The Oceana Echo - Volume 3, Issue 13, August 22, 2025 by theoceanaecho

County 4-H Youth attend Citizenship Washington Focus

By Jennifer Payne, Oceana County 4-H Program Coordinator

This summer, three youth members from Oceana County 4-H had the special chance to attend Citizenship Washington Focus, a national leadership program held in Washington, D.C. The program gave them a deeper understanding of government and helped them grow as leaders.

Kenai Kokx, Lillian Wasson, and Alayna Hammerle participated in workshops that taught them about how the government works. Kenai said she especially liked the classes about the amendments to the Constitution and a mock protest where they learned about the history and importance of peaceful demonstrations. Her group also worked on a project to create a summer language program to help people who speak different languages improve their English.

The youth visited many important monuments in Washington, D.C. One of their favorite experiences was the Night Tour of the National Monuments. They saw the Lincoln Memorial, which honors President Abraham Lincoln and is known for its beautiful architecture and the fa-

mous “I Have a Dream” speech location. They also visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a moving wall that honors soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War. The group toured the World War II Memorial and the Washington Monument, which stands tall in the center of the city and represents the nation’s first president, George Washington.

Lillian shared that visiting these monuments and the Smithsonian museums made history and government lessons from school come alive. She was especially impressed by the stories behind each memorial and how they represent important parts of America’s past.

This was her first time in Washington, D.C., and she is excited about the future. Lillian plans to apply for the State 4-H Youth Leadership Committee and hopes to attend another national leadership conference called Ignite.

Alayna enjoyed the workshops where they learned about how the government operates. One memorable activity was when her group created a pretend presidential candidate named Bob. Bob listened carefully, saw people’s problems, and smiled to show he was happy. Bob even won the election until he was jokingly impeached for building a water slide in the White House. She also enjoyed visiting the

Smithsonian National Zoological Park and seeing the many animals there.

Thanks to funding from grants, sponsors, and fundraising, these Oceana County 4-H members were able to attend this trip without worrying about the cost. Some of the major sponsors of this event were: The Gerber Foundation, Oceana County Farm Bureau, Hart Area Lion’s Club, Shelby Rotary Club, True North Community Services, and our local Oceana County 4-H Large Market Committee. The members returned home ready to share what they learned and become leaders in their community.

Organizers are proud of Kenai, Lillian, and Alayna for representing Oceana County 4-H and look forward to seeing how they use what they learned to help others.

For more information about Citizenship Washington Focus, visit 4-h.org/events/citizenship-washington-focus.

Oceana County man fatally wounded after hours-long manhunt

An Oceana County man was fatally wounded by police Sunday, Aug.17, after allegedly shooting another man in the leg before fleeing on foot into the woods near Mears.

Police were dispatched to the 7500 block of Fox Road after being alerted that someone had been shot and an armed suspect may be in the woods. That suspect was identified as Don Albert Stapel Jr., 59.

After hours of searching, Michigan State Police (MSP) notified the public via their “X” profile that Stapel had been found in an outbuilding, while simultaneously lifting the shelter in place that had been ordered earlier.

At approximately 6:40 p.m., it was reported that Stapel had been fatally wounded during the police response. Detectives from the MSP Fifth District Investigative Response Team were called to the scene to conduct the officer-involved-shooting investigation.

According to an August 14 media release from the Oceana County Sheriff's Office, "on August 14, 2025 at 7:12 a.m. Oceana County Sheriff’s Deputies and Michigan State Police Troopers were dispatched to an address in the 4000 Block of E. Buchanan Rd. in Ferry Township, Oceana County, to respond to the report of a man shot.

"When deputies and troopers arrived there, they found a 46-year-old Shelby man had been shot and had passed away from his injuries. Deputies and troopers, along with the MSP Crime Lab, are still on scene investigating, as this is a very fresh case.

"Life Ambulance and Ferry Township First Responders did also assist at the scene. Mason County Sheriff’s Detectives and Ludington Police Department's Detectives also assisted with the investigation."

Sheriff Craig Mast added, "We have no reason to believe there is any risk to the public from this incident."

The next morning, Undersheriff Ryan Schiller released the following statement, "On August 15, 2025, at approximately 1 a.m., detectives arrested a 46-year-old Ferry Township woman in connection with the reported homicide from the (previous) morning’s incident located on E. Buchanan Road in Ferry Township.

"The arrested female was lodged at the Oceana County Jail, where she is awaiting arraignment in the 79th District Court.

"As Sheriff Craig Mast indicated in the original media release, there is no outstanding threat or concern for the community.

"We would like to thank and acknowledge all of the assistance we had from numerous other agencies, including the Michigan State Police – Hart Post and Grand Rapids Crime Lab, Mason county Sheriff’s Office, Ludington Police Department, DHS Child Protective Services, Lakeshore Child Advocacy Center in Ludington and the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office Victims Services Unit, Life EMS and Ferry Township Fire Department and Mason-Oceana 911."

Later that same day, Schiller sent an additional statement, "On August 15, 2025, Shale Nicole Campos was arraigned in the 79th District Court on the charge of open murder. Campos has been charged with the murder of her husband, Jason Campos, at their residence on E. Buchanan Road in Ferry Township in the morning hours of August 14, 2025.

"Ms. Campos will be held in the Oceana County Jail with no bond. Her preliminary hearing is set for September 2, 2025.

"This case is still under investigation, and no further details will be released at this time."

Rachel Witherspoon resigns as Pentwater Village Manager

By AnnaMae Bush The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

On Wednesday, August 12, Rachel Witherspoon submitted a letter of resignation to the Village Council and Village Staff. It came as an unexpected announcement. Her closing comments at the August 10 Council meeting conveyed excitement about Homecoming events and her anticipation of going with the Vil-

lage staff to the sandcastle contest on their lunch hour Friday.

After the former Village

Manager was terminated in March 2024, the Village hired Steve Brock as an Interim Manager to serve June 1 - November 1. To help make a smooth transition with the new manager, Brock overlapped one month with Witherspoon, who began her tenure in October 2024.

Although her reasons for resigning remain confidential, Witherspoon wrote she was proud of what she had achieved and she was grateful for

the opportunity to serve the Pentwater community.

“While I am going to miss the Village of Pentwater, I am proud to have accomplished so much in the last 10 months with our capable team…we have nearly finished a $7 million water project, established the first code enforcement program, helped secure $2.2 million in USACE funding for our Pentwater Harbor, improved our Village infrastructure, and established new lines of

communication.” She expressed confidence in the village staff to carry forward the quality of service, skills, and integrity she experienced with them. She expects Pentwater to thrive long into the future.

Mary Marshall, Pentwater Village Council President, responded publicly with a letter thanking Witherspoon for her leadership and contributions to the village, and wished her well.

Shale Campos

Rachel Witherspoon

Don Albert Stapel Jr.

Oceana

Lillian Wasson, Kenai Kokx and Alayna Hammerle

Farmers Markets

Self-Serve Sweet Corn (cash only), after hours &

Congratulations on all of your hard work this year raising your animal for the 2025 4-H Large and Small Market Livestock Auctions! If you would like to say thank you to the local business or individual that purchased your animal, Echo Publishing Inc. is here for you! Your thank you ad will be placed inside The Oceana Echo and White Lake Mirror and mailed free to almost 15,000 homes in Oceana County and the White Lake area, along with a digital issue posted online. Please contact our office at 231-301-8149 or ads@oceanaecho.com

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Fair Week in Oceana!

It’s been a great fair week in Oceana County! Lots of great times shared and memories made! Be sure to check out upcoming issues of The Oceana Echo for highlights and photos!

Congratulations!

The Oceana Echo wishes a very happy 90th birthday to Nancy Purdy, of Hart! Born August 22, 1935 in Alexander, New York, Nancy attended college at Moody Bible Institute, then moved on to Hackley Hospital for her nurse’s training. It was there she would meet her husband, Clair Purdy, who was getting his training as an X-ray technician. Life took the couple to a few other locales, they started a family, and eventually moved to Hart, where they settled and worked at the Oceana Hospital for many years.

Jerry & Sheila Sparbeck

The Oceana Echo wishes a very happy 60th wedding anniversary to Jerry and Sheila Sparbeck, who celebrated this marriage milestone on July 10, 2025. They were both students at Wayne State University when they met. They were married in Dearborn,

News and Notes

Michigan on July 10, 1965. Both having local ties to the area (Sheila’s grandfather was a commercial fisherman in Pentwater and Jerry’s father was raised in Pentwater), 22 years ago the couple moved to Oceana County.

pie auction will be used to help keep future Fruit Festivals free for all!

Community

The winner of the Friendship Ring Quilt Guild raffle held during the National Asparagus Festival Quilt Show was Hart resident Penny Burillo. Congratulations Penny! Enjoy this beautiful and warm piece of art!

The 1st Annual Shelby Fruit Festival Pie Contest included eight delicious pies.

First place winners were a Cherry Crumble Pie (Cherry pie category) and an Apple Crumb Pie (Apple pie category) both baked by Art Trevino; and a Raspberry Rhubarb (Any other pie category) baked by Sharon Hallack. Second place honors went to Christian’s Apple Crumb Pie baked by Tracy Blamer; a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie baked by Kim Merten; and a Peach Pie baked by Lindsey Merten. Third places were awarded to Art Trevino for his Southern Sweet Potato Pie and Lindsey Merten for her Blueberry Pie. The pie auction was a fun and competitive event for all buyers involved, raising over $1,500. Funds raised from the

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” (just as wonderful as Christmas) with fresh Oceana County produce everywhere! Older adults are encouraged to take advantage of the Michigan Senior Project Fresh program, which provides eligible residents, aged 60 and older, with $25 in benefits to purchase fresh produce at local farmers' markets. The program runs from May 1 to October 31 and is available to those with an annual gross income of $28,952.50 for individuals and $39,127.50 for couples. Every eligible household member may apply! The system has transitioned from paper applications and paper coupons to an electronic system with the Healthy Together app. Assistance in getting this app set up is available by contacting Sandy Whitaker, organizer of the New Era Farmer’s Market, at shoppnqueen@hotmail.com or Bradley Youngstrom, program director at the Oceana County Council on Aging, at youngstrom@oceanacoa.com. Both of them would be glad to help residents take advantage of this worthwhile and “delicious” program!

The community is reminded to stop in at any of the county’s four libraries (Pentwater, Hart, Shelby and Walkerville) from now until the end of August to view select artwork from a number of local artists. Pentwater Community Library features artwork from Cindy Callog; Hart Area Public Library is

featuring the artwork of Debbie Teregan; Shelby Area District Library is showcasing art from Paul DeGregoiro and Ryan Williams, while Walkerville Schools Public Library is displaying selected works from all four artists. Many thanks go to the Pentwater Arts Council, who have put this wonderful program together for the community’s enjoyment and enrichment.

Churches

Over 200 people gathered at John Gurney Park, Sunday, July 20, for an outdoor worship service and baptism. Five people shared their testimonies before entering Hart Lake for their baptisms.

Nature

Ever sang the song “The Other Day I Saw a Bear” as a kid? Well, in various locations throughout Oceana County, it’s not just a fun song. Seeing a bear in the swamplands and fields is not unheard of, as this trail camera shot shared with the Oceana Echo will attest to.

This page is brought to you by:

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

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

The historical and geographical origins of county fairs

By Claire Marshall The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

When I was in the UK attending grad school, I experienced my fair share of culture shocks - looking the opposite way for traffic before crossing the road, the overwhelming amount of options for Indian takeout, and saying “trousers” instead of “pants” (“pants” in the UK actually refers to “underwear,” and I’ll leave it to you to imagine the mortifying way I learned that linguistic difference).

I also did not expect the enthusiasm Europeans had for Christmas markets. In my experience, Christmas markets include mulled wine, ornament shopping and a veneer of faux-Bavarian charm. Now this was certainly included in Edinburgh’s Christmas Market when it opened in mid-November, alongside a massive Ferris wheel. When my Canadian roommate and I saw the installation in the City Centre, we, understandably, asked, “What in the world is that for?” To which my roommate’s British friend replied, “For the Christmas market, obviously.”

So therein lies my rudimentary understanding of UK Ferris wheel culture — the London Eye, Brighton Beach pier and annual Christmas markets. This is in contrast to us Americans, who need look no farther than our own county fair. Looking back on this memory, I realize how county fairs are a particularly North American concept, especially if we define a county fair as an exposition of livestock and agriculture, with rides, games and greasy food

thrown in the mix.

However, the concept of a fair as an event wherein merchants and farmers show off their wares is thousands of years old, originating in the Middle East’s Fertile Crescent. Considering that this region is commonly known as the “Cradle of Civilization,” fairs could be as old as agriculture itself.

The word “fair” likely originates from the Latin “feria,” which denotes a holy day set aside for worship. In many religions, temples and agriculture go hand-in-hand. Livestock were needed for sacrificial offerings, and temples were oftentimes built adjacent to fields. Many of us will recall our Sunday school story about Jesus’ reaction to animals in the Temple. Over time, “feria,” and then the English “fair,” came to mean any place where local or foreign goods were put on display and sold, and were usually days off from work where people could buy, sell, and enjoy whatever entertainment there was to offer.

Western colonization brought this concept to the New World, and, surprisingly, the first official county fair in North America is still celebrated to this day. Windsor, Nova Scotia, celebrated its first Hants County Exhibition in 1765 with the self-described goal of “hosting an annual agricultural exhibition to promote agricultural awareness,” a goal that continues to this day.

When it comes to the US, two fairs hold the titles of oldest and longest running, respectively. Many cite the Berkshire, Massachusetts as the first county fair in 1811, however, at the start, it was only an exhibition of ani-

mals without a market. Considering this distinction, Topsfield Fair in Essex County, Massachusetts is the oldest continuously running county fair, beginning just several years later in 1818, with minimal cancellations (e.g. WWII and Covid-19) in its over 200-year existence.

One distinctive feature of the modern fair is the midway, a location separate from the expositions with carnival rides, games, and food vendors. While this concept does not originate with the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition, the 1892 event led to its widespread popularity. It's no wonder the Exposition’s midway set a trend that’s lasted to the modern day. Famous foods that saw their debut or popularity skyrocket following the Exposition include Cracker Jacks, Vienna Beef, Juicy Fruit gum and Aunt Jemima pancake mix.

Sideshows are another common trait of midways, however, ones which carry an exploitative connotation. While the Columbian Exposition did not have “Freak Shows” such as the ones made popular by P.T. Barnum, it featured fabricated villages showcasing a variety of “exotic” cultural groups, such as peoples from American Samoa, Lapland in Finland, and Bedouins of Algiers. While it’s great to be interested in learning about other cultures, I think we can all agree a display akin to a zoo exhibit is not humane, let alone respectful.

The early 20th century saw the addition of two more mainstays of county fairs, 4-H and Future Farmers of America programs, which aimed to get

Pleasant Afternoon delights in Mears

• Sharon Hallack/Echo

youngsters interested in agriculture and livestock. Today, 4-H and FFA are among some of the largest youth organizations in the country and many children start their journeys in these fields by showing at their county fair. So as you enjoy the last couple days of the 154th Oceana County Fair - congratulating kids on their prize-winning pigs, watching the tractor pulls and racing, losing money trying to throw a ring on a bottle - take a second to think about how unique of an experience this is to North America and the history that led us here. Also, some early readers of “The 1306” will recall I’ve been angling for an opportunity to gab about the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition, so I hope you will all allow me one last fun fact. When Chicagoans were encountered with the dilemma of topping the Eiffel Tower, unveiled at the Paris World Exposition several years earlier, Pittsburgh engineer George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. proposed what would become his bestknown invention - the Ferris wheel.

It was certainly a “Pleasant Afternoon” at the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society’s annual event held Sunday at the Mears Museum Complex in downtown Mears. As visitors toured the museum’s exhibits and enjoyed a sumptuous dessert bar, sounds of the musical group “The Stringalongs” filled the air. This talented and engaging group of ukulele and dulcimer players from the Pentwater and Ludington area entertained the crowd for over two hours, playing and singing a variety of singalong favorites such as “This Land is Your Land” and “God Bless America” to “Sixteen Tons,” “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” and “Rocky Top.” They also invited those gathered to join in singing and playing; a great time was had by all.

The City of Hart now communicates with all of its residents via the Daupler response management system. As long as the city has an updated phone number on file, residents automatically receive emergency notifications and information when they need it most. Please contact the Hart City office to update contact information or with any questions.

Inc. to P.O. Box 192, Mears, MI

Ongoing

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

MON: Movies in the Park, John Gurney Park, Hart, starts at dusk.

3rd MON: OCDVA Coffee & Donuts for Veterans, Spouses and Veteran Widows, 9-11 a.m., Heritage Wedding Barn, Shelby.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Ladder Community Center:

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

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

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

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

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

MON: Women’s Bible Study, 1-2 p.m.

TUES: Men’s Bible Study, 10:30 a.m. to noon

SAT: “Celebrate” Worship Service, 6:30 p.m.

Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

Functional Movement Class offered at The Ladder

This fall, The Ladder Community Center in Shelby is offering adults an eightweek class called Functional Movement, which meets Sept. 9 through Oct. 30. Class meets Tuesdays from 12:30-1:15 p.m. and Thursdays from 9:30-10:15 a.m.

This class will improve overall strength, balance and coordination, so participants can manage everyday activities, such as getting up off the floor, the toilet or out of the bathtub; carrying heavy objects; climbing stairs; putting something up on a shelf; and taking walks.

Most exercises can be done seated or standing. All fitness levels are welcome. Registration is required (fees apply). If eligible, the membership fee may be covered by Silver Sneakers or One Pass. The class cost is $10, which will be refunded upon completing a minimum of eight classes.

Class size is limited. Sign up as soon as possible by calling The Ladder at (231) 259-0211 or emailing Sue Beckman at sue@theladdercommunitycenter.com. Visit theladdercommunitycenter.com to view all our upcoming events.

Chunky Blanket Knitting Class at The Ladder

Everyone ages 8 and up is invited to The Ladder Community Center Monday, September 8, from 6-8 p.m. to learn how to knit chunky blankets. This step-bystep hand knitting tutorial by instructor Kelli Gleason does not require knitting needles and is easy for kids to learn also. Participants invited are required to bring their own yarn (Yarn Bee #7 or Bernat Blanket Extra Thick). The cost for this class is $10 per person. Sign up by Tuesday, September 2, by calling or texting Kelli at (231) 301-1983, or email her at crazeeblanketlady@yahoo.com. The Ladder Community Center is located at 67 N. State St. in Shelby.

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

A ugust

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

Aug. 23 & 30 - Pioneer House Museum open, Main Street, Walkerville, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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

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

Aug. 22 - Preview Good Buy Used Book Sale with $5 donation, Shelby Area District Library, 5-7 p.m.

Aug. 23 - Good Buy Used Book Sale, SADL, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Aug. 26 - “Snakes, Turtles and Lizards, Oh My!” Hart Community Center, 2 p.m.

Aug. 26 - Adult Book Club, Hesperia Comm. Library, 2-3 p.m.; Adult Craft Night, Community Room, 6-7 p.m.

Aug. 26 - Shelby Elementary Open House, 4-6 p.m.

Aug. 26 - Walkerville Public School Open House, 5-7 p.m.

Aug. 26 - Family Movie Night, "Toy Story," Shelby Township Community Park, free concessions, 7:30 p.m., hosted by SRBC

Aug. 27 - Hart Middle School Open House, Hart, 4:30-6 p.m.

Aug. 27 - Spitler Elementary School Open House, Hart, 6-7 p.m.

Aug. 27 - Shelby Middle School Open House, 6th Grade 6 p.m.; 7th and 8th grades 7:45 p.m.

Aug. 27 - Pentwater Historical Society Summer Dinner (tickets required), West Michigan Research Station, Hart, 5:30 p.m.

Aug. 28 - “Cram the Cruiser” School supplies drive, The Ladder Community Center parking lot, Shelby, 2-5 p.m.

Aug. 28 - Marshville Dam Restoration Ribbon Cutting, 3-5 p.m.

Aug. 28 - Family Movie Night, Getty Park, Shelby, 8:30 p.m.

Aug. 29 - Sensory Play, Hesperia Community Library, 10-11 a.m.

Aug. 29-30 - 1st Flea Market, Colfax Township Hall, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Aug. 30 - FREE Community Breakfast, Shelby Congregational UCC, 51 E. Third St., Shelby, 8-10 a.m.

Shelby UCC to host free breakfast August 30

The entire community is invited to join one another at a free community breakfast Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, August 30, from 8-10 a.m. sponsored by the Shelby Congregational United Church of Christ in Shelby. This completely FREE “Fifth Saturday” community breakfast is open to all and a fun way to catch up with neighbors and friends or to meet some new ones!

Stop in for hot and cold breakfast items, conversation and fellowship. The church is located at 51 E. Third St. in downtown Shelby. For more information, please contact the church at 861-4404.

Good Buy Book Sale August 22 & 23 in Shelby

Friends of the Shelby Library will host the 21st annual Good Buy Book Sale at the Shelby Area District Library on Saturday, August 23 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

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

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

WALLY WOJACK MEMORIAL RODEO

5:30 PM - PIG ROAST DINNER IN THE BEER TENT $15 per person 7:00 PM - WALLY WOJACK MEMORIAL RODEO KICKOFF Opening ceremonies, bull riding, bareback bronc riding, cowgirl barrel racing, ranch bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, clown acts, and kids’ activities 9:00 PM - RODEO AFTER PARTY | LIVE MUSIC & FIREWORKS At Shooters Saloon in the Back 40,

MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE SALE

AUGUST 22 & 23

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

8:30 A.M. TO 5:30 P.M. 2655 Orshal Road in Muskegon

Hoeing ‘In the Garden’ Part 6: Prayer and a Pile of Stones

By Janet Van Gunst Hasselbring

The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

We’d just finished supper when the storm hit. My father, Henry, stood at the window watching the wind destroy his cherry crop. Sobs wracked his body. My mother, at his side, murmured, “Don’t worry, dear. God will provide.” Words bravely spoken, while her insides churned. With bills to pay, children needing clothes for school, and necessary farm supplies, how would they manage without the money from the cherry crop? To make matters even worse, they would have to pay to have the blighted cherries picked and dumped, or there would be no crop next year.

The next afternoon, Ellen is in the garden, on her hands and knees, pulling up carrots.

“Ellen.” The voice is soft and oh, so gentle. “Lord, is it you?” “Yes, my dear Ellen, why are you crying?” “Oh, my Lord,” she wailed, “don’t You know? The cherries are ruined! Henry is beside himself! I’m trying to be strong for him, but I don’t know how we will manage!” Her voice broke in a sob.

It was quiet for a time. “Ellen, when you first felt My presence here on the farm, didn’t you understand that I would take care of you?” “Yes, my Lord, but I didn’t realize life would be so hard.” She sank to the ground.

“Ellen, did I promise the way would be easy? Did I promise you a rose garden?” Despite her woes, the hint of a smile flickered on her face. “My Lord,” she hesitated, feeling foolish, but she had to ask, “the Scriptures tell of miracles You performed on earth. Is there any way You could undo the damage and make the cherries whole again?”

“Ellen, are you sure this is what you would ask of me?” “Well, Lord, I suppose if we just had enough money, it wouldn’t matter if the cherries were ruined. Could you provide that for us?” It sounded so mercenary and trivial.

“Is that your wish then, Ellen, for Me to give you money?”

Ellen sensed her faith was being tested. “Nooooo,” she replied, thinking hard, “if you would comfort my Henry, Lord, and give him strength, that would be enough.”

He smiled, “Of course. It is written, ‘They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.’ (Isaiah 40:31) And, now, something for yourself?”

“Nothing for myself, Lord. It is enough for Henry to be strong and for me to be with you in the garden.” Again, He smiled. “You have chosen well, Ellen. Now, go with My blessing. ‘He will grant you according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit.’” (Ephesians 3:16). Then He was gone. (ITG pgs. 38-40, excerpts)

Ellen remained in the garden for a time, savoring the moment. Something stirred deep within her soul. She felt altered, transfixed. Tears of wonder and joy filled her eyes. She picked up her pan of carrots and went inside to fix supper.

That wouldn’t be the only crisis my parents would face as they eked out a living on their small farm in West Michigan (present-day Country Dairy); however, it was perhaps the first time Ellen realized how fragile and untenable life could be on a small farm.

Meeting her Lord “in the garden” reminds me of patriarch Jacob’s encounters with Jehovah at pivotal moments in his life. At Bethel, when fleeing from his brother Esau, from whom he had stolen the fam-

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

S. 50th Avenue Claybanks Sunday Mass: 8:30 am Easter Sunday through the end of September Call 231-893-3085 for more information

ily birthright, he dreamed of a ladder reaching from Heaven to earth with angels on the rungs. He made a vow to the Lord and used the stone on which he rested his head as a pillar to sanctify the spot. Later, at the Jabbok River, after wrestling all night with a divine being, he received a blessing and erected a tower of stones, a cairn, to commemorate the encounter.

Just as Jacob assembled stones to commemorate the defining moments that pushed him to the brink of his understanding and the limits of his faith, so my mother, at the defining moments of her life, starting with the blighted cherry crop, met her Lord “in the garden,” shared her struggles and sought divine solace and guidance. Throughout her life, one experience at a time, she erected a pile of stones – a cairn, a stairway to Heaven, building a relationship with her Lord, a relationship that sustained her throughout her life and would ultimately bring an eternal reward.

Note – for prior articles in the series, visit www. oceanaecho.com. For information about the memoir, "In the Garden," contact the author at janethasselbring23@gmail.com

HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY TO DON YAX

Rated Campground on Googl and TripAdvisor in Silver Lake Christian Campgro Family Activitie Rental Cabins & R Full Hook-Up Sit Pool and Ice Cream dunesharbor.org 231-873-3662

Don currently lives in Pentwater and is formerly from Howell, MI. He is a WWII Naval Veteran. Don spent his life as a jeweler and watchmaker. He can fix anything. He is also a member of Lighthouse Lutheran Church. - Love, from his family

Worship Service - 10:00AM Summer Camps for Kids Ages 7-17 GraceAdventures org

Strengthen Families | Share Faith | Build Relationships Sunday Worship: 10 a.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day 2100 N. Ridge Rd., Mears graceadventures.org/summer-worship

Weather…or not, Pentwater's Homecoming went on as planned

By AnnaMae Bush

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Weather predictions all week, August 10-17, left Pentwater residents wondering whether or not the scheduled Homecoming events would be held, be postponed or be canceled.

Contrary to many weather predictions, Friday morning was beautiful and perfect for the Sand Sculpture Contest. The event chair, Glenn Beavis, reported there were 36 entries across the seven different categories of age groups and group sizes. The resulting sculptures were as different from each other as the groups who made them.

Three examples were a campsite with a campfire and tent, a dragon, and the House of Flavor’s huge banana split ice cream treat. The ice cream treat, “Yum Yum Super Pig,” won first place in one of the family group categories.

Right up until the 4 p.m. start time of the Saturday Grand Parade, folks were checking the website of the Chamber of Commerce for updates. It was raining but the website announced “The parade is on!” The rain did not dampen the enthusiasm of the parade marchers or the parade watchers. The audience cheered and hollared even as they got wet in the rain despite wearing raincoats. Clapping was a challenge while holding an umbrella, but the audience managed to do both.

The floats and the marchers held up well. There were multiple floats that showed great imagination and many hours of hard work. One group that brightened the scene were the girls in green and vibrant yellow costumes representing daffodils for the Pentwater “Petal Project” - an effort this spring to welcome everyone entering the Village from the north and south with daffodils blooming all along both sides

of the Main Street. One striking float was a huge coffee mug atop a car with “steam” rising out of the cup (using dry ice?) that was the entry from Green Isaac’s coffee shop.

The Pentwater Lake Association had two floats in the parade: a pontoon boat advertising their different programs and a simple fishing boat filled with young anglers from the Youth Fishing Contest who had caught fish large enough to qualify for Master Angler Awards. The Pentwater Historical Society entered a very impressive float that took first place for the “Overall Best Float.” It was a large replication of a sunken ship.

At the end of the parade the rain had stopped and the sun had come out. As always, the Scottville Clown Band marched in the final spot to entertain the audience with their costumes and their music. They may dress as clowns, but they are serious musicians who made a very thoughtful gesture on Saturday. Pentwater resident Roger Bailey had marched with them for many years and invited them all to his local home for a picnic during Homecoming festivities. But due to recent health issues, Bailey has been homebound. The Clown Band decided to stop by his home for a visit and wish him well, which brought smiles to the faces of Bailey and his wife, Ruth.

Thunder and lightning brought more rain in the early evening on Saturday and put the fireworks display at risk of cancellation. But the Chamber website said, “The fireworks are on!” The show started about 9:45 p.m., as soon as it was dark enough to appreciate the colors in the sky. It lasted nearly half an hour, garnering the applause of hands and car horns, whistles and cheers.

Weather…or not…Homecoming 2025 was another grand success.

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

obituA ries

Roger Carl Ladegast July 1, 1945 ~ August 18, 2025

Roger Carl Ladegast, 77, a lifelong Montague resident, lost his battle with cancer on August 18, 2025.

He was an active member of the community who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Roger is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Charlene (Oyler) Ladegast; his children: Jason (Jennifer) Ladegast, Erin (Paul) Potter, and Joseph Ladegast; and his grandchildren: Hunter and Samantha Ladegast.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. with a memorial service celebrating Roger's life immediately following at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service, White Lake Chapel, 413 S. Mears Ave., Whitehall, MI 49461.

After the service, a luncheon will be held at the White Lake VFW Post 3256, 9370 Walsh Rd., Montague, MI 49437.

Obituary Information:

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

Correction

In the article “Pentwater Village Council goes over engineering, equipment costs” on page 3 of the August 15, 2025 edition of The Oceana Echo, new planning commission member Dan Girvan's last name was mistakenly spelled as Gerben. The Oceana Echo apologizes for the error and wishes Mr. Girvan all the best.

Notice of Public Hearing on Increasing Property Taxes

The Township Board of the COLFAX TOWNSHIP will hold a public hearing on a proposed increase of 0.0946 mills in the operating tax millage rate to be levied on property in 2025.

The hearing will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025 at 6:30 PM at the Colfax Township Hall, 5594 N. 192nd Ave., Walkerville, MI 49459.

The date and location of the meeting to take action on the proposed additional millage will be announced at this public meeting.

If adopted, the proposed additional millage will increase operating revenues from ad valorem property taxes 3.09% over such revenues generated by levies permitted without holding a hearing. If the proposed additional millage rate is not approved, the operating revenue will increase by -6.27% over the preceding year’s operating revenue.

The taxing unit publishing this notice, and identified below, has complete authority to establish the number of mills to be levied from within its authorized millage rate.

This notice is published by: COLFAX TOWNSHIP 5594 N. 192nd Avenue Walkerville, MI 49459 (231) 742-8216

• AnnaMae Bush/Echo

• On Aug. 25, 1921, Franklin D. Roosevelt was diagnosed with polio — also known as infantile paralysis because it usually strikes much younger people — at the age of 39. He never regained the full use of his legs.

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE,

• On Aug. 26, 1936, suffragist Susan B. Anthony’s likeness appeared on a U.S. postage stamp that soon sparked some controversy: While some critics claimed it was an election-year ploy for women’s votes, others insisted that it showed a cigarette in her lips.

300 W. 57th STREET, 15th FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10019

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

CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311

By Lucie Winborne

• On Aug. 27, 1967, Beatles manager Brian Epstein was found dead from an accidental overdose of Carbrital, a drug used to treat insomnia. A “scared” John Lennon later said that “I knew that we were in trouble then. I didn’t really have any misconceptions about our ability to do anything other than play music.”

STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20250811

FOR RELEASE AUG. 11, 2025

By Lucie Winborne

By JoAnn Derson

• On Aug. 28, 1987, the Arcadia, Florida, home of Richard, Robert and Randy Ray burned down in what was almost certainly an act of arson. The three young siblings, who were not at home at the time, had already faced severe discrimination due to their HIV status in an era in which the virus was still largely considered a “gay disease.”

• “Every member of our family has a plastic bin in his/her closet to hold items not currently in use. For the littler ones, it’s hand-me-downs that are not quite ready for use. For my husband and myself, it is out of season items. And for everyone, there is a bin in the garage where we place usable items that no longer fit. Whenever it’s full, we either donate it or start planning our next tag sale.” — A.E. in Massachusetts

• “If you have to talk to someone at the cable company, call on a Thursday (unless it’s urgent), as that’s the day they tend to have the fastest response times, experts say.” — J.C. in Florida

• Beef and liver paste, squeezed from a tube, was the first meal eaten in space, consumed by Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, who chose it because it was space-friendly.

• Cigarettes were once advertised as a source of relief for asthma and hay fever.

• September is the only month to have the same number of letters in its name as its number in the calendar year.

• A full head of hair can support the weight of two elephants.

• The original recipe for Oreos, which were originally called Oreo Biscuits (though it’s not clear where “Oreo” came from), included pork fat for the cookie’s creamy center.

• Ninety-five percent of books that are submitted to traditional publishers are rejected.

• On Aug. 29, 1914, the Women’s Defence Relief Corps was formed in Britain. Women’s rights organizations in Britain at first opposed the country’s entrance into the war, but reversed that position after recognizing the war effort’s potential to gain advancement for British women on the home front.

• On Aug. 30, 2006, the California State Senate passed the Global Warming Solutions Act, which made California the first state to place caps on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, including those found in automobile emissions.

• If you have lost a zipper pull, you can create a temporary one with a paperclip.

• You can use a salad spinner to gently “wring out” delicate hand washables. Remove excess water, and then hang dry or lay flat according to the garment’s instruction.

• Senet, or senet net hab (“game of passing through”), the oldest known board game, dates back more than 5,000 years and has been found in the tombs of Egyptian royalty, including King Tut.

• Canada’s Parliament once argued about the appropriateness of using the word “fart” on the chamber floor.

• In medieval Europe, animals, especially pigs, were put on trial for crimes, with prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges.

• On Aug. 31, 1888, prostitute Mary Ann Nichols, the first known victim of a London serial killer called “Jack the Ripper,” was found murdered and mutilated in the city’s Whitechapel district. In 1892, with no leads found and no more murders recorded, the Ripper file was officially closed, but criminologists, historians and amateur sleuths still debate his true identity to this day.

• Here’s an oldie but a goodie! Iced coffee is at its best when brewed with twice the usual amount of ground coffee, because the coffee is diluted by the (melting) ice cubes. Or use regularstrength brewed ice coffee and serve over coffee ice cubes. They’re easy to prepare: Pour cool brewed coffee into ice-cube trays and freeze.

• Clear bins make it easy to group like items in your pantry. You can remove the bin, get what you need and replace it rather than digging through cans and boxes on a shelf and having to straighten it back up when you’re done.

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

• Oct. 31, 2000, was the last day all humans were together on Earth. Since that time, there has always been at least one person in space.

• In early 2019, an 18-karat gold toilet named “America,” made by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and valued at $6 million, was stolen from Blenheim Palace in England. The four thieves responsible were captured, but the toilet’s ultimate fate remains a mystery, though authorities suspected it may have been melted down.

• The bite of a mountain gorilla is twice as strong as a lion’s.

***

2025 Pentwater Sand Sculpture Contest was

one for the record books

Picture-perfect weather combined with many participants to make the 52nd Pentwater Sand Sculpture Contest one of the best ever, according to many longtime followers.

“It’s been more than a half-century since the Pentwater Service Club (PSC) began sponsoring the popular Homecoming weekend event,” said Glenn Beavis, who managed the competition for the club. According to Beavis, innovative designs were created by children whose grandparents were their age when the event was first held in 1973.

One of many events held over Pentwater’s Homecoming weekend, the Sand Sculpture Contest is held each year on the sugar-sand beach of the Charles Mears State Park. Competitors all win trophies or participation ribbons based on where their sculpture placed against those of other artists. “Of the many sponsorships the PSC does each year, this one is a favorite for our members, many of whom have volunteered for decades just to get a chance to see children create their works of art for thousands of residents and tourists to see,” said PSC President Ken Konyha.

Four age groups and three family categories make up the competitive slate. Tools used during the competition ranged from the tiny hands of a two-year-old to sophisticated mortar and concrete trowels and spray bottles to hold sand in place. Several teams brought tools to the competition in carts and wheelbarrows.

A fun time was had by all!

Celebrate Stony Creek Restoration August 28

PUBLIC NOTICE

The West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission, Oceana County Parks and Recreation Commission and the Conservation Resource Alliance invite the public to a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony celebrating the restoration of Stony Creek on Thursday, August 28, 2025, from 3-5 p.m. The event will be held at Marshville Dam Park in Shelby, where a long-blocked section of Stony Creek is now free-flowing once again. The park is located at 6075 W. Marshville Dam Rd. in Shelby, and attendees are asked to carpool if possible. Parking will be available in the field directly across the street from Marshville Dam County Park.

The celebration marks the successful removal of the Marshville Dam and an undersized stream crossing on Marshville Dam Road, the restoration of natural stream flow, and the revitalization of critical in-stream and stream corridor habitat in Stony Creek. A universally accessible fishing platform and informative sign were also added, enhancing the site as a welcoming and educational community space.

This project exemplifies the power of collaboration between local communities, agencies, and nonprofit partners working together to protect and restore Michigan’s freshwater resources.

Speakers will begin at 3:30 p.m., including:

• Garry McKeen – Opening remarks & project background.

• John Wyns – Historical context of the site.

• Erin Kuhn (WMSRDC) – Dam removal & stream crossing replacement overview.

• Brian Majka (GEI Consultants) – Project design and construction details.

• DJ Shook (CRA) – Stream corridor restoration summary.

• Mark Tonello (Michigan DNR) – Wildlife and fisheries impact.

The ribbon cutting will take place at approximately 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be served, including cookies and a variety of beverages.

This project represents a major investment in the future health of the Stony Creek watershed, enhancing habitat, improving fish passage, and contributing to the resilience of Michigan’s natural infrastructure.

WEARE TOWNSHIP

Notice of Public Meeting

The proposed budget of the Oceana Conservation District for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 will be presented to the District Board for final approval at the regular monthly meeting at 8:00 a.m. on September 10, 2025. The public is invited to comment on the proposed budget at this time. Copies of the proposed budget are available at the Oceana Conservation District Office, located at 1064 Industrial Park Dr. in Shelby.

OTTO TOWNSHIP OCEANA COUNTY, MICHIGAN ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

NOTICE OF ADOPTION

At a meeting of the Township Board of Otto Township, Oceana County, Michigan, held on August 14, 2025, the Otto Township Board adopted a revision to the Otto Township Zoning Ordinance to amend the wording in section 3.22. Copies of the complete text of the Ordinance were and are available from Todd VanNett, Zoning Officer, phone number: 616-402-6889.

The Ordinance has the following sections and catch lines: Section 1: which amends the wording in section 3.22 of the Otto Township Zoning Ordinance; Section 2: Severability; Section 3: Repeal; Section 4: Form and Section 5: Effective Date which is seven days after the publication of the Notice of Adoption unless referendum procedures are initiated under MCL 125.3402.

Published by Order of Township Board of Otto Township, Oceana County, Michigan Pat Budde, Otto Township Clerk 231-861-5342

Publication Date: August 22, 2025

STATE OF MICHIGAN 51ST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OCEANA COUNTY CASE NO. 2025-16991-N1

STATE OF MICHIGAN 51ST JUDICIAL

Oceana County

ANIMAL SHELTER

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

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

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

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

L.A.S.S.I. provides free dog ID tags to all Oceana County residents. To request tags, send a text to 231-730-3906. Free tags are also available at the Oceana County Animal Shelter. Meet Suki

Notice is hereby given that Weare Township Planning Commission, Oceana County, will conduct a pair of Public Meeting with Consumer’s Energy to be in attendance on August 25, 2025 at 7:00pm at St. Joseph Parish Hall, located at 2349 W. Jackson Rd., Hart, MI.

NEWFIELD TOWNSHIP

FALL CLEAN-UP DAY

Newfield Township will hold its annual Fall Clean-Up day on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2025. Clean-Up day will take place at the Newfield Township Hall, 3890 S. 198th Ave. Hesperia, MI 49421 and run from 8 AM UNTIL 1 PM (or until the dumpsters are full).

We will accept household goods and trash, construction debris, metals, old batteries, and various items. Yard Waste, Hazardous Waste, TVs and Electronics, and Tires will NOT be accepted.

This year we will be able to offer pick-up of debris and allowable items for our senior residents and residents with disabilities. Please call Joan at 231-854-1089 to make arrangements.

This is open to Newfield Township residents only. Including those residing in the Village of Hesperia. Proof of residency will be required. Further information may be obtained by contacting Steven Micklin, Newfield Township Zoning Administrator, at 231-301-0181.

Judge Susan K. Sniegowski

ORDER REGARDING ALTERNATE SERVICE

Plaintiff: Roy James Alltop C/o 30555 Southfield Road Suite 440 Southfield, MI 48076 248-591-4090

Plaintiff’s attorney: Cherie Lobb P-61385 30555 Southfield Road Suite 440 Southfield, MI 48076 248-591-4090

v. Defendant: Jessica Ketner 4940 South 180th Avenue Hesperia, Michigan 49421

THE COURT FINDS: Service of Process upon the defendant, Jessica Ketner, cannot reasonably be made as provided in MCR 2.105 and service of process may be made in a manner that is reasonably calculated to give the defendant actual notice of the proceedings and an opportunity to be heard.

IT IS ORDERED: Service of the summons and complaint and a copy of this order shall be made by the following methods.

-Publication in The Oceana Echo newspaper for 3 consecutive weeks and Posting to the public bulletin board located at 100 S. State St. Hart, MI 49420. July 30, 2025 Eric Fluegge P51877 On behalf of

Hart soccer starts slow, rebounds in second game of home tournament

By: Brendan Samuels

The

Oceana Echo Sports Editor

HART – There are a lot of holes that need to be filled in Hart’s boys soccer program after a hefty loss of seniors from last year’s squad. That was evident early in the Pirates’ opening home tournament Saturday, Aug. 16.

Without Emmanuel Ortega, Adan Cruz and Tyler Larios-Mendez in the middle, Hart needed to find some others to help control possession and feed the ball to their strikers. Added to the questions in the midfield, was the absence of Chase Lorenz’s speed up top, after the senior decided to play football in 2025.

All of that, plus a line of new defenders, formed a perfect storm in the Pirates’ first game of the morning –a 5-2 loss to Brooklyn Columbia Central.

The Golden Eagles controlled the pace of play throughout, scoring two goals in the first 15 minutes of play, and adding two more before the first half expired. Hart tried to answer, but struggled to find open passing lanes. The Pirates’ lone goal of the first half came with 15 minutes remaining, on a strike from junior Cris Santiago. That led Hart

SPORTS

Entering the portal: Saying farewell to Oceana County

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

In the modern era of college athletics, it’s not uncommon for players to move from one program to another on a yearly basis. Not wanting to miss out on that experience, I’ve decided to take my talents to…Iowa.

ing. I covered everything and anything for four years there, even traveling to South Dakota on a fan bus to cover the Bulldogs’ first ever National Championship – courtesy of the men’s basketball team in 2018.

ing Navea Gauthier snag the title of Michigan’s all-time leader in kills – and not cheering them on vocally.

to another goal to start the second half, this time courtesy of Adrian Belmares. Columbia finished things off at 5-2, leaving Hart in hopes of redemption in game two.

The Pirates were able to fight back with a much more polished style of play in game two. Hart took on Maple City Glen Lake in their final game of the day, earning a 2-2 tie.

Starting the season off at 0-1-1 wasn’t what first-year coach Jonah Kelley wanted, but an early season wake up call may be what a young Pirates’ squad needs to get ready before the long drag of the West Michigan Conference (WMC) schedule begins.

I’ve been living in Oceana County for almost the entirety of my life, and I’ve enjoyed every minute. Growing up, I went through the Shelby Public School system. I hopped around through just about every elementary school there was. I started with Mrs. Broomsma at Thomas Read, jumped to Mrs. Schmiedeknecht at New Era and then finished up with Mrs. Zoller, Mrs. Anderson. Mrs. Fris and Mrs. Payne at Benona. I had a plethora of teachers I enjoyed throughout middle school and high school, including spirited reading from Mr. Dirkse in sixth grade, dipping my toes into Spanish with Mrs. Dewey in eighth grade and spending three consecutive years with Mrs. Glerum sharpening my writing skills and learning even more Spanish.

After college I “branched out” a little bit, moving an hour east to Big Rapids where I attended Ferris State University. That started my love for sports writ-

Unfortunately, I struggled to find a start to my career after graduation with the COVID pandemic in its early stages. After bouncing around for a year, I sent a hopeful email to Amanda Dodge at Oceana’s Herald-Journal in Hart. Moving back home made sense for me. It was familiar territory and offered me the chance to work in a community I knew well. Amanda hired me as a reporter, and I worked my way into a sports editor position after a year.

From that point on, I’ve done nothing but eat, breathe and sleep everything Oceana County sports. A lot of people often ask me “isn’t it difficult having to drive around to games every night of the week?”. At first I did think it was difficult, but over time I’ve found the more difficult parts of the job don’t apply to the amount of work I put in.

The most difficult part is watching teams and trying your hardest not to cheer when they make big plays in the postseason. I can remember watching the biggest moments – whether it was Hart’s girls basketball team scoring a major upset to punch their ticket to the Breslin Center, or see-

The fun part was taking that energy I wanted to let out at games, and channeling it into written form. Over the last 4-5 years of covering Oceana County sports, I’ve taken pride in trying my very best to make sure every little thing that local athletes accomplished, was highlighted in some way. I hope I did just that.

Now, I’ll be taking that same passion and hoping I can do the same for athletes in Dubuque, IA. For those wishing to follow me, I’ll be working at the Telegraph-Herald in Iowa’s oldest city. But for those who love The Echo, I ask that you continue to support this operation. It’s been an absolute pleasure to be a part of and I can’t thank Amanda Dodge, Paul Erickson, Andy Roberts and all those who have lent a hand over the last two years.

Nothing will beat the close proximity to Lake Michigan, or driving to Detroit to watch a Lions game. I plan to make a home in Iowa, but I’ll visit this neck of the woods frequently. Next week’s paper (August 29th’s edition) will be my last.

To all of you that have read my work either at the OHJ or The Echo – thanks for always supporting me. Farewell for now!

Carter snags second straight Oceana Golf Club Championship

NOTE: IN LAST WEEK’S EDITION OF

OF LIZ ORTIZ AND GARY BLOHM.

HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE

EDITOR’S

THE OCEANA ECHO, AN ERROR WAS MADE ON THE PHOTOS

Titan Carter (above, middle), took the top spot at the Oceana Golf Club Championship, retaining the title he won in 2024. Ben Coon (above, top left) won the handicap division, Liz Ortiz (above, bottom left) won the women’s championship, Bob Beckman (above, top right) won the Super Senior title and Gary Blohm (above, bottom right) won the Senior Division. All winners are pictured with Oceana Golf Club PGA Pro Marc Inglis. • Contributed Photos

Hart senior Desse Rodriguez battles with a Brooklyn Columbia Central striker near the Pirate’s goal. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Hart senior keeper Miguel Escamilla leaps up to grab a ball near the crossbar. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Reflections

of our community

Reflections of our community

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Rushing's ukulele club encourages creativity

Group meets Sunday afternoons at Book Nook & Java Shop

By Madison Lajewski

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

White Lake Mirror Writer

By Madison Lajewski White Lake Mirror Writer

A few years ago, White Lake musician Penny Rushing was encouraged by a friend to start a ukulele club. The club meets every Sunday 1-2 p.m. at Book Nook and Java Shop in downtown Montague. What started as an unexpected idea grew into something bigger, fostering the local music community and encouraging people to try something new.

“When we were talking about this, I was like ‘what do I do? Will people show up? What do I show them?’ I was so nervous to share with people what I had learned at the beginning,” Rushing said. “I put it out there and a couple of people showed up at the first meeting who had never even held a ukulele before. I showed them how to hold it, strum it and where to place their fingers. Then we had five people, then 12, then 15, and we had to find a new location because we were getting too big, which is how we ended up at the Book Nook. Now we usually have a minimum of 20 people, but we’ve had as many as 50 people attend.”

The group has continuously grown

WLASA

Penny Rushing took up ukulele after a fortuitous birthday visit to a music store in Lansing.

• Madison Lajewski/Mirror

• Madison Lajewski/Mirror

• Madison Lajewski/Mirror

since it started and has provided a new passion to many new musicians who had never considered ukulele before.

“One of the first few people who started with us had never touched a ukulele before. I think he’s now on his eighth ukulele,” said Rushing. “I’ve created some ukulele monsters, in the best way. I call them my baby bears, like ‘Mama bear’s so proud of you guys.’”

Rushing shared that unlike her husband, who was raised playing instruments, she did not grow up musically. That made when she discovered her ukulele passion more special to her.

“For my 40th birthday, my husband

took me for a drive to Lansing and told me to pick out whatever musical instrument I wanted,” Rushing said. “They had this huge wall of ukuleles and I made the poor sales guy play every single one of them so I could find the right one for me. I kept coming back to the same one and that’s the one I purchased, along with some sheet music. I didn’t read sheet music, so I didn’t understand what I was looking at. There wasn’t a lot online yet, so I was frustrated because I couldn’t

figure it out. That was the case off and on again for seven years. YouTube was helpful, but these musicians were just jumping right in. They didn’t explain the cords or placements.

“My husband took a course online on how to play the flute and he suggested I sign up for an online ukulele class. I took it and something clicked. It was rough at first, but I knew what I was trying to do and understood it. I

Penny Rushing

Penny Rushing continued on page 2

continued on page 2

hosts annual fish boil fundraiser

WLASA hosts annual fish boil fundraiser

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Montague council moves Bowen St. PUD forward

By Andy Roberts

White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — The Montague city council unanimously granted site plan approval to a planned unit development (PUD) on Bowen Street during its Monday meeting.

City manager Jeff Auch said the approval is "the first part of a longer process" which will still take some time to complete before construction can begin on the project, which would have space for 48 homes to be built. The original plan called for 60, which was lowered so that there would be adequate space for all the units. The site plan calls for 3-5 units per acre.

Also in the plan are 35-foot property line setbacks, the introduction of native plants, two potential ponds (which

if eliminated would become more buffer space), and enough parking for each unit to have two spaces, plus an additional 37 spaces for guests.

Montague resident Bill Tarr, who has recently spoken several times about the PUD during public comment periods, did so again Monday, suggesting the city devise multiple recommended alternate routes for the inevitable traffic disturbances created by construction.

The council also approved, by a 6-1 vote, an already-budgeted $2,500 contribution to the 2026 Fourth of July fireworks show, which may take place Friday, July 3 next year. Mayor Tom Lohman, a member of the fireworks committee, said that's the date currently under contract, but the committee is hoping to ultimately move it to

July 4. Due to next year's holiday being the United States' 250th birthday, there is higher demand than usual for fireworks shows.

Susan Newhof was the lone dissenting vote; she shared her standing objections to fireworks shows, saying they cause pollution, spook dogs and cause post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans. She urged the council to consider switching to a drone show display for 2027, saying other communities have done so and they "are fabulous."

Fireworks committee member Jason Jaekel spoke during public comment, reporting that five new members have joined the committee. He also shared that the fireworks show this year will cost $25,000, up from $20,000 the past few years. Council member Paul Schultz said both Montague and

Whitehall may want to consider increasing their support given the price increase. Auch noted that the Downtown Development Authority will also be asked for a $2,500 contribution to the show later this fiscal year.

The council also gave unanimous approval to its deer management area, with the hunting portion placed south of Old Channel Trail, in an area enclosed by trees and a good distance from the road. Another unanimous approval was made on an updated property tax poverty exemption. Identical to the one previously approved by Whitehall, the updates no longer allow recreational vehicles to be exempted from a taxpayer's income. Instead, households are allowed to exclude the value of one vehicle per income provider from their assets.

The White Lake Area Sportfishing Association hosted its annual Bill Gillan Memorial Fish Boil Saturday at the Montague Bandshell. The dinner is the organization's largest annual fundraiser. Boiled salmon and trout were served along with fresh vegetables. Raffle tickets were sold to win a kayak.

Photos

Penny Rushing's ukulele club, which gathers each Sunday afternoon at the Book Nook & Java Shop. • Courtesy Photo

Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Penny Rushing's ukulele club, which gathers each Sunday afternoon at the Book Nook & Java Shop. • Courtesy Photo

White Lake Mirror Editor

Penny Rushing's ukulele club, which gathers each Sunday afternoon at the Book Nook & Java Shop. • Courtesy Photo

Penny Rushing took up ukulele after a fortuitous birthday visit to a music store in Lansing.

MCD announces local environmental stewardship days

The Muskegon Conservation District announced Tuesday that it will host a series of White Lake area environmental stewardship days for five consecutive Thursdays, beginning Sept. 4 and going through Oct. 2. Each stewardship day will begin at 8:30 a.m. and last until noon. Sites are:

Sept. 4, Svensson Park; Sept. 11, Goodrich Park; Sept. 18, the Slocum Street switchback; Sept. 25, Old Channel Trail; Oct. 2, Covell Park.

The MCD program, which is being funded by a grant from the White Lake Community Fund, will work to revitalize native restoration sites around

White Lake. Volunteers will gather at a different site each week to remove invasive or nuisance plants and replant native plugs.

Along the way, volunteers will have the chance to learn about local habitat and pollinator restoration efforts. More information is available on the MCD

website's event calendar.

The MCD will provide gloves, tools, and plants. Volunteers are asked to bring water, closed-toe shoes or boots, and any favorite tools. Don’t forget sun and bug protection. Events will be rescheduled if they are rained out; the MCD Facebook page will have updates.

Fruitland Twp. fields residents' concerns at meeting

Public shares issues with fire suppression system installations, Windows 11 upgrades

By Claire Marshall White Lake Mirror Writer

Several items on the agenda encouraged Fruitland Township residents to attend and speak at public comment at Monday's township board meeting.

One concerned resident spoke on behalf of himself and his neighbor, who were upset following the enforcement of fire suppression systems to their new-build homes at the requirement of the White Lake Fire Authority. Some residents feel this requirement is an overreach on the fire authority’s part, as fire suppression for residential homes is not required in either Fruitland building codes or by the state. According to the resident, the addition of fire suppression systems has affected the aesthetic value of his home, and will be a costly, inconvenient addition for his neighbor as the notice was sent after insulation was installed. He implored the board to “exercise your oversight responsibility, and hold the unelected chief and fire marshal accountable… the fire authority works for you.”

The agenda item in question was the appointing of new member Adam Stark to the Fire Authority board, though not directly related to the appointment and just pertained to the fire authority in general. During public comment before the meeting adjournment, this same

resident made it known to the board that the township and the fire authority share the same lawyer, which may create conflict, a statement with which treasurer Justin Roggero agreed.

Also on the agenda was the establishment of a citizen’s advisory committee for the spraying of pesticides along the right-of-way roadside. The second public comment was in regard to this, and the resident read a poem about wildlife coexisting with traffic before asking the board to approve the establishment of the advisory committee. Later in the meeting, the board unanimously approved this action item.

Much of the meeting surrounded the changes made by clerk Alexa Steffes to the township’s policy and procedural manual, which she explained was in dire need of updating. While the board was satisfied with the updates to matters such as office hours, publication of public notices, and PTO changes, Steffes did bring one dilemma to the board’s attention. According to the previous manual, the board must “obtain sealed quotes from a minimum of three vendors… We would publish on our website and in a local newspaper that we’re entertaining bids, [vendors] would have to provide us sealed bids, which we would open in a public meeting.”

Steffes did not recall any previous vendor bids being sealed and opened only at a public meeting, and that the bids had always been opened prior to discussion, though she did note that the manual did say the procedure could be

Penny Rushing

did my first open mic at Fetch Brewing Company four months later and I was hooked after that. Then we had the 2020 shutdown and that was all I was doing, practicing ukulele. We went to Sawyers Brewing Company after they opened and started doing music, and I caught their attention and they asked me to start playing weekly.”

In addition to enjoying playing and performing herself, Rushing has discovered she also has a passion for teaching others. She loves fostering a welcoming community that encourages curious newcomers to try something new for free.

“We have an annual celebration near the anniversary date of when we started in June,” said Rushing. “The reason behind that is going back to when I did open mics, and I just wanted to share what I could do and how far I’ve come. It’s exciting and I like to give our members a platform to showcase what they can do, and it can be inspirational to new members and ukulele players. When we have new people join, I try to go back to the basics of teaching them single down strums. Then we’ll play some songs together as a group, where we’re all playing music at the same time, but everybody’s playing at their level as we go along. That connects us and I think people are looking for that.

This world is so divisive right now and we’re battling everything, and this is a great way for people to come together and share a commonality playing music.”

Rushing said one of the most special takeaways of the club is watching the growth of so many members over time.

“It’s so much fun to hear everybody strumming and singing along,” Rushing said. “It’s this feeling of ‘Wow, I can’t believe how far we’ve come.’ I never would’ve thought I would do anything like this. I haven’t played music my entire life. It took me seven years just to figure out how to play the ukulele. This was absolutely not on my radar of something I thought I would do, but I’m having the most fun ever. This is my happy place - ukulele and playing music, doing gigs, hosting the club.

“People are welcome to bring other instruments to play as well, we’re very open. We also bring extra ukuleles for newcomers who’ve never touched one before and maybe want to give it a try for free before investing in one. We’ve got people who started in February and they’re doing fantastic, and for those who are just starting to be able to talk to somebody who just started in February to see how far they’ve come. I think it creates more excitement. We’re

waived if “impractical to obtain.” Steffes did state that this procedure would be inconvenient should it be followed and would likely add time to decision-making on the board’s part. She asked the board to consider the matter and whether it should be changed. Another public commenter pointed out that it was concerning to hear that the board was not following its policy, and should either change it or follow it properly in the future.

Also discussed was the impending end-of-life of the Windows 10 software, and the need for the township to switch to Windows 11. This presents some issues, as some computers at the township office are too old to support the new software, and therefore must be replaced. The board approved the current township IT providers, VC3, to install, update, and provide new hardware up to the cost of $7,500. This decision was met with some disappointment by members of the board and public at the IT company. As trustee Christopher VanOosterhout said, “This end-of-life of Windows 10 is not a surprise. This has been known for a couple years. I would say our contractor let us down on this, if they put us in this bind where we don't have enough time [to install new hardware].”

Steffes explained the township had only been contacted about the upgrade installation by VC3 in the past few months, and only shortly after discovered the issue surrounding the outdated computer units. This time crunch, in turn, led to the township defaulting to

not all in the same spot, and that gives somebody who’s just coming in some hope and reassurance. They don’t feel like they’re coming into something where they don’t belong. We want everyone to feel welcome.”

Since the start of the club, Rushing’s journey with music has grown into something bigger than she ever imagined.

“When I started the club, my friend told me she had been wanting to start a nonprofit around music,” said Rush-

VC3 for the installation and provision of the new software and hardware, rather than seeking other bids.

Finally, the efforts to rectify the traffic concerns at the Riley-Thompson Road and Whitehall Road intersection are ongoing. The most recent update is that, when Fruitland approached Michigan’s Adventure owner Six Flags Corporation about possibly splitting the bill for an in-depth and independent traffic study, Six Flags made it clear it was not interested in such an arrangement.

Meanwhile, the Muskegon County Road Commission did conduct a speed study at the intersection, finding that during the 3-6 p.m. timeslot, 85% of traffic was speeding at an average of 6970 mph, well over the posted speed limit. The road commission recommended Fruitland send this information to the sheriff's department so a flashing speed limit sign may be installed.

While supervisor Jeff Marcinkowski was satisfied with the results of the speed study proving citizens' concerns, there is still the issue of cars dropping off park attendees at the intersection to avoid parking fees. The board agreed that, to address this issue and, hopefully, secure grant funds, they would proceed with the independent traffic study, which was quoted for $12,000. At this time, however, it is unclear whether there is enough time before the park closes in September to conduct this study or if it will be postponed to the beginning of the 2026 season.

ing. “We’ve been working together and now the club is under the umbrella of what’s called the Servant Musician. We want it to be a place where people can come to be a part of any community. We’ve started a guitar club and we’ve also started a ukulele club at the senior center that meets on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. We’re hoping to grow and start more clubs. My friend has been filling out grants and trying to get more money to help support the musicians.”

Saturday, Aug. 23

Troy Kaley performs @ White Lake Eagles, 6 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 24

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

Monday, Aug. 25

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

Community Calendar

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

Tuesday, Aug. 26

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

Playtime Power Hour @ MADL Montague, 11:15 a.m. Designed for children age 0-5 and their families,

exploring different play stations will focus on developing ready-to-read skills. Registration required at madl. org/calendar.

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

Wednesday, Aug. 27

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

Thursday, Aug. 28

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

Terminal Buds perform @ North Grove Brewers, 7 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 29

Group Therapy performs @ Pub One Eleven, 8 p.m.

Echoes of History: Shipwrecks - Daisy Day/Day Spring

By Barbara Bedau Brow Volunteer Contributor

The Daisy Day was built in 1880 by Jasper Hanson and Hans Scove of Hanson and Scove of Manitowoc. She was 103 feet long and had a 20-foot beam. She was built as a lumber hooker, so called because they would stop at small ports and camps with no dock facilities. This required the vessel to use their ”hook” or anchor to hold her in place.

She was built for Captain John Jacobs and George B. Guyles of Manitowoc and was initially used for lumber cargoes. She spent her early career running between Manistee and Ludington and Wisconsin ports carrying lumber and shingles to Wisconsin and taking hay, flour, lime or stone back to Michigan. She later ran on the west shore of Lake Michigan between Chicago, Milwaukee and Ahnapee in the lumber trade.

Daisy had a rather tumultuous career, making the newspapers at least three times a year for one mishap or another. In October 1881 she was struck by the Schooner J. H. Stevens. After being repaired, she was found ashore. In April 1882 she lost her deck load in an early spring gale, and that September she broke her shaft off in Chicago.

In 1885 she was sold to G. A. Wagar of Mears and was nearly lost Nov. 25, 1887 when she was stranded near Little Sable Point.

In April 1888 the little steamer was sold to Abe Sant, E. L. Kling, Nels Mikelson and Robert Deyan of Montague who continued to use her in the lumber trade. Ed VanPatten was her new captain. The price paid was reported to have been $7,000.

In May 1888 the Daisy Day had her hold loaded with dry lumber and a heavy deck load of wet lumber was taken on, on top of which a large number of baskets were stowed for shipment. The boat suddenly began to sway in the water and before she could be stayed, part of the deck load was spilled into the lake.

In early August 1888, the propeller Daisy Day started for Milwaukee having the schooners Nellie

Hammond and Barber in tow. When nearing the Milwaukee piers, the fog was so dense that the propeller ran on the beach with both schooners. The Nellie released herself by throwing off her deck load, but the Barber had to be towed off by a tug and sunk on reaching the harbor.

On Nov. 21, 1889 it was reported the steam barge Daisy Day, formerly owned by White Lake parties and again by G. A. Wagar, was burned at Point Sable. Two million feet of lumber owned by Charles Mears and Mr. Wagar also burned.

It seems that she lived to see a few more years as it is reported that she sank Oct. 11, 1891. The remains of the Daisy Day are about 50 yards off Claybanks Township Park under the first sandbar. Portions of them have been known to occasionally become uncovered.

The Day Spring was built in 1860 in Milan, Ohio, by H. Kelly for himself. The 2-mast schooner was 73 feet in length with a 20-foot beam. In 1871 when it was owned by John Thompson of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, a third mast was added, and it was lengthened to 98 feet.

It was reported Thursday, Aug. 4, 1904 that 12 people had been picked up in a yawl boat and rescued from Lake Michigan Monday night, Aug. 1, by

the White Lake Life Saving crew.

The three-mast schooner Day Spring, bound from Frankfort to Chicago and loaded with sawdust sprang a leak on Monday morning and the crew of four men and eight passengers worked diligently at the pumps all day but were unable to take out the water as fast as it was coming in.

At about 6:30 Monday evening they abandoned their efforts and hoisted a signal of distress. At this time the schooner was about 15 miles north of the White Lake piers and about three miles from shore, and she was sinking fast.

The signal was seen from the White Lake lookout almost as soon as it was hoisted. Captain Carlson immediately secured the services of the Steamer R. E. Cooper to tow his yawl boat and to take his crew to the ill-fated schooner.

The Steamer Cooper with the life savers aboard reached the wreck about 9 p.m. and found the boat had capsized. The crew and passengers, 12 in all, had abandoned the boat before it capsized and were safe in the yawl boat. Captain Carlson and his men soon found the shipwrecked people and took them aboard the Steamer Cooper.

There is no further information about the Day Spring.

Library perks go beyond the physical building

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

got a comfortable and tech-friendly place to hang out.

Did you know the library offers some awesome services outside its walls? Even when the building is closed, you can take advantage of all sorts of library offerings - and we don’t just mean the digital books and movies you can download or stream through apps like Libby, Kanopy, and Hoopla.

DeMumbrum

If you’re on the library grounds, you can tap into free Wi-Fi anytime, perfect for checking email, streaming music, or getting a little work done. Even better, there’s a solar-powered picnic table with wireless charging stations for your phone or tablet and outlets for your laptop. So whether you're soaking up the sun or just need a change of scenery, you’ve

There are two more library solar tables around town, too – one by the pickleball courts at the Whitehall Township Hall, and one at the top of the sledding hill downtown. Both have free Wi-Fi. Special thanks to CatchMark for providing the Wi-Fi that covers the entire North Mears Promenade and parking lot by the sledding hill!

For busy folks, the library’s pick-up lockers are a game-changer. You can reserve books online and grab them from lockers around town whenever it works for you—no need to rush to the library before it closes. For extra convenience, additional lockers are located at the Fruitland Township Hall and downtown near the entrance to the Arts Council, not far from the solar picnic table.

Another outdoor option at the library is the story trail. Families will love this fun way to combine reading and outdoor time. As you walk along the bike trail near the library, you’ll find pages from a children’s book post-

ed at intervals—so kids can read a story while getting some fresh air and exercise. It’s a great way to spark imagination and enjoy nature together. There’s a new story every few months, and the current one is The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson.

Speaking of the bike trail, did you know the library has a handy bicycle repair station? It’s stocked with tools for quick fixes, so you can pump up a tire or adjust your brakes and keep rolling on your next adventure. Special thanks to the K Wayne and Joyce Dulyea Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County for funding this useful resource!

All these outside-the-walls features show how the library is finding creative ways to spark connection, exploration, and learning – all over town.

FUN FACT: The library’s free Wi-Fi was used a total of 1,348 times in July, up from 1,182 times in June! The number of unique users also increased, from 579 in June to 647 in July.

Closed Labor Day

The library will be closed Monday,

Sept. 1, in observance of Labor Day, but we’ll be open on Saturday from 10-3 if you need to stock up on beach reads or grilling cookbooks. If there’s room in your schedule, please consider walking in the annual Labor Day Community Walk from Montague to Whitehall. It’s always a great time to connect with friends and neighbors, and (healthy) refreshments are served! Sponsored by the White Lake Area Chamber and Visitors Bureau and the cities of Whitehall and Montague, the walk begins at 10 a.m. at the Hart-Montague Trailhead and ends at the Chamber Depot.

The Daisy Day (left) and the Schooner Day Spring. • Courtesy Photos

Lake Mirror Lake Mirror

NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE community

Get ready for gridiron action this fall

New coach, tweaked offense, same high hopes in Montague

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — New Montague coach Phil Koops has spent some time this summer installing a new veerbased offense, hoping to best utilize what he considers his team's biggest asset - a veteran offensive line.

With experienced returners Logan Hansen, Isaac French, Maverick Osborne and Eli Eilers clearing the way, Koops is excited for what a talented stable of skill players can do with the football in his first season. Landon Wood and Hunter Shook are in the mix to round out the front five at the right guard spot.

"You look at the history of this program, and they've been really, really good when they can run the football

Whitehall again aims to reload after 2024 district championship

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — The question has repeated a lot in recent years at Whitehall: How are you going to replace this guy? That's life when seniors are leading you to conference titles and playoff berths every year.

It's the reality the Vikings face again this year as many key parts of the 2024 district title team have moved on, including Division I athletes Camden Thompson and Gavin Craner. Coach Tony Sigmon, entering year 13 at the helm, is used to it by now.

"For us, the biggest thing is, it's more of a track mindset," Sigmon said. "Pass the baton. It's your turn to run the race. We've had a lot of seniors here this year where maybe they had to wait their turn...They're ready. They're poised. They've shown that in a variety of ways, whether that's been the random Tues-

After injury-plagued season, Rockets hope to bounce back big

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MUSKEGON — Reeths-Puffer coach Cody Kater never thought he'd helm a 2-7 team, but reality came down hard on the Rockets a year ago as inexperience, a largely new coaching staff, injuries and a brutal schedule created a mix that was hard for fans to swallow.

"I think it gave the coaching staff a little bit more of a chip (on our shoulder)," Kater said. "It especially hardened me a little bit, created the calluses all over for me. I think that helped, too. Everyone's excited at the beginning of the season, everyone's 0-0, and we've got a lot of work to do. We're not really focused on anyone else."

The introspection reveals some good signs. First of all, the Rockets' en-

right at people," Koops said. "We're going to try to do some things schematically and formationally to try to get that running game going again. We feel like we've got some really good kids on the offensive line, so we're trying to lean on them a little bit."

Koops said he's been heartened by the community support he's already gotten, not just to make a tweak to the offense, but with help raising funds that helped the school purchase a new set of blocking sleds and attend a fourday veer camp at Montrose to get the players used to the new attack.

If all goes well, the Wildcats will come at opponents with a strong group of athletes. Devlin Dean, who ran for over 750 yards last season, and Fletcher Thommen are slated to make up the running back committee, and Montague also has returning quarterback Eli Petersen and Cooper Bradley and Cole Moss to show a passing threat.

"I was very excited to see, the first time he touched the ball, Cooper Bradley," Koops said. "I didn't know we had a kid that fast...Cole Moss has some different wiggle that we saw up at veer camp. I haven't coached a whole lot of kids that could wiggle like that. I'm excited to have some of those weapons and trying to figure out how to get those kids touches."

day in February in the weight room or a 7-on-7 or a lift in the summer.

"These guys have done what we've asked them to. Our kids have gotten stronger. They've put the sweat in the bucket."

Thompson's old quarterback spot is certainly one of intrigue for the Vikings this year, and Whitehall has another good athlete back there - senior Cole Essebaggers, who played defensive back a year ago. At 6-3 and 190 pounds, he's not much smaller than Thompson, and Sigmon said he's displayed strong ability as a runner, so that can again be expected as part of the Whitehall offense.

What the Vikings may not be able to do is get into bad situations and reasonably expect theatrical escapes, as Thompson pulled off a lot last year and Kyle Stratton did the year before.

"We've got to be on schedule as far as our offense," Sigmon said. "I think 2ndand-15 will kill us. We've had some people that have been remarkably dynamic in the past, and it's just like, 'They're

tire staff is back, the first time in Kater's four seasons that has occurred. Many of the players thrust into action by those injuries have gained experience. There's great athleticism throughout the roster. It just all has to come together to produce results.

R-P is working hard to do just that. The first week of football practice saw early morning and evening two-a-day practices, supplemented by players helping to run middle school camps.

"I think that's the beauty of this group," Kater said. "This group has had a more of an intention on details and and having fun out here and calling people in instead of out. They showed us a lot of stuff within this first week that we're excited about. We've got a lot of work to do, but we're excited about the kids' wanting to be here and the shift that our program made in the offseason."

One such shift will be at the quarterback position. Mason Darke was the

Life as a smaller school means most of those same guys will be the key pieces on the defensive side of the ball. Thommen was the team's leading

Montague

going to bail us out.' What's interesting about this team is that it can be a great team, and it's going to take everybody to be a part of the team and embrace their roles in order for this to be successful.

Those are also sometimes the funnest teams to coach."

Essebaggers will have the benefit of experienced weapons to throw the ball to. Hunter Osborne is back after scoring both Whitehall touchdowns in the

WHITEHALL • MONTAGUE • REETHS - PUFFER

guy there to start 2024 before injuries sidetracked him. This year, the coaches have moved him to a two-way receiver/defensive back role, while up-andcoming sophomore Cole Piper and

last year's JV quarterback, junior Braylon Swain, battle it out for the starting

Montague football coach Phil Koops addresses his players during a break in practice Monday, Aug. 11. Koops said a veteran offensive line will be key to the Wildcats' success this fall. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall quarterback Cole Essebaggers winds up to make a pass during a practice Tuesday, Aug. 12. Essebaggers is slated to take over at the position after Kyle Stratton and Camden Thompson previously starred there. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Reeths-Puffer players work on their form during a practice Wednesday, Aug. 13. The Rockets are focusing on being "our best us," according to coach Cody Kater and t-shirts many team members wore that day. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Time for area squads to get on the court

Whitehall retooling lineup after pair of 4-year stars' graduation

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Whitehall was already working on a lot of change this offseason with the retirement of longtime coach Ted Edsall and the graduation of a pair of fouryear varsity stars who earned all-conference recognition in 2024 (Bella Fogus and Sidney Shepherd). Unfortunately, an injury added further tweaks to the lineup.

Defensive specialist Aaliyah Jamison suffered a torn ACL that will keep her out for the season, adding a third spot in the Viking lineup to turn over. Returning starters Lou Mulder and Delaney Kramer provide a good start, but others will have to step up too.

"Lou and Delaney are both entering a year where they are considered upperclassmen," Vikings' coach Claire

New batch of seniors hopes to replicate success of last one

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Montague enters the 2025 season with huge gaps to fill in the lineup after heavy graduation losses from last year's district finalist squad. The Wildcats, though, have another strong group of seniors this year that is ready to deliver another good season.

"We return six juniors, now seniors, who had plenty of playing time together and who are 100% committed to each other and improving our team's chemistry," Montague coach Gretchen Schneider said. "All contribute high volleyball IQs, strong and accurate serving abilities, and a load of passion for excellence and winning."

Reagan Cederquist, a fourth-year varsity middle hitter, is the team's most experienced player. Gentry Knop has taken over at libero, and Emalee McGee is the new starting setter. Abbi Tallquist is a good defensive player, and Jenna Woller brings versatility and intelligence to a utility role. Annelyse Schneider is moving into a starting

Schedule still tough, but R-P believes it's making progress

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Reeths-Puffer took its lumps in 2024 in a beastly O-K Green Conference that produced three district champions among its six teams. Despite that and the loss of eight seniors to graduation, sixth-year Rockets' coach Justin Birr and assistant Riley Hughes believe the team is poised to improve this season.

"I feel like we are finally getting to the point where we are working towards a common goal as a program," Birr said. "Seeing our gym for high school tryouts this year compared to when I started coaching, we are certainly more competitive program-wide. The O-K Green is still a monster this year, but I would love to have a few upsets against some top-tier teams. I think our program is poised to do that this year."

If those upsets do come, a trio of top seniors will likely be a big reason.

McGrew said. "With that, I know we have set goals to help build their leadership and guidance with others during this season. I look for them to grow and develop into these starting roles."

Supplementing the two returning offensive threats will be Kaylin Skuse and Clare Westerlund, who slot into the middle hitter positions. Leading the defensive unit are Mayson Milliron and Maggy Michaelson.

"All the girls on this team are ready to work and compete," McGrew said. "I am looking for them to grow exponentially."

With a lot of young talent to groom, McGrew is preaching an aggressive, unafraid mindset. The focus is on game-to-game and match-to-match improvement.

"We just spent a great team-building trip to Camp Miniwanca, where we shared personal and athletic goals," McGrew said. "We are trying to shape our mindset of 'just go/do' without doubting first. These girls have taken this process on gracefully and I

middle hitter position alongside Cederquist, and up-and-coming left-handed junior Hallie VanTuyl is also set to be part of the offense.

The only real question mark is at outside hitter, where both starting positions were vacated by graduating seniors. Senior Abriana Ramthun has taken hold of one of those spots, while the other is still up for grabs among juniors Gabby Dietz and Saige Perales and sophomore Ella Evans.

Despite all the moving parts, the Wildcats are confident in their oncourt chemistry, not least because they've been intentional in devoting time to developing it. They've also set aside time to specifically address mental toughness.

"We are putting in the time and effort to strengthen both our physical and mental selves," Schneider said.

"We have set goals and have mapped our direction. Our sights are firmly affixed on taking conference and district (titles) this season."

Schneider believes she has a roster capable of running any of several types of offenses, though the early plan is to run a 5-1 set with McGee setting the stage for her teammates. However,

Mairyn Peterson and Makayla Disselkoen are the team's top returning offensive threats. Both were middle hitters a year ago, though Disselkoen is slated to move to the outside this year, making room for talented varsity newcomer Peyton Radel and further unleashing her own skills. Carlee Bowen is back at libero, and her "relentless hustle," Birr said, makes her a big defensive asset.

"Mairyn has really stepped into a leadership role for this team during the offseason, and she is the perfect person to lead this team," Birr said. "She is always a competitor and always trying to improve her game while also keeping the team first."

Fellow senior Abby Machinski brings a changeup effect to the right side, and Birr said she has worked to sharpen her game this offseason.

Radel, a sophomore, earned her spot at outside hitter due to her consistency, and junior Annabelle Darke is the other notable newcomer set to make waves. She'll take on an outside hitter/defensive specialist role.

am already seeing this goal being addressed."

The Vikings will get chances to cut their teeth at some major invitationals, including meets at Fruitport and Mona

Montague will be a big-time match as usual.

depending on opponent strengths and weaknesses, the Wildcats may tweak their lineup at times.

"I believe we're well-rounded in our skill sets and capable of making seamless on-the-fly adjustments," Schneider said.

The West Michigan Conference Lakes race could be interesting, Schneider said, with new coaches in place at traditional power programs Whitehall and Ludington. (Luding-

ton's new coach, Alex Hoffman, has experience in the Montague program.) Fremont, which won the title last year, is the presumed favorite, but with new philosophies and players abound throughout the conference, unpredictability is to be expected.

"We are extremely excited about this season and all that it will bring," Schneider said. "We are preparing with purpose and we are all-in."

minating the ball way more than a year ago. I am excited to see her make an impact on our offense and our blocking."

Shores and one at home, in addition to the GMAA. Whitehall is always among the contenders in the West Michigan Conference Lakes, but rival

Whitehall's Lou Mulder (1) sets up teammate Delaney Kramer for an attack during a district match last fall. The two are the Vikings' most experienced players entering the new season. • Andy Roberts/Mirror File

"Annabelle brings big time energy to the court, and she gives it her all every play, even in practice," Birr said. "Her work ethic combined with her sense of humor make her very fun to coach...(Peyton) has everything figured out mechanically, and she is ter-

Montague's Reagan Cederquist (2) celebrates with her teammates after scoring a point during a district match against Spring Lake last fall. Cederquist will be counted on even more this year after several graduation departures. • Andy Roberts/Mirror File

Reeths-Puffer's Mairyn Peterson goes on the attack during a quad match against Ravenna last year. Peterson enters the season as a senior leader and vital piece of the R-P offense at middle hitter. • Andy Roberts/Mirror File

Whitehall's veterans eye return to state meet

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Whitehall has an interesting roster entering 2025 - seven seniors, 10 freshmen and only two in the classes in between.

That means the Vikings will be in win-now mode while also getting young players the seasoning they'll need to be competitive in future seasons.

"After qualifying for state last year, the returners are hungry to return again knowing what it takes," Whitehall coach Greg McManus said. "We are returning some very good players this year, with William (Burger) starting his third year in a row at No. 1 singles and Ian Sampson, who was an all-state No. 1 doubles player last year."

Burger and No. 2 singles player Evan Schuitema are team leaders, McManus said, and are poised to become top players in the area after years of working their way up to it.

"They push each other in practice with contrasting playing styles," Mc-

Manus said. "Evan has a ton of power when needed but strategically uses it, while William has a very steady game with big serves and big forehands that have become super accurate."

Burger's brother Wyatt, a freshman, has grabbed the No. 3 singles position. That's a tall order for a freshman, but McManus said the younger Burger has the pedigree to succeed there.

"He has all the tools, including mentally, to become one of the best players in the area," McManus said. "He's mentally strong and knows the sport. He will be a player to watch."

Three freshmen - Lukas McKee, Scout Freiheit and Jonathan Roberge - are among the young guys dueling for lineup spots at the bottom of the rotation. In the team's opening meet at Portland, McKee and Roberge made up the No. 4 doubles flight. The battle between the three should make all of them better in the long run.

Whitehall's chances of reaching state will become clearer as the season progresses and it faces regional foes Grand Rapids Catholic Central, NorthPointe Christian and Grand Rapids West Catholic. The Vikings get to host the regional this year, and they'll welcome conference foes Grant and North Muskegon to their home complex for that meet as well.

R-P volleyball

The O-K Green hasn't gotten any easier, and Byron Center, Caledonia, Jenison and Mona Shores will continue to be formidable foes. Birr is hopeful his team can close the gap with the top four in the league. He's been mindful of creating a competitive atmosphere in practice and sharpening the team's skills, so as to not mess with what he thinks are strong mechanics his play-

continued from page 4

ers already have. "The girls worked on setting some team goals last week, and none of the goals were about wins and losses," Birr said. "They were about improvement as a team and as individuals. When looking at how to get there, I need to be more intentional during practices in creating meaning and fostering competitiveness."

Whitehall football

district title game last year, and Corde Anderson presents a big, athletic target as well. Both those two should be major parts of the defense to boot.

Whitehall also has an embarrassment of riches at running back. Any of five players, Sigmon said, would in an average year be a perfectly fine choice as the feature back. As it is, seniors Hunter Peterson and Max Krukowski and juniors Liam Leeke, Andrew Zuniga and Wyatt McFarren will vie for carries. Returning all-conference performer Jamison Jeffery anchors the lines, and Peterson is ready to build on the experience he gained last season after injuries forced him into a big role at linebacker. Krukowski is also poised to feature at that position, and Colton Kyser is credited with a lot of work in the weight room to get himself ready for the rigors of West Michigan varsity football.

"He looks like that outside linebacker that we've had now, really, since Connor Young and Jake Haynes," Sigmon said of Kyser. "Now he's got to process everything to get on their level, but he has the ability to do that."

Despite the young talent, early media projections don't have Whitehall considered the favorite to win the West Michigan Conference Lakes for the first time in a while. Sigmon knows his players will probably draw motivation from

that, but he hopes they're more motivated by the process.

"It's one thing to sit there and talk about it and it's another to do it," Sigmon said. "What's the 'do?' The 'do' is, how are you practicing right now? If we were working a pass-protection drill, did you fully commit to that? Those are the parts where those things have a tendency to take care of themselves."

The Vikes will play the same nine teams they did last year, giving them a very tough schedule. Unity Christian, Zeeland West and Portland all handed them non-conference defeats a year ago, and Sigmon credited the latter defeat, a 49-7 blowout, as setting the team back on the right path going into the playoffs.

As the games that count approach, Sigmon knows everyone must contribute to get the Vikings back to where they were a year ago.

"We want to challenge our scout team players," Sigmon said. "When we film, and we're filming right now, we want to be thinking, 'We've got to play this kid that's playing scout team, because he's just killing us.' That's going to help us...Our success is going to be through team glory. There's going to be a lot of people that can look back at our season if things go well and think, 'We all contributed to that.'"

job. Piper showed off his athleticism as a track state finalist last spring and played some cornerback for the varsity last fall, and Kater describes Swain as "very heady, and knows where to go with the rock."

"Both of them haven't really separated themselves throughout the summer," Kater said. "We see ourselves playing both of them through at least the first couple weeks and see where we settle."

Darke will be part of a very athletic receiving corps that in theory should make life easier for the quarterback. JaMichael Williams and Connor McManus are both 6-3 and close to 200 pounds, so their size and ability to go get the ball should be a big asset. Darke, the Rockets' school record hurdler, brings his own obvious athletic ability to the position. Kater credits him with bringing vocal leadership to the group. Brendan Guikema, another six-foot-plus player, will be a target for catches too.

At running back, Cal Millis, who was the Rockets' top tackler last fall, is set to take over. Sophomore Garrison Niklasch is in line for some carries as well.

The big question mark on offense is a largely new offensive line. An X factor there, as well as on the defensive front, will be 6-1, 285-pound junior Troy Swingley.

"Strong, strong kids, just very inexperienced," Kater said of the big guys up front. "They've just got to get a lot of time underneath their belt in the JV or the varsity. These are the kids that we

have. We love them. We love the work that they've done."

Many of those same names will be factors on defense; certainly Millis, an all-conference honorable mention pick in 2024, will play a central role. It's a brutal schedule again for the Rockets. Byron Center played in the state finals last year. Forest Hills Central won a district title, Mona Shores played for one and Forest Hills Eastern narrowly missed doing so. Muskegon will no doubt be looking to avenge a rare rough season. Kater said he and the staff are better prepared for it this year.

"I don't think I did a great job last offseason and into the season of getting those guys prepared for hard and struggle and embracing it," Kater said. "I think that's something that's different about this group. I think we spent a lot more time on mentality, finding a way to get to our inner peace, so we can work and find enjoyment in the process. Sometimes my stress can add to their stress, especially when things aren't going well."

The Rockets have, in turn, embraced that introspective mentality, donning shirts that read "Our Best Us" in practice. Time will tell if it brings in more wins in 2025, but they hope it produces a healthier program.

"We're just trying to worry about the work," Kater said. "It's not really about other teams. It's always been R-P versus R-P. I think we lost focus of that last year because we were trying to prove ourselves in other ways. Now it's a little bit more just us."

Montague football

tackler last year with 68 solo stops, and French and Bradley are among the returning leaders in that category as well.

Just as important as on-field development will be mental toughness, Koops said. There were a couple of games last year in which Koops felt the team let bad circumstances get the best of them, which resulted in lopsided defeats.

"You watched the film and they were in games, and then something bad happened, and as teenagers do, they got in their own heads and all of a sudden things snowballed quickly," Koops said. "I think some of those scores last year weren't really representative of how tight some of those games were until things unraveled."

Perhaps motivated by those games, Montague has lofty goals. Koops said the senior class has talked about ending their careers by bringing home a trophy - conference, district or even beyond.

They'll get a chance to see what they're made of quickly, opening up at

home against Division 4 playoff team Forest Hills Eastern, which Koops is familiar with from his days at Hamilton. The remaining eight games are all against West Michigan Conference opposition, providing a steady supply of proud programs.

"Every week you're going to play a good team with a storied history," Koops said. "I grew up in the Holland area, and you always heard about those teams come playoff time. They were always making runs. It's a very tradition-rich conference."

What Koops wants to see more than anything as he starts the process of building Montague back up? Pride and competitiveness for 48 minutes.

"I want to see them play the best football they can play and fight their (butts) off for Montague every step of the way," Koops said. "I really appreciate how many kids here are playing multiple sports. They want to be out here with their buddies, and they want to compete and represent the town."

Montague's Fletcher Thommen races for the end zone during a game against Oakridge last season. Thommen will rotate with teammate Devlin Dean to be the Wildcats' running back committee. • Andy Roberts/Mirror File

Wi. Burger

New arena makes 3X3 tourney even better

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — Montague's basketball programs hosted its second annual 3X3 tournament Saturday, Aug. 9, but its first using the new high school gym, which was completed in the spring.

Being able to use the new gym enabled there to be four games going at one time, eliminating delays between games and getting the event wrapped up in a shorter amount of time.

"It was great using the new gym to get an idea of how it looked with the kids playing and families watching them," Montague boys basketball coach Nick Thaler said. "The atmosphere in there is going to be special... We had many compliments on how nice the gym is. People were already talking about coming back next year."

New 'spinner' trophies, as opposed

to stationary ones, drew great response, as did the 'toilet bowl' trophies. The toilet trophies, modeled after similar ones given out at Gus Macker events, honor teams who bounce back from losing their first two games by winning the third.

Montague players were involved, of course, but so too were players from Fruitport, Mona Shores, North Muskegon and other surrounding areas. Thaler said this was due to outreach efforts made in the Grand Rapids and Rockford areas, which will continue next year.

"It is great seeing how much talent there is from other areas," Thaler said. "Kids are more skilled than ever at certain age groups. You can tell who is putting in the time."

Thaler said many volunteers helped make the event happen, including officials, girls basketball coach and athletic trainer Jess DeBruin, and many

There's no slowing down the Montague 3X3, and Thaler said the goal is to begin preparations for next year's

event even earlier than this year. The date is also flexible, after two years of the tournament occurring in mid-August.

Explosive end to 1st half propels Montague to win

Montague's Jonah Henderson stays ahead of Muskegon defender Angel Picasso during Wednesday's game at Montague. Henderson had 3 goals in the Wildcats' win, and teammate Isaiah King had 2.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Chamber of Commerce accepting award nominations

The White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for two of its honors — the Lady Laker and the El Award.

The Lady Laker Award recognizes a female professional who has made an exceptional impact in the White Lake Area community, particularly through mentoring and inspiring future leaders.

The El Award honors an outstanding male professional who has been a positive influence in the community, actively involved in local organizations and connected to the business community. This award is given in memory of Eleanor Polley, a former Chamber

executive director.

All nominees must demonstrate outstanding service and a positive, supportive attitude. Nominations are due by Sept. 30, and forms are available at www.whitelake.org under “Events.”

While additional awards — including Entrepreneur of the Year, Legacy Award, Board of Director Awards, and other honorary awards will also be presented at the Annual Dinner, only the Lady Laker and El Awards are open to public nominations. All award recipients will be recognized publicly after the annual dinner, set for Oct. 20 at the Curly Horse American Bistro at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury.

Sports in Brief

Boys Soccer

Reeths-Puffer starts big with 4-0-1 mark at tourney

The Rockets only allowed 1 goal in five 50-minute games in Traverse City, and that came in a 1-1 tie against defending state champion Notre Dame Prep in their final game of the weekend. R-P defeated Charlevoix (5-0), Harbor Springs (4-0), Jackson Northwest (2-0) and Gaylord (1-0). Owen Ritsema scored 5 goals on the weekend, and Liam Copenhaver and Caden Macomber combined on 4 shutouts.

Black River 4 Whitehall 3

The Vikings got 2 goals from Evan Jud and 1 from Ian Hinze in a close opening defeat. Carter

Girls Golf

R-P edges Montague by a stroke at Jenison

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — Montague picked up its first win of the season Wednesday against Muskegon, scoring four goals in an eight-minute span late in the first half on the way to an 8-0 victory.

Jonah Henderson led the scoring barrage, putting three of those goals on the board. The Wildcats entered the season without a clear top scorer, but Henderson's outburst made a compel-

ling case for the role.

"There was a lot of good passing from teammates and a lot of good teamwork that set me up for that, but I'm glad I could get in those positions and finish them for the team," Henderson said.

Isaiah King also scored twice in the game for Montague. Noah Raeth, Steven Aebig and Austin White each got on the board once; Raeth's goal was a nifty header directly off a free kick by White.

and

Reeths-Puffer shot a 397 to earn 11th place of 16 teams at the competitive Jenison Invitational, with Montague a stroke behind. Sophia McCollum led the Rockets with an impressive 79, good for 5th place individually, and Cadence Fox paced Montague with an 89, taking 13th place overall. McCollum made a birdie, and Fox made 2. Whitehall 2nd at Fruitport Invite

The Vikings shot a 383, led by Morgan Garcia with an 88 and Riley Shafer with a 90. Coopersville won the meet by 14 strokes.

Cross Country

Jersi Bilek wins Calvary Christian meet

The Rockets' senior star took the top spot in the Division 1 race, earning a time of 20:09.9. R-P finished 3rd as a team in the girls' race and 4th in the boys' meet. Darcy Keefe placed 6th for the R-P girls, and Dylan Sturr led the boys by taking 12th.

Boys Tennis

Whitehall goes 1-1 at Portland meet

The Vikings beat Portland 5-3 and fell to state power University Liggett 8-0. Whitehall won 3 doubles matches against Portland - Evan Thomas/Remington Whelpley, Cameron Cook/Adam Sikkenga and Lukas McKee/ Jonathan Roberge. Evan Schuitema and Wyatt Burger earned singles victories. Montague 0-2 at home tournament Montague lost games to Tri-County (5-2) and Kelloggsville (3-0) at the opening tourney. Austin White and Aryk Wood scored the Wildcat goals.

Burrous

Basil Savage each had an assist.

A team from Mona Shores battling the "Alley Oops" was one of the matchups during the Aug. 9 3X3 tournament at Montague High School. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Aug. 8

At approximately 9 p.m., the on-duty officer received a report of three juvenile subjects trespassing at a multiunit residential structure’s pool in the 1100 block of S. Lake St. The original reporting officer was able to identify the subjects involved and spoke with the parent of one of the boys, who had written his name on the wall near the pool. In speaking with the contacted parent, he advised action would be taken to get the name written on the wall removed.

Aug. 9

At approximately 1:25 a.m. an officer was observing traffic near the 100 block of W. Obell St. when they took note of a Dodge Caravan that had drifted over the center on more than one occasion as it traveled along S. Mears Avenue. A traffic stop was initiated on the vehicle and contact was made with the driver, a 19-year-old male from Lakewood Club. The officer immediately noted the driver showed signs of intoxication and he stated to the officer he had too much to drink and should not be driving. The driver was run through sobriety tests and failed. After the sobriety tests were given, a preliminary breath test (PBT) was offered and a result of a .199 blood-alcohol content was obtained. The driver was arrested for OWI-High BAC and lodged in the Muskegon County Jail. A blood draw was conducted on the driver and the obtained sample was sent to the MSP Crime Lab in Lansing for testing.

Aug. 10

While on regular patrol, on-duty staff was contacted at 8:30 p.m. by Muskegon Central Dispatch in reference to a conservation-related call. The caller reported that he resided near the 1100 block of King St. and that a neighbor had been filming or taking pictures of his bird feeder. This neighbor had told the complainant the bird feeders were too low and needed to be repositioned so the Whitehall deer did not have access to them. The reporting party stated he did not want to be harassed anymore regarding his bird feeding methods. Officer attempted to contact the other party involved but was unable to get the party to answer his phone call or knock at the door.

Aug. 11

Muskegon Central Dispatch called the on-duty Whitehall officer at 10:12 p.m. regarding a traffic crash near the 900 block of E. Colby St. The reporting party stated he had been rear-ended as he prepared to turn into the parking lot for his residence. Upon arrival, the involved officer spoke with the driver of the striking vehicle and immediately noted the driver appeared intoxicated. The suspected intoxicated driver was identified as a 58-year-old man from Shelby who had two prior convictions for OWI. Next the officer ran the involved driver through sobriety tests which he failed. He was then offered a PBT and a result of .125 was obtained. The subject was then arrested and lodged at the Muskegon County Jail on charges of OWI 3rd Offense. A blood draw was conducted at the jail and the obtained blood sample was sent to the MSP Crime Lab in Lansing for testing.

Aug. 12

At approximately 1:58 p.m., the on-duty officer was contacted by a party that wanted to turn in a pellet/ BB handgun to the police department. The involved female subject advised she had been at a residence in the 300 block of E. Lewis St. visiting a friend, when the son of the friend had come into the room they were in and threatened her with the pellet/BB handgun.

The reporting party stated she skillfully disarmed the subject and took possession of the pellet/BB handgun. Whitehall Police Department to conduct additional follow up on this incident.

Aug. 14

The on-duty officer was contacted at 12:58 p.m. by a subject who needed to report his wallet had been lost/stolen and his debit card had been unlawfully used at a business in Muskegon Township. This subject/victim stated he had last had possession of his wallet in the 200 block of Colby St. Aug. 9. Shortly after being unable to locate his wallet, he received information that his debit card was used at the Muskegon Township business. He then drove to the business and obtained images from that business's surveillance system showing the suspect using his debit card. These images were then used by the Whitehall Police Department to create a Facebook post and with the assistance of the greater Facebook community the offender, a 30-yearold man, with address history in both Michigan and Florida was identified by multiple reporting parties. Charges pending on the offender for unlawful use of a financial transaction device.

Aug. 15

While on active patrol at 6:19 p.m., the on-duty officer located a vehicle with no license plate attached to the rear of the vehicle. A traffic stop was made on the vehicle near Colby Street and Peterson Road. The driver and passenger were identified and the passenger, a 33-year-old male subject from Norton Shores, showed to have a valid warrant for failing to pay child support. Once the passenger was made aware of the warrant, he was taken into custody and lodged at the Muskegon County Jail.

Aug. 16

At approximately 5:22 p.m., the Muskegon Central Dispatch center advised Whitehall officers that passing motorists were reporting a woman acting strangely by dancing and waving at cars near the 1100 block of E. Colby St. On-duty staff responded to the area

and contacted a female party in the area. While speaking with the female party, she admitted to dancing and waving at cars and stated she was just out in the area of residence enjoying the beautiful day. The involved female appeared fine and was just happy to live in the White Lake area.

Aug. 17

While completing super fun payroll work, the Chief of Police received a call at the department at 10 a.m. regarding a recreational vehicle that was parked at a city park in the 1600 block of S. Lake St. It appeared to the reporting party that the vehicle's occupant may be dumping waste water on the ground. Officers were dispatched to the involved location and located a motor home in the parking lot. While investigating the complaint, the officer checked the area around and near the motor home for signs of wastewater discharge and did not locate any. The parties present in the motorhome advised they were from Germany and had shipped their German-made motor home across the Bering Sea to Alaska for an amazing RV trip across the entire United States and were currently taking in the amazing Great Lakes region. Prior to ending contact with his new German friends, the on-duty officer reminded the parties to properly dispose of their wastewater and not camp overnight in any city parks.

Aug. 18

The School Resource Officer was assisting with general patrol duties at 2:30 p.m. when he was contacted to investigate a suspicious occurrence in the 500 block of E. Lewis St. The reporting party stated he had previously resided at a residence in the area and had accidentally shipped a super fluffy pink action figure to his old address and could not locate it. With the assistance of the School Resource Officer, who too loved action figures, the missing super fluffy pink action figure was located at the residence and arrangements were made to reunite the complainant with his action figure and cash.

Annual Labor Day Community Walk coming Sept. 1

The White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau, together with the Cities of Montague and Whitehall, will host the 19th Annual Labor Day Community Walk Monday, Sept. 1 at 10 a.m.

Modeled after Michigan’s iconic Mackinac Bridge Walk, the White Lake event offers a closerto-home way to celebrate this state tradition. The community is invited to come together for a morning of fresh air and fitness.

The walk begins at the Montague Trail Head on Spring Street and follows the Hart–Montague Bike Trail across the White River Bridge, ending at the

Chamber Depot in Whitehall. Participants may continue along the path or return to the starting point. Healthy refreshments will be provided at the finish.

City officials, community leaders, and neighbors will join in the walk, highlighting the area’s commitment to active living and the many opportunities to enjoy its trails, parks, and waterways year-round.

For details, call the White Lake Area Chamber at 231-893-4585 or visit www.whitelake.org.

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