INSIDE
: Playhouse committee has first meeting Volume 2, Issue 39 FEBRUARY 21, 2025
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Pentwater Village discusses wastewater treatment plant By AnnaMae Bush The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent
1st PLACE TEAM: HART MIDDLE SCHOOL 2nd PLACE TEAM: SHELBY MIDDLE SCHOOL Pictured above, from left, Coach Jamie Pictured above, from left, Noah Dodge, Kistler, Ashton Maynard, Isabella Hallack, Brixtyn Friedman, Raya Clark and Weston Clark and Robbie Buchanan. Brycen Brown.
Hart’s Robbie Buchanan (in blue) in head-to-head competition with Ludington’s Kasen Carlson. Buchanan took first, Carlson took second.
Shelby’s Ivy Chatfield, above left, earned fifth place in the Individual Round, and Brycen Brown tied for first place.
Oceana schools dominate 40th annual WSESD MathCounts By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent
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Nearly 200 students, representing 14 middle schools from Oceana, Mason, Lake and Manistee counties, participated in the West Shore ESD’s 40th annual MathCounts competition at West Shore Community College, Wednesday, Feb. 5. Congratulations to
the Hart Middle School team of Robbie Buchanan, Isabella Hallack, Ashton Maynard, and Weston Clark who took first place in the “Team Competition” and the Shelby Middle School team of Brycen Brown, Raya Clark, Noah Dodge and Brixtyn Friedman who took second! In the “Individual Round,” Shelby Middle School’s Brycen Brown tied for first place with Ethan Bogner from OJ DeJonge Middle School
and Alton Cook of Manistee Middle School. Hart’s Robbie Buchanan out-figured four other students in the final head-to-head “Countdown Round” to secure the overall MathCounts “Individual Championship!” The Hart team is coached by Jamie Kistler, and the Shelby team is coached by Andrea Glamzi. Well done, mathematicians! Keep up the excellent work!
The Pentwater Village Council held its regular monthly meeting Monday evening, Feb. 10 at the Pentwater Village Community Hall. All members were present with President Mary Marshall presiding. Approximately two dozen interested residents were also in the audience to observe the proceedings. Council thanked Police Chief Laude Hartrum for the first-ever annual report. Monthly reports are the norm, but the council appreciated the overview of 2024 that Hartrum’s report afforded. Dave Bluhm called attention to a few items in the Service Committee report. He suggested the need for a liaison to the Protect Pentwater Channel Citizen Committee because it looks like we will not be getting any ACE funding for dredging this year and we will need to raise $100,000 in private funding for the work that needs to be done in the channel for boating safety. A motion was passed with one dissenting vote to draw up a license agreement to allow Spinnaker Condos continued use of 32.75 sq. ft. on 4th Street and 8 sq. ft. on 3rd Street in the Village Right of Way as they have been doing for 40 years unknowingly. The matter came to light when the need arose to repair storm water drainage pipes in 4th street from Hancock to the water’s edge. Council approved the appointment of Joe Roberson to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Debby Duvall and Dan Hoekstra as ZBA Alternates. Permits for the Chamber of Commerce were approved for two 2025 fireworks displays, and a Special Event Permit was granted for Brews and Beats for an alcohol permit, with two dissenting votes. Council gratefully accepted an offer from the Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club to pur-
chase and install the clock originally designed for the Village Hall tower at a cost of $10,000. The longest discussion by far was related to the cost of operating the wastewater treatment plant. Three years ago, the DNR informed the village administration that the treatment plant was out of compliance and instructed them to hire a licensed full-time plant manager to get it into compliance. A contract was signed with an outside licensed service provider for 20 hours a week with an understanding that extra hours would be paid at a higher rate. The administration hoped this would be a temporary arrangement until the village could provide the services needed inhouse. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Twenty hours were insufficient. The regular testing required was sent to outside labs which also raised the cost significantly. The operating cost ballooned over $200,000. Currently the water treatment fund has the only negative balance in the budget. To keep the operation in compliance, Village Manager Rachel Witherspoon has asked Council to consider a year-long fulltime (40 hours of service a week) contract with a professional, licensed wastewater treatment company for $170,000. The company would help the village set up its own lab for conducting as much testing as possible which would save a significant portion of the operating cost. A company representative was at the meeting to answer questions. Council members asked for a more detailed breakdown of the costs involved. Witherspoon will provide the information for further discussion prior to the meeting at which the budget will be voted on to facilitate including a firm figure for this project. Witherspoon also reported that the village office vacant position will hopefully be filled March 3.
Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association announces exciting 2025 calendar of events The Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association (SPLKA) has announced its 2025 calendar of events, inviting lighthouse enthusiasts, families, and all visitors to explore and celebrate the rich maritime history of Lake Michigan. SPLKA operates four iconic lighthouses—Big Sable Point Lighthouse, Ludington North Breakwater Light, Little Sable Point Lighthouse, and White River Light Station and Museum—each offering a unique and enriching experience. The season kicks off in May with the opening of the lighthouses: • May 20 – Little Sable Point Lighthouse Opening Day • May 21 – Ludington North Breakwater Light Opening Day • May 22 – White River Light Station and Museum Opening Day • July 1 – Big Sable Point Lighthouse Opening Day (dependent on state park reopening)
The lighthouses are open to the public seven days a week from opening day to Sept. 7, 2025. On Mondays the hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday through Sunday the hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the fall season, from Sept. 11 to their closing date the lighthouses are open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fees for climbing the lighthouse towers are $8 for adults and $5 for students 17 years old and under. Active military personnel and veterans may climb for free. Children must be at least 40 inches tall to climb. For safety reasons, children may not be carried up the stairs of the towers. Throughout the summer, guests can enjoy a variety of engaging programs, including concerts, kids’ activities, and special celebrations. • June 18 at 7 p.m. – Night at the Lights Concert Series at Little Sable Point Lighthouse
• June 21 – White River Light Station 150th Anniversary Celebration • June 25, July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 13, Oct. 4 at 2-3:30 p.m. – Kids’ Programs at White River Light Station • July 12 and 24; Aug. 2, 14 and 30 from noon to 4:30 p.m. – Bus Days at Big Sable Point Lighthouse, providing visitors an easier way to access the historic site instead of taking the 2-mile walk out. • July 16 and 30; Aug. 6 and 20 at 7 p.m. - Night at the Lights Concert Series at Little Sable Point Lighthouse • July 18 and Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. - Summer Concerts at White River Light Station The season will wind down in the fall, with closures scheduled for: • Sept. 28 – Ludington North Breakwater Light Closes for the Season • Oct. 19 – Little Sable Point Lighthouse and White River Light Station Close for the Season