Volume 1, Issue 45 APRIL 5, 2024
Easter Egg Hunts across Oceana County
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Silver Lake, Hart and Mears at the fairgrounds • Paul Erickson/Echo
Trinity Lutheran Church in New Era
Hart Rotary Club President Austin Garcia, above left, and Walt Urick, above right, recently presented Pete LundBorg with a plaque honoring him as the 2023 Citizen of the Year. • Contributed photo
LundBorg named Hart Rotary Citizen of the Year
• Contributed Photos
Walkerville at the Village Park
Peter LundBorg was recently named Citizen of the Year for 2023 by the Hart Rotary Club. Since his retirement from the DNR, Pete has tirelessly worked as a volunteer to better our community. He serves on the Oceana County Parks and Recreation Commission and on the Pentwater Artisan Learning Center Board. Pete designed and built the Cedar Park stairway to the beach, built bookcases for the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society, volunteers as an usher for the Performing Arts Series and helps service clubs with highway trash pickup projects. Pete and his wife, Joan, reside in Pentwater, where he is the handyman for his extended neighborhood, repairing items that need to be fixed. He continually exemplifies the Rotary motto: “Service above Self.”
• Amanda Dodge/Echo
Shelby-Benona Fire Department battles • Contributed Photo blaze in Benona that injured one of its own Tool donation honors In the morning, just by-Benona Fire Depart- ity Health Lakeshore will come to your home PERMIT NO 62
PRE-SORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE
RESIDENTIAL POSTAL CUSTOMER PAID ECRWSS BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307
before 7:30 a.m. Friday, ment, along with mutual March 29, the Shel- aid departments, were dispatched to a residential structure fire in Benona Township. Upon arrival, the first arriving crews found a two-story home with smoke and flames coming through the roof. Following a 360-degree size-up of the scene, crews made an interior offensive attack on the fire, knocking it down and stopping any further spread into the residence. Crews remained on scene, doing overhauls and searching for hot spots. During the incident, a Shelby-Benona Fire Department firefighter had to be evaluated and later transported by LIFE EMS to Trin-
Hospital in Shelby with n o n - l i f e - t h re at e n i ng injuries. That firefighter has since been discharged from the hospital and cleared to return to duty. This fire marks the department’s second fire in district, in as many months at a residence that did not have properly placed and working smoke detectors in the home. Though all residents and animals were able to self-evacuate from the structure this time, that is not always the case. The department wants to remind everyone that, if they or someone they know needs smoke detectors, reach out to them or any local fire department. They
and install the detectors completely free of charge. The department was assisted on scene by the Hart Area Fire Department, Grant Township Fire Department, Ferry Township Fire Department, LIFE EMS and the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office while on scene. Also helping during the incident were Mason-Oceana 9-1-1, Great Lakes Energy, Oceana County Victim Services and the Grant Township Rehab Trailer. For any fire safety questions or concerns, please contact the Shelby-Benona Fire Department via phone, email or Facebook. In the event of an emergency, always call 9-1-1.
John Wade’s 50-year legacy
Last November, the Shelby-Benona Fire Department lost one of its legacy members, John F. Wade. John was a member of the department for 50 years; it was ingrained in who he was until the day he passed and now beyond. On Monday, March 18, prior to their monthly training meeting, ranking members met with John’s widow, Marcella, and their family as the department took ownership of and would later that night place into service a new set of battery powered Milwaukee Tools. These tools were purchased with the funds graciously donated in John’s honor at his funeral. These tools will replace some outdated and broken equipment, along with adding some specialty tools to the department’s arsenal. None of this would have been possible without the dedication and commitment that John made to this community and this department. Nor would it have been possible without the outreaching support of this community toward John and the Shelby-Benona Fire Department. The department would also like to thank Rivers Ace Shelby for aiding in the purchase and ordering of these tools.