The Oceana Echo - Volume 1, Issue 6, July 7, 2023

• Contributed Photos

Rising from the ashes, community lifts up Lighthouse Grill

Campfires burn throughout Silver Lake all summer long, but on June 21, a different fire blazed through Hideaway Campground –turning a long-standing business into ash.

Lighthouse Grill, a restaurant that doubled as the campground’s registration office, was a total loss, sending owner Dan Kolosci into disbelief. Kolosci quickly rallied though, turning a trailer into a makeshift registration office and

campground store and bringing in a food truck to provide dining for campers.

Now, just over two weeks later, Kolosci’s disbelief was turned to hope as the restaurant opened their doors at a different location.

In the heart of Silver Lake’s action, a once empty building – formerly housing The Sand Castle restaurant – became Lighthouse Grill’s new home. The community pulled together to

Hart Sparks 2023

help and as of July 1, Lighthouse Grill is now open seven days a week with a breakfast buffet in the morning and burgers and sandwiches for lunch. Their new location is at 8407 W. Silver Lake Road.

According to their Facebook page, “The entire crew has stepped up any way they could to make this happen!”

Heroes on the Dunes returns July 14 & 15

Heroes on the Dunes is an event to honor and show appreciation for injured soldiers and their immediate families with an amazing day at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Mears, Mich. Honored guests will have the opportunity to ride in the very best that Silver Lake has to offer! Organizers will also be providing lunch on the dunes and a “Heroes Dinner” later that evening. Join us in a Heroes Parade down the Lake Michigan beach (in ORV riding area) and for kids’ activities.

The 2023 Heroes On The Dunes event will be July 14-15, and is hosted by Val-du-Lakes Bar & Grill and Silver

• Amanda Dodge/Echo

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Oceana County represented at Daughters of the American Revolution’s 132nd Continental Congress in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, DC - More than 4,000 members of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) convened during the last week of June in the nation’s capital for the 132nd Continental Congress, the latest gathering of the longstanding service organization’s annual meeting. The week-long convention consists of business sessions, committee meetings, and social functions, and is topped off with formal evening ceremonies at which national DAR award winners are honored.

At the Opening Night Ceremony, Jonna Mendez, former CIA Chief of Disguise and author, will be honored with the DAR Patriot Award. The National Defense Night Ceremony, celebrating our nation’s military personnel and veterans, will welcome Lieutenant General Nina Armagno of the United States Space Force. Other national awards will be presented during the week to outstanding individuals celebrating excellence in historic preservation, education and patriotism.

“As more than 4,000 dedicated DAR members gather in one place, their energy produces inspiration, creative breakthroughs and true camaraderie,” said Pamela Rouse Wright, President General. “We are grateful for the opportunity to reflect on the hard work and accomplishments of the past year. As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation, DAR needs to continue to present itself as the patriotic service organization that we are. Continental Congress offers a way for Daughters to come together and sparkle as they celebrate our country’s unique and rich history at the national level and within their own communities.”

The DAR Continental Congress is a time-honored annual gathering that has been held in Washington, D.C. since the organization’s founding. National, state and chapter leaders as well as other members from across the country and around the world meet at the DAR National Headquarters to report on the year’s work, honor outstanding award recipients, plan future initiatives and reconnect with friends.

The Oceana County chapter of the NSDAR was represented by Shannon Larson of Pentwater. Larson currenlty serves as Regent of the Michigan Dunes Chapter. According to its website, dunes.michdar. net, “The Michigan Dunes Chapter, NSDAR, is based in Pentwater, Mich. Our chapter was organized Dec. 7, 1983, by 16 charter members under Organizing Regent, June Daar. Many of our members reside in

Oceana and Mason Counties, but we have members from all over the state and beyond.”

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 190,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations. To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.DAR.org.

Shannon Larson, Regent of the Michigan Dunes Chapter, NSDAR, above right, joined Ludington native and Michigan Dunes Associate Member Deanna Lutz, above left, June 28, 2023 to pay tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. This time-honored tribute was scheduled specifically for the week of the DAR’s Continental Congress when thousands of members from the 50 states and around the world gather annually in Washington, DC to celebrate the work of the National Society. • Contributed Photos

Deanna Lutz, along with Andrea Parish of the Harmony Hall Chapter, NSDAR, and Teri Peterson and Cathy Tipton Lowe, both members of the USS Hannah Chapter, NSDAR presented the wreath, above.

The Early Settlers: Taming the Land

By Caleb Jackson The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

The story for most early settlers here in the area is roughly the same: they arrived, put up a cabin and started a farm. Obviously, the production of crops was essential to the early pioneers, but, well, maybe the summary of events is a bit lacking. How exactly does one tame what is often referred to as “that unbroken wilderness?” Furthermore, how does one person manage it alone and with primitive tools? The truth is, there are a few different methods, such as “girdling” the wood (which involved cutting off a ring of bark near the bottom of the tree in order to kill it) or making a “slashing.” It’s easy enough to do a Google search to see how early pioneers achieved this; however, we have a unique opportunity. Last week I mentioned Charles W. Jay and his book “My New Home in Northern Michigan.” In that selfsame book, Jay gives us a firsthand account of how a settler in Oceana cleared their own land, and so we can see exactly how much work is condensed into a single sentence when we say that an early pioneer “started a farm.”

It begins, of course, with the selection of land. “The pioneers travel on, days, weeks, and sometimes months before a location is selected,” Jay tells us, “Romance has no place in all their thoughts. Fertile land and convenient water are the paramount considerations.” Once they find the locale of their new home, a tent is pitched, and “the man and his stouter sons” go to work felling trees for the construction of a log cabin. At this point, he claims the “squatter” has established his “pre-emtpion right” and “goes to work with a will upon a ‘clearing.’” According to Jay, “an athletic and tireless woodman can cut down an acre of trees in ten days.” After cutting an appropriate amount of acres, the next step is to let the

trees season for a year. In the meantime, the family sustains themselves on wild game and perhaps “a little patch of corn, cultivated in some natural opening of the surrounding forests….”

The swath of felled timber is what is called a “slashing” and the next step is to burn it.

When it is sufficiently seasoned, fire is applied, and then ensues a sight worth all the election bonfires in New Jersey. The wind is high, and the sheeted flame leaps and rushes like hell let loose for a holiday. Every leaf, every twig, every limb, every green bush, or creeping vine, that had decked or festooned the dead and prostrate monarchs of the forest, is lapped up by the hungry fires and consumed to ashes.

(Charles Jay, 1874, p. 46)

Jay goes on quite poetically about the awe and wonder of the burning. In fact, he even goes on to say that he thinks that the two-cent box of matches was more instrumental to pioneering civilization than the invention of the railroad. “Estimable old fogy of a philosopher, or political economist, stand up and be corrected,” Jay wrote, “This little two-cent box of matches now upon my table is worth all the railroads ever built…”

But, as terrible and grand as burning and slashing may be, it is not actually meant to reduce the felled trees to ash. In fact, burning the slashing only clears the underbrush and rids the felled trees of the leaves and branches. What occurs next is called the “logging” and it is this portion of work that the settlers dreaded the most.

The huge bodies of the trees lay prostrate amid the ashy ruins and blackened stumps… These are simply charred around the surface. The saw and ax are now pressed into the service…. The trunks are cut up into 12-foot lengths. The log chain is fastened upon one end of these, and the weary oxen are made to drag them to the place of execution. By the aid of levers and “skids” these are piled up in pyramids, fre-

quently ten feet high. (Charles Jay, 1874, p. 47)

Once so compiled, the logs are again set ablaze, this time burning them completely. “The lurid fires light up the whole heavens for miles around, giving an idea of the camp fires of an immense army. This work continues for days,” says Jay, and what occurs next is finally the application of the plow and the sowing of seeds.

There are a few things to note here. Firstly, this whole process can last years. When you read about the early settlers with their massive farms, many of them expanded their farmland in subsequent years. This is probably why. They were likely clearing the land slowly over time. Secondly, the second burning of the lumbering phase may be more unique to Oceana, as many of the trees being cleared by the early settlers here were the valueless hemlocks, which were passed over by the lumber barons in favor of the white pine. Otherwise, valuable lumber would probably have been milled and sold rather than burned or cut into shingles or stave bolts.

Popping for Philanthropy

About 14 times a year, teams of Pentwater Service Club members gather in the United Methodist Church’s commercial kitchen to pop about two hundred bags of caramel-coated popcorn that it sells to raise funds the Club donates to various local causes. And on July 5, a team of members gathered to make yet another batch that will be sold either at the July 8 Art Fair on the Village Green or from area merchants.

The Service Club began popping and selling popcorn about 10 years ago, adding to its traditional

menu of brats and hotdogs sold at several weekend Village Green events each year. But when COVID forced the cancellation of a number of these community events beginning in 2020, the Club’s philanthropic goals were threatened. Members then recruited six area businesses—Cenzo’s, Hansen Foods, Pentwater Convenience Center, Portview Wine, Up North Market, and Wilson’s General Store—to offer caramel corn for purchase to their retail customers. The Club’s simple recipe has become a big hit because

its foundation is “mushroom popcorn,” which produces those big, round, fluffy kernels everyone loves. So some of the July 5 production was used to restock the shelves of these community-minded area merchants.

Service Club members really enjoy the great camaraderie and teamwork between them on popping days. But they never lose sight of the real purpose -simply to produce plump, tasty popcorn that helps the PSC both achieve its philanthropy goals, and also demonstrate the PSC’s intent to be excellent in everything it does.

1. Beth Russell briefs the team on safety and hygiene best practices. 2. Tim Cole keeps a close eye on the freshly popped kernels. 3. Keith Danielson’s job is to bring the caramel to a boil before it’s spread evenly over the kernels.  4. PSC Vice President Steve Russell, whose duties include organizing  the overall popcorn popping operation during his term as VP, pours hot caramel into the kettle where the popped kernels will be coated.  5. Bart Zachrich pours the just-coated kernels onto a stainless steel tray. 6. Standing next to a fan, Jack Provencal and Gigi Mitchell continuously stir the just-coated kernels so they dry and don’t stick together in the bag. 7. Dick Johnson carefully affixes labels to empty plastic bags.  8. Jack Provencal and Gigi Mitchell pour the dried, coated kernels into bags. 9. Beth Russell ties off the bags and puts them in bins for delivery to the various points of sale. • Contributed

1.

Ongoing

July

TLC Men’s Club will convene July 18

Trinity Lutheran Church Men’s Club will host a presentation on the 1982 “Glacier Girl” story of recovering lost WWII aircraft from ice by Greenland Expedition Society member Michael Cook. Doors open 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 18, with breakfast served at 8:30 a.m. and the presentation to commence at 9 a.m. A suggested free-will donation of $5 will be used to continue the community-enriching efforts of the club. First-time attendees should RVSP to 231-861-5260 to facilitate meal planning. Trinity Lutheran Fellowship Hall is located at the rear of the church at 5631 W. Stony Lake Rd., New Era.

Michigan Dunes Chapter, NSDAR set to meet July 15

Michigan Dunes Chapter, NSDAR will meet July 15 at noon at Centenary United Methodist Church, Wesley Room, 87 S. Hancock St. in Pentwater.

The program will be about The Constitution , with hostess and chef Barb Sikkenga, who will prepare a lunch of chicken salad, pasta salad, fruit and bars. There is no charge for the food.

Please RSVP to Barb Sikkenga at bandbsikkenga@ gmail.com

Those that come are asked to please bring in two cans or jars of applesauce for the July Veteran’s Christmas Food Item

If you are attending by Zoom, please check the notice that was sent to members via email.

58th Annual Pentwater Juried Art & Craft Fair this Saturday

The 58th Annual Pentwater Juried Art & Craft Fair will take place Saturday, July 8, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Village Green in beautiful downtown Pentwater. This juried art fair features all original work by over 90 artists. They will feature their own creations, including painting, ceramics, jewelry, photography, weaving, clothing, sculpture and other media. Always a highlight of the summer activities, with the scenic backdrop of the Pentwater Harbor, the fair gets rave reviews from both artists and visitors alike..

The Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club welcomes art lovers, visitors and friends to shop the unique variety of art. To enhance your experience, enjoy live music by guitarist Frank Galante of Truck Driver Bingo and a Scoop for Jewels fundraiser benefiting our local Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry. For a $10 donation, adults and children, alike, will delight in the opportunity to hunt for treasures with this “fun”raiser for Pentwater.

Admission to the fair is free. Refreshments are available on the Village Green, provided by the Pentwater Service Club Duncan Wagon, the Firefighters, along with several unique restaurants and bars within walking distance.

For more information about the fair please visit www.facebook.com/PTWJuriedArtandCraftFair or www.pentwaterjrwomensclub.com.

72nd Annual St. Joseph and St. Vincent’s Ox Roast and Homecoming this Sunday

The 72nd annual St. Joseph and St. Vincent’s Ox Roast and Homecoming will be this Sunday, July 9 from 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The event will take place at St. Joseph’s Faith Formation Center in Weare, 2349 W. Jackson Road, Hart.

Adult dinners are $15, children (6-10) are $6 and children 5 and under are free.

Enjoy their traditional ox roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, asparagus, baked beans, coleslaw and dessert.

Dine in the air-conditioned hall or outside under the big top. Take-out is also available.

Tickets may be purchased at the door or online.

There will be raffles, jar raffle auction, White Elephant booth, baked goods, craft booth and more.

For more information, please call the parish office at 231-873-5776 or visit our website: www. stjosephweare.org

Living Legacies: Hesperia Fun Fest

• Amanda Dodge/Echo

O bituaries

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

Melvin A. Mahan December 30, 1928 ~ June 30, 2023

Melvin Arthur Mahan, 94, of Hart, passed away Friday, June 30, 2023, at his home. He was born December 30, 1928, in Hesperia, the son of Mortimer and Ruth (Radley) Mahan.

Melvin was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army, and served during the Korean War.

Melvin married Marie Herrygers on December 9, 1950, and together they raised five children; Janet, Patricia, Cheryl, MarySue and Michael.

Following retirement from S.D. Warren Paper Mill in Muskegon, Melvin and Marie wintered in Ellenton, Fla. for 25 years. He spent countless hours playing shuf fleboard, golfing and walking throughout the neighborhood.

Melvin is survived by: his daughters, Janet (Ken) Klotz, Patricia (Mike) Scofield, and Cheryl (Dennis) Gale; daughter-in-law, Anita Mahan; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and his brother, John E. Mahan.

Melvin was preceded in death by: his parents; wife, Marie Mahan; son, Michael Mahan; daughter, MarySue Mahan; and granddaughter, Meika Riggs.

A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 8, 2023, at First Baptist Church of Hart, 3258 N. 72nd Ave., Hart, MI 49420. The family will receive family and friends Saturday, from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Crystal Valley Care Fund, P.O. Box 451, Hart, MI 49420.

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

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.

Respect for the Red , White and Blue

Members of Michigan Dunes Chapter, NSDAR, from Pentwater, marched in the 4th of July parade in Ludington, this past Tuesday. They passed out over 400 U. S. flags and information about how to properly and respectfully display the flag.

• Contributed Photos

Answer on page 15

Calling all Princesses and Superheroes

The place to be Tuesday, July 11, is the New Era Farmers Market from 4-7 p.m. This market will feature Princesses and Superheroes. Everyone is encouraged to wear their favorite Princess or Superhero costume.

There will be a judged costume parade with prizes for the two best child costumes and the two best adult costumes. Kid’s Club will meet from 4-5 p.m. with a story read by Tiffany Haight of Shelby Area District Library. Jackie Dickinson of Straight Path Farms in Fremont will be presenting to the children (and anyone else that is interested): “Wonder Worms the Superheroes of the Earth.”

There will be free Country Dairy Super Cow Ice Cream cones until they run out. The band Westwind

will perform from 5-7 p.m.

MSU Extension Michigan Fresh Cooking Show will feature a refreshing cucumber and onion salad. There are even dinner selections to enjoy:

Country Dairy will be serving grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies, chocolate milk, pop and water; Deb’s Cafe will be serving homemade goulash and garlic toast; and The Artisan will be serving nachos, wraps, burritos and pineapple water.

Those interested can find the New Era Farmers Market on the grounds of the New Era Christian Reformed Church located at 1820 Ray Ave., in New Era. Look for the mascot Raye the Scarecrow on the corner of Oceana Drive and Ray Avenue with a sign directing attendees to the market.

to 7:30

Trinity Lutheran Church of New Era is hosting a Vacation Bible School called Operation Restoration: Mending God’s World.

During this exciting weeklong program, kids learn to be menders of the Earth as they explore the daily themes of Feed, Heal, Forgive, Pray and Rest.

TLC is located at 5635 W. Stony Lake Rd. in New Era This VBS is open to ages K through Adult Bible Study Dinner Provided. Register by July 22nd.

To learn more or register, call: 231-861-4059, email: office@tlcnewera.org or visit: www.tlcnewera.org

Jessica Jazwinski adds to long legacy of Hart runners

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Reporter

HART – Jessie Jazwinski has been nothing short of a revelation for Hart’s cross country and track programs. Over her first two years of high school, Jazwinski has bloomed into a top runner on her own team, in the state of Michigan and the nation as a whole.

Now entering her junior year, Jazwinski has already made her last name a staple in the conversation of the Pirates’ best runners – a conversation that’s typically dominated by a host of Ackleys and Enns.

As a freshman, Jazwinski was a member of Hart’s MHSAA Division 3 state champion teams in cross country and track and field. Then, as a sophomore, Jazwinski stepped it up individually.

Knocking a minute off her personal record in the 5K races for cross country, Jazwinski rode that momentum all the way to an individual state championship and an All-State finish. That finish set a state record for sophomores, but it wasn’t long before Jazwinski bested that mark in the MITCA Meet of Champions with a time of 16:47.3.

To wrap up her last fall season,

Jazwinski made a trip to Kenosha, Wis. where she competed against top runners from 13 states in the CHAMPS Sports Cross Country Championships for the Midwest region. Jazwinski placed fourth among those runners, snagging the best time of Michigan runners and qualifying for the national meet in California.

Jazwinski made her presence felt at the national level as well, becoming an All-American with an 11th place finish in San Diego.

“That experience was unbelievable and the first time I’ve ever done any races at the national level,” Jazwinski said.

“It was a lot different than racing in Michigan because it was in California, so the terrain was a lot different.”

This last spring, Jazwinski was a catalyst for Hart track, leading them to their second straight track and field state title as a team. In that outing she earned All-State in all four of her events while also nabbing an individual state title in the 3200-meter event.

Jazwinski wasn’t always racing for medals and accolades however. In fact, her journey as a runner began when she was just 13 months old. That’s when she can remember running (or “waddling” she assumes) her first race – a quick jaunt of 100 meters.

It wasn’t until middle school that she really started to take running seriously however. The thought of competing as a sixth grader was exciting, but in eighth grade Jazwinski developed a passion for the sport.

“In eighth grade I really started to get good at running and that was exciting because my whole family is really into running,” Jazwinski said. “That’s been a super great support system. Having people around me that support me …it was a great scenario.”

That support system starts with her parents Katie and Bob Jazwinski, both of whom are accomplished athletes as well. Both Katie and Bob enjoyed successful high school and college careers as runners.

Katie in particular was the 2002 Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year while at the University of Michigan. She also qualified for the Olympic Trials in five different events.

Having parents that can truly empathize with Jazwinski throughout her journey has been vital.

“My parents can both relate to me. It’s so helpful to have them around because they’re so knowledgeable,” Jazwinski said. “When I’m having a hard time, they know how to help me through

it and when I’m doing well they can keep me level headed. Not everybody gets to have parents that have gone through the same things that they are. I’m super grateful to have them.”

Jazwinski and her parents aren’t the only established runners in the family either. Younger brother Bobby is an incoming freshman for Hart

“Just about everything in life is a competition between me and Bobby,” Jazwinski said with a laugh. “It’s not just running. We’ll compete in the morning to see who can get to the bathroom first or who can make the best espresso. It’s always a competition.

“It’s so nice to have him there because I’m always trying to beat him, but he never wants me to beat him. If I do something wrong he learns from it and I learn from him. We work together and it’s a fun experience.”

Both Bobby and Jessie benefit from a running culture at Hart that’s rich with history. A lot of that has to do with the coaches and for Jessie, people like Calvin Ackley and Terry Tatro have been at the forefront of her development.

HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE

Tatro, Hart’s cross country coach, boasts a resume that

Hart’s Jessica Jazwinski takes off after receiving the baton in a relay race during the 2023 MHSAA Division 3 Track & Field State Finals • Brendan Samuels/Echo

Hart’s Jessica Jazwinski runs the course at Colonial Golf Course in Hart during the Hart and Sole meet last fall.

• Brendan Samuels/Echo

Teeing ff Benona

The top shots from local golf courses

Shores:

• Marc Needham (6/30) - Eagle on No. 7 from 320 yards with a driver and nine iron.

• David Burmeister (7/1) - Hole in one on No. 18 from 170 yards with a seven iron.

• Ron Bitson (7/2)Hole in one on No. 9 from 170 yards with a utility wood.

Jazwinksi

continued from page 14

includes five straight titles on the girls side. Ackley just got his second, but the list of runners he’s helped mentor is impressive on its own.

Jazwinski acknowledged that and expressed just how important being a Hart Pirate has been to her success.

“To be on a team where everyone works toward the same goal is wonderful,” Jazwinski said. “Not all great runners get to be part of a great team. For cross country I have the Tatros as my coaches and in track it’s Mr. Ackley and they all love running. Having coaches and teammates that love the sport as much as me makes me happy.”

The one thing that doesn’t make Jazwinski happy? When people use the phrase “she’s only a sophomore” when talking about her.

“I don’t like hearing that all the time,” Jazwinski said. “I don’t care if I’m a freshman or a senior, I’m always trying to compete with anyone regardless of their age.”

While running is on her mind often, that doesn’t stop Jazwinski from being a normal teenager. That includes road trips to Detroit to see Taylor Swift on tour back-to-back nights. Jazwinski

recently did just that and according to her mom, wasn’t home until 4 a.m. the night before competing at the GVSU Midwest Redemption Meet in Allendale.

Not to worry, singing her heart out with friends for three hours didn’t do much to hurt her performance. Jazwinski still legged out a 4:49.50 time in the 1600, a personal record for her.

All of the medals, trophies and accolades are important to Jazwinski, but not as important as making a name for herself. Her biggest goal is to put the last name Jazwinski right next to Ackley and Enns in the mouths of locals.

Jazwinski wants nothing more than to create a legacy for her family, alongside brother Bobby in the coming years.

“You hear the Ackley and Enns names and see the running community they’ve built. I want my family to be like that too,” Jazwinski said. “They’re all such great runners and I know we can be right there with them. I can’t wait to be on a team with Bobby and see what we can do over the next few years.”

Shelby State Bank announces new director and promotions

SHELBY - Mishelle

M. Comstock, President & Chief Executive Officer of Shelby State Bank, is pleased to announce the addition of Michael Byam as a member of the Board of Directors for Shelby State Bank and promotions of Kenneth Adamski, Drew Maus, Amanda Dahl and Jody Brewer.

Michael Byam joins the board as a fourth-generation owner of Terry Berry in Grand Rapids. Michael has deep ties to the West Michigan community and spends time in both Whitehall and Grand Rapids. Michael replaces retiring board member Robert Eklund, who served 17 years as a director for the Board of Shelby State Bank.

Ken Adamski was promoted to Executive Vice President and Senior Lender for Shelby State Bank. Ken joined Shelby State Bank in 2018 as a commercial lender and has recently served as Senior Lender Commercial Loan

Officer for Shelby State Bank. With 28 years of banking experience, Ken plays an integral role in working with lenders, loan staff and operations teams to grow and enhance the Shelby State Bank customer experience.

Drew Maus was promoted to Assistant Vice President for Shelby State Bank. Drew joined Shelby State Bank in 2017 as a credit analyst and has recently served as the Commercial Lender for Muskegon County. Drew focuses on growing customer relationships and meet-

ing the needs of those he serves in his area.

Amanda Dahl was promoted to Assistant Vice President for Shelby State Bank. Amanda joined Shelby State Bank in 2021 as a Branch Manager and recently served as Branch Officer for the Whitehall Office. Amanda has over 20 years of banking experience, including mortgage lending and branch management.

Jody Brewer was promoted to Credit Officer for Shelby State Bank. Jody joined Shelby State Bank in 2015 as a part-time CSR as she

was working towards an accounting degree. Jody recently received her Certified Community Bank Credit Officer title and has served as the supervisor of the credit staff.

Comstock shared her thoughts on the recent promotions and the welcome of Byam.

“The recent promotions of Ken, Drew, Amanda, and Jody are a direct result of their continued growth and play an integral part in our overall success as an organization. I am also pleased to welcome Mike Byam to our Board of Directors.

With Mike’s extensive business background, he will be a great asset to our board.”

Jody Brewer

Amanda Dahl

Drew Maus

Ken Adamski

Michael Byam