The Oceana Echo - Volume 1, Issue 35, January 26, 2024 by theoceanaecho

Volume 1, Issue 35 JANUARY 26, 2024

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RSVP and VITA Programs seek volunteers By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

PERMIT NO 62

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Every community is made up of the people, businesses, schools and organizations that live and work there. Another vital part of every community are the people who volunteer their time and talents. Whether coaching, mentoring, teaching or doing hands-on work, community volunteers help fill needs in every community. And one of the goals of the Oceana Echo is to connect our readers with their community, in hopes that together we can make Oceana County a better place for all of us. The AmeriCorps Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), just one of many organizations in Oceana County, is sponsored and hosted by the United Way of the Lakeshore (UWL). “Established over 40 years ago, RSVP is a federally supported program connecting individuals who are at 55 and older to volunteer opportunities that impact specific needs and goals in their local communities,” says the UWL website. The hope is that volunteers in every community can serve their neighbors by using the skills they have developed over a lifetime. Everyone has different interests and strengths that can be used long after their working career that can help move the community forward in a variety of ways. The RSVP is looking to recruit more Oceana County volunteers that can become involved in several worthwhile “stations” in the community and, in the process, help support their fellow residents. Current Oceana County “stations” include the Goodwill VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program, the Oceana County Council on Aging, United Way of the Lakeshore (mobile food pantry), American Red Cross, Department of Health and Human Services, Harbor Hospice and Mediation Restorative Services. According to RSVP Coordinator Shavaun Savage, “VITA and Harbor Hospice are the two organizations with the greatest

need right now.” Oceana County RSVP volunteer Paul Inglis of Shelby volunteers with the Muskegon, Oceana and Mason Counties Mediation Restorative Services Board, while his wife Cheri volunteers for Love INC. “I would strongly encourage folks who are 55-plus, with time available and wanting to impact their community, to look for an opportunity to volunteer with the program.” “Volunteering is a wonderful opportunity for all ages to meet people, gain skills and learn more about the communities they live in. And for seniors, especially, it’s an opportunity for seniors to use the skills they have developed over a lifetime to help others. It’s a proven fact that there are health benefits of being engaged mentally and physically,” said Laura Carpenter, a current RSVP volunteer with Muskegon County. One way volunteers have the chance to make a huge difference in Oceana County is by volunteering in the Goodwill Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The VITA program is a free tax preparation service available to anyone making less than $66,000. “Our greatest need right now is tax preparers, however, tax preparer training for this year is complete. If people would like to check out the program to see how everything works and to find out if it might be a fit for them, they are welcome to come and observe the program this year. They could go through some of the material that we use for training, and they would be connected with an experienced volunteer to learn what the process entails. They may find it is right for them for next year, ” said Amanda Kitchka of Goodwill Industries of West Michigan. Individuals from the county, whose income is $66,000 or below and are looking for the only free tax service in the county, may sign up for one-hour appointments from Feb. 5 through April 15, Mondays through Thursdays, from 9:30

Ray and Sandy Buhl of Walkerville stand with Michigan Club of South Alabama President Deb Singer. The Buhls donated the Michigan flag picutred behind them that once belonged to Sandy’s parents, Frank and Grace Walsama. • Jerry Mattson/Echo

The Michigan Club of South Alabama By Jerry Mattson

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

The Michigan Club of South Alabama was organized in 1995. The purpose of the club is to provide activities, communication and fellowship for current and former residents of the State of Michigan. Each member pays an annual fee of $5. Five meetings take place each year, with two in both January and February and one in March. Meetings are at the Island Church in Orange Beach. Doors open at 9 a.m. with free coffee, water and donuts. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. and is over by noon. In the first hour of activity, leaders sit at tables, signing members up for this year’s 18 golf outings, ladies golf, casino trips to Biloxi, Miss. and selling club merchandise. Others are saying hello to someone from a town near them, based on the location shown on their ID tag. Before the main meeting began on January 4, a rope was stretched between two supports at the rear of the stage and a large Michigan flag was displayed. The president of the club, Deb Singer, announced that this donated flag had once flown over the Muskegon Courthouse. The donor was asked to stand and was thanked with applause. She was Sandy Buhl of Walkerville. She and her husband, Ray, have been members for five years. Last year, she asked if the club would like a Michigan flag they had at home, and the answer was yes. The flag was given to Sandy’s parents, Frank and Grace Walsama, for their continued on page 3 25th wedding anniversary in 1966. Their friend, Jim Wimppe, who worked in security at the courthouse and knew that Frank would like the flag, made it a present for them. Frank died in 1997, and the flag had remained in a box at the Buhl home until it was transported south for this presentation. Each meeting in the auditorium begins with the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag and a prayer. Then, entertainment follows. This day, it was Lisa Christain, playing guitar and singing. Among her seven selections were “Here Comes the Sun,” “Wade in the Water” and “Folsom Prison Blues.” Many of the 264 people in attendance sang along. She has pleased Michiganders here in previous years. Upon entering the room, most people buy door prize tickets for $1 each, getting a chance to win one or more of the 60 to 70 prizes donated by local businesses. If your number is called, you are asked to stand and announce what city or town you are from, and a ‘runner’ delivers the prize. If you are from the U.P., shouts of “Yoop, Yoop” will greet you. The profits help support club activities and many local charities. In 2023, local civic organizations shared a total of $5,800. One of the prize winners at the Jan. 18 meeting was Brad Geeting of Fremont, attending with his friend Shirley Cadaret from Gowen. He has been a member of the Michigan Club since 2008. Abe VanDuinen and Samantha Schaefer were At the second meeting of this year, it was announced that membership crowned Pentwater Homecoming King and Queen had reached 342 people. For more information on this group, visit michibetween the JV boys and varsity boys basketball ganclubalabama.com. The 2024 summer picnic is planned to take place in games Friday, Jan. 19. • Contributed Photo Harrison, Mich., with a date to be announced soon.

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RSVP and VITA

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a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Oceana County Council on Aging or Thursdays from 2-6 p.m. at the Hart City Hall. “It is our goal to expand into rural areas. Oceana County has the most potential to grow, and we’d like to at least make people aware of the program this year in hopes it can be expanded next year,” Kitchka said. Jane Dosenmagen of Pentwater has been volunteering with the VITA program for the past nine years at the Hart City Hall site. “Many of the people who use the VITA service are in need of the money they get back. If we weren’t doing this, many of them wouldn’t get their taxes done. If they did go to a paid preparer, much of their return dollars would go to that preparer. We’ve seen all kinds of people getting their taxes done with us, and the majority receive a property tax/rent credit and a heating credit. These extra dollars are very important to them. “We receive excellent training each year and constantly learn new things. We would welcome more volunteers so we can serve more people in this community. Besides doing their taxes for them, we can also show people how to do their taxes online themselves. “It is a very fulfilling volunteer opportunity. It challenges your mind and is very rewarding. We help people get money back in their pockets. We’ve received many thank yous, hugs and gratitude from people, which is also very rewarding,” said Dosenmagen. “The VITA program is in need of more volunteers willing to help seniors, working people and veterans just one to two days a week. Anyone with a finance background could be a candidate. You don’t have to be an accountant or CPA,” said Inglis. The benefits of volunteering, specifically becoming an RSVP member volunteer, include building relationships, making new friends, learning more about the community and helping where most needed. Two added RSVP benefits, not part of every volunteer organization, include supplemental liability insurance while volunteering and regular recognition of all volunteers. RSVP volunteer hours are recorded and counted toward the program’s future grant funding. Grants can help grow local programming and provide needed funds for various community projects. “I joined RSVP when I became a VITA volunteer,” said Carpenter. “That led me to many other volunteering opportunities that were offered through RSVP that have been so fulfilling and engaging. I am very proud to say I am a member of a national program such as RSVP and to stand shoulder to shoulder united in volunteerism with so many other Americans.” Those interested in joining or with questions about the Oceana County RSVP, please contact Shavan Savage at (231) 332-4016 or shavan@unitedwaylakeshore. org or RSVP Assistant Dawn Cook at (231) 332-4002 or RSVP@unitedwaylakeshore.org. Those interested in observing or with questions about Oceana’s VITA program, please contact Amanda Kitchka at akitchka@ goodwillwm.org or 231-722-7871 Ext. 1050.

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By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Contributor With the help of modern technology and the support of the greater Hart community, Spitler Elementary School plans to break ground on an updated playground this summer. President of the Spitler Elementary PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) Ellen Slotman, shared that the school will kick off an online fundraiser Friday, Feb. 2, that will run through the entire month of February. With several successful spring walkathons the past couple of years and a $17,500 grant from Sinclair Recreation, the PTO was able to purchase a $23,000 GameTime “Kids Course” play structure that is already ordered and on its way. The new structure will replace what is left of the old wooden “Pirate’s Paradise,” built in 1996 but mostly destroyed by arson in 2004. “We plan to begin as soon as school is out for the summer, so it will be ready to go for next school year,” said Slotman. “We will work with a playground inspector from Sinclair Recreation who will be on campus for two days during what is called a ‘community build’. Having a community build will be one-third to one-half the cost of having it constructed for us. For insurance and liability purposes, the inspector will make sure everything is done to specifications and will sign off on it,” said Slotman. “We plan to do what work we can before the community build, such as demolition and site work.” The online fundraiser will be

run through “99 Pledges,” a fundraising app the school has used before. Parents of students will receive a link (now available on the PTO website) and be able to forward it to as many contacts as they wish to solicit donations for the project. “We’ve used this same app for our walk-a-thon and heart fundraisers before, and it increased our donations so much,” Slotman said. To make the fundraiser fun for the kids, there will be tiers of prizes awarded to the top students and classrooms. “The top classroom earner will get to be ‘Gym Teacher for a Day’ and the top school earner will get to be ‘Principal for the Day’,” said. Slotman. “We will also award our business donors with Hart Pirates swag.” “We’ve already received a generous $5,500 donation from the Hart Rotary, which will go toward two items we’ve been wanting for some time: a tire swing and an ADA swing. Parent Kayla Dennert is part of the Hart Rotary and was asked if they’d like to be involved. They were excited about participating, as they were very involved with the first Pirate’s Paradise,” she said. “Our goal would be to raise

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(around) $60,000 overall. We have currently raised just over $33,500, which will cover costs for the new structure and community build costs. If more funds are donated, our dream would be to add an outdoor classroom.” According to Slotman, the annual Heart Challenge fundraiser, sponsored annually by PE teacher Dean DeVries, will be suspended this year; however, the PTO still plans to hold its annual “Walk With a Hero” walk-a-thon on the high school track in May. Just prior to press time, the PTO was informed of additional funding in the amount of $4,500 from a yet-to-be-named donor! That, along with the donation of $5,500 from the Hart Rotary, will cover the total cost of the community build. If these recent donations are any indication of the support Spitler Elementary has from its community, it is well on its way to fully funding their other playground additions in no time. The link to make donations is https://app.99pledges.com/ fund/spitlerptoplaygroundchallenge. For further information, please contact Ellen Slotman at 231-301-9323 or Amber Burden at 231-578-1880.

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Oceana County Schools: Benona Part 1 By Caleb Jackson The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

The next stop on our Oceana County tour of rural schools is Benona, but first I must address a mistake from one of the earliest articles in the series. I have recently been by The Oceana Echo’s office and received a handful of letters mentioning that I skipped over the Cedar Creek school in Weare Township. This was entirely my fault, and it is largely the consequence of me not being a native to the area. I am working off of the information that Mort Wiegand has collated and very kindly let me use. In her papers and in many of the article clippings she provided, the Cedar Creek school is often referred to as “Cramer – Cedar Creek,” and so I opted for the former name, calling it “Cramer” through the duration of my own article. I see now that was a mistake, and if I had occasioned to talk to somebody who had attended that school, it is one I would not have made. To everyone who sent me letters calling for the inclusion of Cedar Creek, your love of this little oneroom school is greatly felt, and I appreciate that you reached out to make sure it was covered. Moving on to Benona, the first school we have is an interesting one. It is the Blackberry Ridge School, which used to be located on the corner of 16th Avenue and West Buchanan Road. Today it is the parking lot for Cherry Point Farms Market. I say it is an interesting one because information on this school can be found in a unique place, “My New Home in Northern Michigan,” by Charles W. Jay. In the chapter titled “The First Death in Our Little Sunday School,” Jay writes, “When we organized our little Sunday School here in the forest, on a bright Sabbath in June, 1872, Johnny

and his mother made two of the nine human creatures in attendance. The wicked writer of this was made superintendent, and his Christian wife was the only teacher, a position which she holds unaided to this day, January 1st, 1874.” The rest of the chapter deals with the untimely death of young Johnny Errickson, son of Andrew Errickson, from an unnamed illness. Much of Jay’s book is factual, but much is also fiction, and there were certainly some poetic embellishments made near the end of the chapter. But if what he writes about the founding of the school is true, then we have a nearly precise date for when the school was started, which is more than we can say for a lot of these super early schools. In Wiegand’s notes about the school, she mentions the property was given by someone named James Gibbs. The very same man is also named as Charles Jay’s neighbor in his book. The school, however, would eventually be moved to South 18th Avenue and Buchanan Road, where it was renamed the Peach Ridge school. The old school house continued to be used for a time until a new one was built and dedicated in September of 1913. Moving on to district number two, we have the Bird school of Stony Lake. To borrow directly from Wiegand’s notes, “The first school was a log cabin built on Garfield Road. In 1894, this school closed for Christmas break, teacher Elizabeth Ford and pupils moved into the new Bird School on Stone Road just north of Stony Lake. The school was built for $750. The new school was named for Newton L. Bird, a resident of Benona.” A 1954 newspaper clipping tells us the school was a bit refreshed that year. “The bird school, of which Mrs. William Wellman is teacher, has been completely refurnished with new desks. The floors have been refinished and the general ap-

pearance of the building much improved.” The school still stands to this day and has been remolded into a private home. In district number three, we have the Gardiner school, located on the corner of South 40th Avenue and West Baker Road. The property for this school was donated by someone named Willett C. Graham on “a 100-year lease to revert to owner if not used.” The school itself was named after William Gardiner, a prominent Benona resident at the time. Gardiner himself even built the school contract for the district. Students attended this school one day a week “to keep the lease alive,” Wiegand has written. One of the many clippings Wiegand has gathered also says, “The Gardiner district, Benona, is to have an international Webster’s Dictionary.” This school was also later remodeled into a home. In order to keep these articles at a reasonable length, I’m afraid I’m going to have to stop here for the time being. Tune in next week as we cover the remaining rural schools of Benona Township.

theoceanaecho@gmail.com • January 26, 2024 • Volume 1 • Issue 35 Office hours (Old Town Hall in Mears): Mondays: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesdays: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Office phone: 231-301-8149, or for breaking news, please call 231-923-0751.

Consider donating to The Oceana Echo Donations in any amount can be made via Paypal at paypal.me/echopublishinginc, by scanning the QR code at right or by sending a check made out to Echo Publishing Inc. to P.O. Box 194, Mears, MI 49436.

5 JANUARY 26, 2024 THE OCEANA ECHO

Ongoing Hart VFW Post 1329 Burger/Chicken/Brat/Ribs Night, first and third Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m., dine-in or carry out. The Ladder Community Center: M-F: The Huddle for 6th-12th grade youth, 3-5 p.m. Thursdays: Recovery Support Group, 6:30 p.m. Fridays: Open Jam Session, 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays: Celebrate worship gathering, 6:30 p.m. Knights of Columbus Bingo, 6 p.m. St. Gregory Parish Center, 214 S. Peach Ave. in Hart Second & fourth Fridays, doors open at 4 p.m. Forest School for Grownups Tuesday afternoons through Feb. 27.

January - February Jan. 26 - Play & Learn Group, Storybook Village, 9 a.m. Jan. 26 - Sensory Play, Hesperia Comm. Library, 10-11 a.m. Jan. 26 - Shelby Elementary School Carnival, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 27 - Walkerville Homecoming Dance, Walkerville Public Schools, 8-11 p.m. Jan. 28 - Broomball Tournament, John Gurney Park, 6-8 p.m.

Jan. 29 - Versiti Blood Drive, West Michigan Research Station, 8 a.m. Jan. 30 - Tech. Time, Hesperia Community Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Jan. 30 - Women’s Wellness Workshop: “Boundaries,” Harbor House, 6:30-8 p.m.

City of Hart to hold Community Input Session The City of Hart invites the public to a Community Input Session at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1 inside the Community Center at Hart City Hall. This meeting will provide the opportunity for the public to share ideas for the future use of 3 E. Main St., commonly known as the Ceres Co-op. The Smith Group, an architecture and engineering firm, will facilitate the session. Doors for this event will open at 5:15 p.m. with introductions, site overview and opportunities to be presented at 5:30 p.m. Public input will begin at 6 p.m. with an Open House and conversation to start at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

Two blood drives to take place at West Michigan Research Center Versiti Blood Center of Michigan will be holding two more blood drives on January 29 from 8:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m. and February 1 from 2-6:25 p.m. Both drives will be held at the West Michigan Research Station located at 5185 North Oceana Drive in Hart. Donating blood takes about an hour and has the potential to save up to three lives. Anyone age 16 (with parent consent) or older and in good health, who meets the eligibility requirements is able to donate. Donors should eat a good meal and be hydrated before donating and are reminded to bring a photo ID that includes their birth date. To schedule an appointment please call Versiti’s local coordinator, Kathy Roskam at 231-861-6353 or visit versiti.org. Walk-in donors are also welcome.

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

Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee for grades 4-9 to take place tomorrow at St. Gregory’s in Hart Please consider enrolling your child in the 2024 Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee. The local bee will take place Saturday, Jan. 27, in the St.Gregory Parish Hall at 314 S. Peach Ave. in Hart. This location is new for 2024, as previous spelling bees took place at the former Knights of Columbus Hall located on Washington Street in downtown Hart. There is also a new start time, with signin beginning at 11:30 a.m. Contestants will compete in two age groups. The Level 1 competition for fourth, fifth and sixth graders will begin at noon. The Level 2 competition for seventh, eighth and ninth graders will follow. Winners are eligible to compete at the regional level in Hart on Feb. 10. Regional winners will then be eligible to compete for the state championship. Another important change for 2024 includes new word lists, which take effect this year. Please scan the appropriate QR code at right for a link to the 2024 word lists. Please call Nathan Kroon at 231-845-5436 to register your child.

2023

LeveL 1 Word List

LeveL 2 Word List

Feb. 1 - Versiti Blood Drive, West Michigan Research Station, 2-6:25 p.m. Feb. 1 - Community input session, Hart Community Center, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 2 - Story Time, Hesperia Community Library, 10-11 a.m. Feb. 3-4 - Hart Winterfest

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

On Saturday, Feb. 3, public libraries throughout Michigan and beyond will celebrate the 13th annual Take Your Child to the Library Day with free events and activities for children and families. Take Your Child to the Library Day celebrates the importance of the library in the lives of children and families. Children who are proficient in reading by the end of third grade are significantly more likely to graduate high school, opening doors to a bright future. Libraries help families build solid foundations of literacy and love of learning by providing access to books, early literacy storytimes, technology access, homework help, online resources and fun, safe spaces to explore and grow. Shelby Area District Library will offer several activities on Saturday, Feb. 3 from 9:30-11:30 a.m., including a craft project, scavenger hunt, free book from Read Early Read Often and a snack. Parents will have the opportunity to register their baby, toddler or preschooler for the 1,000 Books before Kindergarten program. A children’s board game and puzzle exchange will also be offered. Shelby Library’s Take Your Child to the Library Day is a free, fun, family-friendly event. Supplies for the event are provided by the Friends of the Shelby Area District Library. Questions can be directed to 231-861-4565 or tifhaight@shelbylibrary.org.

Tutoring sessions available at Shelby Middle School Shelby Middle School is offering tutoring on Tuesdays from 7-7:45 a.m. and Thursdays from 3-4 p.m. through Thursday, March 14.

Performing Arts Series to feature Labro and Garabini The Hart Community Performing Arts Series 2023-2024 season will continue Jan. 28 with a concert by Julien Labro and Cesar Garabini. The artists originally scheduled to appear on this date are unable to appear due to a medical situation, and the Series is pleased to present these two outstanding artists on that date and in the same 3 p.m. time slot. The concert will take place in the Hart Public Schools Auditorium, located at 308 W. Johnson St. in Hart. For further information about this concert or the rest of the Series schedule for 2024, visit the Series website at hartseries.org.

OCCSA offers free ski event The Oceana County Cross Country Ski Association (OCCSA) will offer a free ski event at the Crystal Valley Ski Trail in conjunction with Pentwater’s Winter Fest activities on Saturday, Feb. 10. The public is welcome to use OCCSA’s adult and children’s equipment for free on a first-come-first-served basis. All children must be accompanied by an adult who will assist them in putting on equipment and skiing with them. The Crystal Valley Ski Trail in the Manistee National Forest in Oceana County is located just east of Pentwater. Crystal Valley offers skiers almost ten miles of varrying trail lengths appropriate for all skill levels: beginners, intermediate and advanced. OCCSA volunteers will be on hand during the event to outfit people with ski boots, skis and poles. A warming bonfire will be manned on site. For location of the Crystal Valley Ski Trail, as well as a trail map and membership information, please visit www.oceanaski.org. The event is contingent on weather and appropriate ski conditions. If there is not enough snow, the event will be postponed to Saturday, Feb. 17.

THE OCEANA ECHO JANUARY 26, 2024 6

2nd annual Tin Man Open to raise funds for more art in Hart By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor This year’s Hart Winterfest will feature the 2nd annual Tin Man Open, which will take place at the Hart BioPure’s irrigation site on Polk Road, Saturday, Feb. 3, with a shotgun start at 2 p.m. “We called it the ‘Tin Man Open’ last year because we were trying to raise money to get the Tin Man. We have the Tin Man now thanks to our very generous community, but because the event was so well received last year, we are continuing to raise funds for the Art in Hart initiative and 25 art installations by 2025,” said Hart BioPure Superintendent and Tin Man Open organizer, Paul Cutter. Winter golf outings are becoming more and more popular and a great way to spend a few hours outside on a winter afternoon. Players will use brightly colored tennis balls to play the Par 9 course one and one half miles east of Hart. Registration is $35 per person, and four-person teams can register at the www.takemetohart.org website or on the day of the event, starting at 1:30 p.m. Registration includes a sleeve of tennis balls and hot food donated by

Hansen Foods. An event tent will feature music, a silent auction and raffle tickets for many great items. A bonfire will be going to warm participants and spectators before, during and after. Participants are welcome to bring side-by-sides to make getting around on the course easier. “Last year we had nine teams; this year we hope to double that,” Cutter said. The following items will be available for bidding: a 9-hole 10-play punch card at Oceana & Benona Golf Course, Colonial Golf Course Gift Certificate, an 18-hole foursome gift certificate at Royal Scott Golf Course in Lansing, four Red Wings tickets for Feb. 22 at 7 p.m., four Red Wings tickets for March 14 at 7 p.m., a meat basket from Stotler Cattle Co., a handcarved wooden owl, a Hegg’s Furniture gift certificate, a propane patio heater, shop vacuums, mailboxes and posts, a turkey fryer, a tree pruner, decorative sign and a mosquito trapper. Additional silent auction and raffle prize donations may be dropped off at Hart City Hall by Feb. 1 or Hightower Bar and Grill by Jan. 28. New this year, a “pre” silent auction will take place this Sunday, Jan. 28, at the Hightower Bar and Grill in Hesperia from 2–5 p.m. Patrons will be able to bid on silent auction items

and purchase raffle tickets for the Tin Man event; however, no items will be awarded until Saturday, Feb. 3. “John Sauser, the owner, is from Hart and is really excited about helping us raise as much money as we can. We’re going to try it and see how it goes,” Cutter said. “People don’t need to be present to win; we’ll make sure winning bidders receive the item.”

Those planning to attend should look for the tin man replica that will be posted at the entrance to the venue on Polk Road, one and one half miles east of Oceana Drive. Consider gathering some friends and follow “the snow-covered road” around to the right, behind the pines. Questions may be directed to Cutter at 231-638-1963.

Paying for college – the best investment Oceana CAN! continues to host FAFSA Completion Nights By Cecelia Hopkins Oceana College Access Network AmeriCorps Outreach Coordinator Education after high school remains to be the most beneficial investment a person can make for themselves. The Oceana College Access Network knows that fulfilling, high-demand jobs and students’ unique paths require education that is not only the traditional two- and four-year degrees but also certificate programs, vocational and trade training, professional or business school and apprenticeship opportunities. By 2030, 70 percent of jobs in Michigan will require some form of education beyond high school, meaning that we need to start building a college-going lifestyle. However, just like with traditional degree programs, any pathway can be daunting to take, not only because it is a new change but also because it can be expensive. Financial aid makes college more affordable for everyone, closing the gap between the cost of college and what the student and family actually pay. The average debt in Michigan for an undergraduate student is $36,116 and by completing the FAFSA and scholarship applications, this can be drastically reduced or potentially cost nothing out of pocket for many Oceana students. There are three main forms of financial aid: scholarships, grants, and loans. The first step for accessing financial aid is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as FAFSA. FAFSA is a short application that, once completed, provides your family with a Student Aid Index, which indicates the financial need that your family has and is used by the schools to determine your eligibility for aid programs. Every high school senior and college student should complete FAFSA from the first year of college to the last year of college, no matter if you think you are eligible for federal funding or not. FAFSA funding is separated into three categories: the Pell grant, loans (subsidized, unsubsidized and Parent PLUS) and work study. The Federal Pell Grant is usually awarded only to

students who do not have a previous degree and show exceptional financial need; students do not have to repay this grant. Recommended as the last funding option, both subsidized and unsubsidized loans do need to be repaid, but the difference between the two is that subsidized loans do not accrue interest while the student is still attending college, and unsubsidized loans accrue interest from day one. There is also the Parent PLUS loan opportunity through FAFSA, as well as work study options for students, allowing them to earn money while in college. If the student is not eligible to receive a loan through FAFSA, there are private loans that the student could apply for, often found at banks and financial institutions. The next step in a student’s financial aid journey is scholarships and grants. Scholarships and grants do not have to be repaid, and can come from the government, private or public organizations and/or educational institutions; and can be found at the national, state and local levels. Most scholarships require you to complete the FAFSA and submit the Student Aid Index when completing the application. Scholarships can be awarded based on various things, such as academics, athletics, volunteer work, leadership, certain ethnic or religious groups, and specific to certain careers. Students should always start with local scholarships first because they are the least competitive. For Oceana County students, there are two local organizations that have scholarships that students should take advantage of. The Oceana Community Foundation’s scholarship application is due March 1, and all it takes is one application that opens the door for 60-plus scholarships. In 2023, the foundation committed nearly $323,000 to 197 students. Visit their website to get more information about their scholarship process and their scholarship application. The Gerber Foundation Merit Scholarship is another great scholarship for Oceana County students that is due Feb. 28 by 4 p.m. This scholarship can be used for tuition, textbooks or equipment. Michigan Student Aid’s website is a great resource for understanding the state scholarship

and grant programs that are available for high school seniors and college students. And again, you do not have to repay this money back and eligibility is determined simply by completing the FAFSA! One program, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, is a recent big investment into Michigan’s students that an estimate of over 80 percent of Oceana students are eligible for. This scholarship provides significant financial aid to high school students for public and private universities, community colleges and training centers in Michigan. There are additional state scholarships for children of veterans, police officers, firefighters, students who experience foster care and more! Oceana College Access Network focuses on ensuring an educated and trained workforce to meet local employer needs by lowering systemic barriers that prevent students from entering college and technical programs. In collaboration with Oceana schools, community colleges, and other organizations that have aligned missions, they have and will host three FAFSA Completion Nights that any high school senior and their family are welcome to join, where they will receive assistance with completing financial aid forms. The first was at Pentwater Public School on Jan. 18; the next was Jan. 22 at Hart High School; and the last completion night will be Feb. 6 at Shelby High School; all completion nights are from 6-8 p.m. There will be free food for everyone and bilingual support for families that need it. Feel free to join the next FAFSA Completion Night and visit oceanacan.org to register and for more information about college and events.

THE OCEANA ECHO JANUARY 26, 2024 7

Tails of Hope

Obituaries In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

Kathryn Ruth Lorenz

August 4, 1953 ~ January 22, 2024

Take a look at this happy dog. His name is Shaggy, and he is about one year old. Shaggy’s parents were likely to have been a Labrador Retriever and a German Shepherd, both very nice breeds. Shaggy is an owner surrender and is very friendly. He also loves the snow. Are you looking for a sweet dog? Shaggy is available for adoption from the Oceana County Animal Shelter. If interested, please call the shelter at 231-861-5395. The adoption fee for cats is $35, and you receive certificates for $25 towards spay/neuter and $10 towards rabies if not already done. The adoption fee for dogs is $95 and you will receive a $50 certificate good for spay/neuter, if needed. Every dog should have an ID tag. L.A.S.S.I. provides free dog ID tags to all Oceana County residents. To request tags, send a text to 231-730-3906. Free tags are also available at the Oceana County Animal Shelter.

Meet Shaggy

January is Radon Awareness Month Free test kits available through DHD #10

January is Radon Awareness Month. The aim of National Radon Action Month is to increase the public’s awareness of radon, promote radon testing and mitigation, and advance the use of radon-resistant new construction practices. All month long, District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) is giving away free radon test kits to help you determine if radon is present in your home. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): • Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America and claims the lives of about 21,000 Americans each year. • The EPA estimates that more than 10% of radon-related lung cancer deaths occur among people who have never smoked cigarettes. • Nearly one out of every 15 homes in the United States has high radon levels. Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally released into the air from rocks and soil. It can be found in the air outside and can get inside buildings and homes, where it can build up. There is no known safe level of radon. Aiming for the lowest radon level you can achieve in your home will reduce your risk of harmful health effects, including lung cancer.

You should test your home’s radon levels: • If it’s never been tested or radon levels are unknown • When preparing to buy or sell • Before and after any renovations, especially after making any repairs to reduce radon levels • Before making any lifestyle changes in the home that would cause someone to spend more time in the basement or lower level (like converting a basement to a bedroom) In Michigan, nearly one in four homes is expected to exceed the recommended federal action level and, in some counties, as many as 40–45 percent of homes could be affected. Because of this, DHD#10 is working to educate the public about the importance of testing their homes and building for radon exposure. Testing should occur in all homes, whether new or old, every two years. The only way to know for sure if a home has a buildup of radon is to test for it. That’s why, January is the perfect time to pick up a free test kit at any one of the 10 DHD#10 offices. For more information on radon or radon testing, please visit www. epa.gov/radon. You can also call 888-217-3904 to connect with your local DHD#10 Environmental Health office.

Kathryn Ruth (VanAgtmael) Lorenz is now rejoicing in Heaven with her parents. Kathy was born Aug. 4, 1953, to Ella and Bob VanAgtmael. She was the eldest of six children, and spoke so often of her life as a young girl and doing farm chores. Kathy grew up in Elbridge and moved to Hart after marriage. She and David Lorenz owned and operated Dave’s Party Store from 1986 to 2018. She had three children, Elizabeth, David and Michael, who were the lights of her life, second only to her grandchildren. She spared no expense on their behalf and got them gifts for nearly every holiday. The entire family and friends far and wide enjoyed gathering at her pool. Kathy was an avid reader and also loved telling tales from when she was a kid, or stories from her parents’ childhoods; she loved tracing genealogy and had so much literature on her family roots. Kathy will be missed to no end by her best friends, Luann Mitteer, Joyce Claeys and Dale Drumright. She would want everyone who appreciated and cared for her throughout her life to know she appreciated and cared for you right back. Kathy is survived by: her children, Elizabeth (Troy) Putnam, David (Jen-girlfriend) Lorenz, and Michael (Stephanie Gannon) Lorenz; grandchildren, Olyvia Putnam, Samantha Putnam, Aeva Schaffer, Jefferson Lorenz, Chase Lorenz, Vanessa Putnam, Cobey Lorenz and Beckham Lorenz; siblings, Michael (Cheryl) VanAgtmael, Ted (Tami) VanAgtmael, Greg (Julie) VanAgtmael, Tim VanAgtmael, and Robert (Alma) VanAgtmael; and several nieces and nephews. Kathy was preceded in death by her parents. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, at St. Gregory Catholic Church, 214 S. Peach Ave., Hart, MI 49420, with Fr. Juan Palomar presiding. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, 2370 N. 72nd Ave., Hart, and Saturday, one hour prior to services at the church. Interment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Weare, in the spring. Memorial contributions may be made to Crystal Valley Care Fund, P.O. Box 451, Hart, MI 49420. Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. www.beaconfh.com

Gary Lyle Michael

July 8, 1944 ~ January 21, 2024 Gary Lyle Michael, husband, father, son and brother passed into glory on Sunday, January 21. He is survived by his wife, Cheri (Bos), mother Helen (Brandenburg), sons Branden (Pam), Corey (Tamie), and Derek (Hiedi), eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild and three siblings. He was born July 8, 1944, in Hart to Vernon and Helen Michael. They lived in Crystal Valley and Detroit, as well as homes in Mason and Oceana counties, before settling in Coleman for seven years. For his senior year of high school, he moved to Hart, where he graduated in 1962. In Hart, he would meet the love of his life, Cheri Bos, and the two married on May 21, 1966. They moved to Muskegon for four years and welcomed their first son, Branden, in 1969. In 1970, they moved to 217 Church St., back in Hart, where they had two more sons, Corey in 1971 and Derek in 1976. In 1991, they found a beautiful spot on Hart Lake and moved their house there. Gary would spend the rest of his life enjoying the property, and his former front yard would become the parking lot of the Hart United Methodist Church. After 70 years in the Methodist Church, they joined Up and Out Ministries in Mears. Gary worked for many years at Howmet Co. in quality control and worked a few other jobs as well. He ended with a fun, part-time job at Larsons. He had a lifelong love of cars and owned over 70 in his lifetime. His favorites were convertibles, which he drove in all weather. He and his wife loved watching their kids and grandkids in sports, music and plays. Antiques, traveling and genealogy were hobbies. He had a passion for history, as well as riding his moped all over town, especially to La Fiesta to meet the coffee group. Sunsets at Pentwater beach, trips to the Whippy Dip in his 1964 MGB convertible, and “Coast to Coast” moped rides were treasured times for him. Gary said that his purpose in life was to leave it a better place. He and Cheri, as lifelong Christians, believed that they achieved this with their sons. Raised in a loving home, he felt most blessed being with family. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. at Heritage Wedding Barns (813 S. 32nd Ave., Shelby, MI 49455). A time of visitation will take place prior from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Memorial contributions in Gary’s honor would be appreciated to Up and Out Ministries or Base Camp- Hart.

8 JANUARY 26, 2024 THE OCEANA ECHO

• On Feb. 5, 1922, DeWitt and Lila Wallace self-published and marketed the firstWEEKLY Reader’s Digest magazine, FROM KING FEATURES SERVICE, ndo, FL 32803 designed to provide abridged articles on a wide variety of subjects for easy 628 Virginia Drive,reading. Orlando, FL 32803 FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, It eventually gained a circula800) 708-7311 EXT. tion of more than 10 million copies in the U.S. and is still believed to be the CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT. 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803 best-selling consumer magazine in the country. 345_20240122 257EXT. CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 • On Feb. 6, 1911, Ronald Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois. Reagan spent 30 years as an entertainer in , 2024 STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20240122 257 radio, film and television before winning the California governor’s seat in FOR RELEASE JAN. 22,Elected 2024 as America’s 40th pres1966. NOW HERE’S A TIP #12345_20240122 ident in 1980, he survived an assassination attempt and became the most By Lucie Winbornepopular president since Franklin D. FOR RELEASE JAN. 22, 2024 Roosevelt. • On Feb. 7, 1301, King Edward I of By JoAnn Derson England gave his son Edward (later King Edward II) the title of Prince of Wales. Edward I had conquered Wales and ordered the execution of David III, the last native Prince of Wales, in 1283. To this day the title “Prince of Wales” is reserved exclusively for the heir apparent to the British throne. • On Feb. 8, 1983, a 5-year-old thoroughbred stallion named Shergar was stolen from a stud farm owned by the Aga Khan in County Kildare, Ireland. Worth a stunning $13.5 million and commanding stud fees of approximately $100,000, the animal was never seen again. No ransom was paid and the case was never solved. • On Feb. 9, 2008, Turkey’s parliament approved two constitutional amendments easing the ban on women wearing Islamic headscarves in universities. While the government claimed the ban would result in many girls being denied an education, the secular establishment saw it as a step in allowing a more prominent Islamic influence on the state. • On Feb. 10, 1942, Glenn Miller became the first artist to win a gold record award, for his single “Chattanooga Choo Choo.” The tune was featured in the 1941 movie “Sun Valley Serenade” and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1996. • On Feb. 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from a South African prison after serving 27 years of a life sentence on charges of attempting to overthrow the apartheid government. Four years later, he was elected president in the country’s first all-race elections.

By Lucie Winborne

S WEEKLY SERVICE,

• File this one under safety AND energy smarts: Clean the dryer vent after every load. Clean the dryer vent screen monthly with a gentle soap and water bath. Rinse well and dry thoroughly before inserting back into your dryer. • “I used to struggle with plastic wrap every time I tried to use it. But now, it’s a breeze since I learned to do these two things: One, keep plastic wrap in the freezer. It unrolls evenly, not one side or the other. Two, use a serrated knife to cut it instead of relying on the metal strip down the side of the box. You lay it out on the counter, and just run the knife down the edge you want to cut. Works like magic, and it’s no longer frustrating.” — G.S. in Georgia • Store an apple or two with your potatoes to keep them from sprouting. Be sure to check them often. • Cut cotton pads in half to double your supply. They are typically big enough for two uses, and you can always use two halves if you need a whole. • “Make a cream lipstick last longer and stay cleaner by using a makeup brush to apply. Your skin picks up more of the lipstick than necessary, one reason why we blot our lips afterward. But the brush uses only what you need. And there’s less bacteria transfer.” — Y.R. in Massachusetts • Studies have shown that you spend more and make worse decisions when grocery shopping at peak hours. To be a saver on the family food bill, pick a time to shop when you’re not rushed; have a list; know the sales ahead of time; and eat before you go. Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

• Ever wonder why your kitty tries to play or even fight with its own reflection in a mirror? Animal specialists believe felines don’t realize that their image isn’t another animal because it has no scent. • And speaking of scent, the Odeuropa research project has created an online encyclopedia dedicated to the history of smells. • Vomitoriums in ancient Rome weren’t actually spaces for gastronomic feasting and purging, but an architectural feature in stadiums that allowed for more efficient crowd exits. • Null Island gets its curious moniker from its coordinates: zero degrees latitude and zero degrees longitude. It also doesn’t exist, but is the result of a common error in GIS data. • ChatGPT can easily be convinced it’s wrong, even when it’s right. • Irving Berlin dedicated all royalties from “God Bless America” to a fund of the same name, specifically for the benefit of such youth organizations as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in New York City. To date, more than $10 million has been raised. • Researchers at Dublin City University found that soccer goalkeepers process both visual and auditory cues more efficiently than other players, as well as non-players, which could be the clue to their speedy reactions during games. • By 2027, Sweden plans to boast a city made entirely of wood. • The last U.S. conviction for blasphemy went to atheist activist Charles Lee Smith in 1928, after he rented a Little Rock, Arkansas, storefront and put a sign in the window reading: “Evolution Is True. The Bible’s a Lie. God’s a Ghost.” Because, as an atheist, he couldn’t swear the court’s usual oath to tell the truth, he also couldn’t testify in his own defense. *** Thought for the Day: “If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.” — Michele Ruiz © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Phil is the father of Andrew White of New Era.

9 JANUARY 26, 2024 THE OCEANA ECHO

SPORTS

HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE

Hart maintains foothold in conference, survives rivalry test over Shelby By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor SHELBY – Conversations with coaches from Hart and Shelby following a rivalry game in any sport always starts with the same sentiment: this one was a lot closer than expected. That’s exactly what was going through the minds of many in the stands early in a 55-36 win for Hart’s girls basketball team over Shelby on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Hart started the night off in typical fashion, using Addi Hovey to set a physical tone from the opening tip and driving inside to get a quick lead. What the Pirates didn’t expect was for Shelby to consistently answer back with points of their own. Down 13-4 midway through the first quarter, Shelby’s offense started rolling. Biloxi Lee, Molli Schultz and Brylee Friedman got involved at the perfect time, closing the gap and

shutting down Hart’s attack. “Before the game and all week we talked about playing hard. We have to play hard and can’t let up because as soon as we do that, (Hart) takes advantage. Our thing tonight was just don’t give up. We came out tonight and executed that with near perfection,” Shelby head coach Sarah Wolting said. “It didn’t matter who I had out there, they were out working (Hart) and crashing the boards. I don’t know if it’s the Hart-Shelby rivalry that brings it out in them, but if we come out and play like that we’re going to beat lots of teams.” Though they still owned a 13-10 lead heading into the second quarter, it was obvious that the Pirates simply weren’t clicking the way they typically do. Turnovers and mental errors kept them from putting the Tigers away and Shelby was all too happy to hang around. “I wasn’t happy with our effort. We want to press full court, but then we’re getting beat down the

court, not picking up our girls and not helping,” Hart head coach Travis Rosema said. “We told our team that it’s Shelby vs. Hart, (the Tigers) are going to come out ready to play. (We) didn’t come out ready to play and Sarah and her team did. I just didn’t think our intensity was where it needed to be.” Shelby started the second quarter on the right foot as Bailey Dickman got involved and cut the Pirate’s lead to just a single point. The Tigers’ offense slowed down at that point however, allowing Hart to distance themselves, going on a 17-6 run before halftime. Hart freshman Rilynn Porter knocked down two triples in the second quarter to aid the Pirates, but it was the absence of senior leadership for Shelby that really allowed them to pull ahead. Both Schultz and Lee exited the game in the second quarter as they notched three fouls each.

Hart’s Rilynn Porter drives down the baseline with

Rivalry Shelby’s Kylie Brown guarding her tight. Porter led Hart

continued on page 10 with 17 points. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Pentwater holds off Walkerville for homecoming win By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor PENTWATER – Rivalry games are always closer than most expect and Walkerville made sure to make things interesting for Pentwater on Friday, Jan. 19 during the Falcons’ homecoming celebrations. The Falcons walked away with a 52-31 win over the Wildcats, but it was far from easy getting to the finish line. Each team experienced struggles in the first quarter as they combined for just 15 points total as the offenses found their footing. Pentwater junior Trey Johnson scored five points to elevate the Falcons to an 11-4 lead early, but Walkerville remained within reach. Pentwater spread the ball out a bit more in the second quarter, getting Jonny Arnouts and Will Werkema-Grondsma more involved. That translated to a bit more scoring, but only an incremental change to the Falcons’ lead. Timely shots for Walkerville al-

lowed them to stay competitive as senior Collin Chase and sophomore Jordan Oomen knocked down backto-back shots from deep to close the gap. The Wildcats walked into halftime trailing 19-12. “It was never a comfortable lead. (Walkerville) kept closing to within five and they did a great job playing hard with us,” Pentwater head coach Ashley Lubera said. “We were lagging a little bit in the first and Walkerville is known for that great three point shooting without thinking twice. They were hitting on those all night. We came out in the second half and played more as a team, our press was working better and we were rebounding offensively.” Walkerville caught fire on the other side of the break, going on a 9-4 run to start the third quarter. Oomen nailed two three-point shots and was helped by a Connor Shafer three point shot connection as well. Zeontae De La Paz and Collin Chase knocked down a single free throw each near the end of the quarter to keep Walkerville’s deficit at eight. Pentwater’s defense had a

clear focus on shutting Down De La Paz and Chase. Both were non-factors in the points department – a rarity for two athletes that average double digit points. “(Pentwater) basically overloaded one side of the court,” Walkerville head coach Lee Oomen said. “I told my guys at halftime that it’s not all going to be on my two top scorers. Those third, fourth and fifth guys have to show up and when they don’t that puts so much pressure on Collin and Z (Zeontae De La Paz).” “De La Paz is good inside – we really shut him down tonight. He’s normally in double figures so that was a big point of emphasis and he still out rebounded us,” Lubera said. “What happens with that though is that other people step up. (Jordan) Oomen hit three three pointers and it just feels like when you’re guarding their best, someone else steps up.” The fourth quarter was where Pentwater really put the game away.

Falcon turned Knight

Pentwater senior athlete Abe VanDuinen (pictured above) made his intent to run both cross country and track at the collegiate level official on Monday, Jan. 22. VanDuinen held a signing event at Pentwater Public Schools where he signed a commitment letter to Calvin University in front of friends, family (Abe VanDuinen pictured below with his dad, Brad and mom, Carrie) and a rather large fan section of elementary students. VanDuinen found huge success as a Falcon, setting new school records in cross country and track and field. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Homecoming

continued on page 10

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10 JANUARY 26, 2024 THE OCEANA ECHO

Rivalry

continued from page 9

“Molli is a great player and we knew that we had to make other people beat us and handle the ball. I put Abby on her and she did a great job,” Travis Rosema said. “Normally, something like that we put Addi in that position. (Molli) got in foul trouble and that was big for us. (Shelby) is young so they don’t have a lot of ball handlers and when Molli is out of the game anyone in that situation is going to pressure the ball and that’s what we wanted to do.” Two young athletes had standout performances for their teams in the third quarter. Porter continued to build on her second quarter shooting for Hart, knocking down three critical three-pointers in the third. “Rilynn made some huge three pointers in the third quarter that kind of pushed us over the top. Having players like Abby and Addi, they’re going to be the main focus of the other team, but we’re not just those two girls,” Rosema said. “Rilynn stepped up tonight, but other girls like Kelsey (Copenhaver), Breslyn (Porter) and Macy Riley – who got some minutes with the fifth quarter rule – are going to have opportunities. Rilynn is definitely capable and is skilled offensively. We’re just trying to get her elevated to where we’d like her to be defensively and hopefully she continues to grow.” For Shelby, it was Friedman who got going in the third. Friedman scored six points in that frame and showed great effort rebounding and playing defense, including a block on Hovey. “It was good to see that’s inside there somewhere,” Wolting laughed. “I keep telling her she’s got to let it loose and I think she did that a little bit tonight. Hopefully she keeps rolling along with that because she’s only a sophomore and to play that aggressive and have confidence is huge.” Offense slowed down considerably in the final stanza as Hart protected their lead with a more patient attack. The Pirates cruised their way to the finish line, keeping Shelby from getting too close. The win pushed Hart to 8-2 overall on the year and kept them perfect in the West Michigan Conference (WMC) Rivers Division at 5-0. Shelby fell to 4-6 overall with the loss and now sits at 2-4 in the WMC Rivers.

(Above, top) Shelby’s Brylee Friedman blocks a shot attempt by Hart’s Addi Hovey. (Above, bottom) Hart’s Kelsey Copenhaver pokes the ball loose from Shelby’s Molli Schultz. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Homecoming

With a 33-25 lead entering that frame, the Falcons got points from a variety of guys. Arnouts and Johnson took the bulk of the scoring opportunities along with Mikey Carlson, but it was the bench that stepped up late. Pentwater sophomores Abram Kieda and Wyatt Roberts both connected on crucial points late that put Walkerville squarely in the rear view. Getting those players involved is something Lubera values and one of many reasons Pentwater is experiencing so much success. “I have a nice bench and some really good swing players that can give me important minutes,” Lubera said. “The puzzle for me is the chemistry and figuring out who’s gelling on what night against what team. That’s a great problem to have.” Johnson led the way for the Falcons, scoring 19 and adding six rebounds while Will Werkema-Grondsma had nine points to go along with a team-high 11 rebounds. For Walkerville, Jordan Oomen led with 11 points while Shafer added seven. De La Paz was held to just three points, but had a monster day on the boards with 13 rebounds. Abdel Lopez also added 10 rebounds and four points. The Wildcats are still in the conference mix as they own the fourth best record in the West Michigan D League (WMD) at 5-3 (5-5 overall). Already at the top of the WMD coming into their homecoming game, Pentwater now sits at a perfect 9-0 in the conference (9-2 overall). The Falcons know teams are trying to dethrone them each night, but they’re only focused on what’s directly in front of them. “It was a big homecoming and conference win for us. When you’re at the top, you have to try to maintain that because everyone is gunning for you,” Lubera said. “We’re really one quarter at a time. It’s different being at the top but I think we’re humble about it.”

continued from page 9

(Above, top) Pentwater’s Trey Johnson makes a pass near mid-court. (Above, bottom) Walkerville’s Collin Chase looks to conduct the Wildcats’ offense as Pentwater’s Jack Roberts defends. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Falcons celebrate homecoming

Pentwater Public Schools put on their Homecoming celebrations Friday, Jan. 19 with Abe VanDuinen and Samantha Schaefer being crowned king and queen. The night also included a basketball game between the Falcons’ varsity boys team and Walkerville and a light show at halftime. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

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15 JANUARY 26, 2024 THE OCEANA ECHO

Hart boys fight to demount Crusaders By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor HART – Head coach Nick Bronsema and the Hart boys basketball team are no stranger to games that require the Pirates to survive several gut checks. That was yet again required on Monday, Jan. 22 when Hart defeated Muskegon Catholic Central, 69-40. A 19-point margin of victory may not seem very close at all, but the road the Pirates had to endure to get there was full of bumps along the way. The road started smooth as Hart’s of-

Hart’s Blake Weirich rises to the rim with a Muskegon Catholic Central defender in his face. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

fense simply couldn’t be stopped in the first quarter. Points came in bunches for the Pirates as they racked up 13 before the Crusaders were able to get anything going themselves. Even then, a threepoint shot for Muskegon Catholic was immediately answered by baskets from beyond the arc courtesy of Hart’s Emiliano Escamilla and Jesse Jacobs. By the time the second quarter started, Hart owned a 19-5 lead and had successfully spread the ball around, getting six guys involved offensively through eight minutes. Three point baskets continued to rain in from Hart in the second quarter as Ty Schlukebir, Blake Weirich and Jesse Jacobs all connected from deep. Weirich hit two from that range and helped Hart maintain a healthy 35-23 lead heading into halftime. The Crusaders did show more fight before the half, scoring 18 and finding ways to confuse Hart’s defense. A big part of that was the absence of Hart’s top defender Miguel Escamilla who recorded his third foul early in the second quarter. The formations Muskegon Catholic showed on defense also caught Bronsema off guard. “Muskegon Catholic switched their 1-2-2, which is more of a matchup zone and went to a 2-1-2 which took away our middle pass,” Bronsema said. “That threw us off because during all of our talks and the film study, they didn’t run that. For a few possessions we were just throwing the ball around and we weren’t

in positions that we should’ve been.” That confusion seemed to transition to the defensive side of the ball in the third quarter as the Crusaders came out firing on all cylinders. A 10-2 run in favor of Muskegon Catholic had them closing in, cutting the deficit to just six. Weirich stepped up once again, mirroring his third quarter effort that kept Hart in front comfortably. Nine points for Weirich in the third quarter – all coming from three-point shots – put the onus on the Crusaders’ offense, something they struggled to answer. “Blake is more cool, calm and collected now with the ball in his hands – which is something not natural for him because he hadn’t played point guard before this year.,” Bronsema said. “He likes the ball in his hands though and we like him to have it because he’s going to make the best decisions for our team ultimately, and give us the best chance.” The fourth quarter seemed more like a formality as Hart already owned a 15-point advantage. Three straight buckets for the Pirates did nothing to change that and ultimately allowed them to clear the bench, giving some minutes to players like Carter Ramseyer and Avery Guikema. Leading the way in points scored was Weirich with 25 to go along with 10 rebounds and four assists. Brendan Hiddema added 13 points, seven rebounds and was active defensively with four steals. “Brendan has been up front and acts as the head of the snake. He’s been very

active,” Bronsema said. “We switched our defenses up to hopefully allow for some of our longer people to put in a lot more effort defensively. Hopefully we can turn a lot more defense into offense, because our offense isn’t natural quite yet.” The win for Hart boosted their overall record to 6-7 on the year as the Pirates continue to battle toward another winning season.

Hart’s Brendan Hiddema gets past a Muskegon Catholic Central defender for a layup. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Shelby falls short against Whitehall

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

SHELBY – The victory scales seemed to waver just a bit when Shelby’s girl basketball team hosted Whitehall on Thursday, Jan. 18, but they never quite tipped toward the Tigers as they walked away with a narrow 36-32 loss. “It was kind of a messy game, I felt. Both teams at times were out of control and a lot of rebounds were tipped and not just clean,” Shelby head coach Sarah Wolting said. “We’ve just got to box out better. We’re not as quick inside sometimes and there’s going to be girls that are more athletic than we are down there, so we’ve got to box out.” The Tigers and Vikings went blow for blow in the first quarter, matching each other with nearly identical outcomes on offense. That battle ended in favor of

Whitehall, mostly due to the fact that they got the last possession of that frame and cashed in for a 13-11 lead. Not much changed in the game’s second quarter as once more the offenses traded shots. The final few minutes in that period proved to be critical for Whitehall however. Shelby took a three point lead on a free throw from Kylie Brown and a bucket on the ensuing possession from Lydia Soelberg. With time winding down before halftime, Whitehall was able to find an answer in the form of a 7-0 run that doubled their prior lead to four at 24-20. Scoring was harder to come by in the second half as both defenses began to key in on what their opponent was doing well. For Shelby, that meant locking down Whitehall’s top scorer Kendall Osborne – something they did successfully over the game’s final two frames. “Once Kylie realized she could stick

with (Osborne) and move her side to side, a light clicked on – especially in the second half,” Wolting said. “I have to remember that most of my girls are freshmen and sophomores so they need a bit more instruction on stuff. (Brown) just stepped up.” Osborne had 10 points in the first half, but was held to just a single basket in the second. That opened the door for the Tigers’ offense to close in on Whitehall. Behind points from Biloxi Lee, Molli Schultz, Kendall Zaverl, Brown and Soelberg, Shelby snagged a 29-28 lead at the end of the third quarter. Unfortunately, Shelby’s offense went cold in the fourth quarter with just two points scored on an early make from Schutlz. While the Vikings’ offense wasn’t very impressive either, eight additional points was more than enough to pull them in front for good. “I think that’s what (Whitehall’s coach)

wanted to happen. He wanted us to try to run our offense just because we struggled in it tonight,” Wolting said. “They did a good job of knowing that and preventing fast breaks.” A trio of Tigers led Shelby in scoring as Schultz, Soelberg and Zaverl all had seven. Soelberg was particularly active, adding eight rebounds from her guard position which was tied for the team lead. Zaverl also recorded four steals on defense. “You wouldn’t have guessed that (Soelberg) was a freshman,” Wolting said. “She wants the ball on offense to set the offense up and on defense she’s up for guarding anyone. She’s not scared and that’s what we need. We have to dig deep and push ourselves” Shelby fell to 4-5 overall with the non-conference loss, but remained at 2-3 within the West Michigan Conference Rivers Division.

(Above, left) Shelby’s Biloxi Lee fights through a screen set by Whitehall in an effort to stop the Vikings from getting going offensively. (Above, right) Shelby’s Kendall Zaverl uses her speed to leave a Whitehall defender behind as she looks to push the ball down court. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

16 JANUARY 26, 2024 THE OCEANA ECHO

Tigers find success in Whitehall

Shelby’s wrestling team competed in a West Michigan Conference Quad meet on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at Whitehall High School. The Tigers wrestled both Ravenna and Mason County Central, finding success against both. Results weren’t available from the action with MCC, but Shelby had a nice lead against the Spartans early on. Shelby throttled Ravenna 60-24, scoring several pins and taking a number of matches by forfeit. Above are pictures from both of those contests. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR JANUARY 26, 2024171 THE OCEANA ECHO JANUARY 26, 2024

Reflections of our community

White Lake Mirror YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Isaac Love to perform on Tonight Show

Whitehall alum drums in band for country star George Birge, whose “Mind on You” sits #2 on country charts By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer WHITEHALL — When Whitehall High School graduate Isaac Love was introduced to music at a young age, he likely never dreamed he’d one day be part of a chart-climbing hit and perform on The Tonight Show. That’s exactly what’s happened, as Love is now a drummer for country solo artist George Birge’s band. Birge currently holds the #2 spot on the Billboard country charts with his song “Mind on You.” Birge and his band, including Love, are scheduled to perform on the Jimmy Fallon-helmed Tonight Show Monday night. Love’s great-uncle saw a talent in him when Love was young and helped teach him to play. “He was a musician,” Love said of his great-uncle. “He was actually a conductor of an orchestra in Florida. He was a college professor and taught music. It was my dad’s (Troy) uncle. He would come up to Michigan in the

summers. He saw that interest in me and taught me how to play drums. I was about nine years old when I started playing on a real drum set.” Love, a basketball star for the Vikings, graduated from Whitehall in 2013 and played basketball at Spring Arbor University as well. He kept playing the drums while in college. “I did school band with Vince Browand, who taught me,” said Love. “He took me under his wing as well. He was a good drummer and the band director when I was there. I had a few ‘garage bands’ and played a lot at White Lake Evangelical (Covenant) Church. I took any opportunity I could to apply my skills.” Love was offered the opportunity to join Birge’s band in Nashville a year ago. “I had been in bands with our guitar player,” Love said. “We had played together previously and he got a call to play with George. They were needing a new drummer and Reed (the guitarist) called me.

Whitehall alum Isaac Love performs on the drums for country artist George Birge. Birge’s hit song “Mind on You” sits #2 on the country charts, and Love will perform drums on The Tonight Show Monday night. • Courtesy Photo “Music has shown me how good God can be and how he can place something in your path. He has a purpose for you. For me, it was about taking risks and moving here to Nashville, doing these things that didn’t really make sense. You’re not sure if that’s what He wants you to do or how you want it to go, but you can look back at this. I’m now having some success,

so I could look back and see God has brought me a long way. I know music can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, but me as a musician, it’s always been something I love and it’s something He placed in me. I believe it’s what He’s called me to do, and where He’s helped me and given me a lot of really cool opportunities.”

State bills aim to close gap in first responder benefits By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor A bill in each house of the Michigan legislature is aiming to close a gap in worker’s compensation law that denied the family of Grant Township firefighter Michael Buitendorp benefits after Buitendorp died of a cardiac event while on duty in fall 2020. Buitendorp was a part-time on-call firefighter when he passed away due to a cardiac event while en route to fight a fire in Otto Twp. The current law exempts insurance companies from having to pay benefits for cardiac or respiratory diseases for first responders who are not full-time employees. “This is detrimental to public safety,” Grant Twp. fire chief Dan Yost said. “You can be working on a fire next to

a full-time guy and he’s covered if he has a heart issue, and you’re not. That’s troubling.” House Bill 4729, sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Will Snyder, would close that loophole, which Snyder said many in the legislature did not even know existed until Yost and since-retired Muskegon Twp. fire chief Dave Glotzbach met with legislators over the past few years. Senate Bill 0244, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Jon Bumstead and introduced in the senate last March, has the same aim. Snyder and Yost both said it’s possible some insurance companies elected to pay such benefits in the past, which could be a reason so few were aware that current Michigan law exempts such coverage. However, Yost said the insurance company he dealt with on behalf

of the Buitendorp family specifically cited the law, which led to his efforts to change it. Yost, who is the fire chief part-time - his full-time job is heading up the EMS program at West Shore Community College - said cardiac events are a leading cause of death for public safety workers. A 2022 Cordico study said the risk of sudden cardiac death is 18 times higher in first responders 45 and older than for the general population at the same age. “Heaven forbid you have a heart attack after getting home (from a first reConcurrent bills in the Michigan sponder shift) at 3 a.m.,” Yost said. “It’s state house and senate aim to close a not just here, it’s across the country.” loophole that denied coverage to the The efforts to push through the bill family of late Grant Twp. firefighter Michael Buitendorp, who died in 2020. • Courtesy Photo

state bills

continued on page 2

ACWL-Nuveen makes call for juried exhibition entries

The Arts Council of White Lake - Nuveen Center (ACWL-Nuveen) is excited to announce a call for artists for the 4th Annual Juried Exhibition, which will run from March 15 to April 20. This exhibit is open to all artists 18+ working in 2-D, 3-D and digital media. Cash prizes will be awarded. Up to two pieces may be submitted. The entry fee is $15 for ACWL-Nuveen members and $25 for non-members. Payment must be completed along with artwork entry. Artists should be prepared with the title, medium, price, dimensions, and a quality image (or two) of each piece of art. High-quality images are especially encouraged. The deadline to apply is Friday, Feb 23. Matthew Schellenberg (near right) and Raelynn Jewison show off their entries in the 2023 ACWL-Nuveen juried exhibition. • Courtesy Photo

2 JANUARY 26, 2024 THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR THE OCEANA ECHO JANUARY 26, 2024 18

Cabala pitches civic education By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer WHITEHALL — Whitehall city councilwoman Tanya Cabala has spoken up at recent city council meetings about wanting to provide more civic education to the public. “I think it’s important because this government is closest to people,” Cabala said. “I was on the council for 12 years and I’m on again, and I still think that people don’t realize the value of local government and their ability to participate, to make a difference. I learned that firsthand. I’ve been an activist for decades and was actually up in front of the City of Whitehall on numerous issues. Before I got elected, the first time had been the Whitehall tannery cleanup and I’d been in front of the council quite a few times. I think one reason I got elected is because I was involved and outspoken on that issue with some other folks. I always encourage people to get onto a board or run for office because you’ll learn a lot about how decisions are made and how you can influence those decisions.” Cabala has brainstormed different opportunities to offer Whitehall locals to educate and create a more welcoming environment in local government. Her ideas include offering open houses, meet-and-greets with local electives, workshops and recognition programs. “I’m just one person on the council and these are my ideas,” said Cabala. “I would like to put them forward at some point for us to discuss. I don’t think it would take one meeting, I’d like to hear what other council members’ ideas

are.” Cabala shared she was shy in school and understands how intimidating it can feel presenting yourself in front of these boards. “It’s nice to put a face to a name and what people see,” Cabala said. “It’s a chance for them to talk to council or staff members in a less formal setting. I know a lot of people I’ve talked with are uncomfortable coming to a meeting and standing up in front of council, and providing formal comments. That’s not an easy thing for everyone.” A recognition program is an example of Cabala’s ideas on encouraging people to get more involved in local government and to thank those who have served for a long time. “I also think a recognition program for active community participants would be good,” said Cabala. “We have some people who have served on our boards for a long time. We give awards to staff members, but I don’t think we give awards to someone who’s served on the planning commission for years. That’s a volunteer position. It may not be rocket science, but these folks are showing up and serving their community. I would like to recognize them.” Cabala would also like to provide a program to encourage local students to get involved in and learn more about their local government. “When I was originally on the council, we always had a student representative,” Cabala said. “I’m not sure why we don’t right now, but certainly I’d like to see if there’s a way we can involve young people a little bit more in our governance.”

State bills

are especially relevant to rural districts like Grant Twp. and further north, where the majority - if not all - of first responders are on call part-time; Snyder said 72 percent of state firefighters would fall into that category, and more in rural areas. “It’s a huge number,” Snyder said. “I’ve talked to one member of the committee, and he said he has no firefighters full-time in the entire district. It’s just the nature of how we take care of fire service. To close this loophole is important. Obviously there has been some pushback from some local government and insurance folks, but we’re trying to navigate a way to make sure this doesn’t happen again, so that the families of potential victims don’t have to be denied the worker’s compensation benefit.” The bills have bipartisan support, as evidenced by the two bills’ sponsors coming from two different parties. Snyder said Bumstead’s requested he worked to get the

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house bill moving after the latter encountered some obstacles at the state senate level. However, there are currently obstacles at the house level as well. Snyder said there is some gridlock at present due to the current 54-54 makeup of the state house. Two Democrats in the state house won mayoral elections in November and stepped down as representatives as a result, leaving two seats empty that won’t be filled until an April special election. Despite those issues, Snyder said it’s his goal to get the bill put to a vote this spring. He anticipates having more success once the two state house seats are filled. “We’re trying to navigate the divide right now in the interim,” Snyder said. The bill’s immediate future is uncertain, but Yost said he is continuing to spread the word. “We’re trying to make things right for future responders,” Yost said. “We’ll never be able to get anything for Mike, but we can fix it for the future.”

Police activity this week Behind the

Badge Whitehall Police Report Jan. 17 A resident of the 1200 block of Colby St. called Whitehall Police to report someone tried to enter their slider. The caller reported that at about 6:40 a.m. they heard someone at the door and when they checked there was no one there. However, there were footprints in the snow accompanied by paw prints. The caller believed the person had been accidentally locked out of the building and was trying to get back in but also believed it was a wanted person. The officer followed the tracks, but did not locate the person, who appeared to make it back inside. Officers were dispatched to respond to a family dispute. When the officer arrived in the 1100 block of Colby St., a boy was seen running across the parking lot with no coat, shoes or socks. The officer spoke with the mother, who reported the 12-year-old was upset over television and phone privileges. The officer assisted briefly on the 3:21 p.m. call as HealthWest workers were already on scene and took over the situation. At 3:31 p.m .Whitehall Police were called to the 300 block of Iowa St. on a barking dog. When the officer arrived, they found two dogs barking and continuing to bark for several minutes. The officer contacted the owner at the residence, who said they had been sleeping. A citation was issued for the bark-

ing dogs. An officer on patrol in the 2600 block of Lake St. took note of a duck blind that was still in the water. The blind should have been removed according to DNR rules and a similar blind in the same location had been in violation a year prior. The situation was turned over to the local DNR officer for enforcement. Jan. 18 A left-hand turn resulted in a threecar crash on White Lake Drive at the entrance to the high school student lot. An eastbound car driven by a 16-yearold Fruitland Township girl attempted the turn, but hadn’t judged the distance of a westbound car approaching. That car was driven by a 25-year-old Holton man and it collided with the turning vehicle. That collision pushed the first car into a third car that was stopped at the exit of the drive and was driven by a 39-year-old Montague woman. No one was injured in the 7:30 a.m. crash and no citations were issued. A vehicle was damaged while waiting at a drive-thru window when a canopy covered with snow fell onto the hood of the vehicle. The incident happened at 5:22 p.m. in the 1300 block of Colby St. The damage was only minor and a report was made for insurance purposes. Jan. 19 The SRO checked the well-being of a student that was reported to be absent for some time with no contact from the parent. The officer went to an address in Lakewood Club and spoke with the mother, who reported there were health issues that prevented her from getting the kids to school. She was instructed to contact the school about the situation. A 10:45 a.m. crash was reported at the intersection of Slocum Street and Livingston Street. According to the police report, a vehicle driven by a 62-year-old Fruitland Township woman was eastbound on Slocum and at the same time, a southbound vehicle

on Livingston was approaching the intersection. The 59-year-old driver, a Whitehall man, was slowing but unable to stop and struck the first vehicle. The second driver was cited for failing to yield the right-of-way. No one was injured in the crash. A traffic crash at the intersection of Warner Street and Alice Street was reported at 7:04 p.m. Two vehicles arrived at the intersection at close to the same time and both told the officer they did not see the other. The first vehicle, which did have the legal right-of-way, started and the second also started and struck the passenger side of the first. The driver of the first, a 41-year-old Fruitland Township man, was traveling east on Alice. The second was traveling north on Warner and was driven by a 68-year-old Fruitland Township woman. Minor damage resulted but no one was injured and no citations were issued. Jan. 20 An officer on patrol at 1:59 a.m. made a traffic stop that resulted in the driver being arrested for OWI. After noting erratic driving on Lake Street, the officer made the stop in the 2000 block of Lake. The officer contacted the 25-year-old driver and noted signs of impairment and then had the driver perform sobriety tests. After the tests were completed, the Fruitland Township woman was taken into custody and a family member came to secure the car. The suspect was taken to the Muskegon County jail where a breath test showed her to be over the legal limit and she was lodged at the jail. A White River Township woman reported that her car had been damaged during the morning while she was at work. The damage was discovered when she returned to the car during lunch, and she noted the driver’s side front bumper had been struck. The officer investigating the 2:44 p.m. report was unable to locate any evidence regarding the other driver.

Jan. 21 A person staying in a room in the 1000 block of Colby St. called police because she believed someone was abusing a child in the next room. Whitehall police responded to the 3:42 p.m. call with the assistance of Montague Police. The caller could not be specific about what was said or heard, but when officers looked through the window of the next room, the room appeared vacant. No further action was taken. A Grand Haven man was arrested on an outstanding sex-offender warrant after being stopped at 7:26 p.m. The on-duty officer was observing traffic in the 1000 block of Colby St. when he saw a vehicle exit a drive and into the path of another vehicle. During the stop, the 73-year-old driver was identified and a computer check showed the warrant for a felony charge from Ottawa County. The man was taken into custody and transported to a meeting location and turned over to Ottawa deputies. Jan. 22 Whitehall Police were dispatched to a suspicious situation in the 1000 block of Colby St. The caller reported someone was being assaulted in a room and could be heard calling for help. When the officer arrived at the 5:27 p.m. call no one answered but the officer was let in to the vacant room by management. No further action was taken. Jan. 23 Whitehall and Montague officers responded to a call for help in the 200 block of E Colby St. The 1:11 a.m. caller told dispatch that he was “bleeding out”. When the officer arrived, they observed a blood trail leading from the home toward the street. Contact was made with the homeowner, who explained his roommate had had surgery on his nose recently and it had started to bleed again. The victim then ran out to his car to drive himself to the hospital. After confirming there was no crime, the officer left the residence.

THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR JANUARY26, 26,2024 2024 19 3 THE OCEANA ECHO JANUARY

Echoes of History: History Train stations & agents (pt. 1) By Barbara Bedau Brow worth about $1,000, had been Volunteer Contributor The Chicago & Western Michigan was the name of the first railroad to Montague and was built in 1871. In 1900 this railroad and two others were incorporated into the Pere Marquette. The line from Montague to Pentwater was built in 1872. Most of the railroad was built in short stages to provide transportation for lumber from cutting areas to mills. In the case of the Montague Line, it was built from St. Joseph to this area to provide shipping facilities, not only for logs, but for partially finished lumber products, as there were quite a number of processing mills in this area. Montague and Whitehall both had their own passenger and freight station, located only about a mile apart. The Montague station, which was built around 1874, stood on River at the foot of Spring Street, while the Whitehall Station was on Lake Street near the foot of Sophia Street. On Aug. 1, 1883, the Montague depot was a mass of flames and the building soon burned to the ground despite the prompt efforts of the fire department. The wooden structure, which was probably

erected without cost to the railroad company by the Ferry Bros around 1874. Some of the freight, two trunks, and the furniture and papers of the depot were consumed. The cause of the fire was unknown, but it was believed it caught fire from burning saw-dust nearby. By mid-September, a new depot had been completed. During the summer months, draymen from both towns met every train and they hauled the freight to its final destination. They also delivered passengers to the Franklin House, the White Lake Villa, the Mears Hotel, Rochdale resort, and other hotels in the area. During the harsh winter days, business was much less hectic. For many years the railroad provided passenger travel service, but with the increase in buses and private cars, passenger traffic fell off, so that the service did not pay, and was discontinued. The Pere Marquette Railroad ended regular passenger service north of Muskegon in 1926. In that same year, the company closed and tore down its passenger depots in both Montague and Whitehall and constructed a new freight-only station in Whitehall at the cor-

Montague libary now offers laptop checkout

William H. Rowe, Whitehall train station agent from 1890-1898.

• Courtesy Photo

ner of Thompson and Hansen. The PM merged into the C&O in 1947. Forty years later the C&O was absorbed into CSX Transportation. The station agent was a very important man in the company. He had to be highly intelligent and versatile in order to do his job properly. He was a combination telegraph operator, route calculator, accountant, cashier, and handyman. He sold tickets (usually in bunches) for those passengers who had to make numerous transfers from one rail line to another, checked baggage, determined passenger and freight rates, loaded and unload freight, and soothed angry passengers when things didn’t

The

Bookworm

Bulletin

Cozy Up reading challenge coming next month By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

By Christina LeVey-Rowland Volunteer Contributor You may have noticed we have a new addition to our library’s front lobby entrance. That is our brand-new Laptops Anytime kiosk! We were awarded a grant through the Library of Michigan to add this fantastic new technology to the library and, best of all, it will be available after regular library hours for MADL cardholders who have the Montague library as their home branch. Patrons will be able to come into the library lobby and use their library card to check out a laptop from the kiosk to take LeVey-Rowland home temporarily. MADL is excited to offer this service to our patrons who may not have access to this type of technology at home. Now you can job hunt, pay bills online, or connect with family and friends over social media from the comfort of your own home. If you need internet access to go with your laptop, don’t forget MADL offers hotspots for checkout in the library! In addition to our new technology, we are also bringing in new books and movies as well as a brand-new online resource to help you unleash your creativity! If you love to craft, we have you covered. We just acquired a service called Creative Bug that

go well. He had to be able to calculate the easiest, shortest, and least expensive way to get from one point to another by rail. He also had to keep track of varying rates, a hodgepodge of state and federal laws, and a host of obscure railroad rules. Some of the Station Agents at Whitehall Depot include: C. F. Sollau – According to the City Directory in 1883, Christian F. Sollau was the agent for a railway station in Grand Rapids. By 1887 he had made his way to Whitehall, as his name appeared in the City Directory then, and again in 1889. Sometimes he was listed as Charles F. and sometimes C. F. When he got a cinder in his eye, which was reported in the

allows you to sign up with your MADL library card and search through a wide variety of creative projects. You can even watch videos of step-by-step instructions, to bring your pieces to life. Visit our website at MADL.org/AtHome to get started. Now that we’ve looked ahead at some of the fun things we have for 2024, let’s take a quick look back at 2023. If you’re curious, like me, you might be wondering what some of our most checked out items were last year. Here is our Montague Branch Library End of Year Wrap-up: Top Adult Fiction: The Inn at Seagrove by Rachel Hanna Top Adult Nonfiction: Drop Acid: the Surprising New Science of Uric Acid -- the Key to Losing Weight, Controlling Blood Sugar, and Achieving Extraordinary Health by David Perlmutter, MD, with Kristin Loberg. Top Picture Book: When Carrot Met Cookie by Erica S. Perl Top Kids Fiction: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney Top Kids Nonfiction: Minecraft : Redstone Handbook by Nick Farwell Top Teen Checkout: One of us is Lying by Karen M. McManus Top DVD: No Time to Die Thank you for helping us make 2023 a fantastic year at the library. We can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store.

paper in 1887, it listed him as Fred. By May 1890, he was the agent in Fruitport. W. H. Rowe – It was announced in the local paper Jan. 9, 1890 that William H. Rowe was the new station agent for the C. & W.M. Railroad in Whitehall. In June 1898 it was reported that he was packing up his house to move to Big Rapids. A City Directory listing in 1899 confirmed that he had “removed” to Big Rapids. O. W. Wiley – In June 1898, Otis William Wiley came to the Whitehall depot as the station agent from Big Rapids. Otis was born Nov. 28, 1867 in Michigan. By 1900 he had moved to Grand Rapids. He married Marvillah Prosser-Wigle Dec. 19, 1904 in Detroit. He died May 8, 1948 in Detroit. S. L. Kinnon - Samuel L. Kinnon was the PM RR Agent in Whitehall in 1904 and 1905 according to the City Directories of that time. He and his wife Frances were living on Mears near Sophia. In August 1905, while Agent Kinnon was at dinner, some sneak thief broke out a pane of glass in the depot window and proceeded to force open the money drawer. His efforts were to no avail, as he did not get even a penny.

Break out your fuzziest socks and your warmest cocoa! For the whole month of February, the library is offering “Cozy Up with a Good Book,” a winter reading challenge for all ages. Log your reading by visiting wlclib.beanstack. org or downloading the Beanstack app on your mobile device to earn badges and books all month long! If you prefer a paper-and-pencil approach to tracking your reading, just stop by the library for a printed reading log or download one from our website at wlclib.org. Paper logs must be returned to the library by Monday, March 4. Each badge you earn is also an entry into a grand prize drawing for some fun prizes! A big THANK YOU to the Friends of the White Lake Community Library for funding the winter reading prizes this year! Making Maple Syrup If you’ve ever had an interest in making maple syrup, visit the library Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m. to learn the basics and get advice on tapping your own trees. You’ll also hear about a community sap-boiling effort that will produce biochar as well as maple syrup. This event is presented by Wiley Fry and hosted by the Montague Commoners, a joint effort of local permaculture folks working to connect people with the land in reciprocal ways through foraging and land care.

FUN FACT: According to one Native American legend, maple syrup was invented by a Native American woman who accidentally let the dinner pot boil dry. With no water close at hand, DeMumbrum she added some maple sap to the pot instead. Her husband liked the result so much, he broke the pot in order to lick up the last of the sticky sauce. For more fun facts about maple syrup, visit michiganmaple.org. Final Week of January Series Lectures There are just five more lectures in Calvin University’s January Series this year. Join us each weekday through Feb. 2 at 12:30 for the livestream event, or watch from the comfort of home by visiting calvin. edu/january. This week’s lecture titles include “Technology, Luddites, and the Future of Work” on Monday, “Neurodivergent Storytelling” on Tuesday, and “Poetry For All” on Wednesday. See the complete list on our website at wlclib.org/calendar. If you missed one you really wanted to see, most of the lectures are available online for another week or two. One of my favorites so far this year was “Poverty, By America”, which can be viewed through Feb. 2.

community 420JANUARY 26, 2024 WHITE LAKE MIRROR JANUARY 26, 2024 THE THE OCEANA ECHO

e Mirror

SPORTS WHITEHALL • MONTAGUE • REETHS - PUFFER

Whitehall NONPROFIT NEWSreigns SOURCEagain at GMAA tourney Vikings win 17th GMAA in last 18 seasons, led by 7 champions By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor MUSKEGON — Whitehall’s ownership of the GMAA wrestling meet is almost perfunctory at this point, but the Vikings still had reason to celebrate taking home the trophy for the 17th time in the past 18 seasons Saturday at Muskegon High School. “We love new toys,” Whitehall senior Darnell Mack said of the trophy after the tournament. It was a marathon day, lasting until past 7 p.m., but Whitehall kept its focus throughout, putting all 14 of its wrestlers into the semifinals, with seven of them earning championships. “I’m proud of every single guy that wrestled today,” Whitehall coach Justin Zeerip said. “I thought they showed a lot of heart. This is always a big thing every single year. I was glad we came in here and wrestled well. “It was definitely a long day. I just tried to have them relax, sit down, hang out, not think about wrestling all the time, just wait until their match is up.” Two Vikings delivered especially big highlights during the tournament. Mack reached a personal milestone by achieving his 100th career victory in the 150-pound semifinals, pinning Orchard View’s Xavier Randall. Mack, in fact, pinned all three of his opponents, defeating Fruitport’s Cooper Lengkeek in the finals. Another highlight came from Jason Smith, the Vikings’ first-year wrestler at heavyweight. Smith is so inexperienced a wrestler that he didn’t know how the ultimate tiebreaker worked,

Whitehall’s Darnell Mack and coach Justin Zeerip celebrate Mack’s 100th career victory at Saturday’s GMAA tournament. Mack was one of seven Vikings to win their weight class championship.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

which created a coaching opportunity for Zeerip when Smith’s finals match against Orchard View’s Jamario Dash reached that point. Luckily for Smith - and Zeerip - Smith scored first in the match, giving him the choice of where to start the ultimate tiebreaker. Smith had already proven to be adept at escaping Dash’s holds from the bottom position during the match, so Zeerip instructed his wrestler to start there, giving him 30 seconds to score to secure the win. Smith quickly got out of the hold again, earning the championship. “It’s my first year wrestling, so coming in today, I definitely didn’t think I was going to go very far, but things came together,” Smith said. “For him to win the tournament today at heavyweight is pretty incredible,” Zeerip said. Joining Smith as an overtime champion was Nolan Taranko, who record-

Whitehall’s Blake Morningstar (left) battles Mona Shores’ Peyton Peterson during the 215-pound championship match at Saturday’s GMAA tournament in Muskegon. Morningstar took second place, but his Vikings were at the top of the podium again.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall’s Max Krukowski (left) and Montague’s Jimmy Thommen grapple during a 120-pound semifinal at Saturday’s GMAA tournament in Muskegon. Krukowski won the match, helping the Vikings win their 17th GMAA title in 18 seasons.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

ed a takedown in overtime to defeat Fruitport’s Kyle Holt for the 126-pound championship. Gavin Craner also shone for Whitehall, pinning all three of his opponents to claim the 175-pound championship. Ryne Christensen recorded a pair of pins and won the title at 144. Ryan Go-

odrich and Cody Manzo added titles for Whitehall at 165 and 106 respectively. Max Krukowski (120), Caden Varela (132), Liam Leeke (138), Blake English (157) and Blake Morningstar

GMAA title continued on page 5

Whitehall boys rally to earn sweep of ‘Cats Vikings trailed 10-0 after Baker games; girls romp in rivalry match By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor MUSKEGON — Whitehall earned a sweep of Montague Monday at Northway Lanes, but it wasn’t easy - not, at least, on the boys’ side. The Wildcats grabbed all 10 points in the Baker games, putting Whitehall in the unfamiliar position of having to rally from a deficit against its chief rival. However, the Vikes proved up to the task, outscoring Montague 17-3 in the individual games. “They stepped it up in the individual games,” Whitehall coach Tyson Jasperse said. “They bowled really well. They did what they needed to do and got the win.” Mason Slaughter led the comeback, delivering each of the team’s two top scores in individual play. He rolled a 202 and a 191 in matchups against Montague’s Carson Johnston, coming out on top in both. Slaughter has emerged as a high

Whitehall’s Morgan Garcia follows through on a roll during Monday’s matchup with Montague. Garcia went 2-0 in individual play. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

scorer over the course of the season, occasionally unseating teammate Phoenix Hoffmeyer for the honor of top scorer in a match. “I feel like the lanes were pretty good today,” Slaughter said. “I feel like I was throwing the ball the right way, shape and form. I’m pretty sure that helped me a lot getting those strikes

Whitehall’s Jeffrey Hackey sends his ball down the lane during Monday’s match against Montague. The Vikings rallied to beat the Wildcats, 17-13.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

and those spares. long way.” “At the beginning of the year, we Hoffmeyer was Whitehall’s #2 scorstarted off struggling. (After) that er in individual play, rolling a 169 and point...we’ve started to step it up and we’re starting to see the improvement in ourselves. I feel like we’ve come a continued on page 6

Bowling sweep

THE OCEANA ECHO JANUARY THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR JANUARY26, 26,2024 2024 21 5

GMAA title (215) each took second place. Leeke had one of the most impressive matches of the day, rallying from an 11-3 deficit in the semifinals to edge Muskegon’s Ke’Yaun Bradford 18-17. While he couldn’t complete a storybook ending with a finals win, the effort was notable. Reeths-Puffer had a solid day in its own right, earning second place and putting four wrestlers atop the podium. Standing out was junior Ian Cook, who dominated the 132-pound bracket with two pins and a major decision. Cook picked up his third city title in three years, giving him a chance to join the ultra-exclusive club of four-time champions next season. Jake Rozycki also stayed on track for that honor, picking up his second championship at 120 as a sophomore. Sage Secrest scored the title at 190, pinning all three of his opponents, and Nathan Reeves won the title at 157. “I was very proud of how our guys competed on Saturday and it was great to see everyone from around the county,” R-P coach Jared Fleming said. “Lots of our guys have friends on different teams around the county and so we had fun throughout the day.” Montague finished in fifth place in the competitive field. The highest Wildcat placement was third, earned by Jimmy Thommen (120), Chris Aebig (132), Fletcher Thommen (150) and Isaac French (190). Coach Kris Maddox was impressed with his team’s toughness, noting Aebig and French both

continued from page 4

Reeths-Puffer’s Jaxson Whitaker tries to get through the Zeeland East defense during Tuesday’s game at R-P. Whitaker was named a MHSAA Scholar-Athlete finalist last week. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Jaxson Whitaker named finalist for MHSAA scholarship Whitehall’s Blake English (left) and Reeths-Puffer’s Nathan Reeves grapple during a 157-pound match at Saturday’s GMAA tournament in Muskegon. Reeves won the match en route to taking the title, but Whitehall won the team tournament. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor MUSKEGON — Reeths-Puffer senior Jaxson Whitaker was named a Class A finalist Friday for the MHSAA’s most prestigious award for current students, the MHSAA Scholar-Athlete award. Whitaker is one of 24 boys finalists in Class A.

Scholar-athlete

continued on page 6

Sports in Brief Whitehall’s Gavin Craner (left) eyes the scoreboard while trying to score points against Orchard View’s Mason Tuttle in the 175-pound championship match at Saturday’s GMAA tournament. Craner pinned all three of his opponents to win the weight-class title. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

avenged their early defeats with victories over those opponents in the consolation bracket. The tournament traditionally kick-starts the sprint to the wrestling season’s conclusion. Both Whitehall and Montague host dual tournaments this Saturday, followed by the West Michigan

Conference tournament Feb. 2 and the districts the next week. “It goes really fast,” Zeerip said. “At the end of this year, we’ve just talked about making sure that we’re getting a lot of sleep and being healthy and getting ready to make a postseason run.”

Reeths-Puffer controls second half, earns big league win over Chix By Andy Roberts

Rockets win continued on page 6

The Wildcats held off a late Oakridge run to earn a home victory. Isaiah Atchison had 20 points and had 10 rebounds in the first half alone.

Reeths-Puffer 73 Wyoming 35 R-P’s defense continued to dominate, holding a 3rd straight opponent to 35 points or less. Jaxson Whitaker made six three-pointers in the first half and had 29 points. Travis Ambrose added 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Whitehall 74 Orchard View 23 It was another runaway win for the Vikings. Kal Koehler led the charge, scoring 25 points. DJ Jamison added 16, and Camden Thompson posted 12 rebounds and 10 points.

Whitehall 58 Cadillac 56 In a huge battle of unbeatens on the road, Whitehall came out on top. Camden Thompson had 15 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists for the Vikes, and Kal Koehler added 11 points.

Girls Basketball Hart 58 Montague 32 Montague was unable to slow down the potent Hart attack. Freshman Avah Vandermeulen was a bright spot, scoring a team-high 13 points.

Wyoming 55 Reeths-Puffer 39 The Rockets dropped an O-K Green game despite 20 points by Brooklynn Tornes. Tamia Gayles countered with 18 points for the Wolves.

Montague 61 Orchard View 19

White Lake Mirror Editor MUSKEGON — It took a half for Reeths-Puffer to get its offense going Tuesday night against Zeeland East, but once it did, the results were impressive. The Rockets took command of Tuesday’s O-K Green Conference matchup after halftime, scoring 38 second-half points to pull away and earn a 67-47 win, keeping them undefeated in league play. Zeeland East took an early 8-2 lead on a pair of three-pointers, but the Rockets (11-1, 5-0 O-K Green) surged back with a 7-0 run. The teams battled back and forth in the first half before R-P scored the last six points of the second quarter to take a 29-23 halftime lead. R-P coach Nate Aardema said the Rockets were hunting mismatches early on offense and would have been better off playing a freer style. “Although it makes sense sometimes, you’re trying to run stuff instead of play and you’re not in your training and your instincts,” Aardema said. “When you’re thinking, ‘Oh, should I be here?’, that little hesitancy hurts, and then they may throw a weak pass or the ball didn’t move because we were trying to hunt for something specific.” That was not an issue after halftime, as R-P used its typically strong defensive effort to spark opportunities in transition. As usual, seniors Jaxson Whitaker and Travis Ambrose were the main drivers - and beneficiaries - of the increased success. Whitaker had 19 points and seven assists, and Ambrose posted a double-double, with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Marvin Moore drilled a three-pointer on a fast break to force a Zeeland East timeout, which did nothing to

Boys Basketball Montague 56 Oakridge 51

Montague outscored the Cardinals 23-0 in the 2nd quarter en route to its 2nd win of the season. Braylyn Bultema led the Wildcats with 17 points. Addison Pranger had 15, and Adilynn Peterson chipped in 12.

W.M. Christian 59 Whitehall 52 Lexi Daggett had 17 points against the Warriors, for whom she played before transferring to Whitehall. Clare Westerlund added 11 points. However, WMC’s 29-18 scoring edge in the 1st half was the difference.

Reeths-Puffer 57 Zeeland East 42 Brooklynn Tornes had a huge game for the Rockets, with 17 points and 10 assists. Savannah Lockwood scored 12 points, and Irelyn Niklasch barely missed a double-double, wtih 9 points and 10 rebounds.

Wrestling Montague girls 2-3 at Holt Duals

Reeths-Puffer’s Travis Ambrose flies in for a basket against Zeeland East’s B.J. Walker during Tuesday’s game at R-P. The Rockets won, 67-47. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Montague’s performance was impressive, considering it only filled half the 14 weight classes. The Wildcats defeated Westland John Glenn (3018) and Manton (42-0), losing to Eaton Rapids, DeWitt and Hastings. Ava Pelton, Trisha Beckman and Savannah Winkleblack earned 5-0 records.

Whitehall easily sweeps home quad Whitehall romped past Mason County Central, 78-6, and blanked Ravenna, 82-0. Many Vikings went 2-0, including Cody Manzo, Ryne Christensen, Darnell Mack and Blake Morningstar all earning 2 pins.

Montague splits matches on senior night Montague defeated Ludington, 75-6, and fell to Hesperia, 52-27, in its senior night quad. The ‘Cats moved to 7-3 in WMC matches. Individual match statistics had not been reported at press time.

Reeths-Puffer wins twice at home quad The Rockets earned wins by scores of 55-15 over Fruitport and 47-22 over Muskegon. Arin Maynard, Jake Rozycki, Ian Cook, Hunter Eek, Andrew Corradin, Lyric Stewart and Nathan Stafford each pinned Trojan foes.

Bowling

R-P teams dominate G.R. West Catholic The Rockets’ boys won, 22-5, and the girls won by a 25-5 margin. Quinn Alderink led the R-P boys with a high game of 242, while Bianca Kammers paced the girls team with a 211.

Whitehall scores wins over Ludington Whitehall’s boys won by a 27.5-2.5 margin, led by Jeffrey Hackey’s games of 178 and 165. Ava Garcia led the Viking girls to a 17.5-12.5 win with games of 187 and 159.

Reeths-Puffer’s Brayden Mitchelson tries to get a layup past Zeeland East’s B.J. Walker during Tuesday’s game at R-P. The Rockets won the game, 67-47. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Hockey Reeths-Puffer 5 East Kentwood 3 Avery Freeland scored twice as the Rockets continued their winning ways in O-K Fischer play. Jaxon Stone added a goal and two assists.

22 JANUARY26, 26,2024 2024 THE THEWHITE OCEANA ECHO 6 JANUARY LAKE MIRROR

Bowling sweep a 170, and Max Schneider delivered a 175 in his second game on his way to a 2-0 finish. Jeffrey Hackey earned a pair of wins too. Jasperse said the team has shown improved depth this year, which has led to better results. “A couple of our guys have stepped up into some roles this year and have really turned it up into the second half of the season,” Jasperse said. “Even when some of our big shooters don’t hit the high scores, we’ve had other kids step it up.” Matthew Leatherman led Montague in individual play, rolling a 156 and a 172 to earn a pair of wins. Chris Williams had the Wildcats’ high game, a 179. In girls’ play, Whitehall was dominant against the rival Wildcats, earning a 28-2 win. Ava Garcia led the team, with individual games of 166 and 147. “I was not very happy with my second game, but it was still fun with our

team, and I’m glad I got a W there,” Garcia said. “My ball was hooking a little more than usual today, but overall, I’m pretty happy with our team performance.” Also starring for the girls with 2-0 individual days were Morgan Garcia and Jersey Pierson. Whitehall swept all 10 Baker game points. Alonna Hysell and Aurelia Ambriz each scored a point for Montague, with Ambriz’s 178 the top score of the day for either team. The rivalry matchup always adds some extra juice to the lanes; Slaughter said he had a headache early in the match. However, at its core, the rivalry is a fun one. “Especially with the guys, it’s always a close match with Montague,” Jasperse said. “We love hanging out with the Montague teams. We love hanging out with the Montague coaches. It’s always a good time, whether we’re here or at Sherman (Lanes).”

Rockets win stop the Rockets’ momentum. “That’s definitely our strong suit,” Whitaker said of moving faster. “We get the ball up to open shooters, or we can get it down low. Once we go early, everything just opens up open shots, and it shows. We’ve been scoring a lot.” Aardema noted that Zeeland East played a game Monday night as well, making it an even more sensible choice to turn up the pace Tuesday. However, the Rockets also were playing with a tight rotation - only six players took the court in the first half - so the team picked its spots. Still, the coach was impressed with his team’s hustle all game long, even when the Rockets had the game in

continued from page 4

hand. “They’re just bought into trying to compete and win every possession,” Aardema said. “I don’t know if it was early in the fourth or late in the third, I think we were up 20-plus, and Jaxson dives on the ground for a loose ball. Last game, we were up fairly big and Travis chased down a loose ball from 30 feet away.” The Rockets’ next two games will go a long way towards determining their conference title chances. R-P faces Zeeland West, whose only O-K Green loss was to Muskegon, Friday night, then take on the Big Reds Tuesday night.

Scholar-athlete Six of those finalists will earn a $2,000 scholarship underwritten by Michigan Farm Bureau Insurance. A total of 32 athletes, out of 120 finalists, will receive the scholarship. To be eligible, students had to carry a 3.5 grade point average or higher, have earned a varsity letter in an MHSAA sport, submit a 500-word essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics, answer a series of short essay questions, and get two letters of recommendation. Over 1,600 MHSAA student-athletes applied. “I knew there were a lot of applicants, but I wasn’t sure if I’d get it,” Whitaker said. “So I just applied. I’m thankful to be on the finals list and hopefully I’ll get on that final list (of winners). It’s a big deal to me.” Whitaker signed with Ferris State for basketball late last year and said he hasn’t picked out a major yet but is leaning towards a business-related field of study. Whitaker is also a star

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player in football and baseball at R-P. “I’ve said so many times, you can’t be great at anything if you’re not good at everything,” Rockets’ coach Nate Aardema said. “Jaxson lives that...Jaxson is a three-sport athlete. He had a job this summer, and he still got all his workouts in. One of the things that athletics helps us learn is how to manage our time and our priorities. He’s had to do that and he’s done it exceptionally well. It’s cool to see him recognized for being as well-rounded as he is.” Aardema added that he’s pleased Whitaker can be an example for upand-coming athletes at the school. As a longtime coach, he’s seen many examples of how sports can help boost athletes’ academic achievement as well. “I could tell a bunch of stories of kids that may not have finished high school if it weren’t for athletics, not just because it motivates them but because they have people involved in their lives that can check on it,” Aardema said.

Whitehall wins tight game over Shelby Whitehall eked out a defensive-minded victory at Shelby last Thursday night, 36-31. Kendall Osborne led the Vikings with 13 points, and Lexi Daggett chipped in 10. Three Tigers had seven points each. Above, Whitehall’s Kendall Osborne puts up a shot over Shelby’s Kylie Brown during last Thursday’s game at Shelby. At left, Whitehall’s Allie Van Antwerp defends Shelby’s Lydia Soelberg. Whitehall won, 36-31. • Brendan Samuels/Mirror

R-P approves of new O-K conference alignment

Lengthy process included departure of 7 league schools alignment as a compromise between By Andy Roberts

White Lake Mirror Editor MUSKEGON — After a drawn-out realignment process that included seven O-K Conference schools leaving to form a new league, Reeths-Puffer is largely happy with the way the new alignment played out. The O-K realigns every four years, with a general focus on balancing enrollment, competitiveness and driving distance. The O-K Green wraps up its four-season run in its current alignment after this season. Starting next academic year, R-P will compete in football and non-football divisions, the first time that has happened in the O-K. Four of the six members of the football Green division will carry over, with Union, Mona Shores and Muskegon continuing to play the Rockets. Byron Center and Forest Hills Northern jump into the Green, with the two Zeeland schools, Wyoming and Holland all departing. R-P was a tertiary component of the controversy surrounding the original O-K alignment announced last fall; seven schools announced their departure from the O-K to form the River Cities Alliance after a previous alignment, which would have sent R-P to a new O-K Black, was approved. Four of those seven - Lowell, Greenville, Kenowa Hills and Cedar Springs - were set to join the Rockets in the Black. (Allendale, Coopersville and Sparta also joined the RCA.) Driving distance was the main stated reason for the River Cities group’s departure, and the trips to R-P, the most northwestern school in the league, were clearly a factor in their discontent. The new alignment sought in part to address similar concerns for the remaining schools. R-P athletic director Cliff Sandee described the new

multiple camps within the league. “There was a constant sticking point around football and the divisions that they came up with aligned with both sets’ wants and needs,” Sandee said. “We’re really excited about the idea of keeping our mainstay rivals, the two Muskegon-area schools. Non-football, it doesn’t get much better than Byron Center and Caledonia. From the football lens, we have to look at that as an opportunity to have eight ubercompetitive football games.” All four of R-P’s non-conference football games will also be against O-K foes from other divisions: Spring Lake, Forest Hills Eastern, Forest Hills Central and Caledonia. Sandee said the crossovers are not mandated, but R-P wanted to continue playing schools from within the league. Caledonia, along with Jenison, will be in the Rockets’ O-K Green in the non-football sports, replacing Union and Forest Hills Northern. Sandee said that league will be a terrific all-sports conference and specifically cited baseball, soccer and volleyball as sports in which the competition will be fierce. Driving distance will still not be ideal, as R-P faces an hour’s drive each way for conference games with Byron Center and Caledonia, for instance. However, Sandee said, such trips are commonplace in more rural areas of the state, and the drawbacks of the long drives don’t outweigh the positives the school sees in its relationship with the O-K Conference. “I think it’s, all in all, a win for our community,” Sandee said. “We get to keep the two schools we’re closest with, and we get to find those new relationships like Byron Center. We value the heck out of the O-K Conference. We were willing to give up some other things that we wanted for the betterment of all.”

whitelakemirror@gmail.com • January 26, 2024 • Volume 1 • Issue 11 Office hours: Mondays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Office phone: 231-301-8149, or for breaking news, please call 231-923-0751.

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