INSIDE
: Whitehall voters elect Ziemer as new mayor
Volume 3, Issue 24 November 7, 2025
REFLECTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY
Raised: $103,680
Lead this Legacy
Honor & Valor
YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE
This issue of the Oceana Echo is Dedicated to the Veterans of Oceana County.
Thank you so much for your service and Sacrifice!
Thank you to our most recent donors to our Lead this Legacy Fundraising Campaign READER:
James & Deborah Hopkinson William & Joanne Keyser Barbara Wade PHOTOGRAPHEr: Nancy Reschke
Mary Lamb Mary Heyde James & Louise Noffke Dena & Sam Saran Family Fund
William & Constance Ramey Joanne Heaton Carolee Youngstrom Editor: Earl & Linda Peterson
U.S. Coast Guard veteran Lori Hogston still serving today By Sharon Hallack
BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307 PERMIT NO 62
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Hogston explained, “In Point Allerton, crews The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent worked from three different types of boats. The United States Coast ‘buzzer boat,’ or quick Guard Veteran (1981- response boat, was used 1985) and American Le- in emergency situations, gion member since 2012, such as a boat fire, sinking Lori (Huls) Hogston of boat or a medical emerShelby Township grew up gency onboard a waterin Benona Township, part craft. The ‘work boats’ of a large extended family were used in non-emerwith deep roots in Ocea- gency situations, for na County. towing in boats that had Following her service stalled or for rescuing as a “coastie,” Hogston the local lobster fisherserved as an Oceana men who had become County Sheriff Dispatch- entangled in their lines. er from 1986 to 1991, and The third was a ‘motor later as the Muskegon lifeboat,’ a 44-foot boat County Central Dispatch used in heavy seas and Supervisor from 1992 to designed in such a way 2011. that when it overturned How Hogston came in heavy seas, it would to work and serve both right itself in a matter of Oceana and Muskegon seconds.” counties in these posiWhen asked if she tions could quite possibly had worked in any hurbe traced back to her time ricanes, Hogston shared, with the United States “No hurricanes, but plenCoast Guard. Hogston’s ty of nor'easters. Nor’easfirst assignment after ba- ters come with heavy sic training was in search rain, high waves/tides, and rescue at Point Aller- wind and flooding. We ton Station in Hull, Mas- would get mayday calls, sachusetts (a sub-unit of and we had to go out no Sector Boston). matter what.” Motor lifeboats were manned by a minimum of four crewmen, Hogston went on. The coxswain who drove the boat, two crew members strapped into a cage directly behind the coxswain, and the engineer who rode below and was in charge of keeping the motor running. “When you felt the boat going over, you took a quick breath, and in a matter of seconds you were upright again,” she said with a smile. On a normal day, every coast guardsman at base would take turns working different rotations and responsibilities on base. “My favorite rotation was the radio room,” said Hogston. “Everybody took a turn, but a lot of the guys didn’t care for it. We were allowed to switch out duty stations of the day, and I really liked
getting to do more time in the radio room. I liked being on the boats, but in the radio room I was in charge. The radio room was always busy. It was fast-paced. It also overlooked the boathouse and what was called ‘the gut,’ a deep channel between an island and the shoreline. From there we were able to keep an eye on all the boating and shipping traffic coming and going.” One memorable (and historical) experience Hogston was a part of during her service in Point Allerton was on Jan. 23, 1982, when World Airways Flight 30 landed at the Logan International Airport in Boston, hit black ice and ran off the end of the runway. Even though the event occurred 43 years ago, in retelling the story, Hogston was able to remember details like it was yesterday. Her love of radio room operations and her ability to organize logistics and record the time stamps, all while juggling numerous calls, came in very handy in the hours following the accident. “I was off-duty that night when I heard the first buzzer. At the sound of the first buzzer, everyone assigned to the emergency response boat (buzzer boat) went straight to the boathouse. When the second buzzer went off, that meant another workboat was also being deployed. When the third buzzer went off, everyone knew it was a catastrophic emergency and we were all needed, whether on or off duty. Each boat needed an engineer, but the third engineer was working the radio room. That workboat couldn’t leave until he was on it, so I took over the radio room…literally in my pajamas! The phones were ringing off the hook as I was busily
1982 at Point Allerton, Lori Hogston (right) and fellow coastie on inflatable response boat. taking notes and writing so it was amazing to be a down every who, what, woman doing this type of when and where in the work; I loved it.” ledger. We didn’t have For the past nine computers, like they do years, Hogston has been today. involved in the Gordon “Later my CO (Com- Bates Post No. 30 Amermanding Officer), in re- ican Legion in Shelby. viewing everything I’d re- Recently she was named corded during the event, the post’s historian, a told me he’d never seen position responsible for such detailed notes. He recording post happenended up taking my notes ings and archiving them to Group Boston to record for posterity. Given her the accident timeline, as- past organizational expesist in documentation of rience and skill, this new the accident for all de- role should suit her well. partments that respondAlong with her ined, and recreate the event volvement at the Sheltimeline for training pur- by American Legion, poses. Working that event Hogston has also become really put me on the path involved with the Michto my future life work. igan Women Veterans “Later that year I was Weekend held in Oceana promoted to 3rd class pet- County each September. ty officer and sent to Air According to the Station San Diego, where group’s website, the I was assigned to work weekend was, “...started under the current Avia- as a pilot program by local tion Supply Storekeeper. veterans and the Western I was supposed to learn Michigan S.A.I.L. club the job from him. Howev- to see if experiential acer, shortly after I arrived, tivities (such as sailing) he needed to take a leave combined with artistic of absence, and I became expression could support the lead. It was the era of healing from traumatic the Falcon Jet, and all of experiences and PTSD.” the parts and machinery Hogston has had the related to construction honor of helping to orand repair of the jets had ganize the event the past to be inventoried and two years. This year, over kept track of. I was able 30 women veterans from to set up a system that all over the United States was efficient and easily traveled to West Michiunderstandable to track gan to enjoy the weekend high-dollar parts for our retreat, Hogston said. aircraft. I had a natural Some have served stateknack for the job. It was a side; others have served man’s world at the time, overseas in such places
as Afghanistan, Bosnia, Granada and Vietnam. The fun and meaningful activities give the women a chance to meet or reconnect with other veterans, share stories of their work and accomplishments, as well as further process any emotional trauma they may be working through. “Saving lives was what drew me into the Coast Guard in the first place. And helping others became a big part of my full-time work after my military service. It is still gratifying to be able to help my fellow veterans through the Legion and the Women's Veteran Retreat organization in my retirement,” Hogston concluded. Please visit https:// womenveteransweekend.org/ for more information about next year’s Women’s Veterans Retreat. In addition, any veteran, family member, friend or supporter is invited to reach out to any one of the local veterans organizations (Hart or Shelby American Legion posts, Hart or Pentwater Veteran of Foreign Wars posts, Marine Corps League in Pentwater or the Department of Veterans Affairs at the county services building in Hart) to find out how they can be more involved, support local veterans or obtain more information about the many helpful programs and services offered.
1984 Veterans Day Parade in San Diego