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READER:

A double ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at the newly renovated Getty Park in the Village of Shelby on Saturday, June 21. Each ribbon was held up by many of the people who have been part of this project, and the first was cut by area children who the park was created for, and the second by former Village President Paul Inglis, who championed the project during his tenure. The event featured food, games and fun and the park will be a source of enjoyment for many years to come.

• Amanda Dodge & Paul Erickson/Echo

Newly renovated Getty Park officially opens to the community

Shelby Chainsaw Festival to debut July 11 & 12

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12, there will be a “new festival in town,” when the Shelby Chainsaw Carving Festival will make its debut, and Village Manager Phil Morse hopes it will bring lots of visitors to downtown Shelby.

The 1st Annual Chainsaw Festival will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days and include all-day chainsaw carving demonstrations (from five different carvers), food trucks, arts and crafts vendors and kids activities, Morse said. A special carving demo for kids will be held prior to live auctions both evenings, which will feature approximately 20-25 pieces that will have been made that day. “We hope the bids are high. This is how the carvers get paid,” Morse said.

“I knew I wanted to do something unique that isn’t done close by. I saw a carver at Lewis Farms, so I got in contact with him and asked if he could help me put a festival together. He put me in touch with Troy Boroff of Twin Lake,” Morse said. “As a result, the festival will have five expert carvers, including Kyle Thomas, owner of Red Rabbit Wood Carving and second-place winner in the U.S. Open Nationals chainsaw carving competition in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, last year.

The Oceana Echo caught up with Boroff, owner of Brushwood Carvings, who shared how he got started in the art of chainsaw carving. “My grandpa was Bill Langlois of Nunica, Mich. He was an accomplished artist in his own right, mainly painting and drawing. In 1984, he won the honor of having his painting of a trout featured on the 'Michigan Trout and Salmon Stamp' of the year,” Boroff shared.

“He was also a chainsaw carver, and watching him was what eventually led me to pursue chainsaw art myself. As a kid I would watch him for hours. Then in 2015 he passed away from cancer. Even though I’d always wanted to pick up carving, I’d never used a chainsaw in my life.

“I found a couple from northern Michigan who worked with me for two days and helped me understand the setup and technique. But chainsaw carving is hard. You’re not going to learn everything in two days. It’s a journey.

“It’s been constant learning, honing the craft. Like anything, if you stick with it, you’ll see some outcomes you like. I worked at it for two or three years while I was working at the courthouse in Muskegon. I’d get home at 5 p.m., and I’d start carving, sometimes until dark. I had a burning passion to get good at it.

“I finally got comfortable enough with my carving and had produced enough pieces that I did my first show in Grand Haven. I sold one thing and made $100. I knew I still had improvements to make. It took another three or four years before I had stuff I could consistently sell. It took going to a lot of shows and seeing what people liked and what they would buy.

“In the past two years, I’ve only done two shows. I’m able to make a living by taking online orders from people. My bestsellers are my cardinals, which stand about 14 inches high and my hummingbirds, which are about two feet tall. I try to have enough pieces to have a good variety and at several price points. My usual sale is between $30 and $300, more specialized or custom pieces start around $400.

“Some of my custom work involves creating a piece from a tree

someone has had cut down or has fallen down. I have to be careful about bidding for those. You can get in a pinch. I’ve learned you have to be really observant of what is surrounding the tree (ground, other obstacles etc.) and what type of wood it is. Oak is a lot harder to carve,” Boroff shared.

“We (Thomas and Boroff) met through Facebook. I reached out to him and we’ve worked together. It helps us to work with another carver. You both improve and are able to bounce ideas off of each other. It also pushes you to try something new,” Boroff added.

As with any art form, there are special tools, techniques and tricks, Boroff said. Not every part of an art piece is cut with a large chainsaw. “You can get six-inch bar saws. With something smaller, you’re able to do fine details, like beaks or feathers on birds. I use a chainsaw for 90-95 percent of my pieces. But I do use a chisel for features like a bear’s eye and a Dremel tool for texture. It depends on how far you want to take it.

“For starters, a large project like a ten-foot bear takes a bigger saw and starts with what’s called

‘blocking out,’ working more in shapes to begin with. You start with the end product in mind. One of the biggest things I’ve had to figure out is the more you can keep things symmetrical, the better it looks. Your first cuts are very important and dictate how the rest goes.

“Another thing is remembering it’s a three-dimensional piece and carving all the way around. You need to look at it from all angles to balance it out. At first you just want to get something done, but you have to think deeper,” he said. “You also have to know when to quit. I can get caught up in the details, and I have to remember I’m trying to make a living, and there’s a fine line of knowing when to stop.”

Boroff said that 80-90 percent of what he sells at shows is sold to women. “If you can make a bear cute, it sells. Cute sells over realism,” he laughed.

Morse is excited about what having a festival of this kind could mean for the village. As of June 18 sponsor donations had reached $5,750. “We’re actively following up with volunteers, carvers, food vendors and others to ensure everyone is aligned and ready for the day,” he said. “If anyone is interested in helping, there are several roles to fill, and more sponsors are welcome!” Morse said. “The community’s support would make a big difference!” Please contact Morse at 231-861-4400 or email chainsawfestival@shelbyvillage. com for more information.

Visit Brushwood Carvings or Red Rabbit Wood Carving on Facebook to see some of what’s to come at Shelby’s first-ever Chainsaw Carving Festival. All carvers will have their personal information available at the festival as well.

Troy Boroff with one of his creations

Hesperia unveils ‘

The Village of Hesperia is proud to unveil “A Walk in the Park,” a vibrant new public art installation by local artist Renae Wallace, now on display at Vida Weaver Park. Painted directly onto a municipal well house, the immersive, interactive mural invites visitors to explore nature, imagination, and play—right in the heart of the village.

This colorful and whimsical mural transforms a once-unnoticed utility building into a joyful destination for all

ages. Wallace, a Newaygo County artist known for her nature-inspired work, infused the piece with bold colors and whimsy, referencing a poem from Jeff Foxworthy.

A Walk in the Park is the third installation in the broader HesperiART Initiative, a community-driven effort to promote Hesperia as the Hub of Vacationland through public art. The initiative aims to complete six installations by the end of 2025 and has already brought art into unexpected

places, with more projects in progress, including a stunning three-dimensional student-created mural.

This project was generously funded by the Community Foundation for Oceana County via the Electric Forest Charitable Fund and the Fremont Area Community Foundation, including the Rich and Kerriann Meeuwenberg Advised Fund and the Roger and Rebecca Tuuk Advised Fund, whose continued investment in local arts and placemaking has made HesperiART possible.

• Russ Baker, HesperiART Committee

This page is brought to you by:

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

to 5 p.m. Private tours are available by appointment. oceanahistory.org

By Claire Marshall The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

After receiving positive feedback from last week’s experiment of The 1306, I’ve decided to share another historic postcard for this edition. To be transparent, I had one family friend say they “thought it was really special,” so I’m running with it. I assure you, after some necessary research this week, I’ll be back to local history next Friday. Besides, after finding this postcard at the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share as soon as I could.

This week’s postcard comes from our favorite local Renaissance man, Swift Lathers. The front of the postcard shows the journalist, poet, homesteading and shack-building extraordinaire standing before his beloved Dune Forest Village. Despite the slightly blurry quality of the photo obscuring his face, the figure is still undoubtedly Swift, identifiable by clothing choice alone. Swift was known throughout Oceana for his daily uniform just as much as his paper: green pants and a red tie complemented by his blue shirtsleeves with a white collar. On cool days, he accessorized with a brown suit jacket and a black derby hat.

In the photograph, his derby and collar stick out as dark grey features on the figure. If you study even a single picture of Swift Lathers, a spell is cast, and you’ll find the man in even the grainiest historical picture. Behind him are three of his Dune Forest Buildings, most notably, the red schoolhouse.

Once upon a time, this postcard was pasted to some black construction paper, so the postmark is obscured save for the location of “Mears,” but it is dated the 21st of July, 1941. The sending address and message are typed, probably on Swift’s oft-used typewriter, which is still on display at the Lathers’ home in Mears. The lucky recipient is a Miss Mar-

garet Minich of Minich Cottage in Silver Lake, and her message reads as follows:

"July 21, 1941

Dear Margaret:

It was nice of you girls to give me a ride home. I got home in time for church. How does it seem to spill in a c/ sailboat? I mean out of one. A quadrangle of college girls would call it thrilling. Swift Lathers"

Swift was certainly wearing his uniform as he trundled along the road in Mears. I imagine his distinctive appearance acted as a faraway beacon, allowing Miss Margaret plenty of time to stop her car with her college friends. Having been a college girl myself not too terribly long ago, and one eager to act as a hometown tour guide for her friends, I’d almost say she was eager to show off the local celebrity. Perhaps she announced over the engine, “Check this fellow out!” before pulling over to give Swift a ride.

1941 was well after the time Swift Lathers stopped driving his own cars, electing to walk everywhere instead, and there are many personal anecdotes from Mears residents of picking up Swift from the side of the road and giving him a ride to his destination. Margaret was doing nothing out of the ordinary, offering him a ride with her friends, whom he certainly entertained.

Judging by his reference to their con-

versation, Swift may have asked how the group of college girls were enjoying their summer and was told about their sailing adventures in return. While trying to make heads or tails of his reference “how does it seem to spill in a c/ sailboat? I mean out of one,” I believe “spill” may refer to falling or tripping; “taking a spill” so to say. Perhaps the girls had taken a sailing trip on a windy day such as we’ve been experiencing lately, tumbling around or out of the vessel, and describing the ordeal so nonchalantly as “thrilling.” The car ride would’ve been just as crowded, as Swift describes, with “a quadrangle of college girls.”

Trying to make sense of Swift’s use of “quadrangle” to colorfully describe a group of four, rather than “quartet,” I looked to the dictionary definition, which simply describes four-sided shapes or structures. This paints a picture of Swift Lathers sitting right in the middle of four college-aged girls all chattering about their summer fun.

Another note, as far as I can tell, “c/” is shorthand, the meaning of which I cannot find. I know in history “c” is “circa” and used to mean “approximately,” especially in terms of historical dates. Perhaps “c/” symbolized something similar to Swift? Especially considering the unclear prepositions of “in” or “out” in concerns to boats and taking spills.

Looking up Miss Margaret Minich affirms many of my assumptions. The

Minich family were from La Grange, Illinois, but frequent vacationers at their cabin in Silver Lake. Margaret was born in 1919, and would have been 22 in the summer of 1941. She was also the president of the Alpha Phi Sorority at DePauw University in Indiana. So not only did Swift take a car ride with four college girls, but a gaggle of sorority sisters led by a seemingly spunky and adventurous Margaret.

The Minich family was often referenced in the Mears Newz, with Swift documenting their summer activities at their Floradale cottage. In fact, the summer after sending this postcard, Swift announced Margaret’s marriage to her husband, Chuck Mettler, and their honeymoon to Silver Lake.

Margaret Minich passed away in 2013, and during her life, she vacationed often in Silver Lake, even into her old age, so perhaps some readers may recognize her or her family name. If anyone has any stories of the Minich family or of driving around Swift Lathers, we at The Oceana Echo would love to hear them!

Mary Sheppard of Golden Stock Farms featured on popular recipe site

During this asparagus season many of us are eating all that we can possibly stomach before another season is gone. In March one of our very own had a part in helping others on the worldwide web earn more about how to buy and store asparagus, when Mary Sheppard, of Golden Stock Farms was interviewed by SimplyRecipes.com. SimplyRecipes.com had reached out to Michigan Asparagus to ask if they could recommend a grower who would be willing

to answer questions about asparagus. Executive Director Jamie Clover-Adams put them in contact with Sheppard, an agronomist and field manager for Golden Stock Farms (and former Asparagus Queen). As a result, Mary’s expertise in all things asparagus, was featured in an article published on March 24, 2025 by SimplyRecipes.com entitled “How to choose the best asparagus, according to a farmer” written by Mary Jo Dilonardo. In the article Sheppard advised readers

when and where to buy asparagus, how to store asparagus properly, and how to tell when asparagus has gone bad. Coming from an asparagus-growing area, many Oceana residents already know the answers to these questions but it was a great opportunity to have one of our own featured in this widely popular blog. If you’re looking for another recipe to try before Michigan’s fresh asparagus season comes to a close, visit michiganasparagus.org for lots of great options!

Inc. to

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: Free Book Fridays for Youth, SADL (June 27-July 25)

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.

SAT: Pioneer House open, Walkerville, 10 a.m. to 1 p.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.

Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

Registration continues for July 6 Stony Lake Sparkler 5K Run/Fun Walk

The Annual Stony Lake Sparkler 5K Run and 1-mile Fun Run/Walk is scheduled for Sunday, July 6, 2025. Everyone is welcome to turn out and cheer on the runners as they help raise funds for the Crystal Valley Care Fund.

The Stony Lake Association has sponsored a run to raise funds for a local charity since 2015. Their goal was to create a fun, family activity as part of the Fourth of July celebration for the Stony Lake area and other local communities and to promote community involvement, drawing possibly a couple hundred runners and soliciting sponsorships to fund a decent-sized contribution. From an initial 500 participants at the first event in 2015, the race has reached its maximum capacity of 1,000 runners for the last two years! In addition, approximately a hundred volunteers make the whole thing work, and spectators line the route to cheer on the athletes.

Last year's race raised over $25,000 for the Crystal Valley Care Fund, a local charity that helps people with crisis needs.

Race Day on Sunday, July 6, begins with packet pickup from 7-8 a.m. in the parking lot of the Stony Lake Inn (early packet pickup and registration, if available, will be held from 9-11 a.m. at the Inn on Saturday, July 5). The one-mile fun run/walk begins at 8 a.m. and the professionally timed 5K run/walk begins at 8:30 a.m. Limited free parking is available on the Benona ballfield, but participants and spectators are urged to carpool, walk or bicycle to the race if possible.

All Fun Run participants receive awards, with special 5K awards to male and female overall winners, masters and grand master winners, and first, second and third place winners in age groups. There also are special awards for Largest Family and Best Spirit Costume. The racecourse is an easy out and back along scenic back roads.

A fun post-race party is again planned in the parking lot of the Stony Lake Inn and includes great food and music. To register, go to stonylakesparkler.com.

Pentwater VFW to host Pancake Breakfast July 6

The Pentwater VFW will host an all-you-can-eat Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, July 6, from 8 a.m. to noon at their hall, located at 8440 N. Business 31 in Pentwater. Adults are $12, children 5-12 are $6 and those under 5 are free. The event includes pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs and beverages. All proceeds will go towards the Pentwater VFW Building Fund.

June-July

June 28 - Hart Community-Wide Yard Sales, Hart

June 28 - Tacos & Trek for the Trail

June 29 - 2nd Annual Silver Lake Kids Carp Cull Contest, Golden Township Park, 12:30-1 p.m.

June 30 - “Last Breath” Movie for Grown-ups sponsored by HAPL, Hart Community Center, 6 p.m.

July 2 - Hart Sparks, Downtown Hart

July 3 - Pentwater fireworks, Charles Mears State Park

July 3 & 4 - Hesperia Family Fun Fest, fireworks on July 4

July 4 - Thunder Over the Dunes, Silver Lake fireworks

July 5-6 - 2nd Annual Stony Lake Art Show, Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

July 6 - Stony Lake Sparkler 5K, 8:30 a.m., run/walk at 8 a.m.

July 6 - Pancake Breakfast, Pentwater VFW, 8 a.m. to noon.

July 10 - Minna and the Canine Club, SADL, 10-11:30 a.m.

July 11 & 12 - Shelby Chainsaw Carving Festival, downtown Shelby, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days

July 12 - Pentwater Fine Arts & Crafts Fair, Village Green, downtown Pentwater, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

July 17 - Friendship Ring Quilt Guild, NECR, 4775 First Street, New Era, 7 p.m.

July 22 - Red Cross Blood Drive, Hart VFW, 802 S. State St., Hart, 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

July 22 - Versiti Blood Drive, NECRC, 12:30-6 p.m.

2nd annual Stony Lake Art Show set for July 5-6

By Tom Rademacher The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

It’s never too early to shop for the holidays – or that special birthday, anniversary or graduation.

And what better way to prepare than to attend the second annual outdoor art show in Stony Lake the weekend of July 5-6, next to the Stony Lake Depot at 4189 Scenic Drive!

That’s when the Lake Effect Summer Art Show will convene, hosting at least 30 different artists and artisans, hailing from as near as Oceana County and a few from as far away as Ohio and Kentucky. The event is being coordinated by the Lake Effect Artists Collective.

“There will be an incredible variety of artists showing,” says Jan Jones, an artist in Stony Lake and one of the organizers. “Some are well-established, while others are just getting their feet wet. But this I know –there will be something for everyone.”

Jones and others founded the Artists Collective to bring together more and more artists from the Shelby area. What they discovered was interest that went beyond those environs, and all of them eager to show their wares at last summer’s inaugural show.

According to Jones, there will be potters,

ceramicists, photographers, jewelry makers, candle makers, stoneware creators and painters specializing in watercolor, acrylics, oils and more.

Also for sale will be homemade macarons, as well as sno-cones and drinks.

The show debuts on Saturday, July 5, and runs that day from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. The next day, Jones is anticipating an

even greater potential turnout – from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. – since on that same Sunday morning, Stony Lake hosts the Stony Lake Sparkler run/ walk just down the road at the Stony Lake Inn. Jones notes that there are still spaces available for artists interested in participating. For more information, text her at (616) 466-3699 or email her at: janjones387@ gmail.com.

Shop, Antiques, Collectibles, His ‘n Hers Cowboy Boots, Leather Vests, Lotta Stuff. 1 Mile west of Mears, 6432 W. Fox Rd.

Runners along the scenic route of the Stony Lake Sparkler. • Contributed Photo

Hoeing ‘In the Garden’ Part 2: ‘Hope is a Thing with Feathers

By Janet Van Gunst Hasselbring

The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

Henry and Ellen’s work in the fields and gardens on their farm (present-day Country Dairy) tied them closely to nature; nature was as much a sanctuary for them during the week as attending church on Sunday. They came to know their Lord through creation as well as through sermons and Scripture reading. Worship was not just experienced on Sunday; it was their daily life.

Every day, Henry rose with the sun, watching it rise in the East, arc its way across the sky, and plunge into the western hills, an orange ball of fire, at day’s end. While guiding the plow behind workhorses Maude and Daize, he listened to birds chirping and singing. He watched the killdeer gliding to and fro on its spindly, sticklike legs and the hawks hovering high over the maple tree.

Augustine believed God created us for Himself, so that our hearts are restless until they rest in Him. Furthermore, God nurtures that longing— the nagging feeling that there’s something beyond the physical, the mundane, digging in the soil.

Often, in the seeming randomness of nature, God grants His children coincidences and glimpses of Himself and eterni-

ty to encourage and spur them along.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the world of the avian wonders He created. Perhaps this is why humans have a unique relationship with birds, enjoying their colorful feathers and interesting quirks, but also envying them for their effortless flight and the free-throated ease of their singing.

“Hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul.”

(Dickinson)

Ellen’s first encounter with birds was in the kitchen, in midMarch, on her first morning on the farm. Hinie had left early to do the milking. Eager to prove she could fix her man a proper breakfast, she rose, donned an apron over her new housedress, and set the sausages sizzling; however, glancing out the window at the bleak landscape, she suddenly felt lost and disoriented. What was she, a city girl, doing here on a farm? She was overwhelmed. At that moment, a flash of red flew past the window. A male cardinal perched on a tree branch, his she-bird a few branches up. A pair of cardinals, she thought, just like Henry

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and me. The sight of them lifted her spirits. Henry would be home soon. Everything would be alright. She started the coffee, flipped the sausages, and mixed the pancake batter. (ITG pg. 23)

A few weeks later, Ellen was hanging bedsheets on the clothesline when a blackcapped chickadee landed on a branch overhead, trilling its heart out. “Oh, you beautiful little creature,” she breathed. Something about the plump little bird raised her spirits and gave her hope, as the cardinals had done earlier.

“She felt an awakening to nature, a deep longing within, as though God was speaking to her in the song of the chickadee, the budding of the trees, and the gentle breeze flapping the sheets on the line. In that moment, she knew there was a power beyond all she could see, hear, and sense around her. Hope flooded her spirit. (ITG pg. 27)

Months later, Ellen was faced with the hard reality of farm life when, one evening, a

windstorm swept through and destroyed their entire cherry crop. Henry was devastated. The following day, she was on her knees in the garden, picking beans for supper.

As she poured out her fears to her Lord, “Ellen felt a fluttering within, like a brace of birds longing to be free. Oh, how she longed to be free! Free from untimely windstorms, the unpredictability of rain, cows getting sick, poisoning the milk, not having enough money, from accidents waiting to happen, it went on and on. The fluttering increased, until, like a giant wave, her fears rose and overwhelmed her. She thought her heart would burst. Then, with a surge, the fluttering burst forth,

and like a bird on the wing, her soul felt light and free. A stab of joy pierced her heart. Despite everything, Joy! Then a whisper from within, ‘…you will have sorrow, but your sorrow will turn into joy.’” (John 16:20) (ITG, pg. 56)

“It sings the songs without the words and never stops at all.” (Dickinson)

Later, after supper, she and Henry sat on the front porch, listening to the songs of the nocturnal birds. Ellen, filled with a newfound sense of peace and hope from her day’s encounter with her Lord, “kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

Note: The Introduction and Article I of this bi-monthly series can be found in the 5/30 and 6/15 issues of The Oceana Echo. Information about the memoir can be obtained from the author at janethasselbring23@gmail.com

Golf Scramble Fundraiser for The Ladder set for August 8

The Ladder Community Center in Shelby is hosting a fun-filled day on the golf course and an opportunity to learn more about all they do on Friday, August 8. The 18-hole Top Rung Golf Scramble kicks off at Oceana Golf Club (3333 W. Weaver Rd., Shelby) at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start. Players of all ages are welcome. During the scramble, there will be games, cash and prizes, including a car giveaway for a hole-in-one! Lunch will be provided immediately following the scramble.

One can register their four-person team online at www.theladdercommunitycenter.com/ golf-scramble.html. The cost for each team is $400. If anyone would like to sponsor a team, or if they cannot play in the scramble but still want to support The Ladder, they can do so at the web address listed above. Registration ends August 1. In the event of inclement weather, the scramble will be canceled and registration fees refunded. If you have questions, please call (231) 259-0211.

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Ridge Rd., Mears graceadventures.org/summer-worship

Trisha Ann Cygeirt

November 16, 1967 ~ June 17, 2025

Trisha Ann Cygeirt, a beloved member of the Fremont community and dedicated educator, passed away after a long illness on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at the age of 57. Her devotion to her family, friends, and students was boundless, and she will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Trisha was born on a crisp autumn day, Thursday, November 16, 1967, in Fremont, Michigan, a place she cherished and called home throughout her life. She was a proud graduate of Hesperia Community Schools, going on to earn a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University and a master's degree from Grand Valley State University. With a passion for teaching and nurturing young minds, Trisha dedicated over 30 years of her life to educating kindergarten students at Walkerville Public Schools. Her classroom was a haven of warmth and creativity, where she lovingly crafted kindergarten quilts for each of her "kids."

Trisha's life was enriched by a love of music; she was an accomplished pianist who used her talents to bring joy to those around her. A selfless and compassionate individual, Trisha consistently put the needs of others before her own, a testament to her nurturing spirit.

Trisha is survived by her devoted spouse, Timothy John Cygeirt of Fremont, Michigan, who stood by her side through thick and thin. She leaves behind her cherished parents, Marlin and Sharon Eitniear, and her brother Bruce (Destiny) Eitniear. The love and laughter she shared extend to her nephew Clayton Eitniear; as well as her uncles Bill VanAvery, Gale (Lil) Eitniear and Keith (Sharon) Eitniear; and aunts Bev Eitniear, Bonnie Robinson and Nancy Herin. Her memory will also be carried by numerous cousins and many dear friends.

Trisha is preceded in death by her brother, Glen A. Eitniear, her grandparents, and numerous aunts and uncles who have gone before her.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Trisha's memory to the Crystal Valley Care Fund or Corewell Health Hospice, organizations that provide comfort and care to those in need.

A funeral service to honor and celebrate Trisha's life was held at Hesperia United Methodist Church in Hesperia, Michigan, on Friday, June 20, 2025, at noon. Friends and family were welcome to join the visitation preceding the service at the same location, from 11 a.m. to noon. Following the service, there was a light luncheon at the church where all could share memories and stories of a life well-lived. A private committal service followed the luncheon at West Hesperia Cemetery.

Trisha Ann Cygeirt's legacy of love, learning and selflessness will continue to inspire all who knew her. May she rest in peace, eternally wrapped in the quilts of gratitude from those she cherished.

Crandell Funeral Home - Fremont www.crandellfh.com

Thomas Calvin Gowell

March 13, 1942 ~ February 19, 2025

Thomas Calvin Gowell, 82, passed away February 19, 2025 at his home at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Tom was born in Hart, Mich. on March 13, 1942, the son of Kenneth and Ethel (Barritt) Gowell. He was active in sports and Boy Scouts, where at the age of 14 he received his Eagle Scout award, earning the honor of the Order of the Arrow.

Tom graduated from Hart High School in 1960. He then continued his education at Michigan State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a master's in business administration. His career took him many places, but he was always a MSU Spartan and managed to always have season tickets to football games.

Tom's engineering career took him several places in the United States and Newfoundland, Canada, eventually settling in Bluffton, S.C. There, he embarked on a new venture by opening a storage facility with his wife in 1987.

Tom had an adventurous spirit and a relaxed demeanor complemented by his dry sense of humor. He found joy in traveling across the United States in his pickup truck with his dog. He also enjoyed biking and hiking trails and canoeing the Pine River in Michigan each year.

Tom is survived by: his son, Kenneth (Melissa) Gowell; his daughter, Montana Gowell; his sister, Dorothy Kamhout; his brother-in-law, Don Puffer; his grandchildren, Kylie (Matt) Brandon, Madison Gowell and Jace Gowell; as well as his great-granddaughter, Leighton Brandon. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, plus his faithful dog, Summe, that was always by his side.

Tom was preceded in death by: his parents; his son, Todd Gowell, in 1972; his sister, Bobbie Jo Puffer; and his brother-in-law, David Kamhout. Also, his many beloved dogs, Jet, Jessie, Kayla and Sally, were also waiting for him in heaven.

A Celebration of His Life, a theme of "MSU Tailgate" is being held at Ken's Lake Michigan property, located at 2836 N. Lakeview Dr., Mears, Mich. on Sunday, July 6, 2025, from 1-6 p.m. Please join us in this Celebration.

Earl James ‘Jim’ Piper Jr. March 4, 1941 ~ June 18, 2025

Earl James “Jim” Piper Jr., age 84, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2025. He was born on March 4, 1941, in Mus kegon, Michigan, to the late Earl and Gertrude (Hudson) Piper Sr.

Jim was raised in Rothbury, Michigan, where he attended Newman School, a one-room schoolhouse, then Montague High School. In 1963, he proudly answered the call to serve his country by enlisting in the United States Army.

On December 10, 1966, Jim married the love of his life, Pamela. Together, they built a life centered on love, hard work, and devotion to family. They raised two daughters, Lisa and Lori, and later became proud grandparents to Devyn and Aidan.

Jim was a dedicated and hardworking man. He spent many years employed at Story Chemical until its closure, then continued his career at Seal Power, where he worked as a pipe fitter and maintenance technician until his retirement.

Outside of work, Jim enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved deer hunting and fishing, often accompanied by his lifelong best friend, Ken Ingalls. In his younger years, Jim took pride in cultivating large vegetable gardens and was known for his constant care and attention to his property. In retirement, he found joy in quiet moments—sipping coffee, swapping stories and casting a line at his favorite fishing spots.

Jim will be remembered for his steadfast work ethic, his patient and calm demeanor, his sharp wit, and above all, his unwavering love and loyalty to his family and friends. He was the kind of man who showed his care through action—always dependable, always present.

Jim is survived by his daughters, Lisa (Brian) Piper-German and Lori Piper; his cherished grandchildren, Devyn and Aidan; his dear friend and companion through the years, Ken Ingalls; and many beloved nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife, Pamela; his parents, Earl and Gertrude; his brother, Ron Piper; his sister, Lorraine Spears; and two infant siblings, Robert and Janice.

A memorial service to celebrate Jim’s life will be held at noon on Friday, June 27, 2025, at New Hope Community Church, located at 244 S. 79th Ave., Shelby, MI 49455. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. A luncheon will follow, where all are welcome to share memories and fellowship.

Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is assisting with arrangements.

Myrna Yvonne Rittenhouse Smith April 18, 1935 ~ June

17, 2025

Myrna Yvonne Rittenhouse Smith, 90, of Walkerville, went home to be with God on June 17, 2025. She was born April 18, 1935, to Vida (Haase) and Ora Rittenhouse in Hart, Michigan. She could trace her family back over 200 years, to the very beginning of our country, with a strong Quaker heritage.

Myrna's years were largely influenced by the men in her life: her father, Ora; her grandfather, Tom; and her husbands, Max and Steve; but her one true love was Jesus. She followed his example in many ways, such as loving her neighbor, nourishing the body and soul of as many people as she could and spending a sig nificant amount of time fishing.

Myrna loved to read, and her favorite books were "Follow the River" and "The Marsh King's Daughter." The resilient, self-reliant female main characters were much like her. She had a strong faith and lived her life with a heart full of gratitude. We were so lucky to have her as our mother, sister and friend for 90 years.

Myrna will be missed every day by: her husband, Steve; children, Shelley (Charles) Carter, Maxine (Al) Masta, John (Nancy) Kirwin, Helen (Ben) Johnson and Heather (Bryan) DeAugustine; sister, Janet (Jim) O'Brien; and brother, Kurt (Ellen) Rittenhouse; as well as 31 grandchildren.

Many of her family and friends will be raising up a cheer as she enters the gates of Heaven, but none will be louder than her sons, Freddie and Kelly. Until we see you again, Myrna, go easy down that road, and thank you for your love.

Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 12, 2025, at the Walkerville Wesleyan Church, 144 176th Ave., Walkerville, MI 49459, with Pastor Bob Abbott officiating.

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

Death Notice ~ Mark Allan Bayne

Mark Allan Bayne, 58, of Whitehall, passed away Saturday, June 21, 2025. He was born July 13, 1966, in Muskegon, the son of Richard Bayne and Bonnie Remmington. In accordance with Mark’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no services will be held at this time. Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, White Lake Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. www.beaconfh.com

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE,

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• On June 30, 2015, Misty Copeland, who only started ballet at 13 but was receiving both awards and professional offers a mere two years later, became the first African American woman promoted to principal dancer in the 75-year history of the American Ballet Theatre.

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STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20250616

NOW HERE’S A TIP #12345_20250616 FOR RELEASE JUNE 16, 2025

By JoAnn Derson

• On July 1, 1867, the autonomous Dominion of Canada — a confederation of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the future provinces of Ontario and Quebec — was officially recognized by Great Britain with the passage of the British North America Act. July 1 would later become known as Canada Day.

FOR RELEASE JUNE 16, 2025

By Lucie Winborne

• On July 2, 1992, the one-millionth Chevrolet Corvette rolled off the assembly line in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Though it met the wildly unexpected fate of being swallowed by a sinkhole there in 2014, the car was rescued and restored to its former glory.

• On July 3, 1952, the ocean liner SS United States departed from New York on her maiden voyage to Le Havre, France, eventually breaking the speed record for an eastbound Atlantic crossing. On her return trip, she earned further distinction by breaking the westbound record as well.

• On July 4, 1971, a baby western lowland gorilla made her earthly debut at the San Francisco Zoo. Originally christened Hanabiko (“fireworks child” in Japanese), she was soon known as “Koko.” Animal psychologist Francine “Penny” Patterson taught her sign language and the primate became celebrated for her personality and intelligence, as well as her pet cat she named All Ball, appearing in numerous articles and documentaries until she died at age 46 in 2018.

• On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered what would become his most celebrated speech — “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?” — to an audience of about 600 at the Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society during an Independence Day celebration in Rochester, New York.

• On July 6, 1921, Sergeant Stubby, a bull terrier mutt, received a gold medal from America’s World War I commanding general John Pershing for “heroism of highest caliber” in 17 battles. Stubby’s intrepid achievements included nabbing a German spy by biting his legs.

• Add a cinnamon stick or softener sheet to your vacuum bag when you change it. While you clean, you will distribute the good smell throughout your home.

• To ripen a green tomato, wrap it in a sheet of newspaper or place it in a paper bag. It can then be left on the counter for several days to ripen.

• “Need to remove fruit or food coloring stains on your hands or your countertop? White vinegar will clean it off. It’s good for so many things.” — R.N. in Washington

• “Instead of baking soda, I use three or four charcoal briquettes in a bowl to control odor and moisture in my refrigerator. I place the briquettes in a shallow dish, then cover the top of the bowl with a small piece of cheesecloth and secure it with a fat rubber band. The best thing is that I can still use these briquettes on the grill. In the summer, they get changed very regularly.” — M.L. in Virginia

• When it comes to fruits and vegetables, five a day is nice, but more matters. Try setting aside time after you come home from the grocery store for prepping fruits and vegetables. Pre-bag snack sizes of carrots, celery, strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe and apples. Pre-cut veggies for meals to make later in the week. Slice tomatoes and onions for sandwiches, and tear and separate lettuce for salads. They all make great, healthy treats, and it makes it easier to get your recommended servings!

• Have a stained coffee pot but don’t want to use a harsh chemical cleanser to scrub that stain off? For gritty cleaning power, try using a tablespoon of milk and a tablespoon of salt. The salt gives you scrubbing power, and the milk’s acids help gently dissolve the stains.

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

By Lucie Winborne

• Dorothy Straight was just 4 years old when she wrote and illustrated “How the World Began” for her grandmother. It was officially published two years later.

• Worms make up the majority of a robin’s diet, but it won’t mind if you leave out a dessert tray as well. In fact, robins are partial to pastry dough, fruit cake and coconut cake.

• Flowers placed at a grave were originally brought to promote good will with the spirit of the deceased.

• Movie director Guillermo del Toro owns a house containing a room with an endless rainstorm projected onto all its windows and audio to match. He often uses this room to write in.

• Red hair is the thickest hair color by strand.

• Chock full o’Nuts coffee does not contain nuts. It’s named for a chain of nut stores that the founder converted into coffee shops.

• On his deathbed, Steve Jobs asked for five different oxygen masks so he could choose the one with the best design.

• The silhouette on the official NBA logo is Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West.

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

• M&Ms were invented exclusively for American soldiers in World War II.

• Lake Hillier in Western Australia stays a striking deep pink color all year long. Some scientists believe its hue is due to high salt levels combined with a salt-loving algae, Dunaliella salina, and a pink bacteria called halobacteria.

• Tribal African tongues and other languages describe blue and green as different shades of the same color.

*** Thought for the Day: “Only two things are infinite, the universe and

Oceana County

ANIMAL SHELTER

Suki is a male Husky who is 2 years old, drop-dead handsome and he’s even rewriting the Husky stereotype one calm blink at a time. While most Huskies are busy yelling at shadows or trying to dig their way to Canada, Suki is out here being… well, chill. He came in as a stray with his buddy Takanni, and while they’re clearly best bros (like a Disney duo just waiting for their sled dog spinoff), they don’t have to be adopted together. Suki’s confident enough to fly solo if the right home comes along — especially one with snacks, squeaky toys and a warm couch.

Suki’s Ideal home would include:

– Someone who gets Huskies (you know, the whole “smart, stubborn, stunning drama llama” thing)

– Fenced yard (Husky 101)

– Other dog friends? Yes, please.

– Cats? Surprisingly possible.

Suki is available for adoption from the Oceana County Animal Control. If interested, please call the shelter at 231-8615395. The adoption fee for cats is $35 and you receive certificates for $25 towards spay/neuter and $10 towards rabies if not already done. The adoption fee for dogs is $95 and will receive a $50 certificate good for spay/neuter if needed. Every dog should have an ID tag. L.A.S.S.I. provides free dog ID tags to all Oceana County residents. To request tags, send a text to 231-730-3906. Free tags are also available at the OCEANA County Animal Shelter.

Suki

Rebecca Lorraine Wentzloff

January 18, 1949 ~ June 17, 2025

Rebecca Lorraine Wentzloff, 76, of Shelby, passed away peacefully Tuesday, June 17, 2025. She was born January 18, 1949 in Muskegon to Raymundo and Petra (Flores) Patino.

Jimmy Buffett put it perfectly: “Some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic, but I had a good life all the way.” And that was very true for Becca. This woman believed in living life to the fullest.

From reading the entire dictionary at a young age to being the fourth child in a VERY big family (just 10 of them) to singing with her father’s band and learning how to play the guitar, which she took so seriously that when she grew up she started her own band, 2nd Chance Music, and was able to write her own gospel songs and produce two albums. She met some amazing people along her journey: Bobby Kennedy, Bobby Vee, the Prime Minister of Israel and Christopher Plummer when she was a seamstress for a Theater Show, and of course whoever is reading this with tears in their eyes.

Oh, she loved making her own clothes, quilts, pretty much anything with fabric. She made her own gown when she was Mrs. Asparagus in 1985. She loved making gowns for people so much that she opened her own shop called The Silver Thimble in New Era and a very successful gift shop in Mears called Quaint and Country, while raising two kids, Rachel and Rich. Such beautiful, wonderful, perfect children (or so she said to whoever would listen) that she let them star in the production of Jesus Christ Superstar, where she was the seamstress in that too. When she wasn’t making quilts, she was watching her Cubbies win the World Series and rooting for the Washington Redskins team. And boy did she love to travel!

She wanted to see everything that God made. So, she worked as an Irate Supervisor for United Airlines and was able to travel America. While visiting in Virginia at 42 years old, she thought she had already lived the best years to come and nothing could top what she already went through. That is until the most beautiful, the most sarcastic daughter ever came along. Kelsey kept her feeling young, feeling wild, and feeling like pulling all her gray hair out when Kelsey would pull a stunt like flying airplanes. She met Warren when they were little children picking cherries, and when they got tired, they would share a blanket and play with his Tonka truck. Many years later, Warren finally took Becca to a strange land called Michigan, where there were fireflies lighting the way to a Christmas tree farm where they got married and had horses, cats, dogs and peace and of course a sewing studio for all her fabric needs. She always had room for her three children, her nine grandchildren (thanks a lot Rachel for showing us up) and many, many friends.

When you met Becca for the first time, you could see the presence of God was on her. She lived and breathed God’s word, and she loved Him so much that she wanted everyone around her to know who He is. She would go up to strangers saying “God has placed it on my heart to pray for you, is that okay?” And really, who could say no to that face? She would remind them of Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” She had two encounters with Angels in her life. One when she almost drowned when she was a child; and the other when she was at Johns Hopkins for eye surgery. She was lost running after that troublesome child, Kelsey, and she ran into this beautiful woman who told her to go into the garden and peace will be there. When Becca turned to thank the woman, the woman was gone, poof. When Becca went into the garden, there stood a 10-foot statue of Jesus with the words: “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” And peace did follow after that encounter.

At 3:04 a.m. on June 17, 2025, that beautiful songbird went to go hug her Jesus and sing in His choir. She is seeing her family and friends and is no longer in pain, and all the while singing “Sharp Dressed Man” and showing them how to hit a curveball. 76 years old is too young, but she had an amazing life. Some of it was magic. Some of it was tragic. But she had a great life all the way.

Rebecca is survived by: her husband ,Warren Wentzloff; children, Rachel, Richard and Kelsey; siblings: Roger, Nel, Lori, Rey and Rolando; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Rebecca was preceded in death by: her parents, Raymundo and Petra; siblings: Raymundo Jr, Rosa, Richard and Roberto; and great-granddaughter Christina Rose.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is assisting with arrangements. www.harrisfhome.com

Martin Elmer Vincent

Martin Elmer Vincent, 70, of Montague, passed away June 17, 2025. He was born August 8, 1954, son of George Orin and Jane Elvira (Mahoney) Vincent.

Martin attended Montague High School and then enlisted in the US Air Force. Martin was an air traffic controller and later attended the University of Texas, at Tyler, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering. After retiring from Hobart, he started Great Lakes Laminators with his son, building log homes together.

He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, cards, airplanes, and spending time with his family. Marty was particu larly proud of his children and a doting grandfather to his grandchildren.

Martin is survived by: his children, Rebecca (Patrick) Sturdivant of Grand Rapids, Mich., Christopher (Teressa Ogren) Vincent of Montague, Mich. and Jennifer (Eric) Sentman of Troy, Ohio; grandchildren, Dale (Sarah), Meredith, Alexander, and Evan Sentman, Maynard and Lilith Sturdivant; sisters, Juanita (Tom des.) Race and Margaret (Ken) Heaton; brother, John (Kristi) Vincent; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Martin was preceded in death by: his parents; and siblings, George (Janet) Vincent, Jean (John) Steinbeck, Daniel Vincent and Gerry Vincent.

In accordance with Martin’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and the family will be doing a private burial at Mouth Cemetery in White River Township.

Memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org).

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, White Lake Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. www.beaconfh.com

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 10th day of July 2025, 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 Courthouse, 100 State Street, Suite M-4, 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

Pentwater Village discusses multiple proposals from the PLIB and the DPW, reminds visitors to park on the grass

By AnnaMae Bush

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

The Pentwater Village Council met on Monday, June 23, 6 p.m., with all members present except for Dan Nugent. It was a productive meeting with five items addressed under new business and two additional concerns brought up under council comments, including Pentwater’s parking ordinance.

The first two proposals addressed came from the Pentwater Lake Improvement Board (PLIB) for shoreline improvements to the Village Boat Launch and the Fourth Street Road End. The proposals were explained by PLIB President Joe Primozich and Shoreline Manager Chris Pierce. The PLIB had been hopeful of a large grant to help fund nine shoreline projects planned by Pierce for both village-owned properties and individual residential properties. Because the grant was denied, the PLIB and Pierce are focused on projects on village-owned properties that can be funded and carried out with the cooperative efforts of local organizations.

Concern for the safety of Jr. Sailing Program participants is one impetus for changes at the Village Boat Launch. Plans include removal of the deteriorating seawall and installation of steel runners for sliding Jr. Sailing boats into the water instead of dragging them. The project goals are stopping beach erosion and the restoration and beautification of a natural shoreline. The cost is variable, depending on in-kind contributions.

The 4th Street road-end project entails adding stones in front of the current seawall and installing two small rain gardens where stones have been haphazardly placed behind the seawall. The goals are to capture rainwater from the street and absorb the nutrients before they drain into the lake and to beautify the space. The cost for the project is estimated at $2,000-$3,000. Residents from the condo association next to the road end have volunteered to help maintain the rain gardens in the future.

Pierce asked for no cash funding from the council at this time but asked members to consider what in-kind contribution the village might be able to make through

the use of village-owned equipment and DPW personnel. The council voted unanimously to approve the concept of both shoreline improvement proposals, with a discussion of details to occur in the future.

The third and fourth proposals addressed by the council came from the DPW Supervisor Jeff Gier. Gier asked for approval of the purchase of a dump trailer for $11,149 from the equipment fund. The 14-footlong vehicle with ramps would be used for multiple tasks not possible with current equipment until the time that a dump truck can be purchased. The request was approved unanimously.

Gier’s second request was for permission to take his DPW vehicle home for transportation to and from work projects to save time and miles required by driving and switching his personal vehicle for the DPW vehicle at the DPW garage each workday. The DPW vehicle would be reserved for DPW work only. Council member Don Palmer said the current policy requiring DPW vehicles to be kept at the DPW garage was adopted for good reasons, one of which was to encourage DPW employees to live in the village. A vote on Gier’s proposal was postponed until liability issues could be clarified, mileage between home and the DPW garage was defined, and language used by other municipalities for similar policies could be found.

The fifth proposal addressed by the council came from the Pentwater Police Department and was explained by Officer Darwin Mitchell, who is currently the School Re-

source Officer at Pentwater Public Schools. He requested approval for the acquisition of a therapy dog. He listed the benefits of a therapy dog, showed a video of training for a police therapy dog (used primarily to help victims of crime), and gave the various expenses involved – the dog purchase price, the equipment costs, the extensive training costs, the original veterinarian costs, the food and annual vet visits and the cost of the handler involvement.

Questioned about the dog’s value to our community of low crime, Mitchell replied its primary value would be to the school. Chief Laude Hartrum added it would be helpful to deescalate situations where the police are dealing with mental health issues (which constitutes about one-third of their calls), and it would be helpful in initiating conversation with residents and building community relationships. A motion was made to approve the concept so the police department could pay a $100 deposit to reserve a dog of their choice. The concept was given approval. However, a vote to approve any expenses from the village budget was postponed. Council member David Bluhm voiced his hope that initial expenses could be covered by private donations, as he would not approve total expenses coming out of the village budget.

In other business, Council President Mary Marshall commented on the progress of the strategic plan, the upcoming June 30 open meeting for residents’ participation, and the consultant’s recommendation that

NOTICE

VILLAGE OF SHELBY 2025 TAXES

Collection of property taxes begins July 1st. Tax payments must be made no later than September 15th to avoid penalty fees. Taxes may be made Monday - Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Village Hall. 218 N. Michigan Ave. Village of Shelby, MI 49455 (231) 861-4400

Payments are accepted only for the exact tax amount due. Payments may be made after hours via the drop box and a return receipt will be mailed if a self-addressed envelope is included with a payment.

Failure to receive a tax notice by mail does not relieve the taxpayer of an obligation to pay the tax.

Treasurer Crystal Budde

council members do not attend the open meeting. He wanted residents to feel free to express themselves. Village Manager Rachel Witherspoon reported that resident responses submitted via the village website emphasized community involvement as a significant strength in Pentwater.

When the opportunity for council comments opened during the meeting, it led to personal concerns shared by members Kathy O’Connor and Karl Schrumpf. Both concerns related to local ordinances and their enforcement. Recently the village hired an employee whose job is to enforce ordinances by ticketing persons not in compliance with the codes. “I was hopeful this would help the village deal with situations of blight in the community that had been ignored for too long,” O’Connor said. “I know it has helped in some situations. But I was mortified when my elderly neighbor, a longtime resident, received a citation for a poorly maintained lawn. It was a warning that threatened fines and a lien on her property if she did not comply with the code. She was very upset…So was I. We have missed an opportunity to be more communicative with our residents about our enforcement intentions and priorities.”

Manager Witherspoon was sympathetic but defended the use of specific ordinance language in the citations issued (for transparency and authority) and said Pentwater's code of ordinances does not list ordinances with designated priority.

Schrumpf shared his concern about park-

ing issues when special events are held downtown. “I know our merchants depend on the influx of visitors for special events. I also know how hard it is for visitors to find parking spaces. They don’t know what our parking ordinance is, and we don’t have any signage to tell them what it is. Last weekend I saw four vehicles near my house get citations for illegal parking. One couple with two children, visiting for the first time, was stunned to find the ticket. ‘We didn’t want to park on your lawn,’ they told me.”

The Pentwater parking ordinance requires vehicles to park on all secondary streets with all four tires on the grass and no tires on the road. The reason is that parking on the road limits the width and prohibits the passage of emergency vehicles. Witherspoon said signage had been

discontinued due to expense and loss of signs. Schrumpf suggested that residents on the corners be asked to post the limited number of signs available on just the corners for the sake of visitors.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

Anyone interested in information about the Village of Pentwater’s Code of Ordinances can view the entire document on the Village of Pentwater website. To find the document, click on Village Government at the top of the website’s first page. Then locate the list of Frequent Buttons on the left and click on the first one, “Code of Ordinances.” The table of contents will appear for your convenience, or you can search for a specific topic.

Oceana County spring All-Conference athletes - Part 2

By: Brendan Samuels The Oceana Echo Sports Editor

In part two of Oceana County’s spring All-Conference athletes, we will continue featuring track and field standouts.

Last week, we honored 16 athletes from Hart, as they have 25 total run-

ners that made the West Michigan Conference (WMC) Rivers Division team. This week, we add six more honorees for the Lady Pirates and the final male athlete for track and field.

On the girls side for Hart, Rosemary Hernandez, Sarah Kranz, Shelbie Choponis, Addison Hain, Joselyn Flores and Ellie Gross are pictured. The last boy that needed to be hon ored is freshman Silas Ackley.

Getting the other schools involved for the first time, both Hart and Shelby had one All-Conference athlete. The Panthers were represented by freshman Betty Jo Gerhardt while Shelby senior Trey Gauthier also earned a nod.

Heading over to the West Michigan D League, Pentwater had four

Brown were named first team on the boys side, while junior Logan Fatura joined them.

We will wrap up track and field next week with more Falcons and Pirates, before turning to the baseball and softball diamonds. Shelby led the way with combined selections between those two sports, so stay tuned to find out who made the cut!

Pictured above are more track and field All-Conference athletes in Oceana

ELECTRIC FOREST ELECTRIC FOREST

Music lovers from all around the United States made their way back to Rothbury over the weekend, ready for the 2025 installment of Electric Forest. Traffic picked up on US-31 northbound starting Tuesday, June 17 with campgrounds flooded with tents by Thursday morning. Art was abound among the trees of Sherwood Forest, with several popular statues making a return, along with a few new surprises. Weddings (both real and farce) were held at the chapel, food vendors filled the air with the smell of delicacies and those that happened through the trees at the right time could find performances by hired actors among the sea of hammocks. The sound of bass consistently pierced through Oceana County as headliners like Louis The Child, Zeds Dead, Disclosure and Sara Landry set the night aglow with popular EDM selections. Lesser known artists such as BBNO$, Tape B, Wreckno and Saxsquatch drew large crowds on small stages, while festival mainstay The String Cheese Incident lit up the night on two separate occasions. To wrap up the weekend, Shelby High School’s marching band - complete with alumni - took its annual hike through heat and cheering crowds. The Tigers were greeted by many cheers from those who encountered them, awing the crowd with performances of popular hits with the color guard spinning their flags in sync. • Brendan Samuels/ECHO

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Celebrating a sentinel: White River Light Station 150

Keeper descendants, local personalities part of the event

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — The White River Light Station celebrated its 150th anniversary with a special event Saturday at the lighthouse, welcoming descendants of former lighthouse keepers, local luminaries and people past and present who have worked to preserve the venerable building.

Some 120 descendants of the lighthouse's first keeper, Capt. William Robinson, were on hand as part of a huge family reunion that was planned around the 150th anniversary celebration, and in all, Lakeshore Keepers executive director Jack Greve said, he estimated around 65% of attendees were keepers' descendants.

Several of those descendants, including Stevensville native Beth Weichhand, a fifth-generation Robinson, were here for a 125-year celebration in 2000 as well, but this was a much more organized affair, including shuttle service to and from the Fruitland Township hall sponsored by the White Lake Area Women.

Weichhand said she is the granddaughter of William's grandson, Thomas Robinson, and Thomas' wife Gertrude. Thomas settled in Benton Harbor and became a lawyer and a judge, Weichhand said.

Robinson descendants were easily identifiable not just by their red ribbons - descendants of former White River keepers wore color-coded ribbons corresponding to the keeper in their family tree, with the red Robinson ribbons the most abundant - but their brightly colored t-shirts, coded to identify which

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Andy Roberts/Mirror

branch of the Robinson tree they were part of. Weichhand and her immediate family wore bright green t-shirts.

"The Thomas and Gertrude family, which is my grandparents, are deceased," Weichhand said. "Almost all of their grandchildren are here today."

The greater Robinson clan put together a family reunion at Duck Lake State Park around the 150th anniversary celebration, Weichhand said, with her cousin Mary spearheading the proceedings by renting a pavilion there when she heard of preparations for the 150th about four months ago.

The Robinson descendants and others who attended the free event were treated to tributes delivered by the City of Montague, Fruitland Township and by Michigan itself, as well as reminiscences from longtime "Lady of the Light" Karen McDonnell, who served as the lighthouse's museum curator from 1983-2012, lived in the building, and had a major impact on building restoration and the influx of artifacts that now dot the museum.

Also part of the day were a raffle to raise money for the museum - several local businesses contributed prizesand meals served by The Gnarly Heifer.

Fruitland owns the lighthouse and contracts with Lakeshore Keepers (for-

for 150

merly Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers Association) to run the White River station. Supervisor Jeff Marcinkowski was among those to share tributes, noting that previous supervisor Greg Boughton was in office when McDonnell was hired.

"The biggest foundation is the people," Marcinkowski said. "If there wasn't somebody that thought this lighthouse needed to be built, it wouldn't have been built. People knew there was a

need and they built it. This is the reason we have the lighthouse logo as our township logo. It's a foundational thing, and people recognize it.

"We're not here to glorify the structure, but to thank and remember all the people who gave their time, talent and treasure to create a lasting beacon of light for our township residents and the

Lighthouse 150th

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Lighthouse 150th continued on page 2

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Whitehall council addresses Seaver resignation

Former treasurer resigned last week; city manager race down to 4 people

By Andy Roberts

White

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — Whitehall city council member Tom Ziemer addressed the recent resignation of former city treasurer Alyssa Seaver during Tuesday's council meeting, saying he felt the council should've been notified of Seaver's changed employment status prior to her resignation and notified prior to the open position being advertised. He said he'd like to see the issue discussed at a future work session.

Seaver, who was promoted to treasurer in 2022 after previously serving as deputy treasurer, had recently been demoted to assistant finance officer, city manager Scott Huebler confirmed

following the meeting. He declined to elaborate on why the move was made beyond saying it was a personnel matter.

Seaver's resignation from that position came last Monday, June 16.

following the meeting. He declined to elaborate on why the move was made beyond saying it was a personnel matter. Seaver's resignation from that position came last Monday, June 16.

The city has already received multiple applications for the vacant position, Huebler said last week. He and deputy treasurer Brook Schiller have taken on "the lion's share" of the treasurer responsibilities until the position is filled, with the goal of doing so by mid-August, prior to Huebler's planned retirement.

Seaver could not be reached for comment at press time. Brook's husband, Anthony Schiller, said Seaver felt other city personnel were not allowing her to do her job correctly.

"She wasn't being allowed to question financial decisions," Anthony Schiller said of Seaver in a phone interview Tuesday. "She wasn't allowed to speak to council...The fact of the matter is, she has a rough job. If something isn't going right in a department, she has to be the bearer of bad news and tell them they're over budget. When she'd let Scott know that, he would just kind of ignore her."

Huebler said he did not want to speak for Seaver when asked if the latter had expressed similar issues during her time as treasurer.

"It was basically a one-line resignation," Huebler said last week regarding Seaver's departure. "She sent it by email so I didn't have the opportunity to talk to her about it."

Seaver, along with Brook Schiller, previously hosted a property tax education event at city hall in May and expressed the goal of building the event to a wider audience in future years.

During the meeting, the council unanimously approved a sizable budget amendment that accounted for the city not receiving grants it applied for involving park improvements and street repairs. The budget changes, which included an $802,000 adjustment to the Warner Street project, were covered by funds for capital projects, water, sewer, and street. Some of the increase, Huebler said, was a result of the council approving an expansion of a planned project to pave streets up to Colby. The in-progress pocket park's bathroom also came in over budget due to increased material costs.

Council member Scott Brown, during discussion, expressed that the city shouldn't have budgeted for grants it wasn't sure it would receive, but Huebler noted that doing so - and including matching funds - is part of

As it has

years, the White River Light Station overlooked the White Lake channel Saturday as the lighthouse's 150th anniversary was commemorated with a celebration.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

About 120 descendants of White River Light Station's original keeper, Capt. William Robinson, were on hand for Saturday's 150th anniversary celebration. They wore different colored t-shirts to correspond to their branch of the family tree, like the bright green of Beth Weichhand (second from left), Robinson's great-great-granddaughter, and her family.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Seaver

Many visitors to the White River Light Station's 150th anniversary Saturday took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the view from the top.

As it has for 150 years, the White River Light Station overlooked the White Lake channel Saturday as the lighthouse's 150th anniversary was commemorated with a celebration.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Seaver

Many visitors to the White River Light Station's 150th anniversary Saturday took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the view from the top.

As it has for 150 years, the White River Light Station overlooked the White Lake channel Saturday as the lighthouse's 150th anniversary was commemorated with a celebration.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

White

Former treasurer resigned last week; city manager race down to 4 people

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Seaver

Many visitors to the White River Light Station's 150th anniversary Saturday took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the view from the top.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Rotary club inducts Raeth as president for 2025-26

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — The Montague-Whitehall Rotary Club, like other chapters of the international organization, changes its president each year on a rotating basis. Tuesday's meeting marked that move for the 2025-26 year, as Brent Raeth accepted the presidency from Esther Baldridge, the outgoing president.

Raeth thanked Baldridge for her time leading the local chapter and complimented her for serving amid health struggles she faced this year, saying she embodies the Rotary motto, Service Above Self. He then shared his vision for Rotary's next year, which revolves around the theme of "small town, big impact."

"We are a small but mighty group," Raeth said. "I think we have amazing leaders in this room."

Raeth added that he wants to live up to that big impact by increasing partic-

ipation among club members. He said he views participation as a cornerstone of what the club does, adding that when participation is concentrated among a small amount of people, it can lead to burnout and that can hurt the club in the long run.

"Everybody can't be at everything all the time, but our club needs to be known for taking action," Raeth said.

Before officially passing the presidency to Raeth, Baldridge shared some of the accomplishments Rotary had over the past year, including serving four free meals to the community, sponsoring two summer concerts at the Montague Bandshell (one last year and one this year), and partnering with Rotary's youth Interact clubs to participate in the local Christmas parade, the White Lake Trash Bash, and the Heart and Sole 5K run in Fruitport. In addition, the club distributed six $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors - three each from Whitehall and Montague - and sponsored an exchange student this past

Lighthouse 150th

hundreds of visitors to the lighthouse each year."

Marcinkowski added that the township enjoys a strong relationship with Lakeshore Keepers and that whenever executive director Jack Greve approaches the township with an idea that "fits with the nature and character of the building, we're all for it."

McDonnell shared several stories of her work building the White River Light Station museum up over the years, sharing that when she came for her job interview for the curator position she held for nearly 30 years, it was love at first sight. That didn't make her job easy, though.

"What I found out was that you can't just drive out to Lighthouse Depot," McDonnell joked of when she found something that needed replacing or improving at the station. "What you have to do is a several-step procedure."

Unsatisfied with the museum when she took over the position, McDonnell spent much of her time beefing up the available memorabilia there. She grew familiar with maritime artifacts dealers in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, traveling there with her brother to see what she could find to boost the museum.

"They had a warehouse and a showroom," McDonnell said. "When we got there, we were like two kids in a maritime artifact candy shop."

McDonnell also boosted the museum through the procurement of grants, which were often matched by the National Trust for His-

toric Preservation. Those helped fund restoration work, and since the trust shared McDonnell's insistence work be done properly and with respect to the past, the relationship was an easy one.

Over the years, McDonnell worked to grow youth interest in maritime history by hosting third-graders from local school districts on field trips. There were bumps in the road - she recalls thinking, "What have I done?" the first time she set a huge crop of kids loose at the lighthousebut over time she streamlined the events to make them run smoothly.

McDonnell wasn't technically a lighthouse keeper - the lighthouse was decommissioned well before she took the curator job - but she told enthusiasts she did "some light housekeeping," as a pun. She also occasionally spoke to groups wearing a repli-

continued from page 1

ca lighthouse keeper's uniform, although as she said, regulations at the time of lighthouses being operational did not permit women to do so; "I'm being really defiant," she would say when she wore the replica. The light station's only female keeper, Frances Johnson, was technically a civilian keeper, not a uniformed one.

"It wasn't easy to leave, and I still love this place," McDonnell said; she now lives in California. "It will always be my baby lighthouse. I got a tour from the volunteers (Saturday) morning and I got a tour of my old living quarters, and I was tearyeyed."

Montague city council member Ken Mahoney read an excerpt from the city's tribute, which Mahoney said was made despite its Whitehall location because the lighthouse is visible from Montague's Medbery

school year.

Baldridge also shared that nine new members joined Rotary in 2024-25. She then passed out recognition awards to fellow club members that put in ex-

tra time this year, using a candy theme for most awards to highlight members who went the "Extra" mile, raised "100 Grand," and had earned a "break" with a piece of Kit Kat.

Park. State representative Curt VanderWall also shared his congratulations, saying he had lighthouse keeping in his family via Big Point Sable Lighthouse in Mason County and one of his most memorable Thanksgivings growing up was spent visiting there. The state tribute, which VanderWall presented a copy of for display, was signed by VanderWall and state senator Jon Bumstead, as well as Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist.

"Through the tireless efforts of local communities, historians and volunteers, this lighthouse

Incoming Montague-Whitehall Rotary Club president Brent Raeth presents a gavel to outgoing president Esther Baldridge at Tuesday's Rotary meeting. The Rotary presidency changes hands yearly, and Raeth is taking over for 2025-26. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

has remained an enduring emblem of Whitehall's maritime heritage, drawing visitors from far and wide," the state tribute read in part.

Lakeshore Keepers executive director Jack Greve (in background) introduced tributes from Montague, Fruitland Township and the state of Michigan at Saturday's White River Light Station 150th anniversary celebration. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Saturday, June 28

Dune Grass Gallery hosts open house, 2-5 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres available, as well as a chance to meet some of the artists whose works are on display. Linda Foley will perform dulcimer music.

Sunday, June 29

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

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

Djangophonique performs @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 7 p.m.

Monday, June 30

Puppet Playhouse show @ MADL Montague, 10:30 a.m. A colorful collection of shows inspired by a theme of colors. Includes a demo and materials for puppet-making for the audience to play along.

Community Calendar

Common Ground Community of White Lake hosts its next discussion @ White Lake Community Library, 5 p.m. Topics include the purpose of unions today and support for seniors, with guest speakers on each topic. Light refreshments provided.

Free ASL classes continue for week 3 @ 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, July 1

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 Post Fontaine, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, July 2

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

Summer Book Talk Series @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 6:30 p.m. Author Susan Kruszynski speaks about her book Starter Guide to Creating Quilts. Meet-and-greet at 6:30, author presentation at 7.

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

Thursday, July 3

Box City @ White Lake Community Library, 5:30 p.m. Turn the meeting room into a box city, read the books Not a Box, and Box City, and take a giant box and use markers, creativity,

Echoes of History: The Maasdam

See the June 13 and 20 Mirrors for Parts 1 and 2 of this story.

Bruns Peterman, First Officer of the German Steamer Rhine, was the man to spy what he thought to be a fire away in the distance and climbed to the top masthead to make it out. It seemed to be a ship on fire, about twelve miles to the southwest. The Rhine was promptly headed for the light. She took about an hour to get to it. The flames lit up the sea for five miles around. The signal lights in the lifeboats were soon seen and the boats got alongside, ropes were lowered and the people hauled on board. The women and children had to be taken up in baskets.

“The sea was very rough,” said Mr. Peterman, “and a severe storm came up at midnight. Had we been two hours later in getting to the burning ship, not a soul of the Maasdam’s passengers or crew would have been saved.”

Additional information from the New York Arriving Passenger & Crew Lists indicates the German Vessel

Rhine arrived at Hoboken, New York Oct. 31, 1884. The following names were listed among the passengers: Abraham Sant, age 57; Abraham Sant, age 35; Edward Boardwell, age 29.

The two Sants listed were father and son, who were both born in Holland (Netherlands). Edward A. Boardwell was born in Wisconsin. He was a son-in-law/brother-in-law as he had married Barbara Sant around 1883-84. She was expecting their first child (a girl) in December 1884. Boardwell had two more daughters before moving to Wisconsin by 1900 where he worked as a Maine Engineer. He died in Wisconsin in December 1915.

Son Abe Sant (Jr.) married Amelia Kling in Montague, in December 1885. They had three children, only one living to adulthood. In 1892 Abe was appointed Undersheriff for Menominee County, so they moved to Menominee City. By the 1900 census, they were back in Montague. The 1910 census showed they were living in Muskegon where he was the Deputy Sheriff. He died in Muskegon in July 1910.

Abraham Sant (Sr.) married Cor-

and ingenuity to integrate establishments into a booming box city to explore.

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

Serita's Black Rose performs @ North Grove Brewers, 7 p.m.

Friday, July 4

White Lake Fourth of July parade, 10 a.m. The parade route will travel from Whitehall City Hall to Montague City Hall, with over 90 festive entries expected. The White Lake VFW and American Legion posts will lead the parade.

White Lake July 4 fireworks show will begin at dusk. Enjoy the show from anywhere in the downtown Whitehall/Montague areas.

Disaster (Part 3)

nelia Slinger in Holland and they had three children. By 1870 they had arrived in the US and were living in Spring Lake. In 1880 they were living in Montague, where Abram was listed as a blacksmith. A city directory listing for 1887-90 indicated he was still a blacksmith and was now living in the Montague House, as his wife had passed away in 1883. No other information could be found about Abraham Sant.

The Maasdam sailed for the Hol-

land-America Line from 1883-84. It was built by Henderson, Coulborn & Co., Glasgow, Scotland in 1872. Dimensions: 255 feet by 35 feet. Propulsion: Single-screw, 10 knots. Compound engines. Masts and Funnels: Two masts and one funnel. Accommodations: 8 first-class and 388 third-class passengers, with a crew of 46. It was destroyed by fire at sea while on a voyage from Rotterdam to New York, Oct. 24, 1884.

The library is closing in on its 25th anniversary!

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

Believe it or not, the White Lake Community Library officially opened almost 25 years ago. It was Oct. 2, 2000, when the library first welcomed the public through its doors. It took years of hard work to form a district library, pass millages, and finish construction, and it’s time to celebrate the silver anniversary and look back on all that has happened over the years.

are this place has touched your life in some way. There are kids who grew up coming to story times and family night programs who are now bringing their own little ones through the same front doors.

Since opening its doors a quarter century ago, the library has blossomed into far more than a building filled with books. It’s become a community hub full of laughter, learning, and connection. Whether you’ve dropped by for toddler story time, an author visit, or just a quiet moment to yourself, chances

So over the next few months, we’ll be celebrating big, with events, giveaways, and a few surprises! More than anything, we’re taking time to appreciate you - the readers, volunteers, and friendly faces who have helped the library become what it is today. Stay tuned for more information about an anniversary reception featuring former directors and board members, a chance to participate in a library photo shoot, a presentation on the history of the library all the way back to the 1800s, and more.

FUN FACT: The very first record of a library in Whitehall dates back to the 1880s, when Nettie White operated a library in the home of her uncle, C.W. Redfern, on North Mears Avenue. It continued to be run by a series of women in various homes through 1935. Bertie Olsen, whose portrait hangs in the library, was the last one

to do so before it became a city-sponsored library.

Level Up @ Your Library

Looking for a new way to keep the kids entertained and engaged this summer? Borrow a video game from the library! We have a growing collection of Switch games that are perfect for kids and teens who love adventure, creativity, and friendly competition. Whether you're into racing with Mario, building with Kirby, or solving mysteries in magical worlds, there’s a game waiting for you to discover.

Check out the current list on our website at wlclib.org/library-ofthings. You can also request all kinds of video games from other libraries in West Michigan by searching for them on the library app (LPLP or Lakeland Library in your app store). Pro tip - enter the name of your gaming system, then filter the results by format - video games to browse available games. Streaming Service Without the Subscription Fee Have you tried Kanopy yet? This streaming service is free to anyone with a library card! Kanopy has thou-

sands of movies and shows you can watch on your internet-connected device, including a huge collection of children’s videos. With everything from documentaries to romantic comedies, there’s always something interesting available. (And yes, of course they have The Librarians, The Next Chapter, with new episodes added weekly!) If you have a smart TV you can even add the app to your TV just like you would any subscription-based streaming service, but without the fees and without any ads. To get started, just visit kanopy.com and have your library card handy.

DeMumbrum

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

Submitted by Barbara Bedau Brow Volunteer Contributor

NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE community

Lake Mirror Lake Mirror

WLGC unveils renovated 3rd and 4th holes

Remodel is part of ongoing work on the front 9 of the course

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — White Lake Golf Club is in the midst of remodeling the Michillinda Road side of its 18-hole course, and Wednesday saw many club members turn out to dedicate the newly completed holes No. 3 and 4.

Fittingly, four of the club's most senior members cut the ribbon and were the first to play the new holes. Rick McCombs, a longtime club member and board member, finished off the ribbon cutting, but he was assisted also by club president Frank Lundell, longtime friend Todd Bartholomew and former club president and honorary member Jim Schmidt.

"We started this process in 2021," McCombs said. "We redid No. 2, then we restored these two holes and then did 5-8 over the winter."

McCombs' history with WLGC goes way back; he said he's been coming to the course and the area since the late 1960s, and he and wife Katrina Veerhuisen spearheaded the creation of the Evan McCombs practice facility, named for their late son. Veerhuisen's family, he said, has been a regular part of the Whitehall area since the 19th century.

Holes 3-4 now feature new tee boxes, making the holes more accessible to "women and elderly people like myself," McCombs joked. The most obvious change, though, is the removal of several trees and installation of natural sand areas, or "waste areas," as McCombs called them. The latter is a fixture in modern golf course design, as natural areas require less maintenance than traditional sand traps, a change that has obvious financial benefits for courses as well as environmental ones.

"The idea was to create hazards around the green that were playable, but they weren't bunkers," McCombs

said. "In a bunker, you can't ground your club. In a waste area, you can take a practice swing."

Because the natural areas require less maintenance - just raking the sand a couple times a week rather than the constant oversight required of traditional sand traps - the playing experience can also change from day to day, which adds a layer of the unknown for golfers.

"You might be in a footprint one day and in a perfect lie the next day, so it's just a unique part of the golf course now," WLGC pro Bill Borgman smiled.

Borgman was among the second foursome to play on the new holes, joined by fellow Whitehall golf coach Jim Hams and two of their players, sibling team Grace and Jones McDowell, who are also club members. Their inclusion was somewhat symbolic, as they represent the next generation of club members who will enjoy the renovated course for many years to come.

(Young club members Payton Ruback and Deacon Sibley were also featured in the ribbon-cutting as part of the symbolism of the future.)

"It's definitely an honor," Grace McDowell said. "We've been members since we were young, so it's just amazing to be a part of something like this,

and just the beautiful White Lake Golf Course getting improved every single day. We're happy to be a part of it."

Following that foursome, club champions and flight champions from last golf season teed off, followed by board members and club contributors.

The club, Borgman said, has a master plan for each hole on the course, and the Michillinda side of the course is the main focus point for now, with all work expected to be complete on those holes before the 2026 golf season begins. As finances allow, the club will keep an eye on its plans for the holes on the South Shore Drive side of the course.

Club members seemed pleased with the final results, with the traditional razzing of the players to christen the new holes taking place throughout the afternoon.

"I think it makes it a much more exciting course to play on the front nine, so it's increased the playability," McCombs said. "I think the other thing is, it's just a beautiful place to be."

"This is a great day to do it, since Rick McCombs could be here, and it's great to have these guys playing and Coach Hams and a bunch of other board members and some other donors that contributed to it all," Borgman said.

Girls basketball teams compete in JV league

These new natural sand areas are a main feature on the renovated front nine of the White Lake Golf Club. Different from traditional sand traps, the natural areas play more like grass and require less maintenance. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Longtime White Lake Golf Club member Jim Schmidt (second from left) takes an early snip at Wednesday's ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the new 3rd and 4th holes on the course. From left with Schmidt are Todd Bartholomew, club president Frank Lundell and longtime club member and board member Rick McCombs. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

To represent the next generation, Whitehall golfers Jones McDowell (far left) and Grace McDowell (second from right) were part of the second foursome to play on the new 3rd and 4th holes at White Lake Golf Club Wednesday. With the McDowells are club pro Bill Borgman (second from left) and Jim Hams, both Viking golf coaches.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

All three local schools competed in a girls basketball JV summer league this June as a way to stay sharp during the offseason. Whitehall and Montague fell in the first round of single-elimination bracket play Tuesday to Ludington and Orchard View, respectively. Reeths-Puffer earned the No. 2 seed in the bracket.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

MCD receives DNR grant for 'food forest' creation

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

The Muskegon Conservation District received a $23,438 grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to create "food forests" in the city of Muskegon and engage with community members in its planting and care, the DNR announced June 10.

The grant was among 15 distributed by the DNR, totaling over $1 million, made possible by Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act funds.

The MCD's forest pest manager, Lance McCarty, said the grant, which the organization applied for in March, will help fund three projects in the Muskegon area - one in Muskegon Heights and two in Muskegon.

"It was meant to increase urban for-

est canopy for underserved communities," McCarty said of the grant. "The purpose is to mitigate climate change issues, help with water filtration and storage and increase green spaces."

As the "food forests" name implies, the trees being planted will not just provide urban forest canopy but will also aid in the production of food, helping to grow both "short stuff" and "tall stuff," McCarty said, including strawberries, gooseberries and serviceberries. One such "food forest" is slated to be adjacent to the Samuel Lutheran Church in the Nelson School neighborhood in Muskegon. The city recently removed a playground there for safety reasons, and McCarty said the trees will be planted in the spot it once stood.

"There's a circular sidewalk area owned by the church, so you can ac-

White Lake History Cruises set for final voyage

The 2025 White Lake History Cruises will mark the last year for the popular event, at least for now. The cruises, aboard Muskegon's 125-passenger Aquastar vessel, have sold out for several years running, and its final planned cruises will take place Sunday, July 27.

Guests are invited to explore the history behind White Lake, such as how it got its name; early explorers described the water as white due to a unique "white clay" along the lake bed. Those were actually ancient marl deposits, long since gone but never forgotten.

The cruises, presented by the White Lake Chamber & Visitor's Bureau, will take place at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. that day

and launch from the Goodrich Park marina. Parking is available at Goodrich Park and the Chamber lot.

Cost to sail is $38 for the two afternoon cruises and $44 for the 7 p.m Twilight Cruise. Each ticket includes one drink ticket, with a full bar of non-alcoholic and alcoholic options alike available for sale in addition.

Cruises are limited to those age 12 and over, and guests are asked to bring a photo ID if they plan to enjoy an alcoholic beverage.

To purchase tickets, visit aquastarcruises.com/our-cruises/ white-lake-history-cruises. If you need help with online ticketing, please visit the Chamber office, open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Little League champs!

cess the food forest inside and outside it," McCarty said.

Just down the road from that "food forest" will be a second one, which is planned for the affordable housing development that's going in the former Nelson Elementary School. There will also be a third one which will help support a community garden that already exists next to Muskegon Family Care on Getty Street in Muskegon Heights, near Marsh Field. The garden, McCarty said, is used as part of MFC's therapy services.

"All these sites are embedded into some kind of organization locally," McCarty said. "In addition to that, they're in neighborhoods, so it will benefit the neighborhoods."

The collaboration with the MFC community garden underscores the MCD's support of such initiatives.

"We're just building on that by establishing food forests," McCarty said. "These are meant to create a sense of community for people to come volunteer, share food and also share in the benefits of food."

There is no set timetable for the food forests to be planted, but the MCD is hoping to begin the process in the fall. The grant will also include, McCarty said, "a series of workshops" to educate the public on the benefits of, and ways to take community ownership of, food forests.

"We'll have one about tree planting, food preservation, and edible species," McCarty said. "Those will be open for volunteers, the public, and landowners. The food forests aren't just a public thing. It can serve as a model so people can make their own food forests at home."

July 4 parade to feature nearly 100 festive entries

Get ready for stars, stripes, and summertime fun at the White Lake Chamber and Visitor's Bureau Fourth of July Parade.

This beloved tradition kicks off at Whitehall City Hall, marches down Colby Street/BUS-31, crosses the bridge, and wraps up in front of Montague City Hall on Ferry Street.

Leading the charge will be members of the American Legion and VFW, followed by more than 90 festive entries, including floats, classic cars, local

organizations, and more.

If you can't make it in person, CatchMark Technologies has you covered with its livestream, hosted by Matt and Stacy Shepherd, broadcasting live from outside CatchMark’s downtown Whitehall office.

After the parade, explore all that the area has to offer — parks, unique shops, and local dining — and cap off your day with a fireworks show over White Lake at dusk, presented by the White Lake Fireworks Committee.

The Brewers earned the White Lake Little League Minors championship for 2025, setting off a big team celebration at Stevens Field in Whitehall. • Courtesy Photo

Police chief Mahoney delivers 1st report

mately 2:22 p.m., officers located a disabled vehicle and made contact with the occupants. The involved officer assisted the occupants as needed.

An officer was dispatched to a residence in the area of Alice Street and S. Baldwin Street at approximately 2:37 a.m. for a report of a brown bear near the homeowner’s garbage. The homeowner provided security footage of the bear and the local DNR conservation officer was contacted and advised of the bear sighting.

June 18

June 17

At approximately 10:58 a.m. officers were called to the 400 block of E. Muskegon Ave. in reference to a 911 hangup call. The involved phone number showed history in the 911/CAD system. Officers made contact with the individual listed in the 911/CAD history and learned it was an accidental call to 911. While on patrol near S. Mears Avenue and Pinecrest Road at approxi-

At approximately 8:05 a.m. officers were contacted regarding a subject attempting to remove or steal a Fruitland Township sign from the right-ofway near the intersection of W. White Lake Drive and S. Lake Street. The officer arrived on the scene and located a 72-year-old Fruitland Township resident who had a rope hooked up to her truck and the involved sign. It was apparent from the officer’s observations the sign was broken and had been

pulled from the ground by the offender. When the involved officer confronted the offender, she claimed her attorney stated she could remove the sign. The officer reminded her the sign she removed and/or broke was located near a speed limit sign in the right-of-way and she could not legally remove either sign. Information was passed along to the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office for review of criminal charges.

An officer was contacted by dispatch at approximately 3:49 p.m. in reference to a subject needing to report that her credit card/debit card had been stolen and used unlawfully at a business in the 200 block of E. Colby St. the night before. While following up on the reported theft, the officer reviewed video from the involved business and noted the reporting party/victim was actually the one using the credit card/debit card the night before. The reporting party was contacted back and advised of the officer’s findings. She stated she did not recall making that purchase and it ap-

pears alcohol may have contributed to this incident.

June 19

While on patrol at approximately 3 p.m., the on-duty officer overheard radio traffic in reference to a three-vehicle crash near the intersection of W. White Lake Drive and Zellar Road, which the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office was assigned to. The on-duty officer responded and assisted with traffic, as the vehicles were blocking the roadway. Officer assisted as needed and then cleared.

Officers were dispatched at approximately 3:40 p.m. to the 300 block of E. Lewis St. in reference to a juvenile complaint. The reporting parent advised that her 12-year-old son had been defiant and left the home without her permission. Officers located the juvenile and discussed options with him on how to deal with disagreements, rather than running away or leaving the residence without his parents’ permission.

Fruitland Twp. continues road safety considerations

By Claire Marshall White Lake Mirror Writer

The Fruitland Township board continues to work towards addressing the concerns of road safety on Nestrom Road and the intersection of Riley-Thompson and Whitehall roads. Many residents of Fruitland Township have shared worries over the busy intersection next to Michigan’s Adventure, particularly during the summer months, and Nestrom, which currently has a speed limit of 45 miles per hour and has seen traffic accidents in the past.

The township has taken steps to lower the speed limit on Nestrom and insert a traffic light at the Riley-Thompson and Whitehall intersection, and the next steps are the request of a speed study and a traffic signal study, which are submitted to the Muskegon County Road Commission.

City

the required process for grant applications.

The council also issued unanimous approval for a charitable gaming license for the Friends of the Playhouse nonprofit group. The approval, Huebler said, simply serves as the city's recognition of the group as a charity and allows it to conduct raffles and other

The hope is the result of the studies will mirror citizens' concerns, and a traffic light - which will operate as a standard, tri-color light in the summer and will transition to a single flashing stop/caution light for the off-season. Nestrom’s speed limit is a trickier subject, however. While Fruitland Township would like the 45 mph speed limit to be lowered to 35, the Road Commission wishes to raise it to 55. The board's bare minimum hope is to keep the limit as it is currently, or, ideally, lower it. The requests are on the agenda for the Road Commission’s next meeting, which supervisor Jeff Marcinkowski will attend to present the item.

Parks were another major topic for decision-making on the Township this week. First, the board approved a letter requesting the Parks Commission to transfer a piece of property to the board. The land in question is 3.5 acres and would be transferred from

Neestrom Park, which would be used in the construction of a “future community center.”

The board unanimously approved this letter, which is simply to introduce the idea to the Parks Commission so it can discuss at its upcoming meeting in July. This topic was brought up again during closing public comment, as one resident voiced concerns many taxpayers might have about a new community center and the millage to pay for it, and wondered if an addition to the current township building would be preferable.

Also in consideration for Nestrom Park is a change to the five-year master plan of improvements. There are plans to add accessible pathways to the park, which was initially placed before the addition of extra parking spaces. After conferring with the contractor for the project, Marcinkowski was advised that the construction of pathways and

parking happen concurrently, to ensure everything is at the same grade level. This is if the township is awarded the DNR Passport Grant, which would reimburse the cost of the project. The board unanimously decided that, should the grant go through, the accessible pathways and new parking projects shall happen together. Finally, there is an upcoming informational meeting concerning the township’s drains. The board recommends residents make an effort to attend, even if they are not within the drainage district which requires improvements, as they should be informed on the costs of the project and following assessment. This meeting was originally scheduled for June 26, but was postponed due to scheduling conflicts. The rescheduled meeting is yet to be announced, but will likely take place in July.

fundraising activities. Another nonprofit group, Walk the Beat White Lake, received unanimous approval to display a banner near city hall promoting its July 19 music festival.

Earlier in the meeting, council member Steve Sikkenga noted an RV that he said has been parked off-street next to a local RV park "for six weeks,"

asking whether there is an ordinance against such long-term use. Huebler said the planning commission presented an ordinance on that topic to council in 2018 and it was voted down, but the commission is in the process of bringing another one to the council in the near future.

Council member Debi Hillebrand stated she hopes the word was getting out regarding Thursday's scheduled community engagement session with the city manager finalists. The race to be the new city manager has been re-

duced to four people after Cory Isaacs and Brent Raeth withdrew. According to Brown, Isaacs accepted a position in Wisconsin, and Raeth announced on Facebook last week that he was withdrawing from consideration to maintain his focus on his current roles at CatchMark, as Montague school board president and as chair of the White Lake Chamber & Visitor's Bureau board. Raeth has also since taken over as Montague-Whitehall Rotary club president for 2025-26.