The Oceana Echo - Volume 3, Issue 38, February 13, 2026

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 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

The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

The regular Pentwater Village Council meeting on

Feb. 9 may have been brief, but it carried forward some important actions. Perhaps the most significant action was the council’s approval 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

clerk/treasurer, had given a heads-up that this would be the case. O’Connor 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

sheriff’s department.

Village Manager Toby Van Ess reported for the 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-

es other than the Employee Handbook and that it would be beneficial to Van 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

March 2 for a budget overview so that it could be on the March 9 regular meeting 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.

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

Random Acts of Kindness

News and Notes

out how high the waves are, catch a glimpse of wildlife and dream about warmer days ahead. Webcams can be found at LakeshoreKeepers.org.

Business

Have you ever heard of the Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Foundation? It’s a thing! This year the annual Random Acts of Kindness Day will be celebrated Tuesday, February 17. Their website, randomactsofkindness.org, reminds everyone that “random acts of kindness” aren’t just good for others, they are good for everyone of us. RAK is celebrated just one week a year, but their goal is to make it a year-round habit. You can even become an official “RAKtivist.” Sign up to receive a “daily dose of kindness” email and weekly newsletter. The foundation even provides the opportunity to become recognized at a “Distinguished Kindness School” or “Distinguished Kindness Workplace.” The website offers all sorts of kindness stories, fun resources, videos and ideas. We challenge our readers to do a random act of kindness this month (or any month) and let us know how it goes. We’d love to share your kindness stories in a future News & Notes.

Weather

Snow, and ice and drifts, oh my! January 2026 was certainly one to remember! The following weather statistics were gathered daily at WEEH-FM in Mears and reported to the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids. The average high temperature for the month was 25 degrees, while the average low temperature was 15 degrees. Liquid precipitation amounted to 3.16 inches. As a reminder, “liquid precipitation” is the liquid total of rainfall and/ or melted snow. On an average winter day with only snowfall, that would be the snowfall melted to liquid. Radio Bob noted the same amount of snowfall at different temperatures will give a different liquid equivalent. He manually collects the snowfall on a "snow board" for the 24-hour period, then takes a measured sample and melts it to give him the liquid equivalent. January’s total snowfall (in Mears) was recorded at 38.1 inches with a total of 96.2 inches of snow recorded this season!

Looking for something to switch it up this winter? Check out a virtual visit to area lighthouses by connecting to 24-hour year-round webcams installed at Big Sable Point Lighthouse in Ludington and White River Light Station in Whitehall. Check

Geers Chiropractic of Shelby recently underwent a change of ownership and name change. The business located at 4140 W. Shelby Rd. in Shelby is now owned and operated by Dr. Dillon Sibley. Originally from Hesperia, Sibley graduated from CMU with a BS in exercise science and went on to Palmer College of Chiropractic to pursue his doctorate. In 2023, following further specialty training, Geers asked Sibley to help run and operate his clinic located in Shelby with the hopes of Sibley one day taking over the clinic. The transfer of ownership took place at the first of 2026. The clinic was renamed West Wind Chiropractic. “I love being back in West Michigan, serving the surrounding area,” said Sibley. The clinic is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Arts & Culture

The fourth performance for the 2025-2026 Hart Community Performing Arts Series, “An Afternoon at the Opera,” was held Sunday, Jan. 18 at the Hart Schools Auditorium. Featured headliner and tenor John Riesen, along with other renowned vocalists, soprano Rebekah Howell, baritone Leroy Davis and Oceana’s own David Moul, joined to entertain and delight nearly 300 attendees. Each vocalist sang one or more solos, as well as duets with Riesen, featuring a variety of styles including opera, classical and musical theatre selections. Nearly every song was familiar and for those that weren’t, the community’s exposure to the world of opera and musical performance was certainly expanded. For the finale, Riesen sang the famous tenor opera number “Nessun Dorma” from "Turandot" by Puccini. His three “friends” joined him on stage at the end, and together they sang the last few measures of this well-known piece.

Taxes

Just a reminder that free tax preparation ap-

Oceana Agriculture and

Natural Resources Banquet set for March 19

March 2026 will mark the 19th year of the Oceana County Agricultural & Natural Resources Banquet. Recognizing the diverse agriculture and the abundance of natural resources in Oceana County has become a spring tradition. This year’s banquet is scheduled for Thursday, March 19. 2026, at the West Central Michigan Horticulture Research and Extension Center located in Hart.

The evening will begin at 5 p.m. with a social hour, sponsored by Kaleb Klotz Farm Bureau Insurance, and will offer appetizers inspired by Oceana County and local beer and wine. Attendees can mingle during this time with other guests before the official program gets underway at 6 p.m. with presentations from the Oceana Conservation District, MSU Extension and Oceana County Farm Bureau. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. followed by an awards presentation. This year’s featured presentation will offer attendees an in-depth look at the range of youth opportunities available through Oceana County 4-H, along with reflections from 4-H youth members on their experience attending the 4-H Citizen Washington Focus Program. The youth presenters will share how these leadership experiences have fostered personal growth, strengthened their voices and helped prepare them to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Tickets for the event are $25 per person and available for purchase online at www.OceanaConservation. org or at MSU Extension and the Oceana Conservation District offices.

Each year the organizing committee seeks support from local businesses to help make the event possible. If anyone is interested in being a sponsor for the event, please contact the Oceana MSU Extension Office. The committee has already collected a variety of door prizes that will be awarded at the end of the evening.  If anyone has questions, please contact the MSU Extension Office at 231-873-2129 or the Oceana Conservation District at 231-861-5600 ext. 5.

pointments are available to individuals who qualify through the Goodwill VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. Appointments can still be scheduled by calling 211. “Individuals may call 211 to find out if they qualify. Anyone who has a taxable income under $70,000 can take advantage of this opportunity to have their taxes prepared free of charge. All appointments are held with an IRS-trained volunteer and are completely confidential,” Tax Program Coordinator for Goodwill VITA Amanda Kitchka said.

Appointments will run through Monday, April 13 at the Oceana County Council on Aging and Tuesday, April 14 at the Hart Community Center adjacent to Hart City Hall.

Sports/Clubs

“Team 6128 - Team MOTOR (More Than Our Robot) of Hart is working feverishly to get their robot ready for this year’s competition schedule,” one of the team’s coaches, Matt Werner, said. “We are transitioning from experimentation to detailed design and build, and are pleased to have added two new coach/mentor team members this year. Parent Andrew Mullen brings innumerable IT skills to the table, while Jalynn Wilkinson, a young engineer originally from Zeeland, brings youth and energy as a FIRST Robotics competition alumni of Team 85 - B.O.B. Team MOTOR has also just kicked off an online fundraising campaign they are very excited about promoting in the community. We are scheduled to compete at two events this year. Our annual Muskegon event is set to take place March 19-21 at Orchard View High School, and the West Michigan event (is) to be held March 26-28 at the GVSU Field House. Other area competitions will take place at Ferris State University, Lake City, Kentwood, Traverse City and Mount Pleasant. The state championship will be held at Saginaw Valley State University. Fun fact: Of any other state, Michigan has the most robotic teams in the country. An early season 'friendly scrimmage' event will be held at the WSESD practice field, Saturday, March 7.  All schools in the WSESD MiSTEM #9 District are invited. If all goes as planned in the coming weeks, Team MOTOR is planning to attend with a working robot.”

Stay tuned for more News & Notes next week!

ACCEPTING LAWN SERVICE BIDS

CLAYBANKS TOWNSHIP

Claybanks Township is accepting bids for lawn services of the Flower Creek and Pinegrove cemeteries for the Summer. Submit bids or questions to Clerk at 7577 W. Cleveland Rd., New Era, MI 49446. 231-742-3470

MEETING NOTICE

COLFAX TOWNSHIP Budget Meeting

March 11, 2026

On March 11, 2026 we will review the proposed budget 2026/2027 at 6:30 PM. The monthly board meeting will follow at 7:00 PM. The public is welcome.

Joni Gerard Colfax Township Clerk

Shelby reviews budget, approves water, sewer rate adjustments

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

SHELBY - With four of the seven council members present at Monday evening’s regular council meeting, the Shelby Village Council gave authorization to raise village water and sewer rates effective March 1, 2026. Voting in favor of the resolution were Council Members Curt Trott, Steve Crothers, Mike Termer and Village President John Sutton. Councilors Samantha Gottschalk, Crystal Heykoop and Dan Zaverl were absent.

According to Village Administrator Phil Morse, the new rate increases will generate approximately $75,000 annually for the village’s Sewer Fund and approximately $65,000 annually for the village’s Water Fund. The proposed rate increases came about as the result of an extensive study performed in November by the Michigan Rural Water Association (MRWA). The results of that study were discussed in detail at a community forum Thursday, Jan. 29. (See the Feb. 6 edition of The Oceana Echo for more details.)

For customers who average 6.7 units per month, rates will increase by approximately 15 percent. The increase is calculated to be about $13 more per month, or $160 per year for the average customer.

“The main message from the MRWA was we’re doing ok, but when the repairs come all at once, we won’t have enough,” Morse explained. “In 2026, the South Michigan and Bennett Street project will cost $450,000 alone.”

Knowing they needed to get ready, the village began implementing a three percent cost of living increase to rates about five years ago. If they hadn’t, the village would be looking at a 35 percent increase now, Morse said.

“We can’t get out of the improvements and maintenance that will be coming,” Trott, chairman of the Water and Sanitation Committee, said. “EGLE dictates (a lot of) what we have to do.”

MRWA analysis outlined the following key actions

going forward: adjust water and sewer rates per the proposed schedule; implement a three percent rate increase in FY 2027-28, with a full rate re-evaluation in November 2027 for FY 2028-29; update REU (Residency Equivalency Unit) assignments to accurately reflect the actual number of units within each building and ensure consistent billing; identify all accounts not currently assessed a Ready-to-Serve (RTS) fee and begin applying the appropriate charges; and incorporate the existing environmental charge into the RTS rate.

In other business, Morse provided an overview of the village’s FY 26-27 budget. The presentation detailed how village tax revenues have been trending upwards, due in part to more housing within the village. His projection of $455,000 in property taxes for the coming fiscal year is up from $280,000 just 10 years ago. Among other highlights, Morse noted the village’s Equipment Fund has had more expenditures than revenue, requiring the village to transfer funds into that account. The village is not proposing any big expenditures in the near future, however, he said the village will need to get creative and figure out how they can increase revenue in that fund. A public hearing and vote on the 26-27 budget is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 23 at the village hall. Copies of the proposed budget and documentation are available in the village office and at shelbyvillage.com.

The council also authorized the repair of the DPW’s 2021 plow truck in the amount of $7,345.35 and allowed the village administrator to approve time-sensitive plow truck repairs if necessary, with the caveat that competitive quotes would be obtained if possible. The plow truck was incapacitated when it sustained a broken rear leaf spring last week and had to be towed to West Michigan International in Muskegon. Due to the more urgent nature of this repair and the lack of service providers, only the one quote was sought. Prior to the approval, Morse said, “Equipment gets beat up. It’s the nature of the work, but Jer (DPW Supervisor Jeremiah Helenhouse) believes $7,300 is reasonable.”

Morse added the village is fortunate there has been a break in the weather this past week and noted that not having this truck available could have been devastating

in a major weather event.

Trott added, “It’s more than likely related to the cold. Cold makes metal brittle. The sander is heavy, and with it bouncing around, it probably broke the spring.”

Two housekeeping resolutions were approved as well. Having completed her 90-day probation, the village’s Administrative Assistant Lynnea Lamberg will be added as a checkbook signatory on the village’s bank accounts, and Village Clerk/Treasurer Mireya Diaz was approved as the Enterprise Administrator for the village’s BS&A software.

Lastly, the council approved the addition of two more streets to the village street inventory, an additional section of Aspen Hill Drive and Stonecrest Drive. The additional 1,200 feet for the village will increase the annual amount of maintenance funding by $3,000 coming from MDOT’s Transportation Fund.

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114 Dryden St. in Hart, Mich. 49420 (231) 873-2600

Visit us! The Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society is open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Private tours are available by appointment. oceanahistory.org

By Claire Marshall The Oceana Echo Community Columnist

Lent is the 40 days in between Ash Wednesday and sundown the day before Good Friday wherein, in Catholic tradition, you’re not allowed to eat or drink or do anything that would be considered fun. This is the opposite of Protestant tradition, where you do not eat or drink or do anything fun at any point in the year (put your pitchforks away - I come from a long line of German Lutherans).

Because many Catholics throughout the world use Lent to exhibit self-restraint and abstain from things such as meat, desserts, soda, coffee and (more recently) social media - the Tuesday before Lent begins is, in many cultures, a day to have a rollicking good time. Even if you are not Catholic, French, Italian or Brazilian, you will know of holidays such as Mardi Gras (wait for next week) or Carnival, where cities turn into massive parties.

To accompany the merriment, many Catholic cultures around the world have created a variety of desserts that serve the purpose of cleaning out the cupboard of things such as cream, sugar, eggs, fruit or lard before Lent begins. Some examples of these confectionery weapons of mass destruction include King Cakes from New Orleans (wait for next week), German fasnachts, Italian fritoles and pancakes! But the most relevant of these for Michiganders is the humble (but massively caloric) paczki.

Paczkis are a type of jelly-filled donut originating from Poland, consisting of some of those aforementioned Lent-incompatible ingredients - lard, sugar and fruit. Like many other types of donuts, dough is rolled

into ball shapes, filled with fruit jellies either by hand or (for mass production) through a machine and fried in oil. The result is a sweet dessert with a crisp outside, fluffy innards and a sugary center. Some traditional flavors include marmalade, plum and rose. If you’re feeling extra crazy, you can finish your paczki with glaze or powdered sugar.

Alongside the waves of Polish immigration to the Midwest and Canada came the paczki. Bakeries in cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Detroit celebrate Paczki Day on Fat Tuesday, providing the dessert to folks, irrespective of Catholicness or Polishness.

One of the more famous Polish communities in Michigan is Hamtramck, and several bakeries in the Detroit neighborhood are famous for their paczkis. Just scrolling online will yield plenty of independent bakeries throughout Michigan participating in the holiday, including some in our community. If they happen to run out though, don’t worry, Meijer or Wesco usually always has some.

Sadly, I cannot give any personal recommendations. After getting sick off a donut when I was five years old, even the smell of this kind of fried dough is enough to make me hurl. In exchange, I can offer my Oma’s Berliner recipe. While German, a Berliner is still a jelly-filled donut enjoyed by Catholics on Fat Tuesday (or New Year’s Eve, if you’re Lutheran).

You can start with any basic yeast-bread dough, but here’s my family’s.:

1. Slightly warm up ½ cup of milk

2. Add 1 package of yeast and 2 tsp of sugar to milk

3. Let sit in a warm place for 5 minutes or more

4. Take 2 cups of flour and stir in with the yeast

5. Stir in 1 room temperature egg, ½ stick of melted butter and a little salt. Use a little more lukewarm milk in water to help stir.

6. Let rise

7. Add 2 more cups of flour and another splash of water or milk

8, Let it rise again

9. Beat well

10. Roll out the dough to a ¼-inch-thick rectangle

11. With half of the dough, make circular impressions with the rim of a glass, but don’t cut them out yet.

12. Put about ½ tsp jelly in the middle of the circles

13. Spread an egg wash or more milk around the circles and cover with the other half of dough

14. Take the glass and punch out the jelly-filled donuts and seal the edges

15. While you let the dough rise a little more, heat a pot of oil until hot

16. Submerge each side of the donut until golden brown, remove from the oil, and coat each side in powdered or regular sugar

17. Enjoy (with the proper amount of Protestant or Catholic guilt)

And don’t ask me how to pronounce paczki - whichever version you choose (poonch-key or pawnch-key) will inevitably be “the wrong way.”

Shelby Optimist Club celebrates members as its community focus grows

Shelby Optimist Club members take a pledge to support youth activities and organizations throughout Oceana County. The Sportsman’s Banquet, the club’s major fundraiser held on Jan. 21, not only helped to fulfill that pledge, but also showed the community’s eagerness to support the club’s worthy cause.

While many club members donated much time and effort in making this year’s banquet a success, the Oceana County community — individuals as well as businesses — were the ones who truly made the event a success. They generously donated thousands of dollars worth of raffle and game prizes geared toward outdoor sports enthusiasts and purchased tickets to the sold-out event.

Officers of the Michigan District Optimist Club (MDOC) attended Shelby Optimist Club’s (SOC) Sportsman’s Banquet event Jan. 21. They presented members Tom Fox and Dale Burmeister (absent from photo) with certificates for serving in the SOC for 50 years. SOC members/officers and MDOC officers pictured are: center and back rows, from left, Deana Fox, president; Matt Williams; Eric Fox; Terry Leutzinger; Ross Field, vice president; Erin Stark; Greg Seibert, treasurer; front row, from left, Annie Hood-Simon; Optimist Zone 5 Lieutenant David Fries; Tom Fox (holding certificate); MDOC Governor David Putt; Paul Inglis; Jack Cheever; and Todd Fox. • Contributed Photos

This year, the club was honored to welcome to this longtime annual event officers from the Michigan District of Optimist International. They

presented members Tom Fox and Dale Burmeister with certificates for serving in the Shelby Optimist Club for 50 years. (Please see the above photo.

Burmeister’s grandsons accepted his certificate for him, since he was in Florida during the event).

While at the event, the district officers remarked on the status of Shelby Optimist Club, commenting on its growth in the past several years — which they advised exceeded that of other clubs in the state. It was a pleasant surprise to hear that Shelby Optimist Club is regarded as one of the largest and most progressive clubs in Michigan. That is due to the club’s number of members as well as its successful fundraising efforts and the amount of contributions provided to youth organizations and causes in the county.

Shelby Optimist Club’s 2026 President Deana Fox stated “Our club has existed for

over 75 years and is one of the oldest clubs in Michigan. While the club began as a Shelby entity, our members are pleased and honored to have expanded our reach to serve the youth in all areas of Oceana County.” If anyone would like to become a member of an organization that strives to make a real difference in the lives of young people in Oceana County, the Shelby Optimist Club welcomes new members. Talk to a club member or attend a meeting for more information. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. at the Stony Lake Inn on alternating Wednesday evenings. Follow Shelby Optimist Club on Facebook or get membership information by visiting the website: www.shelbyoptimist. com/join/.

at

or

Ongoing

3rd MON: OCDVA Coffee & Donuts for Veterans, Spouses and Veteran Widows, 9-11 a.m., Heritage Wedding Barn, Shelby.

TUES: Tech Time, Hesperia Community Library, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

TUES: Free Soup Supper, Hart Christian Fellowship, 5-7 p.m.

TUES: TOPS, Hart Wesleyan Church, 5 p.m.

1st & 3rd TUES: Tech help, Pentwater Twp. Library, 1-2 p.m.

3rd TUES: Pentwater Jr. Women’s Club - Feeding America

W. Mich. mobile food pantry, Pentwater Fire Dept., 11 a.m.

WED: Love INC and TrueNorth Housing Assistance satelliteplease call 231-861-4880 to make an appointment.

1st & 3rd WED: Free community dinner, 5-6 p.m., Hart Wesleyan.

1st & 3rd WED: Hart VFW Post 1329 Burger/Chicken/Brat/Ribs Night, 5-7 p.m., dine-in or carry out.

* Donate returnable cans and bottles to the Hart VFW. Drop off at the hall or call Steve at 231-873-1727 for pick-up.*

2nd & 4th WED: Pentwater Community Food Pantry, First Baptist Church, Pentwater, 9-10:15 a.m.

WED: Line Dancing, Park Place, Pentwater, 6:30-8 p.m.

THURS - "Harts 'n Homes" Women's Fellowship, Faith Christian Fellowship, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

1st FRI: Free Soup Supper, Ferry Comm. Center, 5-7 p.m.

FRI: Story Time, HCL, 10 a.m.

FRI: Preschool Story Hour, HAPL, 11 a.m.

1st SAT: Baby Pantry, Trinity Lutheran Church, 8:30-10 a.m.

5th SAT: Free Community Breakfast, Shelby UCC, 8-10 a.m.

The Ladder Community Center:

Feb. 14 - Party Club for Kids Age 5-12, 1-2:30 p.m.

Feb. 27 - Live Music by the Jammers, 10 a.m. to noon

March 21 - Jigsaw Puzzle Competition (Age 12 & up), 12:30-4:30 p.m. (Sign up by 3/14)

The Huddle: 6th-12th grade after-school program, M-F 3-5 p.m.

Adult Hours: M-F 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Feb. 24: Knitting Group, 10 a.m. to noon

Feb. 20 : Strum It Club,11 a.m. to noon

MON: Adult Bible Study, “Truth Rising”, 1-2 p.m.,

TUES: Men’s Bible Study, 10:30 a.m. to noon

SAT: “Celebrate” Worship Service, 6:30 p.m. Complete schedule at: theladdercommunitycenter.com

IDEAS NOVEL IDEAS NOVEL

FROM THE STAFF AT

Beat the winter blues with lots to do at the library

If certain Pennsylvania rodents are to be trusted, we have at least five more weeks of winter ahead of us - and as Michigan natives know, maybe longer! Fortunately, Hesperia Community Library has got you covered no matter the weather with free activities and materials for all ages.

Here are just some ways to use the library this winter:

• Are you planning a cozy weekend in? Check out our collection of puzzles, games, DVDs, and of course, books to help you stay busy.

• Did a storm leave you snowed-in? We have downloadable audiobooks, ebooks and magazines on our Libby app, and all those plus TV, music and movies on our Hoopla app.

• Need to work from home, but the internet has other plans? The library has free Wi-FI, including throughout the parking lot, as well as fresh coffee and new study carrels inside the library to help you get and stay focused.

• Kids got cabin fever? Get them out of the house and with their friends at one of our age-appropriate programs. We have a weekly preschool storytime on Fridays at 10 a.m., and each month during the school year offer the following monthly programs: tween nights on the first Tuesday of the month (ages 9-13 with permission slips), teen nights on the second Thursday of the month (9th12th grade), after-school movie on the third Monday afternoon of the month and Family Fun Night on the third Thursday evening of the month.

• Or maybe it’s you who has cabin fever? We have something for you also! Stop in for our monthly afternoon movie matinee, our crafternoon and craft night projects, and our book club.

• Need a winter coat or food and hygiene products? The library has a small food pantry and winter coat collection run entirely by patron and staff donations that is available to anyone in need.

Finally, if your family has just had enough of winter, and you are ready to think spring, then plan on joining us next month at the library as we celebrate March is Reading Month with a Dogman-themed reading challenge, including a Dogman party Family Fun Night on March 19. For information on all these programs and more, call the library at 231-854-5125, email us at hes@hesperialibrary.org or visit our website and Facebook page for more details!

F

ebruary

Feb. 13 - Blind Date with a Book, HCL, 6-7:30 p.m.

Feb. 14 - Pentwater WinterFest

Feb. 16 - After School Movie, Hesperia Community Library, 3:30-5 p.m.

Feb. 16 - PLA monthly meeting, Centenary UMC, Pentwater, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 17 - Random Act of Kindness Day

Feb. 19 - Friendship Ring Quilt Guild, NERC, 11:30 a.m.

Feb. 19 - Matinee Movie, Hesperia Community Library, 1-3:30 p.m.

Feb. 19 - Family Fun Night, Hesperia Community Library, 6-7 p.m.

Feb. 21- Kids Business Fair, Shelby Elementary, 9-11 a.m.

Feb. 21 - Pie Contest & Auction, The Avenue, New Era, 1 p.m.

Feb. 22 - Performing Arts Series, Fraser & Haas, Hart, 7:30 p.m.

Balance & Strength Class offered at The Ladder

Aging can zap one’s sense of balance and stability, but it doesn’t have to. This spring, The Ladder Community Center in Shelby is offering adults a seven-week class called Balance & Strength, which meets March 3 through April 16. Life without trips and tumbles requires strength, stability and coordination. This class is designed to improve one’s balance and strength.

There are two sessions to choose from: Session 1 meets Tuesdays from 12:301:10 p.m. and Thursdays from 9:30-10:10 a.m.; Session 2 meets Tuesdays from 1:20-2 p.m. and Thursdays from 10:20-11 a.m. Upon signing up, please indicate which session one plans to attend, as organizers do not allow people to attend both sessions.

All fitness levels are welcome. Registration is required (fees apply). If eligible, one’s membership fee may be covered by Silver Sneakers or One Pass. The cost of the class is $10, which will be refunded upon completing a minimum of eight classes. Class size is limited. Please call (231) 259-0211 or email sue@theladdercommunitycenter.com asap to sign up by Feb. 27. Visit theladdercommunitycenter.com to view all upcoming events.

Kids Business Fair is back Feb. 21 in Shelby

Shelby Elementary School will host the return of the Kids Business Fair, Saturday, Feb. 21 from 9-11 a.m. More than 30 kindergarten through fifth grade students will launch their businesses at this event by selling a variety of homemade and hand-picked products.

The Shelby Elementary PTO, who organizes this event, encouraged young entrepreneurs to unleash their inner business genius and make their dreams take flight. From artwork to favorite treats, students will have the chance to showcase their incredible talents and earn some spending money.

The community is invited and encouraged to attend to support these aspiring entrepreneurs. Shelby Elementary School is located at 1285 S. Oceana Dr. in Shelby.

SOACC to host 53rd Pie Contest & Auction Feb. 21

By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent

February is National Cherry Month, and now that the New Era and Shelby Chambers have merged to form the Southern Oceana Area Chamber of Commerce (SOACC), they have decided to bring back a community favorite event. The 53rd Pie Contest and Auction will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, at The Avenue Event Center in downtown New Era, 4747 1st St.

Pies should be dropped off at the center between 8-10 a.m. Judging will begin at 9 a.m. Winners will be announced at 1 p.m., followed by the auction.

The 51st Pie Contest and Auction was held February 2020, then due to the pandemic the 52nd contest and auction didn’t return until 2024. With the merger of the New Era and Shelby chambers taking place last year, no contest or auction was held. The 53rd event promises to be bigger and better than ever.

“The cherry pie contest and auctions are a

big part of New Era’s history. It’s fun to see entire families getting involved in baking with a little friendly family competition, on top of the actual contest,” SOACC member Michele Cunningham shared.

In keeping with tradition, cherry pies will be judged as part of the pie contest, however, any type of fruit pie is welcome to be a part of the auction and usually receives high bids as well. Only one pie is required to enter the contest. Pies should be baked in disposable pie tins and must have a top crust.

Prizes will be awarded in three categories, the top three adult male entries, the top three female entries and the top three youth (12 years and under) entries.

Volunteers are being sought for two shifts; the first shift volunteers will be asked to accept pies, prepare for judging, tally scores and call winners (7:30 a.m. to noon).

Second shift volunteers will help register buyers, showcase the pies during the auction as well as track purchases and collect payment during the

auction (noon to 3 p.m.). Of course volunteers may help for the entire event as well. People can sign up to volunteer at tinyurl.com/6yhc9wwu on SignUpGenius or by contacting Cunningham at 231-259-8345.

“The cherry pie contest and auction is a fun community tradition that inspires lighthearted competition while also benefiting a good cause,” said Amy Weesies, another SOACC member. Bidders can be anyone from Oceana County and beyond, individuals, businesses, organizations, families or a group of friends. “Even if you’re not a baker, we welcome any bidder, buyer or spectator to the auction. All proceeds from the auction and additional donations will benefit the Oceana County Animal Shelter this year,” Cunningham concluded.

Performing Arts Series presents renowned Celtic duo

The Hart Community Performing Arts Series will present renowned Celtic music artists Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas in concert on Sunday, February 22, in a performance that will begin at 3 p.m. in the Hart Public Schools Auditorium. This will be their third appearance in Hart over the past two decades.

The musical partnership between consummate performer Alasdair Fraser, "the Michael Jordan of Scottish fiddling," and brilliant Californian cellist Natalie Haas spans the full spectrum between intimate chamber music and ecstatic dance energy. Over the last 25 years of creating a buzz at festivals and concert halls across the world, they have truly set the standard for fiddle and cello in traditional music. They continue to thrill audiences internationally with their virtuosic playing, their near-telepathic understanding and the joyful spontaneity and sheer physical presence of their music.

Fraser has a concert and recording career spanning over 30 years, with a long list of awards, accolades, radio and television credits, and feature performances on top movie soundtracks ("Last of the Mohicans," "Titanic," etc.). In 2011, he was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. Haas, a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, is one of the most sought-after cellists in traditional music today. She has performed and recorded with a who's who of the fiddle world, including Mark O'Connor, Natalie MacMaster, Irish supergroups Solas and Altan, Liz Carroll, Dirk Powell, Brittany Haas,

This seemingly unlikely pairing of fiddle and cello is the fulfillment of a long-standing musical dream for Fraser. His search eventually led him to find a cellist who could help return the cello to its historical role at the rhythmic heart of Scottish dance music, where it stood for hundreds of years before being relegated to the orchestra. The duo's debut recording, "Fire & Grace," won the coveted Scots Trad Music "Album of the Year" award, the Scottish equivalent of a Grammy. Since its release, the two have gone on to record five more critically acclaimed albums

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that blend a profound understanding of the Scottish tradition with cutting-edge string explorations. In addition to performing, they both have motivated generations of string players through their teaching at fiddle camps across the globe.

" … you would think they'd been playing together for centuries. While his fiddle dances, her cello throbs darkly or plucks puckishly. Then [Haas] opens her cello's throat, joining Fraser in soaring sustains, windswept refrains, and sudden, jazzy explosions. Their sound is as urbane as a Manhattan midnight, and as wild as a Clackmannan winter."

— Boston Globe

"As many gigs as they must have played together over the past decade or so, there remains a striking spontaneity about Fraser and Haas's music-making. He has tonal variation and attack to spare, but what makes them so consistently absorbing is the responsiveness each shows to the other. Haas is more than a cellist: she's the rhythm section who uses the percussive chip'n'chop of her bowing and the double basslike pulse of her pizzicato playing to great effect. The accompanist's role moves so fluently between them, building tension all the while, and then they'll slip into unison and it's like floodgates opening."

— The Herald

Tickets for the concert are available on the series website, hartseries.org or at the door on the afternoon of the concert. For more information, contact Artistic Director Tom Kirk at tomkirk@hartseries.org.

Lighthouse Lutheran

In Loving Memory of our Family, Friends and Neighbors

obituaries

Harold Ralph Kempker

September 3, 1938 ~ February 3, 2026

Harold Ralph Kempker, 87, passed away peacefully Feb ruary 3, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was born Sep tember 3, 1938, the son of Harold and Viola (Venksy) Kempker.

Harold spent his life in motion. After graduating from Muskegon High School, he wasted no time getting started, jumping right into the semi-pro baseball league in Muskegon and playing at Marsh Field. Staying busy came naturally to him, and so did devotion. His wife, Sharon, kept him on his toes, and Harold stood faithfully by her side throughout her battle with cancer, offering a steady, calming presence every step of the way. Together they shared 46 years of marriage before her passing.

Harold was a proud father of six and a man who never shied away from hard work or from speaking his mind. Known for his quick sense of humor and straightforward nature, Harold always said what he thought, often delivering it with a dry remark or a grin. Over the years, he collected more than just jobs - he collected skills, trades and stories. He drove truck, worked at Kroger and Hansen Foods, spent nearly 14 years driving bus for Hart Public Schools, and farmed for an incredible 67 years. From pigs, cows and horses to cherries, pumpkins, asparagus and pickles, Harold did it all. A devoted and tireless worker, he was always up before the sun and done only after it set, providing for his family with quiet determination. He liked to call himself “a man of steel,” and those who knew him would agree.

As the years went on, Harold continued to keep busy by leaning into one of his greatest loves: sports. Whether you were a grandchild, great-grandchild, niece, nephew or simply a kid from the community, you knew Harold. His familiar face was a constant in the bleachers. From cheering on the Muskegon Big Reds, his alma mater, to traveling near and far for his grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s games, Harold proudly earned the title of the community’s sports grandfather. He loved good competition and was always quick to remind you, with a grin, “If you’re not first, you’re last.”

Harold is survived by: his children, Rick (Deb) Kempker, Rod Kempker, Rhonda Peters, Mark Kempker, Melissa (Brad) Altland and Kendra Unger; grandchildren, Jamie (Ben) Kaat, Kristy (Warren) Schuitema, Holly (JR) Thomas, Elizabeth Kempker, Taylor Peters, Spencer (Alysha Heck) Peters, McKenna Peters, Dylan (Kalilah Dabandons) Unger, Miranda (Cole Cleaver) Unger, Kasey Unger, Miles Kempker, Kaden (Amber) Kempker, Kolby (Anna) Kempker, Kameron Kempker, Alison Altland, Robert Altland and honorary grandchild, Markus Mallory; great-grandchildren, Alec Kempker, Norah Schuitema, Teagan Schuitema, Nevaeh Thomas, Malikai Thomas, Janiyah Thomas, Dorrell Jr. Thomas, Devyn Kempker, Braelynn Sheafor, Emily Sheafor, Carson Heck, Koa Unger, Elikai Unger, Octavia Cleaver, Easton Cleaver, Kaspyn Cleaver and Rowen Kempker; brother, Ron (Joan Weise) Kempker; and sisters-in-law, Nancy Kempker and Marcia Walsworth.

The family will receive friends and family, Sunday, February 22, 2026, from 12:30-2 p.m. at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, 2370 N. 72nd Ave., Hart, MI 49420.

Robert ‘Bob’ Lohman

June 28, 1941 ~ February 2, 2026

Robert “Bob” Lohman passed away February 2, 2026, in Florida.

Bob was a man with a quick wit and a twinkle in his eye, always ready with a joke. His humor, paired with a steady work ethic and a generous heart, made him someone people naturally gravitated toward.

Bob spent his life as a dedicated beekeeper tending his hives with patience and pride. He had a lifelong love of cars – especially Corvettes – and could talk engines and models with anyone who shared the passion. A talented woodworker, he crafted beautiful furniture over the years, including hand-built beds for each of his grandchildren. Gifts made with love and meant to last.  He liked things neat, clean and just so, and he never turned down a good burger.

Bob is survived by: his wife of 65 years, Marlene; children, Lynn (Nancy), Brian (Cindy) and Dorianne (Gary); nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Phyllis Auble; and sisters-in-law, Joyce Lohman, Kathi Strahl and Donna Strahl.

Bob was preceded in death by: his parents, Melvin and Thelma Lohman; brother, James Lohman; and sister, Arlene Gruette.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 2, 2026, at New Era Bible Church, 5308 S. Oceana Dr., New Era, Michigan 49446.

Joyce Elaine Wagner

December 17, 1947 ~ February 5, 2026

Joyce Elaine Wagner, 78, passed away peacefully, Febru ary 5, 2026. She was born December 17, 1947, the daugh ter of Gustave and Erma Johnson.

Joyce’s greatest joy in life was her family, to whom she was deeply devoted, especially her grandchildren. She showed her love in countless ways, often through her sewing, a talent she cherished in her free time. Joyce lovingly made clothing for her children and grandchildren and took special pride in creating memorable Halloween costumes that will be treasured for years to come.

She shared a close and enduring bond with her three sisters, a friendship that remained strong throughout their lives. Joyce also found simple happiness in the things she loved most: her penny collection, long walks in the woods and the peace of nature. A true nature lover, she delighted in feeding the birds and watching the wildlife, especially the deer. In the winter months, she would even place a salt block outside to help ensure the deer were cared for and never went hungry.

Joyce is survived by: her husband, James Wagner; children, Janet (Bill) Welch and Julia Striker; and grandchildren, Chloe Welch, Myles Welch, Axell Welch, Izabella Striker and River Striker.

Joyce was preceded in death by her grandson, Tyler; and brother, Robert Johnson.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, February 13, 2026, at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service White Lake Chapel, 413 S. Mears Ave., Whitehall, MI 49461, with Pastor Tim Dibble presiding. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home. A luncheon will be held at the American Legion, 803 E. Colby St., Whitehall, MI 49461, immediately following services. Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, White Lake Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

Robert (Bob) H Forbes

June 17, 1927 ~ February 8, 2026

Bob Forbes, born June 17, 1927, went to be with his Lord on February 8, 2026, at 98 1⁄2 years of age. He was born to Marian & Raymond Forbes in Indianapolis, Indiana. He went to Purdue University, graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering; played Purdue football as a center, and then played semi-pro football.

Bob served in the Navy during WWII.

He met Dorothy Wanket in California, the love of his life for 72 years. They had six children, 12  grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.

Bob and Dorothy lived in Germany for two years working for the Allison division of General Motors. After moving to Michigan, he became the General Manager of Michigan Kenworth for 10 years.

They moved 18 times before settling in Hesperia, Michigan on his 40th birthday (1967). He and his kids built 4 miles of 4-strand fence for beef cattle and a longhorn, as well as multiple miscellaneous farm animals!

Bob was a Hesperia Panther supporter for 50 years.

He was Newfield Township Supervisor and initiated the building of Newfield Township Hall, the Fire Barn and North Maple Island Road. He was a Hesperia School bus driver for 17 years.

Bob and Dorothy loved the Stage Door Players, singing and being in a choir, and working on community projects. They were supportive of the Hesperia Library.

He built and ran the 4B's 3D Archery for 15 years before handing the reins to his son, Jeff.

Bob and Dorothy built the Forbes Lake Campground, where they loved to visit with campers.

Bob loved his family, the Lord and the land.

There will be a celebration of life at a future date.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP

Synopsis of Meeting February 02, 2026

Regular meeting called to order at 6:06pm

Present: Scott Beishuizen, Cathy Anderson, Becky Griffin, Scott Meyers, Richard Raffaelli and 4 members of the public.

Items approved:

• Public Hearing Minutes 01/05/2026, and Board Meeting Minutes from 01/05/2026

• Resolution 260202-3 (425 Land Transfer Agreement)

• Resolution 260202-2 (Reappoint Fire Board Member for 6-year term)

• Return Planning Commission to 5 members at the end of the 2026 year

Meeting adjourned at 7:21 pm

Copies of meeting minutes are available from the Township and approved minutes are on our website www.shelbytownshipoceana. com

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE,

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257

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• On Feb. 16, 1959, Fidel Castro was sworn in as Cuba’s prime minister after leading a guerrilla campaign that forced right-wing dictator Fulgencio Batista into exile. Castro, who became commander in chief of Cuba’s armed forces after Batista was ousted on Jan. 1, replaced the more moderate Miro Cardona as head of the country’s new provisional government.

STRANGE BUT TRUE #12345_20260202 FOR RELEASE FEB. 2, 2026

NOW HERE’S A TIP #12345_20260202 FOR RELEASE FEB. 2, 2026

By JoAnn Derson

• On Feb. 17, 1972, the 15,007,034th Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the assembly line and broke a world car-production record held for more than 40 years by the Ford Motor Company’s Model T, which was manufactured from 1908 to 1927.

By Lucie Winborne

• On Feb. 18, 1930, Elm Farm Ollie earned the remarkable distinction of becoming the first cow to fly — and be milked — in an airplane. Her milk was then boxed and parachuted to waiting spectators on the ground.

• On Feb. 19, 1473, Nicolaus Copernicus, regarded as the father of modern astronomy, was born in Torun, a city in north-central Poland on the Vistula River. He would become the first modern European scientist to propose that Earth and other planets revolve around the sun.

• On Feb. 20, 1977, an episode of the TV sitcom “Seinfeld” titled “The Pothole” debuted, with the inclusion of a storyline in which the eccentric character Kramer adopted a stretch of the fictional Arthur Burghardt Expressway via the real-life Adopt-A-Highway program.

• On Feb. 21, 2016, quadruple amputee Kyle Maynard reached the summit of Mount Aconcagua, South America’s tallest mountain, after bearcrawling up the nearly 23,000-foot peak without the use of his prosthetics. Four years earlier, he’d climbed Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro in the same manner.

• On Feb. 22, 1983, Arthur Bicknell’s play “Moose Murders” made its Broadway debut at New York’s Eugene O’Neill Theater, and closed the very same night, earning it the unfortunate description by The New York Times as “the standard of awfulness against which all Broadway flops are judged.” After the curtain fell on cue, there was no applause, leading one cast member to remark that “I don’t think there ever was a show in the history of Broadway where you took a bow to silence.”

© 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

• “Keep cats indoors during very cold weather. They are particularly vulnerable to freezing. If you can leave the curtains drawn on a window where Kitty can look outside and sunbathe, she probably will be happy.” — M.R. in Washington

• This is some good advice given to me by my grandmother if you have lots of outdoor or feral cats in your area: Start your car with a bang — on the hood, that is. When the overnight temperature dips, cats know to find someplace that is wind-shielded and off the ground, and sometimes, that means they will climb up into your engine area to hunker down. If your car starts, they can be hurt or even killed. Give the hood a knock to let a cat know to get out quick.

• Pet paws need extra care in the cold months, especially dogs that must be walked in icy and snowy conditions. Here’s a great tip from Y.L. in New York: “I keep a small towel with me on my daily dog walks, but I also wash off my dog’s paws with a warm washcloth when we return. Another thing I do is to rub petroleum jelly into her pads once a day. They really take a beating having to go out three times a day in salty, muddy, cold conditions. She won’t wear doggie booties, so this works best for us.”

• If you keep birds, a reminder: Never preheat pans on high heat, especially nonstick pans. They can let off a chemical that you or I cannot even detect, but can be a health hazard for your bird friend that is in the kitchen area. Don’t keep birds in the kitchen when cooking.

• Spread a teaspoon of peanut butter thinly on a paper plate, then when the dog is busy with his treat, you can trim his nails. Or sometimes just having it nearby as a promised treat can do the trick to distract your pet. Good luck!

Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 1800 Pembrook Dr., Suite 300, Orlando, FL 32810.

© 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

By Lucie Winborne

• Actor Paul Newman once said he was tired of people asking him to remove his sunglasses so they could see his famous blue eyes, confessing that his stock response was, “I would take off my sunglasses, madam, but my pants would fall down.”

• Six million pounds of space dust settle on Earth every year.

• The Bahamas once boasted an undersea post office, Sea Floor Bahamas, established in 1939, which allowed mail to be posted with a unique “Sea Floor” postmark, which became a hit with stamp collectors until the office closed in 1942.

• Many birds’ feathers weigh more than their bones.

• A hill in New Zealand is named Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu.

• Astronauts on Mars won’t just make plans based on temperature, but will also need to consider tau, the level of particulate matter in the atmosphere. High tau levels will block sunlight to solar-powered rovers.

• A coyote can hear a mouse moving under a foot of snow.

• Since 1971, Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, has issued permits to unicorn hunters.

• The 1967 Outer Space Treaty forbids any nation from trying to own the moon.

• Pelé is the only soccer player to ever be a part of three different World Cup winning teams.

• “Beauty and the Beast” was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture. It lost to “The Silence of the Lambs.”

• Wisconsin is known as the Badger State because the area’s lead miners used to spend winters in tunnels burrowed into hills — like badgers.

• Honey hunters in Mozambique use special calls to recruit the services of birds known as honeyguides, which lead the hunters to bees’ nests.

***

Thought for the Day: “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” — Marilyn Monroe

*** © 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

Oceana County

ANIMAL SHELTER

Lola is a 5-year-old, 35 lb Basset/Corgi mix with a heart as big as her soulful eyes. With her short legs and gentle presence, she’s the kind of girl who quietly scoots into your life and settles there for good.

Lola truly loves people. She’s happiest when she’s close, soaking up attention, offering soft tail wags and reminding you that life is better with a loyal friend by your side. She has that wonderful, steady energy that makes her an easy companion for cozy evenings, relaxed walks and all the simple moments in between. Sweet, affectionate and endlessly lovable, Lola is ready to trade her foster days for forever days. If you’re looking for a devoted little shadow with a calm soul and a whole lot of love to give, Lola may be your perfect match.

Lola is available for adoption from the Oceana County Animal Control. If interested, please call the shelter at 231861-5395. The adoption fee for cats is $35 and you receive certificates for $25 towards spay/neuter and $10 towards rabies if not already done. The adoption fee for dogs is $95 and will receive a $50 certificate good for spay/neuter if needed. Every dog should have an ID tag. L.A.S.S.I. provides free dog ID tags to all Oceana County residents. To request tags, send a text to 231-730-3906. Free tags are also available at the OCEANA County Animal Shelter.

Wild Ones group plans 2 events

The Oceana Conservation District, in Shelby, will play host to the Wild Ones West Michigan Shore-to-Prairie group's Saturday, Feb. 21 program, which begins at 10 a.m. Participants will view two short films from Michigan State University, including "Smart Reasons to Choose Native" and "Matching Native Plants to Your Yard’s Needs," and have opportunities to connect with other area gardeners and specialists.

Also, Nancy Roggers will discuss why to "Plant This, Not That," beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 21 at the Muskegon Conservation District office in Twin Lake. Roggers' presentation introduces gardeners to a number of native Michigan species.

Wild Ones West Michigan Shore-to-Prairie is the local chapter of the non-profit Wild Ones Natural Landscapers. The tri-county group is working to build a community of gardeners and landscapers to help restore native plants in Muskegon, Newaygo and Oceana counties. The local Wild Ones chapter will offer gardeners and landscapers the camaraderie of working together, teaching and sharing expertise. Presentations, field trips and hands-on activities are scheduled monthly throughout the year, rotating within this area.

The monthly Saturday gatherings are free to the public. Please preregister for the February program through the Oceana Conservation District website and for the March program through the Muskegon Conservation District website.

Lakeshore Parenting Expo returns to connect families with local resources

Families across Mason County and the surrounding Lakeshore communities are invited to attend the Lakeshore Parenting Expo on Friday, Feb. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ludington Elementary School. This free, family-friendly event is designed to connect parents, caregivers and expectant families with trusted local resources, services and educational opportunities all in one place.

The Expo begins with keynote speaker Mike Jeruzal, followed by the opening of vendor and community resource booths at 10 a.m. The first 50 keynote attendees can enjoy a paid-for lunch provided by Papa Dad’s Barbeque at noon, while continuing to explore the event and connect with providers. Children’s activities will be provided.

The Lakeshore Parenting Expo brings together professionals and organizations that support families in areas such as healthcare, mental health,

SSB announces 2 branch manager promotions

Shelby State Bank (SSB) announces the internal promotion of two new branch managers in their Whitehall and Hesperia offices.

Melissa Harris has been promoted to Branch Manager of the Whitehall branch office. She began her career with Shelby State Bank as a Business Development Specialist, where she oversaw key programs including SSB’s Elan credit card portfolio. She will continue supporting these initiatives in her new role. With more than 20 years of banking experience, Melissa brings extensive expertise in business development, lending, customer education, marketing, sales management and employee coaching.

Melissa is passionate about building and growing strong teams and is dedicated to delivering exceptional service to customers and local businesses. Having grown up in Ravenna, she values the hometown feel of the White Lake area and the opportunities it offers to invest in and support the local community. Melissa is currently relocating to Whitehall and looks forward to serving area residents.

“We are excited to welcome Melissa to our management team. She fully embraces community banking and Shelby State Bank’s mission, and her commitment to team building and relationship development will be a valuable asset,” said Branch Administrator Keely Moon. “We are confident that Melissa will make a meaningful and lasting impact in the White Lake community.”

Tracy Wimpee has been promoted to

Branch Manager of the Hesperia branch office. She has been with Shelby State Bank for almost five years, starting as a CSR (Customer Service Representative) and moving to Personal Banker, during which time she has trained CSRs and helped on several special projects and proce-

dures. Tracy also brings extensive management experience in the retail industry. She’s excited to continue her growth with SSB and plans to focus on teambuilding, cross-training, and getting out into the community. She loves spending time with family and her friends, giving back to her

PUBLIC NOTICE

CRYSTAL TOWNSHIP BOARD OF REVIEW OCEANA COUNTY, MICHIGAN

The Crystal Township Board of Review will meet at 1499 E. Hammett Rd., Hart, MI 49420 to review the 2026 Assessment Roll on the following dates:

Public Appeals: Monday, March 9, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Taxpayers may appeal in person or by written appeal received no later than 5:00 p.m., March 12, 2026. Poverty exemption applications will be considered at this time.

American with Disabilities (ADA) Notice

Crystal Township will provide necessary reasonable services to individuals with disabilities at the Board of Review meetings upon 5 days’ notice. Contact: Jana Boundy 231-301-4610

Published by: Jana L. Boundy, Township Clerk Crystal Township, Oceana County

community and teaching competitive baton twirling. Tracy resides in Holton with her family.

Moon said, “We are excited to promote Tracy to our leadership team. Tracy has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, dedication, and a genuine commitment to both her team and our customers. Her passion for developing others and serving the community makes her a natural fit for this role. We are excited to see her continue to lead and grow the Hesperia branch.”

early childhood education, parenting support, birth services, nutrition and more. The goal is to make it easier for families to discover the many resources available in their own community.

Admission is free, and families are welcome to come and go throughout the event.

For more information, visit the Lakeshore Parenting Expo Facebook page.

Shelby Township, Oceana County

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

February 2, 2026

The Shelby Township Board will be holding a public hearing on the proposed budget for the 2026/2027 fiscal year on Monday, March 02, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Shelby Township Hall, 204 N. Michigan Avenue, Shelby, Michigan.

Budget and financial statements for the year may be inspected and will be reviewed.

The property tax millage rate proposed to be levied to support the proposed budget will be a subject of this hearing.

Copies of the budget are available for inspection at the Shelby Township Hall. Individuals requiring aids or services should contact the township office at (231) 861-5853 or e-mail to clerk@shelbytownshipoceana. com.

Cathy Anderson

Shelby Township Clerk (231) 861-5853

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PENTWATER DISTRICT LIBRARY

County of Oceana, Michigan

ON THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS IN THE LIBRARY DISTRICT OF PENTWATER DISTRICT LIBRARY

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Pentwater District Library, County of Oceana, Michigan will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, the 17th day of February, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the Pentwater District Library, Pentwater, Michigan (formerly the Pentwater Township Library), to consider the approval and adoption of the operating budget of the Pentwater District Library for the fiscal year 2026-2027.

Copies of the proposed budget are on file with the Library Director at the Pentwater District Library, 402 E. Park Street, Pentwater, Michigan (formerly Pentwater Township Library) for public inspection during normal business hours.

At the public hearing, all citizens, taxpayers, and property owners of the Pentwater District Library, comprised of the Township of Pentwater and the Pentwater Public School District included in Weare Township, all in the County of Oceana, Michigan, shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard in regard to the approval of the budget.

THE PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE RATE PROPOSED TO BE LEVIED BY THE DISTRICT LIBRARY TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED BUDGET WILL BE A SUBJECT OF THIS HEARING.

This notice is given by order of the Board of Trustees of the Pentwater District Library, County of Oceana, Michigan. Amber Jaeb, Secretary

Any citizen requesting accommodation to attend this meeting or to obtain this notice in an alternate format, please contact Mary Barker, Library Director at (231) 869-8581

After quick start by Hart, Shelby rallies for win

Jordan Wolting’s 3-pointers boost

Shelby early; teams raise money for Coaches vs. Cancer

By Andy Roberts

The Oceana Echo Community Contributor

HART — Monday’s Hart/Shelby game played out similarly to the teams’ first meeting back in December - a close, physical battle much of the way, but with the Tigers on top in the end, this time by a 53-44 margin.

Hart came out with a strong game plan that kept the Tigers from playing the same kind of frenetic, defensive-oriented game they’re used to. Instead it was the Pirates playing good defense and creating offense. The Pirates’ Rilynn Porter knocked down a three-pointer to make it 9-2 early in the first quarter.

The Tigers were bailed out by one of their less-heralded players - sixth woman Jordan Wolting, daughter of coach Sarah Wolting. The sophomore sharpshooter checked in off the bench and made four first-half three-pointers, including two quick ones in the first to get Shelby back to within a point, 11-10. She drilled another one to tie things up at 16, part

Jordan Wolting faces defense from Hart’s Joselyn Flores during Monday’s game at Hart. Wolting had 14 points in the Tigers’ 53-44 win. • Andy Roberts/Echo

of a brief run that put Shelby ahead for good.

“I go in every off day and I shoot 300-400 shots a day, off the dribble and everything from different spots,” Wolting said. “It’s a lot of commitment, but it’s definitely work that pays off.”

Coach Wolting said Jordan’s embracing of her role as the team’s designated long-range shot maker is emblematic of how everyone on the team has bought into what makes the team best. Jayna Burmeister, who ended the night with a team-high 16 points and 20 rebounds, is of course

• Andy Roberts/Echo

the gravitational star, but without the contributions of Wolting, Ava Lamberg and Michelle Peterson - who each knocked down timely treys in the second quarter - things likely wouldn’t have ended well for Shelby.

The Tigers aren’t familiar with trailing, having lost just once and needed a comeback to win only one other time, against Ravenna. However, the group displayed the toughness needed to win big games by hanging in there after Hart’s early rush.

“They’re just a group that never stops,” Wolting said. “They’re not going to give up. Even though we’re

down by 10 or whatever, they’re going to fight back. That’s what makes us good right now. Other teams might get tired, but we just keep pushing through. I didn’t sub a lot tonight, but the six or seven that did (play) were all out all game.”

Peterson’s second-quarter trey was an especially big one, coming in rushed fashion as time was running out before the half. Sending that shot through the net gave the Tigers an even bigger boost going to the locker

Shelby beats Hart continued on page 11

Hart tops Rivers schools at WMC tourney, takes district

By Andy Roberts

Oceana Echo Community Contributor

MONTAGUE — Hart easily took the top spot among West Michigan Conference Rivers schools Friday at the WMC tournament in Montague, scoring 208.5 points and finishing second overall behind Lakes champion Whitehall.

Shelby placed fourth overall and second among Rivers schools with 145.5 points, with Hesperia in fifth (third in the Rivers) with 132 points.

As in prior WMC tournaments under the Lakes/Rivers format, the brackets were split by division, with championship and third-place matches pitting division winners against each other.

Four Pirate wrestlers earned overall WMC titles, including Haegan Hansen at 175 pounds. Hansen pinned his two Rivers opponents, then defeated Ca’Mari Rees from Orchard View by a 5-1 decision in the championship match.

Abdel Lopez also took first at 215, with a pin and a decision win against Rivers opponents and a 10-7 win over Ludington’s Chase Gable in

the finals.

Pirates Logan Jorissen and Halen Boos earned first place at 138 and 144 respectively. Jorissen pinned his two Rivers foes and then beat Whitehall’s Max Krukowski in the finals, 5-1, and Boos dominated his bracket, with a technical fall followed by two pins.

Hart’s Jude Salazar added a second-place overall finish, defeating two Rivers foes by pin and by decision.

Taking third for Hart (second in the Rivers) were Aiden Schaner (126), Caden VanGelderen (132) and Adrian Lara (285).

The WMC also hosted their first-ever girls tournament, staged in a round-robin format. It was a good day for the two Pirates that participated. Emma Miller earned first place at 120, going 2-0 with a pair of pins. Elyssa Tanis went 3-1 at 115 to finish in second, with all her wins coming by pin.

The Tiger boys had three Rivers champs and overall finalists, highlighted by the first-place win from Brody Fessenden at 157. Fessenden pinned all three of his opponents, finishing up with a pin of Whitehall’s Colten Kyser in the finals.

Jaylin Henderson (165)

and Cesar Cadena (120) each defeated their Rivers foes and took second overall. Henderson pinned his first two opponents before falling in the finals, and Cadena won by pin and by major decision against his two Rivers opponents.

In the girls’ tournament, Olivia Casarez, Gracie Parks and Grace Ann Eckert took second place at 100, 125 and 145/155 respectively. Eckert went 3-1, with all her wins coming by pin; Parks went 3-1 with a pair of pins and a technical fall; and Casarez was 1-1, scoring an overtime win over North Muskegon’s Jade Vellenga.

Hesperia sent two wres-

tlers to the top of the podium among Rivers wrestlers, and the Panthers’ Noah Walker won the 285-pound bracket overall, running his season record to 34-3. Walker pinned his two Rivers opponents and defeated Montague’s Maverick Osborne by a 7-3 decision in the finals.

Ryan Fuentes added a sec-

Rivera’s winning shot lifts Hesperia past Holton

By Andy Roberts

Oceana Echo Community Contributor

HESPERIA — Hesperia messed up its final offensive play coming out of a timeout, down a point, in last Thursday’s rivalry game against Holton. Luckily, sophomore Dominick Rivera was there to save the day.

Rivera got loose at the top of the key with about 20 seconds left, stepped forward and knocked down a jump shot, and after a defensive stop, the Panthers greeted a joyous student section that stormed the court to celebrate a 47-46 comeback victory.

Rivera entered the fourth quarter with zero points - and his team down 40-28 - but he hit a big three-pointer early in the quarter to help spark a comeback, and he didn’t hesitate when the moment arrived in the final minute.

“We were supposed to set a pick low,” Hesperia coach Scott Warsaw said. “We missed the pick. We froze, and Dom cut. The one thing I’ll say about Dom is, he can go 0-for-50, and he thinks he’ll hit the next one. That’s a great quality.”

It was a dramatic night for Rivera, and an emotional one; he said his family recently lost his grandmother and his uncle, and basketball has helped keep him steady through a tough time.

“I just dedicated this game to them, and whatever shot I shot, I felt confident in it,” Rivera said. “Keep shooting. I had that confidence.

“It’s just the amount of time I put in over time after practice, getting those shots up. At that moment, the shot felt good, and the amount

of practice I put in after practice, at home when it’s snowing, every single time the shots feel good. It was just amazing.”

Hesperia then managed to get a stop on Holton’s final possession after focusing defensive efforts on the Red Devils’ Keon McMillan and Jacob Berghuis. Fortunately for Hesperia, two shots near the rim did not fall, and the ball came loose after that as time ran out.

Rivera’s shot was truly remarkable, but it may never have had a chance to occur if not for another unsung hero: Freshman Evan Conkle, a recent JV call-up who exploded in the second half for 14 points, almost single-handedly leading the Panthers back into the game before fouling out with about three minutes to play. One especially impressive play in the third quarter saw Conkle race down the floor on a fast break, reel in a long pass from a teammate and go up for a layup in one motion, scoring through contact.

Warsaw said Conkle has had to fight the inclination to defer to teammates, and the team has been clear that he’s in the varsity lineup because they believe he can be a factor.

“His teammates had confidence in him, and he began to feel good,” Warsaw said. “Sometimes when you get brought up from the JV, you think, ‘I’ll let the other guys (control the game),’ but you’ve got to do your thing. He’s a great player.”

Rivera, who along with several teammates also played football with Conkle this fall, expressed confidence in Conkle as well.

“We already know that he’s a man-

Shelby beats Hart

room.

The second half appeared more like the type of game Shelby likes to play, with defense and fast breaks. The Tigers had 10 steals in all in the game, and many of them came in the second half.

Hart didn’t let things get out of hand, though, and after falling behind 35-23, the Pirates responded with a 9-0 run led by Porter, who had 15 points in the game (Reese Smith had 13). The senior guard scored through contact for a threepoint play, then knocked down a three-pointer. Smith followed with another triple to get the score to 3532, but Wolting quickly put a stop to Hart’s momentum by scoring her only second-half bucket of the game. Burmeister followed by swiping an inbound pass and going end-to-end for a layup, and Hart couldn’t make another run.

The Echo was unable to reach Hart coach Ron Williamson for comment after the game.

The game was physically played, unsurprising given the rivalry and both teams’ emphasis on hard-nosed defense. Burmeister, who plays with a mask due to a facial injury suffered earlier this season, had to get the mask looked at multiple times during the game, and the Tigers’ Annabelle Stark went down on her back hard late in the game after a collision with a Pirate, though luckily appeared to be alright after the win.

“We just play so physical, and Hart does too,” Wolting said. “It was a physical game. I think our rebound-

child,” Rivera said. “He’s a dog. Even in football, he’s a dog. Once you put him in the game, he gets the job done. He is our teammate, and he’s always welcome, always.”

After Conkle fouled out, Tyler Rumsey checked in to replace him and picked up where Conkle left off, scoring a driving layup to tie the score at 44. Holton scored again to take the lead, but Rumsey got to the line and hit 1-of-2. After Holton missed a pair of free throws, the Panthers drew a foul with a chance to take the lead. Although they missed both, a jump ball on the rebound gave them another chance, which resulted in Rivera’s star turn.

The added emotion of the rivalry made the victory even sweeter for Hesperia; a late third-quarter argument had to be quieted down by officials after the Panthers were called for a foul in an attempt to take the ball

away.

“At half, we said, ‘No matter what, let’s play with heart and passion,’” Warsaw said. “Now, to be honest, (that was) a little too much passion, but it’s a rivalry game. I’m proud, not because we won, but because we didn’t quit. And if you don’t quit, you have a chance.”

Hesperia hung around early despite a sloppy first half marred by several turnovers. That was largely thanks to Malakai Sellers and Weston Hasted, who accounted for all the Panthers’ first-half points - eight each - as Holton took a 25-16 lead into the locker room. Sellers ended the night with 12 points, and Hasted had 11.

“We always have a game like this,” Warsaw said. “We hadn’t this year, but as crosstown rivals, this is a huge game for us and a huge game for them.”

continued from page 10

Shelby’s Ava Lamberg and Hart’s Rilynn Porter battle for a loose ball during Monday’s game at Hart. Tough Tiger defense helped them overcome an early deficit to win the game, 53-44.

• Andy Roberts/Echo

ing really picked up in the second half. Jayna had 20 rebounds. If she sets her mind on going to get a rebound, she’s going to get it.”

The game also was a Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser, as the Pirates wore special jerseys for the occasion, a shooting contest took place at halftime to raise money to fight the disease, and free will donations were accepted throughout. The event, as well as the game, was originally scheduled for Jan. 23 before being postponed due to the extreme cold temperatures that day.

“It was kind of a bummer that it didn’t happen that Friday, where we would have had maybe a bigger crowd and more people in attendance, but it was cool to wear pink, and say we’re playing for someone who’s fighting cancer or has passed from cancer,” coach Wolting said. “It’s a special thing for two rival teams to come together for one cause.”

Hart triumphs

ond-place overall finish at 150, earning a technical fall and two pins in the Rivers bracket before taking second. Carter Fuentes took third at 106, going 3-1 with two wins by pin, and Brant Hutson was third at 175, with a 3-1 mark and three pin victories.

Lacey Mey was Hesperia’s lone girls competitor, and she took second at 130, going 4-1 and scoring four pins.

Pirates win district title

Hart won its eighth consecutive district championship Wednesday night at Reed City, routing the host Coyotes 62-15 in the finals.

The Pirates also beat Mason County Central in the semifinals, 6912. Shelby fell to Reed City in a close 44-36 semifinal.

Six forfeit wins in the finals match helped buoy the Pirates to the title. Hart also scored pin victories by Jude Salazar, Abdel Lopez, Kole Thomas

continued from page 10

and Logan Jorissen, plus a technical fall by Kyle Greiner and a 1-0 decision win by Adrian Lara. Jordan Thies, Sawyer Boos, Aiden Schaner, Halen Boos and Haegan Hansen won by forfeit.

Hansen, Lara, Salazar, Schaner, Thomas, Greiner and Halen Boos each also had wins over MCC in the semifinals, helping them secure 2-0 nights.

The Tigers were able to fill all but one weight class, but as it turned out it was the last one wrestled in the semifinals: 165 pounds. That left Shelby without someone to try to erase Reed City’s two-point lead with one bout to go.

Six Tigers won their bouts in the semifinals: Mason Bromley, Alden Beyer, Jayden Casiano and Olivia Casarez scored victories by pin, and Brody Fessenden and Jaylin Henderson each picked up forfeit wins.

Reflections of our community

Reflections of our community

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

White Lake Mirror White Lake Mirror

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE

Lakeside Solar will take its case to MPSC

Lakeside Solar will take its case to MPSC

Lakeside Solar will take its case to MPSC

Solar energy company hopes to gain approval under PA233 after conditions were attached to township approval of facility

Solar energy company hopes to gain approval under PA233 after conditions were attached to township approval of facility

Solar energy company hopes to gain approval under PA233 after conditions were attached to township approval of facility

al from the Michigan Public Services Commission. Township supervisor Ron Bailey confirmed several local landowners have received the letter during Tuesday's regular board meeting.

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — White River Township residents whose property is adjacent to the proposed Lakeside Solar energy facility have recently received letters from Geronimo Power, Lakeside's parent company, informing them that it will pursue site approv-

MONTAGUE — White River Township residents whose property is adjacent to the proposed Lakeside Solar energy facility have recently received letters from Geronimo Power, Lakeside's parent company, informing them that it will pursue site approv-

MONTAGUE — White River Township residents whose property is adjacent to the proposed Lakeside Solar energy facility have recently received letters from Geronimo Power, Lakeside's parent company, informing them that it will pursue site approv-

al from the Michigan Public Services Commission. Township supervisor Ron Bailey confirmed several local landowners have received the letter during Tuesday's regular board meeting.

al from the Michigan Public Services Commission. Township supervisor Ron Bailey confirmed several local landowners have received the letter during Tuesday's regular board meeting.

The company is permitted to pursue this approval under Public Act 233, which allows the MPSC to make final siting decisions for renewable energy projects if local municipalities are found to have stricter regulations for such projects than the state does. According to the letter, the company expects that action will be taken on its application within the year.

The company is permitted to pursue this approval under Public Act 233, which allows the MPSC to make final siting decisions for renewable energy projects if local municipalities are found to have stricter regulations for such projects than the state does. According to the letter, the company expects that action will be taken on its application within the year.

The company is permitted to pursue this approval under Public Act 233, which allows the MPSC to make final siting decisions for renewable energy projects if local municipalities are found to have stricter regulations for such projects than the state does. According to the letter, the company expects that action will be taken on its application within the year.

Lakeside Solar's move was expect-

Lakeside Solar's move was expect-

Lakeside Solar's move was expect-

ed after the White River planning commission gave approval  to the company's proposed solar energy project in January, but attached "52 conditions," according to the letter, including the relocation of the project to the township's renewable energy overlay (REO), sited on Chemours property.

ed after the White River planning commission gave approval  to the company's proposed solar energy project in January, but attached "52 conditions," according to the letter, including the relocation of the project to the township's renewable energy overlay (REO), sited on Chemours property.

ed after the White River planning commission gave approval  to the company's proposed solar energy project in January, but attached "52 conditions," according to the letter, including the relocation of the project to the township's renewable energy overlay (REO), sited on Chemours property.

The company has previously released an alternative site analysis explaining why it does not believe the overlay is suitable for its project, in large part because the site is not large enough to produce the 150 megawatts it says it's aiming to produce. Mac McClelland, a northern Michigan-based consultant specializing in brownfield

The company has previously released an alternative site analysis explaining why it does not believe the overlay is suitable for its project, in large part because the site is not large enough to produce the 150 megawatts it says it's aiming to produce. Mac McClelland, a northern Michigan-based consultant specializing in brownfield

The company has previously released an alternative site analysis explaining why it does not believe the overlay is suitable for its project, in large part because the site is not large enough to produce the 150 megawatts it says it's aiming to produce. Mac McClelland, a northern Michigan-based consultant specializing in brownfield

redevelopment, reported at a December meeting of the planning commission that the REO included enough land for a facility to produce as many as 95 megawatts of power.

redevelopment, reported at a December meeting of the planning commission that the REO included enough land for a facility to produce as many as 95 megawatts of power.

redevelopment, reported at a December meeting of the planning commission that the REO included enough land for a facility to produce as many as 95 megawatts of power.

In delivering its approval in January, the commission maintained that Lakeside Solar's application was incomplete in several key areas, and many of its conditions revolved around rectifying those perceived shortcomings. Portions dealing with the facility's battery storage and the deforestation required to build it, as well as stormwater and flood plans, are among the ar-

In delivering its approval in January, the commission maintained that Lakeside Solar's application was incomplete in several key areas, and many of its conditions revolved around rectifying those perceived shortcomings. Portions dealing with the facility's battery storage and the deforestation required to build it, as well as stormwater and flood plans, are among the ar-

In delivering its approval in January, the commission maintained that Lakeside Solar's application was incomplete in several key areas, and many of its conditions revolved around rectifying those perceived shortcomings. Portions dealing with the facility's battery storage and the deforestation required to build it, as well as stormwater and flood plans, are among the ar-

Celebrating a snowy Winter Wanderland

Celebrating a snowy Winter Wanderland

Celebrating a snowy Winter Wanderland

The cardboard sled race was again a big highlight in the weekend's Winter Wanderland activities, presented by the White Lake Snow Farmers. Sledders were creative in their designs and some, such as fans of Fetch Brewing (above) created accessories for their sleds as well. The Wanderland events also included a broomball game, 'reindeer games' such as a Toilet Seat Toss, a Tug of Four, and Hot Toddy and Bloody Mary tours of local establishments.

The cardboard sled race was again a big highlight in the weekend's Winter Wanderland activities, presented by the White Lake Snow Farmers. Sledders were creative in their designs and some, such as fans of Fetch Brewing (above) created accessories for their sleds as well. The Wanderland events also included a broomball game, 'reindeer games' such as a Toilet Seat Toss, a Tug of Four, and Hot Toddy and Bloody Mary tours of local establishments.

The cardboard sled race was again a big highlight in the weekend's Winter Wanderland activities, presented by the White Lake Snow Farmers. Sledders were creative in their designs and some, such as fans of Fetch Brewing (above) created accessories for their sleds as well. The Wanderland events also included a broomball game, 'reindeer games' such as a Toilet Seat Toss, a Tug of Four, and Hot Toddy and Bloody Mary tours of local establishments.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

• Andy Roberts/Mirror Photos

Community Garden presents long-term plan

Community Garden presents long-term plan

Community Garden presents long-term plan

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

WHITEHALL — After a successful first year, the White Lake Community Garden is eyeing even higher heights in 2026 and beyond.

WHITEHALL — After a successful first year, the White Lake Community Garden is eyeing even higher heights in 2026 and beyond.

WHITEHALL — After a successful first year, the White Lake Community Garden is eyeing even higher heights in 2026 and beyond.

Now an official nonprofit after filing the proper forms in January, the garden presented its goals and requests of the Whitehall city council during Tuesday's regular meeting, with president Amber Marks and secretary Dayton Pax at the podium.

Now an official nonprofit after filing the proper forms in January, the garden presented its goals and requests of the Whitehall city council during Tuesday's regular meeting, with president Amber Marks and secretary Dayton Pax at the podium.

Now an official nonprofit after filing the proper forms in January, the garden presented its goals and requests of the Whitehall city council during Tuesday's regular meeting, with president Amber Marks and secretary Dayton Pax at the podium.

The garden is requesting the city install four additional water spigots in the garden area, which consists of the former tennis courts adjacent to Whitehall's city hall; cover the costs of

the garden's water use again in 2026 (it reported using about $6 worth of city water during the 2025 growing season); and grant the garden a five-year permit to use the garden space to allow for long-term planning.

the garden's water use again in 2026 (it reported using about $6 worth of city water during the 2025 growing season); and grant the garden a five-year permit to use the garden space to allow for long-term planning.

the garden's water use again in 2026 (it reported using about $6 worth of city water during the 2025 growing season); and grant the garden a five-year permit to use the garden space to allow for long-term planning.

The garden is requesting the city install four additional water spigots in the garden area, which consists of the former tennis courts adjacent to Whitehall's city hall; cover the costs of

The garden is requesting the city install four additional water spigots in the garden area, which consists of the former tennis courts adjacent to Whitehall's city hall; cover the costs of

The council did not act on those requests and was not expected to; city manager Dan Tavernier said he felt giving the council this information now would allow an informed vote on any or all of the requests at a meeting in the near future. Council members Tanya Cabala and Scott Brown each expressed approval of the work that has gone into the garden so far and the

The council did not act on those requests and was not expected to; city manager Dan Tavernier said he felt giving the council this information now would allow an informed vote on any or all of the requests at a meeting in the near future. Council members Tanya Cabala and Scott Brown each expressed approval of the work that has gone into the garden so far and the

The council did not act on those requests and was not expected to; city manager Dan Tavernier said he felt giving the council this information now would allow an informed vote on any or all of the requests at a meeting in the near future. Council members Tanya Cabala and Scott Brown each expressed approval of the work that has gone into the garden so far and the

Whitehall council continued on page 6

Whitehall council continued on page 6

•

School board pleased with Vikings First turnout

By Claire Marshall

White Lake Mirror Writer

WHITEHALL — Whitehall superintendent CJ Van Wieren shared his excitement about January's successful Vikings First tailgate fundraising event during Monday's regular school board meeting.

The purpose of the tailgate, which invited the community to support Whitehall student-athletes, was to raise funds to help decrease the cost of participating in school sports. This also alleviates the pressure of students having to fundraise for their own teams individually.

Van Wieren reported that around $35,000 was raised, adding, “That’s huge for that program.” Through the Vikings First program, which is in its third year of operation, sports camp costs have been reduced and has allowed students free admission to all school sporting events.

The goal is to expand the service beyond student athletes, eliminating similar “pay-to-play” structures for other extracurricular activities such as band, choir, and theater.

“[We want to] really make it a true Vikings First, because it incorporates all the Vikings,” Van Wieren said.

Board secretary Paula Martin and

president Rachel Fekken discussed what they’d recently learned from several online classes taken through the Michigan Association of School Boards. These classes primarily concerned aspects of connecting and communicating with the public, collecting and analyzing feedback, navigating political situations, and collaboration between the school board and superintendent. Fekken encouraged the rest of the board to take advantage of these classes, as she and Martin benefitted greatly from participating.

The board unanimously approved having Brian Hosticka continue as the district's representative to the White

Lake Community Library board. The school board tabled the nomination last month to see if others may be interested and received a letter of interest from one other candidate, but chose to continue with Hosticka.

The board also reported that Whitehall police officer Travis Bolles will be leaving his role as School Resource Officer, moving into the position being vacated by retiring Whitehall officer Derek Sova. Another officer, Makayla Gibson, has shadowed Bolles in the past in the interest of taking on the SRO role and will have her first day in that position Feb. 23.

Schmidt appointed to Montague school board

Chosen among 4 candidates to fill Raeth's seat; recent NWEA testing data discussed as well

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — After discussion of the four candidates who applied prior to the deadline, the Montague Area Public Schools board unanimously approved Doug Schmidt to fill the seat vacated by trustee Brent Raeth at Monday's regular meeting. Schmidt will be sworn in at March's meeting.

Raeth recently completed a move out of the district's boundaries, which by state law required him to resign his seat on the board. Schmidt will complete Raeth's term, which lasts through 2028.

Schmidt, a 2005 Montague graduate, is a deputy in the Muskegon County Sheriff's Office and has three children who attend Montague schools. In his letter of interest to the board, he stated he believes parents' support of their children's education is key to their success and said he was looking forward to contributing to the school board.

Superintendent Jeffrey Johnson said all four candidates would have

made positive additions to the school board. The other candidates to apply were Karen Atchison, Matt Bendelow and Amber Lanning, who are all also Montague alumni and had educational experience. In fact, each has been a recent guest teacher at Montague; they would not have been allowed to continue to do so if appointed to the board due to conflict of interest concerns.

place in the district. The testing does not affect student grades, but measures academic growth and gives districts an idea of where their students are with regard to math and reading skills. Districts who work with NWEA test their students at least two times per year; Montague does so three times, in the fall, winter and spring.

Johnson shared some of Raeth's official letter of resignation during the meeting and shared that Raeth recently received a 2025 award of merit from the Michigan Association of School Boards for completion of MASB leadership classes among other notable achievements; Raeth was not present for the meeting.

"It has been an honor to contribute to the education and wellbeing of our community's students," read Raeth's letter in part. "I wish Montague Area Public Schools continued success in its mission to provide quality education."

Building principals shared data from the recent Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) testing that took

Lakeside Solar

eas the commission said lacked complete information.

The board gave unanimous approval to the final version of the master plan, which was recently completed by the planning commission. The plan must be reviewed every five years under 2008 Michigan Public Act 33.

The board also approved a revision of its short-term rental application forms, allowing for a brief inspection of participating properties. Zoning administrator Bill Schmiege said the inspections will not be exhaustive and are intended to determine if there are health and safety risks on each property. Another revision was to remove a provision requiring grass above 10 inches to be cut, as some participating

STRs may be adjacent to dune grasswhich often grows taller than that - and the board felt the provision could be unclear.

During the meeting, Chemours Environmental Impact Committee members Marisa McGlue and Claire Schlaff shared updates from the organization. McGlue shared that "technical glitches" prevented CEIC from applying for a Michigan Coastal Management grant for this year that would target cleanup at Sadony Bayou, and it will try again next year. She added that several statewide and regional agencies are in support of CEIC's grant application, so optimism is high it will be able to obtain it.

Schlaff discussed the forests sur-

The data showed some level of growth at each grade level since the fall round of testing, with some grades delivering better results than others. This was the first time the tests were being administered at Oehrli Elementary School, said principal Sandie Lundquist, which may have affected some results, especially since many students at the school are also transitioning from using iPads for technology learning to Chromebooks this year.

NBC Middle School principal Jim Perreault added that the results may not always accurately reflect where the students are because at that building, they are aware the tests do not affect their grades; it can be "a fight to get them to care" about the results, he said. He also said in the years the middle school has done the tests, he's seen a dip in the winter results each year and does not know why, though spring consistently produces bounce-back results.

High school principal Christy

rounding the township's REO, believing it's "not a done deal" that they would be clear-cut, which was a likely fate if Lakeside Solar was to use the area for its solar energy facility. She shared hope that county and state organizations could aid in conserving the forests if they are not removed for those facilities.

Laura Anderson, the board's representative on the White Lake Ambulance Authority, reported that the WLAA remains in conversation with Fruitland Township about potentially joining on a contract basis in the future. Anderson said, and board members agreed, that the WLAA would need to be protected if such an arrangement occurred, noting an acrimonious split between the authority and Fruitland in 2015.

Planning commission chair Lauren Wackernagel said the commission is working on ordinances to address data centers and event venues, utilizing a

Thommen shared data about students' participation in the Career Tech Center, dual enrollment at the college level, and Advanced Placement course enrollment. There has been a decline in the latter this year - 87 from last year's 112 students out of the 404 in all - but Thommen said that is not a surprise and in fact felt it was a positive development. She said she and teachers at the school believed in past years some students were in AP courses that were not prepared for the added rigor of the classes, and they are exploring ways to evaluate students' AP readiness in future years.

Johnson said fire suppression system upgrades are in progress at the high school and elementary school, and roof repairs will be the next focus of building work. The building facility committee recently met and was focused on the agricultural barn the district is planning to construct. The project is out for bidding, with the district hoping to keep costs under $900,000 for the building while also completing it in time for the 100th anniversary of the national FFA program in 2028. In the longer term, the district hopes to provide minor upgrades at the athletic complex, including in the bathroom and concession areas as well as at the entryway.

six-month moratorium on approving either that it enacted last October. She added that there will be a data center event with speaker Sarah Mills from the University of Michigan's Graham Sustainability Institute on March 12 at NBC Middle School.

Mary Kriesel, township representative to the White Lake Fireworks Committee, shared that a 100/100 raffle is planned to raise money for this year's fireworks. A hundred tickets will be sold at $100 each, and the committee will host three weekly drawings to award prizes that will total $5,000. Ticket purchasers may win at more than one of those drawings.

Deb Harris reported that the Muskegon County solid waste facility's free dump day for White River Township residents will take place May 2. The township will have certificates for up to $25 worth of disposed material available closer to the event.

Whitehall library hosting book sale Feb. 14

Saturday, Feb. 14

Greg Miller Jazz Trio performs @ North Grove Brewers, 7 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 16

Family Storytime @ White Lake Community Library, 9:30 a.m. Children of all ages and their caregivers are invited to join for stories, music, and movement. No registration required.

Tuesday, Feb. 17

Toddler Story Time @ MADL Montague, 9:30 a.m. Stories, songs and play time. Intended for toddlers ages 2-3 and their caregivers.

Baby Time @ White Lake Community Library, 9:30 a.m. Bring your lit-

Community Calendar

tlest ones – ages 0-2 – to Baby Time for songs, music, and movement.

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Youth Open Studio @ ACWL-Nuveen Center, 3-5 p.m. Bring in projects you’re working on or start something new with help from staff.

Pokémon crafting event @ White Lake Community Library, 5 p.m. Whether you love Pikachu, Charmander, Eevee, or want to dream up your very own Pokémon, this is your chance to bring them to life. All supplies provided. No crafting experience needed.

The Oat Bran Boys perform @ North Grove Brewers, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 19

Adult Open Studio @ ACWL-Nuveen Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring studio materials from home or explore available supplies in the classroom.

Original Dulcimer Players Club hosts its monthly acoustic jam @ VAC, 1-6 p.m. with a break at 3 p.m. All are welcome, and any acoustic instruments can join in the jam. 1-2-3 Play With Me @ White Lake Community Library, 5:30 p.m. This play and learn is designed for caregivers and children 0-5 and features an early childhood specialist available at every session to answer any

parenting questions you may have. Registration encouraged @ wlclib. org.

Friday, Feb. 20

Play and Learn @ White Lake Community Library, 9:30 a.m. Children 5 and under, along with their caregivers, will enjoy an hour of stories, songs, and playtime.

Afternoon Hang @ White Lake Community Library, 2 p.m. Tweens 10 and up are invited to play video games, do crafts, eat snacks or just hang out!

Echoes of History: David Foster & the Foster Block

By Barbara Bedau Brow

David Jones Foster was born March 14, 1806, in Dudley, Massachusetts, the son of a hotel keeper, Silas Foster and his wife Lucina Pickering. As a young man, he left home and established a button factory, store and hotel in Petersham, Worcester, Massachusetts, besides running the largest freight and stage business from Worchester to Brattleboro west with the Hon. G. Twitchell.

He married Charlotte Fowle of Boston Jan. 28, 1835 in Petersham, Massachusetts. They had six children: William (1836-1837); Charlotte F. (1838-1884); George E. (18401881); Lucinia (1841-1910); Albert J. (1845-1933); and Julia A. (1847-1928).

In 1842 all of his property was burned, and he was left with $25,000, with which he established a business in Boston importing tailors’ trimmings. In crisis in 1857, he failed but paid 50 cents on the dollar, and in two years had paid in full interest and principal.

Foster was active in keeping up and encouraging the three local militia companies in his home area. He introduced new and attractive uniforms for two of them, one of which chose him as their captain.

In 1863 he retired from business, and having previously visited the White River area in 1859, he then bought the Rogers’ estate with an estimated 3,000 acres of pine land.

In 1864 his son, Albert J., came to Whitehall, and by 1867 he and his father had established a large mercantile business, with branch stores in Hesperia and Denver townships.

Around 1866 at a cost of $8,000 Foster erected a two-story wooden building known as the Foster Block. It was located on Colby Street, just west of the alley where the Century Building now stands. The second story of the building was used for large group meetings and a place for thespians to perform their plays and entertainment. On Saturday morning, Jan. 9, 1875, with the temperature indicating 12

degrees below zero, fire struck the Foster block. At the time it was occupied by Dr. J. A. Wheeler’s drug store, the Post Office and Postmaster Hedges’ family. The rear portion of the building was able to be saved, but there was a loss to Foster of about $3,000, which was not covered by insurance. Wheeler’s stock of drugs loss was about $4,500 with insurance about $2,500. Postmaster Hedges’ loss was about $300 in household good besides the loss of Mrs. Hedges' wardrobe. Foster also had a suite of rooms and sustained a slight loss on furniture and clothing.

In 1875, even though the rear position of the building was reportedly saved, it appears that Foster decided to rebuild at the other end of the block, just north of the railroad tunnel on the corner of Colby and Thompson streets, which is at the west end of where the Century Building now stands.

Unfortunately, this three-story building burned, along with many others, July 30, 1881 when Whitehall suffered one of its first major fires.

Businesses that were located in the Foster Block alone included K. F. Morse hardware, the post office, C. C. Thompson’s real estate office, Riley’s barbershop, Ruggles City Drugstore and Gale’s restaurant. On the second floor was Ellsworth’s law office, Cunningham’s dental rooms, Dr. Adam's office and the apartments of the Foster family. On the third floor was the Opera Hall.

Foster spent portions of his time in the east, as half of his estates were there. He was a man of enterprise and ready to second anything for the good of Whitehall. He built 13

dwellings in the area besides improving numerous lots. It was reported that his wife and daughter Lucinia came to town on the train and spent some time in February 1879. This seems to be the first time there was anything published about family coming to visit, although there may have been other visits that just didn’t make it into the newspaper.

David Foster died July 23, 1881 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. His wife died in 1895. They are buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Books for Babies grows young readers

By Virginia DeMumbrum Volunteer Contributor

Come discover the joy of reading with your little one! We invite families to participate in Books for Babies, our early literacy program designed especially for children ages 0–3 and their caregivers. Whether you’re a new parent, a seasoned pro, or expecting a little one soon, this program is the perfect way to start building a lifelong love of reading right from the start. During a short, fun, and interactive visit to the library, you’ll get practical tips for nurturing your child’s early literacy skills, and you’ll take home free books to keep and enjoy together.

the way. Visits can be scheduled at your convenience by going to bit.ly/ books-for-babies or calling 231-8949531 ext. 104.

DeMumbrum

Books for Babies is open to all families with young children or babies on

This program is made possible in part thanks to a grant from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, awarded to the Great Start Collaborative of the MAISD.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten: Nurturing Your Little Readers

Did you know the library offers a year-round reading challenge for families with young children? To get started, you’ll need a free Beanstack account (wlclib.beanstack.org, or the Beanstack app from your app store). Register for the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge and start logging the books you read with your baby, toddler, or preschooler. Your child will earn prizes from the library for reaching milestones along the way, plus a certificate when they reach 1,000 books.

Reading 1,000 books with your

child is easier than you might think. If you read just one book a night, you will reach the goal in three years. Repeats count, too - so if your child has a favorite book that you read 10 times every day, you could reach the goal in just a few months!

Research shows that reading to children is extremely important for helping them become lifelong learners. Infants are able to pick up on language earlier, books provide an opportunity for back-and-forth interactions between children and their caregivers, and the quantity and quality of words that children hear is important for both language development and future school success. Reading together also promotes a loving bond between the child and the caregiver, not to mention it’s just plain fun!

FUN FACT (or not-so-fun in this case): According to the Children’s Reading Foundation, 4 in 10 children nationwide start kindergarten already behind by a year or more in language skills. A great way to improve that statistic is by making sure all our kids are

being read to regularly! Winter Break and Presidents’ Day

Just a final reminder that the library is closed Monday for staff training, and open the rest of the week with fun programs for kids and families. Don’t miss the Pokemon crafting event on Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. There will be a variety of projects for kids of all ages. There will also be drop-in activities available all week long. While you’re here, check out a STEAM kit or a board game and continue the fun at home during the long school break!

Lake Mirror Lake Mirror

NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE community

Another district trophy heads to Whitehall

Vikes win 14th title in 15 years, advance to Kent City regional

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MUSKEGON — That Whitehall's district championship Wednesday night was all but secured before the night started doesn't keep the Vikings from celebrating where they are as a program, and they did after dispatching rival Montague and Orchard View to earn another district title. It's Whitehall's sixth straight such title, and 14th in the past 15 seasons.

The No. 2-ranked Vikings had too much firepower for Montague in the semifinals, earning a 64-11 win, and with finals opponent Orchard View only having five wrestlers, Whitehall cruised to a 66-16 win on the strength of nine forfeits.

The Vikings advanced to next Wednesday's regional meet at Kent City, where they'll face Tri-County in the semifinals. A potential battle with the host Eagles looms in the finals.

Whitehall eliminated the drama from the semifinal matchup very quickly, winning the first seven bouts to take a 36-0 lead. Viking wrestlers Cody Manzo, Tommy Leeke and Max Krukowski picked up pins in the first three bouts of the dual.

"We knew what we were up against walking into this," Montague coach Kris Maddox said. "We tried some different matchups individually, trying to see some things for this weekend. Those matches didn't go our way. I did the

Whitehall's Tanner Woodworth tries to get control against Montague's Isaac French during Wednesday's district semifinal match. French won the bout for Montague, but Whitehall won the district title.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

dual 10 different ways with 10 different (combinations), and we just didn't have enough manpower to swing it."

With things already clearly headed Whitehall's direction, the Wildcats elected not to send two of their top wrestlers - Gavyn Maddox and Fletcher Thommen - to the mat, instead trying out some different matchups in anticipation of this weekend's individual district tournament.

Both teams moved athletes around their lineup, resulting in a 150-pound bout between Hunter Peterson, who was up from his usual weight class, and Kaiden Jeffery, who slid down from his normal spot. Peterson impressed his coach, Justin Zeerip, by battling out an impressive 12-5 decision. Kolten Weiler also did well, moving up to 165 and scoring a technical fall.

"Overall, I'm pleased with how we

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

wrestled," Zeerip said. "I thought we came in here and did a good job getting bonus points, and now,we're going to move on to Saturday and the individual districts."

Colten Kyser scored a technical

Moore's heroics deliver Rockets to a win

Moore goes for 37 points, leads 13-0 run to end Friday game; passes 1,000-point career mark Tuesday

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MUSKEGON — Reeths-Puffer's Marvin Moore remembers what it was like to be a sophomore and learning from star seniors.

Moore is now that star senior helming a team of talented sophomores, and he's never looked so comfortable in the role as he did late in his team's remarkable 65-62 win over O-K Green Conference foe Caledonia. Moore almost single-handedly erased a 10-point deficit in the final two-plus minutes and scored the winning basket in the final seconds to cap a spectacular 37-point performance.

During that time, Moore scored two old-fashioned three-point plays, was fouled on an inbound play and knocked down two free throws, and drove to the rack for the winning layup. Sophomore teammate Rodney Walker blocked a Caledonia three-point shot as time was running down, and the win coach JR Wallace called the best of his R-P career was secured.

Wallace said he didn't mince words when he called timeout during the fourth quarter. Caledonia entered the fourth leading by eight, 51-43, and was getting to the rim seemingly at will during the quarter as it maintained the lead.

"I had some choice words for the guys, and I tried to make sure that they understood how important the

game was," Wallace said. "'Hey, you're not representing yourself. You're not representing the student body. You're not representing what you can do.' They turned the corner. To their credit, they took those words, and then went out there and performed.

"I'm so excited about this win. This is the biggest win for me as a coach because of the turbulence of the game and them being able to feel me and go out there and get it done."

Moore, who was a sophomore when current Central Michigan University athletes Travis Ambrose and Jaxson Whitaker were seniors, now finds himself in the role of leading a talented group of sophomores, including Walker, and said he relishes being the one his teammates look to.

"I remember when I was a sophomore, having Jaxson and Travis be those role models for me," Moore said. "I want to be like that for (these sophomores), so they can learn the work ethic and what they have to do, the extra hours, and what they have to think every game, and even outside of games, what they have to do."

It was the Rockets' third game of the week after a make-up game Monday and another contest Tuesday, but Moore showed no signs of low energy at any point in the game, particularly early on. He was red-hot from the opening tip, scoring his team's first 10 points to keep the Rockets in the game.

Caledonia ended the first quarter on an 8-1 run to move ahead 17-11, then continued to play well in the second. Moore, who scored 20 points in the half, was aided by a pair of three-pointers by another of those sophomores, Hank Mitchelson, to keep things from getting away from the Rockets (4-14, 2-5 O-K Green).

6

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

However, Caledonia continued to lead, scoring a second-chance layup at the halftime buzzer to make it 36-30.

The Scots got another big-time play to end the third quarter, when R-P missed a breakaway layup and they responded with a trey at the buzzer to make it 51-43.

For most of the fourth it appeared that sequence would doom the Rockets, but Wallace was pleased

Vikes earn top spot at WMC tournament

Montague places

2nd

in Lakes division, 3rd overall

By Andy Roberts White Lake Mirror Editor

MONTAGUE — Whitehall dominated Friday's West Michigan Conference tournament in Montague, scoring 264 points to earn first place overall.

"It was a great team effort to accomplish the goal and they came to battle every match," the Vikings' program posted to Facebook.

The host Wildcats also delivered a strong performance, putting up 194 points to take third, just 14 points behind runner-up Hart.

As in past years in the Lakes and Rivers division format, each weight class was split by division, with the championship and third-place matches pitting division winners against each other.

The Vikings racked up high finishes throughout the bracket, with four championships. Robert Belinger took first at 106 pounds, pinning all three of his opponents, including Hart's Jude Salazar in the finals. Dom Zygmuntowski only had to wrestle twice to take the top spot at 120, scoring a semifinal pin and blanking Shelby's Cesar Cadena 7-0 in the finals.

Also for Whitehall, Cody Manzo won the 132-pound title with three lopsided wins, scoring a pair of pins before earning a technical fall against North Muskegon's Tayden Fotis. Liam Leeke rounded out WMC champs for Whitehall by scoring two pins and a major decision in the 165-pound bracket. He pinned Shelby's Jaylin Henderson in the title match.

Isaac O'Boyle reached the finals and took second place at 126. Max Krukowski also finished second at 138 and Colten Kyser did the same at 157. Third-place finishers for the Vikings were Tanner Woodworth (190), Blake Wallace (113), Hunter Peterson (144), and Kolten Weiler (150).

Whitehall also delivered a good performance in the girls' tournament, a first-time event in the WMC which featured a round-robin format similar to the GMAA in January. Viking stars Kassie Sapp and Miley Manzo were both undefeated in their respective weight classes; Sapp went 5-0, pinning all five of her opponents in the first period, and Manzo picked up a 4-0 record, scoring three pins and winning one match by decision. Makenna Deshong added a second-place

Rockets

rally

with his team's mental toughness and adherence to his "Next Best Action" credo.

"It's the NBA: Next Best Action," Wallace said. "What's the next best action? Okay, he knocked down his three at the end of the quarter. What are we going to do now? What's the next best action?"

The Rockets' defense, which had been permitting layups earlier in the quarter, locked down and kept getting stops. Caledonia being whistled for a foul as it was attempting to inbound the ball - sending Moore to the line with 53 seconds to go - was a huge help as well.

Moore was 6-for-6 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter and appeared to embrace the pressure, a likely byproduct of his vast experience, as he is in his third full varsity season.

"It helped me calm and be comfortable with the pressure," Moore said. "Of course, when I was younger it was a lot different, a lot of nerves being there. But I think that experience helped me."

Walker's final blocked shot was a great moment for the Rockets, too, as Wallace and Walker have worked together to harness the sophomore's prodigious talent - especially on defense. Wallace joked that Walker so far has been a "no, no, no...OK, OK" player so far due to his fearlessness and ability to occasionally get out of tough spots, but is clearly a fan of what he brings to the team.

"That's what you take with the young guys," Wallace said. "You've got to go with those growing pains. He'll be a really good player one day, and we've just got to make sure that he's seeing the whole game and not just from his lens."

That's where Moore, no doubt, can help. His heroics Friday were an example of what those younger players can achieve with time.

"It felt so fulfilling," Moore said. "Our whole team

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

finish in the 170/190 weight class, going 4-1 with four pin victories.

Montague was also very impressive, with only the top-10 ranked Vikings and Pirates finishing ahead of the Wildcats.

"We wrestled really well today," Montague coach Kris Maddox said. "It’s great to see us starting to peak at the right time...Our conference has some great coaches and wrestlers in it. To be runner-up to Whitehall and third overall behind Hart is a great day."

Two Wildcats, seniors Fletcher Thommen and Isaac French, secured overall WMC titles. French pinned all three of his opponents at 190, including Ravenna's Adam Mulder in the finals, and Fletcher Thommen ran his season record to 40-1 with three wins at 150. He scored a technical fall over Hesperia's Ryan Fuentes in the finals.

Three Wildcats won the Lakes bracket and finished second. Tony Garcia (113), Gavyn Maddox (144) and Maverick Osborne (285) all pinned their two Lakes opponents on the way to the overall runner-up finish.

Chayse Maddox took third at 120, going 2-1 and avenging an early-season loss to Hart's Michael Chavira in the third-place match, and Kaiden Jeffery was third at 157, also going 2-1.

In the girls' tournament, Zaniya Meza defended her home mat and scored a first-place finish at 105, going 3-0 with two pins and a technical fall.

Reeths-Puffer's JaMichael Williams tries to get his shot up over Caledonia defender Connor Bloemers during Friday's O-K Green game at R-P. The Rockets won, 65-62.

• Andy Roberts/Mirror

(was) pushing together doing all the right things, always believing in ourselves. It's all amazing, especially when it turned in our favor."

Moore goes over 1,000 career points

Senior Marvin Moore cleared the 1,000-point mark for his career Tuesday during the Rockets' 56-46 loss to Mona Shores.

Moore is the ninth Rocket to achieve the milestone. He had 21 points in the game.

R-P trailed 27-23 at halftime before the Sailors pulled away.

Sports in Brief

Boys Basketball

Ludington 74 Montague 41

Montague played a strong first half against state-ranked Ludington before falling short. Karter Johnson led the 'Cats with 9 points. Whitehall 56 Manistee 53

The Vikes avenged an early-season loss with some clutch plays late in the game. Whitehall was 10-of-13 at the free throw line, and Corde Anderson led the team with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Montague 51 Oakridge 43

The Wildcats were able to celebrate their first win, pulling away with a 16-11 scoring effort in the 4th quarter. Cole Herremans scored 16 points for the 'Cats and Kellen VanSickle chipped in 15. Whitehall 62 Orchard View 55 (OT)

The Vikings overcame shooting struggles (24-of-44 free throws) with clutch defense. Pierce Westerlund and Evan Thomas each had 16 points, and Hunter Osborne had 11. Thomas and Osborne each had 7 rebounds.

Girls Basketball

Manistee 54 Whitehall 31

The Mariners outscored Whitehall 20-2 in the 3rd quarter to take command of the game. Viking statistics were not reported. Ludington 54 Montague 25

Montague played solid defense in the first half, but was unable to score enough points to win. Annelyse Schneider led the way with 9 points.

Caledonia 43 Reeths-Puffer 33 R-P was outscored 11-2 in the 2nd quarter, a decisive stretch of the game. Ashlyn

Reeths-Puffer 55 Mona Shores 32

R-P delivered one of its best performances of the year behind Raquel Walker, who had 21 points and 11 rebounds. Ashlyn David had 18 points.

Cheer

Reeths-Puffer 2nd at Fruitport Invite

The Rockets were a close 2nd to Mona Shores, finishing only 6.36 points behind. The Rockets led after 2 rounds, thanks to an impressive 214.52 points in round 2, which was the top score at the meet. R-P 2nd, Whitehall 5th, Montague 7th at GMAA

R-P led the competition after 2 rounds before Mona Shores caught and passed the Rockets in the final round. R-P had the highest score of any team in round 2, with 208.8 points. Whitehall vaulted past Muskegon into 5th with a 261.1-point effort in round 3, and Montague had a solid 260.8-point score in round 3 after taking 18 penalty points in round 2.

Hockey

Rockford 5 Reeths-Puffer 2

R-P dropped its second-round conference tournament game. Rockets Jordan Benkert and Rohan Moyer each scored a goal.

Rockets bring home district, conference titles

By Andy Roberts

Reeths-Puffer defeated rivals Mona Shores and Muskegon Wednesday night at the district tournament at Shores, keeping its team season going another week.

R-P earned a date against No. 9-ranked Rockford in next Wednesday's regional semifinal. The winner of that match will face either Grandville or Byron Center in the title match.

The Rockets beat Shores 47-33 in the semifinal, which was the de facto title match, as Muskegon had six empty weight classes. R-P won the championship match 66-5.

R-P dominated the semifinal match from the get-go and was never threatened; Shores scored the last 17 points after the issue was decided.

R-P scored the maximum six points in each of the first three bouts, courtesy of pins by Braxton VanHohenstein and Landon Learn sandwiching a forfeit

win by Jakson Streit. After a Sailor win at 126 pounds, R-P came back with a Cory Judd pin and a Zayden Zlotnicki technical fall.

R-P later added a pin victory by Jake Rozycki and forfeit wins by Andrew Corradin and Aiden Neal to lock things up.

The Rockets racked up seven straight wins to open the Muskegon dual, ensuring victory. Learn, Streit, Judd, Zlotnicki, Rozycki, Neal, Corradin and VanHohenstein bumped their records for the night to 2-0.

Rockets win

O-K Green tourney

Reeths-Puffer finished off a solid team regular season Friday night by earning first place at the O-K Green Conference tournament in Byron Center, outscoring the Bulldogs 194.5-161.

The Rockets' two top stars, Landon Learn and Travis Henderson, both earned first place at 113 and 120 pounds respectively to propel the team to the

District title

nated en route to his own technical fall. Maverick Osborne later added a win by forfeit at 285.

"That's a tough kid," Maddox said of French's opponent, Tanner Woodworth. "Isaac got him both times (they previously faced off), and he made some adjustments. Isaac has been adjusting his offense a little bit...I think Isaac's going to have a great state run coming up. Once he really gets into his rhythm, he's hard to stop. He's strong as an ox."

After French's win, Billy Darke scored a pin, and at the lower weight classes, Whitehall reeled off three pins, from Robert Belinger, Blake Wallace and Dom Zygmuntowski. Isaac O'Boyle ended the dual with a 14-1 major decision victory.

The Orchard View dual featured only five bouts due to the lack of wrestlers for the Cardinals. Tommy Leeke, Krukowski, Peterson and Weiler each won by forfeit, and Liam Leeke followed with a dominant pin. Orchard View then won the next two bouts before Darke responded with another pin.

The final bout was the toughest moment of the night for Whitehall, as Easton Wisniewski went down hard on his knee while wrestling Shonvelle Cage at 285 and was unable to continue, giving Cage a win by medical forfeit. Wisniewski did walk out of the arena under his own power, though, and Zeerip was optimistic he would be al-

continued from page 4

right going forward.

Wednesday's results were clearly the sign of a Vikings team hitting its stride at the right time once again. It's practically become a tradition at Whitehall for the team to peak in the postseason, and this year's team is one of the best examples of it, having developed into a lineup seemingly ready for another run to the final four.

"I think sometimes our guys come in from fall sports and they're a little rusty," Zeerip said. "At the same time, our guys work really hard, and we try to pay attention to the little details and continuously improve throughout the year and not necessarily worry about the wins and losses, but just worrying about improvement all the time and trying to make progress. Throughout the year, we're trying to get better for the postseason, and now the postseason's here, so it's just time to go out and have fun and let it fly."

Veteran leadership is no doubt a contributing factor for that development. Wrestling is a long season, and it is easy to become impatient, but wrestlers like seniors Manzo, Weiler and Krukowski have been around the block and can keep the atmosphere calm in the wrestling room.

"For us, for guys like Max Krukowski, who's been on that stage before, Kolten Weiler, being able to manage it mentally (is big)," Manzo said. "Mental (toughness) is a huge part of the sport, and so

City council

presentation Tuesday.

Marks presented plans for 2026, as well as plans for the next five years and the next 10 years. Each member of the garden's leadership team is a homeowner in Whitehall, and Marks and Pax each said they anticipate the garden as a long-term project.

Marks said this year's growing season aims will focus on excavating the tennis courts - a donor, Ryerson Brothers Excavating in Muskegon, is already lined up to do so free of charge, as well as install a layer of topsoil - and expanding the garden space with more fruits, vegetables and pollinator plants.

win, but 106-pounder Braxton VanHohenstein was not to be outdone and also reached the top of the podium. VanHohenstein won his semifinal match via a close decision, 15-11, before scoring a pin in the finals. Learn cruised to the title with a pair of pins in the first minute of his matches, and Henderson scored a first-round pin before winning by technical fall in the finals.

R-P had four other finalists pick up second-place finishes. Hunter Eek, Aiden Neal, Tanner Cowles and Jake Rozycki each went 1-1 to finish second. Taking third place were Cory Judd (who went 3-1 and scored two pins), Clay Rozycki (2-1), Andrew Corradin (2-1 with two pins) and Troy Swingley (0-1).

being able to help those guys manage it mentally is a huge part. Those guys have done a great job helping them too."

the last weekend in February again this year.

continued from page 1

Marks also hopes to host more community events as the garden becomes a community gathering space. Fencing will be installed to deter deer from eating the crops being grown.

Over the next 5-10 years, Marks added, she hopes the garden can become an established public space and, ultimately, a "food forest" for the community that provides fresh ingredients for residents. There is no plan to charge any kind of fees for the garden's use, as donor support and local partnerships are expected to cover the garden's costs. This year's budget is projected to be over $24,000, but much of it is up-

Their leadership will be needed, the Vikings hope, for at least a couple of more weeks. They've become regulars in Kalamazoo for the state final eight, and that's where they want to spend

front costs not expected to be repeated, such as fencing installation.

The use of the tennis court area is not accidental, Marks said; she views visibility as a major factor in the success of a community garden. Placing it close to downtown, where it can be easily seen by those traveling down Colby Street, is believed to attract visitors and users of the garden.

Elsewhere in the meeting, Tavernier noted the pending retirement of longtime Whitehall police officer Derek Sova, which will take place at the end of the month. The department already has a job posting for an officer. Sova's position will be filled by Travis Bolles, the current School Resource Officer for the Whitehall district, and Makayla Gibson will fill the SRO job; it is Gibson's current position the de-

"They're the epitome of what we're looking for in all of our wrestlers," Zeerip said. "It's a great group for our underclassmen to look up to, and I've been really happy with how they've been leading us all year long."

partment is seeking applications to fill.

The council granted 5-0 approval (Bryan Mahan and Roger Squiers were absent) to contribute up to $1,750 to the construction of a public drinking fountain adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce building. The fountain would be used by those using the bicycle trail and will be Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant. The White Lake Snow Farmers have volunteered to cover the rest of the costs, which they estimate will be $4,500.

The council also voted 5-0 to grant a tag day request to the Knights of Columbus for Saturday, March 28, and approved by a 5-0 vote moving ahead with the next administrative step in the issuance of tax bonds, which Tavernier is seeking to finance improvement projects this year.

Recent Whitehall police activity

this time.

Feb. 7

Feb. 6

At 11:04 a.m., officers were called to the 600 block of E Colby St. regarding a larceny complaint. The reporting party advised that a license plate belonging to one of the business's vehicles had been stolen. There are no suspects at

At 3:25 a.m., officers were called to the 300 block of S Mears Ave. on a wellbeing check for a subject from Minnesota who was staying in the area. The subject had previously called saying someone had hacked his phone in 2025 and created a 'swatting event' to draw the local police and SWAT teams to the area. The officer investigated the phone upon arrival at the time and did not find any issues. The same subject called two hours later saying someone was projecting a screen onto the wall in his hotel room. Officers informed the subject that the light shining into his room was merely a streetlight. the subject did not appear to be a danger to himself or others, but was given a phone number to seek further assistance.

Feb. 9

At 6 p.m., officers were contacted by a female subject who wished to report that her on-again off-again boyfriend had reached into her pocket and taken her iPhone. She initially disclosed this took place at a Muskegon apartment complex, but over the course of the next day said there was an attempt to acquire a loan using her phone and that money had been taken from her bank account. Officers later learned from another party that she had loaned money to her boyfriend and was attempting to get it back. It did not appear there was a theft, and the parties were advised that this is a civil issue.

Feb. 11

At 11:03 p.m., officers observed a subject walking in the 300 block of E Colby St. Officers' attention was drawn to the subject because he was stum-

bling and appeared to possibly be intoxicated. As the officer drove past, the subject turned around and walked to a nearby Wesco station. Officers then made contact with the subject and used a translation app to overcome a language barrier. The subject initially refused to answer questions and asked for a ride to a hotel, but was unable to identify which one he needed to reach. After attempts to identify the subject, the officer used a fingerprint scanner to do so and discovered that the subject, a 39-year-old male, had warrants for his arrest from the Kent and Ottawa county sheriff's departments, as well as the Holland and Grand Rapids police departments. The subject was transferred to Ottawa County and picked up by police to be lodged at the county jail on the warrants.

DNR urges snowmobile users to "Ride Right" this holiday weekend

With many people taking advantage of Presidents Day (Monday, Feb. 16) – a federal and state holiday in Michigan – to enjoy a three-day weekend and bountiful snowmobile and off-road vehicle riding conditions, the Department of Natural Resources reminds everyone to “Ride Right” and put safety first.

The DNR’s Ride Right snowmobile and ORV safety campaign urges riders to operate at a safe speed, remain sober and stay on the right side of the trail.

As of Feb. 9, nine snowmobile fatalities have occurred during the 2025-26 season.

“Unfortunately, many of the fatalities we see are related to factors that could have been avoided or better managed: speed, primarily, such as taking a

K of

C fish

corner too fast, not being able to stop in time and colliding into a tree, vehicle or another rider,” said Acting 2nd Lt. Mike Hearn, with the DNR Law Enforcement Division’s Recreational Safety, Education and Enforcement Section.

Ride Right safety guidance also urges people to: Ride within the limits of your machine and your own abilities; ride within the abilities of your group’s least experienced rider; always wear a helmet; keep headlights on while riding; maintain a safe distance from the rider in front of you; operate with extreme caution in reduced visibility; only transport passengers if the machine is manufactured to do so; make a complete stop before crossing intersections and use extra caution in conditions cre-

fry season begins tonight at St. James

The Knights of Columbus organization of St. James Catholic Church will again be serving their award winning fish dinners beginning Feb. 13. Dinners will be served each Friday until March 27.

The cost is $18 per person for dinein. Online and carry-out orders are $19 per person. Each dinner includes a choice of wild freshwater perch, wild freshwater walleye or breaded farmraised shrimp (or a perch/shrimp combo or a walleye/shrimp combo) and includes a baked potato or french fries, coleslaw, dinner roll and a surprise dessert. Fish servings are eight ounces in size.

Meals will be served in the St. James Parish Hall from 4:30-7 p.m.

Curbside pickup is available only by ordering online at https://kofc12985fishfry.square.site. Also, for pickup in the church narthex, please call 231-292-9005.

Payment options are cash, checks (made out to K of C 12985) or credit / debit cards. There will be a 3% charge for credit/debit card use.

All fish fry dinner profits will again be donated by the Knights of Columbus to causes helping the underserved.

During the first Lenten fish dinner Feb. 13, all armed forces personnel, veterans, police, firefighters and emergency first responders will have a special dinner price of only $8.

ating reduced visibility; share the trail, as some designated snowmobile trails are also open to off-road vehicles and other, non-motorized users. Non-motorized trail users and groomers have the right-of-way. If you see non-motorized trail users or groomers coming from the opposite direction, pull over and yield.

Free senior dinner planned for March 23 at Senior Center

The City of Whitehall, in partnership with the White Lake Senior Center, invites local senior citizens to a free community dinner Monday, March 23. The dinner is made possible through senior millage funds the city received from Muskegon County for 202425. This is the second of two free meals offered to Whitehall’s senior residents from that allocation. There will be two additional meals as part of the 2025-26 allocation.

The dinner will take place at the White Lake Senior Center in Montague from 5-7 p.m.

All Whitehall residents age 60 and older are welcome to attend. There is no cost to participate, but an RSVP is required to the Senior Center at 231-894-9493. Those who

are not senior citizens are welcome to attend but will be asked to pay $10 per person.

Donations in any

visting paypal.me/echopublishinginc,

Echo

For more information, please contact the White Lake Senior Center.

“We are excited to offer this meal as a way to thank and support our senior residents,” said Whitehall mayor Tom Ziemer in a press release. “It’s a chance to enjoy good food, good company, and celebrate our community together.”

WHITE RIVER TOWNSHIP ANNUAL BUDGET HEARING

On March 10, 2026, at 6:30pm, the White River Township Board will hold a public hearing to consider the fiscal year 20262027 proposed budget at the White River Township Hall, 7386 Post Road, Montague, MI. Copies of the proposed budget will be available at the township hall after February 11, 2026.

Sincerely,

Julie Goericke, Clerk

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