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REFLECTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY
Volume 3, Issue 41 March 6, 2026
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M-20 Pedestrian Tunnel Project set to begin March 9 By Mark Timmer Managing Director Oceana County Road Commission The Oceana County Road Commission is moving forward with a significant infrastructure improvement project along Stony Lake Road (M-20) and 68th Avenue. The project includes the construction of a new pedestrian tunnel beneath Stony Lake Road (M-20), designed to enhance public safety, accessibility and connectivity for visitors of Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo. The project is a collaboration between the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Oceana County Road Commission, Shelby Township and Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo and is being funded by a special allocation obtained from the State of Michigan by Senator Jon Bumstead. The work includes construction of a pedestrian tunnel beneath Stony Lake Road (M-20), along with roadway reconstruction on both Stony Lake Road (M20) and 68th Avenue. Project elements include placement of approximately 1,200 tons of hot-mix asphalt (HMA), new aggregate base and sand subbase, concrete curb and gutter, and a concrete shared-use path to support pedestrian and tram travel underneath
M-20. Additional improvements include upgraded drainage infrastructure, permanent pavement markings, and turf restoration to ensure long-term durability and environmental stability. detour routes will be in place for the duration of the The Oceana County Road Commission appreciclosures. ates the public’s patience during construction and • M-20 Detour: Traffic will be directed to utilize remains committed to delivering safe, efficient and US-31, then Shelby Road or Winston Road, to accessible transportation facilities for all users. Oceana Drive, and then return to M-20. The project is anticipated to begin on March 9 • 68th Avenue Detour: Traffic will be directed with an interim completion date of May 17, when the to use Water Road to Arthur Road to navigate road will be open for traffic, and a final completion around the closure. date of late August in 2026. Motorists are encouraged to follow posted detour Traffic Impacts and Detour Routes signage and allow additional travel time. The Road During the construction phase, both M-20 and Commission appreciates the public’s cooperation 68th Avenue will be closed to through traffic. Signed and patience as these improvements are completed.
City of Hart to consider Safe Route to School alternatives
Applications being accepted for next Asparagus Queen through April 1 The National Asparagus Festival ed States, but we are the only festival
By Claire Marshall gram grant to connect from the Hart Public (NAF) will crown a new queen this year, that crowns a queen, so you are truly The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent
BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307 BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307 PERMITPERMIT NO 62 NO 62
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At the request of the Hart City Council, City Manager Nichole Kleiner provided an update at the most recent council meeting on Feb. 24 regarding the status of the planned connection between the forthcoming Hart-Pentwater and Hart-Montague bike trails, utilizing the Safe Routes to School Pro-
the disparate trails. The Hart-Pentwater Bike Trail has been long under development since its inception in 2018, with anticipated collaboration between the City of Hart, Village of Pentwater, Hart Township, MDOT and Hart Public Schools. The Safe Routes to School connection is planned to pass through the intersection of 72nd Avenue and Tyler Road, beside the north end of Hart Cemetery, South Plum Street, and behind the bus corral, connecting through to school property. In order to provide the proper grading to the proposed path, the city required approval on a temporary easement
School Board to begin construction. This easement was denied by the school board at their Feb. 9 meeting, coming as a “shock” to Kleiner and many on city council, as they’d been under the impression Hart Schools was in support of the project. In Kleiner’s executive summary memorandum detailing Hart School’s involvement with the project, the City of Hart claims communication with Superintendent Mark Platt as far back as September 2018 on the project and associated grant. This timeline of communication in-
City of Hart continued on page 2
and applications are now being accepted through April 1 by midnight. The application period opened Jan. 23 and one can register via the festival's Facebook page, their website: nationalasparagusfestival.org, or directly through the following: tinyurl.com/3d9fpw6r One must be a resident of Oceana, Mason, Newaygo or Muskegon County who is a high school senior or older and wants the chance to represent the National Asparagus Festival into the following year. Organizers stated that this is also an opportunity for candidates to build confidence and make connections. The Asparagus Queen will be awarded $1,000 to be used towards a scholarship to continue their education, or they may choose to donate their winnings to an Oceana County charitable organization that is approved by the NAF Board of Directors. As stated on the registration page for the application, "The National Asparagus Festival of Oceana County is one of four asparagus festivals in the Unit-
one-of-a-kind. As Queen, you can expect to enjoy an exciting year of travel in West Michigan, smiling and waving in parades, meeting other royalty and making appearances, all while mingling with the public and promoting Oceana County’s pride and joy: ASPARAGUS!"
4 selected to interview for Hart Superintendent At a special meeting of the Hart Public School District Board of Education, four candidates were selected to interview for the position of Superintendent of Schools. This vacancy exists due to the pending retirement of Mark Platt on June 30 of this year. The Board of Education would like to note that Superintendent Platt has provided 13 years of exemplary service to the district. Following is the schedule for interviews of the candidates: Monday, March 9 • 6 p.m. - Brandon Bruce, High School Principal, Hart Public School District • 7:15 p.m. - Kevin Ackley, Principal, Hart Middle School, Hart Public School District Tuesday, March 10 • 6 p.m. - Andrew Alvesteffer, Superintendent, Engadine Consolidated Schools • 7:15 p.m. - Brad Jacobs, Planning Executive, SitelogIQ, former Superintendent, Fremont Public Schools Interviews are open to the public and will take place at the Diman-Wolf Early Childhood Center, 306 W. Johnson St., Hart, MI. The Board of Education invites all interested persons to attend.