Asparagus eating champ

June 13, 2026

HART — James Jensen won the National Asparagus Festival’s first-ever asparagus eating contest during the kickoff party Friday night, June 12, at the Oceana County Fairgrounds. With the victory, Jensen earned the title of Grand Marshal of the National Asparagus Festival Joan Glover Royale Parade, which is set for Saturday, June 13, at 2 p.m. Please Support Local News and…

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Citizen honored for beautifying Hart Lake shoreline

June 12, 2026

HART  — Hart resident Mark Butcher was honored by the City of Hart recently for his hard work beautifying the Hart Lake shoreline. “The City of Hart and Mayor Amanda Klotz would like to extend a sincere thank you to lifelong Hart resident Mark Butcher for his dedication to making our community an even better place to live,” states a…

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53rd Annual National Asparagus Festival set for this weekend

June 11, 2026

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor  HART — Every year thousands of people flock to Oceana County to celebrate asparagus season in the “Asparagus Capital of the World” during the National Asparagus Festival.  Oceana County is the top producer of asparagus in Michigan, accounting for about 80 percent of Michigan’s asparagus production, and Michigan is the leading producer in the country. …

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Twin Lake area man dies when vehicle hits tree

June 11, 2026

GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP — A 41-year-old Twin Lake area man died when his vehicle hit a large tree at the intersection of 192nd Avenue and McKinley Road Wednesday, June 10, around 9:30 p.m., according to the Michigan State Police, Hart post. The man, whose name is not being released pending notification of family members, was pronounced dead at the scene, said…

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Foundations fund expansion of elementary esports across Mason, Lake and Oceana counties

June 11, 2026

West Shore School News is a presentation of West Shore Educational Service District in partnership with Mason County Press and Oceana County Press. AMBER TOWNSHIP, Mason County — A regional partnership among three community foundations will fund the expansion of elementary esports programs to public schools throughout Mason, Lake and Oceana counties beginning in the 2026-27 school year. MiSTEM Network…

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Severe thunderstorm warning issued, 5:55 p.m.

June 10, 2026

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Mason and Oceana counties until 6:45 p.m. today. At 5:49 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 20 miles northwest of Ludington State Park to 32 miles southwest of Montague, moving east at 50 mph. The storms are capable of producing wind gusts…

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Man arrested for OWI following quad crash

June 10, 2026

FERRY TOWNSHIP — A 42-year-old Grand Haven man riding a 2007 Suzuki ATV on Loop Road near 154th Avenue Saturday, June 6, at 1:15 a.m. was arrested for operating while intoxicated after flipping the quad over a tree that had fallen in the road, according to an Oceana County Sheriff’s Office accident report. He was traveling west on East Loop…

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Alcohol suspected in motorcycle crash

June 10, 2026

CRYSTAL TOWNSHIP — A 61-year-old Kalamazoo man was transported by Life EMS to Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital in Muskegon following a motorcycle crash on Washington Road and 120th Avenue near the Mason County line Thursday, June 4, around 4:40 p.m., according to an Oceana County Sheriff’s Office accident report. Police believe alcohol was a factor in the crash. The man,…

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Pentwater harbor dredging project underway

June 10, 2026

This Boat Blog is presented by Manistee Harbor Tours, operator of the Princess of Manistee. Book your cruise at www.manisteeharbortours.com. By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief PENTWATER — Dredging operations are underway at Pentwater Harbor as part of a federally funded project aimed at maintaining safe navigation depths and supporting commercial and recreational marine traffic. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit…

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Police news, published June 10, 2026

June 10, 2026

The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. The following is recent activity of the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office: Thursday, June 4, 2026: 9:39 a.m., a black and silver 2025 Jiangsu moped valued at $1,000 was stolen, northbound US 31 near Oceana Drive, Pentwater Township.  3:35 p.m., a 36-year-old Mears man…

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Woman drives to sheriff’s office to report assault, gets arrested for OWI

June 10, 2026

HART — A 49-year-old woman was arrested for operating while intoxicated after driving to the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office to report she had been assaulted by a 34-year-old man at an Otto Township residence Saturday, June 6, shortly before 9 p.m., said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast. Deputies drove to the residence on 148th Avenue in Otto Township where the…

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51st Circuit Court sentences, published June 10, 2026

June 10, 2026

HART — The following were sentenced Monday, June 8, 2026 in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court: Erick John Roth, 47, pleaded no contest April 27, 2026 to assaulting/resisting/obstructing police and was sentenced to 346 days in jail with credit for 346 days served and $598 in fines and costs, which were paid. Misdemeanor charges of indecent exposure and disorderly person…

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One in a million

June 9, 2026

Motorcycle crash survivor making miraculous recovery By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor GRAND RAPIDS — Every day William “Coop” Cooper, Jr. takes one step closer to recovery after suffering critical injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, in a motorcycle crash just about six weeks ago. The 51-year-old North Muskegon man was airlifted by Aeromed from the crash scene the afternoon of…

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Employment: High School English Teacher

June 9, 2026

Employment: High School English Teacher Mason County Central School District is hiring a High School English Teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. See details and apply online at: www.mccschools.org Job ID #658 This is a paid posting. Published until June 24, 2026. 

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Employment: Special Education Teacher – MoCI

June 9, 2026

West Shore Educational Service District has a position vacancy for a Special Education Teacher – MoCI.  Bachelor’s degree and valid teacher certification with special education endorsement or ability to obtain temporary approval required. 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…

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Employment: Special Education Teacher – Reintegration Program

June 9, 2026

West Shore Educational Service District has a position vacancy for a Special Education Teacher for the Reintegration Program.  For a complete list of requirements and responsibilities, 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 Shore…

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Employment: Teacher Consultant – Visually Impaired (VI)

June 9, 2026

Employment: Teacher Consultant – Visually Impaired (VI) West Shore Educational Service District has a position vacancy for a Teacher Consultant for the Visually Impaired. Master’s degree required. For a complete list of requirements and responsibilities, 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…

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Jury finds man guilty of sexually assaulting 4-year-old girl

June 8, 2026

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — A jury found Jeffrey Scott Barrett, 42, of Gwinn, Mich., guilty Friday, June 5, of four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) and one count of first-degree child abuse following a four-day trial in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court. “Between the fall of 2010 and December 2011, Barrett repeatedly sexually assaulted the…

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Man pleads no contest to child abuse in connection to baby’s death

June 8, 2026

  By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — A 34-year-old man pleaded no contest to second-degree child abuse in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Monday, June 8, in connection to the death of  a 7-month-old boy who was his girlfriend’s son. Devin Austin Brown-Fowler is expected to receive a sentence of 43 months to 10 years in prison, said Oceana…

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Art initiative energizes Hesperia

June 8, 2026

HESPERIA — A growing collection of murals, sculptures and installations is adding new energy and visual appeal to Hesperia through HesperiART, a community-driven public art initiative. The effort began following a 2021 community assessment conducted in partnership with the Oceana Community Foundation, where residents expressed a strong desire to see more public art and improvements to downtown aesthetics. Today, HesperiART…

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Fire destroys Crystal Township home

June 8, 2026

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor CRYSTAL TOWNSHIP — A fire destroyed a double-wide modular home at 2462 E. Jackson Rd. early Sunday morning, June 7. Firefighters from Crystal Township, Hart and Walkerville departments were initially dispatched to the scene shortly before midnight Saturday night and battled the fire into the early morning hours Sunday. Pentwater and Ferry Township fire departments…

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