The Oceana Echo - Volume 2, Issue 4, June 21, 2024

A special ‘Homecoming’ in Pentwater for Fiesta Grande

By AnnaMae Bush

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

A special homecoming event occurred in the Village of Pentwater in May 2024, when two Pentwater High School graduates, Greg VanBoxel and Larry Doran, returned to Pentwater with a business in tow. VanBoxel, owner, and Doran, manager, brought the Fiesta Grande tortilla chip company to a new home production location in the former Wireworks building in the center of the village.

The factory facility was repurposed with an internal remodel, an exterior facelift, a utility update and expanded parking. When all the envisioned renovation plans are complete, the building will house not only chip production lines, but also retail space, and a limited number of residential units. The village is partnering with the company on the Carroll Street parking

development to enable renovation completion.

Significant research and experimentation were invested to find filtering equipment that would minimize any odor and air pollution by-products of the manufacturing process. This is only one affirmation of VanBoxel’s and Doran’s intention to be good neighbors and community builders. The fact that production has been completely operational for three weeks under the radar is evidence that they have succeeded in being quite good neighbors. Aware of seasonal parking issues, they have also designed diagonal street parking spaces to accommodate employees on production days and summer visitors on non-production days.

VanBoxel emphasized that Fiesta Grande is a family business that was developed with a team effort from his wife Lori and his children Luke and Leah. Luke and Leah joined their father’s corporate businesses shortly after graduating college and are intimately involved with the operation of the company in Pentwater. Traveling from his home in Grand Rapids, Luke spends two days a week in the local plant, overseeing every aspect of the company’s operation.

VanBoxel said, “Luke is really the spokesperson for the company. You should contact him for information about Fiesta Grande.” I did, and found Luke to be friendly, approachable and informative.

Fiesta Grande’s local history began in Hart at the La Fiesta Mexican restaurant, which

served chips handmade on site. VanBoxel liked the chips so much that he bought the recipe with a plan to mass produce and market them. He invited his young adult children to suggest marketing language that would speak to the younger generation, and their input is reflected on every bag of chips. There, the contents are described as “outrageously good” and “freakin’ delish,” and consumers are reminded, “We’re also very cool on the internet” with the icons for Facebook and Instagram. An exciting recent development is the addition of Fiesta Grande’s own line of salsa to enjoy with the chips!

The chips were first made and bagged in 2013 in a modest kitchen facility in Ludington. As production increased with distribution to 1,000 stores, which currently includes more than 200 Meijer outlet stores, VanBoxel’s company outgrew their space in Ludington. In 2018, they moved to a larger location in Montague. Now looking to launch a national distribution of the chips and a new salsa line to accompany the chips, VanBoxel found it necessary to

move to a larger facility again. While keeping the Montague plant open for research and development, he and Doran decided to tackle the repurposing of the Wireworks building for production, keeping their company local and in a community dear to their hearts. If you have any doubt regarding VanBoxel’s affection for Pentwater, you should know that he owns The Pentwood. It is a collection of several charming cabins on Monroe Road, just south of the curve and gazebo at the south entrance into the village. Many residents were privileged to tour The Pentwood during the COVE home tour and were able to see the sweet spot VanBoxel created for his family to

gather.  VanBoxel has been successful in other arenas as well. In addition to Fiesta Grande chips, VanBoxel owns and is Chief Executive Officer at AeroVision International in Muskegon. Not wanting to spread himself too thinly and

wanting to see the chip company grow, he convinced Larry Doran, a friend and former classmate, to come out of retirement to be manager for Fiesta Grande chips. The production move in May included most of their 40 employees from Montague. Luke said, “We hope to need more employees as we grow and will look for local people to fill that need.”

Village residents know that the family’s success with the chip company will also provide dividends for Pentwater, and we support them with our best wishes. We suspect that national distribution will heighten the visibility of the home plant in Pentwater and bring visitors to see the facility and visit the retail store.

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

Worship in the Native way

By Caleb Jackson

The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

Much of the early contact with Native Americans was through the work of Catholic missionaries. In fact, it is likely that the name “Oceana” itself may have been brought to the region by the Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette, the same man who started the settlement now known as Sault Ste. Marie and the very same man that the Pere Marquette River is named after. With that in mind, I would like to share with you a humorous story found among H. R. Page and Co.’s “History of Oceana County, Michigan,” involving a misconception that arose between the white settlers and the Native Americans in the early days of our county.

As Page puts it, “The Methodist Episcopal missionaries have always

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

been zealous and active among the aborigines….” It would seem that one day in the fall of 1860, some of these converted Native Americans were holding a “camp-meeting” on the Claybanks and celebrating in a way unique to them. They were “shouting with true camp-meeting zeal” and “throwing in a good old-fashioned war whoop to add zest to the occasion.” Well, during the course of their celebration, some passersby overheard the shouts and cheers and, not knowing the nature of the calls, misinterpreted the event, which led to a snowballing misunderstanding. These anonymous passersby turned up in Newaygo reporting that “Sayles and his family had been massacred, that John Bean, Jr., was scalped, and that the Indians, having been joined by the Lake Superior tribes, were going to make common cause with the South, march on the white settlements and regain their lands on the Grand Riv-

er.” This of course alarmed the settlers of Newaygo greatly, and they in turn appealed to Grand Rapids for aid. Grand Rapids responded by sending a mounted guard to help protect the settlers from the supposedly murderous Natives. “In the meanwhile,” writes Page, “the poor Indians were enjoying religion at Claybanks.” When they finally learned of the panic that they had unintentionally caused, they sent riders over to Newaygo to reassure everyone that they were not under attack. Page concludes by saying that “the Ottawas have always been a peaceable lot…and have ever been more sinned against than sinning.” This story is quite humorous to us in the modern day; however, it does reveal some of the tensions that existed between the new settlers and the Native Americans during the pioneering days of our county. We are fortunate that, while the story was quickly exaggerated beyond belief, things never

got out of hand and nobody turned to violence. Otherwise, rather than a humorous footnote in our history, what I am retelling now could have been a terrible tragedy.

Electric Forest continues county’s music legacy

By Ross Field The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

For a relatively rural area, and a sparsely populated one at that, Oceana County has enjoyed a rich musical past and present. This week will be no exception as the 2024 Electric Forest festival transforms the bucolic grounds of the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury into a wonderland of music, art and community. The festival is famous for its Sherwood Forest, a pine forest that becomes a canvas upon which artists create huge light and laser displays.

Those of us who identify as “Baby Boomers” might remember in the 1960s when Johnny’s Bandstand in Custer brought in nationally touring acts and seeing Nick Elliott cruising the roads of Oceana County in his convertible Camaro, advertising from a portable PA system the regional acts he brought to his Shelby Pavilion on summer weekends.

While the 1970s were fairly quiet, the 1980s and 1990s roared with the advent of the Val-Du-Lakes amphitheater west of Mears near Silver Lake. Acts such as Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses and Roy Orbison filled the summer months with concerts. Despite a brief resurgence of shows in 2011, the dunes of Sil-

ver Lake have been absent of music.

However, since the summer of 2011, Oceana County has been the site of one of the largest music festivals in the state, if not the entire Midwest, with over 30,000 attendees each year and tickets selling out within hours of going on sale.

The Electric Forest rose from the ashes of the original Rothbury Festivals held in 2008 and 2009, which hosted national artists such as Bob Dylan,

Due to problems involving the festival site, the 2010 festival was canceled. Within a year, however, it was announced that a new festival - the Electric Forest – would return to the Double JJ site in 2011. Except for the COVID years – 2020 and 2021 - the Electric Forest has returned to Rothbury each year, bringing to its multiple stages hundreds of the biggest names in Electronic Dance Music (EDM), rap, rock, folk and bluegrass.

The headliners this year include EDM acts like Pretty Lights, Seven Lions, Ludacris, Subtronics, Excision, Nelly Furtado and John Summit, along with many up-and-coming acts.

The main headliner on the rock, folk and bluegrass side of the bill is The String Cheese Incident, a Colorado bluegrass band that incorporates rock and jazz into their long jams. Other bands whose music is based in rock but also explore jazz-like improvisation are Lettuce and The Disco Biscuits. The New Orleans funk band Dumpstaphunk will be representing “The Big Easy” in what is sure to be a huge dance event.

More information and concert schedules can be found at www.electricforest.com.

Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, The Dead, The Dave Matthews Band and many others.

The String Cheese Incident gave a performance at the Ranch Arena during the 2023 Electric Forest festival in Rothbury.

• Ross Field/Echo

Ongoing

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June Echo THE

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

Hart VFW Post 1329 Burger/Chicken/Brat/Ribs Night, first and third Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m., dine-in or carry out.

June Echo

Hart VFW Post 1329 Burger/Chicken/Brat/Ribs Night, first and third Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m., dine-in or carry out.

June 21 - General Assembly

June 21 - General Assembly Band, Pentwater Village Green, 7 p.m.

June 21 - General Assembly Band, Pentwater Village Green, 7 p.m.

The Ladder Community Center:

June 22 - Walkerville

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

The Ladder Community Center:

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

June 22 - Walkerville Pioneer House Museum Open, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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

June 22 - Walkerville Pioneer House Museum Open, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

M-F: The Huddle for 6th-12th grade youth, 3-5 p.m. thru June 14.

The Huddle for 6th-12th grade youth, 3-5 p.m. thru June 14. Saturdays: Celebrate worship gathering, 6:30 p.m. Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

M-F: The Huddle for 6th-12th grade youth, 3-5 p.m. thru June 14. Saturdays: Celebrate worship gathering, 6:30 p.m.

June 23 - Penn View Bible Institute concert, Shelby Wesleyan Church, 6 p.m.

Saturdays: Celebrate worship gathering, 6:30 p.m. Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

Knights of Columbus Bingo, 6 p.m.

Knights of Columbus Bingo, 6 p.m.

St. Gregory Parish Center, 214 S. Peach Ave. in Hart Second & fourth Fridays, doors open at 4 p.m.

June 23 - Penn View

June 23 - Penn View Bible Institute concert, Shelby Wesleyan Church, 6 p.m.

June 24 - Summer Reading Registration begins, Hesperia Community Library, all day

Knights of Columbus Bingo, 6 p.m.

June 24 - Summer Reading Registration begins, Hesperia Community Library, all day

St. Gregory Parish Center, 214 S. Peach Ave. in Hart

St. Gregory Parish Center, 214 S. Peach Ave. in Hart Second & fourth Fridays, doors open at 4 p.m.

Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club - Feeding America West Michigan mobile food pantry, third Tuesday of the month, Pentwater Fire Department, 11 a.m.

Second & fourth Fridays, doors open at 4 p.m.

June 25 - Summer Reading, Adventure Begins, Hesperia Community Library, all day

June 24 - Summer Community

June 25 - Summer Community

June 25 - Summer Reading, Adventure Begins, Hesperia Community Library, all day

Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club - Feeding America West

Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club - Feeding America West Michigan mobile food pantry, third Tuesday of the month, Pentwater Fire Department, 11 a.m.

Preschool Story Hour, HAPL, Fridays at 11 a.m.

June 25 - Tech Hour, Hesperia Community Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

June 25 - Tech Hour, Hesperia Community Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

June 25 - Book Club, Hesperia Community Library, 2-3 p.m.

Preschool Story Hour, HAPL, Fridays at 11 a.m.

TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly), Hart Wesleyan Church, Tuesdays at 5 p.m.

Michigan mobile food pantry, third Tuesday of the month, Pentwater Fire Department, 11 a.m.

June 25 - Book Club, Hesperia Community Library, 2-3 p.m.

Preschool Story Hour, HAPL, Fridays at 11 a.m.

June 26 - Summer Reading, Adventure Begins (Day 2), Hesperia Community Library, all day

June 26 - Summer Reading, Adventure Begins (Day 2), Hesperia Community Library, all day

TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly), Hart Wesleyan Church, Tuesdays at 5 p.m.

TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly), Hart Wesleyan Church, Tuesdays at 5 p.m.

Mondays and Thursdays through Sept. 2, Pentwater Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mondays and Thursdays through Sept. 2, Pentwater Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Second and Fourth Tuesdays, June 11 through Sept. 25, New Era Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m.

June 27 - Summer Reading, Adventure Begins (Day 3), Hesperia Community Library, all day

June 25 - Tech Hour, June 25 - Book Club, June 26 - Summer Hesperia

June 27 - Summer Hesperia

June 27 - Summer Reading, Adventure Begins (Day 3), Hesperia Community Library, all day

Mondays and Thursdays through Sept. 2, Pentwater Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

June 27 - Craft Night, Hesperia Community Library, 6-7 p.m.

June 27 - Craft Night, Hesperia Community Library, 6-7 p.m.

Second and Fourth Tuesdays, June 11 through Sept. 25, New Era Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m.

June 28 - Summer Reading, Adventure Begins (Day 4), Hesperia Community Library, all day

Second and Fourth Tuesdays, June 11 through Sept. 25, New Era Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m.

Stage Left Theatre Company to host “Intro to Acting” workshop

June 28 - Summer Reading, Adventure Begins (Day 4), Hesperia Community Library, all day

June 28 - Pentwater Chamber Golf Outing, Lakeside Links, 12 p.m. registration, 1 p.m. shotgun start

Stage Left Theatre Company to host “Intro to Acting” workshop

The Stage Left Theatre Company is hosting an “Intro to Acting” Workshop for age 16 and up with instruction by Thomas L. Phillips, a graduate of West Community College who acted in many theatre productions during his time

Stage Left Theatre Company to host “Intro to Acting” workshop

June 27 - Craft Night, June 28 - Summer Hesperia

June 28 - Pentwater p.m. registration,

June 28 - Pentwater Chamber Golf Outing, Lakeside Links, 12 p.m. registration, 1 p.m. shotgun start

Centenary UMC to start Worship on the Green

The Stage Left Theatre Company is hosting an “Intro to Acting” Workshop for those age 16 and up with instruction by Thomas L. Phillips, a graduate of West Shore Community College who acted in many theatre productions during his time there.

Thomas then went on to receive Bachelor’s Degrees in both Theatre Directing Theatre Performance from Northern Arizona University and then received his Master’s degree in Film & Television Production from Chapman University. Since time he has directed, produced, and/or edited many film and theatre producmany of which have been nominated and won awards in various categories including Best Film, Best Director, Best Editor, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Writer, Best Screenplay, Best Horror Film, Best Comedy, Best Horror/Comedy and Best Drama.

Centenary UMC to start Worship on the Green

Centenary UMC

The Stage Left Theatre Company is hosting an “Intro to Acting” Workshop for those age 16 and up with instruction by Thomas L. Phillips, a graduate of West Shore Community College who acted in many theatre productions during his time there.

Thomas then went on to receive Bachelor’s Degrees in both Theatre Directing and Theatre Performance from Northern Arizona University and then received his Master’s degree in Film & Television Production from Chapman University. Since that time he has directed, produced, and/or edited many film and theatre productions, many of which have been nominated and won awards in various categories including Best Film, Best Director, Best Editor, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Writer, Best Screenplay, Best Horror Film, Best Comedy, Best Horror/Comedy and Best Drama.

Thomas then went on to receive Bachelor’s Degrees in both Theatre Directing and Theatre Performance from Northern Arizona University and then received his Master’s degree in Film & Television Production from Chapman University. Since that time he has directed, produced, and/or edited many film and theatre productions, many of which have been nominated and won awards in various categories including Best Film, Best Director, Best Editor, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Writer, Best Screenplay, Best Horror Film, Best Comedy, Best Horror/Comedy and Best Drama.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, June 22nd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts Performance Hall- 107 S. Harrison St. in Ludington. Pizza and beverages will be provided at lunchtime. Topics covered during workshop will include ensemble building, breath support & vocal techniques, character building, movement, improvisation, performance elements and much Participants are encouraged to bring a short piece that they’d like to work on performing but this is not required.

Worship on the Green in Pentwater kicks off Sunday, June 23. This summer, Centenary UMC walks Scripture’s shorelines. Each week the services explore the waters that run through Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, you will find God’s love running through oceans, rivers, and seas. As a village built on the water, Pentwater, residents and visitors can listen for God in its soothing waves on the shoreline.

Worship on the Green in Pentwater kicks off Sunday, June 23. This summer, Centenary UMC walks Scripture’s shorelines. Each week the services explore the waters that run through Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, you will find God’s love running through oceans, rivers, and seas. As a village built on the water, Pentwater, residents and visitors can listen for God in its soothing waves on the shoreline.

All are welcome to join Worship on the Green, a wonderful Pentwater Summer tradition in the heart of downtown with the scenic backdrop of the Pentwater Harbor. Come as you are, Sundays at 9: 30 a.m. on the Village Green, 327 S. Hancock St. (family friendly, pets are welcome). In case of inclement weather, services will be held at Centenary UMC, 82 S. Hanckock St.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, June 22nd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts Performance Hall- 107 S. Harrison St. in Ludington. Pizza and beverages will be provided at lunchtime. Topics covered during the workshop will include ensemble building, breath support & vocal techniques, character building, movement, improvisation, performance elements and much more. Participants are encouraged to bring a short piece that they’d like to work on performing but this is not required.

Cost for the workshop is $25 for Stage Left Theatre Company Members (those have worked on a Stage Left production in the past) and for members of the Ludington Area Center for the Arts, and $40 for non-members. Stage Left Theatre Company Members should use promo code “companymember” and LACA memshould use promo code “lacamember” at check out to receive the discounted price. Visit stageleftmi.com to register. Registration will close on June 20th when the 15 student limit is reached.

Worship on the Green Centenary UMC walks Scripture’s waters that run through Scripture. love running through oceans, water, residents and visitors line.

All are welcome to join tradition in the heart of downtown bor. Come as you are, Sundays St. (family friendly, pets are be held at Centenary UMC,

All are welcome to join Worship on the Green, a wonderful Pentwater Summer tradition in the heart of downtown with the scenic backdrop of the Pentwater Harbor. Come as you are, Sundays at 9: 30 a.m. on the Village Green, 327 S. Hancock St. (family friendly, pets are welcome). In case of inclement weather, services will be held at Centenary UMC, 82 S. Hanckock St.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, June 22nd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts Performance Hall- 107 S. Harrison St. in Ludington. Pizza and beverages will be provided at lunchtime. Topics covered during the workshop will include ensemble building, breath support & vocal techniques, character building, movement, improvisation, performance elements and much more. Participants are encouraged to bring a short piece that they’d like to work on performing but this is not required.

New Era Farmers

New Era Farmers Market set for June 25

New Era Farmers Market set for June 25

Cost for the workshop is $25 for Stage Left Theatre Company Members (those who have worked on a Stage Left production in the past) and for members of the Ludington Area Center for the Arts, and $40 for non-members. Stage Left Theatre Company Members should use promo code “companymember” and LACA members should use promo code “lacamember” at check out to receive the discounted ticket price. Visit stageleftmi.com to register. Registration will close on June 20th or when the 15 student limit is reached.

Cost for the workshop is $25 for Stage Left Theatre Company Members (those who have worked on a Stage Left production in the past) and for members of the Ludington Area Center for the Arts, and $40 for non-members. Stage Left Theatre Company Members should use promo code “companymember” and LACA members should use promo code “lacamember” at check out to receive the discounted ticket price. Visit stageleftmi.com to register. Registration will close on June 20th or when the 15 student limit is reached.

Adventure begins at the SADL this summer

The next New Era Farmers Market will be Tuesday, June 25 from 4-7 p.m. KPOP club from 4-5 p.m. will be celebrating the Dog Days of Summer. The fun begins with two puppet shows with Kati O’Grady and friends of Muskegon. There will be Amazing Dog Tricks and Feats with the Oceana 4H club. Wands will be given away and there is chance to enter a drawing for two certificates to Craigs Cruisers in Silver Lake. Each child will recieve two tokens valued at $4 to purchase produce. Seniors have their own tokens and will receive $5 to purchase produce. Tokens are also accepted for SNAP/EBT, DUFB and Senior Market Fresh Coupons. There will be an MSU Extension “Discover Michigan Fresh” cooking class from 5-6 p.m. featuring roasted asparagus. Take home bags that include the recipe and ingredients to prepare the dish at home will also be available. Entertainment for the evening will be Truck Driver with Frank Galante and friends of Pentwater.

Adventure begins at the SADL this summer

Children, teens, and adults interested in registering for the summer reading program are encouraged to visit the library through June 22 to receive summer reading materials.

The next New Era Farmers Market will be Tuesday, June 25 from 4-7 p.m. KPOP club from 4-5 p.m. will be celebrating the Dog Days of Summer. The fun begins with two puppet shows with Kati O’Grady and friends of Muskegon. There will be Amazing Dog Tricks and Feats with the Oceana 4H club. Wands will be given away and there is chance to enter a drawing for two certificates to Craigs Cruisers in Silver Lake. Each child will recieve two tokens valued at $4 to purchase produce. Seniors have their own tokens and will receive $5 to purchase produce. Tokens are also accepted for SNAP/EBT, DUFB and Senior Market Fresh Coupons. There will be an MSU Extension “Discover Michigan Fresh” cooking class from 5-6 p.m. featuring roasted asparagus. Take home bags that include the recipe and ingredients to prepare the dish at home will also be available. Entertainment for the evening will be Truck Driver with Frank Galante and friends of Pentwater.

Adventure begins at the SADL this summer

USS Sequoia exhibit to be unveiled June 23

Children, teens, and adults interested in registering for the summer reading program are encouraged to visit the library through June 22 to receive summer reading materials.

Thanks to a generous donation from the Shelby Optimist Club, the library will events for youth such as craft projects, chalk art, book giveaways, and scavhunts. A story walk will be held Thursday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shelby Township Park (weather permitting). Additional special events include squishmallow party and storytime honoring Smokey the Bear’s 80th Birthday. The library will offer Wednesday evening workshops for teens and adults at p.m. Registration will be required as space is limited. A Community Open will be held Monday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Those attending this will have a chance to learn about library services and community resources. community organizations, groups, clubs, and businesses interested in participating are encouraged to contact Tiffany Haight, Library Director, at tifhaight@ shelbylibrary.org.

The next New Era Farmers club from 4-5 p.m. will be with two puppet shows with Amazing Dog Tricks and and there is chance to enter Silver Lake. Each child will Seniors have their own tokens also accepted for SNAP/EBT, be an MSU Extension “Discover turing roasted asparagus. to prepare the dish at home will be Truck Driver with

USS Sequoia

USS Sequoia exhibit to be unveiled June 23

Children, teens, and adults interested in registering for the summer reading program are encouraged to visit the library through June 22 to receive summer reading materials.

Thanks to a generous donation from the Shelby Optimist Club, the library will host events for youth such as craft projects, chalk art, book giveaways, and scavenger hunts. A story walk will be held Thursday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Shelby Township Park (weather permitting). Additional special events include a squishmallow party and storytime honoring Smokey the Bear’s 80th Birthday.

Thanks to a generous donation from the Shelby Optimist Club, the library will host events for youth such as craft projects, chalk art, book giveaways, and scavenger hunts. A story walk will be held Thursday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Shelby Township Park (weather permitting). Additional special events include a squishmallow party and storytime honoring Smokey the Bear’s 80th Birthday.

Pentwater Historical Society announces a special event Sunday, June 23, from 2-4 p.m. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the museum’s opening in its historic building at 1st and Rutledge, they have arranged tours of two historic cottages and will be unveiling their new exhibit for 2024, a scale model of the USS Sequoia.

Pentwater Historical Society announces a special event Sunday, June 23, from 2-4 p.m. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the museum’s opening in its historic building at 1st and Rutledge, they have arranged tours of two historic cottages and will be unveiling their new exhibit for 2024, a scale model of the USS Sequoia.

The Breezewood and Graynook, two cottages that date to the early 20th century, will be open for touring from 2-4 p.m. The cottages are at the westernmost end of the channel. At the same time, the exquisitely detailed scale model of the USS Sequoia, nicknamed “The Floating White house,” due to the many meetings and dinners that took place on the yacht, will be unveiled under the big tent at 165 Channel Lane. The USS Sequoia docked in Pentwater for two nights in 1984, where a small group dined on the boat and hundreds toured the boat the next day. Refreshments will be served in the tent at 165 Channel Lane.

The library will offer Wednesday evening workshops for teens and adults at 5:30 p.m. Registration will be required as space is limited. A Community Open House will be held Monday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Those attending this event will have a chance to learn about library services and community resources. Local community organizations, groups, clubs, and businesses interested in participating are encouraged to contact Tiffany Haight, Library Director, at tifhaight@ shelbylibrary.org.

The Shelby Area District Library is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to Questions about the summer reading program and library services can be directed to 231-861-4565 or tifhaight@shelbylibrary.org.

The library will offer Wednesday evening workshops for teens and adults at 5:30 p.m. Registration will be required as space is limited. A Community Open House will be held Monday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Those attending this event will have a chance to learn about library services and community resources. Local community organizations, groups, clubs, and businesses interested in participating are encouraged to contact Tiffany Haight, Library Director, at tifhaight@ shelbylibrary.org.

The Breezewood and Graynook, two cottages that date to the early 20th century, will be open for touring from 2-4 p.m. The cottages are at the westernmost end of the channel. At the same time, the exquisitely detailed scale model of the USS Sequoia, nicknamed “The Floating White house,” due to the many meetings and dinners that took place on the yacht, will be unveiled under the big tent at 165 Channel Lane. The USS Sequoia docked in Pentwater for two nights in 1984, where a small group dined on the boat and hundreds toured the boat the next day. Refreshments will be served in the tent at 165 Channel Lane.

Tickets to the June 23 event can be purchased online at the Historical Society’s website. In-person tickets can be purchased at the museum, Jilly’s Gallery, and Roxann’s Bakery in Pentwater, or on the day of the event at the Channel Lane location.

Tickets to the June 23 event can be purchased online at the Historical Society’s website. In-person tickets can be purchased at the museum, Jilly’s Gallery, and Roxann’s Bakery in Pentwater, or on the day of the event at the Channel Lane location.

The Shelby Area District Library is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Questions about the summer reading program and library services can be directed to 231-861-4565 or tifhaight@shelbylibrary.org.

The Shelby Area District Library is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Questions about the summer reading program and library services can be directed to 231-861-4565 or tifhaight@shelbylibrary.org.

See the Historical Society’s website for more information on the event and other offerings, including the History Cruise offered in conjunction with the Pentwater Water Taxi. See pentwaterhistoricalsociety.org for more information.

Pentwater Historical Society 2-4 p.m. To celebrate the building at 1st and Rutledge, will be unveiling their new The Breezewood and tury, will be open for touring end of the channel. At the USS Sequoia, nicknamed and dinners that took place 165 Channel Lane. The USS where a small group dined Refreshments will be served Tickets to the June 23 website. In-person tickets Roxann’s Bakery in Pentwater, cation.

See the Historical Society’s er offerings, including the ter Water Taxi. See pentwaterhistoricalsociety.org

See the Historical Society’s website for more information on the event and other offerings, including the History Cruise offered in conjunction with the Pentwater Water Taxi. See pentwaterhistoricalsociety.org for more information.

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

O bituaries

David Aldrich DeVries

April 20, 1947 ~ June 5, 2024

David Aldrich DeVries, 77, of New Era, passed away un expectedly Wednesday, June 5, 2024. He was born April 20, 1947, in Muskegon, the son of Henry and Anna Mae (Newmyer) DeVries.

David was an avid hunter. He spent many of his younger years serving on the Shelby Fire Department. Many knew him for his building skills, having worked on many houses over his career.

David is survived by: his wife of 57 years, Sharon DeVries; children, Larry DeVries and Todd (Kara) DeVries; grandchildren, Cameron (Alexis) DeVries, Spencer (Kaitlyn) DeVries, Devon (Morgan) DeVries, Dakota DeVries and Tanner DeVries; seven great-grandchildren and a sister; and his beloved hunting companion, Opie.

David was preceded in death by: his parents, Henry and Anna Mae; daughter-in-law, Tammy.

The family will receive friends at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Little Point Sable Church, 688 Stone Church Rd., Shelby, MI 49455.

Please consider memorial contributions to: American Cancer Society, 129 Jefferson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, 1169 Oak Valley Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48108.

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

Death Notice ~ Judith L. Marvin-Peterson

Judith Louanne Marvin-Peterson, 77, of Grand Rapids, passed away May 9, 2024. She was born March 30, 1947. A memorial gathering will take place Sunday, June 23 from 2-4 p.m. 2417 Greenings NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525. Please visit www.heritagelifestory.com for her full obituary.

1820 Ray Ave. 231-861-5554 Sunday Services: 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Rev. John Medendorp www.neweracrc.org Growing in Relationship with God, with Each Other, and with Our Community.

Pentwater Watershed survey results announced

The Friends of the Pentwater River Watershed (Friends), a committee of the Pentwater Lake Association, and the Grand Valley State University (GVSU) Social Science Lab announce results of a survey recently conducted in the Pentwater River Watershed. Recognizing the importance of the larger watershed of which the Pentwater River and Hart and Pentwater lakes are a part, the Friends committee was formed in 2021 to focus on the health and concerns of the Pentwater River Watershed. Their first major task was to conduct a survey of property owners in the watershed for the purposes of guiding the technical and educational efforts to improve water quality. This survey was carried out in partnership with the GVSU Social Science Laboratory. Property owners who received the survey included a random sample of city, rural, and farming residents, both part-time and full-time.

about best management techniques. Water quality risks posed by failing septic systems, illicit discharges, or manure in waterways were less familiar to respondents than nutrient runoff risks.

The third common theme was related to private water wells. While 95 percent of respondents used private wells for drinking water, one-third had never had their well water tested. In addition, most respondents had private septic systems that were pumped irregularly (3-5 years by 45 percent and 6-10 years by 29 percent), but a full 45 percent of the systems had never been evaluated for the soundness of their function.

Organizers would like to thank the 168 participants who completed the survey. The results underscored three common themes.

The first common theme was landowners’ desire to protect habitat for fishing and hunting and to preserve the natural beauty of the watershed.

A second common theme was the realization that water quality is impacted by nutrient runoff from watershed properties. Some respondents were actively working to reduce their nutrient runoff, while others expressed a need for more information

The Friends will be working with local citizens, governments, the Oceana and Mason Conservation Districts, and West Michigan Shoreline Regional Develop Commission to gather additional input, provide education topics of interest identified in the survey, and to obtain grant funding for implementation projects. Thank you to the Eugene Kuhne Fund and Community Investment Fund of the Oceana County Community Foundation, Fly Fishers International, and private citizens for funding this survey.

A public presentation of the survey results and other watershed plans will be held on Tuesday, June 25 at 7 p.m. at the Hart Community Center 407 State St., Hart, Mich. 49420. Other information on the activities of the Friends can be found on their website. www.pentwaterlakeassociation. com/watershed.

St. Peter’s-By-The-Lake Episcopal Church 8435 Old Channel Trail, Montague 616-894-0172

SUNDAY EUCHARIST – 10:00 am stpetersmontague@gmail.com stpetersbythelake.weebly.com Reclaim the Promise!

S. Wythe St. in Pentwater (231) 869-7351

at 10 a.m. joinus@stjamesepiscopalpentwater.org

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church (LC-MS)

7410 W. Johnson Rd. Shelby, MI 49455 231-861-2952 Sunday Service: 9:30 a.m. Summer Outdoor Service Everyone Welcome

OCDVA does much for local veterans, looks to do more

By Steve Gunn The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

The vision statement of the Oceana County Department of Veterans Affairs (OCDVA) is “To serve the veterans of Oceana County with honor and respect, always be relevant and be able to meet the needs of and form lifelong relationships with the veterans of Oceana County and their families.“

“It’s hard to put into words how many things we do, from helping veterans with benefit claims for disabilities to helping them with basic life necessities,” said Jodi Slinkard, the veterans service officer who staffs the office with the assistance of one parttime employee.

“We always want every veteran to be fed and warm. Those are our two biggest goals in the office. If I can’t help them, I am sitting with them, making phone calls to make sure they get the help they need.”

Local veterans, including many

aging former service members from the Vietnam War and Gulf War eras, have all sorts of needs that Slinkard says she works hard to address.

To say she is busy is an understatement. Slinkard says she works with about 150 veterans per month and is always backed up.

“We are very busy,” she said. “I am always booked about 4-6 weeks out to get a veteran in and start the process of seeing what we can do for them.”

A big part of Slinkard’s job is helping local veterans identify and receive government benefits they are entitled to.

“We are tracking about 2,800 veterans in Oceana County that have applied for benefits they deserve,” she said. “We have about 300 claims currently pending for health care or disability benefits for veterans or their widows or family members. It’s pretty active.”

The Veterans Affairs office provides a huge list of everyday services, as well – from operating a year-round

PLA connects with Pentwater Schools

The Pentwater Lake Association (PLA) has purposefully reached out to connect with Pentwater Public Schools for mutual educational benefits.

The Pentwater Green Schools Club contributes a column to the PLA quarterly newsletter to keep the PLA membership informed of the students’ efforts to protect the environment. Their activities include a wide variety of recycling programs, and they annually clean the beach at Mears State Park.

In the past, the PLA has invited students to participate in poster contests and in speech contests and has involved students to help with removal of invasive species from Pentwater Lake. In the most recent school year, the PLA offered a scholarship to a graduating senior student and worked with the Coast Guard to present a water safety class to 14 sixth graders at the school.

Betty Pleva, the PLA education liaison to local schools, secured

the services of three Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers to teach the course May 6-7, a couple of hours each day.

Mr. Michael Scott enlisted Jeremy Boussard and John Watson to assist him in teaching the class. The students enjoyed the hands-on activities and produced posters afterward to illustrate some of the safety measures they learned. They each received a small waterproof canister and a whistle to attach to their life jackets.

The PLA is considering making this program an annual event

and hopes it will encourage the students to take the boater safety course in the future, which will earn them a certificate to operate a boat.

food pantry in the office to providing transportation for medical appointments and other necessary travel.

She said the food pantry, which has a lot of donated items, “gets used tremendously, especially with food having gone up in cost.”

The office has a van, paid for with grant money and driven by volunteers, that puts on a lot of miles helping veterans get around to meet their basic needs, including medical needs.

The van provides a lot of rides to the weekly medical clinic that’s available to veterans every Thursday at the VFW hall in Hart, Slinkard said.

“We help direct them to the proper care, assist them with rides, help them secure wheelchairs – anything to help better their lives on a daily basis,” she said.

Helping homeless veterans find shelter and basic needs is always on the to-do list, according to Slinkard.

She says there is no way to know just how many homeless veterans are in the community, but they are out there and need help.

“We don’t always have initial contact with them,” she said. “Sometimes they are referred to us from another source. I think there are more than we actually know. There is a homeless population, absolutely.”

The county veterans affairs office helps veterans secure a lot of financial benefits they deserve, and they in turn spend that money in the community, Slinkard said.

She recently told county commissioners that about 78 percent of that money is spent locally to support local businesses.

“Last year alone, we brought in more than $1.8 million from the Veterans Administration,” she said. “That’s money that goes directly to the veterans in the county.”

Newfield supervisor elected to MTA Board of Directors

Newfield Township Supervisor

Joan David has been elected to the Michigan Townships Association (MTA) Board of Directors, serving as director of MTA District 11, which encompasses Lake, Mason and Oceana counties. David was elected to the position by her township peers at MTA’s 2024 Annual Educational Conference, which took place in April at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme Township. Serving Michigan’s 1,240 townships, MTA is the largest municipal association in the state and one of the largest in the nation.

Prior to her election as supervisor in 2016, David served as township trustee for eight years. She also serves on the township’s cemetery committee and has been secretary of the Oceana County MTA Chapter for two years.

Collaboration and cooperation among her fellow local leaders, resi-

dents and area business owners—and seeing the positive impact it has on the township—are among the most rewarding experiences of serving in local government for David. She will bring that spirit of cooperation to her new leadership role in the association.

“I enjoy being part of our community and working with other township officials and residents to continue growing our community,” she said. “As an MTA board member and District 11 director, I will take this opportunity to work with the team to expand growth and partnership throughout the state.”

David has also been involved in Hesperia Community Schools for many years, including 39 years as a district employee. She was part of its parent-teacher association from 19902016, Positive Behavior in Schools (PBIS), 2015-2019 and playground committee, 2000-2001.

Christopher Jeruzel, above left, throws a safety rope while sixth grade teacher Tiffany Case looks on. Instructor Jeremy Boussard, above right, with students Khloe Vangunst and Riley Swanger.

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE,

628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT.

CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311

257

• On July 1, 1984, the Motion Picture Association of America, which oversees the voluntary rating system for movies, introduced its new rating of PG-13, indicating material that “may be inappropriate for children under 13 years old” and “may contain very strong language, nudity (nonexplicit), strong, mildly bloody violence or mild drug content.”

STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20240617

HERE’S A TIP #12345_20240617 FOR RELEASE JUNE 17, 2024

By JoAnn Derson

FOR RELEASE JUNE 17, 2024

• On July 2, 1992, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking broke British publishing records when his book “A Brief History of Time” held its place on the nonfiction bestseller list for three and a half years, selling more than 3 million copies in 22 languages.

By Lucie Winborne

• On July 3, 1887, Clay Allison, an eccentric gunfighter and rancher who displayed odd tendencies even in his youth, was believed to have died in a freak wagon accident in Texas. When the Civil War began, Allison had joined the Confederate Army but later received a rare medical discharge for a condition doctors described as “partly epileptic and partly maniacal,” which may have been the result of an early head injury.

• On July 4, 1965, more than two dozen LGBTQ activists demonstrated in front of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall in one of America’s earliest gay rights protests. While the “Reminder” demonstration drew little mainstream media coverage at the time, it is now seen as an important predecessor to the broader gay liberation movement.

• On July 5, 1950, near Sejong, South Korea, 19-year-old Private Kenneth Shadrick became the first American reported killed in the Korean War when he looked up to check his aim and was cut down by enemy machinegun fire.

• On July 6, 1933, Major League Baseball’s first All-Star Game, dreamed up by a determined sports editor, debuted at Chicago’s Comiskey Park. The event was designed to support the sport and improve its reputation during the bleakest days of the Great Depression.

• On July 7, 2005, suicide bombs were detonated in three crowded London subways and one bus during the peak of the city’s rush hour. Thought to be the work of al-Qaida, the explosions killed 56 people, including the bombers, and injured another 700 in the largest attack on Great Britain since World War II.

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

• To clean out your coffee grinder in order to use it for spices, add about a half-cup of white rice, then pulverize it. Repeat until scent is gone and rice powder comes out clean.

• It’s food-smart to separate utensils and cutting boards used for veggies, meats, poultry, etc. Here’s a handy chef’s trick: Color code. Paint a different color stripe down the edge of cutting boards and around the handle of utensils for each variety: green for veggies, yellow for poultry and red for beef.

• Line the bottom of your dog’s food dish (underside) with silicone caulk. Use a crisscross pattern in the center. This will keep the dish from sliding around when your pet eats.

• “If you are painting your ceiling and are bothered by drips, try protecting your eyes with an old pair of swimming goggles. They will keep your eyes safe from drips and splatters, and fumes will be much less bothersome.”

— E.G. in Virginia

• “I needed a hot water bottle for my legs, but I couldn’t find mine anywhere. My husband suggested filling a soda-pop bottle (the two liter kind) with hot water and wrapping a towel around it. It worked magically, and I think better than the regular bottle.” — C.C. in Iowa

• Want quick-cooking meatloaf? Use your muffin tins. The same meat mixture and flavor cooks in half the time and is in a cute, easy portion. I also make mashed potatoes as “frosting” for these dinner “cupcakes”!

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

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

By Lucie Winborne

• In 1865, William E. Brockway printed a counterfeit $100 bill that was so perfect, it left the Treasury Department with the sole option of withdrawing all authentic $100 bills from circulation.

• The official name for Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, which is an abbreviation of its ceremonial name: “Krung Thep Mahanakon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.” Which is why we just call it “Bangkok.”

• Plastic surgery first took place in India around 600 B.C., when it was used with skin from the forehead to reconstruct the noses of criminals that had been amputated as punishment.

• In 1928, the German engineer Herman Sorgel proposed increasing Europe and Africa’s land mass by slowly draining the Mediterranean Sea, via a dam across the Strait of Gibraltar. Unsurprisingly, the idea never made it past the drawing board.

• The word “dunce,” meaning a dull-witted or ignorant person, comes from the name of John Duns Scotus, one of the greatest minds of his time.

• Jean-Baptiste Lully, the first documented conductor, was the first musician to use a baton — a six-foot-long staff that he pounded on the ground in time to the music. Sadly, he accidentally stuck the staff into his foot during a concert, developing fatal gangrene as a result.

• The quagga, a close relative of the zebra but with stripes only on its head and neck, became the first extinct animal to have its DNA studied, in 1984.

• The 13th of the month is more likely to fall on Friday than on any other day of the week. ***

Thought for the Day: “One doesn’t discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.” — André Gide © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Tails of Hope

Are you looking for a four-legged friend with boundless energy and a heart full of love? Look no further than Koda, a delightful 10-month-old Husky who’s on the hunt for his forever home! Koda is the perfect mix of playful puppy and loyal companion, ready to fill your days with joy, laughter, and a touch of Husky mischief. Koda is house-trained and up-to-date on vaccinations. He likes children, but doesn’t care for cats or chickens.

If Koda sounds like the perfect fit for your family, come meet him today! He’s ready to find a home where he can share his playful spirit and loving heart.

Boy Scout Troop 1155 receives grants

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

Boy Scout Troop 1155 is looking forward to a busy summer and kicked it off with their first campout of the summer last weekend at the “Boy Scout” cabin located in John Gurney Park on Hart Lake.

Meet Koda

Koda is available for adoption from the Oceana County Animal Shelter. If interested, please call the shelter at 231-861-5395. The adoption fee for cats is $35, and you receive certificates for $25 towards spay/neuter and $10 towards rabies if not already done. The adoption fee for dogs is $95 and you will receive a $50 certificate good for spay/ neuter, if needed. Every dog should have an ID tag. L.A.S.S.I. provides free dog ID tags to all Oceana County residents. To request tags, send a text to 231730-3906. Free tags are also available at the Oceana County Animal Shelter.

Besides working on their Orienteering badge, the troop was looking forward to fishing for their dinner and keeping track of local wildlife including a nesting painted turtle and nearby eagle. They were also discussing plans for two recently received Community Foundation Wish List grants.

The first grant of $3,600 will go toward some upgrades at the cabin, including replacing missing chinking between some of the logs, replacing broken windows, installing new flooring, staining the exterior and a new electric heater). A second grant of $360 will be used to purchase updated cookware and solar lights for their utility trailer.

“Most troops don’t have a place like this,” said Scoutmaster April Thompson. “We are very fortunate.”

The historic Boy Scout cabin, built and donated to the city by the Hart Junior Chamber of Commerce in the 1940s or 50s has been a base for hundreds of scouts through the decades as a

place to hold meetings, work toward badges, hold campouts and probably most importantly, grow in leadership. While the cabin has received upgrades and improvements at various times, it has been some time since any significant maintenance or repair has taken place, and it was slated for demolition by the city last year. Because that was the last thing the boy scouts wanted, they have been working with the city to save the structure and are looking forward to putting their new grant funds to work to preserve a place that holds such special significance for so many.

The troop led by Scoutmaster April Thompson and Assistant Scoutmasters Randy Jesberg and Christopher Jeruzal includes Scouts William Bieniek of Custer, Marco Cassise and Daniel Fort of Ludington; Tenderfoot Scouts Chi Jeruzal and Matthias Jesberg of Ludington; 2nd Class Scouts Robbie Buchanan of Hart and Sebastian Bonaime-Orea of Hart; and Life Scouts Brendan Hiddema and Jack Thompson of Hart.

The troop was also awarded a $400 check from the Oceana Wigton Benona #200 Masonic Lodge, located in Hart, to help troop members with summer camp expenses at Cole Canoe Base in Alger, Mich. July 20-27.

When asked how they got into scouting, Scout Buchanan said, “I was in kindergarten or first grade and joined Cub Scouts. I thought it was cool.”

Tenderfoot Jesberg added, “I remember my dad, who was an Eagle Scout, took me to my first Cub Scout meeting.”

Troop members shared that some of their favorite badges earned include First Aid, Chess, Reading and Fingerprinting. Some are also looking forward to working on and earning their Signs, Signals and Codes, Rifle Shooting and Movie Making badges in the near future.

“Scouting isn’t all about learning, it’s about teaching others too,” said Assistant Randy Jesberg.

Scouting offers young people a chance to learn skills, exercise leadership and take on new challenges. Tenderfoot Jesberg reported he was recently selected to be part of a community service project on Mackinac Island, at the end of this month. He will be going with 50 other boys from across the state, who will be stationed at locations all over the island, helping visitors with directions, taking family photos and sharing their love of scouting. Jesberg said he will be stationed at Fort Mackinac and in addition to greeting visitors, has been selected to be a part of the Honor Guard while there. He will raise and lower the British flag on the Avenue of Flags each morning and evening.

Those with questions about scouting or interested in joining Troop 1155, may contact Thompson at 734-645-1616.

Spring at Shelby Acres!

As you drive on Oceana Drive, you might notice the progress of the much-anticipated homes in Shelby Acres. Shelby Acres hopes to help fill the void of our area’s housing shortage by providing quality, new construction homes at a reasonable market price. Shelby Acres has just listed their three model homes on the MLS and by early June, the three model houses will be available for viewing through a private showing or by attending one of our open houses. The new listings outline additional details about each model, such as the floor plan, the sale selection and approval procedures and the Association Bylaws.

THE TAMARACK: $214,000 - Enjoy the cozy yet open layout with spacious, fully-equipped kitchen with granite countertops, dining room, living room, and two main-level bedrooms, full bath, and plenty of storage. Downstairs, explore the additional well-lit space: recreation or living room, additional bedroom and bath, and laundry. The Tamarack has an attached, fully finished garage and could be your new home in Shelby Acres!

THE ELM: $224,000 - Here, functionality meets comfort in a home that is both light and open yet fully utilizes every square foot of space. The main level exudes natural light and functional living with two bedrooms, spacious kitchen, dining and living areas, and bathroom. The new appliances, granite countertops, abundant cabinetry, and ample storage radiates comfort and quality. The finished basement offers an expansive additional living area, another bedroom, bathroom, and laundry. Additionally, the attached fully finished garage, inviting neighborhood, and close proximity to Shelby Public Schools and downtown Shelby make this home the perfect place to set down some roots.

THE ASPEN: $249,000 - This home exhibits classic country charm from the moment you step onto the front porch. Enter into a bright living space with cathedral ceilings, equipped kitchen, separate dining area, two main-floor bedrooms and full bathroom. Designed for comfortable living: new appliances, quartz countertops, walk-in kitchen pantry, and bountiful natural light. As you head downstairs, it is well-lit and well-designed, offering additional finished living space for an entertainment or recreational room, as well as two complete bedrooms, a full bathroom, laundry and mechanicals. The Aspen also boasts a detached garage and is located in a neighborhood close to Shelby Public Schools and the welcoming downtown.

As a reminder, if you are interested in becoming a candidate for the lottery, the prospective buyer must attend one of our workshops. To be added to an upcoming workshop roster, please email one of the instructors: gabypetersonhomes@gmail.com, dfox@shelbybank.com or Mreyna@shelbybank.com

Saturday 5/18 9:00 am Thursday 5/23 6:00

Shelby Acres

Commissioners discuss law regarding loose dogs

By Steve Gunn

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

Pet dogs running loose in Oceana County have the potential to create more legal issues than anyone might imagine.

That’s because anyone who is ticketed because their dog is running free is automatically charged with a misdemeanor, according to state law.

That means people who are ticketed could demand a court trial, and could potentially serve jail time for something as simple as having Fido get off his leash and run around the neighborhood for a while.

That doesn’t sit well with some Oceana County officials, who believe the punishment, in most cases, has the potential to be too severe for the infraction. They also say the law, as it currently stands, has the potential to take up valuable court time and resources for no good reason at all.

Several officials have asked the county board to consider passing an ordinance declaring “at large” dog offenses to be simple civil infractions punishable by only a fine, overriding the state law that says violators must be charged with misdemeanors.

The situation was discussed at a county board of commissioners committee meeting on June 13. It will likely be revisited when officials determine whether the county has the power to write a new ordinance that contradicts state law.

“I’ve got a dog too, and most days she’s really well behaved,” Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast told The Echo. “But on certain days, she does things out of my control. I would hate to go to jail over a decision my dog made.

“I can understand paying a fine for not keeping your dog on a leash. But right now, the punishment does not seem consistent with the crime, if you will.”

The problem seems to be the big gap between the severity of the crime, the potential punishment, and all the possible legal complications that could arise.

Besides the possibility of jail time, a misdemeanor conviction of any type could cost someone their job, or the opportunity to get a job. That means people who are charged with letting their dogs run loose are more likely to plead not guilty and demand a jury tri-

al, which has the potential to clog up the courts and cost the county money.

“I have a hard time writing someone up for a misdemeanor for just a dog being loose,” said Mike Garcia, the Oceana County animal control officer. “We’ve had people push back. They can’t have a misdemeanor with their job, so they ask for a jury trial, and there are more important things going on.”

Garcia said he might be more likely to issue tickets for loose dogs if the cases did not have the potential to lead to a trial or jail time.

“We don’t write as many (tickets) because it’s a misdemeanor,” he said. “Writing a ticket wouldn’t feel as hard as it does now (if it were a simple civil infraction).”

The issue came to light when Garcia talked to Sheriff Mast about the possibility of creating a new ordinance. Mast checked with Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon, who said the county may be able to do that and override state law.

Officials are looking into the legalities before reporting back to the county board.

The prosecutor said a big concern is the possibility of clogging up a busy court docket with jury trials regarding loose dogs.

Even if a case went to trial, and the defendant was found guilty, it would almost always result in a fine, just like it would if it were a simple civil infraction, he said.

“We have one of the busiest district courts in the state, per capita,” Bizon said. “We have victim crimes. We have domestic violence cases. Then we could have somebody who is charged with having a dog at large.

“In my 22 years of doing this, I have never seen anyone go to jail for (a loose dog). All anybody is ever going to get is a fine.”

The prosecutor noted that all jury or bench trials cost the county money. The Sheriff’s Department has to provide a bailiff, and often the officer writing the ticket will have to appear in court, he said.

“I think the argument can be made that we shouldn’t spend that kind of money just to give someone a fine,” Bizon said.

Several county commissioners seemed inclined to support the idea of changing the law, although there was some sentiment for making penalties more severe for repeat offenders.

June 27 - August 29 HART COMMONS PARK

Social District Open

Main Street Market Open

Concerts in the Commons

CONCERTS ARE FREE

For your seating comfort, please bring your own lawn chair INCLEMENT WEATHER? Call 231-923-0923 for updates

Living Legacies: 4th Annual Hart Heritage Car Show

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Shelby Township Ordinance 070124-1

Stormwater Discharge

Notice is hereby given that Shelby Township, Oceana County, will conduct a public hearing meeting on July 1, 2024 at 7:00 pm. The meeting will take place at Shelby Township Hall, located at 204 N. Michigan Avenue, Shelby, MI, 49455. The purpose of this hearing is to obtain public comment and input regarding the ordinance. A copy of the proposed ordinance can be obtained from the Shelby Township Hall during regular business hours.

Interested parties are invited to attend and contribute any comments related to the Stormwater Discharge Ordinance. Written comments may also be submitted to Cathy Anderson, Township Clerk, by US postal mail at PO Box 215, Shelby, MI, 49455 or use the drop box located at 204 N. Michigan Avenue, Shelby, MI.

Agricultural Building grand opening a success

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

Over 50 people were on hand to officially dedicate the new Agricultural Building at the Mears Museum Complex in Mears Sunday. The new building had been a dream of the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society (OCH&GS) for years.

“It was a beautiful day being able to officially open it to the public,” said OCH&GS President Paul Erickson. “The building is finally ready to display many of

the Society’s growing collection of farm tractors, implements and agricultural artifacts and having this extra space frees up space in our other buildings as well.”

Special recognition was given to Carl and Mort Wiegand, of Mears, for their over 30 years of dedicated service to the OCH&GS.

A plaque with their picture was presented to the couple and will be displayed in the new building.

The Mears Museum Complex is now open for the season every Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. through Labor Day. Visitors can enjoy touring eight different buildings representing a cross-sec-

tion of Oceana County history, including the Transportation Museum, home to numerous antique vehicles and dune buggies, as well as a special Lighthouse exhibit; the home of Swift Lathers, editor of the World’s Smallest Newspaper, “The Mears Newz”; the Swedish Covenant Church, Boynton Cottage and Trapper Ralph’s cabin, all moved on site from nearby locations; and now the new Agricultural Building.

Guide by Cell audio tours are available, and local volunteers will be available to share their knowledge of Oceana County history as well.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP

Synopsis of Meeting

June 3, 2024

Regular meeting called to order at 7:00 pm

Present: Cindy Rapes, Scott Meyers, Becky Griffin, Cathy Anderson, Richard Raffaelli and eight guests. Items approved:

Meeting

Copies of

• Stacia Erickson and Sharon Hallack/Echo

Damian Gonzalez tabbed new Shelby boys soccer coach

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana

Echo Sports Editor

SHELBY –Shelby High School’s search for a new face at the helm of the boys varsity soccer program is over. Damian Gonzalez, a Hart native, was appointed to the head coaching position and will lead the Tigers this fall. Gonzalez was born and raised in Hart and spent his high school years playing for the Pirates. Gonzalez started all four of his varsity seasons at goalkeeper, while also playing Premier 1 soccer and winning a championship in that league.

Most recently, Gonzalez served as the goalkeepers coach for Hart’s boys and girls soccer teams as well as a newly formed Oceana County travel team – the West Shore Wave – featuring athletes

from Shelby, Hart and Pentwater.

“I’ve loved soccer almost as much and as long as anything else in my life, and I can’t wait to get to work with (the team) and begin a new era here at Shelby,” Gonzalez said in a Facebook post.

The move to hire Gonzalez comes just months after former Shelby teacher Jairo Coronado – who also coached the boys team – was arrested on felony charges of accosting a child for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime following a sting operation, conducted by the Newaygo County Sheriff’s Office. Coronado is set to appear at a pretrial July 22.

Shelby finished last year with an 8-9-1 overall record and a 4-6 mark in the West Michigan Conference (WMC), slotting them in eighth out of 11 teams in the WMC. The Tigers were eliminated in the first round of the District Tournament in 2023, falling by a 3-1 score to Montague.

Pentwater graduate Glenn Miller earns pro baseball contract with Evansville Otters Navea goes National

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

PENTWATER – Former Pentwater graduate Glenn Miller has been making headlines in baseball since he graced the diamond for the Falcons in high school. Now, the class of 2019 alum, is moving on up after earning the first professional contract of his athletic career.

Miller was called up to the Evansville Otters of the Independent

League (Indy Ball) on Wednesday, May 29. The Otters play in Evansville, IN.

After playing college baseball for Spring Arbor University upon graduation from Pentwater, Miller rose up in the ranks, transferring to Division 1 Eastern Michigan University.

To this point, Miller has played in four games for the Otters, including 17 at-bats. Of those 17 trips to the plate, Miller has recorded three hits and five runs batted in while scoring twice himself.

Glenn Miller winds up a throw from the infield during play with EMU. • Contributed

Damian Gonzalez

As Shelby volleyball phenom Navea Gauthier prepares for her senior season with the Tigers, she’s added yet another impressive feat to her young career. Gauthier participated in the 2024 AAU National competition in Orlando, FL. Gauthier’s team battled their way to a second place finish, claiming runnerup honors while Gauthier earned an All-American nod as well. • Contributed

Oceana County athletes pull in All-Conference awards - Part 1

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

The final season of sports has wrapped up for the 2023-24 school year, and with it comes a bunch of offseason awards to be handed out to the cream of the crop.

In part one of the spring All-Conference tally, we’ll take a look at a number of Hart athletes that made the cut, as well as one lone Shelby athlete.

On the soccer pitch, Breslyn Porter and Brooklyn Storms – both juniors – earned first team nods in the West Michigan Conference (WMC). Freshman Olivia Bradley also grabbed an honorable mention.

The baseball diamond featured three Pirates. Senior Blake Weirich was the lone pitcher to make first team in Oceana County while sophomore Halen Boos was recognized as first team catcher. Junior Ty Schlukebir wrapped up Hart’s baseball selections with a first team se-

The Michigan High School Athletic Association is accepting registrations online or by mail for game officials for the 2024-25 school year.

The MHSAA registered approximately 8,700 officials for the 202324 school year, an increase of nearly five percent over 2022-23 as the ranks continue to build back toward pre-COVID totals.

All officials who register may sign up for up to two sports as part of their registration. Officials also will receive membership in the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO), which comes with a variety of educational and training resources and the NASO’s Shield liability insurance that will provide $6 million in coverage for officials while they are working both MHSAA and non-MHSAA events.

For new and returning officials, a $70 fee covers registration for up to two sports. Officials may register for

lection in the outfield.

Staying on the diamond, but jumping to softball, Hart had two seniors make the first team in the WMC Rivers. Abby Hicks, who led the Pirates in home runs, was named alongside pitcher Gabby Quijas. Sophomore Makenna Carrier was named an honorable mention selection as well.

The Pirates were well represented on the links, with junior Kaden Bond leading the way. Bond was the lone Oceana County golfer to make a State Finals appearance, ending his

season with a first team nod. Joining him were teammates Aiden DuMont and Tanner Steffens who both earned honorable mentions.

Staying on the fairways and greens, Shelby freshman Titan Carter was a revelation, taking home a first team award of his own.

In next week’s edition of The Oceana Echo, we’ll take a look at some other Shelby athletes that made their respective teams with coverage of Hesperia and Pentwater to come later.

additional sports at $16 per sport.

To avoid a $30 late fee, all fall sport registration applications must be received by Aug. 19, 2024. Winter sports registrations must be received by Nov. 18 to avoid the late fee, and spring sports registrations must be received by March 24, 2025. Online registration can be accessed by clicking “Officials” on the home page of the MHSAA Website at https://www.mhsaa.com. More information about officials registration may be obtained by contacting the MHSAA by phone at (517) 3325046 or by e-mail at register@mhsaa.com.

There is an officials’ registration test for first-time officials and officials who were not registered during the past school year, derived from the MHSAA Officials Guidebook. New officials and those who didn’t officiate during 2023-24 also must complete the online MHSAA Princi -

One Shot Wonders

A recap of the best hole-in-one action on courses in Oceana County Benona Shores

• May 25 - Richard Norwood on No. 2 from 99 yards out with a 54-degree wedge.

• May 30 - Marc Needham on No. 2 from 99 yards out with a 9 iron.

• June 2 - Rusty Foreman on No. 2 from

118 yards out with a pitching wedge.

• June 4 - Josh Neuman on No. 18 from 184 yards out with a 3 iron.

Oceana Golf Club

• April 15 - Marc Carrozza on No. 7 with an 8 iron.

• May 25 - Uli Escoto on No. 17 with an 8 iron.

ples of Officiating course. Additional exams must be taken by those registering for football or basketball for the first time or those who were not registered for those sports during the previous school year. Links to the Officials Guidebook, Principles of Officiating presentation and the football and basketball mechanics manuals can be found by following the “New Officials” link on the Officials page of the MHSAA Website. There also are opportunities to officiate for students at least 14 years old and in grades 9-12 through the MHSAA Legacy Program. Juniors and seniors may officiate subvarsity contests, while freshmen and sophomores may officiate contests at the middle school/junior high levels. Mentor officials will work events with Legacy participants to provide guidance and support. Find information on the Legacy Program by clicking “Officials Registration”

• May 28 - Norm Raeth on No. 17 from 150 yards out with a 4 iron.

• May 31 - Chris Hayes on No. 17 with a 5 iron.

• June 5 - Steve Clark on No. 7 with a 7 iron.

on the Officials page of the MHSAA Website and following the “Legacy Program” link.

The MHSAA is a private, not-forprofit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,500 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract more than 1.4 million spectators each year.

• Contributed

• Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Reflections of our community

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Electric Forest organizer speaks out

Chad Cheek addresses mass gathering permit, wristband changes

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

ROTHBURY — In an effort to quiet some local discontent over recent Electric Forest developments, Chad Cheek, who runs the annual festival for parent company AEG Presents, spoke at Tuesday’s regularly scheduled Rothbury village council meeting. The meeting took place as preparations for the Forest were at their height; the festival began Thursday.

Cheek addressed several issues during his remarks, but devoted most of his time to going over the January extension of the festival’s mass gathering permit through 2035 and the changes to the village wristband program, which were announced in February. The two events occurring so close to-

gether drew negative attention from some village residents, even sparking a recall petition against three current trustees - Dylan Zuniga, Autum Drake and Jim Fekken. Cheek attempted to quell those issues Tuesday, saying on a few occasions that the wristband changes were his decision and his decision alone. Cheek called the previous neighbor wristband program, which granted residents who lived close to the festival footprint access to each day of the event, “unsustainable,” citing economic and security issues they presented. He added that the program was always going to change for this year as a result, and

the choices were to have no complimentary wristband at all or to settle on the compromise of one day.

Cheek said the festival plans to stage a celebration picnic on the Sunday of the festival for village residents, with up to 400 welcome to attend (as of the 2020 census, the village’s population is 462). He thanked the new management of the Double JJ ranch for their help with outreach and said he hopes to improve the way the festival communicates with the local public in the future.

Cheek added that he’s worked many festivals, including Super Bowl and Grammy parties, and the Electric Forest is his “favorite event,” in large part due to its repeat visitors; according to his numbers, 79% of Forest attendees are coming for at least the second time, and over half have visited four times or more, numbers he said stun others he knows in the industry. So tight-knit is the “Forest Family,” Cheek said, that

when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the 2020 festival, many of them got together to spearhead a donation of over 10,000 meals to those in need.

That sense of community has hit home even more to Cheek since 2021, when he said his family lost their Colorado home due to a wildfire. Since then, due in large part to community help, 75% of those displaced by the fires have rebuilt.

In discussing the permit renewal, which some in the village have criticized because the prior permit was already approved through 2030, Cheek said the extension served two purposes - lining up AEG’s deal with the village with the one it has with Double JJ, and accounting for the Forest’s 2020 and 2021 pandemic-related cancellations.

A few public comments put Cheek

Electric Forest continued on page 2

Whitehall school bus driver shines in competition

Joyce Hawkins finishes 6th in state, named rookie of the year at School Bus Roadeo

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL —  The Whitehall school board’s regular June meeting placed a spotlight on the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation 2024 School Bus Roadeo, which took place in May and saw third-year bus driver Joyce Hawkins star in competition.

The School Bus Roadeo brings many MAPT drivers from across the state together for a friendly competition that tests drivers on various aspects of their jobs. Among the events at Roadeo competitions are avoiding obstacles while stopping in offset alleys, parallel parking, a slalom-type course with traffic cones, and staying

in a straight line. The latter competition was judged by how well drivers could avoid flattening tennis balls that were placed on the course.

Hawkins placed third at the Muskegon-Oceana-Newaygo district’s regional competition, at Orchard View High School, the first time since 2019 the district had hosted a competition. That earned her a spot at the state Roadeo in Caledonia, where she finished sixth and was named rookie of the year as the top first-time competitor. She was one of only three drivers at the state event to earn a perfect score in completing each step of a safe student pickup.

“I was very surprised, especially at regionals,” Hawkins said of her performance. “I was even surprised at state (to get) sixth place. We had all the best bus drivers here that won at their regionals.”

Hawkins said transportation director Penny Evert was a driving force in

getting Whitehall drivers to compete in the event - Evert said she had a great experience assisting at the 2023 state competition, which stoked her desire to get Whitehall drivers there. Hawkins, though, added that once her husband Brandon, also a Whitehall bus driver, signed up to go, she decided to “on a whim.”

“I went in there completely not expecting to place or anything,” Hawkins said.

Evert called competing at the Roadeo “a great team-building activity,” showing slides that included the bus drivers from different districts happily mingling at the event.

Hawkins, who just completed her third year of Whitehall bus driving, said the simple joy of driving a very large vehicle is what attracted her to the job.

School buses continued on page 2

Whitehall math teacher Wendy Henderson retires afer 27 years

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

WHITEHALL — Whitehall Middle School is saying goodbye to a beloved math teacher and alumna after 27 years with the retirement of Wendy Henderson.

“I grew up in Whitehall my whole life and attended Whitehall District Schools, which I graduated from,” Henderson said. “I started teaching technology, but most of my career was teaching seventh grade

math with my co-partner Tom Sheesley. He has helped make my teaching career more enjoyable.”

Henderson’s interest in teaching sparked when she was a kid, from her father who taught eighth grade math at Orchard View Middle School for 35 years.

“He was my inspiration and role model,” said Henderson. “I wanted to be just like him. Unfortunately at that time, teaching was not in demand and my mom, who was in the medical field, pushed me in that direc-

tion. My first year at Grand Valley State University convinced me otherwise. I worked on cadavers in my anatomy lab class and realized that it wasn’t for me.”

During her studies at GVSU, Henderson met her future husband, Greg, who would change her life. She eventually brought him with her back to Whitehall.

“He had just graduated from high school and was pursuing a

Whitehall school bus driver Joyce Hawkins celebrates her third-place regional finish at the MAPT School Bus Roadeo in May. Hawkins later competed at state and finished sixth, being named rookie of the year. • Courtesy Photo

Cheek

Whitehall teacher Wendy Henderson recently said goodbye to teaching, announcing her retirement after 27 years.

• Courtesy Photo

Wendy Henderson continued on page 3

Increased sewer rates keeping Dalton Twp. afloat

By Steve Gunn White Lake Mirror Contributor

By continuing to pay higher monthly rates for the next decade or so, the relatively small number of sewer customers in Dalton Township are literally helping the township avoid a possible “financial disaster,” according to officials.

That’s because customer sewer payments have not provided enough revenue to keep pace with costs over the years, and the township sewer fund was on a collision course with insolvency in the near future.

Insolvency would have led to an inability to make annual payments on the bond that was sold to finance the original $2.2 million sewer project, which in turn would have led to much bigger issues for the township.

This year the township will pay roughly $170,000 in principal and interest payments on the bond sale, and there are many other ongoing sewer costs, as well.

In response to the problem, the township board raised the sewer rate for customers by a whopping 60% in 2022, and plans to continue to increase it by 4% every year through 2035, when the bond is paid off.

The latest part of that plan was put in place Monday, June 10, when the Dalton Township board voted to approve the latest increase.

Beginning in July, the monthly sewer fee for residential and commercial customers will go from the current $41.60 per REU (residential equivalent unit) to $43.26. There are only about 135 customers hooked up to the township sewer system.

Without the continued sewer rate increases, it was determined that the township’s sewer fund would have

been insolvent by 2026, according to Dalton Township Supervisor Jeff Martin.

That could have led to financial problems extending well beyond the sewer, Martin said.

The township financed the original sewer installation project in the early 2000s with a bond sale, and Muskegon County was the co-signer. That means that if the township ever fails to make payments on the bond, the county would have to pick up the tab.

If that occurred, the county would be free to claim Dalton Township’s annual state revenue sharing dollars, which comprise roughly half of the entire township budget, Martin said.

That could have led to a big budget deficit and massive spending cuts at the township level that could have interfered with all sorts of services.

“Such a path of decisions would lead to financial disaster that would negatively affect the operations of the township in substantial ways for years,” according to the official township board motion to raise sewer rates for the coming year.

As Martin summed it up, “It was going to be a huge disaster.”

The need to substantially raise revenue goes all the way back to 2006, when the township’s sewer mains, covering roughly 10 total miles along River Road and Whitehall Road, were installed.

The customer rates that were charged at that time were based on a lot of assumptions that did not come true, according to Martin.

One big assumption was that Michigan’s Adventure amusement park would immediately hook up to the sewer system and be a very large customer, along with one other large busi-

Electric Forest

on the spot again as residents pressed for more details. One commenter asked why residents couldn’t at least choose the single day for their passes rather than be locked to Sunday; Cheek replied the technology AEG uses for the wristbands does not allow for single uses, noting the festival does not sell single-use tickets to anyone, but that he hopes to offer that as an option in future years.

As for the recall petition, Patricia Day, a local resident who got the petition’s wording approved by the county in May and is in the process of gathering required signatures for it, said the reason only three trustees were named on the recall petition is that the other two who voted for the Electric Forest permit extension in January - Mike Harris and Denise Kurdziel - have terms ending this year anyway.

Day said in a May interview she feels the council has not helped the community with its recent decisions regarding the Electric Forest and has been dismissive of her concerns when they’re brought up during council meetings or on social media.

“This is who we elected to represent us and they’re absolutely not representing us,” Day said in May. “They (AEG)

ness and a large trailer park.

But the presumed large business customers did not hook up right away and the trailer park ceased to exist, meaning much less revenue was coming into the system than anticipated.

The sewer system was also installed based on the assumption that the section of Whitehall Road in Dalton Township would experience rapid commercial growth, which would have provided many more sewer customers, but that did not happen.

“The original financial plan assumed that everything would go well, and it did not,” Martin said. “A few things ended up going wrong. There was a big push to get Michigan’s Adventure connected, but they decided not to connect at that time. That was a massive financial loss. Duck Creek RV Park, which would have been the other big customer, did not connect, and we lost about 90 houses worth of revenue (when the old trailer park went out of business and did not hook up).”

In the meantime, there were various lawsuits involving the sewer system, and the township was lax about raising customer rates over the years, meaning hopes for maintaining a financially solvent sewer fund continued to deteriorate.

At one point Muskegon County and the company that owns Michigan’s Adventure kicked in about $700,000 to help the township keep its sewer fund solvent, Martin said, but that only helped for so long.

“There was no plan (to deal with the situation) when I came into office,” Martin said.

Martin and the current board started working on a strategy to address the issue when they were elected back in 2020.

The first part of that plan was to sell a bunch of property owned by the township and dedicate $500,000 of the proceeds to the sewer fund, to offset the pending rate increases a bit.

The board also commissioned a study of the sewer system’s finances to determine what actions were necessary to keep the sewer fund healthy enough to cover the annual bond payment, various other payments and maintenance and repair costs.

That resulted in the sewer rate increase plan. Officials believe that will provide enough revenue to pay off the bond in 2035 and maintain enough money in the fund for maintenance and repairs.

The township board approves the increases on an annual basis.

Martin said the idea of doing nothing at all about the pending financial disaster was actually presented to him as a legitimate option, but was quickly rejected.

“At one point I reached out to the lawyers at the Michigan Townships Association, and I was advised not to address (the money problem) and then handle it from there, asking for someone to bail us out,” Martin said. “I thought that was utterly ridiculous.”

Surprisingly, there has never been much public backlash against the rate increases, including the original 60% increase, according to Martin.

“I had a letter sent (about the original increase) to all of our customers, and I expected a bunch of kickback on that,” Martin said. “I had a few people respond and say they were not happy, but they understood the situation. I even had a couple of people come in and thank us for fixing it. That was very unexpected.”

School buses

continued from page 1

are basically getting carte blanche to run over the village of Rothbury. That’s basically why we’re upset.”

Zuniga said Tuesday he respects differences of opinion and is glad to see the increased interest in recent village council meetings, but said he has pursued the village’s benefit throughout his term.

“Any decision I’ve ever made or helped to vote on was what I felt would be good for the whole, but I respect that people can see otherwise,” Zuniga said. “It’s nice to see involvement, and if there’s differing opinions, I think it’s all better because it gets everyone involved...We’ve got attendance higher than I’ve ever seen it. I think it’s a good thing.”

Also Tuesday, the village unanimously approved the creation of a village garden club, which will pursue the beautification of the area. The village also unanimously announced its support for a grant application being made by David Beckman of Valley City Metals in Shelby, who is making plans to turn some of the old Barber Steel Foundry property, which he recently purchased, into a community-use center.

“I like driving,” Hawkins said. “I drive a Jeep. To drive something that big on the road, it’s fun for me.”

Hawkins drives for all three age groups - elementary, middle and high school - and said of the three, high school bus riders are by far the easiest to wrangle while on duty.

The board meeting also featured the 2024-25 budget adoption. District business manager Tayler Zweigle delivered the budget presentation for the first time after Steve Aardema’s retirement earlier this spring. She said the district is lined up for an operating millage of 17.9832 mills ($17.98 of property taxes per $1,000 of taxable value). The overall value of non-exempt properties in the district, she said, has increased about $23.5 million from last year, to $227.6 million. The budget accounted for an expected decrease in K-12 enrollment of 35 students, to 1,843 in all, and is therefore down about $155,000 from the 2023-24 budget. The final numbers will be determined when the state budget is finalized later this year. The board unanimously adopted the budget, with the exception of trustee Tim Cross, who was absent.

Superintendent Jerry McDowell said with the district’s current debt-service millage of five mills set to expire after the 2024-25 school year, the district will have to ask the community for a renewal, likely for 10 years, in an upcoming election. He noted that the five mills currently represents the lowest debt-service millage for any Muskegon County school district.

The board also unanimously approved a $66,939 purchase of a new van. The school has two red passenger vans that are the same size, but one is rated for more passengers (12) than the other (10). Because of state Department of Education limits on how many passengers can be rated for a school-owned van, the district has eliminated the van rated for 12 passengers from its transportation fleet and will sell it on the open market. McDowell said the new van will come from Schukei Chevrolet in Iowa and said despite being an out-of-state dealer, their quoted price was around $10,000 less than available options in Michigan. The van should be in Whitehall by the start of the 2024-25 school year.

White Lake Congregational UCC hosting Saturday yard sale, strawberry social

Echoes of History: Citizens - Mat & Dollie Flagstad

By Barbara Bedau Brow Volunteer Contributor

Mathew R. Flagstad was one of six children born to Capt. Andrew and Rosanna (nee Keilty) Flagstad Oct. 13, 1876, in Montague.

On Feb. 12, 1901 he married Lillian Violet “Dollie” O’Connell. They had a baby daughter who died at birth Nov. 26, 1901. They would later divorce in February 1926.

Mat followed in his father’s footsteps and for many years sailed on ships on the Great Lakes as a marine engineer. In March 1911 Mat stepped away from the life at sea, planted his feet on dry land and opened a grocery store in Maple Grove. The store joined his residence and was very convenient for the summer resort trade and others. In March 1912, his cousin Ira Flagstad purchased the grocery business and remodeled the house for the stock.

After selling his business to his cousin, Mat returned to life at sea. In 1918 when he completed his World War I draft registration form, he indicat-

ed he was working on the Str. Shenango. The Shenango was built in 1909 in Encore, MI and owned by the Shenango Furnace Company. It was classified as a bulk freighter and was 580 feet in length. In the 1930s he was living and working with his brother Andrew at River Rouge near Detroit, where he died Sept. 22, 1937. He is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Lillian Violet O’Connell was one of seven children born to Maurice and Clara (nee Rogers) O’Connell. She was born Nov. 18, 1879 in Montague.

Wendy Henderson

degree in education,” Henderson said of her husband. “I ended up switching my degree to education, and we both attended Muskegon Community College for a couple of years and then transferred to Central Michigan University. Upon graduating, we moved back to Whitehall and got married.”

While Greg was a long-term substitute teacher at Muskegon Public Schools, Henderson got a job at Howmet. During her 10 years there, she completed her master’s degree from Western Michigan University.

She started as a technology teacher and eventually switched to teaching math, but her heart always resided with middle schoolers.

“A coworker of mine told me about a technology teacher position opening

She held an AB degree from Western Michigan College of Education and a vocational degree from the University of Michigan.

She taught school at Maple Grove for 16 years, and when it was consolidated with Montague School, she taught at Montague. Later she taught at Wilson School in Muskegon and in 1940, she returned to Montague where she taught until her retirement in April 1951.

Dollie was instrumental in

at Whitehall Middle School,” said Henderson. “I went to the interview and a week later they offered me the job. This was my dream job. I’ve always wanted to teach middle school, as I thought it was an age that I felt I could make the greatest impact when they are transitioning from childhood to adolescence,which can be tough for kids. This is a time of rapid physical, intellectual, moral, social and emotional change.”

Henderson shared her recent experience of learning the impact she had on a former student who she hadn’t even known at the time. During a recent interview with CatchMark, a Whitehall student who graduated this spring talked about Henderson being his favorite teacher. He appreciates how much she pushed him in his stud-

having a parent-teacher association organized in 1921 and served as its first secretary and other capacities through the years. While teaching school, she was secretary of the Teachers’ Club and also a leader of a Girl Scout troop. She was involved with the Red Cross during the war years. She also widely traveled both in the United States and Europe.

During her last couple of years, Dollie had been living in a Convalescent home in Muskegon where she died Dec. 30, 1961. She is buried in Oak

ies and the fact that she “never gave up on him.”

“As my teaching career comes to an end, I have many memories throughout the years that will be with me forever,” Henderson said. “I have also kept a lot of the special notes that I received from students on how I made an impact in their lives, gifts, the bonds made with students and staff.”

Henderson looks forward to having free time, spending more time with family and reconnecting with favorite hobbies.

“This was a very difficult decision, but it is time I joined my husband (in retirement) so we can enjoy each other, as well as our kids and grandchildren,” said Henderson. “I look forward to camping and doing things I haven’t

Grove Cemetery.

At a school meeting in July 1923, Mrs. Flagstad made a motion to sell the Maple Grove School property, which was seconded and passed. The Maple Grove School building was divided, moved and remodeled to become two summer cottages, which still exist today. The Flagstad residence, which was two doors north of the school, was torn down at some later point.

continued from page 1

been able to do, like scrapbooking and making jewelry.”

Although she will be retired from teaching math, she will continue to teach driver’s training along with Greg, who’s been doing that for over 30 years.

“Whitehall Middle School is a great family to be a part of.,” Henderson said.

Henderson encourages people who are thinking about pursuing a career in teaching to follow their passion.

“Teaching is not an easy job, but is rewarding in many ways,” said Henderson. “We need passionate, caring, motivated, patient and hard working teachers who want to be there for the kids.”

Learn about Michigan’s new gun laws Monday

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

Whitehall Police Chief Roger Squiers and West Michigan attorney Philip Sielski will be at the library Monday, June 24, from 6-7 p.m. to answer your questions about Michigan’s new gun laws. The laws, which went into effect in February, cover such things as universal background checks, child firearm access prevention, extreme risk protection orders (red flag laws) and limits on firearm possession for convicted domestic violence offenders. Registration appreciated at wlclib.org/ calendar.

A Virtual Summer Adventure for Teens

The latest MiLibraryQuest is now live! This statewide contest for teens involves following clues and solving puzzles online. For this year’s Quest, teens will solve adventure- and my-

thology-themed puzzles to find the location of a second Camp HalfBlood. Since the world discovered Camp Half-Blood, teens everywhere have found they, too, have powers from the gods. It is rumored a new camp for those with godlike abilities was created at a state park somewhere in Michigan. Help locate the new camp to ensure the safety of all half-bloods in Michigan. Follow the clues and submit your solution online by July 31 to be entered into a prize drawing.

started with a small group of Michigan librarians who wanted to offer something for teens during the long shutdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has continued to grow even as the pandemic waned, and its founders were recently invited to offer a session about it at a national conference for librarians. Watch for even bigger and better contests in the years to come!

Fire Trucks and Wild Animals

There are so many great programs for kids at the library this summer! Here are just two highlights in the coming week:

Get started today at mi.gov/MiLibraryQuest.

FUN FACT: MiLibraryQuest is celebrating its fourth birthday this year. It

A pop-up storytime with Fire Chief Pete Tuesday, June 25 at 11 a.m.; join us at the White Lake Fire Authority Station #1 on Delaney Avenue for stories and activities plus a tour of the station and a chance to sit on a fire truck!

A wildlife talk with a DNR conservation officer Thursday, June 27, at 5:30 p.m.; bring the whole family to the li-

brary to talk to an expert about Michigan’s wild animals. Get your questions answered at this hands-on event that will include a variety of tanned animal hides. (Maybe the officer can even give us tips for dealing with the raccoon who keeps getting into the trash can at the library every night!)

DeMumbrum

Maple Grove Grocery (left) and Maple Grove School, which was located two doors south of the grocery, were professional homes for Mat and Dollie Flagstad, respectively, during their marriage, which lasted from 1901-26. • Courtesy Photos

Lake Mirror Lake Mirror

NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

SPORTS SPORTS

Two-time Olympian Jim Gruenwald guests at Montague wrestling camp

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — Olympians don’t often venture to the White Lake area, but the Montague wrestling program has been fortunate to host one two years in a row.

Jim Gruenwald, who’s entering his 16th season as head wrestling coach at Division III Wheaton College in Illinois and was a competitor at both the 2000 and 2004 Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling, was a guest instructor at this week’s Montague wrestling camp, his second straight summer doing so. Gruenwald’s connection to Montague is that he coaches Wildcat alum Cale Coppess for the Thunder.

In addition to leading the Wheaton program, Gruenwald has busy summers working camps like Montague’s - he said he will be in 12 different states over the course of June and July.

While Gruenwald’s most wellknown accomplishment is those two times he secured Olympic spots - he finished sixth in Sydney and 10th in Athens, both times in the 60-kilogram (132-pound) weight class - he looks at his coaching opportunities as much more than that. He enjoys the chance to lay a foundation for young kids. (While he’s not allowed by NCAA rule

to specifically recruit wrestlers at these camps, he did allow that introducing himself to young wrestlers around the country can have its future benefits as well.)

“Love produces hard work,” Gruenwald said.

“I love what I do. I love building kids. I love pointing them in the right direction. We’ve got so many things that are distracting kids today, especially as they get into high school and college. The drugs, the sex, the alcohol, the staying up until 4 or 5 in the morning playing Halo, or Call of Duty, or whatever game it is. Something like wrestling provides guidance and instruction. It gives them an outlet for that aggression that is controlled.”

Gruenwald becoming a coach was a natural fit for him, following in the footsteps of his own college coach, Ben Peterson, a 1972 Olympic champion and ‘76 silver medalist. (Ben’s brother John was a ‘72 silver medalist and ‘76 champion; oddly enough, both brothers’ runner-up spots came at the hands

of the same wrestler, Soviet wrestler Levan Tediashvili.) Like Gruenwald after him, Peterson coached at a religious school - Maranatha Baptist in Wisconsin, which Gruenwald attended at the request of his mother despite Division I recruiting attention and found himself loving. Prior to his time at Wheaton, Gruenwald was an assistant Greco-Roman coach at the U.S. Olympic training center in Marquette in the

Upper Peninsula.

One standout anecdote Gruenwald shared from his wrestling career was a brief history of his decade-plus long rivalry with two-time Olympian Dennis Hall, a peer of his in high school in Wisconsin who spent years being his chief obstacle to making the Olympic team

Mustangs defeat Nationals for Little League title

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — The Kurt Bonner’s Mustangs ripped off eight third-inning runs to secure the Little League Majors championship last Thursday at Stevens Field. The Mustangs beat the Energy Services Solutions Nationals, 122, in four innings.

The Mustangs trailed early after a bases-loaded wild pitch in the first inning allowed the Nationals to score first. However, they quickly responded with a Daxton Roesler RBI single in the bottom of the first, and a second run came across after the Nationals couldn’t corral a hard-hit ball by TJ Holey. Two more runs scored in the second inning, both on Nationals’ fielding miscues. After the Nationals came back with one run in the third, the Mustangs’ offense caught fire in the bottom of the inning. Bryce Cook opened the fireworks

Brendan Trevino of the Energy Services Solutions Nationals (center) tries to get to first base during a rundown in Thursday’s Little League Majors championship. Shortstop Jude Austin pursues Trevino to the bag, and first baseman Jace Collins awaits a throw.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

with a two-run single, making it 6-2. After a run-scoring groundout by Clayton Wentworth, Garde Osborne added a RBI single. Roesler added an infield single to score another run, then a run came in after a Jace Collins single due to some baserunning hustle. Jude Austin and Jacob Boardwell capped

off the explosion with a couple of RBI singles, and the Mustangs retired the side in the fourth to secure the run-rule win.

Other members of the victorious Mustangs’ team were Cade Gailey, Donovan Bromley and Will McGuire.

WHITEHALL • MONTAGUE • REETHS - PUFFER

Jim Gruenwald

The Kurt Bonner’s Mustangs celebrate with the Little League Majors championship trophy after defeating the Energy Services Solutions Nationals, 12-2, last Thursday at Stevens Field. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Cade Gailey of the Kurt Bonner’s Mustangs connects on a pitch during last Thursday’s Little League Majors championship game. The Mustangs won, 12-2.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Wheaton College wrestling coach Jim Gruenwald evaluates technique while working with young wrestlers Wednesday during a Montague wrestling camp. Gruenwald, a twotime Olympian, coaches former Wildcat Cale Coppess at Wheaton.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Gruenwald

Drive, Chip & Putt returns to WLGC for 2nd year

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

White Lake Golf Club hosted a PGA Drive, Chip & Putt local qualifier for the second straight year Saturday, with 48 children participating.

“There were individuals from all over,” WLGC club pro Bill Borgman said. “We had some from our local area, some from Grand Haven, some from Grand Rapids. I think there were some that came from the Traverse City area. It’s quite a draw.”

There was a slight difference in format from last year’s qualifier, in which players participated in groups at each segment of the event. Organizers found players who went later in a group, particularly in the chipping and putting portions, could have an advantage by seeing what the other players did first, so this year each individual was given specific tee times to do each of the three skills in succession.

“We wanted to take out that element of it,” Borgman said of the group

format.

Borgman added that the event went off very smoothly, with ideal weather conditions contributing to the day’s success.

The top two competitors in both the boys and girls fields at four different age groups - 7-9, 10-11, 12-13 and 14-15earned spots in a subregional qualifier, which will take place Aug. 17 at Boul-

Jim Gruenwald

himself until finally breaking through.

Gruenwald’s accomplishments from those relatively humble beginnings - he also attended a small high school by wrestling standards, Greendale High School - underscores a maxim Montague coach Kris Maddox has long held about the Wildcats’ program, that great things are possible in Montague if you work hard enough.

Certainly Coppess has been an example of that; after becoming the Wildcats’ all-time wins leader with 171, the Wheaton rising junior took sixth place in the Division III regional tournament last year, one of three Thunder wrestlers who placed. He and his family also hosted Gruenwald on his visit this week.

“He’s so teachable and he’s relentless,” Gruenwald said of Coppess. “I love that. Coach Maddox is clearly doing good things here.”

Coppess, who along with a couple of teammates helped out at the threeday camp, said what he appreciates about Gruenwald is how genuine he is.

“He’s just always himself,” Coppess said. “Being vulnerable and open about struggles, or just being goofy and being himself around us, really helps build trust and build that relationship. I trust him as much as I trust my own father, just because he’s himself. He’s a really good, godly man, and somebody

that I really look up to.”

Coppess added that he’s found that the work ethic he developed at Montague has led to him feeling he’s outworking his peers in college.

“In college, I notice I’m in the room working out and people are noticing (and asking), ‘Why are you working out so much?’ Or, ‘Why are you going so hard?’” Coppess said. “That’s just something that’s been ingrained in me since day one here.”

The wrestling focus of the camp was ostensibly throws, a key facet of Greco-Roman wrestling, but Maddox said he wisely gave Gruenwald “free rein” over what he would teach.

“He said, ‘Being a college coach, I always see kids who can’t get off the bottom,’” Maddox said. “I said, ‘Run with it. If college kids can’t get off the bottom, then we probably have the same thing.’”

Gruenwald obviously loves wrestling and views it as a problem that so few high school wrestlers go on to compete in college. Whether at Wheaton or not, he wants athletes to go as far as they can in the sport.

“We lose 97% of our high school wrestlers who do not wrestle in college,” Gruenwald said. “I wrote a book about it (Not All Roads Lead to Gold). We’re losing kids, a lot of times, because either coaches are losing their

Creek Golf Club in Belmont. From there, a September regional qualifier in Louisville will determine who advances to the national finals, which will take place at Augusta National during Masters week next spring.

Of the 16 golfers to advance, four were local natives. Margaret Dobry of North Muskegon earned the top spot in the girls 7-9 division with a cumulative

score of 64, highlighted by 41 points in the putting portion of the competition. She was followed by Muskegon’s Ellie Jados, who scored 41 total points. Emma Huss of Muskegon finished second in the girls 10-11 division with 46 points, and Whitehall’s Riley Shafer was the top girls 14-15 finisher with 108 points, the highest score for a girl of any age group.

minds, parents are losing their minds, they’re over competing, they’re over cutting weight. Whatever it happens to be, that’s a terrible statistic. I want to show kids there’s a better way. You can be intense and you can have fun and then you can move on to the next level.”

The Montague wrestling summer continues over the next several weeks with a camp led by two-time All-American Jeff Jordan and the Pure Wrestling Beach Series at Pere Marquette in Muskegon, led by Wildcat assistant Andrew Nold. Maddox, though, hopes some of what Gruenwald discussed takes hold.

“He has his books, and you don’t realize all he’s accomplished until you

Community Calendar

really get into his books,” Maddox said. “When I have somebody come in, I want them to be more than just wrestling here. I want them to get some value out of the camp. We’d love for them to pick up on the wrestling technique, but I want them to pick up on the other stuff outside of that.

“It’s not just about wrestling with him. It’s more about creating young men and women. That’s kind of the values we have here at Montague. We’d like to create good wrestlers and good men and women, but we want to create productive, good students and people in our society that will give back for many years to come.”

Saturday, June 22

City of Whitehall community-wide garage sale, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents asked to register their sales at City Hall or by calling 231-8944048.

Montague Farmer’s Market open every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Park Paw-ty @ Dog Star Ranch, 2-5 p.m. Celebrate Dog Star’s 20th anniversary with activities for humans and pups alike. Dogs must be on leashes 6 feet long or shorter.

Sunday, June 23

Steve Thielman performs @ Book Nook & Java Shop for brunch, 10 a.m. to noon.

Mason Grady performs @ Big Shotz Brewery for brunch, 12-3 p.m.

Fam Bam Bash @ New Beginnings Church, 6 p.m. Daily free event Sunday through Wednesday. Family activities.

Monday, June 24

Magic with Cameron Zvara @ MADL Montague Branch, 10:3011:30 a.m. Comedy, magic, juggling and audience participation.

Tuesday, June 25

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

Playtime Power Hour @ Montague Library, 11 a.m. to noon. Informal literacy-based program for children to

explore play stations at the library.

ACWL-Nuveen Free Summer Concert Series continues with Magic Bus @ Montague Band Shell, 7-9 p.m. Free crafts for kids at each concert.

Wednesday, June 26

Snacktivity @ Montague Library, 3-5 p.m. Games, crafts, Lego and more. Snacks provided.

Thursday, June 27

Free general admission every Thursday @ the Muskegon Museum of Art, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Fetch Cycling Group meets every Thursday at 6 p.m. All levels welcome.

Free yoga @ White River Light Station, 6:30 p.m.

North Grove Brewers summer concert Thursdays features the Justin Avdek Duo, 7-9 p.m. Outdoor concert in the biergarten.

Friday, June 28

Community Yoga @ Fruitland Twp. Hall, 10-11 a.m. Free to participate, open to all ages and skill levels.

Chris Kennedy & Eric Michaels perform the summer’s first free concert @ White River Light Station, 7-8 p.m.

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Radio Hour @ Miller Theater, 7:15-8:45 p.m.

Post Fontaine performs @ Pub One Eleven, 8-11 p.m.

der

Some of the players to earn high placements at the White Lake Golf Club’s Drive, Chip & Putt event Saturday gathered to celebrate once their events were complete. In all, 16 of the 48 participants earned spots in an Aug. 17 subregional qualifier. • Courtesy Photos

Wheaton College wrestling coach Jim Gruenwald (in front) demonstrates a move with wrestler Cale Coppess Wednesday during a Montague wrestling camp. Gruenwald coaches Coppess, a Montague alum, for the Thunder.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Montague council approves budget, discusses fireworks

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

MONTAGUE — Council members voted to approve the budget for the new fiscal year starting July 1 at its regular meeting Monday.

One of the main controversies recently has been the large cost towards the creation of a dog park in Maple Grove Park, estimated to cost $75,000.

City Manager Jeff Auch said $40,000 of the cost is for fencing, and the remaining funds are for trails and pathways.

Council member Paul Schultz stated he received multiple phone calls from community members voicing concerns over the high cost. A community member suggested the council ask for donations for the dog park, as opposed to allocating tax money to the park.

Auch stated he talked with three veterinarians, two of which shared their

support of a dog park.

“Their concern is the transmission of viruses, which is controlled by people picking up their dog poop,” Auch said. “They feel that having a dog park in the area helps dogs socialize with each other. Having an area where they can interact off-leash is better than when they interact with other dogs while on-leash.”

The city is covered with insurance, which will allow them to post signage about the rules of the dog park, as well as distribute informational handouts. The park will be 400 feet from Cullen Field, which is the same distance as the average city block in Montague, according to Auch. The vets also supported the idea of having two sides to the dog park; one for large dogs, one for small dogs.

There were complaints voiced by

public comment participants, as well as council member Bob Hires, about recent high water bills. Auch stated there is a water analysis scheduled for this fall, which the city conducts every 2-3 years.

White Lake Fireworks Committee member Jason Jaekel stated the committee has everything in place for this year’s Independence Day fireworks, but the committee wants to start looking forward to the next couple of years. 2026 will mark the USA’s 250th anniversary and Jaekel said professionals are suggesting local communities start booking companies in advance, by 2025. It was suggested the committee and cities sign contracts for two years of fireworks, ensuring fireworks for the 250th anniversary in 2026.

Councilman Schultz floated the idea of a committee of both Montague

and Whitehall council members, mayors and community members to look into firework locations. He has voiced his dislike of shooting the fireworks over White Lake because of the pollution. Councilwoman Susan Newhof supported his statement, talking about the other negative effects fireworks have on the environment. Councilman Ken Mahoney also stated his support and desire to take action soon, and Mayor Tom Lohman supports the idea of creating a festival or day-long celebration on Independence Day. Whitehall Mayor Steven Salter said nobody on the Whitehall council has voiced concerns about the fireworks and wants a study done on how much damage is being done to White Lake as a result of fireworks before making any decisions.

Jennifer Koetje opens new medical office in Whitehall

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — Whitehall has a new health care provider in town with the opening of Jennifer Koetje’s private practice, known as Compass Pointe Medical Center, downtown on Colby Street.

Koetje, a certified physician assistant (PA-C), celebrated her new space with a ribbon cutting last Wednesday, June 12. Her office actually opened late last year, but she kept it quiet as she worked out the kinks of her new practice.

Koetje has a small staff - she joked the practice is “one and a half” people - and that’s by design.

“I don’t want to be big. I want to be small,” Koetje said. “I want to have more continuity of care so I’m here for patients. The Medicare patients like that. They don’t like to be shuffled

around. Knowing that there’s someone here that can (reach us), it’s easy access. I love my location.”

Koetje went independent in hopes of providing that kind of focused care, “patient-led care” as she puts it.

“It’s something that I always wanted to do,” Koetje said. “It was how PA’s evolved, working with another physician, and serving the community. That’s what I want- to get back into taking care of the patients and a healthier community.”

Koetje’s office can handle most care matters - physicals, well-child exams, chronic care management and walkins. Any sort of lab work that requires blood to be drawn needs to take place elsewhere, as do x-rays.

The new office’s hours are 8:30 to 4:30, Monday through Thursday. Koetje usually handles administrative work on Fridays.

“I didn’t grow up here, but I’ve lived

here the last however many years,” Koetje said. “This is home. I just wanted to have a different feel, and I found

a spot. I don’t know how I ended up here, but space is hard to find. They’ve been great.”

Sergey Guturov part of coming Chamber Music Festival

Russian clarinetist Sergey Gutorov returns to perform in the 15th annual White Lake Chamber Music Festival.

From Aug. 2–10, excellent programming, world-class artists and inspiring classical music performances will take place in the White Lake area.What once was mostly found only in metropolitan cities is now a yearly experience in the White Lake area.

Sergey’s exquisite playing will be enjoyed Aug. 2 as he performs Shepherd on the Rock (Der Hirt auf dem Felsen,) D. 965 by Schubert, along with Angela De Venuto, soprano and KuangHao Huang, piano. On Aug. 3 in the first Festival Family Concert, Sergey will be featured on the well-known Carnival of the Animals plus solo works. On Aug. 5, he performs Mozart and Bruch Tri-

os. On Aug. 8, Sergey will be joined by pianist Kuang-Hao Huang to perform Weber’s Concertino, a Poulenc Sonata, and works by Debussy, Piazzolla, and others for a special Salon Concert solo performance at the Book Nook and Java Shop. On Aug. 9, he will perform the famous Mozart Clarinet Quintet.

Gutorov currently holds the position of assistant principal/second/ E-flat clarinet in Sarasota Orchestra season (2023-24), principal clarinet in Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, principal clarinet in Des Moines Metro Opera and assistant principal/E-flat clarinet in the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. Gutorov frequently performs with the Chicago Lyric Opera. He began studying the clarinet at age nine with his father in Kursk, Russia. At

age 14, he was accepted into the Moscow State Wind College, and graduated with diplomas in both clarinet and conducting. He also received a diploma from the Maimonid State Classical Academy and diploma in Orchestral Studies from Roosevelt University in Chicago. From 2008-10, Gutorov was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. During this time he was a featured soloist in Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

This year’s eight-day festival is packed with many exciting offerings: no-cost daily 4 p.m. salon concerts at The Book Nook and Java Shop, two family concerts, a children’s recital, meet and greets, evening concerts and Cabaret Night “Broadway Comes to

White Lake.” There will once again be the world’s greatest music wonderfully played, combined with the soft summer weather, beaches and spectacular sunsets. All of this makes the White Lake Chamber Music Festival a vacation destination for an ever-growing audience from near and far.

For a schedule of this year’s delightful festival events, please visit www. whitelakemusic.org. The generous support of individuals and businesses makes it possible to bring great artists and great music to the White Lake area. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Director Sondra Cross at 231329-3056 for more information.

White River Twp. announces series of town hall meetings from July-October

White River Township property owners are invited to WRT Town Hall Meetings at the White River Township Hall from 6:30-8 p.m. on the following dates: July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 5 and Oct. 3. The July 11 meeting will discuss lot sizes and state Land Division Act requirements information. Future meetings will go over tiny homes, affordable residential housing, and planned housing developments (Aug. 8); Transitional Open Space zoning for the Chemours property (Sept. 5); and parks, recreation, and green spaces (Oct. 3).

These are informal gatherings in-

tended to give property owners a time and place to discuss topics pertinent to current White River Township master planning. A WRT planning commission member will be present to facilitate the discussions. Please note a quorum of WRT planning commission members will not be present, no proposals will be made, nor will the town halls replace the planning commission’s regular monthly meetings. Topics for these meetings may change. Any change will be noted in advance on the White River Township website - whiterivertwp.com.

Jennifer Koetje (holding plaque), along with friends and staffers, celebrate a ribbon cutting for her new medical office, which took place Wednesday, June 12 in Whitehall.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

WLASA stages annual kids’ fishing contest

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

WHITEHALL — Saturday, June 8, the White Lake Area Sportfishing Association hosted its annual kids’ fishing contest at Goodrich Park. Kids of all ages gathered at White Lake with their friends and families in a race to catch the largest size fish.

“The kids’ fishing contest is to introduce kids to fishing who have possibly never been fishing before,” WLASA President Bob Ingalls said. “The vision is to reconnect kids with the outdoors, to give kids an introduction to conservation and using our natural resources. To give them the message of keeping things in nature nice, so we can enjoy these resources for a long time. We want to make it fun and we want to give back to the community. It’s a family friendly event.”

The contest began 13 or 14 years ago and is always hosted on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ free fishing weekend, meaning nobody needs a license to fish that weekend.

“Kids today spend a lot of their time on devices and screens, and they’re not getting outside enough,” said Ingalls. “I think that’s a tragedy. They’re

A group of anglers try their luck off the Goodrich Park marina during the June 8 kids fishing contest.

• Madison Lajewski/Mirror

missing so much. So having an event like this, that’s free to everybody, it’s a good thing.”

The basis of the fishing contest isn’t only to provide a free, fun event for local families, but also to educate future fishers of the White Lake and Michigan area.

“We raise money through our annual fish boil every August, which has been going on for 42 years,” Ingalls said. “It’s been a big community event and with those proceeds, our organization does a number of things. First, we do outreach to kids to get them hooked on fishing. We do a kids’ fishing sem-

Some of the big winners at the June 8 kids’ fishing contest gather for a photo following the event.

• Madison Lajewski/Mirror

inar in the winter, aimed at the fifth grade level, where we have our experts teach them how to tie knots, the basics of casting, introduction to ice fishing, a little bit of biology on identifying fish and lessons about where they live. Then, with the kids’ fishing contest, we carry on that theme.

“We’ve been reaching out, trying to get as many kids as we can and get their parents involved and get them out fishing. Every kid gets an opportunity to weigh any fish they catch. We don’t care what the species is. The 10 biggest fish caught in each age group, boys and girls win a medal, a fishing pole and a t-shirt. Everyone who participates

goes home with a goodie bag full of basic fishing tackle that was donated by White River Tackle, Armstrong’s and Johnson’s Great Outdoors. The fishing poles this year were donated by the National Professional Anglers Association.”

Ingalls encourages community members to continue returning to the WLASA fish boil every August and looks forward to continuing the education of fishing in the community.

“I want to thank everyone who participated and our sponsors,” said Ingalls. “I think we’ve got a wonderful tradition in Whitehall going on with this contest.”

ACWL-Nuveen announces Garden Art Adventure

The Arts Council of White Lake-Nuveen Center is excited to announce the return of Garden Art Adventure - 2024. This unique fundraiser was first hosted in 2020 and continues to be one of ACWL’s most popular events.

The event is scheduled for Sunday, July 21 from 1-5 p.m. and consists of an afternoon of exploring one of a kind gardens, discovering art, and having fun in the White Lake community.

This year’s garden adventure will showcase seven unique White Lake gardens and two special venues. A $20 ticket offers the opportunity to tour the private gardens, engage with local artisans at work, purchase art and garden art, and generally be inspired. All ages are encouraged to attend, and children and students, including college-aged, can attend free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Tickets can be purchased at the ACWL-Nuveen or online at www.artswhitelake.org/gardenartadventure.

Since this event is a major fundraiser and critical to the ACWL-Nuveen’s mission of bringing the arts to White Lake, it asks patrons to consider purchasing tickets even if you can’t attend. Patrons are encouraged to give tickets to friends, neighbors, or family mem-

bers, which could spread the word on all the programming that ACWL-Nuveen has to offer. Options for increasing support are also available, with

donations in the amount of

or $300. Each sponsorship includes recognition in the program and tickets to the event.

Walk the Beat gearing up for July 20 festival

The Walk the Beat free outdoor music festival returns to the White Lake Area July 20. In the heart of the downtown areas of Whitehall and Montague, music will pulsate through the streets thanks to the enduring spirit of community and the support of local businesses, organizations and groups. Walk the Beat White Lake Area Director Kevin Goff encourages everyone to visit the White Lake area and “experience a wide range of musical groups and genres with vibrant sounds that will captivate audiences of all ages.”

Walk the Beat is a volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to music for all and builds communities through musical events. It raises funds through donations, sponsorships, and an event raf-

fle to promote musical education and support local organizations. Walk the Beat began ten years ago in Grand Haven, and then expanded into Albion and the White Lake Area. Thanks to last year’s event, White Lake Area students were awarded $5,800 worth of scholarships and instruments in April. This year’s Walk the Beat White Lake Area music festival will feature 39 musical acts in 20 different venues scattered throughout Montague and Whitehall, MI. Musical acts will take place from 1-5 p.m. This year’s Walk the Beat White Lake Area will give out $4,000 in door prizes and hold a $5,000 event raffle at 7 p.m. Raffle tickets are available for purchase at the event.

org/whitelake or send an email to wtbwhitelake@ gmail.com.

For more information, visit the official Walk the Beat White Lake Area website at https://walkthebeat.

$100, $200,

Peter ‘The Potter’ Johnson works on a ceramic piece during the 2022 ACWL-Nuveen Garden Art Adventure. This year’s edition of the adventure will take place July 21 from 1-5 p.m. and will feature seven White Lake gardens. • Courtesy Photo

The ACWL-Nuveen’s Garden Art Adventure showcases local gardens. • Courtesy Photo