Volume 1, Issue 50 MAY 10, 2024
YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE
Golden Township treasurer elected 2024 president of Michigan Townships Association Golden Township (Oceana Co.) Treasurer Connie Cargill has been elected president of the Michigan Townships Association (MTA). Serving more than 99 percent of Michigan’s 1,240 townships—which includes more than 6,500 elected leaders plus tens of thousands of additional township-appointed officials, staff and volunteers—MTA is the largest municipal association in the state and one of the largest in the nation. Cargill was elected Association president by her township peers at MTA’s 2024 Annual Educational Conference & Expo, April 22-25 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme Township. Cargill has served as township treasurer since 1995. She was first elected to the MTA Board of Directors in 2012, serving as director of MTA District 11—which
Connie Cargill encompasses Lake, Mason and Oceana Counties—until her presidency. “Just as I am honored to serve Golden Township, I am honored to serve as 2024 president of this great association,” Cargill said. “As
MTA president, I will work to help share the importance and value of township government in our state, and to continue to fight for local control and townships’ ability to serve our residents in a way that best fits what they want and need. Every township is unique, and yet we are all united in our dedication to our communities and residents.” Cargill previously served as township deputy treasurer and is retired from the Oceana County Drain Office. She is currently a member of the Oceana County Land Bank Authority Board and treasurer of the Oceana County MTA Chapter. Cargill also serves on the Silver Lake and Lake Holiday Improvement Boards and as a board member of the Oceana Agricultural Society.
Suspicious death in Mears under investigation
PERMIT NO 62
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RESIDENTIAL POSTAL CUSTOMER PAID ECRWSS BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307
The Oceana County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of 33-year-old Juan Carlos Lozano of New Era. On May 1, 2024, at approximately 9 p.m., Mason-Oceana 911 received a call for help. The scene where Lozano was found is located in the 5800 block of West Taylor Road in Mears. The death is being considered suspicious at this time and is still under investigation. The Michigan State Police mobile crime lab has been called to assist with the scene investigation. The MSP-Hart Post, Hart Area Fire Department, Shelby Fire Department,
Life EMS and the sheriff’s office Victim Services Unit also responded to the scene. “We owe it to the family and all those that have been affected by this to do our due diligence and make sure we are using everything we have available to do this investigation properly and fully too,” Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast explained. “With that being said, we are continuing to investigate
this situation around the clock. We have investigators assigned to do nothing but follow up on this situation. We are following up with interviews, following leads and even checking rumors for bits of truth or fact. Detectives are serving search warrants for digital and physical evidence of any nature as we speak. “We have not yet gotten the final opinion from the medical examiner as for the manner of
death, but hope to have that information soon.” Lozano was a 2009 graduate of Shelby High School, a 2015 graduate of Baker College and was currently teaching math at Godfrey-Lee Public Schools in Wyoming, Mich. A beloved educator and tireless volunteer, he was named Teacher of the Week by WZZM13 in September 2023 and Student Teacher of the Year in 2015.
Se investiga una muerte sospechosa en Mears La Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Oceana está investigando la muerte de Juan Carlos Lozano de 33 años de edad, de New Era. El 1 de mayo de 2024, aproximadamente a las 9 p.m., el 911 de Mason-Oceana recibió una llamada de auxilio. La escena donde Lozano fue encontrado se encuentra en la cuadra 5800 de West Taylor Road en Mears. La muerte se considera sospechosa en este momento y todavía está bajo investigación. El laboratorio móvil de la Policía Estatal de Michigan ha sido llamado para ayudar con la investigación de la escena. El MSP-Hart Post, el Departamento de Bomberos de Hart Area, el Departamento de Bomberos de Shelby, Life EMS y la Unidad de Servicios a las Víctimas de la oficina del sheriff también respondieron a la escena. “Se lo debemos a la familia y a todos los que se han visto afectados por esto para hacer nuestra debida diligencia y asegurarnos de que estamos utilizando todo lo que tenemos disponible para hacer esta investigación correctamente
y plenamente también”, explicó el sheriff del condado de Oceana Craig Mast. “Dicho esto, seguimos investigando esta situación las veinticuatro horas del día. Tenemos investigadores asignados a hacer nada más que el seguimiento de esta situación. Estamos haciendo un seguimiento con entrevistas, siguiendo pistas e incluso comprobando rumores para ver si hay algo de verdad o de hecho. Los detectives están entregando órdenes de búsqueda de pruebas digitales y físicas de cualquier naturaleza mientras hablamos. “Todavía no tenemos el dictamen final del médico forense sobre la forma de la muerte, pero esperamos tener esa información pronto”. Lozano se graduó en 2009 en Shelby High School, se graduó en 2015 en Baker College y actualmente enseñaba matemáticas en Godfrey-Lee Public Schools en Wyoming, Michigan. Un educador querido y voluntario incansable, fue nombrado Maestro de la Semana por WZZM13 en septiembre de 2023 y Estudiante Maestro del Año en 2015.
• Stacia Erickson/Echo
Ty Schlukebir wins Ride with Pride grand prize car By Stacia Erickson The Oceana Echo Community Contributor The 2024 Ride with Pride Program finale in Hart was a huge success on Monday, despite everyone missing the presence of their “fearless leader” and program originator, Principal Troy Moran. The 46-year-old principal died unexpectedly a week ago. The program this year included much more than just prize giveaways; it also served as a tribute to the crowd’s fallen Hero. Four students read heartfelt essays summarizing their thoughts about Moran. Lexie Nienhuis called him “an incredible leader who only wanted the best for us and left behind a legacy. He just wanted to make the world a better place.” Eleventh grade student Eman Hertzler said Moran was “impactful” and taught him he should “lead by example, no matter your age.“ Senior Ally Sorensen said Moran won her over after initially being unsure about him. She went on to say he taught her to “live every day as if it’s your last, not selfishly, but with enough love to heal hearts.” And sophomore Addison Schiller remembered Moran as having infectious joy and teaching everyone his philosophy of “don’t wait, tomorrow isn’t promised.” Bret Ramseyer’s American Literature students alternated between reading stanzas of his original poem, “Don’t Wait,” which they dedicated to Moran. Interim Hart High School Principal Ken Byard addressed the crowd, saying it was an honor to be interim principal for his absent friend of 25 years. Byard told the crowd he’d give it “his all for the next five weeks,” and for everyone to remember, “at the end of the day, it’s okay not to be okay.” After the remembrances honoring Moran, the grand prize drawing took place for 10 lucky lottery finalists. Of those, was eleventh grade student Ty Schlukebir, who won the 2017 Ford Fusion. Ty said he was very happy to win the fully loaded black car and was very much “looking forward to driving it!” Rilynn Porter was the second-biggest prize winner of the day with a large-screen Roku television. Additional donations poured in after Moran’s sudden death, all earmarked in his honor. The Montague Police Department topped that list with a substantial amount of monetary and material goods! A lengthy list of varying local businesses and individuals was added to an already nice list of local donations, and altogether, it provided a large array of prizes from which students whose names were drawn could make their choice. Hart Police Detective Kevin Skipski was on hand behind three tables full of prizes. Skipski was instrumental in the program, helping Moran procure the grand prize vehicle. Skipski said Moran had grown to be a good friend, and he will always miss him and the presence he had become in the Hart school system.