The Oceana Echo - Volume 2, Issue 41, March 7, 2025 by theoceanaecho

READER:

Wayne & Pamela Tingley

Community shapes future vision for downtown Shelby

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

SHELBY - The Village of Shelby asked village residents, as well as anyone interested in the future of the village, to respond to a two-question Downtown Shelby Vision Survey in January. The results of the survey were shared at the Feb. 10 Shelby Village Council meeting.

Emailed to almost 200 addresses and posted on Facebook, the survey saw 91 respondents. Over 30 indicated they would be willing to actively lead or actively participate in dialing in on the results of the survey, while over 50 indicated they felt more comfortable providing input or watching what develops for now.

Besides answering the survey, many listed Shelby’s important community assets, including the hospital, school, library, churches, employment opportunities, a grocery store, new “Welcome to Shelby” signs and new housing. With these already in hand, Shelby seems more poised than ever to make

its next play.

The first survey question asked people to rate the level of importance for listed items as they related to a “future safe and appealing downtown Shelby.”

Of the 14 elements people were asked to rate for a “future safe and appealing Village of Shelby, the top four included: appealing building facades; garbage, weedfree and edged sidewalks; enhanced night lighting; and smooth, well-maintained roads and well-planned traffic configurations.

Elements responders didn’t rate as high a priority in a future safe and appealing Shelby, were art features, specific outdoor features like outdoor fireplaces, and decorative-stamped concrete sidewalks.

The second survey question asked people to rate the “safe and appealing level of elements in downtown Shelby as they currently stand.” The items with the highest responses were on the “not appealing or safe” end of the survey spectrum and included art features: landscaping, building facades, night lighting and specific features.

After rating each element, respondents were welcome to provide written comments, and there were dozens, mostly all constructive in nature. Many wanted to see the

village expand on some things it has already begun, such as the addition of more artwork, more downtown landscaping, seasonal decorations/ plantings, and outdoor seating. Respondents also suggested the village look beyond the normal updates and consider renovating the rail trail pavilion with a gas fireplace; adding fun and functional night lighting; and sidewalk bumpouts to alert drivers and improve safety.

Overwhelmingly, people commented on the importance of showing pride for the community by keeping the downtown clean and building facades freshened/refurbished; cleaning up the backside of businesses facing the rail trail; enforcing blight violations; engaging the community and drawing in new businesses. One respondent urged the village and township to be sure and create a good maintenance and security plan for the new parks, so they do not fall into disrepair or vandalism.

Many people felt the village should make the following their top priorities: more and better signage; greenspaces; outdoor eating and benches; beautification (not only downtown but on roads entering the village); safer sidewalks and corners; continued road and sidewalk maintenance; and finding

Shelby’s unique appeal to locals/visitors and capitalizing on that.

Though more involved and costly, many forward-thinking suggestions (in no particular order) were offered and seem worthy of consideration such as developing a Downtown Development Authority or Tax Increment Finance Authority to fund improvements; refurbishing unused buildings as business incubators for people wanting to start a business; purchasing a downtown speaker system and an electric sign at the south entrance to village; adding a walking/biking trail loop “pedestrian highway” from new housing on the north to downtown; changing one side of Michigan Avenue to parallel parking; allowing fast food restaurants near the freeway to bring in badly needed revenue; showing more appreciation for the businesses you do have; developing a disc golf course along Piper Creek; creating a rustic camping area for bicyclists to use; reconfiguring the five-street intersection south of downtown; create a “National Post Card Museum” (featuring Harlow Elliott’s works) in the old fire barn on 3rd Street; and renovating the dilapidated apartment house across from Fox’s on Michigan Avenue into a hostel for bikers rolling

through on the rail trail; focusing on the village’s history, posting historic photos in businesses, restoring historically significant building facades, offering business owners some options for renovation, establishing a dedicated food truck area with outdoor seating, and creating a more vibrant downtown color scheme or theme.

When asked what people envisioned for downtown Shelby, the community dreamed big. One respondent didn’t hold back, “I envision a Shelby that not only competes with luring tourists and business away from Hart, but is even better at doing it. Offer tax incentives and promote the town’s potential. Promote Shelby’s affordability over Hart and Pentwater.”

While another said, “We may not have key features such as lakes, rivers and larger cultural attractions that normally draw people downtown. However, we have a newly upgraded park with more park improvements to be made in the future.” and “We are located right on the Rail Trail, which not every town in Oceana can say, we should be capitalizing on it.”

One respondent suggested turning Shelby Methodist Church into a non-sectarian community center for sports, art shows, concerts, festivals

and community events. Others added they would like to see regular weekly events and volunteer opportunities for all ages, a nicer sit down restaurant, an ice cream store, more, and higher-end, apartments over downtown businesses and development of the vacant lot on 4th Street, into a common gathering space with a firepit and fountain. Someone else suggested a “subtraction” versus an “addition” by saying the village should renovate or get rid of the dilapidated buildings south of town.

“We need to be a place where when an out-of-towner drives into our village, they feel safe and it looks inviting (enough) to stop and eat/visit our village and not lock their doors and get out of town asap!” said one responder.

“It would be nice to increase the single-person housing supply downtown (one-bedroom apartments, studio apartments). We have a lapse in housing and not many affordable housing options for non-families which indirectly forces our 18-30 age population to leave town and makes it more difficult to get them to come back,” said another.

“It’s clear how vital it is for our community to take care of our existing businesses, homes, and public spaces, and the significant impact that can have. I’m thrilled that 30 people expressed interest in being actively involved, whether on the leadership team or through hands-on work. The people of Shelby are driving progress forward!” commented Village Administrator Phil Morse.

If this article has sparked ideas, comments or questions, community members are encouraged to contact the Village of Shelby at 231-861-4400 or one of the village council members, who would be happy to hear more!

The sun shines on downtown Shelby, Thursday, March 6. Recently, the community was asked to give their thoughts about the future of the village, and over 90 people provided their feedback. • Brendan Samuels/Echo

Friends of SADL announce new Seed Library and Garden Workshop in March

The Friends of Shelby Area District Library (SADL) are planning for warmer weather by launching a new project this spring, a “Seed Library!” This popular service is offered by libraries all over the country, including many here in West Michigan.

Beginning March 7, library cardholders can stop by the Shelby Library and check out up to 10 seed packets to plant this year. Each packet contains from 5 to 20 seeds, with selection limited to no more than two packets per variety. Over 25 varieties of vegetable, herb and flower seeds are available. Gardeners are also encouraged to donate extra seeds of their own for the Seed Library. Convenient envelopes for seed collection can be picked up at the display near the front desk and dropped off there after labeling.

A Gardening Workshop is also being offered on Wednesday, March 26 at 5 p.m.

Advanced Extension Master Gardener and Oceana Conservation District Board Member Gary McKeen, will discuss selecting a vegetable garden site, soils, fertilizing, water usage, composting, mulching, invasive species, building a rain garden and tree health. MSU Extension informational handouts and book-

marks will be available free of charge. Register for this workshop by calling the Shelby Library at 231-861-4565 or sign up at the circulation desk. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

PUBLIC NOTICE

VILLAGE OF SHELBY

On 2-28-2025 approximately 50 gallons of sewage spilled from the main on Pine Street in the Village of Shelby.

NOTICE OF LEAVITT TOWNSHIP

PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING AND ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

The Leavitt Township Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget for their 2024/2025 fiscal year on:

Monday March 17th @ 7 pm at the Leavitt Township Hall, 2401 N 184th Ave.

Copies of the budget will be available for inspection at the office of the township clerk.

This notice is posted in compliance with Public Act 267 of 1976, as amended, the Open Meeting Act, MCL 41.27a, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Leavitt Township Board will provide necessary reasonable a, such as signers for the hearing-impaired and audio tapes of printed material being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities at the meeting upon 5 days of notice to the Leavitt Township Board by writing or calling: Naomi Oomen, Leavitt Township Clerk, PO BOX 67, Walkerville, MI 49459 or 231 329-5490.

Naomi Oomen

Leavitt Township Clerk 3715 N 200TH AVE., Walkerville, MI 49459

PUBLIC NOTICE

2025 CRYSTAL

TOWNSHIP ANNUAL MEETING & BUDGET HEARING

In accordance with Michigan statutes, the undersigned clerk of the township listed below gives notice of the Annual Meeting and Budget Hearing of Township Electors to be held in their Township.

Monday, March 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. Crystal Township Hall 1499 E. Hammett Rd.

The Crystal Township Annual Meeting & Budget Hearing will discuss proposed millage rates, financial statements for the year, and salaries may be inspected and will be reviewed. It is intended the millage rates for the township will be set up to the maximum allowable to meet the budget needs of the Township, and reduced if required by the Headlee Millage Reduction Fraction for 2025. Discussion will be held on such other township matters as may properly be considered at the annual meeting. A copy of the budget is available for public inspection at the office of the undersigned township clerk. The regular monthly meeting will follow.

Bethany Seymour, Clerk 231-855-2065

CEMETERY

BID PROPOSAL

ELBRIDGE TOWNSHIP

Oceana County, of 2266 E. Polk Road, Hart, MI 49420

Provide the following as needed from April 1, 2025 through October 31, 2025 at the Elbridge Township Cemetery; the Old Township Hall and all of the area at 2266 E. Polk Road (former school & grounds):

1. Leaf disposal

2. Spring disposal of flowers and decorations

3. Mowing

4. Trimming around headstones

5. Trimming of trees and brush

6. Application of fertilizer

7. Maintenance of trash barrels

8. Disposal of trash from trimmings

9. Workman’s Compensation insurance for workers (provide copy with original signature)

It is further understood that this contract does not include the following:

1. Specialized equipment

2. Maintenance of headstones

3. Filling of “sunken” graves

4. Repair of damage done by burial equipment and other outside sources

All leaves, trash, decorations, and brush must be disposed of off-site.

The Township may entertain more than 1 year contract if you so wish.

Every Friday during Lent (including Good Friday) February 16 - March 29

March 7 - April

Serving from 5 - 7 p.m.

Dinner includes choice of Fried or Baked Fish, vegetable, parsleyed potatoes, coleslaw, dinner roll and your choice from our famous dessert selection! Dinners are $14.00 for ages 9 & up Donation for Children (ages 8 & under) All Take-Out Dinners are $14.00 each St. Joseph’s Parish Hall - Weare 2349 West Jackson Road, Hart 231-873-5776

PUBLIC NOTICE

HART TOWNSHIP BUDGET HEARING

The Hart Township Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed township budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 at the Hart Township Hall, 2734 W. Polk Rd., Hart, MI on March 12, 2025 at 6:30 PM.

The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be available for public inspection at the Hart Township Hall. Steve Freed Hart Township Clerk

BIDS WANTED EQUALIZATION SERVICES

Oceana County is seeking bids for the provision of Equalization services. Vendors must hold the required certification. Bid specifications and other pertinent information are available online at www. oceana.mi.us. Bids are due no later than May 16, 2025.

Above from left, Amanda Mazur, Julie McKeen, Connie Near and Janet Schultz sort and package seeds for the Friends of SADL “Seed Library.” • Contributed Photo

This page is brought to you by:

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

By Caleb Jackson The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

Like many of the townships of Oceana, it was timber that served as the principal interest in Weare and first induced many people to come to this area. In fact, some of the important names in the early days of Weare overlap with that of its neighboring township, Pentwater. Names like Cobb, Rector and Charles Mears. But we shouldn’t be too surprised by that. After all, what we now call Weare was organized out of Pentwater on April 2, 1860. This event took place at the “River House farm,” which was the home of Charles Mears himself. However, this version of Weare was much larger than what we recognize today, including both present-day Colfax and Crystal. It wouldn’t be until 1865 that modern-day Colfax and Crystal were set apart, and Weare attained its current boundaries.

Not too much is written in the history books about Weare. It was named after Dr. Daniel G. Weare, who settled on section 27 in 1855. Page’s History of Oceana has this to say about him: “He was a man of some ability, and took an active part in developing the town, planting a peach orchard, importing a trotting stallion, and making extensive ag-

ricultural improvements.” Hartwick and Tuller offer a little more insight into those developments in their book. The “trotting stallion” in particular was named the Oceana Chief, and it went on to cause a lot of excitement at the racetracks, albeit not for Mr. Weare. While he owned the horse, Weare was paying $60 a month to train it, but still the Chief did not perform for him. After receiving a lot of “unfavorable remarks” about the “simply ridiculous” amount of money he was paying, he ended up selling the horse to a lumberman. Not too long after that, it started winning races and became a veritable sensation. Weare was also one of the first townships to demonstrate Oceana’s agricultural value. As we well know by now, once the lumber all ran out, the early pioneers made the pivot from lumbering to agriculture, a change we are still indebted to today. Hartwick and Tuller again wrote about the excitement that fruits from Weare were causing in 1867: Myrtle B. High at this time was raising plums on section eight in Weare. He had also been very successful in raising peaches on this place. E. B. Burrington, who also lived in Weare, had an orchard that produced very fine peaches, and the river house farm then was regarded as the model fruit farm.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, OCEANA COUNTY

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Shelby Township, Oceana County, will conduct a special meeting on Monday March 24, 2025, at 6:15pm at the Shelby Township Hall located at 204 N Michigan Avenue, Shelby MI. The purpose of this special meeting will be to approve the Amended Budget for the Fiscal year 2024/2025. Please contact the Township office during business hours if you have any questions or concerns.

Cathy Anderson, Township Clerk

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

scanning

The trees were literally breaking down with peaches, and they seemed to bear every year. The choicest varieties came from this farm, where to-day not a half dozen peach trees can be found, and where fruit men of to-day regard as the most unfavorable locality to be found in the county for fruit raising. Mr. Mears shipped from this farm to Chicago in 1867 over 500 bushels per tree.

To add onto this, Page’s history mentions some of the prominent farmers in Weare at the time of its publication in 1882, names such as Joseph Schaner, C. N. Jensen, N.D. Snyder, N.C. Smith, A. J. Brillhart and W.P. Harding. Some of these surnames are familiar to us even in the present age. On top of that, we can also find some fun facts. The first school opened in 1858 and was taught by a woman named Emma Daniel. The first child born was Emily Harding, who was born to William and Mary Harding. A German immigrant named Christopher Fricke established a brewery in Weare in 1879, which produced 400 barrels annually.

Lastly, it may be interesting to learn what kind of people were immigrating to Oceana and settling in Weare in those early days. Page’s history gives brief biographies on

PUBLIC NOTICE

FERRY TOWNSHIP BUDGET HEARING

The Ferry Township Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed Township budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year on Tuesday, March 18, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at the Ferry Township Hall, 3222 Green St, Shelby. The regular March Board meeting will immediately follow the hearing. A copy of the proposed budget is available for public inspection at the Township Hall. Individuals may contact the Township at 231-861-0545.

Chris Ernst Ferry Township Clerk

18 early settlers. Of the 18 pioneers recorded, nine traveled from other states within the US, five came from Germany, one came from France, one from Ireland, one from Belgium, and one from Prussia. Prussia was, of course, dissolved after World War II, but we are given no other information than that, so we cannot say with any certainty which modern country this pioneer may have come from. However, if the other settlers are anything to go off of, it was probably somewhere with a region that is today considered a part of Germany.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING SHELBY TOWNSHIP

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Shelby Township, Oceana County, will conduct a public hearing on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 6:00 pm at the Shelby Township Hall located at 204 N Michigan Ave., Shelby MI. The purpose of the hearing will be to approve Shelby Township’s intent to apply for 2025 grant funding from one of the following: Land & Water Conservation Fund or Recreation Passport. The proposed grant applications will be used to develop a community pool, located at the corner of 6th Street and School Street.

Cathy Anderson, Township Clerk

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. Mondays: Women’s Bible Study, 1-2 p.m. (3/3-4/14)

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

Sharing the History of Medicine at The Ladder

The Ladder Community Center in Shelby invites all adults 18 and up to join them on Tuesday, March 18, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. for Share Our Stories (SOS). This month’s SOS theme will be “The History of Medicine.” (It was originally scheduled for Feb. 18, but due to inclement weather, it was rescheduled for March 18.) They will discuss how the practice of medicine has changed in our lifetimes. Please come and share memories of doctors, nurses, and hospitals in Oceana County. Interesting medical textbooks and ledgers that belonged to Hart’s Dr. L.P. Munger will be presented.

SOS is a monthly event held at The Ladder, where people gather and share memories, photos, and other memorabilia from Oceana County. There is no additional cost for registered adult members 18+. Please note, in case of severe weather, this event will be cancelled. To inquire about an event, or with ideas for future topics of interest for SOS, call The Ladder at 231-259-0211. Visit theladdercommunitycenter. com to view all our upcoming events.

New Era Christian Reformed hosts Blood Drive

March

March 11 - Tech Time, Hesperia Comm. Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Adult Book Club Movie, Community Room, 2-4:30 p.m.

March 12 - Versiti Blood Drive, New Era Christian Reformed Church, 1820 Ray Ave., New Era, 12:30-6 p.m.

March 12 – Adult Daytime Craft, Hesp. Comm. Lib., 2:30-3:30 p.m.

March 13 – Teen Night at Hesp. Comm. Library, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

March 13-15 - Oceana Robotics Team Competition, Orchard View High School, 16 N. Quarterline Rd., Muskegon.

March 14 – Friends of the Library Book Sale, Hesperia Comm. Library, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Story Time, 10-11 a.m.

March 15 - Storytime, Ferry Community Center, 10-11 a.m.

March 15 - Daddy Daughter Dance, Shelby Optimist, 6-8:30 p.m.

March 17 – After School Movie at Hesp. Comm. Lib., 3:30-5 p.m.

Mar. 18-19 - Summer Job Fairs

March 19 - All Pro Dads, Oceana Christian School, 3258 North 72nd Ave, Hart, 7:30-8 a.m.

March 19 - Oceana Conservation District Tree Sale Order Due

March 20-22 - Oceana Robotics Team Competition, Grand Valley State University, Fieldhouse Arena, Allendale.

March 20 - Agricultural & Natural Resources Banquet, W. MI Research Station, Hart, 5-9 p.m. Tickets required.

Mar. 21 - All Pro Dads, Spitler Elementary (at Diman-Wolf ECC), 306 West Johnson Street, Hart, 7:45-8:15 a.m.

St. Joseph’s offers Friday Fish Dinners, Holy Hours and ‘Awakening Faith’ classes this Lent

St. Joseph and St. Vincent are hosting their annual Lenten Fish Dinners every Friday from March 7 through April 18!

The dinners take place at the St. Joseph Parish Hall, 2349 W. Jackson Rd. in Hart from 5-7 p.m. The cost is $14 for ages 9 and up; donation for children under 8, and all Take-Out Dinners are $14 each (No need to pre-order).

Dinners include Baked or Fried Pollock, parsleyed red potatoes, choice of vegetable, coleslaw, dinner roll, beverage and choice of delicious desserts

It’s a wonderful meal and a super way to shake off the winter blues!

Secondly, we are hosting some great ways to reconnect with our Faith during Lent.

Every Friday during Lent (except for March 14 and Good Friday) will be Holy Hour from 4-5 p.m. in St. Joseph Church. We invite Catholics to spend some time in prayer with the Blessed Sacrament.

Also, on Sundays from March 9 through April 13, Father Phil will be hosting a session of classes called “Awakening Faith.” The classes will be held at St. Joseph Parish Hall, located at 2349 W. Jackson Rd. The classes will be from 10-11:30 a.m. and are for anyone wishing to learn more about the Catholic faith and/or renew or strengthen their Faith. The classes are free to attend.

Please call the parish office at 231-873-5776 or contact us through our website: www.StJosephWeare.org for more information.

Donating blood not only saves lives but is good for you! Healthline.com outlines a few of the ways donating your own blood can make you feel better too. Just by getting out and donating, you can give yourself a sense of belonging and lessen feelings of isolation. At every blood drive, potential donors receive a mini health screening that includes pulse, blood pressure, body temperature and hemoglobin levels. Following a donation, your blood is tested for a number of viruses, which you can be notified of later. Research is mixed on whether or not donating blood is good for your heart health, so to be sure, check with your own health care provider if you have questions. But donating blood and knowing you are helping someone who is in a desperate state, can be good for your own “heart and soul.”

A Versiti of Michigan blood drive will be held Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the New Era Christian Reformed Church narthex, 1820 Ray Ave., New Era, from 12:30-6 p.m. All Versiti blood donors (and anyone entering the contest online) in the month of March will have a chance at winning a trip to Hawaii. Find contest details at versiti.org/savecation. Those interested in donating can schedule an appointment using this link: https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/ drive_schedule/11603162. For more information or to sign-up in another way, contact Don Byker at (616) 325-6385 or d1.grbyker@gmail.com.

PLA board meeting planned for March 17

The first meeting in 2025 of the Pentwater Lake Association board of directors will be Monday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Centenary Methodist Church at 82 N. Hancock St., Pentwater. The public is invited to attend and is asked to enter at the Hancock Street Hall entrance.

Membership in the Pentwater Lake Association is open to all individuals interested in the lake, its natural resources and water quality. Members do not have to own lake property in order to join this non-profit organization. More details and past meeting minutes are available on the Pentwater Lake Association website at www.pentwaterlakeassociation.com.

Oceana County Youth encouraged to experience college life at MSU 4-H Exploration Days

Local youth are invited to experience college life firsthand at this year’s 4-H Exploration Days at Michigan State University Wednesday, June 18 to Friday, June 20, 2025. This annual pre-college program designed to provide hands-on learning, personal growth, and career exploration gives students ages 12 to 19 the chance to stay in dorms, eat in college dining halls, and participate in sessions tailored to their interests. Registration opens on March 20, 2025. Session choices fill fast, so early sign-ups are encouraged.

From animal science and engineering to business, performing arts, and outdoor recreation, 4-H Exploration Days provides a diverse range of activities aimed at helping youth discover new passions and skills. More than just an educational event, the program is packed with fun experiences, social activities, and leadership development opportunities, making it popular with local youth. Exploration Days is also a great chance for young people to step outside of their comfort zones, meet new friends from across the state, and try new things, all in a chaperoned college setting. Those who’ve attended in the past relay what a fun and beneficial experience it has been and encourage other youth to consider attending this year.

Youth can register at https://www.canr.msu.edu/4_h_exploration_days/ starting Thursday, March 20 at 7 p.m. Interested youth can also visit the Extension Office located in the County Services building at 844 South Griswold Street, Hart, for assistance in signing up.

To ensure that cost is not a barrier, scholarship opportunities are available to help cover registration fees. Interested families are encouraged to reach out to MSU Extension at 231-873-2129 or email 4-H Program Coordinator Jennifer Payne at wassonj3@msu.edu for more information.

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

obituaries

Harry Wallace Raymond

January 22, 1923 ~ February 19, 2025

Harry Wallace Raymond, 102, of Hart, formerly of Pent water, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.

Harry was born in Hope, Mich., on Jan. 22, 1923, the son of the late Lloyd and Matilda (Clemmenshaw) Raymond. He was a graduate of Pentwater High School. He married the late Alta Cummins, and together they shared five daughters.

Harry and Alta owned and operated Bucks Corner Store for many years. He was a member of the Michigan Grange and the United Methodist Church. He was a welder, handyman and overall jack of all trades. He was well known in the Pentwater community as the owner of Raymond Construction Company, building 28 new homes, numerous remodel projects and opening/closing summer cottages.

In retirement, Harry restored numerous antique John Deere tractors to show and to use for pulling competitions with his rivals at the Old Engine Club of Scottville. He also gifted his daughters one for Christmas.

Those who knew Harry will remember him for his infectious smile, mischievous acts, colorful language, strong grip, knee squeezes and work ethic.

Harry is survived by his daughters, Carol (Tim) Tariske, Jean (Roger) Jorisson and Janet Garwick; Jack Fischer; sons-in-law, Phillip Gordon and Ken Terryn; nephew, Chuck Raymond; 12 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Harry is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Alta Cummins; daughters, Sandra Gordon and Nancy Terryn; son-in-law, Keith Garwick; brother, D. (Bev) Raymond; and nephew, Dan Raymond.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025 at Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, from 5-7 p.m.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, www.OakGroveLudington.com.

Celebration of Life ~ James Milton Mize

James Milton Mize, 83, of Pentwater, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. at Park Place in Pentwater, 310 Rush Street. Arrangements were entrusted to Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, www.OakGroveLudington.com.

Lorraine Evelyn Spears

December 10, 1939 ~ March 4, 2025

Lorraine Evelyn Spears, 85, of Shelby, Mich., passed away peacefully on March 4, 2025. Born in Muskegon, Lorraine built her life in Oceana County.

A lifelong gardener, Lorraine enjoyed working in her vegetable and flower gardens. She was always on the lookout for a good yard sale, estate sale or her weekly treasure hunt at Goodwill. After retiring from Howmet, Lorraine kept herself busy — volunteering at the church food pantry, working in her gardens, and spending time with her church friends, neighborhood group and coffee circle.

She was also a skilled canner, preserving everything from her garden. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, especially taking them blueberry picking. Sundays were always special to Lorraine, when she could gather with her church family, a time she looked forward to each week.

Lorraine is survived by: her children, Kenneth Spears and Diane Schultz; grandchildren, Nicholas (Jill) Spears, Autumn (Scott) Johnson, Kayla Schultz, Lydia Spears and Colton Schultz; great-grandchildren, Maverick Spears, Oliver Johnson and Raelynn Spears; brother, Jim Piper; nephew, Scott Piper; nieces, Lisa (Brian) German and Lori Piper; great-nieces and nephews, Breanna, Devyn, Scott and Ben.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, Earl and Gertrude (Hudson) Piper; husband, Donald Spears; brother, Ron Piper; infant siblings, Robert and Janice; and son-in-law, Chuck Schultz.

A memorial service will be held at noon on Friday, March 7, 2025, at New Hope Community Church, 244 S. 79th Ave., Shelby, Mich. 49455. Family will greet friends from 11 a.m. until the start of the service at the church.

Please consider memorial contributions to: the Chuck Schultz Public Safety Scholarship at the Community Foundation of Oceana County, P.O. Box 902, Pentwater, MI 49449, or to Newaygo County Compassion Home, 20 S. Stewart Ave., Fremont, MI 49412.

Arrangements are being handled by Harris Funeral Home in Shelby.

www.harrisfhome.com

Death Notice ~ David Robert Erickson

David Robert Erickson, 67, of Pentwater, passed away on Monday, March 3, 2025. He was born September 20, 1958. A Celebration of Life will take place in Pentwater this summer.

I would like to thank everyone for the birthday cards, gifts and attending my birthday party. I enjoyed hearing from you and seeing you!

With gratitude, Evelyn Lathrop

Sunday Services: 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Rev. John Medendorp www.neweracrc.org Growing in Relationship with

and

Stories of Oceana County – Dutch, Come Home!

By Janet (Van Gunst) Hasselbring

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Dutch, a one-year-old Collie, disappeared on Sunday, Dec. 8. Dutch belonged to my brother Wendell Van Gunst and his wife, Ruth. They were coming to my house that day for a family gathering to remember our mother’s birthday. Dutch was riding along. He traveled with them wherever they went.

As they entered the garage that day, Wendy opened the side van door for Dutch, but instead of jumping in, he ran off. Thinking he went for a romp around the house, Wendy called and whistled for him. but Dutch was gone. Within an hour, family members joined the search, walking the property and driving country roads around the farm. The lack of snow made it difficult to track him.

Dutch’s mysterious disappearance was heartbreaking. He was Wendy and Ruth’s sixth Collie. All of them, although “farm” dogs, spent time with the family; though Dutch was more like a “pet” since Wendy had retired and spent more time at home. They were constant companions, taking walks, playing fetch and traveling together.

When Wendy and Ruth’s daughter, Amy, posted Dutch’s disappearance on Facebook and in The Oceana Echo, it roused interest across West Michigan. His photo was posted all over the area, and a reward offered for his return.

Every day, Wendy and Ruth drove around searching for clues that might lead to Dutch’s whereabouts. They left the garage door open at night, with Dutch’s blanket, some of his favorite chew toys, and a dish of food.

Amy contacted Mary Humphrey of Wayland, Mich., who had a reputation for finding dogs. She agreed to help. On Wednesday, Dec. 11, she went up to the farm and drove a four-mile radius around Country Dairy to familiarize herself with the area.

On Friday, she returned and met with Wendy and Ruth. A family friend, Dan Johnson, from Newaygo, also came with his drone, but it picked up nothing.

Then, some good news! On Saturday, there were two sightings of Dutch by neighbors who lived on Grant Road, northwest of the farm, east of Oceana Drive (old Highway 31). Mary ad vised them to put food out where Dutch had been

spotted, and on Sunday, she returned and placed two live traps and four motion cameras in the area.

There was no activity on the cameras on Sunday or Monday. Mary’s friend, Rick Prus, owned a thermal drone and made the 1½ hour drive from Wellston, Mich. to help. The drone picked up nothing, but Mary was convinced that Dutch was in the vicinity. She added two more cameras. Her experience with finding dogs is that once they are lost and become disoriented, they go into survival mode, viewing everything as dangerous and everyone as a predator. She was convinced that Dutch had not been kidnapped because he was shy with strangers.

On Wednesday, Dec. 18, Bingo! Mary was working at home when one of the cameras went off. She grabbed another trap, called Wendy, and arranged to meet where the camera indicated Dutch was. They climbed the steep hill behind the house on Grant Road. As Mary was deciding where to place the second trap, suddenly, there he was – on the top of the hill behind a fence, approximately 20 yards away!

Not wanting to frighten Dutch, Mary hid behind a clump of trees while Wendy crouched down, softly calling Dutch’s name. Slowly he approached, trying to establish eye contact. It was a moment fraught with uncertainty and danger, as Wendy could sense the dog trying to decide whether he was a friend or foe. After what seemed like an eternity, Wendy reached the fence. He offered Dutch a treat, grabbed his collar, and called for Mary to come. Mary clambered over the

fence, slipped a leash on the dog, and handed him over the fence to Wendy. By that time, Dutch knew his owner, jumping up, yipping and wagging his tail. It was a grand reunion! They said goodbye to Mary, and headed for home in the Gator. Wendy wonders if the Australian hat he often wore was what convinced Dutch who he was.

Dutch was skinny, his fur was full of large burrs, and he was sick with a fever; however, after a trip to the vet, antibiotics and lots of TLC, he was back to his old self!

Wendy and I agree with Will Rogers: “If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went.”

The family is grateful to Mary, Dan Johnson and Rick Prus, the two neighbors on Grant Road and the hundreds of people who followed Dutch’s odyssey and prayed for his return.

Note: Mary Humphrey has rescued hundreds of dogs across West Michigan, gaining a reputation as a dog whisperer. You can follow her rescues on her Facebook page. Stay tuned for stories of some of her amazing rescues.

Oceana County

Animal Shelter

Wendy & Dutch

BIDS WANTED JANITORIAL SERVICES

Oceana County is seeking bids for the provision of janitorial services for the County Courthouse, District Health Department #10 Building and the Community Services Building

Bid specifications and other pertinent information are available online at www. oceana.mi.us

MEETING NOTICE

CLAYBANKS TOWNSHIP BUDGET MEETING AND REGULAR BOARD MEETING

March 10, 2025

Proposed budget 2025-26 at 7:00 PM and regular Board Meeting at 7:30 PM. Public is welcome.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CLAYBANKS TOWNSHIP

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Claybanks Township will be meeting for the Board of Review on March 10, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and March 11, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Mark Kutches Claybanks Township Clerk

This handsome boy is looking for a hero who will give him a new home. Will you be his hero? Luke is about six months old and has been neutered. He walks very nicely on a leash and seems to get along with other dogs. He is also a real people lover.

Luke is available for adoption from the Oceana County Animal Shelter. If interested, please call the shelter at 231-861-5395. The adoption fee for cats is $35, and you receive certificates for $25 towards spay/neuter and $10 towards rabies if not already done. The adoption fee for dogs is $95 and you will receive a $50 certificate good for spay/ neuter, if needed. Every dog should have an ID tag. L.A.S.S.I. provides free dog ID tags to all Oceana County residents. To request tags, send a text to 231730-3906. Free tags are also available at the Oceana County Animal Shelter.

Meet Luke

BENONA TOWNSHIP

Synopsis of Meeting

February 24, 2025

The regular meeting of February 24, 2025, was called to order at 7:00 PM with all Board members, except Van Overbeke, and two visitors present. The agenda was approved with one addition. The minutes of the regular meeting of January 27, 2025 were approved. Action was taken on the following:

• The yearly contribution for the Household Hazardous Waste Program was approved.

• Resolution Adopting Poverty Exemption Guidelines for Property Taxes adopted.

• Contract with Michigan Chloride for two brine applications approved.

• Bills approved for payment, with additions. Meeting adjourned at 8:08 PM.

A copy of the complete minutes is available from the Clerk at Benona Township Hall or on the township website (www.benonatownship. org).

- Margie Shaw, Clerk

Hello there, I’m Polly. I’m a young soul, full of sweetness and love. I enjoy the simple pleasures of life, like a good cuddle or a quiet afternoon lounging around. I value my independence, but I’m always ready for a friendly interaction. I have a mellow temperament, which means I’m easy to get along with. You won’t find me causing any trouble, I promise. I’m just here, patiently waiting for someone like you. Why should you adopt me? Well, I believe every home needs a dash of sweetness, a pinch of independence and a whole lot of cuddly love. I can offer all that and more. Let’s create our own special memories together.

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

PUBLIC NOTICE

ELBRIDGE TOWNSHIP BUDGET HEARING

The Elbridge Township Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget for the 2025 - 2026 fiscal year on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 6:45 p.m. at the Elbridge Township Hall, 2266 E. Polk Rd. Budget and financial statements for the year may be inspected and be reviewed. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing. Copies of the budget are available for inspection at the office of the undersigned township clerk. Individuals with disabilities requiring aids or services should contact the clerk at 231-750-3477.

Stephanie Van Sickle Elbridge Township Clerk

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

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NOW HERE’S A TIP #12345_20250224 FOR RELEASE FEB. 24, 2025

By JoAnn Derson

By Lucie Winborne

• On March 10, 1948, the communistcontrolled government of Czechoslovakia reported that noncommunist Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk had died after jumping out of a window. The story was met with suspicion in the West, but nothing to the contrary was ever definitively proved.

• On March 11, 1903, accordionplaying musician and entertainer Lawrence Welk, aka the “King of Champagne Music,” was born on a farm in rural North Dakota.

• On March 12, 2020, after New York state and city leaders placed Covid-19 restrictions on public gatherings of more than 500 people, the Broadway theater district announced it would go dark for an unprecedented 32 days, the longest shutdown of its history. The closure ended up being extended to the end of May 2021, however, costing billions of dollars in tourism losses.

• On March 13, 1865, the Confederacy reluctantly approved the use of Black troops, its last source of fresh manpower, as the main Rebel army faced long odds against much larger Union counterparts. The measure did not help to save the Confederacy, since the several thousand Black men who were enlisted could not balance out the nearly 200,000 Black soldiers fighting for the Union.

• On March 14, 1924, John “Jack” Mack, who co-founded Mack Trucks, Inc., then known as the Mack Brothers Company, with his brothers Augustus and William, was killed when his car collided with a trolley in Pennsylvania.

• On March 15, 2021, Deb Haaland was sworn in as Secretary of the Interior, becoming the first Indigenous person to serve as a cabinet secretary in American history. A few years before, she was also one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress.

• On March 16, 1881, 40-yearold Francisco “Chico” Forster met an untimely end in downtown Los Angeles, courtesy of his former lover, 18-year-old Lastania Abarta. Forster had promised to marry the girl after she performed at a party, but failed to return to their hotel with either a ring or a priest. Abarta tracked him down and tried to force him to church, but when he hopped out of his cab, she fatally shot him. After her attorneys defended her on the grounds of “female hysteria,” she was acquitted and left town.

• Groceries and food shopping can be a tremendous portion of your budget if you aren’t careful. The best and most serious money-saving tip for home economists is to ALWAYS use a list. It really does make a difference to have a plan. Here are some more tips to save money while feeding your family.

• “One of the most expensive portions of your meal is probably meats. You can look for larger packages that you can break down, but you can also plan a couple meat-free meals each week. Also, meals like stew and casseroles use less meat per person but are still satisfying.” — W.I. in Arkansas

• Most stores list the unit price on the shelf tag. You can use it to compare the cost of different sizes and brands of the same item. Just because a package is bigger doesn’t necessarily mean it has the best price per unit.

• Remember that typically, the higher shelves and the lower shelves house the better deals. Compare the items on the aisle ends to the same items on their regular shelf. Sometimes, what looks like a sale is not a sale price at all, especially when compared to a store brand that’s just as good.

• “A secret of busy moms: Cook once, eat twice (or three times, if you plan well)! When you prepare favorite recipes that will freeze well, or even just elements of those recipes, make a double or triple batch so that a few nights of the month, you can just pop something in the oven easily. I cook taco meat once for the month, and we have tacos every week. I just freeze three portions of the meat, and the rest is easy to assemble.” — K.S. in Florida

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

By Lucie Winborne

• The Climbing Gourami is a fish that can climb out of water, breathe oxygen and even walk for short distances.

• India has 454 living languages and 16 official ones.

• During her 1982 restoration, the Statue of Liberty’s head was accidentally installed 2 feet off-center.

• General George S. Patton believed he was reincarnated from either a military leader from Napoleon’s army or a Roman legionary, claiming to have seen combat multiple times in previous lives, and also believed that after he died he would return to again lead armies onto the battlefield.

• Only deceased people can appear on American currency.

• When put under a microscope, tears produced by grief, hope or onions were unique in form from each other.

• Viking names included such gems as “desirous of beer,” “able to fill a bay with fish by magic,” “lust-hostage” and “the man who mixes his drinks.”

• North Korea accidentally hit one of its own cities during a 2017 failed missile test.

• In 1916, a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution would have put all acts of war to a national vote. Anyone voting “yes” would have to register as a volunteer for army service.

• Dynamite was originally going to be called “Nobel’s Safety Powder.”

• Singer James Brown was such a strict bandleader that he had signals arranged with his manager to let him know if a musician made a mistake during concerts. After a performance, band members’ errors were deducted from their paychecks.

• Ostriches are the only birds with a bladder.

• In 1872, sitting president Ulysses S. Grant was pulled over and fined $20 for exceeding the Washington speed limit … on a horse.

• Aristotle believed that plants had souls. ***

7 local wrestlers named All-State at individual state finals

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

Out of 14 grapplers from Hart, Hesperia and Shelby, seven earned All-State honors at the individual wrestling state finals Saturday, March 1 at Ford Field in Detroit.

Of those 14 wrestlers, nine donned the red and black of Hart. With the most athletes in attendance out of the three local schools, it was no surprise to see the Pirates reel in the most All-State honors as well.

Four Hart wrestlers placed in the top eight as Kole Thomas took fifth, Ty Thomas seventh, Adrian Lara sixth and Alex Hicks second.

Kole Thomas (113-pounds) won his first match on Friday, Feb. 28, earning a pin over Ovid-Elsie’s Anthony Silva. Kole was knocked out of the champions bracket in the very next round, falling to Mackey McClelland of Yale.

Bouncing to the consolation bracket, Kole hoped to make a move for third place overall. Two consecutive wins by decision made that a very real possibility, but Thomas ultimately fell short, losing a close match by sudden victory in overtime.

That sent Kole to the fifth place match where he defeated Jacob Byrd of Frankenmuth by 11-4 decision, earning an AllState title.

Kole’s older brother Ty (138-lbs.) started his matches off the very same way, earning a

first round win by pin. That win over Lincoln’s Bernard Allen came after just 55 seconds, quickly advancing Ty to the champions bracket. Once there, Ty dropped a match by 12-4 major decision, moving him over to the consolation bouts.

Ty won his first match on that side, defeating Whitehall’s Caden Varela by pin in a blood round. In his very next match, Ty fell by a narrow 8-6 decision, slotting him in the seventh place match where he defeated Kaelen Harrington of Birch Run by 14-7 decision.

Lara (285-lbs.) also won his initial match, defeating Logan Russel of Adrian Madison by technical fall. Lara then fell by pin, sending him to the consolation bracket where he started things off with a 4-2 decision win over Joseph Abramovitch of Armada in a blood round.

An 11-3 major decision victory over Anthony Heinritz of Williamston lifted Lara just one win shy of the third place match. That’s where Lara met his postseason nemesis, Wyatt Spalo of Reed City. Lara and Spalo had met three times prior to their state finals bout, once in team districts, once in individual districts and once at individual regionals with Spalo owning a 3-0 record.

Spalo continued his streak against Lara, defeating him by pin and sending Lara to the fifth place match. Lara ended his day in sixth, falling

Wrestling finals continued on page 10

SPORTS

Trey Johnson and Pentwater boys deliver on promises, win district title over Baldwin

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

CUSTER – Buzzer beaters have become a regular thing in the state of Michigan over the last week. Tre Holloman for Michigan State University, Nimari Burnett for University of Michigan and now, Trey Johnson for Pentwater boys basketball.

Johnson didn’t blink at his chance to give the Falcons a district title over Baldwin, knocking down a 3-pointer to put his team on top 55-52. With 1.1 seconds left to win the game, senior guard Jonny Arnouts took the ball at the baseline and inbounded it to Johnson, who came free off a screen set by Brody Austin.

While he looked cool, calm and collected watching the ball sail through the net, Johnson admitted he wasn’t sure he’d be able to get the shot off.

“I think everyone has a little doubt (in that situation),” Johnson said. “I have to give props to Brody Austin for giving me a great screen and Jonny (Arnouts) giving me a perfect lob so I could catch it and toss it right up. Everyone as a kid dreams of moments like this. It’s sweet that it happened to me today.”

There were plenty of sweet moments for Johnson on Friday. A consistent offensive force all year for Pentwater, he was relied upon early in the game. That reliance paid off late in the first quarter.

After watching Arnouts and Mikey Carlson match the Panthers’ output, Johnson caught fire. It started with a made three and a foul to boot, and ended with a 16-9 lead for Pentwater. Johnson scored nine points by himself, ending the quarter on the right foot for the Falcons.

“I’m pretty confident (in my shot). All the work after practice definitely pays off. I make sure to get extra shots after practice, whether it’s threes or pull up threes…anything to get myself open,” Johnson said. “ I’ve taken so many shots and I’m confident in myself. I can make 10 in a row or miss 10 in a row – I’m still

shooting the ball.”

Johnson started the second quarter with another made basket from beyond the arc, while Arnouts followed up with one of his own. Add five more points for Carlson in the quarter, and the Falcons had built themselves a nice advantage.

Owning a 10 point lead, Johnson found himself on the wrong side of the spotlight. Baldwin started converting shot after shot, while Pentwater consistently came up empty on their offensive possessions before halftime. In the midst of a 6-0 run for the Panthers, Johnson’s emotions got the better of him, and the officials issued him a technical foul.

That, plus a foul on the shot beforehand, sent Baldwin to the line for five consecutive free-throws. By the end of the quarter, the Panthers had a 12-0 run and had taken a 28-27 lead.

“It’s never enough,” Pentwater Head Coach Ashley Lubera said of her team’s double-digit lead. “We have this rivalry and it’s respected. I respect Baldwin with all my heart. We knew this was going to be a game, it didn’t matter that we beat them twice in the regular season. They played us to the bitter end and that’s how it should be in the championship.”

Johnson’s emotional outburst was rewarded with a momentary benching to start the third quarter. He watched as Baldwin scored six unanswered to start the second half, building a seven point lead.

Arnouts and Carlson nearly erased the deficit with Johnson on the bench, but Baldwin still led by one when Johnson got the nod to re-enter the game.

“We were just so comfortable tonight, even after Trey’s technical foul,” Lubera said. “It’s hard because he’s in his senior year, his heart’s on his sleeve and I just told him to play with his talent. You don’t have to say anything or do anything, just play with your talent that you’ve worked your whole career on. He did and he stepped up at the right moment.”

Johnson made another crucial shot after entering the action in

the third quarter. On a breakaway layup in transition, Johnson was fouled. The basket counted, but Johnson missed the ensuing and-one opportunity. That was enough to put Pentwater back in front.

With the Panthers’ defense once again focused on Johnson’s scoring ability, Arnouts took a bit of the load on offense. Scoring five, Arnouts – along with one make for Carlson – led the Falcons out to a 41-38 lead entering the final quarter.

“I just had to keep my mind clear,” said Johnson “We knew that teams are going to come in and guard me like that, I just need to work as hard as I can to get my teammates open. Once they start hitting, the defense backs off me and I find my shots.”

Baldwin senior Louie Jackson was heavily involved in the final frame. Jackson accounted for eight points in the fourth quarter. With a three point deficit in the waning minutes, Jackson notched back-to-back buckets to

District

champions continued on page 10

HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE

Pentwater’s boys basketball team won a district title Friday, Feb. 28, defeating Baldwin 55-52. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Hart’s Alex Hicks prepares to battle Kole Katschor of Dundee in the championship round. • Kelly Barnes for The Echo

Pentwater senior Trey Johnson pulls up for a three point shot. Johnson led the Falcons with 17 points, including the game-winning basket. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

District champions

put Baldwin in front, 50-48.

That’s where Abram Kieda stepped in, making a big shot and converting on two free throws to push Pentwater back in front at 52-50. Kieda proved to be a major contributor in the second half, helping balance out the rebound battle.

“Abram came in off the bench and we weren’t rebounding as strongly as we have against Baldwin (in the past),” Lubera said. “Kudos to (Baldwin), it really was because of their presence –but Abram stepped in and he gave a lot of height and a little bit of size. I just felt he made such an impactful difference.”

With under a minute remaining, Baldwin junior Jalene’ Allen knotted things up at 52. By the time Pentwater got the ball back, less than 10 seconds remained in the game.

The Falcons brought the ball upcourt, searching for a shot. Instead, they found a Panther foul that stopped the clock at exactly 1.1 seconds. Lubera called a timeout to talk things over and draw up a play.

“In big games like this, sometimes it just comes down to a big shot and you don’t know which guy is going to get it,” Lubera said. “We knew we had to get Mikey (Carlson) out of the mix (on the last shot) because it would clear off Louie (Jackson) and at that point, it’s anyone else’s game. It happened to be a beautiful lob from Jonny (Arnouts) and a perfect screen. It went up and went in and I’m so proud of the kids.”

The rest will be written in the history books – something that’ll be good for Johnson, seeing as he doesn’t remember the majority of it.

“I don’t even know what happened,” Johnson said. “I kind of blacked out a little bit. To have that happen in such a high stakes game like this, against a great team like Baldwin…it just shows

how hard working we are as a team. Down 20 or up 20, we’re going to work as hard as we need to, to get the win.”

To the surprise of nobody, Johnson led the Falcons in scoring 17 points, adding four steals and three rebounds. Arnouts added 13 points, five rebounds and three steals, while Carlson had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Kieda added four points and four rebounds, and Kaleb Brown had five points and five rebounds.

Pentwater moved to 21-2 overall with the win, accomplishing two of their goals for this season so far – a West Michigan D League title and a district championship.

As for Johnson, he’s proud of what the team has done in his senior season. In an interview with The Oceana Echo back in August, Johnson made a promise saying: “I’m excited for everything. This is my last season so I’m going out fighting and hopefully we’ll hang some banners on that gym wall.”

After delivering on that, Johnson smiled widely after the district finals win and simply said,

“I promised a banner and I came back with two.”

Wrestling Finals

by 10-1 major decision, but earning All-State honors.

Alex Hicks (175-lbs.) had the most successful day out of anyone, riding three consecutive wins into the finals, with a chance for an individual state title. Hicks won his first two matches by pin, defeating Linkin Glavan of Belding and Andrew Beadenkopf of Michigan Center. A 10-5 decision over Bradley Meyers of Portland in the semifinals left Hicks with just one bout left.

Unfortunately, Kole Katschor of D3 powerhouse Dundee was there waiting for Hicks. Katschor won by a 10-2 decision, leaving Hicks in second place and giving the Vikings one of their eight first place finishes on the day.

The other five grapplers for Hart included Jordan Thies (106-lbs.), Michael Chavira (113lbs.), Halen Boos (132lbs.), Logan Jorissen (144-lbs.) and Haegan Hansen (165-lbs.).

Thies started his

weekend off with a hardearned pin over Greysin Hopp of Constantine to put him into the champions bracket. A loss in his next bout had him in a blood round on the consolation side, where he fell by technical fall.

Hansen also went 1-2 on the day, falling in his first match but rebounding with a pin over Landon Bearden of Quincy in the consolation bracket. Hansen went on to lose his next match by 7-2 decision in a blood round.

Jorissen, Boos and Chavira all dropped two straight matches to end their weekends early.

Shelby had two wrestlers in contention, both fighting for placement in the 157-lb. class. Jaylin Henderson was the only Tiger to be named AllState, finishing in seventh place.

Henderson entered the champions bracket with an 8-0 major decision victory over Aiden Bergeon of Richmond, but fell by 7-5 decision in his next match. Hen-

Hart boys fall to Ludington in district finals

By: Andy Roberts

The Oceana Echo Sports Writer

NEWAYGO — Hart came into Friday’s district finals game against Ludington with a lot of confidence, born of winning 10 of 11 games and a strong belief that good execution could make it 11 of 12.

However, good opponents make it more difficult to execute, and the Orioles hassled Hart’s ballhandlers into several first-half turnovers that led to a big deficit the Pirates could never quite overcome in a 64-49 defeat.

Hart started solidly enough, taking a 6-5 lead, but missed some chances early to really put the heat on Ludington by missing some close-in shots and a few free throws. The Orioles were strong on defense and finished the first quarter on a 13-2 run, going ahead 18-8.

“Ludington, this is nothing new for them,” Hart coach Nick Bronsema said. “They’re well-coached. When they have an opportunity, they’re going to take advantage, and they definitely did. That hurt us. I think confidence-wise, I think we were looking to make a few early baskets to get going, and that didn’t happen. Sometimes that’s the way the ball goes.”

The Oriole run got to 17-2 before Caleb Ackley, who scored 21 points and was the centerpiece of Hart’s offense all night, put in a turnaround shot to make it 22-10, Orioles. From there, the Pirates never quite let Ludington pull away, but every push they tried to make seemed to be swiftly answered with a big bucket.

Many of those big buckets came from Taj Williams and Cameron Gunsell, who went for 27 and 20 points re-

spectively. In the fourth quarter, Williams converted an acrobatic shot at the rim while being fouled, and that three-point play made it 49-33 to effectively seal the win.

“We’d like to be known as a defensive team, and we just made too many errors out there as far as executing our game plan,” Bronsema said. “There was some early foul trouble, but again, it’s capitalizing, especially in tournament time.”

Hart’s best push came out of halftime, when the Pirates caught Ludington off guard by going to freshman Kolton Rockwell on consecutive possessions. Rockwell responded with a pair of baskets that cut Ludington’s 3118 halftime lead to 31-22. Hart played with consistent effort throughout the second half, but the Orioles just kept finding their way to the hoop for baskets in key moments.

It was a bitter end to the season for the Pirates, but Bronsema expressed

Hart boys basketball continued on page 11

derson redeemed that loss with a blood round victory by technical fall over Kent City’s Derek Rodenburg.

Losing by technical fall to Whitehall’s Liam Leeke sent Henderson to the seventh place match where he would defeat Ethan White of Birch Run by 10-5 decision.

Brody Fessenden couldn’t match Henderson’s success, dropping two straight matches to end his run.

On the D4 side, Hesperia had two of their three competitors earn All-State as Skyler Stalbaum took fourth and Noah Walker snagged fifth.

Stalbaum (144-lbs.) defeated Aiden Turner of Perry by pin, but fell by 8-6 decision directly after. Three straight wins on the consolation side over opponents from Lakeview, Otis Lake and Decatur landed Stalbaum in the third place match. Unfortunately, Stalbaum fell to Aidan Taylor of Union City,

who coincidentally was the one to eliminate him from the champions bracket as well.

Walker (285-lbs.) lost his first match of the day by pin, but mirrored Stalbaum with three consecutive wins in the consolation bracket. Those wins – a pin over Charles Walker of Bark River, an 8-1 decision over Cooper Stevens of Jonesville and a pin over Brock Woodhouse of Marcelus – positioned Walker with the chance to make the third place match.

Mitchell Swift of Delton Kellogg defeated Walker by 7-1 decision there, sending him to the fifth place match. Walker was able to grab a win over Doug Hoyt of Otis Lake, earning AllState.

Dominick Smith (138lbs.) was the only other Panther who made the trip to Detroit. Smith dropped both of his matches, ending his weekend without a placement.

Hart’s Caleb Ackley pushes through contact from a Ludington defender in an attempt to get a shot off. • Andy Roberts/ECHO

Pentwater’s Mikey Carlson eyes the rim as two Baldwin defenders go airborne over his back. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

(Above, top) Hesperia senior Skyler Stalbaum attempts to work out from under Aiden Smith from Perry. Stalbaum defeated Smith in his first match of the weekend. (Above, bottom) Shelby sophomore Jaylin Henderson does battle with Aiden Bergeon of Richmond. Henderson defeated Bergeon by 8-0 major decision. • Star Maddox for The Echo

Hart and Shelby girls advance, set up third meeting in district finals

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

SCOTTVILLE – As is custom, Hart and Shelby’s girls basketball squads have met twice during the 2024-25 season. With wins for both in the district semifinals Wednesday, March 5 however, a third matchup between the Pirates and Tigers is on the docket – this time for all the marbles.

Shelby vs. Mason County Central

The Tigers had a tough task in front of them when they kicked off the district semifinals in Scottville. Facing a conference opponent for the third time is never easy, doing so on that same opponent’s home court is an added layer of difficulty.

Shelby laughed at any notion that the Spartans might pull off an upset of the WMC Rivers’ No. 2 team, taking control early. A freshmen tandem of Jayna Burmeister and Michelle Peterson found first half success. Peterson scored seven points in the opening frame and 12 total in the first half, while Burmeister scored seven in the second quarter to bring her first half total to 11.

With a 34-16 lead after the first 16 minutes, the Tigers had effectively knocked MCC out of their gameplan. The only Spartan that managed to register more than one basket was senior Mallory Miller who had 12 points at halftime.

“Ava Lamberg was on Miller all night and made it tough for her to score,” Shelby Head Coach Sarah Wolting said. “If we can continue to play that intense defense, I’ll be happy with how we perform, I’m sure.”

Miller gave the Tigers some trouble to start the third quarter, scoring nine

points early. That came partly due to a shift in momentum brought by Peterson’s exit with an apparent ankle injury.

Burmeister and company quickly shook it off, increasing their lead to 23 by the start of the fourth quarter. That lead swelled to 24 by the game’s end, leaving Shelby in front at 66-42 at the final buzzer.

Shelby was led by Burmeister who closed in on triple-double territory with 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals. Peterson finished the game with 12 points while Annabelle Stark had nine and Jordan Wolting had seven.

“We know what we have to do (against Hart on Friday), we have to make more buckets,” Sarah Wolting said. “(When we played Hart before) it’s not like we weren’t getting shots off or free throw chances. We just have to play with the same intensity that we did tonight.”

Hart vs. Manistee

Like Shelby before them, Hart found little to no problems in their semifinal matchup with Manistee, posting an identical 66-42 victory in their win over the Mariners.

Rilynn Porter was the catalyst for the Pirates, pouring on 11 points in the opening quarter. Addi Hovey and Reese Smith got involved in the second quarter, combining for 10 points in that frame to help build the Hart lead to 37-20 at halftime.

“The defense did a great job and Rilynn had 11 (points) in that first quarter,” Hart Head Coach Travis Rosema said. “She came out aggressive and that was big. Getting those shots allowed the defense to feed off of that.”

It was the Smith and Hovey show in the third quarter as well. The Pi-

rates had a 24 point lead in the final minutes of that frame thanks to timely baskets by both. Manistee found a crack in the armor however, finishing the third on a 6-0 run.

With their lead sitting at 52-34 to start the fourth quarter, Hart stifled the Mariners completely. Hovey and Smith once again led the charge, pushing the Pirates to a victory and an appearance in the district finals against Shelby – something Rosema is looking forward to.

“In my opinion, basketball is better when Shelby’s good,” Rosema said. “You go to their gym and you can see all the banners. Shelby being good makes our conference better. We’ve had two close games this year and it’s hard to beat anyone three times in a year.”

Smith led the Pirates with 18 points while Hovey followed up with 15 of her own. Rilynn finished the game with 11 points and her sister Breslyn was close behind with nine.

Hart and Shelby will tip off the final rivalry game of the year inside MCC’s gym Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m. with the winner claiming a district title and a ticket to the regional tournament.

Hart boys basketball

pride in the way his team reinvented themselves midseason and made the most of the year.

“I’m a pressing coach, but we found out pretty early against North Muskegon, when (Adam) Dugener hit 39 (points) on us, that that wasn’t going to be our m.o. and we had to figure out something,” Bronsema said of a December game. “We challenged our guys. We wanted to be that gritty manto-man team, and if a game was in the 30s, we were going to find a way to win in the 30s. We’re that gritty group. These seniors, we had six seniors, and they all contributed. That’s what they’re going to be known for.”

The six seniors - Brendan Hiddema, Brody Clark, Avery Guikema, Kaden Bond, Tyler Larios-Mendez and Ty Schlukebir - helped the team improve from 13 wins a year ago to 16. At the same time, the Pirates have a lot to build on, including Ackley and Rockwell, the team’s top two scorers Friday. With offseason work, Bronsema said, those two and their teammates could pick up the baton from those seniors and do even better.

“Our younger group of guys we have, we’re excited about, and hopefully they will commit to getting better and follow that legacy,” Bronsema said.

Pentwater’s historic run ends at the hands of Muskegon Heights

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

MT. PLEASANT – The clock struck midnight on a fairytale-esque season for Pentwater boys basketball Tuesday, March 4. The Falcons fell to Muskegon Heights Academy 74-63, ending their postseason journey in the regional semifinals.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Pentwater on Tuesday. In fact, the Falcons were feeling pretty good after the first quarter saw them own a 15-9 advantage over the Tigers.

Senior Trey Johnson had a huge part in that, scoring eight points in the opening frame and adding a few steals to the mix as well. Unfortunately, Johnson’s impact was two-fold. His aggressive nature led to a lead, but also put three personal fouls on the board, leaving him two shy of exiting the game after just eight minutes of play.

“Our guards got into foul trouble in the first half. There was just a lot of hand contact that’s reasonable for a game like this,” Pentwater Head Coach Ashley Lubera said. “That kind of made us pull back defensively because we didn’t want to draw that fourth foul. It also made us substitute a little differently than normal.”

Johnson had to ride the pine to start the second quarter, knocking him out of the rhythm he’d established early. That allowed Muskegon Heights to draw closer in that second stanza.

The Tigers went on a 6-2 run to start

that quarter, closing the lead to just a single point. Mikey Carlson played a little bit of hero ball, scoring 10 points for the Falcons to bring his tally to 15 in the first half.

As halftime neared, Muskegon Heights went on a 8-0 run and snagged their first lead of the game with two minutes left in the second quarter. Carlson hit a three for Pentwater and Abram Kieda followed up with two points of his own, allowing the Falcons to maintain a slim 29-27 lead at the break.

“Muskegon Heights went on a run on us in the second quarter,” Lubera said. “That’s just their ability, athletically, to finish at the rim. It was a rebounding battle and I think (the Tigers) just fed their posts better than we did.”

Johnson returned to the starting lineup in the second half, though Muskegon Heights was prepared. The Tigers made a point to pester Johnson and Jonny Arnouts anytime they touched the ball, making it difficult for Pentwater to move the ball effectively.

“We were trying to get screens for (Johnson and Arnouts), but it was just (Muskegon Heights’) presence and hustle that caught us off guard a bit,” Lubera said. “We had 13 total turnovers for the game and our goal is always under 10…we typically average eight per night. Add five more than normal tonight, and there’s several points.”

The Tigers did a majority of their damage at the start of the third quarter. Out scoring Pentwater 10-2 in the

opening minutes allowed them to take the lead and add some cushion.

The Falcons traded shots after that. A string of six points for Pentwater brought the deficit to just three, but Muskegon Heights closed out the third with strong play, leading 49-42 with eight minutes left to play.

Deadly shooting from beyond the arc spelled the end to Pentwater’s night in the fourth quarter. Tigers’ senior Cardair Vance knocked down three from deep, staving off sporadic bursts of scoring from Pentwater.

Intentional fouls became necessary in the final minutes, but the Falcons were never able to get closer than four points from the lead.

Carlson finished the night with an eye-popping stat line, tallying a double-double at 30 points and 13 rebounds. Johnson had 11 points and four steals, while Kieda added eight points and four rebounds. Arnouts and Brody Austin each recorded five points on the night.

Pentwater finished their year at 21-3 overall, snagging two trophies with a West Michigan D League conference title and a district championship in the books.

An impactful senior class will be missed as Johnson, Carlson and Arnouts are joined by Nathan Macher and Kaleb Brown as notable departures for next year. Lubera hopes that the time spent with those athletes cultivated lifelong friendships and fostered a love for the game.

“At the end of the day, it’s about relationships,” Lubera said. “Coach

(Pete) DuMonte and I built great everlasting friendships with Jon (Arnouts), Trey (Johnson), Kaleb (Brown), Mike (Carlson) and Nathan (Macher). What a fantastic season. Hopefully we have a forever friendship and they want to come back around the game. Maybe they’ll make future coaches themselves. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience and I’m super proud of my seniors.”

Pentwater senior Trey Johnson elevates for a layup on a breakway in transition. Johnson scored eight points in the opening quarter of the Falcons’ 74-63 loss to Muskegon Heights in the regional semifinals Tuesday, March 4. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

continued from page 10

Shelby freshman Jayna Burmeister turns the corner near the baseline, looking for a lane to the hoop. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Reflections

Reflections of our community

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

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Playhouse committee considers short-term solutions

Long-term endowment plans on hold due to existing capital campaign donations

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — The City of Whitehall's Playhouse sustainability committee had its second meeting last Thursday afternoon, this one taking place on the stage of the historic building and moderated by Frank Bednarek of the Friends of the Playhouse, who was not present at the first meeting.

This meeting, after the first one largely focused on the big picture and how the Playhouse got here, took a narrower focus, especially with respect to the endowment campaign the Friends hope

to commence in the future. However, Bednarek did concede that campaign is likely "a couple of years" away because many of the people the Friends anticipate donating to that future campaign are still paying off donations they made to the capital campaign that contributed to the building's $4 million renovation in 2019.

In the short term, the focus is on how to get the Playhouse out of its current financial deficit. As of a couple of days prior to the meeting, city manager Scott Huebler said, the Playhouse is about $65,500 in the negatives. No one on the committee appeared concerned this was a permanent issue; after all, Huebler asked city treasurer Alyssa Seaver to run the numbers going back to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, and at that point the Playhouse was

some $119,000 in the black. There is reason to believe better days are ahead.

A short-term solution could come from a tweak to the city budget. While the city did not respond to the Playhouse's request for a $100,000 loan late

some $119,000 in the black. There is reason to believe better days are ahead. A short-term solution could come from a tweak to the city budget. While the city did not respond to the Playhouse's request for a $100,000 loan late

A short-term solution could come from a tweak to the city budget. While the city did not respond to the Playhouse's request for a $100,000 loan late

last year - the committee was formed instead - Huebler did offer that it's possible, should the council agree to it, that

Committee meeting

continued on page 2

Committee meeting continued on page 2

Montague Commoners host 1st syrup boil of season

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

MONTAGUE — The Montague Commoners hosted their first community syrup boil last week. The boils are open to all residents who bring sap that they tapped to be converted into syrup, as well as those who are interested in learning more about natural resources in the White Lake area. The boils take place at the pavilion in the Trailway Campgrounds, across from Montague Foods.

MONTAGUE — The Montague Commoners nity syrup boil last week. The boils are open to all residents who bring sap that they tapped to be converted into syrup, as well as those who are interested in learning more about natural resources the White place at the pavilion in the Trailway Campgrounds, across from Montague

Montague Commoners leader and local environmental activist Wiley Fry helped start the organization as a means of hoping to encourage educa-

Montague Commoners leader and Fry helped start the organization as a means educa-

tion of nature, the environment and natural resources. According to their Facebook page, the Montague Commoners consider themselves “a collective of foragers, artists and permaculture practitioners.”

tion of nature, the environment and natural resources. According to their Facebook page, the Montague Comconsider themselves “a collective of foragers, artists and permaculture practitioners.”

Residents with access to maple trees still have time to tap their trees if they desire. Fry described the prime time for tapping as when the temperature is above freezing during the day and below freezing at night. This makes the sap move constantly up and down allowing tappers the ability to get the most sap.

“The minimum tapping size is 8-10 in diameter and 30 inches in circumference,” said Fry. “I do a ‘one arm

“The minimum tapping size is 8-10 inches in diameter and 30 inches in circumference,” said Fry. “I do a ‘one arm

hug’ test to measure the tree trunk, like estimating how many inches the trunk is from my chest. Using a clean, sharp drill bit after marking 1.5 inches with masking tape, choosing a spot over level ground between waist and eye level.”

The boiling process for syrup production takes a long time, typically consisting of an eight-hour day.

“It takes 40 gallons of sap to make

Commoners

continued on page 2

The Montague Commoners hosted their first community syrup boil this week. The group promotes conservation and encourages the tapping of maple trees to make your own syrup. • Courtesy Photo

The Montague Commoners hosted their first community syrup boil this week. The group promotes conservation and encourages the tapping of maple trees to make your own syrup.

The Montague Commoners hosted their first community syrup boil this week. The group promotes conservation and encourages the tapping of maple trees to make your own syrup. • Courtesy Photo

WLACAC shares benefits of all-electric homes

shares benefits of all-electric homes

WLACAC shares benefits of all-electric homes

By Claire Marshall White Lake Mirror Writer

WHITEHALL — All homeowners can relate to the process of a home renovation, whether something as simple as repainting the living room and updating appliances to total home remodels or complete additions. But how many homeowners can boast entirely switching power sources?

homeowners to the a whether something as as and aptotal remodels or complete additions. But how many homeowners can boast entirely switching power sources?

Wednesday evening, the White Lake Community Library hosted a presentation from Lori Coleman, a founding member of the White Lake Area Climate Action Council, on the complete conversion of her home to electricity.

Wednesday evening, the White Lake Community presentation Lori a founding member White Lake Area Action Council, on the complete conversion of her home

As a member of WLACAC, Coleman's concerns for the environment and sustainability were clearly a main factor for converting her and her husband’s 1,200-square-foot ranch house in Montague solely to electric. However, she also discussed the many monetary benefits she's seen since making the switch.

As concerns for the environment and sustainability were clearly a main factor for converting her and her husband’s 1,200-square-foot ranch house in Montague solely to electric. However, she also discussed the many monetary benefits she's seen since making the switch.

The journey started modestly enough in 2014 with expected renovations, such as converting their garage to a master suite and updating the bathroom, but, as Coleman explained, the first step to making the home more energy efficient began with replacing the windows. Insufficiently insulated windows, especially in our chilly climate, is one of the greater contributors to pricy electric bills, and many sources recommend remedying this first to see overall improvements where budgets are concerned.

The journey started modestly enough in 2014 with converting garage to a master suite and updating the bathroom, but, as Coleman explained, the first step to making the home more energy efficient began with replacing the windows. Insufficiently insulated windows, especially in our chilly climate, is one of the greater contributors to pricy electric bills, and many sources recommend remedying this first to see overall improvements where budgets are concerned.

While the windows were Coleman’s first steps, the initiative to take the plunge and work towards a full

electric conversion started in 2020 while virtually attending the Green Home Institute’s presentation on “Net Zero Homes" - homes that produce enough clean and renewable energy to sustain themselves all year, named because they do not use fossil fuels.

In 2021, Coleman had a “home energy audit,” wherein an agent came in and thoroughly inspected the home for areas in which the home’s energy efficiency could be improved, inspecting things such as furnaces, HVAC systems, and finding areas where air leaks from the building.

After the comprehensive report on their home, Coleman set to work improving the home’s insulation and shoring up the foundation, a main cause of many such leaks.

With a newly sealed house, the following year, Coleman tackled the first appliance conversion, replacing the gas tank water heater with an instant electric heater, which boasts estimated savings of up to 30% for yearly water heating energy costs for a family of two, and 14% for larger households. Heating and cooling of the house were also addressed through the implementation of a mini-split heat pump and an energy-efficient wood-burning insert for the fireplace, completed in 2022 and 2023 respectively. The heat pump works by quickly transferring heat from the environment to the system and vice versa, heating the home in the winter and cooling in the summer. 2023 also saw the purchase of another big-ticket item, an electric car - a Chevy Bolt - which is charged through the house’s electricity overnight when the electric grid is least stressed.

A sudden house fire in May 2023 sent Coleman and her husband back to square one, but now they knew what to repurchase in the rebuilding process, what they found most cost-effective before the fire, and had the opportunity to further improve the electrical systems they had prior. The long process of rebuilding their home, from August 2023 to last May, allowed them to research electric replacements for a washer and dryer and kitchen appliances. They further expanded the mini-split system and used it as a replacement for their old gas boiler.

In the process of an electric conversion, homeowners often have to cooperate with outside parties to ensure a smooth transition. With all these electronics, Coleman’s 200-amp circuit board was at its maximum capacity; any further additions would overload it entirely. An upgrade to a 400-amp board was in order, requiring approval not only from energy providers who were in charge of upgrading the panel, but a seal of approval from the city code, changes to the property, and cooperation from neighbors who might be affected by the implementation of newinfrastructure.

After all is said and done, are there really significant savings for homeowners making the switch to electric? Coleman believes so. When reviewing the savings she saw prior to the 2023 house fire - even with a less energy-efficient home than they have now - Coleman saw savings with each new improvement made. Replacing

• Courtesy Photo

The Whitehall Playhouse sustainability committee had its second meeting last Thursday, discussing ways to beef up the building's event schedule and other short-term possibilities to increase revenue. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Mirror Writer

Electric home

continued from page 1

windows saved 7-15% on annual energy bills, and shoring up the basement insulation saved a further 20% for heating and cooling. The instant water heater saves up to 34% of energy costs, while heating is estimated to cost $700 annually for the pump and an added $250 for wood for the fireplace.

A project of this scale is an undertaking, and a massive investment, and Coleman understands not everyone has the funds to convert as thoroughly as her family has, especially not all at once. She discussed how they approached the project piece by piece, improving and replacing one or two systems a year for which they had the funds. The 30% tax credits offered on converting to electric systems were another main incentive, significantly decreasing the initial costs of buying and implementing the systems. Despite the devastation of the fire and their temporary displacement from their home, the Colemans found a silver lining in the opportunity to fully convert at a faster rate, but still recommend avoiding grilling on your deck to prevent house fires.

Sixteen people were in attendance for the presenta-

tion. Many in the audience knew the Colemans, either personally or through the WLACAC, though there were also newcomers in the crowd. The audience was engaged, asking questions and collaborating on solutions with each other, all in the interest of energy conservation and efficiency.

There are many resources for those interested in creating energy efficient houses and implementing improvements such as the Colemans' into existing homes. At the end of the presentation, Coleman recommended a new organization called Michigan Homegrown Power that shares information on renewable energy. When asked for advice for anyone interested in starting to convert their home to electricity, Coleman recommended “(making) a list of what you’d like to do, and then understand what you have annually to spend on it” - prioritizing your finances, and seeing what you can set aside for your goals. Even a little can go a long way in saving money and reducing carbon emissions.

“We chose to spend our money on these (improvements) because it's really important to us...maybe you only like one part of it and you say ‘that really makes sense for my home and makes me feel like I’m doing my part,’" Coleman said. "So there are options…it’s really all about saving money.”

Committee meeting

a budget amendment could help the Playhouse. Currently, the city splits its allotment of Muskegon County's marijuana tax money between the police department - Huebler noted it helped pay for updated body and dash cameras - and the Playhouse. An amendment could allow the Playhouse to receive a larger share of that tax revenue. Such a decision would have to come following an official recommendation from the committee, which has not yet happened.

Another option for short-term relief Huebler suggested was petitioning the Local Development Finance Authority or Tax Increment Finance Au-

thority boards for advertising support, something he felt both boards would be open to providing.

The Playhouse is also optimistic that its upcoming slate of spring and summer events will take a bite out of its current debt. Director Beth Beaman said the Playhouse has 20 events booked from March through June, some of those being multiple-day events. The summer, too, will be very busy as usual, with shows on the weekends, the continued rental of the space by the Hope Bible Chapel, and theatre camps scheduled. When asked, Beaman said the slate of events for later this year appeared busier than normal, although still

short of the goal of having the Playhouse occupied with some sort of event 180 days of the year.

That led to discussion of the ongoing issue of the Playhouse being "tapped out" in terms of personnel to carry out some of the ideas the committee and local people are presenting. Gnarly Heifer owner Kara Smith, a committee member, said she's jotted down any number of ideas over the course of the meetings but does not want to overload Beaman, the Playhouse's only fulltime employee. She hopes the Playhouse can enlist the help of volunteers to aid in carrying out committee recommendations. For her part, Beaman said

Narcotics Anonymous meets in Montague

If you are struggling with a narcotics addiction, you are not alone. The Narcotics Anonymous group meets each Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7-8:30 p.m. at the White Lake United Methodist Church in Montague. Group members meet to provide a positive message of hope and a re-

minder that you have a choice and the strength, with help from the group, to not allow your addiction to take over your life. In addition to the group meetings, those in need of help can call the Narcotics Anonymous regional help line at 1-800-230-4085.

Commoners

produce more maple syrup this year and hopefully have more volunteers. They have already seen a large increase in participants this season.

if the Playhouse were in a position to hire more help, her focus would be on someone to focus on development and donor relationships, saying that's her "weakest point."

On that topic, Mayor Steven Salter again invoked the study mentioned at the previous meeting that said facilities the size of the Playhouse should be staffed by five people; at the moment Beaman and part-time employee Cindy Beth Davis-Dykema are the only employees.

The committee adjourned just after setting March 13 at 4 p.m. as the time for its next meeting. It will again take place at the Playhouse. continued from page 1

Lenten Luncheons return March 12; five events scheduled

Several White Lake area churches will again host their traditional Lenten Luncheons this year, commemorating the holy Christian season of Lent with Wednesday gatherings that will include local pastors giving their thoughts on the annual 40-day observance. All are invited to attend.

The series of five luncheons will begin Wednesday, March 12 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church on Old Channel Trail in Montague, with guest speaker Doug Ogden, pastor of Lebanon Lutheran Church. Each luncheon will go from 12-1 p.m., with each church serving a simple menu of options, often including hearty soups. Free will offerings will be taken at each luncheon with donations shared by Lebanon Lutheran's White Lake Food Pantry and the White Lake Unit-

ed Methodist Church's Free Store.

The luncheons will continue as follows: March 19 at White Lake Congregational United Church of Christ in Whitehall, with guest speaker

Beth Wohlford, pastor of spirtual formation at Ferry Church; March 26 at St. James Catholic Church, with guest speaker Bill Crawford, pastor of Ferry Church; April 2 at White Lake United Methodist Church in Montague, with White Lake UCC pastor Donna Morton as guest speaker; and April 9 at Ferry Church on Old Channel Trail, with White Lake UMC pastor Tim Dibble as guest speaker.

a gallon of maple syrup,” Fry said. “That means you have to boil 39 gallons of water out of the sap. We have a flat pan that we put on a stove that my friend Mike made out of a 55-gallon barrel. We feed small diameter firewood into the barrel under the pan, it turns into biochar. The heat goes towards boiling the water and then we just keep slowly adding more sap as water boils away, until eventually the sugar content starts getting close to about 60-65%. Then we take it off the heat and do a separate finishing boil later on to get the last few percent of water out.”

The Montague Commoners are aiming to

“I don’t want to make hard predictions because the weather likes to mess with us, but we’re going to be tapping considerably more trees,” said Fry. “We’ve got upgraded equipment this year. Last year we got about 2.5 gallons. This year I’m hoping we can make at least 4-5 gallons.”

To keep up with boil dates and for more information, check with the Montague Commoners' Facebook page.

Saturday, March 8

Smittyvision performs @ North Grove Brewers, 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 9

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

Monday, March 10

Monthly cookbook club meets, 5:30 p.m. @ White Lake Community Library. For March, cook a pie recipe (sweet or savory), and bring a sample and a copy of the recipe to the group for discussion. No registration needed.

Monday Night Euchre @ Danny'Z

Rothbury Tavern, 6:30 p.m.

Dumber by the Beer trivia @ North Grove Brewers, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 11

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

Monthly book discussion group meets, 5:30 p.m. @ White Lake Community Library. For March, read a book about self-care, and report your thoughts back to the group. No registration needed.

GriefShare group meets @ White Lake UMC in Montague, 6 p.m. If you've lost a loved one, this group helps face the challenges of moving

on with your life. To sign up, contact the church office at 231-894-5789.

Wednesday, March 12

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

Save MI Hemlocks Event @ Muskegon Conservation District in Twin Lake, 5:30 p.m. Learn about invasive species that may be harming your trees and how to help them. Free event - sign up at muskegoncd.org/ events.

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

DJ Trivia @ Jimmy'z Pub, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 13

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.

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.

Live trivia @ Pub One Eleven, 8 p.m.

Echoes of History: Montague school destroyed (Pt. 3) Community Calendar

By Barbara Bedau Brow Volunteer Contributor

Prior to the devastating fire, the teachers for the year included: Supt. Vernon E. Chase, Miss Edith Campbell and Miss Blanch Sumner; high school assistants: Mrs. Ruzena Pillman, 7th and 8th grades; Mrs. Florence Ferguson, 5th and 6th; Miss Ethel Johnson, 3rd and 4th; Mrs. V. E. (Maude) Chase, 1st and 2nd. There was no mention of a primary or kindergarten grade.

In January 1920 some chairs were donated to the high school rooms from the Red Cross, but more were still needed. Anyone having chairs not in use would be gladly received by the school.

By March, new school desks were being installed in the Presbyterian church, much to the appreciation of the students.

With the loss of Montague’s entire school system, it provided an opportunity for the people of Montague Township to reorganize into a single school district and to consolidate its four schools – Maple Grove, Mears, Redding & Trading Post. There being no high school building and only the four rural schools of the old one-room type, the township had little to lose and everything to gain. A vote was tak-

en in April 1920 and passed with 232 Yes votes to 71 Nos. Thus was created the Montague Township Rural Agricultural School.

By the end of November 1920, Batterson & Ellsworth, architects from Kalamazoo, had submitted their final plans for the new proposed consolidated school building. The building was two stories high, made of brick with white stone trimmings, and was fireproof in all stairways and corridors. It was steam-heated and well-ventilated and provided the required number of grade, class, assembly and recitation rooms to advance the health, comfort and interest of its occupants.

School started in the new building Tuesday, Sept. 6, 1921. There were 20 students in kindergarten with still more to follow, 32 in the 1st and 2nd grades, 28 in 3rd and 4th grades, 32 in 5th and 6th grades and in the grammar room 54, and 77 in the high room. Over the years, as school enrollment increased, the Nellie B. Chisholm (NBC) Middle School and a new high school were built.

In June 1985, the 1921 school building became Oehrli Elementary School, named after Raymond Robert “Jack” Oehrli. He came to the Mon-

tague school system in 1929 at the age of 25, when the school system had 285 students and eight teachers. When he retired as superintendent in July 1965 after 36 years, there were over 1,000 students and 55 teachers. Oehrli died

in a Muskegon hospital in May 1986. According to published information for the 2023-24 school year, Montague Area Public Schools had 1,353 students in grades PK, K-12, and 86 teachers.

New GVSU partnership promotes civil discourse

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

We’re pleased to share that we’re teaming up with WGVU Public Media and Grand Valley State University’s Center for Civil Discourse for a powerful new initiative aimed at fostering meaningful community conversations throughout Muskegon County. Thanks to a generous grant from The Community Foundation for Muskegon County, GVSU will host three community conversations at our library this year, with additional sessions at Hackley Public Library and the Norton Shores branch of the Muskegon Area District Library.

“Depolarizing Ourselves,” Thursday, May 29, led by Braver Angels, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging political and ideological divides through civil discourse. Stay tuned for more details—this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Kicking things off is an engaging and thought-provoking workshop,

Together We Read - Queen of Sugar Hill

Be part of a nationwide book club! Libby is partnering with libraries all over the country to offer unlimited access to The Queen of Sugar Hill by ReShonda Tate, from March 13 through March 27. The book is the latest title selected for a Together We Read project and is available in both ebook and audiobook formats.

This powerful novel reimagines the life of trailblazing actress Hattie McDaniel, who won an Oscar for her role of Mammy in Gone with the Wind. Ambition, love, friendship, and the fight for equality are all part of this gripping story of resilience and determination.

Mark your calendars and get ready

for an inspiring discussion! Read the book in March, then come to the library for a discussion Wednesday, April 16, at 5:30 p.m.

FUN FACT: Adjusted for inflation, Gone with the Wind remains the highest-grossing movie of all time. Its original release, along with multiple re-releases, brought in massive audiences, making it a cultural phenomenon. Business Expo and Pancake Breakfast March 22

It’s almost time for the 12th Annual White Lake Community Business Expo! Come check out the library book bike Saturday, March 22, from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. We will be among more than 50 exhibitors in the gym at Whitehall High School on White Lake Drive. Come visit the various booths, collect cool swag, and enter to win all sorts of great prizes. The library is handing out free books to the first 100 kids, so come early and bring the whole family!

While you are there, be sure to take advantage of the delicious pancake

breakfast being offered by the Montague-Whitehall Rotary Club. This active service group supports a variety of important programs both locally and abroad, and the pancake breakfast is one of their biggest fundraisers. The breakfast will be served in the high school cafeteria, right next to the business expo space, from 7:30 a.m. until noon. Tickets are available from any Rotary member or at the door.

DeMumbrum

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

NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE community Craner, Jenkins bring home state titles

Craner completes 2nd straight perfect season; Jenkins completes comeback from broken neck

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Two Whitehall Vikings ended the weekend atop the podium, bringing home Division 3 individual wrestling state championships from Ford Field in Detroit.

Gavin Craner earned his second consecutive state title at 190 pounds, ending his career with a flourish before he becomes a Central Michigan Chippewa next year. Wyatt Jenkins pulled off a dramatic 4-3 victory in the finals to win the title at 215, completing an amazing comeback from his summer 2023 broken neck.

For the second straight year, Craner

was never challenged in the state meet. He dispatched his first two opponents by first-period pins, rolled to a technical fall in the semifinals against Gladstone's Trevor Thorbahn, and blanked Dundee's Rocco Redmon, the No. 2 seed entering the tournament, in an 11-0 major decision in the finals, the first match he wrestled in the individual postseason to go the distance. He ended the season at 54-0, and in two years at Whitehall, Craner won all 108 of his matches.

It was the fifth straight season a Viking was an unbeaten state champion; Ira Jenkins did it in 2021 and '22, Shane Cook did it in 2023, and Craner has accomplished the feat the past two seasons.

Whitehall coach Justin Zeerip noted that Craner earned a bonus-point

State

champs continued on page 5

Six other local wrestlers earn all-state

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

While Gavin Craner and Wyatt Jenkins of Whitehall delivered the biggest wins with state titles during last weekend's state wrestling finals at Ford Field, they were just two of eight all-state wrestlers from the area.

The six others to earn all-state status included state runner-up Kassie Sapp of Whitehall, at 115 pounds in the girls' division; Reeths-Puffer's Ian Cook, who placed third at 144 in Division 1; Montague's Ava Pelton, fifth in the girls' division at 145; Whitehall's Liam Leeke, who was fifth at 157; Montague's Fletch-

er Thommen, seventh at 150; and R-P's Sage Secrest, eighth at 215 in Division 1. Sapp's run to the finals was an impressive one, as she scored two straight pins to start the state meet, then defeated Franklin's Kennedy Perez, the bracket's top seed, by a 13-2 major de-

All-State continued on page 5

Whitehall's Kassie Sapp (right) battles with Grand Haven's Gracey Barry during Saturday's state finals match at Ford Field. The freshman Sapp became the first Viking girl to reach a finals match, taking 2nd place.

• Star Maddox/For the Mirror

Montague romps to finals with rivalry win

Early 21-3 scoring run gives 'Cats cushion

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — All other things being equal, any coach would rather have an experience advantage in the postseason, and the Montague Wildcats exploited theirs early and often in Wednesday's district semifinal against Whitehall.

Playing with supreme confidence on both ends of the court, Montague quickly took control of the game and built a huge lead, cruising to a 51-22 win and earning a date with Spring Lake in Friday's final.

"It's huge in the postseason," Montague coach Jess DeBruin said of having experience. "These girls have been playing together for years, and not just this sport. Having that connection with each other helps a ton."

Montague exploded with a 21-3 scoring run that spanned over a quarter of game time, swelling a 4-2 lead to 25-5 and making it very difficult for

the Vikings to come back. Hot shooting helped; the 'Cats haven't been known for big numbers from the guard position this year, but Adilynn Peterson and Avah Vandermeulen enjoyed great starts shooting the ball, which only bolstered the team's confidence. The two combined for 20 points in the win, leading a very balanced score sheet.

"That's always a big deal for us," Peterson said of early shot-making. "As soon as someone makes a shot, we're all excited and it encourages everyone else."

The early success offensively also served to embolden Montague's already tenacious press defense, and the Wildcats were able to fluster Whitehall's much younger backcourt into several early turnovers and rushed possessions.

"That was five seniors playing against not five seniors, and you could tell," Whitehall coach Brian Milliron said. "We've been there. It's a tough way to lose...They were faster than us. It was visibly so. Mentally we were slower and physically we were slower. We've got to fix that."

Montague could have easily gone into cruise control after taking the big lead, but it continued to force the issue and was largely rewarded for it. The lead continued to grow, albeit more slowly, the rest of the way.

"They wanted to make it to the district championship game, and they wanted to beat Whitehall for the third

continued on page 6

DeBruin said the Wildcats were motivated in part by recent slow starts, and they certainly played like it Wednesday.

Whitehall's Wyatt Jenkins takes a shot at Hillsdale's John Petersen during Saturday's state finals match at Ford Field. Jenkins defeated Petersen, 4-3, to win the state championship.

• Kelly Barnes/For the Mirror

Montague's Adilynn Peterson keeps the ball safe from Whitehall's Peyton Schultz during Wednesday's district semifinal in Montague. Peterson scored 11 points in the Wildcats' 51-22 win. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Montague wins

State champs

win against every single opponent he faced this year, and Craner added he believed that was true of both his Viking seasons.

"I feel lucky to have coached him," Zeerip said. "It's not surprising, either, with how hard he works and how seriously he takes the sport and how he tries to improve himself. I know it's why he's so successful. To see him go out and dominate the way he doesand his leadership skills are great too - it's really cool to see him do that."

Craner's talent is prodigious, but as Zeerip noted, the ability to so thoroughly dominate opponents also comes from his preparation.

"It's just a mindset, working hard in the practice room to know no one else is prepared for you," Craner said.

Though he plans to redshirt in his first year at CMU, Craner will spend the next couple of months getting healthy after long and grueling football and wrestling seasons, after which he'll continue preparing for the increased level of competition in college. After all, he doesn't merely want to wrestle in Mount Pleasant; he wants to star there.

"I want to go to the open (meets) and improve a lot and definitely crack the starting lineup my sophomore year and have a good college career," Craner said. "Some kids are happy to be at the Division I level, but I have goals

All-State

cision in the semifinals. In the championship match, Sapp ran into old nemesis Gracey Barry of Grand Haven, who defeated her in both the district and regional finals and was a state runner-up last season. This time, Sapp battled Barry for six hotly-contested minutes, but came up just short in a 4-3 decision. The good news for Sapp, who had an outstanding freshman campaign, is that Barry is a senior and won't be in her way in 2026.

beyond that. I want to be an All-American. I'm chasing national titles."

Jenkins dominated his first three opponents in the state meet with first-period pins, a result of what he called a better mental approach to the finals than he'd taken in his previous trips to Ford Field. Along the way, he earned his 150th career victory.

"My whole four years, I used to make the tournament way bigger than what it was," Jenkins said. "In those first three matches, it almost felt like the wrestling (practice) room to me."

The state championship match against No. 3 seed John Petersen of Hillsdale was Jenkins' match, too, but wasn't quite as easy as the first three. Jenkins came out on top, 4-3, scoring the decisive takedown in the second period before hanging on for the victory, even as he was assessed stalling points down the stretch that Zeerip was unsure were merited.

Jenkins said he felt confident after taking the lead that he would finish the job.

"Once he got the takedown, we felt like he was in control of the match," Zeerip said. "It's really exciting for him to see the culmination of his hard work."

The match carried all sorts of meaning for Jenkins, who missed almost the entire 2023-24 wrestling season after

"Making the finals as a freshman is an incredible feat," Zeerip said. "Kassie had a really good weekend."

Cook, undefeated entering the state tournament, had championship aspirations but settled for an impressive third-place finish and 48-1 season record to cap his career. He made Rocket history as the program's first-ever four-time all-state wrestler and will graduate as the all-time team leader in wins. After two straight wins to get rolling in the meet, Cook met his match in Davison's Tanner McDunnah, who edged Cook 4-3 in the semifinals. Cook bounced back with a consolation win, then squeaked by Brighton's Xander Courneya 4-3 in the third-place match.

Pelton finished up one of the best careers in the short history of girls wrestling in Muskegon County with her fifth-place finish. A four-time state qualifier and the first county girl to achieve 100 career wins, Pelton had the misfortune of running into four-time state champion Margaret Buurma of Fowlerville in the quarterfinals. She scored a first-period pin in the blood round and later pinned Grant's Markie Davis to take fifth.

"Ava wrestled great the entire state tournament," Montague coach Kris Maddox said. "Her weight class was loaded with multiple state placers and former state champions...Ava has bested four different state finalists in her career."

Leeke fought his way through the consolation bracket after taking a quarterfinal defeat. After a blood-round decision victory, Leeke won again by technical fall. After being sent to the fifth-place match, Leeke capped his season with a 9-6 victory over Allegan's Ryan Sparks.

Zeerip said Leeke achieving his spot as a sophomore was impressive and that the best is yet to come.

• Kelly

a broken neck suffered at a football camp. On top of that, his grandfather, Robert, is in poor health, and Wyatt promised him before leaving for Detroit that he would bring home the championship for him.

"Making a promise to someone... and being able to come through with that and show how much you care about and love them, it meant a lot to me," Jenkins said.

The title also made it three combined championships in the family after Wyatt's older brother, Ira, a current Michigan Wolverine wrestler, won two as a Viking. Wyatt is headed for collegiate wrestling at Southeast Community College in Nebraska next season,

and hopes ending his high school career on top is just the beginning.

"Right now, it's just working on technique and a little conditioning," Jenkins said. "That state championship was a small portion of what I'm trying to achieve. I want to go win two juco national titles and then transfer up to see if I can win national titles at the NCAA level."

Craner and Jenkins will leave gaping holes in the Whitehall lineup that will need to be filled next season, but for now Zeerip is just very pleased for both of his stars.

"It was really cool for Gavin and Wyatt to go out on top and be state champs," Zeerip said.

Clockwise from top left, Whitehall's Liam Leeke battles Buchanan's Leland Payne during a first-round match; Montague's Fletcher Thommen keeps a close eye on Algonac's Vance Tilly during a consolation match Friday; Reeths-Puffer's Sage Secrest (left) battles for position against East Kentwood's Tyler Meeuwsen during a consolation match Saturday; and Montague's Ava Pelton grapples with Portage Northern's Harleigh Toepfer during a consolation match Friday. Each of the four earned all-state honors at the weekend's individual tournament at Ford Field.

• Star Maddox and Kelly Barnes/For the Mirror

"He wrestles at a really high pace and wears guys out a lot," Zeerip said. "He'll keep climbing that podium."

Leeke's teammate, Craner, spent much of the season sparring with him and believes Leeke will be the next Viking state champion.

"Liam isn't only a good practice partner for me, he's one of my best friends," Craner said. "I know he's worked really hard...I'm really glad for him."

Thommen took the hard way to placing seventh, winning consecutive consolation matches after a first-round defeat. In his seventh-place match against Tri-County's Tristan Vantimmeren, Thommen avenged a district finals loss by wrestling "a perfect game plan," Maddox said, and earned an 8-3 victory. He ended the season with a 42-8 record.

Secrest rounded out local all-state wrestlers, scoring consecutive consolation wins after a first-round loss to secure his placement.

Earning single wins at the state meet before falling in the blood round were Whitehall's Caden Varela and Montague's Taylor Moore. Zeerip said Varela wrestled all season with a torn labrum (he wore a protective sleeve over one shoulder all year) and credited him with displaying impressive toughness.

"I couldn't be prouder of him and his career,"

Zeerip said of Varela.

Whitehall's Cody Manzo and Billy Darke Jr., Montague's Isaac French and Maverick Osborne, and Reeths-Puffer's Max Knowlton each also competed at the state meet and posted 0-2 records. Darke reaching state as a freshman at a high weight class (215 pounds) was a great feat in itself, and Manzo, Zeerip said, was in a good position in both his matches and just came up short.

"If a couple scrambles go differently, he's probably on the podium," Zeerip said.

Whitehall's Gavin Craner (top) keeps Dundee's Rocco Redmon on the mat during Saturday's state finals match at Ford Field. Craner completed his 2nd straight perfect season with an 11-0 victory over Redmon, winning the state title.

Barnes/For the Mirror

Cook

Montague wins

time," DeBruin said. "That gave us that momentum and that spark at the beginning."

Montague's bench was also into it from the start, getting on their feet as shot after shot went in. That carried all the way to the end of the game, when the reserves were in and Annelyse Schneider knocked down a three-pointer in the final seconds.

It was a bitter way to end things for

continued from page 4

Whitehall's four seniors: Sidney Shepherd, Lianne Fagan, Grace McDowell and Megan LeaTrea. For sophomore Clare Westerlund, who had a teambest nine points, and freshman Peyton Schultz, the loss will be fuel to improve after promising starts to their careers.

"I know (they) are going to get in the gym between now and next November," Milliron said. "That's a good thing to (know)."

Montague, meanwhile, will likely need another game like Wednesday's to knock off top seed Spring Lake, which edged Fruitport in another semifinal. Some of the senior Wildcats were part of their last team to play against the Lakers, a loss during the 2022-23 season.

"We'll have to do the same things we did tonight, but harder," Peterson said. "We'll have to do everything with a little more effort. I think we can do it, but we've got to play our hardest because this could be our last game."

Vikes surge in 2nd half, defeat Orchard View

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — Whitehall sputtered a bit in the first half of Monday's first-round district game against Orchard View, but a big boost from two underclassmen helped the Vikings pull away and pick up a 49-34 win.

Sophomore Clare Westerlund and freshman Peyton Schultz were the driving forces behind the Vikings' strong third quarter. Each of the duo scored seven points in that quarter, helping Whitehall outscore OV 19-7 and build a five-point halftime lead out

to 17 points.

Whitehall suffered a lengthy scoring drought in the second quarter until Westerlund hit a three-pointer. Luckily for the Vikings, their defensive play was very good and the Cardinals didn't score in that span either, taking nearly five minutes into the frame to score a point.

The slow start, Schultz said, was similar to the one the Vikings had last week in a regular-season win over the Cardinals, and the team hoped to avoid it this time. However, Orchard View played well in half-court defense and limited its own mistakes early on.

Schultz ran the offense a good portion of the game and displayed impressive shooting touch on jump shots throughout, hitting five of them, including a pair of three-pointers. Her five quick points early in the third were instrumental in Whitehall taking command of the game.

Schultz said she works on her shot often. It can be difficult for smaller players like Schultz to get shots up with so much height around them, but she's displayed a knack at times for getting herself free for open looks.

"Since I was really little, I've been practicing basketball with my dad in

the driveway," Schultz said. "I've just been working on it for a long time, since I was eight."

Whitehall won lopsided games over OV in both regular-season meetings, but Milliron said he emphasized the single-elimination nature of the tournament to ward off any potential overconfidence heading into the game.

"The mentality going in was, this is March and anything can happen," Milliron said. "That can be good or bad. If you are looking past Orchard View, then you're wrong. We prepared for this like we did everything else. We don't look ahead."

Copenhaver leads local finalists, ties for 25th

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Six local bowlers ended their seasons by competing in state finals meets Saturday.

In the Division 3 boys' meet in Jackson, Whitehall's Mason Slaughter topped the three local competitors, finishing in 38th place in the qualifying portion of the finals. (The top 16 finishers advanced to bracket play to determine a champion.) Slaughter bowled six qualifying games for a total score of

1,102, with his high game of 232 coming in his last game.

Also in the D-3 boys' finals, Logan Hunter of Montague posted a score of 1,049 to finish in 44th place; his high score of 234 was the best bowled by a local player all day. Ethan Hite finished tied for 54th with a six-game score of 972 and a high game of 188.

Whitehall's Felicity Dingman played in the Division 3 girls' meet, also in Jackson, and placed 53rd with a six-game score of 886. Her best single-game score of the day was a 178.

Rocket cheer finishes 8th at state

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

In a loaded field of great teams, Reeths-Puffer finished eighth at Saturday's Division 2 cheer finals at Central Michigan University.

A pair of Reeths-Puffer bowlers participated in the Division 2 boys' finals, which took place in Waterford. Liam Copenhaver tied for 25th place with a six-game score of 1,146, just 37 points

away from qualifying for the bracket. His high game of the day was a 210. Rocket junior Carter Hekkema finished 34th with a six-game score of 1,091, highlighted by a high game of 214.

R-P's best round of the finals was round one, in which it scored 228.4 points, the same total as eventual seventh-place finisher Cedar Springs.

The Rockets scored 754.2 points, an impressive number that was nevertheless outdone by even higher-achieving squads. Allen Park brought home the championship with a score of 791.9 points.

PUBLIC NOTICE

MONTAGUE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF REVIEW

The MONTAGUE Township Board of Review will hold their organizational meeting at the Montague Township Hall 8915 Whitbeck Rd. Montague Mi. 49437 at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2025. No petitions heard at this time. The Board of Review will receive and examine the assessment roll for the current year as submitted by the Township Assessor.

The Board of Review will meet to hear citizen’s assessment protests. Monday - March 10, 2025 9:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm

Tuesday- March 11, 2025 2:00pm-5:00pm & 6:00pm-9:00pm

Mailed protests are welcome and must be received by Monday March 11 2025. Petition to Board of Review Form can be found at WWW.Michigan. gov>documents>4035F_2658_7

Mail or personally deliver the protest to the Montague Township Hall before 1:00 pm on March 11, 2025. Muskegon County Equalization department

Montague's Addison Pranger is defended by Whitehall's Sidney Shepherd during Wednesday's district semifinal game in Montague. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Police activity this week

friend out of a ditch and had just not returned it. No further action was necessary.

ecuted, but a report was sent to the Muskegon County Prosecutor and no charges were authorized.

Feb. 27

A resident of the 1200 block of Colby St. reported an unknown person had entered her apartment in the early morning. The report was made at 12:38 p.m. and the investigator was told that at about 6 a.m., the resident’s Ring camera alerted that someone was inside her apartment. The resident spoke to the woman, who gave a name of someone she was looking for and left after being told that person did not reside there. The caller admitted she had left her door unlocked. During the investigation, the officer found that the person sought lived in a different building that had the same apartment number and that the person entering the apartment was a health care assistant on their first visit to the patient. No further action was taken.

At 2:50 p.m., the SRO assisted in an incident at Shoreline Elementary School. A 5-year-old student had spit in the face of a staff member and the child’s mother asked that the officer speak to the student about his behavior. The SRO did speak to the child before releasing him to his mother.

Whitehall Police were called at 6:56 p.m. when a resident of the 200 block of Hall St. could not get their recliner upright. The caller told the officer they had reclined for a nap but now could not find the button to move the chair and get out. The officer got it upright and assisted the person out of the chair.

Feb. 28

At 7:54 a.m., a resident of the 1100 block of Colby St. called to report his vehicle had been taken. The victim told the officer he always leaves the vehicle unlocked and the keys are always in the center console. Further, there are several residents nearby that use his vehicle to keep warm when they go outside to smoke. The officer was making attempts to locate video from cameras in the parking lot when the victim called and reported that a nephew had taken it to pull a

Whitehall Police were dispatched to the 800 block of Alice St. on a domestic dispute. The officer spoke with the caller of the 5:02 p.m. complaint and was told that the man’s girlfriend had taken some of his golf clubs and iPad and left in her vehicle. The officer noted that due to their living arrangement, those things could be considered “community property” and that it might be best to let things cool down and she would likely return his things and call again if needed. There was no return call about the incident. Montague Police assisted on the call.

March 1

A complaint of harassing phone calls was made to Whitehall Police at 12:01 a.m. The officer responded to the 1000 block of Division St. and spoke with the 15-year-old victim, who said she started getting texts and phone calls from an unknown number. The calls started at about 11:50 p.m. and there were over 20 before police were called, and there were five more while the officer was on scene. A suspect was identified based on an incident at school and the officer went to a residence in Montague. The officer spoke with the parents and found the phone used belonged to the suspect’s brother. The parents were asked to put an end to the calls. At this time no further action was taken as the calls did stop.

At 1:07 p.m. Whitehall Police, assisted by Montague Police, responded to the 1200 block of Colby St. for a disturbance. The caller was part of an ongoing neighbor problem but was in the process of moving things out when the other parties started yelling at her. The caller just wanted to be left in peace and the officer contacted the offenders. While denying that they were causing a disturbance, they agreed to leave the caller alone. No further action was taken.

March 2

Whitehall Police were called to the 1100 block of Colby St. on a report of an assault. When the officer arrived at the scene with a Montague police officer, he was told by the woman she had arrived home just before the 1:13 p.m. call and when she did, her boyfriend took her phone from her. She admitted that in response, she pushed him and he pushed her. When the officer spoke with the boyfriend, he said that she had taken his phone from him and later backed him into a closet with a knife. The woman then later admitted to having a knife during the argument. Neither one wanted the other pros-

A man who had been living in the 800 block of Mears Ave. for a short time called police for assistance in getting his things from the house. The man told the officer responding to the 4:07 p.m. call that a friend of his lived at the residence and after an argument, the caller was kicked out. The caller was planning on getting his things when he received a video from the friend as the friend burned some of the caller’s things. The caller and the officer were allowed in the house, the items were collected and the caller did not want to pursue the matter further.

March 3

The SRO was called to the 200 block of Market St. after an 8-yearold student left the building on foot at about 1:16 p.m. The officer located the child a short distance away with staff following close behind. The boy was later transported by the SRO to his grandmother’s residence at the mother’s request.

A package of M&Ms was the cause of a trouble with neighbor call. The women are both residents of the 1100 block of Colby St. and the caller had heard the neighbor had some M&Ms stolen from her apartment. When the caller gave the neighbor a replacement package as a kindness, the neighbor accused the caller of stealing the M&Ms in the first place. That led to the 1:23 p.m. call to police. The misunderstanding was corrected and no further action was taken.

Two cars each sustained minor damage in a 1:55 p.m. crash. The crash occurred at the intersection of Slocum and Division streets when a 77-year-old Montague woman, who was traveling west on Slocum, failed to see a southbound vehicle after she had stopped. The woman pulled into the path of the vehicle driven by a 43-year-old Shelby man. No citations were issued.

A 68-year-old Shelby man complained of minor injury as the result of a crash on Thompson Street at Lake Street. The man was traveling south on Thompson when a vehicle coming off Lake struck his. The second vehicle was driven by a 25-year-old resident of Mears and the driver was turning left to head north on Thompson, running into the passenger side of the southbound car. There were no citations issued in the 3:00 p.m. crash.

March 4

A man was arrested for assault as the result of an investigation to a domestic dispute in the 200 block of N

Elizabeth St. Whitehall officers were dispatched at 12:25 a.m. after the victim made a 911 call reporting that she and her husband had been fighting. The victim told the officer that she recently told her husband that she wanted a divorce and when she came home this night he had been drinking and wanted to talk about their relationship. The talk turned into an argument and when the woman was going to leave, it became physical with both pushing the other until they fell to the floor. According to the police report, the man then attempted to choke her. She then scratched at his face to get him to stop. The 31-year-old was later taken to the Muskegon County jail and lodged.

The SRO issued a citation to a 13-year-old student for a MIP Vape/ Tobacco violation that occurred the day before. The middle school principal contacted the SRO at 10:24 a.m. about the incident, reporting that he received a tip that the vape had been used in the bathroom. When the student was confronted, she pulled the device from her shirt and surrendered it to the principal. The parents were also notified of the situation.

A middle school student was being sent home due to disruptive behavior during class. When the SRO arrived to assist and take him home, the student screamed and ran from the main office. The student was later located and the SRO transported him home as part of the 12:14 p.m. call.

A fight between brothers who live in the 1300 block of King St. led to a call to police. The victim reported that just before the 2:53 p.m. call, he was looking at his brother’s vinyl records and was told not to touch them, which led to the argument. During the argument, the brother, who had been drinking, pushed the victim into the wall, causing the victim to break a photo that had hung on the wall and which also caused a minor injury. The brother denied any involvement with the victim. A report of the incident was sent to the Muskegon County Prosecutor for review.

At 4:48 p.m. Whitehall Police were called to the 1200 block of Colby St. for a neighbor dispute. A woman there reported that she noticed a cat outside that appeared hungry, so she attempted to feed the cat. According to the caller, a neighbor who owned the cat, came to her door and yelled at her and threatened her. The neighbor was upset and believed the caller was trying to lure the cat inside her apartment. No further action was taken.