The Oceana Echo - Volume 2, Issue 39, Feb. 21, 2025 by theoceanaecho

Pentwater Village discusses wastewater treatment plant

By AnnaMae Bush The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

chase and install the clock originally designed for the Village Hall tower at a cost of $10,000.

Oceana schools dominate 40th annual WSESD MathCounts

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Nearly 200 students, representing 14 middle schools from Oceana, Mason, Lake and Manistee counties, participated in the West Shore ESD’s 40th annual MathCounts competition at West Shore Community College, Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Congratulations to

the Hart Middle School team of Robbie Buchanan, Isabella Hallack, Ashton Maynard, and Weston Clark who took first place in the “Team Competition” and the Shelby Middle School team of Brycen Brown, Raya Clark, Noah Dodge and Brixtyn Friedman who took second! In the “Individual Round,” Shelby Middle School’s Brycen Brown tied for first place with Ethan Bogner from OJ DeJonge Middle School

and Alton Cook of Manistee Middle School. Hart’s Robbie Buchanan out-figured four other students in the final head-to-head “Countdown Round” to secure the overall MathCounts “Individual Championship!”

The Hart team is coached by Jamie Kistler, and the Shelby team is coached by Andrea Glamzi. Well done, mathematicians! Keep up the excellent work!

The Pentwater Village Council held its regular monthly meeting Monday evening, Feb. 10 at the Pentwater Village Community Hall. All members were present with President Mary Marshall presiding. Approximately two dozen interested residents were also in the audience to observe the proceedings.

Council thanked Police Chief Laude Hartrum for the first-ever annual report. Monthly reports are the norm, but the council appreciated the overview of 2024 that Hartrum’s report afforded.

Dave Bluhm called attention to a few items in the Service Committee report. He suggested the need for a liaison to the Protect Pentwater Channel Citizen Committee because it looks like we will not be getting any ACE funding for dredging this year and we will need to raise $100,000 in private funding for the work that needs to be done in the channel for boating safety.

A motion was passed with one dissenting vote to draw up a license agreement to allow Spinnaker Condos continued use of 32.75 sq. ft. on 4th Street and 8 sq. ft. on 3rd Street in the Village Right of Way as they have been doing for 40 years unknowingly. The matter came to light when the need arose to repair storm water drainage pipes in 4th street from Hancock to the water’s edge.

Council approved the appointment of Joe Roberson to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Debby Duvall and Dan Hoekstra as ZBA Alternates. Permits for the Chamber of Commerce were approved for two 2025 fireworks displays, and a Special Event Permit was granted for Brews and Beats for an alcohol permit, with two dissenting votes. Council gratefully accepted an offer from the Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club to pur-

The longest discussion by far was related to the cost of operating the wastewater treatment plant. Three years ago, the DNR informed the village administration that the treatment plant was out of compliance and instructed them to hire a licensed full-time plant manager to get it into compliance. A contract was signed with an outside licensed service provider for 20 hours a week with an understanding that extra hours would be paid at a higher rate. The administration hoped this would be a temporary arrangement until the village could provide the services needed inhouse. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Twenty hours were insufficient. The regular testing required was sent to outside labs which also raised the cost significantly. The operating cost ballooned over $200,000.

Currently the water treatment fund has the only negative balance in the budget. To keep the operation in compliance, Village Manager Rachel Witherspoon has asked Council to consider a year-long fulltime (40 hours of service a week) contract with a professional, licensed wastewater treatment company for $170,000. The company would help the village set up its own lab for conducting as much testing as possible which would save a significant portion of the operating cost. A company representative was at the meeting to answer questions. Council members asked for a more detailed breakdown of the costs involved. Witherspoon will provide the information for further discussion prior to the meeting at which the budget will be voted on to facilitate including a firm figure for this project.

Witherspoon also reported that the village office vacant position will hopefully be filled March 3.

Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association announces exciting 2025 calendar of events

The Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association (SPLKA) has announced its 2025 calendar of events, inviting lighthouse enthusiasts, families, and all visitors to explore and celebrate the rich maritime history of Lake Michigan. SPLKA operates four iconic lighthouses—Big Sable Point Lighthouse, Ludington North Breakwater Light, Little Sable Point Lighthouse, and White River Light Station and Museum—each offering a unique and enriching experience.

The season kicks off in May with the opening of the lighthouses:

• May 20 – Little Sable Point Lighthouse Opening Day

• May 21 – Ludington North Breakwater Light Opening Day

• May 22 – White River Light Station and Museum Opening Day

• July 1 – Big Sable Point Lighthouse Opening Day (dependent on state park reopening)

The lighthouses are open to the public seven days a week from opening day to Sept. 7, 2025. On Mondays the hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday through Sunday the hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

During the fall season, from Sept. 11 to their closing date the lighthouses are open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fees for climbing the lighthouse towers are $8 for adults and $5 for students 17 years old and under. Active military personnel and veterans may climb for free.

Children must be at least 40 inches tall to climb. For safety reasons, children may not be carried up the stairs of the towers.

Throughout the summer, guests can enjoy a variety of engaging programs, including concerts, kids’ activities, and special celebrations.

• June 18 at 7 p.m. – Night at the Lights Concert Series at Little Sable Point Lighthouse

• June 21 – White River Light Station 150th Anniversary Celebration

• June 25, July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 13, Oct. 4 at 2-3:30 p.m. – Kids’ Programs at White River Light Station

• July 12 and 24; Aug. 2, 14 and 30 from noon to 4:30 p.m. – Bus Days at Big Sable Point Lighthouse, providing visitors an easier way to access the historic site instead of taking the 2-mile walk out.

• July 16 and 30; Aug. 6 and 20 at 7 p.m. - Night at the Lights Concert Series at Little Sable Point Lighthouse

• July 18 and Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. - Summer Concerts at White River Light Station

The season will wind down in the fall, with closures scheduled for:

• Sept. 28 – Ludington North Breakwater Light Closes for the Season

• Oct. 19 – Little Sable Point Lighthouse and White River Light Station Close for the Season

1st PLACE TEAM: HART MIDDLE SCHOOL

Pictured above, from left, Coach Jamie Kistler, Ashton Maynard, Isabella Hallack, Weston Clark and Robbie Buchanan.

2nd PLACE TEAM: SHELBY MIDDLE SCHOOL

Pictured above, from left, Noah Dodge, Brixtyn Friedman, Raya Clark and Brycen Brown.

Hart’s Robbie Buchanan (in blue) in head-to-head competition with Ludington’s Kasen Carlson. Buchanan took first, Carlson took second.

Shelby’s Ivy Chatfield, above left, earned fifth place in the Individual Round, and Brycen Brown tied for first place.

H.E.A.R.T. offers free rent for Main Street Market Chalet for 2025 Season with Pitch Competition

The Hart Economic & Redevelopment Team (H.E.A.R.T.) is excited to announce an opportunity for entrepreneurs to win free rent to occupy a chalet at the Main Street Market for the 2025 season.

Aspiring business owners are invited to submit their business ideas for a chance to secure a location at the market. The winner will receive a year of free rent valued at $900.

How it works:

1. Complete an Application: Visit takemetohart. org to submit a brief application explaining your business model. All applications must be received by Feb. 24, 2025.

2. Round One Review: The H.E.A.R.T. board will review all submissions and select three applicants to present their ideas in person on March 6, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.

3. Pitch Competition: On March 6, 2025, the three selected applicants will pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges at the Main Street Market Pitch Competition. Each presenter will have 2-3 minutes to outline their business concept and will be subject to a Q&A session from the judges. The judges will deliberate and announce the winner that evening.

“We are excited to see the creativity and passion of entrepreneurs as they present their ideas. The Main Street Market is intended to support new busi-

ness startups and attract more shoppers and tourists to Hart,” Community and Economic Development Director Nichole Kleiner said. “It is our hope that this opportunity will be a steppingstone for business growth in our community.”

For full details and to apply, visit takemetohart.org. For more information, visit takemetohart.org or contact the Hart Economic & Redevelopment Team at info@takemetohart.org.

The Hart Economic & Redevelopment Team is committed to the growth and revitalization of the city of Hart, Michigan. By supporting local businesses and fostering a welcoming environment for entrepreneurs, H.E.A.R.T. strives to enhance the economic prosperity of the region while enriching the quality of life for its residents.

Pentwater Women’s Club offers new grant

By AnnaMae Bush

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

The mission of the Pentwater Women’s Club is “to promote the civic welfare, to advance cultural and educational opportunities in our community and to financially assist students in the Pentwater area who wish to attend institutions of higher learning.” The group has done very well in financially assisting students with scholarships for posthigh school education. In order to more closely align with their mission, the Club recently made a decision to expand support to civic welfare and to enhance educational experience to the community beyond the funded public school system. The Club is making available to the Pentwater community Extracurricular Educational Enhancement or Experience (four E’s) grants up to a total of $1,500. Examples include, but are not limited to, field trips, conferences or seminars, camps, expert speakers, etc. The grants are open to individuals or organizations.

Creativity is encouraged in applying for the grant. If an individual or organization has an opportunity to enhance their education or experience in such a way that ultimately benefits the Pentwater community –this grant is fitting. Preference will be given to grant applications based on the following criteria:

• Benefit to the Pent-

water Community

• Uniqueness of funding availability

• Uniqueness of educational experience

Grant applications are available on the Club’s website, www. pentwaterwomensclub. org/grant. Completed applications must be

sent to pentwaterwomensclub@gmail.org by May 1, 2025. Applications will be reviewed by the PWC board, and the award/s granted by June 15, 2025. Any questions regarding the grant or completion of the application can be directed to the email address above.

PUBLIC NOTICE

VILLAGE OF SHELBY

On 2-14-2025 approximately 75 gallons of sewage spilled from the main on Pine Street in the Village of Shelby.

ELBRIDGE TOWNSHIP, OCEANA COUNTY, MICHIGAN NOTICE OF ORDINANCE ADOPTION

TO: The residents and property owners of Elbridge Township, Oceana County, Michigan and any other interested persons

Adopted by the Township Board of Elbridge Township at their regular meeting held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.

ORDINANCE: 14

COMPATIBLE RENEWALE ENERGY ZONING ORDINANCE

Section I. Title. - The Ordinance is entitled Amendment to Zoning Ordinance to create a compatible renewable energy ordinance

Section II. Definitions. - Definitions of words used within the Ordinance Section III.

Application to Construct an Energy Facility – process for applications Section IV. Application Review – process of review by zoning administrator and planning commission.

Section V. Issuance and Compliance with permit – process of starting project Section VI.

Host Community Agreement – giving permit holder permission to enter into an agreement with the Township

Section VII. Interpretation – pursuant to 2023 PA 233, amended MCL 460.1221 et.seq.

Section VIII. Severability – the provisions of this Ordinance are severable

Section IX. Repeal – this section provides that all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the Ordinance are repealed.

Section XI. Effective Date – This Ordinance shall take effect 8 days after publication. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the full text of the Ordinance has been posted in the office of the Elbridge Township Clerk at the address set forth below and that copies of this ordinance may be seen on the Township website: www.elbridgetownship.org, within 8 days from publication.

Stephanie Van Sickle, Clerk Elbridge Township, 2266 E. Polk Rd., Hart, MI 49420

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This page is brought to you by:

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

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

By Caleb Jackson The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

The last two weeks have been dedicated to the early days of Benona Township and some of its early pioneers, plus I even touched on some of the confusion between the names of Benona and Shelby. This week, let’s continue with that trend and cover the early days of Shelby Township.

There are several key and peculiar moments in the early days of Shelby Township. These involve some pigeons and a devious railway brakeman, but before all that, there was simply Walter Churchill, who started Churchill’s Corner. In the summer of 1864, Churchill built a house on the northwest corner of section 16 of Shelby Township, or I should say Benona Township. Remember, what we now call Shelby Township was once called Benona, at least up until 1876, when the two townships got their present names sorted out. Anyways, after Churchill built his house, a few other buildings started to pop up over the next few years.

First, Alpheus Neff built a blacksmith shop in 1868, then Jas. Williams built a general store in 1869, and Mr. Adams built a drug store in 1870. Churchill also operated the post office and a hotel, technically, Shelby’s very first hotel, out of his home. This was necessitated by the construction of a state road around 1856. As Hartwick and Tuller put it in the

1890 book, “The State road built in 18656 ran past this little cluster of buildings, and a great many passengers were carried over it from Whitehall to Hart by that veteran stage driver, James Roddy. Horses were changed at this place, and taking all things into consideration, it was far from a dead town.”

The next big event for Shelby was the construction of the railroad, and this is where that devious railway brakeman comes in. In 1870, a vote was carried to give aid to a railroad company for them to build a depot in Shelby Township, and yet, “owing to some legal flaw,” the money was never paid. The villagers instead fronted the cost themselves and built the depot for $1,200. Thus, the railroad was completed in 1872.

This, of course, brought business to the town, but it also brought the name of Barnett. In 1871, when the railroad survey was yet under way, four men took advantage of the opportunity to plot a village. Their names were Samual A. Browne, A Pittenger, Jas. G. Gray, and O. Deming. These men began platting a village near the depot, and a railway brakeman offered to pay the recording expenses if they named the village after him.

As Page’s History of Oceana puts it, “O. Demming, being one of the proprietors, thought this would be a good speculation, and the rest allowed themselves to be overruled for the sake of peace. After the deed was done, Mr. Demming was met by the brakesman

with a laugh, saying that now it was all done, he did not need to pay, and had all the honor!” There was a second village platted by Martin Sweet and Andreas Bevier under the name of Shelby in 1873. Despite the plats, though, the village was later incorporated under the name of Shelby.

Shelby’s next big break was pigeons, and a lot of them. Soon, the buzz and the boom of the new railroad began to die down, and the budding village began to stagnate. An article appearing in Pentwater News in 1873 says, “…just when the people needed some money, the pigeons came in countless millions, and the wealth they brought gave a new stimulus to business.” Hartwick and Tuller have much to say about this event in their book.

The news went abroad, and nearly every train from the south brought sportsmen by the score, and with them came plenty of currency. Everyone became a pigeon hunter or dealer. They were caught and shipped by the barrel, in coops, and thousands were fed for a later market. It is estimated that this business realized to the people of Shelby over $50,000 in one season.

And this was just the first occurrence. The pigeons arrived again some years later in 1876, “in greatly increased numbers.”

Shelby was also quite important for mail distribution in the early days of Oceana. In 1864, the appropriately named Mr. Runner was paid a dollar a

Historic Exhibit at Shelby Area District Library starts February 24

The entire community is invited to the Shelby Area District Library’s upcoming historic exhibit, which will be held the week of Feb. 24-March 1 in conjunction with Love Your Library Month.

“Step Back in Time: A History of the Shelby Area” will be on display in the library’s reading room and feature historic pictures and postcards of the Shelby area, including downtown Shelby, the Stony Lake area and Rothbury.

Thomas Read memorabilia and local artifacts will also be on display.

day to carry mail to Benona and back, eleven miles each way. Page’s History says, “Truly, those were the days when men could go a long way—22 miles— for a dollar, and that through trails and pathless woods.”

Some other fun facts are recorded in Page’s book. The first cemetery was on John Randall’s farm, and the first death was a man named Fowler, killed in 1858 by a falling tree. The first birth in Shelby was also Randall’s son. Hartwick and Tuller point out that while Hart owes its importance to the County Seat, and Pentwater to its lake outlet, “Shelby owes all to the energy and public spirit of her businessmen.” That, plus an inordinate number of pigeons.

One fascinating item on display will be the William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail State Park Scrapbook, which contains articles and photos of the development of the trail to the present day.

scanning the

The exhibit will be on display Feb. 24, 25, 27 and 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Feb. 26 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and March 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Questions can be directed to the library at 231-8614565 or shelbyadl@gmail.com.

• Amanda Dodge/Echo

Ongoing

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

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

WEDNESDAYS: Love INC and True North Housing Assistance satellite open by appointment throughout the winter months. Please call 231-861-4880 to make an appointment. Walkerville Wesleyan Church, 144 S. Hamon St.

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

1 st & 3 rd

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

1st & 3rd

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

Every other WEDNESDAY: Shelby Optimist Club meetings, Stony Lake Inn, 7-8 p.m., (September to May)

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

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

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

Last FRIDAYS: Free Soup Suppers, Newman Christian Community Church, 4075 S. 132nd Ave., Hesperia, 5:30-7 p.m.

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

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

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

Tuesdays: Knitting Group, 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays: Pit Stops for Men, age 12+, 6:30-7:30 p.m. (2/18-4/8)

Saturdays: Celebrate Worship Service, 6:30 p.m.

2nd Saturday: Party Club for Kids ages 5-12, 1-2:30 p.m. Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

Rotary Club of Hart hosts Trivia Night at Big Hart

Looking to beat the winter blues? Gather your friends and put your knowledge to the test at Trivia Night at Big Hart Brewing Co.! This exciting event, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hart, will take place Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Big Hart Brewing Co., 4086 W. Polk Rd., Hart, MI 49420.

All proceeds from this Trivia Night will support the Rotary Club of Hart’s Scholarship Program, which provides annual scholarships to Oceana County high school seniors. This scholarship program aims to support the educational goals of local high school students who have shown outstanding academic performance, leadership and community involvement. Participants will not only enjoy a fun-filled evening but also contribute to a great cause—helping local students achieve their educational goals.

Community members are encouraged to join in the festivities and support the future leaders of our community. Come for a night of family fun and test your smarts! Don’t miss out on this fun and meaningful event!

The Ladder offers 7-week women’s Bible study

The Ladder Community Center in Shelby is offering a seven-week women’s Bible study on Mondays from 1-2 p.m. beginning March 3. This video series, titled “Wisdom in a Fallen World,” is led by Pastor John Amanchukwu. It takes the participant on a journey through Proverbs 6:16-19 to uncover the wisdom embedded in the Scriptures, relating it to the issues of the day and encouraging others to seek the enduring truth, peace and unity that’s found in Christ alone. Participants will discover how sin can manifest in their life, how it permeates our culture today, and how they can walk a different path that reflects the attitude of Christ.

This class is offered to all women ages 18 and up. Those who have a Bible are asked to bring it to the study. A Bible will be provided for those who do not have one. Class sign-up is not required, but Ladder registration is required. For those who are not a registered member yet, please stop by The Ladder prior to the first day of the study to register & pay the $5 monthly membership fee ($10 total for the duration of the study). If eligible, the membership fee may be covered by SilverSneakers or One Pass.

The Ladder Community Center is located at 67 N. State St. in Shelby. Questions? Please call (231) 259-0211.

February

Feb. 21 - Rotary Trivia Night, Big Hart Brewing Co., 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 22 - Kids Business Fair, Shelby Elementary School, 9-11 a.m.

Feb. 22 - Wild Game Dinner, Walkerville Wesleyan Church, 5 p.m.

Feb. 25 - Tech Time, Hesperia Comm. Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Adult Book Club, 2-3 p.m. and Adult Craft Night, 6-7 p.m.

Feb. 26 - All Pro Dads, Shelby Elementary, 7:15-7:45 a.m.

Feb. 26 & 27 - MSBOA Festival Performances: SMS Cadet Band, 9 a.m.; SHS Concert Band, 2:55 p.m. SHS Auditorium.

Feb. 27 - All Pro Dads, Pentwater Public, 7:10-7:40 a.m.

Feb. 27 - Pentwater NHS Blood Drive, 10:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 28 - All Pro Dads, Walkerville Public, 8-8:30 a.m.

Feb. 21 - Sensory Play & Story Time, Hesp. Comm. Lib., 10-11 a.m.

Feb. 28 - Hart Public Schools Faculty Feud fundraiser, 7 p.m.

By Stacia Erickson The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

A fun-filled evening is coming soon to Hart. A fundraiser entitled ”Faculty Feud” is scheduled for 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28, at the Hart Middle School Auditorium, with a cost of $5 per person. The money raised is slated to support the Hart Drama Club. And, as the title suggests, the event is based on the popular television game show “Family Feud.”

When Technology/ Auditorium Manager of Hart Public Schools Phil DeBrot was asked why the group was putting forth this effort, he responded, “because putting on a great show—especially a musical—comes with a hefty price tag. The next musical we’ve scheduled is ‘Mary Poppins,’ scheduled for March 21, 22 and 23! Just securing the performance rights for popular Disney musicals can cost between $2,000 and $3,000. Then, there are additional expenses like hiring musicians or renting music tracks, costume design, music direction, choreography, scenic backdrops, set construction, props and more. It all adds up fast.”

DeBrot added, “The idea was a collaborative effort between myself, as Drama Coordinator, and high school drama students Carson Jensen and Olivia DeBrot. We all wanted a fresh, exciting way to raise money—

something different from the usual fundraisers that you see for sports and other extracurriculars. A game show seemed like the perfect choice. Initially, we considered ‘The Price Is Right,’ but the logistics and costs of building the games were just too much. Then, ‘Family Feud’ came up in discussion, and we knew we had our winner!”

When asked how the competitors were chosen, DeBrot said, “We wanted the show to be entertaining for the entire community, so we thought—why not have district faculty face off? We reached out to the building principals, and they jumped at the opportunity, each recruiting four staff members to join their team. So, it became school vs. school to see who will claim the title of Faculty Feud Champion!”

The winners of each round will advance to the championship showdown for ultimate brag-

ging rights.

“But that’s not all. Some of our HHS Drama Club students have planned a special ‘show within a show’ to make you feel like you’re on the actual set of Family Feud,” DeBrot noted. “Want to know more? Come to the show—you won’t regret it.”

The matchups will be as follows:

• Round 1: Spitler Elementary Staff (led by Principal Brandon Bruce) vs. Hart High School Staff (led by Principal Ken Byard).

• Round 2: Middle School Staff (Led by Principal Kevin Ackley) vs. Central Business Office Staff (Led by Superintendent Mark Platt)

According to DeBrot, “If you can’t make it to the show, but still want to show your support for our drama program, you can send a donation” via the following link https://hartdramaclubs.ludus.com/fundraiser.php?id=3760

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

obituaries

Cynthia ‘Cindy’ Anne Williams June 20, 1956 ~ February 16, 2025

Cynthia “Cindy” Anne Williams, 68, of Pentwater, went home to be with her Savior on Sunday, Feb. 16, after her long battle with cancer. Cindy was born to Laurence and Lovedia Miller on June 20, 1956, in Hart, Mich.

Cindy graduated from Hart High School with the class of 1974. After school and through her working life, she worked various roles in the healthcare field and retired from Lakeshore Hospital in Shelby in 2019, after 30 years of service. She married Jerry Williams in 2009, and they had many good adventures together, camping, traveling, and taking Jerry’s classic Corvette to various car shows. In the years after Jerry’s passing, Cindy continued her adventures with her family, close friends and neighbors, who proved to be such a treasured support system to her these last few years.

Cindy is survived by: her mother, Lovedia Miller; brothers, Larry (Sally) Miller of Hart, Randy Miller of Hart, Dennis (Connelly) Miller of West Palm Beach; a multitude of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and cousins.

Cindy was predeceased in death by: her father, Laurence B. Miller; husband, Jerry Williams.

Funeral services will be conducted at noon, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, at Shelby Road Baptist Church, 4066 W. Shelby Rd., Shelby, Michigan 49455, with Pastor Steve Lister officiating. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the start of services Friday, February 21, 2025, at Shelby Road Baptist Church. A luncheon will follow services.

Please consider memorial donations to: Crystal Valley Care Fund, PO Box 451, Hart, Michigan 49420.

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

Death Notice ~ Harry Wallace Raymond

Harry Wallace Raymond, 102, of Hart, formerly of Pentwater, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Arrangements were entrusted to Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, www.OakGroveLudington.com.

Beverly Joyce Lorenz

October 2, 1936 ~ February 15, 2025

Beverly Joyce Lorenz passed away Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, at the age of 88. Beverly was born in Staunton, Ill., on October 2, 1936. She was the only child of Ernest M Reschetz and Frances Rek Reschetz. Beverly lost her father in 1940, when she was 3½ years old. Beverly and her mother Frances then moved to Evanston, Ill., to be near family, before joining Beverly’s Aunt Joann in Montague, Mich. Frances remarried William L Kroll in Montague, who became Bev’s stepfather. Bev worked at Lipka’s Drug Store when she was a teenager, enjoyed ice skating with friends on White Lake while growing up, and graduated from Montague High School in 1954, where she was very involved and enjoyed playing her clarinet in the band.

In 1955, Beverly married James Lorenz, a Whitehall boy who made the move across the bridge to Montague. Bev and Jim were married for 69 years, with Jim passing just recently on Nov. 19, 2024. Beverly was working at Hooker Chemical Co in Montague when Jim was drafted into the U.S. Army. During the time of Jim’s service, Beverly joined him for a year in Germany, where oldest daughter Melissa was born. Three years later, while living back in their home in Montague, daughter Hilary was born, followed by Heather six years later. Beverly attended Muskegon Community College and became a nurse. Her compassion, calmness, strength and ability to help others made her a great nurse, which she was so very proud of. She worked and gained knowledge at Whitehall Nursing Home, Hackley Hospital, and a doctor’s office, then moved to Muskegon Surgical Associates the year they originated, where she worked until her retirement. MSA was her dream “job,” and she enjoyed it there so very much. She was in nursing for over 30 years, but her care of others and nursing skills extended well beyond that time.

Beverly was the last surviving charter member of the Dirt Dauber Garden Club. The garden club was so important to Bev and she received immense enjoyment being an integral part of the club. She was an avid gardener and would have people randomly stop to tour her beautiful yard. She could often be found working in her yard every evening, pulling weeds in downtown Montague, planting flowers at the Montague Township Hall or watering the plants at the Welcome to Montague sign at Oakhurst Cemetery. She was also a member of White Lake United Methodist Church. Bev had a smile that lit up a room, a laugh that was contagious and an elegance that would catch your eye.

Beverly passed away at her daughter’s home. She will always be deeply missed and loved by her daughters, Melissa (Bill Ditty) Lorenz, Hilary Lorenz and Heather (Curtiss Babcock) Lorenz-Babcock; and the brightest lights of her life, her grandchildren, Ashley (Ryan) Gannon and Brady Babcock, who filled her life with smiles, love, and joy. Bev was given such a gift with her new great-granddaughter, Scottie James Gannon, whom she adored immensely. Bev is also survived by special nieces and nephews.

Bev was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jim; her parents; and her in-laws.

The Celebration of Bev will be conducted at noon, Monday, Feb. 24, at White Lake United Methodist Church, 8555 Cook St., Montague, MI 49437, with visitation at 11 a.m. until time of service. A graveside service will follow the service in Oak Grove Cemetery, in Montague, and the family invites you for a time of food and fellowship at the church, concluding all services.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to the Dirt Dauber Garden Club, White Lake United Methodist Church or the Noah Project.

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

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

obituaries

Alan Walter Burmeister

April 16, 1963 ~ February 13, 2025

On February 13, 2025, Alan Walter Burmeister, 61, of New Era, Mich., succumbed to his injuries following a snowmobiling accident.

Alan was born on April 16, 1963 and raised in Shelby, Mich. He was a farmer all his life and co-owner of Lakeshore Farms. Established in 1864, Lakeshore Farms is still Burmeister family-owned and operated. Alan’s first love was anything with a motor. He spent hours upon hours every season on his snowmobiles, mud trucks and motorcycles; he even had his very own motocross track that he built, maintained and rode. He also was an avid deer hunter and shot several prized bucks on his acres of land. Every morning while he drank his coffee, he could be found looking out his window to observe “his critters.”

His sons were an enormous source of pride for him. He watched with pleasure as they excelled in athletics at Shelby Public Schools. He reveled in teaching his sons the art of hunting and farming, neither activity strictly a hobby but valuable ways of life. Recently, he could be found supporting his granddaughters in the same activities that he proudly taught his sons.

Alan was a big-hearted man with a tremendous sense of humor and wit, if you were teased by “Big Al,” it meant that he liked you.

Alan is survived by: his parents, Dale and Judith Burmeister; sons Kevin (Jessica) and Kurt (Emily) Burmeister; stepson Gary (Erin) Stark; stepdaughter Lacie (Chadick) Wierengo; former wife Cathy Burmeister; sister Tracey (Chris) Butler; granddaughters Jayna, Kaylin, Kenzye, Madison Burmeister and another one on the way; nephew Zack Butler and significant other, Betty Ann Kludy.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Contributions in his memory can be made to the Crystal Valley Care Fund.

Linda Kay McLouth September 7, 1937 ~ February 7, 2025

On Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, Linda Kay McLouth, 87, of Hart, joined her beloved husband, Clem, in Heaven on his birthday. She was born Sept. 7, 1937, in Mason, Mich., daughter of Lyle and Evelyn (Diehl) Tompkins.

Linda grew up in Oceana County and attended Hart Public Schools, graduating from Hart High School in 1956. During her senior year, Linda won the Michigan Cherry Pie Queen title. She went on to attend Western Michigan University and completed her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics in 1960. She was also Mrs. Asparagus first runner-up in 1984.

Linda was involved in the Hart United Methodist Church for 70 plus years, where she participated in the choir, lead Sunday School singing and Vacation Bible School. She also took on many leadership roles with the church at the local, district and state level.

Known to many as the cross lady, Linda collected close to 700 crosses that she wore, researched and even did presentations called “cross talks” for a variety of community and church groups in West Michigan as well as Englewood Fla., where she and Clem spent 15 winters.

Linda loved arts and crafts and did everything from painting to ceramics to her beloved plastic canvas, including boxes that many loved ones and strangers were gifted. Linda was a long-standing member of the Hart Homemakers Group and the Oceana County Extension group. She was a judge for food/clothing exhibits at county fairs in the area for many years. Linda’s love of being a homemaker allowed her to be successful in sales as a Tupperware Lady for many years.

Linda loved performing with the Lakeshore Sweet Adelines acapella group. Her singing ability made her a staple in the area, performing solos at weddings and funerals.

Linda loved her grandchildren and the time she spent with them, whether it was babysitting, watching them compete in sports, performances and vacationing with them.

Linda was preceded in death by: her loving husband, Clement McLouth Jr.; her parents, Lyle and Evelyn Tompkins; her brothers, Charles (Chuck) and Richard (Rich) Tompkins; son-in-law, Todd Jager; and her oldest grandson, Jacob Jager.

Linda is survived by: her children, Lorie Jager Lawrence (Van) and Tom McLouth (Melanie); four grandsons, Calvin Jager, Maxwell, Riley and Gustav McLouth; bonus grandson, Tracy Lawrence (Sarah); bonus granddaughter, Hanna Lawrence; two bonus great-grandsons, Thomas and Samuel Lawrence; and two dear sisters-in-law, Carole and Carol Tompkins.

Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Hart United Methodist Church, 308 S. State St., Hart, MI 49420. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Oceana County Council on Aging or the Hart United Methodist Women’s Group.

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

Death Notice ~ Max Gerald Mead

Max Gerald Mead, 74, of Muskegon, passed away Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. In accordance with Max’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no services will be held. Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, White Lake Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. www.beaconfh.com

Charles Floyd Smith

July 29, 1934 ~ February 15, 2025

Charles Floyd Smith, also affectionately known as Chuck or Grandpa Chuck, passed away at the age of 90, on Satur day, Feb. 15, 2025, at his home in Pentwater, surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 29, 1934, in Flint, the son of Floyd Charles and Alta Mae (Covington) Smith.

A love story that began in 1951, resulted in a beautiful marriage of 60 years between Charles Smith and Diane (Peterson) Smith. Charles and Diane shared a strong interest in politics throughout their marriage; they loved the conservative party and were very passionate supporters. They also spent many summers camping at Three-Sister Dunes in Pentwater. Chuck and Diane, along with their two children, moved to Pentwater, from Flint, due to their love of Lake Michigan.

Chuck proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1957 to 1959, as part of the 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron of the 8th Calvary Regiment, in Ft. Lewis. He also was educated through Flint Technical High School, graduating in 1952, and then earned a Bachelor of Science in Die Making from General Motors Institute (GMI). Chuck was employed as a Tool and Die Engineer for most of his career, from 1952 to 1988.

Chuck enjoyed working in his woodshop; his final project was completed in January of 2024. He handcrafted a cradle for his great-granddaughter, Adeline. One activity that he loved the most was going to Gull Landing and listening to and dancing to Mary Rademacher and the Rad Pack. So much so, that he had her perform at his 90th birthday party in July 2024. Along with Chuck’s community spirit and political activism, he also served as Pentwater Township Supervisor for many years, able to make meaningful change within the community.

In Chuck’s younger years, he enjoyed playing hockey with his son, Paul, and skating with his daughter, Nicole. He also attended every basketball, volleyball, football, and soccer game, and track meet that his grandchildren were involved in.

Chuck is survived by: his daughter, Nicole (Neil) Holladay; sister, Doris Smith; daughter-in-law, Karen Smith-Lundberg; grandchildren, Timothy Watkins, Benjamin (Crystal) Watkins, Kelly Smith, Julie Smith, Andrew (Marty) Watkins, Megan Silvers, Parker Holladay, and McKenna (Scott) Robbins; and great-grandchildren, Christian Tobias, Aiden Watkins, Lily Tobias, Ryan Watkins, Grant Smith, Sullivan Watkins, Greenlee Smith, Emeri Watkins, Kayson Smith and Adeline Robbins. Chuck was preceded in death by his loving wife, Diane Smith, on Dec. 17, 2013. He was also preceded in death by: his parents, Floyd and Alta Mae Smith; son, Paul Smith; and siblings, Dorothy, Leon and George.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Pentwater, 101 S. Rush St., Pentwater, MI 49449, with Pastor Mark Lillie officiating. Visitation will be held Monday, from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the church. Interment will be in Pentwater Township Cemetery in Spring 2025.

Memorial contributions may be made to the COPD Foundation, https://www. copdfoundation.org/, or the Pentwater Public Schools Athletic Boosters. Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. www.beaconfh.com

Daniel Thomas Sullivan

February 20, 1950 ~ February 11, 2025

Daniel Thomas Sullivan, 74, of Montague, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. He was born Feb. 20, 1950, in Ap pleton, Wis., the son of Daniel Patrick Sullivan and Evelyn Marie (Keegan) Sullivan.

Daniel proudly served our country in the United States Navy, where he was affectionately known as “Sully.” He did two tours of duty in Viet Nam from 1968 to 1970, primarily attached to the Security Division in Cua Viet and Danang. Serving his country was, without a doubt, the greatest honor of his life.

Daniel attended Whitnell High School in Appleton, Wis. After high school, he served his country and spent the next 43 years as a proud Union Bricklayer; working all over the United States.

This great man, also known as Big D, was larger than life to everyone that knew him, especially his family and close friends. He had a presence and “aura” about him that was second to none. He put his family and close friends first by always being there for the big and small moments and never missed a chance to lend a helping hand. He enjoyed camping, fishing, power sports, birdwatching and just being outdoors in general. Above all, he enjoyed spending time with family, friends and his dog, Jack.

Daniel is survived by: his daughters, Megan (Chad) Richardson and Vickie (Benjamin) Sanders; son, Ed Sullivan; sister, Kathy (Michael) Klingler; brother, Thomas (Merry) Sullivan; grandchildren, Aaden Richardson, Adalyn Richardson, Nick Richardson, Morganne Davis, Danielle Davis, Bree Sanders, Heather Sullivan, Chloe Sullivan and Mason Sullivan; and great-grandchildren, Xander Brewer, Raylan Brewer and Sophia Richardson.

Daniel passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family.

He was preceded in death by: his parents, Daniel and Evelyn Sullivan; sisters, Patricia Sullivan and Sharon Hunsberger; and nephew, Christopher Buchman.

In accordance with Daniel’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Services will be held in spring 2025, at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, in Joliet, Ill., followed by a celebration of life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Whitehall American Legion Algot Johnson Post 69, 803 E. Colby St., Whitehall, MI 49461. Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, White Lake Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. www.beaconfh.com

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

CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT. 257

• On Feb. 24, 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court voted to overturn a $200,000 settlement awarded to the Reverend Jerry Falwell for the emotional distress he suffered after being parodied in the pornographic magazine Hustler, deciding that the satire, while in bad taste, was covered under the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of speech.

STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20250210 FOR RELEASE FEB. 10, 2025

NOW HERE’S A TIP #12345_20250210 FOR RELEASE FEB. 10, 2025

By JoAnn Derson

By Lucie Winborne

• On Feb. 25, 1956, poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes met for the first time at a party. They married just four months later, but the union was rocked by Plath’s discovery of her husband’s adultery the same year their second child was born. After her suicide in 1963, Hughes edited several volumes of her poetry, one of which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1982.

• On Feb. 26, 1974, Nike received a U.S. patent for its waffle trainer running shoes. The company’s cofounder, Bill Bowerman, invented the iconic soles by pouring polyurethane into a waffle iron at breakfast one morning.

• On Feb. 27, 1935, 6-year-old rising Hollywood star Shirley Temple took home the first-ever kid-size “juvenile” Oscar, measuring roughly half the height of a standard Oscar.

On Feb. 28, 2013, 85-year-old Pope Benedict XVI officially resigned his position as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, citing his advanced age as the reason. He was the first pontiff to relinquish power in nearly six centuries.

• On March 1, 1864, Rebecca Lee Crumpler became the first African American woman to earn a medical degree. She also wrote one of the first medical manuals by an African American doctor — and woman — in the United States. Though she faced discrimination from fellow medical professionals due to her sex and race, she wrote that she cared for “a very large number of the indigent” in a “population of over 30,000.”

• On March 2, 1807, the U.S. Congress passed an act to “prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States … from any foreign kingdom, place or country.” It would go into effect at the start of 1808.

• When you finish a woodworking project, save your leftover bits of sandpaper and use them to sharpen your scissors. All you need is a piece long enough to make a few cuts through.

• “Plastic grocery bags are handy for so many uses, but keeping them organized was always a pain, until I discovered that I could use an empty tissue box to store them. I just ball up each bag individually (so there is no air trapped) and stuff it in the tissue box. You can do the same thing for larger amounts of bags by using an empty 12-pack box from soda. I store one of these in my shop.” — Fred C. from Pennsylvania

• “Tired of squirrels on your bird feeders? String a line of 2-liter soda bottles (as many as you like) together, and hang them between two trees, with the feeder in the middle. Works like a charm.” — C.V. in Maine

• If your kids (or you) like cereal, be sure to save the heavy plastic liners that hold the cereal inside the box. They are really handy when freezing meat patties in stacks. You can use them to separate layers of cookies, too.

• “I just finished packing up my house to move, and this little tip was a dandy: Use a toothpick to keep the open end of your tape from disappearing. When you cut the tape, slip a toothpick at the end that’s still on the roll. You will never have to go fishing for it again.” — L.K. in New Mexico

• If your water takes a minute to warm up, keep a pitcher by the sink. Let the water flow into the pitcher until it gets warm. Then, use that water (that otherwise would have been wasted) on your houseplants and in your garden.

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

By Lucie Winborne

• Read a week’s worth of The New York Times and you’ll have absorbed more information than the average 17th-century citizen would have encountered in their lifetime.

• A 1972 plane crash that claimed the lives of 101 people occurred because the crew was distracted by a burned-out landing gear indicator light and failed to notice that the autopilot had inadvertently been disconnected.

• California was named for a fictional island in a 16th-century romance novel.

• Researchers testing insect repellents used Victoria Secret’s Bombshell perfume as a standard and accidentally discovered that it repels mosquitoes better than many repellents on the market.

• In 19th-century Maryland, it was illegal to sell mineral water on a Sunday.

• People’s body temperature drops when they watch videos of other folks putting their hands into cold water.

• Onychophagia is the technical term for biting your nails.

• A man who tattooed the word “Netflix” on his body and then tweeted a picture of the ink to the company was rewarded with a year’s worth of free service.

• In Wisconsin, the most frequently googled “how to spell” word is Wisconsin.

• When Prohibition started, alcohol could only be bought for medicinal and religious purposes, from a pharmacy or a doctor. “Medicinal whiskey” was prescribed for just about anything and used to treat conditions such as toothaches and the flu. With a prescription, a patient could legally purchase up to 1 pint of hard liquor every 10 days.

• In medieval times, the word “abracadabra” was written out in the shape of a triangle and worn around the neck in an amulet to prevent deadly diseases.

• It takes somewhere between 144 and 411 licks to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop.

***

Seguridad en las redes sociales para adolescentes

Por

el diputado

Tim Simon Escuelas Públicas de Shelby Oficial de recursos

Seamos realistas, criar a un adolescente es difícil. Por un lado, usted quiere respetar los límites, dándole a su hijo la libertad de tomar decisiones y aprender de sus errores. Por otro lado, desea proteger a su hijo de todos los peligros del mundo actual.

Cuando se trata de seguridad en línea y en Internet, puede resultar muy difícil tanto para los padres como para los adolescentes. Por eso es importante participar en la actividad en línea y en las redes sociales de sus hijos adolescentes. No todos los padres utilizan las redes sociales. Si su hijo adolescente utiliza las redes sociales, esa es una buena razón por la que usted, como padre, también debería hacerlo. Incluso si no utiliza activamente las redes sociales, debe ser amigo de su hijo adolescente para poder comprobarlo de forma rutinaria y ver lo que publica. Esto puede darle otra oportunidad de ver lo que está pasando por la mente de su adolescente. Además, le brinda la oportunidad de ver cualquier comportamiento o publicación inapropiada, como publicar información personal. Es probable que algunos adolescentes expresen sus problemas en las redes sociales en lugar de afrontarlos abiertamente en casa. La mayoría de los niños acudirán a sitios de redes sociales que sus padres no utilizan o que ni siquiera conocen. Hay una manera de controlar las redes sociales de sus hijos sin tener que conectarse. A través de controles parentales en los dispositivos de sus hijos, los padres pueden restringir y monitorear el uso de aplicaciones de redes sociales. Hable con su hijo y asegúrese de conocer todos los sitios que utiliza y cómo

se utilizan. Una herramienta útil para esto es un sitio llamado DFINOW.org. Es gratuito y tiene un directorio de sitios de redes sociales. El directorio también les dice a los padres lo que necesitan saber sobre cada sitio y qué tan seguros son. Además, independientemente de las aplicaciones que permita que utilicen sus hijos, debe asegurarse de informarles sobre la configuración de privacidad de esas aplicaciones. Los ciberdelincuentes están en todas partes. Queremos educar a nuestros hijos para que utilicen contraseñas seguras y asegurarnos de que nunca le den una contraseña a nadie excepto a sus padres.

Durante los difíciles años de la adolescencia, su hijo querrá poner a prueba los límites. Querrán hacer y decir cosas que usted no aprobaría. Esta es la naturaleza humana básica. Es importante que comprenda y respete esto y al mismo tiempo les haga saber que pueden hablar con usted sobre cualquier tema. Al mismo tiempo, dé el ejemplo e inicie esas conversaciones difíciles con su hijo adolescente. Establece un ambiente cómodo para la comunicación abierta en su hogar.

Es muy importante tener una conversación sobre la seguridad y los límites de los teléfonos móviles. Establecer reglas y límites temprano ayudará cuando los niños estén fuera de la atenta mirada de los padres. Establecer cuánto tiempo al día se permite en las redes sociales también será beneficioso para su hijo. Demasiado tiempo en las redes sociales puede afectar la salud mental y el bienestar de un niño.

Finalmente, al mantener una comunicación abierta y trabajar para mantener a su hijo seguro en las redes sociales, podrá promover una interacción positiva en el mundo en línea.

Social media safety for teens

By Deputy Tim Simon Shelby Public Schools Resource Officer

Let’s face it, raising a teenager is tough. On one hand, you want to respect boundaries, giving your child the freedom to make choices and learn from their mistakes. On the other hand, you want to protect your child from all the dangers in today’s world. When it comes to online and internet safety, it can be very difficult for parents and teens alike. That is why it’s important to be involved with your teens’ online and social media activity. Not every parent uses social media. If your teen is using social media, that is a good reason why you, as a parent, should be too. Even if you aren’t using social media actively, you should be friends with your teen so you can routinely check in and see what they are posting. This may give you another opportunity to see what is going on in the mind of your teenager. Also, it gives you an opportunity to see any inappropriate behavior or posts, such as posting personal information. Some teens are likely to express their problems on social media instead

Animal Shelter

Hey there, potential fans—uh, I mean, adopters! My name is Oscar. I’m a 4-year-old, 55-lb pit mix with more personality than a reality TV reunion show. Looking for a best friend who’s equal parts active, sweet, and absolutely ridiculous? Well, stop scrolling, because you’ve found him!

Let’s get this straight: I’m not just a dog—I’m an experience. When I’m not showing off my zoomie skills (self-proclaimed fastest in the backyard), I’m perfecting my comedic timing. Need a laugh? Watch me try to catch a treat mid-air. Spoiler alert: I’m terrible at it, but I guarantee you’ll cry-laugh.

I’m a big fan of the great outdoors. Hiking? Let’s do it! Walks? Grab the leash! Couch potato-ing after? Say less. I also specialize in “enthusiastic greetings,” which means you’ll never feel unappreciated when you come home.

Oscar is available for adoption from the Oceana County Animal Shelter. If interested, please call the shelter at 231-8615395. The adoption fee for cats is $35, and you receive certificates for $25 towards spay/neuter and $10 towards rabies if not already done. The adoption fee for dogs is $95 and you will receive a $50 certificate good for spay/neuter, if needed. Every dog should have an ID tag. L.A.S.S.I. provides free dog ID tags to all Oceana County residents. To request tags, send a text to 231-730-3906. Free tags are also available at the Oceana County Animal Shelter.

Hello, I’m Buttercup! I’m a kitten with a heart full of love and a spirit full of play. I love to chase my tail, and nothing beats a good old game of hide and seek. I’m gentle and sweet, but don’t let that fool you; I can be quite independent too. I love to explore and find new hidey-holes. My favorite time of the day is when I curl up in a cozy corner for a catnap. But what I would love more than anything is to have a forever home where I can share my love and playfulness. Adopt me, and let’s make a lifetime of memories together!

If you would like to adopt Buttercup, please fill out an application through the OCAF Facebook page: Oceana County Animal Friends or online at: oceanacountyanimalfriends. wordpress.com

of openly facing them at home.

Most kids will go to social media sites their parents are not using or don’t even know about. There is a way to keep tabs on your kids’ social media without ever going online. Through parental controls on their kids’ devices, parents can restrict and monitor the use of social media apps. Talk to your child and make sure you know every site they are using and how those sites are used. A helpful tool for this is a site called DFINOW.org. It is free and has a directory of social media sites. The directory also tells parents what they need to know about each site and how safe they are. Also, whatever apps you are allowing your kids to use, you want to make sure to educate them on the privacy settings for those apps. Cybercriminals are everywhere. We want to educate our kids to use strong passwords and make sure they never give a password to anyone except a parent.

During the difficult teenage years, your child

will want to test boundaries. They will want to do and say things that you would not approve of. This is basic human nature. It’s important that you understand and respect this while letting them know they can talk to you about anything. At the same time, lead by example and initiate those difficult discussions with your teen. It establishes a comfortable environment for open communication in your home. It is very important to have a discussion about cell phone safety and boundaries. Establishing rules and boundaries early will help when kids are outside the watchful eyes of parents. Establishing how much time in a day is allowed on social media will be beneficial for your kid also. Too much time on social media can affect a kid’s mental health and well-being.

Finally, by having open communication and working to keep your kid safe on social media, you will be able to promote positive interaction in the online world.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Newfield Township Planning Commission will be holding a Public Hearing Tuesday, March 11, 2025 beginning at 7:00 PM at the Newfield Township Hall, 3890 S. 198th Ave Hesperia, MI. to take public comments on a Sand and Gravel Mine Permit Application requested by Rick Mansfield and Sons Excavating LLC for property at 7400 E M-20 Hesperia, MI.

The Sand and Gravel Pit Permit is to allow mining activity in a C-1 Zoning District. This property is zoned for commercial activities. This will be the only opportunity for public input on this application. Written responses will be read, however they must be received at the Newfield Township Hall, 3890 S 198th Ave Hesperia, MI. by Friday March 7, 2025 to be considered.

Addi Hovey becomes Hart’s All-Time leading scorer in blowout win over Hesperia

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

HART – In four years of varsity action for Hart’s Addi Hovey, dominance on the basketball court has become a nightly occurrence. That dominance led Hovey to another career benchmark, becoming Hart’s all-time scoring leader in a 79-8 win over Hesperia Friday, Feb. 14. Hovey surpassed Amy Pickard Contreras’ former record of 1,303 points, which was set

back in 1995.

“I have a lot of great teammates who have been there to push me. I couldn’t have done it by myself,” Hovey said. “It takes a lot of work, and it means a lot (to me). Records are meant to be broken, but this kind of stuff doesn’t come easy.” It took less than four minutes for Hovey to move into the history books against Hesperia. Trailing the record by just five points, she scored six in the opening frame, prompting a pause in ac-

New record continued on page 11

3 Panthers qualify for individual wrestling state finals

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

Out of the four Hesperia wrestlers that made the trip to D4 individual regionals in St. Louis, Mich. Saturday, Jan. 15, three will be moving on to the state finals in Detroit.

Noah Walker, Aiden Smith, Dominick Smith and Skyler Stalbaum each qualified for the regional tournament, placing in the top four in last week’s districts.

The Panthers’ big winner was Stalbaum (144-pounds), earning a regional title with a

SPORTS

Hart wrestlers clean house, qualify nine for individual state finals

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

HART – Nine grapplers from Hart’s wrestling team were in contention Saturday, Feb. 15 as the Pirates tried to punch their tickets to Ford Field in Detroit.

There weren’t many anxious moments in Hart’s home gym, as all nine regional wrestlers placed in the top four and advanced to the individual state finals.

Alex Hicks, Haegan Hansen, Adrian Lara, Jordan Thies, Kole Thomas and Ty Thomas all opted to leave any drama at the door, winning their first two matches and taking the quickest route to the state finals. For Michael Chavira, Halen Boos and Logan Jorissen, the trip was a bit more difficult.

All three – Chavira (113-pounds), Boos (132-lbs.) and Jorissen (144lbs.) – lost their initial matches, pushing them into the consolation bracket. Luckily, none found themselves on the wrong end of

first place finish. Stalbaum went undefeated, winning his first two matches by technical fall and 8-0 major decision to advance to the finals. Stalbaum then took down his opponent in the first place match with a pin and now owns a 47-3 record in his senior season.

Walker (285-lbs.) followed up Stalbaum’s impressive day with a second place finish. Walker (37-11 record) won by 13-8 decision and 3-2 tiebreaker to advance to the finals. He ended up losing in the first place

elimination, earning them a spot in the third place matches for their weight classes.

Chavira lost his first match by 10-5 decision, but bounced back with a pin, before winning by 4-0 decision. Chavira dropped the third place match by pin, and now owns a 24-11 record this season.

Boos was pinned in his first bout of the day, but dominated his first consolation match with a win by technical fall. Boos proceeded to win by 9-2 decision to earn a state qualification, but fell by pin in his third place match to leave his season record at 33-13.

Jorissen struggled early, getting sent to the consolation bracket after falling by pin in 22 seconds. Jorissen (40-17) then won by technical fall and 7-3 decision, ending his day with a loss by pin in the third place match.

Hansen, Hicks, Thies and Ty Thomas all won their first two matches by pins. Hicks (52-2) and Ty Thomas (44-5) then earned pins in their first place matches, earning individual regional titles.

Hansen (43-12) fell in his first place match by pin.

Kole Thomas (45-8) won by pin and 14-1 major decision to get into the first place match, winning that one by 2-0 decision.

Lara (44-8) won by pin and technical fall, but couldn’t get the best of Reed City’s Wyatt Spalo – who he’s matched up with and lost to, three times this postseason – in the finals, falling by pin. Thies (3810) won twice by pin to move to the finals, but ultimately took second after losing by technical fall.

Topping off Saturday’s winners, Hart Head Coach Rocky Smith was named the Michigan Wrestling Association Regional Coach of the Year.

All nine of Hart’s state qualifiers will be back in action this coming weekend for the team’s state quarterfinals. The No. 5 seeded Pirates will take on No. 4 Allegan at The Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo Friday, Feb. 21 at 4:30 p.m.

Individual state finals will take place Friday, Feb. 28 at Ford Field in Detroit.

Two Shelby wrestlers advance to individual state finals

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

HART – Shelby sent three individual athletes to the regional tournament in Hart over the weekend, advancing two to the state finals.

Brody Fessenden and Jaylin Henderson escaped the district tournament, despite both competing in the 157-pound weight class. Unfortunately, the same didn’t happen on Saturday, Feb. 15 at regionals.

from Ogemaw Heights, earning a pin after just 30 seconds. Fessenden didn’t pin his first opponent from Grayling, but he did win by 10-2 major decision. 1-0 records to start advanced both to the champions bracket, where they needed just one more win to qualify for the state finals. However, Fessenden and Henderson found themselves on the same side of the bracket, meaning only one would qualify, sending the other to the blood round.

That didn’t stop Henderson and Fessenden from having a bit of fun.

Henderson dominated his first match of the day with an opponent

wrestling continued on page 11 Hesperia wrestling continued on page 11

HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE

Nine Hart wrestlers qualified for the individual state finals, placing in the top four inside their home gym Saturday, Feb. 15. Alex Hicks and Ty Thomas also earned regional titles, placing first in their weight classes. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Shelby’s Brody Fessenden (left) and Jaylin Henderson (right) both qualified for the state finals, despite having to wrestle each other at regionals in Hart Saturday, Feb. 15. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Shelby wrestling

In perhaps one of the highest scoring wrestling matches of the year, both Shelby wrestlers donned smiles as they took turns exchanging points. It wasn’t until the score reached 27-27 that Fessenden took a fall, allowing Henderson to take the win by pin and earn a state finals appearance.

Fessenden headed to the consolation bracket, faced with a blood round that would either see him a state qualifier or eliminated entirely. Fessenden had control of his consolation match from the jump, taking his time and ultimately holding on to a win by 7-1 decision.

Both Fessenden and Henderson moved on to the finals with Henderson competing for first, and Fessenden for third.

Henderson fell in the first place

continued from page 10

match, leaving him in second place and with a 47-7 record heading into the state finals. Fessenden (45-11) won his third place match, winning by medical forfeit.

Juan Brito (120-lbs.) was the final Shelby wrestler who made it to regionals. Brito didn’t have his best day, losing by technical fall in his first match before getting pinned to finish his day. Brito – who finished his season at 3220 – looked to have his second match under control, leading 12-6 in the third and final round. Brito saw momentum shift with just 17 seconds left as his opponent from Cheboygan got on top and earned a pin in the final seconds.

Henderson and Fessenden will compete at Ford Field in Detroit for the D3 individual state finals Friday, Feb. 28.

Hesperia wrestling

match, falling by a narrow 1-0 decision.

Dominick Smith (138-lbs.) was the last qualifier for Hesperia, winning his first match by technical fall, before being sent to the consolation bracket with a 9-2 loss by decision. Dominick won his blood round match by 14-8 decision, placing him in the third place match. Dominick (31-15 record) won that third place match in a close battle by 14-10 decision.

Aiden Smith (126-lbs.) was unable

New record

tion as the team gathered on the court to celebrate.

Hart Head Coach Travis Rosema has watched Hovey blossom from an athletically gifted child, to a young freshman finding her way, and now the face of the program.

“I remember when she was in third grade, doing hand stands across the gym,” Rosema said. “You could come in here on the weekend, and you’d find her, Jayd (Hovey’s sister) and Parker (Hovey’s brother) working on their game. You don’t get here without help, but it’s just a lot of things coming together at the right time.”

Hart had a relatively stress-free time the rest of the night. In fact, the only thing the Pirates didn’t have an answer for, was which player on their bench was going to score next.

continued from page 10 continued

to qualify for the state finals, after going 1-2 overall on the day. Aiden won his first match by 15-2 major decision, but was sent to the consolation matches after losing by technical fall. Smith lost his blood round match, falling by 9-3 decision and finished his season with a 27-15 record.

Stalbaum, Walker and Dominick Smith will all wrestle at Ford Field in Detroit for the D4 individual state finals Friday, Feb. 28.

Hart boys can’t miss, down

Hesperia on the road

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

HESPERIA – The basket appeared to grow in size after each quarter for Hart’s boys basketball team, as the Pirates enjoyed an impressive night shooting in a 62-33 win over Hesperia Thursday, Feb. 13.

A rocky start for both sides saw the first quarter end with neither eclipsing double-digits in points. Still, Hart did enough on offense to compliment their stingy defense, owning an 8-4 lead and keeping the Panthers’ Ethan O’Neill from having too large of an effect.

“(O’Neill) took us by surprise (in the two teams’ first matchup earlier in the season). He took a really big jump athletically. Tonight, our goal defensively was to keep their guards in front,” Hart Head Coach Nick Bronsema said. “That way if they beat us off the dribble, they couldn’t dump the pass to the inside.”

Hart’s offense hit its stride in the second quarter, going on a 13-4 run before the two teams exchanged four free throws each to end the frame. That propelled the Pirates to a 23-11 lead and only added fuel to the fire for the second half.

The Pirates enjoyed their best quarter of shooting in the third, nearly doubling their first half output in just eight minutes of play. Seven different shooters got involved for Hart, compiling 22 points. Hesperia tried to keep up, but heroics from Andrew Sherburn weren’t enough to stop the bleeding.

With a 25 point lead heading into the final quarter, Hart deployed the bench as they raced toward the finish line.

“(Hesperia) has a group that has been on varsity for three, if not four years. With their starting five, anything can

happen. We weren’t taking anything for granted tonight,” Bronsema said.

Hart was led by junior Jagger Lenon with 12 points while senior Brendan Hiddema followed up with nine points and six rebounds. Freshman guard Kolton Rockwell followed up with an identical stat line to Hiddema. Caleb Ackley led the team with eight rebounds.

For Hesperia, it was O’Neill who led with 12 points, followed by Sherburn with seven and Jared Tanner with four.

The Pirates improved to 14-7 overall and now sit at 8-3 in the WMC Rivers. With a win over Holton in the team’s final regular season game, the Pirates can secure a second place finish in the conference right before the district tournament starts next week.

Hesperia fell to 6-14 overall and now stands at 3-7 in the WMC Rivers. The Panthers have one regular season game remaining before they travel to Shelby Monday, Feb. 24 for a district quarterfinals matchup with Manistee. That game will be played at 7 p.m.

All 10 athletes found the bottom of the net at least once, including Sarah Kranz – a foreign exchange student from Germany who has seen limited minutes this season.

Hovey led the way with 19 points, five rebounds and five steals, while Na-

talie Rosema added 11 points, three rebounds and two assists. Macy Riley and Rilynn Porter each tallied 10 points, with Porter also leading the team in assists with six. Kelsey Copenhaver was the team’s leading rebounder with seven. The Pirates moved to 16-1 with the win over Hesperia, and have since won two games over Western Michigan Christian and Ravenna. The win over the Bulldogs Wednesday, Feb. 19 secured them their fourth consecutive WMC Rivers title.

Gritty work on the boards lead Pentwater boys over Shelby

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

PENTWATER – In a crossover between D3 and D4 schools, it was Pentwater’s boys basketball team that got the better of Shelby in a 70-57 win for the Falcons Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Tenacity on the boards is what defined the victory for Pentwater. The Falcons pulled in 57 rebounds as a team, a mark that proved to be 30 more than Shelby. While the size of Mikey Carlson down low led the team in that regard, it was the effort of Pentwater’s guards down low that got the job done.

Carlson had 15 rebounds to lead the team in a double-double performance, but Jonny Arnouts – the shortest player on the court – followed up with nine rebounds of his own. Trey Johnson and Kaleb Brown each pulled in eight rebounds as well, while Nathan Macher tallied 13.

“57 rebounds is what I have us down for. That’s a lot in any game,” Pentwater Head Coach Ashley Lubera said. “Shelby was challenging. They have some size down low and they were making us work and box out. Nathan Macher was relentless on the boards and Mikey (Carlson) and Kaleb (Brown) were exceptional as well.”

Those rebounds proved key for the Falcons, as 29 of them came on the offensive side, giving them extra chances at points – something they needed after a tight first half.

After stomping out to a 6-2 run in the early minutes of the first quarter, Shelby found answers on two major shots from deep. Griffin Olmstead and Eli Kelley each made one from three-point range, pulling the score to 16-14 in favor of Pentwater.

The Falcons were able to push their lead out a bit in the second quarter, taking a 30-24 lead into halftime.

That Pentwater lead more than doubled in the third quarter. Carlson and Brown led the way, setting up the Falcons with a 50-36 advantage heading into the final frame.

Shelby started the fourth quarter with a major lull on offense. After Leighton

Belasco scored the first points of that stanza, the Tigers watched Pentwater score six times without an answer. Kelley and Zaiden Harris tried to close in late with back-to-back makes on three pointers, but time ran out on the late game heroics.

The Falcons were led by Carlson who added 27 points to go along with his 15 rebounds. Arnouts scored 10 points, adding six assists and two steals. Johnson had 17 points while Brown had 14. Carlson is primed for a bit of history, needing just 11 points to reach 1,000 for his career. With one regular season game left, Carlson will likely eclipse that number and join only 13 other Falcons to do so in school history.

Shelby was led by Kelley who had 11 points. Harris added nine points while Belasco, DayDay Garcia and Evan Waller each had eight.

Pentwater improved to 18-2 overall and will face Mesick with the chance to put a bow on a West Michigan D League conference title.

Shelby fell to 3-18 overall and will prepare for a non-conference battle with Orchard View before districts start on Monday, Feb. 24. The Tigers host districts and will play White Cloud in the first round.

Pentwater’s Mikey Carlson rises up for a floater in front of the rim. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Hart’s Addi Hovey poses with her teammates after breaking the school’s all time scoring mark. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Hart senior Brendan Hiddema rises up toward the rim. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Reflections

Reflections of our community

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Playhouse committee has first meeting

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — The city-appointed White Lake Playhouse sustainability committee met for the first time last Thursday afternoon to discuss ways to address the Playhouse's current financial issues. The committee also set a second meeting for Thursday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. at the Playhouse.

As of November 2024, the Playhouse had a negative cash balance for the fiscal year that exceeded $76,000. The Whitehall city council decided that month to form a sustainability committee, following a request from the Playhouse for a $100,000 loan from the city that was not granted. The committee's composition was finalized in January.

The meeting included Whitehall mayor Steven Salter, city manager Scott Huebler, city council member Tom Ziemer, deputy clerk Brook Schiller and several local business owners. Multiple business owners who were appointed to the committee were unable to be present at the meeting.

Much of the meeting revolved around collecting ideas for additional events the Playhouse could host to bring in more money, though a lengthy public comment period also reignited the debate among some area residents whether the city should own or help subsidize the Playhouse at all. Salter, for his part, stated at the end of the meeting that although he believes it's unlikely the Playhouse will ever be fully self-sufficient, he was proud to

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

support it with his own contributions and through voting in favor of the city's helping to subsidize it. Huebler said that based on financial figures over

the past 10 years, he estimated about $35,000 of city money would be need-

Playhouse meeting

continued on page 2

Lakeside Solar takes first step in reviving facility

Company reps met with White River Twp. officials this month

with White River Twp. officials this month

Company reps met with White River Twp. officials this month

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Lakeside Solar has taken the first step towards reviving its proposed solar energy facility under the new state law governing the siting of renewable energy facilities, the White River Township board announced at its Feb. 11 meeting.

The company, following processes outlined in the state's Public Act 233, met with township supervisor Ron Bailey and zoning administrator Bill Schmiege Feb. 6, Bailey said.

taken the step towards reviving its proposed solar energy facility under the new state law energy facilities, the White River Township board announced at its Feb. 11 meeting.

The company, following processes in the state's Act 233, met with township supervisor Ron Bailey and zoning administrator Bill Schmiege Feb. 6, Bailey said.

The company, following processes outlined in the state's Public Act 233, met with township supervisor Ron Bailey and zoning administrator Bill Schmiege Feb. 6, Bailey said.

"They shared their preliminary project," Bailey said. "It's not finalized yet as a formal application, but they met with me and (Schmiege)."

While the specifics of the proposal remain confidential, Bailey said it bears a resemblance to the original proposal that first became public in November 2022 and generated much

While the specifics of the proposal remain confidential, Bailey said it bears a resemblance to the original that first became public in November 2022 and generated much

public feedback. That proposal called for a 1,700-acre facility to be built in the township.

National Grid Renewables, the parent company of Lakeside Solar, had not returned a phone call seeking comment at press time.

PA233, which was passed in November 2023 and went into effect last November, granted siting authority for utility-scale renewable energy projects to the Michigan Public Services Commission in hopes of streamlining the process by which such facilities are

built. The law went into effect last November. Dozens of townships, White River and Montague included, have filed an appeal to stop the law's implementation, believing it takes away local control of the issue. While presiding judge Kristina Robinson Garrett permitted the appeal to go forward in January, she declined a request to stop enforcement of the law while the appeal is in progress.

White River

continued on page 2

Montague approves senior millage allocation

By Andy Roberts

Montague approves senior millage allocation

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE

MONTAGUE — The Montague city council voted 6-0 to approve its senior millage allocation from Muskegon County in three different ways at Monday's regular city council meeting. Lisa Kiel was not present, and the council voted 6-0 to excuse her from the meeting.

Of the $14,136 Montague was allocated, the bulk of the money - $10,930 - will be allocated to the Healthy Initiatives food program, which will provide vouchers to seniors to use at the Montague Farmers Market in 2025. Seniors will be able to register at the start of ev-

Montague city council voted its senior millage allocation Muskegon County different ways at Monday's Lisa Kiel the council voted to meeting. Of Montague allocated, the bulk of the money - $10,930 - will be allocated to the Healthy Initiatives food program, which provide vouchers at Montague Farmers Market in 2025. Seniors will be of ev-

ery month to receive four $5 coupons for use at the Farmers Market. The rest of the money will be used for Senior Center facility insurance and general operations, with up to $2,000 allocated for replacing the front doors, which have had faulty locks of late.

ery month to receive four $5 coupons for use the Farmers Market. The rest of the money will be used for Senior Center facility insurance and general operations, to $2,000 allocated for replacing the front doors, which have had faulty locks of late.

The food program will represent a slight departure from its administration in the past, when seniors received their entire allocation for the year up front. The new system is a result of feedback seniors gave and will make it easier for them to budget for products they are interested in throughout the year; in past years some seniors were finding they had spent their entire allocation by midsummer and would miss

The food program will represent a slight departure from its administration in the when seniors received their allocation for the year up front. The new system is a result of feedback seniors gave and will make it easier for to budget for products they interested in throughout the year; past years some seniors were finding they had spent their entire allocation by midsummer and would miss

out on being able to apply voucher money to products not available until later in the season. Council member Susan Newhof added that she's found it surprising, during her volunteer work at the White Lake Area Food Pantry, how many seniors come through, despite the allocation, and believes spreading out the food vouchers will help the situation.

There was some council discussion about work that needs to be done to the Senior Center building. All appeared in agreement that the city should pay for that work as it owns the building, but the council did approach the topic of how much support is desired for the Senior Center from surrounding town-

ships, as it is not only Montague city residents who use the building.

The council also approved a revised parks and recreation plan 5-1, with Paul Schultz dissenting. The only revision, according to city manager Jeff Auch, was that some pages that were in addendums at the end of the plan were moved into the plan proper by request of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Schultz shared his disagreement with some facets of the plan at the January council meeting.

Auch shared an update on a planned unit development, a duplex,

Rothbury council considers Green Lawn issue

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

ROTHBURY — The Rothbury village council had a lengthy discussion about what to do about zoning violations it says the Green Lawn mobile home park's owner has committed at Tuesday's monthly meeting, but no direct action was taken.

The council has been in contact with its attorney, Brennen Gorman of Parmenter Law, about the next steps

after a certified letter the village sent the Green Lawn owner, who was not named and whose name is not publicly available, came back unanswered. The council said Gorman has advised hiring a process server to deliver a letter to the Green Lawn owner.

The council has been in contact with its attorney, Brennen Gorman of Parmenter Law, about the next steps

The council's options appear to be somewhat limited. Police chief Ethan Walker offered that in his experience, courts do not care to deal with disputes about zoning violations. Attempts to get in contact with the owner seem un-

likely to get anywhere as the owner is not local and has proven hard to contact.

The council also engaged in a long discussion about the village budget; a public budget meeting is set for March 18 at 6:30 p.m. prior to the monthly council meeting. Among the items discussed was the possibility of the council members eschewing their monthly stipends - according to trustee Denise Kurdziel, each is paid $10 per meeting - to allow for slight raises to be given

to clerk Brandy Williams and treasurer Deb Murphy, whom Kurdziel says deserves them. The budget has not yet been approved, with that expected in the March 18 meeting.

Murphy, in turn, asked the council for ideas on suitable honors for Carol Witzke, the village's former clerk who is set to be the new zoning board secretary, and the late Anna Priese, long-

Rothbury

Members of the White Lake Playhouse sustainability committee discussed ideas to generate more revenue for the facility at its first meeting last Thursday.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Montague council

that has been proposed on Bowen Street. The proposal will be further refined at the planning commission level before being presented to the council. Another proposal, for duplex developments on Old Channel Trail, was rejected by the commission.

During the work session that followed the council meeting, the council discussed the July 4 fireworks, as the fireworks committee has decided to again use the boat launch area for the annual show. Multiple council members shared their disagreement with

the city's spending on the show, which will include a $2,500 allocation from the city and an additional $2,500 from the Downtown Development Authority. Schultz said he viewed the cost of the show - it costs $20,000 in all, with area municipalities providing funding - as "the biggest waste" in the city budget, and Newhof agreed. Mayor Tom Lohman noted that the council has discussed potential July 4 alternatives and to date has not settled on one that would replace the fireworks. The issue will be further discussed at

the March meeting.

The council also continued its discussion on the future of the Ferry Street lots adjacent to the Ferguson Family Dentistry office, which currently consist of green space. The city previously had a developer lined up for those parcels of land before they backed out due to a lack of clarity in the city's plan, hence its desire to have a clear plan to present.

No more than half of the potential development would include residential buildings. While plans are not finalized, Auch said the city would

Playhouse meeting

ed annually to even the Playhouse's books. He also noted that while the city's ownership of the Playhouse was unusual, it was not unheard of for smaller cities like Whitehall; he cited Muskegon County's partial subsidization of the county airport in Norton Shores as a similar arrangement.

Some public commenters agreed with Salter's outspoken support of the Playhouse, and others spoke against city subsidization, like council member Scott Brown, who noted he wanted to be on the committee but was not nominated by Salter. He stated his belief that the committee being solely composed of enthusiastic supporters of the Playhouse made it unable to be objective about the issues facing it. While Brown added that he has no ill will toward the Playhouse, he is skeptical there's enough support in the area to keep it running 12 months a year.

Playhouse manager Beth Beaman said during committee discussion that its current financial issues are not a surprise to her. According to Beaman, the Playhouse's current predicament is the result of a confluence of factors, including a downturn in donations and sponsorships (a 2016 capital campaign to fund Playhouse renovations produced heavy donations up front that have since declined) and inflation. Huebler added that in recent years, grant applications have grown much more competitive, making it difficult for the Playhouse to bring in as many awards from outside the area as it once did. In addition, the fact

that the city owns the Playhouse limits how many grants it is eligible to apply for.

The Friends of the White Lake Playhouse, which originally formed as a volunteer group to help the Playhouse with odd jobs but soon morphed into a fundraising organization, have long helped. In the long term, Beaman said, the group hopes to raise enough money to create an endowment, which would bring in regular money via interest to help keep things steady. Such a solution, though, appears some time off.

The committee considered several concepts of how to bring more revenue to the Playhouse, such as themed events - a Taylor Swift-themed event was an example discussed. All seemed to be in agreement that the Playhouse's Sip n' Savor series, the second event of which will take place Saturday, Feb. 22, was a good example of an idea that could generate rev-

enue. Another suggestion was hiring popular bands from the annual summer Walk the Beat festival for concerts. Better publicizing of events was discussed, with Salter stating he finds the Playhouse's website difficult to navigate and that its chief focus should be on making sure area people know about events taking place there.

There was some discussion about utilizing Howmet as a fundraiser; the company was once one of the Playhouse's biggest financial supporters, but Huebler said it has spent recent years largely focusing its charitable giving on STEM fields. However, he said there has been some turnover there recently and the Playhouse could approach Howmet again with fundraising ideas.

A couple of public comments in support of the Playhouse noted the lack of manpower at the building that makes it difficult to pursue fundraising. At the

likely prioritize keeping some of the green space in any development plan, which would also include an access alleyway next to the Ferguson office. The council continued to stress its desire for patience and care to be taken with the development, and Schultz said he'd like to see a town hall meeting scheduled for the specific purpose of gathering public feedback on the matter. No such meeting was set, with the council floating the possibility of hosting one in May.

Rothbury

time village treasurer, for their service to Rothbury. Witzke, who was in attendance, said she liked one suggestion of a plaque that would be placed on a bench in the village, possibly the one near Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church (Priese was also secretary there). No formal action was taken, however.

The council voted 6-0 - trustee Jim Fekken was not present - to authorize road closures surround-

White

ing the Electric Forest music festival, scheduled to take place June 19-22. The village was also asked to contribute $168.49 to the county's annual hazardous waste disposal day, which is in August. The council did not act on that request; Harris said very few Rothbury residents participated in the event last year, and municipal contribution to the event is not required to allow residents to participate.

moment, Beaman is the only full-time Playhouse employee, with Cindy Beth Davis-Dykema working part-time. Commenters stated that hiring an employee to be responsible for pursuing grant opportunities would enable Beaman and Davis-Dykema, who are both part of that task now, to handle other tasks. Another commenter asked about utilziing TIFA or LDFA funds for the Playhouse, but the committee replied that the Playhouse is in neither district. However, the LDFA has provided some marketing support in the past.

The committee will explore more concrete short-term ideas at its Feb. 27 meeting. Beaman thanked community members for coming to the meeting, and several members of the committee expressed excitement for the possibility of being able to help.

Under the law, municipalities may retain local authority with compatible renewable energy ordinances (CREOs), provided they are no more restrictive to renewable energy facilities than PA233 is. White River Township approved the creation of a renewable energy district last fall that it believes qualifies as a CREO.

Bailey said the next step of the process calls for a public hearing to share the proposalLakeside Solar held such a hearing in 2023 when

making its original proposal - and he expects one to be scheduled soon. Around that time, a formal application will be submitted to the township board.

"It's very ambiguous still on the state level how this will play out, which is why we're part of the appeal," Bailey said. "It's important that every community is involved in their own area, asking questions and learning how to be involved, so we can be involved, as opposed to the decisions being made by the state."

Saturday, Feb. 22

Penny Rushing performs @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 7 p.m.

Distracted performs @ Pub One Eleven, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 23

White Lake Ukulele Club meets @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 1 p.m. All are welcome. Penny Rushing teaches on stage.

Monday, Feb. 24

Silent Reading Club meets @ White Lake Community Library, 5:30 p.m. Enjoy an hour of quiet reading with the book of your choice, fol-

Community Calendar

lowed by an optional 15-minute period of discussion.

Tuesday, Feb. 25

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

Family Storytime @ MADL Montague branch, 11:15 a.m. For kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers.

Foley Schuler, Blue Lake Public Radio’s weekday classical music host, speaks on “Celebrating Charles Ives at 150” @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 26

Youth Open Studio @ ACWL-Nu-

veen Center, 3-5 p.m. Bring in projects you’re working on or start something new with help from staff.

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

Thursday, Feb. 27

Adult Open Studio @ ACWL-Nuveen Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring studio materials from home or explore available supplies in the classroom.

Kuang-Hao Huang performs a solo piano recital @ Dave Myers Performing Arts Studio of Blue Lake Public Radio, 2 p.m. To claim a free tick-

et, provided through the White Lake Community Fund, contact director Sondra Cross at 231-329-3056.

1-2-3 Play With Me @ White Lake Community Library, 5:30 p.m. Designed for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers, with an early childhood specialist available to answer questions. Free event, but registration required at wlclib.org.

Karaoke with DJ Kozmo @ Jimmy'z Pub, 8 p.m.

Echoes of History: Montague school destroyed (Pt. 1)

By Barbara Bedau Brow Volunteer Contributor

"Building and Contents Total Loss - Valued at $20,000 - With Insurance of Only $9,500. Schools Now Held in Churches."

This was a headline summary of an article that greeted readers of The Montague Observer Thursday, Nov. 13, 1919.

Fire destroyed Montague’s central school building the previous Friday, Nov. 7, together with its contents of valuable records, books, maps, splendidly equipped laboratory and library, furniture, etc. Everything was devoured by the flames, and not even a scrap of paper was saved, so rapidly did the fire spread throughout the interior of the building.

It was fully three-quarters of an hour after the fire was discovered on the second floor of the building in Miss Johnson’s room, before the firemen got a stream of water on the fire. This was no fault of the fire department, however, as they responded promptly after the alarm had finally been sounded. The delays were caused by some difficulty in getting a message through the telephone office. The other delay was in getting water

pressure, owing to a defective suction pipe at the power house. Contrary to rumors that were circulated, Engineer Cote was at the power house and had the pumps working a few minutes after the alarm was given.

The origin of the fire is a mystery, although some think it started from the furnace stack and that the fire had been smoldering all afternoon before it finally broke out at 9 p.m. Some of the teachers recall having detected the odor of heated varnish during the latter part of the day, but as fumes of gas often escaped from the furnace, it was laid to that and nothing more was thought of it. Supt. Chase was in the building about 7 p.m. the night of the fire but saw nothing wrong. Fred Noordhof was probably the first one to see the fire from his home. He first saw a light in the window, which went out and was succeeded by a brighter one. In another moment flames burst out in the room which convinced him the building was on fire and he then gave the alarm.

All that remained of the imposing school building was the grim brick walls and the brick chimney in the center, a skeleton of the structure that stood for 44 years, and in whose halls

of learning hundreds of youth were fitted for life’s battles. It is indeed a sad sight, especially to those who look back to their childhood days spent in this institution, many of whom are yet living in this community.

The total loss was difficult to estimate, but it was safe to say the building and its valuable contents could not be replaced today for $25,000. The total insurance carried was $9,500.

Come digitize your old photos at the library

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

Do you have a box of old family photos you’ve been meaning to digitize? Stop by the library and give our new photo scanner a try! It’s easy to use and works quickly. Just place a stack of photos in the feeder tray and press the start button. The scanner will create a digital copy of each photo, front and back, in just a few seconds. (You might be wondering why the back of the photo? Many old photos have dates or handwritten notes about the people in the picture on the back.) The digital files are saved in folders that you can name, and then you can store them on a flash drive. Digital photos are easier to organize, share, and preserve. Now is the perfect time - especially during a cold, snowy February - to tackle this project.

The scanner can handle photos of various sizes up to 8” x 10”, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re scanning photos or other documents. What about grandma’s box of family recipes that everyone wants a copy of? In just a few minutes, you can have them all digitized and sent to every single cousin! There is no charge to use the scanner, but you’ll need a flash drive to store the files. You are welcome to bring your own or purchase one from the library for $3.

FUN FACT: Did you know the average U.S. citizen takes 20 digital photos each day? Of those photos, it is estimated that only 1 in 100,000 will be printed.

The All-Electric Home

Ready to revolutionize your home's energy future? Hear about one family’s experience converting their home entirely to electricity at White Lake Community Library Wednesday, March 5, at 6 p.m. Learn how converting to all-electric systems can lower your utility bills, reduce your carbon footprint, and create a healthier living space.

Lori Coleman of the White Lake Area Climate Action Council will share

the basics of the process, including how heat pump systems work in cold climates and provide both heat in the winter and cooling in the summer. Whether you're planning a full home conversion or just curious about your options, you'll leave with practical knowledge to make informed decisions about electrifying your home. There is no charge to attend, but registration is appreciated at wlclib.org.

Other upcoming adult programs include the Silent Book Club at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 and the Grandmothers Group at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25. Save the date for “Great Lakes Shipwreck Whiskey” Wednesday, March 19 at 6 p.m. This will be a fascinating presentation about shipwrecks and an unusual connection with craft Michigan whiskey. More details coming soon.

Explore Our Library of Things for Kids!

Did you know that our library offers more than just books? Our Library of Things for children is a great way to explore new activities, learn, and have fun! We have a variety of items you can borrow, including puzzles, games, and musical instruments like tongue

drums and kalimbas. Enjoy classic fun with an Etch-a-Sketch, or for outdoor adventures, check out our metal detector that is just the right size for kids.

In addition to toys and games, we also offer educational resources such as phonics kits, themed backpacks filled with books and activities, and STEAM kits that inspire creativity and learning in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Best of all, these items are completely free to borrow with your library card! Stop by today and discover something new to try at home.

1875-1919 – Montague’s original Central School Building, which housed all grade levels 1-12. • Courtesy Photo

Lake Mirror Lake Mirror

NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE community

Vikes celebrate senior night in style with win

All seven seniors get heavy minutes in game

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — After a pair of tough losses earlier in the week, Whitehall came out of the locker room Friday night playing like a group with a new lease on life, hitting six first-quarter three-pointers and cruising to an 81-41 win over Fremont.

The Vikings' seven seniors all got to play heavy minutes in the win, which was the team's final regular-season home game. Whitehall will also host the district tournament.

"We have seven seniors and I wanted to make sure all of them played," senior Brock Morningstar said. "I didn't even want to play in the second half. I told Coach that. Those are guys that work harder than me at practice and they deserve the spot over me. I let Christian Gomez go in my spot because I felt like he deserved it."

Motivated by the desire to let the reserve seniors have a lot of time on the court, Whitehall (16-5, 10-1 West Michigan Conference Lakes) stormed ahead quickly, scoring an amazing 30 points in the first quarter. Morningstar, Hunter Osborne and Cy Black each hit two treys to help build an insurmountable 30-8 lead.

It may have appeared coincidental

•

that Whitehall shot so well early on, but coach Christian Subdon said it was a byproduct of the team taking care of the basketball, which was a problem in the previous game against Manistee.

"We really valued the ball tonight, and we haven't done that in a few games," Subdon said. "Weirdly enough, shots went in. We can really shoot it if we move the ball and get open shots."

The onslaught never let up for Whitehall, even as the team did a lot of substituting to get everybody into the game. Almost everyone on the roster scored, including Alex Winczewski,

Senior night continued on page 6

Whitehall hosts regionals, sends 3 atop podium

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — Three Whitehall regional champions highlighted a good day of Division 3 regional wrestling Saturday at Whitehall, as nine local wrestlers in all qualified for the March 1-2 state finals at Ford Field.

Gavin Craner, Wyatt Jenkins and Liam Leeke each celebrated regional titles. Leeke, at 157 pounds, fought his way to the top of the podium with a major decision and a decision, and in the finals he edged Derek Rodenburg of Kent City in a hard-fought 8-6 victory, earning himself a preferred seed in the state bracket.

Craner and Jenkins, both ranked No. 1 in the state in their weight classes, rolled through the brackets with three consecutive pins. Craner spent a cumulative 2:41 on the mat, and through two rounds of the postseason he's been on the mat for 5:04 as he pinned all his opponents. Jenkins capped his run of pins by taking only 28 seconds to finish off Kyhis Malone of Corunna in the finals match.

Four local grapplers finished third, each posting 3-1 records. Cody Manzo took third at 120 pounds, earning a technical fall and a major decision along the way.

Montague's three state qualifiers all finished third. The Wildcats' Isaac French had one of the day's most dramatic wins at 175, defeating Grand Rapids West Catholic's Collin Abram in a 16-

•

13 overtime triumph in the blood round to get into the state meet; the win was all the more impressive since Abram entered the day as the regional's top seed. Maverick Osborne pinned three consecutive opponents after losing a first-round matchup at 285 to earn his spot, and Fletcher Thommen won three tough decisions to pick up third place at 150.

"French really wrestled outstanding despite the first-round loss Saturday," Montague coach Kris Maddox said. "Osborne made a mistake in his firstround loss but made up for it by pinning the same kid to place third. Thommen dropped a semifinal match I’m sure he wished he could get back. He was win-

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

ning the match when he got caught and pinned.

"I’m really proud of these three guys. They have been multi-sport athletes and contributors to all the teams they represent at Montague. They are true examples of selfless athletes that I would love to see other athletes at Montague follow."

Also qualifying for Whitehall were Caden Varela at 138 and Billy Darke Jr. at 215, each placing fourth with 2-2 marks. Varela scored two bonus-point wins - a pin and a major decision - and Darke earned two decision wins.

Vikings Colton Kyser, Blake English

and Max Krukowski each won one match but were unable to get the pivotal second needed to qualify for state.

Regional qualifiers ending their individual seasons included Isaac O'Boyle, Tommy Leeke and Jason Sheaffer from Whitehall and Kaiden Jeffery, Gavyn Maddox and Malachi Plunkett from Montague.

R-P qualifies 3 to state

Three of Reeths-Puffer's regional qualifiers took it a step further Satur-

Whitehall's Camden Thompson soars to the basket while Fremont's Logan McLain defends during Friday's WMC Lakes game at Whitehall. The Vikings won big, 81-41.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall's Caden Varela (right) tries to score back points against Frankenmuth's EJ Bernthal during Saturday's individual regional tournament at Whitehall. Varela was one of nine local wrestlers to qualify for state at the tournament.

Whitehall's Kal Koehler flies to the basket for a dunk during Friday's game against Fremont. The Vikings won, 81-41.

Andy Roberts/Mirror

Montague's Fletcher Thommen goes for a takedown against Montrose's Gauge Vincke during Saturday's individual regional tournament. Thommen took 3rd and qualified for state.

Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall's Hunter Osborne tries to work his way past Fremont's Colson Buitendorp during Friday's game against Fremont. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall pleased with improvement in loss

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — The score said what it always says when Fremont plays against a West Michigan Conference Lakes opponent Friday night, but despite a 60-28 defeat, Whitehall was largely pleased with its performance against the conference's best.

Fremont has defeated every WMC Lakes foe by at least 16 points - and every one that isn't second-place Ludington by at least 27 - so that the Packers ultimately pulled away was no surprise. However, the Vikings played a very good first quarter and trailed just 20-12 at the end of it. But for a couple of missed opportunities on 2-on1 breaks, the game might have been even closer at that point.

Coach Brian Milliron said his team got too unselfish on a couple of those opportunities, resulting in excessive passing and ultimately turnovers.

"We have some girls that are very pass-happy and very unselfish, and I need them to be more selfish," Milliron said. "They catch the ball in a 2-on-1, 3-on-2 situation and we have to attack the basket. We can't look to pass or whatever it is that we were trying to do there. We have to attack the basket."

That the Vikings (9-10, 4-6 WMC Lakes) had those chances at all, though, was a step up from their first

meeting with Fremont, in which they gave up the first 15 points and were never in a position to make Fremont sweat. Whitehall's improved showing came while shorthanded, with Drew Buckner and Mansah Waller both out sick.

Fremont took over after the first quarter, as it so often does. Consecutive three-pointers by Packer star Mia Clemence extended the visitors' lead to 29-14, and it kept growing from there.

With the game decided, though, Whitehall was able to celebrate a couple of bright spots, as seniors Grace

Regional wrestling

day at Portage Northern, punching tickets to the Division 1 state meet.

Ian Cook was the Rockets' highlight, running his perfect record to 48-0 with a pair of pins and a major decision win in the 144-pound finals against Xander Courneya of Brighton.

R-P's Max Knowlton (106 pounds) and Sage Secrest (215) each posted 2-2 records to finish fourth and earn state bids. Both fought their way to close decision wins in the pivotal blood round to prevent their seasons coming to an end; Knowlton edged Benjamin Jackson of Grandville 5-3 in that round, and Secrest downed John Schepers of Hudsonville 4-1 in the same round.

Devin Welch won one match for the Rockets before bowing out of the tournament, and Travis Henderson and Tanner Cowles ended impressive freshman campaigns.

3 girls headed to state

Three area girls wrestlers earned spots at next week's state finals Sunday at the regional tournament in Cadillac, with two making the regional finals.

Montague senior Ava Pelton brought home a 145-pound regional championship in impressive fashion, earning a revenge pin over Grant's Markie Davis in the finals. Davis defeated Pelton in overtime in the district finals match. Pelton earned a pin and a major decision in her first two matches.

"Ava, a soccer standout, finds wrestling as a secondary sport and has been really successful," Montague coach Kris Maddox said.

McDowell and Megan LeaTrea were able to score their first field goals of the season - McDowell's even came while being fouled.

"We've been waiting all season (for that)," a smiling Clare Westerlund said after the game, deeming those her favorite moments of the night. "Especially against Fremont, it makes it even more fun because it's the best team in the conference."

That positive atmosphere was obvious among the team as, although it went in the book as a loss, the game represented an opportunity to grow, and the team felt that's what happened. With a tough district coming

continued from page 4

"It’s amazing to see how much she has accomplished in her four years wrestling."

Whitehall's Kassie Sapp also earned a finals spot at 115 pounds, placing second after a tough overtime defeat against Grand Haven's Gracey Barry, who also topped Sapp at the district tournament. Sapp picked up two pin victories prior to the finals.

Taylor Moore qualified at 235 for the Wildcats with a fourthplace finish. Moore went 2-2 on the day, and fought her way to state with a dramatic 1-0 victory in the blood round against Northview's McKayla Brown.

Whitehall's Miley Manzo finished 1-2 with a technical fall win, missing state qualification by one win. The Wildcats' Zaniya Meza and Reeths-Puffer's Sidney Shackelford each ended their individual seasons at the regional meet. Maddox said Meza's bracket was "loaded," with multiple stateranked opponents, and she's put in a lot of work this season.

Whitehall's Gavin Craner picks up Millington's Chase Miostan for a takedown during Saturday's individual regional tournament at Whitehall.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Montague assistant coach Andrew Nold picked up his second career assistant girls wrestling coach of the year award during the tournament. The award is presented by the state coaches' association.

up - one of the teams in it, Spring Lake, is one of the two teams to beat Fremont this year - that's the main focus for the Vikes.

"We wanted to do better than we did last time, and get better a little bit each day," Milliron said. "I thought the kids did. Obviously, they're bigger than us, they're faster than us and they're stronger than us, but we played hard for 32 minutes. When it comes to stuff like that, I wouldn't trade any of our girls for that, not one."

Westerlund's nine points led Whitehall, while Taylor DeKuiper had 15 points and Clemence 14 for Fremont.

Sports in Brief

Boys Basketball

Manistee 57 Montague 48

Down 15 points going into the 4th quarter, the Wildcats got as close as 6 points late before falling short. Cole Herremans had 12 points and 9 rebounds, and Jack Degen added 11 points.

Reeths-Puffer 54 Jenison 36

The Rockets snapped a 4-game losing skid behind 21 points from Marvin Moore. Brayden Mitchelson added 13 points.

Mason Co. Central 65 Montague 38

MCC broke the game open with a 16-2 scoring run in the 2nd quarter. Braylen VanSickle led the Wildcats with 9 points.

Forest Hills Eastern 57 Reeths-Puffer 52

R-P lost a close game despite strong efforts from Marvin Moore and Brayden Mitchelson. Moore had 19 points and Mitchelson scored 18.

Girls Basketball

Montague 56 Manistee 48

Montague outscored the Mariners 20-7 in the 2nd quarter, the decisive frame in the game. On senior night, four seniors were the top scorers, led by Braylyn Bultema and Addison Pranger with 15 points each.

Jenison 57 Reeths-Puffer 24

R-P couldn't get its offense going throughout the night and it cost the Rockets a win. Raquel Walker scored 7 points to lead the team.

Manistee 58 Whitehall 27

Whitehall couldn't do much against the Mariners, leading to the defeat. Statistics had not been reported at press time.

Ludington 53 Montague 30

The Wildcats' hopes at a 2nd-place conference finish were turned back thanks to the Orioles' 5 first-quarter three-pointers. Braylyn Bultema had 9 ponits to lead Montague.

Montague finishes 3rd at districts, reaches regionals

The Wildcats again delivered a strong round three performance and scored 666.86 points in all. Montague's 279.5 points in the final round was a close third and secured its position. Whitehall took 8th place with 637.88 points, highlighted by finishing 5th in round two.

Reeths-Puffer 4th at districts, on to regionals

The Rockets' pivotal round was the second, in which they scored 212.32 points, most of any team competing.

Bowling

Montague boys finish 3rd at WMC tournament

The Montague boys' team finished 3rd at the tournament and the girls' team finished 6th. Whitehall results and statistics were not reported.

Whitehall's Lianne Fagan tries to get through the defense of Fremont's Mia Clemence (4) and Ella Shriver during Friday's game at Whitehall. Fremont won, 60-28.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall's Peyton Schultz (53), Emma Decker (center) and Clare Westerlund wrestle Fremont for a loose ball during Friday's WMC Lakes game at Whitehall. The Packers won, 60-28. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Montague's Isaac French (right) grapples with Belding's Linkin Glavan during Saturday's individual regional tournament at Whitehall. French took third and was one of three Wildcats to punch tickets to state. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Ice fishing or cupcakes, winter's a treat

By Margaret Heaton Volunteer Contributor

This winter, we have the privilege of living near beautiful White Lake. I enjoy seeing the lake change through the season. For the last few days, I’ve loved watching the folks out on the ice. There is so much fishing! I had no idea it was such a popular thing to do. I admire each and every one of you who has the nerve to step onto that frozen water.

Saturday is my favorite day of the week to watch the lake. Now that the lake is frozen, I watch what appears to be little villages form around the shoreline and out to the middle of the lake. Red tents pop up everywhere over the lake. The folks that really surprise me are the ones getting so close to where the river runs to the lake. I see you

and I am praying for you!

For my husband and myself, while we enjoy watching the folks fishing on the ever-changing White Lake, we prefer our feet on solid ground. He likes to be outside but for me, I want my feet solidly planted in the kitchen, cooking and baking.

While sitting and watching the lake with all the fishing villages, we were discussing the recipe to include this month. My ever-practical husband made the suggestion that with the high price of dairy, I should include a recipe using

no eggs or milk. He hinted his favorite chocolate cake recipe would be a good one. It wasn’t hard to tell what he was craving!

Wanting to make a treat for our kids at AWANA and wanting to make him his cake too, I made his recipe into cupcakes. He likes to remind me that he made this recipe when he was a teenager and he likes it just as much today. This recipe is well over 50 years old. Hope you like it as much as my husband and the kids.

From Margaret, with love and flours.

1 Tablespoon Vinegar ½ teaspoon Vanilla Grease 9 x 9 pan or this recipe will make 15 cupcakes.Put dry ingredients in mixing bowl, add wet ingredients in the order listed. Mix well. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350° 25 - 27

minutes for the cake or 20 minutes for cupcakes. Use the toothpick test to be sure of doneness. For frosting, a light dusting of powdered sugar is all you’ll need. Or for the kids, I used white frosting, sprinkles and cupcake toppers.

Montague reports progress in lead pipe replacement

City is on course to beat EPA timeline to replace all lead pipes in its water delivery

Montague city officials reported this month that the city is well ahead of a Michigan-mandated schedule to identify and replace lead water-service lines on both public and private property.

The state plan was put in place in 2021 as a result of the mid-2010s crisis in Flint, when aging pipes delivered water with dangerously high levels of lead to residents of the city. The state plan called for, within 20 years, all known or suspected lead service lines to be inspected and all water lines

made of lead, and galvanized pipes possibly connected with lead, to be replaced. An October 2024 announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency further imposed a 10-year time frame on the replacements.

As of February, the city had already replaced 165 of the 440 service lines it determined needed to be replaced under these criteria - over a third of the needed replacements, with the city on course to complete all replacements within 8 years. Nearly all inspections have been completed and residents who need their pipes replaced were notified at the end of last year.

“Beginning in 2021, we needed to replace about 27 service lines a year to meet the state’s 20-year mandate,” city manager Jeff Auch said in a press

release. “We started by replacing the lines in priority areas where older services were known to exist.”

According to the release, the city covers the cost of the pipe replacements and has not had to raise customers' water rates to do so. The city added that Montague continually tests its water system as a whole, including the water mains, well houses and other designated sites, to monitor water quality. In addition, the city samples for lead and copper every three years. Recent samples show that the lead content of the water is substantially less than the mandated minimum and meets public water quality standards.

"Our priority has always been the safety of our residents,” Auch said in the release. “We’ve been mandated to

test for lead in our water system long before we were required to replace the lines. Our tests have always met public water quality standards. Fortunately, because of improvements in water supply materials, the use of lead diminished over the past 30 years, and most service lines and water mains in Montague have already been replaced."

Work is usually done in the fall and winter, when contractors are more often available, and groups jobs together when possible to save time and money. The city uses a local contractor and replaces the lines with a process called directional boring, which minimizes landscape work needed after the job is complete.

Oscar-nominated shorts to be screened at ACWL-Nuveen

The Arts Council of White Lake-Nuveen has announced it will host a screening of Oscar-nominated short films Thursday, Feb 27 and Friday, Feb 28, both at 6 p.m. These will consist of documentary and live-action shorts, respectively. Around this time last year, the ACWL screened films from the Sundance Film Tour, a critically acclaimed film festival. After those screenings' success

and positive feedback from attendees, the arts council decided to fully embrace modern films and share them with the people of White Lake. This screening is credited to SHORTS, a theatrical distribution company that organizes viewings of Oscar-nominated shorts.

These screenings will allow attendees to view these shorts and discuss their thoughts before the Academy Awards, which

Senior night

Evan Thomas, Nolan Napier and foreign exchange student Kiyan Kirsche.

The Vikings shot 56% from the field and 12-of-21 from three-point distance. As is their custom in such situations, the starters spent much of the time the reserves were playing on their feet cheering their teammates.

Camden Thompson led Whitehall with 22 points, eight rebounds and six steals. Osborne added 12 points. Morningstar had six steals and five as-

take place Sunday, March 2.

The documentary shorts being shown are “Death by Numbers,” “I am Ready, Warden,” “Instruments of a Beating Heart” and “The Only Girl in the Orchestra.”

The live-action shorts being shown are “Alien,” “Anuja,” “I’m Not a Robot,” “The Last Ranger” and “The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent.”

More information can be

found, and tickets can be purchased, on ACWL’s website. Tickets are $15 per screening or $25 for both screenings. Popcorn and beverages are included in the ticket price. Additionally, the Arts Council has organized an Oscar prediction contest for both the documentary and live-action shorts. The winner will receive a $30 gift card to NorthStar Cinemas.

baseball, but I love Subdon and I love our coaching staff, and I'm Whitehall forever. I'm going to miss it all."

continued from page 4

sists to go with his eight points.

It was a celebratory night on a night, senior night, that is often a font of emotion as players see the time on their home court drawing to a close. Morningstar is planning to play college baseball, but has loved his time on the court.

"It was a little emotional, (a reminder) that I won't be playing here much longer," Morningstar said. "I'm excited for the next chapter in my life in

Of course, emotions can't get in the way of a team's preparation for the postseason, and after upset district defeats the past two seasons, the Viking seniors are eager to go out on a high note this year. Whitehall hosting districts should be an advantage, but a bigger one, Subdon said, might be that the team is going back to what works on defense rather than trying to mix it up.

"We had bad coaching, honestly," Subdon said in a self-criticism. "We switched up our defense and went

Instruments of a Beating Heart is among the Oscar-nominated shorts to be shown at an ACWLNuveen screening next week. • Contributed Photo

away from the aggressive, switching style of defense that we've been known for the last two or three years...We're really going to get back to, everyone's going to know what we're doing, but we're going to be great at it."

He added that the team's focus is on earning more practice time together, which of course can only be done with wins starting next week.

"After this week, we've got six practices total guaranteed," Subdon said. "We'd like to get a seventh, and then after that, we'd like to get an eighth. That's what we're going to work on, just getting more practices."

Winter is baking season for kitchen enthusiasts, and Margaret's cocoa cake recipe can be turned into cupcakes and decorated to fit your chosen theme, as pictured here.

• Contributed Photo

Police activity this week

Behind

the

Badge

Whitehall Police Report

Feb. 12

An early morning car-versus-deer crash left a Norton Shores woman with a smashed front end. The

60-year-old was traveling east on Benston Road when the deer ran out in front of the car. The driver wasn’t injured in the 6:56 a.m. crash, but the deer was not as lucky.

At 6:28 p.m. Whitehall Police were called to check the well-being of a 96-year-old resident. When the of ficer arrived at the house in the 500 block of Hanson St., the woman was fine but had not set her phone in the cradle correctly, leaving it inopera ble. The officer reset the phone and all was well.

Feb. 13

A private snowplow backing onto the roadway led to a crash in the 800 block of Lewis St. The plow, driven by

a 43-year-old Whitehall man, could not see the approaching vehicle due to a snow pile near the end of the

existence. The theft was discovered recently and the case remains under investigation.

The Knights of Columbus organization of St. James Catholic Church will again be serving their award winning fish dinners beginning Friday, Feb. 28. Dinners will be served every Friday until April 11. The cost is $17 per person.

Each dinner includes a choice of wild freshwater perch, wild freshwater walleye or breaded farm-raised shrimp (or a perch/shrimp combo—or a walleye/shrimp combo) and includes a baked potato or french fries, coleslaw, dinner roll and a surprise dessert. Fish servings are 8 ounces in size.

Meals will be served in the St. James Parish Hall from 4:30-7 p.m. Curbside pickup is available by ordering online

at https://kofc12985fishfry.square.site

Also, for pick up in the church narthex, please call 231-292-9005.

Payment options are cash, checks (made out to K of C 12985) or credit / debit cards (there will be a 3% charge for credit/debit card use). All fish fry dinner profits will again be donated by the Knights of Columbus to causes helping the underserved.

During the first Lenten fish dinner Feb. 28 all armed forces personnel and its veterans, police, firefighters and emergency first responders will have a special dinner price of only $7.

St. James Catholic Church is locat ed at 5149 Dowling Street in Montague.