The Oceana Echo - Volume 1, Issue 16, Sept. 15, 2023

Veterans honor Jerry Welcome

Jerry Welcome was honored by the Oceana County Department of Veterans Affairs Friday, Sept. 8 with a certificate of appreciation for all that he does for area veterans. Welcome can be seen at left with Derik Van Baale.

• Brendan Samuels/ Echo

Cedar Point stairway named after tireless volunteer, Pete LundBorg

At the September meeting of the Oceana County Parks & Recreation Board, a surprise was in store for Pete LundBorg, a longtime supporter of Oceana County parks. LundBorg was recognized by Joel Mikkelson and the board for his unselfish gift of time to Cedar Point County Park. The park has undergone a major transformation with a new stairway to the beach that is now attached to a very large deck. All of this was built with materials gifted to the county by the Wm. Lathers’ Trust. LundBorg’s accumulated time surpassed the 3,000-hour mark, and it was only fitting to name this new stairway in his honor. Pete’s wife, Joan, and son, Andy, were present to be a part of the board’s thanks. • Paul

Erickson/Echo

Five changemakers join the Community Foundation for Oceana County’s Regional Leadership Learning Lab

Pentwater – The Community Foundation for Oceana County (CFOC) is proud to introduce the six community leaders participating in its regional Leadership Learning Lab (LLL): Rubi Berumen, Aubrey Boerema, Curtis Burdette, Mark Olmstead, and Griffin Vogler. As the fifth cohort (session) of LLL, participants will join Oceana County’s 26 LLL alumni in expanding their leadership skills and networks.

LLL began in 2018 after several northern community foundations, including CFOC, brainstormed how they could empower leaders and acting changemakers in their communities.

Oceana & Manistee counties make up one of five LLL sites across the state, which now includes leaders from Mason County in this cohort. The program is a collective effort among the Frey Foundation, Rotary Charities, and ten community foundations in northern Michigan. Statewide, 225 individuals have taken part in LLL with 167 alumni continuing to meet and utilize LLL’s learning resourc-

es. After its 2023-24 cohort, CFOC will select another new cohort and invite those interested to keep an eye on the foundation’s communications, as it will announce when the 2024 application opens.

For CFOC, supporting LLL is an investment in Oceana County’s future as its alumni continue to sustain and innovate their work across West Michigan. A full list of alumni is available at the foundation’s website under the RESOURCES tab at oceanafoundation. org. LLL provides a space for budding leaders and seasoned changemakers to learn from one another.

“Each leader brings their own experiences and passion for their work into each LLL session, providing their unique perspective to each conversation. Growing your leadership capacity not only includes developing technical skills, but also listening to and learning from views different than your own. The foundation

continually works to create opportunities for these conversations and learning moments to help our nonprofit, government, and business leaders to better serve our community,” foundation CEO Tammy Carey explained.

By connecting leaders from Oceana, Manistee, and Mason counties, LLL works to strengthen the relationships between nonprofit professionals across the region. Participants meet monthly to learn about different aspects of management, including storytelling, fundraising, and adaptive leadership. The 2023 cohort participants are each committed to growing their skills to better serve their organizations.

As a Departmental Supervisor for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), Rubicelia (Rubi) Berumen coaches Michigan Works! agencies and their staff to better serve Mich-

igan’s growing economy. She previously worked as a Migrant Service Worker for LEO and as a Foster Care Specialist. Rubi noted, “What I learn in the LLL will help me enhance my skills and be well informed, resourceful and supportive in the learning process and educational needs of others in my community.”

As the founder and executive director of Stony Lake Therapeutic Riding Center in 2014, Aubrey Boerema has been a community leader since her early twenties. “As a visionary, I have big dreams for our program,” Aubrey said. “I love the West Michigan community. I love the support we have here. However, our community needs more... I’d love to continue learning how to be a leader who is engaging, intuitive, and working towards the best we can so that we can continue to operate right here in Oceana County.”

Along with becoming the Executive Director for

Oceana County Economic Alliance, Curtis Burdette fostered his interest in leadership by serving on the United Way of the Lakeshore Oceana County’s board, participating in the County’s Broadband Task Force, and leading the County’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. He has completed several leadership training programs at Rapid Roots and the International Economic Development Council. “The connections and training I gain will go directly into practice for myself and benefit Oceana County Economic Alliance in our mission to create a diverse economic environment,” Burdette stated.

As a career teacher and later educational administrator, Mark Olmstead is deeply passionate about developing vibrant educational environments for today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders. He is the superintendent of Shelby Public Schools. For Mark,

leadership is a skill best developed through networking. He explained, “I strongly believe that qualities of leadership are continually developed and grown through engaging with other leaders.”

Griffin Vogler, the Director of Camp Miniwanca, has dedicated a significant portion of her 15-year career in operations leadership to the next generations. In establishing youth leadership programs in healthcare and her current role in facilitating an empowering youth camp experience for the American Youth Foundation. “I am hopeful that I will gain new skills, create stronger connections that will better equip Miniwanca to meet the needs of local youth,” Griffin explained.

The Community Foundation for Oceana County envisions an Oceana where everyone has access to resources to thrive. For more information on the Leadership Learning Lab, call Carey at 231-869-3377.

Shelby Village Council provides community updates

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

SHELBY - The Shelby Village Council convened as the Zoning Board of Appeals Tuesday. After hearing from Kitsia Lumbreras, of 113 White Street, and asking related questions, the board voted unanimously to grant her dimensional variance request. Lumbreras and her husband, Marcos Llanas, plan to construct a 342 +/- square-foot attached garage and breezeway in the same area as one previously removed. She was requesting relief from the current setback requirements to be able to rebuild the same-sized structure.

Village Administrator Brady Selner noted that several lots in this part of the village are quite narrow, at only 50 feet wide. After determining that all six standards of village zoning ordinance 17.07(B) were met, the village voted in favor of the request. Once the new garage is built, the structure will sit one and one-half feet from the east property line, 30 feet from the south property line, and between 11 and 14 and one-half feet from the

west property line.

In other business, the village was provided information from Shelby Schools Superintendent Mark Olmstead regarding a wage increase for school crossing guards. According to the Michigan Vehicle Code, it is the responsibility of the village to provide the school with a crossing guard at certain intersections. Currently, the village and school district’s agreement has the village paying the crossing guard’s wages while the school district manages the hiring and scheduling of the position. “There are additional conversations to be had,” Selner said. “I just wanted to get this information in front of the council now, as it will be addressed in a future meeting.”

During the summer construction season, the village and its residents have, for the most part, remained flexible and patient as certain projects are completed. Considering the amount of work being done, there have been relatively few complaints. Nearly an hour was spent during public participation time getting to the bottom of a plumbing issue at 575 Harvey Street. With the help of Councilor Damien Omness’ as translator, the council and resi-

dents were able to establish a timeline, admit there were some assumptions made by both parties, and come to an understanding of what had transpired and what should happen going forward. In response to another resident’s questions and concerns, Councilor Mike Termer told council members of a conversation he’d had with a fellow resident: “He wants the village to look right; we all do. It may seem like we’re not doing anything, but we’re taking our time to make sure it does.”

Due to a lack of applicants on Sept. 7, 2023, the village moved the Getty Park construction bid deadline to Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. There were two prospective bidders; however, they had expressed that they were unable to meet the deadline. Selner is hopeful these two prospects, and possibly others, will bid on the project; however, he said he has no idea how close they will come to the estimated project costs. He sympathizes with the entire community and acknowledges the three long years it has taken to get to this point. He did indicate that if the village can hire a contractor this fall, the park could technically open sometime next July.

Hart Area Fire Department gets new look

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

HART - The Hart Area Fire Department, located at 808 State Street, is sporting an updated look this fall. Fire Chief Dwight Fuehring confirmed the department has recently added a 1,600-squarefoot addition, installed new siding and installed a new asphalt parking lot in the back. A new parking lot in front will be added next year. “We ended up finding a really good deal on a newer fire truck, so we purchased that and are expecting to get it next week. We’ll have to wait until next year to do the front parking lot.”

The new addition, located on the south side of the building, includes more storage and training spaces. “We put in an air pack cleaning room that also holds

our air pack and training records, a large storage room, an open bay that holds our turnout gear and an open space to do training in,” Fuehring said. October is Fire Prevention Month. The community is reminded to practice fire safety and prevention regularly by checking and changing smoke detector

• Sharon Hallack/Echo

batteries, using safe cooking and burning practices, preparing heating systems for the cold to come and having a family fire escape plan in place. The Oceana Echo wishes to salute all Oceana County fire departments and rescue teams and thank them for their service to our communities all year long.

Oceana Center Grange Agricultural Report for September 2023

By Phil Carter The Oceana Echo Agricultural Consultant

Harvest time continues to be ripe in the land of Oceana. Before that, the 152nd Oceana Fair is complete, and contrary to popular belief, I have not attended all of them (I missed the first three!). Once again, the community stepped up to the plate to support our 4-H kids. In the large market, 53 hog receipts totaled $80,185.45, an average price of $5.77 per pound; 18 lambs totaled $17,845.25, with an average price of $7.83 per pound; and 35 steers brought a total of $182,410. The average steer price was $3.86 per pound. The total large market value was $280,440.70. Thanks again for the generous community support for our young people.

The pear harvest is complete, and a good crop and price were reported. Peaches continue to be picked, and again, prices are acceptable, in part due to

We American farmers are the most productive food producers in the world, and sometimes that bites us. Once again, Michigan’s apple crop is estimated to be 32 million bushels. Utilization of last year’s crop was less than hoped for, resulting in a large carryover, and some storages still have the 2022 crop in them. Apple processors are nervous about demand, and processing apple bargained prices through MACMA (Michigan Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Association) are 15 percent lower than 2022 prices. Processors are not buying all the apples offered to them, and many will be left on the trees. Undoubtedly, some varieties’ will be removed this fall, winter and spring.

Grain markets, especially corn, are very volatile for numerous reasons. Hog and dairy producers are experiencing red ink on their balance sheets. Beef herds are down in numbers, causing higher prices for cattle and products at the retail end.

As a group, farm people are optimists, and we will continue to do what we do until we go broke or our lenders pull the plug. We learned long ago that next

Hispanic Heritage Celebration is this Saturday in Hart

By Sharon Hallack

The

Oceana

Echo Community Contributor

One thing about Oceana County is that celebrations and friendships are abundant! No matter the season or the weather, this area is host to numerous hometown festivals, events and celebrations throughout the year. We’re also home to a wide range of ages, ethnicities and languages who enjoy living, working, playing, worshiping and serving next to each other. This Saturday will be a chance to celebrate some of those connections at the annual Hispanic

Heritage Celebration 2023, which will take place in downtown Hart from 5:309:30 p.m.

The Oceana Hispanic Center (OHC) is looking forward to welcoming everybody to celebrate an event we hold every year,” said Irma Hinojosa, OHC Executive Director. “We are happy to be able to provide a taste of our heritage and are looking forward to enjoying the evening with the entire community.”

An agency fair will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. with the following agencies represented: Health Department #10 – Biometric Screening Bus, Oceana Hispanic Center, West Shore Com-

munity College, Love INC – Zulema Perez, Telamon Head Start (Hart/New Era), Oceana County Council on Aging – Gwen Adams, Mid Michigan Community Action Center – Daizy Rodriguez, Legal Aid of Western Michigan – Steve Grumm, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Northwest Michigan Health Services, West Shore ESD – Eva Berumen-Reyna, Farmers Insurance – Allanger Salgado, and Labor Employment Opportunity (LEO) – Jose Barco.  Organizers encourage everyone to visit the different booths and sign up for one of the numerous door prizes that will go to those who are present

when names are called.

Attendees can enjoy food options in downtown Hart from The Taco Stand, La Probadita, La Fiesta, Dairy Delight, Hart Pizza and Kristi’s Pour House, while listening and dancing to local band “Los Hombres de Negro.” This event is geared for the entire family, and no alcohol is permitted. The evening will wrap up between 9:15-9:30 p.m. with a fireworks show.

This year’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration will be the perfect opportunity to take a moment to greet neighbors, reconnect with friends or build a new relationship. Everyone is invited!

New Era Fall Festival set for September 16

On Sept. 16, New Era will have its annual Fall Street Festival, which has been taking place since 2006. Sponsored by the New Era Chamber of Commerce, most activities will begin at 9 a.m., but if anyone wants to start early, there will be a pancake breakfast, with donations accepted, at The Avenue Event Center beginning at 8 a.m., sponsored by the New Era Christian Reformed Church. For lunch, hamburgers and hot dogs will be available starting at 11 a.m. at the “Feed Mill,” all part of its Customer Appreciation Day. In addition, there will be other food available from festival participants, as well as food from local businesses such as The Artisan.

The festival offers arts and crafts, entertainment by local musicians and performers, children’s activities, an antique car show and food trucks. The arts and crafts fair includes many different booths: jewelry, homemade towels and dishcloths, wooden toys, doll clothes, knitting and crocheting, blankets, bake sale items and much more.

For kids, there will be a climbing tower, bounce house, inflatable archery, axe throwing, pony rides and even more fun kid’s activities sponsored by New Era Reformed Church. They will be hosting games and activities including “fishing,” sand pool, corn hole toss, bucket bonanza, and soda pop ring toss, as well as story time, cookie decorating and bingo. The latter events will be inside the church. As a special treat for the kids, “clown” friends will be making balloon animals on the church lawn from 11 a.m. to noon. In case of rain, the fun will still go on in the church gym, so don’t let the weather keep you away. And there will be prizes for all!

Also helping to make the New Era Fall Street Festival a fun experience are Country Dairy, Oceana Veterinary Clinic, Shelby State Bank, Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo, Peterson Farms, Synergy Broadcasting, Meyers Chevrolet, Tri-County Feed Service Inc., Heather Phares DDS, Burnette Foods and EnerG Fitness.

Artisan works on display for upcoming Fall Fair

By Ron Beeber The Oceana Echo Volunteer Contributor

Pentwater’s Sept. 23-24 Fall Arts, Crafts and An tiques Fair on the Village Green is just around the cor ner. But the Pentwater Artisan Learning Center (PALC) is now inviting the public to stop by the center Tues days through Fridays before Sept. 22. There, they can preview and bid on the dozens of finished artistic works that have been crafted by PALC members and donated by them to the Center’s annual fundraising raffle. The artisans’ creations will be moved to the Village Green on Sept. 22 for display in the PALC tent during the fes tival. At either location, one can purchase raffle tickets that they can drop into the numbered jar(s) next to the art piece(s) they’d like to own. The more tickets one drops into any numbered jar, the better their chances of winning. There will be drawings on both Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m., and winners don’t have to be present.

On a recent day, Barry Freed of Pentwater was positioning his clever “Popsicle Bench” in the display

• Contributed Photo

to of a popsicle bench in a magazine and gave it to me.” This is a great example of how PALC members share ideas and tips with each other.

As a visitor walked by a large king salmon carved out of a piece of bass wood by Ted Ehrean of Ludington, Freed said that Ehrean told him he once caught one and took a picture of it before releasing the king back into the water. Freed explained how the artist achieved the life-like, scaly skin. “Ted put a screen over the body and then spray painted it, creating many dots. He then hand-painted some of the dots to create the natural appearance.”

new rolling tool boxes, scaffolding, garage, primitives, yard & garden equip. & tools, Sporting, like new exercise equipment, household & collectibles, coins, plus much more.

No minimums No reserves!

Auctioneers Note: See our website for complete list & pictures @ www.beyerauction.com Two rings. Terms: No out of state checks will be accepted. Cash or check with positive ID. Announcements take precedence over printed material. 5% buyers Prem. Not responsible for accident or loss. Lunch available. Sales Tax will be charged.

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Accepting Consignment Year-Round.

They are difficult to make because of the precise measuring and tight cutting that are required. “The ice cream part of each ‘stick’ is where food coloring softly dyed the wood. This isn’t my idea; Sue Hopp saw a pho-

The nonprofit Artisan Center was established in 2004 next to Pentwater Public School. It’s an 11,000-square-foot, safe, well-equipped workspace that attracts year-round and seasonal residents from the surrounding area. The artisans primarily work in wood, metal, paint, stained glass, pottery, ceramics, weaving and jewelry. They socialize, teach their skills to others, and learn new ones. Annual membership is $150. More information is found at pentwaterartisan. org/, or call (231) 869-5323.

Please join the OCH&GS for The Golden Fair in downtown Mears, Friday, Oct. 6 and continue celebrating Mears 150th Anniversary.

The

County Historical & Genealogical Society is open Wednesdays from 10

to 5 p.m. oceanahistory.org

The shifting boundaries of Oceana County continued

By Caleb Jackson The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

Last week we talked about how Oceana County in 1831 was not even on the same piece of land as it is today. If you read that article, then you remember that the borders of Oceana were reestablished in 1855, and that Oceana had only three townships at that time: Pentwater, Stony Creek, and Claybanks. But what did that look like? Well, today, with Hartwick and Tuller again as my guides, I will walk you through the organization of the various townships in Oceana through the ages. It might also be worth saying that all of this will be a lot clearer if you are able to get your hands on a township map. I will do my best to make things as plain as possible, but still, a map will only be beneficial through the course of this article.

First, we begin with the first three townships. In “Oceana County Business Men and Pioneers of Today,” Hartwick and Tuller quote directly from the 1855 Act of Legislature that reestablished the county’s boundaries. “The township of Pentwater shall comprise all of said county of Oceana lying north of the division line between townships fifteen and sixteen north,” it said. For those of you without a map, this means that in 1855, Pentwater was comprised of what is today, Pentwater, Weare, Crystal, and Colfax townships. “The township of Stony Creek shall comprise so much of the territory of said county as lies south of said township of Pentwater and north of the division line between townships thirteen and fourteen north, also sections one, two, three, four, five, and six of township thirteen north of range eighteen west.” This meant Stony Creek included what is now Golden, Hart, Eldbridge, Leavitt, Benona, Shelby, Ferry, Newfield, and a tiny bit of the northern end of Claybanks. Which means the township of Claybanks in 1855 was comprised

of what is today, Greenwood, Otto, Grant, and most of present-day Claybanks.

The next few steps to get from this primordial Oceana to our current state may be confusing, partially due to the changing names of some townships. I offer the same bit of clarification that Hartwick and Tuller offer regarding the township of Benona:

From the time of the organization of the township of Stony Creek, the name selected by A. R. Wheeler for the post office, i.e., Benona, was used by the people to designate the township, and in Feb., 1857, by Act of the Legislature, the name of the township was changed from Stony Creek to Benona. (Hartwick & Tuller, 1890, p. 24)

The next changes to take place occurred in December of 1857. Greenwood and Newfield, as they exist now, were taken from Claybanks and Benona, respectively. Elbridge was also formed, but at this time it encompassed what is now Leavitt, Elbridge, Hart, and Golden.

Next, in 1860, Otto and Ferry were taken from Claybanks and Benona respectively. Weare and Hart were also organized, albeit in different forms than they currently exist. Weare at this time included what is now Crystal and Colfax, while Hart was comprised of both Golden and Hart.

The year 1862 sees further confusion with the name Benona. This year, Benona is divided. The half presently called Shelby was called Benona, and the half presently called Benona was called Leroy. In 1864, Golden was separated from Hart, and in 1865, Crystal was taken from Weare. At this point, Crystal included what is present-day Colfax.

Things really began taking shape in 1866, when Newfield, Grant, and Leavitt were all organized into their present states. Then, with great relief to everyone, I am sure, in 1867, the township of Leroy changed its name to Benona, and Benona changed its name to Shelby, settling once and for

all the names of Benona and Shelby, which nobody seemed to be able to make their minds up about for the previous 11 years.

Following this, in 1868, the township of Reed was taken from Otto. If the name Reed surprises you, don’t worry about it, because the following year it was renamed Ferry, and in April of that same year, Colfax was organized out of Crystal, and the modern-day Oceana County was finally born.

Probably every county has a township history as convoluted as this. Well, maybe not. Shelby and Benona do feel like twin children who spent their time annoying their parents by constantly pretending to be the other child. That bit of history may be unique to Oceana County. But if you think this was confusing, be glad it was only the townships and not the villages. Otherwise, I would have talked about Barnett, or, I mean, Churchill’s Corner, which was eventually incorporated with Benona, whoops, I mean Shelby.

Hart High School Class of 1958 marks 65th reunion

The Hart High School Class of 1958 recently met at Open Hearth Grille in Mears for their 65th reunion. The class, pictured at left included, back row from left, Marcia (Schaner) Morley, Arleen (Lorenz) Frost, Barry Griffin, Hobart Bickel, Frank Schramm and Bob Dodds; and front row, from left, Mary (Ricks) Haas, Carol (Nixon) Dodds, Judy (Alvesteffer) Haight, Pat (Corliss) Sullivan, Marilyn (LaPorte) Walsworth

from

please call 231-923-0751.

please contact Jan Thomas at jthomas@oceanaecho.com

• Contributed Photo

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

HART - Although this year’s Hart Historic District’s Heritage Day may have been publicized as its “last one”, there’s still plenty going on at the district formed in 1984 by the Hart Heritage Preservation Group. Owned by the City of Hart, the district, located at 560 Lincoln Street, includes nine historic buildings (six moved from other locations), numerous one-of-a-kind museum collections and spacious facilities available to rent.

Organizers were pleased to host several well-attended events this year. The year started with the Hart fifth graders annual visit in April, followed by a vintage car show in June, a concert series in July and their final Heritage Day Sunday, Sept. 3. They were pleased to serve 175 hungry community members and reported the Sackrider Church was nearly full for the community worship service earlier in the day.

When asked what other projects had been keeping them busy this year, Leigh Furgason shared, “We painted the whole west side of Heritage Hall a light gray. It really looks nice. We are also planning to install two decks on the Mudget Woodshop this year yet. The Mudget building is

mostly complete inside and ready for use next year. We just need to find someone to run it.”

The building was purchased by the city when it came up for sale, with the hopes of creating an artisan center where community members could work on various art projects.

One of the district’s last formal activities for the year was held Wednesday when they hosted a volunteer dinner honoring their small but mighty team of volunteers: Richard Best, Dick Cornwell, Ken Doyly, Leigh Furgason, Russ Robbins and Ron Thatcher.

Even though the district will be closed to visitors for the next seven months, volunteers will

continue to work most Tuesdays and Thursdays on various maintenance projects.

The current board of directors includes Richard Best, Sally DeFreitas, Leigh Furgason, Gale Goldberg, Mike Tate and Vickie Ten Brink. Their last board meeting until next year will take place Thursday, Sept. 28, beginning at 7 p.m. in Heritage Hall, where next year’s board members will be elected. More volunteers are welcome and needed, whether to attend board meetings, serve on the board, help with maintenance or organize activities. Please contact Furgason at 231869-2042 or the Hart City Hall at 231-873-2488 for more information on how to get involved.

Wyatt is waiting for you to give him a new home. He is 1-2 years old and has been neutered. Wyatt is good with most dogs but he doesn’t like cats. He is very friendly and loves going on walks.

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

Tails of Hope Meet Wyatt

Ongoing

Hart VFW Post 1329

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

events calendar summer

OCCOA offers September calendar of events

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

Breakfast is available Thursday mornings from 8:30-9 a.m. Cost is $3. Reservations required.

Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program - during Open Enrollment; Tuesdays by appointment. Call Dorothy at 873-4461 ext. 108.

Strength and Balance: Mondays & Wednesdays, Sept. 18, 20, 25 and 27; 10 a.m.

Gentle Yoga: Tuesday, September 19 and 26; 10:30 a.m.

Dinner and a Movie: Tuesday, September 19; 3:30 p.m.

Beltone: Wednesday, September 20; by appointment (this month only, one week earlier)

Caregiver Support Group: Wednesday, September 20; 2 p.m.

Art With Bradley Youngstrom: Monday, September 25; 10 a.m. Cost: $10, reservations required.

Zumba: Friday, September 22 and 29; 9 a.m.

Board Meeting: Tuesday, September 26; 1:30 p.m. Location: Oceana County Council on Aging.

Parmenter O’Toole Office Hours: Please call 873-4461 for an appointment.

Lauren Eisenbarth, an Elder Law Paralegal for Attorney Anna Urick Duggins, of Parmenter Law, will offer a half hour, no-charge introductory meeting, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Oceana County Council on Aging. Topics to discuss include Elder Law services such as Estate Planning, Long Term Care Planning, Medicaid Planning, and VA Aid & Attendance.

Other Activities:

Farkle: Mondays @ 10:00 a.m.

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

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

Mah Jongg: Tuesdays @ 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.

Fitness @ Hesperia American Legion: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9-10 a.m.

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

Quilting: Wednesdays @ 9-12 p.m.

Beltone Hearing Clinic: 4th Wednesday of the month 10-2. Call 231-843-3039 By Appt.

Bingo: Thursday @ 10:30 a.m.

Blood Pressure Checks: Thursdays 11:00-12:00 p.m.

Bridge: Thursdays @ 1-3 p.m.

Cribbage: Fridays @ 9:30

Kaffeeklatsch: Daily @ 10 a.m.

Cards & Games: Daily following lunch

Oceana County Housing Needs Assessment presentation set for Sept. 27

All are invited to the Official Presentation of the Oceana County Housing Needs Assessment, Sept. 27 from 9-11 a.m. at the West Michigan Research Station, 5158 N. Oceana Dr. in Hart.

The County of Oceana and Dogwood Community Development would like to invite elected officials, municipal personnel, school districts, community leaders, developers, stakeholders, and the general public to the official presentation of the Oceana County Housing Needs Assessment.

Our nation faces a serious shortage of housing, but how does Oceana County compare? Do we have enough housing or do we need more? And if we need more, what type of housing? This comprehensive study conducted by Bowen National Research dives deep into our local data and gives us great insight into how we are affected. Patrick Bowen, President of Bowen National Research, will present the main findings of their report and how we can be proactive in addressing our housing needs in order to attract and retain students in our schools, talent for our area employers, and ensure that Oceana remains a community where people can thrive.

Melody Mates Square Dancers start new session

The Melody Mates Square Dancers are starting a new session of lessons. The group meets at the Shelby Congregational Church, 51 E. 3rd St. in Shelby, Wednesdays from 6:30-9 p.m. The cost is $3.50/individual and $7/for a couple. Singles are welcome, but dancers are encouraged to come as a couple. The first lesson is free. The club celebrated 61 years this past summer with Don and Margaret Knapp of Shelby dancing all 61 years.

Dancers come from as far as Ludington, Muskegon, Kent City and Coopersville. For more information or to sign up call or text 231-742-8008 or 231-301-5333. Email address is melodymatesdance@gmail.com.

September

Sept. 16 - Hispanic Heritage Days Celebration at Hart Commons

Sept. 16 - New Era Fall Festival

Sept. 18 - PLA Board Meeting

Sept. 18 - Base Camp Hart

Sept. 19 - Share Our Stories at The Ladder

Sept. 21 - Pentwater’s Annual Harvest Day on The Village Green

Sept. 22 - Feeding America Food Truck Walkerville School District 5-6 p.m.

PLA Board Meeting will be September 18

The Pentwater Lake Association board of directors will meet on Monday, September 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Centenary United Methodist Church at 82 N. Hancock St., Pentwater. The public is invited to attend; enter at the Hancock Street Hall entrance. Membership in the Pentwater Lake Association is open to all individuals interested in the lake, its natural resources, and its water quality. Members do not have to own lake property in order to join the non-profit organization. More details and past meeting minutes are available on the Pentwater Lake Association website at www.pentwaterlakeassociation.com.

Base Camp Hart welcomes NFL player

Base Camp Hart welcomes Joel Smeenge as the keynote speaker Monday Sept. 18. Joel is a West Michigan guy who spent 10 years as a defensive end for the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Joel will share what faith looks like in the NFL and how it helped him in his career as a football player. Base Camp is a safe place for men to share their stories where we eat together, drink together and share time together in a relaxed atmosphere. Come join us at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Wedding Barns at 813 S. 32nd Ave. in Shelby.

Register today for men’s“Fish On!” event

Men are in for an epic day Saturday, Sept. 30 at The Ladder Community Center in Shelby. This is The Ladder’s third HERO event, titled “Fish On! and will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The day will begin with donuts and end with a man-sized barbecue rib and chicken dinner. All activities and competitions will be fun for both seasoned fishermen and guys who have never fished before. You’ll leave with a full stomach and tons of loot and prizes. If you like to laugh, compete and eat, then you need to attend. The cost for “Fish On!” is $5. Bring your son(s) 12 years of age or older at no extra cost! This event is limited to 60 men, so register today on our website: www.theladdercommunitycenter.com/ hero, or visit The Ladder at 67 N. State Street in Shelby.

D.A.R. shares stories at the Ladder

The next Share Our Stories (SOS) event at the Ladder Community Center in Shelby will feature the Michigan Dunes Chapter of the D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution). Join us at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 19 as members of the D.A.R. share the history of this patriotic group as they celebrate 40 years of existence in Oceana County. Come to learn the qualifications for membership and what activities they are presently pursuing. SOS is a monthly event held at The Ladder, where people gather and share memories and memorabilia from Oceana County. There is no cost for this evening event, though donations to The Ladder are welcome. Events are subject to change. To inquire about an event, or with any ideas for future topics of interest for SOS, call The Ladder at 231-2590211. Visit theladdercommunitycenter.com to view all our upcoming events.

4-H Winners at The 152nd Oceana County Fair Reserve Champion Showmen KAYLIN BURMEISTER Overall Grand Champion - Beef KASSIE BISARD

Front Cover Front cover photo courtesy of Michael Thomas

4-H SMALL MARKET AUCTION

Blackmer Electric & Construction, Hart

Eisenlohr Farms, Shelby Greenstone Farm Credit Services, Hart Gustafson & Son Well Drilling, Pentwater

Kroll Heating & Cooling, Montague Lane Stotler Farm Bureau Insurance, Ludington Legacy Tool, LLC, Newaygo

Main Street Spa, Hart McCormick Sand Inc., Twin Lake Mears Service Center, Mears

Mel’s Cottage Cleaners, Pentwater

Congressman John Moolenaar, Midland Oceana Echo, Mears P & M Farms, Custer

Side Step Farms, Scottville Silver Hills Quilting/Tammy Longcore, Mears Stotler Cattle Company, Hart

Stotler Medicare Solutions, Hart

and on raising your 2023 4-H Market Animals! Grand Champion Jenna Babbin Market and Showmanship & Overall Best of Class Notebook Hannah Beggs Logan Brookens

JUNIOR MARKET AUCTION

Acres Co-Op, Scottville

Eisenlohr Farms, Shelby

Farm Bureau Klotz Agency, Hart Greenstone Farm Credit Services, Hart Howard’s Lawn Care & Plowing, Hart Lane Stotler Farm Bureau Insurance, Ludington

Merten Farmhouse Market, Hart

Silver Hills Quilting/Tammy Longcore, Mears Shelby State Bank, Shelby Stotler Cattle Company, Hart

Add-On Buyers ($25 or more)

Tri County Feed Services, New Era Rivers Ace Hardware, Whitehall

Buyer’s Reception Sponsor:

Nutrien Ag Solutions

Special Thank You to: Roger Leech, Long Horn Auction Service

Two Track Treasures, Shelby Up North Farm Market, Hart Jack White, Hart

THANK Jonathan VanderNaalt

like When protecting your Auto, Home, Life, Business, Farm and more, the EXPERIENCE MATTERS.

YOU! Call Lane Stotler today!

Hawkers: Pete Babbin, Sam Bucher, Jr., Jeremiah Helenhouse, Norm Myers & Aaron Velat Joyce Semelbauer Memorial FundGrand Champ Awards

Woller’s Shady Lane Farms, Montague

THANK Acres Co-Op, Scottville Eisenlohr Farms, Shelby Farm Bureau Klotz Agency, Hart Greenstone Farm Credit Services, Hart Howards Lawn Care & Plowing, Hart Lane Stotler Farm Bureau Insurance Agency, Ludington Merten Farmhouse Market, Hart Silver Hills Quilting/Tammy Longcore, Mears Shelby State Bank, Shelby Stotler Cattle Company, Hart Add-On Buyers ($25 or more) Tri County Feed Services, New Era Rivers Ace Hardware, Whitehall Buyer's Reception Sponsor: Nutrien Ag Solutions Special Thank You to: Roger Leech, Long Horn Auction Service Hawkers: Pete Babbin, Sam Bucher, Jr., Jeremiah Helenhouse, Norm Myers & Aaron Velat Joyce Semelbauer Memorial Fund - Grand Champ Awards All 4-H leaders, parents & families (231) 843-4042 | lstotler@fbinsmi.com 609 E Ludington Ave., Ludington

Junior Rabbit Grand &

JONATHAN & JAYDEN

Meat Goat Grand Champion LILLIAN WASSON

Lamb Grand Showman & Market JENNA BABBIN Open Dry Goat Grand & Reserve Champions ALISHA & JIM GRAY

Open Milker Grand Champion ALISHA GRAY

Best of Pond - Poultry JACE RYCENGA

Light Horses Grand Champions

Turkey Junior Grand Champion JACE RYCENGA

Small Turkey Grand Champion MIRANDA DION

of Barn - Rabbits MADISON & EMMA

Junior Grand Champion EVERLEE WULFF

Chickens Small Grand & Reserve Champions CASE & CAYLIN BONO

Small Rabbit Grand Champion MADISON BRANDT

Rabbit Showman Grand Champion LILLY HOPKINS

Reserve & Grand Champions - Poultry

Swine Showmen Reserve & Grand Champions CLAIRE & WYATT

Hart City Administrator Rob Splane was in the dunk tank to raise funds for the Put Art in Hart project Saturday, Aug. 26. He said he was having a great time and was happy to help out such a good cause. Splane was joined by Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast, Deputy John Hanks, Deputy Mike Phillips, Hart Mayor Vicki Platt, Hart City Councilor Justin Adams, Hart City Councilor Amanda Klotz, Noble Graham-Lattin, Michelle Hanks and Annelise throughout the entirety of the 152nd Oceana County Fair. • Amanda Dodge/ ECHO

The annual VFW raffle was held at the Oceana County Fairgrounds on Friday, Aug. 26. The raffle was sold out for the fifth straight year. Above, left to right: Trustee Gary Parsons, Quartermaster Steve Fell, Jr. Vice Commander Adam Rex, Marguerite Engfer, Rich Yager, Dicky Johnson (as proxy), Commander Mike Wilson, Trustee Ray Helmer and Senior Vice Commander John Varenhorst. • Amanda Dodge/ ECHO

GET COOKIN’! GET COOKIN’!

By: Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

With 4-H Market Livestock showing up in grocery meat cases and filling our freezers, here’s a few recipes using meat you might want to try. An added bonus - the pork and beef recipes call for other ingredients that are fresh and in abundance right now too! I’ve personally tried each one and they taste great!

Lemon Basil Grilled Pork Chops

(From Bitz & Giggles blog)

Ingredients:

4 thick-cut, boneless pork loin chops

2 T. olive oil

1 cup fresh basil leaves minced

3 T. minced garlic

3 T. lemon juice

1 t. Sea salt

¾ t. Pepper

Instructions:

Add olive oil, basil,garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper to a bowl and mix well. Spread both sides of the pork chops with the mixture and let the chops set for about 20 minutes. Grill chops over direct heat for about 5-6 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches at least 145 degrees. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Stick to Your Ribs Pasta Sauce

Taste of Home

I attended a Taste of Home cooking show in Ludington several years ago and watched Chef Guy Klinzing of Milwaukee, Wisconsin prepare this sauce. The recipe takes a little extra effort with all of the ingredients and steps, but it is totally worth it! It makes a lot so you can serve a crowd, get several weeknight meals out of it or freeze leftovers for later time. I’ve made it several times.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef (85% lean)

1 lb. Italian sausage, ground or links removed from casing

3 medium yellow onions, coarsely chopped

½ medium sweet red pepper, coarsely chopped

4 T. olive oil

3 cloves fresh garlic, minced

1 t. Oregano

½ t. Basil

½ t. Summer savory or thyme

½ t. Nutmeg

3 t. Kosher salt

1 cup water

2 T. brown sugar

2 cans (28 oz each) peeled Italian whole plum tomatoes or San Marzano tomatoes

2 cans (6 oz. each) tomato paste

⅓ c. whiskey or bourbon

Shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions:

In a large skillet, cook beef and Italian sausage until just slightly pink. Drain excess fat and set meat aside.

Thank You!

Grand Champion: Swine: Ceres Solutions, Fremont $6.75/lb.

Grand Champion: Lamb: Lane Stotler Farm Bureau Insurance, Ludington $19.00/lb.

A & A Land Surveying Inc., Hart (1 steer)

Acme Sawmill, Walkerville/Holland (1 hog & 1 steer)

Acres Co-Op, Scottville (1 hog)

Adams Heating & Cooling, Hart (1 hog)

Advanced Diesel Systems, Montague (1 hog & 1 steer)

Aebig Farms, Montague (1 steer)

BC Pizza Hart, Hart (2 hogs)

Beckman Brothers Inc., Shelby (1 steer)

Big Kokx BBQ, Hart (1 hog)*

Blackmer Electric & Construction, Hart (1 hog)

Bulb Digital, Belmont (1 steer)

Burnette Foods, New Era (1 steer)

Ceres Solutions, Fremont (1 hog)

Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt Janet Dodge, Hart (1 hog, 1 steer & 1 lamb)

Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt Jason Rice, New Era (1 hog)*

Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt Sue Payne, Hart (1 hog)

Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt Sue Payne/Shelby

Olson, Hart (1 lamb)

Country Dairy, New Era (1 hog)

Crop Care LLC, Shelby (1 hog)

D.O. Well Drilling, Shelby (1 hog)

Don Rympa Chevrolet Buick GMC, Whitehall (1 steer)

Double Take Detailng, Hart (1 hog)

Durga Insurance Group, Norton Shores (2 steers)

Ed’s Orchard Market, Hesperia (1 hog)

EnerG Fitness, Shelby (1 steer)

EPS Farms, Montague (1 lamb)

Farm Bureau Ins. Matt Williams, N. Muskegon (1 lamb)

Farm Bureau Insurance Klotz Agency, Hart (1 hog)

First Fruit Farms, New Era (1 hog)

Fusion Fluid Equipment, Whitehall (1 steer)

Geers Family Chiropractic, Fremont (1 hog)*

Grand Champion: Steer: Kristi’s Pour House, Hart $9.20/lb.

Reserve Grand Champion: Swine: N.J. Fox & Sons, Shelby $5.00/lb.

Gillison’s Variety Fabrication, Hart/Benzonia (1 hog)

Gray & Company/Seneca Foods, Hart (1 hog)

Greenstone Farm Credit Services, Hart (1 lamb)

H & R Block, Hart (1 lamb)

Hallack Contracting, Hart (1 hog & 1 steer)

Hansen Foods/Big Hart Brewery, Hart (1 hog & 2 lambs)

Harbor Design & Construction, Shelby (1 steer)

Hart Animal Clinic, Hart (1 steer)

Hayes Law Offices PLC, Shelby (1 steer)

Hometown Pharmacy, New Era (1 hog & 1 steer)

Katason Creek Holdings LLC, New Era (1 hog)

Ken Adams & Sons Excavating, Pentwater (1 hog)

Kevin Burmeister Farms, Shelby (1 hog & 1 steer)*

Klotz Auto Parts, Hart/Shelby (1 hog & 1 steer)

Korthase & Sons, Shelby (1 steer)

Kristi’s Pour House, Hart (1 steer)

L. K. VanSickle Farms, Hart (1 hog)

Lake Effect Apiaries, Hart (1 Hog)

Lakeshore Hospital Medical Staff, Shelby (1 hog)

Lakeshore OCDetailing, Shelby (2 hogs)*

Lane Stotler Farm Bureau Ins., Ludington (l lamb)*

Larson & Son Ace Hardware, Hart (1 steer)

Long Drive Farm Trucking Inc., Hamilton (2 steers)*

Louis Gelder & Sons, Hart (1 lamb)

Mac Woods Dune Rides, Mears (1 hog & 1 steer)

McCormick Sand Inc., Twin Lake (1 steer)

Memory of Kaitlyn & Eric Scott, Shelby (1 steer)*

Meyers Chevrolet-Jeep-Eagle, New Era (1 hog)

Michigan Agricultural Commodities, Newaygo (2 hogs)

N. J. Fox & Sons, Shelby (1 hog)

Oceana County Farm Bureau, Hart (1 hog & 2 lambs)

Oceana Echo, Mears (1 lamb)*

Oceana Veterinary Clinic, New Era (1 steer)

Oomen Farms Ltd, Hart (1 hog)

OPC Arbre Farms, Walkerville (1 hog & 1 steer)

In a large pot over medium heat, saute onions and red pepper in oil. When onions are tender, add garlic and continue cooking until mixture begins to caramelize and turn golden, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add dry seasonings, stirring for 1 minute. Add water; scrape or deglaze bottom of pot and add the cooked meat and remaining ingredients. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 1 ½ hours . Serve over pasta with shredded parmesan.

Best Grilled Chicken Recipe (From “Happily Unprocessed” blog)

Ingredients:

¼ c. cider vinegar

3 T. dijon mustard

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 lime, juiced (bottled will work, but using real lime tastes better!)

½ lemon, juiced (same as above)

¼ c. brown sugar

1 ½ t. Kosher salt

Ground black pepper to taste

¼ c. extra virgin olive oil

6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (or chicken pieces)

Instructions: Mix all ingredients (except olive oil) together in a bowl. Drizzle in oil very slowly while whisking quickly. Put the chicken in a large ziploc bag and pour between ½ and ¾ of the marinade over it. Marinade chicken in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Grill chicken over med/ high heat and cook until juices run clear.

Reserve Grand Champion: Lamb: Oceana Echo, Mears $10.00/lb.

Reserve Grand Champion: Steer: OPC Arbre Farms, Walkerville $5.00/lb.

P & M Farms, Custer (2 lambs)

Peterson & Sons, Pentwater (1 hog)

Randolph D Miller LLC, Hart (2 hogs)

Riley Orchards Inc., Mears (1 steer)

Ruggles & Son Masonry, Hart (1 hog)

Schmieding Sawmill, Shelby (1 hog & 1 steer)

Semelbauer Farms, Montague (1 lamb)*

Shelby State Bank, Shelby (1 hog, 1 steer & 1 lamb)

Side Step Farms, Scottville (1 steer)

Snider Farms LLC, Hart (1 steer)

Stovall Construction/Oceana Concrete, Shelby (1 hog)

Tanner Plumbing & Heating, Hart (1 steer)

The Brown Bear, Shelby (2 hogs)

The Lone Fox Company, Shelby (1 hog)

Up North Farm Market, Hart (1 hog)

Tri-County Feed Services, New Era (1 hog & 1 lamb)

Visscher Construction Inc., Pentwater (1 steer)*

Walkerville Kwikmart LLC, Walkerville (1 hog)

West Shore Bank, Hart (1 hog)

White Lake Excavating, Whitehall (1 hog) *Denotes first time buyer

Add-On Buyers ($25 or more)

Greenmark Equipment, Kent City

Farm Bureau Insurance Klotz Agency, Hart

Hayes Law Office PLC, Shelby

Justin Gruppen, Allendale

Nutrien Ag Solutions, Hart

Oceana County Farm Bureau, Hart

Rivers Ace Hardware, Whitehall

Tower Laboratories, Montague

Tri-County Feeds Service, New Era

Twin Cities Parts & Services, Montague

Dave & Jana Wheeler, Hudson

Zeeland Farm Services Inc., Zeeland

Shelby State Bank (Kayla Dennert, Trisha Fillips, Miriam Zuniga-Reyna, Erin Stark and Jamie Umstead) ~ Auction night haulers: Phil Carter, Lars Mattson, Hollis Rockwell and Matt Woller Haulers: Kelly Carson, Carson Trucking, Lee Tiles, Tiles Farms Trucking, Wayne Klein Hauling and William Smith Jr., Smith Livestock Hauling, ~ All 4-H Leaders, parents, volunteers and fair superintendents!!!

turn that newly stocked freezer into some tasty home cooked meals turn that newly stocked freezer into some tasty home cooked meals

Living Legacies: Silver Lake Sand Dunes Apple & BBQ Festival and Hippie Fest

Silver Lake was even busier than usual on the weekend of Friday, Sept. 8 as crowds gathered in droves to enjoy the festivities of the Apple BBQ Festival. Several business and cottage industries lined the vendor street with products ranging from sweets to quilts, rugs, clothing and everything in between.Katie Kokx (above right), owner of Lake Effect Apiaries explained the ins and outs of honey at her booth. • Stacia Erickson/ECHO

Silver Lake was even busier than usual on the weekend of Friday, Sept. 8 as crowds gathered in droves to enjoy the festivities of the Apple BBQ Festival. Several business and cottage industries lined the vendor street with products ranging from sweets to quilts, rugs, clothing and everything in between.Katie Kokx (above right), owner of Lake Effect Apiaries explained the ins and outs of honey at her booth. • Stacia Erickson/ECHO

There was perfect weather in Silver Lake on Saturday, Sept. 9 for Hippie Fest, held at Val-Du Lakes Resort. Owner of Val-Du Lakes Resort, Brian Lowing, said it was “a great day with a nice crowd.” People from all walks of life and varying age groups appeared to be having fun as they enjoyed live music, good food and drinks, lots of shopping and activities. The air was filled with laughter, adding a special feel to the festival atmosphere. • Stacia Erickson/ECHO

There was perfect weather in Silver Lake on Saturday, Sept. 9 for Hippie Fest, held at Val-Du Lakes Resort. Owner of Val-Du Lakes Resort, Brian Lowing, said it was “a great day with a nice crowd.” People from all walks of life and varying age groups appeared to be having fun as they enjoyed live music, good food and drinks, lots of shopping and activities. The air was filled with laughter, adding a special feel to the festival atmosphere. • Stacia Erickson/ECHO

HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE

Weekly Rundown: Hart’s rivalry win over Shelby sets historic mark for program

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

We have now made our way through the first three weeks of high school football in West Michigan, which means one-third of the regular season has come and gone.

This week, we finally got some overlap between teams in our coverage area as one of the most historic rivalries on the lakeshore was renewed between Hart and Shelby. With the Blood, Sweat and Tears Jug on the line, Friday night belonged to the Pirates.

Traveling east, Hesperia had a big matchup of their own as they hosted neighboring school White Cloud.

There’s plenty to talk about between these two games, so let’s get crackin’:

Hart at Shelby Finalscore:Hart44,Shelby0

SHELBY – The early part of the 2023 season has proved one thing to the West Michigan Conference (WMC) Rivers: the Hart Pirates mean business. That held true when Hart marched into Shelby on Friday, Sept. 8 and retained possession of the Blood, Sweat and Tears Jug in a 44-0 win.

Once more, Hart’s victory came on the backs – or legs rather – of their run game. The Pirates ran for 395 yards as a team and while guys like Joseluis Anaverde and Eman Hertzler deserve credit, don’t discount the guys blocking in front of them.

“That’s Adrian Lara, Eian Sawdy, Joaquin Flores and Hollis Rockwell tonight. It’s our offensive line and that’s where we’ve got to win,” Tanis said. “That’s our strength right now. We have a lot of talented skill guys, but at the end of the day, it’s about that offensive line and winning the battle up front.”

Following blocks set by the big guys up front, Hart dominated Shelby for nearly the entire game. The Pirates walked into the locker room at halftime with a huge 32-0 lead.

Shelby did have their own success early, but two drives that pushed into Hart territory were halted by failed pass attempts on fourth down. Senior quarterback Lalo Garcia didn’t have much time to survey the field, but on each of those plays he uncorked long balls that just missed his receivers.

“We took the ball first, we made some first downs, we were executing well, but we made a couple of mistakes and were unable to finish that drive,” Shelby head coach Phil Fortier said. “We came back, played them tough on defense, but gave up a long run and they scored. When we came back and it was our turn to come back, we did the exact same thing. Big let down.”

Shelby’s failures turned into more success for the Pirates. Anaverde and Hertzler made the most of their carries, combining for five touchdowns on the ground. Hertzler’s 98 rushing yards were second on the team while Anaverde ran for 169 and added two successful two-point conversions to the mix.

Anaverde didn’t stop there, making his presence felt in all three phases. The Pirates senior also recorded ten tackles and a sack on Garcia that resulted in a safety, recovered an onside kick and tallied a 56-yard punt. Anaverde wasn’t shy about what it takes to perform on all sides of the ball.

“It’s a dog fight. Football has a lot of physicality to it, but a lot of it is mental as well,” Anaverde said. “You have to dig deep down and say “I want this.” I know the guy on the other side of the field is trying to figure out what I’m going to do and I just had to show who wanted it more.”

Coming out of halftime, things sprinted toward a finish line with a running clock implemented due to Hart’s large lead. A shortened game didn’t stop the Pirates from going full throttle however.

Anaverde completed his hat trick of touchdowns in the third quarter before Tanis brought in his backups to play the majority of the second half. That allowed Kyle Greiner to score his first touchdown of the year and show the coaching staff what they have to look forward to.

continued on page 21

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

SHELBY – Navea Gauthier continues to soar to new heights, including a gradual climb up the Michigan high school record books. Gauthier tallied her 2,000th career kill in a 3-0 victory over Hesperia on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

Gauthier, who recorded 23 kills and 8 digs on Tuesday, now sits inside the top 30 athletes all time in the state of Michigan for kills. As a junior, that’s nothing short of amazing.

“Watch (Navea) play for five minutes and you know exactly what she means to this program,” Weirich said. “She does everything and she’s a swiss army knife right now. This year she’s really focused on the defensive side. Teams take a little break when she goes into the back row, but then she just throws lawn darts at them. She’s a once in a lifetime for our program.”

Tuesday’s celebrations came in the third set, but it took the Tigers plenty of effort to get to that point. That included trailing Hesperia in all three sets and battling through tough defense.

Shelby head coach Tom Weirich knows the Panthers and head coach Alyx Beachum well, but he still can’t believe the defense they put on the court each time the two teams line up.

“I know Alyx Beachum really well and she’s a friend of the family before she’s a coach I’m facing. I grabbed her right at the end of the game and had to ask where in the world she gets her defense from,” Weirich said. “They’re not super tall, but they’re relentless. It’s not always clean, but there’s always a touch to get the ball up. They did all of that last year.”

Hart football team hoists the Blood, Sweat & Tears Jug above their head in celebration following a 44-0 win over Shelby. The Pirates have now won the rivalry game four-straight years. • Brendan Samuels/Echo

Shelby’s Navea Gauthier attacks from the outside. Gauthier has now recorded 2,000 career kills. • Brendan Samuels/Echo

“Those guys work so hard and they’re great kids,” Tanis said. “They had some nice runs, but again that has to go back to the offensive line. It does show that we have some good stuff coming in the future though.”

While the future may be bright, Hart’s focus remains on what is directly in front of them. The Pirates are 3-0 in the early going and are the first team to do that for Hart since 1978 and only the second squad since the 50s to own that record.

Tanis’ presence and the culture he’s built aren’t lost on his seniors. After all, those that have stuck with the program for all four years haven’t always had it easy.

“This senior class started out together and went undefeated in the sixth grade I believe. It’s crazy to be playing together in games like this when we started out playing in each other’s back yards,” Anaverde said through tears. “Tanis and the other coaches have had such a big impact on us. We have grace for each other and we have grit. That’s all we need.”

The Pirates will look to improve on their undefeated start to the year when they travel to The University of Olivet to take on Stockbridge (1-2) on Friday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.

Shelby will get another WMC Rivers matchup as they host Ravenna on that same night.

Hesperia vs. White Cloud

Finalscore:WhiteCloud28,Hesperia7

Make it two-straight losses for Hesperia now as the Panthers lost a tough contest to White Cloud, 28-7.

The Panthers made a change at quarterback this week, hoping to kick start their offense after turning the ball over far too many times the week prior. Brock Bolles got the nod at quarterback, and while he did protect the ball better than Kohen Witte against St. Louis, his two interceptions combine for six for the Panthers over a two

week span.

Football: Week three Tigers

continued from page 20

Shelby started the night trailing the Panthers 6-0 in the first set, courtesy of a string of poor serves. The Tigers were able to battle back to 7-7 before taking over to win 25-17.

That allowed them to dominate the second set 25-9 before Hesperia gave them another tough test in the third and final set. The Panthers’ defense, led by Kayla Rumsey, Mia Milner and Kaley Cousineau, were instrumental in keeping things close, but Shelby came out on top 25-18.

“We practice that every day, but we missed six serves in the first half (of the first set). Everyone wanted to be perfect tonight to get Navea to her milestone,” Shelby head coach Tom Weirich said. “We definitely have to be better earlier. That kind of play won’t get through everybody.”

The Tigers were led by Gauthier, but received other quality contributions from Biloxi Lee (three kills), Audrey Horton (four aces, one assist), Molli Schultz (four aces) and Hannah Frees (15 digs).

Shelby now sits at 8-5 overall on the year and has a quick 2-0 start to the conference schedule. Hesperia fell to 1-6 with the loss and are now 0-3 in conference play.

Bolles went 5-for-11 for 53 yards and a passing touchdown along with the two interceptions. Bolles was at his best when connecting with junior receiver Ian Fox. Fox was responsible for the team’s lone touchdown on the night.

While the passing game did experience turbulence, the run game was strong for Hesperia. Skyler Stalbaum carried the ball 17 times for 103 yards while Blake Sayer had 27 yards on four carries.

Defensively, Stalbaum led with 10 tackles and was followed closely by Noah Walker with nine tackles. Eli Edens also had a good night, recording six tackles and an interception.

The Panthers are now 1-2 and will face an extremely tough opponent in North Muskegon (3-0) in hostile territory on Friday, Sept 15 at 7 p.m.

Jazwinski Duo dominate wmc

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

SHELBY – It was truly a family affair for the Hart Pirates as Jessie and Bobby Jazwinski dominated the first West Michigan Conference (WMC) Rivers Meet of the year.

Both Jessie and Bobby blazed through Shelby’s newly redone course. Jessie was the first to do it, placing first with an 18:17.78 finish. That time was three minutes quicker than any other female runner.

Following behind Jessie was teammate Lexie Beth Nienhuis (21:42.62) and Shelby freshman Lydia Soelberg (21:46.16). Hesperia’s top runner was freshman Rokhaya Ruhstorfer in 25th place (27:30.79).

Bobby bested his sister’s time by nearly two full minutes, finishing first for the boys at 16:33.96. A whole host of Pirates followed behind as Max Stitt (18:21.88) finished in second, Jack Slotman (18:31.80) finished in third, Tyler Vanderzanden (18:43.94) finished in fifth and Avery Guikema (18:57.35) finished in sixth.

Shelby’s Iziquiel Picon had the best finish for the Tigers on the boys end, running a 19:04.29 and finishing in ninth place. Andre Sherburn finished seventh for Hesperia with a 18:58.22 time.

continued from page 20

Brendan’s Players to Watch Hart

OFFENSE: Ivan Lara - OL

Lara is unquestionably the biggest man on an offensive line full of big men. Hart loves to run the ball and Lara deserves to be recognized for his part in that.

DEFENSE: Joseluis Anaverde - DB

Anaverde is best known for what he does on the offensive side of the ball. However, his impact extends to the defense as well. Expect a big game for him.

Shelby

OFFENSE: Trey Waller - WR

Waller was one of Shelby’s top offensive weapons in their loss to Hart. I’d expect that to continue when Ravenna comes to town this week.

DEFENSE: Ben Cederquist - DB

Cederquist has been tabbed as the biggest leader for the Tigers. I expect him to give the Bulldogs a tough time in the defensive secondary.

Hesperia

OFFENSE: Brock Bolles - QB

Will it be Bolles or Witte leading the offense for the Panthers this week? My bet is Bolles and that means he’ll be relied on to carry the load for Hesperia.

DEFENSE: Skyler Stalbaum - DB

Stalbaum is nimble in the offensive backfield and that carries over to defense as well. Coming off a game where he led the Panthers in tackles, he’s primed for a big game.

VanDuinen sets new school record

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

Abe VanDuinen has been on an absolute tear to start the 2023 cross country season and that continued on Saturday, Sept. 9 when the Falcons competed at the Buckley Invitational.

VanDuinen has already broken multiple Pentwater records and Saturday was no different. The Falcons senior placed second in the varsity race at Buckley, running a time of 15:58.34. That mark broke his own school record that was set earlier in the season.

The Falcons also had two other runners medal on the day with senior Mitchel Daniels coming in 13th with a 17:17.56 time and Bailee Case taking 26th with a finish of 22:37.14. For Case, that marked a personal record time.

Hart and Shelby renewed their rivalry last week. Bottom left: Shelby’s Ben Cederquist gets a play call from the sideline. Top Right: Hart’s Joseluis Anaverde sacks Shelby’s Lalo Garcia. Bottom Right: Hart’s Eman Hertzler throws a stiff arm into the face of Shelby’s Phillip Hayes. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Hesperia’s Kaley Cousineau prepares to take on Shelby’s offensive attack. • Brendan Samuels/Echo

From left to right: Pentwater’s Bailee Case, Abe VanDuinen and Mitchel Daniels pose with their medals won at the Buckley Invitational on Saturday. • Contributed Photo

Jessie Jazwinski runs the Shelby course at first WMC Meet. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

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STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20230911 FOR RELEASE SEPT. 11, 2023

By Lucie Winborne

By JoAnn Derson

• Be sure to comb the leftovers from back-to-school sales. Pick up supplies that will need to be replenished as the school years moves on. Also, there are many imaginative pencil cases that can double as travel jewelry and makeup bags. Often you can pick up several at a good price.

• “Just after Labor Day, our family starts to think about who will host holiday dinners and such. We do it in a lottery. Whoever just hosted is exempt if they want to be. The rest of those who’d like to host a holiday event put their names in a pot, and we pick out names. The events are the usuals, like Christmas and Thanksgiving, but also a cookie-making party and the children’s party. It’s better than one person always having to do it or always getting to do it.” — E.D. in Massachusetts

• If you are getting your outdoor furniture ready for storage, here’s a great cleaning idea. Load it all in the back of a truck, take it to a self-serve car wash and clean with the pressure hoses. Let dry, and it’s ready.

• “Dust books with a vacuum assist!

I put the leg of a pantyhose over my vacuum wand and secure tightly. Then I dust my bookshelves, holding the wand close by to suck up the dust that gets disturbed. It’s less messy, I think. I still dust from the top down.” — L.K. in Ohio

• To make your own disinfecting wipes, cut paper towels into four squares each. Saturate with a half alcohol, half water mix and store in a plastic freezer bag or a diaper wipe container. You can use these to clean telephones and doorknobs during cold and flu season.

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By Lucie Winborne

• In 2003, a community in New Jersey experienced an animal-related electrical outage. Such occurrences were certainly not rare, but this incident was notable for being the first time an osprey was known to be involved — or, rather, a fish: The bird had dropped its scaly prey on the power lines.

• Slovenia boasts a most impressive 28,000 wineries, amounting to one winery for every 75 persons in the country.

• Ever hear “things that go bump in the night” at your house? Before you call an exorcist, keep in mind that several cases of residential “paranormal activity” have actually turned out to be the result of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause hallucinations and feelings of dread.

• The Mamenchisaurus sinocanadorum dinosaur’s neck measured 50 feet — six times longer than that of a giraffe!

• When he was in his 50s, Steven Spielberg re-enrolled at California State, Long Beach to finish his B.A. degree three decades after dropping out. The school awarded him three course credits in paleontology for making “Jurassic Park.”

• Japan’s “gyoza cider” is a soda designed to taste like gyoza dumplings.

• In 2018, one of Stephen Hawking’s older wheelchairs was auctioned off for $387,000, with proceeds donated to his favorite charities.

• Basketball backboards were invented to keep overly enthusiastic fans from interfering with a game after some spectators, early in the sport’s history, leaned over railings in an effort to deflect or catch the ball.

• New York-Presbyterian Hospital has created a Spotify playlist called “Songs to do CPR to,” featuring hits by artists ranging from the Bee Gees to Justin Bieber.

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Thought for the Day: “Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture and, if possible, speak a few sensible words.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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