The Oceana Echo - Volume 3, Issue 15, September 5, 2025 by theoceanaecho

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The honor works both ways - veterans needed for honor guard services

By AnnaMae Bush The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

“It is the last proper sign of respect to show a veteran.”

“I do it in honor of my own family members and friends who served in foreign wars.”

“It upholds the tradition of military personnel, and is hard not to do it.”

“It is as much about comforting the family as it is about honoring the person who died.”

“It is an honor to be asked to be present at the intimate moment of someone saying a final farewell to a loved one.”

These were the responses of local veterans when asked why they volunteer to provide military honor guard services in Oceana County.

Pentwater VFW Post Commander Jim Carlson reports that a military honor guard is requested at five or more funerals a month for veterans in Oceana County. Sometimes the funerals are scheduled at the same time or on the same day, and this means many volunteers are needed to meet the requests. “The only way we could handle the requests was to form a coalition of posts in the county. The Pentwater VFW post coordinates with the Hart VFW post, the Ferry Veterans group and the American Legion post in Shelby to provide sufficient volunteers.”

The size of the honor guard detail depends on how many volunteers are available, Carlson shared. “But a full complement military honor guard uses 14 persons: a bugler, a chaplain, seven rifle team members, an officer of the day and four persons to present a white

flower, an evergreen, a wreath and a flag. Each presentation includes a designated reading, and two members of the guard fold the flag that is given to the family of the veteran.”

Carlson has performed the honors with as few as three other volunteers when no more were available. But it is a challenge when volunteers have to fill multiple roles.

Honor guard services are offered at funeral homes, cemeteries and churches. To engage an honor guard for a loved one, a veteran’s family needs to present a copy of a DD214 form, which is an honorable discharge document, to the funeral home. The funeral home director then notifies someone in the local coalition who takes responsibility for finding an honor guard team from the various military posts.

“Requests for WWII veterans are few and far between. We had one for Harold Tate of Hart on Saturday, August 30. He had just turned 100 years old, and 27 veterans were present.”

Carlson continued, “More often we honor veterans from the Korean War or from service in Vietnam or Iraq. The youngest veteran we honored was only 24 years old. I worked in the Hart schools for more than 40 years, and the hardest thing for me is participating at funerals of veterans who I knew as students and spoke with at school about military service.”

Hart VFW Post Quartermaster Steve Fell is often the recipient of a call from the funeral home. Fell served in the Navy for 26 years all around the world with the Navy Seabees, who worked in construction. His wife moved with him, and their son was born in Morocco. He has been participating in honor guard

service for 33 years since retiring from the Navy and says, “I am grateful for the opportunity to honor fellow veterans in this way.”

Mike Flynn was invited to join the Pentwater VFW after he had served in the National Guard out of Manistee and had active duty in Grayling. He had family members who were WWII veterans and had friends who served in Vietnam. “I participate at funerals in their honor. But I have health issues that now curtail how much I can do. The ranks of our volunteers are thinning out, and we need more and younger veterans to replace those we have lost.”

Gina Mead volunteers through the Shelby American Legion. She served six years in the Navy. She started in aviation, working on F-14 aircraft, but transferred into the Seabees to do construction work.

Several members of her family were veterans, and she began honor guard service after her uncle died in 2012. “What’s hard for me is serving at the funerals of veterans who have been honor guards with me,” she shared. Mead feels strongly that any family whose loved one has served in the military should have the opportunity to request an honor guard.

“I use female veteran volunteers whenever I can,” Carlson said. “I often ask Gina Mead from the Shelby American Legion to be my chaplain.”

When ordained military chaplains are not available, others must fill the role that involves special readings. Comfortable with public speaking, gifted with a good voice, and willing to fill a religious role, Mead is happy to serve this way.

Veterans of any age are welcome to volunteer for honor guard service.

They do not need to have their original uniform. Carlson said, “Not all veterans kept their uniforms. Even if they kept them, not everyone can still fit in them. If original uniforms are not available, we encourage veterans to wear the alternate uniforms of white shirts and black pants.” Veterans willing to participate as an honor guard can contact Carlson at 231-301-3955, Fell at 231-873-1727 or Mead at 231-638-3728.

Four years ago the tradition of a retreat for female veterans was begun at the Lake Michigan Family Camp in Pentwater. Women veterans come from all over the U.S. with the goal of finding healing and rejuvenation by being part of a group with common experiences. This year’s retreat is Sept. 18-21, and Gina Mead, who is part of the leadership team, expects 50 participants. The team hopes the retreat will help curb suicides among female veterans. Last Saturday, Gina joined American Legion Post No. 30 members Darrell Hanson, Lori Hogston, Darrell Hogston and Janet Mead to raise funds for this cause in New Era. To make a donation, please contact the Shelby American Legion or visit womenveteransweekend.org.

Finalists to compete for 2025 Community Excellence Award

The Michigan Municipal League is excited to announce the four finalists for the 2025 Community Excellence Award (CEA). The cities of Hart and Negaunee and the villages of Milford and Roscommon are moving forward as finalists in this year’s competition.

The CEA was developed in 2007 to celebrate innovative placemaking projects and programs happening across the state. Finalists are determined by a small voting board and compete at the League’s annual Convention gathering, where event attendees will vote for their favorite project.

This year’s convention is in Grand Rapids at the Amway Grand Plaza, Sept. 17–19. The League looks forward to having each finalist present on the main stage. This winning community receives a large trophy and bragging rights for the year. The official Community Excel-

lence Award will be presented during the closing general session. The League will put out a press release announcing the winner.

Here is a look at this year’s competition:

• Hart - The H-Art Project –Community Spirit Initiative

• Negaunee - Negaunee Downtown Enhancement Project

• Milford - Central Park: The Heart of Milford

• Roscommon - First Bird City Michigan Designation and Public Art Program with Michigan’s Largest Kirtland’s Warbler Sculpture

“The League is thrilled to recognize the amazing work happening in Michigan and would like to thank everyone who entered this year’s competition,” said League Board President and Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Don Gerrie. “This year’s proposals come from small villages and large cities, with

diverse populations and resource bases—not to mention both peninsulas. From downtown revitalization to attainable housing to public art, these are all meaningful projects that will uplift and enrich people’s lives. There is no such thing as ‘small’ placemaking; they all bring us one step closer towards healthier, happier, more thriving communities.”

The League received submissions from the following communities: Big Rapids, Birmingham, Douglas, Hart, Mt. Pleasant, Milford, Negaunee, Portage, Roscommon, Southfield, Sparta, Westland, Wyandotte and Ypsilanti. One can

learn more about this year’s submissions by visiting the cea. mml.org.

“We’re incredibly thankful to all 14 communities who submitted projects for this year’s awards,” Member Experience Coordinator at the League Heather Elliott said. “Each submission reflects a deep commitment to their community. We also want to recognize and thank our panel of judges for their thoughtful review. It isn’t easy to choose when everyone is doing such amazing work. A special congratulations to our four finalist communities. Your projects showcase the kind of creativity and impact that moves Michigan forward. We’re excited to celebrate and share more about your work in the months ahead, leading up to convention in beautiful Grand Rapids.”

For more information about Hart's submission, please turn to page 9 of this week's Echo.

Migration mural in Hart

Lori Hogston, Darrell Hanson, Gina Mead & Janet Mead Women Veterans Retreat

The Oceana Community Foundation (OCF) is thrilled to welcome the seventh cohort of changemakers into the Leadership Learning Lab (LLL) — a regional program that brings together emerging and experienced leaders from across Oceana, Mason and Manistee counties. In partnership with the Manistee County Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for Mason County, organizers are excited to support the journey of 13 dedicated individuals who are committed to strengthening their leadership skills and deepening their impact within the communities they serve.

Launched in 2018, LLL was born from a collaborative vision among several northern Michigan community foundations, including the OCF, to cultivate leadership and foster meaningful change. Today, Oceana, Mason and Manistee counties represent one of five active LLL sites across the state. The program is supported by a coalition of partners including the Frey Foundation, Rotary Charities, and 10 community foundations throughout northern Michigan. To date, 353 individuals statewide have participated in the Leadership Lab. This sustained involvement speaks to the program’s lasting value and its role in building a resilient, collaborative nonprofit ecosystem.

The Lab is more than a leadership development program — it’s a space for connection, growth and transformation. Over the next 10 months, cohort members will meet monthly to explore topics such as adaptive lead-

ership, storytelling, fundraising and organizational development. Through shared learning and reflection, participants will strengthen their capacity to lead with purpose and navigate complexity in their work. By bringing together leaders from across the tri-county region, LLL fosters cross-sector collabo ration and builds bridges between nonprofit professionals, creat ing a stronger, more connected network of changemakers. Each participant in the 2025 cohort brings a unique perspective and a shared commitment to serving their community with integrity, creativity, and compassion.

• John Jackoviak - Senior Procurement Manager, Peterson Farms, Inc.

• Julie Herringa - Executive Director, Manistee County Library

• Katie Gruenberg - Planning Director, Manistee County

The Leadership Learning Lab Seventh Cohort:

• Amanda Nasor - Interim Executive Director, Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters

• Bethany Wise - Girls Camp Director, American Youth Foundation – Camp Miniwanca

• Caleb Ackerman - Museum Engagement Manager, Mason County Historical Society

• Erin Oleniczak - Public Health Planner, District Health Department #10

• Gwen Adams - Executive Director, Sandcastles Children's Museum

• Jenni Payne - 4-H Youth Program Coordinator, MSU Extension-Oceana

• Kim Corliss - Chief Operating Officer, Northwest Michigan Health Services, Inc.

• Laura Ackerman - District Manager, Oceana Conservation District

• Tara Autrey - Community Outreach Specialist, Community Foundation for Mason County

• Tricia Polcik - Clinical Director – Adult Services, Centra Wellness Network

The OCF envisions an Oceana where everyone has access to resources to thrive. If anyone would like more information on the Leadership Learning Lab, call CEO Tammy Carey at 231-869-3377 or visit the OCF website at oceanafoundation. org/resources.

Amanda Nasor Bethany Wise Caleb Ackerman Erin Oleniczak Gwen Adams Jenni Payne John Jackoviak

Julie Herringa Katie Gruenberg Kim Corliss Laura Ackerman Tara Autrey Tricia Polcik

This page is brought to you by:

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

County

& Genealogical

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

Postcards from the Past: Hart High School Class of 1910 -

By Claire Marshall

The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

We are, once again, visiting the Hart High School Class of 1910 photograph. This time we will be learning about the seven young ladies sitting in the front row, dating the photo tremendously with their shirtwaists and voluminous Gibson Girl hair. When looking at old photographs of teenagers, I often hear folks remark how “old” everyone looks, as if they’re barreling towards middle age rather than their high school graduation.

I can understand the impulsive reaction, but I must say that, nine times out of ten, the historic teens really do look like teens, just with vintage hairstyles and clothes. While looking at the assorted 19- to 20-year-olds in the photo, particularly the girls, I tried to imagine them with proper 2016 accouterments - dipdyed hair, skinny jeans, those unfortunate blocky eyebrows that were all the rage - and I could imagine them being in my graduating class.

Despite the fact that these young ladies lived over a century ago, many led lives not unlike girls now. They went to college, some got married and others didn’t, and several had careers. Sadly, many obituaries simply relegate them to wife, mother, and homemaker.

Starting at the left, we have Gertrude Reynolds. She was 18 at the time of her high school graduation and originally from Reed City, Michigan. Following her graduation, she went on to study at Western Michigan University and spent her twenties teaching. She

married her husband, Harold Hutchinson, in November of 1920, exactly one month before her 29th birthday, before returning to Hart. Throughout her life, she was a part of several various organizations, including the Hart Congregational Church, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Order of the Eastern Star (a Masonic-esque fraternity that allowed participants from both sexes). She died in 1964, at age 72. Bessie Waterman was born in 1891 in Mears. Her obituary tells little of her life before moving to Flint, Michigan, and the clipping from the Oceana County Historical and Genealogical Society does not list a date of death. What’s more, the clipping has her married name misspelled as “Reigle” instead of “Riegle.” She was previously married to Roy Tenny Smith, with whom she had one son, Donald Wayne, born in 1917. In 1928, she married Flint native John L. Riegle, a businessman and county school commissioner, who adopted Donald. Donald Wayne Riegle (formerly Smith) went on to serve as the mayor of Flint from 1952-54. His son, Donald Wayne Riegle Jr., went on to serve as a member of the US House of Representatives from 1967-76 and then as a US senator from 197695. At the time of Bessie’s death, she was working as a secretary for Flint’s Women’s Hospital Auxiliary, and her obituary says her son, Donald, was still at home. So I would assume Bessie passed away in the early 1930s. I cannot seem to find her date of death online, so I suppose I have to do the rational thing and hope that former U.S. Senator

Wayne Riegle

reads the local news from his grandmother’s hometown and will, thus, call the Echo offices to let me know his family history.

The third young lady in the front row is Pearl Hunter. Pearl was born in 1890 in Mears and was the daughter of Joseph Arthur Hunter, a lighthouse keeper of Little Sable Point Lighthouse from Pearl’s birth to 1922. Her obituary does not mention an alma mater, but she was certainly educated, as she spent 27 years in Washington, D.C., as a secretary for the U.S. Coast Guard - a branch befitting the daughter of a lighthouse keeper. In 1946, she retired and returned to Mears, where she served as a charter member of the Oceana County Historical Society until her death in 1976, at age 86. She never married nor had children.

She contributed a wealth of knowledge about Little Sable Point to the Historical Society, including her father’s journals from his tenure as lighthouse keeper.

Sadly, I can find no information on Pearl Stern, the next girl in the line. I even tried to look up alternative spellings, such as Sterns, Stem, and Stim. No dice. The only thing about her that seems apparent is that she was friends with Lorena Leonard, with whom she’s holding hands in the photograph. Likewise, I cannot track down any information about Hazel Andrews apart from a confirmation of her status as a former Hart High School student.

Lorena Leonard, second-to-last, was born in 1891 in Hart and married her husband, Ivan Purdy, in 1919. She was, like Gertrude, a teacher before

becoming a Muskegon County School Supervisor, from which she retired in 1958. She was also a member of the Community United Methodist Church, Greater Muskegon Woman’s Club and Retired Teachers Association. She had two children, Jean Ann and Leonard. Lorena passed away at age 81 in January of 1973.

The final Class of 1910 girl is Janet Richardson. The only information I can find from the OCH&GS sources is her mother’s 1919 obituary, which lists Janet as living in Los Angeles, California. Regrettably, Janet Richardson isn’t a remarkably unique name, especially not in a major metropolis

like L.A. As for her mother, Louisa Richardson, she was an early pioneer of the Crystal Township and Walkerville area and had eight children, including Janet.

The Hart High School Class of 1910 produced scholars, teachers, doctors, business owners, and - in one case - politically successful progeny. Sadly, we are still missing information on several students and cannot paint as clear a portrait as I’d like, but that doesn’t negate the excitement of tracking down historical students from over a century ago, watching as their stories unfold through some good, old-fashioned detective work.

Donald

Jr.

Ongoing

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

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.*

2nd & 4th WED: Pentwater Community Food Pantry, First Baptist Church, Pentwater, 9-10:15 a.m.

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

THURS - "Harts 'n Homes" Women's Fellowship, Faith Christian Fellowship, 400 S. State St.,10 a.m. to 1 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: Sept. 16: Share Our Stories: "Marshville Dam," 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Sept. 26: Live Music by the Jammers, 10 a.m. to noon. Oct. 6: Blanket Finger-Knitting Class, 6-8 p.m. (sign up by 9/29) The Huddle: 6th-12th grade after-school program," M-F 3-5 p.m.

Adult Hours: M-F 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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

Farm animals are coming to the New Era Market

The next New Era Farmers Market is planned for Sept. 9 from 4-7 p.m. at 1820 Ray Ave., in New Era.

The Kids Power of Produce Club will feature farm animals and takes place from 4-5 p.m., starting with a story/puppet show by Kati Ann O’Grady. They will have free pony rides for the kids sponsored by the New Era Village Council. The Critter Barn from Zeeland will also be there with their Farm to Go presentation. Children can bring their wounded stuffed animals to the market. Oceana Veterinary Clinic will be on site to offer stuffed animal health assessments and offer minor repairs for rips, tears, etc. Kids will also be given $4 in tokens to purchase produce at the market. There will be a drawing for a Country Dairy Farm Tour for up to four people with free regular-sized ice cream cones.

Entertainment will start at 5 p.m. and feature Rooster Ridge Accoustics. Seniors 62 years and older will receive $5 in tokens for purchasing produce at the market. Organizers hope to see you at the market.

Melody Mates lessons start this month in Shelby

It’s that time of year again! The Melody Mates Square Dance Club will be offering lessons in modern Western-style square dance beginning Sept. 17 from 6:30-9 p.m. at Shelby Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 53 E. 3rd St., Shelby. A first-time attendee’s beginner lesson is free; the following 10 weeks of beginner lessons are $3.50 per person, per week; thereafter lessons are $4 per person, per week.

Celebrating the beginning of its 64th year, the Melody Mates offers lessons in several sub-levels of dancing, from basic “Beginner” and “Mainstream,” to “Plus” and “Easy-Advance 1.” Lessons in “Beginner” round dance and “Phase II” round dance will also be offered. Snacks and beverages are provided at each session.

“Square dancing has many benefits,” said square dancer of 32 years, Marie Kolbe of Walkerville. “It improves cardiovascular health, muscle strength, balance, coordination and burns calories! Dancing is considered a low-impact and weight-bearing exercise. In addition to physical benefits, it also aids in cognitive functions, such as memory and decision making, stress relief and socialization. Where else can you get all these benefits wrapped in one fun activity?”

More information is available by visiting “Melody Mates Square Dance Club” on Facebook or calling/texting 231-742-8008 or 231-301-5333.

S eptember

Sept. 5 - Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry, New Hope Community Church, 244 S. 79th St., Shelby, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 5-6 - Apple & BBQ Festival, Silver Lake

Sept. 8 - Adult Crafter Afternoon, Hesp. Comm. Lib., 1-2:30 p.m.

Sept. 9 - Adult Book Club Movie, Hesp. Comm. Lib., 2-4:30 p.m.

Sept. 10 - Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society, Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, Mears UMC, 6 p.m.

Sept. 11 - Teen Night, Hesperia Comm. Library, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Sept. 12 - Mushroom Foray, Oceana Conservation District and Otto Nature Preserve, 9 a.m. to noon

Sept. 12 - Oceana Conservation District, Dune Grass orders due. Sept. 13 - Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry, Shelby State Bank, 242 N. Michigan Ave., Shelby, 2 p.m.

Sept. 15 - After School Movie, Hesp. Comm. Library, 3:30-5 p.m.

Sept. 16 - Unlock the Secrets of the Library, HCL,10 a.m., Board Meeting, Community Room, 4:30-6 p.m.

Sept. 18 - Matinee Movie, Hesperia Comm. Library, 1-3:30 p.m.

Sept. 18 - “Bookish Bags” Craft Workshop for teens and adults (registration required), Shelby Area District Library, 5 p.m.

Sept. 18 - Friendship Ring Quilt Guild, New Era Reformed Church, 4775 First St., New Era, 7 p.m.

Sept.19 - United Way’s Day of Caring, Sept. 19 - Dune Grass order pickup

Sept. 19 - Library Card Sign-Up Celebration, SADL, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sept. 20 - Stewardship Day: At the Beach, sponsored by Oceana Conservation District, Cedar Point County Park, 9-11 a.m.

Sept. 20 - New Era Street Festival (pancake breakfast, car show, music, food, vendors, family-friendly activities) 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Sept. 20 - Couples Movie Night, Getty Park, Shelby, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 - CARS Youth Center's Pre-See You At The Pole Rally, New Era Bible Church, 6 p.m.

Sharing about Marshville Dam at The Ladder

All are invited to The Ladder Community Center in Shelby on Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. for Share Our Stories (SOS). Please note the change in time from evening to daytime. This month’s SOS theme will be “Stony Creek’s Marshville Dam.” Attendees will explore the history and recent major changes to the dam. Organizers invite people to visit the site and take some photos to share at this gathering.

SOS is a monthly event held at The Ladder, where people gather and share memories, photos and other memorabilia from Oceana County. There is no additional cost for registered adult members 18+. Events are subject to change. To inquire about an event or with ideas for future topics of interest for SOS, call The Ladder at 231-259-0211. Visit theladdercommunitycenter.com to view all upcoming events.

Soup and Chili Fellowship planned for Sept. 23

All are welcome to join the Child Evangelism Fellowship at Rothbury Community Church Tuesday evening, Sept. 23, at 6:30 p.m. for a soup and chili meal.

The evening will include the two dishes and fellowship, as well as a recap of the group's 2024-25 activities. There's no charge to attend, though free will offerings will be accepted.

Also part of the evening will be a pie auction and a silent auction.

Please RSVP by Sept. 16 by calling the RCC office at 231-861-2225.

Silver Sands Hotel to host Author Showcase

The Silver Sands Resort and Hotel will host an Author Showcase featuring Wendy Byard, the author of the new suspense novel "Devil in the Dunes" set in West Michigan, Sept. 6-7. Weather permitting, the showcase will take place in front of the hotel (or inside if needed) beginning at 1 p.m. The day promises several events so people can learn more about this Michigan crime story that features Little Sable Point Lighthouse on its cover.

On Saturday, September 6, the Author Showcase includes a book signing/ meet and greet from 1–4 p.m.; a spooky reading from the novel at 4 PM; Q & A Session at 4:30 PM; and raffle prize giveaway – a signed print of an original watercolor painting of Little Sable Point Lighthouse – at 5 p.m. Later, at sunset on the Silver Sands Resort Beach, Byard will give another spooky reading from her mystery novel. The event provides snacks and drinks and free mini prints of the raffle prize painting.

“I’m beyond excited to be in the first Author Showcase at Silver Sands Hotel,” Byard said. “Truly humbled. Everyone at Silver Sands is passionate about what they do, and they want to provide unique experiences for the community and their guests. I also love that the event is just down the road from the historic lighthouse that graces my novel’s cover!”

To learn more, please email info@silversands.net, visit silversandsmi.com, or call 231-873-3769. Byard’s website is wendybyardauthor.com. The hotel is located at 8446 W. Hazel Rd. in Mears, Michigan.

Hoeing ‘In the Garden’ Part 7: A Rock Solid Faith

By Janet Van Gunst Hasselbring The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

We’re hoeing “in the soil” of my mother Ellen’s life. and seeking to find the secret of this ordinary (as she would describe herself) woman’s extraordinary life, as she and my father pursued a living on a small farm (present-day Country Dairy) in the mid-1930s.

Henry and Ellen found God in the soil in which they toiled; however, there were rocks and stones in the soil, which also have spiritual significance and serve as a symbol of their solid faith and unwavering trust in their Lord.

As Henry readied the soil for planting each spring, the plow turned over stones, which, if large enough, needed to be removed before seeding. The stones were thrown on a pile by an old maple tree, which had survived the clearing of the land in the late 1800s, when Henry’s father, Andrew, purchased the 40 acres. The pile grew each year. It provided a sturdy foundation for games we devised and a stage for our imaginative adventures into the world of pioneers and Native Americans.*

Rocks, formed from the earth, are strong, durable, porous, and resistant to fire and weathering. They have many uses.

• Historically used to construct castles and fortresses, stone is widely used for building and decorative accents today.

• Catapults launched stones in medieval times, and the slingshot felled many a foe. David, a mere shepherd boy, killed the mighty Goliath with one pebble from his cache.

• Tools can be fashioned from stones; they can serve specific purposes, such as building blocks, paving blocks, gemstones, gravestones, grindstones and whetstones.

• Rocks, like flint, quartz and jasper, are used to create sparks, though the rock itself doesn’t cause the fire.

• Curling is a sport involving strategic movement and placement of heavy stones; in the game of backgammon, players move pieces, called stones, around a board.

• The British use the pound sterling as currency and often state their weight in “stones and pounds.”

• A peach’s pit or a fig’s seed is stonelike.

• Stones are often used as figures of speech – plans “set in stone,” are permanent; “stone” cold means utterly or entirely; a “stony” countenance describes a hard, cold expression; and “rock” solid means unshakable - the faith of my parents.

Finally, stones are used for building cairns and pillars. While these can serve the practical purpose of marking a hiking trail, they were used in scripture to commemorate God’s mighty acts: At Bethel, where Jacob encountered God, he used the stone on which he’d rested his head to erect a pillar and sanctify the spot; Abraham built a stone altar on which he was prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac; Moses built a cairn of 12 stones, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, before ascending Mt. Sinai; when God parted the Jordan River, allowing Joshua and the Israelites to cross, 12 men each picked up a stone from the middle of the river, which Joshua used to

build a cairn on the other side. “…remember God parted the river just as he parted the Red Sea for Moses before you.” (Joshua 4:24)

Cairns are also a fitting symbol of Ellen’s encounters with her Lord, as prayer by prayer, stone by stone, she learned to trust Him. (“Prayer and a Pile of Stones.” Oceana Echo, 8/22/2025).

As she walked and talked with her Lord “in the gardens” of her life, she offered prayers of praise, gratitude, penitence, intercession and requests; however, each time she reached a crossroads, when she was pushed to the brink of her understanding and the limits of her faith, when her life hung in the balance, when she learned to “wait on the Lord,” and accept His will instead of her own, a stone was added to the cairn.

The first stone was placed when she experienced the vulnerability of making a living off the land (see article referenced above). Another stone would be placed when she lost a daughter. We’ll explore that encounter next.

*When the maple tree was removed in 2008, family members fashioned a bench from its trunk. It sits by the farm store, where visitors sit and look over the fields the tree once sheltered. (The Mighty Maple Tree, Betsy Arkema)

For information about the memoir, "In the Garden," contact the author at janethasselbring23@gmail.com. It is also available at Birch & Blossom in Hart.

Crystal Valley United Methodist Church celebrates 150 years

Crystal Valley United Methodist will celebrate its 150th Anniversary with a whole day of worship, sharing and fun on Sunday, Sept. 9, starting at 9 a.m. at the church at 1547 E. Hammett Rd., Hart. Everyone of every age, from current and past members to friends and neighbors, is invited to attend.

“Special guests will be on hand to help with worship and remembering the church and the old general store,” Pastor David Pratt shared. “Besides lunch for everyone and outside games for the kids, we are looking forward to this special day, remembering the past and making plans for the next 50 years.”

The festivities will begin with a worship service at 9 a.m., followed by snacks, church history and a sharing time at 10 a.m. Lunch will be served from noon to 1 p.m., with more social time and outdoor games from 1-2 p.m. Tours of the church and the former “Brown Store” will be available.

Crystal Valley may be a small community located in north-central Oceana County, but the history made there is significant. The former church burned, making it necessary to build the current church building. The Brown Store near the church used to house the post office and a bank, and the original town hall was located in the lot across from the church. The much talked about Crystal Dam was built in 1936 as part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal program while the Crystal Park hosts numerous ball games and family gatherings all year long.

Many topics highlighted at recent Hart City meeting

By Claire Marshall

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

The August 26 Hart City Council meeting was Nichole Kleiner’s first as the interim city manager, replacing Rob Splane, who put in his resignation earlier this summer. At the time of the meeting, she was performing the job part-time while she completed prior commitments, with plans to transition to full-time following Labor Day. While Kleiner described the past few weeks as “a whirlwind,” she facilitated a streamlined council meeting, which lasted less than 40 minutes.

Despite the speedy meeting, Kleiner’s city manager report was thorough. She first extended her thanks to the council for the opportunity and the support she has received. She described the greatest challenge she is currently facing and working to solve as the budget. “It makes sense to me… I see the money… [I am] just trying to backtrack and figure out what project commitments were attached to those budget items… I’m working on understanding that so I can be more proficient.”

Kleiner also updated the council on several ongoing projects. The Hart Plaza project is on track to break ground in 2026, and the city is in the design planning phase - “What kind of trees, what flowerpots, stamping and colors - so it’s getting into the fun stuff.”

In regard to the ongoing issue surrounding the ownership of the water tower property and leasing the water tower to AT&T for antenna usage, Kleiner is making the issue a top priority and will continue to update the council as she works on a resolution. “I’ll keep that on my list.” In early July, Splane discussed with the council the discovery that the property the water tower sits on is not actually owned by the city, but rather, was accidentally sold to JSJ Corp. in 2003.

Following up on the discussion of the Redevelopment Ready Community certification, which the city lost back in February, and the work towards fulfilling the requirements set by the State of

Michigan, Kleiner identified five “outstanding items,” which will be updated in progress reports for subsequent council meetings. She did, however, tell council members that “this truly could take a little longer…it’s not that we’re not ready for it; we’ve just got to follow the procedures. So that’s going to be the hold-up.”

Kleiner also reported to the council an issue following the last TIFA meeting, where the TIFA board believed a bid for the Ceres Solutions Co-op Property on Main Street was met with a failed vote. This determination has been challenged by the bidder, which is now under legal review. Kleiner went on to say that “we don’t have a clear determination of what the outcome of that vote was,” and ascribes the initial confusion of the outcome to one board member abstaining and several others being absent. Council member Andrew Mullen said of the topic, “I don’t think the bid was understood by the general public” in regard to how the property was to be awarded based on the city’s vision for the property and not a general project bid. Council member Cat Burillo voiced that, once there is a resolution, she would like to see the property go back out for bids.

Finally, in the ongoing search for a permanent city manager, the recruitment package is in its final stages, with the city council deciding on a salary range for the position. Double Haul Solutions, the contracted recruitment firm, recommended a range of $110,000-$130,000 based on their area-wide salary survey. The Personnel and Finance Committee, after receiving Double Haul’s recommendations, proposed a range of $105,000-$115,000, based on candidate credentials. Mayor Amanda Klotz believed this range was a happy medium of the salary ranges of different West Michigan municipalities while also remaining “marketable.” This range was unanimously approved by the council. Double Haul Solutions said it hopes to provide a shortlist of candidates for the City of Hart by the end of September, with a permanent placement, ideally, by the end of October.

HCL marks successful Summer Reading program

Hesperia Community Library recently completed its annual Summer Reading program. The theme was “Color Our World,” which integrated art and color with the art of reading. The library had about 100 kids participating, 10 teenagers and around 50 adults. There were reading challenges and events related to the theme, such as adult craft nights, teen nights, story times, trivia and bingo nights and more. Summer Reading engages all ages to participate in the summer fun time at the library. The most popular events at the library this summer were the reptiles night, with live reptiles from REPCO Wildlife Encounters, and a “Color Our World” run, which featured a colorful run around the park. Organizers gave away many fun prizes to all ages, as well as Asa Elenbaas, age 8, who won a bigger prize drawing from Maranda at WOODTV8. The Hesperia Community Library has a Summer Reading program every year. Next summer's theme is “Dinosaurs,” so be on the lookout for more fun at the library!

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

obituarie S

Loren J Aslakson

August 23, 1955 ~ August 30, 2025

Loren Aslakson, age 70, passed away at his home on August 30, 2025, after a very ugly fight with cancer. Loren was born on August 23, 1955, in Muskegon, Mich., to Walter and Myrtle (Anderson) Aslakson.

Loren graduated from Holton High School in 1973. From there Loren was employed at Brunswick in Muskegon until his retirement in 2020, where he held the title of project engineer. That position created the advantages of travel. His most pleasurable one being a trip to Finland.

When not at work, Loren enjoyed hunting, listening to Blue Lake Public Radio jazz, golf and gardening. Loren was also quite gifted in his talents of woodworking. If he drew your name at Christmas, you would receive the most beautiful wooden handcrafted jewelry box. He was also a great source of information and trivia. He also enjoyed watching the Detroit Lions.

Loren was a very smart, funny and kind man. He was also a trickster. One year for Christmas he gave all of his nieces and nephews metal whistles. Towards the end of Loren's life, he was gracious towards all of his visitors and medical staff. He never complained of pain, with the exception of his "OW's."

Loren is survived by his loving sisters, Lorna (Michael) Glassner of Holton, Mich., and Shirley Rork of Hesperia, Mich.; and his devoted brothers, Scott (Barb) Aslakson of Hesperia, Mich., Garth (Jean) Aslakson of Cadillac, Mich., Steve (Kathy) Aslakson of New Era, Mich., Brian (Robin) Aslakson of Ludington, Mich., and Delos (Colleen) Aslakson of Hesperia, Mich.. Loren will also be remembered by his golfing buddies, Bucky Swenson and Nick Swenson, and his very good friend of 50+ years, Ron Nichols. Loren was preceded in death by his parents, Walter C. Aslakson and Myrtle I. Aslakson, his brother, Keith B. Aslakson and his good friend, Loren Dobe.

A funeral service honoring Loren's life will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Crandell Funeral Homes Inc., located in Fremont, Mich. Family and friends are invited to gather for a visitation from 10-11 a.m. at the funeral home, preceding the service. Loren will be laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery in Holton, Mich., with a graveside service at 12:30 p.m.

Arrangements have been graciously provided by Crandell Funeral Home of Fremont. As we come together to celebrate Loren's life, we hold dear the memories he leaves behind, comforted by the legacy of love and kindness he imparted upon all who knew him.

Notice of Public Hearing on Increasing Property Taxes

The Township Board of the OTTO TOWNSHIP will hold a public hearing on a proposed increase of 0.0869 mills in the operating tax millage rate to be levied on property in 2025.

The hearing will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 6:45 PM at the Township Hall, 5458 128th Avenue, Rothbury, MI 49452.

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 3.00% 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 2.92% 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: OTTO TOWNSHIP 5458 128th Avenue Rothbury, MI 49452 (231) 861-5342

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE,

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 300 W. 57th STREET, 15th FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10019

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

• On Sept. 8, 2012, a pair of Elvis Presley’s undershorts, which had been framed under glass, failed to sell at a British auction, though they’d been optimistically expected to go for more than $10,000.

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

CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT. 257 NOW HERE’S A TIP #12345_20250825 FOR RELEASE AUG. 25, 2025

By JoAnn Derson

STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20250825

FOR RELEASE AUG. 25, 2025

By Lucie Winborne

• On Sept. 9, 1942, a Japanese seaplane dropped incendiary bombs near Brookings, Oregon, in the first such attack on the U.S. mainland. The bombs were intended to start a forest fire, but fortunately caused little damage, due to wet conditions. Twenty years later, the pilot, Nobuo Fujita, visited Brookings in a gesture of reconciliation and friendship.

• On Sept. 10, 1920, F. Scott Fitzgerald published his first short story collection, “Flappers and Philosophers.”

In a copy he sent to editor and critic H.L. Mencken, Fitzgerald labeled four of the stories “worth reading,” one “amusing” and the remaining three “trash.”

• On Sept. 11, 1841, American portrait painter John Goffe Rand received a patent for the first collapsible tin paint tube. Until then, artists had to mix their own oil paints, storing leftover supplies in animal bladders tied with string. French artist PierreAuguste Renoir later declared that “without paints in tubes there would have been no Cézanne, no Monet, no Sisley or Pissarro, nothing of … Impressionism.”

• On Sept. 12, 1972, cowboy actor William Boyd, best known for his role as Hopalong Cassidy, died at the age of 77. He was the first cowboy actor to make the transition from movies to television, after more than 50 successful B-grade Westerns in which he was accompanied by his faithful and exceptionally intelligent horse, Topper,

• On Sept. 13, 1940, Benito Mussolini’s forces crossed the Libyan border into Egypt, achieving what “Il Duce” described as the glory Italy had been seeking for 300 years.

• On Sept. 14, 1975, Elizabeth Ann Seton (née Bayley), who was raised Episcopalian but later converted to Catholicism after being left a widow with five children, was canonized by Pope Paul VI at the Vatican in Rome, becoming one of the first Americanborn Catholic saints.

• Line your pots and pans with plain paper coffee filters to reduce scratches. Replace as needed.

• To keep clothing on the hanger in your closet, try the thin, velvet-lined ones. If you can’t find them, add strips of rubber shelf liner to the tops of your hangers, secured with a little duct tape or safety pins.

• If you have solar lights that stick in the ground, you’re going to love this: Grab one right out of the ground and flip a flower pot over, stick it into the hole in the bottom of the pot, and you’ve got a nice little table lamp. It’s great if the power goes out!

• Here’s an easy and healthy way to add moisture and fiber to your burgers or meatballs: oatmeal. Add instead of package bread crumbs, which can include way too much unnecessary sugar or oils. The oats keep the meat nice and moist.

• Fruit salad can be frozen in small portions in the wells of a muffin tin. Press down and include juices. When frozen, it can be removed and the resulting frozen cups put in a freezersafe bag for use in smoothies later.

• Tank tops or scarves can be stored on a hanger to which you’ve attached plastic shower rings. Simply thread the scarf or the tank straps through the ring. They make a nice presentation, and you can fit many on the same hanger.

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

By Lucie Winborne

• The average lipstick has 293 swipes.

• In Missouri, if you are under 21, you can be charged with illegal possession of alcohol without even taking a breathalyzer test if you happen to be found taking out empty alcohol cans and bottles in your trash.

• The first-ever Olympic Games was won by a chef.

• There is a fish (salema porgy) that when eaten causes severe hallucinations lasting up to 36 hours. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it served as a party drug during the Roman Empire.

• Warm and light colors appear closer, while cool and darker colors appear farther away.

• Chloroform was once touted as an asthma cure. Unfortunately, this would eventually result in the deaths of patients who had overdosed during an asthma attack.

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at least 50% of ladder-related accidents involved individuals carrying items while they climbed. Additionally, each year, more than 900,000 people receive emergency room treatment from ladder-related injuries.

• Ninety-five percent of the average car’s lifetime is spent being parked.

• Biologists have found that plants exhibit competitiveness among strangers of the same species, but are more accommodating toward their siblings.

• Left-handed people are more likely to use fountain pens.

• Tsutomu Yamaguchi was one lucky fellow. He was in Hiroshima for work when the first A-bomb hit, made it home to Nagasaki for the second, and lived to be 93.

• The eyes of the celestial eye goldfish are bigger than its stomach.

***

Thought for the Day: “It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.” — C.S. Lewis © 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.

MANY BLESSINGS Mkt

Our Mkt building is open as available

Oceana County

ANIMAL SHELTER

Looking for a tall, dark, and handsome gentleman to keep you company? Look no further! At 3–4 years old, I’m a Pitty mix who’s basically the canine version of your favorite rom-com hero. Super sweet, loyal and always down for a cuddle session, I take watching TV and relaxing very seriously (yes, I’ll even share the popcorn… okay, maybe just the dropped pieces). Kid-friendly? Oh, you bet. I’m amazing with kids of all ages! I’ve got the patience of a saint and the heart of a teddy bear. Whether it’s movie nights, playtime in the yard, or just being the world’s most oversized lapdog, I’m here for it all.

So if you’ve been searching for a binge-watching partner who doubles as a family favorite, let’s skip the trailer—I’m ready to star in your happily-ever-after. Love, Buster Brown

Buster Brown 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 Buster Brown

We feature homemade jam, pie filling, honey, maple syrup and craft items

Available: fall decor, pumpkins, new potatoes, garlic and many varieties of winter squash

Self-serve open 24/7 for fresh produce Located 1/2 mile E. of Crystal Valley on Madison Rd. Please call to confirm product or to place orders (231) 873-4844 • Jill Whitaker

Details of The H-Art Project - Community Spirit Intiative

The following are details from the application for The H-Art Project – Community Spirit Initiative, which was recently chosen as a finalist for the Michigan Municipal League's 2025 Community Excellence Award. (The full annoucement of the finalists is on page 1 of this week's Echo).

Project Description

In just over three years, The H-Art Project has grown from a small one-on-one discussion to an effort backed by hundreds of volunteers working together to make this community special through a new focus on art, culture and diversity. Hart is a rural agricultural town with a diverse population, and the H-Art Project has made significant strides in developing a communal sense of place. In 2022, the group established a goal of beautifying Hart and enhancing local cultural opportunities through an ambitious initiative of bringing 25 works of art to Hart by 2025. During this short time, we have seen a quiet segment of our population engage in our community, learning that each member of our community has a place here. The initiative continues to bring our small town together in new ways that are both exciting and heartwarming.

Is your project easy to replicate in other communities (clear in its impact and execution for other communities)?

Yes. The H-Art Project promotes culture, diversity and inclusiveness, three pillars of community engagement. We believe that a few people with a new idea and some fresh enthusiasm can be duplicated in any community that would like to organically build their community spirit.

What is the Community Wealth Impact (based on one or more of the categories you selected) of your project?

Visitors frequently see rural Michigan cities as “Hallmark” towns. While communities can be tight-knit and lifestyles can be relaxed, cultural unities are quickly lost when economic focus frequently keys in on infrastruc-

ture and sustainability needs. This leads to a loss of opportunity for significant portions of our population that don’t have the means or desire to travel. Bringing culture to enrich the lives of local residents, their children and grandchildren has (been) shown to improve overall physical and mental health and contributes to lifelong learning opportunities. The auxiliary benefit of this initiative is the financial security and sustainability that comes with drawing new and diverse groups of tourists that have an interest in seeking culture while traveling.

Describe the creativity and originality of your project.

What began as a one-onone conversation between the mayor and the city manager quickly grew into a volunteer force that would go on to change the sleepy community of Hart into a growth center in Oceana County, Michigan. The H-Art Project group has done a lot in a short time to beautify our city through a myriad of efforts, including art, culture, and entertainment. From popup concerts in alleys to volunteer flower planting days, we are seeing new involvement in our town from diverse community members who now

seem to feel a sense of place. The community spirit that has bloomed from this effort is very palpable. Many local stakeholders, as well as visitors to our town, have recently noticed an energy that is new and infectious. Aside from the 25 by 25 art initiative, we are seeing strong economic development, including growth in housing, new business development, and a secondary education entity renovating a vacant building downtown. This past winter, during our Winterfest soup competition, many attendees remarked that our town feels like a “Hallmark movie.” The creativity of establishing the Tin-Man sculpture as the first large installation was an educational opportunity due to the Tin-Man’s historical representation of a logger. This tells our youth the story of how deforestation is what drove our local economy in the late 1800s and led to the creation of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, just adjacent to Hart. The Tin Man was also used as a political figure in the early 1900s as a representation of the industrial growth in the country and how new machines could be used to replace older agricultural standards that were represented by the scarecrow figure. Future project

goals include developing more education through art on how our agriculture-based area closely connects with global needs and how its sustainability is key to the future of our society. Other new and coming works of art will continue to build on our community’s agricultural heritage as well as its historical integration with area Native American Indians and strong migrant populations that make our small city quite a melting pot of different backgrounds. Our Historic District Museum includes one of the largest Native American Indian Artifact collections in the country. As new ideas are created, we look to continue to use the creativity and passion of our volunteers to organically continue our efforts. While we celebrate the graduation of our 25 by 2025 initiative, we look forward to seeing the momentum continue… all due to the H-Art Project!

OCCOA matters brought before Board of Commissioners

By Claire Marshall

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

The Oceana County Council on Aging (OCCOA) and My Friends House adult day services were, once again, the subject of public comment for a local governmental board.

Following her participation at August 26th’s OCCOA Board meeting, Mary Sloan voiced her dissatisfaction with the reception she received to the Oceana County Board of Commissioners. “I am coming to you as a board, because I really do not know what to do. I believe, as commissioners, you need to be aware and involved in what is happening over there at the Council on Aging.” Sloan said, and requested to know how this issue could be put on future board meeting agendas for further discussion.

Following Sloan’s remarks, Lori Suttner of the OCCOA Board took to public comment to reiterate to the commissioners the statement provided previously by Executive Director Stephanie Moore: “The Oceana County Council on Aging does not comment on person-

nel matters. All services provided by the agency, including Our Friends House, will continue without interruption, ensuring seniors in Oceana County receive the highest quality care delivered with compassion.” Suttner also told the Board of Commissioners that “we [are] dealing with the situation.”

The OCCOA was added to the agenda for the meeting by Board Chair Robert Walker to approve a grant for the organization awarded by the Department of Transportation. This grant is financed through funds leftover from the 2025 annual budget that was earmarked for “specialized purposes.”

Also on the agenda was the discussion and approval for a bid to replace the HVAC units at the County Services Building, which was awarded to Anderson Mechanical for $61,987.

Anderson Mechanical was chosen, as they are the current HVAC service providers, and their quote included a warranty. Commissioner Joel McCormick voiced his want for the board to approach the competing bidder to see if they’d offer a quote that included a warranty. Walker said this was unnecessary and inappropriate to ask of the provider, as if they wanted to offer a warranty, they’d have put one in the original bid. The motion passed 4-1, with McCormick as the dissenting vote.

The board also decided on the sale of a forklift and cardboard bailer, formerly used by the transfer station. The forklift will be sold through CAT, with a consignment rate of 10%. While CAT originally planned to price the forklift at $8,000 due to a deteriorated tire, the board will request to CAT that the sale price

be raised to $12,000 at the recommendation of McCormick. The bailer will be sold to a company that specializes in the restoration of such equipment. Both motions were passed unanimously.

During the Department Head Reports before the adjournment of the meeting, Walker discussed his and Commissioner Paul Erickson’s recent trip to the District 10 Health Department meeting. He commended the work that the department does, especially considering that they are the state’s largest geographical health department, and that their satisfactory management was a testament to its director and staff.

He also spoke about

how the department is actively working to cut their budget in alignment with expectations from the state and federal governments. “Our district and health department (have) done everything they could do to cut expenses. And the other [health departments] are looking for all the rest of us to help them. And they have not cut expenses.”

Erickson spoke of the importance of the District 10 Health Department meetings, “There’s [20] county commissioners in the meeting, so we exchange a lot of ideas… There are a lot of ideas going around the table at those meetings.”

The next Board of Commissioners meeting is Thursday, Sept. 11, at

a.m.

11:30

in the boardroom of the Oceana County Building, 100 S. State St. in Hart.

Hart Commons planting

Veteran memorial

SPORTS

Pirates score big in opening victory at Lake City

Hart dominated Lake City in Thursday night’s season opener, 38-6, the Pirates’ third straight season winning their first game.

It was a command performance from the Pirates, who ripped off the game’s first 38 points. The Trojans did not get on the board until the contest was very much in hand.

Hart showed off a big-play offensive attack, paced by Halen Boos’ 141 rushing yards and three touchdowns on only nine carries. Kyle Greiner added 95 yards and two scores on the ground, and Eddie Martinez also got in the end zone. In all, Hart gained 310 rushing yards.

The Pirate offensive line played a big role in the running game’s success, with Adrian Lara, Abdel Lopez, Hollis Rockwell IV, Carlos Salazar, Blake Helenhouse, Aiden Cull, Wyatt Johnson and Jackson Bishop earning shout-outs from the Hart coaching staff.

Hart was also excellent defensively, allowing only 209 offensive yards to Lake City. Logan Jorissen provided the big highlight on that side of the ball, scooping up a Trojan fumble and taking it to the end zone. It was the first game calling the defensive signals for new coordinator Morgan Wansten, and his charges were impressive, with 17 different players recording at least one tackle.

Greiner led the defense with 10 takedowns and a forced fumble, and Haegan Hansen added nine tackles and his own forced fumble. Boos also had nine takedowns. Kolton Rock-

well had two sacks. Aiden Cull, Logan Jorissen, Keaghan Monroe and Hollis Rockwell IV earned mention for their work up front.

Even the special teams unit was strong, as kicker Rivaldo Gonzalez booted a pair of touchbacks. The Pirates’ coverage unit also recovered a fumbled punt return in the game.

Shelby dominates White Cloud in 57-0 blowout

Shelby earned a season-opening

Football results continued on page 6

Hesperia spikes rival Holton, earns 2nd straight win

By Andy Roberts The Oceana

HESPERIA — Hesperia volleyball coach Erin Redinger-Rottier has enjoyed a dream start to her first season leading the bench. First the Panthers defeated county foe Walkerville last Thursday, and Tuesday night they opened West Michigan Conference Rivers action with a 25-19, 25-19, 25-15 win over rival Holton.

“I came in and saw them last year, and I knew what I wanted to improve upon that would make them better,” Redinger-Rottier said. “I set the standard three weeks ago, and they rose to the occasion.”

The Panthers (2-0, 1-0 WMC Rivers) didn’t take very long to take command of each of the three games. The third was the only game of the three that was in much doubt after the early points were scored. Down early, Hesperia went on a long scoring run that started just prior to the midpoint of the game, grabbing a lead and extending it to 19-10 to all but secure victory.

In fact, about the only thing that slowed Hesperia down all night was excessive service errors. Redinger-Rottier was bemused by the team’s struggles in that department, saying they served about 90% of their attempts into play against Walkerville.

“Today was a little shocking to me,” Redinger-Rottier said. “I think they felt like this was a

• Andy Roberts/Echo

tougher opponent. They wanted to serve more aces versus just smart serves. The momentum in between is something we’ve worked on, letting the last mistake go and worrying about the next play.”

Hesperia, like many smaller schools, isn’t blessed with an army of very tall girls who can leap over the net, but what the Panthers do have is many girls who are effective in getting the ball over

• Andy Roberts/Echo

HART — Hart had a few chances, but couldn’t apply sustained pressure on Whitehall for much of Wednesday’s West Michigan Conference game, and that led to a 2-0 defeat.

The Pirates (1-4-1, 1-2 WMC) played Whitehall to a standstill on the scoreboard the first 30 minutes, but it was the Vikings who had more scoring

HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE

Echo Community Contributor

By Andy Roberts

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

Hart’s Haegan Hansen (34) takes down a Lake City ball carrier - and teammate Kyle Greiner - during last Thursday’s game at Lake City. The Pirates dominated the game, earning a 38-6 win. • Jill Tanis/Courtesy Photo

Hart’s Kyle Greiner winds up to throw a pass over Lake City’s Drake Swanson (11) during last Thursday’s game. Hart earned a season-opening 38-6 victory.

• Jill Tanis/Courtesy Photo

Hesperia’s Emma Evans tries to beat Holton’s Megan Griffin on a play at the net during Tuesday’s WMC Rivers match at Hesperia. The Panthers won, 3-0.

Hart keeper Miguel Escamilla (center, in air) leaps to corral the ball and prevent Whitehall’s Carter Burrous from making a play on it during Wednesday’s WMC game at Hart. Hart teammate Emiliano Escamilla is also in on the play. The Pirates lost, 2-0.

Pentwater runners open strong in WMD opener

By Andy Roberts The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

With four runners on each team, the Pentwater Falcons couldn’t score as a team, but they got their West Michigan D League season off to a strong start Wednesday at the Big Rapids Crossroads jamboree,

The girls’ race featured a strong effort from Bailey Case, who led most of the way before finishing in second place, posting a time of 23:11.2. Lily Smith finished 18th in a time of 27:11.7, followed closely by Lauren Davis in 21st with a time of 27:39.2. Maggie Jorissen set a new personal best time of 35:30.4 to finish 31st.

Wyatt Roberts paced the Falcon boys in a time of 21:57.2, finishing 19th. Bode Powell and Ben Roberson paced each other throughout the race before Powell pulled away

Pentwater’s girls cross-country team celebrates a solid showing at Wednesday’s conference-opening jamboree at Big Rapids Crossroads. • Courtesy Photo

to finish 35th in a time of 24:17.97; Roberson ended up 36th with a time of 24:23.4. Michael Smith battled hip pain and finished the race with a time of 31:25.8.

“We are incredibly proud of this team,” Pentwater coach Erika Fatura said. “Reporting times and places only scratches the surface of what makes them ex-

traordinary. Their grit, the unwavering support of their teammates, and their positive attitudes truly put them in first place across the board. It’s the Falcon way.”

Grace Riggs was Walkerville’s lone finisher in the conference-opening race, earning a time of 35:58.5 to take 32nd in the girls’ race.

Football results

continued from page 10

victory over White Cloud for the second year in a row Friday night, dominating the Indians in a 57-0 blowout on the road.

Jaylin Henderson proved capable of explosive plays, returning not one, but two punts for touchdowns. He also hit Isaac Garcia for a 58-yard touchdown through the air. Running back Brody Fessenden scored a trio of touchdowns on the ground and ran for 89 yards on only six carries.

Garcia threw two touchdowns to Trevor Weiss as part of a terrific performance under center. Weiss caught five passes in all for 80 yards.

On defense, Cam Smith had 10 tackles to lead the team, with Max Hogstrom chipping in eight. Weiss picked off a pass, and Chance Oakes recovered a fumble forced by Henderson to aid in the shutout.

“After getting off to a slow start in the first four minutes of the game, the offense did get rolling,” Shelby coach Phil Fortier said. “I thought our defense was really good. The offensive line - Ethan Viterna, Axel Moritz, Jerry Ross, Colin Fenton, and Casey Lamblin - did a great job opening holes for Brody and, outside of a couple mistakes, protected really well. It was a great team victory.”

Hesperia drops opener at Farwell, 42-21

The Hesperia Panthers fell to Farwell in last Thursday’s season-opening contest, 42-21.

Three different Panthers reached the end zone in the defeat: Dominic Rivera, Malakai Sellers and Ryan Fuentes.

Rivera ran for 116 yards in a strong effort, but the Panthers were plagued by turnovers. The Eagle defense picked off Hesperia quarterback Tucker Bolles three times in the game, though Bolles also managed 138 yards in the air, including a scoring pass to Sellers.

Noah Walker paced the Hesperia defense with eight tackles, and Zach Loughridge had both a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Hart defeat

chances, and eventually they were able to cash one in late in the first half. The fact that it was an unlikely goal - Ryan Bowen managed to fire one in from a tough angle - was cold comfort.

“It just comes down to conditioning and not being able to sustain that,” Hart coach Jonah Kelley said. “We had some really good runs for the first five or six minutes of the game, and then we just fell off a cliff. We can’t be putting our heads down and walking back. We’ve got to go win the ball back and be more competitive.

“It was definitely a kick in the gut. We weren’t getting a lot of pressure, so we had to keep the scoreboard clean if we wanted the chance to stay in this, and we didn’t do that.”

Hart didn’t have much more luck in the second half. While there were a couple of runs at the net, the ball control simply wasn’t there the way it needed to be. It likely didn’t help that Whitehall had two veteran seniors playing on the back end of its defense.

The second goal of the game came off a transition opportunity when Hart was un-

able to get the ball into the final 20 yards of the Whitehall end for a shot.

Quickly, the Vikings fed leading scorer Carter Burrous, who beat keeper Miguel Escamilla for a goal.

The result was unfortunate for Escamilla, who played a strong game, often making aggressive plays on the ball to keep Whitehall from getting a clear shot at the net. Twice he seized the ball out of the air to prevent a header that might have gone in.

“He’s been doing that all year,” Kelley said of his keeper. “He’s been playing out of his mind all season. We’ve got to do something to free him up a little bit more. You don’t want your goalie touching the ball as much as he has

been.”

The Pirates have only one WMC opponent in the next week - Manistee - and two non-league games. That creates a lot of opportunity for growth, and for practicing what Kelley is preaching about resilience, a quality that up to Wednesday he felt his team was exhibiting quite well.

“We’ve been taking some steps in the right direction for the last few weeks,” Kelley said. “We took a step backwards today. We definitely don’t want to go into practice tomorrow saying we haven’t been doing some things right, because we definitely have, but we’ve got to get the train going in the right direction.”

Hesperia earns win

continued from page 10

it. Setter Emily McCallum did well to distribute the ball to her teammates at the net throughout the evening, keeping the Red Devils from being able to key in on any one player. The coach also credited McCallum with setting up her attackers by putting them in position to emphasize their strengths.

To the degree the Panthers did feed an attacker over the rest, that player was probably Sarissa Conkle, who seemed to be in the middle of many of their most effective runs of play.

“She’s got a big vertical, and she likes to swing at the ball,” Redinger-Rottier said of Conkle. “We’ve been really working on her. She went from a middle hitter to an outside, so (it’s been about) timing and keeping that ball out in front of her so that she can use the advantage of her vertical to put that ball down wherever she wants.”

The Panthers still need to show improvement in pressure situations, Redinger-Rottier said, but she’s enjoying their early-season success, and so, she noted, was a solid and loud crowd.

“I think the kids are really enjoying it,” Redinger-Rottier said. “I think it’s fun. I feel like the community’s really enjoying it. I thought our student section was awesome tonight.”

Hart’s Adriel Belmares races down the field while being pursued by Whitehall’s Mason Kotecki during Wednesday’s game at Hart. • Andy Roberts/Echo

Hart’s Halen Boos (1) is taken down by a Lake City tackler during last Thursday’s game. Boos wasn’t tackled much, rushing for 141 yards and 3 scores in the Pirates’ big win. • Jill Tanis/Courtesy Photo

Hesperia’s Sarissa Conkle lines up an attack during Tuesday’s WMC Rivers-opening match against rival Holton. The Panthers won, 3-0. • Andy Roberts/Echo

Reflections of our community

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Beautiful Labor Day greets Community Walk

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — The White Lake Labor Day Community Walk took place for the 19th time Monday, commemorating Labor Day with an event modeled after the popular Mackinac Bridge Walk that takes place the same day. That popular event drew about 33,000, according to the State of Michigan.

White Lake's wasn't quite that big, with several dozen participating, but the spirit was there. As they have in the past, the two White Lake mayors - Whitehall's Steven Salter and Montague's Tom Lohman - began the event with remarks welcoming locals and visitors. The traditional walk begins at the Hart-Montague Trail State Park trailhead and crosses the walking bridge over to the White Lake Chamber & Visitor's Bureau building in Whitehall. Healthy snacks and water were served.

Members of the White Lake ukulele club added a new tradition to the walk last year with an original composition, "Bridge Walking," and the song was performed again this year. Several participants brought signs supporting the laborers who keep the U.S. economy moving and for whom the day is dedicated.

mayor Tom Lohman (far above, in blue) and Whitehall mayor Steven Salter greet walkers as the Labor Day Community Walk ends Monday. Members of the White Lake Ukulele Club performed the song "Bridge Walking" for the 2nd year in a row.

Montague mayor Tom Lohman (far above, in blue) and Whitehall mayor Steven Salter greet walkers as the Labor Day Community Walk ends Monday. Members of the White Lake Ukulele Club performed the song "Bridge Walking" for the 2nd year in a row.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

Bloomquists' music tells, creates great stories

By Jerry Mattson White Lake Mirror Contributor

Many local readers have no doubt been to concerts featuring Ruth and Max Bloomquist. She writes most of what they sing, and he is the backup singer. Ruth has written many memorable songs featuring white pine and porcupine, a bicycle ride or something seen in her rear-view mirror. Song writers, and other writers, are often listening or watching for a tidbit they can develop into a song or story.

In 1976, Ruth answered the call for a folk singer to entertain a group of golfers on a boat cruise from Holland to

Saugatuck and back. She brought Max, her boyfriend at the time, along. At some point, a man came forward and asked if she could sing “The Red River Valley,” a song that was special to him. She thought that odd, since he had a bit of a foreign accent.

He explained he was in the Italian Resistance during World War II, fight-

Bloomquist music

Bloomquist music continued on page 2

continued on page 2

Bloomquist music continued on page 2

Ruth and Max Bloomquist holding their CD “On a Canvas Painted Blue,” which includes the song “Sing Me the Red River Valley."

• Jerry Mattson/Mirror

A Farmall family's visit to the big show

By Jerry Mattson White Lake Mirror Contributor

BUCKLEY — Over 1,000 old tractors built between 1885 and 1976, powered by steam, propane and other fuels, converged on the 250-acre site of the Buckley Old Engine Club for its 58th annual show Aug. 14–17. Among these were a group of Farmall tractors owned by members of the Bosch family.

Merle Bosch, 90, started this family trend when his dad, Gerrit, bought a new Farmall Cub, with manure spreader, in 1948. The son spent many hours on the Cub as a young boy. The restored Cub is still owned by the

family. At its introduction in 1947, the Cub was advertised as selling for $545, which was a lot of money over 75 years ago.

family. At its introduction in 1947, the Cub was advertised as selling for $545, which was a lot of money over 75 years ago. At this show, Merle drove a larger 1953 Farmall Super H in the parades. Merle and his wife, Ginny, both in their 90s, still attend the show, but need some assistance getting around.

At this show, Merle drove a larger 1953 Farmall Super H in the parades. Merle and his wife, Ginny, both in their 90s, still attend the show, but need some assistance getting around.

Their daughter, Brenda, married to Chuck Hicks, is on hand to coordinate

Farmall family

Farmall family continued on page 2

continued on page 2

Three generations of the Farmall

Three generations of the Farmall family: Ginny and Merle Bosch, their daughter, Brenda Hicks and her daughter Michaela.

• Jerry Mattson/Mirror

Above, a large group of local residents and visitors cross the walking bridge between Whitehall and Montague during Monday's Labor Day Community Walk. A great view of the lake under blue skies (below) greeted the walkers.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

Montague

family: Ginny and Merle Bosch, their daughter, Brenda Hicks and her daughter Michaela.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

Suicide prevention workshop at library

Everyone is invited to White Lake Community Library Thursday, Sept. 11, 5:30-7 p.m. for an important QPR Suicide Prevention Skills Training presented by HealthWest, teaching how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, ask the right questions, and connect

someone to the help they need.

Learn the Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) method - three simple steps that can help someone in crisis. Kids' activities and snacks will be available in a separate space. Registration at wlclib.org/calendar.

Bloomquist music

ing in Italy with soldiers from other countries, including American GIs. At night, they dug foxholes, staying close to those from the same country.

The Americans were in the far back. One GI had a guitar and would play and sing. In the still night air, his voice carried a long way. A favorite was the one about a cowboy “who loved her so true”.

Thirty years later, Ruth and Max had a gig with the Oat Bran Boys. The guys sang “The Red River Valley.” Memories of the encounter with the Italian “all came flooding back,” Ruth said.

After that, she wrote “Sing Me the Red River Valley.” The lyrics include:

I was singing in a bar, and he put money in my jar

And asked if I could play for him a love song

There was one he had in mind of a cowboy and his bride

That he heard the first time on the wind

Won’t you sing me

“The Red River Valley”

It brings back memories of a time that has gone by

Won’t you sing it so sweetly, just as I remember

When lying on the ground near my hole

In a place far away long ago yet yesterday

When we were bold and young it made a difference

There was blood and there was fear alone at night there were tears

And a voice that could be heard in the distance

Won’t you sing me

“The Red River Valley?”

It brings back memories of a time that has gone by

Won’t you sing it so sweetly, just as I remember

So for a moment friends long gone will seem alive

From this valley they say you are going I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile

For they say you are taking the sunshine

That has brightened our pathway a while

Come and sit by my side if you love me

Do not hasten to bid me adieu

But remember the Red River Valley

And the cowboy who loves you so true.

Won’t you sing me

“The Red River Valley?”

This song, including remarks on how it came to be, has become a part of the Bloomquists’ concerts. It is appreciated by many, especially military veterans and those who had military family members. A singer knows when a piece connects with people; “You can tell,” she said.

In 2018, the Bloomquists were in concert at the Farmer’s Market in Grand Haven. Before the event, a woman named Jill approached Ruth and asked if they were going to do “Sing Me The Red River Valley.”

Ruth said, “Sure, we can do that.”

Jill said, “Good. My sister needs to hear it because that’s our Uncle Johnny.”

“Who’s your Uncle Johnny?"

“The guy you sing about in the song. He carried a guitar and a mandolin around Italy while serving in WWII.”

Ruth said, “It was then the hairs on my arms stood up. It was sort of a Twilight Zone moment.”

Before joining the army, Johnny (John Van Zwieten) had a country band in Chicago, the Circle J Ranch, and “The Red River Valley” was their theme song. He was

killed in 1944. Jill hopes one day a relative of the Italian who inspired the song may hear it and make the connection.

“That would make a great ending to our family story,” she said.

The Bloomquists see Jill from time to time, a friendship created by the song. Jill told Ruth, “You wrote an amazing song,”

While Ruth has stories to tell about her songs, Max has a story about his upright bass. He was looking for a used one in the 1990s when a newspaper want ad listed one for sale in North Muskegon.

“Even though it had only three strings, a bent nail for one string peg and needed other repairs, I bought it,” Max said.

The bass is a Kay student model made in 1941.

Farmall family

their needs. Brenda controlled the show’s north entry gate for the first time this year, but other family members are there to help, including her daughter Michaela. For the past 15 years, Brenda worked in the Tractor Shack, where duties included assigning parking spots for all the tractors.

“Three generations of our family have been at the Buckley show the past 20 years,” said Michaela. “We’re a close family because of the tractors.”

This show is important to the family.

“When I was in the Navy, I got a furlough so I would not miss this show,” she said.

“It’s in our blood,” said Brenda.

Chuck and Brenda, of New Era, brought a 1952 Super M and a 1958 International model British 450 to the show. They were parked under a canopy with four other tractors, including a 1949 W9 and an International model KB2 pickup. All were painted the same red color.

see than tractors. Old cars, stationary engines, vintage farm tools and garden tractors are among the other attractions. The show is wellrun and a pleasure to visit. Parking in a large field is controlled by The Posse, volunteers on horseback from Osceola County. Rides from the field to the event and back are provided, with trailers holding about 30 people. The $10 entry fee makes this event a real bargain. All of this keeps entrants and spectators returning year after year. continued from page 1

“My bass is older than I am,” he said.

Another musician repaired it to like-new condition. Max said he paid as much for the repair as he did when he bought it, "but it was still a good deal.”

Ruth and Max will be performing at The Playhouse at White Lake Nov. 15 with the Blue Water Ramblers. They will be singing some of the 200 songs Ruth has written. Ruth will be strumming guitar and singing while Max adds harmony while playing his old bass.

For more information, visit their website: www.ruthbloomquist. com.

“The W9 was Merle’s Uncle Bill Heck’s. He bought it new. It is a family heirloom,” said Brenda.

The British tractor is a rare machine. The 450 was built in Doncaster, England from 1958-70.

“Only 40 were ever shipped to the U. S. and now only four are known to exist,” Brenda said.

This one was brought north from Georgia as a complete tractor, and was disassembled prior to restoration. That was as far as the project went. Lloyd McClellan, of Shelby, heard it was for sale and bought it. During the restoration, due to difficulty in find-

ing British parts, he was forced to substitute some U. S. ones. It was a two-year project completing the tractor for his wife.

Later, after she died, he wanted it to go to a female who would like it as much as his wife did. Brenda qualified, and she bought it in 2024.

This family enjoys restoring, showing and driving their 11 red tractors. Two more are being restored. With room in the barn, who knows what the final count will be?

At the Buckley show, there is much more to

Merle Bosch drives one of his beloved Farmall tractors in a parade during the Buckley Old Engine Show in August. • Jerry Mattson/Mirror

Saturday, Sept. 6

Lakeshore Golden Cards and Collectibles presents The Great Card Hunt, starting at 9 a.m. Over 35 cards will be scattered around Montague and Whitehall; stop into the shopwhere the Small Town Card Show is also taking place - for clues to where each may be hidden.

Smitten performs @ Red Rooster Tavern, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 7

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

Monday, Sept. 8

Family Storytime @ White Lake Community Library, 9:30 a.m. Open

Community Calendar

to kids of all ages and their caregivers.

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

Tuesday, Sept. 9

Baby Time @ White Lake Community Library, 9:30 a.m. Stories, songs and play time. Intended for babies ages 0-2 and their caregivers.

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

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

Wednesday, Sept. 10

Medicare 101 @ White Lake Community Library, 1 p.m. Senior Resources of West Michigan hosts an informational session for those on

Medicare, soon to be on Medicare or navigating health care decisions for a relative. Registration appreciated at wlclib.org/calendar.

Whitehall District Schools hosts an informational meeting on the 2025 bond proposal election @ Whitehall High School, 6 p.m.

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

Thursday, Sept. 11

Join the Muskegon Conservation District for a stewardship day @ Goodrich Park, 8:30 a.m. Volunteers will remove invasive and unwanted plants and replace them with native species. Gloves, tools and sun and

bug protection provided.

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

The Thorntons perform @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 12

Play & Learn @ White Lake Community Library, 9:30 a.m. Stories, songs and playtime for kids 5 and under and their caregivers.

Afternoon Hang @ White Lake Commuinty Library, 2 p.m. Tweens 10 and up are invited to play video games, do crafts, eat snacks or just hang out!

Echoes of History: Sinking sand and landslides

By Barbara Bedau Brow Volunteer Contributor

One of the most curious phenomena of the lake shore was noticed at the foot of White Lake where last year a towering sand hill occupied the region between the old Green Mill and the woods of Sylvan Beach.

According to an article that appeared in the local newspaper July 19, 1894, all of a sudden, the hill began to sink away and in the space of a few hours was entirely lost to sight. Now a great pool of water marks the spot where it formerly reared itself to a great height. What became of the immense mountain of sand is a mystery.

The water in White Lake near that point is deeper than at any other place on the lake, sounding about 40 feet. It is thought that the weight of the hill caused the submarine banks to give way, and the big sand dune sank into the waters much as the big sink-holes sometime form. The suddenness of the hill’s departure was certainly a most wonderous affair.

On Wednesday afternoon, April 23, 1902, about 12 noon, a landslide occurred, about 200 feet north of the Sylvan Beach landing. The land for some distance from what was formerly the

beach is now covered by about 30 feet of water.

Iva Russell’s boat house containing the launch Amelia, located near where the slide first began was drawn into the whirlpool. When the water became quiet it was found that both boat house and launch were under 30 feet of water and were filled with sand.

Captain Lysaght’s lifesaving crew was summoned and at once began raising the boat. They made good progress, having one end out of the water. The boat house was built during the previous summer and was valued at $1,000. The launch Amelia was purchased the previous season for $8,000.

Iva Russell, having arrived at Sylvan Beach a few days before, was superintending the work of getting the boat into readiness to be shipped to a New York resort where the Russell family planned to spend the summer. Mr. Russell and the workmen had just quit working in the boat house and were but a short distance from the boat house when it began to sink.

The article went on to say that a landslide occurred some distance north of the present one about two years prior. It is but a short distance at the point from White Lake and Lake Michigan. A review of the local papers

did not produce any coverage of this incident. Perhaps they were referring to the incident in 1894, and just lost track of time.

Years ago, high hills were between the two bodies of water, but now most of them have sunk and a person can see across the stretch of land.

In addition to sinking sand and landslides, blowouts have been known to occur. Blowouts are sandy bowl-like depressions in a sand dune caused by the removal of sediments by wind. They tend to form when the wind erodes into patches of bare sand where

there has been reduction or damage to vegetation.

There are several ways to preserve sand dunes, including planting native vegetation to help trap sand and stabilize sediments, and beach nourishment, which adds sand to eroded dunes and beaches to help restore their height and width. This was often done with the sand that was dredged out of the channel in years past. Preservation can also be accomplished by limiting human activity and limiting access to dunes by building paths and walkovers to prevent trampling of the area.

See a panel discussion on local water resources

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

West Michigan’s rivers, lakes, and wetlands have shaped our communities for centuries—driving industry, recreation, and growth while providing vital habitats and cultural touchstones. But as our region develops, how do we balance progress with protecting the natural resources we treasure?

Visit White Lake Community Library Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 5:30-7 p.m. for a moderated panel discussion featuring local and regional experts including Jill Ryan of Freshwater Future, Rick Rediske, Emeritus Professor at GVSU's Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI), and Erick Elgin of MSU Extension. We’ll also hear from Ravenna High School’s

FFA Stream Team, who with guidance from Grand Valley State University’s Annis Water Resources Institute, is helping protect Crockery Creek. Together, these speakers will explore the history, challenges, and opportunities at the intersection of waterways and development, and answer your questions during an audience Q&A.

This event is free and open to all. Registration appreciated at wlclib.org/ calendar.

This program is the first in a series of three in partnership with Muskegon Area District and Hackley Libraries, as well as WGVU, called "Shared Waters." Funding provided by The Community Foundation for Muskegon County. More information on the series can be found at wgvu.org/community-conversation.

This program is also part of our NEA Big Read Lakeshore Initiative, which is an annual fall community read and has been inspired by this year's selected books: I Cheerfully Refuse, by Leif Enger; A Wish in the Dark, by Christina Soontornvat, and Journey, by Aaron

Becker. Find out about the many programs happening across the Lakeshore at bit.ly/wlclbigread2025.

FUN FACT: There are five different White Lakes in Michigan, but our White Lake is the biggest and most well-known of them. This amazing natural resource covers 2,571 acres, and is 71 feet deep at its lowest point. Though once listed as an Area of Concern due to pollution, it was delisted in 2014 after years of remediation and restoration work.

Third Annual Good Neighbor Day Dinner Sept. 25

Pull up a chair, neighbor! Join us Thursday, Sept. 25, from 6–8 p.m. on Slocum Street (next to The Playhouse at White Lake) for the 3rd Annual Good Neighbor Day One-Long-Table Dinner hosted by the library and funded through community donations.

With help from the City of Whitehall, The Playhouse at White Lake, Plum & Proper Dishes, and Lebanon Lutheran Church, we’re bringing everyone together for a free, family-style feast catered by Hanson Hill Water-

front Grill. It's the perfect way to connect with familiar faces and meet new ones, all around one shared table under the evening sky.

While the dinner is free to participants, we welcome donations at the event or online through our website to help keep this tradition going strong next year.

Registration opens Thursday, Sept. 11, and seats are limited. Plan to reserve your spot by visiting wlclib.org/ calendar or calling 231-894-9531 on Thursday.

DeMumbrum

This undated photo shows the end of White Lake where the sand hill might have been prior to the 1902 landslides. It's now the hollowed-out area. • Courtesy Photo

Lake Mirror Lake Mirror

NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

'Cats display winning mentality despite loss

Montague battles vs. FHE before Hawks' late scoring drive

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — Physically, not much separated Montague and Forest Hills Eastern in their season-opening tussle Thursday night. The difference, as you might expect given the teams' relative experience level with their coaches, was in execution.

The Wildcats, in their first game under Phil Koops, played very hard and fought for 48 minutes, but some key penalties and a couple of clutch plays by the Hawks on a huge fourth-quarter drive proved to be the difference in a 26-14 FHE win.

The Hawks were also in their first game under a new head coach, Tim McGee, though McGee had previously been an assistant, so there was more continuity on their sideline.

Montague struggled with pre-snap penalties right from the start, as the first play ended in a false start penalty and then a timeout to follow. A handful more such infractions occurred throughout the game, which Koops called "drive killers."

"We had some missed reads," Koops said. "We had some missed blocks. We had a running back go the wrong way. We had people lining up in the wrong formation. We had all these things that you just can't get into any kind of offensive rhythm."

A lot was going against Montague

Cooper Bradley tries to fight through a stiff-arm by Forest Hills Eastern running back Jordan Shabazz during Thursday's game at Montague. The Hawks won a close game, 26-14.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

even prior to the game. Projected running back rotation Devlin Dean and Fletcher Thommen turned into a compromised Thommen after suffering a minor ankle injury during a joint practice with Spring Lake earlier this week and no Dean, as he was also injured. That pressed sophomore Dane Roesler, who Koops said "did a bang-up job," into duty. Paired with it being the first game for the offense under a new veerbased system, it was a lot for the Wildcats to handle.

Nevertheless, Montague persevered. A 53-yard run by Eli Petersen - which included a terrific cutback to slice up the Hawks' defense - set up his short first-half touchdown run, which kept the Wildcats afloat. Down 20-7 at

Montague opener continued on page 5

•

Vikings earn 2nd straight shutout win

By Andy Roberts

White Lake Mirror Editor

HART — Whitehall's sustained offensive attack may not have produced all the dividends coach Dillon McCarthy hoped for Wednesday night, but two goals proved to be enough in a 2-0 victory, the team's second straight in West Michigan Conference play.

The Vikings manufactured plenty of scoring opportunities and may have put more on the board, McCarthy said, with more aggressiveness from the offense.

"We string five or six passes together and then I'm screaming at them to shoot the ball, because you can't score goals unless you shoot the ball," McCarthy said. "Offensively, we are not totally satisfied with that outcome. I thought we had some great opportunities that we didn't capitalize on; everything to get to that potential goal scoring moment was there and we just missed in the final third.

"We've still got a lot to work on, but lots of keeping our head up and understanding a win is a win."

It was sophomore Ryan Bowen, though, who finally broke the seal with a wicked shot from the right side that went in on a very tough angle with 9:27 to play in the first half.

The Vikings controlled the action in the second half, too, but again took a while to be rewarded before Burrous took an assist from Keegan Frees on a transition scoring opportunity and deposited it into the net.

Frees and Javi LeBlanc have

Whitehall came close to putting two goals on the board earlier in the first half, one when a great shot by Tommy Leeke deflected off the far post and Hart keeper Miguel Escamilla was able to corral the bouncing ball, and the other when Carter Burrous sent Escamilla diving to the turf to make a save.

•

emerged as an impressive senior duo on the back end of the defense. Both were instrumental in aiding keeper Alex Winczewski for the team's second consecutive shutout win. LeBlanc has shown impressive willingness to play physically against bigger offensive players, and Frees is in on every defensive play he can reach as well.

"I love those kids," Burrous said

of his defensive teammates. "They're so amazing. They're fun to play with. They're so competitive, and they're always a hype. It's just super fun to play with them."

McCarthy also praised their leadership, also shouting out fellow defense-

Forest Hills Eastern receiver Jack Almeroth (7) is unable to reel in a long pass during Thursday's game at Montague. Caleb Lohman defends for the Wildcats. Montague lost a tough game, 26-14. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Montague's

Montague's Cooper Bradley breaks up a pass intended for Forest Hills Eastern's Jack Almeroth during Thursday's game at Montague. The Wildcats lost, 26-14.

Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall's Tommy Leeke makes a slide tackle against Hart's Isaiah Carreon during Wednesday's WMC game at Hart. The Vikings won, 2-0.

Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall's Keegan Frees (right) leaps to contest the ball with Hart's Adrian Belmares during Wednesday's game at Hart. Frees' tough defense contributed to a 2-0 victory. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall wins

Vikings hope to bounce back after defeat

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

It might be cold comfort for the Whitehall Vikings after a 55-14 defeat to Unity Christian in last Thursday's season opener, but coach Tony Sigmon doesn't believe the score indicates how good his team still can be in 2025.

"We're closer to playing like we have as an expectation than we are far away," Sigmon said. "I think we can find a lot of success this season."

Offensively, the Vikings moved the ball fairly well and had a few scoring chances that didn't pay off. A nine-minute, 17-play drive that reached the red

zone ended in a disappointing missed field goal. Three other times Whitehall got into Crusader territory and didn't score, one of those in the red zone.

Those missed chances loomed even larger on a day Unity's offense was humming, taking advantage of every out-of-position Viking. The Crusaders touched the ball five times in the first half and scored eight points each time, including a kickoff return for a score.

"You have to play assignment football against those guys, and the times we let up, whether it was technique or concepts, seemed to be too much to overcome," Sigmon said.

Of course, the Crusaders' own ex-

cellence couldn't be overlooked either.

"Let's not be silly; Unity Christian is an excellent program and they have an excellent team," Sigmon said. "I don't want to say it was just about our mistakes. They'll make their own breaks."

The day wasn't bereft of bright spots. New quarterback Cole Essebaggers played a well-rounded statistical game, going 10-of-13 for 135 yards and a touchdown without turning it over. He also ran for 43 yards. Liam Leeke had a big night, with 113 yards rushing, and Hunter Osborne and Corde Anderson combined for 132 yards receiving.

Whitehall also played better defensively in the second half. Anderson and

Hunter Peterson led the defense with four tackles apiece.

The players can also take heart in the fact that the Vikings dropped three non-conference games a year ago and still had a successful season, winning a district title. The challenge will be in not letting a rough first week become a rough second one.

"Our kids can respond to (that) and say, 'Listen, we play elite competition for a reason. That's because we feel there will be a benefit from it,'" Sigmon said. "We're hoping that plays out throughout the course of the season.

R-P comeback falls short vs. FH Central

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Reeths-Puffer came agonizingly close to a potential upset win over Forest Hills Central last Thursday night, but a late fumble in Rangers' territory allowed the visitors to escape with an 18-12 win.

The Rockets took over at their own 37-yard line with 2:52 to play and made it into FHC territory before the fumble, which coach Cody Kater said came on a completion and was a "bang-bang play" that could have been called an incompletion.

Central led 10-0 at halftime and 18-0 after three quarters before the Rockets battled back with two touchdowns in a three-minute span early in the fourth.

"It was kind of like a freight trainhard to get going but once it got going it was hard to stop," Kater said. "Trying to settle down and execute the game plan was difficult at first, but the kids continued to play hard and the defense settled in and kept us in the game."

Braylon Swain, who got the nod as starting quarterback, threw both touchdowns and had 143 passing yards in all. JaMichael Williams had a team-

Whitehall wins

man Raymond Hesse, who "plays like he's 6-7," with great energy.

"Kudos to our defense, because I feel like they're finally connecting to the point where they're shifting collectively," McCarthy said. "They're moving together. We're not seeing a 40-yard gap between defense and midfield. That helps a ton."

While results are always the most noticeable thing in a game, the Vikings have maintained a developmental outlook for the season. With only seven upperclassmen on the roster, the team is working on

best 66 yards receiving with a score.

"I think (Swain) played well, especially for his first start," Kater said. "That's a difficult defense to go against. If you look at Forest Hills Central's points allowed the last 5-6 years, they usually give up 10-12 at most. You don't get a lot of possessions and they keep everything in front of them. Our wide receivers can definitely make plays."

Kater said he was pleased with the way his team "played with the conviction we talked about in the offseason" and forced the Rangers to make clutch plays down the stretch to escape with the win.

"Anyone that comes through Reeths-Puffer, we want to make sure they respect us by the end of the game," Kater said. "I think a lot of light bulbs went off tonight. I think watching our boys come together in the fourth quarter and get stronger will only give them more confidence going forward. Now we have to look at the other technical details and get better at football."

Cal Millis, R-P's leading tackler in 2024, led the team again Thursday, with eight tackles and a sack. Mason Darke added seven takedowns.

continued from page 4

building its depth. McCarthy said he makes use of the MHSAA's 'flex' rule that allows players to play in up to three halves of action in a single day between the JV and varsity games.

"It's this balance of how do we help individually develop our players so they're their best selves, all while collectively making sure our JV team and our varsity team are as successful as they can be?" McCarthy said. "It's a lot, but it's also, I think, what's going to help us in the postseason.

"We try to have some urgency in everything we do

Montague opener

halftime, the Montague defense rose up and delivered a three-andout, and a bad Hawks punt set the 'Cats up with good field position.

Montague took advantage, sticking to the ground game with a physical, up-the-middle attack that delivered a short scoring run by Thommen, cutting the deficit to 20-14. It was emblematic, Koops said, of the work the team has put in in the weight room.

"I thought we physically matched up much better than we did in years past," Koops said, noting the lopsided FHE win in this matchup in 2024. "Our kids have put a lot of work into the weight room, and you could see that physically. A lot of times, the movement, the surge of the offensive line or the defensive line went our way."

On the biggest drive of the game, though, the Hawks were able to make big plays. Forced to punt after a big-time run by Cooper Bradley on a reverse didn't produce any more first downs, Montague was victimized defen-

continued from page 4

sively by some remarkable individual plays by FHE signal-caller Kenric Penkevich. Penkevich made two clutch throws on an eight-minute scoring drive, one on 4th-and-8 and another on 3rd-and-15, and FHE was able to overcome two touchdowns being called back for holding penalties to punch in the clinching score on a short quarterback run with just over two minutes left. That too came on third down.

While the results were perhaps frustrating, it was easy to see that

Koops sees in his team something that's not as easy to coach as scheme or details - a winning attitude.

"We can fix execution," Koops said. "The effort and the mentality and the attitude was there, so I feel happy about that. We can work on the execution.

"The kids played really hard, and I'm proud of them for playing hard."

Dylan Bailey had nine tackles to lead Montague defensively, and Bradley had seven.

from a practice standpoint. When you lose the ball in the final third, do you hustle to get it back? The kids know, too, that I keep subs pretty fresh, so when that energy isn't there, we do have depth on the bench that will step into that."

It's a strategy that seems to be paying off early. There's already been noticeable improvement, and there's still over a month until the district tournament, with many high-quality opponents still to play to help Whitehall sharpen its skills.

"It's good to see that growth, because it wasn't there week one," McCarthy said. "We're not perfect yet, but growth is happening, and that's, as a coach, the only thing I can measure."

Montague quarterback Eli Petersen (center) is swarmed by Forest Hills EAstern defenders during last Thursday's game. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall's Javi LeBlanc (3) keeps an eye on the ball while Hart's Joseph Osorio-Espinoza plays it out of the air during Wednesday's game in Hart. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Former Viking starting med school adventure

Smolen pitched for baseball team, now at Wayne State to pursue medical career

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

There's never been much doubt in Whitehall alum Christian Smolen's mind what he wanted to do with his life. Growing up the son of two parents in the medical field, Christian found himself drawn to it as well.

Now Smolen is pursuing that dream as a first-year med student at Wayne State University near Detroit after completing his baseball career at Siena Heights University earlier this year.

"From a young age, I loved learning about different viruses and bacteria and what their effect was on humans," Smolen said. "As I got older, I got to see more of the field, I knew it was something I wanted to do with the rest of my life."

He's picked a good spot for it; according to a 2023 U.S. News & World Report ranking, Wayne State is at No. 2 among Michigan medical schools. Originally, Smolen was hoping to go to med school at the University of Michigan with Wayne State his No. 2, but after being offered the opportunity to shadow a pediatric doctor at Wayne State, he changed his internal ranking.

"With the diverse population you see in Detroit, I have the opportunity to work with a lot of unique patient populations and with a lot of physicians," Smolen said. "I thought that would be best for my career."

Smolen hasn't made final decisions on his emphasis, but he's intrigued by internal medicine, as it gives him the chance to "solve complex problems." Immunology and rheumatology are

fields he specifically mentioned as interesting to him. He added that he'd like to practice medicine back in his West Michigan home base someday.

Prior to his med-school journey, Smolen took his baseball talents to Siena Heights, where he majored in biology and was a three-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete award winner, carrying a 4.0 grade point average throughout his college career.

In addition to his baseball success, Smolen was also an impressive tennis player during his Whitehall time, earning first team all-state as a No. 1 doubles player, with teammate Ryan Findorff, in 2020.

After making seven total appearances his first two seasons on the Saints, Smolen finished strong his senior year, pitching 25 2/3 innings and placing highly in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference's leaderboard in the category of batting average against; he allowed only a .245 average to hitters during the season, and .217 in league games, which was 28th in the league out of over 200 pitchers.

The performance helped his team make its second straight WHAC tournament appearance. The team put up a good fight in its first tournament game against top seed Northwestern Ohio, which went 26-2 in league contests, but fell short in 11 innings en route to elimination.

It was against NWO earlier in the season, on April 16, where Smolen got the out he might best remember from his collegiate career, retiring Joskar Feliciano, who's a cousin of the famous Molina brothers Bengie, Jose and Yadier, who all starred at catcher in Major League Baseball. It was a big out in the game at the time, as Siena Heights trailed only 7-5 in the fourth inning (NWO, a powerful offensive club,

Library hosting Medicare 101 program

Navigating Medicare can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Visit White Lake Community Library Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 1-2 p.m. for Medicare 101, a free and informative session hosted by Senior Resources of West Michigan. This program is perfect for individuals turning 65, those already on Medicare who have questions about their coverage, or anyone helping a loved one make healthcare decisions.

Learn the basics of Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D, how to avoid late enroll-

caught fire later and ended up winning 19-5).

However, Smolen is humble enough to admit he didn't really earn the out.

"There were 30-35 mph wind gusts blowing in, and he absolutely crushed a ball off me," Smolen said, adding he was certain at the moment of contact that Feliciano had taken him out for a home run. "Luckily, my left fielder was able to catch it."

With Smolen's medical school career already underway, he won't be directly affected by Siena Heights' recently announced decision to close down after the 2025-26 academic year due to financial troubles. However, that doesn't mean he's not saddened by the move.

"It was truly shocking," Smolen said of the move. "I honestly felt more sad hearing the news than I did on graduation day. Then, it felt like I would al-

ways be able to go back to campus for homecoming and see friends, but this is the last year that will be a thing. I felt bad for all the faculty I connected with in my time there. Two years ago, there was a lot of bad news and it seemed like the school might close, and it was an incredibly stressful time. I can only imagine how stressful it must be for the guys who are still there."

Smolen said he appreciates his time at the school and particularly his bonds with the dozens of teammates he played with for the Saints. Those memories, at least, will always be there for him and for friends he made in college.

"I could get along with anybody there," Smolen said. "I would have conversations with anyone on the team. Any time since I graduated that I've been able to see someone from Siena Heights, it's cool to reconnect with them."

ment penalties, and get your questions answered in a relaxed, supportive setting. Registration is appreciated at wlclib. org/calendar.

DNR Fishing Report

Here is this week's fishing report provided by the Michigan DNR.

Grand Haven - The salmon bite slowed down over the past week with warmer water temperatures. Most of the salmon were found 70 to 120 feet down in 80 to 150 feet of water. Glow spoons worked best, along with green or white flies. Pier anglers caught a few coho salmon on glow spoons or while using bobbers with gizzard shad.

Muskegon - Boat anglers found the salmon to be scattered. The most success was found 70 to 120 feet down in 80 to 160 feet of water. Flasher-fly combinations and glow spoons were the

most productive. Anglers casting from the piers found the salmon bite to be slow.

Ludington - Chinook salmon were caught at the pier heads and out to 50 feet, to the south in 80 to 120 feet of water, and at 60 to 150 feet around Big Sauble Point when trolling green and glow plugs and spoons in the top 50 feet. Chinook salmon were also caught off the piers by anglers casting and jigging spoons in the early morning hours and after dark. PM Lake also had decent catches of Chinook salmon while jigging, trolling, and using skein.

Whitehall High School alum Christian Smolen pitched for Siena Heights as a collegian and is now enrolled at the Wayne State University medical school. • Courtesy Photos

Recent Whitehall police activity (Aug.

minors. One of the subjects indicated they were on their way to stay at their mother’s apartment in Whitehall. Both subjects were educated on the City of Whitehall’s curfew ordinance as it relates to minors and the times they were allowed to be out. They were also directed to discontinue riding in the traffic lane of Colby St. with their longboards.

Aug. 23

Aug. 22

At 1:16 a.m., the on-duty officer observed two subjects riding longboards in the roadway in the 600 block of E. Colby St. Contact was made with the subjects, who were both found to be

While on regular patrol at 6:51 a.m., the on-duty officer was dispatched to the 1100 block of E. Colby St. on a welfare check. The reporting party stated there was a 58-year-old female subject that was knocking on the doors of neighbors’ apartments.Officers contacted the involved female subject and assisted her with getting back to her apartment, after they verified no addi-

tional medical response was needed.

Aug. 25

At approximately 12:48 p.m. officers responded to the 500 block of Gibbs St. on a 911 hang-up call. Officers located the involved residence and contacted the homeowner. He verified the call to the 911 center was an accidental dial and no additional assistance was needed.

Aug. 26

The School Resource Officer was contacted at 10:16 a.m. regarding a suspicious person near the 500 block of E. Slocum St. Upon contacting the subject, a 26-year-old male subject from Muskegon, the officer learned he was just looking for the White Lake Fire Authority Chief, Peter McCarthy. Once the SRO learned the 26-year-old male subject also had a fondness for Chief

McCarthy, they decided to exchange phone numbers and become lifelong friends.

Aug. 27

On-duty staff responded at 8:36 p.m. to the 500 block of E. Lewis St. in reference to a harassment complaint. The caller reported she was being harassed by an ex-boyfriend’s mother over the return of some property. Officers assisted as needed and directed her to victim services at the prosecutor’s office for additional assistance.

Aug. 28

The officer assigned to salvage inspections conducted four salvage vehicle inspections at several site locations and assisted multiple parties with paperwork related to making their vehicles road-legal.

Musical theatre dance a fall Playhouse highlight

This autumn is a great time to be a West Michigan child growing up in the arts at The Playhouse at White Lake. Preschool Dance begins with a free demo class Sept. 15, along with Shelby Mason Voice Studio's fall term at The Playhouse at White Lake.

Students head into spooky season with Musical Theatre Dance guided by Sam Farrar Saturday, Sept. 26 from 1-3 p.m. This two-hour 'learn and perform' workshop will be taught to the theme song from Ghostbusters. The class price

is $20, and it is open to students ages 8-16, or those 7 and up with prior experience in the Musical Theatre Dance workshops at The Playhouse.

White Lake Youth Theatre will then present a Puppetry Education Weekend with My Air Productions Oct. 1718, including a limited spacing Friday night "Bird Marionette Puppet Creation" workshop priced at $25 for make-and-take puppets for kids or families, followed the next afternoon with professional puppetry from local

puppetry artist, Joey Emory, in the presentation of The Frog Prince: Puppetry for all ages. Tickets for that production are set at the family entertainment rates for the Playhouse, $10 for students and $15 for adults.

Closing out October is the first ever Youth Songwriting Workshop with Shelby Mason, musical arts teacher for White Lake Youth Theatre and the educator behind Shelby Mason Voice Studio, where private and group lessons are taught on fall and winter terms at

The Playhouse. The Youth Songwriting Workshop will be held Saturday, Oct. 25, 1-3 p.m., and will be limited to 20 students. The cost is $20, and the workshop is open to ages 7-18, with all materials supplied. There are scholarship funds available for this workshop as part of a grant from the Youth Advisory Council of the Community foundation for Muskegon County. Simply reach out to learn more.

Aaron Johnson to offer playwriting workshop

The Playhouse has just closed its Summer Theatre Festival, which welcomed in thousands of patrons over the past seven weeks to their stage for new productions every weekend, spanning musicals to comedies, live music to cabaret.

Coming up Saturday, Sept. 13, the Playhouse's focus will shift from one of arts entertainment to arts education on one very busy day, starting in the form of a playwriting workshop for adults in the morning, but by afternoon, transitioning into auditions for a newly written original play, created by local teenage White Lake Youth Theatre Council students, Evangelyn Boltz and Hannah Hellewell, “Don’t Say the M(acbeth) Word.” This youth murder mystery will

be produced at The Playhouse Nov. 1415, and auditions are open to students ages 8-18 who wish to be involved.

Beginning the day with White Lake Dramatic Club learning from Chicago’s Aaron Johnson, the Playwriting Workshop will run from 9 a.m. to noon, and is limited to 12 students of all manner of backgrounds, from brand new writers to those with experience and published authors.

The price for the three-hour workshop is $25, and registration is available at the Playhouse website. Participants should plan to bring their favorite writing medium, whether notebook and pen or laptop or tablet, and all students are encouraged and welcome to share their work at the end of the workshop.

The instructor for this course, Aaron Johnson, was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he majored in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing and Theatre and Drama. From there, he went on to get his Master's of Fine Arrts in Playwriting from Ohio University. He then moved to Michigan, where he worked with the Detroit Playwrights' Lab at the Detroit Repertory Theatre, writing and producing multiple plays while also leading group discussions and writing exercises.

The new White Lake Youth Theatre year unfolds at 12 p.m. Sept. 13, with auditions for the youngest Circus Arts

students (ages 8-12) and older, main title roles (ages 12-18) from 2:30-4:30 p.m. that Saturday and again Sunday, Sept. 14, with auditions for the White Lake Youth Theatre Council’s Autumn Performance Workshop of Don't Say the M(acbeth) Word: a Teen-Led Quest to Bring Shakespeare into the Modern Era. This will be the second year these teenage writers have produced new work for local students to embody and perform at The Playhouse at White Lake, and this project is supported by grants from The Youth Advisory Council of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County and the Bookstock Fund.

White Lake VFW set to celebrate 90th anniversary

The White Lake VFW Post 3256 in Montague is planning a 90th anniversary celebration that will take place Sept. 13 and include several family-friendly activities. The public is invited.

The event will last all day, starting with an 11 a.m. euchre tournament and a 1 p.m. cornhole tournament, with registration prior to each. The VFW will offer burgers, hot dogs and chips for

sale for lunch, and a pig roast dinner will be offered for sale at 6 p.m. Live entertainment from the Jess & Joe Duo is set for 7 p.m. The celebration will also inclue a bounce house and a

bake sale.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs for the event. For further information, call 231-894-6064.