INSIDE
Volume 3, Issue 13 August 22, 2025 Total Raised: $68,990 Lead this Legacy
: Rushing's ukulele club encourages creativity
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YOUR LOCALLYOWNED OWNEDAND AND OPERATED OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE YOUR LOCALLY NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE Oceana County 4-H Youth attend Citizenship Washington Focus Suspect arraigned on Smithsonian National ZoBy Jennifer Payne, open murder charge ological Park and seeing Oceana County 4-H Program Coordinator
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This summer, three youth members from Oceana County 4-H had the special chance to attend Citizenship Washington Focus, a national leadership program held in Washington, D.C. The program gave them a deeper understanding of government and helped them grow as leaders. Kenai Kokx, Lillian Wasson, and Alayna Hammerle participated in workshops that taught them about how the government works. Kenai said she especially liked the classes about the amendments to the Constitution and a mock protest where they learned about the history and importance of peaceful demonstrations. Her group also worked on a project to create a summer language program to help people who speak different languages improve their English. The youth visited many important monuments in Washington, D.C. One of their favorite experiences was the Night Tour of the National Monuments. They saw the Lincoln Memorial, which honors President Abraham Lincoln and is known for its beautiful architecture and the fa-
the many animals there. Thanks to funding from grants, sponsors, and fundraising, these Oceana County 4-H members were able to attend this trip without worrying about the cost. Some of the major sponsors of this event were: The Gerber Foundation, Oceana County Farm Bureau, Hart Area Lion’s Club, Shelby Rotary Club, True North Community Services, and our local Oceana County 4-H Large Market Committee. The members returned home ready to share what they learned and become leaders in their community. Organizers are proud of Kenai, Lillian, and Alayna for representing Oceana County 4-H and look forward to seeing how they use what they learned to help others. For more information about Citizenship Washington Focus, visit 4-h.org/events/citizenship-washington-focus.
According to an August 14 media release from the Oceana County Sheriff's Office, "on August 14, 2025 at 7:12 a.m. Oceana County Sheriff’s Deputies and Michigan State Police Troopers were dispatched to an adLillian Wasson, Kenai Kokx and Alayna Hammerle dress in the 4000 Block of mous “I Have a Dream” This was her first time in E. Buchanan Rd. in Ferry speech location. They Washington, D.C., and Shale Campos Township, Oceana Counalso visited the Vietnam she is excited about the ty, to respond to the report of a man shot. Veterans Memorial, a future. Lillian plans to ap"When deputies and troopers arrived there, they moving wall that hon- ply for the State 4-H Youth found a 46-year-old Shelby man had been shot and ors soldiers who fought Leadership Committee had passed away from his injuries. Deputies and troopin the Vietnam War. The and hopes to attend aners, along with the MSP Crime Lab, are still on scene group toured the World other national leadership investigating, as this is a very fresh case. War II Memorial and the conference called Ignite. "Life Ambulance and Ferry Township First ReWashington Monument, Alayna enjoyed the sponders did also assist at the scene. Mason County which stands tall in the workshops where they Sheriff’s Detectives and Ludington Police Departcenter of the city and rep- learned about how the ment's Detectives also assisted with the investigation." resents the nation’s first government operates. Sheriff Craig Mast added, "We have no reason to bepresident, George Wash- One memorable activilieve there is any risk to the public from this incident." ington. ty was when her group The next morning, Undersheriff Ryan Schiller reLillian shared that vis- created a pretend presileased the following statement, "On August 15, 2025, at iting these monuments dential candidate named approximately 1 a.m., detectives arrested a 46-year-old and the Smithsonian mu- Bob. Bob listened careFerry Township woman in connection with the reportseums made history and fully, saw people’s probed homicide from the (previous) morning’s incident government lessons from lems, and smiled to show located on E. Buchanan Road in Ferry Township. school come alive. She he was happy. Bob even "The arrested female was lodged at the Oceana was especially impressed won the election until he County Jail, where she is awaiting arraignment in the by the stories behind was jokingly impeached 79th District Court. each memorial and how for building a water slide "As Sheriff Craig Mast indicated in the original methey represent important in the White House. She dia release, there is no outstanding threat or concern parts of America’s past. also enjoyed visiting the for the community. "We would like to thank and acknowledge all of the assistance we had from numerous other agencies, including the Michigan State Police – Hart Post and Grand Rapids Crime Lab, Mason county Sheriff’s OfAn Oceana County man was fatally wounded by fice, Ludington Police Department, DHS Child Propolice Sunday, Aug.17, after allegedly shooting antective Services, Lakeshore Child Advocacy Center in other man in the leg before fleeing on foot into the Ludington and the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office Vicwoods near Mears. tims Services Unit, Life EMS and Ferry Township Fire Police were dispatched to the 7500 block of Fox Department and Mason-Oceana 911." Road after being alerted that someone had been shot Later that same day, Schiller sent an additional and an armed suspect may be in the woods. That susstatement, "On August 15, 2025, Shale Nicole Campos pect was identified as Don Albert Stapel Jr., 59. was arraigned in the 79th District Court on the charge After hours of searching, Michigan State Police of open murder. Campos has been charged with the (MSP) notified the public via their “X” profile that murder of her husband, Jason Campos, at their resiStapel had been found in an outbuilding, while sidence on E. Buchanan Road in Ferry Township in the Don Albert Stapel Jr. multaneously lifting the shelter in place that had morning hours of August 14, 2025. been ordered earlier. "Ms. Campos will be held in the Oceana County Jail At approximately 6:40 p.m., it was reported that Stapel had been fatally with no bond. Her preliminary hearing is set for Sepwounded during the police response. Detectives from the MSP Fifth District In- tember 2, 2025. vestigative Response Team were called to the scene to conduct the officer-in"This case is still under investigation, and no further volved-shooting investigation. details will be released at this time."
Oceana County man fatally wounded after hours-long manhunt
Rachel Witherspoon resigns as Pentwater Village Manager RESIDENTIAL POSTAL CUSTOMER ECRWSS
By AnnaMae Bush The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent On Wednesday, August 12, Rachel Witherspoon submitted a letter of resignation to the Village Council and Village Staff. It came as an unexpected announcement. Her closing comments at the August 10 Council meeting conveyed excitement about Homecoming events and her anticipation of going with the Vil-
Manager was terminated in March 2024, the Village hired Steve Brock as an Interim Manager to serve June 1 - November 1. To help make a smooth transition with the new manager, Brock overlapped one month with Witherspoon, who began her tenure in October 2024. Although her reasons Rachel Witherspoon for resigning remain conWitherspoon lage staff to the sandcas- fidential, wrote she was proud of tle contest on their lunch what she had achieved hour Friday. After the former Village and she was grateful for
the opportunity to serve the Pentwater community. “While I am going to miss the Village of Pentwater, I am proud to have accomplished so much in the last 10 months with our capable team…we have nearly finished a $7 million water project, established the first code enforcement program, helped secure $2.2 million in USACE funding for our Pentwater Harbor, improved our Village infrastructure, and established new lines of
communication.” She expressed confidence in the village staff to carry forward the quality of service, skills, and integrity she experienced with them. She expects Pentwater to thrive long into the future. Mary Marshall, Pentwater Village Council President, responded publicly with a letter thanking Witherspoon for her leadership and contributions to the village, and wished her well.