May 1912, when a news item appeared in the local newspaper regarding the Whitehall depot being robbed. While Miller was at dinner, someone broke into the office and took $20 in silver from the money drawer. Miller suspected two hobos who had been hanging around the depot and were there when he left for dinner. Seeing the suspects heading toward Montague, Miller telephoned Agent Wells of the Montague depot to intercept them. The hobos were planning to board the Montague freight train heading to Muskegon. Wells advised the freight trainmen, who invited them to get into a boxcar bound for Muskegon. Being glad for a ride inside, they scrambled into the car. The door was immediately closed on them and instead of getting a free ride they found themselves prisoners. They were then turned over the Marshal Hinman of Whitehall and taken to lockup. The suspects appeared

before Justice Haverkate the following morning. Earl was born in Ohio in 1874. He married Mabel Polley Dec. 7, 1905 in Howard City. They had three daughters: Hortense (1906-1996), Jeannette (1907-1985) and Geraldine (1914- ) C. W. Wilkins – Clarence Washington Wilkins was born in Pennsylvania Feb. 22, 1889. He married Mary Josephine Ruble Jan. 12, 1911 in Chicago. In 1918 his name started appearing in the local newspaper for winning a $25 first prize for the best kept station in the Chicago-Petoskey division. In February 1920, both Clarence and his wife Josephine were ill with influenza, and it was necessary to get a relief agent for him. The article did not mention who replaced Clarence. Mrs. Lloyd VanSyoc (Bessie) replaced Josephine as bookkeeper. In August 1920, Clarence purchased the John Jensen house on Mears Avenue. In August 1922, it was announced that Clarence was leaving to take a position as sale manager with the F. J. Lewis Manufacturing Company of Chicago. They had a summer home in the area that they were going to keep but they were going to dispose of their Mears Avenue home. By September 1922, Clarence had taken ill after working only a few days. He was confined to a hospital for a short time before returning home for a few weeks’ rest. Shortly after that

Steve Thielman to mix it up and play a lot of different things.” Born and raised in Whitehall, he was surrounded by older siblings who all played sports. Thielman, though, discovered his heart belonged to music at the young age of five. He later got his Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Western Michigan University. While there, he toured with the WMU Symphonic Band as a pianist/keyboardist. His time with the band allowed him to travel and perform in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. “I started playing the piano when I was five years old,” Thielman said. “I’ve

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been doing it my whole life, really. I took lessons in Whitehall growing up, then I went to college for music. I continued taking lessons in college.” After graduating college, he spent years touring with different bands, including Archipelago, The Flow and La Famiglia. He looks forward to continuing performing and sharing his love of music with the White Lake community. “My life is music,” said Thielman. “That’s all I do is play music, go to concerts, listen to music. My wife’s also like that. Music is basically the center of my life.”

incident was reported, Clarence had returned to Whitehall and was again working at the depot. With the combining of several of the railroad companies and the closing of area depots in 1926, Clarence transferred to Holland, where he continued to work as a traveling auditor for the railroad. Josephine Wilkins died in December 1930 in her home state of Illinois. Clarence moved to Benton Harbor and around 1940, he married Leona Krause. He continued working for the railroad until his death in Caseville, Missouri Jan. 18, 1961. He is buried in Toluca, Illinois. Some of the Station Agents at the Montague Depot include: A. M. Wheeler – Audabon Melville Wheeler was listed as the railroad agent according to the 1886-1887 City Directory. He was born Feb. 26, 1855 in Michigan, and he married Adelia R. Jones in Montague March 23, 1887. Very little else is known about him. H. W. House – The first mention of Agent House was a brief item in the paper Oct. 29, 1891 indicating that “C. F. Sollau was covering for House so he could attend a relative’s funeral in Illinois.” Henry Wisner House was listed as the Railroad Agent in Montague in the City Directory in 1893. Henry was born Nov. 7, 1846 in Steuben County, New York. He married Philena Randall July 5, 1880 in Port Huron, Michigan. They had four children: Herbert

(1882-1913), Margaret (1884- ); Geneva (1887-1973), and Laverne (18901975). By 1900 they were living in Stanton. Henry died April 13, 1935 in Grand Rapids. Michael Tucker – Tucker was born April 28, 1852 in Nova Scotia. At the age of 12 years he, along with his parents and brother Dennis, moved to Waverly, N.Y., where he lost both of his parents. Growing to manhood, he took up the study of telegraphy and secured a position as telegrapher operator in the West for about eight years. Returning to New York, he met and married Sarah Beverly (1852-1911) at Gowanad, NY, Sept. 23, 1875. They had a son, Clarence B (1882-1951), who followed in his father’s footsteps working as an agent for the railroad. Michael moved his family to Hesperia around 1887, where he engaged in the lumbering business for a few months before he was offered a position with the Chicago West Michigan Railway Company at Fremont. Two years later, he was transferred and handled the following stations as agent for the Pere Marquette: Mears, Shelby, Montague and Jenison. Michael Tucker was reassigned to Jenison in February 1911. He was replaced by C. S. Wilkins. A farewell party was held by the Tuckers’ friends in early February. Tucker was given two months’ vacation by the railroad if he wanted it. It’s unclear if he took the time or not.

ACWL-Nuveen announces first guest exhibition of year The Arts Council of White Lake-Nuveen Center is excited to announce its first Guest Artist Exhibition of 2024: “Rhythm & Power: The Art of Scott Rosema.” The exhibit, sponsored by Eastbrook Homes, will be on display at the ACWL-Nuveen from Feb. 2 through March 9, 2024. The show will feature the superhero illustrations Scott is known for and other examples from his personal studio work. Scott Rosema has been working as a professional illustrator since 1978. Throughout his career, he has worked with Marvel Comics, Disney, DC Com-

ics, Archie Comics and more. Scott, a graduate of Kendall College of Art and Design, regularly appears at comic conventions where he sells his artwork and meets fellow super hero enthusiasts. The public is welcome Saturday, Feb. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. for the exhibition reception. Scott will be on hand and will be giving an artist talk at 2 p.m. Scott will also be giving an artist demonstration Saturday, Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. Attendance is free, and you can simply sit back and watch or bring a sketch book and follow along.

New Books for Babies program coming to library By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor We are excited to announce “Books for Babies,” a brand-new program to promote the joy of reading to our littlest patrons and their caregivers! Sign up to bring your child or children ages 0-3 to the library for a short, fun, hands-on visit. You will get tips and tricks for growing your little reader and also receive free books to keep and read at home. Expectant parents are welcome as well! Go to bit.ly/books-for-babies to schedule a visit or call 231-894-9531 ext. 104 to schedule and get more information. This program is funded through a grant provided to the Great Start Collaborative of the MAISD by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential. Baby Time and Play & Learn Story Times Resume Feb. 9 Baby Time and Play & Learn story times are returning to the library

The

Bookworm

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beginning Friday, Feb. 9. Baby Time, a brief program of stories, songs and movement for infants and toddlers and their caregivers, starts at 9:30. Play & Learn, which starts at 10:30, is an active, hands-on program that is part play group and part story time. It is geared toward children five and under and their caregivers. Registration is not required for either of these free programs; just come when your schedule allows.

FUN FACT: Did you know there are numerous studies that tell us children whose parents and caregivers regularly talk and read with them develop larger vocabularies, become better readDeMumbrum ers and do better in school? So talk, sing and read with every child in your life, and bring them to the library whenever you can! “1-2-3 Play With Me” Registration Now Open Register today for the library’s upcoming series of 1-2-3 Play With Me workshops, designed especially for young families with kids aged 1-4. The workshop series offers parents some uninterrupted time to play and explore with their children, and provides access to community resource

professionals in an informal setting. Each week will feature a different art experience, large motor activity, and a different professional such as a speech therapist or physician. The winter session is scheduled for Thursday evenings from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Feb. 8 through March 7. The workshops are free but space is limited. Reserve your spot now by registering on the library calendar at wlclib.org/calendar, or call the library at 894-9531 for more information. Adult Take and Make Kits Available Now Create your own valentine to send to a friend or loved one! Visit the library beginning Monday, Feb. 5, to pick up a Tissue Paper Art Postcard craft kit for adults (while supplies last). Inside the kit you’ll find simple directions and all the supplies needed for the craft except for some paper towels and water. NOTE: Includes materials that stain, so use caution.

community 420FEBRUARY 2,2, 2024 WHITE LAKE MIRROR FEBRUARY 2024 THE THE OCEANA ECHO

e Mirror

SPORTS WHITEHALL • MONTAGUE • REETHS - PUFFER

Freshman leads Vikes to win NONPROFIT NEWSWesterlund SOURCE Clare Westerlund hits winning shot, posts 16 points & 11 boards By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor MONTAGUE — Whitehall and Montague both ran into a sticky situation late in Friday’s game when a top scorer on each team fouled out around the midway point of the fourth quarter. Luckily for the Vikings, rapidly improving freshman Clare Westerlund was their ace in the hole. Westerlund hit what proved to be the winning basket with 2:53 to go and Whitehall hung on for a thrilling 37-35 win, avenging an early-season defeat in the rivalry. Westerlund was terrific throughout the game, scoring a game-high 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds for her first career double-double. Montague’s Addison Pranger fouled out with just under five minutes to play in the game, followed shortly by Whitehall’s top scorer, Lexi Daggett. Boosted by Westerlund, the Vikings were able to work around the situation just a bit better than Montague. “That was Clare Westerlund’s breakout game,” Whitehall coach Brian Milliron said. “Kendall Osborne (too)... Those two girls made all the difference. Lexi Daggett has been arguably our best player all year and she was taken out of the game through fouls. For these girls to understand that we can lose a huge piece like that and still find a way, that’s great.” Montague dominated much of the first half of the game, coming out in a full-court zone press that flummoxed the Viking ballhandlers and led to some turnovers and easy baskets. The

Whitehall’s Taylor Ottinger tries to get to the basket while Montague’s Braylyn Bultema (center) and Addison Pranger defend during Friday’s game.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Wildcats built a seemingly stable 13-5 lead in the first quarter, and answered Whitehall’s second-quarter surge by attacking the basket early in the third and getting the lead back up to nine points, at 29-20. That’s when Whitehall rallied, displaying the growth Milliron said he’s seen all year. “It was like we were just throwing a group of random kids together at the beginning of the year, it felt like, when you graduate so many, and you get transfers and freshmen,” Milliron said. “We’re a little over halfway (through the season) and the kids have integrated. They’ve committed, and they play so well together. I’m very fortunate to be able to coach them.” Westerlund scored an and-one basket to put Whitehall ahead, 33-32. She missed the free throw, but the Vikes caught a break when it stuck to the side of the rim, giving Whitehall the ball on

Whitehall’s Lucy Zamojcin (left) and Clare Westerlund wrestle with Montague’s Addison Pranger for a loose ball during Friday’s game at Montague. Westerlund had a career night in the Vikigs’ 37-35 win, with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall’s Kendall Osborne whips a pass to a teammate while Montague defenders close in during Friday’s game at Montague.

Big Vikes win • Andy Roberts/Mirror continued on page 5

Herremans’ clutch 3 wins game for ‘Cats against Hart By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor MONTAGUE — Montague and Hart played a tough, physical game Tuesday night, and fittingly it was offensive rebounding that brought the Wildcats the winning play in a 51-46 victory. With the game tied at 45 after a Pirates’ three-pointer, Montague grabbed two offensive boards on its next possession and found Cole Herremans, who buried a three-pointer to put his team ahead for good. The late rebounds were a welcome sight for coach Nick Thaler, who said the team helped allow Hart back into the game in the middle two quarters by not pursuing loose balls well enough. “I felt like our guys kind of coasted through that first half a little bit,” Thaler said. “We were not going for those 50/50 balls. We were looking at the basketball bounce on the floor rather than going to get it. I felt like they were the aggressor towards those 50/50 balls.” The Wildcats looked to be comfortably ahead early as Owen Raeth ran the show on offense, making a pair of shots and distributing the ball well. Isaiah

Montague’s Isaiah Atchison blocks a shot by Hart’s Caleb Ackley during Tuesday’s game at Montague. The Wildcats edged Hart, 51-46. Montague’s Owen Raeth manevers through the Hart defense as the first-quarter • Andy Roberts/Mirror buzzer nears during Tuesday’s game at Montague. Atchison was a defensive force in the • Andy Roberts/Mirror first half as well, with several blocked “I was really impressed with Hart there.” shots. In the second and third quar- and their toughness and their effort Blake Weirich created a lot of the ters, Hart threw some different defen- tonight,” Thaler said. “Coach (Nick) headaches for Montague on the Wildsive looks at the Wildcats, who weren’t Bronsema had those kids ready to play, cats’ defensive end; the Pirates’ junior always successful in adjusting. The two and they played hard. They came out guard had 22 points and 11 assists, teams traded the lead several times in and played a longer zone. Their length, hitting several big shots to keep Hart that span. Kellan Francis scored five on film, it doesn’t do them justice. close. straight points to end the first half, in- They really are a big, long team and cluding a breakaway layup that barely that bothered us in the middle frames beat the second-quarter buzzer. continued on page 5

‘Cats beat Hart

THE OCEANA ECHO FEBRUARY THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR FEBRUARY2, 2,2024 2024 21 5

‘Cats beat Hart

Montague’s Isaiah Atchison starts a drive against a pair of Hart defenders during Tuesday’s game at Montague. The Wildcats won, 51-46. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Big Vikes win

the possession arrow. She then got the ball again and returned to the free throw line, where she drained a pair of shots. Montague got back to within a point in the final minute when Adilynn Peterson hit a putback basket. Montague coach Jess DeBruin credited Peterson with showing on-court leadership when it was needed late. “Adi Peterson took control of the ball and started running things and tried to get some offense going,” DeBruin said. “That’s what’s going to have to happen in those situations.” Montague got one final chance to tie it up with 22 seconds to go, but after a timeout, couldn’t get a clear look at the basket, giving Whitehall the dramatic win. “We may face them again in the districts and I’m sorry, but they’d better watch out because we’re out for them now,” DeBruin smiled. For Milliron and the Vikings, the sweet win brought back memories of last season, when the un-

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Montague was able to overcome its struggles in large part due to strong contributions throughout the roster. Paul Olson had seven fourth-quarter points to end the night with 12 in all, Raeth had a teambest 13 points despite being in foul trouble much of the game, and Herremans’ winning trey put him in double figures with 10.

Atchison chipped in ““The more guys that nine points while fight- are scoring, it makes it ing through what Thaler harder to key on certain called a physical battle guys for us,” Thaler said. for rebounds in the paint.

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The Rockets earned a signature win over the #2-ranked Big Reds to take command of the O-K Green. Travis Ambrose had a triple-double, with 24 points, 15 rebounds and 10 blocks. Marvin Moore added 14 points.

Sports in Brief Boys Basketball Whitehall 66 Newaygo 47 Whitehall remained unbeaten with another impressive road win. Camden Thompson had 19 points and 18 rebounds for the Vikings (14-0), and Ca’Mar Ready added 13 points.

Reeths-Puffer 53 Zeeland West 51 The Rockets hung on for a big road win, setting up a massive conference clash with Muskegon. Travis Ambrose led R-P with 15 points, Jaxson Whitaker had 11 and Marvin Moore chipped in 10.

Reeths-Puffer 63 Muskegon 45

N. Muskegon 47 Montague 45 Montague led the unbeaten Norsemen in the final minute, but the visitors stole the ball to score the tying basket, then won the game at the free throw line. Paul Olson and Isaiah Atchison each had 11 points. “Great game with #8 in Division 3,” Montague coach Nick Thaler said.

Girls Basketball Zeeland West 43 Reeths-Puffer 32 R-P struggled to get its offense untracked. Brooklynn Tornes led the way, scoring 18 points Irelyn Niklasch had 12 rebounds.

Newaygo 43 Whitehall 40 (OT) Whitehall controlled the first three quarters, but a furious 19-5 rally by the Lions forced overtime and led to defeat. Lexi Daggett led all scorers, putting in 17 points for the Vikes.

Montague 43 Oakridge 35

Montague’s Amanda Cederquist keeps a tight hold on a rebound while Clare Westerlund (left) and Allie Van Antwerp make things more difficult for her during Friday’s game at Montague. • Andy Roberts/Mirror derdog team upset the Wildcats for the district title on the same floor. “We played a terrible 16 minutes to begin with, and then they found a way to come back,” Milliron said. “We talked about it in the locker room. They believed us, and that’s a huge part of being able Montague’s Adilynn Peterson to understand that in high school stands tall against Whitehall’s basketball, anything can happen.” Lucy Zamojcin. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Vikes plan to bounce back after rules violation leads to senior night forfeits By Andy Roberts

White Lake Mirror Editor WHITEHALL — “Every coach’s nightmare,” said Whitehall assistant coach Craig Christensen, became unfortunate reality Wednesday night at Whitehall’s senior night tri when a rules technicality resulted in the Vikings being forced to forfeit a dual to Montague. In wrestling, teams conduct weigh-ins the night before each competition. Each wrestler’s weight is recorded and placed on the roster sheet that’s submitted to opposing coaches and match officials prior to the action. In this case, the Vikings’ roster Whitehall’s Jason Smith and Montague’s Maverick sheet had one wrestler listed without a weight, mak- Osborne grapple during a bout at Wednesday’s Whitehall ing him ineligible to take the mat that evening. Tri. • Andy Roberts/Mirror The Whitehall/Fremont match, which the Vikings dominated 72-6, came and went without the error being caught, but during the dual with Montague, Wildcats’ coach Kris Maddox reported the issue to the scorers’ table. Officials were left with no recourse, by rule, but to call off the rest of the dual. Christensen said it was likely the Vikings would also have to forfeit the Fremont dual. Adding to the frustration of the evening for the Vikings was that real-life circumstances likely played a role in the error; head coach Justin Zeerip dealt with a family emergency that had his family in Grand Rapids until past midnight Tuesday night. Christensen ran the weigh-in, and it was in the process of communicating the weights to one another that a number was omitted.

Whitehall Tri continued on page 6

Fremont’s Joe Campbell goes for a takedown of Montague’s Chris Evans during Wednesday’s Whitehall Tri.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

The Wildcats played a strong offensive 2nd half to pick up a big WMC Lakes road win. Adilynn Peterson and Addison Pranger each had 12 points. “We made some adjustments at the half and were able to capitalize in the 2nd half,” Montague coach Jess DeBruin said.

Muskegon 55 Reeths-Puffer 40 Brooklynn Tornes carried the Rockets’ offense, scoring 28 points. Irelyn Niklasch grabbed 10 rebounds. Mariah Sain put up 21 points for the Big Reds, who sit in first place in the O-K Green Conference.

Wrestling Whitehall goes 3-1 at Rick Champion Duals Whitehall scored a 44-21 win over Division 2 #8 Allendale to close the tournament. The Vikes’ only loss was by a point to Division 1 Hudsonville, which erased four Whitehall leads in the final 30 seconds of bouts. Whitehall wrestlers to go 4-0 were Darnell Mack, Gavin Craner, Ryne Christensen and Cody Manzo.

Montague 4-1 at Randy Jacobs Duals It was a strong day for the Wildcats, who won their first four matches before falling to Hamilton in the finals. Chris Aebig and Fletcher Thommen each earned 5-0 records on the day.

Montague girls take 2nd at Hastings Invite Only Hastings, which had over double the wrestlers of the Wildcats, finished ahead of Montague in the meet. Stars Savannah Winkleblack, Emma Pendell and Ava Pelton each earned first-place finishes.

Reeths-Puffer goes 3-2 at Shelby Super Duals The Rockets recorded wins over Grant, Sparta and Mason County Central before falling to Cedar Springs and Division 3 ranked Hart. Arin Maynard, Jake Rozycki and Ian Cook led R-P with 5-0 records.

R-P wins twice at home quad

Nathan Stafford’s 100th career victory was the highlight of the Rockets’ successful night. R-P routed conference foe Wyoming, 79-0, and edged Belding by a 36-32 score to close the regular season.

Cheer

Reeths-Puffer wins home invite The Rockets posted a three-round score of 733.7 points to take the top spot at its home meet. R-P earned 297.5 points in the final round to secure the win over 2nd-place Fruitport.

Bowling Whitehall splits matches with Fremont The Viking boys defeated Fremont by an 18.5-11.5 score. Mason Inglis and Mason Slaughter led the way, rolling a 177 and 176 respectively. The girls team lost, 22-8, with Ava Garcia’s 163 the top score.

R-P girls top Mona Shores The Rockets dominated, 21-9. Ella Mattson paced the girls with a high game of 175. The boys fell, 27-3. Liam Copenhaver led with a 181.

Quinn Alderink wins boys title at R-P Invite Alderink bowled a three-game series of 625 to take the top spot among boys bowlers at the tournament. Bianca Kammers led the girls with an 11tgh-place finish. The girls team also reached the team semifinals.

Whitehall earns 27-3 wins over Kent City Both Viking teams won by the same score Monday.Mason Slaughter had another big day, bowling games of 204 and 190. Ava Garcia rolled a 157 to top girls players, and Felicity Dingman had a 147.

R-P teams wallop Allendale The Rocket girls won, 28-2, and the boys took a 27-3 win. Bianca Kammers led R-P girls with a 185, and Liam Copenhaver bowled a 221 to top Rocket boys players.

Whitehall boys defeat Ravenna The Vikings rolled to a 21-9 win. Mason Slaughter bowled a 189 and Phoenix Hoffmeyer had a 180. The girls team fell by a 21-9 margin. Ava Garcia bowled a 160 and Jersey Pierson rolled a 159.

Hockey Reeths-Puffer 3 Tawas 1 The Rockets controlled the game offensively, outshooting Tawas 45-9. Dewey Modaff, Croix Klint and Connor Stawski scored in the win.

Reeths-Puffer 8 Dexter 0 The game only lasted two periods due to the mercy rule. Jaxon Stone had a huge game, with two goals and three assists. Tyler Tindall had 2 goals, and Ayden Hartzell and Eli Cuti each had a goal and 2 assists.

22 FEBRUARY2,2,2024 2024 THE THEWHITE OCEANA ECHO 6 FEBRUARY LAKE MIRROR

Thompson now Whitehall alltime leading scorer, voted most underrated in country By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor Whitehall junior Camden Thompson surpassed Jaren Edsall to become the Vikings’ all-time leading scorer Monday night during the team’s 59-58 overtime win at Mona Shores. Thompson earned the top scorer title with a first-half layup against the Sailors. The Viking star struggled shooting the ball Monday, but still had a big impact on the win, going for 13 points, 20 rebounds and six assists. He now has 1,124 career points. Edsall’s previous record was 1,112 points. Kyle Stratton paced Whitehall offensively, scoring 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-4 attempts from beyond the arc. He also had four

assists and four steals as the Vikings remained unbeaten on the year. They are ranked #5 in the state in Division 2. In addition to his new spot atop the Vikings’ scoring leaderboard, Thompson got some Thompson attention this week when a nationwide fan vote on Scorebook Live named him the most underrated high school boys basketball player in the country. Thompson collected over 20,000 votes, edging Ikee Brooks of Hansberry (Illinois) High School.

Whitehall Tri “We have fail-safes in place that all collapsed,” Christensen said. “As an assistant coach, when he hands me the weigh-in sheet, it’s assumed I’m going to look at it, and I glanced at it and assumed everything was okay and it wasn’t. Another coach looked at it and just didn’t see it. “I’ll say this, I’ve coached with a million other guys and Justin Zeerip is the most attention-to-detail coach I’ve ever been around.” While the frustration from the night’s events was palpable Wednesday, Christensen said the Viking wrestlers were the last people who needed cheering up after the dust had settled. Wednesday’s was the final regular season match; from here, it’s a sprint of high-stakes meets, from the West Michigan Conference tournament Friday to next week’s districts and beyond. “Montague didn’t do anything wrong,” Christensen said. “They won the dual. It happened. But our guys are chewing barbed wire and spitting rivets. They’re ready to go. Sometimes, at the end of a long season, you look for things and ways to motivate yourselves, especially as a young kid. They’re ready to go to work tomorrow and that’s not always the case in a midweek dual or the next day at practice. Their parting words were, ‘Let’s get back to work.’” Christensen said on the mat, apart from minor technical tweaks, the coaches saw nothing they disliked from the Viking wrestlers, who had built up a 47-0 lead against Montague before the snafu arose. The only Whitehall loss wrestled on the mat came at the hands of Fremont’s all-state star Tee Ward. Darnell Mack, Ryan Goodrich, Blake Morningstar, Cody Manzo, Jason Smith, Kolten Weiler, Nolan Taranko and Liam Leeke pinned their Fremont foes. For Montague, it was an unorth-

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Whitehall’s Ryan Goodrich keeps Montague’s Tyler Risch on the mat during Wednesday’s Whitehall Tri.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Local coaches earn honors

Reeths-Puffer girls tennis coach Ryan Hankinson (right in photo at left) and Whitehall boys track coach Kirk Mikkelson each were recently awarded coach of the year honors. Hankinson was named Division 2 state coach of the year by his peers, while Mikkelson picked up a regional coach of the year award, also in Division 2. • Courtesy Photos

Tannery Bay closes in on final phase of construction By Andy Roberts the time frame to devel- revenues that it no longer White Lake Mirror Editor op something I’m proud receives due to industrial of and that has provided personal property now Eastbrook Homes great new residents for being tax-exempt. He CEO Mick McGraw, who Whitehall.” said the state promised to led the charge to develMcGraw noted Tan- backfill the lost revenue, op part of Whitehall’s nery Bay will provide an but the city has only reWhite Lake shoreline area of “about 1.75 acres” ceived “80-85 percent” of into what is now Tannery on its north end for city the funds so far. Bay, thanked the Whiteuse, as was confirmed at There was also an hall Tax Increment and a 2023 city council meet- update on a pair of park Finance Authority (TIFA) ing, and presented the projects. Huebler reportboard last Thursday at the city a $30,000 check to ed that the Goodrich Park board’s meeting for its help start the process of renovation project has help in making the develdeveloping that land into added plans for lights that opment happen. a public park. will be spread throughout “Over 20 years ago Also during the TIFA the park; the original plan now, I came up to Whitemeeting, the board field- was only to put lights by hall and visited with ed a request for $3,000 to the marina. The poles for Scott,” McGraw said, help sponsor the annual those lights are set to be referring to city managWalk the Beat White Lake delivered within a month er Scott Huebler. “We festival, set to return to or so, with installation looked at this old buildthe area in July. Huebler scheduled for completion ing on Lake Drive, where said the festival is one of by the end of March. The Tannery Bay is now...It four the TIFA board helps Goodrich parking lot will was a scary old building, a sponsor, along with White also be doubled in size to unique and old building. Lake history cruises, the enhance public access to That began a long periannual July 4 fireworks the area. od of time of figuring out and an Arts Council of The planned pocket what to do with this site, White Lake-Nuveen Cen- park on Colby Street will which is now Tannery ter event. Huebler said also be tweaked. OrigBay.” he views the $3,000 as inal plans for an openMcGraw said when a worth it given how much air facility for the pocket local environmental chief foot traffic Walk the Beat park proved to be more gave him a tour of that old drew to the area last sum- expensive than a brickbuilding, he saw a sign mer; Walk the Beat board and-mortar option. The on it that read “Welcome member Kevin Goff said park will also include a to hell.” He joked that the the city estimated about public restroom, a wall to sign pretty much ended 3,500 attended. The re- display juried art, pedeshis original idea of renoquest was tabled for the trian seating, and some vating the building into time being. vegetation. Huebler said part of a new complex. Huebler added that the pocket park project is The occasion for Mcthe city has not yet been going out for bid any day Graw’s presentation was made whole for the now, with a summer conthat Tannery Bay, he said, roughly $1 million in tax struction planned. is closing in on development of the final phase of WHITE RIVER TOWNSHIP the project. He said about 15 homes are in progress NOTICE OF FEBRUARY MEETING DATE CHANGE for this final phase. “I started that project The February White River Township Board Meeting as a young man,” McGraw will be held on Monday, February 12th @ 7:00 PM said. “I was 53 then, and (Not the usual second Tuesday) I’m now 74. If someone This will be followed by a budget planning meeting. had told me I would be 74

odox way to have a 2-0 night, but the Wildcats were pleased with their 4333 win over Fremont in the first dual of the evening, which came down to the final bout before Kaiden Jeffery scored a pin to clinch it. Savannah Winkleblack had one of the more dramatic wins against Fremont, earning a pin, and Tyler Risch and Maverick Osborne also scored pins in that dual. “We wrestled well against Fremont,” Maddox said. “We had some lineup changes and we did well. That’s a good day for us there...We’re building on the little things and then improving on those. That’s what we’re looking to do, is grow from the little stuff.” While the Vikings would never have gotten to where they are as a program by taking the districts for granted, even as heavy favorites, the added motivation of picking up their coach could create an impressive sight as Whitehall begins its quest for Kalamazoo. “We were just talking about this at practice on Monday,” Christensen said. “In our culture, in our wrestling room, failure happens, and we pick each other up, and those boys can’t wait to pick (Zeerip) up. They’d run by the time we got to the through a burning wall for him, and last days, I’d have said, they’re ready to do just that on Friday.” ‘I’m out.’ But it allowed us

Respectfully submitted,

Patti Sargent, Clerk

whitelakemirror@gmail.com • February 2, 2024 • Volume 1 • Issue 12 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.

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