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: Hoops stars profess their faith after rivalry game Volume 3, Issue 31 December 26, 2025
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More Christmas Memories By Sharon Hallack & Amanda Dodge The Oceana Echo Community Correspondents
Mark & Amy Ramthun place wreaths on veterans' graves.
Local veterans were on hand to present the colors.
Wreaths Across America remembers and honors hundreds of area veterans By Claire Marshall
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North Weare Cemeteries by a collaborative effort The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent between the Michigan Dunes Chapter of the Saturday, Dec. 13 DAR and the volunteer marked the second an- group Friends of Pentwanual wreath-laying at ter Township Cemetery. Co-coordinators of Pentwater Township Cemetery in participa- the event and ceremony tion with Wreaths Across are Shannon Larson and America, an organization Melissa Grondsma - who that for over 30 years has delivered closing remarks sought to remember and at Pentwater Township honor deceased U.S. vet- and North Weare respecerans during the holiday tively. Larson was inseason. It was also the spired to bring Wreaths first year that veterans of Across America to PentNorth Weare Cemetery water after years of drivhave been similarly hon- ing to Holly, Michigan, to lay wreaths at Great ored. Participation in the Lakes National Cemetery. WAA’s simultaneous As a member of the DAR wreath-laying ceremony and founder of Friends - celebrated by count- of Pentwater Township less people at cemeter- Cemetery, Larson knew ies across the nation and of the numerous veterans abroad - was brought to buried in Pentwater cemPentwater Township and eteries and how they’d passed this occasion year after year without being properly honored. There are 374 veterans in Pentwater Township Cemetery and 63 more in North Weare, some of whom have served in wars as early as the Civil War and even the War of 1812. The event began at noon at Pentwater Township Cemetery with an introduction from Larson, presentation of the colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and an opening state-
ment from Air Force Veteran Ray Hilderbrandt. Brenda Hilderbrandt (also of DAR and Friends) directed the laying of the first eight wreaths, each representing a different branch of the American military and those soldiers missing in action or prisoners of war. The wreaths were laid by Girl Scout Troop 8350 and Boy Scout Troop 1155. Following was a performance of taps on trumpet by Rodney Grondsma and Klayton Ruggles with final remarks by Larson. The dozens of volunteers who braved the bitter cold and snow were then asked to choose a wreath from one of several stations located across the 20-acre cemetery to place at the grave of a veteran, helpfully identified by a flag placed at their headstone. Along with laying a wreath at a headstone, volunteers were instructed to spend a moment with the veteran they were honoring by saying their name out loud and thanking them for their service before taking time to spruce up the wreath and place it where the veteran’s name is still legible. Following the laying of wreaths at Pentwater Township Cemetery, volunteers had an hour’s
break before they were invited to do the same at North Weare. In the meantime, volunteers could fortify themselves with refreshments made available by volunteers. Chili was provided by Maureen Murphy alongside homemade cookies, cocoa and hot cider by Steve and Sue Thomas. Prior to the event, the cemetery walkways were plowed by Ryan’s Lawncare of Pentwater, and busing was provided to and from the cemetery at Pentwater’s VFW building. The crowd of volunteers hardly dwindled between the two ceremonies, with plenty of hands to finish the wreath-layings at North Weare at 2 p.m. The volunteers seemed unaffected by the freezing temperatures, winter weather, and slick roads when it came to honoring our departed veterans for their selfless service to the people of our nation. During her speech, Larson reflected on the philosophy that “the dead die twice,” first when their life expires and again when their name is forgotten to the living. “It’s important to remember our veterans, and it’s important that they’re not forgotten.”
• Claire Marshall/Echo
Girl Scout Troop 8350 and Boy Scout Troop 1155 lay the first 8 wreaths.
Now that we are in the official 12 Days of Christmas, we are grateful that that warmth of the memories we shared last week brought joy to so many of you. Here are a few more trips down memory lane to take us into 2026! Rosemary Lambert from Shelby writes: When I was about 5 or 6, my dad was still out milking cows when I would wake up early and creep downstairs into our darkened living room, where the unlit Christmas tree and cardboard manger stood. Hanging on that tree was a little metal bell about 2 inches long, painted a shiny green on the outside. Mom was in the kitchen starting coffee under a bright fluorescent ceiling fixture, which cast a bit of light into the darkened living room. The challenge was for me to sneak to the bell in the tree without her supposedly knowing I was there. She would play along and exclaim, "Who's ringing that bell?" Then I would jump up laughing and say, "It's me!" It's one of those sweet memories of more cheerful family times that is all the more precious since in my later teen years we lost Mommie to cancer. Our adventures in that old farmhouse and the closeness our family shared will always live on in memory. AnnaMae Bush of Pentwater recalls: My mother grew up on a farm in Minnesota and left home at 19 for nursing school in New Jersey. She married there and raised her family of four children. Most of her family had remained in farming and rarely traveled far. Consequently, over 50 years, she could count on two hands the times she entertained her family members in her home, in New Jersey or in Holland, Michigan, where my parents moved in retirement. But one Christmas was special. A nephew who was a pastor had taken a call to a church in Traverse City, Michigan, and moved there with his family that included three sons close in age to Mom’s grandchildren. Mom invited them to celebrate Christmas with our whole family in Holland. To make it memorable, my father rented a horse-drawn wagon for a family hayride. We had a great time tossing the straw at one another and visiting in the joy of the occasion. Combined with mom’s great food and a small gift exchange, it was a holiday memory to treasure. Kevin VanDyke of Shelby shares: When I was 5 or 6, so back in the early to mid1960s, my grandmother, Gertrude Walters, would take my brothers and me to Hardy-Herpolsheimer's department store in Muskegon. They also had one in Grand Rapids, which was featured in "The Polar Express." I was amazed at the animatronic elves they had in the store windows busily working away. We got to ride on the escalator from the first floor to the second, and I remember Rudolph was in the basement of the store. We also got to visit with Santa, and right next to him was a chute, where you would push a button and a toy would slide down as a gift to you that day. I remember that my oldest brother received a large badge of some sort that year, and though I don't recall what I got, I remember the magic of it all.
Merry Christmas to all!
ATTENTION: We have an early deadline next week for the Oceana Echo & White Lake Mirror. We go to press Wednesday, Dec. 31 at noon.
2 DECEMBER 26, 2025 THE OCEANA ECHO
Shelby shares downtown design vision during public forum By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent Nearly 30 community members gathered Tuesday, Dec. 9 at The Ladder Community Center to hear more about the Village of Shelby’s Design for Downtown Revitalization project. Shelby’s slogan, “Where the north begins and fine fruit grows,” is still just as true today as it was decades ago when it was first developed, but the “look and feel” of downtown has changed over the years. The $1.9M project plans to update that look and feel to what designers are calling “Modern Rustic.” Village Administrator Phil Morse opened the meeting by reminding those assembled that it had been about a year since the community had met in that very room to kick off the Village Vision and Implementation Team (VIT). Since then, the following subcommittees have been formed: Events/Marketing, Fundraising, Aesthetics/Downtown Redesign and Development. Each has been meeting to work on different projects related to the overall new vision for downtown Shelby. Besides Morse, Aesthetics/ Downtown Redesign team members include former village president Paul Inglis, business owners Andy Carter and Chris Wenk, Shelby Township Supervisor Richard Raffaelli and Trinity Shelby Hospital Administrator John Voss. “A vibrant downtown is important for the community and something everyone can be proud of,” Morse said. Displayed on a screen behind the panel was a rendering of what downtown Shelby (Michigan Avenue between Fourth and Third Streets and 60 yards in every direction from that) could look like in the nottoo-distant future. Gateway arches, tree plantings, sitting areas, corner bumpouts, stamped concrete, a mid-block crosswalk, upgraded street lighting and pole banners, enhanced parking options, accessible elevated door thresholds, ADA access ramps, barrier-free parking spaces, pedestals for wood carvings, bicycle ramps and pocket park entrance signage and upgrades are all currently a part of the proposed design. In addition, while the redesign is taking place, underground water service lines would be replaced as well, something that needs to happen regardless. The committee made it clear that funding for the project would not involve additional tax dollars or a millage, but would be funded through private investment and donations from the public. That said, it should be noted that at their Nov. 25 meeting, the village council approved earmarking $200,000 from the village General Fund, $100,000 from Major Streets and $50,000 from Local Streets to go toward the anticipated project. Carter, owner of the Brown Bear Restaurant and Bar, spoke of growing up and living in Shelby his whole life and owning a business downtown since 1994. “Improving downtown—it’s the right time to do it. We have a lot of great things going on, and I think …this is the next logical step.” Sharing his excitement about some of the proposed enhancements, he closed by saying, “Just an allaround beautiful downtown, we’re overdue in having this done. People are moving to this area and we’re going to give them more reason to keep coming.” Landscaping would include various perennials and trees bred to withstand the use and abuse of a downtown streetscape. The plan also includes additional electrical outlets on light poles, eliminating the need to have long extension cords in the way during downtown events. Electricity would only be turned on in those areas as needed. While the proposed design is taking shape, there is an opportunity for the community to offer feedback. For example, a comment on social media noted how
This rendering shows the proposed view of downtown Shelby looking north from south of Third Street. pillars on corners were set too high and could block a motorist from seeing a child waiting to cross. Another suggestion was to install flashing pedestrian signs at the crosswalks. As a result, both of these suggestions have been incorporated into the design. Morse urges people to take a look at the plans and let him or the committee members know if there are other considerations, as now is the time to communicate. As more and more of the plan becomes solidified, the time for suggestions and the modification period will pass. Probably one of the greatest assets of the proposed revitalization plan is the creation of numerous community gathering spaces that would include benches, tables and chairs. The idea is to create a place where people can meet together over a cup of coffee, build community and in so doing, “...bring back those old-time values, while still lifting up the village,” Raffaelli said. Inglis shared a personal story from his youth when, after returning to Shelby from being out of town, his dad said, “‘Well here we are. We’re back in Deadville.’ We chuckled about it at the time. But then as an adult I’d hear it from outsiders, and it became a personal thing for me.” Inglis shared that it was the persona that Shelby was projecting to the rest of the world that made him decide to run for village council over a decade ago. “Things will need to be tweaked for various reasons, but we want to move forward. We know the funds will be there.” Someone from the audience asked about the bumpouts and snowplowing. Raffaelli answered, “We went to Scott Meyers (who snowblows for the village of New Era) and asked, ‘What do you think?’” And due to Meyers' feedback, the additional bumpout in the center of downtown was removed from the design. The design already has rolled curbs and removable fences that come out in the winter, Raffaelli said. Also related to winter, one audience member asked about protecting trees from salt. Raffaelli admitted they had not thought about that, but would definitely be looking into it. New Era resident Gary Grinwis, speaking from experience, advised the committee that if they were going to use stamped concrete, it should be coated and then recoated every three or four years to keep it safe for the public. Raffaelli said Shelby’s plan proposes using a shallower stamp, which would increase the recoating requirement to every two years, instead of three or four. When asked by an audience member about building facade improvement, Carter spoke encouragingly, saying, as the owner of two buildings downtown, he is also focusing on how he can improve his building facades. He believes business owners want to put their best foot forward, and that once the project starts to take shape, other business owners will get on board. There was some concern expressed by another au-
May your holidays be full of warmth and cheer!
Congratulations
SONS DISPOSAL 25 Years
JAN. 1, 2001 - DEC. 31, 2025
dience member when it was mentioned some buildings may need to come down. Morse reassured those gathered that buildings are private property and the village would not be taking it upon themselves to remove any buildings. However, in some cases, the best option for an owner might be to demolish their present building and build something from the ground up, rather than to put a lot of money into fixing it up. Shelby has plenty to be proud of: new people coming to town, the Shelby Acres subdivision, a possible sidewalk project that could connect the north side of the village to downtown, $1.8M already set aside at the state level for a possible community pool, Oceana County Brownfield Phase I dollars just allocated for two building locations in downtown, an active Rail Trail half a block from downtown, a library, a hospital and a locally owned bank. “This is the last piece of the puzzle,” Raffaelli said. "It’s a great little community, but we want to go to the next level.” Due to a number of social media comments, it was clarified that even though the facades in the renderings appear all gray in color, that is not the plan for downtown. The gray is used by designers as a way to make the proposed additions/improvements stand out. In response to questions about facade upgrades, the village hopes to be able to offer more facade grants in the future. Some items brought up for discussion that didn’t relate directly to the downtown revitalization plan included how to draw people from the Rail Trail into downtown, how to attract more businesses (currently there are 15 businesses located downtown), how to get more people to shop locally and having more events. Morse clarified these ideas and more are being explored and worked through among the other committees working in tandem with the Downtown Revitalization committee. In closing, Morse reminded the public of a few important next steps. • Visit the village’s website www.shelbyvillage.org and subscribe to notices in order to receive up-todate information. • Contact the village office if at all interested in sharing talents and abilities, as it’s an exciting time to be involved. • Consider a donation toward the downtown revitalization project. Forms for donating are available at the village office or by visiting the village website and clicking on the “Development” tab. As an added bonus, all donations collected for this project will be matched dollar for dollar by a private partner.
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THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 26, 2025 3
Tips for charitable giving plans Commissioners wrap-up By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent Echo Publishing Inc., as well as many of the other important nonprofits in Oceana County, are extremely thankful for the community’s endof-year donations to help meet their nonprofit’s financial needs going into the new year. We wish to share the following 2025 charitable giving information and thank Todd A. Comstock, CPA of Todd A. Comstock, Inc., for allowing us to reprint a portion of his end-of-year client letter. “You can reduce your 2025 taxable income by making charitable donations (assuming your itemized deductions exceed your standard deduction). If you are close to the itemized deduction point, consider bunching future 2026 donations into 2025 to take advantage of a larger itemized deduction. Note: In 2026, standard deduction filers will get an above-the-line charitable contribution deduction of $1,000 (or $2,000 for Married Filing Jointly), so it makes sense to bunch charitable contributions into the 2025 tax year to take advantage of itemized deductions in 2025 and still benefit from cash contributions made in 2026
with the standard deduction. If you don’t have a charity or charities that you are comfortable making large donations to, you can contribute to a donor-advised fund (also known as charitable gift funds or philanthropic funds) instead. This is a public charity or community foundation that uses the assets to establish a separate fund to receive grant requests from charities seeking distributions from the advised fund. Donors can suggest (but not dictate) which grant requests should be honored. You claim the charitable tax deduction in the year you contribute to the donor-advised fund, but retain the ability to recommend which charities will benefit for several years. Another tax-advantage way to support your charitable causes is to donate appreciated assets that were held for over a year. If you give such assets to a public charity, you can deduct the donated asset’s fair market value and avoid the tax you would have paid had you sold the asset and donated the cash to the charity. Charitable gifts of appreciated property to a private nonoperating foundation are generally only deductible to the extent of your basis in the asset. But qualified appreciated stock (gen-
erally, publicly-traded stock) donated to a private nonoperating foundation can qualify for a deduction equal to its fair market value. If you are age 70 and a half or older, consider a direct transfer from your IRA to a qualified charity [known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)]. While you can’t claim a charitable donation for the amount transferred to the charity, the QCD does count toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). If you don’t itemize, that’s clearly better than taking a fully taxable RMD and then donating the amount to charity with no corresponding deduction. Even if you itemize and would be able to deduct the full amount transferred to the charity, the QCD does not increase your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), while an RMD would. Keeping your AGI low can decrease the amount of your taxable Social Security benefits and minimize the phaseout of other favorable tax provisions based on your AGI.” Oceana County nonprofits appreciate this community’s generosity in whatever form and for whatever amount they receive. For any questions related to charitable giving, please seek the counsel of a certified tax professional.
2025 with reappointments, recognition and an update By Claire Marshall The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent
The final Oceana County Board of Commissioners meeting for 2025 saw term reappointments, the signing of a letter of recognition for the Oceana County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) staff and an update on the search for a new county maintenance supervisor. The reappointments were for Jeff Hiddema and Erik Bengston for their work with the Parks & Recreation Commission, both for 3-year terms, and came at the request of the very board they serve on. Commission Chairman Garry McKeen also came to the meeting to speak on their behalf. He described them as “great assets to the county” who are set to progress further in the department and added that the commission would like to find “a couple more like them.” Chairman Robert Walker agreed that Hiddema and Bengston were “both valuable people” and all present commissioners (Commissioner Joel McCormick was absent and excused by the chair) voted in favor of both reappointments. In other business, a candidate has been chosen and has accept-
ed the job position for county maintenance supervisor. As of yet, the personal information of the candidate and of the other applicants has been redacted to negate the risk of conflict with any current job positions they might hold. The candidate is projected to start work on Jan. 5, 2026. The board approved and signed a letter of understanding between the commissioners, OCSO and the Michigan Police Union entering into a collective bargaining agreement through the end of 2028. This agreement would ensure that, in the case of the sheriff’s department office manager being absent, the front office is staffed with trained personnel such as the administrative assistant and bailiff. This agreement is, according to Sheriff Craig Mast, the “status quo of what we’ve been doing for years; now it’s just on paper.” It will not change the salary status of any employees or deprive union members of their overtime. There was no public comment for either the finance and administration or regular meetings, and the commissioners wished each other and the rest of the present staff a Merry Christmas and a good start to 2026.
4 DECEMBER 26, 2025 THE OCEANA ECHO Visit us!
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A digression to the world's highest peak By Claire Marshall The Oceana Echo Community Columnist While I do love being able to explore the history of my home state and the region I love so dearly, once I’ve finished researching and writing for The 1306, I am honestly looking forward to reading just about anything else. I’ve hinted at my other preferred subjects before: art history, natural disasters, 19th-century literature by female authors, postcards, Bigfoot hunting shows of the 2010s and boats. The usual suspects. Himalayan mountaineering is another one of those topics that becomes the subject of my late-night Wikipedia rabbit holes - which in turn becomes what I report to my mom the next morning when all she wants is peace and quiet with her coffee. Long story short, I don't have a Michigan connection yet, but I am a Michigander, and I want to talk Everest, so here are some of my top facts I’ve learned about Mt. Everest this year! Sorry, Mom! To start, did you know that Mt. Everest has a “tourist season?” The vast majority of expeditions to Everest take place in the spring, with the peak window in a narrow two-week period in May. Most guides (especially those who’ve paid upwards of $175,000 to climb) choose this period due to the relatively clear and pleasant weather conditions. Howev-
er, this window is quickly followed by monsoon season in the Indian Ocean, which can cause disastrous winds that are liable to blow you right off the side of the mountain. The other preferable season is early autumn, once the monsoon season has concluded. Unless there is a freak blizzard like this year, which caught hundreds of tourists looking to climb to base camp off guard. While winter season expeditions are possible, only 15 climbers have ever successfully summited during that time. Considering the narrow climbing season, and the rise in popularity of regular people attempting to climb Everest, recent years have seen “conga lines” at the top of the mountain of people trying to make their summit “bid.” This includes the May 2019 season, with the 22nd and 23rd each considered the “Day Everest Broke,” as described by journalist and climber Mark Synnott in his book “The Third Pole.” An estimated 800 people were essentially trapped on the Hilary Step, a narrow ridge located on the mountain’s Nepalese south face that leads to the summit. Eleven climbers died in their attempts that month alone. A photograph taken of the line went viral online, so you may have seen it. The photographer was Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja, whose own Everest summit was merely a chapter in his 2019 expedition to summit all 14 of the 8,000-meter
Himalayan peaks in just seven months. Most deaths on Everest take place above that 8,000-meter line in an area known as the “Death Zone,” where the air is so thin the brain and body become starved of oxygen, leading to exhaustion and poor decision-making. An even more terrifying statistic is that most deaths on Mt. Everest occur on the descent, when climbers are high on the success of summiting but are at their most physically drained. In my opinion, the most terrifying variety of death one can experience climbing these towering peaks is High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema, or HAPE. HAPE occurs when fluid collects in the lungs. If not treated properly and quickly, you could die from what is essentially drowning, thousands of meters above sea level. Imagine that, drowning on the tallest mountain in the world! The second most terrifying death on my list is when a building-sized column of glacial ice falls without warning and crushes you. Also up there is becoming so disoriented you unhook yourself from your guidelines and walk off the mountain. Lots of horrible ways to die!
How about some levity? Did you know that climbers on Mt. Everest can experience High-Altitude Flatus Expulsion? Sounds terrifying, but it basically just means that the low air pressure and low oxygen levels at these altitudes make you fart. A lot. And trust me, when many books on Everest are written by men, they usually take the opportunity to talk about their farts. Now this is a history column, so I would be remiss if I did not discuss some of my favorite historical aspects of the climbing of Mt. Everest. For starters, Everest is known by two other names - Sagarmatha in Nepalese and Chomolungma in Tibetan. These were the names given to the mountain prior to the British occupation of India and subsequent surveying expeditions to the Himalayas. It was after one of these surveyors, a reportedly unpleasant man named Sir George Everest, that Westerners named the mountain after. So we’ve got Sagarmatha (“Forehead of the Sky”), Chomolungma (“Goddess Mother of the World”) and Everest (some Brit who didn’t even want the mountain named after him and whose name isn’t even pronounced like that). The first official summiting of Everest was on May 29, 1953, by New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. By official first summit, I mean the first successful and verifiable summit. There are theories
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within the mountaineering community that the doomed expedition of George Mallory and Andrew “Sandy” Irvine in 1924 may have resulted in a successful summit, despite Mallory and Irvine’s deaths. The rest of the British expeditionary crew last spotted the pair just 300 vertical meters from the summit of Everest's North Face before they disappeared into the clouds. When Mallory’s body was found in 1999, his personal effects were found in order and undisturbed, save for the missing photograph of his wife he said he’d place at the summit should he make it (his mistress’s letters were in fine condition). For years, many mountaineers have hedged all their bets that if Mallory and Irvine made it to the summit, there would be photographic evidence stored in the untouched film of Irvine’s VP Kodak camera. In September 2024, Irvine’s partial remains were found on Everest, though no more than a foot, sock, and boot were found. Camera discovery is still pending. Also, if you, dear reader, have been to Everest or the Himalayas, please send me an email at cmarshall@ whitelakemirror.com - I have so many questions for you!
Oceana Center Grange Agricultural Report for December By Phil Carter The Oceana Echo Agricultural Consultant Winter is "ripe in the Land of Oceana." December 21 was the winter solstice, when the earth is farthest away from the sun and it's the shortest sunlight day of the year. For many, winter began Thanksgiving evening with measurable snowfall and continued
until last week. Corn harvest ended for those with standing corn. More than one farmer has corn yet to be run. The "January thaw" in December presents a window to complete harvest. Several local growers have indicated they have several hundred acres yet to harvest. Snow cover is beneficial in many ways. The insulating effect keeps fruit trees dormant, thus prolonging them from "waking up" prematurely. Weather-re-
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lated tree loss mainly happens in early spring cold snaps. Tree pruning began with the leaves falling and continues into springtime. The disappearance of big snowbanks will allow fruit growers to begin or continue hauling empty apple bins back to the farmyards. As we prepare for another trip around the sun, from our farm to your farm, no matter the size, Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. • $1,000 - Photographer • $5,000 - Freelancer • $10,000 - Reporter
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THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 26, 2025 5
Ongoing 3 MON: OCDVA Coffee & Donuts for Veterans, Spouses and Veteran Widows, 9-11 a.m., Heritage Wedding Barn, Shelby. rd
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. 3rd TUES: Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club - Feeding America W. Mich. mobile food pantry, Pentwater Fire Dept., 11 a.m.
December - January Dec. 27 - Versiti Special Holiday Blood Drive, West Mich Research Station, Hart, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Dec. 29 - “Elio” Kids Movie Matinee (PG), sponsored by HAPL, Hart Community Center, 11 a.m. Dec. 29 - Teen Puzzle Contest, sponsored by HAPL, Hart Community Center, 3-7 p.m. Dec. 30 - Adult Craft Night, Hesperia Community Library, 6-7 p.m.
WED: Love INC and TrueNorth Housing Assistance satellite please call 231-861-4880 to make an appointment.
Jan. 6 - Tween Night, Hesperia Community Library, 3:15-5 p.m.
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.*
Jan. 8 - Teen Night, Hesperia Community Library, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
2nd & 4th WED: Pentwater Community Food Pantry, First Baptist Church, Pentwater, 9-10:15 a.m. WED: Line Dancing, Park Place, Pentwater, 6:30-8 p.m. THURS - "Harts 'n Homes" Women's Fellowship, Faith Christian Fellowship, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 1st FRI: Free Soup Supper, Ferry Comm. Center, 5-7 p.m. FRI: Story Time, HCL, 10 a.m. FRI: Preschool Story Hour, HAPL, 11 a.m. st 1 SAT: Baby Pantry, Trinity Lutheran Church, 8:30-10 a.m. 5th SAT: Free Community Breakfast, Shelby UCC, 8-10 a.m. The Ladder Community Center: Jan. 10: Party Club for Kids ages 5-12, 1-2:30 p.m. 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. Jan. 8 & 22: Blanket Finger-Knitting Class, 6 p.m. (sign up req.) Dec. 30, Jan. 13 & 27: Knitting Group, 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 2,9,16 & 30: Strum It Club,11 a.m. to noon MON: Adult Bible Study, “Truth Rising”, 1/12 - 2/2, 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
Area food pantries and free dinners
Mondays & Thursdays: Hesperia United Methodist Church, 187 E. South Ave., Hesperia (red brick building behind church), Mondays 9-11 a.m. And Thursdays 4-6 p.m. 2nd Mondays: Rothbury Community Church, 2500 W. Winston Rd., Rothbury, 231-893-4965, food distribution hours are 9-11:30 a.m. (number system) 3rd Tuesdays: Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club - Feeding America West Michigan mobile food pantry, Pentwater Fire Department, 486 E. Park St., Pentwater, 11 a.m. Wednesdays: Bread of Life Food Pantry, a ministry of St. Gregory/Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Churches, 11 Washington St., Hart, 231-873-2660, 3-5 p.m. food pickup. Wednesdays: Community Dinner, September through May, Centenary United Methodist Church, 82 S. Hancock St., Pentwater, 4:30-5 p.m., call 231-869-5900 to reserve a takeout meal, 5-6 p.m., dine-in, no reservation required. Frozen meals are available at no charge and can be picked up during church hours Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday during the community dinner, noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays: Christ the Rock World Harvest Church, 6985 Indian Bay Rd., Montague, 231-893-8900, noon to 6 p.m. 1st & 3rd Wednesdays: Hart Wesleyan Church, 757 W Polk Rd, Hart, free meal, 5-6 p.m., free clothing closet, 4-6 p.m. 2nd & 4th Wednesdays: First Baptist Church-Pentwater Community Food Pantry, 101 S. Rush St., Pentwater, 231-869-5149, also basic clothing and household needs offered, doors open at 9 a.m., register by 9:30 a.m. 3rd Wednesdays: New Hope Community Church, 244 79th Ave. Shelby, 231861-0536, 6 p.m., food pantry (closed in January & July). 1st Saturdays: Trinity Lutheran Church Baby Pantry, 5631 W. Stony Lake Rd., New Era, 8:30-10 a.m. 2nd & 4th Saturdays: TLC Food Pantry, 5631 W. Stony Lake Rd., New Era, 231861-4059, 8-10 a.m.
New Years blood drive planned for Dec. 27
This Christmas season, the community is asked to consider giving the gift of a blood donation at a special emergency blood drive this Saturday, Dec. 27 in Hart. Versiti Blood Center of Michigan is sponsoring the drive at the West Michigan Research Station located at 5185 N. Oceana Dr., from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All attempting donors with a valid email address will receive a $25 e-gift card, which can be used at multiple locations. Registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. Please call 866-642-5663 to register or contact coordinator Kathy Roskam at 231-861-6353 or krcmmom@hotmail.com. “Every pint of blood donated goes directly to Michigan hospitals to give patients lifesaving blood in health emergencies or for routine care. Your blood donation could help save the life of a family member or friend. Please consider joining in this important effort,” Roskam said.
Jan. 6 - Kids Book Club, 3:30- 5 p.m., (sign up required)
From left to right, VSO Jodi Slinkard, Brenda Hilderbrandt,VSO Samuel Nanasi and office manager Dani Shilton. • contributed photo
Michigan Dunes Chapter, NSDAR continues Michigan Dunes Chapter, NSDAR continues holiday holiday support for local veterans’ families support for local veterans’ families
Members of the Michigan Dunes Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), have once again adopted veterans’ families in need of additional assistance during the holiday season. This service initiative began five years ago at the request of the Oceana County Veterans Affairs Office in Hart, and the chapter has proudly continued this partnership each year. What began with supporting 13 veterans has grown significantly, with the project now serving 50 veterans and their families. Due to the increased need and the importance of accommodating dietary restrictions and allergies, the Veterans Affairs Office requested that assistance be provided in the form of gift cards to local grocery stores. Brenda Hilderbrandt, Michigan Dunes Chapter member and chair of the project, expressed appreciation for the strong community support that makes this effort possible. The chapter extends its sincere gratitude to the following businesses for their generous support: Family Fare of Ludington, Hansen Foods of Hart, Walmart of Ludington and the VFW Auxiliary 1329 of Hart for their ongoing support of community-focused projects. The Michigan Dunes Chapter also thanks the Oceana County Department of Veterans Affairs for its continued dedication to serving local veterans and their families. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded on Oct. 11, 1890. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership. Headquartered in Washington, DC, membership is 185,000, with 3,000 chapters in all 50 states and internationally. The Michigan Dunes Chapter, with membership in Oceana and Mason counties and a home base in Pentwater, is one of 55 chapters in the Michigan Society DAR. The objectives of NSDAR are historic preservation, education and patriotism, with their motto being God, Home and Country.
The2026 2026Oceana Oceana book is published, The MIMI platplat book is published, availavailable for purchase able for purchase
Oceana County 4-H Youth Council, with Mapping Solutions, has announced the release of the recently published Oceana County Plat Book. This spiral-bound book features the standard land ownership map pages showing townships and ranges within Oceana County, including property boundaries for all rural parcels. Along with landownership maps are the new enhanced LiDAR aerial view maps that show a 3D-like topographical look at the local land. This new edition includes updated Oceana County 4-H pages, a soils map, watersheds map, the Oceana County government directory, municipal maps and much more. This information is valuable to anyone interested, particularly those who own land in Oceana County. Prospective or adjoining property owners, hunters, foresters, timber and petroleum industry personnel, emergency services and many others could benefit from this valuable information. The 2026 Oceana County MI Plat Book is available for purchase for $35 at Oceana County Extension office located at 844 S. Griswold St., the Register of Deeds office and Larson’s Ace Hardware in Hart. Additional locations will have copies the first full week of January. Those interested can also register for a chance to win a free premium wall map or a SmartMap. For more information, please contact the office at 231-8732129. Wall maps, a smartphone-friendly SmartMap, and an eBook version are all also available for purchase by visiting www.mappingsolutionsgis.com.
6 DECEMBER 26, 2025 THE OCEANA ECHO
Hoeing ‘In the Garden’ Part 14: ‘Immanuel – God With Us’ domesticate Jesus. He is not just any friend, but neither should we diminish His sheer desire for a relationship with those He loves – the gentle and lowly. Accepting Jesus’ invitation to “knock at the door” - to friendship, is captured eloquently by C.S. Lewis in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." Lucy is about to meet Aslan, the symbol of Christ: “Is he—quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” “That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly.” “Then he isn't safe?” said Lucy. "Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.” “I'm longing to see him,” said Peter, “even if I do feel frightened.” The most momentous aspect of friendship with Jesus is that it is mutual. As hard as it is to comprehend, He seeks our company, our affection and our connection. It gives Him pleasure to walk with us on our earthly pilgrimage, as He did with the disciples of old. “…I have called you friends, for everything I learned from my Father I have shared with you.” (John 15:14) As you adore and worship the Babe born in a manger, make sure you don’t miss the most extraordinary meaning of Christmas: God with us.
By Janet Van Gunst Hasselbring The Oceana Echo Community Columnist “If you walk in front of me, I may not follow; If you walk behind me, I may not lead; Walk beside me, and be my friend.” (unknown) to make a living on a small farm in west Michigan (present-day Country Dairy). God was in the soil they plowed, watered and weeded. Daily walking and talking with Him resulted in an intimate mutual friendship (as told in the memoir, "In the Garden"). Have we become so used to “away in a manger, no crib for a bed,” that we’ve forgotten the enormity of the fact that He came to us? Did we go seeking Him, as a babe, in the lowliest of birthplaces, in a trough where pigs, goats and cattle fed and drank? But of course, Jesus would come to earth in a manger. In the book "Gentle and Lowly," Dane Ortland notes that there is one and only one place in scripture where Jesus divulges who he
Church Directory
Christmas - the realization of biblical Old Testament prophecies which foretold that God would come to us in human form. He was born to die, but He would rise again, and His resurrection ensures that He is available to us as our God, our Savior, our Shepherd, our Guide, our Advocate, but also as our friend – God with us. Yes, Jesus goes before us: “I will go before you and level the mountains…” (Isaiah 42:12). He goes behind us: “You hem me in, behind and before…” (Psalm 139:5). He is a protective shield around us. However, perhaps the richest experience we can know is to have Jesus as our friend. A friendship with their Lord was the experience of my parents as they toiled
St. James Catholic Church A WELCOMING FAITH COMMUNITY
5149 Dowling Street Montague, MI 49437
Mass Times: Saturday: 4 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. Tuesday-Friday: 8:30 a.m. Phone: (231) 893-3085 Office Hours: M–Th 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pastor: Rev. Ron Hutchinson
is: “…Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly of heart…” (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus’ use of the word “heart” does not refer to one’s emotional life, but to the central animating force of who we are and all we do. When Jesus tells us what animates Him most deeply, what is most true of Him, He’s telling us that He is “gentle and lowly.” Thinking of Jesus as a friend does not, in any way, detract from His holiness, His majesty, His Lordship, His divinity. Yet, if we think of our Lord only in those terms, we set Him apart from us and shut ourselves off from perhaps the most significant aspect of His nature. He came to us in a lowly manger. He tells us that He is gentle and lowly. He invites us to “knock at His door,” inviting us to be in relationship, in friendship with Him. Think of the best friend you have – someone you can trust, share your innermost thoughts with, someone who won’t judge you, but will listen and seek to understand. That friendship is but a glimmer of “What a Friend We For information about "In the GarHave in Jesus.” (hymn lyrics by Joseph den," contact the author at janethasselScriven). Ortland cautions us not to overly bring23@gmail.com
stjamescatholicparish.org
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church
3000 Winston Road Walkerville Wesleyan Church Rothbury, MI 49452 Love our community toward Christ Mass Times: Sunday - 8:30 a.m. Sunday 10:30AM Please call 231-893-3085 Streamed on for more information Contact Information stjamescatholicparish.org 231.873.5040 144 S Hamon St, Walkerville
Office@walkervillewesleyanchurch.org
Ferry Memorial Reformed Church
White Lake UMC
Worship God, Follow Jesus, Love & Serve all
Sunday Worship
First Methodist St. Joseph & St. Vincent Catholic Churches oF shelby (Formerly Shelby UMC)
9am Traditional Service We are an independent, local church serving our communities and reaching beyond. 11am Praise Band Service 11am Kids Church/Youth Class/Nursery SUNDAY WORSHIP: 11 AM Weekly Faith Groups for All Ages Shelby Congregational UCC building Choir and Handbells FMCShelby@gmail.com Mission Opportunities Find us on Facebook: Home of the White Lake Free Store First-Methodist Church Of-Shelby and The Gathering free meals MAiling Address Worship Address 8555 Cook Street Montague, MI 49437 8463 W. Shelby Rd., 51 E. 3rd St., (231) 894-5789 www.whitelakeumc.org Shelby Shelby
St. Peter’S-By-the-Lake ePiScoPaL church 8435 Old Channel
followers gathered. disciples scattered
4775 First St • 231-861-2501
Office: 231-873-5776
www.stjosephweare.org Check out our Facebook page
St. Joseph, Weare 2380 W. Jackson Rd., Hart Saturday Mass: 7 p.m. Sunday Mass: 9 a.m. St. Vincent, Pentwater 637 E. Sixth St. Saturday Mass: 4 p.m. Sunday Mass: 10:30 a.m.
- Easter through October 82 S. Wythe St. in Pentwater Trail, Montague SUNDAY SERVICE: 9:30 a.m. Barrier Free • Nursery Provided (231) 869-7351 Confessions: 1/2 hour before 616-894-0172 Children’s SS: 9:45 a.m. Youth Group: Sundays 5-7 pm Join Us For Worship all Masses, except 10:30 Mass Nursery Provided SUNDAY EUCHARIST – 10 am 231.894.9415 Sundays at 10 a.m. Rev. Phil Sliwinski, Pastor
Sunday Worship: 10:00 am
8637 Old Channel Trail Montague, Michigan
www.ferrychurch.org
joinus@stjamesepiscopalpentwater.org
We Believe That God Loves You - No Exceptions
Pastor Benjamin Oliveira stpetersmontague@gmail.com stpetersbythelake.weebly.com Coffee fellowship after service
Blessings Abound!
newerareformedchurch.org
Hart United Methodist Church Our independent, non-denominational church is committed to reaching and serving those in our communities.
Sunday Service: 10 am
Wed. Family Night: 6-8 pm Last FRI: Free Soup Supper, 5:30-7 pm
4075 S. 132nd Ave., Hesperia 231-861-5007
NEWMANC3.ORG
2500 W. Winston Rd. • 231-893-4965
231-873-3516 9:30 a.m. Morning Service 11:15 a.m. Sunday Bible Classes hartunitedmethodist.org 6 p.m. Evening Service (1st and 3rd Sundays) www.facebook.com/HUMCmichigan
Nursery provided Senior Pastor - James Enns Associate Pastor - Bryan Wolff Associate Pastor - Luke Craymer Adult small groups and family ministries every week Second Monday Food Pantry 9:15-11:30 a.m. www.rothburycommunity.com Becoming Committed Followers of Jesus Christ
Mears United Methodist Church
3757 W. Polk Rd. Hart, MI 49420 Do No Harm, Do Good, Stay In Love With God
Sunday Services
English: 10 a.m. Spanish/Español: 12:30 p.m. Clothing Closet: Every Wed. 4-6 p.m. Family Dinner: 1st & 3rd Wed. 5-6 p.m.
(231) 873-0832
Full class schedule on our website:
hartwesleyanchurch.org
308 S. State St., Hart, MI 49420
1990 N. 56th Ave. Mears, MI 49436 10 am Service 231-873-0875 www.mearsumc.org Pastor Bev Williams
All Are Welcome
10:30 AM Sunday Service Pastor Cydney Idsinga
If you would like an appointment with Pastor Cyd, please call 231-873-3516
St. Stephens
1820 Ray Ave. 231-861-5554 Sunday Services: 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Rev. John Medendorp www.neweracrc.org
Growing in Relationship with God, with Each Other, and with Our Community.
Shelby
Congregational
Lutheran Church United Church of Christ (LCMS)
51 E. Third St.
231-861-4404 • shelbycucc@gmail.com 7400 W. Johnson Rd., on Facebook • website under development Shelby • 231-861-2952 Sunday Service - 9:15 a.m. Sunday Service: 9:30 a.m. Coffee time follows School (Ages 4-12) • Nursery available • Chancel Summer Outdoor Service Sunday Choir & Bell Choir meet Wednesdays • Adult Bible Studies - Thursdays, Fall - May • 5th Saturday - Free Breakfast 8-10 a.m. • Hearing Loop • Barrier Free Rev. Kurt Overway
www.ststephensshelby.org
EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
5631 W. Stony Lake Rd. New Era, MI 49446 • 231-861-4059
office@tlcnewera.org • tlcnewera.org Rev. Sarah J. Samuelson Sunday Worship Service: 10 a.m. Barrier Free Access
Nursery Provided
claybankS united MethodiSt church
Sunday WorShip 10:30 a.m.
A warm welcome is extended to all who worship here
9197 56th avenue Montague, Mi
231-923-0573
claybankSuMc@gMail.coM
THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 26, 2025 7 In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors
obituaries Edith ‘Dee’ Ellen Fekken
November 5, 1952 ~ December 16, 2025
Shirley May Moore
March 7, 1959 ~ December 4, 2025 Shirley May Moore, 66, of Hesperia, passed away Thursday, December 4, 2025. She was born March 7, 1959 in Hart, the daughter of Eddie and Evelyn (Hoffman) Clark Sr. Shirley worked at Corewell Health, Gerber Campus, and in the home health care industry. She married Samuel Moore Jr. on June 24, 2006. Shirley is survived by: her brother Ron (Sharon) Clark; sisters-in-law, Pam Clark and Stacie Clark; and many nieces and nephews. Shirley was preceded in death by: her parents, Eddie and Evelyn; husband, Sam; brothers, Eddie Clark Jr., Jerry Clark and Frank Clark; in-laws, Samuel Moore Sr. and his wife; and her loving dog, Kaylee. A celebration of Shirley’s life will be held from 1-3 p.m., Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the Hesperia America Legion Post, 4075 S. 198th Ave., Hesperia, Michigan 49421. Memorial contributions may be made to: Hesperia American Legion Post #411, 4075 S. 198th Ave., Hesperia, Michigan 49421. Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is assisting with arrangements. www.harrisfhome.com
Edith “Dee” Ellen Fekken, age 73, passed away in Fruitport, Mich., on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Dee was born in Shelby, Mich., on November 5, 1952, to Kline and Jeanette (Morin) Robbins. She graduated from Montague High School in 1971 and went on to work as the Deputy Clerk for Grant Township for over 25 years. On March 31, 1973, she married William Fekken, and the two of them spent 52 wonderful years building their family together. Dee was a longtime member at Shiloh Tabernacle Church, where she was involved in their music ministry, their women’s Bible study and for a time was head of their women’s group. Dee loved taking care of her garden and watching the birds that came to visit her. She loved all animals, especially her chihuahua, Fluffy. She was a wonderful singer and brought joy to many people over the years with her voice. She was an excellent baker, and her no-bake cookies were beloved by many. She was a passionate, caring woman who loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Dee will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Bill Fekken; three daughters: Barbara (Justin) Troyer, Pamela (Joe) Lalonde and Sarah (David) Neubauer; nine grandchildren: Rebecca (Zach) Ruiz, Eric Moreen, Caitlyn Cecil, Mason Troyer, Mallory Troyer, Gregory Neubauer, Zachary Neubauer, Christopher Neubauer and Addison Neubauer; sister, Loretta Miller; and many nieces, nephews and other extended relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents and six siblings: Ronald, Carol, Donna, Sandy, Arthur and Linda. A Memorial Service will be held for Dee at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 2, 2026, at Shiloh Tabernacle Church, 460 E. Tyler Rd., Muskegon, MI, 49445. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Oceana County Council on Aging Arrangements entrusted to The Whitehall Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cre- brought the spirit of the season to lomation Services, 816 S. Mears Ave, Whitehall, MI, 49461. sytsemafh.com cal seniors this month at both the main center and the adult day center, Our Friends House. Festivities at the main center included two Christmas dinners with cookie decorating and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Jeanette May Greiner, 94, of Hart, passed away Monday, Our Friends House also enjoyed December 8, 2025, at her home. She was born December cookie decorating, along with a Christ2, 1931, in Whitehall, the daughter of Fredrick and Viomas party complete with holiday let (Christensen) Kassner. treats and featured music from the ukuJeanette married Eugene Martin Greiner on Seplele group "The String A'longs." Santa tember 10, 1955, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in
Oceana County Council on Aging celebrates the holiday season
Jeanette May Greiner
December 2, 1931 ~ December 8, 2025
Hart. They faithfully attended St. Joseph Catholic Church, and Jeanette was a member of the Altar Society. Jeanette had many interests in life, from crafts to fun, including quilting, reading, bowling, golfing and playing bingo. Jeanette’s family was most important, though; over 94 years she was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and dear friend. Jeanette is survived by: her loving husband of 70 years, Eugene Greiner; children, Greg (Deb) Greiner, Genia (Tony) Moses, Kevin (Ana) Greiner, Mark Greiner, Annette (Bill) Thompson and Tracy Greiner; grandchildren, Shaun (Katelyn) Greiner, Melissa Greiner, Eric Greiner, Steve (Jen) Greiner, Felicia Moses, Erica Moses, Tessie (Trey) McClenahan, Holly (Adam) Hallman, Joseph Greiner, Calvin Greiner, David Greiner, Damon (Theresa) Stafford, Shane Tanner, Garret Tanner, Hunter (Andena) Tanner and Gage Tanner; great-grandchildren, Olivia, Jordyn, Dez, and Theo Greiner, Blake and Ellie Cross, Savannah McClenahan, Olive and Parker Hallman, Aurora Greiner and Carson Stafford. Jeanette was preceded in death by: her parents, Fredrick and Violet Kassner; son, Geoffrey Greiner; and siblings, Herb Kassner, Charlie Kassner, Dorothy Murphy, Harold Kassner, and twin Jeanne Putman. In accordance with Jeanette’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in spring of 2026. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2380 W. Jackson Rd., Hart, MI 49420, or the Crystal Valley Care Fund, P.O. Box 451, Hart, MI 49420. Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. www.beaconfh.com
Obituary Information: We, at The Oceana Echo, offer our deepest condolences for your loss and are here to help you tell others about your loved one’s life and the plans you have made to honor, celebrate and remember them. If you would like to place an obituary with us, please tell your arrangement specialist or email us at theoceanaecho@gmail.com.
and Mrs. Claus also paid Our Friends House a visit to deliver candy canes and warm wishes for the winter season. To round out the holiday festivities, Oceana County Council on Aging hosted a Kids Connect Corner in partnership with Read Early, Read Often on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 11 a.m. Families enjoyed crafts, Christmas cookies, a book to take home and Storytime with Santa at 1:30 p.m. For more information about these and upcoming events contact OCCOA Program Director Bradley Youngstrom at 231-873-4461.
MDARD to host in-person Core review and certification testing in Oceana and Mason in 2026 Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, the MSU Pesticide Safety Education Program, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division (PPPMD) will offer in-person Core Manual review classes followed by Core pesticide applicator certification testing in Oceana and Mason counties in 2026. Oceana County: The Core review and testing session will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at the West Central Michigan Horticulture Research and Extension Center, located at 5185 N. Oceana Dr., Hart. Mason County: The Core review and testing session will be held on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at West Shore Community College, located at 3000 N. Stiles Rd., Scottville. The four-hour Core review will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will cover all chapters of the "National Pesticide Applicators Certification Core Manual." The review will take place in the morning, followed by MDARD-administered exams in the afternoon after a brief lunch break. Participants are strongly encouraged to read and study the Core Manual prior to attending the review.
Core Manual copies may be purchased online at msupesticidemanuals.com. Limited copies are also available at the Oceana County MSU Extension Office; please call 231-8732129 for availability. Exams offered include Private Core. Commercial Core, fumigation standard and aerial standard. Please note: No commercial category exams will be offered. Attendance at the review session is required in order to participate in the in-person testing. Advance registration and a $25 fee are required. Registration and payment may be completed online at https://www.canr.msu.edu/ events/rupreview-core-testing-jan-132026-hart or by contacting the Oceana County MSU Extension Office at 231873-2129. Participants may earn four Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) recertification credits for Core. Please indicate your intent to receive credits at the time of registration. There is no on-site fee to take the MDARD-proctored exam. MDARD staff will provide a self-addressed stamped envelope for submitting certification fees for those who successfully pass the exam.
bad weather that kept away many Hollywood guests, and as gamblers didn’t have rooms at the hotel, they took their winnings and gambled elsewhere. The DECEMBER 26, 2025 THE OCEANA ECHO casino lost $300,000 in its first week. • On Dec. 27, 1935, Regina Jonas became the first woman ordained as a rabbi. After many male rabbis fled Germany during World War II, she stepped into the void, though synagogues, at least, would not welcome FROM KING FEATURES SERVICE, her. SheWEEKLY died in Auschwitz. FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, • On Dec. 28, 1917, writer/satirist 300 W. 57th STREET, 15th FLOOR, NEW H.L. Mencken published a Count histoFROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, • On Dec. 29, 1609 or 1610, 300 W. 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United Auto Workers as the only barOn Dec. 1936,employees. autoworkers gaining agent30, for GM’s An By JoAnn Derson occupied Fishadditional the goalGeneral was forMotors the company 2025 er Plant Number in Flint, to Body stop outsourcing workOne to nonunion Michigan, of America’s first plants and into one establish a fair minisit-down strikes, lasted 44system days. mum wage scale,which a grievance Their aim:of to win recognition of the and a set procedures to help protect United Auto Workers the injury. only barassembly-line workersasfrom gaining agent GM’s employees. An On Dec. 31,for 1879, inventor Thomas additional goal wasonlookers for the company Edison delighted with the to stop outsourcing work to first public demonstration of nonunion his incanplants to establish a Park, fair minidescentand lightbulb in Menlo New mum a grievanceRailroad system Jersey.wage Thescale, Pennsylvania and a set ofeven procedures to help Company ran special trainsprotect to the assembly-line workers from injury. city for the event. On Dec. 1879, the inventor Jan. 31, 1, 1995, tales Thomas of giant Edison delighted onlookers with the rogue waves recounted by sailors for first publicwere demonstration of his incancenturies finally proved when descent in Menlo New a freak lightbulb 85-foot-high wave Park, was meaJersey. The the Pennsylvania sured hitting Draupner oil Railroad platform Company even special trains to the off the coast of ran Norway. city the2,event. Onfor Jan. 2006, an explosion in the On Jan. theWest tales Virginia, of giant Sago Mine1, in1995, Sago, rogue recounted sailors for trappedwaves 13 coal miners. by Tragically, all centuries were finally proved towhen but one eventually succumbed carabon freak 85-foot-high waveThe wascave-in meamonoxide poisoning. sured hitting the Draupner oil platform launched scrutiny and criticism of the off the coast of Norway.that owned the media, the company On Jan. 2006, an explosion in the mine and 2,then-president George W. Sago in Sago, West Virginia, Bush’sMine administration. trapped 133,coal miners. Tragically, all On Jan. 1993, backup quarterback but oneReich eventually to carFrank led thesuccumbed Buffalo Bills to a bon monoxide The 41-38 overtimepoisoning. victory over thecave-in Houslaunched criticism of the ton Oilersscrutiny in an and American Football media, the company that owned the Conference playoff game immortalmine then-president George W. ized toand football fans as “The ComeBush’s back.” administration. On Jan. backup quarterback Jan.3,4,1993, 2007, Nancy Pelosi, a Frank Reich representative led the Buffalofrom BillsCalito a Democratic 41-38 victory thetoHousfornia,overtime became the first over woman hold ton Oilers in an House American Football the Speaker of the position. She x Conference playoff game would become Speaker againimmortalin 2018. 2025 King fans Features ized to©football asSynd., “TheInc.Comeback.” Here comes Badger, a lovable mountain of marshmallow On Jan. 4, 2007, Nancy Pelosi, a fluff who pads around like he’s guarding a secret meadow Democratic representative from Calisomewhere in his heart. Badger is 4–5 years old and is 93 fornia, became the first woman to hold pounds of gentle grandeur who moves through the world the Speaker of the House position. She with quiet dignity, as if he’s been entrusted with keeping would become Speaker again in 2018. the peace in your living room.
8
Oceana County ANIMAL SHELTER
Badger is gentle, gracious and has a soul that feels carved from a soft snowfall. Despite his size, he brings a calming presence that fills a home like warm light. He’s fantastic with other dogs, blending into any group like he’s always belonged there. Big dogs, small dogs, bouncy dogs, shy dogs. He offers polite nods and good manners all around. If you’re dreaming of a companion who’s steady, affectionate and just a touch majestic, Badger is ready to settle into his new forever home and keep watch over your heart. Badger is available for adoption from the Oceana County Animal Control. If interested, please call the shelter at 231-8615395. The adoption fee for cats is $35 and you receive certificates for $25 towards spay/neuter and $10 towards rabies if not already done. The adoption fee for dogs is $95 and 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 Badger
© 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
• One of the best ways to eat less at a holiday party is to eat something small that is healthy and minorly filling before you head out. You’ll make better decisions when you aren’t starving, and save yourself a ton of calories. Here are more ways to keep holiday parties from blowing your calorie budget. • “Going potluck? Bring your own healthy appetizer to the party. This way, you’ll be certain to have at least one dish you can pig out on. Go with cut vegetables and dip rather than bringing chips or bread. You can use the veggies to pair with other dips to save more calories.” — A.R. in Texas • Drinks are full of empty calories, whether they are cocktails or sugary sodas, so slow down and have water every other drink. When at the bar, ask for low-calorie mixers like soda water, not sugary juices, to whip up your cocktail. • “How much wine is in your pour? Extra-large cups and free-flowing bottles can mean super-sized servings of vino. A serving of wine is 5 ounces. Here’s a tip: Set your wine glass on the table. It will be easier to see how much is in your glass.” — Y.O. in New York • You might be packing it on, but you can also burn it off. Commit to dancing every other song. Get your workout out of the way early so you feel great in the evening. • “Walk away from the food table so you don’t graze. Never sit at a table with bowls of anything parked in front of you. Work the room instead.” — A.A. in Florida Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. © 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
By Lucie Winborne By Lucie Winborne • In 1945, Soviet children presented By in Lucie Winborne the U.S. ambassador Moscow with a • In 1945, Soviet presented Bychildren Lucie Winborne wooden Great Seal as a friendship gift.a the U.S. ambassador in Moscow with In 1945, Soviettochildren presented It•• just happened include a hidden wooden Great Seal as a friendship gift.a In 1945, Soviet children presented the U.S. ambassador in spied Moscow with listening device, which on AmerIt just happened to include a hidden the U.S. ambassador in Moscow with a wooden Great Seal as a friendship gift. ican diplomats forwhich seven yearson before it listening device, spied Amerwooden Great Seal as a friendship gift. It just happened to include a hidden wasjust discovered. ican diplomats seven yearson it It happened to include abefore hidden listening device,forwhich spied Amerwas discovered. • When humans blush, their stomach listening device, which spied on American diplomats for seven years before it also turns red. for blush, ican diplomats seven years before it • When humans their stomach was discovered. was discovered. also turnsBrazilian red. •• When The free-tailed bat uses humans blush, their stomach chirps, buzzes and trills to form unique • When humans blush, their stomach The Brazilian free-tailed bat uses also turns red. syllables in typetrills of “love song” to also turns red.a and chirps, buzzes to form unique • Thefemales, Brazilian free-tailed bat uses attract as well as“love wardsong” off male syllables in a type of to • The Brazilian free-tailed bat uses chirps, buzzes and trills to form unique competition. attract females, as well as ward off male chirps, buzzes and trills to form unique syllables in a type of “love song” to competition. • Onfemales, the sidesong” ofmale the syllables in a California type of as“love to attract as well ward off U.S.-Mexican border is a city named attract females, as well as ward off male • On the California side of the competition. 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England’s Victoria called Mexicali. called Mexicali. both the clergy and her personal physiEngland’s Queen Victoria defied • Parthenophobia is a fear of virgins. cian to the is first monarch to use • Parthenophobia a fear of virgins. both thebecome clergy Queen and her personal physi• England’s Victoria defied anesthesia (chloroform) during defied childcian to become the first monarch to use • England’s Queen Victoria both the clergy and her personal physibirth. anesthesia (chloroform) during childboth the clergy and her personal physician to become the first monarch to use birth. • Actor Liam Neeson trained be cian to become the first monarch usea anesthesia (chloroform) duringtoto childteacher but got fired after punching anesthesia (chloroform) during child• Actor Liam Neeson trained to be aa birth. student who pulled a knife on him. a birth. teacher got fired after punching • Actorbut Liam Neeson trained to be a student who pulled a knife on him. 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Inventor Grafham triedhand to tion huddle” inA.J. football, to ensure that his• teammates could interpret his increase car A.J. travel safety with his his couldGrafham interpret his • teammates Inventor triedhand to gestures. 1930’s sponge rubber seat,with which gestures. increase car travel safety his • Inventor A.J. Grafham triedfrom to promised to protect pedestrians 1930’s sponge rubber seat,with which • Inventor Grafham tried to increase car A.J. travel safety his injury if they were hit by a speeding promised to protect pedestrians from increase car travel safety his 1930’s sponge rubber seat,with which automobile. injury if they were hit by a speeding 1930’s sponge rubber seat, which promised to protect pedestrians from automobile. • In ifJapan, Ronald McDonald is promised to protect pedestrians from injury they were hit by a speeding known as Donald McDonald. injury if they were hit by a speeding • In Japan, Ronald McDonald is automobile. automobile. known Donald McDonald. Cumberbatch is the sec•• Benedict In as Japan, Ronald McDonald is ond cousin, 16 times removed, of King • In Japan, Ronald McDonald is Benedict Cumberbatch is the secknown as Donald McDonald. Richard whom heremoved, portrayedofinKing the known asIII, Donald McDonald. ond cousin, 16 times • Benedict Cumberbatch is the sec2016 BBC miniseries “The Hollow Richard III, whom he portrayed in the • Benedict is the second cousin, 16Cumberbatch times removed, of King Crown.” 2016 BBC miniseries “The Hollow ond cousin, 16 times removed, of King Richard III, whom he portrayed in the Crown.” *** Richard III, whom he portrayed in the 2016 BBC miniseries “The Hollow 2016 BBC for miniseries “The Hollow *** Day: Thought the “Although Crown.” Crown.” golf was for originally restricted to Thought the “Although *** Day: wealthy, overweight today ***Protestants, golf was originally restricted to Thought for thewho Day: “Although it’s open to anybody owns hideous wealthy, overweight Protestants, today Thought for the Day: “Although golf was— originally restricted to clothing.” Dave Barry it’s open to anybody who owns hideous golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today clothing.” — Dave Barry © 2025 King Features Synd., wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it’s open to anybody who ownsInc.hideous it’s open to— anybody whoSynd., ownsInc.hideous © 2025 King Features clothing.” Dave Barry clothing.” — Dave Barry © 2025 King Features Synd., Inc. © 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 26, 2025 9
Part one: G2S Academy offers a unique learning journey By AnnaMae Bush The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent Every school seems to have some. The kids whose eyes glaze over when the teacher talks for more than 5 minutes. The kids whose attention span seems minuscule. The kids who struggle with making positive choices time after time because they are bored or discouraged. The kids who rarely turn in written assignments. These students can get stuck with negative labels and may find themselves in the administrator’s office, detention or hearing their parents or guardians being informed of their behavior. These students are still developing key skills, which may detract from the learning environment for the others, so some school districts create separate educational spaces for these atrisk learners. The irony is that some of these students are the brightest and most creative students in the classrooms they disrupt. Their behavior may stem from the fact that they learn differently. The typical reading, writing, memorizing and reciting methods of learning may not work for them. An analogy can be found in learning to read. Typically, people learn to read using their eyes, but blind people must learn to read using their fingers, their sense of touch. Many have heard the adage, “Experience is the best teacher.” There truly is more than one way to learn something. Simply providing a separate space for these students is not always the answer. It may alter the learning environment for teachers and traditional students, but the isolated students need extra support. Some people may remember an alternative education attempt made in Mason County several years ago. The Ludington Public Schools leased a facility in which to educate the district’s at-risk learners. This experimental school was named “Journey.” Journey operated as a Shared Educational Entity between Ludington and Scottville, and Ludington was the fiscal agent. The majority of the 140 students were from these schools and Baldwin, with others from across the West Shore Educational Service District.
Jamie Bandstra, former Journey principal, had high praise for the teachers he described as devoted, hardworking and compassionate. He asserts, “I know the learning opportunities we were able to offer changed the lives of many students for the better.” Bandstra reported that Journey received a federal grant of a million dollars to incorporate a social and emotional learning model called the Leadership and Resiliency Program (LRP). This enhanced the effectiveness of the “project-based learning (PBL)” that the teachers employed. PBL is a teaching philosophy where students engage in hands-on learning. Although Journey had a positive impact on its students, there were challenges. Bandstra recalled some of them. “The only facility available at the time was a commercial building never designed or constructed for use as a school. It presented many barriers for the education we had envisioned. There was no funding for the extensive remodeling required, even for the maintenance needed for such a large building. Although the school accepted students from other districts, the Ludington district bore the lion’s share of the project – financially as well as from a reporting aspect. The students tended to do less well on state standardized testing, which reflected on Ludington district reports rather than the students’ home districts. It was unfair to Ludington and not a sustainable model.” The school closed in 2014. The vision, however, remained very much
alive. And the need never diminished. Education has never been or ever will be a “one size fits all” endeavor. The community’s concern for the students and the dedication of the teachers was firm. Prior to the closing of Journey, the superintendents from several area school districts had approached the Ludington superintendent with the wish to begin again. With the same vision, but with a different administrative structure, different funding and a different building in a different location. Bandstra was asked to take the vision forward with a group of like-minded community members. A leadership board of volunteers was formed to look for an appropriate facility and to raise the needed funding. Among the members of that leadership board were Margaret Mitchell, retired from a 40-year career in education; Doug Bacon, an engineer retired from a long career in school facilities; Wayne Brown, a well-respected local insurance representative; Chip Gwillim, an education administrator; and Doug Fallis, who was the first board president. Additional early leadership came from Brenda Anderson, Deb Plowe and Becky Stone who were Journey’s office manager, middle school teacher and counselor, respectively.
Mitchell recalls Bacon joined the board in 2012 and “spent close to five years fundraising and remodeling Foster’s Market in Scottville into the school now known as Gateway to Success Academy, aka G2S.” The building is as non-traditional as the project-based learning is. Happy to describe it, Bacon explains, “Gateway classrooms surround a central atrium lounge where students can socialize. When they come to school in the morning, the first thing many of them do is greet and hug each other in the lounge. Classroom walls have retractable garage doors to adjoining rooms, allowing flexibility for expanded space when needed. Gateway provides laundry facilities and shower facilities for students who otherwise have no access to those necessities.” Superintendent Melissa Zumbach explained, “Yes, we have a few homeless students here – the definition of homeless being understood as displaced – not
in a home with their parents. That can mean living with grandparents, using a hotel or couch surfing with friends. But we’re family here. We treat everyone like part of the family. We eat together. We learn together. We relax together. We try to provide what the students need to have a stable center for their lives. We use the services of a social worker for our
students and a family link at the United Way to help find legal documents (such as birth certificates) when necessary." When Journey closed in 2014, it had been hoped G2S would open that fall. But it was 2016 before G2S opened its doors to students, and they returned to their former schools in the meantime. The local districts agreed to provide specialized support for the students during the interim. It was a challenging time for all involved. Stay tuned for the next installment of this education story, which will describe the classes offered at G2S, the grading system, the three-annual exhibitions of student projects and student profiles.
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Village of Shelby, MI
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Village of Shelby Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and regular meeting on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at Shelby Village Hall, 218 N Michigan Ave Shelby, MI 49455. Please take further notice that the matter to be considered at the public hearing include the following: The Planning Commission issued its Notice of Intent to Plan in January of 2025.
3123 N. Oceana Dr., Hart, MI 49420
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The Commission has since reviewed the goals and objectives of the Plan, discussed future land use plans, evaluated demographics and housing data, and solicited input from the public via online and hard copy surveys. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to recommend the Village Council adopt the 2025 Village of Shelby Master Plan. Written documents may be submitted to the Clerk at 218 N Michigan Ave Shelby, MI 49455, up to the date of the hearing and may also be submitted at the hearing. Anyone interested in reviewing any related information may examine a copy at Shelby Village Hall by contacting the Clerk or Village Administrator at (231) 861-4400 during normal business hours, or by visiting the village website at shelbyvillage.com. Necessary and reasonable aids for disabled persons will be available with sufficient notice to the clerk.
10 DECEMBER 26, 2025 THE OCEANA ECHO
SPORTS
HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE
Tiger teams split holiday Manistee games Shelby shows effort in loss, hopes it soon pays off on the scoreboard By Andy Roberts The Oceana Echo Community Contributor Echo community correspondent Amanda Dodge contributed to this story.
Shelby’s Jayna Burmeister (center) makes her way to the bwasket against Manistee defenders during Saturday’s game at Shelby. Burmeister had a huge game in the Tigers’ 52-33 win. • Amanda Dodge/Echo
With 22 points and 16 rebounds, Burmeister stars on both ends in Shelby victory By Andy Roberts The Oceana Echo Community Contributor Echo community correspondent Amanda Dodge contributed to this story.
Shelby rode a 22-point night from sophomore star Jayna Burmeister to a 52-33 win over Manistee Saturday, the team’s final test before the winter break. The Tigers raced out to a big early lead and were never threatened from there, enabling coach Sarah Wolting to get plenty of playing time for her reserve players. She said her Tigers deserved credit for putting forth great effort throughout the game. “We just worked hard, is what it comes down to,” Wolting said. “Offensively, defensively, we fight for every rebound. We’re starting to click. Last
Shelby’s Michelle Peterson tries to drive past Manistee’s Lindsey Gardner during Saturday’s game at Shelby. The Tigers won, 52-33. • Amanda Dodge/Echo
year we struggled with that a little bit, and this year it’s just clicking.”
Tigers win big continued on page 11
Shelby coach Rick Zoulek sees the improvement in his team week to week - but concedes it’s frustrating for his team that the improvement isn’t manifesting on the scoreboard. The Tigers fell to Manistee Saturday, 4531, marking the team’s lowest point total of the season. However, Zoulek said the effort was there on defense throughout the game. “Sometimes it feels like there’s a lid on the basket,” Zoulek said. “We had some good shots and some good takes to the basket, and I was pleased with the effort. The effort was fine. We just have to find a way to put the ball in the basket.” Leighton Belasco’s
Shelby’s Evan Waller saves the ball from going out of bounds during Saturday’s game against Manistee. Adam Olson looks on for the Mariners. Manistee won, 45-31.
• Amanda Dodge/Echo
Shelby defenders, from left, Chace Oakes, Kamari Richmond, Eli Kelley and Tristan Johnson attempt to stop a drive by Manistee’s Landin Sowa during Saturday’s game at Shelby. The Tigers lost, 45-31.
• Amanda Dodge/Echo
six points led Shelby. Garcia’s start to the seaDefensively, Zoulek was son was affected by a pleased with Isaac Garcia’s work in particular. continued on page 11
Tigers fall
Hesperia unable to slow down Norsemen train By Andy Roberts The Oceana Echo Community Contributor HESPERIA — North Muskegon hasn’t lost a West Michigan Conference Rivers game in nearly three years, and Hesperia became the Norsemen’s latest victim last Thursday night, taking a 74-28 defeat. The visitors were much quicker and more decisive than Hesperia, and it showed especially on the defensive end, as they threw the Panthers on their heels, forced turnovers and turned those turnovers into easy layups. In the half-court, North Muskegon was remarkably efficient at finding open shooters, making seven three-pointers in the first half alone to build an insurmountable lead. “They’re very well-coached,” Hesperia coach Scott Warsaw said. “They were quicker than us. They’re very intelligent. They broke down our defense really fast. We tried to rotate, and they kicked it to the open man. We couldn’t fully rotate, and they got a lot of open shots.” There was a brief moment early in the game where the Panthers
Hesperia’s Tyler Rumsey goes to the basket while North Muskegon’s Jace Thompson defends during Thursday’s game at Hesperia. The Panthers lost, 74-28.
• Andy Roberts/Echo
were hanging around, thanks to a three-pointer by Marshall Norris that had the score at 8-5. However, Norsemen star Braylen Burrel made sure that moment was fleeting by hitting his own trey, his second of the game, and before long Hesperia was too far behind to catch up. One bright spot early was a Nate Sherburn three-pointer to beat the
Hesperia’s Weston Hasted drives to the basket while North Muskegon’s David Markiewicz defends during Thursday’s game at Hesperia. The Panthers lost, 74-28.
• Andy Roberts/Echo
first-quarter buzzer, making the score could use the experience to improve. 21-10. The Norsemen, though, out“If we’re down by 50 or if we’re up scored Hesperia 31-8 in the second by 50, (we see it as) it’s 0-0,” Warsaw quarter to essentially seal the win. said. “Let’s get better. We all know who Warsaw said his team was aware of what it was up against early on but focused on ways in which the players continued on page 11
Hesperia boys
THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 26, 2025 11
Fremont ends Hart’s Hart tops a ranked foe, 6-game win streak goes 3-2 at Freeland Duals By Andy Roberts
By Andy Roberts
The Oceana Echo Community Contributor
The Oceana Echo Community Contributor Hart’s six-game win streak to open the season ended in a very close 64-61 loss to Fremont last Thursday, a game matching two of the better teams in the respective divisions of the West Michigan Conference. The Pirates likely went to the locker room afterward regretting their missed chances at the free throw line, where they made only 6-of-18 attempts. A back-and-forth fourth quarter featured several lead changes, with Jagger Lenon’s consecutive three-pointers putting Hart ahead 54-53 late in the game. He had 15 points, all on treys. However, the Packers were able to get back ahead in the final minutes and hang on for the win. Hart led early in the
Hart’s Bryce Vander Kodde plays defense against Fremont in the post during the teams’ game Friday night. The Pirates lost, 64-61.
• Lindsey VanDerZanden/Echo game, 18-11, before Fremont stormed back to turn the contest into the slugfest it became. The Packers scored 11 straight points during the second quarter to take a slim 28-26 lead at halftime, and the teams battled back and forth the rest of the night. Caleb Ackley scored 14 points and had 16 rebounds for the Pirates,
Tigers fall
late-season broken hand during the Tigers’ district championship football campaign, but he’s worked his way back to health and his recent play has reflected that. “He’s scrappy,” Zoulek said. “He’s a tough kid. Maybe his football background helps that. I think he’s back to 100 percent now. We can feel his presence back in practice and in games. We just need the other guys around him to make more good choices with the basketball.” The Tigers battled back a couple of times during the second half, getting as close as seven points, but couldn’t find enough baskets to really make the Mariners sweat. Zoulek credited Manistee with playing well on offense against his own team’s high-effort defense. While Shelby dropped to 1-4 with the defeat, Zoulek said he can tell the team is communicating better defensively and putting itself in better positions. However, he also has been around the block enough to know
continued from page 10 such things can ring hollow with young players who want to see results. “That’s the frustrating part for them and for me is, they’re doing a lot of things right, but it’s hard to feel like you’re doing things right when you don’t make a basket,” Zoulek said. “I can see how much better we’re getting, but they don’t feel it because we’re losing by eight or 10 or whatever. If those things start going in and we can stay close or go ahead, that confidence level is going to change.” Eli Kelley paced Shelby on the boards, grabbing six rebounds. The winter break will enable the Tigers to hone their skills further, and perhaps when the team returns to action in January - battles await with Oakridge and North Muskegon, both on the road - the team will have more luck finding the points it needs to win. “I’m pleased with the progress, and I just want the kids to see it in the score more,” Zoulek said. “We just have to keep working at it.”
Hesperia boys they are. There’s no secret. They’re a machine. We just said, ‘Look, our goal is to get better.’ Even at halftime, we were talking about, ‘What can we do better as men, as basketball players, to compete?’” In that vein, Warsaw said his team has shown improvement early this season at generating good shots compared to last season. The Panthers were unable to hit many of them Thursday, but it’s a tangible thing they can see coming out of the work they are doing. The next step, according to their coach, is doing less thinking and more reacting on the court; he said his team was prepared for the Norse-
and Kolton Rockwell also scored 14 points. Coach Nick Bronsema credited Miguel Escamilla with “amazing defense” to go with his six points. “Though the final seconds didn’t fall their way, this team showed tremendous character in a game that could have easily gone either direction,” Bronsema said.
continued from page 10
men defense but just didn’t make decisions quickly enough. “We talk about how we break the zone or how the zone is breaking or how we want to rotate,” Warsaw said. “Instead of just doing it, we’re thinking, ‘Now I should do this,’ and it’s too late. It’s just got to be muscle memory. It will come.” Nate Ruhstorfer paced Hesperia in scoring with eight points, also grabbing eight rebounds, and Tyler Rumsey and Weston Hasted each added six points. Ruhstorfer and teammate Malakai Sellers, who was held scoreless Thursday but has been a top performer for
Hart wrestled against some elite competition Saturday at the Freeland Duals, notching a 3-2 record. Three of the Pirates’ five matches were against ranked opponents, and the Pirates were 1-2 in those matches; Hart defeated Division 3 No. 9 Ogemaw Heights 39-29 and fell to Division 4 No. 3 St. Louis 40-39 (the Sharks won on tiebreaker criteria) and to Division 2 No. 8 Freeland 49-17. Hart also defeated Williamston 4626 and beat Zeeland East 48-26. Jordan Thies highlighted Hart performances by going 4-0, pinning all four of his opponents. Haegan Hansen and Adrian Lara each went 4-1; Lara pinned three opponents and won an overtime decision, and Hansen recorded two pins and two wins by decision.
Shelby takes 7th, Hesperia 10th at Chip Hills Shelby and Hesperia both wrestled at Saturday’s Chippewa Hills Invitational, with the Tigers earning a seventh-place finish and Hesperia taking 10th. Brody Fessenden starred for the Tigers, picking up the title at the 157-pound weight class with a 4-0 re-
cord. Fessenden scored bonus points in all four of his wins, pinning his first two opponents and scoring technical falls in his final two matches, including a 16-1 win over Big Rapids’ Bryce Selzer in the finals. Shelby also had two finalists finish in second place. Jaylin Henderson took second at 165 and went 3-1. He scored a pin in his first match and earned a decision and a technical fall to reach the finals. He lost a hardfought battle to Greenville’s Chayson Eberspeaker, 4-2, in the championship match. Alden Beyer was also second, at 113 pounds. Beyer pinned two opponents to reach the finals before falling to Gladwin’s Kolten Greaves in the title match by major decision. Cesar Cadena placed third for Shelby at 120, also going 4-1. Cadena pinned his first two opponents and scored a dramatic overtime victory in the third-place match, 4-1. Carter Fuentes had Hesperia’s top finish at the meet, placing second at 106. Fuentes scored two pins and a technical fall to reach the championship match, losing to Stevensville Lakeshore’s Chase Jacobs in the finals. The Panthers’ second top-3 finish came from Aiden Smith, who was third at 138. Smith went 3-1, scoring two pins and then a decision in the third-place match.
Tigers win big
Burmeister also pulled down 16 rebounds and hit four three-pointers in the game. The sophomore has picked up right where she left off from an impressive freshman season as the Tigers have won their first three games by double-figure margins. “Jayna Burmeister is probably the strongest kid out there,” Wolting said. “She moves well, she scores well, she plays defense well. She’s a great allaround player. She’s starting to be that leader and get people to where they’re supposed to be.” Also for Shelby, Jordan Wolting had eight points and Michelle Peterson chipped in seven. The game wasn’t fully without deficiencies for the Tigers, though. Wolting said the team could have communicated better on defense, and outside shooting and post play will continue to be points of emphasis. “We always have stuff to work on,” Wolting chuckled. “There’s so much Hesperia early in the season, provide a lot of positive traits to the team, Warsaw said, but the most obvious of them is energy. “They’re high energy guys,” Warsaw said. “We always talk about, if you’re going to make a mistake at least go all out.” Going forward, the Panthers hope they can translate lessons learned Thursday into games later in the season against opponents a little more vulnerable than the Norsemen proved to be. The focus is on game-togame improvement. “No one likes to get beaten like that, but we’re hoping we can turn this into a good experience, watch some film and say, this is what we can do better,” Warsaw said. “This is what’s in our control. Hopefully we’ll improve. That’s all we can do.”
continued from page 10
Shelby’s Ava Lamberg looks for a teammate to pass to after coming up with the ball during Saturday’s game against Manistee.
• Amanda Dodge/Echo
to work on. This group comes every day, and we do work hard. That’s awesome. Being so young, you never know what you’re going to get, but these girls want to get better, for each other and for themselves.”
Hesperia’s Nate Ruhstorfer tries to get past North Muskegon’s Bronson Hurst during last Thursday’s game at Hesperia. The Panthers lost, 74-28.
• Andy Roberts/Echo
Volume3,3,Issue Issue77 DECEMBER DECEMBER26, 26,2025 2025 2025 Volume
THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 26, 2025 12
Total Raised: $107,511.25 Lead this Legacy REFLECTIONSReflections OF OUR COMMUNITY Reflections ofour ourcommunity community community of
White Lake Mirror White YOUR LOCALLYOWNED OWNEDAND ANDOPERATED OPERATEDNONPROFIT NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE YOUR LOCALLY OWNED NEWS SOURCE YOUR LOCALLY AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE
Hoopsstars starsprofess professtheir theirfaith faithafter afterrivalry rivalry game game Hoops not something often seen afAnderson,Herremans Herremans It Itwas It was was not something often seen not something often seen af-afAnderson, ter any game, least of all a noted rivalry ter any game, least a noted rivalry gather teams for any game, least ofof allall a noted rivalry gatherteams teamsfor for terlike Whitehall/Montague. But for Angather like Whitehall/Montague. But for Anlike Whitehall/Montague. But foranAnpostgame prayer postgame prayer derson and Herremans, it sent derson and Herremans, it sent an imimpostgame prayer
derson and Herremans, it sent an important message. portant message. portant message. "Showing "Showing God's God's glory glory in in aa basketbasketWhite Lake Mirror Editor "Showing God'severybody's glory in a basketWhite Lake Mirror Editor ball game when here, ball game when everybody's here, so so MONTAGUE — At the end of game when everybody's here, soto MONTAGUE — At the end ofball they know that's what we're trying they know that's what we're trying to MONTAGUE — win At the Montague end of Whitehall's knowand that's what we're trying to Whitehall's 64-38 64-38 win over over Montaguethey support that's what we're about," support and that's what we're about," Whitehall's 64-38 win over Montague Friday and that's whattold we're about," Friday night, night, the the teams teams shook shook hands hands at atsupport Anderson Anderson said. said. "I "I just just told them them while while Friday night,That the teams shook hands at midcourt. was normal. What said. "I just told'Let's thempray while midcourt. That was normal. What haphap-Anderson we were shaking hands, afwe were shaking hands, 'Let's pray afmidcourt. That was normal. What happened weterwards,' were shaking hands, 'Let's pray afpened next next was was not. not. and they were all with it. II terwards,' and they were all with it. penedSuddenly, next was not. and theyawesome were all with it. I Suddenly, without without much much preamble, preamble,terwards,' just think that's that we're just think that's awesome that we're Suddenly, without much preamble, Whitehall's think that's awesome that we're Whitehall's Corde Corde Anderson Anderson and and MonMon-just showing showing our our love love for for Him." Him." Whitehall's Corde Anderson and Montague's our love for Him." tague's Cole Cole Herremans Herremans were were herding herdingshowing The idea was born of a The idea was born of a group group both both tague's Cole Herremans were herding teammates The idea was born of a First group both teammates and and opponents opponents alike alike to to the the players are part of called Priority, players are part of called First Priority, teammates and opponents alike to the The middle TheWhitehall Whitehalland andMontague Montagueteams teamsgather gatherfor foraapostgame postgameprayer prayerafter afterthe theVikings' Vikings'64-38 64-38 middle of of the the court. court. Within Within moments, moments,players are part of called First Priority, The Whitehall and Montague teams The gather for a which postgame prayer after thebyVikings' 64-38 middle of the and court. Withinwere moments, win over Montague Friday night. prayer, was championed First both teams coaches in a cirwin over Montague Friday night. The prayer, which was championed by First Priority Priority both teams and coaches were in a cirwin over Montague Friday night. The prayer, and which was championed by First Priority gospel both teams and coaches were in a circle gospel group group members members Corde Corde Anderson Anderson (34) (34) and Cole Cole Herremans Herremans(3), (3),was wasendorsed endorsedby by cle saying saying aa prayer. prayer. continued on page 6 gospel group members Corde Anderson (34) and Cole Herremans (3), was endorsed by both coaches after the game. • Andy Roberts/Mirror cle saying a prayer. continued on page 6 both coaches after the game. • Andy Roberts/Mirror continued on page 6 both coaches after the game. • Andy Roberts/Mirror
By Andy Roberts By Andy Roberts By Andy White LakeRoberts Mirror Editor
Postgame prayer Postgameprayer prayer Postgame
Bringing joy joy Bringing tothe theholidays holidays to
The Chase Family Christmas Lights Display, located The Chase Family Christmas Lights Display, located onChase Kenwood Road in TwinLights Lake, is alwayslocated a local The Family Christmas on Kenwood Road in Twin Lake,Display, is always a local of Road the holiday season. The displayaislocal open onhighlight Kenwood in Twin Lake, is always highlight of the holiday season. The display is open nightly through Dec. 31 and features an enormous highlight the holiday season. The display is open nightly of through Dec. 31 and features an enormous lights display as well 31 as nightly visits from Claus nightly and features an Santa enormous lights through display asDec. well as nightly visits from Santa Claus anddisplay the Grinch. There is no fee to visit, and donations lights as well as nightly visits from Santa Claus and the Grinch. There is no fee to visit, and donations arethe accepted Rolling a veterans charity. and Grinch.for There is noThunder, fee to visit, and donations are accepted for Rolling Thunder, a veterans charity. • Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos are• accepted for Rolling Thunder, a veterans charity. Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos
Friendsof ofthe thePlayhouse Playhousepresent presentto to city city council council Friends • Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos
By By Andy Andy Roberts Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor By Andy White LakeRoberts Mirror Editor
The council also approved Tavernicompared to 2024, buoyed by a $3 in funding it's been made aware is The council also approved Tavernicompared to 2024, buoyed by a $3 in funding it's been made aware is increase in per-ticket prices, one of available from the Edna Blomdahl er's pursuit of aalso grant with the Michifunding from it's been is The council approved Tavernicompared buoyed by one a $3of inavailable er's pursuit of a grant with the Michiincrease to in 2024, per-ticket prices, the made Edna aware Blomdahl Fund, part of the Community Foundagan Coastal Management program. the recommendations made by the increase in per-ticket prices, one of available from the Edna Blomdahl er's pursuit of a grant with the MichiWhite Lake Mirror Editor Fund, part of the Community Foundagan Coastal Management program. the recommendations made by the The Whitehall city council heard The Whitehall city council heardthe tion for Muskegon County. That fund The Coastal grant could defray costs associcommittee. Increased made revenues Management program. recommendations by from the of the Community The grant could defray costs associcommittee. Increased revenues from Fund, tion part for Muskegon County. FoundaThat fund gan aThe presentation the Friends Whitehall from city council heardof a presentation from the Friends ofcommittee. provides support for the Playhouse ated with the next update of the city's beverage sales, flex pass sales and the The grant could defray costs associIncreased revenues from tion for Muskegon County. That fund ated with the next update of the city's provides support for the Playhouse beverage sales, flex pass sales and the Playhouse from at its Tuesday meeting, a the presentation Friends of the Playhouse at its the Tuesday meeting, master plan, which expires in 2030. each year. Friends' annual fundraiser also helped withplan, the next update of the city's beverage sales, flex pass salesalso andhelped the provides support for the Playhouse ated master which expires in 2030. Friends' annual fundraiser each year. updating the city on the Playhouse's theupdating Playhouse its Tuesday meeting, theatcity on the Playhouse's would become available were discussed Tues- Grant money the Playhouse. The facilityalso was used on eachOther plan, which 2030. year. grants annual fundraiser Grant money wouldexpires becomein available Other grants were discussed Tues- master the Playhouse. The facility washelped used on 2025 activities. Frank Bednarek of the Friends' updating the city on the Playhouse's 2025 activities. Frank Bednarek of thethe in 2027. The plan's "special emphasis 298 days in 2025 through Nov. 30, acday, including one city manager Dan Grant money would become available Other grants were discussed TuesPlayhouse. The facility was used on 298 days in 2025 through Nov. 30, acday, including one city manager Dan in 2027. The plan's "special emphasis Friends, as well as Playhouse executive 2025 activities. Frank Bednarekexecutive of the Friends, as well as Playhouse coastal and consercording to 2025 the presentation. Tavernier is pursuing for the Dan Lake on2027. The preservation plan's "special emphasis including city manager days in through Nov. 30, ac- day, coastal preservation and conserTavernier is one pursuing for the Lake inon cording to the presentation. director Beth Beaman, gave the pre- 298 Friends, as well as Playhouse executive director Beth Beaman, gave the pre-cording Another recommendation was that Street lift station (station No. 4) and vation," Tavernier said, qualifies the to the recommendation presentation. Tavernier isstation pursuing for No. the 4) Lake onvation," coastalTavernier preservation and conserAnother was that Street lift (station and said, qualifies the sentation. director Beth Beaman, gave the presentation. the city provide up to $50,000 in fundresurfacing project. He said he's been city to pursue the grant, which would Street lift station (station No.he's 4) and vation," Tavernier said, qualifies the Another recommendation was that resurfacing project. He said been city to pursue the grant, which would the city provide up to $50,000 in fundThe two went over how the Playsentation. The two went over how the Play-the asked by staffers with the city not exceed $50,000; Tavernier he ing over the next five$50,000 years for opera- resurfacing city provide up to in fundproject.associated He said he's been pursue the grant, which said would ing over the next five years for opera- asked by staffers associated with the nottoexceed $50,000; Tavernier said he house went about The two went over enacting how the recomPlayhouse went about enacting recom-ing tional expenses, while the Friends purgrant if the project can be made larger, currently plans a $30,000 budget for exceed plans $50,000; Tavernier said he over expenses, the next five years for operastaffers associated withlarger, the not currently a $30,000 budget for tional while the Friends pur- asked grantby if the project can be made mendations made enacting by the Playhouse house went about recommendations made by the Playhouse to which recommended lift larger, station currently costs associated the master plan sue aexpenses, potentialwhile endowment fundpurthat grant plans awith $30,000 budget for tional the Friends if thehe project can be made sue a potential endowment fund that to which he recommended lift station costs associated with the master plan sustainability committee that met sevmendations made by the that Playhouse sustainability committee met sev-sue 2, which is next on thelift city's rota- costs update. could cover those expenses fund in the long toNo. which he recommended station associated with the master plan a potential endowment 2, which is next on the city's rota- update. cover those expenses in thethat long No. eral times earlier this year in an seveffort could sustainability committee that met eral times earlier this year in an effortcould During public comment, Tamara term.cover At present, Bednarek said, the tion of replacement projects. Tavernier No. 2, of which is next on the city's rota- update. those expenses in the long term. At present, Bednarek said, the tion replacement projects. Tavernier During public comment, Tamara to bring the Playhouse, which is owned eral earlier this yearwhich in aniseffort totimes bring the Playhouse, owned Local Development Finance Authority said it's a good opportunity for the city, Horne expressed hope the city could ofit's replacement projects. for Tavernier During public comment, Tamara present, Bednarek the tion expressed hope the city could LocalAtDevelopment Financesaid, Authority said a good opportunity the city, Horne and operated by the city, closer to term. to bring the Playhouse, which owned to has budgeted $40,000 in 2026 to pro- and the project is already budgeted for look into an ordinance surrounding and operated by the city,is closer a good opportunity for the city, expressed hope thesurrounding city could Local Finance Authority has Development budgeted $40,000 in 2026 to pro- said andit's the project is already budgeted for Horne look into an ordinance self-sufficient. and operated by the city, closer to self-sufficient. vide that support. via bonds the council approved earlier data centers. Horne noted that recent budgeted $40,000 in 2026 to pro- and project already budgeted for look an ordinance surrounding The Friends reported progress has viathe bonds the is council approved earlier datainto centers. Horne noted that recent vide that support. self-sufficient. The council made a 5-0 approval this year. The grant, should the city reThe Friends reported progress bonds approved made in that regard, with just under vide that Thesupport. council made a 5-0 approval viathis year.the Thecouncil grant, should theearlier city re- data centers. Horne noted that recent The in Friends reported made that regard, with progress just under (Bryan Mahan and Roger Squiers were ceive it, would make the project even The council a 5-0Squiers approval year. grant, should the city even rea 50% increase in ticket sales in 2025 (Bryan Mahan made and Roger were this ceive it,The would make the project made in increase that regard, with sales just under a 50% in ticket in 2025 absent) to formally request the $12,400 more manageable for the city. continued on page 7 it,manageable would makeforthe (Bryan Mahan and Roger Squiers were ceive absent) to formally request the $12,400 more theproject city. even continued on page 7 a 50% increase in ticket sales in 2025 absent) to formally request the $12,400 more manageable for the city. continued on page 7
Council Council Council
13 DECEMBER 26, 2025 THE OCEANA ECHO THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR DECEMBER 26, 2025 2
Whitehall school board approves VAC audio upgrades By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor WHITEHALL — The Whitehall school board unanimously approved a quote from Parkway to install audio upgrades at the Viking Athletic Center for a cost of $23,449 during its Monday, Dec. 15 meeting. Parkway, based in Holland, was one of two companies to submit bids for the project. Superintendent CJ Van Wieren said that ever since there were audio issues with the system in place at the Whitehall High School graduation in May, he's been eyeing a potential upgrade to the VAC's audio equipment. Van Wieren, who said he doesn't believe the company that installed the original audio system is in operations anymore, said Parkway has told him
they expect the upgrades to hold up amid big events like graduation. Among the changes Parkway will make, according to its quote, are a new handheld transmitter and receiver, a new processor and a new amplifier, a new wall rack and the relocation of existing speakers. The board also unanimously approved the first budget amendment. The amendment painted a largely rosy picture for the district, which has seen positive impacts since Michigan passed a state budget that included a larger per-pupil allowance than the district had budgeted for. Categoricals and other funding areas also saw positive impacts as a result of state funding. In all, the district now projects that it will have to make a much smaller use of its fund balance than it originally did, taking out $197,123 instead of the originally pro-
jected $335,710. Because of these impacts, said treasurer Jimmy TenBrink, it's possible the district could look into using some spare funds to make some small building improvements that were outside the scope of the bond approval made by district voters in November. Regarding that bond approval, Van Wieren gave an update on his recent meetings with Pure Architects and Clark Construction that set a preliminary timetable for the improvements the district plans to enact with the bond funding. He said that after consulting with those companies, the most likely timetable would see the projects at the middle school and at Ealy Elementary completed over the summer of 2027, with projects at Shoreline Elementary and the high school following in the
summer of 2028. Unfortunately, due to the scope of the work, it is impractical to complete it during the school year, although it's possible some roofing work that was part of the bond approval could be completed this coming summer. The district is also looking into addressing the Shoreline Elementary drop-off and school bus loop, which have been the subject of public comments in the recent past, to mitigate safety concerns there. Van Wieren added the district is making the HVAC systems in the district that need attention a priority, as they are already past their projected useful life, and were they to break down, that would have adverse effects on the school buildings, including potentially requiring their temporary closure.
Rothbury council addresses attendance issue By Claire Marshall White Lake Mirror Writer
ROTHBURY — All seven members of the Rothbury Village Council were present for the Tuesday, Dec. 16 meeting, including president Vern Talmadge, who had been absent from the previous two meetings. These prior absences were noted by the council, and addressed with a review of council attendance policies which state any absent member must inform the clerk as soon as possible and provide reason for the absence. In turn, and upon presentation from the clerk to the council, the present members shall vote on whether or not the absence is excused, the results of which will be recorded and used to track attendance. Three unexcused absences in a fiscal year may result in the council considering the seat vacant. Trustee Denise Kurdziel said in a statement to the council, “The village president has an opportunity to start fresh and fully step into the leadership role of this position. That means actively engaging in village activities and raising the bar on how the village operates…” She concluded that if the village president cannot do this, then he should consider stepping down and allowing the council and village to move forward. Trustee Autum Drake agreed, stating she did not believe it was fair for the rest of the council and the village for the president to collect a paycheck without adequate engagement. Talmadge agreed that this was not fair, and explained he’d been busy in a way that was “out of the ordinary” due to familial and personal circumstances.
With the attendance policy addressed, Kurdziel concluded saying that the council was looking forward to a fresh start and leadership from the president going into 2026. The DNR has awarded the Village of Rothbury a $150,000 grant to go towards improvements at Czarny Park, with the village matching funds of $235,000 for a total of $385,000. The priority item of the projected improvements, according to recent discussion, has been a new bathroom facility at the park. The cost for the “stick build” construction which would include split gender bathrooms, handicap accessibility, and storage for maintenance equipment - was estimated by Prein & Newhof for a total cost of $219,500, with a pre-fab design going up in cost. This preliminary estimation was higher than the council had anticipated, and members had been working to secure alternate estimates for a durable stick build including all the requested amenities from companies across West Michigan, with Drake expressing
her belief that the council should be able to find someone to construct the facility for under $200,000. The council has been deliberating on various options for the bathroom construction since summer, and plan to come to a decision on the final project scope - on which the request for bids will be based - at the next meeting in January, by which hopefully further estimates will be received. For new business, the Village received a request from Electric Forest LLC for theirs and the properties of the Howard and Lucille Goerbig Family Trust to be annexed from neighboring Grant Township into the village. This request includes the two Electric Forest LLC Parcels and three parcels of Goerbig Trust land, which are located adjacent to the village-owned Double JJ Resort. These parcels are identified in the formal written request as “certain additional lands [comprising] the festival.” The council found there to be “no downsides” to this possible annexation, which is expected to enhance noise mitigation, bring in an
additional tax revenue for Rothbury, and would not affect Grant Township. For Electric Forest, the intention is to improve the overall patron experience by “creating a safe, secure, and sustainable environment for the festival’s long-term success.” Electric Forest LLC also claimed the annexation “is to the advantage and benefits of the residents of Rothbury, village business development, to improve the general eco-
nomic condition of the village, and to improve the village’s tax base.” The trustee of the Goerbig trust likewise expressed support of their property’s inclusion in this annexation. Following the unanimous approval of the annexation, the village will deliver a petition to the county commissioners to review and approve at their next meeting. According to trustee Mike Harris, commission chair
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Robert Walker has voiced his support of the annexation. The village-wide residential light decoration contest winners were also announced. In first place was the Walsworth family, followed by the Roesler and Canales families in second and third respectively, with honorable mentions for Caniff and Lohman.
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3 DECEMBER 26, 2025 THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 26, 2025 14
Community Calendar Saturday, Dec. 27 Monday, Dec. 29 Live trivia @ White Lake Eagles, 7 Live trivia @ Red Rooster Tavern, 7 p.m. p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28 Tuesday, Dec. 30 Steve Thielman performs @ Book Baby Time @ White Lake CommuNook & Java Shop, 10 a.m. to noon. nity 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. New Year's Noon Party @ White Lake Community Library, 11:30 a.m.
Enjoy games, crafts, music, and a festive atmosphere as we count down to 12:00 PM. At the stroke of noon, we’ll celebrate with a balloon drop. Pretty Fun trivia @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 6:15 p.m.
Echoes of History: History The life of Annie Dowling (Pt. 2) By Tom Eitniear Volunteer Contributor Part 1 of this story ran in the Dec. 19 issue of the White Lake Mirror. Good fortune can be as fleeting as a wisp of smoke on a summer breeze, and Annie had no idea what a roller coaster her life would become as on Nov. 19, 1878, her brother Robert passed away, presumptively due to wounds sustained during the Civil War. Robert probably served as the only father figure Annie had during her youth, and his death was most likely an emotional blow to her. After the death of Robert a few years passed in relative comfort where George pursued his business interests and his duties associated with the Masonic Temple, and Annie spent her time raising their child and keeping house. On May 19, 1882, three days after Willie’s sixth birthday, Annie and George were devastated by the death of their only child due to what was noted as malarial fever. The loss of their child was only part of the tumultuous occurrences in their lives as the business firm of Ferry Dowling & Co. experienced financial challenges which caused George to exit the partnership. Annie’s mother Catherine moved in with them in the mid 1880s, perhaps to provide Annie with some companionship since George was quite busy with a variety of business ventures that took him out of town frequently. Suffering from illness in March 1888, Catherine opted to move to the sanitarium in Battle Creek to take advantage of the benefits found there, and by 1889 had indeed benefited to the point that she was contemplating a return to George and Annie, but unfortunately,
she contracted an acute sudden disease and passed away peacefully at the sanitarium Aug. 10, 1889. Annie had just lost the person who had been with her since birth. Her only remaining original family member, her sister Elizabeth, lived in Lansing. Shortly after Catherine’s death, George continued to be busy with business and Masonic duties, plus he had just purchased 40 acres near their home with the intention of turning it into a private park which he dubbed “Buttermilk Springs.” Additionally, George found himself a defendant in several lawsuits that resulted from his association with the Ferry Dowling & Co. firm. All of these issues kept George busy, so Annie decided to get a dog. This new family member was a Newfoundland puppy which she named Prince. Annie spent her time gardening and planting flowers around her home, turning it into a beautiful garden that many local people admired. She also spent time serving on committees associated with the White Lake and West Oceana Agricultural Society. On Saturday night, June 21, 1890, a strong thunderstorm moved through the neighborhood and lightning struck the Dowling house, demolishing a chimney and causing other damage as well. The following morning George showed the damage to Jerome Weeks, who was their hostler and who resided in their barn. Upon seeing the damage Jerome appeared to have been thrown into a nervous strain and the following morning when he did not show up for his usual activities George checked on him and found him in his bed in a stupor. Jerome could not be roused and by
Monday night had passed away. Afterwards it was learned that Jerome had been struck by lightning about seven years prior, and upon seeing how close the lightning had struck, he sunk into the stupor. The probable cause of death was noted as apoplexy. Jerome was not the only hired hand of the Dowling’s that met with the bony hand of death. William Schmidt had been a guardian for George and Annie from about 1879-89 and passed away Monday, March 28, 1892, approximately three years after becoming too infirm to continue attending to the gardening duties. On Feb. 26, 1895, Annie and six other local women engaged in a sleigh ride to Muskegon to visit the Hackley Library and enjoy a mid-day meal at the Occidental Hotel. Shortly after their departure, George phoned Mr. Barney, the landlord of the hotel, to apprise him of their pending visit and provided instruction to treat the ladies as royalty. When the ladies arrived at the hotel they were escorted to the best room in the hotel and found “an elegant spread on an exquisitely decorated table.” The ladies immediately claimed they were in the wrong room and that a mistake had been made, but the landlord assured them that everything was in order. The ladies enjoyed a splendid meal, which was followed by a marvelous visit to the library, and when they returned home that evening around 6:30 p.m. they indeed felt as if they had a royal time. This event showcased the influence that George possessed, as well as his consideration for others. In late February 1896, George sustained a severe fall on the stone steps
Annie Dowling circa 1875. • Montague Museum/Courtesy Photo
of Ripley’s drug store. George had been in poor health for the past two years and the accident had left him feeble and barely able to move around even after 2 weeks of rest. At 3 a.m. Monday, March 30, 1896, George died as a result of heart failure, thereby launching Annie into the most strenuous, challenging phase of her life. Attending to the tasks associated with a funeral and burial, Annie laid George to rest next to their son Willie in the family plot at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Montague. With only a short time to grieve her loss, Annie had to address the estate of her deceased husband who had died intestate. Heirship in this case was 50% of the estate would go to the widow, Annie, and the other 50% would go to the parents of the deceased, John and Phoebe Dowling.
New Year's Noon party coming to the library By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor Bring the whole gang for a family-friendly New Year’s celebration at the library Tuesday, Dec. 30! Everyone is invited to enjoy games, crafts, music, and a festive atmosphere as we count down to 12 p.m. At the stroke of noon, we’ll celebrate with a balloon drop. It’s the perfect way to kick off a year of fun, reading, and DeMumbrum adventure! Bring your friends and your party spirit, and make this New Year’s celebration one to remember. The party starts at 11:30 a.m., and no registration is required - just join us if you can! Looking for other fun stuff to do with the kids during the school break? Come in anytime to play the candy cane scavenger hunt or hang out in
the children’s corner. We also have a huge variety of toys, puzzles, and games you can borrow and play with at home. There are also two play groups open to all young children and their grownups. One meets Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and the other Fridays at 10 a.m., both in the Legacy Room. The library provides toys and music - you supply the kids and supervision. The groups will continue to meet weekly through the end of January. Regular storytime programs will resume in February. Coming Up - January Programs for Adults In addition to Calvin University’s January Series that runs Jan. 19-30, mark your calendar now and plan to attend these two upcoming events for adults at the library. Protecting Your Identity is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 1 p.m. A representative from HarborLight Credit Union will guide participants through today’s most common digital threats and share simple strategies for building a stronger online defense. This 30–40 minute workshop features practical, easy-to-understand infor-
mation designed for adults who want to safeguard their personal and financial information. It will be offered once a month from January through March. You can choose to attend just one session or come for all three. Everyone is welcome, and no tech experience is required. There is no charge to attend, and registration is not required. More information at wlclib.org/calendar. Eating for Energy will be held Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 5:30 p.m. If you feel sluggish, or the winter weather has you dragging, this event is for you. Join farmer, certified holistic health coach, and Good Food advocate Lori Lundell at the library to learn the benefits of high-quality food and how it can improve your energy level. Start your year off right! Register to save your seat today by calling the library at 231-8949531 or visiting our website at wlclib. org/calendar. FUN FACT: Someone has their identity stolen every 4 seconds in the United States. Sixty percent of victims don't find out about the identity theft until three or more months after it occurs. Victims spend anywhere from
The
Bookworm
Bulletin
six months to several years recovering from identity theft. New Year, New Hours! Just a reminder that beginning Jan. 5, the library will open at 9 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. each day. That’s an extra hour every day for you to browse, study, read by the fireplace, use the business center, or play in the Children’s Corner. We hope these expanded hours will make it more convenient for people to take advantage of all the library has to offer, and we look forward to welcoming visitors beginning at 9 a.m.
community 15 DECEMBER 26, 2025 THE OCEANA ECHO THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR DECEMBER 26, 2025 4
e Mirror
SPORTS WHITEHALL • MONTAGUE • REETHS - PUFFER
Vikings use defense to top Montague NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE Whitehall turns up the effort in win By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor MONTAGUE — Whitehall hasn't yet been able to fully unlock the kind of potent offense it's become known for the past few years, but Vikings' coach Christian Subdon was pleased to see his team make up for it Friday night against rival Montague with intense defensive effort. It was that effort that led to several Wildcat turnovers in the third quarter and enabled Whitehall to break the game open on the way to a 64-38 win. Whitehall had already gone into the halftime locker room with momentum, answering a quick five-point spurt from the Wildcats' Cole Herremans and Noah Raeth with a 9-0 run of its own to go into the break ahead 31-16. The Vikes (3-3, 2-1 West Michigan Conference Lakes) then harassed Montague ballhandlers into giveaways in the third quarter, setting up some easy baskets on the other end. The fast breaks bore some resemblance to the successful Whitehall teams this year's group is hoping to emulate. "We started pushing the ball up the sideline and getting easier buckets," Subdon said. "It's easier to go against one than it is five. We started doing those things. They're kind of maturing before your eyes. "I thought Alex Winczewski played a really good game. I have no idea how many points he had, but he was on the floor for balls. He was tipping passes. He made a couple shots. Those are the things that we have to continue to do if we want to be where we're at the end of
Whitehall's Elijah Smith rises up for a layup against Montague's Cooper Bradley during Friday's game at Montague. The Vikings won, 64-38.
• Andy Roberts/Mirror
the season." Winczewski had a big trey early in the game that served as a quick answer to one by Montague's Cooper Bradley. Bradley's shot put a stop to a 12-2 Whitehall run that gave the Vikings a sizable early edge. The two teams played very physically early in the third, both entering the bonus before the halfway point of the quarter. However, things evened out later and they only combined to shoot eight free throws in the quarter. For Subdon, the focus on defense was intentional. He took a 68-66 defeat to Fremont earlier this month personally, and after a later loss to North Muskegon, the message seemed to sink in with the team as well. "We didn't practice at all the day after the (North Muskegon) game," Subdon said. "We just watched film. We talked about, 'Does our effort match our goals?' and they weren't matching them. Until we get to that, that's my job. I have to make sure if that isn't happening that I have to hold them accountable. I told them, 'You can either
The Whitehall boys basketball team celebrates with the Bridge trophy after defeating Montague Friday night, 64-38. • Andy Roberts/Mirror
Whitehall's Corde Anderson (center) runs into some contact from Montague defenders during Friday's game at Montague. Anderson had 13 points and 9 rebounds in Whitehall's 64-38 win. • Andy Roberts/Mirror
take it as me yelling at you, or you can day of practice, and we got better." On Montague's side, the Wildcats take it as me holding you accountable for the goals that you want to achieve.' (0-6, 0-3 WMC Lakes) may be frustrat"We focused on effort, intensity and coachability. They bought into it at practice (Wednesday). We had a great
Vikings play D
continued on page 5
Vikes find enough offense to win rivalry game By Andy Roberts
White Lake Mirror Editor MONTAGUE — On a night both White Lake rival teams spent searching for offense, the Whitehall Vikings found theirs by turning to a familiar source - junior Clare Westerlund. The Whitehall star went for nine second-half points, part of a 20-point half for her team as the Vikings overcame an early deficit to beat rival Montague, 27-19. Montague led 9-7 at halftime before Westerlund ignited the Viking attack with six points in the third quarter, part of a 12-4 scoring run by Whitehall. After early struggles for the Viking offense, the junior took it upon herself to get to the basket. "I couldn't make my layups in the beginning, and I (thought), 'Well, they're going to fall eventually, so I've just got to keep shooting,'" Westerlund said. "That's what I felt like, if I could keep driving, eventually they were going to fall." Coach Brian Milliron said Westerlund has to be aggressive on offense in order for Whitehall to put its best
Whitehall's Peyton Schultz drives to the basket during Friday's game against Montague. The Vikings won, 27-19.
• Andy Roberts/Mirror
selves on the court. "Clare Westerlund, she's a scorer," Milliron said. "She's our number one option...and sometimes she gets a little tunnel vision, but she makes the motor go. She does a great job on both ends, which is really cool to see." In addition to Westerlund's performance, Milliron said the team's patience on offense improved after halftime. He cited the players doing a better job holding screens for a brief moment before making their moves to the basket.
Whitehall's Clare Westerlund drives to the basket against Montague's Annelyse Schneider during Friday's game at Montague. Westerlund had 11 points and 7 rebounds in the Vikings' 27-19 win. • Andy Roberts/Mirror
Westerlund had 11 points for the displayed in the first half, which she game and also paced the Vikings in called the best defense the Wildcats rebounds, with seven. had played all season. Montague coach Jess DeBruin was frustrated her team was unable to keep up the strong defensive effort it
Whitehall wins continued on page 5
5 DECEMBER LAKE MIRROR 16 DECEMBER26, 26,2025 2025 THE THEWHITE OCEANA ECHO
Thrilling wins propel Whitehall to Clipper Classic title By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor Whitehall enjoyed its best performance of the season Saturday at the Martin Clipper Classic, winning all five of its matches to take the tournament championship. Among the Vikings' victories were thrilling triumphs over Division 3 No. 3-ranked Allegan and Division 4 No.
6-ranked Clinton, which each came down to the final bouts. The Vikings erased a late nine-point deficit against Allegan with clutch pins by Easton Wisniewski and Billy Darke in the final two bouts, winning the match 3432. Against Clinton, Robert Belinger entered the final bout at 106 pounds needing to avoid being pinned to win the match, and he did his job, losing a 5-4 decision to secure the 41-38 team
Vikings play D
ed after heading into the season looking to play at a fast pace and score a lot of points, but coach Nick Thaler remains optimistic in the long term, pointing to the four games this season in which his team has been very competitive. "They have goals and expectations, and obviously we haven't met those goals and expectations," Thaler said. "You look back, sure, we lost to Hart and we lost to Whitehall. We're right there in our other four games, and it could be a completely different scenario record-wise. It's better for us to learn from these things, which we are; we're doing some better things on both sides of the floor, except we're not scoring. We're executing well defensively, and we're executing more offensively. We're just not getting clean looks at the basket, so that makes it challenging." The 'Cats tried to pressure Whitehall point guard Rex Pumford early, and for some brief spans early on it seemed to work, as Montague hung in there. However, the offensive struggles eventually caught up to the Wildcats, and on defense the team struggled to slow down post players Anderson and Evan Thomas. Thaler said the team hasn't yet grown fully comfortable playing together. "Sometimes I felt like we were trying to do too much individually versus doing it together," Thaler
kowski highlighted individual Viking efforts at the meet, each posting perfect 5-0 records. Both scored pins in four of their victories. Also for Whitehall, Belinger, Cody Manzo and Liam Leeke each went 4-1. Manzo and Leeke each had two pin victories and a technical fall, and Belinger recorded a pair of technical falls and a pin. Blake Wallace added a 3-1 record with two pins.
continued from page 4
Whitehall's Hunter Osborne pressures Montague's Montague's Cole Herremans and Whitehall's Evan Thomas Cole Herremans during Friday's game at Montague. collide during Friday's game at Montague. Despite Osborne had 6 steals for the Vikings in their 64-38 win. Herremans' 10 points, Thomas led the Vikings to the win • Andy Roberts/Mirror with 16 points of his own. • Andy Roberts/Mirror
said. "We're still working on those things. Obviously, when they're trying to do things individually, it's a little bit harder. We're still trying to find our identity on the offensive end of the floor. We get to go into break now and fix those things to work on some fundamentals and work on an offense. We'll figure it out. I believe in our team that we can be successful and do some nice things." Thomas led all players with 16 points in the win, and Anderson had 13, with nine rebounds. Hunter
Whitehall wins
"We came out in the second half, and we just didn't play," DeBruin said. "We didn't want it. I don't know what happened. I wish I knew. Whitehall wanted it more at the end." Montague, like Whitehall, has had offensive struggles this year, unsurprising given the lack of experience on the team; Gentry Knop was the only Wildcat who entered the season with significant varsity experience. The 'Cats did, though, show flashes of improvement at times during the game. Molly Mulder gave Montague an early 4-2 lead with a layup, and Marguerite O'Connell displayed some smooth moves by going off the dribble and knocking down a jump shot shortly thereafter. That success, though, wasn't common enough for Montague, which squandered its chance to build on a big WMC Lakes win over Oakridge earlier in the week. Maybe the most frustrating play for Montague, for multiple reasons, came in the fourth quarter. Whitehall's Kayden Johnson, a transfer from Montague, grabbed a rebound and dribbled all the way from one end of the court to the other, scoring a basket while being fouled. She converted the three-point play to make it 22-15, a lead the 'Cats were unable to overcome. "Kayden's going to do that," DeBruin said. "She knows the game of basketball, and she obviously knows us. That was a great
victory. "Backs were against the wall in three duals today," the wrestling program posted to its Facebook page; Whitehall also earned a hard-fought win over Bronson, 46-31. "They banded together and found a way to win." Also during the tournament, Whitehall defeated St. Joseph 64-18 and beat Otsego 52-20. Dom Zygmuntowski and Max Kru-
continued from page 4
Osborne chipped in nine points and was a menace on defense with six steals. For the Wildcats, Cole Herremans scored 10 points, and Karter Johnson and Bradley had seven apiece.
Help us help your teams! If you don't see your team's results in our Sports in Brief section, there's a reason - we can't find them! We make our best efforts to find scores that aren't reported to us, but it's not always possible. If you're not seeing your team's results in this section and want that to change, please help us out by sending reports to andy@whitelakemirror.com!
Sports in Brief Boys Basketball Lowell 78 Reeths-Puffer 73 Anthony Neuman led the Rockets in scoring with 19 points, the first time someone besides Marvin Moore had done so this season. Moore scored 13, as did teammate Justin Chan.
Zeeland West 57 Whitehall 51 Statistics were not reported from the Vikings' close loss.
Tri-Unity Christian 60 Reeths-Puffer 48 The Rockets were unable to hold onto the lead they held at the end of the 3rd quarter. Marvin Moore and Justin Chan each scored 13 points.
Girls Basketball Reeths-Puffer 37 F.H. Central 32 Raquel Walker and Grace Tindall led a comeback from down 7 at halftime, each putting up 17 points. Walker also had 8 rebounds.
Whitehall's Janie Fagan (center) tries to get the ball free from Montague defenders during Friday's game at Montague. The Vikings won, 27-19.
• Andy Roberts/Mirror
play on her end." Montague's Annelyse Schneider did respond to that with a three-pointer, her second of the game, to cut the lead to 22-18, but the 'Cats could get no closer. The Vikings' defensive intensity - and their own struggles on offense - have led to a lot of fairly close games over the past couple of seasons, and Milliron said his team is so experienced in those situations that the players have grown comfortable with them. "Usually when it's a two or three-possession game, you're kind of nervous, but a two or three-possession game, the way they've been playing, I feel pretty decent about things, which is
kind of weird to say out loud," Milliron said. "Defensively, we played very well. Offensively, we're still stuttering a little bit. We missed a lot of layups, too. Montague played real well tonight defensively. They've been very difficult for us. We came through when we needed to in the second half." The game was originally slated to take place at Whitehall before a water main break at the high school forced its move to Montague. As a result, the teams' Jan. 30 game will now be played at Whitehall instead of at Montague.
Wrestling Whitehall girls wrestle at Plainwell Kassie Sapp finished 1st at 130 pounds, pinning all four of her opponents. Miley Manzo went 4-2 and finished 5th at 115, pinning 3 of her 4 opponents and winning once by forfeit.
R-P's Shackelford 3rd at Chippewa Hills girls meet Sidney Shackelford went 5-1 in her 155-pound weight class at the meet. Shackelford pinned 4 opponents and won once by major decision.
Hockey Reeths-Puffer 5 Forest Hills N-E 2 Hayden Switzer led the Rockets with 2 goals and an assist, and Hayden Taylor notched a goal and an assist. R-P scored 3 times in the first period and never looked back.
Bowling R-P teams split matches with Zeeland Karsen Boeskool and Ryleigh Beebe each rolled a pair of 200-plus games to lead the Rockets to a 25-5 victory. Beebe had a 226 and a 209, while Boeskool had a 228 and a 215. The girls' team fell to Zeeland 25-5. Sam Cryderman rolled a 165, and Destini Villalpando had a 143.
Cheer Montague, R-P teams 2nd at Mona Shores Invite The Rocket girls placed 2nd in the large-school division, and Montague was 2nd in the small-school division. R-P had 698.78 points, and only 8 penalty points kept it from being the highest-scoring team in round two. Montague had 571.5 points, and was the highest-scoring small-school team in round three, with 234.6 points.
THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR DECEMBER26, 26,2025 2025 17 6
Whitehall GBB honors 50 years of female athletes By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor WHITEHALL — Whitehall's girls basketball program commemorated 50 winners of the Gerrie & Carl Beausang Female Athlete of the Year award Saturday during its alumni game, inviting all the previous winners of the award back to the school for a celebration. About half the winners did in fact return; coach Brian Milliron said the program was able to get in touch with nearly all of the 50 winners. While it wasn't planned, there was some serendipity in Whitehall Middle School being the event's location. The middle school gym was once the varsity gym, where many of the past Beausang award winnners played their games. (The high school was scheduled to host, but a water main break Friday resulted in the move to the middle school.) The first winner, Deb Zylstra, Class of 1977, was one of those to return. (Though 2026 will only mark 49 years of the award, the 1982 award was split between Pam Sheesley and Gail Burch, so there have been 50 winners.) Zylstra is described as a dynamic athlete in her day, who was unable to show the full extent of her abilities because there were only two girls sports when she was in school - basketball and gymnastics. She said during the
event that she would've loved to play volleyball had it been available. However, so good an athlete was Zylstra that she, along with twin brother Rob, played on the Whitehall boys tennis team. Girls tennis actually became available to her as a junior, but as the sport overlapped with her favorite sport, basketball, at the time, she chose to stay with the boys team. "(Coach) Dick Morley would have open gym in the summer for the guys, so I'd just go with my twin brother," Zylstra said. "That obviously helped, that I was playing with the guys... It was such a big part of our life as a group. I don't know what it would have been like without it. They didn't even start girls basketball until I was a freshman. It's a good thing they did." Some of the award winners played in the game, such as Laura (Kueny) Smith, Trisha Norwood, Abby Seeger, Hannah (Loucks) Mahoney, Jenna (Pesch) Pider, and many more, including, of course, assistant coach Emily MacArthur. With some unusual scoring rules that included between-quarter minigames that added points to the winning team's score, the alumni ended up coming away with a 68-67 win. MacArthur, who at
The returning Gerrie & Carl Beausang Female Athlete of the Year award winners join with other Whitehall girls basketball alumni and the current players for a photo prior to Saturday's alumni game at Whitehall Middle School. About half the winners of the award returned for the event. • Andy Roberts/Mirror
times played for the current team and the alumni team in the game, was surprised to learn some of the award winners were people she already knew from living in Whitehall; obviously several of them have changed their last names since then. "Obviously on the actual award, a lot of the women have their maiden names on it, so to see the women come back, I was able to put together who a lot of the women are," MacArthur said. "All these people who, I don't know their maiden names, I didn't realize that they were women in this community that I know who were also winners of the award. It's cool for our girls to see all these people who dedicated their life to Whitehall sports and now they're doing successful things in the world. "That's what this whole event is about. Coach (Dave) Goodrich in softball, when I was in high school, would say tradition doesn't graduate. All the values that Whitehall basketball has, doing all these events that are above ourselves." The event was
Whitehall assistant coach and alum Emily MacArthur (32) plays around with fellow girls basketball alumni Jenna Pider, Ashley TenBrink and Abby Seeger prior to Saturday's alumni game. • Andy Roberts/Mirror
Whitehall basketball alum Abby Seeger (34) goes to the basket during Saturday's alumni game. The alumni edged the current team, 68-67. • Andy Roberts/Mirror
spearheaded by current Whitehall program members Peyton Schultz, a player, and Mayson Milliron, who manages for the team; her dad is Brian, the head coach.
Schultz marveled at being able to reconnect with people like Onnyka Dempsey and Ashley TenBrink, who she grew up idolizing. "We grew up with all
these people," Schultz said. "It's cool seeing them coming back to it. That's why I play sports, is from watching them when I was younger."
Reeths-Puffer honors Sandee with Union Duals title Reeths-Puffer took home the championship Saturday at the Dick Sandee Memorial Duals, a first-time event at Union High School. The event honors Sandee, the late longtime coach for the Red Hawks. Sandee's son, Cliff, is athletic director at Reeths-Puffer and the former White-
hall wrestling coach. The Rockets delivered a fitting tribute with their most dominant performance of the season. R-P won all five of its matches by at least 23 points. They defeated Hudsonville 48-25; Dick Sandee's son Brent is the football coach for the Eagles. R-P also defeat-
Postgame prayer a gospel group with over 1,000 chapters nationwide. Members of the White Lake area chapter of the group floated the idea of a postgame prayer in their text chain leading up to the game, and Anderson, who loved the concept, pitched it to his coach, Christian Subdon. "He asked me if he could do it, and I want to support my players in all the things that they do," Subdon said. "I do
continued from page 4
want them to become better men, better fathers, better sons, better everything. He brought it to me, and it was really a no-brainer at that point. "It's definitely impressive. I know that myself, I was only thinking about a game when I was in high school, and these guys are out here thinking about other things, other people, and that's pretty impressive."
ed DeWitt (55-21), Kenowa Hills (5315), Ravenna (72-11) and Forest Hills Northern (51-9). Aiden Neal was one of several Rockets who excelled Saturday, going 5-0 and recording four pins. Tanner Cowles also scored four pins and won a match by technical fall. Landon Learn
earned three pins, as did Cory Judd, on 5-0 days for both, and Braxton VanHohenstein earned three pins in another perfect performance. Travis Henderson scored a pair of pins. Jake Rozycki added a 4-1 record for the Rockets.
Anderson, a recent Ferris State football commit, said he wanted to spread the message that in the grand scheme of things, a game of basketball is nothing compared to expressing his faith. "I just think that regardless of rivalry, regardless of any type of basketball games or football games, whatever it is, the fact that we can share a love for something so great and so powerful, it just amazes me," Anderson said while holding the Bridge trophy that goes to the winner of the Whitehall/Montague boys basketball game. "This is noth-
ing. I could care less about this. We're all playing for Him. That's greater than any trophy." In addition to the profession of faith, Montague coach Nick Thaler noted the positive message of unifying the White Lake area under one cause. "We can be rivals on the court and have that competitive fire, but then still show respect at the end, and that obviously means a great deal for the White Lake community and our two schools to be able to do that," Thaler said. "That was awesome to see for all the kids."
7 DECEMBER 26, 2025 THE WHITE LAKE MIRROR THE OCEANA ECHO DECEMBER 26, 2025 18
Recent Whitehall police activity in reference to a retail fraud report. The reporting party indicated a juvenile male subject had stolen some liquor and had left the scene. A vehicle description and license plate information was given. Shortly after the call, oficers located the vehicle in question, with three male occupants of the vehicle. Two of them were minors and one of them, the driver, was an 18-year-old male from Montague Township. Upon contact with parties involved, the male offender in the retail fraud initially gave false information but ultimately provided his name. The driver Whitehall Police Report of the car showed signs of being intoxiDec. 20 cated, and after failing field sobriety tests Officers were called to the 200 block was arrested for Zero Tolerance OWI by a of E Colby St. at approximately 2:04 a.m. minor. He tested at a blood-alcohol con-
Behind the
Badge
tent of 0.07 and was lodged at the Muskegon County jail. Dec. 21 At 8:49 p.m., an officer assisted the Roosevelt Park police department with intepretation services on a well-being check involving two Spanish-speaking individuals. A minor child had expressed suicidal thoughts. The officer was able to assist as needed. Dec. 22 At 6:28 p.m., officers in northern Muskegon County responded to a reckless driving complaint with a vehicle possibly being operated by an intoxicated individual that may have been in a crash in Grand Haven. After checking US-31 between exits 128 and 131, officers located
the vehicle near the Fruitvale Road exit. The vehicle, a black 2006 Toyota Tacoma, was found to have extensive frontend damage, to the point that the engine had ceased functioning. The 71-year-old male driver from Montague Township showed signs of intoxication. Officers updated the Grand Haven police on the situation, then administered field sobriety tests to the driver, who failed. After it was found the driver had a previous OWI arrest on his record, he was arrested for OWI, second offense. Tests at the Muskegon County jail showed the driver had a 0.12 BAC. The subject was lodged at the jail, and the vehicle was impounded.
Balancing joy and grief during the holidays By K.P. Mahoney
Volunteer Contributor Kathy Pelleran-Mahoney, ABD, M.P.A., of Montague, Michigan talks about balancing joy and grief in supporting older adults coping with loss during holiday celebrations. Pelleran-Mahoney lost her mother Dec. 12, 2005 and always feels melancholy during the holidays, a time that was particularly favored by her mother. In dealing with her grief, she coined the term “walking wounded” to describe her own sunken feelings, though she looked well to the outside world. In this article she fulfills a promise to friends to write about the walking wounded and bring hope that others can find solace in knowing that their own experiences are valid and heartfelt. Introduction The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, warmth, and togetherness. Streets glow with twinkling lights, homes fill with the sound of laughter, and families gather to celebrate traditions old and new. Yet, beneath the festive surface, many individuals experience a quiet sorrow, particularly older adults who have lost loved ones. These are the “walking wounded”—those who move through the holidays carrying grief that may be invisible to others. This article explores the emotional impact of loss during the holidays, highlighting the contrast between outward appearances and inner pain, and offers compassionate strategies for supporting those coping with grief. The Hidden Grief of the Golden Years Loss is an inevitable part of life, and
Council
continued from page 1
as people age, the frequency of bereavement increases. Older adults are more likely to have experienced the death of spouses, siblings, friends, and even children (Stroebe, Schut, & Stroebe, 2007). While grief is a natural response to loss, it often remains unseen—especially during the holidays when social expectations encourage cheerfulness and celebration. The emotional toll of cumulative losses can lead to complicated feelings and may even contribute to depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal (Lichtenthal et al., 2015). The invisible nature of grief means that many older adults navigate the festivities while quietly mourning absent loved ones, feeling isolated in their sorrow. The Holidays: A Time of Joy and Melancholy Holiday traditions can be bittersweet for those grieving. Familiar songs, cherished recipes, and annual rituals often evoke memories of happier times spent with those who are no longer present. These reminders may trigger a profound sense of longing and sadness, even as others around them express joy and excitement (Carr, 2014). The duality of the season—joy intermingled with melancholy—can be particularly pronounced for older adults, who may struggle to reconcile their internal grief with external expectations of happiness. Recognizing this emotional complexity is crucial to fostering a more empathetic and inclusive holiday environment. Being Mindful of Others' Loss It is important to remember that grief is not always visible. Some individuals may appear outwardly cheerful, participating in holiday events and tra-
ditions, while privately contending with waves of sadness. Others may withdraw, avoiding gatherings that amplify their sense of loss. As friends, family members, and caregivers, we can cultivate mindfulness by observing subtle cues, checking in, and offering gentle support. Sensitivity to the walking wounded means acknowledging that joy and sorrow can coexist, and that true compassion lies in honoring both (Worden, 2009). Tips for Supporting the Walking Wounded Supporting those coping with loss during the holidays does not require grand gestures—small acts of kindness and understanding can make a significant difference. Here are practical strategies for helping grieving loved ones: Invite Sharing of Memories: Encourage older adults to talk about their loved ones, share favorite stories, or look at old photographs. Reminiscing can be healing and helps validate their ongoing connection to the deceased (Neimeyer, 2016). Include Them in New Traditions: Create opportunities for involvement in new activities or traditions, while respecting their boundaries. This can foster a sense of belonging and hope for the future. Offer a Listening Ear: Sometimes, simply being present and willing to listen is the greatest gift. Let them express their feelings without judgment or the pressure to “move on.” Respect Their Choices: Understand that some may wish to participate fully, while others may prefer solitude or quiet reflection. Support their decisions
projects in Michigan have gotten her attention, though she's unaware of one planned in Whitehall. She said the city may not have any blocks of land that would interest a data center developer,
but surrounding townships might, and She felt putting something in place she felt it's possible they could ask the before such a project becomes reality city to use its water supply to help with would protect the city. the significant water demands of such projects if that were to come to pass.
and offer flexibility in plans. Check In Regularly: A phone call, a note, or a short visit can remind them that they are cared for and not alone. Encourage Self-Care: Suggest gentle activities that support well-being, such as walking, reading, or engaging in spiritual practices meaningful to them. Conclusion The holidays can be a time of both celebration and reflection, especially for older adults carrying the weight of loss. By acknowledging the walking wounded among us and embracing the duality of joy and melancholy, we foster a more compassionate and supportive community. Mindfulness, empathy, and small acts of kindness help ensure that those grieving feel seen, heard, and valued—not just during the holidays, but throughout the year. References Carr, D. (2014). The emotional challenges of bereavement in late life. Annual Review of Gerontology & Geriatrics, 34(1), 151-172. Lichtenthal, W. G., Currier, J. M., Neimeyer, R. A., & Keesee, N. J. (2015). Sense and significance: A mixed methods examination of meaning-making after the loss of one’s child. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 71(2), 169-188. Neimeyer, R. A. (2016). Techniques of grief therapy: Assessment and intervention. Routledge. Stroebe, M., Schut, H., & Stroebe, W. (2007). Health outcomes of bereavement. The Lancet, 370(9603), 1960-1973. Worden, J. W. (2009). Grief counseling and grief therapy: A handbook for the mental health practitioner (4th ed.). Springer Publishing Company.
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ea. 499
599 ea.
NOW CARRYING A FULL LINE OF LIQUOR AND SPIRITS. STOP IN AND SEE OUR SELECTION
Busch, Pabst or Miller High Life 30 pk./12 oz. cans (plus deposit)
2149
$
AD EFFECTIVE: MONDAY, DEC. 29, 2025 THRU SUNDAY, JAN 4, 2026 SORRY, NO RAINCHECKS. PRICING GOOD WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES.