Volume 1, Issue 3 JUNE 16, 2023
A “spear-ited” showing!
Veterans, at left, march down State Street at the start of the Joan Glover Royale Parade as part of the 50th National Asparagus Festival. Police, fire and emergency personnel, above, also joined in the parade, with Sheriff Craig Mast passing out candy to the children there. Emma Woller, the 2023 Asparagus Queen, waves to the crowd along with First Runnerup Chelsi Walicki, below left. More than a dozen past Mrs. Asparagus winners and Asparagus Queens, below, turned out for the parade. They were driven by Carl Wiegand. More photos from the parade can be seen on page 11. • David Dodge/Echo
Wesco wins zoning approval, $1 million renovation planned By Nathan Kroon
PERMIT NO 62
PRE-SORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE
RESIDENTIAL POSTAL CUSTOMER PAID ECRWSS BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307
mission for Wesco Inc. to proceed with renovaThe Oceana Echo Volunteer Correspondent tion plans for an expansion of the store located At its Monday, June at 241 N. State Street. 12 meeting, the Shelby Wesco Co-President JJ Village Council gave per- Westgate attended to answer questions. Drawings and proposals had been submitted to the village around May 12 and were reviewed by Village Administrator Brady Selner. Wesco No. 53 is now free to undergo a renovation estimated to cost
$1 million. An extension of the northeast wall by 13 feet and the northwest wall by 16 feet will make room for new hot food and refrigerated drink displays, a public restroom and an additional entrance. Bruce Veinnstra of Holland Engineering described the changes that would take place. The changes are designed to improve both safety and crowding in the building. A block-
house on the north end of the property will be demolished to add parking, screened by a privacy fence. Members of the public were permitted three minutes each for questions and comments. A letter from Shelby resident H.H. Shaw was read, voicing concerns over traffic flow and parking at the station. Administrator Selner vouched that the requirements for a zoning variance were met by the proposal submitted by Wesco and engineering representatives. Councilors voted on the issue six times; each vote confirmed that one of the six standards for a variance had been met. Before Westgate left, he discussed the possibility of employing local contractors to complete The Shelby Village Council approved a zoning variance the project. Contractors for a planned explansion at the Wesco in Shelby at its are invited to watch for June 12 meeting. • Nathan Kroon/Echo bids posted online. “We
A $1 million renovation at the Wesco No. 53 in Shelby will be able to proceed. • Nathan Kroon/Echo look forward to reinvesting in the community. This has been on our radar for quite some time. We are excited to grow with Shelby and Oceana County,” he said. Meeting minutes are available from village staff upon request. Gene LaDoux and Ada Rogers, who are both employed at the Wesco in Shelby, reacted upon hearing the news that their workplace was
soon to be reconstructed. LaDoux was invited to mark the occasion with a comment. “I would like to thank the community for all their support for our little gas station these many years. Being a new employee, the store and staff have really stepped up and supported me in learning this job,” Assistant Manager Tami Johnsen summarized the situation succinctly with a single word, “Yay!”