INSIDE
: Celebrating a snowy Winter Wanderland
REFLECTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY
Volume 3, Issue 38 February 13, 2026
Total Raised: $111,302
We now have a venmo charity account!
Lead this Legacy
SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE
@echopublishinginc
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 most recent donors to our Lead this Legacy Fundraising Campaign READER:
Nick & Laura Kassanos
Janice O'Donnell
Larry & Ann Byl
Ronald & Linda Skvarla
Karen Mason
Sally Choponis is ready to lead as newest OCMCF administrator By Claire Marshall The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent Monday, Jan. 26 saw the first regular DHHS/Oceana County Medical Care Facility (OCMCF) board meeting following the search for a new facility administrator. As such, minutes for the last regular board meeting, plus the additional 15 special board meetings associated with the application and interview process for the new hire, were reviewed. Seven of those meetings' minutes did not require changes, but Board Chair Linda East requested minor changes to the remaining eight, and for the final meeting held Jan. 20 at 2 p.m., East requested that statements made during said meeting be included in the record. The requested statements reflected East’s opinion that no outside sources influenced her final choice of Sally Choponis as facility administrator and that she found the insinuation of such made earlier in the 2 p.m. meeting insulting. Board member Dale Danes wished to make a similar change to the same final meeting minutes, requesting that the record reflect his full statement that he felt Choponis was an appropriate candidate during a previous administrator search three years ago. After all the requested edits were made and approved by the board, the board went on to unanimously approve the total 16 meeting minutes. The request for a replacement water heating boiler was also approved, following the failure of a unit in the OCMCF’s Alzheimer’s Unity. After the unit was inspected, the new EVS Director Daron Troyer, and Interim Administrator Linda Duchon, made the decision that replacing the boiler completely was more economical than making extensive repairs. The cost of a new Lochinvar Boiler and the installation was quoted at $11,550. The expense may increase if it is determined that roofing work will be needed should new vents be installed.
Despite the boiler failure, there was minimal disruption in bathing services at the Alzheimer’s Unit due to the backup plans implemented by the nursing director. The failed unit in question was from 2004, and board members agreed that the other boilers installed the same year should be inspected. After reviewing the decision paper, the board voted to unanimously accept it. The December 2025 financial report was also approved. Despite being over budget on many of the line items for that month, most of which are simply due to the facility's services expanding, the OCMCF ended the year with a positive balance of $725,984. “So (it's the) first year for many years that we actually went in the green,” said Financial Controller Cindy Leone, “Took us a little bit to get out of the COVID times, but we finally did and we did it with flair.” Choponis began as the OCMCF’s new administrator on Feb. 9, and the interim administrator will stay on to support Choponis for as long as necessary to get settled in the role, at her request. The Oceana Echo reached out to Choponis to learn more about her administrative experience, work with the OCMCF and history in the nursing field. “For more than 25 years, my husband, Jim, and our three children have called Oceana County home. My career began as an administrative assistant at Peterson Farms - then I ran my own business in Pentwater for several years. "Obtaining my nursing degree in 2014 marked the beginning of my career at the Oceana County Medical Care Facility, where I have dedicated over a decade to nursing and steadily advanced into roles with broader administrative responsibilities, shaping my path as a leader within the organization. After obtaining my Administrator License, I trained as an Assistant Nursing Home Administrator at two SKLD Medical Care Facility locations, and had the opportunity to lead multiple teams, guiding them through complex challenges and
experiencing day-to-day operations. "When our middle child, Luke, was born with significant health challenges, our family was thrust into the heart of the healthcare system—a world filled with uncertainty and fear. Throughout this experience, we were fortunate Sally Choponis to meet compassionate healthcare professionals who guided us, supported us through setbacks, and celebrated every milestone Luke achieved. This experience ignited a deep passion within me to help others facing similar challenges. "Motivated by this calling, I pursued a career in nursing to serve vulnerable individuals and their families as they navigated the unknowns of healthcare. My dedication to making a difference led me to further my education, earning a Bachelor’s of Nursing and ultimately becoming a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator with a desire to lead where my heart has been all these years, Oceana County Medical Care Facility. "First, I bring a strong commitment to being a visible, listening leader. I believe deeply in building a supportive culture that prioritizes staff engagement, because when people feel appreciated and respected, it is evident in the care they provide. Happy, engaged staff leads to more meaningful and compassionate experiences for our residents. "I also bring a balanced leadership approach – one that combines strategic thinking, operational excellence and genuine empathy. My goal is to ensure every resident feels truly at home and every team member feels valued. By honoring traditional values while embracing modern practices, I aim to create a community where aging is celebrated and where residents, families and staff feel connected and supported," Choponis shared.
Pentwater Village and Township sign sewer system agreement By AnnaMae Bush
Feb. 9 may have been brief, clerk/treasurer, had given sheriff’s department.
es other than the Employ- March 2 for a budget over-
but it carried forward some a heads-up that this would Village Manager Toby ee Handbook and that it view so that it could be on The Oceana Echo important actions. Perhaps be the case. O’Connor Van Ess reported for the would be beneficial to Van the March 9 regular meetCommunity Correspondent
BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307 BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307 PERMITPERMIT NO 62 NO 62
ESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL OSTAL CUSTOMER POSTAL CUSTOMER CRWSS ECRWSS
PAID PAID
PRSRT STANDARD PRSRT STANDARD NON PROFIT NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE U.S. POSTAGE
the most significant action The regular Pentwater was the council’s approvVillage Council meeting on al of and the signing of an agreement by village and township officials that spelled out the transfer of ownership of the sewer system to the township. This agreement includes the process by which township users could be added to the system and how increased township usage of the wastewater treatment plant would be measured and paid for. All council members and 10 audience members were in attendance at the meeting. After moving through the opening exercises, President Mary Marshall asked for approval of the consent agenda. Approval was given, but councilor Kathy O’Connor commented on one financial item: the cost of the audit was significantly higher than the previous charges. She reminded council that Rande Listerman, who recently retired as the village
wanted council to know the finance committee was going to address this issue. The treasurer’s report followed and was approved as presented. Current Clerk/Treasurer Michelle Bieri commented that the deadline for filing late summer tax payments is March 2. There were two department reports. Chief Laude Hartrum reported that he had been to a hearing at the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police the previous week, where a vote confirmed the accreditation of the Pentwater Police Department. A representative from the Association will be present at the March council meeting to present a plaque to Hartrum, and Marshall assured Hartrum a celebration would accompany the meeting. Hartrum also reported the local department had spent time the past few weeks in regular required training with the county
DPW department that rebuilding pumps at the four lift platforms in the sewer system was continuing and going well. Four items were addressed under new business. The first was the Intergovernmental Agreement on the sewer system described in the first paragraph above. The second item was updating the Employee Handbook, which has been directed by Van Ess. The handbook was last revised in 2008 and needed improvement, and discussion followed regarding issues not addressed or not clearly spelled out. O’Connor listed her concern for the process for conflict resolution, the lack of definition for “excessive absence,” the need to describe the workweek options by hours and location, and time off for holidays or sick leave and disability. Councilor Don Palmer commented that some policies were addressed in plac-
Ess and everyone else if all employee policies could be incorporated into the handbook and thus easily found. Chief Hartrum interjected that Van Ess was working on a software program that could include all the policies in one place and be available to anyone through a link on the village website. Work on updating the current handbook is taking the first step in that direction. The third item was a request from the Chamber of Commerce to approve a fireworks display on July 3. If it rains on July 3, rather than rescheduling in July, the fireworks would be incorporated with the August 15 fireworks display during Homecoming. Approval was given. The last item was a budget hearing. O’Connor reported that after the Finance Committee meeting on Feb. 18, the budget would be ready for Council review. Marshall suggested that council hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. on
ing for council approval. Residents could attend on March 2 but not make comments or raise questions until the public hearing on March 9. Council thanked both O’Connor and Van Ess for their diligent work on formulating a budget that paid close attention to capital expenditure needs. Under closing comments Van Ess reported well No. 4 would become the primary well as soon as all tests were completed, and it would have a generator connected to it - an advantage over the other wells. He also mentioned the need for seasonal support. Hartrum already has three or four cadets lined up to support the police department. Van Ess will need three or four summer employees for the marina. Interested persons are encouraged to contact him. The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. The next meeting of the Petnwater Village Council Monday, March 9 at 6 p.m.