The Oceana Echo - Volume 2, Issue 34, Jan. 17, 2025 by theoceanaecho

Village of Shelby completes Sixth Street hill sidewalk project

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Shelby Village Administrator Phil Morse gave a public “shoutout” to Shelby Township Zoning Administrator Bill Glover at the Village of Shelby’s Dec. 9 council meeting. Glover was project manager for the long-awaited Sixth Street hill sidewalk reconstruction leading to the cemetery. The project was finally completed at the end of last year. “Bill was there almost every day. He was meticulous and made sure it was done right. As a result, it’s probably going to last 100 years,” said Morse.

Recent posts on the Village of Shelby YouTube channel shorts videos include recently installed Getty Park security cameras, how to operate the fireplace at Getty Park pavilion, snowmobile parking at Getty Park and the village’s sidewalk snow clearing and maintenance procedure. Com-

munity members are invited to subscribe to “Village of Shelby 218” on YouTube to hear these important updates. The posts are listed under the “Shorts” tab.

In preparation for the closing of the Shelby United Methodist Church building in December, the Village of Shelby and Shelby Township had discussed the possible shared ownership of the building as a Village/Township Hall.

“After looking at the cost of utilities, without a guarantee of income to help offset the costs, my recommendation is that we pass on the idea for now. The township has voted to pass on the idea for now as well,” stated Morse in his report to council Monday.

Morse has posted the Shelby Chainsaw Carving Festival on Facebook and has 257 people interested in the event. He is currently connecting with more carvers and food truck vendors in hopes of holding the festival in early July.

Shelby Chief of Police Dean Roesler was pleased to announce the police department was the recipient of a new AED (Automated External Defibrillator) from the Heykoop family in memory of Shelby icon, Darwin “Doc” Heykoop, who passed away in December. Roesler went on to report that both patrol cars now have AEDs, and he is pricing out another unit for the village hall.

New Community English course is a success

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

This past December, West Shore Community College (WSCC), in partnership with the Oceana Hispanic Center, completed its first-ever Community English course. For their final assignment, 14 ESL (English as a Second Language) students from Oceana County gave 10-minute presentations to small groups of students and staff in the college’s library during finals week. Their presentations relayed their experiences as part of the class and discussed the strategies they used to further their grasp of the English language.

“Everyone at the college is still talking about how successful this first class and experience was,” Administrative Assistant - Student Records for WSCC and Oceana Hispanic Center Director Irma Hinojosa said. “As the area’s Hispanic population has increased, we have been wanting to offer a college-level class to not only help individuals improve their English-speaking abilities, but increase their comprehension, so that they could someday take other college courses.”

The idea of a Community English class actually began back in 2019, Hinojosa said. However, due to the lack of an available instructor followed by the pandemic, the class had to be delayed.

Following graduation in May of 2024, Hinojosa set to work getting the course ready for the college’s fall semester. A list of possible students were contacted, class supplies were purchased with a grant requested by the Oceana Hispanic Center from the Oceana Community Foundation, and an instructor was found who was available to teach in the evenings.

“Our Associate Professor of English, Paula Rolim, was the perfect fit. A Brazilian by birth, English is Rolim’s second language as well. She taught the entire class in English and required her students to speak only English as well. In addition, the college provided an embedded Spanish-speaking tutor who was able to offer translation help when necessary,” Hinojosa said.

The Community English course was designed to provide a safe space where English learners can discuss language strategies and build confidence. One way that was accomplished was by practicing English with native speakers in the community, Rolim explained.

“The whole point of the class was to help non-native English

speakers enhance their comprehension and expression skills while connecting with their local community. Throughout the course, we focused on developing vocabulary, pronunciation, reading fluency, grammar, conversation, and presentation skills. During the fall semester, students shared their own stories and those of other community members. In the winter semester, we will continue the blog series, with each student presenting a project they develop to address a specific need or challenge in the community,” Rolim continued.

When asked what they found most helpful or eye-opening as a result of taking the class, student Victor Rodriguez shared that part of the class required students to record themselves reading or speaking their assignments. “We sent them to Professor Rolim on our Canvas account, and she would offer suggestions and corrections,” Rodriguez said. “We made our own flash cards for the words we didn’t know and practiced with each other in class.”

A big part of the class, Rodriguez said, was reading for comprehension and with the appropriate expression. One of the tools Rolim used was to show movie clips in English and have students explain what the characters were talking about.

Another student, Alma Navarrete, added, “I’m shy. The class pushed me to speak more. Everybody was speaking English. It gave me confidence. Not just speaking, but reading, studying, comprehending, and grammar. The class has helped out in everyday life.”

Student Gisela Hernandez confessed, “It was very hard, but a very good experience. I want to say it was a different way to learn. She pushed me to do better.”

“This was the very first English class I’d ever taken,” said Rodriguez. “Before, I just learned it at work. What I needed for my job. The class helped me a lot. I learned a lot of new words and how to talk to others. My supervisor (at work) asked me why I was going; he said, ‘You know English.’ But in my work I have to be able to read instructions (and) fill out paperwork. After the class I feel I can speak more

fluently.”

Since the completion of the class, Rodriguez, Navarrete and Hernandez talked about what they are currently doing to continue to improve their English-speaking skills.

“I try to speak English with my little ones. My oldest daughter is 22; she has helped me a lot. I ask her about certain words,” Hernandez said.

“I’m a homemaker and babysitter, so not a lot of practice with adults,” Navarette said. She excitedly took a copy of The Oceana Echo out of her bag that had the press release announcing their final project presentations. “I read The Oceana Echo every week!” she said.

“My supervisor notices a big difference. I’m a fabricator and welder. I want to go to college and get the certification I need,” Rodriguez said.

“The purpose of the class is to give students the confidence to go to the next level and take a college class. After this class, you’re all ready to,” Hinojosa told them. “West Shore is already looking at how to make the class better. Paula’s personality is perfect for this class. She is very engaging and fun. A second class session will be offered for the original 14 students plus two additional students starting Jan. 15, 2025.”

Language learning thrives in meaningful contexts and social interactions. The goal of the Community English course is to create opportunities for students to practice the language while actively contributing to this growing town, said Professor Rolim.

“The(se) students have learned so much and grown as community members. They took the challenge, traveled unknown ground, and in the end were successful and flourished through the process. This class gave them the opportunity to express themselves and bring light to treasured stories and experiences that they shared with the community. I cannot even begin to express how proud I am of each and every one of them. Watching this transition happen was remarkable, and I cannot wait to see what new things they learn and explore in the next class,” Hinojosa shared.

• Contributed Photo

El nuevo curso de Inglés Comunitario es un éxito

Por Sharon Hallack El Eco de Oceana Corresponsal Comunitario

Este pasado diciembre, el West Shore Community College (WSCC), en colaboración con el Oceana Hispanic Center, completó su primer curso de inglés comunitario. Para su tarea final, 14 estudiantes de ESL (Inglés como Segundo Idioma) del Condado de Oceana dieron presentaciones de 10 minutos a pequeños grupos de estudiantes y personal en la biblioteca de la universidad durante la semana de exámenes finales. Sus presentaciones transmitieron sus experiencias como parte de la clase y discutieron las estrategias que utilizaron para mejorar su comprensión del idioma inglés.

“Todos en el colegio todavía están hablando de lo exitosa que fue esta primera clase y experiencia,” dijo la Asistente Administrativa - Registros Estudiantiles de WSCC y Directora del Centro Hispano de Oceana, Irma Hinojosa. “A medida que la población hispana de la zona ha aumentado, hemos querido ofrecer una clase a nivel universitario no solo para ayudar a las personas a mejorar sus habilidades para hablar inglés, sino también para aumentar su comprensión, de modo que algún día puedan tomar otros cursos universitarios.”

La idea de una clase de inglés comunitaria en realidad comenzó en 2019, dijo Hinojosa. Sin embargo, debido a la falta de un instructor disponible y luego a la pandemia, la clase tuvo que ser retrasada.

Después de graduarse en mayo de 2024, Hinojosa se puso a trabajar para preparar el curso para el semestre de otoño de la universidad. Se contactó a una lista de posibles estudiantes, se compraron los suministros para la clase con una subvención solicitada por el Centro Hispano de Oceana a la Fundación Comunitaria de Oceana, y se encontró un instructor disponible para enseñar por las tardes.

“Nuestra profesora asociada de inglés, Paula Rolim, era la persona perfecta para el puesto.” Brasileña de nacimiento, el inglés también es el segundo idioma de Rolim. Ella enseñó toda la clase en inglés y también exigió que sus estudiantes hablaran solo en inglés. Además, la universidad proporcionó un tutor de habla hispana que podía ofrecer ayuda de traducción cuando fuera necesario,” dijo Hinojosa.

El curso de Inglés Comunitario fue diseñado para proporcionar un espacio seguro donde los estudiantes de inglés puedan discutir estrategias lingüísticas y ganar confianza. Una forma en que se logró esto fue practicando inglés con hablantes nativos en la comunidad, explicó Rolim. El objetivo principal de la clase era ayudar a los hablantes no nativos de inglés a mejorar sus habilidades de comprensión y expresión mientras se conectaban con su comunidad local. A

lo largo del curso, nos centramos en desarrollar el vocabulario, la pronunciación, la fluidez lectora, la gramática, la conversación y las habilidades de presentación. Durante el semestre de otoño, los estudiantes compartieron sus propias historias y las de otros miembros de la comunidad. En el semestre de invierno, continuaremos la serie de blogs, con cada estudiante presentando un proyecto que desarrollen para abordar una necesidad o desafío específico en la comunidad,” continuó Rolim. Cuando se le preguntó qué encontraron más útil o revelador como resultado de tomar la clase, el estudiante Victor Rodríguez compartió que parte de la clase requería que los estudiantes se grabaran leyendo o hablando sus tareas. “Se los enviamos a la profesora Rolim a través de nuestra cuenta de Canvas, y ella nos ofrecía sugerencias y correcciones,” dijo Rodríguez. “Hicimos nuestras propias tarjetas de memoria para las palabras que no conocíamos y practicamos entre nosotros en clase.”

Una gran parte de la clase, dijo Rodríguez, consistía en leer para comprender y con la expresión adecuada. Una de las herramientas que usó Rolim fue mostrar fragmentos de películas en inglés y hacer que los estudiantes explicaran de qué hablaban los personajes.

Otra estudiante, Alma Navarrete, añadió: “Soy tímida.” La clase me empujó a hablar más. Todos hablaban inglés. Me dio confianza. No solo hablar, sino leer, estudiar, comprender y gramática. La clase ha ayudado en la vida cotidiana.

La estudiante Gisela Hernández confesó: “Fue muy difícil, pero una muy buena experiencia.” Quiero decir que fue una forma diferente de aprender. Ella me empujó a hacerlo mejor.

“Esta fue la primera clase de inglés que tomé,” dijo Rodríguez. “Antes, solo lo aprendía en el trabajo.” Lo que necesitaba para mi trabajo. La clase me ayudó mucho. Aprendí muchas palabras nuevas y cómo hablar con los demás. Mi supervisor (en el trabajo) me preguntó por qué iba; dijo, ‘Tú sabes inglés.’ Pero en mi trabajo tengo que poder leer instrucciones y llenar formularios. Después de la clase siento que puedo hablar con más fluidez.

Local school districts launch new apps

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Need to know what’s happening at your local school district? Four local school districts have recently rolled out apps, available to download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store; giving users quick access on their mobile devices.

Desde la finalización de la clase, Rodríguez, Navarrete y Hernández hablaron sobre lo que están haciendo actualmente para seguir mejorando sus habilidades para hablar inglés.

Intento hablar inglés con mis pequeños. Mi hija mayor tiene 22 años; me ha ayudado mucho. Le pregunto sobre ciertas palabras,” dijo Hernández.

“Soy ama de casa y niñera, así que no tengo mucha práctica con adultos,” dijo Navarette. Ella sacó emocionada una copia de The Oceana Echo de su bolso que tenía el comunicado de prensa anunciando sus presentaciones finales de proyectos. “¡Leo The Oceana Echo cada semana!” dijo ella.

“Mi supervisor nota una gran diferencia.” Soy un fabricante y soldador. Quiero ir a la universidad y obtener la certificación que necesito,” dijo Rodríguez.

“El propósito de la clase es darles a los estudiantes la confianza para pasar al siguiente nivel y tomar una clase universitaria.” Después de esta clase, ya están listos para ello,” les dijo Hinojosa. “West Shore ya está buscando cómo mejorar la clase.” La personalidad de Paula es perfecta para esta clase. Es muy atractiva y divertida. Se ofrecerá una segunda sesión de clases para los 14 estudiantes originales más dos estudiantes adicionales a partir del 15 de enero de 2025.

El aprendizaje de idiomas prospera en contextos significativos e interacciones sociales. El objetivo del curso de Inglés Comunitario es crear oportunidades para que los estudiantes practiquen el idioma mientras contribuyen activamente a esta ciudad en crecimiento, dijo el Profesor Rolim.

“Estos estudiantes han aprendido mucho y han crecido como miembros de la comunidad.” Aceptaron el desafío, recorrieron terrenos desconocidos y al final tuvieron éxito y florecieron a lo largo del proceso. Esta clase les dio la oportunidad de expresarse y dar a conocer historias y experiencias valiosas que compartieron con la comunidad. No puedo empezar a expresar lo orgulloso que estoy de cada uno de ellos. Ver esta transición fue extraordinario, y no puedo esperar a ver qué nuevas cosas aprenden y exploran en la próxima clase,” compartió Hinojosa.

Links are available on the landing pages of the following district’s websites: Hart Public Schools, www.hartschools.net; Hesperia Community Schools, www.hesp.net; Pentwater Public Schools, www.pentwaterschools. net; and Shelby Public Schools, www.shelbypublicschools.net.

The apps feature scaled-down versions of each district’s websites but still offer plenty of usable information for parents, students, staff or community members. And once the app is downloaded, users can choose which building or buildings they wish to receive notifications from and how they wish to be notified.

“We are getting good feedback…I run into people at events, and they indicated that they saw the event on the app. In a town like Pentwater in the winter months, you are looking for something to do; take a look and see what’s happening at the school,” shared Pentwater Schools Superintendent Craig Barter.

Each district app offers a built-in social media platform called “Live Feed.” “It’s like Facebook but with a more intimate feel to the users, especially if the end user is on the mobile app. It’s not intended to be seen by just anyone, explained Phil DeBrot, I.T. for Hart. The Live Feed is geared more toward those who are using the app, he said.

“The app works well to relay information from the district and for parents to make contact with teachers and other school staff with a

few finger taps on their phone. The aim is to have the app and website foster continued updates to parents and the overall community,” Shelby Schools Superintendent Mark Olmstead added. Each app’s primary function is social media, school notifications, web links, and a few other important documents available for viewing, DeBrot said. “Also featured on the new app is a ‘News’ section, more like a news column featuring things like new employees, retirements, or school services or events that need to be announced and shared longer than a typical social media feed,” said DeBrot.

We know that most people have a cell phone, but not all people want social media. It is a great way to stay informed about a school and skip past the drama,” said Hart Public Schools Superintendent Mark Platt. In addition, an “Events” section is synced with district calendars (per building) and provides specific dates, times and locations for district events or activities. A built-in mass “Notification Service” allows system administrators to do a social media post or send an important notification, such as a school closing, with just a few clicks. DeBrot said the system has the capability of sending a mass notification to Live Feed, Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, Notifications (in the mobile app), SMS, voice call and email all at the same time.

“We love the app for all the ways we can communicate with parents via the HPS app. If we have a bus delay or need to cancel an event, I can do this from my phone in real time. It really streamlines the process and ensures we get the information out to parents the quickest way possible, even when we are not in our offices or at a desktop computer,” Hart Central Office Executive Assistant Kelli Campagna added.

Friday, January 24 9:00-5:00 Saturday, January 25 9:00-1:00

Items are Free

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This page is brought to you by:

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

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

By Caleb Jackson

The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

The history of Crystal Township really begins with an 1855 government treaty, by which the Native American tribes in the Grand River area gave up their lands for a reservation to the North. In 1857-1858, those few Native tribes arrived in Pentwater via steamer ships, and then traveled to their new homes in Elbridge and Crystal townships. The government sought to furnish the reservation with schools, teachers and a blacksmith, and so on July 27, 1861, Jared. H. Gay arrived in Crystal.

He served as the town blacksmith for a salary of $600. It is around Gay’s blacksmith shop that the town of Crystal Valley began to take shape. In fact, it was Mr. Gay’s wife, Catherine Gay, who named the township, and it was “the beautiful crystal streams of water” that suggested the name to her.

The first white settler after Mr. Gay was a man named Dr. James J. Kitteredge, who located on section 16 in the fall of 1863. Funnily enough, the doctor had moved to Crystal in an attempt to abandon his medical practice and take up the farm life instead, but we are told, “it was of no avail, as the settlers were urgent for his services, and the demands of suffering humanity were

too much for the kind-hearted doctor…”

Later in the same year, one Charles Willet arrived with his brother-in-law, Albert Aldridge, who was only 18 at the time. A man named George Lammon commenced homesteading 160 acres on Section 8 in 1864. William Murch and his son-in-law, Marion Huff, took up homesteading on Section 7 in 1866.

By this time, the township was already underway. Jared Gay began trying to separate the township of Crystal from Weare in 1865. At first, there were not enough registered voters, so he deeded lands to some of the other settlers; George Lammon, Charles Willet, and Albert Aldridge. However, there was some pushback from parties in Elbridge and Weare. Gay had to hire a lawyer out of Pentwater “to advocate his cause.”

He was eventually successful. Crystal Township was set apart from Weare in 1865, and the first town meeting was held in Gay’s blacksmith shop. Crystal Township in these early days was much bigger. It included present-day Crystal and Colfax. Colfax wouldn’t be set apart until 1869.

One interesting story from the old days of Crystal tells of a man named Henry Cole, who became buried in his own well and sur-

vived. This happened on April 24, 1871. Mr. Cole climbed down into his well to retrieve a dropped bucket. Near the bottom he used one of the stones in the wall as a step, and it collapsed, burying him under 26feet of stone and dirt.

To help extract him, a “scientific well digger” named D. R. Walters came and carefully removed the stones for 12 and a half hours. As they drew closer, they were surprised to find Mr. Cole conscious and praying. A single stone weighing 25 pounds was resting directly on Mr. Cole’s head, and yet he received only bruising, with no serious injuries.

The two sources that record this event conclude it differently. Hartwick and Tuller’s books claim that Cole attributed his deliverance, “directly to the help of God.” Meanwhile, Page’s History of Oceana County says, “Some think it would have been as well if he had passed away when he was a ‘praying man,’ as he afterwards went back on the record.”

When Crystal was serving as a reservation, the Native Americans would receive an annual pension from the U.S. government. We are told that “these annual Indian ‘pension meetings’ were great events for the Indians and the early white settlers.” Well, one of these meetings was recorded in Page’s Histo-

ry of Oceana, as it would seem the government tried to pay them off in greenbacks, a type of paper currency issued during the Civil War that was not backed by the gold standard of the time.

This resulted in nearly 1,200 Native Americans residing at Gay’s for three to four weeks. During that time, they consumed, “five fat oxen, one cow and one heifer and…16 barrels of pork….” Mrs. Gay had five female cooks at her employ, and John Bean Jr. sent in 18 barrels of cider “to drown their grief.” The story is concluded with, “but John R. Robinson knew what would do better than this, as he had stronger liquors. He kept a barrel. The Indians were paid in greenbacks.”

Places of Oceana County – Country Dairy and the Coal Kilns

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

I enjoyed reading Caleb Jackson’s history article describing the coal kilns of Oceana County. Some of the kilns built in New Era, were located on the 40 acres my grandfather, Andrew, purchased in the late 1800s – land between the present-day Country Dairy farm store and the railroad. The kilns were gone when Andrew bought the land; however, when he plowed the land for an asparagus field, the bricks left behind were proof of their existence. The bricks were used around the farm; my dad even made an outdoor stove for family cookouts with them. With

Grandpa Andrew’s help, I wrote a history of the kilns for a 4-H project and won a blue ribbon!

by scanning the QR code at right or

Ongoing

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

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

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

WEDNESDAYS: Love INC and True North Housing Assistance satellite open by appointment throughout the winter months. Please call 231-861-4880 to make an appointment. Walkerville Wesleyan Church, 144 S. Hamon St.

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

1 st & 3 rd

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

1st & 3rd

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

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

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

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

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

Last FRIDAYS: Free Soup Suppers, Newman Christian Community Church, 4075 S. 132nd Ave., Hesperia, 5:30-7 p.m.

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

The Ladder Community Center:

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

M-F: “The Huddle” for 6th-12th grade youth, 3-5 p.m.

Tuesdays: Knitting Group, 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays: Celebrate worship gathering, 6:30 p.m.

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

Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

Upcoming Blood Drives set for Jan. 27 and Feb. 6

The Oceana community is invited to celebrate National Blood Donor Month and potentially save a life by donating a pint of blood at one of two upcoming Versiti blood drives. Regular and new donors can donate either Monday, Jan. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or Thursday, Feb. 6 from 2-6:30 p.m. Both drives will take place at the West Michigan Research Station located at 5185 N. Oceana Dr. in Hart

“I’ve been donating blood for nine years, and I can’t say enough about what a worthwhile experience it has been. The highly trained staff ensures the experience is as comfortable, efficient and as fun as possible. It is so gratifying to know I’m helping someone who may need it for their cancer treatments, after an organ-replacement surgery or as the result of an accident. I’ve had all three of those needs happen to loved ones and friends in the last year. Even though they probably didn’t receive my blood, I know my donations have been put to good use helping someone else’s loved ones,” said Sharon Hallack.

“For 2025 we’d like to encourage any donor, new or regular, to consider donating double-red cells at an upcoming blood drive. Double-red donations help patients who need larger volumes of blood cells, such as those undergoing heart surgery, trauma recovery, or cancer treatments. Trauma patients may require up to four to six units of red blood cells to stabilize, while surgical patients often need two to four. A person’s one double-red donation provides two units of red blood cells, which could help multiple patients at once. And the best part is you only need to donate half as often!” said Hart Community Coordinator Kathy Roskam. According to Versiti, every pint of blood donated at upcoming drives will go directly to Michigan hospitals for patients needing lifesaving blood. The blood donated could help save the life of a family member or friend; please consider joining in this important effort. “We have a pool of aging donors,” Roskam said, adding that she would like to encourage younger donors to consider donating in the new year.

Roskam can be reached at 231-861-6353 or krcmmom@hotmail.com. Interested donors can also register at https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/ drive_schedule/11599760 or by calling 866-642-5663.

HAPL to host Bring Your Child to the Library Day

Hart Area Public Library will be hosting Bring Your Child to the Library Day on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children of all ages will enjoy a lifesized game of Candy Land. Check in at the front desk with your family or friend group and receive your game spinner. Then follow the colored squares through the Peppermint Forest, Lollipop Woods, past the Snowflake Lake and the Chocolate Swamp to get to the Candy Castle. When you finish your game, you can head over to the Hart Community Center for the Friends of the Library Book and Bake Sale. The book sale will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Book and DVD donations are currently being accepted at the library. For more information, contact the Hart Area Public Library at 231-873-4476 or email librarian@hartpubliclibrary.org.

January

Jan. 18 - Storytime, Ferry Community Center, 10-11 a.m.

Jan. 19 - “Horszowski Trio” piano performance, Hart Public Schools Auditorium, 3 p.m.

Jan. 20 - Classic Movie Matinee, Pentwater Twp. Library, 2-4 p.m.

Jan. 20 - After School Movie, Hesp. Comm. Library, 3:30-5 p.m.

Jan. 21 - Story Hour with Miss Tiff, SADL, 10-11 a.m.

Jan. 21 - Tech Time, Hesperia Comm. Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Board Meeting, Community Room, 4:30-6 p.m.

Jan. 21 - Share Our Stories, The Ladder, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Jan. 24 - Story Time, Hesperia Community Library, 10-11 a.m.

Jan. 25 - K of C spelling bee, St. Gregory Catholic Church, 214 S. Peach Ave., Hart, noon

Jan. 25 - Silent Book Club, Shelby Area District Library, 1-2 p.m.

Jan. 27 - Versiti Blood Drive, West Michigan Research Station, 5185 N. Oceana Dr., Hart, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Jan. 28 - Tech Time, Hesperia Comm. Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Adult Book Club, 2-3 p.m. and Adult Craft Night, 6-7 p.m.

Sharing the History of Medicine at The Ladder

The Ladder Community Center in Shelby invites all adults 18 and up to join them Tuesday, Jan. 21 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. for Share Our Stories (SOS). This month’s SOS theme will be “The History of Medicine.” They will discuss how the practice of medicine has changed in our lifetimes. Share your memories of doctors, nurses and hospitals in Oceana County. Interesting medical textbooks and ledgers that belonged to Hart’s Dr. L.P. Munger will be presented.

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

To inquire about an event, or with ideas for future topics of interest for SOS, call The Ladder at 231-259-0211. Visit theladdercommunitycenter.com to view all upcoming events.

Hart and Shelby seek feedback through surveys

It’s a new year of possibilities for everyone, everywhere, including the City of Hart and the Village of Shelby. Both entities are asking for the community’s input on two separate initiatives, and each has active surveys going on now!

The City of Hart is seeking input from the community regarding the Hart Historic District located at 570 Lincoln St. in Hart. As the city looks to more fully utilize this historic property, the community is asked to provide input and suggestions related to its building and property uses into the future.

The Village of Shelby is asking for input from community members in a survey related to downtown features and people’s possible involvement in future initiatives. Survey questions ask the public to rate the importance of such downtown elements as buildings, lighting, sidewalks, art, landscaping, gathering activities, festivals and the like.

Both surveys are open to the general public, and both have fields where people can write in suggestions and give comments. Both surveys can be completed in under 10 minutes. One can also visit https://www.takemetohart.org/survey to complete the Hart Historic District survey. Paper copies are also available at the City of Hart office, Village of Shelby office and The Ladder Community Center in Shelby. Both municipalities emphasized that everyone’s input is valuable. Participation in either of these surveys will help leaders in the coming months as they strive to make positive impacts in their respective municipalities.

Registration open for K of C spelling bee in Hart

Knights of Columbus Hart Council 2199 is set to host its annual countywide spelling bee, Saturday, Jan. 25 at noon. All spellers who place in local competition are eligible to compete at the regional level, with regional winners to proceed to the state level bee. Youth from grades 4, 5 and 6, and 7, 8 and 9 are eligible and will spell against others from their grade bracket. No school affiliation is required.

Oceana spellers have proudly carried the state championship title twice within the last five years. Please consider helping your child or grandchild pursue excellence. Registration is free. Refreshments will be provided. Current word lists are available for study via the QR codes at right. For further information and to register your speller or spellers, please contact Nathan Kroon at (231) 845-5436. Level I Level II

Downtown Shelby ViSion SurVey

From casual grocery store conversation to choir directors

By AnnaMae Bush

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

One never knows where those conversations will lead. And you might just be the answer to someone’s prayer. Such was the case in this story.

Chris Barnhill chuckled as he recalled meeting Pastor Sarah [Samuelson] at the grocery store. “My wife and I had just left our jobs at St. Francis and St. Michael Church in Muskegon, ready for a break from leading church music for a while. Pastor Sarah casually asked if we would consider helping out for a while at her church, Trinity Lutheran Church in New Era. Kristin and I said ‘Yes’ with every intention of it being a temporary commitment. Yet here we are, a year later.”

Pastor Samuelson said, “I had been praying for several years for someone with their many gifts in music to come to our church. They are opening doors for us that we could not have opened without them.”

Chris and Kristin Barnhill have been passionately involved with church music their entire adult lives. In fact, Chris played the organ for Mass for the first time at the

age of 13. He served as the assistant director of music at his church from the age of 13 until he became the director at age 21 when his mentor and former director retired.

He and Kristin were born and raised in Muskegon and served together in several Muskegon churches:

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, St. Michael Catholic Church and Prince of Peace Catholic Church, where they were for 15 years.

“Then we moved to Texas for four years with God’s Embrace Ministries, a parish ministry for spiritual development for which we wrote

many songs,” Chris shared. They have complementary talents, which make them a wonderful team. Chris is a gifted instrumentalist on the piano, organ and guitar and is a composer. Kristin is a cantored vocalist who studied under Gwenneth Bean and who frequently serves as cantor for worship. In several churches she has directed bell choirs. “She is also a wordsmith who writes the lyrics for the songs I compose,” Chris said.

Both are able vocal choir directors. Trinity Lutheran member Risë Rasch sings in the choir and says, “As a member of the choir, it has

been a joy to experience firsthand Chris and Kristin’s enthusiasm for leading us and singing with us.”

Trinity Lutheran has approximately 125 families, whereas prior churches they served had as many as 1,500 families. A smaller church presents challenges in recruiting choral and bell choir participants. Except in large urban churches that can afford full-time music directors or organists, most church musicians need additional employment to survive.

Both Barnhills have other jobs as well as church work. Kristin has an undergraduate degree in Marketing and

Communication and will earn her MBA in Business Administration from Purdue University this year. Chris has a BA in Psychology from Grand Valley University and studied mortuary science. He is a funeral director at Sytsema Funeral Home in Muskegon. Kristin is employed in marketing at SAF-Holland\ haldex.

Living in North Muskegon, the Barnhills continue to worship at their home church, Prince of Peace Catholic Church, on Saturday and then head north on Sundays to lead music at Trinity Lutheran in New Era. They are deeply appreciated in both places. Their vision for the future at New Era is to inspire sufficient members to form a handbell choir and to integrate some good contemporary music with the good traditional music found in the pew hymnbooks.

Rasch values their contributions. “Their individual offerings during our services have brought a mixture of traditional and contemporary worship music to our congregation. The Spirit is definitely with them in all they do! It will be exciting to see what new programs they help Trinity Lutheran bring to our community.”

Kristin and Chris Barnhill • Contributed Photos

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

obituaries

Richard ‘Dick’ Wayne Bronkema Sr.

April 22, 1944 ~ December 17, 2024

Richard “Dick” Wayne Bronkema Sr., 80, went to his heavenly home on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. He was born April 22, 1944, in Reed City, Mich., the son of John and Henrietta (Newenhouse) Bronkema.

Dick worked at Kurdziel Iron Industry. He loved to hunt, earning the nickname “Dead Eye Dick.” In his later years he fell in love with bowling, cornhole and camping.

Dick is survived by: his wife of 58 years, Sharon; children, Rich (Cindy) Bronkema Jr., Dawn (Mark) Karnitz and Kenneth (Carolina) Bronkema; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; brothers, Carl (Mary) Bronkema, William (Linda) Bronkema, Arthur (Candice) Bronkema, Steven (Mary) Bronkema, Larry (Shelley) Bronkema and John (Kristine) Bronkema; and sister, Mary (Dennis) Bronkema.

Dick was preceded in death by: his brothers, Garald and Lester; sisters, Sheila and Ruth Ann; and infant grandson, Cody Bronkema.

Dick was always a hard worker, and his greatest joys were his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial services were conducted at 4 p.m., Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, at Harris Funeral Home, 267 N. Michigan Ave., Shelby, Michigan 49455. The family received friends from 3 p.m. until the start of services Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, at Harris Funeral Home. A luncheon will follow at the Masonic Lodge, 2661 Oceana Dr., Hart, Michigan 49420.

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

Marilyn East April 11, 1934 ~ December 19, 2024

Marilyn East, 90, formerly of Richland, Mich., passed away peacefully Dec. 19, 2024, at the Oceana County Medical Care in Hart, Mich.

Born on April 11, 1934, Marilyn was the daughter of Bernice (Hazel) and E.W. Chalker of Kalamazoo. When she was 17, she married Walter East just prior to his being deployed to Korea. She then graduated from Richland High School, and after his return, they started married life and raised seven children – Steven (Katie), Jeff (Jenni), Nancy (Brian) Klepper, Linda East, John East, Mary (Spencer) Holwerda and Kate (Steve) Rizor, and were blessed with 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. They were also foster parents to numerous children.

Marilyn was preceded in death by: her parents; her beloved Walt; her son John; and siblings Virginia (Don) Louis, Dorothy (Jim) Ashton, Evelyn (Earl) Hoffman and Bill (Lil) Chalker.

She had a great love for her many nieces and nephews, and many lifelong friendships that included Lorri Busick and Tara East. Family was important to Walt and Marilyn, where quick wit and laughter surrounded the dinner table. The most often shared memories were of summer days spent at Bernice’s home on Gull Lake, where the children and their cousins swam and waterskied, and in the winter worked together at Echo Valley.

Marilyn, herself, waterskied well into her 70s, and she loved walking and biking. She was known to read multiple books and hold multiple phone conversations at the same time. Walt and Marilyn enjoyed taking their children on trips to Florida and their grandchildren white-water rafting and visiting Washington, DC. They especially enjoyed spending time at Silver Lake.

Marilyn worked outside the home driving a bus for Gull Lake Schools and as a patient care technician in the Critical Care Unit at Borgess Hospital. She also volunteered by reaching out to women with children in need. Her act of kindness was baking banana bread for anyone in need of comfort.

Marilyn was afflicted with vascular dementia several years before her passing. She was loved and well cared for by the nurses and staff at OCMCF who described her as spicy, but also thoughtful and insightful.

To celebrate Marilyn and honor the caregivers, a reception will be held Jan. 27 from 12:30-2:30 p.m. in the Margaret Fuehring Memorial Care Wing of the Oceana County Medical Care Facility. Burial will be at Fort Custer National Cemetery next to her beloved Walt later in June. Donations in her honor may be made to OCMCF-AU, 701 E. Main St., Hart, MI 49420.

Obituary Information:

We, at The Oceana Echo, offer our deepest condolences for your loss and are here to help you tell others about your loved one’s life and the plans you have made to honor, celebrate and remember them. If you would like to place an obituary with us, please tell your arrangement specialist or email us at theoceanaecho@gmail.com.

Kevin Michael Swihart

August 16, 1955 ~ January 8, 2025

Kevin Michael Swihart, lovingly known as “Mike,” passed away on Jan. 8, 2025, in Walkerville, Mich., after a short battle with cancer. He was 69 years old.

Mike was born on Aug. 16, 1955, in Hart, Michigan, to Douglas Carl Swihart and Barbara Jean (Anderson) Swihart. After graduating high school, he proudly served his country by joining the Navy. Following his service, Mike lived briefly in San Francisco before returning to Michigan, where he settled in the Detroit area and worked for various brokerage firms. Eventually, he made his home in Walkerville.

An avid outdoorsman, Mike found great joy in hunt ing and exploring nature. He was also a talented craftsman who built the home he shared with his beloved wife, Debra. Mike and Debra reconnected at their 40th high school reunion in 2013 and became inseparable. They were married on July 22, 2022, cherishing their time together as husband and wife.

Mike is survived by his wife, Debra Rider; his son, Dustin M. Swihart (Michelle Lewellyn); his sister, Nancy Helmer; his brother, Jeffrey C. Swihart (Mary); his sister, Cheri Eisenlohr (Daniel) as well as many grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the springtime, with details to be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in Mike’s honor to the Crystal Valley Care Fund, P.O. Box 451, Hart, MI 49420.

Mike’s legacy of love for family, craftsmanship and the outdoors will live on in the hearts of those who knew him. May his memory bring comfort and peace to all who mourn his passing.

Bernard ‘Bernie’ Virgil Smith

May 28, 1954 ~ December 28, 2024

Bernard “Bernie” Virgil Smith, 70, of Hart, passed away, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. He was born May 28, 1954, in Hart, the son of Virgil and Lena (Giddings) Smith.

Bernie was a skilled millwright working in the food processing industry for Tri Berry. He enjoyed deer hunting and fishing whenever he could.

Bernie is survived by: his sister, Doreen Smith; many cousins.

Berine was preceded in death by: his parents, Virgil and Lena; brother, DeWayne.

Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Sat urday, Jan. 18, 2025, at Harris Funeral Home, 267 N. Michigan Ave., Shelby, Mich. 49455. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the start of services, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at Harris Funeral Home.

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

Shirley Ann (Cloutier) Schmock-Martin

February 18, 1936 ~ January 11, 2025

Shirley Ann (Cloutier) Schmock-Martin, 88, passed away on Jan. 11, 2025. She was born on Feb. 18, 1936, in Harbor Beach, Mich., to Louis and Elizabeth (Suida) Cloutier.

In 1945, Shirley and her family moved to Ludington, where she attended St. Simon’s Catholic School and graduated from Ludington High School. After graduation, Shirley married Richard G. Schmock, and together they had four children: three sons— Rick, Ron and Rod—and one daughter, Cindy.

Later in life, Shirley married Dale Martin, who made her smile every day. Through this marriage, she gained the love of two stepchildren, Sherry and Jim.

Shirley was a kind and loving soul, always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. She found peace sitting on her porch, basking in the warmth of the sun, and watching the birds flutter in and out of her feeders. Above all, Shirley’s heart was devoted to her family, whom she cherished deeply.

Shirley is survived by: her children, Ron (Susan) Schmock, Rod Schmock, Cindy (Rich) Kroll; stepchildren, Sherry Whitten and Jim Martin; brother, Tom (Brenda) Cloutier; sisters-in-law, Sandra Dietz, Marion Schmock and Linda Martin; grandchildren, Rich, Dan (Kim), Natalie (John), Amber, Michael (Sarah), Eric, Ashley (Chris), Brittany, Jordan, Robbie and Sheree; 17 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; her Aussie dog, Bailey; and Wanda Martin, who she shared a special bond with.

Shirley was preceded in death by: her parents, Louis and Elizabeth (Suida) Cloutier; husbands, Richard G. Schmock, and Dale Martin; brother, Ron Cloutier; and son, Rick Schmock.

In accordance with Shirley’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and interment in Oak Grove Cemetery, of Montague, is planned for the spring.

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

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By Lucie Winborne

• Shonda Rhimes got the idea for the TV series “Grey’s Anatomy” after a doctor told her how hard it was to shave her legs in the tiny hospital shower.

By Lucie Winborne

STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20250106 FOR RELEASE JAN. 6, 2025

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257

By Lucie Winborne

STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20250106

NOW HERE’S A TIP #12345_20250106 FOR RELEASE JAN. 6, 2025

By JoAnn Derson

• On Jan. 20, 1973, Jerry Lee Lewis, aka “The Killer,” made an appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, declaring, “I am a rock-and-rollin’, country-and-western, rhythm-and-blues singing [expletive deleted]!” before launching into his set, which notably included all the rock-and-roll classics he’d promised Opry officials not to play. Shunned by the pop music world following his controversial second marriage to his teenage cousin Myra Gale Brown, Lewis had staged a successful comeback with country music.

FOR RELEASE JAN. 6, 2025

By Lucie Winborne

• On Jan. 21, 1959, Carl Switzer, aka the cowlick-sporting, warbly-voiced Alfalfa of the beloved “Our Gang” film series, was fatally shot by Moses Stiltz during an altercation over a debt Switzer believed he was owed by Stiltz.

• On Jan. 22, 1981, Annie Leibovitz’s final portrait of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, hit newsstands, a month and a half after Lennon’s assassination by Mark David Chapman.

• On Jan. 23, 1984, Hulk Hogan defeated World Wrestling Federation champion Iron Sheik and earned his first WWF title at New York City’s Madison Square Garden when he also became the first wrestler to escape Sheik’s signature move, the “camel clutch.”

• On Jan. 24, 1956, Look magazine published the confessions of J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant, who were acquitted in the previous year’s abduction and murder of Emmett Till, a Black teen from Chicago. The men were reportedly paid $4,000 for their participation in the article.

• On Jan. 25, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the first national Revolutionary War memorial, honoring Brigadier General Richard Montgomery, who died during an assault in Quebec nearly a month earlier. The monument was crafted by King Louis XV’s personal sculptor, Jean-Jacques Caffieri, after he was hired for the job by Benjamin Franklin.

• On Jan. 26, 1961, about a week after his inauguration, President John F. Kennedy appointed orthopedist Janet Travell as his personal physician, making her the first woman in history to hold that post. Following Kennedy’s assassination, she retained her position and became President Lyndon B. Johnson’s personal doctor.

• Many people have written in the tip to use two similarly sized bowls, one larger than the other, to serve cold salads at picnics. You add a few cups of crushed ice to the larger bowl, then nestle the smaller bowl into it, making it “chilled.” In any case, remember: Don’t leave food out longer than two hours.

• If you are doing food platters for your barbecue, consider making several smaller platters instead of one large dish. The large ones are harder to store when you prep beforehand, but a better reason is that the items will not go stale/too warm/too cold quite as fast, and it’s easy to switch out plates throughout the party.

• “Using plastic cups for a crowd? Remember to put out a permanent marker, colorful rubber bands or some other way to mark one’s glass. It’s sometimes hard to keep track when they all look the same.” — C.L. in Pennsylvania

• “Purchase a small cooler to use for large quantities of sides. I have a cooler advertised as fitting a six-pack of drinks. It’s perfect for holding macaroni salad at our summer beach gatherings with family. I do not use it for anything else, and it retains its cold temperature despite the heat (when everyone remembers to keep the lid closed, of course).” — R.R. in South Carolina

• “For serving utensils used during picnic lunch, I have two large zip-top plastic bags. I label them ‘clean’ and ‘dirty.’ Anything used to touch raw meat goes in the ‘dirty’ bag. And serving spoons that can be used again to serve are in the ‘clean’ bag.” — M.A. in Arizona

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

• The first Hershey’s chocolate bars with almonds were produced in 1908 because they were cheap to make. The nuts took the place of some of the more expensive milk chocolate, which meant Hershey’s could keep the price of the candy at a nickel.

• Shonda Rhimes got the idea for the TV series “Grey’s Anatomy” after a doctor told her how hard it was to shave her legs in the tiny hospital shower.

• A website called Myfridgefood.com lets you enter whatever ingredients you have in your fridge and tells you what you can make with them.

• One of the reasons your lungs feel refreshed when walking through a pine forest is because of an anti-inflammatory compound called a-Pinene, found in conifers. It is used as a bronchodilator in the treatment of asthma and is abundantly present in marijuana.

• A website called Myfridgefood.com lets you enter whatever ingredients you have in your fridge and tells you what you can make with them.

• An estimated 10% of Europeans are immune to HIV infection because they have an ancestor who survived bubonic plague, or “Black Death.”

• The Hardy Tree in London’s St. Pancras churchyard is named for Thomas Hardy. The Victorian author worked at the burial ground in the 1860s and rearranged tombstones around the base of an ash tree to make room for a railway expansion.

• An estimated 10% of Europeans are immune to HIV infection because they have an ancestor who survived bubonic plague, or “Black Death.”

• If you’re a man and pee on a pregnancy test and it’s positive, you could have cancer.

• Because of the amount of granite in its construction, Grand Central Station produces more radiation than is allowable at a nuclear power plant.

• If you’re a man and pee on a pregnancy test and it’s positive, you could have cancer.

• Because of the amount of granite in its construction, Grand Central Station produces more radiation than is allowable at a nuclear power plant.

• In India, a statue of Jesus had “holy” water mysteriously dripping from its toes, which worshipers would collect and sometimes drink. A man traced the fluid’s source to a clogged toilet behind the wall, condensing on the statue. ***

***

Thought for the Day: “A good example has twice the value of good advice.” — Albert Schweitzer

Shelby Middle School encourages students, offers tutoring

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Shelby Middle School Principal, Jessica Danielson, shared in her recent newsletter to parents what every principal and superintendent in every district across Oceana County would share, “Let’s remember that showing up is job No. 1. Regular attendance is key to academic success, and we’re here to support our students in every way we can. If you’re struggling with your student’s attendance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re ready to help find solutions. Our district has dedicated and caring staff whose job it is to help your child be successful.” Parents and caregivers are encouraged to reach out to their respective schools anytime there is an attendance concern with their child.

To ensure that all Shelby Middle School students stay on track, the school offers the following tutoring sessions every week for their students: Tuesdays after school from 3-4 p.m. and Thursdays before school from 7-7:45 a.m. “These sessions provide extra support to reinforce what students are learning in the classroom, and we encourage all who need it to take advantage,” Ms. Danielson continued. Those from other districts interested in tutoring or extra help for their child are invited to reach out to their local school office or after-school programs.

Bosley promoted to lieutenant, to oversee patrol division

Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast would like to recognize the recent promotion of Scott Bosley from the rank of sergeant to lieutenant. Lt. Bosley will be overseeing the patrol division at the sheriff’s office.

Lt. Bosley was born and raised in Traverse City, Mich., where he attended Traverse City Central High School. Lt. Bosley enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he served four years at Station Ludington. Lt. Bosley was a Boatswainsmate 3rd Class Petty Offi-

cer. He left the U.S. Coast Guard in 1996 to pursue an education in law enforcement at West Shore Community College.

Lt. Bosley was hired at the Oceana Sheriff’s Office in 1996 as a seasonal marine officer by Sheriff Fred Korb. He was hired as a full-time sheriff’s deputy in 1998 and assigned to the road patrol division. Lt. Bosley will have 27 years of experience in 2025, serving the majority of his career on night shift, the last 16 years as a sergeant.

Lt. Bosley has been married to his wife Amber for 30 years, and they have two adult sons, one of whom recently entered the DNR law division academy. Lt. Bosley enjoys hunting, fishing and kayaking when he is not working.

“I believe Lt. Bosley will be a great member of my administrative team and look forward to seeing him continue to do great things while serving our community,” Mast said.

Oceana County

Animal Shelter

Are you ready for a bundle of energy wrapped in 34 pounds of pure sweetness? Meet Missy, a one-year-old Pit mix with a heart as big as her zoomies. This little powerhouse is equal parts snuggle bug and action hero, always ready to charm you with her wiggly butt and infectious enthusiasm for life.

Missy’s motto? “Life’s a playground!” Whether she’s chasing after her favorite squeaky toy, perfecting her zoomie technique in the yard, or trying to persuade you to play just one more round of tug-of-war, she’s all in. After a busy day of activities, Missy loves nothing more than curling up beside you for some well-earned belly rubs and a cozy nap.

Her ideal home? One with active humans who can keep up with her zest for life. Got another dog? Even better! Missy would love a four-legged sibling to romp around with (after proper introductions, of course).

Meet Missy

If you’re looking for a sweet, active and endlessly entertaining companion, Missy is ready to wiggle her way into your heart and home. Don’t wait—her tail is wagging with anticipation to meet you!

Missy 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.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF ORDINANCE ADOPTIONS SHELBY TOWNSHIP, OCEANA COUNTY, MICHIGAN

Hello, I’m Tobias. My life has been one of adventure - living under the open sky. I’m a seasoned gentleman, calm and collected; I’m a FIV-positive fellow. My favorite pastime? Basking in the glow of attention, it’s the most comforting warmth I’ve ever known. My breed? I’m a flame point Siamese, a breed known for its relaxed demeanor. I’ve lived a life of solitude, but I’m ready for a change. I long for a home where I can share my mellow purrs and gentle nuzzles. Adopt me, and let’s create a serene sanctuary together. If you would like to adopt Tobias, please fill out an application through the OCAF Facebook page: Oceana County Animal Friends or online at: oceanacountyanimalfriends. wordpress.com

Please take notice that at a Regular Township Board meeting held on Monday, January 6, 2025, for Shelby Township, the Township Board adopted the following Ordinances:

ORDINANCE NO. 162025-1 DOG LEASH ORDINANCE

To establish minimum requirements as it pertains to the behavior and conduct of off-leash dogs in the Township…….

ORDINANCE NO. 142025-1

An amendment to the Shelby Township Zoning Ordinance to regulate the development of certain energy facilities within the Township…...

ORDINANCE NO. 121724-1

An amendment to the Shelby Township Zoning Ordinance amending the definitions of Campgrounds, Public or Private; Campground Resort; and Recreational Unit………

A copy of these Ordinances in their entirety are available at the Township Hall, 204 N Michigan Ave., Shelby MI 49455 during business hours, or can be seen on our Township website. shelbytownshipoceana.com

These ordinances are effective 7-15 days from the date of this publication.

Cathy Anderson,

SHELBY TOWNSHIP

Synopsis of Meeting

January 06, 2025

Regular meeting called to order at 6:00pm

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

Items approved:

• Minutes from 12/02/2024 Regular Board Meeting

• Ordinance # 121724-1 (Text Amendment to Camping Ordinance)

• Ordinance # 142025-1 (Compatible Renewable Energy Ordinance)

• Ordinance # 162025-1 (Dog Leash Ordinance)

• Resolution # 25106-1 (Maintain Local Control)

• Pay bills presented by Clerk Meeting adjourned at 7:37 pm Copies

from the

and approved minutes are on our website www.shelbytownshipoceana.com

Lt. Scott Bosley

SPORTS

Battle of the bigs falls in favor of Hart boys

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

HART – Post players were squarely in the spotlight Friday, Jan. 10 as Hart dominated conference opponent Hesperia, 77-37.

The first quarter played to the contrary of the final outcome for the Pirates, with both teams fighting for the lead. A back-and-forth showing between big bodies in the paint saw the lead change hands multiple times. For the Panthers, senior Ethan O’Neil scored nine points in that frame alone. Hart junior Caleb Ackley tried to keep pace with O’Neil, putting up five of his own.

“We had an idea on how we wanted to play against (O’Neil), but honestly I didn’t realize how athletic he is now. He’s quite a bit more athletic than a year ago,” Hart Head Coach Nick Bronsema said.”

Able to claim a 17-12 lead after that first frame thanks to a pair of baskets from Brendan Hiddema, Hart’s offense turned into a locomotive in the second quarter.

After notching his first three-point basket of the night in the closing seconds of the first quarter, Hart’s Jagger Lenon made a trifecta of deep shots in the second. Hesperia tried to keep things close, but the Pirates made life difficult for them, taking O’Neil completely out of the equation.

With Hesperia’s lead scorer locked down, the supporting cast struggled to find quality looks. That was not the case for Hart, as four different Pirates found the bottom of the net to push the lead out to 41-24 at halftime.

“They’re a well coached team and they 100 percent took (O’Neil) away,” Hesperia Head Coach Scott Warsaw said. “We were thinking if they were going to double him down low, that the wings would be open, but for whatever reason we lost a little of our poise.”

Scoring slowed for Hart in the third quarter, giving Hesperia a chance to dig into the deficit. Unfortunately for the Panthers, their offense fell out of rhythm completely, leading to just three made shots from the floor coming out of the half.

With a 57-31 lead entering the fourth and final quarter, Ackley kept the Pirates rolling with six points to start that

Battle of the Bigs continued on page 11

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

SHELBY – Shelby wrestling hosted Whitehall, Ravenna and MCC Wednesday, Jan. 15, for a West Michigan Conference (WMC) quad, battling with the Spartans and Bulldogs.

The Tigers dominated their first dual of the night, using a slew of forfeits and impressive performances to take a 60-22 win over Ravenna.

Shelby started the night with six points in the 144-pound bout between Bryce Bromley and the Bulldogs’ Mark Whelpley. Bromley claimed that match by fall after three minutes of battle.

Brody Fessenden and Jaylin Henderson followed Bromley with even more convincing victories. Each claimed victory by pin, ending both matches before 60 seconds had elapsed.

A string of losses for Shelby followed as Max Hagstrom, Axel Moritz and Colin Fenton lost in the 175, 215 and 285-pound matches. Santos Hinojosa (190) found a win by pin to split those up, keeping the Tigers comfortably ahead.

That lead only increased for Shelby as the size of their team greatly benefited their scoring. The Tigers claimed wins in five of the remaining seven matches thanks to forfeits by the Bulldogs. To end the night,

Peyton Hoover pinned Ravenna’s Zoey Mulder in just 28 seconds, before Angel Ewing fell to a Bulldog pin immediately after.

Shelby went on to defeat MCC by a score of 54-29, with six different Tigers claiming victories by pins.

HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE

Shelby’s Brody Fessenden attempts to pin a Ravenna opponent’s shoulders to the mat during a quad meet Wednesday, Jan. 15. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Hart’s Caleb Ackley and Hesperia’s Ethan O’Neil fight for the opening tip in the Pirates 77-37 win over the Panthers Friday, Jan. 10. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Hart’s competitive cheer team hosted a WMC meet Wednesday, Jan. 15 with Shelby, Oakridge, MCC, Fremont, Whitehall, Montague, Ravenna and North Muskegon all in attendance. Final results from the match were not yet available at the time of print. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Shelby’s Jaylin Henderson gets on the back of his opponent. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

frame. An opportunity to get the bench involved for Bronsema’s squad saw senior Tyler Larios-Mendez knock down a three-point shot and Brody Clark drop eight points of his own.

In total, nine different Pirates contributed to the final tally of 77 points.

“It was nice to see. We had a lot of guys getting minutes in the second half,” Bronsema said. “It’s good to see them take advantage of that opportunity. Brody Clark was excellent tonight.”

For Hart, Ackley finished the night with a solid outing, scoring a teamhigh 19 points to go along with six rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Lenon followed up with 16 points while Hiddema and Clark had 12 and 10 points respectively. Ty Schlukebir led the team in rebounds with eight.

O’Neil finished the night with a double-double for Hesperia, posting 11 points and 11 rebounds. Ian Fox added nine points while Andrew Sherburn had five.

The win moved Hart to 6-4 overall on the season and 3-2 within the WMC

Hesperia fell to 3-8 overall and are now 1-3 in WMC Rivers play.

Hesperia’s Ian Fox goes up to the basket with Hart’s Brody Clark in close quarters. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Celebrating Success

At halftime of a boys basketball contest Friday, Jan. 10, members of the 2024 Hart track & field teams were honored for a multitude of accomplishments. Pictured above, the girls team received their state champion banner and trophy while individual members were honored for school records including Addi Hovey, a girls relay team including Hovey, Addison Hain, Laura Bitely and Lauren Hopkins and a duo of boys relay teams consisting of Joseluis Andaverde, Hunter Chaffee, Eman Hertzler, Chase Lorenz and Lyric Fielder. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Young stars shine for Shelby girls in win over Wyoming Potter’s House Christian

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

SHELBY – A pair of freshmen keyed Shelby’s girls basketball team to a 44-29 non-conference clobbering of Wyoming Potter’s House Christian (WPHC) Tuesday, Jan. 14.

It was another night of dominance for Jayna Burmeister as she continued to show growth as the Tigers’ lead woman in her first year of varsity basketball. Burmeister finished the night with a double-double, the sixth time she’s done so in the Tigers’ first nine games of the season – scoring 19 points and bringing in 12 rebounds.

Burmeister’s scoring was paramount to a 12-8 Shelby lead at the end of the first quarter. Scoring six in that initial frame, Burmeister was able to carry the load with help from junior Kylie Brown. Brown added four points of her own, but was far more critical on the defensive end, where she notched multiple steals that started fast breaks for the Tigers.

A second quarter lull on offense allowed WPHC to remain within arm’s length by the time the halftime buzzer sounded. An initial stream of points on free throws and drives to the basket from Burmeister and sophomore Lydia Soelberg had Shelby’s lead sitting at 19-8. The Pumas found enough momentum to close out the half with five unanswered points to close the gap to 21-15.

New faces emerged for Shelby’s offense in the second half as Burmeister cooled off. Freshmen Michelle Peterson and Ava Lamberg each got their offense going in the third quarter. A lone basket for Peterson broke up a string of fouls that got WPHC to the free throw

line, while Lamberg finished the quarter with six straight points to give Shelby a double-digit lead heading into the fourth.

With the finish line in sight, Shelby leaned heavily on their defense to close out the game. Lamberg and Burmeister each got to the bucket to keep the offense on track, but the Tigers’ ability to force tough shots led to just two made shots from the field in the fourth quarter for the Pumas to end the night.

Lamberg scored 10 points to follow Burmeister’s top scoring output. Freshman Annabelle Stark and Brown added six rebounds each to the winning effort.

The Tigers (8-1, 5-1 WMC Rivers) pushed their win streak to seven, the longest such streak that the program has seen since Jenny Beckman was suiting up during the 2017-18 season.

Career Milestone

Thursday, Jan. 9:

Shelby 36, MCC 56

Friday, Jan. 10:

Hart 77, Hesperia 37

Pentwater 84, MCE 20

Walkerville 16, Grand Traverse 74

Saturday, Jan. 11: Shelby 19, GR West Catholic 73

Monday, Jan. 13:

Shelby 34, Baldwin 44

Hart 59, Oakridge 62

Pentwater 44, Onekama 60

Walkerville 16, Cadillac HC 74

Tuesday, Jan. 14:

Hart 45, W. Michigan Christian 55

Hesperia 57, MCE 31

Thursday, Jan. 9:

Hart 85, Hesperia 4

Walkerville 31, Mesick 34

Friday, Jan. 10:

Shelby 55, MCC 36

Walkerville 9, Grand Traverse 49

Tuesday, Jan. 14:

Shelby 44, Wyoming PH 29

Hart 38, Montague 33

Hesperia 17, Montabella 66

Boys Basketball

Girls Basketball

Rivers.

Shelby freshman Jayna Burmeister pushes into the body of a Potter’s House defender while eyeing the bucket. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Hart senior Ty Thomas reached his 100th career wrestling win during a match with Ogemaw Heights. • Contributed Photo

Reflections of our community

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

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Whitehall board lifts Van Wieren’s interim tag

Board also approves operations millage request for May election

By Andy Roberts

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — The Whitehall school board voted to remove the interim tag from CJ Van Wieren Monday night at its regular board meeting, making him full-time superintendent after steering the ship for the fall semester. The vote was 5-0, with trustees Tim Cross and Melissa Moore absent.

Van Wieren, who took over everyday duties as predecessor Jerry McDowell transitioned into retirement, drew rave reviews from the board as it installed him as the full-time superintendent, a decision that was due by

the end of March pursuant to Van Wieren’s original contract. With the move, Van Wieren’s contract has been extended through the 202728 school year. He thanked the board towards the end of the meeting for its decision.

“It’s just a tremendous opportunity in a great community with a great school district and the opportunity to lead it,” Van Wieren said. “I couldn’t be happier or more thankful for the opportunity. I’m just looking forward to what’s to come.”

Van Wieren, a district veteran, said

Van a district said

Van Wieren, a district veteran, said

he’s been thankful to receive a lot of public feedback about things people want to see from the district, and it’s emboldened him further in his goals to make Whitehall the best it can be.

ren during board discussion.

“I’m just excited every day to come and try to do things that are going to better the opportunities for our children,” Van Wieren said. “Beyond anything, that’s what we all want. That’s the common goal. The opportunity to do that, to look for ways of how we can provide a safer environment, to provide a better culture and a better climate, and to put the best educators possible in front of them, it’s a tremendous opportunity.”

Board members Chris Mahoney, Paula Martin, Jimmy TenBrink, Shannon McGoran and Rachel Fekken each made remarks in support of Van Wie-

Martin, who worked with Van Wieren back when he was a teacher at Ealy Elementary, said, “He was made for this job.... He listens and he wants to learn. He says, ‘What can I do to make it better? What can I do to help?’”

The new superintendent was quickly given the task of helping to pitch the public to approve the district’s second attempt at passing its operations millage renewal, as the board approved its placement on the ballot for a May 6 special election. The millage, which allows the collection of up to 20 mills on non-homestead properties and businesses (in practice the plan is to collect 18, with the wording set to account for

Superintendent hire continued on page 2

Winter wonderland in Whitehall

Local residents took full advantage of relatively mild temperatures and bright, sunny skies Saturday by taking to the Hanson Street sledding hill.

As is the case every winter, the street is partially closed off to allow sledders to cross the street on their chosen craft. Some sliders even found their way into the small woods near the pier across the street.

residents advantage mild skies Saturday hill. is winter, the is closed allow street on sliders the near the pier across the street.

Farmers annually help with snow production for the hill.

The White Lake Snow Farmers annually help with snow production for the hill.

Whitehall council approves Playhouse committee

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — After some occasionally contentious discussion on the matter, the Whitehall city council voted 4-3 to approve mayor Steven Salter’s nomination slate for a Playhouse sustainability committee during Tuesday’s regular meeting.The committee will comprise Salter, fellow council member Tom Ziemer, local business owners Elie Ghazal, Amanda Kiefer, Kara Smith and Ryan Briegel, and Frank Bednarek and Laurie Audo from the nonprofit Friends of the Playhouse group.

Scott Brown, Ziemer and Steven Sikkenga dissented on the vote.

Scott Brown, Ziemer Sikkenga dissented on the vote.

The committee was not originally an item on the meeting agenda, but was added later after discussion broke out during the consent agenda portion of the meeting. Multiple members of the council again expressed support for appointing Brown to the committee, as they did in December, but Salter said Brown will not be appointed. Brown himself said he doesn’t care if he is on the committee - he will be attending the committee meetings regardless - but took issue with Salter

The committee was not originally an item on the meeting agenda, but was added later broke out during the consent agenda portion of the meeting. Multiple members of the council again expressed support for appointing Brown to the committee, as they did in December, but Salter said Brown will not be appointed. Brown himself said he doesn’t care if he is on the committee - he will be attending the committee meetings regardless - but took issue with Salter

appointing himself to it, deeming it a conflict

appointing himself to it, deeming it a conflict of interest.

This led to a side conversation in which multiple members of council disputed what they deemed as Salter using “personal dislike” to refuse to appoint any of the four people with written interest in joining other committees despite there being vacancies to fill. Ultimately, the council decided to approve the mayor’s original nomination slate despite its objections so work can begin on finding ways for the Playhouse to generate more revenue. For his part, the mayor stated he’s always pleased to meet with any coun-

cil member or citizen about any issue they addressed.

cil member or citizen about any issue they want addressed.

The council also unanimously approved its annual resolutions regarding property tax poverty exemptions, citizens’ right to protest their tax assessments, setting board of review dates and its employee personnel manual. The council added a unanimous approval of support for Feet on the Street, the annual area event that will take place Sunday, June 1 in the North Mears promenade and social district.

Van Wieren

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

Van Wieren

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Van Wieren

• Roberts/Mirror Photos

Montague Twp. addresses dump day, senior millage

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

The Montague Township board met for the first time this year Tuesday night to discuss the possibility of doing a dump day this year, the new senior millage funds and the possible extension of the bike trail to Medbery Park. Board members discussed whether or not the township should participate

in a dump day, along with surrounding municipalities. Township treasurer Tracy Korthase said she heard negative feedback when the township decided not to participate last year and is encouraging the board to decide otherwise this year. If the township does participate, the dump day will take place sometime between the beginning of April and May.

Township supervisor Jeff King said

he is hoping to talk to the senior center about how to best utilize the new funds from the senior millage. Ideas discussed at the meeting include coupons to the farmers’ market, or aiding in costs for activities and events at the senior center. No official decisions have been made yet on how these funds will be used.

The board also discussed an extension of the bike trail to Medbery Park.

The idea of a possible wetland education center was also proposed in tandem with the project by Joe Branch, manager of the Glenn Springs site. When this was first proposed in 2012, the project was going to cost approximately $450,000. There were questions about how much of the bike trail would be the township’s responsibility versus the state’s, which have not been answered yet.

Montague school board members take oaths of office

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — New board member Emily Fullmer and continuing board member Cindy Francis took their oaths of office for their terms on the Montague school board Monday at the beginning of the board's monthly meeting.

Francis has been on the board for 27 consecutive years and was re-elected for another term this past November, while Fullmer replaced Tom John-

son on the board after Johnson did not seek re-election.

The board also unanimously appointed its officers for the next year, all but one of which remain as they were in 2024. Brent Raeth will continue as board president, with Joel Smith taking on vice-president duties, replacing Johnson. Cindy Francis will continue as secretary and Amanda Dahl will do the same as treasurer.

The board also appointed school attorneys and auditors, appointed Michelle Culver as board secretary pro-

tem and designated Stacey Brown as the district's electronic transfer officer. All appointments were made unanimously and without much discussion.

The board also unanimously voted to establish a new superintendent evaluation committee. Superintendent Jeff Johnson said the committee is being formed as a result of discussion that took place around his most recent evaluation by the board, with the position taken that forming the committee will help streamline the process in the future. The committee will schedule an

unspecified amount of meetings prior to the next evaluation.

During superintendent comments, Johnson noted that the board's recent passing of new Title IX regulations has been vacated by a federal court, which on Jan. 10 reverted Title IX sex-dicrimination regulations to how they stood in 2020. The new regulations added gender identity to Title IX, but the court held that those protections already applied under Title VIII.

Playhouse hosting Sips and Soups event starting Jan. 25

The Playhouse at White Lake hosts a new culinary pairings winter event series - Sips and Soups - starting Saturday, Jan. 25 from 4-7 p.m.

This Stage and Savor fundraiser series is a uniquely themed event held monthly from January-March to showcase northern Muskegon County's local artisan food and drink, arts and music and celebrating community, all while benefiting the 108-year-old, historic Playhouse at White Lake. Local restaurants

and breweries offer savoring onstage at the historic theatre, with live music in an open house socializing style. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door if they remain, with limited availability.

Soups are the perfect food for the coldest month of the year, so participating partner venues share their favorite soups and beverages to pair with these warming offerings. Art and music is abundant at every event, as neighbors and friends gather to

Superintendent hire

Headlee amendment tax rollbacks), must be approved in order for the district to receive its full allotment of state funding, which the board stated is $4 million per year. A previous attempt was voted down last November.

“It would drastically impact every kid in this district,” TenBrink said, if that state funding were taken away, noting it would be impossible to deduct that much from the budget without adverse consequences.

Van Wieren said it will be the district’s job to ensure accurate public communication about the millage, which can only be used for operations and is separate from the bond issue that was voted down in November 2023.

The board also unanimously approved the reinstatement of a second public comment period during monthly meetings, the details of which will be worked out over the next month. The second public comment period has been a subject of debate among district stakeholders since it was removed in 2021. Several board members expressed support for

the idea during discussion, including Shannon McGoran, who said she hoped the move would help regain public trust in the board. Board president Rachel Fekken added that the decision to add the second period back seemed fitting given Van Wieren’s stated emphasis on gaining public feedback in his superintendent position.

Fekken was one of the four officers who was reappointed to their positions on the board. Mahoney will continue as vice-president, TenBrink

as treasurer and Martin as secretary.

New to the board is student representative Tyler Van Antwerp, who introduced himself during the meeting. Van Antwerp, a Whitehall senior, will serve as representative the remainder of the school year. In addition to several other extracurricular activities, he is class vice-president, and stated his long-term plans include attending Michigan State University and studying pre-law. As student rep, he will sit in on future board meet-

celebrate White Lake arts and culture at the Playhouse. Live music will be performed by Karen and Eric Smith, as well as Regina Schlaff and Ellen Cutting Schoepf at the January event.

Come experience Stage and Savor: a Community Event series to benefit The Playhouse, with Sips & Soups Onstage, Saturday, Jan. 25, 4-7 pm and on the fourth Saturdays in February and March, with two more events to round out the series: February 22, with live piano performance by Steven Thielman and March 22, with live music by The Formers.

continued from page 1

ings and offer a student’s perspective. Van Wieren noted the district has had student representatives in the past.

During superintendent comments, Van Wieren noted that a security camera upgrade has been completed at the high school and “it’s made a world of difference.” A similar project is now underway at the middle school. He also reported that the school bus garage roof was repaired during winter break and is likely to come in under budget.

Saturday, Jan. 18

Bruce & Brad perform @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 19

White Lake Ukulele Club meets @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 1 p.m. Penny Rushing will teach on stage, and all are welcome to play with friends.

Echoes of History: Adolph and Helen Anderson Community Calendar

By Barbara Bedau Brow Volunteer Contributor

Tuesday, Jan. 21

Electrify West Michigan event hosted by White Lake Area Climate Action Council, 10 a.m. Visit a Montague home and learn how heat pumps work. Message the group on Facebook for the address if interested in attending.

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

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

Wednesday, Jan. 22

Eric Michaels and Chris Kennedy perform @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, Jan. 23

The Monkbirds and Ruben Torrez perform @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 24

Colt Snuffer performs @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 7 p.m.

The wedding nuptials portion of this story is a report in the Montague Observer regarding the 1914 wedding of Adolph and Helen Anderson.

The residence of Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Ripley was the scene of a very pretty wedding service Wednesday afternoon, when their daughter Helen was united in marriage to Mr. Adolph Anderson. At 4:30 the bridal party entered the living room to the familiar strains of Mendelssohn, played by Miss Winifred Dickinson, through floral chains supported by four little nieces of the bride, dressed in white with pink sashes. The Rev. Mr. Brown, and the matron of honor, Mrs. Howard B. Ripley, preceded the couple and took a position in the bay window where ,flanked with banks of green and white, the impressive ring service was solemnized. Only the immediate members of the families were present. The bride was gowned in white silk meteor trimmed with medallion lace and pearls, and the groom’s present to her was a coral and pearl LaValliere. The matron of honor wore lavender messaline with lace to match and a lingerie cap; the mother of the bride black satin with an overdrape of wistaria covered with marquisette, and the groom’s mother, Mrs. Kate Anderson, black silk begaline trimmed with white. Following the service a five-course luncheon was served. In the evening a reception was given in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. The guests from out of town were Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ripley, of Decatur, IL, and Mrs. Chas. W. Littlefield and two children of Detroit, Mrs. Anna Simonson, daughter Lavange and son Ray of Muskegon.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson left this morning for an extended trip to New York City, Washington, D.C., and other eastern points.

The bride is the accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Ripley, and is one of Montague’s most popular young ladies in both social and church cir-

cles. She is a graduate of our public schools and also of Ypsilanti Conservatory of Music. She possesses a remarkable voice and is always in great demand as a public singer. Besides these accomplishments she is a young lady of many graces of mind and person, and will fill the home she will adorn with happiness and will prove to be truly a helpmate and companion by the husband she has chosen to honor with her hand.

The groom is one of the most exemplary and esteemed young men of our village. Always industrious and self reliant, he has grown up in this community to a position of honor and responsibility. After acquiring an education in our schools he entered the local bank, working his way up from the bottom of the ladder to his present position, that of assistant cashier.

The congratulations on this happy nuptial event are numerous and the Observer is greatly pleased on this occasion to add its hearty good wishes to

those being so freely extended.

The Andersons’ life together

During their marriage they had four children: Baby Boy (1915-1915), Paul Ripley (1916-1961), Phyllis Catherine (1917-2011), and James Howard (1921-2003).

In the late 1940s, the bank became Montague State Bank and Mr. Anderson became president of the institution. Adolph retired in 1956 but remained a member of the Hackley Bank board of directors until 1967.

The Andersons traveled to California and Europe during the winter months but would always return to their home in the White Lake area during the summers. Eventually they sold their Montague home and moved into an apartment in North Muskegon. Helen died in June 1971 and Adolph died in May 1981. They are both buried in Oak Grove Cemetery along with three of their children.

Get a crash course in caring for backyard chickens!

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

FUN FACT: Did you know chickens are descended from dinosaurs?

thought-provoking lectures in their areas of expertise.

Chair Yoga Schedule Change

Curious about raising your own chickens? Lori Lundell of Lundell Farms will visit the library Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 5:30 p.m. to share her invaluable expertise on keeping and caring for backyard chickens. Learn about the entertainment value, delicious eggs, and healthy meat that these feathered friends can provide.

Lori’s presentation will also include tips for starting your own flock, some best practices for maintaining healthy chickens, and how to get the most out of your backyard coop. Whether you’re an aspiring or new chicken owner, don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical insights and get your questions answered. Visit wlclib.org/calendar to register today!

They are related to theropods, a group of dinosaurs that includes Tyrannosaurus Rex. Like T-Rex, they eat meat (like mice, bugs, and lizards), but unlike T-Rex, they are omnivores who also eat seeds, grass, and grain.

January Series Starts Monday

The popular January Series lectures from Calvin University kick off this week with a presentation by Jonathan Eig Monday, Jan. 20. He will be discussing “King: A Life”, his recent biography of Martin Luther King Jr. The talk will be live-streamed at the library at 12:30 p.m., and the series continues with a different speaker weekdays at 12:30 through Jan. 31. Can’t make it to the library at lunchtime? Watch online at 12:30 - or later that day! - by visiting calvin.edu/january and registering to receive the link.

The January Series is a free, 10-day event filled with brilliant speakers, fascinating topics, and enlightened conversation. Calvin University invites prominent academics, educators, artists, activists, and others to present

Chair yoga, which normally meets from 11:30-12:30 each Thursday at the library, will be adjusting its schedule for the two weeks of the January Series. On Jan. 23 and Jan. 30, class will start at 11 a.m. and finish at noon, allowing time for the room to be set up for the January Series presentations. We appreciate the yoga class’s flexibility!

All levels and abilities are welcome at chair yoga classes, which are ideal for individuals who need support for balance and safety. It is also beneficial to anyone interested in learning new ways to increase range of motion or looking for a safer way to learn yoga poses and postures. Suggested class donation is $5, or free to Silver Sneakers participants. Please verify your Silver Sneakers status prior to class, as things may have changed with the new year.

Grandmothers Group

All interested women, grandmothers or not, are welcome to par-

ticipate in the monthly meetings of the Grandmothers Group. A local group of women has been meeting at the library on the last Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. for lively conversations about their roles and relationships in our society as they live out the second half of their lives. The next meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 28. Stay after the meeting to enjoy the free January Series lecture by Alastair Humphreys, who will be encouraging us all to break out of our busy schedules and pursue microadventures in the wilderness close to home!

As this is the only bay in the Ripley House, one can only imagine what it looked like June 10, 1914, when L. G. Ripley’s daughter Helen married Adolph Anderson. • Courtesy Photo

Lake Mirror Lake Mirror

NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE community

Fast start propels Whitehall past Fremont

Vikings pour on 27 points in 1st quarter en route to big win

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

FREMONT — Despite winning three in a row and eight of its last nine coming into Friday’s game at Fremont, Whitehall hadn’t been fully satisfied with its play and wanted a quicker start. The Vikings certainly delivered that Friday, rolling to a 74-33 West Michigan Conference Lakes win.

The Vikings (9-2, 5-0 WMC Lakes) raced out to an 11-2 lead in what seemed no time at all, with an andone by Camden Thompson forcing a Packers timeout. That did little to stop the onslaught, though, and Whitehall led 27-5 after a quarter, never looking back.

“We really wanted to play us versus us,” Whitehall coach Christian Subdon said. “We felt that we were the better team. No discredit to Fremont; they’re young and they’re going to be a really good team moving down the stretch. We wanted to come out and give the best energy game that we’ve given, and we did that. Weirdly enough, shots started going in. We started making layups. We’re making plays. We’re pushing the ball. All great things.”

The team hardly needed it, but Thompson provided some extra energy with a first-quarter dunk on a breakaway. He tried to add an extra

highlight with a windmill slam in the second quarter but came up empty; it was one of only three misses for him on the night as he went 10-of-13 with 27 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. He also had four steals.

“Getting one of those early, I feel like, really brings a lot of energy to our team,” Thompson said of his propensity to throw it down. “Especially early on in the game, but also to try to show what I’m about too. I tried to pull out a little windmill tonight, but that didn’t go too well. I just got a little nervous, but I’m going to try to get some cooler dunks.”

Whitehall was also outstanding from the three-point line early, hitting six treys in the first half and going into the locker room up 46-11. One of them,

by Brock Morningstar, exemplified the kind of offense Subdon hopes to play and was a highlight play for point guard Finn Muller.

“We’ve been hounding him and hounding him to move the ball and not to dribble the air out of it,” Subdon said of Muller, who had three assists to go with eight points. “He did phenomenal tonight. There was a time where he got the ball off an outlet. I’m not sure that he took a dribble - maybe it was one to get his bearings - threw it up the sideline to Brock and Brock hit a three. The ball hit the ground one time in a whole possession.”

The Vikings’ pace didn’t continue into the second half, but they cruised on to the win and were able to get the deep reserves into the game, which Subdon said is something the starters take pride in doing when they get the opportunity. The starters got fired up for their teammates when it was their turn to enter the game.

“I think they hunt for their teammates,” Subdon said. “They do care about them. They know how hard they work. They’re working the same that

Wildcats display toughness in comeback win

Montague rallies in 4th quarter, beats Ravenna

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — Montague accrued some scars the first few weeks of the season, but Wednesday night the Wildcats looked like a team toughened up by their early struggles, making several clutch plays late to defeat Ravenna 59-52 in a West Michigan Conference cross-divisional game.

The Bulldogs shot remarkably well much of the night, drilling eight three-pointers in the first three quarters, the last of which came at the third-quarter buzzer by Dylan May, to earn a 44-38 lead. However, Montague hung in there, and when Ravenna’s shots stopped falling, the ‘Cats repeatedly got to the rim and earned their way back into the game.

“You’ve just got to weather the storm,” Montague coach Nick Thaler said. “We’ve faced teams like that, where it seems like the sky is falling down on you. I think in the past, you would have seen a team that backed down from that challenge. But we got punched in the mouth and said, ‘You know what? We’re going to get up this time. We’re going to fight and we’re going to battle.’ And we did that.”

The ‘Cats attacked the basket from all angles in the fourth quarter. Cortland Schneider hit a driving layup to force a timeout. Cole Herremans got to the hoop on the break to score. A double-pump shot by Kellan Francis gave the ‘Cats the lead, 47-46. Later, Francis made it a two-possession game, at 5450, with another bucket by maneuvering among the Ravenna frontcourt for a layup.

While Montague struggled to close the game out at the free throw line, going only 6-of-11 in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats’ rebounding and defense were so good Ravenna was never able to seriously threaten from there anyway.

Francis and Herremans in particular - they had 18 and 16 points respectively, most in the second half - played with confidence and on-court leadership late in the game.

“We kept contesting shots more in the second half and that helped us out, and boxing out more,” Francis said. “I think that’s what it came down to.”

Thaler said he’s pushed both players to be more confident in themselves on the court.

“I told (Francis) when we were having player meetings, ‘You’ve got the green light to shoot it from wherever you want over half-court,’ “ Thaler said.

“He knows it. I think everybody that we play against knows it too...He’s deadly offensively when he can score at three levels, and that was good to see.”

The Bulldogs’ hot shooting answered a good start for Montague. The ‘Cats led 17-10 after one quarter, with Herremans hitting a couple quick baskets and Noah Raeth knocking down a three-pointer at the buzzer, before Ravenna surged back with four second-quarter treys. The visitors led 29-

21 at the half. Montague got as close as two points in the third quarter before Ravenna finished the frame on an 8-2 run. However, that was merely a prologue for Montague’s final counterattack.

The Wildcats are growing confident after the tough start - which was exacerbated by playing seven of their first 10 games on the road, most of them

Montague's Riley Mulder (10) is unable to corral the ball as Ravenna's #10 and #4 grab at it during Friday's game at Montague. The Wildcats won the game, 59-52.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall’s Camden Thompson (with ball) battles several Fremont opponents for possession during Friday’s WMC Lakes game at Fremont. Thompson had a huge game, and the Vikings won, 74-33. • Andy Roberts/Mirror Vikings

Whitehall’s Christian Gomez (left) goes to the rack as Fremont’s Breckin Kooistra defends during Friday’s game at Fremont. Whitehall won big, 74-33. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Ava Pelton celebrates 100th career win; first Montague girl to do it

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Ava Pelton made some Montague history Saturday at the Northview Invitational, celebrating her 100th career victory.

Pelton is the first girl to achieve the milestone for Montague, and coach Kris Maddox said while he doesn’t know for certain, he believes Pelton is the first girls wrestler in Muskegon County to do so.

Maddox said after some number-crunching, the coaches determined that Pelton had actually gotten her 100th win at the Grand Haven meet the previous Saturday and prepared a surprise for her at Northview to celebrate.

“Achieving 100 wins for a girl is a big feat, considering the limited opportunities compared to guys,” Maddox said. “She will forever hold the title as the first girl (to do it) at Montague.”

Adding to the excitement of the celebration, Maddox said, was that Casey Baranoski officiated the match after which Pelton was celebrated. Baranoski, who competed for Comstock Park and

Pelton achieved her 100th win Jan. 4 before being celebrated Saturday. • Courtesy Photo

graduated in 1998, was the first girls wrestler in the state to hit the 100-win milestone.

With Taylor Moore and Reid Thommen both recovering from injury, Pelton and Zaniya Meza were the only Wildcats to wrestle Saturday. Pelton took second place at 145 pounds, scoring three consecutive pins to reach the finals. in the championship

match, she led 11-2 before Dowagiac Union’s Cinthia Villegas rallied to pin her.

“Although a disappointing outcome, we want to have these tough matches before the postseason,” Maddox said. “We will learn from this and move forward.”

Meza placed third at 105 and recorded three wins, all by pin.

Montague wins Ludington Invite

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Montague took first place of the six teams competing Saturday at the Ludington Invitational, with an impressive score of 708.66 points. The Wildcats were 64 points ahead of any of their competitors in the meet. Key to Montague’s performance was a terrific third round. The Wildcats scored 305.9 points in the final round, 46 more than any other team.

Vikings win

(the starters) are on an everyday basis. It’s their job to make our guys better, and they’re doing that on an everyday basis.”

“They work their tails off at practice,” Thompson said of his teammates. “They deserve to play as much as we do. Us doing that is just showing, I feel like, some respect to those guys.”

Morningstar had 11 points for Whitehall, and Kal Koehler grabbed six boards to go with his eight points. Hunter Os-

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borne had eight points, too.

The 46-point first half provided a template, Thompson said, for what the Vikings want to be going forward.

“We’ve just got to show what we’re about,” Thompson said. “We haven’t been playing our best basketball throughout all four quarters, and we know that. We came out the first two quarters with fire with energy... That first half is how we always have to play.”

Comeback win

against high-level competition - and it’s possible those early struggles will end up being a longterm benefit.

“I think a lot of times in basketball, there comes a point where you can’t worry about winning,” Thaler said. “If you’re competing every day in practice and then you can translate your practices into games, you keep getting better day by day, minute by minute, at the end, all of

continued from page 4

a sudden a month goes by and you’re going to look back and say, ‘Wow, we got pretty dang good in that month.’ If you’re playing well and you’re doing those little things, the winning will take care of itself.

“If we keep doing that, I think by the time the tournament rolls around, if we get a decent draw for the tournament, I think that we’re going to surprise some teams.”

Montague's cheer team celebrates taking first place at Saturday's Ludington Invitational.

• Courtesy Photo

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Montague's Cole Herremans keeps an eye on Ravenna defender Brady Karchinski during Wednesday's game at Montague. Herremans had 16 points in Montague's 59-52 win. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Sports in Brief

Boys Basketball

Manistee

Byron Center 76 Reeths-Puffer 56

Brayden Mitchelson led the Rockets with 25 points, but R-P came up short in an O-K Green contest.

Girls Basketball

Montague

in 10. Mona Shores 43 Reeths-Puffer 31

R-P was behind the eight ball early thanks to an 18-4 Mona Shores run in the first quarter. Raquel Walker had 7 points and 9 rebounds.

Hart 38 Montague 33

The Wildcats couldn’t overcome Hart shooting 14-of-17 at the free throw line in the 4th quarter. Adilynn Peterson scored 10 points for Montague. Whitehall 37 Ravenna 34 Whitehall slugged out a win thanks to strong defense. Clare Westerlund had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Lexi Daggett scored 16 points.

Reeths-Puffer 37 Byron Center 35

Defense sent the Rockets to the winning side of the ledger. Ashlyn David scored 15 points, and Raquel Walker had 14.

Wrestling

Reeths-Puffer

Whitehall sweeps home quad

Wyatt Jenkins delivered the highlight for the Vikings in a sweep, scoring his 100th pin. Whitehall routed North Muskegon (74-6) and Oakridge (76-6). Parker Mott and Blake English each twice won on-mat matches. Whitehall 3-2 at Rockford Invite

Whitehall had a strong day, with its 2 losses both coming to ranked teams from larger divisions: Greenville and Rockford. The Vikings earned wins over the Rockford B team, St. Joseph and Jackson Northwest. Blake English and Gavin Craner each went 5-0 on the day.

Reeths-Puffer 3-2 at Alma Duals

R-P beat Alma, Vasssar and East Lansing at the duals, dropping matches to Mt. Morris and Hastings. Ian Cook and Lyric Stewart had impressive 5-0 days, each winning 3 matches by pin.

Montague goes 2-0 at Ludington Quad

The Wildcats pulled off a dramatic comeback win over Hesperia, 40-38, and defeated Ludington 78-6. Alex Breed and Gavyn Maddox earned consecutive pins to swing the Hesperia match. Those two, Fletcher Thommen, Isaac French, Clay Jordan and Michael Jones all went 2-0 on the night. Montague is 13-4 on the season in duals.

Reeths-Puffer 53 Muskegon 21

The Rockets stayed unbeaten in O-K Green matches with the win. Blake Miller and Andrew Corradin won bouts by pin, Lyric Stewart scored a technical fall and Tanner Cowles and Sage Secrest won decisions.

Cheer

R-P wins Spring Lake Invite

The Rockets overwhelmed the competition with 700.7 points, more than 80 better than any other team. The Rockets had an impressive 226.9-point score in round one to kick things off.

Bowling

Reeths-Puffer

Montague boys defeat Ravenna

Logan Hunter delivered the Wildcats’ high score, a 225, as they rolled to a 27-3 win. The girls fell to Ravenna 30-0, despite Jordyn Tolan’s 126.

Reeths-Puffer sweeps Byron Center

R-P’s girls team easily won, 27-5-2.5, with Brook Buchan rolling a 180 and winning both singles matches. The boys’ team took a 19-11 win, led by Ryleigh Beebe’s 220.

Montague drops matches to Oakridge

The Wildcats were no match for one of the WMC's best teams, losing 26-4 in the girls' match and 28-2 in the boys' match. Jordyn Tolan had the top Wildcat girls' score, a 151, and Eli Hysell led the boys with a 202.

Hockey

Reeths-Puffer 4 Birmingham Unified 2

The Rockets outshot Birmingham 41-13. Connor Anderson had a pair of goals for R-P, and Kaeden Benner and Tyler Cuti also scored.

Reeths-Puffer 7 FNV Griffins 4

R-P had the final 3 goals of the game to secure the win. The Rockets dominated in shots on goal again, 48-18. Ayden Hartzell, Hayden Taylor and Tyler Tindall each had 2 goals and Leo Kretschmar had 1.

Reeths-Puffer 7 Forest Hills Central 2 The Rockets rolled the entire game, fueled by Ayden Hartzell and Hayden Taylor with 2 goals each. R-P’s power play unit scored 5 times.

Reeths-Puffer 7 Jenison 3 Hayden Taylor scored 3 first-period goals to spark the Rocket attack. Ayden Hartzell added a goal and 2 assists, and Connor Anderson scored a goal and had an assist.

Montague wrestler Ava Pelton (center) celebrates her 100th career win at Saturday’s Northview Invitational along with coaches Andrew Nold (left) and Kris Maddox.

Whitehall teams fall to Holton

The Viking girls lost to the Red Devils 23-7, and the boys fell 28-2. Felicity Dingman led the girls with a 157, and Jeffrey Hackey rolled a 202.

Whitehall’s Camden Thompson leaps toward the basket for a dunk during Friday's game against Fremont.

Whitehall rolls to 2 wins at Shelby Quad

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Whitehall scored a pair of lopsided wins at the Shelby Quad Wednesday night, defeating Mason County Central 65-17 and Ravenna 83-0.

The Vikings got plenty of wrestlers mat time. Five wrestlers earned two on-mat wins, each pinning both of their opponents: Caden Varela, Gavin Craner, Parker Mott, Wyatt Jenkins and Kolten Weiler.

Also winning twice for Whitehall were Wyatt McFarren, Blake English, Liam Leeke, Kassie Sapp and Cody Manzo.

Fremont too much for inexperienced Vikings

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

FREMONT — Whitehall did a decent job stemming the tide of the Fremont avalanche for much of the second and third quarters Friday night, but the Packers proved too much for the young Vikings in a 78-42 win.

Fremont has smothered all comers in the West Michigan Conference Lakes, including a 16-point win over Ludington and a 45-point win over Montague, so when the Vikings (6-4, 2-3 WMC Lakes) were down 19 points, at 45-26, in the third quarter, it seemed like a moral victory of sorts. However, that’s when Fremont exploded on offense, ending the quarter on a 17-0 run to go up 62-26.

Fremont’s remarkable speed, athleticism and tenacity were huge factors as the Vikings couldn’t move the ball against the press. It’s very difficult to simulate what the Packers do in practice, though Whitehall tried, running 5-on-6 or 5-on-7 and even enlisting assistant coach Emily MacArthur to harass ballhandlers.

Still, coach Brian Milliron said he saw some things he liked as the game progressed.

“We were a little timid at the beginning, but then we got better against it as it went on, more confident,” Milliron said. “We kept our heads up. Sometimes we did a lousy job of getting the ball. We were looking down and trying to kill ants as we dribbled it as opposed to keeping our heads up, and we progressed on that. It felt better than the (Dec. 19) Ludington game where we

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

didn’t do that.

“We’re not scoreboard-watching. We’re just trying to get better each week moving forward.”

And in that respect, Friday was, if not exactly a step forward, at least something from which positives could be taken. Milliron said he was pleased with his team’s competitiveness.

“We played all 12 girls tonight, and they competed for 32 minutes,” Milliron said. “Emily and I were talking, and that’s all we care about at this point. That was the best team we’re going to see in the regular season. We’re going to see them again. We just need to progress, keep positive and play hard for 32 minutes, so that when we do play close games - and anything can happen when it comes to high school basketball - we can progress and see what happens going forward.”

Whitehall trailed early on, 15-0, with Fremont star Mia Clemence hitting consecutive three-pointers to

build the edge. Lexi Daggett finally got the Vikes on the board with her own trey 4:40 into the contest.

It was 25-6 in the second quarter before Whitehall began slowing Fremont down. At halftime the score was 38-21.

Clemence terrorized Whitehall throughout the game, scoring 34 points, including five three-pointers. She was also a force on defense, deflecting the ball and coming up with steals.

“She’s a matchup nightmare,” Milliron said. “If you put one of your smaller guards on her, she can bully them and go down low because she’s strong. Or do you put a bigger girl on her for that? But then she’s able to get her shot off, and she makes a lot of them.”

A bright spot came in the final sec-

onds of the game, when junior Kate Beda hit a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded. The score marked Beda’s first varsity points after not previously playing basketball in high school. Beda was in Milliron’s history class last year, and he talked her into playing the sport this winter.

“She works hard at practice every day,” Milliron said. “She doesn’t get a lot of minutes because she’s still trying to figure out the game a little bit, but we got her some minutes tonight and she scored for the very first time in her high school career, and the girls were so happy and proud and cheering at the end for that. That’s what it’s all about.”

Janie Fagan led the Vikes with nine points in the game, and Sidney Shepherd scored eight.

Dalton Twp. board recognizes Chase family

The Chase family received recognition from the township for the large Christmas lights display in front of their Twin Lake home at Monday's Dalton Township board meeting.

The display attracts many people from surrounding communities to Dalton Township and provides joy to many community members. The board noted that the family does not do this for any personal gain, but uses it as an opportunity to raise money for charities. This year, the family raised $3,400 in donations to the charities Miss Sawyer's Kids With a Cause and Rolling Thunder, a veterans charity.

“We appreciate that this is not an easy effort, and thank your family for the time, energy and commitment you put forward to this community,” Petrie-Cooley said, when reading the official letter from the township to the Chase family. “It is not often that we get recognition for things that we do well, so in recognizing your family today, you have given us another opportunity to express joy. Thank you for all that you do to bring that to our community and

here’s to many more years of joy.”

The Dalton Township board discussed adding cameras and signs along the township's equestrian trail at its Monday meeting. This is in response to issues that have arisen with vandalism, including people cutting down trees and leaving trash. Most worrisome was the digging of holes and covering them up with branches. This creates a safety hazard for horses and their riders. The board has decided to go forward with setting up cameras and signs, and will add more protection if the vandalism continues.

Additionally, the board opened a land sale request for several contiguous parcels on Catalpa Road and accepted a bid of $10,000.

The Dalton Township fire chief, Alan Styles, shared his annual report, including that the fire department responded to 1,031 calls last year. He and the fire department were thanked for their service to the community.

Amy Brown was introduced as the township's new clerk. She took over the position Jan. 2, after Tracy DeMarse declined to be sworn in. Brown has previously served as the township's deputy treasurer. Township supervisor Heather Petrie-Cooley said

money each year through donations received from its Christmas lights display.

there is a potential candidate organized to take over the deputy treasurer position as Brown transitions to the clerk job.

“I didn’t want someone just from off the street with no qualifications coming in to do such an important job for this board and for the community,” Brown said during the Jan. 2 special meeting as she was sworn in.

Whitehall's Lexi Daggett gets to the basket while being defended by Fremont's Khaila Noordyk (32) during Friday's game at Fremont. The Vikings lost, 78-42.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall's Sidney Shepherd tries to tget to the basket against Fremont's defense during Friday's WMC Lakes game at Fremont.

At left, Whitehall's Kassie Sapp takes down Mason County Central's Nyvaeh Wendt during Wednesday's Shelby Quad. At right, Whitehall's Max Krukowski battles MCC's Hunter Sanford. The Vikings defeated MCC and Ravenna. • Brendan Samuels/Mirror

Veterans charity Rolling Thunder received a $1,700 donation check from the Chase family this month. The family raises

• Courtesy Photo

Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

Police activity this week

Behind the Badge

Whitehall Police Report

Jan. 8

Whitehall Police were called to the 100 block of S Livingston St. when an argument over what children were watching on TV escalated. The call came in at 4:59 p.m. and when the officer arrived, he spoke with the resident, who reported her daughter and grandchildren came over for a visit. The woman said she thought the television content was inappropriate and turned it off, leading to the argument. While the complainant claimed she was pushed, the daughter denied it and the caller only wanted the daughter and grandchildren to leave. No further action was taken.

Whitehall officers responded to a mental health crisis at 8:04 p.m. The caller told Central Dispatch her boyfriend wanted her to take all the guns out of the house, but she was at work. Officers responded and were allowed to take them from the house in the 800 block of Alice St. The officers spoke with the boyfriend about seeking help for his situation and then transported

the weapons to a relative to be held. No further action was taken.

Jan. 9

At 4:13 p.m. Whitehall Police responded to the 400 block of Hanson St. to assist on a medical call. The call was dispatched for an elderly person, who had been outside for an extended time and refused to come inside. After getting the woman inside and the arrival of EMS, she was transported to Trinity Health, by Trinity EMS, for an evaluation.

A family dispute was reported in the 800 block of Mears Ave. The caller, who lived in a different area of the same house, heard a mother and son arguing and was concerned it would escalate. When the officer arrived at the 4:36 p.m. call, the arguing had ceased and officers spoke with both parties. Both said the argument was over the mother letting a sister borrow the mother’s car. Both also said that there was no assault and the matter was resolved. No further action was taken.

Jan. 10

A resident called to report a subject on a bike in the alley between Baldwin and Franklin streets appeared suspicious. The caller stated the subject was stopping and looking over fences into the back yards of the homes there. Officers responding to the 8:03 a.m. call located the suspect in the alley a block over and in the 400 block south. The suspect was known to the officers and is believed to be homeless. He is also a suspect in other recent larcenies. They did not find any stolen property in his possession and he was warned and released.

White Lake Music Series to debut in 2025

The White Lake Chamber Music Society announced this month a new music series in the White Lake area, running January-April. The new White Lake Music Series will feature a variety of monthly events that includes two live classical music performances held at Blue Lake Public Radio’s studio and three “talks” by Foley Schuler, Lazaro Vega, and Bob Swan at the Book Nook & Java Shop. These events aim to give local music enthusiasts a reason to come together, strengthening community ties and bringing greater vibrancy to the White Lake area.

A grant from the White Lake Fund of the Community Foundation of Muskegon County will make two in-person concerts possible. The following concerts will be broadcast live from the studio of Blue Lake Public Radio, 7800 Russell Rd, Twin Lake. Free tickets will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

On Feb. 27, Kuang-Hao Huang will perform a solo piano recital featuring Schubert Piano Sonata in A Major, Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major,

and the Bach French Suite No. 5 in G Major

On April 10, Huang and Marina Hoover will perform a cello/piano recital, featuring the Debussy Cello Sonata, plus a Spanish flair featuring Gaspar Cassado’s Requiebros, Enrique Grandados, and Albeniz’s Celebre Serenata Espagnola.

The lectures, featuring Schuler, Vega and Swan, will all take place at 7 p.m. at the Book Nook & Java Shop, 8744 Ferry St., Montague. A Jan. 28 lecture will feature Vega and focus on great jazz solos.

A Feb. 25 lecture will see Schuler in a celebration of composer Charles Ives’ music 150 years after his birth, with an emphasis on 1920s and 1930s music. On March 25, Swan will discuss the famous ‘three B’s’ of composing: Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.

To claim a free ticket for the Blue Lake Public Radio studio performances Feb. 27 or April 10, please text or call director Sondra Cross at 231-329-3056. For a schedule of this year’s events, please visit www.whitelakemusic.org.

At 12:31 the SRO was called to the high school when a student was suspended but did not have a ride home. The SRO offered the student a ride but she refused and began walking along White Lake Drive. The SRO again offered a ride but was cursed at instead. The 16-year-old was followed until a parent was observed approaching her.

Three crashes occurred within an hour Friday afternoon and all involved right hand turns. In each case the person turning right slid while turning and hit vehicles stopped at stop signs. The first two were reported at 3:44 p.m., with one being at the intersection of White Lake Drive and Warner Street and the second at Peterson Road at Colby Street. The third was reported at 4:45 p.m. at Cogswell Avenue and White Lake Drive. That crash resulted in damage to a White Lake Fire Authority command vehicle that was stopped and waiting to enter traffic. There were no injuries in any of the crashes and no citations were issued due to the hazardous road conditions at the time.

At 10:35 p.m. Central Dispatch notified the on-duty officer of a road-rage incident coming into town. As the officer was heading to the location in the area of Lake Street and Muskegon Avenue, the caller said they were no longer interested in speaking to an officer. During the subsequent investigation, the officer learned that while the caller claimed they were being followed, they were the ones following the second vehicle. The vehicle was followed into a parking lot of a business, where a confrontation ensued and resulted in an assault on a third party who

was trying to de-escalate the situation. The offender, a 45-year-old Blue Lake Township man, had followed the vehicle from near his residence into town, upset that he had been “cut off.” The case report is being sent to the Muskegon County Prosecutor for charges.

Jan. 11

A Whitehall officer was dispatched to a family dispute at 1:44 a.m. When the officer arrived at the residence in the 1000 block of Division St., he spoke with the man, who said his girlfriend was searching his phone history and became upset about some videos he had watched. That led to the argument but the dispute never became physical. The police report noted that both had been drinking but agreed to try and work out the matter themselves.

Jan. 12

There were no injuries in a traffic crash on Colby Street near Warner Street. The crash occurred at about 10:53 p.m. when a westbound vehicle was stopped on Colby waiting to turn left. That vehicle was driven by a 47-year-old Hesperia woman. The second driver, a 24-year-old Shelby woman, saw the stopped vehicle and attempted to change lanes but lost control and slid into the first vehicle. There were no citations issued.

Jan. 13

A resident of the 200 block of N Baldwin St. reported a realtor sign was stolen from their yard. The 11 a.m. caller reported they had left to take children to school earlier in the morning and when returning a short time later, the sign was gone. There are no suspects or witnesses in the case.