The Oceana Echo - Volume 1, Issue 49, May 3, 2024

Dedicated to Pirate Nation in Memory of Troy Moran

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Hart Public Schools comes to grips with loss of Troy Moran

By Sharon Hallack and Amanda Dodge

The Oceana Echo Community Contributors

Monday morning, a light rain greeted Hart High School students as they entered school to begin another week. Still reeling from the news of their beloved principal’s unexpected death Saturday, the halls and locker commons were reportedly quiet.

Principal Troy Moran, full of life on Friday as he wished his students a good weekend, had passed away suddenly of a heart attack while on a run late Saturday afternoon. It was going to be a hard day, but the students, from the beginning, set the tone for how they would face this tragedy.

What happened next could have been a scene right out of a movie, but it wasn’t a movie. This was real. Superintendent Mark Platt shared, “There was a small circle of kids, maybe about 20 in the middle of the hall, that had started to gather. This was a kid-created situation. I watched as the circle got bigger and bigger, until there were probably 350 kids in a circle, holding hands. I joined the circle; other staff did too. We all held hands. Then junior, Lexie Nienhuis, led us in prayer, followed by other students. Up to that point, I hadn’t shed a tear. In these difficult moments, they pay me to lead. I’ve got things to do. My job is to take care of others. I don’t know whose hands I was holding. I wasn’t looking around. All I know is I became a train wreck. Then I heard a voice I knew incredibly well. It was the voice of my former principal from Mona Shores, one of my long-time friends and now the superintendent of Ravenna, Greg Helmer, who my wife had called to come and support me Monday. He closed the group in prayer. You’d have thought Pastor Vander Zwaag (First Baptist Church) was praying. After the group broke up, I wanted out. I headed toward the door and ran right

into Ryan Stuckey (First Baptist Church youth pastor). He gave me a hug, and I just bawled. That’s not who I am, but I am convinced he was in the right place at the right time.”

The loss is real; the loss is deep. Even those who didn’t know him personally can feel the grief of those who did. Several staff members were eager to share their thoughts and memories.

Spitler Elementary Principal Brandon Bruce said, “The joy and energy he brought to his job every day, also the passion he had for working with his students. I loved his energy!”

“Troy had a special gift of connecting with every student and staff member. He made you feel seen, heard and valued. Troy brought many initiatives to our district and the high school, such as PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports), Ride with Pride, Farm Week and more! He was a natural leader and was passionate about education and helping people be the better versions of themselves. I will miss his humor, infectious laugh and his friendship. I am honored that I got to learn from him over the past few years; he will truly be missed,” Diman Wolf Early Childhood Center Director Andrea Degan said.

High School Athletic Director Tim Hertzler reflected, “Troy often said he needed Hart more than Hart needed him; that was not true. God brought us together to make both better. We went through some great times and tough times, and Troy always brought an infectious energy that made the good times better and the tough times bearable. He was decisive, bordering on impulsive, making you love him all the more. It is a great comfort to my soul knowing he decided to grab back on to his faith the last couple of years.”

“Troy had the courage to challenge norms and embrace change. My favorite quality that Troy possessed was his willingness to support an individual’s uniqueness. He welcomed everyone from all facets of life and encouraged them to become the best versions of themselves. He laughed with his entire body. It was contagious and will certainly be missed,” Director of Special Education Coordinator and 504 Plan Coordinator Michaela Dennert said.

“Troy quickly became a great friend and colleague. He understood his purpose and had a passion and love for others. Rarely did you see Troy without a smile. He will always be missed, but never forgotten,” Hart Middle School Principal Kevin Ackley said.

“Troy began as my boss and quickly became a close friend. He was an honest man with unquestionable integrity and a fun sense of humor. He was a great listener and storyteller who had compassion, empathy and understanding. Troy wasn’t afraid to tell people

he loved them, to stand up for what he believed, to champion a cause or say what he thought,” Hart High School Special Education teacher Stacia Erickson shared. “He was the captain of our Hart High School Pirate Ship and was steering us in the right direction. His faith was his anchor and unwavering. God was number one, followed closely by his daughters. He was strong from life and just had a certain  ‘je ne sais quoi.’ Somehow, he just made everyone’s lives better. I will miss him every day.”

Technology/Auditorium Manager Phil DeBrot said, “Troy, or T-Roy, was one of those guys that the term ‘clean cut’ couldn’t do justice for. He was always dressed for success and was the only guy I knew who could pull the no-sock look off and still be taken seriously. When he was around his staff and students, he was a leader. When he was around me and a few other admins, he was a dear friend and one of the boys.”

Known for his wonderful sense of humor, Karma Thomas, high school office assistant, said, “The little quote that I remember Troy always saying was ‘Welcome to pointless Tuesday!’”

High School English teacher Brett Ramseyer reflected, “Troy made every person feel like they had an understanding ally no matter their background, perspective or personality. His support encouraged those around him to give a little extra, listen a little more, and share with abandon. He helped us make this a better place with him. I will be forever grateful for that.”

High School Health and Physical Education teacher Jen Hlady shared, “Troy was a person that truly cared about everyone. I will miss him in the halls of Hart High School. I will miss his weekly memos and our chats about running and sharing with him how our competitive cheer and golf teams did after events. I will miss hearing his laugh and seeing his smile. With all the things I will miss, I can say that I am forever grateful to have had Troy as my principal as well as my friend. He gave such inspiration to myself and to our school.”

“One thing about Troy Moran is that he was always triple-booked,” Kelli Campagna, executive assistant, said with a smile. “He often forgot he had a meeting before he scheduled another. He always made time for students and staff first and would take as much time as they needed to work out a problem, which often resulted in Troy sprinting across campus to his next meeting. Most people would be alarmed if you saw an administrator sprinting across campus; here, it just meant you saw Troy running to his next appointment. Without fail, he would arrive and announce that he thought the meeting was supposed to start in a few minutes, followed by

a smirk and that contagious laugh of his.”

“The kids loved him,” Platt said. “He connected with all and was highly, highly visible every day. He would be in the locker commons first thing every morning and every hour between classes. He was always high-fiving kids and making connections. The same went for staff. I knew they ‘liked’ Troy, but I didn’t understand the magnitude and how much they ‘loved’ him. They respected him and looked forward to

him staying. He had told me he wasn’t planning to apply for my position when I retire (in another year). He made it clear: he loved high school so much and there were some things he wanted to accomplish with staff. He was the perfect fit. The light within Troy was very obvious in the way he led, the way he lived and the way he loved. He was the happiest guy in the room with his infectious smile and laugh. You knew at every meeting there was going to be a full-on body laugh from him,

especially if Phil DeBrot was in the room. He jelled with every single staff member.”  In the coming days and weeks, as the high school and district close out another school year and begin preparing for the next school year, many extra decisions will need to be made. Platt said he plans to meet with not only the school board and staff but students as well. “Troy connected with kids. They will be an important part of the process.”

A tribute to Troy

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

The questions are being asked locally, regionally and even statewide: What? How? Why? The sudden death of 46-year-old Hart High School Principal Troy Moran late Saturday afternoon is impossible to comprehend. Understandably, the entire district and West Michigan are reeling, trying to process this heartbreaking loss.

After hearing the news Saturday while on his annual fishing weekend, Superintendent Mark Platt has been burning the candle at both ends since, doing what he is known so well for: leading. He hasn’t given himself much time to grieve. Troy was more than a principal under his leadership. He was a dear friend. “Troy had a natural leadership skill set and a natural desire to learn,” Platt said.

Superintendent of Ravenna School District Greg Helmer, a lifelong friend and former boss was one of the first people Platt contacted Saturday. “My wife (Vicki) then asked me if she could contact him to come in on Monday. She knew I’d be the guy who’d try to do it myself. He was my sidekick and advisor all day. He helped keep me on track.”

Moran and Platt first met when they were both working at Mona Shores. “I remember the first time I met him, and I swear he looked like he’d just walked off the cover of a GQ magazine,” Platt said with a smile. They were introduced when their principal, Helmer, suggested Troy cover for Platt when he was out of the office for any extended period. “Troy asked if I like to muskie fish, and we immediately clicked. From then on, we’ve been friends.”

Hart Public School Board President Chad Coker shared, “Troy was an amazing individual, extremely smart and well spoken. He and I would talk at length about girls basketball. He was a very high-energy guy, and I never saw him without a smile on his face. He started a lot of really good programs at HPS, and he is going to be extremely hard to replace. The kids loved him. My daughter graduated last year and started crying when I told her the news. I have a few other friends who said a similar thing when they told their kids. Troy worked out regularly, and we would always joke with him to stop making the rest of us look so bad. He is going to be missed for sure.”

“This whole thing is a balance between being pragmatic and being emotional. I basically have had to compartmentalize, which I’m really good at doing. It doesn’t help with processing grief, but it does help get things done,” Platt explained.

Platt was quick to give credit to the many people who have stepped up to help. He can’t thank his entire staff enough, and those from neighboring districts as well, saying Mona Shores High School staff sent the entire high school staff lunch from Hobo’s on Tuesday.

To put into words how a community comes together in times like these is not easy. In talking with Platt, it is obvious this is a very fluid situation and there are many involved. “Our Crisis Team met on Sunday to come up with a plan for Monday. I’d already made up my mind that we were going to have school on Monday. I’d lived through the death of a kindergarten student

while I was at Mona Shores. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I knew that in a crisis, people need people. I don’t know how long those ladies worked, but by 7:45 a.m. Monday morning, every high school staff member had a folder with, (among other resources) a script for their classes and slips to fill out for students needing to talk to someone. Various counselors saw approximately 60 students on Monday.”

Then on Monday, Platt and his support team met to come up with action steps for the day. “Our first priority was to craft a letter to parents. I didn’t communicate (in a timely way) with our parents and I should have. Looking back, I should have sent something out on Sunday, but I was doing things on my own and wasn’t utilizing resources. I also called Troy’s parents. It was a tough conversation and didn’t last long, but his parents are incredible. They are Hart ‘superfans.’ They didn’t miss a game,” Platt said.

And while it may seem like it’s too soon, Platt shared that this small team of advisors had a necessary discussion about Troy’s replacement. “One of the first people Platt contacted Saturday night was Troy’s best friend, Ken Byard. Byard, of North Muskegon, had known Troy since high school and had worked with Moran and Platt in the same building at Mona Shores. Now retired, Byard told Platt, “Whatever you need, I will do.”

“Since that conversation, it has become obvious there is great value in having a very experienced principal who could step right in. He’s from our conference, and this is a very important season of school, there’s honors, graduation and setting a master schedule for next year,” said Platt. Byard was to meet staff today (Friday) and plans to serve as the interim principal until another principal is hired.

When asked about graduation, Platt seemed glad to share something more lighthearted. “We found Troy’s graduation speech on his computer. The plan is for two staff members to deliver it on graduation night. I only read the first paragraph, I wanted to wait to hear the rest at graduation. But I have a feeling it is going to be very funny. Even before I came, there was a rich tradition that graduation only lasted 59 minutes. Normally, no one really cares what the principal says, or any of the speakers, for that matter. Graduation comes down to two things, watching kids walk across the stage to receive their diplomas and tossing their hats in the air. In the past 12 years, I’ve never spoken at graduation, and I want to keep it that way. Troy always wanted to speak but knew he needed to stay under the hour time limit.”

The coming days at Hart Public Schools will feel different without Moran. The loss of his leadership, friendship, positive attitude, smile and work ethic have left a void. This year’s Hart High School graduation will be emotion-filled. It will be one that neither the Class of 2024 nor the community will soon forget. Technology/ Auditorium Director Phil DeBrot may have said it best: “Hart Public Schools is a close-knit organization. We are a family, and Troy Moran was an outstanding member of this family. Even though time will eventually heal everything, this tragedy will definitely leave a scar.”

Postscript: Hart Public Schools closed at 11:30 a.m. yesterday (Thursday) to allow students, staff and friends to attend Moran’s funeral.

Winner will be selected Monday for Hart High School’s ‘Ride with Pride’ program

By Stacia Erickson

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

The late Troy Moran, Hart High School principal, first broached the subject of a “Ride with Pride” program with the Hart Public School Board in 2021, a fact he reiterated in an interview with this reporter the day before he passed away.

Moran was very proud of his students in Hart and the program he began. He explained that he’d first presented the program as a takeoff on what he’d already been introduced to in 2012. He told some of the history of the program he was familiar with, saying that Ride With Pride was first begun as a collaborative effort between Mona Shores High School, Norton Shores Police Department, Muskegon Alcohol Liability Initiative and Ramos and Sons Auto Body. At that time, the goal was to provide an opportunity for law enforcement and the schools to join together and develop a program that promoted safe and positive choices by students. Moran wanted to do the same thing in Hart.

He explained that students would be required to sign the “Pirate Safe Driving and Positive Behavior Pledge,” and students who signed the pledge and had limited behavior and legal infractions would then have their name entered in a drawing at the end of the school year for a raffle. That raffle would be divided into two parts and include donated prizes as “consolation” prizes of sorts for the rest of the students who did not win the grand prize of the car. Overall, the year-long incentive program would serve as an opportunity to reward and recognize students for their positive behavior, with the crème de la crème prize being

the top winner walking away with the keys to the donated vehicle.

The school board agreed with Moran that the idea was a good one, and he received their backing. Unfortunately, the first-year inventory of good used cars was very low, and the newly hatched Hart program couldn’t take off. The second year, with the help of the Hart City Police Department and Detective Kevin Skipski, a car was secured.

In a 2023 summer year-end summary letter, Moran informed the Hart community that he wanted “to give a huge shout out to all of our community for their support for our Ride with Pirate P.R.I.D.E. program. Due to our community’s generosity, we were able to recognize our student body who committed to our Pirate Pledge with 63 different prizes. Gael Pena won earbuds, Amelia Tu-

instra won a $50 Amazon gift card, Guillermo Ortega won a $100 gift card to Oceana Eye Care, McKenna Carrier won a twohour pontoon rental from Wave Club Water Sports Rentals and Caleb Ackley won the fishing kayak from WaterDog Outfitters, to name a few of the prizes. The biggest prize of the day went to Molly Dessauer, who won the car, which was generously donated by John Heykoop and Eagle Towing.”

Moran said he believes the program is a great way to have a big decrease in discipline referrals and negative behaviors across the board, adding, “Ride with Pride enables our students, with community support, to make positive choices that will directly affect them today and in the future. Through positive reinforcement of the Ride With Pride pledge, our students are given a road map to success.”

Next Monday, May

6, at 2:45 p.m. during an all-school assembly, this year’s car, donated by Eagle Towing and Jerry’s Towing, a 2017 Ford Fusion, will be given to one deserving student. Ten lucky high school students who signed the pledge, followed through with excellent behavior throughout the school year and are also licensed drivers had their names drawn in the preliminary drawing and are in the running. During the assembly, those 10 semi-finalists will each choose an envelope. Of the 10 envelopes, only one contains the actual

key fob which will unlock the door to that black-onblack, fully loaded, leather interior car.

Sophomore student Ryland Bayle, one particular semi-finalist, has worn a broad smile of anticipation since last Friday, saying, “I really, really, really hope I win that car! I’m going to have a sign made for it if I do with Mr. Moran’s name on it to honor him. He was just a really great guy! We are really going to miss him.”

Moran looked just as excited as those kids after drawing names Friday. He, too, was looking

forward to the assembly. As we talked, he smiled in anticipation of seeing the joy on the students’ faces and noted the atmosphere of exhilaration as excitement mounted. Chances are he might just be watching the fun next Monday from the best seat in the house.

Moran’s family has requested that any donations in his honor should be made to the Ride with Pride program at Hart, so future generations of students can continue his legacy of positivity and giving back to this community.

Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet

Show mom how much she means to you this Mother’s Day with a special Sundance Saloon Brunch Buffet at the Double JJ Resort. Sunday, May 12 | 11am – 5pm

Seating times 11 am | 12:30 pm | 2 pm | 3:30 pm (final seating) Reservations (231) 894-3900

The 10 finalists for the Hart High School “Ride with Pride” car giveaway are joined by Hart Police Detective Kevin Skipski, fourth from left. The students are, from right, Blake Weirich, Annie Bitely, Mia Perea, Julia McTaggart, Grace Hallack, James Galindo, , Ryland Bayle, Payden Stone, Logan Jorissen

Stacia Erickson/Echo

K evin S Kip SKi and T roy M oran

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

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

William Montague Ferry and Oceana

By Caleb Jackson

The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

There are some people who had a strong influence on Oceana County during its earliest days, despite never settling here. William Montague Ferry, or, as he is often called, Rev. Wm. M. Ferry, is one of those people. Ferry founded Grand Haven and Ferrysburg. His son, Noah, founded Montague and named it in his father’s honor. I’m sure many of you are already making the connection between the Ferrys and the township in Oceana called Ferry. You are correct to make that correlation; however, none of the Ferrys lived in Ferry township. So, who was this Ferry guy, and why does his name keep cropping up in every history book written about Oceana County?

Rev. Wm. M. Ferry was a Presbyterian minister and lumber baron born in Granby, Mass., in 1796. He graduated from Union College at Schenectady, N.Y., in 1821 and received his ordination by the New York Presbytery in 1822. After this, he engaged in mission work on Mackinac Island and even built a Mission House there in 1825. This house is now on the National Registry of Historic Places; however, the interior is not open to the public. Despite being a minister, Ferry was very business-minded. This caught the eye of a man named Robert Stuart, an explorer who was interested in getting in on the budding lumber trade in Michigan. He sent Ferry to go scout some land. This is reflected in the Oceana County His-

torical & Genealogical Society’s history book on Oceana. They give a timeline of the county’s history, and in the year 1833, they write:

Rev. Wm. M. Ferry, missionary at Mackinac Island, undertakes an exploratory trip around Lake Michigan, proceeding by canoe with two Indian guides along the north and west shores, around to St. Joseph and north along the Michigan shore. Reports only one white settler along the whole Michigan shoreline. When Ferry returns, he tells Stuart that the banks of the Grand River hold promise. Stuart gives him some money to settle in the area and start lumbering. Again, this is reflected in OCH&GS’s book, with the 1834 entry reading:

Rev. Wm. M. Ferry and family moved to the mouth of the Grand River to establish the first sizable town along the east shore of Lake Michigan. Resigns ministry and becomes Grand Haven’s leading businessman with large operations in lumbering.

But where exactly does this tie in with Oceana? Well, it turns out that some of the earliest work in the county was done for Rev. Wm. M. Ferry. He is often cited as having built the first sawmill in the county. In “Oceana County Business Men and Pioneers of To-Day” Hartwick and Tuller write, when speaking of Benona Township, “Intimately associated with the history of this township is the honored name of Ferry. The first sawmill erected in the county was built in the year 1849 by the Rev. Wm. M. Ferry and his son,

the Hon. T. W. Ferry. It was built at the mouth of Stony Creek and was run by water power.”

The OCH&GS corroborates this in their book. “In 1850, Rev. Ferry and his son Thomas returned to Oceana to build the first lumber mill in the county. With son, Noah Ferry, also built the first steam-powered mill at White Lake, then part of Oceana County.” However, a little closer reading in Hartwick and Tuller’s book tells us that Dr. Thomas Phillips actually built the mill for Rev. Ferry. The doctor moved to the White Lake area in about 1848. There is no record of it, but this is probably the year that Phillips agreed to do the work for Ferry.

We know that Phillips and John D. Hanson, along with some others, had previously scouted the area of Claybanks for settlement. By 1849, Phillips had returned to Claybanks and began constructing the mill for Ferry. “Mr. Phillips built the first saw mill in the county (a frame one) at Stony Creek for Rev. W. Ferry,” Hartwick and Tuller wrote in their book. This is mentioned again when discussing another earlier settler, Alex. S. Anderson. “In Dec. 1849, he came to Oceana County….He began work for Dr. Phillips who was then building a mill at Stony Creek for Rev. W. Ferry.”

Anderson, it would seem, went on to do more work for Ferry as well. “He worked for Mr. Phillips until the fall of 1850, when he went to lumbering for Mr. Ferry. A year later, he took charge of the mill and continued to run it for two years.” It was Ferry’s interests that

brought Anderson to Oceana County, and yet he went on to be a strong influence in his own right. According to Hartwick and Tuller, “He was known as a man of positive opinions and exerted an influence in all the affairs of the county, and more especially in his locality.”

As for the Ferry Township, its name comes from Rev. Wm. M. Ferry’s son, Thomas W. Ferry. Thomas Ferry was the first U.S. Senator to represent Oceana County in Congress, starting in 1865. Initially, it was Reed Township, and the name changed to Ferry in 1869 by an Act of Legislature.

And there you have it. Today, Rev. Ferry is known as the father of Grand Haven and the father of Ottawa County, yet his name is all over the pages of Oceana’s history too.

By Mort Wiegand The Oceana Echo Volunteer Contributor

April is behind us now, and it has never been a better time to check out the Chadwick-Munger House in downtown Hart. The headquarters of the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society has received a new coat of paint on its trim and the windows have been washed. Gordon Courtright did a great job on the painting, and the white pillars really stand out now.  There were nine visitors in the month of April. Heading over to the Mears Museum Complex, just one block west of the Old Town Hall, is the Swift Lathers House & Museum area. Swift and Ce-

lia Lathers raised a daughter and five boys there. Swift passed away in 1970, and the family donated the house and garage to the OCH&GS to be used as a museum property. Over the years, since the 1970s, other buildings have been added. The complex is open only on the weekends throughout the summer months, from 1-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Donations in any amount can be made via Paypal at paypal.me/echopublishinginc, by scanning the QR code at right or by sending a check made out to Echo Publishing Inc. to P.O. Box 192, Mears, MI 49436.

Echo THE

Ongoing

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

The Ladder Community Center:

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

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

Saturdays: Celebrate worship gathering, 6:30 p.m.

Esther Bible Study: 1st Mon .each month, Starts 5/6 (Sign-up required by 5/5) Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

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.

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

Through May 29 - OCD Knee-High Naturalist Forest School Program

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

Shelby High School Baccalaureate set for May 14

The Shelby High School graduating class of 2024 will have their Baccalaureate Tuesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. in the SHS auditorium. The public is welcome to attend this evening of seniors honoring God, their fellow classmates and the community that shaped them. The Shelby Tiger Jazz Band will perform at the event. Spanish translation will be provided.

Get your votes in at the Oceana County Student Art Show

The Oceana County Student Art Show, sponsored by the Pentwater Arts Council, begins today, Friday, May 3, and runs through Saturday, May 4, at the Oceana County Council on Aging, 4250 W. Tyler Road, Hart. Organizers are encouraging the public to participate by their attendance and their in-person voting for the People’s Choice Awards for the student-submitted art pieces.

Oceana County students in elementary, middle and high school grades were invited to participate in the Student Art Show by submitting 2D and 3D artwork to their school art teacher or, if homeschooled, to contact the PAC for information on how to submit their artwork for public viewing and judging by local artists.

The annual PAC Student Art Show is a fulfillment of our mission by encouraging creative opportunities for Oceana students, beginning as young as elementary through high school. The annual Student Art Show’s poster, used for publicity of the 2024 year event, was designed by Hart High School student Kamryn Taylor. The juried Student Art Show grants monetary awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the elementary, middle and high school divisions and Best of Show for each level. Judging for these awards will take place today. The People’s Choice Award is decided by in-person attendee voting for all three levels of submitted art and will take place through Saturday, May 4, ending at 2 p.m. The winners of all levels of art, Best of Show and People’s Choice awards will be announced on Saturday, May 4, at 2:30 p.m. The PAC has designated $2,230 for student awards.

May

May 4 - Hart Hills Road Race

May 4 - Archer House Open House, 224 S. State St., Hart, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

May 4 - Derby Day event, Shelby Optimist Club, 6 p.m.

May 5 - 39th Shelby Rotary Club 4-Person Scramble, Oceana Golf Club.

May 7 - Special Election: Pentwater Public Schools Bond Proposal and Holton Public Schools Operating Millage Renewal Proposal

May 7 - Tech Hour, Hesperia Comm. Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

May 7 - Silver Lake - Hart and Pentwater Chambers of Commerce Annual Brochure Swap, Golden Sands Bucket Bar, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

May 7 - Hart Middle School Band Concert, Hart Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

May 8 - Harbor House/Elevate Oceana Women’s Recovery Open House, 315 S. State St., Hart, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

May 8 - Walkerville “Rebuilding Community Committee” meeting, Walkerville Library, 6:30 p.m.

May 8 - Hart High School Jazz and Concert Band performances, Hart Public Schools Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

May 9- Teen Night, Hesperia Comm. Library, 3:30-6:30 p.m.

May 10 - Hart Performing Arts Series Alexis Cole Quartet, Hart Public Schools Auditorium, Hart, 7:30 p.m.

May 10 - Last day for Hart High School Seniors.

May 10 - Story Time, Hesperia Comm. Library, 10-11 a.m.

May 10 - Oceana Community Foundation Feeding America Food Truck, Spitler Elementary, Hart, 5 p.m.

Brews & Beats comes to Pentwater May 4

Join the party Saturday, May 4 at the Village Green in Pentwater for Brews & Beats! This exciting event will take place from noon to 5 p.m. and is hosted by the Pentwater Chamber of Commerce. Brews & Beats is a craft beer, wine and cider festival celebrating Michigan’s finest beverages and music. With breweries from across the state showcasing a diverse range of specialty brews, this event promises to create a relaxed atmosphere filled with great drinks, food, yard games and fantastic music. There will be performances by The All American Funk Parade and Two Dudes in Flip Flops.

This event, which takes place under a heated event tent at the scenic Village Green, ensures comfort regardless of the weather. General admission tickets are available for $35 in advance or $40 at the door, which includes a tasting glass and six beer samples. Additional drink tickets can be purchased on the day of the event. Visit www.pentwater.org/brewsandbeats for more information.

OCCOA offers many May events for area seniors

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

Breakfast is available on Thursday mornings, 8:30–9 a.m. Cost: $3, reservations required.  Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program - during Open Enrollment; call 873-4461 to schedule an appointment.

Strength and Balance: Mondays and Wednesdays, May 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22 and 29; 10 a.m.

Gentle Yoga: Tuesdays, May 7, 14, 21 and 28; 10:15 a.m.

Drum Fitness with Gwen: Fridays, May 10 and 24; 10 a.m.

Thai Chi: Mondays and Wednesdays, May 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22 and 29; 9 a.m.

Zumba: Fridays, May 3, 10 and 17; 9 a.m. Red Cross CPR/AED and First Aid Class with Gwen: Tuesday, May 7; 4 p.m. RSVP at front desk or call 231-873-4461.

Ales For Aging Trivia Night at Big Hart Brewery: Wednesday, May 8; 5-8 p.m. Hosted by Hart and Shelby Rotary Clubs, proceeds benefit OCCOA Meal Program

Art with Bradley Youngstrom: Mondays, May 13; 10 a.m. Cost: $15, reservations required.

Caregiver Support Group: Wednesday, May 15; 2 p.m. Lantern Festival at John Ball Zoo: Thursday, May 16; 5 p.m.

Ladies Afternoon Tea: Friday, May 17; 2 p.m.

Shopping Trip: Friday, May 17; 9 a.m.

Art with Hannah: Tuesday, May 21; 10 a.m.

Beltone: Wednesday, May 22; by appointment  Greenhouse Tour and Lunch: May 24; 9 a.m.

Closed Memorial Day

Memorial Day Picnic: May 28; noon.

Sew Let’s Make a Bag together: Friday, May 31; 9 a.m. See Mary for more information on this quilting project.

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

Parmenter O’Toole Office Hours: Please call 8734461 for an appointment.

Lauren Eisenbarth, an elder law paralegal for Attorney Anna Urick Duggins of Parmenter Law, will offer a half-hour, no-charge introductory meeting from 2-4 p.m. at Oceana County Council on Aging. Topics to discuss include elder law services such as estate planning, long-term care planning, Medicaid

planning and VA aid and attendance.

Other Activities:

Farkle: Mondays at 10 a.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bingo: Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.

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

Bridge: Thursdays from 1-3 p.m.

Cribbage: Fridays at 9:30 a.m.

Kaffeeklatsch: daily at 10 a.m.

Cards & Games: daily following lunch.

Hart Community Performing Arts Series welcomes Alexis Cole Quartet next Friday

The Hart Community Performing Arts Series will conclude its 2003-2004 season on Friday, May 10, with a concert by the Alexis Cole Quartet, featuring pianist Brandon Goldberg. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Hart Public Schools Auditorium, located in the Hart Middle School at 308 W. Johnson St. in Hart. Tickets can be purchased online at hartseries.org or at the door. Season ticket holders are reminded that the concert is on Friday, May 10, not on Monday, as their incorrectly printed season tickets indicate.

Called “one of the great voices of today” by Jonathan Schwartz and praised for her “impeccable control and style” by Michael Feinstein, Alexis Cole has been compared to classic jazz singers such as Sarah Vaughan and Anita O’Day. A Top Winner of the Jazzmobile Vocal Competition judged by jazz icons TS Monk, Catherine Russell, Grady Tate and Dr. Billy Taylor, a third prize winner in the Montreux Jazz Vocal Competition and a finalist in the Sarah Vaughan Competition, Alexis has a dozen albums to her credit on Motéma, Chesky, Venus Records and Zoho. She has performed with such artists as Fred Hersch, Bucky Pizzarelli and Don Braden. She’s been a soloist with the Boston Pops, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and has headlined at clubs around the U.S. and Asia.

Her 2018 U.S. release of “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To,” featuring the band One For All, was in Jazzweek’s top 50 albums of the year. As an educator, Alexis was the head of vocal jazz at the conservatory at SUNY Purchase and counts Grammy-winning Samara Joy and rising star Anaïs Reno as her students. She is the founder and director of JazzVoice. com, an online educational community featuring singing classes, professional development sessions and private lessons from a roster of renowned jazz vocalists and educators. She is also the artistic director of the Virginia Beach Vocal Jazz Summit. Her most recent release, “Sky Blossom,” features original arrangements for big band from her time as a staff sergeant in the West Point Band’s Jazz Knights.  Brandon Goldberg has been playing the piano and making music since he was 3 years old. Critics have praised his “unassailable technique, advanced harmonic understanding, a deep sense of swing and, most impressively, a clarity and plethora of ideas executed to near-perfection.” – Downbeat. Goldberg is a 2024 YoungArts Winner with Distinction, a semifinalist in the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition and the youngest recipient of the 2022 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award.

Tails of Hope

Felix is a charismatic and intelligent looking dog for his forever home. With his striking appearance and boundless energy, Felix is sure to capture the hearts of active individuals or families who are ready for an adventure companion. Felix has an abundance of energy and loves to stay active. He thrives on regular exercise and engaging activities that stimulate his mind and body.

As an Australian Cattle Dog mix, Felix is highly intelligent and thrives on mental challenges. He enjoys learning new tricks and tasks, making him an ideal candidate for training activities. Felix has a playful nature and loves interactive games and toys. He enjoys fetch, agility courses and any activity that allows him to use his natural athleticism.

JOB

SEASONAL GROUNDSKEEPER / SEXTON HELPER

Hart Cemetery is seeking a seasonal full-time groundskeeper to work directly with the Cemetery Sexton. Duties include: mowing, trimming, watering, weeding, blowing leaves, helping with storm damage cleanup and help maintaining equipment. Applicant must be 18 years of age and have a valid Michigan driver’s license. Please mail cover letter and resume by Friday, May 10, 2024, to the: Hart Cemetery Commission P.O. Box 740 Hart, MI 49420

Felix is available for adoption from the Oceana County Animal Shelter. If interested, please call the shelter at 231-8615395. 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.

PUBLIC AUCTION

Saturday, May 11, 2024 @ 10AM

Located: 4919 N Victory Corner, Ludington MI, 49431

Directions: From U.S. 31 ludington exit, take U.S. 10 east 2 miles, turn left onto N Stiles Rd follow north for 5.5 miles, turn left onto W Victory Dr follow west 1 mile, turn right onto N Victory Corner Rd follow north 0.7 miles to sale site. Watch for signs! Beyer Auction has been commissioned to sell the following personal property at public auction. Including items like a 2011 John Deere 3005 w/1000 hrs, 2000 Ford Excursion V10 w/244,000 miles, 1990s GMC Suburban plow truck 5.7l W/264,000 miles, 2 axle flatbed trailer, outlook Chevy motorhome bad 6.0l engine, John Deere B tractor, John Deere D160 lawnmower 48’’ deck 127.2 hrs, King Kutter finish mower, CountyLine brush hog, single bottom plow, a John Deere back blade, a John Deere bucket, CountyLine landscape rake, box blade, plow attachment, 6 spring cultivator, large freedom cultivator, & more! See our website for a complete list and pictures @ www.beyerauction.com

Auctioneers Note/Terms: No out of state checks will be accepted. Cash, check, or card with a positive ID. a 5% credit card fee will be charged. Announcements take precedence over printed material. Not responsible for accidents or loss. There will be no lunch available.

Beyer Auction

o bi T uarie S

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

Francis Benjamin Burch Sr.

October 2, 1940 ~ April 19, 2024

Francis Benjamin Burch Sr., 83, of Twin Lake, passed away Friday, April 19, 2024, surrounded by family that he deeply loved. He was born Oct. 2, 1940, in Charlevoix, Mich., the son of Edward K and Marian (Case) Burch.

On June 18, 1960, Francis married Gloria Culp, and they spent a loving 64 years together.

Francis is survived by his wife, Gloria Burch; son, Francis (Anita) Burch Jr.; daughters, Catherine Burch and Gail (Rocky) Kalbrener-Mazzeo; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Francis graduated from Montague High School. He worked as a cement finisher for many years until his re tirement. He was a member of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians. Francis was also a lifelong member of the Fox Lake Rod and Gun Club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, woodworking, and working with the tribal Natural Resources Department. He always enjoyed visits from his only granddaughter, Zanna Furness, so they could race riding lawnmowers. He also enjoyed teaching his niece, Theresa Shaner, the Indian traditions of hunting and fishing.

Francis was preceded in death by: his parents, Edward K and Marian Burch; his brothers, Edward, Clarence, and Leonard; and his sister, Laura Burroughs. A Celebration of Life will take place at the White Lake Eagles, 1204 S. Lake St., Whitehall, MI 49461, on Thursday, May 9, at 12:30 p.m. Memorial cards and contributions can be sent to: P.O. Box 392, Whitehall, MI 49461.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, White Lake Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. www.beaconfh.com

Linda Lou VanVleet

January 1, 1944 ~ April 26, 2024

Linda Lou VanVleet, 80, of Shelby, passed away Friday, April 26, 2024, at home surrounded by her family. She was born Jan. 1, 1944 in Brampton, Mich., the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Wolfgram) Counterman.

Linda was a loving mother, grandmother and friend. She made sure her family knew that each of them was loved and were special to her.

Linda is survived by: her children, Rose (Bill) Ruffilo of Florida, Lisa (Eddie) Ashburn of Florida, Emily and Chuck of Michigan, Russell (Shannon) Gilbert of South Dakota, Marcia (Antino) Ramirez of Florida, Sue (Philip) Tapang of Michigan, Charlotte Green of Mich igan, Duane (Melony) Maddox of Michigan, and Shawn (Amy) VanVleet of Oklahoma; 29 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Marian Miller and Sarah Barr.

Linda was preceded in death by: her husband, Donald VanVleet; parents, Samuel and Mary; brothers, Charles, Bennie and Samuel; sisters, Viola, Baker and Alberta.

Graveside services will be conducted at 4 p.m. at North Weare Cemetery, 3684 W. Hogan Road, Pentwater, Michigan 49449, with Adrian Eising officiating. A luncheon will follow at Faith Christian Fellowship Church, 400 S. Hart St., Hart, Michigan 49420.

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

Troy Spence Moran

October 27, 1977 ~ April 27, 2024

Troy Spence Moran, 46, our beloved son, father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend unexpectedly passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

Troy was born on Oct. 27, 1977 and lived in Whitehall, graduating from Whitehall High School in 1996 and Western Michigan University in 2002.

Troy was a true lover of life. He loved fishing, especially in Florida, running, being active, watching sports but first and foremost, he loved being a dad to his daughters, Elle and Reagan. Troy’s gift in life was putting others first. As it’s been said by many, he was kind to all and never met a stranger; whoever he met became a friend who felt seen and heard with each inter action.

Driven by his faith in God and purpose in life, he would always challenge those around him to be the best version of themselves. It was his faith that laid the foundation for everything in his life and allowed him to bring the fruits of the spirit alive, not only in his life but in the lives of others. Troy’s life was filled with the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and discipline and he poured these gifts into everyone he met, especially those during his career in education serving in five West Michigan school districts and also served as the foundation of who he was. These small acts resulted in big impacts.

Troy’s ability to see the good in others and make meaningful connections, paired with his easy-going nature, flashy smile and infectious laugh lit up family rooms, gyms and classrooms. This ability defined who he was and how he lived his life. As we are left with huge holes in our hearts, Troy would want us to remember this: make it right with God and whoever you need to in your life, have faith and trust in the Lord, and spread the fruits of the spirit to all.

Left to cherish the memories of Troy are his parents, Steve and Jillene Moran of Whitehall; his daughters, Elle and Reagan Moran of Whitehall; siblings Todd Moran of Macomb and Rachel Moran of Seal Beach, Calif.; and nephew and nieces, Riley, Reese and Pfeifer.

Services took place at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Shelby Road Baptist Church (4066 W. Shelby Road, Shelby, MI 49455) with Pastor Steven Lister officiating. Visitation was one hour prior to his service. Burial was in Oakhurst Cemetery, Whitehall, Mich.

Memorials in memory of Troy may be directed to the Ride with Pride program at Hart High School.

Arrangements by The Sytsema Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 737 E. Apple Ave., Muskegon, MI 49442.

Barbara Yancey, 76, of Walkerville, passed away Friday, April 26, 2024. She was born Oct. 21, 1947, in Effingham, Ill., the daughter of Jessie and Viola Cotton.

Barbara is survived by: her loving husband of 52 years, James; daughter, Jennifer; sons, Patrick and James Jr.; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Barbara was a special lady who always encouraged those around her to be their best selves.

In accordance with Barbara’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and no services will be held at this time. A memorial for her with family will be soon.

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

Celebration of Life ~ Diane Spencer Carlson

Rev. Sarah J. Samuelson Sunday Worship Service: 8 & 10 a.m. Barrier Free Access Nursery Provided

A Faithful Focus: Elevating The Harbor House Community Open House for new program set for May 8

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

The Harbor House of Hart is excited to announce Elevate Oceana will acquire its present ministry location to launch a new faith-based women’s recovery program with residential services. Elevate Oceana will take ownership of The Harbor House June 1 of this year and officially begin operations July 1, 2024.

The entire community is invited to an Open House this coming Wednesday, May 8, at The Harbor House, located at 315 S. State St. in Hart, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a light lunch at noon. The women’s Elevate Oceana Team will be on site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to meet the community and answer questions about their exciting new program.

“This is such a great gift from the Lord,” said soon-to-be Elevate Oceana’s Women’s Recovery Program Board Member Jen Stitt. “The Harbor House’s vision of bringing hope and guidance to young women at risk, providing stable housing and support through the love of Jesus, will carry on with the ministry of Elevate Oceana.”

“God is unfolding a new path now for us to follow in answer to our daily prayer, (which has been) ‘God use this place for your glory!’ Our hearts are sure that it is now time to pass the pen and let more stories be written by the hands and hearts of another ministry,” current Harbor House Co-Director Eva Kostal said.

“Elevate Oceana Women’s Recovery Program will operate similarly to the Elevate Oceana Men’s Residences, with a house manager living on site. It will be a safe place for women overcoming addictions, abuse, and incarceration. Women will be able to voluntarily apply to join this sober living

environment and will sign a contract agreeing to the parameters of the program, including weekly recovery groups, counseling sessions, and discipleship. There will also be random drug and alcohol testing,” Stitt explained. “This is an opportunity for women to overcome the trauma and struggles of life, and to reclaim a new identity by renewing their hearts and minds. Galatians 5:1 says, ‘...for freedom Christ has set us free.’

To offset the amount of room and board, there is a cost to participate in the program. Women will be employed or seeking employment in the community to fulfill this need and to help launch them successfully to the next step in their lives. This home is going to be a beautiful place to live and grow in.”

Located on the corner of Johnson and State Streets, The Harbor House of Hart, brought to fruition 10 years ago by founders Luke and Eva Kostal, has been a safe haven for over 20 young women since then. The ministry of The Harbor House began as a foster care home for girls ages 14 to 18 who were primarily placed with the Kostals through Eagle Village, of Hersey, Mich., and the local Department of Health and Human Services.

Once there, young women, navigating various life circumstances, found a safe shelter from the storms of life, along with a loving, support-

ive home environment.

During their time as directors, the Kostals were instrumental in mentoring many young women and providing the various community connections they needed to be successful in the future.

Due to a number of circumstances, in 2019, The Harbor House began to look at possible next steps for the ministry. During the Covid pandemic, the ministry took some time to reevaluate its program effectiveness and determine how the services they were able to provide could continue to benefit the young women of the community.

“We felt God leading the leadership team into a season of reflection and research to decide how to best move forward as a ministry,” reflected Kostal. “Out of that effort, The Harbor House of Hart reopened in 2021 with a new program called the ‘Harbor House Journey’ to provide a home for young women between 18 to 25

years of age.”

From its beginnings, The Harbor House has been utilized not only as a ministry to young women in transition but has also become a place for the community to connect and encourage one another, and in so doing, has touched hundreds of lives. Using her unique gift of hospitality, in this centrally located home in downtown Hart, Kostal has been able to host regular Bible and book studies, relational support, open houses, lunches and socials, as well as hosting their Harbor House “daughters” for the holidays and family visits.

As the Kostals prepare to step away from The Harbor House, Eva is quick to recognize the efforts of her husband, Luke. “Besides being my dearest life companion, Luke has fully and faith-

fully supported this ministry . With a joyful heart, he has done a wonderful job maintaining this centennial home and property all these years. He has been a positive male role model to the young women who have lived with us, provided the manpower for needed upgrades, and been able to troubleshoot many home maintenance challenges,” Eva said. “All while working at his fulltime position with Grace Adventures.”

When asked how this unique collaboration came to be, Stitt shared, “It’s just all God. It’s not anything I was seeking necessarily, but I have followed His leading, said yes, and He has provided abundantly. In January 2023, a group of ladies and I began meeting at The Harbor House, hosting Healing the Wounded Heart groups.

In February of this year, I was asked to join the board of directors at Elevate Oceana. The Harbor House and Elevate Oceana were talking about the possibility of The Harbor House being used as a women’s home like the men’s homes located next door. The house has such an inviting atmosphere and is a great place for healing and hope. We are excited to continue to help women in need in our community.”

Kostal concluded by saying, “Using the resources God has provided and established during the ministry years of The Harbor House, we are excited to see what this passionate team of women, and men will implement in this new direction. The Harbor House journey has truly been a labor of love, from the moment God planted this vision in our hearts to His miraculous provision of a beautiful home in Hart. All who we have been blessed to share our lives with on this journey truly have a forever home in our hearts. A very special thank you to each of you who have encouraged, prayed for and supported us through the years in so many ways. God has done great things because of how well you have loved your neighbor!”

• Wide Selection of New Gift Items

• Prescriptions

• Prescriptions

194 N. Division Ave., Hesperia (231) 854-6605 • M-F: 9-6 of New Gift Items

• Immunizations

• Contributed by Hannah Falk

• Contributed by Eva Kostal

Freshmen dominate in annual Hart girls soccer tournament

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

HART – An unusual weekend of action for Hart’s girls soccer team saw them play two weekend matches as the Pirates went 1-1 in their annual home tournament.

As has been the case for the team in 2024, freshmen dominated the action on the pitch.

The Pirates’ first action of the morning came against Kenowa Hills and saw Hart pull away with a dominant 3-0 win.

Hart got the shutout victory started 10 minutes into the first half when Brooklyn Storms broke through Kenowa Hills’ defense. Storms

sent a perfect pass through the defense where freshman Natalie Rosema stood at the back post. Rosema tapped the ball into the corner of the net, nearly watching the ball roll out of bounds before she could reach it.

With a 1-0 lead, there was an obvious confidence about the Pirates as they drove the ball down the field, consistently finding themselves in scoring position. Hart was able to find the back of the net again with 22 minutes remaining in the first half.

This time, freshman Rilynn Porter found herself free down the left wing, slotting a

Soccer continued on page 10

Lofting Lopez

Walkerville sophomore Abdel Lopez set a new school record for the Wildcats’ track and field program on Wednesday, April 24. Lopez tossed a mark of 105 feet and 8 inches at a conference meet in Custer, besting the mark of Jared Lopez who set the record in 2021 with a throw of 105-7.

• Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Hart’s Abby Hicks takes flight directly over home plate as her teammates gather to celebrate her first of two homeruns against Kent City on Thursday, April 25. • Brendan

Hicks goes yard twice, Hart softball splits with Kent City

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

HART – Doubleheader action between Hart and Kent City’s softball teams on Thursday, April 25 featured big swings and plenty of scoring as the Pirates walked away with a split decision.

The Pirates won the first game by a 17-7 score before falling 15-9 to the Eagles in game two. Getting hits wasn’t a problem for Hart at any point during the evening as balls constantly found their way into the outfield and in some instances, out of the park.

Kent City got the scoring going in the top of the first, taking a 1-0 lead following just two base hits. A fielding error allowed a runner to make it home for the Eagles.

Hart had no trouble getting things going against Kent City’s defense on their first trip to the plate. After Mackenna Carrier earned a walk to start the bottom of the first, Caydence Bateson and Abby Hicks earned singles, bringing two runs home in the process. A ground out from Gabby Schmieding brought Hicks across before the inning came to an end, allowing

Hart to take a 3-1 lead.

Gabby Quijas had a great start to her second inning, striking out one batter and trusting the defense behind her to put away two fly balls. After allowing just a single hit, Quijas allowed the Pirates to maintain a two-run lead.

Wild pitches and fielding errors allowed Hart to put more runs on the board in the bottom of the second. Reese Smith got on base to start that frame, thanks to an error by the Eagles’ third baseman. Nora Chickering and Bateson each earned walks to load the bases with Hicks due up next. Hicks grounded into what should have been a routine play for Kent City’s shortstop. Instead, another fielding error allowed all three runners to score, pushing the lead out to 6-1.

The Eagles were able to draw in closer in the third inning, using a trio of singles to get within two at 6-4. Hart continued the trend of answering Kent City’s attack with Julia Bishop, Quijas, Smith and Leah Walker all getting on base before the Eagles could record their first out. By that time, the score sat at 9-4.

Hicks knocked in three more runs to end the inning, smacking a line drive into right field

that found her pulling up to third base for a triple.

The fourth inning was slow for both teams. Kent City failed to score in the top of the frame and Hart only scored once. That run for the Pirates came courtesy of a single off the bat of Chickering.

After allowing Kent City to score twice in their half of the fifth, Hicks got things going immediately for Hart. A solo homerun cleared the fence in center field off Hicks’ bat, bringing the Pirates within two runs of ending the game at 14-6.

Three consecutive singles from Schmieding, Quijas and Smith brought one more across, but Kent City stopped the bleeding there. In desperate need of runs, Kent City entered the sixth inning down 15-6 and just inches away from a mercy rule loss.

The Eagles managed to get one run across in the top of the sixth, but Hart’s defense was able to shut them down there. The Pirates’ offense did its job again in the bottom of the sixth, notching back-to-back-toback singles from Chickering, Bateson and Carrier to end the game at 17-7.

Quijas picked up the win in

Samuels/ECHO

Hart Soccer Home run Hicks

the pitching circle with a complete six-inning game that ended in her surrendering just two earned runs on 12 hits and one strikeout. Hicks was on fire batting, going 3-for-4 with five runs batted in (RBI). Smith, Chickering and Bateson all had multiple hits as well, with each recording two hits.

The second game of the night made it all the way through seven innings, though things weren’t as strongly in favor of the Pirates.

Kent City jumped on Hart’s defense with Smith in the pitcher’s circle, scoring three runs in the first inning. The Pirates were forced to crawl their way back in, squeaking out four runs through the first three innings, to take a 4-3 advantage.

The Eagles ended a two inning scoring drought, scoring 11 runs between the fourth and fifth inning to get back on top 14-4. Hart tried to crawl back in, scoring five runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Hicks smacked another home run during that span, bringing her total to five on the season and putting Hart behind at 14-9 entering the seventh and final inning.

The Pirates were unable to answer, allowing Kent City to score once in their half of the inning while failing to come back with any runs of their own, falling 15-9.

Smith was given the loss for Hart after throwing nearly five innings with nine earned runs, 11 batters walked and five strikeouts. Quijas got two innings of pitching in relief, striking out two and allowing no runs on two hits.

Carrier, Bateson and Quijas all had two hits, with Hicks leading the way in RBIs with two.

Hart moved to 13-5 with the split decision. The non conference split did nothing to move the meter on the Pirates’ 2-2 mark in the West Michigan Conference Rivers Division.

release a pitch in game one

with a pitch. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

cross that landed at the feet of fellow freshman Zoily Sarabia. Sarabia quickly redirected the shot, making the Kenowa Hills keeper do a double take as the ball sailed past her for a 2-0 lead.

Dominating time of possession, Hart took most scoring opportunities away from the Knights for the entirety of the game. Kenowa Hills only managed to get three shots off with all of them zooming past the net with no danger of being punched in.

The second half saw more contention from Kenowa Hills as they continually tested Hart’s defenders. A rotation of Faith VanderVlucht, Marissa Goodrich, Kailey Edenburn, Payton Lindgren, April Chaffee, Destiny Rodriguez, Arianna Vela, Mercedes Torres and Rhylly Brown did a nice job fielding all of the Knights pushes into their area, redirecting the ball wide of the net and sending back to midfield.

Much of the second half passed with nothing changing on the scoreboard. With three and a half minutes left however, a third Hart freshman tallied a goal to bring the score to 3-0.

Junior Brianna Arjona dribbled the ball up the pitch, combining with freshman Lilliana Mena. Mena launched a bullet of a shot toward the net and watched it make hard contact with the crossbar of the net. A lucky bounce downward notched Mena her eighth goal of the season – a mark that leads all Pirate scorers.

There wasn’t much time for Hart to catch their breath after their win as Wyoming Potter’s House Christian were waiting in the wings for the right to challenge the Pirates for first place.

Potter’s House and Hart have a long history of tight games, having tied each other in four straight meetings. Saturday’s game was no different as Hart lost a close 2-1 battle.

With a plethora of missed scoring opportunities early in the match, Hart was desperate to capitalize on

something as the first half began to wind down. Their opportunity came with 11 minutes left until the break when Potter’s House committed a penalty that allowed Hart a shot on net.

The ensuing penalty kick was sent calmly into the bottom left corner by Porter, putting Hart in front 1-0.

Potter’s House was quick to respond as two minutes later they found the Pirates’ defense in flux. The Pumas broke down Hart’s left side and placed a cross pass in a spot that keeper Emma Jeffries was unable to control. A Potter’s House striker tapped the ball through to knot the score at 1-1.

Then, with 18 seconds left in the half, Potter’s House snagged a lead they would control until the end of the match. The Pumas found space after their striker dribbled through Hart’s defense with ease. A clear shot put Potter’s House on top 2-1 and sent Hart packing on their home pitch.

West Michigan teams honor Troy Moran

The unexpected passing of Hart Principal Troy Moran was felt throughout West Michigan. Teams and athletes showed their support for Moran’s family as well as the entire community of Hart by honoring Moran in different ways ahead of several contests over the past week. (Above, top left) Whitehall and Montague’s girls soccer teams rallied around Troy’s daughter Elle who plays for the Wildcats. (Above, middle) Hart’s girls soccer team make an M with their hands after defeating Manistee. (Above, bottom left) Hart and North Muskegon gather on the field for a moment of silence before play. (Above, middle) Shelby and Holton softball hold a moment of silence before their contest. (Above, right) North Muskegon baseball players display ‘TM’ on their arms. • Brendan Samuels and Andy Roberts/ECHO & Contributed

(Above, top right) Hart’s Gabby Quijas winds up to

against Kent City. (Above, bottom left) Hart’s Cali Eisenlohr fields an infield fly ball from her spot at second base. (Above, bottom right) Hart’s Mackenna Carrier prepares to make contact

Hart’s Brianna Arjona (left) and Lilliana Mena (right) share an embrace following after Arjona connected with Mena for the freshman’s eighth goal of the season. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Shelby Baseball earns conference sweep over Holton

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

SHELBY – There was plenty to celebrate for Shelby’s baseball team Tuesday, April 30 as the Tigers knocked off Holton in back-to-back contests to earn a conference sweep. Shelby won the first of two games by a score of 10-1 and the second by a much narrower margin at 12-9.

The opening game saw a master class on the mound for Shelby as DayDay Garcia went the distance, throwing a complete seven inning game. Garcia kept the Red Devils’ offense from doing any damage for the majority of the game, only allowing four hits and striking out nine while not walking a single batter. At the plate, a slew of Tigers were able to get base knocks while simultaneously bringing their teammates in to score. Chase Simon led the way, notching

a triple that scored him a run batted in (RBI). Neil Gowell and Garrin Waller each had RBI singles, while Lalo Garcia put two RBIs on the board.

The second game of the evening relied heavily on Shelby’s offense. Holton’s bats came alive with Simon on the mound, allowing them to keep things much closer than in the first game. Simon was able to earn credit for the victory, but a combination of Eli Kelley and Trevor Weiss were vital pitching in relief. Weiss was awarded the save for his efforts late in the game.

A resounding five Tigers were able to record multi-hit games in the nightcap as Lalo, Kelley and DayDay all came away with three hits on the evening. Lalo also tallied a team-high four RBIs with Kelley right behind with two. Simon had two hits and three RBIs while Evan Waller matched him with two hits of his own.

The pair of wins helped Shelby pull even as they boast a 7-7 overall record so far this season. Shelby also snagged their first conference sweep, moving to a 5-2 mark within the West Michigan Conference Rivers Division.

Slow start results in stalemate for Shelby girls soccer

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

SHELBY – A 1-1 tie with Orchard View – the West Michigan Conference’s last place team – was not what Shelby’s girls soccer team had planned when they hosted the Cardinals on Monday, April 28.

Given the strife the team has faced over the past few weeks, however, not taking a loss was likely a welcomed sight. The Tigers entered Monday coming off two consecutive losses, not scoring a goal in either contest.

Part of that is likely the competition they faced. An 8-0 loss to Fremont, a WMC powerhouse, without scoring a goal came as a surprise. Doing the same in a 2-0 loss to Tri-County was concerning, but that’ll happen when the team’s top scorer isn’t available.

Senior Kendall Zaverl had notched seven goals and six assists prior to Shelby’s meeting with Fremont. Then, unexpectedly, Zaverl decided to step away from the team. Without their leader, Shelby was forced to rethink their formations.

“We’re just not used to playing together,” Shelby Head Coach Pete Peterson said. “We’ve got some people in weird spots and we had to bring up some girls like Lydia Soelberg.”

The Tigers showed promise against Orchard View, battling the Cardinals who had the wind at their back. That was enough to allow OV to gain some mo-

ATTENTION

mentum on Shelby. After nearly 35 minutes of rather even play, the Cardinals punched a ball past keeper Biloxi Lee to take a 1-0 lead into halftime.

Shelby got enough of a kick in the second half that allowed them to come out swinging. Luz Mendieta used her speed to push down the right wing, sending a cross pass into Kylie Brown. Brown charged into OV’s penalty area and hammered a shot in to even things up at 1-1. That stalemate remained for the entirety of the second half, though Shelby played much more freely and at the fast pace many had grown accustomed to seeing.

“(In the) second half we came out and got that goal and started playing better,” Peterson said. “We got some shots, we just couldn’t find another combination to get another goal.”

The tie moved Shelby to 4-7-2 overall with a 1-4-2 standing in the WMC.

Shelby’s Eli Kelley makes a throw to first from shortstop.

• Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Shelby’s Kylie Brown sends a strike around an Orchard View defender. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

Together in support Cruz’In drops parade

Event will continue as car show; public safety cited as reason for move

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

MONTAGUE — Last Thursday, April 25, White Lake community members were shocked by a letter sent out to Montague business owners regarding this year’s Cruz’In. The classic car event has always been a “parade” in the past, but the Cruz’In committee decided this year to make it a parked car show. The committee cited in the letter that the change is due to growing public safety concerns with reckless drivers and numerous

complaints about the no-burnout rule being constantly broken.

A Whitehall city source who requested anonymity said drivers believe they are in control of their cars when they do burnouts, but they are not. Burnouts have the potential to cause the car to fishtail, which increases the likelihood of an accident and are classified as careless driving. The source shared that last year, one individual who was technically not

Cruz’In

continued on page 2

New bridge dedicated at Fruitland Twp. trail

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — The Friends of Fruitland Township Trails gathered Saturday morning to dedicate the first of the three pedestrian bridges they plan to add to the Duck Creek Natural Area.

The bridges have been funded by donations and a grant from the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, said Dave Rice, a spokesperson for the Friends of Fruitland Township Trails.

“This area’s got a lot of potential and we’re going to keep that going, because we’re not done yet, not by a long shot,” Rice said in public remarks introducing the new pedestrian bridge.

A group of a few dozen gathered at the natural area, which is located directly next to White Lake Fire Authority Station 2, to commemorate the occasion. Among those in attendance were

several family members of the late Richard Hain, a former Fruitland Township supervisor and a champion of Duck Creek’s preservation when some in the area expressed interest in developing or building homes on the land.

“The saying is, you can’t grow more land,” Rice said. “So what we’ve done here is we’ve dedicated this property. People have tried to buy it, develop it, build homes on it. (We think) this is a much better use for this property. When you walk back through these trails, I think you’ll agree with us.”

The new bridge enables walkers to traverse Duck Creek, and two more are planned once funds are secured. Rice credited Westshore Engineering for help securing the permits needed to

New bridge continued on page 2

Multi-generation family of stylists shares close bond

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

WHITEHALL — Cheryl Lorenz moved to Whitehall from Chicago after getting her cosmetology license in 1970. After opening her own salon, she opened a door that would create a multigenerational family of hairstylists.

Lorenz did hair for 36 years before she passed away in 2008, but her legacy lives on through Modern Image in Whitehall and a family that has kept the business going.

“I always wanted to do hair,” Lorenz’s daughter and Modern Image co-owner Kim Snellenberger said. “I used to go with my mom to work all the time. I was her shampoo girl and secretary throughout the years.”

Despite growing up watching her mother in the salon industry, Snellenberger didn’t have the opportunity to attend cosmetology school immediately after graduating high school. She later followed in her mother’s

footsteps and started working at White Lake Barbershop.

“I didn’t do it right off the bat because I worked at Pizza Hut as a waitress for a lot of years and didn’t really have the money for cosmetology school,” said Snellenberger. “I got married right away and just didn’t have cosmetology school in the budget. My sister Laurie (Davis) found out for me that I could do an apprenticeship with my mom, and then from there I worked at the White Lake Barbershop.”

Laurie was offered a program in high school that would allow her to explore the world of trades, which led her to get in the family’s line of work.

“I debated between construction and cosmetology,” Davis said. “Cosmetology was more fast-paced and I liked the results (being) quicker. I’m also a people person.”

As Snellenberger and Davis grew in their skills, they quickly gained a loyal following.

“After my apprenticeship, Laurie and I opened Modern Image, original-

ly next to where Homestead (restaurant) now is,” said Snellenberger. “The first day we opened, we were immediately busy. We had our regulars from White Lake Barbershop who followed

us over. Originally we only did men’s hair and then we learned how to do everything. When we opened Mod-

Modern Image co-owner Kim Snellenberger (left) holds a photo of her mom, Cheryl Lorenz, in front of the family business, Modern Image in Whitehall. She is joined by niece Presley Davis (second from left) and sister and Modern Image co-owner Laurie Davis.

• Madison Lajewski/Mirror

The Whitehall and Montague teams gathered after Monday’s soccer game at Whitehall in support of Wildcat sophomore Elle Moran (in front). Moran’s father, former Montague principal and Whitehall alum Troy Moran, tragically passed away over the weekend. Full game coverage is on page 4. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

A new pedestrian bridge over Duck Creek was dedicated Saturday. The bridge is the first of three planned bridges on the Fruitland Township trails.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Stylist family

ern Image, our regular guys would ask us if we would (cut) their wives’ and daughters’ (hair). Now we’re probably 60% women and 40% men, when we were originally 95% men and 5% women.”

Davis eventually started bringing her daughter Presley with her to Modern Image. Presley, like Snellenberger, grew up in the salon environment. Snellenberger said Presley would sometimes pretend to be sick just so she could come to work with her mom, rather than attend school.

“I grew up in the salon, kind of the same as Kim,” Presley Davis said. “I was a receptionist, I washed hair, cleaned bowls and ripped foil. I’ve done that since I was probably eight years old, but I would come to work with my mom every time I had a school break or on the weekends. I was always here. Then they offered that same program while I was in school, so I actually went to cosmetology school while I was in high school. I was probably four

Cruz’In

a part of the parade did a burnout as they were leaving a local park. It was an old truck, which technically did not fit the rules of Cruz’In, and the passenger was holding an infant who was not in a carrier.

“It’s gotten worse and worse, people’s blatant disregard for the rule to not do burnouts,” the source said. “We don’t have the staffing to address it as it is occurring. The drivers do spinouts not perceiving that something could go wrong - that ‘it’s not going to happen here’ mentality. But it happens everywhere, and it happens in small towns just like this, it happens in big cities. It’s gotten to a point where we can’t control it and we have to take some action.”

Cruz’In has been a beloved tradition in White Lake since it started in 1995, and the committee is facing some criticism for the decision. Hundreds flocked to the Cruz’In Facebook page and the original letter, posted on Facebook by community member Peggy Clauss, to voice their frustration and disappointment.

One community member, Lorrie Lauterberg Matthews, said in the Cruz’In comments that she will no longer be able to attend due to disability and the new parked car show prohibiting her access. Many have said they will not attend because of the change and claimed the decrease in participation will negatively affect local businesses. Some communi-

continued from page 1

months out of high school when I got my license.”

Many think separating family life from work would be difficult. But the three have found the benefits of working together outweigh the disadvantages.

“I have people that will say, ‘how can you work with your sister and your niece, don’t you always fight?,’ said Snellenberger. “Very rarely. It’s usually a sisterly fight that will last 30 seconds and if it lasts longer than that, we don’t bring it in here. We just pretend we’re only coworkers.”

Laurie Davis said working together has actually made the three of them closer, rather than causing rifts in their relationships.

“We’re always working, so we actually get to hang out,” Laurie Davis said. “If anything happens, we have each other’s backs.”

“I think we’re way closer than we would be if we didn’t work together,” said Snellenberger.

continued from page 1

ty members have voiced new safety concerns, fearing retaliation and that others would do burnouts in regular traffic instead.

Others have made suggestions they think would help relieve some of the safety concerns, rather than changing the event. Community member Mary Mansfield suggested making it a “registration-only” event, which would ensure all participants directly receive a copy of the rules. Another community member, Dylan Zuniga, suggested imposing a fine or a ban if participants break the rules. He also cited frustrations for people with disabilities having trouble navigating the crowded streets.

The frustration sparked a digital petition, started by Kevin Strait. At press time, the petition was at 949 signatures with a new goal of 1,000.

The Whitehall source said the city does not have the amount of officers that would allow them to punish rule breakers as violations occur.

“I appreciate that people enjoy the parade, but there are even participants in the parade who have complained to us about this,” the source said. “The burnouts cause flecks of hot rubber on their cars they spend time and money on. We haven’t had an incident in all these years, but it’s only going to take one that could turn a community tradition into a community tragedy, and we just don’t want to take that chance.”

New bridge

construct the bridge and a team of volunteers for the help actually constructing it; after all, the funds for the bridge only covered materials, not labor. That necessitated volunteer help. Luckily, Rice said, he and the Friends had plenty of that.

“We had a bunch of guys show up, and one of them...is John Lundell Jr. of Lundell Excavating,” Rice said. “He donated his time and the use of his equipment, and it was very key to getting that bridge in place. The things he did and his can-do attitude made (it) ideal for the rest of us volunteers. I can’t say enough good things about him, and I have to because I’m going to be talking to him about bridge #2 one of these days.”

Rice joked that his son Dan was among the volunteers and “threw our age quotient all out of whack,” because he was easily the youngest of the group helping to get the bridge put together. A group of retired former coworkers of Rice’s at Brunswick, who he said have a standing breakfast meeting each Tuesday to catch up, also pledged support. Rice also credited current Fruitland leadership for its aid in the endeavor, including supervisor Jeff Marcinkowski, clerk Breann Fagan and trustee Lori Lundell, the latter two of whom were on hand Saturday.

Rice said the Friends have a five-year permit to install the other two bridges

pedestrian bridge that is now part of the trails. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

once funds are available. He said the first bridge cost about $9,000, and with inflation he estimates the other two will end up getting into five digits each to construct.

Rice added that starting Monday, May 6, Ryerson Brothers Excavating will begin work on upgrading the trails to make them easier to walk. The work will take about two weeks.

“Stone is going to be coming in here,” Rice said. “They’re going to go through and level these off because there’s dips and there’s swells and hiding roots and stuff like that. They’ll clear all that out.”

The trails also have four benches, three of which were credited by Rice to local Eagle Scout Micah Witham, who did the benches as part of his project. Rice said the Friends would love more benches to be added, whether through donation or construction. A kiosk, constructed by funds donated from the Whitehall-Montague Rotary Club, was officially dedicated Tuesday.

Montague social district dedicated

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

MONTAGUE — The long-awaited Montague social district was officially unveiled Wednesday evening. Located in what is now called Weathervane Lane, the alleyway next to Wicker Chicken, participants can now enjoy alcoholic beverages in the permitted area. The idea was proposed to the city council early last year, but was delayed because of paperwork problems.

To participate, customers may purchase a cup from any of the participating businesses for $1. Participants include The Book Nook & Java Shop,

Community Calendar

North Grove Brewers, Sawyers Brewing Company and Jimmy’s Pub.

“I look forward to seeing it benefit the local businesses,” Mayor Tom Lohman said. “We can’t wait to see what happens.”

Tables and chairs have been set up at each business. Lohman also hopes to possibly add outdoor games to the space, for families and kids in the future.

“I hope people treat this responsibly,” said Lohman. “If problems arise, we will learn and fix them.”

Details about the social district and maps of the permitted area are posted on the sidewalks.

Daily Hike the Lights @ Muskegon Luge, 6:30-10:30 p.m. Free access to hiking trails. Pets welcome if leashed and cleaned up after.

Saturday, May 4

Learn about Dairy Doo and Soil Health @ Weesies Bros. in Montague, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free event.

Hope Scarves Derby Night @ Book Nook & Java Shop. Kentucky Derby themed dinner at 6 p.m., followed from 7-9 p.m. by drinks from celeb-

rity bartender and Whitehall science teacher Susan Tate, live music by Serita’s Black Rose, and prizes. Twenty percent of proceeds donated to Hope Scarves, a nonprofit supporting those facing cancer.

Sunday, May 5

ReNew You Fitness 1-year anniversary open house and ribbon cutting at new location. 8725 Water St. in Montague, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Monday, May 6

White River Rock Club meeting,

7-8:30 p.m. @ St. James Lutheran Church in Montague.

Tuesday, May 7

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

Wednesday, May 8

Lunchtime guitar with Eric Michaels and Chris Kennedy @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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

Thursday, May 9

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.

Friday, May 10

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

Dave Rice (right) delivers remarks at the entrance to the Duck Creek Natural Area Saturday, introducing the new

Montague city officials ceremonially open the city’s new social district Wednesday at Weathervane Lane. • Madison Lajewski/Mirror

Walk the Beat awards $6K in scholarships

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

WHITEHALL — On Tuesday, Walk the Beat White Lake awarded 42 local students with $6,000 worth of scholarships, instruments and music lessons through their community giving program. Walk the Beat is a nonprofit and local music festival, which started in 2022 and was inspired by the Walk the Beat festival in Grand Haven put on by David Palmer. According to Walk the Beat director Kevin Goff, this year the festival will be bigger, with one additional venue, more music acts and food trucks. The festival will take place Saturday, July 20.

“Earlier this year, we contacted Whitehall and Montague middle schools, high schools, homeschools and alternative school directors,” said executive committee member Chris Billie. “We sent the opportunity for students to apply for a scholarship. They had to write a short 100-word essay on why they wanted the scholarship or whatever they were asking for and how it would impact them.”

Goff and Billie are grateful for the

Four of the five guitars awarded to local students are shown during Tuesday’s Walk the Beat White Lake kickoff event at the Playhouse. Three electric guitars and two acoustic guitars were awarded.

• Madison Lajewski/Mirror

help of other committee members, who help organize the festival and select student scholarship winners. They also explained the numerous benefits the festival and program brings to the entire White Lake community.

“The festival happens because of the money we raise from community organizations and businesses,” Goff said. “As a result of the festival, we’re able to give the money to students as a

•

part of our community giving program. We’re able to put on a great festival for the residents at no charge. In addition, the businesses in our area get a huge economic impact as a result of everybody coming out. The communities of Whitehall and Montague, the White Lake area in general gets exposure, as well as the musicians performing.

When musicians perform in a bar, they

play for 30 or 50 people. Here, they potentially play for up to 3,500 people.”

Goff also said Walk the Beat is looking for a new director to take over next year, as well as anyone who wishes to be a part of the executive committee. Anyone interested is invited to reach out via email at walkthebeatkevin@ gmail.com.

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

Tired of hitting paywalls for newspaper articles you want to read? Too busy to stop by the library to read the paper? The library can help! Check out NewsBank and U.S. Major Dailies, two different offerings that allow anyone with a White Lake library card to read online newspapers from around the country. New links on our website make it easier than ever to read current issues of many popular newspapers. Just visit the Digital Collections tab on our website (wlclib.org) to get started.

U.S. Major Dailies gives you free access to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and Los Angeles Times. From our website, simply choose the paper you wish to read. The link takes you to a page where you can choose which day’s paper to view. It defaults to the most recent issue, but you can choose earlier papers as well. From there, simply browse the list of articles and

choose the ones you want to read. Please note, U.S. Major Dailies only offers a plain text format, not a digital replica of the printed paper.

NewsBank features more than 3,600 newspapers from all over the United States. From our website you can go the full collection and browse them all, or choose a direct link to one of the most popular papers for our area, including the Muskegon Chronicle, Grand Rapids Press, Detroit News, and USA Today. Select the paper you want to read, choose a date, and you are all set. Pro tip:

When selecting the paper, you will see each paper is available in more than one format. Text format gives you a list of all the articles in the paper, so you can scroll through and click on the articles you want to read. The image format option lets you view and read a digital copy of the printed newspaper.

to 12:30 p.m. in the library meeting room. Find your center and get grounded in this gentle yoga class practiced sitting and standing using chairs for support and stability as needed. All ages and abilities are welcome! Chair yoga is ideal for people with balance issues, those recovering from illness or injury, and people with joint mobility challenges. It’s also a great way for beginners to safely learn poses and postures. Suggested donation is $5 per class, or free for Silver Sneakers participants. For more information, visit wlclib. org/calendar.

FUN FACT: So far this year, White Lake library cardholders have read more than 14,000 newspaper articles through the library’s NewsBank service. That’s over 3,500 per month! The monthly average for 2023 was 2,700 articles.

New Chair Yoga Class Starts

May 16

The library will be hosting a new chair yoga class with certified instructor Rhonda Aley. The class will meet each Thursday from 11:30 a.m.

New Teen Hangout at the Library All area students ages 10 and up are invited to an afterschool hangout at the library every Friday afternoon from 2 to 3:30 p.m. This is a casual gathering that will include opportunities for games and crafts, plus snacks and just plain hanging out. The Nintendo Switch and the VR headset will be available each week. No registration necessary, just join us when you can!

DeMumbrum

Local students show off their scholarships and instruments awarded during the Walk the Beat White Lake kickoff event Tuesday at The Playhouse at White Lake.

Madison Lajewski/Mirror

NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE community

Lake Mirror Lake Mirror

SPORTS SPORTS

A thrilling game, an emotional night

Whitehall erases 4-goal deficit, but montague pulls out win as teams remember the late Troy Moran

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — Even a thrilling battle like the one Montague eked out over Whitehall Monday night, 5-4, takes a backseat sometimes. When the battle was over and Montague and Whitehall players embraced one another, it took on greater meaning.

The two teams already were gathering as they traditionally do postgame to remember Ava Vanderstelt, a former Whitehall player who passed away in 2022. Monday saw the teams lifting up one of their own again - Montague sophomore Elle Moran. Moran’s father, Troy, a Whitehall alum and former Montague principal, tragically passed away over the weekend after suffering a heart attack while on a run.

Elle still played and gave her all in the game, which had teammate Addison Pranger, who scored two goals in the win, “in absolute awe.”

“She is the most remarkable person,” Pranger said with a smile. “To be able to come out here and give us her

Montague’s Braylyn Bultema tries to get the ball away from Whitehall’s Lucy Zamojcin (left) and Kate Beda during Monday’s game at Whitehall.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

all like she always does and still have a smile on her face meant the world to us.”

The two teams share a close relationship, of course, bound not just by White Lake but by, in some cases, years spent together on the field. A handful of players on each side have played together on the White Lake Breakers youth team for several years, and cur-

rent Viking Kendall Osborne was a classmate with several of the Wildcats before transferring across the river this year.

“We’re just feeling the support from our community, our fans, our teammates, Bridget (Knapp, Ava’s mom), just everybody coming together,” said Lilly Rice, who also had two goals for Montague. “We thank the Whitehall soccer team for always being good

sports to us. We just felt super loved, and I think that helped.”

Rice’s second goal was the game-winner, as she was able to come up with the ball with 6:50 to play after Whitehall keeper Clare Westerlund’s attempt to hang on to it couldn’t stand up to pressure. Whitehall coach Adam

Emotional night continued on page 5

Viking boys roll to wins at only home meet

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — Whitehall’s boys team celebrated its only home meet of the season Tuesday by beating both Ludington and Orchard View in West Michigan Conference Lakes action. The Vikings had no trouble with either opponent, defeating Ludington 98-39 and Orchard View 123-14. In the girls meet, Whitehall picked up a split,

Whitehall’s Tyler Van Antwerp (5) and Drew Boeringa keep pace with Ludington’s Jose Flores early in the 800-meter race during Tuesday’s tri met at Whitehall.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

beating OV 100-31 but falling to the Orioles 103-34.

The Viking boys earned wins in 13 of the 17 events contested. Leading the way with two individual wins apiece were Trannon Aylor and Stewart Waters. Aylor won both the 200 and 400-meter events, posting a season best time of 22.79 seconds in the former and galloping to a three-second win in the 400, the event in which he’s the reigning state champion. His time in that one was 50.77 seconds. Waters

Whitehall track

continued on page 6

Medalist Panozzo leads R-P to 2nd place at GMAA

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

NORTON SHORES — Reeths-Puffer didn’t ascend to the top spot as a team in Wednesday’s GMAA tournament, but Rocket senior Dylan Panozzo delivered in a big way, shooting an 80 to pick up medalist honors at Oak Ridge Golf Club.

R-P settled for second place, with a team score of 350 - 10 strokes behind champion Mona Shores.

Panozzo started strong, with a birdie on the first hole. He ran into trouble with four straight holes of a bogey or double bogey from holes 6-9, but bounced back with a birdie on the 12th hole and then chipped in from 80 yards away to score an eagle on the 13th.

“I am very proud and happy for Dylan Panozzo,” R-P coach Matt Pallett

said. “He is a senior that has worked extremely hard. He puts the time in during the season and in the offseason. He works closely with his swing coach, Ted Tallefson.”

Panozzo was one of three Rockets to place in the individual top 10. Kristian Brown tied for fourth place with an 85, and Aiden Waggoner tied for sixth, shooting an 86. Waggoner knocked in three birdies during his round.

“I am very happy to have three guys in the top 10,” Pallett said. “It was a rough day for my other two guys, otherwise we could have made things a lot more interesting. I do like the way my team is trending.”

Ayden Hartzell and Jake Lee tied

Reeths-Puffer’s Dylan Panozzo watches the flight of a tee shot during Wednesday’s GMAA meet at Oak Ridge Golf Club. Panozzo shot an 80 to earn medalist honors, leading the Rockets to a 2nd-place finish. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Montague’s Addison Pranger (left) pursues Whitehall’s Reese Hesse during Monday’s game at Whitehall. Pranger recently moved from the goalie position to the offensive side of the ball to give the Wildcats more offensive threats. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Emotional night

Prince noted Westerlund was only in her second half ever of varsity goalkeeping; the Vikings have been rotating keepers in search of a long-term answer at the position.

“The ball has to go through 10 people before it gets to the goalie,” Prince said. “We’re all going to do this as a team, otherwise we’re not going to do it at all.”

The first half of Monday’s game showed no signs of the emotional battle it would become; Montague controlled the flow of play and poured in three goals late in the half to take a 3-0 lead. Pranger had the first two in a 38-second span, twice fighting through traffic to score. Rice got loose for a breakaway with 1:35 to play in the half to add to the lead.

Until very recently, Pranger had been the Wildcats’ own longterm answer in goal. However, Montague coach Kara Raeth, taking the long view of the season, recently approached Pranger about moving to a center forward position, believing her offensive skill set can raise the team’s ceiling.

“We definitely wanted to focus on our offensive attack more,” Pranger said, adding she was originally surprised when Raeth suggested the move to her. “Last year, we didn’t have the opportunity to have the backup goalie that we do. Now that we do have that player, (Coach) wants to hopefully put me up top to help boost that offensive threat so that we can get some goals in the back of the net and try to go far this season.”

That backup-turned-starting goalie, Claire Aebig, hasn’t yet hit Pranger’s heights in the net - nor was she expected to, given Pranger’s depth of experience at the position. However, both coach and predecessor believe she can be a strong keeper.

“Claire is brand new in the goal, so we want to get her as much experience there as possible before districts,” Raeth said.

The ‘Cats added a fourth goal early in the second half when Ella

continued from page 4

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Montague’s Claire Aebig (left) tries in vain to keep the ball out of the goal during Monday’s game at Whitehall. Whitehall’s Kendall Osborne confirms the score. Despite this goal, Montague won the game 5-4. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

King snuck a shot into the top corner of the net, but Whitehall suddenly stormed back, fueled by Osborne’s impressive shot a minute later from just outside the goalie box.

“They came out in the second half and they got the first one, and it was like a light switch went on,” Prince said. “That’s what I’ve been waiting for all season, is to see everybody in the midfield play together and then just be able to start to push the ball through. Once they got the second one, then we thought we had a chance to win it.”

That second one came when Kate Beda was credited with a goal after a Whitehall free kick deflected off a Wildcat and found its way to the net. Aaliyah Jamison deliv-

GMAA golf

for R-P’s fourth scoring spot, each shooting a 99.

Both Whitehall and Montague struggled as a team on an unfamiliar course; it was the first high school round for any player on either team at Oak Ridge.

The Vikings finished sixth in the tournament with a team score of 376, and Montague was eighth with a 388.

“Needless to say we did not perform as a team to the best of our ability,” Whitehall coach Bill Borgman said. “We definitely have the skills to perform better and will continue to work on the little things that we need to play our best.”

William Burger led the Vikings in scoring on the day with a 90, followed by Braedon Bond with a 93. Mason Mulnix had a 95 and Jones McDowell posted a 96.

Owen Raeth paced the Wildcats, shooting a 94. Trevin Silvers

ered the Vikings’ next two goals to dramatically tie the game, getting loose for a breakaway for the second one with 11:26 to play.

Raeth said Whitehall moved some players around in the second half and did a better job filling the middle, which led to their success.

“Whitehall has great athletes,” Raeth said. “There’s no reason why they can’t turn a game around. We just have to be ready for that.”

All involved took a lot away from the display of unity between the teams after the game and the support from the fans who were part of it.

“It only shows how close both these communities are,” Prince said.

continued from page 4

on

during Wednesday’s

and Brayden Bultema each had a 96, and Jack Bailey shot a 98.

“The wind and playing on a course that most of the team had never seen before proved to be a challenge,” Montague coach Brad

Tate said. “We did not play anywhere close to our capability and all that we can do is try and get better tomorrow and every day after. Our not playing well was not due to a lack of effort.”

Sports in Brief

Baseball Mason Co. Central 6-4 Montague 5-17

The Wildcats stormed back from a tough game one loss by scoring 9 third-inning runs en route to a game two win. Jimmy Thommen’s 2-run single was one of the big hits in the inning. Bryton Belinger had 4 hits and Ryver Jarka added 3, with 3 runs and 3 RBI. Cole Herremans allowed 1 earned run in 4 2/3 innings, with 6 strikeouts. In game one, MCC scored 4 times in the 7th to win. Belinger struck out 11 in 5 2/3 innings.

W.M. Christian 12-1 Whitehall 8-7

Nolan Taranko pitched the Vikes to victory in game two, allowing no earned runs and 2 hits in 7 innings. Nate Betz drove in 2 runs to lead the Whitehall offense. WMC rallied with 5 runs in the 6th to win game one. Brock Morningstar and Myles Welch had 2 hits each and Eli Winters hit a 2-run double, driving in 3 runs for the game.

Reeths-Puffer 15 Muskegon 0

The Rockets earned their 3rd mercy-rule win of the week. Jack Yonkman pitched a 3-inning no-hitter, with 7 strikeouts. Cayden Theisen, Ethan Frang and Drew Brooks each drove in 2 runs.

Reeths-Puffer 8 Oakridge 7

R-P rallied with 5 runs in its final 2 innings to improve to 10-3. Holden Earnest’s 2-run double and Ethan Frang’s RBI single were the differencemaking hits in the 6th. Earnest had 3 hits and got the win on the mound.

Whitehall 1-1 at T.C. West tournament

The Vikings beat Spring Lake 9-3 to end their day. Brock Morningstar had a pair of run-scoring doubles in the game to total 3 RBI. Ryne Christensen, Kyle Stratton and Isaac VanAmberg also had 2 hits each. Christnsen pitched 3 shutout innings in relief. Traverse City West rallied with 4 runs in the 5th inning to win the opener. Stratton, Christensen and Eli Winters each had a double in the game.

Montague 9-2 Fremont 3-3

Montague rolled to a game one win behind 2 hits each from Bryton Belinger, Braylen VanSickle and Dylan Bailey. Ryver Jarka also tripled in the win. Belinger struck out 13 on the mound. In game two, Jarka had 2 doubles and scored both Wildcat runs. Eli Petersen pitched 3 shutout innings in relief.

Whitehall 6-10 Ludington 0-5

Ryne Christensen pitched brilliantly in game one, striking out 7 and allowing 2 hits. He got 2 hits at the plate, as did Isaac VanAmberg. A 6-run 2nd inning sparked the win in game two, with VanAmberg’s 2-run double the big hit. Christensen again had 2 hits.

Reeths-Puffer 11 Union 0

Brayden Mitchelson and Holden Earnest combined on a 3-hit shutout over 5 innings. Ethan Frang got 2 hits and drove in 3 runs.

Whitehall 9-13 Grant 2-10

Whitehall’s strong offense carried the day in a sweep. A 2-run single by Kyle Stratton was part of a 5-run 5th inning in game one. Ryne Christensen had 4 hits and 3 RBI, and Stratton and Ryan Goodrich each had 2 hits. Nolan Taranko struck out 6 and allowed 5 hits to get the win. In game two, Stratton, Christensen and Myles Welch each had 3 hits. Welch and Brock Mornignstar had 4 RBI each.

Softball

Montague 27-13 Mason Co. Central 25-8

Abby Thommen led the Wildcats to a shootout win in game one, going 6-for-6 with 4 extra-base hits and earning the win in the circle. Hayden Boutell had 5 hits, 2 of them doubles. In game two, Thommen and Greta Auch had 2 hits each before the game was called after 4 innings due to darkness. Thommen picked up her 2nd win of the day.

Whitehall 5-5 Mona Shores 4-19

The Vikings grabbed game one in thrilling walk-off style, as Bella Fogus singled in Annabel Kevwitch for the winning run in the 7th. Those Vikes each had 2 hits in the win and Megan LeaTrea pitched well in the circle. Shores responded with 11 runs in the first 3 innings of game two. Evelyn Darke and Alison Schaeffer each had 2 hits in the nightcap.

Reeths-Puffer 6-14 Oakridge 5-13

R-P pulled off dramatic rallies in both ends of a doubleheader that was also a potential GMAA finals preview. The Rockets trailed by 9 runs in game two before storming back for the win. Megan Barmes drove in 3 runs in the comeback, and Mady Snyder and Abbie Critchett each plated a pair. A 5-run 5th inning delivered R-P the game one win. Snyder and Barmes each had 2 hits in that one. Lainey McDaniel and Snyder got the wins for the Rockets in the circle.

Fruitport 20 Montague 8

Fruitport exploded for 12 runs in extra innings, fueled by some Montague errors. Kennedy Johnson led Montague’s bats with 3 hits, and Hayden Boutell drove in 3 runs. Greta Auch, Reagan Cederquist and Gentry Knop joined Boutell with 2 hits apiece.

Whitehall 4-15 Spring Lake 3-23

Annabel Kevwitch singled in Harper Leon for a walk-off win in the opener, capping a 3-run rally. Kierra Hyrns’ RBI single tied it up to set up the winner. Kevwitch had 3 hits and Hyrns had 2. Megan LeaTrea struck out 10 to get the win. Game two was high-scoring and the Vikings had 20 hits as a team in defeat. Lianne Fagan led the attack with 3 hits.

Fremont 17-21 Montague 2-3

The ‘Cats had a rough night against Fremont, making 7 errors over 2 games. Kennedy Johnson and Kayden Johnson each had 2 hits in game one. Montague had 5 hits in the nightcap.

Whitehall 15-22 Ludington 0-4

The Vikings romped to a pair of mercy-rule wins. Evelyn Darke had 3 hits and 4 RBI in game one, and Annabel Kevwitch had 2 hits and 3 RBI. Megan LeaTrea allowed 1 hit in 3 innings. Bella Fogus

Reeths-Puffer 25-17 Union 0-0

Two more mercy-rule shutouts kept the Rockets’ magical ride going. Mady Snyder homered and drove in 3 runs in game one, and Kaylee Jones collected 3 hits and 4 RBI. Jones went deep in game two and drove in 5 runs on 2 hits. Kyleigh Bilek also hit a homer in the nightcap.

Hudsonville 2-15 Reeths-Puffer 0-5

The Rockets’ 21-game unbeaten string ended at the hands of #4-ranked Hudsonville. The Rockets’ Lainey McDaniel pitched well in a tough game one defeat, and Kyleigh Bilek got 2 hits. The Eagles scored 9 runs in the 4th inning of game two to erase a 4-0 Reeths-Puffer lead.

Girls Soccer

Reeths-Puffer 1 Zeeland East 1

Irelyn Niklasch scored R-P’s goal in the tie, which dropped the Rockets from the top spot in the O-K Green standings behind Mona Shores.

Reeths-Puffer 2 Grandville 1

Irelyn Niklasch and Abby Hill each scored a goal in a tense nonconference battle. R-P had 7 shots on goal to the Bulldogs’ 11.

Montague’s Abby Dyer powers past Whitehall’s Aaliyah Jamison to get to the goal during Monday’s game at Whitehall. The Wildcats won, 5-4.

Whitehall’s Mason Mulnix follows through

an approach shot

GMAA tournament at Oak Ridge Golf Club. Reeths-Puffer’s Ayden Hartzell looks on. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall track

swept the two individual distance events. In the 1,600, Waters set a new personal best of 4:32.5 and needed every step of it, nipping Ludington’s Jose Flores by less than a second. He had an easier time of it in the 3,200, where his time of 10:13.3 was good for a 4.45-second win.

Whitehall won both hurdles events. Malcolm Earvin, running the 300 hurdles for only the second time in his career, cruised to a win with a time of 41.72 seconds. Camden Thompson, still working his way back from a March ankle sprain, made his season debut in the 110 hurdles and picked up a win with a time of 16.45 seconds.

Caden Bowyer added to Whitehall’s success with a win in discus, where he set a new PR of 142-3. Tyler Van Antwerp also earned a PR while winning an event, crossing the line in 2:05.8 in the 800 meters. Ayden Mendoza won the high jump with a mark of 6-3, and Ca’Mar Ready won the pole vault with a mark of 12-6.

Whitehall also nabbed the top

continued from page 4

Tuesday’s

spot in three of four relay races. In the 400-meter relay, Logan Sines, Kyler Frees, Ready and Earvin teamed up for the win with a time of 45.19 seconds, and in the 800, it was Frees, Kal Koehler, Ready and Aylor with a time of 1:34.99. Frees, VanAntwerp, Andon Palmer and Aylor won the 1,600 relay in a time of 3:35.8.

The Viking girls collected three

event wins in the double dual, including a new PR by Aaliyah Jamison in shot put. The freshman posted a 31-5 in the event to take the top spot. Arianna Black added a win in high jump with a leap of 5-0. Cami Kraai earned Whitehall’s third win and set a PR of her own in the 3,200 meters, crossing the line in 12:14.5.

Busy Bee opens new space

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

MONTAGUE — Busy Bee Café officially opened their new space with a ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday. Formerly a seasonal shop in the Artisan Market, they now have a larger space that will be open year-round, located next to the Weathervane Inn and Home and Gather.

With the new space, owner Miranda Coombs has finally been able to achieve her goal of opening her own café.

“I used to daydream with my mom about the café we would open together,” Coombs said. “What foods we would have, the desserts we would make, the decor, the dishes, all the grandkids would come work there and have it be a family business. But we were never able to make it a reality.”

Coombs’ mother passed away in 2020. She is grateful for all that she learned from her, and the skills and motivation from her mother that she looks forward to implementing in her business.

“I grew up helping my mom bake in a small cafe near our house,” said Coombs. “She would bake all night long making breads, pies, cookies and all sorts of things that seemed larger than life at the time. Everything I know how to do, I learned from watching her and jumping in to help.”

Busy Bee Café is open Tuesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Harbor Hospice Purse Party raises money for Camp Courage

Searching for the perfect new purse? Maybe two? Looking for a stunning designer bag you can afford?

Join enthusiastic shoppers Sunday, May 5 at the White Lake Eagles for the 7th annual Harbor Hospice Purse Party. This event is open to the public. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Prices for new and gently used purses, from casual clutches and wristlets to evening bags and totes, start at just $1.

A silent auction features highend bags. Auctioneer Nicole Popps will round out the event with a robust live auction of designer beauties. Stunning handbags embellished by members of the community and artists from the Arts Council of White Lake will also be showcased. All proceeds from the purse party support Camp Courage, a three-day sleep-away camp held in June at Pioneer Trails Camp on Big Blue Lake for children who are grieving the death of someone they

loved. Camp Courage is free to all children attending and this purse auction helps make that possible.

Harbor Hospice volunteer Bob Harter clears his calendar for three days each summer so he can spend time with the children at Camp Courage.

“Children often think they are all alone in their grief,” Harter said. “They’ve lost someone they loved. They don’t know how to talk about it, and they don’t know how to carry their huge burden.” Each year, he watches and helps the healing unfold.

For three days and two nights, the campers enjoy swimming, games and campfires, along with activities like story time and working side-by-side on crafts projects that help prompt meaningful conversations.

They have lots of fun just being kids, and they also have real discussions about death and dying that help them share their feelings

with fellow campers and specially trained counselors who are there to listen and support.

“Emotions around grief are hard to navigate, especially for children,” said Ashley Spencer, who created the purse auction and chairs the event. “Often the adults they would normally turn to are trying to deal with their own grief. At Camp Courage, the children have the trained ear of counselors and volunteers, plus they make new friends and have a lot of summer camp fun.”

“No question is off limits,” Harter said. “The simple realization that there is no judgment, that their feelings are completely normal, can be life-changing for the campers.”

Camp Courage is a program of the Scolnik Healing Center of Harbor Hospice, which provides grief counseling to children and adults in Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, Ottawa and Newago Counties.

For more information, call Harbor Hospice at 231-728-3442.

Track

Reeths-Puffer loses close dual to Holland

The Rocket girls fell just short of victory, 66-62, while the boys fell 7750. Sophia McCollum led the girls with wins in both the 800 and 1,600 meters, including a PR of 2:44 in the 800. Gabrielle Chevez set a PR of 13:08 and won the 3,200, and Zaire Wright’s PR of 25-9.5 earned 1st in shot put. Darcy Keefe (400), Brooklynn Tornes (long jump) and Isabella Smith (pole vault) also won, as did the 400, 1,600 and 3,200 relays. For the boys,

Montague squads 6th at Kent City Invite

Both Wildcat teams took 6th out of the 8 teams in the Silver division. Isaiah Atchison led the Wildcat boys, earning a 2nd-place finish in high jump and a 5th-place finish in the 100 meters. Clay Johnson took 5th in the 800, and Noah Raeth set a PR of 4:54.0 in taking 5th in the 1,600. Annelyse Schneider was 3rd in long jump to pace the girls finishers.

Whitehall races at Grand Rapids Elite Challenge

Whitehall had several impressive finishers in the Elite division of the meet. Malcolm Earvin finished 2nd in the 100 meters, and Trannon Aylor was 2nd in the 400. Ayden Mendoza took 3rd in the high jump and Kal Koehler was 4th in the long jump with a new PR of 21-3.5. Whitehall also won the Swedish 100/200/300/400 meter relay. Cami Kraai led the Whitehall girls with a 5th-place finish in the 800. Montague falls to Fremont in duals

The Wildcat girls took a tough 69-66 defeat, and the boys lost 89-47. Several Montague girls earned PRs in wins: Addison Smith in pole vault (8-0), Ava Pumford in high jump (4-4), Trisha Beckman in discus (85-10), and Cammie Erickson in the 300 meter hurdles (54.01). Beckman also won the shot put. Britta Johnson won the 400, and Annelyse Schneider won the long jump. Montague won the 800 and 1,600 relays. In the boys’ meet, Isaiah Atchison picked up wins in the 100, the 200, and the high jump, Isaac French won both throwing events, and Michael Jones won the pole vault.

Reeths-Puffer girls split home tri meet

The Rocket girls defeated Muskegon 83.5-41.5, but lost to Zeeland East. R-P’s boys dropped both ends of the tri. Brooklynn Tornes led R-P with a win in the 100 meters, where she set a PR of 13.23 seconds. Tornes also was part of the 400-meter relay team that won. Tate Bradley earned the Rocket boys’ lone win, in the 800 meters.

R-P enjoyed its best day of the season, shooting a 160 to earn an O-K Green victory. Kristian Brown and Aiden Waggoner tied for medalist honors, each shooting a 38. Brown had 2 birdies and Waggoner scored one. Dylan Panozzo added a 39 and made 3 birdies.

Whitehall 2nd, Montague 5th at Montague Jamboree Whitehall shot a 168 to take 2nd behind Manistee. Braedon Bond led local players with a 39, placing 5th overall. Mason Mulnix shot a 42 to earn 8th place. Jack Bailey and Owen Raeth led Montague with 43s. Golf Reeths-Puffer wins home jamboree

Lacrosse

Reeths-Puffer 13 Kenowa Hills 10

The Rockets won their 7th straight game behind 4 goals each from Carson Cooper and Kyler Brainard. Owen Greiner had 2 late goals.

Reeths-Puffer 18 Northview 4

It was another dominating win for R-P. Kyler Brainard racked up 8 goals in the Rockets’ victory, Cohen Beck had 5 and Carson Cooper chipped in 4. JT Fansler was a major playmaker in the win, distributing 7 assists.

Reeths-Puffer 12 G.R. Christian 3

The Rockets’ winning ways continued behind Kyler Brainard’s 3 goals and 3 assists. R-P improved to 8-0 in O-K Tier 3 games.

Tennis

Reeths-Puffer 8 Wyoming 0

R-P only lost 5 games in a whitewashing of Wyoming. Brooke Titus, Olivia Harris, Molly Matz and Kaitlyn Darow won in singles play. T In doubles, Hope Latsch/Olivia Smith, Emma Fraser/Lauren Matz, Malania Eilers/Gabrielle Borgeson and Ava Dietz/Laura Tejedor won.

Whitehall 4 Manistee 4

Grace McDowell and Izzy Gould earned singles wins, but it was Ella Sumerix/Arianna Marsala’s comeback win at #4 doubles (4-6, 6-1, 10-5) that salvaged a tie. Brianna Bentz/Akeelah Martin also won in doubles.

Ludington 5 Reeths-Puffer 3

Emma Fraser/Lauren Matz and Malania Eilers/Gabrielle Borgeson each won doubles matches for the Rockets. Mylie Neel won at #2 singles.

Reeths-Puffer T-2nd at Jenison Invite

The Rockets equaled the 10 points scored by Mona Shores to take 2nd behind Grand Rapids South Christian. Brooke Titus and Mylie Neel earned 2-0 marks at No. 1 and No. 4 singles respectively. R-P earned a win each at 5 other flights.

Grant 6 Whitehall 2

The Vikings earned one singles win and one doubles win, both close matchups. The top doubles pair of Brianna Bentz/Akeelah Martin won 6-1, 7-5, and Izzy Gould won 6-2, 7-5 at No. 3 singles.

Whitehall 6 Fremont 2 Whitehall won all 4 singles matches en route to the team victory. Grace McDowell, Alivia DeWildt, Izzy Gould and Addy Broton all won in straight sets. Brianna Bentz/Akeelah Martin and Emily VanDam/Sophia McCreedy also earned wins in the top 2 doubles flights.

Bultema

Whitehall’s Malcolm Earvin tries to outrun a Ludington foe in the 200-meter race during

WMC track tri meet at Whitehall.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Zeeland West 2 Reeths-Puffer 0

Each team had 6 shots on goal in the game, but the Rockets

Green.

Busy Bee Cafe owner Miranda Coombs officially unveils her new space next to the Weathervane Inn Saturday.

• Madison Lajewski/Mirror

Police activity this week

Behind the Badge

April 26

At 1:10 a.m. Whitehall Police were called to a report of a vehicle on the curb with the driver asleep inside. When the officer arrived on the scene at the intersection of Alice and Division streets, he was met by witnesses who reported they first found the driver asleep behind the wheel at the stop sign. Witnesses reported after they knocked on the window for a time, the driver woke, turned the corner, drove up on the curb, stopped and went to the back seat and went to sleep. The officer recognized the suspect from having arrested him about three weeks prior. After waking the occupant, he told the officer someone else had been driving. Field sobriety tests were conducted, which led to the 49-year-old’s arrest for OWI. The driver, who is originally from Texas but staying in Whitehall, was taken to the Muskegon County jail and a blood sample was later collected for testing. The driver was lodged at the jail for the night. Damage to the little league baseball field on Hanson Street was discovered and reported to police at 10:34 a.m. Park staff reported several light bulbs had been broken during the past two weeks and now the board wouldn’t function at all. It was estimated that replacement would cost about $5,000. There are no suspects in the case and Whitehall Police is asking that anyone with information contact the office.

An employee at a local business called police to report harassment by a co-worker. During the 12:17 p.m. investigation, the officer was told it started when the offender “exploded” on her. After, that same person made a comment to another co-worker that caused the

caller further concern. At this time, the caller did not want further action but did want the incident documented.

An officer on patrol at 10:55 p.m. observed a traveler ahead of them on Spring Street driving down the middle of the roadway. As the officer continued to follow, the vehicle committed other traffic offenses before being stopped in the 3100 block of Colby Rd. During contact with the driver, the officer noted signs of intoxication and had the Muskegon Township man perform sobriety tests. After the tests, the 52-year-old was arrested and lodged for OWI without incident. A blood sample was collected and sent to the State Police crime laboratory for analysis.

April 27

At 4:59 p.m. Whitehall Police were called to a report of a “man down” in the 100 block of W Hanson St. When the officer arrived, bystanders were already providing rescue measures. The 46-yearold victim was later transported to Trinity Health, where he was pronounced deceased. The preliminary investigation did not reveal any evidence of a crash or foul play. The case remains under investigation.

An officer on patrol noticed a license plate that was 2 years expired which led to the driver being cited for DWLS as well. The officer was in the 1000 block of Colby St. at 7:30 p.m. when the vehicle was spotted and then stopped in the 100 block of Hall St.

The 62-year-old Spring Lake man was checked in the computer and the officer found his license was suspended for not paying a previous ticket. The suspect was also cited for additional offenses and released when a friend arrived to take him home.

A resident of the 1100 block of Alice St. called to report her mother’s ex-husband showed up at their residence there.

The officer responding to the 8:42 p.m. call was told that at one time there was a PPO against the 45-yearold Grant resident and there had been no contact for him to know where they lived. The suspect left when confronted, but the

caller requested the officer check the area out of concern for his return. No further action was taken.

A Whitehall Township man was arrested for OWI after an officer on patrol made a traffic stop for erratic driving. The officer first spotted the car at 11:30 p.m. as it accelerated eastbound on Spring Street from Division Street. When the vehicle began to turn left onto Baldwin Street, it stopped in the middle of the turn and stayed there for several seconds before continuing. When the officer approached the vehicle, golf clubs were noted in the front seat and when questioned the 47-year-old said after golf, he had stopped for a few drinks. After having the driver perform sobriety tests, the officer took the suspect into custody

for OWI. A breath test was administered at the Muskegon County jail which showed a BAC more than twice the legal limit. The driver was lodged at the jail for the night.

April 29

Whitehall Police were called to assist with a walkaway from an adult care home in the 1300 block of Alice St. The 90-year-old told the officer she did not want to go back but was also unable to care for herself. After speaking to the woman for several minutes, she agreed to go back and sit on the porch. The officer transported her back to the home during the 1 p.m. call.

At 6:47 p.m. a resident of the 1100 block of Colby St. called to report harassment by a neighbor. The caller told the officer the neighbor was accusing her

of having an affair with the neighbor’s boyfriend. The officer also learned the neighbor had never confronted her, but she had been told by a third party the caller did not want to reveal. No further action was taken.

A juvenile runaway was reported to police at 9:02 p.m. The parent reported the 12-year-old had left the residence around 6 p.m. and had not yet returned. The officer had just begun a search for the runaway when the parent called and reported the boy had returned home.

A Fruitport Township man was arrested after “turning right on red” from Mears Avenue onto Colby Street. At 9:58 p.m., the on-duty officer was observing traffic at the intersection when he observed the violation. After making

the stop on the 41-yearold, a computer check showed him to be wanted on two outstanding child support warrants. The suspect was taken into custody and later transported to the Muskegon County jail, where he was lodged.

April 30

Whitehall Police responded to the 200 block of E Colby St. after two men there called after the clerk refused to sell them alcohol. The men, both Whitehall residents and both disabled, went to the store but were already visibly intoxicated and the law prohibits sale of liquor to intoxicated persons. After the officer explained the matter to the callers, they agreed to walk home. They were followed by caregivers who had been on scene with the officer. No further action was taken.

Whitehall Police Report