INSIDE
: White Lake area celebrates Fire Prevention Week Volume 3, Issue 20 October 10, 2025
REFLECTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY
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YOUR YOUR LOCALLY LOCALLY OWNED OWNED ANDAND OPERATED OPERATED NONPROFIT NONPROFIT NEWS NEWS SOURCE SOURCE YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE Thank you to our recent Donors - READER: Richard Amstutz
Mixed Mediums by Olivia Prado
Malcolm Anderson Jr
Live Chalk Art by Emily Miller
Acrylics by Dan VanHuizen
Hart's ArtWalk features nine unique artists Porch Art by Erna Beard
• Connie VanDerZanden/Echo Landscape Photography by Laura McClellan
Cut Flower Sculpture by Noble Graham-Lattin
Mixed Mediums by Kelly Torres-Uresti
Ink & Clay Art by Irelyn Cunningham
Acrylics by Leslie Rasmussen
Silver Lake Sand Dunes-Hart Visitors Bureau releases 2024 Tourism Impact
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Tourism continues to play a vital role in driving Oceana County’s economy. According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Tourism Economic Impact Report, $181.7 million dollars
were spent in Oceana County during 2024, up 13% over 2023. From lodging and dining to shopping and recreation, tourism dollars support local businesses, creating more than 2,306 jobs and generating over $100.9 million in labor income. “Tourism continues to be a top contributor to the economic well-being of Oceana County. We
are encouraged to be Oceana County Tourism in our fourth consecEconomic Spending for 2024 utive year of positive -Provided by MEDCgrowth in the tourism Visitor Spending economy,” Executive (In Millions) Percent Change 2023 2024 2022 (‘23-’24) Director of the Silver $160.8 13% $151.8 $181.7 Lake Sand DunesHart Visitor Bureau Visitor Spending Breakdown (In Millions) Scott Beal said. “This $37.9 $39.5 $27 $48.4 $28.9 $181.7 13% continued growth is testament to the Tourism Supported Tourism Supported value of our tourism Employment Labor Income (In Millions) industry in supportDirect Total Total Direct 1,591 2,306 $56.8 $100.9 ing local businesses, households, and the future of Oceana County.” Lodging
The 2025 Hesperia Homecoming King Eli Edens and Queen Olivia Gerard, pictured above, were crowned at halftime of the Hesperia High School Homecoming varsity football game, Friday, Oct. 3. • Amanda Dodge/Echo
Food & Beverage
Retail
Recreation
Transport
Total
Percent Change (‘23-’24)
OCRC recognized as Best of the Best
The Oceana County Road Commission (OCRC) was presented three Statewide Safety Awards from the County Road Association Self Insurance Fund (CRASIF). CRASIF is the workman’s compensation/liability pool for 72 of the road commissions in Michigan. The first award is the Goose Egg award for zero reportable worker’s compensation losses during 12 months. "Zero workers' compensation losses in our industry over a 12-month period is phenomenal," CRASIF Administrator and CEO Joyce Porter exclaimed. "Regarding the unique name of the award, we had to come up with an eye-catching name for the award since it is a unique achievement." CRASIF provides safety training and workers' compensation coverage for road commissions. Chairperson of the CRASIF Board of Trustees and a Commissioner at Mackinac County Road Commission, Tom Doty, stated, "You can't get any better than '0' incidents and '0' losses. What is amazing is that road commission work mainly involves manual labor and putting our people at significant risk of harm while they work in the roadway. The road commission is either lucky or good with employee safety. A little bit of both helps." "Zero workers' compensation losses also
Hart High School crowned their 2025 Homecoming King Hollis Rockwell IV and Queen Rowan Best, pictured above, Friday, Oct. 3, during halftime of the varsity Pirates football matchup against Mason County Central. Hart won 30-27. • Connie VanDerZanden/Echo
Managing Director Mark Timmer and Assistant Manager-Clerk Renee Curtis
mean(s) that more of the taxpayers' dollars can go directly to maintaining our roads," Porter added. "The road commission should be applauded for their extraordinary achievement." OCRC has received nine Goose Egg awards. The second award is an Honor Roll award for having a lower than average injury rate. "Low injury rates just don't happen in our industry," Porter said about CRASIF providing safety training and workers' compensation coverage for road commissions. "Maintaining 75% of all roads in Michigan (is) the responsibility of county road commissions and departments. It takes energy and focus to constantly remind employees that their safety on the job is a primary concern of management." The third award is for OCRC having the lowest injury rate in the state in its payroll class. "Road commissions that have lower than average injury rates qualify to be on our Honor Roll. Oceana County Road Commission not only got on the Honor Roll," Porter noted. "They also had the lowest injury rate in their payroll category. They are the best of the best. They should be recognized for their achievement." “These awards are a great reflection on staff and bargaining unit employees and their commitment to working safely on a daily basis and their buyin to safety training and using the correct equipment and PPE,” OCRC Managing Director Mark Timmer stated. The awards were announced at the CRASIF Annual Membership Meeting held in Bay City on Sept. 23, 2025.