The Oceana Echo - Volume 2, Issue 27, Nov. 29, 2024 by theoceanaecho

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Thank you to OUR MOST RECENT Lead This Legacy donors Michael & Elizabeth Price

READER:

Oceana group provides hurricane relief in North Carolina

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

During this holiday season, people and families everywhere have just finished Thanksgiving and are starting to prepare for Christmas. For many, the next few weeks will be filled with special programs, family and work parties and shopping for gifts. Yet, for thousands of Americans down south, this holiday season they are just grateful to be alive and are focused on rebuilding their lives.

Hurricane Helene tore through the southeastern United States in late September, followed by Hurricane Milton barely two weeks later in Central Florida. Both of historical proportion, these storms left widespread devastation behind.

• Contributed Photos Please

Since then fellow Americans from across the U.S. have been doing what they are known for, helping — from donating money and supplies to actually going to the most devastated areas, lending a helping hand and supporting those in the wake of such unimaginable disasters.

Among those from Oceana County were Shelby natives Jennifer Domin, along with her sons, Colton, a 2024 Shelby High School grad, and Aiden Siedenstrang, a junior at SHS; Jennifer’s husband, Scott Domin; family friend Steven Winterhalter, a senior at SHS; Paul Siedenstrang, Colton and Aiden’s dad; and Cindy Brumm, Jennifer’s mom. The group organized itself shortly after Hurricane Helene and was gone from Wednesday, Oct. 16 to Monday, Oct. 21.

“It was my idea to go down,” said Domin. “I really wanted to go and help. But Colton was the one who took the idea and ran with it.”

While Colton set up a donation page and did a lot of the running around gathering supplies prior to their trip, Jennifer did the coordinating of where they would go and on what days. “I was able to find out what and where the needs were just by going on Facebook.” The group took two trucks and two trailers loaded with supplies.

Domin and her husband Scott were married in Newport, Tenn. last year. Prior to leaving, Jennifer had called her contacts there to see if they were okay, hoping to make a quick stop on their way. “There was a lot of water damage, but not road destruction,” she reported. They were able to drop supplies off at a church, as well as bring some clothes to someone else who had requested them.

From Newport, the family traveled to Forest City, N.C., where they volunteered for the next two days at a distribution cen-

ter. The family helped by taking in donations and handing them out as people would drive through. They were able to sleep in a local church that provided dinner for them both nights.

Originally they had planned to go to Lake Lure, N.C., however, upon arriving, they discovered that road access was too difficult. Not knowing really what to expect, Colton shared these observations: “One of the first things I saw when I got there was a little pink baby slipper on the ground covered in mud. It was really weird. Cars were flipped over and completely filled with mud. There were huge holes with whole houses in them. I’m not sure how wide the river was to begin with, but when we were there it was about 100 feet across. They say the river actually changed course as a result of the hurricane.” Colton added, “People were very happy in a weird kind of way. You could tell they were sad.”

After two days at the distribution center, the team had connected with the Jackson family, who owned a horse ranch and had lost nearly everything in the storm. Fortunately, the Jacksons were able to move their 19 horses to higher ground prior to

the storm. However, their homestead did not fare as well. By the time Helene was over, the Jacksons had between 9-15 feet of water in their house; outbuildings had been completely removed from their foundations and their belongings were scattered everywhere. Work crews kept busy picking up the property and gutting the house.

“Everything they owned was lost,” Domin said. “My mom (Cindy) and I cleaned tack while the guys and kids poured new footers for the buildings and got the electric going again.”

“Everyone was super nice, and when we left, tears were shed. We’re friends on Facebook now, and we plan to go back this summer,” Colton said.

After a long 16-hour drive, the Domins and Siedenstrangs arrived home tired, with lots of emotions and experiences to process.

The storms have left their mark on thousands; cleanup and recovery will take years.

But both families are extremely grateful to everyone who supported them so they could help others in need. “It was amazing, being able to help someone,” Domin said.

group of good Samaritans from Oceana County recently traveled to North Carolina to help with the hurricane cleanup efforts there. The devastation was evident all across the region as seen above and below.

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

Early Pioneers: L. G. Rutherford

By Caleb Jackson

The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

It is always interesting to read through our county’s history and to learn more about certain names that were previously encountered, and yet no further thought was given to their lives. L. G. Rutherford is one of those names. He was one of the earliest prosecuting attorneys in Oceana, being elected to that position in 1880. Some weeks ago, I discussed the disappearance of Alonzo Irons and I quoted from the report of a Pinkerton detective who was hired to find him. Well, it was L.G. Rutherford who sent for that detective, and when you read through his report, the entries are all addressed to Mr. Rutherford. So, let’s learn a little more about this early pioneer.

Rutherford was born in Bath, N.Y. on Jan. 2, 1842. At the age of fourteen he ran away from home and worked in logging fallow. After returning home, he attended school for three winters and entered into a law office, but decided instead to enlist in the 78th Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry in 1861. If you’ve read my column before, this might sound familiar. Oceana’s settlement took place not too long before the emergence of the Civil War, and so it is not uncommon for many of our pioneers to have spent time in the service. Nor, would seem, is it that uncommon for rowdy boys to run away from home in those days. Rutherford served until 1863, when he was discharged for disability, but returned in 1864 after his health improved, this time joining the 189th Regiment. Page’s history of Oceana tells us that “being Second Lieutenant, [he took] part in every battle of the Potomac from September, 1864, to Appomattox Court House, in 1865.” It is also mentioned that he attained the rank of Captain during his time of service. After the war ended, he returned home and “[entered] upon mercantile life” in 1867. Shortly after that he found himself in Hart.

Once in Hart, Rutherford jumped around a bit career-wise. He first launched a factory building sashes, blinds, and doors with a man named Mr. Benham. But he sold the factory in the fall of that same year and then began “speculating in real estate.” However, it would seem that it didn’t pan out. Page’s history tells us he met with some “financial reverses” and started working in a sawmill. 1870, though, was finally Rutherford’s year. This is when

he began studying law, and of course he was elected the prosecuting attorney just 10 years later. In Page’s history, it is written that “since he has held the office, there have been but two men acquitted of the charges brought against them.” Page’s history was published in 1882, and later that same year Mr. Rutherford would resign from his position, only to be replaced by L.M. Hartwick, one of the authors of “Oceana County Pioneers and Business Men of To-Day.”

One of the most fascinating things about Rutherford is that he wrote a brief sketch of the history of Oceana’s bench and bar, which can be found in Page’s history of Oceana. As a result, we get a bit of a taste of his personality and language, which is a rarity for our pioneers. His summary is succinct and eloquent, sometimes humorous and sometimes brutally honest. For instance, he wrote of one judge from Newaygo named Giddings, “He was regarded by all who knew him as one of the ablest jurists in the state; but too great a love for strong drink partially destroyed his usefulness and no doubt prevented him from rising to the highest judicial honors.”

He recounts one humorous story about a clerk of the court named E. D. Richmond, who took his role very seriously, despite not knowing the full depths of his duties. At the next court meeting, Richmond showed up early, and when the judge, Littlejohn, arrived with his entourage of lawyers, Richmond eyed them up, isolated the one he

found to be most trustworthy and confided that “he had some doubt as to whether he knew all about his duties…” The lawyer told him he must “keep an accurate record of all that was said by court, council or witness.” Richmond steeled himself and set about the task. At first, things proceeded swimmingly, but, as Rutherford puts it, “all too soon the words came fast and hot. Ed strove manfully but in vain, and as he wanted a good record, he finally jumped to his feet and fairly yelled; “Hold on judge! I can’t get half of this talk down; you must go a little slower.” And of course, the court erupted with laughter.

And finally, I will leave you with Rutherford’s own words as he reminisces about the brotherly air of the early days in Oceana’s court.

Many are the recollections of legal contests which cluster around the memory of days gone by. One in particular, when R. M. Montgomery was prosecuting attorney of the county, two men were arrested for stealing a cargo of shingles, and the examination lasted eight days before Esquire Ripley, at Pentwater, and I do not recollect of a warmed contest during my whole career at the bar. So hot did it get that I thought I could never respect my legal brothers again. But with the end of the trial, when we took a retrospective view of the whole affair, we became warmer friends than before, and no doubt had greater respect for each other for the hard fight we had made.

Ongoing

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

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

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

WEDNESDAYS: Love INC satellite open, Walkerville Wesleyan Church, 144 S. Hamon St., noon to 4 p.m.

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

1 st & 3 rd

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

1st & 3rd WEDNESDAYS: Hart VFW Post 1329 Burger/ Chicken/Brat/Ribs Night, 5-7 p.m., dine-in or carry out. Every other WEDNESDAY: Shelby Optimist Club meetings, Stony Lake Inn, 7-8 p.m., (September to May)

2nd & 4th WEDNESDAYS - True North Housing Assistance satellite open, Walkerville Wesleyan Church, 12:30-3:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

The Ladder Community Center:

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

M-F: “The Huddle” for 6th-12th grade youth, 3-5 p.m. Tuesdays: Knitting Group, 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays: Celebrate worship gathering, 6:30 p.m.

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

Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

Oceana Singers to perform Dec. 1 at Hart UMC

Oceana Singers invite you to join them for their Christmas concert at the Hart United Methodist Church this Sunday, Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. Their theme this year is “We Need a Little Christmas” and will include both sacred and secular Christmas selections sung by their 30 members. All are invited to stay for refreshments provided by the choir following their performance.

Performating Arts Series presents Creole du Nord

November

Nov. 29 - Hesperia’s Annual Light Up the Park, Webster Park, 5-8:30 p.m., park lighting at 6 p.m., fireworks at 7 p.m.

Nov. 29 - Home for the Holidays, Lighted Christmas Parade, Downtown Hart, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 30 - Santa on the Green, Village Green, Pentwater, 5 p.m.

Nov. 30 - Free Community Breakfast, Shelby Cong. UCC, 8-10 a.m.

Dec. 1 - Holiday Toast for COVE, PYC, noon to 3 p.m.

Dec. 1 - Oceana Singers Christmas Concert, Hart UMC, 4 p.m.

Dec. 2 - Friends of the HCL Photo Contest winners announced.

Dec. 2 - Dec. 18 - Spitler Elementary School “Polar Express Canned Food Drive”, 302 W. Johnson St., Hart.

Dec. 3 - Tech Time, Hesperia Comm. Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Dec. 3 - Christmas Social, Oceana County Right to Life, Hart Wesleyan Church, 6 p.m.

Dec. 4 - All Pro Dads, Shelby Elementary School, 7:20 a.m.

Dec. 5 - All Pro Dads, Pentwater Public School, 7:20 a.m.

Dec. 5 - Holiday Needle Felting, Pentwater Library, 1-3 p.m.

Dec. 5 - Versiti Blood Drive, West Michigan Research Station, 5185 N. Oceana Dr., Hart, 2-6:25 p.m.

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

Dec. 6 - All Pro Dads, Walkerville Public School, 8 a.m.

Dec. 6 - Slate Building Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 194 N. Division, Hesperia, 2-3 p.m.

Dec. 6 - Story Time, HCL, 10-11 a.m., Tween Night, 3:15-4:45 p.m.

Dec. 6 - “Creole du Nord”, Hart Schools Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 7 - Pentwater Bands Holiday Craft Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dec. 7 - Shelby Cheerleaders 22nd Annual Tiger Bazaar, Shelby High School gym, 641 N. State St., Shelby 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dec. 7 - Walkerville Christmas Parade & Visit with Santa, starting at school, ending at Pioneer House, 10 a.m.

Dec. 7 - A Holiday Evening in the Village, Shelby, 4-7 p.m.

Annual Light Up the Park tonight in Hesperia

The Hart Community Performing Arts Series will present Creole du Nord on Friday, Dec. 6, as the series continues its 2024-2025 season. The concert will take place in the Hart Public Schools Auditorium, located in the Hart Middle School at 308 W. Johnson St. in Hart, and starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or online at hartseries.org.

Louisiana music brings a real element of passion to this band. It has become the mission of the bandleader Mark Palms, who traced his family roots to Breaux Bridge, La., to bring the uplifting spirit of Louisiana music back to his northern home. Dedicated to the traditional sounds of southwest Louisiana, Creole du Nord delivers a lively Cajun & Zydeco groove featuring fiddle and accordion and a rockin’ rhythm section “pour les bon temps.” Bandleader Mark Palms traced his family roots to Breaux Bridge and now brings the uplifting spirit of Louisiana to the northern Great Lakes with Michigan’s finest: Billy King on guitar, Walter Prettyman on fiddle, Carol Palms on bass and Pete Siers on drums. After learning from some of Louisiana’s best, such as Joe Hall, Steve Riley, Blake Miller, Jesse Lege, Ray Abshire, Walter Mouton and more, Mark and the band Creole du Nord have been playing festivals, dances, and clubs across Michigan and the Midwest. For further information, see the series’ website at hartseries.org, or contact Artistic Director Tom Kirk at tomkirk@hartseries.org.

Shelby Congregational UCC offers free breakfast

The Shelby Congregational United Church of Christ will be hosting a free Fifth Saturday Breakfast from 8-10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 51 E. Third St. in Shelby. All are welcome!

Versiti Blood Drive will be Thursday, Dec. 5 in Hart

People need people. Every day of the year, people we know, people in our community and people across Michigan need blood. To help fill that need, Versiti Blood Center of Michigan will be hosting its second of two bimonthly community blood drives, Thursday, Dec. 5 from 2-6:20 p.m. at the West Michigan Research Station, located at 5185 N. Oceana Dr. in Hart.

Every pint of blood donated at next Thursday’s drive goes directly to Michigan hospitals to give patients lifesaving blood in health emergencies or for routine care. The blood donated next week could help save the life of a family member or friend, please consider joining in this important effort.

Contact Hart area coordinator Kathy Roskam at 231-861-6353 or krcmmom@ hotmail.com with questions or to schedule an appointment.

Hesperia’s Annual Light Up the Park will take place today, Friday, Nov. 29, from 5-8:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend and join in Christmas caroling and live music at 6 p.m., along with the Light Up the Park Ceremony. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive then to assist Hesperia third grade student Amiah Cram, who has been chosen to push the switch to Light up the Park. The event will feature the following booths: commemorative ornaments, Christmas cookies, hot cocoa and popcorn, tote bags, interactive elves workbench and giveaways. Horse-drawn wagon rides will be available, and attendees can enjoy the Deater Light Show, visit Whoville and see the Grinch, take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with other costumed characters and photo op spots. There will also be a 13-piece art exhibit by local artists based on “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The fireworks show will begin at 7 p.m. This is the first year for the new Pallet Art Contest and the winner will be announced prior to the fireworks show.

Oceana RTL to host Christmas Social Dec. 3

Oceana County Right to Life is hosting a Christmas Social Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. at the Hart Wesleyan Church. This is open to those that have been involved with Right to Life or are interested in doing so. Attendees are asked to please bring a light snack to share, and should consider bringing a friend to help this community grow together.

Countdown to Christmas events at The Ladder

The Ladder Community Center, located at 67 N. State St. in Shelby, is hosting several festive events for adults this December. Some events require sign-up (see below for more information). To sign up, call (231) 259-0211 or stop by The Ladder. Visit theladdercommunitycenter.com to view all upcoming events.

• Ornament Exchange: Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. Bring a wrapped ornament and enjoy this fun left-right game. Sign up by Dec. 9. No cost.

• Christmas Bingo: Thursday, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19. No sign-up needed. Cost: $1.

• Cookie Decorating: Friday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. Sign up by Dec. 6. Cost: donation.

• Live Christmas Music: Friday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. No sign-up needed. No cost.

• Christmas Games: Monday, Dec. 16 at 12:30 p.m. Sign up by Dec. 11. Cost: $5. Payment due at sign-up.

• CHRISTmas Luncheon: Friday, Dec. 20 at 11:30 a.m. This intergenerational event for adults and our 6th-12th grade youth will include a Christmas carol sing-along, live violin and piano music, devotional and a ham and turkey dinner. Limited seating available. Sign up by Dec. 11. Cost: $10. Payment due at sign-up.

• Worship—Christmas Hymns: Saturday, Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m. Folks of all ages are invited to worship the Lord around the piano with Christmas-themed hymns, prayer and praise. Desserts will be served.

• Worship—Contemporary Christmas Music (Bilingual): Saturday, Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m. Folks of all ages are invited to worship the Lord by candlelight with contemporary Christmas-themed songs, prayer, and praise. Light appetizers will be served.

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

obituaries

Memorial Service ~ Emersyn Kokx

Infant, Emersyn Kokx, daughter of Alyssa Whatley and Alex Kokx of Crystal Valley, passed away on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 2, 2024, at noon at Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington. Visitation begins at 11am at the funeral home.

Arrangements were entrusted to Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, OakGroveLudington.com.

James Dale Lorenz

April 2, 1936 ~ November 19, 2024

James Dale Lorenz, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, at Shelby Hospital, at the age of 88. His family surrounded him that day, sharing love and stories that brought a warm smile to everyone’s face. Jim was born at Shelby Hospital on April 2, 1936, just a few minutes after midnight. He was the youngest of three children of Rudolph and Kathern (Jackson) Lorenz and the only one born in a hospital. Jim grew up in Whitehall and graduated from Whitehall Schools, where he became Whitehall’s first 12-varsity letter-earning athlete, graduating in 1954. After a basketball game during his senior year, he met the love of his life, Mon tague girl Beverly Reschetz. In 1955, one year after graduating high school, he crossed the river to move to Montague when he married Beverly. Jim and Bev celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary this year.

When Jim was 23 years old, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He is very proud to have served his country and considered it an honor to have been a member of the U.S. Army. Jim’s oldest daughter, Melissa, was born in Germany while Jim was stationed there. After serving in the Army and returning home, Jim and Bev had two more girls, Hilary and Heather. Jim couldn’t have been prouder of his daughters, who were all raised in the house that he and Bev built next to her parents, Bill and Frances Kroll. Jim loved his girls so much and was always there when they needed him.

Jim began his career with the U.S. Postal Service after leaving a good job at the Whitehall Tannery. He also moonlighted as a mason on many homes around the Muskegon County area while attending college at Muskegon Business College. Jim’s career with the postal service included working in Montague, Muskegon and Fremont, before returning to Montague as the Postmaster in 1985, where he stayed until retiring in 1999, after 33 years with the U.S. Postal Service. He loved serving the community. After a couple of years, he decided to go back to work part-time at the New Era Post Office, where he stayed until he was 76 years old and decided to retire again. Besides being with his family, some of Jim’s favorite things in retirement included golfing, visiting friends at the Montague Senior Center and Whitehall American Legion, fishing, going to the casino with Bev,

In memory of William F. Keck

June 29, 1929 - Nov. 29, 2014

A heart of gold stopped beating today. Two willing hands are at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best. Miss you every day, Bill, and I still love you. - Your wife always, Carol Keck

spending time in South Carolina, going on cruises, spending time in the U.P. and being the proud Papa of his grandchildren Ashley and Brady! He was a loyal, dedicated, loving person to his family and community. His smile lit up a room, his laugh contagious and his ability to make things better was truly a gift. His sense of humor and storytelling were unmatched, and his stories are treasures we will carry with us forever. Jim was inducted into the Whitehall High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2018, of which he was so proud. He was also a member of the American Legion Algot Johnson Post 69, a lifetime honoree of the Harvey Houston Golf League at Old Channel Trail Golf Course and a member of Montague United Methodist Church.

Jim passed away while his family was with him, as he was always there for his family. He will always be deeply missed and loved by his wife, Beverly; daughters, Melissa (Bill Ditty) Lorenz, Hilary Lorenz, and Heather (Curtiss Babcock - Jim’s best friend) Lorenz-Babcock; and the brightest lights of his life, his grandchildren, Ashley (Ryan) Gannon and Brady Babcock; Jim received one more surprise this fall by meeting his new great-granddaughter, Scottie James Gannon, whom he loved instantly. Jim is also survived by special nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by: his parents; his loving in-laws; his sister, Alyce Morgan; brother-in-law, Howard Morgan; brother, “Randy” Lorenz; and very special nephew, “Little Randy” Lorenz.

The Celebration of Jim will be conducted at noon, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, at White Lake United Methodist Church, 8555 Cook St., Montague, MI 49437, with visitation at 11 a.m. until time of service. A graveside service will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery, in Montague, and the family invites you for a time of food and fellowship at the Whitehall American Legion Algot Johnson Post 69, 803 E. Colby St., Whitehall, MI 49461, concluding all services.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to the Whitehall American Legion Post 69 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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

Lighthouse Lutheran Church

8786 N. Business US-31 Pentwater, MI • 49449 231-869-2527

Pastor John C. Hansen Sunday Worship - 11 a.m. For more information, call 231-233-7703 EVERYONE IS WELCOME! LCMS

Friends raise over $4K for SADL

Celebration of the Holidays, which concluded Saturday, Nov. 23, raised more than $4,000 for Friends of Shelby Area District Library (SADL), a non-profit organization of volunteers who support the Shelby Library.

The Celebration event included a Buy-it-Now table of seasonal items and a Silent Auction of 71 unique entries created by Emilee Best, MaryAnn Carey, Janet Schultz, Linda Ransom, Connie Near, Margaret Clune, Linda and Dave Anderson, Linda and Heidi Andres, Quinn Schemp, Shelby Elementary Aspire students with Heather Baffi, Ruth Tobin with Sewing Friendzies and Friendship Ring Quilt Guild, Amanda Mazur, Karen Hammann, Diane Cole, Matt Fergusson, Bob Bauer, Shelby Hometown Pharmacy, Shelby Floral & Gifts, Barbara Bull, Mark Peterson and Tammy Smith with OCCOA Our Friends House.

The Friends of SADL would like to thank everyone who created displays, donated items for auction, bid on the items, baked cookies, helped with setup and cleanup or just attended and enjoyed the beautiful creations during their Celebration of the Holidays event. They would also like to extend their gratitude to The Oceana Echo, Oceana’s Herald-Journal, Radio Bob at WEEH FM, Oceana County Press and local churches for spreading the word. Those who contributed their talent and time to assist or donate merchandise were: Rivers Ace in Whitehall, Christine Burnham, Cindy McKinnon, Kathy Sullivan, Diana Clark, Patti Schlaudt, Kathy Shea, Kathy Horton, Paula Inglis, Julie McKeen and Margaret Clune.

The fun continues with a drawing for a gift basket filled with gift cards and merchandise donated by local businesses. For each $10 donation to the Friends of SADL, the donor’s name is entered in the drawing taking place Dec. 19. Stop by the circulation desk at the library and complete an entry form. Each basket is valued at more than $300. Businesses contributing are: Images Salon, Blondies, Stony Lake Inn, Woodland Farm Market, The Farmhouse Restaurant, Affordable Auto, Pizza Factory, Birch & Blossom, Deb’s Café, Weesies, Wesco in Shelby, Claybanks Pottery, Storybook Village and Stony Lake Depot. A few holiday items are still for sale at the Buy-it-Now table, so stop by the Shelby Library at 189 Maple St. in Shelby.

SCIF donation enhances the Wildlife Center’s Educational Programs in 2025

The Wildlife Center at Legends Ranch is excited to announce that, thanks to the generous donation of taxidermy specimens from the Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF), the upcoming 2025 FREE School Tour season is set to make a significant educational impact on local youth. In 2024 alone, the center educated 3,783 students through its FREE School Tours, bringing the total to 6,496 students since the inception of this program in 2023. With over 60 schools and more than 3,000 students expected to visit in 2025, the inclusion of these extraordinary exhibits promises to significantly elevate their conservation education efforts. Additionally, they welcomed 77 first-time hunters in 2023 and anticipate over 80 in 2024, contributing to a total of more than 400 new hunters since 2020. Their Hunter Education Field Days certified 216 students this year, resulting in 346 students having been certified since 2023. They have also hosted 18 veterans in 2024 for their Veterans Retreat and Purple Heart Hunt, with 179 veterans participating since 2003.

The newly acquired taxidermy displays— featuring a full-size tiger, rhino and jaguar— will not only captivate young minds but also serve as vital educational tools that enhance students’ understanding of wildlife and conservation significance. Among the collection is a pangolin, which will specifically highlight the critical issue of poaching. Alongside these impressive specimens, their interactive learning stations engage students on key conservation themes, including the funding of conservation, management of wild game, and the scientific data crucial for informed conservation decisions. Students will delve into urgent topics like poaching, overgrazing, overpopulation and the dynamics of predator and prey relationships.

Director of The Wildlife Center at Legends Ranch Robert Sergi shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming season: “We are incredibly excited to introduce these magnificent specimens to our youth visitors in 2025. This donation will not only enrich their educational experience but also inspire them to be informed advocates for wildlife conservation. We extend our gratitude to the SCI Foundation, along with (SCI Director of Education and Humanitarian Services) Laurine Wolfe, (SCI/SCIF CEO) Laird Hamberlin, (SCIF former President) Brook Minx and SCIF Current President Brian Welker.”

The Wildlife Center at Legends Ranch covers 100 percent of the costs associated with these field trips, including all transportation expenses, making it entirely accessible for every school. In addition, each student that tours the museum will receive a WLC Passport filled with conservation facts to take home. The cost of these WLC Passports was generously donated by three SCI chapters (SCI Michigan, SCI Mid-Michigan and SCI West MI Bowhunters). As they anticipate the 2025 season, their dedicated staff and volunteers are committed to delivering an engaging, informative and unforgettable experience for all participants.

For more information wildlifecentermi. org or call 231-745-8000.

• Connie VanDerZanden/Echo

By Lucie Winborne

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

• On Dec. 2, 1972, the Temptations earned the last of their four charttopping hits when “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” made it to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

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NOW HERE’S A TIP #12345_20241118 FOR RELEASE NOV. 18, 2024

By JoAnn Derson

FOR RELEASE NOV. 18, 2024

By Lucie Winborne

• On Dec. 3, 1984, an explosion at a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, marked the worst industrial accident in history. At least 5,000 people died immediately, according to official estimates, while approximately 20,000 died over time and another half-million were injured when toxic gas enveloped the city.

• On Dec. 4, 1917, psychiatrist W.H.R. Rivers presented a report titled “The Repression of War Experience” to the Royal School of Medicine. The report was based on his work at the Craiglockhart War Hospital for Neurasthenic Officers, near Edinburgh, which was one of the most famous hospitals used to treat soldiers suffering psychological trauma after serving on the battlefield.

• On Dec. 5, 1776, five students at Williamsburg, Virginia’s College of William & Mary gathered at Raleigh’s Tavern to found a new fraternity they called Phi Beta Kappa, which was intended to follow strictly American principles rather than those espoused by England or Germany and in which members engaged in the kind of fervent political debate characteristic of the school’s student life.

• On Dec. 6, 1961, Syracuse running back Ernie Davis became the first African American player to win the Heisman Trophy, beating out Ohio State fullback Bob Ferguson. Earlier that day Davis had met John F. Kennedy at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, remarking that he’d “never thought I’d ever be shaking the hand of the president of the United States.”

• On Dec. 7, 2001, the blockbuster remake of the 1960 film “Ocean’s Eleven” opened in theaters. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, it spawned the profitable sequels “Ocean’s Twelve” in 2004 and “Ocean’s Thirteen” in 2007.

• On Dec. 8, 1942, Jeannette Rankin, a committed pacifist and the first woman elected to Congress, cast the sole congressional vote against America’s declaration of war on Japan.

• Need a quick batch of cookies? Keep a box mix of cake on hand. Instead of the listed ingredients, add two eggs and a half-cup of oil to the mix. Mix and shape, then bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. They are really good, and you can get pretty creative.

• Inexpensive gift idea: A cute holiday coffee mug with a bar of chocolate, a packet of hot cocoa or instant coffee, a peppermint stick and a holiday pick. Place inside a gallon-size zipper-top bag, tie with a ribbon, then trim off the zipper-top, leaving just the plastic. Looks nice.

• Instead of going out and buying extra items to have on hand for guests, just borrow from your neighbors. Extra towels, place settings, silverware, kitchen appliances: It’s a pretty good bet that someone on your street has it for you to borrow. If you don’t know your neighbors well enough to ask, maybe you should start planning a get-to-know-you party right now.

• Inexpensive gift idea: On the front of an empty photo album or scrapbook, print out and arrange color photos of your recipient in a collage. Glue the photos to the front of the album and cover with a decoupage glaze, like Mod Podge. Let dry and glaze again. You’ve just made a one-of-a-kind gift!

• When holiday cookie time comes, I keep a plastic pitcher of hot water in the sink. I toss cookie cutters into it when I am done with them, so the corners are soaking. They really seem to only need a rinse and a quick brushoff afterward. Mine don’t get caked up with dough.

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

• In 1674, the Women’s Petition Against Coffee claimed the beverage was turning British men into “useless corpse[s]” and proposed a ban on it for anyone under the age of 60.

• Eugene V. Debs ran for president in 1920 while serving a prison sentence in Atlanta Federal Penitentiary for his protests against World War I. He still captured nearly 1 million votes.

• The plot of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” was partly inspired by the collision of holiday store decorations.

• Cotton candy was invented in 1895 by candy maker John C. Wharton and dentist William Morrison, who called it “fairy floss” and sold thousands of servings at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904. It was renamed “cotton candy” in the 1920s by Josef Lascaux — another dentist — who sold the saccharine confection to his patients. Hmmm, sounds a little bit suspicious to us.

• In a study by the Smell and Taste Treatment Research Foundation, the scent women found most arousing was Good & Plenty candy mixed with cucumber.

• Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of peanut butter getting stuck to the roof of your mouth.

• Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was the U.S. capital for the shortest period of time, a mere day, on Sept. 27, 1777.

• Aretha Franklin’s voice was declared a “natural resource” of the state of Michigan.

• In 1967, supermodel Twiggy became the first celebrity to be immortalized as a Barbie doll. Other celebrity Barbies have included Cher, Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis and Priscilla Presley, and Nicki Minaj.

• A face with big eyes, a small nose and a small chin exhibits kinderschema: the collection of traits humans have evolved to find adorable ***

Tails of Hope

Are you looking for a furry friend who’s got the charm of a politician but with none of the speeches? Look no further! Julius, our 3-year-old Cur Mix, is here to win your heart and maybe even negotiate extra treats with just one wag of his tail.

Julius is the definition of “friendly.” If there was a Nobel Prize for friendliness, this guy would have a shelf full of them! Whether you’re a human, another dog, or even the mailman, Julius believes everyone deserves a warm welcome (and maybe a lick on the face).

He’s got a smile that could melt the hardest of hearts and a personality that says, “Life is a party, and I’m the host!” Julius is an expert at turning any ordinary day into an extraordinary adventure. Want to binge-watch a series? Julius is in. Need a buddy for a walk? He’s already grabbed the leash. This guy is ready to be your best friend, sidekick, and happiness guru, all rolled into one.

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

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

By Janet (Van Gunst) Hasselbring

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

My parents’ life on the farm began in March 1936. Nothing in my mother Ellen Postema’s life could have prepared her for the challenges of living on (and off) the land; how ever, she threw herself into her role of homemaker with determination and optimism.

The variety of jobs facing her was mind-boggling: washing, iron ing, cleaning, dusting, baking, can ning, freezing, sewing, darning and fixing three meals a day, with morn ing, afternoon, and evening snacks thrown in. Most of their food came from the land – raw non-pasteur ized milk Henry brought home from his daily milking, meat from butch ered cows, and asparagus, cherries, apples, pickles and potatoes. Henry planted a garden, which supplied them with fresh vegetables all summer long and produce for canning and freezing.

tomed to farm life. His duties included milking and feeding the cows and calves, tilling and planting crops, and fixing fences. The farm now included cherry orchards and fields of asparagus and beans.

Ellen was a master at multitasking; her chores were done within the rhythm of the day. She’d peel a bowl of peaches, place them into the canner, and while they were boiling, she’d hang out a basket of clothes, mix up a batch of bread dough, or pick and snip a pan of green beans.

Though she never set foot in the barn, Ellen encouraged Henry’s work. Unlike Ellen, he was accus-

One of the most exciting occasions was “threshing” day, named for “thrashing” or “flailing” wheat to separate the grain from the stalk. Back then, farmers pooled their time and equipment, traveling from farm to farm in a convoy of tractors, wagons, and machinery to harvest the wheat.

The threshing machine was placed near the granary, with its spout positioned to blow straw inside. In the field, farmers forked waiting bundles of grain onto wagons, usually three of them. One person would drive the team of horses, while another stood atop the wagon arranging the bundles into piles. When the wagon was full, it was driven to the barn, where the bundles were forked into the threshing machine. The owner of the machine watched to make sure the bundles weren’t fed too fast, clogging the chute. Two farmers carried bags of grain from the machine and dumped them into the granary bin. Henry stood in the shed and forked the straw around as it was blown into the shed. When he emerged, his face was pitch black, except for his eyes, which were protected by goggles.

Work paused briefly for morning and afternoon snacks, but twelve o’clock was dinnertime. After washing off soot and grime, farmers took their plac-

es around Jane’s dinner table. And what a feast it was! Jane and Ellen had worked for days preparing food –platters of meat, bowls of mashed potatoes and boats of gravy, string beans, carrots and peas, squash, and homemade applesauce. There were slices of freshly baked bread slathered with freshly churned butter and homemade jams and jellies. Then came dessert – a choice of lemon meringue or cherry, apple, and blackberry, served with ice cream or whipping cream, made from the butterfat that rose to the top of the milk jars.

But as Ellen soon learned, there were vulnerabilities in living off the land. A sick cow could contaminate an entire day’s milk output, causing it to be ditched. Too little rain and the crops would suffocate; too much and they could wash away. A windstorm could destroy an entire cherry crop. To make matters worse, the cherries would still need to be picked and then dumped to ensure the success of next year’s crop.

Henry was used to the rigors of farm life, and though they leaned on each other for strength and comfort, it was Ellen, the city girl, who developed an amazing capacity to comfort and calm Henry’s worries in the face of adversity. Her mantra was, “God will provide.” And He did.

Stay tuned for Part III.

*Much of the content of this article was taken from the memoir, “In the Garden: Ellen – An Ordinary Woman; An Extraordinary Life,” which I wrote as a tribute to the faith and courage of my mother, who, amidst the challenges on the farm, surrendered her life to the will of God. To purchase a copy, contact the author at janethasselbring23@gmail. A second book, “Country Dairy: A Week with Henry and Ellen” is sold at the Country Dairy farm store.

Snow’s on its way, but it’s already fallen in the PALC

By Ron Beeber

The

Oceana Echo Volunteer Correspondent

Working with stained glass is one of the Pentwater Artisan Learning Center’s (PALC) more popular skills that are taught, and members have been quite busy the past few months. A “Christmas Craft Workshop” recently attracted 15 members who had fun learning to make beautiful Christmas ornaments. One design was a stained glass snowflake.

“The past year has brought good fortune for our learning center,” said President Darryl Massa. “Membership is strong, as many new faces have discovered us. We are very blessed with a core group of caring and giving people. Our volunteer approach to staffing has worked out very well. Our volunteer staff has increased their leadership through mentoring new

members, offering expertise in maintenance, strategically thinking about better equipment needs, and keeping our state-ofthe-art facility the best it can be.”

Two PALC-related funds have been created at the Oceana Community Foundation. The first is the “Equipping the PALC for the Next 20 Years Fund.” It has so far raised enough money to generate $8,000 per year

for needed equipment. The goal is to raise the final $60,000 to complete the campaign. And the second is the “Gene Davidson Engineering and Skilled Trade Schol-

arship Fund,” in memory of the PALC’s late co-founder. This year, it has awarded two $1,250 scholarships to a pair of area students who are attending Grand Valley State and Michigan State universities.

For more informa-

tion about supporting either fund, call 231869-5323. Tax-deductible contributions can be conveniently charged to a credit card by logging onto oceanafoundation. org > Give. Then enter the name of either fund in the Key Words box.

My grandparents and founders of Country Dairy, Andrew and Jane Van Gunst

Will Nixdorf

Work by Julie Whaley

Work by Elaine Oomen

HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

Fall sports are officially wrapped up for all Oceana County teams, but there are still plenty of awards to be handed out.

A grand total of 62 local athletes were awarded with either All-Conference 1st Team, All-Conference 2nd Team or Honorable Mention nods in the West Michigan Conference and the West Michigan D League.

Hart led the way with nearly half of that list of 62 athletes consisting of Pirates. 30 Hart athletes earned either 1st Team or Honorable Mention nods across football, volleyball, cross country and boy soccer. The Pirates had a whopping 19 of those 30 athletes come from their boys and girls cross country

teams alone. The boys had 10 runners selected, with seven being 1st Team and three being Honorable Mention. The girls also had seven runners named 1st Team, with just two earning Honorable Mention honors.

Shelby had the second most All-Conference athletes at 15. The Tigers had three selections from both the football and boys soccer teams. Volleyball pulled in another four selections while cross country had five runners honored between the boys and girls teams.

Hesperia had nine athletes make the list, with the football team doing most of the heavy lifting. The Panthers had four 1st Team selections and an Honorable Mention on the gridiron. The remaining four Hesperia athletes came from the cross country and volleyball teams.

Pentwater has three teams that compete in the fall, but the boys soccer team does not name athletes to an All-Conference team. Volleyball and cross country combine to make up the remaining six athletes, all coming from the Falcons.

This week, we will feature all athletes that earned All-Conference nods in football, boys soccer, volleyball and most male cross country runners. The series of All-Conference athletes will continue in the Dec. 6 edition of the The Oceana Echo with more male cross country runners along with all female runners.

Walkerville High School did not provide a list of any All-Conference athletes at the time of print. The Wildcats had one fall sports team.

All-Conference continued on page 11

Reflections of our community

Reflections

Reflections of our community

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Whitehall council to help Playhouse generate revenue

A new way to travel at the library

Whitehall council to help Playhouse generate revenue

Committee will explore new ways to help; Playhouse had asked for $100K loan from city

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Whitehall student Maggie Derby completes walkway as Eagle Scout project

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — After much discussion and public comment, the Whitehall city council tabled a request from The Playhouse at White Lake for a $100,000 loan at Tuesday’s regular meeting, instead unanimously resolving to create a temporary committee to explore ways to help the Playhouse generate more revenue.

WHITEHALL — Whitehall senior Maggie Derby didn’t join the Scouts BSA until she was in high school, having previously been in the Girl Scouts. But once she was in it, she wasted no time getting things done.

The committee, according to the motion made by councilwoman Tanya Cabala, will include representatives from both the Playhouse and the city. Most council members, and several public commenters, were in agreement

The evidence can be found just outside the White Lake Community Library, where Derby recently led a project to build a walkway that acts as a shortcut from the parking lot to the nearby bike/walking trail. That project will earn her her Eagle Scout badge, and despite joining later than many others, she’ll be among the first in Troop 1048 to do so.

that the Playhouse provides a “public good” and should be supported by the city, but the council did not entertain a vote on the loan, which would’ve called for annual repayments by the end of June each year and a 5% interest rate. It was said during council discussion that the Playhouse received a loan in the past that ended up being partially forgiven by the city.

dedicated and hardworking.

dedicated and hardworking. Cabala added during discussion

an organization and believes the Playhouse could raise more funds if more

that the Playhouse provides a “public good” and should be supported by the city, but the council did not entertain a vote on the loan, which would’ve called for annual repayments by the end of

was said during council discussion that past that ended up being partially for given by the city.

According to the board packet, the Playhouse has a current negative cash balance of over $76,000, which led to its request for the loan. Councilman Tom Ziemer claimed that the Playhouse has been managed poorly, though city manager Scott Huebler disputed this characterization and said staff there are

Whitehall student Maggie Derby ‘signed’ her walkway near the White Lake Community Library with a vintage license plate from her father’s collection, choosing one that had her initials and the current year. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Cabala added during discussion that outside experts could be consulted to help the planned committee, and it would explore some potential funding sources and partnerships. She cited the need for a “well thought-out plan” to help all parties involved make “well-in formed decisions.”

an organization and believes the Playhouse could raise more funds if more

“I am really proud of my achievement,” Derby said. “I joined later than all of the other girls who are in my troop, and I’m finishing before most of them. I’m very proud of that.”

Became NBC Middle School behavior specialist last year

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

Derby long knew she wanted to help the library with her Eagle Scout service project. She has been coming to the library from the time she was a baby, when her mom would bring her to the story time programs geared towards the youngest local residents, and it’s a very special place for her.

MONTAGUE — Jen Szegda has a passion for not only teaching, but helping students. Szegda taught seventh-grade English for 14 years and sixth-grade science for 11 years, until last year when she transitioned into a new role as a behavior specialist at NBC Middle School in Montague.

“I have proactive groups that I work with just to support positive behavior choices and strategies for students,” Szegda said. “If they get frustrated, (we examine) how they work through things. I do restorative work with students, like role playing during lunch. I also follow up if there’s been some sort of conflict in the classroom.”

“I’ve always been a really big reader, and it’s just been a really comfortable place to come and read, come and check out a couple books, hang out, all that kind of stuff,” Derby said.

kids because they would do their own writing and I would know more about them. When I switched to science, I didn’t feel I had the same connection with the kids because it’s more formal. Management’s a little different in a science classroom than an English classroom. Now being able to connect with kids and be a support for them, that’s why I really like it. I feel I’m a safe space for them to talk to and process.”

proached director Virginia DeMumbrum and asked what she could do for a project that would aid the library, DeMumbrum didn’t have to think twice. She’s wanted a walking shortcut to the bike path for years; in fact, 15 or so years ago, another Scout proposed such a project before it fell through. However, the thought never totally left DeMumbrum’s mind, and she knew the project would be perfect for Derby.

leading Put ‘n Store owner Elie Ghazal to comment he was unaware of such

od, which preceded the council’s de cision, revolved around the potential loan. Seven of the nine commenters supported the loan, though one, Pitkin owner Ryan Briegel, felt oversight was necessary, leading to the discussion about a committee. One commenter, Frank Bednarek, said he was co-chair of the Friends of the Playhouse nonprofit, leading Put ‘n Store owner Elie Ghazal to comment he was unaware of such

Also Tuesday, the council approved by a 6-1 vote the purchase of a 2024

gency Services of Muskegon at a cost of $46,760, about a third of which will be covered by the insurance check for the

Also Tuesday, the council approved by a 6-1 vote the purchase of a 2024 gency Services of Muskegon at a cost of $46,760, about a third of which will be covered by the insurance check for the

tempted to broach the possibility of

tempted to broach the possibility of ment get by with three cruisers instead of four. Police chief Roger Squiers and the rest of the council balked at these

ment get by with three cruisers instead of four. Police chief Roger Squiers and the rest of the council balked at these

Szegda thriving in new teacher role

ties that line the path.

Szegda thriving in new teacher role

“I’d seen a couple of those (projects), so I knew what they were going to be looking for,” DeMumbrum said. “I thought this would help her check all the boxes, and she handled it beautifully. She came in and kept me informed, regularly provided updates, walked me through everything I had to sign. She did a really great job.”

Szegda first discovered her passion for helping others in high school, which eventually led to her decision to follow a career in education.

Working on service projects is far from new for Derby; she said she and her parents have collaborated on several at the Owasippe Scout Reservation in Twin Lake. She enjoys being in Scouts and serving the community, and added that it gives her a chance to be around several school friends who are in her troop.

“This is all recycled railroad ties,” Derby said, noting the wooden borders of the path. “We got this from an auto parts store in Hart, transported it here and then used as much of it as we could.”

Szegda first discovered her passion for helping others in high school, which eventually led to her decision to follow a career in education.

Luckily for Derby, when she ap-

It was the first time in her memory, DeMumbrum said, that a youth-led project was completed that benefited the library. Several adult-led projects have occurred over the years, of course, but Derby was the first student she remembered to lead one.

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Although Szegda enjoyed teaching in a classroom previously, she is passionate about helping students understand their behaviors and how they affect their daily lives.

“In my role now, I get to help students more individually,” said Szegda. “When I was teaching English, I felt I had more of a connection with the

WHITEHALL — It was a happy yet emotional scene at the Whitehall school board’s monthly meeting Monday, as the board and community bid farewell to superintendent Jerry McDowell, who is officially retiring at the end of the year.

“In my role now, I get to help students more individually,” said Szegda. “When I was teaching English, I felt I had more of a connection with the

A large group of local people, many of them Viking administrators and teachers, turned out to wish McDowell well in his next job, as executive director of the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association. The outgoing superintendent, who was hired in 2011 after previously being an elementary school principal in the West Ottawa district, was presented gifts from each of Whitehall’s schools as well as the board. He was obliged to sit in front of the board, decked out in a Viking helmet, as board members and principals shared their memories of working with him over the years.

“When I was in high school, we had a peer assistance program,” Szegda said. “I went to Whitehall High School, and I think the program was piloted my junior year. We learned strategies to work with younger students, and that year I spent an hour each day in a fourth-grade classroom and I really enjoyed it. My senior year, I stayed in the program and was in a first-grade classroom because I enjoyed it so much. When I went to college, I knew I wanted to do something with people. I originally chose Western Michigan University because of their occupa tional therapy program and teaching program, and I wasn’t sure what direc tion I wanted to go in yet. But they were

Derby spent a couple of months on the project, starting at the end of summer after the Scouts’ summer camp was over. As is typical with Eagle Scout projects, Derby enlisted help from peers, getting nearly 20 hours’ worth of assistance from classmates who are members of the National Honor Society. She also got a helping hand from her father, who has construction experience, and received a $200 donation from the library to purchase materials she would need, including the railroad

with a group of students

Derby also had to solicit approval from the Whitehall city council to pursue the walkway, which the council enthusiastically gave her earlier this fall. The council even discussed helping pay for the project, though it was unnecessary as the library had already donated the money she needed.

Her efforts came off swimmingly, and the only real issue she said she faced was lining up communication with the adults and friends that helped

Whitehall schools bid fond farewell to McDowell

behavior celebration.’

became a behavior

year after previously teaching science and English. • Courtesy Photo

NBC Middle School behavior specialist Jen Szegda (front row with two thumbs up) celebrates with a group of students after they earned tickets to a ‘positive behavior celebration.’ Szegda became a behavior specialist last year after previously teaching science and English.

both people-centered avenues. I took a gda. “‘I now get why that’s a problem.’ ship or they get the understanding of ‘here’s what happened and here’s how

both people-centered avenues. I took a gda. “‘I now get why that’s a problem.’ That moment where they take owner ship or they get the understanding of ‘here’s what happened and here’s how it needed to go differently.’”

Despite the challenges of being in education, Szegda shows up for her students everyday, and looks forward to helping them improve their studies

education, Szegda shows up for her students everyday, and looks forward to helping them improve their studies and daily lifestyles.

Whitehall Twp. considers HarborLight land offer

By Madison Lajewski

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

White Lake Mirror Writer

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

WHITEHALL — The Whitehall Township board announced at Monday’s monthly meeting that it will be receiving $12,000 of the senior millage allocation that was passed in August. Supervisor Dennis Kroll wants the board and others to think of ideas on what to use the money for, to be discussed at future meetings.

the township’s new deputy super/sewer administrator. Duff has retired and was previously in industrial management. He is also an Army vet and Kroll described him as a “computer expert.” He has also served on other boards in the past.

Treasurer Jimmy TenBrink was among those who shared glowing thoughts about McDowell, recalling

The board appointed a new position at the meeting. John Duff will serve as

Consumers Energy submitted an offer of $27,000 to rent the backside of Hilt’s Landing. Consumers has been trying to get rid of lines in swamp areas, as seen throughout the White Lake community recently. They will also be

that at the time he was hired, there was some local unease about the direction of the district. TenBrink shared that he was considering sending his kids - ages seven and five at the time - to another district prior to McDowell’s hire, but upon meeting him could tell McDowell was “all in,” one of the superintendent’s favorite phrases. Each building principal, board member and administrator who followed TenBrink offered similar praise.

Among the gifts McDowell received were a griddle and a plaque from the board and framed tokens of appreciation from Whitehall students, including an array of decorated popsicle sticks in his honor from Shoreline Elementaryone from each student.

expected to pay Whitehall Township for every tree they have to clear. Kroll also announced that HarborLight Credit Union has offered $250,000 for a series of parcels in Whitehall Township with the intent to build a new location. If the sale is granted, a Whitehall Township clause states HLCU is required to break ground within one year of the purchase, otherwise the township automatically gets 75% of the parcels back. HarborLight CEO Justin Bamford said the company does not

Once each administrator and board member had shared thoughts, McDowell himself stood and addressed his family - wife Sandi and kids Jack, Grace and Jones - saying “being the family

have firm dates yet on when they’d like to break ground, but is excited at the idea of growing in the White Lake community. He also shared that the company plans to include a community center in the new location, which is something not offered at any other HLCU location. The center will offer financial advisors to help guide members, educational materials and more. Kroll plans to

Retiring Whitehall superintendent Jerry McDowell dons a Viking hat and sits in front of the school board during Monday’s meeting. McDowell, who is retiring at the end of the year, was toasted by board members and administrators during the meeting. • Andy Roberts/Mirror McDowell continued on page 2

of a superintendent isn’t always easy,” and thanking them for their support. He then thanked the community - “I’m glad you consider me a Viking,” he said -

NBC Middle School behavior specialist Jen Szegda (front row with two thumbs up) celebrates

after they earned tickets to

‘positive

Szegda

specialist last

• Courtesy Photo

Whitehall senior Maggie Derby (right) and White Lake Community Library director Virginia DeMumbrum show off the walkway Derby recently led the construction of as an Eagle Scout project. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Maggie Derby continued on page 2

Staff from Ealy Elementary School displays a banner thanking Jerry McDowell for his time as superintendent during Monday’s school board meeting. Each Whitehall school building presented McDowell with gifts as he stepped down to become executive director of the state elementary and middle school principals’ association.

The holiday season has arrived!

Whitehall Twp.

meet with Bamford and the township’s attorney to discuss details before the board officially accepts the offer. Treasurer Madge Kraai and trustee Chuck Schmitigal both think the development would be

beneficial for the township, and are excited for what the new location may bring.

Whitehall Township’s planning commission is holding a public hearing Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. regarding

Playhouse loan

partment had three cruisers and one became unavailable, it would be in a bind. He added that older cruisers would run up the city’s repair bill.

The council set a Dec. 10 public hearing to consider a tax abatement request from Howmet Aerospace, which is plan-

Christmas carol service at White Lake UCC

Join friends and family to share your favorite holiday tunes at a special Christmas carol singalong worship service Sunday, Dec. 1 at 10:30 a.m.

The service, unique and informal, is designed to appeal to all ages. For more information and updates, visit facebook. com/uccthebikepath.

ning a 111,500 square foot expansion to its facility. The company said the expansion will cost $100 million and will create 300 new full-time jobs.

The council also ac-

The annual White Lake Holiday Walk, which took place Friday and Saturday, marked the beginning of the holiday season in the area. Both Montague and Whitehall High School’s choirs sang carols at the respective cities’ Christmas tree lightings (at left and right), and even Santa Claus and the Grinch (below photos) were part of the fun. To keep visitors warm, Hanson Hill Waterfront Grill distributed free bowls of chili (below right).

Attendees were welcomed to shop local as they began their quest for the perfect gifts, and horse-drawn carriages and trolley rides provided a festive backdrop.

from page 1

a proposed unit development by Prime Ventures LLC at the corner of Durham and Alice streeets. The board would also like to remind the public that there will be no December board meeting.

cepted the results of an audit made by Matthew Vredeveld from Vredeveld Heafner of the city’s finances. Vredeveld said it was a “good clean audit” and no discrepancies

from page 1

were found, noting the city saw revenue increases due to increased home values and higher interest rates yielding more investment returns than in past years.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

Saturday, Nov. 30

November Saturdays: Teddy Bear Puzzle @ Muskegon Museum of History & Science, 1-3 p.m. Decorate and design your own five-piece puzzle with a teddy bear template. Free for county residents.

Brews & Peruse Holiday Market @ North Grove Brewers, 2-7 p.m.

Justin Avdek and a guest TBA per-

form @ Fetch Brewing, 7 p.m.

Nina Sofia performs @ Sawyers Brewing, 7 p.m.

Working on Famous performs @ Pub One Eleven, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 3

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

Family Storytime @ MADL Montague branch, 11:15 a.m. For kids ages

0 to 5 and their parents.

Echoes of History: Getting to school at the Mouth (Pt. 1) Community Calendar

Opening Comment: A copy of the following article, written by Helen Panzl, is stuck to a page in an old photo album. There is no date for the article and no name of the newspaper in which it appeared. The title above the article is “The early days getting to school at the Mouth fostered hardy souls,” which is a really long title. “Getting to School at the Mouth” seems to sum it up nicely. Below, then, is Helen Panzl’s article, submitted by the White Lake Area Historical Society, followed by some additional historical information provided at the end.

A cold, harsh wind blows off the big lake in winter; and down in that area of Montague known as the “Mouth”, rough weather presents a challenge for its year-round residents. Yet this is perhaps one of the factors which has contributed to the close-knit relationship they have always enjoyed.

Their history has been one of overcoming great obstacles. Just devising ways of getting their children to school used to be a major problem in the early 1900’s.

Of course, in those days all the little one-room rural school houses which dotted the countryside had a rough time of it during the rigors of our Michigan winters, but this district had an added problem. Because it then extended across the channel into the Sylvan Beach area, the children who lived on that side of the lake had no other way of attending school but by crossing over the rough water by boat.

Each morning Captain William Bush, who was keeper of the White Lake Light House, and William Murray of Murray’s Inn, would gather the children into one of the coast guard boats and row them across the channel to the Mouth side’ from there they would walk the rest of the way to the school house which stood on its present site. There

were three Bush children, three Murray children and the daughter of Albert Anderson who was caretaker of Sylvan Beach.

When school was out the boat was there, waiting to transport them back across the water again.

This system worked pretty well during good weather, but when winter really set in, other problems arose. After the lake froze over, the water in the channel became a crushing mass of great ice chunks and rowing a boat through them was almost impossible. With true pioneer spirit, these men found a way to also overcome this problem.

A rope was strung from the light house to the coast guard station on the Montague side of the channel, and by using this as a guide, they were able to half push and half pull their way across.

What is even more unbelievable is that these children had a record of never being absent or tardy.

Mrs. Bud Umstead of San Juan, Montague, has quite a store of knowledge about these times. Being a descendant of the Robinson family, pioneers in this area and keepers of the White Lake Light House for generations, she remembers frequently visiting her uncle, Captain William Bush, when he lived at the light house, and of hearing him tell about getting these children to school.

“Crossing the channel was only part of their ordeal,” she recalls. “After landing on the other side they often had to wade through huge snow drifts to get to the school house during the blustery Mouth winters.”

“I know”, she laughs, “although we lived on the Montague side, I have vivid recollection of how we managed. My father would tie a rope around his waist and that of my two brothers and myself

Wednesday, Dec. 4

Youth Open Studio @ ACWL-Nuveen Center, 3-5 p.m. Bring in projects you’re working on or start something new with help from staff.

Thursday, Dec. 5

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

Town Hall Meeting @ White River Twp. Hall, 6:20-8 p.m. Topic: Pierson Drain Recreational Area. Friday, Dec. 6

Community Yoga @ Fruitland Twp. Hall, 10 a.m. Free to participate ($5 suggested donation), open to all ages and skill levels.

and then stomp ahead of us to make a path through the drifts. When we got to the school house our outer clothes were covered with snow and we would hang them on chairs around the stove to they would be dry for our return trip.”

Marie Heitman, who started her teaching career at the Mouth school in 1922, recalls that despite the many hardships encountered daily, she enjoyed the three years she spent there.

“The children were well behaved,” she says, “and the parents were always interested in their progress in school.”

She still remembers the names of most of these pupils although she spent the rest of her teaching career in Muskegon schools. She has now retired and lives in Whitehall.

Despite the severity of its winters, most Mouth residents have always felt this district was an ideal place to live and raise a family. Many of them never did approve of consolidating with the Montague school system, feeling that their children had more supervision in their own small school and that the district was financially able to provide all

that was necessary for a well balanced school curriculum.

The Mouth school had two rooms for many years when other rural schools had only one. At the time of consolidation with Montague there were five class rooms, one library-music room and a gymnasium, besides a well-equipped outdoor playground and a double garage to house their school bus which brought the pupils to school. There were four teachers and only about fifteen children in a classroom. A very high percentage of its students went on to high school and college.

The entire school took part in a flag raising ceremony each morning. They were taught pride in their community and love of country and there was very little vandalism.

Being the oldest settlement in the area, the Mouth naturally claims the distinction of having had the first school house, which, according to the Montague Centennial records, was a private school opening in 1850. It was taught by Mrs. L. M. Bennet, wife of a Methodist-Episcopal minister.

Have a Jane Austen book discussion at the library

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

Did you know Jane Austen began writing when she was just 11 years old and penned the first draft of Pride and Prejudice while she was in her early 20s? Celebrate the birthday of this gifted author at White Lake Community Library Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 5:30-7 p.m. For this special session of our PickYour-Own Book Club, read your favorite Austen book or an adaptation and share your thoughts with fellow fans. Enjoy light

refreshments and a lively conversation about Austen’s lasting impact. Everyone is welcome, and no registration is required.

For even more Jane Austen celebration, attend the Austen Tea and Pride and Prejudice movie screening at The Playhouse at White Lake Saturday, Dec, 14. Visit The Playhouse at White Lake for more details.

FUN FACT: There are a total of 14 kisses in all of Jane Austen’s novels, but none of them are between the hero and the heroine.

Gingerbread Workshop Coming Soon December 12 is the big day! Mark your calendar and plan to attend this year’s gingerbread house event. The big meeting room will be open from 3-7 p.m., with rows and rows of tables

full of graham crackers, frosting, and edible decorations. Everyone is invited to come create tasty holiday decorations and happy holiday memories. We provide everything but the imagination! There is no charge to attend, and registration is not required. Just drop in when you can, and plan to spend about 30 minutes making your gingerbread house.

Library Closed

Friday, Dec. 6

The library will be closed all day Friday, Dec. 6, but the staff will be there learning new skills to better serve you. We will be open our normal hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Can’t get here Thursday, and really need to pick something up on Friday? Give us a call and we can put your items in a

locker for you. And of course, our digital books, audiobooks, magazines, movies, and more are available 24/7 with your library card and an internet-connected device. Check out your many options at wlclib.org/digital-library!

The Mouth School, pictured in 1895. • Courtesy Photo

Lake Mirror Lake Mirror

NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE community Boys basketball teams ready to play

Whitehall aiming for redemption after district upset last year

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — Last season, Whitehall coach Christian Subdon beefed up his team’s schedule in hopes of preparing the Vikings for the district tournament. The team, somewhat unexpectedly, went 22-0 against that schedule, but a district upset at the hands of Spring Lake left a bad taste in its mouth.

So Subdon went even harder with the schedule, signing on to face “anybody and everybody that will schedule us.” The Vikes face those same Lakers, as well as Rockford, Hudsonville, Mona Shores, Reeths-Puffer, Forest Hills Central, Coopersville and more.

“We’re tired of getting to the point in the season where we think we’re ready and then we get into a game in the districts and we lose,” Subdon said. “We’re going to put ourselves in hostile situations and hostile environments... We just want to make sure we’re pre-

pared for when it really matters.”

The record should still be pretty good at the end of the regular season, though, as the team is led by a pair of star seniors. Camden Thompson, a three-time all-state player, is of course the headliner. A regular 20-point, 20-rebound guy, Thompson is already the program’s all-time leading scorer and will spend this season building that mark up to nearly unreachable heights.

Subdon joked that there’s really no more statistical goals he can set for Thompson, and this year he’s pushing the senior to flex his leadership muscles. Last season there were several seniors in place to spearhead the Vikings, but this season Thompson, along with fellow four-year varsity player Kal Koehler, is an unquestioned leader.

“I’m looking for him to continuously bring kids along, be a leader on the floor, because we’re going to be in some tough environments,” Subdon said. “I didn’t see 22-0 in our forecast last year, so I don’t really see it this year. We want to compete, though, so in those games, he’s got to be the person. He’s played in a lot of big games with

Montague looks to reload after losing trio

of impressive senior players

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Montague boys basketball enjoyed a winning season in 2023-24 in the first season under coach Nick Thaler. The Wildcats have a lot of production to replace from that team, but hopes remain high that the team can continue to have success.

The Wildcats had three high-caliber seniors a year ago in Isaiah Atchison, Owen Raeth and Paul Olson, all now graduated. Thaler doesn’t pretend that what they did for the team can be easily replicated, but is optimistic his returning players are ready for the challenge.

The ‘Cats have a few veteran performers who will take on bigger roles, including sharpshooter Kellan Francis, who was one of the state’s best threepoint shooters by percentage last year, hitting nearly half his attempts. His offense is complemented by two vet-

eran defenders, Jack Degen and Riley Mulder. Degen, who played soccer for the ‘Cats in the fall, brings athleticism to that end of the court, and Mulder’s size and physicality - he’s committed to play football at Saginaw Valley State University - should be an asset. Junior Cole Herremans has worked to develop his offensive game in anticipation of handling the ball more this season.

One new name to watch is senior Cortland Schneider, who played a little bit of basketball in 2022-23 but did not play last season. He’s returned to the team this winter and is bringing high energy.

“His energy level and leadership qualities have been great to see,” Thaler said. “He’s added an element to our program we haven’t seen in a while. The energy level and excitement he brought to tryout season and the chemistry already built with these guys

SPORTS SPORTS

his AAU (team) and things like that. There’s some kids that haven’t. He’s got to pull them along with him.”

Koehler, too, will be a huge factor again for the Vikings. With Thompson likely to do some more ballhandling this season, Koehler will get his chances in the paint, and the duo should rack up rebounds. Brock Morningstar doesn’t pile up the numbers his veteran teammates do, but he was a key piece of last season’s team as a sixth man and should be at least as important to the team this winter.

There are some other returning players, but each will likely see much larger roles than before. Hunter Osborne and Corde Anderson, both football players like Thompson, bring athleticism and speed to their positions and should fit right in with the fast-paced style Subdon prefers to play.

Senior Cy Black and Evan Thomas, who spent most of last season on the JV, will also see big minutes.

One player who is adding a lot to his shoulders this year is Finn Muller, who Subdon said will see some time at point guard, filling the shoes of graduated star Kyle Stratton. Muller has got-

ten a bit taller and much stronger since he last took the court, and he’s ready for the rigors of West Michigan Conference Lakes play.

Whitehall boys continued on page 7

is better than last year at this point... He’s got some skill we’re really excited to develop this year.”

The veterans should be the core of the team, but the Wildcats will see contributions from younger players as well. Cooper Bradley enjoyed a strong

New coach, new lineup means new era for Reeths-Puffer Rockets

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Reeths-Puffer will look a lot different on the court this season, as three top players graduated and new coach J.R. Wallace gets set for his first season at the helm.

Wallace is a former Rocket player himself with impressive credentials both on the court and the sideline. He helped lead the Central Michigan Chippewas to an NCAA Tournament berth and firstround win in his senior season of 2002-03 and spent the past 10 seasons as an assistant coach at Division II Grand Valley State.

In addition to having a new coach, R-P lost star players Jaxson Whitaker, Travis Ambrose and Antrel Jones to graduation; by Wallace’s estimation, 76 percent of the Rockets’ scoring is out the door. Still, he looks at it as an opportunity for the next crop of R-P

stars to assert itself.

“You get a chance to let guys who were behind the scenes the last couple years to see what they can do at the forefront - all the while building up everyone’s confidence to be players,” Wallace said. “’Now you’ve got to produce.’ I’m sure the guys are excited for the opportunity.”

The obvious two names to pick up more of the offensive load this year are the two returning starters for R-P, Marvin Moore and Brayden Mitchelson. Both are clearly talented, with Wallace saying he’s been hearing from a few college coaches about Mitchelson, whom Wallace describes as “a utility guy” who can fill in whatever gaps need to be filled in a given game. It’s the junior Moore, though, who’s likely to

JV season a year ago and should be a factor, Noah Raeth brings speed and defensive ability, and Kyle Earnest has developed backcourt skills that should

Montague boys continued on page 7

Montague’s Cole Herremans powers through Mason County Central defenders to get to the basket during a game last season. • Andy Roberts/Mirror File

Whitehall’s Camden Thompson drives to the basket during a game last season. Thompson, a 3-time all-state player, will spearhead the Vikings once again.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror File

Reeths-Puffer’s Brayden Mitchelson works to get his shot off during a game against Zeeland East last season. Mitchelson is one of two returning starters for the Rockets.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror File

Girls hoops season set to begin

Veteran Wildcats have high expectations

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Last season, Montague coach Jess DeBruin took the helm of the Wildcats very late in the offseason. Combined with a young roster, it was a lot for the Wildcats to battle through, and they struggled to an 8-15 record.

With a full offseason under DeBruin and a much more experienced roster, the Wildcats are setting their goals high this year; a top-two West Michigan Conference Lakes finish.

“With the leadership and the group we have, there’s no reason we shouldn’t be (up there),” DeBruin said.

The ‘Cats bring back several talented, experienced seniors, led by the

inside-outside punch of Amanda Cederquist and Adilynn Peterson. Fellow seniors Addison Pranger, who brings the ability to get to the basket and harass opponents defensively, and Braylyn Bultema, who offers size and midrange jump shooting, further shore up the Montague lineup. Cederquist and Bultema will see a lot of the ball as the ‘Cats try to get shots from close to the hoop.

DeBruin noted that the Wildcat players have been battling together for years and have a strong team chemistry that could be the difference in some close games.

“Last season they let some games slip away that we know we should’ve had,” DeBruin said. “We know what

Usually star-led Rockets look for more collaborative efforts this season

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Reeths-Puffer has been a star-led team the past few seasons, first with 1,000-point career scorers Ariel Walker and Sophia Hekkema, then last season with Brooklynn Tornes and Irelyn Niklasch. This year, the Rockets are preparing for a much more collaborative effort as they hunt for wins.

“I think we’ll be a much more collective group of girls this year,” R-P coach

Rodney Walker said. “We don’t have one person that will stand out and lead like in the past...I think it’ll be a fun group of girls to watch because there’s no one dominant player this year.”

R-P lost most of its scoring and rebounding with Tornes’ and Niklasch’s graduations, but there’s a deep group of players hoping to fill those gaps. As the players sharpen their games on offense, they’ll rely heavily on defense and effort to carry them. Walker said he’s hoping to force a lot of turnovers and capitalize

to expect on the floor. These girls have played together since they were young, and not just in basketball. The team chemistry on the floor is pretty good. and that will lead us to some pretty good games.”

There’s also a deep hunger among the Montague players to end their careers on a high note, DeBruin added.

“They know what to expect, and they want it, and I think that will be key to some wins,” DeBruin said.

Should Montague live up to its internal expectations and battle for the conference title, it’s likely Fremont and Ludington will again be major obstacles. Outside the league, the ‘Cats are taking on a bevy of nearby opponents, though they’ve also added a game against Allendale this year. Spring Lake is a district powerhouse and advanced

on them.

Five seniors will lead the team both on the court and off. Savannah Lockwood, Chloe Brainard and Jenna Terpstra bring the most experience, having played solid minutes last season, but Mya Swain and Ma’Kaia Riley-McGuffey should also be important pieces to the puzzle.

Lockwood enters the season as the team’s most accomplished shooter from outside, and Terpstra provides midrange shooting. Brainard should spearhead the team’s defensive efforts.

Several younger players should have an impact, too, and it’s a talented group that will set the stage for future Rocket

• Andy Roberts/Mirror File

to the regional final last season, so the Lakers should again pose a stern threat in the postseason.

success. Sophomore Jaslynn Kops is a defensive ace like Brainard, and seems to have a boundless well of energy.

“She is definitely one of those defensive stoppers,” Walker said of Kops. “She’s got a great motor and doesn’t really get tired. She plays hard on both ends of the floor.”

A pair of freshmen should see playing time, too. Raquel Walker, sister of Ariel and daughter of the coach, brings imposing height - she’s six feet tall - and she and classmate Trinity Moore should bring some rebounding to the team.

continued on page 7

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

After relying heavily on seniors last season, Whitehall has a younger roster this winter, but coach Brian Milliron hopes up-and-comers prove able to carry the load.

The Vikings aren’t fully without experience, as four-year varsity player Lexi Daggett is back after leading the team in scoring a season ago. One of the Vikings’ top shooters, Daggett will lead the team on both ends of the floor. Senior Sidney Shepherd, who didn’t play last season but was a solid contributor to the 2023 district championship team, will bring athleticism and rebounding to the forward position. Another senior, Lianne Fagan, started for most of last season, begins the

season as the primary ballhandler, a role she will likely share with freshman Peyton Schultz. Grace McDowell and Megan LeaTrea are not experienced varsity basketball players, but both have a lot of success from other sports to draw upon.

“We lean on our seniors a lot at Whitehall, and the five we have this year will be the catalyst for everything we do this year,” Milliron said. Whitehall also looks for a leap forward from sophomore Clare Westerlund, who showed flashes of very strong play as a freshman, averaging nearly 20 minutes per game. Her role should significantly increase.

Schultz is one of a few up-andcomers who could raise Whitehall’s ceiling with her play.

“(She) will be asked to handle the

Reeths-Puffer boys

Whitehall opens season with solid mix of veterans, up-and-comers continued from page 4

take the keys to the offense. Wallace said he’s hoping once a few games have been played, he’s able to let Moore call the plays on the court.

“Anyone can see his talent watching him on film,” Wallace said of Moore. “What I want for him is to grow as a leader. I want to make sure he’s able to be vocal and orchestrate what we’re doing on offense.”

Drew Brooks and Alex Kieft are other names to watch for R-P, but the Rockets’ roster projects to be more deep than it is starter-led.

“If I am one of these guys returning, I’m excited, because the ball will be shared around,” Wallace said. “Any night can be your night if you’re zoned in and prepared to play.”

However, the key to the team’s suc-

cess will be defense, and in particular effort on that end. Wallace said he has a student assistant whose sole assignment on game days will be tracking who comes up with loose balls.

“If we’re not the first on the floor, that will tell us everything we need to know,” Wallace said. “But if we are, we’ll have a chance to be in these games... It’ll be fun to take some of what we’ve done at the college level and see if we can make things troublesome.”

There will, as you’d expect, be some schematic changes under the new coach. Wallace said he hopes to force defenses into quick decisions when his team gets the ball. The Rockets aren’t necessarily going to shoot the ball quickly, but they want to make sure if there’s an early opportunity, it can be

ball and make decisions at a young age and we believe she is capable of doing that,” Milliron said of Schultz.

Junior Janie Fagan, who saw some time last year, should play more minutes this season. Fagan’s size and rebounding ability will be helpful. A trio of juniors - Drew Buckner, Mansah Waller and Emma Decker - move up from the JV and each should contribute. An intriguing newcomer is junior Kate Beda, new to the basketball program but a great athlete, as evidenced by her all-state award in girls soccer last spring.

The Vikings play an ambitious schedule and in fact will not play a non-conference home game. South Haven, Allendale and Fruitport are among the larger schools the Vikings will go up against this year. The focus, though, will be the West Michigan Conference Lakes schedule; Fremont and Ludington were the top two teams

exploited.

“We’ll push the ball fast and we’re going to make sure we’re a well-conditioned team,” Wallace said. “We want to make sure we pressure guys and pressure the ball and get out and run as quickly as we can.”

With that in mind, Wallace has pushed a mantra of “future over feelings,” which can be summed up as ‘push yourself now to reap the rewards later.’

“We’re going to make sure we’re working hard and making sure we’re making decisions on our future and not our feelings,” Wallace said. “They’ve embraced it.”

R-P will waste no time jumping into competitive games. In the season’s first week, the Rockets will take on a Forest Hills Central team that won a district championship last year, and in its second they’ll face Zeeland West, which played in the semifinals in 2024.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror File

a season ago.

”Our team goals continue to be the same; we hope to fight for a WMC title and for a district title,” Milliron said. “The biggest keys for this to happen will be for girls to fill the void of the four graduated seniors.”

The Rockets will also visit Traverse City Central - which will reunite Wallace with former CMU teammate Luke Johnson, the first-year coach thereand are playing a couple of Friday/Saturday back-to-backs by design to prepare the players for tournament play. In league play, Wallace is eyeing Byron Center and Mona Shores as the top teams in the realigned O-K Green Conference, but as the Rockets are defending co-champions, he wants his team to carry itself as such.

“’Even though we graduated a lot of players, you guys are the returning champs,’” Wallace said of his message to the team. “There are a lot of teams gunning for us because I’m the new coach and I’m OK with that. We’re making sure there’s a responsibility in that, to work our tails off to be the best versions of ourselves. I’m OK taking some losses if we’re playing up to our potential.”

Montague’s Addison Pranger races up the court during a game against Fremont last season.

Whitehall’s Clare Westerlund tries to maintain possession during a game against Ludington last season.

Grapplers to dominate on the mat

Runners-up for 2 straight seasons, Whitehall pursuing another finals berth

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — Change is constant in high school sports, but Whitehall wrestling has gotten used to being near the top of Division 3, and it should be no different this season.

The Vikings have been state runners-up behind superpower Dundee the last three seasons they’ve been in Division 3 - they were semifinalists in 2022 in Division 2 - and their lineup is equipped to make another return trip to the championship match; they own a preseason #2 ranking.

“I think we look good,” Whitehall coach Justin Zeerip said. “We brought a lot of guys back. We have some good freshmen coming in to help fill the lower weights. Our guys put in a lot of time in the offseason, so I feel like they’re prepared.”

The anchor of the lineup, of course, is senior Gavin Craner, who dominated all comers last season and delivered an undefeated state championship season at 175 pounds. Fresh off a terrific football season, he’s hoping things will be no different in 2024-25.

He’s not the only star senior on the team, though, as Blake English, Wyatt Jenkins and Caden Varela all return. English and Varela were big parts of last year’s run to the finals, and Jenkins

made his presence felt too, scoring three wins on championship weekend after coming back from a spinal cord injury that kept him out the entire season prior to that.

“He was all-state two years ago,” Zeerip said of Jenkins. “I think he’ll have a really successful senior year. He’s hungry to get on the mat and compete.”

On top of those guys, the Vikings bring back all-stater Kolten Weiler and state qualifiers Cody Manzo, Max Krukowski and Liam Leeke.

Ryan Goodrich was set to be a key senior in the lineup as well, but a torn ligament in his knee will keep him on the sidelines, though he’ll continue to be part of the program.

The Vikings might start at a slight disadvantage because so many of their wrestlers were part of Whitehall’s district championship football season, but they have so much depth that they can easily wait for those players to get into the swing of things.

An impressive freshman class has joined the roster, including Liam Leeke’s brother Tommy, who will wrestle at the lower weights. Robert Belinger, Isaac O’Boyle, Blake Wallace, Tanner Woodworth and Billy Darke are just some of the other young names to watch.

“We have a couple new faces in the

Rockets look to remain conference and district power under new coach

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Reeths-Puffer stayed in-house for its new coach this winter, bringing back Brad Cowles as the head man after he led the middle-school Rockets the past few years. Cowles was previously an assistant under Matt Brink, who led the R-P program for 15 seasons through 2021.

Prior to being on Brink’s staff, Cowles ran the R-P youth program, so he’s gotten plenty of time with just about all the Rockets who will be on this season’s team. There is comfort there.

However, Cowles has wasted no time implementing a team concept of “being comfortable being uncomfortable.”

“We’re putting these kids in a lot of tough situations and getting them used to these positions and coming out on top,” Cowles said. “We’ve been doing a lot of bonding with that aspect. We’ve been doing a lot of tough situations the last month and a half with conditioning and preseason stuff.”

Cowles inherits a team with some strong anchor wrestlers to lead the team, including a pair of 2024 Division 1 state qualifiers. The headliner is senior Ian Cook, who is gunning for R-P history this season as he should set the Rocket’s all-time wins record and could become the first Rocket wrestler ever to be allstate four times. He finished third at 132 pounds last year, and his goal is to reach the top of the podium to close his career.

Montague looks to build a foundation with young, inexperienced roster

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

With a very young and inexperienced roster this year, coach Kris Maddox and the Montague program will be focused on development and building good habits more than the win-loss record.

“We’re not the most talented team right now, but we have a core group of juniors that have trusted the process and are working their tails off,” Maddox said. The Wildcats lost several wrestlers, including three of the program’s best, to graduation. Emma Pendell, the program’s second-ever state champion, is off to Siena Heights, and Chris Aebig and Jimmy Thommen both went to MCC. Aebig was the program’s first-ever four-time state qualifier, and Thommen earned a fourth-place state finish last season.

The team also lost a couple of promising athletes to the basketball team,

leaving behind a young core that nevertheless will have some leadership to lean on.

Fletcher Thommen (Jimmy’s brother) and Kaiden Jeffery, both juniors, are the de facto boys team leaders with a lot of experience. Maddox said the two are pushing each other in the wrestling room while also helping develop the younger athletes. Also back is senior Ava Pelton, who placed third in the state a year ago and will be hungry to reach the top of the podium.

Other veterans who return include Isaac French, Maverick Osborne, Brock Hunter and Michael Jones. Maddox noted French and Osborne, who lead the heavier weights, are working together to get better in practices. Hunter is a returning regional qualifier. Jones showed flashes of excellence in his first year wrestling last winter and hopes to take another step forward.

The inexperience of the team will enable some young wrestlers to make

lineup,” Zeerip said. “If those guys can believe in themselves and go out and work and commit to using the techniques we’re doing in practice, they can be successful.”

The Vikings are also seeing some of the growth of girls wrestling in their program, with the addition of Kassie Sapp. Sapp has wrestled and wrestled well at a lot of high-level youth tournaments, and she’ll be a valuable addition.

“She works really hard and has a lot of success,” Zeerip said. “I think that she’ll have a lot of success against boys and girls this year. I’m looking forward to watching her compete.”

Whitehall always wrestles a high-level schedule in preparation for the state tournament; its home duals, invitationals at Grandville and Allen-

Jake Rozycki enjoyed an outstanding campaign last season as a sophomore, going 49-5 and reaching the state meet. Cowles said he believes Rozycki has the skills to reach the top five on the podium this season.

Also back is Arin Maynard, who narrowly missed the state meet at 106 last season. As is the case for most everyone at the lowest weight class, Cowles said making weight will be one of Maynard’s biggest tests this season, but if he can do it he should be among the contenders in the class.

R-P is also hoping for a rebound season from Sage Secrest, who won 37 matches last season but was unable to qualify for regionals. Cowles said Secrest is locked in this year and is in line for “a breakout season.” He may even wrestle up a weight class or two.

Those four will be the Rockets’ lead-

an early impact. The ‘Cats have a goodsized freshman class coming in, including the coach’s son, Gavyn Maddox.

“Gavyn has obviously been around the sport since he was little, so trying to navigate that as a parent will be interesting this year,” Maddox said. “I’m trying to let him experience it on his own and let him learn from his mistakes without being too overbearing.”

Anthony Garcia, Alex Breed and Gibson Sholes, who like Maddox all played fall sports, join the team this year as well and hope to use their athleticism to improve quickly. Brothers Ethan and Mason Bassett have wrestling in their blood - sister Natalie wrestled for the ‘Cats - and will hope to crack the lineup.

Maddox is somewhat disappointed that Montague’s traditionally strong girls program has only three wrestlers in it to start the season, but they’re three good ones. In addition to Pelton, Zaniya Meza Wilson is back this season after narrowly missing out on reaching state a year ago. Freshman Taylor Moore has joined the team as well, and she’ll fill in the upper-weight spot that previously

dale, and the West Michigan Conference will keep the Vikes busy. It’s all in preparation for, hopefully, another clash with Dundee, one of the top few dozen programs in the country at any level.

Whitehall got a little closer to Dundee last year, going from a 60-18 finals margin in 2023 to 49-20. The ‘other’ Vikings provide easy motivation for Whitehall.

“I was listening to a podcast the other day and they said they think that this could be one of the most talented teams they’ve ever had,” Zeerip said of Dundee. “We’re going to keep working to compete with them. They have a great program, and we’re just going to focus on ourselves and just try to keep getting better and keep closing that gap like we have.”

Andrew

takes down an Oakridge foe during last season’s GMAA tournament. Corradin is one of several returners on a Rockets’ squad that believes it can win the district title again.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror File

ers, but Cowles said he’s blessed with a strong lineup top to bottom, including maybe the best freshman class he’s seen

Montague’s Maverick Osborne goes for a takedown against a Brandywine opponent last season. Osborne is taking on the heavyweight role in the Wildcats’ lineup this year.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror File

West Michigan Conference is always strong and includes two preseason

belonged to graduated Trisha Beckman. Moore played JV football in the fall, so she should fit right in.

The

Whitehall’s Gavin Craner earns a pin during last season’s GMAA meet. Craner rolled to an undefeated state championship season and will have high expectations again, as will his team, state runners-up three of the last four years. • Andy Roberts/Mirror File

Reeths-Puffer’s

Corradin (right)

Whitehall boys

The conference should again be competitive. Ludington is a constant threat at the top of the league, and Subdon expects Oakridge, who finished third last season, to make its presence known as well. Showcasing the depth of the conference, fifth-place Fremont won a district title last year, so even the supposed lesser teams in the league won’t be easy outs.

Subdon is optimistic that while his team isn’t quite as top-to-bottom ex-

perienced as it was last year, the battles Thompson and Koehler in particular have faced over the past few seasons will have the team ready to respond in big moments.

“We want to be in the game at the end with a chance to win it,” Subdon said. “Whatever happens after that, I’m okay with. Then hopefully when we get to the district, we can say there isn’t a team that’s in this district that we haven’t played better than.”

Montague wrestling

continued from page 6

Montague

boys

top-10 teams in Whitehall and Hart, and the ‘Cats have a busy schedule of meets ahead. How the team responds to its challenges will be key. Maddox said the team works a lot on mental training each week.

“With any sport, mindset is a big part of the process,” Maddox said. “We have college wrestlers coming in and out of the room... and we try to tell them, the biggest difference in those levels is how fast you respond and react. The speed of the sport gets quicker every level

you jump. We try to get them to do things without thinking, so there’s a lot of drilling.”

Maddox said he’s looking forward to working with his athletes on the dual format as well, which will be new to some of the less experienced wrestlers. There will be a focus on, when going against a much better opponent, trying to fight to avoid pins or surrendering bonus points.

“We’re trying to compete in every match,” Maddox said. “No one

R-P wrestling

since the group that led the R-P run to the state semifinals in 2020.

“We have quite a few good freshmen coming up that will be starters, a handful of sophomores, and a few juniors,” Cowles said. “We’re looking really good and really young.”

Freshman Travis Henderson is a much-ballyhooed young wrestler who’s so good Cowles predicts he’ll win a state title one day - maybe more than one.

“He’s a very gifted athlete,” Cowles said.

Other strong freshmen include the coach’s son, Tanner Cowles, whom Brad has been able to coach for several years. He calls it “a blessing” to be able to coach his son again on the varsity. Clay Rozycki, brother of Jake, is among the freshman class as well, so his bloodlines

are obvious, and Aiden Neal is another strong freshman.

The junior class includes Cory Judd, Andrew Corradin, Max Knowlton and Devin Welch. Judd was edged out of the Rocket lineup last season but has worked hard to earn his place since then, and Corradin brings a lot of varsity starting experience. Knowlton hadn’t wrestled before last season and is in line for a big step forward this year. Welch will compete for the starting job at heavyweight; Cowles said he has the build and athleticism and just needs to master the mental game to become a force.

Sophomore returners are led by Hunter Eek, who should make a big improvement from his sub.500 record last season; Cowles said he has great ability and was in

The third – and final – visioning session to plot the restoration and future use of Sadony Bayou in White River Township is set for Dec. 4.

To register for the presentation, scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at the White Lake Community Library, 3900 White Lake Drive, contact makeitrightchemours@ gmail.com or call Claire Schlaff at 231-670-2724.

The visioning process has been funded by a $10,000 grant from the Lois Ekstrand Fund, through the White Lake Community Fund and the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. It was awarded to the Muskegon County Environmental Coordinating Council (MCECC), fiscal sponsor for the Chemo-

“It’s good to see the growth of our kids. That’ll be important to focus on...A lot of kids focus on the wins and losses, and our attitude is just to minimize those losses and close the spread.” continued from page 4

get him on the floor. Logan Hansen and Evan Eilers provide more size and rebounding.

“We have a lot of guys who have been coming into the gym at 6:30 a.m. to get in work together to put up shots, grow the culture and get to know each other better,” Thaler said.

The ‘Cats are also excited to develop the program with the impending opening of the new arena, which is slated for around the end of the season. Thaler hosted a 3X3 tournament over the summer and has plans to keep youth players invested in the program going forward.

“We have guys in the sophomore and freshman class who are really skilled guys,” Thaler said. “You have

likes to get blown out, but you want to learn the process. We’re focused on ourselves and doing what we can to control what we can control. We’re trying to develop more as a team than focus on who we’re wrestling.

continued from page 6

part victimized by being in a very tough 144-pound weight class as a freshman. Also set to contribute are Bryce Muskovin, who’s a strong athlete and was a big factor this fall on the football field; Lyric Stewart; Mason Goodno; and Marcus Moore. R-P is hopeful to make some noise in the postseason and is confident it will take care of business in the O-K Green Conference. The Rockets’ top competition under the previous league alignment, Zeeland East, is no longer in the conference, so R-P is a strong favorite. Cowles said Byron Center is the most likely team to get in the Rockets’ way. When district and regional time arrives, Hudsonville, Grandville and Rockford will be among the obstacles.

urs Environmental Impact Committee (CEIC), which has been organizing and promoting the events.

CEIC has also been a party to a $36,711 grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to the Muskegon Conservation District that funded a one-year evaluation of Sadony Bayou that concluded this fall.

CEIC is a group of White Lake-area citizens that formed in 2018 to continue the effort to clean up and conserve the 1,300-acre site of the former DuPont chemical-manufacturing plant in White River Township. In 2023 CEIC noted the need for restoration of nearby Sadony Bayou as a viable natural resource

this nice big building you’re going to go into and create some memories. We’re going to put some sweat equity into that building, and obviously we want to put a good product on the floor. The only way to do that is to put in the time.”

The ‘Cats expect to be competitive in the West Michigan Conference Lakes, in which rival Whitehall went undefeated last year. One of the Vikings’ closest games in the league, though, was against Montague. Ludington and Oakridge, who also finished ahead of the ‘Cats last season, should again be threats.

“Every year is competitive in this league,” Thaler said. “I don’t think any night is a gimme or a cupcake. You have to be prepared to win.”

R-P girls

Abrianna Do should be able to get involved as well.

With so many players vying to get on the court and so much production that needs to be replaced, Walker is hoping this season brings a very competitive group.

“We expect to be in every game and hopefully it comes down to whoever has the ball last,” Walker said. “I don’t think we’ll be a team that will come in and blow people out, but I think we’ll be competitive and play with a lot of grit. I think these girls are on the same page to do that. I think the biggest key point this year is defensively. We’ll be the best lockdown defensive team that we possibly can, switching up different things we like to do.”

The Rockets look forward to a realigned O-K Green Conference, where they don’t totally know what to expect from their league mates - except, of course, from consistent power Muskegon.

As the Rockets lean on their veterans while building for a promising future, Walker is looking forward to seeing what his team does.

“We’re looking to really be able to compete and building in the things we’re going to be able to do in the future,” Walker said. “This year will be an exciting year to see what those younger classes do in terms of measuring themselves in a varsity environment. It’ll be interesting to see how they measure up.”

and reached out to Marty Holtgren, aquatic biologist and founder of Encompass Socio-ecological Consulting (ESC).

The visioning sessions have been presented by Holtgren and graphic designer Spencer High of Querkus Creative, aided by restoration specialists Melanie Manion, Stephanie Ogren, and Melanie Knapp.

During Session #3, summaries from the first two sessions will be presented, and participants will learn about the “vision” that is developing for Sadony Bayou and how to stay involved in the next steps of the restoration.