News alert: Chimney fire in Newfield Township.

April 15, 2021

News alert: Chimney fire in Newfield Township. NEWFIELD TOWNSHIP — Hesperia, Ferry Township and Walkerville fire departments were dispatched to a house fire at 941 Maple Island Rd. near Carmean Road Thursday, April 15, at 1:45 p.m. The house is being evacuated. UPDATE: The fire was reported out around 2:15 p.m. The fire was contained to the chimney, and there was…

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Pentwater school to seek bond funds in November.

April 15, 2021

Pentwater school to seek bond funds in November. By Allison Scarbrough, Editor. PENWATER — Pentwater Public School has not asked its voters for a tax increase to fund school improvements since 2003, and school officials have determined that the time has come to make some much-needed enhancements. School leaders presently are looking at four different project scenarios which include a…

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Police seek public’s help to find runaway teens.

April 15, 2021

UPDATE: The teens have been found. Police seek public’s help to find runaway teens. HART — The Hart Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating two juvenile runaways. Rafeal Martin Gomez, 15, and Erik Rolando Gomez, 14, were last seen at their home in the City of Hart Thursday, April 15. “Rafael and Erik are known to have…

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Pirate News: Bittersweet: Mr. T, Hart’s music man, set to retire.

April 14, 2021

Pirate News: Bittersweet: Mr. T, Hart’s music man, set to retire. Pirate News is a presentation of Hart Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press. By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. HART — For 33 years, John Taranko has been Hart Public Schools’ music man. Taranko, a 1983 graduate of Ludington High School, became the Hart band director immediately after earning…

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Meth possession investigation tops police activity.

April 14, 2021

Meth possession investigation tops police activity. The following is activity of the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday, April 13, 2021: 12:07 a.m., a 43-year-old Shelby woman is suspected of methamphetamine possession, and a 36-year-old Shelby man was cited for driving while license suspended (DWLS), US 31, Grant Township. Charges in the meth case are pending lab results. .10:35 p.m., a…

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Woman allegedly runs over her boyfriend with car.

April 14, 2021

Woman allegedly runs over her boyfriend with car. By Allison Scarbrough, Editor. ROTHBURY — A 25-year-old Shelby woman allegedly ran over her boyfriend with her car on purpose Tuesday evening, April 13, on South Water Road near Winston Road, injuring him. The boyfriend, who is a 28-year-old Rothbury man, was transported to Mercy Health Lakeshore Campus in Shelby for a…

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News alert: Vehicle crash in New Era.

April 13, 2021

News alert:  Vehicle crash in New Era.   NEW ERA — Life EMS was dispatched to a vehicle crash Tuesday, April 13, shortly after 4 p.m. on First Street near Yale Road. Minor injuries reported.

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Hart presents ‘Little Women: The Broadway Musical.’

April 13, 2021

Hart presents ‘Little Women: The Broadway Musical.’ ‘The show must go on’ for HHS Drama Club. Pirate News is a service of Hart Public Schools in cooperation with Oceana County Press. HART — Tickets are now on sale for the Hart High School Drama Club’s performance of “Little Women: The Broadway Musical.” Shows are Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May…

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Letter to the Editor: Reader asks for support of ESD millage.

April 13, 2021

Letter to the Editor: Reader asks for support of ESD millage. Dear Editor, On May 4, 2021, there will be a special education millage renewal for the West Shore Educational Service District (WSESD).  This millage renewal will not increase taxes for local taxpayers. We’ve been fortunate to have this millage passed repeatedly since 1990. Annually more than 1,400 students with…

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Grant Road closed between 28th and 40th avenues.

April 13, 2021

Grant Road closed between 28th and 40th avenues. BENONA TOWNSHIP — Grant Road between 28th and 40th avenues is closed for road work through Wednesday, April 14, at 4:30 p.m., according to the Oceana County Road Commission. Addresses from 7580 west must be accessed from 28th Avenue, Tuesday, April 13. Addresses from 7600 west must be accessed from 28th Avenue…

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Weekend police news, April 12, 2021.

April 12, 2021

Weekend police news, April 12, 2021. The following is activity of the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office over the weekend: Saturday, April 10, 2021: 4:02 a.m., a 49-year-old White Cloud man was cited for driving while license suspended (DWLS), Oceana Drive, Hart Township. 1:19 p.m., larceny of shampoo, a cell phone charger, earrings, hair scrunchies and sunglasses, East Yonker Road, Hart…

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Man found unconscious in rest area bathroom from possible drug overdose.

April 12, 2021

Man found unconscious in rest area bathroom from possible drug overdose. GRANT TOWNSHIP — A 32-year-old Scottville man was found unconscious in a rest room stall at the Rothbury rest area on northbound US 31 Sunday night, April 11, after possibly using an intravenous drug, said Lt. Shane Hasty of the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office.   The man re-gained consciousness, but…

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Parent of former ESD student supports upcoming millage.

April 12, 2021

Parent of former ESD student supports upcoming millage. Dear Editor, I am glad tp have this opportunity to speak up and endorse the West Shore Educational Service District’s special education millage renewal proposal that will be up for a vote on May 4, 2021. As a parent of a student who received services from and attending school at the now…

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Walkerville Schools to remain open next week.

April 9, 2021

Walkerville Schools to remain open next week. WALKERVILLE — Following a press conference from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer calling on high schools to voluntarily close due to an increase in statewide COVID-19 cases, Walkerville Public Schools has announced that it will remain open. The school put the following statement on its Facebook page:  “Currently the direction for Walkerville Public Schools is…

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78th District Court arraignments, April 9, 2021.

April 9, 2021
78th District Court arraignments, April 9, 2021.

78th District Court arraignments, April 9, 2021. By Allison Scarbrough, Editor. HART — The following were arraigned recently in 78th District Court: Felonies Dominique Niccolas Hampton, 21, of 2684 E. Garfield Rd., Hesperia, was arrested by the Michigan State Police (MSP) on felony charges of methamphetamine possession and carrying a concealed weapon. Bail: $5,000/cash/surety/10 percent. Preliminary exam: April 19 at…

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Hart Superintendent says school will stay open.

April 9, 2021

Hart Superintendent says school will stay open. Mark Platt, superintendent of Hart Public Schools, initially sent this letter to the parents and students of the school district. It is being posted here with his permission.  Dear Fellow Pirates: Today, the Governor along with the MDHHS made an announcement encouraging high schools to go virtual for two weeks and to pause…

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Governor asks Michiganders to voluntarily suspend indoor dining, youth sports for 2 weeks.

April 9, 2021

Governor asks Michiganders to voluntarily suspend indoor dining, youth sports for 2 weeks. LANSING – In a change of direction from past practices, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, at a press conference, asked Michiganders to voluntarily suspend in-person activities for high schools, indoor dining, and youth sports for the next two weeks, in response to increased COVID-19 cases in the state.  While many…

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Woman injured in 2-vehicle US 31 crash.

April 9, 2021

Woman injured in 2-vehicle US 31 crash. WEARE TOWNSHIP — A 41-year-old Grant, Michigan woman was injured in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday, April 7, shortly after 8 p.m. on southbound US 31 near Wayne Road, according to an Oceana County Sheriff’s Office accident report. The woman was a passenger in a 2005 Ford Escape driven by a 71-year-old Grant woman,…

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Water Road to remain closed over the weekend.

April 9, 2021

Water Road to remain closed over the weekend. HART TOWNSHIP — Water Road between Polk and Taylor roads will remain closed for construction over the weekend. Residents will be able to access their homes, and a detour route has been set up. “Water Road will not be open for the weekend as planned,” said Oceana County Road Commission Deputy Clerk…

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Economic alliance hosts virtual community update Tuesday.

April 9, 2021

Economic alliance hosts virtual community update Tuesday. The Oceana County Economic Alliance is hosting a virtual community update via Zoom Tuesday, April 13, at 8 a.m. The virtual offering is taking the place of its annual community breakfast which is traditionally a live event each spring, where community and business leaders can network and learn about recent economic development work,…

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Trusting our elections.

April 9, 2021

Trusting our elections. By Sen. Jon Bumstead 34th Senate District There has been a great deal of controversy surrounding election laws and security since the election in November. In the days, weeks and months following the 2020 election, I heard from many who wished to voice their concerns and distrust about how the election was conducted and an overwhelming number…

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