INSIDE
Volume 2, Issue 48 APRIL 25, 2025 Total Raised: $60,611 Lead this Legacy
: A happy Easter “Hoppening” in Montague
REFLECTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY
SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE
OU R TH
ISSUE!
YOUR LOCALLYOWNED OWNEDAND AND OPERATED OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE YOUR LOCALLY NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE
Shelby Village OKs Flock Safety 90-day trial in 4-3 vote By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent
The 2025 Asparagus Queen candidates are, top row, from left, Chloe Coker, Haley Walsworth, Tess Bradley, Erynn Hoeker, Alice Smith, Claire Gowell and Celeste Miller. Bottom row, from left, are Kaitlyn Sutton, Anna VanDuinen and Shelby Purdy. Olivia Porter is not pictured. • Contributed Photo
11 candidates vie for the 2025 Asparagus Queen crown
RESIDENTIAL POSTAL CUSTOMER ECRWSS
PAID
BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307 PERMIT NO 62
PRSRT STANDARD NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE
This year, the National Asparagus Festival (NAF) has a record number of 11 candidates hoping for the chance to be the 2025 Asparagus Queen! On Monday, April 21, the NAF hosted an informational meeting at the Hart Area Public Library for the candidates, where refreshments supplied by Merten Farm Market were served and the candidates were given the chance to ask questions about the recent changes being made to the role of Asparagus Queen. Those changes include stepping away from having an official pageant this year and instead opting for a crowning ceremony during the Friday night live concert event on June 13 featuring the band, Your Generation. Due to the amazing turnout of candidates this year, the 2025 Asparagus Queen candidates will undergo a preliminary meeting with judges on Thursday evening, May 8, where a group of five semifinalists will be determined. After the announcement of the semifinalist candidates, they will engage in a variety of activities, including a tour of the West Michigan Research Station, where they will gain a comprehensive understanding of the Michigan asparagus industry and even get the opportunity to help pick asparagus! A final meeting with the judges will take place on Saturday, June 7, where the panel will determine who will be the 2025 National Asparagus Queen and the 2025 National Asparagus Queen Runner-up! The Queen Candidates for this year are: • Chloe Coker, who is sponsored by Appletree Automotive. • Haley Walsworth, who is sponsored by Golden Stock Farms • Tess Bradley, who is sponsored by Lighthouse Associates • Erynn Hoeker, who is sponsored by La Fiesta • Alice Smith, who is sponsored by the Stony Lake Store, Stony Lake Inn, and Rabe Orchards • Claire Gowell, who is sponsored by Fleming Farms • Celeste Miller, who is sponsored by Signature Investigations Group, DS MotorSports, SilverBack Offroad, Klotz Auto Parts, Mike’s Auto Body, Steve’s Auto & Truck, Inc., and Birch and Blossom. • Kaitlyn Sutton, who is sponsored by Farmhouse, Kitchen and Market. • Anna VanDuinen, who is sponsored by the Pentwater Fire Department Association. • Shelby Purdy, who is sponsored by Reeman Farm Supply of Fremont. • Olivia Porter, who is sponsored by Excel Propane.
In a four-to-three vote Monday, April 14, the Shelby Village Council approved Resolution 17-25 to participate in the Flock Safety Project Prove It 90-day trial period. Voting for the trial period were councilors, Steve Crothers, Samantha Gottschalk, Curt Trott and Village President John Sutton, voting in opposition were councilors Mike Termer, Dan Zaverl and Crystal Heykoop. “Flock Safety is a company that deploys license plate identification cameras throughout the United States to help deter, reduce or solve crime,” stated a letter to the village from Undersheriff Ryan Schiller, asking communities to partner with the sheriff department for the 90day free trial. “These are not video cameras, and only record still images of vehicles. We feel that partnering with Flock Safety will be a force multiplier for us. We recognize that our area cannot financially support hiring significant numbers of law enforcement officers in our area. Flock Safety will be a tool to use, leveraging their technology to help us solve crime. Currently there are over 2,400 cameras in use within the State of Michigan and more than 98,000 nationwide.” Shelby’s trial camera would be placed at the Butternut Corners intersection of Michigan Avenue, First and State Streets. The county has mapped out the placing of 38 potential cameras, provided municipalities are interested. After the trial period, if the village wished to sign on with Flock Safety the annual cost for one camera would be $3,650 for the first year, and $3,000 per camera each year following. The sheriff’s department is recommending the county and surrounding communities use June, July and August for the 90-day trial, as that is when the county’s population, activity and traffic is at its highest. Any municipality that decides to join the trial will be provided with data at the 45-day and 90-day mark before making a final decision as to whether or not to keep the equipment. “All local law enforcement agencies will have equal access to the system and its data,” Undersheriff Schiller’s letter concluded. Shelby Police Chief Dean Roesler provided additional information saying, “This idea has been discussed among departments and municipalities at great length. I’m confident we wouldn’t be targeting people. There is no facial recognition, but the system can be programmed to capture
the make and model of a vehicle as well as the license plate. I understand there are concerns about big brother watching or what happens to the information once it’s collected. However, when doing investigations, information like this could be helpful in establishing a timeline. There’s great value from a law enforcement perspective.” Council member Mike Termer was the first to offer his opinion, saying he was opposed to the idea for a couple of reasons. He expressed concern over potential lawsuits, government oversight and how the village would pay for it. “There is goodness with it, but with all of our technology, I think we have enough.” Heykoop had similar concerns, wondering where the data was stored and who had access to it. Village Manager Phil Morse said that besides possible crime, he could see the benefits in a child abduction scenario or in tracking lost residents. “One thing I do know, from working with Mast and Schiller on the county board of commissioners, is they are both very respectful and protective of people’s rights.” “I realize there are legitimate concerns, but I would like to do the trial run. We don’t know what we don’t know. I’m not necessarily sure I’m in favor of signing a contract, but it’s another set of eyes,” Roesler said. In other business, council officially opened the one and only bid received for planned roadwork in the village this year. The bid came from Hallack Contracting of Hart for a total of $929,528.75. “That’s better than I thought, I’m pleased with that number,” said Morse. Morse said he’d notified several other contractors the village has worked with in the past, however, for one reason or another, no other bids were received. The council gave the Streets and Sidewalks Committee authority to do a final review of the planned work and quote, and to give final approval. Finally, Morse suggested the council consider taking the Tuesday, May 27 council meeting (day after Memorial Day) to tour some of the village’s main assets, such as the water tower, well houses and the DPW garage. “We did it when I was with the county, and it was a great assessment,” he said. Sutton agreed, saying it would be helpful to have some context when they hear from different department heads or need to make a decision about something. No formal vote was taken. All council members were in favor, with the exception of Zaverl, who did not feel a special tour was necessary.