Deputies from Oceana, Mason challenge each other to not shave.

Left: OCSO Deputy Jeremy Swihart, MCSO Sgt. Mike Hanson and OCSO Officer Joel Dickman meet at the Mason-Oceana counties line.

Deputies from Oceana, Mason challenge each other to not shave.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

The Mason County Sheriff’s Office and the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office have challenged each other to a “beard off.” For the past four years, Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole has allowed beards to be grown by personnel — violating department policy — during the months of October and November. The violating deputies have to pay a fine of $25 each month, which is then donated to a select charity.

This year’s charity for Mason County will be the Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital Cancer Patient Assistance Fund. This year, Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast has put a challenge to his deputies to raise more money than Mason County. The charity of choice for Oceana will be the Crystal Valley Care Fund (This has been updated from the original posting). While money is raised by the deputies paying “fines” the public can also get in on the action by sending in a donation to the department of their choice.

Donations to MCSO can be sent to Friends of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Community Foundation for Mason County, PO Box 10, Ludington, MI 49431 (write “beards” in the memo line). Money can also be dropped off to the Mason County Sheriff’s Office at 302 N. Delia St., Ludington, MI 49431.

Donations to OCSO can be made to Crystal Valley Care Fund, Community Foundation for Oceana County, P.O. Box 367
242 North Michigan Ave., Shelby, MI 49455 (write Mason Oceana Save Off in memo line) or deliver to Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, 216 Lincoln St., Hart, MI 49420.