The Oceana Echo - Volume 2, Issue 32, Jan. 3, 2025 by theoceanaecho

READER:

Our readers share some of their favorite Christmas memories

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Happy 2025 to all!

The start of a new year is often a time of reflection for many, and so we asked our readers to look back and share some of their favorite holiday memories with us. Thank you to all those who sent us a piece of their history, and we look forward to all of the good news that this year will bring!

Bob Abbott Walkerville

Each year for Christmas, my mother would wrap up a “guessing gift” for her five children. As the family grew, she included the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Starting Dec. 1 until Christmas, you got one guess a day. You could squeeze it. Twist it. You

could work it over. But you only got to open it if you guessed correctly.

One year, my four siblings and I all had the same size gift. It was about 2” square and 3/4” thick. The five of us were relentless in our questioning. “Is it something I want?” “Yes.”

“How long have I wanted this?” “All your life.” “Is it something I asked for?” (pause) “No!” “Can I eat it”? “I think you would eat it up.” “Will I like it?” “I hope so.”

We plotted together as to what questions to ask and discussed all Mom’s answers. What could it be? Come Christmas morning, five kids were eager to see what she had wrapped up for us. With great anticipation we opened them together. Inside each small box was a note that read. “All my love. Mom”.

Esther Moul Hart

When I was about 10 years old and looking forward to what would be under the Christmas tree for me, I noticed a paper bag behind my grandfather’s easy chair in the living room. Curious, and not thinking that it might be a gift for me, I opened it to find a beautiful blue velvet dress that my mother was working on to give me. I silently put it back and never told her that I had found it. On Christmas morning I pretended to be surprised, but it did take some of the joy out of the occasion.

Gerald & Jacqueline Spierenburg formerly Oceana, now Florida It was sometimes

challenging but, nevertheless, fun living in the Oceana countryside in the 1970s. Our young daughters played in the snowdrifts, and we (would) cut wood for the fireplace, as well as find a suitable tree in the woods to set up for Christmas. Under the tree, we set up a small wooden manger into which the girls could place pieces of straw for every good deed they performed over the holiday. We also hung Christmas stockings on the mantel and filled them with small presents. Then, on Christmas morning, they could run downstairs to see if Jesus (a baby doll) was comfortable in his crib since we were celebrating His birthday. It was a joyous time for our family. Sometimes we were “snowed in.” When that occurred, we gathered the wonderful neighbors on each side of our home and cranked homemade ice cream. With three churns available, we could crank out three different flavors. Yummy! Unforgettable moments!

Beth (Riley) Butler Hart

I grew up in Mears and went to Golden Community Schools from kindergarten through eighth grade. Some of my favorite childhood memories of Christmas center around the entire school Christmas Program that was magically produced by pretty much the best music teachers anywhere, ever! Rita Aerts in my earlier years, then Lee Noble and Jean Luttman would each somehow get us to play and sing the same old carols. In the dimmed lights,

the gym transformed into Carnegie Hall, and it seemed as if the excitement of Christmas to me was tied to those wonderful events. It was always super snowy and dark on those mid-December evenings. Special dresses and costumes were donned, poems and songs memorized and even little skits were worked on and performed to the massive audience of parents, grandparents, neighbors and pretty much the “whole” world, who seemed to show up to these annual “off Broadway” shows. If I try hard, I can still smell the halls and gym at Golden Community School. Either from the floor cleaner that Martha Brubaker or Carl Hill used liberally, or maybe it was just the recess and PE class sweat combined with the decades of us, the lucky kids in the county, firing all of our brain waves off so studiously that it created a detectable scent I will call “Eau de Parfum of Highest Education.” The culmination of each of these evenings was Santa Claus’ arrival with a bag of goodies, which basically, in the 60s and early 70s, was a box of hard candy that surely epitomized Christmas! Holiday greens and reds swirled with a little pure gold on ribbon and fruitshaped sweetness that, by the next day if any were left, had turned into a singular piece of sugar that Dr. Stevens counted on for his job security during those years, I’m convinced. This nostalgia for days gone by is still the measure I use for comparison when anticipating Christmas - the

way a small corner of the world I lived in celebrated the fun of Christmas, with a local grandpa in a Santa suit, and the Holiness of the Advent of our Savior Jesus, enjoyed through the eyes of a child and her best friends and neighbors.

Sharon Hallack Hart

One year our family took a trip to San Antonio, Texas, for Christmas. Dad had rented a motorhome, and with our family of seven, by the time it was all packed, there wasn’t room for a Christmas tree. As a partner in Slocum Brothers Tree Farm, having a nice tree was one of the most important parts of Christmas for us. We might not have put it up until a week before Christmas, but we always had a huge one. Dad wasn’t feeling well when we left, so we didn’t argue. Besides, Dad assured us there were lots of tree lots in San Antonio and that we’d buy one when we got there. Once we settled into our campsite, we enjoyed sightseeing, but there wasn’t a tree to be found, at least not one Dad was willing to put down money for. We tried not to complain, but it was definitely a letdown. Back at our campsite, Mom tried to lift our spirits and suggested we go caroling after supper. Mom was always up for an adventure, and we agreed to go with her. Many people stuck their heads out of their campers and sang along. One couple even invited all of us into their small camper. He was a retired Salvation Army chaplain, and their camper was

all decorated for Christmas. Their “tree” was a 12-inch-high styrofoam cone covered with red and green crocheted rosettes. We commented on how cute it was, sharing that this was the first Christmas we’d gone without a Christmas tree and how odd that felt. We enjoyed cookies and some more singing before we left. The next morning was either Christmas Eve or Christmas, and after breakfast we heard a soft knock on the camper door. It was the woman we’d met the night before holding her little red and green rosettes-covered styrofoam tree. She said something to the effect of, “I know it’s not as nice as a real tree, but I want you to have a tree for your Christmas.” I can remember feeling like we were in a Hallmark movie. It was magical. Even though we thought we were blessing others with our singing, we actually received the greater blessing. That tree made it home and held an important place in our memories and home each Christmas for years after. As an adult I look back on that experience and get misty-eyed. Christmas isn’t about a tree…it’s about thinking of others, of sharing the true meaning of Christmas - love, joy and peace - with the people we meet. It’s about being generous with what we’ve been given so that others can be blessed. May this be so for each of us as we enter 2025!

Match on Main Program announcement

The Hart Economic & Redevelopment Team (HEART) is thrilled to announce that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation has posted the terms and timeline for the 2025 Match on Main Grant. HEART invites qualifying Hart businesses to submit a local application. A local review committee will choose the top-scoring business to apply to the MEDC on behalf of.

WHAT IS THE MATCH ON MAIN GRANT?

Match on Main is a reimbursement grant program that serves to support new or expanding placebased businesses by providing up to $25,000 in funding to support eligible activities.

WHO CAN APPLY?

• Hart businesses with a brick-and-mortar location downtown that sell products and/or services face-to-face.

• Businesses that have, or are in the process of obtaining, control over the site for which they are applying.

• For-profit or non-profits.

• Those able to meet the ten percent (10%) cash match required as part of this program.

• Past Match on Main recipients are not eligible.

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES:

A business interested in working with HEART to apply for a Match on Main grant must have a project identified. Awardees will be granted up to $25,000 to

reimburse project activities occurring in a permanent commercial space.

• Expenses for technical assistance items for design and layout of interior or exterior space, such as conceptual renderings of the interior or exterior floor plan, merchandise layout, other interior or exterior design concepts, and construction drawings, plans or specifications for interior or exterior space activation.

• Expenses for interior building renovation items, including rehabilitation of floors, walls, ceiling, rooms, electrical improvements, lighting, and lighting fixtures, furniture and display renovations, installation of permanent kitchen or other equipment, and/or fire suppression or other code compliance items.

• Expenses for permanent or semi-permanent activation of an outdoor space, including a dining area, beer garden, or other place-based outdoor activation. Exterior signage, doors, and windows may be permitted as an eligible expense if part of a larger outdoor space activation project.

• Expenses for general marketing, technology to assist in connecting with customers (example: website upgrades or e-commerce integration), operational changes (example: shifting from dine-in to carry-out), the purchase of a point-of-sale system, or inventory expenses for retail goods.

Village of Shelby stakeholders assembly planned

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

SHELBY - The Village of Shelby invites the entire Shelby community and all those interested in the future of downtown Shelby to two special events taking place Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, at The Ladder Community Center located at 67 N. State St. in Shelby.

Beginning at 6 p.m., a special Redevelopment Ready Communities® (RRC) recognition and celebration will take place with former Village Administrator Brady Selner and current Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Technical Assistance Programs

Director Michelle Parkkonen present to offer their congratulations and comment. Current Village Administrator Phil Morse and the Shelby Village Council will be on hand to receive the award.

The RRC program was created to support downtown revitalization by helping municipalities attract and retain businesses as well as encourage innovative and creative talent to invest in a community. “This certification is one sign of many that Shelby is on the move and will provide tools and resources that will advance our vision of a safe and appealing Shelby. I’m

• Expenses for working capital needs, such as inventory expenses.

Those interested in applying should not wait, as third-party cost estimates must be included with the application.

TIMELINE:

• Program announcement - December 17, 2024

• Local application window opens - January 6, 2025

• Local application window closes - February 7, 2025

• Local grant review committee meeting - February 12, 2025

• Local applicant awardee announced - February 13, 2025

• HEART’s MEDC application on behalf of the local awardee due - March 7, 2025

• MEDC awardees announced - June 28, 2025

Funding is provided as a reimbursement of eligible activities and must be disbursed within six months of grant agreement execution.

Applicant must provide a 10% match if awarded the grant.

Please contact Economic & Community Development Director Nichole Kleiner at (231) 923-0920 with any questions or to schedule an appointment to go over the application.

for Jan. 7

looking forward to rolling up my shirt sleeves and utilizing the mechanisms available to us that will stimulate economic growth. I’d like to express my appreciation to my predecessor, Brady Selner, for doing most of the legwork,” Morse shared.

Recently retired

Village President Paul Inglis added, “I was extremely pleased to receive the news that the Village of Shelby had been certified by the MEDC as a Redevelopment Ready Community. To be development ready will (allow) the Shelby Village Council and village stakeholders to be (more) competitive in the current economic environment, proactively plan for the future and become a destination where people will want to live, work and build relationships. I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to all the members of the Shelby Village Council, former Village Administrator Brady Selner and current Village Administrator Phil Morse for their faith in the RRC planning process, and for all of the time and effort they put forth to ensure a successful outcome.”

Following the RRC recognition, a Downtown Stakeholders Assembly will begin at 7 p.m. Morse will cast a broad vision for downtown Shelby and invite

the community to participate in fine-tuning that vision. Leigh Young of the MEDC’s Michigan Main Street program will present information on the resources, technical assistance and training that are available to help carry out what the village would like to see in the future.

The village hopes to livestream the event on the Village of Shelby’s new YouTube channel. At the very least, the event will be recorded and uploaded to their YouTube channel in the days following the event, Morse said. To access Shelby Village’s YouTube channel type “Village of Shelby 218” in the search bar on Youtube.com.

BENONA TOWNSHIP Synopsis of Meeting

December 23, 2024

The regular meeting of December 23, 2024, was called to order at 7:00 PM with all Board members, and no visitors present. The agenda was approved as submitted. The minutes of the regular meeting of November 25, 2024, were approved. Action was taken on the following:

• Short-term Rental Ordinance reviewed and one change approved.

• Agreement with Sheriff’s Department approved.

• D. Zoller re-appointed to Planning Commission for a 3-year term.

• J. Whitlock appointed to ZBA for a 3-year term.

• D. Berens, B. Fox & R. Hopkins appointed to BOR for 2-year terms.

• Bills approved for payment, with additions. Meeting adjourned at 7:57 PM.

A copy of the complete minutes is available from the Clerk at Benona Township Hall or on the township website (www.benonatownship.org).

- Margie Shaw, Clerk

Oceana County Commissioner Joel McCormick, above right, wishes Judge Brad Lambrix, above left, a happy retirement at the most recent commissioners meeting, Thursday, Dec. 19. • Paul Erickson/Echo

This page is brought to you by:

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

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

By Caleb Jackson The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

Oceana was, as we all well know by now, birthed by the lumber boom. But for every tree that was felled, cut, and shipped, there must have been wastage. Broken limbs, boards too short, trees too bent, etc. Whatever happened to all of those? Well, the answer is they were probably turned into charcoal.

The Spring Lake Iron Company in Fruitport built several charcoal kilns throughout Oceana County along the railway, so as to fuel their foundry. The first was in Shelby. It consisted of 11 kilns and consumed 1,200 cords of lumber per month. One cord of lumber is 128 cubic feet, so that means these kilns were being fed 153,600 cubic feet of lumber each month, which produced about 45,000 bushels of charcoal.

The capacity of each kiln was about 75 cords of lumber, and it cost $7,000 to construct the kilns. The whole operation was run by a man named Daniel H. Rankin, and the kilns employed 25 men, plus an additional 50 choppers.

The Shelby kilns were constructed in September 1879, but evidently the Spring Lake Iron Company’s furnaces were hungry, because in November of that same year they constructed 10 more 75-cord kilns near Mears, in Golden Township. These kilns produced 40,000 bushels of charcoal monthly and employed 70 men. It was also maintained and operated by D. H. Rankin. In Page’s History of Oceana it is written that, “The importance to Shelby and Mears of this industry may be appreciated by knowing that Mr. Rankin pays out monthly over $5,000 and has shipped from Shelby

alone 1,000,000 pounds of coal in a month.” If we adjust that $5,000 for inflation, we are looking at a value somewhere near $155,000 today.

Lastly, more coal kilns were constructed in New Era in April 1880, this time maintained by the company superintendent himself, Duncan S. Rankin. This operation was also smaller than the Shelby one, having only 10 kilns of 50-cord capacities. They produced about 30,000 bushels of coal per month, and the cost of construction was $5,000.

To borrow again from the words of Page’s history, “This immense consumption of wood,—nearly 4,000 cords a month,—must tell upon the supply,” he then goes on to say, “but there is one feature that deserves to be mentioned,—that any kind of broken wood or branches may be manufactured into charcoal, which utilizes what otherwise would be wasted.” All in all, these kilns operated for about 20 years, and while they may not stand today, for a while they played an important role in our communities, granting hundreds of jobs and supporting local families.

OCH&GS receives Great Lakes Energy People Fund grant

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Looking for a way to “give back” this holiday season? Great Lakes Energy (GLE) customers are encouraged to consider joining the GLE People Fund community give-back program.

The Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society (OCH&GS) is pleased to announce they were recently granted $1,950 from the program and plan to have a large part of its vintage audio and video files digitized. Once digitized, these historic and irreplaceable recordings will be safe from the ravages of time and the elements and be accessible to more people.

“I was at the Society one day this fall when I noticed a couple of baskets with old cassettes, DVDs, CDs and even a reel-to-reel film. Because of ever-changing technology, we don’t even have the

equipment available to replay or enjoy these files anymore even if we wanted to. It was then I knew we needed to do something to preserve these oral histories and pictures,” said OCH&GS board member Sharon Hallack. “The idea for this project coincided nicely with the GLE October grant round. Many Oceana County organizations have been the recipients of this program, and we would encourage any GLE customer who is not familiar with or not a member of their round-up program to consider joining. No customer will ever ‘donate’ more than $6 a year if they sign up.”

The GLE website further states, “Great Lakes Energy members help to enhance the quality of life for people in our communities through the People Fund. Bills of participating members are ‘rounded up’ to the next dollar amount, and grants are awarded to non-profit organizations for charitable activities throughout our service area. Grants are awarded by three independent boards of directors

representing three geographical regions – south, central and north. There are no overhead costs –100 percent of the money collected is returned to our communities. By allowing us to ‘round up’ your monthly electric bill to the next dollar, you put your small change to work right in your own community. All of the money collected goes back to grant recipients. All contributors are entered into two annual drawings where we give away six $100 Great Lakes Energy bill credits. This contest is our small way of saying ‘thanks’ to every Great Lakes Energy member who supports the People Fund. The People Fund has awarded more than $4.5 million to local charitable groups since 1999.”

“Once these priceless records are digitized, we plan to provide links to them on our website for our members to enjoy and learn from anywhere and anytime,” concluded Hallack.

For more information, people are encouraged to visit www.gtlakes.com/people-fund.

Ongoing

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

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

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

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

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

1 st & 3 rd

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

1st & 3rd

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Ladder Community Center:

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

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

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

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

Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

Love INC announces winter hours for Walkerville

Love INC recently announced their winter hours for the Village of Walkerville. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, and for the winter months, Love INC will be available every Wednesday, by appointment only, at their satellite location, the Walkerville Wesleyan Church, located at 144 S. Hamon St., Walkerville.

Transformational Ministries Coordinator Kim Warmuskerken said the ministry still plans to be available for their clients.

Walkerville residents can call with questions or to make an appointment to see Warmuskerken on any Wednesday this winter at the Walkerville Wesleyan Church by calling 231-861-4880.

Love INC is always looking for more ways to partner with local churches and the community to help transform the lives of Oceana County residents. The community is invited to visit www.loveinoceana.org or call 231-861-4880 for more information.

Silent auction ends tomorrow for Hesperia art

In Hesperia, 11 local artists volunteered their time and talents to illustrate the story of “The Night Before Christmas.” All the works are on display at the Hesperia Community Library, located at 80 S. Division St., and the public will have an opportunity to bid on the artwork in a silent auction. The bidding ends Jan. 4 at 3 p.m.

January

Dec. 16-Jan. 4: Silent auction bidding on Hesperia art exhibit, “The Night Before Christmas,” Hesperia Comm. Library.

Jan. 4 - Save The Red Barn of Pentwater Meeting, Centenary UMC in Pentwater, (use the First Street entrance), 1 p.m.

Jan. 6 - National Asparagus Festival Community Forum, West Michigan Research Station, 5185 N. Oceana Dr., Hart, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 7 - Tech Time, Hesperia Community Library, 1:30-3 p.m.

Jan. 7 - Village of Shelby Redevelopment Ready Community celebration, The Ladder, 67 North State Street, Shelby, 6 p.m.

Jan. 7 - Shelby Downtown Stakeholders Assembly, The Ladder, 67 N State St, Shelby, 7 p.m.

Jan. 8 - Adult daytime craft, Hesp. Comm. Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Jan. 9 - Teen Night, Hesperia Comm. Library, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

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

NAF to host community forum on Jan. 6 in Hart

The entire Oceana community is invited to a community input forum being hosted by the National Asparagus Festival on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, starting at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at the West Michigan Research Station located at 5185 N. Oceana Dr. in Hart.

“It’s been a few years since we’ve done something like this, but we would like to give the community an opportunity to share what they enjoy about the festival and what they want to see at next year’s NAF,” said current NAF Chairperson Michele Amstutz. “We’ve got the basics, and we’re already rolling into 2025, but we want to give the community a chance to meet the board and provide constructive feedback.”

“Not having a queen last year got a lot of people talking. We were hearing, ‘If I’d known, I would have helped,’ shared Amstutz. This is an opportunity for the community to come out and find out what is being planned and how they might be able to help going forward.

More information about the NAF can be found on their website www.nationalasparagusfestival.org or by following the National Asparagus Festival on Facebook.

New Era CRC hosts Versiti Blood Drive Jan. 14

Did you know that every two seconds someone in the U.S. needed blood or platelets? If donating blood is on your list of resolutions for 2025, you will have your first chance to do that and help save a life on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, at the New Era Christian Reformed Church (NECRC) 1820 Ray Ave, New Era, MI 49446. The drive will take place from 12:30-6 p.m. in the narthex of the church. Those interested in donating may sign up using this link: https://donateblood.versiti. org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11599760 or call 866-642-5663 or contact local coordinator Don Byker at (616) 325-6385.

Registration open for K of C spelling bee in Hart

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

Oceana spellers have proudly carried the state championship title twice within the last five years. Please consider helping your child or grandchild pursue excellence.

Registration is free. Refreshments will be provided. Current word lists are available for study via the QR codes at right. For further information and to register your speller or spellers, please contact Nathan Kroon at (231) 845-5436. Level I Level II

OCCOA offers many January events for area seniors

The following are OCCOA events for January. All activities take place at the Oceana County Council on Aging, located at 4250 W. Tyler Rd. in Hart, unless stated otherwise. Please call 873-4461 to sign up or make meal reservations.

Breakfast is available Thursday mornings, 8:30–9

a.m. Cost: $3, reservations required.

Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program - During Open Enrollment, call 873-4461 to schedule an appointment.

Birthday Party: Wednesday, Jan. 8; noon.

SAIL: Monday and Wednesday, Jan. 13, 15, 22, 27 and 29; 10 a.m.

Drum Fitness: Tuesdays, Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28; 10 a.m.

Chair Volleyball: Fridays, Jan. 10, 24 and 31; 10: a.m.

Zumba: Fridays, Jan. 10, 24 and 31; 9 a.m.

Bingo: Thursdays, Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30; 10:30 a.m.

Let’s Sew Together Class with Mary: Wednesday, Jan. 17; 9 a.m.

Beltone: Wednesday, Jan. 22; by appointment

Caregiver Support Group: Wednesday, Jan. 15; 10

a.m.

Board Meeting: Tuesday, Jan. 28; 1:30 p.m., location: Oceana County Council on Aging.

Movie and Snack: Friday, Jan. 10 and 24; 1:30 p.m.

Art with Brad: Monday, Jan. 13 and 27; 10 a.m.

Cocoa and Conversation: Tuesday, Jan. 7, 14 and 21; 10 a.m.

Build a Ukulele with Bradley: Tuesday, Jan. 28, Feb. 4 and 11; 10 a.m., this a multi-day class.

Valentine’s Day Craft with Mary: Wednesday, Jan. 29; 10 a.m.

OCCOA Center Closed: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 20

Parmenter O’Toole Office Hours: Monday, Jan. 13; 2-4 p.m. Please call 873-4461 for an appointment. Lauren Eisenbarth, an elder law paralegal for Attorney Anna Urick Duggins of Parmenter Law, will offer a half-hour, no-charge introductory meeting from 2-4 p.m. at Oceana County Council on Aging. Topics to discuss include elder law services such as estate planning, long-term care planning, Medicaid

planning and VA aid and attendance.

Other Activities:

Farkle: Mondays at 10 a.m.

Mexican Train: Mondays from 9-11 a.m.

Walk With Friends: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 1:30 p.m.

Mahjong: Tuesdays from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.

Fitness at Hesperia American Legion: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9–10 a.m.

Euchre: Wednesdays from 10–11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.

Quilting: Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Beltone Hearing Clinic: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 231-843-3039 for an appointment.

Bingo: Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.

Blood Pressure Checks: Thursdays, 11 a.m. to noon.

Bridge: Thursdays from 1-3 p.m.

Cribbage: Fridays at 9:30 a.m.

Kaffeeklatsch: daily at 10 a.m.

Cards & Games: daily following lunch.

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

obituaries

Sue Clark

December 8, 1945 ~ December 27, 2024

Sue Clark, 78, of Hart, passed away peacefully Dec. 27, 2024, at SKLD facility in Whitehall. She was born Dec. 8, 1945 in Muskegon. Her parents were Maxine and Lauren Whipple. She graduated from Muskegon High School in 1964. She worked various jobs throughout her life, retiring from GHSP-Hart.

Sue enjoyed spending time with friends and family. She was an avid card player and enjoyed family gatherings that ended with and involved a game of cards. She loved her pets, Sam, Sophie and Fatstuff, with all her heart. She enjoyed watching westerns and game shows on TV and still watched The Young and the Restless. Sue was a great cook, and her meals were all favorites by anyone around. Her children are blessed that she has passed on many of her recipes.

She is survived by daughters, Tammy (John) Cavanagh of Silver Lake, Pamela (Darrell) Emerson of Shelby, Tracy (Darren) Brown of Rockford, and son, Mark Robbins of Hart; grandchildren, Jonathan (Cheryl) Brown, Dayna (Michael) Smith, Cody (Jessica), Mitchell and Matthew Robbins, Kyle, (Noelle), Cody, (Marissa), Jacob Brown, and Samantha Wisneski; and great-grandchildren, Max, Myles, Jaccob and Justin Turk, Carter Robbins, Mia, Rowan and Daisy Wisneski and Chandler Brown.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, George Clark; stepson, Ronald Dee (Buck) Robbins, Jr. and grandson, Jeremy Brown.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Michigan. The family will host a private celebration of life ceremony in the spring.

David Harold Jackson

March 16, 1959 ~ December 23, 2024

David Harold Jackson, 65, of Hart, passed away Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. He was born March 16, 1959, in Muskegon, the son of William Jr. and Eleanor (VanBrocklin) Jackson, and was raised in Whitehall.

David was a man of grit and integrity. He took a job with White Lake Castings after graduating high school in 1977. It was the first of many hats that David would try on in his life. He worked for a time building seawalls along Lake Michigan, a career that he would continue after moving to Florida in the late 1980s. To the world he was a man of modest means and simple ambitions, but to family and friends, he was a plumber, a mechanic, and an electrician. He was a quintessential part of their lives, and he is remembered for his charm and his ability to tell a tale. He was a lover of sports and an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers, and above all he was a devout Christian. His love in the Lord was the principal element in his life to prop him up and give him strength in the face of the terrible disease that eventually took his life after a battle that lasted over six years. David returned to Michigan in December of 2020 to live out the remaining years of his life in the company of friends and family and to be surrounded by the idyllic nature of his youth.

David is survived by: his children, Daniel Jackson and Caleb Jackson; his stepchildren, Jared Parsons and Richard Powell; and his siblings, Linda Sluyter, Anetta Lohman, William Jackson, Sue Barrett, Thomas Jackson, Shelly Hanke and Rita McConaughy.

David was preceded in death by: his parents, William Jr. and Eleanor (VanBrocklin) Jackson; and his brothers-in-law, William Barrett and Richard Lohman.

Celebration of Life services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at The Vine an Assembly of God Church, 112 E. Commerce St., Grant, MI 49327, with Pastor Jamie Evans officiating. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. The family would encourage anyone considering purchasing flowers to instead make a donation to any charitable foundation, such as the Susan Mast ALS Foundation.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

www.beaconfh.com

Obituary Information:

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

N. Business US-31 Pentwater, MI • 49449 231-869-2527 Pastor John C. Hansen

• Brendan Samuels/Echo

Shelby’s 1st annual Getty Park Tree Lighting brings community together

• Sharon Hallack/Echo

Santa shows up in style at the Walkerville Christmas Parade

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

‘Her

children call her blessed’

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

On April 7, 1937, Henry and Ellen started a family with the birth of a healthy baby girl, the first of seven children. They welcomed and loved each one; however, each addition increased the chores and challenges.

Now a housewife and a mother, Ellen shifted into high gear. She changed five beds each week and washed and ironed twice a week. She had nine hungry mouths to feed. No sooner had she cleared the breakfast dishes and made preparations for the noon meal, Henry, would appear on the back steps for his mid-morning snack! After clearing the table and doing the dishes after the noon meal, the day’s main meal, it was time to think about mid-afternoon snacks and supper. Between fixing meals, she washed and hung clothes on the line, sewed and mended, arranged a floral bouquet, gave children their baths, and saw to their dental, vision and medical appointments. As we grew older, Ellen taught us to drive, a challenge with a stick shift, especially

since we had to negotiate a slight grade where our road merged onto the main road. Finding the perfect equilibrium between the clutch and gas pedal was tricky and involved much lurching and stalling.

In season, she picked and prepared vegetables from the garden and berries from the blackcap bushes. She canned and froze fruits, vegetables, and meat and made jams and jellies.

My brothers helped Henry with the farmwork. Henry bought them miniature pails so they could milk alongside him, just as he had done with his father, Andrew. On washdays, they helped Ellen empty the wash and rinse tubs.

We girls helped Ellen with the housework, learning to iron and change beds. We set the table, cleared the dishes, and washed, dried and put them away. We all picked asparagus, cherries and beans in the summer.

There were just not enough hours

in the day. Ellen must have longed for time to take walks to the woods with us, identifying wildflowers and birds. She must have longed for time to read bedtime stories and spend quality time with each of us; however, once we were in bed, her work continued. While Henry read in his recliner, Ellen darned socks and mended clothes.

The custodial duties of farm life consumed much of our time, but my parents cultivated our intellectual, spiritual, and cultural lives also. We were encouraged to read. We engaged in lively discussions around the table at mealtimes. Scripture and prayer were part of every meal; we attended Sunday school and catechism. We took piano lessons from our Aunt Lena, who lived with my grandparents next door. They bravely tucked us into the Buick sedan and set off on family excursions.

Tails of Hope

Meet Sophie, the 4-Year-Old Lap Kitty Extraordinaire. Sophie isn’t just a cat—she’s a professional heart-stealer and lap warmer all rolled into one. At 4 years old, this sweet and affectionate girl has mastered the art of unconditional love and is ready to share it with her forever family.

Meet Sophie

Sophie’s dream is simple: a cozy lap to call her own and a human to adore her as much as she adores them. She’ll greet you with soft purrs, gentle head nudges and a look that says, “You’re my whole world.”

Whether you’re working from home, watching TV or enjoying a quiet moment, Sophie will be there to keep you company, reminding you every day how loved you are.

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

I perched on the edge of the front seat in between my parents and older sister, while the other five jounced along in the back, vying for the window seats. Looking back, I wonder, “How pleasant could these outings have been for Ellen?”

My parents kept a tithing jar. It sat, prominently, on the top shelf of the hutch in the dining room. Every Saturday night, after Henry settled for his share of the weekly profits with Andrew, he returned home and put 10 percent into the jar. It was a symbol of their obedience to the Biblical command to give a percentage back to their Lord, faith that what they had, little though it was, belonged to Him, and trust that God would provide for them.

With a family to care for, during the vicissitudes of farm life, we can imagine Ellen meeting often with her Lord “in the gardens” of her life, seeking solace and guidance, asking, “Lord, what would You have me do?”

Stay tuned for Part VI – “Passing the Torch”

*Much of this content is taken from “In the Garden,” the memoir I wrote of my mother. Information about the memoir can be obtained from janethasselbring23@gmail.com. The pictorial memoir, “Country Dairy: A Week with Hinie and Ellen,” is available at the farmstore.

Hello, I’m Kimi!

Meet Kimi

I’m a sweet, curious and cuddly kitty who loves to explore my surroundings. I’m known for my friendly demeanor and goofy antics that never fail to bring a smile. I’m also a loyal companion and unofficial guard kitty, always keeping an eye out for anything unusual. My playful spirit and funny personality make every day an adventure. Though I’m on a diet (a little too much love for treats), I’m full of life and ready to share my love with a new family. Adopt me, and I promise to fill your home with laughter, joy and unconditional love.

If you would like to adopt Kimi, please fill out an application through the OCAF Facebook page: Oceana County Animal Friends or online at: oceanacountyanimalfriends.wordpress.com

oceana county animal Friends

Henry with Randall on Maude

Roger and Wendell with their milk pails

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By JoAnn Derson

• On Jan. 6, 1975, “Wheel of Fortune,” one of American television’s longest-running syndicated game shows, debuted on NBC. Created by Merv Griffin, it was hosted for decades by Pat Sajak and Vanna White, the latter of whom often contributed her own puzzles and was noted as apparently never wearing the same gown twice in more than 6,000 episodes.

STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20241223

FOR RELEASE DEC. 23, 2024

By Lucie Winborne

• On Jan. 7, 1785, Frenchman JeanPierre Blanchard and American John Jeffries flew from Dover, England, to Calais, France, in a gas balloon, becoming the first people to cross the English Channel by air, though they almost crashed into it along the way due to excess weight from objects that had to be jettisoned.

• On Jan. 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act into law, which created new standards and goals for America’s public schools and applied tough corrective measures for failure to meet them. Nowadays, however, it is largely regarded as a failed experiment.

• On Jan. 9, 1887, nearly an inch of snow fell every hour for 16 hours on the western American plains, impeding the ability of already starving cattle that “staggered through village streets and collapsed and died in dooryards” to find food. Millions of the animals were lost, sending hundreds of ranchers into bankruptcy and ending the era of the open range.

• On Jan. 10, 2008, Tata Motors introduced the small, bubble-shaped Nano, billing it as the world’s cheapest car with an anticipated price of about $2,500, thanks to its lack of amenities including radio, airbags, air conditioning, even a second windshield wiper.

• On Jan. 11, 2010, Miep Gies, the last survivor of the small group that helped hide Anne Frank, her family and four others from the Nazis during World War II, died in the Netherlands at age 100.

• On Jan. 12, 1995, Malcolm X’s daughter Qubilah Shabazz was arrested for conspiring to kill Louis Farrakhan, who she believed was responsible for her father’s assassination. After she admitted her “responsibility,” though not guilt, the government accepted a plea bargain.

• “Fill a quart-size zip-top bag with water and double-bag it, making sure there is no air in the bag. Place it inside the toilet tank, on the opposite side from the pump. Secure it there, if you can. This will displace some of the water when you flush, and you will use less water as a consequence.” — E.S. in Florida

• If you have a stained porcelain sink, try using it to soak your stained garments. The presoak can do double duty on the stained sink and washable alike.

• To make your own breadcrumbs without a chopper or blender, place dry bread pieces in a plastic bag. Use a rolling pin to “roll” them to crumbs.

• Save water in the shower by using your kitchen timer, set for no more than 5 minutes. If you can find a digital one, you will know better how much time you have left. After a little while, you almost don’t need the timer.

• “If you seal your jelly jars with wax, here’s a good tip for you: Place a small piece of string into the wax before it hardens. Then you’ll be able to pull on the wax to remove the wax when you are ready to enjoy your homemade goodies!” — U.L. in Maine

• “Laundry stain removers can be good to remove stains from concrete drives. For instance, my relatives’ car was leaking, and I was able to get the stains from my pavers using a spray and wash stain remover that I borrowed from the laundry room. It worked very well.” — S.E. in Arkansas

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• Jim Cummings, who voices Winnie the Pooh, calls sick children in hospitals and talks to them in the character’s voice. He once phoned a little girl who was fighting cancer, and her mother told him it was the first time the child had smiled in six months.

• The odds of giving birth to a baby at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1 are around 1 in 526,000 — roughly the same as the odds of getting struck by lightning.

• In ancient Greece, throwing an apple at a woman was considered a marriage proposal.

• Iceland has one of the largest gun ownership rates in the world, but one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

• The dragon tree of the Canary Islands is famous for its thick, deep-red sap. Called dragon’s blood, the resin might be responsible for the intense hue of the famous Stradivarius violins built in the 17th and 18th centuries.

• All telephone service in the U.S. and Canada was silenced for one minute on Aug. 4, 1922, to mark the funeral of Alexander Graham Bell.

• Lawyer James Thornton successfully sued the U.K. government to admit that it was breaching legal limits for air pollution.

• The East China Sea parts annually and exposes a narrow 2.9 km-long strip of land, allowing thousands of people to cross from Jindo Island to Modo Island of Korea. This land is exposed about an hour each day for approximately four days every year.

***

Thought for the Day: “If you want evidence that the world is a terrible place, watch the news and surf the web. But if you want to remember how incredible this planet is, go out into nature. Unlike social media and the news, nature has no incentive to keep us agitated, angry and anxious.” — Austin Perlmutter

Oceana County 4-H members shine at the Michigan Winter Beef Classic

By Jennifer Payne Oceana County 4-H Program Coordinator

The Michigan Winter Beef Classic, a premier cattle show held annually at Michigan State University’s Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education, brought together youth from across the state for a weekend of intense competition. This year, 21 Oceana County 4-H members and volunteers proudly represented the county, showcasing their hard work and dedication to livestock exhibition.

The event, originally established in 1983 as the Michigan Winter Beef Show, has grown into a highly competitive showcase for steers and heifers, with separate Ring A and Ring B shows. The show also features Bred and Owned steer and heifer classes, the Howard King Memorial Show and an invitational showmanship contest.

Among the highlights submitted for Oceana County participants to the county extension office were several impressive placings:

• Kelsey Jorissen achieved second and fifth place finishes in her classes.

• Willow Hoffman secured second and fifth place in the Chianina class and earned a callback for showmanship.

• Isabel Babbin took home fifth and sixth place honors in her classes.

The event was a valuable learning experience for all involved, with exhibitors not only competing but also engaging in an educational quiz on the topic “Beef Cattle and the Economy.” This year’s Classic offered a chance for participants to hone their skills, bond with fellow cattle enthusiasts, and deepen their knowledge of the beef industry.

The Michigan Winter Beef Classic is one of the most competitive beef shows in the state, and our Oceana 4-H members rose to the occasion. Their success is a testament to their hard work, the support of their families, and the dedication of our 4-H volunteers.

The Classic’s emphasis on excellence, education, and sportsmanship reflects the values of the 4-H program, making it a vital experience for young livestock enthusiasts. Oceana County 4-H is proud of its members for their achievements and looks forward to seeing their continued growth and success in future competitions.

For more information about Oceana County 4-H and upcoming livestock events, contact the MSU Extension office.

Pentwater Elementary students joined the sideline cheer team for a Christmas halftime show in December

Oceana County Farm Bureau member is Michigan Farm Bureau State Young Farmer Discussion Meet winner

By Sharon Hallack

Oceana County Farm Bureau is pleased to announce Young Farmer member, Jasper Cunningham, was recently named the 2024 Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) Young Farm Discussion Meet champion at Michigan Farm Bureau’s State Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, Dec. 3-4, 2024.

Cunningham, who actually lives in Muskegon, used to work for MFB. He said he transferred his membership to Oceana County, saying, “I used to cover Oceana County when I was a district rep, and Oceana was my favorite. I work for a company in the fruit and vegetable industry and (as a member of Oceana County Farm Bureau) get to spend more time with the people I work with on a regular basis.”

For winning, Cunningham received $2,000 and a chance to compete at the national level in San Antonio, Texas in January. “Michigan Farm Bureau is made up of 16 districts, and one winner from each district is chosen to go on to the state competition. They call it the ‘Sweet Sixteen.’ Two rounds are held at the state annual before the selection of the top four finalists,” Cunningham said.

“Discussion Meet contests are a competitive, simulated committee

meeting where participants are judged on their ability to explore a problem and find solutions,” said a MFB press release. “(This year) the final four contestants discussed succession planning and how some younger members may find it challenging to get involved in their county Farm Bureau beyond the Young Farmer committee.”

When asked what wisdom he would impart as a result of this year’s discussion meet, Cunningham said, “By USDA standards, ‘beginning’ farmers are those who have been in farming for ten years or less. Getting established is expensive. Engage with the local community and your Farm Bureau. They can help you strengthen your operation.”

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Jasper Cunningham

• Brendan Samuels/Echo

Willow Hoffman

Kelsey Jorissen

Isabel Babbin

Record Setter

Hesperia’s McKenna Fraser set two new Hesperia Middle School records for track and field. Fraser’s name was added to the record board for her new mark in the high jump (5-feet-2-inches) and the 100 meter dash (13.50) • Contributed Photo

SPORTS

Hesperia boys take third at 2nd annual Holton Basketball Classic

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

Hesperia’s boys basketball team took part in the 2nd annual Holton Basketball Classic, Saturday, Dec. 28, splitting games with White Cloud and Holton.

The Panthers ultimately took third overall in the tournament, falling to White Cloud 66-35 in the first game before beating Holton 54-30 to end the night.

The Indians took control of Hesperia in the first game, putting

the first points on the board early and never looking back. White Cloud leaned on a balanced offensive attack, spearheaded by Coleson Cruzan, who finished with 16 points. Cruzan’s teammates Jayden Robinson and Brady Straight also got in on the fun, scoring 14 each. White Cloud also nailed 10 threepoint shots in the win. Defense was just as effective for White Cloud. The Indians applied constant pressure to Hesperia, leading to numerous turnovers that turned into transition layups the other way.

The Panthers were led by Jared Tanner in the losing effort. Tanner had nine points while teammate Ethan O’Neil pulled down nine rebounds.

Hesperia was able to turn their afternoon around in game two, taking down crosstown rival Holton in a 54-30 affair.

The Panthers owned a narrow 2419 lead at halftime, but continued to build that advantage in the second half. By the end of the third quarter, Hesperia was on top 33-26. Holding the Red Devils to just four points scored in the final stanza, the

Panthers walked away with a double-digit victory.

Tanner once again led the Panthers, scoring 17 points, which included a 3-for-3 clip from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. O’Neil turned in a nice complementary performance, leading the team in rebounds with 13.

The split decision over the holiday break moved Hesperia to a 3-5 overall record. Though they did play conference opponent Holton, the win is not tallied in their conference record. The Panthers remain at 1-1 in the WMC Rivers.

Four Pentwater athletes named Academic All-State

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

Due to outstanding performances on and off the track and cross country course, four Pentwater athletes were awarded Academic All-State honors.

A trio of Falcons from the 2024 boys track and field team – Abe VanDuinen, Mitchel Daniels and Logan Fatura – were named to the MHSAA D4 State Track & Field meet Academic All-State team. VanDuinen and Daniels graduated from Pentwater last spring, but were recently awarded their certificates.

All three athletes earned the title of Academic All-State due to their 4.0 GPA. That level of aca-

demic achievement landed each the title, regardless of placement at the 2023 State Finals, though VanDuinen likely would have qualified with both resumès.

VanDuinen placed third in the 1600-meter run and seventh in the 800, Daniels placed 18th in the 3200 and 24th in the 400 relay. Fatura was also a member of the 400 relay alongside Daniels.

Pentwater sophomore Bailey Case was awarded Academic AllState for her performance at the Class D state cross country meet, which was held in October. In order to qualify for that award, Case had to place in the top 25 percent of finishers in the race and have a 3.5 GPA or above.

Case finished 19th out of 75 runners to qualify.

• Contributed

Stalbaum, Walker take runner-up honors at annual Eric Scott Holiday Mat Cat Classic

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

Hesperia wrestling took a breather from family and festivities over winter break, participating in the annual Eric Scott Holiday Mat Cat Classic in Montague, Saturday, Dec. 28. Contrary to the usual format of a team wrestling meet, Saturday’s action featured individual seeding with the winners advancing toward the championship round in each weight class.

Senior Skyler Stalbaum and junior Noah Walker had the most successful performances for the Panthers. Both advanced to the champi-

onship round in their respective weight classes, with both finishing in second place on the day.

Stalbaum (144 lbs.) won his way to the final round by winning his initial placement match by technical fall, before claiming two straight wins by fall. With first place on the line, Stalbaum fell by 11-5 decision to Robert Patrick of Petoskey. Walker (285 lbs.) was dominant in his first three matches of the day. Each of Walker’s first three matches were won by fall over opponents from Brandywine, Allendale and Forrest Hills Eastern. Walker ended the day with a loss to Malik Thompson from Muskegon, falling by a 12-3 major decision.

Other Hesperia wrestlers in ac-

tion included, Carter Fuentes (106 lbs.), Johnathon Dagen (120 lbs.), Paul Barkfelt (120 lbs.), Ignacio Lozano (138 lbs.), Logan Kammer (144 lbs.), Warren Muckey (165 lbs.) and George Goodrich (215 lbs.).

Fuentes made it to the semifinals before falling to Kole Nichols of Holton and Braxton Sandee of Hudsonville in back-to-back matches. Fuentes ended in fourth place overall.

Dagen lost in the quarterfinals and was also knocked out in the second round of the consolation bracket.

Barkfelt, Lozano, Muckey and Go-

Eric Scott Classic continued on page 11

HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE

(Above, left) Pentwater sophomore was awarded an Academic All-State certificate for placing 19th and earning a 3.5 GPA or higher during the 2024 Class D state finals. (Above, right) Mitchel Daniels, Abe VanDuinen and Logan Fatura were also given Academic All-State awards. Daniels, VanDuinen and Fatura all earned their awards during the 2024 spring track and field season by having a 4.0 GPA

Photos

Hesperia’s Skyler Stalbaum (above, left) grapples with Petoskey’s Robert Patrick. Stalbaum took runner up in the 144 lb. weight class. • Andy Roberts/ECHO

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

The Pentwater E-Sports team traveled to the University of Michigan-Flint in early December for a day full of video game competition. The Falcons finished third as a team, pulling in a few individual awards as well.

Pentwater’s Mario Kart team, consisting of Bailey Case and Jane Howard, qualified for the competition at UM-Flint. The duo took third place out of 16 teams.

Case was not only a member of the winning team, but also was named an Honorable Mention recipient in the sportsmanship category.

Pentwater E-Sports team finds success at University of Michigan Flint Upcoming Games

Bode Powell was not able to attend the competition, but was still named an Honorable Mention for the Michigan High School E-Sport Federation Scholar Athlete award. Only one athlete out of 400 was given Honorable Mention alongside the lone winner of the award itself.

In order to qualify, Bode had to meet the requirements which consist of the following criteria: disciplined in their pursuit for academic excellence through focused effort, meaningful participation and engaging in intellectually challenging coursework, exhibits good sportsmanship in and out of game, an unweighted minimum GPA of 3.5 and must be a junior or senior with no conduct or academic infractions.

The score

Friday, Dec. 20:

Shelby 66, Hesperia 35

Hart 41, North Muskegon 72

Pentwater 79, Bear Lake 66

Walkerville 28, Baldwin 83

Saturday, Dec. 21:

Shelby 43, Manistee 51

Saturday, Dec. 28: Hesperia 35, White Cloud 66 Hesperia 54, Holton 30

Friday, Jan. 3:

Saturday, Jan. 4:

Monday, Jan. 6:

Thursday, Dec. 19:

Shelby 65, Hesperia 11

Hart 53, North Muskegon 24

Pentwater 32, Marion 27

Walkerville 12, MCE 56

Saturday, Dec. 21:

Shelby 53, Maniste 22

Hesperia’s Paul Barkfelt attempts to hold down

eliminated in the second round of the

Eric Scott Classic

odrich were forced directly into the consolation bracket after an opening loss for each of them. Barkfelt, Lozano and Goodrich all lost in the second round of consolation matches while Muckey was knocked out in the first round of the consolation matches.

Kammer received a bye to start his night and was knocked out by Luke Rottier of Hudsonville in the quarterfinals. Kammer also dropped the consolation semifinals by fall to Christopher Stankus of Fremont.

Overall, Hesperia’s grapplers went a combined 10-16 on the day.

continued from page 10

Friday, Jan. 3:

Hesperia at Ravenna

Hart vs. MCC

Tuesday, Jan. 7:

Walkerville vs. Baldwin

Pentwater vs. Bear Lake

Shelby at North Muskegon

Hart vs. Ravenna

Hesperia at Holton

Boys Basketball Girls Basketball

Girls Basketball

Fremont’s Landon Hekkema. Barkfelt was

consolation bracket. • Andy Roberts/ECHO

(Above, left) Bailey Case shows off her Sportsmanship Honorable Mention plaque following a third place finish at an E-Sports competition in Flint. (Above, right) Bode Powell was also named Honorable Mention for the Scholar Athlete award. • Contributed Photos

Hesperia’s Noah Walker (above, left) finished as a runner up in the 285 lb. weight class during a meet in Montague, Saturday, Dec. 28. • Andy Roberts/ECHO

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Ringing in the New Year right

The White Lake Community Library welcomed kids of all ages to a New Year’s Noon celebration Monday morning.

Kids were treated to snacks and various activities starting at 11:30 a.m., and as the clock ticked down to 12 noon, the balloons came out to celebrate the year 2025, which officially hit at midnight Tuesday night.

The Mirror wishes you and your loved ones a happy and healthy new year as well!

Whitehall football strengthened from within

Five former Viking players were on football coaching staff for 2024 district title

former Viking players were on football coaching staff for 2024 district title

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — It was hard for Whitehall football coach Tony Sigmon not to notice prior to the season when five of his former players were on staff in the program as assistants. As he noted, it meant two things - the Vikings have a good, close-knit program people want to be part of, and as a 12th-year head coach, he was getting older.

“We went together to celebrate Coach (Matt) DeRose’s birthday and I’m looking around and I’m like, ‘Alright, I have to get going because bedtime’s coming,’” Sigmon smiled during the Vikings’ week of practice preparation before this year’s playoffs began. “I look at who’s coming with me - my two kids, who are 10 and 7 - and I’m looking around like, ‘You’re the only one (in that situation).’ The others are younger guys who are getting married or just got married, or they’re older guys whose kids are out of high school, and for me it’s, ‘I’ve got to go. I’ve got to go read stories.’”

The three

Four of the former Vikings back under the Whitehall wing spent this season on the high school staff: Brandon Rake, who was offensive coordinator for the JV team; Casey Huizenga, who coached his fourth season as quarterback coach; Jack MacArthur, who worked with the linebackers; and Terrell Harris, who assisted with the wide receivers and defensive backs. In addition, Jarrean Sar-

The

•

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

gent was on the middle school team’s coaching staff. For the latter three, it was their first season working in the program they once called home.

gent was on the middle school coaching staff. For was their first season working in the program they once called home.

gent was on the middle school team’s coaching staff. For the latter three, it was their first season working in the program they once called home.

It’s no surprise Huizenga came back to Whitehall after playing at Olivet College, as his family’s roots run deep here. His late grandfather John is a Whitehall Sports Hall of Famer, coaching 25 baseball seasons there, and his dad Kurt was a star Viking and longtime assistant baseball coach.

It’s no surprise Huizenga to Whitehall after playing at Olivet College, as his family’s roots run deep here. His late grandfather John is a Sports Hall of Famer, coaching 25 baseball seasons there, and his dad Kurt was a star Viking and longtime assistant baseball coach.

Huizenga, who noted he was among the first group of players to spend all of their four years with Sigmon, was first to return. He required Tommy John surgery his final year playing at Olivet, which shuttered his original plan to go to the police academy. He said it was then-offensive coordinator CJ Van Wieren who suggested to him that he join the staff. Huizenga was fortunate to be taught at Olivet by former Toledo head

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

• Roberts/Mirror

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

coach Simrell, the time he left the Rockets in 1989 was the school’s all-time wins leader, which gave him a as a coach.

coach Dan Simrell, who at the time he left the Rockets in 1989 was the school’s all-time wins leader, which gave him a natural base to build from as a coach.

“I love it,” Huizenga said. “I can’t imagine myself anywhere else right here and enjoy the time I have (here), because I obviously can’t put the helmet on anymore. I kind of live through everybody here and enjoy the time.”

“I love it,” Huizenga said. “I can’t imagine myself anywhere else right now. Every day I come out here and I enjoy the time I have (here), because I obviously can’t put the helmet on anymore. I kind of live through everybody here and enjoy the time.”

Huizenga’s job changed a bit in his fourth season coaching quarterbacks. After three years working with Kyle Stratton, who now plays at Taylor University, his main charge became Camden Thompson, a much larger player with a different skill set. Where Stratton was a small, shifty quarterback, Thompson is a more physical and more eager runner with a bigger arm but less re-

having only played the position for one season in high school prior to taking it over this fall. Huizenga enjoyed the challenge.

finement, having only played the position for one season in high school prior to taking it over this fall. Huizenga enjoyed the challenge.

“The biggest thing was footwork, getting him comfortable with that,” Huizenga said of Thompson. “It’s a new position for him. He took two years off it, (so it was about) getting him comfortable with being in the pocket. He’s a great athlete, so it made it a little easier.”

“The biggest thing was footwork, getting him comfortable with that,” Huizenga said of Thompson. “It’s a new position for him. He took two years off from it, (so it was about) getting him comfortable with being in the pocket. He’s a great athlete, so it made it a little easier.”

Rake has been back at Whitehall a few years as well, where he also coaches the freshman boys basketball team; Rake was best-known at Whitehall as a hoops star and played the sport at Alma College. This was his first season calling

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Whitehall assistant coaches, from left, Brandon Rake, Terrell Harris and Casey Huizenga keep an eye on an October practice alongside head coach Tony Sigmon. Harris and fellow former Vikings Jack MacArthur and Jarrean Sargent joined Rake and Huizenga on the Whitehall football coaching staff this season.

Viking coaches continued on page 2

Five

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

Whitehall assistant coaches, from left, Jack MacArthur, Terrell Harris and Brandon Rake keep an eye on an October practice as the team gets ready for its playoff run.

Viking coaches were Whitehall teammates in high school.

Viking coaches continued on page 2

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

Whitehall assistant coaches, from left, Jack MacArthur, Terrell Harris and Brandon Rake keep an eye on

October practice as the team gets ready for its playoff run.

three Viking coaches were Whitehall teammates in high school.

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Whitehall assistant from left, Brandon Terrell Harris and Casey Huizenga keep October practice alongside head coach Sigmon. Harris and fellow former Vikings Jack MacArthur and Jarrean Sargent joined Rake and Huizenga on the Whitehall staff this season.

Viking coaches continued on page 2

Five former Viking players were on football coaching staff for 2024 district title

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

Whitehall assistant coaches, from left, Jack MacArthur, Terrell Harris and Brandon Rake keep an eye on October practice as the team gets for its

The three Viking coaches were Whitehall teammates in high school.

Andy Roberts/Mirror

Human remains uncovered in Rothbury

The Michigan State Police Hart Post announced on X (Twitter) Tuesday night that officers were dispatched to a wooded area near Rothbury due to the discovery of human remains.

The remains were uncovered Monday, according to the press release, and investigation continued Tuesday.

Viking coaches

the plays at the JV level, a role that enabled him to pick up a lot from Sigmon, who has offensive roots himself.

“Knowing Coach Sig before I got here was a really big part of why I came back,” Rake said. “I loved being in this program as a player, and as a coach now, the level of respect that I was able to gain right away, just from having that relationship, is awesome. I was able to jump right in, and he trusted me fully to do what I needed to do.

“He knows the most about our offense by far, and going from being a lineman in high school and just knowing where to go on what play, to understanding all the concepts and different stuff like that was really cool to see. He helped me out through it and was able to kind of get me on a roll.”

Rake, who is also a Whitehall Middle School math teacher, was a very good lineman at Whitehall and he feels like that experience gives him an appreciation for the current Viking linemen, as well as a built-in respect from those players.

MacArthur’s day job is in construction for Seeger Builders, and his role with the linebackers reunited him with his high school defensive coordinator, Keith Stratton, who’s still in that role now. He said one of his favorite things about being back on the field with Harris, Rake and Huizenga, all of whom were high school teammates of his, is that in a way it feels like no time has passed at all.

“In college you kind of part ways with some of your (high school) friends, so rekindling these friendships with Terrell, Casey and Brandon, it’s been awesome,” MacArthur said.

Like his fellow assistants, MacArthur said having played for Sigmon gives him a shorthand for knowing what to expect and how to communicate that to the players.

“Whatever we are teaching or whatever we’re saying, he doesn’t have to question us,” MacArthur said of Sig-

“Additional evidence (was) recovered (Tuesday),” the post said. “Forensic anthropologists from The Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine responded to the scene to assist with the recovery.”

The post said positive identification of the remains “cannot be made at this time,” adding an autopsy and

further investigation may determine whose remains they were. Several news outlets have speculated the remains could be of Kevin Graves, who was declared missing in 2018 after the Electric Forest festival that year and to date has not been located.

mon. “He’s not worried about what we’re saying because we played for him. I think coming back and coaching, it’s been as simple as it can be for the first year, knowing that all these coaches have trust in us.”

Harris didn’t really have teaching or coaching at Whitehall on his mind after his football career ended - he played at Hope College and transferred to Davenport before giving up the sportbut when he reached out to Huizenga for job leads, he found out the school had vacancies to do both. He’s teaching middle school special education now, working under principal Craig Thompson, his former receivers coach when he played here.

Harris said Whitehall’s “winning culture” attracted him to come back. He now coaches wide receivers and defensive backs. More than that, though, was the family atmosphere of the program, which he credits Sigmon for building.

“He cares so much about his players outside of just being football players,” Harris said. “I think that helps a lot of us want to keep going. It’s not just a football team. It’s a brotherhood. It’s bigger than that. That’s honestly what I looked forward to coming back here and coaching with him, just having that same bond that we already had and being able to build off

that, not as a player anymore, but as a coach and as a helper and a peer.”

The ability to be on staff at Whitehall has only intensified Harris’ desire to coach; he says he’d love to be a head coach down the line.

“I always want to stay in the game,” Harris said. “It is a different aspect. It feels good to give back to someone who gave so much to you. I just come out here with a smile on my face every day. It’s just nice to be able to give back.”

The four high school players-turned-assistants are accessible to the current Whitehall players due to their younger ages and their previous relationships with Sigmon. That makes them stronger coaches. As Sigmon noted, being able to coach his coaches, in a sense, strengthens the entire program because the assistants feel empowered to deliver the same message he has and the players get to hear that message more consistently.

“Now I’m coaching more coaches than I am necessarily coaching players of football,” Sigmon said. “I feel like my role has evolved into coaching our coaches, and then really in the offseason, what does our day-to-day look like? What is a kid doing? Is he making good choices? Making sure our numbers are as high as possible when it comes to our JV

and our varsity, making sure they’re making good choices in the classroom, in the school, and in the community.”

Their prior experience, both at Whitehall and in college sports, also helps the Vikings because while the team is always adding things to its playbook, the core concepts have never changed. That creates an easy shorthand as former players, who became intimately familiar with the system on the field, are able to pass along the X’s and O’s to the team.

“The conversations are really in-depth,” Sigmon said. “We don’t have to break them in or say, ‘Here’s page one of the playbook, and this is why we call this that,’ and so on and so forth, because they know it.”

Sigmon has enjoyed remarkable staff stability during his time at Whitehall, with Stratton as his longtime defensive coordinator. Van Wieren was a longtime offensive coordinator until becoming interim superintendent of schools. However, no matter how long a coach is with his staff, there’s an added element of satisfaction when his own former players join up.

“As I look around, I don’t know if there’s anything more rewarding than seeing Brandon Rake coaching a group, Casey Huizenga coaching a group, Terrell Harris and Jack (MacArthur coaching a group),” Sigmon

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

said. “Jarrean Sargent is working with our middle school. There’s a certain level of pride there.”

The current five on staff at Whitehall may not be the last to join up either; Sigmon said players on the current team have expressed interest in becoming educators and coaches too. The Vikings’ coaching tree may yet grow more branches. As at most schools, Whitehall puts great value in having their sports coaches also be teachers in order to strengthen the relationship between

students and coaches. It’s no accident that four of the five former players are Whitehall teachers as well.

“I wasn’t surprised that any one of these people, just because of the players they were, and the teammates they were, that this is what they chose to do,” Sigmon said. “At the end of the day, we’re providing a service for the community. We’re entrusted with the most important resource we have, which is our kids.”

Whitehall assistant coach Casey Huizenga (right) plays the role of quarterback during a defensive practice snap in October. Huizenga completed his fourth season as quarterbacks coach this fall.

Saturday, Jan. 4

Free Community Breakfast @ St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 8435 Old Channel Trail, Montague, 9-10:30 a.m.

Echoes of History: The Homestead (Part 2) Community Calendar

By Barbara Bedau Brow Volunteer Contributor

There were several lilac bushes and mock orange bushes with flowers that filled the air with sweet perfume when they bloomed. Mom would always pick some lilacs and put them in a tall vase on the table to enjoy inside. Mom loved her flowers and was always working in her gardens around the house. Dad made a small fishpond in the yard and planted several white birch trees, and Mom had a flower garden by it. He had a small vegetable garden where he grew tomatoes, pole beans, chard and summer squash and other vegetables.

Dad died in March 1970 and Mom continued to live on the homestead until she died in June 1982. After everything was settled, my brother got the “Big House” and I got the “Little House”.

My daughter married in 1970 and had a daughter in 1975. Sadly, I lost my husband in 1976. I was glad, however, to fill my time at the cottage with my granddaughter playing in the yard and going to the beach like I used to do with my little girl.

In late 1982 we had a 16x24 room built on the front of the “little house” to create a large gathering room with an eating area. A new bedroom was created for me out of the north end of the old garage. In 1986 a second bathroom was added in connection with my bedroom. A small three-season porch was added just off the kitchen on the south side of the cottage in June 1989. It made for a cozy spot to sit when the sun was

shining.

Tuesday, Jan. 7

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

All this time, the only heat source the “little house” had was an old oil space heater that had come from the “Big House” in the mid to late 1950s. Sometimes on chilly rainy weekends in the early spring or fall it took almost the whole weekend for the house to finally warm up. And then it was time to leave.

When my brother and his wife moved into town in 1997, his youngest daughter, her husband and their two girls moved into the “Big House.”

My granddaughter got married in 1999 and they have added two boys to the mix now. They love to play baseball in the yard and ride their bikes and go to the beach. We really need more room when everyone comes together.

Over the years we tried to figure out how to make the “little house” function better so maybe it could be used all year around. We spent hours drawing up plans trying to incorporate the “little house”. Finally, we came to the conclusion that we really had to let it go. We had found a plan that would work for all of us. So instead of getting ready to close up the cottage, Labor Day weekend 2004 was spent moving out what we wanted to save and putting it into a storage facility in preparation for the demolition of the “little house” later in the month.

By May 2005, my daughter and her husband moved into the new house, which will become their retirement home. I have a lovely large bedroom with my own bath and a generous walk-in closet. As I look out

the windows I see the woods, which remind me of the view of the ravine that I saw from my bedroom window when I was growing up in Chicago. Even the color of the room is similar, and I don’t recall ever mentioning that to her before.

Even with all the changes that have taken place here over the years, I’m sure Dad and Mom are happy that the investment they made all those years ago is still being enjoyed by members of the family. Hopefully the homestead will remain in the family for the next generations to come. And we can call it “Joylin” if we want to.

Gingerbread workshop spreads holiday spirit

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

The White Lake Community Library hosted a gingerbread workshop Thursday, Dec. 12. The library invited local families to show off their decorating skills and festive spirits in friendly competition. The library hoped to spread holiday cheer and encourage imaginative ideas during this fun, family activity. Children were encouraged to not only build gingerbread houses, but whatever their creativity led them to make. Traditionally, gingerbread during the holidays either takes the form of a man, woman, or house made with objects such as icing, gumdrops, candy canes, sprinkles and other candy. The delicious structures are thought to have originated in Germany in the 16th or 18th century, spreading and gaining popularity in Britain later. The workshop included not only different variations of gingerbread houses, but also trains and other objects.

Check out a new MLA podcast about librarians

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

A new podcast about librarians debuted recently, and the third episode includes an interview with me! Hosted by the Michigan Library Association and the Library Cooperatives of Michigan, Chapter & Verse: Storytime from the Stacks features dedicated Michigan library workers and their inspiring stories. Each episode welcomes a library worker from one of Michigan’s 11 cooperative regions to share their most interesting and inspiring experiences.

featured Ryan Tackabury from Imlay City. The December episode was with Peter Wurdock, a musician, poet, and part-time library worker in the Upper Peninsula. I was interviewed for the January episode, which drops Jan. 9.

Chapter & Verse is sponsored by Midwest Tape / hoopla. Listen to the podcast and subscribe on Podbean, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. Just search “Chapter & Verse: Storytime from the Stacks”. New episodes premiere on the second Thursday of each month.

The candy cane scavenger hunt has ended, and a new one has taken its place! Come celebrate the new year by searching for all twenty of the number 25s hidden throughout the library. Anyone can play - just look for the game display or ask for clues at the desk. The game will be available through Saturday, Jan. 11.

Sweetening the Future

The first episode, in November,

FUN FACT: Of the top 10 audiobooks borrowed by our patrons on the Hoopla app this year, three were by author Sarah J. Maas and three were by Rebecca Yarros. Two more were by Frieda McFadden. The final two books were Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt at No. 2 on the list, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone at No. 10.

Making your own maple syrup can be a lot of cold, lonely work, but making maple syrup in community is a fun, social experience! Come to White Lake Community Library Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 6 p.m. to discover the sweet secrets of tapping trees and boiling sap, and hear about an exciting community sap-boiling effort that not only produces delicious maple syrup but also creates useful biochar. Whether you’re new or experienced, connect with fellow syrup enthusiasts, share

tips, and enjoy learning together. This free event is presented by Wiley Fry of the Montague Commoners and is a joint effort of local permaculture folks working to connect people with the land in reciprocal ways through foraging and land care. Registration is appreciated by not required. For more information and to register, visit wlclib.org/calendar.

New Scavenger Hunt

DeMumbrum

Circa 1931 - The pines where we camped and the house which provided an actual roof over our heads.

• Courtesy Photo

• Courtesy Photos

Lake Mirror Lake Mirror

NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE community

Vikings attack boards, basket to score win

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MUSKEGON — Kal Koehler responded to a challenge from his coach Friday night, and because of it Whitehall was able to rally for a 61-51 win over Coopersville in the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame Classic.

Vikings’ coach Christian Subdon didn’t think Koehler had rebounded well enough of late and told him so in practice this week. Koehler rose to the challenge in the second half, attacking the glass and scoring 12 points, including four straight to give his team the lead early in the fourth quarter. He ended the night with nine boards, including a couple of pivotal offensive rebounds, to go with 18 points.

“Kal is a great player,” Subdon said. “People overlook him all the time...He came out here and had some tough box-outs. He had a box-out foul. I loved the toughness out of him.”

Koehler provided the answer to Coopersville’s last big push in the final quarter, following a Camden Thompson score with a putback on the next possession to put the Vikings (6-2) back up by six after the Broncos had gotten within two.

The Viking coaches then called timeout and told the team in the huddle not to make any risky jump passes.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Naturally, on the first possession out of the timeout, Thompson found Brock Morningstar for an open three-pointer on a jump pass. The senior stuffed the stat sheet as usual, with 21 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.

“We say that when he’s gone we’re going to have 10 years worth of reprogramming everybody else in the program to not do (those passes) because he’s so good at it,” Subdon said of Thompson.

“It’s nice for them to trust me on that,” Thompson said with a sheepish smile. “With my height, I can see over a few people. I’m trusting those guys to be there in those open spots...It really worked out for us.”

The first half did not unfold well for

Comeback win

continued on page 5

Wildcats place 4th at Eric Scott Mat Cat Classic

Montague has 7 top-5 finishers in meet

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — Montague finished in fourth place at its home Mat Cat holiday tournament Saturday, with seven wrestlers placing in the top five in their weight classes. What impressed coach Kris Maddox most about his team, though, was how the wrestlers approached the day and competed despite being a big part of the operations at the previous day’s girls’ tournament.

“I can’t say where we had anybody that really didn’t put forth an effort today,” Maddox said. “I’m really proud of the way our kids came out. Yesterday they were here for almost 10 hours helping run a girls tournament. I was worried about that coming in today, but I think they did the right things. They went home last night and went to bed and got the rest they needed to come back to compete today. I like how we performed considering the circumstances.”

Fletcher Thommen was Montague’s highest placer, scoring a pin and a technical fall to reach the 150-pound finals before finishing in second place. Thommen entered the season as one of the presumed team leaders, and he

has lived up to the billing, with a 14-2 record so far.

“He never complains. He does what is asked,” Maddox said of Thommen.

“If I said he had to stand on his head for five hours, he would do it. He’s that type of kid that’s real respectful and works his tail off in everything he does. He’s not a showman. He’s not cocky. He’s not overzealous.”

Taking third place were Isaac French, at 190, and Gavyn Maddox, at 138. All three of French’s wins were pins, and Maddox secured pins in both his wins. French has been a steady performer, as projected prior to the sea-

son, but Maddox’s emergence - he’s 13-3 - has been a bit of a surprise to the coaches, even with his dad being the head coach.

If anything, coach Maddox said, his son has shown the ability to be even better if he wrestles with a little more confidence. In Gavyn’s lone loss Saturday, the coach said Gavyn came off the mat believing he’d been in good positions but was unable to execute a couple of moves that could’ve given him a

better chance to reach the finals.

“We had a conversation today about, ‘Hey, you realize that you belong with these upperclassmen. You’re not just a freshman. You’ve got to realize that you belong,’” coach Maddox said. “I think in his match against Muskegon, he realized that in the third period and started to wrestle well.

Montague’s Gavyn Maddox (right) tries to fight off a hold by Fremont’s Trinden Worcester during the third-place match at Saturday’s Mat Cat Classic. Maddox won the match by pin. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall rallies to beat Coopersville in Hall of Fame Classic

Whitehall’s Camden Thompson tries to get a rebound between a pair of Coopersville defenders during Friday’s Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame Classic. Thompson had 21 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in a 61-51 comeback win.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall’s Kal Koehler (left) is defended by Coopersville during Friday’s game at Muskegon. Koehler responded to a challenge from his coach with some clutch rebounds late in a 61-51 win. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall’s Nolan Napier tries to get his shot past Coopersville’s Carter Mekkes during Friday’s Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame Classic at Muskegon.

Montague’s Clay Jordan tries to break free from a hold by Muskegon’s Calvin Davis during Saturday’s Mat Cat Classic in Montague. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Comeback win

the Vikings, who struggled to get a cohesive offense going against the Broncos’ aggressive 2-3 zone.

“They’re a team notorious for running (the) 2-3 (zone),” Koehler said. “Everybody knows they run the 2-3. We were expecting it, but we just couldn’t execute in the first half.”

At halftime, the Whitehall staff was able to devise a way to overcome the zone, and the results were obvious as the Vikings outscored Coopersville 3516 in the second half.

“Tonight they had to battle back, and we haven’t had to do that,” Subdon said. “Now we know we can. I think the opportunities are endless for our team as long as we continue to be coachable. I think they’re going to. They’re eating it up and doing a really good job.”

It wasn’t just Koehler and Thompson shining for Whitehall, which got a big jump shot from Finn Muller in the final seconds of the third quarter to slice the Coopersville lead to two and set the stage for Whitehall’s fourth-quarter dominance. Muller also made a terrific pass fake to free himself for a first-quarter three-pointer and keep Whitehall in the game early on.

“Nolan Napier played awesome

minutes,” Subdon said. “Finn Muller played awesome minutes. Those guys will never go noticed (enough) because of Cam and Kal, but they helped us. Hunter Osborne. Brock Morningstar. We had some players step up in big moments.”

The win capped a remarkable stretch of high-caliber opponents for Whitehall early in the season. The Vikings’ tests are far from over - Rockford, Allendale and Mona Shores are a few

of the big ones remaining - but going forward they will be more interspersed with their West Michigan Conference Lakes schedule.

Subdon couldn’t be more pleased with his team’s being able to be exposed to the sort of play it’ll need to overcome to advance in the postseason.

“We’re getting ready for March, win or loss,” Subdon said. “I told my assistant coach at the start of the fourth quarter, ‘I don’t care what happens.’ We were down two and I just said that

these guys have given me everything they have. Now they’ve got to give me a little bit more, and they did that and then some.”

The Vikings also think they have more to show, and if that’s true, it’s bad news for the rest of their schedule.

“The main thing is that we’ve just got to play to our full potential,” Thompson said. “It’s shown quite a bit. In the second half we showed where we could play. We can also play a lot better than that.”

“We’re just now getting into the meat of our season, so now is where he’s got to start realizing that matches will be a little tougher and a little closer.”

Brock Hunter finished in fourth place at 120. Kaiden Jeffery (144), Maverick Osborne (285) and Michael Jones (157) each finished fifth and posted 3-2 records, scoring bonus-point victories in each of their wins. Jeffery and Osborne each scored three pins. Gibson Sholes (126) and Clay Jordan (175) placed sixth.

The winner of the tournament, narrowly, was Muskegon, a program that until recently had been unsuccessful. The Big Reds’ rise to a competitive level mirrors what Maddox continues trying to build at Montague. The ‘Cats saw firsthand the culture Muskegon is building in a couple of tough defeats late in the day.

“They’re keeping their kids, and that’s good to see,” Maddox said. “Their kids are tough. They’re respectful. It’s

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

good to see their program where it’s at, and hopefully they can keep growing. I like their grittiness. They’re tough kids. I take that and try to use that as a little example to our kids.”

Montague keeping busy over the holiday break - the ‘Cats had their Assembly Dual Dec. 21, hosted girls’ and boys’ tournaments last weekend and will be back in action this weekend - is hardly unique among wrestling teams.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Both Whitehall and Reeths-Puffer had meets over the post-Christmas weekend and will compete again the following weekend. However, Montague’s being able to do so at home is, Maddox believes, a good thing for the program, and it helps retain the athletes’ focus.

“It keeps us moving forward,” Maddox said. “They come out of break Jan. 1 and they get their two-pound growth

Whitehall wins Holton tourney

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Whitehall came away with the championship at Holton’s holiday tournament over the weekend, fighting off the Red Devils 35-33 in Saturday’s final after a tough 4441 win over Muskegon Catholic in the first round Friday night.

The Vikings overcame a turnover-plagued performance offensively against Holton with balanced scoring, led by nine points from freshman guard Peyton Schultz. Sidney Shepherd pulled down 12 rebounds to go with six points.

“Coach (Robert) Jordan does a great job preparing his team and getting them to play hard, forcing a lot of turnovers on our

pressure, but I am very proud of how well they found a way to

allowance, so that helps in managing their weight. Most of our kids like it. It’s tough on the parents, and I’ve got to commend our community and all the volunteers it takes to do this two days back to back. It takes a lot of manpower and a lot of behind the scenes people stepping up and helping us.”

end,” Whitehall coach Brian Milliron said. “We need to get better at making the right pass against

win.”

Whitehall’s girls basketball team celebrates winning the Holton holiday tournament Saturday after edging the Red Devils. Whitehall also defeated Muskegon Catholic in the tournament. • Courtesy Photo

Whitehall’s Corde Anderson is surrounded by Coopersville foes Brody Rotman (right) and Judah Bartels during Friday’s Hall of Fame game at Muskegon. The Vikings rallied to win, 61-51. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall’s Camden Thompson tries to power past Coopersville’s Carter Mekkes for a layup during Friday’s Hall of Fame game at Muskegon. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Montague’s Gavyn Maddox tries to break free of a hold by Muskegon’s Keyaun Bradford during a semifinal match at Saturday’s Eric Scott Mat Cat Classic. Maddox dropped the match, his only defeat on the way to a third-place finish.

Montague’s Michael Jones keeps a hold of Hopkins’ Vincente Garza during a match at Saturday’s Eric Scott Mat Cat Classic.

No More Sidelines stages traditional game

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

MUSKEGON — No More Sidelines, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing sports opportunities for those with special needs, played its traditional basketball game at halftime of the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame Classic between Whitehall and Coopersville.

Fans in the stands cheered the athletes as they went up and down the court with a festive Team Green vs. Team Red matchup. The Muskegon girls basketball team joined the players on the court.

MHSAA approves 1-year delay in pitch count reporting

The Representative Council of the Michigan High School Athletic Association received reports on the upcoming sponsorship of two recently-added sports, provided support for a study group to discuss the number of postseason divisions for several more sports, and elected a new president for the first time in a decade during its fall meeting Dec. 6 in East Lansing.

Generally, the council takes only a few actions during its fall meeting, with topics often introduced for additional consideration and action during its meetings in March and May. The council took only one action at this meeting but began conversations on several topics that will be continued throughout the remainder of this school year.

The lone action regarded baseball and a previously-approved requirement for teams to submit

their pitch counts online beginning with the spring 2025 season. The council approved a one-year delay in that requirement to allow more time for technology development and implementation.

The council received reports on two sports set to begin MHSAA sponsorship with the 2025-26 school year – girls field hockey and boys volleyball. The first Girls Field Hockey Committee has met and will be sending several proposals to the Council for action during its March meeting in preparation for the Fall 2025 season. The Volleyball Committee will meet soon, with potential proposals for boys volleyball coming before the council in March or May.

MHSAA staff led a discussion regarding the number of postseason divisions for baseball, basketball, Lower Peninsula cross country, softball, Lower Peninsula track & field and volleyball, which are all spon-

sored by at least 550 schools. The council discussed if adding fifth divisions to those sports is necessary or desirable and gave support for MHSAA staff to form a study group on the topic and provide a report to the Council during its May 2025 meeting.

Council members discussed social media issues that had arisen in the school sports community over the last several months, and how member schools should address these situations and the role the MHSAA should play in communicating with all schools involved in specific instances.

The council also received updates from the MHSAA’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and discussed several matters related to recently completed fall tournaments, broadcast partnerships, MHSAA Athletic Director Update Meeting and In-Service Programs and other administrative topics.

MHSAA sees record attendance at girls tournaments during 2023-24 season

A record number of spectators at girls postseason events pushed Michigan High School Athletic Association attendance during the 2023-24 school year past 1.4 million fans for the second straight year, with the total of 471,651 spectators for girls competitions breaking the previous all-time best set in 2014-15.

In total, MHSAA tournament events drew 1,449,574 spectators at competitions for which admission is charged – just over a half-percent decrease from 2022-23 but still the second-highest overall postseason attendance over the last seven years. Attendance at MHSAA boys tournament events during 2023-24 was 1,008,070, a three percent decrease from the year before. The MHSAA annually tracks attendance for all sports except golf, skiing and tennis, as single tickets are not sold for those sports.

Record spectator turnout for the softball and track and field tournaments drove the girls’ overall increase. Softball set an overall tournament record with 49,636 fans, besting the previous record set just the year before by nearly 2,000, and also set an individual-round record with 4,935 fans at the quarterfinals. Track and field – with girls and boys com-

peting together – drew a record 42,899 spectators overall, and a regional record of 25,661. Both track totals bested previous records set during the 2020-21 school year.

Several more sports saw attendance increases during 2023-24. Girls basketball overall postseason attendance was up significantly and for the thirdstraight year, this time to 158,126 fans for a nine-percent increase from 2022-23. The individual wrestling tournament drew 48,237 fans, an eight percent increase from the previous season, and set records at the district (13,308) and regional (11,089) levels. Overall attendance for competitive cheer (29,297, up 12 percent), girls lacrosse (5,627, up six percent), boys lacrosse (17,107, up less than one percent) and boys swimming & diving (6,116, up 33 percent) all were up as well from 2022-23.

Competitive cheer’s increase was keyed in part by record attendance at the district level (14,528). Baseball districts (36,553), and boys lacrosse quarterfinals (3,021) also set records.

Football remains the most-attended MHSAA tournament sport and drew 363,563 spectators for

its playoff series – a decrease of nearly five percent from the previous year but including the highest attendance during the semifinal rounds (32,596) since 2012-13. Boys basketball attendance again ranked second at 280,800 fans, down four percent from the previous year but with increases for the Regional and Quarterfinal rounds. Girls basketball remained third for overall attendance and first among girls sports, followed again by volleyball – which drew 113,239 fans, only 313 fewer than the year before as postseason attendance in that sport has seen less than a percentage point change year to year over the last three seasons.

Winter sports rules changes taking effect

The winter MHSAA sports season is underway, and with it a few minor rules changes have taken effect. Fans may have already noticed the change in wrestling scoring.

The number of match points awarded for a takedown was increased from two to three. Also, near-fall points will now be awarded based on the number of seconds during which the near-fall criteria are met – beginning with two points for two seconds, up to four points for four seconds.

The MHSAA has also altered the penalty for use of an ineligible wrestler if discovered during the involved match. Local fans will recall the previous rule, a forfeit of the team dual regardless of other bouts during the match, which resulted in Whitehall losing a dual to Montague a year ago.

Beginning this season, the use of an ineligible wrestler – if discovered during the involved match

– will result in six team points being awarded to the opponent, plus the head coach of the team with the ineligible wrestler will be assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty resulting in a one-point team score deduction. If the ineligible wrestler is discovered after the involved match, any points earned by the offending wrestler will be removed from the team score, along with the point for unsportsmanlike conduct, and six points will be added to the offended team’s total. In both instances, neither wrestler involved in the match in question may compete again in that dual. If the ineligible wrestler is discovered after the dual is completed, the teams have left the mat area and the scorebook has been signed by the official, the results and team score will stand.

Also in wrestling, the MHSAA will award its first team state championship in girls wrestling. After first introducing a girls championship bracket to the In-

dividual Wrestling Finals for the 2021-22 season, the MHSAA will honor its first team champion based on those individual finishes. The format will be similar to how MHSAA team championships were awarded for boys wrestling prior to the creation of the dual format team finals with the 1987-88 season.

Postseasons for basketball and bowling also will incorporate slight changes. In basketball, entire district brackets will be seeded for the first time, instead of the previous top two teams receiving seeds only. Michigan Power Ratings (MPR) data will still be used to seed those full brackets. In bowling, the regionals may now take place as early in the week as Wednesday and Thursday, as long as the team and singles competitions are completed on consecutive days. Previously, those were competed only on Fridays and Saturdays, respectively.

Police activity this week

Behind the Badge

Whitehall Police Report

Dec. 23

Whitehall Police was notified of an alleged assault by a caregiver on a resident of a group home. The Whitehall Police were notified of the incident

by a referral from DHS-APS. The incident occurred two days prior when a resident took the coat of a 21-year-old worker in the home. Witnesses alleged that the caregiver then kicked the resident while trying to get her coat. During the investigation, the guardian for the resident did not want prosecution and was allowing internal discipline process to address the matter. No further action was taken.

A local credit union reported they had been victimized by a scam involving false identification. A man entered the business in the 2000 block of Cogswell Avenue and presented an out-ofstate ID and asked the teller to give him over $9,000 from his account from an out-of-state bank. The money was provided and it was later learned it was a

false ID. The investigation did receive a tip from a local business that recorded a license plate. The case remains under investigation.

Dec. 25

A resident discovered that a pop machine at the high school football field had been broken into on the early morning of the 24th. Police were called to investigate at 3:38 p.m. and have secured video of the suspects. It is unknown how much was taken at this time as the investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to call Whitehall Police.

Dec. 27

Whitehall Police were called about an unwanted person in the 200 block of Hall St. A resident called at 8:10 a.m. and identified the 45-year-old man by

name. Officers later located the suspect, who had previously been banned from the property. The man, who is reported to be homeless, was reminded he could not go on that property and was released.

A business in the 100 block of Hanson St. reported that bicycles were stolen from the business. The report was made at 3:15 p.m. and bikes were taken sometime during the overnight. Bolt cutters were used to cut the lock securing the bikes. A suspect was seen and photographed on one of the stolen bikes and Whitehall Police are attempting to locate the suspect. The bikes were unique in make and style and anyone with information is asked to contact the Whitehall Police.

Now’s the time to combat hemlock woolly adelgid

The Michigan departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture and Rural Development encourage those who have eastern hemlock trees on their property to take time this winter to inspect the trees for signs of hemlock woolly adelgid. Anyone taking to the woods also can help by looking for signs of this invasive insect while hunting, hiking or enjoying other outdoor activities.

Winter is the best time to look for evidence of an infestation, according to Robert Miller, MDARD’s invasive species prevention and response specialist.

“Cooler temperatures trigger feeding activity,” Miller said. “As hemlock woolly adelgid feeds, it secretes a white, waxy material that creates ovisacs. The presence of these small, round, white masses makes it possible to identify infested trees.”

As they feed, these tiny, soft-bodied insects consume a hemlock’s stored nutrients, slowly sucking the life from the tree.

These insects are considered invasive because they are not native to the state and can cause significant harm to Michigan’s estimated 170 million hemlock trees.

Infestations of hemlock woolly adelgid have been confirmed in Allegan, Antrim, Benzie, Leelanau, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa and Washtenaw counties.

Winter surveys underway

Throughout the winter, survey crews from the DNR and several cooperative invasive species management areas will look for signs of hemlock woolly adelgid. Crews will focus their efforts along the northern edge of the infestation, conducting surveys within a 5-mile border along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Because hemlock trees can be protected from these insects with proper insecticide treatments, infested trees and any other hemlocks within the

area will be mapped and tagged, then prioritized for summer treatment.

If designated survey areas include private lands, CISMAs first will seek landowner permission. CISMA survey efforts are supported by funds from the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program and the U.S. Forest Service and are provided at no cost to these landowners.

Your help is needed

Though dozens of staff will assist in the surveys, they won’t be able to check every hemlock. If you have hemlocks on your property, whether it’s within or beyond the 5-mile shoreline border, take some time to look for signs of hemlock woolly adelgid.

Anyone spending time outdoors is encouraged to do the same.

In Michigan’s northern forests, hemlock trees are found in moist soils along streams and riverbanks and along coastal dunes. Hemlock also is popular as a landscape tree in parks and residential areas.

Identify hemlock trees

Since these adelgids feed and form

ovisacs only on eastern hemlock trees in Michigan, it is important to distinguish hemlocks from other conifers like pines or spruces. Look for:

Cone- or egg-shaped trees up to 75 feet tall.

Drooping or feathery branches.

Flat needles growing individually from the sides of twigs.

Needles that are dark green on top with two parallel, white stripes underneath.

Papery cones about three-quarters of an inch long that hang downward from branches.

Look for signs

Late fall through early spring is the best time to check hemlock trees. Look on the undersides of branches for evidence of round, white ovisacs near the base of the needles.

Up close, ovisacs look like tiny cotton balls and may appear alone or in clusters. The short video “Hemlock woolly adelgid: invasive species in Michigan” provides helpful identification tips.

hours: Mondays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesdays

Report your findings

Report infested hemlock trees by using the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network, available online at MISIN.MSU.edu or as a downloadable smartphone app. The MISIN smartphone app will take a GPS location point if a report is made at the site; it also will allow you to upload photos with a report.

Reports also can be made by email to MDA-Info@Michigan.gov or by phone to MDARD’s Customer Service Center at 800-292-3939.

Identify the location of infested trees and, whenever possible, take one or two pictures of infested branches to help confirm identification. To avoid spreading the insect, do not collect sample branches or twigs.

Manage your trees

If you find hemlock woolly adelgid on your property, it is important to know that certain insecticides are successful in treating the infestation if used correctly.

Without treatment, infested trees can die within four to 10 years. A qualified arborist, such as one certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, can diagnose and assist with treating infested trees.

If you are able to handle treatment on your own, follow the guidance provided in the MSU Extension bulletin “How to treat hemlock trees for hemlock woolly adelgid.”

Reporting infested trees, even if you will be managing them on your own, is important to help determine how far hemlock woolly adelgid has spread. This information also indicates where additional surveys may be needed.

Find more information

For more information on identification, reporting or treatment, visit the Michigan Invasive Species Program’s hemlock woolly adelgid page at Michigan.gov/HWA.

At left, a cooperative invasive species management area technician tags a hemlock tree during a winter hemlock woolly adelgid survey. At right, round, white hemlock woolly adelgid ovisacs are found on the undersides of branches near the base of the needles.

• Courtesy Photos