Oceana Echo - Volume 3, Issue 12, August 15, 2025 by theoceanaecho

Walkerville celebrates new-look Pioneer House prior to picnic

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Walkerville’s 2nd annual Community Picnic and Cornhole Tournament Saturday saw many residents out for a rewarding and fun day of activities. Prior to the picnic, a ribbon cutting at the Pioneer House Museum celebrated the home’s new look after its first paint job in over 30 years. The event featured speakers from granting organizations, the Community Foundation and Great Lakes Energy, as over 20 locals looked on.

Over 30 residents and neighbors enjoyed a picnic, kids activities, a 50/50 raffle, baked goods/produce sale and a cornhole tournament featuring six different teams at the Walkerville Village Park. Winners of the cornhole tournament included First Place,

“Miss You Uncle Joe”, Second Place, “42 North” and Third Place, “Hallack Farms”.

The event was organized by the Walkerville Thrives Rebuilding Community Committee. Walkerville Thrives' next meeting will be Tuesday, August 26 at 5 p.m. when they will be reviewing this

year’s picnic and begin planning their Pancake Breakfast fundraiser for the Walkerville Fire Department set for Saturday, Oct. 11. Interested community members are invited and encouraged to attend. Please email walkervillercc@gmail. com to receive regular emailed updates.

Nichole Kleiner appointed interim Hart city manager

By Claire Marshall

The Oceana

Echo Community Correspondent

HART — Rob Splane has turned over his role

as Hart city manager to an interim manager. Nichole Kleiner, Hart’s economic development coordinator, was unanimously approved by the Hart City Council Tuesday to work as the interim city manager part-time until Sept. 8, when she will be available to perform the role full-time until a permanent city manager is hired.

Double Haul Solutions, the contracted recruitment company, estimates the role will be filled permanently by late October or early November at the latest.

Kleiner will be leaving her coordinator position vacant while acting as

city manager, and the council took some time to discuss how that vacancy will be handled, deciding to refer to the Hart Economic and Redevelopment Board’s opinion following their upcoming meeting. The council agreed that someone should take on the role for some time, Council Member Andrew Mullen pointing out the salary is already budgeted and not wanting to waste funds on an empty position. Following her approval, Kleiner was immediately sworn in by clerk Karla Swihart in front of the council.

It did not take long for Kleiner to jump

into her role as interim manager, as she was able to provide context and offer opinion on the handling of four ordinances brought before the council for their second readings. Following the second reading, the ordinances would then move to a public hearing before finally being approved. The first readings took place in April.

Ordinances 25-01 and 25-02 were made for Hart to be in compliance with the requirements for the Redevelopment Ready Community certification, which the city lost in February.

Ordinance 25-01 was reviewed with no issue,

but 25-02 caused a point of contention.

Ordinance 25-02 would see the minimum square footage of residential buildings lowered from 720 to 400 square feet for a one-story building, and 600 to 500 square feet for the ground floor of a two-story building.

Council member Dean Hodges took issue with the onestory building square foot minimum being less than the two-story ground floor minimum, which he called atypical of what he’s seen in other municipalities’ ordinances and what Hart had before. Many others on the council did not see any issue with

Candy Cannon

this and explained that these numbers were the minimum. As council member Betty Root said, “you don’t have to make them that small.”

Kleiner explained the numbers were the way they are so these potential homes would fit in the category of a “tiny house.” One of the reasons Hart lost its Redevelopment Ready certification is that the State of Michigan wants communities to provide more variety in the types of residential developments available. Currently, the city has options for singleCity manager continued on page 2

Free Rides and activities for children of all ages

Pie Auction

Family Field Day

Pony Rides

Book Bus

1 Responders st

The Walkerville Pioneer House celebrated its new paint job Saturday prior to the village's second annual community picnic and cornhole tournament. The Pioneer House had not received a new paint job in 30 years - above is what the house looked like prior to the refurbishment.

• Courtesy Photos

City manager

family homes, duplexes, multi-family apartment complexes, and mixed-use apartments downtown with groundfloor businesses and upper-floor apartment units. Ordinance 25-02 would allow for the development of another variety of residential options, tiny homes, which council member Jim Cunningham explained would be intended for single-occupant, firsttime homeowners as an affordable alternative to renting. The current square-foot minimums are too large for a home to be categorized as “tiny.”

Dean Hodges went on to explain he does not mind the minimum square footage, but that the single-floor square footage is smaller than that of the 2-story ground-floor, and that he’d taken issue with that at the first reading back in April.

“I think I’d be more okay with it if you flip those two to be more consistent with what other cities do and what we’ve done in the past,” Hodges said.

The Council proposed sending Ordinances 25-01 and 25-02 back to the planning commission to review, which was approved 6-1, Mullen being the dissenting vote. Ordinance 25-03, which pertained to tree-cutting and property maintenance, passed the second reading without issue.

continued from page 1

Ordinance 25-04, pertaining to food truck permits, also drew concern from Cunningham for vague language and confusion surrounding what was permissible and what was not, and was likewise sent back with unanimous council approval. However, 25-03 will be given a public hearing alongside the other three ordinances, once they are re-evaluated and pass second reading.

In this decision, the council deferred to Kleiner’s advice. While the Redevelopment Ready certification is not critical, she said it should be completed within this current fiveyear period and the city should be careful to stay on top of any other requirements that are introduced.

The main downside is the city would not be eligible for any grants where the certification is required. Overall, Kleiner recommended sending 25-01, 02, and 04 back for re-evaluation.

Despite there not being any forward momentum with ordinances, Resolution 2025-26 was approved unanimously. As Mullen described, this resolution was drawn up by the Hart Economic Redevelopment team as they worked to identify places to “reduce red tape and burden on developers and businesses” to

encourage businesses to develop in the city, specifically in the industrial park. Mullen went on to explain how the current covenants for industrial park building requirements were very restrictive and had not been updated since the 1990s.

“To some degree, those restrictions seemed to make sense, but in other places, they deviated pretty far from what the rest of what Hart code was," Mullen said.

Economic Redevelopment found all the places in the Industrial Park covenants which could be trimmed or be referred back to city municipal codes - which are more recently and frequently updated - which would, in turn, update the covenants. Mullen assured the industrial park would stay industrial - no “call centers” or “restaurants” - but this would hopefully allow easier development for new businesses, such as Dark Water Coffee Roasters, which was approved to develop in the Industrial Park earlier this summer.

Resolution 2025-26 will now be brought forward to the existing business and lot owners at the industrial park for their sign-off. There needs to be a three-quarters approval in order to institute the resolution.

When it came time on the agenda for the city manager’s report, many on the council and audience were relieved there was no report and the meeting

could end sooner than expected, but Kleiner was prepared with a priority list she had, detailing items she is planning to pick up following Splane’s departure, which she shared with the council and press.

The first item is to hold meetings with staff and supervisors to “understand what current projects [they’re] working on and if there are any outstanding issues that need addressing.” There are also employee insurance premium payments in need of adjustments, cybersecurity improvements for the city’s WiFi, the Streetscape and Safe Routes to School projects to continue developing, the Ready Redevelopment certification to reinstate, ongoing financial work, a Community Excellence application to pitch at the upcoming Michigan Municipal League conference, and of course a resolution for the water tower property.

Finally, mayor Amanda Klotz shared her thanks with the city’s staff, department heads, supervisors and council members for their work during the change in personnel.

“I know there’s been a lot going on… I just appreciate everybody’s willingness to roll with the punches right now… I certainly appreciate your hard work and efforts and keeping the City of Hart rolling down the road in the right directions,” Klotz said.

Shelby council approves salary bump for administrator

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

SHELBY — Following a closed session at the Shelby Village Council regular meeting Monday, council voted to approve an anticipated step increase of $2500 to Village Administrator Phil Morse’s base salary rate for the pay period beginning August 25.

Council went into closed session for 20 minutes to review the Personnel Committee’s collective assessment of each council member’s personal evaluation of VA Morse’s performance this past year.

Following the closed session, Council member and Personnel Committee Chair Mike Termer moved to approve the $2500 step increase to the village administrator’s base salary.

Regular evaluations and annual step increase opportunities are a part of Morse’s employment contract. He was hired as the new village administrator in August 2024 at a starting salary of $80,000, In February (six months after his hire), he

received a $2,500 increase, bringing his base salary to $82,500. With the FY 25/26 budget, all employees received a COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) increase to their salaries. Morse’s COLA increased his salary to $84,593. With the step increase approval Monday, as of Aug. 25, 2025, Morse’s new base salary is now $87,093.

Council member Curt Trott seconded Termer’s motion. Voting in the affirmative for approval were council members Steve Crothers, Crystal Heykoop, Samantha Gottschalk and Village President John Sutton. Casting the lone nay vote was council member Dan Zaverl.

In other news, the council shared good news on several fronts. A successful village dump day took place Saturday, Aug. 9 with three dumpsters being

filled. “We had a lot of large items,” said Village Clerk Crystal Budde, who worked the event. Councilors speculated that the good turnout could be the result of price hikes at the Oceana County Transfer Station or possibly a response to recent code enforcement. Also shared were the many positive comments heard in person and on social media about the recent Chainsaw Festival. “This is what we’re aiming for,” said Morse. “We want to be appealing, wellmaintained and have stuff to do.”

CHICKEN BBQ

ELBRIDGE COMMUNITY CHURCH 2370 N. 136TH AVE., HART, MI

AUGUST 16 from 12 PM - 4 PM

Tickets are $14.00 and are available from any Elbridge Church member. Children 6-10 are by donation. Children 5 and under are free. ALL DINNERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TAKE OUT

MENU: 1/2 Chicken, Baked Beans, Potatoes, Rolls and Drink. Dessert Bar Available by Donation. SILENT AUCTION Tickets will also be sold at the door, but we encourage buying tickets before the event so we can accommodate everyone. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 231-742-6466

Pentwater Village Council goes over engineering,

By AnnaMae Bush The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

The Pentwater Village Council met Aug. 11, 6 p.m. at Park Place. Members present were Don Palmer, David Bluhm, Dan Nugent, Jared Griffis, Kathy O’Connor and president Mary Marshall. Absent was Carl Schrumpf.

There were only two items to note prior to new business.

The treasurer, Rande Listerman, reported there still remains some confusion on the tax bill due date because of the conflicting dates printed on the tax document. Clarification is online in several places. She will email residents who fail to pay by Sept. 15 to reiterate the September deadline and to avoid having to levy late fees.

Jared Griffis reported the personnel committee had met Aug. 6 and had a fruitful discussion on the relationship of the council and the village manager.

Under new business, the first item was a proposal to amend the contract with Fleis & Vanden Brink for engineering services on the waterline project. In July 2024 the project was amended to include $103,000 for Lowell Street, but the contract had never been changed to reflect the added cost. The actual cost had been $50,000. Council voted unanimously to amend the contract to reflect that cost.

The second item was a proposal submitted by Fleis & Vanden Brink to complete a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the village’s streets,

water system, sanitary system and storm system for $10,000 which would be charged to the professional services account. The village has no CIPs and council members expressed misgivings about the narrow scope of the proposal. Manager Witherspoon explained that budgetary constraints limited the plan to only the most necessary items at this time and additional items could be covered over time. A motion to approve the proposal passed unanimously.

The third item was a proposal from VC3 to upgrade the computer systems in the village offices for $16,000. The upgrade would replace computers too old to update, update where possible to Windows 11, and improve protection against cyber attacks on all the computers. The security upgrade is necessary for cyber attack insurance. A motion to approve the proposal was passed unanimously.

The fourth item was a proposal from the DPW to purchase a new F-150 truck complete with plow equipment for $60,404. The DPW equipment rotation policy has been to buy a new truck every ten years and give the oldest truck to the marina. The marina truck is not operational at this time and ten years have passed since the last truck was purchased. Currently the equipment account has only $55,000 in it, so the proposal was to take out a five-year loan at 4.8% interest, build up the equipment fund for a year or more, and pay the loan off early.

Council had many questions regarding the inventory of trucks, the necessity for a new one, the option of delaying the purchase, and the wisdom of borrowing money. The vote to approve the proposal was split. Palmer, Bluhm, and O’Connor voted no. Nugent, Griffis, and Marshall voted yes. The proposal was defeated.

The fifth item was a proposal from the DPW to purchase a side arm mower attachment for the village skid steer at a cost of $23,055.20 to maintain property the village now pays an outside contractor to mow, and to mow the lagoons at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. EGLE is poised to levy a fine on the village because the lagoons are not being mowed. After some discussion, the council voted unanimously to approve the proposal.

The final item under new business was a recommendation from president Marshall to approve Dan Gerben for a 3-year term on the planning commission. Council unanimously approved the recommendation.

Two items for discussion followed.

President Marshall reported the Strategic Plan steering committee met Aug. 8. They formulated some goals and proposed that effective government be one of the pillars on which to build the goals. Their next meeting will be with the village staff, prior to their next meeting with council.

Related to effective government, council members had been given a lengthy document regarding the

Council-Manager relationship to read. They discussed what they had gleaned from it.

Public comments included disappointment in the uneven quality of the microphones used by council members, a question about the condition of the trees on Hancock, and concern about the cameras in use for FLOCK surveillance. “When will it end?” Police Chief Laude Hartrum reported, “The ending date of the original 90-day trial period is unknown because not all of the cameras for the county are yet installed and the trial does not officially start until all of them are functioning.”

Council comments emphasized the need for a CIP that includes a full inventory of all systems and all assets. “I’m frustrated by all the stuff that comes out of left field. We need to see the big picture so we can anticipate our expenses. It’s difficult to vote on unbudgeted expenses when we don’t know what’s coming in the future.”

Village Manager Witherspoon responded to the concern about all the dead trees on Hancock. “I have gotten mixed messages about the trees. We sent samples to a laboratory but don’t have a definitive answer yet.” She expressed enthusiasm about upcoming Homecoming events and said the village staff was planning to spend their lunch hour on Friday at the sand sculpture contest.

The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

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

By Claire Marshall The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

As the Oceana County Fair draws closer, our postcard series visits one such example from the past. Taken about the 1940s, the photograph on the front sees the fairgrounds appropriately festooned for the occasion.

In the foreground, several tents cast shade over the concrete, offering shade to the fairgoers seated at what appears to be a mess hall, dinner counter, or bar. In the bottom left corner, the ticket booth offers fares of a staggering $1. Next to it, a parked car (contemporary to the mid-century but classic to us) sports some type of fair sign or advertisement. Visitors travel between the food tents to the rides, most prominent of which is the Ferris Wheel. Tucked into a wooded area behind the rides is a building, which I don’t immediately recognize as one of the existing fairground buildings (some of which have been on the grounds for likely over a century), but cannot necessarily exclude.

While a black-and-white photograph, the variety in shades is enough to hint at the likely colorful scene, and the grounds are packed with people, even at midday. The stark shadows on the ground reminds me of the hot summer days we’ve been experiencing the past few weeks, even though folks in the crowd are wearing long-sleeves and sportsjackets.

The photograph is uncredited, but clearly marked as the Oceana County Fair in Hart, as remains its location to this day.

The card is postmarked “Shelby, MICH - Jul 11 - 6pm - 1949” and addressed to Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Houghton of Afton, Michigan.

The card is written in a very novel color, a bright green, and the penmanship is rushed but not necessarily as difficult to read as some others I’ve found.

The note reads:

“Dear Kids,

Just a line, will try to write a letter soon. I got laid off last Fri. night. Louie is

Society is open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Private tours are available by appointment. oceanahistory.org

on vacation this week. Sherman Powers was up looking at the T.V. wondering what LeRoy wanted for it. I told him it wasn’t for sale. We made Baby a play pen yesterday + fixed the porch. Big circus in Ferry tonight and tomorrow night. Notice grandpa S. in the picture on the other side. Love, D. L. + Brenda Lou”

It was not hard to find the recipient, Eldon “LeRoy” Houghton was an Oceana County resident from birth to death, save for the time he served with the Army Air Corps in World War II. He was born in Shelby in 1922 to a farming family, but found work as Ferry’s fire chief, a welder at Westron, as well as serving as law enforcement and Justice of the Peace in Ferry Township. The last few years of his life, before passing away in 2000 at age 78, was spent RV-ing in Hesperia with his wife, Anne Belle (Miller) Houghton.

Now, the identity of the senders were a little harder to find, all we have to go off are the initials D. L. and the name “Brenda Lou.” I started with LeRoy’s obituary, scoping out his close relatives who either survived or preceded him in death. He had five siblings, with three having either the initial D. or L. - Dale,

Dilbert, and Louis.

Now, I realized our sender couldn’t be Louis as the author of the note mentions that “Louie is on vacation,” so I looked into Dale and Dilbert Houghton. As I was looking through their obituaries, I figured that if I could find an L. or Brenda Lou, I could confirm the sender. Dale, LeRoy’s younger brother by five years, never married nor had children, so that was a dead-end.

Dilbert was over a decade younger, putting him at 15 at the time of the postcard’s sending. I know folks started working at a young age back then, but 15 seems a little much. Not to mention, I hope that a 15-year-old wouldn’t be married with a baby to build a playpen for. Regardless, like Dale, Dilbert never married nor had kids. Another dead end.

So I looked further into Louis Houghton, almost four years younger than LeRoy. Lo and behold, he was married to Dorothy E. (Miller) Houghton, with whom he had two daughters, Brenda and Marsha. So that would make Dorothy the sender, the Baby with a new play-pen Brenda, and Louis (“Louie”) enjoying a vacation.

The last detail of interest is the mention

of “grandpa S,” who is apparently pictured in the county fair photograph. Louis and LeRoy’s mother’s maiden name was “Swinton,” so I wondered if that might be who they’re referring to. I turned the postcard around and began scanning the crowd for any old-timers who looked like farmers.

So there I am, studying the crowd, when I spot a distinctive outfit: a lightcolored button-up, slacks, sweater vest, and derby cap. Well, lookie there, it’s our Mears Newz founder and frequent flier of “The 1306,” Swift Lathers. Now, I can’t say as to whether “grandpa S” was referring to Swift, but is certainly the most distinctive person in the crowd, and looking at the OCHGS’s Mears Newz collection, Swift certainly knew LeRoy well enough to mention his marriage to Anne Belle. But I wasn’t joking back in June that once you learn Swift’s everyday outfit, you start to notice him everywhere.

As always, if you recognize any of the folks in our postcard from the past, please do share! I received the loveliest letter from a gentleman in Montague whose mother was friends with Margaret Minich (our sorority girl who gave Swift a ride into town) and he shared several lovely memories from his years vacationing in Silver Lake.

Otherwise, I wish our readers a pleasant fair week. Drink plenty of water, keep cool, and don’t wear knit sweater vests.

This postcard didn't identify a sender, but Claire used her powers of deduction to determine who likely sent it in her latest postcard series article. • Courtesy Photo

Ongoing

M&TH: Pentwater Farmers Market, Village Green, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

MON: Movies in the Park, John Gurney Park, Hart, starts at dusk. 3rd MON: OCDVA Coffee & Donuts for Veterans, Spouses and Veteran Widows, 9-11 a.m., Heritage Wedding Barn, Shelby.

TUES: Tech Time, Hesperia Community Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

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

1st & 3rd TUES: Tech help,Pentwater Twp. Library, 1-2 p.m.

2nd & 4th TUES: New Era Farmer’s Market, NECRC, 4-7 p.m.

3rd TUES: Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club - Feeding America

W. Mich. mobile food pantry, Pentwater Fire Dept., 11 a.m.

WED: Love INC and TrueNorth Housing Assistance satelliteplease call 231-861-4880 to make an appointment.

1st & 3rd WED: Free community dinner, 5-6 p.m., Hart Wesleyan. 1st & 3rd WED: Hart VFW Post 1329 Burger/Chicken/Brat/ Ribs Night, 5-7 p.m., dine-in or carry out.

* Donate returnable cans and bottles to the Hart VFW. Drop off at the hall or call Steve at 231-873-1727 for pick-up.*

THURS - "Harts 'n Homes" Women's Fellowship, Faith Christian Fellowship, 400 S. State St.,10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

THURS: Maker’s Market, Hart Commons, 6-9 p.m.

THURS: Pentwater Civic Band concerts, Village Green, 7:30 p.m.

FRI: Story Time, HCL, 10-11 a.m., and Tween Night, 3-5 p.m.

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

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

1st SAT: Baby Pantry, Trinity Lutheran Church, 8:30-10 a.m.

The Ladder Community Center: FRIDAYS IN AUGUST: Grillin' for God,11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Aug. 16: Hymns in the Park, 6:30-8 p.m., Shelby's Memorial Park

Aug. 19: Share Our Stories: "Centennial Farms," 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Aug. 22: Live Music by the Jammers, 10 a.m. to noon

Aug. 25: Back-to-School Prayer Walk, 3-4 p.m., SHS parking lot

Aug. 28: Cram the Cruiser, 2-5 p.m.,The Ladder parking lot

Adult Hours: M-TH 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and FRI 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

M-TH: “Summer Breakout” for 6th-12th grade youth (June-Aug.)

MON: Women’s Bible Study, 1-2 p.m.

TUES: Men’s Bible Study, 10:30 a.m. to noon SAT: “Celebrate” Worship Service, 6:30 p.m.

Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

Sharing history of centennial farms at The Ladder

All adults 18 and up are invited to join The Ladder Community Center in Shelby Tuesday, Aug. 19 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. for Share Our Stories (SOS). This month’s SOS theme will be “Oceana County Centennial Farms.” Nancy Falkner, who lives on her family's centennial farm, will share its history and display some very old and interesting memorabilia. A list of the centennial farms in the county will be available. Anyone with information on the subject is invited to share.

SOS is a monthly event held at The Ladder, where people gather and share memories, photos and other memorabilia from Oceana County. There is no cost for this evening event, though donations are welcome. To inquire about an event or with ideas for future topics of interest for SOS, call The Ladder at 231-259-0211.

Good Buy Book Sale returns August 23 in Shelby

Friends of the Shelby Library announce the return of the 21st annual Good Buy Book Sale at the Shelby Area District Library Saturday, Aug. 23 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

This event is a wonderful opportunity to recycle one's home library. Friends of the Shelby Library invite all to donate books, CDs, DVDs, board games and puzzles to the sale. Donations can be brought to the library from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting Aug. 5 until Aug. 23. Please do not donate encyclopedias, condensed Reader's Digests, textbooks or musty books.

For early-bird shoppers, the library will be open on the evening of Aug. 22 from 5-7 p.m. A $5 donation at the door will get these shoppers the first opportunity at these “good buys.” Hardcover books are priced at $1.50 each or three for $3, and paperbacks are 75 cents each or three for $2.

Shelby Road Baptist Church hosting movie night

The Shelby Road Baptist Church will host a free family movie night Tuesday, Aug. 26 at the Shelby Community Park, showing the movie Toy Story.

Movie time is 7:30 p.m. at the park, and the event will include sno-cones, cotton candy and popcorn. All are welcome to attend.

A ugust

Aug. 15 - Sand Sculpture Contest, Charles Mears State Park Beach, Sponsored by Pentwater Service Club, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Aug. 16 - 10th Annual Golf United

Aug. 16 - Oceana County Hazardous Waste Collection, Hart DPW, 1010 State St., Hart, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Aug. 16 - Shelby Fruit Festival, Shelby Township Community Park, 4101 Buchanan Rd., Shelby, noon to 6 p.m.

Aug. 16 - Shelby Fruit Festival Pie Contest and Auction, noon, judging; 2 p.m. auction.

Aug. 16 - Horseshoe Tournament, Art Audrey Horseshoe Pits, Pentwater, 1 p.m.

Aug. 16 - 95th Pentwater Homecoming Parade, 4 p.m.

Aug. 16 - Forward Human Trafficking Task Force "Dinner in the Vineyard" (RSVP required), Pleasant Valley Vineyard, 4-7 p.m.

Aug. 16 - Oceana County Hazardous Waste Collection, Hart DPW, 1010 State Street, Hart, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Aug. 16 - Pentwater Homecoming Fireworks, Charles Mears State Park, dusk.

Aug. 17 - Pancake Breakfast, Pentwater VFW Hall, 8 a.m. to noon.

Aug. 17 - Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society’s “Pleasant Afternoon”, Mears Historical Museum, Mears, 1-4 p.m.

Aug. 19-23 - The 154th Oceana County Fair

Aug. 21 - Friendship Ring Quilt Guild, New Era Reformed Church, 4775 First Street, New Era, 7 p.m.

Aug. 23 - Pioneer House Museum open, Main Street, Walkerville, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Aug. 22-23 - Pentwater Sidewalk Sales, Downtown Pentwater

Aug. 22-23 - Wooden Classic Boat Show, Pentwater

Aug. 27 - Pentwater Historical Society Summer Dinner (tickets required), West Michigan Research Station, Hart, 5-7 p.m.

Aug. 30 - Pioneer House Museum open, Main Street, Walkerville, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Shelby Fruit Festival returns to township park

The Shelby Fruit Festival returns to Shelby Township Park Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, promising a day full of community celebration, local flavor, and family fun. From 12-6 p.m., guests will enjoy free admission to an event packed with live entertainment, delicious food, and activities for all ages.

The festival features local food trucks, including Big Mo’s, Big Mike’s Kettle Corn, Full Belly, A&L Taco Truck, and Yodels, alongside more than 20 craft vendors showcasing unique handmade goods. Families can explore free carnival rides, games, and a variety of special attractions such as pony rides, axe-throwing, the Big Wheel Race, and the RERO Book Bus.

A full day of live music kicks off with Steve Chapel at 12:30 p.m., followed by Canopy Space at 2 p.m. and The Formers at 3 p.m. Adding to the excitement, a helicopter landing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Festivalgoers can also look forward to the Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo Candy Cannon, firing at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., showering the crowd with sweet treats.

Additional highlights include the popular Pie Auction at 2 p.m., an all-age field day from 1-5 p.m., and the Car Show, with awards presented at 5 p.m. before the festival’s close.

“This event brings our entire community together to celebrate summer, local talent, and the agricultural heritage of Shelby,” said Richard Raffaelli, Shelby Township Supervisor. “We’re excited for everyone to enjoy the food, music, and memorable moments we have planned.”

For the full schedule and updates, visit shelbyfruitfestival.com.

Back-to-School Prayer Walk/Drive set for Aug. 25

The Ladder Community Center invites all to the annual Back-to-School Prayer Walk/Drive Monday, Aug. 25 from 3-4 p.m. Attendees will gather at the Shelby High School parking lot at 3 p.m. From there, groups will walk or drive to one of the three area schools to intercede for students, teachers, staff and administrators, as they start the new school year. Call (231) 259-0211 for more information.

Old-time worship and picnic at Claybanks UMC

A warm welcome is extended to all to attend an old-time outdoor worship and picnic at Claybanks United Methodist Church Sunday, Aug. 17. Weather permitting, worship will begin at 10:30 a.m. followed by a church picnic with hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans, watermelon and more.

Attendees are welcome to dress in summertime casual or in old-time era clothing if desired.

Friends of Shelby Area District Library celebrate 30 years

Formed in 1995, the Friends of Shelby Area District Library have been supporting the library with activities and fundraisers that have helped make the Shelby Library a truly treasured asset to the community. This year the Friends decided to throw a party to applaud and celebrate the many volunteers who have helped out over the last 30 years. After sending out invitations, hiring a caterer and finding just the right live music to enhance their Garden Party theme, the Friends of SADL were pleased to welcome over 60 guests to the Shelby Library grounds on August 2.

“We couldn’t have wished for better weather to hold our 30th Anniversary Garden Party to be held outside with the gorgeous library garden in the background,” said Friends of SADL President Cindy McKinnon. “Local artist Mariah Vandersluys displayed six lovely flower-themed paintings that seemed to mirror the flowers blooming that day.

“Volunteers erected a large tent and two banners, arranged flowers brought in from their own gardens, created two displays showcasing the many events sponsored by the Friends, moved chairs and tables with bright coverings, helped Vandersluys place her artwork on easels that were staked to the ground and ran an electric cord from the library to the gazebo for the musicians. It was all hands on deck!”

Guests munched on a delicious spread prepared by caterer Joanne Clark while listening to local musicians Becky and Steve Lawwill, who humorously named themselves “The Duo Decibel System” for the day! Their music included soft jazz vocals and, of

course, “Garden Party” by Ricky Nelson! McKinnon took the microphone to thank the Friends of SADL Board and other volunteers who helped plan the party. She acknowledged the many past and present Friends who gathered to celebrate years of volunteering to help the library. McKinnon was joined by Mary Ellen Heyde and Library Board President Amanda Mazur, who then surprised Library Director Tiffany Haight with praise for her 25 years of service.

They presented tokens of appreciation to Haight for her dedication and hard work to make the Shelby Library special. Looking on in the crowd were Haight’s husband, children and parents, who hugged her afterwards. McKinnon spoke to Tiffany’s mom and learned that as a child, Tiffany surrounded herself with stacks of books. Her mom

St. John the Baptist Catholic Chapel St. John the Baptist Chapel

for more information

shared, “When Tiffany was first offered the position of head librarian, she was thrilled to get her dream job!”

The Friends of SADL are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) group of volunteers, organized for the development of the Shelby Area District Library, bringing people together to raise funds to support the purchase of materials and services for the Library. They meet quarterly and

welcome new members to join at any time, dues free. More information about becoming a Friend of the Library can be obtained by contacting McKinnon at friendsofshelbyareadistrlib@gmail. com or by calling the Shelby Library at 231-861-4565. Their next fundraiser is the Good Buy Used Book Sale Aug. 23. Volunteers who wish to help can sign up at the front desk.

Cindy MCKinnon, Mary EllEn HEydE & Tiffany HaigHT

obituA ries

Gordon Wayne “Gordy” VanderLaan, 82, of Hart, passed away Monday, July 28, 2025. He was born June 9, 1943, in Muskegon, the son of Cyril and Virginia (Flintoff) VanderLaan.

Gordy worked for the City of Hart for over 40 years and took great pride in his work; specifically noting that he loved his job and his work friends, especially when he beat them at cards! He also loved spending time mowing his yard, and even plowing snow in the wintertime. Gordy felt peace being in the great outdoors, often spending time shining for deer, hunting, or fishing.

Gordy enjoyed watching many sports in his free time. Professionally, he enjoyed watching the Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers, and would often fall asleep watching boxing late at night. However, no teams could compare to his beloved Hart Pirates. One of Gordy’s greatest joys was watching his grandchildren participate in school sports and being there to cheer them on.

Gordy is survived by: his children, Tammy Wendt and Timothy (Becky) VanderLaan; grandchildren, Kourtney (Adriaan Buurke) Wendt, Kyle (Sabrina) Wendt, Austin (Samantha Kulhanek) VanderLaan, and Lauren VanderLaan; great-grandchild, Callahan Wendt; and brother, Fred VanderLaan.

On June 13, 1964, Gordy married the love of his life, Linda Lou (Dennison) VanderLaan, and she preceded him in death on October 28, 2018. He was also preceded in death by: his father, Cyril VanderLaan; and his mother and step-father, Virginia and Thomas Pekich.

Memorial services were conducted Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, with Pastor Ryan Vander Zwaag officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hart Wesleyan Church, 3757 West Polk Road, Hart, MI 49420.

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

Altha Mae Adams, of Pentwater, passed away Saturday, August 9, 2025, at her home with family by her side. She was born May 6, 1942, in Arkansas, the daughter of Jack and Pearl (Hill) Frame.

Altha married the love of her life, Frank Adams Jr., on March 18, 1960, in Illinois, and after celebrating their 50th anniversary, Frank passed on June 27, 2010. Altha and Frank devoted their lives to building and operating Adams Trucking and Excavating for many years.

Altha enjoyed doing puzzles, word searches, and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, having a special bond with Charlotte and Kenzi. She also enjoyed her angel collection that she grew over the years.

Altha is survived by: her children, Myra (Mike), Eugene (Pam), and Carol (Dave) ; grandchildren, Rick (Samantha), Amanda (Brandon), Stephanie (Spencer), Randy, Franklyn, Lyana (Carrisa), and Gloria; and great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Kenzi plus many more. She was also known as Auntie by special nieces and nephews that held a special place in her heart.

The family expresses a special thank you to a special person, sister-in-law, Mary Adams.

Altha was preceded in death by: her loving husband, Frank Adams Jr.; her parents, Jack and Pearl Frame; 3 sisters; and 5 brothers.

Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, 2370 North 72nd Avenue, Hart, MI 49420, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Interment followed in North Weare Cemetery.

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

Correction

In the Aug. 8 edition of the Echo, some of the information reported regarding the funding for a downtown revitalization proposal and project in Shelby was inaccurate. Our thanks to Village Administrator Phil Morse for bringing this to our attention and providing the following corrections.

What was reported: “... the Township of Shelby has already voted to commit $300,000 of road funding to the project.”

Correction: “To clarify, the township is not contributing funds. The township has reduced their state appropriation request by $300k, hoping that this would improve the chances of the village’s request for state appropriations towards the downtown project being approved.”

What was reported: “VA Morse assured

those assembled, the money would not come from taxpayer dollars.”

Correction: “...the village’s general fund and street funds would cover part of the cost—these are taxpayer dollars— but there would be no increase in millage rates to fund the project.”

What was reported: “While Fleis & Vandenbrink proposed a fee of 11.5%, Spalding DeDecker offered a rate of 9%. This nearly 2.2% percent difference (would) translate into a potential savings of approximately $33,000 on a $1.5 million project.”

Correction: “This nearly 22% difference (would) translate into a potential savings of approximately $33,000 on an estimated $1.5 million project.”

The Oceana Echo apologizes for any confusion caused by the error.

Obituary Information:

We, at The Oceana Echo, offer our deepest condolences for your loss and are here to help you tell others about your loved one’s life and the plans you have made to honor, celebrate and remember them. If you would like to place an obituary with us, please tell your arrangement specialist or email us at theoceanaecho@gmail.com.

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NOW HERE’S A TIP #12345_20250804

FOR RELEASE AUG. 4, 2025

By JoAnn Derson

• On Aug. 18, 1992, Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird retired at the age of 35, explaining that “the last couple of years have been very tough on me, on my back and on my body. It was very hard to deal with, day in and day out.” He has remained involved with the NBA in other roles, however, to the present day.

STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20250804

FOR RELEASE AUG. 4, 2025

By Lucie Winborne

• On Aug. 19, 2011, the “West Memphis Three” — Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley — were released from prison after serving 18 years for the murders of three young Arkansas boys, under the rarely used Alford plea, which allowed them to maintain their innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors still possessed sufficient evidence to convict them.

• On Aug. 20, 2000, the peregrine falcon, known as the world’s fastest bird for its speed of up to 200 mph, was removed from America’s endangered species list after a little more than three decades. A ban on the pesticide DDT was widely credited for the bird’s resurgence.

• On Aug. 21, 1920, Christopher Robin Milne was born to author A.A. Milne and his wife, Daphne. The boy would later be immortalized in his father’s books “Winnie-the-Pooh” and “The House at Pooh Corner.”

• On Aug. 22, 1962, French president Charles de Gaulle, along with his wife, survived one of several assassination attempts against him thanks to the superior suspension system of the presidential automobile, known as “La Déesse” (The Goddess), which allowed de Gaulle’s chauffeur to accelerate out of a front-wheel skid to safety.

• On Aug. 23, 1945, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Marcario Garcia was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman, becoming the first Mexican national to receive it, for single-handedly clearing two German machine gun nests even after receiving multiple wounds.

• On Aug. 24, 1814, an iconic portrait (actually a copy) of George Washington was removed from its frame at the White House to prevent its theft by British troops. Later, first lady Dolley Madison would take somewhat dramatic credit for supervising the act.

• Stuck zippers can be loosened with graphite powder or simply by tracing a pencil lead over the zipper.

• Got memorabilia? Use a reasonably sized plastic storage bin for each child. Include folders noting each school grade for art and important academic papers. It can be a very special collection that you can give to your child when he is an adult.

• According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “each 12-ounce soft drink contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. Drinking just one can of soda a day increases a child’s risk of obesity by 60%.” Talk to your children about making smart choices both in the lunch line and at the vending machines.

• Got a child going off to college? Before you leave campus, go together to the health center, and make sure your kid knows who to call/where to go for emergency or urgent care, both on campus and off. Not knowing can sometimes cause a delay in getting care, turning a bad situation worse.

• Returning to school can mean returning to sports after a summer hiatus. Be smart, and follow these guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics: Give yourself at least one recovery day off each week; be sure you are wearing the proper gear and that it’s properly fitted; don’t forget to cross-train (general exercises to strengthen your muscles and keep you flexible); take breaks and hydrate to avoid overheating; and have your coach reinforce the proper technique and safety rules.

• Keep cut veggies crunchy by lining a plastic or glass storage dish with coffee filters and then adding your cut vegetables, like carrot sticks and celery.

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

By Lucie Winborne

• A whale shark’s spot pattern is as unique as a fingerprint.

• While working as a weatherman in Indianapolis, late-night talk show host David Letterman once congratulated a tropical storm for being upgraded to a hurricane.

• The estimated temperature at the sun’s core is 27 million degrees Fahrenheit.

• The cash register, invented in 1870 by James Ritty, was originally dubbed “Ritty’s Incorruptible Cashier” and was designed to keep the employees of his saloon from stealing from him.

• Kids and adults with autism are immune to the effect of observing someone else yawn.

• Since a Krispy Kreme donut contains 350 calories, and a 150-pound man can burn around 380 calories in 30 minutes, said fellow could burn off that quickie breakfast with a quarter-acre lawn mow — unless he simply preferred going to the gym.

• Target will let customers breastfeed anywhere in the store.

• Besides being the final resting place for many Hollywood celebrities, Forest Lawn in Southern California features a museum with rotating exhibits and special art, music and educational events.

• It is possible to make actual cheese with bacteria from foot sweat.

• And speaking of cheese, it’s the most stolen food in the world.

• The previous record for the world’s longest train was broken by the BHP Iron Ore in 2001. Measuring 4.5 miles in length, it was made up of 682 wagons and required eight engines to run.

• Research has shown that throughout a sofa’s life, it will host roughly 782 visitors.

• Actress Megan Mullally was fired from her role in “Finding Nemo” for refusing to reprise her high-pitched Karen Walker voice from the TV series “Will and Grace.”

• Seventy percent of the dirt on your clothes is invisible.

***

PYC hosting annual Wooden & Classic Boat Show Aug. 23

By AnnaMae Bush

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Jack Patterson and Marilyn Steiner were the moving forces behind the inaugural Wooden & Classic Boat Show in Pentwater in 1997.

Hosted again this year by the Pentwater Yacht Club (PYC), the 28th annual Wooden & Classic Boat Show will take place Aug. 23. This writer learned that “classic” does not mean “antique.” The term classic refers to boats made of wood, fiberglass, or metal during the years 19432000.

David Peterhans (since 2002) and David Reynolds (since 2015) currently chair the event along with Frode Maaseidvaag. In an interview with Peterhans and Reynolds, they were quick to share the unique features of the Pentwater show. The location facilitates showing boats in the water surrounding the PYC as well as showing boats on the lawn of the Village Green. A large team of knowledgeable volunteers is available to help participants put their boats in the water, safely secure boats to

the docks, position watercrafts for display on the lawn, and assist with loading all the boats for a safe return home.

“The participants consistently remark on the friendliness of the helpful volunteers and the community. They also love the setting and the food,” Reynolds shared.

Peterhans added, “They pay only $30 to register their boat. That fee covers a buffet lunch prepared by the PYC staff, the gift of a handcrafted wood momento, and a fullcolor brochure of the show with a page for each boat entered.”

The owners are asked to send a photo of their entry along with a story or information about their watercraft which are then incorporated into the brochure.

Reynolds asserted, “Our show has a much wider variety of entries than many boat shows. We have canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, surf boards, old raceboats, sailboats, ice boats and power boats.” Peterhans was excited to report a first-of-its-kind entry this year. “We have a ‘one design’ Mirror sailboat registered this year. It’s

an English design of which far more boats are constructed than any other design. On record 70,000 of them have been built, and most are built by the people who own them. We are thrilled to display one this year.”

Another special show feature is the workshop for children offered by the West Michigan chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association. It is an educational organization that wants to keep alive the memory of watercraft that predate boats with gasoline powered engines. The group provides kits to construct small wooden boats that the youths can take home.

While awards are common at boat shows, the award categories and the inclusion of voting by participants and public attendees at this show are worth mentioning. There are eight award categories. Best in Show is decided by exhibitors’ votes; The Peoples’ Choice is chosen by attendees’ votes; Best on Green is determined by the show committee; Best Classic, Best Wooden, and Best Century (a particular make) Boat are also chosen by the show

committee; the ChrisCraft Stewardship Award is determined by the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club, and a new award is being given this year for the Best Boat Name. Each award is a 9”x7” wooden plaque handcrafted by Peterhans.

The chairs leave their fingerprints on the event in varied ways. Each year a different poster marks the event, and Peterhans has twice also designed the event poster that is replicated on the front of the boat show brochure. Maaseidvaag heads a group that crafts the wooden momentos gifted to the exhibitors.

California. The event’s success depends on dedicated leadership and the support of many faithful volunteers. As the event grew, four team leaders were added to the co-chairs to manage the volunteers. The current team leaders are Doug Nelson, Mary Marshall, Russ Cross and Amy LaBarge. Ken Wiekal makes a video of the show each year that he posts on YouTube with musical accompaniment.

award ceremony, the exhibitors, with boats in the water, are invited to form a boat parade and take a short ride around Pentwater Lake for the viewing enjoyment of lakefront residents.

Interaction between exhibitors and attendees provides knowledge and pleasure to both parties. There is no fee to attend; the buffet lunch is available to the public for $20. Following the

Reflecting on boat events in Pentwater, Peterhans smiled and said, “I guess if you describe the ‘Back from the Mac’ as a Mardi Gras event, you could describe the ‘Wooden & Classic Boat Show’ as an art gallery boat show.” If you appreciate the art of craftmanship and value the history of boat building, be sure to attend the event in Pentwater next Saturday.

The average number of exhibitors is 50. Most entries come from within 150 miles, although one year an entry came from

Oceana County

ANIMAL SHELTER

Hey there, I’m Suki, a classic husky through and through — the looks, the voice, the occasional selective hearing, the athleticism and the knack for Houdini-style escapes if you turn your back for five minutes. I’m 2 years old, ridiculously handsome and came in with my buddy Takanni, who’s also a husky. Together, we’re basically a double feature of fluff, fun and wooooooo!

I make friends faster than you can say “double-coated shedding season.” I’m smart — like “open the baby gate and blame the cat” smart. I’m independent, which means I don’t need your constant attention… unless I do.

I’m vocal. Yes, I will talk about my feelings. Loudly. Frequently. Dramatically.

I’d thrive in a home that understands husky ways — meaning you’ll appreciate my stubborn streak, laugh at my antics, and keep me physically and mentally busy so I don’t rearrange your throw pillows or try to join a wolf pack.

Suki is available for adoption from the Oceana County Animal Control. 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 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 231-7303906. Free tags are also available at the Oceana County Animal Shelter. Meet Suki

GOLDEN TOWNSHIP Synopsis of Meeting August 12, 2025

Regular Meeting called to order at 6:30 PM.

Present: Robert Draper, Connie Cargill, Rachel Iteen, Bill Kolenda, Doug Dykstra and 18 guests.

Items approved:

• Minutes of Last month’s Township Board Meeting

• Bills Approved for Payment

• Cell Phone for Zoning

• 18th Ave. Drainage

• Township Roof Awarded to Certified

• 5-Year Park and Recreation Plan Resolution

• L-4029

• On the Rural Farm Outdoor Gathering Meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.

Copies of meeting minutes are available from the township and approved minutes on our website, www.goldentownship.org.

- Rachel Iteen, Clerk

WEARE TOWNSHIP

Notice of Public Meeting

Notice is hereby given that Weare Township Planning Commission, Oceana County, will conduct a Public Meeting with Consumers Energy to be in attendance on August 25, 2025 at 7 p m at St Joseph Parish Hall, located at 2349 W Jackson Rd , Hart, MI

Help Shape Your Community’s Future! Join the Shelby Township Board as a Trustee!

Are you a dedicated resident with a passion for public service and a desire to contribute to the well-being of our community? Shelby Township is seeking a qualified individual to serve on its Township Board as a Trustee.

Role and

Responsibilities:

The Township Board plays a crucial role in shaping the direction of our township. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Developing and overseeing the township budget.

• Setting policies and adopting ordinances to promote public health, safety and general welfare.

• Appointing members to various boards and committees.

• Representing the interests of all residents in decision-making processes.

Qualifications:

• Must be a registered voter and qualified elector of Shelby Township (a resident for at least 30 days and a U.S. citizen at least 18 years old).

• Possess a strong understanding of township governance, responsibilities, and functions.

• Demonstrate strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

• Maintain a commitment to ethical conduct and transparency in public service.

• Have a genuine desire to serve the community and its residents.

To express your interest, please submit a letter of interest and resume to Shelby Township, PO Box 215, Shelby MI 49455 or by emailing us at Clerk@shelbytownshipoceana.com

The Pentwater Yacht Club (above) will host the 28th annual Wooden & Classic Boat Show Saturday, Aug. 23. Boats from 1943-2000 will be on display at the show.

• Courtesy Photo

Hart Community Performing Arts Series announces 2025–26 concert season lineup

The Hart Community Performing Arts Series is pleased to announce its schedule of concerts for the 2025–2026 season.

The season will begin Oct. 10 with a concert by the Kris Johnson Group. Kris Johnson is an empathetic, intelligent, and efficient trumpeter, composer, arranger, film composer and educator based in Detroit, Michigan. With contributions to 6 GRAMMY-nominated albums as a trumpeter and arranger, including the 2024 GRAMMY-winning "Basie Swings the Blues" by the Count Basie Orchestra, Kris is a recognized force in the industry. His career highlights include touring globally as a member of Endea Owens and the Cookout from 2023-2024, and with the esteemed Count Basie Orchestra from 2008-2019 as a soloist and arranger, performing at prestigious venues like the Apollo Theater, Hollywood Bowl, the Sydney Opera House, Kennedy Center and more. Currently, Kris is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Trumpet at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance.

Alice Coleman Grand Prize at the 2013 Coleman Chamber Music Competition and First Prize in the 2012 North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet Competition.

The new year will see the return of tenor John Riesen to the Hart stage on Jan. 18.

is also the organizer of the annual Mr. B's Blues and Boogie Piano Celebration that attracts major figures in the blues and jazz piano world to Ann Arbor for collaborative performances. In April, Mr. B and other pianists will come to Hart to repeat that celebration.

On Nov. 14, the Series will present the Duo of Karolina Mikolajczyk & Iwo Jedynecki, one of the most vibrant and innovative chamber ensembles of the young generation. Winners of Grand Prix and First Prizes at international music competitions throughout Europe, they have performed in Europe, the United States, Asia and South America. With Karolina on violin and Iwo on accordion, many pieces gain new interpretations and original sounds thanks to their innovative transcriptions. The Duo’s performances are described as perfect and mature, yet luminous and filled with youthful vitality. Both artists boldly venture into renowned works of chamber music literature, giving them new quality and delightfully diverse coloring. The duo also collaborates with contemporary music composers.

Hailed as “every inch the hero in stature and voice” (Classical Voice North America), award-winning American tenor John Riesen is consistently impressing audiences with his "impassioned...and vibrant" voice (Opera Today). John’s growing career boasts a variety of roles in which he excels and includes significant work in opera, musical theatre, oratorio, studio recording, and concert. He has released over 130 studio recordings that have reached well over 10 million streams on Spotify and Apple Music. He will be joined by baritone Leroy Davis, a versatile and sought-after artist known for his rich voice and captivating stage presence, and soprano Rebekah Howell, whose voice effortlessly traverses bel canto to Broadway belt. They will present an afternoon of vocal favorites, ranging from opera to musical theater and popular song.

The Sinta Quartet will appear Dec. 5. The Sinta Quartet, First Prize Winner of the Concert Artists Guild Competition, has earned praise from audiences and critics alike for its virtuosic performances, compelling recordings and distinctive repertoire. Hailed as “…a tight-knit ensemble exploding with power and virtuosity and an unconcealable ambition to connect with its newly found listeners” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), the Sinta Quartet performs entirely from memory, which strengthens an already palpable connection with its audiences. Named for its mentor, legendary University of Michigan Saxophone Professor Donald Sinta, the quartet’s additional competition successes include a Gold Medal at the 2018 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, First Prize at the 2017 M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition, the

On Feb. 22, the amazing duo of Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas will return to Hart 16 years after they first thrilled local audiences. The musical partnership between consummate performer Alasdair Fraser, "the Michael Jordan of Scottish fiddling," and brilliant Californian cellist Natalie Haas spans the full spectrum between intimate chamber music and ecstatic dance energy. Over the last 25 years of creating a buzz at festivals and concert halls across the world, they have truly set the standard for fiddle and cello in traditional music. They continue to thrill audiences internationally with their virtuosic playing, their near-telepathic understanding and the joyful spontaneity and sheer physical presence of their music.

Mr. B’s Piano Celebration will take the stage on April 24. Blues and boogie-woogie pianist Mark Lincoln Braun has become one of the premiere purveyors of a vanishing art. Having learned his craft firsthand from the early masters, he is a rare living link to the first generation of blues and boogie pianists. Steeped in the rich legacy of this tremendously exciting music, Mr. B learned directly from blues and boogie legends like Little Brother Montgomery, Boogie Woogie Red and Blind John Davis. In demand for both educational programs and concert performances, he has performed coast to coast and throughout Europe, Canada, Mexico, and South America. He

The 2025–2026 season will conclude on May 15 with a concert by Authentic Unlimited. Authentic Unlimited is a dynamic bluegrass band that blends rich harmonies with skillful instrumentation to create a sound that is both timeless and innovative. Comprised of seasoned musicians, including former members of the legendary Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the band brings a deep-rooted passion for traditional bluegrass, infused with fresh energy. In 2024, the International Bluegrass Music Association named Authentic Unlimited “Vocal Group of the Year” and voted their song “Fall in Tennessee” as “Song of the Year.” The band’s talent and dedication to their craft is widely celebrated in the bluegrass community. Their heartfelt lyrics and soulful melodies resonate with audiences, offering an authentic musical experience that speaks to both old and new generations of bluegrass fans.

Tickets are now on sale for the 25–26 season at hartseries.org. For further information, contact Artistic Director Tom Kirk at tomkirk@hartseries. org.

Kris JoHnson

Karolina MiKolaJCzyK & iwo JEdynECKi

auTHEnTiC unliMiTEd

THE sinTa QuarTET

JoHn riEsEn

alasdair frasEr & naTaliE Haas

MarK linColn Braun

MHSAA member high schools report highest participation since 2018-19

Michigan High School Athletic Association member high schools reported a combined participation of 275,684 athletes in MHSAA-sponsored tournament sports during the 2024-25 school year – the highest number of participants in those activities since 2018-19 and despite another decrease in combined enrollment across those 754 schools.

This past year’s participation total was 5,020 students – or 1.9 percent – higher than in 2023-24, while enrollment at member schools fell by 1.3 percent. Boys participation was up 1.9 percent to 161,329 – also its highest since 2018-19 – and girls participation was up 1.8 percent to 114,355, its highest count since 2019-20. MHSAA participation totals count students once for each sport in which they participate, meaning students who are multiple-sport athletes are counted more than once.

Two sports set participation records during 2024-25. Boys track & field counted 24,759 participants – a 3.7 percent increase from a year ago in breaking its previous record from 2005-06. Girls lacrosse participation was up 0.9 percent from last year to 3,970 participants in setting a record for the second-straight season.

Another 15 sports saw participation increases this past school year. Girls tennis saw an increase of 6.4 percent to 9,485 athletes, followed by boys and girls wrestling’s combined increase of 5.2 percent to 12,422 participants –with boys wrestling participation up 3 percent and girls up an incredible 24 percent to 1,505 athletes. Girls track & field (18,108 athletes) and boys cross country (8,209) also saw some of the largest jumps at

4.5 and 4.1 percent, respectively.

Also reporting increased participation during 2024-25 were boys tennis (3.7 percent, 6,163 total athletes), football (3 percent, 36,210), girls volleyball (2.9 percent, 19,679), boys golf (2.7 percent, 7,416), girls competitive cheer (2.4 percent, 6,319), boys basketball (1.7 percent, 20,541), girls cross country (1.4 percent, 6,826), boys soccer (1.1 percent, 14,112), boys bowling (1 percent, 4,333), boys swimming & diving (0.9 percent, 4,073), and girls soccer (0.7 percent, 11,090).

Although 11 sports saw participation decreases during 202425 from the previous school year, those for girls basketball (-0.4 percent) and boys ice hockey (-0.7 percent) were lower than the 1.3-percent enrollment decline at MHSAA member schools.

Football remains the most popular sport in terms of participation at MHSAA member high schools, with that total of 36,210 athletes its highest since 2017-18. Girls volleyball remained the most popular girls sport in 2024-25, with its 19,679 athletes the highest total since 2012-13.

The participation figures are gathered annually from MHSAA member schools to submit to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for compiling of its national participation survey. Results of Michigan surveys from the 200001 school year to present may be viewed on the MHSAA Website –www.mhsaa.com – by clicking on Schools > Administrators > Sports Participation Listing.

Carter snags second straight Oceana Golf Club Championship

For weeks the golf course was in need of a good soaking rain, and the night before the 2025 Club Championship Oceana Golf Club received just that.

The turf was very receptive with very little disturbance to the matches. Fairly strong breeze from the south blew the clouds out and it began to get warmer and dryer.

In the Championship match Titan Carter, defending champion from 2024, took advantage by tossing at the flag and, after a birdie on No. 2, he really never looked back.

When asked about his performance, he responded with “Solid.” A one-word answer said it all. The Shelby High School junior and two-time WMC league medalist tries to stay evenkeeled as he plays.

“Fairways and greens are my game, and I won’t worry about going low, but will avoid go-

ing high. I like to go low, just avoiding the mistakes is key,” said Carter. It took 11 holes for Carter to slip up, recording a double bogey on that stretch. A four-hole cushion was enough to keep him ahead.

Carter’s summer has been filled with golf and good competition to boot. Titan is currently participating on the Meijer / Callaway Junior tour. https:// www.juniorgolf.org/junior/programs/glfpb/index.html. and leading the player of the year points by 17.50 pts with 885 and 10 events. Carter has built quite a resume on the tour with two individual event wins, at the Ravines and Forest Akers West. He says there are at least two events left for him this summer. He won’t turn 17 until Dec. 18.

In the other matches, Ben Coon won Handicap division 2up. Going into hole No. 18 Coon elected to attack the green

after opponent Victor Garcia had hit his tee shot to within 100 yards. His tee shot ended up about pin high just off the green and his birdie from there sealed the deal.

“I have to give him 100 percent credit for that very attacking mentality and hitting it that near the green. He went and got it!” said Garcia, as he was looking at a 12 foot birdie putt that may have caused some pressure on Coon. Instead, Coon had two putts to close out the match but only needed the one.

Gary Blohm outlasted Rick Kempker 4&3 in the Senior Division Bob Beckman defeated Tom Kirk 4&2 in the Super Senior Tom is tied for the most Club Championships in history with six. He knows this game In the Ladies Championship, Liz Ortiz took out Orianna Bylsma for the title.

HART

Titan Carter (above, middle), took the top spot at the Oceana Golf Club Championship, retaining the title he won in 2024.

Ben Coon (above, top left) won the handicap division, Liz Ortiz (above, bottom left) won the women’s championship, Bob Beckman (above, top right) won the Super Senior title and Gary Blohm (above, bottom right) won the Senior Division. All winners are pictured with Oceana Golf Club PGA Pro Marc Inglis. • Contributed Photos

Reflections

Reflections of our community

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Happy times at community picnic

Soul & Story Creative celebrates grand opening

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Happy times at community picnic

WHITEHALL — Nicole McDonald, a longtime professor of psychology at both Cornerstone and Grand Valley State universities and owner of a psychology doctorate from Michigan State University, has been focusing on whole-person wellness since long before it became the common focus it is today.

Now she's bringing that focus to her own retail space in Whitehall - Soul & Story Creative, which is located in the Colby Street plaza that will soon house Aldi. It's located between that Aldi site - currently under construction - and Elite Air Heating and Cooling. The new business has been open for just over a month, and it celebrated its grand opening last week, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday.

The White Lake area came together for its annual community picnic last Thursday, Aug. 7. As always, the White Lake Fire Authority brought fun to the day with a giant water slide (left) and a bounce house. The event, hosted by HarborLight Credit Union, raised money for Whitehall and Montague's Hope Squads (above right) by selling raffle tickets for prizes such as colorful plants from Weesies Brothers (below right).

The White Lake area came together for its annual community picnic last Thursday, Aug. 7.

Andy Roberts/Mirror

As always, the White Lake Fire Authority brought fun to the day with a giant water slide (left) and a bounce house. The event, hosted by HarborLight Credit Union, raised money for Whitehall and Montague's Hope Squads (above right) by selling raffle tickets for prizes such as colorful plants from Weesies Brothers (below right).

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Lakeside Solar releases alternative site analysis

Company was required to explain choice not to build on township's designated solar area

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

projects if a municipality's ordinances are more restrictive than the state's.

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

"Sometimes when we think about wellness, we think about diet and exercise," McDonald said. "Which is very important, but I've seen how it's much

Company was required to explain choice not to build on township's designated solar area

History

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — Lakeside Solar recently released its "alternative site analysis" on its website explaining why the company does not consider White River Township's renewable energy district a viable site for its pending solar energy facility, supervisor Ron Bailey said during Tuesday's township board meeting.

Chamber may bring cruises back for special occasions in the future

The analysis is a required step under Public Act 233, which grants a state-appointed commission final authority over siting of renewable energy

White Lake Mirror

By Madison Lajewski

Writer

Lakeside Solar releases alternative site analysis

broader than that. It's about, what kind of sleep do you get? It's about the time in nature. It's about creativity and play. It's about spirituality.

The township established a renewable energy district last fall that encompassed Chemours property, and the company was required to explain why that land was not chosen for the development.

projects if a municipality's ordinances are more restrictive than the state's.

"Across my academic career, I started to research all these different areas.

Cruises

The township established a renewable energy district last fall that encompassed Chemours property, and the company was required to explain why that land was not chosen for the development.

The 15 core areas that I believe whole personal wellness consists of are all research-based. We can trace them back to studies that show that gratitude and creativity actually impacts how we think. It impacts how we relate to other people."

Those 15 core areas are each represented by a color - for example, blue is

over renewable energy siting was addressed. Bailey said due to the difficulties of getting all the parties together at once, it will still be some time before that appeal can move forward.

Soul & Story continued on page 2

The analysis is a required step under Public Act 233, which grants a state-appointed commission final authority over siting of renewable energy

The White Lake area experienced year four of their annual history cruises Sunday, July 27. After taking a hiatus in 2010 from the cruises, the White Lake Chamber & Visitor's Bureau brought them back in 2022 and they have been a big hit for the community ever since.

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Lakeside Solar and its parent company, Geronimo Power, stated several reasons they did not believe the Chemours property would be a suitable site for their proposed project, including: "unfavorable soil conditions" for installation; that studies necessary to determine the suitability of the soil for the project have not yet been conducted and cannot be conducted because of the corrective measures the site is currently undergoing; that over 200 acres of trees would have to be re-

moved to allow enough land for a development; prohibitive costs to insure the site; and logistical constraints that limit the energy generated by the facility to 20 megawatts were it to be built there. Geronimo has said its proposed project would generate 150 megawatts of electricity. over renewable energy siting was ad dressed. Bailey said due to the difficul ties of getting all the parties together once, it will still be some time before that appeal can move forward.

four years, but year one holds a special place in my heart. With no existing script or timeline to follow, it took a lot of research, collaboration, and time, especially working alongside our incredible local historians. I knew how important it was not to get the history wrong. We jumped in and the cruises really took off.

Bailey said he intends to get in touch with Chemours to get more information about their discussions with Lakeside Solar. The company said in its analysis that a nondisclosure agree ment prevented it from sharing more about its own discussions with Che mours beyond what was in the analy sis.

end (for now) after 4 successful years

Lakeside Solar and its parent com pany, Geronimo Power, stated several reasons they did not believe the Che mours property would be a suitable site for their proposed project, includ ing: "unfavorable soil conditions" for installation; that studies necessary to determine the suitability of the soil for the project have not yet been con ducted and cannot be conducted be cause of the corrective measures the site is currently undergoing; that over 200 acres of trees would have to be re

going appeal from 79 Michigan town ships, including White River and Mon tague, seeking to regain local control

The unsaid takes the spotlight in final Book Talk

The board approved increased compensation for zoning administra tor Bill Schmiege by a 4-0 vote (clerk Mary Kriesel was absent). The deci sion to up Schmiege's pay to $10,000 annually, applying it retroactively the April 1 start of the fiscal year, was made because of a large increase the scope of responsibilities compared to when the position was first created and was made after consulting with other municipalities. It was not stated exactly what the compensation rate

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — Authors write a lot of words. However, the final edition of this summer's Book Talk series at the Book Nook & Java Shop, which took place Wednesday, Aug. 6, saw an author maybe just as focused on the words authors don't write.

“I was brand new to the Chamber in the fall of 2021, and that winter we made the decision to bring the History Cruises back for 2022,” Chamber executive director Stephanie Ware said. “The entire process was new to me. Looking back, there have been so many standout moments over the past

“From what I could gather, the earlier cruises from 2010 were organized by several different groups, so there wasn’t one central organization that had a saved plan or script. Thankfully, we found old programs that listed the historic sites covered, which gave us a good start. That first year stands out because I had the privilege of working closely with some of our community’s most knowledgeable historians, and

Miles Harvey, who in 2024 published a collection of short stories called The Registry of Forgotten Objects, spent much of his talk discussing the importance of not just text, but subtext. In addition to writing, Harvey teaches and chairs the English department at DePaul University, where he also is director of the publishing institute. Appropriate to the theme, he titled his talk "Writing the Void."

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

ter its ostensible main attraction, a movie being viewed by a crowd at a theater. Instead, the actual movie is well off-center, with the spotlight instead on a female usher and a disconnected crowd. (Fittingly, art historians have determined the movie being screened in the painting is likely Lost Horizon, an epic 1930s film about a group of people who, while fleeing an uprising, disappear from civilization.)

History Cruises continued on page 2

"Absence is a kind of presence in this painting," Harvey said. "It puzzles me that I love this painting."

Muskegon County voters narrowly gave approval to the Muskegon Area District Library's millage request in Tuesday's election. Of 15,428 voters, 50.44% voted in favor of the request, giving approval by a margin of 136 votes.

The unsaid takes the spotlight in final Book Talk

is independent of MADL.)

The White Lake History Cruise sets sail from the White Lake

As examples of that void, Harvey discussed two very different things from writingpaintings and astrophysics.

The approval will install a millage rate of 1.5143 mills, or $1.5143 per $1,000 of taxable value, over the next 10 years (2026-35) for properties within MADL's service area, which includes Montague and its surrounding townships as well as the Reeths-Puffer district. (Whitehall is served by the White Lake Community Library, which

One of Harvey's favorite paintings is New York Movie by Edward Hopper, an unusual painting in that it does not cen-

As examples of that void, Harvey discussed two very different things from writingpaintings and astrophysics.

His scientific examination was of dark matter, an as-yet invisible substance no one knows for a fact exists but whose existence is theorized because of otherwise unexplained gravitational activity in the universe. Harvey said dark matter significantly outweighs visible matter and that it makes up some one-fourth of the universe.

"Absence is a kind of presence in this painting," Harvey said. "It puzzles me that I love this painting."

According to ballot language, an estimated $6.3 million in revenue will be generated by the millage in its first year. MADL said before the election that the slight increase in the rate from the existing 1.2143 mills was due to planned additional services, anticipated rises in cost of providing current services, and the possibility of Headlee amendment rollbacks.

An estimated 90% of library services are funded by the millage.

"This nothingness holds everything together," Harvey said.

"We would like to offer a huge thank you to everyone who spoke out in support of your local libraries and to everyone who voted," the Montague branch of MADL said in a Facebook post. "We look forward to 10 more amazing years

These ideas served as the backdrop to Harvey's talk, which included brief readings of some of his other published works by his wife, actress Rengin Altay, who has also narrated audiobooks of Har vey's. In his works, he attempts to use subtext to help tell his stories. He cited Ernest Hemingway as an authority on the matter; Hemingway once said that if a writer knows their subject well enough, they don't have to say everything they know in a work for the reader to pick up on what is meant. While Registry of Forgotten Objects is Harvey's most recent work - and much of it also revolves around disappearances, further befitting his theme Wednesday - much discussion centered on a previous book of his, The King of Confidence, perhaps due to its Michigan setting. The historical nonfiction book recounts the story of James Jesse Strang, who established a Mormon sect on Beaver Island in Michigan in the 1840s and appointed himself "king of heaven

• Greg Johnson/Contributed Photo

Voters narrowly pass MADL millage request

revived as a one-time event in 2022, the cruises stuck around for three more years due to community response. This year marked the last cruise, at least for now.

bringing great library services to our communities."

Montague Township voters approved the millage 94-93, and White River Township voters approved it 156102. City of Montague voters voted 'no' by a 200-192 margin, and Blue Lake Township voters turned it down 74-61.

Voters in Dalton Township and Muskegon Charter Township, each of which includes, in part, the Reeths-Puffer district, voted against the library millage. Dalton voters turned it down 557-379 and Muskegon Charter Township voted against it 1,326-979.

While Registry of Forgotten Objects is Harvey's most recent work - and much of it also revolves around disappearances, further befitting his theme Wednesday - much discussion centered on a previous book of his, The King of Confidence, perhaps due to its Michigan setting. The historical nonfiction book recounts the story of James Jesse Strang,

al of an existing millage but rejected an additional millage.

Author Miles Harvey shared thoughts on how what is left unsaid is just as important as what writers do say during the Aug. 6 Summer Book Talk at the Book Nook & Java Shop. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

and earth," claiming Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith had himself determined Strang as his successor. While Strang is long gone, there remains a small number of Mormons who are Strangites even today.

"rabbit holes," which he says authors generally try to avoid for fear of losing time putting together a story.

Muskegon Charter Township also was presented two public safety millage requests. Voters approved a renew-

It's perhaps unsurprising given Harvey's eclectic career - his first book, The Island of Lost Maps, is about notorious map thief Gilbert Bland and his life of crime in the 1990s stealing maps from libraries to sell them - that he enjoys

"I've wasted so much time in rabbit holes, and I love it," Harvey said.

Author Miles Harvey shared thoughts on how what is left unsaid is just as important as what writers do say during the Aug. 6 Summer Book Talk at the Book Nook & Java Shop. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

The existing millage of 2.6802 mills was easily renewed for another 10 years despite having been rejected by voters back in May. The approval received 62.35% of the vote, with 1,436 votes in favor. According to ballot language, $1.396 million in revenue will be generated by the millage in its first year of renewal.

In delivering Harvey's introduction, Susan Newhof of the Friends of the Montague Library said the Book Talk series has been going on for 40 years and praised Book Nook owners Brooke and Andrew Kuharevicz for providing space for the event to continue.

An additional millage of 2.5 mills, however, was roundly rejected in the township as just under 65% of voters turned it down. The additional millage drew 1,345 'no' votes. $1.303 million was the estimated first-year revenue for that request.

It's perhaps unsurprising given Harvey's eclectic career - his first book, The Island of

"rabbit holes," which he says authors generally try to avoid for fear of losing time putting together a story. "I've wasted so much time in rabbit holes, and I love it," Harvey said.

In delivering Harvey's in troduction, Susan Newhof the Friends of the Montague Library said the Book Talk se

Nicole McDonald (in white) celebrates the grand opening of her new Soul & Story Creative store Friday. With McDonald, from left, are husband Matt and children Kennedy and Hayden. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

An easel outside the Soul & Story Creative store in Whitehall Friday struck an optimistic tone for the grand opening of the new retail space.

channel July 27. Originally

Montague school board appoints Ben Rupert

Rupert chosen among 7 candidates to fill Scott Beishuizen's seat

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — The Montague school board appointed MHS alumnus Ben Rupert to its ranks at its Monday meeting. Rupert will complete the term of board member Scott Beishuizen, which is through 2026, after Beishuizen moved out of the district and had to resign his spot.

Rupert's appointment was approved 4-1, with secretary Cindy Francis dissenting and vice-president Joel Smith abstaining, saying Rupert is a relative of his. Rupert owns and operates Steadfast Farms in Montague.

Francis' objection to the appointment appeared to be on procedural grounds, as she made a motion to not accept Rupert's application because it came in after the deadline. Board president Brent Raeth said the application was originally sent in on time, but due

to a typographical error went to the wrong email address. Francis' motion did not receive a second, so it did not move forward.

Raeth said the board received seven applications for the position, which consisted of a survey on each applicant's background, goals for the district and reasons for wanting to serve. Much of the board seemed to be in agreement that any of the seven would've been worthy candidates to join. Prior to Rupert's confirmation, Francis spoke specifically in support of Teresa Eilers, a volunteer in the district at multiple levels, and Brooke Cudney, a Montague Township planning commissioner.

Francis felt Eilers could bring a different perspective to the board as a non-alum of Montague schools, and reported that her husband spoke well of Cudney due to her role crafting the Montague Township renewable energy ordinance earlier this year.

Other applicants, according to Raeth, were Amy Martell, Doug Schmidt, Bill O'Connell and Tammy Draggoo.

The board unanimously approved a new administrative salary schedule, which was done at the recommendation of the state Office of Retirement Services. Superintendent Jeffrey Johnson said due to state statutes that give retired school personnel a pension that amounts to an average of their three highest-paid years of service, the new schedule would ensure things were being done appropriately. The new structure gives administrators a 4% raise for 2025-26, matching the one given to teachers and support staff, followed by a 3% raise in 2026-27 and a 1% raise in 2027-28. Johnson said the numbers could be revisited if the current state budgetary unknowns become less uncertain.

The board also granted unanimous approval to a measure granting the City of Montague a permanent easement on Hancock Street between Grant and Cook streets. The move allows the city to complete sidewalk improvements for its Safe Routes to School grant. Johnson said the land at issue is on the south side

of the football stadium, where cars often park to go to events. By granting the easement, the sidewalk can be moved by a few feet so cars do not damage the sidewalk when parking there. Also during the meeting, athletic director Jay Mulder shared updates on the last calendar year of sports in the district, and technology director Steve Denniston shared updates, including a five-year plan of upgrades he hopes can be made within the district, including phone systems, computers for student use, and podium monitors and projectors. Denniston added that due to Microsoft's recent decision to end support for Windows 10, it is important the district upgrade all machines capable of doing so to Windows 11. He noted that other districts near Montague have recently been hit with cyberattacks. Denniston also said the technology team will be intentional about regularly updating the district website, saying studies have shown people stop visiting websites if they're not updated regularly.

Whitehall council formalizes landfill water sampling

By Andy

WHITEHALL — The Whitehall city council unanimously granted approval to White Lake Landfill, Inc. to access the city-owned former White Lake Landfill site for purposes of water sampling during its Tuesday meeting.

The approval was a renewal for a relationship that already existed. Clerk Brenda Bourdon told the council she was unsure whether there had previously been a formal agreement to allow this sampling or not, but the city has long allowed it. Council member Tanya Cabala requested that since it is city-owned land that the city be made aware of the results of the water sampling.

Solar

was prior to the raise, but the board said it was not much more than $4,000 per year.

Planning commission chair and deputy clerk Lauren Wackernagel shared that Williams and Works has submitted some minor updates to the township master plan after it was given to them for review. The commission will consider those changes at its next meeting and could bring it to the board for final approval soon. A survey given to residents, which saw 83 respondents, showed that most residents would like to see attention given to extending the Medbery Park bike trail.

Council member Scott Brown asked about a letter the city received from the White Lake Eagles July 15 regarding the 2024 sewage backup at the Eagles, which occurred due to the wind storm that swept through the area last June. A second backup a few days after the first led to further damage to the Eagles building, and the Eagles estimated the total damage at over $130,000. The Eagles' letter requested to negotiate a settlement, believing the city should be liable given its insurance company refused to cover the damages, saying a sewage lift station caused the backup.

New city manager Dan Tavernier, sitting in his first meeting after taking office July 29, said in his research, "it was very unfortunate what happened" to the Eagles' building "and no one is happy about it," but as the insurance company

denied the city's claim and the Eagles did not mitigate their risk with a similar insurance policy of their own, he believes there's nothing more the city can do. The council and Tavernier also noted the city made recommendations to the Eagles about what to install to prevent further issues after the first sewage backup occurred and those recommendations were not followed in time to prevent the second. The city did since, according to mayor Steven Salter, pay for the installation of a backflow preventer at the Eagles to avert a reoccurrence of the issue.

Also during the meeting, council member Tom Ziemer reiterated his recent suggestion that the board meetings for the Local District Finance Authority, the Tax Increment Finance Authority and the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority be either moved

to a more convenient time rather than in the middle of weekdays or at least be included in the city's contract with CatchMark Technologies to stream meetings. He and Salter had a disagreement about a motion Salter made during a July 30 meeting, and Ziemer claimed the disagreement would be unnecessary if the public were more easily able to view the meetings.

The council did opt to renew CatchMark's contract with the city to stream council meetings for the next three years at the cost of $300 per month. The vote was 6-1, with Brown dissenting. Brown said in the previous meeting that he'd prefer a competitive bidding process for the live streaming. Council member Jeff Holmstrom said he'd like to see the city consider investing in infrastructure improvements at city hall to alle-

viate some of the stream quality issues council members shared at the previous meeting.

The council also unanimously approved a tag day request from the Whitehall High School band boosters for Saturday, Sept. 20. The council approved by a 6-1 vote a request from the Whitehall American Legion to

close one block of Warner Street, between Colby and Spring streets, from 4:30-11:30 p.m. to accommodate extra parking for its Saturday, Sept. 27 benefit event that will raise money for a new roof. Brown, who has a standing objection to public streets being closed for any private event, dissented.

Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Sunday, Aug. 17

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

Monday, Aug. 18

Live trivia @ Red Rooster Tavern, 7 p.m.

FAN Club Mondays @ Fetch Brewing, 7 p.m. Live music on the North Mears Promenade.

Tuesday, Aug. 19

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

Playtime Power Hour @ MADL

Community Calendar

Montague, 11:15 a.m. Designed for children age 0-5 and their families, exploring different play stations will focus on developing ready-to-read skills. Registration required at madl. org/calendar.

6 p.m.

Montague, 11:15 a.m. Designed for children age 0-5 and their families, exploring different play stations will focus on developing ready-to-read skills. Registration required at madl. org/calendar.

6 p.m.

The Oat Bran Boys perform @ North Grove Brewers, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 21

Pretty Fun trivia @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 6:15 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 20

Bubble Hydrangea Painting @ MADL Montague, 5:30 p.m.

Practical Sustainability with Dan Broersma @ Book Nook & Java Shop,

Original Dulcimer Players Club hosts its monthly acoustic jam @ VAC, 1-6 p.m. with a break at 3 p.m.

All are welcome, and any acoustic instruments can join in the jam.

Original Dulcimer Players Club hosts its monthly acoustic jam @ VAC, 1-6 p.m. with a break at 3 p.m. All are welcome, and any acoustic instruments can join in the jam.

Remembering Murray's Inn: White Lake Area Historical Society meets @ Lebanon Lutheran Church, 7 p.m.

Live trivia @ Pub One Eleven, 7 p.m.

Tail Light Rebellion performs @ North Grove Brewers, 7 p.m.

Tail Light Rebellion performs @ North Grove Brewers, 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22

Friday, Aug. 22

Dave Burel performs @ White Lake Eagles, 6 p.m.

Free summer concert @ White River Light Station, 7 p.m. Cosmic Knot performs.

Echoes of History: Shipwrecks - Depere/State of Michigan

By Barbara Bedau Brow Volunteer Contributor

In 1873 Captain A. E. Goodrich of Chicago, Illinois, had Rand & Burger of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, build a 165-foot propeller for his Goodrich Steamship Line. The cost to build the vessel was reportedly $57,200. It was given the name Depere. It was used to transport passengers and packaged freight.

After serving the Goodrich Line, the Depere was sold to Stephen B. Grummond in 1892 for $20,000. It was then that her name was changed to State of Michigan. She was put into service on the Detroit-Mackinaw route. By 1897, she was laid up in Canada and made available for purchase.

The State of Michigan was then sold to the Barry Line of Chicago in 1900 for $19,000. She was valued at $30,000 and was insured for $20,000.

On Thursday, Oct. 17, 1901, on the last trip of the season, she left the Muskegon harbor for Manistee with a cargo of salt. At 3 a.m. Friday morning, Oct. 18, when off White Lake, a piston rod from the engine broke and put a hole through the bottom of the boat. The water poured in with such force and volume that the engine hands were driven from the engine room.

Chief Engineer M. R. Burns was startled by the crash in the hold below him and the boat trembled throughout. Standing in front of the engine throttle at the time, he immediately shut down the machinery and headed below to investigate. He nearly reached the bottom of the hold and was startled to see lake water rushing in through a jagged hole in the ship’s timbers. He gave the alarm, and the pumps were started but it soon became apparent that they were totally inadequate for the job. Inside of 15 minutes, the water reached the furnace fires and it was realized by all on board that there was no hope for the Michigan.

Two of the three lifeboats were quickly manned. Eight members of the crew in one boat started for the Life Saving station for the purpose of getting a tug and

making an attempt to tow the sinking boat toward shore before she went down.

The remainder of the crew in the other lifeboat made a futile attempt to attract the attention of the lookout at the Life Saving station by saturating a quantity of waste materials with oil and burning it. The signal was not seen, however, as the sinking craft was about four miles northwest of the White River harbor entrance.

The Life Saving station was reached by crewmen of the first lifeboat. Captain Lysaght, some of his men and the crew of the Michigan boarded the tug McGraft, which was laying up in the channel at the time.

Upon reaching the scene of the disaster, a line was fastened to the Michigan, and for over an hour the McGraft worked at towing her nearer the shore. The ferry Eleanor also came and had a line on the Michigan. Within two to three miles northwest of the pier

entrance, however, she plunged 80 feet beneath the waves and her work was done forever.

Members of the crew lost nearly everything they owned, that which they saved being only what they had on their person at the time of the accident. Returning to the Life Saving station, the Captain and crew were taken to Montague, where Landlord Peck of the Franklin House made them comfortable.

It was lucky the old boat went down as she did, for had the same accident occurred during the passenger season many would have probably been lost. The Michigan was on the Chicago to Grand Haven route all summer.

In the summer of 1908, the Staud-Canalon Salvage Company went to work to salvage and raise the sunken steamer. By mid-autumn the salvage crew reported the wreck was covered in hundreds of tons of white sand, and was unable to be raised.

Books for Babies - a special program for little ones

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

We’re excited to reintroduce Books for Babies, a program designed to spark a love of reading in our youngest library friends and support the grown-ups who care for them.

We’re excited to reintroduce Books for Babies, a program designed to spark a love of reading in our young est library friends and support the grown-ups who care for them.

Do you have a child under the age of 3 in your life? Schedule a short, playful, and interactive visit to the library, where you’ll explore fun ways to build early literacy skills. You’ll leave with practical tips and tricks plus some free books to keep and enjoy at home! Expecting a little one? You’re welcome to schedule a visit, too! It’s truly never too early to start reading to your baby.

231-894-9531 ext.104 to sign up and learn more.

This program is funded through a grant provided to the Great Start Collaborative of the MAISD by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential.

tive plants, hiking, biking, and more — perfect for exploring Michigan’s great outdoors.

No waitlists, no holds — just instant access on your mobile device, anytime, anywhere in Michigan. Dive into nature before (or during!) your next adventure!

FUN FACT: Babies start learning language long before they can talk! By the time they're just 6 months old, they can already recognize familiar sounds and words and begin building the foundation for reading. Reading to babies, even when they’re tiny, helps grow their vocabulary, listening skills, and brain development!

Michigan Field Guides

No waitlists, no holds — just instant access on your mobile device, anytime, anywhere in Michigan. Dive into nature before (or during!) your next adventure!

Summer Reading Program Wrap-Up

Now Available Online

Michigan Field Guides

Now Available Online

If you're headed to the great outdoors, check out the Michigan Field Guides at bit.ly/MIfieldguides.

Our library's Summer Reading Program “Color Our World” was a vibrant success! A total of 136 kids logged an incredible 2,436 hours of reading, while 74 adults powered through 650 books. Readers of all ages shared their thoughts in 122 book reviews, sparking great recommendations.

Visit bit.ly/books-for-babies or call

Thanks to a new partnership between the Library of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, these free digital guides are packed with info on local wildlife, na-

Beyond the books, our summer was packed with exciting programs—from hands-on crafts and musical experiences to outdoor exploration adventures and even a wildly fun foam party!

A huge thank you to everyone who participated, and congratulations to our grand prize winners — you’ve all

been notified! We couldn’t make this happen without our sponsors: The Friends of the White Lake Community Library, Frederik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park, AirZoo, West Michigan Whitecaps, Maranda, Priority Health, Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, Celebration Cinema, Craig’s Cruisers, Meijer, John Ball Zoo, and WOOD TV-8. We’re already dreaming up next summer’s fun, but until then, keep reading and stay curious!

DeMumbrum

The Depere, later rechristened the State of Michigan, was in service from 1873-1901, when it sank in White Lake due to a piston rod breaking. • Courtesy Photo

DeMumbrum

The Depere, later rechristened the State of Michigan, was in service from 1873-1901, when it sank in White Lake due to a piston rod breaking. • Courtesy Photo

Lake Mirror Lake Mirror

NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE community

Get ready for fall sports: Boys soccer

With new batch of seniors, Montague looks to defend district title

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — Montague has a very tough act to follow in 2025, after a senior-led squad led the Wildcats to their first-ever district title last fall. However, with another batch of talented seniors this year, coach Brandon Mahoney is optimistic his team will again be very competitive.

No doubt there are big gaps to fill. Top scorer Trevor Trevino, center midfield dynamo Lucas Husband, star keeper Robby Smith and 6-5 defenseman Giovanni Franco were just a few of the key departures, and who exactly will take those positions won't be determined right away.

"We definitely have got some guys

Young Vikings look for season-long growth under new coach

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

New Whitehall coach Dillon McCarthy has seen early success in his biggest goal after taking over the program, as several new players came out for the team in tryouts. He said over 30 players are now on the team, bolstering optimism of a full varsity and JV roster.

"We are working on developing a wide range of players with experience and abilities, so at times it feels back to basics, but simple organization goes a long way," McCarthy said. "Emphasis on possession and playing together in a system will be key to help this team find success."

A senior core of four players is set to lead the Vikings - Evan Jud, Ian Hinze, Javi LeBlanc and Keegan Frees. All bring significant experience, and their hard work has set the tone for the team. McCarthy has put the team through its

R-P aims to build on strong 2024 with deep, talented roster

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Reeths-Puffer entered last season with a ton of questions, having graduated the program's all-time leading scorer and a four-year starter at keeper, but answered many of them positively. The Rockets had a winning season against a difficult schedule and played a mostly solid game against top-ranked Fruitport in a district finals defeat.

Now the Rockets bring back most of the best players from that team and are eyeing an even better season this fall.

"I honestly can say that in six years as the head coach here, this is the deepest team I have had, plus (we have) great speed and athleticism," R-P coach Kody Harrell said. "I think we are a district championship team who can

that can shoot, some guys up top," Mahoney said. "I think our biggest struggle is going to be trying to fill those voids on defense. There's a lot of guys I think could play defense, but we've got to get them in that mindset that they want to play defense, and it's an important role."

One player who could see a big offensive role is sophomore Isaiah King. Mahoney got a good look at King this summer through officiating some club matches, and at the Grosse Ile Island Cup, he said King led a scoring explosion that helped his team win their age group.

"I think he's finally figured it out, which is perfect timing for us," Mahoney said.

Korben Sanchez and Michael Jones, who were factors on last year's team as well, appear poised to step into larger roles. Both players have impressed Mahoney with their dedication in the offseason.

paces early and proudly reported that 16 Vikings were able to run sub-6:30 miles during early conditioning.

Supplementing those four seniors is a strong group of underclassmen that's impressed the coaching staff with its offseason work, with a handful of them set to make the varsity lineup. Tommy Leeke, who played a lot of minutes last year as a freshman, will do so again as a sophomore, and fellow sophs Ryan Bowen and Isaac O'Boyle have also been standouts.

With so much youth and a new coaching staff, the emphasis is more on in-season growth than securing any particular number of wins. The Vikings have scheduled aggressively this season right from the start, opening against the much bigger Mona Shores program. They'll also play small-school powerhouse Western Michigan Christian.

"I'd be lying if I said I could care less about winning, but I really try to not dwell on a season's record," McCarthy said, noting that in his time coaching

make the regional part of the bracket very interesting."

The Rockets bring back a pair of all-conference players from last season - Owen Ritsema and Cohen Beck. Ritsema comes from Rocket stock - he's the son of assistant coach and former head coach Ben Ritsema - and Harrell calls him "our leader and heartbeat." Beck, who like Ritsema has accumulated a ton of experience in his career, is also a valued source of leadership and production.

R-P has talented pieces it can move all over its lineup depending on the situation. Zac Sampson and London Carpenter are skilled attackers, and Blake Kiel, usually a winger, will play some defense this year. Carson McCollum is a longtime varsity player and boasts "the best ball skill on our team," Harrell said; he can play any position. Andrew Eilers, who led last year's freshmen in minutes, is a polished and athletic defensive player.

"Korben Sanchez and MJ, they're at the township (complex) every day," Mahoney said. "Every day that they're not working at McDonald's trying to make side money, they're touching a

O-K Red Conference school Jenison, it's an easy lesson to learn. "In all honesty, I think coaches have an obligation to challenge their teams with tough competition. There is an obvious benefit of seeing teams you may see in a

postseason as well, and remember, this isn't football. We all make the playoffs. The goal is to always show growth, challenge (ourselves) and hope to play our best soccer in October."

The Rockets also have a strong group of up-and-comers who will bring added depth to the team.

Tre Foster, Landon Nash, Chase Hoeft and Evan McHugh will see some time, and

Braydon Ross is already displaying leadership qualities in the midfield.

soccer ball. Those guys were good last year. Korben got hurt early and so he

Montague's Jonah Henderson races for the ball during a game against Hart last season. Henderson is poised for a big senior year as the Wildcats defend their district championship. • Brendan Samuels/Mirror File

Whitehall's Evan Jud (1) stays on the ball during a game against North Muskegon last year. Jud is one of a four-senior core that will lead a young and up-and-coming Vikings team. • Andy Roberts/Mirror File

Reeths-Puffer's Cohen Beck (center) pursues the ball during a Rockets' win over Mona Shores last year. Beck, an all-conference selection last season, leads a Rockets' team coach Kody Harrell calls his deepest yet. • Andy Roberts/Mirror File

Strong seasons expected on the course

Sixth in the state last season, Montague takes aim at an even better year this fall

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Montague girls golf finished last year impressively, earning a sixthplace finish at the state finals and setting the stage for what could be a very special 2025, as all but one varsity player returns.

However, Wildcats' coach Phil Kerr, while acknowledging the expectations such a finish created, knows his team is not a ready-made state title contender - at least not yet.

"If we take the girls (to the state finals) right now, we won't win anything," Kerr said. "But if they show the growth they're capable of the next two months, we could have a big year. This team is nowhere close to winning anything as we sit here in August, but we're going to push these girls. I think we all know deep down what this group is capable of, so the motivation is there and the hunger is there."

McCollum leads experienced Rockets roster into 2025

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

After having great senior leadership each of the past two years - from Paige Anderson in 2023 and Rowan Bluhm in 2024 - the Reeths-Puffer Rockets will now depend on a trio of top juniors to set the path for this season's team.

Those juniors are picking up the torch, R-P coach Matt Pallett said, from the leaders past. Each of the three have been around the program since they were in eighth grade, and now their time has come to lead.

The Rockets already have one player who's played in the finals in Sophia McCollum, one of those three juniors. McCollum, a two-time all-conference player and defending GMAA medalist, beat out Bluhm for the final individual qualifying spot last season and finished 17th at the finals.

"She works at Stonegate and plays

Whitehall defends WMC title with green but talented group

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Whitehall is a less experienced team this fall after some key graduation losses, but two key returning players give the Vikings a good base as they defend their West Michigan Conference championship.

Senior Morgan Garcia and sophomore Riley Shafer both had very good seasons last year as the team not only won the WMC, but finished second in the regionals and made it to state. Both have played regularly in the offseason and should be in line for another strong campaign this fall.

"(Shafer) worked on her game a lot this summer," Whitehall coach Bill Borgman said. "Morgan is improving her swing and should be on track. She has good goals for this year. I think those two will lead the team as far as our scoring averages are concerned."

Driving the bus, so to speak, for Montague will be senior Cadence Fox, the lineup's only senior player. Fox emerged as a strong player last season and finished 20th at the state meet, but has taken even bigger steps forward in the offseason. She recently earned the top spot among high school girls players in the summer Greater Muskegon Junior Tour standings, consistently shooting in the low 80s.

Maybe just as importantly, Kerr said Fox is carrying herself like a "true No. 1 player."

"She's made the jumps we've always known she was capable of," Kerr said of Fox. "We've seen the potential in her since she was a freshman, and we've told her and her parents that. This summer, it seems like she finally popped, so to speak.

as Montague hopes to top last year's 6th-place finish at state.

"She's capable of being first team all-state in Division 4, and she should be fighting for the county and conference titles. I'm excited to see her lead this team. It's her time. I couldn't be prouder as a coach to have her specifically as our No. 1 player. She's the prototype of what you'd want."

Three others who played in last

all the time," Pallett said. "She is a competitor and hates to lose. She works very hard on her game and has played in many challenging events this summer. Her mental game has continued to improve as well, which makes her an even better player."

McCollum is the obvious No. 1 player for R-P, but team success will also depend on classmates Olivia Ambler and Ella Voorhies, who both had solid sophomore years and are hoping to make big strides. Ambler's best 18-hole round in 2024 was 89, while Voorhies' was 94. Slicing a few strokes apiece off those numbers would go a long way toward helping the Rockets achieve big dreams.

The No. 4 scoring spot is up for grabs. Three seniors - Ava Gibbs, Keeley Cole and Jaylynn Acre - are in the mix for that position, as is sophomore Madigan Pitcher. Cole, who joined the team midseason in 2024, enters this fall with the best nine-hole score of the three, a 48, but it's likely all of them will contribute to varsity scoring throughout the year.

Junior Kelsie McClure, a third-year player, will probably fill the No. 3 position on the team. The rest of the squad is less experienced. Juniors Ryleigh Hershey and Abigail Mussman, sophomores Miley Manzo and Avarie Bentz and freshmen Addie Bennett, Emily Luna and Macy Sikkenga are slated to round out the roster, with Sikkenga potentially dual-sporting. Those three freshmen, Borgman said, are pretty much brand new to the sport, so there will be a big opportunity to develop.

The Vikings' home course, White Lake Golf Club, is undergoing renovations this fall that include the temporary displacement of the practice facility and driving range, but Borgman takes the optimistic view of that change, saying it will result in the team playing more golf on the course and gaining experience.

"I think that will be to our benefit," Borgman said. "We won't be concentrating on swing changes. We'll be playing golf and trying to improve our scores. I think that will be a factor for us, or at least different than we've done

clear top banana in the Wildcats' lineup, as Montague hopes to top last year's 6th-place finish at state.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror File

year's state finals - Brynlee Kessler, Addi Smith and Marguerite O'Connell - are also back. All three have enjoyed early success and valuable experience in their careers, and their further development will go a long way toward how successful the season will be. The

trio also played in GMJT events this summer.

"Marguerite got thrown in the fire a little bit last year, but we think the

R-P will be able to test itself against top competition right from the start, opening at Friday's Jenison Invitational. The O-K Green Conference also provides great measuring sticks; Caledonia was last year's Division 1 state runner-up, and 2024 league runner-up Byron Center returns the entire lineup from last season.

The GMAA tournament, which takes place at Chase Hammond Golf Course this year, is always a highlight, especially since the Rockets have won each of the past two meets. R-P will also play in the East-West Showdown

in the past."

pre-regional

Montague's Cadence Fox tees off during the 2024 regional meet at Old Channel Trail Golf Course. Fox enters the season as the

Whitehall will play a difficult schedule, including the Fruitport Invitational, the Lober Classic in Traverse City and the East-West Showdown at Muskegon Country Club. Borgman is also pleased the team will be able to play a

pre-regional event at this year's regional course, Waters Edge in Fremont. Borgman also noted that assistant coach Jim Hams puts together a JV schedule for teams to compete at Hickory Knoll Golf Course each Tuesday from Aug. 26 through Sept. 30.

Reeths-Puffer's Sophia McCollum chips towards the green during a meet last fall. McCollum, who placed 17th at the state meet last year, is poised for a big-time junior season. • Andy Roberts/Mirror File

Whitehall's Riley Shafer connects on a shot during last season's regional tournament at White Lake Golf Club. Shafer had a good freshman season and is eyeing an even better sophomore campaign. • Andy Roberts/Mirror File

Montague's Cadence Fox tees off during the 2024 regional meet at Old Channel Trail Golf Course. Fox enters the season as the clear top banana in the Wildcats' lineup,

event at this year's regional course, Waters Edge in Fremont. Borgman also noted that assistant coach Jim Hams puts together a JV schedule for teams to compete at Hickory Knoll Golf Course each Tuesday from Aug. 26 through Sept. 30.

Gridiron teams get rolling as practices begin

Montague soccer

R-P will need them all to succeed against another brutal schedule. Just the O-K Green Conference would probably be tough enough, as it contains the 2024 Division 1 runners-up in Byron Center, as well as big-time matchups against Caledonia and Jenison. Mona Shores is always a highlight opponent as well as the teams battle for the Causeway Cup. Out of conference, the Rockets again face Fruitport and will look to avenge the district final loss, and East Grand Rapids, West Ottawa and Grandville are other quality foes.

As far as the postseason, the Rockets caught, at least on paper, a break as they

will face a district of mostly northern teams rather than last year's gauntlet of squads such as Fruitport and Spring Lake. Those matchups would instead take place at the regional level, if the Rockets fulfill their internal expectations.

"We always want to focus on the experience, life lessons , and memories that will last a lifetime for these young men," Harrell said. "Are we developing (these guys) for society and making our community better? As far as soccer, we are a district championship team, and that's their goal."

world of her," Kerr said. "She might have the most pure talent on the team, although she's the least experienced... Brynlee was all-conference last year. (She and Smith) are both set up for big-time years."

Rounding out the lineup is Molly Mulder, entering her third year in the Wildcats' program. The sixth varsity spot is wide open and could vacillate between any of several up-and-comers, depending on their development.

The Wildcats, never ones to shy away from competition, have gone even bigger than usual with their schedule this year to cut their teeth for a potential postseason run. They're returning to the Jenison Invitational this year af-

didn't get to play much. It'll be nice to see him have a good, strong senior year."

Noah Raeth, the Wildcats' lone returning all-conference first-teamer, is back to play a big role in the midfield, and Jonah Henderson is another major returner. Those two and King fit the scrappy mold Mahoney likes in a player; he noted Henderson in particular was still trying to take the ball away from Fremont opponents right up to the final minute of last year's district championship win.

There is also a strong group of freshmen that look like they'll force their way on the field through sheer effort. Their best soccer is still ahead as

they adjust to the more physical style of varsity play, but the skill is there.

"Some of these guys that are freshmen, their biggest problem will just be that they're not going to be as strong on the ball," Mahoney said. "They're going to get pushed around a little bit. They're going to want a call, and that's high school. You're not going to get a call."

Some of the younger players, though, have grown a few inches since last season, which will help the team play the physical style needed to succeed.

The Wildcats, who narrowly missed a West Michigan Conference title last year, still expect to be in the hunt this year.

ter taking 2024 off from that meet, and the following week they'll head north to Crystal Mountain for the Lober Classic. They're also playing meets at Tullymore and at Katke, the latter of which is especially notable given it's this year's D-4 state finals course.

"When you see scores coming in from those courses, we're going, honestly, to get beat up a little bit and get ready for the tournaments down the road," Kerr said of the Jenison and Crystal Mountain tournaments in August. "The scores might not indicate what the team is capable of. We want to see what we're made of early and then regroup."

The Wildcats took second to rival Whitehall in the West Michigan Conference last year, and the teams should be among the league's best again this fall. North Muskegon had a young and talented roster last year and could also be a factor.

Ludington, North Muskegon and Whitehall are the most consistent power programs in the league, but Fremont showed with a regular-season win over the Wildcats in 2024 that it too can be pesky.

"It feels good to be, in the last four years, that top four mix," Mahoney said.

As for the postseason, the district appears to be there for the taking. Hosted by Hart, it contains northern teams, and the notable absence of the Packers, depriving them of a chance to avenge Montague's finals win of a year ago.

"We've definitely got potential," Mahoney said. "We're going to have to work hard."

at Muskegon Country Club, which brings together top teams from both sides of the state. The Rockets get to host this year's regional tournament, a potential boost to their chances to reach the finals.

"Making it to the state finals as a team is the ultimate goal," Pallett said. "I am really hoping that some of the girls coming from the JV can step up and give us some good scores. If that happens then we will be in the mix to reach our goals."

Like all the fall sports, football teams opened practice Monday. Montague took the chance to practice extra points Monday (left), Reeths-Puffer worked on form tackling Wednesday (center) and Whitehall put its linemen through their paces Tuesday. Next week's Mirror will include previews for each area football squad as the season approaches.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

A West Michigan summer well spent

By Margaret Heaton Volunteer Contributor

Tell me it can’t be! It can’t possibly be the end of summer.

Although the calendar insists the season is winding down, I’m refusing to let go just yet. The weather is still cooperating, my bike is happily purring down the trail, and my smoker is producing the most mouth-watering barbecue you could ask for.

I’m not ready to surrender to the crowd already declaring that cinnamon and apple cider have taken over. Not yet, anyway.

We’ve traveled extensively throughout the Midwest, and I do love the adventure. But truth be told, there’s no place I’d rather be in summer than right here in West Michigan. Our little corner of the world is packed with things to do, and thanks to the White Lake Chamber of Commerce, there’s always something on the calendar. You could fill your weekends with local events in Montague and Whitehall without even trying.

Tuesday evenings at the band shell are always a favorite, and Hope Bible Chapel has made one Sunday even more special by hosting an evening of worship there. If you have no plans this weekend, I encourage you to check the White Lake Chamber of

Commerce website—you’re sure to find something fun to enjoy right here at home.

For us, the bike trails call our names. We have two group rides planned this week alone. Just recently, we loaded our bikes into the van and headed to Shipshewana, Indiana, to ride the Pumpkinvine Trail. It’s about 36 miles round-trip from Shipshewana to Goshen, and it makes for a perfect day.

Of course, no trip to Shipshewana is complete without a stop at E & S Sales, an Amish grocery store. That’s where we stock up on treats. My husband buys his beloved sour peach rings in bulk, and I always bring cheese home. The Amish Butter Cheese is my favorite, but this time I couldn’t resist a 5-pound brick of smoked gouda. (Macaroni and cheese, anyone?) Just remember to bring cash, or use their ATM inside.

When I’m not out on the trails, you’ll find me behind my computer or in the kitchen testing new recipes. Writing Bible studies is a joy of

mine, and I’m thrilled to see my devotional series taking shape. The first, Held: A Season of Grace and Becoming, is already on Amazon. I wrote it for women experiencing perimenopause, but I’m also working on Silver Grace for the older, more seasoned woman who is past that stage.

This summer, I also discovered how much I love cooking shrimp on the grill. Growing up, shrimp was a rare treat, but now - with farm-raised seafood and flash-freezinggood quality shrimp is easy to find. Here in West Michigan, I buy large frozen raw shrimp, thaw them, and marinate them in Italian dressing. Six shrimp per skewer, a hot grill, and 4–5 minutes per side until they turn pink. Just be careful not to overcook, or they’ll get rubbery.

From small skewers of shrimp, my smoker took on a much bigger challenge this summer: a 20-pound turkey. It was simpler than you’d think. I loosened the skin from the breast meat, rubbed olive oil underneath, sprinkled salt

Murray's Inn to be spotlighted at Historical Society meeting

The White Lake Area Historical Society will hold its next meeting Thursday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Lebanon Lutheran Church, 1101 S. Mears Avenue in Whitehall. The meeting is open to the public.

The colorful history of the Murray’s Inn Resort will be shared through a slide presentation by Kevin Murray McGee, great-grandson of the founding couple, William and Annabel Murray. The Murrays founded the Inn

about 1908, and would work to see it become one of the largest and most popular resorts in the White Lake area. The presentation will chronicle the start, growth and success of the inn during its years of operation from 1908-72, but it’s also the story about a family who had the courage to realize a dream. Please come join us for a story that begins at the turn of the last century.

and pepper, and let it smoke for six hours. The result? A gorgeous, juicy bird that was a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds.

And, of course, what’s a barbecue without a side dish or two? Here’s a recipe I recently tried from a friend. I haven’t made it yet myself, but after one bite at her table, I knew it needed to be shared.

STRAWBERRY CRACKLE

Ingredients:

2 cups crushed pretzels

1 cup brown sugar

4 cups sliced strawberries

¾ cup sugar

1 carton (16 oz) Cool Whip

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup butter, melted

2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese

2 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400°F.

In a medium bowl, combine pretzel pieces, pecans, and brown sugar. Pour melted butter over the mixture and stir well.

Spread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes, until bubbly. Set aside to cool, then break into small pieces.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Fold in Cool Whip just until combined. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

To serve, top the cream mixture with strawberries and pretzel crunch. Mix gently right before serving.

While Margaret's recipe this month is for strawberry crackle dessert, it pairs very well with a delicious main course like the smoked turkey pictured here. • Courtesy Photo