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Information sought regarding reported cemetery vandalism across Oceana

By Claire Marshall

Correspondent

Over the Memorial Day weekend, a number of Oceana County residents discovered the theft of several bronze memorial plaques from the gravestones of area veterans. Elbridge Township Cemetery reported eight separate headstones damaged from plaque theft, with social media posts and local reports turning up multiple other rural area cemeteries where similar incidents have occurred. Besides plaques, some veterans’ graves are also missing flag holders, which are solid bronze or resemble bronze.

According to Undersheriff Ryan Schiller, the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office believes that the vandalism is the result

of opportunistic scrap metal thieves targeting the solid bronze, which can be cut up or melted down and sold locally for $3 per pound. Cemetery vandalism is not uncommon during the summer months, particularly around Memorial Day. As Schiller explained, the holiday "historically is when families take time out of their schedules to take care of and visit their loved ones.”

One such family member is Dave Hansen, who posted about the theft of his father-in-law’s plaque on the Hansen Foods Facebook page. The theft was discovered on Saturday, May 23, when Hansen’s wife, Leslie, and another family member visited Elbridge Township Cemetery to tend to the grave of her father, Benjamin E. Russell. While Russell’s grave had not been visited in several months, visitors to the cemetery earlier in the week reported nothing amiss, leading Hansen to believe the theft occurred the Thursday or Friday prior to Memorial Day.

Hansen asked in the post, "Who could be that broken as to desecrate a grave like that?” He is offering a $1,000 reward for anyone who could provide information leading to the prosecution of the perpetrator. The post has thousands of views and over 160 comments.

Hansen describes Russell as an incredible man who began his career as a merchant mariner before joining the U.S. Navy as a submariner in WWII. In the Korean War, Russell served as a tank recoverer. At the end of the war, he’d decided to make the military his career, working at the Detroit Armory, where he taught diesel engine repair.

It was primarily Korean and WWII veterans whose graves were vandalized in Elbridge, with the targeted graves in a wooded, secluded area of the cemetery, out of sight from the adjacent road. Elbridge resident Nancy Tate also visited the cemetery over the weekend to visit her parents’ graves and said she

was surprised to see a crowd of concerned families checking in on their relatives.

While Tate’s veterans’ graves were spared, she expressed that “it just was hard seeing all my neighbors out there. A lot of them are older.”

Tate also knew Russell as well, which has made this entire situation worse for her considering her admiration for him.

When recalling his father-in-law, Hansen spoke about how sometimes younger generations “don’t realize [veterans] were just like them…I used to be the same, see an old guy, and not think about who he used to be.”

Undersheriff Schiller assured that sheriff’s deputies will be patrolling cemeteries and looking out for suspicious persons or vehicles and urged that “if anyone visits a loved one's gravesite and finds that this has occurred,” they should contact Central Dispatch and file a report by calling 231-869-5858.

Shelby invites community to ‘Movie Nights at Getty Park’ SERVINGOU

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

SHELBY - The Village of Shelby invites the community to kick off the village’s monthly “Movie Nights at Getty Park” Thursday, June 11 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The evening will include a community picnic (hot dog, chips, cookie, drink), petting zoo, art activities and a showing of the movie “Hoppers” at dusk on the outdoor movie screen. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

MSU Extension 4-H Program Coordinator Jennifer Payne and local 4-Hers will provide a small animal petting zoo and read-along of the children’s book “Rabbityness" by Joe Empson. Art supplies and in-

spiration will be provided, and children will be able to create art similar to what the rabbit creates in the storybook. Goats, lambs, rabbits, chickens and quite possibly some baby calves will be available for petting and photos. The first 50 families will receive a copy of the book “Rabbityness,” and other free books will also be provided by the West Shore Educational District.

Future Movie Nights in Getty Park will show “The Goofy Movie” on Thursday, July 9, and “The Parent Trap” on Thursday, August 13.

The Shelby Village Events Committee members include Samantha Gottschalk, Tiffany Haight, Amanda Mazur, Phil Morse, Veronica Parker and Jan Sexson. More volunteers are always welcome. Persons need not commit to helping with every event,

and instead organizers encourage the community to help with whatever event fits their schedule and interests best.

Other events in the planning stages for later this year include a couples movie night, a Hispanic Heritage celebration, the annual Trunk or Treat night and Christmas festivities. A “Shelby Marketplace," to be held through the fall and winter months, is currently being organized as well.

Anyone wishing to volunteer, donate toward events, be on the committee, or have further questions may email administrator@shelbyvillage.com for more information.

The 2026 Movies in Getty Park sponsors include Empire Contractors, Southern Oceana County Chamber of Commerce, and Veronica Parker Homes/Vylla Homes.

The gravesite of local veteran Benjamin E. Russell, seen above left during his service to our country, was found to be vandalized over the Memorial Day weekend, with the bronze plaque commemorating his military career having been taken. His family is offering a reward for information leading to the prosecution of anyone involved. • Contributed photos

The Oceana Echo Community

More photos from area observances on page 10. PENTWATER

HART

SHELBY

WALKERVILLE

Roskam is raising funds with annual ride for Bike MS: West Michigan

By Sharon Hallack

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

The annual Bike MS: West Michigan 2026 is set for Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 in Holland. Shelby resident and avid biker Pete Roskam will once again be riding in it and raising money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS).

“Every year I wonder if this is my last year riding in it,” Roskam said. “But this year my daughter is flying in to ride with me. It’s not about the ride. It’s about

raising awareness of MS and raising funds to cure it.”

Roskam continues to set high fundraising goals for himself, and with the support of the Oceana community, often exceeds those goals. This year his personal fundraising goal is $7,500, with $6,000 raised thus far.

The Bike MS West Michigan team has set an overall goal of $300,000, and as of May 25, had raised over $211,000.

“I started biking in college. I had hip problems, and walking was tiring. Biking made it much easier to get around,” Roskam

shared. “Later a college friend invited me to do the MS ride. It was a challenge to ride 150 miles in two days, but I had a great time for a great cause.”

Since his first MS fundraiser ride, Roskam has taken part in over 20 rides and raised over $25,000 for the NMSS. The organization's

focus is funding research for new medications to slow the progression of MS and developing programs to help those living with the condition.

Roskam rides in memory of his mother, who was diagnosed with MS in the 1970s, back when there was little knowledge about the

disease, let alone treatment. He recently started riding in honor of two cousins with MS who live in the Netherlands, whom he met last year. To prepare for events such as Bike MS, Roskam logs thousands of miles throughout Oceana County, the state and the nation, riding for pleasure as well as in other events, such as the Hart Hills Gravel Road Race and the RAGBRAI (The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa).

“Exercise is important for people with MS. It helps the body respond betterso biking for a cure makes

sense,” Roskam said. “New research and development is helping. I can’t thank the community enough for their support.”

Anyone interested in supporting Roskam’s 2026 ride may contact him directly at 231-638-1035 or roskam24@gmail.com. Checks should be made out to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Attention Peter Roskam, and mailed to Roskam at P.O. Box 364, Shelby, Michigan 49455. More information and support can be found by visiting www.nationalmssociety.org.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Hart proposes an amendment to Chapter 1242 of the City of Hart Codified Ordinances to establish a temporary moratorium on data centers and digital mining uses within the City.

The proposed ordinance would temporarily prohibit the receipt, review, consideration, approval, denial, or public hearing of zoning or building applications related to data centers and digital mining operations, including cryptocurrency mining facilities.

The purpose of the moratorium is to allow the City time to evaluate and develop appropriate zoning regulations and standards related to these uses and their potential impacts on infrastructure, utilities, land use compatibility, and the community.

The moratorium would apply to applications received on or after May 26, 2026, and would remain in effect through November 26, 2026, unless modified, extended, or terminated earlier by the City Council.

A complete copy of the proposed ordinance amendment is available for public inspection at Hart City Hall during regular business hours.

Karla Swihart City Clerk City of Hart

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Hart proposes an amendment to Section 1243.04 of Chapter 1243 – General Provisions of the City of Hart Zoning Ordinance regarding limitations on lot splits and compliance with the Michigan Land Division Act.

The proposed amendment would:

• Clarify that no lot, yard, parking area, or other space may be divided or reduced below the minimum requirements established by the Zoning Ordinance;

• Allow limited administrative waivers by the Zoning Administrator to correct property descriptions corresponding to actual occupancy;

• Formally opt the City of Hart out of Section 108(6) of Public Act 58 of 2025, which amended the Michigan Land Division Act, thereby prohibiting additional land divisions beyond those otherwise permitted under state law.

The ordinance also includes severability provisions and establishes an effective date of ten (10) days after publication.

A complete copy of the proposed ordinance amendment is available for public inspection at Hart City Hall during regular business hours.

Karla Swihart City Clerk, City of Hart

The Starting Block celebrates 20 years of fueling entrepreneurial success

The Starting Block, Michigan’s first kitchen incubator, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this October, marking two decades of helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into successful businesses. Since receiving its first state and federal grant in 2004, the nonprofit has played a pivotal role in supporting food-based startups and strengthening the regional economy in Oceana County.

Early support from federal partners helped establish and grow The Starting Block’s operations. Funding included a USDA Rural Development grant of more than $280,000, as well as support from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, which helped fund essential kitchen equipment and supplies that continue to serve entrepreneurs today.

Operating through a combination of public funding and strong local partnerships, The Starting Block’s success has been anchored by its 18-year partnership with the City of Hart, established in 2008. Together, they have created an environment that fosters innovation and removes barriers for entrepreneurs entering the food industry.

Today, there are 17 kitchen incubators across the state of Michigan, all contributing to local economic growth and entrepreneurship. While these facilities can be challenging to operate, they also reflect strong and positive momentum statewide as communities continue to invest in small business development.

“The Starting Block is the first kitchen incubator in Michigan, and we’re proud to celebrate 20 years of service to entrepreneurs this October,” Executive Director Jane Dosemagen said. “We are a nonprofit economic development organization committed to small businesses, providing entrepreneurs, producers, and processors fully equipped food processing kitchens.

“We help entrepreneurs start or expand their food businesses at a reasonable cost, without the upfront investment in costly facilities and equipment. That accessibility is critical for people with great ideas but limited resources.”

Entrepreneurs using The Starting Block today are producing a wide variety of goods, reflecting the diversity and creativity of its clients. “We welcome new clients to our kitchen, anyone interested in making a food product to sell,” Dosemagen said. “Currently, producers are making chips, salsa, coffees and teas, hot honey, baked goods and more. We have coffee roasters, caterers, and food trucks.”

The organization’s impact is reflected not only in its client success stories, but also in its broader economic contribution. Over the past 20 years, The Starting Block has played a vital role in the economy of Oceana County, helping entrepreneurs launch sustainable businesses, create jobs, and introduce new products to market.

Bill Small, Board President, emphasized this impact. “The Starting Block has been a cornerstone of small business development in our region,” he said. “By helping entrepreneurs understand requirements like food safety and licensing, it has created real, lasting opportunities for growth.”

For many entrepreneurs, The Starting Block provides essential education that transforms uncertainty into confidence. That was the case for Lauren and Tony DeMatteo, owners of Dark Water Coffee, who credit the incubator with helping them navigate the complexities of launching a food-based business.

“When we first started, we didn’t know how to get started,” said Lauren DeMatteo. “We didn’t understand food safety or what was required to produce our product.”

“The Starting Block gave us a place to learn all of that. It wasn’t just a kitchen, it was where we gained the knowledge and confidence to move forward,” added Tony DeMatteo.

As The Starting Block celebrates its 20th anniversary, it is also looking ahead to the future and continued impact.

“We will be announcing soon our new director, along with more information about upcoming events,” Dosemagen said. “We are excited about the positive momentum we are seeing and look forward

to the next 20 years of supporting entrepreneurs.” Anyone interested in launching or expanding their food business is encouraged to connect with The Starting Block for access to its licensed commercial kitchen, business support services, and office space. About The Starting Block: The Starting Block is a nonprofit economic development organization and shared-use commercial kitchen located in Hart, Michigan. Established in 2006, it supports entrepreneurs, food producers, and processors by providing fully equipped production space, food safety education, and business development resources. As Michigan’s first kitchen incubator, it removes barriers to entry by offering affordable access to licensed facilities and technical assistance, helping small businesses move from concept to commercialization while strengthening the regional economy and contributing to longterm community growth.

DONATED ITEMS NEEDED FOR ANNUAL SALE

IT’S OUR MAJOR FUNDRAISER FOR THE YEAR IF YOU DON’T NEED IT...WE’LL TAKE IT JUNE 12-13

FRIDAY - SATURDAY 8:00AM - 3:00PM

This page is brought to you by:

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

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

Living Legacies: Mary Lulich celebrates 50 years in print

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Fifty years is well known as a golden anniversary across many aspects of life, and for Mary Lulich, owner of Pixel Grafix in Hart, she has reached that incredible milestone in the print industry. While Lulich will close her storefront operation in Hart on May 31, she plans to continue the business from home, doing what she loves, in and for the community.

Many are familiar with Pixel. Many have used it but do not know the history behind Lulich, who has given it so much.

The year was 1975, and at 15 years of age, Lulich looked like any other teen, going to school and using her spare time to pursue her hobbies.

“I was buying cards at the Hallmark store in downtown Shelby and turning them into my own art projects,” she remembered. “I was looking for a way to get the cards cheaper, so one day I went into the Oceana Herald office and asked Maxine (Huggard) if she could use any help. I wanted to be able to get the greeting cards cheaper. She told me she didn’t need help downstairs but they might need help upstairs.”

Lulich remembers taking the 21 wooden steps of the historic building to the second floor, where she got her first job.

Lulich explained how she started out at first as the Huggards’ "go-fer," but shortly after watching Oceana Herald employees Dick and Sally Schultz typeset on one of the first computers in Shelby, she was hooked.

“Coincidentally, my first day on the job was the last day they used molten lead in the 1886 vintage linotype typesetter,” Lulich reminisced. “I wasn’t born into it (newspaper typesetting), but I loved every part of it. In middle school I wanted to take shop class, but back then girls couldn’t take shop. Looking back, the education I got from the ‘craft masters’ at the Oceana Herald was a gift.”

Lulich would go on to hold a co-op job at the newspaper office every school day from 2-5 p.m. and then during the summers throughout high school.

“Sally was basically coding - nobody called it that at the time - but I stood behind her watching and learning,” Lulich said. “I did sell some advertising for the paper, but I did mostly typesetting.”

In 1980, Lulich went to college in Grand Rapids. “I was able to get decent-paying part-time jobs as a typesetter because I already knew how to use that equipment” for various small businesses, Lulich recalled. Her first full-time job was with Hayworth, where she worked for two years in their publication department as a typesetter.

Following her time at Hayworth, Lulich took a job with the Detroit-based company CompuGraph-

ics, where she traveled from Detroit to the East Coast teaching other businesses how to do phototypesetting. By the early 1990s, Lulich had grown tired of the travel, and took a job in the publications department at the FTD headquarters in Southfield, Michigan. By the mid-90s, CompuGraphics was phasing out, and desktop publishing was becoming the next great thing.

With all this experience under her belt, from 1995-2012, Lulich and her former husband decided to open their own business in Detroit called GrafixJam, mainly working with tier-one suppliers in the auto industry.

In 2012, Lulich moved back home to Shelby, where she worked for Oceana Graphics on East Main Street in Hart. Then in 2015, she opened Pixel Grafix in downtown Shelby, providing a variety of design and print services. In 2020, Lulich decided to move her Pixel Grafix business to Hart, where she has operated out of a business suite, on the north side of the Hegg’s Furniture store.

Starting June 1, Lulich will make yet another move, to her home office, where she plans to continue running Pixel Grafix, providing design services for the community she loves.

“The past 11 years have been all-consuming,” she said. “Post-Covid, I’ve seen a 25-30 percent loss in business as people learned how to order everything online,” she said.

Despite today’s digital world competition, Lulich

still considers herself a crafter first. Even though AI (artificial intelligence) is becoming the way we do a lot of things, she admits she didn’t embrace the technology at first. “Last October I was really fighting it. I told myself I wasn’t going to use it and decided to retire.”

But then she added, “AI bit me hard. Because it ‘knows me,’ it creates better art without mechanics, freeing me up to be and do other things (incidentally, with the help of AI, Lulich created the “image” that accompanies this article). In 50 years I’ve gone from metal to AI. I’ve loved every minute of my craft. It’s not felt like work.”

Over the years, Lulich has been able to mentor many good employees and says the biggest plus of owning a local business has been making so many friends in the community where she grew up.

Lulich said she is not closing her Pixel business, only the storefront. She still plans to offer online graphic design and print services to customers who want it. However, she is looking forward to working from home and not having to worry about operating a storefront business. She also hopes to find time to pick up some of her artistic hobbies that have been put on hold all these years.

Lulich is looking forward to being able to continue providing her customers with the service they need, just in a different location. “I have no regrets. I’ve loved my life and am so grateful to the community for their support,” Lulich said.

Ongoing

The Ladder Community Center: The Huddle: 6th-12th grade after school program, M-F, 3-5 p.m.

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

MON: Women’s Bible Study, 1 Peter, 1-2 p.m., TUES: Men’s Bible Study, 10:30 a.m. to noon

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

Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

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

Registration open for The Ladder’s summer program

Starting Monday, June 15, The Ladder Community Center in Shelby will be offering their annual “Summer Break Out.” This is a youth program offered Monday through Thursday for 6th through 12th graders.

Break Out shows our community God’s love in very practical ways, offering many great serving activities for youth. Break Out also takes youth on fun day trips once a week, called Escape Trips. Some upcoming Escape Trips include a ropes course, Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo, golf, Michigan’s Adventure and tubing.

In addition to off-site activities, The Ladder offers on-site activities, such as pool, air hockey, foosball and basketball. Youth also develop the habit of reading, listening to and applying the Word of God. Food will be provided Monday through Thursday by Shelby Public Schools.

Parents may register their teens for Break Out by visiting The Ladder at 67 N. State St. in Shelby, Monday through Thursday, June 1-11, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Ladder’s youth program is made possible by generous donors through our March 31 Days of Giving at The Ladder and the Shelby Optimist Club, at no cost to youth, with the exception of Escape Trips. Without committed volunteers, this program would not happen. If anyone is interested in volunteering or donating toward the cost of the youth program, please visit The Ladder or call (231) 259-0211.

City of Hart announces Music on the Commons Series

The City of Hart is excited to announce the return of the beloved Music on the Commons Summer Concert Series, bringing live music, community fun and vibrant downtown energy to Hart Commons Park every Thursday evening from June 25 through August 27, 2026.

The free weekly concert series will feature a wide variety of musical genres, including folk, classic rock, country, Celtic, steel drums and 90s hits. Concerts will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Hart Commons Park, located at the corner of Main and State Street in downtown Hart. The downtown social district will remain open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on concert days.

“This concert series has become a cherished summer tradition for our community and visitors alike,” City of Hart Economic and Development Coordinator Lindsay Brown said. “We are so thankful for all of our sponsors who help keep this free concert tradition alive. We listened to the suggestions last year and will be featuring one new food truck each week to serve up dinner for our concertgoers along with our amazing downtown restaurants.”

• June 25 – Merchant & Miller | American Folk

Sponsored by Oceana County Council on Aging

• July 2 – Annual Hart Sparks Celebration Kids’ activities, food vendors, music, and fireworks (Community Celebration Night)

• July 9 – Martini Lounge | Classic Rock/Blues/Country

Sponsored by Little Point Sable – Arts for Oceana Fund of the Oceana Community Foundation

• July 16 – Backwoods Express | Country Rock

M ay - J une

May 30 - Shelby UCC Free Community Breakfast, Shelby, 8-10 a.m.

May 30 - Friends of the Library Garden Sale, SADL, 8:30-10:30 a.m.

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

June 3 - Music in the Garden with Hart and Shelby School Bands, Main Street Spa, Hart, 7 p.m.

June 4 - Versiti Blood Drive, West Mich Research Station,Hart, 4-6:30 p.m.

June 5 - Story Time, Hesperia Community Library, 10-11 a.m.

June 6 - Hart VFW Bike Rodeo, 802 S. State St., Hart, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

OCCOA offers many June events for area seniors

The following are OCCOA events for June. All activities are held at the Oceana County Council on Aging, located at 4250 W. Tyler Rd., Hart, unless stated otherwise. Please call 873-4461 to sign up or make meal reservations.

Breakfast is available on Thursday mornings from 8:30-9 a.m. Cost is $3 and reservations required.

Birthday Party: Wednesday, June 3; noon.

SAIL Exercise Class: Mondays and Wednesdays, June 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 25 and 27; 10 a.m.

Chair Volleyball: Tuesdays, June 2, 9, 16, 22 and 30; 9 a.m.

Drum Fitness: Tuesdays, June 2, 9, 16, 22 and 30; 10 a.m.

Medical Yoga with Rob: Wednesdays, June 3, 10, 17 and 24; 4 p.m.

Zumba: Fridays, June 3, 10, 17 and 24; 9 a.m.

Art with Brad: Monday, June 8 and 22; 10 a.m.

Quilting Club: Wednesdays, June 3, 10, 17 and 24; 9 a.m.

Massage Therapy: Monday, June 22; 9 a.m. to noon; appointment needed.

Beltone: Wednesday June 22; call Beltone to make an appointment.

Dinner Club: Once a month, we will gather as friends at a different restaurant for a meal.

Board Meeting: Tuesday, June 23; 1:30 p.m. Location: Oceana County Council on Aging.

Special Events

Mini Golf and Ice Cream: Thursday, June 11; 1:30 p.m.

Mac Woods Dune Rides: Thursday, June 18; 1:30 p.m.

Juneteenth: Friday, June 19; Center closed.

Quilt Shop Hop: Thursday, June 25; 8:30 a.m.

Strawberry Social on the Porch: Thursday, June 26; 1:15 p.m.

Parmenter Office Hours: Please call 873-4461 for an appointment.

Lauren Eisenbarth, an Elder Law Paralegal for Attorney Anna Urick Duggins, of Parmenter Law, will offer a half-hour, no-charge introductory meeting from 2-4 p.m. at Oceana County Council on Aging. Topics to discuss include Elder Law services such as Estate Planning, Long Term Care Planning, Medicaid Planning, and VA Aid & Attendance

Other Activities:

Farkle: Mondays at 10 a.m.

Mexican Train: Mondays at 9-11 a.m.

Loteria (Mexican Bingo): Mondays at 1:15 p.m.

Cribbage: Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m.

Walk With Friends: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 1:30 p.m.

Mahjong: Tuesdays at 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.

Fitness at Hesperia American Legion: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9-10 a.m.

Euchre: Wednesdays at 10-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.

Bingo: Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.

Blood Pressure Checks: Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon.

Bridge: Thursdays at 1-3 p.m.

Cards & Games: Daily before and following lunch

Games with Mary and Kay: Fridays at 1:30 p.m.

Questions? Please contact Program Director Bradley Youngstrom at 231873-4461 or email youngstrom@oceanacoa.com.

FBC of Hart to host VBX in June

First Baptist Church of Hart (FBC) invites area children to attend VBX (Vacation Bible eXperience), taking place June 15-18 from 9:30-11:45 a.m. VBX is open to children ages 4 years old and potty-trained through students entering 8th grade and offers four exciting mornings filled with fun activities, high-energy music and games, snacks, skits and meaningful Bible lessons.

This year’s theme, “Wanted,” will immerse kids in a Western gold-rush adventure as they study the life of King David and learn what it means to have a heart that seeks after God. Throughout the week, children will discover that they are deeply wanted and loved by God and that when God changes a person’s heart, it changes the way they live.

VBX has become a favorite summer tradition for many local families and welcomes children from all backgrounds and levels of church experience. Organizers aim to create a safe, welcoming and engaging environment where kids can have fun, build friendships and enjoy a positive start to summer break. Additional information and registration can be found at gofbchart.org/VBX. Questions? Reach out to the FBC office at 231-873-2514..

The Ladder to host ice cream social on June 5

Parents and children are invited to celebrate the last day of the school year with an ice cream social at The Ladder. The event will take place in The Ladder’s north parking lot from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, June 5. There is no cost for this event, and those planning to attend are asked to bring their family and their sweet tooth!

The Ladder is located at 67 N. State St. in Shelby. For more information, please call (231) 259-0211.

Easter Afterglow: Part 1 - ‘ Fire, Wind, and a Dove’

By Janet Van Gunst Hasselbring The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

“Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind filled the house; the disciples saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them; they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues…”(from Acts 2) Pentecost serves as the grand finale of the Easter season. The 50-day period begins with the celebration of the resurrection, and ends with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit - the miraculous event that transformed a group of frightened, uncertain followers of Jesus into bold leaders who publicly shared their faith.

Just 10 days before, Jesus had ascended to heaven, commanding his disciples: “Go and make disciples of all nations…And behold I am with you always to the end of the

Wesleyan Church

age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Only with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost did the disciples realize that, instead of Christ’s ministry being tied to His physical presence, it was extended wherever they went.

The ascension had exponentially increased God’s kingdom on earth.

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, to the ends of the earth.: (Acts 1:8) The ability to speak in tongues enabled and emboldened the disciples to cross divides and build bridges/relationships with people from all walks of life, both Jews and Gentiles.

What does Pentecost mean for us today? Someone noted that there are five gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and each of us. To followers of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, symbolized by a dove, embodies God’s ongoing, active presence in the world and in our lives, empowering our faith, providing daily guidance, and giving us

the courage to be His witnesses, spreading the gospel of the risen Lord in our communities.

As we set forth on our mission, let’s first examine our lives to make sure we’re fit for service. Life is all about relationships. Witnessing is built on relationships, and while the adage, “you can learn everything in solitude, except character" (Stendhal), attests to the value of relationships in gaining self–awareness, it’s also true that “he who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.” (Lao Tzu)

Alone, in his prison cell, anti-Nazi dissident Dietrich Bonhoeffer asked the prescient question, “Who am I? Am I then what others tell of, or am I only what I myself know of myself? Am I one person today

and another tomorrow, or am I both at once? ("Who Am I?")

If we’re honest, we’ll admit that we’re one person with our spouse, another with our coworkers, our children, our tennis partners, our employers, our friends, and still another with our hunting and fishing buddies.

Swiss psychologist Carl Jung noted, “We meet ourselves time and again in a thousand disguises on the path of life.”

It was Plato, building on the ancient Delphic maxim, “Know thyself,” popularized by Socrates, who said, “the unexamined life is not worth living.”

(Matthew 6: 19-20)

In Psalm 23 we read, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” If we trust in Jesus, obey Him, and commit our lives to His will, we will not want for anything, for He will supply us with, not what we want, but what we need. Know thyself. “Go ye…”

Remitly – Pentecost - Meaning, History, and Traditions

In "That Incredible Christian," A.W. Tozer compiled seven rules that are incredibly insightful in self-discovery. The rules are not a test of how pious or righteous we are, but tools that can reveal truths about ourselves that we’ve never considered. Let’s examine these rules in the afterglow of Easter, as we try to become more Christ-like, so that those we encounter, and to whom we witness, may see Jesus in us: 1. What do I want most? We want lots of things, but Tozer cautions, “Get quiet, recollect your thoughts, wait for the mild excitement within to subside, and then listen closely to the faint cry of desire.” What we want most tells us whether we’re investing our energy exclusively in material things or in spiritual growth and God’s kingdom. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust doth corrupt…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

Love our community toward Christ Sunday 10:30 am Streamed on Safe Haven: Every Wed. 3-5 pm Open gym and showers available 231.873.5040

144 S Hamon St, Walkerville Office@walkervillewesleyanchurch.org

gathered. disciples scattered

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

obituaries

Adelina (Nina) Gracia

July 25, 1942 ~ January 30, 2026

Adelina (Nina) Gracia, 83, passed away peacefully on Jan uary 30, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

Adelina was born on July 25, 1942, to Abel Acuña and Maria Acuña. She lived a life marked by quiet faith, service and devotion to her family. A retired teacher’s aide, Adelina found great joy in nurturing young lives, offering patience, encouragement and kindness to every child she served.

A woman of deep faith, Adelina trusted in the Lord throughout her life and reflected His love through her gentle spirit and servant’s heart. She believed firmly in the promise of eternal life, holding close the words of Scripture: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). Her faith was a steady source of comfort and strength to those around her.

Adelina loved tending her garden and growing flowers, finding beauty and peace in God’s creation. Her home was a place of warmth and welcome, where family gathered around the table to share meals, laughter and memories. To her children, she was a loving mother, trusted friend and faithful example. To her grandchildren, she was simply “Grandma Grac,” a cherished presence whose love was constant and unconditional.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Cesar Gracia. She is survived by her daughters and their spouses, Anne and Paul Byl, Elizabeth and Lee Ludwig, Maggie and Scott Granlee, Lori and Tom Schummer, Cindy and Phil Delgado; 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; as well as extended family members who will continue to honor her legacy of faith and love.

A memorial service will be held for family and friends at Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC Whitehall), 900 S. Warner St., Whitehall, Michigan, on Friday, June 12 at 11 a.m. Adelina’s family takes comfort in the promise found in God’s Word: “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:23).

Arrangements are with Harris Funeral Home.

Sally Gibson Fortner

October 17, 1933 ~ February 23, 2026

Celebration of Life – Sally Gibson Fortner

A Celebration of Life for Sally will take place July 12 at Park Place in Pentwater, 310 Rush St., from 3-6 p.m.

Obituaries:

If you would like to place an obituary with us, please tell your arrangement specialist or email us at ads@oceanaecho.com.

The family of James Woodbury would like to thank all who sent cards and prayers during this difficult time. Also for those who donated to Harbor Hospice in James’ name.

George Henry Vest

November 16,

1952 ~ May 23, 2026

George Henry Vest, 73, of Walkerville, passed away Satur day, May 23, 2026, surrounded by all of his loving family.

He was born November 16, 1952, in Madison, Indiana, the son of Porter and Sara (Ballard) Vest.

George was well respected and loved in his community, always ready to lend a helping hand or give advice. He served on the Merrill Township Fire Department for several years, volunteered for several community projects and served his community in many ways.

George is survived by: his wife of 56 years, Janice (Burns) Vest; daughter, Megan (Mike) Oomen; grand children, Remington Oomen, Hendrick Oomen and Anabel Oomen; special niece. Elaina Avilla; adopted grandson, Michael (Grace) Lowery; great-granddaughter, Charlotte Lowery; and many nieces and nephews.

George was preceded in death by: his parents, Porter and Sara Vest; his son, Eugene Vest; and many siblings, nieces and nephews.

Cremation has taken place, and a going home celebration will be held at a later date.

Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is in charge of arrangements. harrisfhome.com

Shirley Yvonne Ford

May 11, 1929 ~ May 27, 2026

Shirley Yvonne Ford, 97, of Hart, passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Oceana County Medical Care Facility. She was born May 11, 1929, in Muskegon, the daughter of Charles and Arlie (Stewart) Wilson.

Shirley graduated from Muskegon High School, and following graduation, began employment as a phone operator for the Bell Telephone Company. Shirley married the love of her life, John “Jack” Ford, and became a homemaker, raising seven children alongside her husband.

Shirley enjoyed spending time in her garden and working with flowers. She also enjoyed playing games, such as cards and Yahtzee. Above all, Shirley enjoyed time spent with family.

Shirley is survived by: her children, Nancy (Jim) Symko, Dawn (Robert – deceased) Tozer, LouAnn (Curt – deceased) Daugherty, Elsie (Wes) Morton, Donald (Scheryl) Ford, Pam (Larry) Doran, and John (Janet) Ford; 22 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Shirley was preceded in death by: her husband, Jack C. Ford; parents, Charles and Arlie Wilson; and siblings, Vera Denman, Donna Wilson, Charles Wilson and Richard Wilson.

Funeral services will be conducted at noon, Monday, June 1, 2026, at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, 2370 N. 72nd Ave., Hart, MI 49420, with Dr. William Doran officiating. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of services at the funeral home. Private interment will be in Elbridge Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oceana County Medical Care Facility, 701 E. Main St., Hart, MI 49420.

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

INFRASTRUCTURE STANDARDS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Hart proposes amendments to Chapter 1243 – General Provisions of the City of Hart Zoning Ordinance to establish new Green Infrastructure Standards.

The proposed amendments would require development and redevelopment projects requiring site plan approval to incorporate at least one green infrastructure practice, including but not limited to pervious surfaces, native vegetation, and tree planting practices.

The amendment also establishes standards for:

• Pervious surface materials and stormwater management practices;

• Use of native vegetation and preservation of natural features;

• Tree planting, maintenance, removal, and replacement requirements.

The intent of the ordinance amendment is to promote sustainable, low-impact site design, improve stormwater management, preserve natural resources, and enhance environmental quality within the City of Hart.

A complete copy of the proposed ordinance amendment is available for public inspection at Hart City Hall during regular business hours.

Swihart City Clerk, City of Hart

Karla

eral 1940s-era U.S. planes flew overhead. Hope’s health was too poor for him to attend, but three of his children and some show-business colleagues, including Mickey Rooney, were there to honor him.

• On June 1, 1926, Norma Jeane Mortenson, who would later become famous as the voluptuous, platinumblond actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe, was born in Los Angeles, California.

• On May 30, 1967, following years of suppression under Nigeria’s military government, the breakaway state of Biafra proclaimed its independence from the West African country.

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

NOW HERE’S A TIP #12345_20260518 FOR RELEASE MAY 18, 2026

By JoAnn Derson

• On May 31, 2009, Millvina Dean, the last survivor of the Titanic sinking, died at age 97. Nine weeks old at the time of the disaster, she was rescued with her mother and brother but her father was not. The family had intended to relocate to Kansas City, but returned to London.

• On June 2, 1985, Leonard Lake was arrested near San Francisco, California, ending one of the rare examples of serial killers working together. Lake and his partner, Charles Ng, committed a number of brutal crimes against young women in the 1980s. Lake committed suicide by ingesting a cyanide capsule while in custody, but Ng has remained on death row at San Quentin State Prison since 1999.

• On May 25, 1660, exiled English King Charles II set out for Dover to assume the throne and bring an end to more than a decade of military rule. He entered London in triumph four days later, on his 30th birthday, and would reign for nearly 25 years before his death from what was likely kidney failure in 1685.

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

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NOW HERE’S A TIP #12345_20260518 FOR RELEASE MAY 18, 2026

FOR RELEASE MAY 18, 2026

By Lucie Winborne

• Need a patch for old woodwork? Try mixing paint (whatever color you are using) and flour. Make a paste, fill in the holes and let dry. It’s hard like cement, and can be sanded into shape if necessary.

By Lucie Winborne

• John Wycliffe’s first translation of the Bible from Latin Vulgate into English so angered the Catholic Church (because it bypassed priests) that it had his corpse exhumed and burned.

• On June 3, 1754, Lieutenant Colonel George Washington began construction of the makeshift Fort Necessity, designed to defend his forces from French soldiers angered by the killing of Ensign Joseph Coulon de Jumonville by Washington’s Native American ally while he was in Washington’s custody. A month later, the French, led by Jumonville’s half-brother, succeeded in getting Washington’s surrender and signed confession (in French, which he didn’t read) to the murder.

• On May 26, 1865, Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith, commander of the Confederate Trans-Mississippi division, surrendered, one of the last Confederate generals to do so, under terms similar to that of Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. He was the last surviving full Confederate general until his death in 1893.

• On May 27, 1887, the Hells Canyon Massacre took place when two groups of Chinese workers, employed to search for gold in the Snake River in what is now Idaho, were ambushed and murdered by a gang of seven white men known to be horse thieves, who then made off with several thousand dollars worth of gold

• On June 4, 1972, Angela Davis, an activist and former UCLA philosophy professor, was acquitted on charges of conspiracy, murder and kidnapping. She had been accused of supplying weapons to Jonathan Jackson, who had stormed a courtroom in an effort to take hostages he hoped to exchange for his brother, a radical incarcerated at San Quentin. Jackson died in the subsequent police shootout.

• On May 28, 1957, National League owners voted unanimously to allow the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers to move to San Francisco and Los Angeles, respectively, at the mid-season owner’s meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

• On June 5, 2004, Ronald Reagan died, a decade after his announcement that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Nicknamed the “Great Communicator” and one of America’s most popular presidents, he had lived out his final years on his beloved ranch with his wife, Nancy, and was laid to rest at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

• On May 29, 2003, actor/comedian Bob Hope celebrated his 100th birthday. In a public Hollywood ceremony, city officials renamed the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Avenue Bob Hope Square, and several 1940s-era U.S. planes flew overhead. Hope’s health was too poor for him to attend, but three of his children and some show-business colleagues, including Mickey Rooney, were there to honor him.

• On June 6, 1933, eager viewers parked at the very first drive-in movie theater, the Camden Drive-In, in Pennsauken, New Jersey, to watch the English comedy “Wives Beware,” starring Adolphe Menjou.

• On May 30, 1967, following years of suppression under Nigeria’s military government, the breakaway state of Biafra proclaimed its independence from the West African country.

• On June 7, 1692, a massive earthquake destroyed the town of Port Royal in Jamaica, killing thousands. Aftershocks discouraged the possibility of rebuilding, and the city of Kingston was constructed instead.

• When you get near the end of a roll of paper towels, save it to put in your car. Put together a kit to keep in the car with the following items: a small bottle of Windex or other cleaner, a squeeze bottle of water, some wet wipes and the short roll of paper towels. You will always be ready for a quick on-theroad cleanup.

• You can use baking soda to scrub away stuck-on food on your grill. Sprinkle it on the metal brush, and scrub away. If your grate is beyond the power of fire and baking soda, remove it and lay it on the ground on some newspaper. Spray with oven cleaner and let sit (keep pets and kids away from it). Rinse with a garden hose and replace on the grill.

• “I have a plastic cup that changes color when the drink is hot. Oddly enough, it changes at the perfect temperature for a baby’s bath. So, I fill the tub and toss in the cup. When the cup starts to change back to its original color (blue), I know the bathwater is not too hot.” — P. in Idaho

• A year on Neptune lasts approximately 165 Earth years.

• For six months, filmmakers Jenny Rustemeyer and Grant Baldwin survived on food salvaged from dumpsters, finding so much that friends were invited to help them consume it, and recorded their experience in “Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story.”

• The Hopi consider the Grand Canyon to be the gateway to the afterlife.

• Polar bear mamas gain around 400 pounds during pregnancy. If the mother doesn’t double her weight, her body will simply reabsorb the fetus.

• Research has suggested that when a twin engages in criminal activity, it increases the likelihood that the other twin will do the same.

• The orbicularis oris muscle allows lips to pucker for a kiss.

• Words in tonal languages such as Mandarin and Hmong can have up to eight meanings, depending on their tone and pitch.

• Sprinkle baby powder in dish gloves to help them slide on in an instant.

• “To remove muffins or from a pan, set it on an old, damp towel for a minute. The steam must loosen the bottoms, because they just slide right out. I thank my mom for this tip.” — Janey R. via email

• Sprinkle baby powder in dish gloves to help them slide on in an instant.

• “To remove muffins or rolls from a pan, set it on an old, damp towel for a minute. The steam must loosen the bottoms, because they just slide right out. I thank my mom for this tip.” — Janey R. via email

Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 1800 Pembrook Dr., Suite 300, Orlando, FL 32810.

• Zeng Jinlian, of China, holds the world record for tallest woman in history, measuring an astounding 8 feet 1 3/4 inches tall — more than a foot taller than basketball star Shaquille O’Neal.

• Globally, male babies are 25% more likely to die in infancy than girls.

• In December 1955, artist Salvador Dali borrowed a friend’s Rolls Royce, filled it to the roof with cauliflower, and drove it to the Sorbonne in Paris, where he delivered a lecture titled “Phenomenological Aspects of the Paranoiac Critical Method.”

• The Leaning Tower of Pisa was already sinking on one side when the second floor was added.

Thought for the Day: “Work eight hours and sleep eight hours, and make sure that they are not the same eight

OC ANIMAL SHELTER

Quinn is a 2-year-old pittie mix with 45 pounds of pure sweetness, silliness and “Where are you sitting because I’d like to be directly on top of you” energy.

OC ANIMAL FRIENDS

Her prized possession in life? An emotional support tennis ball. She proudly carries it around like it contains important business documents. Laundry room inspection? Ball. Backyard patrol? Ball. Nap time? Definitely ball. Quinn can be a little shy when meeting new people, so she’d do best in a calmer home without a revolving front door of visitors. But don’t worry, her love language is snacks, and once treats are involved, you’ll quickly move from “stranger danger” to “best friend.”

Quinn is available for adoption from the Oceana County Animal Control. If interested, please call the shelter at 231-861-5395. The adoption fee for cats is $35 and you receive certificates for $25 towards spay/neuter and $10 towards rabies if not already done. The adoption fee for dogs is $95 and will receive a $50 certificate good for spay/ neuter if needed. Every dog should have an ID tag. L.A.S.S.I. provides free dog ID tags to all Oceana County residents. To request tags, send a text to 231-7303906. Free tags are also available at the OCEANA County Animal Shelter.

Oswald is a truly stunning boy with a soft, fluffy coat and adorable little hair tufts behind his ears that give him extra charm. Oswald is incredibly sweet, affectionate and full of personality. He is very smart and has the cutest habit of acting like he’s part of the family in every way — he truly thinks he’s a person! Oswald will thrive in a home where he can be doted on, spoiled, and included in daily life. He would do best with someone looking for a close companion — a cat to love, adore and build a strong bond with. Oswald would thrive in a quieter environment or a home where he can truly be part of the family. He is ideal for someone looking for a loyal cat who wants to be involved in everything you do. Oswald is up-to-date on all vaccines, dewormed and ready for his forever home. If you’re looking for a beautiful, loving, and intelligent cat to spoil, Oswald is your guy. If you would like to adopt Buffy, please fill out an application through the OCAF Facebook page: Oceana County Animal Friends or

Meet Oswald

Kleiner provides 6-month review to Hart City Council

The first six months on the job have been busy ones for Hart City Manager Nichole Kleiner. At the May 12 Hart City Council meeting, Kleiner provided council members with the following report.

“My role as city manager, zoning administrator, and TIFA administrator began with back-to-back flooding events at City Hall, followed shortly after by a major data and technology incident that the city continues working through,” Kleiner began. “It was an eventful introduction to the position and required immediate focus on emergency response, technology recovery and maintaining continuity of city services.

“Work has also been underway to help organizations historically supported by the city, including The Starting Block and the Hart Historic Preservation Group, move toward greater operational independence while maintaining strong community partnerships.

“At John Gurney Park, we’ve focused our efforts on an operational 'reset,' including reevaluating budgeting, operations and long-term sustainability planning."

Kleiner listed the following major projects and initiatives that have been advanced within the last six months:

• 3 E. Main St. redevelopment and selection of a preferred developer for a proposed 60-unit housing project.

• Hart Plaza/Downtown Streetscape project coordination.

• Continued progress on the Safe Routes to School Trail project.

• State Street Turnback preliminary engineering in partnership with MDOT and Prein & Newhof.

• Resolution of a long-standing water tower easement issue.

• Utility infrastructure planning, including transformer ownership discussions, diesel generation upgrades and coordination with Hart Solar. Additional operational efforts included:

• Development of a formal right-of-way permit process.

• Updated purchasing, contracting and operational procedures.

• Property transactions, easements and industrial park development activities.

• Staffing, labor agreement and personnel matters across multiple departments.

• BS&A cloud conversion planning, website improvements and strengthened digital security measures.

Other actions taken within the past six months include updating water rate schedules to support future infrastructure investment, Act 425 expiration planning, HydroCorp compliance coordination, hazard mitigation planning, and continued support of TIFA, the Planning Commission, the Power Board, HEART and other boards and commissions.

“Overall, the past several months have involved infrastructure planning, redevelopment projects, operational restructuring, emergency response, and

NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING

VILLAGE OF NEW ERA OCEANA COUNTY, MICHIGAN

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: That the Village of New Era Council will meet at the Village Hall, 2589 Garfield Rd, New Era, on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. to hold a public hearing on the proposed Village budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2026June 30, 2027. The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget of this hearing. A copy of the budget will be available for public inspection by contacting the village clerk, Natalie Kelly (231)861-5988, June 8th-10th.

NOTICE OF ADOPTION VILLAGE OF ROTHBURY OCEANA COUNTY, MICHIGAN ORDINANCE

NO. 26-2

THE VILLAGE OF ROTHBURY HEREBY ORDAINS:

Title III, Chapter 30, Sections 13 of the Code of Ordinances of the Village of Rothbury, Michigan, concerning Compensation for Village President and Village Trustees, is adopted to read as follows: 30.13. Compensation for Village President and Village Trustees.

A. The President of the Village Council shall receive the sum of One Hundred Twenty-Five Dollars ($125) for each regular or special meeting of the Village Council attended by the President.

B. Village Council Trustees shall receive the sum of Seventy-Five Dollars ($75) for each regular or special meeting of the Village Council attended by the Trustee.

C. All sums payable as compensation accrued during a calendar quarter will be paid out during the final regularly scheduled staff payroll of that same quarter in which the compensation was earned. Compensation processing will be completed according to established Village staff payroll protocols and direct deposit requirements. Compensation is subject to state, federal, and Medicare tax withholding.

D. Unless otherwise permitted by Ordinance, the President and the Village Council Trustees shall not be paid for committee meetings or other outside organizations in which they represent the Village.

E. The compensation established by this Ordinance shall apply only to persons elected or appointed to the office of Village President or Village Council Trustee after this Ordinance’s date of adoption.

F. All ordinances and resolutions inconsistent with this Ordinance are hereby repealed.

This Ordinance Adopted: Adoption Date: May 19, 2026

Ayes: 6

Nays: 0

First Reading: May 19, 2026

VILLAGE OF ROTHBURY

By: Brandy Williams Clerk, Village of Rothbury

a great deal of problem-solving along the way. While there is still significant work ahead, meaningful progress has been made toward strengthening city operations and positioning the city for long-term sustainability and growth,” Kleiner concluded.

HIRING URGENTLY CRYSTAL TOWNSHIP CLERK

The Township of Crystal in Oceana County is searching for a person to fill the position of Township Clerk. They must live in the township and be a registered voter. Basic responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Payroll and Accounts Payable

• Quick Books accounting/Budget forecasting/ management

• Elections Management (includes training)

• Maintain official township records and documents

• Maintain/manage the township cemetery records

• Attend and record all township board meetings minutes

• Prepares and files monthly, quarterly, and annual tax reports, including W-2s, 1099s, etc.

• Ensures records are audit-ready and assists during audits

• Runs QuickBooks reports for township board members

Flexible hours vary from month to month and can increase during election seasons. Minimum of 4 office hours weekly, with an annual salary of $12,056. Flexibility is essential.

Those interested in serving their community should send their letter of interest/resume to: Lee Hyslop, Supervisor Crystal Township 1499 E. Hammett Hart, MI 49420

Notice of Public Hearing on Increasing Property Taxes

The City Council of the Hart City will hold a public hearing on a proposed increase of 0.3745 mills in the operating tax millage rate to be levied on property in 2026.

The hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at Hart City Hall - Council Chambers, 407 S. State Street, Hart, MI 49420.

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

If adopted, the proposed additional millage will increase operating revenues from ad valorem property taxes 2.71% over such revenues generated by levies permitted without holding a hearing. If the proposed additional millage rate is not approved the operating revenue will increase by 5.28% over the preceding year’s operating revenue.

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

This notice is published by:

407 S. State Street Hart, MI 49420 (231) 873-2488

Memorial Day 2026

WALKERVILLE • Connie VanDerZanden/Echo

WALKERVILLE • Connie VanDerZanden/Echo PENTWATER • Connie VanDerZanden/Echo HART • Connie VanDerZanden/Echo

FERRY • David Dodge/Echo SHELBY AND NEW ERA'S COMBINED OBSERVANCE • Amanda Dodge/Echo

LLL reaches milestone of 50 Oceana participants

The Leadership Learning Lab (LLL), a regional professional development program for nonprofit and community leaders, has reached a significant milestone in Oceana County: 50 local leaders have now participated in the program.

Since its launch, the LLL has steadily expanded its impact by supporting leaders from a wide range of organizations and sectors. Participants have included nonprofit executive directors, emerging leaders, and professionals from business, government, and Tribal Nations — all working to strengthen their organizations and communities. Applications are now open for the 2026–2027 Leadership Learning Lab cohort and are due by June 15.

The LLL is a year-long, cohort-based program designed to help participants build practical leadership skills while staying grounded in their day-today work. The program combines monthly in-person workshops, small group discussions, and ongoing peer support. Leaders from Oceana, Mason and Manistee counties meet locally at the Lakeshore Resource Center in Ludington, while also being part of a broader Northern Michigan network.

Rather than focusing only on traditional leadership training, the Lab emphasizes adaptive leadership — helping participants navigate complex challenges, respond to change and lead through uncertainty. Sessions explore topics such as:

• Understanding and practicing adaptive leadership

• Strengthening time management and personal effectiveness

• Building collaborative partnerships across organizations and sectors

• Approaching community challenges with shared problem-solving strategies

Participants are encouraged to bring real-world challenges from their own organizations into the learning environment. This allows them to test new approaches, reflect on their experiences, and receive feedback from peers, creating a practical and immediately applicable learning experience.

A key component of the program is the relationships it fosters. By working alongside leaders facing similar challenges, participants build trusted peer networks that often continue long after the cohort year ends. These connections help strengthen communication, coordination, and collaboration across organizations serving the region.

The LLL was developed through a partnership of 10 northern Michigan community foundations and is facilitated by Rotary Charities, with funding

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

FY2027 ANNUAL BUDGET

CITY OF HART

Hart City Council will conduct a public hearing Tuesday, June 9th at 7:30 PM during the city council meeting at, 407 State Street, Hart, MI for the proposed FY2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027) Annual Budget. A copy is available for review at City Hall 407 State Street, Hart.

support from the Frey Foundation and participating community foundations. At the Oceana Community Foundation, the LLL aligns with ongoing efforts to invest in leadership development and build capacity within local nonprofits.

Reaching 50 participants locally highlights the program’s sustained impact — not only on individual leaders, but also on the broader community through stronger organizations and deeper cross-sector relationships.

Those interested in participating are encouraged to learn more about the program and the application process. Learn more: https://www.rotarycharities.org/leadership-learning-lab or reach out to CEO Tammy Carey at 231-869-3377 or tammy@ oceanafoundation.org

OTTO • David Dodge/Echo

Hart High School

Hesperia High School

Pentwater High School

Walkerville High School

Shelby High School

Dramatic PK sends Pirates to district final

Porter hits winning shot with 14 seconds to go in thrilling semifinal match

By Andy Roberts

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

HART — A last-minute penalty kick by Rilynn Porter, off an opportunity created by Natalie Rosema, proved to be the difference for Hart Wednesday night as the Pirates escaped Montague 5-4 in the district semifinals.

With the win, the Pirates advanced to face Fremont in the district finals Friday, a rematch of a game the Packers won 4-2 earlier this season.

The Pirates were awarded two PKs in the final five minutes of the game, both of which Porter cashed in. The first time, Montague responded with an equalizer within a minute, but the second time, there wasn’t enough clock left to do so again.

Rosema created the possibility of the PK by racing downfield with the ball in

the final minute, furiously trying to get to the goal. As she approached the net and dealt with the battle with her pursuing Wildcat defender, she went down, setting up the whistle.

It was an anticlimactic ending to the game, but also a fairly fitting one, as Hart was relentless on the attack throughout the second half. If not for some remarkable saves by Wildcat keeper Sara Zorrilla, including one on a first-half penalty kick, Hart may not have needed to sweat so hard for the win.

“I think we created a lot more offensively,” Hart coach Joe Gilbert said. “We just couldn’t capitalize all the time, and credit to their keeper. She had an outstanding game and made some huge saves on very close shots and chances.”

It was Montague who had an early 2-0 lead before Hart got on the board late in the first half. Rilynn Porter took a free kick and sent a perfect ball to Zoily Sarabia, who one-touched it in for the goal.

Sarabia was the assister on the game-tying goal early in the second half, as her

• Andy Roberts/Echo

long shot rebounded right to Rosema for a score. Addison Barefoot then delivered on a well-executed corner kick to put the Pirates on top with 20:30 to play. The Pirates, noting they were able to create some offensive opportunities late in the half, went to a 3-5-2 formation, which it played much of last season, and produced even more attacking chances after the break.

“Get Rilynn outside to be

District thriller

continued on page 14

Titan Carter, Alex Scott earn state bids

Carter ties for regional medalist honors; Scott hits clutch shots to advance

By Andy Roberts

The

Oceana Echo Community Contributor

Shelby junior Titan Carter earned his second straight bid to the state finals Tuesday at the Division 3 regional tournament, played at The Falls Golf Course in Barber Creek.

Shelby placed sixth as a team with a score of 357, 22 strokes behind the Mustangs for the final team qualifying spot. It was the best finish by any of the six West Michigan Conference schools in the tournament.

Carter was one of four players who tied for medalist honors at the regional, shooting a six-over par 78. Carter joined Calvin Christian’s Will Orme and North Muskegon’s

•

Luke Jones as individual qualifiers with that score, while the fourth, NorthPointe Christian’s Cameron McDonald, qualified with his Mustangs team.

Carter got out to a terrific start Tuesday, sitting at even par through 10 holes thanks in part to his eagle on the par-5 17th hole, his second hole of the tournament, and a birdie on the course’s fifth hole. He then hit a speed bump, scoring bogey and triple bogey

on the next two holes.

“He was missing the greens and told me he ‘wasn’t feeling it,’”

Shelby coach Fred Inglis said of Carter. “But I knew he was motivated to return to the state finals, and if one part of his game was in trouble, he’d find a way to compensate. That way was his putter. First (he) made a 12-foot putt for a bogey, then sank an eight-foot putt for par, and finished with a sixfoot par putt to clinch that state finals appear-

•

ance.

“As he walked off the final (green) he smiled, ‘I have to make it hard for myself, don’t I?’”

Inglis said Carter earned his state spot through all the “hard work” he puts in both in and out of season.

“I know his passion and his willingness to put in the hours and hard work,” Inglis said. “If he struggles with

one part of his game, he’ll spend extra time to find a way to correct it. He’s on a path to a championship that he and his family mapped out for a long time.”

Freshman Ivan Carter was second in scoring for Shelby with an 86, and Rafael Davis shot a 90. Davis made three birdies in his round, while Ivan played consistently,

making nine pars and four bogeys.

Also for Shelby, Andrew Arquette closed the scoring with a 103, and Ryan Schouten scored a 122.

“All five of these players are eligible to return next year with greater experience and expectations,” Inglis

Shelby’s Titan Carter (center) celebrates being one of three individual qualifiers at Tuesday’s regional meet in Kent City. Carter joined individual qualifiers Will Orme of Calvin Christian (left) and Luke Jones of North Muskegon.

Fred Inglis/Courtesy Photo

Hesperia’s Alex Scott (center) celebrates qualifying for the state meet at Tuesday’s Division 4 regional meet in Thompsonville. With Scott are Hesperia coaches Mark Arbogast (left) and Shane Kammer.

Photo Courtesy of Hesperia Golf

Hart’s Natalie Rosema fires in a rebound shot past diving Montague keeper Sara Zorrilla during Wednesday’s district semifinal game at Hart. Rosema’s goal tied it early in the second half of the Pirates’ 5-4 victory.

Hart’s Rilynn Porter (with ball) keeps her eyes up the field while maneuvering the ball through traffic during Wednesday’s district semifinal against Montague. Porter scored 2 late penalty kicks to help the Pirates advance, 5-4. • Andy Roberts/Echo

Pirate bats stifled by Montague in district

By Andy Roberts

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

MONTAGUE — Hart ended its season at Montague in the first round of districts Tuesday, dropping a 10-0 decision to the Wildcats.

Hart had a tough draw in the first round, facing a team that tied for the West Michigan Conference Lakes title and is a top-20 ranked Division 3 team. The Wildcats played like it, hitting the ball hard throughout the five-inning game and preventing the Pirates from getting any hits.

“They’re a great team we played,” Hart coach Kyle Weiler said. “They obviously showed it with how well they played, defensively and swinging the bat. There wasn’t an answer for us. Obviously, we’d have liked to put the ball in play a little bit more. I brought a couple of freshmen up to come play to get that (experience). That was a win for the day, was watching our freshmen playing.”

The Pirates did get five runners on base during the game on three hit batters and two walks, but two of them were erased on double plays. Their best scoring chance came in the fifth and final inning, when they got two on base (one hit batter, one walk), but Montague pitcher Eli Pen-

Hart’s Mason Guikema winds up to make a pitch during Tuesday’s pre-district game at Montague. • Andy Roberts/Echo

dell got all three outs by strikeout.

Montague wasted little time grabbing an early lead, putting the first three runners on base and getting them all in with productive outs and consecutive RBI hits. Hart trailed 4-0 before it was able to get comfortable in the game.

Pirates’ pitcher Mason Guikema consistently threw the ball in the strike zone, but the Wildcats have an excellent and deep lineup and made life difficult for Hart. If there was a silver lining, it’s that the Pirates played well defensively, making only one error.

“At the beginning of the year, we had error after error,” Weiler said. “I think we learned through that.

District thriller

a little more creative,” Gilbert said of the switch. “We thought we could get a few more chances from her down the wing.”

It appeared Hart would keep piling on, but Montague showed gumption and scored on a free kick. Porter’s first PK goal with 4:53 to go made it 4-3, but was answered by another Wildcat tally less than a minute later.

Amidst the whiplash of each team’s scoring, Sarabia went down with a rolled ankle and had to be helped from the field. Her status is uncertain for Friday’s final, though Gilbert said he was counting on “the magical powers of whatever” to help her heal quickly.

In her stead, Nevaeh Reyna provided a boost on offense and helped cover for the physical toll the game took on Hart stars Porter and Barefoot.

Below

They put the ball in play. We didn’t create that many errors...With the balls in the outfield, we made the plays. They’re just smacking the ball around. Defensively, we played well.”

Weiler said Guikema’s emergence as the team’s de facto ace was one of the positive developments of the season. A junior and first-year varsity player, Guikema is slated to be back next season.

“When you’re going against a good hitting team, you’re trying to work around the zone,” Weiler said. “You’re not just trying to throw dead-center fastballs. He’s trying to work around the zone, which is great.

continued from page 13

“Nevaeh coming in to create that and give us some pressure up there, something to threaten them, was huge,” Gilbert said.

While Fremont got the better of Hart earlier this season, the Pirates hope to recreate what happened in 2025, when they won the matchup by a 3-1 margin.

“It’s tough to beat a team twice. We found that out today,” Hart coach Joe Gilbert said, referring to the Pirates’ 3-2 regular season win over Montague. “I think Fremont’s going to have to be just as ready for us as we’re going to have to be ready for them.”

“We’re looking back at the game last year and how we were able to cause them problems, and so we’re getting something ready as best we can. It’s going to be a battle.”

• Andy Roberts/Echo

Golf success

said.

Hart also competed at regionals and finished in 17th place as a team with a score of 428. Wyatt Johnson led the Pirates in scoring with a 93. Logan Dean shot a 105, Colton Samuels had a 112, and Braydan Baron and Joel Knobel tied for the fourth scoring spot with a 118.

Hesperia’s Scott reaches state Hesperia senior Alex Scott extended his high school career another week by earning a state qualifica-

continued from page 13

tion at Tuesday’s Division 4 regional tournament in Thompsonville.

Scott shot an 84 to place seventh overall and grab one of the three individual qualifying spots.

The senior Panther bounced back from a triple bogey on his first hole and played consistent golf after that. After two bogeys on his next two holes, Scott made six consecutive pars. He closed the round with three pars in his final five holes to secure his spot at state.

“A few times throughout the day he had to battle back into the qual-

The strike-ball ratio, he was great.

“He was playing JV last year, so to come up playing varsity this year, and he ended up becoming the number one towards the end of the season, it really shows that he belongs here.”

The future, Weiler said, looks bright in Hart. Most of the team is slated to return, and there is some talent coming up through the JV and youth ranks.

“I’m excited for next year,” Weiler said. “We’ve got a lot of youth coming up. A lot of numbers. I’m looking forward to the progression of what Hart baseball’s going to do.”

ifying spot and we were wondering if he would make it, but he finished out the round with three pars and solidified his shot to the state finals,”

Hesperia coach Mark Arbogast said.

“We are super excited for Alex and couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Pentwater approached the regionals cautiously due to the heavily wooded course. Early on, those efforts paid off, and the Falcons were battling for a team qualifying spot. However, some struggles late in the round led to the team finishing fourth with a solid score of 366 - seven shots out of team qualification.

Gavin Macher led the Falcons with an 86, missing state by two strokes. He opened his round with five pars in the first eight holes before

running into some tough holes later in the round.

Bode Powell added a 90 for the Falcons, closing his round with a chip-in birdie. Brody Austin added a 92 and Izzabella Kolenda closed team scoring with a 98. Aiden Henry posted a 126.

“We are so proud of our finish today,” Pentwater coach Alicia Kolenda said. “Even if we didn’t make it (to state), we played an amazing season.”

Hesperia placed 11th at regionals as a team. Behind Scott’s team-leading 84, Logan Kammer shot a 93 and Taylor Ackerberg had a 108. Tim Hoaglin shot a 129, and Evan Conkle posted a 133.

Hart’s Hollis Rockwell (left) stretches to pick a throw for an out at first base as Montague’s Levi Auger tries to beat the throw. The Pirates fell to the Wildcats, 10-0. • Andy Roberts/Echo

Above right, Hart’s Natalie Rosema winds up to take a shot as Hallie VanTuyl (12) and Callie Peterson defend for Montague during Wednesday’s district semifinal in Hart. Below left, the Pirates’ Rilynn Porter holds possession while Zaniya Meza defends for Montague.

right, Rosema and Zoily Sarabia celebrate after Rosema’s second-half goal tied the score at 2. The Pirates won, 5-4.

Hart athletes rack up PRs at Distance Night Under the Lights in Grand Rapids

By Andy Roberts

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

Many Hart athletes participated at Saturday’s Distance Night Under the Lights at Houseman Field in Grand Rapids, with most of them setting personal best times.

Natalie Rosema earned the highest finish for the Pirates, taking 14th in the 1,600-meter run with a personal best time of 5:17.8. Three Hart teammates raced and all set PRs as well: Martina Saenz was 70th (5:48.97), Emma Miller

was 72nd (5:49.6) and Luisa VanderZwaag was 80th (5:54.4).

Hart boys competed in three different races. Silas Ackley led the way, coming in 38th out of 183 finishers in the 3,200-meter run with a personal best time of 9:54.6. Soon after him

were Carson Ackley in 69th (10:16.0), Julian Lopez in 80th (a personal best 10:24.2) and Donald Budrew in 148th (11:30.8).

In the 1,600, Mason Opalewski took 51st and had a personal best time (4:34.7), edging teammate Trevor

Carter 3-peats as WMC Rivers medalist

By Andy Roberts

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

Shelby golfer Titan Carter locked up his third consecutive medalist honor in the West Michigan Conference Rivers at Thursday’s North Muskegon jamboree, but the Norsemen bested the Tigers for the team title.

The Tigers entered the final jamboree with a three-stroke lead over the Norsemen in the league standings, but North Muskegon outscored Shelby 161-175 to finish the season 11 strokes up. Ravenna actually took first Thursday, with North Muskegon second and Shelby third.

Carter posted an even-par 35 to earn his medalist award. He made two birdies during the round and ended the league season having taken first place in all seven jamborees.

Ivan Carter was second in scoring for Shelby Thursday, shooting a 44. He made a birdie during his round. Andrew Arquette notched a 47 for the Tigers, and Ryan Schouten had a 49.

Shelby’s “Three Amigos” - the Carter brothers and Rafael Davis - all secured all-WMC Rivers first team honors for the season.

Also Thursday, Hart finished

fifth with a team score of 184, and Hesperia was sixth with a 190. Hunter Loudermilk shot a 43, good for a ninth-place tie, and made a birdie. Logan Dean posted a 44, Joel Knobel had a 46, and Wyatt Johnson shot a 51.

For Hesperia, Alex Scott had a 43 to also place in a tie for ninth. Logan Kammer had a 47 and Taylor Ackerberg and Evan Conkle each shot a 50.

Vander Kodde, who set his own PR and placed 55th (4:35.3).

Grant Ackley was 96th (4:42.1), Silas Ackley was 120th (4:48.2), Lopez was 164th (4:53.7) and Budrew was 189th (4:58.6); all but Budrew set PRs in that race.

Vander Kodde led

the team in the 800 with a 55th-place finish and a personal best time of 2:02.8. Jack Slotman was 59th (2:03.4) and Opalewski was 75th (a personal best 2:05.3). Grant Ackley finished 120th (2:08.99) and Budrew set a PR and took 139th (2:11.2).

Falcons come up big late, earn 1st win of season in districts

By Andy Roberts

Oceana Echo Community Contributor

A late offensive explosion earned Pentwater a pre-district victory over Baldwin Tuesday, 13-7, the team’s first win of the season.

The Falcons advanced to the main bracket and a semifinal game against Mason County Eastern in Custer at 10 a.m. Friday.

Trailing 7-6 after Baldwin jumped ahead in the top of the fifth inning, the Falcons struck back by drawing four walks to tie the score. Kyle Oomen then put Pentwater ahead for good with a run-scoring groundout, and Abram Kieda followed with a two-run single. Michael Smith added a RBI single, and the Falcons got another run when Baldwin dropped a third strike, allowing Smith to score.

Kieda and Ben Wisenbaugh each got two hits and drove in two runs, and Ben Roberson also drove in two runs. Oliver Nugent and Oomen each drew two walks.

Kieda pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief to get the win, allowing only one hit and striking out three.

Shelby golfers, from left, Titan Carter, Ivan Carter and Rafael Davis each scored WMC Rivers all-conference honors for the 2025 season at Thursday’s final jamboree. Titan Carter won his 3rd straight medalist award.

• Courtesy Photo

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Vikings' Class of 2026 become alumni

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — Whitehall's Class of 2026 celebrated its graduation last Thursday at the Viking Athletic Center, and as is tradition, the Vikings' senior class officers each delivered brief remarks, though not before school principal Brett Westerlund jokingly congratulated the class on one of its most notable accomplishments - bringing back the hacky sack, a school fad in the 1990s that is now back. (And sure enough, following the ceremony, a small circle formed on the VAC floor and an impromptu game broke out.)

Maybe the most energetic among the four was class president Lorelai Page, the last of the four speakers, who encouraged her classmates to pursue their dreams no matter how they turn out. As an example, she used her childhood mission to get her parents to buy her a pet hamster, which even included a presentation about why she should receive one. Eventually, she got her hamster - and it lasted only half a year before passing away.

Not the happy ending she hoped for, perhaps, though Page said it's an example of a dream that changed direction. As she put it, changing direction, or coming up with a new dream, doesn't necessarily mean failure.

As an example of a slightly more successful dream, Page invoked recording artist Taylor Swift, whom Page said succeeded not because her work was perfect, but because it was honest.

"If your dream isn't something that

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

scares you, you probably aren't dreaming big enough," Page said. "Don't stop searching until you find the thing that gives you a spark, and then give it your all."

Other officers to speak were secretary Izzy Gould, treasurer Payton Hams and vice-president Blake Dennis.

Gould shared a story about doing puzzles at Christmas each year with her grandfather and being impatient to reach this day. She said now that it's here, the question is whether the class is truly ready - and if they're not, it's alright. Some in the VAC know exactly what their next step is, and some have no idea. "The truth is, both are OK," she said.

Hams made note of how young people are often focused on the next milestone ahead and urged her classmates to be present in each moment, saying, "The days you're given are precious... Life doesn't wait. It just keeps going."

Dennis said graduation day is intimidating because it marks the first time for him and his classmates that their future is truly in their hands. However, as it's almost a given that each of them will change their minds about their life and fail at some point, there's nothing to fear.

"This is not the end of our story; it's only the end of one chapter," Dennis said.

These thoughts were echoed by superintendent CJ Van Wieren, who assured the class that a meaningful and successful life doesn't originate on only one path. Like Hams, Van Wieren encouraged the class to be present.

"Put the phone down once in a while," Van Wieren said. "Never lose the value of genuine connection."

The Whitehall band and choir per-

•

formed senior song selections, "As Summer Was Just Beginning" and "Even Amid the Darkest Storm" respectively. Then, all 145 Whitehall seniors received their diplomas.

Paying tribute to fallen heroes

Park

the

area's

Monday morning. Representatives of the Whitehall

and White Lake VFW

Members of both the

including a

marched from their posts to

Members of both the Whitehall and Montague high school bands (left) performed, including a rendition of Taps. Above, a veteran (center) salutes the flag during the ceremony. • Claire Marshall/Mirror Photos

Whitehall students throw their mortarboards into the air to celebrate graduating from the school at the end of last Thursday's graduation ceremony.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall superintendent CJ Van Wieren (right) congratulates a Viking graduate as she receives her diploma last Thursday.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall senior class president Lorelai Page addresses the student body during last Thursday's graduation. School board treasurer Chris Mahoney and superintendent CJ Van Wieren look on.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Covell Park was the site of the White Lake area's traditional Memorial Day commemoration Monday morning. Representatives of the Whitehall American Legion (below left) and White Lake VFW (below right) marched from their posts to the park. Members of both the Whitehall and Montague high school bands (left) performed, including a rendition of Taps. Above, a veteran (center) salutes the flag during the ceremony. • Claire Marshall/Mirror Photos

Whitehall students throw their mortarboards into the air to celebrate graduating from the school at the end of last Thursday's graduation ceremony.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall superintendent CJ Van Wieren (right) congratulates a Viking graduate as she receives her diploma last Thursday.

Whitehall senior class president Lorelai Page addresses the student body during last Thursday's graduation. School board treasurer Chris Mahoney and superintendent CJ Van Wieren look on.

Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall and Montague high school bands (left) performed,

rendition of Taps. Above, a veteran (center) salutes the flag during the ceremony.

Claire Marshall/Mirror Photos

Whitehall students throw their mortarboards into the air to celebrate graduating from the school at the end of last Thursday's graduation ceremony.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall superintendent CJ Van Wieren (right) congratulates a Viking graduate as she receives her diploma last Thursday.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Whitehall senior class president Lorelai Page addresses the student body during last Thursday's graduation. School board treasurer Chris Mahoney and superintendent CJ Van Wieren look on.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Covell

was the site of

White Lake

traditional Memorial Day commemoration

American Legion (below left)

(below right)

the park.

Montague council approves purchase of vacant lots

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — The Montague City Council approved a city purchase of two currently vacant lots on Water Street for $29,000 from Barrett Holdings LLC at its regular meeting Monday, May 18.

The vote was 5-1, with Paul Schultz dissenting. Bob Hires was granted an excused absence.

City Manager Jeff Auch says the city intends to redevelop and resell the lots that can be redeveloped, though Schultz noted that one of the lots cannot be redeveloped due to a high groundwater table that precludes building on it. The money for the sale will come out of the city's general fund, and the proceeds from reselling any of the lots will return to that fund.

The purchased lots are just down the street from WinBerg Construction, a dirt road separating them from WinBerg. The purchase is related to the planned 2027 road work that the state Department of Transportation will be doing on Water Street. Auch said MDOT is considering a new back street that could serve buildings that would be placed on the lots, with new entrances and exits to and from Water.

While the city is not, Auch said, prohibited from profiting off the resale of those lots once that occurs, the likely outcome would be the city seeking only to make enough money to cover the interest it could have made had it invested

the money used to purchase the lots.

The council also approved the renaming of the currently unoccupied road at the Montague Industrial Park as Gillan Street, in honor of the Gillan family, particularly former Montague mayor Dr. B. Wayne Gillan and H. William Gillan, a longtime firefighter who began the White Lake Area Sportfishing Association's annual fish boil. The street will soon be in use by industrial park businesses. The council approved this by a 5-1 vote, with Lisa Kiel dissenting; Kiel had previously indicated a desire to not name the street after a person.

During the city manager's report, Auch wryly shared a new update on the "dreaded Maple Grove beach project." The project received two different permit approvals from the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and from the Army Corps of Engineers. EGLE has agreed to tweak their approval to match the Army Corps', but doing so will lead to another delay in the project. Once hoped to be complete this summer, it's likely that due to having to go through the bidding process and other relevant steps, work will not begin until next summer.

"We're still plugging away at it," Auch said.

During the work session that followed the council meeting, the council discussed an environmental analysis for the currently vacant property on Dowling Street that is between the for-

•

mer Rant Insurance Group and the barber shop. Auch said the city had looked at potentially buying the property last year for redevelopment when it was listed for sale. However, there are concerns regarding work that may be necessary to remove fuel storage tanks that may be underground (the property once contained a gas station).

Auch said Westshore Engineering couldn't confirm whether fuel tanks are under the ground, but if they are, it would cost between $30,000-$40,000 per tank to remove them, in addition to other work that, for liability reasons, would be necessary to clean up the property regardless of whether there are tanks present.

The council questioned Auch on what the advantage would be to the city to own the property given the amount

of work necessary, and Schultz was skeptical the city should "take on the responsibility" of cleaning up the property when that should fall on the current owner. He also asked if there is grant funding from the state available to help with the cleanup; Auch replied there is, if tanks are there and they are found to be leaking. Council member Ken Mahoney expressed concerns about soil contamination on the site.

Auch noted that there's a chance, if the property changes hands, that the city campground entrance could move to that property, and also referred to the as-yet-unscheduled bridge work that MDOT will have to do to the causeway bridge over the next several years. The work, he said, could result in elevation changes that would change the makeup of that corridor.

Whitehall council approves city budget for new year

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

The Whitehall City Council approved the 2026-27 budget for the city by a 6-0 vote at its regular meeting Tuesday, and council member Scott Brown recanted a previous objection to expanding the Playhouse Managing Director position to a broader Parks and Recreation Director role.

Mayor Tom Ziemer, as he previously informed the council would be the case, was not on hand for the meeting, and in his absence Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Holmstrom ran the meeting.

Brown originally lodged his objection to the Playhouse director position

change during the May 12 budget work session, but said after some communication with City Manager Dan Tavernier in the interim, he had reconsidered, saying he wanted to support Tavernier and the way he wants to run the city.

The budget, as discussed during the work session, calls for the city to levy 14 mills for general operating costs and an additional three mills for road improvements. No public comments were received during the public hearing that preceded approval.

Tavernier reported that the in-progress West Colby Promenade was the subject of a meeting of city officials Tuesday, and the latest word is that the structure

of the promenade will be complete by the Fourth of July weekend. Some items, such as the lighting and shade sail, may not be in place by then as they are dependent on supply chain issues.

Tavernier also reported that each city park's parking lot will be resurfaced within the next month, as discussed at meetings earlier this year.

The council granted a 6-0 approval to a request from Colby's Hokey Pokey to close the alley between its store and the Gil-Roy Hardware Store June 13-14 in order to host its annual "Find the Unexpected in the Alley Sale." The council also approved 6-0 to add 16 delinquent city accounts for utility bills and the like

to the tax rolls for those properties, as permitted by city ordinance. None of the accounts exceeded $272 and all but three were under $100. City Clerk Brenda Bourdon said the number and total of the accounts was "pretty standard."

White Lake Community Library board member Norm Kittleson presented the library's annual report, saying the library is in good financial health and has a strong fund balance. The library acted as fiduciary for an $830,000 grant awarded to White Lake Area Community Education for out-of-school child care programming, and also received a $10,000 grant to increase accessibility at the library.

Whitehall Twp. to add code enforcement officer

Will contract with Muskegon Twp. officer in effort to limit complaints

By Claire Marshall White Lake Mirror Writer

WHITEHALL — Whitehall Township decided to move forward with a different approach to code enforcement at its regular meeting Tuesday following years of measures deemed to be ineffective.

Following discussions with Fruitland Township and City of Whitehall officials, Supervisor Dennis Kroll was directed to contract Muskegon Township’s code enforcement officer and adopt a proactive approach, not waiting for residents to submit complaints, but going out into the community to find them.

With a new contract, however, comes a cost increase, about $150 extra a month, coming out to $6,000 per year. Kroll believes that, with a decreased need for attorney involvement and associated fees, the increase will be insignificant or eventually even out.

Kroll urged the rest of the board to try out the new system for the year, expressing that he “would like for us to go forward and do this and see if we can’t get

some better results. I’m getting really burned out with the complaints from the township…If you don’t get on top of [blight], after a while, it drags down your community value-wise.”

The board unanimously approved the contract with Muskegon County with hopes for better results moving forward.

Whitehall Township also saw personnel changes and a planning commission appointment. Administrative Assistant Mandie Lee is moving to Fruitport Township, taking on a new position that Kroll explained will be “a great adjustment and advancement for her.” In Lee’s place, Tina Jackson will be taking on the role. Jackson has been under township employment for a number of years, according to Kroll. “She’s been learning the ropes and we welcome her and wish her the best.”

For over a year, the township’s planning commission board has had an ongoing open seat, with Kroll spending the past 18 months searching for a suitable resident for the position. “It’s very hard to find people to serve on a planning commission that can stand up and take a new Walmart moving in or something like that…I’ve been looking for somebody very strong.”

The commission is, likewise, in need of someone to

help take on the task of upgrading, redoing, and modernizing the township’s master plan.

Following personal research and conferring with attorneys, it was discovered that the planning commission is allowed one member from a neighboring township or municipality, leading to the recruitment of Brian Mulnix for the job. Mulnix was formerly chair of the planning commission, prior to moving out of Whitehall Township, and he has been working with the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission for 28 years, currently serving as program manager. With his experience in the field, Mulnix is willing to take the position and his appointment was accepted unanimously.

Whitehall Township also passed Resolution 26-12 acknowledging the suspension of the township’s pension plan, made effective May 20. The suspension has no effect on existing accrued funds.

A special meeting is scheduled for June 9, for the purpose of a public hearing for the planned Hickory Place development. In attendance will be the interested developers, as well as county consultants well versed in developing brownfields and tax increment financing to assist the education of township officials.

This image shows the two vacant Water St. lots (green squares on left) that the Montague City Council approved the city to purchase for potential redevelopment at its meeting Monday, May 18. The lots are separated from WinBerg Construction by a small dirt road.

Courtesy Image

Saturday, May 30

Montague Farmer's Market is open, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

White Lake Area Climate Action Council hosts electronics recycling event @ Montague Farmer's Market, 2-4 p.m. All batteries and portable electronics accepted. Suggested donation - $2 for 10 items, $5 for 10+.

Merchant and Miller perform @ White Lake Eagles, 6 p.m.

Medicine Men perform @ Red Rooster Tavern, 8 p.m.

Sunday, May 31

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

White Lake Ukulele Club meets @ Book Nook & Java Shop, 1 p.m.

Community Calendar

Monday, June 1

White Lake Community Library welcomes knitters and crocheters for a weekly gathering, 3 p.m. Knitters and crocheters are invited to bring whatever they're working on to this casual meetup, a great way to connect with others, share ideas, and enjoy good company.

Fetch Brewing Running Group meets at 6 p.m. All are welcome to participate at their own pace and distance. Strollers also welcome.

FAN Club @ Fetch Brewing, 7 p.m. Free music performances in the parking lot.

Tuesday, June 2

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

ABCs of Cooking @ White Lake Community Library, 11 a.m. Families with kids ages 3-5 welcome to this program which includes free books and cooking supplies. Registration required @ wlclib.org.

Wednesday, June 3

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

The Oat Bran Boys perform @ North Grove Brewers, 7 p.m.

Thursday, June 4

Dino Dance Party @ MADL Montague, 11 a.m. Designed especially for ages 2–5, this dino-themed dance party invites little ones to stomp, roar, and boogie. Enjoy a dinosaur-inspired playlist, interactive games, a

dino craft. Registration required @ madl.org.

Adult Open Studio @ ACWL-Nuveen Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring studio materials from home or explore available supplies in the classroom.

Friday, June 5

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

The Bootstrap Boys perform @ North Grove Brewers, 7 p.m.

The Jess and Mike Duo performs @ Red Rooster Tavern, 8 p.m.

Echoes of History: The mysterious tower (Part 2)

By Tom Eitniear Volunteer Contributor

Part 1 of this story ran in the May 22 edition of the Mirror.

George Dowling was not prone to divulging the intentions he had for the park, therefore many people had to speculate what his ultimate goal was for the property.

Many believed that he was eventually going to gift the park to the city for all to use. Ironically, many people were already using the park for their pleasure, and this frustrated George to the point that he placed a sign at the entrance that read “Stay out of these grounds.” George had lost patience with people pulling up his stakes, and generally interfering with this work of beautifying the place.

(Whitehall Forum May 15, 1890)

The tower was placed at a spot on the property that provided a view down the length of Buttermilk Creek, past the Franklin House, all the way to the former Ferry Dowling & Co. sawmill.

It is unknown if the tower became functional as designed since George Dowling died March 30, 1896. The grounds suffered from neglect until the property was sold in 1906 to H. C. Leichsenring who hailed from Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Leichsenring and his family actually resided in the tower until construction of their house was completed. They had been summer residents since 1903. The tower eventually succumbed to the effects of time, weather and environment and was torn down.

Herman Carl Leichsenring was born

in Dresden, Germany Jan. 8 , 1865. He came to Chicago in 1887. He married Minna Lietritz Aug. 1, 1887 in Chicago. They had four daughters: Johanna (1890-1975); Ann (1894-1985); Elizabeth (1895-1982); and Gertrude (1900-1991)

He and several others organized the Art Marble Company of which he was General Manager and Director for 30 years. He retired in 1920. After a couple of years of peace and quiet he returned to an active business life and became President of the Mid-City Marble Company.

Herman died at Hackley Hospital in Muskegon Nov. 15, 1926. His wife died at daughter Gertrude’s home in Montague March 7, 1952. They are both buried in Oak Grove Cemetery along with two of their daughters.

Painting program for cognitively challenged at library June 10

The White Lake Community Library will host a program Wednesday, June 10 that will allow individuals with cognition challenges like Alzheimer's disease or dementia to experiment with self-expression through painting. No experience is necessary and the program is free to participants, as well as

partners and caregivers. Registration is required at wlclib.org.

Participants will discuss a theme, and photos will be provided for inspiration. Upon the paintings' completion, artists will be asked to describe their artwork and responses will be written down. The emphasis is on having fun.

Nancy Armitage will be facilitating. Nancy was the Memories in the Making Coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association of southeastern Wisconsin for nine years. Since moving to Whitehall six years ago, her passion for the arts and dementia inspired her to start a chapter of SPARK!, a program for those

with memory loss and their care partner (www.sparkprograms.org) at the Muskegon Art Museum, and was instrumental in the establishment of the first Memory Cafe in Muskegon.

The library entrance is getting a makeover

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

As you may have noticed already, the library’s front entrance is temporarily closed while a new canopy is built over the front doors. The construction is expected to take about two weeks, during which time visitors will need to enter through the meeting room door to the left of the main entrance.

We apologize for the various inconveniences, but we are confident you will like the new covered entrance. It will reduce ice build-up at the doors, prevent ice and snow from falling off the tower and onto visitors, and look really sharp, besides!

The outdoor book return is also closed at this time, but if you need to return books without leaving your vehicle, feel free to call the front desk - we are all happy for an excuse to step outside these days! While we can’t accept book returns after hours, we also don’t charge overdue fines anymore. Feel free to hang onto your items until the book drop is open again.

Check Out a Summer Season Playhouse Ticket at the Library!

Thanks to a partnership with The Playhouse at White Lake, the library has five free passes to each of seven productions at the Playhouse this summer. Each pass consists of two tickets to a specific performance. We are so pleased to be able to offer this no-charge opportunity to attend outstanding plays right here in Whitehall. A huge thank-you to Beth Beaman and The Playhouse at White Lake for partnering with us to expand access to arts and culture for the entire White Lake Area!

All you need to take advantage of this great program is a valid library card from the White Lake Community Library or Muskegon Area District Library. Each library cardholder is limited to one pass (two tickets) for the summer season. The passes

are available on a first-come, firstserved basis and must be picked up in person at the White Lake library. A list of available passes and the dates and times of the performances will be posted on the library website very soon. In the meantime, visit theplayhouseatwhitelake.org to see what shows are planned for the summer season.

FUN FACT: One of the plays in this summer’s Playhouse lineup is written and directed by Whitehall’s very own Beth Beaman, the Playhouse Director! HERSTory of Animation: A Musical Celebration is an original play being produced in conjunction with the Muskegon Museum of Art’s HerStory of Animation exhibit, which runs June 6 to Sept. 27.

Borrow a Battery Powered Weed Trimmer

Thanks to a generous donation by the White Lake Area Climate Action Council, the library now has a battery-powered weed trimmer in its Library of Things! It is available for checkout by cardholders age 18 and up, giving community members the chance to explore the benefits of a

clean, quiet lawncare tool at no cost. The trimmer is a part of WLACAC's initiative to encourage residents to replace their gas-powered yard tools with electric. The group’s hope is that having an electric tool people can try before they buy will demonstrate that e-yard tools are quieter, cleaner and just as effective as fossil fuel-burning options. The library’s hope is that it will be as useful to the community as all the other household tools, yard games, and musical instruments in our growing Library of Things collection.

DeMumbrum

The tower, circa 1900. • Courtesy Photo

Lake Mirror Lake Mirror

NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE community Wildcats in peak form in pre-district win

Team throws 5-inning combined no-hitter to beat Hart, advances to battle with old nemesis N. Muskegon in semis

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — Montague entered the district tournament in peak form, and the Wildcats showed Tuesday they're ready to compete for a mitten-shaped trophy, blanking Hart 10-0 in the first round of the tournament.

The Wildcat pitchers threw their third no-hitter in the past four games. Cole Herremans threw the first two innings, and Eli Pendell handled the last three. Herremans struck out three and Pendell fanned four.

"I think that we do a great job at switching up velocities and just switching up pitches and making sure we're not doing anything too perfectly," Herremans said. "We're not doing any rocket science or anything with our pitching."

The Montague bats helped keep things simple for Wildcat pitchers, too, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. The first three Wildcats to bat reached base, and after a pair of productive outs each drove in a run, Eli Petersen lined a RBI single to left field, followed

by Herremans' line drive single to score Petersen.

A quick start was important for Montague; coach Jeff Moss was on staff in 2022 when an underdog Hesperia team came in and pushed the Wildcats to their limit in a 1-0 district semifinal win. He didn't want to see history repeat itself, so much so that he briefly considered going against his usual instinct and choosing to be the road team when his team won the pregame coin toss.

"Maybe we want to hit first and see if we can put some pressure on them," Moss said of his thought process. "But when I win the flip, I've always gone home team, so I didn't want to break that. I'm kind of superstitious. We put the runs on them right away, and we felt comfortable, and that's exactly what we wanted to do."

Hart got its leadoff batter on via a hit-by-pitch in the second inning, but an interference call was made at second base when Levi Auger attempted to turn a double play on a ground ball, awarding the Wildcats the second out on the way to another scoreless inning. Montague then loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame, and Dylan Bailey ripped a two-run single to make it 6-0. Chase Kurtzhal followed with his own RBI single.

Montague continued adding runs in the fourth inning as Herremans had a two-run single. Karter Johnson delivered a run-scoring double to put the mercy rule into play, and Pendell took care of business in the top of the fifth to end the game.

Montague's fielders were equally as impressive as its

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

pitching and hitting, as the team played errorless defense in the field. The fourth inning saw Petersen make two nice plays at third base and Johnson add one at shortstop.

"That's been a thorn in our side all year," Moss said of defense. "We've been hitting a lot of ground balls to the middle infield and the left side, try-

Late heartbreak ends Montague's district run

dramatic game that featured wild momentum swings and intense effort by each side, similar to a one-goal win by Hart in the teams' regular season matchup.

By Andy Roberts

Lake Mirror Editor

HART — After nearly 80 minutes of fierce, competitive soccer in Wednesday's district semifinal, Hart's last-minute penalty kick enabled it to escape Montague 5-4 in a game neither team was ever able to fully control.

Rilynn Porter of Hart scored the winning goal, her second penalty kick in the final five minutes of the game, after the Wildcats were whistled for a foul in the box with 14 seconds to play while battling to keep Hart speedster Natalie Rosema from getting to the net. It was the third time Hart was awarded a PK in the game due to a foul in the box; keeper Sara Zorrilla made a dramatic save of an attempt in the first half.

"I don't know that I've ever coached a game where there's been three PKs for the same team in any individual game," Montague coach Chris Aebig said. It was an anticlimactic ending to a

Montague seized the early lead when Ellee Smith retrieved a wayward pass and made a nifty move to score, and Marguerite O'Connell added a rebound goal with 13:18 to go before halftime to put the Wildcats in strong position, up 2-0. Hart got on the board a couple minutes later to keep the game close.

In the second half, Hart turned up the heat on offense, creating chance after chance. The Pirates tied the score with 29 minutes to go on a Rosema rebound shot and went ahead with 20:30 left on a corner kick.

Amidst the whiplash of the two teams' scoring, Zorrilla made several remarkable saves to keep the Wildcats in it as Hart continued to push. One of three foreign exchange students from Spain on the team (Carolina Gava-Alvarez and Colette Rohrig-Moreau were the others), Zorrilla said she hadn't played soccer prior to coming to Montague, but she looked the part of a veteran all sea-

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

son.

"I got the chance to improve and learn how to be a goalie, because I didn't try soccer before," Zorrilla said. "I had a lot of fun with my team, and I think it's a very strong team."

Senior Elle Moran said the defensive unit worked hard to try to counter Hart's attacks in the second half.

"We definitely had to adjust to their setup, their speed, and a lot of their technical skills," Moran said. "I think we realized in the second half that we needed

At left, Montague's Fletcher Thommen is hit by a pitch during Tuesday's pre-district game against Hart. At right, Montague's Cole Herremans delivers a pitch. Herremans and teammate Eli Pendell combined on a no-hitter in the Wildcats' 10-0 win. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

White

Montague's Levi Auger (left) winds up to throw to first base as Hart's Mason Guikema approaches second during Tuesday's game. Guikema was called for interference on the play, completing a double play.

Hart converts PK with 14 seconds left to knock out 'Cats

Montague's Elle Moran applies defensive pressure to Hart's Rilynn Porter during Wednesday's district semifinal game at Hart. The Wildcats lost a thriller, 5-4, after a penalty kick in the final minute.

Rockets earn area's best regional golf finish, placing 7th

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

Reeths-Puffer was unable to qualify anyone to the state meet at Tuesday's Division 1 regional tournament in Traverse City, but the Rockets had one of their best team days of the season, taking seventh place with a season-best score of 324.

“The team really had a good day," R-P coach Matt Pallett said. "We scored our best round as a team today on a very difficult course. I am proud of the way that we ended our season."

Jordan Benkert delivered his best round of the year for the Rockets, leading the team in scoring with a 78 - 15th place overall and only three strokes out of an individual qualifying spot. Benkert made two birdies during his round.

Kristian Brown closed out an impressive Rockets' career with a 79, including three birdies, two of

wich came consecutively on the course's second and third holes.

Beckitt Johnson also shot a 79, his career-best score, and made a birdie during his round. Ian Vokal closed the scoring with an 88, including a birdie of his own. Beckett Mathes shot a 96 in his final high school round.

"I am appreciative of all of my seniors," Pallett said, noting Carter Hekkema joins Mathes and Brown as graduates this year. "They are a lot of fun to be around and will truly be missed."

Flanagan leads 'Cats to 8th-place

finish

Montague ended its season Tuesday at the Division 3 regional meet in Kent City, placing eighth with a team score of 369.

Michael Flanagan had another strong day for the Wildcats to cap off an impressive freshman season, shooting an 83. He finished five strokes out of an individual state

Soccer district

to communicate and stay pressed back a little bit more."

Montague wasn't done, and would fire in two tying goals in the second half to keep alive hopes of overtime. Ava Crow deposited a free kick from just outside the box directly into the net to tie it 3-3 with 16:33 to go, and less than a minute after the first of Porter's two goals via penalty kick, Zaniya Meza fired a shot that skittered under the Hart keeper and in to tie it again with 3:57 to go.

Fellow senior Lilly Rice didn't find the net herself in her final game, but noted the team philosophy of getting shots off was embodied in Crow's and Meza's scores, neither of which were rockets but were well-placed and found their way to where they needed to go.

"That's one of our big things, is 'shoot all day,'" Rice said. "You're going to miss every shot you don't take, so that's definitely something we've worked on this season."

The relentless effort displayed in scoring two second-half equalizers underscored the resilience that Aebig has spoken of before regarding his Wildcats.

R-P's

Sports in Brief Baseball

Kenowa Hills 9 Reeths-Puffer 2

qualifying spot and tied for 11th place overall.

Flanagan only had one hole on which he shot worse than a bogey, and he made a birdie on the course's ninth hole.

Ethan Balon shot a 92 and also made a birdie during his round, and Jonah Henderson shot a 94. Tanner DeVries closed Montague scoring with a 100, and David Gowin shot a 107.

Vikings finish 16th at regionals

Whitehall ended its season at Tuesday's Division 2 regional meet in Big Rapids, placing 16th with a team score of 361.

Jones McDowell topped the Viking scorers, shooting an 84. Gabe Gilbert was close behind with an 87, making a birdie during his round. Finn Novy had a 93 and Rylan Johnson had a 97 to close out the team scoring, and William Burger shot a 100.

continued from page 4

"It's a tough one to take, but again, this is just a mere game," Aebig said. "At the end of the day, the people that these guys are are so much more important than the result of any game.

"I just told the team down there, life is about the journey, not the outcome, and we will definitely remember that we have one of the most special teams that I've ever been a part of right here on this field."

Montague's Hallie VanTuyl stays close to Hart's Zoily Sarabia during Wednesday's game.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

Jaxon Lee got the Rockets' only hit, and Brayden Meuwenberg drew 2 walks. Hank Mitchelson threw 2 shutout innings.

Sparta 4-9 Whitehall 1-6

The Vikings had a chance to win both games; game one went to extra innings and Whitehall led late in game two. Emmett Hecht got 2 hits in the opener, and Noah Peterson struck out 5 in 6 no-hit innings. Peterson got a hit and drew a walk in game two, as did Cody Manzo. Hamilton 4-3 Whitehall 3-1

The Vikings pitched well but came up short in both games. Brayden Kelley pitched 2 shutout innings in game one, and Cody Manzo got 2 hits. In game two, Ethan Deshong drove in Whitehall's lone run. Emmett Hecht allowed 1 hit and no earned runs in 3 innings.

Reeths-Puffer 18 Muskegon 0 R-P rolled in its district opener and allowed only one baserunner in 3 innings. Brendan Guikema had 3 hits and 3 RBI, and Jaxon Lee and Ethan Frang got 2 hits each. Tyler Sykes, Jack Yonkman and Guikema each struck out 3 in an inning of work. Montague 11 Reeths-Puffer

Girls Soccer

Fremont 8 Whitehall 0

The Vikings fell to Fremont in the district semifinals, ending their season. Reeths-Puffer 3 Ludington 2

Jaslynn Kops broke the Rockets' single-season scoring record with her 23rd goal of the season to help R-P reach the district finals. Abby Hill and Ashlyn David also scored in the win.

Boys Golf

Reeths-Puffer 5th at O-K Green finals

R-P's Kristian Brown finished 9th overall and shot an 81, with 3 birdies. He secured honorable mention all-conference with his efforts. Jordan Benkert added an 84 and made a birdie.

Jazwinski sets personal best at Distance Night The Whitehall star ran a 3,200-meter time of 9:07.2, his best career performance in that event, to get the win. Reeths-Puffer's Jersi Bilek finished 10th in the girls' 800-meter race, and Nolan Kessler led Montague with a 53rd-place finish in the boys' 1,600.

Spring Lake tops Vikings

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — Whitehall lost a doubleheader to Spring Lake Tuesday to cap its regular season, with the Lakers taking games 14-1 and 11-3.

The Vikes got four hits in game one, and Kayden Johnson drove in Whitehall's only run.

In game two, the teams battled back and forth for three innings to a 3-3 tie before the Lakers broke it open with five runs in the fourth. Johnson got two more hits, and Lillian Nicholson drove in two runs.

Moore to receive MASHF Student-Athlete award

Whitehall coaches to be inducted as part of Zeerip wrestling family

Next Saturday's Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony will feature some local flavor, as Reeths-Puffer's Marvin Moore has been named the organization's male Student-Athlete award winner for 2026, and Whitehall wrestling coaches Justin and Collin Zeerip will be part of the entire Zeerip westling family being inducted into the Hall.

The induction ceremony will take place at the Fricano's Event Center in Muskegon Saturday, June 6.

Moore was one of three White Lake area athletes to be finalists for the award, as Whitehall's Corde Anderson and Montague's Fletcher Thommen were also in the finalist pool of five athletes.

Moore starred for the Rockets in basketball and track this year and also previously played football. He is ranked in the top 10 all time in scoring at R-P in basketball and is taking aim at the 400-meter school record in his final high school track meet Saturday.

The two Zeerips, meanwhile, will be inducted alongside dad Craig and brother Brandon. Craig, who was also inducted into the Michigan Wrestling Association Hall of Fame last fall, was a star wrestler at Fremont and competed at Ohio State. He later coached at Hesperia, where all three of his sons starred; Justin went 260-0 in high school and holds state records for wins and pins, and Collin and Brandon also rank in the top 10 all time in wins in Michigan. The three combined to win nine individual state titles, and each (Justin on the 2006 cross-country team and Brandon and Collin on the 2008 wrestling team) also contributed to a team title.

Track

Whitehall's Peyton Schultz fouls off a pitch during Tuesday's doubleheader against Spring Lake. The Vikings lost both games. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Reeths-Puffer's Marvin Moore tries to get to the ball during a game against Mona Shores this season. Moore was named the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame's male student-athlete of the year for 2026. • Andy Roberts/Mirror File

Montague's Emily Earnest zeroes in on the ball as Hart's Rilynn Porter looks on during Wednesday's district game at Hart. The Wildcats lost, 5-4.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

The comfort of kindness - and of soup

By Margaret Heaton Volunteer Contributor

Happy May…or perhaps by the time you read this, happy end of May.

Do you remember the old game show “Press Your Luck”? I used to watch it in the afternoons before the kids came home from school. I can still hear the contestants chanting, “No whammies, no whammies!” Funny how little phrases and jingles stay tucked away in our minds for years.

Things like “Where’s the beef?” or “My bologna has a first name…” I bet some of you just finished the song in your head without even trying.

When I mentioned this to my husband, he immediately remembered the Campbell Soup kids commercials. Isn’t it funny how those old memories can make us smile decades later?

Maybe I’m feeling nostalgic because life has reminded us lately how quickly things can change.

My husband recently had heart valve surgery, and we’re thankful the procedure went well. Not long afterward, though, he faced a serious in-

fection that landed him back in the hospital. It was a frightening few days for our family, but God carried us through it, and we are deeply grateful to say he is now home recovering and getting stronger each day.

One thing this season has reminded me of is how important it is to pay attention to our health and not ignore those little warning signs we sometimes brush aside. But even more than that, it has reminded me how much kindness matters.

During these past few weeks, friends and family have stepped in with prayers, phone calls, and meals. One sweet friend brought over a warm pot of Italian Wedding Soup, and I don’t think I can properly describe how comforting it felt after long hospital days and appointments.

The soup was hearty and

WLASA's free kids fishing contest June 6

The White Lake Area Sportfishing Association will host its annual free kids fishing contest Saturday, June 6 at Goodrich Park.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. and lasts until 10; participants may fish as soon as they are registered. Limited fishing equipment is available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 7, and live bait will also be provided.

Weigh-ins will begin at 10 a.m. and go until noon; all participants are required to be in line with their catch by noon to be eligible to win age-group prizes. Only one fish will be weighed per participant.

Prizes for placing in the top 10 will be awarded to three age groups for both girls and boys - age 3-6, 7-10 and 11-16. A lunch will also be provided, and each entrant will receive a goodie bag.

Participants may fish anywhere on shore from White Lake Drive to the White River Fishing Bridge, except for on marina docks.

The WLASA said about 175 children participated in the contest last year and it expects a bigger crowd this year.

flavorful, filled with little sausage crumbles, pasta, and vegetables — the kind of meal that tastes like home and care wrapped together in one bowl. I teased my friend Lisa, who brought us the soup, that I knew exactly where she must have found the Italian sausage because it tasted so familiar to me. It was from Montague Foods, right here in Montague. It’s the only place I buy my sausage for this particular soup. Some local favorites just have a way of standing out.

So this month, I thought I’d share a recipe for Italian Wedding Soup with all of you. Maybe you’ll make a pot for your own family, or perhaps for someone who needs a little encouragement. Sometimes the greatest ministry is simply showing up with a warm meal and reminding someone they are not alone.

Quick Weeknight Italian Wedding Soup

Ingredients

1 pound Italian sausage

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 carrots, sliced thin

2 celery stalks, sliced

8 cups chicken broth

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 cup small pasta (acini di pepe, ditalini, or small shells)

4 cups fresh spinach, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Directions

In a large soup pot, brown the sausage until lightly cooked. Remove and set aside.

In the same pot, cook onion, carrots, and celery until softened, about five minutes. Add garlic and cook another minute.

Pour in chicken broth and Italian seasoning. Bring to a gentle boil.

Add pasta and cook according to package directions.

Return sausage to the soup and simmer until fully cooked through.

Cats advance

ing to brush that up. It actually showed tonight. Karter Johnson was solid at shortstop and made some plays deep in the hole there...We're hopefully getting ready at the right time here."

Another reason it would be the right time for Montague is its district semifinal matchup against North Muskegon Saturday. The two teams have consistently played exciting district games against one another in recent years, and Saturday's could potentially follow that pattern. Both teams were co-champions of their respective divisions in the West Michigan Conference.

"These kids, the seniors, have seen that team and people on that team for three years, so we're comfortable with them," Moss said. "We've just got to do the small things right, play a clean baseball game, pitch well. They're probably throwing (Logan) Slimko or (Kylan) Nielsen, and either one's good. If it's Slimko, we've got to try to steal a couple runs and protect it. If we can do that, I feel very confident of moving on, but they're a tough team to beat."

A bowl of Italian Wedding soup was just what the author needed while dealing with family health issues this month.

• Courtesy Photo

Stir in spinach during the last few minutes until wilted. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve with Parmesan cheese and warm bread. Here’s an interesting fact I found when doing a search on where the name of this particular soup came from. I found that in many Italian homes, the “wedding” in Italian Wedding Soup refers not to marriage, but to the “marriage” of greens, broth, meat, and pasta coming together in harmony. It was often made slowly on Sundays while families gathered around the kitchen table.

Petersen, Herremans and Johnson each had two hits to lead the Wildcats, and Herremans and Bailey each drove in three runs.

Rothbury appoints Cano to council seat

By Claire Marshall White Lake Mirror Writer

ROTHBURY — The Rothbury Village Council voted to appoint Juan Cano, a planning commissioner in the village, to a vacant trustee seat at its regular meeting Tuesday.

Mike Harris vacated his trustee seat to become interim president after the abrupt retirement of Vern Talmadge following April's council meeting. Cano was chosen among two candidates who voiced interest in the seat.

The vote to approve Cano was 4-2; Maryanne Canales, a longtime village resident, also expressed interest in the seat.

Cano, who was appointed to the planning commission last August, expressed his passion for “keeping Rothbury a strong, welcoming and supportive place for residents and families” and would be “grateful for the opportunity to serve and represent the best interests of our village" in a letter of interest. He added his enjoyment of the tight-knit community of Rothbury in the short time since he moved to the village.

Canales cited her experience serving on various nonprofit boards, especially on the Economic and Social Opportunity Commission under former Michigan governor James Blanchard, as assets to her candidacy. She said she

was in favor of hosting more events to bring visitors to the village and continue building the relationship with the Electric Forest music festival.

Some council members stated a preference to table the issue until the June meeting, but after Trustee Denise Kurdziel noted that the current composition of the council is only set through November and the earlier the chosen candidate gets started, the better, the vote took place.

The candidates were also reminded that, if they wished to continue their service on the council, they’d need to submit a petition for the November election. The trustee seat would also only be a partial, two-year term

through 2028. The council encouraged both Cano and Canales to run in the November election if interested in serving.

The council also unanimously approved a new pay scale for trustees and village president, with the village president earning $125 per regular or special meeting attended, and trustees earning $75, all paid quarterly. The village also continues their search for a zoning administrator. Harris currently serves in the role, but cannot continue due to conflict of interest as village president, as discussed at the May 6 special meeting.

Montague's Cole Moss connects with a pitch during Tuesday's pre-district game against Hart. The Wildcats won, 10-0. • Andy Roberts/Mirror

Recent local police activity

Behind

the

Badge

Whitehall Police Report

May 21

At approximately 10:42 a.m., officers were called to the 400 block of S Mears Ave. on a larceny complaint. Officers made contact with a resident from the care home, who indicated that

the previous night someone had stolen two $20 bills out of his pocket. While speaking to the reporting party, he was asked if the bills might be in the wallet that he had on his person. It turned out the money was in his wallet. The resident apologized for the mishap.

At approximately 11:58 p.m., officers were called to the 300 block of Iowa St. Contact was made with the reporting party, who had been woken up by a loud noise and thought someone was trying to break in. Officers checked the interior of the reporting party's home and eventually found a filing cabinet in another room that had fallen over.

May 22

At 10:42 a.m., officers received a 911 hang-up call that the Muskegon County Dispatch indicated had come from

the 3000 block of Alice St. Initial reports were of a male voice in the background. After several repeated calls to the involved number, officers made contact with the caller, who indicated he and his brother had been golfing at Hickory Knoll Golf Course when he put his iPhone into his golf bag, which inadvertently activated an emergency call feature. The reporting parties were fine, and they thanked the officers for checking on them.

At approximately 1:45 p.m., officers were contacted by Muskegon County Dispatch regarding a male subject falling near the Funnell Field tennis courts. Upon arrival at the scene, officers located the involved parties. The male subject who had fallen had a small laceration to his head, but his bleeding was under control. The sub-

ject appeared to be intoxicated and had tripped and fallen. The subject refused medical assistance and was with friends at the time, so was released into his friends' care.

May 23

At 12:02 p.m., officers were called to assist the Muskegon County Sheriff's Office on a vehicle crash involving an ebike in the 2900 block of W White Lake Dr. The incident involved a 13-year-old subject who had been operating an ebike and appeared to have a broken wrist from the crash. Officers on scene noted that the bike appeared to have made a wide right turn and been struck by an eastbound vehicle. The 13-year-old was in stable condition but was transported from the scene by ambulance.

This week's DNR fishing report

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

Did you catch a Master Angler fish? The Master Angler program includes more than 45 species for which you can compete for honors. The Master Angler Patch is awarded to all entries meeting the established minimum length for each species. Visit Michigan.gov/MasterAngler to apply.

Grand Haven - Decent numbers of Chinook salmon were caught 40 to 120 feet down in 100 to 200 feet of water. Orange and green spoons worked well higher in the water column. Meat rigs and flasher-fly combinations did very well in deeper waters. Pier anglers targeting steelhead and chinook salmon found the action to be slow.

Muskegon - Boat anglers reported good num-

Motown Magic comes to Playhouse

The Playhouse at White Lake will host a Magic of Motown event Friday, June 5, with doors opening at 7 p.m. for the 7:30 show. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online, at the Playhouse or at Whitehall City Hall.

The show features over two hours of classic hits from Motown legends, including The Temptations, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder, accompanied by choreography and costumes.

NHD to receive Pizza Hut donations

The Whitehall Pizza Hut will donate 10% of its sales Monday, June 1 to the Whitehall High School National History Day team, the White Lake Area Historical Society said this week.

The NHD donation will help defray the cost of sending the team's national qualifiers to the University of Maryland for the competition, slated to take place June 14-18. Tips will also be donated to NHD.

Those wishing to deliver good luck wishes to the team in person can do so between 4-7 p.m., when team members will be serving diners themselves.

Feet on the Street June 7 to welcome summer in White Lake

The White Lake area's annual Feet on the Street celebration is set for Sunday, June 7 from 3-7 p.m. Summer is here, and the area will celebrate with a free community event featuring live music, food trucks, and interactive activities from local businesses and organizations.

Designed as a casual, open-housestyle event, Feet on the Street invites attendees to stop by for a little while, or stay all afternoon and enjoy everything downtown has to offer. Whether you

come for the music, the food, the family-friendly activities, or simply to reconnect with the community, you’re sure to leave with a little more summer spirit in your step.

For the full lineup of food trucks, musicians, and activities, visit the event page on Facebook, go to www. whitelake.org, or contact the White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau at 231893-4585 or info@whitelake.org.

bers of Chinook salmon along with a few steelhead and lake trout. Successful depths were 40 to 120 feet down in 90 to 180 feet of water. A mix of spoons, meat rigs, and flasher/flies all worked well. No pier reports.

Ludington - Chinook salmon were caught at Big Sable point in 100 to 200 feet of water while fishing 40 to 90 feet down and south in 50 to 60 feet of water. There were no reports from the piers.

Whitehall's Milliron receives MEA EPIC award

Whitehall teacher Brian Milliron received an Exceptional Person in Community Schools award from the Michigan Education Association May 6.

The MEA's Shoreline Educational Coordinating Council hosts its EPIC awards each year to honor deserving area educators and support staff in schools.

Milliron teaches government, economics and history as well as coaching varsity girls basketball and quiz bowl. This week, his honors U.S. history class was able to take a field trip to the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids.

"When not teaching or coaching, he's out supporting our youth and all of their endeavors," Whitehall District Schools said of Milliron in a Facebook post.

Milliron

Students in Brian Milliron's honors U.S. history class took a field trip to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids Tuesday to learn about the only president Michigan has produced to date. • Courtesy Photo

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