The Oceana Echo - Volume 3, Issue 3, June 13, 2025

New 'Reclaimed Beauty' art mural installed in Hesperia

By Scott Kroepel

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

A new art mural was installed June 5 at Vida Weaver Park in Hesperia. The mural titled “Reclaimed Beauty,” was the brainchild of Hesperia Art Instructor Monica Grimard’s 3D Art class, made from recycled materials. It was created by the 3D Art class students, with assistance from Ryan Wyrick, a Trash Artist from Grand Rapids, and other local businesses and volunteers.

The 24’ mural coincides with the Hesperia Public Art Program that was recently created to help “enhance public spaces, foster pride, and attract visitors,” according to its

social media page.

The project was funded by a grant from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council through TrueNorth Community Services.

The class started collecting recycled items last fall by participating in a few trash cleanup days, as well as asking the public for donations. After the first semester, the class was asked for proposals, and Elizabeth Chaney’s design was chosen.

Mark Kraus, Development Director at TrueNorth Community Services, stated, “Especially in rural communities, it takes collaboration and coordination from individuals and organizations, and this is a great example of that.

We are grateful for the school, the village, Monica, the kids and everyone else who was involved in making this happen.”

Hart City Manager Rob Splane announces his resignation

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

The Hart City Council sat in shock and disbelief at the end of the May 27 city council meeting, as City Manager Rob Splane regretfully announced his resignation during his city manager’s report.

“It is with an abundance of health-con-

scious caution that I must step down from my appointment as city manager. Over the past four years, the erratic hours and stressful nature of the city manager position have negatively affected my physical health. My hospitalization last month was a strong signal that my current role with the city must be cut short from my planned tenure,” Splane’s letter of resignation read. “Working with the city has been a great honor, and I appreciate the support of city council members and our community for the past 11 years. I look forward to continuing to be a member of our community for years to come and am excited to see our town remain an amazing place to live for our children and grandchildren,” his letter continued.

“It’s not good-bye forever,” he said. “But after meeting with my medical teams, besides diet and exercise, reducing stress was among the top things I could do to take better care of myself. It’s hard to do in this position. I care about our community. I’m a people pleaser by nature, and it’s hard for me to say no,” Splane shared in an interview on Wednesday.

“It’s hard to please everyone. For example, it’s hard for me to authorize a utility shut-off. Then I go home and dwell on it. But in the end, I am responsible to the city as a whole, and I have to do my job.

“I wasn’t sure when the right time was to announce my resignation. I asked myself, ‘Should I wait until the BioPure project is complete?’ ‘Should I wait til Ceres property is developed or the community college opens in the old Gales building?’ But in reality there’s always going to be another project. This wasn’t a decision I made lightly, but after some deep reflection, I had to make the choice in favor of my physical health.”

“(My wife) Lyn and I chose to move our family to Hart 14 years ago, and we will continue to enjoy the beautiful community around us as I move on to a new chapter in my professional life. We plan to continue to dedicate our time to various Oceana County community organizations for years to come!” he shared.

Splane currently holds positions with the Hart Recreation Club, the Hart Historic Preservation Group and the

Shelby Optimists, and indicated he has no intention of leaving his responsibilities with any of those groups.

Splane’s dedication to the city is evident. In his letter to the council, he offered to help facilitate the recruitment process. At this past Tuesday’s council meeting, Splane announced he had already gathered quotes from the Michigan Municipal League and one other third-party municipality recruitment firm, who may be able to help with the recruitment process. He is also looking for a third quote. “The pool (of municipal managers) is small, so a broad search is a good thing,” he said.

There are many details that will need to come together, and the process will add to

Splane’s task list, however, he said he plans to wrap up near-term priorities and hand off essential tasks to minimize disruptions through the transition. He also suggested to the council Tuesday, it might be a good time to get the Personnel and Finance Committee involved to do some of the legwork of vetting possible candidates.

When asked what he felt most proud of during his time with the City of Hart, he replied, “The biggest thing I’m most proud of is, I see a spirit of collaboration that didn’t exist 10 years ago. We’re seeing more conversations at the board and committee level that are focused on the future and not ‘but that’s the way we’ve always done it before.’”

Splane will be leaving big shoes to fill. However, until then, even in a reduced capacity, he will continue to do what he does best - lead. “I will continue to serve as city manager at the pleasure of the city council until my successor is hired,” he said. “My wish is that this is a seamless transition to best benefit the city and our community.”

The Pentwater Service Club (PSC) announced that Bart Zachrich has posthumously been named 2025 Pentwater Citizen of the Year. Zachrich, who passed away unexpectedly on January 26, 2025, becomes the 52nd Citizen of the Year and only the second to receive the award posthumously.  “It is with both sadness and pride that the PSC has recognized Bart with an award that is synonymous with the kind of extraordinary public service that has made Pentwater such a great place to live and raise a family for more than 50 years,” said Rob Cunningham, incoming club president. “Bart was a retired principal who worked tirelessly and passionately in countless community leadership roles to make Pentwater the exceptional community that it is today.”

A special dinner and celebration will be held to honor Bart on October 7, 2025, at the Pentwater Yacht Club. Tickets will go on sale beginning September 4, and can be purchased at Port View Wine and Spirits, Up North Market or from any Pentwater Service Club member.

Lynne Zachrich, Bart’s spouse, will be in attendance, as will their children and grandchildren. “This award is acknowledgement of all that Bart did to help others, provide leadership for countless Pentwater organizations, and his generous, gentle spirit that touched so many lives,” Lynne said. Our family is so proud that his legacy will live on in this special way.”

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

The Oceana Echo wishes to extend a heartfelt “Happy Milestone Birthday” to the following Oceana County residents who have celebrated milestone birthdays this spring! Rose Risch, of Mears, who turned 100 on April 29, 2025; Gerald (Bud) Greiner, of Crystal Valley who turned 100 on June 5, 2025; Bob Fletcher of Walkerville, who turned 90 on May 24 and Elvin Harden, formerly of Mears, who turns 90 on June 22. If you know of someone who is having a milestone birthday (90 or 100+ years) or anniversary (50, 60, 75+ years) please email sharon@oceanaecho. com and we would love to share the news in our News & Notes column.

Schools

Hart Public Schools Spitler Elementary School is introducing a new Young 5’s program for the 25-26 school year.  Enrollment will be open for children turning five from July 1 to December 1, 2025. The free program will be held Mondays through Fridays and will be housed at Spitler Elementary. Interested parents should contact Principal Brandon Bruce at bbruce@hart.k12.mi.us

Shelby Early Childhood Center is currently accepting enrollments for all of their early childhood programming this fall. Registration packets may be picked up at the

News and Notes

school or by calling 231861-6629. More registration information is available at shelbyschools.net >Schools>Shelby Early Childhood Center>Enrollment.

Walkerville School’s All School Reunion will be Saturday, August 2, 2025 at the Walkerville School gym. The Pioneer House Museum will be open from 2-4 p.m. Social hour will be held from 3-5 p.m. with dinner to begin at 5 p.m. Tickets are $17 each. Organizers Rich and Marie Kolbe would appreciate alumni address updates as soon as possible as they will be mailing invitations soon. Please contact them at rmkolbe@hotmail.com or 231-873-3524 to provide your address, reserve a ticket and for any other questions.

Municipalities

Shelby Village is

pleased to announce their new website is up and running! The entire website has been refreshed and is now available in English and Spanish. Along with all of the required information a municipality needs to provide its constituents, users will find a variety of new options as well.  Sign up for alerts, report an issue, pay bills online and follow the village’s youtube channel.  Check it out at www.shelbyvillage.com

For those traveling east of Hart on Polk Road, construction of the long-awaited Hart Solar Farm is finally underway. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Hart Township Supervisor, Jay McGhan. “Lately we’ve been seeing a lot of aggregate hauled in. They’ve been working on staging areas and working with the Oceana County Road

Commission to build up portions of Taylor Road. Speaking of the years leading up to now, McGhan said, “There was a lot of back and forth with meetings. It’s going to take several hundred acres out of agriculture. It isn’t going to look as pretty as it used to, but once they start producing electricity, hopefully the township will see a financial return.” McGhan said the solar farm won’t go online until next summer, but until then the community will be seeing a lot more traffic and activity. “We can’t stop the wheels from turning. To better ourselves and keep up with the times, we have to accept it,” McGhan concluded.

Community Shelby Fruit Festival organizers are reaching out to local organizations, businesses, and individuals to ask for their partnership and support in hopes of reaching a “$5000 in 2025” goal to keep the festival free for all. “Contributions of any amount will be equally recognized as a way to acknowledge the collective effort it takes to make the SFF a success,” a press release stated.

“The festival board is proud of their five-year streak of free admission, live entertainment, and

family activities. They are also thrilled to announce that Shelby Township Community Park will be the permanent home to the Shelby Fruit Festival. This safe and welcoming space will be a beautiful backdrop for the festival this year and in years to come.” Interested individuals, businesses and community groups are invited to partner with the SFF by volunteering any amount of time, or making a donation of any amount. For questions, please contact Tracy Blamer at 231-578-3421.

MOVING SALE

7394 N. Keating Dr. – Walkerville Friday 6/20 & Saturday 6/21 Both days 9 am to 2 pm

NOTICE OF PUBLIC ANNUAL BUDGET HEARING

ON PROPOSED 2025-2026 BUDGET

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on Monday, June 16, 2025 at 7:00 o’clock p.m., at 641 N. State St, Shelby, Michigan, the Board of Education of Shelby Public Schools, Oceana County, will hold a public hearing to consider the District’s proposed 2025-2026 budget.

The Board may not adopt its 2025-2026 proposed budget until after a public hearing. A copy of the proposed 2025-2026 budget, including the proposed property tax millage rate, is available for public inspection during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm at 525 N. State St, Shelby, Michigan.

The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing.

This notice is given by order of the Board of Education.

Steve Vinke, Secretary

NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT

On February 25, 2025, an Application for Approval of Renewable Energy Plan was filed with the Michigan Public Service Commission (Commission) to fully comply with Public Act 295 of 2008, as amended by Public Act 235 of 2023.

Any interested person, or customer, may review the Application at the City of Hart, 407 S State St., Hart, Ml 49420, or at the office of the Commission’s Executive Secretary, 7109 West Saginaw Highway, Lansing, Michigan, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or on the Commission’s website at: https://mi-psc.my.site.com/sf.

Any person wishing to file a public comment may do so by filing a written statement in this docket. The written statement may be mailed or emailed and should reference Case No. U- 16601. Statements may be emailed to: mpscedockets@michigan.gov. Statements may be mailed to: Executive Secretary, Michigan Public Service Commission, 7109 West Saginaw Highway, Lansing, Ml 48917. Comments are due by 5:00 p.m., July 15, 2025.

All information submitted to the Commission in this matter becomes public information, thus available on the Michigan Public Service Commission’s website, and subject to disclosure. Please do not include information you wish to remain private. For more information on how to participate in a case, you may contact the Executive Secretary at the above address or by telephone at (517) 284-8090.

CITY OF HART - June 11, 2025

This page is brought to you by:

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

YARD SALE

The OCH&GS yard sale will be Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. $5 for old yearbooks and history books, and everything else for a donation.

A look back at the Great Michigan Fire of 1871

By Claire Marshall

The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

Perhaps it’s the haze obscuring the sky and the air quality alerts I receive on my phone, but I have fire on the mind. Specifically, a historical disaster that I came across during one of my many late-night Wikipedia rabbit holes: the Great Michigan Fire of 1871. I was surprised, coming across that name on a list of notable natural disasters in the U.S. Wildfires aren’t unheard of in Michigan, but those on a disastrous scale - enough to make a list on Wikipediaseemed something reserved for California, or another drought-ridden state in the West. I didn’t dive too deep then - I was on a crusade to learn about tsunamis that evening - but the subject stayed in the back of my mind, waiting for the perfect opportunity to delve further.

The Great Michigan Fire has little cultural remembrance since, on that same day, October 7, 1871, Chicago was beset by its infamous inferno. In fact, October 1871 saw fires burning all over the Midwest, in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, Illinois and Michigan. Even the fires in Michigan were separate - but horrifying - concurrent fires. The largest cities devastated were Manistee, Holland, and Port Huron and their surrounding areas, with Alpena, Grayling and Big Rapids also caught in the blaze. In Wisconsin, the infamous Peshtigo Fire spread to Menominee County in the Upper Peninsula.

The greatest loss of life was seen in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, with the death toll numbering at least 1,500, though some estimate the reality at nearly twice that amount considering evidence produced

from mass graves. It remains the largest loss of life in recorded history due to wildfire. The fire left the sizable town of Peshtigo a wasteland of ash, with harrowing anecdotes from survivors. Some eyewitnesses claimed the fire “hopped” across the Peshtigo and Menominee Rivers, and multiple reports of a fire whirl (think of a blazing tornado of Biblical proportion) can account for the widespread devastation. Victims who were not consumed by the flames made a mad dash to the river, where many drowned or experienced hypothermia. 1.2 million acres of forest and farmland were burned alongside the town, the cost of the damage crippling the economy for several years to come.

Michigan saw significantly less loss of life. An official death toll puts the number at 10. However, the actual number may never be fully realized, as countless rural farms, thousands of lumberjacks and traveling salesmen were dotted across the state - with no one to report them missing. The death toll could be as low as 10, hopefully it was, or much greater. Thankfully, the fires in Michigan began during the day, allowing swift response and evacuation. Chicago and Peshtigo were not as lucky. However, 2.5 million acres were burnt in Michigan, nearly twice the amount as in Peshtigo, the scar spanning across the state. An estimated $1 million had been assigned to the cost of the damage, primarily in the aforementioned cities. Thousands were left homeless, and with hardly any timber left to rebuild.

A short-lived Oceana County paper called East Shore News (later the Pentwater News), recounts our local devastation. Holland’s fires reached as far north as Spring Lake, consuming the farms and woods south of Muskegon,

though never reaching the city. Likewise, fires threatened the towns of Hart, Pentwater, and Elbridge and destroyed farms, but residents worked through the night to fight the encroaching blaze. For several weeks following, fires routinely popped up in the nearby woods and caused considerable anxiety, but Oceana was luckier than Manistee, for whom Pentwater rallied and sent aid by boat. To this day, you can find pine stumps of hollowed-out charcoal throughout the county.

The Great Chicago Fire, on the other hand, only saw 1,200 acres burnt. Granted, even then it was a densely populated city, and the disaster cost the city $222 million. Considering the circumstances, it’s amazing that only 300 residents died (though, as we can see from the Michigan and Peshtigo Fire estimates, death tolls are difficult to fully ascertain). The Great Chicago Fire ushered in a new age for the city, a genesis for the skyscraper metropolis of today. 17,500 buildings were destroyed, and were replaced with buildings constructed of Michigan’s White Pine.

It’s ironic that the fire of Chicago begot the culling of our White Pine, a deforestation which would precipitate other environmental crises to follow. Even more ironic, it was the unregulated clear-cutting of the Michigan lumber industry that, literally, added fuel to the fire. Logs, underbrush, and other debris, made kindling by the unprecedented drought and heat of the summer and autumn, fed the disaster for hundreds of miles.

Like Mrs. O’Leary’s cow of Great Chicago Fire lore, an unbelievable theory sprang up in the following decade to account for the expansive midwest fires of 1871. Comet Biela, first discov-

The1306

ered in 1772, orbited the Earth every six years until 1852, when it was spotted for the final time. The theory is, by 1871, the comet had broken up into a meteor shower, and that terrestrial impacts were the subsequent fire-starters. This theory was investigated by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, but the conclusion was indefinite and unpublished. Many scientists agree that meteorites are too cold to cause fires upon impact, if they ever even make it through Earth’s atmosphere. What’s more likely is that the fires were caused by the same storm system that swept the Midwest. All it would take is a small flame to catch the dried vegetation, caught up in the gale-force winds, to ravage acres of forest.

When horrible disasters happen, it’s tempting to find one simple cause to point a finger at, whether it’s a comet or a poor Irish-Catholic immigrant. History, time and again, shows us that many small happenings - poor regulation, unusual weather or freak accidents - compound until eventually ending in devastation. So be wary of the perfect scapegoat. Or scape-cow. Or scape-comet.

Hart Public Schools details summer programming offerings

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Hart Public Schools Summer Programming will be held Mondays through Thursdays beginning Monday, June 23 through Thursday, July 31.

“One of the most exciting additions this year is a new STEM class, made possible through a grant we received through the West Shore ESD,“ Program Director Michaela Dennert said. “This opportunity aligns perfectly with our goal of making summer school more engaging. Thanks to the grant, we’ll be able to offer a STEM class two to three days per week taught by Danica Elder, Spitler Elementary’s current STEM teacher. Each student will receive a ‘Camp Invention’ STEM kit tailored to their grade level, and they’ll spend the summer inventing and

creating — we can’t wait to see what they come up with!”

The Hart Summer Migrant Program, running from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, is free to all migrant students and includes transportation, breakfast, lunch and snacks. The program is designed to close academic gaps that can arise from frequent moves and school transitions.

“We’re proud of our dedicated team, as the majority return year after year. We build strong relationships by joining students for meals, participating in physical education and this year, we’re planning to dive into STEM with them as well. It truly feels like a little family,” Dennert shared. The district’s Migrant Liaison/Recruiter has already begun reaching out to families, and enrollment is well underway.

In addition to the Migrant Program, Dennert also directs the High School Credit Recovery Program, a pro-

gram that helps students make up credits they didn’t earn during the school year — keeping them on track for graduation and allowing more flexibility in their future schedules for electives. It’s staffed by two teachers and one paraprofessional who support students through their online coursework.

While there is a fee for this program, Dennert never wants cost to be a barrier. “If a family is struggling to pay, we always encourage them to reach out — we’re committed to finding solutions and have done so creatively in the past. Like the Migrant Program, Credit Recovery also offers free transportation, meals and snacks.”

Dennert added that the Project FOCUS summer program is also a summer option for all students of Hart Public Schools. Parents should contact that program directly if they are interested in enrolling their child.

or

Ongoing

MWF: Chair Yoga, Pentwater Township Library, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

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

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

TUES: Crafts for Kids, Shelby Area Dist. Library 9 a.m. to noon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WED: Music in the Garden, Main Street Spa, Hart, 7-9 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.

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

FRI: Story Time, Hesperia Comm. Library, 10-11 a.m.

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

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

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

The Ladder Community Center:

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

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

MON: Bring Clothes in for Mending, 10:30 a.m. to noon (June-July)

MON: Women’s Bible Study, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

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

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

June 17 - Share Our Stories: “History of Father’s Day,” 6:30 p.m.

June 24 - Father’s Day Celebration for adults & youth ages 12 & up, 6-7:30 p.m. (buy tickets by 6/18)

June 27 - Live Music by the Jammers, 10 a.m. to noon Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

Country

June 13 - NAF Kickoff, Oceana County Fairgrounds, Hart: Refreshment Tent opens, 6 p.m.; Free Concert, 7 p.m.; and Asparagus Queen and Runner Up Coronation, 8:30 p.m.

June 14 - Book and Bake Sale, Pentwater Twp. Lib., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

June 14 - NAF Ryan Walsworth Memorial 5K, Silver Lake, 9 a.m.

June 14 - Friendship Ring Quilt Guild Quilt Show, Oceana County Council on Aging, Hart, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

June 14 - Community-Wide Garage Sales, Pentwater.

June 14 - NAF Arts & Crafts Fair, Courthouse Lawn, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

June 14 - NAF Car Show, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; NAF Taste of Asparagus, Hart Historic District, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

June 14 - NAF Joan Glover Memorial Royale Parade, 2 p.m.

June 15 - Fly-in Pancake Breakfast, Oceana County Airport, 1805 W. Baseline Rd., Shelby, 7:30 a.m. to noon.

June 15 - 2nd Annual Silver Lake Kids Carp Cull Contest, Golden Township Park, 12:30-1 p.m.

June 16-31 - HAPL Summer Reading Program “Color Our World.”

June 18 - United Way of the Lakeshore, “Bienvenidos” Food Truck, Oceana County Fairgrounds, Hart, 5 p.m.

June 19-22 Electric Forest, Rothbury

June 19 - Matinee Movie, Hesp. Comm. Library, 1-3:30 p.m.

June 19 - Diapers & Dessert Giveaway, NECRC, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

June 19 - Quilting Class, Hart Area Public Library, 4-8 p.m.

June 19 - Summer Kick-off Reading Party, HCL, 6-7 p.m.

June 19 - Friendship Ring Quilt Guild meeting, NERC, 7 p.m.

June 20 - GSC Music & Learn with Miss Barbara, HAPL, 11 a.m.

June 20 - Summer Reading Tween Night, HCL, 3-5 p.m.

June 21 - Getty Park Grand Opening, Shelby, noon to 2 p.m.

June 21 - White River Light Station 150th Celebration

June 21, 22 - Springfest Arts & Crafts Fair, Downtown Pentwater

June 23 - “Paddington in Peru” movie showing sponsored by Hart Area Public Library, Hart Community Center, 2 p.m.

June 23 - Open House and Summer Reading Program Kickoff, Shelby Area District Library, 6-8 p.m.

Dairy Super Social fundraiser set for June 21 to raise funds for four local nonprofits

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Country Dairy will be hosting its annual “Super Social” Saturday, June 21, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 3476 80th Ave., New Era. This year they will continue their nonprofit fundraiser started last year, naming it a “4 for 4 Fundraiser” in hopes of being able to raise enough donations to give four local nonprofits $1,000 each.

“There is no cost to attend; the ice cream and musical entertainment are completely free. We are,

however, collecting donations for four local nonprofits - Elevate Oceana, Fountain Hill Center, Love INC and The Ladder Community Center,” Betsy Arkema, fourth-generation owner of Country Dairy, shared. “Twenty-five years ago we held our ice cream social. The whole reason we started was to say thank you to the community.

“Our show barns will be open again this year where people will be able to watch the robotic milking machines and see the calves. We are also bringing back our dairy plant tours, something we haven’t done in a while. There will be wagon rides and a new arts and crafts vendor area.”

Featured musical artists include “Nate and Adam,” “The Nettle Family,” Muskegon worship pastor Matthew Wieda, popular Unity Fest musician out of Detroit Joe Jarvis and the Conqueror’s Strength Team.

“We are so blessed to be able to work with Country Dairy and other nonprofits to support one another,” Director of Love INC Dave Rakosky said.

“We are excited to be partnering with four deserving nonprofit organizations from our community. They are all active and work amongst us every day. It’s our chance to draw the community around them and support the work they do,” Arkema concluded.

70th Anniversary

Darlene & Bill Askins were married in Hesperia, Michigan on June 18, 1955 and are residents of Hart, Michigan. An Open House to celebrate their 70th Wedding Anniversary will take place on June 22, 2025 from 2-5 p.m. at the Shelby Congregational United Church of Christ, 51 E. Third St. in Shelby, Michigan. The only gift requested is your presence.

Hoeing ‘In the Garden’ Part 1: ‘Dust to Dust’

By Janet Van Gunst Hasselbring

The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

“…all come from dust and to dust they will return.” (Ecclesiastes 3:20)

I’m revisiting my mother’s memoir “In the Garden,”** seeking to discover the secret of her unwavering faith, abiding peace and complete surrender to her Lord, as she and my father, Henry, eked out a living on the farm, present-day Country Dairy.

My parents’ lives were inexplicably tied to the land. As I turn over the “soil” of my mother’s life, I’m struck with the realization that it was in the literal dust and dirt in the fields and gardens on the farm where my parents met their Lord - where He became their companion and friend.

It’s been noted that one is nearer the heart of God in a garden than anywhere else on earth. “If a mortal ever heard the voice of God, it would be in

a garden at the cool of the day.”

(F.F. Moore)

As Henry and Ellen worked to produce a harvest of abundant crops, fruits and vegetables, they may not have realized that it was there, in the dirt and dust, that they were also working on the “soil” of their inner lives, developing faith and trust in their heavenly Father.

Working the soil requires labor and attention. Guiding the plow as he walked back and forth behind the workhorses, Maude and Daize, required watchfulness; sowing seeds in prepared furrows and coaxing them into healthy plants took patience; pulling up onions and beets from their root beds required industry; and tending Ellen’s roses took loving attention.

Being totally dependent on the land for their livelihood made my parents vulnerable to the whims of nature: too much rain drowned newly planted seeds; too little left them parched and shriveled; a windstorm arriving as the cherries

were ripening would ruin the crop; and a cow munching on a weed in the pasture could sour the milk.

I remember the morning my dad came home without milk for the breakfast table because he’d had to dump the entire lot.

I recall the evening he stood at the window watching the wind wreak havoc on his cherry crop. He was as devastated as the blighted cherries, knowing he would have to pay to have them picked only to dump them afterwards. Ellen, a “newbie” to farm life, was always there to lend an encouraging word. “Don’t worry, Hinie, God will provide,” citing what would become her mantra. I often wonder if she believed it herself, so bleak was

the reality at times.

In an interesting paradox, their vulnerability is what forced my parents into the arms of their loving Lord. While others may have become hardened, bitter or resentful due to the rigors of farm life, that was not the case with my parents. They never forsook their Jesus, honing and strengthening their faith through prayer, reading scripture and striving to obey God’s will. The bigger the challenge, the deeper their faith grew.

“God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7) In describing the miracle of creation, St. Augustine speaks to the human longing for something beyond the physical and mundane, a longing that only God can fill: “You have made us for Yourself; our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” (Confessions)

It was a love story from the start. “For You created my innermost being; You knit me to-

gether in my mother’s womb. I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:13-14)

As Henry and Ellen worked in the dirt, God was at work in the inner soil of their lives, nurturing the longing for something beyond the physical that He’d placed in their souls from the beginning, until their bodies, tired and worn from working in the dirt, returned to the dust from which they came, and their spirits returned home to their heavenly Father.

Stay tuned for Hoeing ‘In the Garden’ Part 2 - “Thy Will be Done”

To access the introduction to the bimonthly series, visit issuu. com/theoceanaecho/docs/ the_oceana_echo_-_volume_3_ issue_1_may_30_2025.

**For Information about the memoir, contact the author at janethasselbring23@gmail.com.

Veteran’s Memorial Garden at Hightower Lake receives upgrades

By Scott Kroepel The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

fountain, and signage are a few of the items added since its dedication last spring.

The Veteran’s Memorial Garden at Hightower Lake recently celebrated its first year with some added features. A new bench, arbor/trellis, water

The garden was the brainchild of Hightower Lake residents Brian and Melody Sukup’s daughter, Heather, back in 2019. Heather is a retired Army

medic and thought the public access area at the lake would be an ideal location to honor military veterans of the township, both past and present.

According to Melody Sukup, the garden updates are ongoing, and additional amenities are

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already planned. The Veteran’s Memorial Garden is located at the public access site, in the northwest corner of Hightower Lake, approximately one mile north of M-20, between Ferry and Hesperia, and is open from dawn to dusk.

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

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

obituaries

Gerald L. Meyers

May 21, 1929 ~ June 5, 2025

Gerald L. Meyers, age 96, of New Era, Michigan, was wel comed into Heaven on June 5, 2025. He was born in Fre mont, Michigan on May 21, 1929, to Elmer and Truda (Lummen) Meyers, and he married the former Florence Heetderks on August 3, 1949, in Fremont. They did life together for 75 years, a journey that brought both of them great joy and supplied countless treasured memories.

Gerald’s family moved to New Era in 1937 when his father purchased the “All Service Garage,” which was later renamed “Snyder and Meyers.” Gerald graduated from Shelby High School in 1947. Following train ing at General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan, and his marriage to Florence, he entered the family business as a second-generation car salesman along with his brother, Mike, and they eventually took over the reins as owners of the business. Gerald and Mike grew the business and saw it through many changes until it eventually became the Chevrolet dealership it is today. Gerald was active in his local business community and the New Era Chamber of Commerce and took wonderful care of his community. His family often referred to him as the “unofficial mayor of New Era,” a nod to his leadership and the great respect he earned as he selflessly gave of his time, energy, and resources to better the community he loved.

Gerald and Florence welcomed four children into the world, instilling in them a legacy of faith that has continued into the next generations. A fervent supporter of Christian education, Gerald was blessed to watch his four children and eleven grandchildren graduate from local Christian schools, and his devotion to supporting those schools continued to the end of his earthly journey. Gerald and Florence enjoyed a lifetime of blessings, from raising their family in a quiet and beautiful small town to travel and experiences abroad and on to a retirement filled with special friendships and cherished time in Palm Springs during the winter months. Gerald was a member of New Era Christian Reformed Church, where he faithfully served as deacon and elder at various times throughout his life. He also devoted much time to serving on numerous boards and committees at the schools and in his community, including service on the Board of Directors for Oceana Bank for 22 years. While his accomplishments as a businessman and community leader were many, his greatest pride and joy in life was his family, and his happiest moments were those spent in their midst. He delighted in a noisy room filled with the people he loved the most. He lived big, and he loved big, and he never missed an opportunity to greet friends and strangers alike. Living in fellowship with others filled his cup.

Gerald will be forever cherished and remembered by his loving and devoted wife, Florence; his four children: Sheri (Roger) Doctor, Sindy (Steve) Broersma, Scott (Paula) Meyers, and Steve (Janet) Meyers; eleven grandchildren: Jason (Kaitlyn) Doctor, Kristen (Jason) Baker, Corey (Amy) Broersma, Jaime Broersma, Trevor (Mary Ellen) Broersma, Jennifer (Craig) Sytsema, Amy (Dexter) Weesies, Carli (Andrew) Sciba, Jeremy Meyers, Hannah (Christian) Alvarez, and Zach (Ashley) Meyers; fifteen great-grandchildren (with one more on the way); one great-great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Mike, and his sister, Phyllis.

Gerald radiated with gratitude throughout his lifetime, a message that daily resounded from his lips and made a lasting impression on his family and all who knew him. He frequently proclaimed this gratitude in his final days, sharing how blessed he felt. He knew the goodness of God, and for that, we, too, are grateful.

A funeral service to honor Gerald’s life and celebrate God’s faithfulness was held at 1 p.m. Monday, June 9, 2025, at New Era Christian Reformed Church. Visitation took place from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, June 8, at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 S. Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444. Donations in his memory may be given to New Era Christian School. Sign the online guest book at sytsemafh.com.

Memorial Service ~ Herald Raymond ‘Ray’ Rood

Herald Raymond “Ray” Rood, 57, passed away May 20, 2025. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., June 14, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 5631 W. Stony Lake Rd., New Era, MI 49446. Visitation will be held one hour before services at the church with a luncheon immediately following in the fellowship hall.

Paul VanDenHeuvel

August 14, 1939 ~ June 7, 2025

Paul VanDenHeuvel, 85, passed away Saturday, June 7, at his home in Zephyr Hills, Florida. He was born Au gust 14, 1939, in Hart, the son of Clarence and Phyllis VanDenHeuvel. Paul graduated from Hart High School in 1959.

Paul leaves behind his loving wife, Kay VanDenHeuvel; daughter Robin VanDenHeuvel; stepchildren Kevin Amstutz and Kenna Kramer; and step-grandchildren Lindsey Amstutz and Justen Amstutz.

Per Paul’s request, no ceremony will be held, but he would have loved for you to raise a glass in his honor.

Memorial Service ~ Verna Jean ‘Jeanne’ Blackmer

Verna Jean “Jeanne” Blackmer, 84, of Hart, passed away June 5, 2025. Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, 2370 N. 72nd Ave., Hart, MI 49420. Visitation and luncheon will follow from noon to 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be in Elbridge Township Cemetery.

Allyn ‘Al’ Emery Smith

January 9, 1947 ~ June 6, 2025

Allyn “Al” Emery Smith, loving husband, father and papa, 78, of Mears, passed away Friday, June 6, 2025. Al died peacefully after a courageous battle with an aggressive kidney cancer. He was born January 9, 1947, in Shelby, Michigan, the son of Emery and Ethel May (Porter) Smith.

Al graduated from Shelby High School and continued his education at Michigan Tech University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Al and Joan were high school sweethearts, getting married in 1967. They would have celebrated their 58th year of marriage on September 9, 2025.

Al worked at Westinghouse, Ralston Purina but spent most of his career at Abbott Labs in Northern Illinois. It was there that they raised their two loving daughters. He ended his career in 2001 as a project manager of engineering.

Al enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing sports, but had a passion for golf. He was a man of faith and involved in many activities in the churches he was a part of through the years. Al and Joan had a love for traveling. Some of the places they traveled to were: Africa, Australia, Sweden, Russia, Croatia, Germany, England and Hawaii, with family and friends.

Al was blessed to have been retired for 24 years. He loved building the cottage on Lake Michigan for all the family to enjoy. Al also loved his Florida home with wonderful friends and more golfing. Charlie, the family dog, was another bright spot in his life.

Most of all, Al loved his wife, children and grandchildren.

Al is survived by: his loving wife, Joan; daughters, Kelly (Patrick) Heersche and Nikki (Erik) Moberly; grandchildren, Victoria (Matthew) Hege, Savannah Heersche, Jonathon Moberly and Jacob Moberly.

Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Monday, June 16, 2025, at Harris Funeral Home, 267 N. Michigan Ave., Shelby, Mich., 49455, with Pastor Steve Leinbach officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the start of services Monday, at Harris Funeral Home.

Please consider memorial contributions to: The Ladder Community Center, 67 N. State St., Shelby, MI 49455, www.theladdercommunitycenter.com/give.html or Love, INC of Oceana County, 186 N. Michigan Ave., Shelby, MI, 49455, loveincoceana.org. Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is in charge of arrangements. harrisfhome.com

John Wilburn Curtis November

9, 1935 ~ June 8, 2025

John Wilburn Curtis, 89, of Hart, passed away Sunday, June 8, 2025. He was born November 9, 1935, in Steele, Missouri, the son of John Milburn and Clara Mae (Lipsey) Curtis.

John graduated from Hart High School and enlisted in the United States Army, proudly serving his county. Following his military service, John furthered his education at Michigan State University for horticulture. He was a hardworking man, having worked many careers in his early years. John later had his own landscaping business, Curtis Nursery and Farms, and owned several acres of fruit and vegetable farmland until his early 60s. John then moved to Minnesota and managed a farm, from which he retired when he was 80. Then he briefly lived in Florida before returning to the Hart area.

John was very civic-minded and was previously involved with the Oceana County Democrats, as well as an active member of the Masonic Lodge in Hart –Oceana Wigton Benona Lodge 200 F. & A.M. and the local Oceana Center Grange. John also served as an elected Oceana County Commissioner. John had a strong faith in God and gave back in any way he could.

John enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, and also enjoyed sports, including football and baseball.

John is survived by: his children, Nancy Curtis, Renee Curtis, John (RuthAnn) Curtis and Carmen (Joe) Curtis-Skowronski; grandchildren, Samantha, Jarrad, Alexa, Zayne, Jacob, Dylan, Christine, Logan and Makynzie; several great-grandchildren; and brothers, James (LaVonne) Curtis and Dan (Barb) Curtis.

John was preceded in death by: his parents; siblings, Christine Brown, Charles Curtis, Mel Curtis, Virginia Hindman Ballas, Drexel Kalavitz, Shirlene Scouten and Emory Curtis; and grandson, Joshua VandenHeuvel.

Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 15, 2025, at the Hart United Methodist Church, 308 S. State St., Hart, MI 49420, with Pastor Cyd Idsigna officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Following services, the family invites you to celebrate John’s life with them at the Oceana Eagles, 4535 N. Oceana D., Hart.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Masonic Lodge in Hart – Oceana Wigton Benona Lodge 200 F. & A.M., 2661 N. Oceana Dr., Hart, MI 49420, or the Oceana Center Grange, 1525 N. 112th Ave., Hart, MI 49420.

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

Celebration of Life – Jerry William Powers

Jerry William Powers, 84, of Pentwater, passed away Saturday, January 11, 2025. A Celebration of Life will be held at noon, Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Ludington Area St. Paul Church, 3212 W. Kinney Rd., Ludington, MI 49431. www.beaconfh.com

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

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

STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20250602 FOR RELEASE JUNE 2, 2025

By Lucie Winborne

• On June 16, 1858, newly nominated senatorial candidate Abraham Lincoln told more than 1,000 delegates at the Illinois Republican Convention in Springfield that the nation was facing a crisis that could destroy the Union, paraphrasing a New Testament passage when he warned that “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”

• On June 17, 1976, the National Basketball Association announced a merger with its rival, the American Basketball Association, and took on the ABA’s four most successful franchises: the Denver Nuggets, the Indiana Pacers, the New York (later Brooklyn) Nets and the San Antonio Spurs.

• On June 18, 1178, five badly frightened monks in Canterbury, England, witnessed an explosion on the moon’s surface after the sun had set. As their abbey’s chronicler described it, “A flaming torch sprang up, spewing out ... fire, hot coals and sparks.” The moon, he marveled, “throbbed like a wounded snake.”

• On June 19, 2014, two weeks after he abdicated the Spanish throne amidst low approval ratings, King Juan Carlos I removed his red sash, symbolic of his status as the leader of the Spanish military, and draped it around the waist of his son, 46-yearold Crown Prince Felipe, completing his official transfer of power.

• On June 20, 1981, four Dutch studio musicians recording under the name Stars on 45, who sounded uncannily like the Beatles, made it to the top of the U.S. pop charts with their single titled “Medley: Intro Venus/Sugar Sugar/No Reply/I’ll Be Back/Drive My Car/Do You Want To Know A Secret/We Can Work It Out/I Should Have Known Better/Nowhere Man/You’re Going To Lose That Girl/ Stars On 45.”

• On June 21, 1913, aviatrix Georgia “Tiny” Broadwick, who stood just four feet, eight inches tall and weighed 80 pounds, became the first woman to parachute from a plane. On the way up, she was suspended from a trap seat outside the cockpit, with her parachute on a shelf above her.

• On June 22, 1953, a Brooklyn newsboy received an unusual nickel in payment. Upon dropping it on the ground he discovered it was hollow and contained a tiny photo of coded numbers. His discovery led the FBI to a Soviet spy named Rudolf Abel.

2025 King Features Synd., Inc.

By Lucie Winborne

• According to legend, and the official story from Nathan’s, four immigrants held the first hot dog eating contest at Nathan’s Famous stand on Coney Island on July 4, 1916, to prove who was the most patriotic.

• Koala bears have no sweat glands, so they cool themselves by licking their arms and stretching out as they rest in trees.

• Asbestos used to be a common sight on film sets. The carcinogenic mineral was a common substitute for snowflakes in film-making until shortly after World War II.

• No matter how hot your summer day feels, you won’t actually be able to cook an egg on a sidewalk. That’s because you’d need a temperature of at least 158 F, and the highest recorded only reached 131 F. Besides that, concrete isn’t a good heat conductor.

• When it comes to wine, and Sauvignon Blanc in particular, a cat pee-like aroma is often indicative of a highquality vintage.

• Inazawa Grand Bowl bowling center in Japan is the world’s largest bowling alley, with 116 lanes.

• Mars’ dust storms, the planet’s defining weather feature, are the largest in the solar system and can last for months.

• Despite producing 95% of the world’s bourbon supply, Kentucky’s official drink is milk.

• A museum in Helsinki, Finland, has been infested with Loxosceles laeta, venomous recluse spiders, that originally came from South America. The spiders are extremely resistant to attempts to kill them, and no one knows who imported them.

• The average person can only hear sounds up to 20 kHz, but a violin string can vibrate at frequencies of up to 100 kHz.

• A male cheetah can cause a female cheetah to ovulate by barking at her. ***

Thought for the Day: “Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.” — Mae Jemison © 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.

WEARE TOWNSHIP SPECIAL MEETING

Edlund-Rollins Scholarship names 2025 recipients

This year there are five worthy recipients, with excellent references, of the Edlund-Rollins Scholarship.

A $500 scholarship will be given to each of the following:

• Lauryn Moore: Nursing RN program, West Shore Community College, accepted 2025

• Lauren Brown: Sports Medicine, Brigham Young University, accepted 2025

• Spencer Brown: Nursing program, Brigham Young University, accepted 2024

• Ella Smith: Nursing program, West Shore Community College, accepted 2025

• Kendall Zoulek: Nursing program, Muskegon Community College, accepted 2025

The scholarships are presented through a trust fund in the memory of the Edlund -Rollins families.

The former Oceana Hospital Auxiliary treasurer continues to oversee the selection of the applicants and extends congratulations to all the worthy recipients.

Oceana County

ANIMAL SHELTER

Looking for a dog that’s equal parts handsome, hilarious and heart-melting? Say howdy to Blue –a Catahoula mix who’s got more personality than your cousin at karaoke night and more love to give than a grandma with a cookie jar.

Blue is your classic “gentle giant” – except instead of being calm all the time, he occasionally forgets how big he is and tries to sit on you. Not near you. Not beside you. ON you. It’s called “intense affection” and he has mastered it.

Blue’s favorite hobbies are chasing tennis balls (returning them… questionable), taking long walks where he pretends he’s in a dog food commercial, sitting on your feet so you can’t leave him ever, and giving kisses like he’s been nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Rom-Com.

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

JUNE 25TH @ 6:00 PM.

Interested parties Weare Township on June 25th at 6:00 at the Weare Township Hall. Consumers Power will be presenting an update on their solar farm. This is for information only and the Township Will Not be taking any action at this time.

Shelby Village takes next steps toward SRTS grant application

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

If a “Safe Routes to Schools” (SRTS) grant is approved, the Village of Shelby and Shelby Public Schools could see nearly $1M for new infrastructure improvements for the purpose of creating a safer traveling environment, specifically around the school.

The community was recently invited to review the data collected from three separate surveys taken in mid-May, as well as walking audits conducted this past year, in preparation for submission of the SRTS grant. Both the surveys saw widespread participation (20 percent participation of parents/caregivers and 80 percent participation from students), while walking audits involved collecting data of over 1,000 students traveling in and around campus over three days in May. Twenty people also came out to an information-sharing meeting last Tuesday, June 3 at the Shelby High School library. Colleen Synk with the Michigan Fitness Foundation and the county’s SRTS grant coordinator, led the discussion.

“Having all this compiled data will support the grant proposal. Many communities don’t have that,” Synk said.

The village plans to apply for $900,000 ($300,000 per Shelby District school building) for infrastructure and another $45,000 ($15,000 per school) for non-infrastructure education and programming.

“I was really surprised with some of the survey results. Of those parents who responded, over half of the elementary students in Shelby are dropped off at school each morning and nearly 25 percent of parents said they would never let their kids walk to school at any age,” said Catalina Burillo, Community Health Improvement Coordinator for Trinity Health and part of Oceana County’s REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health)* team, and co-sponsored

by Trinity Health and District Health Department #10.

The three main areas the grant will focus on would be Sixth Street between Pine and School Streets, State Street/ Oceana Drive starting at Sixth Street north to the elementary school entrance, and Oceana Drive to the entrance of the new Shelby Acres subdivision. In addition, grant funds would provide for some additional sidewalks on the school campus itself.

There is a lot to consider when writing a grant of this size and for this type of infrastructure, Synk said.

“Sometimes sidewalks are required on both sides of the road. It’s what is called a “complete street” and you don’t want to create a sidewalk to nowhere.” The type of paths (multi-use versus sidewalks), grass buffers (often used for snow storage in Michigan) and drainage are all things that have to be considered as well.

If the grant funds were awarded, not only would the village and school benefit from new infrastructure, making it safer for walkers and bikers, but funds would also be available to educate the community about where the new routes are, host biker and walker training and fun community events that will engage everyone.

“Some kids will never use a sidewalk,” Synk said. “That’s why there’s an education component built into this grant. It’s about creating balance, a complete street for all users is our goal.”

Burillo shared that in the meantime, there is REACH funding available to help the village with some intermediary steps.

“Nothing would be permanent,” she said. However, installing such things as portable bumpouts or medians to slow traffic could be “tested.” Studies show that when the roadway is narrowed, traffic naturally slows down.

Both Synk and Burillo said if the grant is received, they would plan to involve the students and their families each “step” of the way. By engaging and encouraging them in the process, it will empower

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them to feel like they have some control and a reason to use the new infrastructure if it is installed.

At Monday’s Shelby Village Council meeting, the village council voted unanimously to give permission to Village Administrator Phil Morse to apply to the Safe Routes to Schools program in the amount of $900,000 on behalf of the village.

There was one concern brought before the group Monday, according to Morse. Councilors said that while no one is opposed to making a safe environment for kids going back and forth to school, trucks having to slow down or stop completely multiple times while en route through the village has to be taken into consideration. Students would also need to be educated about proper crosswalk etiquette and practices.

The application is due Wednesday, June 18. Morse’s report to council read. “Engineering expenses will be covered by the Village of Shelby, however, cost estimates for the proposed improvements, will be covered by a grant from the REACH program.”

*REACH, is a federally-funded program, currently being facilitated by District Health Department #10 that aims to improve health, prevent chronic diseases, and reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic populations with the highest risk, or burden, of chronic disease and help to create safe environments to increase activity within a community.

Pentwater Village moves forward on a number of issues

By AnnaMae Bush The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

The Pentwater Village Council held a special strategy planning meeting from 5-6 p.m. on Monday, June 9, prior to the first June regular council meeting at 6 p.m. The second June regular council meeting will be held on June 23.

Treasurer Rande Listerman reported that the annual financial audit is scheduled for June 30. Under department reports, Village Manager Rachel Witherspoon introduced the new DPW Supervisor Jeff Gier, who formerly worked in Hillsdale and “hit the ground running.” Gier told the council that the paperwork for two new employees was in progress and the DPW would be fully staffed by the end of the month. Witherspoon also reported that several of the blight issues downtown were being resolved. Councilor Jared Griffis reported for the personnel committee that a process was begun to evaluate the village manager. Listerman reported there will be no increase in the village millage levy this year.

A lengthy discussion followed concerning the library’s request to delete the “reverter” clause from the original deed to the property on which the library is built. The library board had met with Village President Mary Marshall and Witherspoon since the May council meeting to discuss the request. The crux of the issue is that the library wants to own the land and the building free and clear, no strings attached, while the council is reticent to

give up any say in what entity to which the library might sell the property to at some time in the future.

The library land is part of an entire block owned by the village, and the council wishes the land to remain for public use.

Griffis made a motion to eliminate the “reverter” clause from the deed but to include a restrictive clause that the council must approve of any prospective buyer, provided the library would agree to the motion.

The motion passed by a 6-1 vote, with Marshall dissenting. Council agreed to meet in person with the library board to discuss the matter further in hopes of reaching a decision mutually acceptable to both groups.

The next agenda item was a request from the new DPW supervisor to purchase lab equipment that would enable Pentwater staff to conduct their own water testing instead of sending out samples to another laboratory. The current system has resulted in delayed test responses and excessive expense. (Marshall expressed thanks to resident Ted Cuchna, who had sent the council his extensive notes on the history of the village wastewater treatment plant and water testing.) Purchasing their own equipment would be a cost of over $28K upfront, but it would be made up in less than two years from the cost savings in doing their own testing, and it would provide timely test results, enabling appropriate adjustments before the

subsequent report. A motion to approve the request was passed unanimously. Next, Witherspoon asked the council for their input on how to market the old village hall, asking if they were willing to look at possibilities beyond an earlier decision to seek a boutique hotel and yearround restaurant and how aggressive a marketing campaign they wanted. Council decided to delay a response to those questions until the settlement of their application for Brownfield development status. Such status would be an incentive for developers, which would help determine a marketing strategy. Witherspoon said the application response should be available in the next few weeks. She agreed to come to the first council meeting in July with an RFP and a commercial realtor proposal for council’s approval.

A discussion about changes to the landscaping at the Village Green has been ongoing. Gier reported there are two large trees that are dying and ought to be removed. He asked for and was given council’s approval to proceed with the removal.

Witherspoon reported that a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) survey would be available online to residents on June 10 to help council in the strategic planning process. She also reported that a total repaving of Chester Street is scheduled for completion on Friday, June 13, dependent on good weather.

BENONA TOWNSHIP

Synopsis of Meeting

May 27, 2025

The regular meeting of May 27, 2025, was called to order at 7:00 PM with all Board members, and eight visitors present. The agenda was approved with an addition. The minutes of the regular meeting of April 28, 2025 were approved. Action was taken on the following:

- Traffic Control Order for Shelby Rd. at 58th Ave. rescinded.

- Supervisor authorized to approve sign replacements for Garfield Rd. at a cost not to exceed $5,000.00.

- Closed session minutes of January 27, 2025 and February 28, 2025 released to public.

- M. Pollack granted a 6-month extension to bring his zoning violation into compliance.

Celebrating the Retirement of Ellen Lambrix, LVT

June 29 2-4 p.m.

Oceana Eagles

4535 Oceana

Refreshments provided Cash Bar available No gifts, thank you

- Public Hearings for 5-Year Plans for Road Improvements and Parks & Recreation scheduled for July 28, 2025 at 6:00 PM-6:45 PM and August 25, 2025 at 6:00 PM-7:00 PM.

- Truth in Taxation Hearing scheduled for July 28, 2025 at 6:45 PM-7:00 PM.

- Additional porta-potty cleanings approved to begin June 16th.

- Three year contract with West Stone Farms & Services for roadside mowing approved.

- Bills approved for payment, with additions. Meeting adjourned at 8:28 PM.

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

- Margie Shaw, Clerk

Titan Carter finishes 14th in D3 state finals

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo

Sports Editor

ALLENDALE – In only his second varsity season, Shelby sophomore Titan Carter qualified and competed in the D3 golf state finals Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7 at The Meadows Golf Course in Allendale. Carter walked away tied with five other athletes for 14th place.

Carter didn’t have the picturesque performance he may have wanted, but finishing in the top 15 among a field of 106 competitors is impressive in itself.

The first round of golf on Friday started with a rough two-hole sequence for Carter. A double bogey and a bogey on his first two holes were remedied with pars on the next two, however. Carter notched six consecutive pars, putting a pair of bogies on either side of that stretch and finished his first day with an 81 (+10).

The biggest detriment to Carter’s performance on Friday was his long game, where he struggled to find the greens. Fortunately, the Shelby sophomore was on point once he got to putting, recording nine

Power hitting, fielding errors cost Hart softball in regional semifinal loss

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

REMUS – Grandville

Calvin Christian played a nearly perfect brand of softball Saturday, June 7, leading them to a dominant win over Hart in the regional semifinals at Chippewas Hills High School.

The Pirates showed a lot of fight early, even with the odds stacked against them. Calvin Christian had their bats working from the first swing, which comes as no surprise when the Squires had James Madison University commit Anna Zoet in the lead-off spot.

one-putt holes. Saturday proved to be a major bounceback for Carter, as he showed precision with his tee shots. After hitting just four greens in regulation on day one, Carter tripled that number to 13 on day two.

That led Carter to 12 pars and a birdie, with just four bogies and a lone double bogey.

“At age 16, Titan has increased his power, accuracy and touch around the greens,” Shelby Head Coach Fred Inglis said. “(Carter) said Saturday was one of his worst rounds of putting he had all season. He had set a goal of finishing in the top 10 of the individual leaders, but overall was happy with his patience and how he regrouped to shoot one of the best rounds of the second day.”

Finishing in the top 15 golfers in the state at the D3 level is just another feather in the cap of Carter, who has been crowned the WMC Rivers Division Medalist in each of his first two seasons.

Carter doesn’t plan to put the clubs down either. Over the summer months, he’ll train with PGA teaching pro Tim Foster, while also attending several golf camps around the state.

Zoet stepped up to the plate and eyed Kelsey Copenhaver in the circle. After watching a strike go by, Zoet took a big swing on Copenhaver’s second pitch and watched it sail over the left field fence for an immediate 1-0 lead for the Squires.

Copenhaver battled back with a strikeout on the next Calvin Christian at-bat, but that wasn’t enough to hold off the opposing offense. The Squires had a four batter sequence that featured a double, single and a walk to load the bases.

Copenhaver hit a batter with a pitch, pushing Calvin Christian to a 2-0 lead before the initial top half inning ending with a pair of strikeouts.

“As coaches, (that fight) is what we want,”

Macher

Hart Head Coach Dean DeVries said. “There have been plenty of games this year where we’re down and we’re resilient and battle back. The energy didn’t stop and they were still cheering in the dugout for their teammates.”

Mackenna Carrier did it all for Hart in their first plate appearance. Carrier put a ball in play for a single from her leadoff spot, before advancing to second on a wild pitch and then stealing third. Caydence Bateson and Copenhaver tried to advance Carrier, but couldn’t get it done, sitting down on strikeouts.

With Reese Smith up to bat, Carrier took matters into her own hands and stole home to cut into the lead. Smith ended up striking out, leaving the Pirates down, but not out.

“At the plate, I felt like we didn’t have as great of discipline as we normally do,” DeVries said. “We just couldn’t get that key hit. We threatened in

that second inning and I thought that’s when we were going to break it open, but we just got unlucky.”

Hart seemed to be in prime position to shut down the Squires in the second inning. Copenhaver made a fantastic juggling catch on a line drive straight to the pitching circle to leave the bases cleared for Zoet’s second at-bat. Zoet stepped up and cranked another long ball to the center field fence, but it was within reach of Nora Chickering.

In a déjà vu moment of the 2024 regional finals against Evart, the Pirates watched the ball land in the glove of an outfielder and promptly bounce over the fence. Zoet rounded the bases for her second home run of the day, pushing the score to 3-1. A pair of errors for Hart allowed the Squires to add another run, but still Hart trailed by an obtainable three run deficit. With Leah Walker managing a single and Maryn Klotz earning a walk to follow, Hart faltered on offense. The Pirates hit into a double play at the next at bat, stifling a scoring opportunity and leaving Calvin Christian on top 4-1.

That’s where the Squires took firm control of the game. Calvin Christian turned eight base hits over the next

Hart Softball continued on page 15

86th at D4 golf state finals in Big Rapids

By: Brendan Samuels

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

BIG RAPIDS – A rough two days at Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids placed Pentwater senior Nathan Macher in 86th out of 98 golfers at the D4 state finals Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7.

Macher started his weekend on the front nine, teeing off of hole No. 2 on Friday. From the start, the Pentwater senior couldn’t get his usual game going, recording a bogey and two double bogies on his first three holes.

A pair of pars on the front nine

helped Macher try to battle back, but he only managed one other par through the remaining nine holes, leaving his first day total at 92 (+20) after 18 holes. Saturday started off with a much better performance as Macher sunk a par on his first hole. A string of three bogies and two double bogies knocked him right back off that early promise, propelling him to a second day total of 95 (+23).

Macher recorded five pars in total on Saturday, complete with seven bogies and six double bogies. With a final stroke count of 187, Macher finished 23 over par to end his high school career.

HART • HESPERIA • PENTWATER • SHELBY • WALKERVILLE

Shelby sophomore Titan Carter fights out of tall grass during the D3 golf state finals at The Meadows Golf Course in Allendale Saturday, June 7. • Photo Courtesy of Fred Inglis

Hart’s softball team huddles in the pitching circle during the early innigs of Saturday’s regional semifinals loss to Grandville Calvin Christian. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Hart senior Nora Chickering extends the barrel of her bat in a bunt attempt. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

Nathan Macher competes at a golf meet earlier this season. • Echo File Photo

White Lake WhiteMirrorLake Mirror

White River Light Station celebrates its rich history as 150th anniversary arrives

By Barbara Bedau Brow Volunteer Contributor

While the White River Light Station now looks over a busy channel of pleasure boats, recreation was not the reason the Light Station or the channel came into being.  The reason was economics.

The thriving lumber industry in the mid-1800s needed a better, more direct outlet from White Lake into Lake Michigan than the meandering water access north of the current channel.  Mill owners such as Charles Mears and Giles Slocum were instrumental in requesting the building of a new channel. Finally in 1866, Congress appropriated $67,000 for the project. The lands for the light station and channel were obtained by deeds from Charles and Carrie Mears and the William Ferry Estate. Nearly 20 years after the first efforts, the channel was finally completed, along with a new beacon light on the south pier.

In 1871, 635 vessels cleared the harbor at White River carrying over 61,000 tons of cargo, including 44,835,000 feet of lumber, 32,340,000 shingles, 61,600 railroad ties, and 450 bushels of potatoes. Lumber from the area’s numerous sawmills was obviously the primary export, and would only increase as Chicago had to rebuild following its Great Fire of 1871.

In 1872, the beacon light was on a 27-foot wooden tower with a range of 11 miles. A local man and former seaman, William Robinson, was hired as the first lightkeeper.

After repeated requests for three years, the U.S. government appropriated $8,300 for a keeper’s dwelling and a tower. Construction of the lighthouse at the White Lake Channel began Aug. 28, 1875. Using a “Norman Gothic” design that has been used on Chambers Island, Wisconsin, it would also be used later at several other Great Lakes locations, including Eagle Bluff, McGulpin Point, Eagle Harbor, St. Clair Flats Canal, Passage Island, Sand Island and Squaw Island. E. Rhodes, a construction foreman for the Lighthouse Service, oversaw the work, but keeper William Robinson pitched in and did some of the masonry work himself.

The lighthouse consists of a tower set in the northwest corner of a gabled-roof, 1.5-story structure. Limestone was used for the foundation and yellow brick for the superstructure.  Though square at the base, the tower’s corners are beveled mid-way up to create an octagonal form. Work on the lighthouse wrapped up Dec. 28, 1875.

In April 1876, Mr. Crump, the

district lampist, arrived to install a fourth-order Fresnel lens in the lantern room. On May 13, 1876, Keeper Robinson activated the new light, whose characteristic was a fixed white light, varied every minute by a red flash. The period of the flash was reduced to 40 seconds Dec. 12, 1892, and then in 1902 the light’s characteristic was changed to alternate red and white flashes, with 20 seconds between each flash.

A brick oil house with a metal roof and door was added to the station in 1902, and in 1917, the color of the pierhead tower was changed from white to red.

While the pierhead light was electrified in 1917, the main light and dwelling did not have electricity until 1924, when electrical power finally made its way around the south side of the White Lake Channel.

In 1919, 87-year-old keeper Robinson was told he had to retire and let William Bush, his grandson who had been serving as his assistant since 1911, take charge of the light. But the feisty octogenarian wasn’t going to leave the lighthouse he had called home for over 40 years.  As the inevitable became clear, Robinson became terribly depressed, and it seemed he willed himself to die before he had to leave.  He died April 2, 1919. His wife Sarah had died Oct. 20, 1891. They are both buried in the Mouth Cemetery.

In February 1947, the light was automated and the U.S. Coast Guard, who had jurisdiction over both the Lighthouse and the Coast Guard Station, ordered the lighthouse closed.

Bush succeeded his grandfather as Lighthouse Keeper from 1919-1943.

U.S. Coast Guardsman Leo Wuori (along with his wife Frances) took over from 1943-48; U.S. Coast Guardsman Guy L. Gordon from 1945-47; civilian Frances Wuori Johnson from 1949-54; U.S. Coast Guardsman Andrew Newald from 1954-59.

The White River Lighthouse was deactivated in 1960 and turned over to the General Services Administration. Fruitland Township expressed an interest in the property in 1965, and the government agreed to sell it for $6,250, half of its appraised value. The Sylvan

Head Lighthouse Keepers:

Beach Association, comprised of nearby vacation property owners, raised the necessary funds.

In 1970 the property was opened as a museum. A series of curators were hired over the years to see to the dayto-day operations of the museum and gift shop. Those curators included: R. C. “Pete” Caesar from 1969-75; Richard & Vicki Gebhart from 1976-78; John & Ruth Klunder in 1979. Ken Dziesinski

and his wife

in 1983. Following their divorce, Karen continued as the lighthouse curator until 2012.

In 2012, the board of Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers Association (now Lakeshore Keepers) signed an agreement with Fruitland Township to operate the gift shop and museum at the White River Light Station.

Karen McDonnell came

This colorized photo of the lighthouse was taken circa 1910. The capsized boat in front is a Coast Guard training vessel. • Courtesy Photo

Construction on the White River Light Station took place in 1875, being completed just before the end of the year. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1960 and eventually sold to Fruitland Township. • Courtesy Photo

Capt. William Robinson was the first and longest-serving keeper at White River Light Station. He and wife Sarah raised 13 children here. • Courtesy Photos

White River Light Station still stands today as a museum. Volunteers travel from all over the U.S. to serve as docents and keep alive the tradition of the lighthouse for current maritime enthusiasts to enjoy. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Volunteers keep legacy of White River Light Station and its past keepers alive

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — The White River Light Station's 150th anniversary has gotten enough attention among the maritime enthusiasts who serve as volunteer keepers each summer that, Lakeshore Keepers director Jack Greve said, the organization is "actually trying to create new jobs to make sure we have positions for people."

The light station is celebrating the anniversary with a special event June 21 from 12-7 p.m. that will include live music (a DJ at 12:30 and later a performance by musical act Shelagh & Robbie), a ceremony commemorating the milestone and a silent auction. There is no charge to attend the event, but VIP experiences are available for $50 and include priority busing from Fruitland Township Hall, a food and drink ticket (Gnarly Heifer is serving food), access to climb the lighthouse, and a gift bag.

The event is also slated to include many family members of the past keepers who watched over the lighthouse from 1876, a year after its completion, until it was decommissioned in 1960. (Fruitland Township acquired the lighthouse in 1966, and Lakeshore Keepers has overseen operations since 1968.)

Over 300 volunteers, Greve said, aid Lakeshore Keepers during a summer season, hailing from 22 different states, and they are vital pieces of the operation. That's why it's so important to keep costs low for those who do volunteer.

"We need them to help keep the mission statement going - preserve, promote and educate," Greve said.

Volunteers essentially go on what Greve calls "a working vacation," staying at the White River location for a week at a time. Their duties are light - keeping the quarters clean, selling merchandise in the gift shop, giving tours - and the rewards, for those who value dazzling lake views, are great.

"I've been asked what's special about this particular site, and it's, in my opinion, getting the sunrise over White Lake and getting the sunset over Lake Michigan," Greve said. "No other place can give you that kind of sunrise and sunset. You can in certain areas, but not while you're on top of a lighthouse. This is very special for the volunteers that stay here, and certainly for the community as well."

The keeper's residence includes many of the amenities you'd expect from a summer cottage - high-speed Internet, a grill and a small lawn seating area good for enjoying the views.

The docent-guided light station tours offer a look at a lot of memorabil-

ia from over the years, including from the keepers that looked after the lighthouse from its completion in 1875 to its decommissioning in 1960.

In that time, six keepers oversaw the light station, starting with Capt. William Robinson. Robinson and wife Sarah emigrated to the United States from England, where he'd been a ship captain, like many in his family before. He and Sarah ran the lighthouse for over 40 years, raising 13 children.

Robinson had no interest in retiring even as he lived well into his 80s, continuing to take care of the White River station. Eventually, in 1919 the U.S. government forced Robinson into retirement and installed his grandson, William Bush, as keeper; Bush remained in that position until 1943. Robinson did not leave his residence at the light station, and he passed away not long after Bush took over. Both he and Sarah are buried at Mouth Cemetery in Montague.

Over 100 members of the Robinson family, Greve said, are expected to gather locally for a family reunion June 21, the same day as the White River celebration.

Another keeper Greve said draws a lot of attention from light station historical material is Frances Johnson, the second-to-last White River keeper. Johnson was in fact the last female lighthouse keeper in the state of Michigan; while not unheard of, female lighthouse keepers were never common, even in the heyday of lighthouses. Johnson notably appeared on the classic game show What's My Line? in 1953 during her tenure as lighthouse keeper; the show involved celebrity panelists trying to guess the occupation of contestants. No one on the panel was able to figure out Johnson's line of work, so she took home the remarkably modest sum of $50.

You can find video of Johnson's episode on YouTube by searching for the show and New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle, who was a celebrity guest contestant on the same episode.

"It's quite comical," Greve said, to watch the panelists on the show attempt to guess Johnson's profession.

The letter sent by the show that accompanied Johnson's winnings is one of many bits of history remaining in the lighthouse.

Other historic pieces of White River memorabilia include the Fresnel lens that once lit the lighthouse, a collection of flags flown on watercraft that traveled through the White Lake channel, and many news articles and photos published over the years. One of those is from Muskegon Magazine and is about Benner's Ark, a small building

that provided a place to go for ice anglers on White Lake during the winter months. There is also a collection of items commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1975 sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald in Lake Superior.

Also expected back for the celebration is longtime light station curator Karen McDonnell. McDonnell held that position from 1983-2012 and now lives in California, Greve said. A photo collage in tribute to McDonnell's years

of service is also on display in the light station museum.

In addition to the Robinson family reunion, several other descendants of former keepers will be on hand for the event. There is no formal presentation expected, but Greve said descendants will be given colored ribbons that correspond to which former keeper they are descended from, enabling family members to find one another more easily.

Among the perks for volunteers who serve as docents each summer at the White River Light Station: A spectacular view of the channel and Lake Michigan from atop the tower.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

A number of pieces of memorabilia are on display in the White River Light Station museum, including the original Fresnel lens (above left) that lit the lighthouse during its heyday. There are also collections of articles and photos spotlighting lighthouse personnel over the years, including longtime former curator Karen McDonnell (above right) and the penultimate lighthouse keeper, Frances Johnson. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Pieces of memorabilia in the White River Light Station museum include maritime artifacts (left) and an article about Benner's Ark, which once served ice fishers on White Lake. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Kids programs at light station hope to spark next generation

This summer and early fall, the White River Light Station is offering a series of kids' programs designed to inspire and educate children about lighthouse history, maritime history of the Great Lakes, and Michigan history through teaching, hands-on learning, and play.

The events will take place from 2-3:30 p.m. on five different days from June-October: Wednesday, June 25,

Wednesday, July 9, Wednesday, Aug. 13, Saturday, Sept. 13 and Saturday, Oct. 4.

The main focus of the program will be the time period from 1860-1900. Topics may include Life at the Lighthouse, Life on the Water, Life Before the Lighthouse, Disaster on the Lake, and Mysteries of the Great Lakes.

To sign up for the free program, visit https://square.link/u/QQQ8TGQy.

Lighthouse organization becomes Lakeshore Keepers

The Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association (SPLKA) recently announced a new name and logo that reflect its growing impact and enduring mission. As of May 28, the organization is now known as Lakeshore Keepers.

Since 1987, the organization has evolved alongside its commitment to preserve, restore, and promote West Michigan’s historic lighthouses. What began with the stewardship of Big Sable Point Lighthouse has expanded into a multi-site operation including Little Sable, Ludington North Breakwater, White River Light Station and Museum, and, as of January 2025, the Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse.

With this addition comes a natural evolution in identity.

"Our mission remains the same, but with five iconic lighthouses now under our care, it’s time our name reflected the full scope of our work," said Jack Greve, Lakeshore Keepers executive director.

This marks the organization’s third rebrand since its founding. Originally established as Big Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers Association, focused solely on Big Sable, the group rebranded to Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association (SPLKA) as additional lighthouses were added between 2004

and 2012.

Now, with the inclusion of the Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse, the organization steps into its next era as Lakeshore Keepers.

However, despite the name change, many things will stay the same, including the mission to preserve, promote, educate the public, and make its lighthouses accessible to all; the dedication of volunteers, members, staff, board members, and supporters who make this work possible; and the names and characters of each lighthouse under its care.

The new name and logo reflect the expanded scope and unified identity of the organization. There will also be a new individual lighthouse logo for all five lights under Lakeshore Keepers' management. These will be revealed later this summer. This rebrand will be rolled out gradually and completed by the end of 2025.

Lakeshore Keepers invites the community to join in celebrating this new chapter while continuing to support the vital preservation of these treasures along Lake Michigan’s shore.

For more information, please visit LakeshoreKeepers.org or follow Lakeshore Keepers on social media.

EVENT SCHEDULE

12 p.m. Celebration begins 12:30 p.m. Raffle & Live entertainment: DJ

2 p.m. Food is served from The Gnarly Heifer

2:30-3 p.m. Ceremony & Michigan State Tribute

3 p.m. Live entertainment: Shelagh & Robbie

4:30 p.m. Last bus departs from Fruitland Township

7 p.m. Event Concludes COST

The 150th-anniversary event is free to attend and open to the public. Food and drinks and tower climb tickets will be available for purchase at the light station.

code at right or by

This historic photo shows the then-wooden walls of the White Lake channel in disrepair as the White River Light Station overlooks the scene. • Courtesy Photo

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

Several summer camps offered to local students and athletes

By: Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

Summer vacation has officially started for most Oceana County schools. While teachers and school activities have filled the past 180 days for area students, the job of keeping kids occupied and stimulated for the next 80 days or so, falls to parents and caregivers. To aid in that process, here are a few sports and outdoor related activities taking place over the summer months.

Shelby Boys Skill Development Basketball Camp will take place Monday, June 16 through Thursday, June 19 at the Shelby High School gym.

Boys in grades 7-12 can attend from 8-10 a.m.

Boys in grades 3-6 will run from 10 a.m. to noon.

Cost is $50. Call or text

Coach Rick Zoulek by Sunday, June 15 at 231861-5092 (home) or 231301-2639 (cell) to register and to assure a camp shirt. Please leave name, grade, and shirt size.

Hart Boys Youth Basketball Summer Camp will be held Monday, June 23 through Thursday, June 26 at the Hart

High School gym. This high-energy camp will be a fun way to work on skill development and teamwork. Led by Hart High School’s boys basketball coaches and players, the camp will focus on helping each camper “change their best” every day. “Change is growth and even though growth is not easy, it is worth it!” states the camp’s promotional flyer. “Growth occurs when we focus on the things we can control.”

Boy athletes grades 2-5 are invited to join the 8:30-9:45 a.m. session, while 6-8 grade boy athletes will meet from 9:4511 a.m. The cost is $40 per camper and includes a t-shirt. Payment will be collected the first day of camp. Please pre-register by Monday, June 16 to be guaranteed a t-shirt. All proceeds will go to the Hart High School Boys Basketball Program. To preregister please use the following link: https:// forms.gle/mTZDT3vtQSofoDzJ6 or contact Coach Nick Bronsema at 231-206-1666 or bronsemn@monashores.net

The Hart Cross Country program invites Hart High School cross country team runners to sign

Hart Softball

three innings into an additional 12 runs. A pair of errors and a runner who reached on a dropped third strike only compounded the problems for the Pirates’ defense.

“Last year’s team got 27 wins and it’s hard to continue that growth,” DeVries said. “This team did that up until the last day and they did the little things necessary to win close ball games. I really thought we were prepared and ready for this game, but unfortunately we just didn’t bring it defensively. When you make a few errors in the field and give a team an extra out or two, they’re really going to make you pay at this level.”

Walker, Carrier and Chickering were the only Pirates to record base hits in the loss. Copenhaver lasted four innings in the circle, allowing five earned runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts. Smith pitched one inning in relief, allowing one earned run on three hits and two strikeouts.

The Pirates finished their season at 24-10 overall and will lose three

up for their 2nd Annual Cross Country Camp 2025 to be held Friday, July 22 through Friday, July 25 at Lake Michigan Family Campground located at 5807 Ridge Road, Pentwater. A $50 deposit is due by Monday, June 30. Checks should be made out to Hart Public Schools and mailed to Calvin Ackley at 7485 West Lake Rd, Mears, 49436.

The cost of camp this year is $219 and includes three day lodging, meals and activities (most three night/four day camps cost $300-$800). Thanks to the Hart Athletics Boosters, registered campers will be able to apply for a $50 refund from the Boosters to reduce the cost to $169. Located right on Lake Michigan, the camp is connected to running trails in the Pentwater Plains. A detailed itinerary will be posted in June. Besides running, Coach Ackley has lots planned to build up team culture, learn the sport better, improve overall athletic ability, and challenge everyone to always give their best with everything in life! Sign up by contacting Coach Ackley in person, by email (amycal7@gmail.com),

continued from page 10

seniors in Copenhaver, Klotz and Chickering.

“It’s going to be hard to replace all of our seniors,” DeVries said. “They all put good swings on the

ball for us. Every year you look at your seniors and say ‘man, I don’t want that one to go,’ but the core of this team is going to be back next year.”

text (231-742–0988), or TeamReach as soon as possible. More information will be provided after registration.

AgriScience Everywhere, an agriscience day camp for all students in 2024-25 5-8 grades, is being sponsored by the West Shore ESD Monday, July 8 through Wednesday, July 11, 9 a.m. to noon at the West Michigan Research Station, located at 5185 North Oceana Drive in Hart, and Thursday, July 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a field trip to West Shore Community College where students will tour the college’s CTS (Career Tech Education) program. Students will learn what agriscience is and where it exists in their community and will provide plenty of opportunities to practice teamwork and problem-solve, working on a variety of projects and activities and learn to think critically and “outside the box”. The cost is free, but space is limited. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ agrisciencecamp.

JOB POSTING

VILLAGE OF SHELBY DEPUTY CLERK/TREASURER

The Village of Shelby is seeking applicants for a Deputy Clerk/Treasurer. The selected applicant will perform administrative assistance and general office support services for the Village Clerk/Treasurer, Village Administrator, and Police Chief. Research and respond to both routine and unique matters regarding a wide variety of Village matters. Serves as the first point of contact for Village residents visiting the Village Hall. This position offers 28 hours a week with a flexible schedule, as it aligns with open office hours from Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

The ideal candidate will be able to provide clerical support including sorting and distrusting mail, prepare letters and other correspondence, maintain office files, assist with preparing meeting packets, perform accounts receivable, acts as a receptionist, assist with accounts payable and payroll, manage website and social media, assists the Zoning Administrator in administering zoning and code enforcement, and in the Clerk/Treasurer’s absence, attends meetings, records and prepares official meeting minutes, and assures legal notices are published. The compensation range is $16.36 to $21.47 per hour depending on qualifications and experience. Applicants should submit a completed application and resume to: Village Clerk Village of Shelby 218 N. Michigan Ave. Shelby, MI 49455 Or email: clerk@shelbyvillage.com

For questions, contact Village Hall at (231) 8614400. Applications must be submitted by no later than June 20, 2025, at 4:30 PM.

THE VILLAGE OF SHELBY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

OCEANA COUNTY BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

REGARDING ADOPTION OF A BROWNFIELD PLAN 330 E. MAIN ST, WALKERVILLE, MICHIGAN

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS IN OCEANA COUNTY:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that the Oceana County Board of Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, the 22nd day of June 2026, 11:30 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time in the Board of Commissioners Meeting Room, located at 100 State Street, Hart MI 49420, to receive public comment on a Brownfield Redevelopment Plan to include therein the property located at 330 E. Main St., Walkerville. The following legal parcel is included in the “eligible property”:

Parcel ID: 047-004-300-05

The property consists of one parcel of property in the Village of Walkerville. The property subject to this Brownfield plan is the geographic area described within this plan, inclusive of any parcel splits, combinations, new parcel tax identification numbers, or address changes that may occur in the future. The redevelopment involves demolition of the current structure and new construction of a store and three fueling dispensers. Primary eligible activities include preapproved demolition costs.

The Brownfield condition that qualifies the properties as eligible is that it is considered an “eligible property” as defined by the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act, Act 381 of 1996, as amended.

The Brownfield Plan, which includes a site map and legal description of the parcel, is available for public inspection at the Oceana County Government Center, 100 State Street, Hart MI, M-F, 9 am to 5 pm. All aspects of the plan are open for discussion at the public hearing.

FURTHER INFORMATION may be obtained from Ms. Tracy Byard, Oceana County Administrator tbyard@oceana.mi.us or by calling 231873-4835.

Oceana County will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audiotapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities upon twenty-four (24) hours’ notice to Oceana County. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids, or services, should contact the Oceana County Clerk by calling:

Melanie A. Coon County Clerk 231-873-4328

Hart’s Mackenna Carrier prepares to receive a pitch while playing catcher. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

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YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Rotary club presents donation to Haiti well project

Rotary club presents donation to Haiti well project

Rotary club presents donation to Haiti well project

Isabelle Musk, outgoing Miss Michigan's Teen, visits Rotary meeting

Isabelle Musk, outgoing Miss Michigan's Teen, visits Rotary meeting

Isabelle Musk, outgoing Miss Michigan's Teen, visits Rotary meeting

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

By Andy Roberts

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — The Montague-Whitehall Rotary Club received a visit from Whitehall's own Isabelle Musk at its Tuesday, June 3 meeting, as Musk updated the club on her work as Miss Michigan's Teen, as well as her first year at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music.

WHITEHALL — The Montague-Whitehall Rotary Club received a visit from Whitehall's own Isabelle Musk at its Tuesday, June 3 meeting, as Musk updated the club on her work as Miss Michigan's Teen, as well as her first year at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music.

WHITEHALL — The Montague-Whitehall Rotary Club received a visit from Whitehall's own Isabelle Musk at its Tuesday, June 3 meeting, as Musk updated the club on her work as Miss Michigan's Teen, as well as her first year at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music.

Musk received a $1,000 Rotary scholarship a year ago upon graduating from Whitehall, which she and mom Angela said was instrumental in securing Isabelle's spot at the prestigious Berklee, where she is majoring in dance and minoring in entrepreneurship. Musk said when she visited Whitehall last November that her dream is to one day be a Rockette and perform on Broadway.

Musk received a $1,000 Rotary scholarship a year ago upon graduating from Whitehall, which she and mom Angela said was instrumental in securing Isabelle's spot at the prestigious Berklee, where she is majoring in dance and minoring in entrepreneurship. Musk said when she visited Whitehall last November that her dream is to one day be a Rockette and perform on Broadway.

Musk received a $1,000 Rotary scholarship a year ago upon graduating from Whitehall, which she and mom Angela said was instrumental in securing Isabelle's spot at the prestigious Berklee, where she is majoring in dance and minoring in entrepreneurship. Musk said when she visited Whitehall last November that her dream is to one day be a Rockette and perform on Broadway.

Isabelle, who competed at Miss America's Teen in Orlando in early January, is no stranger to distributing scholarship money herself; she founded her own nonprofit, called The Leap, which builds upon the Leaping into Whole-

Isabelle, who competed at Miss America's Teen in Orlando in early January, is no stranger to distributing scholarship money herself; she founded her own nonprofit, called The Leap, which builds upon the Leaping into Whole-

Isabelle, who competed at Miss America's Teen in Orlando in early January, is no stranger to distributing scholarship money herself; she founded her own nonprofit, called The Leap, which builds upon the Leaping into Whole-

ness initiative that helped her become Miss Michigan's Teen. The nonprofit provides scholarship money to help children access movement-based activities they may not otherwise be able to afford. The nonprofit has its roots in

ness initiative that helped her become Miss Michigan's Teen. The nonprofit provides scholarship money to help children access movement-based activities they may not otherwise be able to afford. The nonprofit has its roots in

ness initiative that helped her become Miss Michigan's Teen. The nonprofit provides scholarship money to help children access movement-based activities they may not otherwise be able to afford. The nonprofit has its roots in

Musk's discovery, during COVID-19 lockdowns, that her mood improved when she was able to get out of the

Musk's discovery, during COVID-19 lockdowns, that her mood improved when she was able to get out of the

Rotary meeting continued on page 2

Rotary meeting continued on page 2

Musk's discovery, during COVID-19 lockdowns, that her mood improved when she was able to get out of the Rotary meeting continued on page 2

Whitehall's Derby, Sylvester receive DAR awards

Whitehall's Derby, Sylvester receive DAR awards

Whitehall's Derby, Sylvester receive DAR awards

Two Whitehall High School students were honored with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Community Service Award during the school’s annual Senior Awards Ceremony May 18. The Muskegon Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recognized graduating Whitehall seniors Maggie Derby and Kaiden Sylvester for their outstanding Eagle Scout projects that exemplify leadership, service, and commitment to their community.

Two Whitehall High School students were honored with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Community Service Award during the school’s annual Senior Awards Ceremony May 18. The Muskegon Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recognized graduating Whitehall seniors Maggie Derby and Kaiden Sylvester for their outstanding Eagle Scout projects that exemplify leadership, service, and commitment to their community.

Two Whitehall High School students were honored with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Community Service Award during the school’s annual Senior Awards Ceremony May 18. The Muskegon Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recognized graduating Whitehall seniors Maggie Derby and Kaiden Sylvester for their outstanding Eagle Scout projects that exemplify leadership, service, and commitment to their community.

Derby was honored for her thoughtful and impactful construction of a shortcut connecting the Whitehall bike and walking path to the White Lake Commu-

Derby was honored for her thoughtful and impactful construction of a shortcut connecting the Whitehall bike and walking path to the White Lake Commu-

Derby was honored for her thoughtful and impactful construction of a shortcut connecting the Whitehall bike and walking path to the White Lake Commu-

nity Library parking lot. The project, which included the creative use of natural materials and a personalized license plate signature, has improved access for the public while preserving the area's natural beauty. Sylvester received the award for his work restoring a long-forgotten cemetery hidden among the trees. His dedication to historical preservation led to the discovery of an intact Civil War veteran’s headstone, sparking further exploration into the history of the Whitehall area.

nity Library parking lot. The project, which included the creative use of natural materials and a personalized license plate signature, has improved access for the public while preserving the area's natural beauty. Sylvester received the award for his work restoring a long-forgotten cemetery hidden among the trees. His dedication to historical preservation led to the discovery of an intact Civil War veteran’s headstone, sparking further exploration into the history of the Whitehall area.

nity Library parking lot. The project, which included the creative use of natural materials and a personalized license plate signature, has improved access for the public while preserving the area's natural beauty. Sylvester received the award for his work restoring a long-forgotten cemetery hidden among the trees. His dedication to historical preservation led to the discovery of an intact Civil War veteran’s headstone, sparking further exploration into the history of the Whitehall area.

DAR

DAR awards continued on page

continued on page

Healthy Roots celebrates new downtown spot

Healthy Roots celebrates new downtown spot

Healthy Roots celebrates new downtown spot

Store owner maintains big dreams in new location

Store owner maintains big dreams in new location

Store owner maintains big dreams in new location

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — The former Healthy Pantry grocery store - now Healthy Roots - celebrated its two-year anniversary under new ownership, as well as its new downtown Whitehall location, with a ribbon-cutting event Saturday morning.

WHITEHALL — The former Healthy Pantry grocery store - now Healthy Roots - celebrated its two-year anniversary under new ownership, as well as its new downtown Whitehall location, with a ribbon-cutting event Saturday morning.

WHITEHALL — The former Healthy Pantry grocery store - now Healthy Roots - celebrated its two-year anniversary under new ownership, as well as its new downtown Whitehall location, with a ribbon-cutting event Saturday morning.

Meredith Kuiper, along with husband Paul and their children, purchased the store in 2023 after learning from its then-owners that it would otherwise be closed. When she took it over, she had big dreams, and she feels moving the store downtown gets her closer to achieving them. The store was previously in the former Plumb's plaza near Colby's Cafe and Brew.

Meredith Kuiper, along with husband Paul and their children, purchased the store in 2023 after learning from its then-owners that it would otherwise be closed. When she took it over, she had big dreams, and she feels moving the store downtown gets her closer to achieving them. The store was previously in the former Plumb's plaza near Colby's Cafe and Brew.

Meredith Kuiper, along with husband Paul and their children, purchased the store in 2023 after learning from its then-owners that it would otherwise be closed. When she took it over, she had big dreams, and she feels moving the store downtown gets her closer to achieving them. The store was previously in the former Plumb's plaza near Colby's Cafe and Brew.

"I feel like this is the space that can probably take us all the way," Kuiper said.

"I feel like this is the space that can probably take us all the way," Kuiper said.

"I feel like this is the space that can probably take us all the way," Kuiper said.

Among the many things about the new space, which is located between

Among the many things about the new space, which is located between

Among the many things about the new space, which is located between

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

•

store is now in downtown Whitehall. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Pitkin and Pub One Eleven on Colby Street, that Kuiper is excited about is the certified kitchen the store now has on its premises. The kitchen serves homemade Thai food cooked in-house.

Pitkin and Pub One Eleven on Colby Street, that Kuiper is excited about is the certified kitchen the store now has on its premises. The kitchen serves homemade Thai food cooked in-house.

Pitkin and Pub One Eleven on Colby Street, that Kuiper is excited about is the certified kitchen the store now has on its premises. The kitchen serves homemade Thai food cooked in-house.

"The biggest deal for me was the ability to have ready-to-eat good food in-house," Kuiper said. "We couldn't do that in (the previous) space...I see this being our permanent home. I can't imagine leaving it. That being said, life has thrown me so many curveballs, I can't say anything's written in stone. I know anything can change in a heart-

"The biggest deal for me was the ability to have ready-to-eat good food in-house," Kuiper said. "We couldn't do that in (the previous) space...I see this being our permanent home. I can't imagine leaving it. That being said, life has thrown me so many curveballs, I can't say anything's written in stone. I know anything can change in a heart-

"The biggest deal for me was the ability to have ready-to-eat good food in-house," Kuiper said. "We couldn't do that in (the previous) space...I see this being our permanent home. I can't imagine leaving it. That being said, life has thrown me so many curveballs, I can't say anything's written in stone. I know anything can change in a heart-

beat."

beat."

beat."

In addition to the health food products available on site, Kuiper has expanded the store's health and beauty offerings. A small selection of books have popped up in the front area of the store, which also includes an area for kids to play with toys while parents shop if desired. Kuiper hopes to expand the book offerings and turn the space into a library for those wanting more information on a healthy life.

In addition to the health food products available on site, Kuiper has expanded the store's health and beauty offerings. A small selection of books have popped up in the front area of the store, which also includes an area for kids to play with toys while parents shop if desired. Kuiper hopes to expand the book offerings and turn the space into a library for those wanting more information on a healthy life.

"I'd like to be able to do a library

In addition to the health food products available on site, Kuiper has expanded the store's health and beauty offerings. A small selection of books have popped up in the front area of the store, which also includes an area for kids to play with toys while parents shop if desired. Kuiper hopes to expand the book offerings and turn the space into a library for those wanting more information on a healthy life.

"I'd like to be able to do a library

"I'd like to be able to do a library

where people pay a small yearly fee and they can check out books whenever they want to, and we (would) have the good books that they're looking to read, the ones that I'm constantly recommending," Kuiper said.

where people pay a small yearly fee and they can check out books whenever they want to, and we (would) have the good books that they're looking to read, the ones that I'm constantly recommending," Kuiper said.

where people pay a small yearly fee and they can check out books whenever they want to, and we (would) have the good books that they're looking to read, the ones that I'm constantly recommending," Kuiper said.

The expanded space also enables Kuiper to have her family with her in the store, which wasn't comfortably possible before. Kuiper said she feels most

The expanded space also enables Kuiper to have her family with her in the store, which wasn't comfortably possible before. Kuiper said she feels most

The expanded space also enables Kuiper to have her family with her in the store, which wasn't comfortably possible before. Kuiper said she feels most

Montague-Whitehall Rotary Club president Esther Baldridge presents past district governor Jeff Coil a donation check for the HANWASH group at a June 3 meeting. The organization is working toward drilling wells in Haiti to give people in the country access to better drinking water. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall alum and Miss Michigan's Teen Isabelle Musk speaks to the MontagueWhitehall Rotary Club during its June 3 meeting. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Healthy Roots owner Meredith Kuiper (center) cuts the ribbon to commemorate her store's new location in downtown Whitehall Saturday. The Kuiper family bought the store two years ago. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Healthy Roots owner Meredith Kuiper (center) and her family celebrate their twoyear anniversary owning the store. The store is now in downtown Whitehall.

Whitehall alumni Kaiden Sylvester (left) and Maggie Derby accept Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Awards May 18. • Courtesy Photo

2

Montague-Whitehall Rotary Club president Esther Baldridge presents past district governor Jeff Coil a donation check for the HANWASH group at a June 3 meeting. The organization is working toward drilling wells in Haiti to give people in the country access to better drinking water. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall alum and Miss Michigan's Teen Isabelle Musk speaks to the MontagueWhitehall Rotary Club during its June 3 meeting. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Healthy Roots owner Meredith Kuiper (center) cuts the ribbon to commemorate her store's new location in downtown Whitehall Saturday. The Kuiper family bought the store two years ago.

Andy Roberts/Mirror

Healthy Roots owner Meredith Kuiper (center) and her family celebrate their twoyear anniversary owning the store. The

Whitehall alumni Kaiden Sylvester (left) and Maggie Derby accept Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Awards May 18. • Courtesy Photo

2

Montague-Whitehall Rotary Club president Esther Baldridge presents past district governor Jeff Coil a donation check for the HANWASH group at a June 3 meeting. The organization is working toward drilling wells in Haiti to give people in the country access to better drinking water. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall alum and Miss Michigan's Teen Isabelle Musk speaks to the MontagueWhitehall Rotary Club during its June 3 meeting. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Healthy Roots owner Meredith Kuiper (center) cuts the ribbon to commemorate her store's new location in downtown Whitehall Saturday. The Kuiper family bought the store two years ago. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Healthy Roots owner Meredith Kuiper (center) and her family celebrate their twoyear anniversary owning the store. The store is now in downtown Whitehall.

Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall alumni Kaiden Sylvester (left) and Maggie Derby accept Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Awards May 18. • Courtesy Photo

on page 2

Montague school board approves 2025-26 budget

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

The Montague school board was presented a proposed 2025-26 budget at its Monday meeting, which it unanimously approved.

As usual, director of business affairs Stacey Brown presented the budget, which calls for total expenditures of just over $20.63 million, an increase of $370,000. As in past years, the budget was conservative, as the school has not yet been told what its allotment of state funding will be. The school has also

not yet had its transportation contract with Electric Forest renewed for 2026, though Brown said she anticipates that will eventually occur.

Brown noted that the current budget calls for the end-of-school-year fund balance to only be 6% of expenditures, which is significantly below the threshold recommended by the state. However, that pessimistic outlook has historically been true in other early budget presentations as well, and she anticipates an improved outlook as various monies come in throughout the school

Rotary meeting

house and get active.

Musk shared her experience working with kids - while in Whitehall, she was an instructor at Releve Dance Studio, where she described owner Abby Kirk as being "like a second mother to me." Sometimes she feels like the relatively modest amount of money she is able to raise is not enough to really make a difference. However, when one girl's family told her upon receiving scholarship money that their daughter would be able to play travel soccer this year after previously thinking she'd have to give it up for financial reasons, she realized every amount means something to somebody. Musk said she's been able to award over $7,000 of scholarship money so far.

Of course, Musk's nonprofit is just one thing that occupies her time of late. She has volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club, an experience that has only stoked her desires to get kids moving; her time there has been a stark reminder that some children do not have a healthy home environment. She also has significant duties as Miss Michigan's Teen, a title she will pass along to her successor Friday, June 13 at the Frauenthal Center in Muskegon, and she is on an accelerated threeyear academic program at Berklee which involves taking 20 credit hours per semester.

"It's been a whirlwind but I wouldn't trade it for the world," Musk said. "Being at my dream school has been transformative...I feel completely in my element. I've pushed myself harder than I ever have. When I look at the mirror, I like the person I see looking back at me."

She referred to scholarships as not merely being a certificate or a

check, but a vote of confidence from your community.

"It's a commitment to aspire to excellence, contribute to your community," Musk said.

Musk's visit wasn't the only notable event at the Rotary meeting, as the club presented a $2,500 donation check to the Haiti National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Initiative (HANWASH). Rotary clubs nationwide partner with HANWASH to work toward drilling wells that can provide clean water to the country. The check presented June 3 will specifically go toward a well that's being planned in the commune of Terre-Neuve, located in northern Haiti.

The country has long been beset with economic troubles, dating to when its former colonizer, France, forced Haiti to pay it in exchange for its independence, according to National Public Radio, a debt that took decades to repay. The United States also was "no friend to Haiti" in the early 1900s, said former Rotary district governor Jeff Coil, contributing to its problems that persist today.

Coil, who has worked closely with HANWASH,

was on hand to accept the check. As with Musk's nonprofit, the amount won't by itself accomplish what HANWASH is trying to achieve, but it will make a difference.

"We think the well is going to cost $60,000," Coil said. "We don't know until we start drilling. All of these little bits are going to help us with the unknown things...One of the further things that they try to do is, there's no electricity, so you have to have a diesel generator to generate it. That means you have to buy diesel fuel. A lot of them at some point convert over to solar. They'll put (on) a solar panel and batteries and all that stuff."

Coil noted that TerreNeuve faces challenges when it comes to well drilling. It's a more mountainous locale than, for one example, Cavaillon, where HANWASH has made a lot of progress. And despite being only 25 miles from the coast, the commune takes hours to get to because of a lack of paved roads. Part of the organization's work also revolves around ensuring local homes have latrines and are therefore able to take advantage of the water in the wells that are

year.

The budget also reflects an anticipated downturn in overall student enrollment next year. The district currently projects 1,225 students will be in the district for 2025-26, down 64 from a year ago. The final state funding allotment was projected in the budget at $1,000 per student, which is part of the budget proposal from Governor Gretchen Whitmer, but that figure has not yet been finalized by the state. The number would be an increase of just under $400 per student from 2024-25.

The board took several other actions Monday, including the approval of five new teacher hires and a superintendent contract for next year. The board approved three overnight athletic trips for the summer.

Superintendent Jeffrey Johnson announced during the meeting that Joe Brunson, a teacher and coach of track and cross-country, has left Montague for a position at Holland Christian, which is closer to his home. Johnson thanked Brunson for his years at the school.

DAR awards

drilled.

"You start to get all this picture of the difficulties of working on it," Coil said.

One key factor in HANWASH's work, Coil said, is putting initiative on local folks in Haiti to take ownership of the well's maintenance once it is drilled. As was pointed out during the meeting, it doesn't matter how impressively the work drilling a well is done if no one locally is capable of maintaining it.

"There has to be a local commitment and initiative to make it happen," said Esther Baldridge, president of the local Rotary chapter. "If we just go in with our white hats and drill a well, it won't function in a few years. But having local buy-in, that's what makes the program successful."

The process is long and difficult, but Coil said it's work worth doing and the people of Haiti deserve the assistance.

"People ask, why are you doing this?" Coil said. "If we don't do it, who can? Just because it's hard, doesn't mean we don't do it...I've gotten to know many Haitians through this, and they're some really cool people."

The Community Service Award recognizes individuals who provide voluntary service in areas such as education, historic preservation, patriotism, and environmental conservation. Although Chapter Regent Bonnie Krueger was unable to attend the ceremony due to illness, the awards and congratulatory letters were presented on her behalf by Muskegon Chapter Community Service Chair and Recording Secretary Nadine Gaffner. Also recognized at the event was Ryan Goodrich, the Muskegon Chapter’s 1st place winner of the DAR Good Citizens Award and a State Finalist. This prestigious award honors students who demonstrate dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. Mrs. Gaffner presented Ryan with a certificate and a $500 award from the Muskegon Chapter in recognition of his exceptional achievements and exemplary character. These young leaders are making a real and lasting difference in their community. Their efforts truly embody the DAR’s mission of service, patriotism, and historic preservation. The Muskegon Chapter extends its heartfelt congratulations to all recipients and commends them for their vision, dedication, and hard work.

Saturday, June 14

White Lake Area Arts & Crafts Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Live music, a free creative activity zone, bounce house day passes available for purchase, and a variety of goods for sale.

Twisters Summer Bash, 5 p.m. Event will include a bounce house, permanent jewelry, yard games and more.

Medicine Men perform @ North Grove Brewers, 7 p.m.

Free line dancing lessons @ Weathervane Lane, 7:30 p.m. Instructor Amy Christian will teach you how to line dance to all genres of music. Beginner-friendly.

Sunday, June 15

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

White Lake Area Arts & Crafts Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Live music, a free creative activity zone, bounce house day passes available for pur-

Community Calendar

chase, and a variety of goods for sale.

White Lake Ukulele Club meets @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 1-2 p.m. Penny Rushing teaches on stage.

Monday, June 16

Maciek the Magician performs @ Montague Bandshell, 10:30 a.m. A high-energy show provided by MADL Montague.

Free ASL classes begin @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 6 p.m. Deaf mentor Leah Broomfield teaches 8 weeks of courses Mondays and Thursdays.

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

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

Tuesday, June 17

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

Eugene Morningstar performs @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 2-4 p.m.

Pretty Fun trivia @ Book Nook &

Java Shop, 6:15 p.m.

ACWL-Nuveen Free Summer Concert Series continues its 2025 season with 496 West, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, June 18

Eric Michaels & Chris Kennedy perform @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 11:30 a.m.

Blood drive fundraiser for the White Lake Free Store @ White Lake UMC in Montague, 2-7 p.m. Walk-ins welcome, appointments available by calling 866-642-5663.

Summer Book Talk Series @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 6:30 p.m. Author Grace Tiffany speaks about her book The Owl Was a Baker's Daughter. Meet-and-greet at 6:30, author presentation at 7.

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

Thursday, June 19

Original Dulcimer Players Club hosts its monthly acoustic jam @ VAC, 1-6 p.m. with a break at 3 p.m.

Echoes of History: The Maasdam

Submitted by Barbara Bedau Brow Volunteer Contributor

While this disaster did not happen on any of our local lakes, it did involve a couple of local residents at the time. The following article appeared in the Whitehall Forum Nov. 13, 1884.

The details of the burning of the steamer Maasdam at sea recently, as related by Abram Sant and Ed. Boardwell, the White Lake passengers, furnished a picture of thrilling interest. The following details were gleaned from an interview with Messrs. Sant and Boardwell.

The steamer, which was of 2,200 tons burthen, had been at sea about a week, with a cargo of Holland gin and oil, and 186 souls aboard. One morning at about six o’clock, the doors of the staterooms were opened and the cry of fire startled the ears of the occupants. Everybody turned out pell-mell and was ordered to the upper deck of the boat, where a fearful night met the gaze. The large skylight openings over the engine room were a mass of seething flames, and the smoke was rolling up in black clouds. It appears that one of the oil tanks had been leaking, and an engineer going to

it with an open torch-light had let the light fall into the oil, causing an explosion and filling the engine room with fierce flames. Instantly all was excitement.

As soon as the awfulness of the situation dawned upon the passengers, the air was filled with lamentations, women tore their hair and children screamed. The officers, who were cool and brave, had all they could do to keep the huddling mass of humanity on the upper deck within the bounds of reason. No passengers were permitted to return to their room, and the men were kept busy at the pumps, and carrying water. The only hope of quenching the flames was by throwing the water through the sky-lights, as an open door below would have created a draft and sent the fire through the whole ship; but when it became evident that the flames could not be checked and that the ship must go, the life-boats were ordered lowered, and then scenes of the wildest excitement were enacted among the passengers. One man drew a knife and raised it to strike himself, when the captain knocked him down and took the weapon from him. A woman with

All are welcome, and any acoustic instruments can join in the jam.

Water Color Silhouettes for Teens @ MADL Montague, 2 p.m. Create silhouettes using watercolor paint and pre-made vinyl stickers from the Makerspace Cricut machine.

Science and Crafts "Color Our World" event @ White Lake Community Library, 5:30 p.m. Learn about the colors of science and take part in a craft.

White Lake Area Historical Society meets @ White Lake Senior Center, 7 p.m. Theme is "One Brick at a Time" with presenter Dean Evans. Live trivia @ Pub One Eleven, 7 p.m.

The Unoriginals perform @ North Grove Brewers, 7 p.m.

Friday, June 20

Ferrel Cordle performs a Tribute to Elvis show @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 7 p.m.

Disaster (Part 1)

two children, when the doors finally swung open, started into the smoke and flames, but was brought back. Many in their wildness refused to leave the boat, but begged to be allowed to perish in the flames, and when ordered into the life-boats would cling to the steamer until torn away by main force. There were six boats, the first leaving the

steamer about 9 o’clock in the forenoon and the last about 2 in the afternoon. The captain was the last to leave the burning ship, and with the smoke and flames close upon him turned back to the danger, and with tears rolling down his cheeks waved his arms to the lurid tongues of the fire fiend.

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

games, and museum passes. All you need is your library card.

programs are free, and registration is not required. More info at wlclib.org/ calendar.

Planning an outdoor party, family reunion, or barbecue? Borrow a yard game from the library to make it even more fun - without costing you a penny! The library has a growing collection of outdoor games available, including cornhole, a giant version of Jenga, horseshoes, a croquet set, a ring toss game, and more. There’s even a disc golf set with three discs and a portable target. You can see a complete list on our website at wlclib.org/library-of-things. While you’re there, check out all the other great Library of Things offerings, such as household tools, STEAM kits, video

FUN FACT: June 21 is National Yard Game Day! It was first celebrated in 2021. Although the observance is quite new, yard games are quite old. There is evidence that ancient Egyptians played a yard game involving bowls, bocce ball dates back to the Roman Empire, and croquet is believed to have been invented in the 1700s!

Fun Programs for Kids and Adults This Week

It’s going to be another fun week at the library, with everything from music and art to science and video games. Highlights include the takeand-make painting kit for adults and a Colorful Science family night. The painting kits for adults are available beginning June 16, while supplies last. The family night event, which will feature a variety of colorful handson science and art activities, begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19. These

Other weekly summer programs for kids include Music Mondays every Monday at 10 a.m. and Outdoor Explorers every Friday at 10 a.m. For Music Mondays, elementary-aged kids are invited to join Library Beth for a series of musical games each week. These traditional songs and movements are designed specifically to promote social-emotional, cognitive, and musical development in children. Parents are asked to please hang out in the library while the kids play. Outdoor Explorers is designed for kids of all ages and their caregivers. Participants will spend the hour outside, exploring the woods, building forts, playing games on the lawn, looking for critters, walking the storytrail, and more. Please bring your own water, sunscreen, bug spray, and weather-appropriate clothing. We’ll play together no matter the weather!

Older kids are welcome to attend the weekly Afternoon Hangouts for teens and tweens Fridays at 2 p.m. Stop in to make new friends, do some crafts, play some games, eat some snacks, or just hang out. Each week we'll have the Switch and the VR headset out for gaming as well. Yoga classes will also continue at the library through the summer, with gentle yoga at 9:30 and chair yoga at 11:30. Get all the details at wlclib.org/ calendar.

DeMumbrum

Circa 1883-84 - This sister ship of the Maasdam gives an idea of what the steamer might have looked like. • Courtesy Photo

Lake Mirror

Mirror NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE community

Future Lions meet former Lion at team's camp

Former star George Jamison visits as guest coach

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — The Detroit Lions youth football camp made its regular visit to Montague this week, with former Lions star George Jamison this year's team ambassador and guest coach.

Jamison was on hand Tuesday evening to help the Lions' youth coaches guide the players through, appropriately, drills focused on defense. Jamison played linebacker for the Lions for nine of his 12 seasons in the pros, also suiting up for the Kansas City Chiefs, before retiring following the 1998 season.

The drills the campers participated in Tuesday were focused on getting into good position to make tackles. The youth coaches were zeroed in on posture, letting the campers know where their head, shoulders and feet should be positioned.

"It takes me back to when I was a kid," Jamison said of being a guest coach. "I know if I had something like this then, that would really excite me."

Jamison started 82 games in nine Lions seasons - including all 16 regular-season games for the 1991 Lions who had, until the team's recent run, the franchise's most recent playoff win - totaling 480 tackles and nine interceptions. He returned two of those picks for touchdowns and also scored on a fumble return during his career.

Jamison said he's been a guest coach before, so being out among

young Lions fans was nothing new to him. He said he felt like seeing players who have actually worn the Honolulu blue of their favorite team can provide motivation to the campers.

"I think they're excited," Jamison said. "It might possibly give them some motivation and give them some incentive for how to do things the proper way and then just be motivated and do their best at all times."

Like other former Lions who have been part of the Montague camp in recent years, Jamison is excited about the trajectory of the franchise under current coach Dan Campbell. The Lions reached the NFC championship game in 2023 and earned the No. 1 seed in the conference last year before being upset by the Washington Commanders.

"We had a slogan back when I played, Restore the Roar," Jamison said. "They went beyond that. It's great to see the city behind the team. They just give us all support. Everybody is excited. The stadium's sold out. The city's abuzz and the state's abuzz. It's great to have that feeling when football (season) comes around."

Between the team's recent performance and the visit from Jamison, there was plenty to look forward to for Lions youth campers, many of whom likely spent the week dreaming they too might wear the iconic silver helmet someday.

"I think it's great that the kids get to have adventures here and they learn some valuable lessons about how to do the proper techniques and more importantly, just always give your best," Jamison said. "It helps them be focused."

Whitehall hopes to grow multi-sport girls

By Andy Roberts

WHITEHALL — Whitehall wants more girls to play multiple sports in future seasons, and it invited guest speakers to the school May 14 in hopes of pitching the idea to its female athletes.

Viking alum Hannah (Mahoney) Loucks, who was a volleyball and softball star before playing the former at Aquinas College, and current Wake Forest cross-country and track athlete

Aiden Harrand, who played four sports at Buckley, both addressed Whitehall students on the benefits of stretching yourself.

They were invited because, according to girls basketball coach Brian Milliron, 20% fewer girls play multiple sports at Whitehall than do boys. Milliron cited the small girls soccer roster this season as an example; under 20 Vikings came out for the team and they

were unable to field a JV squad.

Both Loucks and Harrand - the latter's Whitehall connection is that she's related to Milliron's dad - spoke about the benefits they saw in their primary sport as a result of cross-training.

"It's something that I deeply feel shaped me as a person, playing and being part of this program and being a multi-sport athlete and carried me on to college," Loucks said. "I remember when I played softball here, even though I went on to play volleyball, softball really shaped me as a person. We went through a major shift.

"My junior year, I was one of the only (juniors) playing, and in my senior year, I was one of two or three seniors. We lost the majority of our team, so I had to experience this dramatic shift of our record and what our performance looked like."

Loucks is a Class of 2011 alum, but Harrand is even younger, having just finished her freshman season running for the Demon Deacons. Harrand played basketball and softball on top of cross-country and track at Buckley. She said that she kept so busy at Buckley that, even though she's now a two-

sport athlete in the Atlantic Coast Conference, her schedule is in some ways not as physically taxing as her time in high school.

"I actually took stuff off my plate when I went to college," Harrand said. "I used to say I was a Type A person because of how rigid my schedule was and how uptight I was. Then I got to college, and I'm a Type B person. I didn't think that would ever happen to me, but I'm so much more relaxed."

Former Detroit Lions star George Jamison keeps an eye on Lions youth campers as they go through warm-up stretches Tuesday during the team's camp in Montague.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

White Lake Mirror Editor

Former Viking Hannah Loucks, Wake Forest's Aiden Harrand speak to Whitehall girls athletes

A large group of Whitehall female athletes was on hand May 14 to hear Hannah Loucks (center left) and Aiden Harrand speak about the virtues of multi-sport participation.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Former Whitehall Viking Hannah Loucks (left) speaks to a crowd of female athletes as Wake Forest runner Aiden Harrand looks on May 14.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

A Detroit Lions youth coach works on form tackling with two campers during the team's youth camp in Montague Tuesday. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Annual WLASA kids fishing tourney a hit

By Claire Marshall White Lake Mirror Writer

WHITEHALL — A total of 160 children ages 3-16 participated in Saturday’s kids fishing contest, hosted at Goodrich Park by the White Lake Area Sportfishing Association.

The WLASA was founded in 1982, and the kids fishing tournament has been held annually almost as long. Back then, the association expected, and was satisfied, with a routine dozen participants every year, but 2014 saw remarkable community interest in the event, with participation reaching its peak at 218 children. The numbers have remained consistent ever since, save for a brief hiatus in 2020 during the pandemic.

The goal of the tournament, as explained by WLASA president Don Ingalls, is to instill a love of fishing in younger generations and inspire them to play outside - interacting with nature instead of technology. For Ingalls, “fishing is a lifelong activity; you plant the seeds early and that child is set for life.”

There are six brackets children compete in, separated by gender and age groups: 3-6, 7-10, and 11-16. Each participant has from 7 a.m. to noon to catch as many fish as they please, but must choose one with which to compete at weigh-in. The biggest fish wins.

WLASA is not stingy with their awards. In each of the six groups, 10 places are awarded, meaning almost a third of the competing children Saturday placed in their respective categories. All of the 60 children that place go home with a medal and new fishing rod, and all participants receive a goody bag of bait and a certificate detailing the type of fish they caught and its weight.

Most children have no difficulties catching a fish, Ingalls explains, since during this time of year, fish swarm the east end of White Lake. The types of fish typically caught run a wide gamut, from 20-gram gobbies, to moderately-sized bluegills and sunfish, with bass and dogfish on the larger end. The tournament takes place on the DNR’s free fishing weekend, so there’s no worry of procuring fishing licenses, meaning the shores of Goodrich Park to the Thompson Street bridge are packed with a crowd of all ages and experience levels enjoying the sport and early June weather.

Many of the tournament’s participants were eager to show off their catches and share their fishing experience. While this was Henry’s second year participating in the tournamenthe competed in the 11-16 age bracket - he has been fishing since he was little and was taught by his grandpa. He excitedly jumped between the rocks on Goodrich Park’s shoreline, pointing out different fish he could see hovering close to the surface to his friends, and posed with his bowfin (dogfish) catch, which ended up weighing 1,204 grams.

On Henry’s right, Madeline was patiently waiting with her line in the water for a fish, and on the left, Jordan had already caught two rock bass. Madeline and Jordan were also competing in their respective 11-16 categories.

Among the tall reeds closer to the Thompson St. bridge, Hayden, Lillyana, and Maya (ages 11, 7, and 4) were fishing with the assistance of their father, who shared he’d recently gotten into fishing in the past year and subsequently inspired his children. Lillyana

•

and Maya had already caught a sunfish and bluegill, and Hayden hooked a sizable bass during the brief interview.

Closer to the municipal marina, Alana, age 15, had already caught a rock bass. Alana has been competing in the tournament since 2014 with her two older siblings, who have since aged out of the competition. Her mother was proud to share how, since 2014, at least one of her children has placed in the competition every year. Alana, unsurprisingly given her family’s track record, received first place in the girls 11-16 category.

In Benji’s (age 4) first year competing, he placed as well and showed off his haul. When asked what he caught, he answered, “three big fish, and one tiny fish.”

For brothers Cyrus and Jethro, it was their second competition, and they were joined by their cousins Abby, Rylee, and Ellie. For the sisters, this was their first year in the competition, and Ellie’s second time fishing. Abby and Ellie placed in the 11-16 category, Rylee in the girls 3-6, and Cyrus in the boys 3-6.

Once weigh-in concluded at noon, participants and their families were served pizza and refreshments at the covered pavilion, waiting for the final rankings to be announced. The WLASA also took some time to explain the group’s mission and the work they do. The mission is, much like their members, without frills and to the point: “Improve the quality of fishing in White Lake.”

White Lake and its ongoing conservation efforts are of utmost importance to the group, especially considering the lake’s polluted past. One particular reason for their efforts is to replenish the walleye population in White Lake, a fish known for their fickleness over habitat. To date, the WLASA, partnering with the Michigan DNR, have released 450,000 walleye fry into area lakes and rivers. White Lake received 200,000 fry last year, to much apparent success.

Similarly successful was the conclusion of

with 60 children in total receiving shiny medals for their efforts and new fishing poles. With new equipment and encouragement from their elders,

the participants Saturday will most certainly continue their new outdoor adventures and undoubtedly be back to compete in following years.

2025’s kid’s fishing contest,

Young anglers from the girls 7-10 age division celebrate their top-10 awards at Saturday's White Lake Area Sportfishing Association kids fishing contest.

• Claire Marshall/Mirror

Henry (left) and Madeline were among the local kids to participate in the WLASA kids fishing contest at Goodrich Park Saturday.

Claire Marshall/Mirror

Young angler Hayden and his dad show off Hayden's catch during Saturday's WLASA kids fishing contest.

• Claire Marshall/Mirror

Young anglers from the boys 11-16 age division celebrate their top-10 awards at Saturday's White Lake Area Sportfishing Association kids fishing contest.

• Claire Marshall/Mirror

Multi-sport

Competing in sports they didn't necessarily dominate in was another topic addressed by both speakers. Each said they saw social and mental benefits from playing a sport they weren't as good at as their primary sport.

"That made me a more resilient person, not only (myself), but being part of a team that was going through a hot streak, or going through a losing streak, and how to push through that and have more opportunities," Loucks said.

For Loucks, those traits have stuck with her now in her new roles. She is the mom of a two-year-old, as well as the senior director of clinical quality at BrightPath Behavior in Colorado, which provides individualized therapy for children with autism.

"When you start a job, or don't get a promotion, or you don't get X, Y and Z, you build a resilience to it," Loucks said. "If we had a rough season, I could really (focus on doing) well in the offseason. If I have a hard day at work, I can go home to my kid. There's these pockets of my life that I can dive into, especially being multi-sport, and now having a multi-dimensional life, if one area is low, you have other buckets (you can tap into)."

Harrand also saw the value in stretching beyond her area of expertise. A superstar at running - she won 10 Division 4 state championships at Buckley, including two in cross-country and eight event titles in trackHarrand was not the same dominant force in her forays into basketball and softball, but said she got a lot out of the experience and met new friends.

"It made families," Harrand said, to compete in other sports, adding that compared to the largely solitary training of running, off-season activities in her other sports were less lonely.

Though sophomore Clare Westerlund wasn't one of the girls who was

being pitched - she already plays volleyball, basketball and soccer - she was pleased to hear her fellow students sold on the same path she follows.

"I might be doing really well on the basketball team, being a starter, but then on soccer, I just am supporting my teammates that are better than me," Westerlund said. "I get to be below them and learn more from people...In soccer, I get to learn more and take on a different role, and that's really nice."

The speeches also motivated Westerlund, who may have the opportunity to consider a collegiate career in sports, to stay focused on making herself better during the offseason.

"Just do the extra things, because in college, that's going to be a daily thing," Westerlund said of the message she received. "I could think, 'I go and lift twice a week,' but when I go to college, it's going to be every single day, maybe twice a day."

Milliron wasn't the only girls coach hoping the message sunk in, either.

"For these high school athletes to see these girls come back, I'm hoping that it has this impact and lights that fire, ignites that passion," Whitehall girls soccer coach Laicey Chamberlain said. "I have some amazing leaders on my team, and if they were to come back in the future to talk to my younger players, I would be so stoked for that to happen."

Loucks was thrilled to be one of those former Vikings coming back in an effort to inspire the current students.

"I love it here," Loucks said. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a tight-knit community and come back and talk to athletes. At the time when we're in high school, this is our whole life, but growing beyond it and life getting bigger past it, I'm so grateful it still gets to have an impact."

White Lake Youth Theatre programs coming to town

The White Lake Youth Theatre (WLYT) program, established in 1973 by Blue Lake Fine Arts when they owned and operated The Playhouse at White Lake, returns to town this summer for another set of opportunities for local kids and teens to explore theater, whether they are experienced or just interested.

Over Muskegon County’s summer break, June 23-27, two directors in a Little Red Truck will arrive with everything needed for the Missoula Children’s Theatre Musical Play Camp- including warm welcomes, all the sets and costumes, scripts and all the knowledge and passion needed to make for a spectacularly fun and educational experience for kids ages 6-18. This June, the play Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be staged from 10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. daily, with space for up to 60 children to be registered in this camp where everyone performs. The five-day workshop cost is $150, with partial work/trade scholarships available to students and families and WLACE homeschool eligible, with opportunities for behind-the-scenes education if children prefer not to perform.

In July, Katherine Mayberry of Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company will guide students (ages 9 and up) in a Beginning Shakespeare for Actors work-

shop on Wednesday, July 2, from 3- 5 pm. The cost is just $20 for students and scholarships are available, funded by the Youth Advisory Council of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.

Finally, in August the arts educational leadership branch of the program White Lake Youth Theatre, the White Lake Youth Theatre Council will host auditions for their newest self-written play, “Don’t Say the M Word: A Teen-Led Quest to Bring Shakespeare into the Modern Era.”

There are parts being written for 16 roles that will be available as part of this Fall Murdery Mystery Performance Workshop, scheduled for production in November.

While audition dates have not yet been posted, this play will be open to actors ages 12-18, with a full younger ensemble being cast as the Circus Arts performers in the Renaissance Faire. The Circus Arts ensemble will be open to actors ages 6-11, with the goal to engage 20-30 students of this age.

Learn more about what to prepare and apply to audition at theplayhouseatwhitelake.org or register there for any upcoming programs. Follow The Playhouse at White Lake on social media or their email newsletter to stay updated about all Playhouse and White Lake Youth Theatre.

Hole in one!

White River Twp. residents address new solar proposal

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — A large crowd reminiscent of winter 2023 gathered at Tuesday's White River Township board meeting after many local residents received a letter from the company formerly known as National Grid Renewables outlining its proposed solar energy facility.

The company, which recently rebranded as Geronimo Power, sent letters to township residents in June who it believes could be affected by the proposed facility. The letters state that the project is approximately 1,575 acres. Township supervisor Ron Bailey said after a meeting with Geronimo developers earlier this year - a prescribed step for the company under Public Act 233 - that the project was similar to the original one the company proposed in late 2022. That proposal ignited a local backlash against the company. Former township supervisor Mike Cockerill was also recalled due to residents' displeasure with his land being part of the proposed solar project. The saga briefly led to legal action against the township when its board did not act on a permit request; the suit was later dropped.

During public comment, two Geronimo representatives - copywriter Ricki Oldenkamp and project manager Kendra Harrington - spoke to inform the public about the company's name change and the upcoming open housestyle event July 17 at NBC Middle School. The latter is another step the company is required to take under PA233, which gives the state control over siting of renewable energy facilities.

Multiple residents spoke in frustration about the Geronimo project, stating the renewable energy district the township created and placed on Chemours land last fall qualified as a Compatible Renewable Energy Ordinance (CREO) under PA233 and that the size of Geronimo's proposed facility is inappropriate for the township. White River Township is, at 15.9 square miles, less than half the size of a typical township.

"We support renewables and worked really hard and spent a lot of time and money working with Chemours to integrate a plan, a size, for solar that integrates into our community and doesn't dominate our community," resident Mary Jo Ernst said during public comment, adding that PA233 requires companies to outline why brownfields, such as the Chemours land, were not chosen for renewable energy projects.

The board also addressed more routine items, such as an amendment to its recent short-term rental ordinance. Unanimous approval was given to a new amendment - Bailey said he's hopeful it will be the last necessary amendment - that addresses short-term rentals on private roads. The new amendment requires residents using their home as a short-term rental to either improve their private roads so that they're at least 15 feet wide, have an appropriately-sized cul-de-sac and can sustain a fire truck, or have a signed agreement that the renter is aware of the inaccessibility.

The board also welcomed current planning commission chair Lauren Wackernagel as the new deputy clerk. Wackernagel replaced Patti Sargent, who stepped down from the role in May.

Arts & Crafts Festival back in White Lake this weekend

This weekend will feature one of the White Lake area's most popular traditions, as the 46th annual Arts & Crafts Festival comes to Goodrich Park in Whitehall.

Over 75 artists and crafters will be featured in the festival, set to take place Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, June 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Shoppers can browse and buy unique, handcrafted items including jewelry, fine art, Michigan-themed goods, packaged foods, wood furniture, metal yard decor, leatherwork and more.

Live music will also be part of the festival. Mike Snell and Renee Cherry,

Tommy Foster and Grayson and Jenna Barton will be among the local artists playing.

For the kids, inflatables will be available with day passes sold for $5 per day. There will also be a free creative activity zone presented by both local libraries and the Arts Council of White Lake–Nuveen Center.

If you get hungry while browsing, food trucks and homemade treats will be available for sale from participating vendors.

For more information about the Arts & Crafts Festival, visit www.whitelake. org or contact the White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau at 231-8934585.

Lee Gardner (center) made the first hole-in-one of the season at White Lake Golf Club May 15. It was also the first hole-in-one to be made on the redesigned hole No. 3 at the course. • Courtesy Photo

Whitehall council discusses several recent items

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

A lighter schedule awaited the Whitehall city council for its regular meeting Tuesday, but the council did discuss several recent items.

The meeting included a brief clarification on the tax money captured annually by the Tax Increment Finance Authority and Local Development Finance Authority after council members Tom Ziemer and Debi Hillebrand separately requested clarification on the matter. City manager Scott Huebler, for the public's benefit, spoke about those authorities pulling in excess taxable value beyond a preset base value. State law allows those and similar bodies (such as Montague's Downtown Development Authority) to use that excess money to

reinvest in the community. Huebler added that it's been the city's position throughout the existence of their TIFA and LDFA bodies that some of that money should be returned to the taxing jurisdictions - he said "about a third" of those monies are annually sent back.

The council took no action regarding a request council member Tom Ziemer said was received from the White Lake Association to provide some funds for the recently launched smart buoy. The buoy collects data regarding the environmental health of White Lake, and the requested funds - $800 - were to help support the use of a website that would enable the public to see that data as the WLA posts it. While the annual budget was passed at the May 27 meeting, the council could take action on

that request later via a budget amendment. Ziemer noted that Montague was slated to contribute $800 as well.

Ziemer also said he'd heard from several residents who are against the installation of Flock traffic cameras in the city and noted the public comments against the cameras at the May 27 meeting. The company has offered the use of the cameras on a free trial basis to various local municipalities, with the option to pay an annual fee to continue using them once the trial is over. The cameras capture license plate information that enables the tracking of vehicles from place to place.

Council members Scott Brown shared from his use of social media, the majority of comments he'd seen opposed the cameras' use, and Steve Sik-

kenga added that while he's heard no opinions from residents, he personally does not want the cameras here. Tanya Cabala conceded there were privacy issues regarding the cameras, but did not outright oppose them. No action was taken on the matter.

The council unanimously approved a request from the Hokey Pokey store to close the alley between its building and the Gil-Roy Hardware store for two weekends this year so it can bring back the "Find the Unexpected in the Alley" sales it regularly hosted prior to the pandemic. The sales will take place June 20-22 and Sept. 5-7. Cathy Russell spoke during public comment on behalf of the store, saying customers have been asking the store for some time when the sales would return.

Dirt Dauber club distributes merit awards for June

The Dirt Dauber Garden Club (DDGC) announced its recipients of the June 2025 Merit Garden Awards, celebrating exceptional gardens in the community. Each month from June through September, DDGC recognizes one residential and one business garden for their outstanding effort and creativity.

This month’s focus is on the Montague area. For June, the residential Merit Garden Award went to Susan Newhof and Paul Collins for their tranquil garden at 8599 Old Channel Trail, Montague. Their garden features enchanting ferns, treasured 60 year old rhododendrons, whimsical garden art and peaceful pathways that wind through a lush four-lot landscape.

“Many of the plants in our garden come from friends, and we truly love that,” shares the homeowner.

In the business category, the Dune Grass Gallery at the corner of Dowling and Ferry streets in Montague was recognized for its vibrant window boxes and large potted plants filled with colorful blooms.

“We are a bright and cheerful gallery, and we want our flowers to welcome visitors and reflect who

we are in this community,” says owner Janet Andersen. The Dirt Dauber Garden Club invites everyone to visit these gardens and find inspiration through their beauty and creativity.

Ferry Memorial, White Lake UCC hosting events

The Ferry Memorial Reformed Church in Montague welcomes kids preschool through fifth grade to Vacation Bible School June 17-20.

Activities will include tie-dyeing a t-shirt on day one to wear later in the week. Games, crafts, snacks and faithbased activities are part of the planned school. Attendees will learn about the Bible through stories, songs and active learning.

Donations are accepted, but there is no cost to attend the school. Those with questions or who would like to register may reach out to Beth Wohlford at bethwohlford@ferrychurch.org or call 630346-1728.

In other church events, the White

Lake Congregational United Church of Christ welcomes all traveling through Whitehall for its yard sale day Saturday, June 21 to join the church's annual Strawberry Social and Mini Yard Sale.

The event is set to begin at 10 a.m. in the church yard, with shortcake sundaes, strawberry doughnuts and fresh coffee on the menu. Cornhole and other yard games will be available to play.

Visitors can also bargain-hunt for books, plants, trinkets and maybe even a future White Elephant gift. Shopping will continue through 2 p.m.

The yard sale will move inside if there is inclement weather. For updates and more information, visit Facebook. com/UCCthebikepath.

For more information about the DDGC, its community projects, club meetings and other events, visit the DDGC Facebook page.

Healthy Roots

comfortable with the way things are running if she can be there serving "as the driver."

Over time, the store would love to turn the whole building into a healthy destination, where other health-focused businesses could team up with Healthy Roots. Kuiper also is excited about the historical significance of being in one of the city's oldest buildings, as well as the improved accessibility a downtown location can offer.

"This is the first time I know that we've actually had walking traffic," Kuiper said. "I don't know if we were getting it at the other store. Maybe a little bit, but I hadn't heard it. I've had people say, 'Now I can walk from my house,' or, 'I can walk up from where I work,' and so I think we're going to get a lot more

foot traffic here. Our parking setup is way better.

"(The building) still has the original ceiling, so we're trying to eventually get to the place where the building looks more like it did then, than it did in the 1960s."

Kuiper's desire "to serve the community and serve it well" extends beyond her store, as she is eager to give recommendations on any number of topics to anyone looking to focus on healthy products.

"I always want people to know that we're here for them, and we're here to walk through whatever," Kuiper said. "It doesn't matter what kind of day they've had, they can always come in here and find somebody that's ready to help and listen."

The Dirt Dauber Garden Club distributed merit awards for June to the garden of Susan Newhof and Paul Collins (left garden) and to the new Dune Grass Gallery in Montague. • Courtesy Photos

Synopsis of Meeting June 10, 2025

Regular Meeting called to order at 6:30 PM. Present: Robert Draper, Connie Cargill, Rachel Iteen, Bill Kolenda, Doug Dykstra and 15 guests.

Items approved:

• Minutes of Last month’s Township Board Meeting

• Bills Approved for Payment

• Zoning Administrator Appointed

• Road sign Quotes

• Silverback Time Extension

• MTA Annual Dues and Package

• Heroes Parade Meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m.

Copies of meeting minutes are available from the township and approved minutes on our website, www.goldentownship.org.

- Rachel Iteen, Clerk