WALKERVILLE — Walkerville Public Schools Superintendent/Principal Joe Conkle has announced he is resigning after accepting the position of assistant principal of the Newaygo County RESA (Regional Educational Service Agency) Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. Conkle was hired as Walkerville’s superintendent/principal, July 1, 2023, when Dr. Tom Langdon retired. He served as Walkerville’s K-12 principal for five years prior to taking…
HART — The following were recently sentenced in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court: Karolyn Kay Buozis, 66, pleaded guilty Dec. 9, 2024 to third-offense operating while intoxicated and was sentenced July 6, 2026 to 10 months in jail with credit for 133 days served and $1,348 in fines and costs. Her sentence runs concurrently to another case, according to court…
The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. The following is recent police activity in Oceana County: Wednesday, July 15, 2026: 8:20 a.m., (Michigan State Police), non-life-threatening injuries resulted from a traffic crash involving a motorcycle, southbound US 31 and Shelby Road, Shelby Township. 1:54 p.m., (Oceana County Sheriff’s Office), a…
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The Oceana County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an animal cruelty case in which a witness reported seeing someone “throwing kittens out of a vehicle going 60 mph” on South Oceana Drive near Baker Road Wednesday, July 15, around 1 p.m., said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast. Oceana County Animal Control responded to the scene where a dead…
Driver cited for having too many people in vehicle GOLDEN TOWNSHIP — A 59-year-old Manistee man who was a passenger in a 2025 CF MOTO Force ATV was transported by Life EMS to Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital following a rollover crash at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes Saturday, July 18, shortly after 4 p.m., according to an Oceana County Sheriff’s…
GOLDEN TOWNSHIP — A 15-year-old Flat Rock, Mich. boy was transported by Life EMS to Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital following a dirt bike crash at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes Saturday, July 18, shortly after 10:30 a.m., according to an Oceana County Sheriff’s Office traffic crash report. The boy was operating a 2026 Yamaha YZ250 when he “jumped a dune…
Beach hazards statement in effect through Wednesday The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has issued an air quality alert through Monday, July 20, for elevated levels of fine particulate due to wildfire smoke. Concentrations in the Lower Peninsula will be unhealthy for sensitive groups. This is a statewide air quality alert. “Another smoke plume has settled…
West Shore ESD has a position vacancy for a Special Education Paraprofessional. High School diploma required; 2 years experience preferred. To view a complete job posting, please visit our website at www.wsesd.org. Send cover letter, resume and credentials to: Human Resources, West Shore ESD, 2130 W. US 10, Ludington, MI 49431 or via email to: humanresources@wsesd.org until filled. The West…
Parish Administrative Assistant Position Description Reports to: Pastor Employment Type: Part-Time / 24 hrs. (Not to exceed 30 hours per week) Office Hours: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Thursday Benefits: 24 hours of accumulated PTO, Paid Federal Holidays Position Summary: The Parish Administrative Assistant provides administrative and clerical support to the Pastor, staff, council, volunteers, and congregation. This…
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) issued an air quality alert for Sunday, July 19, for elevated levels of fine particulate due to wildfire smoke. Concentrations will range from USG (unhealthy for sensitive groups) across the lower peninsula to unhealthy in the Upper Peninsula. It is a statewide air quality alert. Smoke improved across the southern…
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A 70-year-old New Era man walked away uninjured from an Ultralight aircraft crash Friday morning, July 17, said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast. “A New Era man was piloting it, and he had just taken off from the Oceana County airport, and he didn’t have enough elevation to clear some trees,” said…
With heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires continuing to choke the air, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) extended an air quality alert through Saturday, July 18, “for elevated levels of fine particulate due to wildfire smoke.” According to the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, concentrations on Friday will range from “very unhealthy” in southern areas…
LUDINGTON — Lake Michigan Carferry will hold two hiring events later this month as it continues recruiting seasonal employees for the 2026 sailing season. The company is seeking applicants for customer service, housekeeping and auto attendant positions aboard the S.S. Badger. The first hiring event will be held Wednesday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Michigan…
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The 65,000-square-foot Tiger Athletic & Community Center opened last month in the Shelby Township Community Park, at 4101 Buchanan Rd., and the community will get a chance to celebrate its grand opening Wednesday, July 29. The $9.4 million facility was funded partially through $3.1 million in grants, and the remaining costs were…
LUDINGTON — The 43-year-old Shelby man who died after reportedly “jumped head first” into a swimming pool Tuesday afternoon, July 14, has been identified as Mark Henrickson, Jr., said Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. The case remains under investigation, said Sheriff Cole Thursday. The incident occurred in the 4800 block of West Birch Lane in Mason County’s Summit Township at…
Pirate News is a presentation of Hart Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press. By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — Even though school is out for the summer, Hart Public Schools campus has been a busy place. Work has been underway this summer on building projects approved by voters last spring. Voters in the school district voted 632-408…
With heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires choking the air, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has issued an air quality alert for Thursday and Friday, July 16 and July 17. The fires are creating “elevated levels of fine particulate due to wildfire smoke,” states the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids.“Pollutants within those areas are expected…
Ronald L. (Ron) Gillis, 78, of Glenrock, Wyo., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 30,2026 in Casper, Wyo. with his wife Beverly and his dog Charlie by his side. Ron was born in Ludington on Dec.. 6, 1947, to John and Olga Gillis. He grew up on the family farm in Pentwater. He was expected to work the family farm,…
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The 22-year-old man who died following a single-vehicle crash, July 8, has been identified by the Michigan State Police as Frank Baxcajay of Shelby. The passenger who was seriously injured in the crash is Jorge Garcia, 40, of Miami, Fla., according to MSP. Troopers from the Hart post responded to the crash on South Oceana Drive south…
ROTHBURY — The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced that it is assisting the Michigan State Police in the investigation of a newborn baby found deceased in a porta-potty in the camping area at the Electric Forest Festival, June 28. “The FBI is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the…
SUMMIT TOWNSHIP, Mason County — A 43-year-old Shelby man died after reportedly diving into a swimming pool in the 4800 block of West Birch Lane Tuesday afternoon, July 14, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. “On Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 4:20 PM, emergency crews responded to the 4800 block of West Birch Lane in Mason County’s Summit Township…
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