WSCC canceling March 16, 17 classes; converting to online. 

March 13, 2020
WSCC canceling March 16, 17 classes; converting to online. 

WSCC canceling March 16, 17 classes; converting to online.  VICTORY TOWNSHIP — West Shore Community College is cancelling classes for Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17, and then moving most face-to-face classes to an online format beginning Wednesday, March 18. This move is anticipated to last until the end of the winter semester, but is subject to change as…

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Shelby residents asked to avoid ‘person-to-person’ contact at village hall.

March 13, 2020

Shelby residents asked to avoid ‘person-to-person’ contact at village hall. SHELBY — Due to the coronavirus outbreak, village officials are asking residents to refrain from conducting “person-to-person” business at the village hall. “There is no intention on our part to overreact to the Coronavirus (COVID-19),” states a press release from the village issued Friday, March 13. “However, it’s incumbent upon…

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Spring horticulture meeting canceled.

March 13, 2020

Spring horticulture meeting canceled. NEW ERA — Given the developing situation with the novel coronavirus, MSU Extension has made the decision to cancel the West Central Spring Horticulture Meeting that was scheduled for Monday, March 23, at the New Era Reformed Church. “In addition to our personal desire here at the Oceana County office to make sure we keep everyone…

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Schools making plans to handle state-wide coronavirus cancellation.

March 13, 2020

Schools making plans to handle state-wide coronavirus cancellation. By Allison Scarbrough, Editor. Oceana County school leaders provided preliminary plans to their communities Friday, March 13, to deal with Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order that all Michigan K-12 schools will be closed March 16 through April 5 in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. Whitmer made the announcement during a press…

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Ag banquet rescheduled.

March 13, 2020
Ag banquet rescheduled.

Ag banquet rescheduled. NEW ERA — The 15th Annual Oceana Agriculture and Natural Resource Banquet originally scheduled for March 19 at the New Era Reformed Church has been rescheduled to April 23 in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. “Given the developing situation with the novel coronavirus, the Oceana Agriculture and Natural Resources Banquet Committee has elected to tentatively re-schedule…

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Meth possession arrest tops MSP activity.

March 13, 2020

Meth possession arrest tops MSP activity. #OceanaCountyCrime The following is activity of the Hart post of the Michigan State Police Wednesday, March 11, 2020: – 1:13 a.m., a 25-year-old Whitehall woman was arrested for methamphetamine possession and operating without a license, Maple Island Road and Sunset Boulevard, Village of Hesperia. – 7:29 p.m., a 32-year-old Shelby man was arrested on…

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Governor orders all K-12 schools close beginning next week.

March 12, 2020
Governor orders all K-12 schools close beginning next week.

Governor orders all K-12 schools close beginning next week. LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered all K-12 schools in the state of Michigan to be closed beginning Monday, March 16 though April 5 in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state.  “This is a necessary step to protect our kids, our families, and our…

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WSCC transitioning many classes to online, cancels several events.

March 12, 2020

WSCC transitioning many classes to online, cancels several events. VICTORY TOWNSHIP — West Shore Community College officials are taking steps to move many of its classes online for the remainder of the semester and is postponing or canceling some events scheduled in the next several weeks due to the developing coronavirus situation. On Wednesday, President Scott Ward appointed a task…

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EF ‘moving forward as planned’ amid coronavirus.

March 12, 2020

EF ‘moving forward as planned’ amid coronavirus. ‘As each day develops we all watch, learn, and attempt to calibrate to a rapidly changing situation,’ promoters said. ROTHBURY — The Electric Forest Festival, which attracts at least 40,000 people from across the country and other countries every year in June, is planing to go on as scheduled amid the coronavirus pandemic.…

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MHSAA suspends post-season events.

March 12, 2020

MHSAA suspends post-season events. Shelby, Pentwater district final basketball games canceled. District final basketball games for both the Shelby and Pentwater varsity boys basketball teams that were scheduled for Friday, March 13, have been canceled as the Michigan High School Athletic Association has suspended all postseason events. MHSAA made the announcement Thursday, March 12, at 3 p.m. “Postseason events sponsored…

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Pentwater finalist in ‘Put Your Town on the Map’ contest.

March 12, 2020

Pentwater finalist in ‘Put Your Town on the Map’ contest. PENTWATER — The Village of Pentwater has a chance to win up to $25,000 toward a project in Consumer Energy’s “Put Your Town on the Map” contest. “Last month, the Consumers Energy Foundation announced we are bringing back our ‘Put Your Town on the Map!’ competition — an effort to…

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Medical care facility suspends non-medical visits.

March 12, 2020

Medical care facility suspends non-medical visits. By Allison Scarbrough, Editor. HART — In order to protect residents from the coronavirus, the Oceana County Medical Care Facility has suspended all non-medical visits, according to OCMCF Administrator Gary Davis. There are certain exceptions to the suspension, including allowing family to visit a severely ill resident, Davis said. In those cases, visitors would…

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No fans allowed for Pentwater district finals game in midst of coronavirus.

March 12, 2020

No fans allowed for Pentwater district finals game in midst of coronavirus. Parents/guardians and essential administrative personnel allowed. PENTWATER — High school district finals basketball games across the state will be played in nearly empty gyms in the wake of the coronavirus. The Pentwater Varsity Boys Basketball Team plays in the finals Friday, March 13, in Marion. Instead of a…

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Health concerns cause Family AfFAIR cancellation. 

March 12, 2020

Health concerns cause Family AfFAIR cancellation.  SCOTTVILLE — The Family AfFAIR event scheduled for Saturday, March 14 has been cancelled due to concerns over COVID-19 (coronavirus). Booth participants will be contacted via email according to their application later this morning. Businesses that made donations for door prizes will be held over until next year or arrangements can be made by…

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Spectrum Health hospitals restricting visitors.

March 11, 2020
Spectrum Health hospitals restricting visitors.

Spectrum Health hospitals restricting visitors. LUDINGTON — Spectrum Health has taken additional action to help limit the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) by announcing new hospital family and visitor restrictions.   Spectrum Health will be enforcing the following family and visitor restrictions at all of its hospitals: No children under the age of 12 will be allowed to visit Spectrum Health…

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Health Department recommending coronavirus precautions.

March 11, 2020

Health Department recommending coronavirus precautions. District Health Department #10 stated in a press release today that no cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed yet within the district’s jurisdiction, which includes Mason, Manistee, Lake, Oceana, Crawford, Kalkaska, Mecosta, Missaukee, Newaygo, and Wexford counties. As stated by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Tuesday, two cases are now confirmed in Michigan – one each…

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City council unanimously approves ORV ordinance.

March 11, 2020

City council unanimously approves ORV ordinance. By Allison Scarbrough, Editor. HART — The Hart City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday, March 10, that allows ORVs and golf carts to operate on city streets. The city joins 10 of the county’s 16 townships in allowing ORVs to operate on roads in their municipalities. The townships of Colfax, Crystal, Elbridge, Grant,…

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Weare votes down 1 mill increase for fire protection.

March 11, 2020

Weare votes down 1 mill increase for fire protection. Hart voters OK street millage renewal. HART — Voters in Weare Township voted down a 1 mill increase for fire protection by a slim margin of 141-126 in Tuesday’s primary election, March 10. City of Hart voters overwhelmingly approved a street repair millage renewal request with 250 voting “yes” and 71…

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Village suspends water shut-offs to slow spread of coronavirus.

March 11, 2020

Village suspends water shut-offs to slow spread of coronavirus. First positive cases announced in Michigan. SHELBY – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday, March 10, that two Michigan residents tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) — the first confirmed cases in the state. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency to maximize efforts and…

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Recent births, posted March 11, 2020. 

March 11, 2020

Recent births, posted March 11, 2020.  The birth announcements are a presentation of Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital.  The following births have been reported: (Unless indicated otherwise, births took place at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital). Hattie Lynn Zwagerman, the daughter of Bev and Jacob Zwagerman of Fountain, was born Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Lee Sellner Tyndall, the son of Ashley and Jeremy…

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Letter to the Editor: Friendship Center needs community support.

March 10, 2020

Letter to the Editor: Friendship Center needs community support. Dear Editor, The Pentwater community has an opportunity to come together as a township and village to fund a new community center, but will they? In 2019, the village decided to use money from the Friendship Center fund (monies from the village millage of .35 mills) and its general fund to renovate the…

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