INSIDE
: New arena welcomes new era in lives of Class of 2025 Volume 2, Issue 52 May 23, 2025
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vary in size according to the area they serve. Some The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent may serve a single township or city, while others This is the third and serve large regions. Oceafinal article focusing on na County, along with Mamembers of our commu- son, Lake and Newaygo nity who, although they counties, forms the North are not celebrated as tra- Operations. Jeff Stockhill ditional superheroes, nev- is the director of North Opertheless, every day that erations and he has a depgoes by, they are heroes uty director and a team in someone’s life. They of supervisors to manage deserve our attention, ap- the counties mentioned plause and support. We above. He reports to a vice have already focused on president whose office is corrections officers and in Grand Rapids. Stockhill police officers. For May has been with Life EMS for 18-24, we focus on emer- 36 years, starting as a paragency medical service medic and advancing as a crews, the folks who re- field training instructor, a spond to 911 calls and ar- supervisor, a tactical paramedic and now a director. rive by ambulance. “I entered the field beIn Oceana Councause it sounded exciting, ty, we are served by Life and I wanted to save lives. EMS, a company that services 10 counties in West I stayed in it because I like Michigan. Life EMS has to serve people. It doesn’t three locations in Ocea- take long to realize that na County - Hart, Shelby you don’t get the opporand a brand-new office tunity to save a life every near Ferry. Each location day or week. You do, howhas a facility with office ever, make a difference evspace, bay space for vehi- ery time you respond to a cles and living space for call,” Stockhill shared. Although he is in an the crew members who administrative position, work 24-hour shifts. Norhe still makes calls, filling mally, the crews cover two in when a crew member is shifts a week and pick up missing for some reason. one extra shift every six weeks. Since they are not Minimally there is one assigned to a particular paramedic and an Emerlocation, the crews rotate gency Medical Technician among the different loca- (EMT) in each ambulance, and each location has tions in the county. Life EMS agencies three ambulances available for 911 calls. Crews in the four counties of North Operations cooperate to fill in for each other too. What kind of training and education is needed to be part of an EMS crew? Stockhill explained, “An EMT takes the most basic training for emergency medical responses, taking classes and passing an exam to get a license. A paramedic takes advanced training in respiratory and cardiovascular issues and some pharmacology classes to learn about emergency medications. As paramedics, we are also required to maintain certifications in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Emergency Pediatric Care and Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support….A tactical paramedic works with State Police SWAT team and with the county sheriff’s department.” How about ambulance
READER: James & Nancy McClain Charles & Diane Byers
Area Memorial Day Observances
Another Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and our community is encouraged to take a moment to remember, “All gave some, and some gave all.” Veterans, community members and groups are urged to attend one of the several opportunities listed below to commemorate this most solemn of all American holidays. “Freedom isn’t free.” It’s so important to honor those who’ve passed in service to • AnnaMae Bush/Echo their country, and to educate our younger generations Above, EMT Chris Turnbull and Paramedic Pete Kurzer about our shared history and the origins of this day. stand by their vehicle in front of the Shelby Life EMS station Monday, May 26, 2025 on Monday, May 19. Kurzer and Turnbull said Stockhill • 9 a.m. - The Walkerville Memorial Day Observance and his deputy director make sure there is something spe- will be held at Fairlawn Cemetery in Walkerville. The cial for all the crew members every day of National EMS service will include remarks by veterans John Urick and Week, whether it’s breakfast, lunch, a gift or the cookout Brian Burrell, singing of the National Anthem by Shadinner – each day brings an expression of appreciation. ron Hallack, a recitation of the Gettysburg Address by driver’s training? “All our How valuable it is, veteran Gary Strait and the Veterans Ritual conducted staff complete an emer- then, when you have a by the Hart VFW and American Legion Honor Guards. • 9 a.m. - The Rothbury Village Memorial Day Obsergency vehicle operators paramedic with many course (EVOC), followed years of experience. vance will be held at Our Lady of the Assumption Cathby evaluation during our Although there is little olic Cemetery in Rothbury. Community members and field training program. We control one has in a med- veterans are invited and encouraged to gather together also complete an online ical emergency, one can for the annual ceremony. emergency driving course influence the outcome • 9 a.m. - The Ferry Memorial Day Services will beannually.” with one’s attitude or per- gin at the North Ferry Cemetery. This will be followed There is no “average spective. Go into panic by the service at the South Ferry Cemetery at 9:30 a.m., week” or “average number mode? Expect the worst? the Otto Township Cemetery Service at 10 a.m. and will of calls.” There are slow Remain calm? Hope for conclude with a reading at the pavilion by the River days (only two calls) and the best? Stockhill re- Park near downtown Ferry at 10:30 a.m. Each service busy days (eight calls) and called one case that has includes a gathering with a rifle salute and Taps. calls in rural areas take really stuck in his mem• 9 a.m. - The New Era Memorial Day Parade will bemore time than in urban ory. gin at the New Era Christian School on Ray Street and areas. Patients often need He responded to a call proceed to the Veterans Park on First Street. Shelby to be driven to Muskegon. from a person who ob- American Legion will lead the observance, which will Calls to the Oceana Coun- viously was critically ill. include an invocation by Pastor John Mendendorp, rety Jail are not unusual. In Examining the patient, marks from U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Wally addition to emergency he found what he thought Carrier, laying of a memorial wreath and a 21-gun salute. calls, the EMS crews also was an abdominal aortic • 10 a.m. - The Mears Memorial Day Observance will provide transfer transpor- aneurysm. “When I re- take place at the Mears Cemetery. Services will include tation when ambulances turned to the hospital two music by the Hart High School marching band and the are needed. It should be hours later, expecting him Veterans Ritual led by members of the Hart VFW. no surprise that “Oceana to already be in surgery, I • 10 a.m. - The Pentwater Memorial Day Parade will County seems to have an was surprised to see him begin on First Street, across from the Pentwater Baptist uptick in trauma during still in the emergency deChurch and proceed to the Village Municipal Marina, the summer.” partment. I popped in to where a special ceremony will remember all those who One of Stockhill’s tasks check on him, and he told is planning strategies for me that the surgeon had have perished while at sea. The parade will make its big events. “Perhaps the given him a 10% chance way to the Village Green for a second short ceremony. biggest event I need to of surviving the opera- A final observance will be held at the Pentwater Townplan for is ‘Electric For- tion. As I was searching ship Cemetery. The Pentwater School Band will march est.’” for something to say, he in the parade and play at each location. • 10 a.m. - The Shelby Memorial Day Parade will beLife EMS works closely looked at me and said, gin at the corner of Sixth and Elm Streets and proceed with the law enforcement ‘That’s twice as good as down Michigan Avenue to Centennial Park at State and fire departments. Fire 5%’ with a smile.” and Third Streets. There, a ceremony, led by the Shelby departments have emerTwo days later StockAmerican Legion, will include the laying of a memorial gency first responders, hill was able to visit him wreath, remarks by U.S. Army veteran Darrell Hansen, but they have no vehicle after successful surgery, to provide transportation and the patient reminded and music by the Shelby High School marching band. • 11 a.m. - The Hart Memorial Day Parade will begin to a hospital. Stockhill him that he told him 10% said, “When we arrive at was twice as good as 5%. at the Oceana County Courthouse in Hart, and proceed an emergency departIn his role as direc- to the Hart Cemetery, where the Hart High School band ment, we report our find- tor, Stockhill’s greatest will perform its traditional Military Anthem Melody, ings, assessment, and any job satisfaction comes in followed by a guest speaker and Veterans Ritual led by interventions that were building his team and in members of the Hart VFW. Following the Hart obsercompleted, giving physi- seeing his crew members vance, a free lunch for veterans and their families, will cians and nurses the best grow and develop their be held at the Hart VFW Post. starting point that we can.” skills. For him and his ad• 1 p.m. - The Hart VFW will perform their annual obPerhaps the biggest ministrative colleagues, servances at the Oceana County Medical Care Facility. challenge for Life EMS National EMS Week is all • 1:30 p.m. - The Hart VFW will perform their annual crews is having to decide about “Leadership Serv- Memorial Day observances at Cherry Blossom Manor. on treatment without the ing Our People,” showing • 3 p.m. - National Moment of Remembrance - A benefit of having lab re- appreciation to all of their special ceremony will take place in Independence, Mo. sults or X-rays or other crew members. “We per- with a moment of silence at 3 p.m. followed by the playtests first. Stockhill claims, sonally provide a meal for ing of “Taps” at 3:01 p.m. by musicians of every age and “Sometimes it’s obvious; all our team members, ability or instrument. other times you are rely- grilling meat and makAll musicians across Oceana County are invited to ing on what the patient is ing the rest of the food join in wherever they might be at 3 p.m. by observing a telling you, what you are ourselves to tell them, moment of silence and then playing “Taps” as an act of seeing, and your own ex- ‘Thanks, we appreciate national unity and a way of paying tribute to those who periences.” you.’” have died while serving in the U.S. military.